Evening Star Newspaper, October 11, 1884, Page 2

ITY AND DISTRICT. BUILDING ASSOCIATIONS, A Sketch of Their Operations in This city. BOW LOANS ABE OBTAINED AND REPATD—A DE-/| SCRIPTION OF THE OLD AND THE NEW PL. THE RUILDING ASSOCIATION AS A SAVINGS IN- STITUTION—HISTORY OF SUCH ORGANIZATIONS IN ENG AND THIS COUNTRY. | “The term building ass¢ said a gentleman promine the building associati reporter. ciation to om the ples build hou name that in baild- | ation is | ion.” i 1 in Eng first one was established in the oj ng to ra on a fund*or ea uses and to diy under, ations of the de ciation known as the Greenwich Later, in 1815, the pdwith having founded an | jiiding soc! ince that date build- ties have multiplied int sh iste ity and town almost has ties are ament. The total number d and Wales is estimated 1 6,000, of which more t now in existence. ingnire land, wi January, the 1809, subject i found- ablished between | an 2.000 are | sioners who | the 060 and | manual incomes at $55,000,000. One society | ster has an Income of $3,500,000 and | pis of onein London, in S74. amounted | 2,000,000, but by far the larger por- | tion of this sum consisted of deposits paid to | the soc ety as a ban! . AMERICAN BUILDING ASSOCIATION. tion In this country kford, a suburb of Phila- var 1531. The idea was received wor by th erude ction of the ruk ions, due to imperfect know 1 th arlier of twe over all par phia. The Frankford s rd Provid astr which el in the urse six months, he men and po increas there we s. Siuee th i in numts > over GOO a association in Wa in South W shington, brought | soldiers. | » Ashford B. Church James Frazi well-known 1 T ve bee H.B.W in . Jo Bauer, Daniel y others . is supported | LDESG ASSOCIATIONS OFERATE. tiated the those who for i their monthly sa were rmonth for | id £200 to the | om would have upon the associati The rate of discounteor the pre- fe loan, is determined by | the ud for the money. the funds of the | association being put up at auction. if a pre-| MiuM ef T30, or 1d per cent, was accepted, the | borrower we 10 less £30. or 2170, | nhe obtained an ad- apon which an advauce he would afterwards have to doliars a month into the asso-| the om closed, or | unt of the of two dol- o the share- kand one dollar 2 tet the theory of the he sharcs up to | ration of | hence the to pay | for each shi shares upou were cancelled in this way. + of an association in thts city, | on the old pian, is from ninety to | ed months. In former years the chief ding association was | equitabie. Asa rule ations paid their non-borrowing mem- | bers more than ten per cent profit upon the | Money which they ceposited. Where there was @brisk demand for money the monthly com- poundin: nterest added to the proits of the Association very rapidiy. It required very little skill in mathematics, however, to discover that if the non-borrowers cleared more than ten per cent on their investment the borrowers must have paid more than ten per cent interest for the use of the money of the non-borrowers, as the loaning of money to members is the oniy source of proiit. The inequitable ad- Justment of the reiations of the two classes of shareholders threatened = few years ago to bring the building association into Secepate The introduction, however, of new and equit- able features has given an livpetus to the build- ing associations, and they ace more popular and | the { about to b | | of the petitioner to be 2 victim of oppression | | operative applies especially to the feature of | sons who have been obliged to surrender their | In some case : complish the same results by orzani t | he nolds. | of his shares. The premium bid ts added to the | be observed that the distinguishin | the two plans offer as wide a contrast as posst- | ble. unaceustomed to dealing with money in the light of the rale of partial payments the rate of interest id in many cases will ap- ar extremely low. When it is considered | ecto that the borrower, after he has paid back three-fourths of his loan continues to pay th me amount of money, or four times the same rate of interest for the remaining fourth the prospect Is not so alluring. That haa been urged as an objection against building associa- tions, conducted on the old style, but in prac- tice persons familiar with the workings of the ations, and who have some skill in finan- x, manage either by settling their debt to the association by fall paymeut or transferring debt to a new association to greatly lessen burden. It isacustom among some bor- rowers to retain a number of shares not ad- vanced upon, which, as they gradually increase in value, are used in extinguishing the debt owed to the association. Taking the extreme however, of a borrower who makes no i for settling his indebtedness to the sociation, except to continue his monthly ayment of $2 on each share advanced upon until the association is dissolved, it is main- ti sociation nianagers that € e the terms on which the loan is obtained are advantageous to men of small means with regular incomes. The same loan cou ‘ained from a banker or broker on very long time to be returned in such small monthly instalments, though the loan might be obtained by one able to repay more rapidly and in s at what would really be a lower of interest. The building association it possible for a poor man to borrow money on conditions of repayment which does not seem to him oppressive. GUARDING AGAINST IMPROVIDENCE. An element of human nature Is taken into account. It might be urged that the borrower, by saving a small monthly sum, so that he would be able to make larger payments at longer intervals of time, could accomplish ‘etter results outside of a building association. It Is a common experience, thouzh, that a large debt to be settled in the distant future does not set a very strong influence into the calcuia- tious of the present. In other words, the Im- providence which is a rnle among men should be taken into consideration, in any comparison between the methods of building association and the ordinary modes of borrowing money and settling loans. One fact in favor of build. associations is the comparatively small ber of foreclosures made by them to en- ce the settlement of claims. One association ed on the modern equit- » plan, and which is net only the largest ation in the city, but the largest iz the country, has, during an existence of five | loans have amounted to averaging $1,100, sold out r ower under a deed of trust. A few years azo Judge Wylie enjoined a snie aim of abuild- zainst a borrower, as it ap- | the terms upou which the as made were oppressive, and that the of the associ: had already been settied. In detiveri nion, he made a remark that he would grant an injunction ainst any jon under the same cireum- tances. Othe “ucouraged by the suc- cess of this application ‘to court by a borrower, souzhtin the same manner to tree themseives debts to associations. It turned out, , that In the first by reason of ake or overcharges, inequitable claims were “l against the borrower. In the next case, brought before