davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1899-12-30
STATE hNsryKER,s RKPoRE
settlement OF Canal Contracts - Highway
improvements Under the Law of 1sss'

improvements Under the Lnw OF ioso'
ALBANY. Dec. 29.-The annual report OF State
Engineer Bond shows that the Canal Board
during the past year considered In detail ana
settled thirty.eight Of the seventy. Tour CON
tracts made In 1867 under the e"'ooo,oVo
improvement appropriation. the WORK oone
under these thirty-eiRht contracts aRereRa,e
$4.270672. and all It's items nave pecn ao.
justed for final payments. In the settiement
Of these contracts, the action OF tne Oana' s,
Board has sayedtbs State the sum OF $26.eso.
The improvement OF highways under the
provisions Of the Hsbie-Armstrone act oil
1898 constitutes an important part oil the
duties OF the State Engineer and 10 one which
attracts much public interest. The state has
appropriated 100000 In all, with which 10
pay one half the cost OF such roads as are I'm =
proved under the provision OF the law. rms
sum Ia small In proportion to the amounts
Appropriated by the States OF Massachusetts
and New Jersey. but with IL contracts nave
been made for twenty-five miles OF Improved
highways, OF which seven miles on four roads
have been finished and accepted during the
year. Six and half miles on one road Is ABOUT
finished. hut is not accepted. and eleven miles
on ak roads are In progress. these ROADS peins
located IN Erie. Monroe. Onondaga. Schnectaoy
Oneida. Rensselaer, and Columbia counties.
SURVEYS have also Deen maue LOT lfH ""ee v.
roads In fourteen counties. which are expected
to be improved whom provision is made there
for by the Legislature. The highways which
have 40 far been improved have necessarily
been comparatively short pieces, ranging from
one half mile to six miles In length. Ihese
serve as examples to the people in the various
localities, with the Immediate result that many
petitions are received from the counties IN
which roads have been built. There H. ger :
eral expectation that the Legislature Will make
appropriations which will bear some compar-
son to those made Tor road work by the heign-
boring States. ,,
The average cost OF the highways improved
so far was S7.OI4 a mile. hut with the new
features Of construction suggested. the cost
will be between $1,000 md $4,000 mile. Eyen
this Increased cost will be 20 per cent less than
the cost OF similar roads In Massachusetts.
Recon- m endatons will be made to the Legis.
lature to add to the Highway law provision tcr
the maintenance OF improved highways by the
county officials. and to provide for state
quarry OF trap rock, where ,conyicte from sing
Sing Prison can be employed In producing
crushed stone for highway Improvement.
The sun., 1899-12-30
COMMANDER DUNCAN RESIGNS
Fellow Onicsrs In First Naval Battalion
Present Him n Jewelled Sword.

Commander William Butler Duncan. Jr.. Of
tho First Naval Battalion. announced the ten
der OF his resignation OF his commission In the
battalion In the course Of n speech at dinner
on board the training ship New Ham pshire last
night The dinner was given by tho ON
GERS OF tho battalion in honor OF the
Commander. and during the, evening
they presented him q sword. IL IL
handsomely jcweel and has engraved upon II
Il record OF the three nights and BON bardments
participated In by the United States, auxiliary
cruiser Yankee. aboard which the. Naval Re-
II Bernard made the presentation speech. Capt:
jacob W. Miller Of the battalion complimented
Commander Butler upon his services TO the
organization. In reply Commander Duncan
spoke of the gaIantry and Willingness OF the
Yankees crew.
Commander Duncan's, OF the First, resigna-
tion has been forwarded to Gov. Roosevelt.
The Commander gives as his reason Tor leav-
Ing the Rtate naval service that he IL too busy
TO devote the necessary time to the duties OF
the Office. He has been member OF the bat
talon since its organization in 1897. and was
one OF the chief movers in It's formation.
He Is a graduate of the Naval Academy an d
when tho First Naval Battalion was organized
he was elected commanding officer OF the
Third division. lie was promoted to commend
the First Battalion when. Commander Miller
was elected captain Of the force after
Spanish War Commander Duncan was COM
missibned n Lieutenant In the volunteer navy.
and was assigned to the Yankee as senior
divisional and watch officer. He is one of the
Ind command OF the Defender last season in
the trial races with the Columbia. He will be
succeeded in command Of the battalion by
Iieutenant-Commander ". B. Franklin.
The sun., 1899-12-30
"FxUsTO ar THE OPERA.
Mile. CaIvo Appears ns Marguerite Mt the
Metropolitan.

