davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1917-09-09
Bv GEORGE w. EDWARDS, Ph. D.,
Author Of "Nsw York ~ an Eish.
tsenth Century Municipality"

Author Of "Nsw York a. an Eigh-
teenth Century Municipality"
THIs is not the first time New
York has witnessed the opera
L ton Of a compulsory military
service law. selective drafting. with
exemptions for persons engaged In in
dustries vital to military needs. was
conducted during both tho French and
Indian war and the Revolution. In
17b5, at tho outbreak Of tho hnal inter-
colonial conflict between English and
French colonies for mastery Of North
America, the need Of men for defend
Ing New York city and for attacking
Canada was acute.
Soon after hostilNies opened the
Leg,slature of New York passed q
military statute similar In many fea-
lures to the selective draft law Of last
May. During the Revolutionary War
when the colonists were no longer
nghting on the side OF the mother
country but against her. the ranks Of
the New York militia were again hlled
by resorting TO the draft. Tho col
umns Of the Colonial newspapers and
the pages OF the old laws dealing with
the drafts reveal situations strikingly
similar to the present one.
In some respects the old statutes
were far more rigorous than tho pres.
snt law, because they applied to al
ablebodied males between 10 and 60
Furthermore. II "slackers" were caught
leaving the city when II was threat
ened by attack they were summartly
lined up before hring squad.
Problems Of exemptions proved a
troublesome in the early days as now
Should schoolmasters be discharged
from military service? was question
which aroused considerable discussion
The sun., 1917-09-09

Curious indeed were the instruc-
tions which the Provincial Congress
forwarded to the military authorities
regarding physical and moral re-
quirements Of recruits Rule read
as follows:
You are not to enlist any man who
is not ablebodied. healthy and a good
marcher; but as men Of a good ap-
pearance may have ruptures, and
[otherl complaints which render them
incapable of soldiers duty. you must
give attention. that you may not be
imposed upon. and take the opinion OF
surgeon. where there Is room for
suspicion"
Rule 2 gives this sound advice:
You will have great regard to moral
character, sobriety in particular: let
our manners distinguish us from our
enemies. as much as the cause we
arc engaged In"
That all the recruits did not meas
ure up to these high standards OF vir-
tue and sobriety is painfully evident
from contemporaneous accounts given
of their actions. These descriptions
reveal the forces in 1875 as raw, un-
organized and unaccustomed to tha
discipline OF army life
However. when Washington took
personal command of the troops in
New York city in the following year
he appealed to their better nature, and
| Irregularities for the greater part
ceased. To-day. as thousands OF our
young men are leaving civil pursuits
for military camps, this country can
face the future with optimism when
1t views the remarkable contrast with
the effectiveness Of the colonial troops
during the early years OF the Revolu
ton. Undisciplned and practically
ignorant Of military tactics. the
Americans were beaten again and
again In the campaign around New
York In 1916. But. hardened by the
blows NJ experience and trained by
camp drills at Valley Forge. Wash
ington's men In time were match
for the picked troops of Europe.
The sun., 1917-09-09

have been spending thousands Of dol
lars in river front improvements
designed to this end. However. the
greatest single factor in the work has
been New Orleans. where millions in
stead Of thousands have been expended.
Davenport, Ia, has expended ST.
900, 900 in building a sea wall along its
river front. and has installed terminal
facilities which will make 1t one Of
the most important ports Of call. New
Orleans will have expended moro than
$50 100000 in improving her port IA
cilities by 1920. large bond issues hav-
ing been sold recently to permit the
beginning Of the work. To this sum
must be added the $1s000,0 900 the Gov
ernment has expended In building a
deep sea channel to the Gulf. a distance
Of about 100 miles from New Orleans.
Another $2,o00,o00 has been expended
on revetment work In the New Or
leans district. and hundreds Of thou
sands Of dollars in improving the port
itself
2oO Miles for Big Ships.
Great steamships may now steam
up the river ESQ miles from tho Gulf
or more than forty miles above
Baton Rouge. The huge tankers and
freighters are common sights above
New Orleans. owing to the location of
Standard OIL plant below Baton
Rouge.
When New Orleans has finished her
improvements now under way her har-
bor will be one of the wonders of the
world and a model Of efficiency. The
city has spent nearly $5000,000 In
building n system Of modern docks
sheds and wharfs equipped with every
known device to facilitate the handling
OF freight OF all kinds. 1t has built a
mammoth cotton warehouse covering
forty-four acres at an expense of $3,-
100000 and expects to spend another
$4,000 900 in providing other immense
warehouses to handle the traffic in
coffee. grain and general merchandise
Still more millions were expended In
The sun., 1917-09-09
TrPE or
BARGE ON
MISSOURI RIVER.

