davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-15
LEVELS OF THE GREAT LAKES.

Chicago Inter Ocean.

Chicago Inter Ocean.
The governments determination to inves-
tigate feasible plan OF maintaining, II
not to lift, the present level Of the great
lakes, has caused a great deal of comment
in marine circles of this city and has
aroused great enthusiasm at all other lake
ports, and progress of the movement will
be watched with great interest. Congress
has made financial provision for the under
taking, and 1t is understood that the ex-
perts who will carry on the investigation
will be appointed at an early date.
The question of the practfcabflity OF such
a plan is not altogether new, but II appears
that former experiments along those lines
have never been carried far enough. be-
cause until very recently there has been
ample depth OF water at various ports and
through the rivers and channels connecting
them. During the last few years, however,
vesselmen say lake levels have dropped at
an alarming rate, and the point rs now
reached where much fear Is expressed for
the future of commerce. The condition be-
comes more noticeable, marine interests
contend, since the tendency of shipbuildfng
is toward the larger and deeper draught
craft.
shown greater shrinage, and old sailors
bear out this statement. Some have claimed
that the drainage canal is largely to blame
for the recent low water In Lake Michigan,
although engineers of the latter scout the
theory. It is understood, however. to be
part of the governments plan to investi-
gate this particular condition.
Many plans and suggestions are offered
as repafatives. The one most talked OF by
practical marine men and engineers is that
of building a dam at some point upon the
lower waters Of the lakes, likely Lake Erie,
near Niagara. Prominent engineers who
have given the problem some study take the
ground that It may be practical to erect
such a dam, and that the water could be
raised fully three feet in Lake Erie there
by. The effect of such an elevation, Ii Is
held, would be felt in Lake Huron. but in
lesser degree. the water being raised per-
haps two feet. 1t is not obvious how such
a plan would materially benefit Lake Mich
igan and this point is causing much dis
cusson. Some claim that the latters level
would be raised foot by such an under.
taking, although experts are aloof on that
reasoning.
Marine interests fear that the govern
ment will be many years in getting down to
actual work of relieving the condition OF
low water, for the project will cost many
by the elimination of the necessity OF
dredging harbors and rivers, for which the
government lays out large sums every year
would be vast and in time would greatly
Offset the original expenditure. Marine in
terests maintain that something must be
done or the next decade will see revolu-
ton in the great inland waterways and
their commerce.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-15
TOOL THAT rs ALMOST HUMAN.
Yet It's Complicated Mechanism Can
BE Tended by q Girl.

BE Tended by q Girl.
Success.
The most highly developed of machine
tools is the automatic screw machine, and,
like many other contrivances for saving
labor, it's home is New England. 1t is a
development of the ordinary steel working
lathe, the intermediate step being the mon
itor lathe, in which the various cutting
tools protrude from the side of a steel tur-
ret like thirteen-inch guns from a battle
ship turret. In the nonautomatic screw
machine the turret is revolved by the oper-
ator so as to bring each tool into play,
just as the turret on the old monitor was
revolved to bring one gun after another
into action. But in the automatic machine
the work is done without human guidance.
In making screws, nuts, bolts, studs and
other small pieces that must be turned,
drilled or threaded for watches. clocks,
typewriters, electrical instruments and
other mechanisms all the operator has to
do is to feed the "stock"-a long, thin rod
of steel or Drastic the machine. The
feeding mechanism carries the rod slowly
forward into the field of action. The tur
ret advances and puts it's first tool at work
on the end of the rod. When this tool has
done its task, the turret withdrawS Ii, turns
and advances a second tool into action.
Each cutting tool around the turret has
it's distinct work to perform-one cutting
a thread, another shaping head. another
putting on a point, another drilling hole,
still another putting knurling. The
turret automatically brings each of per-
haps six tools into action, and when the
work is finished the completed screw drops
into a pan, while the stock is automat-
ically fed forward to begin the complex
operation again. A stream of machine oil
pours continuously on the work to carry
away the heat, and the little metal cut
tings collect in a heap under the machine.
Hour after hour this wonderful autom-
atom goes through its cycle of operations,
the turret clicking every moment as 1t
brings a new tool forward. Small brass
pieces on which but one tool cuts, are
dropped at the rate of four a second Large
screws of complicated design. upon which
a whole turretful of tools must work, are
cut from a steel rod at the rate of one or
two a minute. So perfectly are these screw
machines constructed that an unskilled
workman can operate a row of them. All
ne is required TO do Is TO keep them fed
with stock" In some shops girls tend
the machines.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-15
A French View of Roosevelt.

