davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-03

for nearly all other engineering prog
ress has hinged upon railroad enter
prises. That the United States is first
in bridge construction, for example, is
but the natural result of her initiative
in rapid and economical railroad build
ing. 1t was the rapid extension of the
railway systems that made extensive
bridge building a necessity and the
economy of money and time rendered it
absolutely essential that bridge con-
struction should be very considerably
improved. Old forms of construction
were rapidly abandoned for new, from
necessity. and the advanced knowl-
edge in bridge engineering soon APP
piled itself to other than railroad en-
terprises. All bridge building was
thus given new life and impetus. While
other countries were quick 10 apply the
newly discovered principles of bridge
construction, nevertheless this coun-
try remains the acknowledged pace
setter in this field
Application of the newly discovered
principles in bridge building taught
!
spanning of torrents of tumbling
| water as at Niagara: it taught them
! how to build the high Office buildings,
the like Of which is not to be found in
any other country in the world. In
the words of the former president of
the American Society of Civil Engin-
GERS: 1.-The modern high office build
ing is an interesting example of the
evolution of a high viaduct pier. Such
pier of required dimensions,
strengthened by more columns strong
enough to carry many floors, is the
skeleton frame. Enclose the sides
with brick, stone or terra Gotta, add
windows, and doors and elevators, and
it is complete
Bridge building, encouraged by rail
way needs, suggested viaducts for our
cities, and forthwith they began to be
erected. Niaduct construction sug-
gested elevated railways.
American railroad construction
meeting and conquering physical diff
culties, revealed new principles al
every turn. New methods Of tunnel
ing, bv compressed dir and otherwise
were learned. And where development
along this line ceased to be practicable
for the railroads, municipalities, Will
less formidable purposes in view, coult
begin. Sewerage tunnels, telephon,
tunnels and subways for city transpor
taton were made.
Every new shoot on the vine of en-
ginecring progress in America pushet
itself into new territory. The exigen
cies of each situation suggested fur
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-03

office buildings. Yet it has acted, too,
like some foreign influence usurping
steam as the motor power in city trans
portation and giving promise of ulti-
mately taking the place of the steam
that moves the railway engines
whose Impotence to cross the Ameri-
can continent was the real cause of the
progress that has made electrical tri-
umphs possible.
Again, the building of the railways
has promoted engineering progress in
an indirect way. 1t has FASTENED the
development of the country to the eN-
tent that we are the foremost CONNER
cial nation in the world. We produce
four-ffths of the worlds corn and cot
ton, one-fourth of its wheat, two-fifths
of it's steel, onethird of its iron, one
third of it's coal, onethird of its meat.
The marvellous agricultural develop
ment, constantly extended by the I'M
limited use of agricultural machinery
has encouraged the drainage and irri-
CATION of land, and similar hydraulic
| problems.
Our natural wealth in coal and min
erals has fed the flame of engineering
progress in the mining field, not alone
because we have the wealth-other
countries have it, too. But rather be-
cause our progress has created first
great home demand for the coal and
ore. Here again the railroads are re-
sponsible for progress, not because
they made the marketing of minerals
and coal possible. but because they
themselves, as we'll as The great engin-
eering enterprises they had started,
depended upon these things for life.
Following the railway influence far
ther, we perceive that cities like Pitts
burg have grown great because OF iron
and cities like Chicago Qargely) be-
cause of wheat. And the greatness and
rapid growth of cities have made mu-
nicipal engineering enterprises imper-
ative Some of these, like the Chicago
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-03

