davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08
Gas and Electric-works.
RrouxoSp, Va. February 6, 1891.

RICHMOND, VA. February s, 1891.
To ne Editor, of ne Dispatch;
Trend over your editorial of this morn
ING and think your fears for the invest
ment by the city in gas-works Is I'M
founded. ;,
Tie works have produced an increased
amount Of gas every year since the INTRO
duction OF electric lights. This Is the ex.
perience in every city. Our gas-works'
ontnut for 1890 is only limited by the
holaer-capaclty. The superlntendent's re.
mort for 1889 says: II believe we will send
ont more gas in 1890 than in any preceding
wear since these works started" Whence
arises your fear OF the electric-light CON-
There is no immediate prospect Of cheap
ening the cost of production OF electric
light. 1t cannot now compete In price
with gas. IL only completes in illuminating
mower. and pas is not " doomed" as an
illuminant until much cheaper and very
much more reliable service in electric
lights is discovered.
hut even if gas is doomed as an iliumi-
nant. have been told 10y very reliable
and obseryant citizen that at IS cents per
thousand it is a cheaper fuel than coal
not only cheaper, but cleaner. and 1t can
be handled with much less labor. In fact,
he said v 1t would be the greatest boon TO
suffering HOuotnifNo SS"A
could be dispensed with and gas used IN
its stead"
That good fuel gas can BIO produced at q
big profit at IS cents can be readily shown.
Then. in any event, where Is the city's in
vestment threatenedi
l cannot see 1t.
Yours, A. PIzzrsI, JR.
So far from there being no immediate
prospect of cheapening the cost of produc-
ton of electric light" the city hasrecently
been able TO secure from the electric-light
company a reduction Of more than so per
cent. in the expense of lighting street
lamps. If the City Council will grant the
new company franchise to furnish pri-
vate consumers they say they will give us,
in the way of electric light, for fifty cents
what we now pay dollar for.
This shows either that the cost is
4" cheapening" or that the company has
been reaping enormous profits.
The gas-works are losing customers now.
Isn't it reasonable to suppose that they
will lose more when tumble in electric
light comes?
If we understand Alright, the electric
company does not wish the city to super
cede it, or that a competitor be al
lowed to enter the field with it.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08
Coinage Questions.
Franklin, VA. January 81, 1891.

FRANKLIN, Va. January 81. 1891.
To The Editor Of the Dispatch:
Will you please answer the following
ouestions in your columns:
In countries (olttside the United States)
that have gold as the standard OF money,
ia there no other currency coined OF metal,
and il so Of what metal? In those coun-
tries. particularly England. is not money
issued which has no intrinsic value-yiZ.,
bank-notes. and if so what gives those
notes value "a money!
Q. Does not France coin silver rs money,
and IL so, what is the amount used rela-
lively to gold; that is. how many grains OF
silver do they use to coin the same value
in money that Is $40 grains of gold Will
coinl
8. Is not the free coinage of gold the law
in the United States at present.
A SUBSCRIBER.
1. England. France, Germany, &C., &C.,
all use silver coins, but gold Is the stand
ard Of values.
Yes, bank-notes not less than S25 in de-
nomination are used in England. The
promise to redeem them in real money,
added to the fact that they are so redeem
ed on demand, keeps them at par.
2. We put sixteen times as many grains
of silver in silver dollar rs of gold in a
gold dollar. France puts fourteen and a
half times as much.
8. Yes.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08
Feeling in Germany Against Russia.

