davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-01-31
MENACE TO ALL
Giant Mail Order Concerns
Are Sopping Country of
Its Wealth.
SMALLER TOWNS CRUSHED
BY Assisting in the Capitalization
OF Wealth, Patrons Of These In
situations Contribute to Their
Own Injury.

Copyright, 1906. by Alfred c. Clark)
Every year millions upon millions OF
dollars find their way from the towns
villages and rural districts of the coun-
try to the Golfers of the mail order
houses in the cities, and go to the up
building of enormous institutions In
the centers of population. Naturally,
the sources from which the contribu-
lions are made suffer accordingly.
Figures ever tell better story than
words. Here are figures which tell
a story so stupendous that it's full sig
nificance cannot be grasped in a mo-
ment, but the mere sight of which are
awe inspiring:
In the year 1906 two mail order
houses, located in Chicago, did bust.
ness amounting in round numbers to
$S0,000,000 In ahe year 1904 these
same concerns did a business of about
62,000,000. gain of $1S,O00.000 or
nearly 30 per cent. In q single year be-
ing thus exhibited.
These figures represent the sale last
year of one dollars worth of merchan-
disc for every man, woman and child
in the country by two catalogue houses
alone, and those operating from the
same central point. Dozens more OF
varying size and Importance are oper.
ating all over the country from coast
The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-01-31
Bomb Thrower an Iowa Man.

Robert Steele, who undoubtedly is
the bomb thrower who wrecked the
Fourth Street National bank in Phila.
delphia, left Garner, Ia, six years ago
with his wife and two children, going
to Chicago where he secured employ
ment. From there he went. east and
while he did not correspond with per-
sons in Garner it was learned there
that he had located in Philadelphia.
While in Garner he ran a harvesting
machine shop in which he was not
overly successful in securing work.
He was of morose, Respondent, rstir-
The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-01-31

The MAN Behind the PloW" last year
number millions which found
order houses. The smaller comm
were thus deprived Of II, suffered
to coast and from border to border.
A fact not generally known is that
hundreds of concerns throughout the
country which now are doing business
through the regular trade channels are
awaiting only parcels post law to
unloose literature, already prepared
in many instances, which would pro-
ject them into the mail order field, and
this does not take into account the
hundreds and perhaps thousands of
entirely new mail order concerns
which inevitably would spring into OK
istence under such friendly auspices.
The two Chicago institutions re-
ferred to, already occupying immense
buildings, found themselves cramped
for room. One of thcm expended not
less than 81, 100000, and probably more.
for new home. The other lately has
secured a new location and also will
expend at least s1,000,000 for an i'm.
mense new building.
Anyone who will reflect even casual
ly on the subject must become i'm
pressed that the Influence OF the mail
order business is toward tho central
lzation of wealth. end Low enormous
part it is playing In this direction
will be understood from a second
glance at the figures which have been
given above.
It is due to himself that every patron
of the mail order house chonld Inquire
honestly OF himself what The final out
come is to be If the mail order bust.
ness shall continue to mako the great
strides which have marked 10 prog
rees during the last half decade.
1t 10 useless 20 repeat the well worn
argument of the mail order concerns
that they arc selling goods enough
more chcaply than the merchants IN
the regular channels @: r,ad. &c leave
their customers more mercy than
ever to devote u home -a.ei prison
and institutions. TIE :silAey &c this
statement ras been proved over and
over again By aciia; and minute com,
parisor.s OF goods. az to their quality
and prices. re Isfute II nnsily and
ihdisputably BY simpler and moro
direct method Il il necessary only TO
ask the reliable business men or any
of the smaller communities to show
the evidence from their books and &C,
counts OF the harm the mail order
habit is doing their communities.
1t is a truth as old as the hills and
as certain as the rising and setting of
the sun that no country or section of
corstry can prosper unless the poo,
The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-01-31

