davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-14

they have peculiar rights as British sub
jects, and occasionally clash with those
from the Danish West Indies. But in
general things have gone smoothly. There
and insects and creatures in the forest
and in the river to keep their minds &C.
cupied.
The mosquito, as usual, has been the
most deadly enemy of them all. There
are jaguars and anacondas in the forest.
a1ligators, electric cells, and sharptoothed
fighting fish In the river, but it Is better
to take ones chances with all these than
to spend a night without the mosquito
bar. The death rate has been reduced by
realizing that this little insect is the
real king OF the jungle, and also by re-
quiring every man to take ten grains Of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-14
Heirs to Many Fortunes
:. Are Being Sought

Special Correspondence OF The Star.
LONDON, July 6, 1912.
A S usual. the United States figures
"A prominently among the countries in
which missing heirs to large and small
fortunes are being sought for by English
solicitors. according to the annual list
compiled by Sidney Fl. Preston, the Lon
don next-of-kn agent. As usual too.
many of the quests thus summarized
which represent the most important OF
thousands OF inquiries for folk for whom
money Is waiting-have a curious air of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-14

and other minerals will doubtless be
found when this country is opened to
explorers and settlers. Mahogany,
Brazilwood and many other hard woods,
heretofore valueless because of lack Of
transportation facilities, are found in
large quantities.
There are numerous waterways
throughout eastern Brazil and Bolivia,
through which rubber and many other
exports can be transported in launches
to the Madeira-Mamore railroad. From
this line they can be carried fourteen
hundred miles through the Madeira and
Amazon rivers to the markets of the
world"
The area that will be tapped by this
railway is enormous. It will carry the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-14

an animal resembling the jaguar.
1.-THE Indians living in this section of
Brazil are half-breeds, and very peace
able. They are mixed with about every
nationality that has invaded the
country. They live in little clearings here
and there in the jungle. and exist princi-
pally on native vegetables and fruits. In
stature they are very short. Peaceable
and harmless. they quickly adapt them
selves to any kind Of work. An Indian is
content il he earns enough In a month to
buy a pair of cotton trousers or a shirt.
If he receives more money than he has
use for, he puts a hole through it and
wears it around his neck.
1.-THE women wear no clothing. Even in
their own communities the male Indian
wears cape and girdle Of feathers, but
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-14

stranger" who disposed, one by one, of
these leathern relics of the torture cham
Der. The collectors name was the
prosafc one of William Smith, and his
shop, where he dealt In antiques. was in
Marsham street. Westminster. One day 1t
was entered by a poorly dressed man.
who had the general look of a laborer.
and who carried in his arms a model Of
an old Spanish galleon, forming a wine
beaker. This Smith bought at fair
price, and the man said he thought he
could get some more, and the collector
urged him to do SO.
Accordingly, at intervals covering
time OF nearly fourteen years. the
stranger came to Marsham street, always
between 1 and in the morning.
bearing, in straw-covered cart. one or
more pieces Of the collection. He would
ring the old collector up. a bargain
would be struck. and he would disappear
perhaps for a couple of months, and then
turn up again with more monstrosities in
leather.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-14
NNE of the Most Remark

NNE of the Most Remark
~ able Railroads in the
World-Runs Straight
Through a Virgin Forest and
Does Not Connect One Set
tied Area With Another
Enormous Commercial Posi-
bilities Depend Upon It.
Through the Interior of
Brazil, One of the Richest
Countries.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-14

engineers, numbering several hundred,
were all Americans, and all OF the equip
ment-the engines, rails. and most Of the
ties-was imported from the United
States.
Some years ago the French tried to
build road through this same territory
in Brazil and failed-probably for reasons
similar to those which caused their fall
ure at Panama. They did not realize the
enormous task before them; their ma
chinery was too light. and they lost thou
sands Of laborers from yellow fever.
There has possibly been more to con-
tend with in building this comparatively
short line of 200 miles than in the con-
struction of many transcontinental roads
Of the United States. 1t has meant con-
slant and at times well nigh insurmount-
able difficulties. One of the greatest of
these was yellow fever, the death rate
from this. alone averaging over 30 per
cent.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-14

