davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23
Recent Patents.

An inventor has jast patented a paper
vest. Paper, as is we'll known, is a non-
conductor of heat. and the new walstcoat is
said to be an excellent thing to wear when
the thermometer is below zero. One of the
most singular of recent patents is rocking
chair washing machine. The rocking chair,
which is placed In tub in which are water,
soap and the clothes to be \ washed, has a
rack on its rockers provided with grooved
roller. The washtub has projections on its
vertical ends, and allows of the full play of
the rocker of the chair. The result of this
arrangement is that the motherSof the fam
lily can rock her child to sleep id her arms,
and at the same time be washing the family
linen. Persons travelling by raiR can now
make themselves very comfortable by the
use of a patented portable elbow frame.
These can be fixed SO as TO give
the effect of the most sozY arm
thus materially diminished. These elbows
can be folded when not in use, and weigh
under three pounds. A new deviceS which
is adapted either for bed or bath room, is
a portable shampooning apparatus. This
patent applies to reservoir to hold S1ther
hot or cold water, and fitted with Fpray
fixed OH an arm projecting from the Seser-
voir. The arm is movable, so that it can be
turned down, leaving a mirror, which Is
fitted on the reservoir, clear for shaTlng
purposes, or for general use. This handy
shampoo is made entirely of metal. The
spray is easily adjusted by a tap, leaving
both hands free for use, and the reservoir,
being so constructed that it can be moved to
any desired height, any force required CAM
be obtained.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23
BEATING THE RACES.
How Clever Telegraph Operator
Got Ahead of the BoOkies.
BETTING TELEGRAMS In ENGLAND.
Greasing Overhead Wires to Prevent the
Ice Accumulations,
MOTORS ADAPTED TO BIG CRANES
rPREPARED FOR THE prsPArcH,l

H.l
The professional" gentlemen who are oc-
cupied both on the racecourse and elsewhere
in carrying on the sporting business of
"bookmaking" are usually astute and wide
awake men, but that they can nevertheless
be victims of systematic fraud has Just been
proved by the facts which have been
brought TO light in an English criminal trial.
A commission agent, who was formerly
telegraph clerk in the service of the Govern
ment, was convicted of having carried on
series of fraudulent operations by which the
professional betting men were deliberately
swindled. The plan adopted necessitated
the aid Of confederate in the central tele-
graph Office, and was carried out in the fol-
lowing way:
Say race is set for decision at o'clock.
Ives, which is the name OF the commission
agent, would hand in telegram addressed
to jackson, High street, Sunderland" at
LAB o'clock. The address on the telegram
was bogus one, as was also the text, but it
enabled the message form, which was timed
15 minutes or so before the advertised time
OF the race, to reach the hands OF the con-
federate, who was probably engaged at or
near what is known as the Sunderland cir
cult. Here it was detained until the result
of the race was known, then the address and
the text, which had been lightly written,
were erased, and new and correct address
having been substituted, the text was altered
to request to back so and so (the actual
winner) for so many pounds; the message
was then put rapidly into circulation, and
delivered to the addressee, betting man.
Ives had the authority of another betting
man. named Miller, to use his name. Pratt,
the recipient OF the telegram. would, unless
gram, from the early time it bore, to be
genuine one from his "client," Miller, and
would book the amount to his credit accord
ingly.
In connection with this case, it Is pointed
out. as a strange anomaly, that while the
Government derives u large revenue from the
professional racing men by, through the
medium of its postal telegraph service, ca
tering and canvassing for their custom
through the extension of telegraph commu-
nications to every conceivable place where
racing of any importance is carried on; with
another institution, namely, the police, it
gloriously upholds the State enactment that
betting is illegal. In the newspapers is
often read the announcement that 10000
messages DIETING messages beyond question:
were dispatched on Derby day from EPSON,
or from Doncsster on st. Leger day, and in
the next column it islstated that the police
have made most successful raid on betting
men, and that the magistrates have imposed
heavy fines.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23
Electric Propulsion In England.

