davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-01
THE COURTS.

The Court of Appeals of the District
for expeditions work in that tribuna'.
December l the justices handed down
thirty-two opinions. This is the largest
volume of decisions ever announced on
one day during the twenty years of the
courts existence.
During the calendar year 1913 there
were docketed in the Court of Appeals
142 cases on the general and Special cal
endarS, 81 on the patent calendar and II
on the original docket, a total of 221.
The original docket has been cleared. and
there now remain forty-four cases on
the general and special calendars and
thirty-three on the patent calendar.
The Supreme Court of the District of
Columbia celebrated early in 1913 the
semi-centennial of its existence. A few
weeks later it was called on to mourn
the death of Return ]. Meigs, jr., an as
SiStant clerk since the formation of the
court and son of the first clerk of that
tribunal On the death of Mr.. Meigs, his
daughter, Elizabeth NJ. Meigs, was made
first woman to be so hCnored in the Dis
trict OF Columbia.
The year 1913 in the District Supreme
Court has been a notable one. A ban on
secrecy of divorce proceedings was set
by new rules for equity practice. No
trustees and other fiduciarieS were COM
PEELED to make annual reports to the
court and to submit their securities to
the auditor for examination each year.
"Shooting-Up" of Court.
All Washington and the whole country
was startled June c3 by the news that
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-01

into a vast playground for the public,
with facilities for all sorts of athletic
sports and games. as soon as funds are
forthcoming. The plans include a large
stadium, public comfort station, boat
landings. etc.
West Potomac Park. the older section,
is being slightly enlarged by the extern
sion of the sea wall at the upper section to
provide more space for the projected Lin
coin Memorial. Many trees and plants
have been planted and several gardens
laid out. SURVEYS were completed of the
proposed Rock Creek parkway connecting
Potomac Park with Geological and Rock
Creek parks and improvements will be
commenced as soon as funds are avail
able. Work has begun for the paving of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-01
In National Guard, Patriotic Order, Labor
and Club Work Increased Inter
est Has Been Shown With
Success as Result

Shannon. commanding 1st Battery, Field
Artillery: First Lieuts. Louis A. Clausel
and Lieut.. William w. Vaughn, I'd In
fantry; Maj. Charles L. Fox, ordnance
department: Capts. D. l.. Richmond, 1st
Infantry. Z. d. Tenure, 1st Infantry;
First Lieut.. Spencer E. Bomar. Second
Lieuts. George f. Tolson, George NJ
Reich. c. G.. Gardner. John III. Cole and
]. V. Devlin. Second Lieut. Edward F.
Lusby died during the year.
The following retirements occurred:
Lieut.. Col. Clarence A. Weaver Medical
Corps: Maj. c. Eugene Edwards, Maj.
Charles A. Meyer and Capt Frederick H.
Heidenreich. Lieut.. Col. George Hender-
son died during the year.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-01
NAVAL BATTALION.

One of the most satisfactory years
in its history was recorded by the
Naval Battalion of the National Guard
Of the District of Columbia during 1913
There We're a number of changes in
the commissioned personnel. the most
important of which was the promo
ton of Joseph a. Dempf from the
grade of lieutenant commander to COM
mander, and to command of the bat
talon.
Commander Dempf Immediately set
about cleaning out the so-called dead
wood said to have been in the naval
militia when he took command. and
began to build it up with a high class
of young men. At the same time he
began to surround himself with a fleet
of boats with which to train the men
under him in the workings of the
naval service. With only a feet of
two whaleboats and one lifeboat.
which were at the bottom of the river
alongside of the battafion's dock when
he took charge, Commander Dempf
during the year has been successful in
obtaining for the use of his organiza-
ton the United States converted yacht
Sylvia, two whaleboats, a steam launch
and two motor boats.
IN an EFFORT to make the naval militia
service attractive for the young men of
the city the officers and members of the
battalion gave a series of dances, which
We're attended at different times by Pres
ldent Wilson, Secretary Josephus Daniels
ana Assistant Secretar3 Franklin d.
roosevelt of the Navy Department, and
Commissioners Newman and Siddons of
the District of Columbia
Excellent Work on Cruise.
The battalion received excellent reports
on the work of it's officers and men on
their annual cruise to Newport, R. l., on
the battleship Alabama during July, For
the first time the officers and men were
given regular service watches on deck
OF standing by and watching the regulars
do the work as heretofore.
one ofncer and seven enlisted men of
the battalion were permitted to make the
cruise OF the United States Atlantic bat
teship fleet to southern Europe The
excellent reports as to their conduct and
efficiency while on this cruise. Com
mander Dempf also made preparations
during the year for surrounding himself
with an efficient corps of officers, SO that
he can take further steps during the new
year to increase the efficiency of the
battalion.
Charles NJ. Smithson was appointed
chief engineer officer on the staff of
Commander Dempf, with the frank of
lieutenant; Joseph B. Dalton was pro-
moted to be junior lieutenant, as were
also ". Granville Guss. Walter w. Burns
and Buist c. Getsinger. Frederick L.
Nudge, William K. Hoefer, Paul v.
Thompson. Harold L. Crawford and
Frank w. Sigourney were promoted to
be ensigns in the Naval Battalion. Dur
ing the year Commander F. s. Durston,
Lieut. Ross L. Fryer ard Ensigns NJ. G.
Dunk and Percy Nj. Smoot resigned their
commissions.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-01
THE STAR.
The Star has sustained its reputation as