A free translation from lie Figaro.
Talking with young man who had
lived for six years in the United States. 1
asked him:
How about President Roosevelt? What
do the people-those outside political par
ties and cliques-think of him and say Of
him."
Roosevelt said he quickly and earnest
ly, Roosevelt Is held in high esteem and
much liked"
Why?'' / insisted.
Because he is brave, honest. far-seeing
and modest
Him." 1 said. here are four cardinal
qualities placed in a succession which
pleases me. But In there nothing more?'
Nothing more? Well he has captured
the imaginations and fired the hearts OF the
people because that he. man of the better
class, of Dutch ancestry and from an old
New York family, rich and cultured, mar
ried and the father OF six children, a high
executive official in the navy department
did not hesitate in the last war to give Up
all In order TO go TO the front with his
Rough Riders and risk his life without
being obliged to do 1t. That has greatly inn
pressed and greatly touched ALL
But then his attitude toward the negroes
and his speeches on the trusts-have they
not hurt his chances of election?"
I'm my opinion. not at all. He Is both
respected and loved
/ became silent, but l envied those mon-
archial nations like England and Germany
of those republican ones like Swftzerlan nd
and the United States, who love themselves
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-15
THE YEARLY RAINFALL.
Average Annual Precipitation for
Thirty Years Is shown.

New York sun.
An interesting map. prepared by Prof.
Alfred j. Henry, of Washington, showing
the average annual precipitation IN the
United States for the thirty years. 1S7l-l9ol.
is published in the last number of the
Monthly Weather Review" The total
number of rainfall stations used in con-
structing the map was 73i. only Is or
which, however made continuous reports
for the entire period.
The maps showing our annual and
monthly precipitation now have the advan-
tage of data from a far larger number or
points than could be obtained for a map
covering a period of thirty years. they
may therefore have greater accuracy; but
the records which the present map
are based sufficiently reliable ana nd
merous to give the map high value as show
ing approximately the average annual dis
tribution of rainfall in this country
The stations are far more numerous In
the East than in the West. and therefore
the information may be regarded as more
exact in that portion of the chart cover
ing the Atlantic slope. A portion OF Cah-
fornia. mostly north Of San Francisco.
has been left unshaded because or insuI-
f1cient data; so also has the crest or the
Sierra Nevada in that State, except along
the line of the Union Pacific Railroad. be-
cause too little data is obtainabie for ac-
eurate deductions.
The map is colored TO show the distrf-
button of rainfall. figures scattered over
it indicate the rainfall in inches. 1t shows
that the rainiest part OF the Atlantic sea
coast is along the shores OF North Caro-
lima, where the average annual rainfall Is
sixty inches a year.
The wettest region on the Atlantic slope
is a narrow territory between the thirty
fifth and thirty-sixth parallels OF latitude,
among the Appalachians, skirting the west
ern boundary of North Carolina. Asheville
| stands on the eastern border OF this area
of largest precipitation in the East. About
| fu fna hes 0f
| little region.
The largest precipitation by far is along
our northwestern coast, extending from
| British Columbia to the northern part OF
| California. The rainfall here is from eighty
| 70 100 inches a year. double or more the
| quantity that falls in New York city.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-15

