davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1917-04-20

Clarence ousley says that hlsh
prlees for feed stun are not due to
speculation, but to scarclty.He urges
farmers to raise food and feed
J. W. Neill. Director OF Farmers
Institutes, I'VE are going into war
with our food supply million dol
lars short OF last years stock"
Mr.. Neall gives comparison OF pri-
ces prevailing lart year and TINS
shows corn meal 'i.15 higher, Irish
potatoes 95 cents, sweet potatoes
yi.15. flour $500 a barrel up. bacon
Q cents up wheat rs cents and beans
seven cents. other food up in proper
tion.
Continuing Mr. NELL says:
1t ia almost certain that food and
feed crops will net greater returns
than cotton. Again, the cotton crop
may be denied transportation. In that
case double calamity will be pro-
duced,
Raise all the live stock possible.
Meat. milk and butter and eggs and
poultry will all be needed to tide the
nation through the threatened IA
mine. Other nations entered the war
with plenty; today. their food prob
lem il serious. We enter the war
with a big shortage.
The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1917-04-20
GER. SUB FIRES TORPEDO
AT U s CRUISER CHESTER

Boston, Mass. April 17.-An Of
fetal report OF an engagement be
tween United States submarine
chaser In command OF Smith and an
enemy submarine at $3.50 a. m. on
Sandy Hook today. The report came
from the Charleston navy yards and
was from the U, S. cruiser Chester.
The submarine was plainly seen as
It fred torpedo at the Chester
which dropped so yards in the ves-
sells wake. The sub disappeared.
The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1917-04-20

Words fall to express our thanks
to the good frienda and Drs. English
and Bullock. who so lovingly assist
ed us during the Illness and death
OF our baby. N'dge. May Heavens
richest bless q 90 showercd on each
Of you Is our prayer
Mr.. and Mrs, W. d. Montgomery
and Children. Mrs. Hattie Monlgom-
err. isp
The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1917-04-20

Song.
Prayer.
Song.
Missionary of China.
/. Scripture reading Matthew
2s-1G-2O-Dan Pogue,
2. Life OF the Missionary In China
Myrtle Brooks.
Song.
4. Reading Willie Mae Wllks.
&. Good Of the Missionary In
China-LOls Sears.
G. Sword Drill.
Song,
Prayer,
The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1917-04-20
Notice.

| have bought the Hunt black
smith shop ut the Nation wagon vari
First class satisfaction guaranteed.
NJ. A. PATRICK,
47p Formerly with ]. S. Curtis
The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1917-04-20

Plenty OF Red TOP Cane Seed a,
J.. W. TemFleson'a
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-07-19
Toilet
Goods
$1.50 Hair Brushes Ct
Guaranteed .Cl

SOC Dressing Combs, black,
soc.
25c Tooth Brushes. 19c.
IOc Wash Cloths. Sc.
SIPS DER Kiss Extract,
o.. 81.
81 Azurea Extract, o.. soc.
$3.50 Mary Garden Extract.
or, $3.50.
So Ideal Houbigant Ex-
tract. or. SI.5O.
SOC DER Kiss Face Pow
der. box, 45c.
3oc der Kiss Talcum
Powder. 2sc.
2sc Azurea Talcum Pow
der. use.
l5c Mennen's Talcum, lie.
15c Steel Files. Dc.
81 Manicure Scissors. soc.
25c Steel Tweezers, lie.
25c Woodbury's Facial
Soap, IBc.
CSC NUNS Deodorant. lie.
CSC Od-or-on or. bottle, lie.
19c Kolynos Tooth Paste,
lie.
csc Lyons Tooth Powder,
I5e.
CSC Ponds Vanishing
Cream. ISc.
soc stilIma ms Freckls
Cream, 35c.
PaIaIS ROyaHStreet Floor.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-07-19
Children's Rain Coats,
Friday at S1.9S

Guaranteed rain-proof mate
rials. Belt back models: navy
and tan; in sizes to II years,
PnlRls RoyaL-Third Floor.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-07-19
Chldren's Csc Socks,
Friday, 1Sc

White Isle Socks in sizes to
81. at 1sc pair or 2 pairs for soc.
Street Floor.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-09

are regarded as Injuries for there Is
nothing so worrying TO soldiers as TO
tramp through wet, slippery trenches,
Loopholes for firing are merely win
dows without glass among the sand
bags. and are set UP In aections settled
upon by The engineers. The sandbag
protection, too. must be carefully butts
up and Is under the supervision of
the corps, The sappinE and destruc-
ton OF the trenches of the enemy is
one OF the delicate tasks OF the war.
for the Germans have listening posts
as well as the Allies and should the
sounds of sapplng be heard the work
Is useless as the men will be moved
from that particular trench before the
explosion and blowing mp takes pIare
or counter sap may be made and
the Allies sappers he blown to atoms
The setting up OF barbed wire en-
tanglements Is not as easy as il looks
and this was formerly done hv tho
engineer corps alone. but the task
became so great in France that the
infantry had to be pressed into SERVED
and for the past year they have been
working under expert engineer officers
and have erected wire entanglements
dug trenches and rivetted them. made
the loopholes and traperses, foored
trenches and prepared the necessary
saps. Frequently It happens that a
battery OF guns requires clear field
Of FIRE and II is necessary 10 get rid
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-09

Of trees in front OF tfe position. The
axe is no longer used for this purpose.
the dynamite squad OF the engineer
corps soon accomplishes the task by a
few charges of dynamite.
IT Is important that newly captured
positions be protected. This is among
the most dangerous of the engineers
tasks, for It invariably entails the set
ting UP Of wire entanglem ents while
the big German guns are In action.
Naturally the water supply and san
itation of camps rests with the engi-
neers. who work in connection with
the sanitary officers in giving the men
pure water and keeping them free
from disco Sc. Indeed. the tasks which
confront the engineer corps In the
present war seem almost overwhelrn-
ing. and the British and French corps
are so overworked that when the
United States entered the war the first
cry from France was a plea that en-
gineers be sent ct once. and already a
large number of the American Engi-
neering Corps are on duty Id that
stricken land.
e. s. Engineer Corps,
The Corps OF Engineers OF the Unit
ed States Army was organized in 1909.
and consisted OF about twenty officers
and men. They were stationed at
West Point and formed the nucleus OF
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-09

discussion Congress passed what was
known as the Alaska Railroad Bill.
which was approved by the President
on March IL, 1914. The road was not
TO exceed one thousand miles. nor Is
1t to cost more than s35.0o0,000. The
purpose of the railroad. as set forth
in the Act. lis as follows:
II To connect one Or more of the
Pacific Ocean harbors on the south
ern coast of Alaska with the navigable
waters OF the interior.
2, To connect the coal fields so as
to best aid the development of the
agricultural. mineral and other re-
sources.
8. To provide transportation of coal
for the Army and Navy. transporta-
ton of troops, munitions of war. malls
and other governmental and public
uses including the transportation OF
passengers and freight
The primary purpose of the railroad
system authorized in the Act was to
develop the mineral resources Of the
country. particularly its coal.
Road Problems.
The matter of surveys and construc-
ton work was placed In the hands of
the Alaskan Engineering Commission
under the supervision of the Secretary
of the Interior. Building a railroad
In country where glaciers and
mountains are plentiful Is no easy
task and several routes were surveyed
before the present ono was finally de-
cided on. The survey was completed
early in 1915 and the work began.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-09

officers duties is to know how ard
where an explosive should be placed
70 wreck a bridge or building. When
! the army moves a part 4 tl4e engineer
corps goes as the advance guard to
see that bridges are strong enough to
bear the weight of the transports and
20 lay pontoons, IL necessary. They
facilitate the march wherever possible.
Another section of engineers moves in
tho Gear of the army ready to destroy
rte bridges and roads over which the
troops have passed should this be a
war necessity. as It frequently Is dur
ing a retreat
The greater part OF their work Is
done under fire, and although shot and
shell may be falling all around them
It IS necessary that they continue their
work so that the line OF communiea-
ton may not be broken and other
troops can he moved to The scene. In
several instances German guns have
wiped out whole companies of engi-
neers, but others have come up to take
their places.
Keeping open the communication is
one of he first duties of the engineers
The telegraph and telephone wires
usually run along the roads in France
as they do in America, and they are
frequently sheiled and wires and poles
demolished Many an engineer has
gone to his death In repairing tele-
phone or telegraph wires. FOR the top
OF pole is not q safety zone when
shrapnel is flying through the air.
The battle around Mcsslnes was
won by the engineers who tunneled
like human molos. making a subway
beneath the enemy's trenches and
working under tho most adverse con-
ditions. When all was completed the
infantry rushed IN with steel and bay
onets. moving the Germans down Ike
nIes. vet without tho engineers' pians
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-09

the hope of finding gold began to
show results IN opening up it's mineral
resources Later they tried agricul-
tural pursuits and succeeded In rails
ing grain and vegetables. While the
ze7s0u WAS short tho land was so
fertile that the crops matured in a
short time. and the Alaskans discov-
cred that they could feed themselves
IL they had proper transportation
The streams abounded in fish and
great canneries were set up, Indian
labor being used in many places. The
question of transportation was a mo-
mentous one. and year after year rep
resentatlves from Alaska came to
Washington TO plead with Congress
for aid IN this. Wagon roads were
constructed in some parts OF the
country. but In winter these were
often closed by the deep SHOWS and
in the early spring the melting snow
and ice made travel Impossible.
Steamers piled the Yukon River. but
these only touched a small part of
the vast country and naviga ton be-
tween october and June was dificult
few short railroads were built
mainly from mines and although they
could handle only small amount of
freight it became evident that rail-
road from tho coast to the interior
was the solution Of their difficulty
Railroad Bin Passed.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-09
TSH|o IIeW @H
IzNH/2o GZ/I2 HI1Z i.
z2lsyI22z2MG22G7<

the present military academy. From
! time to time the eerps wa. increaysd
until 1t included several thousand
men. Several schools were opened
for the special training of the en-.
listed men Of the corps. the largew
one being at Fort Leavenworth. Kan,
AS this Is the scientific branch Of tho
service the graduates at West Point
who stand highest in the class are
assigned to this service. The rank
and file are not required TO be trained.
artifcers when they enlist. but arc
given a course of technical training
by their officers. Hundreds OF men
Of the engineer corps are now in train
ing in different camps throughout the
United States preparing to go to
Trance where they must undertake
large operations In the construction
and repair of bridges In France. They
must repair and maintain roads over
which our supplies will be brought 70
the battle line. According 10 tho
Chief OF Engineers Of the Army u.ura
OF this work win have to he done
within tho range of the enemv's guns.
win Carry Own Equipment
The Engineer Corps 1t Is stated viii
carry its own rolling stock to tho
theatre OF war. which In itself viii no
gigantic task. Expert miners will
he sent to carry out the intricate op-
erations OF modern trench warfare
The men in the camps are studying
all the new appliances which the pres
ent war has brought into usc, arrli-
ances hitherto unknown In warfare,
The lights for night work on the hat
I tlefeld will be under their srpe~y,-
sion. and the use OF search lights.
flares, star bombs and rife ~renHSes
are part OF the training course
today.
Camoufiage. the modern art Z re-
ducing the visibility OF objects. mus.
be applied for the protection NJ our
troops. guns. aircraft. etc. in France
and the engineers are making a sra.
csai study OF this subject. Men WHO
are artists and experts in color have
been sent 10 France TO work out these
rohlems, The actual work NIL he
done by the soldiers after the plsns
are complete.
Perhaps the American Engineers
will cause history to repeat Itself
and win the war.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-09

town. During the latter Part OF 1916
tho Commission established 6ttfs4on
headquarters at Nenana fifty-six miles
southwest OF Fairbanks. and on this
division about ninety miles of road
way has been cleared and about ten
miles graded The northern section
! in this way is being built toward the
southern section and the wo are ex-
: pecfed 10 Join by the summer OF 1913.
In this way a number of rich coal
helds will be tapped forming m al
most inexhaustlble supply of coal. The
big fields at Nenana are expected to
supply the locomotives OF the railroad
and will also be available as fuel
for the river steamers In the interior
which now use wood. The railroad
will also afford speedy transportation
for all products of that rich country
and give them a profitable market.
| During the year OF 1915 the
Alaskan mines made a mineral pro-
duction valued at $50, 900, 900. a large
increase over former years. If there
Is such a vast output, with so little
transportation from the interior, 1t is
safe to predict that with the opening
up of proper transportation Aiaska's
output Of minerals will surprise the
world.
Employees Housed BY Government.
| The work on the railroad Is being
carried out very much like that done
on the Panama Canal. The employees
are being housed by the Government
The married employees have comfort
able homes and are able to purchase
their food supplies from the Railroad
Commissary Department at moderate
prices. The unmarried employees
have bachelor quarters and eat at
the mess halls paying a small price
for each meal. There Is free medical
attendance and a certain number of
days allowed in each year for sickness
also for vacation. At first the men
lived in tents. hut later comfortable
cottages were erected, together with
amusement halls including Y. NJ. C. A.
buildings. There are bowling alleys
and movie" shows There was little
difficulty In securing labor and the
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-09
TICf ErC~2
0GaDe C4z~ E0~

The route selected leads from Seward
Ocean, and runs inland for four hun
dred and seventy miles to Fairbanks
.ea-tR e-Taaaaa- Rivera naxigahle
tributary of the Yukon. About one
hundred and Atty miles OF the work
has already been completed. In plan
ming the railroad it vas necessary for
the Government TO purchase some of
the small railroads owned by private
companies.
The Alaska Northern Railroad was
one of these. 1t Is a railroad first
conceived by Seattle capitalists in the
year 1903. for the purpose OF secur-
ing a more direct route from the
Pacific Ocean to the interior of
Alaska, In the hope of getting a per-
ton of the trade between seaports OF
the United States and the Fairbanks
and Klondike mining regions. both OF
which. at times. showed great pros
perity. The ultimate intention was
10 extend the line farther north. In
its early stages 1t was known as the
Alaska Central Railroad and under
this name 1t went into the hands of
receiver. After Its affairs were set
tied 1t changed hands and became
known as the Alaska Northern Rail
road. and was purchased by the Unit
ed States Government in 1918. 1t runs
from Seward to Kern Creek on Tur-
nagain Arm of Cooks Inlet. and forms
the first seventy-one miles OF the new
railroad. After its purchase by the
Government it was completely over
hauled. as 1t was in such bad condi-
ton that travel over it was no longer
safe.
The construction work OF the new
railroad beyond the Alaska Northern
was started at Anchorage. point at
the head of deep sea navigation on
upper Cooks Inlet. This town is the
'present headquarters OF the Commits
sion and has become thriving little
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-09

and picks and shovels such a thing
would have been impossible.
Repairing the railroads is another
i'm pnrtant task Of the engineers for
the supply OF food and ammunition
must be kept up. When II Is known
that in France some of the big
howitzers on the Western front use
from five TO ten tons of ammunition
per day and that France uses more
than $4,000 tons of food and material,
including horse food each week, some
Idea of the Importance OF railway
communication can be understood.
Building Trenches.
Tho planning and building of
trenches Is one OF their duties, and
since trench warfare seems to play
such an important part In the conflict
he work has to be done with the
greatest accuracy. In laying out the
trenches many things have to be taken
into consideration and their relative
importance Judged according to spe-
ciai circumstances and objects in
view, keeping in mind the probable
lines and manner of defense OF the
enemy and whether the trenches are
for permanent or temporary use.
Places must be provided for machine
guns and listening posts as well as
for men with rifles and bayonets.
Many OF the trenches have several
levels. and 1t Is from this type that
the men go up and over" during
trench raids. The construction of
dugouts. too. come under the engineer
corps. These are carefully prepared
with roofs more or less shell proof.
for here human beings live for days
like rabbits in their burrows. Ere
quently the medical corps have first
aid stations In dugouts. and the prob
lem Of keeping these dressing stations
sanitary Is not easy to solve. Some
OF the trenches have foers and these
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-09

Il. impregnable walls, was captured
by the army Of Cyrus after the engI-
neer'ng feat OF divcrtlnE the Fuph-
rates River frob, It's course, the enemy
entering The city on the bed OF the
river under the walls.
Only recently a noted military cx-
pert declared that the japanese enef-
nccrs won tho Russo-Japaucse war
for Japan. Many attempts had been
made to take Port Arthur without sue
cess. The japanese were particularly
anxious TO have the place In their
rF0TEcsFt0u before Tho birthday Of The
dikado, knowing it was thu best
birthday present they could give 20
him. After voiniy trying 10 break
down the fortress the engineer CORPS
was called into service These men
decided That the army must 40 ia I'M
foreground SO they dug their way into
the fortress by cutting verHabie
maze OF pagsageways beneath the sur
face OF tho earth--mines. tunnels
trenches and saps ran in zig zag SIS nm
I'll finally tho infantry was enabled to
march under tho outer fortifcattons
without being exposed 70 FIRE. The
fight then became hand TO hand
conflict and Port Arthur fell-due to
the work OF the engineers who made
IT possible for the little brown men"
TO enter without being exposed TO the
artillery fire from theft
Engineers Save The Day.
During the present war more than
one delicate situation has been turned
{nto vtcfGyv for tho ATJ{sz Ia, tn
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-09

work has gone forward with a rush.
Alaska produces oil and since the
coming of the railroad oil fields are
being developed at Katalla. Lead.
silver and nickel ores are also found.
and a little later these will play their
part in Alaska output. but just at
present the coal Is perhaps Its great
est asset III The eyes or the Govern
nent- The engineers have had many
different problems 20 solve IN the con-
struction OF tho road. especially in
Moose Canyon. where there was much
rock work TO be done and again a.
Mile 1o1 the grade was difficult and
the steam shoveis were called upon
10 work to their utmost capacity.
Along Moore's Creek the timber was
thick and the clearing of the land
required much time and labor. A.
number OF bridges were constructed
and these required heavy abutments
on account of the rapidly flowing
streams and the ice foes In the spring.
SO far there have been few of the
distressing accidents which always
occur in the building OF railroads
Competent physicians are stationed at
different points along the road and
can reach any part of the work
In a short time. Warehouses. wharves
and terminals too. have been built
and the Alaska railroad will soon be
able to take care of a large amount
Of freight and passenger tradac.
Opportunities For sett1erA
Alaska has large amount OF FREQ
land and from timc to time this 10
being opened to the public In the hope
of attracting farmers from the United
States. The country Is also rich In
forests, and timber on the public lands
may be purchased at q low rate. Oc-
cupancy Of this land during the cut
ting OF timber Is permitted under
proper restriction. Water resources
are excellent and Ash abound. On
the whole Alaska offers a world Of
wealth to the man who is willing 10.
rough It and work and Uncle Sam Ii
lending his assistance as railroad
builder.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-09
Men Who Plan Trenches,
Build Bridges, Construct
Railways, Dig Mines, Set
Up Telephone and Tele-
graph Lines and Other
wiseCarry theHeavyBur-
dens of War.
Copyright, 1a17, by The International
Syndicate.

~NGTNETRING HAS ALWAYS
- been an important part of war
III fare and tho earliest historical
%S@A records Of military expeditions
give numerous instances of the suc-
cess OF g campaign being due to some
engineering feat planned and executed
by those specially trained in the
science OF mechanics, 1t is a tradi-
fion founded en- fact that great Baby
Ion. resting secure behind its SEEM
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-09

conceded by all Thar the venture or
the part Of the Government IN the
building OF the Alaska Railroad is for
the public welfare and VIII be q great
heneft TO the whole nation for it is
expected to play an important part,
the solving Of some OF tho war, prob
lens which now confront the United
States.
Alaska IS particularly rich in coal
fields and the railroad makes trans
poriatlon 10 the soa coast easy. This
will furnish unllmited coal for the
navy obviating the necessity for the
trans continental shipment 70 the
Pacific Coast ef fzet for Government
vessels and 1t the same time release
thousands 81 cars for the transporta-
lion OF war material and foodstuna.
The railroad Will also. aid Alaska in
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-09
Transportation A Problem.

It was many years before our gov.
eminent came 20 a realization OF tho
undeveloped riches or Stewards
Folly as Alaska was called, It was
thought TO ne land Of snow and Ice
with mineral wealth difficult TO reach
and was regarded as Of little value
70 the United states. Gradually,
however. mon who had gone there in
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-09
How the Railroad Now Being Built By the Govern
ment In Alaska Is Expected 70 AID Us In the
PresentW War A Sketch of Its Construction
Copyright. 1917. by The International Syndicate

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