davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-12-09
COMMITTEES OF THE
CITY COUNCIL

udiciary-Livings Taylor and
Helvenston.
Finance-Carmicha Helvenston
and Weathers.
Light and Water-Taylor, Weihe
and Weathers.
Street-Weather Weih. and
Bennett.
Fire-Weihe, Helyenston and
earn
Police-Weihe and Bennett.
Market-Livings Hunter and
earn.
Building-Bennett, Carmichael
and Taylor.
Cemetery-Carn, Weihe and Liv-
ingston.
Sanitary-Carn, Taylor and Car
michael.
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-12-09

White Dent and Golden Dent seed
corn from Ohio at Tydings. 11-14-tf
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-12-09

An Indian chief has presented
Mary Garden with pair of mecca
sins, and Mary promptly stuck EN-
in her purse with the rest of hel
costumes.
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-12-09

The actress who says that voice i:
woman's greatest charm might have
added that it is also the one mos
employed.
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-12-09

Among the humors of the day, lis
the fact that a medical quack JUS
indicted in Chicago is Dr. Lynott
The Washington herald., 1913-08-17
Area Annually Burned Over in United States Averages 1865
Mies-Up to Date We Have Burned Up as Much as
We Have Sawed Up Service Handicapped
by Village Facilities.

the woods of Northern Michigan. but at
tracted little or no attention. They had
been smouldering for weeks. Four days
later they were fanneu into sudden fu'"
by wind. and swept over the country.
rowns were wiped out, and the destruc-
tion>> continued until. toward the end OF
the month, rains came and checked II.
The fires were mostly quenched; yet
everybody should have known that they
were still smouldering. and that another
period of dry weather. with another
wind storm, would start the mischief
afresh.
Precisely this thing happened Early
in October the newspaper dispatches
from Alpena reported, Entire popula-
ton out fighting the flames Immense
damage October Is. more dispatches
from the same place. of the same tenor.
but with the added horror of terrible loss
of human life. In one case seventeen
women and children were cremated in
an open steel car while attempting 10
escape from the scene of danger by the
railroad-the only path open.
Yet the fires that destroyed Michigan
towns October Is were identically the
same fires that wrought SO much havoc
September 5. At any time within two
weeks preceding either Of these dates, a
comparatively small number OF men
might have gone through the woods and
> RENE BAcHE.
The Washington herald., 1913-08-17

fagration. Fire does not easily burn
down hill, and so a narrow ridge is an ex-
ceIlent line for defense against forest
fire.
The years Of great forest fires in this
country come at least once in a decade.
and sometimes oftener. Ten years ago
the Aiirondacks were devasted by a con-
fiasration which extended through the
Atlantic seaboard States from Maine to
Tennessee. The year 1905 will long be
remembered for its enormous losses by
forest fires. which were variously reck-
oned at from $780, O00. 600 to s270. O.0o0. But,
in contemplating these losses, the nation.
as usual. was pathetic. People said.
Too bad" and let it go 1T that Hinck-
ley. Mimi. was destroyed in 1894 by a
forest fire which cost 800 lives and S2o.-
oOOO0n. II was soon forgotten.
Consequence of Neglect.
The principal reason for this apathy
seems to lie in q widespread popular be-
lief that such catastrophies are "acts Of
God" and not to be prevented. But the
fact is that (as proved by their nonoc-
currence in European countrieS they are
entirely preventable. They are the con-
sequences of neglect.
The popular indifference on this sub
ject was never more strongly shown than
in the Michigan and Wisconsin fires Of
the autumn of 1905. On the first day Of
September small fires were burning in
The Washington herald., 1913-08-17
BATTLING CORRUPTION IN NEW YORK POLICE

