davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-16
SEAMANSHIP IN THE NAVY.
More Hsnored On the Breach Than b Oh.
servance, 40 the Record shows.

To TIE EDITOR OF TEE sUN-Sir: The
navies Of the world are feeling the effect OF
their Indifference to the art OF sesmanship since
steam superseded sails. Warshtps are now
costing from three to ten million dollars each.
and Jeopardizing one Of these Il q much
more serious matter than risking an old fash
toned sailing craft.
The collision between the Illinois and
Missouri in 1904, between the Winslow and a
ferryboat in 1904, between the Worden and
the Lawrence. the breaking adrft Of the Iowa
IN hampton Roads in 1904. the collision be-
tween the Alabama and the Kearsarge, tho
grounding OF the Winslow and OF the Rhode
Island, and the very recent humping OF the
Boston on the rocks we're examples Of bad
seamanship.
This is not peculiar to the United States
Navy. In the British Navy within a genera
ton the Captain. Vanguard. Victoria and
other ships have been lost as the result Of
poor seamanship. One English paper SAYS
In an article entitled War Ships on the Sick
List: According to the last published re-
turns, 8 per cent. Of the effective warshlp
strength Of the British Navy was in this plight.
This proportion does not include the bsttle-
ships and cruisers in dockyard hands UNDER
stated by wear and tear. When the attempts
were made to re1oat the Montagu, the bait
tIssn Outer gu shutter reef her double boriom
was pierced and half Of her compartments
were Hooded. The armored cruiser GOOD
Hope Is also on the sick list 1t mentions
among other accidents the ~grounding Of the
battleship Dominion and tho mishAp to the
Hindustan at Gibraltar. I.
Not many years ago seamanship was re-.
Rarded as the highest branch Of a naval
on1cer's profession; to-day II IL held in scant
esteem; very little time. Is devoted 20 me
study Of seamanship in the Naval Academy.
A story Is told that on the last practice cruise
Of the schoolship Hartford il was discovered
that first class men actually did no know
how to handle a sextant; they were instructed
by the officers Of the ship, and went back 20
the academy with knowledge they should
have acquired there, They had spent 80
much OF their time learning enRiD eeTing that
there was no time left for seamanship.
To return TO the British Navy, an offcor
Of that service once said half in joke that
to run you ship ashore and then show
courage. and resourcetulness in getting her
on again A modern steel cruiser vas
wrecked on the coast OF the Philippines, hut
no one was found 70 blame. The old friglIe
Saranac was wrecked on a rock marked on
the chart, but no one was punished. ne
Sacramento. San JAcinto, Sciota and Other
vessels Of the civil war period were run
ashore. but no one was held responsible.
The theory OF navigation may be tancht
ashore quite as well as at sea, hut practical
navigation can be learned only at sea \
glance at the Navy Register will show how
little sea service some OF the officers have 20
their credit: herein lies the whole trouble
NEW YORK, September is. j. :, u
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-16
seIf-Exhibited Coroners.

Mayor MCCLELLAN's unwisdom two
years ago in vetoing the bill abolish
ing the Coroner system in New York
city becomes more apparent with every
public exhibition these officials make Of
themselves. 1t was once felt that the
reformer HoEBER was as ridiculous q
figure as would ever be found in public
Office, but beside some Of the later Cor
oners HoEBER appears almost dignifed
and useful. At present the borough Of
Manhattan supports JULIUS HAMBURGER
in an Office in the Criminal Courts Build
ing, and suffers from his pernicious and
ignorant activities throughout its entire
territory.
Most inefficient and weak public off,
Gals seek to hide their faults, but there
seems to be a mysterious atmosphere in
the Coroners' Office that impels it's occu-
pants to exhibit their shortcomings,
boast their ignorance and glory in their
incapacity. They delight to pose in pub
lie, even though they are ridiculous. II
they did nothing beyond providing a little
low comedy the objection to them would
be slight, in spite of the costliness of
maintaining them. They are capable Of
considerable harm, however, and be-
sides being general nuisances they are
continually doing real injury to the
community and its citizens.
Since Mayor MCCLELLAN vetoed the
Coroners bill nothing has happened to
Justify their continued existence. In
stead, the occupants Of the Office have
continued to do their utmost to continue
and increase it's bad repute. Their pow
ers are seldom exercised for good, and
their activities promise to become so an
noying as to compel the Legislature again
to do away with the Office.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-16