Tho statement in the German Reichstag
during the debate on the Governments
African policy that the agreement with
England had put an end to the idea that
no friendship was possible between Germa-
ny and Great Britain as oolonized nations,
and the granting of tho credit TO carry
out that policy afford another evidence
of the strength of BtsMARoK out of power.
The old Chancellor always pooh-poohed
the notion that there could be any serious
friction between England and Germany
touching African colonization, and was
prepared TO coneede to England what he
would not concede to any other country
in respect of this matter He declared
truthfully that the friendship of England
was worth more to the German empire
than all that the latter could ever possibly
gain on the head waters Of the Nile.
and IN this he had in mind not only
British prestige in the Dark Continent,
but British influence In directing Euro
pean affairs. The moral support of Eng
land was potential factor in enabling
him 10 cement the triple alliance and pre-
serve the peace OF Europe. Just In pro-
portion as cordial relations strengthen
between Germany aud England viii the
opportunities of WiLIIIM for bringing
about thorough German homoeenity in
crease and the chances Of war be diminish
ed. At present the empire has only two
enemies among the great powers--Russis
and Frsnce--and should either attack the
young Emperor he would have the sympa-
thy Of the civilized world. This would he
the case especially should Russia attack
him. What with the ability Of Austria
and Italy. sustained BY England. to keep
France quiet. the issue Of suoh
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08
surrey Of the oyster-orounds.

Governor MCKINNEY has given to the
oyster question intelligent and laborious
study. and his conclusion that one ofthe
very first steps TO be taken Is TO survey the
grounds Is no doubt judicious and cor
rect.
Before we 60 10 parting with What We
own be rightly thinks il will DO well to
know the extent and value OF our posses
sions TO this cpd he viii no doubt DO
able 70 secure the services Of competent
Unted States officers.
The Legislature. with maps and plats
before II. can better determine In what
msnner the plant beds should be disposed
OF 90 ss to give security and success to tho
oyster-planting interest.
The State cannot sell these possessions,
but 1t can lease them 10 her citizens. and
Il Il hardly possible that by the most an
gent searching 1t can hit upon Q worse
oystem than that now prevailing, which
brings little or no revenue 10 the Treasury,
n increasing taxable values hardly any,
nd sobs the natural rocks alike Of old and
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08
Tho Vote To-Morrow Evening.

The Board of Aldermen tomorrow eve
ming win have up for consideration the
ordinance which has passed the Common
Council sppropriating $4,000 to purchase
an electric-light plant.
Opponents of this proposition say. among
other things. that the sum named is not
one third of what the plant will cost. IL
so. the Common Council has acted unad-
yisedly or been misled by the report OF
the committee. We hope the friends
of municipal ownership of an electric-light
plant will come armed and equipped to-
morrow with proof We take it that neither
the Common Council nor the Board wishes
10 mislead the people.
That the city tor the protection OF her
own and the public's interests will have to
buy a plant seems to us positively certain.
We desire to see this policy determined
upon at once, even though we may have to
wait year before we can spare the money
TO put it in practical operation.
We argue for municipal ownership
Pending the time when we will be able to
do our own street-lighting and furnish
private consumers also, let there be CON-
petition dd hbitup1.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08

from restrict construction ofthe Constitu-
ton. no seems to have been aroused TO the
Importance of bis previous theories rs he
was leaving his Office. On March 8, 1917.
he vetoed bill for making an appropri-
alton for internal improvements. reported
BY that apostle Of strict construction JOINS
g. CALHoUs.
But space forbids to follow the
narrative in these interesting volumes.
They should be read by every American
citizen who desires to understand the
working of his Government. The series
freceived through WEsr, JOHNSTON Coz
are fit sequel 10 the great work of Mr..
BANCROFT, leaving only the gap of the adj
ministrations of WASHINGTON and ADAMS
between, which, we trust. will soon find an
ADLER pen than that of Mr.. GIBBS to re-
cord them
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08
Good Roads.

