davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1902-05-04

from the fact that The handsomest room,
in the new building has been set aside
for library purposes. 1t would seem that
the authorities there take this view of
the case. and will endeavor to secure an
appropriation.
The library OF the Interior Department
is purely literary, l.. coo volumes in all and
the 5000 employees in the building are very
anxious to see II restored to its former
status as one of the best of the general
libraries. The debate over this point is
a lively one, in department circles just
now, many good arguments being ad-
vanced pro and con.
OF the twenty-threc school and college
libraries of Washington, the Riggs Me-
mortal Library of Georgetown University,
with so 900 books, is by far the largest,
while Columbian University and the
Catholic University of America have
libraries that are ranked with the notable
ones of Washington.
one of the best, largest. and least
known of the great libraries OF this city
is tlat oil the StutliSH iNit' Oiut'- II has
many rare and superbly bound tones.
and Is especially rich In folklore.
or the many private libraries mention
can be made of but three. The first is a
collection of books and pamphlets relat-
ing to the District of Columbia. its gov
ernment. its banks, its churches. its pub
lie institutions. One of the oldest
volumes in this collection is an
inventory CT the furniture of the White
House. ordered by President John Adams
when he turned it over to his successor
Thomas jefferson. Between the two gen
tlcmen the feeling vas so bitter that Mr.
Adams left the Executive Mansien few
days before Mr. Jefferson vas inaugural
ed. ana this auain, inventory was left for
Mr. jefferson. /; Is the crly inventory
of the White t;9u5s evc- ordered for srch
a rca Jon by any f.csileni. TaiS curious
and valuable Iia:ary is the property OF
Mr.. Hood. who has spent twenty-five
The Washington times., 1902-05-04
-. RICH AND RARE ARE WASNOTONS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LIBRARIES

years in making it the most complete of
its kind
One of the most valuable of the spe-
cialty libraries is the Burns collection of
Mr.. William r. Smith, of the Botanic
Gardens. In his sturdy Americanism, if
We may use the expression, Burns was
the poet laureate of the dominant thought
of the eighteenth century. the brotherhood
OF man, and. logically. the poet laureate
of America. the finest flower OF that
thought and its living exponent. In his
"A Mans Man for a That" written
thirteen years after the Declaration of In
dependence. he struck the keynote OF that
! immortal document For that reason IL is
! fitting that the finest Burns library in the
world should be here in America. Mr.
Smiths desire is to see his poems more
| widely read in America. but this will
never be until an edition with good
marginal glossary Is published. or all
his hundreds OF editions not one suits Mr..
! Smiths ideas of popular edition.
Mr.. Smith is also collecting duplicate
of the library owned by Burns. The poet
mad $3.50 worth of the best classic litera-
/ turc; it will be remembered that money
! then bought four times what il does to-
! day Burns had Swift'5 works. the latest
poets, The Speetator'-in short. thor
oughly up date" collection. So Mr.
Smith will have Burns library and
library of Burns. proving that he was not
altogether the penniless plowboy he is er
roneously described as having been. but
u gentleman OF most refined tastes. with
fair means for indulging them. Mr.. smith
has in lress n book OF poems and speeches
by eminent men on Burns. After Mr..
Smiths death the collection Will go to his
friead. Mr.. Carnegie. who will erect =
building in PittsSuTg for II.
Tie ouaintest and psetticst little Ii
hrary IN Washington belongs to DR.. Swaa
VI. Burnett II consists of tiny books,
some less than Two Inches in length. toy
editions OF the classics. exquisitcly printed
IN hani-cat and hand-set type OF almost
iagnt2. in.al size. all rare to degree.
Mos, oi he wee hoos, would 20 in r
mans vest pocket but the pocket eoci'S
raycr hold the value Of the book. Many
arc frst editions and uncut copies. dating
ack to the earl wears OF tae last cen
tu,v. For dainty beauty this fairy library
leads every library in Washington.
The Washington times., 1902-05-04

