davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Gilpin observer., 1900-11-22

Denver, Colo, Nov. 2O.-John Hays
Hammond arrived in Denver yesterday
from Utah. says this mornings Repub-
Hcan, where he has been making per-
sonal examination of some of Captain
De La Mars mines, and last night left
for Cripple Creek, to take charge of
Stratton's Independence mine for the
Venture Corporation. Mr.. Hammond
will first make a thorough examination
of the big gold mine, and upon the re-
suit of his findings will depend the fu-
ture working of the mine. Mr.. Ham,
mond spent the afternoon with Thom-
as +. Walsh discussing with the owner
the affairs of the Camp Bird mine.
which Mr.. Hammond examined a few
weeks ago.
Mr.. Hammond has been asked by
shareholders in Stratton's Independ-
ence mine to take complete charge of
the property, n task which he has
promised to undertake provided he is
put in full charge, to act as consulting
engineer with the powers of n local
board of directors invested in him. He
has asked for authority to conduct the
mine in a manner according to his own
judgment; to do dead" work, or devel-
opment, and cut down the dividends, or
pass them altogether for few months,
until the property could be developed
and made to show what its capabilities
are.
1.-The trouble with the mine now is
that it has been squeezed to pay the
big dividends that the company has
promised shareholders" said Mr.. Ham,
mond yesterday. 1T is a state of af-
fairs that has been known to us here
for some time, but has Just now be-
come known to the English holders of
the shares, and the information has
caused the present drop in the stock.
II am no better able than any one
else to say now what are the future
possibilities of the mine" continued
Mr.. Hammond, in answer to a request
to tell what would be the policy of the
company. 1T is to try TO determine
what can be done that am going down
Il consider that Mr.. Richards first
estimate of the ore in sight was con-
servative, telling only what seemed at
least to be the truth. His further esti-
mates We're based principally on the re-
ports of subOrdinates, which he also be-
lieved. He was thoroughly honest in
all that he said. But Mr.. Rickard was
handicapped by not having complete
access to the mine. 1t was Il great sur
prise to both Mr. Rickard and Mr.. Ba-
ker when they returned here and
found that the ore body was not what
II had been reported, and they at once
made the English investors acquainted
with the fact. There was no attempt
10 conceal anything, and l know for n
fact that Mr. Riclkard had such faith
in his report that he bought blocks of
the shares at f2 5s., which he still
holds. He did not attempt to unload
Gilpin observer., 1900-11-22
SUPREME COURT ON
STATE INDEBTEDNESS

Denver Colo. Nov. 20.-By n decis-
ion of the Supreme Court yesterday
the question of the validity of the war
rants issued by the state in 1889 must
be settled by the Legislature and not
by the state treasurer. Under existing
circumstances, the court finds, the out
standing warrants, amounting to about
S5OOOOO. must await this decision of
the Legislature, the legal as well as the
Illegal in the meantime sharing the
same fate. There is now, it is said,
about $4,000 in the treasury credited
to the year 1889, but none of this can
be paid out until the question of valid
ity is settled. when the warrants de-
clared legal must be paid in regular
order.
The decision is made in the case of
the American Savings bank against the
former state treasurer, and the court,
in it's opinion. says the decision will
have force with some thirteen other
cases along the same line. The de-
cisiOn is a reversal of the lower court,
which decided that the treasurer must
pay the warrants. Chief Justice Camp
bell says in his opinion:
THAT this warrant is n valid debt of
the state is unquestioned: that it should
be paid is clear: that 1t has not been
paid long ago is Il reflection on the
financial integrity of the state or its
dilatoriness in paying its debts. 1t may
be that many outstanding state war
rants issued in 1889 are illegal, be-
cause in excess of the constitutional
limit, but it would seem that some le-
gal ones are unpaid. An adequate
method of ascertaining which are legal
and which void should be adopted by
our general assembly. If none such now
exists, and If there is money in the
treasury from the revenues of 1889
properly applicable to the payment of
the valid warrants, or some of them
issued during that fiscal period, they
should be taken up and interest there
on saved. Meanwhile, it is too much
TO demand that the treasurer at his
peril make this ascertainment for him
self"
Gilpin observer., 1900-11-22
DROP In STRATTON'S
INDEPENDENCE

