davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23
el Was Home of CLAW and Other Famed Americans

brilliant events and Is constantly flled
with guests from all parts of the Torlo-
*~*
DERHAPS the most noted Of the
MANY prominent people who have
made the National their home was
the celebrated Kentuckian. Henry Clay.
Elected to the United States Senate
at the age of 90, he soon became one OF
Americas most noted men, He later
became a member of the House OF Rep
resentatives. where he was made Speaker.
He set an example in running for the
presidency in 1924. 1882 and 1914 which
was later followed by William Jennings
BRYAN. He was against European m
fiuences in America and. In connection
with the Missouri Compromise oil
1920" restricting slavery to the states
south of latitude So 80 N, gained con-
siderable renown. as he also dio IN me
Somewhat similar "Compromise" OF 1880.
He had a host Of followers. who idolized
him to the last His remarks to Louis
Koss,lth. the hungarian patriot. mace
on his death bed, are we'll worth read
ing. >,.t,., d,
room 40 NOW room 1867 on June 29
1850 in the seventy-sixth year OF his
ace. His body was taken to his beloved
Kentucky. where his ashes were laid
To rest at Lexington. Nine months De-
fore his death he made some sugges-
ton concerning the inscription 10 De
put upon a gold medal MS IrlenoS
caused to be struck IN commemoratlon
of his services. The inscription as
amended by him read:
Senate, 1906.
Speaker, 1911.
War of 1912 with Great Britain.
Client, 1914.
Spanish America, 1922.
Missouri Compromise, 1921.
American System, 1924.
Greece. 1924.
Secretary of State, 1925.
Panama Instructions, 1926.
Tariff Compromise. 1888.
Public Domain. 1833-1841.
Peace with France Preserved, 1885.
Compromise, 1885,"
A celebrated character who was al
most a sign post In front OF the Ma
tional many years ago was Beau Hlck-
man. Just how Beau came to stop mere
| is interesting.
AFTER he became short in finances, ="
| as has been written. land had let some
months pass without settling his board
Browns Hotel (now known as the
Metropolitan), which place Beau hon
ored with his patronage, informed him
finally that his bills were not paid as
presented. and that, perhaps, he mad
| lust as well step across to the National
and share his patronage with that
house. All right. mine host, cheertuliy
responded Beau, and forthwith proceed,
| ed to the National, where ne ordered
the best rooms in the house. and. to his
astonishment. he was permitted to- re-
main several months before his bills
we're presented. This unusual indrl-
gence was occasioned by the mistake OF
q visitor, who mistook Beau for Gen.
hickman of Kentucky. and the pro-
prietor, hearing him addressed as Gen.
Hickman "a mistaken identity which
Beau was very innocent of correcting) :.
/ and knowing him to be reputed very
wealthy, was unwilling to disturb his
opulent guest with the usual monthly
| statement of account.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23

This Government has exchanged the
land it owned there for a larger lot
on the waterfront. j. II. Morgan, an
American architect in Yokohama, pre-
pared preliminary plans, which have
been approved. Working drawings are
now being made and construction will
start in the near future.
Preliminary sketches have been drawn
by H. Van Buren, Magonigle for new
building at Toxic. to include residences
and offices for the diplomatic and con-
Sular establishments and for other Gov
ernmental agencies.
Two plots of ground have been
bought at Calcutta, India, for approx
mately $153,000, one for an Office build
ing and the other for a residence.
Plans for both structures have been
prepared and sent to the consulate
general there for comment.
The commission has allocated $4,000
for the construction of new building
at Annoy, China, from plans prepared
work will begin upon approval of build
ing contracts by the department.
From Lima, Peru, Ambassador Moore
has reported the acquisition Of site
comprising 1868 acres, opposite the
Plaza Washington, for future use.
The commission at it's next meeting
will pass upon plans prepared by
Aldrich & Chase of Boston for a
building for Managua, Nicaragua. The
site already has been purchased. The
plans contemplate a central structure
to be used as the Minister'S residence.
connected by colonnades with two
smaller buildings for Office purposes.
A building has been acquired for
consular purposes at Mantanzas. Cuba
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23
BY ]. w. DAWSON.

