davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-25
OFFICIAL HANDsHAKING.

New York Tribune: Governor Will
sons wish that someone would invent
"a set Of steel fingers or steel glove"
for the handshaking sacrifices Of the
president is entirely natural. But
what president really needs for such
occasions is not set OF steel fingers,
but a steel backbone which will in
fiexibly refuse to turn the national
executive into town pump for the
entertainment Of endless throngs.
Some day a president will do this and
abolish once for all a senseless Gus
tom, to the great relief Of himself and
all his successors.
The popular sport of wringing the
presidents arm of has long been
recognized as an imposition and has
been tolerated simply because it was
an established abuse, the disturbance
Of which might seem to be undemo-
cratic. Governor Wilson, while he is
emphasizing his ultra Jeffersonian sim
plicity in other directions, would be
favorably situated for working out this
reform It is said that he will cut
down the opportunities for the merely
curious to take up his working hours.
If he couples with this conservation
of his energies for the public good a
refusal to let himself be worn out by
useless handshaking, all sensible men
will applaud him. At public recep-
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-25
HARNEssINe THE MISSISSIPPI

Popular Mechanics: Much has been
written about the Harvesting of the
Mississippi at Keokuk for the hydro
electric generation Of 100000 horse
power. but it has been difficult to i'm.
press the fact upon people that some
of the things done in this undertaking
are bigger than the same kind Of
things at Panama. Yet. the dam that
now harnesses the Mississippi is the
biggest Of it's kind in the world. the
power house is the largest ever built.
and the lock which the government re-
quired the engineers to build around
the dam is bigger than those Of the
Panama canal, and the drydock along
side is large enough to accommodate
practically all the steamboats, that
were navigating the upper Mississippi
last fall
The Gatun lock at Panama is con-
sidered an exceptionally big engineer
ing achievement Of it's kind. yet the
Keokuk lock is Just as wide Clio feet1
and has lift Of forty feet. whereas
the lift at Panama is twenty-eight
feet and four inches. The steel gates
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-25

Now we have On the Pacific slope
machine that in one operation cuts,
thrashes, cleans. and sacks the wheat.
and in five minutes puts the standing
grain in form ready for the market.
Now. large farms in the west are
plowed, narrowed and sOwed with
wheat in one operation, by a tractloh
engine drawing harrows and drllls.
These two processes, first, the plowlng
and seeding; second, the cutting,
thrashing, cleaning and sacklng, can
each proceed. we are tCld, at the rate
of hundred acres day. To pro-
duce a bushel of wheat from begin
ming to end took, in 1880. on an aver
age three hours and three minutes OF
mans labor. costing II ga cents; IN
1896, about ten minutes Of similar Ia
Dor. costing 8 1-3 cents. These figures
are as calculated by an officer of the
department CT agriculture. who as.
cribed the difference to the style OF
pillow used in 1880. seed sown by hand
and narrowed into the ground by
drawing bushes over it; grain cut by
sicklcs hauled to barn. and some
tim before spring thrashed with trails;
and winnowed with sheet attached
to rods. on which the grain was placed
with a shovel and then tossed up and
down bv two men until the wind had
blown out the chaff. 1t will be noted
that the reduction in time Is far great
err than in wages, proportionately, LOT
the human labor employed, which re-
ceived less than cents an hour at the
earlier date, but 20 cents an hour at the
later. This illustrates the accountant
ment. already often remarked. Of IN.
creased use Of "labor-saving" ma
ch;nery by higher wages of labor. 70,
Comparing any single year. chosen
at random, with the year just before
or lust after no business seems more
uncertain than agriculture. The
weather is in complete control Of 1t,
all growth and yield being at the mercy
OF the elements-and what so meal
culable as weather? The best-laid
plans may be wrecked by sudden
storms or steady droughts, or by I'M
anticipated onslaughts of disease, pros
trating live stock or growing plant,
and converting in an instant the farm
er's hard-won success into bitter fall
ure. But when comparison covers
groups of years. separated by wide In
tervals. then it seems as If chaos gave
place to system. and every element OF
caprice disappeared. In that view
agriculture looks Arm and fixed. as
Structure founded on rock. or u
shows as beautiful a forward march
as is. to be found in human affairs.
Agriculture may still be stagnant in
Asia, and may once have advanced
very slowly everywhere, but 1t is adj
mjrahlv progressive here and now.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-25