London, Nov. 19.-rhe sensational
drop of so n share in the price of
Stratton's Independence stock within
n few weeks has been the feature of
the mining division of the stock mar
ket. A few weeks ago the shares We're
selling ut SO. To-day they got down
to 50 and the pressure to unload was
heavy.
According TO the best Informed min
ing experts, the decline in the stock is
due to Il revision of opinion us to the
mines prospects.
At the time of the purchase Of the
property, In April, when Mr.. Stratton
received the last payment of the $l0,.
000.O 600 for which he had contracted TO
deliver the property. Mr.. n. A. Rick
ard. the consulting engineer of the COM
pany. made n statement In whica he
said there was upward of $13,O00,OOo In
gold in sight.
This has now been revised. and II Is
said that only S2,0O0,00O to $3,O00o00
Is In sight.
As to the output, Mr.. Rickard said:
up to May. 1890. the yield was ST.
OF. $50, out of which S2,5T4, 1G4 was
profit. The production for the first
year OF the English company. ending
this month (ApriD. will be $3,0OO,0OO,
tut of which $2,O00,000 will be de-
Gilpin observer., 1900-11-22
PREPARING BILLS TO
BENEFIT COLORADO.

Washington, d. c., Nov. 2O.-Repre.
sentative Shafroth is in Washington
making preparations with a view to
drafting a bill to be introduced upon
the convening of Congress, which Will
provide for the irrigation and reclama-
ton of the arid lands in all arid land
states. He has not yet determined on
the particular features of his bill, for
he realizes the many intricacies Of the
irrigation question and the liability of
arousing opposition to bills which are
not universally just in their provisions.
In fact, to obliterate some Of the oh
jections, Mr.. Shafroth will probably in
troduce separate bill which will make
an appropriation to cover the expense
Of an examination Of different reser-
yoir sites in Colorado and other states,
with view to determining the most
available site in each state. This out,
Of the way, he will probably frame his
irrigation bill with view to having
an equal sum for reservoirs appropri-
ated for each arid land state, and IL
possible have the lump sum turned
over to the respective states. Such q.
bill as this will have the support Of the
solid delegations from all the arid land
states.
strongly urge at the coming session is
the bill already passed by the Senate,
providing for the establishment of a
soldiers home Mt Denver. This bill IL
now on the House calendar and II any
soldiers home bills are taken up, Mr.
Shafroth has the promise Of the frs,
recommendation.
A third measure Is that making an
additional appropriation of $4,000 for
the Leadville public building. Public
building bills are generally passed at
the short session, those increasing pre-
vious small and insufficient appropria-
tions generally having the preference.
1t is probable that the Lcadville bill
will pass both houses at the coming ses-
sion.
Mr.. Shafroth has again taken up his
residence in Mount Pleasant and ex-
poets to remain in Washington
throughout the session.
Gilpin observer., 1900-11-22
Opening Railway to PeLin.

Taku, Nov. 20.-Through communica-
tion by railroad between Pekin and
Tlen-Tsin will be complete by the end
of this month. Arrangements have
been made to bring the terminus at the
Chinese city close to the temple of
heaven. This will be Il great improve
ment, as the former terminus was out
side the city walls and about four
miles from the legation buildings.
The edict inficting punishment on
guilty officials is mildcr than the first
reports suggested. Prince Tuan and
Prince Chwang are only banished, and
not imprisoned. Duke Ian Is merely
dismissed. The foreign ENJOYS cannot
accept the cdlct. owing 10 the made
quacy of the punishmcnts.
Count Won Waldersee officially an
nounces that he has stopped lootlng
and restored pence in the province OF
Chi Ii.
Gilpin observer., 1900-11-22
AMERICAN SHIPPING INTERESTS
SHOW A PROSPEROUS YEAR

