davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-16
AN EFFECTIVE METHOD.

The statement that the Grocers' Pro-
tective Association has resolved to fight
the canned goods combination will be
received by the public as evidence that
the local organization has not only put
itself on platform of correct principle,
but that it has taken the most effective
method of suppressing the evil.
The situation affords a good illustration
of the difference between combination for
legitimate and proper purposes and COM
bination for illegitimate and oppressive
purposes The canned goods combination
endeavors to enforce the decree that in
this year of abundant crops the same
prices shall rule for canned goods as last
year when there was a general failure.
The organization of retailers opposes this
arbitrary decision, and backs up its oppo-
sition by concerted decision not to buy
goods of the combination.
This is fighting the devil with fire, in
way that will very quickly bring His
Satanic Majesty to terms The day the
members of the combination perceive that
they are losing trade by combining, it will
be dissolved into very small fragments
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-16
A PuRLIC MATTER.

The wording of local item in THE
DISPATCH of yesterday was unfortunately
such as to permit of a misapprehension
with the intention of referring to the
secrecy of architects preparing plans,
reference was made to "unaccountable
secrecy" and the matter being kept quiet
among a few persons, in such terms as
might possibly be construed as limiting at
occult and underhand management on the
part of the building committee of the
Board of Trustees. To those who have
kept themselves informed of the steps
taken it is well known that no such asSer-
ton would have any foundation. The
fact that the Board at its last meeting
authorized the building committee to make
the necessary overtures to architects; that
the building committee after several meet
ings decided on the form of the circulars
and the conditions of the architectural
competitions that the circulars have been
sent out, and that the projecti is now await
ing the result of the work of the archi-
tects, have all been fully published when
the different actions were taken. When
the architectural plans have been finished
which will not be before fall-there is
no doubt not only that the public will be
fully informed of the results, but that it
will be given an opportunity to inspect the
various plans and designs
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-16

its powers from the Irish people, is utterly
foreign to Mr.. Balfour's plan.
A moments consideration shows that
this hardly makes respectable skeleton
for local self-government The County
Councils would have less power than any
municipal Council in this country, and
the entire scheme puts less authority un-
der local control than is welded by the
county governments of our own State.
There is nothing in the plan remotely ap-
proximating the independence with regard
to local legislation and the administration
of Justice that marks our State Govern
ments. The progress Of the Home Rule
idea is shown by the fact that Mr.. Balfour
has been led to throw this tub to the
whale, but it is also clear that the young
Tory leader is still long way off from
granting Home Rule.
The hardship of Mr.. Balfour's case, from
latest reports, is that of the man between
two stools. Since the Home Rulers must
reject his measure, and the more bigoted
of his own party rebel against it, heis in
peril of experiencing the proyerbial
tumble
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-16
FORESTS IN ALASKA.
Almost Impenetrabie Jungles Of Trees
and IJnderbrush,


Unfortunately, from the point Of timber,
the Alaska forests, as far as I saw them, are
OF little value, says a writer in the Philadel-
phia Ledger. The trees grow so thickly to-
gether that so far as the soil Is concerned,
tney starve one another, and good logs
would De very rare indeed. One can scarcely
Imagine from usual forest experience now
closely these trees are packed together. L
and my wife undertook to walk four miles
by an Indian trial through one of these
woods to point where we might head OH
our vessel. So thick was the mass of yegeta-
ton on each side of us, the path being vide
enough Tor us to travel single file only, that
we could not have seen bear ten feet away
from us, and only for the rifle carried by the
good Presbyterian missionary who piloted
US we would not have trusted ourselves
amid the jungle of foliage which made up
these Alaska forests.
One reason for the dense covering of the
land with trees is the favorable conditions
for seed termination and the apparent scare
1ty OF seed-eating creatures. The warm
temperature given off by the Sea of Japan,
Wnlch comes up southwesterly to break
against Alsaka shores, meets the snowy
cold OF the mountain peaks, condensing the
moisture so that the surface of the ground,
Or indeed anything else, is never absolutely
Qry, and every seed that falls to the earth
has chance to sprout and grow In the old
Indian village were white spruce % feet
high growing out of the top of totem poles.
Ihese poles are themselves 30 40 feet high,
and seem to have been selected from the
largest trees. They are stripped of their
bark, and have carved on them series of
1kenesses Of creatures, real and imaginary,
representing the genealogical descent of
members OF the tribe. 1t was a curious
sight to see the white spruces like huge
Christmas trees, growing from the fiat tops
M oI tneSe poles. In some cases the roots or
had Crzl4N 1lAaf frNN mi
descent downward to the earth, into which
the roots had in some cases so thoroughly
penetrated that should the poles finally rot
away the trees would probably on these
stills of roots continue to grow on as trees
high up in the atmosphere. Nothing but a
climate continually saturated with moisture
would permit of seed sprouting and the tree
continuing to grow out of the top of pole
in this manner
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-16
PENSIONS IN SCOTLAND.
Teachers Who Have Worked for Year
VIII BE Supported Afterward.