the sane judge, the pretensions | Were so clearly shown to be unfounded that his | prayer was dismissed at dnce. THE NEW OR CO-OPERATIVE PLAY. During the last seventeen years the co-opera- tive plan of building associations has been devel- oped here, and its popularit been proved by the rapid growth of the associations formed upon that plan. The serial feature has also been introduced into the a tions. The terin co- nel srrower to share in the general proiits of the association, the same as the no borrower. Int n of the assoc! jons conducted on the old plan are now co: etative also, as thev pow credit the borrow | with his proportionate share of the profits. The 3 the nominal va . and making the m When a bremium which he of- rad of being deducted from amount of the advance. Each year the unt paid monti:ly on account of the premium ed is Ted} 10 per cent, which does the a tions that a man is required to pay the me amount of interest after he has reduced the princ highest number or 88, when 3 elled in fail and are- en, whether the association continues stence or not. The number of monthly is lessened, the managers of such | associations claim,according to the time the | advance is taken out after the Issue of the | stock and the amount of accrued _ profits. ‘The seriai plan is combined with these features. ths, a new ntazes of in at inte: a new class of borrowers and investers, and per- ld shares or any cause, are enabled to begin © t ings azain in the new i the “old style” as: association i hu from time to . 3, No. 4, &e., as the case may be. The shares of the ive associations mature 120 months, or 10 rs from issue, when the plan prov that the shareholder will re- + in money the value of his share, which qual to the ociation in mouthly due fi it at any tim der withdr mount he has paid in will be at Sor 5 per ag in different 7, will be paid re his stock is © interest, hows lder withdraws by In the “old style” associations the est paid to withdrawing sharekold- 6 per cent, but generally no in- | is paid to @ sharehoiler withdrawing during the first two years of the life of the asso- ciation. HOW LOANS ARE OBTAINED AND REPAID. A member of a co-operative association is en- titled to get an advance of $1,000 for each share He may take $100, or any sum in even hundveds, not exceeding the nominal value principal andthe whole is divided into 120 monthly installments. Thus assuming that the preminm bid is 66 percent, the monthly pay- ment required on aa advance of $1,000 would be determined by adding 2660 to £1,000 and dividing the sum by 120. This would amount to $13.83. Of this sum $833 or 1-120th of 21,000 would be credited on the account as “‘re- turn of advance,” aad $5.50 as premium. Now the share-holder won'd have to continue to pay his regular monthly dues of $2.50 on his share of stock, so his entire mouthly payment would amount the jirst year to $16.33. Each subse- queat year the amount ofthe monthly payment ou account ofpremium weald be reduced 55. cents or ten per e His ertire indebtedness tothe association to be in Tyears and3 months would be & 335. Upon this sum he would be ercdited with his share ot the profits of the association, estimated at 247.85. It will features of ‘The theory of the “old styie” associations fixes the valne of stock at maturity, but leaves the time when the stock wiil mature problemat- ical, while the theory of the new style fixes the me of maturity, but leaves the value of stock at maturity problematical, Building associations, as their name implies, were intended originally to aid share holders to obtain homes, but the advances made by asso- clations are ‘not restricted to any one object. The association makes no inquiry as to the par- pose for which a loan is reguired, though prob- ably the larger part of the money advanced is used in paying for houses. ‘The association re- quires real estate. United States or District bonds or paid up building association stock as security. _ Each association has Its valuation committee, and will advance to a share holder a8 arule three-fourths of the value placed by this committee upon the rty offered as security. If a shareholder desires to buy a house ‘appraisec by the committee at $2,400, and has 7600 cash, he can obtain $1,800 from the association, a deed of trust upon the prop- erty being given to secure the repayment of the advance in the manner described. Persons often remain In an association until they have accuniulated several hundred dollars, and then withdraw theirsavings to use asa margin of cash in purchasing or building a home. If a man owns a lot the association will loan him money to build a house. If the lot is estimated | samira to-day than ever beiore. The most portant modification was a provision Which the borrower should be credited with his @ue share of the proiits of the association. Tne ractical effect of this, torether with other new tures, was to reduce the rate of interest paid for loans, and at the same time to insure a fair and sve profit to the investor. Now, it 1s, €liimed persons obtaining loans trom building associations pay, ip the long run, little if any more than the preyaitine ¥ interest, Whereas they enjoy privileges which could not | law passed last July has made it somewhat to be worth $1,000 he can boriow enough prob- ably to build a £3,000 house, the deed of trust covering Pas Ras eign the lot and the im- provement ia such cases, however, the advanced in instalments, borrower is cnabled off his contractor or bufider, and the is never without sufficient s haz- be obtained from other Instituti or from | arflous_however, money upon) = private persons having money to lous. "TO one Pective improvements. so that the associations S800 he has pald into the | t to advance are very careful and strict in dealing with such loans, and In some cases decline to make any fobleegete where te tila parol of a lien Placed uy perty so as to jeopardize the laterests of the association. It is possible for a man to buya house through an association without any cash margin, where the original owner will enter into an arrangement such as has been made in certain cases. For instance, if @ house is worth $3,000 the association advances $2,200, taking a deed of trust upon the whole property, the remaining $800 due the owner on the house being secured by a second mortgage. When the borrower has paid off enough of his indebtedness to justify it the association pays the $800. and then becomes the sole creditor of the borrower. The method of operation of the two chief types of building associations have been described above. There are other varieties of associations differing in some of their details from those described, or combining features of both the old and new styles. BUILDING ASSOCIATIONS AS SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS. The associations have been regarded so far chiefly in their capacity of loan institutions. They are important likewise to the community as savings Institutions. ‘If,” said an old build- ing association man to a Srarreporter, “you go into