davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20
OUR SHIP CANAL.

( The Chicago Times, which during The hi
nols ship canal agitation last spring looked
askancc at the movement and If not actually
| iridcullng Mt least threw cold va,cr upon it
suddenly wakes up from long sleep with
new and entirely different views on the sub
ject In that sheet Of Monday appears a long
editorial from which we make the following
extract
The scheme for the conversion of the Illinois
and Michigan canal and the Illinois river
from la Sale 10 It's junction with the Missls.
SIppi river, into shi ip canal connecting Lake
Michigan and the Father of Waters, will be
earnestly advocated IN the next congress. This
is Of great importance, not only to Chicago,
but to the whole people Of the southwest, west
and northwest AS well. Indeed the inhabl.
tants OF the entire western Mississippi valley
can well afford to pool their issues, and estab
lish closely KNIT community of interests for
the success OF the time honored project. Now
Is a peculiarly felicitous period for the discus
sion of this question, and 1t is one which Will
bear discussion and thrive on it by reason of
the intrinsic merit of the projected work. The
country has not been so free from internal dis
sensions tor thirty years, or better prepared for
the calm consideration of questions affecting
the material interests of the people, and Of all
the internal improvements which have been
suggested none are Of more importance than
the construction OF this ship canal
The Times adds that the Hon. Chas g. Far.
we'll, just elected to congress from Chicago,
has determined tn give all his energies in con-
gress to the promotion of this project, being
already engaged in preparing himself tor the
=
the west and south, by gathering statistics,
getting up memorials, &c. Indeed Mr. Far.
we'll finds that much hard work in that line
has already been done by Mayor Harrison,
whose splendid ship canal address, published
in the papers last summer, ana memorial heI
prepared in favor of the ship canal at the in
stance of the Ottawa and Peoria meetings, fur.
nsh reasons and figures in such abundance as
to leave little in that line to be added.
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20
HORRORS

At $50 o'Clocl, on Friday morning Of las
week a terrific explosion occ arrcd IN the Ford
pit Of the Albion coal mines at Stelarton
Nova Scotia, the explosion having been caused
by some one carelcssly firing shot IN a for
biddcn part Of the mine. The explosion oc
CURED on the south side where some G5 men
and boys were at work. an equal number a,
work on the north side being unconscious OF
the accident until they came out of the pit a,
dinner time OF the entire number IN the pit
but half a do2en-two men and four boys
were brought out alive. the others being hem
med In by the mass of coal which the explo
sion looscned, and which blocked up the way OF
exit To add TO tho horror of the situation,
the pit has taken fire. causing several addi-
tional explosions, accompanied with fearful
destruction, and efforts arc now being made
to turn tho river into the pit to put out the fire
At late hour on Monday night fire broke
OUT IN the Insane Asylum at st. Peters, Min
nesota, containing at the time about 600 pa.
tlcnts. About third of the building, lnclud.
ing the north wing, in which the fire origin
atcd. was destroyed, and all Of It badly dam.
aged. The asylum was situated about mile
from town, the night being cold, with a sharp
west wind blowing and SIX inches of snow on
the ground Yet to the firemen of St. Peters,
who dragged single hand engine over the
snow 10 the scene, belongs the credit of saving
the building from total destruction, with most
OF It's inmates. As it was, but thlrty-six of the
inmates were lost, though taking into account
the wild excitement that prevailed among the
SIX hundred crazy people rushing recklessly
and blindly in all directions. it is wonderful
that the loss Of life was no greater. Many of
the insane had to be taken from the building
by main force, resisting at every step the
we'll meant efforts TO save their lives Others
were found prone upon the floors, nearly suf
focated with smoke, and utterly helpless
These were placed upon mattresses and car
ried out Of the building after great personal
risk to the rescuers. Until the building can
be restored provision has been made to take
care Of the inmates in st. Paul and Mime.
apolis.
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20