In what we said yesterday concerning
Che roads of Virginia we did not by any
means intend to justify the continuance
of the bad roads which disgrace our State,
but rather to let our readers know that
even New England and New York labor
under the evils of like highways. This by
wav of introducing the following from the
Norfolk landmark;
1.-THE Richmond Dispatch a few days ago
spoke pointedly upon the same vital sub
ject, though we cannot now quote its
language, and this journal has repeatedly
emphasized the need in many important
sections of the State of even decent public
roads. We have urged, and now again urge
the employment Of conyicts upon the high
ways by the counties, where 1T can be
done.
"The question of successful farming and
Of almost everything that characterIzes a
robust. independent, thrifty, and enlight-.
cned community involves the necessity OF
good roads. Without them the richest and
most illustrious Commonwealth must be
content 10 admit serious imperteotion-a
strong, if not fatal drawback"
For years wehsye advocated new and
improved road system, and we claim
90 have originated the system recon-
rnended last month by Governor Hill
20 the New York Legislature--namely,
at least one frstclass road through every
county, which shall serve as the meeting
points Of all the highways in the State.
We have also favored the use of the peni-
Tertiary conyicts in making these good
roads. provided it shall not be found that
90 will cost more to guard them 10 the
satisfaction of the peoples in whose vicinity
they are employed than to provide diff
fsrent mode Of having the work done.
We take II for granted that there is not a
county In the Commonwealth whose in
hsbitants would be willing 10 have con-
victs living in tents in their neighborhood
unless these conucts were so securely
guarded as to relieve the people Of all un-
easiness on their account.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08

The value of d in degrees. &C., would be
the degree of the curve. or, rs sometimes
expressed, a curve of such sud such de-
gree.
without further explanation from our
correspondent we cannot tell what he
means. IL he refers to the grade of road,
that is generally expressed by per cent {;
thus q grade of per cent. would mean q
yerticle rise or fall of five feet in going q
horizontal distance of 100 feet.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08
New Books.

Passion. BY G.. WERE TYLER. Chicago I;
CHARLES II. SERGEL d Co. Paper; PIP.
1G2. Price not stated.
This production is 80 very much like
"The Quick or the Dead? in style and
substance that one might say without like
lihood of contradiction from any quarter
that it was modelled after the welLknown
work referred to as closely as possible.
This much being said. too, it is probably
best to say no more. The author is Viz
GINA lady, however. we are informed, and
this being 50 we may express the hope that
she will apply her facility with the pen to
less merely Passionate and moro whole
some purpose in future.
Johns Hopkins INTEGRITY Studies in Historical
and Political Science. HRRBRRT Il. ADAMS,
Editor. Ninth Series LII, Government
and Administration of the United States
by WEsTEL w. WILLoUGHBY, A. b., Fellow
in History, and WILLIAM +. WnLoUoHBY,
A. b., United States Department of La
Dor. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins
Press. January and February, 1891.
Was II Lore' BY PAUL BoURGET. Trans
lated from the French by CowDEN CUR
WEN. With photogravure illustrations
by w. II. .GoATEB. New York: Worth
ington Company.
Received through WEST, JOHNSTON L Co.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08
cRANEY SENTENCED TO HANG.

A New Trial Refused and April Gath Set
for His MISUNDERSTANDING Match.
Especial telegram TO tho Dispasch.I
LEXINGTON, Va, February Tin Craney's
case this morning Judge Houston over
ruled the motion for new trial and sem
fenced Craney to be hanged on April Gath.
AS scarcely any exceptions were taken du-
ring the trial the case will not be appealed.
Negroes who testified against Craney state
that before the trial he made threats that
If he ever got out he would kill all who
were concerned in trying to convict HIM.
SO desperate is he that there Is no doubt
that IL he were able he would certainly
carry out his threats.
TO KILL THE JAILER.
He has already made plot against Jailer
Perry, intending to watch for some chance
TO kill or disable him and then escape:
However, the Jailer discovered the plot and
Is now on his guard. Craney has been put
by himself, but this arrangement seems
rather to please him. because he has desired
ell along to be alone.
SOME DESPERATE DEED.
IL any chance whatever is given him 1t
Is certain that he will attempt some des-
perate deed.
sosLuoaNo.
The sparring match between Layton and
DAILY was witnessed by large crowd. The
men both seemed very expert and scored
many brilliant points. Layton Is q little
heavier than DAILY, but the latter has the
better wind. The doors OF the room IN
which the match occurred were locked, but
there was no smuggling. So that the police
could hardly have interfered even II they
had wished to do so.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08
Tho Ola pump- House and Electric Power


