davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-26
RANAr1A, WHICH Will SLUnBER
|KENEAIH PROTECTION Or
A11ERIGAN GUNS

without putting herself absolutely at the
mercy of the coast defense batteries.
So long as these batteries stand the canal
Is safe.
The question is naturally asked, how
ever, as to the possibilities of capturing
these batteries by land attack and then
turning them upon the ships of this coun-
try. This is indeed a possibility to be
guarded against. and one which has en-
tered the plans OF the fertilization board.
The fertilization board plans the building
Of breastwork Notifications about the
locks where they might be attacked by
land. These works would be erected at
either end of the canal In connection
with them would be laid the foundations
of a camp. Sewers would be laid, water
put in. These are the vital things in an
army camp. With this preparation 1t
would be possible at any time, having
the soldiers available, to meet any land
invasion.
Then it is planned to establish an army
post at Culebra, the highest and health
lest point on the isthmus. This camp
will be pitched on the edge of the big
cut opposite the town of Culebra. A
bridge will be thrown across the cut to
facilitate communication. Here quarters
will be prepared for 5000 soldiers.
All the experience of the canal
builders and of the army in the Philip
pines will be brought into play to make
this model army post for the tropics.
Cement will be the central idea in con-
struction. and hollow walls will lend
themselves to GOODNESS. The moisture
will have no effect upon them and ants
may not devour them.
In this post will be stationed a quota
of soldiers deemed sufficient to repel any
landing party that might be thrown
ashore by an attacking fleet. These men
will be called into the breastworks when
emergencies arise. but under conditions
of peace they will remain at this central
station. from which they may be readily
conveyed to either end Of the canal.
The nature of the country in either di-
rectiOn from the canal is most unfavor-
able to invasion. 1t is a swampy and
Overgrown wilderness that may be pene-
trated with difficulty. It is indeed large
fleet that can put 5000 men ashore even
under favorable conditions, and these
men would find an equal number of in
trenched opponents fighting on their own
ground. OF course, it would be possible
to land greater number If transports
could be used But transporting an army
is not thing that could be accomplished
secretly In these days, and this country
would be able to Illustrate such an at
tempt by countering it.
The great fear on the Fart Of the mill
tary authorities OF this country arises
from the possibility of a nation contem-
plating war with this country initiating
its campaign with an attack On Panama
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-26

through the Alton farm, one of the most
valuable being the phellodendron amurnse.
Supt Smith has during the past year
paid increased attention to the propaga-
ton of the gingo tree. which originally
came to this country from Japan.
Among the first specimens brought to
Washington were number from West
chester. near Philadelphia in 1872. AS
he explains 1t. Supt. Smith has reduced
the cost of these trees from So to 80
cents each.
Two of them are now growing in front
of the British legation in this city, hav-
ing been bought at the top price by the
British government. which was original
ly asked $50 for them. The bill was
sent for adjudication to Supt. Smith. who
finally fixed the price at which they were
accepted. He then turned his attention
to finding out its most valuable features,
aside from Its parity, and learned that it
is one of the few trees that insects will
not attack. Next he came upon the fact
that 1T is this tree that Will do more
than any other to rehabilitate the coun-
try's depleted forests. With this lSnowi-
edge he has recently been raising an es-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-26

Botanic Garden and promise is given that
the work will even exceed that of past
years, when records have been made. Rare
specimens of botanical life are being
taken from the hothouses and replanted
in the score or more beds in the open,
SO that they may get the benefit of the
first rays OF the life-giving spring sun
and drink in the drops of soft rain water
30 essential 10 bring out their full beauty.
Plants, trees and shrubs from all over
the world are represented at the Botanic
Garden. and the care necessary to propa-
gate them must be as constant as that
given TO the rearing of children. Just so
much food and water must be allowed
them and they must be kept in exactly
the right temperature to prevent them
from taking cold and dying. Plants from
equatorial regions and plants from the
Tar northern zone where vegetation en-
lists abound in the garden, and their
nurses must have expert knowledge of
the conditions under which they will
best thrive and then follow the work of
caring for them with the minutest detail.
Head end moving spirit of the work
OF caring for and distributing to the
people the vast number of specimens that
yearly go out from Washington to
beautify the homes of thousands of
Americans is Supt William Robertson
Smith, who for more than half a century
has been connected with the cultivation
of Uncle Sans plant babies A native
Scotchman Of rare good humor he lives
IN his work. No mother could speak
more lovingly of her little ones than
does he OF the product OF his skill Com
ing to this country from Kew. one OF
the royal botanic gardens of England,
where only the select few were the bene-
fciaries OF its products, Supt Smith has
made II a life work to impress upon the
American public that the United States
Botanic Garden is conducted wholly and
solely for the whole people.
This il a representative form of gov
eminent, and IL has been my effort to
make the people of the country under
stand that every petal of every flower
and every twig that grows in the garden
belongs TO them. We have nothing TO
sell. These wonderful plants and trees
are to be given to the people through
their representatives in Congress-" he
said.
Then, going from dollhouse to hot
house, throughout the entire maze or
lives and ''nationalities' of his pets"
as lie affectionately calls the vast array
of species OF plant life which he has
raised. Not a climate and hardly q ma
tion in the whole world but what is rep
resented by some speciman of vegetable
life. From Africa. Japan. Russia, Can
ada, Mexico-wherever the beauty and
grandeur of nature is represented oy
plant exi4ence-have been selected flow
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-26

