davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-08
n mE Inn ABsERmznRr
c5EhiQI1he OUT IHE SdGN4L FOX
DR0RlIHhS THE AALLS AL
ONER The LAMP

TT was Napoleon who characterized a
blunder as worse than a crime. To
4 many men the mere fact that a
shortcoming was accidental, q mistake,
and not an intentional act, serves in the
light of an aU-sufbcient excuse. Yet there
are throughout the entire country men
who dare not bIunder-who dare not
make mistakes. Oftentimes hundreds OF
human lives are dependent on their fore
sight and attention TO duty. 4 single
error, slight miscaIculation. a few no
ments Of drowsiness, any one Of these
things would prove fatal Others there
are who hold positions that, while lives
would not be sacrificed should a slip
occur, would yet cause much trouble by
an error-a trouble the consequences Of
which they must abide by themselves.
And. as is too often the case. the men
who take the greatest risks are those
who are paid the least. Long hours, too,
are required of them, and yet their work
must be absolutely perfect.
The Fire-AIarn Operator.
In big city like Washington one Of
the eyer-present menaces is fire. The
J red lights at street corners. indicating
: the location of a fre-aIarm box, are like
/ watchfuI eyes in the gloom Of the night
/ keeping guard while the people sleep.
Yet. without The added vigilance of the
operative at the headquarters station Of
? the system, one might ring fire in vain
When an alarm is sounded, one of a
dozen little red lamps AT the main Office
! flashes up. It is at the bottom of a
+ tube. on which, in heavy black figures,
appear the numbers Of the boxes on that
: circuit. The number of the box is
sounded, and, moreover, an automatic
machine registers the alarm in dashes,
separated by blank spaces. Up to this
time there has been no sound sent out to
any engine house. Now the operator
throws over a little lever. A repeater
takes up the circuit, and the box at
which the alarm was first pulled re
peats it to every engine and truck sta
ton in the city But this Is not all In
order that there shall be no mistake
the number is now arranged on another
machine that IS, pTesuming the alarm is
267. the three diaIs are turned around
until the figures 267 are visibIe-and
then tapped out" on the large gongs IN
the different fire houses.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-08
In All Walks of Life
Are Found Men
Whose Slightest
Error Would
Bring Disastrous
Results.
Error Would
Results.

ger signals and close the block a. each
end. The drawbridge man must also set
his own signals. Should he neglect this,
or fail TO inform the operators. It Is easy
to see what might happen, for weather
would often prevent anyone on the shore
end from seeing whether OF not tho draw
was open.
From the Naval Observatory on
Georgetown Heights there is sent cut
each day \ signal that registers the ex-
act hour OF noon for this meridian By
1t all the clocks Of the big telegraph
companies and railways are regulated,
and tho various time-baiis On high build
ings fall when It Is sounded It serves
to regulate the thermometers OK the ship
ping along the Atlantic coast.
Working the "TtBle BaI1@
Should Lieutenant Commander Hay
den, who is here In charge. make an az
ror as the star crosses the face Of the
transit. or neglect TO pay sttsntion to
the puIsings OF the observatory CLOCK
which beats every second up 10 Is. slip
ping 20. 30 az to give warning OF tue
half second. and skips from 55 to 50.
sounding one before the minute-gTave
things might happen. Here slight err
Tor would be worse than a large one. for
the slight error would probably pass IN
detected. while II the difference vas
vide. the shippers would declare their
chronometers right and the observatory
wrong.
The consequences following the depart
ura OF vessel with her chronometers
wrong could easily be serious. Her reck-
onings would be upset, and, in these
days Of steamship lanes" vessel $ few
miles-comparative speaking-out OF
her course would be IN constant danger
OF collision. But in sending out the
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-08

