WjfcRAID
Published Kvery Thursday by
Thf Herald PiAHsMfrg Cimpany.
K. A, i'lMIRON, Pr-. Lmjyd V. TiiomAs, See.
John W. Thomas. Mgr.
JOHN W. THOMAS Editor
J. B. KNIEST Associate Editor
Entered at tho postofflco at Alliance,
Nebraska, for transmission through the
malls, as second-class matter.
Subscription, $1,50 per year In advance.
THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 1909.
A two-ton steam roller passed over
h Pennsylvania boy tho other day nnd
the victim escaped with slight injuries.
It was not a Taft steam roller.
East African advices aro to tho of
feet that Iiwaua Tumho has Instituted
a branch ot tho AuaniaB Club in .the
jungles with a bunch of newspaper re
porters as charter members.
Dr, Long, whom Bwana Tumbo onco
ntigmatized as a "nature faker," gets
hack at the faunal naturalist allitcra
tively and emphatically by asserting
that Bwana Tumbo is a "game butcher
puro and Bimple, and his interest in
animals lies chiefly in tho direction of
blood, butchery and brutality." When
tho faunal naturalist hears of this look
out for tho Outlook."
Baily, of Texas, one of tho' 16 Sen
ato democrats who repudiated party
principal and platform pledges by vot
ing against freo lumber, declared that
tho passage of the I'ayno tariff bill
will mark tho disintegration oi tho re
publican party; It ought to, atul if a
number of renegade democrats in tho
senate aro included in tho disintegra
tion so much tho better.
Banker Henry Clows nurses no illu
sions as to the intent of Aldrich ct al.
respecting a "down word" revision of
tho tariff. In his latest market letter
Mr. Clews says with frankness: "Tho
tariff situation excites little interest in
business affairs. It is a foregouo con
clusion that no important downward
revision is to be expected. How far
tho attempted advances in the sched
ules will bo realized remains to be
seen. Present indications point to the
success of the 'stand-patters,' and if
the present fruitless opposition to tho
Aldrich domination abates it is possi
ble that this troublesome question ' will
be settled earlier than at one time
feared, possibly not later than July."
Where John Bull Beats Us
Americans, who are want to regard
the United States as the most demo
cratic and progressive country in the
world, will have that idea jarred by
comparing notes with Johnny Bull. In
England the income tax has long been
established as a standing source of
revenue; in the United States it has
only been used as a war tax, and was
repealed as soon as tho war was over.
A senate, composed chiefly of million
aires and their attorneys, stands in the
'way of its readoption, while iu England
parliament proposes to heavily increase
the tax to the end that wealth may
bear tho chief burden of tho expense of
government.
Another radical measure which has
been presented iu the British parlia
ment provides for national labor ex
changes, for the purpose of bringing
together the job and the man, and
government insurance against lack of
employment.
Were such radical legislation to lie,
seriously proposed in the Uuited States
some of our plutocrats would be apt to
die of apoplexy. But perhaps, in, the
course'of years, we will become as
democratic and progressive as mon
archist England,
Tariff Mysteries
(Chicago Tribune)
A western senator said last week
that he was ready to stay in Washing
ton till December if necessary to ob
tain a correct understanding of the
items of tho Aldrich tariff bill. To
that its author replied that if senators
postponed the passage of the bill until
they had mastered all its provisions it
could not be passed in ten years. He
would like to create the impression
that the tariff schedules are so full of
mystery that only a few can solve
them. If so it would be the duty of
legislators, who are not among the
elect, to vote blindly for the duties
prescribed by the men of greater men
tal caliber, If only a few of those
whose business it is to enact tariff
laws are capable of understanding
them it follows that their constitueuta
nre even more densely ignorant. They
ought to accept meekly and gratefully
any law which may be fabricated by
the tariff illuminati.
But the voters are displaying a re
bellious disposition. They "want to
bo shown." They wish to be given an
opportunity to understand tho reason
for many of tho duties they see in tho
Aldrich bill. They do not believe
they aro intellectually so fceblo as to
be unable to comprehend an explana
tion of the reason why tho importer of
a rug or mat should pay on it a duty
greater than its cost to him.. They do
not believe that it costs more than
twico as much to make tho rug abroad
as it does in Pennsylvania.
