davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-06

New York, May 31.-The sailing of
the last members Of the committee
appointed by the civic federation to
study municipal ownership abroad
marks the first stage in an investiga
lion which will be watched with great
interest all over this country. No
report is expected for sel eral months,
since the committee plans to spend
the summer completing its work in
England and on the continent. But
meanwhile widespread attention is
being attracted by the publication. in
he May number of he Journal of
Political Economy, of the studies
made last summer by Everett w. Bur
dett Of Boston of the methods and re-
suits of municipal ownership in Great
Britain.
There is a special interest in what
Mr.. Burdett says about the telephone
because that has come to be recog
nized as perhaps the most character
istieally American 9: all public utili-
ties. Nothing ccald sum up the mat
ter more pointedly than his statement
that outside of London the competi-
ton of the National Telephone com
pany-the privately owned system
corresb ending, in its limited way, 10
the Bell nystem in this coun.ry-has
practically put government local tele-
phones out OF business, nOtwthstand-
ing the fact that the postoffics depart
ment has the monopoly of .ong dis
lance transmissions.
1t will not surprise the American
business man when be is told that in
the five important cities in Great
Britain where private and municipal
competition exists-Glasgow, Hull
Brighton, Portsmouth, and Swansea
the National company has more sub
scribers, by 81 per cent than its mu-
nieipal competitors, and is adding to
them from two and a half TO six times
as fast as the publicly owned system
and, moreover. that a majority Of the
telephone plants the taxpayers run
are of types considered from ten to
twenty years out Of date in this coun-
lIN. MI. buiAttL 4nNi10ACS INV al
behind the times our transatlantic
cousins are by reproducing the notice
posted in the government telephone
booths in Portsmouth Here it is:
First Apply telephone to ear
and press red button with right hand
until you hear operators voice. Then
remove hand from button and give
number of subscriber wanted.
Second. Replace telephone and
turn crank briskly. This will ring
bell of subscriber wanted.
Third. When finished hang NJ
telephone and very importantly press
the red button for two seconds"
/ Imagine an American spending two
seconds in ringing of after tele
phone talk! With our highly perfect
1 ed Bell apparatus il does not take
much longer than that to give Gen
trail" the number to be called and
get started on the conversation.
! These elaborate directions" Mr.
Burdett explains. are deemed neces
sary for the successful use of what Is
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-06

lighting streets and supplying power
TO- many purposes in Duluth and
other cities,
While the output of the mines will
increase rather than diminish as the
years so by. the men who are digging
iron ore on the Masaba and Vermilion
ranges are at present setting a pace
which, If it could be followed by the
canal builders on the Isthmus OF
Panama, would join the Atlantic and
Pacific in a shorter time than has
been estimated as needed for the I'M
dertaking. The 100000 tons of
,ore which constituted last years ship
ments from the Duluth district would
make about 1900 900 cubic yards.
When the majority of the engineering
board reported that TO build sea
level canal across the Isthmus of
Panama. a task requiring the re-
moval of 100000 cubic yards OF
material, would take ten years. the
minority of the board declared that
the excavations could not be made in
Hess than Is years. Yet the work
could be done in the shorter time IL
the material were taken out as rapid
lily as the iron ore is dug from the
earth on the ranges north of this city
The output of the Mountain Iron mi2e
last year exceeded by 100000 cubic
yards the amount of excavation done
in 1905 in the Culebra cut. If the
uitch diggers on the Isthmus excavat
ed as rapidly as do the miners on
these ranges, the lock canal which is
favored by the majority of the board
of commissioners could be excavatcd
in five years instead of the seven and
half years estimated.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-06
TO The pANnEIInN

