davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23
WATER FOR LOCOMOTIVES.
Roads crossin:. Plains Guard Aga;ns
Boiler Dcstroyers

Roads Crossing Plains Guard Against
Boiler Dcstroycrs.
The annual expenditures of railroad
companies for purposes, concerning
which the public takes little thought,
are enormous, according to the Wash
ington Star. One of the items of large
expense is the softening of water used
in locomotives, experience having dem
onstrated that it is cheaper to install
water softeners than supply these To-
comotives with raw water.
On the middle division OF the Atchi-
son, Topeka and Santa Fe railway
system the sum of S27,375 is expended
annually for this purpose, the softener
being used at 90 water stations where
the water has been found unsuitable
for boiler purposes. The locomotives
passing these stations use, on an aver
age, about 100000 gallons of water
daily. The water from nearly all these
sources contains incrusting constitu-
ents; that is, the sulphatcs and carbon
ates of lime and magnesium, and, in
many cases, corrosive substances, such
as chloride of calcium and magnesium,
I, are present in troublesome amounts.
The incrusting solids contained in
| 999, 600 gallons of water used each day
| in the year amount to over 1920
pounds, or in the course Of year,
nearly 800 tons. This amount of in
crusting material deposited in the boil
err would, in the first place, damage
| the boiler plates and cause un enor-
| nous increase in the consumption of
coal. The removal of this scaie would
l.cost probably from 6 to 10 cents per
mile of distance run.
AT these 90 water stations water
softeners have been erected at great
initial expense. The maintenance of
these softeners requires the expendi.
,ture Of about SIT per day for chemi
] calls and an additional charge of about
SOS per day for services of attendants
making total of $40 per day. or $27,.
375 per year. The cost of construction
of these water softeners was not made
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23
CHARMS OF AMERICAN WOMEN,
Possess Beyond All Other. the Gif. Of
Expression,

Possess Beyond All Others the Gift Of
Expression.
The American woman is delightfully."-
pretty, often extremely lovely, but
rarely classically beautiful. Beyond
all women, perhaps, does she possess
the gifts of expression and genius for
pose. With her the sense of knowing
what is proper to do under certain con-
ditions seldom fails. She knows her
strong points physically and how to
throw them into most striking relief.
An American woman's taste in dress
is as perfect as anything can be in this
imperfect world. OF her genius for
adapating herself to her environment
there can be no question. Such mere
accident of birth as the one which
gives her pork butcher or patent
pillmaker for her father is no draw
back to her ultimate career.
One secret of the American woman's
charm is her individuality. She is al
ways original and gay and merry, gem
orally amiable. and more often than
not good tempered. All American wo-
men are born takers, and they pos
sess the faculty of interesting their
listeners in subjects no more occult
than visit to the milliner's or 'mom-
mas" love Of "tomaytoes." To her
husband she may be capricious, incon-
siderate, selfish, exacting, but in her
relation to her children all the nobler
qualities of her character come out.
In them she forgets egotism and ia
ready for self-sacritice. AS years lay
hold upon her she becomes more and
more disciplined by her children and
more and more unquestioningly obedi.
ent. In this phase the American is at
once a pathetic and curious spectacle.
London World.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23

thickness. When the Ermack thrusts
her nose forward onto thick ice she
can bring to bear downward pres
sure Of LOO tons which cracks the
wintry barrier into huge fragments,
these in turn being forced aside by
the 10000 horsepower with which the
throbbing engines urge the vessel for
ward.
So efficient has the Ermack proven
to be that Admiral Makaroff has ex.
pressed the belief that it would be pos.
sible for two such vessels to crush
their way through the ice-packs of the
polar sea, even to the long sought pole
itself.
Admiral Makaroff has been in active
service as an officer of the Russian
navy for about 40 years. He, with his
boat, was sent to Vladivostock to free
the Russian squadron embarrassed by
the ice in that wintry harbor.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23
RUSSIAN orr1cERs CROSSING LAKE BA1KA1

tains. Those to the south are an Inn
passable range, and on the far side lie
still other ranges. in northern Aongo-
liza. To pass around the north end of
the lake would have heightened the
line about 1000 miles, in country
composed entirely Of mountains.
The original plan for building the
road embraced a line around the head
of the lake, or south end. Work. on this
connecting link was left to the last in
the general rush to push tile road for
ward to the Pacific, and SO little has
been done on it that under the most
efficient engineering direction and with
ample labor 1t probably could not be
completed within two years from this
date.
The distance around the foot of the
lake is 157 miles and the route to be
taken by the railroad is $50 miles
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23
THE WIRELESS GUIDANCE OF
TORPEDOES BY ELECTRIC WAVES

