Tur'inmanr
| JAPAN’S LEADING FINANCIER j
The “foremost business man of
Japan,” Baron Ei-ichi Shibusawa. to
whom more than to any other his na
tion owes her commercial and indus
trial transformation, hater of jingoes,
friend of peace and of America, has
been making another visit to the
United States.
A stocky little man, broadshoul
dered, round faced, few gray hairs on
his large, well formed head, although
he is only a trifle short of seventy-six
years; small eyes, that twinkle in con
versation; frequent smiles, rev.ealing
much gold dentistry—such is the
baron.
Forty-two years ago, when Japan
was emerging from feudalism and irre
sponsible government into the world’s
light, Ei-ichi Shibusawa threw away
his brace of swords, all privilege and
high office to stand for business hon
esty. Holding a promisient office in
the treasury under the mikado’s new
government at J okyo, he found tuat secret and medieval methods still pre
vailed in national finance. His soul became insurgent. In a bold mani
festo in 1873 he denounced the irresponsible and antiquated methods o*
bookkeeping and of handling the public money.
>'e founded the first national bank of Japan, established commercial
train..ig schools, organized the Tokyo chamber of commerce, and also alms
houses and philanthropic institutions. He served his generation as director
or chairman of the organizations which he had started. In a thousand ways,
tnrough a day and night activity of over forty years, he has labored to
make the business man and his calling honorable, punlic spirited and measur
ably unselfish.
In Sapan he re-created the whole social situation. Today the merchant
manufacturer and shipper hold the place they deserve.
{ JACOBUS, JUNK EXPERT
Ever hear of a junk expert? Up
to the time that William Jacobus, the
scrap-metal expert, stepped into the
limelight by showing how Uncle Sam
. could save millions on the scrap usu
ally sold as “junk.'' very few people, if
any. knew that one could specialize on
junk and become a metal expert.
In 1911 Mr. Jacobus, who probably
knows more about the scrapping and
junk business than any one else, went
to the “powers that be” in Washington
and placing his finger on a leak said:
"Here’s where millions of dollars go
every year because nobody knows any
thing about the business of selling the
government's junk to the best ad
vantage.”
At that time there was what was
known as the junkmen's gentlemen’s
agreement. Simply explained, the
agreement amounted to this: A clique
of junkmen agreed that they would
u vvi uuu iv-c tui tac juurv ui* • — ■■ . » ■« ■ ■ ■
fered by the government at the next sale. There being no junk expelt in
th* employ of the government at that period, the junkmen, as planned, got
It "dirt cheap.” They then carefully assorted it, and resold it to metal
dealers, dividing the profit among the clique. Through Mr. Jacobus' instru
mentality the saving of the navy department was conservatively put at two
million dollars. He rendered similar services to the lighthouse bureau and
war department, and respectfully declined a position from Colonel Goetbals
to handle the scrap at the Panama canal. Only recently he showed the city
of New York that it was losing about two hundred thousand dollars a year
in its method of disposing of discarded material. He not only showed this,
but proved it by acting as the expert at a sale, which brought in about two
hundred thousand dollars more per annum than was usually obtained for th«
same amount of junk.
DIAMONDS HIS TOYS j
In a busy office on Broadway, New
York, there sits, day by day, a man
who plays with diamonds. He toys
with the radiant gems as a scientist
might beguile himself with 3ome new
theory, as a child might' extract joy
from the possession of an abnormal
array of wonderful paper dolls. They
are playthings.
Thirty full sets of gems, worth
$1,000,000, make up the glittering, daz
zling, bewildering treasure store. Kor
the most part, they are hidden in the
gloomy, chilly, steel cave of u neigh
boring vault. Thither they are brought
under guard for the inspection of their
master.
Each night he selects one set, and,
bedecked with the scintillating jewels,
he sallies forth to permit his play
things to pick up the incands-scent
rays of the brilliant white way and to
dart them back, transformed into won
drous mezzo-hued. prismatically re
traded vibrations, through the gatherings of the gay. The man who thus
plays with lire—the fire of first-water gems—is James Buchanan Brady.
Broadway ki nws him as “Diamond Jim.’’
'Diamond Jim’’ goes about among his fellows with freedom. He ^nows
that he is an institution and that any "regular guy" among the local crooks
would as soon think of stealing the torch from the statue of Liberty and
"hocking" it as old bronze, or of taking Horace Greeley’s bronze shoe from
its park pednstal, as of dimming the luster of an essential part of New
York’s extericr decorative efTect.
