davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31

wells, distributed over the ntire
globe. The annual yield from the va
rious fields in the United States IS now
enormous, but the output from the
Russian fields is even greater. Oil is
marketed now from wells in Pennsyl-
vania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky,
Tennessee, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas
and California. There are also eigh-
teen scattered OIL Fl Ids in Wyoming.
and oil is being piped in Arizona. In
recent years Mexico has entered into
competition with the United States In
the production of oil. and extensive
fields are known to .xist in Peru.
The Romans are said to aaye burn
ed in lamps more that 1000 years ago
fluid that oozed from the ground.
This subterrean fluid is as much OF
mystery today as it was 1000 years
ago. There are various theories which
undertake to explain the vast seas OF
oil stored in the bowels of the earth
but it is one of the great natural prob
lens upon which both biologists and
chemists are unable to demonstrate
conclusively as TO causes.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31
mo BABIES. NO BALLOT

The idea has been advanced by
Father Phelan, the well-known edi-
tor-priest of st. Louis that those who
do not contribute new citizens to the
nation should not be entitled to rep
resentation in the ballot box. In some
states woman's suffrage is based on
the question of whether they are prop
erty owners. A man or woman Of
property is supposed to have more in
terest in the welfare of the state than
one who has no such stake. But
Father Phelan holds that the giving Of
new citizen to the nation offers a
greater pledge than the richest land
owner. He would therefore give every
family All additional vote for every
child born into it. He is quoted as
saying:
IF a couple has ten children we
would give the family twelve votes.
In case the couple agreed politically
we would permit the father to cast
the whole twelve votes. If the couple
were divided on their views of politics
we would give the wife her own vote
and the votes of all her daughters
and the husband his own vote and the
vote Of all his sons. This would give
t. woman suffragists all they now
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31
a Man and His Money.

F. NJ. Hubbell, in an interview In the
Des Moines Register and Leader. NY
parents were very poor back in Con-
necticut, waere was born and reared
until | was Is or II years of age; the
condition OF the poor was very hara
and grinding. Perhaps it has changed
since my boyhood, but fifty years ago
the ultimate desire of most young peo-
pie in that section was to accumulate
small competence to make them IN
dependent of the poorhouse In thelr
old age A great many did not sue
coed. and the pooraouse had many aged
inmates. Did / display premonitory
symptoms OF financial genius in my
youth? No; but was very saving ana
boarded the grudging dollars tnat
were SO hard earned in my boyhood-
Ny ambition at that time was to get
$4,000. In the early times money
readily commanded 10 per cent inter-
est. I figured If / could get $4,000 and
loan it out at 10 per cent would nave
an income OF $4,000 year. This,
then thought, was very comfortanie
fortune. OF course my annual income
for many years has been in excess OF
$1,000, but | discover that as one
grows in wealth and social station that
the demands made upon him for mon
ey increase out of proportion to his IN
come. | may say do not give away
all my income, but notice tnat Where-
as twenty years ago those Who de-
sired requests or subscriptions were
content with 800 or SO, they now
name the sum up In three figures. NO.
I / do not believe am as keen to make
I money now as / was fifteen or twenty
years ago am slowing down trine
in the race for money making, though
FL do not overlook opportunities 10
make a tidy sum occasionally when
1 they get In my way. / cannot say that
I seek to make more money because
want it, but you see money making
/ has become second nature with me
4 perhaps it is my recreation. Yes;
have lived temperate and sane life
/ eat only two meals day and slowly
II do all / can to aid digestion. One
can be as Incorporate in ones eating
as he can be in the use OF intoxicants
/ attribute my good health and physi
cal well-being to temperate living. Dc
IL spend much money personally my
self? No; expect my personal ex
penses are less daily than those O.
many men who receive SIS or $50
week. never eat pie. much less ea
1t four times day. Pie is some PEG
pies idea of the excess of wealth. Al
a rule the diet OF wealthy men is plain
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31
People Get Stuno.

