davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-28

A curious case was tried this week in
the Sagadahoc supreme court, Mrs. leila
Deidrick. suing S. W. Washburn, owner of
the Washburn circus, TO recover 5000 for
performing aerial leaps by the plaintiff.
who was to receive $25fas payment. She
made demand for theimoney and was
told by Mr.. Washburn that there was
none due her. The verdict was for the
defendant
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-28
THE PRESS.
SATURDAY. DECEMBER 2s.

The allegation that the press was
apa5hetic in regard to the lecture of
DR.. Parkhurst is SO well answered
by Mr.. Haryig in a comm unioation
elsewhere printed that it is really
unnecessary TO say word. Still we can
not forbear from calling attention to Ger
tain facts. For two weeks before DR..
Parkhurst appeared the newspapers of
this city, or the majority of them, con-
tanned notices of the lecture daily, and in
the strongest language possible urged
people to attend it. Did the pulpits of
this city do anything in that line? Did
any minister do Que hundredth part so
much to excite interest in this lecture as
was done by every newspaper in Portland?
Ana if not why undertake to make the
newspapers the scapegoats for the
failure of that lecture to attract as
m my as it was expeeted.t to do, as it ought
TO to have donef
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-28

. A Northport man brought home large
plump bird he shot in the bay and his
wife finding it, plspared it for dinner
the next day. When they sat down to eat
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-28

At meeting of Bangor business men
held Christmas day, is was voted to give
hearty support to the building of the
Charleston and East Corinth electric
road.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-28

Isiah Joller of WatervilIe plowed all
the afternoon Tuesday and reported that
there was no frost in, the ground. This
is something not before heard of in that
section at this season of the year.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-28

The Belfast egg men who had 1900, 600
eggs in cold storage, have disposed of
their stock and now have empty coolers
The price of eggs are lower this season
than last. The egg business of Waldo
county is second only to the hay cron
The above amount of eggs were picked
up in two months, and represent only a
fraction of the product of Waldo county.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-28

Last week Bradford man who was
hunting, saw an immense lump of
spruce gum on tree. He attempted to
knock it off with his rifle, and the gum
was transferred from the tree to the bar
rel of his gun. The man then tried to
bite the gum from his rifle, but his lips
suddenly froze to the cold steel. After
considerable shouting he attracted the
attention of companions, who thawed
him loose.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-28

About o'clock Thursday morning, the
farm buildings in Winslow owned by
William Reynolds and occupied by Wal
lace Simpson, were burned. Mr.. Simpson
says his loss is over 5000; no insurance.
The total loss on the buildings is about
$500, with no insurance.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-28

Capt. III G. Wagner, a veteran of Ban
gor and secretary Of q brewing company
is in critical condition as a result OF
swallowing his false teeth.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-28

The scallop industry is an important
one in East Penobscot bay, and is con-
dpeted principally by about 10 bats,
chiefly from Brooksville.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-28

Deputy Sheriff Despeaux discovered in
the woods near Brunswick and brought
to Augusta Wednesday, the patient Mon
day who escaped from the insane asylum.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-28

Levi Greer, who one year ago bought
Prof. L. g. Bateman's farm in Searsmont
says he has raised this season $500 worth
of apples He paid but $4,000 for the
farm. The orchard in this place is con-
coded to be the best in Waldo county
Some people might say there is more
money in editingssa farm of this descrin-
ton than editing newspaper.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-28

The Fransworth tax case which hA
been delayed two terms on account O
the disappearance each time of Mrs
Feroline Bachelor of Camdon, the princi
pal witness, is just ended in the supren
court at Rockland. 1t is an action Of deb
whereby the city of Rockland sought t,
recover 81, 1884, Miss Farnsworth's person
al tax, for the year of 1894. The plaintiff
recovered $1,000 by the verdict of the jury
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-28

"Vessel property hasn't been gilt-edged
as an Investment the past few years, but
occasionally you find vessel that has
done a good thing" The speaker was a
Knox county vessel owner He con-
tinued: 81 own Thomaston vessel,
which isn't worth $50, 900, which divided
$4,000 last year.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-08
FOREIGN DOINGS.

