davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-08
RAILROAD NEWS.
Mammoth Safety Car Coupler
Company Organized.
Fort Scott Will Be Home Of
New Big Industry.
GENERAL ADOPTION.
Railroads All Over Country Will
Use New Coupler.
Other Items of General Interest
in Railroad Circles.

Fort Scott Kan. Jan. 8.-The initial
steps, lookin to the organization of
a holding company, capitalized at $780,
600, for the purpose of esta blishing com
paDies for the manufacture and distri-
button of the Durbin automatic car
coupler, were taken in Fort Scott, when
the plans of the new company were
agreed upon by the organizers, the con-
st1tution and bylaws adopted and ar
engagements were completed for the ap-
p1catton for & charter under the laws
of Arizona
The organizers of the company are
j. F. Durbin and Votow Durbin of
Fort Scott and Charles Hum and Ora
-. Haley of Denver. The Messrs. Dur
bin are the inventors of the car coupler
and its improvements and they hold all
Inc patents on the contrlVance- AT tne
present time they hold two patents In
tie United States on the original coup
Ter and three on the improvements that
have been made since the first ones
were put in use. In addition to haV-
ing the coupler patented IL the United
States, it has been patented in England,
Germany, Canada and Mexico.
The organization which will be known
as the Safety Car Coupler company,
will be the central company and through
It other companies VIII be formed in
the different countries where there are
patents and where it is expected that
the invention will be used. 1t is ex-
pected that a company will be organic
ed in the United States Immediately
under the name of the Durbin Auto
matte Car Coupler company which will
hold the patents for this country and
manufacture the product for this terri
tory. Other companies will be formed
in the near future for Mexico and Can
ada and eventually there will be organ
izations for the manufacture of the
couple-S in Germany and England.
It is. an invention that is designed
to soon be in use on all modern rail-
roads. It's superiority over the pres
ent forms of couplers, of which there
are many is so apparent and it will
so decrease the causes of wrecks that
It would not be surprising if orders
should be made by the interstate COM
merce commission demanding it's use
On all cars. Should this prove true or
should it even come into general use
on a few of the leading systems it will
mean TO- -une for the inventors and
those who are promoting it.
One of the now common causes of
wrecks, many of which cost thousands
of dollars and a sacrifice of life is the
dropping of broken drawbars to the
track, derailing the cars following 1t.
With the new coupler this is entirely
obviated as it is SO arranged that should
one drawbar pull from car or be
broken off in any manner the other
would hold it in place. This would
also occur should the trucks be remov-
pied with one of the Durbin automat
les, as the coup,ers would bear the full
weight instead of Slipping by" as
those now in use do. holding the car
in place. Another point of superiority
in the new coupler is the ease with
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-08

There will be big mems mass
meeting held in the r. r. Y. NJ. G.
A. tomorrow afternoon at $3.50 o'clock.
Guy M. Withers of Kansas City, Mo-.
on 1.-THE Reformer.'' Mr.. George
Adamson will direct the music The
quartet will sing. All men welcome.
v. L. Pierce of Kansas City, Mo-,
is spending several days in the city on
a business trip.
Rev. J. D. Zimmerman has return
ed to his home in Winchester. Kansas.
after spending several days here visit
ing relatives and friends. Mr.. Zim-
norman is a former secretary of the
Edward F. Berry, engineer from
Argentine, is here spending several
days on a business trip.
John Russell has returned to work
in the steel car sheds after being off
several days suffering with crushed
foot.
c. D. Walker of the machine shop
was laying off yesterday On account
of illness.
vern E. staley of the electrical de-
partment has been sent to Chicago for
several weeks service
w. H. Hamilton is in the city
spending several days on business
trip.
E. d. Hammer. travelling passenger
agent for the Wabash road at Kansas
",
day on business trip.
Brakeman Cafferty was laying off
yesterday.
Rev. Hill, porter at the Y. M. C. A.
is confined to his bed with an attack
of rheumatism. Thomas Jordan is
working in his place.
C. l.. Johnson of the machine shop
was laying off yesterday.
McCombs, freight car inspector
in the local yards. is unable to be at
work on account of illness.
Today it was reported that eighteen
new members had been reported to the
Y. NJ C. A., showing two days work
of the contestants in the friendly
membership contest which started
captains are L. Luthey and John Rus
sell The following is the lineup of
the membership committee: Louis
I.uthey. captain; H. Harper, J. E.
Strain, A. Kurtz, Milton Jaiser, Rollo
Stockwen, John Rosen, Robert
Rhodes, w. c. Copeland, Floyd Mills.
Charles Fountain, L. C. Kay, Milo
Harper E. G. johnson and William
Welcomes. The other side: John Rus
sell, captain; ALT johnson, Dan Lane.
Carl Vick1und, e. T. Rogers, George
Stoudt, Ed Kerns, c. w. Thornwell,
H. Dannenhour, R. c. Cunningham,
David Owen. Frank Hagenbuch, Will
liam Rhodes. A. B., Crawford and
George Schueter. At the close of the
contest the losing side has to banquet
the winners at an oyster supper on the
evening of February L.
w. Anderson. Fred Coe, Charles
Rush and William Blasett are new
roomers at the r. R. Y. M. c. A.
George Leonard of the machine
shop has resigned his position here
and gone to Lawrence to remain.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-08

