davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03
FEDERATION FLOOD BOOK.
Mrs. McCarter's History of the Dis.
aster Is Out.

Margaret Hill McCarter's book, The
Overlooking Waters being a story and
description of the great flood of 1908,
as seen in Topeka, is on the market A
thousand copies of the book were sold
before the forms had been taken from
the press, or put on, for that matter.
There are % pages of it, % of them
Topeka Most of them show the flood
when at it's worst. One or two show
how things looked before the water
rose and a few show the town in the
stage OF recuperation from the flood.
Mrs. McCarter was in it herself. She
spent her days down town from the
first call for help and devoted her
every moment to relieving the wants
of refugees at the Auditorium head
quarters Little by little she picked up
the bulk of what the book contains
She has interviewed the people who
went into North Topeka when the
together the story of the rapid rise of
the river, the escape of the inhabitants
and their subsequent care. She has
tried harder to get the picture, al
though she has not neglected the his
tOrical facts. 1t has been her intention
to make a book which could remain as
reference for people who wanted to
know things about the flood. At the
same time Mrs. McCarter has worked
to give her readers an understanding
and idea of the looks and feel of things.
The proceeds from the sale of this
little book will be devoted to the ben
eft of the flood relief funds. 1t was
written at the behest of the Topeka
Federation of Women's clubs, and is an
ample confirmation of the wisdom of
the choice of its author for the work.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03

promises seem to have been good. for
the letter which Mr.. Harris received
states that grading will begin west of
here next week. The work will be start
ed at Matfield Green and will be brought
toward this place
This seems to be an assurance that
the Orient. which has been so much
talked of and which at times was given
up as no good will be built as first pro-
posed and that. according to Mr. Grimes
statement when he was here, trains will
be running east and west from this
place by next year. The Orient is al
ready running trains on part of its
tracks, and by the first of July expects
to be running into Wichita on their own
tracks.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03
PAID THE PRICE.
Orient Right of Way Agent Buys
Without clubbing.

Emporia, Kan, July S.-Mr Lincoln,
a representative OF the Orient railway
was here buying right of way east of
town today This morning he bought
"a foot strip of the north end of the
White & Sullivan feed lot near the
junction which caused SO much litiga-
ton last winter. Mr.. Sullivan who
owned the land and made the deal said
the agent was a. pleasant man to deal
with He told Mr. Sullivan how much
land he wanted and asked what it was
worth. Mr.. Sullivan named his price On
it and after looking it over little paid
the price without protest. He told Mr..
Sullivan that a gang would begin grad
ing through here just as soon as enough
teams could be hired which would pro-
badly be after harvest and that the Or
lent would be running trains through
here inside of another year. Only one
house in Emporia will have to be NOV
ed off the right of way. 1t is the home
of Mrs. Slade, colored, who lives near
the junction.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03
HAD NO INVITATION.
Rock Island Files Protest Against
the Secret Mileage Meeting.

The Rock Island has filed vigorous
protest at Chicago with the chairman
of the Western Passenger association
against the action taken by the in
Interchangeable mileage bureau lines at
Mondays secret meeting, when an in
Interchangeable mileage ticket was
adopted. This meeting, the Rock IS
land says in its letter to the chairman,
was held behind closed doors and Il
was not invited to attend. although
member of the mileage bureau. IL
votes mo" on the proposition and pEo-
tests against any combination for the
Introduction of tickets which will affect
its revenues.
The attack now made on it is claimed
to be for the purpose of compelling il
to quit the mileage and clergy rate
business. If the new mileage ticket
arrangement is put in effect by its
competitors the Rock Island means to
retaliate by extending the present 1000
credential book over the entire Rock
Island-FriscO systems or it will allow
the southwestern lines, all of which
use the mileage credential," to cover
all of the Rock Island-Frisco lines.
More radical steps will be taken" said
a prominent official of the Rock Island
IF this fight against our road is con-
tinued any longer.
The final outcome is likely to be an
all-arOund rate war.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03
ENTRANCE TO BIRM1NeHAM.
M. K. & T. Forms an Alliance With
the Queen 81 Crescent.

