davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1899-10-08
MAY WINS HIS CASE.
The State Department to Present the
Claim to Guatemala.


The State Department yesterday decided
that the claim of R. H. May, railroad
contractor, against the Government of
Guatemala was just one. Minister Hun
ter will be instructed to formally present
Mr.. Mays claim to the Guatemalan Gov
ernment for settlement. The claim is said
to be for about $3.50 900 and grows out of
an alleged confiscation by the Government
of Guatemala of the Guatemalan Northern
Railway which May, 1t is said. was build
ing for American capitalists. About 100
miles of the road was under construction,
it is said, when some difficulty arose be-
tween the owners of the road and former
President Barrios President Barrios, 1t is
claimed, seized the road. and, it is stated,
forced Mr.. May and his men of the work
at the point of the bayonet
Mr.. May, it is alleged, appealed to Min
lister Hunter for redress. Not receiving IT,
he came to Washington last March and
with Senator Sullivan of Mississippi took
the matter before the President and the
Secretary OF State. In stating his case
Mr.. May, it is said did not spare Mr.. Hun
ter, but charged that instead of protecting
American interests the Minister had de-
cided against his own countrymen in ia
vor of the Government of Guatemala. Min
lister Hunter came to Washington and al
ter a consultation with Secretary Hay re-
turned to Guatemala and later made re-
port on the case. The report, it is claimed.
was very much preiudiced, giving only the
side of the Government OF Guatemala
Minister Hunter was asked by the Secre-
fary of State for full and complete report
of the case. This report was received
some weeks ago and has since been in the
hands of the State Department After 60
ing carefully over the papers the State
Department decided that Mays claim
ought to be paid
There has been considerable friction over
the case between the claimants and the
Government of Guatemala and it is said
that at one time the claimants requested
President Mckinley TO send gunboat to
Guatemala to protect their rights.
The times., 1899-10-08
THE ISTHMIAN CANAL.
Rear Admiral walker Believes Con-
tempIated Plans Feasible.

Rear Admiral John G. Walker chair
man, and Prof Johnson, member of the
Isthmian Commission, are in Washington.
They We're accompanied to Europe last
summer by Col. Peter c. Hains, United
States engineer; Prof William H. Burr.
and Alfred Noble, as a subcommissiol to
Investigate the feasibility of a route for a
canal across the Isthmus of Panama.
Several parties during that time were sent
to Greytown and worked through Nicar-
aqua.
The work of the Commission, as mapped
out by Congress, has been nearly COM
pleted, and report will be submitted to
Congress this winter. Before preparing
the report the Commissioners viii make a
tour OF inspection through the Isthmus.
Rear Admiral Walker stated yesterday
that he could not anticipate the specifca-
tions Of the manner in which the canal
will be built, but he thought the plan was
feasible, and that the canal would be
built by the United States. He refused to
state anything concerning reported designs
of European capitalists or what informa-
tion had been gained in regard to French
plans. The subeommission, with Lieut.
Oswald A. Ernst, spent a month in Paris
investigating records of the Panama Canal,
with satisfactory results. The kiel Canal
the North Sea Canal, and the Manchester
Ship Canal were visited while the party
was abroad. Rear Admiral Walker thought
that the use of electricity in connection
with the operation of the locks would prove
valuable in this country
The times., 1899-10-08
EASTERN IRON MARKETS.
Price Movement Upward Continues
PerpIexing Outlook for 1900.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. There is a
general upward movement in iron and steel
prices throughout the State Big con-
tracts have been placed this week for Bes-
semer pig, basic, low phosphorous, and
charcoal irons. There are offers for iron
of all these varieties now under consi sera-
ton, but makers have practically decided
TO mark up prices on transactions for 1900
delivery. Consumption is expanding every
week. Billets sold this week at s37, May
delivery, $4,000 tons. Further sales will
be made next week. Orders for 40, 900 tons
steel rails were booked this week at S33,
and buyers want over 1G0, 900 tons more.
Great inconvenience is caused by delayed
deliveries of plates, and over twenty thou
sand tons will be placed before the end of
October, which buyers have had promised
for weeks. Merchant bars are sought after
for December and January delivery. Car
builders are crowded beyond capacity-all
railroad companies arg after cars, and
there is a rushing demand for merchant
steel, merchant pipe, skelp sheets. nails
and tubes. Steel makers say the action Of
the Carnegie interests in building two more
furnaces to produce 900 tons per day will
be followed by other iron makers.
There are accumulating evidences of a
famine in steel next year Coke is getting
out OF reach to many consumers. Old iron
RAID sales this week foot up 1000 TONS and
big transactions are coming. Scrap was
never sought for so urgently. The ma ket
is bare. Advicess by wire from Saithern
points show another advance will be an
nounced next week. Western foundry and
implement interests have extended their
purchases of raw material far into next
year. A good deal of anxiety prevails as
to the course of prices for materials for
next year S delivery. -,
The times., 1899-10-08
American Enterprise Abroad.
Rrom the Mexican Herald.)