? The duke of Argyll was married for
the third time.
A conspiracy against the life of the
car is reported to have been discov-
cred.
Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria has de-
cided not to resign and will return to
the principaEty.
Merchant Andrew Boyd's confession
enabled the Montreal police to locate
a band of firebugs.
a dispatch from st. Petersburg
states that Russia will insist on Japan
eyacuating the LiaO-Tong peninsula
without delay.
General Alfaro has fortified Guar
anda, Ecuador, and 1 battle between
his forces and those of General Sarasti
is mOmentarily expected.
A dispatch from Berlin says that in
the opinion of a distinguished cavalry
general the Franco-R ussian treaty is
prejudicial to the peace Of Europe.
Francis M. ColdWell. ex-member of
parliament, who was associated with
JaIbez Spencer Balfour in the Liberatr
ouIihIIiS SOCIeUy LA uuS, uleu dC
BOurnemOuth, Eng.
The Freeman's Journal of Dublin
says it is probably that the English
government will shortly bring forward
scheme to establish and endow
Catholic university in Ireland
A dispatch from Berlin quotes the
ambassador of a foreign power as say
ing that the FrancO-Chinese treaty is
the greatest achievement of French
diplomacy since 1870.
a dispatch from st. Petersburg con-
talns the statement by NJ. Nobel, the
petroleum king, that there is no agree
ment between the Russian and Amer
lean companies dividing the oil trade
of Europe.
The stone masonS and 'bricklayers of
Berlin have notified the employers that
they will demand an Increase of wages
in all cases where the rate of payment
is under 90 pennings an hour. In the
event of a refusal to Concede this de-
mand they will call a general strike.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-08

near by. but not entered. unless you
wish to have all poetry and sentiment
which ' III may have stored UP in re
gard to the place takeE out of YOU.
MohamIned is said to have intended TO
visit the city, but on seeing its appar-
ent beauty from a distance, he stated
that one paradise was enough for him.
and left. He acted wisely, if the city
was as filthy and unsightly from
within then as it is now. If he had
entered, he would most certainly have
become disguised with the condition
of things there.
BY the way, you have perhaps heard
of the traditional ''yaIer dorg,'' but
perhaps not become acquainted with
him in the east. He is very numer-
Gus there. One of our party counted
two hundred on a short ride from the
| steamer to the hotel in a certain city
and then quit. He (the dorg) is very
| quiet and independent in the day time
| He is repoSing pretty much every
! where on the street and sidewalk. He
never gets out of your way, if he car
help it, and he generally does, as boil
man and beast step aside for him. TX
kick him would not be safe, on &C
count of the Mohammedan prejudic,
against such proceedings. The yale
dorg" is pretty uniform in color, Otter
very scurvy and generally ill-fed, a.
none claims him rs his property
What fun he does not have in the da.
time he makes up for in the night. II
is very musical then, but it is of
rather barky strain and not at al
agreeable to ears not cultivated TO
that kind of entertainment.
AS this letter has been somewha
> delayed and l have again reaches
civilization, | wish to mention that
has not escaped my attention how
many of the European cities, of muc,
: inferior natural advantages than on
beloved Madison. are beautified wit,
, parks, fOwerbedS, fountains and Statu
airy. i just about feel ashamed /
think how deficient Madison is in thi
respect. Could or would not some pull
lic-spirited citizens make a start tt
wards some improvements on our wild
: avenues, to begin with? If 4 begin
ming was made it might be catching
and develop into something more.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-08
NEiE LATEST.