the nitroglycerin's force was hurled
Hat upon the floor, many beneath
crashing, cutting showers OF heavy
glass from the skylights and parti-
lions, some beneath the desks at
which they had been sitting a second
before.
Not only from the banks quarters,
but from all over the building came
cries of terror and shouts OF warning
Men and women raced out through
both OF the big doorways into Fourth
street. some fleeing for blocks In their
fright. Pedestrians stopped in amaze
ment as they heard the great boom"
and saw fugitives with bloody faces
and hands pouring from the building.
In the terrific explosion both Nc.
Lear and the bomb.thrower were in
stantly killed. A negro messenger
named William Crump, who was try.
ing to eject the stranger. had both his
eyes blown out and was fatally in.
jured A dozen or more employees and
patrons We're severely hurt and the
entire first floor of the bank was
wrecked.
The cashiers body was torn limb
from limb. Both legs were blown off,
one arm was blown from it's shoulder;
half the head was all that remained.
OF the bomb-thrower so little was
left that a waste basket contained all
that was later taken to the morgue.
He was literally shattered to atoms.
The only thing that remained Intact
about his body or his clothing WAS a
little brass name plate attached to a
bunch of keys, which was found near
strip of blue cloth that had been
part of his trousers. The wordp 'R.
| Steele, Garner. Ia" we're inscribed
upon the plate. Through this Chew 1t
was discovered that the man was Rob.
ert Steele, who had left the Iowa town
six years ago for the east, ana had
presumably been living with wife
and three children somewhere ia this
city then. His identity would probably
never have been known for the little
brass plate.
President Rushton, whom the
stranger had left only half minute
| tlIOWlhS liiG boIlDt CotdpCo
serious injuries, but had several small
cuts on his face and hands. First Vice
| President Edward i. Shanbacker
though only a few feet away, was un
scathed. Second Vice President b. M
FARES, whose desk is mere ster
from the cashiers, probably escaped
death only through having bean IL
and having stayed at home.
The explosions force swept through
every department of the bank and
wrought havoc as it Went. In tho col
lateral department, not far away from
where the bomb was thrown, 100000
worth of valuable securities were
blown from the desks and trays ant
were scattered in a twisted, torn mass
Just outside the waiting loom
which is in the same section OF thu
bank, a massive brick fireplace. sur
mounted by large marble clock, wa
The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-01-31

wiped out of existence, not a trace re-
naming of either timepiece or bricks.
Bank Notes Swept Away.
From the desks of the paying teller
and receiving teller the conclusion
and consequent rush of air swept at
least $4,000 in bank notes. The clerks
and officials there, as well as those in
the collateral department, forgot their
injuries, heroically, and went to work
at once to rescue the money and Sc
curities. 1t was reported that two
certified checks-one for $4,000 and
the other for still larger sum-were
missing. 1t was not known whether
they were destroyed, blown out of the
building, or stolen in the excitement.
So terrific was the force OF the ex-
plosion that the dead cashiers watch,
a heavy, gold hunting-case timepiece,
was bent from it's fiat shape into the
form OF a horseshoe. A fiat, mashed
piece of gold found upon the floor
near where the bomb was thrown was
identified as a ring he had worn.
Whole Building Shaken.
As high up as the fifth floor OF the
The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-01-31

,dilding desk In an office directly
over the bank was completely upset
and the employees panic-stricken. a
medley Of bells sounded all through
the building as telephone bells in each
office began to tinpie under the vibra'
ton OF the building and chimes sound
ed on every side The news stand In
front of the bank was mixed up as
badly as though II had been turned
upside down. Papers. books and mag
aSines were scattered everywhere.
II was an hour before anything like
order was restored. Some of the bank
officials and clerks actually did not
know they We're injured until friends
or strangers pointed out their wounds
The banks telephone system was
thrown out OF order by the explosion
and the attaches ran all aver the
neighborhood bloody and disarrayed
seeking phones over which they could
let their families know that they were
safe.
Eugene Mcllhone, secretary to the
second vice president. who was caught
almost in the center Of the explosions
| radius, recovered consciousness before
aid reached him, and then walked
about for five minutes, dazed and help
less, before he discovered that the in.
dex finger of his right hand had been
blown completely off
| Crowds numbering thousands gath
cred in Fourth street. In front OF the
building; in Harmony street, to the
south of it, and in Orianna street. up
on which the rear windows face
Along both these latter streets ghast
| ly relics abounded In Orianna street
were fragments of glass and wood to
which particles OF flesh adhered. Har
mony street was Uttered from curb tc
curb with glass and wood. with here
and there bit of brass from the
grillwork Some of the ultra-morbid
took away in their pockets some bits
of the debris as souvenirs.
All afternoon and evening the Bull
lit building was visited by the
crowds At night the police were still
in charge of the bank. The officials
were there, too, going over accounts
to see that the money and securities
were intact. Outside of the two certi-
fled checks reported missing. it was
said, unofflcially, that everything had
been found
The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-01-31

