davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08
Will Recover.

Il. H. Price. section foreman of
the Albuquerque yards, returned to
Albuquerque Wednesday night from
Topeka, Kas., where he went with
his brother, J. M. Price, a passenger
brakeman of the Rio Grande division
of the Santa Fee. who was operated
on at the Topeka hospital of the San
ia Fe, for a serious injury, says the
Journal. Mr.. Price reports that his
brother is on a fair way to recovery
and that he expects him to be back in
a few weeks, ready for duty.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08
Railroad Valuation.

The commercial value OF railways
operating In the United States for the
year 1904, according to a bulletin is.
sued by the department Of commerce
and labor was $ll, 244.S52. 900. This
aces not include the valuation of Pull.
ran or private cars operated.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08
Record Freight Run.

With an 500 ton load fast freight
No. Il of the Vandalia made the
seventy-three miles from Indiana
polls to Terre Haute a few nights
g in ninety.five minutes. TEis Is
considered a record freight run.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08
D. & r. q. System
Santa Ee Branch
Time Tshlo No. ~.
Effective November 7th, 1904.

Trains stop at Embudo for dinner where
good meals are served.
: CONNECTIcEe
At Antonito for Durango. Silverton. and n.
termediate points.
At Alxm0ss for Denver, Pueblo and inter
mediate points VIA esther the standard gauge
line via La VetA Pass or the narrow gauge via
SalidA. making the entire "trip In day light snd
also for all points on Cre0de branch.
A. &. BARN1Y,
Travelling Passenger Agent. Santa Fe, N. II
8. K. HO0P1R. q. P. 4.
Denver. Colo
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08
A Patented Railroad Tie.

w. /. F. Harden, of Hartford, is in
Denver for the purpose of interesting
capital in a railroad device which he
has invented and patented. The de-
vice is a tie manufactured out Of iron
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08
Railway Casualties,

The railway casualties for the week
ending August 26th were nineteen
Killed and seventy.seyen injured.
The week before that there were 10
Killed and Ill injured.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08

u Bile o t
eight or ten
years. stand
ing. I suffered
the most severe
backache n d
other pains in
the region Of
e dneys.
These we're es-
pec:ally severe
when STOPPING
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08

Fireman Clifford Trainer has been
put on a switch engine for a change
and seems to fit the place all right
enough, at least for a spell.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08

Roadmaster Elliott informed an OPP.
tic reporter yesterday afternoon that
the Santa Fe road had now been bal.
lasted from the summit OF Glorieta
mountain east. The physical condi.
ton OF the road Is now being looked
after as never before In Its history.
And not only here but over the entire
system. A construction gang Is now
ut work at Puerco station west OF Al.
buquerque on the Santa FEE Pacific
putting in sidings to the big gravel
pits which have recently been di,.
covered. Gravel for ballast will be
taken from these pits for most OF the
west end. The new gravel pits on
the Grand Canyon branch OF the San.
Ia Fe have sidings and ballast Is
being hauled to points along that
branch.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08

/ and cement. and Mr.. Harden claims
that It will be more durable and con
v~enient than wooden ties and will
also be more economical.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08

Ben Williams, special agent for the
Santa Fe, with a keen eye and a
cool head, went down the line on No.
Z last night.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08

the run will be completed to Santa
Rosa. This will give a day service
strictly, Two train crews and three
engines have been assigned to handle
this service.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08
RAILROAD NOTES.

Roadmaster Jack Elliott came In
from the north on No. 7 last evening.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08

w. +. Hodges. general purchasing
agent for the Santa Fe, Is due to ar.
rive In Las Vegas.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08

ona, Mr.. Mulhern was In charge OF
the construction OF the Santa Fe Cen
trail I'LL the road had been completed
and opened for traffic,
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08

James Englehardt, a coast lines
engineer Of the Santa Fe, passed
through Las Vegas ON u thirty.day
leave Of absence east, during which
time he will visit his old home and
friends at Fort Madison, Ia.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08

Engineers McGraw, Jessoy and
Kerr went out hunting yesterday az
ternoon. Result known to their bosom
friends, only.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08

Try the famous Blue Grass Butter.
Every pound guaranteed. 30c per
lib. 2 lbs. for 55c.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08

have contracted with several
Mora farmers for fresh butter and
eggs to be delivered at my store each
week. Anyone wishing these strictly
fresh goods car get them by calling
or 'phcning. Eggs. 3Oc per dozen;
butter, 30c per ID.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08

Sidney Justus, fruit dealer, Of Mentor,
Ohio. says: II was cured by Doan's
Kidney Pills Of q severe case Of kidney
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08
r. [. RIcHMOND'S
Cash Grocery.