Miss Julia Moran, young lady of Joliet
who became noted year or two ago for the
possession of such a magnificent contralto
voice that number of friends interested them
selves IN procuring for her the means-her
parents being in very moderate circumstances
of going TO Europe and obtaining thor
ough musical education. Julia went to Flor
ence, we believe, her mother going with her,
but soon tired of the rigid disciple of the macs
,ros, and becoming homesick in afew months,
returned to Joliet. 1t appears, however, there
was something else at the bottom of her home
sickness than the WEAKNESS of hsid study; for
lately, having on some pretext gone TO New
York, her parents and friends were astounded
by the receipt of letter announcing her mar
riage in that city TO u Mr.. Walter Wyman, OF
Evanston, ILL., Mr.. w. is said 10 be very
worthy Young man and will doubtless make
Julia good husband; but alas for all the
bright dreams Julia and her parents had In
dulged but 20 recently Of her brilliant career
and the fame and fortune in store for her as a
prima 1onnai
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20

The Chicago Times announces that It has
made arrangements to purchase several Kas.
,enbein type-se'ting machines, so that the
bulk OF the composition of the Office will here
afteT be done by machinery instead Of by hand
thus throwing forty or fifty compositors out
of work. The Kastenbc,n machine was in.
vented IN Brussels, and has proved quite sue.
cessful on bookwork, but we believe this will
be the first attempt to use 1t on newspaper
composition. The machine is hereafter to be
manufactured IN Chicago by company Of
which John Marder. Of the Chicago Type
Foundry. will be president and Charles Kas.
tenbcin, inventor OF the machine superinien.
dent of construction
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20

Brother Cullen, of the Ottawa Republican,
beginning to realize the weight Of duties and
responsibilities thrust upon him, and walks
with a gait visibly more subdued every day
compared with his rather Qhough eNcusably)
lofty strut the first few days after the election.
To friend in Kendall county he writes with
charming naivete:
realize the responsibility Of my new posi-
ton, and expect it will bring hard work and
not "fun," as many think. l shall, however
strive to retain the good opinion Of friends
and the respect of opponents by faithful at
tenlon to duty. thank all friends in old
Kendall for their warm sympathy and cordial
support throughout the canvass.
Having, decade or two ago, spent year
In Washington and had pretty good opportu-
mites to observe and estimate the size and
callber of our so-caled great men, the impress
sion we carried away was that the difference
between members of congress and high tunc-
tionaries OF the government and common peo-
pie Is astonishinsly less than most people ap-
pear to imagine. To repeat the remark of a
in his first experience at Washington is, that
the buildings arc so much larger than he cx-
pected to see and the men so much smaller.
In point of physique, presence and mental
calber there is certainly very little difference
between Mr.. Cullen and our present repre-.
sentative in congress. Yet but tor the absurd
halluclnation that possessed Mr. Hayes that
he ought now and then to make q speech
thus making himself ridiculous-he might
have passed for member of average if not
altogether respectable ability. What Brother
Cullen wants to do is to study carefully such
matters and duties as lie legitimately in his
way as a faithful representative of his con.
sttuents, attend to them closely, sedulously,
yet modestly, and above all, keep his mouth
shut and never imagine that he can make al
speech, be it ever so short, by which either
the house or the country would be more in-
structed than bored, and he will doubtless
worry through his two years with few discom-
forts and come out as a passablc If not useful
representative. We cordially congratulate
him on his election and on his big salary, the
massiveness of which we have no doubt quite
overwhems him, and really hope, whether he
takes our wellintended advice or not, he may
pass through his two years IN Washington
unscathed and emerge from the ordeal covered
with honOrs.
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20

Gen. Schofeld has probably lost his head as
superintendent OF the military academy at
West Point by his rather unorthodox views on
the niger question just expressed in his annu.
al report to the President After stating the
facts and discussing the case of the cadet
Whitaker at some length, condemning Whit,
takcr throughout as little better than a sneak
and coward, he goes for the niger cadet bust.
ness in general, maintaining that they ought
not to be sent to West Point at ali, but, if
there must be negro cadets, that they be pro.
vided for in separate school. He maintains
that the ostraclsm to which they are subjected
by the white cadets at West Point is unavoid-
able and justliable, on the ground that it is
only consistent with ideas with which the
boys have been raised and which are domln,
ant among the white people everywhere in
this country. None feel the blacks to be their
equals, invite them to their houses intermarry
with them Or invite black men, no matter how
able and pious, to be the ministers of their
congregations, nor will they eat at the same
table with or maintain any social relations
with them But the grevous and fatal sin in
Gen, Schofeld's report Is that, in referring to
what he evidently regards as the mawklsh
friendship Of Mr., Secretary of War Ramsey
for Whitaker, he refers to that high function
AIRY contemptuously as the superintendent of
the war department" 1t is understood tina,
Gen. Schofold will be Immediately transferred
to California or Texas and q stalwart general
placed over the West Point Academy.
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20
THE GARFIELD CHINESE LETTER.