Clinton Herald: Uncle Sam is pre-
pairing to throw another mint of
money into the Golfers of the railroad
companies in the opening of the two
big Indian reservations in North and
South Dakota to settlement. 1t mat
tiers not whether the land be good or
bad, there viii be the usual rush from
all over the middle western states
to the points Of registration The
hope Of getting something for nothing
appeals so strongly to the gambling
instincts of the American people,
that they never stop to reason the
matter. It is like a panic. The rail-
roads reap the harvest and the best
a majority Of the people get is
"stung.'
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31
The Commission
Form Of Government
Under Most Trying Conditions It Has Been Marvellous
Success in Des Moines

public business that needs attention;
and while it is being done and after
wards there is no question about who
is responsible for it. Those two
things make it certain that the public
business will be better cared for than
under the slip-shod system that we
formerly suffered"
Under the old plan the city council
men got $3.50 year and attended to
their own private business; under the
new system the councilmen are re-
quired to give their whole attention
to the city's business. Under the old
system there was mayor, nine al
dermen. and about forty other officers
of varying degrees of title, all working
for increase OF salary most OF the
time. Under the new system there is
mayor and four councilmen who are
on deck at the city hall all OF the
time There are no other Independent
, officers. The five officers are re-
sponsible to the people. They know
it. They know that the eye of the
public is on them, not on some other
official. There is no shifting OF re-
sponsibility. With nine aldermen,
mayor and forty other independent
officers and boards 1t always was
some other departments fault" Men
with grievances could tramp the city
hall from morning till night and never
! find the person. department, board.
commission, alderman or committee
that was responsible for some outrage
on the people; under tie new system
the people know where to go to give
generous credit and to place the re-
sponsibility. That is the reason why,
under all the discouragements and
adverse conditions, the system has
proved so complete success and Des
Moines enjoys good municipal gov
eminent
Besides this definite responsibility
so openly fixed that any citizen knows
where to put his finger when things
go wrong. there is little provision in
the plan by which the people may
GUST councilman who proves re
creant. Los Angeles recalled a may
or under such clause. 1t has
wholesome effect. 1t bangles above
: the head of every councilman and the
, fear of it spurs him to more con
scientious effort to earn the none,
the public pays him for his services.
And then there is another ooor
connected with the Des Moines plan
; 1t eliminates partisan politics from
: the management Of municipal affairs
: Under it the nomination and election
!, OF officers is not by parties. The OF
fetal elected is not amenable TO
!, party boss higher up and is not en-
!. gagged in manipulating the city pa!
rolls to deliver precincts to SOM
political machine At primary time
!. The plan makes it possible for tn
= city to get mans work out OF eac
= employe and to exact accountabilit
= from every officer and employe 9
n the government.
e The Des Moines plan is success
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31

demand and more, but it would dis.
franchise the childless. 1t would en-
courage large families
Father Phelan proposes to submit
measure TO this effect to the next leg
isiature of Missouri and ask its
passage. He will also submit sugges-
tions relative to women corresponds
ents, prohibiting divorced husband
from marrying the correspondent in
the case. Should his measures gain
the approval of the Jaw makers of Mis-
souri,, the standards of wonlan's i'm
portance viii be materially changed
IN our neighboring state
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31
Hay Fever.

Garretson, S. D., News: II YOU have
got the hay fever, smile. lis a sign
you are intellectual. The common
herd can't have hay fever. doubtless
because the common herd isn't intel
lectual enough. We have never had
1t. and we never expect to, for rea-
sons we refuse to make public. The
International encyclopedia says re-
garding the visitation: 1T is said that
most hay fever patients are people OF
considerable intellectual develop
ment: certainly all are neurotics." So
If you nave the hay fever you are In.
tellectual, and you are a neurotic,
whatever that is. We have seen some
people who have claimed TO have the
hay fever who we now know were fib-
bing about 1t according to the ency'
clopedia. They wanted to be dis
tingne. (. and called cold in the head
hay fever, bus 1t wasn't. Not If intel
lectuality is necessity for the de-
yelopment of the disease. But if you've
got genuine case, cheer up, for you
can thus prove to anybody that you
are intellectual. If your friends didn't
suspect it before It's one of the bless.
ings providence has sent you. If you
haven't had the disease, the next time
you meet a man with red eyes, swol'
len lips. leaking ducts. headaches,
night sweats nervous irritability lead
ing to profanity, sneezes and baskets
full of handkerchiefs. cultivate his ac.
quaintance at once, ii he will let YOU
for he Is intellectual and you MAJ 90
able to absorb some of 1t.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31