The Star has sustained it's reputation as
the great family paper of the people Of
Washington and the advocate Of their
interests at all times during the year.
On March % it began it's campaign
against street accidents. and for two
months or more contributed to the edu-
cation of pedestrian and vehicle drivers
alike in the observance of the traffic regu-
lations. From the campaign there re-
suited the formation of the Street Safety
Association of the District Of Columbia.
The Star in March opened general
subscription list for contributions to the
fund for the relief of sufferers by the
floods in the west and southwest adding
its own contribution of 81 600 to the thou
sands of dollars contributed by generous
citizens.
On April it lent it's voice to the CAM
paign for a general cleanup of the city
and gave a substantial contribution to the
cause.
It's "anti-fy'' campaign. which accom-
plished SO much the preceding years in
the interest of cleanliness and healthful
conditions in the homes, was not over
looked during the year. new fly cam
paign was started in April and pushed
during the summer.
While the pleasures Of the -newsboys,
always a feature of The Stars year, were
catered to in various ways throughout
the summer, an additional pleasure of an
educational character for children of the
public schools was provided from May %
by coupons emitting the holder to admis-
sion to the kinemacolOr moving pictures
of the Panama canal and the Balkan
war at the Belasco Theater.
Saturday, July ). was issued the first
Saturday noon edition of The Star, de-
signed for its readers during the summer
when the departments closed about mid
day on Saturday. Its reception was
ample evidence of its demand.
August IL, in its effort t01provide the
members of the National Guard of the
District with their favorite Sunday news
paper, it distanced all its competitors in
a record-making run for Camp Ordway,
near Harpers Ferry.
The Stars offer Of prizes for the best
amateur photographs taken at summer
resorts during the summer resulted in a
spirited contest and some splendid
results.
During the year The Star was the re-
cipent Of many compliments One came
from the Mail Order Journal. which
placed The Star second in the list of
evening advertising mediums in the
United States. In the annual report of
the committee ON the prevention of tu-
berculoss appointed by Columbia Typo
graphical Union, No. 1O1, its composing
room was pronounced "a model of SAM
tation in ventilation. light, cleanliness, de-
vices, lavatories, toilets and lockers"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-01

can Colonization Society, which colonized
Liberia.
Late last year a movement was started
in Congress to investigate the methods
of making appointments to the library
force. some members of Congress claim
ing that their recommendations were not
needed. Mr.. Putnam pointed out that the
law said he was to make appointments
on the basis of fitness only.
The National Library for the Blind cele-
brated its first anniversary December 10
with an entertainment at which Miss
Margaret Wilson, daughter of the Presi-
dent. sang. The library enlarged the
scope of its work during the year.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-01

