The Lampasas Daily Leader (Lampasas, Tex.), Vol. 28, No. 176, Ed. 1 Monday, September 28, 1931 Page: 3 of 4
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THE LAMPASAS LEADER
STAGE COACH
} - TALES
|Sy E. C. TAYLOR j
From Stage Driver to Cabinet
TEREM1AH M. IiUSK, who later be-
came governor of Wisconsin and
still later was first secretary of agricul-
ture of the United States, was a pic-
turesque stage coach driver of the
early days in Wisconsin.
Almost a giant in stature, and heav-
ily bearded, he was a leading per-
sonality in the state even when he
was handling the reins behind two
or three span of horses over the
bumpy, marshy roads of that new
commonwealth.
Tales of his muscular prowess in
those early days made him famous,
but his chief claim to fame, other-
wise, was that lie probably was the
only stage coach driver who did not
drink. Drivers as a lot were moral
men, noted for their integrity, and
famous for their seeming aversion or
swearing and cursing. But with the
exception of Rusk, all of whom there
are any records, drank. A man's size
glass of whisky or brandy was the
first thing they asked for when the
coach stopped at the taverns along
the route, and in winter, when they
descended half frozen from their high
seats where they had been fighting
gales and icy temperatures for hours,
it probably was needed to get their
blood circulating again. But Rusk
never took a drop, even after a long
stretch of driving through the bit-
terest cold. He was one of the early
ardent prohibitionists.
As Rusk’s stage coach neared Vir-
oqua one day, a horse fell ill. Rusk
saw that it could not pull its share
of the coach any longer, so he tied
it to the coach, seized the neckyoke
himself and with his great strength
helped to pull the coach into the next
town.
Rusk was reticent about his phys-
ical prowess, and was almost bash-
ful when anyone mentioned it, buy
he often told a story on himself about
how he, a teetotaler, had to buy
drinks for a tavernful of people.
One cold day, he stopped his stage
coach at a tavern near Prairie du
Chien, Wis., so the passengers might
warm themselves.
When they all trooped into the pub-
lic room, Rusk noticed an innocent
looking horn on the counter. The
young driver was invited to blow it.
He did. But instead of musical notes,
there issued from the horn a quantity
of flour that covered his face. Every-
body laughed, and Rusk had to “set
them up” for every one in the place.
Rusk began driving a stage coach
when he was only sixteen years old.
He drove for McNeill, Moore and com-
pany, famous stage coach operators of
Columbus, Ohio. He migrated to Wis-
consin in 1853, and drove coaches
there until the Civil war broke out.
Rusk raised a regiment of volun-
teers and was commissioned a major
in the Union army. He took part in
the battle of Vicksburg, and in Au-
gust, 1S63, was promoted to lieutenant
colonel.
He was with Sherman in the Mer-
idian campaign, and displayed such
great gallantry in the battles around
Atlanta, Ga., that he was breveted a
brigadier general.
After the Civil war, he went back
to Wisconsin, where he entered poli-
tics. Fie was elected a member of
congress in 1871, and served in the
national house of representatives un-
til 1877.
In 1882, Rusk was elected governor
of Wisconsin, and was continued in
that office until 1889
In the latter year President Har-
rison appointed Rusk to his cabinet,
and the tall former stage coach driver
became the nation’s first secretary of
agriculture, a branch of the execu-
tive department of the federal gov-
ernment which congress had just cre-
ated. He served in Harrison’s cab-
inet until Grover Cleveland succeeded
Harrison in the Prerhlency in 1893
((c). 1031. Western Newspaper Union.)
Birds’ Songs Tell Time
Clocks are not necessary to give the
time in the morning if one understands
the songs of the birds, according to a
German naturalist who has just com-
pleted a schedule of offerings by feath-
ered songsters. Fie says the chaffinch
sings at about 1:30 on summer morn-
ings and the backcap calls an hour la-
ter. Between 2:30 and 3 o’clock trie
quail give their call, while the hedge
sparrows are heard about 30 minutes
later. The blackbirds are next, fol-
lowed by larks, the black-headed tit-
mouse, and finally the sparrows start
between 5 and 5:30.
