davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07

has to come by water will be partially solved, to say nothing of the vast pleas ure to be derived from inexpensive and effectual maritime motive power.
 Naphtha, or fuel, engines had been in use on small boats for sometime prior to the advent of the gasoline or explosive engine, but they were so costly that there were comparatively few such craft owned. A man who could afford naphtha launch was in most instances able to afford a steamer, and he preferred the latter be- cause of its unquentionable reliability.
 The first application of the gasoline engine to boats was a matter of much in- terest, and l might say that this in- terest has never Jagged, for the marine engine of that time was little more than a stationary engine slightly remodeled and made upright instead of horizontal so as to take up less space.
 The experiment proved success. The gasoline engine did all that was expected of it; 1t propelled the boat at a fair rate of speed and it opened new field. Like the first stationary engine, the marine engine had its drawbacks. In a boat the conditions were far different, and the en- zines made slow headway because many men purchased them, installed them in their boats and then, without having either knowledge of the mechanism or mechanical ability, could not get them to go.
 All yachtsmen watched with interest the coming of the gasoline engine. but they watched more closely the engines when their friends bought them. While
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07

every day during the summer months.
 The kings palace stands in the park and has frontage of more than 1000 feet. The building was begun many years ago and is still incomplete. This will be one of the handsomest palaces in Europe. There Is not a congested part of Brussels that is not made easier and more attractive with small parks and great squares decorated with flowers, stat ues and fountains.
 Descending the Rue Royale, one reaches the Place du Congress. The open square is filed with great column. similar to the Trajan Column in Roman it is sur mounted by a statue of Leopold l. The column is decorated with figures illus trating Belgium's triumphs. The base of the pedestal is guarded by two large bronze marbles enclosed by a marble bal ustrade. From the summit, on fine day, one has magnificent view of Brussels and Its environs.
 It was no easy task to make this part of Brussels attractive. It was once badly congested crowded with dens and slums. The center had to be leveled with two older streets and hundreds of old tene- ments were condemned and torn down.
 Though Brussels has many magnificent squares the most attractive are the Place de Brouckere and La Place des Martyrs. The Place de Brouckere Is a large, i'm posing square surrounded by imposing office buildings. In the center Is large marble fountain in memory of Monsieur Jules Auspach former burgomaster, who gave much of his time and wealth to make the city beautiful,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07
A. Semi trunk Ceobin Type

when he needs it most. Therefore q power that could easily be slowed away on his yacht out of sight and capable to bringing him into harbor In q calm was just what he wanted.
 This great desire led to the adopting of engines as auxiliaries ons sailing yachts, for the yaehtsman, knowing the frailties of the motor, was 10th to depart from sail power and depend upon that of which he was even less sure. In comparative ly short time, however. the gasoline mo- tor began to speak for itself. and then came the era of the launch. The first of these craft were either small open boats built without any particular lines for speed or else they were hulls designed originally for naphtha engines. Many own CTS of naphtha engines took them out and put the gasoline motor in. and since the change could be readily made 1t was not necessary to make many alterations to the boat.
 The gasoline motor soon attracted the attention of the rocking chair fleet, those club members whoedo not own craft, and these gentlemen saw an inexpensive and at the same time pleasant means of enjoying the water. They took up the sport and helped it reach the present pro- portions, for in all the world there is scarcely a body of water that has not upon it one or more motor boats.
 As with the sailing yacht came the races and with the races closer attention was given to the designing of hulls. while the manufacturers devoted their energies to building the smallest possible motors with the greatest possible power, until now not only have hull lines been brought to the finest possible point. but the motors that go into a six foot engineroom develop 300 horsepower and drive the craft at express train speed.
 The motor boat has to great extent displaced the small steam yachts that were formerly used by men who live along
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07
WAYS of the sea. but proper charts, In.

