davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-04-10
CONGRESSMAN RANDALL

is not expected to live many days. He
is sinking rapidly, and his death may be
looked for any time. His associates have
abandoned all hope of his recovery, and
the members to-day looked sad. Some
of his more intimate friends were weep
ing. DR.. Mallan, his physician, states
there was healthier flow of pus to-day
from the absoess, but that dissolution ia
imminent. Mr.. Randall is conscious,
and recognizes the members OF his fam
lily.
Following sub committee of the COM
mlttee on territories has been appointed
to consider the bill providing for an en-
abling act for New Mexico: Struble of
Iowa, chairman; Perkins Of Kansas,
Rifles of Pennsylvania, Springer of
Illinois and Kilgore of Texas.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-04-10
RECOGNIZE THE SOUTH

In the debate to-day on the naval ap-
preparation bill Mr.. wilkinson of Louis
lana made strong appeal in behalf of
the interests of the South for fair
share of naval appropriation
and especially for the es-
adjustment of navy yard at
Algiers. He alluded to the immense
8Smmerce which had egress and ingress
to the gulf. There ls considerable doubt
whether this yard will be established.
The Republicans are disposed to give lit
tie recognition to the South in any mat
ter, especially in appropriations. Their
policy OF course is to make liberal appro-
priations for Northern and Eastern Sec
tions. both inland and marine, and when
this is done they unjustly consider their
duty is ended.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-24
ALLEeHENY,s UNSETTLED ISSUE.

A communication appears elsewhere, on
the management of the Allegheny Free
Library which argues at rather detailed
length, that the City Councils cannot dele
gate to anyone else the management of the
library; that they ought not to; and finally
produces the chargS that the exercises of
last Thursday were for the benefit of the
aristocracY The arguments would be
worthy of some respect if it were not for the
gratuitousness of the concluding demsgog-
uery.
As to the claim that the City Councils
cannot delegate the powers of management,
that is equivalent to saying that they cannot
employ agents, janltors or librarians The
Councilmen hardly expec: to take care of
the building and hand out the books in their
own persons They will have to delegate
powers, in order to do the work of the
library. The further fact as to the legality
of the matter is that the law under which
Allegheny supports her old free library puts
it under the management of the School
Board.
There is no Impeachment of the City
Property Committee, or any other depart
ment of Councils in saying that it is not
selected with reference to providing steady
and permanent policy in managing the
library. Such policy is necessary to give
any such institution the success required.
1t can be obtained by combining in the
management a representation of Councils,
of the Board of Education and such citizens
as Prof. Brashear, John Walker and others.
A settlement Of the question on such lines
would be creditable to Allegheny, and
would stop the present disreputable squabble
for the control Of the property.
As to the allegation that because it was
necessary to select ], 200 people out of 100, ,OOO
to be present at the presentation of the
property, therefore, those who got tickets
were sristOcrsts, such talk is wholly foreign
to any serious discussion of important
public questions.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-24
MUppLTNG AND NEppLING.

The claim OF q Nebraska man that the
fourth section of the Interstate Commerce
law prevents the making of cheap freight
rates for the expectation of Nebraska pro.
ducts, and so establishes prohibitive
charges, is quoted by the Cincinnati Com
mercjal Gazette as ga statement of some oi
the results of our meddling and muddling
reform demagogy."
The fourth section forbids the charge OF
an actually greater rate on the short haul
than upon longer one, which includes the
less. Thus if the railroads wished to carry
grain from Nebraska to the seaboard at Doc
per hundred, it would prevent them from
carrying grain from Indiana or Illinois at
35c. Tne only way in which a prohibitory
rate can be maintained by this section on
the far Western products is on the supposi-
tion that prohibitory rate must be main
tsined on the intermediate freight.
Is the Commercial Gazette so anxious
to have prohibitory charges on the freights of
iIs section that it calls it muddliug and
meddling to enact that they shall have at
least as good freights as the more distant
parts of the country?
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-24
AN INJURIOUS ECONOMY.