New Orleans, July 3.-An alliance for
traffic has been announced between the
Northeastern. the Queen & Crescent
and the Missouri. Kansas & Texas.
The agreement will give the Queen &
Crescent great deal more business
than it is now handling, and it also
gives the Texas line an entrance into
Birmingham and gives that road po-
sition from which it can handle much
of the California and Texas travel di-
rect by way of Meridian and Shreve-
port The new agreement will become
effective tomorrow.
The authority for this statement is
George Morton, of St. Louis, general
passenger and ticket agent of the Mis-
souri,, Kansas & Texas. Mr. Morton
came here with w. G. Crush, of Dallas,
the general passenger and ticket agent
of the system in Texas. He said that
the Katy system had just closed a con-
tract for connection with the New
Orleans & Northwestern at Shreveport
for through business to jefferson
Greenville, Dallas, San Antonio and an
Texas points. This is said to put the
Missouri. Kansas & Texas in line for
eastern business. 1t will get travel for
Texas direct from Birmingham and
that section at Shreveport
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03
SERVICE RESUMED.
Guthrie Striking Operators Places
Partly Filled.

Guthrie, o. T., July 3.-Service in the
local exchange of the Arkansas Valley
Telephone company. which for two days
has been practically Frustrated owing to
2 strike of linemen and operators, was
partially revived last night. About a
dozen operators, most of them mex
perienced, took their places at the
board, three of these being daughters
of Joseph NJ Neal, a leading banker here
and treasurer of the company. No line
men have been employed to take the
places of those who first went out on
account of the employment of a nom
union Switchboard helper 1t is not
known how long they will be able to
handle its business, there being a de-
termination on the part of the labor
unions here to see that the strikers Sc
cure what they have asked.
The most enthusiastic meeting of I'M
ion men ever held in Guthrie was that
of Central Labor union last night. The
sentiment of that body was unanimous
ly in favor of continuation OF the
strike Henry Miles. local manager of
the company. announced his resignation
last night. His wife. who held the po-
sition of chief operator in this exchange,
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03
MAKES MARYsv1LLE GLAD.
Union Pacific Remodeling Depot and
Building Stockyards.

Marysville, Kan, July 3.-The Union
Pacific railroad is making several i'm
prOVements here, including the erection
of new and larger stockyards, and re-
modelling the depot. In the depot cleo
trio lights, furnace heating apparatus,
city water and sewerage will be put in.
The company is laying a vitrified brick
platform which will take %, 600 brick,
thereby doing away with the wooden
walks. The company is also relayins
about 80 miles OF track both east and
west of Marysville with S0-pound steel.
The railroad officials have looked on
Marysville for many years as one of
their best towns, and are doing their
part to strengthen the good relations
between the company and the people.
Agent William Lonergan is the right
man in the right place. and he enjoys
the confidence OF the patrons as well
as the Union Pacific company.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03
MIGHT TRY GOLD sHALE.
Invention by Emporia Conductor
for Extracting Precious Metal.

Yesterday a machine was tested and
proved a success which promises a for
tune to its inventor and the members of
the company which has been building
it, says the Emporia Gazette. The in
Vention is a machine to separate the
gold from tailings and sand which can't
be made to pay in any other way The
inventor is Conductor Henry Wismyer
Several other railroad men are interest
ed in the machine.
Mr.. Wismer has been working on the
machine several years. Some time ago
he got it so it would work but now he
has perfected nearly every detail and
has applied for a patent. The test was
made yesterday on the poorest quality
of pay dirt. In the pan this dirt hard
ly showed a particle of color and in
the best gold separat ting machine hith-
erto known. this yielded only AZ cents
to the cubic yard. In the test made
yesterday it yielded $500 worth of gold
to the cubic yard. The machine itself
looks something like half sized thresh-
ing machine only somewhat more COM
phcated. Mr.. Wismyer refuses to dis
cuss the principle on which the ma
chine extracted the gold until he re-
ceives a patent on it.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03
BONDS HAVE CARRIED.
Proposed North and South Railroad
About to Begin Construction.