He is at every first-night performance. He is among those present at
the frolics on the roofs. He dances with the latest favorite of fox trot
exposition, and even fares out to Coney Island to have a hand in the doings.
To cap the climax of assurance, he rides in the subway, unattended,
with a king’s ransom present and unconcealed about his person.
His diamonds are his world—after business hours. They are the pretty
playthings with which he forgets iron and steel, grease and cross ties.
EARLY BIRD LINDBERGH |
It is dar> in Washington. Not
even the rattle of the first milk wagon
has been heard on Capitol hill and it
still lacks two hours before the gold
room of the congressional library will
reflect the morning sun.
The measured beat of heel taps on
the wooden cover of the marbie steps
leading to the house office building
can be heard as ti e solitary figure of
a man, tall, gaunt, and dressed in
black, mounts the incline.
It is Congressman Charles A.
Lindbergh of Minnesota on his way to
work.
Lindbergh, besides being a million
aire, is the early bird of the Sixty
fourth congress. He goes to work
between four and five o’clock every
morning.
Lindbergh is a strong believer in
the removal of private interests from
the opportunity to influence congres
sionai action. His nrst resolution nas " ■ —
for its object prevention of the appointment of members of congress on com
mittees where they might have personal interests conflicting with the public
interest. He was voted down, but won on his second resolution, which was
aimed at the secret meetings of the banking and currency committee.
SECOND STOCK CITY
OMAHA NEXT TO CHICAGO AS
HOG AND SHEEP MARKET.
RAIL EXPERT GIVES FIGURES
t,203,307 Cattle, an Increase of Over
75,000 Over 1914, Received During
Past Twelve Months.
Lincoln.—Greater Omaha is the
second greatest stock market in the
United States—which means also in
the world—according to a detailed
study, the results of which were pre
pared by Rate Expert U. G. Powell of
the Nebraska railway commission.
Of the seven leading mantels of
the country Chicago leads them till
in cattle, hog and sheep receipts.
Omaha is third in cattle receipts, and
second in hog and sheep receipts.
Kansas City trails along third with
the second prize in cattle receipts
and third prize in both the hog and
sheep columns.
During 1915 cattle receipts on tlie
Omaha market were 1,203,307, against
936,694 in 1914. Hog receipts for the
year were 2,545,210; sheep 3,214,585.
The increase in cattle for Omaha
was 276,613 head; of hogs, 277,826,
and of sheep, 67.151. Kansas City
made a small increase in cattle and
hogs, but a decrease in sheep. Chica
go was the same way, but St. Louis
had a decrease in all three lines.
Sioux City had a decrease in sheep,
Denver a decrease in cattle and St.
Joseph a decrease in hogs.
To Talk of Defense.
The ninth annual debate of the
Nebraska High School Debating
league, which begin in February and
end with the state competition at the
University of Nebraska on High
School Fete day in May will be on the
live question of increased armament.
The proposition is: "Resolved. That
congress should substantially adopt
the recommendations of the secretary
of war and the navy tor increased ar
mament.” This question will be
threshed out in some ninety schools
In all parts of the state under the aus
pices of the largest debating league in
the country. League was organized
with thirty members in 1908. In each
district the members are paired for
the first-series debates, the winners
then go into the second-series; and the
two winners there then meet to decide
the district championship — which
school shall have the honor of sending
a representative to the state debate.
The board will accept the resigna
tion and gave out that the discrepan
cies at the institution will all be
made good by companies having the
contracts.
One Hat Factory Repo'ted.
The federal census of 19U> lists Ne
braska as the twenty-ninth state in
the union as to population, with an es
timated population for 1914 of 1,245,
378, yet one hat factory makes all the
“Nebraska-made" hats worn by Ne
braskans The total capital invested
In this Nebraska hat factory is $20,00n.
Sixteen people are employed, five of
whom are females. Total value of
stock used, $80,000. Value of produc
tion. $55,000. Total paid to wage earn
ers for the year 1915 is a little over
$11,400.
To Observe Child Labor Day.
January 24 will be observed as Child
Labor day throughout the country and
while State Superintendent Thomas
iocs not believe a whole day should
be devoted to the observance of the
same, because Nebraska has so many
special days, he thinks a short time
should be spent in each school and
recommends a program offered by the
national child day committee as prop
er to use.
Outlawed Claim Received.
