davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10
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messages are to be transmitted over long
distances. are now to be regularly adopted
as part of the Signal Corps field equip
ment They made in standard sizes
and may be flown either singly or in tam
dem. They are of fine Japanese silk mount
ed on light bamboo frames and are col
lapsible. SO that they may be folded up
within a very small space. These kites are
held captive by the same wire that used
on the buzzers above described. 1t is paid
out from specially constructed reel, highly
insulated from the ground by porcelain legs
The ground connection is obtained by
spreading out upon the grass copper wire
netting of fine mesh.
With this simple outfit, which can be in
stalled in a few minutes, whole messages
have been received at Fort Leavenworth,
Kan, from ST. Louis, Chicago and from
ships in the Gulf Of Mexico" said Maj
George o. Squier. assistant chief signal off,
Ger, to whom I am indebted for these data.
Since the distances to which messages may
be transmitted depend primarily upon the
power of the transmitting station this equip
ment is not adapted for sending to such
great distances, but messages were easily
exchanged with Kansas City, a distance of
over thirty miles. The equipment neces-
sary for only receiving messages can be
made extremely simple, so much so that 1t
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10

need weigh but a few ounces and may he
carried by single Soldier without incon-
venience.
May Use Tree.
mo other form of receiving 'antennae'
need be used than vigorous growing
tree, preferably we'll covered with leaves
1t is only necessary TO drive an ordinary
nail into the trunk at some distance from
the ground and connect this nall through
small pocket electrolytic receiver to
small iron pin driven into moist earth near
the tree: then passing messages may be
clearly read by means OF a head telephone
suitably connected to the receiver"
For stringing its field wire telegraph
and telephone lines. the Signal Corps now
uses light lance piles carried in the field in
lance wagons" After experimenting for
number OF years 10 develop a portable
field telephone for use in camp, IN the field
and on the march the skilled electricians
of the corps have perfected a compact de-
vice consisting OF a transmitter and re-
ceyer on one hand-support SO that ono
hand only is required FOR conversation. The
whole outfit Weighing tweuty-one pounds.
fits into a compact carrying case with a
strap sling. Switchboaris for field cen
trail stations are now made SO compact
that one can be mounted upon tripod at
army, division or brigade headquarters in
the field.
All of these electrical inventions now
constituting the nervous system of our
army have almost entirely superseded
such visual means of signaling as the wig
wag flag, the Photograph and acctylaue
lamp. In the japanese army there Is now
practically no visual signaling at all How
ever the experience in our own army has
been that often occasions arise where no
other means of communication are posi-
BILE. For instance, for many months. all
of the military and administrative busi-
ness of the Island of Bohol in the Phil
ippines. was transacted through signal
corps. photographs and flash lanterns COM
municating with Argas. on the adjacent
Island of Cebu, there being no cable or
wireless connection between these islands.
Rockets and Bombs.
Signal bombs and rockets are essen
tial part of the equipment OF the Signal
Corps The bombs are pasteboard shells.
charged with stars. which burn brilliantly
when ignited. Three kinds of rockets are
now in use. One Is so arranged that 1t
can be loaded with different colors at any
time and four lights in sequence may be
used. BY using the "Myer code" any let
ter or number may be slgnaled with one
rocket and thus messages may be sent by
exploding any number desired. Another,
the light and sound rocket" which dis
charges with a loud report and displays a
white light is for attracting attention or
indicating a prearranged signal The third
emits a deep yellow smoke upon exploding.
These explosive signals for signaling
across impossible places or by parties OF
troops that are In thick timber deep
declivities.' Experiments show that they
can be read at a distance of six miles in
clear weather.
JOHN ELFRETH WATKINS.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10

you something of the Abyssinian mud OF
which 1t is made. 1t has been farmed for
ages with almost no manure whatever, and
the conditions are such that if manure at all
is to be employed 1t must be brought in
from abroad. AS it is now, the droppings
OF cattle are gathered up by the women in
their bare hands and patted into cakes to
be dried for fuel, and about the only ma
are raised by the millions throughout the
valley of the Nile.
Another fertilizer Is that afforded by the
ruins Of the ancient towns, which were
built of unbaked clay. and which now
are mere mounds of earth. Out OF these
mounds, made of the rubbish OF a thou
sand years, comes a kind OF earth con-
tanning large percentage of soda, am
monia and other salts. This stuff Is car
ried by the peasants out to the cotton fields
and sprinkled over the ground and the re-
suit Is an extraordinary increase in the
yield. FRANK G.. CARPENTER
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10
From Moving Wagons.