To THE EDITOR or n Us woOdChucks
do climb trees. Many years ago, while a boy. !
spent my summers on a farm In Tallmadge. Sum
nit county. Ohio. Back of the farmhouse where
l boarded was a nne big orchard, and one tree,
bearing a splendid crop OF harvest sweets" bigger
than baseballs. was the Mecca TO which ! made
numerous daily pilgrimages.
one day after the easy picking had been gar
nered 1 found II necessary TO climb we'll up into
the tree to reach the fruit, and after working my
way out on a limb with eyes only for the golden
apples I suddenly found myself face to tace with
a big bunch OF hair that 20 my startled eyes seemed
as large % a bear. Second thought and a little
more atmosphere between US, however, showed
that my rival In the pursuit OF the fruit was a big
fat wOodchuck.
To make a long story short. I procured a club
and proceeded to put Mr.. Woodchuck out OF bust.
ness, for woodchucks we're . miserable pest then
on that farm.
OF course the woOdchuck climbed the tree. else
how came he there2 0uOd srdi demOnSran dUm,
BROOKLYN, September Is. T. II. G.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-16
TINE YOUNG ARCHITECT.
Trials Of . Pioneer Artist In the Rural
DtstRtcts.
From Indoors aNd Out.

Among the graduates that every year leave
an architectural school are the lone plucky
fellows who elect to start out Of their own will
and set up shop for themselves. OF this
small body OF the plucky there is a harder
and pluckier figure yet-a figure who might
inspire a novel all to hlmself-A figure IL is
not impossible TO conceive OF as sublime
in his way. He goes from his school to the
small town inland, where the hrst national
banker desires turned gewEaws laid all over
his front porch. and the grocer asks for an
oriel wind W In his kitchen. There he battles
with these peoples cot but absurd wants.
battles for his high ideals. battles for the small
fees that everybody Ia surprised at his asking,
a. II the poor fellow had not enough to do to
battle successfully with the difficulties that
go along with any effort at realizing on paper
and after ward In brick and stone the ideas that
terminate In the head. so beautiful and so
hard to express.
They only bewilder these good people. or
perhaps insult them with suggestions Of mat
tiers beyond their comprehension. And the
good people go across the street to Jones. the
oarpenter-architeet. Jones has always been
or the new Fable on the roof. Jones viii Know
exactly what they want. Church committees
get up unfair competitions, as they always
do; and the young graduate labors nights,
and draws a handsome Tudor Gothic chapel
With a door. in his best manner and all the
committee. and the contract goes to Jones'
whom the committee had in mind all along.
so the poor fellow works on. He has to
create his market before he can sell Il his
goods. Near While the tailor scOwls at him
from aorose the street. His landIady becomes
once 81 SDS SoSs to BB: 5: Dlasssrsa raS S Il. s. e s,5
perspectives. He views them fondiy OF a
morning as he opens shop, stares out of his
ever teach these people what art really Is.
II he sticks and waits. his day comes. IL
has come 10 other good walters and stickers
TO let him have his hand free and go ahead
with plans for q pretty house in Old English
style. by cad, that IL prettyI- he has to
admit when the thIng. is finished. The sans
noble thought suddenly occurs to Grocer BIZ
hngs one sunday Afternoon. passing the
thing like 1t. only nicer, An epidemic Of Old
English Is started. And so Caleb waite
architect, though now with a few gray hairs
about his temples. has at last Instructed his
public and gained his day. ~"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-16

