Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, May 04, 1890, Part III, Page 19, Image 19

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    THE OMAHA DAILY BEE , SUNDAY. MAY. 4 , 1890.-TWENTY PAGES. 10
THE FARMER WILL PROSPER
Natural Conditions are Solving tha Problem
of Over Production ,
PRICES HAVE REACHED THE 'BOTTOM
An Intorr.stlnR Array of Facts niul
Figures l-'iill of KnoonrnKC-
incut for tlio Tiller
of the Hull.
Tlio Farmer "Will Ho Prosperous.
The absence of prosperity among farmers ,
writes C. Wood Davis in the Forum for May ,
Is largely duo to excessive production of
nearly all farm products. Such being the
cause of the dlfllcultlcs that beset the farmer ,
It Is desirable to ascertain whether the condi
tions essential to prosperity can bo restored ,
c'lthi'r by government Intervention or by the
opcvutlon of natural laws.
A measure of relief would bo had wore n
utop put to the dealing lu options for farm
proJucts , were the rates for transportation
nlwnys just and reasonable , nnd were all
combinations deprived of any control over
the prices of cattle and other larm products.
That time will readjust the disturbed rela
tions between production nnd consumption ,
is as certain as that population will continue
to Increase. The farmer can hope for pros
perity only when domestic consumption shall
nbsorb nearly all his products ; but in order
to show how and when this will bo brought
nbctit , It must first bo known bow much
present production is in excess of homo re
quirements.
Assuming the population to bo now 05,000-
000. with the area in cereals producing aver-
ngo crops and current consumption 15 per
rent greater per capita than iu tlio flvo years
ending in 1374 , present supplies nro in excess
of population ns follows ; Corn for"5,500,000
people , wheat .for 11,000,000 , cattle for 0,000 , .
( XX ) and swine for 11,000,000. Should popula-
w .tlon continue to increase as heretofore , and
production not increase more than seems prob-
f iiblc , home requirements will absorb all the
food products before the end of the century.
During the last flvo years population has
increased ltf,7 per cent , the area in corn
12 H-10 , that in oats 29 , cattle 20 and swine 14 ,
with a decrease of II4-10 per cent in the wheat
urea. Seven-tenth of such Increase in the
corn area occurred in the flrst two years , In
dicating tliat tho'cxpanslon iu corn growing
is Hearing its end. That such is the case will
1)0 seen when an inquiry is made into the
present sources of supply , and we compare
the present rate of increase nnd distribution
of areas with those obtaining In preceding
periods as set forth in the following table :
ACUK UIK OF CO1IX AND IT3 OF.OOHAl'IIIUAL IX-
C1IKASE.
Croups Corn Corn Corn
ot Acrcntfo Acrcniio Acreage
Stulcs. 1371. 1879. 1MI.
North Atlintlc. 8fli .3,711
Lake 13.HU.88. !
JIMviiirlvnllcjr 8,721 , UTfi ziiRoicsi
Simlhern. . . . . .
2,211 (72 ( S.'dti.bV ? XMMIO
Moimtnla nml
I'liclllunrcni. , 10,151 100,091 261,403 SOO.MO
Totals . 78,319,6.11
IVroent lncr > o 62.0t 11.7t 12.Jt
* The Increase ! In the corn area dm Ing. the last
three yearn has been but ] J ! pur cent per
annum , as against 4.1 per cent , In the two pre
ceding yeais.
Corn-growing is apparently approaching
its limit , the increase of ncreago having
ceased In the coast region , extending from
Maluo to Maryland , and in the lake group ,
which includes such states ns Ohio , Indiana ,
Illinois , Michigan , Wisconsin nnd Minnesota.
In the states of the Missouri valley Iowa ,
Missouri , Kansas , Nebraska und the Dakotas
the arcii | of - com uearly doubled
in the llvo years ending in
1ST9 , and the reduction in the rate of
iniTcuio shows that the quantity of new land
being devoted to this crop is less than form
erly. This is the scene of the excessive ex
pansion in corn growing which Hooded the
markets , depressing prices to the present un
precedented level ; yet in this district the
corn acreage has nearly reached its limit , set
tlement having passed beyond the corn area
und partially overrun the arid plains where
corn culture Is impracticable , except upon
such limited areas aa can bo irrigated. The
process of converting com lields into dairy
larms , otchards and meadows , is hero in ac
tive operation , and wo may conclude that the
corn llelds of this district will not in this
century , if over , exceed 80,000,000 acres.
Soutn of the Potomac mid Ohio , com grow
ing made great strides from 1874 to 1S7' ' ( , but
auviinecd much loss rapidly from 1979 to 1880.
Since I860 there has been but little increase.
In Arkansas and Texas the increase
has been better ctistiiiued than
elsewhere , and shows less signs of an curly
halt , although there is an encouraging slack
ening in the rate. A moderate increase may
bo looked for lu these states.