An investigation into the salaries of
school teachers in the rural districts of Al
legheny county presents some remarkable
results, as set forth in a special article else
where. The fact that a large number of
teachers in Allegheny county get salaries
as low as $50 per month, out of which they
board themselves, and that the average in
the rural districts is S3S So for male teach
ers and $35 so for female teachers, is not
creditable to Allegheny county. Neither
can it be regarded as hopeful for the best
educational results.
These wages are not more than equal to
what moderately good common labor can
command upon the farms or in the cities.
They are much below what is paid to any
kind of skilled labor. 1t hardly is a matter
for dispute that school teaching is as i'm
portant and requires more skill than dig
ging, plowing, building houses or handling
iron. Yet the wages that are paid, as
shown elsewhere, really give an able-bodied
man less inducements than can be obtained
by digging In the city streets or steady work
on the farm.
OF course this is largely due to the great
number of educated people who are willing
to take up teaching as temporary ex-
pedient for whatever it will bring them,
But that sort of teaching does not yield the
result that the public wants. The taxpay-
ers should insist on better salaries aud
better teaching than can be had under
such q system.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-24

in the wrong direction. The first requisite for
the highest development of railroads is
solidity Of road-bed. That the elevation oi
tracks on trestles can permanently guarantee
that solidity is not likely. Nothing is so
solid as the earth; and no means can be
taken to so perfectly free the roads from the
dangers either Of deteriorated road, or OF
interference with other uses of the surface
as to sink the tracks below the surface of the
earth instead of raising them above it.
The respective merits Of elevated and
sunken tracks can easily be studied here in
Pittsburg. We have examples of both
kinds. It is no blind chance which causes
the elevated tracks everywhere to be sur
rounded by the most unpleasant sections of
the city and the sunken tracks in most
cases to run through the most attractive
portions. This is the natural result from
the fact that elevated roads are noisy, dis
figuring to adjacent property and a general
nuisance; while sunken roads are less costly
in the end, and permanently avoid all dan
gers of grade crossing or broken-down ele-
waited structures.
1t is epigrammatically said that I've need
thoroughfares two or three stories high as
much as we require lofty buildings" True
enough for the great cities; but when we
come to decide how the stories shall be as
signed. it is no more than good sense to
putthe lightest traffic in the upper stories and
the most ponderous weights in the basement.
When we come to adopt any reform of this
sort. it will be cheaper and better to put the
streets above the railroads than to put the
railroads over the streets.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-24
TERMS OF THE DISPATCH,
PITTsBuRe. MONDAY. FEB. "a, 1850
THE soUTHsIpEs WATER.

The ANALYSIS of three different samples OF
water taken from the stream which empties
into the Monongahela river just above the
Southside infuent pipes should, as it is pre-
sented in our local columns, startle the city
authorities into prompt and effective action.
The fearful combination and conglomera-
ton Of pollution shown to exist there is
enough to justify the complaints that the
Southside people have made against the
city government
When this subject was revived it was de-
clared in these columns to be the duty of
the city to secure a prompt investigation.
That duty having been omitted, THE DIS
PATCH has undertaken it; and the dis
closures made by DR.. Mundorrs analysis
of Beck's run water show that the need for
such action was urgent. The polluted ma
ture of that stream without the scbindery's
addition is SO marked that the latter is
chiefly important for the peculiarly horrible
nature Of its contributions to disease. The
idea that dilution of such organisms can
be furnished for the use of city is disgust
ing.
The City Councils should lose no time in
remedying tAis matter by promptly furnish
ing the Southside with pure water from the
city mains.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-24
Gas Meters and KIckers.