travelling of the hose after the hydrant
man has leaped from the wagon on a
run and attached his end of the hose.
This feature IS one of the valuable
additions to the makeup of the wagon
1t has always been a hard matter
to clean and fill the chemical tanks
easily when the tanks are situated I'M
der the drivers seat on the wagon.
Chief Wilmarth conceived the scheme
of placing hinges on the seat and in
the new combination chemical-hose
wagon the seat can be turned over
and then there is plenty of room for
the operations. The tray holding the
chemical hose is also equipped with
hinges and this can be folded over,
giving the company room to gather in
their hose after a fire with ease.
Safety for the Men.
1t has been an ironclad rule with
Chief Wilnlar h to have high dash
boards. Some of the large cities have
to throw straps around the bodies of
the men to keep them on their seats
when driving over low places in the
pavement and in cutters. Chief Will
marth does away with this. His idea
can be seen readily. For instance, a
few weeks ago a wagon turned over
and threw two men to the pavement,
but they were able to jump and save
their lives. With the straps they
would have been crushed 1t is the
high dash will keep the men in their
seats and the proof of his theories
is apparent in the local work of the
firemen in This city The Topeka
companies probably make faster runs
than any companies in the country.
The streets are level, the streets are
wide and the pavement is in excep-
tiona1 condition. These conditions to-
gether with the fine horse meat that
is always demanded by Chief Will
marth would go to prove that there
are few companies that can make as
good OF bette. time.
Larger hand rails for the rough use
of the men, tie doing away with the
hose reel, the low seat ladders. the
single lighter tank, the nonperforated
steel sides, and the use of the Tubular
Eclipse lanterns are all advantages
over the average combination hose
chemical wagon.
The new apparatus for No. has a
capacity of 1900 feet of 2 u inch fire
hose. It was built by George C. Hale
of Kansas City. The chemical tank is
exposed under the drivers seat, hold
ing SO gallons of chemicals. The
massive wheels on the wagon are of
the Archibald. The tires are round
edge steel, the axles of car axle steel,
the springs oil tempered Sweed steel,
loose schackles, platform front and
rear; the gear is platform type made
of angle steel, latest approved design.
The frame of the body is made of
angle steel with solid steel panels and
bottom of hardwood Stats, one-ha1f an
inch apart to allow free circulation of
air The seat of metal over front
wheels. very roomy and with polished
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-08

brass seat rail- and leather cushion.
The brake is on the rear wheels oper-
ated from drivers seat with double
lever connecting bar across front and
fitted with self releasing springs and
removable shoe. blocks. The ratings
are all highly polished brass. The
gong is of the rotary type-the best
made. All of the equipment is the
very best on the market.
AS a whole the com bination wagon
is pretty addition to the department
and through its good qualities, dura-
bility, practical use and beauty it re-
fleets credit upon the man who plan
ned every part and every feature
Fire Marshal George o. Wilmarth.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-08
BETTER SANTA FE EQUIPMENT.
No More Tales of Those ''Killed in
the Smoker"

