davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Colorado statesman., 1910-05-07

Rochester, n. Y. ..... 5,7SO,OO0
Los Angeles, Cal. ... 4,6O6,3OO
The taxpayers must pay interest
on these indebtednesses, pay for
the cost of extensions and better
ments of the system which are not
included in the expenses in the
first table. and make up any 9th
er deficit that may develop. The
money must be Forthcoming
whether it comes from water rates
or tax levies.
No citizen in any city operating
its own water plant can tell what
his water actually costs him. Mu-
nicipal funds are transferred from
one fund to another so easily that
the people cannot keep track OF the
expenditures.
The Colorado statesman., 1910-05-07
NEGRO BABY GETS A $3.50 YER
DICT.
LAWYER Holds Her in His Arms and
Shows Jury Scars Accident Caused.

Edith V. Agee, an eighteen months
old baby, got verdict recently for So
25O for a fractured skull, received
while in the arms of her mother,
passenger on a Columbia & Puget
Sound train, October l, 1909 Ihe
mother, Mrs Mary Agee, was award
ed damages for lesser injuries in the
sum of $1,5O0 The baby received all
that was asked, while the mother
asked for $4,000 and received $l,5oo.
Edward Agee, the father of the chlld'
is negro barber at Coal Creek
hamlet near Newcastle.
The accident in which the damages
were received happened while the
train was standing near Black River
Junction. An engine belonging to the
Milwaukee railway backed into it at
a fair rate of speed. The baby was
hurled against the side of the car with
such force that it's skull was fractured,
and it was only after careful surgical
attention that it was nursed back 10
health.
Walter S. Fulton, attorney for the
plaintiff. took the little one IN ms
arms and showed the jury the great
scars on her head, while the psDy
smiled blandly at the strange faces De
fore her. This is the first damage
case in the King County superior
Court in some years in which the
plaintiff has been awarded by the jury
the full amount of damages claimed.
The Colorado statesman., 1910-05-07

Oberlin, O., April 26.-Prejudice
against Negroes has grown strong
among the undergraduates of Oberlin
College, and Negro students have
been barred from the privileges OF
the literary, social and secret socie-
ties, and are even barred from the
church choir. In the athletic teams
it is the same. College boarding
houses will no longer permit Negroes
to eat at the tables with white stu
dents. Old alumni can hardly be-
lieve it, and Indignation meetings are
being held by graduates throughout
the state. Letters of protest are
pouring into the college town. Pro-
fessors and college officers admit that
race prejudice has become strong.
Oberlin College, Congregational in
stitution, has up to this term always
been strong friend of the Negro. 1t
was an underground railroad" station
during the Civil war. Many Negroes
have settled in the town because OF
the friendly feeling toward them, and
heretofore they have been received
with open arms as students and en-
joyed all the privileges of whites.
The Colorado statesman., 1910-05-07
TEXAS AGAIN.

There is always something doing
down in Texas. If they are not
landing the poor Negro, they are
busy with the gun, faggot and
rope. Last week Texas told the
world that the story of "the black
many" was the real genuine arti-
Gle and the city of Galveston would
erect a monument to her memory.
1t was not to be tame, skimpy
affair. but five hundred thousand
The Colorado statesman., 1910-05-07

The two hundred Negro pupils
of the Henrietta Evening Trade
School of the Children's Aid So
ciety have opened an exposition
where women's hats and gowns,
embroideries and other handiwork
are displayed. The school is the
only trade school in New York
City conducted for the instruction
of Negroes. Demonstrations will
be given Wednesday and Thurs
day evenings.
The Colorado statesman., 1910-05-07

New Orleans, La, April 60
The Negroes of New Orleans are
disappointed over the fact that
Charles @. Palfrey a white man,
has been nominated by President
Taft to take the position of Re-
ceivers of Public Monies in place
of A. B. Kennedy, who has filled
the position for number of years.
With the removal of Mr.. Kennedy
there remains but single Negro
holding a Presidential Office in the
State of Louisiana. The last of
the Mohicans in this case is the
Hon. Walter L. Cohen, who still
retains the position of Register of
the Land Office. 1t is stated that
Mr.. Kennedy is to be given or has
been a clerkship in some depart
ment. No reason is given out as
to the grounds upon which MIR.
Kennedy has been removed, who
had the reputation of being tip.
top official, and no complaint SO
far as your correspondent can
gather was lodged against the Off
cial conduct of his office. 1t is
stated upon what seems to be good
authority that Charles Palfrey,
who has been appointed to take
Mr.. Kennedy's place, was college,
mate Of President Taft at Yale
University, and the President
promised him sometime ago that
he would take care of him in some
position, hence the removal of the
colored man, Mr.. Kennedy.
The Colorado statesman., 1910-05-07

