davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-11
POSTOFFICE SHOWS
GAINS IN OAKLAND
Government Statistics Indicate
That Business of City Has
Doubled Since 1905

OAKLAND. Dec. I0.-A striking Illus
.ration of Oakland's remarkable growth
IN recent years is furnished by statis-
tfcal tables published by the local post
affice. which the federal government
regards as the only reliable index 10
"a citv-s prosperity and population, con-
trasting the amount of business done
bv the department now and four years
ago ...,+
las grown I'm size and bulk OF BUSH
ness more than 100 per cent since 1909.
These figures represent only the oid
citv. and another large Increase VIII
DE apparent next year when the bust
ness done IN the recently annexed ols-
tricts viii be included in the report
GAINS IN NAIL BUSINESS
The gross sales by the postofiice dur
ing the 1iscal year ending June 80, last.
amounted to S339. S54.34, an increase OF
SlT4.23o.Ol over the gross sales for 1903.
There are now 12S clerks TO 80 in 1903;
JOS carriers TO so four years ago; p sDe-
cial delivery messengers against 3, and
4 total salary list Of S22lS42-5S, as
against S97,20S.tS.
Enormous gains are also shown in
the quantity Of mail handled During
The year l7,3S3,sS0 letters were dis
patched through the local office. while
I'm 1905 the number was but S.764,O00
TIE report of the number Of registered
letters handled shows an Increase Of
7l-6f7 in four years.
EFFECT OF ANNEXATION
The last week has been an epoch
making one in the history of Oakland.
Greater Oakland became an accom-
plished fact Wednesday. and by due
process Of law a territory as extensive
as the former dimensions OF the city
was added to its area This was the
culmination of the recent annexation
election. whereby FruitVale. Melrose,
Elmhurst. Dimond and other eastern
and northern suburbs Of Oakland were
made a part Of the city
Another significant achievement OF
the week was the Inauguration of an
active campaign to effect the consoli-
dation of the three largest cities on
the east bay shore-Oakland, Berkeley
and Alameda.
Still another important feature of the
last seven days was the opening Of
freight traffic on the new transconti-
mental railroad, the Western Pacific.
Local merchants are beginning to ship
over the new line. and the company Off
tials declare that they are greatly
pleased with the showing that has been
made
The inclement weather has retarded
operations somewhat. and builders are
waiting until the rains cease before
starting upon their projects.
aIEW BUILDING PROJECTS
Following is summary of the build
ing permits applied for at the board of
public works during the week, as COM
piled by Walter b. Fawcett. secretary:
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-11
-
RFpORT by MARnS
STREET WORK RESUMED


bea ltful villa subdivision just north
az the claremont country club. report
1iiat taey We're forced to suspend work
on the streets during The recent heavy
rains but are back at work again with
r. largely increased force. The Law
nance real estate company. which is
handling this property. expects TO have
1he street work completed early in the
spring
The final plans for a handsome en-
trance. TO be erected at the Broadway
frontage Of the property, have been re-
ceiVed from the architects, and work
VIII be begun on it at once. 1t win be
OF Italian architecture. heavy and
massive, and VIII cost when completed.
5000. The company is also making
arrangements for a car line to be
brought direct 10 the heart of the prop
erty.
LARGE LOTS FOR HOMES
we are naturally pleased" said
Fred =. Reed. subdivision manager for
lhe Laymance company, at the spIen-
did way in which Rock Ridge park is
being received. When we took hold of
this property, we We're given permis-
sion 20 work it out in our own way.
and. realizing the beauty Of the prop
erty we Were handling, we determined
10 leave il for all time as q home place
that the city Of Oakland should be
proud Of. Accordingly, we made all
our lots so feet wide and placed a re-
striction in every deed that no lot
could be subdivided for a period of ten
years. This provision has brought US
buyer after buyer. There has been for
long time Il demand for this class
of property, with large villa lots and
seemingly nothing 10 fiji that denla nd
Rock Ridge park Is designed for people
who want room.
GARDENS TO BE UNIFORM
~ second provision in the deeds re-
quires that when a purchaser has
built he must maintain garden in
conformity with the majority of the
gardens IN the block I'm which his prom
erty is situated. Eighty feet of green
lawn VIII be followed by a like so feet
81 lawn throughout the property These
TWO provisions, added to one recurring
that no house shall be erected on the
choicer portions OF the property costing
Jess than $4,000 or $4,000. have settled
Tor aA time the character of Rock
Ridge park
Early spring VIII see ten houses in
course Of erection in Rock Ridge plans
for all OF which are being worked ont
by the owners. The first home was
started last week on Rock Ridge bou-
levard by John Nelson. wealthy min
ing man from Alaska"
RENTAL BUSINESS BRISK
Ellis Wood. who has charge Of the
rental department of George w. Ans
tins realty office. reports that during
the last month there has been a STEADY
decrease in the number of suitable
houses for rent
There is no doubt that the citv Is
steadily filing up" said Wood @and
we have done more renting since the
middle Of November than has been
done for several months past The new
people apparently come from all parts
Of the state. and ] notice many coming
from The north.
When IL is considered that an an
prcciable percentage OF people who
were renting FIVE years ago are now
owning or buying their own homes.
This increase in the rental business is
doubly significant"
Gus Sawyer. head Of the sales de-
partment in George W. Austin's Office.
said.
During the last week our number
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-11
Oakland. Cal, Oct. 1. 1909.
DR.. TOM Wal TONG,