The process is as automatic as it is
possible for human ingenuity. TO make
it, yet there is ample room for the ex-
ercise of care and judgment. and where
this room exists, there is always room
for mistakes as well a box might be
out Of order and not ring properly. The
operator must know whether the mum
Der being sounded is on that circuit be
fore it. is repeated And although only
one alarm can be repeated at a time. In
the case of Simultaneous calls. the others
being held back to prevent confusion. it
happens that there is uncertainty at the
engine house as to the number rung.
Here again -he responsibility rests
upon human shoulders. a telephone
operator sits at a switchboard of a pri-
vate system ready to repeat the call
verbally wherever any doubt should
arise. He. too, dare not make a mis-
take, for in this matter slight error
would prove a grievous one.
The Railroad Operator
Il was a night railroad operator near
Washington who wrote the following,
In his little lamD-Iit ONCE
Through the gloomy hours Of night
Sits the sIeepIess operator
From "one" till mornings light,
Listening with sharpest hearing
What the ticking saunders say,
Talking with q Wakeful neighbOT
In the station far away.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-08
Y Z YAsHINGTON Is soon 10 have
wv as picturesque and quaint
BIT Of Old Germany as can be

bit Of old Germany as can be
found anywhere IN the United States.
This will be IN the rear Of the
mansion OF Christian Heurich Of
New Hampshire Avenue and y Street.
and win be what in German is called a
''forn,-obst garten,' or. more properly, a
''spaUer-obst garten''-that is. a formal
orchard. or trelns orchard.
The spalier-obst garten bears about
the same relation TO the ordinary fruit
orchard that the formal-or Italian
garden does TO the landscape garden,
where nature is either followed OF else
initiated. In the German fashion. in
stead Of the various fruit bearing trees
being allowed 10 grow in their natural
manner, they are as carefully shared
and trained into certain forms and de-
signs as are the yew tree and hedges
OF fragrant box that may still be found
about the grounds Of manors whose
walls were erected in the days Of old.
It is the design Of Mr. Heurich to have
On his place a typical German garden.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-08

a train passes, and make a record on a
tally sheet of the fact. but also to make
a record Of the time the train passed the
lower tower and the one above him as
we'll Thus, each operator makes these
entries for every train.
What a Mistake Would Mean.
The physical labor involved is heavy
and the unerring attention to duty must
be perfect. Each block must be kept
closed against any incoming train until
the one ahead has passed out, and the
operator at the next station signaIed
clear. CareIessness in this respect would
be likely, on double track, to cause a
rear-end collision, or head-on crash
on a single track Any violation OF this
rule, therefore, Is cause for instant dis
missaI, even though 10 harm results.
Busy as these railway operators must
be. they are compelled to work twelve
hours at a stretch, and for the attention
and cIearness Of thought they are com
PEELED to exercise they receive only s55
a month. And they dare not make mis-
takes. The towers near this city are
especially busy. The one at Fourteenth
Street, where the troiIeys enter the main
line. is presided over by L. A Hamilton,
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-08

standard time. there is no such word as
iau.
Men who count money are supposed to
approach perfection. This aplies to wo-
men, too, for in the couEtrv's big money
mill in Fourteenth Street. there are a
number of young women engaged IN
counting the newIy-printed bills for the
last time before they are sent to the
Treasury. They are compelled to work
quickly, and must be accurate. Should
a mistake be made, It Is so much out OF
the pocket Of the fair counter.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-08
HV HzNn4z4AT oeo5SWe NhERE c0TSIqNT hl4TlH


who also controls the entrance to the
switch yard Beyond him, and controlling
between them the single track block on
and Mr.. Simcox on the Virginia shore
The bulk OF the toll comes on the day
operators. for the night traffic is natur-
ally lighter
Midway on he Long Bridge is the nan
who operates the draw. II is his duty
to signal by five bells. each time the
draw is opened. to the operators at eth
er end. It is then their-duty to set dan
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-08
NE Z0hEQ c5Ien7uHnqN 1T Z0Ie 6Rl0eE

Telling jokes and telling gossip
To drive dull night along,
While his duties and his orders
Ali the time his mem'ry throng-
Tho his eyeIids drooD at midnight
Feign TO close themselves in sleep
Not for him the bliss OF sIumber;
He must still his vigil keep
All the while The sleepIess sounder
Tells its tale Of JOY and woe:
Now it tells o. birth or marriage.
And how hearts with rapture glow:
Now it tells Of fatal sickness.
Now it speaks ia wailing breath
While it tells. in mournful accents.
OF some dear friends sudden death.
Little knows the man or woman
Swiftly speeding Ger the rail,
How the safety and the danger
Rest on one who dare not fail,
The Switchman.
Across the Long Bridge there pass
the trains of five steam railways, and the
trolley line to Mount Vernon and alex
andTia. There are stIty-twO regular pas
scnger trains daily, and freights and
specials" bring the number up to nearly
200 Across the bridge Itself these trains
use a single track The system is what is
known as an absolute block, with a
tower a. each end. Here. night and dav
in storm and shine. snow. hail or feg
sits an operator, whose duty it IS not
only to set signals showing whether The
track is clear. but TO open and close the
switches, telegraph both ways whenever
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1903-10-17
Parma School.

