davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-12-03
The Coal Mines of Fort Dodge.

We had the pleasure, a few DAYS
since, of visiting the coal mines of Col.
burn Il Duncombe, adjoining Fort
Dodge, and no one who will take the
trouble to visit them, will regret his
very slight trouble. They are certainly
worthy Of the notice Of every visitor tc
our young and thriving town. The
quality of coal now dug from these
mines, is superior to any found in the
Western States. 1t is far better than
that mined last year. Gentlemen who
are now using this coal and have used
the best quality Of Pennsylvania coal.
say that it is nearly equal to it. Mr..
Blythe, who has charge of the mine, is
an experienced miner, and some of the
men under him have been used to the
business since childhood. They have
mined coal in Maryland, and say that
this coal is stronger than the coal of
that State. Our blacksmiths use this
coal for their business, and say that
coal could not be better for their work.
This is rery important feature in our
coal. a great portion of the Western
coal is filed with sulphur, and on ac.
count of this is untitled for blacksmith.
ing. This mine is nearly clear of that
objection.
This bank is composed of three dis
tinct strata. The upper stratum is
about thirty-fve feet above the low
water mark Of the river, and is about
thirty-five inches in thickness. The
middle stratum, which is now mined. is
about forty-seven inches in thickness.
and about thirty feet above the low
water mark The thickness of the
lower stratum is unknown. but is pre-
sumed to be the main bed Of coal. 1t
is below the low water mark of the
river.
The bed now worked, has a solid
roof of rocks, which makes it easily
mined. There is at the opening of the
mine, now dug, several thousand bush.
els of coal, ready for delivery view
(which would open the eyes of some
of our coal skcptics, would they walk
eighty rods from the center of our town
to see it.-Iwt Dodge Sentinel.
St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-12-03
OUR COUNTRY'S FUTURE.

We have sometimes sat at evening
and watched the stars as they came
forth one by one, until the whole
heavens became respondent with
their shining orbs. We have seen the
clouds gather in the western horizon,
sweep over the heavens, snatch away
each beauteous light, and shroud all
in obscurity and gloom. From those
clouds came down the refreshing rain
upon dry and parchcd soil, rcviving
each tree and shrub, infusing new
vigor throughout all natures works
Those clouds passed away again,
while the same stars still beamcd forth
to cheer the mariner on his way, and
to shine upon world refreshed and
made sensible Of their beauty. And
could any one regret that for a short
time they were thus kept from his
view Thus do we see one princi-
pie after another dawn upon nations.
They may often be darkencd and DIM
med, but if that darkness does not re-
tard but aid their development, in fit
ting nations better to appreciate them,
and in diffusing their influence
throughout the world, then it is bles-
sing instead of curse. Thus all the
revolutions in society have ever ten
ded to this one object. Then, what
reason has the patriot to rejoice in
contemplating the present and future
of his country? If he looks at it with
the eye of a philosopher, he can see
that all these currents of society are
fast bearing on the ship of state to
that boundless ocean of truth, and he
feels confident that, amid the wreck
of nations and the crash of worlds y
Phenix-like, there will arise from their
ruins those better calculated to bless
and elevate the race.
In the present day, amid all the agi
tations of our republic and of the
world, it becomes MS to give this sub
ject our calm and thoughtful attention
to dispcl these fears for the perpctui
ty of our republican institutions, and
to feel confident that all those princi
pies which we value or hold dear il
society will continue to advance as
they ever have done. Yet it is no
a subject which should lead us to in
dolcnce or inactivity. No; press on
oh man, in thy struggles after some
thing higher, for thus shall advance
more speedily, if not more surely,
those principles of true national gov,
eminent and happines which will
cause that millenial day to come when
the spears shall be turned into prll-
ming hooks, and nations shall know of
war no moro
St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-12-03
THE EAST AND THE WEST.