A noteworthy inauguration has just taken
place in the establishment Of electric pro-
pulsion on the London. City and South Lon
don railway. In many respects the English
electricians have Jagged considerably behind
their American cousins in practical cleo
trical work, but of their newest installation
they have every reason to he proud. It is
the largest undertaking of its kind In the
world, and it is believed that it will soon be
followed by even more ambitious enterprises
In England. The contractors of the line
guarantee that :or the first two wears the
traction expenses shall not exceed 81 pence,
or cents per train mile. On the Metro
politan Underground Railway, where steam
locomotives are used, the haulage
cost is 10 pence, or 20 cents per
mile, with a train capacity of 450
passengers. These also require much larger
tunnels and have to maintain permanent
way twice as heavy to accommodate their
steam and smoke-emitting locomotives. This
estimate is based upon well-known facts.
Out OF every 100 units of power developed
by the boilers, rs will be given out in
electricity by the dynamos at the generating
station; the average loss in the conductor
Will be, at the outside, another per cent,
rising from nothing at the central station to
Leakage, with the admirable system OF in
sulation employed, will be almost nil.
1t is claimed that the motors give an
efhciency OF 80 per cent, and since no gear
Ing is employed, the armatures being placed
directly upon the driving axles, there should
be total estimated efficiency OF "a per cent;
If, in practice, the efficiency should not
reach this high percentage, the accuracy Of
the estimate would not be materially i'm
paired, as the stationary boilers can be fed
by burning coal of quality which is not
much more than half the price of the coal
necessary in steam locomotives. 1t is
claimed that this railway has great ad-
vantages in the way of safety to passengers.
In the event of train breaking down, the
current can be cut off from the section, and
it cannot be run into by the train follow
ing. The passengers can get out and walk
to the next station, which in no case ex-
ceeds distance of one-third of a mile.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23
Greasing a Trolley Wire.

A somewhat singular outcome Of the
necessities Of certain conditions of electric
traction has just made its appearance. In
frosty weather the firm contact between the
trolley wheel and the wire of an electric
railroad is interfered with seriously by the
formation of coat of ice on the wire, and
the weight of the wire IS thus so increased
as to initiate against the safety of the over
head work. To overcome this difficulty an
apparatus has been designed for greasing the
wire, and thus preventing the adhesion
Of any considerable amount of moisture.
A frame is made to support pan. Inside
the receptacle is a wheel or roller for taking
up the grease and spreading it on the con-
ductor. This grooved wheel is made Of
wood or hard rubber, and is covered with
thick felt so as to be perfectly adapted to
carry up and smear upon the wire the con-
tents of the pan. Where a semi-liquid
substance is used for coating the conductor
an endless belt or chain may be passed over
the wheel for the purpose of carrying the
grease.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23

as 12O, were transported up and down the
long machinery hall Although this crane
weighed 80 tons it was handled with the
greatest ease and certainty. The value OF
such convenient power for foundries and
machine shops, where weights have to be
transported from place to place, is now being
recognized. In a machine shop now in
course of erection by the Lake Erie En-
gineer1ng Company there will be four 3O-ton
travelling cranes, and two six-ton travelling
cranes, all worked by electric motor. The
advantage of such a means oil power, which
is always and instantly available. but never
in the way, over a necessarily clumsy crane.
which has to carry its own steam engine
and boiler, with its attendant objections OF
steam, oil, etc., is very apparent.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23
PhotOgraDhing Criminals.

The Photographic Times states that the
camera that does the work for the rogues'
gallery in New York City is concealed.
The prisoner hangs his head and refuses to
look up when asked to do SO, or shuts his
makes feint with the camera in sight, takes
out the plate and exclaims "Oh, pshawl
that is spoiledp' or words to that effect, and
walks hurriedly out OF the room. The pris-
oner raises his head at once and looks pleas
ant He has outwitted the photographer.
Then the concealed camera gets in its
fine work, and the rogue is still more sur
prised and pleased at being told that he
can 60.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23
An Accident Case.

An accident case" has been introduced
in which is provided in convenient form and
ready for use every appliance likely to be
required in the event of an accident of al
most any nature, and the absence of which
often causes permanent injury, and some
times fatal results. The case is filled with
rolled bandages, dressings, ligatures, ab-
sorbents. tourniquet, etc., together with a
few necessary instruments and a book of
instructions or their use. Similar instruc-
tions are printed on the outside of the case.
The case is recommended for use on all
trains, as well as at all stations where
large amount of switching is done, SO that in
the event OF injuries to train hands, which
are constantly occurring, there will be at
hand some ready means of providing tenn
porary help.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23
Overhead Wires and Fires.

A very strong objection advanced bv the
opponents of overhead wires for cities, is
the danger which such wires constitute to
fremen In the discharge OF duties. A recent
fire in ST. Louis has brought this question
prominently forward, and complaints have
been made by the fire service of the city
that its work is seriously impeded by the
overhead wires, and that in the interests of
the public they must be put under ground.
city are newly constructed and are con-
cededly in frst-class condition, there is a
good deal of opposition to the proposed
change. By wa y of compromise; it is pro-
posed that in future the electric companies
cut out all the lights in the vicinity of
burning buildings, so that the firemen can
carry on their work without the slightest
fear of danger.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23
Use and Abuse of Hospitals.

