Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / Jan. 25, 1909, edition 1 / Page 1
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- - - . ; ' -J ,1 j h .11 J, , , j5vE DOLLARS A YEAR CHARLOTTE, N. C, MONDAY EVEriG, JANUARY 25, 1909. FIVE CENTS A COPY. V STIRRED BY WASTE IN U.S. WILL SEEK SOUNDING ON PROHIBITION . V . . ; . Virginia Republicans Feel ing Pulse for Guberna torial Issue. MR. TAFT OFF y FORTANAMA President-Elect ancT Corps v of Engineers Leave for the Canal Zone. r t EXPLORER relation Likely to Fol- sae on Conservation. -m- iM'(.n:NTiAii men 3tl OX THE COMMISSION mt n .r iii the Senate and Ar IPress,1 With thf lmpinaiKi of the Work Sev eral Kill.- Will c Introduced aiioiuil (oiwrvallon Commission to be .Made Permanent With . au lpnrnpriatin. -a5hii,et.n. Jan. 25 President ?1VtV,;t s ni?s:RC to Congress, in Thirh he transmits the report of the j-onai Conservation Commission, MCtainins an astounding showing of an l profligacy in national re-jourc.--. is U'mly to result in legisla te at this session. rca-h' there are skins that the gsai-s mail' as to the waste of re ourvvh ts made a profound impres sion a On tress and on the country. Th;l- it is well understood that there k 'powerful opposition in both the n.M'v an! the Senate to such action jsiwil further the plans of the Presi ded to eonserve the riches of the EJtVnn's soil, mines, waters and for-t-t that future generations maji be Crested by them; it is also true the xt kIac nfs" ideas have powerful and active support among Senators ancH Representatives. Jtills Being Framed. At an early date bills will be Intro duced in hotii Houses for the purpose of 'making an appropriation for the jCatinnal Conservation Commission an-1 authorizing a permanent commis li.in. either directly or in effect. The rrop'P'l legislation will have the nnsa-erx-inic Dacmng 01 me niie Hu?? and a powerful contingent of mrrnVrs of both bodies. Whil- it is not possible accurately t foretell what will be the outcome of the movement started in a legis lative way and while a struggle over It is expected, it is certain that the fi:u.ttion from the administration standpoint is much improved over That it was a year ago. mmision Influential. The National Conservation Commls iron consists of forty-eight members. Of these eighteen are influential mem lrs of the Senate anJ House. With- nt exception these legislators are im trussed with the view that it is of the utmost importance to take steps in a legislative way in the direction of coronation, and that without delay. The influence of these members of fortress, including such Senators as Xekoa. smoot, Warren. Dixon, Bever idce. Poliver and others and such members of the House as Representa tire Burton is certain to be great, qnd to make it difficult for th influences aiverse to conservation to prevail. Conservation bids fair to be one of the most foremost question before Conn-ess for the rest of, this stsion. DEMOCRATS WILL FRAME A BILL latin? Advantage of tho Recent Ex haustive Hearing Minority Will Frame Measure .With Which to Go Before the Nation. "Washington. Jan. 25. Democratic raemhrrs of the House announce that It has been definitely decided by them to prepare a Democratic tariff bill, nd to make a fieht for It. It will be known as the Clark bill. In recogni tion of Champ Clark, leader of the Imocratic side of the Ways and Means committee. The Domoerats say that the Payne measure is goin to oe a good bill In fnm? ways, and a very bad one in ethers. They expect It to provide free lumber, free hides and a, great reduction of the Iron, steel and coal duties. But they Insist that after ailure to give any general revision if the thousands of other schedules. xhlch. it is insisted, ought to be handed. Accordingly the Democrats, avall themselves of the information de veloped during the hearings, will rame what they consider a good. ?are. Democratic revision, and will n?ue their fight for it. They pro to urse that their bill would nake the cost of living much le3s. "a on this argument will try to nake the tariff the big issue in the lxt congressional election. - - Skating Championship. Cleveland, O.. Jan. 25. Scores of tmateur skaters from all over the untry are here to-day. attracted by .if- n.atlonal indoor championships, nich will be decided during the iext throe days. The tourney will be onowed by a meet In Pittsburg for ,u, international Indoor skating narnpior.ships of the United States a(I V-anada. Killed Wife and Suicided. Cleveland. Jan. 25. R. L. MIlls- i ifp ' i .