Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, August 26, 1895, Page 2

g RN Bty Dakota THE OMAHA DAILY B THE OLD WEST AND THE NEW Our Great | Dispassionate Review of Western Empire. WESTWARD MARCH A MODERN MARVEL Stapendous Growth of Towns and In- | dustrinl Development—What the . Their Suec Accomplished. ors Hav Hon tistician Robert P. Porter, ths eminent roviews in the Cleveland World the facts relating to development of the west as shown by the last census. As Mr. Porter was superintendent of the census he speaks as one thoroughly acquainted with the subject, and his statistical group pletures are | necessarily accurate and life size. Mr. Por- | ter writes The time has Land for a dispassionate western empire of the United Sta during this generation has attracted an army of settlers from all Buropean countries so vast in numbers that history records no mi- gration of population equal to it in either magnitude or fmportance. Compared with the flow of population to the corn and wheat flelds of this region, the moyements, both an- cient and modern, in search of gold and silver and precious stones appear puny and the permanent results to the world insignificant Steadily and with hardly a perceptible break the center of population of the republic has moved westward. By the center of popula- tion 1 mean the center of gravity of the pop- ulation of the country, each iniiv'dual being assumed to have the sime welght. In the century ended 1890 this pivotal point had traveled westward from near Baltimore, M., to a point ‘n the state of Indiana considerab’y west of Cincinnati, a distance of over 5 ) m les Tn this remarkabie journey of am imiglnary point across a cont'nant, primeval forests have been penetrated, wildernesses cleared and brought under cultivation, important states founded, great cities built, railreads extendel in every direction, mineral resources de- veloped, rivers made navigible, lakes linked together by artificlal waterways, arid LIH:I yrrigated and made to bring forth a hundr 2014, ard the means of ex'stence and profita fou for a popuiation wh 5,000,000 of human belngs at of tho first century’s westward and the facts are at review of that great which come march. In this progross of the may be termed the old we giuning with Ohio, Tllinois, Indiana, etc., have disappearel from the map, and under the geographical divisions of the eleventh eorgus become the morth central division, while what were formerly known as the Pa- cific or far western states now appear as the wastern division. At the dawn of the present century the territory referred to Bad less than. 50.000 population, and it was not_until the middle of the century that it could boast a population equal to that of the city of London. What is now known as the western division does not appear in the United States census until 1850. During the war these territories outside of California cut but a small figure, though today they come to the front with over 3,000,000 of pop- ulation. To better understand the territory discussed and its Importance the following table of population is appended THE OLD AND NEW CENTRAL DI-| WEST! Nnm—uvm'w‘ : ! Poputa- |7 population what tern states, be- WEST. DIVISION. Popnla tion, 18 ite or srritory. State, oo . Indiana Tilinois Michigan Wisconsin Minnesota Jowa . Missouri ... North Dakota... 3.889| Arizona 9(Oregon ... 3,808 | California ki Kansas .. Total. .. Total population of the old and new west 2, In the last ten years the population of the old west increased about 28% per cent, and the new west 713 par ce An actual numerical ad to the population. The rate of incréase of population in Ohio was not quite 15 per cen®; of Indiana less than 11 per cent and of lowa about 17% per cent. The increase in Iili- mois aud Missourl was at about the same rate as that of the whole country, or nearly 25 per cent. With the exception of the two Dakotas, Nebraska, Minnesota and Kansas, no phenomenal rates of growth were record- ed. For great increases we must look to the newer west. Washington leads with a growth in population of 365 per cent in the ten years, followed by Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Oregon and California in the order named. Less than half a century ago (he older western states, which now show normal growth, were advancing In population and wealth by leaps and bounds With the increased struggle for existence the movement has been westward and still westward until, as I have shown, the latest phenomenon is the remarkable development in the state of Washington with its grow- ing cities, Tacoma and Seattle, on Puget sound. MOVEMENT OF FARMERS. In the westward movement we find the farmers who have not been successful in the older west pushing yet further west in hope of finding wmore favorable conditions. On the other hand, thos: who have been successful are templed from the land to the growing towns and cities which have sprung up on all sides during the past decade, It it were not for the large cities in such states as Tilinois, Ohio and Indiana, the drop in the rate of growth of popiation wonld have amounted to an absolute decrease in popula- tion. That is, o rate of Increase below the natural increase of births, In the case of Tllinois the rate of increase, omitting Chicago from consideration, was Jess than € per cent. Less than the natural increase of population. This decline in the increase of population is, of course, wholly in the agricultural regions. The c for the migration is not so much that conditions are unfavorable in the older states, but be- cause hope runs higher and opportunities seem_greater further 1o the westward. As the, North Atlantie division of the United States furnished millions of their native- barn population to build up and develop the old western states, so are the rural districts of the north central group in turn s out their young men and women alike to the large towns of their own prosperous states and to the newer conntry of the west- ern group. Is it surprising that these two temptations have drawn off some of the best blood of the older prairie states? In a con- of what are called the world's markets. Of courss he I8 happler when wheat s 81 a bushel than when he has to part with two bushels for $1. The future of the American farmor, however, s not bound up in wheat. Take, for instance, the two census periods of 1880 and 1890 (for here we have the only rellable houso to house returns of crops) and we find that the wheat crop of Ohio de creased from 46,000,000 bushels to 36,000,000 bushels; Indiana, 47,000,000 bushels to 7,000,- 000 bushels; Tihinois, from 61,000,000 bushels to 37,000,000 bushels; Michigan from 35,000,- 000 bushels to 25,000,000 bushels; Wisconsin | from 25,000,000 bughels