davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-12-23
FOR A NEW BRIDGE LAW

Huronite At its annual conyen-
tion in the city of Watertown. the
South, Dakota association of county
commissioners endorsed a bill to be
presented to the incoming legislature
for a law regulating the making of
contracts for the construction of
bridges in the counties.
The bill contemplates yearly con.
tracts with bridge builders at so
much per lineal foot or per cubic
foot or yard 1t will not be necessary
to receive bids for any specific
bridge, construction being provided
for by a general bid under, the unit
system.
The bill provides that if any coun-
ty commissioner accepts anything
from a bridge builder in the way of
gifts or banquets, both shall be
deemed guilty of felony and punish
ed accordingly.
The proposed law also provides for
an increase in the salaries of county
commissioners from minium of
$500 per year and $500 mileage to
maximum of 1925 and 1915 mile
age, depending upon the size and
population of the county, the com
pensation to be made at the rate of
SIS per day for actual service and ten
cents per mile for actual travel.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-12-23
HEALTHIEST CITY IN STATE

Pierre Journal: Deadwood is
making the claim of being the health
lest city in the state Their city
physician attributes the freedom of
that city from disease to the ener-
getic efforts taken by the city author
ities for several years past in an an
nual clean up. We do not know
whether the claim of Deadwood is
correct or not. If so ii is a disgrace
for some of the cities in the state
that ought to make better showing
because of natural physical condi-
tions. Pierre has not had a syste-
matte clean up for over two years.
Our city has been healthier because
of much indidivlaul effort in clean
ing up and as result of using vacant
lots for gardens and vegetable grow
ing. The subject Of public health is
one that means saving of waste and
the healthiest town in the state has
something to be proud Of Dead
wood has received a lot of undesir-
able advertising in the past, but If
they can make good their claim of
being the healthiest city in the state
they will get some advertising that
will do them lot of good in the
future.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-12-23
CHIEF EXECUTIVE IS
OPPOSED TO BOND ISSUE
EFFORTS BEING MADE TO KEEP
DOWN THE EXPENSES OF THE
GOVERNMENTS MOBiL-
IZATI0N WAS A FAILURE

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18.-Presi-
dent Wilson and his cabinet are con-
sidering ways to raise revenues to
meet the threatened deficit on June
80, 1918. The president, it is under
stood, disapproves of bond issue,
except to meet expenditures of tenn
porary nature. The president will
carefully scrutinize the appropria-
ton bills to keep the expenses of the
government as low as possible.
Issued Don't Worry Bulletin
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-The
public health service, which is gath
ering statistics on nervous diseases
and their tendency to shorten life, has
issued a bulletin against worrying.
80 far as known" it says, mo bird
ever tried to build more nests than
it's neighbor; no fox ever fretted be-
cause it did not have over one hole
to hide in; no squirrel died over
anxiety lest it did not lay by enough
nuts for two winters; no dog ever
lost sleep over the fact that it did not
have enough bones for its declining
years"
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-12-23
SOME PRIMITIVE FIRE ARMS

Mark Twain in "Roughing It." a
record of vagabondizing during the
Nevada silver mining fever in the
early sixties, recites many anecdotes
in which the late George P. Bemis,
former mayor of Omaha, was an ac-
tive party. Mr.. Bemis, in fact, was
a member of the original Twain party
to leave st. Joseph for Carson City.
First mention of the Nebraskan by
the author is in the following:
II was armed to the teeth with a
pitiful little Smith e Wesson. Mr..
George Bemis was dismally formid-
able. George Bemis was our fellow
traveller We had never seen him be-
fore. He wore in his belt an old orig
inal Allen revolver, such as irrevel-
ant people called a pepper box"
Simply drawing the trigger back,
cooked and fired the pistol. AS the
trigger came back, the hammer would
begin to rise and the barrel to turn
over. and presently down would drop
the hammer and away would speed
the ball. To aim along the turning
barrel and hit the thing aimed at was
a feat which was probably never done
with an Allen in the world But
Georges was reliable weapon, nev-
ertheless, because as one of the stage
drivers afterwards said: If she didn't
get what she went after, she would
fetch something else And so she
did. She went after duce of spades
nailed against tree once, and fetch
ed mule standing about thirty yards
to the left of it.
'Bemis did not want the mule but
the owner came out with a double
barrled shotgun and persuaded him
to take it anyway. 1t was a cheer
full weapon--the Allen. Sometimes
all its six barrels would go off at
once and then there was no safe place
in the region round about, but be-
hind IT,"
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-12-23
TO RESUME ON
CAPITOL CONPoNY'S GROUND

