davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-20
Street Railway Franchises.

To the Editor OF The Dispatch:
For the first time a true note has been
sounded on street railway franchises, and that
in your editorial of Friday morning. If the fran
chises already granted to horse car railways
had been limited and sold to the highest bid
ders the sum realized to the City Treasury
would have run into millions. What did the
city realize? Nothingi
1t is wise to be liberal in the first lease as
pioneers should be encouraged, but the peo-
ple's rights should be carefully guarded; they
rarely are. Grant franchises-leases-for, say,
20 years Qike Schenley's leases)-to the highest
bidder; at the end of the 20 years sell the lease
for an additional 20 years, the purchaser to buy
the personal assets at an approved value. Reg.
ulate fares, the character and the number OF
cars. Possibly such regulations might not SO
speedily develop system of street railway
service, but it would, take it, develop the
best system for the public and reserve to the
people those franchises which are forever parted
with under our lax system of grants.
take the stand further that the franchises
already granted are invalid-void-for this rea-
son: Streets are only easements to the public,
and no exclusive rights OF way can be granted.
The property primarily is the fee of the abut-
ting owners, and is vacated for their own ben
eft and use, with an easement only to others.
How, then, can the city grant an exclusive
franchise? II.
PITTsBURG, May Is.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-20
PEOPLE OF PROMINENCE.

PROF. GRIFFIN, of Williams College, is to
be professor of history, of philosophy and dean
of the faculty at Johns Hopkins.
JOHN R. LYNCH, Fourth Auditor of the
Treasury, is mulatto, with heavy mustache,
prominent nose and large mouth. He is good
talker and has acquired considerable property.
THE oldest living Odd Fellow in the United
States is James s. Irwin, of Buffalo, who has
been an active member of Niagara Lodge No.
25 for 45 years. and has been its secretary for 40
years.
Mr.. ADOLF SUTRo is travelling about the
world getting ideas and plans for the great
public library building which he proposes to
put up in San Francisco. He will give the
building and his 2OO,O 600 volumes to that city.
NJ. HENRI RocHEFoRT, JR., who recently
killed himself in Algeria, was only % years old
but had led a most adventurous life. He had
been with Oliver Pain in the Soudan and with
NJ. de Brazza on the Congo. He had also trav-
eled much in South America.
AT recent meeting of the Nineteenth Cen
tury Club in New York it was announced that
Mr.. Andrew Carnegie had offered to fit up
rooms for the club, including hall for its lee
lures and discussions, in his new music all at
Seventh avenue and Fifty-seventh street. The
offer will enable the club after next month to
have permanent quarters.
THE other day visitor at the Agricultural
Department, gazing over the ample grounds in
which the buildings are located turned to the
Secretary and remarked: you've got the
prettiest place in the CITY," "of course. Why
not?" was the prompt rejoinder You know
the Secretary of Agriculture is the tail-end of
the Cabinet, and the tail is almost altogether
ornamental Its principal use is TO keep the
flies off the other members of the Cabinet"
THE lady who, it is announced, will soon be-
come the bride of ex-Secretary Bayard, is the
only daughter of the late DR.. George Clymer,
for many years surgeon in the navy, the
granddaughter of Admiral Shribnck and the
great-granddaughter of George Clymer, who
was one of the signers of the Declaration of
Independence. as well as one of the trainers of
the Federal Constitution, and whose portrait
was in the Centennial collection at New York.
Dr.. Meredith Clymer, a distinguished physician
of New York City, is a member of the same
family.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-20

