davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-28

would be very great. The whole scheme OF
boulevards would improve the city. 1 be-
heve. TO a greater degree than any otner
suggested method of improvement"
The improvement on Twelfth street would
cost considerable sum. but the increase
in property values would, in the opinion OF
many, be so great that only the most mag
nificent and imposing structures would be
built upon the street. The cost, therefore,
would resolve itself into the mere con-
domination and payment for certain prop
erty now abutting on the street, and IN the
institution Of the park down the center.
Kings highway and Union boulevard are
highly improved for a portion of their
length. and real estate judges believe that
the mere continuance of this Improvement
keeping the streets as wide throughout as
they are opposite Forest Park. would give
two Of the most magnificent boulevards In
the world. The cost of improving, it is
thought. would not be at any increase over
that which will be necessary in any case
for the Worlds Fair.
Grand Avenue Presents
q Serious Problem.
Grand avenue offers more serious
problem, long stretch of the street being
Of dilapidated nature. 1t would need NIB
Improvement in fits passage through Comp
ton Heights. but it Is thought that q con-
siderable sum would have to be soent to
mako It any way imposing for its full
length.
The improvement Of Market street wese
Of Jefferson and the alteration Of Laclede
west to Grand would be q considerable item.
1t is thought. Many changes would have tb
be made, but. as said before. one OF this
heaviest expenses would be removed II Mar
ket street could start in a park opposite the
Union Station. this park to be the site
of a public library branch and secured
by condemnation of existing buildings.
Compton Heights and Tower Grove Park
afford such splendid surroundings for the
east and west boulevard on the South Side
| that It is thought this street could be con-
structed at very little expense. Tho North
| End boulevard running east and west
would also cost but little. 1t IS believed. as
many Of the extreme northern streets arc
built up with fine class Of residences and
| are we'll improved.
| The entire scheme IS regarded as feasible
| by many real estate men. while nearly all
| admit the benefits which would result to
| the city therefrom. 1t Is considered GER
| tain that the city will have to expend much
money in street improvement before the
| Fair, and this Is regarded as one of the best
systems Of improvement that could be in
augurated. 3.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-28

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
All the world loves a fair and even con-
test for supremacy, be 1t between men, ami
mails, automobiles, steam engines or boats.
Consequently the world is looking forward
TO the yacht contest for the Americas cup.
Great interest is taken on both sides Of the
water In the event Dwellers Of the inland.
however. are not so well versed In yacht
ing as are those living on seashore. Es-
pecially are the yachting terms. such as
''mainsail" "jib," BOOM" topping lift''
and a dozen others hard to understand.
Reference is frequently made by writer's
of yacht race stories to the parts Of the
sails OF q yacht The first diagram will
assist the reader in comprehending what is
here said. The top of every sail is called
its head and the bottom the foot Yachts
carry fore and aft sails. These are sails
whose forward edge is made fast either to
q mast or a stationary rope (of steel wire)
called a stay. In a square-rigged ship both
edges are free. and the head and foot are
extended on yards. The mainsail Of sloop
Is extended on q gaff at the head and a
boom on the foot. On a schooner which has
two masts. the forward mast is named the
foremost and the rear one the mainmast.
The gafrs and booms of these masts are
distinguished by prefacing their names with
that OF the mast to which they belong. as
main gan. fore gaff.
Tho forward edge Of every fore and aft
sail - called the luff. and the rear edge the
leach. The outer or forward lower corner
10 called the tack. and in the case of a jib,
. staysail or spinnaker. this is fastened
down with a rope. called also a tack. The
after lower corner is called the clew. This
IL the part OF the sail to which the sheet
"a rope) Is attached. and by this rope the
sail is trimmed to the proper angle to re.
ceive the wind effectively. The sheet is
the line that does the pulling. One can al
WAYS decide which part of a sail is the
CSC by observing where the sheet is made
& st to Il.
IN . four-cornered fore and aft SAIL such
a. . mainsail, club topsail. and in q
schrsrsr q foresail. the forward upper cor
uer . called the throat and the after upper
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-28

