davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-06
MEXICO ON A GOLD BASIS.
American Capital to Seek Employment in
the Great Republic.

New York. Dec 5-The determination
of the Mexicon Government to establish
that country on a financial basis similar
to that adopted in Japan, which went
from a silver to a gold basis some five
years ago, has been welcome news in
financial and industrial circles. When
Mexico carries out this programme the
value of the Mexican silver dollar will
be fixed at fifty cents. This will put an
end to the wide fluctuations in the value
of money which have proved so serious
in the business relations of Mexico with
other countries. 1t is a we'll known
fact that one of the most prominent
banking houses in this city, having in
ternational relations with Mexico, is
now arranging to secure the gold re-
quired by the Mexican Government to
make the basis for the circulating
medium.
In this city, where so many Mexican
enterprises have offices, the officials in
charge say that the Mexican Government
will by establishing values on a gold
basis stop the wide fluctuations which
have done much to embarrass the COM
mercial development of Mexico. The an
nouncement of the change to gold basis
will be Immediately followed by the influx
of capital from the States, and enter
prises will be at once undertaken which
will rapidly promote the prosperity of
the Mexican Republic. No better pulse
of the situation exists than the Mexican
Central Railway Company, which ira
verses the great republic from Ell Paso,
on the Texas line, to the City of Mexico;
and from Tampico, on the Gulf of Mexico,
to Manzanillo, on the Pacific. This great
road with its many feeders, is the great
trunk line of Mexico, and since the plans
of the Mexican Government have leaked
out, merchants. manufacturers and CAPT
talists have been making inquiries, all
indicative of the interest that capital
and energy take in promoting trade in
this country now that the basis of values
is to be established.
The wealth of Mexico is as yet an un-
known quantity. 1t depends upon the
energy and capital that is put into de-
veloping her incalculable resources.
Besides her mines, she possesses great
agricultural possibilities. In every direc-
ton the investigator finds inviting OPP
portunities for capital and energy. No
better evidence of what can be accom-
plished, even under INSTANTANEOUS con-
ditions, can be found than by comparing
the growth of certain localities along the
long line of the Mexican Central, during
the past ten years. On every side can
be found evidences of growth and grow
ing prosperity and each point has become
market for goods manufactured in the
United States The fixing Of the cur
rency on a gold basis means commercial
prosperity and national Importance to
Mexico.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-06
ALLEGED MURDERER cAPruRsp.
Death Of Prominent Citizen of Sampson.
Good Roads Movement in New Hanover.
Especial 10 News and Observer !


Wilmington, N. c., Dec. 5.-Sheriff r. s.
Burch, of Florence, S. c., arrived early
TINS morning on the belated train from
charleston, bringing to the county iail
here Martin VanBuren Williams, col
ored, charged with the murder. two years
ago, OF Edmund Anders at Councils Sta
uon, Bladen county, near Wilmington.
The negro was captured Yesterday at
cambridge. Ca. and admits his identity
but not his guilt. The murder occurred
at the proverbial negro festival and was
in cold blood A reward of $25 is offered
by Governor Aycock for the arrest Of the
negro. Williams victim was a negro OF
splendid character and was demonstrating
with his slayer when he was shot down.
Mr.. James l.. Corbett, one of the most
prominent citizens of Sampson county,
died at six o'clock last evening at his
home near Ivanhoe, in the eighty seventh
year of his age. The funeral was con-
Quoted this afternoon at two O'Clock from
the late residence. He was one of the
founders Of Blacks Presbyterian chapel,
near his home. and was noted for his
strong Christian character He leaves
of his immediate family two sons, Messrs.
w. M. and =. r. Corbett, prominent men
In this section, and four daughters, all of
them married.
Rev. Dr. Calvin S. Blackwell left this
afternoon for Charleston, S. c., to deliver
an address to young men in the Y. M. c.
A. auditorium in that city and to preach
in the Citadel Square church on Sunday.
He will also deliver his lecture Orators
end Oratory' to the student body at the
Citadel and returning he will go to Dur
ham, n. c., to preach the annual SER
mon at the Baptist State Convention.
An idea of the hold the good roads
movement has gotten on New Hanover
county may be gained from the treasur-
ers annual statement just made public.
The amount expended for road purposes
since March 4th is 500, $50. One macadam
ICED road, upon which tolls were form
erly charged, was purchased outright and
made a free thoroughfare, while the re-
mander has been spent in maintaining
n rock quarry and convict squad en-
gagged in building new roads.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-06
A GREAT HOLIDAY
TRADE HAS BEGUN
Retail Business in Winter
Goods is Expanding.
PRICES AT THE TOP NOTCH
K ling frosts Put an End 10 the Marvellous
Fall, and The Cotton Crop, il May
Now be Said. is
MADE,
PRICES AT THE TOP NOTCH
(By the Associated Press.)