The acreage employed In corn-growing In
the vast regions extending from the 10'Jd
meridian to the Pncilic , docs not equal that
of the earn lields of two counties in Kansas ;
and this entire area , being but'poorlv
udnptcd to the production of this staple , will
ever remain nn unimportant factor in do-
tci mining the extent ot the supply
From this survey of the sources of supply
it appears that any material increase of the
corn acreage must bu looked for in the states
of the Missouri valley , in Arkansas and
Texas , and in that portion of the Ihdlan Ter-
i itory lying east of the 'JSth meridian. It Is
safe to say that the Indian Territory will not
for years produce any "consider
able surplus , but will , by the
end o ? the century , have two or three
million acres employed in growing corn ,
which will no more than compensate for
losses in urea cast of the Mississippi ,
The tendency of the present very low
p--ico will ! > o to contract the area in corn
wherever the land can bo otherwise em
ployed at the .south , for instance , In the
production of cotton and some expansion of
the wheat fields may result from n decrease
in the corn area iu northern localities.
This review of the area of com production
leads to the conclusion that the acreage de
voted to this staple will not exceed W.OOO.OOO ,
until such time us far higher prices shall
midcr profitable the cultivation of soils of
very low fertility ; and It Is not likely to ex-
wed 0,000,000 acres within five years. Care
ful computation of the extent of the exporta
tion of animals und animal products , now
and tlftccn years binco , shows the increase In
Hiich exports to bo equal to'an addition of
otio bushel of com per capita ; nnd what
with the Increased exportation of com in
this form and Its larger employment In the
manufacture of various forms of glucose and
ns u substitute- Canadian and homo-grown
Im-lcy , a moderato estimate- would put the
per cnpltn requirements at least 15 per cent
ubavo the amount consumed prior to 1875.
With consumption at the into of twcntv-
olght bushels per capita , an nvcrugo yield
from N'lKiOWK ( ) would supply a population of
OiX > ,000whleh wo may expect to see ns soon
ns the year 1SU5.
In tno North Atlantic group the increase
in acrc-ago was constant until IS > 50 , thereafter
Hiving place to a material diminution , The
additions to the acreage In the lake states
was very great up to 11WO , when a rapid de-
cmtso began , the loss now amounting to
IV'J'J.tBS ' acres. In the states of the Missouri
valley , exclusive of the D.iUotus , the en
largement of the atvo was very great up to
IhSl , when a sharp corner was turned , the
whitt fields of this district having slnio
shrunken : i,03SatlO ucres. The southern
states , including Arkansas nnd Texas , show
u moderate increase from I&75 to 18:54 : , but u
losss of 6 8Ws acres in the last llvo years ,
now employed In cotton lields.
There occurred a rapid increase In the
wheat area of the three Pifcillc states prior
to ISM , Mnro which time the tiicnwso has
IKHMI less than 1 per tvnt ; and an immense
f'ircM growth , coxoring the- brat soils of Oro-
gJii and Washington , will preclude uny rapid
> . , - im-rease In those states. Daring the ninth
Uecado the Dakutas wltnca&cd the mo.st rapid
it aversion of wild lands into wheat Held *
t.nt the world has over known ; and these
lields now furnish u large part of the export
able suralus , and tend in Wig ) prices near thu
Your Bridgeport , Alabama ,
GRAND PUBLIC SALE of BUSINESS THEX and RESIDENCE LOTS
BRIDGEPORT Land and Improvement Col
Commencing Tuesday , May 6th 1890 , to Continue Until Saturday , May 10th.
HALF FARE RAILROAD RATES - FROM CHATTANOOGA AND NASHVILLE.
Brideport is situated on a plateau , one hundred and fifty feet above high water mark ; a most charming panoramic view , valley surrounded
by mountains. Complete drainage , and health resort of the south. It is the key to the Sequatchet Valley. We are at the head of navigation on
the Tenessee river. Six feet of water at the landings at the lowest stage of river. Free wharfage. Railroad freight rates contracted same as at
Chattanooga.
Look at the profitable investmentsf manufacturers. We have the best coking coal in the surrounding country. Coal delivered on the
track in Bridgeport at about 9O a ton. Our 8OOOO acres of mineral , coal and iron lands are covered \vith large sized timber , hard and soft va
riety , in oak , hickory , ash , poplar , pine , walnut , dog wood , red elm , red birch , sour wood , gum , soft maple and persimmon.
"We defy comparison in the above variety of timber. Limestone for building easily quarried , and of good quality. Fine deposit of clay for
fire clay and brick making ; water power for manufactures. Plans are being executed for a $7SOOO hotel , office building , waterworks and
electric light plant. Sale Tuesday , May 6 ' , cbuntinuing until Saturday , May 1O , 189O. For full particulars , plats , maps , etc. , address
, , , , , BRIDQELPOR'TLAND &IMPROVELMEXN/TOO./
Wo submit reportof Major J. W. Kelley , mineral expert and engineer on our mineral lands. BlllDGMl-'Ol-i.'r , AlaABAMA.
starvation point. The Dakotas and the moun
tain and Pacific regions include the only
areas where the wheat acreage does not show
n diminution ; nndl i these districts the gain
is not likely to equal the losses elsewhere , as
the wheat fields have already invaded the
arid regions where crop failure is the rule.
Indeed , competent authorities declare that
profitable wheat culture Is impossible with
out irrigation in the Dakotas , or in the
British possessions between the 100th meri
dian nnd the western slopes of the Cas
cade mountains. Notwithstanding the
great additions to the area in the Dakotas ,
the wheat fields of 18S9 covered I , u2,0-J0 acres
less than did those of 1S34 , and were but 1U7-
142 acres greater than those of nine years be
fore. As there are no more Dakotas to be ex
ploited , wheat-growing has evidently reached
and passed it limit , nnd exportation will grow
less and less until domestic requirements
shall absorb our entire product of this cereal.