From time 20 time the suggestion Is made
that the old pump-bouse might be used for the
electric plsnt which II 10 certain tue city will es
tablish TO supply lights for It's streets and FOR
such private consumers rs may prefer this more
modern illumlnAnt 70 gas.
IL would seem that the danger from foods puts
this property out OF question for such pnr-
pose. AS We are AZ present situated there Is lis-
biltty Of the city being cut OF from It's gas sup
ply by great rises In the river sending back
rGter up Gillis's creek aud inundating our
works. 10 have the gas supply thus exdaguish-
ed and the wheels OF the old pump-house at the
same time unable 10 mako revolution by rea-
son OF the high water would be 70 plunge the
city in total darkness-a darkness which would
fall alike upon the streets and upon factories,
hotels, and dwellings, Richmond Dispatch.
We are among those who have made the
suggestion alluded 10 above. We have no
doubt that an electric-plant could be con-
structed near the location of the old pump
house which would be above high water.
Water-power is so much cheaper than
steam that il is very desirable. 1t should
be used if it is practicable.
We hope that the people will soon be fur
nished with cheap electricity either by the
city or the Iraylor Electric Company
Richmond Record.
If the power is to be derived from the
wheels of the old pump-house it will al
ways be subject to the rises in the river.
As the river swells the power lessons and
finally disappears.
OF course it Is possible to put in new
wheels which would be above the high
water mark of the greatest floods, but then
the water to drive them would have to be
taken from the canal-which, by the way,
is not itself free from all danger in great
freshets
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08
Tho Revenue-Tnx.

FoRT RANDALL, S. D., January %, 1891.
To G,e Editor Of The Dispatch:
have an impression that few years
ago saw in the columns of the Dispatch a
statement TO the effect that the revenue
from the tax on Virginia tobacco was
greater than the entire amount of revenue
Obtained from ell the New England States
combined. viii you please state whether
this is true now. or has been, and give
separately the amounts of revenue an
nually turned into the United States Urea
snry from the States of Virginia and
North Carolina2 Yours respectfully, p.
In 1888 Virginia paid 1928 1872 of in
ternal revenue. All the New England
States together paid about four millions.
(See American Almanac for 1889.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08

WAKE FOREST, N. O., January IS, 1891.
To he Editor Of the Dispatch:
If IL would not be imposing on your
kindness, it would greatly oblige me If
YOU would give me some OF the facts In
tho life of John Esten Cooke. l intend
writing brief article on him for publica-
ton. and facts are hard to learn. If you
can. and will, wish YOU would write me
dates of death and birth. order of works,
and whatever you think would be OF inter-
est. BY so doing you will greatly oblige
K. Is. WHITE.
He was born in Winchester, Va. No
vember 8, 1880, and died near Boyce,
Clarke county, September 81. 1886. He
studied law with his father. John Rogers
Cooke, and after practicing four years de-
voted himself to literature. He served in
the Confederate army first as private and
then as captain on General j. L. b. Stu
arts staff, and at the time of Lees surren-
der was inspector-general Of horse-artil-
lery of the Army Of North Virginia. He
wrote many magazine articles and the fol-
lowing books, the names of which
are given in the order of publ
cation: Leather Stockings and Silk;
The Virginia Comedians; The Youth
of jefferson; Ellie; The Last of the For
esters; Henry st. John, Gentleman; Life
OF Stonewall Jackson; Surry of Eagles
Nest; Wearing of the Gray; Mohun. or
the Last Days Of Lee and His Paladins !;
Hit to Hit; The Heir of Gaymount; Life
of General r. E. Lee; DR.. Van Dyke; Her
Majesty the Queen; Pretty Mrs. CASTOR,
and other stories; Justin Harley; Candles,
q story of Cornwallis's Virginia campaign;
Professor Pressensee, a story; MIR. Grant
ley's Idea; Virginia Bohemians and Other
Stories of Virginia; Virginia, History of
the People; My Lady Pokahontas. and the
Maurice Mystery.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08
Grade of Five Degrees