New York, Dec. 5.-Bradstreet's tomor
row will say:
"Seasonable winter weather. hitherto
conspicuously lacking, has come very
much into evidence this week, with the
result of expanding retail trade in win
ter goods, rubbers and wearing apparel
generally Killing frosts have about put
q period to the marvellous fall season OF
1902, and in the South, the cotton crop
may be said to be made, SO far as furth-
er growth is concerned. All the usual
seasonable changes have about come to
pass. Dairy products and produce gen.
orally are higher, Lake navigation is
about over, iron ore shipments have
ended, after the greatest movement on
record, and the wheat crop has gone into
winter quarters with a fair covering OF
snow in northern ATTITUDES, and with a
very generally satisfactory condition rul-
ing throughout much OF the admittedly
very large acreage. Hessian fly damage
to some of the early sown and too rank
growth in the Southwest are the only
complaints heard of. Threshing is about
completed in the Northwest and farmers
display more willingness to part with
their products Cold weather from now
out is needed to insure the large move
ment of corn expected, as the result of
active export and home demand.
1.-The years approaching end finds prices
well up to the highest point in eighteen
months, though meats, an important ele-
ment in food supplies, are steadily declin-
ing on good receipts. Next to the ex-
poctations already partly realized, that
an enormous holiday business will be
done, the most notable feature is the
practical unanimity of opinion that
large spring trade is in prospect, ground
for this being furnished by the unprece-
dented volume of such business already
booked. The feature in foreign trade
is the turn in the tide of corn exports,
which have at last begun to expand
after fifteen months of scarcity, high
prices and triding shipments.
I'm wholesale dry goods, good spring
trade acts as a supporting feature for
some lines, but it is noted that poor ex-
port business has affected brown and
bleached eottons, which can be had at
easier quotations.
Business failures for the week ending
Thursday December A. number 1S5, as
against 237 in this week last year"
WEEKLY COTTON MOVEMENT.
New York. Dec 5.-The following
statistics on the movement of cotton for
the week ending December 5. 1902. were
compiled by the New York Cotton Elk
change:
Weekly Movement
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-06
COMPARATIVE COTTON STATEMENT

COMPARATIVE COTTON STATEMENT.
New York. Dec. 5.-For the week end
ing Friday, December 5, 1902: Net re-
celpts at all United States ports during
week, 323.391; net receipts at all United
States port same week last year. 1922, 01S;
total receipts since September 1st, 3.9S1.-
545; total receipts to same date last year,
3,6S9,76 exports for the week. 200, 617
exports for same week last year, 274. 1856:
total exports since September 1st, 1856,
1858; total exports same date last year.
2,722,3SS stock at all United States ports.
1,064, $780, stock al all United States ports
same time last year, S29,541; stock at
all interior towns, 555, 440; stock at all
interior towns same time last year.
636,935; stock at Liverpool, 433 600; stock
at Liverpool same time last year, 54S,OO
stock of American afoat for Great
Britain. 227,000; stock of American afioat
for Great Britain same time last year.
$4,000
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-06

TO ACCOMMODATE those who are
partial to the use of atomizers in apply
ing liquids into the nasal passages for
catarrhal troubles, the proprietors pre-
pare Elys Liquid Cream Balm. Price
including the spraying tube is rs cents
Druggists or by mail. The liquid en-
bodies the medicinal properties of the
solid preparation. Cream Balm is quick
Iy absorbed by the membrane and does
not dry up the secretions but changes
them to a natural and healthy character.
Ely Brothers, IS Warren St, n. Y.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-06
Ripe Strawberries in December.
Especial to News and observer.)