Tho cheapest, plainest kind of cot
ton cloth pays now a duty of a cent a
square yard. Senator Aldrich would
raise tho duty to 2 H cents. The aver
age man cannot see why the cost of
production in a Georgia cotton mill,
in tho midst of cotton fields, should
exceed the cost of production in foreign
lands, where the manufacturers have
(0 pay inland and ocean freights on
their raw material. If there should be
reason for tho duty it should be given.
Tho voters laid down in the last
election a simple rule to govern tariff
revision. There are numerous duties
in the I'ayno and Aldrich bills which
seem to them to violate the rule- They
would liko to have them explained, if
there bo an explanation. They do not
wish their representatives to accept
submissively Senator Aldrich's assump
tion that tho tariff question is too deep
for them. No senator or representa
tive should vote for a duty the justice
of which he cannot make plain to his
constituents in the next campaign
They Are Waking Up
It is encouraging to note that the
most progressive newspapers of western
Nebraska are waking up to the import
ance of the greatest movement that has
ever been inaugurated for the develop
ment of agriculture and improvement in
stock raising in this country. The
copy furnished The Herald for publi
cation by Prof. Hunt will bo duplicated
in this office and sent to several of the
leading newspapers that have request
ed it, and will be printed by them the
same week that it is published here.
This office will thus become headquar
ters as an information bureau on agri
culture experimentation.
Last week Prof. Hunt and Dr. Wil
cox were detained in Crawford by miss
ing a train. J. D. Heywood, the en
terprising editor of the Crawford Cour
ier, who had previously shown his in
terest in Prof. Hunt's work here by
republishing matter from The Herald's
Agricultural Experimentation depart
ment, secured an interesting interview
which he published in last Saturday's
Courier under the caption, "Prof.
Hunt's Advice to Park Commissioners."
He also requested a weekly report of
the experimentation work which is be
ing done in Box Butte county, but
which is applicable to all of north
western Nebraska.
On Tuesday of this week The Her
ald editor wrote Mr. Heywood ' as
follows:
Alliance, Nebr,, June 1, 1909
J. D. Heywood, Editor Courier,
Crawford, Nebr.
Dear Sir:
Prof. E. W. Hunt Informs me that you
wish-to publish the articles which he is
furnishing on Agricultural Experimenta
tion in northwestern Nebraska, etc, I am
delighted to know that yon are interested
in this subject. I believe that it means
more to this part of the state than any
thing else that has been undertaken in re
cent years, and I am glad to see that there
area few live ones in the newsnatier
fraternity who appreciate the work that is
being done. When a prominent business
man like Mr. C. A. Newberry, who has
been many years in this country, puts up
nearly a thousand dollars on a project of
this kind without any direct benefit from
it, it looks as though the rest of us who
are interested in the development of
northwestern Nebraska should have some
interest in the matter.
Dy request of Prof. Hunt I will send
you each week a carbon ofjwhat he dictates
for The Herald so that you can use it the
same week that it appears in my paper.
Wishing you much success, I am,
Fraternally,
Jno. W. Thomas,
Editor G. E. Mark of The Mitchell
Index is another of the live ones in the
newspaper- business in this couutry.
We received a letter from him thjs
week requesting information in regard
to the inception ot agricultural experi
mentation in this county. Following
is the letter from Mn Mark and The
Herald editor's reply:
Mitchell, Nebr., May 31, 1909.
Editor Alliance Herald,
Alliance, Nebr.
Dear Sir:
Your articles in The Herald from Prof.
Hunt and others on the; subject ot agri?
culture are of much interest. As soon as
I am in better shape tor Retting typo set I
may want to copy some of them. Have
missed the first numbers, or rather; did
not read and preserve them as I wish I
had done, and have also lost the idea as to
how Prof. Hunt happens to be In that
section. I wish you would explain this to
mo by letter and tell me also if you think
it would be possible for mo to eet some
items direct from Prof. Hunt on subjects
specially applicable to farming In the
North Platte valley under irrigation.