ignorant. But these cases must ia"e
been few and far between.
So Iar as was humanity possible. the ep-
pointments and promotions were made
without regard to any question except
the fitness OF tine man and the needs Al
the service. AS Civil Service Commission
er ! had been instructing heads Of de-
partments and bureaus now to get men
az pointed without regard to policies. and
assuring them that by following olr
methods they would OBTAIN first-class re-
suits. As police commissioner I was able
also practically to apply my own teach
inG3.
Getting Good Men.
The appointments to the police force
were made as / have described in the
last chapter. We paid not the slightest
attention to a mans politics or creed, or
where he was born, SO long as he was an
American citizen: and on an average
We obtained far and away the best men
that had ever come into the police de-
.partment. II was. OF course very diff
cult at first to convince both the polit.-
clans and the people that We really
meant what We said. and that every one
really would have fair trial.
There had been in previous years the
most widespread and gross corruption
in connection with every activity in the
police department, and there had been a
regular tariff for appointments and pro-
motions. Many powerful politicians and
many corrupt outsiders believed that in
some way or otner II would sui De
possible to secure appointments by COR
rupt and improper methods, and many
good citizens felt the same conviction.
1 endeavored to remove the impression
The Washington herald., 1913-08-17
BUTTERMILK SUMNER DRINK.
From the London Mail.

From the London Mail.
The health value Of buttermilk. which
has been put on the list of light refresh
ments at the House Of Commons at the
request Of two members. was described
by a London physician who is an author
ity on diet.
"Buttermilk is a beverage which de-
serves every encoura cement. especially
as hot-weather drink Most of the
fatty elements are removed in the process
of making butter. but a number of other
valuable nutritive qualities are left. These
become even more valuable when the but
.ermilk is taken with other foods. Thus
buttermilk contains 4 certain amount Of
ca sein which will enable one to make d
most satisfying meal of a glass of but
termilk plus a very. small amount Of
meat and potatoes.
1T also has an excess Of Tactic bac-
terra, the foes of pearly all the harmful
germs In our digestive systems. which
give IL a slightly laxative property. II
has q decided acid flavor which makes
1t thirst quencher. As the fats have
been extracted during the butter-makins
process II has practically no body-heatinS
properties. The casein Is valuable be-
cause II supplies the repair elements
needed to replace the wear and tear OF
muscular tissue"
The Washington herald., 1913-08-17
HAVOC WROUGHT BY FOREST FIRES IN THE WEST

to crafty. In regard to the latter there
is something rather interesting to be
said,
Covered by Forest.
Mr.. John d. Rockefeller, the STANDARD
Oil king, has a great deal OF trout le
to keep fire of his land in the Adiron-
dacks. most of which Is covered by
forest which is his private property. Not
very long ago he bought a big slice OF
territory up in that region. and lost nc
time in warning people, who had always
been in the habit of travelling through,
to keep of. Other millionaires have done
the same thing. and have awakened
much resentment thereby. They have in
voked the power of laws. made with
reference to wholly different conditions.
in violation Of custom, which Is local
law. incidentally it should be remem-
bered that in such regions, covered by
the forest primeval, the waterways ar,
in many cases the only highways. 70
tell people that they shall not pass over
them is, in their view. to deny them an
ancient and inalienable right. Henc.
the frequent setting of fires on the vast
estates of Mr.. Rockefeller and other rich
men in the Adirondacks.
Now, IL public sentiment in the West
were against the forest service and Sos
work las few men in Congress woul6
Persuade those who listen to their imJ.as
stoned speeches), the service would have
much the same sort Of experience. As
a matter Of fact. whenever a forested
area is newly set aside for the use of
the people at large. and thus withdrawn
from exploitation by few wealthy indi-
viduals, local sentiment Is usually much
against 1t at first. People who haze
long been accustomed to help themselves
to what they wanted in the way CT
wood. grazing facilities, or what not.
find themselves obliged to get permission
from Uncle Sam. They don't like IL.
But invariably within couple Of years
local sentiment turns the opposite way.
People see that in reality they have lest
nothing and have gained much by the
taking of the woodlands under the gov
The Washington herald., 1913-08-17
Theodore Roosevelt, Chapters Of Possible Autobiog
raphy" Tells Of Work as President Of Board Of Com
missioners- "A Workmgman's Mayor.

