davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1924-11-30

Congress still recognized it's water
front as the port of Georgetown"
when it appropriated funds for the
present Customhouse, shortly before
the Civil War
After the Civil War the ports Off
cial designation was changed from
"GeorgetoWn" to "Washington," but
still there remained a fly in the oint-
ment. For the port of Washington
was listed as part of the customs
district Of Georgetown"
In 1913, however, there was ma
tion-wide reorganization of the Gus
toms Service, and 125 separate GUS
toms districts were consolidated into
49. The district of GEORGETOWN"
was abolished, and the port of Wash
ington today exists as the second
largest port in the Maryland district,
Baltimore being the largest.
washington is among the top half
OF United States ports, in point of
volume OF imports received 1t re-
ceives the second greatest amount of
imports in the Maryland District,
and the Maryland district last year
ranked eighth highest in the list of
the nations 49 customs districts.
Besides being charged with COL
lection of duties on articles imported
into Washington, the customhouse
must examine all registered mail and
parcel post packages sent from for
,eign lands to the District of Column
bia, Virginia, West Virginia, North
Carolina and South Carolina. To do
this work four men are assigned to
the City Post Office. They examine
about three Thousand packages and let
ters week.
Exports from the District of Co
lumbia must pass through the CUSTOM
house, but for many years District
citizens have exported nothing, so this
duty does not burden Collector Koo-
gle's force.
Even though vessels from foreign
ports rarely touch Washington, the
customhouse has a close contact with
local Wharves, for the arrival and de-
parture of ships from domestic ports
and cargoes they carry must be re-
corded. The number of such ships to
enter the port of Washington during
the last fiscal year was 313, or one
eighth the number of foreign and do
mestic ships which entered Baltimore.
If boats sink, collide or suffer other
mishaps on the Potomac River, the
customhouse becomes the scene Of an
investigation, for it is in this build
ing that the Federal steamship in
spectors hold hearings to determine
causes of Potomac River accidents.
Where accidents are studied SO they
will not occur again: where unique
and prized wares from foreign lands
are received for residents of the Cap
ftal City; where the United States
Government collects its dues-that's
Washington's customhouse.
Evening star., 1924-11-30

from depot to customhouse ware
house, and from warehouse to ad
dressee. and no one but Government
inspectors is allowed in the under
ground warehouse while goods Is be-
ing examined.
Surprises are given to inspectors
occasionally!
Once, not so long ago, a hundred
barrels marked olive oil" reached
the customhouse but upon examina-
tion it was found that some of them
contained spirituous liquor. This
consignment was confiscated by the
Government Immediately.
Sometimes small package of per-
sonal effects will contain a half pint
of brandy
I'm such a case we destroy the
liquor, but If it appears that the ad-
dressee did not know the contents of
the package We allow him to receive
the rest of the shipment" Mr.. koogle
said.
IF a shipper has placed the value
of a consignment more than rs per
cent below its actual value, it must be
contiscated. To determine the actual
value of articles, inspectors must
Evening star., 1924-11-30

