davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1903-08-09
Government ShipbuiId nc.
The Progress Made Thus Far Warrants
Its Continuation

The progress thus far made in the
shipbuilding competition between the
Government and private contractors
should not be discouraging TO those
who advocated construction in navy
yards. While it is true that the
Louisiana, which is being built by the
Newport News Shipbuilding and Drv-
dock Company, is 4 per cent nearer
completion than is her twin sister
ship, the Connecticut, under construc-
ton at the Brooklyn yard, that fact is
accounted for largely, if not entirely.
by the more favorable conditions in
the Newport News yard at the time
the race was begun, and because the
company had some of its material ON
hand at that time, and in this respect
Lad an advantage over the Govern
ment.
Two points have been clearly dem
onstrated by the contest. In the first
place, it Is shown that the Govern
ment Is not wholly dependent upon
private shipyards for the eonstruc-
ton of Its vessels, but that they NAV
be built satisfactorily in its own
yards; secondly, that there has been
much delay by contractors which was
not wholly unavoidable, as they have
always maintained. For probably the
first time in the history Of battleship
building the contractors of the
Louisiana are a month ahead of their
contract time. thus showing that when
they feel the necessity of doing So
they are able TO turn out ships with
IL the time specified by the Navy De
partment.
When new ships are authorized by
Congress at its next session, the ques-
ton of Government construction viii
doubtless be further considered. and
the results thus far obtained in the
competition should warrant a division
Of the work between the Government
yards and private contractors. There
are three OF four other yards besides
the Brooklyn yard in which a battle
ship can be built, and they should be
allowed to have at least a portion Of
the work.
The Washington times., 1903-08-09
Treasure Dug Out of d Well:
Or, Archaeology dS an Ar
How Two Irishmen Made Money.

This story explains a mystery. II will
also probably destroy an illusion under
which half a dozen collectors Of his
tOricaI relics arc at present laboring.
Out on the Rock Creek Road a big
Irishman has been digging a deep well.
Occasionally the well digger goes into
the little saloon nearby to get a bite Of
lunch and glass Of beer. Shortly after
one of these visits he sent I'D in the
bucket from depth Of sixty feet a sill
yer fork, covered with dirt and more
than half buried in chunk of clay.
The crowd around the mouth of the
well caught sight of It and began %
speculate as to how it got down there
Finally some one offered a dollar for
the ancient relic But the well digger
partner above ground refused to let il
go at that price. II was finally sold for
81
Next day the free lunch counter was
again visited and shortly after another
silver spoon was dug up at the bottom
Of the pit Every day for q week a simi-
lar ind was made. Each OF these unique
relies was sold at a handsome price.
Then the saloonkeeper discovered that
all but two Of the plated silver forks
on his lunch counter were missing He
watched and caught the we'll digger in
the act OF purloiniES one OF them. The
whole story was told, and the we'll digger
has agreed to keep the lunch counter
In new silver as long as the demand for
the old continues.
The Washington times., 1903-08-09
TO DETERMINE THE
DEPTHS OF THE SEA
Two Devices Invented by Cavaliere
Pine, an Italian.

Two devices for exploring the depths
of the sea have been invented by Cav
aliere Pine, an Italian. says "Harper's
Weekly"
One is a submarine worker for use
at greater depths than divers can en-
dure II is a big steel egg, built so
strong as to withstand great pressure
of water. and equipped with steel arms
and hands for moving objects on the
sea bottoms It carries two men. who
look out through heavy crystal windows
and see whatever is in sight. 1t has
telephone which communicates with TIE
surface, and is furnished with electric
power. by means of which it proceeds On
a single wheel over the sea bottom
wherever its governors choose.
1t holds air enough TO last a mod
crate time. and when more is needed
II can be supplied from the surface. In
like manner it can be furnished with
light. The inventor believes that his
machine will be highly effective for the
recovery of sunken treasures or articles
of any kind that have been lost in the
sea. IN the case OF a sunken ship he
proposes to go down in his machine, find
the ship. put dynamite in il in The
right place, blow Off the deck, and direct
getting out the ships contents. He will
be able TO mark the position OF treas
ure chests or heavy articles by line and
buoy. so that they may be grasped ~
gTapnels and hauled up.
His other invention. the hydroscope.
is an apparatus for searching the sea
bottom from the surface. The inventor
has not yet discovered how It works
The laws OF optics govern it's construc-
tion. yet il is something more than an
Instrument which reflects images from
one mirror TO another. That il does
work. and we'll. is attested by a group
of competent persons who saw it tried
in the harbor of Genoa, on January IS,
1903.
They certified that through the hydro
scope they We're able to see clearly OBJ
jects in the sea bed in their true form.
color and position, and that the instru-
ment did its work well. It's inventor
says that down TO a depth of 100 meters
his apparatus will reveal the sea bed
by natural light, and that greater
depths than that will require artificial
isht
The Greek government has made a
contract with him for the recovery OF
works of art sunk 1900 years ago in
Greek waters, near Cerigotto. 500 OF
which he has already brought Up. The
English government. too, has contracted
with him for the recovery of specie from
the Black Prince. sunk during the Crl-
mean war.
The Washington times., 1903-08-09
Why Mr.. Dickson Quit.

