davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1904-02-28

any street in Washington where the
largest garbage boxes obtrude every
where and Iwhere they are most fire.
quently filled TO their capacity.
In point OF popularity and respecta-
bIlity in its economy. nothing ever has
approached the family rag bag. II was
Of New England origin. and was in its
heyday when ali paper was made from
rags. and when the tin peddler drove
through New England Offering To the
housewife new tinware for cast-on
scraps Of clothing. In point Of value
In modern Washington. the development
Of machinery and the substitution OF
wood pulp for rags in paper making
have made metal scrap heaps OF twice
the value Of the rag bags.
In value among the metals, wrought
sron leads all else in the total sum
Considered by the pound, copper bring:
more than any other. with brass second
in the list. Zinc IS Of appreciable worth
by the pound. TOO. after which come
steel and cast iron, mill iron, and stove
castings.
In all the ramifcations Of the Junl
business the work Of making intelligent
assortments Is the most important. In
this work the labor engaged approaches
technically the skilled type. For his owr
self-preservation IL is necessary for the
ragB-and-irOn man Of the alleys TO know
wrought iron from casting and sheet
copper from coppered iron plate. Also
OF course. he musb be an adept al
bargain-drivlng. But when he has sold
his days harvest to "A retail buyer in n
single job lot. the chief work Of the
buyer is 70 have an intelligent. honest
assortment Of everything which he has
bought. His metals must be carefully
piled according to grade and condition
His rags must be distributed into al
least twelve close classified tions. Papers
will be put into half dozen piles, bot
ties win be assorted into a score OF
groups and rubber lie put into several
grades. In this sorting Of grades In al
The Washington times., 1904-02-28

Probably 5000 people OF Washington
10000 population are more or less in
timately connected with this salvage
work and with the showing OF these
figures the lowly cry from the alley
ways and the dingy streets. "N'-rangs-
n'-ir'ns," should have new economic
significance 1t IS a question quite open
10 doubt II one-half million dollars
worth OF irst-water diamonds are sold
annually I'm Washington. But four or
Eve wholesale dealers IN vulgar Junk
bring that many dollars every year into
the grand volume Of washington's cur
rency.
In its details the junk business in a
great city is Of stupendous scope. Pur-
sued 70 it's remote ends, it involves an
army Of workers ranging perhaps from
the wife and daughter OF a millionaire
10 the half-fed deliver in garbage boxes.
who. with his iron hook. digs for any
material that may be worth money on
the scales Of a junk dealer.
Put those rags in the scrap bag"
the wife OF millionaire may say. u
don't Ike 90 see anything wasted" And
another extreme may be seen in almost
The Washington times., 1904-02-28
Alarming LandSlides, Which al Times
Threatened the Structure, Made
an Operation q Necessity.

The one great dread for the safety OF
the property has been fire. for the pre-
ventlon and extinguishment OF which
every possible appliance Is kept at
hand IN a vault near by the house are
four large chemical engines. stationary,
with I.2D feet OF hose, which viii reach
any Of the buildings. Four tanks. hold
ing 100 gallons each. are filled with bi-
Carbonate Of soda and water, and over
them is suspended a receptacle contain
ing gallon Of sulphuric acid. BY Up
setting tie acid into the tanks an enor-
nous pressure can be generated at an
instant's notice, through the genera
guards 20 direct streams of soda water,
in which flames cannot live. upon the
fire. Bach OF the buffers house IS q
fire pump, with a understanding en-
CINE. aid scattered about the interior
Of the mansion ara portable extinsuish-
ers. NJ lights are allowed inside OF
the dwelling except when the ladies OF
the association make their annual visit,
and then candles only are used.
New Wells Dug.
Washington depended on wells for his
water supply But there have been
typhoid and other fevers among the
people A. Mount Vernon within recent
times and the ASSOCIATION had the
water analysed by a Government chem
list. He reported that it was unfit for
drinking. and so an artesian well has
been dug, which fetches plenty Of the
Indispensable fluid from depth OF 90
feet. II was deemed inadvisable TO put
Up a modern water tower on the prem
ises, because such a structure would
necessarily impair the integrity Of the
surroundings So far as possible, every
thing is kept just as it was when
Washington lived there-even to the
The Washington times., 1904-02-28

