smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1870

To the PreSadent and DirectorS--Tam5lNl


Valley Railr, ad-


GENTLEMEN


In October last, whilst in charge of a
party making surveys fer the Montpelier
and St. Johnsbury r. R., | was appointed
Chief Engineer of all the roads which
constitute the Western Division of the
" Portland & Ogdeusburg Trunk Line


| have the honor to submit the follow
ing Report OF the operations of this de-
partment, for the stockholders, so far as
they concern your road.


Upon the very day of my appointment,
[ was instructed to advertise for letting
some forty-seven (47) miles of your road
The final location for this distance had
not yet been completed, two parties Of
Engineers being still engaged upon it,
and the largest part of it l had never
seen. But time was pressing, and it was
thought desirable to have SO much of the
road under contract, before snow covered
the ground. The time intervening be-
tween that and the letting was occupied
by me in making such examination of the
country as | could in so short time. "


l found, in the town of Highgate, that
two lines had been located, the one some
mile and a quarter shorter than the other,
and both showing apparently about the
same amount Of work in the aggregate.
This difference however was apparent.
The quantities upon the longer line were
in great part made up of very heavy en-
bankments, and by substituting trestle
work instead of filling them with earth, a
considerable saving in first cost could be
made. Besides, there was hardly time
to make careful comparison, in figures,
of the rival lines, and, save in the matter
of earth, none was made. In addition to
this, it appeared to me that soma changes
might be made in the location Of the
longer line, which would throw out both
heavy embankment and trestle work, and
render it a very formidable competitor,
notwithstanding its longer distance.


My advice therefore. was that that
portion of the route covered by these sur
veys should not be definitely located until
farther examination. The work could be
let subject to the adoption Of either line,
it being built by the yard, and not BY
the mile or piece.


This course was taken. The road vas
let, but all the work Of construction DUR
Year: 1870

But we do not boast of any long tan
gents which are here only delusion and
a snare, or that we have no curves of less
than a half or quarter mile radius when
sharper curve would make sensible
difference in the amount of work. The
triumphs Of modern Engineering it seems
to me are to he made use of whenever and
wherever they will assist us. If the high
est English authority says that locomo-
tives have been so improved that curves
of FIVE and six hundred feet radius "are
segarded almost as good as straight lines'
surely we need not hesitate in occasional
y using a curve with radius longer than
either when it will help us out of diff
Guilty.


This principle and this alone has guild
ed me in the whole location, nor do feel
ashamed of our work. Not that | regard
it as by any means perfect. Doubtless
there are many minor changes which can
and will yet be made as the progress Of
construction developes their necessity, for,
as once remarked to you, 1 regard nc
part Of line as unalterably located and
beyond change until it is absolutely
graded.


Besides the saving thus effected it has
been thought best in some cases to substi
tute trestle work for embankment. This
is confined principally to some heavy fills
encountered in the descent from Walder
summit" and where it was apprebended
that rock might also be found in the cuts
In this way we save not only the differ
erence between trestling and earth OIL
rock filling but avoid the building of long
and heavy culverts.


The road is now under contract for it,
whole length, and work has been going OF
for some time at the two extremes. No
so large an amount has been done as
could have desired, but it is hoped that s
movement along the whole line' viii
soon be made. 1t has latterly been diff
cult to procure laborers on account of thu
demand for help by the farmers. Blu
the contractors have been requested t.
increase their force and will do so as fas
as men can be obtained.


l can not close without expressing m,
obligation to the Resident Engineer
Messrs. Rust, Sigourney and Early, to
the readiness and zeal with which they
have seconded me in all my efforts to OBJ
tain favorable line without too great al
expenditure of money.


Respectfully submitted,
| A. G. MITCHELL,


Chief Eng'r P. Il D. r. r., I


W. Division.


Engineers Office, Aug. 9, 1870.
Year: 1870

SILENT lNFLUENCE.---If sheet Of paper
on which key has been laid, be exposed
for some minutes in the sunshine, and then
instantaneously viewed in the dark, tho
key removed, faded spectre of the key
will be visible. Let this paper be laid
aside for many months, where nothing
can disturb it, and then in darkness be
laid on plate of hot metal, the spectre
Of the key will appear.