rsssntStivs body. That 10 what I want 70 gSt 81.
Il 10 q very serious thing after We have adopted
rules and regulations authorized and directed
by law. and under which leases are 10 be operated.
AAd have taken every precAution TO meet ell In
forests, both large and small. under certain rules
and regulations. which from our Information -
coming In here every day. came In to-day. came
IN yesterday. and coming in right along - are
meeting with approval. our latest regulations Of
May "a. ] had one or two here before you came In
approving our latest regulations.
Young Mr.. FRANCHor was asked by
the Secretary whether a record OF those
present at the meeting was kept. None
had been, and he wa not able to tell the
acreage or investment represented. Said
Secretary HITCHCOCK:
When you ask US 70 change or cancel certain
regulations which we have formulated IN the In
terest Of some 1000 lessecs. II Ia pretty important
to know how many mon on the other side want US
TO do tia, thing"
Mr.. FRANCHoT, ST., attempted to as
SUR the Secretary Of the weight that
should be attached to the meeting. The
dialogue continued:
Mr.. N. V. v. FRANcHoT-And I am trying 20
convey 10 your mind that although that meeting
did not gather together men from all over the
United States. stnl I say that I am sure, and I be-
lieve I am making q conservative statement, shat
that meeting voiced the sentiment Of at least half
OF those Interested In those 300 leases asked for.
The ~ecretAry-Now Mr.. F~RANcHor, with all
due respect, our correspondence and our records
do not agree with your opinion. To go back in
1908. we adopted rules and regulations paramount
or foremost among which was thin question Of as
slgnmcnt or transfer. We have not had any OBJ
lection to that; 10 has been m operation three years
and We have had no prOtes, against our rules and
regulations until this VEN day; this lie the nrst
instance Of what we would call a protest against
our rules and regulations. There was a limitation
az to transfer, the sdvlsabuity of which has been
demonstrated beyond any question. MI. GUYFEr
got 400 acres. and Mr. BARNsDALL. and In the face
OF that notice at the top OF the lease, printed in big
letters, and tn the body ofthelease, GUrrEY 4 GALKr
got together and in violation Of their promise and
oath sold out. You know this, don't you'"
OF the violation Of his oath by his
friend Governor HIoGINs's friend BARNS
DALI Mr.. FRANCuoT had just heard
Mr.. F~RANcHoT's session with Secretary
HITCHCOCK was not as unpleasant as
that endured by Mr.. BARNsDALL; still
it was not entirely as the Superintendent
Of Public Works might have wished. To
the historian it has a curious interest, for
it discloses another link in the chain that
binds Albany to the disappearing Indian
nations Of the Middle West.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-16
Cost Of Statutes.

To THE EDITOR or THE SUN-Sb: see IN your
editorial columns that $500 worth Of Condemned
black powder" was used at Oyster Bay. presumably
In nTing the salute to the President
I had hopes you would not. being generally ac-
curate. make such q statement, which 10 not only
Incorrect, but misleading TO the good taxpayers.
Condemned black powder 10 not used In Saluting.
Black powder manufactured for the purpose Is
used. however, and 10 bought by the Navy Depa IT
ment for about three to three and one-hAlf cents
q pound. The o FOUNDER gun 10 used for saluting
the charg for which 10 from one pound TO eighteen
ounces. Attic most, allowing ave cents . charge
to include possible wastaGe, &C, the salute would
cost. We nty-on guns at ave cents a gun 1.-TWO guns
are used. t.0S per ship. II forty ships were In
line giving this great salute. the total expenditure
would be S4z. A vey moderate expenditure for
90 much noise.
There has been so much In the yellow papers
lately about the enormous expense OF this great
review that ] hate to see even . tlnge Of cream
color In your statements. Smokeless powder 10
never used In %salutlnE, because II does not salute
for reasons too many TO enumerate here.
ARTILLERY,
SOUTHAMPTON L. l.. September IL.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-16

