davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-11
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY Il, 1881
One Thing To Remember

As everyone expected the hearing before 7 the legislative judiciary committee yesterday in Hartford was characterized by spirited op position to the proposed changes in grade crossing laws by Professor Albert Levitt of { Redding The Fairfield county man, it must be admitted. does not indulge in airy persiflage, but in forceful manner brings to the front plain facts of which many legislators them selves are unaware. The law now states that the railroads must eliminate one crossing per annum for every fifty miles of track in use.
 There is no question but what such provision would actually work a financial hardship upon, the New Haven road which controls the most mileage in Connecticut. Its program of grade crossing eliminations, it be- lieves. is sufficient unto the day. In this opinion many people are now willing to agree inasmueh as it is an expensive task to elim- mate grade crossing and when fifteen or twenty of them would have to be eliminated Tn one year financial suicide is faced.
 We believe that the law should be repealed and one substituted for it that would permit the public utilities commission to demand reasonable number of eliminations per annum. We would not repeal, however, that section of the statute which forbids the creation of new crossings in the state. And we do think that we should pay little more attention to one remark of Professor Levitt in which he pointed out that while the railroad alone was responsible for the grade crossing in the state when they are replaced the railroad rarely pays more than one half the cost, generally less, the remainder being shared by the state highway department and the town in which the elimination occurs.
 l his in a way IS an argument for fewer grade crossing elimlnations. Of course we can't argue along these lines, for where human lives are concerned the state cannot consider the question of finances. But every time the public utilities commission condemns a crossing and orders 1t abolished it costs the state quite few thousands of dollars. Per hars if Professor Levitt brought out this fact a little more forcibly he might secure more support in his campaign against the public utilities commission. There isn't one solitary person in Connecticut who approves grade crossing, but there number who can see the physical impossibility of the New Haven road obeying statute of the last century, not to mention the states inability to cooperate in replacing large quota of eliminatons with costly underpasses or overhead bridges.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-11
Logic's With Bingham

Professor Albert Levitt of Bedding is nov ing into other fields. Sobered trifle per l,aps by the obstacles that republican off cials have managed to stfew in the path that he had cleared right up to the office of the public utilities commission he IS now setting his lance for Senator Hiram A. Bingham Or dinarily this might be cause for rejoicing as the urbane and august senator from New Haven has not given his compatriots from Connecticut much occasion to applaud since his introduction to the senate. However. Senator Bingham seems to have struck re- Sponslve chord in sponsoring the bill to legal ize four per cent beer.
 In regard to this measure Professor Levitt. speaking in New Britain Sunday night. said, Senator Bingham took solemn oath to defend and protect the constitution of the United States. He is exerting all bis ener- gies to nullify the letter and to stultify the purpose of an integral part of that constltu- ton. l believe that l voice the opinion of a great majority of the members of the repub lican party in our state when l say that l am ashamed of and repudiate the activities of Sen ator Bingham in this matter Senator Blng- ham, in my opinion has made a definite bid for wet democratic votes. He has definitely cut loose from the majority of voters in the republican party Those voters are dry. If the republican machine should once more nominate MT Bingham he will be defeated The people of Connecticut want United States senators whom they can honor and respect They do not want senators of whom they are ashamed and for whom they must con- stantly apologize.
 Professor Levitt is plainly trying to pin again on Senator Binghams shoulders the censure that was his after the tariff rumpus which was caused by the Connecticut senator revealing he had brought a representative of the Manufacturers Association of this state into the senate hearings on the tariff. Why not confine the condemnation of MT Bingham to his sponsorship of the four per cent beer bill! If he flaunts wet tendencies by this action accuse him merely of being vet and let it go at that. But don't forget that the republican party has openly broken every liquor law made by allowing the fed era farm board to loan California fruit growers almost twenty million dollars to market fruit juices that have an alcoholic con tent of l2 to IS per cent after fermentation.
 If it is a sin to propose four per cent beer then what is it to permit fifteen per cent wine such as is now being marketed with the ob- vious approval of the government Mabel Walker Willebrandt. former justice depart ment official in charge of prohibition en- foreement has advised the California fruit growers that their product is legal and can
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-11
Didn't Have A Chance

