smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

Yesterday the three vacant life places
in the French Senate were filled by three
conservatives, one each from the three fac
tions that make up the conservative majority
in that body. 1t was previously understood
that this would be the result, as the con-
servatives had the power, and no one could
for moment fancy that they would elect
republicans. Only a quarrel between the
factions as to the equal distribution Of the
three places could have opened way for
the minority. Therefore the vote is simply
significant Of the harmony that for the
time controls the counsels of the enemies
Of the Republic. Within two months
another election OF Senators will quite
oyerwhelm the results Of this one In
January there will be elections to fill
seventy three vacancies. and of the out
going seventy-three fifty-four are conscrva-
tives and only nineteen republicans. An
exceedingly small proportion of repub-
licans will go out and very large propor-
ton Of reactionaries but as to the Sena-
tors who will take their places it is prob
able the proportion will be just the other
way. There will come in probably fifty
republicans to twenty-five opponents of
that party, and the small point taken by
the conservatives yesterday will be swept
Year: 1878

the country would like to give the demo-
Gratis an ''innings;' nor is the cause of
this far to seek. The people are tired of
old issues; ''the South" and the currency
have been rung in their ears until they are
sick of both. They wish to move on to
other and new questions; but they see
the republican party constantly barring the
way and perpetually dragging forward,
with the greatest ingenuity, these stale
issues. The President was wise enough to
see that this was the real and grave danger
to the continued ascendancy of his party,
and he began his administration with q
vigorous intention TO s'move on" But he
had the whole pack of his party leaders
swapping at his heels Immediately, and
these have succeeded SO we'll in beniud-
ding his policy and nullifying his good
intentions that at the end Of two years of
effort to get on the country finds itself
flung back into the old rut again and hears
the republican leaders set up once more
their old and dolorous howl


The American voters are not fools take
them in a mass, and they have shown on
numerous occasions an almost preternatural
sagacity They avery we'll that the repub-
lican leaders bar the way to all healthful
and progressive political action they have
been ready for six years past to give. the
democrats chance but when the demo-
Gratis swing back to "tramp" platform.
put their blatherskites to the front and send
their men of brains to the rear, the voters,
who are in the main respectable property
owning citizens, are shy of the democratic
party. General Butler is reported to have
said that he owed his recent defeat to the
churches, the property owners and the
school teachers He was probably misrep-
resented but it is certain that the demo-
cratic party will never succeed until it has
won the confidence Of these three parts Of
the community.
Year: 1878

Some one has been arrested because some
one else has a suspicion that he may be
connected in some indefinite way with that
piece Of ancient municipal history, the rob-
berry Of the Manhattan Savings Bank. As
the robbery Of that bank occurred previous
to the robbery Of the Stewart vault it has
been forgotten by the whole public, except
perhaps the unfortunate persons who had
intrusted their property to its officers. 1t
was natural for a people not disposed to
worship the police blindly to suppose that
they had forgotten it with the rest for
though 1t has no doubt been announced
from time to time that the detectives had n
clew IL il we'll understood that their possess
sion Of millions Of clews is consistent with
dense ignorance on the subject to which
the clews are supposed to relate. But be-
holdl the memory OF the police is better than
was commonly thought, for they have
actually made an arrest on that old account.
It may be that the man arrested was not
connected with the robbery in any way
whatever; that remains to be seen. But,
guilty or not guilty, his arrest is an agree
able evidence that If the police do not pos.
Year: 1878

II is seldom that we are called upon to
record so many fires in one day as this
morning The destruction of large por-
ton Of one Of our smaller towns; the mar
row escape Of Atlantic City from the fate
that beiell Cape May a week ago; the burn
ing of penitentiary. Of railroad train
and of portion Of the cargo of one Of our
large ocean steamers, which are the main
features Of the fiery chapter elsewhere
printed, give color to the notion that acci-
dents, like startling crimes. in obedience
to some rule or law, have way of arrang-
ing themselves in groups and combinations


