News from 1902 (November)

November 1 - Pan-American Exposition creditors are encouraged to expect payment upon their claims within a very short time. At present there is nothing definite except as to the amount which each will receive from the $500,000 appropriated by Congress. It is announced semi-officially that the percentage to be paid will be over 90 cents on the dollar. The exact figures cannot be determined until two or three more late-received and disputed claims are adjusted. These will not make a difference in the total of more than 2 per cent. As soon as an understanding on these is reached the claims as audited, and numbering about 400 separate items, will be placed in the hands of the committee and sent on to Washington for endorsement. Then, and not until then, will it be possible to begin payment.

The full amount of the claims will never be made known to the public. Many claims were received which were barred by limitations with which Congress hedged its bounty. Many claims were thrown out because they had already been paid. More were cut down because they had been partly paid and payments had not been entered by bookkeepers of the creditors.

The process of adjudicating claims has been slow but it has protected the bona fide creditors, or those pronounced by Congress to be the only ones entitled to participate in the appropriation of $500,000, from great losses. It is said that fully $100,000 has been saved by the scrutiny of every claim, and every item of every claim.

November 10 - (from a display ad by the J.N. Adam Co.)

Pan-American Souvenirs

A large Pan-American Souvenir company, who were caught with a stock of Souvenirs at the close of the Exposition, urged us to make them an offer for their stock on hand. At first we would not consider it, but upon investigation found that about one person in every ten in Buffalo had a Souvenir of that grand Exposition we all enjoyed so much, and which has advertised Buffalo so handsomely all over the world, and as there is enough in this lot to supply the other nine-tenths of the population of Buffalo with souvenirs we decided to make a very low offer for the lot, which was accepted. We place them on sale tomorrow morning at such extremely low prices that anyone wishing to secure a Souvenir of the Pan-American can do so at veryt little cost. About one-half the lot is very appropriate for Holiday gifts, as the following wil illustrate -- 1c Official Medals, were 25c. Pan Pins, were 10c and 25c. Assorted hat pins, Beck design, etc. were 10c to 25c. Leather and Felt Penwipers, were 25c. View Books, were 10c. Choice of any of the above for 1 c. 5c Buffalo Paper Cutters, Japanese Bronze Trays, were 25c. Silk Ribbon Belts, with metal buckles, Memorandum tablets, Horseshoe brooches, Stickpins, Shirne Pins, Metal Back Combs, etc. etc. Choice of the above for 5c. 2c Official Medals, with bar pin and Pan-American design, were 50c. 5000 Pair Sleeve Buttons, Buffalo Head and Beck design, were 25c pair. Pan-American Views, size 10x12, were 25c. Assorted Hatpins, assorted Brooches, Lucky Penny Medals, Klondike Puzzles. Choice of any of the above for 2c. 3c Special 16,000 Miniature Buffaloes, the kind that were sold for 25c each, they come in Oxidized French Grey or Bronze colors. Your choice for 3c each. 10c Buffalo Paper Weights, were 50c Buffalo Puff Jars, were 50c. Fancy Gilt Trays, with Buffalo, were 50 cents. Fancy Metal Inkstands, Buffalo design, were 50c. Sterling Silver Hatpins, with Beck design, etc. were 50c. Sterling Silver Paper Cutters, Fancy Pattern, wer 50c. Large assortment Metal Spoons, Buffalo designs, etc. were 50c. Your Choice of any of the above for 10 cents.     Carved Leather Satchel Tags, 5c each. Carved Leather Match Stands, 5c. each. 500 gold and silver plated Inkwells, with Buffalo ornament, were 50c, 75c, and $1, at 25c. Sterling Silver Match Boxes, Indian Head design, were $2, now 50 cents. 500 Plated Match Boxes, assorted designs, were 25c and 50c, now 4c. 1000 Silk Ribbon Watch Fobs, with pendant, were 50c, now 10c. Golf Hatpin Sets, 2 Sterling Silver Hatpins, golf-stick design, in plaid golf bag, were $1.50, now 48c. Elk Head Sterling Silver Hatpins, were 50c, now 25c. 100 Sterling Silver Trays, Tower design, were $2, now 48c. 200 Pair Sterling Silver Cuff Links, Beck design, were $1 pair, now 25 cents. 200 Buffalo Head and Horseshoe Brooches with brilliant settings, were $1.50 each, now 25c. 200 Sash Pins or Brooches, blue and white, Beck design, were $3 each, now 37 cents. Sterling Silver Souvenir Spoons, beautiful designs, were $2.00, now 50c.

