davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-01-17
How Nickles and Pennies are Made.

Some information on the subject of
an interesting contract awarded by
Uncle Sam to the firm of Merchant 81
Co., metal dealers in Philadelphia,
Chicago, ETC., for furnishing the raw
material for minting certain current
coin of this realm. may not be un-
welcome to our readers. The copper
used in the manufacture of pennies is
of the very best quality. The metal Is
shipped in bulk from the mines to the
factories of Merchant & 20. in Con
necticut. There it is rolled and stamp.
ed out in circles of the requisite size.
These circles are perfectly plain, with
the exception of the raised or milled
edge. AT this stage the pieces intend
ed for pennies are as bright as gold
pieces, while those intended for nickles
resemble highly polished silver. In
this condition they are delivered to
the mint. OF course it is absolutely y
necessary that all the pieces should be
be of uniform size and weight. The
transfer from the factory to the mint
is made, and the number of pieces in
a package is reckoned by its weight.
To find out how many small coins the
amount of nickel and copper contract
ed for at present will make, multiply tht
number OF pounds of copper by 100
and the number of pounds of nicke
by TO- This calculation will show
that the metal now about to be mad,
up into coin, will make $4,000 nickel
and 100000 pennies. One hundred
pennies, therefore, weigh exactly on
pound. When these pieces reach til,
mint, they are subjected to the finish
ing process, which consists in stamp
ing them with the denomination let
tering and characters seen on the coin
when they reach the public. To az
compllsh this, great pressure is needed
as the pieces are not heated again afte
leaving the factory the amount of pre-.
sure required is simply enormous, cor
sidering the size of the pieces. Tn
copper pennies require a pressure c
ten tons avordupois, while with tn
nickle pieces it is necessary to put o
a pressure of from twelve TO fftee
: tons.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-01-17

THE KNIFfEN CASE.

On Friday morning January 4th the
dead body of Mrs. Kuiffen was found
in her bed in her home in Trenton, n.
J. The face was scratched in several
places. On tho floor of the same room
lay Miss Pursell apparently uucon-
scious, when first discovered, but who
quickly revived. Mrs. Kuiffen was
the wife of DR.. Kniffen. a prominent
dentist. The DR.. was away from
home that night, and Miss Pursell who
is cousin of DR.. Kniffen's slept with
Mrs. Kniffen. No one else was il the
house. Miss Purselrs version of the
affair is that she was awakened by
Mrs. Kaiffen, who said there were
burglars in the room, and then Miss
Pursell was seized by some one and
knows no more about 1t. Articles
were found strewn over the floor, but
nothing was stolen so far as known.
DIR. Kuiffen returned home next day
The police at once took possession of
the premises and put guard over
the actions of both DIR. Kniffen and
Miss Pursell, the theory being that the
latter was in love with her cousin, the
doctor, and that the murder was COM
mitted by her TO remove the obstacle
to their marriage. An inquest was
held on Wednesday of last week, and
by advice of her counsel Miss Pursell
declined to answer any question when
called as witness. She and DIR. Knit
fer were then put under formal arrest,
but were released on Thursday on
h' beas corpus proceeding, under $780,
900 bail.
While there are some slightly sus-
picious circumstances about this case,
there is nothing but circumstantial
evidence, and so far as has been made
public, this is by no means strong
enough to put the accused on trial for
murder. Mrs. Kniffen died from the
effect of chloroform, and Miss Pursell
alleges that she too was chlorOformed.
Mrs. Kniffen was an invalid and Miss
Pursell is robust girl, which would
account for the different effects upon
them. Miss Pursell is worth $4,000 in
her own right, she is stenographer and
typewriter, and has always shown an
aversion to the society of men, She is
related to the family of that name in
Columbia County and all who know
her scout the idea of her doing such a
deed. Her brother, David Pursell has
visited Bloomsbury, and is personally
acquainted here.
1t is said that the arrest was inten-
tionally brought about by the accused
persons. They were suspected and
virtually under arrest from the first;
the papers had published all sorts of
sensational reports, and the counsel of
DR.. Kniffen and Miss Pursell felt that
they could the sooner clear themselves
of all suspicion. 1t is curious case and
will be watched with interest.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-01-17
Abundant Room in America.
BOSTON NEGROES OPPOSE SENATOR NOR
CAMS AFRICAN SCHEME.

