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Newspaper
Pittsburgh Dispatch
Location
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Date
Apr 20, 1889
Page
4
All persons mailing the Sunday issue of The Dispatch should note postage is 2 cents per copy. Double and triple number copies require a 2-cent stamp to ensure prompt delivery. Pittsburg, Saturday, Apr. 2.
The piece notes unusually wet winter in the South and reports from Richmond that two yellow fever deaths occurred in Jacksonville and Fernandina. It discusses officials and doctors seeking to suppress news, the need for truthful reporting, and concerns about a state law penalizing false reports while urging accurate disease disclosure by physicians and citizens.
The article notes Harper's Weekly praise for Ireland's prospects and credits Gladstone Parnell and political reformers with improving English views. It argues that Irish aims are clearer, warns against race jealousy, and predicts a general election nearing within three years.
The Morris Canal abandonment is debated as editors claim the canal is useless. The Lehigh Valley Railroad Company has owned the canal for years and the canal rivaled rail transport of anthracite coal, a factor in the surrender being examined.
The author argues canals were wrongly endangered by rail interests, claiming canals still move certain freight cheaper than railways. The Erie Canal is cited as proof that public opinion keeps canals independent and tolls for grain far lower than rail charges. It contends coal transport costs rose after canals declined.
The Dispatch reports growing proof of Lima oil refinability and notes Standard Oil talks with Trenton Rock Oil Co about a possible purchase. It asserts Standard’s wide Lima land acquisitions and a refining process likely in hand, with public interest in early disclosure.
A public feud flares between Anson of Chicago and Kelly of Boston over insults and athletic prowess. The piece contrasts their quarrel with fashion leaders and countrywide calls for harmony, suggesting only prizefighters portray civility amid the uproar.
The South Carolina governor pardoned two African American men convicted of lynching a white man, arguing punishment should not differ by race. The writing suggests broader rule: lynchers of any race should face hanging for murder to improve safety and respect for law.
A Dubuque buyer ships cats to Dakota to combat vast mice damage in grain bins. Pittsburg and Allegheny region households are noted for feline abundance, while railroads could enable local competition in this unusual vermin control market.
A Beaver burglary netted one suspect after a ring of five conspired to gut a Beaver shoe store. Meanwhile Pittsburgh opinion on streetcar expansion and frontier restraint hints at rapid river transit replacing mule processions. A South Pittsburg youth fires at cats, hitting his sister, as April heat draws complaints.
Secretary Tracy returns to Washington from Brooklyn while Minister Morso speaks six languages. George W. Utermeblo owns over 500 DC houses and pays taxes on them. Secretary Bachelor attends a Whitelaw Reid tribute dinner in New York. Joan D. Jexxines, Chicago real estate magnate, died leaving an estate above 5 million. Admiral Rowan, 68, retired as a fit naval officer. A sycamore planted in 188 by Alice and Pharbe Cary near Hamilton is a local landmark shaded by passing travelers.
Treasury Department weighs multiple proposed sites for new public buildings with Milwaukee and Omaha among difficult choices. Secretary Windom orders thorough investigations by Batchelor Tichener and Supervising Architect Windrim to report findings for action.
Albany releases a new royal quarto compiling Regimental Losses in the American Civil War by Lieut. Colonel William F. Fox. The volume details each fighting regiment, battle chronology, state by state losses, enlistments drafted men, naval losses, and numerous other statistics.
A Thursday evening event on April 25 hosted by the Saturday afternoon dancing class at Thomas Academy. The reception and entertainment feature the King and Queen Pechorus' court with many youths taking part in the festivities.
The Philadelphia Times reports that Standard Oil has long owned Ohio's U S Senator and has absorbed the rest of the state. It implies Ohioans seeking power must emigrate.
Robert R. McCormick of Chicago, son in law of Joseph Medill of the Chicago Tribune, was named Second Secretary of Legation in London replacing Charles Phelps who resigned, in Washington dispatches dated April 1.
