smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

BABY MURDEBEss, whose only excuse for
her crime seems to be morbid feeling lead
ing towards such an awful state of mind is q
tiend upon whom the utmost penalty of the
law should be inflicted. We have to-day the
case of young girl up town who INDUCED in
mania for baby burning and who exhibits a
ferocity in crime simply astonishing Her
case is sad comment upon the entire eff
cheney of our public schools.
Year: 1874

CHEMISTRY in all its multitudinous branches
has become such boon to mankind in its
wonderful results that the centennial celebra-
ton Of its discovery must be interesting to al.
In another column will be found an account
of the ceremonies over the grave of Joseph
Priestley, the discoverer of oxygen and one OF
the most distinguished chemists in history.
Year: 1874

Our FINANCIAL FtEures-Let Us Have


Light.


The questions put to Comptroller Green by
Assistant Alderman Thomell are carefully
prepared and should be explicitly answered.
1t is notorious that the statements laid before
the people by the Finance Department are de.
signed to conceal our true financial condition.
We do not know to-day how much the city owes,
what amount of matured debt has been re-
Office, how much new debt has been created
what is the amount of claims against the city
or what is the exact condition of the Sinking
Fund. Mr.. Thornelrs inquiries cover these
points and others of like Importance, and the
immediate attention of the Comptroller to the
demand for information should be insisted
upon. If the accounts of the Finance De-
partment are properly kept there can be
no difficulty in making a prompt reply
With the liberal appropriations made for
clerk hire in that department, largely in ex-
cess of the expenditures of any former ad-
ministration, the Comptroller should be able
to furnish the figures as readily as bank
president could supply balance sheet of his
business for the last year.


There are reasons why these questions
should be put at this time and answered in q
truthful manner. Mayor Havemeyer has ex-
pressed himself on more than one occasion
recently as dissatisfied with the manner of
conducting the financial business of the city
and as disposed to ''let the people know the
truth. The truth about what? Is the
ally concealed from the people? There
is enough to justify such o suspicion.
The Comptroller, in his debt statement up to
the last day Of December struck out $665, 900
from the debt, which was not paid until
January and February, and thus made an ap-
parent decrease Of double that amount, de-
Quoting it from the total as s'warrants paid"
and still leaving it in the Treasury to be de-
Quoted again as money on hand. In the same
statement he represented the outstanding re-
venue bonds to be eight or nine million dol
lars less than their actual amount It has
been found impossible to obtain from the
Finance Department any information as to
the amount of outstanding claims against the
city, or as to the amount of judgments and
law expenses A report, said to have been
prepared by the Commissioners of Accounts,
on outstanding claims has been suppressed.
All that we do know is that the Corporation
Counsel reported some time since that suits
were then pending against the city and
county to the amount of about seven million
dollars. The only report ever made by the
Commissioners Of Accounts on the condition
of the Sinking Fund showed singular dis
crepancy between the amount Of securities
called for by the books and those actually
found in the tin box in which the securities
were kept, and, while that report was literally
abused and denounced, it was never satisfac-
torily explained. Under these circumstances
Mr. Thornell's questions must be regarded as
timely. Will the Comptroller answer them at
once?
Year: 1874

Indian mind on civilized pursuits. While the
Indians are allotted reservations just beyond
the borders of civilization, and are left to fol-
low such pursuits as they may please and to
herd together, raids and outbreaks with their
attendant horrors must be of constant
occurrence. The most important step
in new and wiser policy would seem to
be to separate the tribes as far as practicable,
to put them on reservations in the rear of the
advanced march of civilization, and to find
employment for the young and active men,
The latter might be accomplished by the for
nation OF large Indian branch of the United
States Army, ofiicered by white men, and in
the training and employment of young Indians
on the public works. Many other sugges-
tons offer themselves in the same direction;
but these crude outlines of plan may be
worthy OF consideration-the transfer of the
business of the Indian agencies to the
United States Army; the strengthening of our
forces on the borders, with orders to make
such warfare as may be forced upon us short,
sharp and unsparing, in the cause of true
mercy; the settlement of friendly tribes with
in the bounds of civilization; employment
OF young and active Indians in the army, on
public works and in other directions. These
are reforms in our Indian policy that seem to
deserve the attention of any statesman who is
ambitious of winning fame and deserving the
gratitude of his countrymen.
Year: 1874

