davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-09-15
LIFE OF IRON BRIDG ES.
A Question That is Becoming More and
More Important Every Year.

More Important Every Year.
The question of what TO do with iron
bridges is becoming more and more I'M
portant every year. 1t is now about 50
years since railway building commenced
in earnest on this continent and abroad,
and within the half century every civil
lied country has been covered with a
net work of iron tracks. Of course
the construction of railways has in
volyed the spanning Of many thous-
ands of roads, brooks and ravines with
bridges, which were at first of wood and
iron. The wooden bridges, where they
have not already burned away, or been
replaced with fire proof material, are, as
rule, still serviccable, if they We're
properly designed in the first instance;
but the older iron bridges have fallen
into state, not exactly of decrepitude,
but, we might say, of diminished vital
power, which gives much reason Tor
anxiety.
The first type of iron bridge for wide
spans was the suspension bridge, and SO
many of the early suspension bridges
have failed, through the corroson or dis
| indignation of their important members,
as to lead the French engineers to the
opinion that 40 years is the limit of life
| for iron suspension bridges, and that, In
computing the cost of railway construc,
ton and management, provision should
be made for replacing them entirely al
the end of that time. Whether any
similar limi. should be set to the life OF
iron girder bridges is not SO certain
Many such bridges have failed through
decay; but whether decay in a glrdel
bridge can be easily detected, and tbs
weakened members economically re
placed or repaired, is problem not ye
solved.
One thing seems to be agreed upon
that the tests ordinarily applied to OLE
bridges suspected of serious corrosiol
are far from being adequate. The com
mon method of testing is to run trail
of locomotives on the suspected bridge
and il il resists the strain due to thi
| load it is presumed to be capable of sup
porting safely the effect of ordinar
i traffic. But experience shows tha
D bridges thus tested have failed 500
afterward under moderate strains, an
/; it is now recognized that the simpl
passage Of a string of locomotives owe
/ bridge shows little about the strengt
9 of the lateral bracing, the floor membe
: or many other essential portions, u
Q failure Of which under the passage Of
J, train will destroy bridge with near!
d as much certainty as the bending Of
# Girder under mere vertical strain. n
j. doubt the weakness of these membe
/. can also be detected by appropriate tesl
r but a thorough test of an old iron bridg
o covered with rust and many coats
n paint, is a difficult matter, and the tin
10 is to be anxiously looked for when
a railway bridges will be of masonr
k which ought to last for many centuri'
* if properly designed.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-09-15
MAIL CARRYING IN CHINA.
All Letters Are Registered and Their Con-
tents Insured without Cost.


A writer in a Shanghai newspaper,
describing the Chinese postal system,
observes that China has never coDsid-
cred the conveying of the correspond
ence of the people as a necessary func-
ton of government. Otf1ciai dispatches
are conveyed by system of couriers,
who contrive, in spite of the disgraceful
state into which the post roads have
been allowed to fall, to carry their mis-
siyes at tolerably rapid rate.
But these couriers have nothing to do
with the transmission of private letters.
This is provided by the postal establish.
ments, which are to be found in every
town Of any size, and Europeans in tho
interior vino have to use them report
fayorably of the system and repose con.
siderable confidence in it. 1t offers
some advantages even over western
postal systems. All letters carried arc
practically registered and the contents
insured to the full value without extra
fee, and great latitude is allowed in re-
gard to weight.
Letters need not be stamped before-
hand; the rule is TO keep current &C.
counts with customers, which are settled
monthly. Postage is not, in fact, usually
prepaid, and therefore the accounts are
mostly for letters received, and not for
those sent. Bad debts are said to be-
\ very rare.
Postal firms in China are in truth car
riers; but in addition 10 the conveyanc.
of parcels they have also undertaken {
forward letters. There is q great COM
petition between rival firms, and one
| curious effect of this is that the GUS
toners do not go to the post-oft1ce-it
goes to them. Each postal establish
ment has its army of touts, and as the
mail time draws near, if the place be a
port with regular steamer service,
these infest the doors of the banks and
larger shops begging to forward their
correspondence. The competition also
keeps down the cost; for, although there
is nothing to correspond to the English
penny post in cheapness, the postage
within radius of about so miles is
always comparatively cheap, but to
places in distant provinces it may be al
most prohibitive.
There is also postal system between
the open ports of Picking and Tien-tsin
by couriers of the imperial maritime
J customs, but this is used only in winte,
when the entrance to the Peipo /!
blocked by ice,
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-09-15
P4Rfs IN SUMMER.



