Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, February 24, 1895, Page 13

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1805 o BER: ~ THOMAS A, FRY, Pr JOHN C. DREXEL, Vies Pres. ROB’'T ROSENZWEIG, =— | ow Prices on Low Shoes — We've been making some mighty low prices during the past week, but We're going to do even better this week. Tomorrow is Tomorrow is Oxford Day Oxford Day Every solitary pair of Oxfords in the house will be on sale this week, as long as they last, at greater reductions in price than you ever bought « low shoe for in all your life. OXFO $1.48 We make prices that are for the very best goods in the world. stuff—but on our first class, gue our prices. Not for cheap anteed quality goods, Read Ladies' House 8lippers, Slippers, ‘With one strap, Always sold for $1.50, From 31.26 down to,.. - 50c. All the best makes of ladies' and misses' Spring feel shoes are on sale at the reduced prices. Ladies' hand- In an endless variety, turned ox- foras, square toes, Gur $2.00 Oxfords, only Ladies Slippers, ‘With one strap; Always sold for §2.00.. An extra bargain in a Ladies’ Satin Slippers White, l Al Blue, ‘ Cloth te Ladies' Southern T, Plnk, Reduced Prices, p and pointed to Black, Children’s black Oxfords, Ladies' Juliets— Splendid kid, hand-m; Narrow, square All that are left go for $1.48. Always so0ld for §1.00. Ladies' Ooze strap Red Oxfords, $2.50. nd opera too e Some tan Oxfords, Ladies' eloth top il ; Patent Teather Oxfords, Sizes 214 (0 4, Widths A Lo D; our’nicest $1 shoe $1.48. that we used to sell for $1.75, Tomorrow at 98c. That used to sell for $1.60, closed out Will be closed out at areat reduction is for cash, We can't pay Express Charges on Mail We can't give Ovders and sell goods Credit o any- At these prices, Loy at these prices. ST i Ladies' Bronze Slippers— one stray the ular $1 quali half price tomorrow Youths' shoes— Boys Shoes— With quilted bottoms; 16 Calt 8h s and lace, With quilted bottoms; Kol Perfectly made and sizes 11 {0 2 Nothing better made; £250 was the price, now... Our regular $2.00 shoe... Our regular $2.5) shoe... - LADIES' SHORS, 78C Children’s Shoes— shoes, and ev lady who has worn them T. Cous- atent Leather Shoe s best maks nd cloth tap, till now... Hann congre All the Misses Cloth Top and Plain Kid Button Shoes—we always got $2.00 and $2.50— 48¢ 98¢ 73c Drexel Shoe Co., 1419 Farnam Street. MUNICIPAL REFOR} Bemarkable Ohanges Effccted in Englizh Cities in the Past Generaticn, POLITICAL CORRUPTICN STAMPED OUT knows that she has always paid us that much for them. They are in sizes 2, 21 Y and 4, and in widths A to B ChOICE LOMOTTOW l.uuvvvvviseraaans A ladies’ kid button, soles, made on with’ low, flat heels, broad, a shoe that retails regularly sizes, all widths; cut clearing price Boys’ Shoes — We have hundreds of pairs of the pret- with b the common nd turned Some of our best makez—]. 8 i Ben's Heavy tin Shoss tiest baby shoes in the world—shoes that made for winter wear, wide extension Baltimore edge sole; we never got less than $6.00 before.......... ins, Pat Cox and other noted makers have we've been selling and you thought cheap T R S New York City, nuine de; always has been £, narrow toe, in & g Qe shoes in the lot to be slaugh- S at $1.25—shoes with a pat- i tered— regular prices $1.25, ent leather tip, cloth tops, or g p! 5 n one Men's Enameled Shoes— heavy and solid, the regular $4 quality, in one lot tomorrow at..... $1.50, $1.75 and §2,00; sizes A L h clearing pric ther trimme make, 'twas plain kid with patent tips, in large line at_. i 10}, in one lot at. .. one lot tomorrow at........ StotLos MR. LUDDEN'S “BUSINESS METHODS.”' paint American municipal government in the most dismal colors. Our failures in municipal government have become almost a craze. = Nearly every number of the journal men- B tioned above contains some gloomy presenta- tion of local corruption and viliainy. Some of these articles declar> we have nothing to learn from England. For such the present article will be of no value. Others declare that a large part of the degrading influence of our city politics comes from the relations of the large cities to the states in which they are localized. The states and the citles, horses might not skate over the damp stones. The railway tracks were liberally powdered in the same way, that the wheels of the royal train might not lose their grip, and the plat- form itself, treated in a similar manner, was then swept with conscientious care. Wooden barriers were erected at either end of a space oufficient to contain the engine and three railway carriages. Then appeared the titled directors of the S. B. R.