LETTER FROM A.O. WEIR
ok Butte County Man Writes
teretingly of the Sunny
South in Arkansas
In-
LAND OF BIG RED APPLES"
Mr. BBt Mrs. A. D. Weir, well
kr.iwn to Herald renders. epeotally
those hi the north weaUroi part of
Hot Butte nnd eastern Slou coun I y .
left a few weeks alnce for a trip
to the south Under date of May
10. Mr. Weir writ the following
-r Interesting letter from Rodgers.
Arkaetaaa:
Herewith a few facts about this
IMirt of Arkansas as I have seen ami
heard them since arriving here ten
day ago.
Many of our neighbors ami friends
in N. V. Nebraska have asked me
to write them of our Impressions,
tli" opportunities, etc , down here,
bir aw I will not bp able to write
tBM nil personalis, take this nieth-
Ml I r,l( llill! th 111
This la May 10th. Kverythlng Is
from three to four weeks behind,
owing to the late spring However,
ili" corn and mils ar from four to
ix Inches IiIkIi and potatoes are
budding Apples and peaches are
fmm the slae of a ea to a hickory
nut. Strawberries are ripening rap
Wly. the flrat ones being shipped
from here on May 4Ui, about two
'cks later than IjkmI year. Garden
truck has been ready for nee for
about ten days or so.
Upon our arrival in Gen-try. in
Bctrton county, wc found Mr. SnOW,
fn merly Of Marsland, putting out
5, "00 st ra wherry plants. We stopped
a th our good friends, the Wool ens.
Bl d from Marsland, and the next
day after our arrival Mrs. Woolen
served us with n fine spring chicken
from in r own winter raised flock.
Chicken lay and hatch the year
mind down here A boy near ien
try last winter made $1.S0 a Beet
frrmi hia 200 hens.
This ( Washington ) county Is a
better all-round farming and truck
0 unty than Other around h.'re, for
the sell is much richer and freer
from rock. Speaking of rocks -the
bug-bear Of the Nebrasknn a he
thinks of the Outrks. In Heuton
count artund Centry, the land is
full of them, from the size of a
navy bM to a tomato can, but the
rocks lay loosely on the ground and
aro no more trouble to plow through
or work in than is Our black ' root
gnua In Sioux county, ami It is on
inU 1 md that the rinest a mi largest
crops of apples, pewche ami straw
berries In the world are raised The
SON in t ills country runs from a red
dish giavelly on the uplands, to a
rich, dark luxolate ham on the
second bottoms and a black alluvial
In the bottom. As for the rocks, a
man ran rind muc'.i or the finest
land In the count r.v as rree from
reeks as the prairie land west of
Hemingrord Is; especially Is this
true in porta of Washington county
1 Benton county Is eaid to have one
million more fruit trees than any oth
er county la the woriu. w'dk Wash
ington county as a close se ond The
apple i rop of Benotn county alone
for this year is estima' l at four
million lollars. At I!. ttVtUa, ten
or twelve miles from th s olace, Is
the largest brandy lu.tory in the
world, ami these two northwest conn
ties hive the larg,-.-; cidar vinegar
factorl s tu the world.
There are orchards in these coun
ties ranging from 5 to 5,000 acres.
Coming rrcni Ka V y down litre
we passed thru o;i? orchard five
miles long cn both side- a the rail
road.
People are flocking in from Okla
homa ant other I lions by the hun
dreds, camping, ready for the straw
berry r'.ckiag. We passed an Mi
a. re strawberry patch a few day
inre. These berries will net from
$150 to 5-100 per acre. From each
of the tow us of Gr.ivt-;te, Gentry
ami spr:tm:nk tin re :ir.' from to
7 carloads of bcrrin shipped everv
day .
