davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-19
THEIR REAL SIGNIFICANCE.

There is a remarkable ignorance dis.
played in some of the fluctuations by
organs especially friendly to the corporate
interest over the showing of the totals OF
railway mileage and capitalization as pre-
sented in Poor's Manual for 1890. In the
first place the fact that there was an in
crease in railway mileage of 3,426 is not
new and does not display an average year
of railway building. A more important
lack Of perception is however shown in
the idea that the increase of the load of
fictitious capitalization is an addition to
the prosperity of the country
There is evidence that in some cases
this ignorance is genuine. The New
York Press, for example, makes the state
ment that the cost of the railway system
of the country is SO, ,122, ,639, 900. That is
the total of stocks and bonds; but it is a
well-known fact that the cost of the prop
erty is not more than half as much. An
other statement is made that the figures
show decrease in the practice of stock
watering. But the figures as published by
the Press show the exact opposite. That
journal shows the increase in railway
mileage as already stated at 9,426, and the
increase of capitalization at SAL, ,693, COL
This gives us the fact that for every added
mile of track there has been an addition
to capitalization of S12S,924. AS $50, 900
per mile is a liberal estimate of cost for
Sthe average railway, the stock-watering
indicated is at the stupendous rate of
100000 per mile. We are inclined to be-
heve that the figures quoted by the Press
are incorrect, as the Cleveland Leader,
which does some very plain speaking in
the matter, puts the increase in stocks and
bonds at only $4,000 per mile. But its
figures call attention to the fact that, as it
pointedly says, shameful stock water
ing injected the sum of wholly fictitious
capitalization into the railway system in
1890.
The New York Press on the other hand
is correct in saying that the reports of
gross and net earnings for 1890 show an
increased prosperity for the railroads
Properly compared to correct estimate
of their cost these figures show what an
utter fraud the railway claim is that the
corporations must be permitted to sup
press competition in order to save them
selves from self-inhicted ruin.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-19
KEPT HIS STORE CLEAN.
A. T. Stewart Had a Successful Way in Sell
ing Stale Goods.


New York SUM-
remember walking one morning, years
ago, into Mr.. A. T. Stewards retail drygoods
establishment on Broadway while the old
gentleman was making his usual round of
the various counters. In the course of iE he
came up to the place whore was standing
and after hurriedly saluting me he began
catechizing the salesman in attendance.
Taking up one article he said: "How much
are you selling these for?" "Forty cents,
Mr.. Stewart" "Do they go well?" "Not
very well, SIR" "Put them down to 25 cents |!
article. "Seventv-fve cents, SIR" Are
them So cents. And these?h "sixty cents,
SIR" How do they sell at that?" Every
well, sir" "Let them stay there"
And so he went through the entire stock
displayed on the counter. Observing my
amused and interested look, he good humor-
edly turned to me and said: "1t is no use to
keep goods up SO high that customers viii
not buy them, and the worst of all mistakes
take of buying things which are slow of sale,
is to hold them for a market, The best way
is to clear them out at any sacrifice and lay
in better selected stock" Mr.. Stewart
lacked in knowledge of architecture and
pictures, and he was the prince of shopv
keepers. He did not often miss suiting the
taste of the public in drygoods, but when he
did he got out of the scrape by appealing to
its avarice. Men, and more SO women,
dearly love bargains and will buy things
because they are cheap, when they will not
buy them because they are pretty and suita-
BILE. Moreover, Mr.. Stewart had learned the
useful lesson that little loss at the begin
and made his losses as he did his profits,
small and quickly.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-19
TERMS OF THE DISPATCH.
PITTsBURG WEDNESDAY AUGUST 10 1881
HARMONY TO-DAY.

