davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-12-13
How Each Engine is Tested

The engine is placed upon the track
and made to go around a number of
times, and in this process the governor
is adjusted so that the engine will
travel at predetermined speed 1t is
then attached to a train of four cars
and made go around the track so many
times and If it accomplishes the re-
CURED number it is. passed: if not, 1t
is sent out for new motor
The next. and final step is the touch,
ing up here ndsthere with paint Girls
are employed at~this work, and they
add little color on spots that have
been married in the machine shop and
they place gilt on the boiler, on the
steam chest and on the wheels. The
engine is now ready for shipment
The ,cars--of which there are many
types-are made in. somewhat the same
manner. Sheets of tin japanned with
the design are cut out and passed
through a press that punches out the
spaces for the windows and doors and
leaves tiny projections that serve to
attach the sides to. the bottom or floor
Another press raises in relief the de-
sign and yet another folds the tin to
form like box without a top or
bottom The floors are made by press
that cuts them out of tin and at the
same time peEforates certain holes
through which the projections on the
sides At and are afterward secured.
At the assembling table sit girls who
deft1y take the bottoms. insert the
axles' make fast the wheels. fit on the
sides and, tops. thus. finishing the cars.
but for the slight painting that is
always necessary on ienameled work
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-12-13
Present Toys Evolution

The toy railroad is an evolution.
From the crude iron engine and cars of
yesterday to the perfect reproduction
OF the fast limited twentieth century
express OF today the steps have been
gradual, and whereas in the old days
anything that had a semblance to what
it represented would sell, and the fond
papa would explain to his offspring
that 1t was a .'choo-choo' train, the
conditions Of today demand the engine
must be replica Of the finest locomo-
tive built and must run well. The cars
must have doors that will open to adj,
init the tiny cast iron passengers and
the automatic couplings must hold the
train together if it happens to tumble
off the, track.
The rough castings of the boilers are
received in halves and after grinding
are riveted together. They are then
dipped into japan twice and dried,
being placed in bins from which they
are taken when all is in readiness for
the assembling. The wheels are cast
iron. and before they are attached to
the axles undergo nine separate and
distinct operations on an automatic
turret' machine where they are ground
true, and threaded hole for the axle
is bored. The bed on which the boiler
is mounted is stamped from an enam-
eled sheet of tin in which the necessary
holes are punched, the little projections
in which the axies and other. parts are
fastened are bent to their proper posi-
lions in a series of operations on one
press. Thescab Is also stamped from
an enameled strip of tin. grooved and
formed up inna series of dies.
The driving machinery or motor" is
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-12-13
ZhzDcE GRZoc C4V PUWA
CIR NOCFZHZH IN c11CZ
IS CTG2TpS

an instant stopping or the train caused
by trip being thrown.
realistic part OF this miniature
railroad is the Grand Central depot
that is made OF tin highly enamelet
and with glass train shed, telegraph
and express Offices and a long platform
But If the boy manager wishes he may
use other depots. for there are many
designs 20 select from.
II a miniature railroad is placed OF
the floor of the play room and the
progressive boy doesn't think the sur.
roundings seem much like the real
country through which the steam cars
pass. he needn't feel badly. for he may
make requisition on pop" for COM
plete set of scenery that Will closely
approximate a beautiful landscape in
the Sierras. or a trip up the Sacra-
mento. This scenery comes in many
sections so that he may have an ample
choice of the country along his right
OF way"
Careful attention must be given to the
demands of the child as to which type
of car or locomotive he likes best, and
an instant change in design is made
TO conform to this within. AS an exam
pie it may be cited that after the great
Iroquois theater fire in Chicago the toy
palace cars marked 'IrOquOis'' would
not sell and had TO be recalled from
the stores and renamed.
There was a story in one OF the
weekly papers some time ago that told
of a wreck on one OF the western
roads. For hours the trains on that
system were tied up. In a drawing
room car was a child who happened
to have with him a miniature railway,
and to amuse himself took il out and
commenced to play. Instantly the
people who had been delayed beyond
the point OF endurance sat up and took
notice.
They all wanted to play And soon
a company was Incorporated with stock
holders and board OF directors beins
elected. they chose their managing
staff and proceeded to lay out the track
down the car aisle. But there was a
crusty old millionaire sitting In chair
half way down the car who was a mis-
anthrope, and couldn't see what kids"
were for anyway. and he refused to
move his feet from the aisle so the
track could be laid. He blocked the
right OF way"
He agreed to move il he could OBJ
tain control of the road. because then
he would throw il away Well. 20
make a long story (and a clever one)
short he was frozen out and so badly
beaten that when at last he did come
in he came in at a great loss. When
the train at length started up he was
the most pleased player OF the crowd
and acknowledged that he was presi-
dent of real railroad and that he had
never had such fun since he was
bow
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-12-13

