davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-22
The Races Begun.

y The steamboat racing season was inaug-
urated on Saturday by the appearance of FIVE
boatson the Mississippi river, opposite this
city, ready for race. They were the Jas
per, johnson, Sucker State, and two Others
The chief interest was in the Jasper and
johnson, the rival Quincy boats. We have
already entered a protest against steamboat
racing. 1t is an illegitimate business, and
no steamboat proprietors, having proper
sense of their responsibility to the communi-
ty, win engage in it. When passengers and
freight are intrusted to steamers, it is with
the understanding that they are to be car.
ried with due care and in safety. Racing
necessarily involves violation of the rule
of due care. Excessive speed is arrived at
and that by an excessive increase of the ex.
plosive power by which the machinery is
driven to do its utmost. The spirit of steam
boat racing is such that carelessness and
recklessness are the inevitable concomitants
of it. The excitement of it excludes thought
fulness concerning the safety of human life.
Anxiety for victory oyerrides all things
else. 1t pervades officers, passengers and
spectators. We had an illustration of this
on Saturday. At the start man fell over
board from one of the boats. Did the steam
er stop for him Not a bit of it. A plank
was chueked to him, and he was LETT to shift
for himself. Most people would say that il
this is specimen of the heartlessness which
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-22
ANOTHER INJUNCTION SERVED.

Last evening Sheriff Lyter attended the
regular meeting of the city council and
served writ of injunction, issued by the
district court, upon the petition of John L.
Coffin, executor of the estate of w. B. Coffin,
deceased, enjoining and restraining the said
defendant, ''the city council J. w. Moore,
,city marshal and Otto Klug, city treasurer,
from paying, or causing, authorizing, or di.
recting to be paid, out of the general reve
nue. of the said city, whether derived from
the annual fve-mill tax, levied for general
purposes, or from other sources, any claim,
demand, debt or sum whatever, except the
judgements against said city, in the district
court, and such other debts as have already
been incurred, the salaries of city officers
and other absolutely necessary and indispen
! sable current expenses of carrying on the
city government, &C., &C., all of which is de
| manded in the name of, and by the authori
ty of the state of Iowa. Good authority, bu
| the fact is, these injunction plasters have
been so often applied to the corporation, tina
there is but little efficiency in them.-Da
venport Gazette, 22d.
Thrre it is again. A radical newspape
approving Reputation, and even in defanc
of the courts of its own state.
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-22
THE AMERICAN CENTRAL r. R.

The project of q road from Fort Wayne,
Ind. passing Galva, in Henry county, and
New Boston. in Mercer, and on through Iowa
to Council Bluffs, distance of 600 miles,
is likely to prove success. From the pro-
ceedings of railroad meeting held in Knox
vile, Iowa, on the Oath. ult. we clip the fol-
lowing.
Col. Sweet, secretary of the American
Central Railway Company proceeded to
address the convention. He spoke of the
Importance of the road as great east and
west rhoroughfare, which would be second
to none In importance, as any one would ad.
NIT by looking at the map.
He then gave brief history of the organi-
cation and operations ofthe company. Said
that their purpose was to put corps of en-.
gineers on the line as soon as Judge Thomp,
son should return from Europe. His advic
es from Judge Thompson were, thaS he had
secured the iron through Lord Dudley, and
that the building of the road was provided for
as well as the rolling stock, stations, &C., &c
The conditions on which stock would be
asked from the people along the line would
be, that no payment sho'd be made until the
work was partially performed, and large
per cent. oft not until the road was running
its trains from point to point. w.
He only asked of this convention, that the
organization of new company be deferred
for so days, so that the American Contra
Railroad Company can satisfy the people O
their ability and purpose to go ahead witt
their road at once. ..
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-22
From the St. Louis Republican.
About the Whiskey Tax---The Moral Efec.
of Bad Laws