The first Mrs. Duncan C. Pell got
her divorce while Mr.. and Mrs. Pell
No. 2 We're abroad upon a protracted
honeymoon. The action of the court
in granting divorce to the first wife
cast deep dark-bordered shadow
upon the divorce obtained by the
husband some time before in Florida.
More important in a society sense
was the divorce more recently gained
by Mrs. Arthur Kemp, who was, as
"Baby Belle Nelson" famous belle
in New York. Mrs. Kemp is' d, very
beautiful young woman, the daughter
of a woman equally beautiful, the
sister of the newly-weGded Mrs. Reg
inald Vanderbilt, and in general a
great swell in the smartest circles.
The rumor that Mrs. Kemp will be-
come Mrs. Hunnewell adds piquancy
to the complication; for Mr.. Hume
we'll, who is very rich Bostonian, was
divorced by his wife not very long
ago, for grave cause.
1t is curious that New York bellies
marriages have in SO many instances
turned out badly. Before Mrs.
Kemp's day as the most beautiful girl
in New York society, that place of
distinction was held for several sea-
sons by Sally Hargous, who became
Mrs. Duncan Elliott, and she also did
not succeed in getting on well with
her husband.
The former Mrs. Pell was rather
quiet young lady; the former Mrs.
Hunnewell was Miss Maud Jatfray
herself member of family all OF
whose members are strikingly hand.
some.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-03

drainage canal. that cost $35,000,000,
are equal to national undertakings.
The old world is, of course, the scene
of some of the greatest engineering
feats in history, and yet it cannot show
an aggregate of modern engineering
achievements at ell equaling that of
the new world. Russia, for the reason
that her rivers rise near each other,
and therefore invite the building of
connecting canals, can possibly record
more triumphs in this branch of
hydraulic engineering than America,
but rot larger; and Great Britain, in
the Suez canal, can show probably the
greatest, but not the greatest number.
Many engineering projects of the old
world are the product of American
genius.
Inshort, it is almost impossible to hit
upon a phase of the development of a
new country which does not depend
upon the building of the railroads.
The nation that builds the most rail-
roads must of necessity be preeminent
in engineering. That is why Mr.. Car
negie's statement can be Substantiated
by the simple reference to the figures
that indicate the comparative rapidity
of railroad extension.
(! MILTON MARKS.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-03

her necessary quiet habits coinciding
with Mrs. McKinley's invalidism. In
New York she was quite prominent at
one time as the heroine of thrilling
escape from the terrible Hotel Wind
sor fire, when so many people were
burned.
Mrs Baer's marriage was something
of a romance. Her husband is quiet
country gentleman and medical stu
dent, the son of Philadelphia judge.
The pair were married in September,
1900. Mrs. Baer is a pleasant singer
and has been studying her art in Paris
with Signor Capoul. She has appear
ed in concerts for charity, singing ex-
quisitely, but never upon the stage, of
course.
The stage is favorite resort for So
ciety women who wish to earn money
quickly and easily. There is no reason
to doubt that Mrs. Baer's pay will be
large, though it is the habit to exag
gerate such matters and the talk OF
81, 500 a week may be taken with a
grain of salt. Such gently nurtured
women as Maud Banks, daughter Of
Gen. Banks, as Miss Elsie de Wolfe, as
Mrs. Robert Osborn, as Mrs. Clara
Bloodgood, have, however, undou6ted.
ly done well upon the stage.
OWEN LANGDoN.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-03

ings and grounds, however, who is also
detailed from the engineer corps for
service in Washington, has hardly any
duties which properly belong to an
officer of the army. In theory he has
to look after the buildings and grounds
in the District which belong to the fed
eral government. In practice, he is
the social major domo of the admins
tration in power. Bespangled in gold
lace, he officiates at all social functions
at the white house. On state occasions
he stands by the side of the president
or Mrs. President, introduces the
guests and keeps careful eye on the
silver. He makes out the invitation
lists, and altogether is thing of beau
ty and perpetual delight.
The present incumbent is Col. L. w.
Symons, one of the most accomplished
officers in the corps. He is not fasci-
mated with the job to which he was de-
tailed by President Roosevelt's spe-
cial request, the president having
known him in Buffalo While governor
of New York.
Until few days ago the place was
adoIaed by Col. I. A. Bingham, appoints
ed by President Mckinley, nearly six
years ago. Bingham rejoiced in it and
hated to give it up; but his term OF
service at the white house had more
than run. Bingham is the one who
tapped Charncey Depew on the shoul
der at a state dinner last winter anG
asked him not to laugh so boisterously
as it disturbed the president.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-03