The general railway share market has been quiet
all day and IN q general way weak the support &C
corded to Lake Shore with view Of stiffening the
rest Of the market failing to operate with the same
advantage as yesterday At times there were slight
rallies in the market, but these gave way to depre


sions the weakness Of Pacific Mail, Oh the reputed
prospective failure of any satisfactory arrangement
betwecn the Steamship Company and the Pacific
Railroads. concerning freight tariff, giving tho whole
market scliy appearance. Bat il the propositions
made by the railroads to vhe Pacific Mail Company
srs correctly reported. they never could have been
submitted with any expectation that they would be
accepted, since their acceptance would insure bank
ruptcy to the latter Company: therefore the pro-
positiou that the Steamship Company should be re-
Year: 1874

EDITOR REPUBLICAN-I would like to
call the attention of the Patrons of IIus-
5andry to an important matter that is
being overlooked by us during the
heated political term, and that is, the
establishment of our State implement
mandatory. This is something that if
not attended to will leave us in
the same dcplorable, helpless and de-
pendent condition that we were in last
spring; and we may pass resolutions
condemning the ring Of the implement
manufacturers to our hearts content,
and that will be all of the good il will do
us; we will he compelled to buy of them
again at their own prices, or do with our
old implements, as 4 few did last spring,
and that is Il losing game either way.
Now, we have it in our power to make
ourselves Independent on this score,
and if we do not, let Us not condemn
the manufacturing monopoliSts any
more, but quietly submit to whatever
burden our masters may choose TO lay
on top OF the useless burdens we now
bear. Every grange could subscribe one
share Cifty dollars) to this establish
ment at Boonville, and hardly feel it
now, and if they never get any divi-
dcnd, in one season they would get
their money back in the reduced cost OF
their implements. This matter should
Immediately be brought before every
grange in Andrew county, and sub
Scription forwarded without delay, and
not wait for others. Procrastination in
this case will not only be the thief OF
time, but it will cause our pockets TO be
relieved OF the cash next spring, when
we will nOtbe apt to be very able 20 stand
it, for we are not going TO be burlened
with hogs or fat cattle to sell this Win
ter. was not in favor OF starting Il
mandatory so far from home rs long
as there was any probability OF getting
one nearer, but every effort that has
been made to establish one in North
west Missouri, through the District
Council or otherwise, has been thwarted,
partly by the negligence of the Patrons
themselves, but principally through the
fault OF their delegates or representa-
tiycs who were foremost in advocating
the project; who, instead of attending
to their legitimate business, turned Cor
attempted to turn everything into Il
political movement for their own az
grandizement. But now | believe that
the quickest wayto get one started near
home is to start the State manutactory
at Boonville, and eventually Il branch
in the Northwest. FAIRrLAY.
Year: 1874

the county, regardless of political party or feel
ing' fora ticket that the people OF the county can
support, and feel that IN supporting the SAME
they are supporting ticket that proposes To give
TO each man u voice in regulating the affairs IT
the county. We understand that such a ticket
Is to be placed in the field Should it be, r,,t
assured it will receive the hearty support OF


PR.ETOE.
Year: 1874

Hitherto the diversified interests of
our leading citizens have not tended
to unite, but to ALLEVIATE and divide.
But the growth of our population, the
increase of wealth and the general
prosperity of city and county has
swallowed up old antagonisms and
brought about new era in our his
tory. In the days of struggle through
which we have passed the true ele-
ment of strength has been overlooked
and left out of our creed. Every man
was left to work out his own destiny
on the independent line; and it is but
justice to say, they have done it well
and deserve praise But notwithstand-
ing our former success, the feet must
not be disguised that we have about
reached the acma of our greatness on
the independent line. While


we have been climbing the hill of
prosperity, other communities have
done the same, and they now become
our competitors. Grand enterprises
are projected which must inevitably
bring great prosperity to some por-
tion of Southern California, and it is
within our PROV ince now to grasp the
Year: 1874