A photographer recalls Sydney Walters who died by his own hand in Chicago. The May Festival chorus, led by Carl Retter, grows from 450 to about 250 voices and rehearsals move to Mondays and Thursdays at Fifth Avenue Methodist Church. Skepticism about the exposition hall fades as Batchelor assures readiness. A humorous interlude follows about choral singing and a parishioner jokes about fish for dinner.
Jo J. Ivins, editor and McMinn County Democratic chair, resigns as the Athens Post switches allegiance to the Republican Party. In an open letter Ivins argues Southern manufacturing growth rests on Republican principles and predicts a wave of similar defections across the South as the leaven begins to work.
A young woman runs away to seek stage life and glamour but endures harsh work, harsh conditions, and low pay. She grows weary, loses sleep, and returns home with her mother, as similar stories persist through the ages.
Hobart N Y April 1 the Hobart bee case involving bee nuisance and neighbor rights will be retried in Delaware County Circuit Court. The Hee Association of the State will take the matter to the U S Supreme Court if needed. Eleven maps of Apiarist Rich premises were prepared by surveyors and engineers.
April 19 in Hixeron reports the Secretary of the Treasury names William A. of Manstrol to be chief of a Fire bed in the Auditor's office replacing a prior official.
Rev H radford Kinney Peirce D D a noted Methodist preacher and writer died this afternoon in Newton Massachusetts at age 70. A Wesleyan University graduate class of 1841 he served as chaplain in 1862 and edited Zion's Herald before returning to Boston to edit its literary column until retirement years ago.
The article discusses plant brain power and behavior, noting striking parallels between plant and animal nervous organization. It compares central brains in animals to ganglia in simpler creatures and questions how plants exhibit movement and response without a true brain.
The passage notes the budding resilience of the freshwater polyp which can be cut into many pieces and each piece regrows. Sea anemones show nerve-like vestiges, while jellyfish lack clear nervous material. Tiny aquatic forms react to even slight stimuli, shrinking when light or heat changes occur.
The article discusses irritability in plants like sensitive species and tropical weeds, arguing a form of brain power may exist without a nervous system. It cites Arthur Smith asserting plant intelligence surpasses simple protoplasm, while noting movement can be blocked by chloroform or opiates.
The text surveys microscopic diatoms desmids and other plants showing motion. Orchids’ lower petals irritability, pass plant leaf orientation, the sunflower turning toward the sun, and myths about Clytie are noted. It argues plants display animal like or instinctive behavior suggesting unknown brain power.
The text explains how seeds sprout to reveal determinate roots and stems, plants open and close flowers and leaves at fixed hours, and climbing plants seek their object. It notes Venus flytrap and sundew carnivory, detailing how leaves trap and digest prey.
The article argues that brain power, instinct, and reason blend without clear boundaries and that distinctions between plants and animals are hazy. It cites Haeckel’s suggestion of an intermediate kingdom to encompass debatable members of both groups.
Jeremiah Coughlan, 90, arrives in Desrion Arkansas bound for the Oklahoma country. He says he has been married nine times and has 27 children all alive. He carries a Kentucky squirrel rifle and recalls frontier adventures with Daniel Boone and Crow chiefs.
In Carbondale Pennsylvania April 1 Ralph Ball aged 6 became a hero after he pulled his fellow child Eddie Widner from a six foot deep unprotected well. Ralph kept Eddie's head above water until help arrived and the boy was returned to his parents.
A Washington telegram reports Postmaster General Wanamaker and Assistant Clarkson presiding as 102 fourth class Democratic postmasters are removed. Senator Quay met the officials, possibly influencing the record Pennsylvania total of 37 for the day. Names of affected post offices include Guliverstown and Cambridge towns, with De Hays appointed for Greenland.
Phil Armour, a Chicago financier living on Prairie avenue, contests Broker Roloson over a 15 foot strip between their houses. Armour offers escalating sums up to 5000 per foot while Roloson builds a three story addition, the highest price ever bid for vacant Chicago land. Armour sails for Europe as the dispute deepens and light enters his smoking room only during the day.