~ HROUGH a long line of cliffs
from Colorado to central Utah
and then southwest toward
Arizona. extensive beds of coal
are found. and recent geological
investigations into this coal formatlon
of the far West has developed what
NAV be termed burning mountains, or
coal beds afire with surface lndlcauonS
of constant combustion for ages past.
Like other coal-producing States OF
the Rocky Mountain region, the coal
fields of Utah are somewhat widely
senarated. and even the known fleldS
have been comparatively little explored
Therefore, very little is known OF their
productive area.
The edges of these beds come to the
surface in these cliffs 1000 feet above
the bordering desert, and in ages past
this coal has burned into the mountain
cliffs until smothered by the accumula-
lions of ashes and covering of super
incumbent rocks. In places, the heat
of this burning coal has been so IN
tense as to melt the rocks.
From surface appearances. the fires
have gone out in these cliffs. but al
,s.,e pCanu in the canyon OF Prince
k5fver, where the coal is being mined
the rocks are found to be uncomfort-
ably hot. and the miners were COM
PEELED to retire for fear the fires would
break out.
Other coal fields lie in the desert
%est of Green River. At two places
Xaear tributaries of Fremont River the
coal is burning, and has been without
cessation since the places were discov-
cred by the earliest explorer. At GER
tain intervals. as the burning OF the
thick beds progresses, producing caver-
nous spaces in the earth, the rocks cave
in. forming vents for the freer cir
culation of air. Then the coal burns
more fiercely. ard the heat becomes 81
intense as even to melt the rocks.
The origin of these fires has beer
Che subject of much speculation. Thre'
aHplanations are commonly hear'
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23
Water Fans" Burning Mountain

water thrown upon Jumps OF dry coal
will assist in its combustion.
"This assistance is given, not IN the
way of kindling. but as an aid IN break
ing up the coal into smaller particles
when it is heated
1.-THE water enters the cracks ana IN
terstices of the Jumps. and when the
heat is applied, the steam generated
breaks and skaters the humps. giving
more surface, If the coal Is exposed to
fire. -,
I'm a similar way, the presence OF
water in a coal bed may assist tne
subterranean fires when once ignlteo.
Speaking of the bituminous burning
coal mountains in the Far West, Senior
Geologist M. r. Campbell says:
THE burning of the coal beds adds
greatly to the attractiveness OF the
landscape in many regions, because
most of the butteS and ridges are cap
ped with red rocks due to the oxldatlon
of the iron by burning.
THE coal, once ignited, Will BURN as
long as it can get sufficient air. In the
case of the Sunnyside Mine IN Utah
the burned coal extended in under the
Book Cliff about 800 feet.
"In places the burning allows the
surface rocks TO slump. forming pl'
much like the crater of a volcano. a
! man recently described to me such
, feature south of Gillette. Wyo., where
the burning of bed of coal nearly l0C
feet thick had produced great pits In
which the coal is still burning.
Many persons will ask how the Goa
| was set on fire. There are doubtless
many ways in which such fires are
| CT a rfnd tha V1ancf fNrNHo hlo hotnn. ~ az
| CD by campers or hunters, and "a by
spontaneous ignition, due to the rapic
| oxidation attendant on alternate wet
! ting and drying. Fires of the latter
| mode of origin are common in the
West. and it is dangerous to stack large
quantities in piles exposed to the
weather, as 1t is almost sure to take
FIRE"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23