As Representative Pietro Diana of New Haven admitted few days ago his bill to standardize the time on all clocks in Connecti. cut really didn't have chance. Representa- tive Epaphrodtus Peck of Bristol voiced about the same sentiment when he said the bill would fail of passage because the farm CTS did not want daylight saving time and naturally their vote would decide against it, since the rural vote decides about everything in the Connecticut legislature. The slightly ludicrous Connecticut statute on daylight time forbids the display of nothing but standard time on all public clocks in this state.
 Daylight saving time is observed in every large city that we know of and also by the industrial plants. Municipal and town gov- ernments for the most part conform to the summer schedule. The courts, change their schedules to take advantage of additional hour of sunlight on the hind end of the day. Connecticut, however, remains true to tradi- ton. She has to be shown and shown we'll before going in for any of those gosh -darned and cty-fangled notions. We don't dispute the value of daylight saving with the rural dwell lers. If we did. reams' of paper would be consumed.
 But we do believe that the state is wrong in privately adopting daylight saving time and yet forbidding it to be displayed publicly. Either the present law should have been re- pealed or amended to read daylight saving right out of the state. We want daylight time at least most of the city dwellers do. but if it is going to make the state a laughing stock why let's get back to standard time entirely. We suppose. though, it will be good many years before the strength in the legislature will have been massed on the side of the urban residents who really are just as much citizens of the state as are those who live in the country.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-11
REBUILDING NIAGARA

The fall of great rock mass down into the Niagara ravine. leaV- ing a big U-shaped gap in the con tour of the American falls. has had the effect of drawing attention to remedial legislation proposed to save the beauty of the falls by delaying erosion. The Canadian parliament ratified the proposal as contained in a treaty framed by the International Niagara Board on May 20, 1923. but it has not yet been reported out or committee to our senate in washing ton.
 The chief purpose of the engineer ing plans is to delay erosion in the midcurve of the Horseshoe Falls by scooping out an underwater chan mel in the form of a ~" to throw the weight of the water over toward the banks of the stream. At the same time the flow over-the Ameri- can falls would be regulated and made more even by underwater dams upstream. The cost, estimated at $1,750,O00. would be borne by the power companies and the On tario Commission, which would be permitted to divert 135.00O more horsepower than at present for period of seven years. Practical con- alterations thus unite, with esthetic reasons for urging forward the work. For Niagara to work its way back into a stretch of tumbling rapids will take thousands of years. But within our own time the shape and flow of water may be altered for the worse by other rock falls threatened by erosion. And the engineers. whe ought to know. think that something should be done about 1t.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-11
HERE, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE
 -IoI- WHAT THE EDITORS AND ELSEWHERE HAVE ABOUT THlS THAT AND THE OTHER THING
BID AND COUNTERFEIT Hartford Times.)

When Senator Ashurst of Arizona made the suggestion few weeks ago that this country purchase Lower California from Mexico the matter was received as joke on this side of the border, except insofar as there was misgiving that it might be interpreted seriously by the Mexicans and give rise to unfriendly feelings about the designs of their powerful northern neighbor. Those fears prove to have been unnecessary, as Mexican sense of humor has come most effectively upon the scene. A group of her congressman have put forward the proposal that their country purchase from the United States the area comprised by Cali fornia, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas and the city of New Orleans.
 As counter-proposal that is per- feet. Tn a grand way the Mexican overture is even more plausible than that offered by Senator Ashurst. Did not Mexico once own all the land on which these states were planted :? Do not even Americans oncede that the war in which most. of this terri tory was acquired is one of our con- fiicts of which we are not particu- larly proud? And finally, is not the whole business too ridiculous to re- ceive further consideration. in which case Senator Ashurst has the kind of answer he deserves?y
 Our neighboring republic has shown genuine diplomatic stature in matching an amusing senatorial ges- ture with an even more entertaining display of international playfulness. With such help from all other coun- tries the American senate could be relation activities.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-11
TO=DAY'S SELECTED POEM
LINES FROM "LINCOLN. THE MAN OF THE
 PEOPLE"