" Killed in the smoker is going to
be eliminated from the reports OF
railroad wrecks" w. J. Black OF Chi
cago, passenger traffic manager of
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
railroad, said the other day. I'VE are
going to do this by building the smok-
ing cars as strong as any part of the
train. The new cars being put out in
the railroad shops are all built with
a view of having them stronger and
safer.
1.-The old custom was that anything
would do for a smoking car. A new
car was never built for smoker. In
the last few years the sleeping cars
were built with steel floors and the
baggage cars were strengthened with
the result that in a wreck the old
smoking car was crushed between the
others. We built the trains wrong.
Now we are putting the best car in
front of the train. The poor cars in
the rear of the train can rush on the
new car without doing much damage.
THE cost of the new steel cars is
about four thousand dollars more
than the cost of the old style cars.
The old wooden smokers, which are
still in use, cost $4,000. The new
ones cost $4,000. The observation
cars cost $4,000. We are making
better engines, too. The old engines
cost about seven thousand dollars,
while the engines on the through
trains cost as high as $12, 900"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-08


Mr. and Mrs. John Oliver of Car
bondale spent the day here yesterday,
the guests of Mr.. and Mrs. A. Luthey
OF 230 Chandler street.
Mr.. and Mrs. John Collins of 1928
chandler street. will return next week
from points in Texas, where they have
spent three weeks vacation visiting
relatives and friends.
Miss Bessie Shaw left yesterday on
an extended business trip through the
east
There will be regular meeting held
at the Christian church tomorrow.
Sunday school at $3.50, communion
and preaching at II, Junior Endeavor
society at 8, intermediate and Senior
Endeavor societies at 6:15, and even
ing preaching service at 1880. Rev.
w. H. Scrivner in charge.
Mr.. and Mrs. Fred McKinsey have
returned to their home in Fort Scott
KAN, after spending the holidays here
the guests of relatives and friends
L. I. Cooper of Stanburry. Mo-. will
come here in few days to visit his
daughter, Mrs. ]. r. Stitt of 2S2
Chandler street.
Oscar Long of Oklahoma City, Ok,
came here yesterday to visit his par
ents. Mr.. and Mrs. Long of 507 Chan
dler street.
The regular meeting of the C. W.B.
M. of the Christian church was held
Friday afternoon at the home of Mrs
A. Voigt.
Mrs. Moore of ZOE Adams street en-
tertained twenty of her friends at a
finch party Wednesday evening. Sew
eral choice selections of music were
rendered later in the evening. Re-
freshments we're served. A very pleas
ant time was enjoyed by all present.
r. B. Gathers spent the day yester-
day in Wamego on business trip.
Mrs. Julia Patterson and daughter
Jessie, have returned to their home in
Allen, Kan, after spending the holt
days here. the guests of her sister
Mrs. A A. Adair IF 315 Chandler
street.
The regular monthly meeting of
the Beiview Literary society was held
Wednesday afternoon at the home of
Mrs. Geo. Stafford on Highland ave-
nue. The election of officers for the
ensuing year took place. The follow
ing were elected, Mrs. Grant Gill,
president; Mrs. Thomas, vice presf-
dent; Mrs. Ed Mattingly, secretary;
Mrs. sGillard, treasurer: Mrs. Overflow
chaplain and Mrs. Linge, assistant
chaplain After the bushes portion
joyed.
| Clyde Doel and Walter Adair spent
New Years day in Kansas City, visit
ing friends and relatives.
The North Topeka Christian church
sunday school and the East Topeka
L AiTO OiriStldH cnurcn sunday SchOOl
have entered into a contest to gain
new members. Each new member.
present with an Offering and his Bible
will count fifteen points. It is the
hope of the East side school, which
has gone to work. with a will, to gain
the honors of the Sunday school.
Miss Mabel Miller of Burlingame is
here spending several days the guest
of relatives and friends
Mrs. Walter Kelley has returned to
her home in Argentine, after spending
several days the guest of friends here.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-08

Items for the East Topeka column mAz
DC heightened to Ind. phone I'LL
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-08

which it may be coupled on a sharp
curve or in any position in which the
car may be placed. On those now in
uSeyit is often necessary to make many
attempts before coupling can be made,
hands and arms being rdsked in doing
so. as they arc inclined to slip by should
the cars not be standing on straight
track With the new one coupling
can be as easily made in that position
as in any other.
Every requirement of the Master Car
Builders association is met in the new
invention, and no road can object to
its use on that score. The original in
Vention included a contour that differs
from that required by the M. c. r.,
but his was later remedied to fill all
the requirements of the latter, though
the inventors are still of the opinion
that the original contour of their
coupler is superior to that they have
adapted as a. matter of necessity. That
the contour be uniform On all couplers
IS made necessary by the fact that cars
from many roads may be included In
one train and much trouble would be
experienced from them should it differ.
Several of the couplerS have been in
ractical use here on switch engines
ard the men who are working with
them are unanimous that they are the
best yet placed on a car. Under no
condition has trouble been experienced
in making a coupling, resulting in
saving of time and a lessen1ng of the
dangers attached to switching, and they
will welcome the day they are generally
adopted.
The Durbin coupler is as great an
over those now in use
as the alrbrake system was over that
of the strong arm and it would not
be surprising should an order requlr-
ing them on all cars. be issued after
their merits have been demonstrated.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-08