tralization" of this railway system is
in the hands of one individual. No need
of pompous boards of directors to die
tate its policies. no need of extraor-
binary bond issues to raise funds-its
stock is wholly unknown to Wall
street,
A railroad with q one man control.
The owner is the sole manager of the
property. He controls its operation and
directs its policies. The intricate prob
lens of traffic handling in this system
never hamper it's efficiency, and the
giving of preferential rates is optional
with the owner. The system, although
its lines are in constant operation in
every state of the union, and although
it is common carrier, is not in tho
least under the control or subject to
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-12-13

few youngsters are so interested
in making their systems up to the
real thing that they have issued a
regular paper printed on a boys press.
in the interests of the miniature rail-
road, so now II is possible for the be-
ginner TO subscribe to trade paper"
and keep in touch with affairs.
Little more need be said about the
toy railroad system The young rail-
roader knows it's uses and perhaps
IN days to come its value may be shown
when the same boy takes his place in
life as the president OF real" trans
portation system, Stranger things
than that have happened. Wilbur
Wright. the great aviator who has
solved the problem OF human flight,
began his investigation OF the subject
impelled by his curiosity to ana out
how the toy heliocopter sustained it.
self in the air.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-12-13

I'm atom. long considered indivisibIe.
Vas its name implies. is now looked
upon as a very complex thing by those
scientific men who accept the latest
theory of the constitution OF matter.
Though so small that II would take
35e.000,000, placed side by side, to al
the space OF an inch, II is a combination
or bodies somewhat like our solar sys-
TEN. made up of central sun, with at
tendant planets
The sun is a group of corpuscles OF
positive electricity, while the bodies re-
volVing around 1t are negative cleo
irons. each having its own orbit. in
which 1t moves at an appropriate speed
dependent on its distance from the CEN
ter The earth's distance from the sun
Is equal TO 23,4O0 OF the earth's radii.
In like manner the radius OF the atom
that is, the distance OF its furthest
electron from the center-has been
found to be $4,000 eIectronic radu That
is. the radius of the atomic system is
relatively at least twice that OF the
solar system within the earth's orbit.
and Notwithstanding their number the
electrons are scattered through the svs-
tenn at distances from one another COM
parable 10 the distances of the planets.
The velocity of their orbital motions is
revealed to US, according to the new
theory. by the frequency OF vibration
of the light emitted by the atom. Thus
each of the vibrations constituting the
yellow light Of sodium vapor lasts a
fraction OF second represented by the
figure over the figure / followed by
10 ciphers. This. the theory tells us.
corresponds to one revolution OF an
electron In its orbit. so that the corpus
Gle. which by it's movements In tn
ether gives rise TO light OF this parties
ular wave length. makes i've hundred
million million revolutions a second.
Readers who are fond of big numbers
may calculate the ratio OF this tiny
electronic year to that OF our own
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-12-13

the rules of the interstate commerce
commission. So effectively is the en-
tire system safeguarded that, 1t has
never lost life, as
The American boy owns this great
railroad. 1t is the famous Miniature
Toy Railroad, Limited 1t is marvel
of cleverness, a durable and ingenious
toy. and as an educator is OF interest
to both old and young.
Few know or realize what an inn
'mense amount of thought is expended
in the making of such simple things as
toys. The average parent goes, into a
toy store just before Christmas, and
quickly looking over the bewildering
assortment picks out something for his
young hopeful. Ten to 5one what, he
buys will be something that moves, it
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-12-13
FALSE ALARM VOLCANOES