Advertisements have lately appear
ed in some of the mining journals of
the country asking for bids on min
ing machinery for the CappSl Min
ing company, the grouuo or wnicn ad-
joins that of the Hidden Treasure on
Deadwo0d gulch. This would indi-
cate that work is soon to be resumed
on the property, which is in of the
most heavily mineralized districts of
the Black Hills, and one from which
a lot of rich ore has been taken. This
property is owned by Lincoln, Neb.,
and Omaha people, and has had a
great deal of development work al
ready done on 1t. II is on the phon-
olite belt, and some of the ore taken
from former workings of the proper
ty have proved to carry very good
commercial values. The property is
well known to mining men of this
section of the Hills who entertain
high opinion of ii and believe that 1t
can be developed into a producing
and a paying proposition. It is un-
derstood that when work is again re-
sumed on it the mine will be given
a good development, for there is
plenty of money behind those who
will have charge of the new work, and
it will be in the hands of experienced
mining men. The Capitol at one time
attracted considerable attention, but
the work of development, for some
reason, was allowed to lapse. How
ever, it is said that when work starts
on the ground this time II will be
started to stay.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-12-23

old baby was rescued by firemen.
but died of its burns. One child is
missing in the ruins. White was kill
ed when he leaped from a third story
and fell on electric wires, carrying
high power and was electrocuted.
While search of the ruins is con-
tinued, the hotel officials believe all
have been accounted for.
White father died recently and
the family had accompanied the
body to Iowa. They reached Chey-
enne Sunday on their return to Cali
fornia, and stopped to visit a sister
of Mrs. White. They engaged rooms
in the hotel an hour before the fire
Another fire broke out in the paint
shops and store house of the Union
Pacific, while the hotel was burning
The monetary loss amounts to over
100000. Both fires are believed to
have been caused by defective wiring
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-12-23
1T is A GREAT THING"

1T is great thing, you know, to
lead $50 men into action. l am one
of the lucky company commanders
who are to go over with their COM
panies. From a letter written to
Lady Leying by Lieutenant the Hon.
v. S. T. Harmsworth (Royal Naval
Division) before going into the action
in which he was killed. aged 81. He
was known to his men as "Our Jim
my"
Its a great thing''-to die for Eng
land,
Brave young English boy!
Those are the tidings that you bring
us,
Tidings of great joy.
Lift up your hearts, then, o. ye
mourners,
Follow where he goes;
Weave his words In your crown of
laurel
With the English rose.
It's great thing to die for freedom
AS the English die,
To lead your comrades into battle
When dread dawn is nigh.
To fear not death, nor to regard 1t,
But confront the foe,
With a word that mems hearts hold
fast to
All the way they go.
It's great thing-and great for ever
Shall your young fame be,
Your words be craven on the white
walls
OF our English sea.
BY sea and land we shall remember
Till at end of all
We hear your voice among the shad-
Like bugle call.
MABEL LEIGH.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-12-23
Aa,..N.,E an THE PRICE

OF SILVER ENCOURAGING
The steady advance In the price
of silver, while not attracting much
attention as have the sensational
rises in the baser metals. is matter
of utmost importance to the financial
world and particularly to the men OF
the west where so many great silver
producing mines are located, says
Goodwin's Weekly. Stocks represent
ing these mines have not experienced
q strong enough movement during the
rise in the price of the metal, prob
ably because that rise has been so
gradual, but when the public is fully
cognizant of what will be necessary
In the readjustment of the monetary
situation all over the world later on,
or In other words. when the war is at
an end, we believe In common with
market students that there will be
boom in silver stocks entirely separ
ate from that which has affected Sc
curities in any other distinctive class.
The longer the war goes on the
greater is the possibility of the re-
monetization of silver. There has al
ready been a large absorption of sill
yer for coinage purposes due to the
withdrawal of gold from circulation
by the allies, and financiers seem
agreed that there is strong proba-
bility of II becoming a question with
all the powers embroiled abroad of re-
pudiating their international obliga-
tions If the great nations Of the world
do not remonetize silver or accept
1t on a fixed basis at a much higher
value than the present price of the
metal. There Is no discounting the
importance of the position of silver
in the world of finance today, and
with its strength assured it will again
be most important factor in the
prosperity of the entire country and
particularly the western states. Sure
ly the outlook for metal mining in
Utah for 1917 is most propitious.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-12-23
CARRANZA DID NOT
RATIFY THE PROTOCOL