The question of whether military
leave initiated against the promotion
or government employees was brought
up for decision just before the close
1iams of the Treasury Department
ruled that il did, but up until the close
of the year no official decision had
been given by the President.
The following officers of the National
Guard of the District of Columbia re-
ceived promotions during 1913: Maj.
Harry Coope, ordnance department;
Maj. Warren d. Fales. Medical Corps;
Capts. VIII H. Chase. Charles A Meyer,
Conrad Praetorious, Warwick C.
CNeil. all OF 1st Infantry: Capts. Her.
bert C. Earnshaw and Claude Burlin-
game. I'd Infantry; Capt. Thomas F..
McAnally, ordnance department.; Her.
bert J. Bryson, Medical Corps; Louis C.
Nogt. 1st Battery. Field Artillery:
Ralph Alderman. small arms depart
ment; Sylvester III. Epps and Clarence
C. II. Davis. both of the LIST Separate
battalion; Second Lieuts- Douglas S.
Bliss, ordnance department.: Joseph r
Began. Medical Corps: w. Laurence
Hazard, Lionel lie g. Johnston Will
liam B. Wall and Lemuel H. Windsor.
LIST Infantry. Lenox r. Lohr. Robert
W. Hannemann and Charles NJ Ham,
mond, I'd Infantry; John f. Smith and
Arthur c. Newman, 1st Separate Bat
TALON.
The following We're commissioned Sec
ond lieutenants during the year: Franz
A Wedderburn, James b. Jones. March
A. Bodenhamer. John Dugan, ]. Ralph
Fehr and Alfred G. Schmidt, LIST Infan-
try; Charles D. Sniffin. Julian s. diff.
Joe r. Mickey. William ]. Bacon, Victor
VI. Dent and Print e Shomette, I'd In
fantry; West A. Hamilton and Daniel
Stewart. LIST Separate Battalion
designations During Year.
designations from the commissioned
personnel were as follows: Capt J. Harry
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-01


trict committee. INTRODUCES" bill per-
properties.
Conference at White House.
A conference Of representatives OF civic
bodies held at the White House decided
to urge upon Congress similar meas
ure, regarded by them broader in scope
than the Smith bill
The completion of the James Ormond
Wilson Normal School was a special
event of the school year and the use Of
the new building began in March.
James F. Oyster resigned as president
of the board of education March %
after service of several years, and
Henry P. Blair, already a member OF the
board, was chosen president. w. T. Gal
1iher was appointed to succeed Mr.. Oys-
ter on the board. Officials teachers and
pupils of the public schools united In a
testimonial meeting for retiring President
Oyster.
Company K of The Mckinley Manual
Training School won the annual prize
drill of the High School Cadet Regiment.
Company A won the prize flag of the
Separate Battalion.
Miss Alys Bentley resigned as director
of music in the public schools. w. l..
Tomlins was selected as her successor.
The health department recommended
the establishment of separate schools for
tubercular pupils, and the District Com
missioners are planning to place two
buildings at the disposal Of the board
for this purpose.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-01
NATIONAL GUARD.

With fine records at camp and at the
various rife ranges. the year was one
TO be especially well remembered by
the National Guard of the District Of
Columbia The camp at Bolivar Heights,
near Harpers Ferry, W. Va, was con-
sidered one of the most successful ever
conducted by the guard
a system of tactical training for
officers was inaugurated at camp. Ma
tional Guard officers of the various de-
partments were taken in charge by
regular officers, lectures on particular
subjects were given and then the
militia officers were handed problems
along the line of the lecture TO work
out The infantry officers were given
strategical pointers and were taught
how to make sketches of the country
I'm which the army was operating, the
pay corps was given problems OF as
bursements in connection with orSanl-
cations in the field, etc.
The lst Battery, Field Artillery or
the local National Guard. did not go
away with the infantry. but went 10
Tobyhanna, Pa, where II neld a joint
camp with a battery or regular ar,
fiIIery from Fort Myer. The Signal
Germs company was given a fine serv-
ice test by making the trip from WASH,
inpton to camp at Bolivar Heights and
return over the roads.
Shooting Records Made.
Fine records were made by the bri-
gade team of the National Guard OF the
District of Columbia at the lnterna-
tional shooting tournament which was
held at Camp Perry, Ohio during the
summer. Excellent shooting also was
done by representatives of the local
National Guard at the matches at Sea-
s-irt as well as on the National GUARD
riae range at Congress Heights, D. T.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-01

oring'' being given the Pan American
mass in st. Patricl's Church late in
November.
Rev. j. T. Stocking of Newton, Mass,
was called to the pastorate of the First
Congregational Church in December, and
Rev. Ignatius Fealy, assistant pastor Of
st. Joseph's Catholic Church, was select
ed as a chaplain of the army. Members
Of the congregation have urged that he
vemain at the church.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-01
PARKS AND RESERvA-
TONS.

