davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-12
Birth of an Idea

Mr.. Hartman. touring France in 1903 with his family, took
notice of the gasoline automobile in which they were riding, He de-
cided he could use something like that in some parts of his railroad
empire. Returning to the United States he ordered car and locomo
tive builders to make him a gasoline motor car for railway use. They
tried and failed. Then Hartman put it up to " young McKeen in the
Omaha shops. McKeen called together his staff of engineers and eX
perts and placed the proposition before them. He did this thing one
day at lunch, for he has instituted a lunch room in the office build.
ing, where he eats every noon at a big table with thirty-fve of his en-.
gneers, foremen and experts and discusses sahents questions. After
lunch that day, a usual. the men played ball for half an hour and
then, refreshed, according to the McKeen regime, this great com
poste brain got busy" The result was that on March 2S, 1895.
motor car No. l, marking an epoch in railroad car building, wi
turned out from the Union Pacific shops. Such a success was this car
that twenty-four have been constructed since, seventeen are nov in
course of construction and a milhon-dollar corporation has been
formed, with Mr.. McKeen at the head of 1t, for the exclusive purpose
Of manufacturing the cars which are being demanded by all the rail-
roads of the country. Since the manufacture of the first car great inn
provements have been made. The seating capacity has been increased
from twenty-five to seventy-fve, the horsepower from 100 to 200.
The mechanical worlds attention has been attracted by the won
derful steel shapes in railroad construction which McKeen has intro
duced. The Union Pacific steel box car constructed by him is all OF
steel and has the remarkably light weight of only $3.50 pounds. In
eighteen months trial 1t has proven its practicability and adaptabiluy
to the various kinds of lading. The small repair item is a prominent
feature of the car. The underframe is composed of one continuous
center sill and two side stills, all of which are supported by depressed
construction renders this steel structure practically indestructibe.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-12
His Home Life

Mr.. McReen In 1893 married Miss Elizabeth New. daughter Of
the late John G. New, who became famous as the editor and proprie-
tor of the Indianapolis Journel and who was United States consul
general at London, England, during the administration OF President
Harrison. Mrs. McKeen is also a sister of Harry G. New, vice chair
man OF the republican national committee.
Mr.. McKeen is devoted to outdoor sports. He loves fresh All
for himself as well as for his men. Automobning, tennis and base
ball are his particular hobbies. He is a member of the Masons.
Elks and Scottish Rites lodges and Of the Omaha club and the Coun.
try club. In 1896 the Rose POLYTECHNIC institute conferred on him
the degree of Master Of Science and that of Mechanical Engineer the
following year. He S a member Of the Master Mechanics and the
Master Car Builders associations. serving on prominent committees
mis- calm cool, carefuny-dressed man who seems TO have moth
ing TO do but Toll easily in his chair and play with the paper cutter
Is not only superintendent Of motive power and machinery for tina
great Hartman systems. with thousands of men under him, he IL
aIo head o the inspecting bureau. which inspects annually more
than 32b,OOOOOO worth of railroad material. He Is ALSO chairman
o h committee of superintendents OF motive power.
Inc Mcheen Motor Car company is the name Of the new col.
poraton just formed for manufacturing motor cars of the Mexican
design In Omaha for ue on any roads that want them. Nj. McKeen
VIII De president and general manager of the new company and Mr.
Harriman will be the financial head. The present motor cal mann.
factory will be enlarged as the growing demand for the m make
nSoaasAEX.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-12
Ancestry and Early Life

