smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

WAsHISoroH, D. C., Dec. 4th, 1871


To rHx EDITOR OF TIE DISPATCH:


Since my letter Of the LIST inst. q
copy of the Olympia Transcript has
come to hand containing what
purports to be letter of the Secre-
tary of the Interior making = de-
cision virtually in favor of the N.
P. r. r. Co. in the matter of their
application to change their
Branch line from the Skagit to the
Natchess Pass route. That letter
has never been promulgated, but
after being written in the railroad
division Of the Land Office, was sus-
pended and arithheld, and has never
left the Office. and probably never
will. A copy of this letter, thus
suspended and withheld, was obtain
ed in some way by the N. P. r. r.
Company, and has no doubt been
sent out to our Territory by them.
I think they will find that this ac-
ton on their part will damage in
stead of help their cause. Since
that letter was written, rehearing
has been ordered, and much new
light has been shed upon the case
by additional evidence and full ar
guments. The result remains to be
sesn; but this much is certain, and
that is, no hasty decision will now
be made in favor of said company.
The readers of the DISPATCH will
understand also that the question
now before the Secretary is prelim-
mary, viz: whether or not the COM
pany have the right to file this SO
called Amended map of general
route of their branch line," and OBJ
tain withdrawal upon it. If this
is decided against them, that IS the
end of it; but if they are successful
in this, then they must file another
plat of definite location, as it is
called, and then it will appear that
this Puyallup coal road IS not on
the Natchess Pass route at all, but
is on the. direct line to the top of
Mount Rainier. Besidss, Congress
will have something to say about
this egregious swindIe before this
contest is closed. No one was more
surprised than Secretary Schurz
himself at the publication of this
letter, and probably some one will
be held responsible for its getting
out of the Office in the shape it did.


Yours truly, NJ.
Year: 1877

This admonishes us, who are
yet IN a Territorial condition,
that in laying the foundations of
a State, nothing is more essen
sial to the liberties and general
prosperity of the people than to
preserve the public domain for
the use of the people, instead of
allowing it to become monopo-
ly in the hands of a few with the
power to compel tribute from the
many. Patriotism itself will
shrivel and die where it draws
no sustenance from the soil. All
the domestic and social virtues
are the growth of home and the
fireside. A tenant house or a
tenant farm only promotes e sys-
tenn Of lordIy domination and
vassal dependence.


In forming our organic law
we hope to have the tenure upon
which land is held so fixed that
no person can thereafter acquire
more than a limited number of
acres-say GAO, or at most 1000
acres, which is certainly ample
for the use of any one man. For
more than forty years we have
advoted the freedom Of the pub
lie lands to actual settlers, and
the limitation Of ownership to
prevent land monopoly. In the
mean time we have assisted in
the formation of two State gov
ernments in which the principle
was partially recognized, and
propose to be a candidate for
Delegate to the Constitutional
Convention for Washington, for
the purpose Of urging this and
some other measures which We
deem of vital Importance to the
Oa0nIa.
Year: 1877




The New York Post, in the
following paragraph throws more
light on the silver question, than
can be found in all the windy
speeches made and articles writ
ten since the question was first
agitated:


The railroad strikes last sum-
mer ware caused by a reduction
Of wages amounting to not more
than ten cents on the dollar
The bill now before congress for
the restoration Of the silver dol
lar will reduce the purchasing
power of the money with which
the laboring man and woman are
paid ten cents on the dollar. In
the case of the railroads one
class Of workmen was affected
in the case of the silver dollar
AL classes of work people will be
affected. Yet Messrs. Bland
Jones, Ewing and other fellow
demagogues pretend to be seek.
ing the welfare of the people
while in fact they are working
to diminish the ability Of the
poor man to buy the bread nee
essary to keep him and his fami
ly alive,
Year: 1877

According to the statement of
Mr.. McGilvra, in the letter pub
ished to-day, the bogus decision
Of the Secretary Of the Interior
published by our contemporaries
is likely to defeat the object
which it was intended to ac-
compIish, and to cause the per-
pertrators of the fraud some
trouble. Our correspondent
states emphatically that no such
decision was ever promulgated,
nor was it intended that it should
be; but that after being written
in the railroad division of the
General Land Office at Washing.
ton, the document was withheld
or suspended.