day. Bridges span Il here and there.
Some of them are substantial structures,
but the majority of them are danger
ously fiimsy and insecure. The walled
sides are below the level of the street and
are without a sign Of railing in any part
of their extent. The land on each side
is made land, and in some places slopes
abruptly. while in others the descent to
the canal is hardly more than a few de-
grees removed from the perpendicular.
AS consequence OF these conditions it
is the easiest thing imaginable for a man
or woman to wander unknowingly, on a
dark night. from the highway into the
As to its being dark night, that condi
tion is the usual one in the neighborhood
through which the canal flows. The dis
trict is wretchedly lighted. oil lamps in
many places still doing duty instead of
gas or electricity.
The lack of any semblance of protec-
tion to pedestrians from falling into the
waters Is the greatest danger OF those
which attend the canal In its present
condition. Little children playing on the
high banks of garbaee-made soil have, by
misstep, been plunged TO the wall be-
low and into the reeking stream. Rescue
is difficult even when help is at hand.
Those who have been fsbed out of the
slime have frequently died from poisoning
by reason of having swallowed large
quantities of the water.
The Washington times., 1902-05-04
THE GOVERNMENTS BOTTLES OF ILLS

incubation with a solution of the germs.
even chance with death. This is very
commonly called "woCl-scrterS' disease"
because men who sort wool are verv ant
to contract it, Sheep are frequently af-
fiicted with carbuncls. and the slightest
abrasion on the hand Of one who touches
the fleece OF an animal SO diseased is
likely to communicate 1t. Spraying the
threat with proper solution CT the
germs Is the method fer conveying diph-
iberia. which can be given In this way
with absolute certainty. Then ii Is Gues-
tlon OF preventing the patient by artificial
means from being stTanglcd by the falss
membrane that rapidly grows ard tries to
Eli up the breathing passage
There is no difficulty in contracting the
Asiatic cholera il you want it, Take
few of the germs frcm the appropriate
bottle at the Museum and drink them in
water or beef tea. II your stomach is in u
particularly healthy condition ycu may nos
take the disease, but otherwise YOU are
pretty sure 10 have it.
The diseases which the Government
keeps thus bottled in convenient form are
all obtained-the germs. that is to say
from actual diseased tissues Of patients
afflicted with the complaints. To propa-
gate tHe germs IN any Quantity from tneSe
tissues is easy enough. Vegetable gela-
tine, from Japanese plant called agar
agar. is boiled and mixed with beef tea,
so Us to form a soft. transparent solid.
small qgantity of this is put into
tube that Is tightly corked with cotton at
the oaen end. The tube Is then placed
in an oven ard heated until all the germs
in 1t. of whatever sort. are killed Next.
the tube is briefly uncorked and long
steel wire. that has been heated also to
sterillze 1t. is dipped in the germs OF the
disease to which il is desired to cultivate
and scrapcd across the surface OF the gel-
atine. The tube Is now recorked and per-
mittcd to stand for few hours, at the
end of which the bacteria of the disease.
having found the gelatine TO their taste
for feeding upon. will have multiplied
enormously. so as to fairly cover the
surface Of the gelatine. Each kind OF bac-
terra or germs has its own form Of grow
ing in colonies. so that one disease can
be readily and easily distinguished from
another in the tubes without micro
scope.
The Washington times., 1902-05-04

INCE the seventies the James Creek
Canal has been a menace to life
~ and TO health in the District Of
Columbia. Yearly 1t has claimed
4ts quota of victims. Taking the record
from July Of last year TO the present
time as basis Of reckoning il rs entirely
within reason TO believe that upward Of
300 people have met death in the abomina-
BILE waterway Of fifth which flows through
Southwest Washington.
Since July !, 1901, ten persons have
been drowned In the James Creek Canal.
Forten deaths in ten months II is direct
ly responsible. The number Of fatalities
which have been indirectly caused by the
noxious gases arising from the pntrid
stream is incalculable. At least this much
is true, namely. that the air in the vi
cinity Of the canal for a distance of three
blocks is contaminated with most foul
odors.
People live In this atmosphere day in
The Washington times., 1902-05-04