to 12,000,000 bushels; Towa from 31,000,000 bushels to 8,000,000 | bushels, and Nebraska from 14,000,000 bushels to 11,000,000 A total decrease of over 83,- 000,000 bushels of wheat in ten years. The tendency is undoubtedly in this direction at tho present time, but it does not necessarily indicate that the farmers of these states are losing money, or that they are even not prosperous. The American farmer is not set in his ways. As we have recently seen he can change his crops or his politics with much greater rapidity than his British consin More than two-thirds of all these American farmers own their own farms. _They abso- lutely run the show themselves. No landlords can dictate what crops shall be raised, nor what produce shall or shall not be sold trom the farm. If wheat is down and corn is up this year the latter is planted. If hay is high and in great demand it may be hauled to town and sold. If wheat at 50 cents a bushel is discouraging the grunt of corn-fed hogs at § cents per pound on the hoof sounds cheerful. Nearly three-quarters of the north central group of farmers own their land absolutely, and all the improvements. This is true of more than 80 per ocent of the farmers of the western group. Of the owned farms seventy-two out of every 100 of farm- ers own them free from any incumbrance whatever. The remaining 28 per cent are only incumbered to the extent of 35% per cent of their value. The fact that within a generation two-thirds of all the owned farms have been paid for. and to a large extent paid out of products raised by the acres is 8o important an element in any fair discussion of the present outlook in both the old and new western states that it should not be forgotten. To a very large extent the 28 par cent of the incumbered farms may be described as in process of paying for themselves. True, they are a little behind the procession, possibly becanse the owners were later in the field and have had a keener competition than the earlier settlers in the older states. Thy have also had two advan- tags which their predecessors had not hav namely, railr ply of money. GROWTH IN THE CENTRAL WEST. The early settler had more hardships and lower owth. This makes his position stronger today. Still, by the potency of rail- roads and money the settlers of lowa, Ne- braska, Kansas, Minnesota, the Dakotas and the western group of states have accom- plished much more in a given time than the carly settler of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Wis- consin and Missouri. The mouey borrowed, or as the official figures of the census show, from 90 to 95 per c of it has gone for the purchase of the land and improvements. The interest even as some seem to imagine, is not all going east or to Europe. Our investi- gation of the census office, which I believe stands unquestioned by the highest statistical nthorities in the world, brought out the fact hat & majority of these farm morigag ere held at home, where conditions and pects are best known. In the counties investigated it was found that se Wo out of every 100 mortgages plac ord were given to residents of the state in which cach county is sitnated. To a considerable extent these mortgages are owned by retired farmers, who know the possibilities of good farming and regard thelr mortgages as the best possible securi- ties. Those who Imagine that the plendid westorn states of the United States are having their vitality drained by the cast- orn and European money lender are, 1 am afraid, ill informed as to the real facts. My own observations, after many years of resi- dence in the western states, led me to be. lieve_that an enormous proportion of farm mortZages were held in the small towns of the west by persons of small means. This the official ‘figures corroborate. Such mort- gages are gradually being liquidated and the interest often paid in cord wood, hay and other farm products, which the thritty farmer hauls to town and sells to the resident credi- tor at the regular market price, DIVERSITY OF CROPS. The American farmer, by reason of owning his own farm, by reason of the simplicity of his lease in the event of tenancy, together with his new adaptability to new conditions, soon tries something else if a particular crop proves unprofitable. ' He does not wait for a pondercus commission to chase all over the country in search of the cause of agricultural depression, He may upset the existing political powers and send an *eloquent wind- bag" or *“agitator” to Washington just to serve notice on old party politicians that thera is “a God in Israel But like the man shingling a roof who tried to teach a beo this lesson, he may chop oft his own fingors. Once let loose in the halls of national legislation, some of these gentlemen have wrought such havoc with the financial standing of their own states that they have rarely or never been returned a second time. As I have sald, the experienced American farmer realizes that the remedy for unprofit- able crops in a measure rests with himself and so he tries something clse. While the wheat crop during the two periods named de- creased in the states named over 80,000,000 bushels and only increased during the decade about 12,000,000 bushels for the entire United States, the corn erop for the same states in- creased about 315,000,000 bushels, the produc- tion of oats from 280,000,000 bushels in 1880 to 660,000,000 in 1890, an increase of 380,000,000 bushels, while the production of barley and rye practically doubled. The loss of 83,000,000 bushels of wheat in the old west was more an offset by the increase of 93,000,000 in the west. Thus, while the rest of the wheat producing world is weeping over the low price of wheat, the western farmer fealmly enters a demurrer, declares the wheat crop an: incident representing less than 10 per cent in value of his total prod- uct, and shows the world how farms can bo made to pay for themselves in products for which there is a greater demand at a better price FARM FAILURES. Are these the men who are going to de- fault In their mortgages? I think not. There are bad mortgages in the west. I would L the last man to deny that. There are also | bad farms and bad farmers. In tie rush ‘(”l' these productive lands men went out, took land under the homestcad laws and pur- | chased farms of railroad mpanies, who were utterly unfit for farming. Many of them made sickening ctacles of them- selves, The states r eonsideration are trewn with such wr and those who loaned the money on such risks have the farms on hand for men more alapted and be'- ter equipped for the work. 