In order to revive the droop-
ing spirits of its dupes and give
a color of truth to the report
that it was the intention to push
the road across the Cascades via
the Natchess Pass, the swindling
managers OF the n. P. r. R. Co.
caused some of its numerous spies
at the National Capital to pur-
loin the document from the Office
Of the Secretary of the Interior
Knowing we'll it would be Gag
erly grabbed at by some of our
weakened contemporaries, the
bogus decision was published in
that conspicuous abortion on a
newspaper and mouthpiecc of
the n. P. R. r. land grabbers,
the Tacoma Herald, and copied
by every paper on the Sound
except the DISPATCH, which
knew better. But the trick is
too transparent, and instead of
Strengthening the belief enter
t:i1hd by a few that the road
would ultimately be built, will
cause them to lose all confidence
in the honesty of a corporation
which resorts to such base
=.


means to accomplish its purpose.


After a rehearing is had, and
the full facts of the case brought
out, we are confident that Sec
retary Schurz cannot consistent
ly render anything but an ad-
verse decision in the case.
Year: 1877

They come to your back door
and demand hot coffee and mincc
pie; they stop you near your
home and want money for a
lodging; they unfalteringly pull
the front door bell out of its
socket and demand a new shirt
and a few dimes. How many OF
them ever ask if you have a lit
tie work for them to do? Alas!
work is not what they come for.
Year: 1877

When you see lady on the
street stop and suddenly kick
and reach bakward and down
ward, don't be alarmed, it is not
a brlckbat she is after. AS soon
as she shakes out the old oyster
cans entangled in her trail, that
same sweet smile will return
and everywhere the street con-
tractor halls the woman with a
trail as a blessing.
Year: 1877

Hon. Creed Raymond, late
Code Commissioner and one OF
the ablest lawyers in California,
now member of the State Sen
ate, lately introduced a resolu-
ton instructing the Judiciary
Committee of the Senate to con-
slider and report to the Senate
whether it would be constitu-
tional to so amend the Code as
to provide that the owners of
land could not dispose of by will
more than one thousand acres,
and that whatever they owned
more than this, should, at their
death, become the property of
the State.


In q State owned and control
led by monopolists, however ap-
parent the necessity of such a
measure to the maintenance of
the liberties Of the people, the
power to adopt it has already
passed out of their hands. The
right of eminent domain, which
is an essential power of govern
ment, has been vested in a few,
to whom the mass of the people
are tenants at will, practically
under vassalage to the LORDS OF
the manor as under the feudal
system. 1t is folly to talk Of an
independent people and a free
system OF government where the
relation of landlord and tenant
prevails. This is illustrated in
the California Legislature; the
land barons and the railroad no.
bles control Legislation through
their vassals, whichever political
party is in the ascendant. The
preamble to the resolution IN
troduced by Senator Raymond,
was a literal copy of one of the
planks of the Democratic plat
form upon which the party car
ried the last State election in
California; yet the Senators cleo
ted on that platform almost unan-
imously refused to refer the mat
ter to a committee for consid-
Grafton" A large majority of
the present Legislature were
elected on pledges of hostility to
the Central Pacific Railroad man.
agement. The result is that the
railroad managers dictated the
Senator.


The principle of land limita-
ton indicated in Mr.. Haymond's
resolution has our most hearty
approval; but we do not under
stand how it can be carried out
in the manner proposed without
invading vested rights. The
right to hold property carries
with it the right to dispose of 1t
either by will, deed or devise,
and no statute law can Disturb a
right clearly vested, or take from
any citizen possessions lawfully
acquired, except to meet public
necessities and by rendering due
compensation therefor. If, how
ever, the members of the Senate
believed in land limitation, as
they professed, and really de-
sired to devise a means to check
the growth Of the monster evil
of land monopoly in that State,
they would at least have permit
ted the matter to be considered
| in committee.
Year: 1877

should Immediately make pro-
visions to put the life saving
stations in a thorough condition
Of equipment. 1t is agreed on
all hands that if the station near
the scene of the wreck Of the
unfortunate Huron had been
manned many lives would have
been saved. The policy that
leaves our sailors and passengers
to the mercy of the waves, while
thousands of worthless officials
are kept in Office, is q disgrace
and Il swindle.
Year: 1877

