davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-25
Stories by Normal Students.
A Visit to the "Cranks" of the Town
BY THURMAN KRUMM.

During the Christmas vacation
two young men and myself decided
to pay a visit to few of those per-
SONS of the town who are always
determined to take a different view
of things from what all think.
ing people take. They are a COM
mon thing in every town and city
and naturally have common name
that of "cranks. These people,
always viewing things from the
standpoint of pessimist, are easily
irritated.
Our first place of amusement to
visit was cobbler shop, the pro-
prietor of which was a bachelor of
about sixty summers. At once we
began discussing the possibility of
extracting sunshine from a cucum-
Der. Like fash he was on his
feet, his eyes bulging out like tea
cups, and was ready for trouble.
BY falling in with his views we
soon had him pacifed and again at
work. The main incident in our
visit to the cobbler shop came when
one of the boys put handful of
red pepper OH the stove. Immedi-
ately the cotbler began a fit of
sneezing, and at the same time, if
not sooner. we took straight line
for the door, being met as we were
passing out by fourteen inch file,
which luckily injured none of the
members of our trio.
Our next one to visit was an "old
maid" the proprietor of a small
store. In order to make a good i'm
preston each of us bought a
penny's worth of candy. We then
asked to see her line of clay pipes.
After very carefully examining
them we accidentally on pur-
pose" all three at the same time,
left them fall to the floor where
they broke into thousand pieces.
Then the storm broke for certain.
From behind the counter came a
choice selection of English includ-
ing words the use of which would
not be sanctioned by a Sunday
school teacher. In her mind she
thought of nothing else but that
the breaking of three pipes, having
a total value of that many cents,
rendered her bankrupt; while in
stead of doing the latter it helped
her on her way as lunatic.
We next visited two "maidens, 1"
the proprietors of a millinery store.
We talked to them for few minutes
then went outside as if leaving for
home. We, instead, put a tick
tack" an apparatus for making
noise, on the window. When we
began operating it by means of a
rosined string the pair of "old
maids" were SO frightened that
they began to run and jump as if
run by electricity. One of them
rushed to the door and exclaimed ;
| know what you're doing-you' re
taking the shutters off of the house.
This incident was the climax of our
nights experiences.
After drawing conclusions from
these incidents. l say without re-
serve that "old maids" should be
taxed, and bachelors should be
hung.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-25

DIR. J. J. Brown has performed
six operations on the eyes of child
of Mrs. Albert Sallada of Williams
port. The child was born blind,
and has been treated by noted
specialists, but without success.
Under DR.. Browns treatment the
child can now see with its right
eye, and it is expected that its
sight will be fully accomplished.
DIR. Brown has had remarkable
success in the treatment of eyes.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-25
MEMORIAL DAY.

Ent Post is making arrangements for
proper observance of Memorial Day.
M. P. Lutz has been appointed to act
rs commander at the exercises at the
cemetery, G. S. Fornwald, chaplain,
and Isaiah Hotter officer of the day,
W. o. Holmes, M, p. Lutz and w. r.
Ringrose are the committee on pro-
gram. They are instructed by the Post
to ask the county for SIS to defray ex-
penses, under recent act of assembly
which provides for such an appropria-
ton not exceeding 300.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-25
BISHOPS VISITATION.

The Right Rev. James III. Darling
ton, ID. d., Bishop of the Protestant
Episcopal Diocese of Harrisburg, will
visit this parish next Sunday and ad-
minister the rite of confirmation at st.
Pauls church at 1890 a. M, at which
service the bishop will also deliver the
sermon.
On Saturday the bishop will visit
st. Gabriel's at Coles Creek. Sunday
a fternoon he will hold services at Cata-
wissa and in the evening at Berwick.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-25
Baseball News.

A full page of sporting news of
all kinds appears in Tile PAi(adel-
.Shia Press daily and four pages on
Sunday. All the latest news and
gossip of the Baseball Diamond
and all games worth while are fully
reported in The PHilaaelphia Press.
If you do not read The Press you
cannot keep posted on up-to-date
sports.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-25

The residence of I. x. Grier,
Esq. at Danville, narrowly escaped
destruction by fire on Saturday.
1t started near the play room of
his grand children, and got up TN
der the roof, where it was hard to
reach. The origin of the fire is
mystery. The firemen got the fire
under control after considerable
damage had been done.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-25
Envelopes

$4,000 Envelopes carried in
stock at the COLUMBIAN Office.
The line includes drug envelopes,
pay, coin, baronial, commercial
sizes, number 6, 6A, on, 9, 10
and II, catalog, &c. Prices range
from 81. so per 1000 printed, up to
$500. Largest stock in the coun-
ty to sel-et from.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-25