(armer' shot and billed his im,. . tiielr home near Willoughby arn ",d?y and then went to tho Mfa,n, blew out hls brains. He left heir .1 Pa6t letter saying that all neir money was lost. Girl 'Athlete to Yed. .SL Loui Jan. S3. Miss Anna Se- erirMn. er of a St Lou,s Poce 1r I at h one cf the best-known wrrtS , S in the countr4y, will be f to-morrow to Joseph.J. Tj-ra, West Is Growing in Bitterness Tunnelton. w. Va., Jan. 25. The strike In the mines here tiaa grown bitterness during the last 24 hours so rapidly that there isNerious . of riotng. and the authorities are considering the advisability of call jut troops. Four hundred men are outand all are In a wicked iemper e of the importation of non-un ion miners. The strike has been on nine months. There Dr. F.-Cook, the Pole-Seeker, Not Heard from Since March, 1908. . EXPLORER Wllili SELVRCII FOR FRIEND WHO STARTED IN 1907 Dillon Wallace and His Companions Will Go to the Northwest Coast of Greenland, Where Dr. Cook Made His Headquarters Preparatory to His Attempted Dash for . North Pole. New York, Jan. 25. Dillon . Wal lace, the explorer, who was with-Le-onidas Hubbard when he was lost in Labrador, and who subsequently, pen etrated the heart of an untracked country there when he was searching for the body of his former companion. will head a relief expedition which is to sail from New York about July 1st to search for Dr. Frederick A. Cook, the Brooklyn explorer, who made an attempt to reach the pole in July, 190, and who has not been heard from since last March. The expedition is to be financed by private parties, and will sail under the auspices of the Arctic Club of America, a New York ' organization, which is busy in securing the finan cial support necessary to outfit the expedition. Friends Grow Anxious. Dr. Cook's long-continued absence in the frozen region beyond the last outpost of civilization on the north west coast of Greenland did not at first alarm those here who have been interested, in the effort he was marking to reach the pole, but the fact that he was alone with a party of Eskimo and that he had not reappeared at his base of operations, where he had promised to be ere this, has caused increasing anxiety. Mr. Wallace and those who are be hind the projected relief expedition say that, although they have not be gun to fear that Dr. Cook is lost, they are not going to take any chances, and next autumn will see the relief expedition well on the trail the ex plorer Is known to have followed. The design of the relief expedition is that it shall sail hence, directly to Elah. at the head of-Melville bay on the Arctic ocean. This was the spot where Dr. Cook had made his head quarters Jn the summer of 1907, and from which he had started on his one man dash for the pole. " - Will .Move. Northward.. The steamer that will be chartered by the relief expedition will carry sup- ever, several times served notice on plies to last eighteen months at the the carriers that irregularities had most. These will be landed at Elah t,een found,which, if continued, would where Dr. Cook-had erected a shack reSult in the punishment of the par before he started northward, and if imiirv of thn nrrpnao. Several the expeditioa does not find the ex- plorer there, it will move northward establishing cacnes. pi. zopa .aiong ine "n.e.ix"r . ', -ii i aont nna iir. wjok h im uts he himself established, t win follow the course he set himself and which we know through letters he sent out whn itiirnp1 hrA nn thft Pearv aux-l iliary steamer Eric last October." said Mr. Wallace to-day. "I do not fear the worst has happened to Dr. look Dy any means, ior hb is a re- i sourceful man and knows the arctic by experience, but he is one white 1 man alone in a land JUlJe Jtracked. and 1 there is no telling what misfortune may have befallen him." BEATEN ROYALJSTS TURN ON VILLAGES Samsan Khan, Rebel Leader, Is Still in control at -"o"- it. .fexersDurgv jan. to. mo rcr slan Royalists decisively beaten In an attempt to take Tabriz from the rev- I gress should be employed in the en olutionary force under Samson Khan actment of annual supply bills and are to-aay scattering inrougn mw T A neighborhood kreaking vengeance on the defenseless villages with rebel sympathies. A. - ATTEMPT ON LIFE OF LORD. KITCHENER