beautifully housed, the reading room being
paneled in malachite, sienna and porphyry.
adorned with Mexican onyx, with splendid
bronze groups in each corner. while a
handsome piece Of verde antique is above
the door. The floor is of Minton tiling.
The books are catalOgued under eleven
heads. and the shelves contain the last
word on all scientific subjects pertairing
to the nayy-engineering medicine. chem
istry, naval architecture. seamanshiD,
courts martial. international law, naval
surveying, astronomy, navigation, meteo--
ology, and compasses being few of the
subjects treated. A few books of bog-
raphy and history are added. OF these
Napoleona is by far the most popular:
naval officers taking keen interest In
the life of the little Corsican.
No less perfectly kept. though not quite
so magniicently housed. Is the library OF
the War Department. of which the most
interesting work is history in newspa-
per clippings OF the war with Spain. Cen
eral Greedy has inaugurated circulating
system by which officers stationed ut a
distance. in Porto Rico o. Texas. can draw
books at no expense to themselves save
return registration. This privilege does
not extend to the Philippines. Books on
military science are most frequently
drawn out.
Across the street is the Bureau of Latin
American Republics. The Supreme Court
some years ago found itself in need OF
data concerning South American laws and
customs which could not be had in the
city. In 1890. TO meet this want, this bu-
resu was created Information upon the
agriculture, laws, customs, commerce,
colonization, travel and history OF the
countries south OF the Rio Grande and the
isthmus was accumulated. The first
Pan-American congress suggested that
each country furnish this library with du-
pIicate copies of its public documents. The
suggestion was not acted upon. but the
matter was brought up At the last Pan
American congress In the City Of Mexico,
The Washington times., 1902-05-04

Scarcely a month passes without the
James Creek canal having claimed its one
victim. Often the number is larger. The
soldier on his way 10 the Arsenal. being
unfamiliar with the windings of the death
trap. has time and again been swallowed
up by the filthy stream as he sought his
way back 10 the barracks. Intoxicated per-
sons. their vision clouied and their judg-
ment hazy have dearly paid for a nights
debouch by losing their way as they
wandered uncertainty homeward along the
banks of the James Creek. A turn to the
right or to the left in a mistaken direc-
ton has caused many a poor fellow to
walk unconsciously into the horrible
stream. where he wallowed and groaned
until the filth overcame him and he was
submerged in IL.
The water frequently rises to the level
of the top of the so-called seawall and
in such seasons the danger is greatly in
creased.
Frightful as is the danger from drown
ing in the James Creek. there is another
evil which is scarcely less to be feared.
This is to be found in the gases arising
from the sluggish waters which reek with
the excretions from the sewers which
empty into the canal.
For some reason not satisfactorily ex-
plained, the stream does not readily dis
charge the sewage into the Potomac. 1t
is claimed by some that this is due to the
fact that the canal is almost constantly
The Washington times., 1902-05-04

, and day out. Night and day they inhale
its impurities with untold detriment to
health. When the air is heavy and humid
the stencil is most nauseating even to
these who have lived contiguous to the
stream during many years. On a clear
day when the breeze is tart and keen,
even then the gas is noticeably present.
Once Popular Hunting Grounds.
From Virginia Avenue at First Street
southwest the James Creek Canal ex-
tends to the Potomac, into which it
empties close by the Arsenal. Originally
1t was called the st. James Creek. and is
SO designated on L'Enfant's map in Com
missioner Macfarland's Office at the Dis
trict Building II was a natural water
way, and the land on both sides OF 1t was
marshy, being popular among the bird
hunters of the District.
In 1876 the creek was walled and since
that time has existed in practically the
same condition as that in which it is to-
The Washington times., 1902-05-04

the Pennsylvania Railroad. which sue
ceeded in getting permission to lay i.s
tracks across place where the union
was to be made before the Canal Com
mission could take action.
Improvement Long Advocated.
AS to smeliorating the present evil
condition OF James Greek Canal NEST
people are agreed on the point that it
should be done. Improvement is being
agitated now as it has been periodically
since 1875. People have been drowned and
inquests held. In many instances the
canal was decided to be to blame and not
the individual. The Commissioners have
been appealed to repeatedly in other years
and they are being urged now to take
steps to remove the menace. but they
avow themselves poweriess. Arpropria-
tions have been recommended to Congress
by them. and it rests with that body to
relieve portion Of the Capital from
dreadful evil.
The Washington times., 1902-05-04

being a constant menace to the residents
of the section. Old timers on the police
force remember the vicinity of the canal
as the scene of some of their hardest
fights. 'Bioodfeid'' it was called in those
days. and shooting and cutting ARRAYS
were ordinary events of the day and
evening. II was stronghold of vicious
ness. but the present residents are peace
able and law-abiding.
Some people are of the opinion that
it was the James Creek Canal which at
one time ran up through the market AMI
out as far as the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal. in Georgetown. This Is not true.
however. for the James Creek Canal
proper was not at any time of greater
extent than at present, though it was
intended that it should join the old Wash
ington Canal. which has long since been
filled in in the greater part of its ex-
tent The union OF the James Creek with
the Washington Canal was prevented by
The Washington times., 1902-05-04