Two fiends in two fights in the
neighboring city OF Springfield last
week slashed their victims with
razors. The Register comedies that a
razor is perhaps no worse to cut a
man with than any other kind OF a
knife. but it seems to that paper that
the man who slashes fellow being
with a razor is an absolute thirty-two
degree coward. and If 1t could have
its way In the matter it would send
anv man who used a razor in fight
to the penitentiary fer life and then
keen him in there, if it could, few
wears afterward. Right-minded people
generally share this sentiment.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31

Des Moines Register and Leader:
The Des Moines plan Of municipal
government has done more to adver-
tise this city and to give it good
name among the cities of the nation
than any other dozen thiAss, not ex-
cepting the fact that the Des Moines
postof1ice does more business per cap
ita than any other postoffice in the
world.
hen Des Moines man went down
to Memphi-, Tenn, about twenty
five years ago and established there
system of managing the affairs of
the city by board of trustees, he
little thought that eventually Des
Moines, itself, would undertake to
have its municipal affairs run as a
business house would have its bust
ness done. But after while Calves
ton, Texas, in crisis discovered that
the way to run city on business
principles is to run it that way and
then Houston, Texas, and some other
cities thought we'll Of the scheme and
adopted it.
| Finally Des Moines, which was
deathly sick of vainiy trying to locate
responsibility for bad city govern
ment, sent some men OF capacity
down to Galveston to look into the
matter. They returned favoring the
plan. The newspapers buried the
Ratchet and got together for bust
ness administration of the business
affairs of the city with its hundred
millions of dollars worth of property
and the million dollars in taxes and
other revenues annually expended b!
the municipality.
The people endorsed the proposal
They figured that it couldn't be worse
And so the Des Moines plan wa.
| adopted and put into effect with thu
opening of the municipal year, Apri
Is. 1908.
Under the most discouraging con
ditions it has been marvellous sue
, cess without reference to the pei
: sonnet of the members of the commits
t sion which has charge Of the bus
: ness of the city under the plan, tn
: plan has worked admirably.
! Ninety-nine per cent of the peopl
would not return to the old system
: They are satisfed-just, for instance
i the streets were never in such goo
e condition, or were not until the
/ were torn up recently to make in
!, provements according to system a
!. obsolete as it is subversive of tn
8 rights and comfort Of the travelin
l. people, but which will be remedie
next year The public funds hay
It been expended with the care certai
0 to be exercised when the eye of Il
5 public has been on the municip;
j, agent charged with the duty and r
sponsibility of expending it.
o That is the gist of the whole thing
q Responsibility is fixed and accoun
a, ability is required. A business ma
lie said a few days ago: What Ill
n about the system is that one can
IN to the city hall and find the coune
is to do business with when he has son
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31
THE STATE OF IOWA.

