davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07
Value of Native Shipping.

II has often been said, but it will al
ways bear repetition, that there is no
single industry which is the product of
so many different industries as ship
building. IT has been computed that
several hundred trades are interested
I'm and contribute To- the construction
of a ship, from the turning over of the
virgin ore in the mine, the timber in
the forests or the coal in the earth To
the weaving of the bunting out of
which the fag that floats at her stern
is made.
1t was Thomas jefferson who, speak
ing of the value of the ship-building
industry, said: In time of general
peace il multiplies competitors for en-
ployment in transportation, and 50
keeps that at its proper level; and in
time of war; that is to say. when those
nations which are our principal car
riers. shall be at war with each other,
If we have not within ourselves the
means of transportation, our products
must be transported in belligerent ves-
sells, at the increased expense of war
freight and insurance, and the articles
which will not bear that must perish
on our hands"
Had Great Britain and France be-
come embroied in war over the Egypt
ian question, as at one time seemed
imminent this truth would have been
forced home to us in a manner as un-
pleasant as 1t would have been expen-
sive. The nations of Europe, and prin-
cipally Great Britain, are tine great
shipbuiders and shipowners for the
worlds foreign carrying. They are the
nations which are ever on the verge
OF war. Europe, il has well been said,
is an armed camp. Great Britain, we
know, bristles with warships and guns,
as a pOrcupine does with quills. A
flash. and the whole may at any time
become involved in the most devastat-
ing war of all history, while tine de.
struction OF shipping would be some
thing frightful, a blow from which the
world would be decades ana perhaps
centuries In fully recovering, especially
II prolonged.
There is no such danger constantly
menacing the United States. Were Il
our ships that did our own and a large
portion of the worlds carrying, as in
deed II might be, considering our re-
sources, the skill Of our shipbuilders
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07
HARMONIOUS BOSTON.
From the Troy Times.

From the Troy Times.
Yesterday was a great day for the or
gan grinders permanently or temporarily
residing in Boston. 1t was the day When
their right TO earn livelihood by the Ia
borious process of turning a crank was
to be detrmined. Some time ago the city
of culture decided that its people should
no longer be tortured with unmusicai
sounds emitted by allie Eed musical instru-
ments, and a board of music commits
sioners was created whose duty IL shohld
Ee to see that all musical instruments
played in public should be IN tune. Yes
terday some $50 hand organs and street
pianos were lugged by their owners TO
park fortunately rather remote from hu-
man habitation, and all sorts Of tunes
were ground out for the editication of the
official censors. If a single Nat were
sounded where B natural should have
been forthcoming the possessor OF the
instrumen was ordered to have it timed
properly. and his license will be withheld
until this has been done. The commits
sioners having put the organs through
their PAGES will now proceed to test the
efficiency of German bands and string
orchestras. This work should properly
be done i'm some building far outside tho
limits or else in padded cells, or other
wise the good people of Boston will have
their tor ture Jumped, instead of its being
months. Other cities have been inclined
to poke fun at Boston because of its de-
| termination to stop discord in the public
streets, but if the work of the commits
sion really results in the banishment of
| iu-tuned musical instruments the laugh
will be on the other side. The general
public may be highly critical in its muscal
tastes. but the man whose nerves are
| not rackcd by the constant recurrence
/ of even one false note is a fortunate CX-
| ception. Hand organs out of tune have
| done more to prejudice the American
| people against Italian immigrants than
| have even the murderous deeds of the
| Mafia. We can tolerate stilettos because
| they are used only occasionally, but the
| hand organ dscord is a weapon that is
| almost as deadly and Is directed against
thousands instead of single individuals.
| If Boston makes a success of this expert
| ment there will be a clamor from all over
| the country for the adoption of similar
| ordinances.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07

