davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-14

down fight of three steps" into the Pacific In ten
hours. Let's see how they intend to do it,
At the point where the canal is being built the
side the hills rise gradually until at thirty miles from
the coast they have average height of 700 feet.
From this point there is slope of fifteen miles to the
Pacific. AT, point in the backbone of the noun
tain range there originally slight gap between
Cuebra or Gold Hi and Mechanics HILL The ex-
cavation in this gap called Culebra cut Far to the
east Culebra the Atlantic SIDE rises the Chagres
River, which flows parallel with the mountains to q
point opposite Cuebra, then turns at right angle
and flows twenty-five miles into the Caribbean.
The valley of the Chagres is surrounded by ranges
of hills reaching to within miles of the shore at
Gatun. Here there is gap mile and half wide
through the centre of which the river flows On the
Pacific side is the Rio Grande, much smaller stream
than the Chagres flowing through a hill encircled
valley to the Pacific at La Boca BY damming up
the Chagres River at Gatun lake will be formed
with its level eighty-ve feet above sea level and
having an area of square miles, about the area
of the upper bay of New York Harbor. BY dammins
the Rio Grande the same object will be attained on
the Pacific side. In connection with each dam will
be system of locks connecting the canal with the
two mouths or channels at level
Making the Waterway
Met us suppose these dams and locks are already
completed There would still remain the backbone
of the mountains dividing the two great reservoirs
BY digging ditch nine miles long and sufficiently
deep the two reservoirs become connected. The
canal is now ready for business The siuice gates
Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-14

pie. If Columbus thought the passage to India OF
Importance to his little world how much more should
the world of today with its many continents, con-
slider such waterway necessity!
On his last voyage Columbus discovered the land
known as the Isthmus of Panama. He and his
brother Bartholomew tried TO establish settlement
the present city of Colon, but driven away
by the natives. So Columbus went back to Spain and
died without dreaming that he had found the
connecting link of two vast continents and had been
within forty miles of an ocean three times as broad
the Atlantic. TO the navigators who followed
Columbus the coast lines around the Caribbean Sea
like the sides of funnel. which drove them
inevitably to the isthmus, and a settlement was
established as early 1908 This town, which
called Antigua the first European settementSon
the mainland of America and was established hun
bred years before the discovery of Manhattan Island
by Hendrix Hudson. The Spaniards of Antigua soon
learned from the natives that there great sea
to the SOUTH the line of the isthmus this point
ming east and west This resulted in Balboa's expe-
dtion In 1913 and the discovery of the now
called the Pacific, discovery second in Importance
only to that of the first voyage of Columbus. The
natives called the bay which they led Balboa Pan
anna the word meaning abundance of fish
Dream of the Spaniards.
The instant the spanards became satisfied that
the land unbroken isthmus they conceived
the idea of making an artificial waterway The first
survey made in 1920, by order of King Charles
" of Spain the selected being practically
same that which the canal is being built.
The first survey resulted only in the building of the
Royal Road, which for three hundred years the
golden trail which the Spaniards carried the
spoils of Peru and other South American countries.
From time to time the Spaniards took up the canal
project but no actual work done by them.
After the South American countries had their in
dependence from Spain various plans were set on foot
in Europe and this county for the construction of
canal. The discovery of gold in California in 1S49
made the Royal Road of Panama again golden
trail and resulted in the building of the Panama
Railroad which was opened in 1855. This was ten
years before the first railroad to the Pacific
opened in the United States.
The canal project took its first practical form In
1870 when the French company obtained conces-
sion from the Colombian government Ten years
stopped. Five years ago, Panama having won her
independence from Colombia, the United States pur-
chased all rights from the French company for
$40,OOO,OOO paid the Panama government $10,0000O0
aud leased in perpetuity at rental of $250,000 a
year strip of land ten miles wide and forty-fve
miles long, running across the sthmus from to
sea- This strip is called the Canal Zone.
The object of the American canal builders is to
struct waterway by which steamship the size of
niuhf of three steps on
the Atlantic side carried through the mountains at
an altitude of eightyve feet above the sea- and let
Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-14