BOSTON, Oct. 20 In the Episcopal general
Convention this morning a message from tue
house of bishops relative to the reduction of
the number OF the board OF trustees OF the gen.
eral theological seminary al ver slight amend
ment SO as To allow each diocese n trustee on
TIE board for every eight clergymen, was
soopted. The con mittee on the b ok OF COM
mon prayer repo, ted that any consideration
or the following "a ojects was inexpedian.: To
request the house OF bishops TO select a spe-
clal collect for the burial servi.e TO precede
the lesson; a special form OF service for the
burial of children; OF making fhe prayer for
Congress applicable to the legislatures OF the
different states ana territories, ald changes
Tie committee on memorials of deceased
members presented a report eulogistic of the
character and labors OF twenty -four MEM
bers Of the convention who had died during
the past three years; adopted by q rising
vote. The joint committee to consider the
Qucs don OF Tue translation OF the German
prayer book into English reported progress
Year: 1877

THE AMNESTY BILL Representative
Cox, of New York, will introduce In the
House on Monday the amnesty DILL, which
was passed by the House two years ago, but
which the Senate failed to pass.
Year: 1877

A correspondent writes from Mexico
ALI through the night l heard a short.
swapping sound coming from the twigs
OF the bushes, but in the darkness was
unable to ascertain the cause. 1t was
not confined to any one bush. but ex-
tended along the whole distance. There
was no regularity about it, but il fell
upon the ear at intervals like the first
large rain drops that precede a heavy
shower but no rain drops ever made so
loud noise, even when falling upon the
shlngle roof of country barn. I fell
asleep trying To make out The cause. and
was awakened by the continued snau.
snap, snap, which disturbed nv slum.
bers. | know it shouldn't be the day
breaking, because it was not near the
morning hour.


But when morning did come, and the
sound had not ceased, | discovered that
IL arose IRON the oysters that were grow
Ing on the bushes, every twig of which
held along its length a cluster of from
ten to twenty oysters, about two inches
long by an inch and half wide.
thought 1t was strange country where
the oushes pore such fruit as that. The
branches Of the bushes were submerged
at nigh water, and the young oysters
grew upon them until their weight broke
OIL the branches and fell into the soft


muddy bottom. 1t was the sudden clos.
ing of the thin shells which produced
the sound. Some naturalists have said
The oyster can he educated, but this wa,


the first time l was ever an auditor of an
oyster concert.
Year: 1877

INVESTIGATING A BABY SHOW
The managers of the New York So
ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Children have taken steps to in
vestigate the baby show now in pro-
gress in that city. Complaints have
been made to the society that the
children on exhibition are suffering
from improper ventilation and other
dlscomforts. The officers of the So
ciety were directed to take physi-
clans and visit the place, and if they
thought necessary to close the exhi-
bition.
Year: 1877

Last night bArglarious entrance
was effecCed into the boot and shoe
store of Isaac Murray & Son, No. 3l3
west SecOnd street. The burglars
made an entrance from the rear by
prying open the back window and
breaking pane Of glass, after which
they turned the window fastening by
reaching through the aperture, raised
the window, aud easily entered the
store.


In their operations the tn ieves con
fiued themselves eXclusively to fine
WORK, and stripped the upper window
and the drawers of the finest articles
of boots and shoes contained there
in. Tney were evidently frightened
off before completing their work, as
they did not toucn anything in the
lower window. Before departing they
took q table cover and strip of car
pet from the floor, in which they evil
dently wrapped their booty.


The value of the articles stolen, so
far as could be ascertained, is about
5000. The thieves also ransacked a
desk in one corner of the store, a nd
tossed the papers about IN great cou-
fusion, but as what money there was
in the store WAS kept in another place
they got no Gu n In addition to their
other booty.


