davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-24

given to such a project to include the lay
ing out of good and sufficient roads for
drives and the crossing at the inlet and
outlet channels and the short channel con-
meeting the tidal reservoir with the smaller
reservoir by appropriate bridges: also con-
meeting the sections of the park above and
below the railroad by arched passages for
pedestrians and carriages as soon as certain
matters of grade should be settled
Inc park is now contributing to the well
iafe ana enjoyment of the public through
ITS bathing beach and bathing pool, the
former being a portion of the nortbea ST
beac of the large tidal reservoir set anart
Tor that purpose by Congress about 1881.
ana the latter consisting of the small reser.
Hoir, reVocable permit to occupy this
Small reservoir and liberal allotment or
ground bordering it having been given the
District in 1856 by the Secretary of War.
WI mn the park a short distance below
the railroad track and facing the Wash
Hist"h enamel. is an area of about twenty
acres or ground. assigned, temporariIv nv
me secretary of War, and by virtue of an
act OF Congress, to the Department of Ag-
In rar Il r testing grounds. Through the
EPPeI emu OF the park, in front of Naval
observatory hill, passes the line of the pro
posed memorial bridge to Arlington
Hnrbor Lines
AS TO harbor lines along the Potomac
front or Washington-this involves the con-
sloeFauon or two nearly parallel lines: one
OF them termed the bukhead line. beyond
"hlch no deposits should be made in the
river, and the other, called the wharf line
as II hxes limit beyond which wharyes
sHouid not encr0ach upon the navigable
enamel The wharf line for the PotOma r
front was established in 1882 The bulk
heaQ me is under consideration.
ne river and harbor act of March last
provided also for improving the Potomac
river below the city of Washington, in ac-
cordance with the project submitted In
November, 1891. That project contem-
plated for the river below Washington the
excavation of channels so as to secure
wldths of 200 feet with depths of "A feet a I
low toe. The same project contained an
estimate OF the cost of deepening all the
channels at Washington from the present
standard depth of 20 feet to the same
depth as recommended for the Potomac
below Washington, viz, "a feet. In case
the execution of that part of the project
should be approved by the law-ma king
power, vessels of "a feet draught would
come to Washington, and suitable wharf
accommodations for unloading and distrib-
uting their cargoeS would be in order The
project of 1891 also recommended the
dredging of a channel "a feet deep and 200
feet wide from the mouth of the Anacostia
to the navy yard and the subject was also
discussed in report made in December
1888. Steps have been already taken to-
ward commencing the work of improve
ment of the Potomac below Washington
in accordance with the act of March last
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-24

Beyond the ice houses and below the
Long bridge the river front takes on its
most unattractve appearance. Small frame
buildings, stables. piles of rubbish, wood
yards and fish houses litter the way.
The oyster wkarves located in this
section, and do not furnish adequate facili-
ties for the moOring of all the craft which
arrive in the busy seasons. The vessels
sometimes cluster four and five abreast
about the piers, and have to discharge their
cargoeS across each others decks. Just
beyond is plenty of room. but the place
has not been improved for the purpose.
Above the reclaimed fats. on the Wash
ington and Georgetown shores of the river,
practically the same conditions prevail.
visitor inspecting the water edge of the
capital from steam launch would find -
per cent of the length in a condition sus-
costing decades of neg ect and inspiring the
most dispar igins comparisons.
Col. Aliens Views.
Col. Charles J. Allen. corps Of engineers,
who is directly in charge Of the work of
improving the Potomac river. including the
reclamation of the flats opposite this city,
talked Interestingly to a Star reporter of
the splendid opportunities offered for the
substantial Improvement of the river front
of the city, row that there is no longer any
dispute as TO the clear title of the govern
ment to that territory. According to Col.
Allen a sufficient amount of funds is all
that is needed TO make the reclaimed area
of the Potomac "a thing Of beauty and
joy forever. In the course of d general
conversation on this subject he said
The Importance TO the city of Washing
ton Of the recent decision Of the Supreme
Court of the United States which leaves
the government in undisturbed title to the
area. so long known the reclaimed flats
of the Potomac river, as We'll as of por-
tons of the wharf front Of the city, can
hardly be oyer-eStimated.
THE steps by which the work of rec!a
nation of The flats was brought about and
the necessity for the same are SO well
known TO every one i'll Washington that it
is unnecessary TO go over that matter
again. 1t is enough to say that about 62l
acres of the old low flats. which were OBJ
noxious to the health of the community,
have been transformed into as many acres
Of good land rising to an average height of
eleven feet above the river surface. Within
this area is an artificial tidal reservoir
pond covering IFS acres, and which
ceives its supply from the Virginia chan
mel and empties into the Washington chan
mel through outlet gates. A smaller tidal
reservoir is connected with the large reser-
vor by 4 short and narrow channel. The
entire river fronts of the reclaimed area
and all but a few hundred feet of the
shore lire of the reservoir are protected by
stone wall the entire length of which is
5000 feet. The connection of the reservoir
with the Virginia channel is through a
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-24