a building association, stay five years, and don't get a cent of profit, yon will be doing well, doing better than if you were not In the association. ‘The regular, persistent, systematic saying of a smal! sum every month amonnts to a great deal in five years. You-will say that a man might pocciap lian the same thing in a bank, but he won't. He can draw his money too easily out of the bank. and there is nothing to compel him to continue his deposits when his resolution flags. In a building association, rather than jeopardize his previous deposits he will continue his monthly payments. It is true he can get his money, but it requires a little more form to draw it than the mere signing of acheck. He has to give a month’s notice that he wants his money, and probably before the month expires he will have provided for the necessities, actual or supposed, which induced him to ask for It. The more money he accumulates in a building association. the more punctual he will be in making his monthly payments. Take the cases ot 100 men who join a building association, and 100 men who begin to deposit savings in banks. I'll -Yenture to say that at the end of four years not more than one man out of the hundred will be still keeping up the deposits in bank, while forty or flty of the hundred in the building association will still remain.” “The depositor in a sayings bank,” continued the speaker, “or in any banking institution, has no voice in the management of the institution. He is not entitled to any statement of the affairs of the bank; he does not know where the money is loaned, or whether $50,000 or 2100,000 may not be loaned to one man. In a building association the depositor or stockholder is not only entitled to know where the money is being loaned, but if he attends the monthly ‘mectings he can see just where it goes. It is in that that the safety of the bui ¢ associaticn The failures of building associations, when compared with the failures of other institutions holding people's money, have been very few. The fail- ure of the Republic and Territorial building associations here was due as much perhaps to incompetent management to dishone Anotier feature distinguishing the building association from a banking institution is that there is no chance for absotute failure. A bank may fail for hundreds of thousands of dollars. A dishonest president or cashiercan ruin a bank for more than double the ainount of its capital. Itis not within the range of possibility for a dishonest officer of a building association to more than partially impair its capital. In the case of the Republicassociation the stockholders had ymid 23 mouths, aud bad management and dishonesty had only impaired its capital 28 per cent. A dishonest cashier of a bank could in far less time have involved a bank to twice the amount of its capital. The building association requires that its funds be immediately invested. The monthly payments are at once loaned out. There is no opportunity for an officer to appro- priate more than a certain amount, which, | unless the association is very carelessly man- axed, could not exceed the amount received in ome month. In our association one of the pre- cribed duties of the finance committee is to figure out beforehand the probable receipts each month. If there was any great discrepancy be- tween the estimated receipts and the actual re- ceipts, an inquiry would be made at once as to the reason for it. The accountsare opened and closed oncea month. There is nothing in the world that prevents wrongdoing like a competent finance committee, well paid. Inthe long run it will be found that there is no money better invested. Most of the associations nowadays maintain a paid finance committee.” SEFITS OF BUILDING ASSOCIATION: “The building association,” he continued, “is very frequently the bezinning of a man’s thrift in the world, of his accomplishing anything in the way of acquiring property. I can name many well-to-do men now who will say that if they hadn't bezan taking stock in an associa- tion they wouldn't have hada cent in the world. The building association makes good citizens. You will find that the class of men who make monthly payments into building associationsare sober, reliable, industrious The? practice of saving regularly every month, establishes habits of economy, and prompts many to save and acquire property who might otherwise not live within their incomes. The building asso- ciation does not compete in any way with any bank! to discharge in the community, and they are functions which a building association could not undertske. The building association is designed particularly for persons of limited means, and offers no ‘inducements to capitalists to make ge investments. 1 have had men ask for the privilege ot putting or 10,000 into our association, but they have always been refused, for the reason mainly that we would not want subject ourselves to the possible embarrass- t or interruption which mignt be caused, by having so large a sum withdrawn at one time. ¢ association is intended for smail investors. It benefits its shareholders in more ways than affurding a means of saving. We protect our shareholders in every way. If he wants to purchase a house, be gets the beneilt of the judginent of the valuation committee. An inexperienced purchaser is not likely to be in any transaction ‘made through our association. The more fully the plan and merits of the building association are understood the more cleariy one can see the benefits which sharehold j ee HOCK AND LINE. ‘The Potomnc Anglers Active Notwith- standing Uniaverable Weather—a Big Catch of Bass—Proposed Forma= tion of a New Angling Club, Notwithstanding the recent warm weather anglers have been quite activeand a good many bass have been taken. Asa result of the drought the river is remarkably low. In many places tor a mile or so at @ stretch there is so little water that it is very difficult to get a flat- bottom fishing beat along. In fact, the man who goes out now to fish over a few miles of water may as well make up his mind to jump out occasionally and tow his boat over the rocks, The change of temperature, bringing cooler weather, was gladly weleomed by the anglers, and numerous parties have taken advantage of it to make trips up the river. The biggest catch of bass during the fall season was niade by one person, a resident of this city, who in six days’ fishing last month took two hundred, the largest weighing ynst four pounds. A party out fishing in the upper Potomac a few days ago noticed several tin cans floating in ‘the river. Further examination re- vealed a dozen or s0 of these cans, and inguiry developed the fact that ‘they marked the location of what are known as “trot lines” or “out lines.” To each can was attached, by a string, a stone to anchor it fast. Then from one can to another was seen a long, heavy line, to which was attached numerous short lines, hooked and baited. At intervals along the main lines and betweenthe cans were fastened pieces of cornstalk, or some other light substance, which