The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-21
r1ote to Woxk at Once And Tackles The Droeklyn Bridge Problem-The Real Cause of War Talk Discovered
 Aeesrding te MT. smith-Eggs Worth { os,eee . Do.en-New Workers Save as
 Well as Spend-Broker Who Can't
 Throw Stenes-Wfl Live In Real
 Glass House.

New York, July 20-New York's Public Utilities Commission. one of the most characteriestic results of Governor <, Hughes's administration. which will have for its task the straightening out of New York's transportation, lighting and all other matters affecting public utilities, at least does not intend to be . mere political board where fat salaries will be drawn and no work done. In the very first days of its existence 1t has jumped into the thick Of the fray by tackling the most diff cult job within its jurisdiction, having already set itself the mighty task of Gtraightening out the Brooklyn Bridge transportation service and eliminating . 13 life imperiltng crushes. It could kkrdly have picked any task more diffi- suit. nor one, which If It is solved. will fonder the Commission more popular, fer if 1t succeeds in this task. even though 1t never does anything else, 19ew Workers will feel that it has { 5QAtified it's creation. No less than half . million people cross the bridge eQch way morning and night during the ] f4eh hours. and for women and children Ut that time to be in the rush is liter ally to endanger their lives. It Is not b$ any means without danger for men either. Indeed 1t is reported that the
 
 for information on the scene of action ba1e all their friends farewell and made all their wills before starting. One feature in which the commissioners find some reason for hope, however, is tho fact that the women of New York afe behind them. They have already organized a campaign which will re- sult in improving bridge conditions, making their first recommendation to 9he city for escalators or moving stair ways to handle the crowd more rapidly and to relieve them of the very real liability to insult to which they are now subjected In the jostling throngs. Meanwhile 1t is up to the Utilities Con- mission with New York watching and willing to help it.
 1t has remained for one Theodore DHmetrius Smith. hitherto unknown to fame, though of undoubted imagination, oeprick the bubble of war talk so far as Japan js concerned. Mir Smith of the resounding cognomens who ekes out precarious living by dealing In old iron on the East Side. has sprung into notice this week through his announce u,ent based on his knowledge of the irhn and steel trade that the whole talk ok war was due to the steel trust If war seems likely according to his story, batt1eships will be in demand. For these ships the Steel Trust would furnish the material. What could be should be looking te increased sales by fermenting war talk? MT. Smith without straining his imagination at all declares that this is the secret of the whole situation, and his theory is at least borne out in part by the luncheon given at the Hotel Astor this week by the Japan Society of America A Ua distinguished representatives of Japan and the United states present. the idea of war between the two countries was deplored on both sides and labeled foolish. Mir. Smith, however, continues to pursue the even tenor of his way, admitting partly on account of his won derful ability in getting at the cause of the present war talk. to say nothing of his Knowledge of trusts. particularly the steel and iron monster, that he would be willing to succeed MT. Bona parte and prosecute the Presidents campaign against the trusts. Mean time Mir. Smith is awaiting letter of thanks from the more famous Theodore fdr exposing another side of trust 1nfQuities.
 While the bird that lays the golden eggs has never been discovered, some thing almost as valuable turned up this week at the Bronx Zoo, for one of the two rheas. bird closely resembling the ostrich has just laid an egg which is valued at no less than $500, or s6,000 e dozen, thus breaking all records for egg prices even when the strictly fresh product of the common hen in winter time is considered. While this egg, the first that has ever been laid by a rhea while in captivity, would doubtless make a delectable omelette. 1t will not be sold to any millionaire for his table but matched in a specially constructed incubator. In about six weeks it Is hoped there will be a rhea chick added to the curiosities at the park. where things are always progressing h. deed not content with producing such tas valuable egg the Zoo statistictans have also been Investigating alligator :. life with some surprising results First and foremost the theory that alligators require something like a hundred years to reach any considerable size has been exploded. Even in cap tivity alligators reach a length of twelve feet in fifteen years. Some unique and interesting figures on their growth have been compiled which show that an alligator at the time of hatch ing is eight inches long, and weighs ri Q