To the Editor OF The Dispatch:
In view of the gas situation in Allegheny-of
meters versus contracts-let me say the kickers
against meters are perfectly justified in their
attitude, notwithstanding the Westinghouse
people set VI all kinds of claims for the relia-
bility and fairness of their system. Although
not an Alleghenian, am on the CHARTERS SER
vice-a low pressure one, supposed to be main
tanned at four ounces, and no regulator be-
tween street and point:of consumption. The
Westinghouse meters, being only volume meas
urers, when this service pressure gets below the
normal one of four ounces (as is often the case
and as has been for the last few days), say two
ounces at the consumers service pipe it stands
to reason that we. to get an equal and
proper amount of gas, must open valves
at the fires, to permit about twice
the amount of flow. This means
double the number of feet recorded at the me-
ter, and q doubled amount of dollars in the BILL
With one ounce of pressure in the service the
dollars are quadrupl0d and this inVerseness of
performaDce-the thinner the goods the more
dOllars-would go on indefinitely, only that the
exquisite tw0-meter mechanism finally fails to
bulge, and as if for shame's sake decently
stops.
The claim set up that justice and fairness
all around' is attained by this meter is falla-
cious, and in some measure hope herein re-
futed. If not, why not? l should like to ask
the gas companies. ENGINEER.
PITTSBURG, February q.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-24
PEOPLE OF PROMINENCE.

SPEAKER REED is opposed to the interna-
tional copyright bill.
| POSTMASTER GENERAL WANAMAKER is
selling ''Phytalia for the hair"
SPEAKER Hustled has given up all hopes of
going to Paris as Consul General.
THE Russian grip in the person Of Count
| zubof," has struck Boston in q cyclonic way.
GOVERNOR WATERMAN. of California, is
said to be good farmer and a shrewd hand at
bargain, but he is very poor politician.
HENRY WATTERsoN is still q young man.
He celebrated his fiftieth birthday last week.
His health is good and he is very happy
man.
DINAH MULoCK CRAIK surrendered her
pension from the civil list fund for the benefit
of the late DR.. Westland Marston. and when
she died the allowance was continued by Henry
Irving
The Prince of Wales has become q very regu.
lar attendant at the sessions of the English
Parliament, The fact is that the Prince is very
much worried about the chances Of the success
sion in case OF his mothers DEATH and wants to
make as many friends as possible.
GOVERNOR ALBEIT, Of New Jersey, is a
great reader. He has always kept up with the
current literature and is well informed regard
ing the tendency of fiction in these latter days.
He admires Rider Haggard's works, because
they take the reader out Of his usual groove.
H. ]. MESSENGER, JR., Ph. D., Associate
Professor of Mathematics in the University of
the City OF New Y ork, will leave that institu-
tion at the close of the present college year, for
the purpose of giving years special study to
the mathematics of life insurance at the lnsti-
tute Of Actuaries in London.
THE ex.Emperor of Brazil, who was much
distressed by the death of his wife, has slowly
recovered from his domestic grief and is now
ambitious of further political renown. He
maintains household far beyond his means,
and hopes to live long enough to make an at
tempt to regain his throne. His physicians fear
that his brain is affected.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-24
A TICKET SCALPER CAUGHT.
Judge Cooley Sets a Very Neat Trap for n
Railroad Broker.

Judge Cooley Sets a Very NeaE Trap for a
Railroad Broker.
The Minneapolis Tribune is responsible for
the following story: The last time Judge Cooley
was in Chicago he dropped in upon one OF the
most obnoxious ticket brokers of the brother
hood and brought him into camp in a manner
which gave the other scalpers cold feet for a
month
"What can get ticket TO New York for?''
said he, leaning conhdentialIy over the counter
and tipping wink to the man behind.
Seventeen" replied the broker briskly.
"Can't you do any better than thatT' re-
sponded Judge Cooley, persuasively.
Well, the broker thought that he could, and
finally arranged to give the Judge four tickets
way down below the legal rate.
''Well, bring them round to my room at the
Grand Pacific tonight" said the Judge. ~
haven't the full amount with me-"
So at the appointed hour the broker appeared
at the rooms of the Judge.
The Judge received him kindly. "Hold up
your right hand" said he casually. The broker
did. with some amusement
Now" continued the Judge "do you swear
to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing
but the TRUTH"
.Tn be if 1 do anything of the kindr,
said the broker, as his expression changed to
blank amazement and his hand dropped like
shot.
"On, L guess you Will, returned Judge
Cooley with a careless drawl; here's my
friend, the United States Marshal, sitting by
my side. and you will be given over to his Gus
uody il you don't So now sit down in that
chair and tell Judge Cooley, of the Interstate
Commission, all about those tickets you offered
to sell him below the legal rate this afternoon.
I want to know exactly how much each road
got for them and your commission"
The broker fell in a limp heap in the chair,
and before he left the room the Interstate
Commerce Commission exacted some informa-
tion which struck the brokers all in a heap the
uay after
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-24
ENGLAND WILL KEEP CANADA.
Views of n London journal on the Question
of Annexation.