The i o i. do .Mt liere use no clii
mer.ia! fertilizer, bu: throw all sta
ble manure on tb j!r land Cow peas
alfalfa and clov.r are planted ex
icnsiel, ror bo;li feed aud building
up the soil, though alfalfa Is just
coming Into its ow in th'.s country
A visit to the State Agricultural col
iee at i-ayeitcx niv a te days ai;o
and a long talk wh experu there
convinced me thai alfalfa, orchard
grass, Bermuda gras, clover and
cowpea;, or any one of them,, with
a bunch of milch cows, aome chitk
ens and a strawtarry patch. In thi
OBBBtry. will make" a man a spin
uni living ami a good uank account
iti a short time.
A for fruit, tlujre are summer an
winter gripes, plums, raspberries
black ben its. strawberrus and blue
bemeis growing wild on evei road
and hill Vore than people can care
for or gather, free for the picking.
One young boy. near the place we
have bought, ha found five bee
tree and saved the bees and honey
from them all.
Milch cows can be milked the year
round and one only need's to feed
two months In the year, and that on
the finest of cow pea, clover and
alfalfa hay.
Hogs grow, and In the fall ratten
enough ror market. In the timber
from the mast. The timber abounds
In squirrel, oikiII. and the atreams
afford fine fMilng.
The schools are good, and there
ts noi a saloon In the county, and
no negroes save a very rew or the
ohlest families. No new ones are
allowed to locate. The people are
the most hospitable, and every day
people are flocking In from Nebras
ka, Kansas and other states In the
north, and altogether, this rt or
Arkansas is coming to the rront in
leaps and bounds, as one of the beat
sections ror farm homes in the U. 8.
The climate beats anything we've
ever seen, thus far. We have seen
no riles, mosquitoes, bed bugs or
rieas since coming here, or so row
as not to notice them none at all
or the latter
Unimproved timber land within two
to rive miles or town and railroad
can be had for rrom $5 to $15 per
acre, and the land when cleared to
stumpnge mid set to orchards, with
strawberries between the trees, will
bring a yield or from $loo to $300
per acre It will cost $5 or $0 per
acre to get It cleared, and then tim
ber or wood, will, in most cases,
in re than pa. the c(t of clearinu
I am arranging to spend several
days next week in Madison county,
along the right of way or the new
ra il wa now building rrom Itogcra to
IfOOt phis, Tenn. This Is an unde
veloped country, but I am told that
It Is one of the fmeist sections in
t
he state and that land can be had
there very cheap, that will in a few
months make the owner a fine home
or a handsome profit as an Investment.
No'a. Mr. Kdltor. I have tried to
tell my friends and readers of this
part of Arkansas as I have seen it,
nd as It Impresses me, and have
tried to give them an honest suite
went or the facts and conditions as
1 believe them to exist.
Wc bought our ticket to Menn. in
the central part of the state, and
xpected to go over on the Rock Is
land road betu.cn the Oklahoma
li.'ie and Little Uock. but BillOe com
in here and talking with many trav
eling men and others, we are con-
i iced to our own satisfaction that
the cmtntry down there is strick n
with malaria, and have given up
going there. We have purchased a
farm home BOOT a thrifty place only
eight miles from tlm Suite Unlver-
liy, and expect to be at home to
our Nebraska friend, or anv others
who may come our wav. in a few
Wi ekiS.
If your readers should care to have
information along any line concerning
this DOUBtry, that I tan give them,
ami will drop me a line asking any
questions. I will he glad to BBBVOf
thtni as best I can, and will write
you again if you so desire.
My address is Rogers. Ark., Hut I
Mtpoct to retuni to Sioux county in
two winks and will be there for
ii me time alter June 1st. My lumie
uldress will be Marsland. N'ebr.
A. I). WKIR.
COMPETITION IN CEREALS
THE HOW DOG SONG
The Nebraska Kxpeiiinent Sta d i
has just issued Bullet in No 1-7. on
Competition in Cereals". This iul-
etln discusses the efrect of natural
UMpeUHon which takes p;u be
ween plants of cereal crops under
rield conditions, ind. eating that this
I nature's mean.- of BMBBtelBtBK
y!tld and vigor TnU bulletin ma)
be had rree: or cost 1 . residents of
Vtbraska upon appli Htl&M to the
. gricultural Kxperimeir Station, at
L : olu. N't braskn.