That such will soon bo the case follows from
the complete occupation of the winter wheat
area , where other crops are constantly en
croaching upon wheat lields , as in the spring
wheat regions east of the Dakotas ; and oven
there the lields longest cropped show clear
signs of exhaustion , and must been be recup
erated by n system of rotation that will pre
vent any material addition to the wheat sup-
Speculators in Canadian lands and politics
have reiterated the wildest statements about
nn area unlimited in extent and fertility and
capable of supplying the world with wheat ,
lying fallow just north of the national bound
ary. It is now well established that the area
where profitable wheat culture is possible , in
Manitoba and the Assiniboine region , is
included in a tract less than 300
miles from east to west and
extending north less than one hundred
miles. This Canadian wheat region has been
settled many years , yet the produots is still
very limited , as is shown in the following ex
tract from the Montreal Star , of January 9 ,
ISOOt
W. W. Ogllvlo Is on his way back from Man
itoba and the northwest , after having imi-
chnsed practically nil the western Canadian
wheat erop. The securing of the crop by the
Ozllvlo milling company was not such a big
Job as iiilclit bo thought. It took but $1,500,000
to work the deal , which was for cash.
There is unquestionably u line wheat re
gion north of the state of Washington , but
many years must bo occupied iu removing
great lorcst growths before much wheat can
Go produced. When our population is such
ns to require more wheat , limited additions
to tbo area can bo inado by subjecting to
cultivation so much of plain and mountain as
is snsceptiblo of Irrigation ; but increase from
such irrigated lands will bo slow , oven if the
national government unwisely commits itself
to costly irrigation schemes.
Wo must not wait , however , till complete
equilibration of production and do
mestic consumption for u return of fail-
prices , as Great Britain alone re
quires 150,000,000 bushels of wheat annually
to supplement a homo product steadily dimin
ishing while the requirements as steadily aug
ment. But a few years since it was widely
predicted thut the unlimited capacity of India
to produce cheap wheat would deprive us of a
market for our surplus , but these predictions
have failed as completely as the assurances
that India would furnish the world with all
tlio cotton required. Neither the area , nor
the product , nor the average annual shipment
of Indian wheat has increased during the last
six years an outcomecntlrelyconsouantwith
the character of a people whoso modes of hus
bandry und whoso intelligence bear the im
press of many centuries of mental torpor. In
Australia there has been no increase of the
exportable surplus of wheat since 18S3 ; audit
will bo many years before the Argentine He-
public can send abroad n largo volume of this
cereal'tho estimates of the 1S90 surplus ( for
export ) in that country ranging from 3,000,000
7,01)0,000 ) bushels , nnd the entire product in
18S9 being but 11,850,000 bushels.
With constantly augmenting population
Great Britain and \vestern Europe will soon
require much more wheat than the exporting
countries will fumbh while prices remain
near the present level. Meantime , our re
quirements increasing annually nt the rate of
10,000,000 bushels , and our demand being
made against a constantly diminishing sup
ply , prices will tend to rise rapidly at homo
and abroad. That our supplies of wheat will
steadily diminish is clearly indicated by the
constant decrease of acreage in all districts
other than those of the Dakotas , mountain
areas and Pacific states , such diminution
during the lust , five years being at tlio rate of
I'J.t per cent and amounting to 4U ! 1,231
acres , which is 1ISOJO : ! .acres more than the
increase , in the same period iu the Dakotas ,
mid in the mountain nnd Pa'clllc regions. The
question arises : AVill contraction of the
wheat area in tbo older districts continue at
this rate , and how much of the loss thus sus
tained will be offset by the Increase in the
Dakotas and In the mountain and 1'aclllc dis
tricts ! Much light Is thrown on this subject
by the following table , showing the area
iu all staple crops , and , separ
ately the acreage In corn , wheat , oats ,
and hay iu Ohio , Michigan , I udlana , Illinois ,
and Wisconsin , in the yours 1SSO , 1831 and
1SS7 :
This exhibit shows that in bovcu
2,7M,000 ucres. of the corn llclds nnd ' . . ' . " .W.S
ucrcd of the wheat llolas of the states named
were converted Into meatlowa , us wuro noi.otu
nova of the now land brought Into cultiva
tion , the remainder of the now land , amount
ing toLOW , : ) * acres , bolnjr cmplovvd iu the
production of rye , o.its , Iwlny , .buck-
wheat , jxrtutoea und tobacco. LIUo
conrcrylons of old fields nnd employment of
new oucsj nro continuously occurring In ull
district ! ) , outsulo of the Oalcotus mid the
mountains uutll'aoitlouroas , and must'i-caUv (
reduce tlio production of whout ; uud such
action U likely to bo Kreatly intensified , as
the quantity of new Ian 1 being brought under
cultivation is rapidly diminishing , 01 will ho
hho\vu further on.
The following table shows the number nud
geographical dUtrtbutlon of cuttlo in the
years 1SSO , J3S5 and 1839 :
reported by tlio depaitmont of afrrlcultuic.
