davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30
Monster Suspension Bridge Is Next

nous Williamsburg bridge over the
East river, now the longest suspen-
sion bridge.
In addition to being the worlds
largest suspension structure, it will be
the most expensive. The famous
Brooklyn bridge, which is 6,016 feet
long, cost $2o,0o0,o00, but that was be-
fore the real days of steel. Had the
new bridge been constructed then it
would have cost, it is estimated. at
least $50,O00.0O0.
The cost Of the Williamsburg bridge
was $4,000, 900, and it's length is 1875
feet The Manhattan bridge, on which
work was begun in 1901, and which is
not yet completed, will have a total
length Of 1854 feet and will cost $16,-
100000, while the news Queensborough
or Blackwell's island bridge, which
has just been completed, cost $12,OOO,-
900 and is 7,44g feet long. 1t is of the
cantilever type and the second largest
Of its kind in the world.
The capacity of the c1ty's largest
bridge at present is 100000 persons
every "a hours, but the new monster
which will connect Manhattan with
New Jersey will serve just twice this
number, or 100000 passengers a day,
besides 10000 vehicles.
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30
Wife Helps Morse in FIGHT on Prison

While Mr.. Littleton would not dis
cuss the matter, it was learned that
about six weeks ago a "prisoner" was
admitted to cell on the federal tier
In the Tombs and that he was given
no hearing before the United States
commissioner, although he was sup
posed to be charged with postal frauds.
Warden Flynn placed stool pigeon
in the mans cell. The man played
cards with the "prisoner" and got his
name and address. These were fcti-
tious, and the man disappeared.
Morse made the charges in a signed
interview.
Il am the victim of the big stick"
he declared. But for the activity of
President Roosevelt would not now
be behind the bars of a prison. It has
been by his personal activity in this
case that have been prosecuted, or,
more appropriately, prosecuted. United
States District Attorney Stimson, by
his own statement, has remained in Of
nee for the past six months at the re-
quest of Roosevelt to prosecute me-"
The former banker went on to say
that after Mr.. Stimson had been put
on his trail dozen secret-service men
were assigned to examine everyone
who had dealt with him in the previ-
GUS five years, in the hope of obtain
Ing evidence upon which to base an in
dictment.
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30

HE size of the average family in
] the United States has decreased
from 5.8 persons in 1870, the date of
the first census, to 4.6 in the same area
in 1900, according to a volume being
prepared by the census bureau at
Washington.
OF especial interest from a sociologi-
cal point are statistics of family life.
In 1890 families composed of no more
than three persons represented only
one-fourth of the entire number of
families, while in 1900 families of SIM
liar size made up nearly 40 per cent.
of all families. Families composed of
six or more persons represented in
1890 more than one-half, but in 1900
scarcely more than one-fourth of the
families enumerated.
The number of children under 16
years of age to each white family
was 2.8 in 1890, as compared with is
in 1900. The ratio in 1890, Of two chill
dren under 16 years of age to each
white female Is years of age and over,
declined to one in 1900.
OF 3,171,000 white persons enumer.
ated in 1890, approximately 1900, 900
survived 30 years later, 1900 in 1880,
while In 1900 there were % persons
who reported their ages as 11o years
and over, SO that at the census Of 1900
it is possible that there we've still
living persons enumerated in the first
census, taken 10 years before.
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30

WASH1NGTON.-In the giving out
w of the news at the White House
perhaps the most striking departure
from the Roosevelt methods has been
shown since March 4.
The day Of the "fair-haired boy" as
the Roosevelt newspaper favorites
were locally (and perhaps enviously)
known, has passed. There are no
press agents of the administration, or
II there are they do not appear as
such at the White House.
Mr.. Taft had not been president
very long before he announced that
he would cease seeing newspaper rep
resentatives with the same freedom
they had been accustomed to at the
White House. The first version of this
was that when he had anything to
communicate to the newspapers he
would send for representatives and
talk to them, but that at other times
he did not care to see them.
Either this was not his position or
he soon modified it. Now the practice
is to see newspaper representatives
by appointment, and when the inter-
view Is sought the president requires
that the subject Of it shall be stated.
This gives him an opportunity to de-
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30