(Trom the London illustrated NewsA
The Orling- Armstrong torpedo is not
n projectile. 1t is just dropped or Slipped
into the water, and is then. without any
connecting wires, entirely subject to con-
troll, either from the bridge of ship or
room on shore The first picture shows
Mr.. Armstrong. the inventor sending out
electric rays from room on shore, to
control torpedo out at sea. Within
the torpedo itself is the apparatus, SINH
lar to wireless telegraph instrument, n
receiver and nm arrangement called n
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23

There are 10 tunnels in the proposed
route, the longest two miles in length.
Many marshes, ravines and gorges will
need TO be bridged.
Until this work can be done, in all
probability, Russia must depend on
her ferry across Lake Baikal to take
care of the trans-Siberian traffic when
the lake is not frozen.
Further than this, the Trans-siberian
railway for most of its way is rudely
constructed and not suited for heavy.
transportation. 1t was knowledge of
this condition that rendered RUSSIA so
anxious to delay the struggle with
Japan. Every month of delay meant
lettering of the road, little advance
in tunnels and on permanent bridges,
little more ballasting of track, addi-
tons to rolling stock and further steps
toward closing the gap ut Lake Baikal.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23

message stating that feet of war;
ships hath come up over the ocean,
and hath sunk all the warships that
come against it, and that now the war
is over.
And the first war correspondent,
whose name is Legion, hasteneth also
to the cable office and giveth the cen
sor cigar, and sendeth message
stating that there hath been no bat
tie.
Yet, again. the war correspondent
getteth news of fight, and he run
meth with speed to the telegraph office,
and sendeth tidings thus:
Behold, 1 was In the thick of it.
"Yea, the ten ton guns shot muchly
about me, and the bayonets We're
thrust against my cheek, the points
thereof being much blunted:
Fourteen horses were shot over me
and l shook off the last horse;
"And it was two hundred miles unto
the town wherefrom l could send the
news, yet l walked an hundred miles,
and swan fifty miles through river,
and skated fifty miles upon thin ice.
"And bought n mule with my last
nickel please cable 81 900, and rode it
sixty miles until it fell and died by the
wayside,
and then rode upon a load of hay
until it was come unto this town, and
then l got off and ran upon my feet
the remaining thirty miles,
"And alone am escaped from all
them that were fighting.
and 1t is generally conceded that
never before was such battle"
Whereat the editor sendeth word to
him, asking:
"Who licked?"
And he hath gone and cannot be
found.
And the editor teareth out the rest
of his hair and then advanceth the sal
airy of an office boy,
On condition that the office boy
shall permit his hair to be pulled out
for the good of the office.
Yea, the war correspondent doth all
this and much more.
He heareth heavy firing off the coast
In the morning,
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23

One of the greatest problems of Rus
sia i'll her war with Japan is that of
transportation. In sending men and
supplies to the far east she must rely
largely upon the railway. The dis
lance between st. Petersburg and
Vladevostock is 5,737 miles, and be-
tween ST. Petersburg and Port Arthur
5,so4 miles, and for more than 1000
miles of this distance the only rail-
way Is the Trans-Siberian, which, al-
though it cost 100000 600 in construc-
ton, is only single-track road.
The weakest part of the system Is
gap 40 miles wide at Lake Baikal,
nearly 1000 miles from st. Petersburg
and 1000 from Port Arthur. Commu-
nication is carried on over the lake in
haphazard manner. In summer a
Steamer conveys the trains across the
stretch of water. In winter, IL the ice
permits. rails are laid on it and the
trains glide over them from one 10 the
other side. Sledges are also extensively
used and sometimes when the ice will
not permit the laying of rails an Ice.
breaking steamer is used and ms
sageway is kept open for the regular
steam ferries. For the guidance Of
siedges trees are stuck In the ice at
Intervals across the 40 mile stretch
from shore to shore.
In considering the gordian knot in
Russia's main line of military trans
portation from her base, the casual oh.
server asks, why did Russia Law ont
the road to this lake,"
The answer to this query is told by
the map. 1t was the shortest and only
practicable route in the trans-Asian
survey.
Lake Baikal lies in generally north
and south direction. 1t is 400 miles
long, and surrounded by tall NOM
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23