WOMAN'S CL'je Pn'JClAM
Will Maupln's Weekly Indulge in
Sarcastic Comment on a
Critic of th Song
SONG MAS FRIENDS AND FOES
Now that the critics are lining up
ror and against the ramous "Houn'
Dog" aong. we are wondering what
the effort will be on It popularity.
Under the caption, "We Are Humil
iated", Will Maupln's Weekly, pub
lished at Lincoln, makes the rollow
Ing humorous and sarcastic comment
on a criticism or the aong made by
a university proressor:
Kor a long time we have been
whistling and humming the "Houn'
DBWg" song, extracting thererrom
much GOtntoll and enjoyment, and
laying the nattering unction to our
soul that we were enjoying some
thing We gathered rrom Its lilting
tttM something of the care-rree reel
ing or the Ozark mountaineer, and
often when feeling blue and rather
OBI of sorts we have huinni d the
tune and felt relieved. We are no
Moart or Bcpthovin, nor do we
pretend to understand the crashing
harmonies of a Wagner or the Intri-
Cartea of a Herbert or a Sausa. While
we Bare written rods and furlongs
and miles of stuff for the printed
page we make no pretense of being
either oet or literary genius But
we really did catch something or
melody in the "Houn' Daw" song,
and we did incline ourself to b lieve
that In the simple sentiment and
language we caught something of
the folk lore of the simple, lovable
and shiftless mountaineer or the Oz
ark s
But we are as nothing. We don't
know nothing about music nohow.
We ain't got no judgment about lit
erature any more than a rabbit. The
"Houn' DaWft" song has been pro
nounced silly by a college professor
living right here in Lincoln, where
we hnve more judges of good liter
ature than any w hre and not a
blcoimna literary genius known out
side the state's borders. He -the
professor says that the music is
aad and unworthy of consideration,
and wants IkiIIi words and music
barred from the university campus.
We who are entertained by the cad
fc'iiccs of the "Houn' Dawn" song
and amused by Its wc.rds aft c'assed
as among the ignorant who are In-
. .. . .. K I . . .., iUiiL , i. . . ..J u I
true and the beautiful.
We reel mighty bad aft:r this In
dictment. It takes our pride down
several notches. The university pro
fessor has jabbed us In the midriff,
so to speak. But we'd fe I worse
and our pride would be considerably
rodjuoed wrere ii not for the one com-1
fcrttng lad that professor's name
isGass. We hold that any man who
hub arrived at the age of consent
and never thrown that name over
the transom don't know anv more
about music than we who like the
"Houn' Uawg" scng, and has a taste
for the literary t Hut is reminiscent
of that luoruiim-after-the-day-befotv
taste we i sed to sense w hen we
were a l ouur and vastly more
foolish.
"Uaaa'." Suffering cognomens,
will teas body pteaeo sing the "Houu"
Hattg" KB?!
few years, with the exception of a
year In Sallx, were spent with Mrs.
R. T. Watson In Alliance In whose
home she passed awny at an early
hour Sunday morning. May 12. UH2.
A woman of charming personality,
active, vivacious. staunch In her
friendships, ahe had wherever she
11 veil a host of triends To meet
her whs to remember her and to
know her was to love. Her oft ex
pressed sentiment not to be old if
she lived to be a hundred was borne
out to a remarkable degree, the
final summons finding her elghty
years young. Thniout the three
months of her illness she exhibited
unfailing patience and fortitude and
frequently expressed her apprecia
Hon of the kindly attention of triends
and the devotion or the daughters, all
or whom were constantly by her
side. Her keen mind was bright to
the lnwt. in accordance with the
wishes or the deceased the remains
were taken to Denver ror cremation
Mrs. R. T. Watson accompanying
thetn.