Sir Morrell Mackenzie says that there is
growing feeling, both within the medical
profession and among practical sanitarians
and administrators, that general hospitals
of large size are open to many objections.
In the first place, the crowding together of
such a vast number of diseased persons is as
much out of place in cities as intramural
burial of the dead. In point of fact, it is
extremely likely that the germs derived
from such accumulation of every form of
disease are more dangerous to the commu-
nifty than those which, after several years,
may emanate from dead bodies. There is
no doubt that patients suffering from differ
ent diseases poison the air with their ex-
halations and, in many cases, exchange
microbes, till recovery becomes difficult.
even for the strongest.
Another objection to large hospitals is
that the relief which they afford may be said
to be indiscrimnate, and thus tendency 10
engender and foster habits OF improvidence
\in the poorer classes is created. This objec-
zion has considerable weight in England,
where it is said that the out-patient depart
ment in hospitals, where the patients con-
tribute nothing toward the expense of their
treatment, is the greatest pauperizing
agency at present existing in the country.
DR.. Mackenzie expresses his approval of
the Prussian law, by which all workmen
are Compelled to insure against sickness.
The amount of insurance is l Il per cent of
the wages earned. OF this, one-third is de-
frayed by the employed, the remaining two
thirds being deducted by him from the
workman's wages before they are paid. DR..
Mackenzie Is strongly of opinion that
small charger to out-patients at hospitals,
carefully grad duated according to the
patients meanS, would be productive of
great good. In the Prussian hospitals pay
ment is universaA All sorts and conditions
of patients are freely admitted, and patients
are divided into three classes, according to
the rate of payment,
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23
THE SMOKE PROBLEM.
Agitation in England on the Scores
of Health and Economy.
DANGER OF LARGE HOSPITALS.
Electric Propulsion on the London Under
ground Railroad.
THE WRITING TELEGRAPH A SUCCESS
lPRKpAREp FOR THE DrsPArcH.1

lPRKPARED FOR THE DIsPArcHI
The question of wholesale smoke abate-
ment is being canvassed with great earnest
ness in England. A leading English jour
nal says: "The smoke demon befouls the
atmosphere, excludes the sun, and shortens
our already too short days. This coDpels
us to use largely artificial light, which costs
money, whereas natural light costs nothing.
1t blackens our public statues, our persons,
our clothing, and tends to lower generally
the standard of cleanliness. The effects OF
smoke on vegetation are obvious to all.
Trees die, flowers will not grow, even our
grass degenerates into weeds-for obnoxious
forms of vegetation can resist unwholesome
conditions.
People are beginning to awaken to the
Importance of the commercial and social
aspects of the question. The Hon. Rollo
Russell, in a lecture delivered lately in
London under the auspices of the National
Smoke Abatement Association, showed in a
most striking manner the effect OF smoke
and the resulting fogs on the health of the
people of London, and further that, apart
altogether from injury to health, the smoke
and logs OF London cost its Inhabitants
about e5. .000, 900, or $25, 900, 900, per annum
for material loss and damage alone. The
Lord Provost of Glasgow, IN an address on
the subject, urged the necessity of legal en-
actments for the compelling of all con-
sumers of coal to conduct their operations
SO as to avoid the discharge of smoke into
the atmosphere. That this was possible
under conditions which are generally sup
posed to involve the generation and
emission of large quantity of smoke he
showed by quoting letter from the propri-
etor OF large print works, in which it was
stated that, although 30 tons of coal were
used in his works daily. no black smoke was
made. The writer stated that the apparatus
used is what is called the chopper and
shuttle continuous spreading feed" and it
was attached to his double-fue boilers. The
smoke abatement question has been taken
up in England by thoroughly competent
parties and there is every reason to believe
that in a short time a great improvement
will take place in the atmosphere of the
English manufacturing centers. This mat
ter is of interest to Americans from the fact
that already indications are not wanting
that the question of smoke consumption is
one that will sooner or later have to be Sc
riously considered in this country.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23
Colored InsuIatora.