The idea seems to prevail quite gen.


orally among the people of the East


that the fruits of the temperate zone
do not prosper in the semi-tropical
climate of Los Angeles valley. The
HERALD has received a number of
letters written by persons at dis
tance, in which the fact that peaches
and apples will not grow here is re-
GREETED. The real fact is that those
who believe this fruit will not thrive
in Los Angeles valley, are laboring
under serious mistake. The apple
and the orange tree grow side by side,


and it is not uncommon to see the


peach and the lemon tree in the same
grove and both loaded with excellent
fruit. The specimens of apples and
peaches that have been brought to this
office within the last two weeks afford
the most satisfactory evidence that for
size and flavor both varieties grown
in THIS valley are unsurpassed by the
products of any other section of the
Pacific Coast. The apples and peaches
to be seen at any of our fruit stands
need only be seen to at once and eff
fectually set aside all doubts as to the
growth of temperate zone fruit in the
southern coast counties. We grow as
fine peaches and apples can be found
in the State. ra
Year: 1874

proffered-boen and make Los Angeles
the queen city of the south. This is
the tide in our history, if taken at its
flood, that leads to prosperity; but,
sighted once, it may never return.
Since our railroad enterprises have
been agitated, other communities and
corporations have moved with zeal
and energy to swing these great inter-
ests in another direction. We have
power to bring them here, if we will
use it. ain unity there is strength"
The merchants and bankers, mechan-
les and farmers, should all organize,
and every man and woman in
the county should unite and
work for this grand enterprise.
We warn you in time, and we assure
you there is no time to lose. If in u
few months you find the opportunity
forever gone, do not blame us. Now
is your time, go to work like men,
and the thing is accomplished. 1t is
mortifying to see a wealthy commu-
nifty as we have here, backing and
filling over an enterprise that will
bring millions into their own pockets,
and enrich the whole country. There
are o half dozen men in this commu-
nifty that could build the road, not
only from the sea to this city, but
from here to Owens river, and add
millions to their own estate by doing
it. But we do not ask, neither do we
want a few men to do this, we want
everybody to help, and nine tenths Of
the people are ready to help when the
parties who have the matter in hand
will make the proper move.
Year: 1874

THE City Assessor rushes into print
with haste that seems almost inde-
cent. His appeal "To the Public" is
open to two conclusions: Either the
Assessor feels that he ought to defend
the Council, or that his official posi-
ton needs defending. The HERALD
has no controversy with the City AS
SCISSOR, and shall have none unless that
functionary insists on tilt with us.
We are assured by members of the
Council that the assessment of this
year is "pretty good;" "better than
last year." Let US hope that that OF
next year will be something more
than "pretty good" The public SER
want who does his work "pretty
good" should be paid "pretty good {"
wages only. If the Assessor has been
so paid, he should rejoice that it is as
well with him as it is.
Year: 1874

THE Express is threatened with one
Of those city-printing spasms which
attack it every two or three weeks.
The premonitory symptoms appear in
its issue of yesterday afternoon and
we may expect the real convulsion to-
day, unless this paragraph effects a
temporary cure. The fact is pretty
generally known that the Eapres s
management approached a HERALD
attache with proposition to put up a
job on the city printing and gamble
to decide which one of the papers
should have the spoils, and wherever
this is known the virtuous indignation
Of our very virtuous evening cotem-
porary usually excites smile Of con-
tempt.
Year: 1874

When the HERALD took the city
printing at much less rate than it
could fairly be done for, we were sat
isfied that the whining time would
soon arrive.-Erpress.


When the Express proposed to the
HERALD to put in but one bid for the
city printing at high figure, and the
dishonest proposition was Indignantly
refused, we expected that very virtu-
Gus journal would whine through the
year and so far our expectations have
been fully realized.
Year: 1874

THE Radical Republican Of to-day is
an animal as predaceous as the coyote, as
savage as the hyena, and as greedy as a
swine. The Radical Democrat is simply
an uncivilized American Bourbon, VINO
neither knows how to fight in an enlight-
ened way nor how to placate like Christ
ian when the fight is over. He is an in
sensate fool in politics, and a braggart in
war, who prefers to do his fighting at a
safe distance from shot and shell, and be-
cause he can never be hurt in skin or
bone, is not to be conquered. -,Sacramen-
10 Union.