'T'he next onward movement in the west will be the gradual filling up of these farms by thrifty, experi- enced werkers from the clier states who ads and a more bountiful sup versation with one of the most successful railroad men of the western group a few weeks ago, he said: “We are not seck European immigration just now. Our efforts for settling the land elong the roads are al- most entirely direeted to the older central and North Atlantic states. Experienced farmers from these states are almost sure to do W in the newer western states, and there a great opportunities for thrifiy men who do not ovi their land In the older states b coming farm proprietors further west. To succred, however, now in the west a man must bo a farmer and understand the coun- try. The dismal failures have almost in- varlably been men attracted thither by cheap land, and who were utterly unfit for farm- fng.” This Is undoubtedly true. Legitimate farming by men who understand their busi- ness and who are Industrious and thrifty has paid in the past and does pay today. Bs- pecially is this the case when you take into consideration what the farmer of tho western States began with a generation ago, and what ho may call his own free, free from ali nortgages toda Or it you go yet a step fucther ontrast the market which > liad when he began thirty or forty yes.s ago with the splendid markets for all kinds of produce which he has teday almost at his door. URBAN POPULATION The continued growth of urban population and development of mining and manufac tng are elements sometimes omiited in - fug the progress of states so much glven over to corn and grain. To begln with nearly 82 per cent of the wrban population of the United States may be found in the north central group. Teday I suppose we have an aggresate of nearly 6,000,000 persons resid- 198 in towns or cities with a population of 8000 and upward. To supply the needs of these towns and cities gives the farmer of the north central group a steady and profitable market far removed from the fluctuations prefer to own farms in the less settled area to working them as tenants or as hired men In the c'der seotions of the west. Judged by the crdinary standards of business, the failures in farm cnterprises have been no groater than the failures in manufacturing and commercial eaterprises Farm mortgagos, properly and honestly se- lecied, have proved the most reliable form of American investment. Money thus in- vestel has not only been profitable to the . but it has contributed more to the aanent h and prosperity of the na- than any other form of investmen Albert C. Stevens, editor of Bradstreot's £ays in an articl red in the quarterly publications of the an Statistical asso e that t failures of persons firms and corporations engaged i manufacturing and financial undertakin about 1 per cont a year. The census fig bring out the fact (hat wmortga, on acres do not reach 1 per c and that in the n s these misfor- tunes do not as a rule even during bad tiwes greatly execed 1 per cen is undoubtedly true that farm tenancy has during the ten years enled 1890 increased in States 33 a whole. In the north Rroup In 1550 about 79% per cent farmers owned their farms and 2015 rented them; in 1890 T34z per cent aw 2033 per cent ronted. There fs likewis small inercasn in tenaney the group. Ove reason why farms are avaliab for tenant proprietor: that some of tho old ve accu- mulated suficient property to enable them to move 10 towns, and this they desire to do for the purpose of educating their children, und also hecause they, and especially their wives and chfldren, find town life more agree- able than life on'a farm. This has taken place in all the older setiled states of the north central group. In these cases the farmers leave their farms In the hands of Amer the insol res o foreclosures ut in Nlinois the or of parsons who have been farm laborers, as tonants. It is also a fact that idle mechanics who have had experience in farming are glad to rent farms rather than remain fdle and live on their savings. FARM TENANCY. The result of inquiries in soma quarters Is that the incroase of farm tenancy is tho reaction from the cultivation of too large farms. The older farmers find that the large farms make too great a demand upon the after sons have grown to manbood and goue to town, or else have farms of their own. and it an entira farm {9 not divided up into several tenancles a portion of it is placed in the possession of a tenant, while the owner continues to work the other portion him- self, but too much stress should not be laid upon this explanation; it is not found, as the preceding’ explanation 1s, everywhere, There can not be much of this, becauso the average farm has increased from 134 to 137 acres during the last ten years. There is a migration of farmers’ sons, too, from farm to town. Education is spoiling them for farm life and they prefer the more agreeabie, exciting and social life of the town, even with smail returns. People do not go from town to farm. In the movement of popula- tion urbanward the resulting readjustment that must ba made with respect to farm proprietorship gives farm tenancy a piace which to a great extent might otiicrwise be filled by the abandonment of farma. Those who claim that foreclosures account for the increase of farm tenancy must assume that the foreclosed farms become and remain tenant farms. The general obsetvation is that foreclosed farms, while in many cases becoming tenant farms, do not remain such. A tenant farm is not usually a_desirable investment in the United States. The owner must live in the meighborhood so that he can exercise supervision, or the farm fs al- most certain to deteriorate in value. Conse- quently a mortgagee after foreclosure, in a majority of cases, must have the strongest incentives to sell the farm. It is not, there- fore, safe to assume that foreclosures con- tribute very largely to the increase of farm tenancy. It is equally true that there is no considerable number of farms passing into the hands of large proprietorship. In all the in- vestigations, now running over five years, have not been able to find many persons who make a business of farm landlordism, with the exception of the cotton and tobacco planters of the south, and they have not added to the areas of their holdings since tha war With the growth of cities manufactures have extended and become of great import- ance, especially in the north central group, while mining has added largely to the re- sources of the western division. In the f mer division more than one-fourth of the population is urban. In the past ten years the number of the urban element has nearly doubled, while, as we have seen, the total population has increased about 20 per cent. Mining, commerce and manufactures are in a much more advanced stage than is generally supposed. It is important, therefore, that we should have a correct view of the extent of this progress. The following table, which I have prepared from the eleventh census reports, show the number of persons em- ployed in manufacturing in the principal st o under consideration: PROGRESS OF MANU G CIPAL WE IN PRIN- Tn- cren California 39,949 Colorado ¥ 11,993 Tin T i 167,471 Indiana ... 