lin1ant nn T-li-n tr Car .prevented Fellow from Accomplishing Brit- aav.L..a. .v.. . - isn General s wia. Calcutta! Jam 25,--An attempt on the life of Lord Kitchener by an at tendant in a private car at Lilloach, was frustrated to-day through the ac tivity of the other attendant. The authorities refuse to make known -the details -of the affair. The would-be assassin is supposed to be a Hindoo too of the Nationalists. The- I police are actively engaged on. the I case. I Officeholders Banquet. cs t.,, -Ktn. Tan 95 vfa win appear prominently on the. bill .of are of to-night's banquet to De neia dy the officeholders and employes of the city of St." Joseph: About 'l2Vmem- bers of the city hall family will gather about the Die counter with the avow ed Intention of discussing laeas tnat may be of -benefit- m- furthering the nterests of the city. Boycott on Austria WU1 Continue. vonsmuu , v-r I the boycott against Austria would be continued until Austria 'Had lost a sum eaualto-that paid -Turkey "as ih- f demnity ior tne anueinuuu I nia. . . v In -Hdrtor of Burns. St.' Paul. Minn.. Jan. 25. Members of the Order of Scottish Clans in this city and Minneapolis will to-night celebrate the birthday of Robert Burns with a banquet and balL Virginia Coal Strike a pistol fight yesterday between etrikera and non-union TEST CASE ON HEPBURN LAW Inter-State " Commerce Commission Investigating Boston and. - Maine Railway Interest in Case All Over United States. Boston. Jan. 25. Charged with is suing free passes for inter-State pas senger transportation, the Boston & Maine railroad is to-day being in vestigated by the Inter-State Com merce Commission. The. hearing is looked upon as a test case, in which raU roads in all parts of the country will be interested. ' This is the first formal action. taken by the Commission to bring about the prosecution of railroad of ficials -for llegd -r violations otJhe law In respect- -tothe- .issuance . of passes.- The . commission has, how ruiin(S3 covering the granting of free transportation have been made. It naa been intimated that the-proceed ling against the Boston & Maine Is intended to lead to an enforcement f the antI.pass clause ,of the law through the courts. If such is the in v i managers' and others throughout the United States, . TTI .rtnnci SENATE LEADERS TX7TT T TTT'TIT TA T TXTT WlJxu UJCj W 1J JuSS Li There -Will he - No Imoortant Leeis lation During Term Transacting Only the Necessary Business, Washington, Jan. 25. As the days pass it becomes apparent that the leaders in the .Senate intend hewing close to the policy quietly determined on at the beginning short session of no general legislation or Important matters, and that the time of Con little else. The. leaders are confident there .will be no action on the postal savings bank bill, omnibus claims . bill, . ship subsidy or anything else not endorsed by the unanimous wish of both JjONDUN UAJNUllO W REVOLUTIONISTS Kef eld and Jacobs Disseminators of Incendiary Literature in Russia. ' London", Jan. "25. The police learn ed to-day that Hefelt and Jacobs, the bandits, who shot up two London su burbs Saturday, were Russian revo- lutionary agents engaged in sending to Russia-literature printed here and in America. a Jie Danaus receivea I word last week that more funds were I necessary for the revolutionary work land this It Is believed led them to attempt to rob the Schurmann rub- w """'J". . .. . ... Jacobs is now m tne nospitai ana recovery Is very doubtful. Hefeld was burled to-day. Sidney Slater, who was s.noi in pursuit 01 me oanaiis, is to day near death. - The -police are-trying. to -determine hether Hefeld and Jacob were work ing independently or in conjunction with local Russian revolutionists. CHILDHOOD'S HAPPY DAYS ON THE FARM ARE A VMYTH .- so' Dr. Hu'tcWhsoh Declares Recalling Winter Weather Woes. Chicago, Jan. . 