shoal in the Virginia channel above Long
bridge exists, but work Is in progress to
remove the shoal.
A Public Park Provided.
Congress, by act of March 8, 1897, de-
clared the reclaimed flats public park,
under the name of the Potomac Park, to
be forever held and used as such for the
recreation and pleasure of the people.
These fats thus set aside are capable of
being transformed into one OF the most
pleasing parks in the country, and it is
hoped that the removal of the last vestige
of doubt as to the title to the entire area
will be followed by such appropriations as
will enable the plan of reclamation to be
speedily completed and the full park i'm
prOvement to be entered upon.
at would be premature for me to under
take to say at this time just what will be
done in the furtherance of these improve
nIent. bat it seems unlikely that the work
50 well begun will be allowed to langush
from lack of means for its full completion.
Congress at its last session made an
appropriation for continuing the work of
Improvement at Washington, and steps are
now in progress for utilizing the appropria-
ton in dredging.
Recurring 70 the park-it is not abso-
Iutely necessary to await the full compile
ton of the mere project of retaining the
fats before entering upon park improve
ment. On the contrary, the ground Will
soon be IN coalition to admit of a begin
ming in that direction, II Congress so orders,
in the way of opening and constructing
carriage roads, bicycle paths, &c, over the
area extending from Easby's Point to Long
bridge, if not below the latter. The carriage
roads would be, in that case, somewhat
higher than the general level of the area
until the ertire work of filling could be
accomplished, but a beginning could be
made as Indicated and the people be given
an early opportunity to vary their drives
and excursions and view an important and
interesting reach of the Virginia channel,
with the Virginia shore and the grounds OF
Arlington beyond. Meanwhile the raising
of the reclaimed area to the height orig
inally planned, and beyond that to the ele-
walton needed for the full park improve
ment, could go on. Sufficient and regular
appropriations. however, would be needed.
The project of converting the recla lined
fats into a public park is not a new idea.
Almost from the inception of the plan for
retaining the flats attention has been
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-24

ID fats on the one side and the arsenal
grounds on the other. Here the rivers
edge IS marked by stone walls on eacn
side, and the overhanging trees and shrub
berry OF thu flats and the smooth lawns of
the arsenal lend an air OF sylvan beauty
to the scene.
But as soon as the arsenal grounds are
cleared the scenery changes. The Old sheds
and wharves formerly the docks OF the old
Lady Of the Lake and the Jane Moseiey,
obtrude themselves upon the vision. The
planking is falling into the river and the
whole place has a snaggle-tooth appear
ance. Above that are wharves, coal piers
and wooden docks answering the purposes
required of them, no doubt. but which GER
tairly can not be said TO make an attrac-
tive landscape.
Then come the ferry landing and the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-24
An Alligator Story.
From the New York Press.

From the New York Press.
Obadiah Barber, the veteran bear hunter
of the Okefinokee swamp, has told in his
day some hot bear stories, but now he
comes along with his latest yarn, which he
offers with implicit faith that the folk will
believe this also.
He says his neighbor, old man John Cra-
ven, who lives on Hickory Hammock an
island in the great Okefinokee swamp, has
tanned some alligators and given them to
his children as Il Dewey day present. Mr.
Craven caught the alligators several years
ago when they were in their swaddling
clothes, and built them a playhouse in his
back yard. The children We're soon on good
terms with them and taught them numer-
Gus useful and ridiculous tricks The ba-
Des were docile and in their sleepy-headed
way gradually awaited themselves of such
educational advantages the Craven chill
dren offered to them. But the alligators
are about grown now, measuring from eight
to nine feet each, and are exceedingly
athletic considering the clumsiness of their
fellow alligators in the swamp. And now
the children hitch the alligators to ploWs
and cultivate the potato patch with them.
Sometimes the boys ride the saurian over
the farm. An alligator wagon has been
made by the boys, and when they want to
take a straw ride they invite their sisters
and their neighbors' children over and all
take ride behind the two pet alligators.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-24
Antiquity of the Saw.