This young man who has been for six years superintendent of
motive power and machinery for the Hartman systems covering
more than 10000 miles OF busy railroad track, has not yet reached
his thirty-ninth birthday. He was born October 2, 1869, in Terre
Haute. Ind, and IL the son of William Riley McKeen, for twenty
seven years president Of the Terre Haute & Indianapolis railway and
one Of the prominent men Of the Hooder state. His grandfather
was aBo president Of this railway. The family is of Insh-scotch ex-
sgner Of the Declaration Of Independence.
Though he was born with the proverbial silver spoon in his
mouth, he was of a stock which is not spoiled by a mere unfortunate
Circumstance like that During his early years he was under the
tuition Of a governess at home. At the age of 0 years he began to
attend the public schools in Terre Haute. Two years later he entered
the high school. whence he entered the Rose POLYTECHNIC institute At
Terre Haute. After a four years course he graduated from there
in 1889 with the degree Of bachelor Of science. He entered johns
Hopkins university. Baltimore. taking the advanced mathematics
and the regular course In electricity. He took the first and second
years work at the same time and finished both within a year. He
then went to Europe ana from July, 1890, until the fail Of 1891 he
pursued his studies in electricity and mechanical engineering at the
Polytechnicum IN Berlin. AS Peter the Great learned shipbuildinE
American learned his profession by practical observation in the great
railroad and machine shops of the principal cities Of Europe.
The scene now changes from the drawing room O. the first act
10 the attic Of the second, for this educated and polished son Of .
wealthy and prominent house came back to America and secured
work a. IN apprentice in the ca shops Of the Pittsburg, Cincinnati,
Chicago q 81 Louis railway. At Columbus, o. For his first months
services he received t2e.so. But that apprentice in greasy everaIIs
only ten years later was superintendent OF motive power Of the great
eat railway Eystsm in the world
Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-12

shop, for example, he has installed four systems of ventilation for the
benefit of the lungs OF the men who work at the FORCES. In the new
office building he has placed asystem Of ventilation which is his own
invention, admitted now by ventilation system manufacturers to be
superior to their own. on the shop grounds there are beautiful lawn
plots, shrubbery and more than 1900 young trees, which in the
course of a few years will convert the place into a veritable park.
Men are constantly employed in caring for the park system of the
shops.
Also that rule which Is so evident In McKeen's private office Is
in rigid effect all over the shops. 1t is a rule which careful mothers
teach their children, Have a place for everything and everything in
place" Everything in this vast workshop, down to the smallest nut
and bolt, has it's appointed place, where it remains unobstrusively out
of the way until 1t is wanted, and then no time is lost hunting for It.
ugly surroundings and slovenlness have a depressing effect on
men" says McKeen. From the economic standpoint, to say nothing
of the humanitarian, this orderlness, this ventilation, this parking OF
the grounds is good. Moreover, every man has a good locker whore
he can put his clothes and vauables and know they are safe. And
there are shower baths just as good as those at the country clubs,
where, after the days work, the men an take a bath and rundown
and go home feeling like men"
Such treatment is appreciated, and therefore 1t is clear whyMc-
Keen has all his men with him, striving toward his ends and working
as a powerful unit with him. That is one of the reasons why he has
done so much. Take the history of his greatest accomplishment, the
gasoline railway motor car.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-12

~ n1OoI VI II oLdIuOuu CuII1Ad
works are closed and those which
are still running are only employ
ing one-quarter of the usual number of work
ers. SO the residents of the Ghetto are swell
ing the lists of the unemployed.
This is the first time in many years that
the Jewish quarters in Amsterdam have not
been busy. Now the diamond cutters, men.
women and children. spend most of the day
on the street talking over their grievances.
The recent strike, as we'll as the vicissitudes
of the diamond business, have brought about
this state of affairs. The strike was de-
clared at a very bad time for the strikers,
at a time when the employers were only too
willing to close their factories, and there is
small likelihood of their ever being opened
again On the same scale, unless a sudden
boon in the diamond market should arise.
1t was the Portuguese Jews who brought
this industry to Amsterdam in 1875, and for
Centuries they had a virtual monopoly of the
trade. Now that is changed somewhat, yet
only a few months ago there were sixty
three diamond-cutting factories employing
IL, 600 persons, situated In or very near the
Ghetto.
This handling and manipulating of dia-
mOnds is one of the few trades in which
women often receive higher pay than men,
for there is one special part of the work
that a man cannot do; that is the cutting
and polishing Of the very small diamond.
Only the long, slender. sensitive fingers Of
the Jewish women can manage this, SO they
command fairly good wages, and an expert
woman cutter can he sure OF work in her
old age except, of course, in a time like this.
which is almost unprecedented in the history
Of the Ghetto.
The Jewish quarter is deRsely populated.
Good Jews here as elsewhere marry early
and multiply as the Bible tells them to do.
Centuries ago they were forced TO live in this
part of the city. Now they live here because
they prefer TO do so. and though some have
waTed rich, yet they remain in the little
houses, where their fathers. grandfathers
and great-gTandtAthsrs have Lived before
Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-12

