davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1905-12-28
STATEN ISLAND.
A Comprehensive Plan for the Improvement
OF Its Water Front.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sfr: Municipal
action alone can do away with the nuisances that
act the water front OF Staten Island, and II alone
can rejuvenate the island along modern lines. thus
assisting nature In laying out this frontage as the
site for magnificent homes.
The city should condemn the frontage on both
sides OF the railroad from the navy yard TO the Ber
gen Point ferry. then bridge from the water line
back TO and on a level with Richmond Terrace maxi
ing OF the whole front grand plaza or parkway
This would In no way Interfere with the operations
OF the railroad uses Of the water front. 1t should
be remembered that the height OF Richmond Ter
race and the short pitch to the water the greater
part OF the distance mako It impossible to construct
a roadway from the water without destroying the
Terrace and extending the grade TO the top of
Grimes Hil on a rise OF about forty degrees. and
over this It would be all that horse could do 10
haul his own weight
The cost of this would be much less than that of
the Brooklyn Bridge: besides. 1t would prove TO bc
such an attraction that the whole frontage would
be rebuilt with palatial residences, making Staten
Island one of the show places OF the city thus adding
revenue to the municipal ferry. Furthermore, 1t
would not be long before the Central Railroad OF
New Jersey would be surveying down through the
middle of the Island for branch over bridge at
Bergon Point.
This would be the acme Of transportatlo faclll =
ties for both the North and South shore divisions of
tho Rapid Transit could be hitched on and land pas
sengers In New York to any part OF the island in
from fifteen to twenty minutes.
In presenting this plan for Improvement It is only
fair to call attention TO the fact that Brooklyn and
The Bronx have had something like s75,OoO,O00 ex
pended on their improvements and when those
under way and now contemplated are finished this
amount will be swelled 10 double.
Staten Island. with area equal TO that OF Man
haitian and Tho Bronx, determined to assert her
Importance according TO size and without regard
to population. succeeded In eleotng the Hon George
d. Mcclellan Mayor OF Greater New York, over
population OF 100000. This phenomenal victory
was doubtless due TO the increased vigor and glow
OF healthy manhood incident to the clear bracing
and super oxygenio conditions of the air for which
the island is so renowned. The idea suggested Is
that this is the kind OF stock that the Mayor and
Tammany would do well TO cultivate. and the way
to do It is by carrying out the improvements herein
suggested and q few moro TO be name ed hereafter
NhM YORK. Dee. "a C O H1cRnH
The sun., 1905-12-28
Turgcnicn's Prophecy.

From Russia dispatches have come
saying that men are slain by the thou
sand; that the disturbance is no longer
a matter of spasmodic riots, but Of civil
war with all its horrors. The revolu-
tionists are shooting only to kill, and
instead of spectacularly throwing bombs
from windows, they are throwing up
breastworks.
One meaning Of all this is that the
prophecy of IVAN TUEGENIEFF has come
true. There are now men in Russia.
Half century ago TURGENIEFF fore
saw just sucn a situation as the pres
ent. The very last words of his novel,
4On the Eve" which is nothing more or
less than prediction in yelled language
of the crisis now at hand, proclaim the
advent of Russian manhood. A young
and brilliant artist representing the then
rising generation asks of an elderly, cor
pulent Russian, of a type now almost
extinct, whether or not there will ever
be men in Russia. The elderly one, a
masterpiece of TURGENIEFF' skill,
shakes his fat fingers affirmatively and
prophesies that the men will arise. Even
then the corpulent body Of conservative
Russia felt stirring of the new life about
to be born. To the younger generation
these clairvoyant words Of TURGENIEFF's s
were almost like another Annunciation.
Now those words have come true. The
new race of the prophecy is to-day she'd
ding it's blood freely, building breast
works and fighting Czardon. Feeble,
indeed, is the fight, but not through the
fault of the fighters. They are as yet
scarcely more than children. Their birth
dates back only to last January, the day
of the Petersburg massacre.
If they win, the prophecy and secret
hope of TURGENIEFF will be fulfilled.
The sun., 1905-12-28