From the London Architect.
Saws We're used by the ancient Egyptians
One that was discovered. with several other
carpenters tools in a private tomb at
Thebes is preserved in the British
Museum. The blade, which appears to be
of brass is 1012 inches long and Ia inches
broad at the widest part. The teeth are
irregular, and appear to have been formed
by striking a blunt-edged instrument
against the edge of the plate, the burr, or
rough shoulder, thus produced not being re-
moved.
A painting copied in Rosellinis work on
Egypt antiquities represents a man using
a similar saw, the piece of wood that he is
cutting being held between two upright
posts. In other representations the timber
is bound with ropes TO a single post, and in
one also copied by Rosellini, the workman
is engaged in frightening the rope, having
left the sticking in the cut.
In an engraving given in the third volume
of "Wikinson's Manners and Customs Of
the Ancient Egyptians" a saw is represents
ed of much larger dimensions, its length
being, by comparison with the man not
less than three or four feet 1t does not APP
pear that the Egyptians used saws worked
by two men.
The invention of saws was variously at
tributed by the Greeks 10 two or three In
diViduals, who are supposed to have taken
the idea from the jawbone of a snake or
the backbone of a fish There is a very
cred in the ruins of HerCulaneum, repre-
Senting the interior OF a carpenters work
shop, with two genii cutting piece Of
wood with frame saw, and on an altar
preserved in the Capitoline Museum at
Rome there is a perfect representation Of
a bow saw, exactly resembling. in the form
of frame and the twisted cord for tight
ening it, those used by modern carpenters.
From these remains IL is evident that these
forms of the instruments were known to
the ancients.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-24

From the New York Commercial Advertiser.
1--WE tried to keep the railway carriage
to ourselves from Liverpool to London"
writes girl, who can appreciate joke on
herself, even when on her wedding tour.
1.-The steamer was crowded We really
had not had a moment to ourselves. At
Busby, I think 1t was, the guard opened the
door, and, in spite of Freds scowls, lifted a
small girl into our compartment, making a
lot of apologies about having no place else
to put her. She was real little tow-headed
English girl of about seven, and she sat
down on the edge of the seat and stared
about her. What Is the matter, Miss Vic
toriaY asked Fred, who is the most good
natured man in the world. I don't see the
birds said tho small girl, plaintivaly.
Birds? What birds? asked Fred. When
came from my other train, your guard said
to my guard, '"Shove her in along wifi the
love BIRDS Where are theyr"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-24
ANIMAL LIFE IN CCRA.
Troopers Tale About the Buzxards
and wild Dogs.

From the New York Commercial Advertiser
A trooper of the Sth Regular Cavalry,
who returned from Cuba recently, thinks
the island is a regular menagerie.
You oughter see the buZZards,'' he said.
'"They look just like turkeys, and you
wouldn't eat any turkeys after you seen
them. The boys had lots of fun shooting
EN-, but we was fined s. for every one kill
ed, so we soon stopped that. Then we took
a hunk of meat and tied a string to it,
and al the other end of the string we tied
a can of becf-we never ate the canned beef
and when the buZzard saw the meat he'd
run and swallow it, and the boys would
shout, then up goes the old bird with the
string and the can. That's one of the ways
we got rid of our canned beef Some
times the boys would put fish hooks in the
meat, but that was no fun, for soon as
the bird felt the hook he'd spit it out again.
Sometimes the strings and cans got caught
in the trees and the buzzards would by
flying around get all tangled up.
"Onc time we went on a practice ride
through the woods with the captain ahead
of us. The captain sat on his mare as
like he got a bang on the head and was
nearly knocked down. Gee, but he was
mad. He turned on the lieutenant and
said: What the - is the matter with you;
what did you hit me fOr?'
IL didn't hit you, SIR said the Eeuten-
ant.
Why, pardon me- said the captain, I
thought you did, because you're the only
one me-
mo sooner did he say 1t than he got an
other bang on the head, and, snatching in
the air, got hold of can of beef on
string. He looked up, and there was buzz
zard with the other end of the string in its
mouth. Getting square, that's what he was
doing. The captain, he laughs then, and
tells the boys they can shoot all the buzz
yards they want to.
Them wild dogs, they're all right, too.
If they ever caught you in the woods, good
bye! They're thieves, too. We had little
terrier which we brought with US from
Huntsville We called him Dewey and
suddin he disappeared, nobody knew where.
Then we notices our quartermaster's tent
was being robbed when the new rations
came. We thought it was the Cubans at
guard the first night, on the second relief.
We went on from - to 9 am. About l
o'clock 1 heard rustling in the bushes and
thought Here they come, and lies down
so I can watch. There was an open space
around the tent and the moon was shin
ing so 1 could see everything plain. Pretty
soon they comes out of the bush. and it
wasn't Cubans at all, but just wild dogs.
Leading them was Dewey, our own mascot,
/ let them go for bit to see what they d
do. They was all black except our little
rascal Dewey, who was white when he was
clean. We'll, sir, if that dog didn't lead
sniff. So l fires off my gun and they scat
tered. Oh, yes. Dewey knew when we drew
our new rations. If / had time I'd tell you
about the land crabs that eat tin cans and
cartridge shells. They certainly did have
funny animals in Cuba"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-24