similar system of telegraphing and
telephoning from moving field wagons of
the Signal Corps is also being demonstrated
by Lieut.. Knowles. The operator in the
moving wagon may send a message to or
receive one from an operator on the
ground, the communication being main
tanned through six miles of wire coiled upon
reels mounted in the wagon. The photo
graph shows the wagon ready to move. AS
1t draws away from the operator on the
ground the wire will unreel, but this will
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10
GRAY. Black and White.

Gray is going to be tremendously in
favor and. even now, there is nothing more
popular than the linen costumes of smoke
gray. 1t is such a satisfactory shade. too,
becoming and economical, for II shows dust
less readily perhaps than any other color
Black and White will continue the POPULAR
ity II has enjoyed since spring, and In adj
dit!on to its use for costumes entire will be
prominent factor In the realm of trim
mings. 1t will be often in evidence with the
new shades for the autumn
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10

dictate his own message to the base in sim
liar manner. Should he wish to communi-
cate by telephone the operator hands him
the combined receiver and transmitter and
without dismounting he may talk with the
base"
Two mounted operators headed in oppo-
site directions and their reels connected by
the accompanying photograph made during
Lieut.. Knowles recent experiments. The
two riders are about to advance in obe
dleuce to a. command and they will con-
wire las nlaYad out
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10
Fighting the Boil Weevil.

F1ght1ng the Boil WeeV1l.
Egypt has had a lot of trouble with the
boil weevil. This pestiferous cotton worm
Is to be found all along the valley of the
Nile, and ! am told that it Is doing great
damage on the plantations OF the Sudan,
a thousand miles above Alexandria. 1t is
said that more than $4,000 900 worth of
cotton was destroyed by it In 1901, and
| that hundreds Of the smaller farmers were
ruined In the meantime the government
has been doing all 1t can to wipe out this
plague, but it Is working under great dis
advantages. The Egyptian Mohammedans
are fatalists. and they look upon such
things as the boil weevil as judgment OF
God and think they can do nothing to avert
them. The government has had to inaugu-
rate a system of forced labor in conSe-
Quence. 1t has made the boys and men Of
the cotton region turn out by the thousands
to kill the worms under the superintend-
ence of the officials. The results have been
excellent and those who have been
forced to work have been we'll paid the
farmers are beginning to appreciate what
has been done for them.
The government has been helping the
farmers in other ways. 1t has agricul-
tural department which is working much
as ours. Last year it sent out Sc
in cotton, contracting with each farmer
who took it that it would buy his seed
at price above that of the market The
seed. which has come in from that venture
is enough to plant 1900 acres this year.
and this Is to be distributed at cost price
TO such farmers want it.
The government is trying to induce the
farmers to use artificial fertilizers 1t be-
gan this six years ago. when it was able
to distribute $4,000 worth of chemical ma
nure. The demand had so increased for
such fertilizers that more than ten times
as much was distributed last season.
KNOWLEDGE of he lie
II seems queer thing to talk of their arti-
fcial fertilization. but there is no soil
on earth where manuring pays better. On
the grain lands, where this stuff has been |
used to the extent of about So per acre, |
the crops have increased from $50 to $50 |
per acre, and the proba blity is that the !
demand here for fertilizers will steadily |
grow During the past year the govern |
ment has lent to the agricultural depart |
ment $JO0.00 at per cent per annum, with |
the understanding that the money is to be
used in buying and distributing manures.
In another letter l will describe the won '
derful fertility of the Nile valley and tell
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10
ground. and each ungainly beast seems to