mated with fever germs. the mosquito
breeding in immense numbers. One OF
the nearby towns is almost constantly
under quarantine because of smallpox.
The heat. OF course, is very intense. Dur
ing the wet season it is not quite so hot,
because the rains somewhat temper the
heat.
Despite the high temperature there
is very little suffering The men always
wear felt hats, as these afford better pro-
lection from the sun. The nights are
generally cool, and one invariably sleeps
under blanket.
Under the existing state of affairs the
railroad contractors did all possible to
make living conditions bearable for their
men. The road maintained an excellent
hospital system, which was free to all
employees. Nearly every camp had
physician, who administered such treat
ment as was possible in cases Of accident
or sickness. Those too Ill or too badly
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-14

He never would tell who he was or
where he came from. so the old collector,
who was eaten up with curiosity, deter
mined to follow him. Accordingly, the
next time a ring came at the door after
midnight, Smith. instead Of merely throw
ing on a dressing gown, as he generally
did. dressed himself completely. and put
on his dressing gown over all. This time
several freakish figures changed hands.
and with them a deed and q parchment
will from one Senior Don Sebastian, dated
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-14

That won't do. The head waiter would
have seated another couple there If he'd
needed the room"
We'll. why didn't he need the room 90
that our patrons wouldn't like an ar
rangement of that sort, we have provided
twice the seating capacity ordinarily nee
essary. That means doubled table room
doubled equipment and a doubled force Of
walters; for the walters are assigned to a
certain number of seats, not to q fixed
number Of patrons. 1t would be more
economical to run few long tables the
length and breadth of the room, and seat
the diners as they came in order but they
wouldn't like 1t. More privacy is OBJ
tanned by setting out little tables. each
laid for four people. but this privacy also
disappears II we have to seat two strange
couples together. And as most patrons
as many of these little tables as the
actual number of patrons really calls for,
on the average This is an added con-
venience: it is also an added expense to
the service. Isn't that so?''
X y
'Oh. there may be something in what
you say" admitted the grouchy man.
Now. let's see what else the service
consisted Of" resumed the manager. 1.-THE
table was spread with a cloth which cost
10 $lO mere wasn't CROCK or q CRACK
in it. nor in the napkins. You may not
have noticed that detail, but your wife
did. Linen wears out faster in hotel
than anywhere else, for the reason that
every time a meal Is served upon it, it is
gathered up at once and sent to the
wash-and the laundering expense is an
other big item you mustn't forget. The
renewal bill for our laundry alone is
$4,000 a year-roughly. more than $40
a day
:! suppose that ought to be figured in"
SAID the grouchy man.
Another thing you didn't notice, and
would have missed" the manager went
on. was the flowers at your table. Those
are changed as soon as they show the
least sign OF wilting-at least once a day.
and sometimes oftener Over your head
was chandelier with thirty electric
lights; on the walls were a dozen more
of the bulbs. and in addition you had an
individual light at your elbow. You were
cooled by twenty electric fans. Your cut
lery was the finest silver plate. renewed
once q year, and more frequently IL it
shows signs Of wear. You had five
changes Of plates and your wife the same
number, every one of which went into the
washing machine at once together with
the dozen or SO of other dishes that you
each used. A busboy. whose only duty is
to take away the dishes promptly, carried
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-14

INSPECTION WITH CAR.
Amazonas. Germany and France could
be put down two or three times over in
any of these states; England, Scotland
and Wales would be lost in any one of
them.
The combined area of the territory
the railway will develop is slightly less
than half that of continental Europe
and a little more than half that Of con-
tinental United States.
Already a large mining firm is plan
ming to discover the secret of the gold
that the Indians SO carefully guard
Machinery will go up the railroad while
natural wealth comes down.
The great difficulty will be to find labor
The native philosophy of life as described
by Mr.. Melville does not lend itself very
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-14
Fig Culture Increasing.

