davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08

More than 200 suits brought against the
city for grade damages are pending in
our courts. This is largely due to our
method of appraising. In other cities
specific damages and benefits arc as
changes, and the results are published in
the Official paper for several weeks be-
fore final action Is taken in the matter by
the city council. Property owners are in
this way gwen q chance to know exactly
how the change of grade viii affect their
lots. what the benefits will be in the view
of disinterestcd parties, and how such
benefits will offset resulting dam
ages. In Omaha the steady rise in
realty values has caused the I'M
preston to prevail in some quar-
ters that no project of general pub
lie improvement can seriously damage
specific individual interests. The cases
so far brought in the courts have resulted
favorably to the opinion of those who
hold this view. Benefits have uniformly
been held as of'setting all damages, and
the rise of property along the line of i'm
provement, which has often taken place
in spite of the Improvement itself, has
been used to confirm the arguments of
the city attorney. But let us suppose
that there should be heavy fall in real
estate values between the time of enter
ing suit for grade damages and the day
upon which it is set for trial. In such a
case the argument which is now used as
the mainstay of the defense in cases of
this class brought against the city would
be turned with crushing force against
those who now depend upon 1t to fortify
their position.
AS a general proposition, public I'M
provements are of individual benefit. But
there is line where the general benefit
is secured at heavy expense and resulting
loss to individual property owners. The
means now adopted in Omaha to ascer-
tain where that line begins and ends are
totally inadequate for the purpose, The
council should advertise in advance what
street they propose to improve and to
what extent the improvement is projected.
Appraisers should be compelled to assess
benefits and damages or each lot affected
and the result of their appraIsement
should then be published tor the informa-
tion of those most interested. After
ample time had been given to appeal
from the verdict of the appraisers, the
city could determine whether the pro,
posed improvement was practicable
| Time and money would be saved by this
chance and method
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08
rRoNINENr PiaRsoNs.

Miss Rose Cleveland has accepted the pres
ident's invitation to spend tic holidays at
the white house.
Ex-Vice President Wheeler, it is now
stated, is victim OF hypochondria, instead
OF the opium nabit
George w. Chllds has given Bishop Whip
pie 500 volumes toward a library which the
bishop is making up.
Jay Gould has given his son George a house
on Forty-seventh street, New FORK, directly
in the rear of his own house.
Commissioner Fink is worth Se5O,OO0, and
could be worth millions il he would use his
accurate knowledge OF the stock marS'et IN
speculation.
Roger A. Pryor went to New York without
dollar at the close of the war. His practice
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08
The Corporate Tax Dodgers.

Several members Of the charter COM
mittee were surprised TO learn that the
railroads centering in Omaha, Lincoln,
Grand Island, Beatrice, Hastings, Ere
mont, and in fact in all cities of whatever
class in Nebraska, have for several years
past paid no city taxes upon nlnety-nlne
one-hundreths of their property within
the limits of these corporations Under
what we believe to be faulty construc.
ton of the revenue law, the right of way
and buildings on right of way, including
land used for depots, round-houses, shops,
elevators, ground leased to manufactur.
ing enterprises and used for houses
for workmcn and private enterprises,
are not listed for city taxation. Like the
property Of every other citizen or
private corporation the railroads pay u
county tax apportioncd by the state board
of equalization and transferred to the
books of the county clerk, But not one
penny of tax upon this immense property
goes INTO the city treasury. Every citi-
zen and private corporation pays for
police and fire protection, for the main
tenance of the city administration for
the enforcement OF law and the prescrva-
ton of order. The railway monopolies
who were given large donations of land
and money because the improvements TO
be made would almost pay interest
in taxes cody decline and have
declined for several years past to
contribute a dollar in taxes on prop
crty which represents more than nine
tonths of their plant within corporate
limits. In Omaha alone there are 200
city lots condemned as Night of way,
which are exempt from local taxation,
Small wonder that the members of the
charter committee were surprised to
learn of this novel state of things
This monumental tax dodging is un-
preccdented, 1t is wrong in principle
and contrary to the federal constitution.
II would not hold water moment after
| being tested in fair and impartial
court. Any nonresident paying
state, county and city taxes could
readily break up this lawless evasion of
taxation by the great Nebraska monopo-
lies by bringing to test the question OF
| its justice or injustice as discriminate n
in favor of citizens of one state against
those of another There is absolutely no
reason in law or equity why the working
men of Omaha should be taxed TO sup.
port the city government while the Union
Pacific and Burlington roads shirk upon
the shoulders of others Il burden of which
they ought to bear Il large portion.
We need a reform in the state revenue
law which will take away all excuse fol
the continuance of this outrage upon tax
payers. The city assessment must be
made separate and apart from the county
and every dollars worth of property sIb-
ject to taxation, belonging to the rail
roads as well as to private citizen:
must go on the lists. What are the Unior
Pacific and the Burlington roads doing
for Omaha that we should present them
with receipted tax bills free of cost, yeal
by year, and put our hands down in oul
pockets to make up the difference.
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08
A Remarkable Draw.