Truly yours,
G. E, Mark.
Alliance, Nebr., June t, 1909.
Mr. G. E. Mark, Editor Index,
Mitchell, Nebr.
Dear Sir: .
Replying to your favor of May 31, I am
sending you under separate cover some
marked copies of The Herald which give
you the desired informatlsn in regard to
the Inception of Prof. Hunt's agricultural
experimentation in western Nebraska, I
have spoken to him in regard to furnishing
you the copy you desire. He consents to
an arrangement under which I will send
you a carbon copy each week of the mat
ter which he furnishes The Herald for
publication. This, of course, will be
principally, if not altogether, on agricul
tural experimentation and work on the
unlrrlgated land of western Nebraska but
ho informs me that ho will be pleased to
furnish any information that he can on
the subject of irrigated lands in response
to any inquiry that may be made from
you.
The subject of agricultural experimen
tation is certainly one of immense im
portance to this part of Nebraska and J
am delighted to know that you are taking
such a keen interest in the same.
Wishing you much success, I am,
Very fraternally yours,
Jno. W. Thomas.
Did You Read It?
Did you read that article by Prof
Hunt in last week's Herald on Alfalfa
Growing in Box Butte County? If not,
you had better hunt up the paper aud
read it. Tho importance of the sub
ject is realized by anyone who, like the
editor, lived many years in southern
and southwestern Nebraska, where al
falfa has done more iu some localities
than any other ono crop to make the
country prosperous. We have a few
extf'a copies of The Herald of last
week, which may be had by persons
who apply for them before tho supply
has been exhausted. We are thinking
of printing tho above mentioned article
iu circular form for distribution aud
will do so if the demand is sufficient.
Culled Clippings
The fellow, who puts in a good deal
of his spare time making trouble for
other people, is inadvertently heaping
up misery for himself, and when it
comes he would, if he could, shift the
blame on those least at fault. State
Journal.
Senator Bristow of Kansas keeps
right on prodding the sugar trust. This
tariff discussion in the senate is serv
ing one good purpose in the way of
more or less educating the people as to
the trust fostering scheme back of the
high protection policy. Hastings Re
publican. V
Worth Reproducing
A recent number of the Hastings
Republican contained a number of
short, pithy editorials which we con
sider worth reproducing here:
One way to be happy and enjoy peace
of mind is to always be on the square.
It is important that municipalities should
be economical without impairing public
efficiency.
The sweet girl graduates are now regis
tering at the dressmakers' for the sweetest
of graduating gowns.
All this tarifl hub-bub may end in the
people rising in their wrath and swatting
the protection system clean off the conti
nent. Mr. Bryan again arises to remark that
he is in politics to stay. Our republican
friends have been painfully conscious of
this fact for a number of years.
Laughter
Here's to laughter, the sunshine of
the soul, the happiness of. the heart,
the leaven of youth, the echo of inno
cence, the treasure of the humble, the
wealth of the poor, the bead on the cup
of pleasure; jt dispels dejection, ban
ishes blues, and mangles melancholy;
for it's the foe of woe, the destroyer of
depression, the enemy of grief, it is
what the kings envy peasants, pluto
crats envy the poor, the guilty envy
the innocent; it's the sheen of the silver
of smiles, the glint of the gold of glad
ness; Without it humor would be dumb,
wit would wither, dimples would disap
pear and smiles would shrivel. The
Dakota Elk.
G. F. Colby of Elgin, Nebr., stop
ped iu Alliance a short while on his
way to Mitchell, near which place h e
owus land.
Honors to the
Heroic Dead
Memorial day was observed in Al
liance last Sunday, the program as
published in the last issue of The Her
ald being rendered with slight altera
tion' The weather was not favorable
but there was a good attendance at the
exercises in the Phelan opera house.
The entire program was worthy of
commendation, but the oration by Capt.
W- R. AkcrB deserved special mention.