and our beliefs as to the methods nec-
essary to realize them. were alike. After
the election in 1894 l had written him a
letter which ran in part as follows:
1T is very important to the city to have
business mans mayor. but it is more
important TO have a workingman's mayor;
and l want Mr.. Strong to be that also.
- 1t is an excellent thing to have
rapid transit. but 1t Is a good deal more
important. If you look at matters with
a proper perspective, to have ample play
grounds in the poorer quarters of the
city. and to take the children OF the
streets so as to prevent them growing up
toughs. In the same way it is an ad-
mirable thing to have clean streets; in
deed. 1t is an essential thing to have
them: but it would be a better thing to
have our schools large enough to give
ample accommodation to all who SHOULD
be pupils and to provide them with proper
Fairgrounds"
And 1 added. while expressing my re-
gret. that l had not been able to accept
the street-cleaning commissionership.
that Il would have been delighted to
smash up the corrupt contractors and
put the STRENGTHENING force absolutely
out of the domain of politics"
This was nineteen years ago. but 1t
makes a pretty good platform in NUM-
The Washington herald., 1913-08-17

cipal politics even today-smash corrup-
tion. take the municipal service out Of
the domain Of politics. insist upon having
a Mayor who shall be q workingmans
Mayor even more than a business mans
Mayor, and devote all the attention pos
sible to the welfare Of the children.
Concentration Of Power.
Therefore. as I viewed it. there were
two sides to the work: first. the actual
handling of the police department; Sec
ond. using my position to help in max
ing the city better place in which to
live and work for those to whom the
conditions of life and labor were hard
est. The two problems We're closely con-
nected; for one thing never TO be for
gotten in striving to better the condi-
tions of the New York police force is the
connection between the standard Of
morals and behavior in the city at large.
The form Of government Of the police
department at that time was such as
to make it a matter Of extreme difficulty
to get good results. 1t represented that
device of old-school American political
thought, the desire to establish checks
and balances SO elaborate that no man
shall have power enough to do anything
very bad. In practice this always means
that no man has power enough to do
anything good, and that what Is bad Is
done anyhow.
In most positions the division Of pow
ers'' theory works unmitiGated mischief.
The only way to get good service is to
give somebody power to render it. facing
The Washington herald., 1913-08-17
EVEN FLOWERS MUST LABOR.
From the Atlantic Mouthly.

From the Atlantic Monthly.
However fine and dainty a flower may
look, 1t Is pressed to do a great service.
and its colors and forms are all suited
to its work. 1t must bring forth the
fruit. or the continuity Of plant life will
be broken and the earth will be turned
into a desert ere long.
The color and the smell Of the flower
are all for some purpose; therefore. no
sooner is 1t fertilized by the bee. nc
sooner does the time of its fruition ar
rive than 1t sheds its exquisite petals
and q cruel economy compels it to give
up its sweetest perfume. It has no time
to faunt its finery, for 1t is busy beyond
measure.
Viewed from without. necessity seems
to be the only factor in nature, for which
everything works and moves. There the
bud develops into the tiower. the flower
into the fruit. the fruit into the seed
the seed into q new plant again. and so
forth. the chain Of activity running on
unbroken. Should there crop up any dis
turbance or impediment. no excuse would
be accepted and the unfortunate thing 30
choked in its movement would at once
be labeled az rejected. and be bound TO
die and disappear post haste.
In the great office OF nature there are
innumerable departments with endless
work going on. and the fine flower that
you behold there. gaudily attired and
scented like a dandy. II by no means
what II appears to be. but rather Is like
laborer toiling in the sun and shower,
who has to submit q clear account OF
his work, and has no breathing space
to enjoy himself In . playful frolic.
The Washington herald., 1913-08-17