An article in the Publicity Edl-
ton" of the Des MONIES Register and
Leader, issued in connection with the
state fair, gives some facts concern
ing Iowa, one of the worlds greatest
and best commonwealth, which
should be reprinted in every newspa-
per in the state.
1t has been officially estimated that
the true value of all real and person
al property in Iowa at the present
time is the magnificent total of ST.
44e, 45S,961. The writer figures that
this is about one-forty-seventh part
of the $4,000, 100000 in value
which the wealth of America is esti-
mated to be worth. That is to say, for
every s46 that the entire United
States can put up, Iowa can produce
ST. The present wealth Of this state
is about SIS part of the total esti-
mated real value of all property in the
United States in 1860, including slaves.
In 1906 the department of agricul-
ture announced the number of Iowa
cattle at 3,432,S32, total matched
only by Texas, which is cattle phe-
nomenon, with S.5T9,739 for that year.
/ Kansas came third with 2,62S,653, and
Nebraska fourth with 2.450.S62.
When it came to hogs in 1906, no
/ other state could be named in the
same day with Iowa, the porkers that
year numbering 7.946,7s1-just lit
tie short of 5000, 900. Illinois was sec
ond with 1853. 800. and "Old" Missouri
third with 3,514,95S
Iowa is lightweight in wheat pro
duction. the crop of 1905 being placed
at 7,T4s.o00 bushels. but when it came
to corn Iowa kept up its habit of lead
ing the earth with crop OF 1925.
600 bushels, to 347,174oo0 for Illinois
next nearest, and 2T6,722,oo0 bushel.
for Nebraska, third in prolific corn
ucopia.
In production of oats Iowa bea
them all with a crop of 140,777 90
, bushels, to 07,763, 500 for Illinois
second in rank Wisconsin was third
with e1,63o,00o bushels.
These comparisons are made t
give a reliable general idea of tn
greatness of Iowa as an agriculture
state. Probably no equal area in tn
whole world possesses such an ever
ness of good soil; such reliability
producing good crops; and what
even better it possesses a high-grad
: class of progressive people who desir
good laws, good credit and the be.
: there is in civilization.
1t is further pointed out IN the a
ticle from which these figul es are tai
en- that Iowa has no great cities
override its clean political motive
= and it is and for many year will /
one of the greatest, cleanest moral
. and most prosperous commonwealth
on the face of the globe.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31

The Nebraska railroad commission
has issued ruling that in future In
that state any passenger on any train
NAV ride in Pullman without extra
charge if he cannot find seat in the
ordinary coaches. Provision is made,
however, that If after he axes his
seat In Pullman a seat becomes va
cant in the day coach he must change
to 1t. The ruling is likely to have
the effect of assuring adequate accom-
modations for passengers on all Ne
braska trains.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31

DR. M. L. Price. secretary OF the
hoard of health OF Maryland, declares
that his state loses annually by dis
ease s5o.o0o,ooo, half of which is at
tributable to tuberculosis. He be-
lieves that most Of this vast waste
could be prevented by proper precau-
tons. Typhoid fever. he continues
never costs the state less than So
600 900 figured on the earning power
Of the victims of the malady.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31
Ira Got Reckless.

Lewis Standard: Ira Vail is laid up
with stitch IN his side and a pain In
his hip. Ira has all kinds of luck when
he goes to work. He was pulling weeds
when the stitch got him
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31

Religious services were held by
Rev. G. L. Morrill, in Nicolet park,
Minneapolis. last Sunday, preceding a
game between the Minneapolis ana
Kansas City teams. II the course OF
a short address the minister declared
that the only sin in Sunday baseball
is for che home team to lose. He
concluded by telling the Minneapolis
BOYS to go in and climb notch to
ward the flag.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31
our Best Asset.

Davenport Democrat: liemarks
about the weather are strictly in or
der. both in polite and in profane so
ciety, and the more complimentary
the better. 1t IS the best asset we
have and there is no discrimination
about It.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31
The PLAY and the Cigar.

Bystander. "A play" remarked lns
theatrical manager, SIS like cigar.
What's the answer" inquired the ~
nocent reporter. IF it's good 90
planned the manager, every ". ON.
wants box. and If it's bad, no anouhs
OF putting will make 1t draw.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31
Cost Him $3.50; Sells for $50

CHARLES CITY, Iowa, Aug. 81
E M. Sherman bought forty acres v
land of Charles Newton which ne na. -.
owned for fifty-eight years WI noe Nv
transferring it. He bought it for sa,.s
per acre of the government IN ,oY.
and the deed was signed by Presioeh.
Pierce. This is the first transfer y
the land. 1t brought $3.50 per acre
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31

It is thoughtfully suggested by the
Chicago Tribune that Mr.. Bryan's
growth in political wisdom may be
estimated with a fair degree OF &C
curacy by CAREFUL netting the proph-
ecies he refrains from making.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31
ReckIessness Responsible