years been spending great sums in i'm
proving its port facilities and has
completed the first units. Giant cot
ton. coffee and fruit warehouses, which
cover many acres. will enable that port
to care for every pound Of freight that
comes down the river. The cotton and
coffee warehouses are the largest
structures Of their kind In the world
and are owned by the city. as are the
belt line railroad and the port facili-
ties.
Modern Terminals Needed.
The greatest handicap in the cam
paign for the revival OF inland naviga-
ton has been the lack OF modern
river terminals which would enable
large freight boats to ply the river
at profit. Few of the river ports
except some OF the large cities have
made any attempt to coordinate rail
and river terminal facilities, and
transportation companies building
large boats have found 1t almost i'm
possible to do a profitable business
under such primitive conditions.
The demands which will be made
The sun., 1917-09-09

Old river men who have been spared
to see such a revival OF interest in the
use of the river regret that Mark
Of the busy days in which he knew tho
river at its best.
The obituary Mark Twain wrote
years ago IL still remembered by river
men. mississippi steamhoating," he
wrote. was born In 1872, at the end
of thirty years II had grown 10 mighty
proportions. and in less than thirty
years it was dead" The railroads and
towboats displaced the steamboat:
In turn the latter was killed because "
the lack of modern terminal facilities.
"Uncle Memford's" description of the
rise and fall of river traffic. as told by
Mark Twain, is equally striking
"When there used to be 1000 steam
boats and 10000 acres of coal barxcs
and rafts and trading scows there
wasn't a lantern from St Paul to New
Orleans" that worthy individual COM
planned In his later years. The snags
were thicker than bristles on a hogs
back. Now, when there are three
dozen steamboats, and nary hargcs and
RATS the Government has snatChed ont
all the snags and has lit up the shores
like Broadway and n boats as safe as
she would be In heaven"
Years of labor and tho expenditure
Of millions have given tho country a
great waterway, and the war promises
to bring about the long awaited res
! toration.
The sun., 1917-09-09
Millions Already
Spent andMillions
More Ready to
Make I criminal
Facilities Ade-
quate

opening a channel connecting Lake
Pontchartrain with the river. thus
affording waterway frontage for hun
dreds Of big companies. The city also
owns the Belt railway, which has been
improved Now 1t is engaged in spend
ing its last great $25 100000 bond issue
to complete other harbor improve
ments.
In preparing herself to be the second
great American port New Orleans has
expended more than $40. 1000 900 within
The last ten years, making her con-
tribution to the revival Of inland navi-
cation more than s10o, 900. These
millions were expended on ratproofing
the city, building sewers and paving
and other improvements.
New Orleans's New HarbOr.
That she has prepared we'll for the
future is CLEANED from statistics on
the size OF the new port. The city now
has forty-one miles of river frontage
under public control, with a developed
harbor area of more than seven square
miles. The deep water area within the
port limits is more than eleven square
1s5 feet in depth. In time. should con-
ditions warrant--and New Orleans is
I expecting 1.-THE steel sheds and wharf
| facilities can be extended from Point
, la Hache, below the city. toe Baton
Rouge. This would provide harbor
with a deep water area of more than
eighty-five square miles. The public
wharves already built have an area OF
| nearly 100000 square feet. more than
| half OF which is covered by steel sheds.
Revolutionary methods of handling
freight when it reaches the Valley
Gateway have been installed. The old
| style gangplank is gone forever. The
boats are tied alongside the concrete
walls and unloaded by immense steel
cranes and package conveyors, which
Of course have driven the river rousta-
bouts into other fields of labor. Shore
expenses have been reduced to the
minimum under public control as the
result of these efficient methods, such
ports as this enabling the large river
boats to operate a profit.
! Outside New Orleans. however, the
most primitive methods Of handling
river traffic are still to he found at
many large ports. Freight is being
handled very much, as II was in tho
/ days before the civil war. In many
ports even trucks cannot be used to
/ load freight on the boats, every pack
! age and barrel being taken aboard by
manual labor under the most oXacting
conditions. At one port freight being
! transshipped from the railroad to the
river is carried by man power over
four railroad tracks and down a mud
river bank to the steamer. Chicago
freight shipped by waterway to upper
Arkansas points must be transferred
seven times by man power
1t has been just such ports rs these
that have stood in the way Of restora-
tion of inland navigation. Capital
could not be interested in installing
large fleets OF new steel boats unless
modern terminal facilities could be
guaranteed There has been no ques-
ton as to the amount Of business
which would be available. for river
men have often found that they could
get all the freight they could haul hut
to operate under existing conditions
was unthinkable.
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-30
SONhE BATTLE.
DESCRIBED BY
ACONCRESSMAN
Miller of Washington Tells
Of Observations Made on
Field From Which the
Germans Were Chased.
Tells Why French Soldiers
Are Idolized and Draws
Sharp Contrast Between
Democracy of America in
Army Practice.