ways of the sea. but proper charts, in- struments, etc.
 The men who are constituting this deep-water school are yachtsmen-men who love the water for the sake of the pleasure 1t brings to be out in the open, monarchs of all they survey, and they do not seek public notice as do those who employ freak methods. It is these freaks, by the way, who pay the penalty of their foolhardiness with their lives for they are usually lost, if not on their first voy- age then surely on their second or third.
 Until about three years ago those who went to sea depended upon wind. Then the gasoline motor was adopted as an auxiliary. Now, however, the gasoline mo- tor has come In to general use. and the past two years has seen a complete rev olution In the propulsion of yachts and deep-water motor boatraces have been held, thus demonstrating that if a small sailing craft can go to sea, so can small boat with power do likewise.
 The development of the gasoline engine has been little short of marvellous and 1t has made such vast strides during the past few years that today there Is not body of water in this country that has not upon 1t motor boat In the building of craft of this type there has also been vast advance, and the problem is one which is even yet in comparative Infancy. The future holds great promise for power other than steam. Alcohol Is looked upon as a possible substitute for gasoline, and many of the troubles of those living in sections where everything
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07

the water and who have their business in cities, going to and fro each day. The motor, too, has taken it's place in the commercial sphere, and now there are craft of every type equipped with them from a coastwise schooner to a boarding house runner, and even the port washer women no longer row around the harDors. The bumboatman uses motor boat, While the port missions who look after the spir- itual as well as the physical welfare Of poor Jack have joined in the march of progress. Even the small ferryman no longer rows across the busy stream.
 Until about three years ago, however, the motor boat was looked upon as craft only suitable for inland waters, and the yachtsman who suggested taking one of them out on the ocean was considered to be little short of foolhardy. Those who thought they knew 1t all declared that the motor, even though It had reached a high stage of efficiency, was not thoroughly reliable, and predicted all sorts of disas- ter.
 Not so among the motor boatmen who knew They were skilled in the manage ment of their engines and one by one they ventured out upon the bosom of the sea and skipped along the coast from port to port arousing the greatest interest wherever they put In.
 Despite the harpings of critics, most of whom knew little or nothing of their subjects, the possibilities of the coast wise motor boat were recognized, and then followed the development of boat of this type, the further development of which is now in progress and with which excellent results are being obtained.
 The first genuine cruisers were what was known as the hunting cabin" type, and they resembled a catboat without a mast, and the overland aft was carried out just as in the sailing model. The beginning of the long g-dlstance races, with the tax on overall length, caused the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07

The handsome wrought iron lamps illu- minating the square are as decorative as the fountains. These same ornate lamps are seen at all the corners and squares.
 Another old corner was condemned and transformed into a necropole to the citi- zens who died fighting for their country The sides of the pedestals are cafyed with reliefs marking the important events and the summit Is crowned by statue of Liberty.
 Parks. statues and wrought iron lamps are only part of the city's adornment The street cars belong to the govern ment, and are divided into first and sec ond-class. Waiting rooms are found at all the stations. and as in all European cities, there is no crowding in the cars; people are never allowed to stand in the alsles. Those who cannot get inside must stand on the platform or wait for another car There is no need of a sign-"People must not expectorate on the floor" The cars are perfectly clean, silk curtains are placed at the windows to keep out the sun, and the advertisements placed in the cars are really posters.
 This city has no billboard question; ad- vertisements are never pasted on the sides of houses and on wooden fences. Many of these posters are designed by first-class artists and are placed on sign boards made for the purpose, or on kiosks for newspapers and magazines. The civic authorities will not permit a handsome residence street to be dishg- ured by ugly, unattractive signs placed on fences or vacant lots.
 Money is appropriated to keep the streets clean, and is so spent. The small streets are kept as clean as are the large boulevards, and are swept every day.
 But the Belgian capital is proudest of the Bois de la Cambre, rival to the Bois de Boulogne. In Paris. It is n vast ornamental park in the midst of a splendid forest. Though it has great rocks. gens and artificial streams, every effort has been made to preserve its natural beauty. It has many bridle paths, where plenty of shade and quiet may be had, and at tractive restaurants where daily concerts are given.
 Brussels has many attractive public buildings very handsome structure is the Modern Gallery, whose walls are hung with paintings by modern Flemish and European artists. and 1t Is here the inde- pendents hold their annual exhibition. Next door is the large Royal Library, 8 large, well-lighted building with court separated from the street by stone bal ustrade The library Is composed of six departments, printed books, manuscripts. engravings and maps.
 The principal hall is large and beauti- full It has the shape of cruciform GOV cred with a low dome supported by 2S columns. Two splendid marble staircases lead to the gallery, which offers a splendid view of the floor below.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07
A SunaI1 Park