acted as “floats” or “pobs.” These floats indicated a bite, and the owners of the lines, who kept themselves posted near by, would paddle out and capture the fish, unless he succeeded in unhooking himself betore they got tohim. The fishermen were not particular as tothe kind of fish they got. All was grist that came to their mill—vass, catfish or eels. ares antd thes occasionally got a bass by their plan. There isa matter demanding the attention of some of the angilig ciubs, which has come to the attention ofa SraR reporter. It seems every fall, or at the aj winter, when the water is drawn canal, there who canal. Another angling club is being to organize it this winter. to build a club house somewhere Seneca and the mouth of the Monocacy river. ¢ institutions, except, perhaps, savings | The genera! banks have their functions | TALK AMONG THE TURFMEN. Approaching Clea at Ivy City of a Remarkable Racing Senson. The meeting @f the National Jockey club, which begins at Ivy city on the 21st instant and will continue fout days, will close the season for the Eastern circuit. The season has been the most successful one in fhe history of the Amer- ican turf, and in many respects it has been a remarkable one. , The number of meetings and of races run far exceed any previous year. The weather, too, has been particularly favorable to turt sports, though it has been very unfavorable to the farmers. « 1 ‘The records matte by‘Horses during the seas@n have been remarkably Variable. This is espe- cially true as regards two-year-olds. Hitherto, as a rule, several two-year-olds have started in by demonstrating their superiority in the spring and maintaining it throughout the season; but this year the changing merits of young racers has been one of the most notable and interest- ing features of the turf. The contests have been spirited and honors have been won and lost by two-year-olds until there is the widest room for speculation as to the three-year-old Taces next season. Every two-year-old that has been seen under colors this season has been beaten in turn, until there is a mixture of records that will perplex the oldest turtman when it comes to picking the winners ot three- year-old stakes in the early part of next season. Among the numerons youngsters that have cap- tured two-year-old events during the season may be mentioned Little Savage, Brookwood, Goano, Wanda, Hart, Mystic, St. Augustine, Volante, Bonne Bouche, Mission Belle, Joe Cotton, Florio, Rapido, Telie Doe, Florence M., Eachus, Preciani, Chimera, Theodora, Verano, Ten Stone, Irish Pat, Freeman, and Trousseau. THE THREE-YEAR-OLD RECORD. Nor is the three-year-old record any less per- plexing, as a basis for picking out winners of four-year-old races next season. Favorites have maintained their precedence only for a few days at a time. Each in turn has had to give way. Among the numerous three-year-olds that have carried their colors to the front this season are Sister, Ten ike, Tattler, St. Sav- ior, Rataplan, Greystoné, Miml Coit, Ecuador, Panique, Tolu, Freda, Palinurus, Chanticleer, Pearl Thorne, Jim Carlisle, Thackeray, Knight ot Ellers! Economy, Equipoise, Himalaya, Young Duke. Endymion, Voltaire, Bob Miles, W. &. Woodford, Louisette, Modesty, Water Lily, Conkling and Kosciusko. St. Savior,-of all the list, has come out nearest possessing an unbroken line of victories. He won three races out of four, being beaten in his first contest by Rataplan. St. Savior is one of Fred Gebhardt’s horses. The pick of the best stables that have won honors during the season haye been en- tered for the meeting here. The National Jockey club have, this fall, offered more liberal prizes than ever before. ‘The purses and stakes aggregate $13,000. PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE BETTING RULES. In turf circles there isa good deal of talk about a reconstruction of the betting rules, Those in existence are based ufion the-English rules, which do not meet the requirements or accord with the customs of this country. An- other subject which is attracting no little atten- tion is the meeting of the delegates of the asso- ciations racing under’ the rules known as the “American racing ruies,” which 1s to be held in Chicago on the 2ist of next November. Nothing definite is as yet known as to what business will be done, but it is quite ¢ertain that the effort to banish bookmaking will be renewed. The sen- timent in favor of abolishing this feature of bet- ting has grown very much of late, owing to a suspicion of the conneetion of some of the book- | makers with alleged cropked transactions in the turf. It is claimed, and upon excellent reason; that the abolishment ef bookmaking will free the turf from a species of betting that might profit by frand. The jdea is to enlarge the French system to include #5, $10, $20 and 2100 pools, and to continue the auction pools, mak- ing these the only systems of betting. Then the entire betting couid'be kept under the im- mediate direction and supervision of the respec- tive clubs. Under the present system it is the bookmakers alone who have any Incentive to fraud, because they alone could profit by it. They make their own slates and terms, and, with foreknowledge obtained by bribing jockeys, or otherwise, it is within their power to often make a dig haul. The auction pool system is not capable of being misused, and the French method is an open book to every better. The turf in this country has passed ander the control of the most reputable men, and they-are determined to do everything possible to elevate the noble sport and make it worthy the patron- age of allclasses. The feat seems to have gone forth that the bookmakers must go. IMPROVEMENTS AT IVY CITY. The track at Ivy City is being put in good condition, notwithstanding the dry weather. Numerous sprinkling carts have been put to work and are tollowed by the harrow and rollers. An entire layer of new soil has been placed on the track, and with constant working between now and the opening day of the meet- ing it will be much improved. It is already pro- nounced by all horsemen one of the best tracks in the country. Other improvements are being made, such as an extension of the betting lawn and sheds, providing better stable accommoda- tions, repainting and generally repairing. A SOUTHERN RACING CIRCUIT has this year been inaugurated by the promi- nent turfmen of the coast states. The first of the meetings will be held at Richmond, Va. commencing on the Tuesday following the races here. There will be four days racing. Good purses are announced, and it is probable that the meeting will be a success in every respect. After that will come Greenville and Columbia, 8. C., then Augusta, Ga., to wind up at Charles- ton, 8. C., the second week in December. The fact that this “circuit” has been es serve to attract many stables of horses, sp and fall, to the meetings of our local jockey club. Before the war racing was the sport | with the opulent planters of the south, and even in these “plunging” times our millionaire horse- owners of