Cor. Twelfth and National sts.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08
AN OLD MANS TRIBUTE.
An Ohio Fruit Raiser, 70 Years Old.
Cured OF . Terrible Case After Ten
Years of Suffering.

When suffering daily torture
From backache, rheumatic pain,
Any i'll of kidneys or bladder,
Turn to Doan's Kidney Pills.
A. cure endorsed by thousands.
Read IN old mans tribute.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08

Mrs. F. A. Boone, wife of the pas.
senger brakeman, who seldom mis-
ses q trip. only when too Ill to ven.
ture out on the road, and who never
fools away his pay check, has return.
ed from her trip to Ell Paso and Me.
silla Park. Her daughter, Miss Yuma
Boone was left at the latter place
where she Is a pupil in the Agricul-
tural college.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-09-08

Fireman Nielsen has reported for
duty on the TAI, after having been
enjoying a resDite from unremitting
toll for a few days.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-25

buy presents for some poorer child, and
IN such cases exceptional effort is made
to trace the letter and return the money
to the donor, or rather to his parents, for
Uncle Sam has sufficient sentiment in
his makeup to want to preserve childish
illusions.
Probably two-thirds OF the holiday Or
ders which Santa Claus is asked to Ill
are placed in envelopes which bear sim
ply his name and no other address, but
some Of this mail bears what is plainly
designed to be the most explicit direc-
lions to aid in its delivery to the proper
person. One Juvenile correspondent In
scribed her envelope: Mr.. Santa Claus,
Toxic Iceland, First Snow House from
the Gate;'' a second missive was ad-
dressed to SANITY Claus Workshops, Toy
land, In the Tcebergs Of Greenland" and
third envelope read: Mister Kris
Ktingle, Snow Town. Montantop, the
Moon" A youngster who wanted 4
whole heap Of guns and drums and war
vessel, with a serch lite,H sent his re-
quest to Mister Saint Nicholas. Chin
ney Street. Icicle Land, care North
Pole" and a wee. maiden, the margin Of
whose letter was adorned with wobbly
round figures, each marked "A Kiss
dispatched her communication TO SANITY
Claus, at Mister Wanamakers Store, or
where Sanity Claus lives in the Noon"
Kris KringIe is the intended recipient
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-25
EZ7Q71 TZZZERE LL4NTZA 81 Q
-ZZAH1 HANZLED

for the waits Of the mails come bushels
upon bushels Of letters addressed to Santa
Claus or Kris Kringle or St Nicholas.
These odd pieces Of mail are directed to
"snowland" Heaven North Pole" Zee
land. and a host OF other places where
Uncle Sam has no postohices. and upon
many Of them no postage has been paid,
there being substituted for the usual post
age stamp a counterfeit crudely drawn
with pencil or pen and Ink. OF course,
these letters come from children and the
writer's. one and all, conhde to the magical
filler Of stockings Just what the youthful
correspondents would prefer for Christ
mas. More than 10000 Of these Santa
Claus letters are handled at the postal
graveyard at our seat Of government each
year. This phase Of the postal business e
spasmodie in the extreme All through the
year. from the beginning OF January to the
end Of November. the postmasters and let
ter-carriers find scarcely an envelope ad-
dressed to the patron saint Of Christmas,
but with December comes a literal ava
ianche that steadily increases in volume
mp to the very eve Of the joyous holiday.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-25

