davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-14
Reclamation Service Builder and Maker of Homes

erlck Hayes Newell who has been ap-
pointed director of the reclamation service,
vice Charles d. wolcott who has been
elected secretary Of the Smithsonian in
stituton TO succeed the late Prof Samuel
Pierpont Langley To those who know Mr.
Newell he is one of the mildest manner
Of men. and set with determination that
brooks no interference. His capacity for
work is prodigious and he loves nothing
better than to survey great projects. over
come seemingly insurmountahle obstacles
and make grass grow where but "a short
time before there was nothing but barren
waste. the habitat Of the prairie dog and
the rattlesnake.
To be a home builder is in itself crown
ing ambition. but TO be a national home
builder or providing the land upon which
thousands OF homes may be built, with
every advantage Of agriculture and horti-
culture, is indeed the realization Of most
ambitious desires. This is what Frederick
II. Newell is doing-he is building homes
for the people.
Frederick Haynes Newell was born in
Bradford, Pennsylvania. March o. 1867 lie
graduated from the engineering course OF
the Massachusetts, Institute Of Technology
in 1855. and later took a postgraduate
course in hydraulic work. The graduates
of this college. owing 20 It's high standards
and excellent facilities, are found in the
front rank Of the technical profession.
Immediately after completing his course
Mr.. Newell took up his professional work
in Colorado. Here he came into direct
contact with practical irrigation on a large
scale. His stay in Colorado left a deep
and lasting impression, which was respon-
sible in no small degree for his accepting
In
the irrigation survey in 1885 During the
formative stage Of this survey its rather
chaotic conditions afforded an excellent
field for the exercise and develop
ment Of young Newells capacity for
organization. Through all the viCis-
STUDIES. which the new bureau passed he
never wavered in his purpose of doing
well and thoroughly everything as
signed by him. The irrigation survey
proper was short lived, as congress failed
to provide for it after 1890. Authority
however, was granted to continue tho
measurement of streams and to select sur
vey and segregate reservoir sites. All OF
this work was placed directly under the
charge Of Mr.. Newell.
His star was national reclamation Of the
Great American Desert and for eighteen
years he has devoted all of his skill and
energy to the work of acquiring iniorma
ton concerning the resources and needs o
, the arid west 1t is said that he has frs
, hand knowledge Of every important stream
9 in the west. The extensive and valuabl,
9 results obtained through this work at
- tracted wide attention, and the demand
- for data led congress to increase the ap
i preparation gradually until in 1902 they
n amounted to 10000 annually.
{ The early work was mainly in a vas
wilderness, fun of obstacles to civilized
, occupation, and the results were largel!
= responsible for the subjugaton Of man!
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-14

The steady advance Of electricity as a
factor in the transportation problem in this
country was emphasized in papers pre-
scented at a late meeting Of the American
Institute Of Engineers in New York. Lewis
b. Sullwell and Henry st. Clair Putnam
discussed the substitution Of electricity for
steam from different points of view and
laid particular stress on the advantages
OF the electric motor over the steam loco
motive.
Mr.. Stillwel in the beginning OF his
address declared not experimentally or
hopefully, but as a fact that the electric
motor may so far as science in concerned
be well substituted for the steam locomo-
tive engine. For already both the three
phase and the single phase alternating cur
rent railway motors are perfected so that
they may confidently challenge the steam
locomotive. That challenge extends not
merely to passenger traffic, but to that
involving long-haul freight service, The
direct current motor, too, has demonstrated
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-14
New DEVELOPMENTS and Experiments in the Field Of Electricity