No. 302 New Jersey avenue southeast,
at 7:05 o'clock last evening.
Mr. MeigS had reached the ripe
age of ninety years, and up to Satur-
day last had filled. his place almost
daily at the courthouse in writing up
the minutes of the general term and
attending to other duties of the office.
Yesterday morning before the hour
of leaving for his duty he had a
sinking spell, but in u little time re-
vived. His family deemed it better,
however that he should not return
to his work and he remained in his
room. About 5 O'Clock he had another
spell and his family hastily gathered.
but he continued to sink until his
breath ceased in a passing away as
peacefully as that of a babe.
THE deceased left four sons sur
viving him, James L. Meigs. a well
known civil engineer; Return j.
, Meigs, who has been an assistant
clerk of the court since 1863, when
his father was appointed; John Meigs
of the Post Office Department and
Joe V. Meigs well known inventor
of Lowell, Mass, and over a dozen
grandchildren.
"All the courts adjourned this
morning. Judge Cox briefly an
nounced that the equity branch of the
court would adjourn on account of
the death of the venerable and re-
spected clerk. Judge Hagner ad
journed the Circuit Court. In the
Criminal Court. H. c. Claggett, as
sistant District attorney, spoke SYM
pathetically, and Judge Bradley ad-
journed the court. When the court
in general term met. Chief Justice
Bingham and Justices Cox and James
spoke and adjournment was taken
f,tn q
First Presbyterian Church in the
afternoon of October 2l. the service
being conducted by the Rev. DIR.
Sunderland and the Rev. w. E. Par
sons. Pallbearers were John R..
Young, s. P. Williams, NJ. A. Clancy
w. +. Williams and H. w. Hodges.
The Bar Association was represented
by w. D. Davidge S. S. Henkle, w.
f. Mattingly, Enoch Totten, H Wise
Garnett and c. II. Elliot
Before the funeral there had been
a meeting of the Bar Association ard
short speeches were made by ten.
S. S. Henkle. Chief Justice Bingham,
Nathaniel Wilson, NJ f. Morris. Will
liam B. Webb, A. G. Riddle, Job
Barnard Gen. r. d. Mussey and
Eugene Carusi.
TN the register of wills office is a
l. brief paper, being the petition of
Return j. Meigs, jr., for appointment
as administrator to Return J. Meigs,
who died intestate. The paper gives
the names of the four sons, James
L., Return j., John and Joe V, and
names three randchildren, sons of a
deceased son. The grandchildren
named are Return j. Meigs. James H.
Meigs and Fielding Meigs. infants.
for whom your petitioner seeks the
appointment of a guardian" The
petitioner represents that at the time
Evening star., 1924-11-30
Imports of District Set
xnx Record i'm Present Year
Station Has Become Important Pato of the Port"

eyes and smile that bespeaks friend
illness. Collector Koogle sits behind
his desk and hears with equal inter-
est the plea of an anxious immigrant
or time pressed merchant, both in
tently desirous of obtaining their goods
at the earliest possible moment.
He spent many of his childhood
hours playing along the Potomac
River near the office of his father, a
wholesale fish merchant, who bought
boatloads of fish here and distributed
them throughout Maryland, Pennsyl-
vania and Ohio.
Ocean going ships came up to
Washington's wharves then" Mr..
koogle recalled. Some brought as
phalt from Trinidad, others brought
plaster laths from Nova Scotia. Then,
too, there were the large coastwise
vessels which ran regularly between
Philadelphia and Washington. They
used to dock at the Twelfth street
lumber yard"
AS young man Mr.. koogle was
bookkeeper for his fathers business.
and then for a few years he deserted
the port of Washington. He farmed
near Frederick, Md, the region in
which he was born. He sold farm
implements to the occupants of that
section.
But this work did not satisfy him
long. He came back to this city. and
on June 6. 189O--34 years ago-re
ceived from the Civil Service Com
mission his appointment as Il port
inspector, stationed at Washington.
AS port inspector he patrolled the
water front from West Georgetown
to the Anacostia River and reported
arrival of imports within this area.
Even though ocean craft ~docked
here then, the city's import trade was far
less than 1t is today. bout the time Of
my appointment the amount Of duties
collected at Washington was 100000 a
year. Now We collect that much in a
month. Then the collectors Office en-
ployed seven men; now it employs
twelve" Mr.. Koogle commented.
A year after his appointment he
was promoted to clerkship in the
customhouse, and in 1913 he was
named deputy collector in charge of
the customhouse at Washington"
John Koogle, who once played about
the port of Washington, had grown up
to be its master.
IVALRY of the growing city of
~ Washington and its elder neigh
Dor, Georgetown, is illustrated in the
history of the local customhouse.
First the customhouse belonged to
Georgetown. Congress gave the elder
town this recognition by passing an
act on March ?, 1899. which made
Georgetown a port of entry" and
by erecting soon thereafter a GUS
tomhouse on what Is now Water
street. At that time Washingtons
houses were few in number and it's
avenues were dirt roads.
Washington grew during the first
half of the nineteenth century, but
Evening star., 1924-11-30

years and, assuming your consent,
the Rambler will tell you, as this
story progresses, the history of that
property.
:: :. x !:
IN The Star of Tuesday, October 20,
1891, was this: This morning
about the courthouse there was a
feeling of deep sadness among the
members of the bar and others when
1t was announced that the venerable
clerk. Return Jonathan Meigs, had
peacefully entered into his final rest.
His death occurred at his residence,
Evening star., 1924-11-30
Turtle Cleans Pine.