Congressman Miller of Washington
was one of the party of congressman
who visited the battlefields of Bel
GUM and France. A few days ago he
told the house of representatives about
it. After reviewing the receptions in
England and France and the ceremony
at the tomb of Lafayette the speaker
recounted the valor of French soldiers
at Verdun and added:
II stand with uncovered head in the
presence of the soldiers of France to
all the living and to the memory of all
aer dead.
Let me say thing right here and
give me your ears. l wish all America
could hear it, 1t is this 1t is the
private soldier who is the idol of
France. The Frenchman care nothing
for rank or class. :c3;.: s.,e but In
cidental to armies. 1t Is the private
who must do the fighting; it is he
who bears the suffering; it is he who
wins the battles; it is he who does
the dying.
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-30
A MONTH OF HORRORS.

THE battle of the Somme lasted a
full month In one place or another
along it's so miles of front. At the end
the field was won and the flag of
Britain waved in triumph. Is it any
wonder that during that month, when
every hour was horror-for German
shells were coming in the proportion
Of two to three-that men were strick-
en- dumb, with motion permanently
lost? The inferno of wild confusion
and tumult was more than the human
senses could withstand"
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-30
MINING BLANKS.

Blanks for Declaration of Intention
to Hold and Operate Mining Claims
under the Act of Congress. approved
Oct. 5, 1917, eXempting lode mining
claims from assessment work, for ~-,e
by The Capita News Pub. Co. Fifty
cents dozen. Adv. #
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-30
DEMOCRACY coNTaAsTEo.

"The private is not made to feel that
he is the social or intellectual inferior
of the officer. They practice the de-
mocracy of their institutions. How
different in this particular is the boast
ed democracy of America, Over there
Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-30

the major and the corporal, the cap
tain. the lieutenant. the private sit at
the same table and sip their wine
together. l saw them. The plan Of
campaign is discussed. the sergeant,
the corporal and the private know the
objective of certain movement timed
for tomorrow just as well as the COZ
oneL The understanding is mutual.
That is why the soldier OF
France is the glory of his soil. ..
In my Judgment primary defect in
our military establishment today is the
presence Of that social chasm between
the commissioned officer on the one
hand and the non commissioned Of
ficer and the private on the other"
BATTLE OF THE soMME.
Referring to the battle of the Somme,
the congressman said it took rank
as the greatest battle of them all and.
next to the Marine, the greatest in re-
suits. THAT field now" he said, sis
just as the battle left it. save the work
of the salvaging corps. Barbed wire
entanglements by the thousands of
miles, row after row. woven from post
to post like q wretched lace; trenches
by miles of equal thousands: dug outs
and bomb-proof caves buried in the
chalk beds still intact with the steps
leading down, still disable. These We're
the abiding places of the Germans
where they stopped their retreat from
the Marine and dag themselves in
Here the British drove them out after
the most intense and unmerciful bonn
l,n, I,,Nn, ia, ,,,fa ,,I
by wave upon wave of men charging
and completing the havoc not even
yet ended by the shells. Shell crate's
and bomb pits SCARED the country like
pox marks.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-23
Henry SewaII Webster.
Can Appreciation