Another chapter has been written in
the history of the Nebraska, Kansas &
Gulf railroad. The railroad bonds have
carried in Cloud county and this with
Ottawa and Saline makes the line COM
plete to the Nebraska border. In the
two latter counties the stock has been
subscribed according to law and the
same condition viii prevail in Cloud
county when the board of commission
ers meet Friday and canvass the vote
and make the necessary order.
By the contract under which the
bonds were issued active work must
commence in the county within thirty
days after the voting of bonds and as
evidence of good faith on the pare of the
company the material is already arriV-
ing in Salina and less than half that
time will not have elapsed before the
active work of railroad building will
have commenced. In Ottawa county
township and city bonds were voted, but
in Cloud as in Saline they were county
bonds.
The Nebraska. Kansas & Gulf railroad
has gotten beyond the speculative stage,
and before two years what Kansas has
needed in the way of railroads will
have been an accomplished fact-a north
and south roa {. The great wheat belt
of Kansas viii have been tapped and
direct communication opened to the
gulf.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03
Hugo Mansion Presented to Paris.

Paris July 3.-The historic mansion
on the Place des Vosges, in which Vic
tor Hugo spent the most active years
of his life, was today formally present.
ed to the municipality of Paris by the
grandchildren and other kin of the
great author. The event attracted
Widespread interest in literary circles.
Paul Meurice, one of the chief bene-
factors pointed out that the gift was
designed to give France a memorial
similar to Englands home of Shake
speare and Germans home of Goethe.
The condition of the mansion is much
the same as when Victor Hugo occu-
pied it, besides being filed with many
valuable souvenirs of his work, IL
brary of 5000 volumes and a collections
of the authors drawings and wood
carvings. The room in which Victor
Hugo died is exactly as it was al the
time Of his demise, the furnishings OF
the bed, clock. etc, being identical.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03
ABOUT RAILROAD PEOPLE.

Grant Thornburg division freight agent
for the Rock Island, spent Thursday in
Kansas City.
L. G. Hammond, a south end switchman
is bsent from work on account of
sprained ankle
Thomas z. Prout. secretary of the local
Railroad Y. NJ. c. A will return tonight
from months trip in the east
Frank Wilson of the freight auditors
office is spending his two weeks vacation
in Colorado. He left last night.
Lell Boyes, clerk in the wheel shop Of
flee, will leave this evening for a short
visit with friends in Lindop, Kan.
John B. Parsons has secured a position
in the office of the Santa Fe ticket audit
or. He will commence work Monday.
The wife and children of Raymond P.
Near of the boiler shop have returned
home from visit with Mrs. Nears par
ents in Usage county 90 .ut
The employees in the office Of the division
superintendent of the Santa Pc will not
be bothered with the heat this summer. A
day.
Roscoe Jones. messenger boy in the Rock
Island telegraph office has resigned his
position. He is succeeded by Edward Err
hart. Erhart was formerly employed as
superintendent of motive power
Avery Turner formerly with the Santa
Fe in this city, and now vice president
and general manager of the Pecos Valley
lines, left yesterday morning for the west
after short visit in Topeka: Mr. Turner
is on his way home from Chicago.
Y. NJ. c. A. will hold their regular month";
ly meeting at the association rooms next
Wednesday evening The religious work
committee and the membership committee
will hold their meetings on Monday and
Tuesday evenings respectively.
Word reached here yesterday to the eff
feet that all of the Santa F'e engines which
were buried in the hole which formed III
the Kansas City yards during the high
water, had been lifted out and would
shortly be brought to the Santa Fe shops
in this city, where they will be repaired.
All statements that have been given out
regarding the engines indicate that they
were pretty badly demolished.
Circulars have been issued to all Rock
Island ticket agents instructing them 20
procure all EpWorth League business pos
sible. 1t is announced from July Is to 10
the Rock Island will operate modern Is
section tourist sleepers from Wichita to
Detroit. % leave Wichita on train No. Y Of
July IA for Chicago, thence via Wabash
railroad to Detroit A F.. Cooper. division
passenger agent for the Rock Island. with
headquarters in this city. says that with
the assistance of the agents he hopes to
be able TO fill all of these cars.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03
FEWER SHIPS BUILT.
The Business Shows a Decline All
Over the World.