to remodel the city and to roster art the government soon saw the value or this undertaking and appropriated large sums of money.
 This work was begun in systematic and rational manner. Many millions or francs were spent in improving ana en- larging the harbors to better conditions for commerce. Many of the rivers were crooked and needed dredging: these were strengthened and made navigable and the city was protected with model forti- fications, which, besides offering protec- ton, are an adornment to the city.
 The work of making new bouleyards was even more difficult and costly, for part of the city was built on hill and the rest in the valley. Many Of the streets were narrow, steep and obstructed by great rows of old houses. The latter were torn down and the streets enlarged and graded. A handsome new boulevard was laid out along the river front, and .ther North and South Stations were joined by new road. In some parts en- tire quarters were rebuilt, and these are now lined with beautiful mansions. This is especially so of Boulevard Louise which leads into the Bold de Clambre It is broad, and has an equestrian drive besides two roads for vehicles. This boulevard is adorned with small squares set out with flowers and beautiful statues. The Boulevard de Waterloo is another handsome road, shaded on both sides with great, over-arching trees, and is direct route to Waterloo.
 La Rue de la Regence is the shortest but finest of these boulevards; it has been heightened and made beautiful with many handsome buildings. including the Kings palace, that of his brother. the Count of Flanders, the Museum and the Palace of Justice. The widest part of tlds boulevard is the Place Royale. In the center of the square is a colossal statue of Godefroid de Bruillon, the hero of the crusades. A short distance be- yond, on the other side of the street, are
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07

crowded together in great cities the man. ner of living should be made as easy and attractive as possible. When 1t comes to questions of civics every city has indi- yidual problems that must be solved diff ferently.
 But the most loyal of Americans are forced to admit, after spending some time abroad, that many of the large Eu- ropean cities have many things to teach us about the art of embellishing cities.
 Their work has been the more difficult because they had to demolish much of the old to make room for the new. Old buildings had to be torn down, narrow streets had to be made broad bouleyards and unsanitary houses give way to more modern dwellings.
 These results have only been reached after a great expenditure of time, money and a careful study of conditions. Mo- where has the remodeling of the old into the new been more successfully attained than in Brussels, the Belgian capital Great energy and an enormous sum of money have been spent by the govern ment erecting public buildings, making fine boulevards and laying out parks and gardens.
 This gigantic work was only begun in 1865, and travellers who saw the city before this date say that no other capi- tai, except Paris, has undergone more marked and quicker changes. King Leo pold H., the present king, deserves credit for much of this work. The first King of the Belgians gave his energy to con solidating the country, bettering the laws, establishing and enlarging diplo- matic relations at foreign courts.
 When the new King came to the throne he realized the important work his father had done and he determined to carry 1t further. He decided that his political work should be the foundation of the Free Congo State. He also promised the people to exert his efforts to make Brus- sells capital of which they might be justly proud. He took the first steps
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07
A nodepn Ferry BoeSt

