i; v " SECOND PART. MgL P"""-H H M -. M IMPORTANT MOVE .Bouthside Eesidenls to Form an Or- i.. (mnirniinn tn Promote the Inter- t ests of That Section. PLAN FOE MORE COSCEETED ACTION Questions of Tital Pnblic Importance Will be Discussed and a Flan of Cam paign Mapped Out. ALL POLITICS WILL BE ELIMINATED. OplBiois cf a Somber of People an the Ins aid Osti of tie New Hovement An important public mOTcment has been Started on the Southside one that, if suc cessful, will have great influence in mold ing the future destinies of that section ot the city. The movement is as yet embryotic, but promises to go through with a rush. The proposed innovation is an organized body to discnss all matters pertaining to the welfare ot the Southside. The aim is to obtain concerted action on questions of public importance and to boom the Southside in all ways possible. The movement is the outcome of a seriesof events on the Southside, and its inception has been but the ultimate result of a public spirit in that direction which has been no ticeable for some time. A CHANGE IS NEEDED. The public spirited men of the Southside who have the welfare of that section at heart and desire to see it prominent in all things of uublic importance, have become dis gusted with the present order of things.and, in the new movement, seek a change. No matter what qnestion of public improve ment has arisen on the Southside, whether it was the water supply, tree bridges, a library site, more light, better streets, etc., the work of individuals to attain the de sired end has failed wholly or in part This state of affairs has been due, eo the promoters of the new scheme say, to a Uck of concerted action on the part of the residents. When any question arises of eqnal im portance to all Southside residents and without political bearing it has been the custom to hold mass meetings and have a spontaneous outbreaking all over the South Side. A WASTE OP AMMUNITION. As one prominent man stated yesterday Such tactics have been a total waste of am munition. If all the brain power thus ex pended was concentrated it would have gome effect. Br concerted action "Some definite result could be obtained. The Southside wants many things.and, as a number of persons said, it is a little backward in many questions of public im portance; not only the questions that have been agitated by old methods until they are chestnuts, but new movements that would further the business, industrial and tax pavers' interests in common. Jt has been proposed to call the new or ganization a "Committee of One Hundred." Another sugeestion is that it be named the "Southside Board of Public Necessities." The name will be settled on later, and is sow open to suggestions. The same may be said of the regulations, by-laws and general formation of the organization. THE MOVE SOW EMBKYOTIC. As the promoters have so far-only got to the decision of forming such an association, the details cannot be outlined. All these things will come at a meeting which will probably be held in the near future. The promoters are now working up inter est "in the matter, and are not having a very easy time doing so. The prime object and benefits that would accrue from the organi sation seem to be recognized br all as de serving of support The main thing seems to be a decision as to bow the organization should be conducted, and just how to go to work to make a success of it Alderman C. E. Succop is heartily in favor of the spirit of the move and would like to see it go through on the plans par tially outlined. He said the time had come when something should be done toward ob taining concerted action on matters of public importance. POLITICS MAT KILL XT. The Alderman is afraid politics will creep into it, and if such were the case he says the move would be a fizzle. He further said that there were enough public-spirited men on the Southside, and enough who would work for the welfare and advancement of that section, but the trouble has been that they did not come together and unite in their efforts. If the organization can elimi nate politics It wonld do a grand thing for the Southside. Mr. Fred Gearing said: "The Southside Board of Public Necessities would be a good name for the association, because it will work things that are necessary for the welfare of the Southside. Now, for in stance, there is the auestion of a library site for the Southside. The Southside is interested in having the library placed in the best location. THE PLANS OUTLINED. The organization could mee t, talk the matter and perhaps appoint a committee, with in structions, that would meet with the Library Committee and express the views of the organization. "It need not be necessary to have any ex pense attached to the work of the organiza tion at first It would be easy to take up a collection for hall rent if a meeting weie held in a hall. A president and secretary need to be appointeoy and such other officers as may be decided upon. By-laws can be drawn up, and when the necessity arises a meeting can oe called. The matter of funds will adjust itself as the occasion arises. "Any citizen of the Southside who has the welfare of the association at heart should be eligible to membership. It should be confined to merchants, manufacturers or professional men alone. And another thing politics should not be allowed to creep in at all." - OPINIONS OF PEOMTNKNT MEN. Dr. Borchfield is heartily in favor of the move and says he proposes to give it all the support possible. He bad the same senti ments in regard keeping the association free from politics. He said that it is just what is neeced on the Southside if they will take hold of the movement and push Jt through.it would result in much good being done aDd would have a great effect on the future of the Southside in many respects. He said that there were enoueh niiblic snirited men to take hold of such a move and accomplish feMtttbrg. ptSX. A. Wood savs he is D&rtlally in favor of the move, but he did not have lime to join in the forming of the associa tion; He said it seemed strnni that noth ing inai wouiu oe 01 nee interest to all resi dents can be brought to a successful issue. Some showed a public spirit but their efforts were drowned, a lack of concerted action. TVOULD roSTEB PUBLIC SPIBIT. W. C. Bernardi said that he was in favor of the movement-as outlined, and thought it would be a grand thing for the Southside. It would foster a manifestation of public spirit among all residents, and would tend to benefit the section in many ways. Henry .Miller is in favor of the proposed organization, and says if