Hampton roads and perforated them.
There is no question Of the ability OF
these coast defense guns to penetrate the
armor of any battleship afioat today.
The rif1ed mortars supplement these.
The mortar is gun that never appears
above the breastworks. 1t remains out OF
sight and drops its missile over the inter-
vening embankment. The missile takes
a curve high into the air, but it's course
is so calculated that it will drop upon
the enemy. Powerful bombs are drop
ped into the midst of the hostile camp
at distance of nine miles The armor
of the attacking vessel is avoided in this
case and the shell is dropped in her
vitals.
With such engines of destruction as
these lying in wait there is great deli
cacy on the part Of men-of-war in at
lacking a we'll regulated shore battery.
With two such defenses at each end of
the canal this government feels assured
that there will be little danger of an
attack from sea. The vulnerable part of
the canal. the locks, are several miles
inland. The coast defenses are nearer
the sea. No vessel can come sufficiently
near in to drop shell into the locks
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-26

makes the tongue silent for at least a
week, but il can't be used carelessly. for
it is apt to result more seriously than
was intended. and Supt. Smith declares
that he would probably begin an investi
cation OF any person applying for it in
large quantities
During the past week the Botanic Car
den has been crowded with people brought
out by the fine weather. and the thronSs
indicate the ever increasing interest that
is being taken in the vast and Instructive
work.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-26

pecially large number of Gingo trees
and expects each year to increase the
output and place them all over the United
States wherever it is possible.
That American oaks, which Supt. Smith
says are neglected In this country, have
obtained a firm foothold, or roothold, in
Europe and are becoming more and more
popular is word that has recently been
received at the Botanic Garden, through
which, the noble tree was first success
fully sent across the Atlantic ocean.
MANY efforts had previously heen made
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-26
NAP OF THE CANAL ZONE SHOWING FRObABLE
90 LOCATION Or Notifications D. q

and taking the United States unawares
5,OO6 troops are deemed SUFFICIENT to pre-
vent any such attack.
This mobile force would consist of four
regiments of infantry. one squadron Of
cavalry and three batteries Of field ar
tillery. There would be some twelve COM
panies of the coast artillery-1.300 men,
These it is contemplated quartering near
the Pacific end Of the canal, but they
could be quickly transferred from one
station to another.
The fertilization board figures that the
expense Of preparing for the quartering
of this force and the building of the de-
lenses would aggregate $12.475,32S. which
is pretty close figuring. The popular view
is, however, that once the government
begins appropriating for such work the
end may not be easily seen. There are
men in Congress who have held that the
adoption of this policy of canal defense
will mean the expenditure Of from fifty
to a hundred million dollars
x
Certain it is that from the standpoint of
attack the canal would be more attractive
to nation with which we were at war than
any other part of our possessions, for the
possession of that point would split our
navy. Certain it is, also, that the Pan
anna canal is the object Of them all i'm
which the people Of the United States
take most pride. Certain it is, also, that
this government is rich beyond compare
and that her revenue sources roll in in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-26

but tiny bushes and one would not think
that the diminutive three-inch plant in
little flower pot that can easily be held
in the palm of the hand, will some day
be giant Of the forest, towering over a
hundred feet toward the sky. There are
thousands of these little fellows as
Supt: Smith terms them, and they are SO
placed as to form fascinating display.
A good deal of attention will be given
this year to showing the strange and
curious plants of which there are many
examples. But there are four that are
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-26

trumpet flower comes in for severe casti-
cation, for it Is a veritable plant saloon,
which keeps open day and night. The
trumpet flower resembles in shape the
musical instrument for which it is named
and in the smaller end, near the gourd,
it keeps it's stock of intoxicating fluid.
Attracted by the high-smelling fluid. in
sects by the thousand swarm into the
plant saloon and get hilariously drunk.
They never recover from the effects of
their jag. and as result soon die.
But the trumpet flower dispenses its
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-26

