davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-12-11
HOW DOTT1E KILLED THE 'GATOR.


Miss Dottie l. Steck of Bellwood Pa, who
is visiting relatives at Little Rock, Ark, is
the heroine of the day. For years a monster
alligator has INHABITED the swamps near
fuckers lake, Jefferson county, soaring peo-
pie for miles around Miss Steck determined
to capture the monster She set out with
two young ladies aud several gent emen
The party soon struck the trail and tracked
the alligator to his den. A hole in the sandy
bank indicated the location, and few min
utes' digging revealed the object of the
search, and the ominous growls and furious
lashings that arose from the spot in
formed the adventures that the king Of
reptiles was within. The egress from the
den to the lake having been securely stopped
up, the enraged beast found its avenue Of
escape cut of, and rushed up and down it's
ing the mud, and scattered the water In all
directions Pieces of timber and fence rails
were pushed into its mouth, only to be
crushed and snapped off by its ponderous
Jaws A rope and chain. made into a lasso,
hen he ss eeted o tb bsn
The appearance of the monster in tho
midst of the venturesome party created
. panic, and all save the heroine
beat a hasty retreat, selecting the further
side of friendly oak as a place of safety
With gun in hand, the young lady stood
ragged beast, which was growing. struggling
and slashing its tail on the ground in a
frightful manner, and when the opportunity
presented itself she fired both barrels in
rapid succession. The aim did its work The
alligator gave tremendous larches and
xoared, and expired Both shots had entered
one of tho few penetrabIe places. at the base
Of tho jaw 1t measured a fraction over ten
feet in length. The hide was removed and
u in the possession Of H,as Stock.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-12-11
FOREIGN TRADE.
HOW To EXTEND TT.

In the course of this communication refer
ence has more than once been made to the
policy of this government as regards the ex-
tension of our foreign trade. 1t seems
proper to declare the general principles that
should, in my opinion, underlie our nation;l
efforts in this direction. The main conditions
of the problem may be thus stated: We are
people rich in mechanical pursuits and
fertile in invention; we cover vastextent of
territory, rich in agricultural products and in
nearly oil the raw materials necessary for
successful manufacture. We have system
of productive establishments more than
sufficient to supply our demands The
wages of labor are nowhere 50 great.
artisan classes is such as tends to secure
their personal comfort and the development
of those higher moral and intellectual quail
tiles that go to the making of good citizens.
Our system of tax and tariff legislation is
yielding a revenue which is in excess of the
present needs of the government These
are elements from which it is sought to de-
wise q scheme by which, without unfavora-
bly, changing the condition of workingmen.
our merchant marine shall be raised from It's
vided for the sale, beyond our borders, of the
manifold fruits of our industrial enterprise.
The problem is complex and can be solved
by no single measure of innovation or re-
form. The countries of the American conti-
nent and the adjacent islands are for the
United States the natural market of supply
and demand. 1t is from them that we should
obtain what we do not produce, or do not
produce in suficiency, and it is to them that
surplus productions Of our fields, our mills,
and our workshops should Aow under
conditions that viii equalize or favor them
in comparison with foreign composition.
four paths of policy seem to point to this
end Fnst, series Of reciprocal commercial
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-12-11
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.

SECRETARY TELLERS RECOMMENDATIONS.
OF the varied governmental concerns in
charge of the interior department., the re-
port of its secretary presents an interesting
summary. Among the topics deserving par
ticu]ar attention I refer you to his observa-
tons respecting our indian affairs the pre-
emptiou and timber culture acts. the failure
of railroad companies to take title to lands
granted by the government and the opera
tons of the pension Office, the patent Office,
the census bureau and bureau of education.
Allusion has been made already to the cir.
cumstance that both as between different
Indian tribes and as between the Indians and
the whites, the past year has been one of
unbl oxen peace. In this circumstance the
president is glad to find justification for the
policy of the government in dealing with the
Indian question, and confirmation of views
which were fully expressed in his first COM
munication to the Forty seventh congress
The secretary urges new enactment OF q
statute for the punishment of crimes COM
mitted on Indian reservations, and recon-
mends the passage of the bill now pending
in the house OF representatives, for the pur-
chase of a district of II, 900 square miles
from the Sioux reservation. Both these
measures are worthy of approval. I concur
with him also in advising the repeal of the
pre- emption law the enactment of statutes
resolving the present legal complications
touching larsed grants to railroads, and the
funding of the debt of the several Pacific
railroads under such guarantee as shall in
sure it's ultimate payment
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-12-11
President Arthur approves Of tha re

