davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1907-10-27
THIEVES AND VANDALS.

IN a number of cases careless Workmen have
used the highly polished mahogany desk TOPS
as a fitting place to deposit heavy tools, with
the result that the thin veneer has been barked
showing the white pine filling underneath. IN
another instance an employe Of the city was
severely rebuked for having driven common
iron staples into d piece of mahogany furniture
that he might be Il bic 10 attacned q pduloCh
IL
In several Of the departments. 1t is asserted,
property belonging to the city, as Well as the
personal effects of the employees, has habit OF
mysteriously disappearing over night. In spite
OF complaints this sort of thing has been al
lowed to go on for months unchecked.
But what is most troubling the officials and
the public that is in the habit of using the
building extensively is its disgracefully un-
kempt condition and the fact that rats are al
lowed TO grow fat upon the bindings of the
court records. The officials Of the Surrogates
office especially, are much concerned over this
destructive work Ii is pointed out that many
of the documents originals OF wills, deeds
executors and administrators bonds. well as
decisions regarding large estates, none of which
could be replaced if destroyed. Under the Grim
inal Code responsibility for their care rests
with the Surrogates, one Of whom has personally
complained to the Borough President. but as
syet nothing has been done either to keep the
place clean TO exterTninate the destructive
rouents.
An inspection of the Hall Of Records made by
a Tribune reporter revealed a condition Of af-
fairs that is little short Of criminal Though
this magnificent granite pile cost the city about
sSoo00OO to erect, 1t would be hard to find a
New-York tribune., 1907-10-27

of the corridors off the grand foyer and directly
in front of the Offices OF the Tax Commissioners,
tucked away IN full view of every passerby, was
a collection of pals, cleaning rags, mops and
waste baskets. The dirty cleaning rags were
inartisticalIy distributed along the ornamental
marble work. The cleaning implements We're in
evidence all right but there was nothing to
indicate that they had been used At the other
end of the same corridor. close TO the entrance
to the public reference rooms. there is an unused
passage to a doorway that is regularly occupied
as a dressing room by the alleged cleaning staff.
1t is only necessary To turn up carly enough J"
the morning TO find the bronze door handles
hung with a motley collection of froVsy skirts
and the marble walls OF the recess piled up Win
other wearing apparel
The long series OF public reference rooms arc
connected by archways, and down the centre of
these rooms runs q long mahogany ,puut.,-
Behind this counter are the desks "f the office
stan. Tie condition Of the offices is simply
shameful Not only are the concrete floors ou
both sides of the counter dirty. uut 10 is TN"
dirt OF months. and srnears Of white piH--eI here
ana there show that Tho place has not been
washed out since the woTkmeu left IL yeat ago.
A number of the windows have been without
shades all summer I'm spite of repeated cun-
plants. The sHpshod manner iu which the
of the recess has been the cause of their col-
lapse. In the recent hot months iJ was imroS-
sible to raise a number of the uucleancd win
dows because the weak chain pulls had parted
and put the suspending weights out Of business
Expensive bronze ratings and eateyays are 50
insecurely set up that most ot them are i'm a
riCkety condition
one of the gateways broke down some months
ago and has stood against the marble walls
even since Another has been WreuchtJ loose
and refused to close. The mahogany counters.
tables and desks are habitually nlthy and the
Office staff is compelled to clean them hcfur"
beginning work in the morning. From thre"
rooms three fountain pens and "a pair Of opera
glasses disappeared some time ago and have
not Yet turned up. Down ia the basement tho
Tax Department has a StOForCon IN which the
Office supplies Of stationery are kept SIX or
seven large bundles OF blank forms have dlSaI-
peared from this room at various times after
Office hours. and the officials have been COM
New-York tribune., 1907-10-27
Life of a Park Birch Saved,
but at What Expense!