lion letters intended for the king OF the
Yuletide. OF course, Mrs. Collins has to
have help in handling the mass of first
efforts Of Juvenile letter-writers, but she
exercises close supervision over the dis
posal of all the childish condolences.
There Is but one thing to do with
majority of the Santa Claus letters, and
that Is to destroy them. When a letter
reaches the dead letter Office Uncle Sam
makes every effort to return it to the
writer-lf unsuccessful in finding the ad-
dressee-and If there is nothing on the
outside Of the envelope to indicate where
it originated, the communication is
opened and a search Of the contents
made for clue as to the identity OF the
sender. This same course IS followed IN
the case of the Santa Claus correspond
ence.
In not one case IN a thousand. how
ever. is there anything on the outside of
the letter to indicate It's source, and as
a rule the contents Of the missive are
no more enlightening. Santa Claus let
ters are usually dated, but the names Of
the towns in which the writer's live are
seldom given, and-for the most part the
signatures to the letters are merely
given names OF childish nicknames. Occa-
sionally there is sao0zd a letter which in
closes money either as thank offering
to Santa Claus for his kindness in former
years, or else TO enable the toy king to
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-25

There are, of course. numerous towns
and villages In the pine woods along the
northern border of the country where the
Christmas merrynahing is characterized
by all the spectacular features; to- be
found in any community, but there are
also in the forest domain isolated and
sparsely settled districts where, save in
the homes Of the Inhabitants. there are
few reminders OF the OCCASION
In the pine woods the CHRISTMAS rush.
which gets into the blood OF almost every
body at holiday time, whether they are
really called upon to participate in it or
not, comes several weeks before the mo-
mentous holiday. The chief product
which the woodsmen contribute to the
gaiety Of the nation at the close of the
year is Christmas treess and inasmueh as
these emblems OF the holiday must be on
sale in distant city marts1 foua several
days before Christmas 1t naturally 2foE
lows that the WORK Of harvesting the
young pines N tie wilderness, hauling
them on giant bob" sleds to the shipping
points and there loading them on the rail-
road cars which are to carry them to the
cities must be undertaken ere the month
of December is very far advanced.
of course. all work is suspended in the
logging camps and elsewhere in the woods
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-25

OF some rather odd suggestions. For in
stance, little girl in Rhode Island sends
a greasy piece Of paper on which she has
printed with obviously laborious effort:
''Dere Thanty. you are Ee- bestest Of all
We Thants and luv you We mostest.
Please dere MistF Thanty brung me
Little Sister. Id ruver hav a Little Sister
than any uver presunt fur 1 am so lon
stun. Dere Nice Thahty gud BY. Celia
Young Many Of the petitioners for
Santa Claus bounty see. to gain his good
graces by assurances Of their good be
hayior during the year, and yet =othcr
juvenile sehemers resort to hattery, as,
for instance, an artfuI little shaver In
Georgia who last year wrote: The pres
ents you bringed US last yere was fne,''
and then wound up with request for a
railroad train like the one you give
Quentin. Rosevilt-' .
Every year there are found IN the big
sacks OF Santa Claus letters which are
shipped to Washington many pathetic
little appeals which tell Of fathers cut OF
work, crop failures, sickness or any one
Of the misfortunes which result in q dark
outlook for any observance Of Christmas
such as the children. Of the family knew
IN times Of prosperity. Outlines the let
tiers are brIvely uHselhsh. as that of the
little girl who wrote: Deer Mr. Zanty
In Heaven We've imuved 50 far
from our HON am AFRAID you VIII
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-25

that distance, through the snow-choked
woods, with little more than the woods
mans instinct to enable him to keep the
trail.
Another feature OF the Christmas pre-
liminaries is the trip to the nearest post
office to mail the presents which the vari-
GUS members OF the family may be send
ing to absent friends and reiatives and to
receive the reciprocal tokens which may
be In waiting. The forest jewellers do not,
as a rule have the boon of rural free
delivery. and trip to the postofice Is
by no means an everyday occurrence,
even at Christmas time, although 1t may
be noted that in most instances the trip
to the postoface is not nearly 50 long
as the one to the nearest store.
In the pine woods, as in more densely
populated sections of the country, there
are both indoor and outdoor ceIebrat lions
of Christmas. AS may be imagined. the
chief feature Of the indoor celebration
is a rousing Christmas dinner. and Just
here it may be proclaimed that there are
no better cooks IN the country than the
woodland housewives. They cater to men
whose healthy outdoor life enables them
to eat any of the delicacies that are
procurable without paying the penalty OF
a. visit to the doctor Immediately after
wards, and consequently the wilderness
housewife prides herself above all else
or her skill as a pastry cook III seaf
, TIE woodsnah maintains IN his home
degree of heat that to many a person
would be well nigh intolerable, It being
nothing uncommon for one Of the wood
burning stoves to bring the temperature
of a room up to 100 degrees or more, yet
despite the terrific contrast the woods
folks apparently do not mind sallying
forth for an outdoor Christmas celebra-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-25

