davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-31
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

fashion, and then he went back to the
canal.
Lieut. F. Mears.'' remarked the Canal
Record in its issue of April - last
sails for the United States on his an
nual leave on the Calamares. sailing for
New York Wednesday. April -.
April 30 found Lieut.. Mesrs in con-
sultation. along with Mr.. Edes. with the
President and Secretary Lane The MORN
ing of May l announcement was made
of the creation Of the Alaskan engineer
ing commission and the appointment OF
these two gentlemen. and at 10 o'clock
that morning they were installed In an
Office in the Department Of the Interior
wrestling with a bushel basket full OF
applications for jobs the new work.
For moment they seemed a t-ifie be:
wildered. but only for a moment. few
days later Mr.. Riggs was added to the
board
Now they are off to Alaska to begin
work. First they must determine a route
by which the broad interior Of Alaska
may be reached from the coast and
then determine the point on the coast
from which to start Two towns =, q
rival claimants for the honor-Sew ard,
the terminus of a seventy four-mile line
constructed hut not operated. and ,o--
dora the terminus of The Coppe- River
and Northwestern railway. owned Ia, the
6uggenheim- Morsan syndicate which
mines.
The Seward route had as its object We
"heh started the SusItna valley. parallel
TO and westward of the Copper river
Secretary Lane has announced that the
hrst work of the commission will lie
the location of possible routes throi ,h
the Susitna' and this would apparently
mean the selection of Seward
But last October an alternative route
to the Susitna has been discovered from
Portage bay. otherwise known as Pass
age canal. an indentation of Prince Will
liam sound. II has been found that by
boring a tunnel through a mountain just
back of the bay, and for distance of
two and a quarter miles road would
emerge in an open country, through
which building to the Susitna would be
easy. Portage bay is unoccupied and
unsettled So one of the first things 10
be done will be to investigate this posi-
bility.
OF course on none of these things will
Mr. Edes or Mr.. Riggs Lieut.. Mears
talk
I'VE have a big job ahead of US Wa
must complete our organization and make
sure that II Is made up of competent
men. men who can cope with the hard
ships of pioneer life in that country
said Lieut. Mears. We must see that
we have the right kind Of a personnel,
and then we can begin to talk about
routes-
Il can say this much, however. and
tnat Is tnAt our pufpose 40 10 iocdle .ile
very best route and in the best possible :
time" -
Pessimists declare that any attempt on
the part of the national government 70
construct a great railway system is cers-
tain to fail But. somehow. there is an
air Of quiet confidence about this brorrl
ed Young engineer from Panama, thA
experienced boundary surveyor and this
Erizzled hut competent appearing man
from the west that makes such proph-
ecv seem ili-founded. All have records
Of making good. ASHMCN BROWN.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-31

familiarize himself with the Susitna, the
Matanuska. Koyukuk. Kaltag, Kusko-
kwin. Unalaklik. Cold Foot and other
place names of Indian or Russian or
straight gold-hunting American ancestry.
FelIow-members with him-the three
composing the entire organization-on the
Alaskan engineering commission are:
William C. Edes of San Francisco, also
lean and weather beaten. who for forty
years has been locating and building
railroads in the mountains of California
and contiguous states for the Southern
Pacific and the Santa Fee railroads. and
who looks as II he was good for forty
years more of such strenuous activity.
and Thomas R. Riggs, jr., who won
fame at the head of the Alaska Canadian
boundary survey work. But this story
concerns chiefly Lieut.. Mears.
1t is a story of kaleidoscope changes.
For one thing. 1t shows what just an
average American boy without pull, but
with that Intangible but very definite
thing technically known as the punch.
can do. Furthermore, 1t shows the YER
satility of the American army officer.
To begin with, Lieut.. Mears was born
in the army-ln the 4th Infantry, Grant
old regiment. to be exact. The place of
this nativity, though that fs a matter OF
army folk, was Fort Omaha. The date
was May %. 1878
1t was two years after Clusters disaster.
The NeZ Perez war was just concluded,
but the frontier was still turbulent with
Indians on the war path and the 4th was
never at rest very long. Fort Omaha was
pretty far into the wilderness in those
days.
Young Mears spent his childhood in fol-
lowing the frontier. In 1892 the family
was at Fort Spokane, in the Colville In
dian country Of the state of Washington,
when the father. Lieut.. Col. Frederick
Mears. famous and distinguished SOL
der, died.
Later the son was sent to Shattuck Mil
itary School. Faribault. Mimi. from
which institution he was graduated in
1897 At school he had shown apti-
tude for mathematics. 1t was but natu-
raj. then. that he was torn by two am
bitions-one to follow in the footsteps OF
his father. the other to become civil
engineer. Fate had provided that he was
to win success in both professions.
The army called him particularly hard.
but there was no way to procure the de-
sired appointment to West Point. The
widow of a soldier, no matter how dis
tinguished that soldier may have BEEN
has small chance Of procuring the influ-
ence necessary to secure such an appoint
ment for her son. Perforce. then. Fred
erick Mears chose engineering as his life
work.
Axman. rodman. chairman. these
are the lower positions in a surveying
party. So young Mears became a rod
man in party laying out the Park Rap
ids and Leech Lake railroad. q feeder for
the Great Northern railway, in Mime
sofa The rodman carries his rod into
swamps up to his neck, up bluffs. into
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-31