25. '.'Childhood's happy days down -on -the farm - -are cnnd labor conference. He asserted thaf there were many overworked children on farms, and that country boys and girls were not . well nour ished. - "It is no . wonder that farm -boys rush to the city' as soon as ; possible," said Dr. Hutchinson, "when you rec ollect that they kork sometimes flf tecnr hours a day. that in the ooldestt weather- they get up in the -dark .and break the . cie off a tub of water to wash their faces and then hustle into a -dirty stable to milk cows. The happy farm ..days of "juveniles are myths fostered and kept alive by sentimental literature. ." Dr. Frank Billings, of Chicago, con tested Dr. Hutchinson's opinion, and. sal dthat working on a farm, bad. as It might be, was not aa bad as work ins' In A - factory -, ' - - A Touch Up on the TO-DAY IN THE LEGISLATURE forton Wants to . Exempli New Hanover from State Prohibition. BALI'S INTRODUCED IN BOTH HOUSES TIHS 3IORNING To Equip and Maintain Eastern . Carolina! Training School To Strike Out Poll -Tax Payment as - Prerequisite fftk Voting and Exjend Educartonal Qualifications -Scarborough May Lose Scat. Chronicle Bureau, Raleigh, Jan. 25. During a 45-minute session of the Senate this morning bills were intro duced as follows: Senator Flow: For the equipment and maintenance of the East Carolina Training School; Dockery: To amend the charter of Carolina College. . Elliott; To amend the charter of Claremont College, Hickory. Elliott: To require Clerks of Supe rior Court to report to the Attorney General. ' Pharrr To amend the act incorpor ating the Masonic Temple of Char lotte. - Among bills passed was m one to amend charter of Kinston. In the House. In the House Haymore offered a bill to strike out the poll tax payment as prerequisite to voting and extend ing the application of the educational qualification to 1916. Other bille were introduced as fol lows: Morton: To restore local self-government to New Hanover county by exemDting that county from State Prohibition. Weaver: To establish a teachers' training summer school in western Carolina. Lee:" To amend section 1561 of the revisal relative to divorce. Grant: A resolution to declare va cant the- seat of E. T. Scarborqugh. Democratic Representative from Wake, because he Is holding two of fices, being postmaster at Eagle Rock. LYNCHING WAS FRUSTRATED Sheriff McPhail Eluded Mob That Would String Up Will Ward, Now in penitentiary. Raleigh, Jan. ) 2 5 Sheriff McPhail and ai, deputy ..brought .the negro Will Ward to the penitentiary from Samp son county this morning. .Ward is accused of rape. Troops were called out to protect him Friday night. Quiet was restored and the troops dismiss ed. - lAst nitrht another attempt was made to lynch him and . the sheriff slipped the negro outof town, drove to Fayetteville and caught a train for Raleigh. , ' - ' Criminal court will be held In Sampson county next week when ' the negro will, be taken back for trial. CARRIE GIVES AND - RECEIVESWARNING Says She Will Get Busy With London . Saloons Police Sayv a Long -datl Sentence Will Follow First Act of -Violence. ,.. . London,- Jan. 25.- Finding the sa loon conditions in London worse than she expected, Carrie Nation ' declared to-day that she would have to resort to "drastic measures" to cope with the situation. '1 brought an axey" said Carrie, "but .will It be easy to get oth er weapons as effective."1- - The police have warned her that the 'fifst violence on her part 'means a long sentence in jail. -The . . "cleanlng-np" agitation struck .the police station ' Saturday and not a few window panes were rendered well-night : invisibly transpa- . rent,,.perhaps in anticipation of . an Inspection - by-the f ladies,- "God bless Parks. CONCORD HAS GREAT PROSPECTS The Year 1909 Promises Much Be sides the New Odell Mill Locke Mills to Rebuild No. 4 Prepara tions for Sunday School Conven tion Court Convenes. Concord, Jan. 25. Cabarrus Supe rior Court convened here this morn ing with Judge W. B. Council presid ing. There is very little to do on the criminal docket. The civil cases will be called Thursday of this week. At a meeting of the various Sunday school superintendents of the city yesterday afternu,cfn it was decided unanimously , thaX,. the sessions-, ot the State Sunday School ' T 'Association, which meets in this city April 6th 8thi will be held in the-auditorium of the First Presbyterian church. Rev. Dr. John W. Grier, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, has also been chosen to deliver the address of wel- I come.. Committees of the various la dies societies of the churches will be appointed to secure homes and suit able entertainment for the delegates and attendants. What promises . to be the greatest progressive year of this city's history is Indicated by the various moves in busines sand building circles. Besides the re-building of the Kerr Bleaching and Finishing Vlill, now in course