as long. Indeed, from his own point
OF view, since presidents are only hui.
man. he Is elected for provisional
term Of four years more. 10 1t too
much, then, to give man four months
time In which to plan a policy and q
program that may extend over eight
years? To rush q candidate from the
hurly-burly Of campaign straight
into the white house would take him at
a disadvantage. The mere task of de-
Gliding upon his cabinet selections re.
quires time and study. And he Is al
the more entitled to fair period Of
preparation when we think how much
de pends on the first impression q new
executive creates in the public mind.
It takes months and years to atone for
false start.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-25
GOOD THINGS IN MISSOURI

St. Louis Globe-Democrat: They
have been having feasts in Columbia,
where feasts are not rarity. There
has been a congregation Of Missouri
farmers there at an exhibit of Mis- :
souri, farm products under the auspices
and under the spur of competitive
prizes offered by the State Agricul-
tural college. Some of the prizes have
been offered forymose-cured hams and
bacons, and on Thursday night the
prizes were awarded and the banquet
served. We are left little in the dark
as to whether the prize winning hams
and bacons were made part of the
menu. but, assuming that they were
not. 1t is a safe guess that others, al
most as we'll cured, graced the festal
board. .g-.a
If so. Epicurus died before his
time. For there is no record Of any
of his disciples. or of Lucullus or
any Of his sybarites, having ever
tasted anything equaling in flavor the
hams and bacon of Missouri cured in
the approved Missouri way. Other
states may have other ways, and Vlr-
ginia even dares to claim a better. It
Is significant. however, that the rush
in Washington is not after the hams
of Virginie, but after those of Mis-.
souri,, cured in Pike county and
served by Mrs. Speaker Clark. We
regard this as conclusive. When,
therefore, the palm was awarded at
Columbia for Missouri, it was award
ed for the world. For in hams and
bacon, Missouri's best Is the world 3
best. s'.
So much for things done. For
things promised, Columbia holds out
hope Of even greater triumphs. The
abundance of the Ben Davis apple
is equaled only by its insipidity. It
cooks we'll, but why should anybody
want to cook it? It is not necessary
to ask why should anybody eat it
without cooking, for nobody ever
does, at least not twice. But Column
bia bids us hope that its quantity may
yet be equaled by its quality, through
a crossing with the Jonathan, an ap-
pie Of rare flavor but as hard to raise
as the Ben Davis is easy. Let us
hope. For though the apple trust
can keep up the price of Ben Davis
apples when the supply is unlimited
and the demand limited to the lowest
necessities of the peoplt it would be
interesting to watch and see how
much farther they could boost it with
the supply not relatively larger and
the demand enormously increased.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-25

