davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-28

construction of a canal across the isthmus
at that point. Presldei Hayes called the
attention of Congress to the fact in a spe-
cial message, in which he said: 1T is the
right and duty of the United States to assert
and maintain such supervision and author
ity over any interoceanic canal across the
isthmus that connects North and South
America as will protect our national in
t~erest." He referred TO the matter again
in his annual message of December, 1850.
In 1881 a bill was introduced in Congress
TO incorporate the Marine Canal Company
of Nicaragua" The company had secured
a concession from Nicaragua and among
the incorporators were u. S. Grant, Z. D..
Morgan, General Butterfield. Commodore
Ammen. Charles A. Dana and other promi-
nent men of the time. The company thus
Incorporated failed to begin work within
the stipulated time and it's concession
lapsed. Then the United States government
took the matter up and negotiated a treaty
with Nicaragua by which the latter made
important concessions and authorized the
United States to construct a canal, rail-
way and telegraph line through Nicaragua.
In January, 1887, Senator Edmunds, by di-
rection of the committee on foreign rela-
tions, reported favorably a bill to incor-
porate THE Maritime Canal Company of
Nicaragua" In the report accompanying
the bill Senator Edmunds, for the commit
tee, said:
Looking to the large benefits not only to
the United States and the republic of Mic
aragua and her sister republics, but also
to the and intercommunication
of the whole sisterhood of civilized govern
ments on this globe, the committee recon-
mendS the passage of the bill, in the hope
that the resources and enterprise of pri-
waite citizens of our country may be en-
abled 10 accomplish this great work, even
if our government itself is not yet ready
to undertake 1t.
tanned valuable concessions from Mica
ragua. After debates and Investigations in
both houses of Congress of the most ex-
haustive nature, continued at intervals
throughout a period of more than a year,
the bill of Incorporation was passed and
was signed by President Cleveland after
careful examination of the whole subject.
This is the compan whose bill soliciting
government aid or credit is now before
Congress. The present is not a favorable
time for such action by the government,
but it is absurd to say that the project is
chimerical or that the Maritime Canal
Company is a myth or a fake. The project
of an interoceanic canal by the Nicaragua
route has received the highest possible in
dorsements for twenty-five years past. 1t
has been asserted time and again that If
such a canal is built it must be by an
American Company or under the control Of
the United States. The Maritime Canal
Company has a valid and binding conces-
sion and contract with Nicaragua for which
it paid 100000 in gold to bind the bar
gain, and it is Incorporated by act of Con-
gress. If Nicaragua is encouraged or per-
mitted to repudiate this contract she may
turn around and make one with a British
company, and then the United States
would have trouble indeed.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-28
MAGAZINE NOTES.

OF the making of statistical ANIMALS
there is no end. but the New York Tribune
Almanac. which was the first to enter this
rivals. As a political register and COM
pendulum of miscellaneous information it is
accurate and comprehensive, and makes a
most valuable book of reference. 1t is well
edited. well indexed and sells for % cents.
Harper's Magazine for February opens
with a fine piece of descriptive work by
Richard Harding Davis on. the coronation
of the Car. Mr.. Davis's fiction has not
entirely sustained its promise, but in this
class OF writing he shows a well-developed
talent. His style is a little careless, a little
too reportorial, but the sketch is graphic
and leaves a vivid impression on the read
er'S memory
THE Awakening of a Nation is the title
of a paper by Charles +. Lummis i'm Har-
per's Magazine which describes the devel-
opment of Mexico under the administration
of president Diaz. The account is full of
interest, and Will be a revelation to many
as semi-barbarous and disinclined to the
ways of civilization. II is n very different
picture that Mr.. Lummls paints.
Arthur Sherburne Hardy has a group of
poems in the February Harper. Mr.. Har-
dy's name is too seldom seen i'm current
literature. He is one of the most artistic
of American writer's. whether his pen turns
to prose or verse. His novels have n lit
ton can boast. and they also have that I'M
DERIVING something which may be called a
soul-a possession which the newer school
OF novels almost entirely lacks. II MIR.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-28