it were rightly car ried on it would be a great boon to the sec tion. vv.ro V. icnsiu tt cuav iu TVC Ui tue I Vail... T rA,. v M alua .. Imnr att XI. pure. Be said fie would like to see the I JjjSjjL, Joba J. Freand was also in. favor of the I goods! A splendid assortment now opened. I Hbotc, He said he would like to tee the I ixssa ' Huous & Hacks, j Sonthside boom and in order for it to do so it must be up to the times in all things. A number of others expressed their views but did not bring out other pointsthan those given, with the exception of one suggestion. It is stated that it would be a good plan to have regular meetings, say once each month and matters of importance could then be presented for consideration. A FOOT-PAD SHOT DEAD BY A SQUAD OF PURSUING POLICE MEN IN INDIANAPOLIS. Qnlek Retribution Followed Ed. Quintan, After Holding Up a Traveling Man Identified In Death br Bit Victim A Hot Skirmish. Indianapolis, August 29. last night at 11 o'clock, J. W. Wise, who sells goods for a firm here, was held up by four high waymen at the corner of New York and Missouri streets, and relieved of (86 in cash. Each man held a cocked revolver at "Wise's bead, and one of tbem who seemed to know him, said: "Come, pony up, Wise, we know you've got the moneyl" Mr. Wise was badly scared and hastily transferred his cash to the robbers, but as soon as they sneaked away be started for (he police station where he arrived in a short time and related his experience. Captain Campbell imme diately got together a squad of police, in cluding Sergeants Whevtly and Buscher, Detective Qaigley and several patrolmen, and went to the Big Pour crossing of Massa chusetts avenue. Captain Campbell sus pected that the robbers would endeavor to leave town on an outgoing train, and sta tioned his men there awaiting the com ing of the north-'bound Big Four ex press. The train was flagged on its ap proach by the officers, and just as it slowed up three or, four men jumped on the west side and started to run. The officers called to them to halt, but they did not obey, and revolvers were brought into requisition. Sight or ten shots were fired and one of the men threw up his hands and fell to the ground. He was picked up and carried into Girton's undertaking establish ment when he was laid on the floor. There he was identified by Captain Campbell as being "Joe" Quinliu, a railroader by occupation, who resides on English avenue, and he was also identified by Mr. Wise as being one of the men who had held him up a short time before. Police Snrgeon Hodges and a priest were tele phoned for simultaneously, and both reached Girton's at the same time, but before either could minister to the wants of the dying man, he breathed his last a few minutes be- Kfore 1 o'clock. J He was left at Girton's to be cared for, as ho friends or relatives appeared. It is not known who fired the fatal shot, as several officers were shootingat the same lime. Quinlin's record is not of the best, but his punishment was certainly greater than his crime. The men who jumped from the train with Quinlin were all arrested and gave their names at the police station as William Walton, George Stephens, Ed Gallagher and Joseph Scott Mr. Wise could not identity any of them as being in the party that robbed him, but they will be held for investigation. . FICTSBtTEG CAPITAL GOING WEST. Wesllnghouie nnd Others Investing In Chi cago Street Knllwnyi. rsraOU. TELZOKAM TO TBI DISPATCH. 1 Chicago, August 29. The people who are interested in the proposed Chicago and Lake Shore Electric Railroad Company are not yet ready to show their hands, and their identity is still unknown, bnt there is no doubt that George Westingbouse, ot Pittsburg, is the leading man in that part of the syndicate which hails from the Gas City. The charter oflhe company has not yet been taken out, though the formality of taking subscriptions for the entire cap ital stock has been gone through with. A gentleman who is interested in the project said yesterday that this is the first instance in which Pittsburg capital has ventured to take up aChicago passenger railway scheme. Philadelphia capital operates the railways in the North and West divisions, and under its management both have been made to yield enormous returns on the money in vested, but up to this time Pitttbog money has steered clear of this class oPinvestment Beat estate seems to be preferred above everything else by Pittsburgers. They figure quite numerously in syndicates for the purchase and subdivision of acre tracts. One resident of Western Pennsylvania has been in the real estate market so long and has gone in so deep that his Chicago properties are estimated as worth about $4,000,000. With reference to the electric railway it has not yet been de cided whether it will be on the surface or elevated. An elevated line is preferred, bus if that form is chosen it seems to be im possible to get to the business center of the Southside. It is understood that a number of Chicago capitalists have taken stock in the company, and a charter will be applied (or early in September. The Mayor and City Law Department propose that a pro viso shall be inserted in the charter requir ing the company to pay for its franchises by giving to the city every year 5 per cent of its gross income. FIGHH5G A M0H0P0LY. Chicago Drngglsu Combine to Reduce tbe Charge for Telephones, rurxciAi. TZLaonAM to tux dispatch. t Chicago, August 29. The 700 druggists of Chicago have taken the telephone monopoly in band and propose to break its power. At present a telephone costs $125 pervear to ordinary subscribers, with an extra charge, of course, when it is used for. the accommodation of several. The drug gists, after much deliberation, have organ ized a stock company under the corporation laws of Illinois with a capital stock of 51,000.000, and, by some means which have not yet been fully ex plained, they propose to furnish telephones to all comers at the uniform rate of 1 75 each. Mr. D. B- Dyche, who has taken a leading part in the movement said to-day that with 3,000 subscribers at $75 the enter prise could not but be a success. He be lieved that tbe druggists, with their friends, could easily obtain that number, and once the company was lairly on its feet its patron age wonld be assured. When asted whose patents he proposed to use, be re plied: "I do not care to say. The Bell patents expire in two years, and then any one can manufacture a telephone." "Do you intend to wait two years before putting up wires?" "I cannot answer that question author itatively," was the reply; "but it