davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-12
RAINS AND RAINMAKERS.

The Government rain making party has
reached the arid region of Texas where it
proposes to conduct its experiments. Be-
fore proceeding to steer the affrighted
atmosphere INTO the production of rain 1t
sends out a thoughtful warning to the
country at large. The public is not to COM
NIT itself to the prevailing error that it is
the explosion which shakes the rain out of
the clouds. "The effective cause, " we are
informed, 'tis the sudden condensation of
the air from the reduction in its tempera-
ture.''
Considering that it may be wise to wait
until the rain is produced by the explosion
before settling so dogmatically the chem
istry of the process, this explanation is
little premature. But it is cast in the shade
by the logic of the Baltimore Herald on the
same subject. Our cotemporary includes
within its view the efforts of the Govern
ment experimentalisUs and the Canton
crank. In connection with their efforts it
notices for few days there was rather too
much rain; and on the convincing logic of
the post hoe propter hoe, it leaps to the
conclusion that they have brought it.
With the deductive faculty of an African
tribe whose favorite rain doctors have
worked their incantations within reason
able time before a destructive flood or
thunderstorm, Baltimore commentators
propose "that the Hon. Secretary of
Agriculture shall break off said cranks
close up, so that they can no longer turn.
Crops in the Fertile East, in the teeming
Mississippi Valley, and in the regions be-
yond have been imperiled, presumably in
the interests of science, and it is time to
bring these unseemly experiments to a
close
As tribute to the power of the rain
doctors this beats the warning already re-
ferred to. Such faith in the power of the
rain makers over the clouds and winds is
instructive although we should hope
rather uncommon.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-12
MILLIONS OF MOSQUITOES.
They Advance Upon Long Island and are
Devouring People Alive.

They Advance Upon Long Island and are
Devouring People Alive.
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH!
NEW YORK, Aug. lion Long Island the
suffering caused by the hot wave has been
intensified by a veritable plague of mos
Quitos These venomous little pests made
their appearance on Sunday evening They
seem to have been hatched bv the thousands
of millions in the salt marshes which run up
along the Southern coast. Having whetted
their appetite upon the holiday makers at
Rockaway, Long Beach, and other places in
that direction, they advanced inland and
descended in clouds upon Flatbush, jamaica,
and the whole region on the outskirts of
Prospect Park. Their descent was as sud-
den as it was unexpected.
The air IN an instant was thick with them
and all persons on the streets were driven
indoors. The Oldest inhabitants declared
that they had never experienced anything
of the kind before, and wondered what they
had done to be so afflicted. The vanguard
of the mosquito army reached the Southern
districts of Brooklyn, but the main body
appears to be stationary, and everybody
outside of Flatbush is perfectly willing that
it should remain there. Flatbush, it NAV he
added, is q populous place and is able to pro-
vide succulent pasture for several days. At
the expiration of that period Providence
may send O north wind to drive the ensan-
guined invaders back to their natiye dens,
A similar state of affairs is reported from
Staten Island and various parts of New
JERSEY
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-12
TOO MUCH TO WASTE.

If il be true that the last bids received
by the Government Board of Fortifications
and Ordnance for furnishing a hundred
high power guns for coast defense are at
such figures that S2,O00,00O can be saved
by making them at the Watervliet arsenal,
the wisdom of establishing that govern
ment foundry is demonstrated. The asser-
ton made to that effect by the press, and
especially by the opposition press, point
very distinctly to the good results of the
policy of maintaining a Government es-
tablishment as a check upon excessive
prices which might be obtained through a
combination of private bidders
OF course, if the figures are as alleged,
the guns should be made at Watervliet
Other hundreds of thousands, if not a
million, might have been saved if the
foundry had been located in Pittsburg
But since political and army influences
settled it at that distance from the center
of steel production, the guns must be
made there. If the work is not to be done
at the Government establishments when
the private bids are excessive, then not
only will the S2,OOO,OOO that might be
saved be wasted, but also the hundreds of
thousands spent in putting the establish
ment at Watervliet in condition to do Just
such work will be utterly thrown away.
II is evident that the waste of between
two and three million dollars cannot be
afforded The day when the United States
can disregard such bagatelles as sums that
are counted by units of millions was ter
minated with the adjournment of the
Fifty-third Congress.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-12
THE COMING METAL.