electric operation by the New York Cen
trail, as well as the New York, New
Haven e. Hartford, which is about to in
stall electric service, until the curves can
be changed to meet the new requirements.
In an argument on the probable cause OF
the wreck the editorial points out that
while from all the viewpoints of steam
railrOading the Woodlawn curve was safe
enough, the low elevation of the outside
end Of the ties was not sufficient for the
electrical locomotives, whose horse power Is
nearly twice that of locomotives operated
by steam.
The statement adds:
Evidently there existed in the Inflated
train some novel conditions which were
sufficient to couse the wreck and one does
not have to look very closely into the
matter to find ample evidence that the
new conditions were to be found in the
heavy concentrated weight and low center
Of gravity of the electric locomotives and
the enormous horse power, between 600
and 1000 which the motorman had at COM
mand. The center OF the steam boiler Of
the present expresses of the New York
Central road is about nine feet six inches
above the track, and when the engine
lurches against the outer rails of a curve
there is something Of n cushioning effect
due to the fact that the weights are rela-
lively high. But in the electric locomotive
the heavy motors are placed cOncentrically
around the axles, the wheels are small in
diameter, and the massive frame is hung
low, with the result that there is a heavy
concentration OF weight near the rails.
Moreover. the heavy motors are fixed
rigidly upon the axles.
Taken altogether It can be seen that
the lateral hammering effect against the
outer rail must be very much more severe
in the electric than in the steam locomO-
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-14
| w
sEsSd
Washington TO baltimore by Trolley.

~RIO promoters OF electric lines
N have completed financial arrange
ments for double track electric
INslRHs line connecting Washington and
SnnaD Baltimore. Passenger travel be-
tween the two cities is large, frequently
taxing the capacity OF steam roads which
run trains every hour. The projected line
will have trains every fifteen minutes
which will make the run as speedily as
the steam trains. The trolley cars will be
operated singly for the ordinary service,
with special limited trains OF two or three
cars at intervals during the day when
traffic is densest. a cafe car will be fea-
ture Of the service.
The cars to be used will be the longest
ever built for regular service on electric
lines. They will be sixty feet In length,
and probably the most costly in use on
any interurban line I'm the country This
will not be on account OF luxurious fur
nishing but because the alternating cur
rent system to be used requires a very
heavy and expensive motor equipment
An initial order for twenty-five cars has
been placed. each to cost $4,000, the motor
equipment I'm each costing $4,000,
The roadway will be double track be-
tween Washington and Baltimore with a
4 per cent grade WHICH Will permit VI n
maximum speed of seventy-two miles an
hour and an average OF sixty miles an
hour between terminals.
To get a perfectly safe roadbed for this
fast service an enormous amount Of ex-
cavation and filling in OF grades is neces-
Hary. II is estimated that fully 100000
cubic yards OF earth will have been moved
in the preparation of the grade for the
rails.
To conserve speed and safety over the
terminals is always the monumental task
In the building Of a railroad In enterinG
Baltimore the Washington, Baltimore &
Annapolis has erected an immense stee
viaduct and bridge, carrying the road over
the several main and branch line tracks
of the Baltimore n Ohio and the Penn,
sylvania.
All Of the highway and railroad crossings
are under or over grade, with concret,
abutments and the trolley cars will hav,
an absolutely clear rlght-of-way from city
10 city, with not a single crossing at grad,
TO impede the high speed desired.
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-14

tive. Furthermore, about seventy tons out
Of the ninety-hve tons total weight of the
locomotive is concentrated on the four
drivers and within a space of only twelve
feet This wheel base of the drivers is
rigid, and must necessarily act with an in
tense local side thrust against the particu-
lar rail over which it is moving; nor did
that rail, in the case of the recent accl-
dent receive any assistance from the rail
behind it, since this rail also was sub
jected to similar stress from the second
locomotive.
There is no cause for wonder that in
their second attempt to iron out the curve
into a tangent these motors so far sue
ceeded as to shear off eighteen spikes and
push the outer rail several inches out of
place"
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-14
seeking Freight Business.

The latest electric railway TO seek the
privilege OF carrying express matter and
freight is the Boston Elevated company
which has petitioned the Boston city gov
eminent and the Brookline seloctmen under
the permissive statute enacted a year or
two ago. 1t will meet with strong oppo-
sitlon, il is said. both from the various
suburban express interests about Boston
and the steam roads for the latter realize
that grant of the privilege to the Boston
street railway system will clear the way
for establishing an express and small
freight service over all the electric lines
ramifying out from Boston. Thus the Bos-
ton & Worcester Electric Railway CON-
pany has already secured the privilege,
but cannot use it because It depends upon
Boston Elevated company trackage to get
into that city
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-14