We seldom take up an exchange paper of
late, without seeing something about the
frauds connected with the whiskey tax. In
deed, this subject was the theme of consid-
erabie sdeclamation in congress at the last
session. - szss ~ ~
The moral aspects of the subject, as also
of all legislation and government, are wor-
thy OF serious consideration, especially as
they affect the social interests and moral
well-being of the community. The whiskey
tax is a striking Illustration of the evil in
fuences OF bad government upon mems
morals. 1t operates as q premium offered
to fraud, and is powerful stimulant to law
breaking and bad citizenship. As no man
can be good citizen who habitually VIC.
lates the laws, so is there corresponding
duty on the part of lawmakers so to frame
the law that, while it restraints the vicious
1t shall not subject any to extraordinary
temptation.
1t is the vice of this whiskey tax that it is
so enormous in amount that it provokes
general resentment, rather than invites com
pliance. And this resentment is the strong
er because while the western distIler. who
converts our immense crops of corn int
whiskey, is taxed two dollars gallon, the
New England distiller, who converts molas
SEES into rum, is taxed only fifty cents pei
gallon. This our whiskey distillers regare
as unjust discrimination; and it makes al
whiskey distillers feel, to a greater or less
degree, that as government fails to protecI
them in their pursuit with equal laws, sc
there is comparatively small obligation, OF
their part to observe the law. For such 6
law they cannot, in the nature of things
feel that reverence which all inst laws
should and generally do command. And al
this feeling OF irreverence operates upon al
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-22

illustrates the spirit of racing it is not very
elevated business, nor worthy of the admira-
ton of those who think o human life If
more value than the reputation of a boat for
speed. The answer of those who engage in
this reckless and not very reputable business
is that there sis no danger in it,n and we
are triumphantly told that no boat can blow
up while running. What Of it Do boats
never stop9 And then the steam is held,
the fires still burn 6ercely, oil is haste and
hurry and anxiety to lose no power, and,
with steam accommodating rapidly and in ge.
ometrical proportions of increase of explos-
i've force every advancing minute, then
comes the grand crash, a wrecked boat and
a few score of dead people. Locked safety
valves are a poor plea against danger if we
may believe what we hear from steamboat
engineers. We have heard it TO be the
boast of some of them that these valves i'm
pose upon them no restrictions which they
cannot evade. But whether this be so OF
not, this whole business of steamboat racing
is out OF character and blot upon the legit
innate business of river transportation, g
source Of peril to life and property, engeu
ders spirit Of carelessness and recklesssess
| and should be discountenanced by prophet
ors and eensured by the community. Abou
the time that a boat load of passengers 'goel
up" or "goes down" upon an exploded boat
others will think so too.-S. Louis Republi
| can.
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-22
DAVENPORT FINANCES.

Hon. John +. Dillon, radical Judge in
the supreme court of Iowa, and a resident OF
Davenport, in long letter in the Davenport
Gazette, of this morning, reviews the fnan-
ciai condition of that city, its resources and
its necessary and unavoidable expenses, and
comes to the following conclusion:
g. That we shall advertise in the Ne" .o u
and other city papers for a convention VI the
creditors to be represented by themselves OF their
a.ants at New York citv st a fixed time, to meet
and receive propositions for settiement or COM
promise.
TO nav from fifty to seventy five cents on the dol
lar with interest at per cent.
: these inducements viii, I doubt not,
prove operative and sufficient to secure the
needed ssreduction in the amount of our
debt and rate of interest. Those who will
net come into 1t, win have to get their pay
Gin the usual way" those who accede to the
arrangement win have their debt secure and re-
ceive their interest promptly and without trouble,
and eventually the principal agreed on.
Meanwhile let not q dollar be levied and raised
for the benefit Of f'the sharks" who are specu1at-
ing upon the misfortunes of the city.
This is the sad result of several years o.
rule in Davenport. Extravaganza, incom.
potency, mismanagement, ar enormous debt
reputation, and proposition to pay so cents
on the dollar, sometime, and pay per cent
interest; and threat that ''those who d.
not come into it" may whistle for their pay
Compare this with the same number o
years of democratic rule in Rock Island
with a city comparatively free from debt
| and no reputation.
A similar comparison in counties, state
| and the nation, while under radical rule
will result equally favorable for democratic
management, compared with radical incom
| petence and Encouragement.
The principal part of the debt owed b,
the people of Davenport was contracted 70
money to make the streets on which the
travel, and for fire apparatus to keep thei
houses from burning over their heads.
the national debt any more sacred than this
Will the radicals of Davenport, including
judge of their supreme court, and the LEAD
ing radical newspaper in the state, who no,
advocate Reputation at home advocat
national reputation also? Is there an
diHereneep Is not the principle tn
| same
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-22
To-Day's Advertisem'ts,
An ORDINANCE
LEvYING TAXES FOR TIE MUNICIPAL
YEAR 1867.