made concerning a new system of rapid
transit at Boston, which it is asserted will
attain the speed of the birds appropriately
named ''swifts." So far as the claims are
concerned the new system of rapid transit
certainly seems to leave nothing to be de-
sired until we get ready to beat the light
ming.
With regard to the speed of the new sys-
tenn, we are told that the carrier pigeon can
fly at the rate of ia miles per hour.
Swallows can beat the carrier pigeons by
flying at the rate of $50 miles. And the
swift leaves most of its feathered competi-
tors far in the rear with a record of 200
miles per hour. The new system of rapid
transit is not going to be kept back with
any such humdrum birds as the carrier
pigeons or swallows; but it makes itself an
example of rapidity by rivaling the swift
in fact as we'll as in name.
The invention is said to consist of utiliz-
ing the momentum of car passing between
the magnetic coils. This rather indefinite
statement is the basis for an assertion that
speed can be obtained exceeding 200 miles
per hour. In this way passengers can be
sent from Boston to New York in about an
hour; from New York to Pittsburg in about
two hours more, and so on, until we cross
the continent to California in Is hours or
about the time it now takes to travel from
Boston to Pittsburg. The new process is
stated to have the further advantages of
very small cost, compared with that of rail-
road transportation and remarkable con-
venience and freedom from smoke, flying
cinders, furry and noise. After these de-
sirable results are realized, it seems that
nothing woSld be left for the travelling
public to desire until we get ready to beat
time itself, and by flying around the globe
in the twinkling of an eye, gain an entire
day by beating revolution of the earth.
The fact that this revolution in travelling
is to take place when the tests are success
full, is extremely interesting; but the public
will probably restrain its impatience for the
realization of the wonders in view of its
long standing experiences of the wide gaps
between prospectuses and performances.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-20
PITTsBURG, MONDAY, MAY 20, 1889.
THE FIGHT FOR LEADERSHIP.

The outcome of the bitter, clustering fight
between the rival aspirRnts to the control Of
the Republican party machine in this neck
of the woods is that the two Pittsburg Col.
onels, Magee and Finn, still command the
situation-while the Beaver and Allegheny
Colonels, Quay and Bayne, though, as the
phrase runs, slightly battered, are yet in the
arena. They continue factors of the situa-
tions to the extent, at least, of being able to
make local politics picturesque and inter
esting if the spirit moves them.
The public who remember how, until a
few years ago, majority of the Colonels
were pulling together, happy and har-
monious band, and who never took too
seriously their seeming breaches, will now
be prepared to admit that the factional
rupture is very real and life-like. 1t is a
fight for personal supremacy in the leader
ship. in which the party workers who hold
or expect Office who are grateful for favors
or revengeful for slights, are particularly
hot and active in ranging themselves on
sides according to their personal interests.
There is no profound pretense of any deeper
issue.
1t can do no great harm to the party, and
itmay do some good, to have such rivalries,
If they only result in putting the successful
wing on its mettle to bring out fit candi
dates for Office and to support proper meas
ures in State and city legislation. In re-
pelling so decisively the assault of the
Quay-Bayne combination the Magee and
Finn men have given the Junior Senator
and his colleagues in State management
their first serious check. They reveal a
fighting strength which the Beaver Napo-
leon will not rashlv underestimate in the
light of Saturdays returns. On the other
hand, the Magee-Flinn leaders may well
have an incentive to wariness and discre-
tion in presenting candidates and urging
policies in the knowledge that alert and ex
perienced opponents lie in wait to take ad-
vantage of their mistakes.
Approaching events will show whether
the antsgonisms inspire prudence. If the
opposing wings will not learn wisdom from
each other, the Democratic organization is
always willing to be used by the public as
a short-term corrective. But as Colonel
Dumas SAYS in the play, 'fIt is astonishing
how well you like a man after you have
fought him." and there is always the chance
that after the Republican managers have got
ten rid of all their accumulated bitterness in
a irst-class general fight, such as this now
on hand, they may wake up, if they cannot
destroy, one another. In any event, the
sequel promises to be of interest.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-20
THE WEEKS EVENT.