Senator Hoar used 10 be shaved by a colored
barber Of the name Of Dickson whenever he
went 70 Boston. One morning he opened a
conversation by saying: Il believe you are a
member Of the African Church in - Street?''
'No, sab; not at all, sah,' was the reply,
made with Tnuch dignity.
"Ah, l thought you when was here
last"
But not dis yeah. sah.''
''Ah have YOU resignedT'
We'll sab, it wuz dis way: fined dat
church en- good faith and de iust yeah ! give
ten dollahs to'ds the stated gospel, all de
church people calls me 'Brudder Dickson De
second yeah ma bizness fell of, I give FIVE
dollahs; en- all de church people dey call me
Mister Dickson Do dis razzer huht yo', sahS"
Not al all; it is very easy"
Thank yo'. sab; we'll &c third yeah feel
s. polly DAT ] don give nuthin' Z all fur
Preachin', en- all De church people dey pass me
by en- say dat old niggah Dickson After dat I
quit em. New York Press.
The Washington times., 1903-08-09
The Little war With Spain,
And the Big Pension List Which
Comes Of It.

Astute ealculators are expressing
the opinion that before the pension
list resulting from the little war with
Spain has become a thing Of the past,
we shall have paid out more in pen
sions than the war itself cost. This.
10 one who has studied the history Of
the Pension Office, seems more than
probable
And yet, what is to be done about
it 4 man who leaves his business
and goes to war not only risks life.
but health. He may come back minus
leg or an arm, or with some organic
weakness which hampers him for all
the thirty or forty years Of his work
ing life. He gets, while in the field,
e sum less than the wage of a day la
borer. If he is a soldier Of the better
type Of workman, he could earn, at
his trade, from two to five dollars a
day. Is ii fair TO expect him to take
up a spoiled life and 60 through il
without the ten or twelve dollars I
month which may come TO him from
the Government Cannot the coun-
Try afford to pay that sum 70 a small
fraction Of It's male inhabitantsl
But when we think of the sIirlnish
which was called the war with Spain
it does seem ridiculous to pay a man
for life salary earned by month
or two OF fighting. Thousands of
men engaged IN the employments
classed as extra hazardous risk their
lives daily without any consideration
of pensions, and some of them are
The Washington times., 1903-08-09
Pity the Poor Press Agent.
These Hot Summer Days He Must Keep
His Brain Boiling.
Pity the theatrical press agent,

Pity the theatrical press agent!
If there Is anyone who, at this sea-
son of the year, deserves pity, he is
the man. He may not show II. for It
IS part Of his business to dissemble.
but his life is a hard one, and II is
growing harder.
The demands upon a successful
press agent are becoming absolutely
indescribable He must be an inven-
tive genius, but he must be something
more than an inventor. He must do
things. In the old days it was suffi-
cient for a first-class press agent to
announce that an actress had lost her
jewels. In these days 1t Is not only
necessary for him to announce theft,
but he must provide a genuine thief.
If he can't find a proxy. he must do
the job himself.
Moreover, he must devise new situa-
tons and see that the situations are
not wasted after they are devised. II
occasion requires he must throw a
show girl off the Brooklyn bridge and
then dive for her lie Is not per
mitted to rest. In summer, when the
player folk are taking their vacations,
he IS wrestling with new and unheard-
Of complications that viii make copy
end accompany photographs With
competition fierce about him, he must
be doing something 10 make people
talk about the stars, fixed and NOV
able
Therefore, pity the theatrical press
agent.
The Washington times., 1903-08-09
Finances Of the Papacy.