will re quire time to construct conduits and develop the plant centrally; but that tbe enterprise can be made to pay at $75 per year, I have no doubt." DISASTBOUS TTE-TTP IU BEICX A Deadlock In Bonding Threatened If There . I Ko Change. NewYobk. August 29. The members of tbe Building Materials Association, at a meeting held here this a'ternoon, reviewed the situation in the brick tie-up, and were despondent over it One of the conclusions reached was that the present strite is one of the-mosttiuastrous which hat occarred in this city for many years, embracing as it does almost every class of labor. Next week, if there is no change, work on all buildings will have ceased, as by that time the supply of brick will be exhausted. It Is feared that three of the building trades, who have time contracts, will suffer very much. Nrw fall dress goods! New fall dress goods! A splendid assortment bow opened, ixssa ' fiuous & hacsx. THE PITTSBURG DISPATCH. RELIEF IS PKOMISED. Extensive Improvements in the Sonthside -Water System. A SUFFICIENT SUPPLY AT HAND. Pumping Capacity at Both Stations to be Increased. SEW STOCK ISSUED BI THE COMPANY. A visit to the river pumping station of the Mon6ngahela Water Company at the present time would surprise many South side residents, and, it is safe to say, that the sights to be seen would be very agreeable ones in their eyes. The staid, old pumping station, with its creaking machinery, which has remained for years in a -quiet and secluded state, while the wildest invective have been hurled at it from all sides, has at list emerged irom its lethergaic sleep. The constant clamor for improvement in the pumping facilities to give an increased supply of water, and the only too evident justice of these demands have had their effect. The old pumps are doomed, and their places will be taken by modern giants that will toss the water with increased fury. OLD BUILDINGS ItOT LAEGE ENOUGH. The old buildiog may have answered its nnrnncft wpll in riavs cast, but its adaptabil ity to present needs is inadequate, and the next few months, will see some startling changes in its appointments and propor tions. To come down to a statement of facts, the Monongabela Water Company has decided upon a wholesale crusade of improvements, and are now rushing tbe work through with all the sieed possible. Ground at the sta tion is being excavated for the placing of two batteries of boilers, of three boilers each. They are large and of tbe best make. The new "10,000,000-gallon Worthington pump is expected in a short time, and it is proposed to have the boilers ready to receive them. When the new pump and boilers are ready for business, it is claimed that the pumping capacity of the works will be in creased sufficient to give the whole South side an ample water supply, and that the necessity lor further complaints on that score will be done away with. OTHER IS1PBOYEMENT6V But these are not the only improvements going on at the station. The company has purchased a number of smaller pumps and toe whole machinery of the works will be overhauled and new additions made where ever necessary. To provide for these im provements, additions to tbe present build ings will have to be made. When all is done the assurance is given that the South side will have best water equal to any in the country. The same scene is presented at the hilltop pumping station of the company. A new battery of three boilers is being placed in position. New pumping machinery will be added and things generally abont the place given a shaking-up. So much for the hill top station. The company's new 20-inch main, being laid along the hill from the hilltop pump ing" station over to Duquesne Heights, is nearly finished. The company has been bothered in receiving tbe pipe fast enough from tbe manuiacturers. The work is now held back from that cause. As soon as more pipe is received the work will be pushed to completion. SUPPLY FOB THE HILL. The 30-inch main from the river pumping station to the hilltop pumping station will give additional capacity for pumping the water to tbe hilltop reservoirs, and it is promised that in the near future they will never again be empty or down to the sus picious mark. Another large reservoir will be constructed and placed on the hill in Allentown. Mt Washington and Duquesne Heights will be served directly from the pumpiug station by a new system, by which a strong pressure will be insured. As the water is forced to. Mt Washington and Duquesne Heights, Kthe surplus, which is provided for, will keep the Allentown tanks full. To make all of these improvements the water company has issued $150,000 worth of stock and as money is needed, will call for more stock, the present stockholders being given first cnance and at par. THE NEW ISSUE OF STOCK. Of the new issue of stock, each stockholder is entitled to one share for every ten he now holds. A circular has been Issued calling in' 50 per cent of the stock by September 1, and the reniainder'will be-called iu by No vember. The stock which is in shares of (25 is now worth $30 in the market, so that the com pany will have no trouble 'in getting all it wants, instead the present stockholders who get it at par are only too willing to jump at the chance. Mr. Stengel, Superintendent of the coin pany.said yesterday: "Wearetryingtodoall we can to give the Southside the water sup ply possible, and if tbe people will only be a little patient they will have no cause for complaint Irom the water company. The increased population and demand for water has simply outdistanced us a little, and we must have time to increase our capacity to keep pace with events. "There is probably no other city in tbe country which has so many manufacturing plants using vastquantities of water and ac cording to the popnlation as Pittsburg. Bight here is one point that has been a great drawback to our company. A SEBIOUS DBAWBACX. "Some of the largest mills have machinery for pumping their own water from the river. If their pumps happen to give out for any cause they connect our system without our knowledge. This calls for a greatly in creasedpressure, and we have been bothered to regulate or provide for this extra de mand." Mr. Stengel was asked' what the company proposed toward giving the citizens water of a better quality. He said: "We have mapped out a series of improvements which will give the Southside an 'ample supply of water. We take it from the river and can not change its quality. We are on tbe look out for a means of supplying more palatable water, but as yet have not found a remedy." "I have personally