| to by one of the daily papers under the
| title, Gas Cooking" as follows: "One
of the most labor saving and money
making expedients ever introduced, ana
especially valuable for persons OF scanty
means. is the cooking with gas. What
a world of labor and trouble and time it
saves! Mr. willard brought one of his
sheet-iron broilers to our ONCE some
DAYS ago and, having attached a gutta
percha tube to one of the gas pipes,
cooked a couple of chops and steak In
a few minutes, the tenderest we ever
tasted. and, what is peculiar to the
process. free from the smoke and fumes
which generally rise from broiling meat.
ANYBODY can see the operation any day
in the kitchen of the National Hotel.
y
1T was while Guy e. Briggs were run
l. ming the hotel that guests here were
made sick by poisonous sewer gases
resulting in the closing OF the place Tor
several months. people even being afraid
tn enter the building. II was during
mis- scare that Col. Franklin Tenney,
.oaether with DR.. S. w. Jones. heard of
The hotel and the fatality which hung
about it. and asked to be shown through
the place. An item printed years ago
says:
"Mr. Tenney examined and leased It,
threw open the windows had the house
cIeanSed, 273 loads of dirt taken from
the cellar and yards. put 100000 worth
of furniture into the hotel and was call
ed crazy by his friends. The hotel was
opened to the public, completely reno
waited and declared thoroughly free OF
the poisonous malaria, December 5, 1881
Soon after it was opened every room
was taken and the parlors and salons,
where had danced the bellies of quar-
ter of century before, were again filled
with life and beauty. They sold out to
H. S. Benson of Philadelphia, who took
charge April l. 1853.
"MeSsrs Tenney g. Jones, receiving
500 900 for the hotel, each retired with
handsome capital and the former,
purchasing and fitting up an elegant
manor at Manchester, called Gale Hall,
moved there with his family. Mr.. Ben
son died in 1869 and the National again
passed into the hands of Tenney &
Jones and George H. Calvert. Mr. Ten
ney bought out the entire establishment,
June /. 1871, and conducted the hotel
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23

among the Mormons, who inhabit this
region where the mountains burn.
One explanation is that lightning has
by chance struck the edges of these coal
beds at various times since these
mountains were lifted up.
Another is that forest fires raging in
the mountains came in contact with ex-
posed coal The more thoughtful point
out that the forests in this desert re-
gion are too sparse for forest fires to
occur.
Still another and more common ex-
PLANTATION, is that the Indians built
their campfires under the protecting
lodges of the mountains against the
coal and it was thus ignited. They
point to the fact that there are ruins
of the habitations of cliff jewellers here,
and that in their day the coal began to
burn.
Members Of the United States
Geological Survey. who spent the past
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23

Summer in the coal fields of Colorado
and Utah, speak of the phenomena of
subterranean burning coal beds In the
Rocky Mountains. The edges of the
coal beds come to the surface 1000 feet
above the bordering desert, and far
down in some of the Colorado canyons
they found burning mines which have
the appearance of continuous combus-
ton for ages.
The action of water in those subter-
ranean mines is discussed by member
of the survey:
Among the wonderful things in ma
ture, nothing seems more surprising and
paradoxical than that water, aided by
natural surroundings, should kindle and
then augment subterranean fires In
beds of coal. Such are actual facts,
however, and in the region Of the Rocky
Mountains, miners have to exercise pre-
caution to prevent fires breaking out In
dry coal mines- 1t Is observed that
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23

for 100000. Plans for the remodeling
of the interior of the structure are
being worked out.
A similar course is being followed at
Nagasaki. Japan, where an existing
building has been purchased and plans
started to recondition it.
Early this year the American Gov
eminent acquired a site in Ottawa,
Canada. facing the Canadian Parlia-
ment Building The two brick build
ings on the property will be demol-
ished. and Cass Gilbert of New York
has been designated to prepare plans
for a new Government office structure.
The site at Ottawa was acquired for
S105.58
Within the past year funds have been
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23

ed men we're wont to assemble. There
was one on the night of February =,
1862. attended by 500 persons, Con-
gress being largely represented. New
Hampshire was represented by Senator
and Mrs. Hale and daughters and Judge
and Mrs. Upham. Kentucky by Mrs
CrittenHen. New York by Mrs. Spauld-
ing. wiz of the chairman of the ways
and means committee. Other guests
we're Vice President and Mrs. Hamim'
B. B. Brabson. Tennessee; DR.. Raoe'
the prominent California Pacific Rail-
road lobbyist: Senator Baker Oh oregon,
Cassius NJ Clay. Kentucky. John =.
Breckenridge and Gen. Winfield Scout.
The daughters Of Judge Foote, eX-Com- :
missioner of Patents, were married at
the National, one to ex-senator Hen
derson and the other to Mr.. Arnold
the wealthy New York merchant. Hon:
Horatio Kings daughter was married
at the National also. Since those days
the house has been the scene of many
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23