there always has been new construction
work to be done on this road-and also
has been in charge of the maintenance oil
the old line.
He has been both a field and an ONCE
chief.
But this is not all: the government
needed a new reinforced concrete pier fo1
the railroad terminals at Cristobel. Lieut.
Mears promptly designed and then ou1i'
this pier at a cost of So. 100000.
Another incidental job was done by ar.
rangement between this government AND
the government Of the Panama republic
The latter republic wanted railroad line
located for $50 miles from the zone to q
The Panama Railroad Company was tolo
to do the work. SO Mears did it.
Last December Col. Goethals made
Mears. in addition to chief engineer OF
the railroad. the general superintendent
of the railroad and of the railroad COM
pany's steamship line as well. This gave
him charge Of q fleet Of six large. ocean
going vessels plying between the Canal
Zone and New York Few admirals have
as much tonnage under their command
as this young lieutenant OF cavalry
And SO the boy engineer who abandoned
his future as a railroad construction en-
gineer to follow the flag; who. when he
had won success as soldier, gave II
up to become a track foreman, now was
installed at the head OF world famous
railroad and of a big steamship line.
Read what John Barrett. director OF
the Pan-American Union. in his recent
book on the Panama canal has TO say OF
the road Lieut.. Mears built and mas peen
operating:
1.-THE whole roadway is an EXAMPLE of
the highest class construction, and the
main road. though limited in mileage, is
operated with the skill OF a great system.
When it is considered that 1t Is inter,
locked everywhere with all the side and
switch tracks used by the canal dump
trains. it is remarkable how smoothly II
Is run without mixups. collisions or accl-
dents Its one popularity, compared TO
the roads of the United States. is its ex-
ceptionally broad, or five-foot gauge, Its
rolling stock compares favorably with the
best roads of the United States
During the past winter Congress au-
thorized the President to expend $59.ooo :
600 in building a trunk line OF railroad
In Alaska. 1t was the first tune this
government ever embarked on big rai-
road building enterprise; Few s..in aHs
thority given him. No plan of organiza-
ton even was laid down in the law
Unlike in the Panama canal job, no COM
mission was provided to handle the work
The President and his chief adviser IN
this matter, Secretary Lane OF the De-
partment of the Interior. took counsel to-
gether as to how to handle this huge
Undertaking. 1t was but natural tnat
they should turn to Col. Goethals. One
idea that had been suggested was that
Lieut.. Col. William l.. Siebert. Col Goe-
thals' chief assistant. be put In charge
but Col Siebert was needed on the canal
Then It was determined that three men
should be appointed an engineering
board to handle the problem, and that
one Of them should be an army oficer
with experience under Cocktails IN PAN
anna.
Get Mears," said Col. Goethals. when
the matter was put up to. him in this
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-31

F you were just
twenty-one years
old
II you had. in
less than a year.
worked your way
up from the plod :
ding position of
rodinan in a sur
veying party to
chief of a party of
Your own and the
position of resi-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-31

