davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-12

thing 1 ever heard of before in the horse
line.
THE owner of Dick had advertised in
the newspapers that a gentleman who had
pulmonary trouble and had been ordered
to California by his physicians would sell
very fine carriage horse at a great sac
rltice. The person who called at the
stable in answer to the advertisement
found very lively and handsome horse,
that acted like an excellent roadster when
exercised for his benefit. The stableman
said that the owner of the animal was
stopping at a hotel near by. He would
send one of his men to the hotel with the
intended purchaser. Arrived at the hotel
the man from the West was found in a
dying condition, with hacking cough and
splitting blood. Common decency would,
of course, prevent any haggling over the
price of a horse with an apparently dying
man. Dick generally brought from $500 to
$500, but | knew of one case where $3.50 was
realized for him. The dying owner of
Dick would between coughs tell of the
animals many good points.
CT wouldn't sell that horse for $1,000
cash, sir, if l thought l had long to live, ,
the man from the West would say as he
spat up blood.
"a price was quickly named and agreed
on and the money paid over. Dicks new
take away his purchase. Everything ran
smoothly enough for four or five blocks.
but all of sudden Dick would develop a.
weakness in his hind legs. 1t ended in his
sitting down in the street, amid the laughs
of crowd that quickly gathered. Dicks
forefeet remained in an upright position
and he presented comical enough ap-
pearance. After about FIVE minutes rest
Dick would get up and trot off again, going
several more blocks. Dicks buyer would,
OF course, return to the stable and the
hotel to make the usual objections. AS he
couldn't get Dick back to the stable he
would leave some one to guard him.
ssThe man from the West had gone West
when the victim reached the hotel, and the
stableman merely pleaded ignorance He
had taken the horse to board. and didn't
know the owner at all. So the disguised
horsepower returned to find Dick still
seated in the middle of the street sur
rounded by laughing crowd. A coun-
trlned looking fellow, an agent of the man
from the West, of course would appear on
the scene at this point and ask how much
the horse could be bought for. Generally
the victim would be glad to part with the
animal at any price, but in most cases
about $25 made Dick once more the prop.
erty OF the swindler. Dick was given the
name of Upright Dick after the horse
men learned OF his habit of sitting on his
launches. To my personal knowledge
Upright Dick was sold six times from the
different stables in the vicinity of where |
am located. The swindler would change
his hotel each time, of course, and Dick
would be bought back by the dummy from
the angry purchaser. who couldn't get the
horse to continue his journey under any
circumstances. The man from the West
would inject a stimulant into the horse
the morning of the exhibition to the in
tended purchaser. Then he would return
to his hotel and go to bed to await the ar
rival of the victim.'
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-12
I EHE NATIONAL
turnpike.

and serviceabIe for at least quarter OF a
century, but the result proved the 1aiiacy
of this belief. In five years from the tilne :
of its opening the ceaseless peatihg "
hoofs and the never-ending roll ana crush
of heavy wheels had worn its soma pea SO
that in places it was almost lmpassaple.
Appropriations were made by congress
and extensive repairs were MADE, Dut IL
was of short duration.
1t became evident that the road would
be perpetual and ever-increasing expense
to the Government, without producing
any income to pay for repairs. 1t had
been built for the purpose OF satisfying
Ohio and the West generally, ana thus
preventing that section from fostering pro-
jects of secession from the Union. But
that danger was past and the road had be-
come heavy burden upon the Govern
ment.
In 1929 General Jackson was inaugurated
President of the United States and the
principles of the Democratic party became
the rule of public policy. The States rights
doctrine of that party demanded the trans
fer of the National road from the General
Government to the States through which 1T
passed, which were Pennsylvania, Mary
land and Virginia. While the United
States could not erect tollgates and collect
tolls, the States would have the power to do
so and thus secure revenue from the road
to keep it in preservation. Acts passed the
Assemblies of these States in 1922 and in
July, 1882, decision by the Government
caused the road to be effectually repaired
throughout its entire length, it then to
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-12

The proposition to connect San Fran
cisco and San Jose by great boulevard,
and the probability that when this is ac-
complished second boulevard from the
Garden City to Oakland will be con-
structed, bring to mind the first great at
tempt in this country to construct a
mighty thoroughfare for travel and traffic.
This was the great National boulevard
which in the early days OF the century
united the East with the sparsely settled
plains and valleys west of the Alleghanies.
This road, 100 miles in length, COM
menced at cumberland in Maryland, the
head of navigation on the Potomac River,
passed through the Laurel hills, spur of
the Alleghanies, through the Panhandle
OF Virginia, and joined the Ohio River at
Wheeling. 1t was on the line of the old
military road laid out by George Washin G.
ton In 1852 and passed near the site of Fort
Necessity, the scene of his first and only
defeat.
1t was one of the best and most substan-
tial turnpike roads ever built in this coun-
try and cost the Government OF the United
States nearly l,750,OC
1t was to be expected that the opening
OF such an excellent road, easy, direct and
free to the use of any and all, without cost
or charge, would attract to it an immense
amount of travel; but all the expectations
which could have been previously enter
tanned OF the vast amount OF travel and
traffic which would pass over the National
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-12
FICTION GOOD TO READ,
1t EducateS the People Up to a
Better Standard of Lit
erature.
California Reaches a De-
CiSlon.

