davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15
VALUE OF STREET-RAILWA
FRANCHISES.

1t is said that no city in the country has
a better street-railway system than Balti-
more The city has about three times as
many inhabitants as has Indianapolis, and
three corporations hold franchises and run
lines. Two of these lines have about the
same number of miles that the Citizens
Company reported in 1894. The gross earn
ings of one of these roads in 1894 were
about fifth more than the Citizens, and
those of the others more than one-fourth
less. No comparison can be made with the
earnings for 1895 and 1896, because the fig
ures of the Citizens for those years are
not in the railway and other statistical
manuals One of the Baltimore railways,
however shows a gain of % per cent dur
ing the year 1895. The Citizens Company
cannot have failed to make some gain dur
ing those years when other companies made
so large increases.
The street railways in Baltimore pay
something for their franchises. They pay
into the park fund 9 per cent. per annum
of their gross earnings, which amounted, in
1896, to S24S 206; $6S. 459 for city taxes, and
a license tax on cars of $1,000 total of
S311 Col. In addition to this taxation. the
companies are required to keep the streets
occupied by them in good order between the
tracks and paved two feet on either side,
which, it is stated in the report on the sub
ject, effects a great saving to the city
financially" The Maryland statistical re-
port, from which the foregoing statements
and figures are taken, says that in view of
the recent spirited rivalry for franchises for
new roads in Baltimore, it would be well
to sell them to the highest bidder.
From the foregoing it appears that in all
cities street-railway franchises not only
have value, but, as indicated by the gross
earnings, such privileges are rapidly in
creasing in value since the application of
electricity. Cities are coming to realize this
fact, so that hereafter the right to use
the streets of a city for street railways will
come to be one of the considerable sources
of revenue unless the payment is made di-
rect to the people in reduced fares. In view
of what is paid in Baltimore the contract
which the City Company has with Indian
apolis appears to have been one under
which street-railway systems might be
profitably operated.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15
THE NATIONAL FLAG.
First One Made by Mrs. Betsy Ross
from u Drawing by Washington.
Iohnson, in Chicago CHRONICLE

.. y. Johnson IN chicago chronicle.
Flag day. which is now so universally
celebrated revives the memory of the first
floating OF the stars and stripes, when our
forefathers We're. lighting tor that indie
their blood, we so much enjoy. 1t is con-
ceded that General Washington suggested
our flag At sulgrave, a town near the
city of Northampton, England, there are
found the ruins of the once manor house
of the Washington family, occupied lately
by Lawrence Washington an opulent mer-
chant, and once mayor of the city of
Northampton On one of the spandrils of
the main arch are seen the Washington
coat of arms and also on their tombS in
the parish church, described as Argent
two bars, and in chief three mullets gules.
north, yet remains the house occupied by
later generations of the Washington lam
lily and in the parish church are again
found brasess bearing their names and
coats of arms. There worshiped the ances-
tors of Colonel John Washington, who,
after having been implicated in the civil
of the historian of Little Brington, The
went across the Atlantic bearing a name
which his great-grandSOn should raise to
the loftiest height of earthly glory, and a
coat OF arms which, transferred into the
flag of a mighty nation, should float over
every sea as far and as proudly as the
blended crosses of st. Andrew and st.
George"
In the year IT'S BENJAMIN Franklin was
one of the committee chosen by Congress
to create a national flag. They adopted the
Kings colors as a union, with the British
stripes, red ard white, to show that the
colonies united for defense against Eng
lands tyranny, and yet acknowledged her
as the head This federal flag was first
hoisted by General Washington Jan. 2, 1776,
at Cambridge, Mass. 1t was received with
salute of thirteen guns and thirteen
cheers ii was known as the flag of the
Union; it was made Of the colors red, white
and blue. The first time it was used in
battle was when General Washington
hoisted it on Dorchester Heights and
opened fire. on the British fleet then in
Boston harbor.
Jan. 4, 1777, Congress appointed COM
mittee to design a suitable flag for khe
Nation. The act is as follows:
Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen
United States be thirteen stripes. alternate
red and white; that the Union be thirteen
stars, white in blue field"
This committee called on Mrs. Betty
Ross of Philadelphia, and engaged her to
make flag from the pencil drawing made
by General Washington in her back par
lor. The flag was made and presented to
Congress for. approval June IA, 1777, and
adopted officially. Not long since there
was found in the garnet of this house
similar flag, perhaps cast aside for some
imperfection not known OF at the present
day.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

tenn is sure to be built, because, having
gone as far as the city authorities have in
the matter. REIMBURSEMENT of the plan is
out of the question. No part of the city
needs sewerage more than the locality of
Bell street. Those who have purchased and
improved the property did so with the un-
derstanding that the city would provide the
sewers which it required to be really fit for
residence. This being the case, the drain
age must be turned in another direction.
This may cost something more, but there
is no question it can be done. Because the
drainage must be carried out of its short
est course to an outlet, for the sake of the
park system, the city should see to it that
the residents of Bell street and vicinity are
not put to greater expense than they would
have been by carrying out the original
nlan
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