HE ruin d and
long abandoned
mills Of Washing
ton and Its neigh
borhood " gu | d
make an interest
ing story, T h e
Rambler has visit
e d. Photographed
and writ e n of
most of them from
time to time, but
there are the pic
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-31

dent engineer on an important bit of
railway construction
II you had the friendship and approba-
ton of the chief engineer of a great
transcontinental railway system
II your future in the engineering world
doomed bright and fine before you
Would you chuck it all to pursue an
ideal?
Would you accept the philosophy of
Kiphng's ~ and begin once more at
the very bottom of things, on the lowest
rung Of the ladder of another profess
sion?
Fine phrases In that philosophy, but, In
the words OF the verses, 1t takes "a man,
my son." to live true to it. But il one
does live true, how excellent the rewards.
Because he did live true. because at
two critical periods in his life he did not
hesitate TO drop to the very foot of the &C.
cupation in which he wanted to engage.
and because each time he made good,
Lieut.. Frederick Mears, L. S. A, has re-
Gently been intrusted with an engineering
task OF remarkable possibilites-the To-
eating and building of the governmental
Alaska.
Thirtysix years old. lean, wiry.
bronzed. a CLINT of red in his hair, and
what. would be freckles on his face II
they could show through. Lieut. Mears
physically is just the man to pose for a
picture of the American pioneering en-
Rineer.
Out of the tropic jungle of Panama
where he has been doing world famous
work, he was suddenly yanked the other
day. told of his new job. and already he
10 on the way to Alaska to begin. 1t is
to be an historic undertaking Next to
the construction OF the Panama canal it,
sell. II is the biggest thing in transporta-
ton the government ever has attempted
How other young engineers must envy
him.
Richard Harding Davis and others have
pictured in romance 70 rthe public the
american engineer in the tropics In
Panama Lieut. Mears has lived stranger
ana hfore romantic things than the novel
ist 'ace- imagined
With the echo Of "Spggoty'' English
yet ringing in his ears: with such names
as CorozaL Cucaracha. Las Cruces. Mon
te f.iri. Cristobal still familiar on his
ton:Ie MS hearing Yet attuned to liquid
Sp..E.cI. he suddenly is called upon &c
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-31

the canal and river are the ruins of
several mills which were operated by
water from the canal. and also the ruin
OF structure which long. long ago was
an iron foundry and at which also were
cast cannon. 1t was Foxalrs foundry.
hill which leads from the Canal road or
the Chain Bridge road to the Conduit
road. the branch which flows beneath the
Canal road and beneath the canal is
called Foundry branch.
AT BladenSburg are two old mills. One
or them stands on the Washington side
OF the Eastern branch. a couple of hun
bred yards west of the Baltimore road.
and OF this mill it has been written that
ITS Srist became part of the blood and
none. of early Americans and that its
meal gave stamina to many of the men
who carried f1intlocks for the young re-
puollc during the war of the American
revolution.
Andrew Lynch. who has lived at Bla-
6ensburg longer than any other man
there. remembers this mill seventy-five
ears ago and it was then an old mill.
e. the time to which the memory of Mr..
J ynch goes back it was operated by
ran whose name was Duck Penn
century ago there were two famous
t"sls at Bladensburg. They were old.
vel established mills then. One was
e mil which came to be called Duck
1enns mill which was celebrated for.
ne quality of its meal and the other
Us Calvert's mill. famed in the coun-
t-y round for the quality of the -four
r nIch II turned out. Some time ago the
Eamoier made a picture of the Duck
Penn mill and wrote all the facts in con-
nection with that historic structure
which he was able to obtain.
In travelling between Georgetown and
the Chain bridge you have often seen
gray ruin in the tree-grown and rock
streun lands between the canal and the
river That was mill and its last name
was Eads' mill. You have seen it more
often in winter late fall or early
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-31

Washington Wednesday. August %.
from Columbus. Ohio, and put up at the
Emmett House. near the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad station.
The Star reporter who called to see
Kearney said that he was a man OF
small stature. with black hair and
mustache and very good-natured
face. He wore a workingman's check
ed shirt of the period and his coat was
off. At small marble table in the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-31