Dear common Cover, that grow'st
beside tie way.
Fringing the dusty road with harm
less gold,
First pledge of blithesome MAY.
Ny childhood's earliest thoughts are
linked with thee;
The sight of thee calls back the
robins song
Who, from the dark old tree
Beside the door, sang clearly all day
long
And /, secure in childish piety.
Listened as if heard an angel sing
With news from heaven, which he did
not bring
Fresh every day to my untainted
ears,
When birds and fowsrs and were
happy peers.
How like a prodigal doth nature
seem,
When thou, for all thy gold, so com
mon art!
Thou TOUGHEST me TO deem
More sacredly of every human heart,
Since each reflects in JOY its scanty
CLEAN
OF heaven, and could some wondrous
secret show
Did we but pay the love we owe,
And with a child's undoubting wis.
dom look
On all these living pages of Gods
book"
James Russell Lowell.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-06

lean sense will not consent to the
taxpayers business being run by any
such inexperienced captains of in
dustry as this body of interested per-
sons would be.
If. and so far as, the municipal
ownership and operation of public
service utilities of Great Britain have
been successful" Mr.. Burdett de-
clares, 1t has been because of the
character of the local civil service in
that country. The rigid limitation of
the voting franchise, with other causes,
has operated to put into city and town
councils and other local legislative
bodies men of a superior type, who
regard public service as an honor,
AID whose services are retained by
the public practically as long as they
are willing to serve.
But as excellent as is their gem
eral character,I think it is beginning
to be understood and generally ad-
mitted that the local governing pow
ers of the larger British towns and
cities are becoming less, rather than
more efficient. This result naturally
accompanies the multiplication of the
duties imposed upon those bodies.
While willing to give much of their
| time gratuitous to the public service,
| business men are beginning to find
that the draft upon it is more than
they can meet without absolute dis
regard of their private affairs.
Whatever may be the national pol
/ idcs of the members of city and town
councils, politics finds no place what
ever in the administration of local af-
fairs, particularly in the choice and
retention of public administrative
servants and officials. Not only is
the municipal service in Great Britain
totally different from that in Amer
lea. and dependent for it's character
and tenure upon a wholly different
system of laws and administration,
Ilut the public sentiment and educa
! on of the people of the two coun
/ tries upon the subject is so opposed
that the conditions IN either country
could not be reproduced, by legisla
ton or otherwise, in the other"
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-06

called the ring through system.
which, while Anticipated, is in use Ia
three of the five municipal plants
mentioned. The most curious thing
about it, perhaps. is the opinion ex
pressed by the officials in charge Of
1t, that it Is well to have the sub
scriber do as much Of the necessary
work as possible IN order that he may
better appreciate the labor and
trouble involved in furnishing him
with the service On this side Of
the water on the otter hand saving
i.he telephone user time and effort Is
the aontsan- study Of he Bell engi-
neers.
THE telephone was, however. only
rne Of the subjects q Mr. Burdett's
incairy into the workings of munic.
PAL ownership in Great Britain His
examination extended also 10 the gas,
electric light and street railway utili-
ties. So far as municipal gas and
electric light plants 20 Mr. Burdett
says that their success has been con
fined 70 a slight difference in rates
which however, mas resulted solely
to the benefit OF comparatively fey
consumers and not 70 hat Of the gen
eral public It has likewise been &C
companied," he continues, by fail
ures In other directions, which more
than counter-balance this single fay
orable feature"
The most serious Of these i'll effects
Mr.. Burdett considers to be the hamp-
ering and restricting Of the industry.
In this connection he has compiled
some interesting statistics. From one
Of his tables it appears that in 1901
the United States. with less than
double the population Of Great Brit
ain, but without municipal ownership,
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-06