Washington, Nov. 19-The report of
Commissioner of Navigation Chamber
lain, made public today says the past
fiscal year has been the most prosper
Gus period known to American ship
ping for some years. Returns for the
current fiscal year promises an even
more satisfactory condition.
For the first time since the Civil War
the documented tonnage of the United
States exceeds 100000 gross tons.
June 80, 1900, American documented
tonnage comprised 23,333 vessels of
5,164, $40 gross tons, an increase of 3OO,-
900 tons over the previous years. Our
maximum tonnage was 5,539,S13 tons
in 1861. Our shipping, the report adds,
in 1861, was larger than previous and
nearly equaled the British empires.
British shipping now amounts to H.
261, 900 gross tons. American vessels
are almost wholly confined to the coast
ing trade. which employed last year
4,33S, 145 tons, or more than the total
tonnage of Germany and France. Our
tonnage in the foreign trade was only
S16,795 tons, and carried last year only
8 per cent. of our exports and imports.
A century ago, American shipping reg
iStered for foreign trade was $685.
tons, while this tonnage now in thir-
teen original states amounts to 4S2,9O1
tons.
The report says that by reason of Sc
rious competition with foreign nations
in the ocean-carrying trade we are
practically restricted to % registered
steamships of over 1000 tons, aggre-
eating 260,32J tons. Single foreign
steamship corporations own greater
tonnage. Japan has eightythree ocean
steamships of over 1000 tons, aggre-
eating 2S0.200 tons. Besides these
steamships we have 125 registered
square rugged sail vessels, over 1000
tons each, for the deep sea trade. More
than half of these are over twenty
years old, and rs such vessels disap-
pear their places are not supplied by
construction. =
Our tonnage is distributed as follows:
Between the Atlantic and Gulf coasts,
2,72I,S92 gross tons; great lakes, 1856
JSI tons; Pacific coast. including Ha-
wall. 612,9O4 tons; Mississippi and trib-
utary rivers, 25S, ,456 tons.
The increase in our shipping during
the decade was 740,342 tons, of which
1S4,512 tons was on the Pacific coast
and was due mainly to Alaskan and
Hawaiian trade. The effective carry
ing power of the worlds merchants
fleets has increased sixty per cent.
The most notable change in the
worlds shipping has been in the size
of steamships. In 1890, there We're
1,12S ocean steamships of 1000 tons or
over, while now $50 such steamships,
aggrcgating 5,600,00O tons, constitute
one-fourth of the worlds steam ton
mage. Increased speed, though great,
has been less noteworthy.
Concentration of the worlds ship
owning has been notable. The thirty
principal steamship companies of the
world own 1000 steamships, or one
fourth in tonnage and more than one
Gilpin observer., 1900-11-22
GREAT DENVER MASS.MEETING
CONDEMNS BURNING OF PORTER

upon n criminal differ from that which
melted Indians to practice similar tor
lures for centuries before the advent
of the Christian civilization, or from
that which marked the fearful e1ecu-
tions of ancient Rome?
"Werecognize the usual orderly char
acter of the people Of Limon and VI
cinity. We appreciate the fact that
their act was the result Of excitement
and passion, which overturned their
reason anu judgment. But we must
nevertheless, express our adherence OF
the extreme measures to which they
resorted, and we protest to the world
that their course of procedure is not
for one moment cOuntenanced by the
sober Judgment of the intelligent and
representative citizens of Denver and
Colorado.
This is not the time or the occasion
to censure either our laws or our of
ficers of justice, but it is our solemn
hope that effective punishment will
speedily by law be enacted for crimes
of the class which melted this tor
ture; that officers of justice will here
after render resort to lynch law i'm
possible in our state; and that in
time to come any citizen of Colorado
inflicting torture like this, no matter
under what provocation. shall be
brought to speedy and adequate pun
ishment.
"Finally We desire to record our
Judgment that vengeance is not the end
of penal suffering. No crime justities
crime. Deeds of this sort brutalize hui
manity as with savages and with an
cient Rome. Processing to make an
awful example they are themselves n
far more awful example"
Gilpin observer., 1900-11-22
HAMMOND WILL TAKE CHARGE
OF STRATTON'S INDEPENDENCE e.

when he found that the mine was not
equal to his expectations.
Il want to deny emphatically that
the drop in the shares of Strattons
Independence is due in any way to
a stock jobbing scheme. The report
that has been brought about by the
| Wernher, Belt & Co. people is utterly
false. The Wernher company is too
big to go into any such scheme. 1t
| owns mines in South Africa which pro-
duce more gold than all the Colorado
mines, and is not a concern which for
the sake of gaining a million or two
dollars would cheat n large number of
people of their property. When Wern-
| her, Belt & Co. engage in American
mining enterprises it will be in another
way than by stock jobbing. The whole
| truth of the drop in the price of the
stock is that the mine has proved to
be unable to keep up the pace set for
| it.
1.-THE future of Colorado mining en-
terprises in England is in great meas
ure dependent upon the outcome of the
sale Of Stratton's Independence. 1t is
the one big Cripple Creek venture that
mas been made in London and should it
fail it will be long time before Others
can be placed there with any success
MY wish is to take the property and
make it a paying investment for the
English stock holders. They have put
in their money in good faith and are ell
| titled to every opportunity. The pres
ent high rate of dividends cannot be
continued The mine must be continued
on business principle with develop
ments in advance of production. / am
not prepared to say that this can be
done, but an examination of the mine
will prove whether it can.
Il should like to see it made to pay
the English investors good return on
their money. If this is done, there
| will be further investments made here
and we certainly need English capital
to develop the mines of the state. !
have n personal interest in the success
of this mine for the reason that IL
means so much to future ventures. We
need the English capital and are seek.
ing it more than it seeks us. If we get
| it firmly established here, Colorado will
be the field of investment rather than
| Africa or elsewhere, and my interests
are in the development of Colorado"
Mr.. Hammond spoke in high praise of
the work of Manager Shipman Of the
mine saying that he would probably
be retained in his present position, only
that he may be subordinate to the con
sulting engineer.
| Yesterday the certificate of appoint.
ment of T. A. Rickard as Colorado
agent for the Venture Corporation was
| filed in the office of the secretary of
statea The certificate was signed by
nenry William Lowe, president, and
| Edgar Fairweather, secretary, No. j
Princess street London.
Gilpin observer., 1900-11-22