Municipal ownership has been
in operation in these cities for
varying periods ranging from
seven years in Memphis, Tennessee,
to 100 years in Philadelphia, which
city shows the largest deficit in the
list. If municipal ownership was a
guarantee of successful and profit
able operation of public utility,
surely it should have reached a
high state of perfection in the time
it has been on trial.
The people of Denver have been
told that the cities that operate
their own water systems do so IN
maner so successful that the sys-
TENS produce sufficient revenue to
pay all cost of operation and main
tenance and provide all funds nee
essary for improvements, extern
sions and additions required from
year to year by every water plant.
These eclaims are not borne out by
the Census Bureau reports which
show that the cities that operate
their own water systems have heavy
bonded debts for the account OF the
water department.
In many cases the interest on the
bonded debt is paid out OF the
funds obtained through general
taxation instead of out OF the re-
ceipts of the water department. In
this manner the political heads OF
the water system fool the people IN
to believing that they are getting
water at low rates, whereas II the
truth was known they are paying
a far higher rate than would be the
case under private ownership.
The following table Shows the
bonded indebtedness for the ac-
count of the water department IN
some of the largest cities:
The Colorado statesman., 1910-05-07
MUNICIPAL
OWNERSHIP
Of Water Plants are Branded as Financial Failures by
the United States Census Bureau--A Burden
to Tax Payers in the Operation and
Keeping up Such Plant.
Is municipal ownership of water

Is municipal ownership Oh water
systems a success
n The answer to this question de-
apends upon whether you are hold
ing a political office in city that
owns its own water plant, or are In
the position of disinterested OBJ
server of conditions under NUM-
'cipal ownership.
The politicians who are interest
ed in water systems with few eX-
septions declare that they are
gloriously successful.
An impartial observer like the
statisticians employed by the
United States Census Bureau to
make accurate reports on munlc-
ipally operated enterprises de-
clares they are not. The Census
Bureau statisticians have no per-
sonal interest in the cities upon
which they report.
The latest bulletin of the Census
Bureau contains reports on 15o cit
les that own their own water sys-
TENS. Eighty Of these cities are
credited with populations OF more
than $4,000. Of the eighty having
$4,000 or more inhabitants 4S are
branded financial failures by the
governments official report. They
show deficits over the ordinary ex-
penses of operation that would be
borne by private plant ranging
anywhere from $7,751 to $780,
591.
These deficits are exclusive OF
the cost of extensions and addi-
tions that must be made to every
water system from year to year
and which if they were included
would increase the shortage mater
tally.
The following table shows the de-
ficit reported by the Census Bu-
reau for the largest of the cities:
Amount of
The Colorado statesman., 1910-05-07

Out of 300 applicants who ap-
peared before the Board of Engi-
neers in Philadelphia last week,
for license to operate steam sta
tionary engines in that city, Wal
ter B. johnson, who is only Il
wears old led his white opponents
in the examination and received
the highest percentage.
The Colorado statesman., 1910-05-07

Willie Hammerstein, manager
of the Victoria Theatre. has offer
ed Champion Jack johnson book
ing for two weeks engagement
at $1,000 a week, commencing the
week of July IL. Well known
theatrical manager must know
something.
The Colorado statesman., 1910-05-07

Havana, April 25 On motion
of a Negro member the House OF
Representatives has adopted a
resolution asking the President to
inform the House how many Ne
proes had been dismissed from the
army in the course of the last
week. and the reasons for their
dismissal
The Colorado statesman., 1910-05-07

The Manassas, Va, Colored In
dustrial School has just announced
the receipt of donations aggregat-
ing $4,000. This sum includes
$4,000 from Andrew Carnegie,
$4,000 from persons in New York
CITY and the balance from persons
The Colorado statesman., 1910-05-07