tribution, and are more fiowerifous when
grated with other species. The original
plant was imported from England. Only
three or four hundred of the magnolia
kebus have been sent out from the b.
tanic Garden, as the plant is compare
lively scarce. But the demand for them
is expected to grow. and preparations
are being made for increasing the num-
Der. Through grating it is ten times
more productive than when grown on its
own roots. This is only enc of numerous
rare plants that the garden has obtained
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-26

for
the spring and
summer distrfbu-
ton of thousands
of plants, shrubs
and trees to every
section OF the
United States and
even to the island
possessions have
FOR some time
been under way
at the 0Oyernmap emf
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-26

true mushroom may be known by cloth
like ring around the middle of the stem
and large colored gills under the cap. If
1T is ready for picking the gills are of
brownish black color and when touched
viii give off deposit Of dusty brownfsh
black or purplish black spores. Great care
should be taken in noting the color. The
stem is solid and firm, though pithy.
When a common field mushroom Is bro
ken open it will be found that the meat
is white, or nearly white.
If this description is followed carefully
there is little or no danger Of even a
novice at mushroom gathering making
mistake and choosing the wrong species.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-26

nor shall any right Of war be exercised,
nor any act of hostility be committed
within it. The United States, however.
shall be at liberty to maintain such mill
tary police along the canal as may be
necessary to protect 1t against lawless-
ness and disorder
Yet despite this treaty when the time
came the United States set about build
ing the strongest forts in the world along
the canal. 1t maintained it's right to pro-
tect so valuable property. 1t refused to
leave this investment of many hundreds
of millions a prey to whatever nation
might choose to seize it unaware. Great
Britain took the same view Of the mat
ter and in no way insisted upon the sttp-
ulations of the treaty signed ten years
ago.
Is an inland lake accessible at either
end through locks In passing through
1t from the Atlantic to the Pacific, YES
sci will enter channel with bottom
width OF 500 feet in Limon bay, follow
this for about seven miles to Gatun,
where it will enter a series Of three
locks in flight and be lifted eighty-five
feet to the level Of Gatun lake It will
sail at full ocean speed through this lake
in channel varying from 1000 to 500
feet in width, for a distance of about
twenty-four miles to Bias Obispo, where
1t will enter the Culebra cut. It will sail
through the cut, a distance Of about nine
miles, IN channel with a bottom width
will enter lock and be lowered 80 1-3
Feet to small lake, at an elevation of
q 2-3 feet above sea level. and will sail
through this for about one and a half
miles to Mirafiores. There 1t will enter
two locks in series and be lowered to sea
level. passing cut into the Pacific through
channel about eight and a half miles
In length. with bottom width Of 500 feet.
. Inc depth OF the approach channel on
tion does not exceed III feet. will be Al
Feet at mean tide and on the Pacific side.
where the maximum oscillation is q feet.
the depth will be As feet at mean tide.
X =
The few miles of channel between the
Jocks and navigable water on either end
are mere accessories to the canal. The
great Culebra cut is important only be-
cause OF the work In making 1t. The locks
are the vital thing when the work is done.
They are the portion Of the system that
demands protection. They are the per-
ton that might suffer great damage from
hostile navy. Little damage could be
done until the locks were reached
For these reasons the board Of fortif-
cation decided that 1t was between these
locks and the sea that the great de-
lenses should be built. The highlands
near the sea should be the location Of
the coast defense stations. The chief of
these on the Atlantic side would be on
Toro point, commanding Limon bay and
the entrance Of the canal. Another bat
terry would be located across the bay
with the same command. On the Pacific
side the greatest point Of vantage would
be Battle point with a twin battery on
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-26
Gathering Mushrooms
Around the District