The musical enjoyments to which the
public of PitJsburg have been treated of late
will reach their elimination this week, in
the Music Festival which opens at the
Exposition building tomorrow night. The
scope of musical art in the seven perform
snces this week will give Pittsburgers a
taste of the greatest works of classical
music, and will surpass anything in the
festival line yet attempted in this city. In
addition it will introduce the Pittsburg
public to its new building, the first of the
Exposition. When our people find out
what has been secured by the efforts of the
Exposition Society and perceive the great
public uses of which this addition to our
list of public structures will be capable,
they will be strengthened in their deter
mination to secure for that project its full
est success. Great social as we'll as musi-
cal results are to be expected from this
weeks event.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-20
GOOD TIMES AHEAD.
A Favorable Crop Outlook and Improve.
ment in the Railroad Situation.

a raVOFuDle Cr0p UNLOCK and lmprOVes
ment in the Railroad Situation.
Special Telegram to the Dispatch.
NEW YORK, May 19.-Henry Clews & Co.
will say tomorrow that a distinct improvement
has taken place in the stock market during the
past few days, and the opinions advanced in
these advices for some time past are now in
course of realization. There Is little real
change in the situation, except that the senti-
ment of the street is at last beginning to reflect
the influences of easy money, favorable crop
outlook and continued improvement in the
railroad situation. These are really the strong
est arguments in favor of better prices that
could be presented; and, as a matter of fact,
the improvement in conditions is pr0gressin
more rapidly than the Improvement in prices.
Crop prospects are probably as encouraging
as they have ever been at this season. Timely
rains removed all fears existing some weeks
ago, and all cereal crops are reported in excel
lent condition, that for winter wheat being the
highest average for many years. Gross earn
ings still continue to make satisfactory COM
parlson, even against the considerable increases
which were reported about this time last year,
while net earnings are also making favorable
returns, largely the result of decreased expendl-
lures. At the same time it should be remem-
bered that the present rally is based upon an
ticipated results, which immediate conditions
amply justify; and these records of what is
passed, now appearing, are mainly useful in
showing that past results were not SO bad as
was represented. Values have been unduly
depressed through fear and Decentralization,
and discouraging as the outlook then was, the
decline was out of all proportion to what the
facts justified. If prices, therefore, were un-
duly depressed, we have an additional argu-
ment for rising market; and now that the
downward pressure is being removed the influ-
ence OF this factor is asserting itself.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-20
BEATEN AT ITS OWN GAME.

There is a great deal of satisfaction in
noticing that the convention of Farmers
Alliances which met in Birmingham, Ala,
not only brought the jute bagging combina-
tion to terms, but left it knocked clear out
of the ring. The organizations of cotton
raisers decided to purchase 6,000,0 900 yards
of cotton bagging, simply for the crop of
three States. When this decision was pend
ing the jute bagging combine made pro-
posals to reduce the prices; but the farmers
properly refused any further dealings with
the men who had fully displayed their dis
position to extort high prices when they
can.
The new material for covering cotton
bales will, it is said on good authority,
absorb 125,000 bales of the cotton supply,
and is so much superior to jute bagging that
it will save nearly one-fourth of its entire
cost by the decrease of insurance. The loss
of the market for 5000, 600 yards of its out
put will put the bagging combine in just
about the same position as the copper syn
dicate when it commenced to go to pieces;
and the fact that this diversion of the trade
will probably be doubled by the purchases
ofiother cotton-raising States, makes itonly a
question of time when that combination
will tumble into ruin. This is the legiti-
mate result of its policy of conspiracy and
extortion. Hardly any more satisfactory or
salutary outcome of that policy can be
imagined than the loss of the market and
the destruction of their trade which the
schemers have brought upon themselves.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-20
MONUMENTAL MEANNEss.

Some day, say ten thousand years hence,
New York City will be full of statues and
monuments. At present she is only pro-
vided with sites. But New York City
makes up for it by the number of her ap-
peals to the entire country for funds with
which to build statues. Several imperfect
lists of these appeals have been printed in
the newspapers, but the one which follows
we believe is nearly complete:
For the Statue of Liberty.
For the Grant monument
For the Philip H. Welch monument.
For the Centennial arch.
For the statue to Horace Greeley.
For the Postmaster Pearson monument.
For the Niger Minstrel Bryant monument,
For the John Bright monument
For the Ericsson statue.
For the Lester Wallack monument,
For the statue to Henry Ward Beecher.
OF these monuments and statues only one
has been finished, the Bsrtholdi statue of
Liberty; three or four of the others NAV be
built some day if the people of the United
States turn in and lift the New Yorkers out
of the hole into which their stinginess has
precipitated them. At present the foremost
appeals from New York are for the Greeley
statue to be erected in City Hall park, and
for the Centennial arch. There is no reason
at all why New York should not build any
number of statues in Mr.. Greeley's honor,
or to mark a glorious anniversary in her
history, but if Pittsburgers have any money
to give away to such purposes we advise
them to contribute to our own Exposition
building, or other local Enterprises of a
patriotic and benefcent order in this com
munity. New York is like beggar who
whines for aims while he hugs close to his
skin heavy bank account. And it is not
worth while encouraging a dead beat
metropolis iE mendieancy.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-20
FOLLY AS 1T FLIES.