\ JOLCANIC eruptions are not infre-
V 1uently reported from regions where
they are geologically impossible. Several
years ago the formation of an active
crater. on an Alpine summit was an
nounced. The cause was only a forest
fire on one Of the lower peaks.
Quite recently, in France, the papers
told of an eruption in an abandoned
mine shaft near Mons. Huge. thick
clouds first rose from the shaft and a
fine, warm dust soon began to fall over
the surrounding fields. Soon flames
were seen to issue and stones rained
on the neighborfng houses. whose ter
rified inhabitants took flight. An in
vestigation led to the conclusion that all
this was due to an explosion OF fire.
damp in the old mine
Eruptions of the same sort have
occurred in our own country. In one
of the canyons of the Santa Monica
mountains. near Los Angeles. vol
cano, We are Informed by the local
press, recently broke out. Similar re-
traced to fires in the oil bearing shales
that abound near the surface of the
ground in this region. and investigation
has shown that this --LATEST volcano" is
of the same nature. The locality is
about 200 yards from the sea at point
about IL miles from Los Angeles,
where sulphurous smoke rises from a
little mound of miocene shale. little
below the surface the ground is almost
red hot. and sets fire to bits of wood
that are stuck into It.
The fire seems to have been started
by lightning, or perhaps 1t Is a case Of
spontaneous combustion. The region Is
soaked with petroleum and 1t Is not
necessary to have recourse TO any the
DRY of volcanic action for an explana-
ton. AS the nearest oil wells are fully
10 miles distant the incident probably
will have no unpleasant consequences.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-12-13
Miles and Miles of Track

The track is an important part of
the equipment. 1t is made of tin. The
sheet of tin first goes to press where
1t is cut into a strip of the right width
and is partially formed. Thence through
two more presses until il energies a
finished rail. Another press cuts out
the metal ties or sleepers. three ties
being used to a section of track. They
are then placed in a form and the
metal is pinched in just the right place
TO make the rails fast in the ties. II
the curved track is desired the rails
are bent in a press to the required
circle before they are placed in the
ties. To make one section Of track
requiring pieces of metal 13 separate
operations are necessary. Each sec
tion is 101z inches in length. Last year
the trackage made by one toy concern
amounted to over 400 miles, or almost
enough to reach from San Francisco
to Los Angeles.
Aside from the track intricate
switches and cross-overs are made.
many of them being automatic in oper-
alton, and in the work care and skill
are required as each moving part must
be soldered in its correct position by
hand so that when the switch is thrown
it will open up in proper manner.
Turntables form an attractive part OF
this toy and so do the bridges. from
the simple little culvert to the latest
automatic lift or roller kind. The lift
bridge raises by a slow working spring
and as the train approaches. II the
signal is set against it, the trip in the
track stops the engine. When the
bridge is lowered the trip is released
and the train goes on.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-12-13


an especially designed clockwork move
ment with a powerful spring which
will drive the engine with it's train of
one ,or more cars many times around
the track. 1t has a governor that au-
dramatically regulates the speed OF the
engine, no matter if 1t only runs by
itself or with a full train attached
"A lever at the side serves as brake
which stops the motor and which can
be set from underneath the engine
when it is running on the track by
throwing a little semaphore signal
lever; by moving another signal it is
released and the train goes saerrily on
The engines are assembled piece by
piece and as each part passes along
through the hands of those who do
nothing else. but assemble that part
with another they gradually take form
and after trsversins long work bench.
emerge a complete locomotive But
that is not all. On a table near by a
circular track is laid out and to this
table all engines are taken to be
tested.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-12-13
The Block System

