davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The advocate., 1896-04-15
A Lecture.

EDITOR ADvoCATE:-Elder Vernon
j. Rose of the First Christian church
of Independence, Kas., gave us q
splendid lecture on "The Abolition Of
Involuntary Poverty" The church
here was packed with ladies, farmers,
lsborers and business men. The sub
ject naturally leads to mans right to
the use of the earth. Intense stten-
ton was given from beginning to end
ing. Many came forward at close to
congratulate Brother Rose and said
that is the kind Of religion we like to
hear" Several of us were requested
to take off our single tax buttons and
place them on new men. But the most
interesting part is, that they are not
satisfied with what they have heard,
but want more of the same truth. So
we have made arrangements to have
Brother Rose come the FIRST of June
and give as FIVE lectures In succession
on the single tax line. And We hope
to get Jerry Simpson to make the sixth
address and finish the week Of the re-
Vival In the greatest question Of the
day: Man and his relation to the earth
on which he must live.
R. 7. SNEDIKER.
Hartford, Kss.
The advocate., 1896-04-15
Dther sources" was as follows:

The above amount goes into the item
Of net earnings, and by adding it to
the former amount given, we have q
total OF S7,GO7,6 ,7O4 we have paid to
the railroads clear above all necessary
expense of operation, maintenance and
repair.
The railroads Of the United States,
including street railroads and equip
menta, were valued at $s,6S5, ,407, 1893 by
the census officials In 1890. have no
The advocate., 1896-04-15

to me: "The day must come when q
man will send bushel Of wheat any.
where in the United States just as one
sends letter now" And any man
can certainly see the benefits that
would accrue to the whole country
under such a system. The Kansas
farmer would be as near to the mar
kets Of the world as the man ten miles
from New Orleans or New York. Ali
would stand upon a basis of absolute
equality so far as transportation was
concerned.
One cannot comprehend the enor-
nifty of the freight traffic of this land.
The human mind cannot comprehend
billion, and yet our railroads handls
over SO billions of tons of freight one
mile each year. A mill is the smallest
measure in our monetary systematic
tenth part of cent, and yet If the rail
roads charge this very small sum per
ton per mile in excess Of q just and
an equitable charge, 1t amounts to the
enormous sum of SO millions of dollars,
which sum goes to swell the dividends
on the wstered stock Of these corpora.
tions. Should this charge be made in
excess under government control, the
surplus would 90 into the public treas
ury, and from there be paid out again
in the way of public expenditures, and
70 harm could come of it. But as mat
ters stand to-day, this money goes out
to buy English dukes, French dudes
and American legislative bodies, to
the hurt and disgrace of all our labor
ing people.
The question of how to come into
possession of the railroads is one most
easily solved. In fact, 1t is solved al
ready whenever the people have the
nerve to apply the remedy at hand.
We could have them condemned under
the law or eminent domain, or when
th Q charters of the different corpora
tions expire, the governments of the
different States and of the nation,
which ever has granted them, can re-
fuse to renew them, and the property
at once becomes the property of the
State, This Is principle that has
been so long and so well established In
law that we do not deem it necessary
to give 1t any further notice.
Gentlemen, the day has come when
the people must own the railroads, or
the. railroads will soon own the people.
l am In favor Of government owner
ship of all lines Of transportation.
The advocate., 1896-04-15

81, 7S7, ,926,0O4. This shows an increase
Of A, ,26O,74O in the aggregate number
Of live stock. and a decrease of &94,-
4Ol, 1893 in the aggregate value, or the
depreciation In the value Of live stock
from 1870 TO 1896 had swallowed up
the entire increase in number and over
"a millions of dollars Of the original
value Of the original number.
But while this depreciation in the
value of the farmers produce and the
farmers stock has been going steadily
on, let us take Q look at the net earn
ings Of the railroads of the United
States, from freight and passenger
traffic alone, from 1871 to 1894 inclu-
siVe. We have been told q great deal
about how the poor railroads were suf-
fering. But let us compare the value
of their roads and their net earnings
with the above showing, and see how
the two tally.
In 1871 there were 44,614 miles Of
railroad In the United States, valued
at &59, ,724 per mile. In 1893 there were
1888 miles Of line, valued at $50, 747
per mile Of line, which shows an In
crease Of 81 ,OlS In the aggregate value
per mile of line.
But it is not the value Of the. rail-
roads themselves that we wish to call
your attention to, but to the nst earn
ings of the railroads from freights and
passenger traffic alone during these
years. The following table will show
the net earnings from freight and pas
senRer traffic from 1871 to 1893 inclu-
al
The advocate., 1896-04-15

