davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07

herewith, Is Boston production.
The motor is mounted centrally on
the front axle, with the armature
above and parallel with the axle; on
each end of the armature shaft Is a
crank disk from which extends TO
connecting rods TO clutches below the
axle, these clutches being mounted
upon short shafts, arranged to re-
volve beneath the axle, with pinions
mounted upon the outer end and set
to mesh into gears mounted upon the
hubs of the wheels.
The motor Is OF n cl0sed-field type,
working at 200 revolutions per min
ute, with potentiality of forty volts.
Upon level grade speed of from ten
to fifteen miles an hour can be accom-
plished. The steering apparatus and
brake are ingenious and readily oper'
ated by the person in charge of the
vehicle. Relying upon these auxiliary
| attachments, the steepest hills may
be climbed. The vehicle cannot &C
backward, unless so directed. Should
the motor fail TO act, Il connection
break, or an accident Of any kind oc
cur-the carriage will stop (and thi;
irrespective Of the brake).
| Incidentally it may be mentioned
that the storage cells with which the
carriage is fitted also furnish lighi
and heat, II requisite, at but Sigh
increase in cost of running.
L
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07

or division. Applicants must 90 not less
than Is nor more than 80 years or age.
ANY clerk +. moved for intoxication can
not be reinstated. New appointees are
given a probationary term OF six months,
with pay at the rate of $500 per annum,
except in cases where the run Is small
one and the average miles run per day
are less than eighty; then the pay Is at
the rate OF $40 per mile. For example,
IL branch line is seventy-two miles
long ard trains meet at an intermediate
point, SO that two clerks are needed 10
man the line, the pay OF each would De
S720 per annum. when the probationary
term expires, II satisfactory record ana
proper progress are made, a permanent
appointment Is made and the pay in
or, ased to the S90G-I er-annum. rate, and
later on to 81 900, If placed In the class
running an average OF 100 miles or over
per day. On the heavy lines each postal
| car contains several clerks who get from
| 5000 to 81, 300, the man getting the
! highest pay being the clerk In ch rye.
The men advance from class to class In
mum, rcal order, the promotions being
based upon their records rs shown by
! the facing slips already spoken OF.
A good postal clerk must have the
physical ability to stand the fatigue OF
from twelve TO sixteen hours day OF
continuous work, and also have the
mental ability to learn, retain, and have
at con mand withcu hesitation the loca.
ton of from 5000 10 $4,000 postoilices
He who hesitates is stuck. Il does
not follow, h)wever, that because mar
has good brain that he will make I
good postal clerk. A man endowed will
phenomenal power to memorize may
have physical and mental defects which
reduce his adaptability for this service
TO the minimum. He may be unaccus
toned 10 manual labor, effeminate. g
sedentery habits, impractical, wanting
In stamina, may have cultivated hi
mind at the expense OF his body, and
therefore. be unable to endure the hard
ships incident to q business requiring
continual physical and mental labor ant
I strong muscular exertlon. But no mat
ter how well equipped man may be 10
this service In every other respect, n
cannot hope to obtain the maximum Q
usefulness unless he Is gifted with a
J excellent memory and cultivates II per
/ sistently. Every clerk gets ~lay-oh,
not for rest but for study and examina
1 tor. On the st. Louis and Kansas Cit
4 fast mail the crews made two roun
, trips In succession, taking four days
+ almost continuous work and then lie o
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07


A flivht with tho fast mall FROM st.
Louis TO Kansas City was taksn by a
reporter for the Globe-Democrat the
other morning. The fast mail line from
st. Louis to Kansas City Is one o. The
most important lines in tho service, and
the reporter had an excellent opportuni-
ty Of witnessing the enorn Ou' work
attendant upon the delivery OF tho toas
OF mail that so over this line each ght.
The clerks who go out with the last
mail to Kansas City 80 10 Their tram at
$50 p. M, seven hours tcforo the fast
mail starts. On reaching the train
their work commences. Ii ends ut lC:3O
the next morning. No e'ght-ht w day
for the postal clerk.
When the start was made at > O'clock
the crew was almost bun d beneath tho
avalanche of sacks AM pouches that
had been loaded into the car. The cars
were very long, each berg about sixty
feet. Each car was so crowded WI
racks and cases that Lareiy room FOR
> the clerks remained. lach car was
abundantly lighted from overhead lamps
and heated by wa'er heater III ne
first car. Except, wash-rooms the airs
had no conveniences. No chairs we q
there, and the clerks would not have
found time to use them II they ha ! tcen
there. The boys all carry blankets and
quilts with them, and should they hap
pen to finish their work before the run
is completed, they throw their blankets
over pile of mail bags AMI doze Off I'M
til Kansas City is reached, This lux
ury, however, is seldom offered them on
the west-bound trip.
The work is al done in tho two front
cars, the rear car being loaded with
through mail. Most OF the sacks and
pouches in this car hal been worked
up" by States on Eastern routes and, as
they were for the far West, they were
not to be opened until nearer their dcs-
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07