Views of n London journal on the Question
of Annexation.
From the London Spectator
We cannot help thinking that good deal Of
the belief as to annexation being bound to
come has arisen from assuming it as certain
that If there were reciprocity or a Customs
Union between the Dominion and the States
absorption must take place. We do not see
the necessity England does not absorb the
countries with which she has free trade, nor
would America, even if the free trade were re-
stricted to one power. Countries have
often been strictly united, in
spite of internal customs lines; while
again, States have had practically free COM
merciaI intercourse without amalgamation.
1t is quite conceivable that England. Canada,
and America might politically remain to each
other in the positions they occupy to-day, al
though Canada and America admitted each
others goods free, and had tariff against
those of England. No doubt the arrangement
would be foolish one for Canada; but to
speak of reciprocity as necessarily involving
absorption, is not to realize how essentially
illogical national sentiment often Is.
Canada might quite well think she would be
injured, both by wearing English cloth and
case. a customs union is further off than Amer
lean free trade, and, meantime we need not be
afraid of bills introduced into Congress for alb
sorbing Canada. That is game two can play
at and the Dominion Parliament is, we believe,
occasionally invited to pass measures for ad-
mitting the New England States to the fedora
ton of British North America.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-24
ODD ITEMS FROM ABROAD.

SWISS newspaper announces that the
grand prize of the Paris Exposition lottery has
been won by an English young lady who is an
art student at Geneva.
1T is reported from st. Petersburg that the
Russian physician, DR.. Bapchinski, announces
that he has discovered that diDhtheria is easily
curable by incubation of eryslpelas.
In the villages of Northamptonshire fund
has been started from which to pay 4 pence per
dozen for the heads Of sparrows, whose dam
age to the crops has become unbearable.
STEAM surface cars or dummies, are used by
the street railroad companies Of Birmingham,
and last year they carried 10 1000 900 passengers
with only fatal and Al minor accidents.
COMPLAINT is made that the craze for ma
tural flowers ferns and rare plants generally is
leading to the destruction of the British hedge
rows, and law is proposed to make it misde-
meanor to steal flowers or twigs.
MISS E. NJ. MERRICK, London artist, who
last year went to Cairo to paint the picture Of
the Khedive, has now received an order fur
portrait of Henry N. Stanley, which the ex-
plorer is to present to the Royal Geographical
Society
A FRENCH woman, whose name is Gabrielle
Bompard, but who is not related in any way to
the heroine OF the sensational GOufe murder
case. has applied TO the courts for leave to
change her name on account Of the unpleasant
notice her present one attracts.
THE service bullet for the new English mag
azine rife is, it Is said, to be q compound SOL
dered bullet, one advantage Of which Is dimin-
ished friction, and consequent less heating Of
the barrel, experiments showing this to be ten
degrees less after II rounds had been fired
THERE Is q movement in England to better
the condition Of the barmaids by including
them within the provisions of the act regarding
working women In fActorieA It is said that
now they have to work 1Uo hours . week and
get but from q 76 to 81 70. with cheap beard
and poor lodging.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-24
ODD CHURCH MUSIC.
The Queer Practical Joke Played By a
Russian Organlsr.
From the Chicago Herald.l