ground. and each ungainly beast seems t.
be walking on six legs.
Looking down the road, we can see lone
caravans Of camels loaded with bales, and
| on the other side Of that little canal is a
small drove OF donkeys bringing in cotton,
Each donkey is hidden by a bag which
covers its back and all but its little legs
1t looks like bed-tick walking off upon
legs.
In this way the cotton Is brought to the
railroad station and to the boats
The latter go out Of one little water.
way into another until they get into
the Mahmudiyeh canal. and thence to AL
exandria. The railroads are filed with
cotton trains during the harvesting season,
and just now there are long strings of
cars loaded with cotton coming into this
city Some Of this cotton has been ginned
and baled upon the plantations: other is
sent in In the seed and ginned here. There
are also ginning establishments at the
larger cotton markets of the Interior many
OF winch are run by steam and which have
as up-to-date machinery as we have At
THESE gins the seed Is carefully saved and
shipped to Alexandria by railroad or by
boat.
How They Plant Cotton in Egypt.
These Egyptians spend more work on
their crops than our southern farmers. In
the first place. the land has to be plowed
with camels or buffaloes and prepared for
the planting. 1t must be divided into ba-
SINS. each walled around so that it will hold
water. and have little canals inside each
basin so arranged that the water will run
In and out through every row. The whole
field Is cut up into beds of this description,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10
Copyright 1907. by John Eltreth watkIns9

HE utility Of rapidly moving horse
flesh as telegraph or telephone
wire and Of rapidly moving
Il horses hoofs as a conductor for
grounding electric wire circuits
has lust been demonstrated by First Lieut.
A G. Knowles. 18th Infantry, lately detailed
10 study the different phases OF army signal
corps work in the field. His experiments,
which are greatly interesting army officers.
have proven the practicability OF continual
teIegrapbtc or telephone communication be-
tween two mounted operators starting out
ir opposite directions and continuing 10
ride until at least five miles apart. BY the
same device scouts sent out in all directions
from military camp can, while on the
move continually receive instructions from
headquarters and report back everything of
interest which they perceive.
Attached ~ each riders body Is breast
reel" ,1mmrtly wound with two and one
half miles Of insulated wire. Hanging also
on his body is a ''buzzer''-a combined tele-
grain and telephone apparatus, through
which = message may be sent either In
spoken words or by means of the tele-
graphic code transmitted In a huzZing,
rather than clicking sound. The receiver
and rraUsmitter are in one piece, the re-
Ceycr hrfus held against the ear and the
trausm.tt~r either against the mouth. IL
telephone communication IS being effected,
or in tie hand Of the buzZing key IS being
used for ;rlrSraphy.
As tho rider moves the wire connected
with his buzzer'' is automatically reeled
out over his shoulder The circuit is
grounded through the horse. To make a
telegraph or telephone circuit complete
there must Of course. be a ground Connec-
ton a. el,h end. This is effected by plac- !
ing against the horses BODY n small piece |
of copper properly connected TO the buzzer, !
and as tuc horse always has one or more |
feet ON the ground while moving at any |
gait-excrpt possibly tho gallOp which |
connection is completed through one or
more LopCs
Behavior of Electrified Horses.
"Of tie several horses used in these ex-
perimcujs" said Lieut. Knowles. only
few SHOWED any discontinue and those af-
fected by the current were soon quoted.
They appeared to exhibit surprise rather
than pain at something unusual. to which
they quickly became accustomed. These
tests were made over all kinds of ground
very wet. muddy, moist, perfectly dry and
dusty roads and fieds-wlth results of prac-
teal value. With two mounted operators
equipped and separated by five
miles OF wire conversation was carried on |
without difficulty. the horses standing in
grass. The buZZer was Ing enough to be
heard several feet from the instrument |
The commanding officer of the body to
which such mounted operator is attached
may ride alongside his moving telegraph
otiiC" and receive the message word by
word as the operator receives it; or he may |
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10

outfit. one bearing the two chests contain
ing the storage batteries, another the trunk
or operating cAest'-which when opened is
a compact telegraph office-and the third
nae" Whenever storage batteries gave out
the pack mule to which they are assigned
bears them to the base of operations, where
they are recharged by a small gasoline
driven dynamo. These field outfits have
only been introduced in this country within
the past few months, yet messages are reg
ularly transmitted and received by them
over distances of twenty-five to thirty
miles.
Especially for tests during this summers
encampments Gen. Allen has just had COM
pleted fifteen sets of field wireless equip
ments SO compact that one mule instead Of
three can carry all of the apparatus Of
each station. Outfits for wireless field sta
lions are also carried in the wireless in
strument wagons of the Signal Corps.
Kites, to replace masts where wireless
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10

ground being used for other crops or al
lowed to lie fallow during the remaining
two years. At present some Of the cotton
ton Is now planted every other year. where
as the authoritise say that in order to have
a good yield not more than 40 per cent of
ones land should be in this crop from year
to wear.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10
Portable Wireless Masts.