The gathering of the State Convention
at Harrisburg to-day is principally impor-
tant as an indication of the future status
Of the party While the positions of State
Treasurer and Auditor General are i'm
partant enough, the task of filling them
rarel; produces much political excite
meE \ If the convention nominates fairly
god men, ii may be taken for granted
thal they will not experience such stum-
bling blocks in the road to an election as
We're met by the Republican candidates
last year.
The real question at issue is the position
in which the convention will leave the
leadership of the State party with refer
ence to next years campaign. The tele-
grams from Harrisburg, yesterday, over
flowed with statements that harmony is to
prevail and that the heretofore rival lead
ers are to bury their respective scalping
knives. OF course, this would be the pub
lie avowal in any case; but it is quite
probable the correct view at present. The
leaders have recognized the necessity of
harmOnizing, because the popular prefer
eUcc in the Republican ranks points out
that necessity. 1t has gone beyond the
stage OF mere conjecture that the great mass
Of the Republicans of Pennsylvania are
heartily and urgently supporters of Blaine
for the Presidency. The leader who does
notwish to be left in the undesirable condi-
tion of being without a following must
Join that movement. The State positions
at stake in this campaign are not worth
enough TO incur the chance of being left
on the frigid outside in national politics;
and the commendable quickness of our
Republican leaders to recognize this fact
has Joined them in the support of Blaine.
Under these circumstances, if no un-
toward apple Of discord is pitched into the
convention, harmony may be expected as
the order of the day. Discretion will
dictate the nomination of candidates who
viii be superior in reputation to any con-
nectiOn with the recent scandals; and the
Republican organization will line up its
ranks anew for a good fight next year un-
der the standard of Blaine.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-19
SOME PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL.

Robert G. Ould, of Richmond, Va, has
been in the city for the past few days. He is
interested in mineral lands in Alabama, and
came here to interest Pittsburgers in the
erection of q steel plant in that section. He
would hot say what success he met with.
Rev. and Mrs S. W. McCorkle, of the
First Congregational Church, ALLEGHENY re-
rem and other points in the Western Re-
serve, where they have been spending their
vacation.
Assistant General Passenger Agent Boyd
left for Philadelphia last night; General
Manager Wood went to New Hampshire to
join his family there.
H. NJ. Graham, Mrs Mckee Graham and
Miss Graham, registered at the Mononga-
hela yesterday on return from summering
at Lakewood.
George Oliver went to New York last
night, and Judge Succop and Warden Burt,
of the workhouse, went to Harrisburg.
Judge Harry White, of Indiana, was at
the Seventh Avenue yesterday. He will
leave this morning for Johnstown.
John G, A. Leishman, Vice Chairman of
Carnegie Bros. & Co., went East last night.
B. H Ruby, of Mcclure & Co, returned
from Western trip last evening.
James P Witherow and J. H. Ricketson
arrived on the limited last night.
j. f. Maeder and family returned yester-
day from Atlantic City.
General Warner, of Marietta, O., left for
New York last night.
A G. Fillchey, of Columbus, is at the
Duquesne.
w. A. Magee left for Harrisburg last
evening.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-19
GRAND MUSICAL FESTIVAL
Given at Chautauqua in Which Marie Deccs
Scores q Triumph.

d
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATcH.l
CHAUTAUQUA, Aug. 1s.-The Summer
City" had another great musical festival to-
day, and Marie Decca again covered herself
with glory. 1t was an extra concert and
given by the Chautauqua management in
Difference to the popular clamor to hear
Miss Decca sing again. The programme
opened up with an excellent rendition of
"The Dream" by Costa, by a full chorus of
500 voices. The Melophoia Quartet Of New
York. and Miss Thomas, of Meadville, as
sisted in the solo parts. Marie Decca sang
for her first number the cavatina from "The
Barber of Seville" and her marvellous range
of voice was displayed in the variations and
cadenzas. The enthusiasm was SO great
that recall followed recall, and, even after
the singer had responded to an encore and
gave the quaint old ballad robin Adair," !"
the audience were 10th to have her leave
the stage. The great concert closed with q
splendid rendition of Gounod's Redemption
chorus, unfold Ye Portals Everlasting"
The other exercises of the day were as fol-
lows: At A. NJ, Woman's Club paper on
Philanthropics," by Mrs. c. B. Buell., of st.
Louis. At II A. M, a lecture on christopher
Columbus, His Life and Its Results" by DR..
Z. W. Hale, of Boston. At P. M, lecture
on "Reminiscences of Longfellow," by Mrs.
j. H. Ward, of Boston. At 5P NJ, c. L. S. c.
round table in the Hall of Philosophy. At I
p M, meeting of the young people, ad-
"King's Daughters" At 7:90 P. NJ, prom
enade concert and feast of lanterns, together
with an open-air stereopticon exhibition on
the hotel lawn.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-19
PERRY COUNTY LOGIC.