short inlet, across which are to be placed
the inlet gates, which are part of the orig
lnal plan adopted in 1852.
The land Of the reclaimed area Is the
result of Gepos!ting upon the fats the ma
ter-ai dredSed from the river for the i'm
proVenent of the Virginia Cor Georgetown
and Washington channels, as appropria-
lions have been made since 1881 by Con-
gress. A considerable amount of work yet
remains 10 be done TO bring the surface of
the reclaimed area to the height of thirteen
feet above low tide as originally contem-
plated
The result of the work fo- Improvement
of the Potomac at Washington is seen In
Virginia and Washington channels, in each
Of which the standard depth at low tide is
twenty feet, with general widths of 400
feet A comparatively small extent OF
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-24

piers of the Norfolk boats, the excursion
boats and the small river steamers. where
a great deal of business is transacted in
a contracted space If general scheme
of imp Uvem-mt were adopted for the river
front il would probably be possible to con-
form the Plan for the Identification of the
section to the requirements of commerce.
Continuing northward ore passes next
the ice WhaTvaS, where stout wooden piers
nave been built. al which are mo0red the
schooners Gischarging Their cargOes Of ice
into the tall warehouses along the banks.
There is p!alty of space here the natural
conformation of the land being favorable
TO a comprehensive plan of Improvement.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-24

'Do YOU think, professor, that bumps on
a mans head are indications of his charac-
ter2"
"Well, no! They are rather indications Of
his wife's charaoterp'-Lustige Blaetter.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-24
Too True.

From LIE
When you told me that you were going
TO play golf" said the young husband. Bit
terly, Il had no idea that you intended 10
be absent evenings as well as afternoons"
His wife was very justly indignant at his
lack Of foresight.
You should have remembered" she re-
piled, reproachfully, that evenings are the
only time We have to talk over the game"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-24

at, Johnnyrs
Johnny O'shsa-He don't work at nut
tin; he's policeman. "-Tit-Bits.,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-24
IN BAD CONDITION

The City's Water Front in Sad State
of Dilapidation.
BETTER THINGS ARE NOW POSSIBLE
What the Supreme Courts De-
cision Promises to Develop.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-08-24
IN STATE CONVENTION.
Pennsylvania Republicans Meet at
Harrisburg Today.
State Treasurer and Superior and Supreme
Court Judges Named.

Harrisburg. Aug. A.-The Repnbli-
can state convention opened here today
nominated Col James IL. Barnett of the
Tenth Pennsylvania Regiment for state
treasurer: j. Hay Brown of Lancaster
for Supreme Court judge and Josiah r..
Adams. of Philadelphia for superior
court Judge The nominations for SUI
preme Judge is equivalent TO an cleo
ton by reason of two vacancies in the
court and no elector being entitled 10
vote for more than one person. The
platform endorsed the administrations
of President Mckinley and Governor
Stone. and commended the executive
for his appontmen mt Of Mr.. Quay to She
United States Senate.
A feature Of the convention was the
presence Of Senator Quay as "A delegate
from Beaver county. The convention
was called 10 order by Chairman Elkn
at i0:30 o'clock. Senator Penrose was
unanimously elected temporary chair
man He made a short but stirring
speech which was heartily applauded.
Committees made up OF one delegate
from each Of the fifty senatorial dis
tricts were announced TO prepare
platform, act on the credentials and
provide for a permanent organization.
These committees retired TO perform
their work and meanwhile the conven-
tion listened u speeches nominating
The various candidates.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-08-24
ANNUAL OUTING.
Butchers and Marksfmsn Go on an
Excursion 10 Newport.
Large Party Enjoys Trip TO the Sumner
CAPITAL on the Warwick.