Books of fiction have been declared as
necessary in libraries by the Library Asso-
citation of Central California. Several
papers were read by members of the asso-
citation at its last meeting, and the unani-
nous opinion was that fiction of good
quality was generally beneficial.
The first paper read was by E. Il. Wood
ruff, Librarian at the Stanford University.
He saw good in all kinds of good fiction.
He divides fiction into three classes-the
classics, novels by good writer's and novels
which he said belong to the school of
decadence, such as Heavenly Twins, I"
"Ships That Pass in the Night" and erotic
and French novels. Those of the first two
classes he believed should be in all libra
ries, but those of the third class he be-
lieved should not be given a place any,
where in library. He gave statistics
showing that the average percentage of
books of fiction read, according to library
reports, was IS per cent.
The second paper read was by Miss
Emily Wade of the San Francisco Public
Library. Miss Wade took the ground that
one of the functions of public library was
to supply rational entertainment, and
fiction was one of the means of so doing.
She said that those who acquire q reading
habit through books of fiction generally
read up to better class.
The third paper was by Andrew J.
Cleary of the Odd Fellows Library. He
said that there were good grounds to have
plenty of decent fiction in libraries. Many
people would not come to library if they
had to start in on histories and essays, but
when they once became readers through
fiction they generally went to a higher
class of writing.
J. w. Harbourne of the Alameda Public
Library, A. NJ. Jellison of the Mechanics
Institute, and H. r. Coleman of the Mer-
camille Library, followed with papers to
the same end.
A discussion took place, and again the
same result was obtained. The particle
pants in the discussion were Miss c. g.
Hancock of the Sacramento Public Library,
G. C. Terrill of the San Francisco Public
Library, H. F. Peterson of the Oakland Pub
lie Library, and Rev. Mr.. Dupuy. The latter
gentleman stated that in Paris the reading
of fiction had become SO great that the
majority of the people were now craving
for stories of crime and worse, and he
feared that as there were so many foreign
ers in San Francisco works of fiction
should be closely scanned before being
placed before the public.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-12
ELECTRICITY
ON THE WATER.
METHODS BOATS
INGENIOUS METHODS OF PRoPELLING BOATS.

electric boat. Strictly speaking it is a pro-
iectiIe, worked by an electric current and
controlled in most cases from a ship or
from the shore. Torpedoes are too well
known to the general public to admit OF
much discussion. The Sims Edison, Lay
Haight and Nordenfelt are all types. A
remarkable one is the Victoria, which, in
stead of being launched from the shore IS
attached to buoy. The buoy may be To-
Gated two or more miles off shore, but the
torpedo when released starts off and is
worked from that point. The buoy III Its
turn is worked by cable from the shore, SO
that areSpectabi mum Der of miles may lie
between the operator and the ship ne is
trying to wreck.
lone of the best uses to which the
dirigable or shore-controlled torpedo
has been put is as life-saving device.
The Hubbard life-saving torpedo is prac-
tically an electric float, capable of be-
ing propelled and steered from shore.
1t carries a powerful electric-lamp on
top and can be sent out past boiling Turf
to a distressed vessel, carrying light and
succor TO the shipwrecked. Something
of a similar nature is the electrically
lighted life-buoy invented by Captain
Meter of the German navy. 1t is not al
ways possible to follow the cry of man
overheard with the instant cutting away
of a buoy. Hence the man in the water is
often unable TO perceive at night that buoy
has been thrown; or, supposing he does,
and reaches 1t, the rescuing- boat is often
unable to find him when he is too weak to
cry out as it approaches, The electric
buoy will obviate most of the difficulty by
being an illuminated target for both man
and boat.
"What would you say to mooring a boat
by electricity? That is one of the things
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-12