In San Francisco on April 12 Senator Stanford discussed railroad expansion. He predicted more SP branches may come but Seattle is not a current goal. He claimed a route to Alaska and across Behring Sea could be feasible within 2 years and envisaged an iron girdle around the earth in 35 years with roads through Himalayas and snow sheds as needed.
Neafie and Levy ship builders uncovered a large elm stump during foundation work for a new enlargement at Beach street Philadelphia. The stump, seven feet in diameter, lies near the Penn treaty monument site and is urged to be preserved as a relic by local residents.
Laurens county mourns the death of Uncle Jeannie Fielder born near Virginia May 1779. A War of 1812 veteran who also fought in the Mexican War, he desired Confederate service in the Civil War but stayed home for his family. A Democrat who never missed a presidential vote, he once walked four miles to cast a Cleveland ballot and was carried to the polls at the final section. He left a large lineage scattered from Virginia to Texas.
A collage of editorial snippets echoing regional attitudes. The Bellefonte News warns the National Guard to stay home after New York’s invitation, while other papers mock or defend political figures and wartime nerves with sharp quips about visits and loyalties.
Fragmentary religious verse describes Easter morning light breaking across Calvary. The speaker notes dawn after the month passes, praising hope and gladness as golden sunlight shines on the crosses and white-robed figures.
In April from New York a Chinese cook from Albany and two associates lure a man into a scam at Pie Kow. Thief Lee Foo and Charles Wing capture Charles James after he flees with 6000, while James heads to Albany with his money. A Brooklyn woman dies nursing her baby and a baby perishes. Elvira Rolla’s furniture sale after her death uncovers a boarded house scandal. James Taylor is arrested for larceny but discharged with a warning.
Delaware Lackawanna and Western coal trimmers in Jersey City walkout protesting reduced coal allocations aimed at keeping Eastern market prices high. Workers report earning 1–2 hours of pay daily, averaging under $600 weekly, at 3 cents per hour. They met to demand more working hours or risk continued stoppage.
James Nolan's counsel filed a notice of appeal in the Emma Boch murder case. Nolan, convicted of killing his sweetheart, faced a scheduled execution next Friday as the death watch was removed this afternoon.
David Flocker, a robust 73 year old longshoreman, is father to his twenty second child today. He remains healthy with black hair and whiskers, and appears younger than his eldest son. He receives weekly letters from his mother in Edinburgh who is 103.
In St Louis Judge Klein grants Mary Martin a divorce from Edward Martin after a romance sparked at Ragquet Lake. The couple wed in 1887. Martin vanished after a three day stay, later rumored to be planning another marriage. General Henderson and wife testified to the affair and Henderson’s wife corroborated details before the divorce was granted and Mary reassumed her name.
Reports from Ra les G NC state William K Vanderbilt plans a grand private mansion on 4000 acres near Asheville. The site overlooks the French Broad and Swannano rivers with views for miles. The mansion is described as 200 feet long with lavish reception rooms fountains and art and an estimated cost around 1 007 000. Vanderbilt is negotiating for 790 more acres at about 100 000.
The article argues against arguing over leadership at the Washington centennial. It praises General Washington for shaping the institutions and government and urges stopping partisan disputes to honor his legacy.
In Chicago humor and gossip swirl around claims that President Harrison snubbed a renowned local captain. Citizens question the tale noting the captain’s high social ties including visits with royalty and famous names, dismissing the slur as absurd.
A collage of editorials from major papers mocks Ward McAllister and the Century ball by recounting the 400 status and the chaotic planning for the Centennial parade in New York. It notes vacancies on the committee and suggests rivalries over social leadership and accommodations for guests.
A collage of brief items from a 19th century page notes pie production aims at 15,000 per day in Baltimore, British fisheries employ 250,000, and a Clackamas County resident seeks Poor Board aid for a large family. Other items include a Bible-verse fashion of news from Georgia, a buffalo bears tale, and odd curios from Mexico, Maine, and Australia.
Cartoonish excerpts praise and punch lines from Puck the New Yorker and Chicago papers. Jokes touch on postmasters misfits, horse radish myths, Biddle family debates, and courtly gibes. Light satire reflects turn to spring and readers’ wits.
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