davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-08-03
Ought the Secretary of War to be a
Soldier?

Perhaps. And then again perhaps not
At first blush it is natural to think that
as war is a science demanding high tech
meal skill, the secretary of war should be
a man Of military training and experience
and that by entrusting the portfolio Of
war To such a man politics would be kept
out of the army, favoritism eliminated
and tho best results secured.
But on the other hand a large part of
the duties of the secretary of war are ad-
ministrative duties demanding high exc
cutive ability, sound judgment concerning
men as well as measures, firm decision and
straightforward purpose TO serve the
country without fear or favorltism; but
not especially demanding knowledge con-
corning firearms or the handling of troops
in action. or other technical matters per-
tanning to military operations. A. to sucn
matters the secretary can always obtain
expert advice in any quantity and on short
notice 1t is also unfortunately the fact
that in our army as in all armies, jea-
ousies exist, cliques flourish and favor,t-
ism prevails perhaps to n greater extent
thar in any other branch of the public
service. These evils will not be obvia tel
by taking soldier unless he happens 70
he enough of man to rise above them.
In other words, it is of more consequences
to have the right kind of "A man at the
head of the department than to have a
trained soldier If he is the right man
military training will not hurt him, in the
office; and If he Is the right kind Of a man
he will succeed without military training.
Experienced soldiers are by no means
agreed that the secretary OF war should
be a soldier. Gen. Miles expressed his
views on the subject. guardedly but dis
tnctly, in conversation during his recent
visit to Burlington. He reminded a gen
tleman who advanced the opinion that the
secretary Of war should always be "A
traire ed soldier, that the greatest secretary
the department had ever had, who held
the office during a time of the greatest
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-08-03
Cubans FavOring Annexation

While no patriotic American would have
our government ignore the implied prom
Use made by our Congress not to annex
Cuba, there is unquestionably strong
hope in many quarters that the course of
events in that island may be such as to
leave the United States no alternative ex-
cept annexation in response to the request
of a large portion of the Cubans them
selves. Not Il few Americans believe that
the manifest destiny of the Pearl of the
Antilles il union with the United States.
and whether public sentiment in this
country generally will veer in that di-
reCtion will depend to no small extent up
on the course of events in Cuba during
the next few months.
In the meantime it is to be noted that
the attitude Of the Cuban press is under
the subject of annexation to the United
States. La Lucha makes the sweeping
statement that any fo"m of government
which may be established would be better
than the present, and it advocates allow
ing the Americans to have all the control
they desire provided Tie Cubans have
popular representation to assure a legal
manifestation of the will Of the people
1t is also significant that an annexa-
zionist paper has just made its appear
ance at Puerto Principe, which assumes TO
speak for "the largest influential body of
working Cubans' That journal, called
FL Suffra gio Universal, makes the asser-
ton that the generals will not allow Gu
bans of ability and integrity to manage
The public affairs Of the island because
the former are assuming the divine right
to govern and are willing to fight among
themselves to see which general shall be
supreme. 1t concluded that with Cuba
left to herself and those who would he
her masters. absolute Independence would
be "feroCious and intolerable."
.hcsc and other journals expressing
similar sentiments unquestionably speak
the truth concerning the situation in
Cuba, and it is probably only a question
of time when that island will be knocking
at the door of the United States.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-08-03
Trout Breeding in Vermont.

