Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 August 1901 — Page 7

AMERICAN BUILT BRIDGE IN BURMAH.

A steamship recently arrived at New York with a little group of men browned to a copper color by exposure to the tropical sun. As they reached the dock a number of people waiting to meet them gave each a hearty handshake and extended congratulations. In the engineering world this group will be long remembered as the men who put up the greatest railroad bridge in the world in a country none of them had ever seen, amid trials and troubles which might be expected to discourage anyone but a Yankee engineer. Two or three years ago the surveyera of a railroad line in Burmah came

BUILDING A 200-FOOT COLUMN.POINT.

to a hole in the ground which was so deep that it seemed as if a balloon would be the only way to cross it. This was the Gokteik gorge. To go around it would require twenty or thirty miles more of track, and the question arose whether it could be spanned by a bridge. The general officials of the company thought it could if the right men could be found to undertake the work. Several American firms were Invited to put in bids, and one Of them, the Pennsylvania Steel company, secured the job. It was a case of hurry from start to finish, for the work must be done within a year from the time the contract was let. The steel for the towers, girders and other work hid to be turned out of the works, . shipped to New York, loaded on board vessels, carried to Rangoon, loaded on cars and then transported 450 miles to this hole in the ground. Special machinery had to be built to put the bridge together and to raise the different pieces and hold them in position. In all, about 5,000 tons of metal alone were required for the work, the bridge itself taking 4,852 tons alone. From one side of the valley to the other was nearly half a mile. For twothirds of this distance the railroad track had to be laid at heights ranging from 100 to 250 feet above the ground.

THE GIANT TRAVELER.

Then came a drop of 320 feet to the top of a bridge nature had thrown across one of the mountain rivers of Southern Asia. Upon this natural bridge, just wide enough to form a safe support, heavy steel towers were riveted together to such a height that the men working upon them at the top looked like Insects to the observer from below.

PALMS FOR ARID PLAINS.

Trees From the iille May Solve the Waste Lands Problem. The department of agriculture seems to entertain the belief that the date palm may solve the problem of what to do with the arid and alkali lands of Arizona, California and other western states. Experiments have,, been made in the past by the departmrent and experiment stations, but renewed Interest is being taken by the section of plant Introduction of the department Of agriculture, and Professor D. G.

As soon as the cablegram came from the Burmah railway company accepting the American bid a special force of workmen was selected to turn out the material as rapidly as possible, and the bridge department worked day and night. The work, particularly in its initial stages, was performed amidst various perils. In the depths of the gorge, matted with underbrush and scattered with huge rocks, lurked the deadly snakes of India. Some of the coolies were bitten and died. Poisonous vegetation also affected the men, and vapors arising from the depths of the ravine bred low fever in American bones.

there were beasts of prey, too, but although they were seen and heard prowliiig about the camp at night the bridge builders suffered nothing from their depredations except the loss of some live stock. The incessant rains turned the ground into liquid mud, and the masons laying the stone foundations for the towers were held back ten weeks. At last these were completed, and then the "traveler” was put in position. This was a mechanical giant, the largest by far ever used in bridge construction. It lifted and lowered the

WORKMEN ON THE HIGHEST PIER.

tons of steel and held them in Its trip while the men fastened them into place. Although In the photographs of the work the traveler looks to be only 20 or 30 feet In length and to weigh perhaps four or five tons, It extended from its support on the end of the railroad track a distance of 165 feet over the gorge and contained ninety tons of metal alone. The beams or trusses

Fairchild, agricultural explorer for the department, now traveling in Africa, has procured a number of suckers, or offshoots, from the delta of the Nile, which he has shipped to the department and which will be distributed in the southwestern part of this country. In the United States the date is an article of luxury, but in Its native country it is a most important food, many regions in Arabia and the Sahara being uninhabitable but for ths date palm. The United States annually Imports nearly $1,000,000 worth of dates, but it Is possible, the de-