at the lower end OF the lock weigh
1.000,0 900 pounds each. and are 30 thick
that two wagons could pass each other
on the top edge. Some special means
were necessary to keep these gates
from sagging, SO they contain alright
buoyancy chambers about twelve feet
high and thirty-two feet long, which
tend to float them. The heel OF each
gate Is a hollow hemisphere OF
nickel steel resting over a hemisphere
of bronze. 81
Many problems were met and over
come. some In novel ways, in this vast
construction task. The building OF a
cofferdam was one Of these. Just be-
fore the ice formed last winter crew
Of hardy, experienced lumberjacks
came from the northern forests to put
the last bit Of harness on the Missts.
slppi These men, chosen for their
skill in handling heavy timber IN
swift water, were detailed to work on
the last section of the cofferdam
which was to protect the dam forms
until all the concrete was In place and
the whole structure solidly united
The dam had been completed from the
Illinois shore to within 100 feet Of the
power house, on the Iowa side, and
the water was several feet higher
above the dam than below. It rushed
through the 1O0-foot gap with a force
that, snapped big timbers in two OF
jerked them out Of the control of the
crews. In spite Of previous experience
many Of the lumberjacks we're sub
jected to chilly baths before the plac
ing of the crib sections was success
fully ended.
One of the big mechanical things &C
complished Is the installation of the
hydraulic plant in such manner thai
an efficiency OF SO per cent is at
tanned, which Is nearly 20 per cent
more than the indicated rating. In g
power house built Of concrete, thir6
of a mile long, half as wide as a city
block, and having a height. from the
lowest chamber to the top, said to be
as great as that of a twenty-story
office building. are set thirty power
units, consisting of turbine and gener
ator on the same vertical shaft with
four auxiliaries. Four intakes con
vsrging into a scroll chamber thirty
nine feet in diameter. with spira
floor, lead to each turbine. the walls
and floor of each scroll chamber be
ing so shaped that the water strikes
every point Of the circumference o.
the turbine with equal velocity ant
force. The water Is thus given rotary
motion before it even hits the wheel
and this Is held to be largely RESPONSE
BILE for the high efficiency. @
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-25
A. CAMPAIGN WORTH WHILE.

e A CAMPAIGN WORTH WHILE.
The estimable women of the OF
tumwa Domestic Science club believe
that this city needs good, thorough
outdoor housekeeping. They devoted
their program at meeting yesterday
to discussion or suggestions for
beautifying and cleaning up the city.
To draw out a general expression.
each member answering the roll call
was asked to make such suggestion.
The result was that many points
where municipal housekeeping ana
Improvement are needed were
brought out.
Among the suggestions made was
that the city should purchase a street
f1usher, should improve the street
pavement. transform some OF the
city dump grounds into parks en-
force better sanitary conditions, I'M
prove the present parks, have drays
and moving vans removed from streets
when not in use and compel the
cleaning of sidewalks. Other sugges-
tons were that grocers should Keep
their products covered, that vacant
lots should be cleaned up and not
used as dump grounds, and that down
town rest rooms be established.
These suggestions cover a Wlde
range. II the ladies should start ont
seriously TO bring about some of the
improvements mentioned they would
find a big task ahead of them. But it
would be job worth while and they
would find plenty of lieutenants will
ing to aid them in their efforts to
give the city good, housewifely
cleaning up. Here's expressing the
hope that the Domestic Science CLUB
will tackle the problem OF beautlfylns
Ottumwa They could find no greater
field for useful service. -
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-25
BEEF EXPORTS LESS; IMPORTS
%S GROW

A report just issued by the bureau
Of foreign and domestic commerce
shows great declines In the number OF
cattle on farms and in exports OF cat
tie and meats, and corresponding IN
creases in imports Of beef products.
The report shows an expectation OF
but $4,000 cattle In tho calendar yea:
1912, against $4,000 in 1911, $4,000
In 1908, $4,000 in 1906, and SOS, 900 in
1904. The value of the cotton exports
In 1912, the report shows, was but
So 900, 900, in round numbers, against
S14 900, 900 in 1911, $24,00O,00o in 1908,
$50, 0O0,0 900 in 1906 and $41,OOO.OOO IN
1904, the 1912 exports being thus ABOUT
3 per cent Of the value Of those ex-
ported In 1904, eight years earlier. The
diminution in the cattle supply OF the
United States IL also apparent In the
fact that the importations Of cattle In
the year just ended amounted to over
900 900 in number and their value to
over $4,000, 900, against but $4,000 In
1904, valued at $4,000. The figures
OF the department of agriculture show
inx the number OF cattle on farms on
January 1 Of each, year place the num-
Der on January /, 1919 at 100000
against 72,50o, 900 in 1907.
It is also shown by the bureau that
the expectations OF meat show
marked falling off, especially those of
fresh beef, of which the exports Of the
year were but 100000 pounds,
against 2s,o0o,o 900 In 1911. 156,000.0 900
in 1905, 27o,o0o,ooo in 1906, and, 1884,
COX, 900 In 1901, the fresh beef exports
OF 1912 being less than per cent Of
those Of 1901. In other meats there is
q marked decline, though less proper
tionately than that in fresh beef. The
total value of meat and dairy products
exported in the year appropriated
SI46, 900, 900. against $751; 100000 in
1908 and sos, 900. 900 In 1906.
Exports Of breadstuffs in 1912 show
q larger total than In 1911, but they
are far below the exports Of former
years, the total for 1912 approximating
11s6,oOo,0oO against $215,000,OO0 In
1907 and 3277 ,o00. 900 IN 1901. ~
Az further indication Of the chang
Ing character of the export trade it Is
shown that the expectation Of agricul-
tural products while larger In the lis
cal year 1912 than In any previous
year except 1907, form but 4s per cent
Of the total exports, against 81 per
cent in 1907, 66 per cent in 1899, IS per
cent in 1886 and 81 per cent in 1880.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-25
Press Comment.
"uNcLE 1oE's' DINNER.