Philadelphia Press
Col. Carroll ID. Wright, of the DEPART
ment of labor. continues I'm the September
Bulletin the return on the statistics or
cities" which has become during the four
years In which IL has been issued much the
best compendium of information I'm regard
to American cities anywhere accessible; ~
is a striking fact that of all our large cities
Chicago seems to be the one whose sta
tistics are most poorly presented
One appalling fact In American city NE
appears the very large number OF deaths
from accident In New York city per
cent. of the deaths, or one person In sever
teen. died a violent death. In this city the
proportion was less, there being 80 such
deaths out OF A.325. proportion OF little
more than per cent, or one person IN
twenty.
Ii is a terrible commentary on the loose
ness with which human life is protected
and the perfls daily run I'm the streets from
grade crossings, trolleys and other sources
of accident and In factories from unguarded
machfner, that OF the men. women and
children alive to-day whom you meet on
your walk down town one in every twenty
will die violent death by accident without
warning.
Many of them. perhaps most. by violating
some rule OF law laid down by Judge they
have never heard, In cases OF which even
lawyers carry no memory, and following
principles nearly always unfavorable 90 the
safety of the individual will deprive them
selves or their heirs OF any claims for dam
ages. Juries should remember this.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-15
ASSET CURRENCY A DEMOCRATIC
IDEA.

The local calamity organ spends a large
part Of its editorial space in denouncing
what it calls the Republican asset cur
rency scheme. AS asset currency was first
recommended by Democratic secretary
of the treasury and strongly Endorsed by
a Democratic President, and as it has
never been recommended by any Repub-
lican administration or Endorsed by any Re-
publican convention, the local calamity
organ stultifies itself by calling 1t Repub-
hcan measure.
The asset currency plan was first formu-
lated and recommended by Mr.. Clevelands
secretary Of the treasury. John G. Car
Isle. in 1894. Its ostensible object was to
provide an elastic currency, but it's ulti-
mate purpose was to supplant greenbacks
and national banknotes. Mr.. Carlisle said
in his report that 1t would secure within
a reasonable time safe and elastic ma
tional and State bank currency, and result
ultimately in the permanent retirement Of
United States legal-tender notes of both
classes" He presented his plan in the
form of twelve recommendations, beginning
with: First repeal of all laws requiring or
authorizing the deposit of United States
bonds as security for circulation" Another
sions Of the law requiring banks to keep a
reserve on account of deposits" A third
was to exempt the circulating notes of the
State banks from the tax now imposed
by law upon certain conditions, one of
which was that such bank has at no
time had outstanding its circulating notes
in excess of 70 percentum of the paid-up
and unimpaired capital, and that it's cireu-
lating notes constitute by law first lien
upon all the assets of the bank" The Car
Isle plan embodied the asset currency idea
in its worst form and with vicious attach
ments.
Mr.. Cleveland gave a strong Endorsement
to the plan In his message of 1894. He
said:
The secretary of the treasury presents
In his report a scheme modifying present
banking laws and providing for the issue
or circulating notes by State banks free
from taxation under certain limita tons
The secretary explains his plan so plain
ly and its advantages are developed by
him with such remarkable clearness that
any effort on my part to present argument
in it's support would be superfuous
shall, therefore. content myself with an
unqualified Endorsement of the secretary
proposed changes In the law and a brief
and imperfect statement Of their prom
inent features.
Mr.. Cleveland then proceeded 60 indorse
the Carlisle plan in detail There is nc
more prospect of the adoption of the
asset currency plan now than there was
In 1894. but the fact that it was frs,
preached by a Democratic secretary of the
treasury and Endorsed by a Democratic
President should make Democratic organ:
a little modest about calling it Repub.
ucan measure.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-15

