davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1914-02-01
Fire Endangers
Priceless Records

struction by fire. For instance. the office
of the auditor for the Interior Depart
rnent passes on all claims made under
the Indian. public lands and reciamati
services. No precaution is omitted to in
cations. and millions of dollars have
been saved to the government Yet all
the records of the settlement of these
cases. including the receipts of the per-
sons paid. are stored in old-fashioned
wooden document files. packed on wooden
bookshelves that stand on a wooden floor
in an old building that would burn like
! tinder- Half dozen other record
storage places in Washington are equally
j exposed to the peril OF confia grafton.
Should they be destroyed the government
would be unable to show any evidence
against the demands that certainly would
be made for the payment of these claims
| once more
The pressing need for an archives
building for the more precious govern
ment documents has been urged upon
Congress. which is finally arousing itself
to the necessity for action. The rent of
storage space reaches very high figure.
for most Of the departments keep their
cd records in other than their own
buildings. The military and naval serv-
ices long were regarded the most
notorious examples Of red tape. but with
the OeiHdIltiS LOT l!Sner eulclency dlodl
. and afield correspondence methods have
been, largely simplified.
| Formerly a requisition for simple re-
pairs on battleship Travelled lengthy
course from the captain of the ship to
| the admiral commanding the fleet. to the
| bureau of navigation and thence to the
bureau of the Navy Department having
| jurisdiction over the particular repair
desired. thence to the navy yard where
! the job was to be done. back to the
IN he
| navigation. thence to the Secretary of the
| Navy for approval and back to the fleet
and to the ship affected. which might by
this time have been transferred to an
other station. Conflict of bureau author
| ity and duplication of administrative ef-
! fort have now been largely eliminated.
/ but the work still lacks much OF the
| simple directness that characteriZes the
most efficient private industrial estab-
/ ishments.
Evening star., 1914-02-01

Prof. Milton Updegroff. l. S. y. re-
Gently of the United States Naval Obser-
vatory. with a staff of engineers. is in
Samoa to complete the survey of Ameri-
can Samoa. in the south Pacific ocean.
Evening star., 1914-02-01

Audubons have attained a membership of
5000.
w T. Hornaday. the naturalist, says
that the big game Of British Africa will
disappear in fifteen years under the pres
ent legal bag limit of $50. Thus the rich
est big game fauna of any one spot in the
world. which nature has been several
million years in developing, will disap-
pear.
DR.. Rudolph Wagner is investigating
the Spanish dialects and folklore Of both
the Indian and Spanish speaking people
of Mexico
The Lontsch hydraulic plant in Switz-
erland. with J4.OO0-horsepower, makes it
the largest plant in Europe.
A memorial to Baron Toll. the Russian
explorer. and his companions. who We're
lost near the New Siberian Islands i'll
1909: is to be erected on the west coast
of kotelnyi Island. The recent discov
cry on Bennett Island of the lost eX-
pIorer's diaries and collections by Lieut..
Wilkitsky revives interest in the sad fate
of this unfortunate expedition
The Scala Theater, in London. has dis
covered a new idea in moving pictures
with powerful arc lights, brought about
by optical combinations, which produce
some wonderful effects. for the persons
are seen in life size moving about with
out use of any visible screen SO that they
appear to act upon a real theater scene.
The most powerful electro magnet in
the world has just been installed in the
laboratory of Prof Jean Becquerel in
the Paris Museum of Natural History.
This gigantic electro magnet. which was
constructed by Prof. Pierre Weis of the
Zurich Polytechnieum. is capable of pro-
duminS a magnetic yield Of 10000 causes.
The task of the classification of stella
spectra by the Harvard observatory is an
astronomical work of immense propor-
tions. 1t will entail classification of
more than HU.NO stars.
The Crocker Land expedition. under the
direction of Donald b. Mcmillan. is now
in winter quarters at Etah, Greenland.
Wireless time. which is now one of the
Evening star., 1914-02-01
SPENDING UNCLE SANS
MONEY.
x-Red Tape.
By Frederic J. Haskin.