of construction, Capt. J. M. Odell has let to R. A. Erown's Sons a contract for the building of a new cotton mill near the site of the Magnolia Mill, which will be 100 by 60. The Locke Mills (the old Odell holdings) have already let contracts for bounding ma terials for a new dye-house and busi ness office, and it is rumored that ex tensive preparations are being male for rebuilding on the site, of old No. 4 Mill, the new structure to accom modate 50,000 spindles. Other in terests are at work throughout the f city and it is stated on good authority that a street car line will be in oper ation before the end of 1909. M'MANUS WON SUIT CITY IS INVOLVED Jury Says Southern Maintained a Nuisance in the Old City Rock Quarry on South College and Stonewall StreetsThe Aftermath Yet to Come Hole Must be Filled. The-suit brought by McManus against the Southern Railway for damages on account of the old .city rock quarry . located near the intersection- of Stonewall . and South Col lege streets, resulted ins an unusual finding by the jury Saturday evening, after about an hour's deliberation over the matter. The plaintiff. McManus, won his suit in every respect except In procur ing damages, the jury finding that the plaintiff had not suffered any special damage, and therefore was due no money as damages, but at the same time the same jury answered 'yes" to the first issue "Did the defendant railroad company maintain, or permit to be maintained-on its premises a public nuisance, as alleged in the complaint?" As a result of this finding Judge Council made an order of the court that the big hole where the quarry is located, must be filled up. The issue now promises to grow In teresting as between the eity and the Southern Railway as to whom is to bear the expense some $25,000 re quisite for doing this big task filling in this huge , hole in the earth from which "the city for" many years "secur ed rock for macadamizing Its streets. The Southern is going to hold the "city responsible; its is admitted, and there fore a suit of more than ordinary in terest is anticipated,' although -no -for mal action in this direction has as yet been inaugurated. . , '-; ." The finding of the Jury that the Southern" was maintaining ; a nuisance but that the plaintiff was not entitled to any special damages, was regarded) as somewhat extraordinary, but still ; there are attorneys who think that in, the light of all theeyjdence, the find-' ing was -characterized by" common sense. Be this as it may, the issue, between the city of Charlotte and the railroad is regarded as one that will have to' be settled somehow, and there is eood reason to believe that develop ments of a highly interesting nature will follow in the wake of the case as it -was decided (Saturday,. V , RESULT OF INVESTIGATION IS NOT GIVEN OUT YET. It Is Said That Democrats Smother State-Wide Prohibition Issue Re publicans Will Treat With' Anti Saloon League as to Candidates and Issues How Democrats .Stand. Richmond, Va., Jan. 25i If a State-wide Prohibition Democrat Is not nominated by the Democrats in the gubernatorial primary next sum mer, or if that party does not pledge itself to the prohibition cause, the opinion is absolutely accepted in po litical circles here that the Republi cans wil enter the gubernatorial con test with a State-wide prohibition plank in their platform. State Reoublican committee is sound- ing every leading Republican in the State regarding the prohibition isse as a party- measure. Letters havws been sent the Republican leaders, ask ing for Information regarding the sen timent in their locality on this ques tion. So far. replies to these letters are Incomplete, but there is a report of a strong sentiment for a prohibi tion plank in the Republican platform f the Democrats .fail to make it a tenet of thsflr political faith. May Consult Anti-Saloon League. It is said that if the Democrats smother the prohibition issue the Re publicans are willing to treat with the Anti-Saloon League, not only as to Is sues, but as to a candidate. The Republican stronshold of Virginia, the ninth district, is strong for tem perance, and leaders from that way are inclined, it is said, toward prohi bition. But whether they can over come the strong anti-prohibition fol lowing from Norfolk, and Norfolk county, at the head of which is Na tional Committeeman Alvah H. Mar tin, is another question. ' This .much