a call. II is proposed TO supply pri-
vate line residence service for $50 a year.
and a group of residence service, with
unlimited service, for $12 year. An sr-
rangement Is TO be made with message
service subscribers by which they VIII
receive share of the pay station tolls.
The United States constitute the rich
est nation on the globe. Mulhall furn-
ishes these figures: United states, SSl. 80 :
600, 600; Great Britain, S!s 03O 100000; France,
1880 OOO. 900 ;Germany, $40, 2600co,ooO; Rus
sia 1872 1875. 100000; Austria, S22,56O,VOO'OVO'
Italy, $l5, 800 600. 900; Spain, 81 300 OOoOo,
These computations are based upon value
as shown by real estate records, build
ings. merchandise and railways, as well
as the circulating medium in each ma
ton. As will be seen, our wealth is more
than seven times greater than that OF
Spain. double that of Germany, two and
half times greater than that of Russia,
nearly double that of France, equal to the
combined wealth of Russia, Italy. Aus
tria and Spain. and S22, IO,OOO,W0 large'
than that of Great Britain.
a San Francisco friend of Admiral
Dewey, who sent him an account oil
lIobson's osculatcry experience ana the
dire prophecies of Dewey's fate upon re-
turning, received this answer from the
admiral "The clippings you send do not
seem possible. The threats you make
persuade me TO remain forever in Ma
nila,"
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07
The Doom of the SkY-Scraper.

The destruction by fire in New York
the other day of two Office buildings
constructed more than a score of
stories high has newly directed atten-
tion - the disadvantages of cloud
piercing architecture. The sky
scraper," so-oalled is an Americanism
Of which this country has small reason
t. feel proud. 1t has been built osten-
slbly &c withstand wind, earthshock
and fire; but IN" only certain fact
about these claims is that it takes
more than wind to test them.
In the New York fire a 25-story Gtruc-
turc. absolutely fireprOof,' caught al
most as easily as a tinder box and
sent it's flames over to a companion
scraper some distance away. 1t was on
Sunday, the buildings were deserted
and there was no loss of life, but the
fire developed the fact that had 1t been
any other dav there could not have
bcnn any estimating the loss. In the
belief that the FIR proof shafts could
not burn. they had been erected al
most without provision tor the con-
tirgrncy If fire, ard this discovery
of their vulnerability is likely to- cause
Il general revision of opinion and per
haps of law ON the subject of their
construction.
New York being built on an island,
the conservation Of space is, of course,
of immense importance; but there are
other conditions in the building OF a
city at least as important. New York,
except in the neighborhOod of Fifth
avenue and Central Park, is almost as
uninhabitable as an alkaline desert A
corrupt municipal administ tration has
given over Brooklyn bridge to cable
cars to the exclusion of Vehicular and
pedestrian traffic. This imprsons the
working man in the slums. The spac>'
which should legitimatrly he occupied
by offices ana Warehouses is given over
to dens of infamy and quarantined
poverty. The Bowery is the site OF u
street which might we'll rival Broad
way, but is lost through cartle9sness
or the force of a bad habit. IN fact,
the whole city is cramped and spoiled
by ignorance or foolish acquiesCence in
the unpleasant. Real estate in certain
locations is priceless, not because it is
central or convenient but because busi-
ness men are conventional or ConScr-
vative. a broker out of Wall street is
like a fish out of water, but there is
no reason why the great crush of busi-
ness in lower broadway, Fulton street
and Wall street should be for ever
gasping skyward for light and air down
town while there is room enough end
to spare for generation or two up
town
The sky-scraper, now that it has been
positively proved to be not treproof
when il was dogmatically insisted up
on that it was, win doubtless hereafter
b. abandoned as a foolish attempt to
set at defiance some of the plain laws
of nature.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07