Senator Morgan's plan to solve the
race problem by encouraging the
blacks to emigrate to Africa does not
appeal TO the coiored leaders of Bos-
ton. Among the latter is DR.. james
t. Still, who graduated from Harvard
He says that Senator Morgan's plan
will awaken the country to the fact
that there are "no Africans in Ameri-
ca to send back" Jacob w. Powell,
who is shorthand reporter and type
writer, says: Senator Morgan's ne
gro colonization scheme belongs to a
period fifty or more years ago. The
negro is not ward of this nation, and
any attempt to remove him or IL cat
him as such is doomed to instant anu
ignominious failure. The idea that
the Southern Butler can do with the
negro as he likes is an idea which
Northern Butler helped to drown in
sea of blood thirty years ago. What
the black man wants, North and South
alike, is justice-a just recognition of
his inherent manhood and a fair chance
to prove his manly qualities before the
world. Colonization schemes may
look very pretty in Senator Morgan's
minds eye, but no such scheme will
amount to anything which does not
spring from the more enlightened
thoughts and wishes of the negro him
self; and then it will only affect those
who believe that their special inter.
ests lie in new fields of physical an
intellectual endeavor.
Isaac S. Mullin, who holds a respoL-
sib'e position in the State Board Of
Police, says that no proposition, vol
untary or other wise, can or will induce
the majority of the colored people of
the South to leave country where for
over two hundred and fifty years they
have been the bone and sinew of what
little industry the South has enjoyed.
''The fact that they can no longer
be held as chattels and sold as beasts
| by those who attempted to destroy this
| Government is one reason, perhaps,
said Mr.. Mullin, "why Senator Nor
gan and others of that stripe desire
these people to leave prosperous and
civilized country. There have been
negro bank presidents, cashiers and
tellers, but they lost their oocup patioas
when the Freedmen's Bank ceased to
exist through no cause of the negro
defsulters."
Mr. Mullin says the negro is here tC
stay, and that America is big enough
for all, irrespective of color, creed OF
previous con dition.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-01-17
YELLOWSTONE PARK.
now rHE NATIONAL RESERVE is GUARD
ED FROM vANDALs.

The surveillance of the Park is in
the hands of the military, and in good
hands, too. The present superinten'-
ent is Captain Boutelle, of the First
Cavalry, who succeeded Captain Har-
ris at the beginning of the season.
| Under the old system civic superin-
tendent and nine assistants were sup
posed to look after tract Of country
nearly half as large as the State of
Massachusetts,, and not only prevent
tourists from carrying away the gey-
ser and hot spring formations, but al
so to Ground up the hunters and tran
pers, who would do much to deplete
the national reserve of its noble game
unless prevented.
There was never anything like a
proper patrol of the park until it was
placed under military control. Every
citizen who desires to see the Park
wonders preserved should rejoice in
Captain Boutelle's appointment. With
the aid Of two companies of cavalry,
one of which is stationed at Monmoth
Hot Springs and the other at the
Lower Geyser Basin, small detacb-
ments being placed at the other tour
ist centres, the regulations made by
the Interior Department have been
efficiently enforced and in a manner
acceptable to the public.
Some persons there may be who
have taken umbrage because they
we're permitted to despoil the geysers
and springs OF their beautiful deposits,
but every fair-minded person cannot
but rejoice that the rules against car
rying away specimens are strictly and
impartially carried out. Captain Bo-
mas, of the First Cavalry, the second
in command, is, like Captain Boutelle,
thorough officer and thorough
gentleman. The soldiers are an aid
to tourists, not a menace, and while
carefully guarding the formations
from vandalism, are excellent guides.
So carefully is the "no shooting" re-
gulation enforced that much of the
game is becoming quite tame. While
| was riding over the trout creek route
few days since two beautiful deer
appeared by the roadside and remain
ed there, evidently without frigh,,
while my wagon was driven by.
There are thousands of elk, few buff
falo-perhaps three hundred noun
tain sheep, antelope, bears and other
game within the park inclosure. The
buffalo are seldom seen, but are known
to exist in the eastern and southern
parts of the park.-Bosto'e Journal.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-01-17
LITERARY NOTES.

A fine new portrait of the late Rob
ert Browning, detached and printed
on plate paper, accompanies the Jan
uary number of Book News John
Wanamaker, Philadelphia). The maga
zine contains sketch of the poet s
life, and review of his last work,
"Asolanda," which includes Sc, eral of
his new poems. There are the usuaI
number of reviews and articles of gen
eral interest to book lovers, one espec
tally interesting on Miss Amelia b
Edwards, with her portrait. The des
criptiye price-list of new books covers
over thirteen pages.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-01-17

THE GHAsTY MERRMENT THAT PREVAILS
AT MANY ENGLISH FUNERALS.


