davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-16
CEILING FELL IN.
Federal Building Shows Evil
dence Of Faulty Constructi9as

A great chunk of lath and metal
plastering fell from the ceiling of the
private office of w. H. Mackey, U. S.
marshal. in the federal building about
IL o'clock this morning. No one was
in the ROBIN at the time. The mass
killed any person who would have been
under it. A colored workman. who was
in the attic of the building repairing
the room. nearly fell through the hole
left by the collapse of the ceiling. The
man was standing on the edge of the
hole.
The collapse manifestly resulted
from faulty construction. The work
was done under the inspectorShip of
w. T. S. Hoyt, a government inspector.
who gained considerable local notoriety
and the ill-Will Of most of the con-
tractors who had work to do in build
ing the addition to the federal building
three years ago. Hoyt had great guam
titles of work rejected and caused the
contractors endless trouble and ex-
pense. but in spite Of Hoyt's -spectac-
ular efforts at INSPECTION endless re-
pairs have had to be made on the
building ever since it passed from the
contractors hands.
The heavy metal 1ath of the room was
wired to light iron cross beams which
were in turn clamped to the fanges of
the eye-beams by light metal clamps.
Not only did these clamps spread and
give way but the wire holding the
metal 1ath was too light and broke in
many places, as could be seen by an
examination of the debris, which fills
the marshaPs office. Cracks in other
parts of the new building show where
more plastering threatens to fall and
the occupants of the rooms are uneasy
about their safety. Pension Agent w.
S. Metcalf, who is custodian of the
building, is out of town, but the acct
dent this morning will probably result
in an immediate reinspection of every
part of the work done under Mr.. Hoyt.
Officers and clerks in the federal
building are free with their criticism of
the sort of workmanship which Hoyt
accepted. Chief Clerk Drew of the pen
sion office said:
This is some more of Hoyt's work.
They've been patching up after him ever
since he left He used to get down on his
knees and work Sundays inspecting the
building when it was being put up, bur
it doesn't seem to have done much good
If any one had been in the room when
the plastering fell he would have been
Captain C. H. Titus of the land office
said:
How is that for Chicago-St Louis
worlds fair construction? They'd better
haul down the rest of that plastering be-
fore it drops on someone and hattens
them out. The job of inspection done on
this building was certainly a good one"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-16
MR.. HARRIS IN TOPEKA.
Now Has Job With
Shorthorn Breeders.

William A Harris. former United
States senator, was in Topeka last even
ing and for time this morning. Senator
Harris now holds a position with the
Shorthorn Breeders association that pays
him 1900 year and expenses, and he IS
giving his time almost entirely to looking
after the interests Of the association. He
is an authority in matters relating to
blooded cattle
Senator Harris talked over political
matters with some of his friends while
here and stated positively that so far as
state politics is concerned he is out of II,
and that he will not be a candidate for
governor next year on the Democratic
ticket. Those to whom he talked say
that he can not afford to make the race
nor to be governor. as long as 1T would
necessitate his giving up his present
work.
OF course Senator Harris is still a can
didate for a place on the canal commits
sion, but he says he does not know
whether he il TO get the appointment or
not. AttornSy General Knox and Secre-
tary Wilson working for him and he
has other strong Endorsements, but he Is
uncertain as to the outcome.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-16
LAYHAWKER lots.

Lyons is in the grip of the grippe.
Ex-Congressman Broderick is investi-
eating.
They are killing deer on Wild Cat creek.
Geary county.
A Sabetha hotel keeper has ''cornered''
the egg market
The Junction City Owl club very. nat
urally meets at night.
Wind mills are used to pump water
from the cellars at Vera
1t means an arrest to allow your chick
ems to run at large at Hope.
Chase is a prohibition town where moth
ing but weddings are on tap.
Clay Center's woman pastor has re-
signed. Chicken socials grew monotonous.
A basket ball alley belonging to the
upper ten of Rice county is in an empty
hay NOW.
A Caldwell woman calls her chickens
by beating on an old tin pan. It's voice
saving device.
Concordia has the chickenpox Being
so near Christmas time it should be OF
the turkey variety.
A brave Sabetha girl has given a por-
ton of the cuticle from her arm for the
body of a burned child
A four mule freight wagon with a trail
operating at Ulysses reminds the pioneers
of pixies Peak or Busti'
Barnes has cattle poisoner" His
mixture of copperas and blue yitriol sent
eleven prime steers to the Land of Nod
Mrs Bump of Coffeyville has a dollhouse
tree bearing a lemon 111a inches one way
and II the other. Now, wouldn't that bump
your
The latest report is that this old world
is good for 5, 100000 more years. The Cen
trail branch may yet be completed to Den
yer
| New York papers have poked much fur
| at DoWie. Carrie Nation there this Weel
in Ten Nights in a Bar Room will keel
the ball rolling.
This is a great year for Kansas: A
| Brown county farmer found nineteen littI,
pigs in a pen the other morning where
only the mother was the evening before.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-16
IMMIGRATION CHANGES.