TODAY China's soldiers are armed
with the best products Of German
and japanese skin. They are
IE9SSi{S trained by Japanese officers IN
80 strategy and tactics They are
equipped with signal balloons. wireless tele-
ply and a Red Cross society.
Their officers are graduates Of excellent
military schools established i'm various
parts OF the empire, I'm the faculties or
which are 70 he found "A large proportion
of German and japanese instructors Mod
ern history has but one other example Of a
nation 81 thoroughly, so rapidly, and so
earnestly renovating an ant'quatod and
useless military system AZ China. That
example Is Japan.
China's army Is en- route 10 perfection.
VIII It arrive? Has II wearied by the
way? Ia the march ahead Of too great
distance? These are the questions now
asked as the result Of the second annual
maneuvers OF the Chinese imperial army,
which took place near Chang-te Pa.
As was said by one OF the experts. The
maneuvers were good but not startling.
They were more or less Of a disappoiut-
mcnt. Last year those who came 20 scoff
remained TO praise.
Enough could not be said in approba-
ton. The press went mad, The yellow
peril was imminent-at hand, in fact. Al
Europe was agitated. America wondered
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-14

will most likely be introduced in the near
future, as they are rapidly being perfected
The patron drops in his nickel when the
attachments are in place before he can
get the central office and he talks to the
operator over one wire. Then when the
operator gets the connection completed she
switches him TO another wire. over which
he talks to the person called. The instant
he begins talking on the second wire a
clock starts and at the end OF Ave min
utes breaks the connection. but II can be
renewed with another nickel without both
ering central. II central fails to connect
the patron with the party called the nickel
rolls down chute in front Of him as the
operator calls, They don't answer"
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-14

lands in arid and semi-arid states have
been employed in constructing irrigation
works which, when completed, will reclaim
200. 600 acres Of the public domain. Canals
are being built, tunnels dug and bitches
run equal in length TO the distance be-
tween Washington and Omaha. This I'M
mense work has been accomplished
promptly, quietly and without friction IN
refreshing contrast to the troubles that
have impeded work on the isthmus.
And this achievement, notable as 1t is,
must be primarily laid at the door of Fred
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-14

drawn that the operation by electricity
costs IS per cent less than by steam.
Regarding the general comfort of pas
sengers the argument is: "The great add
vantages of electric traction in respect to
comfort OF passengers are well known.
Cleanliness and improved ventilation made
possible by the elimination Of smoke and
cinders; lighting practically without heat
and at low cost by a system which makes
It easy to place lamps in any desired loca-
ton, and heating apparatus effectively and
conveniently controlled are factors OF
very great Importance in building up pas
senger business under conditions of COM
petition. In operating through tunnels
ventilated with difficulty, the electric mo-
tor, in eliminating smoke and the gases II
combustion, possesses an advantage which
IS frequently controlling
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-14

ROF. IRVING FISHER Of Yale,
after exhaustive experiment upOl
- forty-nine students, professors
Ntf$3kl and physicians. finds that the
0423tp nOn-meat-yatcrS outcIass the meat
eaters in such tests OF physical endurance
as holding the arms ont horizontally against
time, deep knee-beHdinE and guose-step
drill. one vegetarian held his arms out
more than three hours, while a moat-eating
track athlete cried quits in nine minutes.
Now men do not make living by hold
ing their arms out horizontally Vet it may
be admitted that most people can get along
very well as individuals without meat.
Prosperous Americans who lead "a selentary
life eat far too much Of H. But that does
not prove the case I'm its wider aspects
History is half made up OF the oonquests
of vegetarian or ssmi-veBetari1n nations
by meat-eat,ng ones. The meat-eating
Iroouols Indians Of central New York held
the hsh-eating Seawanhakas Of Long
Island in subsection. The bunalo-chaslng
Sioux were more doughty warriors than
the Chinooks The Goths that overran
Spain the Mohammedans that conquered
the vegetarian Buddhists OF India the
Normans that made their name feared
from England all the way 10 Greece were
valiant tFenchermen. In later days the
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-14
Electric Motors and curves.