the whirl of Gaieties Is Incessant.
Eleanor L. CreatoreX in October Godey's
A merry-go-round in Paris never
stops short. We still are in a whirl in
a circle Of receptions, dinners, cotilllons,
garden parties, theatres and weddings.
The garden parties were the
the rain, so longed for by the
farmers drove the guests indoors. For
one, the Princess dc Sagan consoled
her guests by the Waldteuffels orches-
ira, but the season closing so merrily
began under cloud on the first day of
the month. 49,
Thanks to wise precautions the day
passed quietly without demonstration
from the class whose doctrine is "Nivre
sans TRAVELLER ct assassiner sans com
battrcr' The hungry young man who
threw a stone through a cafe window to
demonstrate the injustice OF others eat
| ing if he could not, was sent to prison
as was also the sleepy man who, moi
having any bed or shelter, beat on all
the doors to keep others awake.
Monsieur Loubet denying Mr. Lavy'S
proposition that there should be SOME
| discrimination between the Theoretical
anarchists and the "dynamitards, ant
asking for a definition of where The
"doctrinaire" ended and the "practicien'
began, the government IS coming dow
on the anarchist "lke a bird of prey !
At last Justice has discovered the author
Of the explosion on the Boulcvar'
Magenta-and few days ago Ravacho
was guillotined.
! Americans are in the majority 0
foreign residents in Paris, and n
wonder they love the bright, contagiou
insouciance and the pleasurable excite
mcnt Of the lovely city. One seems in
rainbow world. don't think, in spit
Of all Monster Fiamnarion says, tina
the planet Mars has anything half q
nice as this, where gayety is bred in tn
soft warm air All around is movemen
the note of the postillion's horn is hear
--tooty, toot, toot---away down tn
avenue and thus the coaching partit
flash by for some old chateau or countr
inn made famous by artists.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-09-15
Ancient Gold Cures.
popular scloneo Monthly.

Ippulht ''CiuHNu t"Sh'H'y'
The precious metal has been employed
both externally and internally, in the
metallic state, in solution, and by sym
pathy, for a great variety of the ills that
tlosh is heir to, for over 1000 years,
The distinguished Dutch physician and
chemist, Hermann Boerhaave, writing
about 1725 said; "rhe alchemists will
have this metal contain | know not
what radical balm of life capable Of re-
storing health and continuing it to the
longest period. What led the early ply
sician to imagine such wonderful virtue
in gold was that they perceived certain
qualities therein which they fancicd
must be conveyed thereby into the body
cold, for instance, is not capable of being
destroyed, hence they concluded il must
be very proper to preserve animal sub
stances and save them from putrefac'
tiDnn
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-09-15
oNE ENIOY&

SN IL -E64N-h11 n -
Both the method and results
when Syrup Of Figs is taken;
it is pleasant and refreshing to
the taste, and acts gently yet
promptly on the Kidneys, Liver
and Bowels, cleanses the system
effectually, dispels colds, head
aches and fevers and cures
habitual constipation. Syrupof
Figs is the only remedy of its
kind ever produced, pleasing to
the taste and acceptable to the
stomach, prompt in its action
and truly beneficial in its ef-
fects, prepared only from the
most healthy and agreeable
substances, its many excellent
Qualities commend it to all and
have made it the most popular
remedy known.
Syrup Of Figs is for sale in
5oc. and 81 bottles by all lead
ing druggists. Any reliable
druggists who may not have it
on hand will procure it promptly
for any one who wishes to try
ii. Do not accept any substitute.
CALIFORNIA FIG SYRUP co.,
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. -...
| LOUISVILLE, KY. NEW YORK, N. Y.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-09-15
MADE MAD BIZ MONEY.
A Milwaukee Man Driven Iasane by n
Streak of Good Fortune.

