Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-15
SOME NEW BOOKS.

"a Dictionary of Electrical Words, Terms
and Phrases" by Prof. Il. j. Houston, of
Philadelphia, has just been issued from the
press of tho Electrical World, New York
The marvellous progress of electricity in the
Industries of the country makes the diction-
'ary especially valuable as work of refer.
ence. 1t is not mere word-book. Tho
words, terms and phrases arc invariably
folio wed by short, concise definitions, giving
the sense in which they are correctly en-
ploy ed, with copious illustrations of cleo
trical appliances.
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The ScriDners have issued in handsome
form Lester Wallack's memories of Fifty
Years." with biographical introduction of
the lamented actor by Lawrence Hutton. To
the thousands of theater-goers who have en-
joycd Mr.. WallaclSs character representa-.
tions on the stage for half a century and
who are familiar with his charms as a story
teller, this memorial volume win need no
commendatlon 1t brstles with reminis-
cences of the great actors of his day, and is
n store house of green room anecdotes de-
lghtfully told. Few volumes of its class
contain more genuine pleasure between the
covers.
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"Bluebird Notes" is the CHEEKY title of a
volumo.of poems from the pen of Ira Bill
man, and published by Funk g. Wagnalls,
New York. The book contains 1876 poems,
showing considerable diversity of length
subject, measure and merit. Most of them
are short, perspicuous and readable. Some
of them are exceedingly touching and reveal
no small degree of poetic genius. The vol
umc is beautifully printed on heavy calen-
dered paper, and il will be safe, ennobling
and helpful in any family.
1.-THE Master of Balantrae,n by Robert
Louis Stevenson, having run its course in
the magazines and patent plate papers. is
now issued in book form by Charles Scribner
& Sons, New York. Most readers are
familiar with the wanderings and adventures
of the master in temperate ard tropical
shores. The story Is told in that prolific,
weird vein for which the author is noted,
and will find favor with those who love sea-
farng life.
''Monopoles and the Peoplen is the title
of an instructive book from the pen of
Charles Whiting Baker, published by c.. L.
Putnam's Sons, New York. The subject in
wolves the industrial and social welfare of
the country. The growing tendency to mo-
nopoly in all departments of business Is the
great evil of to-day, and the manner and
method of dealing with 1t, of making it con-
tribute to the general prosperity instead of
menacng our welfare presents problem
almost beyond solution. The author is asso-
ciate editor of the New York Engineering
News, a position which gave hun an ac-
curate knowledge of the machinery of
corporate trusts ana pools, of local
and national ramificatons This information
he embodies in the book, covering the ques-
tion thoroughly and briefly. He gives his
tory Of railroad monopolies, trusts, pools
municipal and other corporations, their
growth and development, with statistics
bearing on each, how they use the privileges
granted them by an oyer-generous public to
oppress their creators, the attempts ut regu-
lation, and the remedies which the people
can safely apply. His conclusions possess a
flavor of novelty, though not entirely new,
and many Of them could be put in practical
operation with great benefit to the public.
As remedy tor the serious evils and abuses
which burden the railway management OF
the country, Mr.. Baker suggests that the
government acquire title to the franchise,
right of way and real estate OF
all railway lines, map out a territory for
each corporation, so that there could
be no competition between them; prohibit
the construction of parallel lines; issue bonds
bearing 8 per cent. to pay for purchase and
lease the roads for terms of % to the highest
bidder at a quarter of one per cent above
the interest on the bonds, the government
reserviug title and the right to regulate
charges. With municipal corporations, such
as street car lines, gas ana water works,
electric light ana other companies, the author
would deal with them IN n similar way
Either let the municipalities operate them
for the public good, or sell the franchise to
| the highest bidder for a term of years, re-
serving the right to regulate rates. Mr..
Baker deals vigorously with the evils OF
stock watering and declares that the govern
ments, both national and state, should pro-
hlbit under severe penalties the issue of in
fiated stock. AS whole the work Is exceed
ngly interesting in tone, treatment and con-
illusions,