Rest ordained by the Csty Council Of the city Of
Rock Isiaad. E
SrcrIoS i. That taxes for the municipal year
eighteen hundred and sixty seven, amounting in
the whole to thirteen mills on the dollar, be and
the same are hereby levied and assessed upon the
real and personal estate within the city OF ROCK
Island according to the assessed value thereof
for the year aforesaid for the several purposes
hereinafter specified, to wit:
Four Mills on the dollar, to defray the contIng-
emit and other expenses of the city not otherYse
especially provided for.
-Four Mills on the dollar, for the purpose Of re-
pairing streets and highways, constructing and
repairing cross walks, main drains and sewers
| and other purposes of general city improvements
Two and enc half Mills, on the dollar, to meet
| the interest accruing the debt of the city.
/ Two and one half Mills on the dollar, for the
erection of a city hospital or other like improve
ments-
| SEC. 2. BE u further ordained, That a tax o
three mills on the dollar, be and the same is here
| by levied and assessed upon the real and person
nj estate in the lamp district OF the city, according
| to the assessed value thereof for the municipal
year aforesaid, to defray one-half of the expense
| of erecting and furnishing lamp posts and lamp
| aud lighting the streets in said district.
SEC. 3. The city clerk is hereby directed te
issue a warrant in due form for the collection o
| taxes hereby levied, in conformity with the Law
| in such case made and provided. - - ~ =
| Passed August 2Ist, 1867.
| Attest, Approved,
City Clerk. - Acting Mayor
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-22

The St. houis Democrat says Mr.. Mobiles
of st. Paul has been to Pittsburg exhibiting
his invention, the steam channeler, for pio"'
ing up the bed of the river. Mr. Nooie
claims that by his "channeler" he can give
reliable navigation on the Ohio river during
the season of low water, for boats drawing
from four to six feet water. His drsdge is
merely a system of ploughs attached to 9
large iron drum, at the stern of the boat
The ploughs throw the dirt outward from
the middle of the boat right and left, beyond
the sides of the boat. 1t is claimed that no
only mud and sand, but even heavy stones
of ton-weight can be removed outward
from the channel in the same way"
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-22
Three Things a Woman Can't Do.

There are three things a woman can't do.
First, she can't sharpen lead pencil.
Give her one and see. Mark how jaggedly
she hacks away every particle ofwood around
the lead, leaving an unsupported spike of
the latter, which breaks Immediately when
used. You can almost forgive the male
creature his compassionate contempt as,
chucking her under the chin, he witches it
from her awkward little paw, and rounds
and tapers it in the most ravishing manner
for durable use. / wish to hear no more on
that point, because when / once make up
my mind, "all the kings men" cant change
it.
Well, then, secondly: A woman can't do
up bundle. She takes a whole newspaper
to do up paper of pins, and coil of rope
to tie it, and it will come undone at that.
When l 60 shopping-which is sometimes
nv hard lot to dol look on with the fasci-
mating gaze of bird in the neighbornood
of magnetic serpent. to watch clerks do up
bundles. How the paper falls just into the
right crease how deity they turn it over,
and tuck it under, and tie it up and then
throw it down upon the counter as
if they had done the most common thing in
the world, instead of a deed which might,
and in faith does, task the ingenuity of IAN
gels p 1t is perfectly astonishing.
Thirdly may allude to the fact that
women cannot carry an umbrella, or rather
to very peculiar manner in which they per
form that duty but won't. I,scorn to turn
traitor to sex who, whatever may be their
faults, are always loyal to each other. So
shall not say, as ! might otherwise have
said, that when they unfurl the parachute
alluded to, they put it down over their noses
take the middle of the sidewalk, raking of
| mems hats and women's bonnets as they go
| and walking right into the breakfast of some
wight, with that disregard of the sconsequen
gasp which, to be understood must be felt,a
| the offender cocks up one corner os the par
achute and looks defantly at the victim win
has the effrontery to come into the world AM
hazard the whalebone and handle of he
| "umbrillI" No, won't speak of anythin,
of the kind; besides, has not celebrates
writer remarked that when "dear woman
cross, it is only because she is sick" lie
US hope he is right. We all know that it
/ not the cause of mans crossness. Give hir
| his favorite dish and you may dine off b ii
| afterwards-if you want to.
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-22

