davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-09-18
Read Up on Civil War.

one of the peculiar facts concern
ing the entrance of America into the
war the stimulus given 10 reading and
discussion Of the American Civil war.
The perusal of Civil war histories in
England has become almost mania
and more books treating of the great
conflict have been sold in England in
one year than in America during the
last ten years.
The reason is simple: England and
the allies generally want Il line" on
the American as "A fighting man. The
Spanish-American war failed as an
adequate criterion because we had
Spain so hopelessly outclassed from
the beginning. But some of the great
est battles in the history Of the world
were fought in the Civil war The per-
centage of death losses in actual bat.
tie were higher than that of any other
war ever fought. The verdict seems TO
be that Americans know "a good deal
about the sangulnary business of kill
ing.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-09-18
=" Rush!"
~
By CECILLE LANGDON

Copyright 1919. by the Western News
paper Union.)
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-09-18
THAT EMPTY PULPIT
And Why Sometimes 1t Is Difficult
to Fill II.
Ladies' OF the Congregation Have De-
cided Views as to the Minister
Who Is to Be Honored by
the Proposed Call.

A charming afternoon in April-one
of those days with just enough chill IN
the air 10 make the sun feel comfort
uble when YOU cross To the sunny side
of the street. Just one of those April
afternoons when Mrs. Richard Pen
nngton Hall declares she has been
scarcely place all winter and just
must get out. Mrs. Hamilton Ross
finds herself i'm the same situation, and
tley are not alone in their decision.
An boar later, on The main street OF
the town:
How do you do, Mrs. Ross? So de-
lightfu To be out this lovely day Yes,
just ike myself, | feel like | had been
shut in so long by the cold weather
Certainly. | was there. We must
turn out to hear all the candidates for
our pulpit.
mo, | really can't agree with you.
There was something about him that
did not like. False teeth. you say?
/ Are you sure? l told Richard he had
an impeachment in his speech Well,
/ that settles it-let's have "A preacher
with his teeth growing in his head.
"Of course I'm sorry for Brother
Hope If he expected to get the place.
but we can't help II Good-by, yes do
! come real soon
Mrs Richard Pennington Hall hur-
ries along (she usually hurries at ev-
erything) and some few moments
later, when grabbing laces at the bar
gain counter. fortunately comes upon
Mrs. william Cotton Adams. who is
similarly occupied Laces at bargain
prices are forgotten in the thrill each
experiences In a chance for friendly
chat.
"Oh. my dear Mrs. Hall. how do you
do? I've just been dying to have
good talk with you. What have you
heard about the last minister we had
on trial? What do you think OF him!
Yes, In way | liked him. but there
was something about him | did not
like. Did you notice it. too? Yes. he
made all his gestures with his left
hand. Is he lefthanded? Oh. indeed.
or all things. So awkward looking.
For my part, l hope we'll not get him.
Someone was saying he had false
teeth too. That's too many defects In
one man. l say.
$50 glad we have had such a nice
chat. oh, we'll hear several more be-
fore we decide on the new minister.
Heavens 3 o'clock and time to close
don't see why they close so early.
Goodby. come and see me soon"
Two weeks later:
Mrs. James Jordan White boards a
Forest avenue car and finds three Of
the members OF her sewing society all
going In her direction. so here was too
good an opportunity TO miss to discuss
the new minister.
"Oh, how do you do. all OF you?
What did you think Of last Sundays
supply1
"Short and fat Well. should say
so, And wheezy, too! I Just said to
Mr.. White I'd bet he'd be laid up with
asthma a good part of the time
you don't mean 10 tell me the COM
mIttee intends 10 bring that Rev. Ma
thaniel Hopkins OF Chicago here on
trial
"Oh. dear. I've got 10 get off here
and we haven't half finished our chat {,
that I've heard preach. we don't want
him, He's lame-T think he has a
wooden leg,
"Goodby. everybody, Come and see
me. | do hope Wen finally get a
preacher we all like l"-Kansas City
Star
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-09-18
The Black Sheep.

A Kansas tiiy girl. who u year ago
scandalized her weeping family by
laughing aloud AT her sisters wedding.
Disguised the relatives again this
week nv sobhing through the sisters
divorce hearing utterly ohlivious TO
the smiles Of her aged mother and jul
bilant sistaTs.-nansas City Star.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-09-18
Down Below

First Mermad-What on earth is
Curly Locks so busy about when IL is
time for her to be sitting here on the
rocks with her golden comb?
Second DittO-Oh. she's got the
Hoover fever from some shipwrecked
humans, and she's down In the coral
cave putting up jellyfiSh.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-09-18
Wise Resolve.