Drafts for YOURSELF and then if YOTr
are FULLY SATISFIED with the hanesst
received, send me One Dollar. If not
keep your money; You decide and WE;
l,.Al YOUR WORD. Send no money
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-08

tism of every
kind-CHRONIC
or ACUTE, no
matter where or
how you have
suffered. Try the
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-08

railroad has 1850 active employees
who have beens with the road forty
years or more and 1,013 additional
men who, before they were retired
on pension, had served the road more
than forty years. In addition to these
employees there are three who are 90
years of age or more.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-08
NEWS SERVICE ON TRAIN.
Rock Island Gives Passengers Latest
OF Wires.

When the Golden State Limited
train on the Rock Island reaches To-
peka every afternoon, the conductor,
besides getting the usual fimsy train
orders, gets a batch of sheets of tel
egraph news copy.
Full news service is now supplied
to the Golden State Limited train by
wire, and although no newspaper is
printed aboard, the news is bulletined
for the information of the passengers.
The markets are especially attractive.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-08
MANY PENSIONERS MADE.
Pension System on Eastern Roads
Showing Results.

The pension roll of the Pennsylvan-
Ia railroad, according to compila-
tlon Just completed, is shown to have
Z26 employees who are over 80 years
OF age and who We're retired when
they were 30 years, or Younger. and
nave received annual pensions ever
since. A similar compilation made re-
Gently shows that the PENNSYLVANIA
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-08
This Coupon Brings 1t!

FREDERICK DYER, Corresponding Sec'y
Magic Foot Drafts cured j. Priest.
of Uxbridge, England, after 35 wears
of pain. Cured years ago. No re-
turn
Magic Foot Drafts cured Robert
Nicol, of West York, Ill, at the age
of 81, and also cured his wife. No re-
turn of rheumatism in two years.
/. J. Holleniers. of New York CITY writes.
Drafts na sHd 'f # Wo yH Rair Of Magic Foot
cured in four days and feel perfectly
A. T. FarrOw, of A1elita, Man. Can
Il should be falling in nv dutv if T
Hegleeted to inform you that your remedy
have suffered considerably with rh eur
tism for forty years and have tried all
E 5lin1ds OF ooctoes ana supposed remedies,
did what your Magic Foot Drafts fli1iIs
done. Their work was miraculous.
WHAT MAGIC FOOT DRAFTS HAVE
DONE for hundreds of thoIIsanis - - =
can do for YOU. These letters and ro eney
thousands like them can be seen at t''a o,,y
orices. but l don't ask you to take any
Return mail will bring you a regular ~ No.
lar pair of Magic Foot Drafts, the g yg,t
for Rheu1na- saws
1ism Of every - z e. ss.@z
a M aCTIT Is'-N no no - M "A
matter where or sS1sK@z MAGIC N
how you have ~ W.
suffered. Try the
Drafts for YOURSELF and then if Yorr
are FULLY SATISFIED with the benefit
received, send me One Dollar If not
keep your money. You decide and WE
just the coupon. Do it now.
- This $1.oo Coupon FREE -
Good for regular s1OO pair of Magic
Foot Drafts to be sent Free to 1Trv
Gas explained above) to
Name. .'--''.-..''. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
Address
'''.'.-.--.--t---. -......--.--..---
Nail this coupon to Magic Foot
Jackson, Mich. LUIS"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-06

