davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-16
Tho NIainc.

II was n happy idea Of tho Messrs. GRANT
TO select the 18th Of February. the ami,
versary of the blowing up OF the Maine in
Havana harbor, for laying the first plate OF
her uamesake, to be built at their yard.
The progress of this vessel will DO watched
with o peculiar interest. and with the hope
that on the next anniversary she may DO
launched. while perhaps Feb. IS, 1901,
may see her trial trip. Her completion,
however, is not required by her contract
until June 1 Of that year.
Comparing the new with the old Maine
We see the stride in construction from our
earliest to our latest b~attleships. The new
vessel will be 20 feetthe longer, and have 10
feet more beam and over two feet greater
mean draught, displacing 12,5OO tons,
against her predecessors 6,6s2. She will
have 10000 indicated horse power, against
e,293, and a normal coal supply Of 1000
tons, against only 400, the bunker capacity,
also, being 1000, against 500. Her turrets
will carry 12-inch guns, where the old
Maine carried 10-inch, and instead of six
6-inch guns the newer battleship will nave
sixteen. There will be thirty-one guns in
the secondary battery, instead Of nineteen,
including twenty 6-pounders. instead Of
seven. In armor the advantage OF the new
vessel will be no less marked, her ~turrets,
for example, being not only superior in
quality but twice as thick.
Great rs the new Maine may be. how-
ever, in herself and in her achievements,
che will never dull the country's affection
ate recollection Of the ship now lying
wrecked in Havana harbor.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-16

The Alabama Legislature has defeated a
bill to provide for the holding OF State and ma
tional elections on the same day hereafter in
stead Of the present practice to hold them
biennially. the State elections in August and
Federal in November. Georgia, Arkansas and
Louisiana divide their elections in the same
way. State elections in Georgia being on the
first Wednesday in October. in Arkansas on
the first Monday in September. and in Louisi-
ana on the Tuesday following the third Monday
in April. In Louisiana the date is fixed by the
recently adopted State Constitution. and there
does not appear to have been any serious OBJ
lection to it. in spite of the fact that in the past
the State has suffered because. in part. at least.
spring State elections have turned upor ques-
tions ia which other interests than those of the
Commonwealth were concerned. The holding
Of two elections in Alabama, one in August
and another in November. would seem to be a
political anomaly. and it is not easy to
find any justification for the obstruction to
business and additional expense consequent
upon it. The same is true of Georgia,
where the two elections. one in October
and another in November. seem to be without
or recent years Kentucky has discarded its
West Virginia abandoned State elections in
October and substituted the general election
day in November as more convenient and more
desirable. The Alabama Legislature. however.
In defeating the single election proposition
and adhering to separate State and Federal
elections. follows the rule that only in strongly
Democratic or strongly Republican States is
the system of two separate biennial elections
kant nm
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-16
MExrco.s orErRFsr crrr.
Cntorce, So Named Because II was the
stronghold of Fourteen Robbcrs.

From Modern M,rico.
Eight miles due east over tho mountains
from Catorce Station, on the Mexican National
Railroad. is the city OF that name. a city along
whose steep. winding streets neither wagon
nor cart, neither stage nor bus. nor any other
wheeled vehicle was ever known TO pass, al.
though It has often boosted OF "a population Of
10000 souls.
The city takes its name from once being The
stronghold and the property Of a band Of four
teen of The most daring, desperate. dangcrnu,
and successful robbers that ever laid tributcon
roads OF Mexico. .Thay discovered. and for
many years worked. tho rich deposits Of silver
try-dep osits. the value of which, If current
report he true. for hundreds of years out.
Iivalled the mythical riches related of Ophir.
Strange to relate, every piece of machinery,
every bound of freight, and every passenger to
IN. from Catorce Is Transported today. Us
for centuries past. either on The backs Of mon
Catorco is one OF the most interesting places
In Mexico. Here are found the customs Of
Mexico in their purity. unaffected by the In.
f%uence OF the stranger, Dihloult of access.
on foot. Catorce has seldom been visited hy
any eNcept those making business trips. The
ride up the mountains into the town is somo-
thing, once accomplished. always to be re-
membeTed. partly from its element OF personal
peril. but more because of the beauty Of tho
ing down. as YOU near your journeys end. YOU
catch n CLEAN of the white walls. of Los Ca
tDIce outlined against the. green OF the noun
tain SIDE. Thousands of feet below simmer
the waters of a mountain stream. The shift
Ing .coloring of the mountains as light and
shade chase each other over their rugged eN-
panse. the browns and greens of the valley
below, and the hills in the hazy distance arc
beautiful exceedingly"
The Real de Catorce is built on the side Of q
ravine near the top of the range. and has a
the mines are paving we'll or poorly. Here are
found all varieties of silver ore from carbon
ates to refractory ore, asSaying Sl5.OOO to the
Con InfnFpn hnG n fine pnfhpIrn1 rfnhlu laa
GRATED. and a pretty plaza. the only level spot
in the place. To use.a railroad phrase. it Isl
combination of cut and fill. so that to tumble
into 1t on one side and out the other would be
extremely disastrous. The streets, are neatly
paved, and run up and down hill, many Of
gether this is one OF the show places Of Mexico.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-16
Oranges.