Streak OF GOuu Il Orbunes
ST. Louis Globe-Dem0crat. ."... .....
81 have u friend who was driven mad
by marvellous freak of good luck"
said Hiram Turner of Milwaukee at the
Southern. "lle was young newspaper
reporter who was just learning the husl-
ness, and who had eked out u precarious
existence for year on $l2 a week.
Walking along the street one day he
found $1,000 wrapped up in q bundle
with Il rubber string around it. Fren-
lied with delight at his good fortune, he
struck u bee line for the newspaper office
where he was employed, resigned his
position without any cause, and left
Milwaukee on the first train going to
Chicago. In that city he lived riotously
for eight months, and, though he read
advertisements in the paper oil the un-
fortunate bank collector who had lost
the money Offering nehalf OF it il the
finder would return it, he paid no attcn-
ton to these appeals.
cat the end of that time he blew in
all the money and then came back IL
! Milwaukee. But he was different man
| from what he was when he left in such
delirious glee. Ills old position at al
| increased salary was offered to him, but
/ This he refused, though lie didn't have {
cent He did no york, nor did he wan
| any. He put in his time walking up ant
| down the street on which he had found
the money. Day in and day out HI
tramped that street with his head ben
forward like 4 man looking for a pin OF
the sidewalk. He kept this up for ncarl,
month. Continual and logged dis
appointment made the strain too grea
for him to bear Ills mind brolS
down under it, and he was carried I
the asylum raving maniac. lie is il
the asylum now, his lunacy is pro
nounced incurabie, and he is the mos
pitiable. abicct creature ever saw,
| :. a la,. n +. q
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-09-15
School Ages Differ.

=
The age at which pupils are allowed
to enter and to continue in the public
schools differs greatly. OF the 40 states
and territories six admit them at 4years
of age, 10 at 5, 30 at s, three at and
one at 8. The states admitting them at
A are Maine, Connecticut, Florida and
Montana. The schools of Alabama and
North and South Dakota do not receive
them till they are I, and those of Texas
exclude them till they are 8, and only
allow them to attend until they are 16.
Twenty-Five of the states and territories
allow pupils to attend the public schools
till they arrive at the age of 81. or the
the remainder the "school age" termin-
ates at 20 in nine, at is in seven, at 16 in
three and at Is in three.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-09-15
German Student logic.

FIlegenHe bIapTTtT.
If there were no brewers we would
have no beer; and then we could not
drink 50 much. If we did not drink SO
much, we would not be so giddy and
waste so much money. Then we might
become wealthy; and when we should
have become wealthy We could-well, We
could drink great deal more.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-09-15

"If you lost the nomination because
you refused to buy the delegates" OBJ
served the symathizing friend, "you
have nothing to reproach yourself with.
You did right to refuse, and it is better
to be right than to be President" Yes,
| know" said the disappointed as
pirans, "but it hurts like thunder to be
right and then get left. "-Chtcd9o fri-
bltle.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-09-15
LAFAYETTE IN WILMINGTON
A Famous Day in the History
of the Town.
RECEIVED WITH GREAT HON0RS
In a Barouche Drawn by Four
Milk-white SteedS.

Received From the Hands of the Phila-
delphia Committee and Carefully Es-
corted Into the Town--A Parade,
Dinner and Speech by the Distin-
tinguished Guest--FrOm state Line to
State Line.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-09-15

romato.plants which have been grow,
ing over vigorously during the recent
warm and moist weather may have
failed to set much fruit. Where this is
the case sharp spade should be run
down beside them to prunc OFF the roots
and this will turn the vigor Of the plant
toward forming fruit.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-09-15

the roads and the weather were but little
regarded, and the only matter Of regret
was that tho visit was So short"
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-09-15

AsI said before, one is helped along
a good bit in most everything If one
will only look for the funny side OF 1t.
Then the laugh will knock out the tear
or the frown, aad you are a deal better
woman for the laugh.
That is wise woman who can smile
at compliment, be pleased and forget
it, -.--.--.,-
That is wise woman who can smile
at an insult and never see it.
That is wise woman who can smile
! when the little worries are coming about
and make Of them little bits Of fun.
That is wise woman who can smile
when she gets up, and who can go to
sleep with d smile, for in this way she
greets the coming day, and at the end OF
Il she has blotted out all the disagree
| ables,
That is a wise woman who has smile
for her friends and her enemies; IL Will
keep the first and it is the best weapon
against the last. .... :,
/ That is u wise woman who can smile
no matter how she feels. She is thu
woman who has learned to rule no
only herself, but will gain dominion
over the cook. And that means that sh'
governs comfort.
You mustn't nisconstrue 1t, my frlen'
whether you are man or woman, but
do extend you an invitation to com
and have smile with BAB.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-09-15

/ Thought I WOMB llKe " sec Iauy-
help; she came. She was severely
dressed in black cashmere, and her man
ners were very good-much better than
mine. She had been TO q cooking
school; she knew the theory of bread
making. but she did not consider hot
bread healthy; she supposed wouldn't
object to her having her French teacher
one evening and her German professor
the next. She had nearly hired me;
was so frighted; but-what u blessing
mothers are-my maternal came in, put
me off in the corner, and, without any
The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1892-07-14
AFEW FACTS ABOUT THE PENNSLY-
WANNA LABOR TRAGEDY.