A wolf bounty claim of the vintage
at 1891 was received by the state
auditor a few days ago. The claim
was sent in by J. E. Enders of Brown
aounty and was for nine scalps. The
state ceased paying bounties several
years ago and therefore the claim is
autlawed.
Inspection of Cattle.
According to a report prepared by
Mr. Sleeth of the state veterinarian's
office, 4,578 cattle have been inspected
during the time from April 1 to De
cember 15, and 7 4-10 per cent have
shown signs of tuberculosis, the exact
number being 329.
Jackson for Treasurer.
Friends of George Jackson, speaker
of the last house of representatives of
the Nebraska legislature, are out for
the Nuckolls county statesman for thp
democratic nomination for state treas
urer.
Asks Name Be Withdrawn.
Senator George W. Noriis has asked
Secretary of State Pool to see that his
name does not go on the ballot next
April as a republican candidate for
president.
Agricultural Course Starts Soon.
The regular six weeks’ winter
course of the University School of
Agriculture at Lincoln will begin Jan
uary 4. The course includes a study
of gasoline engines, farm machinery,
animal diseases, marketing accounts,
field crops, soils, poultry, fruits, vege
tables, dairying and stack Judging.
Local Bonds Preferable.
The State Board of Public Lands
and Funds sold $347,000 in Tennessee
bonds held by the state of Nebraska,
recently, to the Harris Trust and Sav
ings bank of Chicago and the money
received will be invested in school
and municipal bonds of this state,
which will bring 1 per cent more in
terest. It is figured that the deal will
net the state about $2,000 more in
interest, figuring from January, 191®,
to the time the bonds would have been
paid, on August next year. The
bonds draw 4 per cent.
THE EUROPEAN WAR A
YEAR AGO THIS WEEK
Jan. 3. 1915.
French completed capture ot
Steinbach and gained near Reims
and St. Mihiel, but were repulsed
near Ste. Menehould.
Floods hindered the fighting in
Flanders.
Germans captured Bolimow
from Russians, but their advances
on Kielce and between the Bzura
and Rawka rivers failed.
Russians took thousands of Aus
trian prisoners and swept through
Bukowina. <
Germans rushed to defense of
Cracow.
Ghent taxed bachelors to meet
German demands for money.
Day of intercession and prayer
throughout British empire.
Second Australian expeditionary
force sailed for England.
Shipload of food for Albanians
left United States.
Jan. 4, 1915.
Russians occupied Suczawa and
again threatened Cracow.
Turks ravaged Persian territory.
British ships shelled Dar-es
Salaam, German East Africa.
French aviators dropped bombs
near Brussels.
Germans put Young Turks under
oath to support existing regime.
Jan. 5, 1915.
Germans began moving big guns
from Ostend.
French forces made advance to
ward Cernay.
Russians defeated Austrians in
Uzsok Pass and prepared for in
vasion of Transylvania.
Germans renewed activities
along the Vistula.
Pope obtained release of French
Catholic missionaries held in Syria.
Belgian food ship sent by state
of Kansas sailed.
Germany agreed not to hinder
sending of food to Belgians by
America.
Russians crushed Turks at Arda
han and Sarikamysh.
Jan. 6, 1915.
French made further progress at
St. Mihiel. *
Germans bombarded Fumes and
compelled Belgians to move head
quarters.
New Russian arm> prepared to
combat Germans at Mlawa.
Germans and Austrians checked
Russian advance against Cracow.
Turkish cruiser Goeben damaged
by mines.
Jan. 7, 1915.
French made progress in direc
tion of Altkirch.
Germans in the east hampered
by mud.
Turks occupied Urumiah.
Report made by French commis
sion charging Germans with habi
tual “pillage, outrage, burning end
murder.”
United States refused to investi
gate Germany's charge that Brit
ish used dumdum bullets.
French government sent thanks
for work of Lafayette fund.
President Poincare of France
signed decree prohibiting sale and
transportation of absinthe and sim
ilar liquors.
Jan. 8, 1915.
Allies gained north of Soissons,
near Reims and in Alsace.
Germans attacked Russian lines
near Bolimow, their riflemen using
steel shields.
Cardinal Mercier of Belgium
placed under restraint by Germans
because of pastoral.
Germany accused republic of San
Marino of encouraging espionage
by its wireless station.
Roumania began mobilizing 750,
000 men.
California's Belgian relief ship
started.
Jan. 9. 1915.
Germans renewed offensive
anaiis Russians from direction of
Ml -wa.
Severe fighting on the Rawka
and in the north.