—important, im- maculately dressed, and watching with anxi- ety every detail of the arrangements. Then of figure which is quite undeseryed. Bright and attractive in face, with plenty of soft light hair, a merry eye, and a good skin, she also has a tall, fine figure, and carries herself, not only with ease, but considerable dignity, The duchess, though she wore the samo simpie black stuffs as the others, with a knot of purple flowers in her little bon- net, gave the impression of being much bet- ter dressed. The duke of York I have not seen since he was a boy, and as he stepped onto the plat- form and stood by his royal father—who, if nor debts large. How does this compare with ting the town to which a carload or even American places of the same kind? trainload of goods is shipped to retain the whole amount for that county. Our nearest town is the most widely advertised city In Nebraska, perhaps in America, and there is probably not a village in the United States where her name is not known. As a result, this town recelves daily one or more carloads of goods, while we, with only a dry river and an imaginary line between, have received nothing. Though we need this help fully as as our ncighbors, they positively refuse to divide, They tell us it all belongs to their KEARNEY, Neb., Feb. 18.—To the Editor cf The Bee: I have been asked to give ex- pression to the very general feeling of discon- tent in this township over the methods fol- lowed by the relief commission. Many papers in tho cast are praising the ability and busi- ness management of Rev. Mr. Ludden, the secretary of the commission. They are con- gratulating him that contributions are being 1988V 30 sniding '3 oy uj sere o008 Juip 508 8,080,054 1434 the carpet, The Evils of Franchised Corporations Re- duced te the Minimum, LOW COST AND MUNICPAL PROFITS Statistios of the Tax Rate and Other Rovenues of Leading Citics, SKETCHES OF ROYALTY ON PARADE | Loyal Thousands Shiver In a Cold Blast nd Yell for Prince and Duke—How They Look and Act—An Inter- esting Family Group, LONDON, Feb. 16.—(Special Correspondence of The Bee)—The tendency of the times in the United States and Europe is to make cities more agreeable for the poor. This is being done in England, and I must say with a considerable degree of success. A dis- tinguished American editor contributed to the annals of the American Academy for May, 1894, a remarkable article on *‘Problems of Municipal Government,” in which, among other bright things, he sald: “What with parks, gardens, baths, wash-houses, cheap transportation, free music, reading rooms, libraries and clubs, hospitals, lectures, it seems as it the great aim of modern society was to flll the cities.,” And yet, as Mr. God- kin points out, both Europe and America are lamenting over the migration of poulation urbanward, To check this movement, in England, as 1 have shown in a previous letter, tho parish councils were formed, and during my stay here I have read many glowing accounts of what the old village will become under the benign influence of the parish councils. In fact, the boys, and girls, too who have gone forth to seek their fortunes in the rush and bustle of the modern town may return once more to the fascinations of the revolutionized village. However this may be, the work of making the lot of the dwellers in towns more easy goes on Vigor- ously, and I propose to briefly summarize in this letter some of the more striking of the recent changes in halt a dozen of the large provincial towns. All these towns are fa- miliar to me, and in the last Af years I have visited them repeatedly. The one great difficulty, which is undoubtedly dis- couraging in our own country--municipal cor- wuption—has of late years been pretty much eradicated in England. Nevertheless, within the recollection of some of the present genera- tion of Englishmen, many of the chartered towns and corporations of England were reek. ing with corruption—a class of corruption which never has been tolerated in tho United States at any period of its history—corruption ®0 debasing that the open sale of municipal offices was looked upon as & matter of course, and the arrangements for such transfers was a lucrative business. An