davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1897-12-22
Tho Fire Districts.

To THE EDITOR OF THE sUs-Sir: The writer of the
article headed 1.-THE Fire Districts" in THE Sun Of
Dec go. by combining his investigations the stata-
tics of fires and loss within certain sections the
city. shown the map accom- panying the depart
ment report for 1895. and by ignoring the divisions
Of the uniformed force made mix which needs sep
araton and correction The city is divid into four
to n battalion districts, each under CHI of Bat
TALON. who is subordinate to the Deputy Chief of
Department, the whole force being under the COM
mand OF the Chief OF Department. Prior to the
month OF November the city divided at Twenty
third street into two ctions each under the charge
OF Deputy Chief. In that month the Board OF Fro
Commissioners increased the number OF Deputy
Chiefs to three, which necessitated re-divsion of
the city into three districts, that each Deputy
Chief should be responsible for the work Of the force
at fires within the section to which he was assigned
This done to increase the efficiency Of the forco
and will without doubt have that effect.
With this explanation you will that the IRE dis
trcts have not been decreased in number and the
changes AFFECT only Manhattan Island and that por
tion of the city north and OF the Harlem River
other sections of the Greater New York not
considered. JOHN r. SHIELDS. Assistant Secretary.
NEW YORK, Dec. 81.
The sun., 1897-12-22

Kansas needs to be repressed. Its genius
for success 10 getting monotonous. Col ToLER
Of Wichita, who bought tho mighty PAGER
John R Gentry. says that "Kaneas prairie
grass gives better lung power to o racehorse
than the grass of any State In the Union" He
has "turned out thlrty.three horses In Kansas
with records less than 2:30. three Of which
were wonders." Col. ToLER puffs the Kentucky
blue grass away. and will have nothing but
Kansas prairie grass a. the meat of speed. L.
Kansas going to give up raising cranks with
better lung power than those Of any other State
and devote part Of her energies and prairie
grass to raising record.parersf
The sun., 1897-12-22
Ireland and England.

Mr.. JOHN DILLoN's recent denunciation
of the old alliance between the Liberal
party and the Irish members, and the al
most Simultaneous elimination Of the ques-
tion of home rule from the Liberal platform,
are without Importance save as incidents
giving q formal ratification and an his
torical date to an act of separation which, as
announced In THE SUN at the time, really
took place more than year ago.
The close Of this chapter in the his
tory of the Liberal party Of Great Brit
ain is base almost beyond conception.
No other Judgment can possibly be rem
dered at the tribunal of impartial his
tory. But Mr.. GLADSTONE will not be
included in that condemnation. He was
unquestionably sincere when he made
the concession Of justice to Ireland the lead
ing principle Of his administration, but his
splendid powers were waning when he un.
dertook the settlement of that tremendous
problem OF the centuries and the opposi.
tion In his own ranks finally nullifed his
efforts. This fact, we believe, will be made
clear when all the light that Is to be OBJ
tained on the different phases of the strug
gle shall be given to the world. But, at all
oNehtSs Ono BredO meeu Oh praise ID uue CC
the venerable Liberal chieftain, namely
that the condition of Ireland Is now, be-
cause of his efforts I'm her behalf, ma
terially better than it was when he es
poused her cause. He did not do all thai
he intended to do. but he did all that he
could do; and the first of living Englishmer
was probably the best friend among Eng
lisnmsn that Ireland ever had.
At the present time the two English par
ties seem to be congratulaJing themselves
that the Irish question, as they had to con
front it half a dozen years ago, is settled
permanently. But it is more than proba
BILE that they will have an unpleasant awak
ening from this short slumber of securit,
before the summer of the new year is at al
end. The centennial of a most memorabl
anniversary in Irish history is alread
throwing a very large shadow over tina
country. and the preparations for 1t EN-
The sun., 1897-12-22

Governor BOB TAYLOR of Tennessee has
exploded howery bombs at pretty much every.
body and everything; scattered scarlet and
purple speech all over the country. A "Knox-
vile citizen" plucks a few posies for Bob:
"He s the star in Tennessre's Ornament to which
the unfortunates look for light when clouds deep
est and blackest-and they find their hope still shining
He Is the fountain spring from which flow tho rivers
OF mirth. whose ramihcations reach every hamlet
and every mansion. making merry the hearts
OF all who drink therefrom. From his tongue
come forth words that silver and that arc
golden. The gems which he soatters broadcast from
his heart will st adorn the throats OF Tennessess
fairest women after the fountain spring hath csased
10 now. and the friendiess shall have searched vain
for the star that shineth no longer BENEATH the
elouds."
BOB is not only eloauept himself. but the
cause of the eloquence that Ia In other men.
The sun., 1897-12-22
The Federal Army ana the Pension
Army.