Mile. Emma CalvG gave last night for the
FIRST time here during this season the perfor-
nance OF Marguerite which was introduced
on her last preceding visit to this country and
impaired such decided stimulus to New
lork's fondness for Faust" 1t Is a
highly colorcd. meodramatic interpreta-
ton OF the character and has changed
IN no important details since the distinguished
French prma donna first sang the part at the
Metropolitan. Her fondness for what is tech
nically known as business" had led to
u new treatment OF the finale OF tho garden
scene and some novelty In the last net.
But neither o, these additions proved
so striking as the advance accounts
Of them indicated. Mile. Calve at the end OF
the third act wns seen In the cottage through
the window apparently making her prepara-
tions to rotire She unbraidod her long. yellow
locks. loosened her corsage at the neck and
interrupted these actions with moments
ot thoughtiulness and evident agitation.
In tho prison scene stood large
wooden cross which seemed an unusual
ornament under the circumstances. But Its
purpose became manifest when Mile Caive
began in that attitude the nnal trio. These
were unfamiliar features in an Interpretation
TINT remains as t whole iust ~ as v,vld ,ntense Tense
Of it, great popular effectiveness there can be
no question.
Last night Mile. Calves voice responded as
fully as formerly To every emotion she sought
to express. although It, was less adapted
to the execution OF the, composers
music Her singing OF the numbers
IN the third act IL an essential part OF
her own conception and performance
cepted along with this achievement which is a
revolt against tho conventonaity OF operate
acting. striking and original enough to bo ac-
counted the creation of n dramatic geniu5.
NJ Alvarez sang 'Salut nemeure" In fash
ion thnt brought an encore from tho audience.
His performance. 80 far as purity OF In
tonalion went. was more satisfactory
than it was on last Saturday. Sig.
Scotti appeared az aisntine and was
no more than conventional except In the death
scene. NJ. do Reszks repeated the mastery
performance OF Hephistopheles, WHICH must I've
familiar by this time TO every New Yorker hnv-
ing even the slightest acquaintance with pro-
ceedings at the Metropolitan Opera House.
Nine. Mnutell was Siebel and Nine Bauermeis-
6uthority
The sun., 1899-12-30
THE CASE or CAPE sHUFELDT.
Merritt to Decide whether Hs shall be
Comrt. Mnrtinled for Disobe eyinR Order..

WAsUt%GToS. Dec. 2o.-The Secretary OF War
has issued an order referring TO Major. Gen.
Merritt commanding the Department OF the
East. tho case OF Capt. Il. ". Shuiedt. retired.
who. upon ths advice OF his counsel. some time
ago declined to obey an order from the
War Department directing him to place him
self within the jurisdiction OF the civil courts
OF Maryland where lie was made n defendant
in divorce proceedings. The court had or
dered Capt. Shuteldt 70 pay to his wife a
stated amount OF alimony. but he evaded
payment by remaining outside Of tho State
OF MARYLAND. His refusal TO comply with the
order oi the Maryland court was based upon
advice OF his counsel TINT no was relieved OF
the payment Of alimony by reason OF a decision
by the courts Of the District o' Columbia de-
clarins him u bankrupt, Tho Secretary OF War
directed Capt. Shuteldt 10 place himself under
the jurisdiction OF the Maryland courts. but
his attorney advised him TO decline to obey
the oEier Capt. shuleldt. IN q letter to Secre-
tary Root. protested against the order as un-
reasonable and declined to obey. The corre-
spondence has been sent to Gen. Merritt for in
vestigation. and action. 1t Is believed that
court-martial proceedings will follow.
The sun., 1899-12-30
SETIhED WITH THE ENGINEER.
Damage Case Against tho Lehi;h Valley
Withdrawn at Critical Moment.

