davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1907-11-16
COUNTRY LAND VALUES.
Influence of Motor Cars in That Par
ticular.

Grant Parish. real estate broker who
makes specially of the higher class of
country property, recently returned from
an extended trip through the Newport
r. L. section. and while there had the
opportunity to study the recent develop
ment of real estate conditions in New
England. In conversation with Mr.. Par
ish, he said: The automobile has been
the most powerful factor in the advance
and improvement of the land values not
only in the New England country among
the abandoned farms, but throughout the
world the automobile has annihilated dis
tance, and in the field of country prop
erty. either among plain farmers or the
aristocracy of the country gentlemen. to
the automobile is due the turning of the
people back into the deep interior, where
only a few years ago land could not be
given away.
AT Newport l visited a gentleman who
owned pretty Swiss chalet on the shore
front overlooking Narragansett bay
Here | found him using an automobile 70
travel to town. which he covers in about
six minutes. Previous to the advent of
the auto this land was unSalab bic at any
price If the machine was not in use to
travel about it was used to pump water
saw wood, and. in case of fire. arrange
ments in the way of attachments have
been installed SO the automobile can de-
NelOD power to throw a stream of water
over the house with enough energy to
fight fire.
Returning to our own section, the auto
mobile has finished the work that the
trolley started years ago. With the ad-
try property. But the electric roads had
the real beg inning of the interest in coun-
try property. But the electric road had
its limits of usefulness. What was mile
away was handicapped that of two miles
hard proposition and the three-mle
distance entirely out Of the question: and
might just ;iS well be a hundred or more
miles away. the creation of the practical
and modest priced automobile has made
the land owners of the interior even those
Of Tie foothills and mountain tops, i'm
for country lands.
The advent of the auto has made it
possible for business men to live all the
year round al their country seats. coming
20 town with rapid comfort" continued
Mr.. Parish. For example, Mr.. E c.
Converse. the financial magnate of New
York. Ives eight miles from Greenwich
Conn, which is thirty miles from New
York. Mr.. Converse allows himself only
fifteen minutes to reach his train The
astonishing interest and utility of the au-
tomobiie will bring thousands of acres of
waste and neglected ,irginia and Mary
land lands into cultivation and demand
To assist the state and county officials
! should see that the good roads propa-
gaHda be continued
Evening star., 1907-11-16
Union Station Plaza.

1t is to be hoped that when the ght-
ing arrangements of the plaza in front Of
the Union station are disclosed they will
reveal this space brilliantly illuminated.
and If they do not that they will be so
amended as to produce this result.
''If there is to be one space within the
confines of the capita waich should be
a blaze of lights It is this square. which
speeds the departing guest and welcomes
the newt should. in fact. !,ecome IA
nous for the bril.,ancy of its l!nmina-
lions. The general attractiyencss of
city may be greatly. enhanced : he ar
rangement Of its street i'lm nations,
and no city in this country offers oppor-
tuntieS in this respect approaching
Washington. Most cities are poorly light
ed from d spirit of mispla" d municipal
economy, though no complaint can be
made on this score as CARDS the priu-
cipal thoToughfares of the capital par
ticularly Pennsylvania avenue. Indeed,
when the travelling Wastinston!an hits
this biazad trail in the heart of his home
after an experience III other l"ss-iaNOred
municipalities il makes him NOR" appre-
ciative of the privileges he enjoys.
Evening star., 1907-11-16
Easily Made Refrigerator.

HpuSekeeoers Who have only a small
quantity Of butter. milk or something like
that. which they wish 10 keep cool for .
few Ho4rs. need ugt worry themselves to
nak- Il long tTlB downstairs into the
cellar 90 the refrigerator and back again
An "Ncelient small capacity rafrigera tor
car nt imurovisad out OF a tweIve-iuch
fio~"r Dot Pui whatever is wanted Oh
al iul rrtrd saucer. n a large. dish OF
tray Turn the flower pot over the
san! stop the EttIe drainage hole with
cork. pour water over the pot and let
IL run down into the tray until II is a
hal inch 10 an inch deep. and the thing
is done.
Tie pot Is porous and eyaporates the
water with sufficient rapidity to keep the
interior perfectly cool and the plate OF
butter or bottle Ot milk will De AS well
preserved as though in q refrigerator.
Evening star., 1907-11-16
Mixture and Use of the Beton.