"God's Overshadowing Power and Di
rection in the Affairs of Nations" waB
his subject. After the exercises at the
opera house the cemetery was visited
by tho old soldiers and a number, of
the citizens and the last resting places
of tho fallen heroes were appropriately
decorated. W. O. Barnes acted as
marshal of the day.
In this connection it seems eminent
ly proper to say a word in regard to
the services to his country of the vet
eran speaker of the day, Capt. W. R.
Akcrs. He is too well known to the
majority of our readers for them to
need any information from us in regard
to his upright life, public and private, in
western Nebraska. He was but a young
man, scarcely more than a boy, when
in the Go's his country called for vol
unteers in her defense. W. R. Akers
entered as a private in company G of
the 7th Iowa Infantry in which capacity
he served faithfully through three long
and bloody years. Besides participat
ing in minor engagements he fought iu
the battles of Belmont, Shilob, Corinth
and Atlanta.
Since those war times he has always
been as patriotic and loyal to his coun
try as he was in the years when this
land was going through the throes of
internecine strife. He, like thousands
of his comrades, has been no less a
patriot in times of peace than in times
of war. During the many years of
his eventful life he has participated to
some extent in politics and has received
honors which were well deserved. It
is the irony of politics, however, that
in his later years he should be sup
planted in an appointive office by a
political huckster, but such is politics
in tnese uays ivnen gratt anil cunning
are of more weight in some quarters
than loyal patriotism, aud ability.
In the hearts of his acquaintances he
wears the laurel of honor that cannot
be plucked from hi3 brow by the hand
of graft and scheming.
Prospective Buyer of Telephone
System
(Minatare Free Press)
T. H. Beeson of Alliance was in
Minatare for a few days during the
week. A meeting of the telephone
company was again held and the mat
ter of the disposition of the system to
Mr. Beeson considered. As a result
of this meeting an option was given
Mr. Beeson allowing him until June 1
to decide as to whether or not ho will
make the purchase of the system. The
company on its part, having concluded
that it would be better for all concerned
to dispose of its interests to some one
of practical experience in the construc
tion, management and operation of a
telephone system and thereby central
ize and merge these interests in an in
dividual. We believe, should Mr.
Beeson conclude to make the purchase
in question, that he will be able to give
desired service in and about Minatare.
Further than this we, with all those
interested, extend to him an invitation
to come aud not only as a business
man but stand ready iu this, as in all
instances, to welcome him and his
family as new additions to the resident
portion ot our city.
Neighboring Notes
Profs. Wilcox aud Hunt will speak
this afternoon at 2 o'clock in the opera
house on potato culture aud diseases.
Better hear them. Rushville Stand
ard, May 28.
A. D. New came in on the freight
Friday morning and remained in town
over Saturday, He had cried the sale
of Mrs. Stella Bissel on Thursday and
reported stock as bringing good prices.
Rushville Standard, May 28.
Ex-Couutv Supt. John Borky was in
Harrison Saturday, He is deputy
assessor for the north part of the
county and having finished his .work,
he was delivering his books to the
county clerk. Harrison Sun.
At the special city election of Chad
ron on Tuesday of last week, to decide
on the proportion to bond for $25,000
for a sewer system, the vote stood 237
for aud 48 against.
A club is formed for "Raiseall Rem
edy" for little chicks' diarrhea cure and
preventive. Pay 25 cents to become a
member, get the Remedy- at any time.
Headquarters with Mrs. W.E Spencer,
515 Big Horn Ave,, Alliance, Nebr.
24-3W
Agricultural Ex
in Box Butte
County
An Explanation of the Weather
(Prof. E. W. Hunt)
I have been asked whether this weather
is not rather discouraging to the "dry
farmer." I reply, No. It is just what I
expected. It is this way: The weather
man saw that the jig was up, that there
was no need of holding back rain, that we
were going to raise crops wet or dry and
so he simply Jet go and let matters take
their course; that is why we have rain.