TN NM ffI@fSf' ~ Vt IT
S13 CLAY ST. OAKLAND.
For some time past been siIffer-
ing from blood poisoning. together
with sore throat and nose, for
which l have been treated by Dr.
Tom Wal Tong. Am pleased with
the treatment | have received at
the hands of the doctor and am
today a we'll man. Would recoE
any suffering from similar trouble
DEFF, 2140 Mckinley av.. Berkele
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-11
NEw BUILDING PRoJEcl

Following is summary of the build
ing permits applied for at the board OF
public works during the week, as COM
piled 10y Walter b. Fawcett secretary:
of
The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-02-04

Virginian got very angry. though with
out especial reason. The woman, sure
iy, couldn't have died any harder than
the man.
The third day he lighted on a third
collection Of bones, and the skeleton
of man and woman lay side by side.
With this he began to wonder seri-
ously what manner of thing it was
that had turned the valley into char
mel. Was it great panther of some
kind-or huge snake? Or-but no, it
couldn't be a man. That was some
thing too hideous to believe. And
man or band of men 1t was not.
Then he struck gold. He slipped in
to the river one morning, scraping the
bank in his fall, and there In the river
bank he found the gold 1t was
placer and SO rich that in less than
week he got enough to satisfy wom-
an, let alone man. Then he laid of
a day and went down the river in
search Of game, and, without especial
ly looking for it, he found fourth col.
lection Of bones which, from it's condi-
ton, seemed to be the latest feeding
ground Of the Thing-the White
Death. ..
Now, when a man has cool million
in sight-or thinks he has-he feels
more secure from personal danger
than when he has little or nothing, so
the American decided to hang about
that fourth collection of bones and try
to bag something.
Straightway he found suitable
spot beside a rock, and, leaning his
Winchester within easy reach, pro-
ceeded to watch. About 30 feet dis
tans was a huge collection of bowl
ders; perhaps hidden in the wide fis.
sures OF these powders was the thing
he sought.
For half hour. or, rather, 40 min
utes, the American gave his whole at
tention to the business in hand, then
he looked up.
At first he thought there was some.
thing wrong with his eyes and he
winked them several times. Then he
thought his brains were tangled, and
so he multiplied several figures men
tally, but getting the right answers.
for four times four is sixteen, six
times three is eighteen, and eight
times seven is fifty-six, he concluded
it was something else than his reason
at fault. Then he reached out his
hand for his Winchester, but desist'
ed before touching the rife, for he
chose rather to watch the Thing
squatted upon the pile of rock than
handle an uninteresting weapon. But
perhaps he couldn't do other than
watch. The Thing was SO very fas
cinating.
1t was looking directly at him-the
Thing on the rocks-and though II
made not the slightest noise to attract
his attention, there was no reason hs
The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-02-04