Now that the weather is warm, people
who take vacations will begin to plan for
their trips. While they are arranging their
itinerary it is we'll to remember that it is
not necessary to take long, expensive and
wearisome railway journeys to find pleas
ant places for rest and recreation. Indiana
has numerous resorts where both Of these
may be found. 1t has lakes and rivers
and mineral springs, picturesque hills and
level prairies and all the out-of- door at
fractions, save the salt sea and the high
mountains, that pleasure hunters go forth
to seek. Quiet retreats and centers of
gayety are equally accessible, and all tastes
except those that are suited only with
what is afar off because it is afar, may be
easily gratifed 1t is at least worth while
to make a study of Indiana's resources in
this line before travelling long distances to
find what is no better, or deciding upon
no vacation because of the journey in
YolVed.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15
ABOUT PEOPLE AND THINGS.

The late Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe
- ol1yaS,e y,ritter ~ No.. ~, 1o,iJaS. ,
form-that is, as Il
President Faure is said to be the greatest
dandy in France. He is anxious to instl-
tute a special presidential costume, but his
colleagues do not look on the scheme with
favor
President McKinley's mail averages from
1000 to 1900 letters day. besides several
large sacks of newspapers This is the
largest mail in the history of the presi-
Dental mansion.
while Colonel Hays family came from
Scotland six generations ago." says the
London News his Excelency, with that
touch of scorn for pedigree which the
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15
MOTOR CARS FOR PARIS.
French Cabbies Fear that the New
Carriages VIII Starve Them.
New York Commercial Advertiser


In view of the rapid encroachment of the
horseless carriage on the traffic of upper
New York there is particular interest in
the declaration Of the Paris correspondent
of the London Telegraph that something
like a revolution in street traffic is immi-
nent in the French capital. One OF the
large cab companies has decided on start
ing 500 motor cars on July l. and this is
to be but a prelude to other changes in the
same direction. Naturally its managers
take a roseate view Of the prospect, argu-
ing that they are simply acting on the prin-
ciple which substituted the railway for the
mail coach, and that as for the Jehu three
or four lessons will suffice to render them
adopts in the art of steering an automobile
so that they will not be thrown, figuratiVe-
ly speaking, of course, on the pavement. 1t
cannot, however. be said that the average
caoby is disposed to indorse this optimistic
opinion. He considers that If the expert
ment is developed his occupation will be
practically gone Nor, indeed, is the gen.
eral public inclined to be much more san
guine than he. On the contrary, past per-
formances of motor cars have not had the
effect of impressing people very favorably
The rate at which these vehicles are al
lowed to travel is a chronic danger not
only to their neighbors of the road but also
TO pedestrians when attempting TO nego-
tate 4 difficult crossing. Time after time
the authorities have been eXhorted to in
terfere for the purpose of controlling the
speed at which vehicles are driven but. al
though each day brings with X a plentiful
crop of accidents, nothing is done. Under
these circumstances our worthy Parisians
are looking forward with a feeling akin to
dismay 10 the time when host of motor
cars will be dashng about In wild con-
fusion. cutting corners, frightening horses
and general careering with faint regard
for the rule of the road Altogether the
outlook is by no means relished, but as
innovations and transformations often
meet with a chilly reception, though des-
tined as the years roll on 10 be supported
with enthusiasm the enterprising cab com
pany which is playing the ungrateful part
of pioneer may triumph in the long run.
'.Such is life" exclaimed an ancient coach
man when he heard of the new departure,
and his is. after all, the true philosophy.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

falling TO keep his word he was hanged
draped in gold leaf. A Saxon lieutenant
named Paykull was taken prisoner by
Charles XII at Warsaw and condemned 70
death. He promised to make $1,OO0,0OO worth
of gold annually If his life was spared.
In the presence of witnesses he transformed
six ounces of lead into gold by means of a
mixture which contained anthony, sulphur
and saltpeter. Out of this gold medals were
stamped, but Paykull must have failed in
subsequent attempts, because ne was after
ward executed. In 1871 man named
Krohnemann entered the service of Che
Marquis of Rrandenburg. He soon won rep
utation a gold maker and was placed in
charge of the mint and mines. But finally
he was suspected of fraud, and on his trial
il was proved that he had stolen gold from
the treasury of the Margrave for use in the
deception. He was sentenced TO be hanged.
All the alchCmists are not dead yet. and one
may buy to-day from clairvoyants and other
fakirs receipts for making gold at prices
astonishingly low. 1t will always be so, Tor,
though knowledge grows. human credulity
and avarice do not diminish from age to
age. Populus vult decipi, as Mr. Barnum
used to remark
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15
The baptist Debt Fund.