the east have not yet equalled the great produce stake won by Peytoner at Nash- ville in 1841, which was worth to the winner $43,000, and to. which each nominator was re- quired to contribute 35.000as his stake. Mr. H. D. Mcintyre, of this city, will manage the meetings at the cities named, and under his guidance there is at least promise that the sports of the turf will be firmly re-established in the states that first encouraged the importation of the blood-horse. The entries to the stakes are satisfactory, and there will be about 125 horses to take part in the projected meetings. THE MONKEY AND THE ORGAN. Their Comparative Worth as Money- Getting Contrivances— What the Hand-Organ Man Says, The discordant notes of a wheezy old hand- organ smote the ear of a Stark man the other day, and around the next corner was the usual greasy-looking Ifalian grinding out a wretched conglomeration of broken-winded sighs and groans, while @ black monkey Jumped nimbly up and down on the sidewalk. “How much do you make a day?” inquired the reporter of the organ-grinder, atter placat- ing the monkey with; ten cents, which was promptly transterred to the master. “Oh, "bout two dolla and haf. Soma’ times maka mo’; uddet times don’t,” was the reply, Jerked out toa most excruciating accompani. ment on the organ. “Which most delights the popular taste, the music or the monkey?” “What say?” ‘ “Which pays best; the music or the monkey?” “De moosic make nutting; de monk make all. Nebber mind "bout moosic when yougot monk.” “How long does it take to train the monkey?” "Bout six monts.”—' “Do you have to whip them much?” “No, sah; no fighta monk. You fghta him, he fighta back. dispenser and monkey trainer said The music he lived in era and he puctes ee ‘square, hering up les to Teaching the second “of an Italian’s pro- motion in this country—the proprietorship of a peannt stand. lished will | “| grade of lieutenant created annually. The ex- THE SIGNAL CORPS, * z ‘Weather Burcaus. A, NOCTURNAL FOX CHASE. THE FEMALE “sUPES.” ; —— ae, —e COMPOSITION OF THE CORPS—QUALIFICATIONS RE-| THE MUSIC OF THE HOUNDS—A BRILLIANT | WHERE THE WOMEN COME FROM WHO PROLIC O€ QUIRED OF RECRUITS—EXAMINATIONS FOR PRO- MOTIONS TO LIEUTENANCIES—THE SENTINELS WHO WATCH FOR COMING STORMS—THE ORIGIN OF THE METEOROLOGICAL WORK OF THE CORPS. ‘The duties of the signal service are two fold: providing an efficient corps for maintaining communication with the front in time ot war by means of a thorough system of signals, and of noting the development and progress of storms and other meteorological phenomena and ro- porting the same to the public with predictions of the weather of the immediate future. The Work done by thesignal corps during the war | was very valuable, and gave an impetus to the art of signaling the world over. A signal corps is now considered an absolute necessity to an army operating in the field for maintaining communication by visuai signals, and for con- structing military telegraph line When the war was over Congress continued the corps, which, though crude, was valuable. To maintain tts efficiency it was necessary to keep the men who composed it constantl; employed upon the labors they would be call upon to perform in case of necessity. Stations were formed in different parts of the country and the ere of the service were continu: Meteorological observations materially aided telegraphy. By the former notice could be givgn on the northern lakes and the sea coast by oeectic telegraph and marine signals of the approach of storms. It was this discovery which led to the creation in 1870 of THE WEATHER BUREAU asa branch of the signal service. it was soon seen that storms might be foretold throughout the whole country, and In 1872 the research of the service was extended for the benefit ofagricul- ture. The weather bureau has been so constantly improved that it has practically exceeded in importance, in the eyes of the public, the original object for which the corps was intended. The signal service is now considered simply a mam- moth weather bureau. Yet the very means used to perfect it m this respect maintain and even improve the efficiency of the corps inthe art of signaling, so that in case of war there would be an intelligent and trained force of men ready to take the fleld without delay, and the weather branch of the service would come to a standstill. The two-fold duties of the) service, therefore, do not conflict, but in| reality the one depends upon the other. Although the weather bureau was created in 1870, it was not until 1874 that it had attained such a degree of importance and efficiency as to be considered a public necessity. From the latter year the records of the weather observa- tions date. All the predictions ofthe signal office | have, from its beginning until now, been made | | from the observations taken simultaneously in | different parts of the country. The theory 1s to | | gain frequent views of the atmospheric condi- | dition and movements over the country as they | actually are. From these simultaneous reports | the great success of the weather bureau re- | sulted. The signal corps is of necessity an in- telligent body of men, and this fact, together with the military discipline which is enforced, | | has contributed largely to its present efficient | condition. COMPOSITION OF THE CORPS. The service is.a branch of the regular army. It is composed of five hundred men. Of these there are at present a chief signal officer, Gen, W. B. Hazen; a captain and five lieuten- ants from the regular army, who are detailed for signal service duty; sixteen lieutenants, who have been promoted from sergeants; 150 ser- geants, 30 corporals, and the rest regularly en- | listed men. There are but two grades of officers | belonging to the corps—chief signal officer, with the rank of brigadier general, and second lieu- tenant. The latter grade is filled by promotion | from the rank of sergeant, under the provisions | of a law passed several years azo allowing two [such promotions annually. These annual ad- ditions to the number of officers have had the elfect of decreasing the number of reg-| ular army officers who were detailed | for signal service work, —_ necessitating | their being sent back to their respective regiments. There are now but six such oflicers, The senior of these is Capt. S. M. Mills, 5th | artillery, who has charge of the property and money division of the service, and is always de- tailed acting signal officer during Gen. Hazen’s absence. The others are First Lieut. H.C. Dunwoody, 4th artillery; First Lieut. Robert Craig, 4th artillery; First Lieut. P. H. Ray, 8th infantry; First Lieut. T. M. Woodruff, 5th in- fantry, end First Lieut. James Allen, 3d caval In addition to these, however, there is Lieut. A. W. Greely, 5th cavalry, who is still attached to the signal service. As he wason duty in the | arctic stations he is not included this vear in the six line officers who are allowed to be as- signed on signal duty. Next year, however, one of the officers mentioned above will