James P. Thornton, who for
many years has been the sexton at
the Episcopal church, has gone to
the Soldiers Home at Erie, where
he will make his home in the flu
tuIe.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-25

1t is said that the work of paving
Market Square will begin on Mon
day. O. B. Mellick has retired
from the job, so that J. r. Fowler
is now the sole contractor.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-25

Miss Ella Stoker, who has been
employed in this Office since last
fall, will close her relations here
this week, and will spend the sum-
mer at her home near Saltwater.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-25

+. p. Pursel, w. S. Rishton, c.
w. McKelvy and f. F. Carpenter
left here Tuesday morning in Mr.
PursePs automobile for a trip to
Philadelphia.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-25

Main street is not quite as filthy
and unsightly as it was, though it
can still be improved. But it was
not the town council that cleaned
it up. 1t was the rain from heaven,
and it didn't cost the town a cent.
1t is between the showers that the
town gets the scent.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-25

c. c. Peacock Esq. will address
the Lutheran Brotherhood tonight,
giving an account of his recent Trip
to California.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-25

Or. J. J. Brown has been ap.
pointed opthalmogist of the Dan
vile Hospital for the Insane, by
the trustees of that institution.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-25

Geo. M. Hughes is considering
whether or not he will be a candi
date for Associate Judge on the
Republican ticket.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-25

A. ID. Good, an old resident of
Benton, died last Thursday, aged
u years.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-25

e. d. Kindig has changed his
address from Saltwater r. +. d. 1
10 Forks r. +. d. 1.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-25
Marriage.

DIETRICH On the oath
inst. at the home of the bride, by Rev.
A. Houtz, Mr.. Harry A. DIETRICH and
Miss Alice G. Smith, all of Orangeville.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-25
Skipping the Rope.

Skipping the rope is a healthful
exercise, providing the skipping is
done in moderation. But when
the little girl without discretion is
given a rope and jumps to excess
the result is almost certain to be
disastrous. Small children have
ambitions as we'll as have older
persons, and when one little girl
makes a record as a rope skipper
some other little girl gets it into her
head that she will try and break
the record; and death or some other
serious illness follows,
CAsToHIA.
R..,. N. ,Ihe Kind You Have Always 8olghl
';;;; a'::''': !; q; GxzzSE :, Z; 1; :; q;
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-25

II makes walking easy. Cures Corns, Bun
ions, Ingrowipg Nails, swollen and sweating
feet. Al ali Druggists and shoe Stores, 25c.
Don't accept any substitute. Sample FREE.
Address, Allen s. Olmsted, Leroy, N. y, 4'4-4.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-25

Work has begun on the Mifflin-
vile bridge.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-08-05
TRIED TO HELP HIS FRIEND
Sergeant William H. Spree of the
Fourteenth Cavalry to Be Tried
for a Novel 0ffense.

Pacific Grove, Cal, Aug. A curious
instance of misdirected friendship. which
involves a new offense against military
law, occurred at the preside of Monterey
in connection with the Pacific small arms
competition which was finished yester-
day One Of the best soldiers among the
enlisted men and fifth in order of marks
manship at the opening of the shoot was
Sergeant William II. Spree Of troop +,
Fourteenth cavalry He had a friend am
bilious to obtain a place on the rifle team
going to the Fort Sheridan national com
petition. His friend was a less sure shot.
The rifle range at the Preside is cut
through a pine forest and Spree hiding
behind a convenient cover, fired from
there at a target, at which his friend was
supposed to be aiming, when the signal
was given, the friend firing wide so as
not to show any surplus of bullet marks
on one occasion Spree withheld his fire
too long and his shot rang out after the
rest of the squad had ceased This, OF
course, aroused the suspicion of the au-
thOrities and on investigation Spree was
discovered, taken to the guard house and
his name struck from the rolls OF the
competition. He now awaits trial FOR his
novel OffenSe.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-08-05