st. paul Globe. was looking over a
friends shoulder the other night, and
saw what | thought was the funniest
piece of drawing and the most wonderful
luck ever saw. They were playing
nothing but jack pots, and Jim had been
losing right along. AT last he opened
one on two pairs, Tie man next TO HIM
raised it, and Jim staid Jim thought
awhile and finally called for three cards,
] nudgcd HIM, thinking he had made II
mistake as his hand was two pairs
jacks and aces, But he took three cards
and the other man bought one, jim
skinned his hand, and saw he had dis.
QArdcd the aces and kept the jacks and
by the holy poker, If he didn I catch two
more jacks on the draw. There was
some lively betting, and after awhile, OF
course he rakcd in big pot ! didn't
get TO ask him for some time atierward
why he made that singular discard, lio
said he happened to see tho other fell
lows hand, and found it contained four
little ones and an ace, His only chance
in the world was to catch two more
Jacks and he tool, il and got them. 1t
w0uldnt happen once in 10000 times,
but he struck it the right time,
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08
Calculating the Size OF the Earth.

Popular Science Monthly: Inc earlier
attempts at calculating the size of the
globe were based on astronomical Obser-
vations. 1t would be difficult to-day to
say within what degree of accuracy the
figures then obtained could have been
relied upon, as the units of measurement
used by those pioneers have been lost,
and could not have been compared with
the units now in use.
One of the earlier attempts at obtain
ing the actual longth of the earth s meri-
dian by actual measurement of a portion
of the same was made in the sixteenth
century by n French doctor. The means
employed although very ingenious,
would be considered perfectly clumsy
and inadequate by the modern scientist.
There was in this early measurement no
attempt at mathematical precision us un-
derstood in the present century, and,
considering the simplicity of the
it is only to be wondered that
no greater error was obtained in its final
result. The measurement consisted sim.
ply in driving from Paris to Amiens, and
counting the revolutions OF the wheels Of
the carriage, and from the number Of
revolutions of the wheels obtain the dis.
tance between the two cities, which could
serve rs basis Tor calculating the length
of the meridian, OF course, this calcula-
ton could not by any means be consid
cred accurate, but, taking into account
the means employed, the result obtained
has been subsequently found to be Won
derfully precise. The most curious thing
about il is that what would now be con.
sideIed grave errors and inexactitudes
were so distributed that they almost com
pensated each other, and the dimensions
then obtained show only slight differences
with the dimensions gwen by tho most
TAt mo sI1p
no better name could be found permitted
OF the same results, with only a small
final error, being obtained with that
crude method, that are now obtained with
the most precise instruments and with the
most complicated calculations,
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08
STATE AND TERRITORY,
Nebraska Jottings

Hog cholera is still prevalent in Cas5
county.
The Mcthodists of Chadrou arc build
ing "a gospel vault
Liberty's longing is brass band and
fire hr. gade combined,
A large bridge to cost sli 900 is being
built over the Platte riYcl al Oyerton.
The new city building in Beatrice is
nearly completed The cost viii reach
SO, 900.
A company has been formed in Chgdron
to supply theleity with brick at the rate
OF 20 900 day,
The water supply OF Beatrice is cut of
owing 90 a leak IN the suction plPe. The
citizens manage to irrigate as usual .
The Crete .Eideee says. Omaha
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08
Different Styles OF Advertisements