Regarding the suggestion that the gov
eminent seize and work the anthracite coal
mines under the right of eminent domain.
Senator Vest. Democrat of the old school
and one of the best lawyers in the Senate.
says:
IL would be a most dangerous proceeding
and would raise questions of the most per-
picking character. AS L understand the
decisions OF the Supreme Court the right
of eminent domain can only be exercised
where the government needs private. prop
erty for governmental purposes. as, for
instance. when the United States was COM
PEELED to have coal for its vessels and for
it's public buildings. But do not see how
the government can seize the mines I'm order
to furnish coal to the people at large. 1t
may be unfortunate that this Is the law,
but I so understand the decision OF the
Supreme Court. IL the coal mines can be
taken in order to put coal upon the mar
ket for sale to the people at reasonable
prices, then the same thing can be done
as to lead. copper. timber lands and any
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-15

Speaking of President Roosevelt and his
connection with the settlement of the coal
strike. Henry l.. Nelson. the Washington
correspondent of the Boston Herald and an
out-and-out Cleveland Democrat, says:
I know him well enough to be willing
to deny emphaticaIly that he has taken
a single step with any thought in mind
but that of the public good. Whatever
We may say about the effects OF his
conduct, or his point of view, or his con-
ception of the duty of government at the
time of sending his invitation TO the mine
operators and the strikers, those who know
him best. even when they differ with him
most radically, are conscious OF the integ-
rity of his motives, his patriotism and his
humanity. He has been in earnest in his
desire TO put an end to the strike, and
IL he has seemed to incline too much to
the side of the miners in a cause in which
he has declared himself impartial, Ii is
because his sympathies spontaneously go
out to the poor and to those whom he re-
CARDS as the oppressed. He made a mis-
take, but he made it honestly and not for
votes.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-15

lican House, Representative Hemenway
will be chairman of the committee on ap-
preparations, the most important commit
tee in Congress. 1t is a position which is
very important in many ways, and will be
all Republicans are interested In the re-
election of Mr.. Hemenway. His reelection
will be of special value to the First dis
trict, for the reason that the whole coun-
try will be interested to know about a
district which has elected a man Of such
prominence as to be made chairman of the
committee on appropriations
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-15

Alice Stone Blackwell.

Alice Stone Blackwell.
President Roosevelts sister, Mrs. Anna
Roosevelt Cowles. presented herself the
other day before the board of selectmen
in Pennington, Conn.,, and registered her
name to vote at the coming school election.
When Mr.. Roosevelt astonished the con-
servatives by recommending woman suf-
frage in his inaugural message to the New
York Legislature in 1899, the reporters
fiocked around to ask his reasons. He is
said to have answered that his home town
of Oyster Bay had long been in great need
of new school building but was never
able to get the necessary appropriation till
the women were given the school ballot.
Then the mothers of the children voted the
new schoolhouse at once. Now that the
Presidents sister has qualified 10 vote per-
hapS some of the society" women who
have hitherto thought the exercise of the
school ballot beneath them may suddenly
great light. AS rule the women s
school vote, although small, has been of
excellent quality. In answer TO the pre-
diction that the best women will not vote,
Col L. w. Higginson says: I'm Massachu-
sets, under school suffrage. the complaint
has been that only the best women vote
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-15
G. II. Mackay Elected President.

NEW YORK. Oct. 1.-THE board of di-
rectors of the Commercial Cable Company,
at a meeting held here to-day, elected
Clarence III. Mackay president of the COM
pany and George S. Ward chairman of the
board of directors and of the executive
committee. Mr.. Ward continues to be vice
president and general manager. The policy
and Management will continue as hereto
fore. Mr.. Mackay was to-day also elected
president and A. b. Chandler continues
as chairman of the board of directors of
the Postal Telegraph Cable Company and
Pacific Postal Telegraph Cable Company.
All rumors TO the effect that consolida-
ton with any other telegraph company Is
contemplated are officially denied.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-15