can be said for certain, that the Republicans will take an op posite stand from the Democrats on the State-wide .prohibition question. If the Democrats are swallowed by ifhe prohibitionists, as was the case in North Carolina, the Republicans will come out for local option. It itf also said byvsome that the Republicans, if it develops that the prohibition ques tion is-very-BtroTig," will head oft the Democrats,-and announce for It be fore 'their opponents do. How Democratic Candidates Stand. -There are-at present four candi dates in the field for the Democratic nomination. They are Judge William Hodges Mann, Harry St. George Tuck er, Henry C Stuart and Colonel Pur Cell, of Loudon county. Representa tion Carter Glass, pf Lynchburg, is a prospective candidate. ( Of these five men. Judge Mann is committed to local option. Mr. Tuck er favors local option, and has so ex pressed himself to his friends. Henry C. Stuart, though he has .not defined his position, is said to favor local op tion. Colonel Purcell is a strong anti prohibitionist. This leaves Representative Glass, and it can be safely said that if he gets in the fray it will be on a State wide prohibition platform. Mr. Glass is still considering the matter of en tering the race. He is daily consult- in with his friends. Of all the can didates. he is said to be the most log! cal to enter the fight as a prohibition Democrat. He has -not voiced his views on this question from the house tops, but it is common report that he has always voted with the pronlDition Democrats on many questions. It is safe to say, in view of , the pres ent political conditions in Virginia, that the prohibition question will be the bieeest issue in the next guberna torial race, and next to it will "be the poll tax law as a prerequisite to vot ing. JUROR LEIGH IS DISQUALIFIED . Spectators of Cooper-Sharp Trial Disappointed No Objection on - Part of Defense Second Venire in Court. ' Nashville, Term., Jan. 25. Specta tors at the Cooper-Sharp murder trial were disappointed to-day at the lack of oratory which markeo! the session when a demand was made for the dis qualification of Juror Leigh. The de fense announced this morning that it would not argue the point. "We are. satisfied if the State Is," said the counsel for the defense. "The State's attorney read .affida vits concerning Leigh's condition the day he was accepted as a, juror The new venire of 500 is in court to day. - : . . 4 : IS GOOD OLD UNCLE SAM TOO BIG TO BE LOVED? Speaker - Before Sons of . American Revolution Thinks.. This is So. Chieaeo. Jan. 25. Patriotism of the "good old kind" is antiquated and practically, worthless in these modern times, according to Francis W. Park- er, in an aaaress iasi nignt . iu me Sons of the American revolution, ax least this is the case in the United States, he said, because the unitea states is too big to be loved. He de clared no American loves his land in the same way ttrat the Swiss and the Norwegians love their mountains. "Neither," continued the speaker, "have we, Americans any dynasties to love and around which to centre our love of country. We can't love the House of Roosevelt, or the House of Deheen, or of J. Hamilton Lewis." Republic Went Down After Rescue: Six Killed in Smash ' New York, Jan. 25. The White Star ship Baltic, bringing 165 survivors of the collision between the Republic and the liner Florida passed in, Sandy Hook at 9:55 this morning. The Florida is still outside traveling under her own steam. - ' The Republic sank at 8 o'clock la st night while a fleet of tugs was try ing to get her to the nearest port It developed yesterday that two p ersons on the Republic and four on the Florida lost their lives. ; TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITx ' RESTS UPON NEXT PRESIDENT . Entire Plans for tSeTwaterwajr May be Changed as a Result of the VisitWill ; Inspect the Work Each Year of Term Gatum Dam the Biggest Problem for the En gineers at Present. Washington, Jan, 25. -When Wil liam H. Taft and his party of engi neers sailed for Panama from Charleston to-day, the President-elect tock the first step toward the as sumption of a tremendous responsi bility that will bear heavily on his shoulders throughout his administra tion as chief executive of the nation. I The coming four years ' will be the I critical ones in the great project for dividing the continent and changing the course of