NDPNtsIUA W wv NILAU ON11NA 'S-'I
Kittrell, N. c., Dec. 5.-The Continental
Plant Company today sent to Col. F. A.
Olds basket of luscious, ripe strawber-
ries. Col. Olds will present them to Gov
ernor Aycock. The berries, with many
others, We're gathered from the large
berry farms of the Continental Plant
Company, at Kittrell. Ripe strawberries
in December speaks loudly in favor of
North Carolina winter climate and of the
State as q winter resort
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-06

Brought into Sight
thus far for season. s, 1894 ,867. 5,215, 443
Total crop movement is for ninety-six
days in 1902, against ninety seven days
in 1901.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-06

What you pay for extracts is impor-
tant, but what you get for your money
IS ten times more important Burnett's
Vanilla costs more because worth more.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-06
WEEKLY BANK CLEARINGs.

New York. Dec. 5.-Total bank clearing
for the week ended December 4, 81. $780,
2N,a9S; increase Is per cent. Outside of
New York $90S, 126,244; increase IL per
cent.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-06
TOTAL NET RECEIPTS.

New York, Dec. 5.-The following are
the total net receipts OF cotton at all
ports, since September 1st:
Galveston, 1,175,344 bales; New Or
leans, 1,66,251; Mobile, 110,614; Savannah.
715.Sl6; Charleston, 144 ,295; Wilmington.
2So,449; Norfolk, go, 562; Baltimore, T.
O46; New York, 1889; Boston, 1884 I:
Newport News, 10,S60; Philadelphia, g.
9SS: Brunswick, 81, ITO; Fernandina, $50:
Pensacola, 1864 Port Arthur, 1861;
Port Arthur, 1861; Port Townsend, &c.
S9S; San Francisco, 13,7U5 Portland, Ore.
1.541. Total, 1901, 545 bales.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-06

Country preachers are usually long OF
sermons and short on salary.
Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-03-24
A Permanent Investm emit,

I, Here is story Of the late Eugene
Field that has never before been print
ed, says the New York Tribune:
With Mr.. Field on the Chicago Rec
ord up to the time of the latter's death
was William E. Curtis, known the
world over as wonderfully versatile
newspaper correspondent. Being in
Chicago on visit once, he met Mr..
Field, who had been meeting up" with
some friends and was consequently
financially short. 1t was but the work
of a moment for Mr.. Curtis to stake"
his old friend, and the two parted with
the understanding that the fifty was
to be returned the next day. But Mr..
Field did not turn up, and Mr.. Curtis
was forced to leave Chicago without
seeing him.
1t CHANGED that Mr.. Curtis did not
visit Chicago again for year or more,
and when he called at The Record Of
fee he found Field busily engaged, but
with the same old cordial welcome. In
the course Of the conversation 1t de-
veloped that Field had not yet repaid
the loan, and he was overwhelmed
with shame to think that he had neg
lected it. II tell You, Bill" said Field,
II am so ashamed over the affair that
haven't the nerve to look you in the
face. To think that l should neglect
an old friend in that way! Dear, dear!
What must you think of me to behave
like that?" "Oh, that's all right,
Gene" said Curtis. You can hand it
to me before go away again. Don't
let a little thing like that worry you"
And the two parted with the under
standing that Curtis should call at The
Record office the next day. Mr.. Field
was at the time running column Of
wit and wisdom called "Sharps and
Flats" The next morning when Mr..
Curtis opened his Record at breakfast
he looked over the "Sharps and Flats"
and there he read this paragraph: "Mr.
William E. Curtis the talented and
versatile correspondent of The Record
in Washington, is in Chicago looking
after his permanent investments"
There was nothing doing" in collec-
tons that day.
Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-03-24
HE FMLED THE BUCKET.
4 Story of Grant When He Was .
"PIeb." at West Point.