which formed its lower portion were 219 feet in length, and from its top to the railroad track was 40 feet. To keep this immense weight from toppling over, a counter-weight of seventy-five tons was loaded upon the rear portion, which was mounted on wheeled trucks so that it could, be rolled along as the bridge was erected. The little band of thirty-five Americans put the mammoth bridge together from eight months after the work was commenced. The bridge is so strongly built that it will support a train of loaded freight cars reaching its entire length, in addition to four locomotives .weighing fifty-four tons each. Owing to its great height, it must be strongly braced to withstand the force of the gales which sweep down the valley at a velocity of sixty or seventy miles an hour. The engineers had to calculate upon these and other delicate points, but tests made after completion show that they calculated to a nicety. It was expected in building the bridge to have the aid of compressed air in boring holes through the steel and fastening the rivets, but when the 500 natives who were employed as laborers heard the hissing and noted the effect of the unseen force, they believed it to be something supernatural and not one of them could be induced to touch the compressed air tools. As a result, all of the bolts and rivets, nearly two hundred thousand, were fastened in the old-fashioned way by hand hammers. This delayed the work about one month. The work was done under the supervision of J. C. Turk of New York, as engineer for the Pennsylvania Steel company, under the general direction of Mr. J. V. W. Reynders, general superintendent of the bridge department, who prepared the drawings for the structure. The bridge cost $700,000, or $3lO a foot Of the little band of Americans who went half way around the world to do this work, every man came back alive and hearty, but with the memory of one of the most trying tasks ever completed by Yankee pluck and ingenuity.

Living Stones of South Sea.

The visitor to the Falkland islands sees a number of what appear to be weather-beaten, moss-covered bowlders of various sizes scattered here and there. On attempting to turn one over he is surprised to find that it is anchored to the ground by roots of great strength, These are not bowlders, they are trees! No other place in the world can show such a peculiarity of “forest” growth. The Falkland islands are exposed to a strong polar wind, which renders it impossible tor trees to grow in the proper form; nature has consequently adapted herself to the prevailing conditions and produced this strange form of plant life. These “living stones,” as they are called, are quite devoid of “grain” and it is next

to impossible to cut them up and utilize them for fuel.—New York Press.

A Thickly Populated Parish.

Islington is the most thickly populated parish In England, having 112 persons to the acre. Bolton comes next. Blue blood is one of the things that “runs in the family?”

partment believes, to raise all the dates needed in this country. The date palm, although grown profitably only in arid and semi-arid regions, Is not in the proper sense of the word a desert plant. It requires a fairly abundant, and, above all, a constant supply of water at the roots, and at the same time it delights in a perfectly dry and very hot climate. The date palm la able to stand much more cold than an orange tree, but not so much as a peach tree.

A useless life is but a living death

NOT AS BAD AS THEY LOOKED.

Englishman's Use of a Word Made Him Seem Vulgar. An unpublished episode of the late Matthew Arnold’s visit to this country in 1883-4 is interesting in that it shows that, while many Americans show bad manners abroad, some Englishmen are equally guilty of a lack of them when away from home. In 1883-4 Matthew Arnold lectured in this country. He brought with him his daughter. At Baltimore they visited the family of the late Mr. Whittredge, a rich ship owner, to whom the Arnolds had been very polite in England. At the breakfast there were buckwheat cakes. In those days the buckwheat cake did not look as it does now. It was a thick, soggy, indigestible-looking mass, but it was good to the taste. A stranger, it can be said for the distinguished Englishman, was excusable for looking on it with suspicion. When the cakes were passed the daughter refused them. Mr. Arnold took one, to be polite, and found it good. So when the/ were again passed to his daughter he said: “You had better take some, daughter; they are not half so nasty as they look.” An Englishman, in defending Mr. Arnold, said that he used the word as it is used in England, where it has not the same meaning as it has here. — New York Times.

A Son's Devotion.

Wallace, Mich., August 26th:—A striking example of a man’s dutiful and attentive care of his mother is seen in Mr. Oscar Swanson of this place. Mr. Swanson’s mother has suffered much with Kidney and Urinal Trouble and Female Weakness. Her son has sought out and procured for her everything that he thought could possibly benefit her. She did not improve, till at last he bought her a box of Dodd's Kidney Pills. In a few days she was completely cured, and her faithful son has the reward for his loving efforts, in the knowledge that she is now strong and well.

A Russian Philanthropist.

The will of a Moscow capitalist, M. Solodovnikoff, bequeathing large sums for educational purposes, was recently approved by the Russian courts after a hard legal struggle. The relatives receive modest allowances. The remainder of the estate, estimated at $10,710,000, is to be divided Into three parts, of which two will form funds for the establishment of elementary and professional schools in the governments of Cologda, Archangel and Tyer, and the third will be devoted to the erection of workingmen’s dwellings in Moscow. The rent for each family is not to exceed about $2.50 a month. *

A “Goodie” for the Afternoon Tea.