The Parma schuul opened September
9Th with large attendauce and at the
present time there are "a pupils enrolled
with an average daily attendance of 20.
There are new TIVE teachers, Miss
Mary Kieruan, principal, aud Miss
Nellie Cook, assistant,
e. The school is graded and has the eight
grades this year. The course OF study
for the State OF Idaho is being followed
and excellent work is expected to be
donc during the year
1t has very good library started and
has two literary societies whic', alter
nate their meetings every Friday after
noon.
On account ef the large increase in
the number of pupils in attendance this
yeac the trustees have found it aeces.
sary to build nCw school building
which is nav In coarse * erection and
viii, it IL eSPected4 l,e completed by
january, lnl+,
The new bHilding win he n.uch more
conveniently situated than the eld one.
tlae site selected being Il commanding
one and right iR town, Water can be
really conducted epto the grounds and
it Is the intention of the trustees to have
the grounds beauiiiicd by planting tree,
and sowing grass seed and fle wers,
The trustees ef the school are: Mrs.
A. III. Stewart, Mr., + Is, Fisk and Mr.
a. J, Snyder and are deserving of much
credit fer their excellent management
of tie affairs ef the schoek
The methods rmplRsed in the scheo
are ,urto-dafe and it expects to keep
in liae" with the graded sShe4sls o
Canyon ceunty and ta rank as one 81 til,
bcst sn the county,
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1903-10-17
The Canyon County Fair.

The Canyon County Fair held at
Caldwell last week war the best ever
held in this county, 1t imPrnves each
year, and the management are to be con-
graduated on their splendid efforts to
make the institution Il success In every
way. They were especially fortunate in
having man like V. Il. Hannah for SUI
perintendent, To his untiring energy Is
due the grNs,ter part Of the success at
tanned. The conduct OF the fair was all
that could bc desired. There was no
jobbing at the race track such a. all too
nften mark such events, and the fact
was tevoraldy commeRted an by the Wig
itors, The fruit exhibit was especially
good and being artistically arranged
showed with telling effect what is being
accomplished in thu way III fruit growing
on Canyon county soil. The other de
paruNeats were excellent and our pco-
pie are te'be congratulated on the splen-
did showining made ef Canyon countv's
resources,
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1903-10-17
PARMAsTATE BANK 1000, 900 DITCH
Twin Falls Canal will krieaie Vast Mn
pirs. VIII be SIS Miles Lcng and
First Section Ready In Spring.

The dam for the great irrigation canal
at Twin Falls is now under course of
construction, the work being done bv
the contracting firm of Faris < Kesl.
These gentlemen have already spent
over $4,000 on equipment, the princi-
pal part of which was for an electric
power plant and derricks, cranes, tram
ways, cables etc. All their machinery
will be run by electricity. The dam
when completed will cost about $500, 600
1t will be 800 feet in length and will be
constructed of heavy stone-nasonry.
The canal will be 65 miles long and
will carry water sufficient for the recla-
nation of 100000 acres Of land, The
ditch is so feet wide at the bottom and
l2S feet wide at the water line. 1t will
carry water tO the depth of 10 feet, and
will cost about $2,OOO,OOO. Work was
begun ON both ditch and dam last
March and the first section, comprising
20 miles of ditch, will be completed in
time to irrigatc crop. next season
About 10000 acrcs " lnnd will be thrown
open to settlement at that time,
The remainder OF the ditch will b,
thrown open in time for the iollawin,
season. 1t is claimed that when thi
ditch and dam are completed they vii
form the most extensive irrigation sys
tenn in the United States, and the thir'
largest in the world, the other two bein
i'm Spain and India.
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1903-10-17
IDAHO ARID LANDS
Ross at tho Irregation Congress at
Ogden, Utah.

