URGES CONSERVATION OF
THE NATION'S RESOURCES
President Taft Sends Special Message to Con
gress Recommending Prevention of Land
Frauds, Control of Water Power, Fos?
tering of Soils and Kindred Subjects
Washington, Jun. 11 Following Is
the coniploto text of the special mes
sago on thu conservation ot this na
tion's resources sunt to the sennto
nnd house of representatives hy Pres
ident Tnft toduy:
To the Senate and Houso or Itepresenta
Uvea: In my annual message I reserved tlio
nubject of tlio conservation ot our na
tional remitters for disposition In u .spo
clal message, as follows:
In several departments there Is pro
Rented tho necessity for legislation look
ing to tho further ronsetvntlnn or our
national resource nnd the nubject Is ono
of such Importuned ns to requlru n morn
detailed and extended discussion thun
can be ontered upon In this cnmmtinlcii
tlon. For that reason t shall tukn ntt
early opportunity to send n special ines
sago to congress on tho subject of the
Improvement of our waterways, upon the
reclamation nnd irrigation of nrltl, semi
arid and swamp lauds: upon tho prefer,
vatlon or our forests nnd the ro-forestlng
of suitable nrens. upon the riM:tnsslttca
Hon of tho public domain with n view nt
separating from ngrlcultural settlement
mineral, coal and phosphate, lands nnd
sites belonging to the government bor
dering on streams suitable for tho uttll
zatlou of water power.
In 1SC0 wo had n public dnmnln of 1.05R,
011,233 acre3. Wo have now rJI.35t.0SI
ncres, confined lamely to tho mnuululn
. ranges nnd the nrld and soml-nrld plains.
We. have. In addition, 3W,035,'J?r acres of
Innd In Alaska.
Disbursement of Public Lands.
Tho public lands were, dutlng the earli
est administration, treated as a nutlnnnl'
asset for the liquidation of tho public
debt nnd as n source of rownrd for our
Boldlers and sailors, f.ntcr on they were
donutt-d In largo nmounts In aid of tho
construction ot wagon ronds nnd rail
ways. In order to open up regions In Hip
west then n I most Inaccessible All tho
principal land statutes were enacted morn
thnn a quorter .of n cewturv mijo The
homestead net, tlio png-ompttnti and timber-culture
net, the roul land ntid the
mining nets wero among these.
The rapid disposition of the public lands
under tho enrly statutes, nnd tho lax
methods of distribution prevailing, due, t
think, to the belief that theso lands
should rapidly pnss Into prlvnto owner
ship, gave rise to tho Impression that
the publlo clomntn was legitimate prey
for tho unscrupulous nnd that It wns not
contrnrj' to good morals to circumvent
the land laws. This proJIgnl manner of
disposition rcsultod In the passing ot
largo areas or valuable land and many
or our national resources Into the hands
or persons who felt little or no responsi
bility for promoting the national wel
fare through their development.
Fraudulent Titles.
Tho truth Is that title to millions of
ncres ot public lands was fraudulently
obtained nnd that the right to recover n
largo part of such lands. for the govern
ment long since ceased by reason of stat
utes of limitations. Thorp has developed
In recent years n dec- concern In tho
public mind respecting tho preservation
nnd proper uso of our natural resources.
This has been particularly directed
townrd the conservation of the resources
or tho public domain. A vast nmonnt ot
discussion has appeared In the public
prints In generalized form on this sub
ject, but there has been llttlo practlcnl
suggestion. It hno been easy to sny that
the natural resources In fuel supply, In
forests, In water power, nnd In other
public utilities, must be saved from
waste, monopoly, and other abuses, nnd
tho general public Is In accord with this
proposition, ns they nro with most
truisms. Tho problem, however. Is how
to savo and hqw to utilise, how to con
serve nnd still develop, for no sane per
son can contend that it Is for tho com
mon good that nature's blessings nre
only for unborn generations,
Noteworthy Reforms,
Among the most noteworthy reforms
Initiated by my distinguished predecessor
were the vigorous prosecution of land
frauds and the bringing to public atten
tion of the necessity for preserving the
remaining public domain from further
spoliation, for tho maintenance and ex
tension of our forest resources, and for
the enactment of laws amending tho ob
solete, stntutes so ns to retain govern
mental control over thnt port ot the pub
lic domain In which thero nre valuable
deposits or coal, or oil. and of phnsphutn,
and. In addition thereto, to preserve con
trol, under conditions favorable to the
public, of the lands along the streams In
Which the fall of water can bo made to
generate powor to be transmitted In the
form of electricity many miles to the
point of Its use, known ns "water power"
sites.