The deliverance of the Republican
Convention of Perry county on the
subject OF the Constitutional Conven
ton shows heroic determination to beat
the record for originality There have
been some very decent efforts in the line
OF amazing logic already The New York
World IN its efforts to run the politics of
Pennsylvania from New York has discov-
cred that the way to defeat the corpora
tons is to hold convention which was
especially framed by the recognized cor
poratiOn element in the Legislature, so as
TO give the opportunity for emasculating
the existing restrictions. The L of L.
managers with no less surprising logic
rely for ballot reform on convention de-
yised by the very fellows who mutilated
the ballot reform bill in the Legislature
The Perry county Republicans, how
ever, do not contine themselves to any
such tame and conventional limitations of
the logical nOn-sequitur. They are "unal-
terably opposed to the Constitutional
Convention, and then proceed TO give the
exquisite reason that the language of the
present Constitution sis so doubtful and
confused that both the learned and the
unleaned are cOnfounded and perplexed
This recalls the advice of a Lord Chan
ceIor to a Colonial Governor, among
whose duties it was to give decisions of a
judicial nature. Decide what you think
is right" said the experienced Judge,
"hut never give your reasons The
Perry Republicans illustrate the force of
the advice in making correct decision
against the Constitutional Convention, and
then running themselves by a reason
which works like boomerang. They
differ from our friends, the World and Mr..
Powderly, who are wrong for right rea-
son in being right for wrong reason.
The Perry Republicans proceed to en-
force their exquisite logic by citing the
provision of the corporation that ''the
stock and Indebtedness of corporations
shall not be increased, except in pursuance
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-19
RUSSIAN RYE.

| Ir's an i'll wind to Germany, Austria
| Hungary and our English cousins, but it
| blows good to the American farmer.-Hdrt-
| ford Cottrdnt.
In consequence of Russia's shutting up her
| grain supply from the European market it's
| about time for America to get her rye on it.
Philadelphia Times.
! WHAT do we care for that little ukase of
! the Czar keeping Russian rye at home? We
are the people, and we don't hear that the
| Kentucky corn crop has failed.-NeO York
| Advertiser.
| RUSSIA has scored point against Germany
| and England. The Bear delivered a stun
ming body blow yesterday when a ukase was
issued forbidding the export from Russia of
rye and rye meal of every kind.-Ne,o York
Mail.
THE rye market throughout the world has
been disturbed by the unexpected ukase of
the Gar of Russia, prohibiting the export of
rye or rye meal, and the effect has been felt
even In the Chicago markets.-Albany
argus.
THE Russian ukase against the exporta-
ton of rye is not a war measure but the ac-
ton of paternal government to protect its
own people against the spectators who
were ready to make fortune at the peoples
expense ON the short crop.-Brooklyn Citizen.
In taking MS eXtraOrQlnary measures to
keep bread from going out of the country
the Russian Czar we'll knows what he is
about. Should the great mass of stupid
Doors in his realm get hungry his life would
not be worth "a hours purchase.-Boston
Globe
IT affords the strongest proof of the short
crops in Europe creating q defcit which can
not be supplied except by the farmers of
his country. There is serene and solid
satisfaction in knowing that this country
will be able to supply the deficiency at good
prices.-BdltinlOre american.
THE manner in which Russia is sticking
Germany shows that the Russians have a
pleasure in Furnishing the Germans for the
initiation of the famous defensive alliance
with Austria and Italy which blocked Rus
sia's way to the Balkan provinces and Con-
Observation-Disclosures Wisconsin,
THE real difficulty is not that Dreadstuffs
are wanting in Europe, but that the masses
have no money with which to purchase.
Business is not active, and production is
limited because wages are SO low that pro-
ducers cannot be consumers to the extent
they are in this country.-Peoria Transcript.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-19
NAMES FREQUENTLY SEEN.