A suggestive fact, involving the value
and effect OF colors for specific uses. is re-
ported from Belgium. The overhead lines
of the telegraph and telephone systems Of
tnat country follow in a great many cases
infrequented roads and by-ways where su-
pervision is, naturally, not very close. Tue
destruction of insulators began to be quite o
serious matter, and as among the various
kinds of insulators employed the white por-
celain insulators seemed to have the great
est attraction for the destructive beings who
used them as targets for the exercise Of
their skill with the bullet or the casual
stone, experiments were made with porce-
lain of various colors. A grayish brown
was finally decided on, and several hun
dred insulators, colored in this shade
by means of silicate mixed with
the enamel on the surface of
the porcelain, were ordered, and
were Set up alternately with white porce-
lain insulators. The result OF a wears
trial showed that out OF 102 lnsulators of each
kind (white and colored), on a line OF %
kilometres in length, 25 ordinary insulators
were broken, while only 13 of the colored
ones had been damaged. 1t was conse-
quently decided that wherever a white in
sulator was found to have been willfully
destroyed, a colored one should be set up in
its place, and should this in turn be broken,
a metal-protected one would be substituted.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23

with somebody. and generally to their ad-
vantage, it might be conjectured that some
ofsthe citizens of the great empire succeeded
inlaccumulating fortunes of extraordinary
magnitude. Licinius Crassus was one of
these. He had
TREMENDOUS LOT OF MONEY.
Rollo asserts that he had more than $780,
000, 900 invested in real estate alone, while
his personal property amounted to at least
four times as much. Crassus was liberal
fellow, and was in the habit of giving grand
suppers, to which the entire populace Of
Rome was invited. Several of the Roman
Emperors succeeded in scraping consider
able doodle" together. Julius Caesar had
an enormous fortune before he ascended the
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23

come. Although frequently discoursed upon
previously, the circulation some years ago
of H. Rider Hsggard's unique work of fic-
tion on the subject, gave an unprecedented
impetus to the Investigations, and now we
may confidently look forward to a renewal
Of the same
Whether or not these mines have ever lad
an existence in fact has not as yet been sat-
isfactorily determined, but certain it is that
Solomon, the wise but much married King,
succeeded before his death, 975 B. c., in Sc
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23

throne, and, it is said, was in debt to the e1-
tent of $1,000, 900 when he started on his
famous Spanish campaign. Julius must
have had either plenty of money or great
credit if he was permitted to get that deep.
Probably the richest of all the Roman
monarchs was Augustus. He was the lucky
heir to about S1S1, ASS, 900 to begin with, and
he took good care to add to it while ruler of
the empire. Augustus was also one of the
greatest spendthrifts that ever occupied the
Roman throne, and that is saying a great
deal. His baths cost more than 0,000, 900
alone.
LUcULLUs, THE GOOD Liver.
Lucullus was another Roman who had
money, and it is also absolutely certain, be-
sides, that no monarch OF anv age excelled
him in the manner of living. He was not
without good qualities, too. A student in
every sense of the word. his library con-
tained some of the most rare and valuable
manuscripts in the world. To give the
scholars of every country the advantage of
these he threw his library doors wide open,
and extended general invitation 10 indi-
vlduals of that class everywhere. which it is
hardly necessary to say was eagerly accepted.
But Lucullus' reputation comes down to
us along with the odor of good meals as
much as anything else. 1t is said that no
dinner was ever set be ore him that cost less
than $40, 900. A celebrated French author
ity estimates Lucullus' fortune at about
$500, 600, 900 francs, and it must have been
all OF that
Coming down to more recent time there
was a Frenchman named Jacques Ceur,
the master of the Mediterranean" as he
was called, who had a big pile of the need
ful. He was, also, extraordinary to relate,
as good and charitable as he was rich, and
gained the love OF his countrymen by his
kindness to them.
JOAN OF ARCS CHAMPION.
He it was who raised and equipped at his
own expense the army that followed the
fortunes OF the famous Joan of Arc. Ceur
lived in the greatest magnifcence. He
spent more than 100000 liyres on the
decoration OF his mansion at Bruges. Every
suit of apartments had its court and each
court mad its fountain. When the Duke OF
Villars occupied the house afterward he
sold the lead pipes alone that had furnished
the fountains with water for 500, GOO francs.
Daring the Middle Ages two brothers mo-
nopolized the shipping trade OF the Mediter-
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23
Non-Fusible Bullets.

A bullet has just been patented, the base
of which, as well as the body, is covered by
an alloy non-fusible at any temperature
which it is possible to generate in gun bar
rel. The necessity for such a bullet has
been caused by the introduction of nitrated
or smokeless powders. which generate such
intense heat that the base or heel of the bull
let is melted, and consequently made
ragged. Accuracy of aim is thus much
impaired. The tendency of late, in the de-
sire to secure increased accuracy, has been to
diminish the size of the bore, and resort to
compressed powders and cased bullets, and
the new bullet comes in most opportunely,
and enables the latest improvements to be
utiliZed.