The Investigations Into violations of tho
public land laws nnd the prosecution of
land frauds have been vigorously con
tinued under my administration, ns has
been tho withdrawal of coal lands far
classification and valuation and the tem
porary withholding of pewer sites. Since
Mnrch 4, 1909, tompornr) withdrawals of
power sites have been rondo on 102
streams and these withdrawals therefore
cover 223 per cent, moro strenms than
were covered by the withdrawals made
prior to thnt date.
The present statutes, except so far
ns they dispose of the precious metals
and tho purely agricultural lands, are
not adapted to carry out the modern
view of tho best disposition of public
lands to prlvnto ownership, under con
ditions offering on tho one hand sufll
clent Inducement to prlvnto capital to
tako thcm'ovcr for proper develop
ment, with restrlctlvo conditions on
tho other which shall secure to the
public that character of control which
will provent a monopoly or misuse of
the landH or their products. Tho power
of the secretary of tho Interior to with
draw from the operation of existing
stntutes tracts of land, the disposition
or which under such statutes would
bo detrimental to the public Interests,
Is not clear or satisfactory. This powor
has been exercised In tho Interest ot
the public, with the hope that congress
might nftlrm tho action of I ho execu
tive by laws adopted to tho new condi
tions. Unrortunately, congress has not
thus far fully ncted on the recommen
dations or tho executive, nnd the ques
tion as to what the executive h to
do Is under the circumstances, full of
clllllculty. It seems to mo that It In
tho duty ot congress now, by a statute,
to validate tho withdrawals which
have been made by ho secretary ot the
Interior nnd the president and to use
thesecretnry of the Interior temporar
ily to withdraw lands pending submis
sion to congress ot recommendations as
tn legislation to meet conditions or
emergencies ns they arise.
Properly to Classify Lands.
One ot the inost pressing needs In
tho mnltcr ot public-land reform Is
that lands should be classified accord
ing to their principal value uso. This
ought to bo done by that or department
whoso forco 'Is bst ndnpted to thnt
work, tt should bo dono by tho Inter
ior department through tho geological
survey. Much of confusion, fraud, nnd
contention which has oxlstcd In tho
present has nrlsen from tho lnck of
nn otllclnl nnd determlnntlvo cinssin
ration of the public lands and their
contents.
It Is now proposed to dispose of Ag
ricultural lands as such, nnd at tho
same time to reserve for other disposi
tion the treasure of coal, nil, nnhphal
turn, natural gas nnd phnsphntn con
tained therein. This mny bo best ac
complished by separating the right
tn mine from the title to the surrnee,
giving tho necessary use ot ho much or
the latter ns mny bo required ror the
extraction or the deposits. Tho sur
fnen might be disposed of as ngrlcul
turnl Innd tinder the general agricul
tural stntutes. while the coal or other
rnluernl could bo disposed of by lensn
nn a roynlty basis, with the provisions
requiring a certnln nmount of develop
ment ench yenr; nnd In order tn pro
vent tho uso nnd cession of juld lands
with others of similar character so as
to constitute a monopoly forbidden by
law. tho lease should contnm suitnbio
provision subjecting to forfeiture tho
Interest of persons participating in
such monopoly. Such law should ap
ply to Alaska as well ns to tho United
Staten.
Statute Difficult to Frame.
Tt Is exceedingly difficult to frame
a statute tn rctnln government contrni
over n property to be developed by
nrlvatn capital in such n manner ns
to seeuro tho governmental purpose
nnd nt tho same time not frighten
uwny tho Investment ot tho noccssnry
capltnl. Hence, tt mny bn necessary
by laws thnt urn really only experi
mental tn determlno from their pracr
tlcal operation whnt Is the best
meljind of securing the result nlmcd nt.