Lincoln Mementoes
The original plaster casts of the
face and hands -of Abraham Lincoln
and also the first bronze casts of the.
face mold and of the hands were pre-
sented to the National museum on Jan-
uary 25, 1888, by a committee com-
prised of the late Augustus Saint-
Gaudens, Thomas B. Clarke and Rich-
ard W. Gilder, acting for the sub-
scribers to the^ fund collected to
finance the making and sale of the
casts. They were purchased from
Douglas Volk, son of the sculptor,
Leonard D. Volk, wrho made them from
the living face and hands of Lincoln,
Brutal Retort
“It was the sweetest hat,” gushed
Mrs. Penn, “and when the milliner
told me I could have it for a mere
song, I ordered it at once."
“A case of mistaken identity,” he
said quietly. "The woman evidently
thought you were a famous singer.”
Koreans Cling to Old
Customs in Marriage
It is the rule in Korea for a newly
wedded woman to enter the family of
her husband, though in a few cases
the man makes his home with her
family. Marriage cannot be contracted
between near relatives. Monogamy,
taught by Confucius, has been ob-
served from ancient times, but as the
chief object of marriage was the per
petuat.ion of the family, concubinage
was formerly recognized when a mar-
riage proved childless. The marriage
of young people is usually arranged
by their guardians without regard to
their wishes, hut there is a tendency
to respect the will of the parties
themselves. ‘Until the day of marriage
the engaged couple do not meet and
have probably never before seen each
other. A wedding is always conducted
at the bride's home and after that the
bridegroom takes her to his house. In
the days of tlie Korean government
the prescribed age of marriage for
males was 15 and for females 14. al-
though many males wore married
younger. Since 1915 no marriage of
a male tinder 17 or of a female under
15 is legal.
Provisions for Regular
Sessions of Congress
Each congress covers the period
from the fourth day of the March
following the congressional election in
which its members were chosen, to
noon the fourth day of March of the
second year thereafter, or a period of
two years.
According to the Constitution, con
gross must meet in regular session
on the first Monday of December of
every year, and special sessions may
be held Upon the call of the Presi
dent. The “long session" is the one
beginning in the odd-numbered years,
because it may continue until business
is finished. It usually ends, though,
in the early summer. The session be
ginning in December of the even
numbered -years is called the “short
session” for the reason that it may
last only until March 3, owing to the
expiration of the terms of the mem
hers.
Knew His Orthography
Site had doubled parked iter car ir>
Washington street. When she cairn'
out of the downtown store in which
she and her friend had been shopping
a sticker glowed from the windshield
“The big bum!” she exclaimed, ex
pressing her disapproval of the po
liceman who had ticketed her car
“I’ll bet he can't spell Washingtor
street.”
A few days litter the friend who ac
companied iter on the double-parkin:
tour inquired how she came out it
traffic court.
“Did he know how to spell Wash
Ingt.on street?" the friend inquired.
“I'll say he did—say, the guy could
have spelled Geisendorff street if 1
had been parked there!”—Indiana;'
olis News.
Ths Radiometer
The radiometer is an instrument ii
A-hich radiant heat and light may tv
directly converted into mechanical en
orgy as devised by Sir William Crookes
It consists of an exhausted globe of
glass in which is a needle support car
rying a rotating four-disk vane, the
face being,blackened on one side. Tin
blackened side absorbs more of the
radiant energy than the other side
and the molecules of residual air thn>
strike it are thus given greater energ-y.
The resulting pressure does not he
come quickly equalized for the two
sides, as would be the case in air of
ordinary density, hence the vane re
fates.
Welcome Beacon
The palm tree is always a welcome
.sight to a traveler in the arid plains
of the East, for there is always sweet
water to he found in its vicinity. It
there are no “springing wells,” or
boiling springs to he seen, all natives
know that water is to be found by dig
ging near to its roots. Wherever
there is an oasis in the sandy deserts
its presence is made known by the
tall feathery palms, which promise
the wanderer shade, refreshment and
in the proper, long extended season,
dates, the chief food of the Arabs, at
well.
Back to Nature
Many persons have seen the ehim
panzees’ tea party where they all sit
round a table and behave like ladies
and gentlemen with their tea cups,
saucers and plates. Sometimes nature
gets the upper hand of this artificial
civilization. A coconut was once
thrown to them, and within a minute
the cage was in a terrific uproar as
the monkeys fought for the treasure.
Cups and saucers were used as mis-
siles, and everybody fought indiscrim-
inately. The keepers had to intervene,
and the tea party came to a sudden
end.
