Evening Star Newspaper, January 1, 1897, Page 11

THE DISTRICT'S YEAR| (Continued from Fifth Page.) of $34,136. The Tenleytown and Rockville roa was sold May 20 to Crosby and Lieb. A bil se@ the House in May requiring the Eckington and Belt lines to adopt rapid transit, and the report of the conference commiitee of both houses ordering the fame was adopted in June. This bill pro- vided for experiments with compressed air motors. There were subsequent announce- ments by the officials of the roads that progress was being made toward trying the motors, but delays occurred with equal persistence until the roads went into the hands of a receiver, September 21, Mr. W. Kesley Schoepf being appointed receiver. Receiver Schoepf filed a report October 3, urging experiments with a compressed air motor, and supplemented it November 16 with a recommendation In favor of using the Hardie motor. Justice Cox denied the receiver's request November 23, intimating that th= logical outcome of the conditions of the Belt and Eckington roads seemed to be a decree for their sale In Jure the Metropolitan company dis- charged several employes, on the ground that they had sought to influence legisia- tion affecting the 1cad. The Knights of Labor took sides with the men, and the re- suit was that the company was placed on the unfair list in July. The electric cars began running on the F street line of the Metropelitan July 7, and the system was as immediately successful as it had al- ready proven on 9th street. Mr. Samuel L. Phillips announced August 13 his intention to resign the presidency of the Metropoli- tan, and October 15, when the resignation took effect, Mr. George H. Harries was elected to the vacancy. A bill to extend the line of the Metropolitan up Columbia road to ISth street was passed by the House De- cember 17, and the same day the House passed a bill extending the time for air mo- tor experiments on the Belt and Eckington roads The herdic line to Anacostia was aban- doned early in the year, and during the summer a partially successful trial of a gas motor designed for the propulsion of street cars was made over the tracks of the Anacostia railroa is IN THE COURTS. In the history of the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the District the Year 1886 will be remembered as one in which mary important cases were tried, and during which numerous foints of law of interest and importance, both to the public and the legal profession, were de- cided. Early in the year two of what are Known as the street extension cases were tried. The cases came hefore Judge Cox, in the Di t court, and, after he had de- cided the law unconstitutional, that decis- ion was reversed by the Court of Appeals, which tribunal held tnat while no assess ments for benefits could be maintained, in other respects the law is a valid one. From that ion both sides appealed to the United States Supreme Court, and that court now has the whole law under con- sideration, the cases having been argued before it a few weeks ago. Another inter- esting case was that instituted by Mrs. Mary Kemball Slack for the possession of her children. The case going to the Court of Appeals, that court decided that she Was entitled to her little ones, a decision which the United States Supreme Court declired to reverse. Ir the case of Mr. Elverton R. Chapman, who wes convicted early in the year for re- fusirg to answer certain inquiries pro- pourded by the Senate sugar trust inves- tigating committee, the Court of Appeals susteired the law under which Mr. Chap- convicted. A writ of error was to the United States Supreme Court, which court dismissed the writ, holding that in all criminal cases arising im the District of Columbia the Court of Appeals is the court of last resort, and that, too, whether there be a federal or constite ul question involved or not two score or more indictments against alleged violators of the argarine laws, some twelve of the were disposed of. In four of the es cases a verdict of not guilty was returned, tr four a verdict of guilty was returned, € case the jury failed to agree, in ses the defendants pleaded guilty, another case the charge was nollée : The cases are new before the nited States Supreme Court on habeas corpus proceedings. Miss Elizabeth M. Flagler, who was in- ior manslaughter for shooting a small colored boy, pleaded guilty to invol- untiry manslaughter, and was sentenced uge Cox to pay a fine of $300 and ve mel in jail for three hours, which ra vied into effect. Irvin Ford, colered, was convicted of the murder ot Elsie Kreglo, and hanged the 26th of July, the culprit being captured, indicted, tried and punished in the shortest period krcwn in the history of the loca! courts. Benjamin H. Milliken, charged with break- ing Into the house of Judge Samuel F. Phillips, was acquitted after an unusually interesting trial. The mysteriously for- warded paper, alleged to have been the will of the late Judge Advocate General Joseph Holt, was declared by a jury not to have b written or signed by him. Judge Cole, in the case of the United Brates Electric Lighting Company against the District Commissioners and the Poto- mac Electric Power Company, refused to enjoin“ the defendants from entering into a contract for the lighting of the city east of Rock creek. The judge also re- fused “to enjoin the Commissioners from permitting the defendant company to oc- cupy sald territory, and the Court of Ap- yeas refused to grant an appeal from udge Cole's decision. In decisions by Judge Cox and Judge Bradley it was held that the trial by jury guaranteed by the Constitution cannot be had before District re of the peace. It was also held hat the District Supreme Court can re- View, on appeal, cases tried by justices of the peace before juries. These decisions are radical departures from those hitherto revailing, During the year 1896 there