4 Story OF Grant When He Was .
"PIeb." At West Point.
There is story told of General Grant
when a pleb. He had just entered on
bis first day in 'pleb." camp. A first
classman who had noticed the boys
strong build intimated to him 1t would
be a pleasure to have him call imme-
diately at the seniors tent. Grant
went. There 10 rule at West Point,
which was rule then as well, that any
cadet who asks another to perform
mental labor for him shall be dismissed
from the service. The first classman
knew too much to ask his pleb. visitor
outright to do anything of the kind,
but here is the way he went at 1t:
II presume, Mr.. Grant, that you have
lived on farm. and, this being the
case, you have had undoubtedly good
opportunity to note the effect Of the
suns rays on certain objects. Now, II
you had left a water bucket that was
innocent of holding single drop of the
fluid out in the sun from its rising to
its setting, what do you think, sir,
would be the particular effect upon that
particular water bucket?"
II think" said Grant, "that it would
get warped and leaky."
Every good, Mr.. Grant. You show
erudition beyond your years. Now, II
you will notice my water bucket, you
will see that 1t is as dry as a chip.
Now, by the further exercise OF your
knowledge, Mr.. Grant, can you tell me
by what means l may prevent the
warping and leaking Of my bucket"
"Have it filed" said Grant.
Every good again, Mr.. Grant, but
note that you said have 1t filed not
I'LL it, That necessarily means that
some one must fill it for me. You have
shown so much acumen that l fear
to violate your prescription either in
letter or in spirit, which l should do X
l presumed to carry the bucket to the
water tank myself"
Grant filed the bucket.
Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-03-24
FLOATING ISLANDS.



OF all passengers carried by ocean
currents floating islands are the most
interesting. Many Of them have been
found voyaging on the Atlantic. These
islands were originally parts Of low
lying river banks which broke away
under stress of storm or food and
Hoated out to sea. The Orinoco, the
Amazon, the La Plata and other trop-
ical rivers often send forth such pieces
of their shores. Some of the bits Of
land are of large size and carry AMI
mails, insects and vegetation, even at
times including trees, the roots Of
which serve to hold the land intact,
while their branches and leaves serve
as sails for the wind. Generally the
waves break up these islands shortly
after they put to sea, but sometimes,'
under favorable conditions, they travel
long distances
The longest voyage Of floating is-
land, according to government records.
took place in 1893. This island was
first seen off Florida, and apparently it
had an area of two acres. 1t bore no
trees, but it was thickly covered with
bushes, and in one place it was thirty
feet high above the sea level 1t was
In the gulf stream, travelling slowly
and with occasional fluctuations to
show where the ground swell was
working beneath it. Probably 1t got
away from it's river anchorage in the
spring Of the year, for toward the lat
ter part of July it had reached the lat
itude Of Wilmington, Del.
No large animal life had been seen
on It, though there must have been
myriads Of the small creeping things
which abound in the tropics. By the
end of August it had passed Cape Cod
and was veering toward the Grand
banks. 1t followed the steamer lane
routes quite accurately, and several
vessels reported it. One month later
It was in midocean northwest of the
Azores. and its voyage evidently was
beginning to tell on it. 1t was much
smaller and less compact 1t was not
seen again, and probably it met de.
struction in the October gales. But it
had Travelled at least 1000 miles, and
If, as was thought, it came from the
Orinoco, it must have covered twice
that distance.
1t is quite possible that floating is
lands larger than this one, under more
favoring circumstances. might during
past ages have made the complete jour
ney from America to Europe or Africa
and SO brought about a distribution of
animal species OF course it is not alb
solutely certain that this island went
to pieces In October. 1t might. though
this is not probable, have f1oated down
into the region of Gains and seaweed,
where it would be longer preserved
Theodore Waters in Ainslee's.
Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-03-24
FOOD IN FRUIT SKINS.
Hutritive Qualities In The m Believed
to Be q Brain Food.