Speaking of the increase Of 64,O 900 in the
pension list during the past year, our
esteemed contemporary, the Brooklyn
Eagle, recently remarked:
"Nearly twice a. many persons are on the pension
lists were the rolls Of the Union Army
at one timei The war ended thirty.two years ago!'
The pension list is large enough, but the
Eagles statement is not quite accurate.
At the present time there are more than
976,000 persons drawing pensions on &C.
count of all the wars in which this country
has been engaged.
The final report of the Provost Marshal
General gave the number of men In service,
in all the armies of the Union, at certain
The sun., 1897-12-22
Burnah's New Civilization.

EFom Ne NoTth Chtnn Herald.
While King TheebAw 10 amusing himself by throw.
ing pebbles into the the west coast Of India
young English oflcers drink whiskey and soda and
play cards in his throne room. at Mandaay. which
has been converted into club. No Burmese soldiers
with heavy ords stagger about the
There is q regiment or two of Tommes. with nothing
for them to do but mako love to the Burmese girls
and die OF dysentery and fever. There arc few
hundred Princesses about Mandaay, to whom the
Indian Government in unbounded generosity for
having taken their country. give each 10 shilings
week. Even In Burmah It 10 hard to keep up quasi.
royal state on s shilngs q week. the iadies who
Of enterprsing mind. turn. aristocrats now
do. to business One Princess nned the other day
for keeping gambling hell.
The sun., 1897-12-22

The Hon. JOHN w. LEEpY, Governor Of
Kansas. has constructive genius. he is always
building something; one day Populst platform,
the next plan for an interstate railroad from
the northern boundary Of Kansas to Galveston.
His newest and noblest work 10 q proposition for
an irrigation canal from Montana to tho Red
River In Texas, TO be fed at need from the Mis-.
sissippi and the Missouri. 1t would be beautiful
long canal. and the Governor estimates that It
would cost only $685. 000. 900, or say $500. .oOo.-
900. leap year included. He is ready to build IL
himself as soon as the money 10 raised; and
raising money. on the Populist plan, in not much
harder than whistling.
The sun., 1897-12-22
How Big Ought the Bond to Bea

It has finally dawned upon the minds of
the Rapid Transit Commissioners that they
must obey the law, and exact from the con-
tractors for the construction and operation
of their proposed railroad bond not only
to secure the construction of the road, but
also the payment to the city of the rental
for it during term of not less than thirty.
five nor more than fifty years. They are
now engaged in devising arguments to
satisfy the Supreme Court that this bond
ought not to be for as much as $15 ,000. 900,
and talk of one for $5, 100000.
The road will certainly cost 1876, 900, 900
and may cost $5O,OOO,OOO. The interest
ON the bonds will not be at less rate than
s per cent. per annum and may be 319 per
cent, and they must run at least thirty
five years, and may have to run fifty.
Taking the lower rate of interest and the
shorter term of years, and adding the per
cent. per annum for the sinking fund re-
quired by the Rapid Transit act, make the
amount which the contractors are to pay
100000 year, or $40 900, 900 in all.
Taking the higher rate of interest and
the longer term, the contractors will agree
to pay $2,25O,OOO year or total of
$112,5OO,OOO.
Unless, therefore, the road earns, when it
Is completed and put in operation, more than
Ats operating expenses the city risks the
loss of $49,OOO,OOO and may have to risk
$112.500,0OO.
OF course, it will be said that the road is
sure to earn atleast 81 400, 900 ayear, over
and above operating expenses, and will
probably earn So, ,25O, 900 year. If that is
q sure thing the contractors can afford tc
give bond guaranteeing it; If it is not
sure the city ought to have bond suf
fcient to cover its total possible loss.
How big should the bond be to secure the
payment of rental which must amount tt
$49,O0O,O00 and may amount to $112,
b0O,OO0R Surely, $15 900, 900 is too little
rather than too much, and the Suprem,
Court ought to insist upon the stipulation
1t proposes to require for that amount.
The sun., 1897-12-22

Our nelghbor, the New Fork Times, pub
lishes conspicuously an article from tho SpectG-
tor, weekly newspaper OF London, assailing
New York in the usual English fashion as the
Gehenna." That tho Times should 20 to Lon.
don paper for the stun. when so much Of the
same sort is always obtainable close at hand
from the columns Of tho Epenino Pof, is some
what curious. more especially as that New York
paper 10 the original source from which the
other obtains its dofamatory accusations, and
practically the Spectators article is plagarized
from the Epenin0 Post
The sun., 1897-12-22
Discrimination in Fish.