"Did you make any New Year reso-
lutionS?"
Eyes: one"
"What was it?"
"Not TO make any,"
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-09-18
spasmodie sermon.

The world may owe every man
living, but some fellows are convinced
that the world has been holding out
back pay on 'em for long time.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-09-18
His Limitations.

Tommy-The kaiser's an overload,
amt he?
Sammy-Yes, hut you bet he amt an
over-the-top lord.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-09-18

Elnor Gyms story, "The Career Of
Katherine Bush" is wonderful, Idle
hour Sunday.-adv.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-09-18

Douglas Fairbanks new one, "His
Majesty, the American" Idlehour
soon.-adv.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-09-18
In LARGE Supplv.

When you start To- borrow trouble
he loan Is generally oversubScribed.-
Boston Transcript.
The Washington times., 1919-09-13
AUTOMOTTVE
SECTION

The securing Of proper operation
costs for motor trucks is the most i'm
pcrtsnt step that the motor truck
manufacturers Of the country have
ever succeeded in putting across as a
selling agency for their trucks.
The first problem in the selling end
OF the truck industry today is to
demonstrate the truth OF the theory
that truck transportation is superior
10 the old horse-drawn vehicle, and
To sell a truck the first step that any
agent must take is to prove to the
prospective purchaser that the truck
will be cheaper than the horse. This
IS invariably the case where a pros
pective buyer has been a horse-drawn
vehicle operator.
II is the first element in the sale Of
q truck, but the element that is most
frequently overlooked by the dealer,
who wastes others time in theoretical
discussions of the economy of the
motor vehicle without being able to
secure definite data as to standard
costs. both Of the horse-drawn vehicle
and the truck.
Data Proves Instructive.
This problem has been largely met
BY the last years getting together
of truck owners and manufacturers,
by which an enormous amount of data
has been compiled and through the
national standard system Of figuring
costs, the truck dealer today can
give definite statistics on the cost of
operation of every type OF truck in
all its various elements. from the tire
20 the fabrication system.
The items Of expense. and standard
figures are classified under this sys-I
TEN OF sizes OF trucks, and by the
varying equipment. II is difficult to
compare. for instance, a five-ton
gravel hauling dump truck with q
one-ton speedy bread delivery wagon,
but the standard costs make il pos
sibIe for first OF all the operator to
know what his truck is doing, and
next, whether, by comparison with
standard figures, his operation is up
20 profitable standards.
Production Estimates.
A fair estimate of the production
value OF a motor truck, an average
OF all types Of trucks for all sorts
OF work. will give a figure Of shout
SIS to $50 per day, according TO the
type of work and the truck required.
For the higher figure the cost of
operation viii hardly come under the
SIS per day, but this represents a
profit Of So per day on a five-ton
truck in an average type OF heavy
haul On some lighter work costs /
will. for instance, be found to run
sbo6t, SO a day, with a production !
value OF SIS, or a profit therefore -of |
S5 per day on a $1,000 to a $500 |
truck.
The Connecticut highway commis- !
The Washington times., 1919-09-13

them through from San Francisco to
Los Angeles and then back to Wash
ington by way OF the old Santa Fe
trail.
The first portion of the journey Of
these two Autocars has been com
pleted. The one car is a standard
l I5-2-ton model which has been made
by this company for ten years; it was
equipped with pneumatic tires and
carried a capacity load. The other
car is a 3I5-ton model of new design,
and among other things one Of the
purposes of this trip was a final en-
gineering test for this model. This
car also carried capacity. load, but
was equipped on the westbound trip
with solid tires.
The trip was made in thirty-fve
and three-fourth days, running time
averaging 104 miles per day for the
total of 3,700 miles. Based on these
figures it might be assumed that no
difficulties were encountered; but this
would be a false conclusion.
From Washington to Chicago
everything was relatively easy. Pres
ent roads in most cases are adequate
or are in course of reconstruction to-
make them so. This district repre-
sents closely populated communities
OF considerable wealth. The town
ships. counties, and States have a
relatively easy problem OF taxation
in this district to provide the funds
to finance the construction
of these highways.
Quagmires are Struck.
After crossing the Mississippi the
wide prairies OF Iowa and Nebraska
with their sparser population pre-
sented more difficulties, due to the
occurrence OF rains which transform
ed the dirt roads of this section into
almost impossible quagmires for
heavy vehicles. In this country
popular opinion must be aroused in
the interest of good roads. At pres
ent due to the small population
to area, the land owner is
apprehensive that good roads is
synonymous with confiscating taxes,
shd has yet to realize that the in
crease in property value resulting
from improved means Of communica-
tion will pay a tremendous return on
the investment involved.
The great eXpanses of the States of
Wyoming. Utah, and Nevada are al
most bare of roads, speaking from a
truck operating standpoint. This is
The Washington times., 1919-09-13
TranScOntinentaL Truck
Transportation Possible
NOV Only at Great Cost