impartial student of the British municipalities from the time of the first reform act to the present time would be able to note changes more sweep- ing than those which would place American municipalities on a footlug, 8o far as hon- ty of management is concerned, with Eng- b elth ABUSING AMERICAN LOCAL GOVERN- MENT. It has become a fad In some quarters to it is contended, have so few common interests that the contact of the two lowers their moral tone and leads to bargains, trades and cor- ruption. Some declare we are wallowing in hopeless misery and corruption; others that wa must work out our own salvation; and yet others think that, as the municipal spirit grows, corruption will give way to better government. And so it will. Democratic in- stitutions are capable of giving honest gov- ernment in national affairs; and as our citl- zens better understand what has been aptly termed *“the most solemn, the most difficult, but also the most imperative of all the po- litical duties which our age imposes,”” mu- nicipal government will improve in efficiency and honesty. WHAT ENGLAND HAS DONE. To this end let us take a rapid glance at what England has recently accomplished. I have before me the advance proofs of a work entitled “‘Municipalities at Work,” by Fred- erick Dolman, with an introduction by Sir John Hutton, L.C.C. This work will be published in March and available for those interested in these questions, Meantime it may be wise to encourage the municipal spirit at home by some of the useful facts herein brought together. English cities the size of St. Louls, Boston, Baltimore, Buffalo, Cleveland and San Francisco have municipal- ized their markets, gas, water, tramways, electric light and art galleries, and so doing —in addition to reducing the cost to the community—have secured a municipal fund without an increase in taxes. Birmingham in seventeen years made a profit on its gas of $3,670,000; the markots of Manchester hand over $75,000 annually to the city treasury; while the markets of Liverpool make a profit of $82,500; the surplus of nearly $35,000 on the trams of Liverpool goes toward the rellef of the pa i Glasgow in 1893 made a profit of §220,000 on water, $150 000 on gas and §15.000 on markets; while Bradford made a profit on its electric light of over $10,000. Here we have a little tabulated statement of the profits in 1893 on these municipal undertakings: Birmingham Manchester ... Liverpool ... Glasgow Dradford .. Loeds T TS| 93,658 o abo e Livi company. Nt loss atter payment of public lamps, and over 31 fund, etc. Since taking over the gas works in 71 the Hradford corporation has made an aggre- net profit of 3181816819, Net loss, after setting aside $51,000.83 for sinking fund. Under twen(y-four vears of muni Cipal Ownership a. surplus of $,047,402.19 has ae crued. In reference to this table it is to be re- membered that in all cases profits are reckoned only after provision has been made for payment of interest on loans and repay- ment of the principal. In technical education, libraries and art gallerles, these cities are doing good work, as the following table show flgures represent dollars, ool gas works are still owned by a nearly $34,065.60 f. 128,50 for sinking “uopwonpg I®IuYRa, uo sany -Ibusdxg fenuuy “SaIqYT U0 IR} -ipusdxd fenuuy sapreiqrT uj_ex00R 30 asquinN Hlrmingham Manchester Liverpool 62,018 67| | 3T g 604384 28308 43) 12| 16500 +4108,00) 50,00) ds 0 |18 * Approximately.| In the Mitchell lbrary, which is for refer. only. Tha taxes of these clties are not exce: en ive, * Average over the whole municipal area. * Divided between ow! and_occupi graduated according to amount of The tax in England is levied on the rent- ing value of the property, not the assessed or estimated value of the property, as with us. One more little table, which will, I am sure be useful for comparative purposes. It shows at one glance the population, density of popu- lation, death rate, acreage of parks, and ex- penditure on public baths: | | ounye 30 uopwIndod sqreg o eim 2| -jpusdxg [enuuy 95vatoV, “o6ST ey Wimaa How in course of evection; think these little tables comprise a glimpse into English municipal work only to b> obtained by a long and weary search of municlpal reports. They are fresh and up to date, the book containing these and many kindred facts now being in course of publi- cation, Mr. Dolman has performed a useful task in glving us full particulars