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January 23: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

January 23, 2025 Brooklyn Eagle History
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ON THIS DAY IN 1849, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle said, “While Aspinwall and Co. are pushing the Panama railroad project and seeking to draw the government to their assistance in amassing a splendid fortune for the firm, there is another scheme on foot for the construction of a railroad across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, which is the narrow neck of land lying between the south side or bottom of the gulf of Mexico and the Pacific ocean. This is the place for a ship canal, and such a work would, without doubt, pay handsomely. Indeed, the grant was originally made to the company from the government with the view of constructing such a canal, but as a railroad will cost only about three millions, while a canal will cost twelve millions, the company have turned their attention to a road.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1893, the Eagle said, “The 400 shareholders of the Panama canal who met in Paris and passed a resolution in favor of making an appeal to American capitalists in the interest of the enterprise will have their labor for their pains if they act upon the resolution. A much more promising scheme is that of the Nicaragua canal, but American capitalists do not appear to be embarking their fortunes in it to any lavish and reckless extent. It is evident now that the Panama ditch was a failure, not because it is impracticable to construct a work of that kind on the isthmus, but because the projectors never intended that it should be built and used the enterprise simply as a means of speculation. If a canal ever connects the two oceans at that point American capital, industry and engineering skill will be employed in making the connection. At present, however, they cannot be enticed into undertaking it. Nevertheless America will appreciate the compliment which the resolution of the Panama shareholders pays her.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1912, the Eagle reported, “SEATTLE, WASH. ― Professor Herschel C. Parker of Columbia University is now in this city on his way to make his third attempt to climb to the top of Mount McKinley, the highest peak in North America. He leaves on Wednesday for Alaska on the steamship Alameda and will begin his long and difficult over-snow journey from Seward. Belmore Browne of Tacoma will be the other man in the party, besides the guides.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1921, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON ― Forests east of the Rocky Mountains are being devastated so rapidly by cutting and burning that the Nation soon will be dependent for the bulk of its construction lumber upon the forests of the Pacific Coast, William B. Greeley, United States Forester, declares in his annual report. The situation, Mr. Greeley says, is one that affects the public welfare of the entire country. He urges a Federal law to save the remaining forests and to put the idle forest lands at work.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1938, the Eagle said, “If the general trend of film color is as excellent and as artistically mixed as the Technicolor in Walt Disney’s ‘Snow White,’ we are due for a sensational boom to motion pictures as an entertainment medium.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1949, the Eagle reported, “NANKING, JAN. 22 (U.P.) ― Peiping surrendered to its Communist army besiegers today and the resistance of Nationalist China to the Chinese Reds was virtually at an end. Communist troops were reported within 37 miles of this Nationalist capital and advancing without opposition. Acting President Li Tsung-Jen was removing, as he described it, ‘all obstacles to peace.’ The last vestige of resistance to the victorious Communists seemed to have disappeared with the ‘temporary’ resignation and departure from Nanking of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek as president. Even the ‘face-saving’ demand for a cease-fire before starting peace talks had been given up. Shao Li-Tge, chief of a new five-man peace mission, said early today that the Government would be willing to negotiate when and where the Communists choose, and on their own terms. The peace chief said that his delegation was willing to talk on the basis of the Communinsts’ harsh ‘eight points’ ― a demand for total political surrender and drastic punishment of every major Government leader as a ‘war criminal.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1951, the Eagle reported, “CHICAGO (U.P.) ― National Football League owners today resorted to the usual solution for their problems, pitching to their $40,000-per-year commissioner, Bert Bell, the matters of assigning teams to divisions and the type of schedule to be played in 1951. The conference agreed unanimously that further discussion was futile after 48 hours of pondering some vague suggestions as to what might be done. Only one concrete proposal was made, a program worked out by George Marshall of the Washington Redskins and George Halas of the Chicago Bears, which not only assigned teams to divisions, but also provided a schedule which would have called for games between all teams on an eight-year cycle. This was not accepted and Bell was told to prepare suggested divisional assignments and types of schedules and submit them by mail to the members. Members will have 48 hours after receipt of Bell’s proposals to vote. If one of his plans receives 11 votes, it will ‘go into the book’ as a permanent arrangement. ‘If it doesn’t I’m to make up the thing as I see fit and they take it for one year,’ Bell said.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1953, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (U.P.) ― Charles E. Wilson, ready to sell his $2,700,000 General Motors stock interest, today went before the Senate Armed Services Committee for a second time amidst predictions by Senate leaders that he will now be confirmed as Defense Secretary. Wilson, as he stepped into the committee room six minutes late, was asked by newsmen if he wished his testimony were being given in public session, rather than behind closed doors. ‘I wish so,’ he said, ‘but it’s a little late now.’ He expressed doubt that he would ask to have the hearing opened. Wilson agreed last night to sell his stock interest which many Senators contended would provide a ‘conflict of interest’ and possible law violation with his duties as Defense Secretary. The decision to sell seemed to have paved the way for removal of Senate objections to Wilson’s confirmation. But highly placed Democrats said there will still be ‘sharp debate’ over the nomination and ‘a lot of votes’ against it. And some Republicans admitted privately they would have preferred to see President Eisenhower withdraw Wilson’s name.”

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Chesley Sullenberger
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
Mariska Hargitay
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “MacGyver” star Richard Dean Anderson, who was born in 1950; pilot and safety expert Chesley Sullenberger, who was born in 1951; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), who was born in 1953; “NYPD Blue” star Gail O’Grady, who was born in 1963; “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” star Mariska Hargitay, who was born in 1964; Hockey Hall of Famer Brendan Shanahan, who was born in 1969; Pro Football Hall of Famer and former N.Y. Jets center Kevin Mawae, who was born in 1971; “Saved by the Bell” star Tiffani Thiessen, who was born in 1974; “Dexter: New Blood” star Julia Jones, who was born in 1981; sprinter and Olympic gold medalist Andrew Rock, who was born in 1982; model and actress Doutzen Kroes, who was born in 1985; and soccer player Steve Birnbaum, who was born in 1991.

Tiffany Thiessen
Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP

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SIGNATURE MOMENT: John Hancock was born on this day in 1737. The Massachusetts native was president of the Continental Congress (1775-77) and the first signer of the Declaration of Independence. Because of his conspicuous signature on the Declaration, Hancock’s name has become part of the American language, referring to any handwritten signature. He died in 1793.

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MILLER TIME: “Barney Miller” premiered on this day in 1975. The ABC sitcom about a New York precinct captain starred Hal Linden as Barney, Barbara Barrie as his wife Elizabeth, Abe Vigoda as Det. Phil Fish, Ron Glass as Det. Ron Harris, Max Gail as Sgt. Stan Wojciehowicz, Gregory Sierra as Sgt. Chano Amenguale, and Jack Soo as Sgt. Nick Yemana. The last episode aired in 1982.

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

Quotable:

“We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.”

— U.S. Founding Father John Hancock, who was born on this day in 1737





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