Three years after the memorable frost
that killed three-fourths OF her orange trees
down to the roots n cold wave has again
invaded Florida, herorange industry is once
more FRUSTRATED, and the damage cannot be
repaired for several years.
Last season was a poor orange year, but
fruit from the trees that sprang from the
old roots was coming into the market and
the crop was about half as great as that
yielded the year before the disaster. About
forty per cent. OF the orange growers, dis
heartened by their former misfortune. had
abandoned the business. Those who hope
fully kept on find all hopes of profit blasted
again for years to come. In the large orange
district of Deland, about 100 miles south Of
Jacksonville, all the trees have been killed,
n in the more southern districts the
groves are said to have been badly hurt.
Orange growers said last year that the
Florida crop would not reach its former
proportions for ten years, and many be-
lieved that the crop would never again
reach its old magnitude. The result of
this new misfortune will he to increase
the present tendency in Florida to sub
stitute other crops for oranges Many
orange growers have already turned their
attention to other products and have pros
pered. They are growing tobacco and hay,
and not a few have gone into stock raising.
More attention is now given to pine
apples, and though the pineries were dam
aged by this cold wave, the loss will not be
very great, for the plant is grown partly
under cover to protect it from the fierce
Florida sun.
OF course there will now he a fresh boom
in California orange culture. The present
tariff on all citrus fruits has practically
stopped orange importations, but even if
Florida goes out Of the business we may
still grow all the oranges We can consume.
California's crop last year, about 5000, 900
boxes, was larger than the worlds output
not many years ago.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-16
Foreign Notes of Real 1pter.,t.

A Copenhagen brewer. Herr Jacobsen. has Pre-.
scented his art collections, whose value is placed al
5,obo,o0o kroner 81 $50, 600. to the city authorities.
Though the first tank steamer wac built only thir-
teen years ago, there are now $50 tank vessels in er.
tstence, nearly all steamers, with a register Of 4oI..
024 tons.
Prussia's new Landtng building at Berlin is a fail.
nrc. the acoustic properties of the representative '
hall being SO bad that speakers cannot be heard even
in the front seats.
Poetic justice has been dealt toa British sportsman,
who died of blood poisoning brought about by tho
scratch of II wild rabbit he was letting loose for tho
hounds in a coursing match.
Paris sewers are being searched carefully for treas
ure trove. owing to the recent discovery by a work.
man under the Rue Montmartre Of bundle con-
tanning 100000 francs in securities.
Anti.semitic feeling in the Paris newspapers on.
posed to Dreyfus runs so high that they object 10 tho
AnhR's national subscription for a submarine boat
because 50 many jews are contributors.
Mr.. W. s. Gilbert and his servants recently put ont
a hre IN the brushwood on a common adjoining his
estates. lie was Obliged to pay the local fire brigade
besides for the trouble OF being called out.
Golf and archery came into competition recently
near birmingham, ono contestant undertaking to
hole ont eighteen holes with bow and arrow in fewer
shots than his competitor would make strokes with
club and ball, The archer won.
Nine. de FGvrier, a sister!n.law Of the French
General de Fevricr. who recently resigned the Grand
Chancellorship Of the Legion Of Honor, was muir.
dered recently by a male servant. She was ~ years
Of age. aud had madca will leaving her servant 400
600 francs and making HIM executor of her estate.
Londoncrs consume ?75, 900, 600 gallons Of water
a year, according 10 the Ho0s Nrg1Iins. they do not
drink all Of II, and what they do drink is not always
taken clear, AZ they use ~, 600. 900 pounds II tea rs
well. They do put down I53, 100000 gallons Il
beer, however. as wclla as I.4OO, 900 gallons of spir9ts.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-16
The TriaIs of n Flrcmnn,s WIFE.