and eighteen countries pledged themselves
TO send these documents yearly. This will
add 5000 or 5000 volumes to the library
in few years. The library receives its
largest patronage from the diplomats of
the Spanish American countries, who take
special interest In the newspapers. 1t is
hoped that soon some general literature
from prominent authors of those countries
may be added.
At the Bureau OF Education the most
interesting feature OF a most thoroughly
equipped and splendidly arranged library
Is Miss French's department. 1t is the
duty of this lady to examine all education
al publications from Europe. selecting
from them and classifying for the use OF
schools and colleges throughout the coun-
try. This requires a working knowledge
OF sixteen languages. The model library
OF 5000 volumes, exhibited at the Chicago
Worlds Fair. is In this library.
The library OF the Smithsonian Institu-
tion, with its $4,000 volumes and 1000
periodicals.. easily ranks next to the Lii
brary of Congress. This is the greatest
scientific library in the world. with books
in every written language, including vola-
puk.
Most of the department libraries have
a quantity of fiction and general liter
ature for the benefit of the clerks. When
Congress made appropriations for the new
Public Library 1t cut off these supple
mentsry collections from its list OF
beneficaries. Some of the departments
hailed this gladly. declaring that all
works OF higher nature, foreign TO the
purpose of the library, should be in one
central building. and messenger system
should supply the individual wants of the
employees. Other departments dep!ored
the less of the appropriation. and. so far
as they could, eyaded IL and kept NJ a
supply of new fiction. From the nature
of their work, 1t Is held by some that
the printers of the big Printing Office
should have their lighter literature. and
The Washington times., 1902-05-04

/f" VERY library is a university"
r said Carlyle. Washington has
IL Just seventy-six such univers-
tiles TO her 250, 600 inhabitants.
besides having many private collections
generously thrown open TO the student
with proper credentials. Besides boasting
some of the finest scientific and technical
libraries in the world. she has some so
,,nioue as to deserve a chapter to them
selves. The thirty-eight department
libraries form a system that includes
every branch OF knowledge TO the most
abstruse The system employed is the
most perfect known. Yet there are oily
three libraries of general circulation, t.o
of these being of private ownership.
THE department libraries began with the
notifications Of each department as
nucleus. Exchange with home and for
eizn societies increased the collection,
and Congressional appropriations enabled
the custodians to add TO the technical lit
erature OF each until the magnificent sys-
fem has reached its present proportions.
Tho greatest OF these is. OF course. the
library of Congress. whose only fault is
that It is SO surprisingly beautiful that
tha reader forgets his book in studying
the exquisite art shown in this palace of
,be muses. It's special feature is the
n,an for the distribution of books. which
prince Henry of Prussia found of such
absorbing interest. IL was fully described
recently in The Times. Not all Of the
books belonging to Congress are here,
however. Two fine reference libraries are
in the Capitol, OF 10000 books each. for
ready use. Besides this, there is small
room just off the floor of the House with
a few thousand books that can be had In
a minute or two. known as the "emerg-
ency hospital"
The fine dignity and elegance OF the
State, War and Navy Departments are no.
where more city and fully expressed than
IN their libraries. That OF the Department
of State Is devoted to law and diplomacy.
Gte Navy Department library is most
The Washington times., 1902-05-04