proba- bly be returned to his regiment to make room for Lieut. Greely. The officers who have gained the rank of lieutenant in the service by their own exertions are deserving of the highest credit, for they have earned their honors. Yet there is nothing for them beyond the rank of a second lieutenant, unless Congress shall recog- nize the importance of the corps having a full complement of its own officers, and create the grades of first leu- tenant, captain and major. It is a harsh law that forbids a faithful and efficient man of the signal corps from rising above the grade of a second lieutenant. He may be the best officer in the service, he may make invaluable contri- butions to science, he may be the means of saving millions of dollars to the commerce of the country, but he cannot reach a higher posi- tion than ‘second lieutenant. Those on duty here who have attained that rank are Lieuts. Sebree Swift, Powell and Glassford, The ser- yice is military throughout, but a question has been raised of late years whether it is best that the weather bureau should remain a part of the army. Those who oppose a change from a mili- tary to a civil organization claim that the ser- vice cannot be maintained in its present emMm- ciency witholt military discipline; that a civil bureau would cost twice as much as the present Service, and that as It Is a success under its | present management no change should even be | contempiated which would endanger ¢ts life. WHAT A RECRUIT HAS TO LEARN. To serve in the signal service is to receive a thorough and valuable education, no matter if | the man who has enlisted takes advantage of the earliest opportunity to obtain his discharge. He has acquired methodical business babits; has become a good telegraph operator, and a good mathematician. Before a man can enlist in the service he must satisfactorily pass an examina- tion, which requires that his education has not been neglected. Indeed, some of the applicants for enlistment have been graduates of colleges. As regards intelligence in the ranks, the corps is far superior to the rest of the army. When a man is accepted In the service he is ordered to duty at Ft. Myer, where he undergoes a thorough training to fit him for the duties he isto perform in the future. There he is drilled in the usual duties of soldiers, and in addition is taught signaling in all its branches, telegraphy, the use of the various meteorological instruments, the modes of observation and the form and duties | required at stations of observation. The term of duty at Fort Myer is six months, and by that time he is pretty well versed in the duties he is to perform. He is generally sent to some one of the many stations for duty. His course here is watched and his record is kept accurately. His chances for promotion rest on the manner in which he performs his duties and the record he makes. No further examination is required up to the rank of sergeant. For promotion toa lieutenancy, however, it is necessary to undergo a very thorough examination. The chief signal officer annually selects a number of sergeants who’'shall compete for the two positions in the aminations are held in this city, unless it is Im- pone for a candidate to come here, when he examined at his station. The new lieutenants are at once transferred to Fort Myer, where they are instructed in the higher branches of meteorology. Even after that they must serve a year or two in the signal office in this city be- fore er ate competent for indications work. This indication work is very wearing. One ofMcer is on this duty for a month. He is obliged to be at the office until half-past twelve or one o’clock at night, and he must beat his desk again at nine o'clock the next morning. His morning work keeps him at the office until one o’clock, and he is again on duty at five o'clock in the afternoon. HOW THE WEATHER BEPORTS ARE GATHERED. Tough Table Talk. the re P 150 first-class meteorological —— from “The cream of the Joke was,” sald the new | Which dally telegraphic reports ret, boarder, ‘that the —” Observations are taken at precisely the same acai id minute of Washington time, at 7a. m., 3p. m. TE yor say sts iefK of the jobs, we unt sar. aball Gis bation Doo saltusant derstand you better,” said the bread pudding = for tel hing, except in nem ~ ial cases, are taken, at 11 a. m. and 7 p. m. “ Don’t interrupt,” continued thenew boarder, furnish the data “the landlady herself heard him giving out the | upon which the weather charts are formed. The conundrum.” government owns fa gah through the pind what was It?" seked the chronic joker, ehief aaa thousand miles of mily, after a long wait, telegraph line, this, together with other Sep ster 0 ee. ' <a lines the use of which is secured when neces- There was a dead as the feeble old | sary, formsachain which connects all parts of to its legs, revealing the |, | this vast continent with the signal office at B.C. @. Re ots Pelee cs eb get elgg So ae Then the new boarder answered in @ vo! concentrated then sent to render steady and trathful: broadeast over the land for the benefit of the “Because we all perish at the steak.” public, | ling as d Georgia porker's. | pitched in a higher key. The other dogs reared CANINE CONCERT—HOW REYNARD FOOLED THE DOGa—“WHOOPING ‘EM UP” AT THE END OF THE CHASE—A TALL STORY FROM AN OLD HUNTER, £0. On the Alexandria turnpike in Loudoun county, Va., stands an old two-story, stone house. The roof pitches down over the porch in old fashioned style; the shingles are brown agd weather-beaten, and here and there appear patches of moss turned sere and white under the hot autumn sun. Ivy and woodbine climb upon the walls, drooping in graceful festoons around the windows, and their foliage begins to show the brilliant colors with which it adorns itself in the late fall before it een into a wintry grave. The structure is one of the inns | which dotted the turopike in the old days of stage driving, and it is yet a country tavern, though its pristine glory has departed. In the bar-room, which is also the office,” were seated a few evenings age a party of five or six gentlemen, among whom were planters from the neighboring farms, @ lawyer, and a doctor, the ,Professional representatives of the little “burg,” and a Star reporter who was rusticating during his vaca- tion among the peaceful Virginia uplands There were also present the usual number of village gossips, who drop in every evening to talk about the state of the crops, to discuss politics, to cuss ‘Billy Mahone” and to have a quiet game of “kyards” in the corner. The usual subjects had been taken up according to time-honored custom. and disposed of; the card-players had just finished a rubber at euchre and a momentary silence had fallen over the group, which was suddenly disturbed by a grunt and a vicious snap, followed bya vigorous scratching, which made the floor shake. Old “Prince,” one of the three fox-hounds which had come in with their owners, had been awak- ened from his slumber by the persistent biting of a big fly. which had settled on