should not see it. For 1t was as bis
as an OK lying down. But it wasn't
an OK. Neither was it anything like
an OK. ..s..
It was gigantic spider or tarantula,
large as full-grown tiger, with long
white hair all over its huge and hor-
rible body!
"Why." the American began. Evi-
dently he was going to say: why, 1t
l had known of such = thing as that
around here, I would have stayed
away" But he got no further tha.
why" for it was more fascinating
watching the Thing than talking or
thinking.
Then, again, the American tried to
reach for his Winchester, but the light
that came out of the eyes of the squat
Thing upon the rocks paralyzed his
arm. Or perhaps it was only surprise
that deprived him of the power of mo-
ton, for he well knew that there is no
such thing as hypnotic power in the
eye of man or beast.
Then suddenly the long white hair
of the Thing began to trembleI and
the American felt as il his whole body
were blistering from some intense
heat, and, as the eyes Of the White
Death stood out farther from its hor-
rible head, and its great legs drew
closer together for the 30-foot spring,
the yirginian began to cry and
whimper.
Then the squat Thing upon the rock
began to tremble throughout and its
long whit. hair to shiver and its legs
to collect closer and closer. Where
upon the American began to laugh
foolishly, like a. baby, and beat and
paddle Lis hands in the dust, and his
body grew fiaccid and fabby and his
breast sank down into his stomach.
Then, like fash Of white light
struck out of the rock. the squat Thing
leaped 80 feet through the hot air, and
sunk its horrible fangs into the neck
Of the American.
The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-02-04

dwelling on tle extraordinary per
formances of an insect which natur
lists pronounced to be the common
horsefiy, but which had now acquired
a new name, through its apparent
thirst for gold. Then he went on or
dering the rest of his outfit of beans
canned goods, powder, fuses and tools
weighing out the dust as the amounts
We're called off,
Careful, stranger! Don't you see
'em?" again shouted Old Barney
"Cover your gold, or you won't have
any to weight"
Four large horseflies few heavily
over the head of Willets, yellow with
dust. While he was staring at them
another dropped down on the little
yellow cone, tipped over with aero
oatic agility, eluded the gold-hunters
grasp, and was gone. Willets was
gaining experience and losing gold at
the rate of many dollars a minute.
Tel me more about these crit.
ters!" cried Willetts, now interested
in them nearly $40 worth.
WELL" replied Old Barney. "the
nrst knew of 'em was early in March
We had saucer of gold dust in a
broken showcase. and in two days II
was empty. We filled it up. and in
about the same length of time the
dust was all gone. Then we watched
and found the flies getting in through
a small break in the glass. They
were covered with some sort of sticky
stuff, and were unusually active. They
wallowed in the dust, just as you have
seen them, and few out. We caught
q few, by stopping up the hole, but
couldn't wash of the metal. We had
to burn the fiies-actually melt 'em-
before We could recover the gold,''
And he ended with a laugh which
somehow Jared upon the ears of his
listener.
Early Rext morning. with what dust
Barney and the flies had left him
carefully concealed in buckskin belt
Dave Willetts left ,Balladena, with the
intention of making the trip back to
bis camp in two days. By making a
slight detour he meant to stop over
night at the cabin of an old friend
Ben Richway, who. he had heard. was
prospecting some 40 miles southeast
in Green gulch, about half way to his
own camp. He had not seen Ben
since the old days, when they had
been suitors for the same girl, for
when David WilIetts had married
Helen. Richway had responded to the
call of the gold. and gone west to
search for it.
Dayid's thoughts, therefore, ran
backward and forward, shuttle-like. al
The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-02-04
THE SHIRT
MAKER
Copyright. by shortstory Pub. Coz