SoMERviLLE y, J Dec. 29.- Tho case OF En-
Rineer Edward Ricks against the Lchigh Val
."' Railroad, which IN, occupied Chief Justice
MaRie's Court here Tor nearly week. ended
abruptly this afternoon, Rcks was suing the
company for S3O,OOO damages for injuries
which he sustained in the fatal wre * at West
Dunellen on Jan, q
inhar v Lanai bury. counsel for Kicks. in
rsbuttal this morning attempted to bring out
evidence showing that prcviuu, to the acct
dent the Lehgh Valley had made a great re-
duction IN Its operating force. and that tho no.
cident was caused by insufficient help in the
despatcher's Office at Easion. which resulted in
confusion OF the relative places OF tho trains
by the dispatcher Mr.. McCartcr. OF counsel
lor the railroad, objected to this evidence md
Shei Justice Magic said that he would reserve
MS ruling until alter the noon recess When
the court reconvened i was apparent that the
Court would rule to admit the evidence Mir
Lindabury and Ricks accompanied Mr
McGarter and prominent official OF the Lehigh
valley to private room. They returned 10
th5 court room after short consultation and
MT Llnuabufy announced to the Court that
the suit was withdrawn. az IA satisfactory set.
tlement had been arrived at between the
LehiEh valley COMPANY and the plnintiu
Shlef Justice Magic discharged the Jury and
glsmissed the case, The amount which The
Lehlgh Valley Company Is to pay Kicks is not
10000. ' \" ~
The sun., 1899-12-30
PfyeREE,s NEW MEASURES.
Wants Railroads and Mines to Pay In
creased Taxes-The Special Session.

Wants Railroads and Mines to Pay In
creased Taxes-The Special Session.
LASsINo. Mich. Dec. 29.-Gov. Pingree gave
work enough to the Legislature to-day to
keep that body busy for twice the constitu-
tlonal limit OF the special session. Notwith-
standing his declaration that the sole
purpose OF the session was to urge
the submission OF the so-called
equal tax amendment to the Constitution. he
sent three messages recommending other
legislation. the equal tax proposition having
been defeated last night. Aside from
q constitutional amendment providing
for municipal ownership aud operation
OF street railways and other public utili-
ties. he urged the doubling OF the taxes
e1acted from railroad companies and the
changing OF tho system OF taxing mining cor
porntions from ad valorem to specific. In his
message he expressed the opinion that the
railroads should pay not less than S2.25OWn
annually, this being an increase OF nearly sl.-
10000 over the present aggregate tax.
The bill introduced In compliance with MS
suggestion as to mining companies provides
for a tax OF 3 cents q ton on iron ore, and q
graduated tax based on aggregate OUTPUT o,
from one sixteenth to one-haf cent pound
estimate that this would Yield 81 .5OO.UOo a
year and that two-thirds OF this would come
from the copper mines Of Houghton county
Both OF these tax measures were iought 10
last winter. Both passed the House: but died
In the Senate. The indications arc that they
will meet ths same fate next week. There IL
not much more hope for the Municipal owner
can bc depended on to kill whatever the Gov
ernor advocates.
The sun., 1899-12-30
POLAR BEAR swArs HER KEEPER.
He La Wondering whether She Meant 1t or
Was Merely Getting Acquainted.