Now draw us pen-picture of the God
like Radical Independent, please.
Year: 1874

IT is stated that to retain a physician
in the Berryessa Valley the residents are
compelled to pay II fixed salary, for cases
of sickness are so very rare that the in
come from his practice would not support
"A doctor.
Year: 1874

The climate in Santa Cruz county
must be peculiar. There is one woman
there who is the mother of twenty chill
drcn and none of them twins;a and another
who has raised a family of twenty-one.
Year: 1874

SINCE it has been asserted that bad leg-
islation is responsible for the raise in tax
alton this year, Dolly Warden organs
have discovered that their party formed
no part Of the last Legislature.
Year: 1874

The SCARLET LETrER.-It is recorded
that in the year 1853 woman stood f or an
hour in the pillory near the Town House,
amid the SCOTS and .ieers of the multitude.
''The Scarlet Letter. is no myth Haw-
thorne had but to turn to the criminal rec
ord of the Colony for the dramatic incidents
he has related. The General Court enact
ed in 1895 a law to prevent marriages of
consanguinity, the declared penalty of
breaking which was that the man or woman
offending should be set upon the gallows
for an hour, with rope about the neck,
and in the way from thence to the common
jail be severely whipped. The offenders
were forever to wear {: capital letter 81, p
cut out of cloth of color different from
their clothes, ON the arm or back, in open
view. If the eulprit removed the letter, he.
or she was to be further whipped. No
doubt there were Hester Prynnes thus
branded and scourged i'll State street.
"Laadmarks Of Boston,
Year: 1874

In q half-choked condition with his
head inside. The noise attracted the
attention of the occupants of the room,
and succession of feminine screams
were emitted. The room happened to
belong to q mantle Secretary and
Treasurer of the hub and spoke facto-
ry-and the woman was his wife.
This man of blood happened to have a
cowhide in his room, used as riding
whip, and coming out with a good
deal Of alacrity, he striped that unfor-
tunate drug man until he would have
shamed a zebra Indianapolis Her.
aid, August I'd.
Year: 1874

An exciting contest was witnessed in
the Court House yard, says the Geneseo
Republican, between cat and some robins.
I" A robin had nest under the north
stoop of the Court House, and on Friday
her brood of young robins made their
first attempt to fly. AS one poor half
fledged bird was laboriously flying near
the ground, tigerish looking cat spied
and gave it chase. The bird flew as best
il could but the cats swift, stealthy
steps gained upon it, and the fate of the
bird seemed sealed. But its terrific cries
brought relief, and just as the cat pounced
upon and seized it in her mouth, half a
dozen old robins lit upon her back with a
fury that was perfectly astonishing to
her catsh'p, and dropping her prey, she
incontinently turned tail and few across
the yard, the relentless robins pursuing
her with the greatest fury, and filling
the air with their vengeful cries. Not
until the cat took refuge In an adjoining
building did the birds give up the chase
and returned to the young bird. The
latter was unhurt, and the noise of the
contest having drawn to the spot twenty
five or thirty other robins IL completed
its days practice under ample protection,
and amid a Gathering of bird tongues
! seldom heard in Northern climes.
Year: 1874

A striking illustration of the popular
lack of scientific reasoning is to be found
in an editorial which recently appeared
in the New York Herald as follows:


"The widest imagination is unable to
predict the discoveries of the future. For
all we know, families in the next CEN
tury may pump fuel from the river and
illuminate their houses with ice and cleo
tricity. Iron vessels, properly magnet
lied, may sail through the air like bal
looms, and trip to the Rocky Noun
tains may be made i'm an hour. Perhaps
within fifty years American grain will be
shot into Liverpool and Calcutta through
iron pipes laid under the sea.