pie as whole shall be prosperous
Such general prosperity as may exist
cannot be retained II the institutions
OF the already larger and Weather
communities are 70 continue 10 DO
built up by contributions that should
be spent at home from the thousands
of smaller communities
The need of the country a desper
ate need upon which the welfare Of
the individual depends is Tor the
upbuilding and continued progress Of
the smaller communities, so that the
wealth of the country may We distftb-
uted over the entire country. and not
congested and controlled in iayge
amounts In comparative few centers
OF population.
Therefore the man VINO sends away
from his own community money which
he might have spent at home and per
mitted fair profit to the home met
chant to be retained there Tor the
benefit of the community, Is injuring
his community, and thereby the pros
poets for his own future prosperity.
In large number of instances he js
doing more than this. Unwittingly, or
unthinkingly perhaps, he is violating
his own principles of right and justice,
for. at the expense of his own com.
munity. he is needlessly contributing
profits to the capitalistic combinations.
which he continuously cries Out are
menacing the country.
The mail order giants direct their
energies particularly toward the peo-
| pie of the smaller towns and the agrl
cultural districts. In hundreds of
thousands of the homes OF these the
catalogue of the mail order house Is as
regularly received as the home paper.
The man on the farm last year sent a
very large portion OF eighty millions
Of dollars to two OF these institutions,
in one community, alone.
In all sincerity we ask Admitting.
purely for the sake OF the argument,
! that the farmer or the resident of the
small community can save a few dol
] lars on some Of his purchases, or even
The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-01-31

Philadelphia.-It was just 11:4O
o'clock, 20 minutes before closing time
a$ the Fourth National bank on the
morning of January 5, when a tall
dark, unkempt stranger entered the
bank corridor from the north corridor
OF the Bullitt building. Patrons of
the bank-not many in number, for
tunRtely-were passing in and out to
make deposits or drafts before noon
The clerks and tellers were busy to-
falling up their sheets for the day. The
of1cers were hurrying to wind up their
baeiness. Scarcely anyone noticed
Z the newcomer.
He had on dark blue suit of cloth
ing, those who saw him remember,
ragged and shiny from age He wore
. slack SLOUGH hat. He peered around,
hesitatingly, and then caught sight of
President Rushton standing near one
of2fhe vaults, which were soon to be
I closed. He must have known Mr..
Kushton, for he did not ask anyone for
the president, but approached him and
spoke to him Immediately.
my name is G.. e. Williams" he
said "and 1 live in the suburbs of
Philadelphia. want to know il you
can let me have a loan Of $4,000"
MI. Rushton saw that the man was
Eoue sort of crank, and to get rid of
him, asked that he name his securi-
ues. which the president would con-
st1er before making the loan. At the
same time, Mr.. Rushton signalled to
CruHp, the Waterman, a splendidly
built big negro, who wore a gray uni
for1r and to the banks patrons, was
ne,of the most familiar figures about
the place.
As the Waterman responded, Mr..
Aushton whispered: Get rid of this
fcllow, won't you, Bob" addressing
the colored man by the nickname
which the financial men of the dis
trlct long ago applied to him. But the
Intruder pressed up close to the presi-
dent again before Crump could reach
him.
insurance Policy as Security.
MY securities-why, I've got life
inArrance policy that runs out In five
years," said the stranger. His manner
was hesitating and he stammered
elishtly. TN show you some pictures
that are worth q lot OF money. too"
The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-01-31
The puzx;e Solved.