Although red tape is !, seemingly IN
evitabl- clement of government of,i-
'iafs at Washington arr. constantly
struggling against it, The circumloc-
utory methods which Try tho patience
IT business men called to public ofiic.
are due to two things tn. require
ments of law. and the failure to apply
modern business methods to th. trans
action of government work Certain
offices are models OF convenience and
directness. but others hay.. been only
partially rescued from the painstakinp
out cnmhrous systems evolved by our
prudent forefathers when typ.writers
.'His cases, card indexes, adding aud
tahulaftns machines were unknown
Inc design OF the founders thar the
rrpublir should b" governed by a series
or checks and balances is strilin..l,
eHefhpiifed IN the accounting system
al.eadN described. The greater ,art of
oinciai correspondence has 10 do. of
course. with the expenditure. of funds
a:d. therefore, every official or cI.-k
VINO exercised the slightest res,onsi-
piittE was also required To make. SOM.
sah nif record OF til. action taken
so that in the event OF any loss IN.
dereiction might be traced /. ifs
source nth quite recently the old
fashioned letter press was used in many
atPdTt Ttnitnts for the copyin. of Ger
respondenc'. and several files Of the
same letter We're kept. in order. as on.
offic1al explained to th.. economy and
enriencE commission that il one were
burned up another would b. left Since
noth copies We're kept in th. sam-
building the commission inquired why
each official should not make "A third
copy to take il home with him The
subject Of this question replied in all
seriousness that this might be a good
idea: he had never thought of it be-
fore. The incident illustrates how
completely employees sometimes becom.
creatures OF routine.
As a result of the Investigations con
Quoted by the kee.' commission and the
economy and efficiency commission. the
letter press copying vas largely done
away with. II the Navy Department.
as an example. two carbon cories are
made of every .official letter written. one
| On pink and the other on green paper
and the correspondence is then filed both
| numerically and by subject
, Despite all the trouble taken to keer
! record of every official actian nr;,e,
Evening star., 1914-02-01

practical aspects of astronomy, is posi-
BILE for any one equipped with suitable re-
ceiving apparatus to obtain correct time
provided some OBSERVATORY can deliver
the proper signals to d wireless trans
mitting station.
DR.. Louis Sambon. the eminent English
physician. who has been investigating
pellagra in Italy and is now studying the
disease in the West Indies does not be-
lieve that pelagra is due to the consump-
ton of damaged maize, but 10 an insect
A wireless station is being installed on
Juan Fernandez Island in the Pacifit
ocean. made famous by the story of
Robinson Crusoe.
Delavan's comet is still under observa-
tion in the evening sky.
On a close estimate. based upon 1O4
plates taken at the Lick observatory. the
whole number of nebulae in the sky is
placed at half a million. This celestial
photograph work on faint objects in the
heavens is the most sensitive that can be
devised.
Evening star., 1914-02-01
System of Pay
Never Modernized.

service is rendered for instance. FOR
s. 500 year Some OF the most i'm
portant Off .isls Of this government.
men whose names are little known.
even in Washington. receive only
5000 year and on the other hand.
this amount and even more is paid 10
certain petty officials who could neNor
earn half the In private lifc-
Practically all the high officials of the
government could do far better ia
private life. Directory and supervisory
agents. and those using skin techni-
cal or expert noNl.dEe. much bet
ter raid i'm private employ, and th..
better grades of efficient and we'll
qualified employees are better paid IN
the service Of corporations
The problem OF obtaining efficient
clerical assistance is as great with the
government. however. il is in ordi-
nary business life. Many young men
enter the government service only 10
remain temporarily. Washington has
many night law schools. and govern
ment employment has afforded many
young men the opportunity to work
into legal degree. Long before
sociologist:, devoted themselves to dis
cussion OF rcasonah bile minimum wages
! in the department stores the Keep
! commission recorded its opinion that
J no salary lower than $500 yea-
+; should b." paid for clerical work. and
! that no lower salary could he paid II
the standard Of character and ability
! in the personnel was tn be maintained
For many years all amounts OF
money mentioned in appropriation bills
| in Congress We're spelled out The bills
were hard Ia read. and the immediate
ascertainment OF the sums involved
| was difficult Red tape finally was cut
by requirement to have the sums
| printed in figures. and at the end OF
! one Congress il was estimated that
| this reform alone had resulted I'm the
| saving OF several thousand dollars.
Evening star., 1914-02-01

The task of the classification of stella
spectra by the Harvard observatory is an
astronomical work of immense proper
tions. 1t will entail a classification of
more than 9U,NU stars.
Evening star., 1914-02-01

The Panama canal has not suffered
from red tape largely because the organ
Evening star., 1914-02-01