The extent of the value of phosphate
Is hardly realized, and with tho need
Hint there will be for It ns tho years
mil on nnd the necessity for fertiliz
ing tho Innd shall become mora acute,
this will bo a product which will prob
ably nttract tho greed or monopolists.
Public Land Alonn Streams.
With rcsnect to tho publlo land
which lies along the strenms offering
onnortunlty tn convert water power
Into trnnsmlsslblo electricity, nnother
Important nhaso of the publlo land
question Is presented. Thero nro val
uable wnter powor sites tnrougn an
the nubile land states. Tho opinion
Is held that the transfer or sovereignty
from tho redernl government to the
terrltorlnl governments as they become
states. Included tho water power In
tho rivers except so tar us that owned
by rlparlnn proprietors. T do not
thlnlc It necessary tn go Into discussion
or this somewhat mooted question of
law. It seems to me sulllclont to say
that the mnn who owns nnd controls
tho lajid nlong tho stream from which
the power Is to be convorted and trans
mitted, owns lund which Is Indispens
able to tho conversion nnd use of that
power. I cannot conceive how thq
nower In streams flowing through pub
He lnnds can be made avnllablo nt all
except by using the Innd Itself as tho
site for tho construction or tne pinnt
hv which tho nower Is genornted nnd
converted nnd securing a right of way
thereover for transmission lines. Un
dcr these condition, If tho government
owns the adjacent land Indeed, If tho
government Is the riparian ownor It
mny control tho use ot the wnter power
by Imposing proper conditions on the
disposition ot tho land necessary In the
creation nnd utilization or tho water
power.
Value of Water Power.
The development In electrical appli
ances for tho conversion of the water
power Into electricity to be transmitted
long distances has progressed so for that
It Is no longer problematical, but It Is a
certain Inference thnt In the future the
nower of the wnter falling In the streams
to a lnrge extent will tako tho place or
natural fuels. In the disposition of the
domain nlrendy (jranted, ninny wnter
nower sites imvo come under absolute
ownership, nnd mny drift Into ono own
ership, bo that all the water power under
nrlvato ownership snail be n monopoly,
If, however, the water power sites now
owned by the government ana thero are
enough of them shall bo disposed ot to
private persons for the Investment of
their capital In such a way as tu prevent
their union tor purposes or monopoly
with other water power sites, and under
condition thnt shall limit tho right or use
to not exceeding thirty years with renewal
privileges ond some equitable means or
tlxlng terms or rental nnd with proper
vnenns for determining a reasonable grnd
unfed renin!, It would seem entirely pos
vble to prevent the absorption of these
mrt useful lands uy n power monopoly,
An lone ns tho government rctnlns con
v.v.1 nnd can prevent their Improper union
with other plants, competition must be
maintained nnd prices kept reasonable.
Soils Must Be Conserved.
In considering the conservation of the
natural resources of the country, the fca
ture thnt trnnscendH nil others, Including
woods, waters, minerals, Is the soli ot tho
country. It Is Incumbent upon tho gov
eminent to foster by nil nvuiinblo mean
tho resources or the country thnt produce
the food of the people. To this end tho
conscrvutlon of the soils of the country
should be cared for with all means at the
government's disposal. Their productive
powers' should nave tne attention or ou
scientists that we may conserve the new
soils, Improve tho old soils, drnln, wet
soils, ditch swamp soils, levee river over
flow soils, grow trees on thin soils, pas
ture hillside soils, rotate crops on all
soils, dlocover methods for cropping dry
land soils, find grasses and legumes for
nil soils, feed grulns and mill feeds on
tho farms whent they originate, that the
bolls from which they come may bo en
rlched.
A work or tho utmost Importance to In
form nnd Instruct the public on this chief
branch or tho conservation or our re
sources Is being carried on successfully
In the department of agriculture: but It
ought not to escnpo public attention that
state action In addition to that of the de
nnrtmcnt of agriculture (as for Instance
in tne urainago ot swamp lands) is es
rcntlal to the best treatment of the soil
l-i the manner above Indicated.