WI" De supporter AIterWaru
journal of Education
Glasgow has O scheme for the pensioning
of teachers, which it will be interesting for
American leaders to study. heactuary has
worked out the details with great care. 1t
applies to all employees of the School Board.
There are six classes-head masters, assist
ant male teachers, assistant female
teachers. office staff, janitors and
compulsory officers. The first three classes
only are considered in detaY I'D the assess
ment of salaries are made at the following
rates: Head masters, per cent; assistant
male teachers, per cent, and assistant
female teachers, So per cent-the total
amount of the capital fund required to be
found at present being s30O, 200, or, including
the other three classes, $350,0OO.
There were in June, 1889, in the employ
ment of the board, 81 headmasters, ranging
in age from 35 to Is; the average scale Of
salary ranging from 81, $50 to 5000 per
annum. OF assistant male teachers there
were PIG who drew salaries ranging from
$500 to $3.50, and averaging s465, and whose
ages ranged from 20 to 59-only 6, however,
being above Il years. The assistant female
teachers numbered 1885, and the average
scale of salary was from $3.50 to $3.50. Of
these only 25 were over 40 years of age, the
largest class being that between 25 and 29
years. Although, as general rule, the rate
of salary increases with age, that rule Is not
invariable. Among the female assistants
the highest average salary is between the
ages of 40 and A. in which class the average
Is $4 So; and among male assistants the same
class stands highest, with an average salary
of e625
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-16
A BUSINESs BUGAROO.

4
The PROPOSITIONS for dress reform cause
the Philadelphia Times to raise the buga-
boo of business revulsion. 1t thinks that
if all the demand for the present articles
of feminine wear were cut off it would
fulfill Sir Henry Names prediction that a
sudden and complete change in feminine
fashions would work more distress than a
general war.
Beyond the fact that a change so CON-
plete as to reverse the conditions of textile
industries would be a more overwhelming
triumph for dress reform than its most
sanguine advocates dream of, the appre-
hension is made baseless by the fact that
dress reform does not propose that women
shall abandon dress. There has been no
such radical proposition as that they shall
wear the costume of Mother Eve, or even
that they shall discard the use of fabrics
more or less costly with which they are
wont to adorn their perishable bodies,
much to the delight Of the masculine half
of mankind The vital part of the propo
sition is that they should abandon the in
furious features of dress, which need not
cause any business distress at all worth
mentioning. For example, a sensible
dress reform, If successful, would abolish
the use of French heels; but that need
not and would not paralyze the shOe-mak-
ing industry. About the only industry
that would be entirely cut off would be
the manufactures of corsets and bustles;
and those industries are not so important
that our wives and mothers need torture
themselves into nervous wrecks for the
continuance of business prosperity.
1t is also pertinent, as an answer alike to
the present bugaboo and Sir Henry Names
sweeping assertion, that there have been
within the memory of every adult several
complete and sweeping alterations in
women'S fashions; and nothing has been
heard of the general distress exceeding
that of war; The change from crinoliue to
buStles, and from bustlcs to clinging skirts;
from the dress goods of the sixties to those
of the seventies, and thence to those of the
eighties; and the differences between the
same periods In millinery have been more
radical in their effects on textile industries
than the changes proposed for dress re-
form. These are contingencies which the
manufacturers of such goods have to look
out for, and which they meet without seri-
GUS trouble. If dress reform should estab-
lish a rational standard of dress-which is
far from being an assured fact-it is an
open question whether the manufacturers
of feminine wear would not have fewer
such changes to meet than now, when
they are subject to the vagaries of fashion.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-16
A W0MAN's ODD WILL.
The Heirs of Mrs. Boyce Will Have to
Share a House Between Them.

The Heirs of Mrs. Boyce Will Have to
Share House Between Them.
Springfield Republican,
The most peculiar document that has been
filed at the probate office in many a week
came from the will of Lavina Boyce, of
Westffeld, Mass. Lewis +. Boyce, her hus-
band, receives the use and income of the
real estate on the south side of Orange street
in that town, but after his death the prop
erty is to be diyided into three parts by i'm
back Of the lot. Helen Z. Amscen, a
the place, one-third of the attic and cellar
and three rooms on that side of the house.
Alice r. HOey, another daughter, gets the
middle third of the lot, the central third of
the cellar and attic and the rooms on the
first floor not already disposed of, while
William L. Boyce, a son, is to receive the
easterly third of the land. the remaining
fraction of the cellar and attic, and the re-
naming rooms on the second story. He is
granted the right to build a flight of steps on
the outside OF the house, if he wishes, to
reach his tenement. The Instrument speci-
f1es that all the expenses to the house for
outside repair are to be borne proportion
ately by the three, while each is to have use
of the inside stairs and Railways as may be
necessary in reaching the cellar and garrett
In order to secure this prize they must pay
off q mortgage of $780, in sums equally di-
vided among them, and specified to exact
cents. Minute particulars are laid down for
the transmission of the third of the property
first mentioned.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-16
THE BOOM IN GRAIN.