undertaking is sample Of other
cases. The accountants who have
audited the books have repeatedly
said that, in their opinion, the sum
provided out of the revenue for de-
recitation is insufficient" but this
somewhat damaging statement does
not appear in the departments public
reports. If FIVE Per cent were allowed
for depreciation, to take the lowest
figure allowed by any Bell company
in this country, and the preliminary
and general expenses Of the system
which have never been charged off,
we're added, the two items deducted
from the balance on hand in the sink
ing and depreciation funds would
total deficit in five years Of opera
ton of about 100000, instead of the
apparent prosperity to which the sup
porters of municipal ownership point
with ride
The creation Of tremendous polit-
ical machine by ofice-holding voters
Is another very serious result Of mu
ncipal ownership in Great Britain, in
Mr. Burdetts opinion. It is easy to
guess what It's effect would be in this
country, where the public services
are so much more deliberately devel-
oped than IN England. Here in New
York. for example, there are about
so. 900 employees Of public service cor
porations, exclusive Of those in the
telephone service, and there are al
ready fully $4,000 municipal employees
on the city payrools If the former
should be added to the latter, the
combined force would constitute one
sixth Of the total voting population
and If uni ed and aided by their
friends and relatives, such a combina-
ton would be invincible Hard Amer
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-06

French ideas OF liberty as it con-
Germs the daily life Of individuals are
to say the least, queer. It may be
doubted whether. in a matter entering
so closely into the individual life 20
marriage, there is another country
in Europe so subject to medieval re-
striction. A man or a woman may
ents or other heads Of the family, and
not marry without the consent of par
dispensed with after being thrice
respectfully solicited" ven at.er
one marriage there is a restriction On
contracting a second. Ten months OF
widowhood is fixed by law The
A widow who had evaded his period
of weary waiting, and by collusive
use of her sisters papers Of civil
state" had once more rushed into
marriage after four short weeks. has
Just been brought to book for her
offense.-London Globe.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-06

of towering skyscrapers and nam
moth bridges. Last year on the
Mesaba and Vermilion ranges ore
was taken from II mines, ranging
in size from that which produced less
than 1000 tons to the eight which
sent out over 100000 tons each.
The mines are scattered about in
groups. Here and there rise, tall
and gaunt, the shaft hJuses of the
under ground workings. There is
everywhere a tangle Of railway tracks,
running from mine to mine and down
into the pits. 1t sounds like a con
tinuous Fourth of July celebration,
for rock and ledge must be blasted
away when they obstruct the work
and the reports of dynamite charges
boom like giant cannon crackers,
Nothing is allowed to interfere with
the mining operations. Land is sold
here with the ore rights reserved apd
III at least one instance an entire
town has been moved bodily out of the
way This happened to Eveleth, a
small stones of the same color. This
is the ore which has made the Mes
aba and Vermilion ranges famous
among miners and iron workers the
world over.
The visitor to the Minnesota ore
fields is likely to have his ideas of
mining methods suddenly altered. He
has thought of a mine, perhaps, as a
shaft leading down to galleries far be
meath the surface of tire earth. There
are such mines in this region but its
distinctive feature is the open pit
mining. An open pit mine is well
described by its name. 1t is a hole
in the ground and some of these
cavities dug in the face of the land
scape are so large that they resemble
the craters Of great, extinct vol
canoes.
Take the Mountain Iron mine, for
instance, from which, in 1905, 2,495,-
OS9 tons of ore were shipped. 1t is
so deep and SO long that a string OF
railway cars seen at distant point
in its depths looks no bigger than a
toy train with which a child plays up
valley is more than half a mile in
length and its average breadth eX-
ceeds L quarter of a mile. There is
a point where from the grass roots
to the bottom of the pit the distance
Is 225 feet and the average depth is
$50 feet Ore has been shipped from
the Mountain Iron mine for only IA
years although it is one Of the Oldest
on the Mesaba range, yet in that time
a total amount exceeding 100000
tons has been sent away to be con
verified into the steel on which run
the trains of great American railway
systems and which forms the frames
town of several thousand people. The
streets were lighted by electricity and
the place had its sewer system and
public water works. But Eveleth
stood over deposit of valuable ore
and so it was rebuilt at point on a
hillside some distance away from
which it now looks down on the mine
workings which mark its former loca
ton.
Mining on this mammoth scale has
brought prosperity to the range towns
Brick business blocks stand in the
midst Of the houses of the mine work
ars and. as it is still new country
log cabins are sometimes found in the
shadow Of hundred thousand dollar
school houses. Three railroads ex
tend from the mines to Duluth and
they are busy lines.
D. ing the eight months Of The
year when navigation is open on the
lakes and the n 'nes on the ranges
are working full blast, the man who
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-06
IN DOUBT AS TO OWNERSHIP.