The recent reduction of the price OF
aluminium to fifty cents pound is long
step toward a revolution in industrial mat
tiers more radical than the change wrought
in the past twenty years by the cheapening
of the cost of steel. The downward course
of the cost of manufacturing aluminium
has also been even more radical than the
steady lessening of the cost of steel manu-
facture. Ten years'ago aluminium cost ten
dollars per pound. At that price it was
too costly for wide industrial use. New
processes reduced the cost first to five dol
lars and then two dollars, at which figure
it has remained until recently its price was
brought down to dollar, and finally to
fifty cents.
If the reduction to this level is perma-
nent it will make remarkable change in
many lines of manufacturing. Its low
specific gravity, its enormous tensile
strength, its ductility and non-corrosive-
ness all conspire to make-it one of the
most valuable forms of metal that require
a combination of hghtness and strength.
At fifty cents per pound aluminium is as
cheap as copper. This price will permit
TIC ldlSS 0HlpfON ulSub VI dIuLuluuu
bronzes, and the material improvement Of
many forms of iron manufacture by the
introduction of percentage of aluminium.
1t is not, of course, certain that the
downward progress Of the cost of this
metal will cease at 90 cents per pound. The
presumption is that even if the cost of man.
ufacture is still susceptible of cheapeningit
will remain at that figure until the indus
trial demand which can use it at that price
is fully satisfied. But every downward
movement makes an immense extension of
its field 1t needs but one or two more
such reductions, for example, to make it
available for use in steamers, which by
means of the lightness and strength of the
metal can make great gain in carrying
capacity without any enlargement of draft
or dimensions A similar field will be
opened in the manufacture of railway To-
comotives and light engines.
In short if the downward movement in
the cost of the new metal continues there
is no telling what departments of the
metal industry may not be revolutionized.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-12
MAIL DELIVERY IN THE COUNTRY.
How q North Carolina Family Expert
mented With n Free Mail Route.

mented With a Free Mail Route.
WASHINGTON, Aug. IAN interesting letter
has been received by the Postmaster Gen
eral, describing certain free delivery ar
rangements especially adapted to farming
communities. They illustrate the practical
value of recent efforts to extend this branch
of the postal service, and show the increas-
ing demand for universal free delivery. A
Northern family, which had always lived in
sight of the postoffice, moved to North Caro-
lima about Is years ago, and settled 81 miles
from q railroad and three miles from a post
office. Having obtained consent of the post
master and mail carrier that particular
route to l3 miles, this family and others who
desired to enter into the arrangement
erected posts for the reception and protec-
ton of small mail bags, suitable for both
collection and delivery, and thus at a cost of
50 to each family, a daily delivery was estab-
ished and all mail, except registered let
tiers, promptly delivered.
Each family had its own mail bag, prop
erly inscribed. and enjoyed the placing
therein money for the procuring of stamps,
money orders, postal cards, etc. Such was
the success of the system that families living
on the mail road sought to enjoy its advan-
tages by sharing the expense with their
nearest post-route neighbors. As a natural
result, more newspapers, especially dailies,
are taken on this route than all the other
local routes in that part of the State, and
city shops that issued catalogues for circu-
latiOn i'll the mails have had largely in
creased trade in that particular region.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-12
COMPTROLLER AND EXAMINER.

When Bank Examiner Drew, of Philadel-
phia, was removed, as a result of the Key
stone Bank disclosures, it was evident he was
selected as a scape-goat. The evidence is
doubly clinched by letter Mr.. Drew has
written to the Secretary of the Treasury
concerning the matter.
The reason assigned for Mr.. Drew's dis
missal was that he omitted in a prelimin-
ary report of the condition of the Key
stone to include among its liabilities the
issue of a large amount of Clearing House
certificates. Mr.. Drew in his letter shows,
first, that the Comptroller had information
of the issue of these certificates before
that report; second, that the exact inform
alton was furnished in reports subsequent
thereto; and, third, that with the knowl-
edge Of the unintentional omission, fur
nished shortly after, the Comptroller did
not until some months after, when the dis
closures were becoming uncomfortable,
discover it was a reason for Mr. Drews
removal. On the contrary the Examiner
was left in charge of the Keystone from
January to June, with repeated express
sions of confidence in his integrity and
The inference is just as fatal to the
Comptroller in this case as in regard to
that charge that Mr.. Drew ommitted to in
form him of the Lucas shortages for some
weeks after he discovered them. The Ex-
aminer claims the information was for
warded at once. But in both cases, if the
Comptroller's statements are correct, he is
convicted of incompetency or worse. If
Drew withheld information of importance
he should have been removed as soon as
the fact was discovered. But the Comp
troller by his own statement left him in
charge of the banks for months after the
discovery of the COMMISSIONS.
1t is by no means certain that Mr.
Drew's statement vindicates him from the
charge that lie acted improperly in the
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-12
JOINED THE CHORUS.
A Young Married Woman Leaves Her
Home and Husband for the Stage.