A COMPLETE bottled stock of dis
N eases is carried by the United
1 States Government on the shelves
and in the cases in the Army
Medical Museum. These diseases COM
prise almost all which are supposed to
be fatal to human life-consumption.
pneumonia. typhoid fever. diphtheria. Ash
attic cholera, smallpox. blood poisoning.
erysipelas, carbuncle. and variety OF
others.
These unpleasant and morbid affections
are kept in tubes. constantly ready to be
communicated to healthy individuals; but
requests for. communicating are seldom
received by the curator. Sometimes, when
he is questioned too long and closely. he
feels that he would like to communicate
one or more of the diseases to his callers.
In the tube containing consumption, the
curator says. there is sufficient to spread
the disease to thousands Of people. and
all the diseases tubed for the benefit of
science are about the same. In ad-
ministering pneumonia to a patient. the
curator said. he would select the method
of putting a solution of the germs in
water in spraying vessel. and have
the victim breathe the spray. The sub
ject operated upon would contract the af-
lection with absolute certainty every time
Pneumonia is contracted. not from cold
or Inflammation of the lungs, as most
people generally suppose. but from the
breathing in OF pneumonia germs. which
are given encouragement in growing and
multiplying by an unhealthy condition
such as Geld may give rise to. The
mouths Of altogether healthy people very
commonly have lots OF pneumonia oac-
terra in them. The disease signifies sim
ply that the air cells in tine lungs are
ruptured and the blood flows into them
thus rendering them useless for breathing.
As for that interesting and commonly
fatal complaint. carbuncie. the curator
said that he could produce 1t any time in
the most healthy individual by a simple
The Washington times., 1902-05-04

clogged with scows which come up with
may. 1t is an evident fact to whomsoever
may visit the vicinity u the canal. that
the air is polluted with most foul odor.
The surface is covered with floating filth
and is alive with bubbles caused
by the gases which are constantly ris-
ing from decomposing matter on the bot
tom.
The Air Poisoned.
1t is not possible for visitor to this
section of the city to lean over the rail-
ing of one of the bridges and inhale the
odors arising from the stream beneath
without feeling himself becoming i'll.
Nevertheless. laborers are constantly at
work unloading sand from the scows and
breathing in this contaminated air while
they toll The unfortunate people who
are compelled to live in this vicinity are
daily shortening their lives by living in
this atmosphere of pollution.
This section. too. is largely populated.
and in some parts with a class of people
who are ignorant Of all sanitary laws.
which fact is an added reason for taking
such measures as will better the cordi-
tion of this neglected district.
Major Sylvester. Superintendent of Po-
lice. bewaiIs the existence Of the James
Greek Canal in its present condition. and
says that 1t is a source of great annoy
ance to his department In addition to its
The Washington times., 1902-05-04

A COMPLETE bottled stock of dis
~ eases is carried by the United
States Government on the shelves
The Washington times., 1902-05-04
Start at G and Virginia Avenue.

Foul Stream Of Death Flowing Through a Pop
uIous Section of the CN--Pedestridns and
Wanderers Have No Protection, While the
Atmosphere Throughout Its Length and for
Blocks on Either Side Is Poisoned by the
Fumes Arising From Decomposing Filth. D.
The Washington times., 1902-05-04

For Over a Quarter of d Century Efforts Have
Been Made to Have It's Evils Abated but
All in Vdin---lts Victims by Drowning Aver
age One Month, but Its Victims by Disease
Cannot Be Nunbered---BaRks That Slope
Abruptly Into the Water D. j. D.
The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-04-22
A NERVOUS WRECK
A Wseofsia Young Man Cured Of
81, viiUs Dstce ano Panisl
partlysis.

william . Williams. 81 30 20 n,l.
f,fd Road. wet,ftoen. wis. was cures
of 81 Nitus dante and partial pa
oiysis By the usc ~ Dr. winiams fpk
Pits for Pale People after eiGht et
ferent doctors and specialists had given
him Up as inCurhbie. lie said 90 re
porter.
4 suffered about eight years with o.
Nitus' dance and partial paralysis. ~
right side was entirely paraiyzed. I
could not walk without dragging 6st
foot and after going a short distance
was all tired out. After whfs
| lost the entire use OF my right arm
had no appetite, could not sleep 4
and was not much good TO mysef
anybody else. I believe my cond
was caused by overstudy. and worry
over a severe Illness Of my mother. b r
nearly four years was under tree i
ment by physicians and specialists.
eight in all, but they did not help me
and finally l was given up as incurable.
Thinking the healthy air OF the
country in which | was born, Wales,
would be Of benefit to me, my mother
took me there but | did not seem to
improve. Finally, however before we
returned to this country. a frier rec
commended DR.. Williams Pink Pills for
Pale People. My disease was stubborn
but after ! had taken this wonderful
remedy for six weeks | found | was
getting better / continued the use OF
the pills and now am entirely well. L
have recommended them to many pee-
PIE and cannot praise them too high
ly."
n. ps Ds,.tr g. nal