blHcfeht StSics Oh HuVCttiSSlnCntS.
Brooklyn Eagle "The style of adver-
tising has greatly changed within the
past few years, " said Il gentleman in
charge of the advertising department of
one OF BrUokiyn's largest dry goods cstab-
lishments to an Eagle reporter. AN ad-
vertisement to command attention must
be original, The public have tired OF
such ads as John Smith will receive his
customers at his Old stand, or Blank IL
Blank sell dry goods cheaper than any
other house in town The present gen
GRAFTON Is progressive, and to attract at
tcntion one must be original. Old fash.
ioned ads are played out. In former
years, even in such BIG houses as Stew
arts, in New York, the clerk ut the but
ton counter was delegated III his off
moments to write the advertisements for
the newspapers. Now all is changed.
Every large business house has its sep
aratc advertising department. Some
houses employ as many as two and three
men to look after their advertising. Since
the pictorial craze has obtained such Il
foothold many firms head their columns
with pictures descriptive of the goods of
fcred Tor sale, And then the ad. must be
written so rs to attract the eye of the
reader. If Il firm has u quantity of un-
derwear to sell, it is folly to say so in the
first line. First get your reader inter
ested Talk about the north pole; say
that il is cold in that region and incident
ally mention that winter is coming and
that underwear at this season is not an
inappropriate subject. And then, in Il
confidential way, tell the reader that your
firm has many cases of underwear, pur-
chased at a bankrupt sale perhaps, which
will be sold at one-half its value. In
tersperse if you like witty saying here
and there, but unless you wish to kill
your al. in the first line give prices. Ten
years ago prices were never given. Now
an ad commands but little attention un.
less pieces are attached.
'Do you believe in the value of adyer-
tisn9y'.
Certainly. Were it not for newspa-
per advertising and advertising by mail
many Brooklyn firms would not be doing
business. When one looks back and
notes the difference between newspaper
advertising twenty years ago and to-day
the changes which have taken place are
marvellous. How many fortunes have
been made by booming an inferior patent
medicine? Newspaper advertising is yet
IN Its infancy and l hope for great things
in the future"
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08

CONGRESSIONAL recess has not strength
cncd the democratic stomach with refer
ence to civil service reform. Tho new
dose administered by Doctor Cleveland
shows signs of refusing to stay down. 1t
is not Jacksonian medicine in Jefferson
ian spoon, and nothing else is palatable
nowadays to the pap sick bourbons.
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08

The house began its session well yester-
day by passing n bill making liberal ap-
preparations for the maintenance of Ne
braSka's frontier posts and for the COM
plcton of Fort Russell in Wyoming The
recent addition of the Eighth infantry to
this department has rendered such legis-
lation urgent. In his annual report Gen
eral Sheridan especially referred to Forts
Robinson and Niobrara as important
posts which it would be the policy of the
war department to upbuid and maintain
rs large and permanent garrlsons. Both
will doubtless be made regimental posts
as soon as accommodations for the re
quisite number of troops can be provided.
AS long as Nebraska occupies
her present relations to
the great Sioux reserve the
interests of settlements on the border will
demand the concentration of troops along
our northern boundary. Railroad facili.
ties are now so full and complete that an
entire garrison from Fort Robinson or
Fort Niobrara can be transferred in q
few hours time to any point of strategic in
tcrest, while settlement has poured so rap
idly into the sections in which these posts
are situated, that the posts can be main
tanned almost as cheaply rs in the larger
cities from the products of the neighbor-
ing farms,
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08
"The Proper Study OF Mankind is
Man"

SAYS the illustrious Pope, II he had IN.
cluded woman in the list he would have
been nearer the truth, ii not so poetical.
DR., II. v Pierce has made them, both a
life study, especially woman and the, pc
culiar derangements TO which her deli
cate system is liable, Many women IN
Pierce only through his "Fayorito Pre-.
scrlption, ''bless him with all their hearts,
for he has brought them the panacea for
all those chronic ailments peculiar TO
their sex; such rs leucorrh@a, prolapsus
and other displacements, liberation, in
ternal fever bloating, tendency TO ia.
terual cancer and other ailments. Price
reduced TO one dollar By druggists 4.
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08

A CORRESPONDENT from London notes
with pleasure "the perfume of pure
American life in the midst Of British So
ciety." 1t must be very noticeable.
America has not yet reached point where
the leaders of society can Haunt their
tilthiness and immoralites in the face Of
the world and hold up their heads among
decent people. We do not imagine that
it is any different in the American colony
in London.
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08