CoXey wants to be the populist can
idate for governor Of Ohio
The census give Elkhorn a popula-
ton of lbs, an increase of 2S1 since
1890.
Alexander H. Rice, ex-governor of
Massachusetts, is dead.
Fond du Lac girls have formed a
bicycle club and have declared FOR
boomers.
The annual state convention of the
German editors of Wisconsin will be
held at Stevens Point August 9, 10
and II.
The A. P. A. will start an insurance
system. The risks will be written by
old line companies through agents of
the association.
Senator 'Gorham is still boss of the
democratic party in Maryland. He
dictated the nomina ton of John E.
Hurst for governor.
Joseph Hoffman, of Gresham, Wis.
had his right hand badly torn by the
explosion of a Winchester cartridge
which he was loading.
Azote beat his marvellous La Crosse
performance by 81 of a second, low
ering the one mile mark on the Cleve-
land track to 200 ID
Four Chicago election judges have
been indicted for fraud as an out
growth of the Belknap-McGann con-
test for a seat in congress.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-08

done, holes are made for the spokes
and then the rim passes ON to the
: department where the spOkes are ad
juSted.
The Sprocket wheels are first cut in
circular form out of sheets of steel
and then piled up in heaps Of "a dozen
each. Another machine handles one Of
these heaps at a time, and it only
takes a few seconds for it's sharp teeth
to make the notcheS on which the pro
pelling-chain works.
When each part of a machine has
been finished it usually passes into the
polishing and nickel departments, and
from there to the general assembly
room. Here they are put together by
experienced men, and from this room
the completed machine appears.
Everything is done With such mathe-
NAUTICAL accuracy that any Of the parts
will fit any machine turned out of the
same grade and style. The wOmans
machine is difficult thing for the
maker to produce and keep up to date,
for the reason that the improvements
are being made at rapid rate, as the
needs of the woman bicyclist are bet
ter understood.
Saddles are turned out by the new
machines at a terrific pace. One ma
chine cuts the leather into assorted
sizes, and these are passed into an
other machine, and when they again
come into sight they are complete.
The hub, washers. spoke nipples and
all the other small parts are handled
separately by skilled men. Outside
rubber concerns usually make the rub
Der tires, but the mocha meal parts are
fitted il in the bicycle shops. There
are four mechanical contrivances in
each tire, and these are put through
the same careful test as the others.
There is a good chance that wheels
may be cheaper, as a concern has just
started with the intention of using sea-
soned hickory in place Of the steel
tubes now used in the framework.
This will make a light machine, and
will bring the price Of a first-class Di-
cycle down to $40, providing, of
course. that the scheme is feasible. |
Anyway that price ought to buy the
best wheel on The market and will do
so ere many years go by.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-08

There are several hundreds of thou
sands of bicycle riders in this country,
and majority of then have each paid
something close to 800 for his or her
wheel, but not one in a thousand of
them knows anything about the max
ing Of the wheel, though they all agree
that the price is outrageously high.
There are 126 good-sized wheel man.
ufactories in this country today, and
if all the small concerns are consid-
cred 800 would about cover the total
number. The total number of wheels
turned out during 1895 will amount to
100000. AT an average cost of S75 to
the buyer, this means $37 100000
figures which show that the bicycle
craze is a very substantial thing
viewed in a monetary light. Of course
this does not cover the total eXpendi
ture of the nation in bicycling. There
are dozen or more little articles like
lamps, repair tools, costumes anC
other etceteras which would swell the
total to $5O,O0O,OOO.
/ Besides swiftly making millionaire.
/ of the grasping manufacturers, this
sum supports an industry which gives
| employment to thousands of breaC
/ winners. The manufa cturers of cours4
claim that there is no great money il
| the making of wheels, and a tour o
! their shops combined with their argu
| ments will almost make the novice be
! lieve that they are telling the truth
Still the fact that The number of fac
! tories is constantly growing, and al
| highly prospecting the failure of
bicycle concern is rarely heard OFF
/ good proof that there is a mint o
money in the business. Where Their
are 800 factories in the country tclay
there will probably be 40 at this tim
! next year.
] One of the remote reaS sons that tn
prices Of wheels have not declined t
any extent is the incesSant race be
tween the competing concerns to Pre-
duce the strongest and at the sam
time the lghteSt machine Here ar
some facts which will better explai,
the matter: All mechanical product
have what is called the safety factor
Thus in the great high-presSure mod
ern guns the safety factor is twenty
: or, in other words, the gun is mad
! twenty times stronger than the strain
to be put upon it. Ordinarily gun
= have a safety factor of ten; boiler
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-08