President Arthur approves of the rec
ommend"tion OF the postmaster gen.
eral that the unit of weight in the ret.
ing OF first class matter should be one
ounce instead of one>half ounce. "a il
now is. He says in view of the stAtis-
tics furnished by the department it may
be we'll doubted whether the cl,aroe
would result in any loss Of revenue !;
that it would greatly promote the con.
Venience of the public is beyond dis
pute. It to be hoped that this change
will DO made. The saving of expense
to the people would be considerable
aud q great source of annoyan:e avoided.
Comparatively few people possess letter
scales, and therefore cannot determine.
In vast number of cases, how much
postage is required. Very frequently,
to" much postage is paid, to make sure
OF instant transmission, and still often.
er, too little. With c two-cent stamn
Tor one ounce, instead of half an ounce.
as now, there would be no question in
regard to the vast ajority of ordinary
letters.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-12-11

The latest reports from many of the
leading winter wheat growing states,
including Tennessee, Virginia, Ken.
lucky, Maryland, Missouri, Kansas,
Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsyl>
vania, all of which excepting the three
latter states show a large decrease in
area, compared with last year, varying
from 10 to 81 Id per cent. and in Ill
the Southern states the condition is re
ported very poor compared with last
year. Ohio. Michigan and Pennsyl-
vanla report slight decrease in acre.
age and fair condition. These facts are
deemed important in their relation to
the prices of wheat next wear.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-12-11
The Discrimination of the Coinage of
Silver Dollars Most Earnestly
Recommended.
The Banks Compelled to Deposit an
Excessive Amount of Security,
Thinks the President.
Methods for Extending the Foreign
Trade Suggested-C Condition Of the
War Department.
Restoration of the Navy Urged-The
Civil Service lava Graceful
Valedict0ry.
THE PRESIDENTS MEssAas

THE LATE ELECTION
To the Congress OF the United States:
Since the close Of your last session the Amer
lean people, in the exercise of their highest
right of suffrage, have chosen their CHIEF
magistrate fox toe four year, eAsnuing: When
1t is remembered thaS at no period in the
countfye astnry has the long political con-
eest which customarily precedes the day of
the national election been waged with
greater fervor and intensity, it is subject
OF congratulation that after the controversy
at the polls was over, and while the slight
preponderance by which the issue had been
determined was as yet unascertained, the
public peace suffered no disturbance. but
the people everywhere patiently and quietly
awaited the result Nothing could more
strikingly illustrate the temper Of the
American citizen. his love of order and his
Loyalty to law. Nothing could more signally
demonstrate the strength and wisdom of our
polltleei institutions Eight years have
passed since controversy concerning the
result OF national election sharply called
the attention of the congress to the neces-
'!ty of providing more precise and definite
regulations for counting the electoral vote.
1t is of the greatest Importance that this
question be solved before conflicting claims
TO the presidency shall again distract the
country; and l am persuaded that, bv the
people ut large, any Of the measures of re-
lief thus far proposed would be preferred to
continued inaction.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-12-11


People in all the large cities of the
East who are aware of the low price of
wheat are taxed as much as ever for
flour and bread. This gross injustice
ELECTS very strong compliments
through the newspapers, and frequent
suggestions are found in favor of govern.
ment regulation of this matter, as in
Europe. There the law compels all
bakers to make their loaves of q uni
form weight, and the people know what
they are buying aud how much pound
they are paying. Here, where wheat
was never so low in the memory of liv-
ing man, the people are taxed as much
as ever for flour and bread. In an in.
terview with New York baker he said
well, supposefaour has gone down, do
you suppose we're going to lower our
price, SO long as We have no trouble in
getting the prices we now ask? Il
amt reasonable to think so. hone
you newspaper fellows amt a-going to
play the same trick on us here as was
played in England some time AGO.
Why. the London papers showed up
the bakers fearful. They said that
though breadstuffs was low, bread was
high: aud country papers followed suit
and Lord bless you the bakers had to
give in. So will we if it comes to the
tug,
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-12-11