were 1,512 law fulis fled, as against 1,725 filed during 1595. During 1805 there were 933 equity suits tiled. of which 221 were sults for divorce, While in 1806 there were 88 equity suits filed, of which 224 were divorce cases. The number of lunacy cases filed during 185 was 121, the number filed during 1896 be- ing 118. During 1895 482 criminal cases filed. and 468 during 1896. Some 310 al cases were tried during 1805, re- in 24 convictions, 67 acquittals lisagreements of the juries. During " criminal cases were tried, resul convictions, 63 acquittals and nts of the juries. While in 1895 e licenses were Issued, but ued during 1896. The number anics’ Hens filed during 1895 was 151, while the number in 1896 jumped to 316. DEATHS. © rell of the city’s dead for the year 1 the names of many who were use- ful citizens, and those places it will be dif- ficult to fill. Among those who died are Dr. James Webb Rogers, Geo. W. Phil- lips, Cryptie Palironi, E. B. Wight, George White, David W. Mahon, M. B. Brady, W. ‘W. Upton, John Tyler, jr, Thomas Pp. Mor, Dr. Smith Townsend, David Mc- Clelland, Commander Geo. N. Bache, U. 8. were N.: Samuel Fowler, William B. Webb, Robert Edward Earil, Gen. Thomas L. Casey, U. 8. A.: Dennis F. Murphy, Rev. Thomas G. Addison, Seaton Monroe, W. H. Webster. Mills Dean, A. H. Lowery, George Bogus, N. L. Jeffries, W. L. Cash, Dr. 3. S. Moffatt, Justin McCarthy, John Blair Hoge, Rev. Jobn Wesley Boteler, Rear A miral Thomas H. Stevens, U. 3.'N.: W. G. Brock, Daniel S. Pickrell, Charles H. Ruoff, Col. Albert G. Brackett, U. 8. A.; Samuel S. Shellabarger, Joseph A. McKibben, Dr. Joseph M. Toner, Arthur MacArthur, Hen- ty L. Cranford, John Chamberlin, ‘Henry M. Sweeney, Miss Kate Field, G. Brown Goode, L. H. Schneider, W. C. Winlock, games Clark, Henry C. Sherman, Brent 1. Baldwin, Wiliam A. Richardson, Otis C. Wight, John F. Ennis, Miss Annie Lew- is, Lloyd Moxley, James Pilling, Edwin Willets, Benj. F. Fuller, Franklin Tenney, Geo. Y. Coffin, Sayles J. Bowen, Dr. Caro- a B. Winsiow, George. E. Lemon, R. W. Fenwick. REAL ESTATE. While no great activity was manifested in the real estate market during the year Just closed, yet the conditions were more favorable than those that prevailed during the preceding year. A reasonable degree of buiiding was done, and Property that was sold realized good prices. While there was bo strong demand for property, yet Prices remained firm. After the election a decided improvement was noted, money Was easier, and {it was evident that in- vestors were gradually coming again int: the market. Perhaps the most notable corner of the Tenleytown and Woodley roads. The property contains twenty-five paid was $125,000. It is announced to be the intention of Mr. Bar- ber to erect a handsome residence on this erection of res, and the price site. In addition to the dences, a number of buildings desi; business purposes were bullt, so that the close of the year witnesses increased ac- commodations at the capital of the not only for the growing population, but for the expanding interests of the city. CHURCHES. In church circles the year has not been without occurrences indicating prosperity and a commendable degree of activity. This is specially the case In the one feature of the erection of new edifices or the im- provement of structures already In erce. The corner ston2s of church edifices Colored Swedenbor- gian, S:. Anthony’s Catholic Salar Esa were laid as follows: Lutheran Church and Trinity Church. Plans have teen edopted synagogue to be erected by the Washington Hebrew Congrega‘ion, and the congrega- tions cf the Mt. Pleasant Congregational Church, Ninth Street Christian Church and the North Carolina Avenue M. P. Church have decided to erect new buildings. new church edifices of the New Sweden- borgian Church aud Epworth M. E. Church The butiding of Grace P. E. Church, Silver Spring, was destroyed by fire and the corner stone of a new edi- were dedicated. fice has been laid. Rev. Dr. Henry Y. Satterlee Laying been lected bishap of the new diocese of irgton and having been consecrated in New York city, entered upon the discharge of He chose St. Mark's Pauren as ev. Devrics was instituted as rector of that church. Cardinal Satolli, the papal delegate to the Catholic Church in this country, his duties. the pro-cathetral church, and was recalled by the pope and Mer. nelli was sent in his place. theran Church, Rev. George S. Du: pastor of the Eckington Church and Rev. John C. Bowers as ev. William Tayloe Snyder became rector of the Church of the Incarnation, Rev. Paul A. Menzel was installed as pastor of Concordia Lu- Presby for nation exist- for a The Wash- Dr. Marti- ja as ian pastor of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Calls were extended by the congregation of All Unitarian Church to R copal Church to Rev. Rev. Mr. W! Souls’ E. Bradford Leavitt and by the vestry of Trinity Richard P. Willi liams has accepted and will Spis- ms. enter upon his duties as rector in Febru- ary. THE CITY'S HEALTH. The health of the city during the calen- dar year 1896 has been favorable, as com- pared with the several preceding years. There were 5,834 deaths, estimating the few last days of December. This represents an annual death rate of 20.7 for the total pop- ulation, while the average rate for the Dis- trict of Columbia is The first pértion of the year embracing the last winter and early spring months passed with no marked outbreak of disease. Typhoid fever, which had expanded into dimensions approaching epidemic in the preceding fall months, suddenly declined to almost zero. During this time there were but several fatal cases, and this con- dition continued until months. the last autumn There was then a return of this malady, which caused about eighty deaths, again declining as before. The grip agai paid its yearly visit, this time appearing ir of April and May, com- ing suddenly and as suddenly departing, the spring months causing fifty-three fatal cases. The diseases of children under five years of age, embracirg the summer maladies of cholera infanium. diarrhoea and colitis and kindred affections, were less in virulence than for a number of years. The hile in deaths in this class were but 291, w! the previous year they numbered 468. During the last fiscal year under five years of age died o mortality of all ages of 5,904. 