To THE EDITOR OF THK suN--Sir: Is there any good
reason. why O farmer, residing the margin OF
ChautauQua Lake. should have any greater privileges
than farmer who happens to be resident upon the
banks Of Seneca Lake, any Of the other inland
waters Of this statep This Is tho problem which tho
Chautauqua Fish and Game Association proposes to
present to tho Legislature at its next session.
Chapter 7o5 Of the Laws OF 1897 provides that
muscallonge, one of the most valuable OF the game
fishes Of this State may be taken with spears from
ChautauQua Lake during the nrst twenty days OF
February thus giving to those who happen to reside
in the neghborhood OF this lake privileges which
denied to citizens Of other locality in the state.
Chautauqua Lake Is the location OF the State hatch
for the propagation of muscallonge It is the only
lake in the State in which these tsh sufficiently
hardy and numerous to afford the spawn necessary
to make the hatchery successful and conservative
an authority on fishing as the Hon. Porter Sheldon
says there is doubt that II this law remains in
force there will be 5000 men upon the ice. armed
with spears on the 1st day OF February, and that
they will literally take tons of these fish, including
the best producers of spawn. in the twenty days.
This special statute was enacted last winter at the
instance OF Leander Nixon who able to convince
the State Fish Commission that II better
this law, in spite of It's wellknown opposition to spe
cial legislation and of the ohautauqua Fsh and
Game Association, backed by 5000 signatures OF tho
people OF Chautauqua county having millions of dol
lars of Investment around this lake. demanding its
repeal insisting that greater privileges shall be
extended to those who live upon this lake than are
granted to people in the State generally. In other
words they opposed to the wanton destruction Of
the muscallonge OF Chauauqua Lake the behest Of
few professional fishermen, and thev believe that
1t is matter in which the people OF the whole State
have a common interest.
law that is good enough for the State; law that
has for Its object the OF the game fshes
is good enough for the farmers and professional sh-
ermen OF the town of Ellery and they believe thas
sportsmen in all parts of New York should be inter.
esrd in the repeal of this special law. and they AJAX.
through THE SUM- the opportunity TO present this case
to the equality loving people of the State.
JAMESTOWN, N. Y. Dec. 21. BEN 8. DEAn.
The sun., 1897-12-22
England wake. Up to wilhelm der Groa...


The German naval programme, II II ia ever carried
out. will have effects which worth the serious
consideration of Englishmen. 1t will do something
else besides making OF Germany a naval power Of the
very first rank. The ships will be built In Ger
man shipyards by German mechanics; and the result
will be to give great impetus to that German ship
building industry which is growing steadily and
rather faster than suits own builders the
Clyde and the Tyne hampered as they are by high
wages and obstructive unions. And tho ships made
in Germany not all cheap and nasty 1t Is stated
that the new North German Lloyd liner the Kaiser
Wilhelm der Crosse. averaged speed OF 22 35 knots
per hour during her recent homeward run. This 10
well ahead ofthe best performance OF the Lucania,
which so far has held the Atlantic record. From
which It would seem that the Germans have nothing
to learn from us In the building the working oe
fast steamers of the largest size.
The sun., 1897-12-22

The last figure, just passing the round
million, represents the total enrolled mill
tary force at the roundup after the surren-
der of LEE. 1t will be observed that the
grdBtest number actually present and
under arms during the war was little
less than 100000, in 1868.
The pension list now exceeds that num-
Der by 1000, but it is yet short of the
million mark. and it is by no means accu-
rate to say, as the Eagle does, that "nearly
twice as many persons are on the pension
lists now as were ever ON the rolls of the
Union Army at one time"
The sun., 1897-12-22

1t is reported that the principals of the
public schools in Horseheads have determined
that whenever corporal punishment is to be in
fiicted In those schools 1t shall be inflicted by
means of a rubber tube The precIBe merits of
the rubber tube az q rod cannot be known until
after series of experiments. The voice of
the Households pupils has not been heard
In regard to the subject. Did it ever occur to
the Households principals that. II they want to
use form Of corporal punishment the light
ness or severity Of which they can graduate ac-
The sun., 1897-12-22
Tho Facts About HIiso Chou.