Number 20 of the Acts of 1898 provides
among other things that by agreement
with the landowners the State of YER
mont may close permanently brooks suit
able for breeding preserves and a fine of
fifty dollars is imposed for fishing. or at
tempting to fish, in such permanently
closed waters. SO far in the history of
trout culture looking towards the repopu-
lation of our trout streams, this is the
most sensible act of tho Vermont Legis-
lature. The wisdom of the act itself need
not be fortified by "A longwinded argu-
ment. 1t is self-evident that if the small
tho streams below will become populated
with speckled beauties.
With this idea in view, the landowners
on Adler Meadow brook in Granville, Adj
Olson county, petitioned the fish and game
commissioners to close said brook under
the act in question. The commissioners
visited the locality, conferred with the
petitioners, examined the brook from
source to it's confluence with White River
and granted the petition. They found AL
der Meadow brook to be mountain
stream of pure spring water about AZ
miles in length, flowing Principally
through a Wild and picturesque mountain
ravine on the lands Of the Internatione
Paper company, who have constructed an
easy grade lumber road the entire length
of the brook. The commissioners found
the brook to be an ideal breeding place for
the native trout.
1t appears that during the period of six
closed, the White River to which it is
tributary in the town of Granville afford
ed very fine trout fishing. The commis-
sioEers believe that if all the small trbu-
taries to the White River from Granville
to Stock bridge were permanently closed
good fishing in White River from its
source to the dams in Stockbrdge would
result. Most OF the tributaries to the
White River in the localities above de
scribed are very small streams In which
the trout do not attain much size, but the
large fish run into them ian the fan to
spawn.
In view of the attractions afforded by
trout fishing for summer visitors az well
as for many Of our own citizens it is
to be hoped that the people of the other
sections of the state may follow the ex-
ample of the land owners on Aldor
Meadow brook, by taking advantage of
Act No. 20 of 1898, and thus help to in
crease the fame of the Green Mountain
State as the sportsman's paradise.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-08-03
Vermonters in the Navy.

The United States Navy Register for
1899, which is just issued shows the fol-
lowing Nermonters holding commissions
in the navy, with date of entry into the
service:
Admiral George Dewey, September, 1854.
Roar-Admiral Albert s. Kenny paymus-
ter general. March, 1862
Captain Charles r.. ClacK, late of the
Oregon, now in command at the
navy yard at League Island, Septcm-
Der, 1850.
Captain George A. Converse, bureau of
navigation. November, 1851.
Pay Inspector Bonry G. Colby, at Balti-
more, June, 'G3.
1ieutcraut-C Commander Henry Y. Mayo,
on duty at Union Iron Works. June. 1872.
Lieutenant William 3. Fletcher. on in
spcction duty in the bureau of ordnance.
September, ISL
Lieutenant Philip Williams, on the Chic
ago September. So
Lieutenant George =. Day, on the
Newark May. 'Ss.
Ensign Jonas II. Holden on the oregon,
May '92.
Naval Cadet EdwardE. Stafford, Septem-
Der, 1857.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-08-03
The Ship Canal Project.

1t is evident that the residents OF New
York in the terrtosy tributary to Lake
Ontario are to make a determined effort
to prevent the adoption of the St. Law
rerce-C hampiain- Hudson route for the
proposed deep water way from the Great
Lakes to the Atlantic ocean. An engineer
who is working in their interest has just
made a report, and he says he mas so care
fully worked out the details Of construc-
ton that he is confident it would he safe
to 20 ahead and let the contract for the
whole work
The project contemplated by Mr. Raftec,
the engineer in question, involves the cut
ting of a canal 30 feet deep and $40 feet
wide from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario
around Niagara Falls Another canal
would be cut from Lake Ontario through
the Oswego river to Oneida Lake, and
thence Though the Mohawk river to the
Hudson. To supply the water necessary
to the summit level, which is at the city
of Rome it will require. according to esti-
mate, fully ten times as much as flows
in the Genessee river in "A dry season. To
secure such a great volume from the New
York streams without vast injury to ex-
listing manufacturing Industries has been
the problem which confronted the engi-
neer, but he believes he has solved it sue
cesstully, He proposes TO construct a
great dam at Carthage on the Back River
and thus make a great lake covering
eighty square miles of territory capacous
enough to control the whole flow of that
large river, This would supply the ship
canal with water whenever greater
supply was needed.
When the Oswego- Mohawk route is COM
pared with the route via Lake Champlan
1t is found that whereas gigantic sum
would have to be expended for reservoir
storage by the former on the latter there
Is series of natural reservoirs, which
would obviate the immense cost involved
for this purpose alone. But the provision
of a mammoth reservoir like that describ-
cd is not the only extra expense which
would attend the selection of the Oswego
route. From the proposed great reser-
voir Mr.. Rafter has located canal nine
ty miles in length to the projected ship
caral for the mere purpose of conveying
this extra water SUPPLY, and on the way
down he has planned a secondary reser-
voir In the Salmon rivec valley. 1t Is es-
timated that this feeder canal alone would
require the excavation of moro than 90
900 900 cubic yards OF earth and rock, while
the proposed lake will cover eighty square
miles of beautiful and productive farming
land worth no small sum. In speaking Of
this subject the Ogdensburg Journal says:
"Whon the reports of the engineers have
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-08-03