staysail. and a jib topsail stay for the jib
topsail
From the end of the bowsprit back to the
stem Of the yacht runs the bobstay, which
pulls downward and counteracts the up
ward pull of the other stays. Thus the
upper and lower stays running over the end
of the bowsprit form q truss for the for
ward bracing of the mast. If the bobstay
parts. the vessel is in danger of losing her
bowsprit and her topmast. The bowsprit is
braced laterally by lines called bowsprit
| shrouds leading from the end of the spar
back to the hull The topmast is braced
laterally by the topmast shrouds, to which
| a truss effect is given by the use Of the
| spreaders. II spreader breaks, the strain
| Of the topmast shrouds is removed and
away goes the topmast. This accident sell
dom happens unless either a club topsail or
| a balloon jib topsail is set. The lower mast
| is additionally braced for lateral strains by
the runner pendants. sometimes called the
masthead backstays. These are provided
| with runners and tackles. or else iron turn
buckles. by which they can be set up more
tightly.
A mainsail. or the foresail Of schooner,
| requires two sets of halyards to hoist it
and hold it up. These are named according
| to the part OF the gaff at which they are
made fast the throat and peak halyards.
| Both run through series of blocks in or
der to give them plenty of power In the
| diagram only peak halyard block is
shown. but in large yacht there are al
| ways more These halyards lead down to
the deck for hauling purposes. In large
yachts they have both ends on deck. one
| coming down on each side. The end on one
side has tackle called Jig attached to 1t.
so that when the sail is up the extra
power Of this tackle may be applied to get
the very last inch stretched.
From the masthead to a point we'll out
on the boom runs the topping lift. a line
arranged to support the boom, or to raise
1t when necessary. This line has a tackle
on the deck end. so that it can be hauled
with plenty of power. Large yachts have
q topping lift on each side of the mainsail.
From the top of the topmast run the pre-
venter backstays, one on each side. When
not in use this stay runs through niche
(called nip in the spreader down to the
deck. where it is made fast just behind
the topmast shroud. When lib topsail is
set the preventer backstay is taken out of
the niche. unfastened at the deck, and led
| out to a point near the stern of the yacht
where 1t is hauled taut and made fast. 1t
thus supports the topmast against the ad.
ditional strain of the lib topsail. II It is al.
ways the stay on the side opposite to that
! on which the rnainsail swings that is used
for this purpose. It Is then designated the
weather backstay. weather meaning the
| side against which the wind blows.
The opposite Of weather is ''lee." A
vessel sailing With the wind not behind hsr.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-28

or in other words with It on the beam or
or one side Of her bow, Is said to be on the
starboard or port tack. If the starboard
side is the weather side. she is on the star
board tack: If the port side Is the weather
side. she is on the port tack. Starboard
designates the r,ght-hand side Of the YES
sci looking forward. and the port side is
the ieft-hand side. The whole forward end
| Of the vessel is called the bow. and it is
customary to speak of the starboard or
port bow. The sides of the vessel where
they round in toward the stern are called
the quarters. starboard or port
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-28