Tom PusE9S AStful method Of HoohiAS

- a.. na..h.as, NedSeinkAeAs W0cheH-
Trom Y. ~, g.nS"Cts N1oarins.
-. .Ioccad AZ thu farm OF
~ uis.tcr .rsNcbsr. IL Ii q
~ "a dan. los huta and
peV u navIISnn. ~ ths midst Of rubber
Jain Iezi ~. s.,,,. ,.gtceot Of stuffed
erees ~ = r. liant vau9ed at
oo~ooouno. Am"S - 900, n IInsd up near
..,rsrcs
'"T "1.1 49,. hsoIns Inusdlatelv behind
~. .,hHsi,ion rail- Thsre IL a decllyity By
~ noS 49, ID. M lover norton Of
sIS xno,o " a. I.tsr whiIa The upper
sIn.a. ~ a. "a !. DIantsd with palms and
SOIS -. n ..nrrounded nv a
- - S,-Ssd In,o ccmnartmenta
"sSsa-s. >, 49,. sho,,t sJvtv crocodilea lie
~ 49,. sS-.,,stn. .t.ts ~ quiet. From aHAr
S ..sa -Jh ths .snd hanks on
W. HS.S -, n.
"|a0n sn0y u..h., I.rre vroup
| .sSS'.. ~ a.. Isrs and endeavored
~ am s,.s.hSs nosition an the fence. Alii-
sVsTI Az thst ali right. =
~. : 80 nis.k "a ,jckIed the ribs OF
- - 1919. vooat yI1oroualv and uncere-
one OF sne i"yss. ~. Svs.rsrstsd heast
-.orI.r bI.sino note aimilar
sao-.n. - ,ocorotive "a the steam
S. n..sn.I,,, .hs hs1sn 70 move. while
= -. - bsr roar elevation.
.'nc..d.d IN Gathering n
-naon.n. tn,o . circle where they
~-a,~ ~,th xtd. throxn laws.
-. nssn..ua,s nstsen az these I'M
~.I.t- t. .St.nt. an wv pIate
Au;tn. - a. . Ik .Iy van az middle are
~ go rcrtuna INV catching and
1900 49, Strdsrr.yts, On the average
hSr.ar.. s,no ~ 49, suII crown s~aurian.
p,,t - = r.SnS % ~ 1. Lot again' IL ia
49, 49, .h. hr.v. rentor prac-
49, ~ -, -" rs.mrn. from bis pillase
.So.' ehu ~ aSA..-.om~r
- .rn 80, ~. ,Jn 81 ths Florida finger.
$500. - W., p.,no p..ch 10 q Gigantic
r.". :. pom.t"in snd ch.ss. hs entire
n.as. - DssshsS thros,. in a few DAYS.
piVut uown 20. ~. 49, he.n hitten or
n eu-h ,his hs. oftsn hanpened
ne1 ~ S@.,L. .ho,,, IN his ALLEGATION
nms. 80 "a. .,.rd. and sIts unon
.b...n.s ~ 49,. .vsn $40 on them ubiIe
Sahs~saS 80 nhs.,s The General belief
=" 80 80. ..vdI.d tha .rttcs m ths heast
Iii r., =. ~ sI,,.v. nr.nared for the
go 49, tn. h,ta sbou,d net he IA dan
49, 80 49, ,rnno tbs,r nowerfuIIv
wI.SSsd rsu.
" A(N1NN NoNC
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-16
ORGANIC LIFE.
The Theory cf Its Origin Most Satisfactory
70 EyOIutiOnhsts