That cattle are too cheap mid the number ?
greatly in excess of requirements , is incon
trovertible ; and It is equally true that the
increase has , of Into years , been almost wholly
In the Missouri valley and the range regions ,
where cattle subsist , winter and summer ,
upon the uutaxed grass of the public domain.
It is the cattle from these tree pastures and
the new farms of the Missouri valley that
have so overstocked the market and depressed
prices.
Much can bo found In { the table to indicate
thut the increase has become very slow if it ,
has not virtually ceased , especially in
the Atlantic , lake and southern groups ; and
this becomes the more apparent when it is
known that of the increase shown in these
three districts , amounting to Oil,077 animals ,
no less than WJ.UOO were cows kept for dairy
purposes. In Iowa , Missouri , Kansas , a > id
Nebraska the increase in all grades of cattle ,
from 1885 to 1SS9 , was 546,433 , of which 421,303
were milch cows ; and the net increase in the
Pacific states , since 1880 , is but llt,73T. !
Practically the only increase , since 1883 , in
cattle other than such as. are kept for dairy
purposes , has been in the range country ;
there the increase has been great , and statis
tics fail to show that it has ceased.
Throughout the greater part of the range
country , the valleys are being occupied by
rariners , thus forcing the cattle men and their
herds awny from the water and compelling
removal to other pastures. This crowding-
out process has been going on for years , and
ans has greatly oestncted the available pas
turage. Moreover , "many ranges have been
so overstocked as to destroy the grass , whicn
his been replaced by a worthless growth of.
weeds.
The severe storms of the winter of 1SSO-S7
were disastrous to the herds on the northern
ranges , destroying great numbers of
cows and younger animals ; and
such losses will now bo felt in
a diminishing supply of steers from these dis
tricts. Financial distress among the owners
of ran o cattle has boon extreme , forcing the
maiktitliigof every possible animal , old or
youm ? , male or fenmlo ; and this has greatly
reduced tlio rate of increase in such herds.
Indeed , many entire herds have been shipped
to market as fast us transi > ortaUon could bo
had. This is especially true of tlio cattle held
in the Indian Territory- Such excessive mar
keting has made the supply appear even more
atyindant than it is.
During the last four years , cattle increased
115.4 per cent , an average of 4.1 per cent per
annum ; but most of this increase was in the
first two years of the fourtherate of increase
in the lust two years being but 2.4 per cent
per annum. Hero wo see , for the first time
in many years , a lower rate of increase than
is shown by cattlo. Of the late increase of
cattle , an unusual proportion are milch cows.
Swine being , in largo measure , the product
of the corn Held , and capable of being in
creased nt will , do not call for separate , treat
ment ; nor does the oat crop , which is used
almost wholly as auimal food and can bo very
largely replaced by corn.
Possessing , us wo do , u virtual monopolv of
the world's.supply of cotton , the demand , nt
fair prices , has been sufilciont to absorb the
entire product ; and the demand being likely
to Increase more rapidly than the supply , in
consequence of the near exhaustion of the
arable ureas , it is not probable that the Amer
ican cotton grower will have to contend with
a troublesome surplus until the remote day
when equatorial Africa shall enter the mar
kets with abundant supplies. It is imprac
ticable , however , to determine from the con
ditions accompanying the production and
marketing of a portion of the staple farm
crops , when or how the desired prosperity
will come to the farmer ; but wo can doubt
less do so when wo review , as a whole , the
field wherein all the great agricultural sta
ples are grown.
If the present increase in acreage were in
the same ration to population as in the flvo
years previous to ISbO , the annual uddltous to
the area under plow would exceed 12,000,000
acres.
Upon the assumption that the requirements
are now such as to employ 3.15 acres per cap
ita to produce the cereals , potatoes.huy , , to
bacco and cotton consumed nt homo , and the
tobacco , cotton , and animal products exported ,
the preceding table shows that the troubles of
the fanner may bo attributed to the bringing
of too many now acres into cultivation in the
fourteen years cudlng In 18S4 ; and that the
process of readjusting the disturbed relations
1 > otweeu production and consumption has
been in operation several years , us is clear
from the rapidly diminishing quantity of now
land being employed in the production of
staple crops ,
During the fourteen yours prior to 18S5 , the
Increase in cultivated urea was so great thut ,
utter assigning the required .l.lfi ucres to each
unit ot population , there remained "ft surplus
of yo,24 , ( )00 ) ucres , which WHS employed in
growing products to glut homo uud foreign
markets.