CITY authorities of Canton, Mo,
~ evolved a new system to c.e~r
out sewers. When one of the pipes
became clogged swapping turtle
was caught and a rope tied to it's
tail. The turtle was released in the
pipe and started for the other end AT
a lively gait-for turtle--with $50
feet of rope attached to its tail He
made the first block in 4o minutes and
proceeded on for two more blocks.
finally appearing at the other end OF
the pipe, still pulling the rope. The
obstruction was removed and the
trouble was over.
Evening star., 1924-11-30

who had known Mr. Meigs before the
war. recommended him for the office
of clerk of the court, and Charles
Sumner, chairman of the Senate ju-
dietary committee favored the appoint
ment.
1t is also said that Andrew Johnson,
becoming President after the murder
of Abraham Lincoln, offered Mr.. Meigs
a seat on the bench of the court of
which he, Meigs. was clerk. His son.
Return ]. Meigs, was appointed
deputy clerk of the court, and on the
death of the elder Return j. Meigs,
Evening star., 1924-11-30

ty matches. will unpack a large case
and view a beautiful Italian paint
ing. But then again, they will un
wrap little box and see sparkling
before them thousands of dollars
worth of diamonds.
Whether the import is small or
large, worth one dollar or a thou
sand dollars, it receives the speedy
attention of the officers and the con-
stant protection of the United States
Government. Collector Koogle's men
generally examine an import, collect
the duty on it, deliver the article to
the addressee and deposit the duty in
the United States Treasury within
4S hours after it reaches Washing
ton.
Government trucks carry imports
Evening star., 1924-11-30

John r. Young. native of Illinois,
once patent attorney practfcing in
Washington, and for 15 years pre-
ceding the death of the elder Meigs
an emplcye in the clerks ofice, was
appointed clerk.
Return J. Meigs. the elder, died
October 10, 1891, at his home, 302
New Jersey avenue southeast. The
old and for years decayed frame
house among ragged trees at the
southeast corner of New Jersey ave
nue. and C street southeast, across the
way from the House Office Building,
was the Meigs home for more than so
Evening star., 1924-11-30

keep informed of market prices here
and abroad. The New York custom
house, by sending out market reports,
helps them to do this.
"All confiscated goods, as well as
all goods for which no addressee has
appeared and paid duty, are sent to
the Baltimore customhouse, where an
auction is held annually. Conf1sca-
tions in Washington are rare, how
ever. We did not have a single one
last year"
BY delivering goods and collect
ing duties promptly Customs Collec-
tor John koogle has won the respect of
Washington importers and Federal
Government officials alike.
Slender, short, neatly dressed, with
gray hair, kindly, humorous blue
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-26
SHIPPING NEWS
 OF MOBILE PORT

MOBILE, Ala. August 25.-(Special to the list of ocean-going ships in port after Sundays and Mondays activities. There were no departures during the two days, although a cargo of coal Is scheduled to be moved to Cuba today. Five of the vessels arriving here were under steam and the sixth was schooner for repairs here.
 The Transmarine corporation yester- day sent in the American steamer Sujameco from Port Arthur, according to schedule, to load here via Pensacola for Port Newark, and the steamer will sail about the end of the week, Thurs day or Friday. Along with the Suja- meco was the American steamer Knox, vile City, to Norton, Lilly & Co. for the ISthmian Lines, from New Orleans, Gal weston and Port Arthur to load for the Orient, taking a general cargo, rails, steel and ammonia sulphate.
 Picking up several hundred tons ot slaves, the Norwegian steamer Rosegg arrived from GulfpoFt Sunday evening and went to Turner terminals to com plete for Curacao, Bridgetown, Port of Spain, San Fernando and Georgetown, and will sail about Wednesday for these ports with a general cargo.
 Sent here to tie up, the American tanker Pennsylvania -(Cowles Ship Sup ply company and owned by the Texas company arrived Sunday from New York and went to Arlington docks for a berth. This tanker is temporarily tied up and is awaiting orders. While here, she will be handled by the Cowles Ship Supply company, which acts as agents for all Texas company vessels.
 The American schooner Flechas ar- rived from Havana in ballast, and, go- ing to Henderson's slip, will be hauled out for dry-docking, caulking, painting, etc. She will be there for several days. Another schooner, the Rebecca 0. Scott (Mobile Ship chandlery), char tered for coal to Cuba, cleared yester- day and will sail today. The car ferry Henry M. Flagler arrived yesterday for periodiczf dry-doclSing, which will be performed at the Pinto island plant of the Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuild- ing company. The ferries Estrada Pal- ma and Joseph R. Parrott have been to Mobile before and this is the F1agler's third trip.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-26
The WeU-Dressed Man
 By Bedun0sh CORRECT OCCASION
Your Fan Derbv