Boston Transcript.
Hon. Booth Harrington. Of Indiana, has
bought a residence in Indianapolis in order
to compromise a suit brought against him
by its owner because he rented a building
near by to a maker OF doughnuts. This
distinguished candidate for the Legislature
OF the Hoosier State, however, Is so far
from Directing 10 the odor OF trying
house thus bought The hearts OF all good
natives OF New England will warm toward
him for this proof Of a wholesome and
homelike appreciation OF a truly American
product. With such an atmosphere for
literary effort. fear OF failure never need
intrude. Let him return at once 10 hts
own city before the maker OF doughnuts
departs and changes his trade Seldom has
such an opportunity fallen TO genius IL
he hesitate let him remember the wise say
ing of Thomas Carlyle: Doubt can only -
removed by action"
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-15

President Roosevelt seems to think that
the government is printing a large amount
OF reports and other matter that is not
he has called the attention of heads OF
executive departments to the matter, ask
ing them to see If 1t cannot be curtailed-
In States the quantity of printed matter
issued which is Of little Importance has In
creased very much during the past few
wears
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-15

Washington Post

'In one sense" said prosperous-appe
ing veteran at Indiana headquarters. 1.-THE
civil war was a blessing to this country
Before the war people were moving along
in a rut, satisfied with conditions as they
were. and desiring nothing better The
civil war opened to the view OF these men
a vast vista OF possibilities that they had
never before dreamed OF. and the result
was the marvellous growth and develop
ment OF this country since that time Quite
recently | discovered that members of my
regirnen nj were in twenty-seven States. Had
the war not occurred, these men, in all
probability. would have remained i'm one lit
tie county in Indiana, satisfied 10 Lead the
lives OF honest but ignorant and hard-work-
ing farmers.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-15
GEORGE F. BAER.
Personality and characteristics of
the President of Reading.

New York World.
George F. Baer, president of the Phila-
delphia & Reading, which controls the Jer-
sey Central, and as such the dominating
figure among the presidents of the coal
roads. was sixty years old Sept. rs. He
doesn't look fifty.
He Is about FIVE feet nine inches tall, and
weighs about 1eo pounds His most peculiar
feature Is his eyes. They are long and mar
row, more so than the average Chinaman's,
but are not uptilted. They give him keen,
almost crafty, look. But he is not crafty
in the ordinary meaning. He hits out
straight from the shoulder, says what he
thinks, and is a fighter from the ground
thing.
When thirteen he learned to set type and
when nineteen he and a brother bought a
paper-the Democrat. of Somerset, Pa That
when George Baer was working at the case
he was a fierce labor union agit2tor. He
gave UP his paper in 1862, went to the war.
and left the service adjutant general of
the Second Brigade of the Army of the
Potomac. Then he studied law. and in a
few years was the recognized leader of the
bar of Reading, Pa. He won some large
suits against the Reading road, and be-
came so formidable that the company EN-
ployed him. After that he devoted all of
his attention to corporation law.
He has been president of the Reading
only since April last, but for many years
was j. Pierpont Morgan's confidential legal
adviser He suggested to Mr.. Morgan the
acquisition of the Jersey Central by the
Reading, and since he took hold of the lat
ter the market value OF it's securities have
doubled in value. The $7000o.0O0 of common
stock of the road was then selling at "a.
Last month IL sold at so.
His Philadelphia home is in Spruce
street, but he lives most of the time in
the suburbs of Reading where his place
Hawthorne, Is one Of the most beautiful in
Pennsylvania. He has a wife and five
daughters. two of whom are married.
He attends the Second Reformed Church
regularly every Sunday and is a rigid wor.
shipper. He reads the Bible regularly and
can quote Scripture with facility.
He is Democratic Jerry Black Demo.
crat. he calls himself to emphasize It, and
was once spoken of for governorshir
honors.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-15

A few days ago the anti-imperialists in
Boston asked the President to remove Sec
rotary Root because of his glazing unfitness
for the position; yet Secretary Root seems
to have been the only man who was able
to convince Pierpont Morgan that the strike
should be settled by concession on the
part of the mine operators. The American
people are coming to the conclusion that
Elihu Root is one of the ablest men in the
United States