davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Springfield herald., 1897-01-22
Asphalt In Mexico.

In n recent report to the state department
Vice Cdisul Bieenborg. at Matamoras, Mex.
leo says: Long before taking charge OF
this consular office. Mexican land owner
called nv attention to the resources OF his
land which he claimed to be petroleum, ana
llpon my request, he forwarded samples 70
me- | had them analyZed in the State Uni
yersity- of Texas, which pronounced them
very rich as natural mineral tar. but not
petroleum | concluded to make trip 10
the land, and last June l started with MT.
W. S. Scott. of California. to accompany me
and investigate. Our trip was very tire
some, over n hard road OF about 800 miles;
through n country very little settled. until
we reached the ranch, where we found one
of the richest asphalt fields known ana
about twenty wells. which have continuous
flow of mineral tar, MS the analysis calls "
The ground for over twenty miles square IL
covered with asphalt deposits. The nearby
oily substance flowing into them from the
surrounding mountains. making the water
unit to drink. From all indications there
must be n large deposit OF petroleum and
coal under this asphalt field I was instru-
mental In obtaining from the owners con-
cesslon for the working of these fields for
fifty years. and company Is now being or
ganized In the United States to commence
work. put machinery on the ground ana
drill for oil. Besides opening up market
In the United States for the sale Of asphalt
on large scale. the land being situated near
the coast line In the district of Sofa de In
Marina Transportation can be effected BY
water The river La Marina flows through
the land and IL nnvigable for vessels OF
thirty tons capacity"
The Springfield herald., 1897-01-22
WOLCOTT's 1 MISSION.
BUSY INTERVENING BlMErAL-
LISTS.
London Financicrs Interested-Probabli blity
of the Indian Mints Being Reopened.

Denver, Jan. 1S.-The Republican
prints Il special from New York as fol-
lows:
A cablegram from London says: SEN
ator Wolcott has not considered 1t his
mission to enlighten the minds of
newspaper reporters on the subject of
bimetallism. He has not taken the
London press into his confidence. but
has kept his own counsel and acted
with great discretion. 1t would be a
mistake to assume he has passed an
idle week, he has been studying the
ground. has made the acquaintance of
Hon. Arthur J.. Balfour and other
members of the government. and has
been brought into personal relations,
not only with the bmctallist leaders,
but also with eminent tinanciers, like
Lord Rothschild and Indian admins
traitors like Lord Lansdowne Ger
tainly he has secured access to the
best sources of information on the
monetary question. He will remain
in London for the next ten days, ana
will have the best possible opportuni-
ty for exchanging views with academ-
ic bimetallists and practical imam
ciers.
While the press has had nothing TO
say about his self-imposed mission De-
yond recording the lists of guests at
private dinners given for nm, me
financiers in the city are interested in
his visit and are talking freely about
1t. They would not do this If the
finances of India were not disordered,
and If some preteNt were not eagerly
desired for the resumption of the coin
age of silver in that vast country.
| asked an experienced banker yes
terday what would be the result II the
Indian mints were reopened. He was
n strong monomctallist, but answered
decisively: AN advance of or
pence in the price of silver 1t would
be n great thing for silver. Besides, II
the mints We're once reopened, they
would not be closed again.
whether an International confer
ence be held. with or without the par
ticipation of England. the reopening
of the Indian mints would be consid-
cred by London tinaciers Il great CON
ccssion to all the countries producing
thar metal. 1t may be the only con-
cession which can be obtained from
England. except the coinage of E5,WO.-
900 of silver outright and the increase
of the silver reserves in the Bank OF
England but ii will do something to
stifren the price of silver and to intlu-
ence European opinion in favor of in
ternational action. What English
moralists do not like 10 face is the re-
proach of leaving India under the
pressure of financial stringency with
money commanding cNorbitant rates
and exchange very high. when mil
lions of natives are confronted with
the horrors of starvation ana the
black plague. The resumption of sill
yer coinage would be Il genuine relief
measure nj this critical period"
London. ian. 1T-United States Sen
ator Edward O. Wolcott Is the guest
of Baron Rothschild Mt his country
house at Tring Park. Hertfordshire.
The Springfield herald., 1897-01-22
coUNrERFElrERs ARRESTED.
Omcers Mt Denver Bas Two Men Having
had Money.