Washington Post: After thirty
eight years in public life, having seen
many progressive" movements come
and go and many young politicians
rise and fall Uncle Joe" Cannon
will retire temporarily from congress
on March 4. Democrats, as we'll as re-
publicans are to give him dinner
on February Is in honor of his long
career
The country has never known any.
one quite like Uncle joe" 1t is only
about ten years since he was the most
dined and toasted man in the nation.
Every state in the union invited him
to make speech In the local cam.
paigns. His homely philosophy and
hard common sense made an appeal
ito all classes, and was invariably eff.
fective.
1t was simply because Uncle joe
failed to recognize certain members
of his own party in committee as.
signments in the house that storm
OF agitation was directed against him.
The men whom he sighted knew that
personalities are effective weapons,
and they used the phrase Cannon
ism to good effect. They chanted 1t
as though it contained an inferno of
deviltry.
Some of the men who fought "Un.
Gle Joe" most bitterly will be at the
dinner that is to be given in his hon
or. The opera bouffe war in which
he player the part of villain, with his
hat on one side of his head and a
black cigar gripped in a corner of
his mouth, is now over, and the pub
lie, for moment, will be permitted
a glimpse behind the scenes, with all
the heroes in general and lieutenant
heroes throwing their arms about the
shoulders of the erstwhile villain.
The rules of the house have been
changed as result of the fight on
"Uncle joe but the business of con.
gress Is transacted as heretofore, al.
though with, little less CELEBRITY
That is the net result Of the battle
in which Uncle Joe" with all his love
Of country and friends, was made to
play the black knight of disaster.
Eight hundred Of the leading men
OF the country will pay tribute at the
forthcoming banquet to this grand old
warrior. Throughout his career he
has fought on the level, with his
sword sheathed in face of weake,
foe. He has always been in the thick
Of the fight and has never surrender
ed. Intellectually honest himself. he
sees the sham in much of thel present
day fighting. But 1t has not embitter
ed him. He knows he can and will
come back"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-25
Obituary..
Carlton e. Wall.