The Scientific American in an editorial
based upon the inquiry made into the
cause of the Woodlawn wreck on the New
York Central, sounds a warning against
what it terms the danger Of applying
heavy electric locomotives to steam roads
until the tracks at the curves have been
put in condition to meet the heavier
stresses which it says are imposed by a
higher rate of speed. 1t says that the dis
aster should call an immediate halt TO
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-14

The latest invention 10 protect telephone
companies from long winded users Of their
lines and at the same time TO prevent their
patrons from being cheated is a wonder
says the Philadelphia Record. Although
the new attachments have not yet been
placed in the ordinary pay stations, they
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-14

miles OF road i'm mountainous country and
through heretofore inaccessible regions. 1t
has erected and iu operation 1873 miles OF
telephone lines. 1t has Il5i horses and
mules on hand and at work, is operating
nine locomotives, 222 cars. twcnty-three
miles Of railway. thirty-uine stationary en-
Eiuo5 tveuty-sgvcu pumps and five electric
light plants. The work is giving employ
mcut to 10000 people and involves the eN-
pendi,ure Of approximately TcooON a
month.
As result OF the operations OF the
reclamation service eight new towns have
been established. 100 miles of branch rail-
ways have been constructed and 10000
people have taken mp their residences in
the desert. The work has given a decided
impetus to every line of industry in the
west.
In a talk with Mr.. Newell the other day
he said The work Of retaining lands
is interesting from its very nature. 1t
means the furnishing OF homes to thou
sands of persons and an enormous increase
to the revenues Of the country. Hundreds
of thousands of acres Of land that are now
practically valueess will. when cultivated,
sustain one person to the acre.
During the coming summer l shall d.
vide my time between an inspection OF the
various projects i'm the west and in Wash
ington. The work has continued through
out the winter wherever possible, though
severe weather conditions have retarded it
i'm a number Of instances. The work on
the Roosevelt dam on the Salt river above
Phoenix, Ariz.. which, when completed will
be one Of the largest structures of the
kind in the world, has been delayed be-
cause of the many floods which have CON
tinued throughout the winter. The rail-
road tracks near Phoenix, l am informed,
were washed out eleven times during the
year.
Il have been connected with reclamation
work since 1855 and it has always proved
intensely interesting. The work Of trans
formation of a desert into homes has a
fascination easily accounted for.
while working in the Nevada desert,
which for forty miles is covered with the
bones of animals and men, we found water
within fifteen feet of the surface. This
land is possible Of cultivation and in a
few years will be a land of farms, supply
ing homes for thousands
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-14

7ASHINGTON, April 13. - Especial
NV In its role as a
builder and homemaker the re-
kSfSEa5t camation service, since its es-
49, Establishment in 1902. has become
known throughout the nation and its re-
suits are largely traceabe to Frederick
II. Newell. who but recently was appointed
by James a. Garfield, secretary Of the in
terror, as director Of the reclamation SER
vice, and its erection into a separate bu-
reau of the Interior department
The revenues from the sales of public
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-14

On the recommendation Of Director
Newell, the secretary Of the interior, has
promoted Mr. A. Z. Davis to the position
Of chief engineer from that of assistant
chief engineer OF the reclamation service.
Arthur Powell Davis was born in illinois,
February ., 1861. He was educated in the
public schools Of Junction City and En-
poria. Kan, and later completed an
engineering course in the George Wash
ington university. At the age of q he
entered the United States geological survey,
as member Of the topographic branch and
since then has been closely identified with
the topographic, photographic and engineer
ing work of the government His early
work was In the west, where he spent
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-14

several years in surveying reservoir sites
in the high mountains and in measuring
the streams of the great American desert.
His name is attached to many Of tho
original maps Of Arizona, New Mexico and
California The reports Of his invesu-
cations are valuable contributions to our
knowledge of the arid country and its pos
sibilities and have been of special value
in the preliminary work Of the reclamation
service.
In 1S9S-l9OO. Mr.. Davis had charge Of the
photographic work Of the Nicaragua and
Panama canal routes and his reports fur
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-14

nished much needed and important infor-
nation concerning both plans. He joined
the reclamation service Immediately after
the passage Of the reclamation act and
since that time has been closely identified
with all of the engineering work connected
Herewith. The bureau Of which he has
become chief engineer is now eXpendins
more than 100000 per month in the con-
structon of twenty-five large irrigation
projects, which will reclaim 100000 acres
OF land. The work gives employment to
more than 10000 people and has already
reclaimed nearly 100000 acres OF desert.
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-14

no promoters of electric lines
have completed financial arrange
ments for a double track electric
line connecting washington and
Baltimore. Passenger travel be-
The Elbert County tribune., 1907-01-10
COFFEE WAS THE sTApL4.
Amusing Experience of Paymasssr at
an Irish Boarding House.