The average American resident, on
the eastern seaboard particularly.
knows that a straight line drawn
from New York to San Francisco rep
resents about 5000 miles of territory.
He also knows that it takes the sun
three hours to make the trip, and
that the best transcontinental trains
take about five days.
Certain sections Of this vast ter
ritory have been so extensively ad-
vertised by travel bureaus that he
speaks gIib1y of Pixies Peak, Yellow
stone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon as
wonder places OF nature where he
will some day take a good long va
cation Of a week or ten days and see
them all.
Politically, he knows that in the
wide spaces of the West many inno-
Nations in the theory of government
The Washington times., 1919-09-13

not meant to be in disparagement Of
what has been done. The hypothetical
fastener mentioned in the beginning
Of this article has no conception Of
the endless miles of sagebrush, alkali
flats, and mountain Businesses exist
ing in this great country. A few
ranches scattered along the line and
lionel ysheep herders are the only
signs Of humanity encountered.
This arid country is no need Of two
great things to made IL productive and
afford relief to the problem Of con-
gestion which is facing US in the East:
first, irrigation, to bring the blessing
of water to the thirsty land; second,
roads to link up the areas Of produc-
tion so reclaimed with main arteries
of the railway.
This can be accomplished only by
Federal aid. Local politicians must
bury their selfish. interests and sub
NIT to the direction of a central bu-
reau. 10. other words, as far as high
ways are concerned, a program such
as is contemplated in the Townsend
bill must b eadopted before present
conditions can be materially improved
in this district
Well Paved HIEhways.
After crossing the Sierras into the
Sunny Sacramento Valley. the broad.
weIl-paved highways of California
testified to the wealth and far-seeing
wisdom Of this great State, and Inn
pressed anew by contrast with what
had been encountered the absolute
necessity Of good roads to the sue
cess, not of truck transportation
alone. but to the highest development
OF any community.
In conclusion truck transportation
across this continent is at present
something that can be accomplished,
but only at tremendous cost. The
possibility of it's being done economi-
cally is only around the corner. IL all
the interests involved get together,
recognize the problem, and CO.
operate.
BY transcontinentaI truck trans
pOrtation is meant not the conveying
OF freight across the continent in com
petition with railroads, but auxiliary
roads paralleling and branching out
from the railroads to form a complete
system which can be used to feed the
railroads and, in case of emergency,
act as a second line OF defense.
To do this requires as a start not
so much smooth surfaced boulevards
The Washington times., 1919-09-13
V DATA ON TRUCK OPERATION COST 6

as good strong Highways with ade-
quate foundations, proper drainage.
moderated grades, and strong bridges;
in other words, the skeleton on which
at later date the superstructure can
be erected.
The argonauts biazed the way
across this great land to be followed
by the railroads in the last century.
This century IL to see the fnishlhg
OF the transportation facilities Of the
Federal highways and connecting
State and local roads contfibutory
thereto.
The Washington times., 1919-09-13
AUTOMOTTVE
SECTION