THE King of: Sweden is a great swimmer
| and wears giants de suede in swimming to
keep his hands from tanning.
KING ALEXANDER of Servia and his
| father ex- King Milan, are guests of Presi
dent Carnot, at Fontainebleau.
THE Rev. Robert Barbour, Scotch cler-
gyman who died lately at -Bains, left
an estate valued at over $SOO,0OO.
THE widow of Richard Proctor, the
great astronomer, is to be curator of the
Proctor memorial observatory at San Diego
Cal.
ALFRED GoLDTHwAITE, of New Or
leans State Senator of Louisiana and dis.
tinguished as counsel in the celebrated
Gaines case, was stricken with paralysis in
the left side last night while at Point Clear
q summer resort on the eastern shore of Mo-
bile Bay. His condition is serious.
FULLY $6O0,O00 has been spent on the
Empress of Austria's new palace at Corfu.
The wood carving alone in one suite of
rooms cost $4,000. A villa built for the En-
press near Vienna a few years ago at an ex-
penditure of $4OO, 900 has never been occupied
by her, because she took a dislike to the
place after it was finished.
LYMAN C. DRAPER has suffered stroke of
paralysis which leaves him entirely help
less and is likely to prove fatal. He has long
been regarded as an oracle on Western top
ics among historical specialists. and was for
about 80 years head of the Wisconsin His.
tor1cal Society. He is the author of many
historical works.
WILLIAM NORRIS, the English poet,
artist and Socialist affects a singularly
shabby and unpicturesque attire. He may
be seen on Oxford street, in London, wear
irer a oil aly al hQ ar optx
coat, baggy trousers and blue flannel shirt
The necktie is usually missing and some
times he wears no collar. But his flowing
white hair and beard make him an object of
interest to every passerby.
: AGNES RANKIN, a young Kentucky girl,
has been playing some amusing pranks on
the other girls in Crockett county. Putting
on male attire, she secured work as a hired
man on a farm, and began at once to court
all the attractive young women of the neigh
borhood, escorting them to church and to
places of amusement and acquiring local
reputation as a beau. When her sex was
discovered it was found that she had be-
come engaged to marry three farmers
daughters
ALL France is very much interested just
now in the future of a young widow, the
Princess Letitia, who is the only marriagea-
Bile Princess of the Bonaparte family. The
Princess is q woman of somewhat imposing
beauty. She has q rather large figure, in
clined to embonpoint, tlorid face and
thick, black hair. Her lips are full, almost
to the point of sensuality. Other shoulders
and arms it has been said that they might
furnish models for q sculptor, for they are
superbly developed. In manner the Princess
is most vivacfous, but she has an unpleasant
way of making cutting and sarcastic re-
marks. She has expressed desire to marry
again, and Paris is curious to know whom
she will select for husband.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-19

cheap price for the privilege, but he has
not got the money, what is the State to
! do? The plle of enforcement for nom
!! payment of taxes is the sale of the article
taxed But bachelors are an extremely
unreliable article of property; and the
doubt whether, if even a choice lot of
bachelors were put up at Sheriff's sale,
they would fetch the amount of the tax,
plus commissions, costs and the advertis-
ing bills-even if a rebate were given on
the latter of the generous percentage
which the esteemed Press Is wont to hand
back to some person or parsonage un-
known in its dealings with the State-the
only purchasers who could be relied upon
to bid at such sale would be single la
dies, and the question whether they would
have money to pay for advertising is a
question well calculated to Cypress the
mind of Philadelphia newspaper.
Right here is where the Wageworkers'
Political Alliance of the District of Co.
lumbia comes in. Its genius is exactly
calculated to fill out the uncompleted part
of the bill 1t is plain that it and only it
could make the needed suggestion that the
unmarried ladies purchasing bachelors at
tax sales, shall have the privilege of pay
ing by their personal drafts on the United
States Treasurer, which drafts on pre-
sentation shall be cashed in the ''declara-
tory, not promissory, full legal tender silk
threaded paper money of the United
States' With this complete removal of
the obstacle the way of every spinster to
buy a. husband will be made clear.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-19

of general law" without the consent of the
stockholders. "Whoever can interpret
this language will become an oracle" de-
clares the extended and profound resolution
of the Perry county platform We are not
informed what among the diversified cor
porate interests of Perry county have been
puzzled by the ambiguity of this language;
but it can nevertheless be asserted that
outside of the wilds of that critical county
there are few intelligent men who cannot
correctly interpret the meaning of this
section.
We cannot but approve the determina-
ton of the Perry county Republicans to
oppose the wholly needless convention;
but it is to be wished that they had dis
creetly refrained from exposing the fact
that the correctness of their decision is in
stinctiye rather than logical
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-19
WONDERS OF PRESSURE.
How Mountains Are Supported by Small
Sticks of Timber.