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 1S.-Gen-
eral Carranza's representatives on
the Mexican-American joint commits
sion admitted that Carranza has not
ratified the protocol signed three
weeks ago at Atlantic City. They an
nounced that Carranza has empow-
cred the Representatives to draft
"a counter declaration of Mexican pol
icy They have assured the Ameri-
cans that the delay in the ratification
does not signify rejection of the
agreement. The counter proposition
has not been made public.
Carranza, it is understood, has
stated that Secretary Lanes an
nouncement of the American policy
has made it inconsistent for him to
sign the agreement. Carranza, it is
reported. told his representatives not
to break with the Americans If pos
sible. Both sides expressed belief
that the conference will continue and
that there will be no interruption.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-12-23
Mines dn0 Mining
activities in that state:

activities in that state:
Demand for high grade eastern
oil has largely increased because OF
the decline in the high grade mid
continent output. Production in the
Cushing Shamrock pools is down to
only slightly more than $4,000 bar
rels day. Early last year Cushing
alone did 100000 barrels day
Shamrock at its height produced in
excess of $50, 900 barrels daily. Now
both of them are averaging only a
little more than $4,000 barrels daily.
With this reasonable decline in
Cushing crude production and the
permanent decline of the Pennsyl-
vania fields, the only hope for in
creased output of crude oil high in
gasoline content lies in Wyoming.
This last named state has a greater
estimated percentage of oil in the
ground than any other oil field in
this country.
Wyoming oil is better grade than
Pennsylvania crude. Oil from the
Greybull and Elk basin districts of
Wyoming run about so per cent gas
oline, practically double some eastern
oils.
wyoming today is in about the
same position as Oklahoma ten years
ago. needing only pipe line facilities
and storage to bring out the full de-
velopment of the oil resources of the
state. That sufficient pipe lines will
be put in at the proper time is taken
for granted.
Heretofore new work in Wyom-
ing has been held up largely in the
winter, but at present work is going
on steadily and by the spring Of 1917
Wyoming is practically sure of being
the most active oil field in the Unit
ed States"
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-12-23
FIGHTING LETTING UP
A LITTLE IN BALKANS
GERMANS AND RUSSIANS CLAIM
MINOR SUCCESSES IN THE
EASTERN THEATER OF THE
GREAT CONFLICT

The French have regained the en-
tente Chambrettes farm, northwest
OF Verdun. Prisoners taken by the
French in the latest thrust total IL =
600. Over two hundred guns were
taken.
The Teutons were successful in
minor engagements in Dobrudja.
The Austro-Germans have crossed
tire Chambrettes form, northwest
have taken virtually all the ground
captured previously in Dobrudja. The
Teutons are near the important rail-
road storage centers of Ibraila and
Galtaz.
The Russians have taken two
heights on the Moldavian frontier.
The Russian attacks in Volyhnia were
repulsed.
There is little activity on the other
fronts.
Berlin has announced that
French warship or the Patrie class
was damaged by a German torpedo
in the Mediterranean December -.
and that an the previous day a
French transport, carrying 1000 sol
diers, was torpedoed off Sicily. The
French admiralty denies the loss of
a warship of the Patrie class.
Waiting for Lloyd-George's Speech
LONDON, Dec. 1S.-The speech of
Premier Lloyd-George in the house
of commons tomorrow is expected
to be the most important utterance
since the memorable speeches in
which Viscount Grey discussed
whether Great Britain should come
into the war. The Premier ras re-
covered from his indisposition and
was at work today. He will rise to
address the commons about A o'clock,
and will probably speak for an hour
and half. His speech will be a re-
ply to the German peace note and
will outline the whole policy of the
new government, which he organiz-
I'D for the avowed purpose to carry
on war with all the vigor the nation
can command to a successful end"
BERLIN, Dec. 1S.-The losses of
the French army during the war
have been 3,S0O,0OO, according to a
competent military authority" says
the Overseas News Agensy. The
British loss has been 100000, it
adds.
LONDON, Dec. 16.-The foreign
office has announced that it has not
received the peace note and promi-
nent officials disclaimed any knowl-
edge of its contents, except what the
newspapers have published.
The French victory at Verdun is
acclaimed as the French reply to the
German emperor's speech to his
troops in Alsace and the German
chancellor's claim of the invincibl-
ity of German arms.
The British press reflect the al
most unanimous opinion that the least
the government can do is to make a
statement on the allies aims and OBJ
Jects, or ask for the presentation of
the German terms. The Northcliffe
group of papers urge the government
to ignore all overtures.
Sir Hedley LIE Bas. a retired sol
dier, writes to the papers, urging
that the men in the trenches have
the highest right to speak, and that
their views be obtained before any
measures are decided upon
Swiss dispatches say that Count
Tisza, the Hungarian premier, has
gone to Berlina to use his influence
for peace.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-12-23
Guard Mobilization a Failure