Along the track at the proper places
are placed the regulation signal arms
and towers such as are used in up to
date railroads. If there is a train in
the next block the arm OF the signal
Will indicate it. and il the boy opera
tor does not heed the warning there is
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-12-13

usually is a toy railroad That is all
the thought he gives to it He never.
or rarely appreciates that factories are
built, men employed to design, and
skilled labor to create the few things
so dear to the heart of the child.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-12-13

that passes through shop. Tnes~ girls
can put "a car together in just Is
secondsl
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-12-13
BY Frederick B. HYDE

10y 4 lOGOllOh IL i
TIE BALDWIN locomotive work.
of Philadelphia produce annually
$500 ready 20 use locomotives.
That is q fact.
But here Is q concern that annually
builds 80. 900 locomotives each year
and thinks nothing OF IT,
-Four hundred and fifty complete To-
comotives each dayl
And besides that IL also constructs
each year over three times as many
freight and passenger carsl
Are you surprised?
Where do you think all this 10 done
and you not know anything about it?
Why right here in the United States.
and by the prince of workmen-the
American mcdaniel
All over the world there Is a growing
necessity for more railroads, greater
and more powerful locomotives, cars
90 handle the Increased trafic IN com
modities and passengers.
Sit up and take notice, We students
OF industrial development and CONNER
before your very eyes is q concern that
is actually building and delivering $50
locomotives every "a hours; and more
than that is furnishing cars, both
freight and passenger, track, ties.
switches, signals. is building the depots
and bridges. and not content with all
that, is furnishing the power TO operate
the greatest railway system in the
world.
In the development of this great rail-
way system the millennium in construc-
tion. management and control is
reached. From the smallest integral
part 90 the finished whole the material
best adapted for use and the most
skilled workmanship is employed In
stead OF a great corporation in abso-
Lutte control with its many thousands
OF voiceless stock holders, or being
regulated" with the more advanced
ideas of governmental conerol, cen
The Washington herald., 1908-05-06
TAFT GETS KENTUCKY VOTES
District Conventions Controlled by
Friends of War Secretary.
Indications Are that Administration
Candidate Has Defeated the
Bradley Forces.

Louisville, KY, May 5-The following
Republican district conventions met to-
day:
Third district, at Bowling Green, in
structed for Taft ). T. Doores and H
Brister delegates 10 the national conven-
ton. Delegates to the State convention
were instructed to vote for Taft men for
delega ates-at-large
Carlisle-W. D. Cochran and John
Hatcher were chosen delegates TO the
national convention. Congressman J. B.
Bennett is elected State central commit
teeman.
Shelbyville. Ky.-Taft controlled the
Eighth district. Walter Bennett and G.
NJ. Davis were chosen national conven-
ton delegates.
Winchester. Ky.-Tenth district: All the
sentiment was for Taft in the convention
for this district. James Wallace and Al
len Cisco were chosen as delegates.
Seventh district, Frankfort-Taft forces
control this district convention. Charles
Kerr and George I. Barnes were chosen
national convention delegates, and l. T.
Bristow. of Scott County. was nominated
for Congress.
Fourth district-Taft forces were in con-
troll This convention was held at Eliza
bethtown. and chose J. P Hasweu and
T. J. Jackson delegates to the national
convention
The Washington herald., 1908-05-06
COAST man FOR ROOSEVELT
One Delegate-at-large Expected to
Favor a Third Term.
CALIFORNIA; Big Four Divided, with
Three FavOrinE Judge Taft
for the Nomination..