Chief among the disasters Of yesterday is
the destruction of the principal business
portion of the city of Bradford, in Penn
sylvania. Fifty buildings we're burned, and
the loss, il Is estimated, will not be far
from three hundred thousand dollars. At
Atlantic City several dwellings and
stores were laid in ashes. and at
one timo it was thought that the
principal summer hotel in the place would
be botted out. That it was saved is for
tunate for either the insurance companies or
its owners, but it is q rather doubtful benefit
TO the public who, in the course of things,
will patronize it next summer. The lesson
which these two fires teach is one that has
been set before those who are mainly
interested . thousand times, but all to
no purpose. II proper precautions had
Year: 1878

been taken to guard against such disasters
large amount OF property would in all
probability have been saved; but the penny
wise policy is so rooted in the minds OF
rural Legislators that wisdom comes to them
only when it is too late. Fortunately the
loss Of life as the result OF the days disasters
is small, the only deaths being those on the
burning railroad cars. The penitentiary
residents Of course escaped unsinged. In
regard to the steamship fire, it speaks we'll
vessel that, although portion OF her cargo
was burning for four days, few Of the pas
sengers were aware of its existence. In such
cases panic is almost certain destruction.
Year: 1878

POSTMASTER GENERAL KEYS report, synop-
sis OF which is printed another page, contains
several valuable suggestions looking to the
greater efficiency of the service, which it il to
lie hoped Congress will at least fairly consider.
There is no department Of the government that
comes closer to the people than the Post Office,
or upon which they are more dependent. They
expect good service at its hands, and are un-
willing that its efficiency and usefulness should
b. impaired for the sake Of paltry economy.
Year: 1878

As THE FITz JOHN PORTER investigation is
likely TO last for the balance Of the century the
President has determined to give ex-Sur.eou
General Hammond a board Of inquiry OF his
aNn.
Year: 1878

\ Mary Schintzer q German woman, thirty years of
age arrested on Railroad avenue Jersey City, on
Monday night for drunkenness. After being placed
in cell she made two attempts to commit suicide by
hanging herself with her shawl to the bars Of the
cell door. Each time she cut down and
watch placed upon her When she was
brought before Judge Davis yesterday she
said that her husband had deserted her
and she obliged to work 80 hard for her living
that she preferred to die rather than continue her
drrdgery. On Monday she had becn out washing,
and, after completing her work, on her home
when she sat down stoop to rest herself and the
officer arrested her. She was committed to Snake
Hill for three months.
Year: 1878

medical treatment, and his symptoms yesterday
of a character to indicate that the injury he
received would result fatally. The accused,
who is about thirty-seyen years OF age. is
married aud has family. The quarrel between
the two grew out OF the fact that Madden claimed
that Dowd owed him dollar which he demanded
but the complainant refused to pay. The defendant
then took hold of Dovd and pushed him ont of his
store to the Sidewalk and after a struggle he knocked
him down. When arraigned before Judge Ferry yes
tertay he pleaded not guilty, and released on
bail in the sum of 81 ,0ou
Year: 1878

stronger than wood bridges. Think 1t neg ligent on the part of railroad company 10 allow Q bridge to remain uncovered seven years.

 SAMUEL GREER called: Have been in the employ of the Connecticut Western railroad six and one half years. Am at present road master and have charge of the track. have no supervision of the bridges. Had just gore to bed at Winsted on the. night of the acci- dent, when received dispatch from the superintendent to come to Tsriffvile. In my opinion the iron and the timber appear perfectly sound, with the exception of sap rot. which would not affect it's strength. There have been no short pieces of the tim Der sawed of. am positive about this. No rotten ends have been sawed off.

 Q. (By MT. Phelps) If two or more of the jury swore positively that they had seen ends of the timber sawed off. wouldn't you have believed us A. don't thlnk l should sir.