Systematic Improvement of the public
parks and substantial additions to the
park area were among the popular
achievements Of the past year. The chief
park acquisition during the year was the
large area between the Capitol grounds
and the Union station. Macadamized
roadways in Rock Creek Park were ex-
tended so that 1t is now possible for the
first time to traverse it's entire length in
automobiles and other vehicles. New
bride paths and foorparns and several
new bridges across the creek in the upper
course have opened hitherto inaccessa ole
sections of virgin forests. Preliminary
steps have been taken to open Western
avenue from Chevy Chase Circle to Rock
creek.
Geological Park improvements.
Many interesting additions have been
made to the collection of fauna in the
Geological Park. Ply sical improvements
to the park include the construction of a
concrete bridge across Rock creek on the
line of Adams Mill drive and the partial
construction of a new entrance to Zoo
Park from the intersection of Columbia
road and 18th street.
East Potomac Park was opened to the
public for the first time November IL,
on the completion of the macadamiZed
road alongside the Virginia channel from
the Pennsylvania railroad bridge to the
southern end of the park peninsula. The
newly reclaimed area is to be converted
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-01
In Religious, Educational, Art and Scientific
Circles the Record Made Has ;
Been Most Not
able One

September October and November, 1876
degrees.
Accumulated deficiency of temperature
for August, degrees; for September, Is
degrees.
Warm periods-May / to 6. average
maximum, Sc degrees; June c9-July q,
average maximum. 81 degrees: July q
August 4. average maximum, 90 degrees;
August 26-September 8. average maxi
mum, SO degrees.
Greatest daily range, II degrees. April 8.
Precipitation.
Total rainfall for the year. 1905 inches
Normal rainfall, 1880 inches
Departure from normal. 3.45 inches.
Greatest rainfall in one month-April-
5.S6 inches
Least rainfall in one month-February
-1.37 inches
Greatest rainfall in twenty -four hours,
April IL and II, 3.1S inches
Excessive rainfall in, short period. IS
inches in seventeen minutes. July &c.
Wet periods-May 1870, AS inches:
April 11-16, OLD inches; July 30-August l.
3.97 inches.
Dry periods-May Lie. OBJ inch; June
LIS. OO5 inch: September SIG, O.01 inch
October 27-November 6, trace; November
17-December 90. OIL inch.
Total snowfall for the year, 1.6 inches.
year. IL inches-in 1903.
Greatest snowfall in any year, 49.S
incheS-in 1899.
Barometric Pressure.
Highest barometer, reduced to sea level,
3O91-March 49,
Lowest barometer, reduced to sea level,
2S.90-January 3.
Weather.
Per cent Of sunshine compared with
total possible, 81 per cent
Number of clear days, LAG; partly
cloudy, 81; cloudy, 125.
Days ON which rain fell, 30; DAYS with
dense fog, z.
Thunderstorms, IS
Wind.
Prevailing direction of wind for the
year, northwest!
Average hourly velocity Of wind, 6s
miles
Maximum velocity. 6S miles. from
northeast. July 80, at 3:13 o'clock in the
afternoon.
Years Severest Storm.
In the afternoon Of July 80 terrific
thunderstorm broke over the city. fol-
lowing forenoon and early afternoon of
excessive sultriness. Thunder was first
heard at $50 o'clock. increasing rapidly
in intensity. The storm was most severe
between $40 and 3:17 o'clock, when the
thunder and lightning were terrific. Be-
tween $40 and 1927. 1856 inches of rain
fell, flooding the streets of the city and
establishing a new record for the great
est amount of rainfall within a brief
period. The wind attained velocity OF
sixty-eight miles an hour for short
time, this being the greatest velocity
ever recorded in Washington. Hail rang
ing in size from pea. to a chestnut fell
in large quantities. this, with the heavy
rain and the tornado-like wind, combn-
ing to do great damage to trees, shrub
berry and buildings. During the storm two
persons were killed.
Miscellaneous
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-01
LIBRARIES.