Some time $40 merchant II Mar
blchead. HAAS was discovered IN bis
store at a vcrr late hour, and In reply.
ing 10 inquiries. lac said:
My confidential clery is MISSING"
And what OF it?"
why, PA looking over the boois..
but they scein 10 be all right"
Have you counted your cash?"
Yes; and il Is correct To dollar" ~
looked over your bank book?"
have. and II is satisfactory.
That's The puzzle. you sec He's.
skipped, and ! can't mako out what,
for"
"Been home since noon?'
NO"
"perhals he's -loped with your
wife"
Iic hurried home, and fosna this to
be the case.
The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-01-31

And he drew from his pocket two
photographs, dirty and torn. One was
of woman, the other little girl. 1t
is supposed that they were pictures
of his wife and daughter The banker
would not take them in his hand and
scarcely more than glanced at them.
They could not be found later.
BY now MIR. Rushton was sure that
the man had no legitimate business
with him, so he excused himself on =
plea of considering the security Of
fered. and went around a corner OF
the corridor, waving his hand in the
direction of the cashiers office, to in
dictate that Crump should conduct the
unWelcome visitor there.
The man was so big and strong that
he would have been match for the
negro had it come to physical en-
counter, and probably both Mr.. Rush
ton and Crump unconsciously decided
that the best thing to do was to let
Mr. Mclean attend to him. The
Waterman had already taken the WIS.,
itor towards McLear's Office before
President Rushton's signal.
The cashier was sitting at his dess,
which was behind waist-high coun-
ter and separated from the main cor
ridor of the bank only by law rail-
ing. William McLear was a big,
hearty, jovial chap. who could handle
any sort of man without giving him
offense, and could get rid of him with
out creating a scene
He was good fellow" with every
body, a handsome, likable man. Every
bank has a man of that type as a val
liable Guinness asset, man who rep
resented the institution at conven-
tions, banquets and social affairs, who
by his personality secures and holds
the business of the smaller banks in
country towns. That was McLear's
place here. He had been with the bank
nearly 20 years, had gained for 1t
much business, and had been pro-
NOTED upon his merits from one post
to another until not long ago he be.
came cashier when Vice President
Shunbacker took his present place.
Just exactly what happened then
may never be known. A business
man who was not far away saw Nc
Lear rise to meet the stranger and a
moment later heard the latters voice,
high-pitched and angry. Only the
words five thousand dollars" could
be made out. The business man, not
+ interested in the talk, turned away.
Crash Heard Blocks Away.
Then came the ripping, grinding
decorating crash. The roar of 1t was
heard six blocks away. A great pun
of smoke swept upward with the de-
bris and drifted as high as the eighth
or top story of the Bullitt building.
Every pane of glass about the bank
was shattered in a twinkling, and
every piece of brass grill work was
bent and twisted and torn.
A score of desks within a radius of
ten yards seemed to leap straight in
the air. and then drop back and crash
upon the marble floor. There appeared
to be sheet of flame in the immedi-
ate vicinity of the explosion, for some
of the desks were blackened and
some curtains and woodwork at the
eastern end OF the inclousre in which
McLear had his desk took fire.
Every person within the radios of
The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-01-31

contributed large portion Of the vast
their way into the Golfers Of the mall
unities to which II belonged, and which
accordingly.
that he could do SO on all OF them. can
he afford to continue to impoyerish
his own community, upon which his
own prosperity, the very value Of his
lane ienends?
If he will ask himself this question
and consider it soberly and fairly Ia
all of its phases. including the many
which cannot be touched upon within
the limits Of single article, we think
his answer must be that he cannot
The wonderful productivity of this.
country has been sufficient to over
come the various adverse economic in
fiuences which have existed during tile
period of years in which the mail or
der business has accomplished It's
greatest growth Everyone has been
getting along pretty well." While the
increasing flow of golden millions from
their source in tho land OF the coun-
try to the already great centers of
money and population has held back
tho growth OF the smaller communi-
ties. it has not yet occasioned great
disaster. The test will come with the,
first pinch of hard times" eoDdl.
ton which no country over has been,
able to escape at recurring Intervals.
Whom this time arrives those com
munities viii best stand the test which.
have BEST conserved and husbaDdodr
their reFourccp.
JOHN s. POTTS.
The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-01-31
HAVOC BY EXPLOSION.

The Fourth National is the
wealthiest national bank in Phil.
adelphia-
President Rushton is the head
~ the Philadelphia Clearing
House association.
Steele, the bombthrower, Is
kupwn in Chicago as an anarchist
When the demand for money
was refused Steele dropped the
bomb at the feet of himself and
the cashier.
Both the cashier and the bomb
Narrower were blown to pieces and
Battered over the bank.
The interior of the bank was
wrecked and money and blood
blown even out the windows.
The police reserves and firemen
were called to prevent footing.
Panic reigned throughout the
eltht-story structure and in the
lyieaNity of the bank.
The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-01-31
NIse pavld.