Judging from Senator Turpie's long,
winded and vituperative speeches against
the Nicaragua canal bill one might supp
pose not only that the present company is
a combine of bunco-steerers, but that
the enterprise itself is so visionary and
impracticable that the United States should
never have anything to do with 1T. AS a
matter of fact. it has fer a long time been
regarded by commercial nations as an en-
terprise of great Importance. has been APP
proved as feasible by first-clas engineers.
has been Endorsed in party platforms, APP
proved in Presidents messages and made
the subject of more than one international
negotiation. The pending bill may not be
a good one for the United States and the
present may not be a good time for the
government to incur any new obligations,
but the fact remains that the canal ought
TO be built. and when built should be con-
trolled by the United States. The st. Louis
platform on which Mr.. Mckinley was
elected. says: THE Nicaragua canal should
be built. owned and operated by the United
States" And so it should.
The agitation of the question in this coun-
try dates from 1872. during the administra-
ton of. General Grant, when a party of
naval officers was sent, with the consent
of the Nicaraguan government. to make
surveys for the purpose of a
practical route for a ship canal between
the two oceans. Owing to climatic and
other difficulties the expedition was not
wholly successful. but its surveys and re-
ports proved of subsequent value. The next
annual message:
The grand project of opening an inter-
oceanic canal through the American 18TH
mus has attracted OF late a larger share OF
public attention than heretofore. The
United States government mas sent an ex,
ploring commission 10 our territory and
the results of their labors are. so far, very
hattering. The government of Nicaragua
has used every means in its power TO pro-
mote the development or the PROJECT, ana
furnished the commission with all possible
facilities for the prosecution of that sur
vey. TEe American government has ex-
pressed it's satisfaction with the friendly
sentiments OF our country. and IL the ulti-
mate result Of the reconnaissance prove
equal to our present hope there Is little
doubt of the on our soil of
that s~tupendous work in which the whole
commercial world is so deeply interested.
Commodore Ammen. of the United States
navy. an early sehoolmate and lifelong
friend OF General Grant. was an ardent
supporter OF the canal project. and Gen.
Grant also favored 1t strongly. During the
years 1873 and 1874 two more surveying ex-
petitions were sent from the United States.
the reports in each case being favorable.
In 1880 the United States Of Colombia made
a concession to foreign capitalists for the
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-28
OUR STATE FISH LAWS,

The tendency in the Legislature of two
bills amending the present fish law and the
pressure which is being brought to bear for
the appointment of a person from the lake
region as commissioner of fisheries show
that the subject of fish protection is ex-
citing interest in some quarters at least.
1t is really a subject of considerable i'm
portance. No State in the Union is better
supplied by nature with lakes and rivers
suitable for fish breeding than Indiana.
Several counties in the northern part of
the State have from ten or q dozen to more
than a hundred lakes which are admirably
adapted for the breeding of certain kinds
of fish, and there are many streams in
other parts of the State which are famous
water fishes, the black bass. Originally all
these waters were abundantly stocked with
the different kinds of fish suited to them.
In the early history of the State they con-
tributed largely to the food of it's inhab-
itants as they have for many years to the
pleasure of amateur anglers. In recent
years by the common American process Of
eASA coPPfy VI Ids DCcn
recklessly reduced, and the time has conn
when a vigorous policy Of protection should
be adopted in order that the waters may
become again well stocked. We have a
fairly good Law prohibiting the using of
dynamite and seines or the killing of fish
by irregular and cruel methods, but it is
constantly violated. The State commits
siOner of fisheries, not fish commissioner
as he is commonly called, is not adequately
paid, and the appropriation for the en-
forcement of the law is insufficient. The
commissioner receives only $500 a year, and
for the enforcement of the law the last
Legislature appropriated only 500. The
law max 1t the duty of the commissioners
to visit every part of the State and do
many things relative to the protection and
propagation of fish which are obviously
impossible to be lone on so small an ap-
preparation. If the Office Of commissioner
of fisheries is worth maintaining and the
laws for the protection of fish are worth
keeping on the statute book, the Legisla-
ture should appropriate for them support
enough to make them effective.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-28