ONCE Mrs. Taft became the owner
~ of Jersey COW she has been re
receiving hundreds of letters. Mean
while "Bossy" is giving a generous
quantity of rich milk, wholly uncon-
scious of what stir she has created.
Many of Mrs. Taft's correspondents
are housewives who offer her various
suggestions as to butter-making, how
to produce the most palatable cottage
cheese, etc.
Mrs. Taft is glad to receive letters
like these, for she knows they spring
from no mercenary purpose. The most
persistent of the correspondents, how
ever, are cattle breeders who see
what great advertisement it would
be for them If they could have their
special herds represented on the big
lot back of the White House. Such
communications get no consideration.
If all of them were answered to the
satisfaction of the senders the biz ell.
liptical pasture back of the presidents
home would soon look like a wild
west cattle ranch.
The story of the purchase and de-
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30
Thomas F. Ryan Has Quit Wall Street

his membership in that body, but
merely as a matter Of sentiment. He
became a member of the exchange in
1874, when % years old.
He is in his f1fty-eighth year, hav~
ing been born October II, 1851. He is
nearly four years younger than E. H.
Hartman, who also wants to cut down
his business responsibilities, but has
been unable to let go. Mr.. Ryan has
dropped out of the directorates of
many corporations and now only re-
mains in eight, all but two OF them
being banks and trust companies. The
two he remains In are the American
Tobacco Company and the Continental
Rubber Company of America.
His son, Allan, has taken his place
in the Bethlehem Steel Company and
several other corporations in which he
holds heavy interests. He has two
other sons, Clendenning and John,
who are also sharing the burdens the
colossal wealth of their father has
brought on the family.
The virtual retirement of Mr.. Ryan
makes it certain, in the opinion of
close friends, that he will not be a
bidder when the Metropolitan Street
Railway Company is sold at auction
June next, pursuant to the recent or
der of Judge Lacombe of the United
States circuit court. What action the
Interborough Rapid Transit Company
will take as corporation in the mat
ter has not been decided.
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30

IT transpires that at the same time
/ that J. Pierpont Morgan purchased
the Greenwell collection of prehistoric
weapons, which he has just presented
to the British museum, he became the
owner of a Washington family docu-
ment which it is believed, in New
York, the f1nancier will present to
some American museum.
The document is deed 533 years
old relating to the sale of land by
William D. washington, which is an
old form of the the name of Washing
ton. The document was drafted in
1876 in the County Of Durham, where
George Washington's ancestors are
known to have lived for a time. It
measures nine inches by four inches
and bears the impression of a seal in
red wax of the much-disputed arms
of the original of stars and stripes.
AS witnesses of the curious relic are
three well-known English names, Um-
tfrevilles, Conyers and Surtees.
: This deet has been lying unnoticed
among other papers for years in an
old hotel in Durham Many strange
suggestions have been made as to how
it originally got there, one being that
washington signed the deed In a room
Of the hotel occupied by a notary,
while another is that the washington
family lived In the inn in: the four
teenth century.
= The present proprietor in searchine
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30

A trapper has come in from a remote
part OF northwestern Canada, and re.
ported that during the winter there
was a period of so days when the ther.
mometer never indicated less than 80
degrees below zero. This is "going
some even for that latitude. And the
trapper will not find himself fondly
loved by those Canadians who dislike
kipling's Characterization and who
wish to attract immigrants, including
well-to-do American farmers, to the
northwest, under the impression that
the sub-arctic section is not bad Sec
ond to the .sub-tropic one ON this side
Of the line.
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30

The San Francisco graft prosecu-
tions differ from all other similar ef-
forts for civic purity. They have be-
come almost an institution, proving
that such endeavors for honesty and
the square deal are not necessarily
sporadic, leading only to reaction.
They serve also as a continual warn
Ing to corrupt officials and corrupting
special interests in other American
cities, says the Kansas City Star. The
dramatic incident, where Heney's and
Burns men made wholesale arrests
among the attorneys and special retain
ers OF 1.-The men higher up," was like
wise a refreshing demonstration that
the state, when represented by aggres-
s1ve, resourceful servants, can exert
as much ingenuity and pertinacity for
promoting fair trial as rich and pow.
erful defendants can and do for de-
feat1ng justice. Interest in the fight
for municipal square dealing in San
francisco has not languished, as the
cyn1cs and lawbreakers usually count
upon Its doing. On the contrary, 1t has
grown, and today there is no public
action OF more dramatic intensity trans
ptring on the American political stage
than the splendid effort for right things
In the Pacific coast CITY.
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30