By means of condensed air and cold
vapor engines, excursion parties may
travel along the floor of the ocean, sail
ing past ancient wrecks and mountains of
coral. On land the intelligent farmer
may turn his soil of Thousand acres i'm q
day, while his son cuts wood with q
platinum wire and shell corn by cleo
tricity. The matter now contained in a
New York daily may be produced ten
thousand times minute, on little scraps
of pasteboard, by improved photography,
and boys may sell the news of the world
printed on visiting cards, which their
customers will read through artificial
eyes.


Five hundred years hence musician
may play piano in New York connected
with instruments in San Franciso, Chi
cago, Cincinnati, New Orleans, and other
cities, which will be listened to by half
million of people. A speech delivered
in New York will be heard instantly in
the halls of those cities; and when fash
ionable audiences in San Francisco go to
hear some renowned singer, she will be
performing in New York or Philadel-
phia.


In the year 1900 a man may put on his in
flated overcoat, with pair of light steer
ing wings fastened to his arms, and go to
Newark and back in an hour. All the
great battles will be fought in the air.
Patent thunderbolts will be used instead
of cannon. A boy in Hoboken will go to
Canada in the family carriage to see his
sweetheart, and the next day his father
will chasten him with a magnetic rebuker
because he did not return before mid
night. The time is coming when the
Herald will send reporter to see man
reduce one of the Rocky mountains to
powder in half day.


Skillful and expert miners will extract
gold from quartz as easily as cider is
squeezed from apples. A compound telc-
scope will be invented on entire new
principles, SO that one may see Staten Is
land. Microscopes will be made so pow
erful that particle of dust on gnat's
back will appear larger than Pixies Peak.
And marvellous progress will be made in
psychological and mental sciences. Two
men will set in baths filled with chemical
liquids. One of them may be in Denver
and the other in Montreal. A pipe filled
with the same liquid will connect the
two vessels, and the fluid will be so sensi-
tive that each may know the others
thoughts In these coming days, our
present mode of telegraphing will be
classed with the wooden ploughs Of
Egypt, and people will look back to steam
boats and locomotives as we look back to
sailboats and stage coaches"
Year: 1874

The Great Western Railway of Eng
land was brOad-gauge line, built by
Burner, who had an inveterate prejudice
in favor of the broad-gauge system. 1t
was one of the most magnificent pieces Of
work in the world, the bridge over the
lamar, Plymouth, being peculiarly
splendid triumph of engineering skill.
Broad gauge, however, was found to be
a most cumbrous, unwiedly, Improbable
system to work, owing to the great size and
weight of trucks and carriages, and. for
some years the directors have determined
to alter it. During the latter part of
June the change was at length effected,
and the Pail Mall Gazette gives the follow
ing account of the work.


For some days previous to the COM
mencement Of the work the broad-guage
stock was gradually worked off the line,
and on Thursday evening each station
master had to give certificate that his
station and district was clear of broad
gauge rolling-stock, the last trains of
which arrived at the Chippenham end
of the line about midnight, and were sent
to appointed depots. Immediately after
wards the line was handed over to the
engineers, who were intrusted with the
supervision of the work between Chip
penham and Weymouth, Bathamptom
and Weymouth, and various branches in
connection, the largest of which was that
from Witham to Wells. About 1000
men were engaged on the work, the COM
pany having concentrated a number or
men on various sections of the work.
Each man received Is. Sd, per day for
rations, and the company found oatmeal
and good water for making a wholesome
and strengthening beverage. Sheds were
also erected where sleeping accommo-
dation was scanty, and the men worked
seventeen or eighteen out of each twenty
four hours, their energy and steadiness
being remarkable. The scene along the
whole line was most busy One The
modius operundi was as follows: Only one
rail OH each line was moved, but for some
weeks past men had been engaged in
clearing out the ballast to facilitate the
shifting of the wood and iron work and
also in partially saving off the tran
sons" Where the rails were laid on
"chairs" and "sleepers" additional chairs
had been placed, SO that the rails had to
be simply moved from the old to the new
set of sleepers and secured. In cases
where the rails were fastened to long
itudinal timbers the partially sawn tran
SONS were completely severed and the
rail and baulk pushed into the proper
gauge and fastened. The men wore num-
bers and worked in small parties, and the
conversion was effected with surprising
rapidity.