1 of were under one year old, mostly under six months of age. about one-third of all ‘triet of Columbia are young children The figures show that vho dicd in the Dis- entero these, under five years of age, and one-fourtn are in- fants under a year old. Many of these die of marasmus (or decay) and inanition and congenital debility. this class is attracting the immedia The large mortality of te and careful attention of scientists, in order, if possible, to ascertain if combined, and to afford a remedy. e cause thereof is en account of insanitary surroundings or from the use of improper food, or both During the same time. there were deaths from consump? of which were white persons and 370 colored. Tne death rate fer the whites from this malady was 1 end of the olored 4.21, and for the whole population 2.6, counting the in- habitants of the District of Columbia at 187,600 whi Thes2 8, 87,900 color Statistics sho that this dread disease. about 12 per cent of all who die are carried away by ~ in Diphtheria prevailed to some extent dur- ing the year, but In a comparatively mild form. According to the iast reports there were 326 cases thereof, of whom 76 died. This shows a mortality of a fraction over 23 per cent. The average rate of mortality heretofore, both in this city and elsewhere throughout the cor try, has been about 23 per cent of all cases. It is claime: by those in practical exploiting of anti-toxin that this reduction in the death rate is due to the use of this remedy, and that in time, when all prejudice is overcome, its scien- tific application in this disease will ulti- mately stamp it out in dangerous form. ‘There were 198 deaths from violence dur- ing the year, of which forty were from suicide. Five of the suicides occurred in November. The principal methods by which people take their own lives are pis- tol shot, narcotic poison and corrosive poi- sons. One cccurred by jumping from third-story wirdew. one two exceptions. a All were white, with During the year the health department gave much attention to relief of the poor people who were sick. Nearly 16,000 pa- tents were treated and 2,500 office consul- tations given, with an expenditure of ¥3,000 for medicine furnished free to this class. nearly Over 5,000 chitdren were reported as hav- ing deen born and 2300 marriages were officially recorded. The vear closed with a very low death rate, thus indicating a favorable state of health at the beginning of the new year. Cases of diphtheria and typhoid fever were tending to the minimum. No new diseases indicate a tendency to spread, and an al- most total absence of other contagious dis- eases or malarial troubles give cause for congratulation. Cercner Hammett has investigated more than 600 deaths curing the year. number includes suicides, homicides. This all ac- cidental deaths and every death which oc- curred from violence and all sudden deaths where there was no physician in attend- ance. There was one legal hanging in ad- dition to several suicides in which ing was the means employed to hang- cause death. Then there were suicides commit- ted by taking poison as well as the use of the pistol. In all there were thirty- nine cases of seif-destruction, while the number of homicides was average of more than one a month. fourteen, an Sixty- eight of ninety-five still-births reported rep- resented the daily finds of dead infants on ash piles, ‘n sewers or on doorsteps. The other twentgdseven were known. There were eighty-one accidental deaths, and in this nuraber we: road accidents. sunstroke, 7; heart disease, 63; 14; consumption, 10; ity, 13; drowning, 17; 3; epilepsy, 1; meningitis, of brain, 4. THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, inciuded victims of rail- Other causes of death given were: Measles, 1; Bright's disease, congestion of lungs, 7; cholera morbus, pneumonia, 23; poisoned, ‘accidental, 4, and congestion ism, sentl- The year just clored was one of material progress as regards the public schools of the District cf Columbia. The total num- ber of pupils attending the day schools was 42,464, and the whole number attend- ing the night schools, 3,109. The preceding year the number of day pupils was 41,557 and the night pupils, 2.583. The free text books had, perhaps, something to do with the increased attendance, and this feature was regarded as a success. The total cost of maintaining all the pubite schools of the District, with all the supplies fur- snishe¢ for the year, not including the cost $883,970. of erecting new was making the average cost to eaeh pupil, in- 920.98. chiding text books, was as follows: White Normat en School, 60; Colored Normal School, 30; total, 90. White 225; colored 2, colored and primary schools, 14,470; total, ‘The total increase for the The total grammar 89,474. year was 907. THE EVENING STAR, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 1897-12 PAGES. ing. new buildings or additions: White schools of the city—Greenleaf, 41-2 street between M and N streets southwest; coun- ty, at Woodburn and at Congress Heights; four-room additions to the Tenleytown, Brightwood and Brooktand schools. Col- cored schools of the city—Dougias, 1st and Pierce streets; Payne, 16th and C streets southeast; county, two-reom addition to the school at Garfield, D. C. The authori- ties ad4ed to the former plan of ventila- tion of school bulldings, which was the exhaust system, the