The PittsbuTg Telegraph
fndc much to inspire hope In the inn
mense eastbound shipments from Chi
cago last week which exceeded 1885, 900
tons, compared with $1,000 tons for the
corresponding week last year. Nearly
every road reporting gross earnings
these days shows gains not only over
the same period of 1897, but in many
instances over the best previous record.
This is all very gratifying to the gem
cral public, because of the evidence
il furnishes of the activity in business.
but il was no. until this week that the
shareholders of the roads could par
ticipate in the general good feeling
over the situation. 1t is known that
freight rates are greatly demoraliZed,
and it was feared that the traffic was
not returning it's due proportion Of
profits. This fear is benG removed
by the reports OF October operations
now being made.
Last week five OF the great systems
suits for the month. The Union Pacific
shows a net gain of $3OS, 900. the st.
Paul gain Of 100000, the burlington
a gain of $l9S. .0G0, the Atchisou a gain
Of S232,O01, and the Pennsylvania a
gain of Sl90000. Here IL a total net
increase on five roads of more than a
million and quarter dollars for one
month. What is equally encouraging
is that the outlook is fully as bright
as ever and the owners of the prop
critics are reasonably assured a fail
return upon their investment This
is not all. The prosperity of the rail.
roads will be felt in other lines of in
dustry. 1t is already being felt in the
large orders being placeG for rolling
stock and track material.
While conditions may not Justify al
that Wall street is claiming for them
they certainly tend to make the ap
preaching holiday season an unusual.
ly joyous one.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07
ESSENTIAL.
rom the Philadelphia Times

From the Philadelphia Times
This country boasts of possessing the
freest and most bereficent form of gov
ernment on earth. and II is now to make
the experiment of extending these bless
ings tC alien peoples. This experiment
is to be made in view of all the world,
and failure would do much to discredit
a republican form of government. 1t is
essential, therefore, that in the making
of this experiment the political spoi.smen
and the greedy speculator shah be given
no share, but that both of these malign
forces shall be held at bay even at the
point of the bayonet if necessary. Let
our new colcnies be governed by the mill
taly as long as may be necessary to re-
store order. insure tranquility and a fair
field and no favor TO all classes of their
Inhabitants, and by corrupt politicians
and greedy promoters never.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07
UPON THE WAY.


What will it matter in little While
That for a day
We met and gave n word, a touch, a
smile,
Upon the way?
What will it matter whether hearts were
brave
Aud lives We're true,
That you gave me the sympathy | crave,
As / gave you?
These trihes! Can 1t be they make or
mar
4 human like?
Are souls as lightly waved as ruShes are
BY love or strife?
Yea, yea a look the fainting heart may
break
or make 1t whole:
And lust one word IL said for loves sweet
sake,
May save a soul.
Exchange.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07
CAUSE OF wIscoNsIN's MIsHAP
From the Chicago Journal.

From the Chicago Journal.
We don't know why the Wisconsin, af-
ter having been successfully launched
should proceed to unlaunch herself by
sliding on mud bank in San Francisco
bay and there resisting all the persuasive
ness of a ten-inch hawser to get her off.
But we suspect that the poem by liza
Prince. read at the launching. had some
thing to do with it. That poem was de-
livered by Mayo" Phelan, of San Fran
cisco. and it eXhorted the good ship to
stand firmly as Wisconsin's pine-clad
hills, or something equally as good -
and the ship is certainly standing firm.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07

Before the war investigation commits
sion Quartermaster Lee excuses him
self for refusing to issue a tent for sick
Soldiers at Camp Thomas by the state
hent that the tents were packed up
and difficult to get at. Quartermaster
Lees explanation Of his conduct makes
1t all the more apparent that General
Beaver made no mistake when he inti-
mated that Lee should have been taken
by the neck and thrown out of camp.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07

and the vast wealth Of our people, the
danger that threatens the worlds com
merce whenever European war seems
imminent would not exist. From every
demonstrated ability, of a vast foreign
commerce to carry and larger one
assured, of situation and condition, ev-
erything invites us to become self
reliant and wholly self-dependcnt in
the matter of merchant shipping.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07

Engineer Knaack, an American, who
is in prison in Berlin for having ex-
pressed his ability to box the kaisers
ears, pleads irresponsibility, and states
that he was drunk at the time the
threat and other disparaging remarks
about the emperor We're made. The
sufficient Importance to become a ques-
tion for international consideration, as
the man who INDUCES in German
liquor must abide by results. but it does
seem hard 10 take the money Of a tour
list for a brew that produces such SEN
timents and then imprison the victim
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07
SCRANTON. DECEMBER :. 1898.