The act by which, In seml-arld parts of
the publlo domain, the area of tne homo
stead has been enlarged from ICO to K0
acres has resulted most beneficially In
the extension of "dry farming" nnd In
the demonstration which has been mado
of the possibility, through a variation In
tho character and mode of cuituro, ot
raising substantial crops without tho
presence of such n supply of water as
hns been heretofore thought to be neces
sary for agriculture.
nut there nro mil ons of acres of com
pletely nrld land In the publlo domain
which, by tho establishment .of reservoirs
for the storing of water and the Irri
gation ot tho lnnds. may be made mucn
moro fruitful nnd productive than the
best lands In n climate where the mois
ture comes from tho clouds. Congress
recognized the Importance ot this mothod
ot artificial distribution or wnter on the
nrld lands by tho passage ot the reclama
tion-act. The proceeds or the puuiio
lands creates the tund to build tho works
needed to storo nnd furnish the neces
sary water, nnd It wns left to the secre
tary of tho Interior to dctormlno whnt
projects should bo started among thoso
suggested and to direct tho reclamation
service with the funds nt hand nnd
through tho engineers In Its employ, to
construct tho works.
No ono enn visit tho far west and tho
country of nrld nnd sorril-nrld lands with
out being convinced that this Is one ot
the most Important methods of the con
servation of our nnturnl resources that
tho government has entered upon. It
would nppcnr that over 80 projects "have
been undertaken, nnd tnnt a row or
these nro likely to be unsuccessful be
cause ot lack of water, or for other rea
sons, but genernlly the work which 1ms
been done hns been well dono, nnd many
Importnnt engineering problems havo
been met nnd solved.
Funds Inadequate for Service.
One ot tho difficulties which has
arisen Is that too many projects tn
view of tho available funds have been
set on foot. The funds nvnllable under
the reclamation statute sro Inadequate
to complete these projects within n
reasonable time. And yet tho projects
hnve been begun: settlers have been
Invited to tako ui nnd. fn many In
stances, have tnlten un. the nubile land
within the projects, relying tipon their
prompt completion. The fnlluro to
complete tho projects for- their benefit
Is. In effect, n breneli of faith ana
lenves them In n most distressed con
dltlnn. I urge thnt tho nation ought
to afford the means to lift them out of
tho very desperate condition In which
they now are.
This condition does not Indicate nny
excessive wnsto or any corruption on
the nnrt of tho reclnmatlon service. It
only Indicates nn over-zealous desire
to extend tho benefit of reclamation
to an many ncres nnd ns many states
as possible. I recommend, tnerorore.
that authority be given to Issuo. not
exceeding $80,000,000 of bonds from
time to time, as the secretary of the
Interior nhnll find It necessary, the
proceeds to be applied to tho comple
tion nf tho projects nlrendy begun nnd
their proper extension, nnd tho bonds
running ten yenrs or more to bo taken
up by tho proceeds of returns to tho
reclamntlon fund, which returns, ns
tho yenrs go on, will Increase rapidly
in amount.
There In no doubt fit all that It
theso bonds were to bo allowed th run
ten yoars. the proceeds from the public
lands, together with tho rontnls for
water fUrnlBhed through tho completed
enterprises, would quickly create a
sinking fund Inrgo enough to retire
tho bonds within tho time specified,
bono that, whllo tho statute shall pro
vide that theso bonds arc tn bo paid
nut of tho reclamation fund. It will be
drawn in'sueu n way ns to seeuro in
terest at tho lowest rate, nnd thnt the
credit of tho United States will bn
pledged for their redemption.
1 urgo consldorntlnn of tho rccom
mendatlons of tho secrotnry of the
Interior In his annual report for
amendments of tho reclamation act.
proposing other roller ror settlers on
these projects.
New Law Requisite.
Respecting the comparatively small
timbered nrens on the public domain not
Included In nntlonnl forests because of
their Isolation or their special vnluo for
ngrlcultural or mineral purposes, It Is np-
nnrent from the evils resulting by vir
tue or the imperfections or existing laws
for tho disposition or timber lands thnt
tho ucts or Juno 3. 1K7S. should bo re
pealed nnd a law enacted for the dispo
sition of the timber nt public sale, thn
lands nfter tho removal of tho timber tn
be subject to npproprlntlon under the
ngrlcultural or mineral land laws.