~-0~N
Within tho Council Chamber.
Enthroned In all his pride,
In his ever-cringing Ministers
Great william could connds.
"My lords." quoth he. when out last night
A rhyming to the moon.
Tho stars and all the nebulA,
Which We shall gobble soon,
The air was chill and bitter,
From my English crown OF gold
had lost my patent ear laps.
And caught oussed cold.
NY lord oh. Foreign MiniStsri
Ifain would nnd relief,
Do you know OF any nAtionettss.
On whom to play the thlef2''
Then spake tho trembling Ministsr
"May It please your Majestee.
There's tenth.rate oolored Presidents
Across your own deep sea-"
The Emperor Smote his breast divinsl
"Tis well." he made replyI
"What else have you upon tho lisS
To please my wondrous eyer"
"we're all run out" the Chancellor said.
"n your Matesty'd suggest
II you but pross the button. Bire.
Then We will do the rost"
"what, Ausgespielt2 BlitEl Not an isiei -
The royal anger 'rose-
am name spot; but INST OF all.
Just lot me blow my nose"
Then William sneeEed. oh. how he SnssLsd.
And the Ministers SneeEed. tool
And that's the way poor China lost
Kiao Chou ! Kiao Chou Keohooi
The sun., 1897-12-22

Struggling merit should not be allowed
to struggle without receiving one kind word.
The recent efforts Of the managers Of the
weather In these parts to change the bill every
day have been creditable to their versatility.
One may have objected to some of the perform.
ances. but nobody has had any reason to com.
plain of lack Of variety. Let us pay duo homage
IN tale
The sun., 1897-12-22

From the Sc. Paul Republican.
The Popuist party has confessed Its inability ever
to accomplish anything without outside assistance,
and its members pausng at the roads Of
three separate and distinct future polces They arc
required to decide without delay whether they win
start all over again by organizing brand new party.
whether they Will meekly submit to absorption by
the Democrats or whether they will return to their
FIRST love OF Republicansm Inasmuch as they seem
TO be about equally divided on the question there u
no longer much doubt concerning the future of non
ulism. As the boy said about the apple CORE TheFs
hant goin' to be any" future.
The sun., 1897-12-22

The Hon. JOSIAH QUINCY must have been
reelected Mayor Of Boston on account Of tho
noble civic courage which he has displayed
since the Chicago convention by refusing to cay
whether he is silver man or gold man. Some
are for gold and some are for silver, and JOSIAH
10 for JOSH. A high political principle which
seems to pay him.
The sun., 1897-12-22

Treasury which are now being paid TO people
who arc actually deriving their incomes from
tho Government. A great many Of tho abovo-
named class havo been employed In good, re-
munerative posts in almost every department
OF the Government service since the war, and
ore wealthy now, but have not tho decency to
refuse tho paltry ss or $l2 month pension.
Purge tho rolls OF this classi G. w. FL.
BROOKLYN, Dec. 81.
The sun., 1897-12-22

The Republican party was strong last year,
mot been afraid to speak rs mind et fits National Con-
rallied TO. and defended in the open.-Nep York
Tribune
True enough; but II the st. Louis Convention
had listened to your pleadings 1t would have
invited disgraceful defeat for the Republican
party by the cowardice of evading the use of the
word "Rold."
The sun., 1897-12-22

the opinion is gaining ground among the Com.
issioners that the Rapid Transit act provides that
the bond shall apply TO the OF operation OF tho
underground road a. well as TO the period OF oon-
struotion--Re0 York Herald.
Isit, indeed If the Commissioners. when they
hrst took of1ce, had read the Rapid Transit act
as carefully as duty required. the opinion now
gaining ground among them would have been
solidly embedded in their minds.
The sun., 1897-12-22

the labor is artistic, highly skilled, and ex-
pensive, IL really Insignificant In compari.
son with the money devoted to hunting
ivory. BY far the larger part Of the ex-
pense has already been incurred when the
tusks are delivered to the manufacturers.
The sun., 1897-12-22

The last opportunity to hear DIR. Nansen leo
ture will occur tomorrow afternoon 1t Carnegie
Hall. Tho ladies and gentlemen who have arranged
for this special appearance OF Ransen have done
90 out Of public spirit, and that circumstance Is q
tribute to the interest and educational value OF the
explorers stirring narrative.
The sun., 1897-12-22

Ex-senator HENDERSON OF Missouri has writ
ten letter warning young mon not to week public
oflce.-IndianoDoHs Journal
Mr.. HENDERSON has had his offices, and 1t is
not fair for him to try to discourage the fellows
who haven't had theirs from prospecting until
they find them or are ready to give up seeking.
Give the boys o chance.
The sun., 1897-12-22