The sum and substance of the Morey letter
case seems to be that the letter was a forgery
and H. l.. Morcy myth, for two OF the men
who sworc to the identity of H. l.. Morey, and
one of them that he had seen the alleged Chi
nese letter of Gen. Garfield IN his hands have
made a confession that they swore falsely Yet
the great conundrum, who forged the letter,
remains unsolved. Philip who Is under in.
dc,ment for libel IN calling Garfield liar
for denying that he signed the letter, is no
longer charged with the forgery--the proofs
taken before the election having confossedy
shown his innocence. The vlllainous attempt
of Judge DAVIS, of n. Y. City, to hold Con.
grcssman Hewitt and the Democratic National
Committee responsible for the publication of
the forged letter IS meeting with deserved con
demnation on all sides. The charge ia not
only Indignantly repeled and proved to be
false by Mr.. Hewitt himself in biting re-
sponse to Judge Davis's political harrangue
from the bench IN deciding to hold Philip on
the charge Of libel, but the New York press
without exception sharply condemns him. The
Herald says the castigarlon Mr.. Hewitt adj
ministers to Judge Davis is richly deserved
1t IS not true that either Mr.. Hewitt, or any
member of the Democratic committee was
party TO the publication Of the letter, for 1t
was published in the Truth and Autographed
before Mr. Hewitt or Dir. Barnum knew of Its
existence. After its publication the original
was submitted to Mr. Hewitt and other mem
bers Of the Democratic Executive Committee
and he then declared his belief that the sigma
ture was in the handwriting of General Gar
keld; but" adds the Herald, those who n.v.
er saw or heard of it until after it had appear
ed in print certainly can not be charged with
the forgery or the guilt Of its Original utter
ance."
In spite of all this howl about the Morey
letter, however the main fact remains unchal.
lenged that, forgery though the letter was, so
far as it pretended to exhibit Mr.. Garfeld's
actual sentiments on the Chinese question it
told the simple truth and did him no injustice,
beyond that it probably put into his mouth a
reason for holding such views that he might
not had he actually written to the Lynn shoe
makers on the subject, haze cared to put on
paper
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20

The town of Newport, Ark, containing
about 1000 inhabitants. was almost totally de-
s'royed by fire on Monday night The loss is
estimated at 100000. The town is situated at
the point where the Iron Mountain railroad
crosses White River, about so miles north of
Little Rock, The only interest Ottawa has in
the place is that Mr. Geo X Tozcr and family,
former well known residents here have lived
at Newport several years past, and may be
sufferers by the disaster
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20

The south may be solid, but not on the col.
or line. The South Carolina Legislature has
IN it four democratic negroes and three repub-
iican negroes At the recent state election in
Georgia, which brought out larger vote than
the presidential election, ono negro state sena.
tor and ten negro representatives all demo,
Gratis, were elected, Does this look like sup.
pressing the negro vote excepting as 1t effects
the dominant partys
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20

One of the phenomena of the late election
vas the almost total disappearance of the
greenback party Of Ohio, tho very birthplace
Of the rag baby. From vote of $4,000 in
1873, the party dwindlcd to 5,456 for Weaver.
The increase of the democratic vote by 10000
since last year and the increase Of the rcpubli.
can vote by 5000 shows where the grecnback
vote went to.
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20

All Scotland Is excited over the invention OF
IN ingenious Sandy, the purpose of which is
to calm the stormy sea. tits effected by sink.
ing bottles filled with oil, the bottles opening
by peculiar process devised by the inventor.
The invention has been tested at Peterhead
with great success. 1t may not be practicable
upon high seas, but can be made useful IN
calming open roadsteads or lily sheltered
hnrhnrN.
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20

Plano, Kendall county, is mourning the loss
Of the Marsh Harvester Works, which are be-
ing removed to Chicago They were estab-
hshcd at Plano in 1864, when about % lnen
we're employed. Now they give employment
to nearly 500 men, and the average monthly
pay roll is over 100000. The proprictors cx.
pcct to save $4,000 a year IN freight alone by
the removal. Most of the workmcn will move
with the shops
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20