isYou are all the world to me-" affections
ateIy remarked Noah as he surveyed his menag-
erie.-HOtet Mail.
A good business dog is always looking for
a snap Job whenever he starts out on tramp
Baltimore american.
A Great Enthusiastically como
up between you and Miss Dumping?
DE Left -(sadly)-Her father.-Ttme.
Nothing Further 10 Be eSaid.-Algernon-
Hove you, Miss Ethel.
Ethel-An right; this is free country. exit
Algerton. )-Epoch.
''The Nibelungen Lied" says headline
in daily paper. That settles it, then. We shall
never believe the Nibelungen in this world again.
-SomerriLLs Journal.
"Oh, let me cool my aching head, she
exclaimed, throwing open the window during q
summer shOwer-and the rain began to pat her on
the pain.-HoteL Mail.
Stayed Too Late.-Blabbins- during a
conversational lapse)-Do you ever snOre' Miss
Ma5ley2
Miss Nabley-(yawnIng absent-mindedly)-Ho'
but IL like to.-ChicagO Herald.
A Cool Girl.-"That was a pretty young
thing with you in the park yesterday WILLIE"
'Yes, that was my best summer girl
''Your summer girl! What do you mean
''Yes, my Ugh school girl. DO you see ltE''-
Chicago Herald.
THE OLD, OLD STORY.
He loved fair Sue and loved her well-1
'tOh, Susie, darling, love, " cried,
She looked on him full tenderly,
And down be sat by Sueie's side.
She let him hold her pretty hand,
And let him all his hopes eondde
In her, as women often do,
Then softly. sweetly, sueie sighed.
The summer days went swiftly BY,
And she became another's bride;
While he, poor fellow, sleeps beneath
A stone on which % ''Suicide.'i
-KasAtngt0s Critic.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-20
Hounded by ONCE Seekers.

Ex-senator John B. Henderson, of Missouri,
has gone to Europe to escape the Office seekers,
who are making his life a burden. Mr.. Hen
derson has the misfortune to live in Washing
ton, so he must go away from home TO escape
the opportunities of those who are seeking
place. 81 had been in the city, or rather in my
hotel, Just six minutes on my return from a
trip to st. Louis when was attacked" said
Mr.. Henderson last Tuesday. my mail is full
of requests for assistance. ! see that Secretary
Noble is endeavoring to answer all the letters
that are sent to him." and grim smile crept
over the ex-Senator's face. Hell get very
tired of that before long Every letter that
you answer means another to be answered from
the same source. You write to a man saying
that you have put his papers on file in the de-
partment, and he writes to thank you and to
ask if you will advise him when his case is
likely to receive attention. am not in official
life, but know 1 would have a hard time
answering all of the letters 1 receive"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-20
PENNSYLVANIA PRODUCTS.