At ten o'clock Sunday evening,
just berore the departure ror Denver,
friends gathered in her room. She
lay upon the bed whence her spirit
had taken Its flight as In sweet rest
berore the journey, as bidding the
sorrowing Mends.
"Say not good night,
But in some Tairer otBtte
Hid nip good morning."
Rev. Ware and Rev. Baker COD'
dducted a simple service. At the
close the body attended by friends
was borne by pall bearers direct to
the train for the last sad journey. 1
"Oh Heart sore tried! Thou hast'
the best
That Heaven itself can give thee
rest."
out. This spray does little or no
Injury to lawn grass or clover. It
sometimes blackens the eoges of the
leaves a little, but the damage Is
never serious. From the standpoint
of cheapness and ease of application
at lea's!, this Is probably the best
method to u.t In figh Ina; the dande-,
lion.
In our "8clssors and I'aste" de
partment we have selected from The
Herald's exchanges the cream of
the news that might interest a con
siderable number of our readers. All
or the items round in this department
will not interest all our readers, but
thos who rail to glince through
the items will probably miss some
things that they would be plesisfd to
read .
Mrs. Bydia Shoop, mother or Mrs.
Dr. si. ile, departed last week for
her home at Abingdon, Illinois, after
spending six months at the home of
her daughter In this city. She has
made several extended visits In Alli
ance and has many friends here who,
as well as her relatives, always give
her a cordial welcome and try to
make her Stay pleasant.
YOU OOTTA FETCH
MY DAWQ BACK
l3T OB K.-tTRAYKD A Ml
sourl Kex Hound, black body, tao
face and legs, long ears, very thin
nnd a mournful, soulful look in it
eyes. Answers to moat any name,
but pref.i bly "Bill", "Champ
C'ark", or "Judge R." Whin hurt
Been, was tlfd loose with -i collar
ami chain. This an nil has u pe
OUafor liking ror an. one from the
neighborhood or St. Joseph, Mo. A
reward or $5.00 for the return of
?ald dog to Kugene Burton. County
Attorney. Alliance, Nebraska.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Dr. C. E. Slagle, who has been
with me the past five years as as
sistant, is no longer in my employ.
All bills for work done by him prior
to Feb. 1st, 1912, are payable direct
to me. H. H. BELL WOOD, M. D.
1 139-1 4-tf
See K. C. Wliisnian for lowest
prices on painting, paper hanging
and kalsominlng.
1138tfl4
Alliance Shoe Store
S. A. HILLER, Prop.
Watch this space for shoe Infor
mation. Will be changed every week.
COM BATING DANDELIONS
Methods Used to Rid Lawns of Yel
low Pest
Obituary
Death of Mrs. Fannie Parker Strap
per at Home of Daughter
Following is the :-r teram for the
Woman' Club ineeti:i I'mlay. Mm
i :
Hostess, Mrs. Bennett.
Roll call Cute sayings of child
ren.
Table talk Karly religious Im
pressions. Book Rt-view Of uch is the
Kingdom. Mrs. Highland.
Vocal solo Mrs. Bennett.
"We love UMBO little people,
and it is no slight thing when
they who are so fresh from
Ood love us. " Dickens.
This being the last literary pro
gramme of the year, a good attend
ance hi expected.
I lie daughters of Isabella will
give a dinner and supper in Bal
Hrotuer store. June 21. Thb. will
be during the Stockmen s Couven
tloti.