The annual summer outing of the
Butchers and Marketmen's Asso-
citation is taking place today and, in
consequence, all Of the wholesale and
retail stores were closed at l o'clock.
In spite of the, somewhat undesirable
weather a very large number of the
members Of the association. with their
families and friends participated In the
excursion, which was TO Newport.
Shortly before 3 O'Clock they began
TO board the handsome steamer War
wick, which was at the dock on South
Water street, near Crawford street
bridge. the boat having been specially
chartered for The occasion. At 3 O'Clock
the boat started, stopping at Fields
Point TO take some members, who had
called upon Col. Atwell for dinner. and
then continued on it's way TO Newport,
which Will be reached about g o'clock.
The program, as arranged, includes
"a stop OF Three hours al Newport, the
time 10 be used as the individuals think
best, and at O'Clock the Warwick viii
SAIL again. the plan being to reach
Providence about 10 y. IN. There was
plenty of good music on the boat, re-
freshments for all and on the return
trip one OF the pleasant features will be
dancing upon the upper deck, IL the
Weather permits. il not the excursion
isis will dance under cover
The committee OF arrangements con-
sIsts ,of III. +, Cloudman. chairman; H..
a. Sayles. w. H. Edison, ii. G.. White
and Thomas $. DelanO.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-08-24
FINANCIAL.
BULLS AND BEARS.
Active Forenoon and a Dull Afternoon
in Stock MaIket
Tobacco Stocks Led 10 New Prices but
Later They Were Sold Oit


Wall Street, Aug. 24.-Ihe market
continued strong and active ana tend
ing higher in most of the list all the
forenoon.
American Tobacco vas again the
leader mounting above l3t continental
was strong i'm sympathy around o.
Both stocks fell away rapidly however
The Reading Issues all took on new
life and of the railroads the Facllcs
commanded most attention. Nortnern
Pacific led this list sing TO az uIlioh
remained strong above a. ana AtcIlh-
son around 6S Missouri CLIMBED 10
new high figure 5lis -.
The little fellows took hoid' too' lhis s
morning, M. X. r. ChesapeaAe anu an u
Ohio. Wabash and O. & w. al turning
active and moving upward.
OF the Industrals, Leather ~ ~
touched a. Cotton oil -. Mhlle tte
rest OF the list was lazy l. - l. tan
ing a turn down. -
Peoples Gas moved back ID l-V'
The Changers We're sleepy
Brooklyn and Manhattan were
stronger and higher. the former hoNeI
ing around 105. a recovery oI hNe poin's
from it's low of Tuesday.
Prices relaxed a shade ana are rum
ming heavy I'm the last hout
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-08-24
Could Not Answer.

Col Maurel said he failed TO clearly
grasp the question and NJ Labori re.
peated his question. whereupon the wit
ness replied that ne could not answer
because IN he did he would have IA
speak Of he first document i'm the dos
sier. which convinced the court OF the
prisoners guilt"
At this point VI. Labori said he would
IKE 20 confront Col. Maurel with Cant
Freystaetter. another OF the Judges al
IN ecourt martial OF 1894. But Freys-
iattter was not present ana Col. Mau-
rel promised 10 walt few davs and
give the captain an opportunity OF at
tending.
a lively incident followed. NJ La
bori having asked leave 10 b1terragate
Gen. MERCER Major Carriere took the
occasion 90 remark that while counsel
nad the right 20 ask questions ne had
no business 10 draw deductions 10
which the lawyer dryiy replied thai he
had always aVte1 with "a full kp',,yi-
,use oi tho restrictions imposed unnr
younsel and that he had no need ~
,essons from Major Carrierc and ryould
not accept them '' ""ul4