the Standard has initiated. just as on the
other hand, the Standard has borrowed
some which Independents have initiated
But. in view of all the restraints which
the Standard by its unfair competitive
methods has placed upon the development
of the business Of the Independent con-
Germs. there can be not the slightest ques-
ton that under regime of free cOnpe-
tition the Independent concerns would
have become more efficient and econOmi-
cal than they are today.
Power Due to Unfair Practices.
vantage which the Standard has over in
dependent concerns in respect to costs
is in the pipeline business. TranspOrta-
ton of petroleum by pipeline is a quasi
public service, corresponding to trans
pOrtatiOn by railroad. 1t is the duty of
transporting concerns to charge reason
able rates. 1t is the duty Of the Stand
ard pipe lines, under the laws of several
states and under the federal law, to act
as common carriers, transporting oil for
others at reasonable rates. If the Stand
ard did this. its advantage over its pres
ent competitors would be enormously re-
duced. As has been shown in Part I of
this report the Standard pipelines have
very generally failed and refused to trans
port oil for others, and in the rare cases
where they do so have charged alto
gether eXtortionate rates. One of the prin-
cipal advantages, therefore, which the
Standard possesses over competitors In
respect to costs is an improper and even
an illegal advantage.
Even by the aid of this advantage in
respect to pipelines. however, the Stand
ard, as has already been demonstrated.
does not as matter of fact sell oil for
less than its competitors can afford to
charge. 1t efforts a profit over AMI
above all the profits due to its ecOno-
mics. The question arises how the Stand
ard is able to maintain its substantial mo-
nopoly while still charging such prices.
What il may be asked. is to prevent
independent concerns from either taking
away part of the Standards trade or fore
ing it to reduce prioes? The answer 20
this question is found in the unfair prac-
tees of the Standard
The most important of these. the corner
stone on which the Standards power was
first built up, was railroad discrimina-
ton. The Standard was able to MAIN
tain in position this primary support of
its domination down nearly to the pres
ent time-that is. until its system If
Preferential freight rates, secret or ops1,
was exposed by the report of this bu-
feau on the transportation of petroleum
in May, 1906 The difference between the
rates charged to the Standard by the
railroads and the rates charged to in
dependent concerns for similar service
has, IN many cases and for enormous
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-08-05
areas. been alone greater than a fai
profit.
Bogus independent Companies.

Almost equally effective in maintaining
the Standards position have been its un-
fair methods of competition in the selling
of its products. The immense Importance
of price discrimination in restraining the
business Of competitors and augmenting
the aggregate profits of the Standard VIII
be set forth later. The bureau has also
secured a great mass of evidence re-
garding other unfair practices OF the
Standard. most of which. however, are
simply auxiliary means of rendering price
discrimination effective. Thus the Stand
ard maintains bogus independent compa-
MES and thereby is able to escape the
disadvantage due to antitrust sentiment.
as we'll as to cut prices TO the particu-
curing the further loss of cutting prices
to the entire trade in the locality. Again,
the Standard maintains an elaborate sys-
TEN of espionage on the business of in
dependent concerns. in particular secur-
ing almost complete reports Of their re
Ceipts and shipments of oil by bribing
railroad employees. This practice enables
the Standard to direct its policy of local
price cutting in the most effective man
ner Other less important methods Of
unfair competition pursued by the stand
ard are the giving Of short measure and
deception regarding the quality of the oil
sold.
Without railroad determinations and
unfair methods of competition the Stand
ard could never have maintained its great
proportion Of the oil business in the Unit
ed States while at the same time eXtorting
such immense profits from the American
consumer. The claim of the Standard
tina tits control of the business Is due to
its ability to maintain low prices because
of superior efficiency is a complete mis-
representation OF the facts.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-08-05

out their necks and pointed their tails
at the same angle as their feet and
eyed the boat suspiciOusiy. Foolishly Gu
rious little gulls and big-eyed pelicans ran
innOeently toward the landing party.
One bleak rock was white with hun
dreds of young pelicans. toddllng uneeT-
tainly about awaiting the return of the
parents with a pouch full of delectable
fish. The young peiicans were crowded
together ike herd Of young lambs and
the number in the bunch was astonishing.
One of the party remarked that there
must be nearly 200 pelicans in the lot. An
other who knew something about the birds
on the island offered to wager s. that
there were more than 800 pelicans on the
rock.
The wager was made and everyone in
the party started in to count the birds
The rock was surrounded and the young
birds were herded out and counted in
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-08-05
Varied Forms of Bird and Animal Life Thrive Unmoesed on
Rocky Wastes Seldom Visited by Man.

The romance of the islands Of Great
Salt lake, their animal inhabitants and
their history. offers an inviting and in
teresting field for nature writer's that is
unrivaled by any equal area in the world.
On rock-ribbed isolated islets dwell birds
and beasts of almost every cline. \
herd of buffalo, or rather bison as We
were taught at school; hardy mountain
goats, and almost every species of bird
and reptile that can subsist in this cline
gather on these lonely and barren isles
practically safe from interference.
Pelicans, kingfishers, cranes, cormO-
rants ana gulls without number watch
closely the salt water for some fish which
they expect to see. 1t seems hard for
them to realize that the vast body of
water thousands of miles in area is dead
~ to all marine forms Of animal or vege-
tables life, save a tiny shrimp that ap-
parently thriVes on the brine. The food
for these birds. however, is carried into
the water by the rivers that empty into
the salt sea. Millions of fish are car
ried to their death in the salt water by
learn the location of the fishing grounds
near the mouths of these streams.
Cruising the Islands.
A cruise of Great Salt lake and its many
islands is 4 decidedly interesting trip.
From the Saltair pavilion recently a party
of fifteen left on the Cambria II. Fit
ting over the placid water in all direc-
tiOns could be seen thousands of gulls.
From the stern of the boat the party
tossed bread to the beautiful birds that
followed closely The gulls are the tam
ST birds on the lake and the only ones
that come close to the pavilion.
The following day after a storm the
Cambria ii found itself off Fremont ISL
and. north of ogden. Less than Il mile
away the Lucin cutoff of the Southern
Pacific railway divided the great lake.
As the sun rose over the hills the smoke
of 4 locomotive showed above the rocks
on PrOmOmtOTy Point and soon around
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-08-05
GREAT PROFITS
OF THE STANDARD
Continued from PAGE 1.