investigated the scheme of purifying or settling the water by means of settling reservoirs suggested by the Dis patch, and find that it will not work. IT "WILL NOT tVOBK. "St Louis has a system of reservoirs like those named, but they do not do the business. If water is left too long in a res ervoir where it is undisturbed or agitated it is the worst thing in the world for it The effect of the atmosphere is very deleterious. It multiplies the disease germs and sets in action any little vegetable sub stance the water may contain that would otherwise be harmless. "Dr. Koch, the celebrated Berlin scien tist, has estimated that in a cubic centi meter of still water one little disease germ will multiply to 50 in one day, in two davs it will icrease to 700, and the third to 1,000,000, and the four or five days the in creases is infinitesmah The cities obtain ing their supply from the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and other cities are having tbe same trouble as the Southside abont muddy water, and a solution to the prob lem will be hailed by all. The water is pure enough, as the mud itself purifies the water. When we find some means of clari fying the water, it will be adopted. When we have Improvements completed the South side will have a sufficient supply, and as pure, if not purer, supply than the old city." I flfllf AT ihe Voting and JPriz fuav VUUiA n I announcemtnl on the fourth page ofthtt tstue of XME DMSPATOB, , PITTSBURG, SATUBDAT, QUICKSILVER MINES. ' INTERESTING FACTS AND FIGURES OATH ERED BY THE CENSUS OFFICE. Eleven Productive Mine Men at Work Above nnd Below Ground Not Much Money In It-Tbe Wngea of the Work- i men Tho World' Production. ISrSCIAIi TXLXOBAX TOTH3 DISPATCH.! Washington-, August 29. The divis ion of mines and mining to-day got out its second bulletin, the subject being quick silver. Athough this is purely a produc tion of the Pacifio coast all the quicksilver mines in the country being situated in Cali fornia with the exception of one in Oregon the bulletin contains many interesting details which cannot fail to be or value in the Bast Darin? the calendar year 1889 there were 26,464 flasks, or 2,024,496 pounds, or 1,012 short tons of quicksilver produced in Cali fornia. About 20' flasks, less than 51,000 in value, were produced In Oregon. The ? rod net is notably less than the usual yield. d 1888, 33,250 flasks were produced-. There are only 11 productive minesin the country and they employ 937 operatives, 116 on the surface and 12 underground. At 14 active establishments there were expended $219,622 for supplies, $626,289 for wages and $35,490 for other expenses, embracing taxes, rent, interest, etc., makinga total of $881,401, showing that 71 per cent was paid for wages, 25 per cent tor supplies and 4 per cent for all other expenses. Of the amount paid for wages the office force absorbed $34,906, and these paid to foremen, mechanics, miners, furnace hands and laborers $591,323, The value of the total yield of quicksilver was $1,190,500, so that the profit on the vear'a work, based the returns collected, was $309,099. The difference between the aver age cost and average sale price per flask was $11 69. No establishment made a profit commensurate with the risks attending the mining of cinnabar, its manufacture into quicksilver, and finding for it a market in competition with rich and important estab lishments carried on by foreign Govern ments. The wages show considerable variations, depending largely upon the locality of the work, its importance, and the degree of skill required for its performance. On workat surface, foremen were reported to earn daily wages ranging from $10 33 to $2 66; me chanics, $3 60 to $2 05; laborers, $2 to $1 18, the last named Tate being for Chinamen. Boys under 16 years of age, of whom only four were emploved, none underground, earned $1 and 75 cents. For foremen at underground work the average wages ranged from $4 68 to $2 75 daily. Miners earned an ayerage of $2 67 to $1 25, tbe lowest rate being for Chinamen, of whom a few were employed at small establishments. Several tables are given at the end of the report One of these shows the total world's production of quicksilver for ten years. The Spanish, Austrian and Italian mines produced a total of 685,936 flasks during the decade 18801889, while all the mines in the United States produced a total of but 407, 675 in tbe same period. Another table shows the quicksilver product in tbe United States for each year from 1850. This table is particularly noticeable Irom the fact that it shows a constant dropping off of produc tion for the last 12 years. THANKS TOE BEBXVOLFJf CE. Work of the Frnlt and Flower Million Dar ing August. The committee for August of the Fruit and Flower Mission return thanks for gifts of fruit, flowers, money and papers to the following persons: Messrs. J. E. and H. Murdock; A. M. and J, B. Murdock, Mr. Wm. Wade, Mr. B. Patterson, Mr. Back ofen, Miss K. Benny, Mrs. G. Black, Miss K. McKnigbtMisSj McKee, Mrs. A. C. Dravo, Mr. G."L.V Lee, Mrs. L, A. Johns, Mrs. G. Moke, Mrs.L. Bruce.Mr.H. Childs, Mrs. O. J. Clarke, Miss Smith, Mrs. C. Harrison, Mrs. M. K. Morebead, Mrs. J. Garland, MissM. Montooth, Mrs. McCurdy, Mrs. J. Homer, Miss A. W. Davis," Miss Nelson, Mr. JT. Patterson, Mrs. Ayres, Mrs. J. Part, Mary and "Max" Hazeltine, the Misses M. and H. Max well, Miss Williams, Mr. B. Elliott, "A Friend," and "The Duquesne Club." Cash: Mrs. J, D. Bailey, $5; MissB. Benney, $1; Mrs. J. JJalzeJl, $10; Mrs. Bums Herron, $5; Mrs. Wm. B. Thompson, $10; Miss Williams, $1. The committee have visited and dis tributed to Allegheny General, Southside, West Penn and Homeopathic, Mercy and St Francis hospitals 1,189 bouquets, 2 baskets flowers, 56 watermelons, 29 gallons of ice cream, 74 bushels apples, 22 quarts huckleberries, 15 quarts blackberries, 6 baskets peaches, 10 baskets grapes, 10 dozen lemons, 1 bushel tomatoes, 1 dozen eggs, and papers and magazines. Mrs. J. D. Bailey, Miss B. Benney, and Miss G. S Williams were the committee for the month.' TEMPOBABY QTJABTER8 To be Oecnpled br the School Children of Wilklnnbnrg. The public schools in Wilkinsburg will open on Monday, September 8, in the fol lowing quarters: Booms Nos. 1 and 2, in tbe janitor's building on the school ground; Nos. 3, 4 and 5, in rooms adjoining St James' Catholic Church, on Franklin street; Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 9, in Johnston's Hall, on Boss street; Nos. 10, 11, 12 and 13, in the Betormed Presbyterian Church, on South street; Nos. 14, 15 and 16, in the United Brethren