54841 Towa 02 Kansas ¥ 2 12,843 81 Michigan 11111100 X6, Minnesota Missourt Nebraska Ohio Orexon .. Washinglon (sate). Wisconsin 3 183,60 i 117 710 Totals cvvoveroie 715,40 826,201 The magnitude of this increase is surpris- ing, even to those familiar with western progress. 1 have watched with interest the development of the straggling half-towns, f.illages which have sprung up on the lakes and rivers and at the junctions of im- portant railways, into compact, well built, handsome citl with prospercus manufac- tures. It an exact comparison could be made it would be found that these prairie states have added in ten years a number to_their industrial army nearly ‘equivalent to the total Increase during a similar per'od in all the industries of England ani Wales. Giuged by the rate of increase we find the number employed in manufacturing in_the western states has doubled and in the United King- dom the increase has been about 15 per cent. Of course, I am not assuming that the in- crease will be anything like this at the close of the present decade, but it is safe to as- sume that with any sort of prosperity during the last five years of the century we shall find in these states, only a few years ago given over to agriculture, at least 2,250,000 of persons engagel in manufacturing. In the above I have taken no @account of these em- ployed in mining. The production of coal in these states leaped from 18,500,000 tons in 1880 to 40,500,000 tons in 1890. The last re- ports show nearly 100,000 persons employed in mining this cne mineral. The increas'ng importance of the mines and quarries of these states may be realized by the fact that the value of the products of the mines of the western states increased from $107,000,000 in 1880 to nearly $300,000,000 in 1890. An increase in value of nearly $200,000,000 in the mineral output during a period of fall- ing prices is surely an indicition that the re- sources of this region are ample, not only to keep the present vast army employed in pur- suits other than those of agricuiture, but an evidence of future permanent prosperity. figures are not quoted in a boastful spirit, but for the purpose of showing our castern readers that the states under consid- eration are as varied and rich in a'l re- sources that go to make a complete and self- sustaining country, and that when still fur- ther bound together by railr:ads they will constitute a self-supporting and self-sustain- ing population, SR de e NEW RE RATIL LAW, Operative This Fall and Will Save the City Moncy. The registration law was amended by the last legislature and the amendments passed will be operative this fall, affecting to a con- siderable extent the method of registration in all cities of over 7,000 population. Ever since the law of 1889 has been in ef- fect voters have had an opportunity in all cities of over 2,500 population of registering | their names on aay one of five days. During | these days three supervisors of election have | been in attendance at each precinct booth There are eighty-eight p cts in the elty, which it requires 264 men to man. At a com- pensation of $3 per day for five days’ service, it has cost the city $3,960. The new law | proposes to do the same work in three days, | making a reduction of $1,584 in expenses. In- stead of opening the. books first on October | 8 this year, as would have been the case | hiad the old law continued In force, the books | will be first opened on October 18. Again { on October 28 and on November 2 “the voters | will be given a chance to register. Novem- ber 2 is Saturday and being the last day it is safe to predict there will be a great rush to register unless voters, in view of the re- duction in the number -of days offering op- portunity to register, make. an effort to take time by the forelock and register on one of the two preceding days. Heretofore the Friday and Saturday of = the week ~pre- ceding election have been devoted to regis- | tration, and candidates and ward heelers | have always kept an anxious eye for the two days on the voting lst. This year their trouble will be diminished by one-half. An argument advanced in favor of the new law when it was offered was that in cities of fess than 7.000 the voters are too well known to the political leaders to run any danger | of “repeating,” hence the large expense of | registration could well be dispensed with, l Fremont Luth ha, The congregation of the Danish Lutheran | ehurch of Fremont spent the day and even- ing In the city yesterday, coming in over the Union Pacific in a special car at 10 o'clock in the morning. There were some sixty people in the party. On arrival the picnickers went t9 u park in the southern portion of the clus and lunched. The visitors then viewed the | sights of Omaha and took a trip to Counell Bluffs. In the evening they attended the nish Lutheran church at Twenty-sixth and Nt streets, the services being conducted by Matthiesen of Denmark. The excur- stunisty returned to thefr homes at midnight and while waiting departure impromptu re- liglous services were held in the car. —_— merville Journal: The man abllity to say smart things is who i really pitied. His tongue is forever getting him into troubl MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 1895 KNOWLEDGEIN LARGE CHUNKS Glittering Gols of Information Knocked Off Ex-Policetnen's Surplus Stores, VANDERVOORT'S :lATE MENTAL INQUEST Samples of the Alleged Clv Examinntion Papers Now Locked Up In Saintly Paul's Pri. vate Drawer, The rail fence, horse high and hog tight, which Paul Vandervoort called a civil service examination, has not proved the success that its bullder anticipated. The fence was de- signed to keep intruders from breaking Into the ranks of the fire and police forces under the Churchill-Russell board. But Paul had builded better than he knew. In his desire to keep out the dervishes who were making his life a burden he threw up a barricade that threatened to resist the attacks of his favorites, and special provision had to be made by which these worthies might be al- lowed to get into the enclosure before the finishing touches were put on the structure. Formidable as was the barrier raised by the shrewd Paul, the desperation of the office seekers led them to assault it, and Paul had to make prepartions for carrying his bluft further than was at first contem- plated. He had confidently announced that the United States