During the robbery persons living
near the store were aroused by the bark
ing of dog in an adjoining yard, but
they placed 10 significance upon this cir,
cumstance, or they might possibly have
prevented the burglars from effecting an
entrance. The police are now looking
up the affair aud have hopes of sue
cess.
Year: 1877

gross that even a few moderate Democrats
acting with the Republicans can arrest any
revolutionary proccediuga Inst March tho
Democrats Of tho Senate interposcd no fac
tious opposition to the decisiona Of the Elcc-
toral Commission, and wo do not understand
shat tho Democratic members Of that
body havc now my disposition to
reopen the Presidential controversy.
We aay this much, notwithstanding tho
notion Of the Democratic Senators in at
tempting to get control Of the Senate by tho
aid Of the man PATTERSON, who Is under In
dIctment for having purchased his own eleo-
ton By bribery. There aro no Democrats in
the senate who have any doubts "a to PAT
7EasoN's guilt and, had they obtained a
majority By his expulsion and by the ap-
pointment Of Democrat In his place, tho
change Of tho control Of tho Senato, how
ever unfortunate, would be in one sense IN
the interest Of public morals. Still, how.
ever desperate the Democratic Senators may
be in their desire to get control Of Tho serate,
We do not believe tho disposition Of any con-
siderable portion Of the Democratic Senators
extends to having Tttpzs made President.
Year: 1877

1t is a mistaken notion that book
knowledge is opposed to the practical.
There is much practical knowledge that
cannot be obtained outside of books or
their equivalent. The captain of a ves-
sci is practical sailor; 10 is the man be-
fore the mast. But while both can reef
a sail equally well, the latter would run
the vessel to destruction, perhaps, if
placed in command. There is a science
in navigation that cannot be learned by
simply performing the duties of COM
mon sailor. 1t muEt be obtained from
books, and the men who safely conduct
the thousands of vessels from one port
to another, across the boundless ocean,
demonstrate how eminently practical
this book knowledge is. 1t is just so in
farming. Holding the plow, driving the
machine, pitching hay, sowing grain and
making cider, is all practical work, that
must be learned just as a sailor must
serve his time before the mast ere he can
aspire to the command OF the vessel.
And before the farmer can take the
higher position of commander, he must
learn something of the science of agri-
culture, and this can no more be learned
by holding the plow than the science of
navigation can be by reefng Sails Ohio
Farmer.
Year: 1877

This is what Carson Appeal says OF
Montgomery Queens rhinocelos: We
have all along been assuring our readers
that the two-herned rhinOceros was a
fact. And it is a fact. He is very
perfect specimen; very singular and
interesting creature. His head is shaped
ike a mansard roof covered with asphalt
tum. His front tooth seems to have
grown up through his nose, and his WIS
dom-tOoth has come out through his eye
bTow. His eve is located in his upper lip.
He seems 10 be a cross between deformed
elephant aud the debris of an old India
rubber over.hoe mandatory. If his an
cestors were with Noah in the ark, that
early navigator must have consigned
him to the steerage, or else it was just an
emigrant ship where they made no pre-
tense of tone, styls or anything first class
in the passenger carrying way.
Year: 1877

errestrial oceans. They would be able


even, by noting the velocity and varia-


tions of velocity of the great wave, to
determine the depth of the Pacific ocean,


and the manner according to which tine
! depth varies in the neighborhood of diff
| ferent island groups. 1t is not altogether
impossible, indeed, that what we have


here described may actually have oc-
! cured though on neither of the oc-


casions when the Pacific has of late been


swept by a sea-wave was Venus verv


suitably placed for observing our planet


Apart from thoughts such as these,


there is much in a phenomenon like


this great sea-wave well worth con


sidering. When we recognize in the sub


terranean forces of our earth an energy


competent to disturb the entire surface
ofthe Pacific, we perceive how vain are


the fears of those who imagine that the
earth's Vulcanian energies are nearly ex-


hausted. There is nothing to show


that at any time of which geology affords
evidence throes more mighty than these
which have shaken Peru and Chill within
the last half century have disturbed any