san Francisco. May 5.-California Re
publican delegates-st-large to the Chi
cago convention are composed of Gov.
Gllett. George A. knight. NJ H. De
Young. and Harrison Gray Otis OF Los
Angeles
or these knight is the only one who is
strongly in favor Of Roosevelt. knight
would probably 90 to the length Of advo-
eating q third term for Roosevelt Otis
is a veteran and strong personal friend
Of President Roosevelt, but has favored
Secretary Taft in his newspaper. and he
would adhere 10 Taft in almost any emer-
gency. as he would regard It as dishonor-
able to abandon Taft
De Young does not ike President
Roosevelt, and is strong for Taft, or he
would vote for any other man whom the
majority Of party favored. He would not
be stampeded TO President Roosevelt un-
der any circumstances,
GiIlett Is a strong Taft man, but he viii
not go to Chicago. Instead, L. S. Grant
ir.. will probably go as alternate. and he
Is a strong Taft man.
The general sentiment throughout the
State is strong for Taft. CalifOrnians
appear to think it would be dishonorable
to sidetrack Taft even for President
Roosevelt
The Washington herald., 1908-05-06
SENATORS MAY ENTER FIGHT
Bulkeley and Brandegee Seek to Be-
come Delegates to Chicago.
Their Opposition 20 Taft and
Roosevelt Expected TO Result
in Convention Clash.

Hartford. Conn. May 5.-Deiegates to
the Chicago convention will be elected
by the Republican State convention to-
morrow. The convention held a prelim-
mary session In the Auditorium this
evening. when Senator T. S. Luther, pres
ident Of Trinity College, made a speech
as temporary chairman. Senator Luther
paid an eloquent tribute to the Republi-
can party and the men who have been
nominated for it for the Presidency.
Committees were named tonight after
the address Of the chairman. and the
convention then adjourned until to-mor-
row morning.
Various county caucuses were held aft
er the adjournment TO select candidates
for presentation to the State Congressional
district conventions tomorrow for dele
gates TO Chicago. II is probable that the
selections will be made in the convention
without any fights. unless the two United
States Senator's Bulkeley and Brandegee
insist upon their desire 10 go. There is
considerable opposition to their going. for
one reason, because they are credited
with being hostile 10 Roosevelt and Taft
and, for another. because it has been the
custom in the state for many years for
the United States Senators TO refrain
from attending conventions as delegates
The sentiment Of the convention IS over
whelmingIy for TAFT
Among those who are regarded as like
ly to be among the delegates to Chicago
are Hon. o. r. Fyler. of Norrington;
Hon. Charles f. Brooker. Of Ansonia.
Charles H. Clark, OF Hartford; Chairman
Of State Central Committee Michael r.
Kenealy. and Col. Charles n. Jarvis, of
Berlin.
The Washington herald., 1908-05-06
Advice to Negroes.

Editor The Washington Herald:
Please allow me. through your able and
fair newspaper, TO congratulate J. c. Gun
ningham for the wise and timely advice
he gives 60 the colored citizens Of the
country. not to fly from the evils they
have TO others they know Of in the Dem
ocratiQ party simply Because Theodore
Roosevelt. President Of the Republican
party. made mistake by his hasty or
der in the Brownsville affair To-day
there is 10 one in the Republican party
who more keenly recognizes the fact that
he made a mistake than the President
himself I firmly believe that the Presi-
dent is ready and willing TO rectify his
mistake in a manly way. How nonsensi-
cal and foolish it appears to me TO think
OF advising the colored voter 10 cast his
vote to the Democratic party. I praise
and lsud Senator Foraker for the stand
he mas taken in behalf of the colored
soldiers, bat I am not ready nor willing
to sacrifice the Republican party because
one Of It's members made a mistake, which
honestly believe he regrets.
My humble advice to the negro voter Is
to vote for any man nominated by our
grand old Republican party, whoever he
may be, rather than vote for any Demo-
crat the Democratic party may name for
the Presidency Of the United States,
eyen though 1t be Roosevelt himself. The
time has not come when the color Of a
mans skin shall cease 10 be an index TO
his politics. we are not reSdy at this time
to trust the Democratic party. although
there are many hundreds OF such men in
it as Hon. Henry Watterson, Of hen
lucky.
My ticket for President and Vice Presi-
dent of the United States is Roosevelt
and Foraker. the two greatest living
Americans. JOHN A MOSS