Graitia Frances Merwin was born
April 13. IS;!2. in We-stfleld. Mass
Here she grew to womanhood, re
ccivliug her educatiou in the Htuli
school and other educational institution-
of her native Stty, la the old
West field Academy she w as a class
mate cf the late Mary Clenuner
Ames, going with her to las profes-
sor to ask criticism on that author's
drat literary venture. later she
spent a few years with a broth
er in New York City and a
ststir in Cleveland. Ohio, and
Oregcu. 111. November IS, 1S5i,
she was marri I ro Martin W. Bar
ker of Byron, Hi. In 1S57 tluj young
couple removed i j he Iowa prairies I
locating near Vin: ,:i, Benton county,
and developing a f.u t farm which
was their home for nearly thirty
years. Here four children were born
to them, all of whom survive: Mrs.
M U Bhares of Bridgeport, Nebr. ;
Mrs. S. D. Watson of Spade, Nebr ;
(foe, M Barker of Buyallup, Wash.;
and Mrs R T. Watscn of Alltanct.
In 1885 they left the farm to live
in Vinton and shortly after, owing
to falling health, went to Michigan
to make their home with Mrs. S. D.
Waton in St. Jchns After the
death of Mr. Parker in the
mother lived with each daughter iu
turn in March, ISIS, she was mar j
Tied to Mr. T. J. Strupper of Salix,
Iowa, who survives her. The last
The following article by Professor!
R. Kent Beattie, botanist, Washing
ton State college, appeared in the
April issue of "Belter Kruit" and is
printed in The Herald by req-ue-; of
a reader Who is interested In the
improvement of lawns in Alliance:
The common dandelion is on the
tacreoao as a pest In ths lawns of
Kastern Washington. R is a very
difficult plant to eradicate. It per
petuates itself by a large, flesh root
which is ditfi.ul; to kill, and this
must be removed before one can get
rid of the plant. A very common
nu t hod is to dig out as much of
the root as possible wi'h a long.
heV.vy knife, or with a tool called
B spud, and tlic'a to put a few drops
of coal oil on the cut surface of the
root. In many cases the coil oil
kills thai part of the root which re
mains. It Is, howeevr, not perfectly
successful. Some persons have tried
sulphuric acid on the roots. This is
a difficult thing to handle, for it is
very injurious to the bauds and the
person. It usually kills the dandeli
on roots, but aiHHOtamaa they escape.
Recently a gcod many people have
tried spraying for dandelions, and
this is recommended by sonic. Thy
method used is to make a solution
or iron sulfate, two pounds ) one
gallon of water. Apply this to the
lawn with a tptO pump so iikal it
w ill make a fine mist. Some l . ople
put half an ounce of sulfuric acid
in each ounce of the spray. In any
eveiit, all tli.it this spray can do is
to kill the tops, if, however, one
should begin in the spring and kill
the tops with the spray and then re
peat the process as often as new
ones app.-.ii. one ought In time to
get rid of the roots by starving them '
HANAN
SHOES
AND
OXFORDS
Men's Gun Metal Pari Oxford
Made long vamp with blind eyelets
and is the very latest design.
Medium Heel and Toe. All Sizes.
Frisco Last. A. B and C widths.
Something new, S5.50
Men s Best Tan Russia Calf
Four Button Oxford
Puck Last. B. C and D widths.
All Sizes
ajjjfib
jjKajBa. - jaBpfRBaaa
Military Heel.
Price. S5.50
Men's Gun Metal English Oxford
Medium Long Vamp. Blucher
A very sasy. straight last.
Baltimore Last. Medium Heel.
Price. S5.00
Men's Best Tan Russia Calf
Blucher Oxford
Auto Last.
Medium Military Heel,
B. C and D width.
All Sizes
35.50
Men's Black Vici Kid Oxford
Blucher cut with a very wide high
toe.
A good last for a man tnat is on.
his feet a great deal.
Kozy Lat. 5.00
Same ctyle in a shoe, $6.00
'EASY AS AN OLD SHOE"
Don't throw away those old shoes that are so comfortable. Have them
repaired and made as good as new. M. D. NICHOLS has the best equipped
shop in western Nebraska, at 217 BOX BUTTE AVENUE, Alliance. First
class repairing; done promptly. Also, boots and shoes made to order. Give
him a trial.