The excitement and rapid advance in
the wheat market is principally illustra-
tive of the effect of speculative methods in
adding to the suddenness and violence Of
fluctuations from natural causes. The
rapid rise, of course, creates the usual re-
ports of spectators who were engineering
the bull movement; but study of the mar
ket kilograms shows that the melting
cause of the advance is the rise in Eu-
ropeau markets from the evidently i'm
pending scarcity in foreign crops
When there is such strongly upward
factor the advance in our markets is legit-
innate and essential. Speculation only
has the effect that on such evidence of a
higher range for values the mass of specu-
lators rush like herd of stampeded cattle
to buy wheat, and incur the danger of
running up domestic prices so as to put
them beyond parity with the foreign
markets. If any spectators have been suf
fciently foresighted to get ahead of the
movement, they owe it to their good luck in
backing rise which all clear-sighted peo-
pie have foreseen for several weeks. In
the same way the people who got up that
Farmers Alliance circular fraud have the
same good fortune, and will doubtless pro-
ceed to make capital with the farmers for
an advance over which they have had
about as much influence as the proverbial
fly over the revolutions of the wheel.
There is little reason for doubt that the
wheat market is established on higher
level The greatest danger is that spec
ulation may put prices SO high as to check
the expectation of breadstuffs from which
must be gathered the real profits to this
country of the. hopeful outlook of the grain
markets
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-16
PITTsBURG, SUNDAY. AUGUST i6, 1881
TIN PLATE PROTECTED.

That falsehoOd as political weapon is
a sign of weakness, is undergoing DEM
onstration every day. Each statement of
the Democrats, based upon their opposi-
ton 10 the Mckinley law, has been fraught
with disaster. When, on the first day of
July. the new tariff, adding S25 per ton to
the duty on tin plate, took effect, they
stated, among other things, that the man.
Ufacture of tin plate in the
United States would not be encouraged
thereby. They said that if tin plate was
made here, the Welsh would not buy
American grain or wheat; and now they
are doomed to double disappointment
Not only has the new tariff encouraged
the manufacture of tin plate in the United
States but the food products that might
have gone to Wales will be used at home
in feeding the workmen in the new fac
tories.
1t has transpired that not only do eight
or nine American firms contemplate put
ting in tin plants, but the pro-
lection afforded by the Mckinley
law has attracted British capital
lists who have entered into negrtiations for
the construction of plants. Mr. r. {.
jenkins, who represents a Welsh plant
that produces ., 400 boxes of tin per day,
will move his entire works to Joliet, Ill,
where 20 acres Of land has been given him
for that purpose Representatives of
British company, which has glass factories
in Tennessee, have been taking advice on
the subject and have gone to England to
recommend the investment of $3.50, 900 in
adding to their factories plant for max
ing tin plate and steel They found that
they could make profit of 81 25 per box
on all tin plate produced and they
state that they see no reason why
they may not take advantage of the pro-
lection afforded by the tariff as well as
Americans. They recognize the fact that
Welsh tin plate factories cannot compete
with those in America
The benefits to be derived by PittSburg
viii be direct The machinery will be
manufactured here. The benefit to other
parts Of the country will be large also, for
the making of tin plate means the en-
p,oyment Of many thousands of people
and this implies the circulation of a large
amount of money. In view of these facts
Il seems to us that the gIee of the Demo-
cratS over the tin plate question was a
little premature
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-16

other private enterprise. The true
remedy therefore, is to abolish the
monopoly and let the business forces have
full play. That public ownership might
be better than monopolistic control is
quite possible; but the hope is very much
marred by the reflection as to the kind of
management that would be given by a
municipal government that is so dead to
the public interest as TO grant monopolies.
The rule that municipalities should own
water works is good one; but for very
different reason than that quoted above.
The real reason is that there are many
purposes for which water supply has such
public value that it is well for a munich
pality to supply it at the public cost before
the revenue from it would yield a profit to
private enterprise. The need of water
supply for fire purposes and sanitation
renders it a public function. In addition
it is good public policy to furnish to the
masses a water supply at less charges
than would yield private dividends For
many years the revenues of the Pittsburg
water system did not pay the cost of opera
ton, and to-day they do not pay any appre-
ciable interest on the cost. 1t is neverthe
less good policy to give the people water
at that low cost and make the, whole city
pay for it.
But the claim that the public service is
more reliable and economical than it would
be if the business were subject to the free
forces of private enterprises is very far
4,aI 10
is ready to undertake TO supply some of
the least remunerative departments of
water consumption in this city, and to
make money at it, where the city barely
does more than pay expenses
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-16
POLITICAL POINTERS.