are closed in the dams and the waters of the two
rivers begin filing the reservoirs. And notwith-
standing the dminutive appearance of the rivers in
ordinary times there is little danger of the supply
of water running short; the heavy rains will attend
to that, Man builds the canal and nature does the
rest In New York the average rainfall is thirty live
inches a year. In Panama it is sixteen feet.
All this may seem quite simple when considered in
a general FORM but when the details of the prob
lem are realized the work at Panama becomes one
Of vast and intricate proportions. When the Ameri-
cans took over the canal property they were con-
fronted with four great general probems-labor,
health the digging of Cuebra Cut and the building
of the dams.
The labor and health problems may be dismissed
as having been solved long ago, for there are now
10000 men actually at work the canal and the
Canal Zone is as healthy any of the lowand coun
departments and their office forces, including those
of the Panama Railroad, which is really part of the
canal the total number of employees on the payrolls
of the Canal Commission is 41,000
The problem of digging the ditch through Culebra
cut is merely one of physical force, and may be
said to have been solved, the dggers now
taking out an average of 100000 cubic yards Of
dirt and rock month On the eastern bank of the
canal ledge is to be left for the double tracks of
the Panama Railroad which is to be rebuilt en-
tirey.
In making the dirt hy" in the great ditch thou
sands of pounds of dynamite are used each day,
than hundred steam shovels are constantly
scooping up the dirt and rock and loading it into
Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-14
How the Mauritania would look cons
ing down the Steps" at Gatun Dam.
T H E w O r L D

hundreds of cars and of locomotives busy
hauling the trains the network of tracks to
dumping grounds around the edges of the reservoirs.
One these steam shovels scoops up about six tons
at mouthful. In four days the steam shoyes now
at work take pile of dirt about the size of the
Waldorf-Ast Hotel. So a little multiplication
will show how the ditch digging problem is being
solved
The Dam and the Locks.
Last of all is the problem of the dams and locks.
The great difficulty about building these dams is in
the foundations On the Pacific side, where there
are really to be two dams. at Mirafores and
the other higher up in the hills at Pedro Miguel.
already there is trouble one of these dams,
the original site at La Boca having been abandoned
for that at Mirahores. The gaps between the hills
at Mirahores and at Pedro Miguel not very
Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-14

g UNI up in your mind all the things In New
York that called big-subways, bridges,
~ large buildings and the ke--and you may
scome to idea of the magnitude of the
Panama Canal.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-24
GROOM COMES BACK.
Man Who Ran Away From Marriage
Returns-Pocketboo Was

West Point, April 23-Theodore
Lake, the young man Of this place who
decamped an hour before his wedding
was to take place here Tuesday morn
ing, April 20, has returned and made
the amende honorable and is now a
benedict, and all Is forgiven and for
gotten, his marriage to Miss Mary
Pannenberg, the young lady Of his
choice, taking place Wednesday even
ing, April 81, at 1880 o'clock, Rev
Father Jacoby performing the cere-
mony.
1t seems that it was not Mr. Lakes
Intention to desert his bride, but, be-
ing pecuniarily embarrassed, he did
not know what to do, and, instead of
confiding his troubles to his friends,
he ran away from humiliating stu
alton. He had no money to buy the
ring and was not supplied with the
clothing becoming groom. He was
found Wednesday at the home of a
friend in the country and induced to
return. The bride was willing to for.
give and forget, and the wedding
took place as above related.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-24
lNEBRlATEs HURT IN RIOT.
Seven in Fight With Attendants at
Knoxville One Has
Arm Broken.

Knoxville, April ga fierce bat
tie took place late yesterday after
noon between attendants and III
mates Of the Knoxville state inebriate
hospital. Seven inmates were working
in the fields under guard when they
suddenly made break for liberty
After being chased three miles by
attendants, during all Of which time a
running fight was kept up, Attendant
Daniel ellison was struck over the
head with a club in the hands OF
James Green. The attendant was
knocked down three times until he f.
nally succeeded in basting Green. who
was so bodily hurt that he was carried
back to the institution In wagon.
Several other inmates were pretty
badly beaten and other attendants suf-
fered minor injuries.
Six of the fleeing men We're eaptuf.
ed, and one of them is still at large.
| One of the inmates suffered o frae.
ture of the arm.
| Among those who took part in the
fight were Cornelius Anderson, Super.
/ visor of Attendants Joseph Choate.
/ Steward r. H. Hamilton and Engineer
Joseph Auten.
Superintendent s.. H. Minor refused
to discuss the affair.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-24
MARRIAGE KEPT SECRET.
Law STUDENT at Ann Arbor Welded
Medical Student From Iowa
Last December.