This is equally true Of our minds. Ev--
cry man we meet, every book we read.
every picture or landscape we see, every
word or tone We hear, leaves its image on
our brain.


These traces, which, under ordinary
circumstances, are invisible, never fade,
but in the intense light Of cerebral ex>
citement, start into prominence, just as
the spectral image of the key started into
sight on the application of heat. 1t is
thus with all the influences to which VIC
are subjected.
Year: 1870

A friend Of Dooner's says he lies
awake at night, and occasionally ejac-
ulates snatches Of holy writ like unto
this q am panied at my very heart,
my heart maketh noise within me !;
l cannot hold my peace"


The poor worm, having shown him
self utterly untrustworthy, must now
despise himself without exciting any
thing but ridicule and contempt among
even those who permit him to oassociate
with them.
Year: 1870

like to see a whole neighbOrhood get
into quarrel about nothing; it shows
there are independent spirits in the
world.


like to hear religious denomina tions
SANDER each other; it is conclusive evil
dence that their cause is good and that


they are taking the best possible means


to avoid it.


1 like to see fifteen or twenty young
men parade themselves in front of the


meeting house on the Sabbath, and stare
at ladies as they pass; it shows that
they have read Chesterfeld's advice to


his son.


I like to see young ladies laugh and
play at religious meetings; it shows they
possess tine feelings, and take an inter
est in serious things.
like to have one ask me the news,
and before have time to speak, answer
himself; it shows he knows more than


do.


I like to see church members aroused
! from their slumbers to partake of the sa-
! erament; it shows that the "spirit is
willing, but the flesh is weak"
like to see people hunt the tavern


doors on the Sabbash, talking politics


and scandal; it shows that the day is re-
I garded.
I like to see young ladies walk late at


night; it shows they are not afraid.
! like to have q man pryiug into my
business; it shows he has an inquiring
mind.


/ like to see q man in company engrOSs
/ the whole conversation; it shows he
/ thinks himself smart fellow.
} 1 like to see ladies place themselves at


a window or door to make witty remaks
upon people as they pass; it shows they


want to say something they can't think
Of


like to 's4g young ladies SANDER


each other; &, is a sign that JheiC cnsr-


acters stand fair.
Year: 1870

Friendship wove golden chain
That ne'er should have been broken;
And love brought many solemn VOW.
In words all fondly spoken,
Round cur hearts were cords OF love
Love that should ne'er have shaken
Zen in the hour ofheaviest trial,
And am now forsaken?
Why those looks and words so cold,
Unless thy heart be colder!
Each tie, each bond, and each solemn VOW.
With buried love doth mOlder.
Link by link, that golden chain
Tho, thor tlgssIf didst sever,
Long be thy life and peace to thy soul,
And now FAREWELL FOREVER.


WAS
Year: 1870

THE New York Star says: God made
the ice and the devel made the Knick-
erbOcker Ice Company.


a town in Maine has bought seven
hundred dollar hearse to prove that it is
a live town.
Year: 1870

s T.-l860-X.


THIS WOypERFUL VEGETABLE RESTORATIVE Is THE
SHEET. ANCHOR OF THE FEEBLE AND DEBILITATED As
TONIC AND CORDIAL FOR THE AGED AND LANGUID 1T HAS
no EQUAL AMONG STOMACIIICS. AS A REMEDY FOR THE
NERVOUS WEAKNESS TO WHICH WOMEN ARE ESPECIALLY
sTrBJECT IT Is sUPERSEDIYG EVERY OTHER STIMULANT
Is ALL CLIMATES TROPICAL TEMPERATE OR FRIGID. 1T
ACTS As SPECIFIC IS EVERY SPECIES OF DISORDER WHICH
UNDERMISES THE BODILY STRENGTH AND BREAKS DOWN
Year: 1870

OFF TO THE WATERING -PLACEs.-Ihe period
has people of to the fashionable
OF course however, gentleman youth pretending style would do


this without paving KSox the Halter No. 29 Broadway
and selection his stock lie has hand the newest
Summer styles include extremely fashionable and becoming
ngenuues.
Year: 1870