in such . Way-yet this foolish thing
Is done every day bysignorant auto
mobile drivers Because offthIs nirl-
sance the bstteEy runs down. ths
plates buckle, and unsndinr trouble.
delay and expense follow One can
not get more out OF battery fhan
Is put into it-nor as much
A battery should never be ussa
for Ignition purposes. Il O. q great
convenience necessity. and comfort
when used only for driving the dy-
namo which turns the dy-Wheel az
tached to the eFsnkTshaft and thus
gives the engine Us Initial few start
ing turns, and for the electric lights.
and for operating the signal horn;
as these things are used only occl-
siOnsliY very little OF the stored eiee-
tRical energy is taken from the bat
terry. and 10 restored when the engine
take up their work.
shsuId Have lIagaeto.
Itsis always; best to have the ear
with mtgpeto. which gen
crates fits own electric energy, 10000
volts Of It, and IL used for ignltion
purposes only.
A large proportion Of the 1000
volts are always there from the Grst
half turn OF the hy-Wheel 70 the
highest speed the engine sttains. I'hs
timipg OF the spark is always cor
rect as Il Is controlled by the gpsss
Of the engine. ,
The magnetic produces . hot. fat.
intense spark that % Virtu8lly an
arc OF hame. II hres every particle
OF gas IN the cylinder aud gets the
fuil power from even the leans5t mix
turn Of gas. Il causes no Worry and
ts always dependable in hot 81 cold
weather, on heavy, hilly roads, and
in trahic- II Feqdlres but two drops
Of oil in the bearings once in every
thousand miles.
An automobile equipped win. both
battery and magnetic. each for lis
proper purpose, is the ideal ear No
wen advised mOtorist would dream
OF buying q car not 50 equipped
The Washington times., 1919-09-13
NeW Data On Securing
Truck Operation Costs
SOLVeS KnOtty Problem
BY WARREN b. BULLOCK.
Formerly Captain. Transport Corps, L. s. A.

sion has made some interesting
studies, and it puts in the production
value OF all types of truck at $1J pei
day. One type OF one-ton truck or
this job cost with operator $500 pei
day. This figure was an average
over three months for thirty trucks
Of this type, so can be considered
standard for this particular type OF
work
No small item OF expense is that
OF delays in loading and waste OF
time waiting for a cargo. On the basis
Of a SIS per day expense for a five
ton truck, such delays cost Sl.J0 an
hour, or about 3 cents a minute. -
Cost statement Items.
The Various charges on a cost
statement of a truck include such
items as interest on investment, de-
probation, as primary essentials. Too
many operators fail to figure in these
evident items in their cost statements.
This and other items Of overhead
must be included.
If there is fleet of trucks. tho cost
interest, taxes. or rental and de-
preciation on buildings are items to
be considered. The cost account Of
tAlG u uSh 1851 AAlNAuNCo AllA &C COoGAl-
tials. maintenance, operation, and
wages.
Wages includes only the drivers
pay. and some accountants put this
under operation. other accountants
divide the cost into four items. fuel
oil, repairs, wages. Under the three
sided account, the fuel and oil are
included in operation, and repairs un-
der maintenance.
other Cost systems.
Repairs include replacement of lost
or broken tools and parts, tires. and
under maintenance would also come
the systematic garage inspection.
which prevents damage by anticipa-
tion or loose parts.
Some operators charge an annual
general overhaul on their cost sheet.
as part of the repair cost. and put this
figure at a fixed sum. usually about
or per cent, to be on the safe
side. Interest charges, licenses, taxes,
insurance. light and heat for garage,
all go on the operation cost. The
office expenses Of a feet are totaled
and distributed among the vehicles
in proportion to the investment
The depreciation account is best
maintained by the setting aside Of a
fund to care for the purchase
Of new vehicle to replace the worn
out machine. A fair depreciati ton
charge would be 20 to 25 per cent of
the value of the truck. Many oper-
ators take out this sum monthly as
a prior charge against receipts. and
invest it in interest bearing securi-
ties, readily convertible when the
time comes to buy a new truck for
replacement.
The Washington times., 1919-09-13