The commissioners represent an eX-
pertinent in municipal government
which has been wonderfully success
full, although it will hardly be fol
lowed elsewhere. 1t is one of the
Inconsistencies of this republican gov
eminent, often commented on, that
the capitol of the country should be
place where republican institutions
have no standing and where the eX-
ecutive power lies in a board in the
selection of which the people of the
district have no choice.
There are three commissioners APP
pointed by the president, one of
whom must be an army engineer de-
tailed temporarily from the service,
and subject to the laws of congress,
which is the districts common coun-
ell. These commissioners exercise
complete control.
1t happens curiously enough that
the twocivilian commissioners at pres
ent are newspaper correspondents
who. at the time OF theirap appointment,
had always been newspaper CORE
spondents and nothing else. Mr.. Mac
farland was appointed first by Presi-
dent Mckinley as republican His
associate is Henry Litchtield West, fo1
years the political writer of the
Washington Post, and known
throughout the country as writer
for reviews. He was appointed by
President Roosevelt as democrat &
year ago. 1t is acknowledged by
everybody that these two newspaper
men are giving the district the clean
est and most effective administration
it has ever known.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-03

ldheu pldSc among
those who have been at work on it.
There seems to be charm in the occu-
patton. But perhaps one reason for
the immunity lies in the great skill
and care of the old rigger who for
nearly 40 years has been employed to
fix the rigging and staging used when
ever work of any kind is to be done.
He is one of the characters of the
capitol who is very seldom in evidence,
even to those who have been habitues
of the building for years. And yet his
memory runs back longer than that
of any other individual who has to
do with the structure. There is not
a senator or a member whose expert
ence runs back as far as his, and yet he
is as spry as when he h':gan to work.
He has little roo1u leading off the
main corridor in the basement of the
old part of the capitol, little out
of the way of passers-by, and there
he sits day after day, Indifferent to
everything that is gctpg on about him,
until the time comes Nhen he is need
ed Once in awhile somebody hap
pens on his den by astident.
This old fellow hiss had several
thrilling experiences. He climbed to
the top Of the statue of the Goddess
of Liberty once and stretched string
of electric lights arN,nd her neck.
Once he missed his footing and slipped
from the top of the dome, a distance
of 90 feet, catching his eoot by chance
in cornice several hurdred feet above
the ground-the only thing that saved
him from being dashe4 to instant
death.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-03

rather hobby with Miss Could, who
frequently takes her dinners there,
A noted club in whose work she is in.
terested held its last meeting for The
season there. Most important Of all
Miss Gould has there put on exhibit
ton an almost priceless collection OF
paintings, which will be on view te
patrons for some weeks and possibly
months.
What such loan may mean one real
ICES when he-for mere men are per.
mitted to dine at the Women's Hotes
but not even brothers or fathers are
on any excuse permitted to go beyond
the dining rooms and the office floors
-glances over the collection. There
are only fifty-fve numbers, but these
include examples by Gerome, Cabanel
Meissonier, Rousseau, Millet, Bou'
guereau, Constant, Dupre and Mum.
kacsy. De Melville, Detaille and Dau'
bigny are represented, and there is
one of Vibert's vivid canvases. Per
haps one of the first pictures bought
by Mr.. Gould makes curious contrast
among lnem- Inc ElfSl SHllsthlas
of T. Buchanan Read.
You will infer that the Woman's no.
tel is success. 1t is. If any group OF
capitalists in any other town are de-
batting similar enterprise may state
that the first and long-talked-of ven
ture of the sort in New York is already
so profitable that a second hotel on
similar lines is proposed by other
owners. 1t is an easy matter for any
one to build a hotel or get one built
for him, if a reasonable chance FOR pro-
| fit can be shown Mr. Muschenheim
succeeded nicely in his restaurant; and
| the Astors undertook to erect him a
$5,OOO,0O0 hotel, which he can lease
fully equipped almost without capital
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-03