occasionally the receipts are two or
three cases a Week-and as a rule the
letters are not signed. Frequently they
are signed by clergymen at the request of
penitents. AS nearly all the communica-
lions are anonymous. Acknowledgements
are made through the local press.
The smallest amount ever received was
two-cent stamp, the sender explaining
that he had used once upon a time can
celed stamp to prepay postage on let
ter. No money has ever reached the fund
from the hundreds who use penalty en-
velopes for private correspondence.
The largest amount ever received was
from London-S14. 25O-some one in the
Presbytery of ST. Paul transmitting
through the American consul general to
the State Department, and thence to the
Treasury. There was no reason whatever
assigned for this pricking of conscience
1t was suggested by one who has had
considerable to do with the fund:
Talking about conscience letters and
conscience contributions, why. I think it
is to be regretted that the working of
the spirit which animateS the writer's has
not been more extensively experienced and
oDeyed by important offenders. for / ven
ture tie statement that If all big rascals
mad followed the example of the smaller
ones HhO have contributed to the con-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-06

lie was the viceroy of three of the great
est provinces of the lower Yangtze val
ley. and under him was population
larger than that of the United States. He
was ruling country So rich that it al
most raises gold dollars. 1t has scores
OF walled cities and thousands of vii
lagos. 1t is SO thickly settled that much
IF it supports more than a man to the
acre. and is SO cut up by canals and
dykes that one can so To every mans
house lii a boat. The region includes
such cities Shanghai. the New York
of China; Soochow, the Manchester, and
Marking, the classical, reminding one Of
Boston. 1t has thousands of factories
and 1t huns like Il beehive. OF these
provinces Tuan Fang was the absolute
ruler and his income was greater than
that Of the smaller European kings. He
had a large corps of government clerks
and most of his subordinates We're laying
UP fortunes The taotai, or mayor. of
Shanghai was getting about one thou
sand dollars a year as a nominal salary
but the office was valuable that within
three years it made him independently
rich. The mayors of other cities were re-
ceiving large sums. and of all that came
into the treasury | doubt not that every
hand through which it passed pnched out
2 portion. Nevertheless, there were mil
lions left for the viceroy. and lie might
lave made himself rich beyond the
dreams of avarice. He did not. All or
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-06

pretended letters, whose humor is far
in excess of the money Enclosed. One OF
these letters reads:
Enclosed please find 10 cents, coin of
the realm, won from a L. S. paymaster
at draw poker, and which ] am con-
WINGED rightfully belongs to Uncle Sam.
| have carried 1t for nearly six months,
and dare not trust myself with it longer
My conscience calls for relief-my har-
assed nature calls for a good nights
sleep / can have neither so long as |
carry this terrible witness. You can ap-
ply it in liquidation of the national debt
Now / can feel a realization of the
proverb, Be virtuous and you will be
happy Now can / feel an assurance
that In years yet to come it may be said
of my children (yet to Gomez they were
of poor but honest parents. Please ac-
knowledge through city papers and re-
quest them to put it in double-leaded
lines just beneath the editorials
A conscience-stricken department clerk
wrote:
"A clear conscience sostens the hardest
bed and as ! am 4 poor government clerk
my bed is very hard and needs much
softening-so | herewith return 81 which
was overpaid me last pay day, and. be-
sides, | have loafed a good deal lately
One of the letters which had the purest
ring was received in 1856 from man
in the United States Army, but. strange
to say. not another like it has ever
reached the treasurer. 81 lie letter read:
Enclosed is a check FOR $50. [ will
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-06

they planned to kill him in the rebellion
which was to spring up on the YangtSe
when the empress dowager died. The
pans for this revolution had been per-
fected and it was the intention to kill
the missionaries and drive the foreigners
out of this valley and at the same time
create an army which would wipe out
the present dynasty. Tuan Fang had
many spies and they reported the scheme
At the time Of the death he had has big
army engaged in maneuvers and by
means of it was able to quell the re-
bellion and thus save China He went
himself to the seat of the trouble and
his spies told him that there was
scheme to shoot him on the way from the
cars to his house upon his return. He
foiled the aSSassins by having four car
riapeS sent to the station. Each of these
was the exact counterpart of the other
each was driven by a coachman in the
vlceroy's livery, and when the train stop
ped four viceroys dressed exactly alike and
made up to resemble Tuan Fang stepped
from the car and entered the four car
riaSes. The makeup was so skillfuI
that no one could tell which was the
viceroy, and his exceliency thus had three
chances out of four of some one else be-
ing killed in his stead. The result was
that no bombs were thrown.
1t was shortly after this that l met
Tuan Fang at Marking He was then
ruling from ninety to one hundred mil
lion people, and the machinery of his
palaces was somewhat like that of the
White House. He was working harder