Jointed sixty-foot masts which, like fish
ing rods, may be broken into sections and
readily carried in the field are among the
novel items of this equipment Recent ex-
periments show that one Of these can be
erected. the guy ropes made taut and the
wireless message be started on It's way
through the air in about three minutes after
hating the wagon bearing the equipment
All Of the apparatus necessary for such a
field Notwithstanding coil, condensers
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10

keys. electrolytic receiver, head telephone.
etc.-is carried In two pack chests and one
trunk. the entire outfit, including the
masts, weighing but 800 pounds. Only
three mules are required to carry the entire
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10

not interfere with the transmission of the
message to and from the wagon, even II
the mules move at gallop.
Portable equipment for field wireless
biography is also being experimental with
by the. Signal Corps, under the direction of
Cen James Allen, chief signal officer,
USA
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10
Egypt's Cotton Crop.

As II is now, Egypt is fast taking high
place among the cotton countries o. the
world. The United States stands first She
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10
(CopyrieI,t, 1901. by Frank G.. Carpenter.)
Special Correspondence Of The Star.
ALEXANDRIA.

Z HAVE spent the whole Of today wan |
dering about the cotton wharyes OF
Alexandria. They extend for a mile or
! So up and down the Mahmudiyeh canal. |
which Joins this city to the Nile. and
The Washington times., 1907-08-09
UNCLE SAM GIVES ICE
TO MEN At NAVY YARD

Several hundred employees Of the
Washington navy yard are enjoying
cold drinks these days al the expense
Of the Government. These drinks are
all OF one kind, howevcr-plain water,
with good. hard. cold ice.
Providing ice water for labOrers is an
innovation on the part OF the Navy
Department. Employees of the different
navy yards have from time TO time
appealed 10 the department TO be pro-
vided with ice. but their applications
that the department did not feel called
upon by necessity 20 go further than
provide suitable drinking water FROM
the hydrants. While during the 4
weather and In the exceedingly hot
shOns this water might be too warm
FOR drinking II not frequently used. the
frequent drain iusUTes a tOieTable tenn
pera ture. in most yards
For years the employees at the Wash
ingtOn yard have been providing ice
themselves. There has been an ice
committee. and all who desired ice
water were compelled 10 pay a certain
fee weekly Many did not feel Ike pay
ing this. and the fact that they were
led to personal feeling.
Owing 10 the heat OF the gunshop and
foundries, ice melts quickly and large
quantities are required Although the
expenditure will amount 10 lew thou
sands Of dollars yearly. il was decided
10 Try for a while providing the en-
plOyes OF this one yard with ice. This
experiment Will not be carried 10 any
Of the other yards, however.
The Washington times., 1907-08-09
MARYLAND DEMOCRATS
NAME A. |. CROTHER{

BALTIMORE. Nd, Aug. s.-The Dem
ocratic State convention nominated the
following ticket:
Governor-Austin Lane Crothers, OF
Cecil county.
State comptroller-Dr. Joshua W. Her
Ing. OF Carroll county.
Attorney general-Isaac Lobe Straus.
OF Baltimore city
Clerk OF the court OF appeals-Caleb
c. Magruder, OF Prince George county.
The principal contention was over the
gubernatOrial nomination. When this
was disposed Of the rest was easy.
There was a hot aght IN the committee
on resolutions over the suffrage plank.
which Governor Warheld wanted
stricken out altogether. II was finally
adopted in a modified form so as 10 pro-
tect naturaliZed citizens.
Another important resolution provides
for the election Of United States Sena-
tors not by direct popular vote. but by
popular vote in the counties and the leg
islative districts In the City-that Is TO
say. a candidate who carries a county
or districts entitled to the votes OF the
representatives from these places.
The last important resolution provided
| that a governor must serve out his term
and not be a candidate for Senator.
| Other planks touched on oyster culture.
/ pledged the party 10 a corrupt practices
act, and pleaded for State rights.
The Washington times., 1907-08-09
Quarter Increase
In ". 6. Travel
Under NeW Rate