NEW YORK Thomas Fortune
~ Ryan practically has achieved
what he has been quietly trying to do
Tor live years-torn himself loose from
Wall street. He has got his multi
tudlnous and monumental affairs in
such shape that it is no longer neces-
sary for him to 60 down town.
He has been in his office in the Nor
ton Trust Company only two or three
tunes since last summer. Formerly
ne got there early in the day and fire.
Quently stayed until seven and eight
o'clock at night, only to ride up town
with his lawyers, and, after a hurried
dinner, work with them until mid.
night.
Fourteen, sixteen and eighteen
nours ware often his daily allotment
OF work. Now he rarely puts in more
tnan two hours and that in the quiet
OF his library at GO Fifth avenue.
Mr.. Ryan has not engaged in a sin.
gle stock speculation in nearly three
years; formerly he was one of the
most potent factors in making prices
on the stock exchange. He still holds
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30
10 Press Agent Now at the White House

cline to take up subjects he is not
ready or willing to discuss In appli-
cation, however, there is a good deal
Of latitude. After the subject men
toned is disposed of the president
talks about various matters brought
up by himself or his visitor.
President Taft has an intimate per-
sonal acquaintance with nearly all~the
newspaper correspondents in Wash
ington. He calls them by their first
names and by nicknames He knows
their families and friends. With those
in whose discretion he has confidence
he chats in the same jolly, frank way
as of old-with this difference: the
vjE1tor is made to feel that he must
not take professional liberties. Mr..
Taft does not want himself or the
White House written up as show. On
account Of his personal intimacy with
the newspaper men he did not adhere
to his original plan of confining them
to very formal interviews, but this
concession does not mean making
copy out of casual conversation.
There is no more running to him to
verify reports, to learn who is to be
appointed to Office, to get stories about
senators, to get advance statements
prior to official action.
Mr.. Taft does not say much about
it, but he let's it be known that he in.
sists upon the dignity of his Office.
He likes small talk to express his
views about men and affairs, and his
visitors may use what they hear for
their guidance, but not as presidential
gossip for publication.
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30
Gen. Corbin Buys Cow for Mrs. Taft

livery of Mrs. Taft's cow never has
been told correctly. Maj. Gen. Henry
c. Corbin, who was a farmer in his
younger days, was commissioned to
get a cow. He made selection and
early one morning he and Mrs. Corbin,
who are among the elite of Chevy
Chase, Washfngton's fashionable SUI
burb, embarked in an automobile and
led "Bossy" into the city and up to
the back fence of the White House.
There they sent in a policeman for
President and Mrs. Taft, who came
out and opened the gate in regular
country fashion.
Then arose problem as to what to
do with the COW. When the quartet
arrived at the White House stable
with the COW they found it crowded
so full of automobiles that no place
was left for "Bossy." Finally, by
shifting around, stable room was
found.
Gen. Corbin fixed an automobile
cushion by "Bossy's" side and in the
regular old-fashioned way MIXED
about q quart of tactical fluid. which
President and Mrs. Taft. sampled"
and pronounced good. Having deliv.
cred the cow Gen. and Mrs. Corbin
whisked away in their automobile.
"Bossy's'' surroundings were a little
strange to her at first, but she has be.
come used to the policeman and auto.
mobiles and is giving f1rst-rate salts.
faction,
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30
MRS. CHARLES w. MORSE is cling

MRS. CHARLES w. MORSE is cling
AvA ing loyalty to her husband, the
New York banker convicted of fraud
In connection with the National Bank
OF North America, and is making many
personal sacrifices to aid him in his
fight to keep from going to prison. She
has sold the most of her jewels and
works of art, as we'll as a great part
OF the rich furnishings of her splendid
home, to raise the money necessary to
prosecute her husbands appeal. It is
now said she will sell her home, which
Is in her own name, for the same pur-
pose.
Morse, who is confined in the Tombs
pending an appeal of his case, now
charges that he is a victim of the "big
stick" and that he has been prosecuted
by secret service men working under
United States District Attorney Stim-
son. Morse has complained to Martin
w. Littleton, his counsel, that secret
service agents have even been placed
In cell close to his that they might
spy upon him.
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30
Mrs. Champ Clark Aid to Her Husband