examined by distinguished men, 1t will
probably be found that a more feasible
route for the ship canal lies along the st.
Lawrence and Lake Champlain, where the
canal would follow natural waterways,
with never-varying and never-failing feed
ers at hand, without the necessity of ar
tiicial reservoirs and expensive auxiliary
construction. Oswego and Utica are of
course anxious to have tho canal so built
that 1t would place them upon the line of
one of the great waterways of the world
What it means for city to be on the lines
of commerce, with the facilities for traf-
fic which they afford, is illustrated by tho
growth of Buffalo, Rochester and SYRIA
cuse along the Erie canal and New York
Central Railroad. The local interests Of
Oswego and Utica will have little weight
with Congress however, in its selection
of a route, should it be decided to build
the canal. "
The construction of this deep waterway
by way of Lake Champlain would mean
more to Burlington than to any other place
this side of Montreal owing to the fact
that this city would become the distribut-
ing point for all Northern New England.
All of our railroads run southeast from
the Champlan Valley, so that nearly all
freight destined for points north of the
Fitchburg railroad would naturally take
to rail at this point. Under the circum-
stances 1t is quite natural that Burlington
should hope for the carly adoption of the
Champlaln route for deep waterway
from the Great Lakes to the sea.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-08-03
District Politics.

The st. Johnsbury Republican prints the
following list of papers that do not favor
the denomination of Judge Powers. and
that with few exceptions are in favor Of
eX-Gov. Carroll 5. Page as his successor
in Congress.
The Cambridge Transcript, Morrisvile
News and Citizen, North Troy Palladium,
Hardwick Gazette. Groton Times, Lyndon
Vile Journal, Barton Monitor, Newport
Express and Standard. Green Mountain
Press. Ludlow Tribune, Londonderry
SITTER, Wilmington Times. Vergennes Yer
monter, Waterbury Record. Bradford
Opinion. Essex County Herald, Wood
stock Standard, Bristol Herald. Randolph
Herald and News, Fair Haven Era, Mont
peler Waterman and Daily Journal. Barre
Daily Times and the Rutland Daily News
1t thus appears that nearly half of the
republican papers in the State have thus
early expressed themselves with greater
or less positiveness on the question
whether Judge Powers should again sue
coed himself in the First district. This is "A
significant circumstance. 1t is also notice.
able that almost all of the papers which
have taken sides in regard to the success
sion in the first district are published in
the second district.
We do not remember another case in re-
cent times in our State in which the jour
nails Of one district exhibited such a cor
dial willingness to relieve the voters of
the other district of all care and perplex-
ity in regard to their political problems.
1t is most kind and considerable on the part
of our guides, philosophers and friends
nf hn utd &C No In,
Whether the press and people of the first
district will care to be thus relieved of
their responsibilities remains to be seen.
1t is possible that they may prefer to Sc
lect their own candidate, in their own
time. If not it may save trouble to have
the first district convention called at
White River Junction and let the dele
gates of the second district name both Of
the congressman.
Thus far there does not appear to be
any such consensus Of opinion, or haste
to express preferences, on tho part of the
papers in the second district in regard to
the succession to Cen Grout. AS to that
important matter they seem to be willing
TO wait ard allow candidates. ana prefer
eI'CeS 10 shape themselves LOT Il Wnlle De-
fore opening an active canvass in their
columns This is probably wise, and it is
the course which the papers of the first
district are taking in regard to the prob
lem in q cir own district. There is plenty
of time between now and the date of the
district convention; and so far as appears
the voters of this district are in no hurry
to enter upon what may be a heated and
perhaps scveral-sided confessional is it
may be such if they do not see fit to turn
over all care and responsibility in the mat
ter to their kind friends on the other side
of the State. If they do it will of course
greatly simplify the situation.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-08-03
The 1sthmian Canal Which Is the
Best Route For 1t?