about these cities, and one that will be appreciated, not only by students of municipal institutions, but by the public, because the facts touched on do not present a dry account of budgets, but a bright description of what is being done to make life more agreeable to the dwellers in cities, I have, of course, changed the Snglish pounds into dollars. WELCOMING HOME THE PRINCESS. I propose In this letter to give a slight glimpse into a subject which is always inter- esting—namely, how royalty is treated in these democrat'c days. The scene described, with some degree of detall perhaps, I wit: neased on Tuesday at Charing Cross station, and the Impressions are given precisely as they were recelved, without prejudice of any scrt. In the language of the Londoner, last Tuesday was “a bitter day,” but to an Amerl- can it was “‘a sl'ght cold snap.” But, all the same, hundreds upon hundrads of people crowded, blue and shivering, into the great station of Charing Cross to welcome home their beloved princess of Wales, and thou sands upon thousands of loyal subjects filled the Strand and Trafalgar equare to look and cheer as the royal cortege went by, The day in itsell was memorable, for the sun came out, and stayed out for three whole hours; and considering 1t only showed itselt for twenty-two hours during the preeeding month, there was plain cause for thankfulness, Th: white dove that bore Queen Eleanor's cross! fluttered in and out in merry commotion, eyeo turned upward as if at the discovery of a new planet, and an amateur photographer took several snap shots at the shy and dis- tinguished visitor, It was a quarter past 11 when we reached the station. The spec'al train was due at ten minutes past 12, and now the real preparations began. Trafiic of all kinds was stopped on this, one of the busiest lines In Great Britain, while the princess was in transit frem Dover to London, and the station, usually full of life and bustle, became as quict as a cemetery. The next move was to back ull the cab horses from the'r stand down an inclined elippery place into the tunnel. LAYING DOWN THE CARPET. A dozen porters, armed with big brooms, swept the place with more tenderness and care than & very good housemald gives to one's best Aubusson; then another relay of porters sprinkled coarse, yellow sand well over the roadway, that the feet of the royal which always forms the main material feature of these occasions, appeared in a gigantic roll, borne by six men. It was red, as it always is, shabby, as it always s, and in this case had an extra breadth that d'dn’t match—much to the nervous worry of the ladies present. The carpet was fitted to to the floor like a gant de Suede to a fair hand—it was smoothed, and twitched, and so stretched and coaxed into place, unt'l the smallest wrinkle was exercised, every func- tionary from the porter to the policeman and the titled directors lending their fingers and persuasive powers. GRISELDA OF A LATTER DAY COURT. Never before had the princess been away from England so long. Three months had passed since she went to Russia on her er- rand of love and sympathy. Three times had the announcement been publicy made that she was to start home on a given day, that Marlborough house was being made ready, and the prince and her daughters coming up from Sandringham (o meet her. Finally the royal equerries were dispatched to es- cort the princess home, but they had only the pleasure of dangling their heels, first in St. Petersburg, and agaln in_Copenhagen, where the princess stopped to visit her royal parents, The British public began to some one started the horrid this sudden independence and assertion on the part ot her royal highness was but the outcome of the revolt of woman, and that the new woman should ever be personified by the graclous princess who has so long been held up as the Griselda of a latter day colirt, took the British breath away. Whether that portion of it at Charing Cross expected to see their very womanly printess step from the train with the Russian eaglo under her arm and a liberty cap on her head I know not, but they evidently did look for gome. thing different from the usual. Meantime brisk rattle of wheels cnsued, and there dashed into the station three fine carriages drawn by superb chestnut horses, and con- spicuous also for the magnificent altitude of the coachers and footmen, clad in tan-colored livery, with white gloves and black