“Trade” and “Profession”
“Trade” applies to any mechanical
employment or handicraft except agri-
culture, which is an occupation. “Pro-
fession” is used to denote a learned
calling, such as clerygman, lawyer,
doctor, civil engineer, teacher. A craft
is a trade which requires special skill,
such as carpenter, bricklayer and
blacksmith. “Craft” and “trade” are
often used interchangeably and not in
frequently “craft” and “art” are about
the same. “Business” Is almost ex
clusively used to describe commercial
or mercantile occuDations.
mmSm
m ?'
* . v
BacHrjcli
America’s Leviathan
Wl
HR".
and dock, clearest,
- - ........... ^ind readij for
Mrs. Hoover
By HUGH ALLEN
THE presence of 150,000 persons
from all sections of the country,
Mrs. Herbert Hoover, first lady of
the land, formally christened the
U. S. S. Akron, world's largest air-
ship, in the great zeppelin dock on
Akron municipal airport, Saturday
afternoon, August 8.
Added to the throngs in the
building who actually witnessed
the ceremonies, millions of listen-
ers tuned in on radio sets all over the world,
to hear the wife of the President of the United
States formally name the largest military air-
craft ever built, and to hear the flutter of wings
as 48 homing pigeons raced out of a hatchway
near the nose of the ship.
On the platform with Mrs. Hoover were David
Sinton Ingalls, assistant secretary of the navy
In charge of aeronautics, Rear Admiral William
Adger Moffett, chief of the navy bureau of aero-
nautics, Paul W. Litchfield, president of the
Goodyear Zeppelin corporation, builders of the
ship, and other noted figures of official and pri-
vate life. Standing at attention in front of the
control car of the aerial dreadnaught were
Lieut. Com. Charles E. Rosendahl and his crew
of nine officers and 51 enlisted men.
President Litchfield of Goodyear introduced
Admiral Moffett to the crowds, and the admiral,
long an enthusiastic supporter of lighter-than-
air craft, predicted that the second navy airship
would be even greater than the Akron In size
and cruising ability.
Long before the christening the USS Akron
was officially designated on Navy department
blueprints as the “ZRS-4.” These letters stand
for “zeppelin rigid scout number four.” The
ZRS-4, or USS Akron, far surpasses the famous
Graf Zeppelin or the British R-100 in size, speed,
strength and ability to cover long distances.
In 1924, President Litchfield of Goodyear
brought over from Germany Dr. Karl Arnstein
and 14 other engineers and designers from the
German Zeppelin works at Friederichshafen on
Lake Constance. Activities of the German con-
cern had been brought to a halt by the allies,
and there was a strong possibility that the
talent and experience gained by years of close
association with the huge rigid airships might
become scattered to the four' corners of the
earth.
On arrival in this country, Doctor Arnstein,
who designed and supervised construction of
70 of Germany’s war zeppelins, wTent to work
on designs for large commercial ships. The
United States navy then announced a design
competition, the concern submitting the best de-
sign to be awarded a contract to build the
world’s largest airship.
Goodyear Zeppelin submitted three designs,
and designs were also entered in the competi-
tion by 37 other firms. The three designs of the
Akron concern, however, took first, second and
third place, and in the autumn of 1928, the con-
tract was formally awarded.
Then the zeppelin dock, the world’s largest
building without interior supports, was erected
on Akron municipal airport, and with completion
of £his huge structure late in 1929, work on the
ZRS-4 was started.
First, it was necessary to make girders out
of the sheet duralumin that, came into the zep-
pelin plant. These girders were made according
to specific plan, and each was numbered before
being transported to the dock. At the dock, they
were assembled into a huge “main frame,” or
ring girder, whose diameter was 133 feet. This
huge main frame was assembled on the floor of
the dock, and later hoisted into its vertical
position.
The first rivet to be driven into the frame
was of gold and was squeezed into place by Ad-
miral Moffett before a crowd of 40,000 persons.
In all, there are more than 6,500,000 rivets in
the framew7ork of the ship, and each was
squeezed into place by hand, workmen using
tools especially designed for the purpose.
All of the main frames, which are of unusual
construction, were assembled on the floor, and
then hoisted into place, in the same manner as
the first one, and connected by longitudinal
girders.
Now, with the fabric covering of the ship all
in place, the maze of duralumin girders and
main frames are not visible to spectators, who
are thus unable to gain an idea of the immense
amount of work that went into building this
leviathan of the air.