have had their inception and early
trial due to the fact that the spirit
OF the pioneer has not had the on
portunity to atrophy.
Economically, the vast production
OF grains, cattle, minerals, fruits, ana
motion pictures represent the big per-
centage of current Information.
This hypothetical individual has
been called an average inhabitant Of
the East, but this is probably an ex-
aggeration of fact.
But allowing for this how much
OF gap there exists as to the real
facts. All these things are existant
and real but represent only a small
picture of inspiring greatness Of this
vast country.
Winding Over Plain.
Across it are a few tiny threads
winding over plain and desert and
mountains with tiny Noff-shoots to par
tieularly rich mineral deposits, which
represent the greatest development of
railway construction in the world.
Beside them are strung the lines over
which the news OF the world is flashed,
and every American thrills with pride
at the story of achievement which
this construction represents.
The automobilist OF the East, espA
cially in the area north Of the Mason
and Dixon line, has become accus-
toned to well built, well paved, clear
ly marked highways, and has taken
advantage of them to visit many OF
the places Of interest to which they
give access. During the period Of the
war these highways have been used
to relieve the burden OF transporta-
tion. suddenly changed to colossal pro-
portions, thrust upon the facilities of
the country. Under the strain of this
extraordinary usage, even these exam
Piles Of modern road construction have
developed disconcerting weaknesses
which have resulted in a great wave
Of general interest in the cause Of
good roads.
Resulting from this newborn in.
terest an inquiry has sprung up as t.
what the possibilities Of trans-Con-
tinental truck transportation were
1t was known that certain far seeing
pioneers had started the Lincoln High
way Association for the purpose of
creating 4 living memorial to the
Great Emancipator in the form OF a
highway joining the metropolis Of the
Fast to that Of the West. A great
many motorists have availed them
selves Of this route and OF others
since spring in endeavoring to get
away from the closely inhabited dis
tricts into the great open spaces of
the West
Fairly Comfortable Trip.
These adventurous spirits have
found they could make a fairly COM
Portable journey. Sometimes the
roads were rough, sometimes dusty.
Hotels are not always Immediately |
at hand, and in many places camping |
is preferable. but on the whole no |
great discomfort is encountered.
All this had no bearing however on !
the problem Of truck operation, and 1
in consequence the Motor Transport !
Corps Of the army organized a CONVOY |
to cross the continent this summer |
from Washington to San Francisco. |
and "A few days after they had left /
The Autocar Company Of Ardmore. Pa.
sent two trucks over the SAM |
route with the intention Of sending
The Washington times., 1919-09-13
BURGLAR MAKES TRADE

s ALBANY, N Y, Sept. 13e-This
burglar wasn't, so bad. After taxing
All the Liberty bonds, War Savings
Stamps. and cash in the home az p. A.
I. Amoureaux, Mr.. Burglar left his
own gold watch.
The Washington times., 1919-09-13
ELE-STARTER BUGS
APT TO RUIN CARS

Many automobile drivers overwork
the so-called "self-startern BY con-
tinuaily and unnecessarily using Il.
sometimes for several minutes.
They might as well shout in .
loud voice, "I don't know anything
about an automobile, but Pm going
to make this engine start II
have to run this starter ali day
Little do they realize that their
battery Is but a storage compaFt-
ment holding only six volts Of elec-
trio current. and that the eiIort nee
essary to drive the dynamo, which
rotates the fiy-wl1eeI and cFank-shaft.
operates the pistons for the suction
Of gas into the cylinders. and then
congresses IL, uses up just as much
energy as IL the engine was cranked
by hand.
The Washington times., 1919-09-13

It would be exhausting- to a person
cranking by hand. So also, is 1t ex-
hausting to the storage battery. In
the six bolts Of electric
current stored in the battery, which
alone operates the starter" rapidly
drops TO three volts. or less. and this
very often is.nst enough to produce
a spark. II ignition current is sup
piled from the battery, to fre the
gas charge and make the engine ''go."
It Is all wrong to use the starter
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-09-14
Sleeveless Slip-over Sweaters 3.95

Don't hastily form an opinion regsrd- ing these sweaters because their price is only 3.95.
 Their true worth can't be determined in any other means than by closely examining the sweaters themselves. Made of all-wool yarn in black, tur- quoise and American Beauty; sizes 30 to A, and especially modelled for the brisk cool days that will soon be here.
 Second Floor
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-09-14
Towels-- Lot No. 2 at 100

In the same purchase we secured 25 dozen pure linen towels scalloped hemstitched made out of the finest
 linen huck towelng, either plain figured, and these we offer at LOO each Main Floor
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-09-14
A Sale of Towels
 At 59c

Fine huck towels that purchased from importer and classed by him odds and ends. There are nu- kinds but not than two dozen of any one kind The lot includes towels of pure linen huck and cotton and linen huck. Plain white coored borders neatly hemsttched.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-09-14

We foresaw that silk braid was going to be popular and purchased thou sands of yards in black, white and colors, in widths to A inch, and these we now offer very special at lOc to 15c.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-09-14
Odds and Ends

A table of odds and ends of slightly soiled short length laces. These are laces of the better sort and offered at very big reductions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-09-14
Remnants Half and Less

A table of embroidery flouncing rem, nants and fine quality all-over em- broideries will be cleared tomorrow at one-half and less of their former prices.
 Main Floor