November 14 - [The New York Evening Sun] The Japanese jinrikisha, which the tourist falls into when he lands at the Japanese port for the first time and out of when he takes ship to sail away again, and which he has probably been in a good deal of every day of his stay in Japan, may be seen, nowadays, here at home, without one's having to take the trouble of a three weeks' ocean trip. At the Buffalo Exposition in 1901 there were any number of jinrikisha among the Egyptian donkeys and Arab camels and Ferris wheels and airships and captive balloons.

Now, somehow, whether through authentic and final sources or not, the Japanese residents of New York have heard that there will be 'rikisha at the St. Louis Exposition in 1903, and have risen in indignation. They have protested in their newspapers against 'rikisha pulled by Japanese for Americans and by so doing they have shown our genial public some things which it didn't know before about how 'rikisha men and 'rikisha service are regarded in their own country, and just why they should think that our having 'rikisha at the St. Louis Exposition would be - of all things in the world - a "gratuitous insult" to them. This is somewhat astonishing to Americans in general, who may be excused for failing to see at once why an institution which they had always thought to be essentially Japanese should excite the anger of the Japanese when transplanted to this country. To understand the matter it is of course necessary to understand the Japanese point of view, and the reasons for the general antipathy of the Japanese toward 'rikisha at the St. Louis Exposition are perhaps best summed up in an editorial article which appeared recently in the Japanese montly magazine, Japan and America, published in New York.

"We regret to learn," the article begins, "that a plan is on foot in this country to build a large number of jinrikisha, and to import Japanese coolies (kurumaya), or jinrikisha men, to pull them about the grounds of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis. It is to be hoped that this project, which would be an insult to all Japanese in this country, will not be carried out. It would be a gratuituous slur on the Japanese and would be certain to meet with resentment and retaliation.

"Americans generally are not fully aware of the nature of the jinrikisha service in Japan. They are too apt to regard the pulling of a jinrikisha as merely a novel spectacle, and the riding in one as some new experience for which they are quite willing to pay in some exposition, whether in Buffalo or St. Louis. But the Japanese regard the service as a disgrace to their country, and are doing everything in their power to put an end to it. It would be too bad if the promoters of the St. Louis Exposition should, for the sake of selling a concession, permit the introduction of the jinrikisha into their grounds. The Japanese did not relish the site of their countrymen doing this degrading work at the Exposition in Buffalo, and they have not yet forgotten it. It would be a great mistake for St. Louis to follow the bad taste and bad judgment of the Buffalo fair.

"The pulling of the jinrikisha is regarded as a debasing sort of work in Japan, and it is well-known there that a larger proportion of criminals come from this class than from any other class of labor. Everyone who has the best interests of the country at heart is interested in putting an end to the drawing of these vehicles by men. Unfortunately, the streets of amny of the Japanese cities are so narrow as to make it almost impossible to use carriages or street cars, and this has made it possible for the jinrikisha to maintain itself as a mode of conveyance. But it is fast giving way to private conveyances, to omnibuses and to electric and horse cars. It is a doomed thing in Japan, and to reproduce it in the United States as a characteristic Japanese institution would be nothing more nor les than an insult to the higher sensibilities of the Japanese people.

"But these considerations aside, it is not likely that the plan to import Japanese kurumaya or jinrikisha men for the purpose of drawing American built jinrikishas would be permitted. it would be a violation of the contract labor law. It is to be hoped, however, that the exposition managers will not make an appeal to the protection of that law necessary to protect the Japanese people from a useless insult."

The vehicle which is primarily the cause of all this was invented more than 20 years ago by an American. Because it was at once a small, a comfortable and a light running affair, that one could very nearly take into shops while on shopping expeditions and in which one could ride all day behind an indefatigable runner, going into the narrowest byways with it, it quickly came into general use. A class of 'riksiha men - pullers of the vehicle - was quickly formed and, while the "criminal classes" may "largely be recruited from them," the 'rikisha men in Japan are particularly docile, polite, and hardworking, except perhaps in the open ports, where European environment may be expected to spoil native disposition, as it does around the world.

From Japan the jinrikisha were widely spread, until now there is hardly a country in the East whose larger cities are not full of them.

While this spread of the vehicles' use has been so quick as to make 'rikisha manufacturing a profitable industry in very many Oriental cities, it is really in Japan that the little carriages swarm most thickly, in spite of what Japan, according to Japan and America, are trying to do toward driving them out. No Japanese street scene of today is complete without them, and one cannot often take a photograph of a Japanese thoroughfare without snapping one at least. Famous geisha are photographed sitting in them, sculptors make wax and wooden groups about them, and every Japanese art store sells them pictured in a score of ingenious ways on fans and scrolls and cards and screens. The well-to-do Japanese family of Tokio [sic] rides to the theater to see Danjuro in them. The Japanese merchant of Yokohama clatters in one to his godown for business. The Nagoya belle rides out by the monument in one, to take the air of an afternoon, and at night great strings of them wind out toward the crimson suburbs.