It has cost the city 5000 to save the life of
single white birch tree in Central Park. The
amount has not been paid in cash: the city
business is not done in that way. Corporate
stock Will be issued for the 5000. and upon a
hfty-year bond, bearing interest AZ the rate Of
~ per cent per annum. the money viii be bor-
rowed Every year for half century the tax
payers Will be called upon TO pay an interest
charge of S225 for the saving of this tree Half
a century hence, when the bond natures a
future generation Of taxpayers viii have TO go
down into their pockets and pay the original
5000 Altogether. with principal and interest.
the saving Of this trees precious life will cost
the city S1s2JO
The story OF how the life Of the tree was
endangered and how It was nobly rescued ought
90 be a lasting tribute TO the devotion 10 his
artistic duty Of Central Parks Iandscape ar
chftect. Samuel Parsons, IT. It also reflects the
greatest possible credit upon the officials Of the
Water Department for the part they played in
what might have been a tragedy, ending in the
ultimate death Of the tree. To other CITY de-
partn.ents that have the reputation Of con-
unually ouaTrelling with one another over which
can squander most of the taxpayers. money the
story will conclusively prove that there ara
ways In which the municipal revenues can be
artisticaily wasted in perfect peace and har-
nony. The Good Book admonishes the sIuRpar ~
TO go 70 the ant in order to learn the vavs oe
Industry; after this it will be in order for city
officials to go 10 certain white birch in Central
Park TO learn the methods of artistic extrava-
sance.
The incident is the moro noteworthy because
There were number Of ways in which the tree
could have been saved for ever so much less
money than II cost. but each Of these ways was
open TO the serious objection Of being disgust
insly cheap and ridiculously practical. The es-
ssntialiy hard headed and practical individual
VINO was compelled, much against his own in
olination, TO play prominent part in the res
cue has now the hardihood to suggest that the
whoie Thing could have been done, and better
done for paltry $50. But he must be devoid
OF even the slightest trace of the artistic in
his nake-up "
New-York tribune., 1907-10-27
PARSONS TO THE RESCUE.

~ was plainly evident 10 the irate landscape
architect that these prosaic engineers had lost
al the appreciation they ever might have had
or the artistic in nature, else such suggestions
would never have emanated from them. He re-
fused TO even listen TO the proposals of such
Vandals, and betook himself in high rage 10
the higher powers in the department There
were several heated conferences II is said. in
the big building in Park Row, but in the end
MT Parsons emerged from the struggle tr4unn-
phant and the Park Department erra nted q ner
mt TO lay the crookedest line OF water main
that probably ever has been put beneath the
ground True, 1t Is short, but it is at least
arustc IN the complexity of it's tortuous course
anu SIMPLY splendid in the enormity of it's cost
Belsdes, and most important of all the noble
Wmte blrch and couple OF stunted pines that
stand tlmidly in the background have been
saved from any posi- bility of injury
IN the hope OF being able TO find Soma one
VINO could tell the prosaic story of how the huge
water main was successfully laid in It's zigzag
uencn, and incidentally to see and photogra nh
the famous white birch tree that cost so much
10 save, a Tribune reporter last week wandered
around the scene of Mr.. Parsons's triumph. New
lalo sod covered the devious lines of the trench
except Tor a distance of about forty feet where
lhe wide ditch was still open close to the reser-
,1tn ror wall. sections of the enormous cast iron
pipe were lying about. Walking with his head
Gown, the reporter had no difficulty In passing
from one end TO the other through these mon
seers. FINALLY high UP on the reservoir wall, a
man was discovered who looked as If he had
something 10 do with the work In answer to
u nan ne clambered down rickety ladder
ere Gre you In charge of this 5ob?" he was asked.
suriy look
Had q. hard time of 1t from the appearance of
thlngs, Ventured the reporter.
The man looked his disgust but didn't answer
4 WORD Finally after a short silence, he opened
Bad time he said. why. its simply been
sneoi. "a slight rnisquotatonD These park
J psopie are Inc limit. They have spent enough
New-York tribune., 1907-10-27

another OF these fine offices the reporter incau-
uously stamped upon th" heavy rug that Gov
cred the loor \ cloud OF dust immediately
arose and tn. portly occupant OF the office
seated AT mahogany desk showed his disap-
urpsal OF this method of testing the dust hold
Ing qualities of his rug hy "a sccwl Visitors
to the luxurious offices In The Han Of Records
are supposed To tread lightly II they expect to
hav" their presence appreciated
The general offices of tho County Register are
on tn" second floor The remaining space is
devoted 90 record rooms that open into one
another. The entire thid ana part of the fourth
floors also utilized as record rooms by the
Register department. The corridors the
New-York tribune., 1907-10-27
TO MANAGE THE WENTWORTH HOTEL