Up from log cabin to the Capitol, One fire on his spirit one resolve To send the keen to the root of wrong Clearing a free way for the feet of God, The eyes of conscience testing every stroke To make his deed the measure of a man. He built the rail-pile he built the State Pouring his splendid strength through every
 blow The grip that swung the axe in Illinois Was the pen that set people free. So when the Captain with the mighty heart And when the judgment thunders split the house Wrenching the rafters from their ancient rest He held the ridgepole up. and spkt again The rafters of the Home. He held his place Held the long purpose like growing tree Held on through blame and faltered not al
 praise.
 And when he fell In whirlwind, he went down As when lordy cedar, green with boushs, Goes down with a great shQut upon the hills. And leaves a lonesome place agaiast the sky.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-11

are dropping radio programs from their daily news columns. The deletion was agreed upon only after great deliberation upon the part of publishers and editors. While it may not prove successful in Waterbury. it will serve notice on the public that after all is said and done newspaper is business enterprise just as much so as dry goods store, etc. To the newspapers are entrusted great task, that of guiding the nation along the right path. But they are not philanthropies. And there aren't many radio stations in the United States that operate for the love of the game Most of them are business enterprises subsisting by the amount of advertising they can sell Thus they are directly in compe- tition with the newspapers Space is precious these days with advertising at minimum and operating costs no lower than ever. A trial may prove us wrong but at least we have given the trial.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-11
fIH}N[ME%YQRKa1I| fH}jINId[:M\'EE%Y :: < REKE.

story. Certainly you didn't, if you depended upon high school and col lege histories.
 Very well-this same Fraunce, with West Indian Negro blood in his veins. set up tavern at Pearl street and Broad. And his daughter became the cook and general facto- tum in the household of the nations leader. Governor Tryon decided that the best way to lick the Revo- lutionists was to get rid of Wash ington. The plot was matched aboard a ship lying off the city. The mo- ment selected was the occasion of 0 triumphal parade, when Washing ton was to ride up what was then Broadway.
 Tyron picked q deserter, by the name of Hickey, to do the jobI
 But Hickey, to get up courage, stopped at Fraunce's Tavern and took a few drinks. He fell in love with Phoebe, and after his umptieth drink became confidential. After his second or third visit he was telling the story of his life and plans. The plot was allowed to drift along, after Phoebe went to Washington with the story of the plot. And when the hour struck, Hickey was arrested, confessed and hanged.
 it. Gilbert Swan.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-11

Now we are learning that Massachusetts representatives are concerned over the granite that will be used in the new Boston post office. week or so ago Representative Mccormack of the Bay States made an elo- quent plea in Congress for the use of New England granite in the erection of the several new postoffices that the New England states are to get. Governor Ely is now urging Sem ator David l. Walsh to insist upon Massachu- setts granite for the Boston postoffiee. We don't blame him. Boost the state industries. That's the idea for all New England to adopt. They're as good if not better than others.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-11
[7T7f}E|3!3E|S$$f]{7|
DANIEL BooNEs BIRTH

On February II, 1735, Daniel Boone, a famous backwoodsman and pioneer, was born in Bucks county. Pennsylvania. His father, farm CT, moved to North Carolina when Daniel. was IS years old.
 The boy had little education, but he knew the woods and Indian life. When 34 years old, he went with five others into the wilds of Ken lucky. He had many adventures and fights with the savages, and was captured by one of them. but escaped.
 Shortly after he moved his own and five other families from North ECarolina to Kentucky. he built fort on the Kentucky River which he named Boonesboro. The Ind1- ans attacked the fort several times bus were driven off In 1778, they caught Boone and carried him to Detroit, where one of them adopted him as q son. Hearing of plan to attack Boonesboro, he ran away and, reaching his fort, defended It with 50 men against large forces or Indians and Canadians.
 He lived in Boonesboro until about 179O, when he lost his lands through defective title. He died iy, 1200
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-11
MuolcS8 MuoIAIIQSS88 AAS.-.... M 10 - v