for some time after 1871 alone, and
then sold a quarter interest to Mr.. W.
H. Crosby, a gentleman OF sterling abll-
ity. exceedigly popular and generous to
a fault"
Before coming here, Col Tenney had
gained much experience in the hotel
business. To quote sketch of him:
After studious and useful boyhood
Mr.. Tenney opened the Amoskeag Hotel
at Goffstown, now called Manchester,
N. H., October /. 1841. Some time later
he started the Elm Street Temperance
House in the same town, the only tenn
started the City Hotel, which f1ourished
and had a splendid reputation. He sold
out the latter hotel in 1855 and then
came to Washington" as before stated.
The hotel business is now controlled
by the National Hotel Co.. OF which
George H. Calvert, jr., is president.
The building is on property that IN
the early days of the District, when
Washington became the seat Of Gov
eminent, was owned by David Burnes.
Here. as early as 1916, were the Weight
man buildings, erected by Roger Chew
Weightman, mayor of Washington from
1924 to 1926 Weightman had purchased
the property designated as lots 8, g,
part 10, IL and IL in square 49l, in 1871,
1872 and 1918. Allen c. Clark tells us:
I'm the corner he had store where
he sold books. but more, the greater es-
sentials of life, particularized in an ad-
vertisement, october 2. 1924: Yarns,
plaid shirtingS. chambrays, sattenetts,
chocolate, sugar, nails The same date,
| September, 1873 he relinquished his
branch store on F. street, near Fifteenth.
adjoining Mrs Curtis boarding house.
I'm the Weightman buildings for two
years prior to August IS, 1920, the
mayor and the register had offices; then
they moved to the new City Hall"
\ X 4 +
JAMES CRoGGoN, who reported for
- The Star before the writer was born,
and whose information of the site was
largely personal, says the Weightman
] buildings were a block of five or six
I th'~ STORY bricks. arranged for dwell
ir&. with store rooms in one or two.
| GIn. Weightman lived in the corner
house and conducted book and sta
tionery store, which was the center OF
the literary circle of that day. The
general, being a popular officer of the
militia, and prominent in municipal az
fairs as a member of the city councils
and in 1924 as mayor of the city, drew
about him the leading citizens. and at
his store many members OF Congress
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23

of the new structure. Preliminary plans
bv Robert Maurice Trinlble of Pitts
burgh have been approved by the COM
mission. The municipal authorities at
Shanghai have authorized construc-
ton of an extended retaining wall,
which will make it possible for this
Government to reclaim additional land
and add about 1850 square feet to our
present waterfront An attractive lawn
will be laid off on the river side OF the
new building, which will be visible to
arrivals at the port.
The aforementioned embassy at
Yokohama. Japan, which was destroyed
by fire following the earthquake there
in September 1928, is to be replaced by
a new structure in the near future.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23

cities. In addition to the proposed
structure in Paris. Others will follow
as the $10.ooo,ooo program goes for
ward.
Representative Stephen G. Porter of
PENNSYLVANIA. chairman of the Foreign
Service Buildings Commission has re-
turned to washington after concluding
the purchase of the Paris property and
gives an interesting account of what the
commission hopes to accomplish in car
rying out the project.
The site acquired In Paris Is the
northwest corner of the Place de la
Concorde, end the offer made, and &C
cepted, waS 1927 900. or $4,000 less
than had BEEN allocated. for this pur-
pose earlier in the year. Final pay
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23

National has also been the favorite re-
sort of professional people. many
of the distinguished actors, including
Booth. Forrest, Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Mathews. Adelaide Phillips. Jefferson,
owens. Matilda Heron, Charlotte Cush-
man and others having stopped there.
President Lincoln attended his first pub
lie dinner at the National, which was
rendered him by Hon. E. G.. Spauldlng
and the New York delegation then In
Congress.
In 1862 a series of grand entertain
ments. termed The Carnival of Parties,
was conducted at the National. where
MANY beautiful women and distinguish
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23