signed the present Isle Of Pines treaty
wherein the United States proposes to
cedc the Isle Of Pines TO the Republic OF
Cuba" Then follows the statement,
printed in italics that "if the title to the
Isle Of Pines was not vested in the United
States, certainly our country could not
cede it to Cuba" Upon this they base
an argument that the Constitution does
not permit the cesson of domain by
treaty. This argument they evidently
regard as unanswerable, 1t might be so
If it were true statement.
Article /. OF the treaty signed July =
1903, sent by the President to the Senate
on November 10, 1908, and reported from
committee on November "a, reads thus
"The United States of America relin-
quishes in favor of the Republic OF Cuba
all claim of title to the Island OF Pines, "
DC. Article II. declares that this re-
linquishment Of claim to title is in con-
sideration of the grants of coaling and
naval stations" &c, as provided by the
treaty of February, 1908. Nowhere IN
the Treaty for the Adjustment OF Title
to the Isle of Pines does there appear the
word "cede" or "cession" or any word or
phrase that is the equivalent thereof.
The United States only "relinquishes all
claim of title to the island.
We are in entire agreement with Secre-
tary RooT's opinion that "the treaty
merely accords to Cuba what is hers in
accordance with international law and
Justice For their own good we submit
to these claimants that wisdom and a
sense of propriety should have suggested
to them a closer adherence to facts and
less impudent form of expression in
a petition submitted 'To his Excellency
Honorable THEODORE ROOSEVELT, the
Honorable President of the United
States; the Honorable United States
Senators, and the Honorable Congress
men Of the United States.
The sun., 1905-12-28
II tLTI.NORE.
Its Population. Its Habits and the Reasons
for Its Characteristics.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN Sir: Is"
remarks concerning Baltimore In THE SUN
of December "a were truthful as far as they
went M" should have remained longer In
the village and learned the following facts
The population of Baltimore is about 600, 900.
but an analysis of these figures shows that the
place is in reality but a small town. From
the 100000 inhabitants must be deducted
approximately 100, 900 negroes. From the
SOC, 900 left we must subtract 100. 900 Poles.
Bohemans, Russian Jews, Iithuanans and
Politicians. With Ihe exception of the latter
parasitic race. these peoples are segregated
In sections of the town where they work in
sweat shops and clothing factories.
These foreigners have nothing in common
interest with the town or its citizens. Few
of them speak the English language They
can never become amalgamated with the
Americans here, for the Marylander does not
leave his ancestral home to associate or min gle
with outsiders. These foreigners are as
widely separated from the citizens as the
negroes.
These conditions leave us about 400. 900
people. Now take 200, 900 of these who wero
born and environed-and this means much
in Baltimore all their narrow lives within
the limits OF the borough and we have town
Of 100000 fairly active citizens. The 100000
born Baltimoreans we have TO eliminate be-
cause they are drag on the progress of the
town. This is a class whose knowledge OF
Otner cltleS is tnat OF q country laQ. lheN
represent q species Of ruminants to be no.
where else found in the United States. Like
the ground rent system, they have estopped
Baltimore y progress.
The little knowledge of the outside world
these 200 600 untrayelled voters possess is
scarcely believable. These mentally Quiescent
people don't understand why Baltimore
needs sewerage system: why cobble stone
pavements are not the best in the world and
why money should be spent to keep the filthy
alleys clean. All modern improvements are
incomprehensble to these segregated viii
layers News clipped from the New York
morning papers is fresh news when it reaches
them the next morning in their papers.
It is the paltry 100000 left out Of the 100000
rance and apathy.
An instance in verncation Of what have
said Is seen In the ignorance or vegetatiVe
condition shown when Johns Hopkins Ini-
crisis. Johns hopkins has done more t., to
bring Baltimore before the world than any
thing in all this towns three hundred and
more years of existence. II has been the
means of bringing here thousands of the best
brains in this country and Europe for study
and Investigation. yet in its great need tho
maiority of the people ignored or else riii.
culed its appeal. The few noble exceptions
were individuals apart.
Such IL the state of apathy and iEuo-
rance in this burg of accumulated villages
10 sum up my opinion after having been
here for three long. hard years: The town Ot
Baltimore is so slow that before resurrection
day comes Gabriel will have TO give IL thirty
days, notice. In Baltimore, VQcatur hoe
pririieptum. HApJI A.
BALTIMORE, Dec. 20.
The sun., 1905-12-28
MIR. Hughes's Substitute