From the Fresno Republican. .
The growing of figs is rapidly assun.
ing extensive proportions in the SAN
Joaquin valley. 1t being said that fully
100000 fig trees have been planted In
this section OF the valley from MERGED
county south. including Tulare county.
The fig culture is steadily becoming rec
ognixed, az is shown by q careful study
Of the paintings that have been going on.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-14

well to the plans of those who are to
develop the country, although Ii may
work very we'll for the Indians. Settlers
are therefore to be transported there by
the railroad. The Indians have been
peaceable during the construction of the
railroad. They are. indeed, a kindly lot
of people. although farther inland they
say there are cannibais. However they
intend to make their rights respected.
They grew to like one OF the camps
and We're in the habit of coming down
often to look at the company's store.
The storekeeper irritated by having them
around, and possessed perhaps by the
idea that his dignity would overawe
folk who did not even trouble to wear
clothes. babe them to be gone. intimat-
ing that he would shoot them il they
did not go.
They went. but in short time they
returned with bows and arrows. and
gave him to understand. gently but
firmly, that they were ready to begin
the shooting at any time. The irascibie
storekeeper had to be sent away and
replaced by one of a more forbearing
temper. 1t is largely owing to the fact
of the men in charge of the expedition
to the whites. On several occasions in
the past they have attacked the camps
and killed number of people.
There has also been some little diff
ficulty in keeping the peace between the
many different nationalities who have
contributed labor The Portuguese and
the Spaniards. for instance hate each
other. The West Indian negroes insist
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-14

y the heart Of
South America one
of the most re-
markable railroads
ever constructed
has just been COM
pleted. 1t runs
straight through
virgin forest, does
not connect one
settled area with
another and is
only 200 miles long.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-14

them out Of your sight. You had the
undivided attention of the waiter. He
had a captain watching him to see that
the service was satisfactory. while head
things going smoothly. and house head
waiter was over all, seeing that the
service in your particular dining room
wasn't delayed by the calls of the two
other restaurants in the house or by the
dinner parties and banquets upstairs.
4 i
If you dropped napkin you got
clean one; IL you spilled anything the
tablecloth was replaced. Your orders
were individually inspected at the door
by a checker; but even SO, il the food
was not satisfactory for any reason you
had another order without question or
additional expense. There wasn't an
odor Of cooling food in the room: there
wasn't the clatter of dish. And while
you were dining at your ease. on one of
the best business corners in Washington,
surrounded by the fragrance Of flowers.
soothed by soft music, with your feet
resting on one of the finest carpets in
the city, your sense Of color effects salts
fed by hangings and decorations which
were in such good taste that you never
thought of their cost, you were quickly
and politely served with food, the quality
of which the hotel had taken every pains
to make sure was unsurpassed anywhere.
and the cooking of which was beyond
reproach. Your dinner proceeded so
smoothly and pleasantly that it seemed
as IL no effort whatsoever was involved
in its preparation; and that is the tri-
umph of hotel management. 1t is also
the basis Of your objection; for the very
fact that there was such harmony be-
tween all the elements which went to
make up the pleasure of your meal has
led you to lose sight of the elements
themselves But IL anything had been
missing or overdone, or if there had been
any hitch or jar, you would have noticed
that very quickly. Isn't that so?''
The grouchy man was beginning to
look more thoughtful than grouchy.
Now, haven't told you of the food
with which you were served" continued
the hotel manager. You may be inter-
ested to know that your dinner was
cooked by six chefs. There were the as
sistant chefs for soup. fish. meats, vege-
tables and pastry, respectively. each an
expert in his line. They were assisted by
twenty-five cooks. in addition to kitchen
helpers The whole operation was In
charge Of head chef. whose professional
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-14