The annual report of the commission
er general of immigration shows that
there arrived in this country during the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1908, s57, 046
aliens, travelling in the steerage, an ex-
cess over the corresponding figures for
the preceding year of 20S, 3O3, or 80 per
cent. OF these, sO4,456 arrived at United
States continental ports, 1850 at insular
ports, either Hawaii or Porto Rico, and
35, 92O at Canadian ports.
OF the total Storage immigration,
814,507 were Europeans and 1896 Ash
atics. while 1858 came from all other
sources.
In addition to the steerage aliens,
there arrived 1853 cabin passengers.
making an aggregate immigration of
921, 315, or 105,043 in excess of the great
est number heretofore reported for any
year.
The ratio of increase of aliens from
countries of northern and western Eu-
rope, as compared with arrivals from
the same countries for the preceding
year, was about AZ per cent, while from
the countries of eastern and southern
Europe it was only about q per cent,
In spite of the more rapid increase from
northern and western Europe, the great
Dulk Oh european dlcIlSy
572,72e, came from the three countries
of Austria-Hungary Italy and Russia
OF the steerage aliens, 613,14 were
males and 234. 800 females; 102,431 were
less than IA years of age; 714.053, from
IA to As. while 4O.562 were As years OF
over; 66S,O3S were able to read and
write, S341 could read but not write
and the remainder, 1S5.667, could neither
read nor write; 76,7O2 had been pre-
viously in the United States; 12s. 26t
brought $50 each or over, while 511. 3Oz
had each less than $50. The total
amount of money shown to officers by
immigrants was $16117.5 13.
The comparative thrift of these aliens
may be gathered from the fact thai
1872 Germans brought a total of ST.
4S0634, while 1917 South Italians had
but S2,259, 017; 2S.451 English brought
81. 405. 3G5. 27.125 Magyars showed only
$341, 4O1, and 32.907 Croatians and Sla-
vonians but S407 III.
Eight thousand seven hundred and
sixty-nine immigrants were denied ad-
mission at the ports for the following
reasons: Idiocy, 1; insanity, %; pau
perism, 5S12: communicable diseases
LIB; convicts. 81; polygamists, 1; i'm
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-16
RADON GAMBLERS
Thompson, Fowler and Hurst,
Royal Trio, Arrested.
Same Men Who Were Bound
Over on Previous Charge.

A warrant was issued in the city
court this morning for the arrest OF
Mike Thompson, Wood Fowler, lobe
Tobias and AL Hurst on the charge OF
running a roulette wheel. The COM
plant was sworn to by County Attorney
Hungate.
The four defendants were arrested at
o'clock They appeared before Judge
McCabe and waived their preliminary
hearing and were bound over to stand
trial in the district court under $1,000
bond each. Vincent Kaczynski signed
the four bonds.
These same four defendants were ar
rested three weeks ago charged under
the Cubbison law with operating gam
bling establishment. They appeared in
the city court for a preliminary hearing
and asked that it be postponed ten
days When the hearing was called
December they waived and Were
placed under 81, 600 bond each to appear
for trial in the district court. A. f.
Hodgins signed their bonds.
The arrest today was made on evil
dence presented to County Attorney
Hungate of gambling operations by the
four defendants since the previous ar
rest Thompson, Fowler, Tobias ane
Hurst now have two cases against them
in the district court which will be called
for trial in January or early in F'ebru-
airy, at the next term of court.
presented to me since the former ar
rest said County Attorney Hungate;
THE evidence is that the roulette wheel
has been running ever since the previous
arrest. If the gambling continues tbs
arrests will continue"
The gambling fraternity in Topeka is
pretty well frightened, excepting the pro
prietors of the Royal. Since the arrest
of Thompson and the others. several gam
second arrest the friends of the defend
ants have limited that Thompson and tine
they do not wish to go to trial before
| Judge Hazen-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-16
ENEMY OF WHALES.
Strange Creature Said to Exist in
Alaskan Waters.

