davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-04
TIE rlMEs-RICHMOND VA WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 1895

TO a minute discussion Of the value anu
nrobable effects Of the Nicaragua canal
when completed. Mr.. Colqunoun reh'hus
us that I'm these speculations ne mas peeh
Anticipated nv many distinguished men
Just 200 years ago Paterson, tne lo"i"e.
OF the Bank of England. ana huthor y.
the disastrous Darien scneme' piopooee
I'm memorable words that England should
take possession OF the isthmus, anu ,nu9
hold the KEYS OF the world, ehaphhs 'he"
possessors to give law 10 po'h oceans
and so become the arpiters Oh co'n-
merce. century later Nelson ehoea'oi
ed 10 realize this proJec, "heh ne ianu.1
a force al San Juan ana proposed 10
conauer Nicaragua. For once In her his
tory. however. Britain failed 10 see her
opporutnity. and now IT Is no longer pos
siblc for any single power 10 control TINS
great highway. None the less the al
vantages and disadvantages OF IL VIII
be felt very unequally by the different
countries OF the world. The way IN
which II VIII probably affect them Is
best indicated in the following statement
by Mr.. Colquhoun:
Through the Suez canal England mas
at present the advantage OF the ohl'eu
States, as regards CHINA, japan anu
Australia. by about 200 miles. me Nlca-
ragua canal made, the Atlantic ci0 nss
OF the United states Will be ohiy i,V'
miles further from Hong Kong ana Cen Cen,
trail China generally than Britain i'-vV
TO 1900 miles nearer the northern Poi's
of China. Corea, and Japan; 2.'vV nheS
nearer the average of the Western ports
of South America; 1900 miles nearer Mei-
bourne: over 3,O0o miles nearer Ne" Hed-
land. The canal will bring New orleans
1000 miles. and the Gulf ports from 'vO
10 900 miles nearer again than Ne"
York. The canal will place the states III
touch with 100000 people. with whoih
at present they have comparatively III
tie intercourse-namely, the peoples Oh
China, Japan. Corea. Australasia ma e,
laysia, Ecuador. Bolivia, Peru, ana Chlh
This means. Of course. that the hese-
mony we at present possess III the
trade of Eastern Asia and Australasia
will be strongly attacked by the Oniteu
States. How this attack VIII be deiiN-
cred NAV be illustrated by the cotton
industry. Eastern Asia is the great mar
kot for Lancashire cotton; but wheh
tho Nicaragua canal Is cut, the SOUTH
ern States, with the cotton at The mill
doors with the cheapest fuel IN the
world. and much cheaper labor Than we
can command. will inevitably supply the
Chinese and Japanese markets. rms -
of course. only one instance OF the COM
mercial changes which the canal VIII
effect. Mr.. Colquhoun believes tha'
taken in connection with the vast
changes occurring in the far East IL
viii bring about the most serious nv
airy TO the commercial supremacy OF
Great britain. New York World.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-04
!. 100 POUNDS or DYNAMITE USED.
Big Explosions to Clear Away Wrecks In
the River Near Pittsburg.

PITTsBURG, Dec. 3.-The impeachment
TO navigation caused by the recent wreck
of some twenty-three boats and barges
Of the coal fleet and 10000 bushels ef coal
on Dead Mans Rifle. nineteen miles De
low Pittsburg, was attacked by the
United States Government authorities
with dynamite this afternoon. Some
100 pounds Of dynamite, IN charges
averaging 40 pounds each, were e; ploded
an.ong the wrecks and their oarsoes.
Several Of the barges were blown TO
pieces. and the channel was partly clear
ed The work will be resumed to-mor-
row.
The dynamite threw great coiumn5 oi
water eighty feet in the air. piece OF
a beam pierced the hurricane Geek OF the
towboat Leader, from which The officials
were conducting the operation, iroke the
hog chain, and nearly struck the beat
mate. who was aslcep in his bunk. The
charges were fired from an eletlrc bal
terry on the Leader, which was Kept
about 80 feet away from the wrecks
with which il was connected by a
wire.-New York Sun.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-04
MRS. uowE11 SCORES 4 POINT.
Decoy Letters Not to be Admitted In INC
Murder Trial.