DIR. Rudolph Wagner is investiga ting
the Spanish dialects and folklore Of both
the Indian and Spanish speaking people
of Mexico.
Evening star., 1914-02-01

The Crocker Land expedition. under the
direction of Donald b. Mcmillan. is now
in winter quarters at Etah, Greenland.
Wireless time. which is now one of the
Evening star., 1914-02-01

sees quite number of Young men at
the battalion ready to take out enlist
ment papers. Last Thursday night the
recruiting officer swore In six men. All
of the recruits are turned over to the
I'd division for instruction before they
are taken up by the other divisions
Although organized only three weeks ago.
the I'd division has nearly AS
many men as either of the other three
divisions.
The divisional officers are taking great
interest in their men and are giving them
all of the instruction that it is possible
to give them. In addition each of the
divisions has a little entertainment all
its own Ensign Frank Sigourney. com
manding the 81 division. is making
plans to entertain his division next Thurs
day night. After giving the men little
lecture he proposes TO give them refresh
ments. and let them have the rest of the
evening to themselves i'll their divisional
quarters.
Evening star., 1914-02-01

The strength of the battalion is fast
climbing uD toward the AD mark, which
il is hoped to reach before the battalion
leaves next summer for its annual cruise
battlcship. Every Thursday night
Evening star., 1914-02-01

Delavan's comet is still under observa
tion in the evening sky.
Evening star., 1914-02-01

The Lontsch hydraulic plant in SwitZ-
erland. with ~. OOO-horsepower, makes it
the largest plant in Europe
Evening star., 1914-02-01

Despite all the trouble taken to keep
A record of every official action, price
Evening star., 1914-02-01

The system of government pay has
never been modernized. hut like Topsy
Evening star., 1914-02-01

NEW YORK. January 81. Flour
The Seward gateway., 1914-12-07
VILLA WILL
 RETIRE SOON
HE AND ZAPATA MEET AND WILL WORK TOGETHER
 FOR MEXICO.

MEXICO CITY, Dec. 7.--Villa and Zapata met today at Zechimilec and after a conference announced that they will work together for the paci- fication of Mexico and will then re- tire to private life. Villa also an- nounced that he will proceed at once in his campaign against Carranza and will force him to give way before anything else is attempted The Vi'la and Zapata armies will enter Mexico City tomorrow.
 Zapata is preparing to send eighteen thousand men against Vera Cruz and fifteen thousand against Guadalajara. His forces are already besieging Puebla. One of the first acts of Villa after reaching Mexico City was to congratulate General Scott on his appointment as chief of staff of the United States army. Villa de- clares that Scott is a good friend of Mexico and understands conditions here. The armies of Villa and 2arata will enter this city tomorrow.
The Seward gateway., 1914-12-07
GIRL TRIED TO GET
 A POOR MILLIONAIRE. Offered Federal Attorney Fifty Thousand if They Could
 Cinch Alexander.

CHICAGO, Dec. 5.-Miss Jessie Cope, complainant in the white slave case against Charles Alexander, the millionaire clubman of Providence, is now in a serious predicament herself. The federal attorney says that she of- fered him fifty thousand dollars if he could secure large sum from Alexan- der and let him go free from sen tence. Alexander took the girl east from California and she declared that he offered to marry her but the ex- posture by the federal attorney will probably cause the case against him to fall flat.
The Seward gateway., 1914-12-07
ANDY ANDERSON WENT
 NEAR BEING SENATOR.

Andy Anderson who went out this morning on the Alameda wenC pretty near being the senator from the Sc cond division according 70 the accounts which came out with the bunch of Nomeites. He and Aldri.h were the only candidates for senate, with the exception of the socialist, until George James declared his candidacy. It is said that James took away lot of votes from Anderson but the latter was even then only beaten by small majority. The election of Daily is said to be very popular in Nome as 1t means an endorsement of the policy of keeping Alaskan appointments for Alaskans. He was candidate for the United States marshalship at Nome and had the endorsement of the whole democratic organization but he did not succeed. Martin Moran, the other representative who went out this morning, is said to be drawing the greatest mileage of any man elected to a local legislature in the United States. He comes from the KoLuk where he has been U. s. commissioner.
The Seward gateway., 1914-12-07
SEWARD GETS
 FIRST PLACE
ALL OPINION OUTSIDE IN "A VOR OF THIS CITY IN
 ALL WAYS.