NTnlldueIpHId 1923.
The Baptist missionary societies, home
and foreign, have practically succeeded in
raising the 1886, 900 necessary to secure the
gift of $3.50 600 from Mr.. John d: Rockefeller;
The whole sum is to be used in paying or
the debts of the societies, which aggregated
$4S6 600 This will enable these organizations
to wipe out their debts and begin the year
with clean states. OF course it is better for
every one, and especially church societies,
to keep out of debt but it must be relneln-
bered that the depressed condition of bust
ness in this country for four years past has
largely decreased contributions to all mis-
sionary and charitable enterprises and that
in many cases great curtailment of work
was necessary or a debt had to be incurred
instead and the future trusted to wipe 1t
out The Baptists We're not alone in nav
ing to confront such situation But they
are as fortunate In having liberal contrib
utors to help them out of their em6arTas-
ments as they are unfortunate in having
missionaries with cOnSCiences so superSenSi-
tive as to object to the sources from which
they get the money TO pay their debt 1t
is probable, however, that Mr.. Rockefeller s
Hberalfty will have more commentator
than the criticism of the returned mission
ary who tried to make trouble at Pitts
burg as to the honesty of Mr.. Rockefeller S
money.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

Unless President Gompers is intent on
presenting an array of opinion which will
accelerate the passage of a far more restric-
tive immigration law than that now in force
it was not necessary for him to call unon
organized labor for it's judgment regarding
the Importation of hundreds Of thousands
of laborers to compete with them. Thou
sands of them may not yet see that free
and unlimited coinage of silver will not
purchase power than have those which
constitute the standard of the commercial
world, but workingmen, organized or 9TH
erwise, know beyond doubt that the i'm
porting of several hundred thousand
laborers, even if fitted only for rough en-
ployment, increases the hands to perform
labor without adding a days employment
to the work TO be done. In 1892 a large
part of the labor of the country was in
different to the merits of protection, and
gave enough of their votes to defeat it.
The larger part of them have learned that,
as an evil, the importing of merchandise
from abroad which could be made at home
is next to that of bringing the men here
to perform the labor. In 1892 Mr.. Gompers
did not realize the force of a protective
tariff, and he may not now. Last year he
was privately of opinion that dollars worth
but so cents were just as good as those
worth dollar, but he will come into the
light in time. Meantime he is in earnest
to check the evil which he recognizes that
unrestricted immigration of labor is to a
country which has no more employment
than the people already in the country
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

Washington POST.

NdSIlHSNOi 1OSls
Those maps" said Representative Over
street of Indiana. yesterday, pointing to
one of the new ones issued this year by the
Interior, Department, have given me more
trouble than any other one thing in all my
congressional career. Each member is given
twenty-five of those maps to distribute. 1t
doesn't make any difference whether you
send them sparingly and send out only one
a fortnight until they are all gone. The eff
feet is the same. Every map that goes out
bears a government advertisement upon its
face that it is free. 1t tells every one that
it didn't cost Il cent to get or TO have II
wrapped nor "a cent to carry II through
the mails. Every man that gets one tells
all his neighbors and the railway mail
clerks, the postmasters and the letter car
riers tell all their friends that Mr.. Over
street has maps to give away. Thus never
send out a map but / get from thirty-hVe
to fifty letters from other people who have
seen it or heard of it and want one too.
If they don't get one they will be mad
and vote for the other fellow next time.
The only consolation is that if the other
fellow gets elected he will quickly be intro
duced to the map problem.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

gentlemen formed in Chicago last week
tine Towne party" The Journal must take
exception. Indiana was represented by a
person who appears regularly in every
Democratic convention to make a silver
speech. The Journal would not be so rash
as to intimate that the Popocratic annex
should be called by his name, since a half
dozen men who were once Republican
place-seekers but are now devoting DAYS
and nights for which they have no other
occupation to IS for l rant, would rise and
protest that the annex should bear their
names The Journal would waive the
claims of the disgrunted in Indiana for
those of men of wider reputation For in
stance Ex-Governor John p. Altgeld par
ticipated in this silver Republican confer
publican, but he has nevertheless every
qualification to claim the honor of having
the silver Republican convention named for
him. He represents in his administration
as Governor all the aspirations of the dis
tinguished persons who made up the recent
silver assembly in Chicago. About every
person who was drawn into his administra-
ton has come out with scars, and many
have been hopelessly maimed-all tnan-
cialy. In view of this fact, it is the very
tent and defeat which organized itself in
Chicago last week should call itself the
John p. Altgeld Party Qmited).
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15
A Failing of the Profession.