To ne Editor ofBte Dispatch;
Please give the value Of degree Zone
depree) in the expression a erade OF I'VE
degrees aud how such value Is mathe-
matically ascertained. Yours very truly.
SUBSCRIBER.
We are unfamiliar with the expression
"erade OF one degree" unless the ex-
preston curve Of one degree is. intended
for grade Of one degree.
The degree of q curve is determined I'm
American practice) by the angle between
n tangent to q circular arc and the chord
Of 100 feet in length on such On arc.
Let ID be double the angle between
tangent and a chord of 100 feet, X be the
radius of the curve; then the mathemati-
cal expression uniting the two in an equa-
ton is
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08
Nets and Seines.
LEXINGTON, Va, February 5, 1891
To fbe Eiijlo,- Of lbe DisD1fch:

To he Editor Of The Dispatch:
Can you inform number of your read
ers If there is still law in Virginia pro-
hibiting fishing with nets and seines in the
streams in the State? 4. x"
Yes.
It is unlawful to take from the waters of
James river by means of dip nets the fish
known as black bass for the period of two
years from May IS, 1889.
See Acts 1SS9-'9O, chapter PSI. page 1862.
Residents of this State desiring to fish
with pound nets, purse nets, fykes, or
weirs during the time within which such
fishing is not declared to be unlawful
must apply to the clerk of the County
Court for license.
See Acts of 1S89!9O, chapter 50, pages AZ
and az
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08

was also most becoming. to her style OF
beauty. The dress was OF violet sattn, -.
quisiteIy embroidered, over which va
thrown a short velvet mantle Of slightly
darker shade. The bonnet was OF forget
me-not-biue velvet, covered With gold lace
and adorned with plume OF paie-oine
feathers, fastened with an immense pearl
diamond clasp. The Queen also wore ear
rings OF pearls, diamonds. and such ropes
of pearls in three rows as would nave en-
chanted Lothian.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08

The Lpde5-Appeul is rather surprised that
the Dispatch. which it says is accustomed
to treating all subjects with which 1t deals
in an earnest and serious vein, should
"speak so jauntily on the subject of sea-
coast defences." We did not intend to be
otherwise than earnest and serious; but
perhaps we did so appear. The fact is, we
have so often said that BROTHER JoNA-
THAN, the giant, is IN no danger OF being
attacked by the pigmies of the world that
we perhaps have not made due allowance
for what is to be said on the other side of
the question.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08
Questions for tho Tuckahoe Club.
H.prr,r Va January %. 1891

IAhLEMI W. uaIIuAIJ -V' R0V]'
To he Editor Of the Dispatch:
Through the medium of your valuable
paper would like TO have question an
swered by the Tuckahoe Club.
Ours is sandy soil. with q red-clay sub
soil. Why is it that we can only raise one
crop Of timothy hay, and then it all dies
out? The old red clover, when the land is
thoroughly seeded with it, will come up
for twenty years afterwards without being
reseeded, but the second year broom-sage
and young pines destroy the value of the
hay. Is there any way to prevent this9
AN OLD SUBSCRIBER.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08
Rbode Islands Capitals.

To he Editor Of NE Dlspdfch:
VIII you kindly inform me through
your columns if the Legislature meets at
both Providence and Newport, both cities
being given as capitals of Rhode Island on
the atlas? Respectfully" NEWPORT"
Hevico. January 20, 1891.
Rhode Island has two capltals-Provl-
dence and Newport; the General Assembly
holding annually its regular session in the
latter city, commencing on the last Tues
day in May, and a session by adjournment
in the former.n
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08
The Red Man.

PrTxRsBUnd, Va, January "a. 1891.
To ne Editor Of ne Dispdich,
Please answer .he following questions:
/. About how many Indians are there in
the United States?
2. About how many in Virginia and Ala
bama eaehf OH SuBsoRmxR.
l. Two hundred and forty-nine thou
sand two hundred aud seventy three, not
including those Of Alaska.
2. Census Bulletin No. Is, the latest
authority, does not mention any Indians
in Virginia or alabama.
"1he Pamunkez Triben IN this 6tats