The Des Moines Valley railroad


was finished to Fort Dodge last FRI
day evening, the last rail being laid


with the Thermometers twelve de-
grees below zero which furnishes
some indication Of the persisteney
with which the company have push
ed the work. This Is the end of the
road for the winter. In the spring,
the work at Fort Dodge will be COM
menced early, and the line extended
to the State boundary, by the follow
Ing fall. The oiiicers OF the road
went over the line OH Monday tile
10th, aud met with formal wel-
come by the people of Fort Dodge.
Year: 1870

Speaking of sagacity reminds me of
Dick Baker, pocket-miner of Dead
horse Gulch. Whenever he was out Of
luck and little downhearted, he would
fall to mourning over the loss of a Won
derful cat he used to own (for where
women and children are not, men of
kindly impulses take up with pets, for
they must love something.) And he
always spoke of the strange sagacity of
that cat, with the air of man who be-
lieved in his secret heart that there was
something human about it--may be
even supernatural.


1 heard him talking about this ami
NAL once. He said, Gentlemen, l
used to have cat here by the name OF
Tom Quartz, which you'd took an in
terest in, l reckon-most anybody
would. had him here year-and he
was the remarkablest cat | ever see
He was large gray, one Of the Tom
specie, and he had more real nat'ral
sense than any man in this camp-and
apower of dignity-he wouldn't let the
| Guv'nor of California be familiar with
him. He never ketched rat in his
life-'pearad to be above it. He never
cared for anything but mining. He
knowed more about mining, that cat
did, than any man ! ever see. You
couldn't tell him nothing about placer
| diggings-and as for pocket mining,
why he was just born for it. He would
| dig out after me and Jim when we
went over the hills prospecting, and he
would trot along behind us for as much
as five mile. if we went so far. And
he had the best Judgment about mining
ground-why you never see anything
like it. When we went to work he'd
scatter glance around, and if he didn't
think much of it, he'd sorter look
as to say, well, I'll have
to get you to excuse me- and without
another word he'd hyste his nose in the
air and shove for home. But if the
ground suited him he would lay low
and keep dark till the last pan was
washed and then he would slide up and
take look, and if there was about six
or seven grains of gold he was satisfied
he didn't want no better prospect'n
than that-and then he would lay down
ON our coats and snore like a steamboat
till we'd struck the pocket, and then
get up and superintend.


Well, by and by, up comes this quartz
excitement. Everybody was into it
everybody was picking and blasting
instead of shoveling dirt on the hillside
everybody was putting down a shaft
instead of scraping the surface. Moth
ing would do Jim but we must tackle
the lodges, too, and so we did. We
commenced putting down a shaft, and
Tom Quartz, he began to wonder what
in the dickens it was all about. He
hadn't seen any mining like that before,
and he was all upset, as you may say
he couldn't come to right understand
ing of it no way-it was too many for
him. He was down on it, too, you bet
you--he was down on it powerful-and
always appeared 10 consider ii the Gus
sedeSt fOolishness out. But that cat,
you know, he was always agin new
tangled arrangements-som somehow, he
never could abide 'em. You know how
1t is with old habits. But by and by
Tom Quartz begin to git sort of recon
ciled little, though he never could al
Year: 1870

AT Tarrytown, a few days ago, the
actions of bereaved husband at his
wife's funeral created town sympathy.
At the grave he sobbed and cried bit
terly, and hung to the coffin to keep the
sexton from lowering it down. He had
the lid removed for last look, kissed
the dead many times, and grabbed his
son by the back of his neck to make
him do the same. Now, ladies, dry
your tears, and mark the result! In
three days after, that man was living
with his second wife, and had passed
through the perilous scenes of a family
fight because she insisted on having a
new pair of shoes. Don't trust the
men-especially those who give way to
tears.
Year: 1870

and asked, IF 1 felt lonely, or would
wish him to remain all night


smiled at the idea, for he seemed
really afraid; and although / did not
think the place cheerful, yet / had no
fear. / was as skeptical then as you
are now. My talkative companion re-
lated many stories connected with the
chamber, to which / eagerly listened,
in hopes might find a clue to Lady
Theresa's rawlings, but all were connect
ed with events that had occurred years
before. However inclined 1 might have
been to have kept this young man with
me, L now determined to place no OBJ
stacle to my spending night in haunt
ed chamber. The very idea gave me a
thrill of pleasure. 1 left no portion of
my apartment unsearched, so that L
could not by possibility be played up.
on. secured the door and the win
dows,and having made all my arrange.
ments with the view of practically over
throwing the theory of apparitions, l
went to bed, and much sooner than /
expected fell asleep.


