The morning call., 1894-03-24

alternately mined and ran gambling-house.
He got his name from the fact that he Tor some
time sold soap on The street corners o1 Den'er'
ana used To pretend 10 put 50 and ; ~ ohIs III
the packages. As no one ever found the money
Win the soap he trick was merely laugneu at'
out he has since that time always been known
as 'Soapy' Smith. With all his peculiar asso-
clatlons he always appears in bis dress anu
manner like perfect gentleman"
A. c. Briggs, one Of the Massachusetts prison
directors, Who is in The city, has recently ie-
turned from an extended tour abroad. during
his absence he made many Investigations INTO
the methods OF punishment practiced 10 tne
prisons OF the Old World anu yesterday he
spoke OF the conclusions he had reaeheu. IN
Belgium" said he, 'the system OF solitary con-
nnemeDt has been in practice for many years.
Inc country is possessed of one oil the most
consistent and effective of all prison systems,
ana mas spared no pains in peTfeetlDg the same,
oeina looked upon by many as a mOuel ior
universal lmI alton. Solitary connnemenl, as
enforced there, involves complete aud contlnu-
Gus isolation. The Inmates OF prison never
see each other, and their only human inter-
course is with the officials, the governor, CHAP
lain, schoomaster and trade Instructors, VINO
visit Them often, but cannot be called CON-
paBions. Closely herded when at large. eX-
ercising strictly alone in a small, triangular
slice OF a yard. hearing divine service through
the open cell door, cut of from ali and every
thing but their ghosily advisers aud task
masters, the Belgian prisoner thus SPENDS any
period OF incarceration up to ten years. Alter
tbat he Is permitted TO pass into association ii
he peases, and If be has sufficient wit LETT ID MS
poor, added brain to make the choice. ln the
great prison OF Client the visitor Will nnd
ward fun of imbeeiles, the product OF this un-
duly prolonged solitary system."
"The bridge 10 be built by the Southern
Pacific Railroad Company over the Mississippi
River al New Orleans WILL il is believed, be the
largest steel railway bridge in the world. con-
sidering the quantity of metal used in its con-
struction and its length" said one of The Off
clals Of that company at the Occidental yester-
day. "It will be dOuble-track bridge. about
10000 feet long. The approach spans will vary
from 10 10 100 feet in length, according TO the
height OF the towers. The main river bridge
will be built on the cantiIever principle. and
VIII be 1910 feet in length. with spans OF 6OS
feet on either side. The pier foundation Will
extend from point eighty feet below the bot
tom Of the river and will be sunk by open
dredging. The estimated weight OF metal re-
quired is $4,000 tons, or 50.000,o00 pounds.
The cost will be about S5,000,000. The bridge
Will give the Southern Pacific system an allrail
entrance into New Orleans and form most
important link in railroad communication be-
tween the west and the Gull States east of the
Mississippi River. The longest railroad bridge
completed Is over the Firth of Forth, in Scot
land The main structure is $3.50 feet long,
but the approaches are said 10 be shorter than
those of the New Orleans bridge"
Kentucky may have the reputation Of being
the greatest liquor State In the Union," said c.
S. Bailey Of Louisville. yesterday, ''but there is
one town in the State where a man can't buy
drop of whisky or beer for any consideration.
1t Is the town of Auburn, which has popula-
tiOn OF about 1000, and Is located on the Mem
phis branch OF The Louisville aud Nashville
road, about forty miles below Bowling Green.
The village has not had an open saloon for nf-
teen years. -Four elections in that time have
turned upon the question OF licensing The safe
OF strong drink, but at no electi on has the
affirmative vote reached fifty. Singular TO
state this is not because there are no drinking
men In Auburn, cause the place Is said TO
possess a. many as the average Kentucky town,
but the strong stand Iasen for temperance is
said 10 be due TO the influence and strong or
ganizatoD of The women. The men have not
yet had the temerity TO brook the wrath and
indignation OF this class OF citizens by coming
out IN favor OF license system"
Governor Richards Of Montana, who at
tended the Trans NJ ississippi Congress recently
held In this city ana who is known in his State
as The man OF iron Of the West" was closely
Identified with the events which followed Mon
tanas admission to the Union in 1889 and has
ever since that time occupied a strong position
In Republican politics. His wife is a dainty
little woman OF the brunette type and as gentle
in disposition as the Governor Is decided. she
might be termed one OF the self-made women of
the West for she has a particularly fine educa-
tion and is one Of the brightest women in Mon
Iana. AT the Worlds Fair she was active in
advancing the position OF women OF her Stale,
and she is very proud OF the exhibits which
young Montana made. II Is said that, quietly,
she had much 10 do with the silver figure of
Ada Rehan and its gold base, which put Mon
tana on every lip for time.