civil service board would conduct the examination of applicants, and expected that the dervishes would scatter before the threatened test of their mental ca- pacity, but he had misjudged the people with whom he had to deal. They wouldn't bluft worth a cent, and Paul had to go on with the play. He made a request for the services of the federal examining board and was promptly turned down by Assistant Post- master Woodard. But little things like that did mot worry Paul a bit. He wanted a civil service board, and if he couldn't get one of the federal brand he would try an- other kind. He soon located a Kindred spirit in Prof. Allen, principal of the Dodge street school, who promptly agreed to improvise a dervish board that would carry out the bluft of his friend Paul. Two teachers were pressed into service and the show was ready for the curtain signal. STARTED IT WITH A RUSH. The board met at the city hall at the ap- pointed time and Paul soon joined them and made a speech to the applicants, in which he sald that influence and “pulls” cut no ice, but that nothing but men of great brain and brawn would be acceptable to the new board. He then motioned Frank Brownlee, an ex- clerk of the IMre and Police commission, ex- Detective Haze, ex-Sergeant Sigwart = and Bailift Cox to the platform. He gave them a lot of blanks, which were to be scattered over the tops of the desks usually occupied by the members of the city council. This done, Paul stepped down from his perch, and, open- ing the gate between the lobby and the bar of the house, invited would-be policemen to enter. There was a forced run for the chairs, and a moment later the seventy-five would- be guardians’ of the city's’ peace were scratching down tlie answers to the questions which Allen aud Vapdervoort had prepared. These questions were as follows: te the area (n square mile braska? How many member preme court? Name the Name the government? Will you, if appointed on the police force, obey ail the laws and ordinances and do ail in_your power to enforce them? What is the population of Omaha? How many tvards? How are the streets numbered? How arc tHe ktreets named? How many councilmen serve the people of Omaha? How are tlity elected? Who hold the principal county offices at present? How many judges of the district court in this judicial distriet, and who are they? What - constitutes 'the execitive depart- ment of our city government? If appointed, will you strive to be non- partisan, impartial, Sober, obedient to or- ders, and treat allallke without regard to condition or creed? Write a letter giving your ldea of the duties and obligations’ that will devolve upon you as a member of the police force The letter must contain not less than 1% words, and must be addressed to the Boar of Fire and Po nmissioners, and must avoid any allusion to the applicant's volitical or religlous afiliatons. ¢ *t3 °s which form part of the thern houndary of the United States? ate the following: Chicago, St. Lou anapolis, Pittsburg and New' Orieans ates are touched by the Missour of Ne- : there of the su- ate officers of Nebraska? hree departments of our state What are the principal railroad lines lead- ing out of Omaha? Among the candidates for positions were many men more or less unfavorably known to fame. There were Henry P. Haze, late chief of detectives; Al Sigwart, ex-police vergeant; Romano and Hathaway, deserters from the police alarm operating force, and ex- Policemen Fisk, Flint, Starkey, Storey, Burr, Bruce, Mitchell, Hoff, Cox, McBride, Walker, Ihler, Arnold, McMahon, Salter, Gustavson, Theodore Bennett, Hulman, Bloom and others, and last, but no means the least con- spicuous, Claus Hubbard. The examination lasted the entire day and the suffering of many of the applicants, judg- ing from their facial contortions, would have appealed for lenlency from a heart less hard than that of Prof. Allen, whose reputation us a striet disciplinarian and teacher is known in every dervish lodge in town. The appli- cants knew it was of no use to ask for a let up and the disagreeable task was continued to_completion. When the questions had all been answered according to the light of the various eppli- cants the papers were placed in tha private desk of the pompous Paul, presumibly safe from prying eyes. An inquisitive person, whose name cannot be divulged, gain21 access to the documents. however, and tueir con- tents were inspected by a reporter. WHAT AN EX-DETECTIVE KNOWS. Results of the examination will b> a sur- prise to many people who had some qu tion as the mental acquirements of so e of the men who were anxious tor positions on the police for All of the queslions were answered with an originality that is siuply refreshing. For instance iere is an extract from the paper which contained the answers to the questions submittsd to Henry P. Haze Q.—How many judges of (he dis in this judicial district, and who are they? Ans.—Two. C. R. Scott and R. 8. Hall Q—Name the lakes which form part of the northern boundary of the United States? Ans.—Honey Creek lake and Polat Co fort Q.—Were yolt ever on the police force be- fore, and in wWhat capacity? Ans.—Yes. As chief of detec Q.—What was your former occupation? Ans.—I was a farmer near Pella, la. Q.—Could yoy find a clown in a circus? Ans.—I never fried. That work was always assigned to Defective Hudson. He has met with varying success in the work. Q.—If stolen diamonds were to come into your possession,_as, an officer and you could not find the owner for them what would you do with them? Ans.—1 declime=to answer, on the consti- tutional ground zx}.fl; I might incriminate my- self. Q.—Has the anti-gambling law violated in Omaha? Ans.—Not to_y knowled, Jack Mor- rison has also #Pequently assured me that th laws against gambling were being strictly obeyed. LU Q.—How mapy. lewd women are there in Omaha outside of the burnt district, if you know ? Ans.—I know. Sergeant Sigwart and T made a careful and thorough seirch of the city and located all of them. There are two. Q.—In going after fugitives from just ce, how much fare have you paid to the rail- roads? Ans.—I never pald any. Q.—How much did you charge to the city? Ans.—That's my business. Q.—If & _young girl were arrested in a bawdy house and booked for the reform school what would you do? Ans.—In two cases T have secured thelr re- lease, saved them from the reform school and allowed them to have the'r fun out. Q.—What is your object in secking a posi- tion on the police force t court ever been Ans.—To renew the pull I had when I was | on_before. Q.—Wero any charges made against you when you were on the pclice force before? but I mever pald them. Mr. Strickler always looked after (ho for me, SHORT HORSE SOON CURRIED. Theodore Bennett's examination was not as lengthy as that of Mr. Haze. It didn't take him long to tell all he knew Q. —Where were you born, Mr. Bennett? Ans.