his head and by its annoyance had aroused his canine antipa- thies. “Did you ever hear a Virginia fox chase?” said one of the — planters, whose atten- tion was attracted by the _ interruption, tion, turning to the reporter. “No? Then we must have one to-night. It is full moon, and there is a splendid dew, and the dogs could carry a trail if it was a month old. What do you and he looked towards his friends in the room. All were agreed, and in about an hour from that time half a dozen men and a dozen dogs were STARTED FOR THE RUNWAY. Of course, the chase was not expected to be seen, forthe whole enjoyment of the evening was confined to the “opera,” the solos and choras of which were rendered bythe dogs. The latter were a study in color, running trom al- most a pure black, with a smooth coat, through every shade of black and tan, and black and white.to a white with tan splotches on the head, and with a coat which was as_ rough and brist- The dogs did not vary much In shape, but differed greatly in size, and every dog ‘had his own particu- lar accent which his owner could rec- ognize as far as he could hear it. The country was somewhat hilly. Pieces of woodiand were scattered here and there, form- ing favorite hiding-places for Reynard, and the hunters, familiar with the ground, knew the runways or ridges which the foxes usually seek when pursued. Stationed on the brow of a hill, at the edge of a clearing, the party waited while one of the number took old “Prince” into a neck of woods to “hark” the game. For ten or fifteen minutes “Prince” could be heard rust- ling back and forth, first on one side of the ridge and then on the other, breaking through the dead branches of fallen trees and dashing into the underbrush, while the other dogs, held in leash, would vent their impatience’ by low whines and restiess movements. Presently a long-drawn, mellow bay told that old “Prin had found dis tongue, and in a tew moments he changed his tone into a quick, sharp bark, upon their hind feet in their excitement, and | tried to leap from their keepers. “em | loose; he’s hot onto it.” said one of the hunt- ers, and the collars were slipped and the dogs were off In an instant. Then, down the hill- side, Inthe darkness, through the woods, and up the ridge in the direction of old “Prince,” swept AHURRICANE OF YELLING DISCORD. Along the ridge in a confused body, mad with excitement, went the dogs until old “Prince” was reached. Then order began to come and the notes became clear. true and musical. The soprano, alto, tenor and bass, with all tneircom- binations and variations, rang with startling distinctness through the clear night air. The orchestra was not wanting. Cornet and trom- bone, flute and quavering clarinet sent their vibrating echoes through the woodlands, making it merry for the fox while he hunted for “tall timber.” Every now and then for a few moments there would be silence, caused by the dogs hunting ont some sharp Tuse played by Reynard to throw them off the track. Quickly, however, it would be discovered, and for alittle while a solo would be sung by the leader, fol- lowed by a duo, a trio and a quartette, ending in a chorus of delighted yells as the remainder of the troupe “caught on.” For two miles along the ridge the chase was perfectly distinct: then down a deep ravine, whence only echoes came; then up a parallel ridge, and back on a stretel three for straight miles, over every foot of which the tonguing could be heard. “Here they come,” said the doctor, as the pack swept round in acircle to the lett, | about haifa mile beyond where the chase was | raised. Scarcely had he spoken when out of the gloom of the woods below, a little shadow ap- peared, skipping across the clearing in the | bright moonlight. Nearer, nearer it came; not | a motion, not a whisper, hardly a wink of the | eyelid among the group on the hillside. Closer | came the dodzing shadow, and when about a hundred yards from the party it leaped upon a | stump and paused in graceful attitude, looking back towards where the tones were sounding in | regular cadence, the members of the party could with dificulty suppress their excitement, tor the shacow was the game. There sat the fox, as if he enjoyed the fun, until the foremost dog | appeared three hundred yards behind him, | on his trail. Then Reynard giving a short, | sharp bark of deflance, dashed away to the right | towards a wooded ridge in the rear of the party. In a moment the pack came up in fullery. The leading dog was about two hundred yards ahead ofthe one which brought up the rear, | and each in his order was yelling with ali his might. The fox ran over the riage and the chase swept out of hearing. Shortly, as the | pack raced out of the hollow up to tle higher land the baying again became audible. Thus it continued for several hours, ut the close of which the music was alittle slower than when it began, but that was all. At last, while the chase was seemingly in full run there camea united chorus of angry yells, howls of disap- inted rage and excited cries. They issued ‘om apparently the same spot and betokened the fact that the fox had been “holed,” and that the dogs were barking furiously around his re- treat. “WHOOPING "EM UP.” “Whoop ’em up, Jim; no more fun to-night,” said the director of the chase to one of the number, a long, lank countryman, who, placing both hands to his mouth, emitted a loud and sustained “‘whoo-00-00-up,” which would rival a Pennsylvania locomotive. He continued his diabolical discord at intervals for fifteen or | twenty minutes, by which time all the dogs | were called in. The members of the party had | not stirred a dozen rods from the place where | they had stationed themselves when the concert opened until its close, yet they had heard the canine melody for at least four hours and a- half out of the five hours, during which the dogs were running. As the hunters were retracing their steps towards home Tue Star reporter said to the individual who called the dogs, “Jim, you have a pair of strong lungs.” “Yaas, I kin yell some,” replied Jim, “but you'd orter hean a fellah ovah at Middleburgh. Lawd, how he kin holler!” he added in reflective wan eared “How, 80?” inquired his Istener. “Waal, me and the Squar, thar, and this othah feilah war a huntin one night about foah mile and the dawgs took arter ied "em off towards Lees- beyond Middiebi THE STAGE BUT NEVER SPEAK—STAGE-STRUOK GIRLS WHO NEVER GET ABOVE THE BALLET— 4 TALK WITH THE MAN IN THE BOX-OFFICR “No, their names never appear on the pro- grams, but they are the most interesting charac vers in theatrical life. Theyare almost mysteri- ous. You don't know where they come from, where they go to, nor who they are.” The cur- tain had risen, no more tickets were being sold, and the man inthe box-office was taking Tam Stak man into his confidence. Ballet girls were being discussed. “Did you ever see & ballet girl off the stage? No, I guess you haven't seen her. Maybe you wouldu't know her it you did. hey Mit adout the staze like but- terfties; they\smile and frisk