davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-07-02
tiers our eye from a star no longer
travels in it's primitive direction.

tiers our eye from a star no longer
travels in it's primitive direction.
The necessity for mountain obscrv-
atories arises from the fact that in or
der to secure correct observation of
the heavenly bodies it is necessary that
the telescope be as far as possible from
what is known as the dust shell Of the
earth, and in an atmosphere which is
steady. BY steady atmosphere is
meant that where the air is not con-
stantly in motion. The air is in strata
just as in the earth. When one is above
the strata that are more generally af-
fected by the air currents, it will be
than under other conditions. Now, the
twinkling Of stars is the result of
curvature Of atmospheric strata caused
by air currents. When these air cur
rents do not act, then the atmosphere
is steady and correct observation is
rendered easy.
All these things being realized by
the astronomers, they acted upon them
just as the tradition of an undiscov-
cred country affects the explorer. The
results as told by Professor Holden
seem marvellous. ~Observatories on
high mountains must either be aband-
oned altogether during the winter sea-
son, or, if occupied, the observer must
be subjected to extremely trying con-
ditions and to some danger from ter
rifle storms of wind, snow, hail, from
lightning, etc. The discomfort and
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-07-02
Why Two Ears Are Necessary.

Sound travels by waves radiating
from a central point of disturbance.
just as a " radiate when a stone
is dropped into still water.
So far as the hearing Of each individ-
ual is concerned, these waves move in
a direct line from the cause of the
sound to his ear, the impact being the
greatest in the a nearest to the
source.
This being the case, a person who
has totally lost the sense of hearing
in one ear, although he may imagine
that the defect is of little consequence.
cannot locate the direction of a sound
to save his life, even when the center
of disturbance is quite near him.-An-
sWers.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-07-02
How 1t Spreads,

The bicycle has already accomplish-
ed a good deal of road improvement
in Mexico, it is asserted, not because
of a demand from the riders, as a
class, but because the wheel has made
its way into the families Of the COVER
nors Of the various states, with whom
as n man tersely expresses it. the
governor is first, the state next and thu
people last. The governor of Monterey
was very slow to perceive the necessity
for good streets, it is alleged, until his
family became addicted to the use OF
the wheel. Then it was that he ORDER
ed ten miles Of asphalt paving to re-
place the cobble stone paving so inim.
teal to the enjoyment Of the cyclist,
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-07-02

ever, while opposing the plan, sugges,
that the question of evenue to run
such an organization would practical.
ly make it worthless. While the large
and influential clubs could we'll afford
to pay a tax Of from $25 to $50 a yea,
for membership, the smaller clubs, who
are in the majority throughout tho
country, could i'll afford to stand such
an expense. Wheelmen in the east
and west who are doubtful as to the
success of the scheme have by no
means abandoned the idea of a new
association. and it is likely that in a
short time some new plans will be sug,
gested.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-07-02
Another

An Engllshman has patented an in
Ventlon for adjusting the handle bar
and saddle of a bicycle while the wheel
Is in motion. OF it he says: "By rails
ing or depressing the handle bar the
sauu'e is shifted backward or forward,
anu at the same time is inclined to an
angle suitable to any given position of
handles. This is effected by means of a
handle bar working freely in the eye
OF the stem and connected through a
coupling rod to the front of the saddle
or saddle frame. The arm carrying the
saddle is formed of the arc Of a circle.
The handle bar is retained in any CIV
en- position by means of a spring latch
on the bar, engaging into correspond
ing holes on the stem, or in a notched
quadrant"
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-07-02
The Sidewalk.

In the case of a wheelman arrested
in Middletown, Conn, for violation 81
a town ordinance in riding upon a
sidewalk, Judge Pearne thus defined
a sidewalk as legally constituted: "a
fair, reasonable and safe construction
OF the ordinance, and one which will
avoid confusion, is that it's intent ia
that the term sidewalk means that
portion OF the highway between tho
fence line and the part of the highway
which is used by vehicles as a travelled
way, and is worked and improved bv
the city for that purpose. The ordi-
nance applies to all streets under the
control OF the city, except such streets
as are not improved in that portion ho-
tween the travelled path used by vehi.
cles and the fence line, or where thoro
is not some sort of a walk laid ont
constructed or improved by the civ ~.
by the abutters."
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-07-02
On the Sonnblick observatory there
S eight times as much. snowfall nc min

