The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-05
PRESENT WHEREABOUTS OF THE
FOxTAIL SQUIRRELS.
The Use of the Private Telephone Ex-
change-UsuaI Outbreak of Crime
Other Stories.

the squirrels have not disappeared AT all,
but have merely taken UP their quarters
in more desirable localities than the public
parks, where they were worried nearly TO
death by the small boys. The little AMI
mails that were once placed in ST. Clair
Park by the park commissioners are now
to be seen in nearby private yards of that
vicinity, and one of the bright little chaps
has taken up his permanent abode in a big
tree in front of my house. Quite number
OF the squirrels moved themselves bag and
baggage, as If by some mutual understand
ing. TO the spacious front yard Of Frank
Smiths residence, on the northwest corner
Of Twelfth street and Capitol avenue,
where they are to be seen any sunny after
noon hustling busily about among the
trees and bushes.
THE squirrels were very tame when
turned loose in the parks. and they still re-
tain their fearlessness of human beings,
but just try to become too familiar with
any one of them and you will get the worst
of 1t every time. They seem to be vicious
little fellows, and they don't hesitate to
use their sharp claws and teeth If they
think they are being abused in any way.
My wife attempted to make friends with
would have none of her. She was return
ing home from down town, and as she en-
tered the front yard she was attracted by
the pretty animal, which sat upright under
his tree gazing up at her as If to invite her
to become better acquainted with him. She
leaned down with outstretched hand, in
tending to stroke him gently on the head.
In the flash of a second his little claws
had ripped her glove open across the back
and with curious shrek the mean little
thing as my wife now calls him, scam
pered UP the tree and out of sight. Just
take stroll up North Meridian street any
afternoon and you'll see many of these
little squirrels. And I understand the park
commissioners have been wondering what's
become of them"
1.-The use of the private telephone ex-
change is extending rapidly here in In
dianapolis," said Walter L. Hill, the DIS
trict manager of the Central Union Tele-
phone Company. THE conveniences and
economies of private exchanges are such
that large concerns cannot afford to be
without them. They save time and money
A business man with a telephone at his
desk may, without leaving his seat, be
placed in instant communication not only
with the various branches of his own bust
ness, but with persons with whom he has
business dealings in the towns with which
toll lines connect and with the long-dis-
lance service. Messenger service is done
away with, and mail and telegraph, with
their delays. are antedated. But the best
feature of the private telephone exchange
is the intercommunication Ii affords be-
tween the heads of the concern In which
the branch is located. Even this work
as well as the work of connection with the
outside subscribers of the public exchanges
could be done through the public exchange
But without the private branch exchange
the house service. not presided over by ar
operator giving her full time to il, would
be necessarily slower and the cost of in.
stallation, which Is really an interest charge
against operation, would be much greater
XXX
did you ever notice that we have whai
the newspapers call outbreak of crime
every fall?" asked member Of the loca
detective force the other day. 1.-The cit,
| has had number Of small burglaries anC
holdups lately but no more than we hat
| this time last year. In fact there is Away.
an outbreak Of crime in the fall. Durin,
| the warm weather the crook has been a
the country fairs and street carnivals II
the smaller towns plying his business OF
the unwary. With the approach of winte
he returns to the city. often penniless an,
needing good many things. At the sam
| time the dark nights are coming on, tn
streets are less thickly populated after
| o'clock in the evening and the opportunit,
for committing holdups and burglaries j
small size of the indianapolis police fore
it is really a great wonder that we dom
have more crimes than we do.
IF we could educate the citizen to b
more careful about himself when out a
night many Of these holdup jobs woul
never take place. For instance
man was held up on the Mort
s' money town and gold SekS watch .aRe
from him. On investigation It appears tina
| when he came near to his home he me
two men. They separated to let him pas
between them. He fell promptly into tn
trap and when abreast of them found
gun staring him in the face. Now, an
man who lives in a big city ought to kno,
that he has no business stepping betwee
two strangers in lonely locality on
dark night. If the citizens will be NOR
careful there will not be many holdur
this year, for the police are more vigilar
and active in this city nowadays tina
ever before"
Charles ]. Brooks, the travelling repr,
sentative of New York leather compan,
and an enthusiastic chauffeur, was in II
dianapolis for a few hours yesterday ar
expressed himself as delighted with II
city as an ideal place for horseless ca
riages. with its wide streets so e,
cellently paved Indianapolis is bound
be among the foremost automobile towns
the country" he said. up to this time Il
growth of the automobile has been gradus
but l believe that its development w
progress with startling strides in the ne,
five years. Even the most enthusiast
chauffeur is afraid to venture a predictiC
of what will be accomplished i'm the Wa
of speed, endurance. economy of operate
and general results at the end OF five year
time In my judgment the machine Of Il
. future will be propelled by explosive e
gines, for the users OF the electric al
steam types sooner later will gradua
from the use of those short distance m
, chimes. A nonsmelling explosive oil is su
to be invented and a better tire will
, cheaper than rubber and which will star
more strain and work. The tire factor is Il
most serious drawback now. The engi
: of the future automobile will have three
four cylinders perfectly made that :
explosive mixture can be held for sever
DAYS, and this will save the 'cranking' viii
is tiresome and annoying. Everything abo
} the auto OF the future Will be simplified al
il will cost much less than the machines
, to-day. With the constant improvement 4
) consumption of the explosive oil shou
be less at least enough TO counterbalan
the advance in the price OF the fluid viii
/ is bound TO come. The Improvement
this direction has been marked in the la
year. A high-class machine can now ma
! a run of 100 miles with three gallons a
one quart of gasoline. while two or thr
r years ago the best machines would ha
used twice that amount"
! Those fortunate people that have a Z,
! hens in their back yards should do ever