copyright, by Shortstory Puo. co.,
The physician spoke bluntly You
must take a vacation. Get out into
the country and do nothing for a
few weeks. You have run yourself
; down with overwork."
"Overwork! Hardly that, doctor.
do not work at all; read and reflect
all day."
The physicians attention was rivet.
ed on his patients haggard face
"Nc2sense! You're wearing out, not
rusting out"
"As you will, doctor"
Suddenly the physician demanded:
You say you read and reflect all day
what do you do all night?"
Sleep" was the brief answer.
"Sleep!"
"Yes."
The physician stared incredulously
when the patient leaned forward and
spoke rapidly. Il have said I do not
work, doctor. That is both true and
false. In my waking hours / do
nothing in particular. l have a mod
est but secure income, and need not
lift my hand for living, but in my
sleep no sweatshop slave tolls as do
1t begins, it seems, the moment I fall
asleep, and all night / am driven with
out moments rest, so that when
awake mornings l am often too tired
TO get out of bed"
The physicians face had cleared
and clouded again during this discov.
cry. $50 you work all night in your
Sleep" he unused. People don't often
The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-02-04
THE MISER-
FLY KING
BY Doss BRITAIN
Copyright, by shortstory Pub. Coz


A heavy ring of smoke from Old
Barney's pipe obscured the rough
counter. as Dave Willetts carefully
poured an ounce CT gold into the scale
pan of the general store at Balladena.
from leathern bag containing nearly
two pounds of the precious dust Will
let's had not been among the very
first to rush into the wilderness at the
call of gold, but for some eight months
past he had been developing very
fair prospect, IS miles away among
the hills, and was now making his
first visit to town for supplies.
"Hi! Look out there" exclaimed
the storekeeper, and Willetts turned
In time to see monstrous horsefiy
dab down on the little yellow mound.
turn quickly over. and fit away like
q heavy yellow moth. The scales no
longer balanced.
Might as well try to ketch yer
shadder!" cried Barney, as the miner
made an Intellectual effort to grasp the
insect as it darted out of the door and
took a high, direct fight through the
saffron atmosphere of Juiy after.
noon.
How long have you been out in
camp? Haven't you read the papers?''
inquired the storekeeper, while VII
lets poured on a good half-thimbleful
of gold to make up for the deficiency
caused by the fly.
why? What's in the papers?''
asked the discounted prospector.
'Here-Ill show you," replied Bar.
ney. selecting copy of the Sacra'
mentt Echo from a pile of yellowing
paoers under the counter, and point
ing with wrinkled, stumpy finger to a
displayed article headed "Depreda
tions of the Miser-Fly."
Rapidly Willets scanned the &C
CONT. with it's large scare" head
The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-02-04

. that unless they're overworked day
lines. What kind of work are you
Engaged at in your sleep?"
81 mall cheap shirts" The physi-
clan betrayed his astonishment by a
\ start that brought him upright in his
'fT.hair you might call shirt-making
- light employment continued the
patient, "and since l rest all day it
.rshould not wear me down, but / as
sure you, doctor, am driven so fierce
ly at this task that | haven't mo-
ment's rest all night Then consider
the mental strain of the thing. Think
of making shirts in your dreams
every night and all night. y man Of
my tastes and education. making
cheap cotton shirts in a sweatshop,
month in and month cut"
Let me get at your meaning clear
ly." The physician emphasized his re-
capitulation with forefinger ana palm.
When you fall asleep you dream that
you are in a sweatshop making shirts.
and in the morning you are exhausted
as II the labor of your dreams had
been an actual employment
"Yes"
when were you first troubled this
way?"
about four months ago.
>'It has continued unremttingly
"Yes"
,"Did you ever follow the trade of
shirt-making?'
mo. l studied for the bar, but have
never followed any trade or profes-
sion"
"Can you make a :hir, while
awake?"
Eyes. About a month ago | .ound
that could cut and sew a shirt while
awake. / have learned the trade in
my sleep"
The physician snapped his fingers
tboughtfully. Are you troubled with
sleep-walking? he suddenly asked
mo. Besides, have tied myself
to my bed, so you see do not get out
in my sleep and visit this sweatshop."
"Are there any lapses in your life
, that you connot account for?"
"No. can account for my whole
life ST ce a child" The patient ex-
tended his left hand. Last night l
cut my finger in my sleep. The pain
is still there, but you can see there il
no cut or scar"
The physician examined the hand.
1T is very evident that you don't get
out of bed in your sleep and make
shirts. 1t is merely delusion, but
yet it appears to be so intense that
these imaginary labors drain your vi
xfality as seriously as If you were actu-
billy overworked. A sort of chronic
Nightmare"
'.Do you think it nothing more seri-
Gus, Doctor"
mot at all, not at all"
Then how do you account for the
fact that making shirts in my sleep
has taught me to make them when
awake?'
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-21