On the Sonnblick observatory there
is eight times as much snowfall as rain
fall. The %twinkling of the stars is
regularly observed at this point, and,
strangely enough,is considerably great
er than at the lower station. The
movements of the barometer, the wind
pressures and velocities, the relative
humidity, the formation and move
ments of clouds, the amount of atmos-
pheric electricity and all meteorological
phenomena are daily observed. There
are at this observatory on the average
25O days each year when the mercury
stands at zero or below.
The observatory Of the Saints is one
of the least expensive, considering IT'S
importance, of any that exists, for the
total expense of maintaining it is 81. 200
a year. Its Original! cost was s12. 900
In all of the observations taken the
st%eadiness of the air. as well as its
transparency, are notable. The star
images are entirely free from twink
ling. Each star, viewed from the
observatory, shows a magnitude one
tenth brighter than that observed at
a point on a level with the sea.
The highest German meteorological
station or observatory is the Wondel-
stein, on the northern slopes of the
Alps, nea Munich. It's altitude is 1887
meters. The most famous station in
France is Puy-se-Dome, 1,400 neters
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-07-02
Ofhcial Corruption In China.

A striking picture of the official cor
ruption that prevails in China is af-
forded by some diplomatic reports suh.
mitted by the English foreign Office TO
the houses of parliament at Westmin-
ster. Among other things it is shown
that so great is the stealing that. were
the imperial government to abolish The
rice tribute from the provinces ~
Kingsu and Chekiang alone, it would
effect an economy of more than 50, 900
900, which is the sum that it's collection
now costs over and above the reyenue
that it yields.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-07-02
IN THE CLOUDS ON THE SAINTS.

wonderful facts above the clouds.
Professor Holden's object in inditing
this work is to outline the conditions
suitable for astronomical labor at high
levels. 1t tells Of the work Of the Har-
yard college expedition on Ell Misti,
that stands $4,000 feet above the seas
level 1t describes the meteorological
station on the Sonnblick which is
9,S43 feet above old ocean. 1t tells us
of the hairbreadth escapes and con-
slant danger that fall to the lot of
those who take observations on Mont
Blanc. The results of DR.. Muller's
labors on the Saints is revealed and
the story is told of what transpires on
the summit of famous Mount Hamil-
ton. In a word, it is a resume of the
efforts of scientists on mountain peaks
from the time of Professor Piazzi-
Smyth at the peak of Teneriffe in 1856
to the latest achievements in PARKWAY
India.
The modern mountain astronomical
observatory is the legitimate descend
ant, Professor Holden says, of Galileo's
tower of Arcetri. The inhabitants of
the earth know the external universe
directly only through the sense of
sight, and our terrestrial views of the
planets and stars are much modified
by the action of our w atmosphere
upon r." 1ys of their light which
reach u eyes. We are, as it were,
Immersed in an ocean of air, and one
of the first problems Of astronomical
physics is to determine the effects of
this everything ocean upon the light
from external bodies which penetrates
its depth. Light moves in straight
lines in empty space, but light enter
Ing our atmosphere is refracted from
Its course so that the ray which en-
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-07-02

world. Few works of fiction are more
interesting than this plain recital Of
facts. 1t is a story of hardship, star
walton and deadly peril that have be-
fallen men who have labored on and
on in the interests of science. 1t
shows that much of the information
concerning the heavenly bodies of
which we read is gained under circum-
stances and at heights which would
fill us with awe if we only knew the
real truth. It tells how scientists find
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-07-02
ELkS IN HARNESS.,
Schorne to Make Them Take the Places
of HOrseS and Mules.