WrILsBOPO. PA. Dec. 2.-rhe tris'
of Mrs Charlotte Howell charged WIZ"
noisopiry Miss Elizabeth Knapp, was
resumed this morning, and the 'oun'ei
for both sides spent most OF 'ie ot-S ="
citing authorities and arguing inc p o''s
as TO whether certain test letters P,ia.e
by Mrs. Howell IN the Dis'ilre 49,
ney's Office should be admitted a.
dence or not. The Common"ea'"
lied upon these test letters 10 pr"Fe .s"s
Mrs Howell wrote AL the 'hi''''0'''"7
notes 10 Miss Knapp. -.
Tbe defence urged Judge Mitchell not
ia change his ruling, because TINS eVi-
dence was obtained wropgfuliy from 'le
defendant when che was under breo
mental excitement, without .cuns'' -
friend. and virtually while she was ue-
prived OF her liberty.
Earlier in the trial Mrs. fioweA scSu,
fed that one OF the detectives oiiete .,'
her money to take criminal Liberties WV
her while she was I'm the office OF the
District Attorney. In making me Ply
position she said he began by say
IL have got more money than KIN"
what to do with" In one OF the uaii,ci
aus letters now in evidence winch ~ :
Ttoveu claimed 10 have round on net
door and which the Commonwealth az
leoes she wrote herself and put up %
throw suspicion upon another person ap,
nears exactly the same language.
have got more money than / know "n''
TO do with. ,n,,a,s
Judge Mitchell decided thatthe letisis
cannot be admitted as evidence MS
greatly hadicaps the prosecution. hiis
delphia Record
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-04
THE mycoRuICK OBSERVATORY.
The Power of the Great TeIescope-'ro-
lessor Stone.

The ROVER OF 'hf 'fta'
lessor Stone.
The Chicago Evening Post has an "r-
ticle. with a cut OF Professor crnono
Stone. which says:
Astronomers throughout the country
have shown great interest I'm the ooserNa-
ton of Faye's and Swift's comets mace
nv Ormond Stone, professor OF astronomy
az the University OF Virginia. in the Lean
der Mccormick observatory the last Few
weeks. The famous Faye's comet las
bee, observed only three times In Eu-
rome and America. save at Charlfo-tes-
vile where IL is still visible IN the Nc
corn,,ck telescope. The following par-
scnai letter from Charlottesville. received
nv one OF Professor Stones friends in
this city. indicates the status Of the pres
enf observations.
Iaye's and Swifts comets are visible
in tfc great refractor or the Lear1er Nc
Cornich observatory the CORNER hes
bes1 observed only twice elsewhere, so
fs~ as can be learned--once at Nice. In
France, and once at the National Cbstr-
vatcry. In Washington. AT The latter 1t
was seen on TWO additional nights. but
was too faint 10 be observed. 1t '.as been
obseryee here every clear night since 1t
was first announced.
Swifts comet. though the larger OF the
two. Is growing fainter rapidly. and Is
nearly at the limit OF visibility. but Is
changing In brightness very slowly. These
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-04

observations seem TO Indicate that the NC
Cormick telescope Is probably at least
equal In space-penetrating power 10 any
except the telescope on Mount Hamilton,
I'm California, and at Pouikoya, IN kus-
STA. The Yerkes telescope Will, or course
be still more powerful.
Professor stone is we'll known 10 maine
maticians and astronomers all over the
limited States. lie is one OF the foremost
scientists in the East. and enjoys repu-
tation In HIS work second to none. FRO
lessor stone was born In Pekin. H. IN
1s47. His family moved to Chicago IN
1s53 and he secured his early cducation
I'm this city at the old Chicago high scnooi
and Dearborn observatory. he tausn'
school at Racine College. and In 1919 was
called 10 the dictatorship OF the Cincin-
natl Observatory. Seven years later ne
was invited TO take charge OF the new
I,eander Mccormick Observatory OF .ne
University OF Virginia. His work az the
latter Institution has given h'm ma
tonal fame. He Is editor OF the Annals
OF Mathematics. blmonthly journal the
object of which is to encourage ma'he-
NAUTICAL research. A.,
Professor stone is brother OF Mel
willie r. stone. general manager or the
Associated Press. He is member OF
numerous learned societies and one o.
the most influential educators III the Last
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-04
No Canals on Mars.

At the regular monthly meeting OF 'he
section OF astronomy and physics OF
the New York Academy of Sciences helo
last evening at Columbia College. fro-
fessors Rees and Jscoby ana charles
Post read papers attacking the alleged
discoveries of lines and canals on the
planet Mars. The attacks were principal
iy directed against Percival Lowell OF
Boston. who while AT Flagstaff Arl]',
claimed to have seen the same iines oll-
canals discovered on the planet by Signor
Schiaparelli I'm Italy. After the readihs
there was a general discussion, and the
conclusion arrived at was that these peo-
pie were romancers and not astronomers.
The academy therefore discarded the
theory Of canals and lines on The planet
Mars until such time as they could De
seen more plainly, or at least by greater
number of personal---very. York sun
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-04
A MONUMENT TO VANCE.
A GIFT As A COMPLIMENT 10 THE
CRUISER RALEIGH.
subscyiptions Being Taken for Both These
Causes-visited the Governor
state Pharmacists.