The ship has a length of 785 feet—only 9
feet longer than the famous Graf Zeppelin that
has done so much to bring home to the public
the practicability of lighter-tlian-air travel—
but its diameter, 133 feet, is 34 feet greater
than the Graf, accounting for the fact the Akron
will have nearly twice the gas capacity of its
German sister.
Total gas capacity of the new ship is 6,500,000
cubic feet, as compared with 3,700,000 cubic
,feet for the Graf. Instead of being contained
In one huge envelope, gas in the Akron will
be confined in 12 separate cells, In effect, 12
separate balloons. Each of these cells was
more carefully tailored than any human gar-
ment, and was built to fit the particular section
pt the ship in which it is located,
t To build tha oalls, more than 12 acres of spe-
Lieixt Comcin "Rosendahl
Commander of Akron.
daily woven cotten cloth wras required. Half
of the cells are of rubber-parrafine construction,
while the remainder are of gelatine-latex con-
struction, a new development during the past
year or so.
An additional seven acres of fabric were re-
quired to make the outer cover for the Akron.
The cloth was cut into panels averaging 74
feet in length, and ranging in width from 12 to
24 feet. The panels were first laced to the
framework as tightly as possible, and then a
single coat of clear dope, similar to that used
on airplane wings, applied with a brush. Ap-
plication by brush insured that the dope soaked
into every pore of the fabric, and when it dried,
stretched t-he cover taut as a drum. Following
this another coat of clear dope was sprayed on
with air brushes,- and later, two coats of alumi-
num dope were applied.
Contrary to popular opinion, the aluminum
dope, which gives the ship a beautiful silvery
appearance as it flies through the air, is not
for beauty alone. It has been discovered that
this type of dope is best for reflection of sun-
light and its attendant heat. Lifting gas, when
heated, expands, and changes weight calcula-
tions of the airship’s captain. It is best, then, to
maintain as near an even temperature as pos-
sible.
In sewing together the panels, a tolerance
of only one-thirty-second of an inch was al-
lowed on the seams. This is easily understood
when it is pointed out that miles and miles of
seams were necessary, and had the tolerance
been one-fourth of an inch, instead of one-thirty-
second, an extra weight of many pounds might
have been entailed.
A feature of the Akron’s construction not
found in any airship heretofore built, is the in-
stallation of the motors in roomy compartments
inside the hull, instead of in gondolas suspended
outside the ship. This refinement is made pos-
sible by use of helium, the non-inflhmmable,
non-explosive lifting gas of which this country
has a natural monopoly.
Installation of the motors inside the ship
reduces the resistance set up by the suspended
gondolas, and gives the ship greater speed.
Also, the engine compartments are much larger
than was possible in the old gondolas, and <al-
low mechanics ample space to care for the
throbbing power plants under their supervision.
Four engines are located on each side of the
ship and produce a total of 4,4S0 horsepower.
The motors, each with 560 horsepower, will
propel the ship at a top speed of 84 miles per
hour.
Gasoline for the motors is carried in tanks
ranging in capacity up to 365 gallons each, and
a total load of 20,000 gallons of gasoline may
be carried. This amount of fuel is sufficient
to fly the ship over a distance of 10,500 miles
without stopping.
As 20,000 gallons of gasoline weigh 60 tons,
it is apparent that should this amount be near-
ly all used up on a single flight, the ship would
be nearly 60 tons lighter when it returned to
its base than when it started, and consequent-
ly much harder to handle. To compensate for
this, a water ballast recovery system has been
installed on the Akron, which will allow the
ship to return to its base weighing even more
than when it started.
Above each of the motors is a series of
condenser panels, through which the exhaust
gases from the engines are forced, after being
mixed with air. Theoretically, it is possible to
recover 135 pounds of water for each 100 gal-
lons of gasoline used, but engineers, through
tests, have satisfied themselves that more than
100 pounds of water can be recovered in actual
practice, for each 100 pounds of gasoline used.
A system of marine telegraph indicators will
be used to convey instructions from the captain
of the ship to the engine rooms.
Power is delivered from the motors to the
propellers outside the hull by means of a rigid
shaft and bevel gear device, mounted on sturdy
outriggers. The propellers may be tilted through
an arc of 90 degrees, and can thus exert thrust
downward, to help the ship off the ground in a
take-off, as well as in the usual horizontal di-
rection necessary in flight. The motors are
reversible, and the propellers may thus be used
to pull the ship to earth if necessary, when
they are tilted in a vertical position.