The Secretary of the interior Is very
explicit upon one subject that is prom
inent topic OF public discussion. As to
education by national aid, the Secretary
says: 4 am of the opinion chat the
school systems of tho several States
should not be interf FRED with by such
aid, and that it is not wise for the gen.
eral government to attempt to build up
a school system of its own, but that all
national appropriations for school pur-
poses should be placed under the con-
troll OF the States, with only such guards
AS shall secure its faithful application to
the purposes for which 1t was apprc
priated."
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-12-11
The Father of the British Armiv.

In the late General England has died
not only the "doyen" of the Royal Ar.
tillerv, but also the "father" of the
British Army. As the deceased, who was
in his ninety seventh year, was the old
est officer in her Nlajesty's service, his
death surely merits M ore than the few
lines of obituary notice with which the
papers have recorded his end He had
obtained his first commission "by COM
mand of His Majesty King George Ill"
as far back as May, 1905, and within a
few weeks of bis name appearing in the
official Gazette" was ordered with
his battery to the Weser, where he took
part in the now almost forgotten opera
tions which were undertaken in COOP
Grafton with the Russian forces in
North Germany. OF this bloodless
campaign which ended in the withdrawal
of our forces, General England was the
last survivor. In 1906 he was sent to
South Africa to share in our operation
against tho Dutch, who were at that time
in possession of the Cape Colony. From
the Cape he went to South America,
and was at the investment of Monteyid-
60, our unfortunate attack upon Buenos
Ayres, and other illstarred operations,
which ended in tie withdrawal of our
forces from the Rio de Ia Plata. OF
this campaign, too, he was the solitary
survivor: General England finally
shared in the closing scenes of the Pen.
insular war, and was at the battle of
Vlttoria aud slego Of San Sebastian.
He was not at Waterloo, and saw no
further service after the peace of 1915.
but has survived until the memories
OF the operations in which he had shar.
ed had almost passed away. His deaf.
makes us regret that one of tho last of
the "1ron Dukes" army has left MS.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-12-11
THE NAVY.
THE NEW CRY1CEPC

The report of the secretary of the navy ex-
hibits the progress which has been made on
the new steel cruisers authorized by the acts
OF Aug: 5, 1882, and March 80, 1888 Or
cago, of 900 tons, is more than half
finished; the Atlanta, 5000 tons, has been
successfully launched, and her machinery IS
now fitting; the Boston, also of 3 600 tons.
ia ready for launching; and the Dolphin,
dispatch steamer of 500 tons, is ready for
delivery. Certain adverse criticisms upon
the designs of these cruisers are discussed by
the secretary, who insists that the correct
ness of the conclusions reached by the adj
visory board and the department has been
demonstrated by recent in ship
building abroad The machinery of the
double-turreted monitors, Puritan, Terror
and Amplitude, contracted for under the
act OF March 3, 1883, is in process of con-
struction No work has been d)ne during
the past year on their armor, for lack of the
eq try Still F enh
finished at the navy yard in California It Is
recommended that early steps be taken to
complete these vessels, and to provide also
an armament for the monitor Mlantonomah.
The recommendations of the naval advisory
board. approved by the department.. COM
prise the construction of one steel cruiser OF
4, 500 tons, one cruiser of 5000 tons, two
heavy armed gunbOats, one light cruising
gunboat, one dispatch vessel armed with
Hotchkss cannon, one armed ram and three
torpedo boats The general designs, all Of
which are calculated to meet the existing
wants of the service are now well advanced,
and the construction of the vessels can be
undertaken as soon as you shall grant the
necessary authority
THE ARCTIC EXPEDITIONS.
The act of congress approved Aug. z, 1882,
authorized the removal to the United States
of the bodies of Lieutenant Commander G.
w. De Long and his companionsof the jean
nette expedition The removal has been sue
cesstuly accomplished The remains were
taken from their grave in the Lena delta. in
March, 1883. but were retained at Yakutsk
until the following winter. the season being
too far advanced to admit of their immediate
transportation. They arrived at New York
Feb. 20, 1854, where they were received
with suitable honors In pursuance of the
joint resolution of congress approved Feb.
Is, 1884, naval expedition was fitted
out for the relief of Lieut. A. W. Greedy,
United States army, and Of the party WHO
scientific observations at Lady Frank. n
bay The feet consisted Of the steam
sealer Thetis, purchased in England; the
Bear, purchased at St. Johns, Newfound'
land, and the Alert, WHICH was generously
provided by the BFitish government Prep
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-12-11