ernments wing. They are made secure
in the use OF them for themselves, their
children, and their childrens children.
for indefinite generations, instead CT
abandoning all this wealth, to be divided
w among a few greedy capitalists
Some soreheads inevitably remain. and
row and then one of them starts fiie:
but this is not an exhibition of hosti:s
public sentiment. Barns are frequently
burned in New England, yet public senti-
ment in that part of the country does hoi
indorse barn-burning.
No System of Protection.
Naturally, the private forests suffer
from fire much more seriously than the
national forests. inasmuch as they have,
for the most part. no system Of protec-
ton worth mentioning. In an average
twelvemonth the losses in the national
forests do not exceed half a million dol
lars. while the balance of the total an
nual loss OF s5O,Ooo.OOO falls upon the pri-
vate and State woodlands. The most ef-
fective fire protection. outside of the ma
tional forests. is in Oregon. Washington,
and Idaho. where the large timberland
owners have formed fire-fghting associa-
tions on a cooperative plan. assessing
their members at so much per acre for
the maintenance of a patrol. These as
sociations work IN cooperation with the
forces employed for the same purpose
by the Federal government and by the
States.
The most effective way to fight a forest
fire is to shovel sand or earth upon 1t.
This process is helped. when practicable.
by beating it out from the ends. the OBJ
ject being TO narrow its front. Often 1t
is possible to direct the course of the
fire toward a clearing. a road. a stream.
or a swamp. from which point OF van
tage it may be attacked. A road or
stream may afford an opportunity for
starting back fire. in the direction Of
the oncomiDg wall of flame tpart Of the
crew being stationed behind the stream
or road to put out sparks); but this kind
OF work has to be done very carefully.
lest the back fire initiate a fresh con-
The Washington herald., 1913-08-17

European forests are cut up by . care
fully planned network of roads, which
render any part Of them quickly ac-
cessible. and which serve incidentally as
lines of defense against a threatening
conflagration.
Phone Lines Needed.
Ie construction of roads and trails
through our national forests would not
only provide means of rapid travel from
place to place in them, but would facili-
tate the ma assing of large numbers of
men to fight fire. Telephone lines should
connect the forest headquarters with the
ranger stations, in order that fires may
be quickly reported. and measures taken
with as little delay as possible to ex-
tinsuish them. As fast as practicable
each forest is being supplied with fire.
fighting tools-shovels. axes. collapsible
pals, &c.-which are distributed in rang
ers' cabins and in tool boxes placed at
the most accessible points and in spots
where the danger of fire is greatest. In
addition. measures are being taken to
establish bases at which large stocks
of provisions may be kept. For crews
of fire-fighters must be fed, and absence
of the indispensable grub" Ito be OBJ
tained. perhaps. only by waiting a week
for it, may paralyZe all efforts to con-
tend against the flames.
But all of this costs money, which can
be obtained only through specific appro-
priation by Congress. The national for
ests are an enormous property-one Of
the principal items of the national
wealth. Congress ought to be willing to
spend something which will insure them
against destruction. More men to patrol
them, more roads and trails to make
them accessible. and more equipment for
distributing intelligence and for fighting
fires-these are the things that are need
ed, and for which the government should
gladly pay.
Many forest fires are purposely started
by incendiaries, who are of two classes
ID persons who start fires in order that
they may get pay for putting them out,
and (O individuals who have grudges
The Washington herald., 1913-08-17