Many Of the eminent and important
officers of life insurance companies who
have sat under the questioning Of the
Hon. CHARLES E, HUGHES during the
last three months must envy the Hon.
ANDY HAMILTON the opportune vale
tudinarianism which has kept him out
of the jurisdiction of the State Of New
York 80 long Mr.. HAMILTON was
wanted to testify before the legislative
committee investigating insurance mat
ters. He could not attend, and his prin-
cipal employer volunteered to send an
agent to obtain his statement. The
results of that agents persistent activ-
tiles in Paris were produced before the
committee yesterday
1t cannot be said that they compare
in interest and public importance with
the statements made by gentlemen who
appeared in person before the committee
and answered the questions propounded
by Mr., HUGHES. Mr. HAMILToN's state
ment does not contain the clear cut, in
cisive, specific answers TO questions that
characterize the testimony taken by the
committee. On congratulations and vague
allegations of high conduct, pure mo-
tives and dsinterested zeal for the policy
holders it is undeniably long On facts
and figures, direct answers to direct and
pertinent questions, 1t is regrettably
short. The witness is present, but Mr..
HUGHES is absent.
It 10
legislators that Mr.. HAMILToN's health
would not permit him to cross the At
lantio and appear before them. But
what fortunate thing it is for ANDY
HAMILTON!
The sun., 1905-12-28
Where Did He Get 1t?

ODELL, after ten years Of politics as
tho only visible means for acquisition,
boasts that his private fortune APP
proaches 100000.
Where did he get it?
Cleanhandcd Republicans, straight
forward citizens of the State, high and
humble, have welcomed as most appro-
pirate proposed legislative inquiry as
to where ODELL got it.
ODELL as Republican State chairman
20. KID" at Albany favored bills for
corporations and IN. G,d' those which
did not have the Odoll seal of approval.
ODELL as Governor did a still larger
trade in o. KS and n. G.s, and later, as
Governor and State chairman at one
and the same time, he was an ironclad
Odell Trust in o. KS and n. G,s.
Where did he get it?
Get what? The $4,000, 900 fortune
which Is the envy Of the Odcll-Newburgh
vicinage and tho talk Of the State.
The perversion of ODELL's opportunities
both as Governor and State chairman
has been a constant source of envy to
the Malbys, the Merritts and the
Bedells, and has developed in the
breasts of corruptionists, blaclmailers
and grafters an intensely eager desire
for comprehensive stimulation.
So Amenl say we, to the demand Of
all decent citizens for legislative in
vestigation of ODELL and his bank
accounts.
Where did he get it1
The sun., 1905-12-28


The year 1905 has seen kind of moral
| housekeeping In the United States in
general and in New York city in par
tcular. That, more than the successful
intermediation Of the United States in
the great Eastern war, has made the
year a marking place in American his
tory. We have stopped, taken stock Of
politics, finance, even sport, and cleaned
out some old dirt which has been Offend
ing the nose of the body polite for many
years.
The reelection of District Attorney
JEROME, the overthrow of ODELL and
the insurance investigation are of the
greatest moment to this city. The inde-
pendent election of JEROME against two
sets of Bosses and against Boss-made
ballot was the biggest obvious moral
triumph of the year The stilling of
ODELL was less spectacular but just as
important. Both were moral issues.
Outside of New York there were the
Independent election of FOLK in Missouri
and the tempered triumph of WEAVER
in Philadelphia-moral issues again.
The insurance trouble had begun be-
fore the end of 1904, but only one company
was involved and it looked then like
little r,lmpus among the directors. The
year 1905 brought a full exposure Of real
evils not only in that company, but in
others-and a state Of public opinion
which will correct them.
College football, which has been going
on year after year on a asemi-professional
basis, has brought up with an appro-
pirate crash. Here, too, the revulsion is
u moral one. The faculties, the public
and the newspapers are making less Of
its roughness than of the recruiting sys-
TEN for players, the Inducements, the
Importance of gate receipts in an anna
teur game and the intentional fouling in
order to win.
Finally, passing over certain exposures
in law as it is practised, let us call atten-
ton to our own profession as it is prac-
tised in New York. Certain jackals,
feeders on dead scandal, who hang on
the fringe of journalism, are in fair
way to be separated not only from the
newspaper business, but from their per-
sonal liberty.
The graft the blackmail and half
blacklnal carried on for years by men
who correspond to "shysters" in law and
quacks in medicine have been sheared
off with a great suddenness.
And though the aforementioned wild
howls have proceeded from crusading
Boston and from the untrammelled West,
and though forty-seven magazines have
won circulation with forty-seven differ
ent Exposures, these are only the reGu-
lar trimmings of a movement for prog
ress 1t is a poor drarna that doesn't
have its comedy relief.
The sun., 1905-12-28
The Passing Of White Pine.