performing horse, and every one laughe d
at the funny position in which the animal
rested. A man, who acted as though he
knew something about horses, came along
and took good look at the old gray, who
remained seated.
"Rello, Dickp' said the horseman, for
such he proved to be.
The old gray picked up his ears and
looked around.
Eyes, that's Upright Dick, sure enough"
said the horseman, as he laughed at the
seated horse.
"When first met Upright Dick" said
the horseman, "he was brought to my
West. This fellow was horse-trader, and
he came every day to feed and care for the
animal not permitting any of my en-
Moves to look after him, When he first
brought Dick to board the horse appeared
to have partial paralysis in his hindquar-
tiers. When out exercising l noticed he
had very bad habit, for horse, OF sitting
down in his traces. After resTlng MS nlnd
legs for few minutes he would get up and
trot as nice as YOU please. Dicks owner,
| noticed, was feeding the horse on carrots
and lots of soft stuff to puff him up and
make him sleek looking. smelied game,
and requested the man from the west to
find new place to board his horse. :,
g 'Ill.give yo1 a hundred out or IT, salo
the owner of DICK, VINO frankly cohieooeu
he was about to work swlndle on some I'M
suspecting horse-buyer.
81 couldn't see things that way, and DICK,
looking in fine form, was moved down the
street to another stable. kept my eye. on
him, though, every day. One morning
Dick was brought out on show for gentle
man whom l recognized as a well-known
merchant. Dick acted just like a two
year-old that morning, but I}didn't see the
owner of the animal about. AFTER the
horse was shown 20 excellent advantage
the prospective buyer went off, accom-
panied by one of the stablemen, who, |
found, was in the employ of Dicks owner.
The following day learned just how the
new swindle was worked. 1t beats any
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-12

important, inasmuch as they represent
facts already laid down. The early canal
boats were pulled by slaves. Mule-power
was after substituted, and has continued
until the present time, when it is proposed
to introduce electricity.
"Most people will remember the official
trials of the Frank w. Hawley on the
Erie canal. The Hawley was a trolley
boat. But while the trolley-boat has
some excellent features, it has some draw
backs. Various methods have been de-
vised One is the use of false stern,
containing motor and propeller, which
can be placed on any canal-boat The
current is supplied by a cable along
the side of the canal. This cable has a
trolley wheel truck running on it. A fex-
ible wire connects it to the canal-boat mo-
tor. If current is to be obtained in this
manner, however, it is generally conceded
that a regular system of tug-propellers
should be used each tug carrying along
with it string of boats. Another electric
device sucks water through the hull OF
the boat and projects 1t out at the stern
with such force that the boat is propelled
forward. In France there is a system which
provides for cable lying in the canal.
The boat has electric machinery which
grips the machinery tightly and by means
OF drums pulls itself along. A movable
cable travelling On large drums or pulleys
| along the canal bank has been used. The
canal boatman attaches a hawser to the
cable, and the boat, consequently, is pulled
along as the cable moves. 1t has been sug-
gested also that we pull the boats in series
by means of locomotives running along
the canal banks.
"The most ingenious method of all, per-
haps, is that which calls for the erection
OF a double rail along the canal bank. The
rail carries current of electricity and at
the same time serves as a track on which
runs small motor. 1t is merely neces-
| sary to run line from the boat to tn e
motor. The motor runs along of itself and
drags the boat after it. This method, or
others analogous to it, NAV be strongly
commended, because there is no propeller
to cause the water to wash away the canal
banks-the great objection to steam canal
boats.
"The Introduction of electricity on canals
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-12

be coded to the three States. All repairs
were completed and the States assumed
possession in 1885.
Toll gates were erected and the collec-
ton of tolls commenced. This had the
effect to clear the road of the immense
droyes of livestock which had passed over
1t and also brought upon the road very
heavily built wagons with wheels nine
inches broad, drawn by six and eight
horses. A former resident on the line
says: II have frequently seen from forty
to fifty great Conestoga six-horse teams
carrying from five to six tons each. pick
eted around over night Cat one of the road
side taverns) in the yards and around the
commons ard all the other taverns equally
full at the same time Scarcely a day
passed that did not see the main streets of
the principal towns on the road crowded
from end to end with these immense
wagons, each of which had about one-half
the capacity of the modern railway car.
On the road between these towns they
passed in continuous procession.
In 1885 an adams Express" was rum
ming over the line. 1t was started in that
year by ALVIN Adams. Malttoy & Holt
started what was known as the "Oyster
Line" Three years later light mail
pouch carrying drafts, paper money and
short printed slips was sent through by
messenger on horseback. 1t was the fastest
mounted messengers were withdrawn
number of light mail carriages to carry
through mail and making very few stops
were put on. These formed what was
known as the Monkey Box Line" The
passenger traffic over the route was i'm
mense and constantly on the increase
until the business of the road received the
death blow by the opening of the railroads
across the Alleghanies, and from Deem
Der, 1852, the business of the old road sud-
denly and rapidly declined. Travellers to
and from the West were diverted to the
new routes and easier modes of convey
ance. the Western mails were sent by
other routes, and the stages were with
drawn from this, the number of broad
wheeled freight wagons was gradually
silenced along the rock-laid bed, and by
rapid degrees the National highway lost
it's importance, and instead of being the
only easy mode of travel became, as it is
to-day, merely an avenue of local use.
In contrast to this old road is that one
which is interesting every Californian who
wishes for the advancement of our State.
1t will be built through section of coun-
try OF special beauty, lined on either side
with beautiful homes, productive orchards
and vision of fruits and flowers almost be-
yond the conception of an Eastern visitor.
At other points one can discern the foot
hills and the Sierras, thus gaining the
views OF both mountain and plain. One
Will be also impressed with the richness
and variety of the panorama which will be
spread before the eyes of all who travel
along this. one of the greatest achieve
ments of our modern time.
ArsTrN N HuNorpro,N
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-12
LIKE AN OPIATE.
A Strange Peculiarly About the Air of
the Smoky City.