The Railway Era for June, 1899, contains
an exceedingly interesting, and as it
seems to us important, article by y. W.
Bliss, Esq, of Chicago, in which he sets
forth with much force the considerations
which have convinced him that there is a
route for the American interoceanic canal
which Is bound to come, vastly superior
to either the Nicaragua or Panama routes
Mr.. Bliss Is a graduate OF the University
of Vermont, in the class Of 1916. He is not
a civil engineer. but he has given much
study TO the problem of the best route for
a canal to connect the Atlantic and Paci-
fc oceans, and has teached the conclusion
that the San Bias route which occupies
no space whatever in the public mind,
should occupy the first place because it
possesses advantages over both tho Nica-
ragua and Panama routes.
If the reader will examine any good map
of Central America, he win see that the
narrowest place in the lsthmus is not
where the Panama railway and line of tho
Panama canal crosses it, but few miles
east of that point where the Bay of San
Bias puts in from the Caribbean sea- The
reason why De Lesscps did not select this
place for his canal doubtless was that the
ridge of the Cordilleras, which form the
backbone Of the Isthmus Is so high at that
point as to form what has been consd-
cred to be an insurmountable obstacle
This high mountain ridge has caused the
San Elias route to be dismissed from the
calculations Of the engineers. To build a
canal at that point, the mountain must
be tunneled, and tunnel through which
ships can sail, of such length, has been
deemed impractcable. The tunnel, Mr..
Bliss says, would be seven and a half
miles long, and he considers a tunnel of
such "A length to be entirely practicable
with modern appliances
Mr., Bliss sets forth the disadvantages of
the Panama and Nicaragua routes.
the Chagres River rs times and the Rio
Grande River 10 times 1t requires at one
point an enormous dam of unprecedented
proportions The great Culebra Cut ex-
ceeds all engineering limits in depth; the
locks are ten in number, five to lift the
ships to a level 1870 feet above one ocean
and as many more to let 1t down to the
other ocean. harbor will have TO he
constructed at the Pacific end Of the ca
nal; and when the canal is built it will
have 10 contend with the tremendous
floods of the rivers causing no one knows
how much damage and expense
| The Nicaragua Canal will have to rise
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-08-03
WlNOOSK|
BANK

From its careful management has not
met with ii loss from any loan made dur
ing the last twenty years.
Deposits made during the first five days
OF any month vii! draw interest from the
trst day of that month. Deposits made
after the hfth day Of any month VIII draw
interest from Che first day of the next
month.
Interest is credited depositors January
list and July LIST, compromising semi-au-
nually. The rate of interest paid to de-
positors BY all savings banks in this state
is limited by law TO four per cent. until its
surplus amounts to ten per cent. vi its
deposits, when an extra dividend Is to
be made.
No interest IS aliowed ~ law TO be pa d
on deposits in excess OF two thousand dol
lars except it be on deposits by widows
orphans, administrators executors, guar
dams, charitable or religious institutions.
or on trust funds deposited by order OF
court
The Bank pays all taxes in this State
on deposits OF fifteen hundred dollars or
1 less
VERMONT LOANS SOLICITED.
Due dcpcsitors June 80, 1899 u....t72l 6 %
surplus. ....... ............ .......... oL9l6I
Dcposits and surplus..... ........ IsS'51'y 70
OFF1CERS-S. RI. Weston, President:
! Ormond Cole. Treasurer.
/ TRCSTEES-S II. Weston. ]. p. Small.
| o. p. Ray, A. J. Stevens. Ormond Cole, e.
c. Mower. Samuel Bgwood.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-08-03

THE WEEKLY FREE PRESS, 2 cnots per
copy, 50 cents for six months, 90 year, post
age free.
Advertisements and subscriptions received
Mt the office. 1s9 College street. Full adNer-
tiGng rates sent on application.
Accounts cannot be opened for subscriptions.
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Remittance NJ the risk Of the subscriber I'M
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The date when the subscription expires Is on
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less requested. The receipt of the paper is a
sufficient receipt for the first subscription.
When change of address is desired. both
the old and new addresses should he given.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-08-03
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
Value of Experienced Word For Judge
Powers.
To the Editor of the Free Press