From private letters received from
the manufacturing districts of the
East. we find the distress caused by
the present financial crisis, to be even
more alarming than the reports to be
gathered from the public journals
would seem to indicate. Thousands
who are dependent upon their daily
labor for the support of themselves
and their families, are thrown out of
employment, and are unable to find
any means by which TO procure even
the common neccssaries of life. To
many it would appear that the only
alternative was to starve or steal.
How long this state of things will
continue, 1t is impossible to conjec-
tnre but that the coming winter will
be one OF alarming restitution among
the laboring classes, is admitted on
all sides.
We have reason to congratulate
ourselves that such is not the case
here, upon the glorious praires of
Iowa. Labor here meets its due re.
ward, and the only trouble is to find Q
sufficient number of the laboring class
OF both sexes, to meet the demand
Provisions of all kinds are in grea
abundance and within the reach of all
80 that no one with common industr,
but can have surplus of all the nee
essaries Of life.
How much better would it be 70
that class to come here, where the,
could be perfectly independent, thai
to remain as they are, where thei
very food is, in great measure, dc
pendent upon the expansion or con
St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-12-03
The WOdman Scandal Case.

1t is now stated that Oliver Otis
Woodman. the husband of the beauti-
full but foolish woman at New York,
who has given so much occasion for
scandal, served his time in the apothe-
cary business with Franklin Scammon
! in Hallowell, Maine He went to
/ Philadelphia and then to the West,
where he has done large business in
the Drug line, and finally settled down
at New Orleans, and is supposed to be
worth 100000. .
Mr.. Woodman, it is said, has been
one of the most devoted and indulgent
husbands woman ever had, and Mrs
Woodman has not had the reputation
of being an unfaithful wife. But she
was belle, greatly given to dress,
and loved Saratoga, Newport, and
fashionable follies,-having appeared
at Saratoga in seventy-five different
dresses. Her age is %, and she has
been married ten years. One who
knows both the husband and the wife,
prophecies that such is the bond be-
tween the married pair that they can
not live apart, and that she will again
be taken to Mr. Woodlands heart and
home.
The Police Gazette posts MS in the
antecedents of Furness, who is known
in Broadway as fancy man"
In appearance he is a perfect fop.
He is we'll known, not only in this
country, but on the Continent of Eu-
rope, where he boasts of having made
greater con9uests than the one in
question indeed, he talks lightly of
this scrape and looks upon it as a
small affair. lie is very snowy and
tidy in his dress, and never fails at
night, before retiring, to put his pant
aloons i'll a stretcher. This is to keep
them in shape. He does the same
WIFI MS boolS dS SooH dts tiltN are
taken off they are boot-trecd during
the night, and, to give the boot high
instcp, it has an extra pad of leather.
This gives his feet very pretty shape,
which, with his small hands, he consid.
crs his great forte. He imagines that
they are truly captivating
Furness was at one time the fancy
man of Kate Hastings but his friends
tried to break up the intimacy exist
ing between them, and obtained for
him the position of Secretary to the
Legation at the Hague.
When Furness returned from Europe
he went to New Orleans, where he
first became acquainted with Mrs.
Woodman, at the St. Crois Hotel.
They had difficulty at soircc when
ut this house, and the proprietor order
ed Furncss and Mrs. Woodman to leave,
St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-12-03
The New Congress.

All the elections for representatives
in the next Congress have now trans
PRED. The Democratic majority will
be about sixteen over both Americans
and Republicans. The Democrats will
doubtless unite in caucus and select
the speaker, clerk, and other officers.
So far all will go smoothly. 1t is not
probable that the Kansas question
will rend the party asundcr prior to
the organization. The correspondent
of the Baltimore Sun says in recent
issue: 4
When questions shall arise, howcv-
er, which may involve the Walker
Administration policy-supposing the
administration policy TO be then well
defined, and to be identical in regard
to any vital point with the acts of Gov
crnor Walker-such number of
Southern Democratic members may
secede as to throw the administration
into minority, or entirely destroy
the harmony Of the Democratic major
ity. The Northern Democrats, fifty
three in number, will find great relief
from an unknown future by following
the lead of the Administration, and at
the same time conforming with the
views of their constituents. But if
the tone of a portion of the Southern
Democratic members will take a de-
cided stand against source of fedc-
raj action which has tended, as they
think, to make Kansas Free State
nothing is more probable than the
appearance i'll Congress of Il Southern
organization against the Administra-
ton. 1t is said that neither House,
in their preliminary arrangements,
will be in haste to dispose of the cnor-
nous amount of spoils which are en-
braccd under their appropriation for
printing, binding. &c. They amount
ed, as has been stated upon high au-
thorlty: to an aggregate during the
last Congress, of not less than two
millions sum of no uncomfortable
magnitude in our eXchequer, for the
days of large SURPRISES are over, for
the present. A system combining
more economy and accountability can
be established than that which has
lately prevailed.
St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-12-03
Sqaally Times.