and the officers and many of the ma
rines. The general is very small
man; lie looked like boy about 10
years old. He wore white suit, rub
Der boots and Il campaign hat. The
two colonies and the major wore white
suits, too. but no boots.
We will never forget the beautiful
scenery here Beyond the hilltops we
see the rising and setting sun. a beau
tiful rainbow over our camp spans the
and. from ocean to ocean nearly every
day. The climate Is made for people
who don't Wear many clothes. The
location of our camp is unique. The
surroundings are unsurpassed in beau
!y. All around the camp lisa mass of
fruit and flowers.
No matter which direction one may
go there is a beautiful view. 1t is not
wise to hurry and worry. 1t is land
for idling. Every one is kind to us
and all regard us MS a great people.
People living along the line Of the rail
road visit our camp frequently, and all
make complimentary remarks about
the American marines.
Many of the natives about here have
never seen Colon city or Panama, but
have remained here since childhood.
Many don't know their own ages. Ev-
cry one of them, however, is very hap
py and contcnted.
If people in Washington think that
we are sick with fever and the ethes
complaints that were predicted bcfors
we came here they aremuch mistaken.
Our condition is quite the contrary.
Our camp is high and dry, clean and
healthy. Our officers are kind and con-
siderate. Good nature prevails through
out the camp.
We We're not wildly excited when
the news reached us that 1000 Colon
bians We're approaching. 1t turned OUT
that the papers in general We're wrong.
ly Informed. But. we prepared for all
possible danger.
There was report current that 1906
men We're working on the Culebra cut
of the canal. Another report was that
1000 were at work. went out there
the other day and was told by one OF
the workmeu that there were only lUu
engaged and that the report of there
being 1900 there was circulated tc
frighten the Colombian soldiers.
The negroes here are the descendants
Of Africans who were originally
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23
yes-yes. l don't dare to ask you

yes-yes. don't dare to ask you
agnin, but you've n perfect right to
ask me, even If l hadn't told you to,
for It's leap-why, Polly, love, what's
the matter? You're as pale as ashes.
What is it, dariing?'
why. I've actually as good as asked
you 10 marry me- gasped Polly, "just
what Fvealways declared I'd die rather
than do! Oh, WE'LL" as Alonzo's arm
stole protectingly around her waist, ~
guess was eXcusable this time. But,
Alonzo, listen. Don't you ever, the
longest day you live, let Henrietta
Podderly know l did twill 7you?"
Never" vowed Alonzo, kissing her.
San Francisco Call.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23
LIFE OF THE MARINES.
Uncle Sans Boys Having a Good Tin
IT,,

Uncle Sans Boys Having Good Time
ON the Panama Isthmu,,
The general commanding the Pan
anna soldiers stationed at Panama and
his staff visited our camp the other
day, writes a soldier at the marine
camp on the isthmus to the Washing
ton Star. His staff consisted of two
colonies. one major and their interpre-
ter, and they were accompanied by a
newspaper correspondent. The CORE
spondent took pictures of our camp
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23

And tent TINT he may have his pic
ture taken in front of.
Yea, he also garnereth in the gun
shops,
Securing horse pistols, COW pistols,
dog watches, and Krupp guns, and
daggers. and swords, and other arti-
cles too numerous to mention.
So that when he goeth aboard the
ship that is to take him unto the field
of war the captain thereof asketh that
he wait until the ship hath another
hold upon it.
l. Yet the war correspondent whose
name is Legion goeths speedily unto the
place where the war is advertised.
And he saith unto the warriors: Get
busy. For l am here"
He putteth upon his head a khaki
helmet and he strappeth about him a
belt, wherein lie hangeth his gun, and
his sword, and pistol,
And he has his picture taken to send
home to the folks.
And he letteth his whiskers grow.
Then he goeth unto the hotel and
showeth the bartender how to make
the hilarious highball and the ram
pant rickey.
And when night cometh he sitteth
down and taketh out his fountain pen
and writeth six pages out of the en-
cyclopedia and sendeth it by the ca.
BILE (S1.3S each word and punctuation
mark, SO that his employer teareth
out much hair and speaketh curdling
words.
Peradventure the next day he meet
eth another war correspondent-and
his name is Legion also
Now, the other war correspondent
asketh If there is anything doing.
And the first looketh wise and s,,+h
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23

