January 11: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

January 11, 2025 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1904, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “It is stated that details of a plan have all been worked out to finance the $50,000,000 of Panama Canal payments, when necessary, without disturbance of the money market. Part of the money will be withdrawn from the free fund in the treasury and part from the depository banks, to the order of J. P. Morgan & Co., fiscal agents of the Panama Company, who will redeposit them in the same banks and draw against them gradually.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1907, the Eagle reported, “The Duke of Orleans has announced to his friends at Copenhagen that he intends to start a new expedition next spring in the ship Belgica to penetrate as far as possible along the northeast coast of Greenland. The purpose is to join the Danish expedition, under Mylius Erichsen, which left last June to explore the same coast.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1910, the Eagle reported, “Something of the drain which central and western Canada is making on American farm life, and American capital as well, is shown in a report by the Canadian inspector of immigration agencies, which says that in one year American immigrants brought with them $60,000,000. What is more important, says the inspector, these American farmers brought with them the farming methods learned by years of experience on the prairies of the Western States; an experience invaluable to themselves, but which is passed to settlers from other lands.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1912, the Eagle reported, “Henry S. Graves, the chief forester, has just submitted in his annual report some facts and observations concerning forest fires in the national preserves of this country. During the year 1911 the losses were comparatively insignificant, due principally to favorable weather conditions, but also to a marked advance made in the protective system. The forest service is much better equipped today to handle outbreaks of fire than it was during the disastrous year of 1910. ‘An analogy has often been pointed out between protecting forests and protecting cities against fire,’ says Mr. Graves. ‘This analogy is worth reiterating. City property cannot be made reasonably safe unless there are: First, regulations regarding combustibles, etc.; secondly, a considerable investment in signals, firefighting apparatus, and quarters; and thirdly, an adequate and well-organized force of disciplined men suitably located. So forests must be guarded against causes of fire and conditions favorable to its spread, must be equipped with means for discovering, reporting and reaching fires, and must be manned with a reliable body of firefighters, stationed at the points of greatest need.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1927, the Eagle reported, “FERGUS FALLS, MINN. (AP) ― National coffee drinking honors began trickling back from Texas to Minnesota today as Gus Comstock guzzled 63 cups of Java five hours after starting his drinking marathon today. Thus Comstock, who aspires to beat the mark of H. S. Streety of Amarillo, Texas, who has 71 cups to his credit, bettered his own record of 62 cups in ten hours, established at a previous exhibition.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1931, the Eagle reported, “Mexico City is gaining rapidly in popularity among tourists from the United States, who there are finding extraordinary interest and charm and a wholesome and cordial welcome from the people of Mexico with whom they come in contact. The pleasure of the cruise from New York to Vera Cruz, the awe-inspiring scenery on the rail trip between Vera Cruz and Mexico City and the satisfying charm of the city and the surrounding country form an irresistible combination that richly rewards the visitor from the north. Much of the satisfaction experienced on these trips is due to the exceptionally pleasant conditions under which they are made.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1934, the Eagle reported, “Taiwan, Formosa, has a unique position among the countries of the world with respect to motor vehicles. The big majority of Taiwan’s motor vehicles are neither passenger cars nor trucks, but buses. There are 1,220 buses on the island as compared with about 600 each of passenger cars and trucks. A study of world automotive registration figures is distinctly flattering to Americans, not only because it reveals that this country owns some three-fourths of all motor vehicles, but because no single country in the world can boast of as many registered cars and trucks as the State of New York alone. Or California, either.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1935, the Eagle reported, “PHILADELPHIA (AP) ― Magistrate Harbison of Radnor said today Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr. will not have to appear to answer charges that grew out of an automobile accident New Year’s Day. Charges of assault and battery by automobile were dropped after an insurance company settled with Edward Newman of Radnor, who was slightly hurt.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1945, the Eagle reported, “GENERAL MacARTHUR’S HEADQUARTERS, LUZON (UP) ― Sixth Army vanguards drove 18 to 20 miles inland from the Lingayen Gulf today, overrunning perhaps 30 cities, towns and villages and at least one airdrome in a powerful drive across the plains of central Luzon to within 90 to 95 miles of Manila. Reliable reports at Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters said that at least a few patrols had already reached the Agno River at a point where it bisects the Luzon plains some 20 miles inland from the 20-mile-wide invasion beachhead. The Japanese had been expected to make their first defense stand along the Agno, but military sources suggested that the enemy, caught off balance, would be unable to organize quickly enough to defend the river and instead would attempt to stem the American advance farther south. Already behind the Americans were the cities of Lingayen with its airport, Dagupan, Mangaldan and San Fabian, as well as a cluster of 25 to 30 lesser towns and hamlets in the invasion area. All four initial beachheads had been linked and army engineers were enlarging the Lingayen airdrome for imminent use.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1953, the Eagle reported, “When any major movement occurs in transportation, the public invariably turns to the railroads, as the most satisfactory means of travel. So it will be for the Inauguration in Washington, through the period Jan. 17-21. For nearly a year, Washington railroads and specifically, Union Station there, have been making plans for it. They realized that no matter who won there would still be thousands of persons coming to the city by train. Recently the evidence indicates that it well may become the heaviest railroad movement ever scheduled into the Nation’s Capital.”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Tony Kaye (Yes), who was born in 1946; World Golf Hall of Famer Ben Crenshaw, who was born in 1952; Bangles guitarist Vicki Peterson, who was born in 1958; stock car racer Brett Bodine, who was born in 1959; former N.Y. Mets coach Manny Acta, who was born in 1969; singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige, who was born in 1971; “Brockmire” star Amanda Peet, who was born in 1972; “Prison Break” star Rockmond Dunbar, who was born in 1973; former N.Y. Giants tight end Kevin Boss, who was born in 1984; WordPress developer Matt Mullenweg, who was born in 1984; and former N.Y. Jets tight end Ryan Griffin, who was born in 1990.

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IMMIGRANT SONG: Alexander Hamilton was born on this day in 1755. The American founding father, diplomat, soldier, and coauthor of “The Federalist Papers” was born in Charlestown, Nevis, British West Indies. President George Washington appointed Hamilton the first secretary of the Treasury in 1789, and in that position he established the basis for all future American fiscal policy. Hamilton was shot by Vice President Aaron Burr in a duel on July 11, 1804 and died the next day.

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A BURNING ISSUE: On this day in 1964, U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry issued the first government report saying that smoking cigarettes may be hazardous to one’s health.

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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.

Quotable:

“Give all the power to the many, they will oppress the few. Give all the power to the few, they will oppress the many.”

— U.S. founding father Alexander Hamilton, who was born on this day in 1755