tlSdS u II VI Z L
Hugh Mccullough in Andrew John
sons administration, and who at the
time of his appointment was younger
than Armstrong by several months.
Whether Chandler ever acted as
secretary in the early days of his
service is not known, but the chances
are that he did, for short time.
1t has fallen to the lot of young
Armstrong this spring to be the only
high official of the treasury on duty
for considerable time. Assistant
Secretary Giles resigned several
weeks ago and has not been at his
desk since May /. Assistant Secre-
tary Taylor has been i'll. Secretary
Shaw has been absent.
Armstrong is wonderfully bright
fellow who is fully equal to his OPP
! portunities, ana he has more than
made good since his appointment as
assistant secretary-an appointment
custodians of the financial interests
of the government with apprehen-
sion when it was first announced
He has one quality which makes up
for a considerable lack of experience,
and that is common sense. lie is not
J pfraid of traditions or of time hon
ored methods. Whenever he sees a
thing that he thinks ought to be cor
rected he goes to work and corrects
it without worrying overmuch as to
| whether his manner Of doing SO
meets with the approval of the anti.
| olarians or not.
! LOUIS A. COOLIDGE
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-03

perintendent of public buildings and
grounds. He has graded, sodded, ter
raced, erased walks and drives and
has undertaken to bring the beautl-
full grounds up to his idea of what
they should be with reference to the
mansion they surround. He has haG
full opportunity to display his con
ception of landscape gardening, and
it must be said that in the main the
result of his labors has been exceed
ingly good. There are stretches of
lawn and gentle grassy slopes where
formerly there were granite retain
ing walls, stone steps and asphalted
drives and foot paths.
In these spring days the white
house park, in its new dress, forms
a picture which is beautiful indeed
But in the process of identifying the
architect has not always had in mind
the convenience of the great Ameri-
can public. Indeed, it may be doubt,
ed whether he has had it seriously in
mind at all He seems to have gone
on the theory that the white house
was hereafter to be the residence OF
a private familyainto the precincts OF
Which the public were not to intrude
except on sutferance.
Fortunately he had not gone far on
this line when Mrs. Roosevelt inter
fcred. She will permit no more
changes which will make it any less
convenient for the thousands of
sightseers who come to Washington
to wander about the historic grounds,
and she will probably insist upon a
return to some of the old ways.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-03
America Leads as an
Engineering Nution* X
Some Facts Of Interest in Connection With
Cornegie's Recent Offer.

Their development along new lines.
With American push the need was all
ways soon followed by that which
would satisfy it.
Electrical engineering the growth Of
which has been far more closely iden-
tilted with American than European
engineering progress, may be said to
have crept, like spring sap, through
the whole engineering tree, making
itself manifest first in the extremities,
lighting the bridges, the tunnels, the
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-03

president of the
board of commits
sioners f or t h e
ID i S t riot of Co
lunlbia.
The C o m m j s.
sioners f or t h e
district t 0 r m a
body w h j C h j s
T e a ii y u n i que
among the execu-
tives of American
unicipalities. In
fact there is no
other body quite
like it anywhere
Il N + II O Nv n ~ n
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-03

This young man is
c o n S p icuous at
present because of
his claim that he
was the active
agency in marry
ing off his sister
to the, lightweight
Earl of Yarmouth.
Thawis the high
rolling young man
who became ia
nous awhile ago
through giving in
Paris a dinner at
which Lame de
POugy, Cleo de
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-03

Il O ! o n g er big
enough for New
York.
John Wanamak-
err, the lessee of
this famous bust
ness stand, has
been for some
time securing the
entire block adj
joining upon the
south and he is
now aboutto erect
an "anneN" which
will alone have 25
acres of floor
S pa ce. Sixteen
cl,,lo
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-03


center of the world.' So
saws Andrew Carnegie, and he stands
behind that statement with the an
nouncement that he VIII give ST 900, 900,
or more if necessary, for the fulfill
ment of a plan to bring the several as
sociations of engineers in America
into closer relationship by the erection
in New York of two structures, one to
be the home of the Engineers club and
the other to be a magnificent head
quarters designed for the joint use OF
the American Society of Civil Engln-
GERS. the American Society of Mechan-
zeal Engineers and the American In
stitute of Mining Engineers.
What evidence is there in support OF
Mr.. Carnegie's tribute? Let us see.
"The greatest engineering work OF the
nineteenth century," as Thomas Z.
Clarke, former president OF the Amerl-
can Society of Civil Engineers, de-
clared, ''was the development of the
railway system, which has changed the
face of the world" That America has
the credit for the better part of this
work is easily proved. Said Mr.. Clarke
in 1901:
"The rapidity with which railways
are built in the United States and Can
ada contrasts strongly with what has
been done in other countries. Much
has been written of the energy OF Rus
STA in building 1900 miles of Siberian
railway in five or six years. In the
United States an average of G, 147 miles
was completed every year during the
ten successive years, and in 1887 there
were built 1882 miles. The physical
difficulties overcome in Siberia are nc
greater than have been overcome
here"
No other figures are required to give
authority to Mr.. Carnegie's statement
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-03