Seward is the whole thing outside.
 This is the keynote of the story told by Major l.. II. French when he ar rived on the Alameda this morning. He says that when people speak of Alaska outside now they usually as sociate this city with the territory as people are accustomed to asSiciate the name of the capital city with its coun- try. When people speak of Alaska they invariably speak of Seward" is the way the major puts it. He also gives lattering information that the news for those who are keeping their eyes on the building of the govern ment railroad and other great works of development which are about to be undertaken in the territory. He says even that he saw more than one per son at a time looking for the Gateway at the Arctic Club so great is the de- sire to find out something about what is going on up here. The truth of this is borne out, as he says, by the fact that outside advertisers are now be- ginning to use the Gateway as a med ium for keeping themselves before the eyes of the people who are or who in- tend to be Alaskans. A glance at the advertising columns really shows this, it mibht be stated.
 Major French came north for the purpose of securing additional ground on Kenai peninsula for the Heron and French interests and will remain only long enough to transac the business for which he came. He leaves for the interior with a dog team tomorrow.
The Seward gateway., 1914-12-07
POWERS PROTEST AGAINST
 ARIZONA ALIEN LAW
State Department asks the State to Postpone the Enforcement of
 the Measure.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.-The Bri- tish and Italian governments have en- tered a formal protest against the Arizona anti-alien law and the state department has asked the state to postpone the enforcement of the measure. Secretary Bryan has also ked the governor of Arizona if he thinks it advisable for the federal government to take some measures to prevent the state of Arizona from putting the law into effect. This law provides that the employees of any person or corporation must be eighty per cent citizens of the United States.
The Seward gateway., 1914-12-07
GERMANS RE-CAPTURE LODE
ALLIES TAKE OFFENSIVE ALL ALONG WEST FRONT
.U. $. TO SPEND BIG SUM
 THIS YEAR FOR ARMING.
Two Hundred and Fifty Six Millions
 For the Army and the Navy.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.-The mil itary and naval expenses for the next fiscal year will be two hundred and fifty six millions. During the cur rent year it was two hundred and fifty one millions. The program next year includes two battleShips, six tor pedo boat destroyers and eight or more submarines. Underwood and other democratic leaders have stated that the lessons of the European war show that submarines and similar yes sels are much more to be desired than larger ships of war.
The Seward gateway., 1914-12-07
LEGISLATORS LEAVE.

The members of the legislature from Nome left this morning on the Alameda. Senator Aldrich will not go outside but will spend the time in- tervening until the meeting of the legislature in the different camps along the coast. He is grand chief or the Alaska Pioneers and intended to address the Pioneers here if the boat had not left so soon. Representatives Daily and Moran are going to Seatt'e and some other places in the states before the meeting of the legislature.
The Seward gateway., 1914-12-07
TO DRILL FOR COAL UNDER CITY

FARIBANKS.-As a parting evil dence of his public spirit and conf dence in his home town. Delegrate James Wickersham authorizes the News Miner to announce that he will head a subscription list with $25O to make up fund to prospect for coal under the townsite, or near here. Not even the government geolOgists will say that here is coal underlying the city, but Alfred H. Brooks, head of the Alaskan Geological Survey, be- heves there is a strong probability of it and even went SO far as to sug- gest that Fairbanks business men drill and find out.
The Seward gateway., 1914-12-07
AYERS DOGS ARE
 WINNERS OF RACE.

NOME Dec. 5.-Fred Ayers en.ry driven by Split the Wind" an EsKi- mo won the Thanksgiving dog race, with the entry of Fay Delzenc second, that of Perry Blatchford third, and the entries of Harry Riley, James P,"to- papaS and GlaSSner Richardson finish ing in the order named.
 ProtopapaS' dogs were the first to start. They were forced to break trail, and made a good finish in spite of their handicap.
The Seward gateway., 1914-12-07
AUSTRIA WANTED PEACE

LONDON, Dec. 7--The most sensational of all the messages from Petrogad today is that after the battle of Lemberg the Austrian government asked Russia for terms It is also reported that the Hungarian prime min ister recently visited the Emperor William to demand better protection for Hungary.
 The premier stated that if this protection is not given the Hungarian kingdom would be lost These statements are not given general credence without hesitation but all the facts of the operations the eastern heater seem to point to the likelihood that Hungary really was dssas fled with the way matters were going. An invasion of Hungary now would probably intensity this feeling.
The Seward gateway., 1914-12-07
SUPREME COURT
 UPHOLDS ASSEMBLY.