To TIE EDIroR OF The SUN-Sir: Every
little while an article Ia printed In the daily
press which 10 intended to reflect discredit
upon the hypothesis OF the natural develop
ment OF organic life from inorganic sources.
The latest article OF the kind to come under
my observation appeared in the CornhiH
Magazine and was reprinted in THE Sun on
September IL.
While the value Of such experiments A.
ha We been and are being conducted by Pro-
fessor Burke and Professor Loeb cannot be
underestimate, nevertheless 1t must be borne
In mind hat the conditions under which the
primal forms Of life came into existence cannot
be duplicated in the modern laboratory. The
results Of the experiments. however. mile
not definitely conclusive, are very gratifying
in so far as they can cophrm the credibility
OF the physico-chemical hypothesis OF the
origin OF life.
The chief point TO be remembered in this
discussion in my opinion is this: II the evo-
lutionATy doctrine Is now no longer debatable,
the fundamental principles, logic calls for the
acceptance Of an hypothesis, Of the eradua
In This trsnsFormstion, of course no new
principle ID created; the various elements,
combining under certain natural conditions.
merely display the peculiar form and force
which represent the most primitive kind OF
organic life, or ,sentiency, such, Tor instance,
plasnic cell or HaeckeI's monera. Its prop
aRation and divergence from the orieinsl type
would follow In obedience TO the laws. or the
struggle for existence and adaptation to
en- yironment.
With ali due respect to the scientific minds
which hold the view that life on this planet
must have come from outside. that is TO say
that matter containing the potentiality OF
life at one time fell on this earth In the shape
OF nebulous dust or meteoric fragmen.s, there
would remain the question OF acc uniting for
the origin OF life even upon other planets in
stellar space. which, iC cannot. be doubted,
are subject to the same natural laws as is our
own sphere.
ing place for the philosophic mind, Ia that
while man may never know the exact genesis
Of life, the most workable and acceptable
hypothesis, especially for the rational evo-
lutiOnist, Ia that In conformity with the laws
OF nature sentiency and consciousness de-
Veloped not outright from the inorganic, as
from a stone, but by the concourse and COM
binati0n Of the primal elements, containing
the potentially Of life force and merely
awaiting the time for the union to be effected
here upon this planet.
The man Of to-day is the highest type OF
conscious life evolved from this simple but
humble beginning far, far back In the Rons
Of time which have been completely lost in
unrecorded eternity, This hypothesis, the
one borne out by scientific evidence, recog-
nizes, as indeed all true evolutionists must,
the all suficiency Of nature to produce and
evolve all phenomena, from. the minutest
Of solar systems in infinite space. without the
aid OF extraneOus forces =
EDWARD DoBsoN.
BRooKLYN. September is.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-16
Trade Of Some Great Ports.
From ne London times.

"" we LOH0OU WttS.
Some figures have peen prepared recently show.
ing the value of the trade OF the great ports Of 80
world, from which Il appears that the trade -
London 10 worth e2sSyOOO.O 900 9 year, while thai q
Liverpool stands At CIT. 10000 a year. These
figures for the other great ports are as follows
New York, Ell .OOO.O Hamburg dncluding 80
coasting trsde). ESQ 900. 900; MarseIIes, cis6OCD 90.
Antwerp Inclusive OF river and canal tran,c,, ElSn-
100000: Calcutta, csc. OO0yO 900; Bombay. E5i on 30.
Singapore, e4s.OO0.OO0 and Sydney. cSs.Ooo"Dn
Itshould be noted that the figures for the two great
British ports do not include the value Of the coa-'-
ing trade. The probability of London being s''s
TO maintain lts position as the greatest port Of me
world 10 becoming somewhat doubtful.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-16

Our esteemed contemporary the Rutland
Herald publishes a letter from Mr.. EDWARD
j. HALL, chairman OF the Vermont Inde-
pendent State committee. a letter TO The
Sun which the latter did not print" In
an editorial article the Rutland Herald
asserts that 'THE SUN has shown a hostile
feeling toward the fusion movement from
tho start The Sun did fail to print"
Mr.. Halls letter, for the reason that the
letter was received by IL; or, II re-
oeived, wa swallowed in an inconsiderate
moment by a celebrated feline official on
the premises. Il Is rather ancient and
fshlike history now. but the purpose OF
Mr.. Halls communication was to deny
assertions made In q Montpelier despatch
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-16
THE GROUNDHOG ALOFT.
More Testimony As to the ArbOrcal Habits
OF the WOOdchuck.