greatest interest in the work of her
husband.
Mrs. Clark, before her marriage, was
Miss Genevieve Bennett. She is es.
sentially domestic in her tastes and is
decidedly intellectual. She is convers-
ant with the great questions OF the
day, and has devoted herself to the
seconding of her husbands public ca
reer, and to her children, of whom
she has two living, Bennett and Gene
We've.
It has been said of John Sharp Will
liams, former leader of the minority,
that he had attended more colleges
than any other man in congress, but
people who know of Mr.. Clark's career
from boyhood say that he holds the
real record. =.
Mrs. Clark is one of the charter
members of the Congressional club
and is prominently identified with the
management of the organization. She
is delightful hostess and is affec-
tionately regarded by the new arrivals
in congressional circles, who look to
her for guidance in Official social"
matters.
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30

0NE of the most frequent. visitors to
" the members gallery of the house
of representatives in Washington
since the convening of the extraordin.
ary session of congress is Mrs. Champ
Clark, wife Of the minority leader, on
whom the eyes of the country are
turned during this his first experience
as chief OF his party in the house.
1t is true the leadership was turned
over by John Sharp Williams during
the second half of the last session,
but the former leader kept close sur
veillance over his successor. Now Mr..
Clark is responsible for himself and
his management of Democratic affairs
on the floor of the house is a matter
Of deep concern to his wife, who, like
most congressmen's wives. takes the
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30

WITH four gigantic bridges over the
w East river, New York, represent
ing a total cost of $60,00O,000, among
his possessions, Father Knickerbocker
soon will undertake the construction
OF another bridge of the suspension
type which, when it is finished about
ten years from now, will be the
largest of its kind on earth. The plans
are completed and approved and all
that remains to be done before work
on the structure which will span the
Hudson river begins is formal ratifica-
ton by the legislatures of the two
states which it will connect-New
York and New Jersey-of the $21, ,000,-
900 appropriation necessary for it's
construction.
The length Of this new monster will
be 7,400 feet, or nearly mile and a
half. This will make it more than
four hundred feet longer than the IA
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30


Nes
practically iherted
her WILL He has splendid
and the home of his future activities
is quite unusual for politician
Rosebey
direct connection Rothschids
deal Personally
He
that he hard worker despite position
Oxford
lower ord and he has been highly praised
public
is is
missed important meeting England
encer and enjoys boxing match
among
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30
The Enterprise.
w. E. HANNAFORD, Pub.
VIRGINIA. MINNESOTA.
Opttmist Day.

Opttmist Day.
Folly viii! give place to q better kind
OF joyousness If the optimist can in
duce the. American people to steal
from the calendar the day that has it's
roots in English tradition as All Fools
Day, says the Baltimore American.
There is really no reason for the per-
petdation Of this purely English insti-
tuition in this country. It has degen-
Grated into a day for questionable wit.
ticisms and has no signifcation that
endears it to the minds Of the intelli-
gent people. The proposition to con-
vert it into a day for sunshine, for
CHEEKY salutation, for the sweeping of
LIES way with the beams of gladness
comes from the Optimist club. This is
one of the finest organizations in the
country, whose tenets are tonic, whose
prescriptions are invigorating, whose
pass words are brotherly greetings. Its
ends are admirable. It points up to the
blue.
Such men as Andrew Carnegie and
Rev. DR.. Slicer are leaders in the un-
dertaking to give realistic turn to
the whimsicality of, the English essay
ist to extract sunshine from cucum-
bers. All Fools Day should be taken
from clownish pranks and be made to
bear tribute to the spirit of the season.
The beginning of April, even when in
tears, is radiated with sunshine and
we'll pictures forth life itself. So that
the first day of April would be a fine
day to dedicate to the spirit of optim-
ism that is so strong in the breasts of
Americans. It would be pugely
American holiday and should serve
fine purpose and give national emphas-
is to the brighter views of life. Op-
timist Day would spread the gospel of
SMILE.
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30

In spite of revolutions, mosquitoes
and freight rates, Central America
manages to trade it's banana crop for
prosperity. The banana plant is as in
dustrious as it is picturesque, work
Ing all the year round, nights, Sum-
days and legal holidays and while the
owner sleeps. When a self-picking
banana plant is developed and the fly.
Ing machine allows the owner to fit
north with his crop under his own
wings life In that locality will be in
deed endurable.
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30
erainy Autograph Fiend.