After some time L was aroused by
hearing a sound like the dropping of a
heavy weight, as it fell step by step. j
could not account for the noise, for it
seemed to proceed from the other side
of the wall, which knew was an out
side wall, and there was neither room
nor stairs beyond. l looked around
but all was dark. Thinking 1 must
have been mistaken, settled to sleep
again, when the sound was repeated
even more distinctly than before L
began now, indeed, to feel nervous, ,and
sat up. A slight wind, like a breath,
passed over me, but still 1 saw nothing.
l strained my eyes as though L could
penetrate the darkness.


The sound had greatly increased, yet
l was conscious there was something be
1t mortal or spirit, in the room with
me. After watching with beating
heart, 1 argued myself into the idea
that the noise must have been at the
other side Of the inside wall, and, that
it was occasioned by some of the SER
wants, who had perhaps been up late,
and SO, turning on my side, tried again
to compose myself. / had not been
settled many minutes, however, when
perceived faint light, coming from
the same direction in which had heard
the sound. looked up, when, to my
horror, saw tall female figure ad
vancing steadily towards me. She had
long black hair, falling over her shoul
ders, and her drapery was pure as snow.
She stood still in the centre of the room
gazing about her. 1 was paralyzed with
terror. l held my breath, dreading tc
make the least movement, least should
attract her attention, but 1 could not
for one moment withdraw my eyes
from the figure. AT last it perceived
me, for it hastily advanced towards M
, and extending its long icy arm, seizet
my hand.


TO BE CONTINUEDl.
Year: 1870

together understand that eternal sink
ing of shaft, and never planning out
enything. AT last he got to come down
in the shaft hisself to try to cipher IL
| out. And when he'd get the blues, and
feel kind o. scuffy, aggravated and dis
gusted-knowing as he did, that the
bills were running up all the time and
he wasn't making q cent-he would
curl up on gunny sack in the corner
and go to sleep. Well, one day when
the shaft was down about eight feet, the
rock got so hard that we had to put in
blast-the first blasting we had ever
done since Tom Quartz was born. And
then we lit the fuse and clumb up and
clumb up and got off about fifty yards,
and forgot and left Tom Quartz fast
asleep on the gunny sack. In about
minute we seen a puff of smoke bust
up out of the hole, and then everything
let go with an awful crash, and about
four million tons of rocks and dirt and
smoke and splinters shot up about
mile into the air, and by George, right
in the midst of it was old Tom Quartz
going end over end, and snorting and
sneezing, and clawing, and reaching
for things like all possessed. But il
warn't no use, you know, it warn't no
use. And that was the last we see of
him for about two minutes and half,
and then all of sudden it began to
rain rocks and rubbage, and directly he
came down ker whop about ten feet off
from where we stood. Well, I reckon
he was p'rhaps the orneriest looking
beast you ever see. One ear was so
back on his neck, and his tail was stove
up, and his eye whiskers was singed off
| and he was all blacked up with powde
and smoke, and all sloppy with mud
and slush from one end to the other.
| Well, sir, it warn't no use to try to
| apologize-we couldn't say word. He
then took a sort of disgusted look at
hisself, and then looked at us-and it
was just exactly the same as if he had
said: Gents, may be you think it's
smart to take advantage of cat that
amt had no experience at quartz min
ing, but 1 think different and then he
turned on his heel and marched off
home without ever saying another
word.


That was jest his style. And maybe
you won't believe it; but after that you
never see cat so prejudiced agin quartz
mining as what he was. And by and
by, when he did get to going down the
shaft again, you'd been astonished at
his sagacity. The minute we'd touch
off blast and the fused begin to sizzle
he'd give look as much as to say,
We'll, I'll have to get you to excuse
me- and it was surprising the way he'd
shin out Of that hole and 60 for tree.


Sagacity! 1t amt no name for it.
Twas inspiration ~


l said, swell, Mr. Baker, his preju-
dice against quartz mining was remark
able, concerning how he came by it.
Couldn't you ever cure him of it?"