—At Buckhorn, Canada Q.—When did you come to this country? Ans.—In January, 1891 Q.—What business did you first engage in in this country? Ans.—A policeman on the Omaha force, I was appointed in May, 1881 Q—Were you a citizen at your appointment? Ans.—I don't remember, but don’t think I wa Q—Round Nebraska. Ans.—Hill's road house on the north, the burnt district on the east, Mrs. Noble's assig- nation house on the south and the county Jail on the west. Q.—Did you ever take prisoners from the county jail to the road houses and gambling dens? Ans.—Oh, that was two years ago. outlawed by the statute of limitations. matters the time of 1t s Q.—What "has been your business for the | past two years? Ans.—Bouncer in a beer garden. Q.—How many councllmen serve the people of Omaha? Ans.—Five. The other thirteen serve the Telephone company, Thompson-Houston Blec- tric company, the Water Works and Street Car companies. Q.—What constitutes the executive depart- ment of our city government? Ans.—Alonzo Hunt, 1 believe, Is president and Winspear, Covell and Scott are on the executive committee. GLISTENS WITH INFORMATION. V. B. Walker was another ex policeman whose examination paper was found deeply interesting. Q—Name the state officers of Nebraska. Ans.—I am not certain about the president, but think it is Tom Majors. A. P. A. Jones is secretary, T know. 1 have ono of his let- ters signed “‘Yours in F. P. & P.”* Q—Name the three departments of our city government? Ans.—There used to be more than but there are only two now of, counell 125 and council 6. Q—Where did you study penmanship? Ans.—In Omaha, when I was court officer at the police court. Q—Did you ever get your penmanship, by signing other pecple's names to checks, for instance? Ans.—Thatm atter was settlel by the old board, and I don't think it kind of you to open up old sores in this w .—Did you ever pr to blank checks? Ans.—That was one of my pastimes. Q.—Did ycu ever sign your name to a check on the First National bank for a sum of money? " Ans.—Yes, but I expected to make a de- Dosit before the check got back to Omaha. Q—DId you make the deposit? Ans.—No. The check got back got the money I was expecting. Q—Who lost by the operation? Ans.—The fellow that I sent the check to lost the sum called igr and I lost the job. Q.—How many crap shooting joints did you collect from while you were court officer? Ans.—About a_dozen. Q.How'many did you report to the city? Ans.—All that I had to. The books will show just how much should have been tureed in. Q—Why did you leave the police force? Ans.—I had no reason. The board seemed to desire it. ARMY three, that I know into trouble over ice signing your before I NOT UNDER FIRE. Ex-Policeman Flint, among other ques- tions, was asked why he was discharged from the regular army. Ans.—I deny the jurisdiction of this board to question the acts of the regular army. \—How are the councilmen of the city elected? Ans.—By a vote of the sifting committee of council 125. Q.—What is the population of Omaha? Ans.—Johnny ~ Thompson claimed 8,000 “friends” several years ago, but a good many have dropped out since. There are probably 2,500 yet on the rolls. \ Q—It you are appointed will you strive to be non-partisan? Ans.—I will. T have always tried to be non-partisan. If a man is a good mamber of the order T have never asked whethar he was a republican or democrat. Charley Bloom tried to answer Paul's civil service questions. Charley has had a Lard row of it since he was dropped from the force, Q—State the area of Nebraska in square miles. Ans.—T never had a beat further out than the High school grounds. Q.—What is the largest city in Nebraska, outsido of Omaha? Ans.—Blair. But T was not on that pj trip. Haze and Sigwart can tell ycu more about it Q.—Did_you ever find any your beat? Ans.—Under Mayor Broatch's rule T was on the be; where I was not allowed to investi- gate the saloon question on Sunday. Q—Write a letter giving your idea of the duties and obligations that will devolve upon you as a member of the police force. Ans.—Not on your life. I lost cne job by writing a letter and you can’t catch me twice on the same trick. After the examination papers had all been handed in Paul expressed himself as more than pleased with the result. All of the ap- plicants, he sald, had passed the required test of mentality and their average would be about 70 on a grading of 100. "The next test will ba the physical examinations. Each ap- plicant will have to measure five feet nine inches in his bare feet, and the Board of Health as a sanitary precaution will require that the applicants pay $1 spot cash to Dr. ille for the examination. oons open on BOHEMIAN PICNIC AT PRAGUE mbers of t Union Have n ‘The pienic given by Tyrs hemian Benevolent Gymnastic union at Prague yesterday was a great success, if the very evident good humor and good spirits of the crowd of picnickers that got off the excursion train at the union depot late last night is any eriterion. nearly 500 persons boarded the ex 1 train of eight cars when it pulled out depot at 9:45 o'clock yesterday morn- ing After it had arri 1 on the grounds another train of three cars containing 150 peaple, members of Tyrs No. 8 and their families, came in from Schuyle Th were also a number of members of the unfon at Linweod ow this train and they brought a band along with them. As the Omaha mem- bers had taken the Bohemian band of this city along there was no lack of music. The day was largely spent in a social way, although diversions were introduced not to allow the time to drag. Some fifty uniformed members of the lodge of this city gave several exhibitions of turning and a number of impromptu sporting events were enjoyed. The evening was spent in dancing until the return was made. The train ar- rived in the city at 11:30, The train on its outgoing trip was delayed at Ashland by the rails spreading beneath the engine. As the engine was going for water at the time and was detached from the train there were no Gymnastic Outing. 