A capacity for taking pains in busi-
ness plans and products is more and
more a condition of success. Aus
tralian butter-packing may serve as
an example. Shipments are secured
against deterioration by placing the
butter in boxes made of plates OF
window glass. the edges being closed
by applying gummed paper. The boxes
are covered with layers of plaster of
Paris, and then wrapped in specially
prepared waterproof packing paper.
Such methods help to raise the aver
nge OF attention to details. The re-
luctance of human beings to eat un-
appetizing things increases. 1t pays
TO make food offered for sale attractive
in form as well as substance. The
high standard is money in the pocket
of the dealer and health for the con-
sumer. The converse is true. This
country has lost compromising
trade in exporting cheese. Those who
ruined the trade know how they did
it. but they should be too much
ashamed OF themselves to tell the
world how 1t was done.
Gilpin observer., 1900-11-22

Denver, Colo, Nov. ia great gath
ering of people of all classes, parties
and denominations was held at the
First Baptist church in this city yes
terday to condemn the torture Of John
Porter, who was burned to death at
Lmon by mob of infuriated citizens
in revenge for his horrible crime in
ravishing and numbering little Louise
Frost. c.. NJ. Hobbs of the Y. NJ. G.
A. presided.
Among the speakers and those taking
part in the meeting We're Governor G.
S. Thomas, Mayor Johnson, Joel +.
Vaile, Rev. r. T.. Coyle of the Central
Presbyterian church, Rev. d. N. Beach
of the First Congregational church,
Rev. G. B. Vosburg of the First Bap-
tist church, Rev. John II. Houghton
and others.
The following resolutions were adopt
ed:
I'VE, citizens of Denver and Colora-
do, in mass meeting this day assem-
bled, desire to express to the world our
horror and detestation of the crime
committed in the burning alive of the
negro, Porter.
1.-THE crime of which the negro him
self was guilty is one which cannot
be adequately characterized, and in the
presence of such n crime every heart
stands appalled,. This crime, however,
was the act of one man, and good citi-
zens may honestly differ as to the most
effective means by which such evil
minded persons may be adequately
punished or restrained. However
much the negro by his crime merited
death, no such crime can justify re-
course to barbaric methods of punish
ment. Wherein can the spirit which
impels men to visit such retributlon
Gilpin observer., 1900-11-22

Japan is to have a new military dec
grafton of the nature of the Victoria
cross OF the British army, for personal
valor on the field of battle. which may
be conferred Immediately. without red
tape. As a companion to this intell-
gence comes the praise of the nurses
of the Japan Red Cross on the hospi-
tai ship Hakuai at Taku. They bear
these poetical names: O-Tak San,
meaning the graceful bamboo; Ume-
san. the plum blossom; O-Hagi-san.
the modest meadow sweet; O-Yasu-
san, peace.
Gilpin observer., 1900-11-22

In the Belleville quarter of Paris a
man named Wales recently died whose
career was unique. He was proprie-
tor of lodging houses, but mads = an
1nvariable rule never to press tenant
or sell one up for rent. He has been
known to give a tenant who was un-
able to pay his rent money to cover
the expense of removal. and in his will
he ordered that every tenant was to be
allowed a rebate of terms rent. His
tenants contributed towards a huge
wreath for his grave.
Gilpin observer., 1900-11-22