questioning Of the real economic value
Of the rag bag
Twenty cents a pound for wooden
clippings means that 50 per cent of the
best imported and Domestic wooden
goods has 'shoddy in it." said one of the
largest wholesale dealers.
Your tailor will dispute that. per
haps,' he continued. Not one in fifty
knows anything about it. He will feel
a new Importation and hold IL TO the
light and ask you to catch its iridescent
coloring in the sun and price to you at
$50 or $50 perhaps. If you should say
IL had 'shoddy' in il he probably would
be angry in a moment Yet there are
girls expert at rag picking who can go
into the hrst-class tailoring shops of
the city, and with their eyes closed pick
out dozens OF bolts of goods full of
| 'shoddy'
The sense OF touch determines them.
That not more than 60 per cent of wool
en- has 'shOddy' I'm Il is a fact that due
to the other fact that worsteds cannot
be made TO take 'shOddy.' You may
see two men in the street, one in a
shiny suit and the other in some woolly
coat and trousers that are guiltless OF
shine. Yet the man in the shiny suit
will be glad in the genuine goods and
the other In 'shoddy' mixture.
Made Into Shoddy.
"All wooden rags go into shoddy mix
I lures. In the best class OF 'shoddy'
! combinations no real harm Is done.
Most Of IT is taken from new rags that
have never been worn. All this 'shoddy'
is cleaned thoroughly, redyed, and no
complaint can be made 70 1t on a
point of sanitation. 'Shoddy' has come
TO stay in all lines OF rough wooden
goods simply because all cloth manu-
facturers are using il and the public
cannot afford to throw away its rag
bag
In the sorting Of the rags the re-
tail buyers who has paid an average
of 80 cents hundred pounds may find
small gold mine in the wooden goods
The Washington times., 1904-02-28
Second hand Bottles.

In the secondhand bottle market the
classitications are often made with
reference to patent medicine firm labels.
brewers wrappers and shoppers, and to
the firm signatures that are blown into
the glass.l Then for druggists bottles.
which are approaching nearer and
nearer standard size and shape that
make them always merchantable.
Rubber and its capacity for being
worked over is well recognized. Not
every Overshce is known by its Iuster.
and not every garden hose can be
judged by its smell.
In a general way this disposition to
save the cast-ofr things of a great city
has affected sharply the business Of the
secondhand dealer OF long ago. Shoddy
in new goods has made the SIS pair OF
trousers that has bagged at the knees
OF small worth to the secondhand
dealer. Where once he could offer $3.50
for such trousers he now offers 81. per-
haps for reason that his customers can
buy new pair of trousers with shoddy
in them cheaper than he can buy and
sell tailor-made garment originally Of
the first class.
Where shoes once sold at retail for
81. s., So or s. new. they now bring s.
TO 81. and as result the dealer I'm sec
ond-hand shoes has u mouruful countc-
nance. w. IL Z. B.
The Washington times., 1904-02-28
Fifteen Acres of Ground Plans
for Palace Of Transpor-
tation Other Vast
Buildings.