placing of fans in the cold air chambers. These fans ave operated by gas engines and constitute a new step in the ventilation of schools in the District. Al school houses erected during the year were provided with this improved method and such will probably be followed in the future. During the year manual training continued to be a decidedly im- portant feature of the schools. The course was thoroughly systematized and formed @ part of the work of every grade. It in- cluded varied work with paper, clay and tool work in wood and tron, drawing, paint- ing in water colors, sewing, cooking and laboratory processes in the learning of all subjects in which they can be profita- bly used. It might, therefore, be said that ali the pupils attending the day schools received specific and valuable training in the use of the hand and eye in correlation with the mind. All school houses erected were built with provisions for manual training. The High Schools were pro- vided for in five buildings. Four of these were set apart for white pupils and one for colored pupiis. One of the white High Schools, attended by 500 pupils, was de- voted to business training. ‘The reference libraries of the schools contained 40,000 volumes, including a pedagogical library of 7,000 volumes. The resignation of Prof. F. L. Cardozo, as principal of the Colored High School, was tendered and accepted, and Mr. W. 8. Montgomery was appointed in his place. The deaths of the follow- ing teachers, each of whom had served for many years, occurred: Miss 8. 8. Smith, Miss J. P. McCauley, Mrs. M. I. Sampson, Miss M. M. Hines, Mrs. F. V. Baldwin and Mr. E. Baldwin. The Teachers’ Annuity and Aid Association commenced active op- erations by retiring three of its mem- bers and paying four death benefits. The numerical arrangement of the school di- visions was changed. The direction of the affairs of the regiment of High School Cadets and the appointment of officers was placed under the control of the board of school trustees. A recommendation was made by the president of the board of trustees to the Commissioners that a fre- quent inspecticn of buildings and schools by medical experts, officially, appofhted, should be made. The recommendation set forth that the experts should not only ex- amine carefully the pupils as to their ca- pacity for seeing and hearing, and make the necessary suggestions to correct any defects, but they should see that the chil- dren had suitabie seats and desks, a sup- ply of light in the proper manner, rooms for study and retiring rooms, cloak rooms and play grounds, and above all, they should be within call of the teacher on the first symptoms of contagious disease, so that the sick pupil might be protected and cared for, and the well ones guarded from contact with him. THE SOCIAL RECORD. Among the weddings of the year those of Miss Stevenson, daughter of Vice Presi- dent Stevenson,and Rev. Martin D. Harbin, Miss Julia Scott and Lieutenant Bromwell, Miss Helen Steele and Mr. Gwynne, Miss Mary Quay and Mr. Louls R. Davidson, Miss Robinson and Lieutenant Bradford, Miss Money and Mr. Beverly Reed, Miss Catherine Fuller and Mr.Theodore Beecher, Miss Mildred Hutcheson and Mr. Edward Mugge, jr., Miss Julie Edie and Mr. John O'Donnell, Miss Josepha Newcomb and Mr. Edward Baldwin Whitney, Miss Grace Snyder and Mr. Louis’Sternberger, Miss Co- rinna Harrison and Lieut. Philip Williams, Miss Margaret Skerrett and Mr. David Milne, Miss Mary Isabelle Stewart and Mr. Francis Lithgow Payson were prominent social events of international interest. Those of Miss Carrie Story and Count de Buisseret of the Belgian legation‘and Miss Louise Bonaparte and Count de Moltke- Huitfeldt of Denmark were the most nota- ble. Among the more striking of the social events were the receptions at the Catholic University given in honor of Cardinal Sa- tolli, Secretary and Mrs. Lamont to Justice and Mrs. Peckham, the German ambassa- dor an@ Baroness Thielman in honor of the German emperor's birthday, the ladies of Fort Myer in honor of Mrs. Lamont, the Vice Presideat and Mrs. Stevenson in honor of the debut of their daughter, Miss Letitia Stevenson,and their riece, Miss Julia Scott; Mrs. Johri R. McLean's luncheon in honor of Mrs. U. S. Grant's seventieth birthday, the French ambassador and Mrs. Pateno- {re’s reception, the charity ball, the series of receptions in henor of Mrs. McKee while guest of Mrs. R. M. G. Brown, Mrs. Daniel Manning’s luncheon in honor of Mra. Cleveland, the National Geographic Society reception, Senator Morrilll’s eighty- sixth birthday reception, a Russian fete at Beauvoir in honor of the coronation, given by Minister Kotzebue; a musicale given by Mrs. Hearst, and the handsome balls given by Mrs. Leiter, Mrs. Boardman, Mrs. John Hay, Mrs. Ward, Mrs. Brice and Mrs. Wallach. The introduction in society of thirty-two debutantes made December the banner month of the year, so far as the number of entertairments was concerned. AMONG THE WORKINGMEN. After three years of depression the con- dition of the building trades is somewhat improved, though quite a large per cent have been partially idle during the year. Since 1893 the average earnings of the mechanics engaged in the building trades have fallen off at least 50 per cent, though in most of the trades the maximum rate Jf wages which prevailed prior to this period has been maintained. ‘These three years. have, in the opinion of the labor leaders, demonsirated the ad- vantages and stability of trade organiza- tions. The Central Labor Union, a central body of the American Federation of Labor, was permanently organized last March, with a charter representation of fourteen unions. Since then it has increased io twenty-three, including, it is claimed, the largest organ- izations and 75 per cent of the organized labor of the city. Since last March five unions have been organized