Among others who suffer by the
pressure OF the times, none feel it min
harder than the toiling sons of the
Craft. The printers and publishers OF
Iowa are as class about as well
off as their brethren in other States.
but the pressure is squeezing them in
to very close quarters. As an evil
dence OF this we can only present facts
in our own experience. Our business
has become a burden to us from the
numerous delinqucncics among our
patrons, and unless a change takes
place IN this respect we shall be driv-
en- to the unpleasant necessity of fore
ing collections or suspcnding our pub
LEGATION for the present. We shall do
this for self protection, to save us
from becoming lame duck" or a
crippled bipod. Already has one of
our contemporaries in this county
ceased to breathe his vital element ;
another is drawing his last expiring.
breath and official organ-grinding'
can't be relied upon to keep life in a
third. Even the State organ of the
Democracy at Iowa City is forced to
announce the unpleasant prcdicament
OF being upon the eve of suspending.
unless its patrons come to the rescue.
The patrons of the Excelsior are among,
the best and promptcst paying that
the press Of the State anywhere can
boast of, and we know the large ma
jority of them to be good for what
they owe, but that will not keep up
the expenses of newspaper establish
mcnt, which is mainly cash. 1t is
cash for paper, cash for hands, cash
for rents, fuel &c. For our own part
we are willing to labor for nothing.
provided we are not money out of
pocket. When it comes to working
Tor nothing, and boarding ourself, and
paying as we go, without making both
ends meet, there is evidently a screw
loose somewhere. Those who are in
terested may consular this a serious
dun.-DEqHoheta Excelsior.
St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-12-03

Observation-Disclosures has
this year elected to her Legislature an
unusual number Of experienced or no.
ted Legislators. Among them are cx-
Governor Marcus Morton, and his son.
Marcus Morton, .ir., of Andovcr. the
father and son belong to two different
parties and Caleb Cushing of New
buryport, late United States Attorney
General, who was in the Legislature
thirty-two years ago; Hon. julius
Rockwell, Wilson's predecessor in the
United States Senate James II.
Duncan, Representative from Haver-
hill, and Charles W. Upham of Salem,
who was but recently a member of
Congress. Charles Hale, of the
Boston Daily Advertiser, is reelected
from Boston. and Robert s. Rantoul,
son of the late Senator Robert Rantoul.
jr,- represents the town of Beverly.
Dick Spollord, who was in the Attorney
GcncIals Office under Cushing, is
elected from Ncwburyport.
St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-12-03

NAVIGATION CLosED.-We learn from
passengers who arrived from St. Paul
recently, that the Nothern Light
was the last boat down the MISSISSIPPI
pi, and that navigation was about sus-
pended. The last boat up left Prairie
du Chen on Sunday week, but there
is considerable doubt as to whether
she got through. She had on board
considerable quantity of supplies,
which they will very much need at St.
Paul, before the winter is over, as pro-
visions were scarce. The weather
was severe, with considerable snow.
The Prairie du Chen Leader says:
ave learn that snow, between La
Crosse and Winona, last week, was
fifteen inches deep; back of Winona it
was IN drifts eight feet and more; at
1t. Paul two feet, and in the pineries
four feet in depth. Monday the stage
got lost back OF Winona, and passed
the night in the snow drifts. The pas
sengers suffered intensely
The Nothern Light met the Itasca
at Hastings, and stopped her, when
she returned. The river was full Of
floating ice, and Lake Pepin slightly
frozen over.
St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-12-03
Castles in Society.