The female polar bear in the Central Park
mcnagerie struck Keeper Patrick Marin on
the back tho other day. her sharp claws rip
ping his clothing and scratching the flesh. and
the keeper would like to know whether she
meant 1t or was Just playing with him. He
had gone into the bears den TO clean up before
breakfast. carrying a shovel and a broom with
him. The male polar has been In the Park for
several years: the female arrived here from
Germany month ago.
Marin drove the animals up on the ledge in
the rear OF the den and then went about his
work He was STOPPING in tho shallow cavo
when the female shuffled down to the big fat
stone that forms the roof and going to the
edge swung her paw at the keepers back.
Marin was surprised and tho scratches from
the bears claws pained him. He got out of
the cave as quickly IA no could and picking
up the broom whackei the bear on the head
The bear sniTcd and made another swIpe at
him with her paw. but did not reach him,
Marin Skinned up III" artificial tree in the
den. hut when half way up stopped and look
ing around saw the bear standing still and gaz-
ing At him a. though she thought II all good
luko.
The look restored the Keepers confidence.
He got down and picking up the shovel
swatted her on the head. Mrs. Bear grunted
and scrambled M the ledge where her mate
was standing Marin finished his work and
then had the scratches on his back dressed.
The sun., 1899-12-30
vOTB ON THE AMENDMENT
All Four of Them Carried by Mnjorltios
Ranging From, 1871 ,5I5 to 1t0.i72.

ALBANY. Dec 29.-Ths four proposed
amendments to the state Constitution, which
were voted upon by the people at the Novem-
Der election. were carried by large majorlties
as shown by the vote canvassed by the State
Board OF Canvassers. For the first amend
ment. which gives the New York city Munich
pal Assembly the powers OF a Board OF Super
visors. 325. 1872 votes were cast In favor and
l+2. .G17 against. majority in favor OF lSl.5l5
On this amendment 1877. ISS blank votes were
cast.
For tho second amendment. which provides
that where n city embraces more than one
county. the county dehr shall not be computed
in estimating tho city debt N connection with
the constitutional limitation. 81 5.475 votes
vere cast In favor and 40. 400 against. n ma
lority in favor OF l7O.O25. The number OF
blank votes was l42.SlS.
For the third amendment. which provides
for the temporary designation By the Governor
OF Justices 10 ths Appellate Division OF the Su-
preme Court. 2S},SSU votes were cast in favor
and 1877 ,+OS against. a majority IN fAyor OF
l4B.+1o. Number OF blank votes. 1iG.11B.
For the fourth amendment. which authorizes
the appointment by the Governor OF not TO eN-
ceed four Supreme Court Justices to sit as
Associate Judges OF the Court Of Appeals. 219.
4b9 votes were cast In favor and 132.O34 votes
against, a majority IN favor Of lt1.+O5, The
number OF blank votes was LAT. .1lO.
The sun., 1899-12-30

Comptroller Dawes Authorizes tho Sale for
tho I. neht of singcriy Creditors.
PHILADELPHIA. Dec. 2a.-The Philodslphi
Record will be sold for the benefit Of the cred
itors OF the late William NJ. SinGerly. The
announcement OF Comptroller of the Cur
r"ncy Dawes to that efrec. was made public in
this city to-day. Mr. Dawes briefly admits that
MIR. SnRerlvs paper Is at present earning
$3OO.OOO not profits year and he further an
nouncos:
The pnner will be sold to satisfy all claims
against It," The creditors Of Mr. Singerly have
now chance OF recovery OF II large sum II
Ia thought that the paper should bring from
$2,5OO,00O to S3.OOOOOO at public sale The
sale win be advertised for sixty or ninety days
In oil the large cities OF the United States.
The sun., 1899-12-30
RAZOR 10 END HIS LIFE.
&. Sundstrom Of Boston Kills Himself Here
Had Been Nervously III.