The only colored drivers of
teams at the Boston horse show
each won first prize, Mr.. G. w.
White, driver of pair of heavies,
and Mr. John Thomas, driver of
team of three heavies. s---7-z'sHs'--.
The Colorado statesman., 1910-05-07

Four of the Negro banks in Ala
bama received in deposits in one
day S25, ,523.60 The ripple of
prosperity is reaching the furth-
est banks and we wonder when it
will strike these shores.
The Colorado statesman., 1910-05-07

Horace Hemsley, colored, aged
So, who died in Boston recently,
had been a waiter for the past 80
years and is said to have left
100000.
The Colorado statesman., 1910-05-07

Montgomery, Ala, April 90
Something out of the ordinary
happened in this city recently,
something that indicates progress.
A Negro by the name of Benjamin
Hooks shot to death two white
men, Robert W. Bean and Henry
l.. Brady, money lenders. 1t
seems that these two white men
went to Hooks house and abused
his wife while he was absent.
Hooks heard from neighbors that
his wife was being abused by two
men and went to his house, got
shotgun and killed both of the
white men. 1t is said that the two
money-lending sharks had been
charging the Negro and his family
interest at the rate of 33 1-3 per
cent. a month Although they
were shot down by Hooks, the
sheriff and the citizens of Mont.
gomery gave him protection.
When the facts became known,
public sentiment changed in favor
of Hooks. There was no attempt
at lynching, and the Negro will
have a legal trial.
The Colorado statesman., 1910-05-07
RACE PREJUDICE AT oeERLlN.

Letters of Protest From All Over the
= Country Pouring Into College
College Officials Admit Discrim-
Observation-Disclosures Has Heretofore
Been Known for Broadness.
The Colorado statesman., 1910-05-07
RACE NEWS
GATHERED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES

throughout the Northern, Central
Southern states. This money the
institution will devote to building
purposes and other Improvements.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-02

began to move in all directions in sure indication of
a real Kansas cyclone. The two in the cab
noticed specially gyrating mass of many colored
clouds which appeared to be approaching at great
rate Then sheets of rain fell hiding everything for
a minute or two.
By this time they were reeling off the miles at a
splendid clip and making full use of a stretch of
down grade, at the foot of which was small town
called Saona on the other side of big treste. Half
this piece of track the full fury of the storm
struck them. Without doubt they wrestling
with genuine Kansas twister of the kind that is
capable of sweeping whole villages from its path.
lust ahead was the bridge or where it should be.
But the engineer peered eagerly through the
binding sheets of water, he had momentary vision
of great black rising up and fleeing into the
of the whirlwind.
WAS that the bridge? gasped the fireman, pluck
ing at his sleeve.
YES, and it's no use to jump the answer.
One moment more and both must be at the bottom
of the river with dozen more cars piled on top
gineers head struck hard. Instinctively he at
tempted to swim. Then his head cleared, and he
sat up, to find himself on dry land He thought he
must be dreaming. and when he saw his fireman
coming toward him he certain of it.
What does it mean?" asked his assistant.
Il don't know; but l guess it means we're still
alive replied the engineer. SO in the crcum-
stances perhaps had better investigated
doubled fury, and both were obliged to throw them
selves face down on the ground and wait for lul
At last it possible for them to make their in
vestgation. The explanation close at hand in
the form of the cab, which had been torn bodily
from the engine and carried nearly five hundred feet
through the air, where engineer and fireman had
been dropped half senseess, but practically unhurt
in field at the side of the track. As soon as
possible they made their way to the bridge, which
they found had been carried clean away, while in the
river bed lay what left of the engine and eighteen
cars of fruit
The company two weeks cleaning up of the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-02