AObhI,.'....' %O,OVfbGoOIS0
Now, for the purpose Of comparison,
l desire to append q table showing the
assessed valuation of twelve Of our
greatest agricultural States, according
to the census Of 1890. This table in
cludes real estate and improvements,
live stock, farm implements, and all
machinery, and railroads:
The advocate., 1896-04-15
THE RAILROAD QUESTION.
A Few Facts that are Well Worth the Ear
nest Consideration OF al Think
ing Men.
BY OLD BILL FISHER.

ADVOCATE, that are very significant,
and yet hsYe been only lightly touched
on by any Of the writers of the paper so
far 90 have noticed. may be able to
say what desire to say In one article,
and 1t may take two or three. lam going
to point out q few facts with reference
to the transportation question" but /
first desire to call attention to few
facts relative to the decline Of prices Of
agricultural products and farm ami
mails for the purpose Of comparison
later on.
In 1870 there were 2,659,985 farms In
the United States, containing 4O7,-
735, 5,O41 acres, of which 1856, ,921 ,O99 acres
were In cultivation. In 1890 there
were 4,564,64l farms, containing $685.
2lS,6l9 acres, of which 357 ,6l8, 765 acres
were In cultivation. This shows an
increase Of 1904 ,656 in the number of
farms, and an increase Of 168, ,695, ,656
In the number of acres In cultivation.
But the significant fact Is this: The
value OF farm products In 1870 was
&2,447 ,5S8,658, and In 1890 1t was
81, AGO, 107 asa, which shows an increase
Of &l2,t68,796 over the production of
1870, So, assuming that the values Of
the products of our farms were normal
in 1870, we find from the above show
Ing that our increased number Of
1904, ,656 farms have only produced
Sl2,588, 796 worth Of stuff for 1890; or
the depreciation in values from 1870 to
1890 has swallowed up all Of the prod
ucts Of these l,9O4,656 farms, only
lacking the 1919 millions Of dollars
above mentioned.
But this is not ALL In 1870 the mum.
Der of horses In the United States was
8,248,800, valued at $67l ,Sl9,46l In
1885 the number Of horses is Is, 1874 ,057,
valued at $500, l40, 1856. Here is an in
crease in the aggregate number of
horseR Of 6,875, ,257, and decrease In
the aggregate value of $l7l, ,l79, ,275, or
the depreciation In the value of horses
has swallowed up the whole of the In.
crease and III millions Of dollars Of
the value Of the original number.
In 1870 there were l,l79,500 mules In
the United States, valued at $128, ,5S4,-
796. In 1896 there are 2,278,94 mules,
valued at $l03, ,204 ,457. This shows an
increase of l,099,446 In number and q
decrease of $25, $50, ,S39 In the value, or
the depreciation In price from 1870 to
1896 has swallowed up the whole Of the
increased number and over 25 millions
OF dollars of the original value of the
original number.
In 1870 there were l0,O95,6OO milch
cows In the United States, and II, 1888.
500 head Of other cattle, and the aggre.
gate value of the herd was $759, 1857, 1856.
In 1896 there are 10, lS7, ,5S6 mich COWS,
and S2,O85, 400 other cattle, the aggre-
gate value of which Is $S72, ,S83, ,96l.
This shows an increase in the number
OF 22,7S8,S95 head of cattle, and Is
nearly double the number we possessed
In 1870, and an increase in the value of
only SllS,Ol6, ,776, or the depreciation
In the value Of cattle has absorbed the
entire value Of the % millions of head
Of increase lacking the ll3 millions of
dollars above mentioned.
To recspItulate briefly: We were In
The advocate., 1896-04-15
.achinery, and railroads:

But the railroads have sources of
revenue other than from freight and
passenger traffic. But there is no data
at hand as to what the earnings were
prior to 1888. The total ''income from
other sources" was as follows:
The advocate., 1896-04-15

their equipments for 1890, but believe
l am safe In assuming them to be
worth 81, 100000, which amount,
deducted from the total value, would
leave the value Of the railroads and
their equipments at $7,6S5, 4O7 1923,
which admits of the following cOmpsr-
isOn:
Estimated true value Of the rail-
roads and equipments In 1890. S7I685A 1923
Amount paid the rail
roads In net freight
and passenger earn
ings for twenty-five
years S.............,.,..SO, SO,OJI,Go
Net income from other
sources for seven
yebf3...........'..',.. CUJoOo'OOO
Making total net
earning OF. .$I,6UIb4o,IO4
/ believe I have carried these COM
parlsOns far enough to illustrate four
things. One is, that the value Of the
farmers produce and the farmers
stock has deprecated in an unprece-
dented way. Another is, that the rail
road earnings show an almost constant
increase. Another is, that there has
been no real falling off in the value of
railroad property. And another is,
that we have paid the railroad stock
and bondhOlders the full estimated
value Of their roads IN the past twenty
five years in clear profits.
I deem 1t pertinent to call the atten-
tiOn of the readers of this sketch to one
very significant fact just now, and
that is, that the railroads have never
up to the present time made any pro.
vision for paying off any of their In
debtedness. 1t seems to be their
purpose that the debt should be as
eternal and everlasting as the Egyptian
pyramids or the sphynx. Despite the
fact, as | have already shown, that we
have paid them more than the true
value Of their roads In the past twenty
five years in net earnings, which has
been paid out in interest on bonds and
dividends on stocks, many of which
are ten-tenths water, yet must we con-
tinue In the tread-mill until we pass
from the scene of action, and then our
children must take our places, and
then their children theirs, etc., forever.
Under the present regime, the fur
ther one is from market the more one
must pay to get his surplus to that
market. Again, the denser the traffic
the less the charge, which bears down
upon the more pparsely settled regions,
and the result Of this is, that as you
get farther into the interior of our
country (which is the greatest granery
of the wOrld) the higher freights be-
come.
And yet If the government owned
and operated these roads In the inter
est of the people plan could be very
easily devised that would place every
man in this country upon q basis of
absolute equality, and at the same time
work no injustice to anyone, viz: The
number Of tons Of freight carried by
the railroads one mile in the United
States in 1893 was 9S,58S, ,lll,833. The
revenue for carrying one ton one mile
was .OOS7S cent, or q very little over S24
mills. The average distance each ton
of freight was hauled was 1860 miles,
and the average revenue the railroads
received per ton from point of ship
The advocate., 1896-04-15

A history for nOthing-see page IA.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-11-28
Notes About China Ware.

Vases, fern dishes and table center
pieces OF ruby glass, with gilt ofna-
mentation, are attractive features in
Bohemian glassware.
For the center of the table the round
or oval mirror is now supported by
a raised stand of old silver, which
rests on delicately wrought claws,
holding a crystal ball.
The newest dinner sets are maryels
of beauty, both in decoration and
shapes. Green-brilliant grass green
with heavy relief of gold, seems to be
the favorite color, while the shapes are
decidedly low and irregular in out
line.
There is a revival OF the beautiful
Minton ware, and bouillon cups. game
sets and pate cups are reproduced in
all the exquisite shades and designs.
Mounted in gold and decorated with
medallions, they greatly resemble the
famous Seyres ware.
A novelty in cut glass is a mammoth
cigar jar, in shape resembling a pickle
jar, but with the distinguishing fea-
ture of large hollow space in the cut
stopper, in which a moist sponge is
placed to keep the fragrant Havanas in
just the proper condition.
A novel ornament for the drawing
room is a hanging flower jardiniere
Suspended from a wrought iron bracket
are half a dozen vases of Italian
faience. in odd flower-like shapes. re-
sembling tulips, orchids, etc, and
these when filled with delicate trailing
vines look as if part of the luxuriant
growth.
Crystal, with delicately traced pat
terms in raised gold, have for the mo-
ment supplanted the heavy cut glass.
Connoisseurs proclaim that wine from
thin glass tastes better than from a
heavy one. be it ever so superbly cut !;
consequently the craze of the hour is
for the exquisite Venetian and Be-
hemian ware.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-11-28
RECOVERY OF A BICYCLE.
IL Had been sunk In the Harbor for
Revenge.