Fortunately the arable lands to be occu
pied had become so very limited that the
additions to the urea in cultivation , during
the next four years , wore reduced to u yearly
uvcragoof-.OlKy ! JO acres , as against SiS.,0 5
in the ten preceding yeaw , the result being
to diminish the ucreugo in excess of home
needs from 20,213,000 ucres U ) 12,80,000 at the
end of ll&S ; and u decrease , rather than nn
increase , of such additions of now land will
not , from 1838 to 1801 , exceed n yearly aver
age of a.000,000 acres , while population will
augment ut n rate of not less thut 2.7 pur
cent per annum. This will , at the end of
Ib'Jl , leave but three acres per capita to fur
nish so much of the agricultural staples us t\o
mav then use or uxitort.
rfo doubt the average American could sub
sist upon the product of less than three acres ,
as ho did prior to 1874 , but It is very certuin
ho docs not , nor will ho until prices are much
higher : holtbcr is it probable that the aver
age yield per ucro of the stuplo crops will In
crease until u deficit supply shall nooessituto
improved modus of culture. Should the
American people continue to require the pro
duct of U.15 acres each , that will , after 18UJ ,
necessitate yearly additions of (1,000,000 ( acres
to the area employed In growing staple crops
as well us great quantities of land to furnish
the additional dairy , orchard and minor pro
ducts required by the growing population ,
Where tvu bo found available arable lauds ,
of ewu moderate fertility , to meet these evor-
inirousing roquiromcuuil It seems wholly
Improbable that there can bo any suiU future
increase of cultivated area when we romeui-
ber howthoroughly the arable soils are occu
pied and that for years the annual additions
have been leas than three million acres. If
the computation of the area required per
capita be correct , and it the department of
agriculture has not underestimated the area
employed in growing the staple crops , domes
tic consumption will absorb the entire pro
duct of cereals , potatoes and hay within five
years from January , 1SOO , and thereafter ag
ricultural exports will consist almost wholly
of tobacco , cotton and animal products , the
volume of which will shrink as constantly , if
not in the same degree , as homo consumption
increases. An equalization of the supply of
the various staples will readily follow from
the application of com and wheat fields
to the growth of such products as
nay , from time to time , bo in most urgent
demand. Meantime prices will steadily ad
vance.
To most people it would probnbly appear
absurd to suggest that well within ten years
it may bo found necessary to import largo
quantities of wheat to feed the ever-increas
ing population ; but such will be the logical
sequence of the necessity of employing wheat
fields in the growth of other staples , and of
the exhaustion of the material from which
Jjirms are developed.
Assuming the substantial correctness of
the estimates of area by the department of
1 agriculture , and that homo requirements will
j be such as to employ 3.15 acres per capita , the
I answer to the question , When will the farmer
bo prosperous ! resolves itself into a calcula
tion as simple as the fallowing :
Acres. Acres.
January. ISO ) , a population
7.M U,000 will require In
staple crops nn area of . . 220,800,000
Area now employed In
growing such crop.i. . . .211,000,000
Additions to Iio made to
Mich urea In four years. 12,000,000 223,000,000
Acreage deficit , Jan. , 19W 3,600,000
This deficit should be sufficient to neutralize
any possible underestimate of the urea now in
cultivation.
Does not the evidence adduced show that
before this decade is half spent all the pro
ducts of the farm will bo required at good
prices , that lands wjll , appreciate greatly in
value , and that the American farmer will en
ter upon nn era of prosperity , the unlimited
continuance of whichis , assured by the ex
haustion of arable areas !
'
WE HEARD PATTI.
Loon Mead in the Epoch : Though a
resident of Philadelphia , I pride myself
upon'being a somewhat lively , go-ahead
chap. But that is not what I intended
to say. A fortnight ago I was regretting ,
ns I had beeii doing for many years , two
doleful actualities that I had never
been to the metropolis and I had never
hoard Patti. In a spasm of impulsive
self-reproach , I resolved to see New York
and hear the "diva. "
Thereupon I went to my club to have a
consultation with my faithful comrade ,
Rodney Chumplot. He said ho would
like to take in Patti , but ho had been to
New York often nnd didn't care to extend -
tend his explorations in that cosmopoli
tan settlement. We , therefore , agreed
that I should precede him to Now York
on Monday , March ill , in order to bo iu
time to got seats for the matinee per
formance of "Martha" on April 5. Ho
assured mo that ho would join me in New
York on Friday , April .
Well , I reached Now York on the Mon
day in question and two hours after my
arrival. I purchased two tickets for Patti
at the news stand of the hotel whore I
stopped. They cost mo $0 apiece. But
that was nothing , I had plenty of money
and I wanted to hear Patti. Meanwhile ,
before that ambition could bo gratified ,
there wore several days allowed mo to
see Now York to paint it red in water
colors , as it were I being a votary of
total abstinence. I saw in those several
days all of Gotham that I could stand ,
and if I should have been obliged to see
more I should have had to do so sitting
down OH I was quite-tired. I didn't ex
pect it of Rodney , but he did it. On
April Fool's day ho telegraphed me
that unavoidable business called him
west at once. Ho was to start for Omaha
within nn hour.
There I was loft with SO worth of
Patti's voice to dispose of. I didn't know
a soul in New York. I thought it was a
shame that Rodney was not going to be
with mo , but I found consolation in the
possibility that before the matinee day
came I might manufacture a fi-iond to
whom I could , withncusunl and fascinat
ing manner , offou the other seat. I
realised , hoivover , that I could notsafoly
trust ehtinco to fish up u proper compan
ion for myself. So , with my usual un
erring ingenuity , Jjhit upon the gallant
hchcma of advertising for u female to
chaperon an unprotected young man to
hear Patti for the first time. But the
personal which appeared in u Now York
daily the next morning road like this :
A highly aristocratic young gentleman , un
acquainted with cither sex in Now York , bus
purchased two Jt5 sea s for Patti in "Martha"
for next Saturday's matinee and desires a
pretty young Indy ( a blonde preferred ) tout-
tend the performance with him. None but
respectable and handsome young ladles need
apply to H. W. T. - hotel.