have six, bridges five and other me-
chanical products about four. The BIZ
cycle of the old style weighed sixty
pounds; the high-grade machine of to-
day weighs eighteen pounds, and the
safety factor has been reduced to
125.
With this narrow margin, the vari-
Gus parts of the bicycle must be aIbsO-
lutely perfect and capable of standing
exactly their proportion Of the Whole
strain. There are 500 parts in the BIZ
cycle, counting each spoke separately,
and the $50 and odd minia ture steel
balls in the bearings. The riyets of
the chain, the links, nuts and bolts
number 1873 separate pieces. The old
saying of chain being only as strong
as its weakest link holds good in the
bicycle. Any little imperfection in any
of its parts might cause an accident
and do much to hurt the name of the
maker.
In one of the factories visited there
was a machine which had been made
expressly for the purpose Of testing
the various parts of the bicycle. This
machine was kept in constant opera
ton, and was about the hardest
worked thing in the place. AS rapidly
as the other machines turned out
spokeS, rims, sprockets, frames. etc,
they We're brought into the testing
room. Each Of these parts had to sus-
tain a strain that had been figured
out to Il nicely. This machine could
make a tension or compression of from
a few ounces up to 100000 pounds.
When the full power was turned on its
great jaws could tear apart solid bar
of steel as easily IS a child peelS a
banana. Each spoke has to stand so
many pounds, the frame must do the
same, the rim, the chain, the Sprockets,
hub, the front fork, pedals, cranks.
handlebar, and even the ball bearings
must show that they are absolutely
right. The coasting ability of bicycle
depends upon the true" character of
the bearings. To show how finely
they are measured it will only be
necessary to say that in enc shop there
is machine which makes all the
parts true down TO one-ten thou
sandth Of an inch. This is getting BIZ
cycling down to a fine point, but the
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-08

as it's utility is proved, it is introduced
in the plant of the big concerns. The
old dealers say that the new men have
a certain advantage over them because
they can begin with the improved ma
chinery without tying up a lot of
money in machines which the march
of improvements has made useless.
Six hundred men is the usual num-
Der employed in the large factories.
Some Of these are now running TWEEN
ty-tWo hours out of the twenty-four,
with two shifts of men, and turning
out the parts of 100 bicycles a day.
This, of course, is an exceptional case,
but it goes to show what a big thing,
in a commercial way, the bicycle has
grown to be.
It takes thirty skilled mechanics,
each skilled in a different way, to turn
out the complete bicycle, aided by the
most improved machinery. The big
machine1Shop is divided into a dozen
different departments. In one Of them
spokes are cut out Of the bars of steel.
In another the steel tubing used in the
frame is cut. The making Of the rims
in still another departm is an inter
esting process. Sheets of steel four
feet wide and twenty feet long are run
into the cutter, which slices them up
with nice accuracy into the required
widths and lengths. Another machine
curves each strip. and a third bends
them into the required shape for at
taching the rubber tire. The ends are
then brazed together. Castings have
gone out of date for the fastening of
joints, brazing being the method
largely used now. When this has been
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-08

tricity, the balance being divided in its
operating power among horses, cables,
mules, etc.
A jury having been obtained at I'm
ion, Mo-, to try for the second time
Millionaire Arthur Duestrow, of st.
Louis, for killing his wife and child,
and the opening addresses having
been delivered, the taking of testi-
mony is now in progress.
An explosion took place at Roach's
ship-yard, Chester, Fa., in the after
tank of barge II of the Standard oil
company fleet. Jonn Wolf was fatally
burned, several other Workmen were
painfully injured AID the vessel was
considerably damaged.
Dr.. Henry Simmer blew his brains
! out at Carroll, H., with a revolver
! He was temporarily insane, caused by
| illness. He was form erly state ento
mologist and was also engaged in worl
for the Smithsonian institution a
Washington. He was worth 100000
Police Capt. Michael J. Murphy die
at his residence in New York 0
| Bright's disease and dropsy. Cap
Murphy was under suspension froI
the force at the time of his dealt
/ having been indicted as a result o
i testimony given before the Lexoy
committee.
At the coroner's Inquest into TIL
death of beautiful Lille Low in Ne7
i York no mention was made OF tn
! three persons arrested in connectio
with it, and after the jury had n
/ turned a verdict of suicide they wei
= discharged. The girls father said th
5 proceedings resembled French coined
more than American justice.
r James D. Cook, who for many veal
has occupied a prom nent position
!, the offices Of the general passengt
! and ticket agent of the Southern P:
S cific company at San Francisco, hi
c disappeared. Cook handled all tt
money of the general passenger offic
>, The railrod officials say his accoun
! are all right and are at loss to a
i count for his disappearance.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-08
a USEFUL WATERFALL.