1t has been asserted with tedious ir.
ritation that the English people take
their pleasures sadly. No one will
deny the truth Of the indictment, but
it is seldom urged that in revenge we
take our sadness pleasantly. Never
theless, an English funeral is often a
merry making, jovial excuse for song
and dance, and the passing of the
flowing bowl. To go to a funeral is
with some of us equivalent to going
out for festival holiday.
Let anyone who is anxious to study
the manners and customs of the Eng.
lish mourners spend an afternoon
Monday afternoon for choice-in the
neighborbood of public house near a
cemetery. Ill warrant he'll come
away with all his preconoeived notions
of "going to funeral" knocked into
the cockedest of cooked hats.
The other day it was my good-or
evil-fortuue to have an hour to spare
in northern suburb of London. /
had driven some distance and l want
ed to give my horse rest, and so
put up for an hour and then wandered
away to public house in the neigh.
borhood, to which / was attracted by
a large number of empty hearses and
mourning coaches drawn up in pictur.
esque confusion around it. Outside
the undertaker's men were chatting
together with tn ir hands in theiI
pockets and were smoking short clays
and passing the pewter along. Inside
the bar was crowded with men and
women dressed in deep mourning.
explored the house and found mourn
ers in the coffee room, mourners in the
smoking room. 1t was a case of
mourners-mourner everywhere, and
i can't finish the quotation, for there
certainly was drop to drink. The
mourners in the coffee room were more
subdued than the mourners in the bar
but they were merry. Here was a
widow who had just left the dear de-
parted cup the road" smiling at a
story which another lady mourner was
telling about sold Jones'" There was
a young man, With black band up to
the top of his hat, coaxing a girl
in mourning to have another whisky.
l looked around the room for tears
aud l saw but a few. One or two
eyes were red, but smiles were on the
ascendant, and altogether the various
mourners belonging TO the hearse out
side seemed disposed to have a pleas
ant hour at the "pub" before they
went home.-Losadon Referee.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-01-17
The Public Roads.

No question has taken up more time
of the Pennsylvania Legislature than
that of the public road laws. A great
many bills have been prepared having
in view the adoption of some general
system of road supervision that will
secure the best public roads at the least
possible cost to the taxpayers. As
only general laws can be enacted, the
question has been difficult one to
handle satisfactorily TO all sections of
the State. In some parts of the State
the roads are in passabe condition,
while in other sections they are not
worthy of name. In the poorer and
more sparsely settled parts, where the
country is rocky and mountaino is, the
cost of making and keeping in repair
public roads is not only very expensive
but the cost falls upon comparatively
few taxpayers. In counties where
the roads are let to the lowest bidder,
experience has proven that the lowest
price has often been too high and that
the best bidder was the worst road
maker. In this county, especially in
the townships where the coal and rail.
road corporations pay the bulk of the
road tax, they have found it cheaper
to keep the roads in repair themselves
than:to pay the tax usually assessed for
this purpose by the township officers.
Nevertheless, this system has not been
satisfactory to the public Corpora
tions, like individuals, put just enough
work on the roads to escape the law
and no more. The roads kept in repair
by the Philadelphia & Reading Coal
& Iron Co, in this county are as good
as the average and no better.
Under the present system there
seems no way of remedying the evil
The farmers say that the only way tc
have good roads through the agricult
ural districts is to macadamize them
and this they are not in a financia
condition to do. In the mining regior
the excuse is that the majority of tn,
taxpayers are poor and that tor thei
purpose the roads are coed enough
But good roads are not to be consider
ed in the light of luxury to the rici
who can afford to drive fast horses
Public highways are necessity fol
travel and traffic, and in this age o
Improvement when great results hanl
upon few moments OF time, the,
should be made with a view of short
ening time and space as much as posi-
ble.-PoHsUiHe Miners Journal.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-01-17
A NEW SUBMARINE BOAT.
A LITTLE VESSEL THAT DIVES AND MOVES
BY ELECTRICITY.