Church, on Boss street. These places have all been kindly offered without compensation by the owners. Tbe pupils of the Third ward, with the excep tion of those in rooms 15 and 16, will be fur nished quarters in their own ward, which will be announced later. , The work on the new school bnilding is progressing rapidly, and is expected to be ready for occupancy by December next BAD HO M0HEY THEBE. The Fifth Avenno Bnnk Itf uudlntei a Claim of George D. Kelly. George D. Kelly, of the firm of Kellyf& Beecher, the advertising agents ol No. 94 Fourth avenue, was yesterday charged with false pretence before Alderman McMaster's by Benjamin F. Harris. Harris claims that Keliy tendered him a check drawn on the Fifth Avende Bank in payment of an obligation, which was Re jected at the bank becanse the firm of Kelly & Beecher had no money on deposit Kelly gave bail for a hearing on Money, WITH FALSE PBETEK8E. Tbe Dollnr Sank Denies Thnt Mr. Gordon Bad an Account There. C. W. Gernert, of No. 640 Fifth aveuue, yesterday made an information befote Alder man McMasters against B. Gordon, of No. 834 Fifth avenne, charging him with false pretense, alleging that the defendant pro cured a bill of coods from him on the .strength of a representation tbat he had an account with the .Dollar Savings lianK. This proved to be not true, hence tbe suit He will have a hearing on Monday. Novelty plaids and stripes, the very newest fall styles and colorings, extra value, finches wide, 75o a yard. ttssu Huaus & Hacks. Excursion to Ohio Pjle o-morrow, via the B. & O. It. B. Bate CO the round trip, xrain leaves at e.iw The Steubenville fO.) Female Semi- larv will ooen September 17. For cata logue apply to Dr, Beid. AUGUST 30, 1890. ME-PKOOF HOUSES. There Are Some in Pittsburg and Elsewhere, Architects Assert. HOWSUCH STRUCTURES AEE BUILT. The Examination of a Puddling Furnace Gives the Solution. CEMENT THE INGREDIENT LACKING Fire-proof buildings are a desideratum in Pittsburg, and if you don your thinking cap you will not need a diagram in explana tion. In Philadeh hi f, where everything is confessedly slow, combustion is double what it is in Paris, the confessedly fastest city iu Christendom. Making full allow ance for superior laws regulating fire insur ance in Paris over those that rule in the Quaker City, it is evident that much of the loss in the latter city is due to faulty con struction to put it mildly, for rascality is tbe correct term rascality in its most hei nous aspect, and fully equal to the malev olence of tho.e who murder for money. Part of it is the vault of criminal hoggery, and the remainder of criminal carelessness. It may be accepted as settled beyond doubt that tbe majority of fires in dwelling houses originate in defective fines, which a builders' conscience conld and should pre vent at a cost of $5 to $10 at most Phila delphia has an act providing for tbe inspec tion of chimneys in process of construction, but in territory of over 1,000 miles of streets it is difficult to insure inspection, much more so in municipalities where there is no pre cautionary law in force. EEFOBMS IN THE EAST. New York architects and fire insurance men have combined to effect a reform in the building of alleged fire-proof structures, and they find the task somewhat sisyphusian. People have been so frequently taken In by alleged fire-proof appliances that they look with more or less distrust on all pretensions of the kind. Iron buildings have been tried and found wanting; granite and most sand stone are in but little better repute. Tbe Potsdam sandstone may stand baking in a furnace, as alleged, but it hasn't been proven, or if proven, not to the public, that it will stand the application of water while hot without crumbling. Granite crumbles; porous sandstone absorbs moisture which, when heated, forms steam, which, disin tegrates with much the same effect as blast ing powder. Burnt clay, from time imme morial, has proven, itself the best fire-proof material, either mud with straw as in Egypt, or without as in Pitts burg, but the trouble has been to get a ce ment tbat would be equally good, for the one without the other is in a great measnre useless. A cement has been invented which answers the parpose, but it eosts $50 a bush el, and this coit is beyond tbe means of those who have not tbe resources of a State behind them. Concrete fillings and linings are, though cheap, rejected because of their lack of strength. A concrete beam support ing a load transversely is said to have but a little'over 6 per cent ot the strength ot a wooden one oi the same section, but concrete as a coating ior wooden beams is eulogized, making wooden beams equal to iron so far as resistance to flame is concerned. But the sum total of all investigation is that there are very few fire-proof buildings in New York or elsewhere, though this view does not prevail with all Pittsburg architects. Mr. J. T. Steen wa not in his office, but a couple ofgentlemea connected therewith stated that they regarded the Fidelity Title and Trust Company bnildingon Fourth ave nue as fire-proof, except the granite in the front It remained to be seen whether a fire on the opposite side of tbe avenue could be made hot enough to disintegrate it, said they: "We cover all iron work with terra cotta. We are also informed that Potsdam sandstone will resist a high degree of heat; that it has been broken in a furnace without disintegration, but we do not know whether when thus heated it would stand the appli cation of water." BELIEF HT FIRE-PKOOF BUILDINGS. ' Mr. O. Yeager, President of the Pennsyl vania Construction Company, seemed to doubt whether there was a single building in Pittsburg absolutely fire-proof, hut he thought such buildings could be con structed. A number of architects were consulted. who refused to go on record on the subject, but held that there were a number of build ings in the city substantially fire-proof, or so nearly so that they would oppose the pro gress of fire to an extent that would prevent its rapid spread so that tbe fire depart ment can easily handle a conflagration in their vicinity. Mr. E. M. Butz talked in a positive way that was exhilarating. He said there were a considerable number of buildings in this county that were fire-proof and instanced the Western Pennsylvania Penitentiary, the Allegheny Coupty Court House, the new Pittsburg Custom House, Fidelity Title and Trust Company.National Bank of Commerce building, and German National Bank. Mr. Butz also stated that there were hundreds of fire-proof buildings in Chicago, and a larger number in New