While operating a fishery on Admir-
atty Island, Alaska, last summer my
attention and the attention of the
fishing crew was almost daily attracted
to a large marine creature that would
appear in the main channel of Seymour
canal and our immediate vicinity. There
are large numbers of whales of the
species rorqual there, and the monster
seemed to be their natural enemy. The
whales generally travel in schools, and
while at the surface to blow one would
be signaled out and attacked by the
fish, and a battle was soon in order.
1t is the nature of the rorqual to
make three blows at intervals of from
two to three minutes each, and then
sound deep and stay beneath the sur
face for 80 or 40 minutes. AS a whale
would come to the surface, there would
appear always at the whales right side
and just about where his head would
connect with the body, a great, long
tail or fin. Judged by five fishermen
and a number of Indians after seeing
1t about Is times at various distances,
to be about "a feet long, two and one
half feet wide at the end, and tapering
down to the water, where it seemed 10
be about IS inches in diameter, looking
very much like the blade of the fan of
an old-fashioned Dutch windmill.
The great club was used on the back
of the unfortunate whale in such a man.
ner that it was a wonder to me that every
whale attacked was not instantly killed.
Its operator seemed to nave perfect con-
troll of its movements, and would bend
it back till the end would touch the water
forming a horseshoe loop, then with q
sweep it would be Strengthened and
brought over and down on the back of the
whale with a whack that could be heard
for several miles. If the whale was for
tunate enough to submerge his body be-
fore the blows came, the spray would fly
for distance of 100 feet from the effect
of the strike, making a report as loud as
a yachts signal gun.
What seemed. most remarkable to me
was that no matter which way the at
tackled whale went, or how fast (the usual
speed to about IA knots that great club
would follow right along by its side and
deliver those tremendous blows at inter
walls of about four or five seconds. Ii
would always get in from three to five
blows at each of the three times tbs
whale would come to the surface to blow
The whale would generally rid itself OF
the enemy when II took the deep sound
especially If the water was 40 fathoms
or more deep. During the day the attack
was always off shore, but at night tAe
whales would be attacked in the bay and
within 400 yards of the fishery.
1 do not know of any whales being kill
ed, but there We're several that had great
holes and sores on their backs. Question
ing the Indians about it, I was told thai
there was only one, that it had been there
for many years. and that it once attacked
an Indian canoe and with one stroke 81
the great club smashed the canoe into
splinters. killing and drowning several O.
its occupants.-Forest and Stream.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-16
CHANGE PRECINCT LINES.
Election Board to Meet for That
Purpose Monday.

Election Commissioner T. S. williams
will call meeting of the election board
for Monday night, December q. There
viii probably be a meeting of the city
council that night to allow the Christ
mas payroll and the election board
Will transact its business after the
close of the council meeting.
The principal business will be to rati-
fy the division Of the Third ward into
four precincts, on the division lines an
nounced in the State Journal last week:
namely, Jackson, Tyler and Clay streets.
There is some talk of making six or
seven precincts in the Second ward,
instead of five, as at present, but this
Will probably not be done this year.
The members of the election board
are S. r. Kutz, E. B. Snyder, c. v.
Wolf, L. NJ NeIlis, J. C. Sinner and
S. A. Swendson. Each ward is entitled
to one representative, and the election
commissioner selected the board from
the members of the city council
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-16
OUR MOST PROSPEROUS YEAR