The United States is already, according to the
British staiistican, Mulhal the richest of the
tions. and it is predicted that, when the new
century opens its wealth will aggregate one
hundred billions of dollars. A contemplation of
the new channels into which American capital
is flowing inspires the reflection that Americans
are becoming worldwide investors. We know
what has been done by American capital here,
and now 1t Is learned that much American money
is being placed in South American undertakings,
in railways, mines. plantations, and electrical
businesses. Even England feels American enter
prise within her doors, great American machin,
cry tool works and new electrical works ON
English soil being the latest announcements. We
notice that most Of Uncle Sans business cornpeti-
tons would like to him evacuate the Philip
pines; planted there, he is too near the great
Oriental market.
The times., 1899-10-08
A Change of View.

An editorial which recently appeared in
the New York Journal" presents rather a
curious commentary On certain change in
public opinion which has taken place in the
last fifty years. When women first began
to work in offices and shops, and study for
the professions. a great deal was said about
the hardships of such life, and it was ex-
planned over and over again in papers and
magazines that it would be much better
for women 10 stay at home where they
would have an easy time and be taken
care Of. The journal now finds occasion
to remark that some of the women who
are filling positions as clerks, typewriters,
and bOokkeepers, have reason TO congrat-
ulate themselves that they are not Obliged
to stay az home and drudge. 1t says that
the slavery OF the typewriter or OF the shop
is far preferable to that Of the kitchen
stove. and that young women win do well
TO think carefully before exchanging their
typewriters for kitchen ranges. The ar
ticle is, in short, an exact antithesis TO
those which were written on the fwo-
man question by the opponents of the So
called .woman's rights" fifty years ago
The inference seems to be that there are
some discontented women now, just as
The times., 1899-10-08
Mascagni and His Autograph.


/ have just paid a visit to Pasero and seen
Maestro Nascagni, who is busily occupied in view
OF the approaching representation OF his new
opera ''Le Maschere" (The Maskers), in Rome, at
the Constant Theatre OF the opera gained no
information that can be of interest abroad, How
ever in the course of conversation the maestro
confirmed the rumor that he intends 90 visit Eng
land before the Paris Exposition next year, add
ing laughingly that he hopes he VIII not have a
repetition of his previous experiences in foreign
lands.
IL seems that Mascagni does not speak foreign
languages, SO he usually travels with a secretary
who helps him out in this respect. When in
Vienna he was struck with the immense number Of
autographs which requested of him every
morning by his secretary. Sheet after sheet was
laid before him, until he was thoroughly tired
One day, taking UP newspaper, he caught sight
of his name, and with languid curiosity asked
friend to translate il. Il was an advertisement
and ran as follows: Maestro Mascagni in con-
sequence of the immense number OF autographs
asked of him, has decided TO sell them for one
horin each. the proceeds going to>a charitable in
stitution in Vienna Please enclose form in de-
mand." He computed that his secretary made
upward OF thousand forins by this transaction.
Another time Mascagni and Edoardo Sonzogno
arriving III Berlin were confronted everywhere
by huge advertisements in which their names ap-
peared in immense letters. Suspecting another
trap they hurried to their hotel, and much amazed
the porter there by insisting on having the ad
yeTtisement explained, even before engaging THEN
rooms. II set forth that the translations OF the
dramatic works. Of Edoardo Sonzogno, the musi
cal publisher of the celebrated composer, Nascag-
nj, were row ready for sale. Sonzogno tore his
hair in impotent rage declaring that what he
called the .'crimes' of his Young days would ruin
him yet, that the plays were written when he was
a callow youth, and must be stopped. The pub
Usher was summoned, but could not at first be
brought 10 reason, he representing all the cx-
nense to which he had been put for publishing,
translatine, etc. However, in the end. the good
man accepted l0.O09 marks and agreed to with
draw the book. u afterwards discovered that
he had never laid eyes even On the covers q the
plaVsI
The times., 1899-10-08
TO BREAK PLANTS WILL.
Widow and SON Will Protest the Oaa
Testament