Emigrants are pouring into California
at the rate of 1900 to 1900 a week.
Most of them settle in the southern
part of the State and engage in fruit
and wine growing. Many of the emil
grants are men of means, who go to the
country in search of health and are led
to devote themselves to congenial bust
ness. The poorer classes 60 to the
northern counties and engage in agri.
cultural pursuits, while about 30 pei
cent OF the whole number push up hortl,
to Oregon and Washington Territory
The population Of California is now
about l. 600 900.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-12-11
THE CIvIL.SEKtfCE;


On the 20th of February last transmitted
to congress the first annual report of the
civil service commission, together with COM
munications from the heads of the several
revenue departments of the government,
respecting the Working Of the law under
which the commission has Been acting. The
good results therein foreshadowed have been
more than realized The system has fully
answered the expectations of its friends in
securing competent and faithful public ser
wants, and in protecting the appointing Off
GERS Of the government from the pressure of
personal Importantly and from the labor of
examining the claims and pretensions of
rival candidates for ublic employment The
law has had the unqualified support of the
president and of the heads of the several de-
partments, and the members Of the commits
sion have performed their duties with zeal
and fidelity. Their report will shortly be
submitted. and will be accompanied by such
recommendations for enlarging the scope Of
the existing statute shall commend them
selves to the executive and the commission.
ers charged with the administration.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-12-11

In the iirat instance TO competent commits.
sion. While fully recognizing the considera-
ttons that may be urged against this course,
am nevertheless Of the opinion that, on the
speedier or better results That portion Of
the secretary's report which concerns
not Hall TO Command year ATTENTION. lis en- en-
phattcal!y recommends that as an incentive
to the ;a7osoineno Or s.c..c.r c.:' IN
american An steamships, the government shall,
or otherwise. lend it's active assistance TO in
that unless skss e6uEss bg btifsiie s 'e 8it
foreign carrying trade must remain as it to-
gay: almost exclusively in the hands of
forelgnSrx One phase Of this subject is now
especially prominent, in view Of the repeal
tory provisions arbitrarily compelling Anerl-
can vessels to carry the mails to and
from the tinted States Al IL is
necessary to make provision TO uompensate
the owners Of such vessels for performing
s sSss t fBs5 WIS., s5 steP 7% 1s s Ra
sideration that will lead to the enactment OF
such measures for the revival OF our mer-
chant marine as the wisdom of congress NAV
devise Three per cent bonds of the govern
mene TO the amount Of more than $780,
O,OOO have since my last annual message
~ vconou ny lno eec1eCafy Inc DOnOS
OF that issue still outstanding amount to
little over $500, 900, 600. about one-fourth
OF which will be retired through the opera
lions OF the sinking fund during the coming
year: As these bonds still continue the chief
factor Of the circulation of the national
banks, the question how to avert the con
traction OF the currency caused by their re-
titetnaut ID one Of 61nstattly increasing im7
portance. It seems to be generally conceded
that the law governing this matter exacts
from the banks excessive security, and that
on their present bond deposits q larger cir
culation than is now allowed may be granted
with perfect safety. hope that the bill
permitting the issue of notes equal to the
face value OF deposited bonds, will commend
itself to the approval Of the house of repre-
sentatiYeA
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-12-11