Denver, Jan. 1G.-Two of the most skill
ful and dangerous counterfeiters that have
operated In this section of the West for
many year were captured yesterday by
the local United States secret service
agent and United States Deputy Marshal
5. s. Poe. They are John Davenport
Magner, alias John Stevens alias Bood-
er, suspected to he fugitive murderer
from Toronto, Canada, and John w. Nc
Beth.
IN Magners possession were 52 coun-
terfeit silver dollars Of excellent mintage.
For n number of days Secret Service
Agent Walker and Deputy Marshal Poe
had been watching the house to which
Magner and McBeth resorted, small
cottage which stands alone on a hillside
beyond the town of Barnum. Yesterday
morning they resumed their vigil, main
tanning surveillance over the place with
the aid of field glasses
Shortly after noon they deserted Nc
Beth leaving the cottage, and quitting
their hiding places they followed him to
the Barnum electric car line They
boarded the same car with him and placed
him under arrest en- route to Denver.
Magner was taken into custody in the
cottage about $3.50 o'clock in the after
noon. He practically threw up his hands
and will likely plead guilty when brought
to trial.
Other arrests may be made in conse-
quence of yesterdays raid, as the illicit
mint where the 80 counterfeit dollars
taken from Magner We're coined is un-
doubtedly located in Denver or its i'm
mediate vicinity.
The Springfield herald., 1897-01-22
SPAIN UNBENDS.
w IL Grant Some Reforms In Cuba at

w II Grant Some Reforms In Cuba at Once
London. Jan. ia dispatch to the
Pail Mall Gazette from Madrid says
that cabinet meeting just held there,
the queen regent presiding, 1t was
agreed to introduce reforms in Cuba
and royal decree on the subject will
be published on the kings fete day.
1t is added that possibly Jose San
gully. the American recently sentenced
at Havana, to Imprisonment, will be
granted n free pardon,
The Standard says of this dispatch
in an editorial:
"The plan owes its origin to Senor
Canoyas, and 1t is a foregone conclus-
ion that the council of state will ap-
prove the reforms
1T is Spain'S only safe policy. She
incurs grave risk of rupture with the
United States by continuing the war.
She is right in refus'''- to quit her hold
of Cuba. If the inS, ,ants are dscon-
tented with the concession, Spain is
justified in severe Use of the sword.
"Senor Canovas has taken a courag-
eous line in Drawing storm Of popular
passion. We hope there is enough
common sense and loyalty in the coun-
try to support him. The time could
not have been more widely chosen, be-
cause there is no appearance Of yield
ing to American dictation."
The Springfield herald., 1897-01-22
GOMEZ vICTORIOUS.
Said to Have Captured the City of SAINT
Clnrn.


New York, Jan. 15.-The Press this
morning claims to have received news
through private channels that General
Maxine Gomez stormed and captured
the important city of Santa Clara on
January ., and is now moving on
Havana with 5000 men. The famous
cavalry leader, Quintin Bandera, was
mortally wounded, the Press says, and
General Luque, commanding the
Spanish, was also wounded.
The news received last night said the
losses We're: Spanish estimated killed
and wounded, 900; prisoners. 700; can
non captured. IS: battle standards, a;
rifles in the Spanish arsenal, 5000,
with plenty of ammunition.
Cubans killed and wounded, 1900,
which Is 600 more than the Spanish
loss.
The Press quotes Carlos Roloff as
saying the report is credible. The
Junta has no news.
According to the Press advices, the
garrison of Santa Clara has been re
duced to two thousand men, while Go
mez had 5000 men, G,OOO being armed.
On January he invested the city,
which was well fortified. Gomez sent
the infantry under General Rabi to
the west of the city. The cavalry,
1000 strong, under Quintin Bandera,
was placed on the other three sides.
its main strength being on the west.
on the 9th, 18th and Sth. there We're
skirmishes, General LuQue command
e.. Of the garrison, being wounded on
the latter day. On the 9th Mt daybreak
the Cubans closed in on the town, the
cavalry charging over the Spanish
earthworks and putting the enemy TO
flight.
Bandera fen while leading his men
and died soon after.
Gomez gave his men only nights
rest. Then, leaving garrison of
1900 men, he pushed on to the west.
Those of his men who had no weap-
ons We're armed from the Spanish ar
senal, so that in fighting men, he was
nearly rs strong as before the battle.
No sooner had the news of the fall
of Santa Clara reached the planters
around about than they began to
flock to Gomez's standard. Every
mile he went he got new recruits. The
news received last night said he now
has an army of $4,000 well equipped
men.
A Havana dispatch to the World
says:
Courlers who have slipped through
the Spanish lines in Matanzas province
bring the news that General Gomez Is
undoubtedly marching on Havana,
slowly but surely. and that his advance
guard is laying in waste the country
as they proceed.
The Springfield herald., 1897-01-22
THE ARBITRATION TREATY.
Some of the Senators Are Disposed to Find
Flaws In 1t.