The Goubet, the pame of the bNag
built by private firm at the expense
of the State, is little boat $50 meters
long and I53 meters broad. 1t can
hold two men. The body of the craft
is cast in bronze of single piece aud
can therefore bear a very high pres
sure. 1t is moved by electricity,
which in case of failure, can be re-
placed by oars. Completely armed
it weighs 5000 kilogrammes (about
10000 pounds) and can therefore be
transported easily everywhere.
The electricity, as may be safely as
sumed, is obtained from accumulators
in the boat, but it seems that this pro-
pelling force can also be transferred
to the boat from laud or from ship
accompanying the Goubet by means of
wire, which would naturally con-
derably hamper the movements of
the submarine craft. The stores of
| compressed air are said 10 last for
twenty four hours, aud can, by an
automatic arrangement, be so distrib-
uted that the state of the air IN the
ship is constant. The boat was n.
mersed for eight hours at a depth of
ten meters, with two sailors in il, and
these experienced not the slightest in
convenience during that period. As a
special advantage it is claimed for the
boat that it can at a word of command
sink any depth, greatest probably ten
meters, remain there and change It's
position at will. The sinking and ris
ing in the water, it is said, can be
executed with the greatest regularity
which is not the case apparently witt
the Spanish submarine boat Peral anC
the other French boat Gymnote.-Co
lOgne Gazette.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-01-17
THE O0UNTRY'S WEALTH.
REMARKABLE FIGURES SHOWING THE
RAPID STRIDES OF THE UNITED STATES.

New York, Dec. 19.-The World
has obtained from the treasurer of each
state the value of property as assessed
for taxation. The Census Office in
1886 made report of its exhaustive
and laborious inquiry into the propor,
tions existing in each state between
taxed property and actual wealth,
which ranges between 25 per cent in
Illinois and 6S in Wyoming. The
Worlds report shows an incre ase in
taxable property of $6,963, 100000,
and an increase in actual wealth OF
$1S, 162,000,000 since 1880. The total
wealth is $6l, ,459, 100000 exclusive OF
the public property, and SO ,093, 900, ,00C
property invested and owned abroad
The assessed value of taxed property
and our actual wealth at different de
cades has been.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-01-17

The wealth of the United States now
exceeds the total wealth of the whole
world at any tina previous to the
m'ddle of the Eighteenth Century and
the amount invested abroad is alone
equal to the national wealth of Poru-
usal aud Denmark. The total wealth
of only five nations is equal to the mere
increase of the United States in the
past nine years.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-01-17

A good way to send coin through
the mails is to take piece of cardboaI d
o' more than ordinary thickness, sepa-
rate the layers at one side over a
space large enough to receive the coin,
and when it has been slipped in and
the card enclosed with the letter in an
envelope, no one would suspect the
presence of money.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-01-17

Senator Quay has introduced bill
to give pension of 800 month TO
Mrs. Sallie Douglass Hartranft, widow
of General Hartranft. The bill was
referred to the committee on pensions,
and no opposition to its speedy report
and passage can be dicovered.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-01-17

HooD's SARsAPARILLA CALENDAR for
1890 is out, and the demanu for it is
certain to be immense, for a more
'iaking' calendar it is difficult to
even imagine. Art aud utility are
beautifully blended in the lovely girls
head on dark olive background, and
the neat pad appended giving the
months in concise, readable shape,
with history of the year alternating,
in rhyme, aud also illustrated. Early
application at the druggists will be
necessary to secure this gem. If you
fail there, send 6 Ger "a in stamps "a
@. /. Hood a. Co. Lo veil, Mass.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-01-17

We take pleasure in noticing the
January number of CHAT, which has
Just come to our table. Among the
many smaller magazines we do not see
any 80 bright, interesting ana enter
prising as the little visitor There are
two new features in this issue-"Fash-
ion Talks" illustrated, aud the first of
series of Paris Letters. They are both
good additions and excellently made
up. The College Papers are contin-
ued by Miss Regina X. Crandall, all
Smith College, Mass, who writes
splcndidly ON "Fsbels, Facts and Fan,
cies.' That excele IT Boys and Girls
Story, "Erling the Bold tale of the
Morse Sea Kings is also continued,
Besides, there are the usual short com
p'eted stories, and papers devoted to
Zig-Zig Sketches, Flowers, the Inval-
ids Corner, Young Folks Miscellany,
selected Poetry, etc.-all put together
in most attractive form, placi' g CnAl
in the 70. efront of the low cost magaz
ines. 4S pages. Yearly subscription
$l.00, Specimen may be had by send
ing s ct. stamp to Z. o. Box 573.
Char PUBLISHING Co, Philadelphia
lPA.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-01-17
HRISTIAN Y. KNAPP.
FIRE INSURANCE..
BLOOMSBURG