The capital stock of Mr.. Car
negie's steel plant is estimated
at S25, 100000. 1t is sail that a
clear profit of 100000 was
realized last year. This is about
20 per cent. interest. 1t was de-
cided, however, by the Carnegie
company that 20 per cent. was
not enough interest, and that
the price Of labor must be re-
dnced. In other words the
thirty-hve hundred laborers
employed must pay out of their
wages the increased interest de-
sired. These labOrers were in
formed that their wages must
be reduced. They protested.
The doors were closed in their
faces and they were left outside
to starve, while Mr.. Carnegie's
agents were hunting for cheap
er Ia borers to ia Ike their places.
While this hunt was going on a
horde Of Pinkerton hessians
were sent for to overawe the
workingmen who had refused to
accept starving wages. Not be-
ing able to overawe them these
Pinkerton janizaries being
shooting them down in the
presence of their wives and
children while, says the A tlanta
Journal:
"Baron Carnegie was luxuri-
ating in his Scotch castle, his
protected workingmen were
standing face to face with starry
alton and the Winchester rifles
of a gang of mercenaries."-
State Chronicle.
The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1892-07-14
SENATOR VANCE.

We had the pleasure of seeing
Senator z. B. Vance at the Ham
mscks a few days since. He is
looking much better than we
expected to see him. He is
suffering with rheumatism and
a complication OF other troub-
les, but tells us that he 6as
steadily improved at the Ham
mocks. Mrs. Vance, his charm
ing and talented wife, is with
him, and is much encouraged
with his improvement. The
paralysis in the face is scarcely
noticeable. The Senator, though
often suffering acutely, is bright
and hopeful. He entertains his
numerous callers and friends
with his matchless wit and hui
NOR, as has always been his
want when well. He keeps
thoroughly posted and shows a
new interest in everything that
is going on, especially in the
political arena. The State is
greatly the loser by not having
Lis active services at the pres
emit juncture,
The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1892-07-14
Daily except Sunday.


Trains on Scotland Neck Branch !;oad
leave Weldon p. m. Halifax 4 - -.
N, arrive Scotland Neck ) Is u. m.
| Greenville 6 SO p. IN. Returning, leaves
kinston l0a. m. Grecnvill s a5 a. m,
arriving Halifax II 90 q M, Weldon.
I % a IN daily except Sunday.
Local feeieht train leaves Weldon Non.
day, Wednesday and Friday at 10 Is D.
M. arriving Scotland Neck O0 p. IN
Gfeenville 50 p N KIM ton : 10 p.
n. Returning, leaves KiIsion Tuesday.
Thursday and Saturday at 20 a. N
Greenvilie IS a. H., Scotland Reck
2 20 p. IN Weldon Is p. M, daily
except Sunday.
Train leaves Tarboro, y. c., via. Al
bemarle and Raleigh r r., daily except
sunday | 4op m; Sunday ; 90 p. M ,
arrive Williamson, N. c., rs D. IA,
aud 20 p. M, Plymouth 8 80 D. IA.
and $50 p. m. Returning, leave Ply,
mouth, N c., daily except sunday, 6 90
a M, Sunday Q 90 Il. m, Williarnslon
Z 30 .. IN Q 5s a. III, arrive Tarboro,
\ C, 10 40 a, u. and IL 30 a. m.
Train on Midland \ c. Branch leaves
Goldsboro, n. O., daily except Sunday.
90 a. ~, arrive Smith, field, y. O., : 20
a. m. Returning, leave Smiti field, \.
o., $ 90 a. M, arrive Goldsboro. n. G.,
30 a Ii.
Trains on Nashville B.al,a l,aves
Rocky Mount at 5 Is p. IN, ntt.y,s at
Nashville . IS p. m, Spring Hope 30
p. 10. returning, leaves Spring Hope
20 a. m, Nashville s IS a. m, arrive
Rocky Mount Q Is a. m, daily except
Sunday.
Trains on Clinton Branch leaves War
saw for Clinton daily, except Sunday. at
90 p. N. and IL IS a. m. RsturninL-
leave Clinton at 30 a. NJ. and 3 lon
N connecting at Warsaw with Nos. Al,
10, % ana IS.
SouthboDnd train on Wilson and Fav-
etteville Branch is No. 81. Northbonnd
is No. 90: daily except Sunday.
Train No. p South and II North viii
stop only at Rocky Mount, wilson. Colds
boro and Magnolia.
Train no. rs makes close connection
at Weldon for all points North daily.
All rail via Richmond, aud daily excent
Sunday, via Bay Line, also at Rocky
Mount daily, except sunday, wish Nor
folk and Carolina Railroad f5r Norfolk
and all points North via Norfolk.
). IL. kESLEY' JEo. i. DIVINE,
TehI Manager. Gea'l Supt.
1. M. EMERSON. Traffic Mana5sr.
The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1892-07-14
WHERE DOES THE SOUTH COME IN I