bushels. The next in order of production
are: Illinois. 2s4. 572. 764 bushels; Kansas, 247,-
$4,000 bushels; Missouri. 176, 7ss. 649 bushels:
Indiana, 1S3. 4ss. PCS bushels: Ohio. 123. ee1. e57
bushelsi Kentucky. O.ss2, s4s bushels. Thus
Indiana lands sixth in the list. MINES
ota leads in wheat. with 46, 4sy.06 bushels,
but California is a close second. with 45,097,-
15 bushels; Kansas is third, with 90, 99i, 452
bushels; North Dakota next. with 29,s4s,5O1
bushels, closely followed by Illinois. with
2s,66S, LAG bushels. South Dakota is among
the larger producers. with 1883 $50 BUSH
els. indiana reports 2O.647. 440. indian has
not had so small a wheat crop since 1876.
In 1891 the Indiana crop was 50, sO7. 600 BUSH
els, which is $500, 600 in excess of the crop
of the leading State this year. One-sixth
of the total crop of 1896. which was Ar, 6Si,Si7
bushels, was raised by territories which
Were not states ten years ago.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-28
ADVERTISEMENT WRITING.
People Should BE Paid for Doing It
Quality Gives Value to Quantity.

If space is worth paying for It is we'll
worth being filled.
The size or quantity of an advertisement
counts, but the quality of the matter in it
is of equal Importance.
If a thing is worth saying it is worth
saying we'll. and the better it is said the
more good it will bring.
Nine-tenths of the local advertisers seem
to be laboring under the delusion that a
big advertisement in a prominent position
is all that there is to advertising. and they
do not seem to appreciate the necessity of
filling that space with the quality of tell
ing publicity.
No man buys a lot of land exclusively for
the size of it. for the size of it is of value,
not because of its size but because it will
hold a building or something else, that is
what can be done with the land, not how
much there is OF it, constitutes the land
value: and yet that same man will buy a
lot of advertising space and consider it
good advertising because he has so much
Of It, without taking into consideration
that that space needs to be we'll filled. and
that the filling of the space gives value to
the space.
Half of the advertisers write their own
advertisements, partly because they do not
think they can afford to hire someone to
write them. and partly because they are
self-conceited enough to believe that be-
cause they know their business they know
how TO write about their business.
am aware that this country is filled
with alleged advertising experts. and ir-
responsible ''ad' smiths, men who have
nude a failure Of everything and are maxi
ing a failure of advertising writing. but for
all that somebody outside of the business
can almost always present the business to
the public better than can the advertise
ment written by the man living in the at
mosphere of his own business and handi-
capped with technical knowledge.
The man who can run a successful bust
ness is too good a business man to attend
TO the advertising side of his business. He
should either hire someone outside, or edu-
ing, that he may present to the public what
the public wants as we'll as what he
wants.
In every town and city there are bright
men and women who seem to understand
the public taste, and who, for a reasonable
price, will prepare for the advertiser ad-
vertising profitable both to him and to the
public. NATHANIEL c. FOWLER, JR.,
copyrighted. 1897. by Publicity Publishing
Company, New York;
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-28
TO PROMOTE FORESTRY.
Provisions of a Measure Introduced
by Dir. Reynolds.