hSHs>.
Flaws In II.
Chicago, Jan. 1S.-Ihe Washington
correspondent of the Record writes as fol-
lows concerning the arbitration treaty:
There Is no doubt that a number of
senator's would vote to reject the arbitra-
ton treaty that has just been concluded
with Great Britain If they thought 1t
was safe to defy public sentiment, and 1t
may be expected that number of "emi-
nent men," as Secretary Olney describes
them, will endeavor to Increase their
popularity with the jingo element by de-
claring that the hands Of the United
States must not be tied so that we cannot
"lick" England the first chance we get.
The feeling between the Senate and the
secretary of state is very bitter and per
sonal animosity to him and to President
Cleveland will cause the senator's to listen
readily to any objections or criticisms
that may be offered. If 1t should not be
ratified at this session of Congress, 1t VIII
be due to the resentment caused by Sec
retary Olney's extraordinary declaration
on the rights of the Senate the day after
the resolutions for the recognition of Gu
ban Independence were reported. Ii he
and the president had kept on friendly
terms with the Senate the treaty would
undoubtedly be promptly ratified but
now 1t will he subjected to the closest
scrutiny, with the hope of finding flaws
of sufficient Importance to furnish an ex-
cuse for Its rejection. Already the
critics have found several weak spots.
They say ii is very complicated. ana tnat
the method of determining small claims
Is expensive and useless. The treaty
provides that the award of tribunal
upon a claim of less than S5oO,OOO must
be unanimous, and it is claimed that that
will never happen. There never was
unanimous opinion rendered by a court of
arbitration, and there probably never will
be. They say, too, that there Is no hnal-
ity in the arrangements proposed for the
settlement of more important questions,
which provide that the decision must be
rendered by majority of five to one.
This, they think, is impossible, and
should not be expected.
Then, again, they don't like King Os-
car They say ho is afraid Of both Eng
land and Russia. and that the president
of the Swiss republic, who is the habitual
arbitrator in European affairs, and Is alb
soutely independent should have been
selected. Other criticisms OF a similar
sort are made. but they come from men
like Senator Morgan and Senator Chand-
ler who could not possibly be pleased
with anything that President Cleveland
or Secretary Olney might do. Neverthe-
less there is confidence that two-thirds OF
the Senate. which is necessary for ratih-
cation. will be found sufficiently patriotic
and obedient to public sentiment to bury
personal animosities and ratlfy n treaty
that stands as the high-water mark of civ
iliztion in the nineteenth century.
The Springfield herald., 1897-01-22
Illinois SenatorshIp.

Springfield, ILL.,, Jan. I'm. b. Mad
den, the Chicago alderman who has
been one of the leading candidates in
the senatorial contest, withdrew from
the race tonight throwing his sup
port to ex-Congressman William IL.
Mason of Chicago, who has been most
prominent as a rival for Senator Pal
mer'S seat.
His withdrawal was Immediately
followed by that of Samuel w. Alier-
ton, the millionaire packer of Chica
go. who went at once personally 10
congratulate Mr.. Mason. Mr.. Mad
denis candidacy has been bittefiy
fought by the anti-machine clement o.
the state, but up to the moment oil MS
announced withdrawal it had been
sunposed he would go into the caucus
tomorrow well backed by supporters
If ia generally believed tonight that
>1odden's action makes the selection
of Mason in the caucus tomorrow
n certainty.
If is said that Major Mckinley was
opposed to Madden.
The Springfield herald., 1897-01-22
Maid of Erin Pumps.

Leadville. Colo, ian. 16.-For the
first ime in fifteen years the great
pumping plant at the once celebrated
Maid of Erin Is silent. The last pump
was stopped this morning and by to-
night. fourteen. hours after the wheels
stopped moving. it is learned from
very good authority that the water has
already risen seventeen feet
For several days past pumpmen
have been Mt work in the Maid proper
ty removing the smaller pumps, but
not until this morning did operations
cease entirely. Now, however, the
fires are out and not n drop of water
is being pumped in the Maid ground.
The pump has been handling during
all these years from 1.3OO to 1000 gal
Ions of water every minute. This i'm
mense flow has been pumped out by
the big Maid pump and 1t can be read
lily imagined from the rise already
made to-day in the Maid shaft what an
enormous flow of water is now pour
ing through the lower levels of that
property.
The Springfield herald., 1897-01-22
ON AN ICE FLOE.