Hutritive Qualities In The m Believed
to Be Brain Food.
There are more nutritive qualities
hidden in the skins of fruits cereals
and vegetables than the average per.
son is aware of. In fact, the great
bulk of the brain building foods are in
the skins Of the fruits and vegetables
we eat
IT, as Savarin says, 1.-THE destiny OF
nations depends on their food" then
the destiny, whether healthy long
life or insanity or suicide of every unit
of the United States depends on how he
or she is fed.
If the breed 81 much depends upon
food why should not every person ca.
pable of normal thought seek to pro-
cure such food as best sustains his or
her normality? Brain starvation,
through the lack of suitable brain and
nerve nourishment in our daily food,
| Is the sole cause Of the craving for
stimulants to supply, as they do, arti-
ticlally and improperly what nature
has provided in natural form in the
best part Of the wine; in the skins of
all fruits and vegetables, and if not in
the skins of the cereals, how comes it
that stimulating properties are extract
ed from them, as the inner kernel,
the starch, is devoid Of anything other
than heat giver?
1t has been proved by chemical anal.
yss and demonstrated by microscopic
experiments that the most valuable
brain sustaining properties are resi-
dent in all skins of cereals, fruits and
vegetables. and 0s an instance of the
great difference to the health resultant
from partaking or rejecting the skins
here is an incident that occurred in
India, as told by an indian officer:
A regiment was st: ioned in part
of the country where s,rapes were the
chief article Of food. The officers, one
after an Their, became so sick as to be
invalided as unfit for service, but it
being considered remarkable that the
troops were all well commission of
inquiry was instituted, when it was
found that while every trooper in eat
Ing grapes swallowed the skins the OFF,
GERS followed the fashionable habit Of
rejecting them. 1t was then ordered
that the officers should swallow the
skins, which was done. with the result
that they Immediately recovered.
Thus it will be seen that the skin of
the grape, besides being Il brain feeder.
Possesses other healthful and n,1tritiye
qualities necessary to the sustenance of
the human body. The reason why as.
paragus, cabbage, string beans, lettuce,
spinach and other green vegetables are
sn wholesome is that the skins are not
Our Frlenu.
Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-03-24
THE JAPAN CURRENT.
Rur0 Siwo Piles Great Loads 81
DriftwOOd ON Alaska's Shores.

| Ruro siwo Piles Great Loads Ol
DriftwOOd ON Alaska's shores,
In one sense the Kuro SiwO, or Japai,
current, is the most interesting in the
world because many oceanOgraphers
believe it was the direct means Of PEG.
ping America. This much at least ia
certain: Ii q boat were to be set adrift
on parts Of the Asiatic coast and sur
vived all storms, the Japan current
could be depended upon to carry it
across the Pacific and deposit it on the
American shore. Such thing has
happened. In 1882 nine japanese fish.
ermen were left derelict and unable to
find their way back to shore. They
went with the current, and after a
drift lasting during several months
they were carried to Hawaii.
Trees torn by storms from the banks
of Asiatic rivers frequently float across
the Pacific to the American coast. Be;
tween Kakatag and Kyak islands,
about 1900 miles northwest of Seattle,
enormous piles of this driftwood cover
the beaches. There can be no question
of the Asiatic origin of the timber.
They are the trunks of the camphor
tree. the mango and the mahogany.
Logs $50 feet long and eight feet In d.
ameter are frequently found. Many Of
them are seen floating shoreward, with
fantastic roots standing high above the
waves. In places the logs are piled
twenty feet high. They are generally
without bark, which has been peeled
off by the waves, and most of them
have become white and heavy from
impregnation with salt water. As they
pile up the sands drift over them. and
gradually they sink out of sight. and
new beaches are formed. This process
has been going on for ages. and the
shore line is being steadily extended.
Excavations along the beach show that
texture of the buried timber gets hard
er and harder the farther in you go,
until in some instances petrifaction has
taken place. Other excavations show
logs that have turned to coal.
The presence Of Siberian driftwood
on the shores Of Greenland convinced
hansen that his idea of drifting across
the Polar sea in the Fran was logical
Great quantities of the wood are an
nually cast on the coasts of Spitz-
bergen and Nova Zembla- and there
are tribes of Greenland Eskimos who
depend for sledge runners and other
wooden implements on the drift from
Siberian forests. For years they de-
pended for iron implements on the
hoops of casks which came to them
over seas.-Theodore Waters In Aims
lees.
Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-03-24

Sod houses. or, as they are locally
termed, "soddes," are now being built
In large numbers in eastern Colorado,
says the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
They are made of oblong pieces of sod
cut from the prairies, about IS inches
In length, inches broad and from to
inches thick. No foundation is re.
CURED. the sods being simply laid on
the pralries and up goes the structure
"Soddies' are cool in summer and
warm in winter, and when the snow
laden wind Is whistling without cozy
sod house, In which there ia a good
corncob fire, is not to be desplsed.