davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-21

Of other things that help to a complete
understanding of the intricate ma
chinery by means Of which New York ID
governed.
Steady persistence in it's new policy
will result in a radical change in public
opinion with regard to the Board OF
Aldermen. Instead Of being looked on
as an expensive, dangerous and useless
department, it will become an important
and valuable municipal body, meriting
and receiving the hearty respect OF the
citizens. If the Hon. TIMOTHY p. SULLI-
VAN succeeds, as many persons believe
he may, in wrestling control Of the board
from its present leader, the Hon. JAMES
CowDEN MEYERS, he will do well not to
allow it to slip back into it's former lazy
and unsatisfactory habits.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-21
The Earthquake and Foundation Soils

In rebuilding San Francisco and other
dismantled towns in California the archi-
tects will have to consult the seismolo-
gists to learn what foundation soils were
most affected by the earthquake shock.
The danger of the Pacific coast to seismic
disturbance has always been known,
but the study of foundations has been
neglected, or, from a false security, the
lesson of experience has been disre-
garded. Governor PARDRE reports that
about one-ffteenth of the State suffered
damage from the earthquake On Wednes-
day; so the scientists will have a wide
field for their speculations.
DAVID SHARPE, who made an investi-
cation of the force Of the Lisbon earth
quake on different soils, learned that not
a house built upon the Armada blue clay
which underlay the greater part of the
city escaped destruction. On the lower
slope of hills rising from the clay beds
the havoc was not general. On the
strata of Tertiary deposits next above,
described as a conglomerate without
fossils, the damage was much less severe
while houses on the hippuritic limestone,
or basalt, higher up still, sustained nc
! damage whatever. And yet the shock
/ of the Lisbon earthquake was felt ovel
a great part Of Europe.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-21
New York,s great credit for necessary i'm

New York g great credit fer necessary inn
provements.
During 1905 public improvements to the
amount Of IS 1893, 100, distinct from such
public works as bridges, subways, schools,
f~irehouses, parks and docks, were provided
for by the city, asshowninthe report Of Chief
Engineer LEWIS Of the Board OF Estimate
and A~pportionment to Mayor MCCLELLAN.
This is the statement Of the division OF
that expenditure among the boroughs OF the
Greater New York: Manhattan, 1855 $50;
Brooklyn, 81. 1855, $50; The Bronx, S2,oe7, 200;
Queens, Ss72, 75o, and Richmond, s72,6oo. IS
1t thus appears that during 1905 The
Bronx was the borough most benefited by
these public improvements, and that Brook
Ign and Queens in large measure a the adj
vantage Of Manhattan In the city's expendi-
lures. The area of Brooklyn is 40, 200 acres
Of Manhattan 1900, Of The Bronx 20 200,
Of Richmond SO, 200 and Of Queens SO 1000
All have benefited by consolidation.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-21
Earthquake Predictions and Fire.

DR.. C. W. HAYES, the Washington
g~eologist, is said to have expressed the
opinion yesterday that the time will
come when seismologists may gain such
a knowledge as to be able to predict the
coming Of earthquakes and to send out
warnings of the impending danger. he
thinks this advantage will be gained
ultimately by providing a large number
of stations with facilities for a prompt
exchange of observations.
It is doubtful il many seismologists
will agree with this opinion Twenty
years ago., in the early days Of the scien-
tiic study Of earthquakes, hopes were
expressed that such knowledge would
at length be attained as to give value to
earthquake predictions. This aim was
especially kept in view for years, but up
to the present time not a particle OF
progress has been made in this direction
and none of the leading writers on earth
quakes has the slightest faith in it.
Major DUTToN in his recent book
saws that great earthquakes come with
out Ineligible warning, for though it
is true that such catastrophes have
been preceded in a considerable num-
Der of instances by minor shocks and
auivers and by ominous sounds, these
are far from implying necessarily a SUD
seauent disaster, for they occur a hundred
times without further consequence
Even if it should ever be possible to
predict earthquakes with some degree
of accuracy, the ability so to do would
be calamitous, rather than beneficent
unless the predictions were absolutely
accurate. The late Professor FALB was
not a charlatan. His position as a scien-
tifc man was respectable, except that
through some curious cerebral twist he
got the notion that he could foretell the
coming Of earthquakes. Every one has
heard Of the CONSERVATION into which hts
predictions threw the people of Athens
and Of Santiago, Chile, the flight OF thou
sands and the misery of the whole popu-
lation; and yet events entirely falsltied
his omens Of evil. The inhabitants OF
earthquake countries are asking for nc
demonstrations of the average merit
of weather predlctlonS. fTophecles
that might OF might not be fulfilled
would be almost worse than the earth
auakes themselves.
Fires are unfortunately the usual con
comitant of earthquakes, but never be
fore have we seer such a record OF TIT
destruction wrought by this second evi
which follows so closely on the heels o
the shocks. In the great Japan earth
quake of 1891, when about 10000 person
were killed and $1,000 were hurt, a larg
part OF the loss OF life was due to tn
fires that destroyed many hundreds, VIII
were pinned down under fallen roof
and could not escape from the flame:
kindled chiefly in the kitchens where tn
housewives we're at work when the build
!, ings collapsed.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-21