OF interest to friends and former patrons o
the Wentworth Hotel. at Newcastle. n H. =
the announcement made that W. h HiL 10.
eighteen years its manager. IS again 20 conuuvs
that well known property during the coDii'7
season.
MIR. Hill has been identified with several pTOIio
inent hotels. among others the Hotel MaleSJSv tSs
in this city and the Hotel Ampersand in th0
Adirondacks. but because of his Ions conn
tion with the Wentworth he is best idehtiiiSs ~
with the fine New Hampshire property Vi -
late Frank Jones.
New-York tribune., 1907-10-27
HOW THE PERIL AROSE

- was months ago that the Department of
water supply, Gas ana Electricity awarded con-
tracts tofaiiing over $4,000 for the laying OF
huse water MAN, five feet In diameter. ND
Fsfk West to the s1Bt street entrance
&c pafA The ultimate destination Of the
s man vas the reservoir that lies just nine
hundred feet TO the east OF central parl, NJ.
within the sacred bounds of the nao,,.,a ,.n~a.
pleasure ground. This new water main ar,on.
o.'@r tninss' is one OF the many evidences NJ
ae growing requirements of the great CITY for
y repLacss modest thirty-inch main that ,,,..
.o ny me city fathers quarter OF a oertmry
"a .ns Conndent expectation that IL wo,Id
oe Oss enough Tor every future need ana .vo,,id
ssrs e 1ss,n nave TO be rudely disturbed bv the
lhe Underground course of this old y...r
kcain from the park entrane. al 81 oia wafer
fesefyor wall. Is In a perfectly etrssrt,, ~
New-York tribune., 1907-10-27
RATS CHEW RECORDS.

The record rooms OF the Surogates' office. on
the fourth. NTH and sixth mezzanine floors. are
in The same neglected condition. In a large
room The latter floors the depredationS of the
rats among the bound volumes of records
most i'm evidence. \ large number of volumes
have been chcved along the edges. and in some
cases the binding has been entirely gnaWed
away
The general offices of the Surrogates the pri-
vate chambers of the judges and the two large
New-York tribune., 1907-10-27
Extra Iibe-al
June payroll Igu. private management Excess

When Mr. Ahearu was faced with these re-
ports he explained that the increase of S5eeeo
was not all required for the Hall ot Records
The estimated cost of looking after other hu1id-
iags had been exceeded also The request had
mentioned the Hal. %. Records only because !
was in large measure responsible for The tStl-
mate of the department being exceeded Inc
result OF this explanation was that tn" request
N,-a.- errare f41
New-York tribune., 1907-10-27
DID THE STANDARD DODGE TREEs9

Just think of it. twenty special castings
OF five-foot pipe, Ave sharp turns all the very
old Harry to it, and backed with concrete, to
take water main of this size around this cursed
tree But that was not enough even for they
made me build a circular wall of dry masonry
around their Internal tree for what do you
think? Simply because they were afraid that
the loose earth thrown up from the crooked
trench might fall against the trunk and take the
bark Off
II supposed 10 be big and good natured: /:
that's why the boss put me on this job but all
my good nature is gone. The silly uselessness
of the whole thing gets my nerves. and 7
simply can't stay around the place for long AT a
time. If ] do / feel like taking it out Of the
workmen. poor devils! so l walk around and
look at the hanged tree and speculate on how
much 1t must have cost the Standard Oil Com
New-York tribune., 1907-10-27
DEFECTIVE PLUMBING.

The ceiling of one of the private offices of the
Tax Commissioners IS badly bIistered and stained
from water which has leaked through from de-
fective plumbing the floor above. Several
times in the last twelve months this room has
been flooded from these same leaks. though their
existence has been reported several times In
New-York tribune., 1907-10-27
suPERLATIvELY PARLIAMENTARY.

There is a motion before the house.
Mime. President holding the gavel so tha1 -
rings come into the foreground What Is W
wish regarding it,? - -gstrs
Mime. President" begins the new member '''
with a futteT
Mrs Justine, recognizes the preslqssi.1' '.-nicago
II move that the motion be carried -SNAo
Evening Post
New-York tribune., 1907-10-27
BIG SALARY LIST.