Waterloo, April pa surprise we'd
ding has just come to the knowledge
of the brides relatives and friends in
this city. The bride is Miss Nellie
Hoxie, sister of County Attorney w.
P. Hoxie and the groom is Cecil Ed
ward Kell of Centralia, H. The cou-
pie became acquainted while students
at Michigan State university at Ann
Arbor, and were married at Bowling
Green, Ohio, Dec. 20, during the holt
day vacation. He is law student
and she a medical student in the uni
versity, and their marriage was nor
known even to the brides parents and
other relatives until their visit here
a few days ago. The bride is a gradu-
ate of the Iowa State. Normal school
and has attended Northwestern uni
[yersity.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-24
NEGROES ATTACK TWO.
Mt. Pleasant Men Are Severely lr
jured by Blacks
r

Were Used Freely.
Mt Pleasant, April pa. "
Freshour was the victim Wednesday
night of a bold assault. AS he and
his brother-in- Harvey Drum, were
walking along the railroad tracks east
of the stock yards, Mr.. Freshour was
assaulted by three colored men, one OF
whom he thinks drew gun Oh him.
At least he knows that he was vici-
ously attacked and struck in the jaw
by one of the parties by pair Of
brass knuckles, while some one slash
ed him across the back with a knife,
making surface wound several inches
in length, requiring the attention of a
physician
Mr.. Freshour believes that he recog.
nized some of the assailants The
police We're summoned and put in q
good part of the night in search OF
the perpetrators They have placed
under arrest three young men who are
residents of this city, Geo. White, vii
bur Barnaugh and John Green. The
parties were lodged in the county Jail
They were taken before Mayor Dug
dale yesterday afternoon. but the pre-
liminary hearing was postponed until
2 o'clock this afternoon, as the young
men wanted time to employ counsel
and consult attorneys.
1t Is understood that no attempt
will be made to prosecute one of the
members, John Green, as it is believed
now that he was not one of the parties
to the assault. 1t is probable that
they will enter plea of not guilty and
fight the case.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-24
CELLS WILL BE SANITARY.
New Reformatory Building at Ana
mosa Contains Many
improvements,

Des Moines, April 23.-Individual
'lavatories and closets for each pris-
oner will be a feature Of the new cell
house now being completed by the
state board of control at the Anamosa
reformatory.
Within few weeks prisoners will
be taken from the unsanitary masonry
cells which have served the state for
years and will be placed in the new
cell house, which contains BIG steel
cells, each measuring five and one-half
by eight feet and seven and one-half
feet high.
The building itself is of heavy stone
and there is considerable free space
between the inner walls and the cells
and between the cells and the roof
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-24
PROCEEDINGS
OF The BOARD

Proceedings of the board OF super
risors, Friday, March the Goth, 1908,
being called session to meet the rep
resentatives of the Geo. u. Betchel
Co., in regard to the sale Of the county
and bridge funding bonds.
Tie board met pursuant TO the call
Of the president, members all pres
ent. President William Wilson in the
chair. On motion the following reso.
luton was adopted:
Resolution.
Resolved by the board Of supervis
ors of Wapello county, that the county
auditor be, and he is hereby authorized
and directed to draw warrants for the
amounts necessary to cover the pres.
ent1 overdrafts against the bridge
county and npo1 funds, as follows
against the bridge fund CA four
t$5,00o0 five thousand dollar warrants
and % one ($3,500), three thousand
five hundred dollar warrant, and "a
one three thousand one hundred and
ffty-four 54-100 warrant, ($3,154),
against the county and poor funds
(15) fifteen ($2,000) two thousand dol
lar warrants and Cd one 1891 .42)
three hundred and ninety one 42-10C
dollar warrant. The intention being
% have all of the county's indebted
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-24
Knoxville Man Dead at Missouri.