Uncle Sans Santa Claus who has been
delegated by the powers at Washington
to rake charge of this novel Christmas
mail is woman-Atrs. Patti Lyle Collins
by name-and perhaps It would be more
appropriate to give her the title Of Mrs.
Santa Claus She is down In the govern
ment's official directory as chief of that
division OF the dead letter Office which
concerns itself with letters and parcels
that cannot be delivered because of unin-
telIigibIe or insufficient addresses, and in
this capacity she draws one OF the Iarg-
est salaries which Uncle Sam pays to
any woman, while as Uncle Sans 'blind
reader" her fame. has spread round the
world through her ability to decipher ad-
dresses so eonfpsedIy written that no
other person could make head nor tail
of them. 7nla-af srs-4a
Unusual as is ali Of Mrs. Collins work.
decidedly the most interesting phase OF It
Is found IN her service as the children s
postmistress each holiday season. She has
been playing the role Of odlcial Santa
Claus for more than 20. years, ana during
that time has handled nsarly hal9 mill
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-25

ton when the temperature is anywhere
from 10 to 30 degrees below zero. and
they viii walk for miles in such an at
mosphere. Indeed. snow shoe parties con-
stitute a standard Christmas pastime, the
various groups Of travellers over the snow
meeting al some common rendezvous, such
as the district school-house, where there
is held rousing Christmas party. Skat-
ing is another popular holiday diversion,
and In almost all the pine regions from
Maine to the Northwest the forests are
interlaced- with networks of connecting
rivers and lakes, which afferd admirable
frozen pathways for the excursion or
steel blades.
In some communities in the pine coun-
try there are holiday celebrations which
are novel and. unique. The most notable
example IS to be found IN an annual froiie
at the town Of SaraRac Lake. N. z. a
community OF over 1900 people IN the
Adirondack wilderness. Here there ts
held each year an ice carnival upon which
1000 or 5000 is expended by the pub
ic-spirited and pleasure-loving. inhabi-
tants Almost all the places of business
and residences in the town are. laYishly
decorated with flags. bunting, spru1s ana
cedar trees and other eyergreeue, ana
there is erected for the occasion an tms
mense Ice palace. The. carnival is opened
by a. parade In which there are n9ass
.mouated on runners ! depicting VARGAS
phases Of sNoods7life. Then follows.a efcs
gram of winter sports, including hockeg
matches. skating contests, and hoFse
races on a halfmile circular tract laid
out on the frozen bosom Of the lake, aud
the carnival winds up with the storming
of the Ice palace-a spectacular event Ia
which there is. liberal use. OF fireworks.
WALDON FAWCETT.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-25

- ANITA CLAUS does a big mail order
business. or Mt least the orders are
- addressed to the jolly old saint. and
C any Of them are not filed It Is either
because the writer's failed give their adj
dresses 10 the proper way or -lse
because Uncle Sans postmeu are uu-
able to md the individual TO whom
the mlssives are nddresseI I. well known
as be is supposed to be. However
even the Christmas correspondence that
cannot be delivered does not represent
zholly wasted effort. for Uncle Sam now
has an omoiat Santa Claus whose business
re is 80 read ali the letters intended for the
driver OF the reindeer tesa and sometimes
q way Is found TO grant the requests made
ID these highly c0nhdsntiaI little notes.
No person would be surprised that the
United States government has been obliged
10 make special arrangements for handling
ere santa Claus mail e they could but see
tic volume Of It which pouFs into the Post
once Department at Washington toward
the close Of each year. Under the reguIa-
tlons Of the department all letters which
for ans reason cannot be delivered or re-
ssaTsd b. their writer's must be sent to the
fo1d letter omes. and 80 to this asylum
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-25