and at o'clock each man went to bed in
order to rest up little for the return
trip. At & O'Clock the men We're obliged
to get up, go to their cars and commence
getting ready for the trip back to
st. Louis, The bulk of the mail was
not SO heavy as on the night before,
but it was of sufficient proportion TO
make things decidedly interesting until
after Sedalia had been passed. Then
part of the crew spread out their blank
cts and obtained what rest they c uld
OH their rude beds of mail. The return
trip occupied three more hours the the
trip to Kansas City. The mail IS re-
turn to st. Louis with the last pLssen-
ger train, leaving Kansas City at S:2J
D. m, and arriving at st. Louis ut 500
a. m. On the return trips the clerks
were not so busy, and the reporter had
more opportunity to talk with them In
regard to their work. The chief clerk
showed the reporter bundle OF mixes.
or letters improperly addressed. Most
of these letters were from various parts
of Europe, and much valuable time had
been lost by the clerks in trying to
make out the addresses. Other mixes
were the results OF carelesSncSS on the
part of the writers.
the clerks were about worn out. and each
one took the quickest route for his home,
where he could eat breakfast and go 10
! bed, to sleep until o'clock in the even
, ing. before going 10 the depot to do the
same thing over again.
The Railway Mail Service is peculiarly
an institution OF the United States. The
first idea of the distribution OF mail OF
| hoard trims while they were in transit
originated with a post Office clerk at st
Joseph in 1862, which was then dis
tributing postofIice for the West. Mai
was made up there for different towns
and sent out IN boxes. In 1864 the sug
gestlon of the st. Joseph man had beef
worked out to such an extent that rail
way postal service was established be
tween Chicago, ILL.,, and Clinton, Iowa
improvements we're made, system es
tablished. A germ in 1864, 1t has be
come a giant. 1t challenges the admira
ton of business men, the model posta
service of the world.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07

daiia. however. but busted themselves
In putting on about one-taird OF the
sacks that were In the storage car. The
sacks contained mail for Texas. parts OF
Mise uri and Kansas and other States.
They were put of at Sedalia to catch
the south-bound Missouri. Kansas and
Texas Grain. which leaves that city al
9:f5 a. M, about two hours after the ar.
rival OF the fast mail. Several largo
sacks OF newspaper mail We're put on al
this point for Texas. Several pouches
OF letter mall for Mexico were also
dropped at Sedalia. After leaving Sc
daily tho train did not again stop until II
reached Pleasant Hill. AT this citation
large quantities OF mail for Southwest
Missouri wero put Off. This stop occu-
pied hut three minutes. and then the
train rushed, not stopping again until
Kansas City was reached. At each
e.a.ion aster leaving jefferson City
mall was taken on by means OF the
catcher. The bag TO be taken on Is sus-
PENDED on n crane at the side tof the
track. As the train approaches the sta
ton the engineer whistles and tho clerk
springs to the door Of the car. With one
han no grabs the device for catching
the Pouch from the crane, while In the
other hand he holds the pouch to be
dropped at the station. Before you
know what has happened the exchange
of mail has been made. Long practice
is required before the catcher can be
properly worked. Pouches are fire.
quently missed when the clerk Ia not ia
blame. IL the Car should sway the least
bit in passing the crane, the catcher
fails To do its work and the roucL &
missed.
And now the train Is reaching Kansas
City. Seven stops have been made
Three were for water, three were on ac'
count of functions, and one at Sedalit
to change engines and connect with the
Missouri, Kansas and Texas. AS the
train nears Kansas City the clerks worl
all the harder. The pigeon-holes are
emptie1, and each package OF letters
tied up and thrown to its proper sack
In the paper car the clerks have beef
working with might and main. Thei
run had been very heavy, and 1t hat
pushed them to get through. They hat
handled several tons OF papers, period
Gals and circulars, and were now en-
gagged in tieing up the 200 sacks that tn
pudding" had been sorted into. AM
now the boys are cleaning up. The.
have been on duty about fourteen hours
and have been working as hard as the,
could for about nine hours. AT 1913
Kansas City was reached, and the mel
hastily left the car. The old clothe
had been discarded and the dust o
travel obliterated. Dinner was eaten
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07