Back III the '70s. when the Kansas
division of the Union Pacific was
called the Kansas Pacific. Maj. E. D.
Reddington, who had served with dis
tfnction in the civil war, was paymas-
ter AT that time the paymaster was
the biggest man connected with the
road, in the estimation of the en-
ployes and the people living in the
towns along the line. and his arrival
in the pay car was usually the occa-
sion for a great outpouring of the peo-
pie.
One night Mai Reddingtons car
pulled into the town of Wallace. The
major and his clerks were given a
grand welcome by the people. They
were escorted to a railroad boarding
house and treated as royal guests. 1t
was conducted by a buxom Irish wom-
an who boasted that she set the best
table at any town along the road.
AT supper that night every regular
boarder turned up at the table look
ing his best The Irish ''landlady." as
they called her. appeared in neat
blue calico dress. all primped up and
smiling.
"Tay r coffee?" she asked with a
pretty courtesy, as she passed from
one guest or another.
The regular boarders understood it
all. and they answered: Coffee,
plase. num- Mai. Reddington,. how
ever. was a down east Yankee and
not much of coffee drinker. so when
the question was put to him he replied
with his usual politeness:
Il will have cup OF tea, II you
please"
1t almost took her breath away.
The look of disgust on her face caused
the regular boarders to litter. Then
she flared up.
Say coffee. ye omadahn. FIR we have
no tay,' she said, as she poured the
majors cup full of steaming coffee
Kansas City Star.
The Elbert County tribune., 1907-01-10
Progressive Candy Jack straws.

Provide quarter of a pound of
twisted candy sticks known as opera"
sticks in most candy shops. They
come in all colors and there must be
a different color for each table, four
at table. A pair of candy tongs
must be in readiness for each player
and box for containing the candy
"straws." The game is to see how
many sticks may be withdrawn from
the pile without breaking or throwing
the pile into confusion. Progressions
are made and the score kept.
Prizes are awarded consisting Of
candy canes, pipes, cigarettes, ETC.,
for the men, and fancy candy favors
for the girls. Children enjoy this en-
tertainment and eating the sticks won
is permissible.
The Elbert County tribune., 1907-01-10

''fscw did you get heref said De
nsan, selling the hand Of his old
com1atie n a manner that bespoke
his extreme satisfaction.
First by steamer. second by rafl.
and third by foot. l reached a devil
OF tavern. the Bald Eagle, and find
ing your room empty, l enquired for
your route"
And was directed here?" said De-
neau.
mot exactly, I was told that Mr..
Dsvalle-" he smiled, had gone to-
'<ard the river, and following the path
pointed out to me came upon several
large dogs and small hut"
''Ah, the hut of Uga,"
Il knocked on the door of this hut
and the devil came out
''The devil! what do you mean?"
well, If he was not the devil, he
had the devils guise. and spoke a
tongue-well. damn his language,"
''Still you are here. and that is the
most important part of your itinerary"
laughingly remarked Deneau.
The shadow of the forest had deep
ened. They returned to the Bald
Eagle" and as they drew nearer and
The Elbert County tribune., 1907-01-10
NoUeL Ideas in Entertainment

Then followed cleverly written re-
sumo of the girls life from babyhood
under an assumed name. AS the
events were related light began to
dawn, but no one said a word until
the story was finished, then congratu-
lations were in order and a silver
loving cup was passed, in which was
some rare old wine. only used to drink
the health of some member of the
family on the occasion of a great even
in their lives. Some of this sparkling
liquor had been used when the mother
Of the bride-elect was married and at
the christening of the baby daughter.
The brides health would be drunk at
the wedding and then the rare old
product would be put away to await
the next important family event.
MADAME MERRI