on Christmas Day, but this interval OF
idleuess would not in itself serve to dis
tinguish the. day as It does in some other
sections Of the country, for. the reason
that In the, pine forests, where billiards.
0 Prei by6nOf means OF rare occurrence and
= 5zhere rtherthermometer frequently regis
sters1 from 20 to 40 degrees below zero,
there are many days in the dead Of win
fer when the weather virtually compels a
suspension of all outdoor work and causes
the men and boys to remain as closely
at home as they would do on Sunday or
Christmas.
The woodsmans- II he be experienced
and farsighted, presumably has in his
storehouse pretty nearly everything that
viii be needed for the Christmas dinner.
even to maple-sugar candy, that is vastly
better than any sweetmeats to be found
Ia the city shops. but he max desire to
make "a tFips4e. the nearest store -feE a
8 turkeY9 and other delieacies. and Il such
journey is &c. be undertaken 1t Is usually
done several days before Christmas. for
in the wilderness a trip to the store is
No slight ehore. To be sure, IT may mean
merely an easy journey over logging
road, smooth and level as a dancing floor,
but it is much more likely to call for a
trip Of 8 or 10 miles, or mayhap twice
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-25

not find as this yeer way out here
IN Dakota. but do hop that you
will for muver Is sick and want you t.
bring sum mediceen to make her welt
And piees Mister Zanty Johnnie and 1 are
nawfuI lonestum sum times SO II you
viii bring sum candy and a hobby horse
and a doll we wud be so glad Your
friend always Mary Williams"
Unfortunately, there is 10 way IN which
Uncle Sam can officially take cognizance
of these piteous little pleas, much as he
would ike to do so, but Mrs Collins.
who is as kind-hearted as old Santa him.
self is supposed to be. often takes Il upon
herself to show the more appealing
prayers to men and women OF means, who
have discovered IN Santa Claus mail !
vehicle for the sweetest Of Christmas
charities, and who each year bring sun-
shine to, many q. desolate home, where.
but for their good works, there would
bea mournfuI SCATTERING Of childish faith
In the aIl-embracinE generosity Of ola
Santa Claus. WALDoN FAWCEfT.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-25

~ HRIsTBIAs IN the land where the
4 Christmas trees gro7vl The thought
~ Of It does not eonjure up any
dreams OF enjoyment IN the mind Of the
average city dweller Indeed, II the indi-
viduaI who finds the most pleasing
exemDuheaion Of the Christmas spirit
10 the merry rhrongs on the streets
and the crowded shops at Christmas
we're doomed 10 sspeBd he holidays
IN the vast anowclad wilderness OF
the North he might pronounce the ex-
perleBce tame and mOnotOnous- Never
fheleas, the celebration Of the joyous fes-
tival In the heart Of the forest has
charm all its own, and certainly no Yule-
tide observance has the benefit Of a
more attractive setting Of evergreen and
gnoWclad landscapes.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-25

green Christmas ever threatens the
folk who want the holiday ushered in
with the sound Of sleighbelIs.
However, none of these doubts need
assaf the dweners IN the forest Businesses
Of Northern Ney- York and New Eng
land Michigan and Minnesota. In much
Of this Territory where the ~pdqr Of the
pine fills the air. there. IS full seven
months OF winter, and often there Is six
months of sleighing out of the p Christ
mas finds the whole countryside blank
eted In a mantle of snow that is drlfted
in many places as high as the second
stories OF the houses, and lakes and
rivers are frozen so soidly that these
transformed waterways are the accepted
highways for teamiRg and steighing.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-25

In the eyes Of the man or woman who
reJoiees in a good, old-fashioned Christ
mas, with plenty OF snow and Ice, the
wintry background may make up for
anything else that is lacking in the eele-
bration in the pine woods OF the annual
season Of gift-giving. There Is never a
Christmas in the realms of woods and
waters whence come the Christmas trees
that does not seen. Ike Christmas in
80 far as Dame Natures part OF the
program is concerned. In a vast slice
Of our country snow is an unknown lux
ury at Yuletide. and In an even larger
section Of Uncle Sans domain there is
always more or less uncertainty as to
what the weather man viii provide for
a Christmas menu. and the bugbear Of a