This appeared TO be a large sum in itself for
taking care Of a single public building even IL
ii was the new Hall Of Records. so the Board
of Aldermen ordered an investigation 1t was
discovered that the following salary list was
responsibIe for The very large expenditure:
New-York tribune., 1907-10-27

money here to lay half mile Of pipe. The blue
print I've had to work from looks more like
streak of forked lightning than anything else.
And all this to save measly white birch and
couple of half dead old pines. The only tree in
the bunch that Is any good could have been
moved, with half an acre of land about It's roots
all wrapped up in new canvas to keep the wind
off. for third OF what this silly game has cost.
New-York tribune., 1907-10-27

Even the Board OF Aldermen baked at this
schedule. and expert was appointed 70 md
out what it ought To cost 10 look after the
building under the most liberal private manage
ment The following is his report.
New-York tribune., 1907-10-27

PEELED to alter the locks that the pass keys OF
the jantor and his assistants will not open the
New-York tribune., 1907-10-27
DIRT AND DISORDER.

The main floor is occupied by the public and
private offices of the Tax Department. In one
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-07-11
GAVE ROAD TO AFRICA

pounds on their backs make an aver
age of 20 miles day, while the usual
journey Is only ten miles. The road
passes entirely through British terri
tory, and the government has erected
station every 20 miles where cara
vans may spend the night.
There is provision at each station
to put all the freight under cover, com
Portable brick and concrete houses af-
ford excellent conditions for a good
nights rest, and there are cookhouses
where the meals of the caravan are
prepared. One of the neighboring
chiefs is held responsible for the clean
liness and good order of each station.
He receives monthly salary of few
shillings from the government, and
few yards of calico from each cara
van passing over the route.
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-07-11
GOES TO PRISON AT 81 YEARS.
Dangerous Counterfeiter Is Sent to
Penitentiary at Advanced Age.

Philadelphia" Sam" Tate, said
to be the most dangerous counterfeiter
in the country, has been sent to the
eastern penitentiary by Judge Holland
for eight years.
Since 1872 Tate has spent more
than half of his time in Jail, and 1t is
probable that his sentence will finish
him, for he told the court yesterday
that he was 81 years old. William
higher and Charles Busramonte, who
were tried with him, were sentenced
to IS months and three years re-
spectively.
Only last March Tate was on trial
for counterfeiting, with George Ward
Michael Joyce, James Gaughan and
Catherine O'Donnell, but by shrewd
coaching of the other defendants Tate
was acquitted. Ward, Joyce and
Gaughan were sent to prison, and the
O'Donnell woman, although convicted
was released in her own recognizance.
Tate put up hard fight. His coun-
sci declared that he was being "sys-
tematically bounded" by the secret
service men; that he was a reputa-
BILE junk dealer and that in the course
of his business he had come into pos
session of the supposed counterfeiting
material found in his house by the
operatives.
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-07-11
JAMES STEVENSON, scoTcHMAN,
DONATED $4,000 FOR WORK.
Route Lies Between North End of
Lake Nyassa and South End of
Lake Taneanyika, Distance
of 211 Miles.

London. James Stevenson, a
wealthy Scotchman, gave $4,000 to
build road between the north end
of Lake Nyassa and the south end of
Lake Tanganyika in Central Africa
about 25 years ago. He was con-
vinced that nothing would help more
to develop Africa than good highways.
1t took two years to build the road,
and it was well built. It's length Is
211 miles. Apart from the great USE
fulness of the road the white men
there have always said that it has
been a powerful civilizing agency.
1t has helped to accustom the ma
tives of that densely populated region
to work for the white, and to use
calico and other European articles.
The work of construction was the
first instance on a large scale of the
utilization of native labor in Central
Africa. Many trained laborers now
live along the road and engage in
transport service between the two
great lakes.
This highway is known as the Stew
enSon road. Mr.. ChrapkoVskl, an OFF,
cial in the German service, who re-
Gently travelled over the road, has
written an interesting account of it.
He says that though nothing has
been done to maintain the road built
% years ago, it is still, with the sim
gle exception of the road between Vic
toria Nyanza and Tanganyika, the best
highway in Central Africa AS moth
ing has been done to maintain the
road it is now covered with grass,
but travellers say this Is really an ad-
vantage, as the vegetation has helped
to keep the road from washing, and it
is also better for the feet of the car
riers, who dislike to walk on those
stretches where there is no grass, for
it is as hard as stone and hurts their
feet
The usefulness Of the road is proved
by the fact that porters carrying GO
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-07-11
A Hot Weather Dessert.