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
A complete boulevard system in ST. Louis
as preparation for the Worlds Fair is be-
ing strongly urged by Samuel Bowman.
prominent rea! estate man. and others with
practical experience In such matters. who
believe that the city will benefit greatly
by such system, not only during the
Worlds Fair. but permanently.
The plan advocated by Mr.. Bowman Is
to connect the various sections OF the city
with the Worlds Fair grounds, and with
each other. by ornamental and permanent
thoroughfares. which will enable visitors to
pass along imposing streets from whatso-
ever quarter they arrive. and which will
prove OF great value to the city afterwards.
His plans include the construction Of
boulevards leading from the northern. south
ern and central portions of the city directly
TO the Fair gates. and also the institution
Of a public square or plaza ON Twelfth
street, extending from the City Hall 10
Washington avenue. With the street Of uni
form width and with park built down its
center. ornamented with statues and foun-
tains, he believes that the attractiveness of
St Louis would be increased hundredfold.
Mr.. Bowman's proposed system Of boule-
wards does not provide for the construction
of new and costly roadways. but rather for
the Improvement OF existing streets. many
OF which are already highly improved. and
would require but little attention and ex-
penditure.
Briefly summed up. his plan is to have
certain streets SO improved as to become
the recognized arteries OF travel to and
from the Worlds Fair, just as Lindell boule-
ward is recognized to-day as the main road
way leading to Forest Park. If all visitors.
he believes, have handsome roadways like
Lindeu boulevard to travel over in order to
reach the Fair, they will be far moro inn
pressed with st. Louis than by seeing any
number Of handsome residences confined to
ono section OF the city.
Great Boulevards Connecting
the North and South Ends.
Union boulevard, Kings highway and
Grand avenue. Mr.. Bowman thinks. should
be improved from end to end, and would
furnish connections with the extreme north
ern and southern ends Of the city, as well
as with the most desirable residence por-
tons thereof. Connecting boulevards at some
convenient point near the eXtremities of
these streets would give continuous pas
sage to the Fair over magnificent roadways,
while slight improvement to the boulevards
70 Forest Park would give a system of
streets second to none in the world.
An east and west boulevard in South st.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-28
A TIDE GAUGE AT HowARDs BAY, ON THE MAINE COAST
this device the level calculated without
disturbance from the waves. 90.

the United States Coast and Geodetic Sur.
vey had measured the sea level at the same
place some years before and It was thus
possible to compare any results obtained
with the ofiimcial Government figures. All
together the observations took, from the
beginning, very nearly full month
The mean sea level Is the average height
Of the ocean half way between high tide
and low tide, but in individual observations
this level is found to change considerably
from day to day. This is due to the fact
that tides are caused by the attraction of
the sun and moon, being highest and lowest
when the moon and sun pull together, as
| in the Spring: and showing the least vafi-
alton, as in the "neaps." when the attrac-
ton of the moon is partly counter balanced
by the attraction OF the sun.
Moreover, although the mean sea level can
be approximately reckoned and marked in
| three or four weeks actual work on the
coast-that is, from one full moon to anoth-
er-the relative position of the sun. moon.
, and earth SO vary from month to month
that cycle of nearly nineteen years must
elapse before the exact conditions existing
| on any given day can be duplicated The
! change from year to year. however. is not
| only very slight but can be exactly calcu-
l
i lated from tide tables. so that the geodesist
| can determine his datum plane without
| actual daily observations of variation, al
though at the principal seaports constant
records of the tides are kept on self-record-
| ing instruments. the results of which are a
basis for the proving and correction of tide
tables.
Some of the Difficulties Which
Beset the GeOdesist.
But the tides are not the only sources OF
+! difficulty in ascertaining the mean sea level
The ocean Is never still. Not only does the
| tide itself rise by Jerks" as Professor
George H. Darwin, the weIl-known author
| ity on the action and laws Of the tides
expresses 1t, instead Of easily and steadily
but the motion Of the waves, even on tn,
calmest summer sea, makes direct measure
msut Of the level impossible. Even in I
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-28