Rlndy gre yes n a salient nosc,l al Dack In a SWIVEL
Il chair with his back to a roll top mahogany desk in one
corner Of a large private office in the south end of the
Union Pacific shops office building. The office boy has
Just told you to go In and your feet sink into the thick carpet as you
step across the room. Between you and the man in the swivel chair
Is a large, highly polished mahogany table, upon which are all man.
ner Of strange devices. There is a model of the Paxton & Mitchell
high pressure piston stem packing; a model of the Westinghouse
friction draft rigging; a model of the Sessions draft rigging; a model
of the Hall and Kilburn seat end. Upon the walls are pictures Of
pretty women, pleasant landscapes and photographs of railway motor
cars, steel box cars, steel passenger coaches.
1t is really a very fine office. Everything has a place and is in
its place. The man behind the polished table fits right into this
picture of pleasant orderliness. His gray business suit and pleated
pink shirt bespesk the careessly careful man. He seems to have
nothing special to do except to swing in his swivel chair and tap
the mahogany table with a paper cutter.
Notwithstanding the picture given above, reference is not made
70 Governor Hughes of New York. The beard truly is the beard of
Hughes, but the voice is the voice of William Riley McKeen, Ieuten-
ant on the star Of E. H. Hartman, captain of the mighdest Industrial
than Alexander wei dreamed Of, genius of the modern commercial
to recognize the genius of other men and to attach such men to them
selves. Mr.. Hartman possesses this ability to a marked degree. He
has surrounded himself with the best men in their several special
lines. And William r. McKeen is recognized today as pre-eminent in
the mechanical world. A large part Of the fruit of his genius accrues
to the great railway system of which Mr.. Hartman is the head be-
cause Mr.. Hartman discovered him and made 1T worth his while to
devote himself to the Union Pacific lines. The gasoline motor car,
the steel box car, the steel passenger coach-these are three of the
great ACHIEVEMENTS Of MI. McKeen, any one Of which alone would
make the fortune and fame of a man. They are three OF his achieve
ments strictly within the limits Of his profession. But he is not bound
by those lines, as will be explained hereafter.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-12

II try to treat my men like men should be treated; like I would
want to be treated If l were in their place" says McKeen. Il know
my men at play as we'll as at work. l believe that all work and no
play makes Jack a dull boy. Eight hours a day is as long a a man
ought to work. There's nothing worth noticing in this talk of some
self-made men who worked sixteen hours a day to make themselves.
Moreover, l believe in taking care of the health of my men, and
also Of making their surroundings as beautiful as possible. Land
scape gardeners n not the only ones who can appreciate green trees
and pretty flowers. With pleasant surroundings, pure air and proper
hours of labor any man is worth more to his employer than under ad-
verse conditions"
Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-12
Cutters of Diamonds Become Idle

AMSTERDAM, July There is dis
tress In the Ghetto Of Amsterdam.
Most Of the diamond cutting
works are closed and those which
Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-12

MAN with black hair, heavy black beard, keen, large
kindly grey eyes and a salient nose, leans back in a swivel
chair with his back to a roll top mahogany desk in one
corner Of a large private office in the south end Of the
IIninn PacifIc ahnna nffIcn hniIaIna The nffica boy has
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-12-03
WHIT BRANDON
IN THE Thief
MANAGER BINNARD HAS sEcuR.
ED TWO CAPABLE ARTISTS TO
LEAD THE COMPANY HE rs
PUTTING IN STOCK HERE.

The Binnard theater will be OPEN
ed next Thursday by Whit Brandon
and Miss Ethel Tucker in the great
American production. THE Thief"
and Lewiston theater goers will be
given the opportunity Of witnessing
one OF the leading plays on the
boards today. as presented by the
strongest stock company ever
brought to the city.
Whit Brandon and Miss Tucker
are recognized as two OF the strong
est character artists touring the
West this season, and their engage
ment at the Binnard will be deter
mined by the patronage received.
Mr.. Brandon and Miss Tucker will
be supported by cast of eight per-
formers, and their opening here IL
conditional upon a guarantee for the
first week. The lease upon the OPP
era house has been drawn in such a
manner as to be Cancelled without
notice any time the patronage will
not warrant continuace OF the en-
gagement in Lewiston.
In bringing the new company t.
the Binnard for a stock engagement
Manager Binnard promises the Lew
iston people the strongest compan,
and the best plays to be seen in tn
city this season.
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-12-03
HOLD CHURCH RALLY
AT TEMPLE THEATER.
Demand for Room Has Made Larger
Auditorium Necessary.