(FR0M STAFF CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 11.-In front of the
chorus in tine opern of "Amorita," produced
ut the Grand Opera House this evening by
the Carleton Opera Company, was a beauti-
full blonde woman, a little stout, but charm
ing and graceful, who appeared somewhat
ill at ease in her scant bodice and pink
trunks. To the old habitue of the front row
she was plainly q tyro, and her lack of pro-
fessional swing, rs well as her evident nat
ural grace and well-bred air, aroused much
curiosity. After much inquiry the identity
OF tie lady was discove ed, though her pres
ence with the opera company is still mys-
terry. Immediately previous to the depart
ure of the company from Buffalo last week
a lady drove up to the stage entrance of the
ager Strakosch. When admitted, she hastily
explained that for good reasons she wanted
to leave her home and launch her fortunes
on the uncertain operatic sea
As she was very attractive the manager
did not object If the lady could be utilized.
Could she sing? Oh, yes, very nicely. But
when the trial came the voice was u tri1e
weak. and Herr Strakosch was forced to in
form the asprant that if she were given a
place at all it must be in the chorus. Very
well, she would sing in the chorus. She
came on with the company and appeared to-
night Of course her name was not on the
bills. just what name she will choose when
she graduates from the chorus is not yet de-
ctded. At present, therefore, her only cog
nomen is Mrs John Cronin, wife of DIR. John
Cronin, Jr., OF Buffalo, whose father, DIR.
John Cronin, Sr., has been for long years
one of the leading medical medical practi-
tioners and influential Catholic laymen in
Western New York. The young doctor has
been very successful in his practice and
Mrs. Cronin has always apparently had all
she could wish for. What her reasons are
for leaving home and husband TO play the
role of chorus girl is not known, but there
are signs that she already regrets the step
and that she may return home very soon If
her home is open to her.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-12

AMONG the interesting discoveries made
in the lassitude of the dogdays is that of
wild Western paper which spreads out the
history of an ancient citizen who has
reached the ripe age of $50. This man was
born in Loudon county, Va, in 1742 accord
ing to the statement. He saw George Wash
ington "when they brought back the dead
body Of Gen. Braddock from his defeat"
The fact that Braddock's body was not
brought back from his defeat, but was in
TERED in the Fayette county mountains,
presents a slight difficulty; but it is nothing
to those which follow. The family Bible, it
is said, gives the date of the aged citizens
birth as I752, but at that time he was driving
an OK team in General Braddock's army.
The fact that he was an army teamster at
the tender ageof ten years, according to the
revised dates, is sufficiently remarkable, re-
inforced as it is by the statement that he
has in his possession "a discharge receipt
from Braddock's army as driver" But it is
further complicated by the fact that Brad
docks army was not in existence in 175s, that
General having landed in America in l755.
Our Denver cotemporary's aged citizen is
very remarkable person-if he is half as re-
markable as his chronology.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-12
CONSULAR SOCIOLOGY.