WHEN H. R H., the Prince of w Wales, puts on the derby hat
 its the "bowler'' in England he does more to give a fillip to it's vogue than the combined hat manu- facturerers, of the world have ever done. Indeed, we are beholden to the prince for having brought back the good old derby to something like its old form as the town hat of the well dressed man in contradiction to the knockabout felt hat, tourist. Alpine or crush hat. Granted that most Americans prefer the soft hat to the stiff one, the fact re- mains that the derby has q well-defined place in the theme of dress to which no other type of headwear can aspire.
 A man is not properly and adequately halted unless he possesses derby in addition to two or three soft felts. The derby is the only correct hat to accompany the wing collar and bow knot tie, a combination of neckdress which. bein semi-formal, prescribes a hat that is likewise. Moreover, the derby is the only snlaIt hat to pair off with the fly-front, velvet-collar overcoat and also with the Tuxedo jacket in the evening. Thus, it will te seen that the stiff hat is a necessity upon certain occasions and with certain types of clothes. The attempt 70 make the soft hat>serve every purpose, day and eve ming, is ill-judged and not in accofl l. ance with correct usage. By all means own derby and wear 1t now and then,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-26
NEGROES ARE FREED OF ASSAULT CHARGE
Evidence Against Bell Hops In-
 sufficient For Indictment

Dan Gray and Robert Walthall, ne- gro bell boys at the Metropolitan ho- tel, charged with making an assault upon a young woman guest of the ho- tel about 10 days ago, were discharged bq Judge Thomas Roe, followning hear ing of the case Monday in the court of misdemeanors and felonies. Insuf- ficient evidence to prove the guilt of the negroes was given at the hearing
 According to the woman's testimony, she was undressing in her room about z 80 o'clock in the evening, when the two negroes entered her room and made insulting advances upon her. Her statements were refuted by several wit nesses and the defendants were not placed on the stand.
 Despite Judge Roe's decision, Fred Woodland, who, conducted the prosecu- tion, intimated that the charges may be pressed.
 Defense of the negroes was conducted by Thomas J. Judge.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-26
DRY GOODS

NEW YORK, Aug. 25.-Cotton goods buying was held back today by the sharp, though fully expected decline in cotton, following the government re- port giving promise of substantial yield. Yarns also were unsettled. Mer- chants look for a resumption of large buying in the near future. Wool goods were bought for spot delivery a little more freely, especially flannels and velours. Spring trade is still of a con- servative character. Burlaps were quiet for the day. Silk goods continued in very fair demand, crepes and Bengalines showing gains. Improvement in cloths and suit demand for the fall was re- ported,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-26

if only for an agreeable change-off.
 Illustrated here is the fall derby which should be of gpodly proportions in crown and brim to Earmonfze with the fashionable frce-draped coats and full-hanging trousers to which the low crown, narrow-brim hat is clearly un- suited. This derby may have the rounded or slightly flattened crown and, for the best effect, should be worn slightly tilted toward the left side The hat that is put Gn straight seems too geometrically precise and lacks an effect of unstulied ease. It is not smart, and never was, to wear the der by erammed down to touch ones ears or to flip it far back from the forehead. This looks tough" To keep one's derby in proper condition it should be regularly cleaned with a soft-bristle brush, never with whiskbroom.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-26
CRASH IN COTTON. PRICES FEATURE. DAY ON EXCHANGE.
Stock Market Prices Show
 Tendency To Slip And. Slide
,l BY EDWARD J. coNpLoN