WHATEVER may be the case with Blaine
himself, his boom is growing that healthy
the Harrison doctors don't know what to
make of it-Phfladelphia Times.
THE most popular thing that Republican
politician can do nowadays is to say that he
has no preference to express as to the next
candidate for the Presidency except that
Blaine should have the refusal of the NOM
ination.-S. Louis Globe Democrat.
THE London Gazette says that the object OF
the Mckinley bill was to hit the foreign
manufacturer. 1t might have gone little
further and said that it has hit him-hit him
hard, hit him where it hurts most. The Nc
Kinley bill is the John Lawrence Sullivan of
tariff legislation.-Sdn A,,tonio Ter, Express.
W. E. BARNES, of the st. Louis Lum6erman.
(RepJ, says: "AIy choice is Blaine, first, last
and all the time Should he not secure the
nomination, my next choice is Harrison
NV selection is based upon my views of
Blaine's attitude on the tariff question
especially. If nominated I think there is
little doubt of his election
THE New York Nail and Express, in COM
menting upon the complaints of Great
Britain upon the Mckinley law, says: 1.-THE
trade these people have lost is now ours
Our mills and factories are steadily supply
ing more and more of the goods which we
nlLnertO ndNo UT I'LL
porters. Can there be any doubt Of the wis
dom of such a policy?
FOREIGNERS cannot any longer grow rich
at our expense. The st. James Gazette is
wrong in saying that the law was framed to
hit foreigners. Its great central idea WIS to
save ourselves-to preserve the American
home the American farm, the American
school, the American factory. That end it is
accomplishing. When your enemy yells
you can be sure you are on top.-Ne,o York
Recorder.
WHEN England cannot send us anything
else for the bread English consumers must
have it can send us back stocks of railroads
and industrial companies and bonds by the
hundred millions for a few years. That will
not harm Americans The chances are that
we shall see few evidences of ownership
before the snow flies, and q tariff which
enables Americans to own America is not on
that account bad thing.-Ne,c York Tribune
THE Demmies can't shake the sugar argu-
ment. Tea, coffee and sugar have all been
put on the free list by the Republican party
The duties on each were for revenue only
and not for protection. The duty on sugar
only raised the price. Competition in its
production did not affect the price at all. |
The Mills bill placed heavy duty on sugar. |
The Mckinley bill took it off. And no party |
will ever put it on again. That's the kind of |
facts that voters will remember when they |
get into the booths in November.-iSpring- |
field, o., Republican.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-16
PRIVATE AND PUBLIC OWNERSHIP.

The dogma that lone of the properties
that should always be owned by the vii
lage, town or city is the water works" is
supported by the New York World with
the example Of the village of Mt Vernon,
New FORK, in which the water is supplied
by private corporation, and a water fam
iueiS prevailing, owing. it is asserted, to
an accident to the pumps
The proof is not exactly conclusive, as
III much more important cases than that
village there have been times of water
famine owing to the breakdown of pump
ing machinery in cities where the water
works are owned by the city. 1t is not so
many years since Pittsburg had extended
experiences of that sort even after spend
ing millions in the extension of her water
supply; though of late years 1t must be ad-
mi,led the comparison is against that por-
lion of the city supplied by private cor
porstion. The World recognizes this pos
sibiiity of city water works breaking
down, but thinks the chances are not SO
great, as sound politics would prevent
il. But sound business policy would
also prevent a preventable breakdown in
the case of private ownership. 1t is far
from demonstrated that sound politics are
more scrupulously observed in municipal
governments than sound business policy in
corporate management.
That the case cited does not prove the
thesis is further demonstrated by the
statement that ''a rival company is clam
oTing for a franchise to supply more,
better aud cheaper water That puts
different face on the whole matter 1t
indicates that the trouble is not in the fact
that private corporation supplies the
water, but that it has monopoly of the
supply Ii is new illustration of nine
tenthS of the trouble arising out of the
performance of public services, from
which the sOcialistic idea gets its strongest
stimulus. That is the utterly stupid
theory that because a municipal or other
government grants IA franchise to perform
such services, therefore it must grant
monopoly. The theory is a complete non
Ssgujt1T, and yet the fact that the vast
water, gas, bridge, ferry, telephone and
transportation franchises succeed in
getting such a monopoly affords the
ground on which Socialist theorists base
their claim that the service would be bet
ter rendered by Government ownership
and operation. In nearly all such cases
the trouble is not with private enterprises,
but with the monopoly which excludes