1 of the $o- ATHER KE Complaints Against Officers for Ae- rest as Suspicious Character, Father M. Kelly, for a number of years the assistant of the priest in charge of the ca- thedral at Newark, N. J., arrived in the city at 2:30 o'clock Saturday morning on the Mil- waukee train from Chicago that was delayed some eighteen hours by washouts. He reg- istered at the Midland. Tired out with the journey he remained in bed 1util Saturday noon. He retired to his room early Satur day night, and becoming restless, he got up at 2 o'clock, dressed and came down stairs, telling the clerk that he would take a walk TESLA'S MAGNETIC WONDER A Powerful Combination Formed for Its Development. PRINCIPLES ON WHICH IT WORKS Utilizing Inert and Scemingly Lifes less Forces of Magnetinm—Signifie eance of the Baldwin-West- inghouse Partnership. The industrial world attaches great import- ance to the consolidation of the Baldwin loco- motive works at Philadelphia and the West- inghouse plant in Pittsburg. The former plant, covering fourteen acres of ground and | employing as high as 4,000 men, is famous the world over for its steam locomotives, while the latter has in a few years risen to the first rank in the manufacture of electric power machinery. It is generally understood that their union means the development of electric power locomotives, The combination is a very strong one, not only financlally, but in ability. The Baldwin works are admirably equipped for the construction of the mechani- cal parts of electric motors of great size and power, and they command the services of able mechanical engineers. The Westinghouse company is also well equipped for electrical constructions of all kinds, and has a staft of eloctrical engineers distinguished for knowl- edge and Inventive ability. The assertion that the partnership signifies the substitution of electricity for steam, Is, in the opinion of the Philadeiphia Times, a little hasty. “To begin with,” says the Times, “‘a practical way of generating electricity for motive power, without the intervention of steam, has not yet been invented. The mag- nets which supply the power that runs the trolley car or charges the storage battery, @ operated by a steam engine, and the most advanced ideas of the electric motor have not yet dispensed with the furnace and boiler, whether locomotive or stationary “The fuel in_the furnace is the starting point always. To convert the heat of com bustion into motion in the most direct way is the problem of the engineer. The ordinary process is complicated. By the expansive power of steam we get the motion of the plston-rod, which the crank converts into the rotary motion of the wheel, communicated by the belt to the revolving armature of the dynamo, whereby the motion is converted into electricity, and this in turn, conveyed by conductors to the motor, becomes visible mo- tion again. Now the object of modern in- ventors is to simplify these steps, and upon the perfection of their devices depends the success of the electric locomotive. “Herein lies the possible importance of Tesla’s oscillating engine, the piston rod working directly within the magnetic coil and converting the steam power into electric power without the intervening services of the fly wheel. It this brilliant conception be practically realized, as scems assured, the great machinery with which filling our steamships can be thrown out as old iron, and a very modest stack of boilers will be made to operate an electric machine that will turn the shaft as fast as it can be made to go. The development of the electric locomotive lies in the same direction. “The present application of electricity to locomotion Is with stationary generators and moving mo*.cs, the differences in detail re- lating 1z.gely to the mode of conveying the power to the motor. It may be considered established that, for obvious reasons, this system is economically applicable only within relatively short distances with constant traffic, since the limit of conveyance is soon reached and the power must be maintained whether used by many cars or by one, When distances are long and trains are in- frequent this cannot be profitable. The mo- tive power of each train must be inde- pendent. “The problem of the electric locomotive is thus similar to that of the electric marine engine. It Is, as its name implies, a moving motor, a_traveling power house. The loco- motive carries its own dynamo, with the furnace and boiler and engine to operate it, and generates the motive power as it goes along. It s not to dispense with steam, but it Is to make a little steam produce a great power. This is, broadly speaking, the line of development which the Baldwin-Westinghouse combination suggests. There are, of course, great improvements yet to be made in what we understand by the trolley system, which is very likely to come into use for moving cars In cities and in crowded freight yards, as well as on much traveled surburban lines; but the application of electricity to the general railroad busi- ness of the country is another field that Is just beginning to open. The conditions to ‘be met, both mechanical and econom- fcal, are vastly complicated, but the progress and be back In a few minutes, Near Fifteenth and Webster streets he was | taken in custody as a suspicious character by Block Watchman Enright, who turned him over to Policeman Thomas, and he was sent to the police station and locked up. About 5 o'clock Father Carroll was sent for and established the identity of the prisoner. Father Kelly was released by the order of the captain at 9 o'clock. The police officials have begun en investi- gation of the circumstances of ths arrest. e Removed the Age Limit, WASHINGTON, Aug. 25.—The president bas issued an order abolishing the clvil sery ice limit age 0 far as printers and press- men are concerned. of invention is rapid in these days.'” THE TESLA MOTOR. The Tesla motor, which s now agitating the electrical world, is described as a marvelous invention. The secret of it lies in turning the inert and seemingly lifeless force of magnetism into an active force more power- ful than steam or a current from a dynamo. The principle of it 1s this: An electric cur- rent is passed through a circular magnet, in appearance resembling a life-preserver. It consists simply of a ring of iron with copper wire bound around it. The electric current generates 4 strong magnetic current, which flashes around and around the circular mag- net at terrific speed. Now, if one holds a nail close to an ordinary electric magnet it will be passive in the hand until it Is brought close enough for the magnetic force to seize It, when it will fly out of the hand straight to the magnet. But—and here lies the wonder of it all—if one holds a nail close to this circular magnet of Tesla's, it will begin to revolve in the hand. That is, if the nail §s held by the heaa and the point al- lowed to hang over the hollow center of the magnet, the point will ,move around in a circle, slowly at f then faster and faster, until, if it is dropped upon the table in the center of the hollow. it will spin around so rap'dly that the eye cannot follow its mo- tions. One hears the explanati non—there are several magnetic currents in the fron ring and they are chasing on another around in a furious race—and Is as | much