davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-12-21

twenty-one charges of dynamite. On the.
now as wide as % it viii eb be- 'n all told p5Ifi" ts
canal bed at this point has now been
sunk about 200 feet below what it origi.
nally was. 1t will have to be sunk about
13o feet farther. Throughout the cut the
drilling. blasting, shoveling and hauling
are going on with constantly increasing
energy. the huge shovels being pressed
up. as if they were mountain howitzers
into the most unlikely looking places
where they eat their way into the hill
1t is not only natural, but inevitable,
that work as gigantic as this when
has been undertaken on the isthmus
should arouse every
Critics and species of hostility
Doubling d,,l,,.fa ana erI.ic'sm. me
Thomases. new and ca trv;nS
vast, that it would be absolutely out of
the question that mistakes should not
be made. Checks will occur. Unforeseen
difficulties will arise From time 10
time seemingly well settled plans will
have to be changed AT present 25oN'
while the number will be doubled. In
such multitude it is inevitable thar
there should be here and there scoun-
drel Very many of the poorer class of
laborers lack the mental DEVELOPMENT TO
protect themselves against either the
rascality of others, or their own folly,
to devise plan by which they can in
variably be protected. In a place when
has been Tor ages byWOrd FOR unneajth-
funess, and with SO large a cong ~
ton of strangers suddenly put down and
set to hard work there will now and then
be outbreaks of disease. There win
now and then be shortcomings in admin
istration: there will be unlooked-for acci-
dents to delay the excavation of the cut
or. the building of the dams and locks
have investigated every complaint
brought to me for which there seemed
t. be any shadow of foundation. In
two or three cases, all of which | have
indicated in the course of this message,
( came TO the conclusion that there was
foundation for the complaint. and that
tha methods of the commission in the
respect complained of could be bettered.
In the other instances the complaints
proved absolutely baseless, save in two
or three instances wnere they referred
to mistakes which the commission had
already found out and corrected.
So much for honest criticism. There
remains immense amount of as reck-
less slander has ever been published.
Where the slanderers are of foreign
origin I have no concern with them
Where they are
SIanderers and Americans I feel
for them the hearth
libeIero. est contempt and
indignation; because,
in spirit Of wanton dishonesty and
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-12-21

malice. they are trying to interfere with.
and hamper the execution OF. the great.
est work Of the kind ever attempted. and
are are seeking to bring to naught the sf.
credit of America one OF the giant feats
OF the ages. The outrageous accusations
of these slanderers constitute gross
libel upon body Of pp'hlic servants nars
duty, have never been excelled any
where. There is not man among those
directing the work on the isthmus VINO
basis than merit alone, and not one who
has used his position in any way for
his own personal ',r pecuniary advantage
After most careful consideration we
have decided to let out most OF the work
by contract, if we can come to salts
factory terms with the contractors. The
whole work Is of n
Plan to Build bv Kind suited to the re
culiar genius Of our
Contract. people; and al peO-
Ole have developed
the type OF contractor best fitted to grap-
pie with it. 1t is of course much better
to do tha work In large part by contract
vided % it is is possible on the one hand to
secure to the contractor q sufficient re-
Enumeration to make 1t worth while for
responsible contractors of the best kind
to undertake the work; and provided on
the other hand it can be dcne on terms
which will not give an excessive profit to
the contractor at the expense OF the gov
ernment. After much consideration the
H pH 81 wal aapted y hs se m n
Its essential features was drafted. after
careful and thorough study and consid-
GRAFTON, by the. chief engineer. Mr.. Ste
yens. Mho. while n..I;,the in the % employment Of
Northern railroad, had personal expert
ence OF this very type OF contract.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-12-21