Mr.. Reynolds yesterday introduced in
the House a bill for the encouragement of
the growth of forests by exempting from
taxation land devoted to the growth of
new forests. The measure provides as fol-
lows:
That whenever any citizen of the State
or any person outside of the State yet own
ing land therein shall have started a
growth of timber. either by planting or
from seed, of not less than one acre nor
more than ten acres, the same shall be ex-
enpted from taXatl0n; provided that there
shall be planted or started from seed not
less than one thousand trees Oh each acre.
However, no such exemption shall take
place until said grove thus started IS nye
years old and two-thirds of the young
trees thus started are alive and in a healthy
growing condition. And provided. further,
That on every tract of land covered in
whole or in part with an original forest
exemption from taxation shall be as fol-
lows. to wit: On forty acres. live acres of
timber; on eighty acres, ten acres of tim
Der, and on every Ito acres, twenty acres
of timber: Provided, That the owner of the
not be permitted to cut down and destroy
young and growing trees. Nothing in tins
act shall prevent nim cutting ana remov-
ing fun groves OF timber or dead trees.
When any person has complied with
the first part of Section / of this act. be-
fore he can have the exemption therein
the county and make affidavit that he has
a grove of timber of not less than one
acre nor more than ten acres, which he
has started either by planting or grown
from seed; that on each acre of land was
either planted or started from the seed one
thousand trees; that two-thirds of the same
are in a growing, healthy condition. Upon
the presentation of this affidavit, the audi
tor being satisfied OF Its truthfulness. shall
note on the tax duplicate the number
of acres which said affidavit affirms has
been III planted TO timber and the same
is exempted from taxation. And be It
further provided. That before any person
can enjoy the exemption mentioned In the
last part OF Section / he shall also make
an affidavit before the auditor of the coun-
II stating that he has set apart timbered
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-28
RESCUE OF THE FALLEN.
First of the Mission Meetings to BE
Held This Week.

The first OF the series Of meetings to be held
in Indianapolis this week in the interest OF the
rescue-mission work was held last night at Tab
ernacle Church. The meeting was not a success
In point Of numbers, as only about twenty peo-
uIe braved the cold TO attend. These few ad-
journed to one OF the small rooms OF building.
where they could be comfortable by the warmth
OF an open-grate fire. and the meeting took an
informal character OF much interest.
Mrs. Kate Waller Barrett. OF Washington. who
is national superintendent Of the Florence Crit
tenGen Rescue Mission. and Charles 5. Morton.
national evangelist of the sam work. were pres
ent, and both spoke briefly. Mrs. Rarett has
other claims to public notice than by her rescue
work, having been president OF the women's de-
partment at the Atlanta exposition. She Is a
beautiful woman, and possessed OF a magnetism
which makes IT easy TO understand how she Is
able to accomplish such great results in her work.
A southernc by birth and by residence. until
recent years. she has the peculiar dialect Of the
South. which. with her mellow voice. lends ad-
dittonal charm TO what sle Jays
She stated the object OF the organization with
which she Is Identified as being the work OF
come here, she said. to make the people OF In
dianapolis understand The scarlet woman. not as
npbI,c nIaeesS but as she reaiIy is She spoke
touchingly and pityingly OF the girls and women
voice sounded almost harsh in its denunciation OF
the unfeeiing way in which these sinful women
are treated by society. A man. no matter how
deeply stepped in sin. she said. may be cleansed
in public opinion and given an opportunity 10
lead 4 useful life. but the erring woman Is made
to feel that there - no hope for her. Even
Christian women.r she said, sweep aside their
skirts from the touch OF their fallen sisters
Mr.. Morton said a few words about the object
and work of the rescue mission IN general. and
urged upon his hearers that they rally 20 the
support OF the local mission which has been con-
Quoted FOR some years by W. V. Wheeler on
South street. and which has Just been made
the forty-hrst circle OF tie national organiza-
ton known as the Florence CrittendeR Rescue
Mission.
Another meeting will be held tonight at
Roberts Park Church. AT which Mrs. Barrett and
MIR. Morton viii s.cak again. They have been
making extensive tours cf the country, and their
object in coming here IS 20 interest the people OF
indianapolis in the new mission.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-28