Bergen county and the Bergen Co Savings
Institution. John J. Berry was cashier of
both aad stole about 100000 from the ina,i
tutions, which he sunk IN Wall street stock
spoculations He has transferred some $50.
900 worth Of property to the banks towards
making mp the loss, and meantime abdes in
10, Il
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20
Lucreiia Mott, well known some twenty and

Lucrelia Mott well known some twenty and
more years ago as a preacher against slavery
and lntemperancc, died on Saturday evening
last at her residence near Philadelphia, at the
advanced age of IS years. She belonged to
and was recognized as o minister of the Hick.
site division OF the Society of Friends, and
besides prominent in the temperance and anti,
slavery agatation, was leader in the woman s
rights movement.
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20

Talk about winter weather with the ther-
mometer is degrees above zeroi Lieutenant
Schwa,ka states that during his Arctic explor-
stions he and his party moved their camp ten
miles one day when the thermometer was 70
degrees below zero, and no unusual inconven-
ience was felt
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20

There ia no doubt that but tor the coucilia-
tory course Of the poor abused south four wears
ago the monstrous fraud shirn placed Hayes
In the presidential chair would not have been
consumusied by the consent Of Congress, as II
waa There Was not northern democrs, ip
the house but Was ready TO stand up to the last
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20

1t is the understanding at Springfield that
he constitutional amendment voted on at the
recent election in this state is lost. While ten
votes were cast IN its favor to one against it,
70 many neglected to vote either way that 1t
lacks the necessary majority of all the votes
cast r. 5. Later dispatches say it is car
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20
THE RAILROADS.
THEIR PROSPERITY.

To show The enormous appreciation of rail
road property in the United States within ;hc
pas, two years, the financial circular Of Ccws
& Co., bankers, IS New Street, New YORK,
Nov. 10Th, presents a comparative statement OF
the value Of the shares Of thclcading railroads
Of the country in Jan. and Dec. 1870, and July
and Nov In 1880, from which We extract the
following:
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20

Missouri beats Indiana in population and
IN the increase of population, but it canno,
equal II in the business OF voting The total
number of votes cast IN Missouri at the recent
election was about 100000; the number cast
IN Indiana was 100000.
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20


The Southern Pacific and the Atchison, To.
pcka and Santa 10 are each not more than one
hundred miles irom their poin, Of intersection
at Florida Pass, New Mexico, about thirty
miles west of the Rio Grande, and the gap is
steadily being narrowed ana will bc closed
about Christmas The Southern Pacific por
ton Of this great line will be l,2ii miles long
and the A,chison, Topeka and Santa Fe end will
be about l,l47 miles long, making the distance
from the Missouri to San Francisco about
1890 miles, or Az greater than by the union
and Central Pacific roads In spite Of this
greater distance, however there is no doubt.
the new route thus opened to the Pacific will
prove an immediate and effective check on the
cytortion so long practicod by the old line,
while 1t enjoyed a monopoly.
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20

Garfcld's official majority over Hancock -
Pennsylvania is 1886, and Hancock's MAORI
ty over Garfield in New Jersey Is 15,19l.
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20

given by the trunk lines Of an advance Of 81
cents per 100 lbs. on all east bound freight
after Nov. 22. This brings grain up to 10 cents.
and flour and pork to 3j cents per 100
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20

The war Of rates among the railroads of the
southwest has nothing to DO with rates from
Chicago to the cast which have been steadily
kept up 10 tho highest point consistent. With
the rivalry Of water routes, and now that nayi.
CATION has closed, tho rates have been put up
to stil! higher peg. On Saturday no,ice vs,
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20
THE WAR OF RATES.