There are certain Jacobin newspaper cor
respondents in Washington, who, when they
desire to lie with emphasis, assert that "There
is the best authority for saying" &c. Ac-
cordingly, the correspondent of a New York
newspaper concern telegraphs that "There
is the best authority for saying that General
Grant regards the removal of Sheridan as
most unfortunate" Of course the best
authority for the views of General Grant on
that subject would be General Grant. 1t is
not General Grants habit, as most people
know, to proclaim his views on any public
question. Even less is it his habit to ex'
press his opinions regarding the disqualih'
cation of army officers for any public duty
To say that he regards the removal Of Sheri
dan as most unfortunate, is to say that he
looks upon Sheridan's successor as unfit fol
the place. The man who believes thai
Grant ever expressed, or felt inclined to ex
press, SO unfavorable an opinion of Genera
Thomas, is either very stupid, or amazingly
credulous.
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-22

The Northern Line steamer Sucker State,
according to a recent number of the st. Paul
Press, chad the heaviest passenger trip ofthe
season, and her officers think more crowd
ed one than any other boat on the river this
year. The total number of passengers car
ried was 755. Ofthese 423 were deck and
332 cabin. At Davenport alone, 10 o.
these came on board, while there landed al
Winona 126, at La Crosse 100 and at No
Greger 60. At one time there were so man.
deck passengers on board that the clerks
found it impossible to collect the fares, and
the boat was therefore run up to the bank
and all but her cabin passengers sent OIL
shore The clerks then stationed themselves
at the gang way and examined the ticket;
as they re-embarked, the operation resulting
in their collecting over $500, when before
landing they thought but there were only I
few who had not paid"
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-22
ASTOUNDING DISCLOSURES.

The Acting Attorney General of the Uni
ted States, Hon. John M. Binkley, in the
absence Of Attorney General Stansberry, on
the 9TH inst, reported to the President docu-
mentary evidence bringing to light conspir-
acy, on the part of Joe Holt, and Congress
men Ashley and Butler, to connect him with
Booth in the assassination of Lincoln. The
documents occupy over three columns OF the
National InteUige:scer of the 10th inst, and
must awaken the most Indifferent citizen to
the utter rottenness of the men who govern
the country. By mere accident conspir'
acy is brought to light, which if successful
would have convicted President johnson Of
completely in the assassination of President
Lincoln, deposed him from Office and con
signed him to lasting disgrace, wholly on
the testimony of hired and perjured witnes
ses. The history of no government reveals
a more shocking conspiracy against public
officer or more shameful attempt to sub
vert public justice and impose upon the
credulity of the people.
Fortunately the facts in the case do moi
depend upon the unsupported assertions OF
the convicted perjurer, Sanford Conover.-
It was because he was a periurer tina,
Ashley, Butler and Holt thought to make
him their ready instrument. And it was
this convicted perjurer whom Ashley ad
dressed as his "friend," whose services were
sought in the prosecution of Surratt, and
whom both Holt and Ashley recommended
as fit subject for executive clemency.
Having accepted his services, confessed
themselves his friends, and appealed to thu
President to set him at liberty, it viii nov
scarcely answer for the conspirators to at
tempt to shield their crimes by attempting
to discredit even this witness of their peri
dy. - a
The public can now understand why the
President has been forced at last to suspend
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-22

Does the Rock Island and Moline Union
DENY that the war might have been avoided
if the republican party had adopted the
Crittenden compromise? Does it think the
results of the wharf.-the destruction of life
and property, the enormous debt
and taxation, and the general arrangement
of business and demonstration of the people
preferable to the adoption of that comprom
ise p AS s. 58f -9@,2- =a@ - <tft'zrss 7sea@
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-22