There is some excuse for hesitancy
about tariff adjustment In cases where
the lowering or the removal OF existing
rates would result in injury to domestic
industry, but it is difficult to see any
reason for hesitation in cases where re-
vision would work injury to none apd
benefit to many.
The United States once had white
pine industry. This wood has special
qualities and particular merits which
give it an important value for many pur-
poses Years ago Maine was our source
of supply. When the forests Of that
State were stripped, Michigan and Wis
consin succeeded Maine. They are now
so far denuded Of their pine that our sup
ply of this particular wood will be practi-
cally exhausted within short time.
The SdgindW Erentng NeWs says:
ITO all intents and purposes there is no whito
pine over here any more. and manufacturers must
90 elsewhere for their supply OF raw material to
manufacture into dressed products, such as boxes,
doors. window frames, mouldings, siding. floor
Ing, &C."
In set Of resolutions adopted at the
annual meeting Of the Saginaw Valley
Lumber Dealers Association it is de-
clared that "the white pine forests Of
this country are practically annihilated.
Within twenty-five years the price Of
white pine lumber has little more than
doubled. Manufacturers dependent upon
a supply of this wood declare that their
enterprises must soon be abandoned un-
less they can draw their material, free
of duty, from the forests of Canada
Whether such extreme statements are
or are not fully warranted, there is no
doubt that the day of the American white
pine is passing, and there is every prob
ability that it will soon come to an end
Canada has fair supply, which we bar
out by duty
There is little wisdom in the mainte-
nance of tariff rates which strangle Amer
ican industries. The standpatters who
declare their willingness to lower the
bars to materials which do not compete
with domestic products appear to have
in the matter of white pine an opportu-
nifty to show their good faith.
The sun., 1905-12-28
Trade Conditions in Norway.

Norway Is remarkable country and an
attractive proposition In these first days OF
It's new life as an individual kingdom. Its
fisheries, agriculture. mining, forests and
manufactures are all worthy Of study. Daily
Consular and Trade Reports reminds us that
the Norwegians are honest. thrifty and hard
and willing workers. On land and sea it Is
the same. We know that our Norwegian
immtgrants-we got 1904 Of them In the
fiscal year 1905-make FIRST class American
citizens. The chances are we shall not get
so many hereafter, now that Norway has @
government OF her own. II 80 1t will be our
loss and Norways gain.
Fishing Is perhaps Norway'e most import
ant industry. In 1904 she exported 81 900 900
Kilograms (the kilogram equals ~ pounds)
of fresh cod and l7.i00. 900 Kilograms Of dried
cod. besides eso.ooo hectolters Of salted
herring and enormous shipments Of mackeral.
As by-products she bottles oils. and makes
large quantities of fish fertilizers. Her whal-
ing efforts In 1904 resulted In the export OF
1875 oo0. 900 hectoiters Of whale oil, besides all
the other products of the whale
Norway's forests contain innumerable frs,
pines. hemlocks, oaks and other useful trees,
which are cut and the wood exported mainly
70 England end continental Europe. The
S 1 E9eR ~dS ss ey ss' paS sd for on h
expert woodsmen and foressters are In the
woods-men trained In good schools similar
and Vs a Science @ In Germany. What FAC a contrast mt
that is to the reckless waste and prodlgallty
seen, every day In American forests. The
the country. Trees are only planted where
the land Is unit for farming, Two million
cubic meters OF wood are exported each year
barrel-stave, match, and pulp factories. In
that connection arises the possible oppor-
tunity of selling hundreds Of saws. wood
Inn nlt
ture machinery. &c. Norway Is only eight
to ten days distant from us and all, the way
By sea- whereon transportation is cheap and
sterile so TSey Watch IT, PoTR Gte t. nurse Tnee
nS TT Tey p'nf 4afse st eas ssd Gnd pSsR R
and produce butter, cheese and condensed
milk on artistic and scientific principles
largely exported about $50, 900 pounds Of the
Mining, says the report ls an Important
RyTtss s9d tons Of copper S0TTg
Of certain Instruments, implements and tools.
The porcelain factories OF the world used q 900
Ds Of ns c sans sdsnSF and dhd s0 9Es
stones were taken out In 1904 and much of it
Menuiacturlns outside of the extensive
making great strides forward. Ali kinds Of
being established. Her shlpyards ore busy
and only walt cheap power 70 DO far. more
busy. That Is where the utilization Of Nor;
electric power win come In, Cotton mills
may spring up under cheap power Nail and
horseshoe factories for the same, reason and
ALSO because of cheap iron and Intelligent
labor; Calcide carbides manufacturing is
growing fast. Vest quantities OF raw ma
terta are available. About 500 tons Of
oarbides were exported In 1904.
suoh country, says the report. so situated.
9o, Eager. earnest and energetic. ofiers o fair
field for American enterprise.
The sun., 1905-12-28