but also for inland where the better quality of
cordage is desired while sisal rope enters into the
commoner uses of the people. Considerable cordage
formerly manufactured from other fibers, such
India Sum hemp, African Maurtius hemp New
Zealand flax, and in a small way from others which
need not be named. The older cordage manufac-
turers will doubtless remember the magnificent dis
play of New Zealand flax rope exhibited in the Aus
1876, although the natives of New Zealand made
superior cordage from this fiber long before the adj
vent of Europeans in that country.
Manila hemp stands first among the hard or cord
fexbility but to it's lightness which is decided adj
vantage in rope for use on :shipboard: Compared
with common hemp, its breaking strain is in the ratio
half inches in circumference standing direct strain
of over two tons. This fiber. derived from the stalk
of banana plantain, was first brought to the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-02

worst wrecks in the history of the road and during
that fortnight the settlers each side of the river had
of the accident Fruit Ravine and although seventeen
years have passed that is its name to this day.
A Rifle and Sleeping Switchman
DADDY FLYNN who is now engineer
1 of the fast trains of the B. & N. W., fireman
four years ago. and owes his promotion in part and
very fine diamond pin entirely to his quick and most
remarkable action in time of extreme danger. He
is remarkable rifle shot, holding several cups and
medals for his proves a marksman at county
and state shooting matches On the principle that
as he running out of Omaha he might at any
time be called upon to look at the barrel end of
a rifle, Paddy always carried his favorlte hrearm
with him. He called upon to it
against bandits; but this popularity of his was of
good service in one emergency.
On Sunday afternoon, when it was already almost
dark, at our-thrty o'clock Paddy climbed into the
cab of No. T. then the fast mail train between
supposed to have all switches locked for it.
With the Irish fireman of course was his nseparable
weapon
About fifteen miles of the journey had been made
was scheduled to pass a slow local which had taken
the siding. CHANGING instinctively at the SWITCH
the engineer Mortified to find that it still set
for the sidetrack, and that there every chance
of terrible end collision which, with both trains
full of passengers involve great loss of life. At
the SWITCH his head between his hands and his red
lantern in front of him, the rear brakeman who
had evidently gone to sleep while waiting for the
express forgetting to throw back the switch for the
main line.
The engineer reduced his speed much pos
sbe and turned to speak to Paddy. At that moment
rifle shot rang and the red lantern shattered
coming headlight and quick thought threw the
switch to the proper side He had no time to lock it
but he held it for the minute while the passed
Such remarkable presence of mind attracted the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-02
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR JANUARY T. 1910

attention of the chief officials of the company and
the presentation of the pin the result of report
by the engineer. When Paddy congratulated
on his quick wit, he grinned and said
You see, gentlemen. the boys always did be
havn the laugh on me because | toted nv gun in
the cab; but l always told EN- I'd have the laugh
on them some dav. Besides it easy mark
and as | turned the trick ten years ago
knew 1T was a cnch unless lie boy at the switch
lost his head.
An Incident of Morean's Raiders
THIS thrilling incident happened on the morning
which ran out of Morrowtown. Ohio. John Redmon
the engineer of special train filled with recruits
who were to be taken twenty-five miles away to
Camp Dennison.
Just before the start was to be made, word came
that General Morgan and his cavalry in the
vicinity; but the volunteers were enthusiastic and
wouldn't hear of delays. They enough, they
said to take of all the guerrillas in the Confed
crate army!
Everything went we'll for the first two-thirds of the
journey; but at Loveland word received that
Morgan nearby lying in wait for this very train.
The trainmen were anxious to turn back; but the
army officers and recruits insisted strenuouSly
that they go forward Boosting that they suf-
fcient protection that of the railroad officials
told the engineer to proceed if he wished to. Red
had his favorite locomotive, the John kilgour.
and didn't know what fear was; SO he signaled All
aboard" and started
Morgan's raiders suddenly appeared at Danger
Crossing. only four miles from their destination and
opened fire; but the engine men ducked, and the
train went ahead at full speed. The volunteers set
up great shout of derson for the Confederates and
praise for Redmon: but short distance farther
huge pile of ties and rocks had been placed the
track, and when the kilgour struck it. it hurled
into the ditch beside the track.
The fireman was instantly killed; but Redmon
escaped without being seriously injured. The volun-
teers were easily captured by the Confederates and
sent to Southern prison.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-02
A G. OIL OF @ p E