Knoxville, April %. Especially -
James J. McKern, an old resident of
Knoxville, died at his home in Ridge
way, Mo-, at the age of 67 years.
When a boy he moved with his par
ents to Marion county when they To-
Gated near Knoxville. In the year 1865
he was united in marriage to Eliza
j. Morse, to which union six children
were born. He removed to Ridgeway,
Mo-, thirteen years ago and has resd-
ed there ever since. He leaves a wild
ow. four children, three brothers and
three sisters.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-24
5 Iowa State NewsS
% %

Eight ventilators in the roof, equipped
with motor fans, will expel the Impure
air.
Prisoners are now supplied with
wooden pals which constitute the
only sanitary convenience allowed
them. These pals must be carried
out by the prisoners on their way to
breakfast and cleaned. In the new
cell house this will be done away
with and in each cell will be closet
and basin with running water
Foundations for a similar cell house
to contain more than 400 cells, are
now being built at the Fort Madison
prison.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-24
A. BILLS BOUND OVER.
Packwood Man, Whose Sleep Was Die
turbed by Musicians, Held
to Grand .Iurv
to Grand Jury.

Knoxville, April 20. Especially
mary hearing Of Addison Bills who
shot man the other evening for dis.
turbing his sleep, was held yesterday.
Attorney Grail Of Fairfield was Bills
lawyer, while County Attorney Hughes
was for the state. After number Of
witnesses were examined for the
plaintiff, the defendant waived exam1.l
nation and was bound over to the
grand jury on the charge of assault
with intent to commit great bodily iRri
jury. =
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-24
Knoxville Woman WEEDS at Alton,

Knoxville, April 23: Especially,
News has arrived here that Mrs. Belle
Syp. formerly Of this city, but now of
Alton, was married few days ago
to Hugh Fleming, a stock raiser of
that place. He Is also member Of
the firm of Fleming Bros. Mrs. Syp
is the widow Of the late e. l.. Syp and
the daughter of James Shearer.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-24
Miller Dead of Pneumonia.

Des Mones, April 23.-ora ]. Mil
Ter, chief dispatcher Of the Rock
island lines at the local division Offices
died yesterday of pneumonia at his
home near Nineteenth and Pleasant
streets.
He had been i'll only seven OF eight
days. Mr.. Miller had been chief Of the
wires for about eight years.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-24
Ex-supt Weston Dies in Red Wing

Des Moines, April &c. 5. Wes-
ton, superintendent Des Moines di-
vision of the Chicago Great Western
railway, died yesterday at his home in
Red Wing, MINI. Mr.. Weston was sup
erintendent in the Des Moines office
for about two years, but resigned a
few months ago. He had been suffer
ing for some time with Brights dis
ease, which caused his death
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-24

ness represented by outstanding war
rants as required by law.
On motion the board adjourned to
meet Monday, April the 9Th at nine
~
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-24

thousand dollars each, numbered from
one to thirty-one inclusive, and shall
be designated Funding Bonds, First
Series They shall bear date of
April 1, 1909, and shall become due
and payable as follows:
Bonds Nos. to 5, inclusive, $4,000,
April /, 1910.
Bonds Nos. 6 to 10, inclusive, $4,000
April /. 1911.
Bonds Nos. IL to Is, inclusive,
IS 900, April 1, 1912.
Bonds Nos Is to 20, inclusive.
SIS 900, April /, 1918.
Bons Nos. 81 to 20, inclusive, $4,000,
April 1, 1914.
Bonds Nos. 26 to 81. inclusive, $4,000
April l, 1915.
The bonds hereby authorized shall
bear interest at the rate of 4 per cent
per annum, payable semi annually on
the list days of April and October in
each year, interest to the maturity of
said bonds to be evidenced by interest
coupons to be attached to each Of said
bonds, both principal and interest of
said bonds shall be payable In lawful
money of the United States of Amer
lea, at the Office of the county treas
urer, Ottumwa, Iowa, with exchange;
be 1t further resolved that said bonds
shall be signed by the chairman of the
board of supervisors, and attested by
the county auditor, and each of said
bonds and coupons shall be in sub
stantially the following form, respect
fully towit:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-24

been duly recorded In book for that
purpose in my office, in accordance
with Section 404 of the Code of Iowa.
JAMES Y. CURRAN,
County Treasurer, Wapelio County, Ia.
Be it further resolved, That the bonds
hereby authorized when executed shall
be delivered to the County Treasurer,
to be by him sold and delivered to the
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-03-15
SPRING At HAND;
PUBLIC PARKS
THR0NGED