What I have said Is really nn epitome
of the recommendntlons of tho secretary
of tho interior "In respect tn tho future
conservation of the public dnmnln In his
present nnnual report. IIo hns given
close nttcntlon to the problem of dlsposl
tlon or these lands under such conditions
as to Invito tho private capital neenssnry
to llinlr development on the ono hnnd,
nnd tho maintenance or tho restrictions
necessary to prevent monopoly nnd nbuse
from ubsolutn ownership on tho other.
TheBo recommendations nre Incorporated
in bills ho has prepared, and they ore at
the disposition of tne congress, I earnest
ly recommend thnt ull tho suggestions
which he has mado with respect to these
lands shall bo embodied In stntutes and,
especially, that tho withdrawals already
made shall be validated so rar as ncces
sary and that doubt ns to the authority
of tho secrotnry ot tho Interior to with
draw lnnds for tho purpose of submitting
recommendations as to future disposition
ot them whero new legislation Is needed
shall be made complete and unquestioned.
Disposition of Forest Reserves,
Tho forest reserves of tho United
Stntes, someJOO.OOO.OOO acres In extent, ure
under the control of the department or
agriculture, with authority adequate to
preserve them and to extend their growth
so rnr ns thnt mny bo practicable. The
Importance ot the mnlntennuce of our
forests cannot bo exnggernted. The possl
blllty of a scientific treatment or forests
so that they shall be made to yield a
I a mo return In timber without really re
diiclng the supply has boon lU-monst rated
In olhcr countries, nnd wh should Work
toward the standard set by them ns fnr
ns their methods uro applicable! to our
conditions.
Upwnrds or four hundred millions ncres
of forest land In this country nre In nrl
vnte ownership, but only threo per cent
of It Is being treated scientifically nnd
with n view to tho mnlntcnanco of the
forests, The part phtTed by the forests
In the equalization ot (he supply of wnter
on watersheds is a matter of discussion
nnd dispute, but the general benefit to bo
derived by the public from the extension
of forest lands on wntersheds and (lie
promotion ot the growth of trees tn
places that uro now denuded nnd that
once had great flourishing forests, goes
without saying. The control to bu oxer
clsed over prlvnto owners In their treat
tnent of the forests which they own Is a
matter for state and not national regu
latlon, because there Is nothing tn tho
constitution thnt authorizes tho federal
government to exercise any control over
forests within a state, unless the forest
are owned In a proprietary way by th
reucrni government.
Improvement of River.
I come now to tho Improvement of tho
ininnd waterways. lie would bo blind
Indeed, who did not real ze that the neo
pie of tho far west, and especially those
of the Mississippi valley, have been
nrousea io me need mere is ror tho Im
provement or our Inland waterways.
Tho Mississippi river, with the Missouri
on tho one hnnd and tho Ohio on the
other, would seem to offor n great nat
ural means of Interstate transportation
and traftlc. How far, If properly Improved.
ther would relievo the rnllrovts or sup
plement them In respect to the bulkier
nnd cheaper commodities Is rt matter of
conjecture. No enterprise ought to to
undertaken tho cost ot which is not del
Inltely ascertained and tho benefit and
advantage of which nre not known nrd
assured by competent engineers and other
authority, When, however, a project oi
a definite character for tho Improvement
of a waterway has been dovelopod so
that tho plans have been arawnr tne cost
definitely estimated, and tho trnrflo
which will bo accommodated Is reason
ably probablo I think It Is the duty ot
congress to undertake tho project and
make provision therefor In the proper ap
propriation bill.
One of the nroleeta which answers th
description I havo given Is that of Intro
ducing dams Into tho Ohio river from
Pittsburg to Cairo, so as to maintain at
alt seasons of tho year, by slack water,
a depth of nlno feet. Upward of sevon
ot these dnms have already been con
structed and six nro under construction,
whllo tho total required Is CO. The re
maining cost Is known to bo 163,000,000.
It seems to mo thnt In tho development
ot our Ininnd watorways It would bo
wlso to begin' with this particular project
and carry It through as rapidly as may
be. I assume from reliable Information
that tt can be constructed economically
In ten years. I recommend, therefore
that tho publlo lands, In river nnd har
bor bills, make provision for continuing
contracts to complete this Improvement,
and 1 shall recommond In the future, If
It be necessary, that bonds bo Issued to
carry It through.