ern Pennsylvania to the seabOard trans
ports crude oil at an operating cost of
about cents per barrel, as compared
with an estimated cost of about 1-3 cents
per barrel for the corresponding Stand
ard trunk lines. A depreciation allow
ance of per cent and a profit of 10 per
cent on the investment of the United
States pipeline require about % cents per
barrel, as compared with an estimate Of
about ~ cents in the case of the Stand
ard trunk lines. The operating costs of
the United States Pipe Line company plus
the allowances for depreciation and pro-
fit mentioned total about Is or % cents
per barrel. as compared with about II
cents for the Standard trunk lines from
the Appalachian field to the seaboard
For both local pipage and tTunk-line
transportation combined, the difference
between the Standards costs and those Of
the Pure Oil company, allowing in each
case per cent for depreciation and 10
per cent for profit. amounts to about 81
cents per barrel, or about three-fOurths
cents par gallon
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-08-05
CHEERS FOR HAYWOOD.
LeadvilIe Miners Out in Full Force at
Malta junction.

IeadvilIe, Colo. Aug 4-William d.
HAYWOOD secretary treasurer of the
Western Federation of Miners, who was
recently acquitted at Boise, Ida, Of muir
dering former Governor Steunenberg or
that state. passed through Malta Junction
en- route from Salt Lake to Denver at 2
O'Clock this afternoon. A large represen-
tation OF the local lodge of the federation
were present to congratulate their leader
He was showered with roses and column
bines as he stepped to the platform during
the short interval the train remained at
the junction and was cheered TO the echo
as the train giided away from the sta
ton on its way TO Denver.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-08-05

perfor economy for the Standard.
II might naturally be expected that
great concern which controls much the
larger proportion Of the business OF CIV
en- city could market oil by tank wagon
more cheaply than a number of smaller
concerns, each having only moderate
volume of business. The reason why the
difference is not greater than appears
from the statistics is probably to be found
in part in the fact that the Standard mas
to spend more than the independents for
supervision and general administration III
order to secure efficient and honest SerV-
ice from its multitude of employees. and
in part in the large sums the Standard
spends for maintaining its system of I'M
fair notwithstanding and utilizing in
formation regarding shipments OF com
netitors. and operating bogus independent
companies
Considering all the branches Of the oil
industry together. the difference IN cost
between Standard and independent con-
Germs is not great. The difference in re-
spect to pipeline transportation may be
put at about three-foUrths cent per gai-
Ion: in respect to refining, at from one
fourth to one-half cent, while in respect
to marketing there is substantially no
difference. At the outside, the superior
efficiency OF the Standard in the three
branches of the business combined wouId
not represent a difference in cost of more
than ~ cents per gallon, on the average
for all petroleum products
Excess Above Normal Profit.
The excess of the profits of the Stand
ard on its domestic business above a nor
nal competitive profit is greater even
than IL cents per gallon. The profits of
the standard on the refining and mar
keting business alone at five or its plants
Uima, o.; Whiting, Ind; Sugar Creek
Mo; NeOdesha. Kan, and Florence
COlO) have been shown above to average
about 2.3 cents per gallon. If to this be
added profit on pipeline transportation,
the total would become at least 3 cents
per gallon. The profit of the Standard
on it's investment for the business of
these five refining plants was found TO
be about 40 per cent. and it Is highly
probable that the Standards profit on
pipeline business is fully as great in
percentage. Forty-two per cent is at
least four times the average profit in
competitive manufacturing business. IT.
therefore, the total profit of the Stand
ard on the products of these five plants
was equal to 3 cents per gallon, an aver
age profit would be not over q cent per
gallon. The excess of the Standard S
profit over an average competitive profit
is thus at least 2M cents per gallon, or
much more than the possible difference
Of IL cents between Standard and indie
pendent costs. This means simply that