LEISURE as such Is quite 1ntoler- able except in fairly small doses.
 --Aldous Huxley.
 A. IF A GIRL goes out into the world and tries to ape men 100 much, she is bound to lose some thing intangible and subtle which belongs naturally to her.
 The Marquess of zetland. IN OUR political situation it is the duty of man to commit crime Tn the name of his state or his country It seems to me that 1t is more his duty to free mankind from this sort of thing.
 Professor Albert Einstein 7 FUNDAMENTAL business condi- tions are about at bedrock. Irving T. Bush. president, Bush
 Terminal Company. New York WAS always lazy boy but somehow I never had time to be lazy.
 Sir Phene Neal. I AM of the firm conviction that we are nearer Utopia today in this country than ever before. --Channing H. Cox.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-11

New York:--History fairly leaps
 out and bites the average wanderer on New York's thoroughfares, yet a vast proportion of the population goes through Q days work com pletely blind to the surroundings. And the tourist, who runs to all the cathedrals of Europe and fairly trails Napoleon or Joan of Arc across
 Paris, is just as likely to have no eye for his nations landmarks once
 he is set adrift in Manhattan.
 Yet it's possible to track down
 George Washington from the Bat tery belt to the upper Hudson and
 across town to upper Harlem. Or if one has. literary urge, Edgar Allan Poe's spectral footprints could
 be traced from Nassau street, in the Wall Street district, to the Poe cot tage at the far rim of the Bronx. Mark Twain's residence still stands in Fifth Avenue, while loyal fans fight against it's despoiliation Tom Paine's residence in the flag end of Greenwich Village has been the cause of another controversy. And anyone who cares to follow the tracks of o. Henry has very simple time. His park benches are still there. And the hotel where he
 worked for a time has his picture
 hanging prominently in the lobby
 The room where he wrote scores of
 his stories may be rendered in these
 times for $3 night or thereabouts Washington Irving has Q dozen landmarks. And Aaron Burr can
 be followed to his duelling ground by anyone with the required taxi fare. The Battery fairly reeks with tales of the early American settlers and Hoboken, just across the river boasts of museum pieces which time
 has failed to. destroy.
 Traces of the historic Dutch West India company are to be found rather easily in the downtown sec. tion. Almost any policeman car show you where Captain Kidd lived The old Roosevelt home in the Gramercy park belt gets one Of tht largest tourist quotas, largely be- cause of it's handiness to the mid town section. TO be sure, Fraunce's Tavern is on the itinerary of salmost every bus route and Is rarely missed bJ tourists. But quite too much atten' tion has been given to old Samue Fraunce, and too little to his daugh' l ter Phoebe. Fraunce, by the way was a West Indian of quite darl complexion. When Howe, of tho
 English troops, left Boston, Genera Washington looked for an attacl upon New York. He looked for headquarters, and selected at frs the old De Peyster mansion, then il Pearl street.
 | After consideration. the father
 of our country" decided to move III
 town to the Richmond Hill district And his housekeeper was non'
 other than this same Phoebe Fraunce--but for whose braver!
 and shrewdness the entire histor! of this land might be rewritten. l Maybe you've never heard thi
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-11
STOP. TEACHER, STOP AND TURN BACK