The reservation OF thirty acres for
the GoYel nment Indian exhibit and az
other reservation Of six acres for a
map Of the United States in living
plants. are west OF the Palace Of Fos-
estry, Fish. and Game.
Near the Palace Of Agriculture is to
great aoraI clock. 112 feet in diameter.
and the lake in which he United States
Iife-saving Corps viii give daily ex-
hibitioas.
The pike"
In the foreground is seen the Pike"
the amusement street OF the exposi-
ton. It begins in the eastern part OF
the grounds. with the Tyrolean Alps.
which cover ten acres or more. and
winds ~ ound the west end OF tho
Transp ortation and Machinery Palaces
TO a point near the Art Buildings. end
ing with the reproduction OF the city os
Jerusalem. which covers eleven acres.
II this distance OF nearly two miles
viii be seen the most novel entertain-
ments that ingenious showmen have
been able &c devise. Among them is an
international Irish exhibition. showing
the industries Of Ireland. with Parlls-
ment House. Barney Castle, and otheT
notable buildings.
The e-imai show IS a very large af-
fair Asa will give many interesting
gIimpsss OF Oriental life. The Chinese
Village and Streets Of Cairo Will fur
nlsh very interesting pictures Of East
ern customs. Creation IS a wonderful
nlusioa. Under and Over the Sea viii
furnish unusual experiences
The Galveston Flood viii show how
a great city was destroyed by a tidal
wave. The Fighting exhibition
will show modern fire company in ac-
tual warfare with the flames. using all
Of the nscst modern apparatus Now
York to the North Pole is a magnifi-
cent feature, replete with interest
Jerusalem will be the objective point II
the Bible students from everywhere
Fourteen Miles of Railway.
An Intra-Mural Railway, having four
teen miles Of track. will carry the visitor
to the many interesting points within
the grounds. The exposition is fortu-
nate in having site which furnishes
variety Of scenery and abundant shade.
instruction and pleasure win be mixed
in fine proportions and the visitors days
at the exposition win fly all too quickly.
The total a5ea Of the exposition is
1910 acres. The estimated cost Of tho
great enterprise is placed at S5o.C00.e)o.
exclusive Of the value OF the exhibits.
1t is estimated that the exhibits in The
Machinery Palace alone are worth $780,
Oo0.
Opens April So
The opening day is set for Saturday.
April 50. and the exposition viii continue
seven months. To December next.
In comparison with the largest fornl.
exposition. the Columbian Worlds Fair
at Chicago in 1892. the Worlds Fair n
St. Louis occupies nearly twice r
amount Of lard and has 80 per cent m,
exhibit space. In every phase this expo
sition shows the development of eleven
years, period of most remarkable prog
ress in all industries.
The Washington times., 1904-02-28
Refuse of The Citu Source of Fortune For the JmkneD,
= y NJ nteral observance I'D

IN THE literal observance OF tho
the day OF small things" Washing
ton in one year adds 10 its volume Of
business one million dollars worth Of
stuff that at least 10000 OF its 90. 1000
people have thrown away Listed in or
der Of value. these substances are:
The Washington times., 1904-02-28

forty acres. where 1000 Filipinos will be
at home during the exposition.
The foreign section IS seen beyond
the Palace OF Transportation. Among
the fine buildings here are those OF
The Washington times., 1904-02-28

ture is the Palace Of Forestry. Fish. and
Game
The aeronautic concourse, where the
airship contests for the $4,000 in prizes
offered by tine exposition will take
The Washington times., 1904-02-28

place. is in the western part Of the
grounds. The Physical Culture Building
and the Athletic Field. with seating ar
rangements for 5000 people. are also
in the western section.
The Washington times., 1904-02-28

ogy Building, Hall Of International Con-
crosses, and Woman's Building are near
together on the high ground west Of
the foreign buildings. South Of the Ad-
minlstratlon Building the large struc-
The Washington times., 1904-02-28

Belgium, Brazil. Great Britain. France.
Italy. China, Sweden. Austria. Mica
ragua. Cuba, Mexico, CeyIon, and Can
ada.
The Administration Building, Ethnol-
The Washington times., 1904-02-28
BrdsEye New of the Worlds Far at ST Lous Now Conpet
A Walk of Two and Three
quarter Miles to CirCum-
scribe the Immense
Grounds.