 Q. Then we understand our position with you, when we are under oath, This thing has been talked about and that is why we asked the question, A. Or course you are at liberty to ask me any question sir.

 Q. We most certainly should take that liberty.

 The witness stated positively that no tim Der had been sawed, except to clear away the wreck.
Year: 1878

The Dog Question. to the Hartford C0uTant people in that region are thoroughly frightened at the prevalence of hydrophobia, and it says ''s majority of people almost fear to pass dogs in the street" and urges the thorough enforce ment by towns of the statute law on dogs, which It quotes as follows:

 Any two Justices of the Peace in any town may, ct Gny time maze such rules tor confning or destroying dogs therein. ss they shall judge reasonable for the security of the inhabitants or their property, and such rules shall be advertised by publishing them in 8 newspaper published ln such town, if any there be, and by posting the same on the sign posts in such town. And all dogs which shall be found mad, or just ly suspected to be mad, or found doing or attempting to do mischief when not under the care of any person. may be killed"

 'tAny town may exercise the power con- ferred upon the two justices of the peace by the preceding section, and may offer a bounty for the destruction of any dog not kept in conformity with all legal regula- tons for keeping, taxing, licensing and re- straining dogs"

 The Boston Journal, speaking of the dan ger from mad dogs, says:

 s"There is reason in all things, and to ex- terminate dogs altogether, as one person suggests in letter to newspaper, might prove in itself, to be an unwise proceeding. A better suggestion, made by the same per son. is to fix the price of dog licenses at such figure as to make the keeping of worthless CUTS an impossibillty. It is unde- niable that there are too many dogs, half fed and generally half cared for, on the streets, and 1t might be we'll to have them out of the way. It is possible, too. that there are certain breeds of dogs that are more dangerous than others, and the keep ing of such should be prohibited, The matter is one that is worthy of some very careful and systematic investigation, which would be all the better, were it conducted by scientific men; and if but one life year should be all that would be saved by such measures as the investigation might result in, the work would be justified. The Cis- ease of hydrophobia is one of such dread fui character that something should be done to ascertain it's cause, and means for its prevention"
Year: 1878

spread or broke. l saw no evidence that such was the case at this time. l am firmly of the opinion that the engine did not leave the track. We first shut off steam about sixty or seventy rods this sit of the bridge, and were not using any steam at the time of the accident. Have neve' had any fears about running two engines over that bridge. Generally carry about three to three and half tons ot coal. I.do not know how much the water would weigh. knew nothing about the bridge,uand had never heard anything said about ii by MT, Hatch or any other person I am of the opinion that the second engine pulled ours back.

 A. Fl. WRIGHT

 called; Am bridge builder. was not on the train at the time of the accident, ,bu, viewed the bridge on Friday. I tried to satisfy myself as to the cause of the acci- dent. The bridge is heavier than nine tenths of the bridges in New England; I mean in iron and timber. The iron could not have been strained over IS GOO pounds to the square inch at the time of the acci- dent, and am unable to see how it could have occurred unless the train left the track. That bridge should have been sble to carry twice the weight placed upon il that night, provided It was all right. We may judge from the remaining span tha, it was all right, as That seems to be in per feet condition. All the decayed timber l can find ID the broken span is near the end where It rested upon 8 bolster of wood, which boister seemed to be sound. This rotted because the bolster held the water which ran into the cracks, but this was nothing to injure the strength of the tim Der. The iron used about bridges is rolled, or malleable iron. If any of the rods had flaws in them they might have broken. Tn, y are more likely 10 brsak when they are screwed into the bolts. We never cal culate to use any iron of less breaking strain than 60, 900 pounds. The rules are calculated upon thestrength ot good pound
Year: 1878

How SILVER DOLLARS ARE MADE


Silver is sent from the assay office to the
Philadelphia mint pure, 999 fine, which is


about as pure as silver can be. 1t is sent


in large bars, and, when received ut the


mint, is melted and alloyed with copper.