Fishermen on Green Bay Likely to Perish.
Menominee, Mich, Jan 15.-This after
noon at 2 O'Clock strip of ice about ten
miles long, extending south from the
mouth of the Menominee river, broke
from the west shore and was carried
away rapidly toward the east shore of
Green Bay in the direction of Death's
Door.
When the ice foe left its anchorage 13
fishermen from Menekaunee were on the
ice tending their nets, but were so far
away from the crack that by the time
au alarm had been given the crack was
so wide that they could not escape to the
shore. Signals of distress were dis
played, but 1t was some time before they
We're discovered and meantime the ice
had swept well toward the middle of the
bay. Two yawls We're manned and four
men We're brought to the shore. but the
Others. fearing that help would not reach
them from Monistique or Menomnee, had
rushed to the eastern side of the ice, evil
dently intending 10 attempt to escape
to Green Island and thus reach Chambers
Island or Door Bluff on the east shore of
Green bay.
1t is feared that the nine men will per
ish before morning as it is very cold
The Springfield herald., 1897-01-22
FUTURE POSSIBILITIES.
Developments That May BE Made in the
Next Century.


Flying is solved. The principle Is
known. A mechanical expedient Is all
that is now needed to make 1t successlul.
Practical flight Is to-day not more than
five or ten years off.
A glow worm makes light with about
1.300 part of the force used in ordinary
artificial light. When men know how
to make light as cheap, streets ana
homes will be as light as day for mere
fraction of what light now costs. This
is near. Vacuum Illumination without
incandescence is already in full opera
ton, and in year or two should cut
down the price of light to a sixth Of It's
current cost, and in five or ten years
light may be, like water, turned on IN
every house at will.
Compressed air has long been known
to be the best way, theoretically, 10
store force for use in transportation
There is no waste and no deterioration
The need is cheap and efficient motor
to apply compressed air to city transpor-
tation. If this can be done, first the troll
ley poles and wires will come down, next
the horseless, compressed-air motor car
riage will do all the work of city delivery.
When these come the only use for gas
will be for cooking-if this is not done by
electricity. Factories. also, before many
years, will be run by transmitted cleo
tric power. This has begun to be known
and in five or ten years will be COM
pleted and the factory fire and boiler
will be thing of the past.
The city of the future and no very
distant future. will have no trolley poles
or wires and no horses All movements
will be on rail by silent air motors or
by horseless carriages equally silent All
pavements will be asphalt. Unlimited
light will be as cheap as unlimited water
is to-day. No coal will be delivered at
private houses and no ashes taken from
them. With no horses, no coal and no
ashes. strp<G dust and dirt will be re-
duced to a minimum. With no factory
fires and no kitchen or furnace fires, the
air will be as pure in the city as In the
country. Trees will have chance.
Houses be warmed and lighted as easily
and cheaply rs they are now supplied
with water.
A city will be a pretty nice place to
live in when the first years of the twen-
tieth century are passed.
The Springfield herald., 1897-01-22
UNION PACIFIC FORECLOSURE.
Position of the Quilted States Is Impreg


nable.
Chicago. Jan. 16.--A special from
Washington, ID. c., says:
Foreclosure of the liens Of the govern
ment against the Pacific railroads is al
most certain to be begun. Whether the
suits will be concluded is another matter,
1t Is almost certain that when the inten
ton of the government is made clear va
rious syndicates will make efforts to pro
tect the federal interests
1t is common talk here that the Van
derbilt interests have already signliied
an intention to offer to pay the govern
ment so per cent of Its lien and secure
the balance. Congressman talked with
say that the government occupies an I'M
pregnable position. Its mortgages can
not be foreclosed, as the sovereign canno,
be sued or deprived of Its rights by pro-
cess of law. The closest students of the
situation in congress believe that fore
closure proceedings will be Instituted at
once by the attorney general, and they
point to that portion of the presidents
message in which he outlines his policy
toward the Pacific roads.
The Posts Washington special says:
1t is understood that the president Is
waiting definite and specific overtures
from the Pacific reorganization commit
tee before issuing n proclamation to in
itiate foreclosure proceedings against the
road. The committee gave Informal no.
tice some time ago that it was prepared
to guarantee that n price would be paid
for the Union Pacific system equal to
several million dollars more than the prin-
cipal of the subsidy bonds. No such as
surances We're received from Huntington,
however, as to the Central Pacific, but ii
is now said he is anxious to come in Oh
about the same terms as the Union Pa
cific Whether he does Or not is said to
he matter of Indifference, as the Wander
bilts and others associated with the
Union Pacific bondholders will at the
proper time be prepared to step into his
shoes and bid for the Central Pacific.
The Springfield herald., 1897-01-22
HE WORE A BLACK MASK.
One Man Holds up Five In Telluride Sa