With reference to Eli f. Chamber
lain's statement recently that a scheme
was on foot to capture yearling eiks in
eastern Oregon and then break them
as one would a horse for driving pur-
poses-thus replacing the horse in in
dustrial pursuits--Sylvester f. EVens Of
Latourell Falls furnishes the following
extract from a history of Madison coun-
ty, Iowa, says the Portland ~Oregonian.
His injunction is that IF we will we
may profit by the experience of Others"
which he says may save the elk com
pany and others time and money.
THE capture of elk calves was, in
those early days, a favorite pastime--a
business, rather, for there were visions
of wealth to be derived from their sale.
But these elk sadly disappointed all Of
us. Theoretically, they were the most
useful domestic animals, for shambles,
for the plow, and cart, carriage and
course, possibly for the dairy. Why
not? And thus, in size and form, in
hoof and horn, they were own cousins
to the reindeer-that Indispensable ad-
junct to arctic humanity. Their speed
and bottom had been proven in many
a hard half days hunt; the meat was
as that of an OK. They could winter
where the mule would freeze or starye,
and so easily domesticated! Take a
young one that never saw the face of
man, carry it in your arms 100 yards,
and it would follow you through fire
and water.
But they turned out unmitigated
~nuisances. They would neither work
nor play. The trial was fair and con-
elusive. In the spring of 1851 much
valuable time, which had else been
devoted to seven up, euchre and kim
dred industries, was spent in Abel in
breaking them in harness and saddle,
and Elisha Morris, then we'll known in
sporting circles, harnessed a span of
2-year-old bucks to a light buggy and
started for some eastern emporium,
where it was thought the unique turn
out would command bags of gold. Eight
days drive took him to Oskaloosa,
about 100 miles, where he was fam to
swap the whole rig for a horse, that
he sold for some eighty dollars. His
verdict was:
""They won't work; they are too
much like a blamed Indian!'
They were utterly lawless, going
without let or hindrance into field and
garden, and doing mischief out of sheer
wantonness. They seemed aware that
a horse, not familiar with them, would
stampede at sight; they would curve
the neck, throw up their huge horns,
set the hair forward, and snort to in
creas the fright. Runaways from this
cause were frequent. At certain sea-
sons of the year the males were as
dangerous as mad bulls"
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-07-02

The highest meteorological obserya-
the Harvard college observatory expe-
dlt1On on the mountain peak known as
Ell Misti, one Of the Andes, whose
height is 1920 feet, or 4,SOO feet high
er than Pixies Peak.
The best known of all our own OBJ
servatories is that or Mount Hamilton,
in California, which bears the name of
the man through whose generosity it
was built-Mr. James Lick. 1t was
erected under the direction Of trustees
appointed by Mr.. Lick and according
to the plans prepared by Prot. Holden
and Prof. Newton. This observatory,
While not so notable in point of height
above the level of the sea, 4,209 feet,
has attracted wide attention because of
its equipment, for here is located the
largest telescope in the world, excepting
the great Yerkes telescope, placed in
position not long ago at a point on the
shore of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Prof.
Holden, by the way, thinks that unless
the conditions at Lake Geneva are dis
tlnctly better than those of the region
lear by, it's selection for the site of the
largest OF telescopes may prove to have
been an error Of judgment.
No observatory exists around which
more interest clusters than that Of
Mont Blanc, which rears it's snowy head
1880 feet from the surface of the
ocean. The story of this observatory,
OF the dangers of those who have util-
lied it, are succeeding chapters in the
ence cannot elsewhere produce. This
observatory was erected by M. JAMS
sen. upon compressed snow, because no
rock foundations were available. 1t is
provided with jack screws, in order
that it may be leveled if necessary.
The base of the structure is 10 by 5
meters, and the snow always covers
the lower story. 1t was the intention
to have n upper story in free air, and
during observation a t%elescoDe is
mounted in an aluminium dome above
the upper story. The construction is
very solid and strong, with double
walls and floors, and no pains have
been spared to make it safe and rigid.
AS an indication of the character of the
foundation of the observatory tunnels
were run thirty-six feet below the sur
face without meeting rock. The tenn
perature in these tunnels is at all times
three degrees above zero.
The cost of building on these heights
is very great. The building erected by
M. Jansen caused an expense of $780,
600. Ordinary laborers are paid TWEEN
ty francs a day. The price for trans
porting material to the summit was
tw%enty-three cents a pound. The or
binary load for a porter in such cases
was twenty-six pounds. The minimum
temperature on the summit Of Mont
Blanc is forty-three degrees below zero.
The top of the mountain is, in fact, a
r1o o;ov
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-07-02
ABOVE THE CLOUDS.
HOW KNOWLEDGE OF HEAVEN
LY BODIES is CLEANED.
The Mountain ObservatOries-The Top
most Point Is the Mist', Which Is 49,
o Feet Above the Sea-On Mount
Hamilton.