From the Rsstmfnster Revieu

TTUW Ht5TWIHbI6r ReVleW
On the eve OF Mr.. GIadstone's departure foe
France when ominous reports In circulation Al
to the state OF his health. friend asked the veteran
statesman If his continuous reading aud his literary
studies might not have had some undesirable efect
on his nerves. "My dear SIR" replied Mr. Gladstone
with an air OF seriousness. lean you imagine what
would Do the condition OF my nerves II were COM
pelled TO do nothinR2"
The sun., 1897-12-22

1t is painful to have to say that for the
moment Indiana seems to pride herself moro
upon being the parent Of the Hon. NORMAN
sELBY KID Mccoy than upon her illustrious
poets and novelists. Twenty-eight counties and
314 towns are confident that they are the only
original genuine birthplace Of this warrior.
Thus once moro do letters yield to arms.
The sun., 1897-12-22

The Hon. THOMAS RILEY of Boston means
well, but he ought not to run for Mayor again
until he gets his hair cut. No man can nourish
q weltering waste Of curls like his and have an
undivided mind to give to politics.
The sun., 1897-12-22
The I.sOO. OoO Hoo.ier Imnor,aIs


T'V'H IHe COuTIeT'JonfnnT,
And now It is Charles Dudley Warner who proposea
that we shall have literary tribunal In this countYv
similar TO the French Academy. Mr. Warner mods.
He ought to know that already have suoh an ID.
stitution' over In Indiana, and that about seven.
tenthS OF the entire population OF the state are mem
hnr ~ --N..--
The sun., 1897-12-22

1t will not escape attention that the Hon.
WILLIAM MORRIS STEWART of Nevada and the
Hon. WILLIAM VINCENT ALLEN OF Nebraska are
again beginning to take the centre of the stage.
The sun., 1897-12-22

curateiy. they should initiate the habit Of the
late AMOS BRoNsor ALooTT in one Of his
schooisl Whenever q pupil was naughty the
philosophic sohoolmaster feruled himself.
The sun., 1897-12-22
The Paradox or tho Rar.

From the Indianapolis Journal
'.Any soft drinks2"
"only hard cider"
The sun., 1897-12-22

Uovr friends pho favor tDiih manuscripts for
publication tOfsh to haze rejected articles rsfurned
fAsp must IN oil cascs send staHps for thut pposs
The sun., 1897-12-22
srs,crlp,,en sy n.sn. Po...Ps,a.

PARn-Kiosque No. lR, near Grand Hotel, and
Kiosqus No. 10, Boulevard des capucines.
The sun., 1897-12-22

subject published from time to time In your
columns were mentioned and Just tribute paid
to them.
Your stand is the right one, but it is only the
first move in great fight to relieve tho nation
OF running sore which will eventually poison
It to death.
The currency 10 all right, the taxation is all
right, the tariff and all other questions are all
right, and will regulate themselves according
to the demands of the times, but our terribly ex-
trava giant governing household is not all right,
and there is the root OF all the evil.
DO your best to remedy this by o persistent
fight against the pension swindle. and don't let
up for moment. You have the backing and
well wishes OF all good citizens. H.B.W.
NEW YORK. Dec 20.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: Well donei
Necessary and timely. Concise convincing, and
clear. FREDERIC w. PANGBoRN.
NEW YORK. Dec. 90
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sfr. I thank
you for your exposure of the pension nfamy in
this mornings Sun. Tho pension list as 1t ex-
lists Today 10 at once the disgrace and intolera.
ble burden Of our country. How members of
Congress can be found willing to vote, and
Presidents of the United States as honest men
can be found ready to sign these bills. has long
passed the comprehension Of ono who is thank
faithful enough to mako tho exposure you make
Today. AR
NEW YORK. Dec. 81.
To TEE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Si~. The en-.
tire country 10 indebted to THE Sun for it's ex-
posure OF the pension robbery. / was in the
army OF the Potomac and was discharged for
| disability. but I have never applied for pen.
sion and never expect to apply.
Keep up the good work. Don't drop 1t.
NEW YORK. Dec. 81. VETERAN.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: venture
| 10 say that all the honest people of the United
states-and there are millions of them-feel
thankful to THE SUN for It's mastery exhibit of
| the great pension frauds.
1t is light the people need. The honest press,
| the peoples frie d. is tho power house and re-
hector. Give them light and they will pay you.
| In profound gratitude, for the service.
BRooKLVN. Dec. 21. 1897. S.R.G.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: Thousands
| Of pensioners. while drawing their pensions reg
ularly are also in the public service.
1t seems to me that when a man Is holding
ofico under the municipal or county. State, or
| Federal Government his pension should be
stopped during the time that he draws his sal
| airy. He doesn't need It.
This would leave thousands Of dollars In the