I had never advertised before , and I
now willingly agree with the editor that
advertising pays. That is to say , it
gives a follow an opportunity to got his
money back if hop \ moderately ahrowd.
At about 10 o'clock of the morning
that my notice to tlio whiskorlcos public
appeared , the applicants to hour Patti
under my auspices began to arrive tit my
hotel. They kept three or four hall
boys busy bringing up their cardb to my
Hullo.
Roully I had no Idea that so many
respectable and pretty young ladles of
Now York had never heard Patti. As
this fact won forced UJMIU my attention
with unmistakable proof , ! became rather
bewildered.
The first young lady shown up was a
Mibu Winnlfred Williamson of Hoboken.
Bho was a term cottn typo , gracious
beyond measure , with u New Jersey coy
ness of demeanor that was truly refresh
ing
"You desire iv young lady to accom
pany you to hear Patti. ' ' nbo remarked
very simply nnd in well modulated tones
as she seated herself on the crash-cov
ered divnn.
"Yes , " ' I replied , with a simplicity
that surpassed oven her own. "Ilavo
you over heard her ? "
"No , " she answered in a warmer
voice. "Papa was going to take mo
when she was on her former farewell
visit , but he was killed on the railroad
and so was obliged to give up the idea. "
"Are you fond of music ? "
"Oh , 1 bhould smile , " Miss Williamson
responded gaily , "I play on the melodeon
myself. "
That settled Winifred in my estima
tion and I told her I would let her know
if I decided to take her. She smirked
quite joyfully , left mo her address and
then loft herself.
The next applicant was much taller
and inoro rotund. Had her cheeks been
as deeply bronzed as was her hair BIO
would have been taken for an Egyptian
balle.
She opened the conversation by say
ing : "I never been Patti , but 1 want
tor just the same. If you want mo to go
with you I can say my folks won't object.
They're buried over in the Glen Cove
cemetery. "
"ThunlfH , " ' said I , seeing at once her
lack of culture. "I have just made u
selection. You have como a trifle too
subsequently. "
She bit her lip , called mo something
terrible under her onion breath and
shullled out of the room , a disappointed
wretch.
Then came a different typo of woman
hood a woman fully forty years of age.
She was a brunette , by no means ugly ,
with eyes gleaming like stars.
"I know you prefer blondes , but that
does not deter mo from coming. I should
love to hear Patti , but my gentlemen
friends can only aiTord to take mo to
Miner's and Worth's. Will vou bo so
kind as to favor mo this once ?
A slight nausea seized upon me. I
told her to wend her way homeward and
leave mo to my fate. She did.
A very beautiful girl then came in.
She was daintily dressed and her face
was ns doll-liko aa Lillian Russell's She
never had heard Patti , but she was not
averse to doing so.
"Whero do you live ? " I breathlessly
asked.
"On Fifth avenue. "
"And yet you have never seen Patti ? "
"Never , " she said honestly.
"Then " said I "overwhelmed
, , by her
loveliness , "you shall go with me. "
Wo BOOH arranged matters. I was to
call for her at the address she gave me.
The other names and cards that came
up to mo that day , and for the three
following days , I paid no attention to
I wondered how it could bo that a girl
living on Fifth Avenue had never heard
of Patti , but she was too Juncosque to bo
suspicious about. It alTordcd me pleas
ure to think that I was to bo her first
escort to the Patti performance.
Half an hour before the matinee was
announced to begin , I rang the bell at
Fifth aveune. A butler in gray
livery appeared.
"Miss Treobolyn is ready , " ho said
as if ho knew who I was and what I had
come for. ,
Miss Treebloyn apeared immediately
with her wraps on. Wo went to
"Martha" My companion talked be
tween the acts and showed that she was
well educated. We enjoyed "Martha"
immensely.
When the curtain dropped on the
finale she said , "You need not go homo
with me. My mistress and her husband
who wont out of town this morning will
have returned by this timo. Being a
chaiinbermaid I dare not ride back to
the house in a carriage with such a
fawell as you are. Thanks for your
opera heat. Ta , ta. "
"Auf Wiedersohn , " was all I could
say. Then like n seraphic vision she
lloated away and I sadly marched out
into the fresh air and inquired the way
to Blooiningdale.
Ijlncolii'tj UorkH County Ancestry.
In connection with the recent anniver
sary of the assassination of President
Lincoln it is interdstlng to nb.sorvo that
"while it is a well- authenticated fact
Lincoln's ancestry wont from Berks
county , this state , to Virginia , prior to
their Bottling in Kentucky , it wan .Te.so
W. Fell , who removed from tlio adjoin
ing county of Lancaster to lllinous , who
became one of Lincoln's closest friends
and advisers , bays the Reading ( Pa. ' )
Times. It was at Fell's request thut
Lincoln penned his only autobiography
in which this sentence appears : "The
ancohtora of my paternal grandfather ,
Abraham Lincoln , who wore Quakers ,
went to Virginia from Berks county ,
Poniibylvania. " Abraham Lincoln , a
direct descendant of this family , ia now
a prosperous Lancaster county /armor ,
living in Carnarvon township , which
adjoins the Berk * county district , whence ,
the martyr president's ancostora hailed.