Bill Jones was in the dock, charged
with stealing a watch.
Unfortunately the charge could no:
be fully substantiated against the
prisoner. The circumstances were
suspicious. but not convincing. The
magistrate decided to discharge the
prisoner.
This case is dismissed said the
magistrate to the captive Jones. You
are discharged. The prosecution will
pay the cost"
"Thankee, your honor" said Jones.
but he showed no disposition to leave
the dock
Don't you understand" asked the
magistrate, sharply. You are free,
discharged. You can go"
Yves, thankee," said Jones, Z I'M
deraand that all right, but"
But, what?"
well, there's one thing don't
rightly understand" replied Jones
scratching his head.
"And what is that?"
"Shall I ave TO give i'm IS watch
back, or is it mine now"
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-06
Problems Of Craftsmanship.

What's the matter?" asked tn,
statesman's colleague, noting that be
was in a brown study.
q was thinking about the mon >
We pay for pensions
Don't fret. l guess the men who
are getting it need It,"
Yes, but they are passing from tbs
scene, aren't they? After they e
gone whatll we do with all taar
money!"
Thereupon the fippant co, .eague
too, became thoughtful
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-06
INFLATED, LIKE THEIR STOCKS.

The Supreme Court decided that
corporations have souls, but Judge
Humphreys finds that they are only
artificial persons. This confirms the
impression that We have read for some
time that the souls are artificial
New York Mail, Rep.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-06

The woman wine agent is a newcom-
er In the field Of industry. she is not
a gay and festive person, as her mas
culine fellow-worker in the same line
i. apt TO be. She dresses quietly, con-
du< herself In dignity-and sells
wine. There are three of these petit
coated wine agents, They all sell
California wines and they compete in
the east with men that the far west
ern vineyards send east to win the
trade. Only a few weeks ago one OF
these women carried off contract for
1900 worth of wine made with
department store from the rival agent,
who was q man. Two Of these women
never drink, the third takes a glass of
wine If she finds 1t necessary to
please her customer One woman
started as an agent on s25 a week.
She receives $S5 now.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-06

Mrs. LaFollette, the wite Of the Wis
consin senator. is a full-nedged lawyer,
having been graduated from the Ma
tional university in washington wnen
her husband was a member of the low
er house fifteen years ago. Now that
she is again a resident Of the capital
she will take a postgraduate course
and receive her degree as doctor of
law
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-06

A company has been formed to cut
into the Mont Blanc glacier in Switzer-
land at a height Of 400O feet. The Ice
is mined with dynamite and the
blocks are cut into cubes and sent
into the valley by a narrow gauge
railway. There they are cleaned and
sent BY train to southern France.--Na,
tional Provisioner..
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-06
WOMEN.

Smile up is about the best, most
durable. wearable and stylish resolu-
ton a woman can make Good nature
is a fine thing to haye on hand and
never becomes vulgarly common.
After a time when you become skill
ful in smiling, you can grin away a
toothache-alm3 st. At least you can
bear it and not issue momentary bulle-
tins to the family.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-06

A fond father Of Somerville used to
have a doormat with the word wei
comet upon It. Now that his four
daughters have grown up he has a
new mat, with the inscription: BE
ware Of the Dog"
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-06

In bulgaria servant markets" are
held twice year. On April % and
with them, and people make bargains
with them. During the winter SER
wants are very cheap from merely
the price of the girls board to 81
a month for one who cooks. washes
and irons. The reason for their being
50 plentiful and cheap in the fall IS
because they have no work for them at
home.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-06