portion of the earth's frame. In former
times indeed, when geologists were ac-
customed to regard the processes of an
entire era as completed in single throe,
men might as well believe that the earth
had sunk into relative quiescence. But
now that close study has enabled them
TO separate tie effects of one process from
those of another, to 0recogniZe-nOt in full,
perhaps, but in great degree-the influ-
ence of time as an important factor in
geological development, they are able to
make a juster comparison between past
and present disturbances. The result is
that, although we cannot doubt that the
earth is parting with the heat which is
the source of its Vulcanian energies, we


find every reason to believe that the loss
of energy is taking place so slowly that
the diminution during many generations
is altogether imperceptible. As modern
writer has remarked, when we see that
while mountain ranges were being up
heaved or valleys depressed to their pres
ent position, race after race and type
after type lived out on the earth the long
lives which belong to races and to types,
we recognize the great work which the
earth's subterranean forces are still en-
gagged upon. Even now continents are
being slowly depressed or upheaved, and
now mountain ranges are being raised to
a different level. table-lands are being
formed, great valleys are being
gradually scooped out, old shore-lines
shift their place, old soundings varv, the
sea advances in one place and retires in
another; on every side natures plastic
hand is still at work, modelling and re-
the earth and making it con-
stantly fit abode for those who dwell |
upOn it.
Year: 1877

THE New York Graphic is excited
over the banishment Of the ladies' boot
and the temperance OF the slipper. And
vet there is no convenience for a lady
who is the mother of a large family like
a plant and well hung slipper.
Year: 1877

Is the great blood purifier, Syphilis and re-
moves Fimples and Humors on the face


Reason should teach us that blOtchy, rough or
pimpled skin depends entirely upon internal
cause, and outward application can ever cure the
defect.
Year: 1877

Let the president issue his call, and
promptly the gray will stand shoulder to
shoulder with the blue, an i1ipehetrable
bulwark against which mob violence and
communism will dash in vain. He will
find that the veterans of Manassas and
Gettysburg still remember that the first
duty of soldier is implicit obedience
toorders" With such men their personal
prejudice will weigh as nothing against
the word of command. Friends and
foes must suffer alike from their bullets
or bayonets If the emergency so requires.
We at, first gave to the strikers on the
Baltimore and Ohio warm sympathy.
They have suffered grievously. But the
reparation and relief they seek can never
come through sacked cities and whole
sale murder. When a strike takes on
the proportions of communism then it is
that the order-loving element north and
south unite in common cause, declaring
that the Law of the statute books and the
law of humanity must and shall be re-
sDected
Year: 1877

As it is here, so everywhere; the idle,
vicious and criminal elements are on top
They have subdued the workiDgmen.
These everywhere stand impotently by
and see the subsistence of their families
taken from them. All over the country
there is a stoppage of movement which
will bring immediate distress Cor food
on the whole population, besides the
monetary disturbance which will greatly
increase the distress of business men and
OF all classes AS sooD as reflection and
the realization of all this weak sacrifice
shall come, the workingmen will be
ashamed of their folly that accepted their
worst enemies as leaders, and of their
weakness that stood by as helpless as
sheep, and let a few roughs drive them
from their subsistence.
Year: 1877

fastened to two hooks on the inside of
the sofa, and corresponds at the point
where it leaves the window sill with
the width of the window, thereby doing
away with any possible danger of
breakage Or getting loose. The ladder,
from the point where it is firmly fas


tened to the sofa, narrows gradually to
about s inches, which is the width
from thence to the ground. The rounds
are Of tough hard wood, and are placed
about IS inches apart, and the fastening
of each is such that they can rot posi-
bly get loose. In fact, the whole thing
is perfect, and something that is des-
tined to come into universal use i'll our
large hotels. We examined it very
carefully and could not help but think
how easily we could make our way out
Of sixth story window with ladder
of that kind, no matter how large a fire
WAS on hand. TO make the. concern
still better, the materials of which it is
made are to be saturated with non.
combustible chemicals. Mr.. Warner
deserves a great deal of credit for his
invention, for the most obtuse person
can see at a glance that it is destined
| to save great many lives in future.
But as we have spun this letter out to
an intolerable length, we will close and
write you again some time in future.


OCCASIONAL.