STOP, TEACHER STOP AND TURN BACK A high school teacher had better be carefu of her step when she strays off this way: Dear Dr Brady:
 get out of patience with some types of health books used in the grades The follow ing rules are taken from one of the latest text books for children: - Drink 4 to glasses of water every day. Drink a glass of water on rising in the morning"
 Take 10 deep breaths before open window morning and night with setting up exercise" Take exercise every night on going to bed."i 'Seep on the side, mainly the left side" walk with erect carriage 'St erect at study "Sit erect while conversing." Wash stockings every day
 Who is the medical or health authority for such rules? Am I wrong in thinking some of these instructions ridiculous? For instance, can one comfortably walk with erect carriage? Can one remain erect and keep ones mind on study? Would a. boy who failed to wash his stockings every day be neglecting his health or rsking illness?
 If you make any comment on this please do not use the name of writer the name of school. r',t
 Very truly yours,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-11

be sold without violating the prohibition laws. And what further proof was needed than the huge loan the association negotiated with the federal farm board. Why didn't Professor Levitt widen the scope of his casti- gation to include the federal farm board, Mrs Wllebrandt. the California fruit growers. and our many legislators who condone this exper- iment but flay Senator Bingham for daring to propose four per cent beer9
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-11


 Governor Pnohot of Pennsylvania and Professor Albert Levitt of Bedding Connecti- cut. ought to collaborate in their attacks on public utilities. The former has long been foe of electric, gas. water, and trolley com panies that are profiting at the expense of the people. Professor Levitt finds fault with the commission that controls such public utilities and isn't averse to taking a slap at some individual concern that might seek to profteer Governor Pinchots charges include the thtaking one that the federal trade commission found one public utility company making 5000 per cent profit a year on its actual investment. He admits that all com panles aren't alike. They are many that establish fair rate and stick by it. But there are others who squeeze as much as pos sible out of their patrons simply on account of the latter's ignorance. Governor Pinchot has also pointed out that every public utility is a monopoly by virtue of the charter that the people grant it through legislative assem- plies. Every utility has field to itself. It is not forced to compete for business as are other businesses. The governor also cited the control that an electric concern has on Ore- gon politics. Why didn't he choose an exam pie nearer 10 hand?
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-11

Florence. Italian center of art and learning, will be featured as City of Fiowers't.,in <, in the coming springtime festival eommemorat- ing the towns cultural development This program of festivities will be the second celebration of its sort in Florence but by no means the least The first. held in 1930. proved so successful that the city decided to perpetuate the custom. Music is to be the theme of the 1852 fete.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-11
Personal Health Seruice (By William Brady, M. D.

Signed letters pertaining to personal health and hygiene. not disease diagnosis Or reatmcnt. will ne answered by Dr Brady Adj. dress him. care Of the Democrat sending stamp and addressed envelope.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-11
Good evening.
 o-O-o FEBRUARY

A short month, but tough one, When winters final shot, Is heard amid the elements, And things just go to pot. Snow and rain amingling, Then bitter winds apace, To prove that for the moment. The old king leads the race. His blatant voice goes hurting. His storm tossed looks are seen, He coats the hills and highways. The king can use the bean. Grim nature, gaunt and naked, Bows down before his will. And to his mocking laughter, Its lips are mute and still. The king is in the saddle, He whips flying steed. There's naught a bit of sympathy, The king is bent on greed, But spring from wonder mountain, Will some day call, his bluff, Then he'll trek to oblivion, It's springs turn to be rough.
 o-O-O When people permit themselves to have spines like jelly they're bound to get in jam.
 .. O-O--o
 Saw a horse whip the other day. Felt like going in search of a coach 'dog..
 O-O-tO Claims Drys Dickering With Vets Headline. Aha, now we can ex- pect Dickersham report.
 o--O-ot
 The man who loses his self re- spect will never find others ad- miring him.
 O-O-o Pride costs lot of money and half the time it isn't worth it.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-11

When automotive engineers get to l2 and 16 cylinders why not go the whole way and give the family bus gas turbine'
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-11
TREASUREs FOES KNIFE

Racine, WIS (UP).-A pearI- handled pocket knife once owned by Edgar Allan Poe is treasured pos- session of Mrs Elizabeth Eisele here. The original brass name plate is still on the knife. It is inscribed "E. A. Poe" Mrs Eisele said she inherited the knife from an ancestor.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-11

The first thing we know, says an auto mobile agent friend, there'l be l5,000,000 cars worn out and we'll all be hollering for new cars at the same time and then we'll be sorry that we didn't stagger our orders.