NEW YORK, Oct. Mrs. Henry B.
Plant, widow OF the Florida capitalist. ami
her son, Mortimer, will try to have the
will of the late millionaire set aside be-
cause the allowance of $50, 900 year apiece
is not enough to support them Their re-
spectiye attorneys have already given no
tice of contest in Connecticut, where the
will was offered for probate
Henry B. Plant part owner of thirteen
railways and nine steamship lines. died on
June % at his home, $50 Fifth Avenue He
left widow and son. His viii was a queer
one. BY system of elaborate trusts.
after leaving widow and son the $50, 900 a
year each, the bulk of the estate was left
so that If the sixyear- fold boy of his son
Mortimer in years TO come is the father OF
a son, who would be the testator's grand
son, he would receive the estate.
The contest will be on account OF the
alleged mental incompetency OF Mr.. Plant
to make a will. He was eighty years old
when he died. His estate is valued at
81, 600 900. Mr. Mortimer Plant said this
morning that he and his father were al
WayS on the best of terms.
The times., 1899-10-08
LIGHT TRAVEL TO EUROPE.
Effect of the Dewey welcome and
Yacht Races

NEW YORK, Oct. There has been
much comment in the large steamship
offices in this city regarding the exceed
ingly small number of passengers sailing
from this port for Europe in the month
and especially the latter half Of the
month-of September. In the natural
course of things, the volume of eastward
ocean travel is small at this time of year;
but the Dewey celebration and the interest
in the international yacht races have
caused many people, who would otherwise
already be in Europe or on their way
thither. to postpone their voyage.
1t will surprise most persons to learn
chat in one week of last month, fourteen
large ocean liners. including such vessels
as the North German Lloyd steamers
Kaiser Wilhelm der Crosse and Friedrich
der Crosse the White Star steamer Ger
manic, the Hamburg American Lines Co
lumbia, the American Lines New York,
the French liner La Gascogne, and the
Cunarder Umbria, carried, on an average,
only fifty-five saloon passengers each.
This number. too. on the German lines,
includes both first and second cabin pas
sengers. In consequence of this light
travel in the last month, it is believed that
the number of outgoing passengers in the
next few weeks will be considerably larger
than usual at this season.
The times., 1899-10-08
.eTbe six-Toed Higginses.v

From the New Orleans IImes-DeIfOcfat-1
ssDown in Kimble county, Texas, said visitor
from the Lone Star State, is remarkable SIX
toed family about whom. far as ! know, moth
ing has ever been told in print. Their name i
Higgins and the family IS composed at present
Of grandfather (syhO must be over ninety. four
middle-aged sons and a drove OF grandchildren,
numbering twenty ty-fve or thirty Old Hig-
gins who is called Mexican BIZ for some reason
/ was never able 10 learn, has SIX toes on each
foot and his wife. who IS now dead, WIS eqaaiig
well provided. They were COUSINS. and ali their
sons have six toes except one, whose feet turn
in noticeably at the ankle but are otherwise
normal All the grandchildren have at least
six toes, and several Of them have seven, the
extra one heing IN each case more or less rudj-
mentsry and not developed like the others. I
vouch for this personally IS | have seen the
whole tribe en- a number Of different occasions.
and in summer time they generally run around
barefooted. The Six-t0e Higginses' Is the name
of the family IS known by among all the neigh
bors. Old Mexican Bill has told me that his par
ents we're both six-toed, and that the same pecu-
harity existed among his relatives rs far back
he knows anything about. The extra toes
don't seem to bother the crowd and at first
glance would not be apt 10 notice anything
unusual about their feet. They farmers and
stock raiseTs on a small scale. and the grand
children above the average OF intelligence.
I am told by physicians that il Is something very
unusual for a malformation To persist in that
way through three or more generations,
The times., 1899-10-08
Enelana,s pebt to America.