A few weeks ago I received a letter
from an unintelligent person in the east
ern part of the state saying that he did
hope that I might make something grow
up here. In view of the fact that Box
Butte shipped out over 400 cars of pota
toes last year and that we have secured
the hearty co-operation of the weather
man it looks as though the hope might be
realized.
Sow Alfalfa
(Prof. Hunt)
Now is the time to sow alfalfa, as soon
as the ground dries enough to be in proper
condition. As preparation, disc the ground
to be sown, lapping the disc about half.
I do not believe that it pays in this coun
try to disc without lapping, as this is the
only method by which the ground can be
kept comparatively level. Sow about 12
pounds of germinative seed to the acre. In
more humid region, where there is a
greater average rainfall it is customary to
sow about 20 pounds to the acre, but here
under normal rainfall conditions 12 pounds
are sufficient. Two plants require from
the soil twice as much moisture for their
adequate growth as one plant requires and
for the same reason that we plant thinly
with other crops where the rainfall is
scarce we should limit the amount of alfal
fa seed to be sown.
I have been frequently asked if it were
not better tc put in the alfalfa with a disc
drill. Drilling the alfalfa would be all
right if one could be sure of not covering
it too deep. Some men, using the Monitor
drill, releasing the lever so as to hold the
disc to any special depth, have succeeded
very well but nearly every one, who has
ried the drill in this locality has planted
tthe seed too deep and has failed to secure
a good stand. I prefer broadcasting the
seed on the disced ground putting on six
pounds going one way, and then crossing
the field and putting on the other six
pounds. By sowing in this way there are
no balks; the whole ground is evenly cov
ered and an even stand is secured; then
cover lightly with a harrow. But be sure
that you get 12 pounds germinative seed to
the acre. Of the s;ed that I have had
tested the poorest sample requires that
454 pounds be sown in order to get 12
pounds germinative seed to each acre
while the best sample of home grown seed
requires t8 pounds. I think the most
of the failure with alfalfa in this locality is
due to sowing too small an amount of
germinative seed.
I am frequently asked the advisability
of sowing alfalfa with a nurse crop. There
are two disadvantages to a nurse crop:
In the first place, the nurse crop for its
growth takes from the soil moisture that is
needed by the alfalfa; in the second place,
the nurse crop shades the growing alfalfa
so much that when the crop is removed
the alfalfa is liable to be burned up by the
hot sun of July and August to which it is
unused. On the other hand the nurse
crop has certain advantages. If properly
used on soil that is liable to drift with the
wind, a nurse crop is of advantage in pre
venting this drift, besides the nurse crop
helps to keep down a growth of weeds;
again it gives some protection from the
wind and sun to the growing tender alfalfa
plant. Between these advantages and
disadvantages the grower of alfalfa must
make his individual choice. For myself,
if I were growing alfalfa in this locality, I
should grow it without the nurse crop. I
believe that in this way a better stand and
hardier plants may be secured; but to the
man who is determined to use a nurse crop
I offer this suggestion; Sow only one
third of the normal amount for such crop,
and I think oats for this purpose are to be
preferred. When the nurse crop begins
to head out run a mowing machine over
the field with the finger bars set about six
inches from the ground and leave what is
cut off on the ground for mulch. As often
as the crop starts to head repeat the pro
cess. This will prevent too dense shading
of the ground and too great a draft of
moisture from the soil and at the same
time give the growing alfalfa protection
from tfie sun and wind.
It is generally necessary when alfalfa is
sown with a nurse crop to clip it in order
to keep down the weeds. Much miscon
ception has arisen with reference to the
nature of the alfalfa plant and the advan
tage to be gained by clipping. Some peo
ple seem to think that the oftener it is
clipped be better for the plant. It is the
nature of the plant to put out from the
crown buds lor the new growth about the
time that the plant goes into blossom. If
it is possible then to let the plant' stand
until about blossoming time before clip
ping, the new buds at that time will be
ready to begin their vigorous growth. If
it is clipped too early the plant must lie
dormant until the time comes for it to put
out the new buds aod a kind of suspended
animation is not good for any plant. But
peri m en tat ion
PROF. E. W. HUNT,
DIRECTOR
if the weeds are so vigorous and prolific
as to require an early cutting be sure and
set the mower high. Many young plants
are killed by being cut too close to the
ground. If a plant is cut below the seed
leaves It is killed.