, So many perple have expressed
themselves as DESTROYS OF attending
the rally to be held under the aus
pices Of the Methodist church next
Sunday that the church has secur-
ed the Temple theater for the entire
day.
At the morning service, which
will be held at II o'clock, the SER
mon will be delivered by Rev Hen
ry l. Rasmus. D. d., pastor OF FRS
Methodist church, Spokane. DR.
Rasmus was at one time presiding
elder OF this district and will be re-
membered by our people as a man
of great pulpit ability. In fact, he
Is reputed to be one of the mos. elo-
quent and interesting speakers in
the whole West.
At the evening service DR.. Ulysses
r. Hawk. superintendent of the Spo-
kane district, will preach the SER
mon. DR.. Hawk Is one Of the ris-
ing men Of the Inland Empire Meth
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-12-03
PRIZE CUPS FOR
POULTRY SHOW
CHARLESTON POULTRY FANCERS
ARE PLANNING SHARk' COA.-
PETITION FOR OWNERSHIP OF
RICH PRIZES OFFERED.

Charleston Bureau Evening Teller.
Charleston. Wash, Dec. g.
Seven prize cups were received by
L. =. Bryant yesterday. which will
be used at the poultry show the first
Of the ear. They are very hand
some silver cups. one being II
inches.
Simon Adams yesterday purchased
the two acres and house in South
vineland owned owned by Miss Mary
Olney
The funeral of Myrtle Nolan,
daughter of w. B. Nolan, took place
this afternoon at the home on Bridge
street. Rev. B. Presson conducting
the services.
An infant child OF c. NJ. Bronson
died at the home on Highland ave-
nue. yesterday morning.
Mrs Patrick Joy is very iii at her
home on Highland avenue.
Mrs. S. Tucker returned yesterday
from business trip to Portland.
Mrs. Tucker also spent pleasant
Thanksgiving day with her parents
tMr. and Mrs s. D. Powell, residing
at Hillsboro, Ore.
Miss Virgie Randall Of Palnnse,
who has been visiting her aunt. Mrs
George Wolhtman, returned TO her
home yesterday.
The High school debating team
will meet the Normal debaters in
the Normal auditorium Saturday
evening the question being: Re.
solved, That the Federal government
should es .abl'sh and control postal
savings banks. The debaters from
here will be Harry McCreadv. Solo
man HOLSTER and Charles Craig.
A baby girl Is a recent arrival a.
the home OF Frank E. White II
West Vineland.
W. NJ Clemensnn and family re-
turned yesterday from their Thanks
giving visit with Mrs. Clemenson'i
parents at Newberg, Ore.
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-12-03

Highest cash price paid for clean
cotton rags at the Teller once.
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-12-03

odism, and has made himself felt
throughout the entire conference
by his ministerial success and Or
ganizing ability. While not q ma
tive son Of the West. the doctor has
been identified with It for many
years, and IL an enthusiastic boos-
tes. He has unbounded faith in
both the commercial and religious
future of this great country. and is
always willing to put his shoulder
tn the wheel to help along any de-
serving enterprise.
1t Is confidently expected that q
great congregation will gather to
hear these men and the other lead
ers who are to be present. and that
tn rallv will result in a renewed
enthusiasm and impetus in Inc
church work in This place.
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-12-03
The Home If Hart, Shaffner & Marx Clothes
will Open New Meat Market.
Get the Habit.

new meat market Will be open
cd at 61S Main street, In the Por-
ter block. by John Rugaber. the
well-known meat cutter. who was
formerly identified with the Inland
Meat company. Mr.. Rugaber Is now
eQuipping the new market With the
necessary fixtures and will have the
establishment open for business next
Saturday.
The market will be conducted on
strictly a cash basis, and every de-
rartment of the business will be IN
der the personal supervision OF Nj
Rugaber.
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-12-03

Zero weather Is still stealing
a'oun1 ne edges of the United
ct7tes cdav. but principally along
the northern border The area Of
nigh 'emre~ature has drifted over
the Atlantic seaboard and reduced
I'll ternne-otnres, but on the Pacific
coast = hi~h and low are s-rug-
elipg 20 ~" mastery, and AZ re-
suit the-e q rrnw N the air II the
ipferrrornta' states.
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-12-03
Temple Theatre, Mon., Dec. Z