y this view OF the Worlds Fair,
which opens on April 30 next. al
most the entire exposition area is
shown. The grounds are $500 feet long.
and 5000 feet from north TO south. The
view is from point above the north
cast corner Of the grounds. What is
called the main picture" Of the expo
sition occupies the northeastern section.
Following the picture from the south
eastern gate. at the upper left hand side
~ the picture. around the northeastern
frcnts OF the several great buildings to
The western limits. the distance is near
d two and three-quarter miles.
Vast Area Covered.
The four great buildings most promi-
ncnt in the picture. and nearest the OBJ
server. beginning with the Liberal Arts
On the left, and taking the Palaces Of
Manufactures. Varied Industries and
Transportation. have frontage of 800
feet more than a mile The Government
Building and the Government Fisheries
Building are seen in the left OF the pic
ture, with State buildings and the great
Inside Inn beyond them. The Govern
ment Building is upon a high elevation.
and from its porucos and loggias many
interesting views are obtained.
The two large buildings nearest the
Government Building are the Palaces OF
Liberal Arts and Mines and MetaIIurgy.
Next come the Plaza Of Orleans and the
Palaces OF Manufactures and Educa-
ton. The broad space which divides the
main group into two parts Is known as
the Plaza St. Louis The prominent fea-
ture Of this place is the Louisiana Pur-
chase Monument. which stands near the
north end OF the Grand Basin. The
surroundings Of this plaza form the
central picture" Of the exposition.
Festival Hall.
The Festival Hail. which is 200 feet In
diameter and 200 feet high. with attend
ant colonnades on either side. and the
beautiful Restaurant Pavilions termi-
mating Them. closes the view on the
southwest Upon the slopes between
the Colonnades and the Grand Basin
are the great Cascades and Rainbow
Gardens. givin~ extraordinary color and
life 20 the scene.
Behind the Festival Hall are seen the
four great buildings. representing an ex-
pcnditure Of over a million OF dollars.
devoted 60 the displays OF fine arts.
They contain a total Of 1S5 galleries. and
the exhibits win constitute the largest
art display ever shown
The buildings on the west side Of tho
Plaza St Louis arc the Palace OF Va
ried Industries. which is neares. the
observer. and the Palace Of Electricity
The Plaza st. Anthony is next west OF
these buildings.
Fifteen Acres Of Ground Plan.
The Palace OF Transportation. cover
ing fifteen acres. and the Palace Of Ma
chineiy with it's many towers. are the
next buildings westward. Upon the high
ground. southwest Of the Palace Of Ma
chinery. is the Palace Of Agriculture
covering twenty acres South OF Aerl-
culture s the Palace Of Horticulture
Westward from the Palace OF AgricuI-
ture is the Philippine reservation OF
The Washington times., 1904-02-28

junk depends much OF the profit OF the
retail dealer. Carelessness or insult
hciency in the work will subject him
to a heavy docking" by the wholesaler.
who deals directly with the mills.
In all the metals prices for the scrap
keep pace with the market quotations
for the metals new from the mills. Many
conditions affect this scrap. Rust IL
VIGOROUSLY destr Ictive OF iron and steel.
and rust is OF arlreciabIe weight Stove
castings that have been subjected to
long continued heat may prove TO be IN
a great measure dross from the melting
pot. Copper. brass. and zinc are less
subject TO deterioration. and in copper
junk. that which is in wire form brings
best prices. Machinists' brass is consid-
cred best. This copper and brass may
be worked readily into any form de-
sired.
With the various forms Of iron and
steel the limitations are greater.
Wrought iron may be reforged readily
into it's original commercial shape. Steel
IS more difficult TO handle
Every man. woman. and child in
Washington throws away as useless.
save for junk. nearly 80 cents worth OF
rags every year These rags range from
the cloth cuttings of first-class tailors
TO the merest rag that lies reeking in an
alley. Rags range from Is cents a
pound for the best wooden scraps TO %
cents a hundred pounds for the cheap
est. Between the two figures VIII be at
least two grades OF rags.
Rags for Paper Making.
By far the great bulk Of Washington
rags goes into paper making. Wood
pulp paper has had tendency To limit
the usefulness of rags for this purpose.
but still there are grades OF paper that
can be made from rags only. For t.ns
purpose linen is most I'm demand The
rag list runs through six or seven
grades.
At - cents a pound for new wooden
scraps however. one comes closest TO d
The Washington times., 1904-02-28
n CUNT VERNON, the home Of
III George washington. has been

NJ CUNT VERNON, the home Of
M George washington. has been
4 i saved by a clever engineering
expedient from more than possible de-
struction. At cost OF nearly $1,000, a
tunnel is being driven through the hill
on which the mansion stands, TO carry
off the waters OF an underground stream
that has been causing serious landslides.
Sooner or later. if the precaution had
not been taken, the historic dwelling
might have fallen into the Potomac.
The trouble has been going on far a
long time. and. in its earlier stages, was
p cause Of no little anxiety TO Wash
ington himself It was on this account
that. just before his death. he decided
on building another burial vault, further
away from the brink of TIE hill Ills
executors carried out his wishes I'm this
regard. the result being the present
vault. in which the remains Of the i'm
mortal George and his wife now rest,
inclosed in two huge blocks OF marble.
There was a particularly big and
alarming landslide last spring. and soon
afterwards the ladies composing the
board Of regents employed an engineer
to devise a remedy for the mischief. AS
n result. the tunnel was driven under
the hill, to intercept and cut OF the
stream. and already Il has accomplished
wonders. drying up the springs which
oozed out along the slope. That there
was reason for worry is proved by the
fact that $1,000 gallons OF water flow out
OF the pipe every twenty-four hours into
the Potomac.
Mount Vernon's Income.
The income of Mount Vernon amounts
70 something like 10000 a year. and Is
derived from the admission fee Of .
cents paid by from 1000 to $1,000 people
The Washington times., 1904-02-28
The Furnishings.