During the course of an address at the
National Irrigation Cormoss at Ogden
says the Pocatcllo Tribune, former State
Engineer, D. W. Ross, Of Idaho, gave
some interesting facts concerning the
amount Of work done by the reclama-
ton engineers in this state and some
valuable information on the extent of
irrigable land in the Snake River Valley,
He said:
"Idaho has an area Of about 81 600
square miles, Of which about So per
cent, or $4,000 acres, situated in the
southern portion IL arid. With the ex-
ception of a small area lying in the Sal
Lake basin, this arid portion IL in the
drainage portion Of the Snake river, 50
the future Of agriculture in his oart OF
Idaho, in fact the future Of the state
itself, Is linked with the possibility OF
ir1igation development in .he Snake
river valley.
The area drained directly " this
stream is about $4,000 square miles.
Several large areas are drained ey the
great lava flow which fills and levels up
the valley over an area Of nearly l2000
square miles.
Thousnds of acres of this vast plain,
have most fertile soil of great depth
and that could be easily irrigated if the
water could be conducted to il. The
Snake river rises in Western v yOming
and flows in westerly direction through
this valley, having cut it, channel into
the great floor of lava to depth, in
places, of nearly 900 feet, its work in
this direction being marked by canyons
and water falls, all on the most magnifr
icent scale immaginable,
The work of developing the agricult
1 tural resources of this valley is, in places,
extremely simple, in other parts very
difficult. Up to the present time this
development has moved along the lines
OF least resistance, but practically all has
been accomplished that can be done hy
communities by the methods usually
employed and also about all that can be
safely left to the efforts Of private cap
ital capital actuated by the hopes OF
large profits.
The largest bodies Of irriagble public
lands in Idaho are situated in the east
ern, central und western portions Of the
Snake river valley. The bodies are
large and their reclamation involves a
solution of serious engineering problems
in the construction of the necessary
complete control OF the discharge OF the
, Snake river and nearly all of its prir-
cipal tributaries.
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1903-10-17
NEW APPOINTMENT A
Governor Morrison Appoints A. J. Rrsshssrs,
Of Middleton, to Fill Vacancy on
Board Of Commissioners.

Mr.. A. J. Breshears has been appoint
cd County Commissioner To succeed Mr..
ianktree, resigned. Mr.. Breshears lives
near Middleton and enjoys the respect
and confidence Of all classes in that To-
cality. His appointment was petitioned
for by hundreds Of his fellow citizens.
The petition was submitted to the Re
publican County Committee by Cover
nor Morrison and promptly endorsed by
the committee at full meeting held last
Saturday. The new Commissioner is Il
thoroughly practical man and will no
doubt discharge the duties = his Office
with ability and integrity. He under
stands and appreciates the needs of the
people, and, and within the powers con-
ferrcd on him will serve them wcll.-
Caldwell T,roune.
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1903-10-17
Russians May Come.

DR.. c. {. Young Of Chicago, attend
ing physician of the eye and ear insti-
tute of the Cook county hospital, IL in
the city toiny, suys the Boise Capital
News. The doctor II Russian by birth
and was educated in the military schools
of that country, and later completed his
education in the university of Odessa.
His education he'd him to advocate Il re-
publican form of government and ewing
to his activity In this respect he came
under the suspicion OF the czar and ne
emigmted To this country in lsD4, The
name he now bears Is an adopted one
assumed since arriving IN this country.
Immediately pu arriving in this coun-
try he beramc identified with the Rus
sian.Slavic Catholic Society of North
America Of which he Is now the presi-
dent, His visit to Idaho at this time l.
for the purpose Of looking over the irri>
gated lands Of the state with u view Of
locating the people of the lRhd ef ny
birth thereon, He has already visited
the Twin Falls project and was tsrcatlis
impressed with the opportunities it of
fers for settlement. His people are in
terested IN the raising OF grain add es-
pecially sugar beets> II he finds the
climate and soll adapted Tor the pursuits
his people are Interested in, he will rec
ON zend to the advisory committee of
his sariety that Russians tasc ar lands
in this statN
When asked what his impressions
wers he unhesitatinely said they were
the very best and that he weuld rec"
ommend fdahe as d good l'iaNe Tor Rus
slams to locate lin,
sfhe Russians arc Il frNgaA Adustri'
ous reople,n sald pFe doctor, "and arr
desirable ritiscns IN every way Where
they have heated they sfaNe been thV
meahs Of building up Community and
enhancing its value. large numbers
have settled in Colorado, Nebraska, ard
othef states and in every instance they
have proven 70 be desirable citisens."
| Associated with the doctor in shii
work is Rev. A. A. Trout, 1etroni'
Russlan who has settled 5000 people il
Colorado the past few years. ise vii
Join the doctor in settling both kinds O
Russians in Idaho.
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1903-10-17
HOW PARMA IS GROWING
Many New BUILDINGS Being Erected HbOut
Town. Both City and Country Rapidly
Taking First Place.