cocades in their hats, THE PRINCE OF'WALES ARRIVES, As the door to.the first carriage opened every head in the stgtion was uncovered and inclined. The prince of Wales, who retains that lightness of foot ‘peculiar to some heavy men, stepped out, and recognized the public grecting with a smilg that had more warmth In it than the winter's sun. It is several years since 1 saw the heir to the British crown, and I was struck by the great im- provement in his appearance. He has ac- cepted his age—neyer an easy thing for a man in his position—cHanged Wis stple of dress- Ing accordingly, and s browner of skin and brighter in eye than for many years. For the benefit of young Anglophobiacs whose cos- tumes cost” them wake(ul nights, it may be added that the biaek overcoat the prince wore had mo court traln, 50 to speak, and in contradistinctiod o some of his suite had ne'ther fur trimmivgs nor linings, His gloves were of dark gray, his trousers of a still darkar gray, and his silk hat shone like a reflector. H. R. H. carried in %ls left hand an ebony cane with a silver mounted head, and looked In all a healthy, well dressed, prosperous gentleman, whose sense of humor might sometimes do battle with his dignit In the same carriage came the Princesses Victorla and Maude, slender, pale, wearing the kLeavy black serge gowns, short black jackets with Persian lamb collars, and sim- ple black hats that are a part of thelr mourning. They were joined by their sis- ter, the duchess of Fife, the plainest and shortest of the family. THE DUKE OF YORK ON THE SCENE. The last carriage brought the duke and duchess of York. The latter is very much better looking than her pletures. Photog- raphy robs her not only of color and ex- pression, but glves an apparent roundness tremble, for rumor that a few inches taller, would be prenounced a fine looking man—I was struck by the con- trast between the two. The duko is in- significant in stature and has a sipgularly small head. Side whiskers, full, short beard and thick hair of sandy brown eke the head out; but one could not help wonder- ing what would be left if a sharp razor made a clean circuit. A certain dapperness of dress and manner emphasize the duke's physical deficiencies, and ill accord with his position, and there is nothing in his face to attract or criticlze—it is too essentlally com- monplace. ~ Whatever criticisms might be made on the prince of Wales' looks, the fact remains that he is distinctly a personage. He is portly, broad-shouldered, and thick- necked, but he has a_good head, large and well propertioned, and courtliness of man- ner that would distinguish him anywhere, THE TWO FUTURE KINGS OF ENGLAND, As 1 looked at the next two kings of England and emperors of India I inyolun- tarily thought of another duke of York, who in times past waited for the throne. Charles IL was king then, and with his brother, afterwards James 1L, but, of course, at the time duke of York, was out hunting one day. In the excitement of the chase they lost sight and sound of the royal suite, and grew bewildered in the mazes of a forest. James, with a dolorous countenance, ex- pressed great anxiety lest some evilly-dis- posed persons should seize the opportunity to harm hiz majesty. “Never fear for me, brother,” replied the handsome monarch, with a smile. “No one will ever assas- sinate me to make you king!” This may scem a trifle severe in its ap- plication, but a glance at the fllustration of the royal Leads will show the temptation. Other dignitaries now rapidly arrived, and formed a sort of semicircle on the platform. No one approachied the prince excspt on his invitation, the wife of the Danish ambassa- dor belng the first. When within a foyw feet of H. R. H. Madame de Bitse stopped, made the curlous, short, stff dip currently known as the rity bob,"" really a steno- graphic curtesy, and then shook hangs, The few other ladies followed suit, and the gen- tlemen escaped with a profound obeisance. AN INTERESTING FAMILY GROUP, It fs not often that one sees so many of the royal family together, but of the group on the platform there were just three persons of apparent distinction—the prince of Wales, who, as I said, bears in public the same grand alr that distinguishes the queen and makes her four fect ten inches of majesty seem above the average height, and the duchess of York, who towered above everyone else and has the carriage of an aristocrat, The third person