The street cars of Sacramento City,
in California, are low run by cleo
tricity generated ~ the falls Of the
American river at Folsom, twenty
four miles away. The river has been
miles long, with a flow of $1,000 cubic
feet a minute. After turning the tur-
bine wheels at the dam the water is
not allowed to escape further service,
but is used for irriga ion. Sacramento
City expects soon to be warmed and
lighted by the river.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-08
BOOKS OF ANCIENT ETHIOPIA.

King Menelik of Abyssinia is found
ing library at Abbis Abeba, and col
lecting all the old Ethiopian books he
can find. According to tradition, when
the Somalis invaded Abyssinia in the
sixteenth century, all the books belong
ing to the emperor were hidden on an
island in Lake Zuai, in southern Shoa.
In December last Menelik sent a fleet
of RATS to the islands, where, the hid
den books were actually found The
natives could not read them, but kept
them as religious objects. The manu-
scripts We're left with them, but copies
were ordered for the new library.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-08
MORNING AND EVENING.

When the baby was born,
AT happy morn,
The world seemed new and sweet and
true;
For all of life fresh beauty drew
When the baby was born.
When the baby died,
At eventide,
There went a dover from field and
flower
That has not graced them since the
hour
When the baby died.
Clara 2. Peeler, in Home Queen.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-08
A REMINDER OF CHATTERTON.

An interesting Chatterton manu-
script will be included N a sale of au-
tograph letters and manuscripts now
in preparation in London. 1t is tho
first of the Rowley poems, Tine
Bristowe Tragedie; or, the Dethe or
Syr Charles BaIwdin," and consists Of
nearly a hundred verses. At the top
of the first faded folio Chatterton says
in q note in the course Of an elaborate
explanation that he transcribes the
poem ''as specimen Of the poetry in
those days (the reign of Edward IV.),
being greatly superior TO what we have
been taught to believe"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-08
A QUARTER WITH A HISTORY.

Colonel Q. L. Williford of Madison,
Ga, has in his POSSESSION a silver
quarter that has a history. 1t was
coined in 1891 and was cut out Of
mules shoulder a few days ago by j.
H. Aiuslie The mule was owned by
George Waters, who got Mr.. Ainslie
to make the operation. He inserted
his knife and found hard substance,
W hich he extracted with little trouble
and which he found to be the above
mentioned quarter. The operation was
performed in the presence of J. Ii. and
Walter Ainslie and George Waters and
several negroes. How the quarter
ever got there is indeed a mystery.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-08

race for precedence among the big
makers is fierce, and seemingly out of
keeping with the general hiIarity Of
the sport
The plant of a big concern repre-
serts an outlay Of 100000. Bicycle
machinery is a comparatively new
money. Improved machinery is con-
stantly being invented, and, as soon
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-08
SMALL COINS IN DEMAND.

There is a great demand at the Phil
adelphia mint for 1 and ) cent pieces,
and the superintendent of the mint
says this is q positive indication of
business activity. There are so many
other certain signs offered that the
period of industrial activity is at hand.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-08
HOW BIKES ARE MADE
THE PROCESS AN INTRICATE
AND COSTLY ONE.
GREA: PROFIT TO MAKERS

Competition Among the Big Concerns
Causes Constant Improvements
How Machines Are Tested-Bright
Outlook for a Lowering Of Prices in
the Near Future.