 IT. NEW YORK, August 25.-The initial session oftthe week saw slipping, sliding prices in the stock market, which pulled up with jerk in the last few minutes of business in lime to hold the averages at approximately Saturdays closing levels in both railroad and industrial shares. Heavy taking of profits and dis ; solving of pools were mainly responsible for the pressure exerted Buying was fairly well sustained on the dips in the market, with many commission houses urging the replacement of lines sson all declines.
 s But -the~cras in the cotton. market was by far the most notable occurrence Tn the financial markets. In the first session of trading since the announce ment of the bearish government figures saturday on theSeQHdttton Of the cotton crop, the principal cotton positions fell s $I,o0 bale, later rallying about $2 a bale from the lows established. Re- ports of tropical rains in the southwest aided the decline, Ldquidations were fairly general, with Liverpool figuring E prominently on the side of the decline
 The range in wheat prices was wider q than usual, but closed a cent and a quarter net higher. Talk of large ex- port sales was one of the principal causes for the advance. Even more feverish was the action corn. Bond prieeS slio ourlnS the past 1eW days, and Monday was no exception. Some in-i vestment houses hastened new under writings. Monday saw nearly $3S, ,00O. 900 in new bonds placed on the market, the awo major issues, the $20,0 ,000, 900 Province of Ontario and the $16, 900 Louisville and Nashville being quickly sold Tuesday will see the offering of $125O0,- 900 Pacific Gas and Electric 51ss of 1852 on $5.65 basis, and bonds of an Aus trian power company at prices to yield better than 8 per cent.
 At meeting held late Monday after noon, directors of the Erie railroad ap- proved the terms offered by the Van Sweringens for their entrance into the proposed Nickel Plate system. Parts of the agreement were drastically changed, such as sections dealing with deposits sof stock. The approval Is conditional upon the acceptance by the other car riers concerned, Pere Marquette, Chesa- peake and Ohio and Hooking Valley. These carriers will meet soon to act on the matter. Apparently there is little to the runnor at this time that Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul ultimately is to be concerned in the fnerRer
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-26
MMoRE than fifteen and one-haIf iiWH million no{or cara arc tn actuaI

KMoRE than fifteen and one-half iy million motor cars are in actual
 use in the United States today, according to a tabulation of registra- tions as of July 1. The astounding na- ture of this figure Is seen when 1t is computed that this means one automo- bile to abtut every seven people and when it is considered that the rest of the world together has only, about three million automobiles. If pleasure cars and trucks alike were pushed into serv- ice, nearly every person in the country could go automobile riding at the same time.
 Some interesting comparisons are made possible if the population of in-. dividual states Is divided by the number of machines in each state, thus giving the number of persons per machine, as shown above on the map.
 Most striking, perhaps, is the revela- tion that the rural western states, some
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-26
MONTANA PASTOR
 OUT-TALKS MONKEY
Evolution Theory Is Blamed For
 Franks Death

BUTTE, Montana, August 25,-CIaim- ing that if there were any evolution for man he came from an ass and not from monkey, the Rev. Colon O'Far- rell, who preached at the First Bap- tist church, here, last night, with a monkey tied to the pulpit. !
 Twice a tether around his neck was all. that kept the monkey from biting the minister, who had to shout to be heard above the constant chatter of the animal. The monkey finally had to be taken from the auditorium be- cause of his bOisterousness.
 The pastor claimed teaching. that man came from a monkey are to be blamed from many crimes, including the murder of Robert Franks, in Chicago.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-26


 of which have been supposedly hard up, have more cars in proportion to their population than any other section of the country as a whole. To enumef- ate some of these states and the num- Der of persons per machine: Iowa, 4.3; Kansas, 50; Minnesota, 5.5; Nebraska, 4.9; Nevada, AS; North Dakota, 6.6; South Dakota, 5.2; Wisconsin, 5.8; Wyoming, 5.7. In every one of these states the per capita registration is lower than the national figure of 7.2.
 California has more machines than any other state. Furthermore, there Is one car to every 3.3 persons in the state. Alabama has the smallest per capita automobile ownership-only one machine to every 18.3 persons.
 Besides California, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania each have over one million machines registered. Every state has more than the number regis tered a year ago.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-26
MARTIN IS INVITED
 TO ADDRESS CLUB
Power Company Head Likely To Talk On Industrial Situation

Thomas w. Martin, president of the Alabama Power company, who recently returned from a tour of Europe, was invited Monday to deliver an address before the Kiwanis club of Ensley at it's meeting Thursday. He is expected to accept the invitation during the next day or two unless unforeseen de- velopments interfere. No subject was assigned to Mir. Martin, although it is believed that he will discuss the industrial development of the Birming- ham district as related to the state His knowledge of industrial conditions is said to be unsurpassed by that of any man in this section of the country.