cures OF TWO which ne mas not uhui
today been able to obtain.
In the valley of Rock creek one
may see the ruins of Lyon mill. and
kection of the wall of Blagden 8 mill and
bf course, there is the well known and
well preserved gray structure which Tor
b century was operated as a mill under
The name of Pierce's mill.
West of the ridge on which the Amer
tcan University stands and along which
leads Nebraska avenue. down in the
Ride-rolling valley through which flows
Sittle Falls branch. and Powder Mill
branch rots the ruin of Murdock's MILL
and from a point close to the intersection
IF River road and the old Frederick
road. later the Rockville pike and still
road called the Murdoch Mill road. which,
efter travelling through some new sub
divisions. grows dim among weeds and
PUSHES and terminates at age, and
etorm-wrecked structure which was Muir
docks mill Massachusetts avenue en-
tiers Nebraska avenue at the site of
Fort Gaines. and traces of the bitches
and parapets may still be seen there. A
little to the southwest of the civil war
relics you may see the ruins of an an
cient garden and certain debris which
will tell You that A house stood there.
That was the Murdoch house. plain
frame structure. Two or three years
ago it was but the skeleton of house
and since then it has been razed West
OF that place and in the valley over
looked by the house. and perhaps half
a mile away. You may catch a glimpse
through the foliage of many trees of
Murdock's mill.
Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-06-16
TERRITORIAL BONDS FOR THE SMALL lAIfsTOR

For the first time in the history OF the terri
Esory, the small investor il To have an oppnr
unity OF taking mp government bonds direct
fioyernor Pinkhanls detailed statement TO
the press last week, with the earlier news ar
iieles and explanations published locally, shows
the Importance Of the step that the executive
has decided upon. I'm brief. any man in Ha-
waii who has 800 to invest may secure a four
per cent bond behind which is the solid guar
antee OF. the territory, the certainty Of fair
rate Of interest, the good faith of the govern
ment
Under the plan decided upon BY tlle governor
and the territaria treasurer, 5000 bonds of
800 each and 100 bonds of 500 each will be
offcretl for sale by the government direct To
ille investor The bonds ought to be an attrac
tive medium Of investment particularly when
the outlook FOR the sugar industry is uncertain
The plan decided upon, while new in this ter
ritory, is by no means nntried Intact, IFS sue.
cfss elsewhere has been a potent reason for a
trial here. II will depend upon the interest
taken by the public, of course, hut the situation
S such that purchase Of these .h;lby bonds,
when they are Offered for sale in the near fiji.
tire. il Il sound and prudent course to follow
for the man or woman OF limited means who
cannot afford to endsuger small savings.
Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-06-16
the LICENSE BBlR6 MEETS I0xoRR0E

4 i
Some vital questions will be mp far consider.
aiion Tomorrow BY the board Of liquor license
commissioners at its annual meeting for re-
newal nf Licenses and discussion of new appli-
fations sss.la q
II is essential that tlie board shall have tle
benefit Of frank expressicnoof opiniuaon tle
part Of the people ST Honolulu The board is
charged with the duty of administering the
||qnor liepnse law and lis always open for in.
formation as TO the conduct of licensees md
oiher matters relating to the operation Of the
business
Among the questions to be discussed teinor
row perhaps the most important is that Of u
renewal Of the licenses of the "fishmarket sa.
ioons, those saloons Immediately adjoining
the fislmarket. 4 very strong public senti-
nent has arisen against these saloons on sr.
count Of their location Tint sentiment should
De heard emphaticaliy tomorrow when the com.
nlissioiefs ask IL any protests are to be lodged
Other matters Of Importance aIr; fhe renewal Of
license for the beergarslen at I.eilehua and
IIe wisdom Of allowing a continuance of spe-
,ial privileges for the beach hotels. These are
III Subjects in Which the people of Honolulu
have deep interest. Tie meeting is to be held
ia the Executive Building at 3 80 o'clock and
az course is open tosthe public.
Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-06-16
EDITOR

and what does each expect Of the other?
Most business partnerships have an inside
and an "outside" partnership; one who man
ages the factory: or office or store, and one who
goes after business;'' one who brings in the
cash or orders, and one who does the necessary,
spending and the possible saving.
THE partner who travels may not know as
much about the workings of the factory where
his orders are filled as his stayat-home partner
does The stay-at-home partner may not real
ize to the full how difficult it is to get orders
and how tiresome it is to travel But, IF their
partnership is good one, there is sure to he
at the foundation Of it pretty sound respect
for the ability that meets them
Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-06-16
ALCOHOLISM and INSANITY