IL Had Been sunk la the Harbor for
Revenge.
Among the residents of Bermuda are
two brothers, one of whom, besides be-
ing an enthusiastic yachtsman, is also
swift and skillful rider OF the bicy-
Gle. Some time ago, shortly before
the date set for a bicycle race. in
which he was to be one OF the contest
ants his wheel mysteriously disap-
peared and all efforts to find a trace
of IL proved Ruthless, says the Boston
Transcript. One day, about fourteen
months after the bicycle had been pre-
sumably stolen, a fisherman who was
angling out In the middle OF St.
Georges harbor for floating fish.
hooked a large one. which instantly
plunged into the depths OF the harbor
IN "A vain endeavor to escape. The
angler played with him for awhile, and
then, feeling the line tightening in his
hand and the strain become steady, be-
gan to haul up. He soon realized that
he had at the end of his line one OF
the heaviest catches which he had ever
made, and (what he could not under
stand about III that it was almost APP
parently a dead weight. He hauled
away. however, until there appeared
above the water not only the fish that
he had hooked, but bicycle, around
the handles of which the fish, in It's
efforts to escape, had wound the line
a number of times. When the aston
ished fisherman had sufficiently recov-
cred from his amaZement at his cur
ious catch he took the bicycle ashore
There ii was soon identified as the one
which had so inexplicably disappeared
Strange TO say the machine, in spite
OF the fact that it had been at the bot
tom of the harbor Tor fourteen months
was but little damaged and was easily
put In running order again. For some
time no clue as TO how Ii found its way
to its watery hiding place could be-
discovered. Eventually, however, sew
eral circumstances came TO light thai
pointed to a man with whom the bicy
Gle rider had once had trouble. At ont
time whenever he rode past this mans
place the dogs which were kept there
would run out and bark and snap a
the rider. causing him considerable an
noyance and trouble. At first he con
tented himself with simply driving of
the brutes as best he could, but wher
lie found that they were set upon hin
by their master he TOOK prompt meas
mes IN have the man arrested hrOugli
into court and fined. From various cir
cumstances that were found out regard
ing the disappearance OF the bicycle
there seemed to be no doubt that the
owner OF the ugly dogs was response.
BILE for It and that he stole the machine
and sunk it in the harbor in order to be
revenged on its owner.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-11-28
yictoria's Descendants.

Germany has had five soyereigns
since Queen Victoria began to reign.
She herself will in future be recog-
nized as the ancestress OF one of the
most powerful rJlers. Her grandson
wears the iron crown of Germany. Her
granddaughter is empress of Russia.
Another granddaughter is crown prin-
cess Of Roumania. Her second son
rules over the principality of Saxe-Co-
burg. The hereditary princess OF
Saxe-Meiningen is her granddaughter.
The heir to the throne of Greece is
her descendant; the grand duke of
Hesse her grandson. She has no fewer
than sixty-one descendants who one
day between them promise to be at the
head of more than half of Europe.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-11-28
Sisteriy DiScipIine.

Nellie II. s., seventeen years old, has
a sister who is eight years old. Nellie
instructs her small sister, but her pa
thence is sometimes severely tried by
the carelessness and inattention of her
young pupil. and her mother, to whom
she appeals, gives her permission TO
punish the delinquent. This she does,
but scarcely feels comfortable about,
and writes to ask if she did right in
furnishing by using a school rule on the
child's hands. Answer: Under ordin-
AIRY circumstances, it is much better to
leave all such punishment to the
child's mother. There must not be two
authorities in the house over one child.
In case the elder sister is the only
guardian and caretaker of the younger,
il is well to insist upon obedience; but
the less punishment the better, under
any circumstances, and especially II
there is more than one person to giv'
orders
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-11-28
with Slashed Bolcro.

A charming model illustrated here,
embraces the latest novelty in bolero
jacket and full belted bodice. Glace
silk was selected for the costume. The
ground is Of vivid green, showing
stripes of deep red or rather beet
root"-a color very much in evidence
for the coming season. The bolero of
velvet. in the same rich tone. cut in
deep slashes, reveals glimpses of the
bright hued silk beneath. The fan
ciful tabs falling over the sleeves are
n continuation of the jacket, which is
outlined with applique and narrow
edging of cream lace. A crush belt,
of the usual depth in front, encircles
the waist, but gradually widens toward
the center of back where it closes be-
tween tucked shirred edges and ex-
tends above the waist line. A stand
ing collar is concealed by crush stock
of silk with q flaring collar of velvet
above. The skirt, with six cores. is
of moderate fulnces, smooth fitting at
the top. but widening perceptibly to-
ward the lower edge. where two bias
folds of silk and narrow lace edging
form the decoration. deliberately trim
med. the gown may be worn at n din
nor, informal luncheon or tea. while
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-11-28
SAVED THREE LIVES.
uuick-Nitted Bostonian Who Knew the
Dangers OF the Undertow.