Coin silver is 900 fine. After being melted


and alloyed the metal is cast into ingots,


which are simply bars of convenient size


for handling. The metal is then assaved,


to determine whether it is exactly of the


standard tineness. Assayng is done by


what is known as the dry or humid pro-


cess. Samples for assay are taken while


the silver is in fused condition, and two


assays are made of every specimen. The


silver ingots then 20 to the coiner. They


are first rolled into strips and us the roll


ing process is apt to make the metal brit
tie, it is annealed to soften it. Silver is
annealed simply by heating 1t in an open


wood fire, and then being allowed to cool
gradually. The silver dollar strips are
passed through the rolls nine or ten times
before the first annealing, and four or five
times afterward. Then the process of
arnealng is repeated. After the last an
healing the strips are run through cutters,
WHICH ulNluc lHcIll lIIlO tldlI VI lllc proper
thickness for the coins; and these in their
turn are run through steam punching
machine, which cuts planchets the proper
size for the coin. From $50 to 24O are
cut in minute. As the metal gets grea-
sy during this process, the planchets are
then dipped into path of diluted sulphur
ic acid, which is too weak to act upon the
surface but effectively removes all foreign
matter. The planchets are then adjusted,
that is to say, they are carefully weighed,
and all that are lacking in weight are cast
aside; such pieces are called flights, and
the "heavies" are the pieces which weigh
too much and are filed off. The adjusting
is done by women. 1t is process which
requires much delicacy, and scales are
used which are sensitive to one-sixty-
fourth of a grain. After the adjusting is
finished the next operation is the milling.
which is done with u curious sort of ma
chine. The edges of the coin are thrown
up and groved by this process. After
another cleaning with sulphuric acid the
coins are ready for the die. The stamp
ing is done ona screw press, and both |
sides Of the coin are stamped at the same |
lime. The dies are cylindrical blocks of
steel upon the ends of which are carved |
he designs to be transferred by pressure
o the coins.
Year: 1878

To SOFTEN WATER.-IIard waters are
rendered very soft and pure, rivaling dis.
titled water, by merely boiling a two ounce
phial. say in kettleful of water. The
carbonate of lime and any impurities will
be found adhering to the phial. The
water boils very much quicker at the same
same time.


The ve-year-old daughter of an Eighth
street family the other day stood watching
her baby brother who was making great
fuss over having his face washed. The
little miss at length lost her patience, and
stamping her tiny foot said: D." You think
you have lots of trouble, but you don't
know anything about it. Wait till you're
big enough 10 get lickin and then you'll
ste-won't be mammal"
Year: 1878

LOOKING Down THE CHIMNEY.-It is
said OF a man who looked down his neigh
bors chimney to see what he was cooking
for supper, not only did he not find out,
but was nearly blinded by the smoke.


When you hear men say. Il have
watched those who profess SO much re-
ligion and | don't see that they are any
better than those who do not make such a
high profession, depend upon it they have
got some smoke in their eyes, and those
whose eyes are full of smoke cannot see
very clearly.


Denominational smoke is about the
most binding smoke we know of, and
prevents the gospel from taking hold of
the masses more than any other agency.


Were we to sit down by our neighbours
fire occasionally. instead of looking down
his chimney, we would see many good
points in his character that smoke will
surely obscure.
Year: 1878

The minister should preach as if he felt
that although the congregation own the
church and have bought the pews. they
have not bought him. His soul is worth
no more than any other mans, but it is all
ne has and he cannot be expected to sell
1t Tor salary The terms are by no means
equal; II parishioner does not like the
preatcmng, he can 90 elsewhere and get
ano,her pew; but the preacher cannot get
another soul.-CAaDin.
Year: 1878

The temperance wave has reached our
whiskey-ridden county and is sweeping all
before it, mostly through the eff1rts of the
Sons of Temperance and the Good Tenn
pIars. From whatever source this result
is obtained, we all welcome it as a god
send. There are but two towns in the
county where licenses are granted and the
day is soon coming when there will be
none


Oar long promised railroad communica-
ton is yet thing of the future; but we
hope and expect to hear the snort of the
iron horse during the coming summer or
fall.