Home Of N. vi Merchants, Of Newark, N
J.; Clinton, N. Y. Peoples N. Y. Reading
Pa. German American fns. Co., New York.
Greenwich Insurance Co., New York Jerse,
City Fire Ins. Co., Jersey City, N. J.
These old corporations are well seasoned by
age and FIRE TEsTEp and have never yet had 4
loss settled by any court Of law. Their assets
are all invested in SOLID SECURITIES, are liable
to the hazard Of FIRE only.
Losses PROMPTLY and HONESTLY adjusted
and paid as soon as determined, by CHRIST
Ian F. KNAPP, SPECIAL AGENT AND AID.
IUsTER, BLooMsBuRG, PA.
She people Of Columbia county should pat.
ronize the agency where losses, If any, are set.
tied and paid by one Of their own citizens.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-01-17

Calvin S. Brice has been nominated
for United States Senator by the demo
cratic caucus of the Ohio Legislature
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-01-17

The dowager empress of Germany,
widow Of the emperor William, died
of 'La Grippe at Berlin last week.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-01-17

7 LPPLNCOTT'S MAGAZINE, with IL,
IL varied and sxssllsnt fentssts, is a library
in ifIsJ
Dat INDEED a hstty thought 10 Print a.
sShys HoveI in each number.
Nof a short nopsltffe. 6Ht a long Jfoyy sneS
6S yo1 are used TO get in cook fern and pay
from one dollar 10 one dollar and a haLffor.
Not only thai, but iviX each number yoH get
an abundance Of other contribution, 10hieh ,gipss
yop good magazine 6eJideJ the novsi.
The ringing 6ioaoS ,oAiek hapf 6ees struck on
the Safel0ay Of PopHia, Javsy. haUs ys5osadsd
throughout lie fnfiys land and to-day Lipbia-
eoHs Magazine JfandS in tie /yonf ySSk Of
monthly publications. and is Ne moH widely
ysad-aHd-falksS-efp15 publication of lis Kind in he
'oorld. For /nN descriptive circular. add,sit
LLPPLNCo7TS MAGAZINE, PAiladtlpAis
$500 per year. IS etS. aagA 1smSer.
The 4E6hiAer .f this PAPER viii ysesivs yssS
ssbseyiPfios.
l2-27.omo.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-14
PLOTS pERsU ASTON WITH THE RASCAL.


A cultured and refined mother in Maine city mas
n scapegrace whom she has strlven IN every way
to reform. He persists however, III absentng nm
self from home periodic sprees. and at such Vines
ing that all O! calanites VIII bcfdll nm lie
securely hides himself In low haunts, and his poor
moher can never gain the slightest knowledge OF MS
whereabouts The suspense is trturt
During one Of his recent apseN tic fanny piatpI
called and in the cOurse OF conversation eu1reS'eU
that thief be set 10 catch thief that also dcnzei
bring home the son. Accordingly, IN some unknown
manner. chap, typical rough: was corrailed ana on
promise Of "swag' was induced to visit inc lany ior
instructions. Oh. yes he knew the yonng felier We
know and he would jump on his coat collar ana yahR
him back % his dOwny nest, see ~ .,
As the lady bowed him out she implorngly sad :
ooh sir YOU must your intelligence
0Ic didn't look as though he had any,
"Yis mum. ON use 'um.7
In voice almost unntellgible from sohs she con
tnued "Teli him that Won come TO LIT him mp from
the mire Of doubt. That he must shake of MS sins
and take Of conviction. Tell my son there Is
ono who Will suec0r appeal to him: prevail up " nm
fully Co.
Yer bet yer life ! will mum, if break livery
bone In de coves CARCASS Crowled the rough win
fierce vthemence that startled the weeping mother
Then he tipped his hat over one eye bent his elbows
and staggered down the walk with such display
OF turbulence that her heart was assaei with mis-
givings.
Just after the clock strucl, that evening the
lady summoned to the door by fierce ringing
al the bell As the door opened. in marched her
big Irish messenger. dragging the limp figure OF her
son. The mother uttered a scream Of dsmay. Wasn't
he spectacle for gods and men Both eyes were
closed his cheek gashed. bloody chasm showed
his coat was ripped up the back ana one sleeve
had utterly disappeared. Complete Generalization
appeared in his entire aspect
Here's the yoang fule, num- hiskily said his
young rascal wudden't LEI me tux him pcaccabIy
and slugged me eye and tore me coat, but l gin it