doing away with the overhang, eac1
 builder striving to get all the boat pos
 sibe on a given length and at the same
 time close study was devoted to design
 ing a hull that would fit the conditions.
 Accordingly the newer craft showed
 less beam and greater depth of hull and
 draft and the racing demonstrated that
 comfortably, seaworthy boat could be
 built smaller than had hitherto been
 thought possible, thus starting the motor
 boat on a cruise of popularity that IS
 far from being concluded as yet, as the
 future holds out many possibilities.
 The hunting cabin" or trunk cabin,
 type was found to be unsatisfactory for
 coastwise work, owing to the structural
 weakness, so some genius devised new
 method by raising the forward freeboard, giving A turtle-deck effect, which not only produced better seaboat, but also cheap ened the cost of construction. as It be- came merely a matter of building the sides higher. This type is now the ac- cepted model, and 1t has proven all that could be asked.
 The placing of the engine has also been matter that has been given at- tention. The earlier boats had their en- zines in the cockpit and exposed to tne weather, save the protection of curtains, but little experience taught that motor must have care, so it was placed just inside the cabin. Some builders then experlmented with placing engines amldship and even further forward, until some had them right in the bows. II
 was found, however, that the best place for q motor in the cruiser Is just forwarf of the midship section. this because the
 raised deck is carried to just aft of the midship section, with either flush deck or a deep, roomy cockpit ex- tending to the stern. Consequently. the midship section Is too valuable for cabin accommodations, so the motor had to go forward.
 The cruisers range from 35 feet to o1 feet over all, though there are few that are more than 100 feet long. In them speed has been sacrificed for comfort. for even the big boats do not make much
 more than 15 miles an hour. As the construction of the cruiser Is heavy so are the engines that propel them. so that, instead of a craft that can knock off 20 knots an hour in smooth water
 and tremble from stem to stern in a
 sea the cruiser plugs along at 10 or F mile gait as steady as house. That these little craft are seaworthy there is no doubt, and with the in
 creasing use of them on inland waters,
 especially, there is no doubt they will | prove important factors In enlightenins | people as to the great value of inland
 waterways, interest in which IS now
 awakening to a great degree.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07

~ HE modern psychologist is alive to
 the fact that beauty has a vital in V huence on mans physical, mental and moral condition. He believes that the charm of color. outline and form found in nature have an ethic and esthetic purpose. It was mans ability to appre- ciate the value of his environment no less than to conquer animals inferior to himself that brought him culture and civilization. The peasant woman carry ing her load of grain across the fields saw the head of grain nodding back and forth like crests of the waves and stood silent before this simple beauty. The farmer toiled hard in his field all day, but when twilight came he dropped his hoe to enjoy the suns setting off in the west and to give thanks for all it's beauty. Hard though mans struggle was in days gone by, he was happy because his wants were few compared to his blessings. He had the beauty of his flower gardens. his fields and the clear sky with its splendid variety of colors.
 Very different are the conditions to- day. Many of our large cities are over crowded and immigration and the rest less ambition of the boy on the farm, who tries to match his strength with the boy raised in the city, are helping to make conditions worse.
 The pessimist may cry out against the discomfort and ugliness found in many of our large cities, but the student of sociology investigates and suggests ways of bettering these conditions.
 The improving of civic conditions Is more than a question of esthetic taste it Is moral obligation our local govern ments owe the people. Just as they should vie with one another in having wise executive and judicial administra- tion. so should they be equally ambitious to make their cities more attractive and beautiful.
 If modern conditions make 1t necessary for men, women and children to be
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07
A De epWateP
 Cpu1ser