Here is a recipe for little chocolate biscuit that are nice for 5 o’clock tea: Melt half a pound cf butetr in a large basin over hot water and stir in gradually, in the following order, two beaten eggs, half a pound of white sifted sugar, two large tablespoonfuls of cocoa and a pound of flour. Sprinkle over the whole a heaped teaspoonful of baking powder, roll out thin, cut into biscuits about the size of a wine glass and bake on a buttered tin in a quick oven about ten minutes.

How's This!

We offer One Hundred Dollars reward forany ease of Catarrh that cannot be cured by Hall's Catarrh Cure. F. J. CHENEY A CO., Toledo, O We, the undersigned, have known F. J. Cheney tor the last 15 years and believe him perfectly honorable in all business transactions and financially able to carry out any obligations made by their firm. West A Truax, Wholesale Druggists, Toledo, O.; Waldlng, Klnnan A Marvin, Wholesale Druggists. Toledo, Ohio. . HaU's Catarrh Cure is taken Internally, acting directly upon the blood and mucous surfaces of the system. Testimonials sent free. Price 75c per bottle. Sold by all druggista Hall's Family Pills are the best.

Product of Southern Saw-Mill

In 1880 the southern lumber mills had an output valued at $38,176,000. Tn ten years this bad advanced to $105,575,819. Since then there has been a steady Increase in production, until today it may be conservatively estimated that the value of the output, including the material used for crossties, fuel and fencing, and the naval stores by products, is between $325,000,000 and $350,000,000.

Ban on Music.

Paris and Limoges both have laws which the brain workers of many British towns will aeeply envy. In Paris no street music is allowed after 9 o'clock in the summer and 6 in the winter, while in Limoges bells must not bi rung before 6 in winter or 5 on summer mornings. Irving Bacheller's second great story, entitled “D’rl and I” is a border tale of the war of 1812 and the scenes are laid in the same north country which was depicted in “Eben Holden,” extending, however, beyond this to the French domain In Canada. Its appearance in serial form has called forth the highest praise of representative criticism and there is ho doubt but that Mr. Bacheller has created in “D’ri” another character equally interesting with his famous “Uncle Kb.” The story is full of action and is drawn with a skillful - appreciation of the three types represented, French, English and American. About sixty thousand copies have already been sold, with three weeks remaining before the date of publication. Do you like Mrs. Austin's new dress? The twelve railway companies of England and Wales employ between them 812,000 men. The Scotch and Irish companies employ 40,000 men between them. * Alaska has the smallest population of any possession of the United States.

The Talcott Girls.

A young minister, recently settled over a Massachusetts parish, has already learned the lesson that age Is not a positive but a comparative term, ills parishioners are scattered over a large area, and he has not yet seen them all, although he has made as many calls as his other duties permit His round brought him one day to the house of a little old lady who was nearly elghty-flve and bedridden, She was delighted to see him, and when he Wse to go, after a long call, she told him how much pleasure he had given her. “Now I want you to go to see the girls,” she said, earnestly, "the Talcott girls. They were up here a few days ago, and they’re looking forward to a call from you. Living alone as they do, since their ma and pa died, they have some pretty lonesome times, and they set a great deal by callers." “I certainly will try to go there soon,” aald the young minister, and when he met one of the deacons of the church on his way home he spoke of the old lady’s request. "I think I don’t know the girls by Bight,” said the young man, “but I didn’t wish to hurt the old lady’s feelings by saying so. Where do they alt?” The deacon smiled. “In the last pew but one In the gallery,” he said. "But I hardly think you would recognize them as girls. Miss Emily 1b slxty-one and Miss Frances slxtythree, according to the records.” — Youths’ Companion.

Ladles Can Wear Shoes

One size smaller after using Alien’s FootEase, a powder. It makes tight or new shoes easy. Cures swollen, hot, sweating aching feet, ingrowing nails, corns and bunions. All druggists and shoe stores, 25a Trial package FREE by mail. Address Allen S. Olmsted, Leßoy, N Y.

Geese Journey Without Food.