RALEIGH. y. c. Aug. with the
new railway passenger rate law in effect
throughout the State for twenty-four
hours. big increase has already oc-
CURED In the volume Of travel Rail-
road managers say this means simply
an increased loss. 2h cents being less
than the cost Of transport alton. The
State officials deny this. asserting that
the railroads will make more money
than ever.
However, after a fair trial" says
Governor Glenn, IF the rate proves too
burdensOme 10 the railroads, will call
n special session of the Legislature to
give them relief"
Though the new rate took effect early
yesterday. the Increase in business has
amounted TO nearly 25 per cent. The
pa cents rate is. Of course. ineffective
outside the State line, and passengers
beyond can only buy tickets to the
North Carolina border, where the old
3A-cent rate is still charged.
Railway managers assert they will
soon be compelled. in the interest OF
economy. to discontinue some Of their
trains. and the Louisville and Nashville
is preparing. to leave the State alto
gether- Though II operates but a few
miles Of road in North Carolina It's de-
parture will fall heavily on the extreme
western section of the State, which will
be completely cut off from railroad con-
nectiOn.
The Washington times., 1907-08-09
POTOMAC FIRE DIRECTORS
ELECTED AND ORGANIZED

The annual meeting of the stockhold-
ers of the Potomac Fire Insurance Com
pany to elect directors was held Mon
day
The following were chosen: w. H.
Acker. John I. Arms, J. II. Bradley.
George W Brown. z. F. Caverly. John
Cook, II. Bradley Davidson, G. Thomas
Dunlop, John JOY Edison, Charles W
Fairfax. w J. Flather, Jesse L. IIeis-
kell, Charles E Hood, w. d. Hoover.
r. F.. Pairo. Clarence +. Norment, c.
3. Rheem. Louis z. Shoemaker. George
W. F. Sw6rtzell. B. H. Warner. w. H
Walker, and George w. White
On Tuesday meeting of the new di-
Tectors was held. and the following Off
rers were elected:
John Taylor Arms. president: George
W. Brown. first vice president: George
w F. Swartzell. second vice president
Alexander X. Phillips and II. p. How
ard, jr-, continuing as secretary and as
sistant secretary. respectively.
The Washington times., 1907-08-09
RATHER WHIPPED
BY BLACKSNAKE

ALLENTOWN, Pa, Aug. general
Manager Hall, of the Lehigh Valley
Transit Company, has returned from a
trip to the mountains. where he saw a
terrific and interesting combat to the
death between a blacksnake and a
rattlesnake. The latter was coiled up in
the road. It's rattles sounding like an
electric buzzer, and evidently much dis
turbed
The next minute a big blacksnake
darted out of the woods alongside. and.
with a lightning movement, commenced
to glide in circles around the rattler.
The latter all the time kept turning its
head, trying to keep an eye on its
enemy.
Finally the rattlesnake made a spring
for it's antagonist and struck at It. but
missed. There was black streak. and
the next second the blacksnake had
tied itself into "A knot below the head
of the rattler. The fight which ensued
lasted fully ten minutes and the gravel
fairly flew. and then the rattler gave a
few convulsive Quivers. and It was all
over.
The Washington times., 1907-08-09
HER BRAIN SLEEPS
FOR TWELVE YEARS

CLEVELAND, Aug. 9.-Twelve-year-
old GenevIeve Beelman, who since birth
had never been able to speak a word
and whose brain was asleep the doc
tors say. has been cured. She would
SIT quietly for hours, just locking and
unlocking her folded hands. Her pa
rents had TO feed her at the table. the
girl apparently not knowing the neces-
sity of food. Finally her parents brought
her to DIR. VILLAIN L. Rosenberg.
worked seven hours a day with the
child when she first came TO me-" said
DR.. Rosenber For instance, l would
show her how to make the letter e.
and then ask her IL she could do il.
She would nod and stand at the black
board a half hour tr.-ing to recall a
single stroke" Now tie girl writes
easily. reads fiuently and talks well.T
Il am going home Saturday." said
Genevieve. joyfully. because I can go
to school In September like other girls"