To the Editor of the Free Press:
Maine with her 1900 Inhabitants has
had far more influence in WashinGt N
thar New York State with her unbounded
wealth and six millions Of people; for the
reason that Maine has sent her best Incn
and kept hem there, while New York has
allowed politicians to make frequent
changes. Vermont has trlcd both ways
and when the best men have been sent TO
Washington and allowed to .tay there,
Vermont has been power,
But when in the House or Senate the
Office has been passed around to accom-
modate politicians, man staying just
Ions enough to begin to have some in
luonce, aud then must come home to let
some one take their turn" then Our
State has amounted to but very little.
Which way will we take now?
VIII the people go in to accommodate the
boys" or will they send strong man to
fill each place? We all agree in theory.
that an Office should never be used to &C.
commodate politicians, And yet we all
also know that many offices will BE SO
used in spite of our correct theories.
Places always are used more or less for
sugar plums'; and young politicians will
be raised, and trained, and fed, more or
less in this way. But this can be con-
fined to the lesser places, and not allowed
when we come to our national representa-
tves.
In some States the very best lawyers
are taken for States attorneys but Ver-
mont ruled by one party, will never do
this the boys can practice with the
smaller offices, and IN important cases tho
State can pay for an efficient lawyer to
help the boy through, Older men will not
do much harm on each side of the chief
! Judge. They can keep OFF the flies" and
have a handle to their names as long as
they live, "Once a judge always a Judge,
really. And IA large number can be ac-
comodated under our rotten borough
system" and go to Montpelier Vermont
will never give up that system. Every
town must have a representative, and this
goes pretty well. There are usually rs
many as twenty efficient men and they
do the business while the more than two
hundred others merely say yes ma am
and know very little about what Is being
done i'm the legislature. No great harm
is done II a man is allowed to he COVER
nor, the main thing Is to fll the "chief
seat at feasts;" but here, this child's play
| should stop.
When we come to choose a man to send
to Washington, W. should send man
that amounts to something and keep him
there, Vermont now stands high at the
national capital but suppose that after
Mr.. Morrill, had been there ten years Just
beginning TO do something, he had been
retired 10 accommodate some seeker; and
when Mr. Edmunds had filled two terms
he had been set aside, Vermont would
have had but very little influence instead
OF being the power that she is to-day.
Perhaps no man had greater influence
than Senator Proctor in pushing the war
with Spain. And now 1t is no mere boy
that the people should send to be his col
league. Governor Smith sent a man with
more than 20 years experience on the
bench. And II has been said by several Of
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-08-03

by local applications, as they cannot
reach the diseased portion OF the ear.
There is only one way to cure deafness
and that is by constitutional remedies.
Deafness is caused by an infamed condi-
ton Of the mucous lining OF the Eustach-
ian Tube. WheO this tube gets infiamed
YOU have a rumbling sound or imperfect
hearing. and when 1t is entirely closed
dea fness Is the result, and unless the in
Illumination can be taken out and this tube
restored TO its normal condition, hearing
Will be destroyed forever; nine cases out
of ten are caused by catarrh which Is
nothing but an inhamed coalition OF the
mucous surfaces.
We will give One Hundred Dollars for
any case OF Deafness (caused by catarrh)
that cannot be cured by Halls Catarrh
Cure send for circulars. free
r. J. CHENEY & CO, Toledo, 0.
Sold by Druggists, 75c.
Halls Family Pills are the best
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-08-03
CHEF JUSTICE IDLMES.

The governor of Massachusetts has pro-
NOTED Judge Oliver Wendell Holmes to be
Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial
Court of that Commonwealth I'M place OF
the late Walbridge A. Field. The new
Chief Justice. like many men now on the
bench, was a soldier before he became a
lawyer.
Capt. Oliver Wendell Holmes was SER
iously wounded at Gettysburgh and one of
his fathers most interesting sketches tells
how he was found and brought home
from the field.