A RESIDENT of Williamsburg has caught six
sparrows in an ordinary rat trap.
WILLIAM HARTLEY, of Bedford, has back
CANNON board on which his grandmother
played game with George Washington.
THERE is Bible in Philadelphia which has
been kissed by nearly 300. 900 people. Itbelongs
to the Controllers Office and has been used in
administering oaths until it is nearly worn out
BENJAMIN G. Ross, OF Chambersburg is re-
covering from 40 wounds, some of them pretty
deep gashes in his legs, inflicted by a magnifi-
cent Jersey bull once owned by Samuel ].
Tilden.
A ROBIN, toiling to build its nest in willow
tree at the Allentown Female College, missed
its footing and fell with string about its neck
so that it was hanged, despite the efforts of its
frantic mate to save it.
A BREWERY in Reading being overrun with
rats, DR.. William Deepen. a neighbor, caught
one OF them in trap, gave him bountiful
coat OF tar and feathers and set him Free A
general squeaking and scampering followed
The neighborhood is now rid of the vermin
AT Granville, Miflin county, just before a
storm, a thoughtful lady told her little boys to
60 out and bring In the tomato plants, meaning
box of plants she had for transplanting and
to her great surprise when they came in they
had pulled up all her plants she had set out in
the garden.
Mrs. MARY Drummer, residing in Derry
township Dauphin county, with her son-in-law,
Christian Kegereis, was 1O2 years old Friday.
She is still able to be about and has but few
gray hairs. The old lady enjoys her pipe and
can converse as freely as many younger people.
great many friends called on her on her
birthday.
MRS. MALNDA sKELLY, Of Miilersburg,
missed $3.50 by getting married. She applied
for pension several years ago and last week
letter was received granting it together with
a voucher for the amount named. She had
changed her name, becoming Mrs. Anderson.
eight days before, and the valuable paper had
to be returned to Washington,
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-20
QUE MAIL POUCH.
Grant, and His Friend.
nv ofTha Ypts,,.+n1<


To the Editor ofThe DIspatch:
see General Leggett named quite promi-
nentlY as candidate for Governor Of Ohio.
happen to know little incident in his life not
hitherto published. and which 1 learned at first
In CONFIDENTIAL way that was perfect guar
anty OF its authenticity. 1t is we'll known, by
the way, that he served close to General Grant
in the War for the Union, and there friend
ship as warm and reciprocal as that of Damon
and Pythias sprung up between them.
After General Grant was raised to the Presi-
dency and was about to assume that Office in
1858 he paid General Leggett the high honor OF
inviting him to private conference about the
distribution of his Cabinet offices and princl-
pal missions. After the old comrades had
fought their old battles over together once
more at private campfire of their own, Grant
quietly said in substance: General Leggett.
will reserve the Treasury Now. my dear fell
low, look around and take your choice Of any
and all other offices within my gift"
was this not unprecedented What other
President ever so honored any man, except
possibly Garfield and Harrison in the case Of
Blaine alone? e? This was the highest compli-
ment Grant ever bestowed on any man. beyond
all question. Leggett qnietly answered: Il do
not deserve this compliment, still thank you
for it. ! want the place that know am best
prepared to fll-the Patent office" Grant,
with smile at his modesty, quickly granted
his request and Leggett was made Com
missioner of Patents. PRIVATE DALZELL.
CALDWELL, o., May Is.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-20
O'BRIEN-BAIN GOSSIP.

4
Cabinet Officers Urged to Join the Postmas-
ter Generals Sunday Closing Movement
Secretary Mobiles Letter Writing
News Notes From the Capital.
rcoRRksPoNDENcE OF THE DIsPATCHl
WASHINGTON, May 1S-A strong effort is
being made by the Sunday school people to in
duce the other members of the Cabinet to fol.
low the example set by Postmaster General
Wanamaker and forbid the admittance of en-
ployes to the departments on Sundays There
is more form than substance in this order.
ANY one who knows the peculiar constitution
of Government employe would never suspect
any OF them of working on holiday unless he
was driven to it with a club. The employees
begin to watch for 4 o'clock, the hour of dis
missal, an bour before it is due. In imagina-
tion they reach out and grasp the joys of a
public holiday week before it arrives. They
have habit of getting to their work just as the
clock is striking 8, and of preparing for their
departure so that they can be on the street a
minute after o'clock. The only object that
will bring department employe to his desk
on Sunday is job of private correspondence.
great many employees write their private let
tiers at their desks Sunday, and the effect of an
order forbidding them admittance to the de-
partments will be to compel them to do their
letter writing at home. The example of the
Postmaster General has given the Sunday
rest" people courage, however, and they have
been besieging the other members OF the Cabi-
net with petitions to go and do likewise.