Passing now from questions Of pronan-
citation and grammar to questions of vo-
cabulary, | can express my sense OF the
deep Indebtedness of the English language.
both literary and colloquial. to America,
for the old words she has kept alive and
the new words and phrases she has in
vented Ii Is a sheer pedaltry-nay, mis-
conception of the laws which govern Ian
guage as a living organism-to despise
pithy and apt colloquialisms. and even
slang In order to remain healthy and
vigorous a literary language must be root
ed in the soil of copiOus vocabulary. from
which it can extract ana assimilate, by a
chemistry peculiar to itself. whatever
nourishment it requires. II must keep in
touch with life in the broadest acceptation
Of the word; and life at certain levels.
obeying a psychological law which must
simply be accepted as one Of the conditions
of the problem, will always express Itself
in dialect. provincialism, slang.
America doubles and treb.es the number
of points at which the English language
comes in touch with nature and life, and
is therefore great source OF strength and
vitality The literary language, to be sure.
rejects a great deal more than it ab-orbs;
and even in the vernacular words and ex-
pressions are always dying out and being
replaced by others which are somehow
better adapted to the changing conditions
But though an expression has not, IN the
long run. proved itself fitted TO survive. il
does not follow that il has not done good
service in its time. Certain it is that the
common speech. Of the Anglo-Saxon race
throughout the world is exceedingly sup
pie. welI-nourished. and rich in foreibie
and graphic idioms; and great part OF
this wealth it owes to America. Let the
a -, ism afrrlr
for one moment how much poorer the En-
glish language would be today if North
| America had become a French or Spanish
instead of an English continent.
The times., 1899-10-08

there were then; but that the discomfort is
among those who work for wages instead
of being entirely confined to those who
occupy more or less independent positions
at home
The two things, taken together-the
view of fifty years ago and that of today
indicate just this: that the average woman
is not entirely satisfied with any one
sided life. She is not contented to spend
her days in one continual round of house
work, without any outside interest; nor
does she wish to give up everything else
in life for the sake of earning living in
some trade or profession. In short, she
is human being, just as man is. and
there are few men who would be satisfied
either to consider marriage as a vocation
or to deny themselves all chance of home
enjoyments for the sake of doing their
work
The normal woman, then, is contented
only when opportunity is afforded her for
independence while she needs it, and de-
pendence when that becomes natural and
right. American society at present IS so
arranged that very large percentage OF
women are given both these opportunities.
There are thousands of young girls, daugn
ters of farmers or mechanics, who earn
their own living as clerks, factory girls,
dressmakers or mattresses, till they marry
and are all the better wives for their brief
business experience. OF course they some
times find 1t hard to accommodate them
selves to the half of salary for their
spending money, instead of the whole, and
to the varied needs of household, but
after all, woman who has been extraya-
CANT with her own money learns to econo-
mize more easily than one who has been
extravagant with her fathers 1t looks
very much as if the everlasting woman
question were likely to settle itself, though
there may be earthquakes and natural con-
vulsions during the settling process.
The times., 1899-10-08
Fin pennnrIrania.
(From the philadeIphia Record }

(from the RBllaueiphd hecOfd.)
In his stump speech before the State League
Of Republican Clubs oGoyPrnor Stone said that
there were no State Issues before the people of
Pennsylvania The Machine Governor is apparently
OF opinion that his insolent veto OF the right
of the people to amend their constitution, his
tampering with legislation in the arbitrary ex-
cision Of a million dollars from the common
school fund his besiowal Of a brief of appoint
ment Of United States Senator ON Mr.. Quay after
the General Assemblyjs rejection of the boss, and
other acts OF usurpation are too trivial for ser
ious public consideration iH this campaign But
when the next Legislature shall impeach the
Machine Governor for high misdemeanors, resub-
nit the vetoed registration amendment, elect
worthy United States Senator to fill the vacant
seat, and perform other acts in furtherance of
good government be will be likely to have
very different notion to what constitutes a
Stale issie
The times., 1899-10-08
German Hostility to England.