The forerunner of spring has
reached Tacoma, and yesterday
every bit of nature needed its
coming and heralded it from near
and far. The crocuses unfolded
their petals, and lifted their
heads up to the brilliant flrma-
ment. Buds on trees and vines
popped open, so as to better alb
sorb the warmth of the gladstone
day.
People cast off their care, and
hurried to the parks and play
grounds of the city. All day long
the cars were crowded to the
gates, carrying their loads to
Point Defiance, Spanaway and the
other summer pleasure grounds.
The Point Defiance park pre-
sented an unusually beautiful
sight yesterday with all the gray
green buds and vari-colored
flowers just coming into view. In
few short weeks the park will
be at the height of it's spring
glory.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-03-15
THE FLOW Err GARDEN
NO. 2-SELECTING THE VINES

Masses of morning glory, orna-
mental gourd, the moon flower,
japanese hop, or wild cucumber
may be trained to cover unsightly
walls or high board fences. They
are also effective when trained
over terllises and old trees.
The cypress vine with its deli
cate foliage and sparkling bios
SONS is beautiful, but care must
be taken in soaking the seeds and
planting properly. The coboea is
another tender vine that finds
favor.
Some of the hardy climbing
plants may be started this spring,
so that they will be in the order
of succession next year.
Climbing roses, hydrangeas,
wisterias, clematis, Virginia creep
er, trumpet vines and honey
suckles all have their mission and
should be Investigated by the am
bilious gardener.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-03-15
|Pl&yllme lQ Dr. I 8
THE OWL

lHh wv
"Oh, Robbie, I'm going back;
perhaps it's a wildcat! "cried May,
|clutching Robbie's arm. Hobo
ho-ho-ho!" repeated queer thick
voice III the twilight.
Pooh! they aren't any wild
cats!" declared Robbie bravely.
maybe it's the baby colt whinny-
ing. I'm not afraid"
The children had been sent to
shut up the chickens and it was
just when May was giving good
night pat to old Spechle that she
and Robbie heard "Io-ho-ho-ho-
ho!" My, but it sounded near,
and very loud. "Ho-ho-ho! A
pair of great green eyes peered
down from a pole overhead.
'It's one of those things in pic
|tures-a cherub, you know"
whispered May to Robbie.
Lets it alone and don't point
that way" said Robbie quickly.
You see he was afraid. He took
tight hold of Mays hand and they
ran home as fast as they knew
how, and told mother about it.
eve saw a real cherub,
mother declared May. at was
just all wings and a. head, and it
was singing"
Maybe it wasn't one," put in
Robbie cautiously. Maybe it was
a dear little OWL ventured moth
er with a shake in her voice.
"P'haps it was" agreed Polly.
Course 1t .yas, May-just a
common screech OWL" declared
Robbie, strutting around. He was
trying to forget how scared he
was.
The next day Johnny, a neigh
Dor boy, knocked at the door with
a very sleepy but dignified owl
tucked under his arm. "Oh,
where did You find it," cried
May. Caught it right down in
the orchard" said Johnny Lets
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-03-15

gave him back to the mother. The
price was an old coat, worth about
SO cents.
Those women dressed only in
a necklace of beads or copper, iron
bracelets and anklets are as mod
est as our women. Shame doesn't
result from scantiness of costume
or the lack of it, but from leaving
off what We are accustomed to
wear.
II have seen little girls blush
with shyness when spoken to by
"a stranger, just as our little girls
do. Oh, yes, l mean blush. It's a
general mistake to believe that
the interior African is black. He
is the color of a new penny.
"As to vanity there isn't much
difference between savagery. and
civilization. Society women sur
fer the tortures of the beauty doc
tors. The Kongo women submit
to the knife of the medicine man
who ornaments them with artistic
welts.
"And how they love the ankIets
and bracelets! The women comb
and smear their skins looking into
pools or Furnished metals.
"All wives are bought. Some
times for a pig. Often for a hen.
The only time a man will work is
to buy wife. The more wives he
has the richer he is. One can only
support herself and husband. All
the others make profit. A man
with more than 80 wives is a jun
gle multimillionaire.
"And the same coquetry that