Just aft of the control cabin is another unique
feature of the Akron. It is an airplane com-
EW Litchfield, Pres.
Goodyear Zeppelin. Corp.
partment that will hold five completely
fighting airplanes. The planes may be toojtsed
through a T-shaped opening through the 6ofe-
tom of the hull' into the air, and then re&essffisg,
to go about their assigned missions. 0^ e
pletion of these missions, the planes can? re-
turn and hook on to a special trapeze, &a:4 b©
hoisted into the huge airship without ever baa-
ing landed.
One - of the most interesting things fa be
found in the Akron is its telephone system. Ms
the craft is more than two-and-one-haif
blocks in length, it is necessary that the- cap-
tain in the control car have immediate eoasr-
munication with all sections of the ship. Setscm,
18 telephone instruments are located at sfrsSe-
gic points, and the captain may talk any «s-
ali of them when he desires.
The control car contains three roosss—
first for actual flying of the ship, in which
control wheels are located, the second tor USa*
meteorologist, or weather expert, and the fMwS
for the navigator.
Quarters in which the officers will fee sar©
located above the control car inside th©
and are equipped with bunks chairs. Qyiai*-
ters for. the crew are located on e&cfe s«fe of
the ship, along the gangways or catwalks fthsk
serve as passageways, and also as rigid! feseto.
In addition to the gangways or keels alksg
each side, there is another located in dto ex-
treme top of the Akron, making a Cofafi cf
three. Previous ships have had but oh© heeS,
which extended along the bottom center liiHt
Meals will be prepared on an especially StaiBt
stove, weighing but 110 pounds. The stcre© has
eight cooking spaces, and is sufficient 6* pre-
pare warm meals for the entire crew. The ffesk
breakfast, prepared as a test of the sttov© ami
cooking equipment, was served while the s&if»
was still in the dock at Akron, and eoassstisdi
of flapjacks with butter and honey, and!
The control surfaces, which are directly re-
sponsible for maneuvering the Akron, axe res-
eated near the stern, and consist of four fSss?
and movable surfaces, one pair extending Bhhp-
izontally, and the other pair vertically, fbsnK
the hull. The fixed surfaces, or fins, give sfe-
bility to the craft, and each is about the stoe
of an average city lot. It has tbeen estimate#
that four ordinary bungalows, together' wSgfii
two one-car garages, could be placed a® eaatfe
horizontal fin, with still enough room left esar
for a few flower beds.
Attached to the fixed surfaces are the mov-
able surfaces. The rudders, which govern the
lateral direction of the ship, are attache# 6©
the rear of the two vertical fins, while f.fie
elevators, governing the up and down ssonre-
ments, are attached to the horizontal frns.
In the lower vertical fin is located an emer-
gency control room, 3 feet wide and 15 feet
long. Here two men will be stationed aft asEt
times to assume control of the ship shoui&i
the cables leading from the forward cabins ft»
the fins become shot away in war times,
disabled for any cause whatever.
Following trial flights of the Akron, and her
formal acceptance by the navy, it Is glauised
to base the ship at Lakehurst ®avai air sfct-fMyn
for some time.
The Akron is primarily a navy ship, and vesx
not built for passenger work. She will be as-
signed to missions with the fleet, and wifi act
as a scout ship.
Ships of the same general design may
be built for commercial work, however.
looking to this end, the International ZeppeBiBi
Transport company and the Pacific ZegpeSfc*
Transport company were organized nearly
years ago to study routes and termto&F
for Atlantic and Pacific passenger tines.
As a result of these studies, it Is believe# ftfta-t-
a business man could leave his desk in Sfew
York on Saturday morning, arrive in Londte*
on Monday morning, transact business to E»-
rope until. Friday morning, find be hack aft bis
desk in New York the following Monday, fea
only a few days more time than it wosld
to make a one-way crossing on a surface Graft.
Terminal site locations have been studied
for sometime, but no announcement, as to where
the American terminal of the Atlantic Line wiai
be located has been made.
The Pacific line, it is expected, wiR cone© day
operate from the west coast of the United
States to the Orient, through Hawaii and the
Philippine Islands.
K£) by fl'estvrn Nf-wspaper Union.}
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The Lampasas Daily Leader (Lampasas, Tex.), Vol. 28, No. 176, Ed. 1 Monday, September 28, 1931, newspaper, September 28, 1931; Lampasas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth906856/m1/3/: accessed June 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Lampasas Public Library.