man about 35 years old. who went to the
Grand Union Hotel last Tuesday and regis
tered as o. Sundstrom Of Boston. committed
suicide yesterday In his room by cutting his
throat with razor. A cham bermaid spoke TO
the man yesterday morning about 9 o'clock
Six hours later getting no response on knock
ing at his door the manager had It forced open.
aud sundstrom was found lying across the bed
dead. with hfs throat frightfully Rashed A
blood stained razor was lying by his side.
Among his effects was a letter dated from the
Rochdale. Boston, signed your afrcctIonate
WIFE, Evio," and addressed to Mr.. Olof sund-
strom.. Highland; Ulster Co. New YORK.
Olof' was feeling better, Another letter was
addressed to o. Sundstrom. 10 care OF the
Aeolian Company. at IL West Twenty third
street, n. Y, There IL was said that Olot
Sundstrom had bcen n salesman in tho EN- ploy
OF the company until he became i'll some
months ago OF nervous prostration.
BosToS. Mass. Dec. @.-Sundstrom was
for the five years previous to July !, 1890,
employed as manager OF department OF
the NJ, Stenert h Sons Company here
Ne resigned his place on that dato and
went to tako up one in London.
He returned to Boston last November, with
his wife and two children on account OF iii
health and went to New York for medical
advice. Alexander Steinert; president OF the
Sieinert Company. informed THE SuN corre-
spondent tonight that Sundstrom's nervous
system was shattered by overwork.
The sun., 1899-12-30
DEvEsY,, LATEST A srUyNER.
Chief of Police Insists on Copi rus Statistics
Concerning all Iirs.

Chief of Police Insists on Copi rus Statistics
ConcerninG all Iir,s.
The following slip was received last night by
the telegraph operator at Police Headauarters:
Twenty second precinct. q 30 p. NJ. sent at
1880 p. M.-Fire In unoccuped cellar at 1877
Tenth avenue. Five-story brick tenement
Damage S25. Insurance unknown. Owner.
John r. Weeks. A. Broadway. Cause unknown.
Discovered by citizen. name unknown He
lives at 737 Tenth avenue. Headway OF fire
was brought to attention OF officer. and was
confined to the cellar. Between discovery OF
FIRE and officer sending In the alarm there wac
fifteen seconds. The location OF the box from
which the alarm was sent is the northwest cor
ner OF Fifty-frst street and Tenth avenue
Time elapsed from sending the alarm to ar
rival OF engines. four minutes. No reserves
called from other precincts and no reserves
arrived. No reserves called from this
precinct. The manner In which hre was
brought to attention OF of1cer was alarm
given By q citizen living In house at 1877 Tenth
avenue. Name OF oflcer. John Schenke-
witE. night post SO. Tenth avenue.
from Fiftieth to Fifty-fourth streets. No mer-
itorious acts performed by members OF the
force. No loss OF life. Names OF witnesses.
Mark Redmond. John Conway.
u. ]. FARRELL, Sergt."
The operator gasped as he received this mes
sage. He knew that the police slips reporting
$25 flres are usually models OF breyity. and
rarely exceed three lines He took the mes
saae to those In charge OF police headquarters
one Of then The ssrSs "a re
Twenty; second and nnd out II an ambulance is
The others endorsed this theory. Wis
ions Of crazy seresSsnts n,on attSekins rs si
An Invest stiaation was set on foot and finally
Sergeant Farrell was Induced to come to the
What's the matter with you ?" was. the
question that greeted him over the wires from
What fool slip is this on tho iire'" retorted
Fool silr eh2" said Farrell. Well. jus. iis.
ten to this" and then he started to read the
Devery during the day to the various pre-
"6n and after thl. date ali sersean,s are ire in;
their precinct. in the toIIowine order; ' -
"Loc.'iop 9, ,re deseriPsion Q! building; 5,
70 what extent; owner and lessee rrob:
SeairaS SSes nree wSen nrs sToasSi
between the discovery Of tho fire and the
sending n o. the alarm: location Of boy
arrival OF the engines: whether reserves from
other prec ncts are ca led time elapsed between
the coll for reserves and their arrival at the fire
time elapsed between sending In the alarm and
which the fire occurs manner In which fire
was reported to officer: name and post num-
Der OF the officer .meritorious acts, BY, mem
bers OF the force. II any loss Of life. II any !:
names or witnesses who can .corroborate the
above statements II necessary"
You're fine people NJ headquarters" con-
tinued Farrell sarcastically. a. he finished
reading. not to know OF n general alarm that
is sent out. Fool slip. eh1 Ne crazy. eh? 1
think TIA UP to you"
Headquarters rang OF without making any
reply
The sun., 1899-12-30
KEPPLER NOW A BIG CHIEF
EDITOR or "pUCK" HON0RED BY THE
IJVE NATIONS.