every day. His sense OF touch becomes
SO delicate that he can detect money In
a letter every time. Magazines that he
would like to read are before him, but
not for him. A thousand other snares
are in his way. His pay is small:
Should he become dishonest a few
breaks" will land him in the Peniten-
tiary. To the credit of the 5000 postal
clerks on duty for Uncle Sam, let 1t be
said that that worthy is seldom obliged
to put his legal finger on one OF them,
Danger is also always in front OF the
postal clerk. His car follows the en-
CINE. In smash-up the postal car is
the first to be wrecked. Thirteen postal
clerks have been killed this year and
many others injured. Postal cars are
so crowded that, in case OF accidents,
the clerks cannot escape. Everything
considered, the life OF the clerk Is not
an enjoyable one.
But the train has been rushing on and
has now reached its first stopping place,
Pacific. A pouch OF letters and three or
four bags of paper were put OIL aud
several sacks of mail taken on The
stop consumed four or five mfnutesoof
time. Then the train rushed on again.
Mail was delivered at the stations OF
Washington and Hermann, but none
taken on. The next stop was made at
Chamois, about 100 miles out OF st.
Louis. Here large basketi' OF hot
lunch was handed into the letter car,
and the clerks from the other cars came
in TO assist in disposing of it. AS the
boys crowded around the basket the
clerk in charge noticed that one OF the
boys was not present. Where's Jim?"
he asked. sick" was the reply. The
reporter was also suffering with
sea sickness and was unable to do
! Justice TO the lunch. Sea sick
ness is of frequent occurrence
among postal clerks. Riding on the fast
mail is not riding in a sleeper or on a
chair car by any means. The mail ears
being next to the engine are con-
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07

stantly swayed from side TO side,
and as the clerks are on their fact they
receive the full effects of Cach bump and
Jolt. Sacks of papers were TIN own OFF at
Dauphine, Usage City and Jefferson
City, no mail being taken on at either
station. At jefferson City the sacks OF
mall have to be thrown off with great
care. The track makes sharp curve at
the depot, and, as the train rushes along,
the pouches will be drawn under the
wheels unless thrown off at exactly the
right spot. 1t looked as IL the bags OF
mail were thrown from the car before
the station was reached, and struck the
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07

The laborers were working at piece
work, and each ones credit differed
from another's. / ran the column or
figures up and found an error. l
tried it again and was satisfied that
the true total was only S9o.8S. /
took the paper to the brick man,
learned who had made out the roll,
and within an hour had got hold OF
evidence to prove that in one year his
Young man had defrauded him OF
$500 by means Of false foOtingS.
For several years was detailed on
a branch Of detective work known as
mysterious thefts," and many OF
them did really have mysterious
appearance at the outset. One of my
very first cases was That OF loss OF
| money in retail store. y girl is
years OF age acted as cashier, and she
| had an office in the rear Of the store.
| This Office was rallied in to height
OF seven or eight feet, and had two
| cash windows. The cashier occupied
il exclusively, and it had come about
| on several occasions that her cash
wouldn't balance the tips on the hook.
| She would be short 50, So, $40, or $50,
and there must be something wrong
somewhere. AS she had to make the
shortage good she could not be sus-
spected, and, indeed, it was on her
demand that / was sent for to inves-
tigate the case. took hold, think
ing il would be tough one, but luck
aided me to speedily solve the mys'
terv. No one on the floor of the store
could take the money, as no one was
admitted to the Office, and the bills
we're stacked up on the counter next
to the wall, clear twelve feet from
either of the cash windows.
l entered the store at III O'Clock
in the forenoon. At II half OF the
employees went out to dinner, anC
three or four others lunched from
their baskets. Among the latter
was the cashier. She sat on a stOo
facing the front of the store, will
her back to the money, and kept up
conversation with girl seated JUS
outside the railing. She had beer
seated thus about ten minutes wheI
l saw a string slowly descend from
the floor above her head. 1t cam
down alongside the wall, and the lit
tie black ball at the end Of it reste'
for a moment on the top bill of tn
pile Of bank notes. Then 1t wa
drawn up, and away went bill wit
it, and was drawn through hol
above. The cashier neither saw no
heard. The few employees OF tn
: store were busy, and the festoons o
!. dress goods, handkerchiefs, ETC., iron
n pillar to pillar, obstructed their Wis
G ION. went softly upstairs, an
n found stock boy eating his Dime
a lust over the office. / stood him II
o and found SO bill in his vest peck
e ct, with a fresh spot OF pitch on il
d and his FISH line was concealed undo
; box near by. There was hole i
IS the floor where some heavy box ha
{ smashed board. He owned RICH
e up, and the mystery was a myster
no longer. He had never taken bu
;, one bill at a time, and that Away
L when the cashier was eating.
J. York sun.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07