Cedar Falls Record: The number
of cases of drowning in Iowa TINS
summer is appalling. All the warn
ings that can be given are lnpoteh.
when recklessness gets the better q
judgment and foo. hardy conduct
takes the place of level headed COM
posture. The safe way is to take no
risks.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31

Bank clearings maintain an even
amount, indicating continuation OF
the large volume of settlements
through the banks heretofore noted
Total exchanges last week at all lead
Ing cities in the United States were
s2.Tso, sos, s35, a gain Of AIS per cent
over year ago. when trade was de
pressed
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31

some show Of feeling. that there is no !
excuse for the negro to be In poverty
or in idieness in this country, And
this is not drawing the line between
he black and the white.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31
Not nrawjno the Color Line

Davenport Democrat: In address
ing meeting of his Business league
at Louisville the other evening, DR..
Booker T. Washington stated, with
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31

Judge Smiths homecoming has
demonstrated to the Sioux City Jour
nal that some things can be done as
we'll as others.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31

Anyway, Walter wellman isn't
cutter. He has this consolation to
sustain him in the midst of the ieers
at his repeated failures.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31

1t might have been expected that q
man named Farman would go farthest
in the aerial contest
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31

Curtiss. the American who won the
big feature of the airship contests, Is
bro, all right
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31
DAILY By NAIL.

a
Ono year S3oeIFour Months ..-siIs
Six months ..... L5oiOne month -..... =
Entered In Keokuk pcstofiice a. secone
class matter. .>
Postage prepaid. terms In M, sdS save III.
All subscription orders should gixe ~
p. o. address and state whether II
new or renewal order. II change o. ~
dress is desired state both the oio an1
RI Remit By postofnce money order ass- e q
press money order. registered iet.e
The date printed on the address Of ea &c.
paper notes when the snossi
subscribers failing to receive then their Pa ps
Sers promptly Will confer taNoi
ewing notice of the fact
Address all commp r,ST 93a1sM IeNY
No. Ii North sixth St. keokuA. low
rHE CATE CITY i. on sale at the fol-
lowing news stands: rs
Hotel Keokuk. cor, Third and !en nass
g. H Rollins & Co. 81 Main suee@
ward Bros. SIS Main street
Depot News Stand
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31

Pronounce rapidly: Pure food
feud.s
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-31
THE SEPTEMBER MAGAZINES.

One of the best humorous short
stories of the month appears in the
Red Book Magazine for September.
It's title is a Social Hold-Up at Sage
brush" A story by Henry NJ. Hyde
deals with a love adventure of young
American in Morocco. Among other
writer's of fiction represented are,
Lucille Baldwin Van Slyke. Edward
Hungerford, Fannie Heaslip Lea, E. A.
Wharton. Demetra Brown and Freder-
ick Taber Cooper
Mary Roberts Rinehart's name is one
to conjure with among people who like
lively, entertaining fiction. Her books.
The Circular Staircase" and 1.-THE
Man in Lower Ten" have had an enor-
nous sale. A chara cteristic tale by
her will be found in the September
Lippincott's. 1t is entitled What Hap
pened to Father" Aunt Dianthy," a
pathetic tale of neglected old woman
by George Allan England. Other note
worthy stories are "A Question of
Honor by Horner Cotes; The Shad-
ow of Molly Kinshela," by Josephine
Van Tassel Bruorton: Between
Trains" by Thomas L. Mason: THE
Death Sentence by Caroline Ticknor;
and AN Unwilling Intrusion by Per
cy Wilson.
The Outing Magazine for September
calls itself a Baseball Munger. It's
leading article is Baseball as the
Bleachers Like IT. by c. E Van Loan,
man WHO as a baseball reporter has
followed the game for many years, and
/ has watched sensational plays that
have brought the spectators to their
feet. Great Sports of Four Great
Nations is series of full-page draw
! ings in color, by C. F. Peters. showing
some dramatic moments In baseball
I skiing. cricket and lacrosse. In view
of the Hudson-Fulton celebration the
article entitled Three Hundred Years
on the Hudson, by Arthur B. Reeve
is timely 1t is resume of the
events that have made the Hud
son tle biggest little river o