Archbishop Folchi, uncle of the Roman
painter. who created so great a sensa-
tion some years ago by clipping with the
Infanta Elvira of Spain. daughter of
Don Carlos. has issued on the very NOR
row of the death OF Leo XIII a very
instructive pamphlet dealing with the
administration Of the finances OF the Pa
pacy until his quarrel with the late
Pontiff a few years ago, when he re-
signed the post OF vice chamberlain Of
the Holy Seat, which is virtually that OF
minister Of finance Of the Papacy
Archbishop Folchi. who. as the son
and brother of two Of the leading bank
ers of Rome, is a man of considerable
wealth, and an expert in all financial
questions. was specially qualified for the
post which he held. His quarrel vita
Leo XIII was due to the latter making
him responsible for losses resulting from
unfortunate investments which Folchi
claims were made against his advice in
Difference to the insistence and peremp-
tory command of the late Pcntiff
From that time forth Archbishop Fol
chi never crossed the threshold of the
Vatican until Leo's death, since which
he has been there daily. apparently
held in high regard and favor by the
members Of the Sacred College. and es
pecially by the Camerlengo Cardinal
Oreglia, who always bitterly condemned
LeO's administration Of the papal
finances. Indeed. Archbishop Folchi is
regarded as likely to receive early pro-
motion TO the rank of cardinal. as an
able fnancier and a rather iU-used man.
The pamphlet which he has just issued
setting forth his differences with Leo
XIII, and issued presumably with the
sanction of his warm friend and sup
porter, Cardinal Oreglia. furnishes the
most extraordinary reading and proof or
the urgency Of radical reforms in the
department Of the ponufcal exchequer
MARQJISE DE FONTENOY
The Washington times., 1903-08-09
Mississippi Primary System.
IT'S Advantages Over the Methods of
Other States in the Selection of
United States Senators.

The State of Mississippi has Just
made It's first test of the primary
election system for the selection of a
United States Senator and State Off
GERS, and so far as the operation of
the law itself is concerned the result
appears to be entirely satisfactory
In effect there has been a popular
election for United States Senator,
and choice has been made without
the use Of money or the interference
Of either rings" or machines"
In this respect Mississippi Is far III
advance of some of her sister States
of the North and West, where an eiec-
ton to the Senate is either dictated
by a political ''boss," or the seat Is
knocked down to the highest bidder.
The Legislature Of the State is NOR
ally bound to ratify the selection
made by the people at the polls, and
the illegal use Of money is made prac-
ticaIly impossible. Whatever may be
said Of NIississippi's methods and
practices at the general election, her
system of choosing United States Sen
ators Is one worthy of communication.
Of course. the plan Of primaries IS
less practicable IN those States where
the political parties are nearly evenly
divided, or where one party has only
a slight advantage over the other. for
q circumstance might occur where a
Popular candidate would receive a
majority Of the votes cast, while the
opposition party might control the
Legislature. But even IN that instance
the moral obligation would still exist
10 carry out the expression of popu-
lar will, as much as if the members Of
tho Legislature had been chosen to
comply with any other decision reg
istered at the polls, even though the
candidate might not be their personal
OF political choice.
More than thirty Of the forty-five
States have within the past few years
placed themselves on record as favor
ing the election Of United States Sen
ators by direct vote. \ change in the
Constitution necessary to bring this
about has been repeatedly baked by
the Senate, and VIII doubtless con
tinue TO be, but in the absence Of such
an amendment to the Constitution the
primary system affords a means of
making a popular selection of Sena-
tors, which would in most cases, if
not in all, be equivalent to an election.
furthermore, the best way of forcing
the Senate to yield and permit an
amendment providing for the election
Of Senators by direct vote to be sub
mitted TO the States, is the adoption
of the primary system.
The Washington times., 1903-08-09
Would Be a Senator.