The cat walked through the room with
that "please-admire-m sir peculiar to
cats.
What vain thing that cat u.s." said
Mrs. Wickwire.
Professional singers usually are" said
Mr.. Wickwire.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

The growth of the produce commission
business outlined in the Journals Industrial
notes of yesterday is undoubtedly due to
the fact that whether times are good or
bad people will eat what they can find in
market. The business man who deals in
what the public has come to regard as the
necessities of life, or who can make the
public believe that his wares are necessary
to their comfort, is one of the wise ones of
earth and sure OF competence.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

1t is interesting to know that the death
of Mr.. Harry Whallen, otherwise known as
the human ostrich" was not caused by
the pocket knives, nails, screws, glass and
other hardware staples found in his
stomach, but by the surgical operation of
cutting the stomach open. 1t was regarded
by the surgeons as a highly successful
operation. however.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

The portraits of President Faure which
appear lin the pictorial press along with the
account of his attempted assassination
show unmistakable evidence of having
been taken by artists on the spot; his hair
stands end with fright. Great is the
pictorial press
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

Tom Watson. who insisted that he was
a vice presidential candidate, to Mr.. Bry-
ans disgust, now declares that he proposes
to eliminate from the Populst party three
B's-Bryan, Butler and Bargain Bargain
has been a great. factor in Populism.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

Democratic papers would not dare to in
STAT upon the existence of hard times as
tiny are doing lately if they did not know
tlNt the times are improving beyond any
power of theirs to check. 1t is their cue
now to belittle the growth of business
confidence under Republican administra-
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

In New York Mr.. Rryan fell into the
hands of some Tammany leaders, and went
to dine with Tom L. Johnson. but commit
tees from two labor organizations could not
persuade him to speak to them. He de-
clned to talk free silver in connection with
the local campaign
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

The New York Central Park commits
sioners give as a reason for not accepting
George Gray Barnard's colossal figure of
the god Pan that there is not room for it
in the park. Pan was the god of shepherds
Perhaps what the commissioners really
think is that the place for him is down
town where the lambs are sheared.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

The Michigan Populists have declared
that they will have no more to do with
fusion. Last fall they were beaten by $4,000
by fusion, and last spring by 10000. Here
after they will keep clear of all deals and
stand by their own principles.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15
An EyanlDIe.

Whats kleptomania, daddy?" asked
little RaStus.
'Kleptomania, the old man explained
by Illustration, lis a disease dat might
make niger steal punkins Wen dey was
q watermelon patch in de same lot"
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15
Badly svyindled.

IN have the law on Jobbins if there is
any way to do So" said the senior partner
What has Jobbins done?" asked the
placid janitor.
The Internal scoundrel has mixed so
much sand with that last lot of clay that
we can't make mustard of it at ALL"
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

1t is a question how long Spain can ask
the United States to keep war ships watch
ing the escape Of flibusters. international
comfy would require it for a season, but
not for an indefinite period, as is now the
Y4rospan+
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

Not Weary's Fault.

The Judge-Didnt L tell you the last
time that you were here that l wanted to
see your face in this court no more?
Weary Watkins-You did, yeronner, and
that is exactly wot L tole the cop.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

One hundred and twenty years ago yester-
day, June IA, the Continental Congress
adopted the flag of the United States. 1t
did not have as many stars then as it now
has, but the stripes were the same.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

The attempt of the personal organ of Mr.
Bryan to brand the Southern Democrats
who voted for protection as carpet-baggers
was piece of stupidity. But organ and
man are alike
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

Unless there shall be some decided i'm
Aprovement the reports from this country
and Europe do not indicate larger wheat
crop than that of 1886.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

When General Weyler recently gave or
ders that could only result in an increase
of yellow fever among the insurgents he
forgot that he was unleashing tiger that
could not so easily be chained. Yellow
fever and typhus are diseases that are not
restrained by a trocha, and the Spanish
troops are beginning to suffer with the rest.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

A preacher has been telling the people of
Chicago that better men will make better
times, and that is what that city needs.
There is something in what the preacher
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

A boom in French yellow" literature,
otherwise known as masterpieces, may be
looked for now that the social purity peo-
pie in Paris have undertaken to suppress
it's sale.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

Persons sending the Journal through the mails
IN the United States should put on ar eight-page
paper a ONE-CENT postage stamp; on twelve
or sixteen-page paper TWO-CENT postage
stamp. Foreign postage is usually double these
rates.
All communications intended for publication in
this paper mast in order to receive attention, be
accompanied by the and address of the
writer. If il is desired that rejected manuscripts
be returned postage must in all cases be inclosed
for that purpose
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15

With a modified army of four hundred
thousand men the unspeakable Turk seems
to have the jaunty air of a person who
is looking after trouble