ITO the average mortal how much interest is
i attached to bit of rope? Yet this article
Of manufacture holds such place in the econ
omy of human affairs that if all the rope in the
world was to drop to pieces in a day, large
part of the business of the world would come
to standstill The United States alone manu-
features one hundred and thirty-seven and a
half million pounds of rope in year, which. if
reduced to ClOtheSllneS or rope One-Quarter
inch in diameter, would encircle the earth
more than sixty-eight times. This quantity
of cordage, at factory prices, means value of
over twelve million dollars annually, not TAX
ing into the account another twelve millions
of value in Irvine for binding the grain crop
and nearly four million dollars worth of COM
mon twine an article used more or less by
every man, woman, and child IN the United
States.
While the uses of fiber-spun rope in this
unitarian age legion, steel is
ployed in many ways where hemp for
merly used. There time when the rig
cling of all vessels was made of common,
it termed Russian, hemp, it's being
quired by law for the United States navy
Steel cables have now been substituted for
standing rigging, though the running rigging
of vessels, ship hawsers, ETC.. is made of
manila hemp. In hosting apparatus, like
wise especially where great strength is re-
quired, steel is largely employed in lieu of
fiber, as for example, in elevator systems, for
equipping railway, ship, and factory cranes
for heavy derricks, derrick guy ropes, etc.
Seventy years ago cordage was spun almost
exclusively by hand. In report of the Secretar
the Navy made in 1912 appear the records of a
to show the merits or dement's of machine m
rope compared with that produced by hand meth
lat the Charlestown ropewalk), the hand spin,
having protested against the use of machines. Lie
fellows poem, 1.-The Ropewalk,' was doubtless
spired by his acquaintance with this old build
which was landmark:
In that building long and low,
With its windows all arrow
Like the portfolios of hulk,
Human spiders spin and spin
Backward down their threads SO thin,
Dropping each a hempen bulk.
About sixty per cent. of all rope now manufactu
in this country is made from manila hemp, prod
of the Philippines, thirty-four per cent. from
hemp chiefly grown in Yucatan, about four per c.
from India jute (the poorest fiber of them alD
the small remainder produced from cotton. Ma
rope is employed not only largely for marine cord;
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-02

all has found cordage be of the chief needs
of existence, as the records of museums and the
literature of the races give ample testimony.
Rattan ropes are still used in China made by
splitting the long canes into strands of any desirable
without subdivision used in the construction of
bridges in India and Ceylon, unbroken lengths of
three hundred or four hundred feet being readily
available. The unprepared bast of Brazilian tree.
the pndayba is twisted by the natives to form rope
for securing their cattle for making fences and for
other while the crude bark of another tree torn
off in ribbons is used for twisting into larger ropes.
Such rough cordage and Irvine have been used by
many aboriginal races in the manufacture of furni
ture and utensils. and even in the construction of
their houses taking the place of nails, screws bolts,
wire of which these people have had knowledge
In damp countries such form of fastening is better
than metal it will not rust and is therefore
durable. Even parts of weapons have been bound
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-02

United States by an officer of the navy about
1920, and its importation for manufacture
began four years later. Since that time it has
been imported in steadily increasing quaint
ties, the present imports amounting to a value
of fifteen million dollars
Sisal hemp is produced from the swordike
leaves of a species of agave allied to the CEN
fury plant, and this fiber is imported by the
United States to the value of ten or twelve
millions more.
Even the century plant has supplied mate
rial for rope in many parts of the world. In
The Political History of New Spain" Hum
boldt described a bridge over the Chambo
river, in Quito. one hundred and thirty-one
feet in span, the main ropes of which, four
inches in diameter, were made from the fiber
of this plant. Coir, the coarse, reddish yellow
fiber from which cocoa mating is made de-
rived from the husk of the cocoanut was for
merly employed for cordage, and at one time
coir cables were extensively used in the Indian
seas As this substance is very light and elias
tic, it was we'll suited for the running rigging
of ships though it was extremely rough to
handle.
While the commercial cordage fibers can be
counted on ones fingers several hundred ma
tive 6bers could be enumerated which, in other
ages or in remote parts of the world, have sup
piled, or now supply, man with "tye material "
or rope.
No doubt mankind learned to twist fbrous
material into rude cordage, twines, fishing
lines ETC., long before any form of woven
clothing fashioned; for aboriginal man in
es has found cordage to be one of the chief needs