Carlton e. Wall. only son of Mr.. and
Mrs. G. A. Wall, SOB Wabash avenue,
was born at GAINESVILLE, Mo-, October
16. 1891, and died at Omaha January
IS. 1913, aged 81 years. l...t
He came in early childhood with his
parents to Ottumwa. Here he resided
until two or three years ago, at which
time he removed to Omaha to accept
a position at the Union station. He
was holding an important position at
this station at the time Of his death.
Carlton was an exemplary young
man of splendid moral worth. From
childhood he knew no bad habits. He
was faithful in his attention at bible
school and church services, indus
trious in his pursuits in life and loyal
in his devotions to the cause Of Christ.
He was a Joy to his parents and a
blessing to all who knew him. He
united with the Davis Street Christian
church December 10, 1904. and was
true to his profession until death call.
ed him home. While his sickness was
only one week in duration, yet his suf-
ferings we're almost beyond endurance
and only his faith and hope enabled
him to bear up under it all. He depart
ed this life saying. "Tell them all good
bye, peace on earth; good will to men,
am flying home; meet me in heav.
en- ...
He was united in marriage to Miss
Kathryn Peters, February Fl. 1912. He
leaves his sorrowing wife, father and
mother, sister Mrs. Neva McCune,
many relatives and large number OF
friends to mourn his loss.
His remains were laid to rest in the
Ottumwa cemetery, Monday, January
20. 1913. Carlton was young man OF
splendid social qualities and he had
gathered about him wide circle Of
friends in his brief earthly career,
many of whom were present at the
last sad rites to pay their tribute Of
respect and follow the remains to
their last resting place. Many were
the beautiful floral designs and moral
offerings which are but tokens Of the
esteem In which he was held.
The out of town relatives present
were: Charley, William and Everett
Wall, Mr.. and Mrs. John Branson and
son Roy Miss Bertha Branson, Ralph
and Roy Britt and Clarence Wall Of
Menlo. Iowa, Mr.. and Mrs. Frank
Young. Mrs. Nancy Goodwin and son
Ben of Eldon. John Peters and Ernest
Stice of Omaha Contributed.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-25
FRANCES PREsIpENT-ELEcT.

Chicago Inter Ocean: Raymond
Poincare, elected president of the
French republic on Friday. when he
assumes that ONCE on February 1S
will be it's ninth tenant. or his pred
ecesscrs only two have served out the
terms for which they were elected.
Theirs. the first resigned under
votes Of censure promoted by the mon.
archists. MacMahon. who was expect
ed, to pave the way to restoration Of
monarchy, was also forced to resign.
Grevy served out his first term and
was elected to a second, and then re.
signed because of revelations of a traf.
ic in decorations carried on by his son.
ia-law. a..s. ....,. 4,s ,s..t
Carnot was murdered by an anarch.
ist. Casimir-Perier let himself be wor.
ried out of ONCE by political factions
and the Dreyfus scandal Faure died
in once of apoplexy. Loubert and
Fallieres served out their terms. So It
will be seen that stability Of tenure in
the French presidency seems to be
somewhat improving. a.E
President-elect Poincare is in his
SD year and was born at Rar-le.Duc of
we'll to do family his fc her being
prominent public officer. Young
Raymond, after graduating from col
lege, wished to be man of letters. but
was persuaded to study law. v
He was sent to the chamber of depu.
ties by his native district in 1887 and
elected four times. He became min.
lister Of public instruction in the
Dupuy cabinet in 1893 and again in
1895, but from the fall Of the Ribot
ministry until 1906 refused admins.
trative ONCE, thus escaping implica.
ton in the controversies of the Drey-
fus affair period. Meanwhile he be.
came an acknowledged leader of the
Paris bar and had been elected sen.
ator by the department. Of the Mouse.
In 1906 he became minister OF finance
and last year was called to organize
q cabinet as prime minister
He has published several volumes OF
essays and has attained the great for.
NAL distinction of French letters in an
election to the academy. His wife. an
italian by birth. is regarded as likely
ito be a highly acceptable mistress OF
the Elysee palace.
Poincare is credited with a desire to
be something more than the amiable
figurehead that his predecessor has
BEEN Nominally, the president Of
France has very considerable powers
Practically. those powers are very
much limited by the constitutional
provision that the presidents every
act must be countersigned by the min
lister in whose Jurisdiction the affair
legally rests.
In fact the position of the president
of France is very much that Of an
elective constitutional king who rules
but does not govern. He has salary
OF $4,000 year for being head OF
the state" for refraining from indis'
Greet acts or utterances and for per
siding with dignity and grace at great
ublic ceremcnials. There is nc
doubt of RAYMOND Poincares ability to
fill the post with distinction.