quarter in carrying power of the
worlds ocean steamships. OF these
only nine of the 1000 ton class, owned
by the International Navigation Com
pany, are American.
1t is estimated that during 1899 the
gross earnings of steam and sail YES
sells in the foreign carrying trades of
all nations amounted to 100000 900.
The export trade of the United States
requires about twenty per cent. of the
worlds aggregate tonnage of the
steamships.
The problem of ocean transportation
at this time, the report says, is essen
TALLY one of transportation by steel
screw steamships. The purposes to
which wooden fore and aft vessels and
steel square rigged vessels are adapt
ed are important. but restricted. The
Suez canal reduced opportunities for
sail vessels and the Nicaragua canal,
it is said, will further reduce them.
In the past ten years Great Britain
has built 4,23S steel steamers of o.
937, 900 tons, while the United States
has built 465 steel steam vessels of
$1,000 tons, of which 1913 Of 100000
tons were built or. the great lakes. Our
entire construction FOR the decade Is
mt a more than half OF Great Britain's
output of 100000 tons during 1899.
We have built for the foreign trade
since 1890 only twenty-four steel
steamships of $4,000 tons. and Of this
total eleven steamships of $4,000 tons
were built as mail steamers, under the
postal subsidy acts.
Comparisons are made with foreign
subsidies to fast steamships, which ag-
gregate S2O,OOO,OOO annually, and the
report holds that the subsidies pro-
posed for similar American steamships
are not more than adequate to secure
American ocean mail lines to the great
continents equivalent to those Of Great
Britain, Germany and France. In the
past sixty years Great Britain and her
colonies have spent over 240O0O, 900
for British ocean mail steamships.
On the basis of foreign voyages actu-
ally made by American vessels aggre-
eating 100000 gross tons, during the
year 1899, the report says the expendi-
lures under the Senate subsidy bill
would have been S2,9O7 900, and under
the House bills $2,790,OO0. Details and
estimates show that, with the addition
al shipping eligible the cost during the
first year of the bills operation would
be about S4,50O,OOO. The maximum of
To,uOV,ooV, IL 10 s'iu, plopapiy Wouu pc
attained during 1o04-5, when n reduc-
ton Of subsidy rates would be neces-
sary. BY that time the building of
100000 tons of ocean steamships and
the necessary increase in number and
extent of our shipyards, the report, de-
clares, would have materially reduced
the cost of shipbuilding in the United
States, compared with Great Britain
and Germany. Under the bill, in five
years, American steamships in foreign
trade, it is stated, would doubtless
reach 100000 tons and sail vessels
100000 tons, sufficient to carry about
one-third of our ocean trade.
Gilpin observer., 1900-11-22

A terrible scene was witnessed in
menagerie at village near Privas,
France. A butcher made a wager that
he would enter cage in which three
lions were enclosed. drink bottle OF
champagne, and play a game of cards
with the tanner. All went well until
the butcher was about to leave, when
he foolishly thrust glass of cham
payne under lions nose. The beast
leaped furiously at the man and man
gled him terribly before he could be
released.
Gilpin observer., 1900-11-22

So accustomed have Americans be-
some to think of the United States as
4 new country that the statement of
Mr.. Albion w. Tourgee that I'VE are
one OF the oldest of existing civilized
nations" seems to require an explana-
tion. Since the foundation of the gov
ernment. almost 112 years ago. there
has been no break in our Presidential
successor. During that period, accord
ing to Judge Tourgee, the form of gov
ernment in France has changed ten
times. Germany" he adds, 'is but
thirty years old. Austria. as a nation,
is the outcome of the Hungarian re-
bellion. Italy is still later product OF
popular evolution"
Gilpin observer., 1900-11-22

Devotees of golf are fond of refer
ring to it as ''the ancient and royal
game" 1t is probably more royal and
certainly far more ancient than most
OF them have any idea of. At all
events pictured tablet was recently
unearthed at Carchemish, the old capi-
tai of the Hittites, whereon are depict
ed men and women engaged in pas
time, which, if not exactly golf as
played at present, is something extra
ordinarily like it.
Gilpin observer., 1900-11-22

Distinguished Greek consuls from
our western cities, as well as hundreds
of Greeks in eastern seaports, have
gathered the past two weeks to do
honor to the Navarchos Miaulis, the
first Greek warship to visit American
waters. Not only when Greek meets
Greek" has the occasion been nota-
BILE, but because Greece has taken this
opportunity to express to the world
her appreciation of the long and un-
broken friendliness of the United
States.
Gilpin observer., 1900-11-22
Portcrr Rcnch I.nMrcncc.

Kansas City. Nov. 20.-Prcston Por-
ter and his remaining son. Arthur,
reached their home In Lawrence yes
terday. Although the fate OF John
Preston Porter ut Limon, Colorado.
was generally known among the mem.
bers OF the colored colony. where the
dead boy was well known, there was
no feeling apparent against the mob
Mt Lmon which burned young Porter
Friday.