few grains of corn, covers 1t with his foot,
and the field Is left until time for harvest.
By this method only few yards square
can be planted each day. and a ten-acre
cornfeld is something unheard of.
Next to corn, sugar IS the important crop
mot white sugar. but the dirty, sticky,
cane-iavored pamela. It would b we'll if
the cane were planted for pamela only. I'M
fortunately. four-fifths Of the pamela Is
transformed into aqua ardiente, Q literal
fire water" OF course. drunkenness 10 thu
prevailing vice among the men Of al class.
es. They get drunk early IN the morning,
get drunk in the afternoon and are always
drunk in tho evening. Even tho present alb
normal price Of liquor Cs5 per quartz does
not bring the demand down to the supply.
Ono day in the week is an exception to the
general rule. Everybody Is supposed to be
at work on Monday. and q person found in
a saloon before midday IL arrested and
fined s. 80
For a long time the balmy breezes from
the Caribbean have driven the storm clouds
far from Lake Peten. Other portions Of ths'
department have had rain and to spare, but
Flores is suffering from the drought. Corn
brings IS (silver) per bushel. flour 80 (goldl'
per hundredweight and sugar 80 cents per
pound. The only food in abundance Is meat,
and meat Is not a wholesome diet in trop-
ical midsummer. True, there are fish In the
lake, great gamy fish. but 1t takes work to
catch them. and who wants to work? Not
. hundred miles away there may be an
abundance Of foodstuffs. In all Of this great
department Of Peten there is not Q single
mile Of public road. or road Of any othep-
lii -
have not seen even an OK cart. Everythine
Is carried on the backs Of Indians. Freight
in here from Belize costs from 10 cents td
20 cents a pound
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-28

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
A small party of advanced students in
engineering from the Massachusetts Insti-
tute of Technology, under the direction OF
Professor Arthur G. Robbins, has been at
work at Machias. on the coast of Maine,
this summer in an experimental determine
ton Of the point of mean sea level-one of
those problems that the general public sell
dom hears Of perhaps, but on which, none
| the less, modern engineering, as compre-
hensive science, may be said finally to rest.
Wherever there Is railroad to be built,
| town site to be laid out, mine to be
! opened, or mountain to be measured, the
height above mean sea level is Immediately
| fixed as the first factor in the calculations
| Of every engineer who wishes to carry out
| his survey on a strictly scientific basis and
make it accord with the general standard
| of engineering throughout the world.
| The mean sea level is the universal
| datum plane" in other words. For ordin-
airy work, indeed, an arbitrary datum plane
may be selected-any landmark which may
be convenient and is likely to be permanent
but the sea level is required even here
| If ever the results of such work are to be
| reduced to common reckoning, every.
where Ineligible: while in the larger earth
measurements of the geodesist 1t becomes
absolutely essential. and is carried for hum
dreds and thousands of miles inland Ivy
means of succession of levels or vertical
(! angles.
| Mean Level Has Been
Taken at Various Stations.
The mean sea level has been measured
and marked at various stations along our
coasts, including both oceans and the
Gulf of Mexico. The level Is everywhere
the same, whether in sheltered bayou or
in the tumultuous tides Of the Bay of
Fundy, but observations are naturally
taken at the point Of greatest conveniencs
for the observers. The Institute party car
ried on its work in . quiet inlet. called
Towards Bay. about dozen miles from
Machias. partly because tho conditions were
particularly good there and partly because
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-28
HOW HUMAN TASTE FOR BEEF
REGULATES SHAPE OF CATTLE,