The United Consul at Bordeaux is a
scientific gent, as Truthful James would
put it. In the last installment of the in
teresting literature known as Consular re-
ports he leaves the dry and beaten track
Of statistics about trade and commerce and
takes bold plunge into the sociological
problems of the French Republic. Mr..
Knowles, the official referred To. has turned
his powerful intellect to "The Depopula-
tion Of France, A" and eXemplifies the friend
Illness of the United States to the European
Republic in having sent France Consular
representative who can tell her what to do
about it.
Our Consul prepares his ground by stat
ing as an assured fact that the population
OF France is failing. The birth rate is
falling off at the per centage of per cent
in four years; and it requires only a mod
crate exertion of the Consular mathematics
to demonstrate that this percentage of
retrogression will only require eighty
years to put France in the unpleasant
predicament of having no births
at ALL To prevent that obviously dis
astrous climax Mr.. Knowles inquiries
first into the cause of the phenomenon. He
finds that marriage is difficult proceed
ing in France entirely apart from the ex-
pensive results which follow that cere-
mony in nearly all civilized lands. After
marriage the people are taxed on life and
taxed on death. ''There is a tax on ex-
istence in general, " says the consul; and
this leads TO the profound conclusion that
If the poorer people were relieved of taxa
ton they could afford to raise more chill
dren than they can now provide for.
This brings Consul Knowles to the con-
Clusion of indorstng NJ Charpentier's plan
of graduating taxation in proportion to
the number of children in the family of
the taxpayer. The father of seven chill
dren is to go free of taxation altogether;
the man who can rejoice in but six olive
branches is to pay one-seventh Of the tax,
and so on down; while the account is to be
balanced by taxing the bachelors, the
persistent old bachelor being obliged to
pay all the taxes of the progenitor of the
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-12
Obituary Notes.

MRS. SARAH TRUEBLoOD. famous English
Quaker preacher. died at Indianapolis Monday.
aged "a.
MAJOR f, B. Cook, one of the oldest and best
known auctioneers In the United states, died in
Richmond Monday.
NINE. DoLLY-BILH2NT, young French actress,
who was prominent at the Paris Am bigu in 1880,
died in that city recently
HUGH COUSINS, aged g. Secretary of the Young
Mems Christian Association of Petersburg, Va,
died Sunday of typhoid fever.
LoNsDALE BURY, one of the Oldest members of
the Sam Hague Minstrels, died in Liverpool re-
Gently. He had twice visited this country.
VERY REV. GILBERT ELLIOTT, d. D., the WELL
known English churchman, is dead. He was born
in 1900 and was appointed Dean of Bristol in 1850
and had held the Office ever since.
DIR. ROBERT CLIFFORD died yesterday in Fredo-
mia. n. H.. aged So He was % naval surgeon dur
Usage when it was blown up by torpedo In Mo-
bile bay.
WILLIAM ARMSTRONG, who, 1t is claimed, was
the Oldest living Odd Fellow in the United States
died at his residence in Portland. Ore, yesterday
morning aged SO. He was initiated into the order
at Buffalo in 1884,
CAPTAIN WILLIAM Fl. KELLY. noted COM
mander in the whaling service, died recently at
Heraldsburg, Cal He made many voyages In the
Pacific and Arctic oceans. had been shipwrecked
four times and had lost three ships
WILLIAM H. LErcHFoBD, one of the wealthest
men of New Orleans. died Monday at the age of 73
years. For many years ne was one OF the largest
wears ago he retired from business. His estate is
estimated at 81, 000, coo.
DR. HENRY GRANT KEEFER, physician and
surgeon Of high repute, and President of the loca
Board of Pension Examiners, died, Tuesday, at
Honesdale Pa, aged IS years. At the breaking
out of the rebellion he entered the Union army as
assistant surgeon, and served till the close of the
war.
DIR. JOHN ]. DEMENT,, of Huntsville, Ala, died
Monday morning at Lithia Springs, Ca, of
Bright's disease, in his SD year. He was one of
the most eminent physicians of Alabama. He was
President of its association in 1876 and had been
member of the American Public Health ,Assoca-
tion; as surgeon In the Confederate army he was
imprisoned In Camp Chase and Johnson's Island.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-12

THAT reported offer by Balmaceda of
81, 600 00O for the Esmeralda leads to a sugges-
ton by the Philadelphia Ledger that it would
be good enterprise for private builders to
keep a stock of ready made war vessels on
hand The conservative Ledger should have
said that the business might be profitable
under the following contingencies: First,
that there shall be a war somewhere in
which one Of the combatants is In urgent
need of warvessels; second, that the needy
combatant shall have ready money to pay
for the vessel; and, third, that the neutrality
laws shall not forbid the delivery of the
vessel to a combatant. As these conditions
are difficult of realization, it is probable that
naval constructors will adhere to their pres
ent practice of building vessels only when
they have contracts for them.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-12
NAMES WHICH OFTEN APPEAR.