under national charters. During the year the boycott placed on the Metropolitan Railway Company in 1895 by the local Federation of Labor and District Assembly, Knights of Labor, was lifted by Cclumbia Typographical Union so far as its members were concerned, and the boycott fell into disuse among the members of or- gtnized labor generally except those im- mediately connected with the District As- sembly. ‘One of the events of the year was the fact that differences arose between District As- sembly, Knights of Labor, No. 66, and the general executive council of the order,which resulted in the withdrawal of the entire bedy of iocal assemblies from the national organization. FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY. ‘The efforts cf the citizens to secure the establishment of a free public library were crowned with success. June 3 the Presi- dent signed an act which created the li- brary as a supplement to the public scaool system cf the District, and directing its maintenance as the property of the Dis- trict. Provision was made for its manege- ment by a board of nine trustees, and for its temporary location in a convenient place, to be designated by the Commis- sioners until a municipal building may be erected, when the library shall be housed in that structure. Pursuant to these pro- visions, June 20 the Commissioners ap- pointed as the trustees of library Messrs. Gardiner G. Hubbard, R. Ross Perry, 8. W. Woodward, John B. Larner, T. W. Noyes, A. T. Britton, B. H. Warner, J. T. DuBois and Dr. J. M. Toner.* Mr. A. T. mem! peared before the Sppropria' committee in behalf of the requisition. INAUGURATION CEREMONIES. irhe preparations for the ceremonies at- } gasoline at No. 501 vitation to serve in fas capacity, and Mr. Ctarles J. Bell, president of the American Security’ and Trust Company, was chosen. He entered upon his,;jmportant duties with un energy and dirétneds of purpose that inspired general sdmiratige and approval, and gathered: arou! as members of the executive committee a number of gen- tiement o& prominence and valuable expe- rience in such affaigs. en the question of selecting & place iri Which to hold the inaugural bali was sigered there were many suggestions presented, and proposi- tions were made to sgyure, the new Congres- sional Library and the new city post office tuildings for the purpose, as well as the pension office. The admirable qualifications ef the latter structure, however, were too Fredominant for the. exeputive committee to consider either of the others, and it was accordingly chosen fér tHe great occasion. A guarantee fund of:over $50,000 has been subscribed toward meeting the expenses of the inauguration, and from present ap- pearances the ceremonies next March will be more notable In point of beauty and m ce than any which have. been held on a similar occasion. DISTRICT POLITICS, Tv 2. was great activity among local Po.icians of all parties in. the early months of the year, owing to the approach of the national conventions, to which dele- gates from the District of Columbia were to be chosen. Many candidates appeared for the pfivilege of representing local ré- publicans at the St. Louis convention, and # bitter and exciting campaign was waged. A primary election was held, which re- sulted in the choice of Andrew Gleeson and Perry H. Carson as delegates. Mr. Carson had been a member of the national republl- can committee, but failed to be re-elected after the convention, Mr. Myron M. Parker being selected in his stead. The democrats waged no tess an_ani- T™ated. campaign, and elections were held at which delegates were chosen to a con- vention that met in the Academy of Music. Six delegates -were>chosen to: the Chicago, convention. They were William Holmead, John Boyle, George Killeen, E. L: Jordan, Frank P. Morgan and R. 8, Mattingiy. These delegates att=nded the Chicago con- vention, and the result was a change in the membership of the democratic national! committee from the District of Columbia, Mr. Lawrence Gariner being chosen to this position in place of Mr. James L. Nor- ris. During the last days of the year there has been n:uch speculation over the disposition of the federal patronage in the District un- der the incoming administration, and many ttames are being mentioned in connection with the various offices. THR FIRE RECORD. The year’s fire record was a sad one, in- volving, as it did, the lass of so many lives, and a number of them were sacrificed by brave firemen in their efforts to do more than their duty in saving property from de- struction. In other cases the careless han- dling of coal oil or gasoline ended life, while in still others the tire started in the dead hour of the night, and the victims were helpless because of being envelopéd by the flames and perished before they could be rescued. During the year the fire department was increased by the additioa of new companies, which necessitated the employment of an additional number of men. At some cf the larger fires, as wil as at the smaller ones, the firemen re ceived valuable tance from ihe poiice, as well as from citizens. The keyless fire- alarms on street coruers,.in business parts of the city, have caused the firemen and policemen’ some as inpubte during the ce year. When they w: ,Hrst put up sev- erai runs were madg ‘td them because some curious person or ‘ihiscHief maker had turned the crank, Wut luw tie people are more used to them and it seidom happens that one of them js’ pulled except by an intoxicated man. Besides being educated up to them the arrest ani finiug of several offenders had its effect, go that now very little trouble is bging', caused. Another thing that has nappénedwhich was bene. ficial to the department, was the large number of local alarmg. sent in. These alarms are also known as silent alarms, frem the fact that a company goes out on a telephone hotice