Washington, July 3.-The bureau OF
navigation reports that during the fiscal
year ended June 80. 1908, 1885 vessels.
of 456,076 gross tons. were built in the
United States and officially numbered.
compared with 1857 vessels. of 473,9S1
gross tons for the previous fiscal year.
Returns of vessels under construction
on July L 1903 in the United States in
dictate for the new fiscal year an output
below that of the year just ended.
The world ship building reached it's
highest point in 1901 The diminished
output since then has been less notice.
able in the United States than abroad
The principal decrease in the United
States for the past year. has been in
steel steamers built on the great lakes.
The only item of considerable increase
ras been the cheaper forms of construc-
ton in canal boats. barges, etc, num-
boring 800. of 1854 tons. compared with
297 of 81 500 tons for the previous year.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03
RATES FOR MERCHANTS.
Annual Shopping Tours from West
ern States to St. I.onis.

The territory of the western and
southwestern lines rate announced oy
the Interstate Merchants association
for the st. Louis fall meetings. taking
the excursion dates and the one fare and
one-fifth, as follows: All of Arkansas,
Colorado, Indian Territory, Iowa. Kan
sas. Minnesota. Missouri Nebraska,
Oklahoma. South Dakota. Texas. Wis
consin, the northern peninsula of Mich
igan. that part of the state of Illinois
on ard west Os the Illinois Central rail-
road. Chicago to Gibson the Wabash
railroad, Gibson to Litchfeld. and the
Illinois Central railroad, Litchfield to
ST Louis, northern boundary line. points
in Wyoming west to and including
CHEYENNE, Louisiana west of the Mis-
sisslppl river, part of New Mexico and
part of Arizona
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03

a clause in contract would be as
binding as the provisions in bills Of
Iadine recurring notice of loss and
claim for loss before instituting SUIT.
and such provisions have been general
lv upheld by the courts in freight as
well as in other claim cases. The Civ
ing OF notice as a condition precedent
is also required in the transmission OF
messages by telegraph companies, ana,
it has been held. must be givqn within
the date stated therein.
"As to whether or not the giving of
this notice is in contraVentiOn of law
or of any statute. the parties possessing
all the necessary legal requirements. II
must certainly be held good unless con-
trary to public policy. 1t is settled AS
a rule of law that the common carrier
may relieve himself from the strict La
bility imposed upon him by the COM
mon law by a special contract. He cam
not relieve himself from liability for
his own negligence. but the notice con-
templated does not attempt in any way
to do this 1 am unable to see how in
any way such a. condition precedent
contravenes public policy. Such con-
tracts are permissible and have been
upheld by the courts in all instances
where they were not void on account
of unreasOna blenesS or want of cOnsid-
Grafton. 1t is in the nature of regis
lation for the protection of the conf
pany or employer from fraud and inn
position in the presentation, adjustment
and payment of claims for damages.
and the notice required is certainly rea
sOnable, giving an opportunity, while
the occurrence of the accident is fresh
in the minds of all parties knowing
about it, to ascertain the nature of the
damage and its cause.
Il am fully of the opinion that such
contracts can be enforced in court
when they are not tainted with frauG
and are fairly entered into by both
partsoS''
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03
CLEMENS A HOODOO.
Says That He Never Delivered
Fourth of July Speech.
G. g. Clemens said TODAY:

u. e. Clemens said today:
1 have the greatest, most eloquent
Fourth of July speech ever put together
by the brain and hand OF man. Moth
ing approaching it has ever been heard
on this continent. If ever it should be
delivered. life insurance companies
would put listening to Fourth of July
addresses among their prohibitive con-
ditions- But have neveA been permit
ted to use it. Never in my whole life
have l made a Fourth of July speech.
Every time l have been orator of the
day, something has happened to put an
end to the performance before the show
could get around to me; until at last
have come to be looked upon as a
hoodoo, and the management no longer
invite me.
-Four years ago at Perryville
thought my time for undying fame had
surely come. The celebration was in q
beautiful grove. The preliminaries had
gone through without a hitch and
stood on the platform facing a crowd
Nothing seemed to be in the way, so L
took my time, and told of the previous
history of the speech | was about to de-
liver AS 1 approached the real thing,
was filled with excitement, for L
greatly feared the nerves of the audi
ence might not be able to stand the
strain of the enthusiasm 1 was about
to evoke. But rallied all my strength
for the effort, and. proudly throwing
back nv head, exclaimed in a tone of
defiance: .rt-t
And now, my fellow citizens; now,
that I stand upon this platform, actual
ly face to face with this magnificent
audience, shall deliver this long de-
There was a crash of thunder, the
lightnings flashed. and my upturned
mouth was full of rain. The laughing
crowd sought shelter. and the celebra-
speech saved up to be published among
my poSthumouS works..
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03
LOST HALF A MILLION.
Santa Fe Had AS Cars of Merchan-
disc in the Flood

According to the Kansas City Star
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe rail-
way lost 443 carloads of merchandise in
the flood. 1t is estimated that the loss
will average $1,000 a car, or a total of
almost half million dollars. AS to
whether the railroad will be liable for
the damage, either in whole or part, will
be a matter of court decision. It's up
to the railroads to show that every
thing in the company's power was done
to protect the merchandise; that it was
by the "act of God" it was destroyed,
in which case the companies will not be
held.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03
Burlington Grants Mems Demands.

Bloomington, ILL.,, July 5.-Trainmen of
the Chicago & Alton railroad who are
waiting for a decision regarding a de-
mand for an increase in pay received
word today that the Chicago, Burling-
ton & Quincy road had decided to grant
an increase of 10 per cent to employees
in the freight service and of u per cent
in the passenger service. 1t is believed
that such action by the Burlington
would have a favOra BILE effect on the AL
ton officers and that a similar increase
would be granted.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03

struck with the other operators. Miles
said the matter had reached the per-
sonal stage with him and he felt COM
PEELED to retire. 1t is possible he may
become manager for the Missouri and
Kansas Telephone company within the
next "a hours. L. l.. DaN export. the
workman whose discharge Vas asked. is
still al work and high officials Of the
company say he will be retained. Pub
lie sentiment appears to be in favor of
the StrikerS.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03
Three Indians Were Killed.

1t is now found that four men were
killed in the disaster at Herlow on the
Santa F'e. The mangled body of a third
Indian was taken from beneath a pile
of wreckage. The Indians belonged to
the San Domingo tribe and were steal
ing a ride on the construction train
Las Vegas Optic.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03
Washout at Needless

The Needles. Cal. Eye says: At las;
reports the Colorado river had washee
away about 500 feet of the old maiI.
me track and was still washing slow
" r. B. Burns, resident engineer O
the santa Fe coast lines, has a corps O.
engineers in the field making a per-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03
Rock Island at Frisco.

G. A Rutherford has been appointed
district passenger agent for the Rock
Island with headquarters at San Fran
cisco, vice Clinton Jones, resigned. Mr..
Rutherford was formerly division pas
senger agent for the Rock Island at
Omaha
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03
RESUME GRADING.
Orient Preparing to Build Its Line
Into Emporia.

Emporia, Kan. July S.-Chas. Harris
yesterday received a letter from Frank
Grimes, ex-treasurer of the state, who
is now an agent for the Orient railroad.
Grimes was here short time ago and
stated that before the end of the month
grading would begin east and west of
here. the construction parties from both
ways coming towards this place His
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03

family blood faint.
Scrofula is bred in the
bone, is transmitted
from parent to child,
the seeds are planted in
infancy and unless the
blood is purged and pu-
rihed and every atom of
the faint removed Scrof-
ula is sure to develop at
some Deriod in your life.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03

manent location of new track which
will be some hundred feet west of the
old track and skirting the present
mesa The new location will be about
one mile in length and will undoubtedly
prevent future delays of the kind SUI
Iered this week.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-03

New York. July as B. F. Morse
assistant passenger traffic manager of
the Southern Pacific railroad with head
quarters at Houston. Texas, has render
ed his resignation to become effective
August l. He is understood to have
made financial Connections in the east