What has been said or tho Ohio river
Is truo In n less completo way of tho Im
provement ot tho ,uppcr Mississippi from
Ut. l'nul tn St. Louis to n constant depth
of six feet, nnd ot tho Missouri, from
Kansas City to St. Louis to a constant
depth oC six feet nnd from St. Louis to
Cairo or, a depth of cignt icoi. rnoso
project's havo been pronounced practical
by competont boards or army engineers,
their cost has been estimated and thero
Is business which will follow the Im
provement. As theso Improvements are being made,
nnd the trnfllo encouraged by them shows
Itself of sufficient Importance, the Im
provement of the Mississippi beyond
Cairo down to the gulf, which Is now
going on with the maintenance ot n depth
of nine feet everywhere, may be changed
to another and greater depth ir the neces
sity ror It shall appear to arise out of the
traffic which can bo delivered on tho river
at Cairo,
Cheap Rait Rate Necessary.
I urn Informed thnt the Investigation
by tho waterways Commission In Europe
shows thnt tho existence of a waterway
by no means nssures traffic unless thero
Is traffic adapted to water carriage nt
cheap rates at one ond or tho other ot
tho stream. It nlso appears in Europe
thnt tho depth of the streams Is rarely
more than six feet, nnd never moro than
nine. But It Is certain that enormous
quantities ot merchandise nro transported
over the rivers and cnnnls tn Germany
and Franco nnd England, and It Is nlso
certnln that tho existence ot such meth
ods of trafllc materially affects tho rales
which thn railroads charge, and tt Is tho
best regulator of thoso rates that we
have, not oven excepting tho govern
mental regulation through tho Interstate
commerce commission. For this reason,
I bono that this congress will tako such
steps' that It may bo called tho Inaugu-
rntor of tho new system of Ininnd water
ways. For reasons which it Is not nec
essary here to state, congress has seen
fit to order an Investigation into tho In
terior department nnd tho torost service
or the ngrlcultural department, Tho re
sults ot that Investigation arc not needed
o determine the vnltio or, and tho ne
cessity ror, the new legislation which I
havo recommended In respect to tho pub
lic lnnds nnd In respect to reclamation, I
enrnestly urge that the measures bo tak
en up and disposed ot promptly without
awaiting the Investigation which has been
determined upon.
WILLIAM H. TAFT.
A Bird's Savings Bank.
In California tho woodpecker stores
acorns away, although lie never eatB
them. IIo bores sovornl holes, differ
lng slightly in size, nt tho fnll of tho
yenr. Invnriably in a nlno tree. Then
he find nn ncorn, which ho adjusts to
ono of tlio holes prepared for its ro
ception.
nut ho does not eat tho acorn, for,
as a rule, ho Is not n vegetarian. His
object is storing .nway thn acorns ex
hibits foresight and a Unowletlgo of
results moro nkln to ronson than to
Instinct. Tho succeeding winter tho
urnrns remain Intnct, but, becoming
snturnted, are predisposed to docay,
whnn thoy arc attacked by maggots,
which seem to delight in this special
rood.
it is thnn that tho woodpecker
reaps tlio ltarvcst his wisdom has pro
vided, at a timo when, tho ground be
lug covered with snow, ho would ex
perlonco a. difficulty otherwise In ob
tainlng suitable or pnlntitbln food,
His "Penitentiary Den."
"And now I must show you what I
call my penitentiary den," said a popu
lnr author. "This," he continued, as
he drew open a door, "Is where I oc
caslonally spend nn hour or so when I
am doveloplng symptoms of thnt hy no
means uncommon mnlndy nmong sue
cossftil men called 'swelled head.' "
The room was a charming llttlo
snuggery about seven feet square, tho
only remarkable I'cnlme of which was
the wull-covoriug. "If you look close
ly," explained tho IiohI, "you will see
ihnt my wall paper consists, on two
sides of tho rom, of those too-famlllnr
nnd umveicoino printed forum on
which editors express their regrets at
declining ono's pet manuscripts,"
Zoological Puzzle,
Italian zoologists havo a puzzle to
solve, owing to tho discovery on
Mount niunc of tho body of a white
benr, which has been brought lo Aosla
It wns thought at first I hat tho hear
must have died somo three hundred
yenrs ago, and must havo been pro
served by the Ico, since it has always
been hold thnt white boars vanished
from tho Alps three ennturies ngo. But
It hns slnco been demonstrated thnt
death could only have Inken place a
low days prevlouu to discovery. At
this would scorn to show (hat (here
aro still white hears In tho Alps, ex
pcdltlons aro to bo sent to test tho
theory.