1t is O shame that in this country
any attempt at caste should be made
And vet there are such, whose efforts
are as contemplate as they are wick
ed. In this country every man who
earns comfortable living, and is in
telligent and virtuous, is independently
rich, and may command respect and
esteem, and aspire to all the honors
and dignities incident to sovereign
citizenship. We have no titles here,
nor hereditary estates, and all wealth
of merely money and goods, in the av-
erage of cases, however accumulated
to-day, will return to its original sour,
ccs in two or three generations. 1t
seldom needs more than the children
to scatter the fathers estate-earned
by honest industry and a commenda-
bic enterprise.
1t is all folly and nonsense to talk
about aristocracy here. Every honest
and Industrious man is an aristocrat
in his trade and calling, or ought to
be. By this we mean that every hon
est calling is of superlative dignity in
itself that its professor can make it
just as respectable, if not profitable,
as he pleases. Let even the street
sweeper stand on the dignity of his
trade, and he can be as Independent
and naughty, if need be, as the Wall
street shaver with his bonds and cou-
pons. The comparatively few men
and-women-apes of extremes in fash
ions and refnements, are not properly
a class among Republican people
they are drones and butterflies, whose
gaudy plumagc and disdainful airs
are all they can boast, and whom to
envy, ridicule or decry, is unworthy
the real man or woman.
We put the question to every intel
ligent reader, rich or poor,--Who are
our rich, and how have they become
so? Look through city and country,
and answer. Ninety-nne in the hun
dred began life with capital of pow
erty. With an open field they have
won fortune by industry and enter
prise. Now and then prize is the re-
ward of speculation-or "luck," as
some say-but these are rare exccp-
tons; the great average are the re-
suit of lives of toll and care. The
poor of to-day are often the rich of to-
morrow, and rice rcrsa. As to the hon
ors and offices of the Republic, wealth
cannot monopoliZc them. The masses
hold the ballot box and decide that
matter. Industry, intelligence, talent
and integrity, are better armor for
the freeman than gold. To believe
otherwise would be to impcach the
honor and intelligence of the people.
Down then, with the cant about supe-
rior and privileged classcs-with all
this demagogic stirring of the poor
against the rich, or the rich against
the poor.
St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-12-03
81. Charles City, NoremJer 26tA.

RETuRNED.-James NJ. Brown Esq,
editor Of the Oskaloosa Herald, who
shot a saloon keeper in that place not
long since, in self.defence, and was
warned TO leave the place by meet
ing Of ruilians, has returned after an
absence of a few weeks, and is deter
mined to resume his labors. We are
glad to hear this, and sorry that Mr.
b. seemed, even for time, to yield to
a mob.
St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-12-03

New YORK ELEcTIoN-The Albany
journal of late date publishes a
table of majorities in the several coun-
ties in the State, which it believes to
be as correct as it can be made previ-
ious to receiving the official vote. 1t
shows a majority of 9,7l6 for the Dem
ocratic ticket. The Legislature is
as follows The Senate, Is Republi-
cans, 2 Americans and Republicans,
and IA Democrats. The Assembly.
63 Republicans, so Democrats and )
Americans.
St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-12-03

In reply to a postmaster who COM
planned of being overwhelmed with
small change, First Assistant Post
master Gen. liking, says a postmaster
is not compelled to receive cents in
payment either of postage or stamps,
nor from any person at one time more
than thirty cents in three cent conn.,
Exchange.
If such decision has been made it
is contrary to law, and cannot be sus-
tanned. The laws of the United States
make copper coin a legal tender for
amounts not exceeding ten cents, and
three cent pieces legal tender fol
amounts not exceeding thirty cents
The postmaster who refuses to receiv,
or deliver letters unless payment il
made in other coin, would be liable t.
an action for damages.
St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-12-03

THE CHICAGO FIRE.-The coroner's
jury in the case of the recent great
fire in Chicago have finally rendered
their verdict from which we extract
the following:
From the testimony given we are OF
opinion that the fire causing the burn.
ing of the aforesaid building, and the
killing of the aforesaid named persons
originated either in the cellcr under
the store No. Ill South Water street
occupied by Cormick, Cross & Co., as
Il hardware store, or in the second
story. But whether the fire had its
origin from accident or design, we,
the jurors, are unable to determine
from the evidence before us.
St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-12-03

INFLUX or GoLD.-Thc flow of gold
from all quarters towards the United
States continues. We have a million
by the Arabia, from Liverpool, and
more than a million by the steamers
from Havana. Probably considerable
more will continue to be returned to
England by those who are owing
debts there, and suppose gold will
be a more acceptable remittance to
their creditors than bills of exchange :
but it is likely tina there will be large
quantities drawn from Europe to the
United States, during the whole of the
coming winter.
St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-12-03
Mistsllanp.
FATE OF GREAT MEN.