Yet on tnlS little OIL OF iiHe, IuiliiiA6
apparently from nowhere to nowhere,
enormous comnercial possibilities depend.
The interior of Brazil is probably one
of the richest countries on earth. 1t is
a marvellous rubber country. there are
plenty of mines and pretty nearly every
thing will grow there. 1t is near the
equator but there are mountains, and
the climate can be changed by going up
q thousand feet or SO. 1t could supply the
continent with beef, cotton or cocoa, and
any number of other necessities and lux
uries of life This is just what it is GO
Ing to do before long, according to the
projectors of the Madeira-M amore rail-
road.
A railroad 200 miles long. set down in
the middle of the United States, would
be little good, but the case is quite diff
ferent in South America. The Amazon
is navisable by ocean-going steamers for
more than a thousand miles beyond its
mouth. Boats that come from Liverpool
and Hamburg can deliver passengers and
freight far in the heart of the country.
Not only that, but there are numerous
tributaries of the Amazon equally suited
to big steamers. One of these is the Ma
deira river, which uniteS further inland
with the Mamore; but there has been
almost insuperable obstacles to tapping
the vast wealth of the territory drained
toy these rivers.
For COO miles above its junction with
the Amazon the Madeira river runs
broad and deep and placid. Then it
goes quite mad, and raves for 200 miles
over cataracts and rapids. Eventually
1t subsidies again. The difficulty has been
to get men and freight past this danger
Gus area.
TradeSmen have estimated the loss
of men and cargo in the rapids at from
20 to 90 per cent. II one figure is too
high. it is equally certain that the other
is too low. Navigation was possible only
in specially constructed boats. and even
then the chances were about even that
everybody and everything therein would
find the bottom of the stream. Rather
than face the risk tradesmen would
leave their boats above the rapids and
drag them by hand 200 miles through the
jungle, launching them again on the safe
side Of the rapids
Not even the most enthusiastic trades
men or the most stoical native cared
for that sort of thing, and as long ago
as 1868 an Englishman named Church
projected railway that would carry
men and cargoes through the forest
past the dangerous part of the Madeira
river. Thousands Of men have laid
down their lives in the jungle attempt
ing to make this railroad a possibility.
Now. pretty nearly half century after
the inception of the daring idea, Amer
lean skill has been able to accomplish
the task that seemed almost impossible.
Dennis Melville, one of the engineers
just returned from Brazil told the story
of the adventures the men have met in
the course Of their work.
ITO build a railroad through a Bra
lillian jungle requires colossal nerve
said Mr.. Melville.
The Madeira-Mamore railroad built
for the Brazilian government, now opens
up the richest rubber country in the
world. This road has been constructed by
an American firm of contractors. The
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-14

class hotel. and we give our patrons any
thing they call for-but it costs"
I'm; possibly there's something in
that" said the grouchy man.
Now let's see what you got in the way
OF service. using the word In a broad
sense Did you write any letters before
dinner?'
Oh, dropped line to q few friends"
And your wife dropped line to a few
others. The hotel furnished the station
cry. We are glad indeed to give every
facility to our patrons. and / wouldn't
have mentioned the item Of cost II you
hadn't brought up the matter. but every
finest linen paper and sealed in an en-
velope Of the finest quality and manufac-
ture that the mills Of this country can
produce. Buying even in the largest
quantities that stationery costs at least
cent a letter This is an item that looks
small. but 1t mounts into the thousands
OF dollars when figured by the year. You
may also have gone to the lavatory to
"Oh, / wa, down there for a minute"
the grouchy man allowed.
The lavatory is built OF steel, tile,
enamel. and marble. 1t uses several thou
sand gallons Of water a day-much of 1t
NOT Wal6T, WHICH ID He8IeO ny our DOllerS
our labor and our coal. You used steri-
LIKED liquid soap. and dried your face and
hands on two or three individual towels
there was a pile of them there for you
to help yourself from. and you took as
many as you wanted. Then you were
brushed of by an attendant"
Now just minute" protested the
grouchy man. you know everybody uses
that washroom."
THE general public uses 1t very little
answered the hotel manager. ut recog-
nizes that 1t has no moral right to its
use. Our hotel guests, also, have their
own baths for the most part. or else the
baths on the same floor as that where
their room Is located. and they too use
the common lavatory comparatively little.
There remain only the patrons Of the cafe
and Of the dining room. The cost Of main
tanning the lavatory IL also charge
against the dinner service you enjoyed"
"Oh. I don't know" said the grouchy
man in half-hearted way.
Now Well come to the dining room 1T
self. You and your wife occupied a table
laid for four; but you had 1t to your
selves. That is just the same as II you
and your wife could occupy two cross
seats in a crowded street-car, isn't it?''
oh, COME" protested the grouchy man.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-14