Tooly Lurall
"How far is It between these two
lowns?" tisked the lawyer,
"About four miles ob tho flow
cries." replied tho witness.
"You mean as tho cry flows."
"No," put In the Judge, "ho meant
ob tne uy crows."
And they all looked at each other,
icoiing that something was wrong
Everybody's Magazine.
N 1
IN FANCY CROCHET
WOOL SHOE FOR INFANT IS A
PRETTY WORK.
Few Materials Required, and the Skill
of the Operator Is tho Main Re
quisite Full Directions
Given Here.
Materials required: About half-an-"
ounco of flno wool and a bono hook,
No. 12.
Work 11 chain stitches, turn and
draw up n loop through tho second
from hook, nnd ono through each of
tho thrco stitches, wool ovor, draw
through nil flvo loops at onco, and
mako a chain stitch, draw up a
loop under tho chain Just made, ono
under tho back thread of tho last
loop of tho previous grbup, ono
through each of tho noxt two stitches
six loops on hook wool over, draw
through nil six at onco and make a
chain stitch, ropcat from , twice moro
-four patterns or groups turn, threo
chain, urav.' u? Uro loops through tho
chain and ono through each of tho
thrco nearest stitches of previous row,
back thread to bo taken throughout
(tho Bixth loop. Bhould always como
on to a chain stitch), draw through
and coniploto with chnln stitch, work
as before to ond of row, turn, two
moro rows llko last (four tows with
four patterns in each), IB chain, turn,
and work back as usual. Do not
break off, but with a fresh plcco of
wool work 12 stitches on to tho other
sido of tho front unci fasten off, thon
continue tho row already commenced,
and work to tho ond of tho chnln.
Thero. should now bo six patterns on
cither side of tho front 1C pnttcrns
la nil. Turn with thrco chain, nnd
work to nnd fro sevon tlmos, then
omit tho turning chain and work flvo
troblcs under both threads of every
other chain stitch In tho row, with n
doublo crochet half-way between the
groups of trebles. Turn and work n
Infant's Boot Crochet.
singlo crochet In tho back thread ot
each stitch, faston off.
Uo-commonco from whero tho small
plcco of chain was ndded, and work a
double crochot In each stitch to tho
other side or tlio shoo (48 stitches),
turn, a doublo crochet In ovcry Btitch
back again. Work to and fro
tn this way nlnp times, hut In tho last
row tako two stitches toge.thor on
each sldo tho mlddlo of tlio too. Join
odgo and foot on wrong side, olthor
with singlo, crochet, or with a nocdlo
and wool.
Thread round tho top with baby
ribbon, and tio round anklo with same,
or with chain and tassels of wool. If
thu latter, tho chain should bo worked
as follows:
Wind tho wool 12 times round two
fingers nnd seeuro with chain stitch.
, 1 chain, slip tho hook under tho
bnck thread ot tlio chain Just mado,
draw through, wool over nnd draw
through both loops nt once. Repeat
from for tho required longth, nnd
mako a second tassel like tho first.
The Fur Coat.
On tho fur cont wo aro shown mo
tatfc buttons fnutoncd up each sldo of
tho front, n braided bolt, a Btratght
collar, metal trimmed. This Is cqunlcd
In correct outllno by cloth street
suits, tho skirts of which nro straight
and plain (far moro llko trousors
than a plaited skirt would bo) and tho
coats of which resomblo closely tho
best military cut They aro strapped
across tho chest with wldo or narrow
bratds; thoy aro fastoned with regular
army frogs or they aro decorated with
horizontal bands of narrow fur from
button to button down tho doublo
breasted center pauol.
The Zebra Gown.