In a world where the fortunes of the
great and the good have been pain,
poverty, exile, persecution, crucifixion,
and burning alive, shall we think it
strange that efforts to do good are
often i'll received, and that the heaven
ly kingdom is slow in its coming
For the poets lines embody an awful
truth
Truth forever the seafIold
Wrong forever on the throne
Homer was o blind singer Socrates
was made to drink the hemlock Mil
tiades died in prison Aristides was
banished Themistocles died in exile !;
Cicero and julius Caesar were killed !;
Brutus fell on his own sword; and
Seneca was compelled to open his own
veins in the bath And of the Bible
men, Abel was killed Joseph sold
into captivity Josiah shot by the ar.
chers jeremiah cast into miry dun.
geon Daniel thrown into lions den
and "others had trials of cruel mock
ings and scourgings,' "of whom the
world was not worthy Jesus Christ,
the Lord of Glory, was crucitied Ste
phen was stoned John the Baptist
beheadcd James killed by the cross.
The goodly fellowship of the prophets,
and the glorious company of the apos-
ties all formed a part of the noble
army of martyrs.
Justin was put to death Chrysos
tom exiled Arius prosecuted and
Origen maligned and tortured Serve
tus was burned alive with green
boughs John Huss, Jerome of Prague,
Latimer, Ridley, Cranmer, and Rogers,
died at the stake. William Wallace
was quartered Calico tortured !:
Savanorola martyred; Joan of Arc
burned alive; and Raleigh, Russell,
and Sydney, bcheaded Milton was
blind and Savage starved to death !:
Toussaint EOverture died in dun
geon, and Napoleon, who put him in
prison, died as an exile on the barren
rocks of st. Helena. Zwingle was
killed in battle Barneveldt was be
headed and Dr. Priestly mobbed and
driven into exile kossuth, Mazzini
and Victor Hugo, are to-day in ban
ishment Even in America, Lovejoy
has been shot, and Sumner has been
almost assassinated In a world like
this, what dost thou expect, Oh my
soul? Dost thou covert ease, safety,
and glory? No if thou art true to
thy highest and noblest convictions,
thou will not be alarmed if thou meet
with rebuils, pains, prosecutions, and
even death. But thou wilt remember
that there is another life after this life,
and the Holy One has said, blessed
are they who are prosecuted for right
eousncss sake, for theirs is the king
dom of Heaven ChristiaR Inquirer.
St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-12-03

During the excavation of a street
i'll Evansville, Ia, few days since,
the workmen came across the remains
of a cabin eighteen feet below the
surface of the earth. Within the wall
were found portions of an old fashion
spinning-wheel, a wooden maui, sew
eral pairs Of boots and shoes, and q
charred stick which the former occu.
pants Of the cabin had used to poke
the fire with.
St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-12-03

Few have fully appreciated what a
serious loss to the nation is involved
in the discharge of SO many laborers
in all sections of the Union. 1t is not
over exaggerated to say, that by the
middle of December 100000 persons
throughout the Union, will be thrown
out of employ. 1t is not too high to
estimate their labor as worth to the
nation one dollar per day, that is
$500, 900 per day, or $4,000, 900 per
week for the aggregate of loss to the
nation. If any statesman can devise
means by which our factories, work
shops, &c, can be started again be-
fore the winter is over, he will be
benefactor in its noblest
sense.
St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-12-03

The special school meeting on Mon
day evening was largely attended, and
the vote for tax of $500 to build a
school house on the west side of the
river was re-considcrcd and annulled.
High taxes, hard times and prospec-
tive union school of higher grade,
were the chief reasons assigned for
the vote.