What alcoholism is doing in France may he
realized from the official figures Of the munich,
I,rlity of Paris: = ..-.-~.- H.. .--.s' ,.. ~
'lsARIS.-Persodls suffering from alcohol
ism form more than q quarter Of the army of
INSANE i'm Paris and the Department of the
Seine and the number of increases from year
to year. according to figures Just made public
by the municipality. An additional argument
based on official statistics is thus furnished by
deputy Henri Schmidt and others who have
been leading a vigorous antidrink campaign
throughout France s.=...
Out Of total Of S9,12s admitted to the asy-
Inns in the department mentioned, from 1887
to 1911, the number Of mentally deficient, vic
inns of the drink habit, was 27,315. The fig
ures also show that insanity in general, as we'll
az hereditary insanity, is Increasing ]
Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-06-16
The MARRIAGE PARTNERSHIP

ThpSnation-wide growth of divorces suggests
that the remedy does not lie entirely either i'm
stficter marriage or stricter divorce laws, hut
iii a more wholesome and intelligent partner
ship between man and Wife
Newspapers, magazines, the drama, the novel.
Scientific and economic dissertation are dealing
with this subject from every angle and at all
lengths But it is noticeable that from whole.
sale ctiademnation NEST of the writer's have
rome to a less censerious criticism of the causes
leading up to divorce,
I'm the Wonlan's World for July the leading
EDITORIAL says: ~ -:
some of the most important things in any
paafIJfship is a thorough understanding of
why the partnership is formed. No one takes Il
partner in any enterprise which he could man
ace alone The usual idea is to combine with
someone who can do we'll what We do i'll, and
who needs MS To do we'll for him these things
which he can do least we'll for himself To-
epther We may do things that neither of us
could do alone.
ssAyhy do people marrEs Because they want
~ i've. fospther What do they hope to do?
l-sualiy. to found a home and t" have a family.
What share in this does each expect to take,
Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-06-16
THE sTEyESsoSs TOGETHER.

Those who knew and loved the Steyensons as
we'll as those who recently made the at,luaint,
ance in Honolulu with Mrs. Isobel Strong, will
lie interested in the following article in the
San Francisco Examiner:
in fulfillment of her last wish the ashes of Mrs
Robert Louis Stevenson will repose beside the body
Of her husband on the summit of Mount Yaca. 5a-
moa. This was stated in Los Angeles by Mrs. Iso-
bel Strong. daughter OF Mrs. Stevenson Before
- he door Of the tomb will be inscribed the last
stanza of Steyenson's verse to his wife: :. S
Teacher. tender. comrade, wife. -..sE -
Fellow farer, .rue through liieJ
Heart whole and soul free a.A.~.-. ~ a. ... X
The August Father gave to me-. 3.-s,. Ia. {
To this tomb there will be no means of access @
but the rough mountain path visitors already have
worn. Mrs Strong and Lloyd Osbourne will take @Z7
her ashes to Samoa. 81
The tender and stately verse quoted above
will stand worthily beside Sfevenson's own in
srription at Nailima. ~ - a,g >. ~ 5$5s
Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-06-16

Reports that the Democratic party has de-
cided to restore part of the duty on sugar should
he taken with i grain sf salt until more author
itatiye advices are received. 1t is not yet APP
parent why the Democratic Congress should re-
verse an important principle in it's main piece
'f Legislation since coming into power. It's re-
scrsal Of attitude on the canal tolls bill will be
hard enough to handle satisfactorily during the
next campaign without the addition of explain.
ing a change of front on sugar. It's ffne-if
true; that's ALL 49,.
Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-06-16
SENATOR JUDD FINDS
NEW PRESIDENT FOR. ..
KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS

According to advices received in
Honolulu during the last few days
Senator A. F. Judd has discovered
man who he believes will make a
capable successor to Perley L. Horne
as president of the Kamehameha
Schools. Senator Judd has recon-
mended his find, but no definite ac-
ton will be taken until his return
from the mainland next week.
Senator Judd is expected home on
Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-06-16

The final accounts of Georg Rodeik
as administrator OF the estate of L.
L. Schmidt, were filed in the circuit
court yesterday and approved by
Judge Whitney. The administrator
was discharged from any further du-
ties in the matter of his administra
ton of the estate. .-.--> 49, -.
Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-06-16

Industrial disorders in Colorado and Mon.
tana demand the presence of so many troops
that we may have to postpone that march on
Mexico City. ii.