I believe that it is as easy when proper
ly gone about to secure a stand of alfalfa
as It is to secure a stand of any other crop.
All that is needed is intelligence and care.
Use germative vital seed of plants accli
mated to the conditions that prevail here;
use a proper amount of seed; cover lightly,
not too deep, and help the tender growing
plant in its battle with the weeds; keep it
protected from the sun and wind and to
my mind there is no fear of failure.
Cattle Dipping Work Progresses
(Custer County Republican, May 27)
Dr. W. T. Pritchard, government cattle
inspector, was a passenger for Anselmo
Wednesday where he was going to continue
the dipping of infected cattle. Dr. Pritch
ard stated that he and his force of men
had dipped about 13,000 head of cattle
this spring and they have about that many
more to dip before they will have covered
the infected territory.
Dr. Prichard was going to the Cook
ranch west of Anselmo, where they are
dipping this week. Dr. Hutsell is work
ing the territory from Gothenburg to Ar
nold. Dr. Boardman is working in the
vicinity of Dunning. Dr. Miller is now at
Burwell and is covering Loup and Gar
field counties. Dr. Schneider dipped
about two thousand cattle on the South
Loup last week and is now assisting Dr.
Boardman at Dunning.
These men were all over tho territory
and are now going back over and compel
ling every man who has infected cattle to
dip them. The territory will all be in
spected again next fall and another dip
ping crusade made and if the cattle men
co-operate with them and do everything in
their power to see tliat no trace of the
disease is left Dr. Pritchard will recom
mend to the department at Washington
that the quarantine be removed from this
district.
Scientifc Agriculture on the
Johnson Sheep Ranch
W. J. Johnson, commonly known as
"Sheep Johnson," whose ranch is
eighteen miles west of Alliance, called
at The Herald office today in company
with Prof. Hunt. Mr. Johnson is well
known in this city and county. He
has been on his present ranch sixteen
years aud previously resided in Al
liance, doing work here and in Hem
iugford in the early days as a mason.
For some time after opening his sheep
ranch in the western part of the county
he gave little or no attention to the
growing of crops but about five years
ago he began making a study of scien
tific agriculture and has probably given
closer attention to the same during the
last few years than any other man in
county.
We were pleased to hear him say
that he objected to the expression,
"dry farming." He rightly claims
that if the soil is properly treated it
will retain moisture from one year to
another. Recently when Prof. Hunt
was at the Johnson ranch he left his
soil testing auger and Mr. Johnson
made use of it, making borings at var
ious places on his ranch previous to
the recent heavy raius. Ho found at
that time that on the native sod he
could reach dry dirt at a depth of from
three to four feet but nowhere on the
land that he had cultivated last year
could he reach dry dirt, although he
bored to a depth of six feet. This is a
very significant fact and ought to teach
farmers, who have been ignoring or
neglectiug the subject of scientific ag
riculture to sit up and take notice. It
is in line with and helps to prove the
claims made by Prof. Huut and other
scientific agriculturalists in regard to
the possibility of success that can be
secured by the use of proper method in
this country.
A word about soil inoculation: There
are places in this country where alfalfa
will not grow unless the soil is inoculated
with nitrogen fixing bacteria, but as a rule
Nebraska soil does not need inoculation.
There may be a few spots in fields where
trial shows that alfalfa does not grow. It
may be helped by inoculation but as a rule
the best inoculation for alfalfa in Nebraska
soil is a covering of well rotted manure
partly covered with a disc. In fact I
know of no place in which manure may be
used to greater advantage than as a top
dressing for alfalfa.
The Berwyu depot caught fire last
Friday morning from a spark from the
extra west and was burned. The fire
started about 3 a.m., and A. M. Bag
ley got out in his night clothes, but
had no time to remove his personal
property and everything was burned.
Custer County Republican, May 2
7-
A
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