Congress in one house or the other almost
consecutively since his first election In 1874,
and hs friends are making gallant battle
for another term for the first citizen OF
Versailles.
But what can be coming over the frank
face Of robust politics in Kentucky when
the partisans of rival candidates have re-
course to the mail bag, the writing desk,
the circulating library and the unabridged
dictionary to determine questions which
are neither ethical, literary nor even consti-
tutional' What have letters to do with a
Senatorial battle in the State Of barbecues,
bonfres, political marching clubs, noun
tain shooting parties, the Court Square
hustings, and the brass band and torch
light parade?
JOE BLACKBURN has never been favorite
with the literary felers OF Kentucky.
The sun., 1905-12-28
slowest Train in the World.
From The Rd1wdv Age.

FROM me RdlDdp Age.
NJ. Georges lrade writing In the French journal
Les Sports claims that after a long and conscicn.
tious search he has TO earth the slowest ord,
nary passenger train In the world. This record
holder is chroniclcd on page 773 OF the Guide Chalk
and performs in Spain. a country In which twcly-
miles an hour Is by no means uncommon rae
of speed on the railway between Soto de Rcy anil
Clano Santa Ana, This line is 1884 miles long Aui
II has one station en- route viz, SRma, which Is
IL miles from Soto de Rcy and lI miles tt1m
Ciano Santa Ana. Leaving the last named p1. =
az o'2j A. NJ. the train reaches SamA at Ci5 ard
Soto de Rey at s;20, Thus the average rnte o.
speed Of the train is under seven miles an hdnr,
while from Ciano Santa Ana 10 Sama the speed IS
only 3N miles an hour.
The sun., 1905-12-28
tn. Fipbtina and Mortality in Moscow

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-tStr: would like
to call attention TO one very important feature OF
the struggle now going on In Moscow which seems
TO have been overlooked In the appalling list Of
dead and wounded given us by your correspondent
to-day.
In military tcrminology so have read, to speak
of the annihllation OF regiment means that 10 per
cent. ofits members have been killed wounded
Taking this as q basis-surely high enough-it
means that 10000 people were nghtng the Cars
troops In tho ancient capital of Russia during the
last two or three days.
As the population OF Moscow Is about 100000
all told It will be seen how impossible this Is Two
things stand out pretty clear amidst the conflicting
testimony; One, that the population almost to a
man and woman has been lighting the troops
second the figures 5000 dead and II, 900 wounded.
are very much overdrawn.
The Cossacks may have been loyal to their i'm
perial master but, as Burke said: You cannot
indict q nation" and when Moscow, the most Rus
sian OF all cities and the one with the most con-
servative traditions sheds the blood OF her chill
dren SO freely the days OF the RomanoIs are num-
bered.
The path Of liberty was ever thorny and watered
with human blood: the price is heavy, but tho
friends OF Russian freedom should rel oioe for tho
outlook Is glorious. Tx.
NEW YORK, Dec, a,
The sun., 1905-12-28
1t Is Christmas week Yet,

Remember. we grow younger as the years begin to
frost US
On our tops tot course provided they can find tn
hair to frosp
five only keep our hearts young in the world where
fate has tossed us,
For love rolls back the years and ma kes us glad
that we were tossed
The only true philosophy oonsisteth OF the attitude
or facing fortune with o smile cen though you
get the nit.
Like the woman in tho garrett who still had cause
for gratitude
And thanked the Lord sho had two teeth and Ithey
were opposite
It's III to gain through others pain and spend the
years stoning!
The bloom OF love Is fairer than the skull of hate
beneathI
Oh, lstenl Through your laughter oan hear the
table groanlnyi
Hurrahl And let Dc thankful be for oppositious
UALNo