Jesbo W. Fell , to whom the world lb in
debted for the brief autobiography of
Lincoln , lived to be a very old man ,
dying within a year or two at Normal ,
III. Ho was related to the Follfamilv of
Berks county , to which Judge Fell of
the Philadelphia court * belongs.
An AbNolute Onro.
The OniOINAL A1JIKTINK OINTMENT
is only put up In largo two-ounoo tin boxes ,
and is tin absolute euro for all soreti , burns ,
wounds , chapped hands andallsklneruptions
Will iKwitlvcly cure all kinds of pile * . Ask
for the ORIGINAL AWKTINK OINT
MENT. Sold by Goodman Drug company ut
25 cents per box by mull 50 cunt *
A GaliHvillo , Flu. , furniture company
has iust completed a table composed of
1,000 nlecea of wood of different kinds
and coiorn.
Ot Breat Closing Out Sale
Continues to attract intelligent buyers , who believe in get
ting the worth of their money. We save you from 2B to
DO per cent on Diamonds , Watches , Chains , Rings , Lock
ets. Pins , Buttons , Ear Drops , and all other Jewelry , as
well as Silverware , Clocks , Bronzes , Lamps , Silk Umbrel
las , Opera and Field Glasses , Spectacles , etc.
® 3i-A FEW ASTOX1S1IERS FOR THIS WEEKI PB
Genuine Diamond Finger Rings , solid gold , only $2.BO.
Boss Gold Filled Stem Wind Watches , Elgin movement ,
only $17.
Solid Gold Vest Chains only $7.5O.
Best Rolled Plate Chains only $2.5O ; worth $ B.
BOO Fine Set Rings , Ladies' and Gents' , choice $1.
Finest Rolled Plate Cuff Buttons , set with real stones , only
BOc pair.
Solid Sterling Silver Collar Buttons , only 2Bc ; worth 7Bc.
Fine Silk Umbrellas , oxidized silver handles , only $2. O
and up.
Solid Gold Spectacles or Eye Glasses , only $3 ; worth $3.
Best Steel Spectacles , finest lenses , fitted , $1 and $1.BO.
Watches , Clocks and Jewelry Repaired at Lowest Prices ,
MA.X MELYBJR & BRO. ,
Sixteenth , and Farnarn SLrooLs.
HOSE
AJLXJPK-PJLJiB
Our hose is guaranteed
for two seasons and
will stand
Any Pressure
The Best is the Cheapest
Buy none but the Continental Lawn Mower , ( high wheel ) ; cuts grass
7 inches high. Over 400 in use in Omaha , and all giving perfect sat
isfaction.
isfaction.HIMEBAUGH & TAYLOR ,
1405 Douglas Street.
DEWEY & STONE ,
Furniture Company.
A magnificent display of everything useful and .ornamental in the
furniture maker's art at reasonable prices.
CALIFORNIA
THF LAND OF
DISCOVERIES.
Ctrcutjr.4l.tirfaHttt3Hrp.g-
. . .
AHIEriNEMEKcQ.orovii.LE.CAL
i .g.y 3 fn CUCI/tA tAT ,
lAflOMEMOKa &BMlUXr"
Santa : Abie : 'and : Cat : R . - Cure
I'oi stUo Uy Goodman DrtlK Co.
iKor LOBTorFAIIJHO MAJtHOODl
| 0 mr tao4HKttVOD8 DKBJ
Wenkneuof Ba < Jy n4Miii
\ttError \ 8rEiMU j' -
IbuUKIr umlj'.llac 1IUBX TnEiTBHIT Utiuili U 4irl
BM lulllrniB 6u auiM 4 t.lt l Mlri > i. tTrlK ltt .
Uftcrlftlt * II Ak , it > l utUaK 4 yrMUBiill 'liri * 4Urt
Uinit cniE MCOICAU CO. , BUFPAlO , H. V.
CHICHCBTCrrO ENGLISH
PENNYROYAL PILLS.
neo cnoas DIAMOND BHAND ,
torufgl t for IMamnrJ llrunltiirTd Dttklll *
liof11 , kfitel ltb blut rtbbca , 'l' kr no vtbrr.
H 4 4f. ilfMl * i.rllouUri it l"lciur fur
Ju.llrfc-'l7i liu r. if return unit. . > " , . < Mo.
BurTiTliu f mm the cnf. . u of juutMul urrori , rarlr
decay , wmitliu wraknrj , l < t iiiaiitMxxt.fU-.Ittlll
. . ,
1'rof. I'.t. l'O\viiHMoodu , trontu
TUOrOSAIS for Indian Supplies and TriinsJ
JL portatlon Department of tlio Interior ,
onico of Indian Alfalrs , Washlnston. April 15 ,
1800. Scaled proposals. Indorsed "I'ropiMiiIit
for Itecf , ( bids for llcof niiif.bo / submitted In
separate envelopes ) , llaeon , 1'lour , L-'lothliiR or
Transportation , oto. , " ( us tlio enso may ho ) ,
and directed lo the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs , A" < n. tfjoiirt 67 ll'rmiffr strctt. Keiv \ < irlt.