Mr.. PoPPLEToN objects to the muni.
cipal taxation of railroads on the ground
that it would be double taxation. Non
sense. Nobody knows better than MIR,
Popplcton that the exemption of the
railways from municipal taxation IN this
state is an imposition upon every other
taxpayer, including himself, who is
thereby compelled to shoulder the whole
burden of affording police aud fire pro-
lection to the corporations.
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08

SEVEN lines of the presidents message
are devoted to the question of interstate
commerce regulation, Mr., Cleveland
has Travelled through so few states that
he may perhaps be excused for his gno-
rance of the meaning OF the phrase IN
ter.statc commerce.
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08

SUNsETCox has returned to congress
after Il years vacation in Turkey. Mr..
Cox is more valuable in his old position
on the floor of congress than as an ad-
junct to Mr., Bayard's state department,
With Abram Hewitt absent from the
lower house, New York can be congrat-
ulated that Mr.. CoX's old seat will be
filled by one of the soundest ard ablest
of the leaders of the eastern democracy.
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08

Mr. BAYARD succeeded in incorporat-
ing his report in the presidents message.
But we are panied to onotice that all men
ton of Manning is omitted. The inilu,
ence of democratic foreign missions on
the missionaries is one of the most start
ling diplomatic phenomena of the age.
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08


The church fair soon will blossom
In every country town,
And Maud behind the counter
viii sit in Silkcn gown
And sell you red pincushions,
And Shaving-cases, too,
Aud empty claret bottles
Trimmed up with ribbons blue.
She'll charm you with her tender
Smile and airy laugh,
And sell you for ten dollars
Some pretty little frivolty of
trinket that she made with her
own sweet hands at home at an
actual outlay of precisely
Ono MOllar and 4 half
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08

RUSSIA and Australia have both been
shipping much less wheat this year than
IN 1885, and the European demand is
greater than last year. These facts
afford something of solid foundation
for the improved tone of the wheat
market in the United States.
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08

, Codington county is IN debt $4,000,
Alexandria shipped 3l7 cars of grain
since August /.
Huron authorities arc bouncing the
gamblers of both sexes.
The trip from Deadwood to New York
can be made in three days and n half
now,
A discussion has arisen in Brulc county
as to how many pounds of coal there are
in II ton. And the dealers are mum.
The Dakota Blizzard has been seized
for debt. The public will chcerfully pay
the cost of Keeping it in iail all winter.
Potatoes sell for four cents per pound
at Deadwood Butter Is quoted at forty
five cents and so are eggs. Apples are
scarce at So per barrel,
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08

WHEN we have entirely recovered from
the effects of the coal find the time can
be proftably employed in working up
interest in the railroad problem. Doug
las county needs more direct rail connec-
tions with her trade territory. If they
cannot be obtained in one way they
should be secured in another. But Sc
cured they should be.
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08

The new extradition treaty with Japan
is good thing as far as it goes, but
Canada is vastly more popular with run.
away American criminals than Japan.
What is wanted is n treaty which will
prevent the growth Of the American
colony in Montreal.
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08

firmly than ever, and it is entirely safe
to assume that the present congress will
not suspend the coinage. The relative
value of the silver dollar at this time is
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08

A FLORAL anchor decorated Senator
Van Wyck's desk at the opening of con-
gress. 1t was supposed to typify the fact
that the senator is "a stayer."
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08

THE contest in the California legisla.
ture over the election of United States
senator is expected to be decidedly hot
1t will be battle of millionalres. Mr.
Hearst who is filing vacancy by ap-
pointment of the governor. desires cleo
ton. The taste he has had of senatorial
dignity and privileges Is pleasing to him,
and what Is quite as valuable as stimu-
liant to his aspiration. his wife is ambi-
tous and enjoys the society of Washing
ton. The Central Pacific railroad will
have candidate friendly to its interests,
and it Will not be sparlng in the use of
money to further his cause. Hearst is
wealthy enough to compete and will not
lack liberality. The members Of the
California legislature who are not averse
to accepting a considerable sum for
their support, have therefore the promise
of rich harvest. 1t is said that in the
Stanford election the price of votes
ranged as high rs SO, 800 II head, but it is
expected that figure will be considerably
exceeded in the election of this winter
Besides his own resources, Hear st will bc
backed by a great mining firm of San
Francisco reputed TO be worth 800 600 900
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08
Better Take i'm His Sign.