RlyETGH.. n. c., Dec. 3.-Special.-
While efforts are being made TO raise
money for the purpose Of presenting
Gift 70 the United States cruiser. RAJ
leigh. there are also efforts being made
TO raise a fund sufficient for the erection
of a monument TO Governor vance
There Is only about 500 in hand Tor
the latter. and $500 for the FORMER pur-
All the school superintendent in the
STATE have been requested 10 hotils
the pupils that on Tuesday tne Vth
there viii be a subscription te6en uD VI
the schools fer the vance no ,,ine
fui,i. In this way possibly quieS - "'~0
sum WILL be collected. lilo. ,o~
the popular fund Of one dollar.
The Englishman, III. faui onlltii, VIZ
States on a wager. reached here yester-
day from Richmond, and obtained ths
Governors certificate that he had visited
his office. -.
only half of Saturdays have been en-
plCyed, but the men Are ordered TO Worh
full time on that day hereafter.
At the Y. NJ. c. A. meeting on sunday
afternoon there was "a large attendance.
New life seems to have sprung up among
the members, and the association Is on Il
regular boom.
BAPTIST CONVENTION.
The state Baptist Convention. when
meets in Greensboro. will be opened 10y
Rev. DR.. A NJ Sims, Of this city on
Thursday evening with a sermon ne
rnost important business before the con-
vention will be the election of successor
TO Rev Dr. q. Durham. ,.s.,,
At the Jones County Court WIFI
meets next week. the trial OF the grave
vard-lnsurance swindlers, from Beauioi'
county will be held.
The Governor has ordered n soecMl
term of the Superior Court OF bertl.
county. 10 begin January 20. le'h, loi
the trial OF civil cases. Judge Boykin' AZ
the request of the bar, has been ap-
pointed 10 hold the court:
gan their regular meeting for the OK
animation OF candidates for license e
practice pharmacy in this city to-day
About dozen candidates had reported
TINS morning. but more arc expected De-
fore The meeting clgS
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-04

died by better adapting the present sys-
tenn 10 the creation OF banks In smaller
>----... entities or by permitting banks OF
inrgr crrrvat to establish branches III
such localities as would serve the people
so regulated and restrained az TO secure
their safe aud conservative control ana
management
He does not quite do this. but 1t is
obvious that he has learned great
deal on the subject. We suspect he reads
The Times. lie will never wholly under
stand the case. much as he has learned
until his mind opens 10 that blessed
clause which lightens IT to the knowledge
that the Government o. the United
States has no more right to watch over
and inspect bank when issuing It's notes
than il has to watch a citizen when eat
ing his breakfast.
More than half OF his long message
is devoted to the financial question: but
in proportion TO its importance the space
is not too great. II exceeds In It's I'M
mediate influence upon the welfare OF the
whole country OF each citizen, all the
other questions combined, and Mr.. we've
land evidently so regards it.
We have little hope however, Of any
substantial relief from this Congress. un-
less the Republicans of the House are
more patriotic than partisan. and the
Populists Of the Senate have the wisdom
20 know that free silver Is dead issue.
hut we fear the patriotism and wisdom
will be wanting.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-04
BOYS Tried 10 Wreck n Tram.

wILLIAMsTOwN. n. J., Dec. 3-De-
liberate attempts to wreck a train on
the Williamstown branch OF the Atlantic
City railroad were frustrated by William
Fisher. who captured the would-be wreck
ers-two boys-yestsrday. Fisher was
walking along the tracks when he saw
the boys at a switch at Downer Station.
AS they saw Fisher approach they ran
down the track
A glance showed Fisher that the boys
had been tampering with the switch. and
he chased and captured them. They
proved TO be Morris Crammer. fourteen
years old, and Peter Costello, sixteen
years old, who live at Glassborough. They
were turned over 10 constable. who
locked them up. This morning they were
given a hearing and committed
Investigation showed that the boys hau
wcdged bolts and coupling links into The
switch frogs In such way as TO derail
any train that passed over them. Al sew
eral other points along the line similar
distractions had been placed, and II Is
believed that il was the work OF these
boys. though they deny H. They declare
that they saw the obstruction in the
switch and ran. on the approach OF FISH
er, because they were AFRAID OF being
charged with doing it.--New YORK Times.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-04
SOME THOUGHTS FOR THE POpr
lists