Born in Augusta. Henry SeWall
Webster's home was in that city until,
in his early manhood. he came to
Gardiner to practise law. After Civ
ing many years to his profession he
was made cashier to the Cobbosseecon-
tee bank: and served in that capacity
as long as the bank lasted He was
then appointed treasurer of the Gardi-
ner Savings Institution, which position
he held until he left his material body.
to go on; mentally equipped and men
, tally environed, the same Henry Sewall
Webster whom we knew and loved. He
was also judge of probate of Kennebec
county for term of years.
Such was Henry Sewall Webster, the
citizen, honest, conscientious. loyal.
But he was more than a citizen; he
was a man.
1t was my great privilege to know
this man intimately. In HIM was a
union of intellect and Judgment rarely
seen. His time, with the exception of
| that portion given to his business, was
spent in getting knowledge: and hav-
| ing an unusual cleverness and skill in
| getting. an ineXhaustible capacity to
! hold, a shrewd ability, to select and
! keep, and an accurate memory to re-
| tain, he became very learned. both
technically and generally. Like all
men who know much he was modest.
| He made no parade of his knowledge.
AS the studious and speculative are,
often. fond of trifeS, so was he: for no
! individual life can progress success
/ fully unless the opposite emotions al
ternate to prevent an excess in any of
! them.
| He had the cOmplaisance and the
! childikencss which are the expressions
of great minds. He thought much: he
! talked little: but what he had to say
he said supremely well. His literary
! work in verse and prose brought him
honorable reputation. He always
thought clearly. and he expressed him.
self with perspicuitN. His long patient
labor in genealogical work is well
! known Such was Henry Sewall
! Webster. the man. honest Of purpose,
conscientious in act loyal in friend
| ship.
Ills life was gentle: and the elements
SO mixed in him, that Nature might
! stand up
And say to all the world, This was a
| man"
ALANSON TUCKER SCHUMANN.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-23

farewell address and gave an excellent
account Of what eX-Prcsident TAFT lee
tured upon at his visit to Watervillc.
The exercises were then closed with
the singing OF tho patriotic songs.
Lawrence High school held its SEES
sion from S.l5 until / O'Clock Thurs
day.
Perley Mullikcn while at his work on
the heaters at the pulp mill Wcdnes-
day injured three fingers OF his right
hand severely. DR.. +. l.. Tozier was
Immediately summoned.
Milton McGorrill of Deer Isle is the
guest of friends in town
The Silence Howard Hayden Chap
ter, ID. A. r., which was entertained by
Mrs. w. b. Arnold with Il Washing
tons birthday party at her home at
Watcrville Thursday evening was well
attended by a large delegation from
this town. Mrs. Grace f.. Clark in her
patriotic costume made u very attrac-
tive George Washington. while Mrs.
Mary Neal portrayed Martha Wash
iugton in a very appropriate costume.
Other members of the lodge were
dressed in Colonial costumes.
The Needlecraft Sisters were pleas
'antly entertained by Mrs. Fred Howe
ut her home on Ncwhall street Thurs
day afternoon. The afternoon was
passed in sewing. Refreshments were
served.
The members of the Priscilla Club
went to Waterville Thursday after
noon, where they were entertained by
Mrs. William Staples.
The Auction Club will be entertained
this afternoon by Mrs. Arthur Totman
at her home on Lawrence avenue
Master Fred Quincy, who has been
i'll at his home on Elm street for the
Iast few days, is able to be out.
Miss Doris circuit entertained the
World Wide Guild at her home on
West street Thursday evening. A. mu-
steal program was carried out success
fully and social time enjoyed by all.
\ light collation. was served.
The G.. +. Club will be entertained
this afternoon by Mrs. George E. Will
son at her home on Newhall street.
Miss Edna Henderson who is en-
ployed at Oakland is the guest of her
sister, Mrs. Lydia Shaw for a few
days.
The Auction Club will be enter
ttIueu dlttItOoll ny MIS-. y.
Totman at her home on Lawrence ave-
: nue..
! Mrs. John Eastman and daughter
{ Marion will go to Augusta today where
they viii attend the Governors ball
this evening.
! The graded schools OF this town OBJ
served Washington's Birthday by a
! holiday. Lawrence High held its reg
ular session.
! Mrs. Addie Mutt is confined to her
home on Western avenue by illness.
| The Woman's Home Missionary So
! ciety and the Foreign Missionary So
! cioty We're entertained by Mrs. Harry
Brown at her home at Waterville
Wednesday afternoon. The afternoon
was pleasantly passed in sewing. Re
! freshments were served.
| The World Wide Guild Will meet
with. Miss Doris circuit at her home on
| West street this evening.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-23
ADJUSTMENTS
THE STRAIN D.
William S. Hart in Thomas n. lnce
Production, THE DEVILS Double" at
the Strand Today.
Gardiner