Foreign Service Buildings Commission,
created by Congress two years ago.
In creating this commission Con-
gress pledged itself to a $4,000, 900
program, to be appropriated at not
to exceed 100000 annually, in i'm
proving the buildings in which the
diplomatic and consular agents OF the
United States carry on the work OF
the Government abroad.
The commission has allocated funds
and taken the initial steps to furnish
better facilities in a number of foreign
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23

ment and transfer of title have been
completed. The building on the site
is occupied and as soon as the tenancy
of the occupants terminates plans will
be announced for construction OF the
office building.
Representative Porter points out that
throughout the hearings on the foreign
service buildings bill the desire was
expressed unanimously to consolidate
the business Offices Of the Government
in one business building at each OF the
large capitals where callers at these
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23
BY J. A. OLEARY.

%HE recent purchase by the
United States of prominent
corner in Paris as a site for
building in which to CEN
tralize all American govern
mental activities in the French capital
has served to call attention to the
progress being made by this Govern
ment In its aim to provide appropriate
and adequate buildings for its foreign
representatives in all parts OF the
world.
The acquisition of this site in Paris
is but one of number of housing
projects for the foreign service in vari-
Gus countries, in contemplation by the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23

Hickman Shining Character Former Generation Associated With
History of House. Well Remembered Incident of Earlier Days
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-23

T HROUGH a long line OF clifIs
from Colorado to central Utan,
and then southwest toward
Arizona. extensive beds of coal
- fa,.ad and recent GEOLOGICAL
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-04-23

you get some furs. Why,
you're freezing" He pressed his
lips to the icy hands that he held.
That night when Lily went back
to the Frances little white house
there were two silver foxes slung
around her graceful shoulders.
Pats mother, who knew almost
nothing about expensive clothes,
did not even notice them.
But Florence, who sat sewing by
the window seat in the tiny dining
room, gave them a curious glance
when Lily walked into the room.
Then she looked at Lily, whose
cheeks were flushed with excite
n1ent, and whose neck fairly
dripped with strands of pearls
the expensive kind that are made
in France and cost almost as
much as the real ones. Florence
knew the value of these things.
She saw them every day
In Angouleme's, that JeweI.box of.
q store.
"You look as IL you'd been out
on a shopping trip" she said
pointedly.
Lily laughed. 'eYou mean be-
cause I'm wearing these furs?
But they're not new" she fibbed
lightly. They are some that l
had all last winter"
She could see Florence watch
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-04-23

for an instant the feeling Of his
face against her face. the clean
smell Of his hair, the strength
and comfort Of his nearness.
"Oh. II only you'd notice me
once in .a while instead Of just
living down at that machine shop,
you don't know how happy Id
beg' she sighed. could even
forget that haven't any new
z clothes or q washwonnan--"
AT eight o'clock, while they
were doing the supper dishes, the
CoOrbeII rang and the Jetters0ns
came Mostly up the front steps.
They were ifls their best clothes,
and Sadye wore no hat. Her
hair was curleC. and slicked down
with brilliantine, and her make
up was very fresh and bright.
Were going to the whist
club" she said. and we want
you two to 80 along with US;
They PLAYED whist once q week,
and were always talking about
s Lily refused for the pair Of
them. IT can't play whist" she
explained, and then quickly
changed the subject. What
lovely dress you have on, Sadye.
DO you like it?' asked Sadye.
pleased. Don't you think the
skirt is too short 2" She hustled
into the bedroom to look ct her.
self in the long mirror In the
closet door.
II have too much paint on my
cheeks" she said, looking care
fully at her reflection. Have
you any powder?
And with q quick movement she
had the dresser drawer open. and
was staring down at the FOX furs
with the pearls coiled on the
top OF them like cleaning
snake. Her e5es sharpen4d as
she looked at them.
my goodness! Pat must be
making moneyt'' she twIttcred.
lifting the furs out. Silver foxes!
Me, oh my! / must have Row
get me somer' She threw them
around her broad, fat shoulders
and walked into the living room
with them.
CHAPTER XIII
with the mincing step Of 4
style.show model, Sadye walked
into the little sitting room to show
off the fl1rs.
Look. Royg' she said 70 her