The Furnishings.
The rooms in the mansion are fur
nisheH to great extent with articles
which originally belonged TO Washing
ton. In his own room. for example. Is
the four-poster bed. in which he died.
The various rooms were furnished by
different States Of the Union. and ara
called by their names. For example,,
there IS the Maryland Room. which
once was occupied by Nellie Gusts. In
the New Jersey Room. Lafayette Is
said TO have slept After her husbands
tn. Martha Washington retired to a.
small room on the third floor. window
Of which commanded a view Of his
tomb. The ceiling almost meets the
floor on one side. owing to the slant Of
the roof. and there is a hole IN the
door. made TO allow the Washington
cat to so in and out.
washingtOn's Ghost.
Washington's ghost IS said TO hauns
his loom at Mount Vernon Noboiy
has ever seen it. but people who have
occupied the chamber have declared
that at night they were awed by a
vIewless presence. which prevented
them from sleeping. The nearness OF
a strange and brooding spectre was
felt. Very likely it is ali imagination,
but, If the phantom Of the immortal
George does return in the stin watches
to his old home it is a comfort to think
that he must experience a sense. Of sat
isfaction from fndinE his former prUp-
erty in hrst-class ordor.
RENE BACHE.
The Washington times., 1904-02-28

in some piles. In the dozen grades that
he makes each is baIed to itself These
go 10 the wholesale buyers who accept
the assortments after examination. In
hnding his market the wholesaler may
have 10 deal with a dozen mills. His
woolens must so to the cloth manu-
facturer; his linens to the manufacturer
or the best Grades of paper, and his
cheaper rags and papers go to the mills
turning out coarse wrappers. No grade
OF rags is without commercial value; vir-
tually no condition OF dirt makes them
unmerchantable; only scorching by fire
may ruin them.
The Washington times., 1904-02-28

old-fzshioned kitchen garden ana flower
garden in the rear OF the house
The Washington times., 1904-02-28
Mount vernon's Income.

The income Of Mount Vernon amounts
70 something like $4,000 year. and Is
derived from the admission fee of 25
cents paid by from 1000 to $1,000 people
The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-18
MIR. HAYES COMPLIMENT.
Presented With Handsome Cane B,
 Red Men. /

Greenvilie, Dec. 1T Especial. )-At the last meeting of Jodoc Tribe, 1m- proved Order Red Men, MT. N. s.. Hayes was presented with beautiful gold headed cane in appreciation of his services to the order since he has been in Greenville.
 Mr. Hayes was the Superintendent of the Greenville Waterworks, and was sent here by the owners of the Amer ican Pipe Manufacturing Company, of Philadelphia, about two years ago. Since that time he has won many friends in the city and was one of the most enthusiastic members of the or der of Red men. When at the meet- ing just prior to his leaving the city for his Northern home, the Senior Sag amore, MT. W. P. Reynolds, called him up to his stand and In a short speech told him how he had endeared himself to the order by his faithful ness and devotion, and that the order regretted his leaving the town and presented him with the cane. MT. Hayes was taken completely by sur prise, and 1t was some minutes before he was able to reply.
 The order of Red Men in this city is rapidly growing and will soon be one of the strongest in the city. They have recently had their hall most tastefully furnished with the latest styles of Red Men furniture, every arr tlcle in the hall appropriate from the carpet up. Nothing seems to be lack ing. The members are all proud of their hall and consequently their meetings are we'll attended and pale faces are scalped and burned at the stake at every meeting.
 Dr. c. A. Thigpen of Montgomery, has been in the city for the past week taking a vacation from hIs office work. He is spending the time with congen- ial companions In the adjacent woods killing squirrels and other game which are found in sufficient quantities to justify hunters coming here to seek them.
 Miss Llllie Mckenzie has been vis- iting friends in Montgomery several days.