The foreign commerce of the last
fiscal year was the largest in the his
tory of the country. The total imports
We're valued at $1,025,719,237, and the
total exports at $1,420,1 41679. This
makes the grand total of the years
commerce $2,445, s6O,916, against $1,7l4,-
e66, 116 in 1898, 81. SAT 02O, 316 in 1888, and
$1,164, GIG, 1872 in 1873. Thus the increase
in the past decade has been more than
that Of the two Immediately preceding
decades combined.
The imports of the year exceeded by
more than a hundred millions those of
any preceding year, and for the first
time passed the billion-dollar line. The
exports were larger than in any pre-
ceding year, with the single exception
of the record year 1901. and, despite the
extraordinary demands of the home
market. fell but s67. e2S. S12 below those
OF that year The large imports are
attributed to the great demands of the
manufacturers for material for use in
their workshops. and in part to the
general prosperity which led to an in
crease in the importation of manufac-
lures and luxuries. The value of the
raw material imported for manufac-
turing was 1875 150.947. an increase of
$47, 494,550 over last year. and the value
OF the partly manufactured materials
for use in manufacturing was $114,3 $780,
720. an increase of $23, 2O2, 726 over last
year, making the total Of manufac-
turers' material imported $4S9, 471, 667
an increase of $70,6s7. 27s over last year
and OF 1854 .O05,775 over that of 1898
The increase in importations of raw
material took place in practically all
classes, while that of partly manufac-
tured material was chiefly in iron and
steel for use in manufacturing, despite
the fact that the home production OF
iron and steel last year was the largest
in the history of the country The con-
dition of general prosperity which led
to an increase in other classes of i'm
ports is indicated by the fact that the
importation of diamonds alone amount.
ed to s26.507, 7ss. against SIS, SS7, 52s in
1909
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-16
POINTED PARAGRAPHS.

IF'rOm the Chicago NeWs.J
The more a man complains the less
other men think of him.
Love is the cement with which the
hearts of humanity are united.
Many men work overtime trying to tix
up schemes to avoid work.
A man begins to talk of his resigna-
ton after he gets the grand bounce.
Most of the things you think you know
your neighbors know you only think.
Love is like a Photographic plate when
it requires a dark room for its develop
ment.
Next to knowing what you are talking
about it is most essential to know whom
you are talking to.
It's impossible to convince the young
man who has three or four sisters that
all women are angels.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-16
LOCAL MENTION.

Governor Baileyis scheduled to make
an address Friday morning before a
convoca ton of the students of the
State university.
The State Dairynen's association has
applied for use of the council chamber
during the forenoons of January 26,
q and % for the state convention.
Mr.. and Mrs. Geo. C. Hightower will
spend Christmas with their brother,
James Hightower, in Arkansas. He
has been absent from Topeka for Is
years.
The State Temperance union will
hold its convention in Topeka on Feb
ruary 16 and II, and has applied for
use of the Auditorium on <he evenings
of those days.
A delegation from Brown and Doniphan
counties appeared before Governor
Judge Ryan's candidacy for appointment
on the supreme bench. Judge w. 1.
Stuart was in the delegation.
Detective w. T Reed of the police
force filed his resignation with Chief
McCollum last night. He will quit the
that other officers will quit January L.
Reed was appointed as detective
when BergundthaI took the office of
mayor.
Sam Laughlin, a Santa Fe switch
man, formerly employed on the Topeka
lit OCPdt lAAlCAbs SAAPPC0 cAAiA AC2A lAOlAi
an engine in the Santa Fe yards at
Second street this morning, making a
bad cut on his forehead. He was taken
to DR.. Keith's private hospital where
seven stitches were taken in the wound.
Mrs J.. w. Norton, of 300 Branner
street, was run over and slightly in
jured at o'clock this afternoon. She
was crossing Kansas avenue at Fifth
street and started to pass behind a
wagon driven by John Kennedy. She
did not notice trail wagon which was
fastened behind the first. and was
knocked down and run over by the
wheels.
This evening there is to be a meet
/ ing of the people Of Topeka interested
| in the organization of q professional
| baseball team here. D. NJ Shiyely,
president of the Missouri Valley league,
may be here. The meeting will be held
at the Commercial club rooms, and if
there is enough interest manifested,
Topeka win probably get franchise
| in the league
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-16