ton brings a diffusion Of responsibility,
and that a definite leadership y a neces-
sity for responsible government" IT
offers this illustrations
A the present moment. for instance. the Re-
publican party should be responsible for either
the policy OF the Senators or that Of the President
but he is a wise American citizen who knows which
he is voting for when he votes Republican"
The Star does not stop at the point OF
noting the weakness OF the American
system; it provides a remedy which is
open to some objection on the ground
that the principle involved is not en-
tirely consistent with a long accepted
idea of republican government from the
American point OF view:
American politics would be immensely bene.
nted II THEODORE ROOSEVELT would take the b'
between his teeth and make a night against the con
ditions which now seem TO fetter him. II he woulu
frankly declare himself to be q candidate Tor an
other term, that would be a daring party manager
who would venture TO risk his political life In op'
posing him. Then he could appeal to the people
to send him Representatives and Senators who
| WOulu ukICO WIN ho pSANs SN
should be able 10 build up around himself q po'
utlcal party which could 90 somewhere so long as
IT had a large share OF public confidence ANY
man blocking It In the Senate could be publicly
labelled an opponent and his defeat assured a
the end OF his term"
The respective merits Of the Canadian
system and that of the United States car
ha much better determined when Canada
has a population of go, 000, 900 instead o.
5000 900. The trainers of the Constitu'
ton of the United States deemed it Wis.,
to get away from the English system
while the trainers Of Canada's Constitu
ton thought it best to follow that sys
tenn very closely, Somehow the Unite'
States manages to rub along and max
progress at a rate that is visible to TIT
naked eye, and it is by no means certain
that it's progress would be accelerated
under Canadian methods;
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-21
Respectfully Submitted.

Would 1t not be profitable intellectu-
ally and financially for the exposers to fire
a few more volleys at the United States
Senate and House Of Representatives
for appropriating, almost instantly after
the dire news of San Francisco's devas-
tation was known, 81, 900, 900 of the pub
lie O for the sufferers?
Then, too, a barrel or two of ink might
be exploded upon President ROOSEVELT
and Secretary TAFT and ell their tribe
for daring to ship By quick trains thou
sands of Government tents to the home
less ones. Nor should the New York
Chamber of Commerce, the sordid New
York %millionaires, sometimes known as
| citizens, and humber folks, all OF whom
are hurting hundreds of thousands of
dollars out of their own pockets at the
| afflicted ones of San Francisco, be over-
looked as fruitful subjects for condem-
nation at the hands Of the magazinists
and their followers.
The prompt and proper action OF
Congress, the substantial sympathy SO
generously and so spontaneously mani
tested by those selfish plutocrats, ought
surely to furnish a new topic of current
magazine interest for those who but fol
the law Of gravitation might have as
cended heavenward years and years ago
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-21
Some Advice from Canada.