Strange Peculiarly About the Air of
the Smoky City.
"Pittsburg makes me more tired than
any other city in the world" said theat-
rical man yesterday, who has been all over
the globe. 81 don't mean in the sense of
the popular slang phrase, you make me
tired, but state it as physical fact. There
is something in the atmosphere of Pitts
burg that induces sleep, good and long.
Travelling men and theatrical folk, gen.
orally when questioned on the subject, will
tell you they lose more time in sleeping in
Pittsburg than in any other city they visit
Now, in my case for instance, / can go
about the country and find myself re-
freshed in body and mind after five or six
hours sleep. But in Pittsburg eight or
nine hours rest does not seem to suffice,
for you get up feeling drowsy. 1t is gen.
eral experience, and you can verify my
theory by talking to travelling men.
SIN all my wanderings | never found
city where a person can do with SO little
sleep as in Paris, France. Three or four
hours rest there is all that any able bodied
man requires. There is some pc culiar con-
dition of the atmosphere that causes this.
Another strange fact regarding Paris is
that in treating nearly all diseases the time
required for bringing them under subjec-
| llOD Is d lllblc lllOlC tudn udll IildO
across the channel in England or in Amer
lea. 1t is peculiarly adapted for good re-
suits in therapeutics.
! Perhaps the great amount of sulphur in
the atmosphere here accounts for the
strange effect upon people. Doctors adj
NIT that the presence of sulphur in the at
mosphere makes people afflicted with
strange influence of Pittsburg's climate
making people sleepy is general and not
confined to any one class. "-Pittsburg Dis
| patch.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-12
WHITMAN ARRIVES.
Detective Whitaker Brings the Alleged
Forger From New
York.

Ross Whitaker, the detective, returned
from New York yesterday morning, hav-
ing in his charge A. J. WhiUeman, who is
accused of having forged checks which
were passed on the Nevada Bank. Whit
taker and his prisoner reached this city at
10 A. NJ, but before going to the police sta
ton Whiteman was allowed to take bath
and prepare himself for stay in jail. 1t
was late in the afternoon when Whitaker
appeared at the Chief of Policies office
with Whiteman.
The alleged forger took his arrest philo--
sophically and said that he had enjoyed
the trip, as Detective Whitaker had been
most courteous and considerate. White
man declared that he was innocent and
that he stood ready to meet the prosecu-
ton of his case. He said he had money to
properly defend himself and that he hoped
to be released on bail on Monday, when he
claimed his preliminary examination
would be held.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-12

American and Russian naval authorities.
While the Grand Duke (now Czar) Alexan-
der of Russia was at Rhinebeck-on-the-
Hudson he was much struck with an cleo
trio launch which the United States Gov
eminent had Just completed for the cruiser
New York The Navy Department, out of
compliment to the Grand Duke, presented
the launch to him and constructed a du-
plicate for the New York. 1t is now a
feature of the Russian navy. The British
Government owns an electric boat which il
uses as transport to convey troops along
the Midway, between Sherness and Chat
ham.
'All these boats get their power from
storage batteries, which are concealed
under the seats. They therefore carry
their power with them. The electricity is
conveyed to a motor, which, in its turn,
works propeller. The French inventor
Trouve has made an ingenious arrange
ment which is 8 rudder, propeller and
motor combined. The motor is situated
on top of the rudder. The propeller, con-
nected by an endless chain to the motor,
is located in large slot cut through the
rudder itself 1t will fit any boat. 1t is
only necessary to drop it into the ordinary
pin-sockets and it is ready to take a
supply of current.
1T is barely possible that we may yet
go down to the sea in ships that are pro-
PEELED by lectricity-electricity which gets
It's being from the ocean itself The gen.
Grating quality of sea-water led NJ. Trouve
to suggest that ships might be worked by
primary batteries whose elements will be
dipped in the salt water-the water to act
as an electrolyte. 1t would be curious if
the ocean-water was made to supply the
very energy that would propel vessels over
its surface. Trouve designed a battery
consisting of copper and zinc couples,
grouped so as to obtain the requisite
power. He estimated that from raft 100
meters long and sixteen meters wide he
would obtain over 5000 horsepower.
perhaps we have learned more of the
real character of the ocean bottom since