uuick-Witted Bostonian Who Knew the
Dangers OF the Undertow.
Here is story which is too much to
the credit of two ladies and a gentle
man to be wholly suppressed. They
are all strong swimmers. and can bat
tie with the waves i'm valiant fashion,
says the Boston Transcript. They
CHANGED to be in the sea at one time
lately, and on a shore where the
undertow is irresistible a short dis
lance ont. The man suddenly felt him
self in that strong, terrible outward
pull of the waters of the mighty deep.
He understood Immediately that he
and his companions would shortly be
no more unless by tremendous instant,
individual eXertion they pulled for the
shore. In that treacherous current not
one could help another. How to get
those girls" ashore without terrify-
ing them and putting them in still
greater danger through their fears was
the problem of that terrible moment
The man solved 1t like a hero. He
made a sign, a sound of personal dis
tress, and began swimming III shore.
His companions in the waves heard
and saw his white face. Both believed,
as he meant them to, that he was
threatened with cramps, and swan in
shore too, calling out cheerful, oncour-
aging words to him as they pulled for
the shore, assuring him that he would
soon be all right; that they could get
him in safely if he really should give
out, and other words to that effect. 1t
was not long before this man of moral
courage stood upon the beach In safety.
and those he had thus rescued from
death stood on either side of him and
heard what il would have meant for
them TO have spent another moment in
that out-rushing tide.
1t was q non-combatant in the strife
for life who remarked That fellow
was great philosopher He knew
how TO appeal to the new woman when
swimming her strongest against the
old order OF things. He only offered
his plea TO the eternal womanly' TO
woman's maternal need of taking care
of the sick or the helpless. Those girls
will probably always think it was their
own physical strength and powers that
rescued them from death by drowning;
but II was really the eternal womanly'
bent upon helping one they believed
in danger and need"
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-11-28

From the New Era. Grecnsburg. Ind.
Mr.. William Levi. OF Jackson, Michi-
gan, is a highly respected old gentle
man of eighty-slx years OF age. MI
Levi now enjoys good health. and Is
surprisingly active for "A man OF his
years, but such was not the case until
very lately, for IL was not long since
Mr.. Levi could only get about with the
aid Of crutches. The following is Alr.
Lewis story i'm his own words:
Ever since early manhood / was a
great sufferer from muscular rheuma-
tism, and in the endeavor to obtain
relief have become almost u pauper
For thirty years | did not enjoy a
sound nights rest. nor did anything
taste good To me- and for sixty years
1 could not walk without canes or
crutches. l tried every physician near
me without relief and after one bitter
attack which lasted six weeks, | was
advised TO try DR. Williams Pink Pills
for Pale People. and did so. While TAX
ing the second box | was able 10 throw
away my crutches, and when six boxes
were taken l was able To do any kind
OF work that man of my age could DO.
/ now go about with only the assistance
of cane. my sight is good and hear
ing almost perfect and the credit Is
due to the Pink Pills"
DR.. Williams Pink Pills contain all
the elements necessary To give new life
and richness to the blood and restore
shattered nerves They are sold I'm boxes
never in loose form. by the dozen or
hundred at so cents a box. or six boxes
for $780, and may be had of all drug
gists or directly by mail from DIR. VIII
liams' Medicine Co., Schenectady. n.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-11-28
or Interest to Astronomers.

Astronomers are delighted with IL
temperance in the heavens Of an ID
friend, none other than the companies
OF the star Sirius. II has long been al
as If purposely tantalizing the astrons-
mers who We're patiently waiting -
complete their observations. To tsu
the story Of the Dog Stars companies
is to relate one Of the most curious In
cidents of heavenly research. As early
as 1874 the path of Sirius was observed
TO deviate from a straight line. and th<
calculations OF Prof. Peters and M
Stafford almost completely established
the fact that the eccentric motion We
due to the presence OF a neighboriAG
but invisible, companion