New 1 Ork society
just at present.
The marriage. of
w. X. Vanderbilt
may have caused
the agitation be-
cause of the stern
comments of En- g.
Ii S h churchmen
upon the action of
a clergyman in
solemnizing the
service. But the
case is not in it
self nearly so pic
turesque as that
of Mrs. Duncan c.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-03

nished by a little
woman of wealth
and no leisure at
all who dropped
into the new Wo-
mans Hotel the
other evening as
if from the skies.
She was small
and dark a n d
quiet and evident
ly a lady; and she
remained there for
some time before
more than Il few
in he secret knew
that she was Helen
Gould.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-03

less than an acre and half on the
ground-its a problem in arithmetic.
Mays new store is still the biggest
in New York, but of course the Wanna.
maker combination will cast it far in
the shade. The old Stewart building
will not at present be torn down. II
is only five or six stories high, but
very spacious in ground area and has
considerable prestige. Together,
connected by tunnels under the street
and possibly by bridge above it, the
two buildings must include somewhere
near a forty-acre lot of dry and fancy
goods.
Vast as is Mr.. Wanamaker's New
York enterprise, costing asst will near
ly or quite $4,O0O,0OO, it is compare.
lively small matter beside the pro-
iected building of his Philadelphia
shop. In that city Mr.. Wanamaker has
the old Pennsylvania station property,
ramshackle affair, but of liberal
size. Here he is to expend S5,o00,O0o to
erect modern structure; this cost is
in addition to the value of the land
which he already owns, and it will
build far more of structure than the
same m6ney would in New York. For
workmen get higher wages in New
York than in Philadelphia; for that
matter they get more in Manhattan
Borough than they do in Brooklyn
right across the East river.
The New York annex shop will be
first finished. 1t can be built all at
once. Not too much to interrupt trade
the Philadelphia shop will be built q
section at a time.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-03


Hastreiter, who was the instrument
used to secure Mrs. w. K. Vanderbilt
au ARRANGED" divorce eight years
ago, and other famous members of the
demi-monde were present.
Thaw hasn't the money for such
pranks He was then supposed to be
fabulously rich-is still so rated in
Paris. But as one of very large
family he has really about half mil
lion dollars, one-third of which is tied
up in a trust, fortunately for him.
The dinner was a piece of shrewd cal
culation intended to preface the mar
riage of the earl to his sister. AS
things have turned out, he needn't
have been so scrupulous and might
have blurted out his purpose without
shocking the noble earl.
Mrs. Thaw, the brides mother, has
added her quota to the gayety of ma
lions by issuing an authoritative
statement of the Settlements" upon
the earl. Noblemen come cheaper
| than had been supposed. Miss Thaw's
fortune, like her brothers, is about
half a mllllon, an now tleu up IN trust
funds. If she dies the earl is to get
the income of one-ffth. 1t is fair to
assume that he gets the income of
about the same proportion during the
! lifetime of the countess-that is to
say salary of $4,000 year. Lots of
i people less famous earn more money
But then, the earl has a rich wife and
will do nicely. He could hardly earn
as much.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-03

there are to be
no more expert
mental changesin
the white house
grounds.
Ever since the
alterations in the
white house were
determined upon,
Mr.. McKim, the
a + C h i t e ct, has
practically b e e n
in charge of all
the work which
o l. d i II a L lily be,
longs to the pro-
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-03

Hermanus Baer
when she goes
upon the vaude-
vile stage. For
she is the daugh-
ter of Abpcr Nc.
Kinley AMI t h e
niece of the late
President McKin-
ley.
Mrs. Baer is a
small, dark, viva
c u S W o m a n,
slightly lame. She
was thrown much
with Mrs. McKin-
Low on account Of