MANY who are fond of the luscious
VI mushroom, but deny themselves be-
ause they look upon it as table luxury,
re not aware of the fact that all around
Washington the delicious fungi grow
lid in great abundance and can be had
y the basketful through the simple act
[ seeking them. Every summer, spring
nd autumn hundreds of men, women,
oys and girls can be seen out in the
elds of the District with baskets or
tickets on their arms and sticks in their
ands, poking around In the grass search
lg for a mess for their tables.
In all the vegetable kingdom it is
oubtful If there is more useful or
.ore easily recognized member than the
ommon or field mushroom. Yet, there
re people who do not hunt them for
ar they will make a mistake and get
old of poisonous fungi, which in many
,ecies are fatal. The fact is that with
zen the slightest care the poisonous
.ushrooms can be distinguished from the
dible species, there being several Of the
ii mushroom. which in shape resembles
he drumstick Of chickens leg. The
iorel mushroom is much like a sprig of
aulifiower. The champignon much re-
enbles the shape of a toadstool, as does
so the common field mushroom, which
the species most often found in this
elton.
The poisonous species vary in color
from the greenislf brown to a bright red,
and may be found growing near the
edible kind, which spring up In the tenn
perate regions all over the world. 1t is
this common mushroom that is SO easily
distinguishable from its rank cousin. but
the others described are frequently hard
to tell apart from the injurious growths.
Soft. grassy turf, usually where horses
and cattle have eaten the grass close to
the ground. Is the best place in which to
find these wild mushrooms which Wash
ingtonians hunt every year. Rich. breezy
fact that the common mushroom is
sometimes called meadow mushroom, 1t
is very seldom that 1t Is found anywhere
except in the kind of surroundings de-
scrihed. There is also an idea prevalent
that mushrooms grow in wet and boggy
places, but the common edible mushroom
is never found in such territory.
Common mushrooms are usually small
in size, being from an inch to five inches
at the most across the cap. But there is
q kind known as horse mushrooms that
are very indigestible, and measure as
much as nine inches or more across the
cap. These are found in damp and shady
places and are usually tough. But the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-26

especially interesting. They are the
whisky shop" or trumpet flower: the
blind saloon" the deffenbachia seguina
picta, or 'mother-in-law plant" and the
Venus fiy-cateher." The action of the
latter plant is almost human in many re-
spects. 1t is not as large as the ord nary
peanut, and in shape resembles an open
oyster shell. Inside Of the edges OF each
half there are numerous little thorns, or
teeth. as sharp as needles and very
strong. This little plant lies i'm clusters i'm
many sections of North Carolina, which
is the only place in the world where 1t
has been found, and is therefore com
paratively rare. With its Jaws open, it
waits patiently for its food. which is sure
to be attracted to it sooner or later Then.
when an insect or a fly lights between the
two parts the animal-like growth slowly
closes, holding the victim a prisoner The
more 1t struggles the faster the halves
come together, and the plant consumes its
meal at leisure. then opens again and
waits for another mouthful.
If the insect world is divided on the
liquor question with the same strength of
opinion possessed by human kind, it il
certain that the pretty and inoffensive
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-26

HEN the Panama
canal is complete
Uncle Sam will
possess the strate-
sic point of the
Americas and will
be in a position to
insure peace at the
point of control Of
half the commerce
of the world. For
t his government
has set its hand
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-26

liquor in the open, while the safaccna
conceals the traffic. This plant resembles
to some extent a ball. the entrance to
which is at the back. Hence, it is called
the blind saloon" The liquor has the
same effect on insects as does that of the
trumpet flower.
Those who think they are inflicted with
TOO much mother-in-law' might do we'll
to investigate the deffenbachia seguina
picta- which can afford them instant re-
lief, though 1t is apt to cause much trou-
BILE. The plant, when placed in the mouth,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-26
XWANAMA& b@ GIBRALTAR" &9was

CONGRESS and the Presi-
~ dent Have Decided That
the Big Ditch Shall Be Forti-
hed-Its Locks Are to Be
Guarded by Guns So Power
full as to Rise and Hurl a Ton
Weight Ten Miles, Then Dis
appear and Become Immune
to Attack-A Sufficient Land
Force Will Be Retained to
Repel Invasion by Land on
the Part of Any Army That
1t Would Be Possible to
Land.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-26

10 the task of terrifying the Canal zone.
The President has insisted that 1t be
fortified and Congress has signified us
approval of the plan by appropr1ating
$1,000 600 for the preliminary work. A for
LITIGATION board, at the head of which Is
Mai. Cen Leonard Wood, has outlined the
needs of the strip from the war stand
point. The preliminary sum appropriated
and those amounts that are to follow
are to be placed at the disposition or
Col George W. Goethals. chief engineer
Of the Panama canal, and the forts and
quarters are to be built in conjunction
with the other work in this, the greatest
engineering undertaking in all history.
The appropriation of the money for this
work which laid down the policy of the
government with reference to fortifica-
ton came after a desperate fight in Con-
sress There were many members of
that body who held that peace should be
forever maintained here where the At
lantic is to kiss the Pacific and that in
ternational agreements were sufficient to
guarantee that peace. The military au-
thorities Of this government maintained,
however, that treaties Of peace were not
effective in time Of war and that history
showed that they were seldom observed
where 1t was in the interest of nations
at war to violate them. Gen. Woods
declaration of this policy Of nations
shocked Congress, but won the day for
Notifications.