fiagrations. but to prevent them. \ city
fire department is maintained. not TO
tackle a sl0O00.O00 fire. but TO put out a
whole lot of little blazes with a minimum
of loss. Its efficiency is measured. not
by what it could do if half the town
We're burning. but by the number of times
I gets TO 4 fire within three minutes of
the time the fire started.
The principal trouble is that the ma
tional foeests are undermanned. They
are under constant control by a picked
force of rangers and guards numbering
1,351 men-which means that. taking an
average, zach man is responsible for the
protection of l2l.506 acres. or about 1870
square miles! There ought to be one
guard for every 20.0c0 acres. In Germany
(Which has an ideal forest system) there
is one guard for every 1,000 acres.
With this gigantic property TO protect,
without adequate means, the Forest Serv-
ice does the best it can. Every year it
puts out thousands of fires before they
have burned five acres-every one of
them a possible great confiagration. But
now and then the blazes are too many
for the thinly-scattered defenders. While
they are concentrating upon one, a dozen
others start.
Caused by Hurricane.
What caused the great loss Of life In
"a,n ,,,,;,,' t aeo, at.a.
on up aa,,' %.
sar,araI 49, ra,oar - ,,,at o;r-
o,,,,,sta,naS r,,;,I .oS,ast On so - ,oo -,
rsnnt o. th.r, ,,o,,,ntaars 80 " In IL.
ths1, into tha torsst na,,;,a th.,,, Nc aas
a, sa nr q dav :, 90 hsnnanas tbst
inst ~ t,r,s n,hsn ssvsrai s,,n,, anas
of Sre6yb,ers were scattersd thrnnsb the
woods q terrific windstorrn came I'm and
swent the aan,es over tben, Tbera NOS
scarce a nossibiIitv of es,.ane Some ~
tho mon more fortunate thar the rsst
fonnd r,fuge in caves others sayad the;r
lives bv living submerged In streams With
The Washington herald., 1913-08-17
Peculiarly an American Institution They Are Due to Criminal
Neglect, Asserts Expert-Congress Steadfasty Re-
fuses to Give Money for Protection Of
Wooded Districts.

With the destructive confia grafton
on Mount Tamalpais, overlooking the
Bay of San Francisco. the season Of
forest fires this year has started un-
usually early.
Forest fires seem to be peculiarly
an American institution. At all events,
in Europe they do not occur. They
are not permitted TO happen, because
the forests are deemed too Valuable
TO be wasted in such a wanton way.
Adequate precautions prevent mischief
of the kind.
In this country $50. 900. 900 worth of
trees are destroyed by fire annually.
During the last thirty years not less
than a billion and a half dollars worth
of our forests has been sacrificed to
the devouring element incidentally.
our forest fires in the last half CEN
tury have cost an average Of fifty
human lives per annum. In 1910. ow-
ing to a great catastrophe in Montana
and Idaho. the death list ran well up
into the hundreds.
The forest area annually burned
over in the United States averages
about 1.O65 square miles. Up to the
present time, according to official fig
ures, We have burned up as much
as we have sawed uL." That is to say.
In the last century as much of our nat
ural wealth in the shape of trees has
been thrown to the flames as has been
utilized for all purposes, including
building. firewood, cooperage, pulp. and
everything else.
How unfortunate this seems. when
II is considered that trees are one Of
our most important national assets!
And they are getting so woefully
scarce that a wood famine seriously
threatens the generation which is next
to succeed our own.
Found Forestry Students.
When Mr.. Clifford Pinchot. ex-forester-
in-chief of the government, was in Eu-
rope recently. he came across a party Of
students Of forestry who were being
taken by their instructor to see most
interesting phenomenon. The curiosity
was a patch of few acres of wood
land which had been burned fifteen
years ago. 1t afforded 4 rare chance to
see the effects of a fire in a forest.
Why do our forests burn? The answer
is. because there is lack of men and lack
Df fire-fighting outfit and facilities Con-
gress has persistently refused to give
the money needed for the purpose.
Consequently, the Forest Service finds
itself in a position like that of a munich
pal fire department which is obliged 20
protect a city with a village outfit. It
is as If New York or Chicago We're SO
handicapped by lack of horses and prop
er apparatus that the firemen could not
arrive on the scene OF a blaze until il
had devouIed a block or two Of build
rngs, assuming the proportions of a dan
gerous confiagration; and that, when
once arrived. the fire-fghters We're
obliged to depend upon hand pumps and
cisterns. in the absence of engines and a
hook and ladder wagon. Under such con-
,iitinns there would surely be lost a lot
ct property which ought to have been
saved.
\ The idea of the Forest Service is to
have an Crgdnizaticn, not 10 tight con-