A seven-headed commission is of course
clumsy executive instrument We
should have but one commissioner. with
such heads of departments and other Of
ficers under him as we may find neces-
sary We should be expressly permitted
oemplov the best engineers in the coun-
try as consulting engineers.
l accompany this paper with naU
showing substantially what the canal wils
be like when it is finished. When the
Culebra cut has been made and the dams
built Off they are built at present pro-
posed there will then be at both the Pa
cfic. and Atlantic ends of the canal two
great fresh water lakes, connected by "a
broad channel running at the bottom OF q
ravine, across the backbone of the West
ern hemisphere. Those best informed be-
liewe that the work will be completed liz
about eight years but it is never safe
to prophesy about such work as this.
especially in the tropics.
OF the success of the enterprise / am as
well convinced as one can be of any en-
tcrprise that is human. II is stu
pendous work upon which our fellow
cOuntrynen en-
Confident of gagged down there ora
,,iA; the iSthmus, q
o''""ose ouSSCoe' while We should hold
them to strict ac-
perform it. we should yet recognize. with
frank generosity, the epic nature of the
task on MY, which they are e,ngaged and its
something which will rebound immeas-
urably to the credit of America. which
will benefit all the world. and which wilf
last for ages to come. Under Mr.. Shonts
and Mr.. Stevens and DIR. Gorgas this
work has started with every omen OF
good fortune. They and their worthy as
sociates, from the highest to the low
est are entitled to the same credit that
we would give to the picked men OF ~
victorious army: for this conquest OF
peace will. in it's great and far-reachng
effect. stand as among the very greatest
conauests. whether of peace or of war
which have ever been won by any of the
peoples of mankind. A badge is to be
given to every American citizen who for
a specified time has taken part in this
work; for participation in it will here
after be held to reflect honor upon the
man participating just as it reflects
honor upon a soldier to have belonged to
a mighty army in great war for
righteousness. Our fellow -countrymen on
the isthmus are working for our interest
and for the national renown in the same
spirit and with the same efficiency that
the men Of the army and navy work in
time of war. 1t behoOves us in our turn
to do all we can to hold up their hands
and to aid them in every way to bring
their great work to triumphant conclu-
Sion Theodore Roosevelt.
The White House, Dec. II, 1906
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-12-21
THE PANAMA CANAL
Presidents Message to Congress Predicts COM
plete Success of the Scheme.
Denounces Unpatriotic Slanderers and Praises
Work of Diggers.

Washington. Dec. 17.--President Roose-
Welt sent three messages to congress to-
day, dealing respectively with the Pana-
ma canal, the public land laws and the
personnel Of the navy.
On the Land Laws.
In his message on the public lands the
president urges the repeal of the timber
and stone act. demands the radical
amendment of the desert land act; urges
the repeal of the Communication clause of
the homestead act. all of which he de-
clares now serve to turn great tracts OF
land over to spectators and corporations.
To prevent the fraudulent acquisition OF
the public lands, the president says he
has directed the secretary Of the interior
to allow no patent to be issued to public
lands under any law until, by an eXami-
ration on the ground, actual compliance
with that law has been found to exist.
For this purpose an increase of special
agents in the general land Office is
III gently required. The president believes
that there should be provision for leasing
coal, oil and gas rights under proper re-
strictiOns.
Transfers of the national parks from
the charge of the secretary of the interior
to the secretary of agriculture is recon-
mended.
The power to create national forests by
proclamation should be extended to In
dian lands, the Indians to he paid the
full value of land thus taken.
Navy Personnel Bill.
The president earnestly recommends
early consideration of the naval person
mel BILL saying that. should it be enacted
into law, it will cause officers on the sea-
going list to reach the grade of captain
al forty-eight and rear admrals at fifty
five and will assure their serving seven
years in the grade of captain and seven
years in the grade of rear admiral, thus
enabling them to become thoroughly skill
full and efficient in these grades. The bill
also establishes the grade of vice admiral
On occasions of official Importance, of
international council, or of combined
naval action the interests of this great
nation demand that our naval representa-
tives shall rank as the equal of the naval
representatives of other powers
The president says that if the proposed
plan of promotion is carried out it will,
saving of more than $o.OOO0Oo during the
next seven years.
The principal part of this saving is
made by stopping the voluntary retire
ment of young lieutenant commanders
with the rank and pay Of commanders
upon the retired list.
The president is firmly of the opinion
that unless the present condition of the
higher commissioned personnel is recti
fed by judicious legislation the future of
the navy will be gravely compromised.
The Panama Canal.
In the month of November | visited
the Isthmus of Panama. going over the
canal zone with considerable care; and
also visited the cities of Panama and
Colon, which are not in the zone or under
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-12-21
Various How-Are-You's.