was a really superb footman, “almost finer than nature, and quite up to anything in art.”” His six feet four inches of man- hood, his severe, Roman profile, and still more severe manner, were delightful to be- hold. All through the preliminary ceremonies not a sound was heard, Everyone spoke in a4 minor chord. Not a laugh or a joke was heard from the vulgar herd behind the bar- riers, Things were depressing enough to have raised the spirits of a fashionable undertaker, when—presto, without a whistle, a creak, or a jar, there rolled into the station, in a sub- dued ‘and perfectly well brad way, the speclal train with 1its precious freight. The little engine stopped (o the ineh, and drew a long breath of relief; it was too polite to snort, as one of our wild and woolly locomotives from the west might have done. No ome stirred save Sir Bdward Russell, whose proud privilege it was to open the door of the princess's carriage, with bare head—of course, all hats were off. Then the prince of Wales moved forward, stepped into the carriage, and as his back was toward the audience, no one knew exactly whet happened, but it Is fair to assume a salutafion was exchanged, for he emerged smiling, distributed with care and wisdomi, and they point with satisfaction o his rules and regu- lations. How do you suppose it seems to us who are forced to accept these benefactions? Suppose for a few moments that you put your- self in our place, It isn’t a very pleasant place, and Mr. Ludden’s ‘“rules and regulations” have not rendered it any pleasanter. He re- quires that the needy shall receive aid only through the county in which they live. That sule means a drive of twenty-five miles to those in this township. Our horses gen- erally have had no grain; many of them only the buffalo grass which they find on the prairie. This renders it extremely difficult to make the trip there and back in one day, and the expense of staying over night wouli almost buy the provision they award us, for we are only allowed ten days' provision at a time. A drivo of forty-or fifty miles every ten days through this land of blizzards and cold waves is no joke, I assure you, and it places one in danger of actual suffering, as you cannot recefve more until you have ab- solutely nothing left, as they require an oath to that effect. Now, tell me, what is gained? What Is the reason for this “rel tape?” Why may we not go to our market town only eight miles distant, where we are known, and without swearing our self-respect away re- ceive freely what you wo freely have given? Are wo o dishonest we must be guarded at every corner? Are the housewives of braska £o incompetent that they caunot be trusted with a reasonable supply for their families? M. Ludden says ho has found by experi- ment that the provisions go further when doled out in ten-day lots. 1 don't doubt it, No wonder the ten-day plan saves provision, but at a wonderful sacrifice on the part of those who elready have enough to bear. To bo sure, “beggars can’t be choos but it seent? to me Mr. Ludden makes the bread of charity most uncommonly bitter, Mr." Ludden’s rules are based throughout on the supposition that we would all be giad to beg, and if we were not watched woull freely steal. Only two are alowed in a relief store at a time! Is it possible that we have fallen 0 Jow that it i Impossible for six or seven clerks to wateh more than two of us at a time, lest we “pocket” something? 1Is it possiblo Mr. Luden believes that? It Is no wonder that those who have been independ- ent, self-respecting and self-supporting all their lives resent such rules? It the rule requiring an afdavit of abso- lute destitution is adhered to I am afraid these gifts will not reach tany of those it was intended to help. I wish some who have contributed would write and define just what class they meant to help. Can you not let us know definitely? 1s it the city or county pauper who expeets to be kept every winter and counts it no shame? 