WASHINGTON Dec. By a deci- sion handed down today the supreme court of the United States sustained the validity of one of the acts passed by the First Alaska Legislature, ia re- versing the decision of the United States judge for the Fourth Alaska di- vision, in the case entitled the United States vs. Tchn Wigger. The issue was the validity of the legislative act authorizing the joining of indictments covering two or more acts or trans actions in the same class as crimes and offenses.
The Seward gateway., 1914-12-07
MAIL ON BERTHA.

Only a small amount of mail ar rived on the Alameda. Most of the mail for Seward is coming on the mail for Seward is coming on the Der than which left earlier than the steam CT that arrived this morning. In order take the earliest boat out of Seattle Seattle being the chief consideration in dealing with Alaskan affairs nc attention is paid to the smaller burgs to which the mail is consigned. If that isn't right what are you going to do about it?
The Seward gateway., 1914-12-07
OTHER BALKAN STATES
 MAY SOON ENTER WAR
Bulgaria and Greece May Come To the Aid of the Stricken
 Servians
BALKANS MAY FIGHT

ATHENS, Dec 7.-Progress is being made towards an understanding in the Balkan states which will be fa- forabe to the allied powers A basis has been reached for rapprochment between Serva and Bulgaria which may result in bringing the latter into the war against Austria The allied nations are also trying to get the assistance of Greece for Serva and the the general opinion here is that all the Balkan states will soon be in the lists against Germans Austrans and the Turks The condition to which Sea has been reduced makes 1t nec- essary almost to go to her aid or Austria will soon be dominating the whole Balkans.
The Seward gateway., 1914-12-07
CONGRESS NOW
 IN SESSION
PROMISES TO BE A SESSION THAT WILL APPROPRIATE 4
 BILLION DOLLARS.
WASHINGTON, Dee. 7.-Washjng-

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.-Washjng- ton today began what promises to be a billion dollar session. It has already settled down to passing the big ap- propriation bills and the administra- tion measures in the hope that a special session will be unnecessary. It is supposed that the Alaska railroad measure will be dealt with during the present session but thers is nothing particular known about it yet. The report of the commission vii. probably re presented in a few jay'
The Seward gateway., 1914-12-07
SERVIA AT BAY

ROME, Dec. 7-Servia and Montenegro are now at bay in the mountainous districts of both countries The forces of Austrans opposed to them are altogether too strong and the armies of the two little nations never had
 chance once the Austrian army had been properly mo- bized It is not known whether the capital of Serva has been sent from Nsh to Uskub but it is most likely that has been Within the past couple of days the news com ing from Serva is rather meager but it is evident that the kingdom is reduced condition similar to that of Belgium.
The Seward gateway., 1914-12-07
GERMANS TAKE LODZ

LONDON Dec By taking the different bulletins from the different capitals this morning it seems ta be evident that the Germans again reoccupy the city of Lodz in Russian Poland They driven from Lodz on their first retreat from Warsaw Nothing further than this can be told at present but the general opinion is that if the Germans have taken Lodz which seems to be certain they must have won victory in the great battle which was reported to be raging few days ago in that part ot the eastern theater.
The Seward gateway., 1914-12-07
BAZAAR WAS SPLENDID

The bazaar and dance given by the ladies of the Catholic church Saturday evening was really a pleasant affair. It was we'll attended by the people generally and all were unanimous in declaring that it was most success ful so far as they were concerned. It is also said that it was most success ful from the point of view of the lad ies who worked to make it so.
The Seward gateway., 1914-12-07
PASSENGERS ON EVANS.

SEATTLE, Dec. The Evans sail ed Saturday with the following pas sengers for Seward: M McNail, T. Badgen, Charles Block, Wm. Sauers, F. Kalthof, Frank Ketch, T. Baird, Margaret Wood is aboard for Kodiak and William Nelson is aboard for Seldovia. The Mariposa arrives this afternoon.
The Seward gateway., 1914-12-07
TO EXAMINE DORA

The Dora is being beached this afternoon for the purpose of examin- ing her hull to ascertain what damage was done when she touched reef dur ing her last trip. The examination in being done rather as a precaution thai otherwise as the boat is believed not to have been much affected by the occurrence.