To THE EpIToR or THE suN-Sir Reading in tbe
morning papers Chief Bonnor'p statement that the
hreInen were completely worn out with hard work
and now. when they have a chance to rest, they are
turned into snow shovellers and street cleaners
l think II IL a crime to make these poor fellow,
!! some OF them have not hal an hours sleep i'm
iorty-elght hours 3 do the work Of men hired r'r
thai purpose' wh,n thousands of dollars have been
a.Ilropfaisd inr nat purpose, 1t is an old saving
that a willing horse IL always worked 10 d.aIh -
sn1 ! guess the author of that remark must have
Lad the fireman in his mind al tho time: and &c,
they say that Chief Bonner is tho blue shirts +"
(hremCn'sI friend. "'''
when the hre ia raging and danger is nigh.
tod and the fireman is the peoples Cry:
when the fire ~ out and all is righted,
hod II forgotten and the fireman sighted.
NE" LORE req a. A FIgEMAE's WIFE.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-16
The Sensible People of Philadelphia.

Next Tuesday a municipal election Is to
be held at Philadelphia A Mayor and other
city officers are to be elected and also
members OF the municipal Councils, and
that the Republican candidates will be sue
cessful by large majorities is a foregone
conclusion.
Philadelphia newspapers speak OF the
little popular interest manifested in this
election but why should it be otherwise2
Large and momentous national affairs and
questions are now occupying the public at
tention in that city and everywhere else in
the Union. Moreover, we do not discover
from these papers that there are any local
Issues OF Importance to be decided at
the election, nor do we find objections to
the principal candidates OF the party al
ready dominant at Philadelphia. 1t seems
Ia be an election which has no special sig
niiicance so far as concerns any problem or
proposed reform Of the municipal govern
inent, Consequently the absence of popu-
lar excitement over it appears sensible
enough.
The only exhibition Of agitation over the
election from the Record OF that
town, in this wise:
'H'' WV VI H'h gtNla 10 n matter OF more
vital importance to the people than the election OF a
President or a State Executive. But so inert or dead
IL the civic spirit that the coming election is hardly
talked Of except among political machine managers
and their employees. who will not only conduct IL
out WhohaVe the result So well in hand that they
could furnish a forecast so accurate that IL would
tally with the facts on the day after the election
If the people of Philadelphia are as little
concerned about the matter as the Record
says, we take it for granted that as they
know their own business they have no
reason to be fearful that the city's inter
ests will not be guarded properly by
the municipal officers sure to be elected.
OF course, they do not regard the cleo
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-16
New Public Buildings.

The seventy-eight bills for public build.
ings presented in the House recently by
the Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds involve S1O,923,9Oo. They in
clude some important structures in great
cities, and they do not neglect smaller ones,
like Blair, Bluefeld, Beaumont, Creston,
Hastings, Joplin. Aberdeen, and Streator.
Detailed reports were made on the bills,
and from these and the debates it can be
seen what the merits of the respective
measures are. Blair, for example, had
2O69 people in 1890, and its gross postal re-
ceipts last year were So, $780, rs. The com
mittee reported that the Government
could not make n better investment" than
n $43 900 Post Office building for Blair.
although it now rents one, with fuel and
light, for $295 a year. To Elizabeth
City, NC, which had $3.50 people in 1890,
the Committee of the Whole awarded n
$4,000 building. There the cost of rent,
fuel and light has been only $3OS, and the
gross receipts last year were So, 235.57.
For Oakland, which now rents a Post Of
flee at So, $50 a year, a $3.50, 900 building is
provided, this sum, at 4 per cent. interest,
amounting to 10000 a year. At New
Iberia, which had 3,40O people at the last
census, n $4,000 building Is to go up.
Bluetield. according to the committee re-
port, has several large wholesale houses,
a large number OF retail stores" and "a
handsome brick City Hall" besides gross
postal receipts OF $9,016.16 in 1897. The
brick building may have been irresistible,
for the thriving little town in the Com
mittee Of the Whole got its s45, 900 Gov
eminent structure.
Brunswick, having 10000 people, mod
estlyasked for n S25O,OO building, but the
80" was cut of, and the 500, 900 then
passed unchallenged. Rents, light and fuel
for the Post Office at Bristol, Tenn, now
amount to 5000 a year, and the cost Of its
proposed building was cut down from
500. 900 to $50. 900. For the Salem public
building one argument used was that Salem
is the capital OF a State larger than New
York and Pennsylvania combined" Beau-
mOnt's building will cost $75. 900. At FL
gin the Government Is now renting its quar-
tors for 81 500. but is to erect a building
of its own for 500. 900. For Butte's
building $500, 900 was asked and 5000.
600 granted. CrestOn was satisfied with
n $4,000 building, whereas the one
at Fergus Falls, where the Federal Courts
are to sit, will cost $l75, 900. Hastings
gets $4,000 for the site of q building
while Carrollton, KY, which has gross postal
receipts of $ 3,l97, secured a building, after
Dir. BERRY's assurance that one weeks re-
ceipts OF the local dlstilleries would pay
for il.
Joplin, Streator, st. Cloud, Oskaloosa,
Winston and Eau Claire received each 500
600 for buildings; Monmouth, ILL.,, $4,000,
and Abilene, with 5000 people, SIS, ZOO.
The committees recommendations in favor
of more thana dozen places, including Hop
kinsville, Shamokin and Portsmouth, were
not accepted. Even the fate of the bills al
ready mentioned Is not certain, for, al
though passed in the Committee Of the
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-16
FOUNDED NINETEEN TIMES.
The Result of SerEt. Kennedy's laundering
Into tho Spanish Line.