stones or other cheap material are
mixed with the mortar. thus constituting
the baton Cinders. coke and furnace
Stag may be substituted for stones in
ordinary house and wall work. If broken
stone is used. the pieces from u.1S TO
236 inches in length. Tie proportions
are usually two parts OF stone for one
Of mortar for work under water: III OPEN
air work the proportion of stone may be
increased.
For ODen-air work a coker or mold is
built. into which the beton is poured in
horizontal layers from eight to twelve
inches thick and then rammed. A layer
Of beton cannot be distributed above an
other which has already st until its sur
face has been picked and washed and
finally given a coat Of cement and water
of the consistency of cream.
In both France and Germany a light
weight beton is made of cinders Build
ings several stories in height can be erect
ed of this cinder beton. which can be
laid as in the other cases cited or treated
like armed cement. One-story structures
require 10 anchorage bars. Several very
large factories have been built at Lyon of
this beton. Sometimes the cinderS are
worked into blocks and laid up like cut
stone. In all cases the cnders must be
screened and then mixed at the rate of
on" cubi" ward of cinders to one-half cubic
yard of hydraulic mortar. composed of
1
five cubit feet of sand. the lime can
be replaced by $50. pounds of Port nd
cem ment. The proportion of mortar can
be shaded slightly if the materials are
good
The striking economies effected in
France are obtained by the free usr of
cheap local material whatever it may be.
and by the equally free use of lime where
cement probably would he used in the
United States. If the work be care fully
planned and performed hardly more lime
is needed than If cement were used, and
whereas a good Portland cement now
costs from $IG.22 to 5000 per ton in
MarsrIlle an equally good hydraulic lime
costs but $3.50 per ton IN the rural
districts the peasants use any Kind of
lime and they build houses which last
hundreds Of wears.
buildings constructed with brton can
be completed by coating Ot lime or
cement mortar. which. being laid on and
lined. gives a finish that loses little by
comparison with cut stone and cffeCtUully
prevents the absorption of moisture.
Evening star., 1907-11-16
No Smoking on the Cruise.
San Francisco Chronicle

From the San Francisco Chronicle.
The Standard Oil steamer Seminole
which arrived here yesterday from the
orient brought the most dangerous cargo
ever carried across the Pacific, and the
first of its kind. The Seminole is loaded
with benzina in bulk In the great tanks
below the oil ships decks are G,diD tons OF
the spirit that makes the automobiles
move enough of it. if exploded, to trans
plant San Francisco to the vicinity OF the
Farallones.
With this magazine of potential dastruc-
ton below it's decks. the Seminole Weat h
cred terrific typhoon which brought al
on board face to face with the hereafter.
entilators carry off the dang Gus gases
from the infiammable cargo, and from
skipper to TeSSbOy not soul on board
has been allowed to smOk" since the stun
was placed in the tanks at Singapore
The benZine was refined from Sumatra
OIL, and is the first bulk cargo Of the
spirit ever brought to this port.
Evening star., 1907-11-16
FOR OFFICE BUILDINGS.
Changes to Be Made by the Firm Of
Muir & Co.

1t is understood that Mr.. Thomas F.
Walsh has decided to abandon the idea Of
building on the property owned by him at
the northwest corner of l4th street and
New York avenue. In view of this de-
cision on the part of Mr. Walsh extensive
repairs have been made in the oxford
Hotel. occupying the corner. the interior of
the building and the furnishings having
been renewed throughout. The buildings
owned by Mr.. Walsh extending from l4o3
70 1907 New York avenue. have been
leased by the firm OF Charles S. Muir Il
Co for a term of years, and the company
named will at once proceed to make ex-
tensive repairs TO the bul dlngs with
view to remodeling them for use as mod
ern Offices
Owing to the central location, the de-
mand Tor office accommodations in TINS
locality is regarded as warranting che hrm
in making the changes contemplated IN
these buildings.
Evening star., 1907-11-16
CONCRETE ROOFS.
Found to Be Adaptable for Use in
India.