Without the turning in ef a@ regular alarm,, which is necessarily accompanied by tigcringing of the bells, which call out several companies and a correspondingly large growd. In..case, of smail fires the sending {n of-a local alarm not only saves the fire horses an unneces- sary run, but it also has the effect of keep- ing riore ‘cempanies in their houses in event ¢f an°alarm being turned in from some other place shortly after the first call This:as a matter of coursé means that the city is better protected. During the next twelve months the officials hope to get from Congress an appropriation suf- ficient to equip one or more new* compa- nies in sections not now so well protected as others. During the twelve months just ended the property loss by fire was about $425,000. There were many fires which resulted from gasoline or coa! oil explosions. Especially during the summer season, the gasoline fires gave trouble not only to the depart- ment, but to the persons who met with ac- cidents In using them. But in almost every instance the firemen found that careless- ness in handling the Mquid fluid had caused the fires. The first fatal fire of the year was caused Dy the tilling of a gasoline stove while lighted. This was on the 28th of Jane uary, when Frody Fletcher was burned to Geath. It was at 4% 9th street northwest that this fatality occurred, and the alarm sent in for it was from box 129. February 11 there was a big fire along the river front, which started in the big ware- heuse of E. M. Willis. There was a heavy gale blowing at the time, and it seemed for a while as if one section of South Washing- ton would go up in smoke. As it was, there were two fires started from the flying coals, and considerable damage was done. A loss of $14,000 was sustained by the own- ers of the property along the river front. Eighteen days later there was some un- easiness experienced by District officiais when it was known that there was a fire at the alms house. Box 527 was sounded for this fire, and when it became known that the building mentioned was burning, some fear was entertained for the old and feeble ones there, but as it turned out, only gne of the heating pipes had caused a little smoke. The big fire on Louisiana avenue and B street occurred May 18. This was by far the most serious fire of the year, resulting in a larger preperty damage and attended by the loss of more human lives: than any other conflagration. The fire started early in the evening, soon after dark, and the grease-soaked commission houses were so soon enveloped that the firemen found great difficulty in checking the flames, and not until far into the night were the flames checked to the extent that some of the fire- men covld be reifeved. But during the se- yerest of the fire, when members of one ccmpany had been imprisoned in one of the buildings, and the members of another company went to their rescue, there came @ crashing of walis and timbers, and five lives, the lives of brave firemen, were end- ed. As many more were bruiged and in- jured. The property ioss amounted to $142,- 0%, Two days after this serious fire A. -H. Luerssen was badly burned by the explo- sion of alcohol at 148 necticut avenue. On the morning of-Juiy 16 there fatal fire in a} found ayo Ttal josep! Mantegasi, in the yaru. x Fi had tea one gasoline near th lean = and on stove for cli ing pe was burn ym foo clothes were a mass of ee Hoaiate was at home at thastimé, and ie forts to save her brother's life she was severely burned. re before. this Kate Hessler was rned while using h eet rt] ‘In September thene wete two tater ats ‘wege two fatal and-both of them were Matty poe first of the two fires 93 the 28th of the month,” near id, ‘when Carrie Dodson's three chi Maifour years, two years, and seven we ‘burned to death. This papwenel. sending of one company to, the ‘of the fire. But the damage had been done before ibe arrival of the. firemen. . house alone, and when she fell across the stove she was too feeble to move her body. In this condition she was found by her greatgrandson, and several hours later she died in Freedman’s Hospital. The last of the big fires was the destruc- tion of Lansburgh's Rink, comprising a stock of furniture. This fire occurred eurly in the evening, December 28 It is sup- posed that electric light wires started the oe which resulted in the total loss of the joining property. Mated at about $160,000. Two firemen were painfully burned. : : AMUSEMENTS. Two new places of amusement were added to Washington last year, the first being the Ice Palace, the largest Indoor ice skating rink in the world, and the sec- ond being the new Columbia Theater, which was opened to the public November ®. The Grand Opera House changed man- agement at the beginning of the season, passing from the hands of Mr. E. H. Alien to those of Messrs. Kernan and Rife. Messrs. Nixon and Zimmermann have in- cluded both the Lafayette Square Opera House and the Columbia Theater in the list of theaters included in their circuit, and the bookings for these two houses are done by them. RE-RETROCESSION. The latter part of the past year witnessed the beginning of an effort to have the lim- its of the District of Columbia restored to their original bounds. On December 17 Mr. McMillan, chairman of the committee on the District of Cotumbia, introduced in the Senate a resolution calling upon the Attor- ney General to state whettier the constitu- tionality of the act of Congress receding to the state of Virginia that portion of the District formerly ceded to the United Staies by that state had ever been judicially de- termined and what legislative action was deemed recessary to be taken by the United States in order to again secure possession of the territory on the southern bank of the Potomac. The plan for the recession of the Virginia portion of the District has been approved among others by Senators Mc- Millan, Sherman and Harris, all having served as chairman of the Senate commit- tee on the District of Columbia, although it has received rather a cold reception on the part of Virginians. THE BUILDING RECORD. In the building trades of the District of Columbia the .last fiscal year showed a large increas of business over the previous year. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 1896, there were 1,237 bulldings erected in the District, an increase of 10% buildings over the previous twelve months. The value of buildings erected In the fiscal year of 1896 was $4,793,991.99, an increase of $195,905.28 over the year previous. MISCELLANEOUS. Washington suffered severely from a tropical hurricane, which swept through the city the night of September 20. Houses were unroofed, a large number of trees were blown down, and, owing to the yio- lence of the wind, which was felt in the most substantial buildings, a great deal of alarm was felt during the continuance of the storm, which was some two hours in duration. One of the walls of an unfinish- ed building on the avenue near 12th street was blown out, wrecking two building ad- joining. One man was taken from the ruined buildings dead and another one subsequently died. An explosion from gasoline in the cellar of the hardware store of M. C. Mitdhell, 3108 M street, resulted in the wrecking of the building as well as injuries to the ad- joining buildings and in the death of Fred- erick Lenz. The organization of Riggs Bank, which has conducted business for many years as a private bank, was changed to that of a national bank. The farmers evicted from their stands on B street were active in their efforts to se- cure legislation which would result in the establishment of a farmers’ market or else restore their former privileges at the Cen- ter Market. Experiments by Mr. S. P. Langley with his new invention, the aerodrome, on the testing grounds on the Potomac, a few miles from the city, resulted in what was regarded as a stccessful test, the machine maintaining a flight through the air un- tl the steam was exhausted, and then alighting without injury. During the year citizens’ associations were organized at Eckington and at Twin- ing City, and the one at Anacostia was reorganized. The bronze equestrian statue of Gen. Hancock, erected at the northwest corner of Pennsylvania avenue and ith street, Was unveiled with appropriate ceremonies. A design for the proposed ‘statue in mem. ory of Gen. Sherman was adopted by the commission having the matter in charge and a site on the south front of the Treas- ury Department was selected. The publication of the Washington News, an afternoon daily, was suspended. The ownership of the Morning and Even! ‘Times passed from the control of C. Conn to that of Stilson Hutchins. Having roofed in the walls that remained standing of the Y. M. C. A. building that was destroyed by fire, the association left its rented quarters and went back to its old building, with the expectation of oc- cupying those quarters until a new building is erected. W. N. Multer assumed charge sociation as general secreta7y, with H. C. Metcalf as assistant secretary. —_———_ HERRMANN’S TRICK EXPLAINED. How He Caught Ballets Hot From Rifles Held by Good Marksmen. From the New York Herald. Now that Herrmann the Great is gone, there can be no harm in explaining how his wonderful trick of catching the bullets shot at him by six National Guardsmen was done. It will be remembered that Herr- mann performed this striking feat twice for the benefit of the Herald free ice fund— once on August 1, 1894, and again last May. On both occasions the famous prestidigi- tateur stood alone upon the stage, while six picked marksmen from the state Na- tional Guard fired point blank upon him from a platform built in the audience. On both occasions Herrmann, pale of face and painfully alert, caught the bullets, pre- viously marked by a committee of noted army men, and handed them back hot from the barrels for identification. Of course it was a trick, but it was a dangerous trick, and one that Herrmann disliked to do. But even he was less ner- vous than the marksman, who, acting in perfect good faith, feared that they might Kill the plucky magician. Many have been the alleged explanations of this trick published in various newspa- pers. They have all been wrong. Herr- mann himself told the Herald how it was done, and here it is. Of course there was an accomplice, and this accomplice wus not one of the marks- men, but the sergeant in charge of them. ‘This sergeant took the six regulation army bullet cartridges on a silyer platter to the committee. ‘ ‘The committee examined them, made sure they were genuine, marked them plain- ly and replaced them on the platter. The sergeant instantly. raised the platter in plain sight at arm’s length above the head, walked over to the marksmen, and they themselves each took a examined it and placed it in the rifle. Then came the shoot ing. ; The trick lay in the platter, which had a this bottom six false bottom. Under 3 ridges jumped into the platter, while the genuine cartridges disappeared beneath the false bottom. 