Various HOw-Are-Y0u's.
How are your in German is ''Wie
befinden Sc sicht?' CHcw do you find
yourself?') 1t is also ''Wie geht's."
The Dutch say 'Hoc vaart gij?" ("How
do you fare?') The Italians ask Come
state?" (''How do you stand?') The
French, Comment yous portez-vous?'
CHOW do you carry .,ourself:'')
The Greeks ask what you are doing;
the Chinese want to know IL you enjoy
your rice; and the Russians inquire
how you are living.
The Arabs, a devout people, say '.0od
grant his favors to yOu! The Turks,
no less devout. say Be under God S
car0i'-Ex.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-12-21
Work OF
Construction.

Work Of t,,,lahra omt MS, he he
Construction. made, anyhow; but
Of course changes as
to the dams. or at least as to the locks
adjacent to the dams, may still occur.
The La Boca dams offer no particular
problem. the bottom material being so
good that there is practical certainty,
not merely as to what can be achieved
but as to the time of achievement The
Gatun dam offers the most serious prob
lem which We have to solve; and yet the
ablest men on the isthmus believe that
this problem Is certain of solution along
the lines proposed; although, of course,
It nccessitates great toll: energy, and
course. there will be some little risk in
connection with the work. If the huge
earth dam now contemplated is thrown
will have what is practically low,
broad. mountain ridge behind which will
rise the inland lake. This artificial noun
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-12-21

tain will probably show less seepage.
that is, will have greater restraining
capacity, than the average natural noun
tain range. The exact locality of the
locks at this dam-as 9. the other dams
is now being determined. In April next
Secretary Taft. with three of the ablest
Stearns, and Ripley-will visit the 18TH
mus, and the three engineers will make
the final and conclusive examinations as
to the exact site for each lock. Mean
while the work is going ahead without a
break.
The Culebra cut does not offer such
great risks; that is the damage liable to
occur from occasional land slips will not
represent what may De called major dis
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-12-21
Game to the Last.

Game to the Last.
Adrian Iselin. at the Newport Casino,
was talking about young Bostonian who
with smiling gallantry had rescued
young girl from drowning.
He was very brave" said Mr.. Iselin
Though his own life was in danger. ]
saw him laughing in the water. His pluck
reminded me OF the story Of the death OF
the great Lord Chesterfield.
You know that story. CheSterneld
during his last illness. was driving A
lady overlook him.
How glad am said she. to see you
driving out
Madam said Lord Chesterfield, with
. smile 4 am not driving out. I am SIM
ply rchearsing my funeral. '"-Ex.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-12-21

The pope has appointed as his prt
sate physician DIR. Giuseppe Petacci.
The Russian government has pur-
chased 100000 bushels Of grain in
Western Siberia for distribution in the
eamine-stricken provinces.
The Swedish government has ap-
pointed Won Bildt. the Swedish minis
Ter to Italy and M. .Hellnes. lawyer,
10 be members Of The Hague tribunal.
a bill has been introduced In the
Canadian parliament to compel all
transportation companies to give
nasses to all members of the house
and senate.
The Russian famine situation ID
worse than previously reported, 3O,-
ooO,OO0 persons reported to be starv-
Ing. n China 15.0O0,OO0 more are
starving.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-12-21

asters. The work will merely call for
intelligence, perseverance and executive
capacity. 1t is, however, the work upon
which most labor will have to be spent.
The dams will be composed Of the earth
taken out OF the cut and very possibly
the building of the locks and dams will
take even longer than the cutting in
Culebra itself
The main work is now being done In
the Culebra cut 1t was striking and
impressive to see the huge steam shovels
In full play. the dumping trains carrying
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-12-21
away the rock and
earth they dislodged.
The implements of
In cuIebra Cut.