A very useful and interesting note on
the problem Of roofs in the United Prov
inces Of India has been written by Mr..
II. S. Wildehlood. superintendent engi-
neer at present under secretary to the
government of India in the P. w. D. The
question of the best form of roof for the
plains of India, says the Indian Engi-
neer, has lately been engaging the at
tention of the engineers OF these prov
inces. and though the matter is still
more or less at an experimental stage
certain definite conclusions have been ar
rived at. and the obj ct of the note is,
the writer says. to help junior officers
who are interested in the subject. and
who are willing to profit from eXperi-
ments carried out by their predecessors
without waste of time in traversing old
grOund The writer also expresses the
hope that 1t may lead to an exchange o.
ideas on this and kindred subjects. which
would be of interest to the consulting
architect to the government of India an
to others who are making a study of the
Improvement of house building in India.
though Mr.. Wildeb,ood's note deals only
with one small part OF the larger
question
The writer briefly traces the history
of the various forms of roof in use from
the last century and Of the attempts
rection. The serious disadvantages. not
the least of which is its high cost OF
tie Jack arch roof. perhaps the mos
permanent form Of roof construction
known till recently. are very clearly
brought cut. The writer then goes on TO
explain that the introduction in Europ
and America of reinforced concrete SaV2
engineers in India the idea of improving
their roofs by means of this most useful
form of construction. The experiments
which have been carried out. and which
are described in the note. have been at
tended by the most satisfactory results,
and show that the reinforced concrete
roof is by far and away the best in every
way 1t was found that with forty parts
of the ordinary pure kankar lime mortar
Of the plains and 100 parts of brick bal
last broken to a gauge Of one lncn,
concrete roof eight inches thick with
seven strand wires running through it at
six feet between joists, was capable of
bearing distributed loads of over 900
pounds to the square foot. Larger spans,
which are no doubt possible, are now
being tried. Roofs made thus of rein
forced concrete proved cheaper than those
of jack arches and fiat ceilings can easily
be given to the rooms by merely plaster
ing the lower surface of the concrete
slabs, while expansion joints, which are
necessary to prevent Irregular cracking.
can very easily be arranged for The
concrete roof has also been proved to be
infinitely cooler than the jack arch o,
any other form of roof in use in India.
For verandas. where the chief func-
ton of the roof is to shade the walls OF
the main building at a minimum of cost,
the light sloping roof of lock" tiles laid
on angle steel batterns, resting on steel
joist rafters and light stone, or. where
stone is too expensive, castiron columns.
is recommended.
Evening star., 1907-11-16
The Simple Life in London.
From the Gentlewoman.

What with caravanins. camping out, re-
nouncing meat and wine and buying
ready mace froCks. good many Of rs are
trying cur best to lead tire mple life. 1t
is doubtless better for thr next Gai ra-
ton that the young girls of tilis can
scarcely be induced 10 touch tn cup That
n2briates as well as cheers
Even young men. Ney.lla Lytton
among them. are Wanting tn virtues
of fruit. nuts and vegetables as food.
And barley water. actually barley water
is becoming popular as a drink. Mrs
Earle of Surrey Garden fam. ami aunt
of tn present Lord LyttOn. is an ardent
disciple Of vegetarianism; So. too al
though lsss Gogmatic a ona. the Duchess
of Rutland-aye, and Lady Plymouth
and the young Lady Lytton and the Bar
onne de Meye~. besides Anyhow. it IS
quite sign of the times that the Duchess
of Portland gave a luncheon party some
time ago at the EuStace Miles restaurant.
and her guests included Arthur Balfour
and Lord Ravelstuke and tn Duchess Of
Marlborough.
Evening star., 1907-11-16
FREE FROM POLITICS
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AND
THE BEST RESULTS.