ONWARD S. HOL-
den, the astronom-
ical expert and d.
rector of Lick OBJ
%servatory, has just
issued through the
Smithsonian insti-
tute the first book
ever written giving
an accurate idea Of
the mountain OBJ
s~ervatOrieS of the
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-07-02

The suggestion made at a recent
meeting Of the Associated Cycling
Clubs of Chicago by George G. Barrett,
that steps be taken to organize an
association of bicycle clubs, meets with
approval, but the Associated G. G. ia,
bled the matter, fearing the scheme
was directed against the welfare Of the
l.. A. W. Leading club members. how
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-07-02

monotony of such life subjected to very
low temperatures and surrounded by
clouds and snow for long periods will
unht any ordinary individual for MAX
ing the best use of the few clear days
which an Alpine winter presents.
Telephone and telegraph lines cannot
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-07-02

be maintained in working order under
such conditions without taking ex-
traordinary precautions, and there
must be days and weeks together
when travel between the summit and
the valley is shut off.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-09-29
VIII Go to Boston.

Springfield, ILL.,, Sept. 22.-The selec-
ton of the next meeting place of the
Sovereign Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows
was made a special order for ten a. m.
Wednesday. Six invitations were re-
ceived, from Tampa, Fla; Detroit, Rich
mond and Boston, Baltimore, Md, and
Hot Springs, Ark. Boston was Sc
lected after a strong fight. Grand Sire
Carleton appointed the following COM
mittee to revise Rebekah ritual: Nye,
Minnesota; Humphrey, Illinois; Ross,
Ontario; Nolan, Tennessee; Pillsbury,
Massachusetts,.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-09-29
PeriIs of Chflkoot Pass.

Port Townsend, Wash, Sept. 25-The
tug Pioneer, which left Puget Sound on
September IL, with the bark Shirley in
tow for Skaguay, returned at one
o'clock Friday morning, having made
the rum down in 90 hours. The Pioneer
brings report of a landslide which oc-
CURED near Sheep camp on the Chilkoot
pass last Sunday morning in which IS
men are said to have lost their lives.
Only one body is said to have been re-
covered, that of a man named Choynski,
cousin of Joe Choynski, the prize
fighter. The men supposed to have
been lost were packers on the Dyea
trail
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-09-29

In the Luetgert murder trial in Chi.
cago Judge Vincent made the open.
ing address for the defense, in which
he claimed Mrs. Luetgert was seen
after May /, that bones found in the
vat were not human, and that rings
found did not belong to the missing
woman.
The monetary commission appoint
ed under the authority of the conven-
ton of business men held last January
in indianapolis met in Washington fol-
the first time. Ex-senator George F.
Edmunds, of Vermont, was chosen
chairman.
Sylvanus johnson was hanged at Key
West, Fla, for assault.
In the Luetgert murder trial in Chi
cage M. j. Sholey, Henry Feldshaw and
w. J. Grunsten testified that they saw
Mrs. Luetgert alive in Kenosha, Wis,
Fire destroyed the major portion OF
the John Gund Brewing company's
plant at La Crosse, Wis, entailing loss
of 100000.
At Saline, I. T., David Ridge, sheriff
of the district; Jesse Sunday. sheriff
elect (both Indians), and Thomas Bag
got (white) were killed in drunken
row by Samson Bait.
Lieut.. Peary, the arctic explorer, has
arrived in Boston from Sydney, B. c.
He said the big meteorite he brought to
America weighed 100 tons.
The completion of the new steel arch
bridge over the Niagara gorge was eel
ebrated at Niagara Falls.
John Trafford and his wife were ia
tally injured and their 14-year-old girl
killed in runaway near Coy, Ark.
During fire in grocery store at
Chester, Pa, six persons were seriously
injured by the explosion of barrel
of gasoline.
Orders were sent from the navy de-
psrtment to San Francisco to have the
gunboat Wheeling sent to Honolulu.
While Rev. L. D. Norris, of Green
castle, Ind, was delivering an address
to a convention of Christian churches
he was fatally stricken with paralysis.
Frost has seriously damaged the to-
bacco crop in Kentucky and Tennessee.
A report to the state department
shows that there are more than 10000
Europeans and Americans resident in
China.
The Western league and the Western
association baseball clubs closed their
seasons, the indianapolis club winning
the pennant in the former and the Cedar
RaDids club in the latter.
A statement prepared at the bureau
of statistics of the treasury depart
ment shows the total imports of duti-
able sugar during the last fiscal year to
have been 1881, 4oa,6s7 pounds, valued
at $S5 ,9O1, 902.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-09-29