away the rock and
In culehra Cut earth they dislodged.
The implements of
machinery. which often stand little way
from the line of work, though of excel
lent construction. look like the veriest
toys when compared with these new
steam shovels. just AS the French dump
ing ears seem like toy cars when com
pared with the long trains of huge cars,
dumped by steam plowS which are now
In use. This represents the enormous adj
vance that has been made in machinery
during the past quarter OF century.
NO doubt quarter of a century hence
this new machinery. of which We are now
so proud. will simils rly seem out of date.
but IT is certainly serving it's purpose
well now. The old French cars had to be
entirely discarded
As soon as the type of canal was de-
cded this work began in good earnest.
The rainy season will shortly be over and
then there will he an immense increas"
IN the amount taken
New Records for out; but even dur
eA, In. the last three
G~sSVdt'on' months. in the rainy
season. steady prog
ress is shown by the figures: In Au-
91 600 cubic yards, and in October, 32J 600
cubic yards. In October new records
were established for the output of indi-
yidual shoyels as we'll as for the tonnage
see the growth Of healthy spirit OF
emulation between the different shovel,
and locomotive crews, just such spirit
as has grown on our battle ships between
Workmanship. Passing through the cut
the amount of new work can be seen at
a glance. In one place the entire side Of
a hill had been taken out recently by
were exploded at one blast. At another
place was given presidential salute OF
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-12-21

The Madness Of Hamlet.
Richard Mansfield. at a dinner party IN
New York. contributed an anecdote to
the old question of the sanity of Hamlet
"One morning in the West" he said.
II met young friend Of mine, and ask
ed him where he had been the night be-
fore.
"'I went my young friend replied, to
see So-and Sos Hamlet.
= Aha, did your said +. Now tell me
do you think Hamlet was madv
".I certainly do, said he There wasn't
a hundred dollars in the house :"
The fact that your creed Ats Won
like coat does not warrant YOU in
making it uniform for all men.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-12-21

John Holsten, aged sixty-llve. Of
Auscatine. WAS found guilty OF the
murder Of HIS daughter and sentenced
to life imprisonment.
w. 8. Clayton, county commissioner
elect Of Preble county. Ohio. killed
himself as a result Of worry over the
responsibilities of the Office.
Two men beat Edward Olds over
the head with piece of gas pipe
robbed him of $50 and left him for
dead at Waterloo, Iowa. He Is in a
precarious condition.
Thomas C. Braden, alias Brady, a
white man, fifty-five years OF age, was
legally hanged at Alexandria, La, for
an assault upon Miss Laura Warren
at Leconlpte, La, Sept. Is last.
The dead body of Charles Johnson.
q well-to-do fisherman, was found In
his shanty near Menominee, Mich.
following two weeks spree. Heart
failure is supposed to be the cause.
Arthur c. Babbit, who was convicted
in New York of swindling his father-in.
law, Capt. w. H. Wheeler, U. s. A.,
out OF 100000 by means of forged
checks, was sentenced to ten years in
prison.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-12-21

Although MIR. Hobbs was taken at hts
face value by his son and heir. there
admiring tributes embarrassed his parent
In the family group.
~ had quite an encounter as came
home Tonight said the valorous Mr.
Hohhs ANNOUNCED at the tea table. Two
men. slightly intoxicated. were having a
quarrel on the corner. As usual there
was no policeman Ia slKht; ana they were
IN q fair vyav to knock each others brains
out when stepped between and separat-
ed them.'
Weren't you afraid. fathcr?" asked
Mrs. Hobbs. in Quivering voice.
mo indeed. why should be?" inquired
Mr.. Hobbs. fnfiating hi9 chest
II guess there isn't ANYBODY could
Willy. proudly Youths Companion.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-12-21
NHk's HISTORY N RlTOlf
AL THE NEWS THAT is WORTH
TELLING CONDENSED FOR
], eUsY READERS.
Washington.

Waentn0Son.
The war department has just order
"a . balloon for experimental pur
roses IL military work.
The Indian appropriation bill, al
agreed upon by the house COMMITTEES
q Indian affairs, carries about $S.OOO..
~.
Secretary Of War Taft has accepted
n invitation to deliver the commence
ment Grafton at Iowa university in
June
The salaries of the 391 clerks to
members OF congress have been raised
9300 each. Their salaries will now be
11.G00 Z year.
The government has selected site
ct Dover, N. ]. for the government
powder factory authorized at the last
session of congress.
A petition for the establishment Of
postal savings banks, bearing the sig
natures OF 10000 persons residing In
eighteen states, has been presented to
congress.
The house committee on public
lands decided to make a favorable re-
port on the resolution asking the Sec
retary Of the interior to report all
public lands withdrawn from entry
since July 1, 1906.
Representative Lacey has intro
duced a bill making $12 the minimum
monthly pension to be paid veterans OF
the war of 1861. Mr.. Lacey said the
suppose of the bill is to make a serv-
ice pension bill unnecessary.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-12-21