The reported plague in Western Wiz.
ginia and Eastern Kentucky, resemblel
cholera and is called cholera by the
people. 1t is prepagated- like cholera,
through drinking water polluted with
its germs. 1t acts quickly and with most
of the symptoms of cholera. That it is
sporadic is true; nevertheless it RACES
under conditions almost exactly like
those which prevail in cholera seasons
AID districts, except that the scourged
REGION is mountainous and high above
the sea level, and that the cause which
first led to the use of impure water was
6roukh
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-12-11
POSTAL AFFAIRS.

THE REDUCTION IN LETTER POSTAGE
The report of the postmaster general &C
quaints you with the present condition and
needs of the postal service. Il diseleses the
gratifying fact that the loss of revenue ireM
the reduction In the rate Of letter postage, as
recommended in my message of December,
1882 and effected by the act Of March 8.
1883, has been much less than was generally
anticipated My recommendation of this
reduction was based upon the belief that the
actual falling of in receipts from letter post
age for the year immediately susceeding the
change OF rate would be So, 600. 0OU It hos
proved to be only $2,275.OO0 This is
trustworthy indication that the revenue will
soon be restored to it's former volume by
natural increases of sealed correspondence.
l confidently repeat, therefore, the recon-
mendatlon of my last annual message. that
the single rate of postage upon drop letters
be rtd ~ to one +: cent wherever the
The double rate is only exacted at Offices
where the carrier system is in operation, and
1T appeafs that at these offices the in
crease in tax upoh local letters defrays
the cost not only of its own COLLECTION
and delivery, but of the collection and deliv-
cry OF all other mail matter, and this is an
irregularity that ought no longer to exist
approve the recommendation Of the post
master general that the unit of weight in the
rating of hrst-class matter should be one
ounce instead OF one half ounce, as it now Is
In view OF the statistics furnished by the de-
partment, it may be well doubted whether
the change would result in any loss of
revenue. That it would greatly promote the
convenience of the public is beyond dispute.
The free delivery system has been lately
applied to hTe Cities and the total number
OF offices in which it is now III operation ia
$50. Experience shows that its Adoption
under proper conditions is equally an accom-
mediation to the public and an advantage to
the postal service; Il is more than
sustaining. and, for the reasons
urged by the postmaster general, MAY.
properly be extended. 1t is the opinion Of
thai officer that it is proper to provide
means whereby exceptional dispatch in
dealing with letters in free delivery offices
may be secured by the payment Of extra
ordinary postage. This scheme may be
made effective by the employment Of a
special stamp, whose cost shall be commen-
surato with the expense of the entire extra
service In some of the large cities private
express companies have undertaken to out
strip the government mail carriers by afford
ing, for the prompt transmission of letters,
better facilities than have hitherto been at
the command of the postoftice. 1t has
always been the policy of the government tc
discourage such enterprises, and in no better
way can that policy be maintained than in
supplying the public with the most efficient
service that, with due regard to it's own best
interests, can be furnished for its recon-
mendatIon.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-12-11
UTAH.
STRINGENT MEASURES SUGGESTED.

The report of the Utah commission will be
read with interest 1t discloses the results of
recent legislation looking to the prevention
and punishment of polygamy in that terri
tory. still believe that if that abominable
practice cannot be suppressed by law, it can
only be dealt with by the most radical legis-
lation consistent with the restraints of the
constitution. l again recommend, therefore,
that congress assume absolute political con-
troll of the Territory OF Utah, and provide
for the appointment of commission, with
such governmental powers as in it's judg-
ment may justly and wisely be put into their
hands
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-12-11

Hunters are already Staying the deer A.,
great rate in the vicinity Of Kettle river. I'll.
estimated that there are from 200 to 3oo car
cases hung up in the woods near that placa
aswa,nng shipment as the time arrives when
' s9e Jaws OF the state will permit deer to be