The Wises- Barre Record speaks of
the bill of costs in the Langstaf con-
test which means an extra 2-mill levy
for county purposes, as "monstrous
bill" and says: "It is a question wheth-
er the courts are justified in permitting
such latitude i'm contested elections as
to impose burdens of such magnitude
upon the people 1t is a question
which can best be answered by the
people when they next meet their loot
ers at the polls.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07

The threatened prosecution of the
English Christian Scientists charged
with responsibility for the death Of
Harold Frederic. has been dropped.
John Bull evidently for once took the
rational view that pushing u case like
that " Ould only make matters worse.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07
TRANSPORTATION COMES HIGH.
From the Des Moines Register.

The government pays out annually an
average of $}5, 100000 TO-. the transporta-
tion of mail matter and mail cars. This
is at the rate of s cents per pound on an
average haul of $50 miles, or s. per 100
pounds for all the matt matter carried
by railroads. For the same service the
railroads charge the express companies
less than one-tenth of the amount charged
the government, ana it has never been as
serted anywhere that the railroads were
losing money in carrying express matter
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07

Says Governor-elect stone: Il am
opposed to political prosecutions such
as the case now pending against SEN
ator Quay. They always benefit the
accused more than the prosecution.
The prosecution OF DR.. Swallow was a
mistake. 1t made q political martyr Of
him and gave him $500 votes in 1897
that he otherwise would not have had,
and 100000 votes in 1895 that he other
wise would not have received. The
prosecution of Senator Quay win fail OF
its purpose, anG he Will be reelected to
the United States senate" The goyer-
nor-elect is a shrewd prophet
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07

Colonel Roosevelt has replied to a
presidential hint by saying that dur
ing the next two years he doesn't pro-
pose to give thought to his personal
political future. He probably will not
have to. His is the kind of futures
that are classified under the head of
irrepressible DESTINY.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07

for indiscreet remarks. The case of
Knaack will doubtless hereafter induce
travellers with thirst to skip the
Fatherland when witnessing the sights
NJ Iyiiropp
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07

Since Judge Gordon resigned on the
plea that the salary of the bench is
insufficient to support life in comfort,
we are hearing again the cry that our
judges are undergrad. This fact, If it
he a fact does not seem to lessen the
competition among those who are
eager To don the cap and gown,
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07

The sky-scraping building that
burned i'm New York the other night
was -proof-until it became ignited
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07

The president is entitled to congratu-
lations upon the fact that his message
did not please Dick Bland.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07

Real estate spectators will take note
that Queen Lii offers her plot at the
rate of Sc an acre.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07

The recent attemp. to form turkey
trust resulted in dismal failure. The
turkey is too wary a bird to be cor
nered.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07

Currency Reform Walker, of Massa-
chusetts, has no use for the message
because the president didn't boom his
fad. 1t is interesting to note that at
the last general election Mr. Walker
was elected to stay at home.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-07

Mr.. Bryan is said to be as willing to
talk as ever. but nobody wants to lis
ten.
The times., 1898-05-03
PREY UPON YACHTS.
English and American Pleasure
Craft Are in Danger.

Gibraltar, May 2.-The English yachts
Wentonia and Santa Cecilia arrived here
yesteray, the latter from Cannes. They
report that they were not troubled by
Spanish torpedo boats.
The destroyer Destructor today pursued
the same accommodating tactics as on pre-
vious days Naval men are beginning to
ask what it all means.
There was a great patriotic demonstra-
ton at Linea, across the Spanish from
tier. Anti-English feeling is spreading.
An officer who crossed the frontier has
been stopped.
There is great display of Spanish
colors. especially by women.
New York May 2-Captain John G.
Porter and First officer A. I. Acorn. of
John K. DrexeFs yact Sultana. now at
Marseilles France. were passengers on
the French liner Bourgogne, which ar
rived here yesterday from Havana. Capt
Potter said:
The yacht Giralda was really bought
by Spain to prey upon American yachts
in the Mediterranean. She is the fastest
yacht in those waters, and makes twenty
two knots an hour while the fastest
American yacht there can go only seven
teen knots. The Spanish government has
covetous eye on the American yachts in
the Mediterranean and will try hard to
capture them"
The times., 1898-05-03