The Paris police recently arrested a
new kind Of autograph flend. He had
written a large number of letters to
we'll known men couched in the fol,
lowing terms: "An order has been
given to my firm in your name. For
give me for asking whether this order
was authorized by you" In every case,
of course, he got reply, and his COL
lection of autographs is a fine one.
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30

ey which made January sos Mrs Wilson occupied important
position
OF New England the fourth
maze specially mathematics
requirements
dehghu
mas frequently of
IN nerent parts of the country notably at Louisville
NO attempt Wilson prest
signing his public resemblance whatever
Joker d
big
While
garding land
outlay of
OF to this dates
officials the Fotyeghth
female clerk be designated president
OF 200"
business
the
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30

Eighteen hundred and nine has
been called "the year of genius" be-
cause so many famous men were born
In that year. Abraham Lincoln un-
doubtedly leads the list of statesmen.
Charles Darwin heads the list in sci.
ence, Tennyson and Holmes in litera-
ture and Mendelssohn in music. OF
these Darwin and Lincoln were born
on the same day. In many respects
the century just closed has seen more
done for humanity than any other in
our era.
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30
The Rural Concert.

All, In the Muses. name, wilt thou
play me some sweet air on the double
flute, and 1 will take up the harp, and
touch a note, and the neathered Daph-
MS will charm us the while, breathing
music into his wax-bound pipe. And
beside this rugged oak behind the cave
Will we stand and rob the goat.foot
Pan OF his repose.-Theocritus.
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30
LADY Paoet on Tins.

Lady Arthur Paget, at the magnif-
cent dinner given in her honor by
Fredrick Townsend Martin at the
Plaza, talked of American extrava-
gance. On the subject Of tipping she
said:
"Tips here are thrice as big as they
are in England or France. and five
times as big as they are in Italy. And
you tip people: that abroad we never
think of tipping. You tip, in fact,
every one in sight. II not"
She smiled and resumed:
"A mans wife said to him:
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30

What about this yard.long golden
hair on your dress coat?' '<'
"'1t must have come from the
porter at the banquet hall last night,
my dear
Ridiculous! The porter wouldn't
put long hair on you!"
"Ah, but he would, though. You
see, forgot to tip him for calling me
taxicab.'" .,
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30
Plea for Open fireplace,

If people would only learn to have
open fires in their rooms, instead of
converting them into hot-air boxes by
means Of furnaces, there would be
fewer colds," said physician. Fire.
places and their chimneys are ventila-
tors. To me the beauty of an open fire
makes it worth having, but when you
consider that it's a sanitary officer,
constantly changing the air and driv-
Ing out germs, it is hard to see how
any one can prefer a furnace"
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30
Cure for 7oothache.

A London physician at q meeting Of
a medical society stated that extrac-
ton of teeth was unnecessary. He
was enabled to cure the most des-
perate case OF toothache, he said, un-
less the case was connected with
rheumatism, by the application Of tho
following remedy to the diseased tooth:
Alum, reduced. to an impalpable pow
der, two. drachms; nitrous spirits Of
ether, seven drachms; mix and apply
to tooth.
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30
Size of Families Is on the Decrease

In 1870 the Smiths led all the rest.
there being 33,345 of that family.
Other families followed in the Sc.
quence given: Brown, Davis, Jones,
Johnson, Clark, Williams, Miller and
Wilson. These nine names repre-
sented about four per cent. of the total
white population of 1890.
The Virginia enterprise., 1909-04-30
- ~Mahooanv Trees in penn.v,vani,

" Mahogany Trees in Pennsylvania.
: In Mrs. Mary Huebner's back yard
In Litiz two mahogany trees as large
as naples are growing. They were
planted so years ago as shoots of q
tree that had been planted years be-
fore by the late Matthias Tschudy in
the same town. Others that were
planted on the Litiz Springs grounds
couldn't stand the climate.-Philadel-
phia Record.