(<r OOK here said the grouchy
man to the manager Of one
of Washington's best hotels
IL the other day, you charge
altogether too much for your
food here. All my wife and had for din
ner this evening was consomme Jul
lienne. filet OF sole. roast beef, Bermuda
potatoes. corn on the cob. apple pie and
demi-tasse; and do you know what the
check was?''
About $3.50. wasn't it?" asked the man.
ager.
1T was s3.60 without the tip. Why,
back home that's more than a skilled
workman can make in a day-and here
it's only the price OF little dinner of
soup. fish. meat and two vegetables with
dessert. You must make money hand
over fist
The manager smiled. you're right"
he agreed. I'VE would make money hand
over ast. II that had been all you got for
your s.. But there are a few items OF
expense you overlooked. You had music,
didn't your"
We'll. l did hear an orchestra playing
somewhere conceded the grouchy man.
Yes, you heard one of the best orches-
tras in the city of Washington playing,
concealed behind screen of palms. Dur
ing the hour and a half that you and your
wife Were at table. you heard a concert
that was equal to others which you've paid
q dollar to hear. Didn't that add to the
enjoyment of your meal?''
The grouchy man hesitated. "Oh, liked
1t all right" he admitted.
Yes" continued the manager, lit added
to your enjoyment. and also to your check
Both musicians and palms are a consider
able item Of expense to be charged
against your dinner bill. You may also
have noticed that the dining room where
you had your dinner Is located on the
ground floor. right next the street"
We'll. what about that?" grunted the
grouchy man.
only this; that this street is one of
the best business thoroughfares in the
city. and IL we could lease it out as store
space the rental from that corner would
bring us in greater net returns In one
year than We could make by using 1t as a
restaurant. But then that would mean
moving our dining room somewhere up
stairs. and you and our other patrons
wouldn't like 1t a. WELL This Is a first
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-14
A CONSTRUCTION CAMP.

Clearing timber from the right Of way.
cult to realize. A dense growth Of trees,
large and small, is linked together every
where by heavy mass of vines, creepers
and climbers of every description. 1t &C
tually makes one dizzy to witness all
forms Of vegetation fighting for existence.
The trees are from thirty to $50 feet
high, and are of mahogany, Brazilwood
Resembling ebony. wild rubber trees,
palms and wild pineapples.
When one looks up to the sky only tiny
spots Of light are visible here and there,
as II seen through holes in a roof. The
underground down with a. machete,
straight blade three feet long and about
two inches wide. They prefer this knife
to the best American-made broadax.
''The entire length Of the Madeira-Ma-
Of vegetation; it was build through more
than 100 miles Of the worst swamp land
conceivable: and foods slides and cave
ms Of the unstable dobe mud were the
rule rather than the exception.
THE laborers included Portuguese,
Spaniards, Greeks, West Indian negroes.
Brazihans and Indian natives. OF all
there employed we consider the Spaniard
the best laboring man. He is the best
natured and the most intelligent. During
the construction Of this road thousands
Of men died from fever or were killed by
accidents; they were lost in the jungle,
killed by snakes. or fell into the swamps
and were devoured by alligators.