York, among which he named tbe Times building, World build ing Moss, Fost, Mills, and new Columbia buildings, the latter at No. 29, Broadway. In any of these, combustible material might be placed in a room iu any quantity desired, set on fire, the room closed, and the fire misht exhaust itself, as in a bake oven, without setting fire to the rest of the structure. The idea expressed was similar to that of the construction ol a puddling furnace. It is built of firebricks and bound with iron beams. In this a beat of several thousand degrees may be generated without injuring the iron bindings, and buildings ot all kinds can be constructed on similar principles. Such buildings are ..necessarily costly, but the extra cost can be saved in course of years in reduced insnranccpolicles. Fire may devour the contents, but the structure will remain intact Mr. Butz talked at a 250-word-a-minute rate, but the above expresses his ideas on the subject BIO FIEES CAN -BE PEEVES TED. There is still left the question of mortar, but the danger of disintegration here con sists in the narrowness of streets. Were they of sufficient width to preserve the out side ot buildings from great heat It requires no argument to prove tbat ex tensive fires might be wholly averted. It is a disgrace -to the age that poorhouses, orphan and insane asylums should burn down. We're proper precautions used in construction, fire could be confined to the room in which it originates, and the recital of sickening holocausts would be spared and with it the stereotyped reportorial phrase ology of "fierce flames, fire fiend, dull thud, serpent tongues" and much more ot tbe same sort, and In time he might be spurred to invent or appropriate other equally in tense description, less shop-worn and equally expressive, with the merit of novelty. Aa to tbe Potsdam sandstone referred to, the writer on sandstones in the American Encyclopedia, does not seem to know any thing about its fire resisting qualities, for he dismisses it with the observations to wit: "It is found near the base of tbe Silurian rocks; is extremely bard and close-grained; is of a yellowish prawn color; is found at Potsdam, N. Y., and in Eastern PeLnsyl vanla, is a fine building stone, and is much used for flagstones in New York City." What is the sum of "the whole matter? To insure absolute security, streets should be 100 feet wide, or homes must be built in thsj manner outlined by Mr. Butz, and if Pots dam sandstone is not, fire proof, give up some of our ideas regarding style, and get back to first principles, so far as they can be ascertained, in the building art, and use what the builders in the plain of Shinar used bricks instead of marble, granite, iron or sandstone. If niggardly in the mat ter of space, then we must sacrifice looks or take the consequences. ON A RUNAWAY CAR. Exciting Experience of a Flttibnrg Iron Manufacturer oa n Fnllmnn Sleeper Chasing a Locomotive Down a Mountain Side A Fight for Life. An iron manufacturer of this city bad a thrilling experience on the Pennsylvania Bailroad, a few days since, that so far has not found its way into print He had engaged ten sectionsJn a sleeper at Phila delphia for himself and family, but by some mistake the first section of the train, to which the party belonged, pulled out of the Philadelphia depot before the family ar rived. There was a hustling lor a few minutes and another sleeper was found and put into the second section, and, as there was no time for proper make-up, the sleeper was placed next the tender of the locomqtive. All went well enough until the train had come some dis tance down the western slope of the mount ain, when the manufacturer happened to notice that tbe car was running at a terrific rate' of speed. Turning to look for tbe loco motive he was horror stricken to see it scudding away like the wind trying to keep out of the way of the train, and the engineer making frantic motions for something to be done. The passenger seized the brake wheel, and was farther horrified to find the chain 'broken. By this timeuie engineer, seeing tbat tbe passenger bad sense enough Jeit to act, slowed the locomotive until the flying train came within ear shot and called to the iron maker to run into the lavatory and turn tbe valve on the airbrake. He obeyed, but found the door locked and some one in side who refused to open the door. There was no time for explanation, so be kicked the door in and caught tbe valve just as the irate occupant was getting in good fighting trim. The lat ter men comprenenaea me suaauua anu gave over bis beligerent demonstrations. The speed of the train was slackened suffi ciently to allow it to connect with tbe loco motive, and repairs were made. The trouble with the engineer was tbat the coupling had pulled out of the sleeper, and adhering to the tender made connection dangerous while a high rate of speed was maintained, as the force of contact probable was a qnestion too delicate to tackle under such circumstances. This is the explanation of why a fast train on the Pennsylvania Bailroad was four hours late a few mornings since. The hero of the sleeping car was too nervous to allow his transacting any business the day of his arrival. UTEBALIY 8TABVED TO DEATH, An Aged Conple Who Were Without Food for a Week. rBFICIJLL TJ3.EOBA1I TO TBE DISF.i.TCB.1 New Yobk, August 29 A horrible dis covery was made to-day in a miserable hovel at Greenville, occupied by an old couple . name Herschell. The neigh, bors had not seen the Herschells for several days, and their suspicions be came aroused. They notified the police, and Policeman Merntz was sent to make an investigation. The door of the shanty was locked, and he was compelled to force it open. On a pile of rags and old clothing covered with filth he found tbe dead body of Mrs. Herschell. The features were dis torted and the eyes were wide open. In an other corner and but a few feet from the body of the old woman lay her hus band gasping for breath and scarcely able to speak or move. An ambulance was summoned and the old man was taken to the Jersey City Hospital. The remains of his wife were conveyed to the morgue. At the hospital it was round tbat the old man was in the last stages of starvation. After he bad received nourishment he was able to tell his sad story. He said that his name was Henry Herschell, and that he was 70 years of age. His wile's name was Mary, and she too was 70 years old. They had been married over 40 years, and came to this country from Germany long ago. The old man said that he injured his back by falling, and was unable to work at his