A handsome, clever and highly educated
young Russian, bankrupt through operations
on the bourse of st. Petersburg, came to this
city some years ago with the wreck Of his for
tune. and for time figured largely in the most
exclusive social set After time, all his
money having been spent, he dropped out of
society, and for some years earned q precarious
living in various mysterious ways. Later he
took to the stage, and his fortunes began to
look up. 1t was soon after his latest turn Of
fortune that an old acquaintance, going to
church in a fashionable suburb, saw the Rus
sian bound on the same errand in company with
some of the set with whom he had mingled in
earlier days. The Russian, who is highly
skilled musician, was asked to play the organ
and everybody was delighted with the delicious
dreamy voluntary with which he opened.
month later the Russian and his old ac-
quaintances met again at the rooms of a
friend in New York, and the subject of that
marvellous voluntary came up. The Russian
was asked to repeat it, and he acceded to the
request, saying at the same time that it was an
Improvisation. He played it as before. and
all present were delighted. Don't you
recognize it?' he asked. Several of them found
something familiar in the music but no one
could place it. "Listen," said the Russian,
while play it rapidly;" and sitting down at
the piano he ratified OF what all recognized as
johnny Get Your Gun" BY playing it slowly
with new notes skilfully interviewer, he had
produced the dreamy composition with which
all mad been SO charmed.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-24
THE FUTURE RAILROAD.

An esteemed cotemporary in studying the
growth OF railway traffic and the inconven-
ience ane danger of surface tracks. comes
TO the conclusion that the perfected railroad
will not only provide separate tracks for
passenger and freight traffic, but will
elevate Its tracks above the surface of the
earth. This development of the future it
regards as necessary in order to do away
with the difficulty and danger of grade
crossings, the crowded portions of the earth's
surface in cities.
The probability of improvement in some
Buch.directinn as this is conceded; but the
criticism on the expectation Of universally
elevated railroads is that it sends the track
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-24
LIGHTED BI WOOD GAS.
The Queer Method of Illuminating North.
eru New York Village.

ANU N1uCE hAcAuOu u AhumiHuNhuB NOEgus
ern New York Village.
NoRTHwooD. N. Y, February 22-The sole
manufacturing industry of this locality is that
of making charcoal, and wood alcohol, by dis
tilling wood In closed iron retorts The most
striking feature of the works in the eyes of a
stranger unaccustomed to such things, is the
method Of Illuminating them at night. Pipes
run from the retorts to the places where lights
are needed and as night comes on the gas from
the retorts is allowed to flow through the pipes
and is fired where 1t comes out 1t is simply
the combustion Of the gas driven from the hara
wood by the application of heat. The company
owning the works have used the gas for illum-
ination simply because it was convenient.
The gas plant consists of a series of cast iron
cylinders placed like boilers in brick furnace.
Near one end of each cylinder is big hopper.
The hoppers are kept filed with sawdust
brought from a bin by an endless screw that
works in a wooden trough From the hopper
the sawdust is conducted by other screws
through iron pipes into the retort. There 1t Is
taken by another screw and pushed along to
the rear end. Because of the heat of the re-
tort all of the volatile matters in the sawdust
are driven off, and the wood becomes charcoal,
when it is ready to be discharged through
pipe at the rear of the retOrt.
The gas passes through pipes from the top of
the retort to purifiers such as are used in
common coal-using gasworks. Lime is the
chief constituent of the purifiers. 1t comes out
with an odor not very much like that from
bituminous coal. 1t smells more like smoke
from an outdoor fire than anything else,
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-24
BEFORE THE WINTER SET IN.
Some Very UDusuRl Scenes In COnnecricu
Only Last Week.

Some Very UDusunI Scenes In Connections
Only Last Week.
WILLIMANTIc. CONN. February 23.-Just
before the snow came and the mercury sneaked
down into the zero corner the Connecticut
snake hunter put in some. lively work.
A Columbia man killed a big striped
snake that was sliding briskly
along the country road, and G. W.
Nichols of Mansfield, got a six-foot-long black
snake Snakes were killed IN half q dozen
other country towns this week. Henry Ed
wards of Coventry, got mud turtle that was
swimming on the brink of a meadow pool.
Mrs. JacksOn's hen, of Williamsville, laid
an egg That was eight inches in circum-
ference; myrtle bloomed in Deacon Girls
wolds yard in Centerbrook; school
children of Essex picked violets
by the roadside; frogs were heard croaking at
evening in the Connecticut river valley;Cbarles
E. Emmons, Of Moodus, got tadpole and saw
polliwogs in swarms in a brook; Mr.. Maroney,
of Hillstown, picked up a handful of grass
hoppers. Forty-eight hours later winter
stepped to the front of the meteorological plat
form and winked at the icemen, who smiled
broadly.