The result of the inquiry made by the
New York Association for Improving the
Condition of the Poor. with the causes
Of agricultural depression in New York
State. strongly confirms the very general
view that such depression does exist
upon a very large scale The inquiry was
made partly by correspondence and in
part by sending a practical farmer about
the country TO talk with the farmers
Land Is found to have deprecated III
New York since 1870 about - per cent
though population has increased by l,"lp'-
$50 persons. and the assessed valuation
of real property 10y Sl,6J9,G43.y0s. The
association ascribes the depreciation 10
low prices of products, higher price OF
labor. loss OF fertility. and unjust taxa
ton. The tendency TO leave the farm TOT
the city is said to be due 10 un9roiia-
bic farming. poor schools want OF SO
ciety. better wages and profits in cities,
and difficulty I'm getting good LABOR
Tenant farming Is increasing. Some 10
per cent of New York farmers are los
ing money, while II per cent. Keep no
accounts. and so do not know whether
they are making or losing. The schools
students Agricultural schools have done
good and more are wanted. To consoh-
date the existing schools 50 as 20 get
more high schools would attract many
families to the country Education IN
farming, fruit culture &c, is the great
need. Grape-growing has arrested the de-
cline of the rural population in some dis
tricts. Better roads and less whisky are
recommended.
This is a most sensible report by this
association, though our Populists would
say the association is a fool and all the
trouble comes from want of cheap silver
money. Now. we will ask the Popuist
this question. Suppose a blight should
destroy the wheat crop OF Argentina, OF
Russia, of India. Of Germany, and
France. and England for the next ten
years. Does he not think the value of
our growing lands would immense
~ increase? And, If so, are not the con-
illusions Of this association correct. and
would free coinage affect the matter one
way or the other?
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-04
WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 4. 1895.
THE TIMES WELCOMES THE LEGis-
IATyHE TO RICHMOND.

Tho Times welcomes Virginia Legisia-
,nrc to her capital city. and says 10 II
hat Il viii find ;hc people who RESIDE
In Richmond glad 10 receive their teio"-
,irciuiaus from whatever part of The
rotl. old state they may hail. and ready
end jealous to ioin with them in pro-
noting an measures calculated 10 ADVANCE
the welfare o. uphold the good name OF
The State. This LEGISLATURE contains
very large proportion of members VINO
nave never served before but they are
Nireinians proud OF their states past
ana eager TO see her flourish III tunes
10 come. and The Times feels. therefore,
hat Nifginia's dostinies are as safe In
their hands as in those OF the Oldest mem
hers who have served the greatest num-
Der Of terms.
Gentlemen Of the Legislature you VIII
have brought before you for considera-
tiou many measures destined TO have i'm
portant Influences upon the material de-
veiopmcnt OF the State. These. we all
know. viii receive from you that patient
and careful attention ;hat you would
bestow upon any and all measure al
focting your private interests. But the
material interests of the State are not
the OILY important matters that VIII
come before you for consideration. By
far the most important subject that you
Will be called uDon to consider IS the
state ana condition of the suffrage in
virginia and the modes and methods by
which her voters are 10 make their VIII
known. Our elections have not been Tor
the past few years what they should be.
As our election laws now stand, evil
minded persons are enabled TO manipulate
the elections in way that causes the
voters to speak results such as the voters
themselves have not intended such "a
pretended election produces the result
that the pIotier desires. and not the
result that the free and independent
voters of Virginia desire and 1t thereby
corrupts the course of law and justice
at their source and spreads it's horrid
pollution over every part OF the system
of the body polite This condition OF
affairs. though not general in our state
is sufficiently and fiagranuy FREQUENT 10
faint the general reputation Of our cleo
lions and TO produce deep dissatisfaction,
even In the ranks of the dominant party.
The Times most earnestly prays mat
the Legislature assembling to-day may DE
inspired to look upon proprr amend
ments OF our election laws as the first and
most important duty committed by tie
pesxle 81 Virginia TO its care.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-04
Nicaraguan Canal Endorsed by an fnine"
English Engineer