-.
four days. While of they put In the
time resting and studying. New post
offlces are continually being established
and old ones are, being established every
day. The railroads are constantly
changing the schedules Of their trains.
and every change involves a change on
the postal clerks scheme" which he
must work and commit TO memory.
The postal clerk must keep whole
volumes In his head, and knows that
forgetfulnoss Is charged up against him
every time. He cannot plead. as o'ner
brain workers sometimes do. that bis
brain didn't work right. He must re-
member, and remember instantly, with
precision that Is required in no other
business rse
Then there Is the matter OF honesty.
Temptation is on every sidc. Letters
containing coin go through his hands
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07
Ccnl OH.

A mixed fuel consisting OF coal and
petroleum mingled together has been
tried for firing the boilers OF an Ital-
ian man-ofIwar, with the result that
her normal speed OF fifteen knots was
increased to seventeen knots. 1t will
thus been seen that this new method
Of firing may prove very useful In
wartime, when ship may have orun
away from a superior force. The in
creased heat is said to affect the
boiler plates injuriously, but this mis-
hap could Of course be foreseen and
guarded against.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07
An rnterpr,s,ne Snowman.

A man from Blddeford, Me-, who
started as candy peddler with a
small circus, has turned out To be q
better Snowman than the proprietor
of the circus. The circus became
stranded in Altoona, Pa, and the
candy peddler took the fat woman,
the stuffed snake, and the trained
bear as his share OF the wreck. He
exhibited the curiosltics in d vacant
store, cleared $500 the first week, en-
iarged his show, hired a small hall,
and now has flourishing dime mu-
seum.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07
.rnnsnrnnents.

All early measurement were Of a
rude and simple kind, and in our
modern standards we have abundant
evidence OF the fact, as well as in
some ancient ones. The "cubit," for
instance, was the measure of mans
hand and arm from the tip OF his
middle finger to his elbow. The
fathom was the height OF a tall man;
the palm, n measure of about three
inches, was the width of his hand;
and the span" about eight inches,
was what he ccuid stretch his hand
over.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07
Chnnred the Order.

Mr.. s. is very absent-minded
man. Mrs. s. asked him the other
day il he would call in at furniture
store when he was downtown and
send up two copper-colored portieres.
He said he would, and straightway
went and forgot it until just few
moments before it was time for him
to return. Then he remembered
something about his wife's order, but
nothing definite. At last he rushed
into an intelligence Office and left
this on the slate:
Mrs. s. wants two copper-col-
ored porters; send them up at once
S-"-Detroit Free Press.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07
A Great scheme.

"That is a Gne dog you have there"
said gentleman to Lum Cogburn
yesterday.
"Yes," replied Dunn, with q chuckle,
shat dog is a dandy. / have been
living off that dog for over two years
now. He makes me a good living"
What! You don't mean to say
that the dog keeps you, instead Of
you keeping the dog, do you?"
well, it's pretty much that way"
said Lum. "I'll tell you how it is.
That is dernation fine-looking dog
and / have no trouble in selling him
for So most any day. / sell the dog,
get the money, and about the next
day the dog comes home. Then /
sell him again. BY dispOsing of the
dog two or three times week l sue
coed in making a right comfortable
living. But you must excuse me-
there's man across the street there
now who looks as though he might
buy dog. -Punxsutawney Spirit.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07

ground after the station had been pass
ed. This was not the fact. however.
The sacks strike exactly In the center
of the depot platform on spot that has
been worn almost through by having
mail thrown upon 1t. SO expert have
the clerks become in striking this spot,
that but Cns bag OF mail has been drawn
under the wheels during the past year.
The next stop was at Sedalia. Here
another engine was coupled on, and a
breathing spell taken by the train crew.
The postal clerks did not rost a. Sc
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07