IL the Popocrats constituted a majority of
the present Legislature they would not sup
port the bill forbidding contracts TO be
made payable in gold. A few of the Pop
ulists would have supported it. but the
bulk OF the Democrats would not. This re-
mark is made because the same kind of bill
has been voted down by the Democrats in
Georgia and will not be considered in any
State which has a Democratic or silver ma
1ority. Where the scheme has been tried.
as II was in South Dakota, the next Legis-
lature has made haste TO repeal the law.
IL is. therefore. a cheap bit of demagogy
In which the minority in the Indiana Leg
islature can indulge with impunity, because
IT EAR 20 no harm. Besides, it is very doubt
full IL a legislative body has the right TO
forbid men making contracts to pay obliga-
lions in gold any more than to pay them in
wheat.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-28

The Missouri Legislature is considering
a proposition to abolish the state normal
schools. These Institutions are an out
growth of the modern tendency to create
new departments Gnd discover new func-
tons for government, and they contribute
their share towards the increase of ex-
penses and taxation. With a state univer-
sity and several well-supported denomina-
tional colleges Indiana could be well sup
piled with teachers without a normal
school. Many college graduates are as well
qualified to teach as any graduate of a
normal school, and should stand on equal
terms as applicants for license. The prop
osition OF the pending educational bill to
give normal graduates the preference in the
matter Of life licenses without reference
to individual merit or qualifications illus
trates the tendency Of state institutions to
create monopolies in their own interests.
An educational ring is as odious as any
other kind, and should not be tolerated.
In these days of numerous universities 1t
is doubtful if a state normal school is
worth what it costs or is a necessity in any
State.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-28
THE USUAL LEGISLATIVE COMPLAINT

about this time look for rain or snow"
is the standing weather prediction of an
old almanac. Every other year, when the
Legislature is in session. the newspaper
reader can look with certainty. about this
time, for complaints that the Legislature
is doing little work. "The Senate adjourned
after a short session. or 1.-THE House de-
voted the afternoon session to a number
of inconsequential matters" is the report.
The trouble is that both branches spend
too much time in sessions this period of
the session. TIL great work of legisla-
lures, when good work is done, is in the
careful consideration of measures in COM
mittee rooms. If the days are consumed by
two open sessions each day there is little
time for committee work. 1t would be bet
ter If the forenoons were devoted to COM
mittee work SO that the conclusions of the
committee rooms could be presented to the
sessions in the afternoon. With open ses-
sions thus early in the legislative period,
committees must work evenings. Indeed,
most of them must hold evening sessions
at the best. Already many of the commit
tees AVE been holding evening sessions,
end often the work has been carried late
into the night.
The reason that less important matters
take the time of the regular sessions dur
ing the first weeks of the sitting is that
committees have not time to consider the
more important. If there were one session
a day and four hours of work
in the place of the other session. the more
important bills could be reported earlier.
This may seem strange to many critics. but
those who have had much experience about
legislative bodies know that the full ses-
sion is no place to perfect measures un-
less it is done in committee of the whole.
Bills must be reported from committees.
members of which can explain their pro-
visions. Upon such explanations the Sem
ate or House can act far more intelligent
ly than If no member but the one who pre-
sents a measure should explain it. Fortu-
nately, the large majority Of the bills pre-
scented come to their deserved death in the
committee rooms if the committees nave
time in which to consider them. "A good
workman is known by the chips he makes
is an adage which applies to legislation, as
the chips represent the useless part of the
material that is cut away and cast out.
Usually the more chips made In the COM
mittee rooms the better the legislation.
Let it not be assumed because the halls
of the two houses do not resound with the
eloquence of members, the sonorous voice
Of the reading clerk and the monotonous
roll call twelve hours a day that the Leg
islature is wasting its time. If the COM
mittee rooms are vacant and their files are
filled with bills which they have had no
time to consider and report, or, what is
worse, no disposition to clear their dockets.
then all of us have good cause to COM
plain.