The current number of Municipal En-
gineering Magazine contains some peril
nent comments on the effect OF politics
upon the subordinates in municipal of
fees. The author Mr.. NJ. l.. Sherrerd,
saws
''To obtain the best results in handling
the important problems which confront
the smallest as well as the largest of our
municipalities politics should be elim-
mated from their consideration. 1t IS not
meant in using this expression to convey
the idea that tenure of Office is the con-
trolling thought A broad"r view would
suggest that as a most effective and stable
method of arriving at the best results the
municipal officer himself and particularly Y
the heads of the engineering departments
of our city governments should strive con
tinually and dsntere stcdly to eliminate
politics from his own office, beginning
with his own consideration OF municipal
affairs as shown in his official reports
and advice. An esprit du corps can be
established in the engineering departing Mt
of municipal government, if properly
fostered which should result in as eff
cient manage ment of this branch of NUM-
cipal affairs as is obtained in a large
private corporation.
at must be admitted that it is difficult
and some may say it is impossible, that
any department OIL HluHIctpdl StNci ii-iIt itt
can be satisfactorily maintained on this
basis. but where il has been conscientious
ly inaugurated and adhered to, perhaps
with many setbacks, 1t has certainly re-
suited in the improvement of the service
rendered and in great advantage to the
municipality Such a mana cement of the
engineers department will result in leaV-
ing the engineer free to give proper and
effectual consideration to the technical
problems which confront him. The in
auguration of civil service. provided due
weight is given TO a mans prac,-cal eX-
perience. would in a measure eliminate
the political question in the admission OF
new employees in the department. Q
more readily provide that the action OF
the engineer in charge of a municipal de-
partment may be independent of political
bias 1t would seem advantageous that
such engineer act in an advisory capacity
for the different public boards with which
his duties are concerned rather than that
he should be a member of such boards.
Evening star., 1907-11-16
"BLEST BE THE TIE"
How the Familiar Old Hymn Came to
Be Written.
From the Church Eclectic.

From the Church Eclectic.
Not one in a thousand of those who sing
that good old hymn .'Blest Be the Tie
That Binds knows the history of its
komely origin.
1t was written by the Rev John Faw-
cett who in the latter part OF the eight
eenth century Was the paste: of a poor
little church in Locksh!re. England. His
family and responsibilities were large. his
salary was less than 81 a week.
In 1872 he felt himself Obliged to accept
il call to a London church. HIS farewell
sermon lad been preached. six wagons
loaded with furniture and books stood by
the door. His congregation. men. women
and children, were in an agony of tears.
Mr. Fawcett and his wife sat down on
a packing case and c~ied with the others.
Looking up, Mrs. Fawcett said:
"Oh. John. John, l cannot bear this! l
know not where to goi
Nor |, either" said he: nor will we
go, Unload the wagons and put every
thing back in its old place.
| His letter of acceptance to the London
| church recalled. and he wrote this
hymn to commemorate the episode.
Evening star., 1907-11-16
Kings as Lin gusts.
From Tit Bits.

king among those sitting upon European
thrones is the kaiS-r. whose French is
extraordinarily pure and idiomatic and
who alsD speaks excellent English. al
though he has never been able TO rid
himself of strong German accent But
the emperor employs foreign tongue
only on state occasions. when ii is Il cas-
of noblesse obliga. and even while lully
aware IF the cars dislike TO most things
German. including the language, h,
speechities to Nicholas rs poite French
toastS in sonorouS. cultural German.
The kings OF Spain and Italy are also
good lngusts, and among the queens and
prince sses of Europe the talent for Ia Il
guages is quite extraordinary and adds
greatly to the grace and charm of mod 'rn
court life
Evening star., 1907-11-16
LIME BETON IN USE
AN ENDURING MATERIAL FOR
CONSTRUCTION WORK.

Another composition resembling con-
crete used in France. known as 'baton, -
is thus described nv Consul General r
n e,l,.,.,,,,. e ,,...:,,
i~'i'iS 'tt"" HdS peeh III longer ana
more general use than cement concretes
II was a frst-class M. rial when urada
with ordinary o,,icLlir,a ap1 sir,., nv
,,i -; 49,,
mn nos 'eVH "H@H 1t - p1'ler
II Is cheaper composition than Cemen Il
hetOn or concrete. easier to work. and if
The initial load he nor ton .,reat il j. fnr
,.,,.,,. .. - ;
''' '''S '',' 80 so'N' q
S''' i'.h' 'tV'H can p' opitilhed ny mix
ng mortar and stones. gravel or cinders
mortar and "ood-sizad stones nalin. the
Evening star., 1907-11-16
The Woodcock's Ear.
rom the Big Run Tr;bun,

c. w Whymper of Big Run has just
brought to notice a curious point with
regard to the position of the ear in the
woodcock The snipe, it may be remem-
bered, is remarkable for the fac, that
the external ear is placed under, instead
of behind the eye, as in other BIRDS but
in the woodcock it is placed in front of
the eye and more SO on one side of the
head than On the other. This lack of
symmetry, furthermore. extends to the
shape of the aperture, which is different
on the two sides Of the head.
Evening star., 1907-11-16
Lights in the Parks.