In this, the first issue of the HERALD,
it Is fitting that we should give a short
sketch of Parma. Five years ago the
town consisted OF Il farm house in which
was kept the postoflice, a side track and
mail crane. Their the fertile lands
surrounding us were just beginning to
be brought into good state of cultiva-
ton, but our people did not dream Of
the wonderful development to fol-
low In the auurse of few years Today
we have a rapidly growing town with
every line Of business represented. We
have three stores carrying line Of gem
cral merchandise that wonld he credit
to any town ten times our size, and all
are doing prosperous business. Build
ings are being erected a. fast as the
supply of carpenters will admit. One Of
the best indications Of the prosperity of
a town is the amount Of business done
by the railroads At Parma the mon
tlilv receipts Of the Oregon Short Line
have passed the 5000 mark and are
constantly growing. The question
naturally arises. "What il there to
cause the growth of Il town in this lo-
cality?"
Lying around Parma, on both sides OF
the Boise river IL one of the most fertile
farming sections in the west. \ few
wears ago this war arid sagebrush land
but through an extensive system Of irri
rigation these broad acres have beer
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1903-10-17
WeddRse ar Len1p.

AT the brile's home near Lemp, sun.
day, October nth, AIiss Emma Hertig
and !. ]. puriSl were joissed in we,Hcck
by Rev RsasaRaa
The BRIDE Is one ef Lower B5se's
most popular Ssaang ladies, while the
groom is enc Of car most enterprising
Young farmers, The happy couple will
make their home tor the present at the
ranch Of NJ, j, Devers. where they are
at home to their friends. The Herald
extends congratulations and wishes
a happy voyage on the matrimonial sea
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1903-10-17
VIII be Installed In Ito New Building on the
Corner Of Main and Third Streets
ard Open its Doors this Week.

The organization of the Parma State
Bank was completed few days ago by
the election of officers. The list is as
follows:
+. VI. kirkpatrick, President.
f. +. Fisk, Vice President.
r. II. Summons, Cashier.
Directors: +. NJ. kirkpatrick, f. +.
Fisk, II. II. Sammons, c. b. HURT and
b. c. Sammons.
The capital is $4,000. An elegant
set of furniture and fixtures are now be-
ing ploced in position in the fine new
brick building recently erected, ane by
the end of the present week everything
will be in running condition.
The establishment of this institution
marks another epoch in the history of
Parma. Heretofore our merchants have
been compelled to do their banking in
Caldwell or Boise. Recognizing the fact
that our town had reached Il point where
bank was necessity some Of our en-
terprizing citizens went To work with the
result that Parma now has one of the
best banks in southern Idaho. The
hank building il handsome structure
and was the first brick building to b'
erected in Parma. The rapid develop
ment of ths business and agriculture
interests of this section assures the banl
of a large patronage, and unless all sign
fail the enterprise of the promoters an'
stockholders of the Parma State Banl
will be richly rewarded.
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1903-10-17

made highly productive. Grain, hay
and fruit are produced in large guam
titles, and find ready market. Stock
men, and especially sheep owners, con-
slider this one of the most favorable To-
calities for wintering their stock, and
hay brings good prices The percentage
of mss last year WIS less ON shaep fcd in
the Parma-ROswell section than in any
other locality in southern Idaho. Our
lands are especially adapted 10 the rails
ing Of alfalfa and clover seed the Weld
being from 9 10 II bushels to the acre
This il an exceedingly profitable crop
and there is little expense attached to
its production. Last season four of our
farmers received for their alfalfa seed
crop the sum Of 5000 per acre, and
none Of them less than 5000. Seed
threshing has just begun this season,
and the yield promises we'll All of the
grain and seed raised in this section j.
handled by our local dealers. Our mer-
chants Will pay cash for grain every day
in the year, thus affording home mar
ket To the farmers for their produce at
all seasons. The surrounding country Is
rapidly settling up and in the course oi
Il few years more the sagebrush will
have entirely disappeared from all the
lands upon which it is possible to place
water. Parma will continue to grow Il,
the country improves, and is destined al
no distant day to be one Of the best
towns in southern Idaho.