The Hon. Charles n. Fowler. the father
of the asset currency scheme, which
the Republicans of the House refused 10
adopt at the last session of Congress, is
said to be a senatorial possibility in New
Jersey He has not announced his candi-
dacy against Senator Kean, who wants
10 succeed himself. but affairs are so
confused in Jersey that the outcome may
be a compromise upon Mr.. Fowler. The
Republicans of the State are so flushed
with their successes in the past few
years that they keep the political pot
boiling all the time, and rumors Of
deals" and schemes" are constantly
In the air. 1t has only been a short
time since all the Jersey Republicans did
was to name candidates to be defeated,
but now that their candidates are elect
ed. there is a lively scramble for Office.
Since the death of Senator Sewell they
have been without a leader to direct,
although there are several aspirants for
the position, but none seems exactly TO
meet the requirements. South Jersey
is making a strong claim for the gov
ernorship, and fits principal candidate is.
the Hon Edward ]. Stokes. 1t is ru-
mored that Senator Kean, who is a.
North Jersey man, is about to enter
into a combination with Stokes to boom
the latter for governor and himself for
reelection.
Such IDEAL" would be distasteful to
the North Jerseyites. and not entirely
satisfactory to South Jersey, which
would also like to have one of the Sena-
tors. In case such a combination is
made, it is said that Mr.. Fowler may
become a candidate against Senator
Kean. He is serving his fifth term in
the House, and for several terms has
been chairman of the Committee on
Banking and Currency. Last year, when
the State was redistricted. he was
thrown into the same district with Rep
resentative Dewitt Flanagan, the per-
sonal friend of ex-President Cleveland. /
who was elected to I'LL the vacancy
caused by the death of Representative
Salmon. There was 2 stubborn contest,
which resulted in the return of Mr..
Fowler by more than 1900 majority.
The Washington times., 1903-08-09

! OF paid much, either. In dynamite
factories, for example, a man risks
his life, as the recent Lowell disaster
proves, as surely as if he were ser--
ing on a battleship; and yet neither
warfare nor the improvement of the
country can 90 on without dynamite.
II seems as if the only safe way ont
OF this general discomfort with the
pension list might be to pension
everybody, and we are not yet ready
for that form of socialism.
The Washington times., 1903-08-09
An Atrocity.
To the Editor of The Washington Times:

To the Editor Of The Washington Times:
Fully aware Of the fact that your paper is
doing a work unprecedented by any other in
the city Of Washington, deem it necessary
on my part that ] should write concerning a
matter which is in the eyes Of both God and
man a NEST outrageous crime
In the heart Of the city u Washington, in
front Of the very door of the CHIEF Executive
Mansion, lies the beautiful well-known Avenue
Its beautiful trees, which help to make up
its beauty, and its chain Of busy bees give
it life and a prosperous look. 1t Is credit
10 the nation as well as the city to have
such beautiful places.
But, ali, Mr.. Editor. how my heart tingles
with an irritating pain when 7 running
along its course day after day, and even year
after year, two poor, thin horses, pulling
those immense herdics, filled with people of
various dimensions and weight. Now. it is a
weIl-known fact that these herdics are large
and heavy enough for three strong horses to
pull with ordinary force, but instead Of these
We see two poor, forsaken nags. pulling with
might and main, day after day, and year after
year
Bear in mind one point. Mr. Editor: These
poor things are not allowed TO walk one step
Of the whole herdic route, but instead are
kept at a trOt, and most Of the time they are
on run.
II is shame and crime Of the most out
rageous nature, and / ask you, Mr.. Editor, in
the name Of humanity to call attention to the
fact through Of your valuable editorials,
addressing it chiefly 10 the Society for the
Prevention Of Cruelty 10 Animals" l dare not
pen what / think and know Of the unsanitsry
conditions Of the herdic stables, and even Of
the herdics themselves, for fear Of trespassing,
but, as n Christian and lover Of dumb
animals, / do not for 4 moment hesitate to
call attention TO the aforesaid facts
IRVING MACILROY GREY.
Mashinrfnn AmglIst ,.
The Washington times., 1903-08-09
French Officers Exonerated.

French Officers ExoneIated.
The proceedings, as was to be ex-
pected, demonstrated the complete falls
ity of the charges made by the widowed
Marquise de Mores against Colonel Re-
billet and against other French officers
in Algeria and Tunis of having insti-
gated the death OF de MOres. celebrated
out West as the cowboy marquis" and
it is on the strength OF the evidence
given during the trial at Susa, which
resulted in the conviction of the native
murderers and in the proof that they
had been instigated solely by motives
of robbery and fanatic hatred of the in
hdel-that the colonel is now suing the
marquise for heavy damages.
It is greatly 10 be feared that the suit
will be followed by others, as the
colonel was by no means the only
French officer whom the marquise &C
cused of being concerned in the death
of her husband. Indeed, the unfortunate
woman may be forced TO pay very
heavily indeed before she gets through
better of her reason.
Her eldest boy, who bears his fathers
title of Marquis de Mores, and who, in
addition TO having an American mother,
was born in New York. IS now about
nineteen years of age, and will In due
course succeed TO the honors of his
grandfather. the Duke of Yallombrosa.
who, besides that title, is also Duke of
Asinara, the latter being the name of
an island in the Mediterranean TO the
north of Sardinia.
The duke is a member Of the French
Jockey Club, and while he owns
chateau which bears the misleading
name OF Abundance" in the Eure and
Loire, and another in Sardinia, is far
from rich, being. indeed, in rather
straitened circumstances. Indeed. but
little apparently remains of the i'm
mense fortune accumulated by the
grandfather of the present duke as one
of the meat supply contractors TO the
armies of the first Napoleon. The duke
doms date from about the same time as
the commercial successes of the VAL
Iombrosa, and are, strictly speaking,
Sandman and not French honors, al
though the present duke, like his father
before him and like his grandson, is a
Frenchman, and makes his home en-
tirely in France, being allied by mar
rage to many of the great houses Of the
French nobility.
The Washington times., 1903-08-09
The Peoples Forum.
Law and Order Win.

To the Editor Of The Washington Times:
As YOU are aware. the fight made by the
mayor and council and the people Of Takoma
Park against the existence in our town OF
the Wildwood gambling resort has ended IN
complete victory for law and public order. In
the causes which contributed TO that desirable
result the encouragement given us by the
Washington press was by no means the least,
and l want to express 10 you not only my
personal appreciation, but the appreciation Of
the council and Of our people for the valuable
assistance rendered b. The Times.
J. b. KINNEAR, Mayor.
The Washington times., 1903-08-09
FavoIs Judge Lynch"

Major ]. K. Vardaman, who won the
Democratic nomination for governor in
the recent Mississippi primaries, and in
consequence viii succeed Governor
Longino, appears to have been Yictori-
Gus because OF the position he took
upon the negro question. and particu-
larIy in favor of lynching. His speeches
throughout the campaign have been
characterized by intense hostility
toward the negroes, and he has de-
clared that ali money spent in the edu
cation of the negro was money wasted
His platform favors a division of the
The Washington times., 1903-08-09
DEPOSITS OF NEW GOLD.

The United states Treasurer has re-
ceived word that $40. goo in new gold had
been deposited AT the subtreasury in San
Francisco, for payment in New York.
He was informed Friday that 1926. 900
in gold had been shipped from Australia
and will arrive in San Francisco about
August IS, for payment in New York.
The Washington times., 1903-08-09
Something Saved. Anyway.

Senator Henry Heitfeld Of Idaho tells many
good story Of the days when he was
Cow puncher'' on the plains Of Kansas One
day be met a woman, who, in summing up
her misfortunes, said:
Yes. Mr. Heitfeld, it has been a black
year with US First we lost our baby. and
then Martha died on US; then the old man
himself died, and then the COW died, too, poor
h,!zzvl But HER hide brought me S."
The Washington times., 1903-08-09
THE TIMES IN PARIS.
French Tailors Interested in Montgom-
cry Blair's Waistcoat.

% Place Vendome, Paris.
July %. 1908.
The Editor,
The Times.
Washington, L. S. a.
! should feel much obliged il you
would forward to me four copies of The
Washington Times of July Is, 1903.
We think the paragraph with refer
ence to the "waistcoat" made here for
Mr.. Blair, esq, very interesting.
Thanking you Ia advance,
Yours, very truly,
=. L. CHARNET.
The Washington times., 1903-08-09
HOOLEY UNDER FIRE.

LONDON, Aug. s.-Attorney- General
Finlay has instructed the director of
public prosecutions to investigate some
OF he transactions of Promoter f. T.
Hooley III connection with the Sapphire
COrundum Mine Of Canada. Hooley's
meteoric financial career and heavy fail
ure were the sensation OF London few
years back.