Superior to any,
thing ever done in
this country
Boston Herald.
Absolute triumph"
N. Z. Sun.
Real dramatic sue
cess.
IN. Y. Journal.
"Tense, dramatic,
unusual"
N. Y. American.
1.-The most signal
dramatic achieve
mcnt Of the decade.
--Phila. Record
"A powerful play.
beautifully acted. A
new mark in AM
erican drama"
-Chica go Record
Herald.
Tackles a big
problem in a big
wa;."
Boston Globe.
1.-THE big American
play at last"
st. Louis Repub-
lie.
"Will always be re-
ferred to as the
great American
play"
Cincinnati Post.
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-12-03

Ipressions Of q Teller Reported Sent
to Interview the Precocious Miss.

In the first place. let me tell you.
Miss Minkie Is a sweet, lovable girl,
and wise little one, too. She has
a way OF. asking embarrassing Ques-
lions OF persons she dislikes. Mr..
Schwartz found that out; Schwartz,
who wrested his wealth from Afri-
can natives and stole their ju-ju
(wealth) and then plotted against
Miss Minkie's father. ~
You will find yourself. at all
times, in a dilemma as to what Miss
Mlnkie will next do. Without mo-
ment's warning. Miss Minkie will
change her discussion to. her friends
a. home. Dale End. whom she calls
her gang" and then turn to some
other Interesting sugject. Of, which
she has manv. such as her travels in
this and other countries. all OF
which are Of intense interest.
was on tho verge OF asking her
opinion of he United States and the
Western country in particular. when
her agent called "dinner" ard the
Interview was ended ] shall seek
anothor interview with Miss Minkie
this evening
Highest cash price paid for clean
, 1908-05-01
A SHOTGUN
WAS USED
YOUNG MAN FROM MISSOURI
TAKES OWN LIFE ON THE WILL
RICE RANCH THURSDAY.
James Arthur Richie Shoots Himself
In Region of Heart and Father at
Greenfield Notified-Had Quarrel
With Fellow Employe, But Differ
ences Amicably Settled.

James Arthur Richie, aged % years,
who came here from Greenfield, Mo-, a
couple of years ago, and who worked
a part of the time last year at the roll
ing mills, killed himself with a shot
gun at the William Rice ranch, twenty
two miles southwest of the city, yes
terday forenoon, word of the tragedy
reaching the city between 4 and 5
O'Clock yesterday afternoon by James
LaPorte, a fellow employe on the
ranch. Coroner Ballard, County At,
torney Downey and Deputy Sheriff
Therkildsen, who had just returned
from the KinIey ranch where they had
been with the %coroner's jury in the
Kinley case, hurried to the scene, tine
coroner empaneling a jury consisting
of Charles Brands, Joseph Lohlein
and S. H. Campbell, who viewed the re-
mains. The inquest was adjourned to
| o'clock this afternoon, when it was
resumed at the city hall, the jury re,
turning a verdict that Richie had come
to his death from a gunshot wound
fired by himself.
Used Winchester Shotgun.
The coroner found the body of Richie
lying on a bed in the bunk house at
the ranch. The man had evidently
placed the muzzle of a 12-gauge Win
chester shotgun, single-barreled,
against his left breast, with the butt OF
the gun resting On the floor, and with
the handle of a small broom ne hal
pushed the trigger, the shell exploding.
The whole charge entered the chest a
little above the heart, but hat organ
was badly torn. Richie fell backward,
but not until he had placed his blood,
stained hand to his forehead. Death
ensued very shortly.
Quarrel On Monday.
The jury found that Richie and La
Porte had quarreled on Monday. Richie
getting the better Of the other in q
fight, and that LaPorte had taken a shot
, 1908-05-01
Fleet at Monterey.

Del Monte, Cal, May 1.-The At
lantic battleship fleet arrived in Mon
terey bay today and anchored off the
city at G O'Clock this morning. A great
was gathered nIong the shore
line even at this early hour, but the
misty atmosphere prevented a good
view of the long line of ships until
they entered the anchorage ground.
Great Sporting Program.
A varied program of field sports, box
ing bouts, baseball games and dancing
has been arranged for the enlisted
men, while the officers will be lavishly
entertained socially.