mystified as ever. If one balances an | fron_wheel upon the nail or lets the wheel revolve upon a finger, using the finger as th axle, and holds It close to the magnet, it will fly around at a speed that will take one's ath away. It is not necessary to touch the magnet at all. All one needs to do is to hold a piece of fron or steel in his hand and bring it within a foot of the magnet, and | then he will feel a queer sensation s of some invisible force trying to draw the plece of metal out of his band, and, falling in this, striving to twist it around in a circle It oue places a wide board over the magnet, the force will nake itself felt t the wood, for if a piece of iron shape an egg is dropped upon the board wobble around for a moment and of the phenome whole | ugh like it wilr then, as No Drugs to CHEW No Stems to SMOKE we have been | s00n as it gains a little momentum, it will spin around on its narrower end Iike & top. In its application as a motive power on & railroad, the construction, of course, differs from that of the experimental magnet, but the {dea is the same. Here the circular magnet ls attached to the bottom of the engine and the axle upon which the whecls revolve passes through the center of the magnet without touching it. ~When the current is turned on, the magnetic foroe whirling around in the hollow of the magnet catches the axle and turns it. The power for generating this magnetic current can be transmitted by underground wires for almost any distance, and there fs practically no waste of power or energy. ELECTRICITY AS A KILLER. Some professed experts have been contends ing, says the New York Tribune, that elec- tricity as an agent in the execution of crimie nals Is a failure, and that death in these cases really results from the surgeon's knifs. That fs not the opinfon of Mr. Edison and Mr. Tesla, the {wo men in the country who by their long and diligent study of eloctricity are doubtless more competent than any others to pass judgment on this question. Mr. Edl- | son is especially emphatic and outspoken. | While Mr, sla declined to talk for publi tion, his views are equally clear. Furthers more, what these high authorities say in fully corroborated by the report of two ex- perts made to the governor early this year, showing plainly that the electric current had caused the death of an executed man. Nothe ng more ought to be heard from the physi- cians who claim to be confident of thelr abil- ity to rususcitate an occupant of the electrie | chair. . ELECTRIC CLOCKS. It is rather a difficult thing to realize that it is possible for the whole pouplation of the largest city to tell the time of the day with- out a single clock in the place, but neverthe- lock works™ are no longer a necessity, clock winding will soon be out of date. “self-winding” clock Is an ordinary clock in which the winding is done by an electro motor at regular intervals, the contact con- trolling the magnet being connected with some moving part of the clock. The great difficulty hitherto has been the unreliabllity of this contact, owing to the small amount of power available for making it, but by new de- vices absolute certainty of action can now be insured. But while it is possible for every one to have his own automatic clock winder, & system, called the “‘synchronome,” has been introduced, which still further simplifies the regulation and operation of timekeeping de- vices. This system conslsts of one pendulum, kept in motion by means cf two whe:ls and an electro-magnet, which derives is energy from a small dry cell. The object of the pendulum is to transmit electrical impulses at regular periods along a single wire to any number of clock faces, whether in a house, a public building, or a church tower, the hands be- ing “synchronized” forward by each of these impulses. It thus becomes possible to dis- pense with both winding and clock works. It desired, a house or building can be supplied with its own synchronizer, which controls its own circuit of dials. In this way every room in the house can be supplied with the time of day to within & variation of one second per month. The device §s usually placed in the hall, and the actuated dials can either be fixed on the mantel shelves of the varlous | rooms or suspended on the walls with flexible cord, as the absence of mechanism enables them to be treated artistically, and suggests their combination with drawing room art work n wrought fron and wood carving. The electric movement can be fitted into any exlat- ing clock case, and striking or chiming may bo accomplished by all or any of the dials. The wiring is very simple, consisting of the connection of one dial with another by single line. For putting forward the hands of all the dials a push button is provided on one of them. For setting back it is sufficlent to move the hands of this dial only, and all will bo altered. ’ Went to Jail for Fighting. J. Westberg and Isaac Lincoln, who live at 1508 South Tenth street, got mixed up in a fight yesterday afternoon, as a result of which Lincoln reccived a finely marked eye and both went to ail, charged with disturb- {ug the peace by fighting. The troubla oe- curred in a barn in which both stable thelr horses, regarding the use of a stall. Scrofula, Salt Rheum And All Other Blood Diseases—How They May Be Cured. Speaking simply from what Hood’s Sar- saparilla has done, not only once or twice, but in thousands of cases, we can honestly say that it is the best remedy for all dis- eases of the blood, whatever the cause. By its peculiar Combination, Propor- tion and Process, it posscsses positive medicinal merit Peculiar to Itself. It has cured the most virulent cases of Scrofula and Salt Rheum, even when all other prescriptions and medicines have failed to do any good. Blood poisoning, from whatever ort- gin, yields to its powerful cleansing, purl- tying, vitalizing effect upon the blood. It you desire further particulars, writo to us a3 below. Remember that Hood’s Sarsaparilla Isthe One TruoBlood Purifier prominently in the public oye today, Prepared only by C. 1. Hoop & Co., Lowell, Mass., U.8. As Sold by all drugglsts. $1; six for §5. T are the ‘bast afterdinney Hood's Pills 5,50 8t diestion AMUSEBMBRENTS. CREIGHTON THEATER 15681 fPAKTflBL‘RflI’,SS, Mgrs, This Evening at 8:15: AUGUSTUS THOMAS CREAT SUCCESS ALABAMA | Produced by a great company, with elogant scenery and effects. MATINEE WEDNESDAY. PRICES: Parquette and first 3 rows dress circle Last 4 rows, dress circle.... First 3 rows in balcony Next rows in baleony . Stall, box and divan seats... Matinee price Stall, box and divan seats.... Coming Aug. 29-31—“THE WIFE.” Courtland Beach OPEN EVERY DAY, Fine Boating and Bathing Switchback, Merry-Go-Round o ADMISSION FREE,