Naomi, look! 1t is the face | have
sought for months-the face / had al
most despaired of finding this side of
Gehenna,"
Van Dyke Tarleton clutched his
wifeS arm excitedly as the six horse
stage from Tucson drew up before the
lone hotel in the sun baked little Ari-
IONA town of Tophet.
A picturesque crowd of border types
lounged before the roughly built hos
telry. But the gaze of even the sea-
soned traveller would doubtless have
settled wonderingly upon the striking
face, near tie center of 1.-The crowd,
which the tense, city bred artist point
I'd out so eXcitedly.
1t was indeed an arresting face, dis
quoting in its ruthless strength and
cruelty-the face of Bowie Blake, gam
bier and eX-outlaw, chained lightning
with a forty-fiv and faster than that
with the knife that had earned him
his sobriquet.
Coming Monday and Tuesday Fran
els Bushman with Beverly BaNne in
the first and second chapter of the
Metro wonder serial. 1.-THE Great Sc
cret.'-A6y.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-23
THE GERMAN COLO INES WILL Be
HELD BY THE ENTENTE ALLIES

London, Feb. 0.-(Correspondence Of
the Associated Press 1.-The death kneli
to Germanys colonial possessions has
been sounded SO far the Entente Al
lies can effect that result, by the almost
simultaneous announcement of the min
lister of colonies, Mr.. Long, the japanese
minister of foreign affairs, Mr.. Motono
and the prime minister of New Zealand
Together these statements declare there
will he no return to Germany of her col
onies in Africa, Asia or the Pacific
This attitude is not only held by Japan
and the British colonies chiefly concern
ed but it has the backing of the British
and French governments, which nave
the largest interest in colonial Africa
and Asia. 1t develops the fact also That
the late Asquith government was oppos-
ed to any extension of British colonial
possessions in Africa. whereas the new
Iloyd George government approves TINS
extension as in line with the aspirations
of the British colonies in Africa. This IN
turn has established that there will be 4
general re-shifting of African colonie. 20
that the possessions Of England, France,
Portugal and Belgium will be made more
homogeneous.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-23
ANNUAL CONVENTION
OF RURAL CARRIERS

Entertaining oscar Givins of Pittsfeld,
president of the Maine Association of Ru-
lal Letter Carriers; Lindsay A. Burns,
postmaster of Clinton, and Howard Lib
by of Burnham as guests OF honor the
rural carriers OF kennebec county held
their annual convention Thursday in Gar
diner at Woodmen's hall. The forenoon
was devoted to business at which the
following officials were elected: w. II.
Pollard of Watervile, Pres; G. A. Ste
Vens. vice Pres; Wilbur Holt OF Clinton,
Sec. IT, +. Erskine of Augusta declining
c-election). and +. o. Hamin Of Water
willie, treasurer. The delegates named to
attend the State convention to be held
in Pittsfield on Labor day were w. II.
Pollard of Waterville, }. y. Erskine of
Augusta, G. A. Stevens of Winthrop, Fl.
F. Burgess of North Nassalboro and F..
\. Carleton of Gardiner. Dinner was
served at noon and was followed by So
cial session. The following were in at
tendance: E. A. Hall, John Pinkham of
Monmouth; r. Z. Hammond. Belgrade;
c. H. Thomas, r. S. Horne, +. c. Ham
lin, w. II. Pollard, Watervile; Wilbur
Holt, c. A. Bingham, Clinton c. A.
Soule, !. T. Clough, Oakland; G. A. Ste
vens W. T. Adams. Winthrop; l.. A, Gill
bert, j. w johnson. Vassalboro; H. F..
Burgess, North Vassalboro; F. r. Car
land, j. \. Erskine. Augusta; J.. B. His
lev, Windsorvile; Edwin Small, Itch
field; w. f. Robinson. A. II. Jones, F. ~
Carleton, b. L. Merrill, o. B. Pray of
Gardiner
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-23

4 very pretty George Washington
party was. given Thursday afternoon
by the little Misses Kathleen and Del
phine Andrews at the home OF their
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. E. w. Andrews
Second street. to II Of their niue
friends. The rooms were artlstcally
decorated for the event with American
flags, large and small. prettily ar
ranged. Many delightful games were
INDUCED in by the little folks. a popu-
lar one being called the cobweb game.
Refreshments of sandwiches, cocoa, ice
cream and cake, Marguerltes and can
dy were served. Pretty place cards IN
the form of tree and hatchet ana
little napkins in the form OF George
Wa hinrton hats were used. The ice
cream was served with cherries and a
thy American flag. and each piece of
cake was also adorned with flag
When the little folks departed it was