About 300,000 geese are annually brought from Russia to Saxony. A carload consists of 1,700 and they have no food or drink during the journey. Do you like Mrs. Austin’s new dress?

Governments of the Earth.

The whole human family Is under fifteen principal governments, of which only six are absolute monarchies and fifteen are limited monarchies. Ab a remedy for red hands, rub this paste on them at night and wear loose gloves: Beat together one ounce of clear honey, an ounce of almond oil, the juice of a lemon, and the yolk of a raw egg. Lame back makes a young man feel old. Wizard Oil makes an old man feel young. See your druggist. / Sarcasm never hurts much unless It confines Itself to the limits of truth. Plso's Cure for Consumption is an Infallible medicine for coughs and colds.—N. W. Samml, Ocean Grove, N. J., Fab. 17. l»oa A cemetery for dogs has now been established In Washington, D. C.

Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup.

Dx*n. vvaxinax/vv re ojauiri For children teething, softens the gums, reduces Inflammation, allays pain, cures wind colic. 23c a bottle. There are 40,000,000 fewer sheep in Europe than ten years ago. Do you like Mrs. Austin’s new dress? To loiter originally meant nothing more than to walk slowly.

II M—df UJilUft MADE. I I For More Than a Quarter of a Century The reputation of W. I*. Douglas *3.00 and 13.50 shoes for style, comiort and wear has excelled all other makes sold at these prices. Thia excellent reputation has been won by merit alone, w. L. Douglas shoes have to give better satisfaction than other *3.00 and *3.50 shoes because his reputation for the best *3.00 and *3.50 shoes must be maintained. The standard has always been placed so high that the wearer receives more value for his money in the W. L. Douglas *3.00 and *3.50 shoes than he can get elsewhere. W. L. Douglas sells more (3 .OO and *3.50 shoes than any other two manufacturers. W. L. Douylat 94.00 Gilt Edge Lint cannot bt equalled at any price. < K3k w W w M Elf mN W A' w w- a. Omv9 V M.op and ia.fs sAose arw anatfa ar tha same hUh trndo fmafJtawm ***mf in AS M«f <0 •ftnsM* and am Juat aa good. Sold by the best shoe dealers everywhere. Insist upon having W. I» Douglas shoes with name and price stamped on bottom. IgßfttNKt-Sffi cuMomdepartmentwUlinasayeu* pair that will equal ** and if cueWBpV. tom made «hoe«, in Mylo, fit and fUK * '-T-SM wear. Take measurements of EM* a, Ya. foot as shown on model; state EM tKk. J^^)K. at T tedM,rM> ; siseandwldth Seat Colee Syslets ■eod/^ l<^SSfflKsiW^ i “' SHIM fr»«. W. Im Heaglaa, JBawehtoa, Maas INVESTMENTS tor large or small investors in approved Western Mining Stocks. Limited amounts for sale only. Write for particulars at once. W. B. CRANDALL A CO, Merriam Park, Mina.

SOZODONT tor the Teeth >nd Breath 25° At all Stores, er by Mall far the price. MALL A RUCKEL, New Yerk.

Are Yon Using Allen’s Foot-Ease?

It Is the only cure for Swgllen, Smarting, Burning, Sweating Feet, Corns and Bunions. Ask for Allen’s Foot-Ease, a powder to be shaken Into the shoes. At all Druggists and Shoe Stores, 25c. Sample sent FREE. Address Allen S. Olmsted, Leßoy, N. Y. In Paris cabmen are not allowed to smoke while driving. Do you like Mrs. Austin’s new dress? Your enemy makes you wise.

IWMAT IS A SUCKER?) IF IT MAM //™ 15 trade MARK y/ JW/ ,T •* tmr bsst //T / //w watwaoof //y/Jr OILED COAT 1 / r 7\ INTMBWORL*. SHOWING GArAcn’TS ANDNATI A.J.TOWER CO., BOSTON, MASS.4* EVERY INVENTOR who take* oat a U. 8. Patent through me during this, my twentieth ennlvenary year, will receive n Canadian Patent on hta Invention AHSOI.UTKLY FREE OF CHARGE Send for full Information and Hew Hook on rat cut* containing aU form* of aaalgnmente, licenses, etc., free OC nIIEC V Solicitor of Patent*, a ■•* wurr I, Washington, D. O. Myra experience, it yr*, an examiner in U. 8. Pat. Offloa Rr iu c i am JOHN w morrts bIYQIVII Washington. I). C. Successfully Prosecutes Claims, .ate Principal Examiner IT. 8. Penelon Bureau, ra.ih civil war; ISadJudicatlngclalin*; atty.eluca I A HlCfi WITH VIEW TO MARRIAGK fcXWS&O will find It to their advantage to write u*. Our Het of correspondents I* enormous. ALFRED MORTON * CO., 132 E. 2M St., NEW YORK.