lll he rcceUed until 1 p. m. of Ti'MiinjJfnj ' /
1W , ISM , for funiNhliiK for thu Indian servlcu
about 1)00,000 ) pounds Itacon. : Uxl ( 1,000 pounds
Ilenf on the hoof , l.OUO.OOO iioniids net lleef ,
.TU.IMO ] ) oonds llcans. itl.OOil pounds llaklnw
I'owdoi , Mlil.WID pounds Corn , 45UXiO ( lionnds
ColTco. fl , . XoOO ) jmunds Plour , .Vi.lKiO pounds
1'eed , K'M.IKXI poundn Hard Itiead , M.OOO poundrt
Hominy. M.mw pounds hard , 700barrtls ! .Moss
1'oiU. I7.X)0 ( ) pounils Oatmeal , 4.V,000 iioonds
Oats. liiOO ; ( pounds Itlce , 0,000 noniid.s Tea ,
aio.ooo pounds ri.ilt. IWO.OOii jxmndsSoap , UM.oix )
Suu-ar , and 70.000 pounds Wheat.
Also , HIanUels , Woolen and Cotton ( leeds ,
( conslhtln ; ; In part of Ticking , n.000 yards ;
htandarU Unllco , 100,000 yaidH ; Drilling 1 tt , ttX )
yards ; Dilute , freu from all sizing , 'Jri.OOO yurdn ;
Dunlins , IS.OOi ) yards ; CJliiKliaia , .Ttu.ooo yiirdi ;
Kentucky Jcinnt , 11,000 ynids ; Chuvlol , 17.000
Hard wari' , Mfdlcal KupiilIi-K , School Hooks ,
&c. . and u Ion ; ; list of nilhouIlniicoiiN articles ,
such UN IlauiL-ss , I'lowH , Itnkoh , I'orKs , Ac. , and
for about MW WngmiB luqulrcil for the nirvlue ,
to bo dclhorcd ut Chluuxn. ICiuimiK City nnd
Sioux Oily. Also for \VttRoiisaniimybo
required , adapted to tlioollm U > nf the I'jtclUu
Coast , with California brakes , dnllvorcdnt Sao
1'rjiiclsco.
Also transportation for suoh of the urttohts.
Roods and sunilk" > that in.iv not bouontrucjted
for to ho dulUeied ut th
IIIUSMUSTIIKHADKOUTOMKIVKIINSIKNT JIIANKH
Schedules hhowltit : the Icimls nnd quantities
of MitiiKteju.'o supplies i cqnlrrd for each ASCII-
uy find .School , and the kinds and miiintltlrs In
Krov of all oilier Koods and art iolex , tot-uther
wlili hlanU niopoHalN , conditions to ho oh.
served by lilddeii , tlnui and place of delivery.
ttunihof contract and payment , traiiHportu
tlon routes , nnd all othur iific.i-s-i.ii v Instruc
tions will I iti fiirilUhi-d upon application to the
Indian Olllco In WiiHhliiKton. or JV . tij
ll'ixntfriitifct , fk'cw Yin Is ; thu Uomnilssiirlus of
hubslstonecj , U. . A. , at Cheyenne , ( Jhlcni ? < > .
heavenworth , Omaha , halnt loul > , Halnt I'aul
and Han I'rnncKco ; Ihci I'DSImasters at Sioux
City , Iowa ; Vanktoii , H. Dakota ; Arkansas
Oily , I'aldwell , TopoUu and Wichita , Kansas ,
and Tucson , Arizona.
The flKht U roM-rvcd by thu Government to
reject any and all bids , or any purl of uny hid ,
and tlii" > o proposals ait > Invlteil undei ptovlso
that appniiirlatloil shall bo madu for tlie sup-
plh-.s by U < > iirss ) ! ,
Illds will bo opened at thu hour and day
aliovo stated , and bidders am InvlUtd to liu
present at the opunlnir.
CKltTll'lKI ) CIIKCKH.
All bids iiiiint bu aeooinpanluil by curtlflud
cliuuknor drafts upuiiHonin I'nlted Blutus Drt-
nosltory or the 1 ir > , t National Hunk of .San
I ranclx.al. ! . , for at leiikl/lre per cunt of thti
amount of the jirnpoiitl.
T. J. MOKOAN , Cainmhtliiiur
iiirl [ il'J.H-m
DR. CLUCK ,
Ejfc and Ear.
llarkei lllooV , loth and Kununi. Tulephona CM ,
DR. n. M. HOWE ,
Treats Disease of Eye , Kdf , Sosc & Throat
lurrmiinx to tbo lutont icltiutlflniiii'tliail i tJiuhl
la lliu Munlntlun nml Now York Kyinnd Kur Intlrm *
mle < UouniiH A lUArllnirtou Dlock lit I DoJiuSI.
Manhood RESTORED
lUMrnr KJIKXiHjui
of luuthful Iripr drn * * i.
Munliic I'reiiiHturfl IH < AV. rtu-u * iHhritv , 1/ t
" ' ' *
tUi0trit iJiiTiUii\iiryk'iuwiirrii (
4 ft ltiii > letnfiiniiof m whii b
lui U | nJ w IMI KKKta
11 , ItfcU lL8.r,0 , llMi HMAf * VulkCU/ .