The Public Library. under the direction
Of George F. Bowerman. the librarian.
and a board of trustees, headed by Theo-
dore w. Noyes, made rapid gains in its
work during 1913, despite the inadequate
funds made available for it by Congress
During the year 161 points for distribu-
>tion were used. including the new Poto-
mac Park branch the children's depart
ment was largely used; the lecture halls
and studyrooms grew In popularity; the
collection of pictures and books was in
creased, and the school branches did
particularly good work.
AS result of the low salaries paid at
the library % per cent of the personnel
was lost by designations. During the nine
years from 1904 to 1913 the congressional
appropriations for the library increased
only II per cent, and the total library
expenditures 81 per cent; but In the
same period the book stock increased
142 per cent and the home circulation in
creased in volumes lat per cent. The
growth was from 64,473 volumes to 1885,
263 volumes. and in volumes circulated
from 21S,17S to 6s6,27s. There was a
great betterment in the quality of the
work done. In the same nine years the
fiction circulation decreased from 81 per
cent to 50 per cent.
Comparison With Other Cities.
The report Of Mr.. Bowerman to the
Commissioners showed that out of TWEEN
ty-six American cities near Washington
in population twenty have larger library
appropriations and only five have smaller
library appropriations. Out of twenty-sjx
cities above 100000 population in 1910
twenty have higher per capita expendi-
lures for public libraries and the average
per capita library expenditure in these
cities is 20 cents, against 10 cents In
Washington.
The Library of Congress also had a
prosperous year. under the direction of
Herbert Putnam, the librarian. The
library now has 2.12s 255 books and PAM
phlets. 1929 maps and charts $50, 799
volumes and pieces of music and 800, 494
art prints. A total of H.. So2 new volumes
were received in 1913, record only ex-
ceeded twice before in the history of the
institution. The new collections obtained
were varied and many We're valuable and
rare much of the new material consist
ing of historical records greatly desired
by the librarian. number of gifts of
volumes and sets of volumes were received
by the library. The latest important ac-
QUESTION We're the records of the Ameri-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-01

parks.
Lovers lane between r street, George
town, and Massachusetts avenue, forming
a new entrance to Rock Creek Park from
the west.
Anacostia Valley Reclamation.
Active operations are under way for
the reclamation of the valley of the Ana
costa river from its mouth to the District
line and it's conversion into lake and
park for public use. Land has been ac-
quired and sea walls are being built on
the east bank Of the lower river. Surveys
have been made of the reservations on
which old Forts Davis and Dupont are To-
Gated on the eastern ridge of the District
near the line of Massachusetts, avenue.
They are to be converted into public
parks
Suggestion was made that the govern
ment acquire Oxon Run valley for use as
q public park and the only objection
raised to the plan is that most of the ter
ritory in question is outside of the Dis
trict. Arrangements have been made for
the parking of Willow Tree alley in South
Washington, once q notorious SUM. BY
direction of Congress public comfort sta
tons are being erected in Lafayette,
Franklin, Lincoln and Judiciary parks.
In October last Col. William w. Harris.
Corps of Engineers. relieved Col. Spencer
Cosby of charge of public buildings and
grounds in the District.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-01
IN SOCIAL. CIRCLES.

The social life of the capital has been
more evenly distributed during the
past twelve months than in previous
years. The presence of Congress prac-
tically all the year around has kept Of
fetal society in residence here and at
it's familiar pursuits.
The closing months of the Taft ad-
ministration were marked by the reg
ular entertainments of custom and a
number of others as farewells to Mr..
and Mrs. Taft and members of their
family. The incoming administration
brought about a continuation Of com
plinentary events which the daugh-
tiers Of the President and Mrs. Wilson,
the members of the cabinet and their
wives and other official families very
generally accepted.
Mrs. Wilson and the Misses Wilson
shortly after taking up their residence
in the White House manifested their
personal interest in civic betterment
and other forms of local activity at
the call of philanthropy or charity
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-01
Miscellaneous.

A remarkable solar phenomenon oc-
CURED November / and q being visible in
Washington on the latter date During
the latter part of the afternoon of that
date a halo, consisting of double rings,
with 'sundogs," surrounded the sun, and
at about 1 o'clock the same afternoon one
of the rarest forms of sun halos, that
taking the shape of tangential bows, was
observed.