&INCE time immemorable those with
 the love of the sea in their breasts <W have braved the clements upon the ocean in small boats, but during recent years the annual races,f from Sandy Hook to Bermuda and to Hampton Roads. as well as those on Long Island Sound reaching around Watch Hill and Cape Cod skirting the shore of New Jersey or striking out straight toward the equa- tor and edging around Diamond Shoals, have done much to increase interest in the dominion of Father Neptune and to educate young men that, after all. 1t Is not impossible to navigate a small boat around the top of Dayy Jones' locker without falling in.
 Back in the early days of the Norse- men-those days that are beyond writ len history-there were men who braved the seas in small craft, and the frag- ments of legend and the unearthing of relics of that age tell us that the vessels In which those skilful sailors sailed out and beyond the horizon were craft of exceeding small tonnage; little better than open boats 40 or 50 feet long. not well designed nor equipped and yet capable of withstanding the gales of northern attitudes.
 The three vessels of Columbus. which were as large as any ships of the period, were scarcely larger than the ordinary two-masted coasting vessel of the pres ent time, and yet they ventured upon a journey fraught with perils not only .un' known, but not even understandable.
 The present generation, however, looks upon the sea with more dread than is necessary, especially in regard to the ability of a man to cope with 1t with a small vessel, citing instances of where even full powered steamers of several thousand tons burden have sailed from port never again to be spoken. All that is true, and there is no one to deny, but it remains equally true that there are not few who have made successful coastwise and transatlantic voyages in boats that were but few inches over 40 feet in length.
 I do not speak of the freak voyages those trips across the deep in rowboats- but voyages made by small, well-found yachts such as are designed and built for the purpose. and handled by men who have not only the knowledge of the
The Detroit times., 1908-03-16
STEAM PIPE LETS
GO; ONE KILLED,
ONE INJURED
ANDREW WRIGHT MEETS DEATH
IN ACCIDENT IN HuDsoNs
sroRE-FiREMAN COOK IN PRE-.
cARlous CONDITION.

In the explosion of y steam pipe In
enc OF the four tubular boilers in tue
basement OF the j. J.. Hudson Co.'S
store. about O'Clock. Sunday night.
Engineer Andrew Wright. OF No. Its
Spruce-st. was so seriously burned
that he died in Harper hospital at :
o'clock. Monday morning. and Charles
Cook. fireman, OF No. 271 Twenty
cighth-st.. is In precarious conditon
In st. Mary's hospital. II is believed
Cook has a chance 10 recover, how
ever.
on hts way 10 the fiospftaf tn esfts
East End ambulance Cook. though oil
most crazed by pain, managed to tell
OF the explosion.
I'VE were down in the hole" ne
scid. II had just rakeo the fires for
the night and was filing the hoppers
with coal when | saw steam escaping
from one OF the tubes. First calling to
Wright I got up TO Investigate Just
as Wright came up there was q muf-
sied report and pun "a the door was
blown open and flames were scattered
about the room. | don't remember
much after that, and don't know how
got out"
But in spite OF his dazed condition.
Cook climbed ladder leading to fire
escape, up which he dashed In his
tlazing clothes until he was half way
10 the ton. Here he was found by
firemen, who had to break through an
iron grating to reach HIM.
wright's escape was almost a. dram
ctic. He found the stair that led 70
the main fioer and rushed toward tho
main entrance on Gratiot-ave. Finding
1t locked he sat down ON a chaIr.
where he was found IL an unconscious
condition by the Waterman. His cloth
ing was nearly all burned on and his
flesh In places was literally roasted.
The night watchmaL at once noti-
sed the police and fire departments
and then turned his attention to the
injured. The East End Ambulance,
with Peter Abt In charge, made rec.
ord run, and after conveying Wright
To Harper hospital. returned for Cook.
who was removed to 81. Mary's hospi-
tal
The damage to the building IL blight.
The intense heat resulting from tho
explosion set the aut1matic sprinkioKs
lworling. with the result that tha- base.
ment was hooded BY about Inches ~
water when the flremen arrived.
Mr.. Wright was As years old and Is
survived by his widow and two chill
dren. son and daughter. He had
been In the employ Of Mr.. Hudson for
number Of years and was regarded
as competent man.
Coroner Parker is investigating the
case and wilt hold an INQUEST At the
request OF the family the remains were
removed to the undertaking establish
ment OF Geist Bros. on Macomb-st.
The funeral will be held from the
home "Wednesday afternoon.
AT the request OF Mr.. Hudson ex-
perts made an examination Of the
boiler Monday morning In an effort to
determine the cause OF the explosion,
but no definite conclusion was reached.