Mrs. Orr, aged 112 years. died in
Kingston, Ont.
Dispatches say that all the foreign
powers except Australia refuse to back
Spain in her Cuban policy, recognizing
the interests of the United States justi-
fy the latter's interference in Cuba.
Gen. Rodriguez, of the Cuban army,
says the Cubans will accept nothing
short of complete freedom.
1t is asserted that the Russian govern
ment will shortly prohibit the exporta-
ton of wheat from Russia.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-09-29
Emancipation Day at Nashville.


Nashville, Tenn, Sept 23.-Emanci-
patton day at the centennial was one of
the best days of the fair. Early in the
morning large delegations of colored
citizens come into the city from neigh
boring towns and smaller delegations
from Washington, d. c.; Louisville,
KY, and other northern and eastern
points. Fully 10000 negroes were on
the grounds. The programme was an
enjoyable one, and those who took part
in it were men of unusual ability. Chief
Hill, of the negro department, presided
over the meeting. After several mu-
steal selections Booker r. Washington,
president of the Tuskegee normal
school of Alabama, spoke. His address
was stirring one. After the exercises
the crowds witnessed the field sports
prepared for the occasion, including a
fancy drill by company G, the only col
ored company of militia in the state.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-09-29
FALLS OFF A LITTLE.
Fever Quarantine I'm South Hurts
Business-The Favorable Textures.
New York, Sept. Is. - Bradstreet's


Fever Quarantine I'm South Hurts
Business-The Favorable Features.
New York, Sept. 25. - Bradstreet's
says:
There is a check to the inward sweep OF
demand in staple lines noticeable through
out the country for the past six weeks. The
yellow fever quarantine, which extends
from Texas to Georgia, has brought whole
sale business to a practical standstill
throughout the greater portion of the re-
gion embraced by the gulf states. At CEN
tiers of distribution in eastern, middle and
central western states, the recent activity
in dry goods, hats and hardware had fallen
off. but at the northwest and ON the Pacific
coast buying by interior merchants and the
free distribution Of merchandise continue
to be features. Demand for heavy textile
fabrics has been stimulated by colder
weather, and st. Louis merchants say the
yellow fever scare will have no effect upon
trade in that city, as southern merchants
had supplied themselves there before the
quarantine was enforced The outlook for
business in parts of Texas, Arkansas, Ten
neSsee and Georgia Is for q much duller
season than had been expected. Favorable
features of the week are found in sharp adj
vances in prices for iron and steel, heavy
sales of Bessemer pig iron, steel billets and
rails and a prospect that iron and steel
prices will go higher in the near future.
Wool is also higher and wooden goods for
1898 delivery are up ten and Is per cent,
with the outlook favoring further adj
vance. The increased volume of general
trade is also stimulated by the continu-
Gus heavy movement of cereals to
tide water the almost unprecedented large
quantities exported each week and the in
creased number of people finding employ
ment in industrial and commercial lines as
compared with year ago, together with
the tendency of gold to come here from
al
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-09-29
MARKETS
Minneapolis, Sept. 2

Minneapolis, Sept. %.
Wheat-No. 1 northern, new, 30 to
9011c; No. 2 northern 81 to s715; De-
cember, $50.
Corn-No. 26c.
Oats-No. 3 white, 20 to 2015c.
Cattle-Steers, $50 to S.75; cows,
3d. SO.
Hogs-S3. 80 to 400.
Sheep-Muttons, SO. 10 to 40; lambs,
s4.25.
Butter-Creamery, extras, II to 1Sc;
creamery, firsts, Is to 16c; dairy, fancy.
16 to TIC; dairy, choice, Is to 14c.
Poultry-Turkeys 6 to &c; spring
chickens, z to &c.