(From the st. Louis GIobe-Democrat.
The anti British outbursts among the prominent
papers in Berlin show that there is no diminu-
tion in the popular hostility to England which
has been felt in Germany, particularly in Prussia,
ever since the days OF Frederick the Great.
George III turned Pitt out OF office in the latter
part OF the seven years C1756-63) war, and ahan-
doned Pitts friend Frederick. There has been
violent hatred in Prussia among a large element
NJ tha neonle ever since. In the war which is
imnendinq between England and the Transyaal
the svupathv of most OF the German people
will he with the Beers, but the German Govern
ment. like the Government of the United States
and of all the rest of the countries, will preserve
a rigid neutrality.
The times., 1899-10-08
THE DEWEY ARCH.
A Novel Suggestion by "a New York
Architect


NEW YORK, Oct. Tss-A novel suggestion
in regard to a ftting site for permanent
Dewey arch is made BY an architect, who
has drawn plans' to illustrate his ideas.
The new idea is 4hatsef Abner j. Haydel.
of the firm of Hayhel A Shepard. who were
among the arehitects jim the competition
for the plans of the New York Public Lii
brary. He beiieysa THAI there were serious
objections to all*thesl sites for the per-
manent arch heretofore suggested. includ-
ing Riverside Drive, the Warriors Gate at
One Hundred and Tenth Street, and Sew
enth Avenue. the Plaza at Fifty-ninth
Street, and Longacre Square. If the arch
Is to be perpetuated. he argues, it should
be placed where ii can be seen by large
numbers of people to the best advantage.
III square of proper proportions.
site fulfilling all these requirements,
Mr.. Haydel says. can be made on the
plateau of Murray HiH which extends
from Thirty seventh Street to Thirty
ninth Street. The centre of this plateau is
at the junction of Fifth Avenue and Thir
ty-eighth Street, and the architect sug-
gests that the city buy plot of land fifty
feet square on each of the four corners,
tear down the old buildings there, and
make public square. which would nat
urHiiy De named In honor or Admlral Dew
ey. This square would not contain turf or
trees, but be paved open space, about
160x200 feet, Fifth Avenue being 100 feet
wide and Thirty eighth Street so feet. The
arch being just at the junction of the ave-
nue. and the street, carriages would pass
through it on the line of either.
The architect also suggests that the pro-
posed Dewey Square should be surrounded
by colonnade similar in general character
TO the pillars now near the arch at Twenty
third Street, though the details of their
establishment can be left to the future.
incidentally, he remarked, the execution of
the proposed plan would prevent the in
PRODUCTION of railroad cars in Fifth Ave
nue.
The times., 1899-10-08
New Era In Freight Cars.

The scarcity of railroad freight cars has not
been relieved so far Pttsburg is concerned
The circular repair shop OF the Pennsylvania Rail
road At Pitcairn, OF the biggest shops in the
country. is oyerworked with patching I'D dis
abled cars and several hundred cars waiting for
repairs have already accumulated on the tracks in
the yard and more coming in every day
The great number of old-style cars is noticeable
Under ordinary traffic conditions they would last
for months but when forming parts of trains
made up OF the big steel freight cars and the
forty-eight ton wooden cars they are either pull
ed apart BIZ the strain or crushed by the appiica-
tion Of the air brake. Railroad managers estimate
that sc, 600 OF these cars running on the rail
road within 200 miles of Pittsburg will have to
be taken out Of the service within twelve months
Cars with broken sides are patched up no longer
but are usually DESTROYED or burned The side
siils give way at heavy strains and they are liable
TO cause disastrous wrecks
The times., 1899-10-08
rn.nre for EIorian.

(From the AIIdHIa NoIstI .
There is for the State of Florida, however,
great future regardless Of winter uavel ana she
s,,Itiat;or q, oranges The State is all sea
front II commands both the Gulf and the ATTAIN
tic 1t commands the continent TO the north as
we'll as that TO the south, and under the impetus
of our possession of West Indian waters, fIorida
must become the great meeting place of the peo-
nIe ~ both the Americas. This carries with 1t
the further idea that there must spring up in
that State corresponding commercial activity,
the limits of which we have not yet even dream,
ed of Instead Of being. as heretofore, almost
the jumping off place of the United States Florida
now becomes an inter-eontinental centre which,
with the Apening OF the inevitable Niearaguan
Canal. will make it the great naval station OF
the continents OF the world.