trade. He and his wife had managed to save a little money, and by the closest economy they had lived on this a long time. When tbe money became exhausted they suffered from hunger and cold. During last win ter they went for days without food or fire. They had to go ' out begging to keep from starving. He said that when the policeman came to his hut he and his wife bad been without food lor over a week. His wife died on Monday last He became so weak after her death that he could not get out to notify tbe neighbors. -FEBISHED HT TEE FLAMES. Unable to Escape From a Burning Hotel, a Woman 1 Roasted Alive. Poet Huboit, Mich., August 29. The Tunnel House, a large frame hotel at the Sarnia entrance to the St Clairriver tunnel, was burned'last night and one of tbe female employes, unable to make her escape from the upper rooms, was burned to death. Two men who were in the house at the time can not be found, and it is feaTed that they also met their death in tbe flames. The bouse was a big wooden building, and was occupied by the diggers and shovelers in the tunnel. It was surrounded by little houses, also filled with laborers, and it was a wonder that the fire did not spread farther and tbat more people were not burned. SEVENTY-SEYEN DEATHS. A Big Decrease In the Number Over the Hams Week Iiait Tear. The number of deaths during the week ending on the 23d instant, as shown by the mortuary report, was 77, as against 95 for the"" corresponding time in 1889. From diphtheria there were 9 deaths; typhoid fever, 8; pneumonia, 5; diarrhoea, 8, of which five were choleraic; bronchitis 2; con sumption, 3. Of the total number, 33 were children leas than 5 years of age and 23 of those were un der 1 year. The East End led the other sec tions of the city with S3 deaths; Southside and Old City, 18 each. SPEER'S HEARING ADJ0TJBHED. He Wat on Hand but Mr. Biggs, the Jew eler, Won Anient. The hearing in the case of A. B. Speer who is charged by J. M. Stoner, a clerk for George W. Biggs & Co., jewelers, with the larceny by bailee of two diamond rings, which was set for yesterday afternoon be fore Magistrate McBZeona, xtat postponed until Wednesday afternoon next. f The oause of tbe postponuient was the ab sence of Mr. Biggs from the cit The de fendant with his counsel, Clarence Bur leigh, Esq., were on hand ready to proceed, but were satisfied to allow an adjournment. To the State Encampment. Major Joseph F. Denniston started for Gettysburg last night to attend the Depart ment Encampment which opens there to day and over which he will preside. Only the delegates went down last night, but a great many of the veterans-' will start to nijht and to-morrow. CHAPTEB I. "I'm afraid Mrs. Piggin will have to go," said the rector. Mr. Sowerbutts, a stout, middle-azed farmer, grunted his dissatisfaction. The other members of the Little PuJdington school board offered no opinion. "Yes; I think we must give the old lady a quarter's notice, and get rid of her," con tinued Mr. Dowthwaite. "She is terribly behind the age; there's no doubt of that The school has earned hardly any grant for tbe last two years." Mr. Sowerbutts gave another grant, meaning to expr ess thereby bis contempt alike for Mrs. Piggin's grant-earning pow ers, the grant, and the -educational depart ment "I expect in another year the inspector will bring down the wrath of the depart ment upon us in earnest Perhaps they will dissolve tbe board and order the elec tion of a new one." '.That won't do, nohow," said Mr. Sower butts decisively. "Then Mr. Sowerbutts moves that the present holder of the office of school-mistress be invited to resign, and that the chairman be requested to insert advertisements for a new teacher in the Church Times, and other newspapers," said Mr. Dowthwaite, making a jotting of the motion as be spoke. "Mr. Wintle seconds the motion," he added, with a glance in the direction of that gentleman. Mr. Wintle, whose eyes had been fixed the whole time on the rector's face, gravely nodded; and the rector rose from his chair to intimate that the meeting was at an end. Mr. Dowthwaite spent the whole of the afternoon in drafting an advertisement and sending copies of it to various clerical and scholastic newspapers. "Must be a sound cbnrchwoman. One able to play the har monium preferred," he added to the list of requirements. There was a standing diffi culty about getting a not utterly incompetent performer on tbe harmonium of Little Puddiugton; and the good rector thought he might as well make the obnoxious education act useful for once. The interview with Mrs. Piggin he de ferred till the following morning, as being the most unpleasant part of the business. It went off, however, better than he had feared. By degrees he got the old lady to understand that if she sent in herreigna tion it would befgratefully accepteds, and she would be considered as having put the parish and the country generally under an obligation. "You see, Mrs. Piggin, we are obliged to follow the times," said good-natured Mr. Dowthwaite, in an apologetic tone. "We can't anord to loss tbe grant another year, we really can't." "Ob, I suppose (not, sir," said Mrs. Pig gin, fixing her eyes on the rector's face. "I've been schoolmistress in this parish for two an' twenty years; an' we've done very well without any grant. I've brought up my children to learn their catechism and do their duty, like their fathers before them. I can't teach French an' drorin', an such like; and much good it would do them if I coiild. However. I have saved enough, thank heaven, to be independent of every one; and Betsy Jane Pugb, stop talklu' and go bn with your sum, or it'll be the worse for ye." The rector listened in silence, and finally made bis escape, thankful that the most dis agreeable part of his duty as a reformer was over. But his difficulties were by no means at an end. Tbe day after his advertisement appeared he received 127 applications for the vacant post; the next day brought him 213; the third day produced 96. All the applicants were able to teach every neces sary subject, as well as several which were not necessary, and everyone was able to produce testimonials of the highest possible character. In his despair, the rector turned to his sister-in-law. Miss Jordan, who had kept his bouse since the death of his wife, and humbly sued for her advice and assistance. But Miss Jordan was an elderly lady, with strong, old-fashioned prejudices, and she ob jected to the new scheme altogether. ' She sarcastically advised tbe reinstatement of Mrs. Piggin a course which was plainly out of the question. Mr. Dowthwaite