2 . Bo it was the composition ‘the bar- his atantly melted by friction through rels and dissipated in the air. ‘Meantime, however, the Getacopy -— Of the : Evening Star’s ~ ALMANAC AND HANDBOOK. This little volume is of inestimable value to every wide-awake person in Washington. From cover to cover it contains a plethora of information touch- ing upon every question of the day. It is of especial value to every Washing- tonian because of the completeness of its information about the local government, the duties of the District officials, the sources of revenue, and statistics regard- ing the District’s educational, financial, commercial, charitable and religious in- Stitutions, and all other information thatevery Washingtonian should know. When in search of information of any sort you can turn to THE EVENING STAR ALMANAC and find out just what you want to know. Get yours at once! Twenty-five. cents a copy. For sale at all newsstands and at the counting room of The Even- ing Star. See His Memorable Visit to the United States Over Thirty-Five fears Ago. Stephen Fiske, Prince of Wales was in America,” writes in the January Ladies’ Home Journal that on September 17, 1860, he United States for the first time, riding to the American side for a farewell view of Niagara. Then, after the usual ceremonies at Hamilton, the prince*crossed to Detroit, on September 20, and became the guest of the people of this republic. The Duke of Newcastle had insisted that the prince, as Baron Renfrew, should be received by the le, not officially by the government, teat this arrangement was carried out dur- his tour. headed by the governor of Michigan, had rushed to welcome him at Detroit. e crowds were so dense that the royal party could not get to their hotel through the main streets. There was a similar crowd at Chicago, which was reached two days later; St. Louis, where the prince had a splendid reception on the fair grounds and opened the Western Academy of Arts, and nati, nied awaited him, and he danced all night at another ball, made the prince glad to get to the comparative quiet of Wash- ington, where he was introduced by Lord Lyons to President Buchanan and Miss Harriet Lane, and was elegantly, but pri- vately, entertained at the White House. Subsequently he visited Richmond,Philadel- phia, New York, Boston and some other eastern cities, in nearly all of which he Was sumptuously entertained, and was the guest of honor at receptions, balls, dinners, etc. On October 20 the prince re-embarked from Portland, Me., for England. Owing to a severe storm his ship, “Hero,” had been driven out of her course, was several days overdue, and her officers and crew were reduced to scant salt fare. England was greatly alarmed for the safety of the young prince, and rejoiced when the “He- ro” finally landed him safe on his native shore. AE ; \ is that the house- ‘The above question is one = keeper should often ask herself in the management of her servants. strange state of affairs that the presence of servants is often as great a tax as it is a relief. necessity, e mine to manage her with as little wear and tear to the nerves and temper of both parties as is consistent with the proper conduct of the household. She will calmly and ‘quietly insist that each maid does ner work promptly and properly, but she will ever descend to the exchange words with a person less refined than her- PRINCE OF | SB aretteteteteteecenteteeteeitetnceotetebetanetetcedteteateatetede ay tN RAN AAA AAALAC lta WALES IN AMERICA. “Same as Mother Used (o Ma From the Chicago Chrouicie. Here is a little story which may serve a hint to young wives who have not yet learned just how to reach the right spot in thelr husband’s hearts with eatables. A in recalling “When the young woman was calling on a friend who in “entered the | had recently been married, course of a chat asked getting on in the culina The bride of a few weeks laughed as she began her reply: “This afternoon everything looks bright, as bright as can be, but I can tell you that I've never been bluer in my life than I was just before luncheon hour. Like every young housekeeper, I've been pursued just @ little by the ghost of the way his mother did things. Tom is just the dearest fellow in the world, but he couldn't help referring now and then to a certain delicious gravy which his mother used to make at home. “For three long weeks I've been strug- gling with that wretched gravy. Bridget has struggled with it, too, and has given it up. Every morning the dear boy would taste the new mixture. Then his face would fall, and he would say: “My dear, it’s ewfully nice, and it's awfully good of you to bother; but it isn’t right, somehow. It isn’t the way mother made it.’ Then my heart would sink. “This morning I resolved to try it for the last time. I was low-spirited and miser- able. I burned my finger at the stove and got more tired and hot and cross every minute. So 1 just threw the things t gether for that gravy. I slammed it on the stove, and didn’t watch it or anything. And, would you believe it? The very mo- ment that Tom tasted it he cried out: ‘Why, my dearest, it's the identical stuff! — is just the way mother used to make and the It seemed as if all the people, ‘The where another tremendous From the Atlanta (Ga.) Constitution. There is a tradition in Georgia that the tin-horn business originated in Savannah. There was once a mayor of Savannah—it may have been Dr. Arnold, who, though a very brilliant man, was hard-headed when he wanted to be—who concluded to prohibit fireworks in the public squares of that city. So he printed his proclamation to that effect in the newspapers. Col. Wm. T. Thompson, who wrote “Mayor Jones’ Courtship,” was editing The News, and he wrote a little paragraph stating that the boys, instead of being angry with the good mayor, should be thankful, and suggesting that each and every lad should buy a tin horn and -go around and serenade the mayor. —_++—___ A Question of Propriety. It ba But since the domestic is @ the wise mistress will deter- The idea took like wildfire, Ey: y boy in town bought a tin horn and mas a around in the square on which the mayor's house fronted, with the result that the boys had more fun than ever, while the mayor had more Christmas te the square inch than anybody in town, except his bors. af » 80 the story goes, of the town to of angry The mistress with her gentle breed- their victory by forming a procession and marching thro: the streets blow! ther hora. = 4 ag! —__+2--—___ Abbreviations. ‘From the Milwaukee (Wis.) Sentinel, i Fhe F i # & F