about; they carry the queen's triin; they are pages and gentiemen of the coart, aways In tights, with shapely limbs and gracef@l, but they don’t say anything, and, after the curtain goes down, and the blaze and light of the theater is out, they are gone. No use waiting outside for ‘em, you won't see ‘em, or you won't know ‘em.” “Don't they belong to the troupes?” asked Tue Star man. “Not It isn't all troupes that need ‘em, and those that do pick ‘em up at the theaters where- ever they go. We generally have a tew regular ‘ones, who report at the theater every Monday, and when we want more, for such plays as the “Black Crook” for instance, we advertise. Some times we advertise for forty or ity. Then they come in swarms.” “What class of girls are they?” “You had just better not try to classify ‘em, and if you call ‘em all girls you'll be slightly out of the way some times. Just come here some day when we have advertised and you'll see a siglit. Some of ‘em are a hundred years old (more or less), and look as if they had lived in the slums from their remote infancy. Some ot "em look like death's heads plastered over and painted, They come off the street. These we don't take; we don't take any such ques- tionable characters unless we cant do better, though we arn't very particular about age when we are crowded. When they are Axed up and on the stage no one knows the difference.” “But they are not all old and ugly added. “No, not by a long way. Nor a all Bohemians, who lead a miserable € on the streets at ni; dark hole all day. There are some ballet girls who belong in the higher walks of life, but who have been brought down by misfortune and forced to earn a living as best they may. One of the prettiest girls I ever saw on the stage was a ballet girl. When they had a tab had to take the part of an ai uu she or rel or a nymph, some part where seraphic beauty was need: Some of the ballet giris are little devils; son are old and ugly, but there are some mode pretty girls sho are working to support a mother or perhaps little brothers and sisters. “What do they earn?” asked Tie Star man. “Only six dollars a week when they are em- ployed, and they are not employed wore than half the season.” “How do they manage to live?” “Oh, they are never dependent entirely upon that. ‘They are generally shop girls, girls who are learning a trade, or seamstresses, who have to add this to their small wages earned in the day in order to get along. But they have all sorts of employment outside. Why, there are some Treasury clerks—yes, young Indies em- ployed inthe Treasury, who take part in the ballet! It is hard to tell what inducements tn- fuence ‘em ail to it, but they are various. Some of ‘em have a natural liking for the stage, and as they can’t get any higher part they take that. Some may like the novelty of wearing tights and dispiaying their crace. Some do it to get dress. You can't tell. I knew two little girls who joined the ballet when they were little bits 8 to earn money to support their invalid and they grew old in the service. I knew @ girl—a very pretty girl—who belonged toan excellent old family, but was forced necessity to take to the ballet. They temptations, these friski girls, who look so happy on the poor girl's fate was ‘sad—bnt now, and I hope living happily;” and the box man stooped down and fumbled among the tickets for a long time. “But nobody knows what bec girls alter the theater at night,” continued; “they are very different when they get off the stage, and you could never recognize them as they slip out the stage entrance. Some of ‘em go home to a garret, mavbe; some ot ‘em have good homes, and some—some spend the night in dives, drinking beer with low companions. But there’s no counting on ballet girls. They are deceiving. A ‘ninety-niner’ will pass for sixteen on the stage. They are the most inter- esting thing about the theater, ‘specially to the young fellows who take front seats and go out between the acts and smo<e cigarettes on the curbstone when the folks are comiug out. Some- times the girls get married, and once in a while, like Clara Morris, they become famous in the higher walks of the stage. WOMEN WHO WANT To STUDY. The Doors of the Columbian University Thrown Open to Them. ps of these THEY ARE ADMITTED TO LECTURES ON FQUAL TERMS WITH MEN—WHAT PROF. FRISTOE HAS TO SAY RELATIVE TO THER PRESEST AND FUTURE POLICY OF THE UNIVERSITY. Women are now admitted to the Corcoran school of sciences and arts of the Columbian University on the same terms as men. While this may be rded in some quarters asa startling departure for euch a conservative and Jong established institution as the Columbian University, the members of the faculty do not scem to regard it as such, but rather as a means of meeting a long felt necessity in this city. It was not aquestion of “long hair” or “short hair” of woman-rightism or any other ism. The arguments used by the advocates of the wer culture for women do not seem to have pd into the consideration of the subject. We have had frequent applications from women who wanted to attend the classes in the versity,” said Prof, Fristoe to a Srar re- porter, “bat we have never had accommoda- tions tor them, and se were obliged to refuse their request. ‘The erection of this new univer- sity building gives the necessary rooms, and we gladly open our classes to the admission of women.” “Are they admitted to all the departments of the university?” asked the reporter. “Not as yet,” was the reply. “We matrica- Jate women in the Corcoran school of science on equal terms with men. There Is the classical department, the law and medical departments to which women are not admitted. The lectures and recitations in the first named occur during the day, but in the scientific department they are held at night. Those desiring to study Latin and Greek can make arrangements to do so in addition to the other studies in the scientific course. Women are not — agierd medi- cal department, because there are no accom- modations for them. Next year if they get into the new building I expect that the faculty will decide to admit women.” * - WOMEN STUDENTS. “Are there many women who have applied for admission?” asked the reporter. “So far only two have been matriculated,” said the professor, “but a number have ex- pressed a wish to take advantage of our course of lectures. One of these tadies is studying to be a doctor and is going to take a course in chemistry. Another is @ school teacher here, and she wants to pursue a certain line of studies. The general course of study which will be pursued is that for which the degree of bachelor of science is awarded. There are sepa- rate courses arranged in chemistry, physics, electrical engineering, civil engineering, mining engineering,metallurgy and architecture, which will embrace thorough technical instruction in these branches, while including certain portions of the general course.” “I expect,” continued the fessor, “that when Mr. Corcoran establishes the school of art that the class will be mostly composed of women.” en ee