MBB (X w' 9 '■ -a. II I J Millions of Mothers T TSE CUTICURA SOAP* assisted by Cuticura Ointment*. J the great skin cure* for preserving* purifying* and beautifying the skin of infants and children* for rashes* itchings* and chafings* for cleansing the scalp of crusts* scales* and dandruff* and the stopping of falling hair* for softening* whitening*, and soothing red* rough* and sore hands* and for all the purposes of the toilet* bath* and nursery. Millions of Women use Cuticura. Soap in the form of baths for annoying irritations* inflammations* and excoriations* for too free or offensive perspiration* in the form of washes for ulcerative weaknesses* and for many sanative*, antiseptic purposes which readily suggest themselves to women*, especially mother!. No amount of persuasion can induce those who have once used these great skin purifiers and beautifiers to use any others* especially for preserving and purifying the skin*, scalp* and hair of infants and children. Cuticura Soap combines delicate emollient properties derived from Cuticura* the great skin cure* with the purest of cleansing ingredients and the most refresh-' ing of flower odours. No other medicated soap is to be compared with it for preserving* purifying* and beautifying the skin* scalp, hair* and hands. No other foreign or domestic toilet soap* however expensive* is to be compared with it for all the purposes of the toilet* bath, and nursery. Thus it combines in ONE SOAP at ONE PRICE* the BEST skin and complexion soap* the BEST toilet and baby soap in the world. Complete External and Internal Treatment for Every Humour, a * Constating of CUTICURA Soap, to cleanse the skin of crusts ana al|f|A||l«A scales and soften the thickened cuticle; Cuticura Ointment, to MIIKILIIII/1 Instantly allay Itching, Inflammation, and Irritation, and soothe and mm heal. cuticura Resolvent, to cool and cleanse the blood. — u o — A SINGLE Set Is often sufficient to cure the most torturing, dtafig. THE OE I urtng, and humiliating skin, scalp, and blood humours, irith loss Of hair, when all else falls. Sold throughout the world. British Depot: F. Newbert A Boms, il and 28, Charterhouse Bq, London. Potter Drug and chem. Corp., Bol* Props.. Boston, U. 8. A.

less Guaranteed Cure at Homo, without operation, Addraes The. Duane Co, Beaver Falls, Pa.

MountSt.Joseph College and Academy, DUBUQUE, lOWA. Academy accredited to the University of tows and conduc ed by Slaters of Charity. B. U. M. Excellent facilities offered for the Education of Young Women and Children. Coneervatory of Music and Art on European plan. Ono mllo from Dubuque 01ty. Direct railroad connections with lea ling cities. St. Paa). Minneapolis, etc. Commando view of low* Wisconsin and Illinois Grounds cover io acres. Golf links, tennis courts, groves and pineries. Freshly equipped buildings; private rooms Three general courses of study. English and Notmal for pupils preparing to taka teachers’ examinations. English and Classical and English and Scientific. Thorough Bush neas course. Private pupils received. Session begins Wednesday, Sept. 11, 1001. For Catalogue address SISTER SUPERIOR, Mount St. Joseph, Dubuque, lowa ST. MARY’S ACADEMY Notre Dame, Indiana. Conducted by the Sisters of the Holy CrosH. Chartered 1855. Thorough English and Classical education. Regular Collegiate Degrees. In Preparatory Department students carefully prepared for Collegiate course. Physical and Chemical Laboratories well equipped. Conservatory of Music and School of Art. Gymnasium under direction of graduate of Boston Normal School of Gymnastics. Catalogue free. The 47th year will open Sept. 5, 1901. Address DIRECTRESS OF THE ACADEMY, St. Mary’s Academy, Notre Dame. Indian*.

Thompson’s Eye Watw

W. N. u. OHIOAGO, NO. SD, ICO I. When Answering Advertisements Kindi] Mention This Fsper,