Sucks OF l1mDef.
st. Paul Dispatch
The enormous depth of the great Com
stock mines in Nevada and the gigantic and
incomprehensible weight of the mass of
stones and earth resting upon the timbers
(which actually hold up the mountains that
have literally been honey y-combed by the
miners), have wrought wonders which puz-
zle the deepest thinkers. For instance,
queer polished sticks as smooth as dressed
mohogany and not thicker than your wrist,
are often taken out of deserted portions of
the mines. They are as hard and as heavy
as iron and a knife of the best material will
not make a scratch on them. Do you have
any idea what they are? Drill cores you
think, but they are not Originally they
were solid oak t1mbers 12x12 inches
square. But why are they no thicker than
walking stick upon removal after having
seen years of service? The weight of the
mountains bearing upon them from all
directions, perpend1cularly as well as
laterally (for it is only in this way that
mines Of enormous depth can be safely
timbered) has wrought the wonders seen in
the polished stick Sometimes these trans
formed timbers are found in small sections,
sometimes in long pieces, and are taken out
where cave-ins have occurred and displaced
the workings.
1t isaweIl known fact that paper can be
compressed until it will be SO hard that a
diamond will hardly touch it, but no known
mechanism of the present or the past has
such power to compress and work marvels
with wood.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-19

The New York Sun thinks that eff the
Chautauqua dress reformers are right in
asserting that the lines of the female figure
should be revealed" in follows that limbs
of the male figure should have the same
revelation by means of knee breeches and
long stockings. There is room for discussion
whether the one necessarily calls for the
other. But isnot the second suggestion as a
proposition for a male dress reform some
what weakened by the fact that male suits
for tennis, baseball, and outing generally,
have been of. exactly the character sug-
gested, and have proved in many cases the
reverse of beautiful?
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-19
Obituary Notes.

JEAN JOSEPH THoNIssEN, the Belgian econo.
mist, is dead at the age Of "A years.
MCBRAHNEY, Waterloo veteran, has died al
Belfast. aged SO years. He also fought in the war
of the Canadian rebellion.
ARTHUR d. Coy, son of d. P. Coy, the we'll
known Middlesex county (Mass.) historian, died
suddenly at his home at Maiden Monday.
FREDERICK PoLMYER, business manager og the
German Correspondent. of Baltimore, Nd, and a
nephew of Colonel F. Raine. the proprietor, died
Sunday night of consumption.
Dr.. JULIUS GUNTHER, one of the best-known
physicians of Quincy, ILL.,, died Monday at the age
of g. He was one of the city physicians of New
Orleans turing the yellow fever scourge of 1878.
REV FATHER ANTHONY FREE, 8. j., one of
the best known priests In New Orleans, died Mon
November 10 1923, and became Jesuit In ls4U.
PROF. ALBERT ToLMAN, aged 67, died Monday
in Pittsheld, Mass. after short Illness. He
founded the famous Taconic School for boys at
Lanesboro, which ntteo many ceieoraped men Tor
colleges.
ALpRIcH KNIGHT, actor of juvenile parts,
died Monday afternoon at his home in New York.
He was "a years old and his last engagements were
with THE Ivy Lear ana Ir1nce ana Pauper''
companies.
HIRAM COLLINS, a prominent Grand Army
man. died Monday morning in Mount Pleasant,
Ia, Insane Asylum. He was bitten by an alleged
mad dog in June The DOCTORS say MS Death was
caused by fright.
MRS MARY STANLEY, living near Youngstown,
died recently and her will was offered for probate
Monday. Among the bequests Is one for 81, 600 TO
the Salvation Army 1t Is probable the legacy will
be paid to General Booth.
OLIVER p. MASON one of the foremost members
of the Lincoln bar, and ex-Judgc of the Supreme
Court died in Lincoln yesterday. aged g.. He was
leading counsel for Governor II er In the recent
proceeding in custer of James L. BOYD.
VERY REV. DEAN VAN LAUwE, pastor of st.
Stephens Catholic church, of Port Huron, died
suddenly from u stroke of apoplexy shortly before
noon Monday. Deceased was prominent member
1882.
VIRGINIA MORRISON FARIs died in Richmond
O., at O'Clock p. NJ Monday, August IL. Funeral
services from the residence of the parents, Rev.
and Mrs S. C. Faris, at $3.50 O'Clock. Deceased
was formerly music teacher In Pittsburg and re-
sided In the East End for four years, up to last
March, when she left for home