the world's commerce. The Panama Canal is likely to be the glory or the shame of the Taft regime. That Mr. Taft realises this great responsibility is evidenced by the present trip and his further determi nation to. make a tour of inspection of thefsthmus each year of his term and to take with him eminent civil ' engineers who are not connected with the- work. There is some danger, ho believes, that unless this close super vision is maintained regarding the physical features of the project that grave mistakes might be made. Tho. problem that will receive the great est consideration during the present trip relates to the engineering feat ures of the Gatun dam. There has been some, expert criticism as to tho quality of the foundation which can be found for this structure and it la Mr. Taft's intention to secure from the most reliable sources available as much as may be known. -It is generally admitted among those having authority to speak , on such topics that Mr. Taft is especial ly fortunate in the selection of the en gineers who are accompanying him on the trip commenced to-day. These men are Arthur P. Davis, chief engi neer; reclamation service, Washing-' ton; John B. Freeman, Providence, R. I. Allen. Hazcn. New York; Ih:im Randolph, Chicago; James Dlx Schuy-. ler, Los Angeles, Cal., and Frederic P. Stearnes, Boston, Mass. Upon the shoulders of Mr. Taft and these six men rest the responsibility for deciding one of the most momon tous questions ever presented by an' engineering problem. As a result of the Inspection, the plans for the gi gantic waterway may be. completely changed. In case the engineers; should fail Jo agree upon the desir ability of proposed changes as is en tirely likely the decision will be up to Mr. Taft. If) times proves the wis dom of his decision, his name will for ever be linked with the canal project and he will thus gain immortality. If he should fall admitting the exist ence of such a word in the 'Taft lex iconthen oblivion is the kindest fate he may hope for. Of all the problems presented, the Gatum dam offers the most difficul ties. This- dam, according to pla.is, is to create a gaint reservoir covering 110 square miles, the water coming . from the Chagres river. The water In the reservoir will be 125 feet above the level of the sea'and far above the highest level tf the canal. If this dain should give way, it would precip itate a flood that would wreck mil lions of dollars wbrth of property and cost hundreds. f lives. Whether this dam can be built in such a manner as to be entirely safe. and its -breaking rendered Impossible. is the problem Mr. .Taft and his engi neers will .nave to decide, and their reputations Mil hang in the balance. If an adverse decision is made in the Gatum dam project, it will necessi tate the entire abandonment of the , present project and the loss of thous ands of dollars already expended. Among the engineers who have al ready made thorough investigations of the canal work, there is a wide dif ference of opinion as to the feasibility of the Gatum dam. Linden Bates, the most famous of the engineers who has thoroughly inspected this part of the project, dismisses it as unsafe and impracticable, for the following rea sons: "The dam is on alluvial founda tions, proved treacherous, yielding, -artesian and permeable; because there is a great underground . flow through conduits of porous sands and soils impossible to curtain off; because of the stupendous labor force and equipment needed to finish It; because of the dangers of subsidence, tilting. settlement and fissures, of overtop ping, percolation and erosion of sand veins underneath; - because the old Chagres bed Just below was once 58 1-2 feet deepS exposing permeable strata under the site and the high lake will Increase the overflow." Near-Beer Men Fight. Dublin, Ga,, Jan. 25. The inalien able right to life, liberty and the drinking of near-beer will be defend ed in court to-day by the near-beer dealers of Dublin. The dealers se cured an Injunction preventing the city from enforcing an ordinance de claring the sale of near-beer a nui--ance. This injunction, together with other matters, will be heaid to-day. if ; 1 ! 1 :3 .it ! M 4 j :fl! S! ' ; , t l! ! ti (-. Tf. ' , t V - K 1 t! -?f 0, L. f . f i' r
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Jan. 25, 1909, edition 1
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