To TEE EDITOR OF TIE SUN-Sfy: Did man ever
see a woodchuok climb a tree1 Yes
Some years since while riding on a bicycle across
the state Of New Jersey I noticed q woodchuck
running across the road. and as l was very close
to the animal swung my wheel out toward H. and
as ! evidently was between the chuck and Its bur
row the varmint endeayOred 70 get away from the
apparent point Of danger by climbing a tree. 1t
ran up 70 the nrst branch, which was probably ten
feet from the ground. ! stopped and carefully
examined the woodchuck. as l had never seen such
an act before. although I have hunted the wood
chuck from my boyhoOd days 1t seemed so ex-
ceedingly strange to me that I mentioned II to my
brother In law In Pennsylvania the following day.
He did not seem to be surprised at all. telling me
that his beys had killed a woodchuck IN a tree
where Il sought safety q few days previous.
c. W. RICE.
PERTH ANNOY. NJ. j.. September IA.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-16

Unquestionably the Brooklyn Liberator
grinds his own 4 when he prohibits the
hanging ofpoltical banners over the streets;
and BIRD 8. CoLER IL not running for ohice
this year. Yet the prohibition will have
a good effect. Banners dis6Rure the streets,
brighten horses, are q positive danger to
the public, are a horror and . shame to
aesthetics. and do no good to anybody ex-
cept their manufacturers. As for Mr..
CoLER, he Ia an army with banners; he
fiutters in every wind; he will wave gill he
IL cut down.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-16
Feet Of the TOnquInese .

From the Rosary hG0astns.
So peculiar Is the formation OF the feet that mig MT
and day the TOnQuinese can run with perfect Sc
curity over most dangerously rough and smooth
places. From a narrow heel the feet broaden re-
markedly toward the toes. OF which the great one
10 so separated from the others as TO form with
them a wide angle. And from the toS grow nails
that can be hGed In the ground like hooks. This
peculiarly In the feet Of the natives Of Tonquln
has obtained for them among the Chinese the name
CaO-Cl-the people with the crooked toes.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-16

that tho ISSUES OF tho Vermont sampAlgn
were personal and that Mr.. PRRQIVAL W.
CLEMENT spent. 1t Ia estimated $3.50 900.
'The fusion fight was for better methods
OF State government. for economy In State
expenses and for honest politics. apd Mr..
CLEMENTS bin was just s1ey GOOSE.
Az for having a hostile feeling toward
the fusion movement.' w should ~ soon
think OF being hostile TO the Green Noun
tains. But every loser Ia entitled to his
kick
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-16

To THE EDITOR on TIE Ms Several years
ago while crossing tho mountain back OF Nyakk.
N y, my little dog ran an animal up . tree. It
huddled on an upper branch OF an oak, about
thirty feet from the ground. ] secured q ride and
broIght down the strange creature. which TO my
SURPRISE proved 10 be a very lean woodchuck. The
woodchuck IL unknown to the farmers around
NyAck. consequently no one who cav tho animal
knew what Il was. AS have q farm IN Connecticut
| am too well acquainted with the beast.
EDWARD L. oArMAN
~lourunnHN Cnnn. Snnle mhar L.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-16

When the Hon. JOSEPH WELDON BAILEY
proposed the Hon. HoKE SMITH Of Georgia
as a suitable candidate for the Democratic
nomination for President. Mr.. BAILEY was
that Mr.. SMITH 10 pledged heart
and hand and with every Ahre OF his Allan
team corpus to the Hon. POKE Bo0os.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-16
only LOndoa Humor Genuine.

From ne Illustrated London Neps.
All the best humor that exists IN our Ian RuaKe
10 COckney humor. ChAucer was a COckney; he
had his house close TO tho Abbey. Dickens was a
COckney: he said he could not think without the
London Itreets. The London tAvernS heard alwayV
the q~uatntest conversation. whether Il wac Ben
Jonson's At the Mermaid or Sam JOhnson's at ths
Cock. Even IN our time IL may be noted that the
most vital and genuine humor Is stu written abou,
London,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-16

From ne Rouston Post.

From me Houston Post.
There arc now thirty -One negro banks 900 q
United States, with q combined capital Of $3.50.
Their deposits amount to 81. 1872. OOO. Twelve ar n
Mississippi, four In Georgia, six in Virginia, 10
in Tennessee. two In Arkansas and one each In Nnr''
Carolina. Alabama and Florida. There are 80
two In Auskogee. I. +.