The London Daily Graphic OF Novem-
her 18th. in an article on MT Coiqu-
houns book says A.,
mir ColGuhouns book on the Mica
racua canal Is a timely study OF SIN
ecnlarly important question. In tne 40
main of what Reran once called re-
touching the Creators handiwork 'niS
enterprise is epoch-making. IL VIII moH-
ify conditions Of life throughout 'ns
larger part of the Inhabited oiope. anu
will bring about a compete redistilDu-
lion and readiustment of human actVi-
ties in their most strenuous centres.
.rhat this is no mere hyperbo.e is shown
~, the fact that the canal. as MT
Colouhoun well Iuts il. will complete
nerfect equatorial belt OF Navigation
around the world through the gateways
of Suez and Nicaragua SO much, Driehv
mn. for the importance OF the enter
orise. The timeliness OF Mr. Colquhoun
study Of II arises from the probability OF
the canal being un fat accompli before
another decade has passed away.
The most important chapters OF ms
bool, are devoted to an elaborate study
of the engineering aspects of the problem
made on the spot in the spring OF the
present year when he Inspected .the
whole line of the proposed cutting from
ocean to ocean. II is needless 10 foiow
him through his highly technical descrip-
tion Of this Journey, but his CONCLUSIONS
must be given. They are n) that ,he
canal AZ thoroughly practicable. 90 that
!, can be constructed for f3o,oooov which
Is c1ooo0. 900 more than the projectors cs-
t,mated: CD that the prospective prohts
Justify this large outlay. and "a that 'ne
time allowed for completion. SIX years,
is sufficient 1t should be added that
Mr.. Colquhoun speaks on these Dues
tions with the authority OF competent
knowledge Of engineering.
ssT~-> innnrtant CHAPTERS are devotec
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-04

NEWARK. n. J.. Dec. There was a
novel application by Lawyer James X.
Nugent, in the Court OF Quarter sessions
to-day. when the trial was called OF the
state against Wing-Sing and Chas Ions-
Sing two New York Cinnamon, who are
accused OF attempting to rob Willie Hong
Newark's wealthicst Chinaman.
Everything was in readiness TO proceed
with the trial when Mr.. Nugent, counsel
for the accused men, arose and asked
that the Chinese witnesses be sworn ac-
cording TO the Chinese custom. lie asked
that each one be compelled 10 Kill chick
en-. and offered TO furnish the fowls. Asa
sistaut Prosecutor Hood vigorously OPP
posed Mr. Nugent's application. He claim
ed that 1t was outrageous 10 think OF
turning the court into a slaugiter-house.
Judge Kirkpatrick finally concluded 10
adjourn the case until December 18th.
Meanwhile he will look up the statutes
covering such precedent-New York
Times.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-04

There have been few more comprthen-
sne message sent in hy our Presidents
than that read IN CONGRESS yesterday
from Mr Cleveland II treats a sfeat
variety Of topics and treats all OF then
interestingly What ne has said of our
relations with Great Britain in connection
with Venezuela with Spain in connection
with cuba. and what lac says OF finance
and revenue viii be- the parts of the
message which will no doubt receive the
greatest attention
All that the public has had stated 10
II in regard TO The Venezuela matter IS
confirmed. The message makes 1t clear
that the administration has taken the
ground that Great Britain shah not ar
li,rafily este hllsh a new boundary line
between British Guiana and Venezuela
and without ,ho consent of the Nenfzue-
lans It has taken the ground that Eng
land shall submit is dispute with Nene-
zueia 10 arbitration, OF elise confine her
self to her present boundaries.
IL remains TO be seen what answer
Great Britain will make TO this position,
and stirring news may be looked for
from this quarter al no distant day.
AZ was 10 be expected. Mr.. Cleveland
commits this country. so far as he can.
TO absolute neutrality In the matter or
the struegle goine on IN Cuba. The
ungoists VINO wish TO see us taking
part in that quarrel must look for such
action as they desire. therefore. from Con-
gress. II they get IL at all.
The Presidents utterances in regard TO
our finances are what were TO be expect
ell OF him. lie plants himself sQuhely
and fatty upon the proposition that the
greenbacks must be called in and can
ccl:ed. II is impossible 10 understand
how any one but "a Populist can think
otherwise about this The ropulist does.
OF course. because he has an idea that
government is sort OF financial fOGn-
tain out OF which money can run In the
form OF pieces of green paper, as water
runs out OF the side of hill. But the
Popuiist Is becoming harmless and no.
body pays much attention TO him nov.
On the subject OF paper currency the
President Is learning as ali the rest
Of the country Is. lie almost recon-
mends turning the matter OF paper cur
rency over 10 the State banks, where II
belongs. He says:
II has always seemed TO ne that the
provisions OF law regarding the capital
az national hanks which operate as q