WORTH tne greater
part of it lies so far north that many
of her finest ports are ice-bound for
from S to II months each year.
The result of Admiral Makaroff's eff
forts was a vessel, launched ave years
ago, which received the. name of Er-
mack. after the Cossack warrior who
conquered Siberia. The odd-shaped
craft was found TO be admirably fitted
for the purpose in hand, for it proved
capable of-forcing its way in and out
of harbors sealed by Ice 30 feet in
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23

brought from Africa to the island of
Jamaica. French contractors stopped
at Kingston while on their way to the
isthmus and by means of eXtravagant
promises that We're never fulfilled they
induced many of them to come here to
work on the canal. The French con-
tractors took "French leave" abandon
ing many thousands. Those who We're
not able to go back to Jamaica phil
osophically remained and made for
themselves little homes. When the
canal work begins again 1t will GER
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23
Now" said the economical head Of
the household to the coal-heaver, after
you get this load all in, put out this

you get this load all in, put out this
light"
Half an hour later the family was
disturbed by strong odor OF escap-
ing gas. Mr.. Black, surmising that
the coal man had cxtinguished the
light by blowing it out, went to the
cellar to Investigate, and found that
his surmise was correct. Just rs he
opened the windows to let out the gas
the coal-heaver drove into the yard
with another load. Mr. Black prompt
ly escorted him to the cellar gave him
n lesson in tie use of gas, and ex-
nlnined the dangers likely to follow
the informal method of extinguish-
ing it.
The man, evidently deeply interest
ed, listened intent!y.
Well he exclaimed. when the lit
tic lecture was over, there's always
something to learn, now. isn't there.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23
A Growing Climate.

, The Professor-Do things grow rap.
idly in your part of the country?
Young Housekeeper-I should saw
they do. When l order lamb from the
butcher it always grows to mutton on
the way home.-Woman's Home Com
panion.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23
AM oncn NINA.

In these days of electric lights it
seems strange that there are American
born persons still unfamiliar with their
use, but occasionally one turns up.
Here is one who turned up brightly
as the lights do not always do.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23

at is all we'll enough" said Uncle
Joseph. as he put down the book, but
it isn't true.' ja.
why not?' l asked. p,sf4
Because the author makes him pro-
pose to the heroine in crowded thea
ter. Now, woman doesn't want to
be proposed to in such place. She
wants quiet spot, where she can
weep little. Story writer's should
take this into consideration"
"Pshaw!" said l.
when woman accepts man for
good and all, she likes to put her head
on his shoulder and cry" said Uncle
Joseph. 81 do not know why 1t is.
but they all do it."
DO they?"
Didn't your wife when she accepted
you?' he demanded.
"Well, yes, l believe she did,"
"They all do" said Uncle Joseph.
"They like it; 1t somehow comforts
EN-"
But why?" said l.
"Ask the women said Uncle
Joseph Home Companion.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23

III iral Makaron
was deputed to
make q careful
study of the SUBJ
ject and plan a
vessel capable of
breaking ice Of
great thickness, IL
possible. This was
Of first Importance
because while Rus
sia has the longest
coast line Of any
country in the
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23

and even the day
before that?
Hast thou taken
heed Of the black
face rumor and the
scarehead report?
Hast. thou given
eye to the victory
which is cabled at
1 p. M. and denied
at 1870 p. M?
Knowest t h o u
who n ia thot
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23

'hSth Wise uuu satin
that he hath prom
ised the chief of all
| the warriors not to
; say Il word about
! it.
So the other war
correspondent rush
eth unto the cable
Office and maketh
obeisance to the
censor.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23
And he oenyeth it Mt night.