with a bonus of 80 per cent at the expi-
ration of the time for good conduct.
The arrangement has been adopted on
both the St Louis and the Harvard.
Cant. Watkins will be retained as navi-
eating officer of the Yale, and the rank
of the other officers will remain the same
as heretofore. During the service the
uniform of the American line will be
worn.
None of the naval officers who are to
serve on the Yale visited the ship yes
terday In addition to Capt. Rodgers
there will be a lieutenant, in charge of
twenty-five marines, and an ensign.
Nothing could be learned on the vessel
Yesterday as to when she would proceed
to sea Eight coal barges were along
side the liner all day, transferring their
cargoes into the coal bunkers and into
the forward and after holds She is
taking on board 5000 tons of coal The
work Of loading progressed throughout
the night. 1t is expected that she will
be ready for service by the time Capt.
Rodgers and the other naval officers
and marines go aboard this morning.
The guns which the Paris brought
from Southampton have been taken To
the navy yard. There were 144 cases or
Maxim -Nordenfeldt rapid-fre guns ana
sixteen cases of other machine guns.
The times., 1898-05-03
THE WAR REVENUE BILL
1t Is Before the Senate Commit
tee on Finance.
REPUBLICANS DESIRE HASTE
DcmocrDts Insist on Thorough
Consideration of the Measure and
Men VIII Resist the Proposition
to Issue Bonds.

The war revenue bill is now before the
Senate Committee on Finance. 1t was
discussed this morning informally and
the committee then adjourned until this
afternoon, when an effort will be made
to begin the serious consideration of the
measure. Neither the Republicans nor
the Democrats offered any suggestions
at this first meeting. The discussion was
more like a sparring for position. The
Republicans exhibited desire TO push
the bill as speedily as possible. and in
timated that they would have some
amendments to offer.
The Democrats insisted that there
should be time enough for full consid-
GRAFTON, and declared their intention of
submitting a number of amendments. In
silver mel, as such, regardless of party,
intend to engraft currency or fnan-
cial amendment, they will bear their full
strength on the committee for Mr.. Chit
ton of Texas selected by the steering
committee to take the place made vacant
by the death of Mr.. Walthall. was put
upon the committee by resolution this
morning.
Whatever suggestions the DeOcrats in
tend 10 offer will probably develop at the
next meeting. They will, doubtless, be
along the lines followed by the minority
in the House. Discussing this subject
today, Senator Jones said it was too early
to say just what the Democrats would do
He did not profess TO speak for the rest
of the committee but declared that so
far as he was concerned he would insist
that other means of raising revenue must
be exhausted before resort was made 10
an issue of bonds. Senator Jones believes
that the first thing to be done is 10 as
certain from the Secretary of the Treas
ury just how much mOnev there is In the
Treasury available for war purposes:
that, following this, the departments
charged with prosecuting the war should
be called upon to furnish an approximate
estimate of what the prosecution of the
war through given period is likely to
cost. With such data before the commit
tee it could then act, he believes, with
more intelligence than 1t could otherwise
With such information 1t would be
matter simply of calculation 20 ascertain
what revenues are needed. How best TO
raise them is the question upon which
the political division will come.
The Republicans. on the other hand,
contend that there are so many unknown
contingencies in the prosecution OF a war
so many elements of doubt and uncer-
tainty both as regards the matter of ex-
pense and time that il is impossible to
give any figures, and that. necessarily.
ample revenue must be afforded and au-
thOrity given to issue bonds. Senator
Jones says the Silver Democrats will
not antagonize bonds if il is proven that
that is the only way in which an adequate
revenue can be realized.
The Republicans are unusually reticent
and refuse 10 divulge their plans. 1t is
known, however, that they will have
some important amendments to offer. 1t
is expected that within three or four days
the bill will be reported TO the Senate.