the tinted States flag. but as to which
the United States government, through
its agents. exercises control for certain
sanitary purposes
/ chose the month of November for my
/ visit partly because 1t is the rainiest
the work @ goes forwarS at the n
| disadvantage, and one Of the two months
which the medical department of the
French Canal company found most un-
healthy.
At the outset l wish to pay tribute
to the amount of work done by the
cult circumstances Many Of the build
| ings they put up were excellent and are
still in use. though. naturally, the houses
Are now getting Ont Of rep repair ira, and are
houses can be built, and much of the
| work they did in the Culebra cut. and
some of the. work they did In digging
has heen of direct and real benefit. This
vestment than the $4OO0O,OOO which it
paid to the French company for work
and betterments. including especially the
Panama railroad.
An inspection on the ground at the
height Of the rainy season served to con-
vince me of the wisdom of congress in
a sea-level canal There seems to be u
universal agreement among ali people
competent to judge that the Panama
route. the one actually chosen. is much
superior to both the Nicaragua and
DarfesiA routes.
Our people found on the isthmus Ger
tain amount Of old French material and
equipment which could be used Some OF
it, in addition. could be sold as scrap
iron Some could be used for furnishing
the foundation for filling in. For much
no possible ust' could be devised that
would not cost more than it would bring
in.
The work Is now going on with a
vigor and efficiency pleasant to witness.
The three big problems OF the canal are
the La Bocsi dams. the Gatun DAM and
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-12-21
ANNUAL STATEMENT
Hoe the Year Enaiag December 81,
a. ID. 1905,
OF the condition and affairs of the
0ANkERe RESERVE LIFE lNSUR-
ANCE COMPANY.
ANNUAL STATEMENT

&}8X8ul3eQ uuO0r the laws OF NeDTaSka,
made to the Commissioner of Insurance
Of the State OF South Dakota. in pur-
euance of the laws of said state. Presi-
6ent Robt. L. Robinson: Secretary.
Ray C. Wagner. Principal ONCE, Ware
Block. Fifteenth and Farnam streets,
neocee6 Ia the state Of South Dakota
Information furnished by Commissioner
of Insurance). Incorporated March %,
199z. Commenced business March %.
Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1906-04-26
YOUNG VS., kA(FAa[ANE
RESULTS IN M|STRIi[

After the jury had been out all night
the action to quiet titlc of Alexander
jourg against +. W. Macfarlanc ct al.
finally ended in n mistrial. The jury
retired to consider n verdict at $3.50
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. II was
sent to dinner n p. M. and returned
10 the Jury room at 1880 y. M. remain.
Ing there until / y. m, when the jury
stood G to 6. At . n. IN. the jury re-.
sumCd It's labors, but II was of no
avail. At 1910 the jury reported that
Il could not agree. II took three bal.
lots during the forenoon. the votes of
which stood I to ), q to 6, and Z to 3,
respectively. The attorneys ON both
sides agreed to enter non.suit as far
ms Mrs. Wilder, one Of the defendants,
was concerned. In regard To the rest
tho result was misttrial. The bone
Of contention in the case is piece
Of property at Waikiki.
Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1906-04-26
HAWAII AND SAN FRANCISCO

Estimates Of San FranCiscO's losses
taken in connection with the state.
ments regarding the payment Of insur
anee and the great relief fund that
has poured into the city from all d.
reCtiOns, offer a better prospect for
rapid and successful reconstruction
than might well be expected.
The city will no. he itself again for
many long day but the Indications
for its prestige being transferred
across the bay or TO any Of It's com.
pettOrs finds little confirmation In
the detail of events as given in the
dispatches.
The banks are sound and the loans
they have made are not likely to have
averaged beyond most conservative
values. Statements Of the insurance
companies furnish fair guarantee
that large fund will be available
for the payment Of The heaviest losses.
This will Immediately return to bust,
ness channels. Every business man
will use what he has left TO rccoup his
losses. The relief fund considered with
the figures given Of the numbers home
less allows over ten dollars for every
man, woman and child, which should
be ample and leave a margin, This
relief fund Is In addition to the great
amount of supplies sent in.
Rebuilding and the work of clearing