The Montreal Star finds reason to
thank the goodness and the grace that
smiled on the birth Of Canada for the
alleged fact that the Dominion has a
better system of government than has
the United States:
The weakness OF the American system Of gov
ernmen, is being demonstrated almost daily now
by the relations between President ROOSEVELT and
the Senate. Both are Republicans, and yet the
series OF contests between the two over vital ques-
tons is now the most spectacular feature of Amer.
can politics"
Such an experience would be almost
If not quite impossible in Canada. Up
there they have q Premier instead of a
President. The Premier represents and
leads his party and formulates its poll
cies. If the party does not support
him he steps down and out. The execu-
tive branch and the legislative branch
must be in harmony. The Star avers
that "the division Of power at Washing
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-21
AGAINST NIAGARA FALLS BILL.
The Power OF Congress to Prevent the Diver.
sion OF the waters Is Questioned.

WASHINGTON. April 2o.-Arguments were
continued to-day before the House Com
mittee on Rivers and Harbors against the
Burton bill for the preservation OF Niagara
Falls. Franklin D. Locke OF Buffalo and
paul D.. Cravath Of New York made legal
arguments in opposition to the measure.
c~ontending that Congress had no power
10 prevent the diversion Of the waters OF a
navigable stream so long as the diversion
does not interfere with navigation.
George W. Wickersham, representing
the Lackawanna Steel Company. said his
ID had invested 80, 900, 900 in a steel
plant near Buffalo upon the assurance oil
obtaining power.
aTbis.s he said. els an aesthetic question
apainst a commercial problem. Power
could be produced from Niagara Fails 20
TO 25 per cent. cheaper than from coal,
1t ia for you to say whether you will Iegls-
late for commerce or scenery" It.
Gen. Francis V. Greene, representing the
| Ontario Power Company and the Lookport
| Company, read kilograms from Chiei Eng
neer M. M. Num- Of these companies,
! which said that &C, 900 cubic rect OF water
per second. or approximately. 40 per cent
| OF the flow, might be diverted WITHOUT I'M
nairine the scenic beauty OF the falls, e,x-
cant forabout a hundred feet on ~theCanadian
| side. where the water is shallow. The,
nnual variation is greater than that and
has no appreciate effect.
Gen. Greene, in answer to questions
estimated hat the total amount diverted,
If all the companies used all that their
charters authorized them to use. would De
81, 800 cubic feet per second, or about 4;
Der cent. He thought the diversion Of
loo, 600 cubic feet could not be detected oy
the naked eye.a and that with thisd diversion
NIAGARA would still remain the greatest ant
prandest cataract Of the world.
. Senator Platt Of New York to-day pre-.
sented a memorial from the Board oil Iradt
of Niagara Falls demonstrating agalns,
v water from Niagara River for power pur'
doses,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-21
HONOLULU CABLE INTACT.
Tests Show That wires We're Cut and msu'
lated on Paeinc Coast.

IAItu Oh y Vhi -
Tie officials Of the Commercial Pacific
Cable Company ANNOUNCED yesterday AFTER
noon that as the result of tests made from
Honolulu there was no doubt that the INK
OF the Pacific cable between Hawai- ano
San Francisco was undisturbed by the earth-
quake. They expected that the broken
communication around the world would DC
reached as soon as the Government ship can
reach the cable hut near San Francisco VIII
batteries,
On Thursday night the operators at Homo
lulu reported, via India, that they coulu seV
no answer from the San Francisco end oil the
cable. Yesterday they sent word py the
same route that their tests showed tnat the
cable itself wal all right and, furthermore,
that the San Francisco end OF the cable mao
been insulated by some one.
According to Manager Clapperton OF
the cable company the fact that the cabie
had been insulated shows that the caole
operators who were ordered to go to the nut
| after the fire threatened the Offices In San
Francisco reached there all right n had
| cut the cable at that point, but did not nav
| sufficient power to work it. No Woro mas
come from the operators since they were
ordered out to the hut This is explained,
| the company says, by the fact that the nut
Is the far side Of the fire swept area
The cable formerly ran without Q break
under the ground into the ONCE ouldlng
on Market street in the city proper. put
the operat rs naturally cut the cable az tne
hut and connected their instruments there.
The company got word yesterday atter-
noon that the Mare Island Navy YARD was
preparing to send out q boat with 6ettories
TO reach the hut and supply the cable WIFI
power urz.
A despatch received yesterday telling OF
an earthquake at Honolulu was sent east
ward from there by way Of India
The officials OF the cable company, re-
ceived a despatch last night from the mare
Island Navy Yard which said that, the
cutter sent to the cable landing hao re.
turned and had reported that the cable nut
had been destroyed by the earthquake.
The hut stood in an isolated spot on tne
shore and was a small, low building pullt
to withstand heavy storms. The operators
the despatch said, were safe. They nae
rema ined at the cable landing. apparently
without shelter, ever since Wednesday.
The cable was found to be all right and, ac-
cording to the navy officers, connection
had been made with the land cable again al
the landing and by this morning. It wal
expected that 1t would be possible 70 worH
the cable from Oakland. The Navy ne,
partment has sent out q force 70 help IN
repairing the cable landing. Inc capi
will not be open for business until this II
done, but it was hoped to complete the
work some time to-day.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-21
The Hand Across the Continent.

