Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-22
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
James Erion Returns TO Contrast North
and South.
ALEXANDRIA, Ia, SEEMS QUEER TOWN
Its Not 81 Strenuous as south
Omaha, but II Doesn't Have
to Be, So He says-Magic
City Gossip.

prominent residents OF South Omaha, and
the publisher and editor Of a number of
local papers, is at home for a thirty-day
stay. He is now located at Alexandria, La,
where he Is superintendent of the National
cemetery.
In speaking Of the south to a Bee. re-
porter yesterday afternoon MI Erion said:
There are some striking contrasts be-
tween the middle west and the gulf coun-
try, not only In climate, but in business
and social affairs. Leaving central Louis
lana a week ago. with trees in full leaf.
green grass and flowers on every hand
and the shade more welcome than the sun
shine, l landed here forty-eight hours later,
to find bare trees and chilling winds.
I'm point Of personal comfort the sunny
southland holds over this latitute two to
one. To merely exist where at least one
third of the 1856 days in the year are OF
that perfect temperature that makes q
man glad he is alive. merely for the pleas,
ure of living, Is better than all the con-
venlences and luKuries resulting from the
strenuous efforts so evident in this more
rugged climate. The same restless energy
put forth In the south would make It bios
som az the rose, but 1t will never be eK-
erted by the native population. Northern
energy and capital, however, will In time
transform the gulf states and make them
the richest, most productive portion OF our
country. At present 1t Is no exaggeration
to say that nature has done more and man
less for that country than any l ever saw.
The fact that man can exist In Louisiana
without work, is one Of the reasons why
the country Is SO little developed. Ease
and comfort is the desideratum rather than
advancement by personal effort.
"In business methods they are con-
H. 80 a,1 l--l-- A. N1A
notions and antiQuated appliances, rather
than put forth the effort or take the risk
of making a change. In many respects
they are at least half a century behind
the times.
"Alexandria is a growing city OF 5000
population, but It never had a foot Of sewer
or Of paved streets until last summer Now
1t has one paved street, but as IL Is not
kept clean a strange would take II for a
dirt road and the merchants are kicking
themselves for allowing II to be paved.
| When 1t rains the street Is covered with
slush and when the sun shines the dust
is something frightful.
Some OF the methods Of doing business
seems very peculiar to q northern man.
For instance, the meat markets are built
like northern corn-cribs, out Of Stats and
are open for business only q few hours
III AhO hAOA u 80
Some Of the larger stores in Alexandria
run delivery wagons, but the smaller con-
| Germs make the delivery Of goods a mat
ter Of accommodation. That is, they will
agree to send 1t around II they can catch
a wagon going that way, or can pick up q
niger to run the errand. Nearly all
| kinds Of mercantile business is done on
the go-as-you-please plan.
Socially, the better class Of Louisianians
are the most genial. generous and hospit-
able people l ever met. There Is nothing
| they will not do to accommodate a friend.
Their mode OF living and their manner Of
speech is different from ours. but life
| among them a suficient length Of time to
get accustomed to their ways. is sure to
result In a desire to become one Of them
for life"
Killed on Railroad Track.
AT 5 O'Clock this morning the dead body
Of Edward Woods was found on the Mis-
souri, Pacific track about a half mile west
Of Fort Crook. The body was terribly
mangled. having been run over by a train.
Woods was at Fort Crook mingiing with
the soldiers all day Sunday and It is sur
missed that he was walking nome on the
track In the evening when he was run down
by a train. The remains were brought to
South Omaha and the coroner OF Sarpy
county Is expected to hold an inquest.
Edward Woods was rs years old, the son
OF Patrick Woods of Twentieth and Elm
streets. He was employed at the Avery
brick yards.
Fire Department Accident.
An alarm of FIRE was turned in yesterday
afternoon from Twenty eighth and Q
streets and In making the run hose company
1 NJ heoLa a. awIa On fha a afRoat via
duct. None Of the men was injured, al
though naturally all received a few bruises.
thief Etter had the hose removed from the
broken cart and transferred to No. 3 wagon
and the cart was sent to the shop for re-
pairs. The Gre did not amount to any
thing, as It was In the basement Of a shop
where a few papers had blazed from spcn-
taneous combustion.
Captain John TrOutan.
John C. Troutan will eport for duty to-
night as captain Of police. He will have
charge of the night force under Chief
Briggs. Mr.. TroutAn Is well known in
South Omaha and served for a lumber Of
years as chief engineer at the Union Stock
yards, handling the heating plant TO the en-
tire satisfaction OF the management. Since
the construction OF the new postofdee Mr.,
Troutan has been engineer at the public
building. He has always been prominent in
politics. His friends expect that he will
make a nrst-elass police captain, as his in
clination tends to this kind Of work.
Council Organizes Tonight.
With the issuing of a certificate OF cleo
ton to Patrick o'Connor by the city clerk
as ordered by the county judge the dead
lock will be broken and II Is expected that
at the recess meeting tonight the council
win organize by selecting a president and a
president pro TEN. The appointment OF
committees will naturally follow. It is
understood that Barney Luckey OF the Third
ward is so elated over the result of the
o'connor contest that he will try the same
thing In hopes OF BUSTING Nike Smith from
his seat, Should this be done the council
will have q democratic majority. Thomas
Hector stated positively yesterday that he
would contest the right Of Edward L. Howe
to be city treasurer. There is only a differ
ence OF thirty-one votes between the two
candidates and Hector AYERS that II o'Con-
nor could win out on a recount he ought to
get enough votes to the good to make him
city treasurer.
Engine House Burned.
a. - "