from me hdnSdS ttV IimS.
Frank Kennedy. now in Kansas City. was
wounded nipeteenstimes in the battle OF San
tiago de Cuba. He walks with crutches. since
his right leg, broken six times. is still a little
tender. but he hopes soon to be able TO discard
them. when he will again enter Uncle Sans
service. this time as a regular.
II was Sergeant in Troop F'of the First
Volunteer SCavalry. commanded by Col.
Wood. On July 3, the second day OF the battle,
was serving as mounted orderly for Gen.
iawton. Early in the afternoon, while carry
Ing adespatch from h~imtoIGen. Wheeler,s head
quarters. l ran into a Spanish skirmish line
and before l knew ii there were Spaniards all
around me yelling like Comanches. 1t was
too late to turn back. l put spurs to my horse
1t into the Dons' faces.
We'll, ! felt the conventional singing sem
mess. but ! kent straight ahead. loading my
revolver as | went. and incidentally taking an
i shHt fo@yy t I'll my n mGu e@t twice | f9% WITH m had sssn
"A quarter of a mile further on ] ran into
Sn0thf ne bunch I'm and qgain | had to run tho
before was reDe ated. / eInptied my revolver
and put my horse to his highest speed. This
time | was shot three times and received four
number Of wounds up to thirteen.
After this second adventure ! had ridden
BY. KILLING, my, horse and breaking my right
leg below the knee in six places. ] fell to the
ground, where lay until 4 o'clock on the next
shortly afterward / was placed on board a
hospital shin and taken to New York. While l
was still on the shin in Now York harbor Major
Second Kansas National Guard. Of which I
had been a member; came on board and recoG;
to the hospital at Fort Thomas. Ky. Here I
was given the very best Of medical and surgical
attention, believe the surgeon took special
pride in bringing me out whole. as l was SO
badly cut up
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-16
Men and Women In tn. Blizzard.

To THE EDITOR or THE SUS-Sr: It does not
seem credible that any man born of woman should
deliberately will that II there is a choice as TO
whether he shall endure exposure or a woman abe
shall be the one TO suffer. and actually use his greater
strength to shield himself at her expense.
Yet every day during this bitter weather, when the
elevated trains were the only sure and speedy way
OF reaching ones place of business, Ihave seen men
on station platforms elbow aside women in order
that they might ride inside the cars. The only alter
native left TO women has been TO ride on the plat.
forms with the thermometer below zero or wait
patiently while train after train passed. hoping one
might come along which WAS less crowded.
Some men Alloge as an excuse that if women do
not wish to endure these d%iscomforts they should be
willing to wait for later trains. Unfortunately for
themselves the women who are obliged 10 travel at
the rush hours are those who have their living to
earn, And they are usually in subordinate positions
whore %tardiness may mean dismissal. l. ".
NEW SOAK, Feb. IA.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-16

Terraced City Hall Near the Tombs and n
Jersey-Brooklyn Tunnel Suggested.