Mrs. Riley-Phwat is that bichlor-
ide ay goold Oh hear so much about,
Mrs. Foley?
Mrs. Foley-Oi'm not positive,
Mrs. Riley, but Oh t'lnk it's a new
koind av dhrink tn foor hundred do
be afther takin'.-Judge.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07

The bill was in the handwriting OF
the man who acted as book-keeper,
cashier, and buyer for the factory,
and was six bills put together to save
separate o. KS, Does the reader
see anything wrong with the figures?
| did at a glance. The total should
have been $44.S5, instead OF S53. %.
"Where is your book-keeper this
afternoon" l asked.
Hes out"
"Well, find me all the bills you
can"
He brought me half dozen from
the hook, and we discovered that
each one had been falsifled In adding
ND the figures. Next day the man
was sent away on an errand and an
expert brought in to overhaul his
books, and in half a day over 81, 600
| in small embezzlements could be
footed up. He had taken the sim
plest way to rob his employer, and
one which is always practiced with
the most success.
A similar discovery was brought
about in a still more singular man.
ner. / was riding along the high
way when l noticed folded paper
which had evidently fallen from some
| ones pocket. When had l had
alighted and picked it up, / found 1t
to be the weekly pay roll OF brick
and tile yard. The owner of the
yard, while very successful business
man, was poor scholar, and he en-
ployed a young man to Keep his
books and handle more or less cash.
The pay roll stood as follows:
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07
The Mystery solved.

Mr.. WaybackZBe yew the waiter?
Waiter-Yes, sab.
Mr.. Wayback-Dew yew know, I've
been a-wonderin. all along why they
called these places chop-houses. l
know now. VIII yew please bring me
an ak? l want tew cut this steak. "
Judge,
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07

an Communications fos this paper should Be accom-
pausd By The name Of the author not necessarily fos
pubostion bat an evidences Of good hath ON the pHn
Of the writer. Write only aide Of the paper bs
particularly oarafn A giving and datss. 70 have
ths letters and hsures plain and distinct
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07
throwing than that required in playing

throwing than that required in playing
the game Of "bean-bag."
The facing slips, in addition to fur
nishing the addresses of lackages, are
used for the purpose of checking" err
rors against the clerks. II any mistakes
are foand in q package, the factis noted
on the back of the slip. which is returned
TO the division office, and there filed
against the offender. In this way an
exact account OF q clerks errors is kept,
and the greater tho number the greater
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07
The English OF IL.

Mr.. Rhoads-"When l was travel
ing down South among the crack
ers-"
Miss Athena Hubs (of BOSTON,
"You mean among the biscuits, do
you not, Mr.. Rhoades?".-Puck.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07

SILENCE is not always indicative
OF wisdom. Many man keeps his
mouth closed for fear his breath will
give him away.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07
The Moro the Merrier.

Marle-So you are engaged to
Charlie Chester?
Claire (carelessly)-Yes.
Marie-Isn't he the fourth Charlie
TO whom you are engaged?
Claire Qistlessly)-I believe so.
Marie-Good gracious, Claire, how
do you tell them apart?
Claire (sweetly)-I don't.-Detroit
Free Press.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07
HORSES NOT NEEDED.

A Boston Man Has Invented n Novel Thing
I'm the Buggy Line.
There will soon be exhibited in the
streets Of Boston an electric carriage
which is decidedly novel and useful.
The vehicle, which is illustrated
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07
what IL Was.

Tailor-"Your bill is overdue, sir. :"
Slowpay-"Oyerdon't, you mean.
Come around next week. Exchange.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-07
nUMOR OF TIE WEEK.
STORIES TOLD ~ FUNNY MEN
OF THE PRESS.

Many Odd. Curious. and Laushabis
Phases OF Human Mature Graphically
Portrayed by Ensinent word Artists Of
Our own Day.