In speaking of the curiosities
of tho Cabinet of President
Harrison, the Baltimore Sun OBJ
serves that the succession OF
Hr. John W. Foster, Of Indiana,
to the Secretaryship of State
brings about the rare and per-
haps unprecedented occurrence
of two members of the cabinet
being of the same name. The
other member referred TO Is, nj
course, Mr.. Charles Foster, OF
Ohio, who succeeded Mr.. VIII
liam Window as Secretary OF
the Treasury. An important
geographical consideration also
follows. The President, Secre-
tary of State. Secretary of the
Treasury, Secretary of the In
terror, Secretary of Agriculture
and the Attorney General OF the
United States are all from the
Central Western States, while
the Vice President and Secre-
tary of the Navy are from New
York, the Secretary of War from
West Virginia, and the Post
master-General from Pennsyl-
vania.
The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1892-07-14

The following from the life
OF Senator John Sherman fur
nishes interesting food for
thought:
"T'hirty yeats ago Senator
Sherman, OF Ohio, was nomi-
mated for Congress.
"He was 80 poor that he had
to mortgage his home to get
funds to carry on his campaign.
At 5000 year, his salary for
thirty years would amount to
only $4,000; but his check is
good for several millions any
where. Now it takes a good
deal of economy to raise, edu-
cate, feed and clothe a family
for thirty years on $4,000 and
save several million dollars out
of it. Honest John says, you
can't legislate money into a
mans pocket Sherman is not
the only poor fellow who has
become rich i'll this way"
The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1892-07-14
A PECULIAR ACCIDENT.

An accident of uncommon occur
renee and peculiar nature happened
on the w. c. & A. Rail Road last
Thursday night and came near in
volving serious loss of life,
A shifting engine was standing in
the yard of the Atlantic Coast Line.
III Wilmington, waiting for the in
coming passenger train from the
South. The engineer and fireman
we're both outside the cab, when bv
some means the throttle was OPEN
ed, and the engine went tearing IN
the road in wild runaway. About
four miles from Wilmington it met
the passenger train which wa stand
Ing on the main track awaiting or
ders to cross the draw on North East
River. The wild engine was run
ming backward and plunged into the
standing engine and was thrown
from the track and telescoped hy
the pillow of the latter. The colored
wood passer jumped from the pas
senger train and was killed by strik-
ing his head against some wooden
object. No one else was seriously
hurt and the passenger train reach
ed Wilmington after short delay.
The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1892-07-14

river bank watching the fight
and cheering on the workmep
In their efforts to prevent a
landing by the Pinkertons. The
first shot of the engagement
came from the barge. 1t was
aimed at L big Hungarian, who
stood at the waters edge.
When 1t was found that little
impression could be made by
the cannon on the boats, ar
effort was made TO fire the
barges ami thus compel the de-
tectives to leave the vessel.
Ths mills were in possession
of the strikers for three days,
and Gov. Pattison was repeat
eddy called upon for State
troops, but wisely refused to
order them out.
The null men held a meeting
and decided to turn over the
mills to the company, which
they have done. As it was,
twelve men were killed, and
mary seriously wounded, about
an equal lumber ON each side,
and the riot goes down in hist
DRY as one of the most terrible
that ever occurred in this coun-
try,
The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1892-07-14
DR.. KINGSBURY SUGGESTS
That the Democrats Join with the
Black and Tan Party to De-
feat Reform.

Ifrom Wilmington Messenger, June sth.1
1t may come to pass yet that
the Democrats and Republicans
may have to get together to
save the country from the rule
and ruin party of impracticable
1t may yet become a necessity
that the two old parties shall
lock shields in opposition to t.
nancial cranks and revolution
lists who seem bent on DESTROY
ing the Republic. When the
Government is threatened to be
transformed into a regular huge
pawn-broker's shop and into a
Strong Government despotism it
is high time for the PATRIOTS of
the country to combine for its
salvation"