Some day the Japanese may drive them out, as they say they hope to, but just now one sees too many of them to believe that even in the next few years they will join the old bronze armor and the gun-hammer, the queue of hair and the two swords of feudalism. They are only 20 years old, and to become obsolete in Japan a think must be very old indeed. Still if the Japanese would be bad about our using them here, we should forgo them by all means. We cannot afford international complications, even for the jinrikisha.

November 18 - Chairman Byron D. Gibson of the Board of Supervisors called the County Legislature to order today at noon, an hour later than the scheduled time...

The following letter was read:

"To the Board of Supervisors:
Gentlemen - Remaining in the hands of the Sheriff are certain effects of the murderer, Czolgosz, consisting of an old satchel containing an old pair of shoes, stockings, writing paper, two towels, a pair of trousers, blacking brush and a box of blacking.

The Historical Society, hearing of this, have expressed a desire to procure them for historical purposes. They would also like to have Your Honorable Body donate the handcuffs used on Czolgosz while transferring him from the Jail to Auburn from the prison authorities for said Czolgosz.

Very truly,
Frank T. Coppins
Sheriff"

Supervisor Woodward moved that the commuication be received and that the request of the Historical Society be granted. Admiral John Morgan O'Connell was on his feet in an instant with vigorous objection. "I'm opposed to that," he shouted. "When Czolgosz was electrocuted the authorities at Auburn would not even let anyone see his body. I know of no reason why the Historical Society should wish to perpetuate his memory by preserving a lot of old truck such as is mentioned."

The communication was then referred to the Committee on Sheriff's accounts.

...

November 19 - "There must be some mistake about Sheriff Coppin's letter to the Supervisors saying that the Buffalo Historical Society wants the clothing of Czolgosz and the handcuffs used on him," said Mr. Frank Severance, secretary of the society today.

"The Historical Society never asked for them, so far as I know," continued Mr. Severance. "I do not believe the Society would apply for them, nor accept them."

November 24 - John T. Roberts suggests a permanent exposition for Buffalo and in a general way outlines a scheme for financing such an undertaking. "Notwithstanding the losses of the Pan-American it was of great advantage to Buffalo and was worth more than it cost," said Mr. Roberts last night.

"Pittsburgh, New York, Cincinnati, Toronto and other cities have made a success of the permanent exposition idea and there is no reason why it cannot be successfully carried out in Buffalo. The Kenilworth property would be an ideal location.

"I would suggest a subscription of $1,000,000, either bonus or stock, to be made up by the merchants of the city, 10 per cent to be payable each year for 10 years. This would give the basis for a good working fund. Talk it up."

November 25 - It is now expected by the Treasury officials that by the last of next week the long-drawn-out settlement of the Pan-American claims will have been completed and the numerous creditors will be in possession of Treasury warrants for the amount of their claims, less the small reduction made necessary in pro rating the claims to fit the total amount of the appropriation.

The total amount of the claims, as reported to the Treasury Department by Trustee John G. Milburn, was $516,019.46, while the appropriation was only $500,000, thus requiring a slight reduction to each claimant so that the final settlement is to be made on a basis of 97 per cent of all approved claims. The warrants, which are now expected to be in Mr. Milburn's hands for distribution within a week, will be drawn upon that basis.

The long list of names of creditors, together with the statement of the article charged for, the total amount of the original claim and the amount to be paid, as furnished to Secretary Shaw by Mr. Milburn, is now being carefully examined and work will be commenced at once upon the drawing of the warrants. While the creditors are scattered all over the country, the great majority are Buffalonians. The list has not yet been made public, but knowing how anxious the people of Buffalo are to see and read it, the NEWS correspondent has prevailed upon Auditor Andrews to allow an advance examination to be made, and the list herewith given comprises in detail all the names of Buffalo parties who are to benefit by Mr. Milburn's distribution of Uncle Sam's warrants, the securing of which is so largely due to Representatives Alexander and Ryan. The Buffalo creditors are:

Creditor	Article	Claim $	Amount $
J.N. Adams & Co.	merchandise	217.86	211.10
Adam, Meldrum, & Anderson	merchandise	1,721.60	1,668.15
Adams & White	stationery, etc.	950.13	920.63
J. L. Alberger & Son	freight	74.60	72.28
American Constructing Co.	paving, etc.	33,650.25	32,605.65
American Express Company	services	529.35	512.92
American Press Association	advertising	1,426.13	1,381.86
The Anderson Company	merchandise	162.75	157.70
James Ash	coal	174.40	168.99
W.R. Atkinson	feed, etc.	63.26	61.30
Howard H. Baker & Co.	labor & material	5,458.61	5,289.18
Baker, Jones & Co.	printing, etc.	1,537.71	1,489.97
Barber Asphalt Paving Co.	labor & material	1,976.83	1,915.46
S. O. Barnum & Son	merchandise	125.63	121.73
Howard D. Beach	photographs	15.30	14.82
Beals & Co.	hardware & supplies	204.99	199.63
Ralph Beack	services	50.00	48.45
Beck Glass & Paint Co.	glass, oil, paint, etc.	1,187.26	1,915.46
Bell Telephone Co.	services	5,918.57	5,734.83
George Bickelman	labor & material	1,462.46	1,417.06
Bickford & Francis Belting Co.	labor & material	71.54	69.32
A. Browning	milk	78.00	75.58
Michael M. Bock	supplies	22.14	21.45
William H. Bock	services & materials	123.44	119.61
C. E. Brinkworth	stationery	369.18	348.03
The A. F. Brown Co.	electrical supplies	831.83	806.00
Thomas Brown	labor & material	14,498.82	14,048.71
Brown, Stabell & Griffith	labor & material	3,502.64	3,393.90
Brunn's Carriage Mfg.	repairs & supplies	41.89	40.59
Buffalo Catholic Pub. Co.	advertising, etc.	88.75	85.97
Buffalo Cement Co., Ltd.	material	259.85	251.78
Buffalo Copying Co.	blueprints	66.74	64.07
Buffalo Elec. & Energy Co.	electrotypes	132.94	128.81
Buffalo Gas Company	coke	264.81	256.59
Buffalo General Electrical Compny	dynamos & engines	3,465.0	3,357.43
Buffalo Horse Bedding, Co.	sawdust, etc.	19.10	18.51
Hospital of Sisters of Charity	services	125.00	121.12
Buffalo Illuminated Advertising Co.	advertising	30.00	29.07
Buffalo Natural Gas Fuel Co.	gas	4,926.49	4,773.55
Buffalo Evening News	advertising	16.66	16.14
Buffalo Oyster Co.	subsistence	17.10	16.57
Buffalo Railway Co.	services	341.25	330.66
Buffalo Storage & Carting Co.	services	45.70	44.28
Byrne & Bannister	staff work, etc.	3,399.52	3,203.98
Carroll Brothers	slag	2,538.89	2,460.07
W.A. Case & Son	material	240.32	232.86
The Cataract Power & Conduit Co.	rent of transformers	4,687.50	4,451.98
Central Park Sodding Co.	sodding	144.27	139.70
Ida. R. Churchyard & John J. Churchyard, attorney	labor & material	6,128.80	5,928.54
O.W. Clark & Son	feed, etc.	143.46	139.01
James W. Clement	printing, etc.	13.25	12.84
The C. & M. Grocery Co.	subsistence	36.08	34.96
Collins Baking Company	bread	63.94	61.96
F.T. Coppins & Son	painting & decorating	14,539.57	14,088.20
The Courier Company	printing	1,556.88	1,508.55
O.Cutler & Son	desks, etc.	340.30	329.74
J.Y. Cameron	services	225.00	218.01
A.J.Daurhy	cement flooring	75.13	72.80
John. W. Danforth Co.	labor & material	5,229.55	5,067.20
Dark & Company	labor & material	13,479.58	13,061.12
Donnelly, Dunham & Co.	coal	547.57	530.57
The Bold Woodenware Co.	baskets	43.71	42.35
G. H. Dunston	printing	481.75	455.79
Byron H. Daggett, M.D.	services	227.50	220.40
F.W. Eaton & Co.	feed, etc.	13.50	13.08
G. Elias & Bro.	lumber	1,622.02	1,571.67
Ellicott Club	entertainment	25.40	24.61
James Elliot & Son	tents, canvas, etc.	1,544.70	1,446.12
Exposition Carting Co.	carting	2,612.91	2,532.79
Epworth Hotel	subsistence	10.30	9.98
The Fairbanks Co.	merchandise	157.09	152.21
Farrer & Treffts	labor & material	637.00	617.31
Faxon, Williams & Faxon	groceries	313.60	303.86
John Fiest & Sons Company	labor & material	13,224.60	12,814.05
Flierl & Reimann	labor & material	530.41	513.95
Flint & Kent	merchandise	91.48	88.64
Fox & Holloway	sand	22.50	21.80
(to be continued)