DR. GRAY, the Afghan Ameer's physi-
clan, reports that 40 feet of snow fell at Cabul
last winter.
Miss SUSAN NJ DUNCKLEE, of Newton,
Mass the only woman treasurer of q bank
in that State, has resigned after IL years of
brilliant success, and not trip to Canada
during the whole period.
SARDoU's first comedy was failure. He
was q youth of % when he made his first
venture into field in which he aftsrward
became famous, and was at that time o
teacher of mathematics.
THE Government is going to experiment
with an electric log which has been patented.
Rear Admiral Walker has been directed to
appoint board of officers and have either
the Vesuvius or the Gushing used for the
purpose.
1T is proposed to honor the memory of
the late Joseph Leidy, the naturalist, by es-
tablishing chair of anatomy at the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania, where he taught
for many years. A fund of $4,000 for Leidy
memorial museum may also be raised.
AN old Australian, who is in St. Louis,
says that the thrilling stories about the
boomerang are the purest fiction. The
weapon is merely the natives tomahawk,
and it is no more dangerous thana combined
club and hatchet would be in any skilled
hands.
THE weary mass of MS. left by Victor Hugo
there were over 5000 pages of it-has been
edited and the last volume, ocean" is now
with the printers. These later volumes do
not seem to have aroused any enthusiasm
anywhere. His correspondence, dating back
to 1870, has now to be edited.
CLARA BARTON, so widely known for her
labors in extending the Red Cross Society
and the Women's Relief Corps, is said to be
the first person to decorate the soldiers
act of homage, and is the only woman who
ever sat in the Swiss National Council; no
other woman ever received, as she did from
the old Kaiser William, the iron cross of
Prussia.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-12
PEOPLE COMING AND GOING.

Professor Sjogren, of Sweden, Is at the
Duquesne. The professor came to America
to attend the international Congress of
Biologists, which meets every five years.
The last meeting was held in London, when
the English will prevail Most of the MEM
bers are teachers in technical schools.
Chaplin McCabe was at the Union depot
yesterday, bound Tor Scio, o. He says the
government should protect American mis-
sionaries in China. The Methodist Church
intends to raise sl,200,090 for missionary
work this year.
Mrs. William Ferree, Mrs. Harry Ferree,
Mrs X. F. Conkle and Mrs. A. 7. Byers, of
Coraopolis are at the seashore the first two
at Ocean Grove and the last two at Atlantic
City.
Ed Bartels, Assistant Night Baggage
Agent at the Union depot, his sister and
mother have returned from Atlantic City.
They report having good time.
G. Brinton Roberts, son of President
Roberts of the Pennsylvania Road. took din
ner at the Duquesne yesterday. The young
man is an engineer on the road.
&c Rossiter, of the Southside, leaves
to-day for Enon Valley, to join his wife and
family who are spending few weeks there.
Assistant Coates, of the fire department,
Squire Lindsey, j. b. Schlosser and other
Pittsburgers have gone to Mt. Clements.
Cadet G. G. Heiner, of West Point Mill
tary Academy. is the guest of his aunt, Mrs.
Rev. Core. OF Williamsburg.
j. NJ. Arters, of Parker, and E. F. Burn
side, of Bellefonte, are registered at the Sew
enth Avenue Hotel.
w. d. Rossiter returns to-day from the
st. Lawrence river and other Northern
points.
j. c. Baker, of Oak Ridge. and R. W.
Patter, of Erie, are registered at the Ander-
son.
T. R. Morgan, Sr, and his son, the AL
lance iron men, were at the Duquesne yes
day.
w. P. Logan, the oil man, left for his
home in Philadelphia last evening.
Miss Meta Swift, of Fifth avenue, left yes
terday morning for Atlantic City.
W. s. Witsof, an ex-League umpire,
went to New York last evening.
State Senator III. A. Hall, of st. Mary's,
Is in the city on legal business.
R. H. Childs, of Warren, is among the
guests at the Schlosser.
DIR. Joseph N. Dickson went east on
fishing trip last evening.
Assistant Postmaster Edwards is home
from Atlantic City.
B. F. Harris has gone to Ashland, KY,
to spend week.
George Oliver left for New York last
evening.
Colonel Sheafer has gone East on busi-
ness trip.