Not only is San Francisco in ruins
but most of her people are ruined. lhose
who are able to give must not withhold
contributions from a feeling mat the
relief fund will be adequate without
their help. The duty of the hour is to
give. Such is the pride and courage OF
C%alifornians that they will not accept
aid for their stricken towns a m
longer than they need it. But who can
the distress of a quarter OF a
million of people without money for
food and without prospect of immediate
employment? Hunger can be relieved
quickly enough, perhaps, by the GOVERN
ment and by various towns on the coast
which escaped the earthquake, although
It is not a simple problem; but for a long
time to come great numbers OF people
in San Francisco will be idle as we'll as
! homeless. There will be much k
Al we'll as want. The building trade
will soon be at work, but merchants and
many other employers Of labor will have
more or less difficulty in resuming busi-
ness. Credits may not be good, ana
thousands of places where business was
done are no more. In many cases i'm
proyisation will not be easy.
There will probably be an exodus
from San Francisco of those who have
the means to travel and can find oppor-
tunities elsewhere; but they will be the
minority, and the rest must stay to get
what work they can and live from hand
to mouth. San Francisco is therefore
face to face with the greatest problem
that an American city has ever had to
deal with.
Since the Spanish war San Francisco
had been enjoying a boom after years
of depression; the advantage has beer
lost and the gains swept away, together
with most of her capital. Her condition
is DeyOnQ Ine pONpl iiiioS "
conceive; but, deplorable as it is, courage
will not die in her. After losses have beer
adjusted and credit reestablished thu
waste places will be rebuilt and public
contracts let. Enterprise will pick uptht
lost and broken threads. But it is goinf
to take a long time to make a fair start
meanwhile the ranks of the dependen
poor will be swelled by thousands wh'
never expected to know want Sal
Francisco may be said not to have
place to lay its head, and it will hav'
to begin the world ove again. Wit
such an economic problem there has bee
no experience in America, for the con
dition of Chicago after the great tr
does not supply a comparison. III
helping hand cannot be too full. Thi
is no time for thinking twice.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-21
no KILL ODELL PLAN AT ALBANr
Parsons There to Beat the County Reap.
DOrtiOnment Scheme.

ALBANY, April 20.-Herbert Parsons,
president Of the New York county Republi-
can committee, is here to-day comforting
with representative members Of the Legis.
lature and Gov. Higgins regarding the New
York county legislative apportionment plan.
Mr.. Parsons had a long consultation with
William Barnes, Jr., chairman of the eSecu-
tive committee CT the Republican State com.
mittee, and Speaker Wadsworth and Assem-
bly, Leader Moreland.
The Parsons plan has been in possession
OF the Legislative rea pportionment com-
mittee, of which Senator Lewis Is chairman,
for several days, having been submitted by
Senator Page. 1t can be asserted that the
Oden apportionment plan is to be con-
signed to the legislative waste basket with;
out M that Odell and Quigg and
| their bunch will get no consideration what
ever in Albany.
President Parsons vent to Albany to
begin the fight to induce the Legislature
to adopt his reapportionment plans in
place OF the odell-Halpin scheme which
was recommended by the committee at
Thursday nights meeting.
Before he left for Albany Mr. Parsons
said that he had no doubt that the Legis-
lature would adopt his plan, for the reason
that il had been devised solely In the inter-
] ests of the party as a whole, and not like
the Odell scheme to keep in power as many
as possible of the district leaders who are
Odell supporters.
Because he was outvoted at the meeting
of the county committee on Thursday night
the report was prompted yesterday by
some OF the district leaders who are opposed
to him that Mr.. Parsons intended to resign
the presidency Of the committee. 1t can
be stated on the authority OF Mr.. Parsons
himself that he has nc such idea.
One matter of interest which zane out
Yesterday, following Thursday nights
meeting, was that the 0dell forces were
so BEN on beating Mr.. Parsons on a roll
call that the back dues Of more than a
hundred members were paid up in the two
DAYS preceding the meeting. 1t was com
mon rumor yesterday around the Fifth
Avenue Hotel and the Republican county
headquarters that the payments were made
by the Odell faction and that these members
la return had pledged themselves to vote
against Mr.. Persons.
The apportionment plan. now that the
insurance legislation is out OF the way
will be fully formulated over Sunday and
put through the Legislature just as Gov
Higgins's friends want it.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-21