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
Ihat 1t Is possible for popular taste to ex-
ercise most potent influence on the deve,-
opment of animals that are used for food
has lately been shown in the difference be-
tween French and English cattle.
The English are very fond of roast meat
and show marked preference for those
portions of a cow such as the filet. that
are In the region Of the loins, whereas the
French like nothing better than "pot-au-
leu which Is made of sup and boiled
meat. the rump being the part of the ami
NAL from which the meat is taken. Thus, il
1t is true that steak is the most popular
dish In England. so 1t is equally true that
'pot-a-feu" or beef la mode is the most
popular dish in France.
Being well aware Of this fact the breed
ers Of cattle in both countries have natural
ly done their utmost to develop those parts
of the animal that are most appreciated. AS
result, the Durham, which is the typical
English COW. and is almost as much an
preciated in Germany IS to-day notable for
its large loins. its well developed chest and
Its small. flaccid rump while the Limousin.
which is the typical French COW, is dist m
gufshed for its rump. which is both promi-
nent and spacious.
The numbers 1. and in the accompany
Ing pictures indicate, respectively, the first,
second and third quality of meat, as they
are rated in the markets Of Paris, London
and Berlin. 1t will be seen that in France
the entire rump and a small portion of the
back are regarded as Of first quality;
that the shoulder and flank take second
| rank, and that the head. limbs and stomach
are not highly priced. In London and Ber-
lin. on the other hand. only the upper part
| OF the rump is regarded as of first quality.
i though not better than the loins, and the
shoulder is consigned to the third rank.
These differences Of taste are not more
! striking that the differences between the
animals themselves A Durham has a
sharply defined head and small neck and
shoulders: its back is large, and is developed
in horizontal direction. the evident reason
being because breeders took most pains to
] improve that portion Of the animal in which
! is the fillet, 30 dear to the English and Ger.
man palate On the other hand. the rumr
is hardly developed at all. In Limousi=
COW. on the contrary. the rump Is greatly
developed.
"These differences are not the result Of
chance" says NJ. Paul Diffoth a we'll
known French agriculturist. who has beer
! studying the subject. 1.-THE Durham o
to-day was created. so to speak. by tn,
brothers Charles and Robert Colling, ant
I its ancestors were the Shorthorns that uset
to feed on the pastures of Durham. Thei
shape was faulty. however, and Robar
Colling. noticing one day a beautiful.
formed calf in yard behind q black
smiths shop. determined to try and i'm
prove the breed by means Of it.
THE experiment succeeded and from
this calf. known later on as the celebrated
Hubback. the Durham OF to-day are de
Scended."
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-28
NOBODY WORKS IN PETEN.

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
The department Of Peten comprises about
one-third of the area Of Guatemala. but 1t
is separated from the rest of the Republic
by the lofty cordillera of Alta-verapaz. Its
population Is about 5000. of which number
four fifths are Indians. 1t Is acknowledged
to possess the richest soil Of Central Ameri-
ca, and the most easy Of cultivation. OF
the natural products sufficient has been al
ready said. Mahogany. hundreds OF thou
sands OF cords. and ebony In small quantt-
ties are found in the vast forests. The wild
caoutchouc brings In q small revenue to the
Indian trapper. Crude rubber from a wild
tree Is worth 40 cents pound. The product
Of a cultivated tree brings sos for the same
quantity. Loswood is used for fences. But
1t must be remembered that there are no
routes Of transportation. To the east and
! south a gently rolling plain extends to the
Gulf of Honduras. Very little grading
would be required to build a railroad from
| the coast to Lake Peten, but such road
| would have to cross the English Territory
| of Belize. where concessions are not easily
obtained.
The principal occupation of the people IL
said to be agriculture. l have not yet seen
| a man at work. In the morning the ladies'
| Of the higher class roll cigarettes for their
husbands and themselves. In the afternoon
| all sleep. With the sun casting shadows
| toward the south. and such intense heat, 10
| is impossible to do anything else. The farms
are very small Each family raises Just
| sufficient for its own use. no more.
Plows ard harrows are unknown. The
| ground to be planted IL burned over. That
is all the preparation. Fallen trees are not
removed. nor Il the dead brush cleared
away. Nature will attend to that in due
time. Then q man with pointed stake or
mattock digs a little hole. drops therein q
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-28
WORLDS FAIR BOULEVARD SYSTEM AS PLANNED

play the city to the best advantage to Wis
itors. They need only use the streets which
were recognized as the main arteries Of
traffic and would be favorably impressed
with the appearance Of st. Louis.
"Laclede avenue and Market street might
be improved west from the Station, giving
an uninterrupted ride along an improved
street to visitors. The whole system, would,
1 believe. furnish st. Louis with the best
advertisement in the world. and would be
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-28

square in the day time with magnificent
buildings and hotels on all sides. with
fountains playing in the parks along the
center, and with statuary and shrubbery
decorating the lawns. And at night with
the whole place brilliantly lighted the effect
would be just as beautiful.
TT would come to be the great promenad-
ing place of visitors, and as the downtown
business section extends to its very doors
already, the increase in property values