Stanton, and why Stanton so reluctantly
yielded his position. The plot against the
President was unquestionably Matched in the
war department under the superintendent
of Stanton and Holt, and the revelation is
but one of many equally foul and repulsive
schemes of wrong and outrage concealed
within the walls Of that department, and
which are yet to seethe light of day.
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-22


JOKE ON CoNsTABLE.-A cute state
constable at Plomouth, meeting a tin ped
dler, asked him if he had license to SELL
"No," was the reply. The constable has
tened to procure warrant, and after a
days search found the offending intinerant
and brought him before magistrate
When, as a matter of form, he was asked
whether he was guilty, he quietly answered
"Not guilty" "Not guilty! Don't YOU
peddle goods around here?" said the judge.
ayes" swell, then, sir, have you IL
scense ?" "Oh, yes" ''Why, didn't you tell
this gentleman that you had no license -
"No SIR said the peddler. ayes you did, u
shouted the Tipstaff. "No didn't" quiet
ly replied the peddler. II say you did" vo
ciferates We constable. a 81, / didn't
still persists the peddler. "Well, what did
you tell me, then?'' "You asked me if ]
had license to sell, and ! told you hadn't
| and havn't license to SELL" continues the
peddler in an injured tone, 'for 1 want te
keep it to peddle with"
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-22
DISSOLUTION.

NOTICE is hereby give that the undersigned
~ have this day, by mutual consent, dissolved
their co partnership in the business heretofore
carried on as boarding house and saloon, and
that A. Schneider will cOntne the business or
his own account. All book accounts and debt,
viii be settled by us both.
CHRISTOPHER TREFTZ,
A. SCHNEIDER.
Rock Island, H., Aug 10, Iso7-dlw.
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-22
DISSOLUTION.

rINHE firm of Biddison & Heath is this day
l. dissolved by mutual consent, A +. Heath
Withdrawing from the business. The notes and
accounts due Biddison d Heath viii be paid to j..
A. Biddison, who will pay the liabilities of the
firm J. A. BIDDISON,
A. T. HEATH.
Rock Island, III, Aag. LIST, 1867.
/ win continue the business at the old stand,
where shall be pleased to meet my old patrons
and as many new ones as l supply with No.
l work. j. A. BIDDIS0N.
I2dJw
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-22
DISSOLUTION.

THE Co-PARTNERSHIP HERETOFORE
i existing between the undersigned, under
the firm name of THE American Match Co." is
this day dissolved ny mutual consent.
The business of the hate firm will be continued
by W. C. WEIGH, who will pay all debts and col
lect ell accounts due said firm.
-.t FIJI. WARREN,
ras- .. ...s W. C. WHICH.
Rock Island, May 81, 1867, d5in.
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-22
FOR SALE.

A COTTAGE CONTAINING SEVEN ROOMS
n and good bake-oyen, with stable attached;
splendid garden Of 81 acres, containing 4s fruit
trees, all in good state Of cultivation. The
property is situated about II miles from the city
Of Rock Island, and will be disposed Of reason
ably. Apply to M. MARX,
Attorney at Law.
Once over the Post Once. jun13dwtf.
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-22

PANIC STRUCK BEAUTY.-It is terrible
shock to charming woman-indeed, to any
woman,-to find that her teeth are begin
ming to GO" Never will any human being
who uses the fragrant Sozodont, while the
teeth are still sound, make that discovery.
Even when decay has commenced, it imme.
diately stops its progress.
aug2edeod2t.
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-22

Rock Island, Aug. 70, 1867.
NOVICE.
The business will be continued at the old stand,
as usual, ID. S. Mcdaniel attending to the sign
painting business, and Geo. W. Hibben to house
painting, &C.. &c. All orders thankfully received
and promptly executed in the best manner, and
at reasonable rates. aug20d3w.
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-22
FLOUR FLOUR!! FLOUR |!
RODMAN MILLS.

The undersigned having purchased the we'll
known Touring mills Of Messrs- leas d Son, have
changed the name to that of Rodman Mills, and
are now prepared to furnish the best
H a mily FLO ur /!
Give us trial, as we guarantee satisfaction.
Bran Shipstuffs, Screenings and Flour delivered
free Of of charge.
&c HARNISH co.
Rock Island, May I, 1867, Diff