Many corporations have been grant
ed important privileges by the public,
says Secretary Cortelyou in his first
annual report, and some of these cor
porations, through consolidation ofcap-
ftal. have acquired extensive influence
in the industrial affairs of the country.
Such privileges, if used improperly, not
only retard the progress of industry
but frequently breed corruption in poll
tics. The legislation creating the
bureau of corporations was the express
sion of a popular belief that further
safeguards should be provided for the
regulation of business enterprises to
which special privileges have been
granted by the people. Publicity will
disclose unfair dealing, dishonesty, and
corruption but if properly enforced it
will not disclose to trade competitors
the fruits of individual thrift and in
itiative, nor permit in any other man
ner the invasion of private rights.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-16
CONNECTS BRIDE SOLICITOR
Jury Finds Councilman Asked
s--- Doodle for Others.
Asked

Scranton, Pa, Dec. 16-The jury in
the case of David B. Evans, former
select councilman, charged on the first
count of the indictment with soliciting
brides for himself and on second count
with soliciting brides for others, came
in with a verdict at 7 o'clock last even
ing.
They found him guilty of the second
count. The verdict was accompanied
by a recommendation for mercy.
Evans was accused of soliciting brides
of $500 each for himself and seven other
eouncilmen, to secure the passage of
the Dalton street railway franchise,
which was defeated in councils.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-16
ALMOST VICTIM OF WOLVES
Employe of Lumber Company Attack
ed by Nine Vicious Beasts.

Duluth, Mimi, Dec. 16.-One of the
Edward Hines Lumber company's cruz
sers, M. L. Hudson of Ashland, Wis,
had narrow escape from death by
wolves north of Ely, Mimi, a few days
ago.
He was crossing a lake toward even
ing when nine of the beasts surrounded
him. He was unarmed and delaped the
attack by yelling and waving his plat
book. Two woodsmen engaged in trans
porting camp supplies on a hand sled
came running to his assistance, firing
revolvers as they approached. The
wolves then fled
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-16
SHOT MOTHER.
She Peeped Through the Window
and Son Was Frightened

McKeesport, Pa, Dec. 16.-Mrs. Sarah
Langley, aged 56, a widow residing with
her son, Edward, aged "a, at Fourth
avenue and First alley, was mistaken
by her son early this morning for a
burglar, and was shot at by him three
times. One bullet took effect in the
chin and right cheek. The woman is
in a serious condition at her home.
The vicinity has been infested with
burglars. Edward saw his mother peer
ing through the window and blazed
away thinking it was a burglar, as he
did not know his mother was out of the
house.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-16
TARIFF LIKE sUSPENDERs.
Too Tight in Some Places and Too
Loose in Others.

Washington, Dec. 16.-When the house
convened today consideration of the
pensions appropriation bill was resumed
in committee of the whole, Mr.. Gibson
Rep. Tenn.) being the first speaker
He said the president had pursued a
wise and prudent course in connection
with the Panama question. He declared
that the south was prospecting under
Republican tariff laws and would pros
per under a Republican Panama canal.
He said the tariff was like a pair of
suspenders-too tight in some places
and too loose in others-but very need
full Just the same.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-16

Here is the way the Oshkosh North
western puts it: The. total value of
the crops raised in Kansas this year
is officially estimated at 1928, 9s4. 800,
which is equal to $3.50 apiece for every
person over ten years of age in that
state. In other words the value of the
crops raised in Kansas this year would
allow salary of $40 per month for a
whole year for every resident of the
state above the age mentioned. Evil
IDENTIFY there is no use in trying to
preach hard times in Kansas"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-16
Colombians in Europe Organize.

Paris, Dec. 16.-The formal organiza-
ton here of the United Colombian
committee" with a membership of Co
lombians throughout Europe, is an
nounced for the purpose of informing
the European public of Colombia's
rights in the Panama affair. The COM
mittee headquarters are at No. 81 Ave
nue. Marceaun.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-16

The pension appropriation bill is
called up daily in the house and some
member promptly begins a speech on
the Panama canal The people proba-
bly, will fail to see any connection be-
tween the two subjects, though they
may be able to do so few years later.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-16
Accused of Makine False Entry.

Woodvillc, N. H, Dec. 16.-A1bert H
Eastman, president of the Berlin Ma
tional bank of Berlin. and vice president
of the Gorham National bank OF Graham
was arrested today on a charge of MAX
ing a false entry in valuing a note for
IS, 600. He is held in $4,000 bonds.