loon.
Telluride, Colo, Jan. 15.-At IL 80
o'clock last nigt n man with black
mask over his face entered the rear
door of John p. Olsen's saloon, opposite
the American house, and with cooked
revolver in hand ordered the five peo-
pie present to throw up their hands.
They obeyed the command and re-
mained inactive until the bandit de-
parted. The holdup no doubt imagin-
ed that he would catch the roulette
wheel for several hundred dollars, but
owing to light play the bank roll of
between five and six hundred dollars
had not been taken from the safe. Not
dismayed by disappointment he went
to the cash register and took $225O
from it and backed out through the
rear door. The front door in the
meanwhile was securely bolted by
passing a scantling of wood through
the handhold of the doorlock, thereby
prohibiting exit from the front en-
trance. 1t is believed that there are
more than one party involved and
Marshal Oscar Moore has suspected
parties under surveillance.
The Springfield herald., 1897-01-22
THE POSITION OF RUSSIA.
The Arbitration Treaty Is Not to Her Lik-
Ing.

London, Jan. 16-The Chronicles
Washington correspondent says:
Secretary Olney, replying to ques-
ton of the Russian minister, Mr.. L. dc
Kotzebue. as to whether the arbitration
treaty with England was offensive and
defensive or anything in the nature of
an alliance, said the question might be
answered yes or no. That in theory
and diplomatic acceptance 1t was not
an alliance in support of the Monroe
doctrine which England recognized by
the terms of the Venezuela treaty.
"'If the arbitration treaty is ratified.
Mr.. Olney said, it radically makes
Great Britain our ally for the mainten-
ance and enforcement of the Monroe
doctrine"
The correspondent Of the Chronicle.
commenting upon the above, says: .'Mr.
Olney recognizes that England is the
more natural ally of America than
Russia. whose hitherto professed
friendship for the United States is
merely hatred of England. 1t is prob
able Russia will do her best to per-
suade the Senate not to ratify the
treaty"
The Chronicle, in an editorial. re-
CARDS the foregoing as of the deepest
Importance. and says it desires nothing
better than that Russia should take the
course indicated. The scales will then
fall from Americas eyes," concluded
the article.
The Springfield herald., 1897-01-22

The Paris Journal des Transports
publishes some interesting statistics
showing the rapid development of cleo
tric tramways in Europe during the
past year, "the number of lines in
working order having increased from
10 to III. while the total length of lines
has gone up from 4S7R miles to 564.
Germany heads the list with total
length of 255 miles and S57 auto-motor
vehicles, France being second with
S21a miles and 223 vehicles, while Eng
land is third with 67 miles and 16S We
hicles, Switzerland coming fourth with
2e1h miles and Sc vehicles. Bulgaria
and Denmark are the only countries
which have no line with electric trac-
tion. OF the Ill lines now being
worked 81 are driven by wires over
head, while 9 have a central rail, 8
accumulators, and an underground
current"
The Springfield herald., 1897-01-22
Rolon Under Arrest.

New York, Jan. 14.-General Carlos
Roloff, secretary of war of the Cuban
republic, was arrested about $50
o'clock last night on a warrant sworn
out by the Spanish CONSUL In which the
general is charged with violation of the
neutrality laws in connection with an
alleged filibustering expedition to Cuba
on the steamer Woodall, on June %,
1895. General Roloff was locked up in
Ludlow street Jail over night, and was
brought before Commissioner Shields
this morning.
The Springfield herald., 1897-01-22
Salt Lakes Postmaster.

Salt Lake, Utah, Jan. IF. NJ. Nc
Bride, assistant postmaster, and j. w.
Cunningham. stamp clerk. of the Salt
Lake postofiice, are in the custody of the
United States marshal, on a charge of
embezZlement.
The former is said to be short in his
accounts $4,000 and the latter TO the
amount of $500.
The complaint was made by Captain
Nichols, the inspector of this district.
Mcbride has always been considered
one of the most efficient postotiice Off
cials in the West. He is the son of Judge
Mcbride of Spokane, Washington, and
has been in the postal service here for sew
enteen years.