The Architects League held a public meeting
last night to discuss means for improving New
York artistically and for bettering its transpor-
tation facilities. The subject for the evening
was the improvement of Manhattan below
Fifty-Dinth street. II. r. Bush Brown presided.
George R. Post submitted plans to relieve the
congestion Of traffic through City Hall Park
and Printing House Square during the rush
hours. He suggested building a new City Hall
in the vicinity Of the Tomhs and Crimina Court
building, on n terrace which would make it
level with Broadway. All other streets would
pass under the terrace. and gradual approaches
could be made to the Brooklyn Bridge entrance
and to that Of the new East River bridge at
Delaney street.
Julius F. Harder proposed the building of a
new series Of city buildings. including a resi-
dence for the Mayor. in Union Square. which.
he said. could be enlarged to Irving place. He
also advocated cutting Christopher street
through to Union Square and opening a new
street through TO Corlears Hook Park. where
It would connect with Delaney street. He es-
pecially wanted. however, IA tunnel running
from Jersey City to Long Island City. with one
OF its stations at Union Square.
John De Witt Warner said that these plans
could all be carried out legally. There will he
Two more meetings, ono on Monday next to
discuss improvements to the waterfronts, and
one on Monday two weeks hence to discuss i'm
proving the rest of the city.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-16

TO THE EDITOR OF THE S~UN-Sir: 1t is
well known that there is no class of citizens
more liberal or sympathetic than the musicians
OF New York. and while they are not generally
In circumstances to donate their services ! am
convinced that they would respond almost in
q body to take part in n monster programme
for the benefit Of the suffering and needy poor.
To that end | propose that the newspapers
unite in organizing an immense concert Mt
which al, the military bands OF the city be in
vited to furnish a number. The band under
T. FANCIULLI,
New YORK. Feb. IA.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-16
CIenn All SihrwnILs-

To THE EDITOR OF THE srN-Sir, Why do NOT
the police compel the owners of honses. and especial.
ly the owners of vacant lots, to clean the sidewalk
fronting their properties? The stict enforcement
OF that city ordinance would AT least give martial -,
Ici 70 ul9usailds and thousands OF citizens.
MY VIII not the police do It's duty under the prc,.
en- emergency aud enforce that city ordinance Ia,
gong 70 ail coming from the II stations thou.
sands nave 70 wade knee deep through the snow
because tho sidewalks in front OF empty lots are NOT
FEB. Ii. LNEh'
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-16
Lucky Dredging for n Diamond.
From he Stockton independent.

TTVW ~ Ns0VNTWW IHTtV'TTTTW.
Dredging has been successfully resorted 70 in
recovering a valuable diamond ring that was
lost in Petaluma Greek. Recently the owner Of
the ring was standing on a bridge Just below
Petaluma. across. an arm of the creek. when his
diamond ring slipped from his finger and fell
eight fee feet Of SFS water RI The T S stons in nth the rim ri6e s cost.
without the mounting. $500. The owner
hated to give it UP. yet he did not know
his perplexity he applied to Capt. John
Hackett, a man of, experience in dredging.
ing for so small n thing as a ring. The loser OF
the ring had been thoughtful enough to mark
the place II the bridge where the ring fell
bucket. to be operated by hand. with a rope
this was dropped through the bridge at the
brought from the bottom OF the bayou. 1t was
taken to the bank and washed out. A second
found the ring.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-16
To His Majesty tho Ground Hor.

Gee whiz.
G. Hog.
What in thunder and b%luefugins
Are you giving usf
Go TO and
Avaunt.
Blizz MS no more billiards..
Confound you
And YOU COMPOUNDED shadow,
May you both grow less.
Why don't you
Crawl into a
Weather Bureau drawer
And lose the combination?
What do YOU mean by calling yourself
harbingcr of spring?
You're nothirg but
plain, unvaruished liar.
That's that YOU are.
And we don't say II to you
over a telephone, either.
II You weren't
Aplumb hog.
G.. Hog.
You'd get a move on
And no out helping TO
Take up the burden Of Mccartney
And his White Wings
Instead Of curling yourself up
On velvet
In your holo
For the next six weeks.
Wen bet snow shovel
There's bristles on
iuur immortal soul foot long.
We've heard of
The Chicago Hog.
And the street car Hog.
And the rest of the family,
But You are the
One and only
MegAtherlum. meteorological
Hog.
And you've got an
lce.clad. now bound.
Hyperborean cipch
on this Happy Land Of Freedom
In forty seven hundred places
At once.
What we'd say to your face
If you'd only come out of your hole
Would be plenty and hot enough
70 melt the entire
Glacial period of 1899.
Come out If you dare,
Pestfernus porker
OF February.
You;
You blasted,
Weather Bureau yAlentinel
W. J. I.