Turks hurriedly building railway
lines across Sinai peninsula.
Germans retook Steinbach and
Burnhaupt.
French captured Perthes and
gained near Soupir.
Russians entered Transylvania.
French won victory in the Kame
run, Africa.
BRIEF INFORMATION
Homing pigeons can travel 70 miles
an hour.
The skeleton is one inch shoiter
than the measurement of the living
person
Louis XVI drank the first cup of cof
fee made in France. jt was then
worth $29 a pound.
To protect ’i-ing motorcyclists from
Injury there has been invented a suit
of pneumatic armor, covered with rub
ber tubes in‘o which air can be
pumped.
A Kentucky man has invented an
electric fan to be mounted under an
umbrella to circulate air, so designed
that it can be folded as the umbrella
fs closed.
After ten years experimenting a
Liverpool man bas perfected a prod
uct from seaweed for the manufacture
of nonlnflammable motion picture
films and paper claimed to be water,
flame and germ proof.
The intoxicant mescal, made famous
through its use by the Mexican Aztecs,
has been proved not a mushroom as
was so long believed. The plant whlcb
southwestern Indians have chewed so
extensively is a species of narcotic
cactus.
Millions of dollars' worth of pre
cious metals will be weighed on the
fine scales of the New Orleans mint
There are two sets of scales now it
use there, the larger weighs anything
from one thousandth of an ounce tc
600 pounds. The second scale, wttli
its agate bearings, will weigh accu
rately a human hair.
WELLAND CANAL OBJECT OF ALLEGED PLOTTERS
Federal authorities in the East believe the alleged plot of Paul Koenig, head of the detective bureau of the Hatn
burg-American line, to blow up the Welland canal is only an incident in a vast conspiracy. The illustration shows a
part of the canal, which connects Lake Ontario with Lake Erie. At the right is Koenig and at the left R. E. Leyen
decker, an art dealer, under arrest as one of the alleged conspirators.
INTERIOR OF TURKISH FORT ON GALLIPOLI
- ' -—------ .. .nr rr T
Interior view of Turkish fortiiications on the Gallipoli peninsula, with a body of troops about to move to tho
Urst-linc trenches.
SHARPSHOOTERS IN WHITE AND ON SNOWSHOES
The mountain fighting in which the Germans are engaged has made it necessary to draw on those German
soldiers who are snowshoe adepts. The photograph shows a patrol of these men, garbed in white uniforms to make
them almost invisible against the white background and equipped with their snowshoes, taking a bead on the enemy
in the Vosges mountains.
KING OF ITALY WATCHING HIS SOLDIERS
A striking photograph taken on the heights of Cadore while the king of
Italy, accompanied by his minister of war and the commander in chief of the
Italian armies, was watching the movements of the fighting forces. King
Victor Emmanuel has his eyes fixed to the great field glasses.
FROM ALL OVER
Argentina is getting more of the
war business than any other country
except the United States.
June frosts and a wet summer in
England have caused a honey short
age there.
There are 3,500,000 golfers in the
United States. Ten years ago there
were only 5,000.
Flowers will turn to the light of
the electric lamp just as they do to
the sun.
Peru is the size of Spain, France,
Germany and Italy put together.
The Atlas moth, a species found in
China, has wings which measure al
most twelve inches across when fully
spread.
In July, 1915, according to a govern
ment estimate, there were 198,677,000
farm animals in the United States, a
gain in a year of about 7,922.000.
The ashes from Luzon's occasionally
active volcanoes fertilize the soil and
enable the Philippines to produce the
world's finest hemp.
GIVEN TO HER DESCENDANT
A beautiful statuette of Pocahontas,
Indian maid famed in history and an
cestor of President Wilson’s bride, was
presented to the White House couple
by the Pocahontas Memorial associa
tion, an organization made up of
Washington women. It is in bronze
and is a replica of the statue that will
be erected at Jamestown, Va. The
statuette is 18 inches high and the
sculptor, William Ordway Partridge of
New York.
Trees in Persia.
There are no natural forests in Per
sia except along the Caspian sea and
in Kurdistan, for elsewhere there is
insufficient rainfall. Elsewhere, it
water is present, many oriental planes
and poplars are planted but acreage
is very limited, the larger wood lots
running up to six acres only. So
scarce is wood that every small
branch pruned off is kept and finds its
way into a bundle of faggots for city
consumption. The plane tree there,
and quite generally the world over, la
the best of all trees yet planted.