One of the few adverse arguments used
by those who opposed the consolidation OF
Rrooklyn with New York was the claim
hat Brooklyn, with an acreage more than
three times as great as Manhattan's, and
much of it undeveloped, had reached in
1898 the limitation of its lawful borrowing
capacity for public improvements and that
further improvements would be made at the
expense, or largely at the expense, OF Man
haitian. It was claimed, too, that Queens and
Richmond, undeveloped territory, would
REQUIRE. for a time at least, the benefit OF
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-21

To THE EDITOR or THE SuN--Sir: It seems TO
me that the quartet and other singers on the
vaudeville stage In this city should-most OF them
be sent to Jail for murdcnng music. Besides,
generally, they seem TO be personally ugly ~Tc'ches
Vino make themselves ugllcr by dressing a. shoe.
blacks, newspaper boys, &c, as II rags were a
pleasing sight.
These fellows should be made TO pass an exam
nation Ike doctors, school teachers, Government
employees. &c, before they arc allowed to go on
the stage 10 insult their audiences, They seem 10
know Az much about music as the average yellow
d.. but they should know that some, at least, OF
their aud are not shoestring pedlers.
NEW YbRK, April 10. 2 Il. ],
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-21

From the Poems OF Bret Hdrr.
Serene, Indifferent TO Fate.
Thou sittest At the western Gate
JIpon thy heights so lately won
SIN slant the banners OF the sun;
Thou seest the white seas strike their tents
O Warder OF two Continents!
And scornful Of the peace that dies
Thy angry winds and sullen skies,
Thou drawest all things. small or great
To thee. beside the Western Gate:
q lions whelp, that hldest fast
In Jungle growth of spire and mast.
7 know thy cunning and thy greed,
Thy hard high lust and wilful deed,
And all thy glory loves 10 tell
OF specious gifts material
Drop down, o heecy Fog. and hide
Her sceptic sneer. and all her pnde'
Wrap her. o Fog, In Town and hood
or her Franciscan brotherhood
Hide me her faults, her sin and blame;
with thy gray mantle cloak her shamei
So shall she, cowled. sit and pray
Till morning pears her slus away
Then rise. o feecy Fog, and raise
The glory OF her coming days;
Re as the cloud that iccks the seas
Above her smoky arsosies.
when forms familiar shall give place
To stranger speech and newer face;
When all her throes and anxious fears
Lie hushed In the repose OF years;
When Art shall raise and Culture lift
The sensual joys and meaner Thrift,
And all fulfilled the vision, we
who watch and wait shall never see
Who, In the morning Of her race.
Toiled fair or meanly In our place
But, yielding to the common lot.
Lie unrecorded and forgot.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-21
HARRY ID. CAREY, PLAYWRIGHT,
Amateur Will Play the Leading Role In
"Montana'-Is q Lawyer.

MOUNT VERNON, N. Y, April 2O.-Harry
D. Carey, lawyer and formerly a college
athlete, a son of former County Judge
Henry D. Carey of Westchester county,
who at present lives at Terrace Point.
City Island, has turned author and actor.
Mr.. Carey has written Montana a melo-
drama which will be presented on Monday
night at the New Rochelle Theatre. He
will play the leading role Of Jim Graham,
a ranch foreman, which part, it is said
he is we'll adapted to-, having spent four
years roughing it on a Montana ranch.
He was captain of the New York Uni
weight boxer, and for a number of years
he held the N. Y. U. record for shot putting