Pineapple Cream.-The foundation
for this delicious dessert Is can Of
pineapple, or a pineapple large enough
to fill a pint measure when shredded
Shred very fine and bring to a boil
with half pound of sugar, strain over
half an ounce of gelatine which has
been dissolved in just enough cold wa
ter to cover it, When cool, but not
yet formed, stir in the beaten whites
Of three eggs and half a pint of
set on ice to COOL If you use the
canned, shredded pineapple, which is
almost like preserves, you will not
need to add the sugar.
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-07-11
Frozen Pineapple souffle.

Pare and CRATE two pineapples. The
pulp should measure one pint; add
to this the juice of one lemon and a
pint of sugar. Cover half box of
gelatin with half cup of cold water
and let stand half an hour; beat the
yolks of six eggs until creamy; then
add to the pineapple and mix we'll.
Put gelatin over hot water; when it
is dissolved add to pineapple turn
the mixture into the freezer; when it
begins to thicken add one pint C
whipped cream; pack in salt and ice
and let stand about three hours.
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-07-11
OLD CUSTOM FROM GERMANY.
Goshenhoppen Reformed Church Dec
crates 1000 Graves.

Pennsburg, PA religious OBJ
servance altogether new in south
eastern Pennsylvania, and probably
conducted for the first time in the
United States, took place the other
day at the New Goshenhoppen Re-
formed church. 1t was service in
memory of the dead, and the principal
feature was the decoration of 1000
graves in the graveyard with flowers.
The idea was suggested to Rev. G.
M. De Long, pastor. when he visited
Nuremberg, Germany, some years ago.
One Sunday in June nearly the whole
populace assembled in the cemeteries,
placed flowers on the graves and then
attended religious service.
All afternoon and next morning I'M
til ten o'clock the members of the con-
gregation brought great quantities OF
flowers to the churchyard and placed
them on the graves. When the time
arrived for beginning the services
the great expanse of fower-decked
graves presented a scene of rare
beauty. An appropriate sermon was
preached by Rev. Mr.. De Long.
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-07-11
STRANGE Bird Is Shot.

Knoxville, Tenn.-Inhabitants in the
region of lions Mill, Lee county, Vir-
ginia, are greatly puzzled over the dis
covery of strange bird in the noun
tains near by by j. f. Witt, a mer-
chant of that place. The bird is of
great size, measuring nine feet from
tip to tip. The feathers are perfectly
white, except the tips of the wings,
which are black.
It's head and bill are Is inches in
length, its webbed feet are seven
inches across. A great pouch under
its bill holds a gallon of water and this
gives the idea that the bird must be
of the pelican family, found in south
ern waters. 1t is supposed that the
bird was driven to the north by a
storm and lost its bearings, 1t will
be brought here, mounted and exhib-
tied.
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-07-11
Making EyeIets.

There's a new way of making those
troublesome eyelets discovered by a
girl who is locally famous for in
venting labor-saving ideas. 1t con-
sists in running the eyelet around and
then cutting it from end to end and
buttonholing it, making the stitches
as deep as those upon the usual but
tonhole, but reversing the stitch so
that the edge stitches back upon the
material instead Of around the open
edge of the eyelet. 1t is about one
fifth as hard to do as the usual way,
and the difference in length of time
10 even more marked.
Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-07-11
DUTCH DINNER FOR SUMMER.
Satisfactory Meal When the Temporal
ture Is Soaring.

For cold Dutch dinner for hot
summer night place upon polished
table large lace centerpiece and un.
der each plate place a dolly to match
In the middle of the table put boat
or shoe of Dresden china filled with
blue corn flowers. Use glass candle.
sticks with white candles and blue
and white empire shades, blue and
white Dresden china, and cut glass,
when 1t is needed. Use as little silver
as possible in serving. The place
cards are blue and white windmills
with the name on the upright arm of
paddle. A blue and silver fan, swung
by white ribbons from the back of
each lady's chair is dainty and ac-
ceptable souvenir, while at each mans
plate a dainty bunch of corn flowers
for his buttonhole may be placed. If
possible have the maids in blue
dresses with white aprons and Dutch
caps. Olives, sailed nuts, bonbons,
and so on, should be served in china
wheelbarrows, boats and shoes. Above
the table swing large fivepointed
star Of ferns and depend from the cen
ter crescent of corn flowers.
If a still greater transformation In
the appearance of the room is desired,
slip covers of blue and white Dresden
silk may be used for the dining-room
chairs. These are cool looking and
dainty, also allowable for the season
The menu suggestions always are tiex-
ible and may be changed according to
the ideas of the hostess or to the pos
sibilities of the market at this season.