Wife-"Why do you always sit at.
the piano. David? You know YOU
can't play note," payid-"Neithe.
can anyone else. wbAle ! ann heroi"
The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-01-31
Accounted For.

She-Mr. Dudleigh is looking more
like himself, don't you think?
is dead.-Puck
The Elbert County tribune., 1907-11-14
Part Of Section

Reserving, however, to the State of Colorado
all rights TO any coal or other mineral Of any char
acter underlying said land and the right of in
gress and egress for the purpose of mining to.
gethei with enough of the surface Of same as may
be necessary for the proper and convenient work
ing of such mineral.
Value of Improvements on this land as apprais
ed by this Department. 5000
Owner of Improvements, E Z. Baldwin, Elbert
Colo.
Sale Application No. 4l57.
No land will be sold at less than the minimum
price per acre. as given above. The parcels will
be sold in the above order, and each tract will be
sold as described above-be the same more or
less.
Terms OF payment shall be as follows, viz: On
lands selling for So 80 to s25 per acre 10 per cent
of the purchase money on the day OF sale the bal
ance IN eighteen equal annual payments at 6 per
cent. per ahnum. Lands selling at more than S25
per acre and less than SIS per acre. 20 per cent
cash on the day Of sale, the balance In fourteen
equal annual payments ut per cent per annum
Lands selling for sI5 aud upwards, 80 per cent
cash. and balance in seven equal annual pay
ments at per cent interest. II the purcha ser
does not own the improvements, he must paw for
the same at sale. Purchaser will execute bond
as provided in Section %, act OF July H. lNn
must be citizen of the United States or one who
has declared his intention of betomng such and
must pay apprasement and ADVERTISING fees
JOHN +. VIVIAN,
Register State Board of Land Commits sioncrs
First publication Nov. I, last Nov. 2s, 1901
The Elbert County tribune., 1907-11-14
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION.
pepartment of tho rn,or,o,

Department Of the Interior,
Land Office at Denver. Colo, Oct H. 1907.
Notice is hereby given that Miss Ina Kaufman,
now Mrs. Ina Simpson. of Limon. Colo has filed
notice OF her intention to make final commutati
proof In support OF her claim, viz Homestead
Entry Entry No; % sse made August q, 1906 for the
~ = section 20 Township ~ South, Range 81
west 6th 7 NJ. and that said proof will be made
before the Register and Receiver at Denver, Colo,
She names the following witnesses to prove her
the land. viz:
Albert Peck. of Limon Colo
Charles stotder, of Linon Colo.
George W Pickenpaugh, of Limon Colo.
Charles Riley. OF Limon, Colo.
q. d. FORD. Register.
First pub. Oct. II, last Nov. 2i, I9O7.
The Elbert County tribune., 1907-11-14
CONTEST NOTICE.
Department OF the Interior,
United States Land Office

Pueblo, Colo, Nov 1, 1907.
sufficient contest affidavit having been filed
in this office by John W. Magnuson, contestant,
against Homestead Entry No. 1924, made Sept.
%, 1906, for 50 SW4 Section 26. and Sh SEA
Section q. all in Township II South. Range 80 ".
by j. Albert Fors conestee in which it is ale sed
that said j. Albert Fors has failed To reside upon,
improve or cultivate said land any part thereof
according to law, and has wholly abandoned the
same for period of more than six months last
past: and that said alleged absence from said land
was not due to his employment in the army. navy
or marine corps of the United States u private
soldier, officer. seaman or marine during the
with Spain. or 'ing any other war in which the
United States may be engaged;
Now Therefore,
said parties are hereby notified to appear, respond
and offer evidence touching said allegation at 10
O'Clock "A. IN. on December 16. 1907, before the
Register and Receiver at the United States Land
Office in Pueblo, Colo.
The said contestant having, in a proper affidavit
hled october "a, 1907, set forth facts which show
that after due diligence personal service of this
notice can not he IN ade. 1t II hereby ordered and
directed that such notice be given by due and
proper publication. s. A. ABBEY, Register
First pub Nov. IA last Dec. s, 1917.