The war between the southwestern railroads.
noticed in our last, has undergone no change
during the week, except that on Saturday the
Wabash commenced selling round tickets be.
tween Chicago and Kansas City for SiO, good
for ten days, and between Chicago and St.
Louis for s., good for five days. The Wabash
continues tickctng passengers to St Louis at
II, and to Kansas City Mt 81 Tho Chicago
and Alton is selling 10 the samo points at an
an advance Of 81 over the prices asked by the
Wabash. Tho Illinois Central is keeping up
its end of the fight by tickcting TO st. LOUIS at
81. The Burlington and Rock Island which
are cutting rates between Chicago and Kansas
City only, are still adhering to the S. tariff,
tickets being sold with a rebate No meeting y
of the presidents has a, yet been called, and
tilitles and restoration Of rates Is not assur
ing to such rs arc interested. President Ack
erman, Of the Illinois Central, who is in New
York and is disposed IN act as mediator be
tween the Wabash and Alton, tclecraphed
President Blackstone on Wednesday, that he
had no encouragement of being able to bring
about peace council OF presidents. The Wa
bash folks accuse Blackstone of prcvaricaton
and want Of vcraciiy, while others suggest
that, Blackstone being hard Of hearing may
have misunderstood the agreement entered in.
to by the presidents IN New York IN October.
and given his assent 20 what he had misun.
dorstood. At all events. the point in issue re.
mains, that the Wabash folks claim that Black.
stone assented tha! their road should have one.
third Of the passenger business between Chi.
cago and St. Louis, while Blackstone insists
that the agreement referred to the business DO
tween st. Louis and Kansas City, and each
party is accusing the other Of falschood
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20

Bergen county, n, ], is excited over the
suspension OF two of her banks--,he Bank OF
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20

STATE FINANcEs.-The report OF the Hill
nois state treasurer on the finances tor the
past two years has Just been issued, and shows
receipts from all sources from Oct /, 1875 to
Oct. /, 1880 to have been $S,475, 1909, adding
to which balance on hand Oct. l, 1878, makes
grand total of $l1 ,0A ,5425S. The disbursc.
mcnts during the same period were $780,
935.6s, leaving in the treasury, Oct. 1, 1880,
$2, ,46s, ,606.s9, distributed among the following
The Ottawa free trader., 1880-11-20


General revenue fund d..............Sl,4S3 49, Gil "A
State school fund ................... SIC, BOZ 81
Illinois Central railroad fund. ...... l9S, ,9Ol .6l
Military fund. Observation-Disclosures. l7,9S7.2l
Delinquent land-taX fund .......... :3l .06
Unknown and minor heirs fund. -. T,453.47
Local bond funds. s................... i94, ,3l9. SIS
The total state debt Oct /, 1878, was $780,,
31259, which Oct. /, 1890, had been reduced
to $2S1 ,058.1l. The fund set aside for the
payment Of this Indebtedness is that derived
from the Illneis Central railroad, the amount
ON hand of which, before the ist Of January,
will be in the vicinity of $40O, 900, so that the
state IS virtually now a trite better than out
of debt The governor has issued a proclama
ton calling in all the bonded state debt out
standing for payment on the 1st of next Jan.
uary, after which, whether presented for pay
ment or not the interest on the bonds Will
cease
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-01-01

THE PALM TREE.-The Scripture says
"The righteous shall flourish like the palm
tree" Let us see what this comparison means {:
The palm grows not in the depths of the for
est or in fertile loan, but in the desert. Its
verdure often springs apparently from the
scorching dust 1T is friendly lighthouse,
guiding the traveller to the spot where water
is to be found The tree is remarkable for
its beauty, its erect aspiring growth, its leafy
canopy, its wavin plumes, the emblem OF
praise in all ages Its very foliage is the sym.
bol of Joy and exultation. 1t never fades,
and the dust never settles upon it. 1t was,
therefore, twisted into the booths of the feast
of tabernacles, was borne aloft by the multi.
tude that accompanied the Messiah of Jerusa-
lem, and is represented as in the hands of the
redeemed in heaven. For usefulness, the tree
is unrivaled. Gibbon says that the natives
of Syria speak of $50 uses to which the palm
is applied. Its shade refreshes the traveller.
It's fruit restores his strength. When his
soul fails for thirst, it announces water. Its
stones are ground for his camels. Its leaves
are made into couches, its boughs into fences
and walls, and its fbres into ropes and rig
ging. It's best fruit, moreover, is borne in
old age; the finest dates often being gathered
when the tree has reached hundred years.
1t sends too from the same root a large num-
Der of suckers, which, in time, form forest
by their growth. What an emblem of the
righteous in desert of a guilty world !!
1t is not uninstructive to add that this tree,
once the symbol of Palestine, is now rarely seen
in that country. y."-Joseph Angus.