Excuse brevity and believe me, as ever,
the friend of old Vermont and of the FREE
MAN. "
Year: 1878

Speaking of temperance, the New London Telegram says: The liquor dealers will not

 have their own way at the next session of the

 general assembly. Had Senator Barnum suc-

 ceeded in buying up that body determined

 effort would have been made by the liquor

 dealers association, and with fair chance of

 success to secure the repeal of the local option

 clause of the present license law. Even now

 such an effort may be made, but it is not like

 ly to succeed The opposition to local option

 comes not only from the liquor dealers but

 from the radical prohibitionists, who in the

 legislature as at the polls will be found work

 ing in the liquor interests. The law as it now

 stands should be amended at the next session

 so as to admit of the sale of liquor for medici- nal and manufacturing purposes. It should also be amended as to make it obligatory upon

 the selectlnen of a town to recommend appli- cants for licenses after the town at it's annual

 meeting has voted in favor of allowing such

 recommendations to be made. As the law now

 stands the popular will is liable be defeated | by the selectmen.

 While we should be ashamed to doubt MT. Tiiden's personal integrity, we are yet con- strained to say that it is proved and admitted through disqualification of the eciphertelegrams, that during his presidential campaign he suf- fered clique of politically immoral people to surround him, to act for him.; and to coInpro-

 mise him. We knew at the time that some of

 these persons were profoundly foolish and we denounced them for their stiffness; but it now appears that this was not their worst endow-

 ment. At any rate they have proved them

 selves able to fatally injure what they could

 never have built up. Their imbecility and

 their immortality could never create anything,

 but wlGh the extraordinary confidence reposed

 in them, their power for mischief was great in | deed They have sufficedto damage the char

 acter of a life time and they have wrought a l deplorable mischief to the course of public af; fairs Mr. Tilden will not again be the presi-

 dential candidate of any party. AS Sen II &
Year: 1878

Of the work which Professor Agassz, vof Harvard College, is doing, the Boston cores pondent of the Springfield Republican writes

 '"Fhe present Professor Agassiz, son of the great naturalist, is pursuing his own speciality of deep-sea dredging, in which so much work was done by his father and by Count Pour tales before the English scientific men took it up zealously. Sir Wyville Thompson has now carried this work further in some directions tban either the Americin or the Swedish scientific men, but, so far as the means at his disposal go, the present Professor Agassiz is doing more than anybody. He has made many improvements in the dredging apparatus, by which much more work can be done in day than the Englishman can do-using steel wire instead of hempen rope for lifting his hauls of animal life up from the deep-sea bottom, and by this simple contrivance much diminishing the time and labor necessary to secure his col lections. The specimens found by him are divided among the scientific men in Europe and America who work them up-while many of them go inte his own Cambridge collection at his fathers museum. He spends his win ters in dredging, on board a coast-survey steamer of the United States, which is put at his disposal for this kind of exploration, in connection with the regular work of the sur vey. He will start early in December for a cruise of this kind between the Windward Is- lands and the coast of South America, having spent last winter in the Gulf of Mexico"
Year: 1878

An effort is making in the Reformed Epis- copal Church to do away with the observance of Lent as a church fast. At a recent confer ence of clergymen in Philadelphia it was deci- ded to recommend the policy of abandoning the services to the General Standing Commit tee, on the ground that the indulgence ia worldly pleasures before and after Lent is in. creased by way of compensation for enEOrced abstentation during the season of fasting, and upon the further ground that uniform nnOdera- ton of life is the churches greatest need, and that this may be better secured without Len ten observances than with them. The change. if it shall be made, will be radical one, and will work wider breach than ever between the two Episcopalian churches in this coun- trY