then turned for help to his curate the Bev. Augustine Cope a meek and gentlemanly voung man, who acted as unpaid secretary to the rector when there was anything troublesome to be done. Mr. Cope took the mass of papers home to his lodgings and made an attempt to select a few ot the mdst promising applications from the others. At the end of four hours' work, however, he found that his list contained no fewer than 49 names an obviously impracticable num ber. At the next monthly meeting of the board matters were no further advanced. The table of the morning room at the rectory which served as a board room was cov ered with letters of application and copies of testimonials; and the members of the board sat gaping at the piles of document in helpless dismay. "Well, gentlemen, began Mr. Dowth waite, with a very vague notion of what the rest of his sentence was to be, when a knock at the door interrupted him. "Come in," he cried. "Please sir," said Thomas, "there's a lady wishes to see you." "But I am engaged, Thomas." "But this lady has called about the school board." "An applicant? It is rather irregular, certainly. I particularly mentioned in the advertisements that no personal applications were to be allowed," said the chairman to his fellow-laborers, "However, since the "I PAGES 9 TO 12. T youag person is here, we may aa well sea her. Show her in, Thomas." A moment afterward a slim, upright figure, in a dainty summer costume, ap peared in the doorway, and the farmers present rose instinctively to their feet Only the rector retained his presence of mind. "Thomas, set a chair," he said. The young lady bowed with the utmost self-possession, and took tbe seat which was offered to her. She was decidedly pretty. There was no donbt about that, iu spite of her paleness and her thin lips. Her fair hair was broogbt down smoothly overs brow as white as any woman could desire her features were all delicately formed, her eyes being especially attractive. Her age it might have been difficult to guess; a man would have admitted that she might be over 20; a woman would have said she did sot look 30. "Your name is Miss ah? Miss Gray ling?" asked the rector, referring to the card which Thomas had handed to him. The young lady bowed. As she lifted her head she saw that the rector was still scrut inizing the card, and she comprehended the other members of the board in one swift glance, finishing with the curate. Mr. Cope dropped his eyes. Hiss Grayling smiled inwardly. "And you have come about the vacancy in the parish school, I understand?" in quired the reotor. Again Miss Grayling bowed without speaking. "I particularly requested that no per sonal applications were to be made," said the rector, in an injured tone. Miss Grayling gave a little sigh. "I was afraid I had done wrong," she said, with ber eyes on the carpet; "but I was so anxious that my application should not be overlooked. If you would kindly ,excnse my coming, I think you would find my testimonials satisfactory." As she spoke, she lifted her eyes to those of the reverend gentleman, dropping them immediately in a very modest and becom ing manner. Mr. Dowthwaite was mollified. "Where have you been teaching?" he asked. She mentioned the name of a village Iu Yorkshire; and Mr. Cope busied himself in hunting up her letter ot application and her testimonial from a large bundle of sim ilar documents. Having found them, he laid them before tbe rector in silence. "Not very much experience; not so much as we could have wished only six months," said the rector. "Now, we particularly wanted a certificated teacher." "I have little doubt tbat I conld pass the examinations if you think it desirable," said Miss Grayling, quietly; "but I think I may say I am capable of teaching the village children everything necessary." It was, indeed, absurd to imagine tbat this elegant young lady was not capable of acting as preceptor to Betsy Jane Pugb and her companioes; and the rector, feeling this, tossed the rather scanty testimonials aside: "I ought to tell vou," he said, "that this is a very modest appointment You know the) salary is not large, and depends partly on the government grant earned by tbe school. The position is not ah! not an exalted one. By the way," he exclaimed sudden ly, "can you play the harmonium?'" "Ob, yes, sir," said Miss Grayling, with a bright and pleasant smile. "Ah well we will consider your appli cation," said Mr. Dowthwaite, shuffling the papers before bim rather nervously. "I beg your pardon, sir," said Miss Gray ling, in a low, earnest tone, as she raised her graceful form from her seat, "but wonld you allow me to wait in the hall, or kitchen, or anywhere, till my case is decided on? I have a long journey before mc, and, if vou could" She did not finish her sentence, bnt she glanced at the other members of tbe Imrd as the spoke. Mr. Sowerbutts and his friends bad not, meantime, spoken a word; but now they uttered a halt-articulate murmur, and the rector bowed in a stiff, but courteous fashion. The modest request was granted, and Miss Grayling withdrew. ' Somehow, the young lady had made the.. board feel that she was, in a sacse, await ing their verdict that her fate hung in their hands. "Well, gentlemen." said Mr. Dow thwaite, "I don't know that we could ao better. This young ah! person is recommended; I may say, highly recom mended by the" lilting his double eye glasses to his nose "tbe vicar ot Little Shenstone. There can be little" doubt as to her capability to undertake the duties. And really, if we began bunting through all these papers, we might go farther and fare worse. " 'Ear, 'ear," murmured Mr. Sowerbutts, in a hollow, bass voice, tapping the point of his stick gently on the floor; and accord-,-inelvitwas settled that Miss Laura Hill . Grayling should be appointed to the vacant' ; omce. . CHAPTER It In the course of a month the new school-' mistress entered upon her duties. The; village children regarded her with mingled! admiration and awe as she came into the i little schoolroom for the first time In hersj spotless morning gown. The dress waa only of cotton, but it was neatly, eveai stylishly made. They gazed with wonder! and delight aa Miss Grayling comtempta- ously flung poor Mrs. Piggin's cane late! the empty fireplace; and,, they promised themselves golden days for tbe future. In that particular, however, they were! disappointed. The new teacher, they see discovered, was not to be trifled with. Tkeyj naa to wore uaraer wan tney uaa e,T n j 1J5.-B.sl. i.' ',s lA . .- 4 nfi Hi
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