John Mcdowell White, prominent
pioneer, died at Monticello, H., Of
dropsy, aged SO years.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-06

DR.. Emily D. Smith tells story Of
an incident that came under her notice
at the hospital at Ing Hok, China. A
woman with girl baby came to see
her little boy, who was under the doc
tors care. Another old woman, who
girls school, saw the girl baby, and
coveted her for wife for her baby
grandson. She finally struck a bar
gain but instead Of buying the baby
its mother insisted on giving the
the old woman 90 cents dowry for her
little girl and the women parted, each
pleased with herself
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-06

The duchess Of Sutherland has a
love for wandering. AS she herself
oonfesses, it is in her blood Her first
essay at book.making, How | spent
My Twentieth Year." showed very
plainly how aIlu ing for her were the
fresh fields AM, pastures new; and
even today she would rather dwell in
some iDconYenient villa at Taormina,
some draughty shanty IN California,
tent pitched on the banks Of the
in any one OF her own sumptuous pal
Nile, or a log cabin in Norway. than
aces-DuDrobin. Trentham, Llleshall,
or-last, but certainly not least
Stafford house, ST James
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1906-11-15
THE MANURE CROP.


o0eeaA - Madeg Plaster Poor sDotsD
Top Dress McadOvvs.
Manure n one Of the most valuable
crops produced on q stock farm. Its
Intelligent use il as important In busi-
ness farming as the judicious employ
ment Of monetary capital. Manure Is
capital. Applied at the right time
soon after 1t IL made-it represents In
the soil 30 much tangible wealth, capa-
bic Of transmutation into dollars and
cents. It vitalizes the soil. 1t makes
the earth to seethe with essential bac-
terial life. It IL resurrected in boun-
teous harvest, says Breeders Gazette.
The spreaAsr Nearly Perfect.
Now that the manure spreader has
been brought to a high degree Of eff
ciency-it Is well nigh perfect ma
chine for Its work. and our experiment
stations and thousands of practical
farmers have demonstrated that the
application Of barnyard manures In
sures an increase in crop yields,
amounting In many instances to more
man % an acre the first year-no
sarmee ought to be guilty Of allowing
pound Of this fertilixing material to
% to waste ON his premises. Spread II
on the thin knobs. plaster the poor
patches with Il, top dress the pastures
and meadows. II you have no pool
And-if yours Il all black and rich
spread manure ON 1t anyway and make
+ stu richer.
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1906-11-15
ALIAS SUMMONS.

In the probate court in and for the county
Idaho. state of Idaho
E. II Parks. plaintiff, VS.. Anton Nielsen, de
PENDANT.
The State of Idaho to Anton Nielsen the above
named defendant:
You are hereby required to appear in an
action brought against you by the above
named plaintiff IN the probate court in and for
the county Of Idaho. state of Idaho, and to
answer the complaint filed therein, at the time
hereinafter designated, or Judgment by default
will be taken against you according to the
prayer Of said complaint or for the sum of 500 on
principal and 10 per cent Interest from Oct. "a
i9C5. and $25 90 attorneys fee,
The said action is brought to recover judgment
against you the said defendant for 10000 and
interest Mt ten per cent. per annum from Oct
-, 1905 for $25 90 attorneys fee and for costs
herein.
And YOU are hereby notified that II you fai
| to appear aud answer said complaint on Friday
the Is IT, day Of February 1906, at 10 O'Clock a
m, the said plaintiff will take judgment against
| Won for 500 90 and interest at 10 percent from
| Oct, oath 1905, for attorneys fee 1880 and
costs herein.
| Given under my hand and seal of probat,
| court, in and for the county OF Idaho state o
/ Idaho this Sth day of November, in the year o
our Lord one thousand nine hundred and six
| (Seal May Goodwin. Clerk
| {. r. Mcnonald attorney for plaintiff, residing
| at Grangeville, Idaho.