WASHINGTON, Dec. Is. - The
mobilization of the national guard
tor border service is described as a
military failure, emphasizing the
urgent necessity for abandoning the
volunteer system as the nations re-
lance for defense, are statements
made by Major General Scott and
Major General Wood before the SEN
ate subcommittee considering the
Chamberlain universal military train
ing bill Wood declared the country
is utterly defenseless against a well
organized foe; that mobilization
would be tragedy, and if the guards
men met good troops they would not
know what hit them"
Scott said the European war has
demonstrated that the United States
needs a million and a half trained
troops, and a million and half ad
ditional in case of war with a first
class power.
Would Refer 1t to the Citizens
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-Senator
Underwood's amendment to the Dis
trict of Columbia prohibition bill,
providing for a referendum to the cit
izens of the district, was debated at
length in the senate without reach
ing vote. The proponents of the
referendum believe they have suf-
ficient number of votes to carry it
through by close margin. 1t may
reach a vote tomorrow.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-12-23
CITY OF CHICAGO NOW
FACING COAL FAMINE

CHICAGO, ILL.,, Dec. 18.-With
zero weather prevailing, Chicago is
facing fuel famine. Reports from
all sections of the city indicated that
householders are obtaining coal only
with the greatest difficulty, and that
the visible supply is rapidly dimln-
ishing. Coal receipts are believed
to be from 5000 to 1000 tons short
of the daily consumption. The city
health authorities urge household
ers to reduce the temperature of their
houses from 70 to 60 degrees, which
is said to be much healthier.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-12-23
CHARGES THE ENGLISH
CONSP|REO AGAINST THEM

SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. IS. -
Charges that A. Carnegie Ross, Brit
ish consul general at San Francisco,
plotted with secret service agents to
discredit the representatives of the
German government, were made by
the defense In the trial of German
Consul Franz Boop, and six others,
charged with conspiracy to violate
American neutrality by destroying
munitions of war destined for the en-
tente allies. Counsel for the defense
said bombs were taken to the Ger
man consulate by British agents in
order to discredit the Germans.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-12-23

WATERLOO, Ia, Dec. 1S.-Mrs.
Ruth Connor, of Elgin, ILL.,. killed one
of two twin babies by hitting the
child over the ear, and attempted to
burn the other In cook stove and
then cut her own throat at Elgin
Sunday, according to information re-
ceived here. The second child and
Mrs. Connor are In a serious condi-
tion. Family and financial troubles
are said to be responsible for the wo-
mans act.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-12-23
Conference over News Print sho

Conference Over News Print Shortage
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18.-The fed
eral commission, in conference with
committees of newspaper publishers,
paper manufacturers and jobbers, in
an effort to work out a plant for re-
lieving the news print paper stiua-
ton, has addressed inquiries to all
interests concerned throughout the
country, to ascertain if an actual
news print shortage exists. Some Of
the publishers of large dailies have
been asked if they will relinquish
some of their paper contracted for
1917. Small publishers have been
asked the extent of their needs.
Manufacturers have been directed to
inform the commission concerning
their contracts for next years pro-
duction. Plans for the publishers
for financing paper mills to help take
care of the newspaper needs, it is
said, are rapidly taking shape. The
committee will meet next week
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-12-23
THE WOODEN SHOE

liz hides we lack,
And prices rue;
Bring back, bring back,
The wooden shoe;
II fashion says the word. you know,
We all will wear the French sabot.
II keeps its shape,
Does not wear out;
And, in a scrape,
Most foes can rout--
The future pictures, in mirage,
Our strikers using sabotage.
Well save our cash;
Indeed. we must;
And quickly smash
The leather trust
No other plan so much will do;
Bring back. bring back the wooden
shoe! ]. A.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-12-23

Those people who want govern
ment to mind everybodys business
for him ought at least to accept the
consequences of their doctrine. They
say government does more for pigs
than for people, more for horses and
cittle than for people, more for the
tree nursery than for the human
misery. 1t does. 1t makes the farm
er slaughter diseased pigs and horses
and cattle, and cut down and burn up
orchard trees afflicted with blight.
If 1t did as much for humans it
would prescribe chlorform for some
millions of chronically sick Ameri-
cans, and administer lethal dose of
laughing-gas to paternalists them
selves.
Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-12-23

Every human being is so big
problem that he alone can solve it.
His own father cannot eat for him
or drink for him, or marry for him,
cannot suffer in his stead the pangs
of either birth or dissolution. Ger
tainly the government could not at
tend to the job even so well as the
father. Both the purpose of provi-
dence and the necessities of society
ordain that man shall be free agent,
his freedom limited only by his neigh
boris. Himself must choose be-
tween good and evil. The way to
make him good for nothing is TO rear
him as hot-house plants or fat cattle
are reared. The sole business of
is to see that NOBODY
else interferes either to make or mar.
Its vainest task is to tackle the Job
itself.