Things have changed in Texas" says The Albany Herald. "It hasn't been so many years since ex-Governor Hogg, while abroad. gave up a per sonal interview with the King of Eng tand rather than have 1t reported at nome that he had worn court dress. And only few years ago an attempt to get the members of the Texas Leg tsIature to wear evening dress at a reception given by the Governor re- suited in failure and nearly caused an inserrection. But the startling an nor Campbell wore a plug hat on the occasion of welcoming Presidents Taft and Diaz to Texas. Who can say now that the simplicities are not giving way to the habits and styles of the piutocrats in the Lone Star stateg
 The information here given is insuf- ficient and more or less perplexing. Surely the Governor wore something besides plug hat" on that occas- ion, but nothing else is referred to as forming part of his outfit. We should be told about his other garments--ff he wore any--and whether they cor responded with the particular style of hat that covered the gubernatorial brow Tell all about 1t.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-21
NOT YET.

We are told that when the Presi- dent of Mexico thinks his administra- tion has been slandcred by newspa- per he does not order his Attorney General to haul the offending pub fishers to the City of Mexico to be tried for libel. in the Roosevelt style. He simply sends a detachment of mill itary police to the office and they suppress the paper. destroy the plant and arrest the publishers. The Brook : iyn Eagle refers to this in connection with some comments on The Indian apolis News and its libel suit. and adds:
 The Rio Grande is stiil running be- II is not likely to be dried up for a long time. When that happens. and not till then, Americans may fear the oon1asiGn 9s D,asis Not nre.sn, syHn
 Ne. we have not reached Diazlsm yet. but if former President of the United States had continued in off, few years longer we are not at all sure that the Rio Grnnde could have saved us from Mexico's condition In that respect. MT, Roosevelt could not adopt the Dlaz plan of dealing with offending newspapers. but we suppose he came as near to 1t as he could.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-21
The voter. And The Law.

Louisville Courier-J ournal. Judge Joseph E. Jones' of Dresden,
 Tenn who tried the Reelfort. Lake
 night riders, was renominated for Cir
 cult Judge last Saturday in Demo- cratic priRary. His majority over his opponent was about 5000. District Attorney Caldwell. who prosecuted the night riders, was renomfnated without opposition.
 The result of this primary Is a strik- great majority of the voters in West Tennessee believe in law enforcement
 and may be relied upon to hold up the
 hands of officers who do their duty. Caldwell stood for law and order at
 time when 1t seemed to be the un- popular thing to do. Under similar circumstances many public official lar frenzy 1t is. a brave officer who turns a deaf ear to outside clamor and
 looks only to the letter of the law for
 his guidance
 not unique. Under the same condl-
 tions the voters in almost any judicial district in the county would do the
 same thing. Voters respect and ad- mireofficials who make a conscientious effort to live up to their oath of of
 flee. The masses of the people may seem at times indifferent to Iawless-
 ness. as has been the case in the night l rider outrages, but they can have no
 enduring respect for the Judge. or prosecutor, who winks at outlawry and by deed of omission or commission shields the malefactor from the penal | ty of his crime. The man who en- deavors to shape his official conduct so as to curry favor with criminals
 and at the same time deceive the law
 abiding and law -upholding element of his constituency Is undertaking an im- possible task. He Is deceivng no one but himself and sooner or later will find cause for everlasting regret that he did not take the one course that i Is available to a faithful official-the
 unswerving performance of his duty. Judge Jones and District Attorney Caldwell made no compromises with
 crime. At a critical period in the his | tory of West Tennessee they found 1t
 necessary to cope with organized law
 lessness. They did not shrink from the ordeal though threatened with political and personal annihilation. | They did not hesitate or temporize. They made no concessions to the mad | ness of the hour. The outcome of Saturdays primary shows that the overwhelming majority of the voters
 are pleased with the course they took The result is a triumph for law and | order and an object lesson for weak kneed officials in other localities.