And he aenyeth it ut night.
He sendeth word of victory at
noon,
And he saith it is defeat at mid
night
With his fountain pen doth he sink
the cruiser and ,kdoG
with his typewriter
doth he blow up 1NR ~
the battlcship. d ASSY =
With his lead pen ~ n W.
Gil doth he lead ~ e&-
great armies over MpzYER.
the mountains, 'OUAlg ~ ~
And with his SN% /aN
minds eye doth he .$SS& 1ke
see other great ar ls ss o1s2ssSL/
mics going into winter camp in the
middle of July.
He asketh the diplomat what about
it, and the diplomat tellcth him,
And lie turneth in and writeth an
article that showeth that this is not 1t,
nor even about it.
Even SO.
And his heart is happy and his mind
is glad,
For his expense account fiourisheth
as the grass of the field.
And waNeth great as the flowers Of
the field, which may not be cut down.
Though he cateth bareback from the
army wagons, yet doth he get pay for
porterhouse steak and truffles.
To-day he putteth hero upon
pedestal,
And tomorrow he forecloseth upon
the pedestal, and the hero wonderful
where he is at.
And when the cruel war is over the
war correspondent, whose name is Lee
gion, cometh home,
And the lyceum bureau and the 10
cent magazine sit upon his front steps
and plead for an hour of his time,
Shaking large and juicy wads Of
money in his eyes.
And he taketh the time,
Also the money.
For he telleth all the people how he
told the winning army how to 60 about
it.
len, verify, my SOL, he IL Us tne
north pole seeker who stayeth away
long enough to write a lecture and
some magazine articles.
My son, there is nothing like unto
war correspondentlng except 1t be
writing the story Of debate in a
woman's club.
And the war correspondent, whose
name is Legion, everybody wanteth to
read what he writeth and nobody be-
lieveth him.-W. d. Nesbit, in Chicago
Tribune.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23

roameth up and down and putteth
tucks where they will attract the at
tention of the seat of war?
Knowest thou who it is that ken
meth the secret thoughts Of kings and
the innermost ideas of warriors?
1t is the war correspondent, and his
name is Legion.
Yea. Legion is his name-John B.
Legion.
Consider now the war correspond
ent, how he taketh his fountain pen,
and his breechloading lead pencil, and
his submarine kodak, and his maya
zine lunch box.
And whoopeth adown the pike to-
ward the place where the distant fir
ing Is heard.
Behold, when there is peace, when
there is nothing doing. then doth the
war correspondent sit about the gates
of the city and in the market place.
Saying that the country is going to
the dogs,
And telling how he gat the news of
the battle of Bosky Dell before it had
| been fought.
But when one statesman and anoth-
err may not agree as to the ultimate
ness Of an ultimatum, then doth the
war correspondent sing merrily and
go about with glad smile,
Looking for an expense account that
he may call his own.
| He taketh unto his bosom the maps
of the world and he draweth thereon
many lines,
Showing that if the foe striketh
| here, then it is all up;
But that if the foe cometh over
against this valley, then will the de-
fender come upon him like gas bill
and shrivel him with despair.
He sniffeth the bottle from afar and
he tosseth his head and cryeth, aha!
Let me get at it."
He hasteneth unto the clothing store
and the place of them that sell circus
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23
Answered.

when does girl reach the mar.
riageable agc'?"
when her fathers purse has reach.
ed the manageable size" Detroit
Free-Press.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23

Elderly Woman lin the department
store)- Where's the pin counter?,
Floor WalkerNWhat kind-hat,
hair or rolling Leader.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23
AN IcE-BREAklNa BOAT.

Craft Used by Russians to Open the
Frozen Nladivostock Harbor.
When the Russian government be.
gan to give serious attention to the
enlargement of her commerce, Adj
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23

The short-sighted girl who wears
glasses may not be vain, but she knows
she looks better with them,
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23
A Pardonable Mistnke.

Eflie-sllly! dolls don't eat any
thing!
Bertie-Don't, Ell? Well, that old
one of yours that cut open was
stuffed chock full of breakfast food
Woman's Home Companion.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23
OUR OWN SOLOMON.

He considereth the War Corresponds
emit and Marveleth Mt His Work.
My son, didst see thou the paper yes
terday afternoon?
And didSt thou see 1t the Gnv before