Ono ot tho most startling r.nd not
unplcaslng gowns Is called tho zobra.
It Is mado of black and whlto striped
velvet, and Is draped In long lines that
glvo height and slondorncss. The ono
touch of color, unloBS ono calls tho
whlto laco yoke n color, Is a roso nf
burnt orango satin that is plnnod to
tho bodico.
Tho hat that goes with this Is of
whlto kid, trimmed with thick black
short tips and a uugo bucklo of deep
yellow crystals.
UNIQUE IDEA OF TRIMMINGS
Embroidery and Bands of, Fur n Com
bination It the Latest of Fash
Ion's Ideas.
Embroidery and bands ot fur nro
combined on many of tho newest
gowns, morely bits of thosd' trim
mings being used on tho waist nnd
skirt. Fashion does not favor con
tinued straight Hnqs In trimming, 'un
less It bo n straight border of fur
urotind tho bottom of tho skirt or tho
edge of tho coat. In tho Illustration
tho llttlo Irregularly shaped over-
dress. Ib shown without any fl .ah, but
tho snmo model, or ono mado upon
simitar lines, hnd this feature of tho
dress outlined with a narrow plcco of
skunk, making an offectlvo costume
for skating or for afternoon street
wear.
Tho brenk in tho wnlst Is rather
pleasing, reminding ono of tho lino
accentuated in sailor blouses. This
ono Is formed by a tuck with nn al
most Infinitesimal bit of braid show
ing on tho edgo and clustors ot but
tons placed on both Btdcs bo that thoy
altornnto.
Another dress nftor this stylo wns
cut with tho ovordross coming lower
In front nnd across tho squaro end was
n band ot fur nnd threo triangular sec
tions ot heavy embroidery, When thoso
two kinds of trimmings nro used to
gether It Is Important to havo tho
ncedlowork bold In design nnd dono
with coarso silk. Tho finer kinds of
work aro moro or less lost by tho ad
dition of tho fur, oven when tho em
broidery shows n contrast In color.
Aa a finishing touch a narrow bit of
tho fur Is used Bomotlmes on tho high
standing collar.
WIDE CHOICE IS OFFERED
In Yokes One May Have as Many
Styles as Varying Fancy
Dictates.
Sleeves nro nut tho only parts of
dress that aro being strongly featured.
Yokes aro about as varied, and it Is no
uncommon thing for a singlo blouso or
waist of appnrent simplicity to com
prlao Jn Us construction as many as
threo or four yokos. A smooth-fitting
bodico may bo cut low, two Inches be
low tho bust, In fact, and built up
again with a plain section of contrast
ing material elaborately ombroldered,
and tibovo nil theso cornea tho yoko
proper, of not or allovor laco, That In
turn, mny bo supplemented with n
small Dutch or circular yoko, with
perhaps a stock of still anothor lace.
And with so many ptecos and so many
materials thero Is no suggestion ot a
lack of continuity. Tho oyo talcos In
tho cnsomblo, and Is not arrested by
any ono patch or spot, If tho offect la
successful. It goes without saying
that clovorness Is required to pro
duco this cnsemblo effect that Is so do.
llghtful nnd so emphatically a point lit
present fashions,
Lnce Pieces.
Sinnll laco pieces of ono kind nnd
nnothor havo a placo this season
among all dress trimmings. Tho
smallest pleco may onhanco a now
collar, tho largest may build tlio foun
dation of a gown, but everything
which enn bo used Is put Into service.
If yen havo coarse ptecos such aa
berthas, roady-mado yokos, or cuffs
and collar sets, you may, if you caro
for something novel, havo them dyed
to match a cloth suit. It Is now pos
sible to use In this wny many old
laces which aro yolldwod with ago.
Again, if laces aro transparent, they
may bo placed oyer sllvor cloth,
whore tho most can bo obtained from
tho homo-mado trimmings with tho
glitter of tlnsol beneath.
Call Fringe In Style.
Tho woman who is In doubt as to
how to edgo her Bleovos or tunlo or
sash drapery can choose narrow ball
frlngo. It Is qulto fashionable. It Is
In all tho metals and many of tho
crystals. It la sold by tho yard and
has a tiny braid finish. It Is easy to
adjust and sew. ,
I If