and VIII shed the Name Red Sky In the
Indian New Year-rirst Named for the
Honor by the Women of the senocas.
Mr.. Joseph Keppler. one Of the editors OF
Puck, became chief Gy y-ant-wa-ka. the corn
planter" OF the tribe OF Seneca Indians yester-
day. Lust night he got his horns OF wampum.
and In February the Indian new year. he will
20 TO the tepee OF his brothers and will shed
the name OF Red Sky. Thereafter he will never
speak the name again. but until death he Will
be Gy. ant. .wa-ka. the corn planter
Mr.. Keppler Is the first white man to be
elected an honorary chief by the Indians OF
New York state for more than half
century. He has side with which
the general public and even some OF
his intimate friends are not acauaint-
ed. that Is. his Indian side. lie has been
interested In tho Indians OF New York State
for a mum ber OF years. Recently he has done
number OF things for them that have en-
deared him to them. and the honor is mani
festation OF their regard for him
Last June MIR. Keppler went on a visit TO the
Five Nations and was admitted to Nom bership
In the Wolf Tribe OF the Senecas He was in
troduced to the council by Black Sky. ful!
blooded Indian and the name Red Sky was
given to him. In the natural order OF things
Indian. he would have sned this
name at about middle life. when he would have
got another and would have kept that until old
age. when he would have received third.
which would have lasted until his death: but
his election to chief enables him to skip
the middle name and to take, the name
that all the nations honor. Mr keppler
was hrst named lnr 'he monpt % oy h .he W9neh amf
rav .ne snd tSex decsd co him Tor
place as honorary chief. They chos, the
horns OF Gy.ant.wa;ka, or the corn planter.
AKA IN mas s and his herns % have 6een
Snnsina Since e% IN He % was @ one % Of the diplom & ats
maker, inasmash as his power in the eeunSil
decided treaties that wcrWW u.spuueu py
the chieis ana sachsms' WIEN mnen @ tne cnIa, SSn
his, name was endorsed by the lroqm9ns
anu was sent ay 'hem 10 'ne ~ m NJ, WI w,o
are tne oc.ai nte keeIeIs ", ino t. S ,h
Inc oh0huaRas nslu SouHeIi uy ,Ism.inn t t,,o
re asa .hey m rardm hn mi hi Of S
After Mr.. Keppler's election there remained,
the ceremony OF taxing down the horns OF
y.ssnt,wa,ka: ys and they were nb sent 70 ia,,e Me.
well converse OF this city, I9 la-ie-
wa.noh was entrusted tine duty OF trans.
isrring the horns TO the new Gy-nnt-wn-Sa
WITH the horne was sent document m,ap, in Eng
md pledeing him that as long as no
lived h. would honor and keep, the
horns. and when ne died they, would Dc
returned to the tribe to DO again hung up; =,
made OF wampum beads they arc about u 100:
long: and when laid out are the shape OF
deers ,antlers lie Wit Keep them that way
Spsn Sp nj des Sn when rsverss1 n VII beads @
are brown and white alternating.
Two white beaus with Two Drown beaus; AFTER
The sun., 1899-12-30
OPPOSE NOTING THE ELKYATED.


Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury Taylor
had a talk at tho custom house yesterday
with Collector Bidwell regarding the
proposition to change the route OF the
Manhattan Elevated Railway from
Battery Park. SO that the road would run
past tho new Custom House building on
Bowling Green. The Assistant Secretary
agreed with the Collector in the opinion that
such pan. would spoil tho architectural ap-
pearance OF the new structure and should he
vigorously opposed by the Federal authori-
ties. Mr. Bldwcll thinks the best place for the
railroad II whore 1t IL now.
Another matter that was broachod during
tho visit OF the Assistant Secretary was the
at the public stores. Such n branch would not
only take care Of the postal business in that
neiChborhoOd hut IL might result in the trans
fer to Il Of the customs bureau now In the Gen
era Post Office building.