"Cure him! No. When Tom Quartz
was sot once, he was always sot, and
you might a blowed him up as much as
three million times and you'd never a
broke him of his cussed prejudices agin
l quartz mining"


The affection and pride that lit up
Bakers face when he delivered this
tribute to the firmness of his humble
friend of other days, will always be
vivid memory with me.
Year: 1870

in this quarter will never attach
to you, and your adhesion to the
policy which the occasion de-
mands will never be attributed to
weakness or sentimentality. |
ask you, therefore, to place your
self promptly and heartily at the
head Of of a movement looking to
the instant and complete removal
of all political disabilities whatev-
er from any and every one who
favors or shall favor the Fifteenth
Amendment, and their prompt
restoration to all the privileges of
citizenship. "Let us have peace"


HORACE GREELEY.


New York, Nov. 2Gth, 1860.
Year: 1870




Ny DEAR STR.-Your name, /
think you will have remarked, is
very often pronounced from one
end of our country to the other.
I-traveling somewhat, observing
little, and reading newspapers
considerably-quite often hear it
mentioned, and lit may surprise
you to learn) not always admiring
ly. And yet, while l have for
many years heard and read Of you
some of it is absurdly ground
less and falSe-I cannot recollect
that | ever heard or read a sug-
gestion that you were fool. Now,
| come before the public to i'm
peach--not yourself personally,
but a policy where with your
name is popularity and prominent
ly identified, as lacking rational
motive and at war with common
sense. | allude to that policy
which prolongs indefinitely the
prescription and disfranchisement
of a large portion of the South
for their part in the late rebellion.
| Understand that | speak from
the standpoint not of sentiment,
but of business. / do not here
impeach that policy as harsh or
hateful, but as deficient in tact
in gumption. I impeach it as
nursing and intensifying enmities
certain to subvert, at no distant
day, the party which is identified
with it.


l will not dwell upon the well
known fact that the late Governor
Andrew in his farewell message
or address, put forth four years
ago, strongly urged a policy an
tagonistic to this-a policy that
contemplated the early and com
plete Cancellation of the South,
through the enfranchiSement and
magnanimouS treatment of her
natural leaders. Nor need invite
your attention to the fact that
Gen. Sickles "a shrewd, thorough
ly practical poiitician) officially
demonstrated, more than three
years ago, against the proscrip-
ton of prominent exrebels, as
depriying him of the services OF
the very men he urgently needed
and could make most useful in
governing South Carolina. Nor
do | care to press home the fact,
of which you cannot be ignorant,
that the Southern men Of educa
tiOn and property are by far more
reasonable and less bitter than
| their poorer, more ignorant neigh
bors-are less implacable, more
rational, and more ready to unite
heartily in rebuilding the waste
places of the land. Nor will
dwell upon the noble addition
made, on motion of Gen. Car
Schurz, to the latest Nationa
Platform Of the Republican parti
that party which declares pro
scription a temporary expedient
rendered necessary by a grave
public peril, and to be abandoned
} when that peril shall have van
ished. rest on the naked fac
that the Republican party immi
nently needs the good will whicl
this policy repels, and must g
under if that good will be not 81
secured.


| assume that you realize th,
absolute necessity of the triumph
of the Fifteenth Amendment t,
: the success of General Grants ad
] ministration, and that you mus
: be aware that the fate of tha
amendment is yet doubtful. Tel
Year: 1870

elective system, In so far az concerns any COM
mission that affords aman chance to make
fortune by his office. In the present admins
tration Of our State prisons there is a great
deal OF money to be made. This is principally
on account Of the contract and labor system.
The entire revolution of the labor system-its
abolition-would take away the cause that
might corrupt prison management in any
hands, and with that cause away the commits
sion system would be the best. We believe
that the abolition of enforced labor in the pris-
ons would have other good results. In the end
It would be better economy to make the
prison q schoolhouse rather than workshop.


The latest movement looking to prison re-
form has been just announced in this city In the
form of call for national convention, to be
held this year at Cincinnati. The object is to
consider the most advisable means of criminal
punishment and reformatory treatment, and
the circular, which we publish elsewhere, is
signed by official representatives from nearly
every State.