There seems to be a disposition in al
cities for those having such matters in
charge to be chary with illuninations in
parks-the very places where the lights
should be of the best and most literally
paced-and this city is no exception 20
the rule
The five or six arc lights in Lafay yette
Square should be doubled in number, as
should those in Franklin and other prom
lnent reservations in the center of the
city, though there is no good reason why
any of the parks should be sighted. The
trees. especially when covered with To-
liage in summer. restrict the light rays
to circumscribed areas, making the re-
sultlng shadows very dense.
Strangers to tha capital would natural
ly suppose that the grounds Of the White
House, being those surrounding the resi-
dence of the PreSidant would be bril-
liantly Illuminated until retiring hour at
least. \ walk along Pennsylvania avenue.
however. after nightfall shows the
grounds to be In darkness with the eXcep-
tion of at the carriage entrances. two
small electric lights at either end of the
main building and the electric cluster il
Illuminating the pOrte-cochere. "A double
row of modara tely sized bulbs, on small
ornamental rests following the curved
lines of the semi-curcular driveway. lead
ing to the mansion on the north would
be very effective at night and offer NO
diSf1gurement by day
Evening star., 1907-11-16
Too Many Toots.

From Outdoor Lie
A woman on the train entering Grand
Rapids asked the conductor how loEg tie
cars stopped at Union station.
He replied: Madam We stop just fOu
minutes, from two to two to two Two.
The woman turned to her companion
and said: Il wonder ii he thinks hes the
whistle on the engine
Evening star., 1907-11-16
Library Illuminations.

The electrical exterior illunnua ions "
the Congressional Library. to nay mind.
lend added charm to this beautiful
structure, ana are in themselves worth A
rip to see. Til" utiitarian and artistic
purposes Of the lights are provided for
and the grand staircase. with its broad.
winding steps leading up TO The main en-
trance, IS impressive to stranger and 60
zen alike.
This being the ptal of the nation. a
little extra expenditure of effort and
money III the illumination of its public
buildings might be entered into, particu-
lariy since many Of them have their own
individual lighting plants.
During recent years the lighting of tha
Capitol grounds has been greatly i'm
proved. but additional lights could be
placed to advantage in the immediate
proximity of the Capitol building itself.
while the terraces on the west side ara
so situated that more abundant illumina-
ton would add very greatly to their
effectiveness.
The building formerly occupied by the
Post Office Department, at the corner of
+ and ith streets. is one OF the best light
ed of its class in the city, cluster lights
being nightly shown at its four entrances.
The Interior Department building. with
its higher entrances and more command
ing position, does rot appear to like
advantage. The Treasury Department
building is a gloomy at best. and
the few electric lights surrounding it at
night serve TO intensity rather than dis
pei the shadows
Evening star., 1907-11-16

1t Las been estimated that 1.pND pounds
of tobacco are thrown away every day
in the shape of unconsumad ends OF
cgars and Cigarettes
Evening star., 1907-11-16
MORE LIGHT NEEDED
Some Public Buildings Which
Look Gloomy at Night.
COMMENT ON CONDITIONS
Believed Public Grounds Should Be
More Literally Supplied.
UNION STATION ENVIRONMENT
kttractiveness of the City Could Be
Enhanced by More Attention
to Illumination.
UNION STATION ENVIRONMENT

While the streets Of Washington w.ty
be said to he well lighted at night r.-
marked a local artist. 'particulaIlN slGre
the new model street lamp with lis man
tie light has been in use there ar" POINTS
regarding the illumination OF our thor
oughfares, parks and public buildings
which invite comment.
The public buildings are not. of course.
under the control of the city authorities.
and several of these huge structures pre-
sent dark and gloomy appearance after
nghtfall. This is particularly true Of the
massive State War and Navy building.
The square upon which this imposing
pile of granite is situated is on" Of the
darkest in the city. though in It's center
and fronting upon the principal avenue.
While il is true that the building is not n
use for official purposes at night. u,n.r-
tneless were It's four main entrances
fronting upon as many streets. W-I IL
Illuminated with taStrfuliN arranged ,irc-
trio lights the general effect wo4l4 ... in
pleasing contrast with present cr-,i'll ll,rS
and The cost in the general itu.u uf t,.-
maintenance of the building. too small
to be counted
Evening star., 1907-11-16

1t is estimated that there a-e 1850
breweries in the world and half Of them
are in Germany.