Butut0 Express.
The president might as well take in his
ciyl-sewicc reform sign. 1t is about as ms
leading as the legend of Here is English
spoken" which one sees in continental shop
WiulOWs
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08

CONGRESS started promptly at work
yesterday The committees are in full
operation and members are steaming
away at bills in which they or their con-
stitucncies have 4 personal or peculiar
interest, 1t is noted that the short ses-
sion of congress is quite rs likely rs the
long session TO be characterized by the
passage of important legislation. In fact
the record shows that IT is even more So
During its first session every congress is
making politics and dawdlmg and timidly
fencing for the election OF the next con-
gress, which by our singular system
comes between the two sessions of the
current congress Az the second session
it is more apt TO settle down to business.
There is no election of speaker and ap-
poiutment of committees 10 stimulate
ambitions and distribute sore heads The
political complexion of tho next congress
has been settled Those who have been
reelected are safe for the next three
wears; those who have not are in a more
independent position than ever and have
fewer distractions. The last republican
house did more in the short session of
1887 than has been done in all the ses,
sions since The fact that the session
onds by expiry on the Sd of March do.
terminos It's duration detiInetly and the
committees know that they must cut out
their work according to their time. ,.
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08
THE DAILY BEE.
sworn statement OF Circulation
Average. .........,.'.... '...'.. ..'lo.|io
GEO. B. 1ZsCItUCK.
IL. L.

GEO. Il. 1ZsCuUCK.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 4th
day OF December A. D., 1886. n. =. Fell,
lSEAII Notary Public.
Geo. B. Tzschuck, being first duly sworn,
deposCs and says that he Is secretary OF the
Bee Publishing company, that the actual ay-
crage daily circulation of the Daily Bee for
the month of January, 1886, was 1037S copies,
for February. 1885, sos copies; for March,
1856, 1887 copies; for April, 1886, r. l9l
copies: for May 1856 II, 439 copies; for June,
for August, 1856, l2, AGA copies for September,
1886, 1900 copies; for October, 1886, 1889
copies; for November, 1856, l3,34S copies.
Gro Il. TzSCHUCR.
Sworn TO and subscribed before me this 9th
day of November A. ID. 1856,
SEAL. N. p. FELL, Notary Public.
Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-08
Iowa Items.

A total OF SiNty-nine arrests were made
by the police of Cedar Rapids in Novcm-
ber.
Prophet Fosters storm of the 9th failed
to materialize. A letter of coincidence
from Wiggins is in order.
Henry Schwartz, n railroad brakeman,
has been arrested in Davenport for in
dulging in the luxury of two wives, ono
at each end of the run.
A farm lad named Ernest Arnold, aged
twcnty-three, living near Crcston, who
was suffering with bad health. suicidud
by shooting himself in the forehead
The city revenue of DeS Moines is found
to he insufficient to maintain the present
efficiency of the police and fire depart
ments and the expense of other city
aifailS.
s. Covers were mado for 800 people at the
banquet given the Stock Breeders associ-
alton at Mason City on the I'd inst. The
gathering was truly representative of the
farmers and stock breeders OF the state.
Investigation into the cause of virucnt
diphthcria at Davenport by the board of
health, resulted in finding the cause to be
impure water of the wells and clStcrns.
Analysis showed the water III every in
stance to have been contaminated with
seepings from privies.
The Hon. John Merritt, of Jones
county, diel at his homestead, near An
amosa, at the age of "a years. lie was
member of the first territorial legislation
of Iowa, under Governor Lucas, when it
convened in Iowa City in 1896. He leaves
a family of thirteen children.
The annual report of the clerk of Polk
county on criminal convictions, has Just
been completed. There were 93 conVic-
tions, classified as follows: Assaults Of
various grades, 20; burglary or larceny,
90; bigamy, q contempt of court, .; nuis
ance, etc, %; selling intoxicating liquors,
etc, 3; obtaining money by false prctcnse,
5; murder, second degree, /, aud other
offences, IL. The sentences during the
same period to the pcnitentiary aggre-
gated G2 years of service, and one Grim
inal for life.