1Is it the al- ways improvident, as Mr. Ludden supposes, or 15 It also thoze 'who would not quite starye without your help, but would go partly fed and half clad in order to save enough (o eta themselves on the read to self-support an- other year? It seems impossible that it could bo this first class—those who always expeet when eupilies get short, to apply for public aid. I cannot suppose that the woes of this class have called out this world-wide sym pathy, or that it was for their necessities such generous supplies have been forwarded If for them, why any more this year than an- other? For this class of poor we indeed “have always with us.” Yet a very considerable part of the contributions are-being used for these people, thereby lestening the tax on property holders ither can I believe that Mr. Ludden's interpretat'on is correct, for that would exclude the whole clasa of hard- working, painstaking farmers, for improvi- dent indecd must the farmer be who has not some steck, which he is straining every nerye to carry through until spring comes. Such farmers cannot take the oath that is re- quired. Yet we think it hard that we must sell for one-fourth their value what we hay worked so hard aud saved so closely 10 obtain, while your benefactions feed and clothe those who will neither work nor save Perhaps the worst rule Is the one permit- county. They are like pigs about a trough, Those wlo, by accident or strategem, have gained an advantageous position, fill thems selves to repletion, then calmly lie down upon what {5 left and rest, utterly indifterent to the cries of those less favored than them- selyes, Mr. Ludden's “business methods" maks possible this fraud. Very truly yours, . HATTA ALLEN DEHNER, Blair Township, Kearney County, —_— WORDS OF PRAISE, Oflicial Opinion of Omuhn's Western Union Telegraph Office, Under the heading, “A Model Telegraph Office;” the Telegraph Age, the leading jour- nal devoted to telegraphy, prints an illus- trated description of the Omaba office of the Western Union, together with a picture of Manager W. W. Umsted. The Age says: Assistant Superintendent W. J. Lloyd of Chicago recently remarked that the Omaha Western Union” office had a perfect service and was as prompt and efficient as any he had ever secn, and that it was hardly possible to be improved upon. Mr. Lloyd knows a perfect office when he sces one, or his long years of excellent and valuable service to the Western Union company count for nothing, ““The manager of this office is Mr. W, W, Umsted, a young man of sterling integrity and general worth, of broad ideas and mind— Just such a man needed to give a company. and the public a gilt-cdged telegraph servics, Colonel J. J. Dickey is the superintendent of this district, with headquarters at Omaha, and Charles B. Horton is assistant superine tendent; M. P. Doyle, cashier; J. P. Barn- hart, chief operator; W. J. Rusland, trafic chicf, W. Salisbury, wire chief; W, A, Me- Blroy, assistant trafic chief; J. H. Owen, night chief operator; B, H. Farrar, assistant night chief operator, and C. L. Pond, all- night cliief, “Omaha boasts of one of the best-appolnted and most handsome offices in the company's service, and New York and Chicago are ex- cepted ‘only as to #ize, but not in complete= s or attractivencss either in the operating or business department. The company have 200 employes in Omaha and South ha, the latter being the third greatest k yards and packing house center in the world “When national showe Omaha was a competitor for the republican convention in 1892 it that forty-:ix sendings could be had to Chicago, provided all wires were in work= ing order. ~ Since then four additional cop- per wires have beengbullt to Chicago, mak= ing scven copper wires to that city. = There are three copper wires to the west and one to Minneapolis Omaka has 150,000 fnhabitants, nected with Chicago, 516 mil competing trunk lines of r Durlington, Rock Itland, Northwestern, and the Milwaukee. Ther are three trunk lines to Kansus City and St. Louls, three to the west, two to the Black Hills country, and two to Minneapolis and St. Paul, messenger force is a credit and a pride to the wide-awaks management. It consists of twenty-four boys, fifteen of whom posse:s bleycles, A brighter-looking and better lot of boys were never before seen together in one group. They are kept in full uniform both srummer and winter. The ticker service 1 also a perfect and satisfac- one, while the force of good-looking clerks adds grace and beauty to this well regulated ofice. The operators are also energetic, capable and loyal." e — Kifles After Prizes, ptain Scharft, formerly of the Thurston Rifles, has been called by the company from Denver to drill the company for the national meeting at Memphis in May, Ti company will contest for the maiden prize and also for the chief prize, 1t s con- cast, by four Iway, namely: