BLOELIFOIITEIN FALLS.
h'-r: 1 -CAPITAL
OF THE ORANGE FREE
STATE CAPTURED.
Pretoria Determined to Fight to a
Bitter End and It Means a War
Of Extermination.
Pretoria, Monday, March 13. (Delay
M.) Lor Salisbury's reply to Presi
dent' Kruger and Steyn cause bitter
disappointment, and State Secreta-y
limits myn It means that the war will
Le 'ought to the hitter end.
New Tork (Special.) A dispatch to
Ihe Evening J mrnal from President
Kroger, dated Pretoria, March 13, via
Uerlin, says: ,
"The burgher will only cease lighting
with death. Our forced are returning
In eood order to our line of defense on
our own Boll. The Natal campaign wag
longer In our favor than we expected.
The British will never reach Pretoria.
The burghers. Steyn, Joubert and my
self, as well as all the others, are
united. There are no differences. God
help us."
London. (Special.) It Is officially an
Tiounced that Lord Roberts has occu
pied Bloemfonteln and that the British
flag Is flying from the top of the capl
tol. Ttie following Is the text o Lord Rob
erts' dispatch to the war office, an
nouncing: his occupation of Bloemfon
teln: "By the help of Ood and by the brav
ery of her majesty's soldiers, the troops
lunder my command have taken pos
session of Bloemfonteln. The British
flag now flies over the presidency, evac
uated by Mr. Steyn, late president of
the Orange Free Slate.
"Mr. Fraser, member of the late ex
ecutive government; the mayor, the
secretary of state of the late govern
ment; the landrost and other officials
met mr two miles from the town and
presented me with the keys of the
public buildings.
"The enemy have withdrawn from
the neighborhood and all seems qup-t.
The Inhabitants of Bloemfonteln gave
the troons a eordlal welcome."
The above dispatch, though dated on
Tuesday, was not received at the war
office until 7:5) p. m., Wednesday. It
I - a. -..1. n,,Ut n fa L.k.a- t..r,,-M
'll o'clock. The delay Is attributed to
the field telegraphs not being connected
with Bloemfonteln on Tuesday evening.
Extra papers are already out on the
streets and the night crowds of London
are singing patriotic songs and engag
ing In demonstrations.
CAU3BS GREAT RELIEF.
Lord Roberts' dispatch caused a feel
ing of great relief. The absence of the
news eagerly looked for had provoked
some apprehension, during the earlier
part of the day, that the British had
met with a check before Bloemfonteln,
and anxious inquiries were made at the
war office and In the lobbies of par
liament. -
On the reception of the news the
queen, at Windsor castle, the prince of
Wales at Marlborough house. Lord
Wolseley and others were Immediately
notified, but at t o'clock the. war office
was almost deserted, the public having
given up hops of further news until
Thursday.
The Bppcarance of the newspapers
with the news caused great excitement
along Pall Mall, at the Service clubs
and In the West End generally. Owing
to the late hour, however, there was no
demonstration approaching In the
slightest degree those heralding the
surrender uf CronJ and the relief of
Ladysmlth.
It so happened that a torchlight pro
cession, organized on an extensive
..ut, i Via tirffli.tvu unci nrrthnns'
fund, was parading South London with
'Tfcnds and banners. This Included a'
blfely of uniformed men, representing
the Urltisn Held lores, nil! ui n iioi i ui
C'ronje and other Inspiring incidents.
The route was hung with flags and
Hands were erected at numerous point?
for spectators.
"HKJ1ILY SIGNIFICANT."
Naturally the appearance of the ex
tra editions of the evening papers ere
sted a furore of enthusiasm among the
paraders, who greeted the news with
cheers and the singing of the national
snthem.
At Windsor the news was received
with much Joy. The queen commanded
that It be Immediately published, and
ihe Instructed her equerry, at the din
ner table, to send a note to the officers
Of the household brigade. The battal
ion was called on parade at 10:13 p. m.
Major 8t. Aubyn read her majesty's
note and called for cheers for the queen
and Lord Roberts. The bund pluyed
"dod Save the Queen."
Wherever Lord Roberts' dispatch was
read, hla reference to the "lute" Presi
dent Steyn and the "late" executive
was Immediately fustened upon an be-
...... .i i . j
)lng highly significant.
STEYN HAS DECAMPED.
'VA dispatch to the Dally Chronicle
pom Bloemfonteln, says:
"Bloemfonteln surrendered at 10 to
Bay. It was occupied at noon. Presl.
dent Bteyn, with a majority of the
fighting burghers, has fled northward.
"General French was within five
mllea of the place at S o'clock Monday
afternoon. He sent a summons Into
the town, threatening to bombard un
less It surrendered by i a. m. Tuesday.
A white flag was hoisted Tuesday
morning and a deputation of Ihe town
council, with Mayor Kellner, tame out
to meat Lord Roberts at Spltxkop, five
mllea south of the town, making a
formal ittrrender of ths place.
6000 EXAMPLE II IRRI6ATI0M.
Canada Coea About tho Matter In
a Systematic Mannar,
Washington, D. C (Special.) "No
Investigation by the census office has
aroused a more active and sympathetic
Interest than that relating to land re
clamation by Irrigation," says Hydro
grapher Newell, in charge of Irrigation
In both the census office and the geo
logical survey.
"The east is quite as much alive to
the importance of the subject as the
west. Its manufacturers and Jobbers
see in the growing west a market of
great absorbing capacity. The Cana
dians have set an example to the Unit
ed States In the businesslike way In
which they have gone about the prob
lem of the public domain. They also
have vast tracts of arid land lying
east of the Rock mountains and north
of Montana. In spite of a relatively
low temperature they have demonstrat
ed the, success of Irrigation in a broad
and practical munner.
"Instead of allowing developments to
proceed In a haphazard way they draw
a lesson from failures and mistakes on
this side of the boundary and llrst
made an accurate survey to show the
location and character of the Irrigable
lands, the sources of supply from
which these lands can be watered and
the possibilities of regulating the flow
of streams by reservoirs.
"The people of the adjacent state of
Montana, seeing the good effects of such
a policy, are eager to have similar
surveys made of the public lands of
that slate In order to show at a glance,
on appropriate maps, the lands that
may be Irrigated, and water sources
for their reclamation and (by reports)
the cost of benefits to be derived from
adequate systems of storage reservoirs
and high-line canals. As a preliminary
step the census office Is ascertaining
what canals are now In operation, the
extent and value of existing works and
the area and production of Irrigated
lands. Director Merrlam desires that
all Irrigation schedules be filled out and
returned as promptly as possible and
Irrigators who have not received such
schedules will at once write for them."
FOR MORE NATIONAL BANKS.
Applications Made From Several
Different States.
Washington, D. C (Special.) Iowa
postmasters appointed: Conroy, Iowa
county, H. A. Ahrens, vice II. J. Glass,
resigned; Pllotsburg, Washington coun
ty, K. R. Young, vice I. W. Plank, re
signed. Miss Margaret Walsh of Yankton, 3.
D., has been appointed a teacher at the
Fort Yuma Indian school, Arizona.
Under the provisions of the bill ap
proved by the president authorizing
banks with a capital -stock of J25.000
and over to organize as national banks,
the following applications have been re
ceived by the comptroller of the cur
rency; Nebraska O. T. Roen, to organize a
bank at Columbus; A. R. Curzon, to
organize a bank at Curtis; F. W. Klp
llnger, Loomls State bank; C. A. Ran
dall, Newman Grove; M. L. Wilson, Su
perior State bank; II. M Adams, Slate
bank, Hooper; L. Hansen, Loup City;
Citizens' Bunk of Humphrey, John A
Donelan; Farmers' bank of Weeping
Water; C. W. Wilson of the Strondry
Willetts Co. of Alma; Utlca Mineral
bank, and J. C. David of Pawnee CHy
Iowa C. J. Weiser, president of the
Wlnneshcik company of Deeorah; J. II.
Thompson of the First National bank
of Crystal Luke; E. C. Lane, Guthrie
State bank of Guthrie Center; C. E.
Waterbury, State Bank of Dayton; A.
Ii. Brush, Osage; S. L. Brltt, Farmers'
bank of Casey; N. Farnsworth, Mer
chants' State bank, Correctlonville; C.
C. Chubb, president of the Burt bank
of Burt; W. E. Bomberger of Gowrle;
E. J. M'urtagh, Kenton Stale bank of
Kenton; O. Masher, Exchange bunk of
Walnut; J. H. Talks, Huineston; C. S.
Stearns. Tiffin bank of Garden City;
Commercial bank of Essex; J. B. Pier
sal, Farmers' State bank of Rockwell.
BURDEN OF WHITE SETTLERS.
Senator Allen and Others Make
An Appeal.
Washington, D. C (Special.) Mark
W. Murray and E. A. Wills". In com
pany with Senator Allen, Congressman
Robinson and Congressman .Mcpherson
of Iowa, walled upon Hon. W. A. Jones,
commissioner of Indian affairs, with a
view of getting him to reconsider the
position taken by him on the bill pro
viding for the payment by the govern
ment of a tax upon laud held by the
government In trust for the Indians In
organized counties. The burden now
borne by the white owneta of lands In
these counties was fully explained to
the commissioner und the condition of
Thurston county, that onunly probably
having the heaviest burden of any of
the organized Bounties, seemed to ap
peal peculiarly to the commissioner an
a case of extreme hardship under the
existing law.
At the conclusion of the hearing Com
missioner Jones promised to again re
view the matter, and If possible sug
gest some form of legislation which
would grant relief.
BOERS PREPARING A REPLY.
Ixmdon. (Special.) -The Dully M.ill
has the following dispatch from Pre
toria: .
"I,ord Salisbury's r'p!y 1ms hoen re
ceived and a Boer refutation of tin
UrltUh contention Is under considera
tion. It wlil deny that any annexatloi
has been made and It will declare thai
the occupation of British territory wn
purely strategic. It will express thi
determination of the two republics r
fight to the finish "
HEWS OF WASHINGTON
ITEMS OF INTEREST FROM OUR
NATIONAL CAPITAL
Mr. Cowherd of Missouri Discusses
the Philippine Question In a
Brilliant Manner.
Washington, D. C (Special.) The
District of Columbia appropriation bill
was taken up in the bouse, and under
the latitude allowed, Mr. Adamson of
Georgia discussed the Nlcarague canal,
Mr. Cowherd the Philippine question,
Mr. Howard of Georgia questions re
lating to the Philippines and the "open
door" policy In the Orient, Mr. Rueker
of Missouri the advisability of electing
senators by the people and Mr. llou
tell of Illllnois replied to Mr. Cowherd.
The house adopted a resolution set
ting aside alternate Fridays for the
consideration of private bills reported
by the cllams and war claims commit
tee. Bills were passed to peltle the title
to real estate In the city of Santa Fe,
N. M., and for the relief of Thomas
Paul.
The District of Columbia appropria
tion bill was taken up and Mr. Grout
of Vermont, in charge of the bill, made
a general explanation of its provisions.
The bill carries .60,3T8.
Mr. Adamson of Georgia delivered a
long argument In favor of an Isthmian
canal.
Mr. Cowherd of Missouri addressed
the house on the subject of the Philip
pines, holding that the advocates of
Imperialism were actuated by two mo
tives militarism and commercial greed.
He denied that Jefferson was the father
of modern expansion, quoting exten
sively from Jefferson's writings to show
that Jefferson's motive in securing the
annexation of Louisiana was to avoid
embroiling the country In foreign wars
in the future. Jefferson, he said, de
sired to Insure peace. Modern expan
sionists courted foreign complications.
In exery treaty of annexation made un
der a democratic administration there
was a clause whic h provided that every
inhabitant of the territory annexed
ihould become an American citizen.
The treaty of Paris was the only on
acquiring territory In which It was left
to congress to decide the political status
f the Inhabitants.
ONCE CARRIED LIBERTY.
"Mr. Chairman," concluded Mr. Cow
herd, "there was a time when we boast
ed not of the money we could make,
not that yonder flag carried trade in
Us wake, but that It carried liberty.
Today its proud boast is that trade fol
lows the flag.
"The other day when General French
rode Into Klmbeiiey to the relief of
that beleaguered city the newspapers
tell us the citizens held a reception for
the Englls honkers and Cecil Rhodes,
the very Incarnation of the land lust,
the land-grabbing spirit of the age,
In response to a toast said that 'the
people of Klmberley had done their best
In preserving for the world the greatest
commercial asset of the age, the Eng
lish flag.'
"Mr. Chairman, I hope the day will
never come when any man can ilse In
any land and point to yonder banner
ss a commercial asset. (Applause.) I
trust, sir, that something will survive
ot the days when that banner floated
above Washington and his barefooted,
bloody patriots at Valley Forge; I trust
something still will live of Ihe spliit
that animated the men who upheld that
banner when they stood with stubborn
old Andrew Jackson at New Orleans.
trust something ot the life o flibeily
till permeates this nation that perme
ited the followers of yonder flag w hen
they marched with Grant on hla stub
born advance to Richmond.
"And, Mr. Chairman, If the day evei
comes when that banner la nothing but
a commercial asset, then; sir, every
tripe of white upon Its folds should
be dyed in the blood of the men we
killed and conquered and from yond-i
ground of blue you should take every
itar that represents an Independent
itate." (Applause on the democratic
ide.) s
Mr. Howard (Ga.) discussed the open
door policy In the east.
ELECTION OF SENATORS.
Mr. Rlcker (Mo.) submitted an argu
ment In favor of constitutional amend
ment for the election of senators by th
people. He said that thirty-two states
were on record as favoring the popular
election of senators.
Mr. Bo.utell (II!.) closed the. debate
slth a brief reply to the argument of
Mr. Cowherd. He said that military
flory and commercial greed were ax
repugnant to him as to the gentleman
from Missouri. Ho hoped and prayed
ihat In dealing with the problems which
;onfronted us we would be guided by
the highest motives and that the bless
ings of the God of nations and the ap
proval of all civilization would rest
upon us.
rniNCE OF WALES AT SALE.
Among the best prices In addition la
that paid for Flying Fox were 7,000
guineas for Calvcley, 6,000 guineas for
Goblet, 4,300 guineas for Manchurl,
bought by Wolff Joel, nephew of the
late Barney Barnato, and 2,100 guineas
for Good Luck. The prince of Wales
bought Vane for 4.300 guineas.
J. B. Joel bid to 34,000 guineas fot
Flying Fox and then left the contest
to Mr. Gilpin and, M. Wane. Mr. Gil
pin bought Aldcrney for Mr. Whitney
for 270 guineas. Gilpin also bought
Mall for Mr. Whitney. The total nine
teen lots were sold for 70,400 guineas.
The sale was the greatest of Its kind
on record.
THE ARMONR'S INCORPORATE.
All the Packing Interests Embodied
Wltha,Bl Capltpllzation.
Chicago, III. (Special.) The final
stem have been taktn for the incorpor
ation of the Armour packing Interests,
with a capitalization of $20,000,000. For
merly the business was conducted as a
copartnership. The incorporation will
not change the management In any
sense. The papers, which were for
warded to Springfield for filing, provide
for a private corporation embodying all
the packing interests of Armour & Co.
The officers of the new company will
be: President, Philip D. Armour; vice
president and general manager, J. Og
den Armour; treasurer, P. A. Valentine;
secretary, C. F. Lungdon; general coun
sel, L. C. Kraut hoff, and general at
torney, A. It. Urion. Directors, Philip
D. Armour, J. Ogden Armour, P. A
Valentine, C. M. Favorite, T. J. Con
nors and Arthur Meeker.
The interests Included in the Incor
porated concern are: Packing houses,
glue, soap and hair factories at Chi
cago and South Omaha; car building
and repair shops at Chicago. The Ar
mour grain business and the Armour
Par king company of Kansas City re
main as Independent concerns.
'if the stock in the new corporation
P. I). Armour will hold one-half; J.
Ogden Armour and the estate of Philip
D. Armour, Jr., one-eighth each, the
remaining one-fourth being apportioned
among the oldest employes.
It is stated that the continued 111
heulth of P. I). Armour and the recent
death of Philip, Jr., were the reasons
for the incorporation.
IN MANILA HOSPITALS.
Patients on January 20 'Reached
the Numberof 2.540
Washington, D. C, March 20 Sur
geon General Steinberg has received a
cable from Colonel Greenlcaf, chief sur
geon In the Philippines, saying that the
total number of cases in the military
hospitals In and around Manila, March
12, was 1,2X7. There has been a steady
reduc tion in the number of cases under
treatment at the hospital since January
20 last, when' they numbered 2.D10. In
cluded In the decrease are about 200
cases that have been transferred to
hospitals in the United States. General
Sternberg Is very much gratified at
Colonel Greenleaf's report, as it shows
a decided Improvement in the health of
the troops in the Philippines.
The surgeon general has also received
a report from Major Corbusier, medical
purveyor for the department of the
Pacific, showing that he has an ample
supply of bed linen and clothing for
the military sick and that there is no
foundation for the report that the pa
tients are suffering from the need of
such ratlcles.
Mckinley sighs the bill
Affixes His Signature to the New
Currency Bill.
Washington, D.C. (Special.) At four
teen minutes to 1 o'clock Wednesday
afternoon the president affixed his sig
nature to the financial bill, thus mak
ing it a law of the land.
Mr. Overstreet ot Indiana, who had
the bill In charge, arrived at the White
House about five minutes btfore that
time and was shown Into the cabinet
room, where he was Joined by the pres
ident, who, after Inquiring If the bill
had been compiled with care, affixed
his signature to it.
At the same time he recalled to those
who stood by the fact that many of the
Important financial bills which had been
passed by congress had been approved
on the 14th of the month. He spoke of
the Sherman act, the resumption act,
and now the bill which was before
him.
In signing the bill the president used
a new gold pen which Mr. Overstreet
had brought with him for the purpose.
BROKEN LEG A WOODEN ONE.
Chicago, March 19. "My leg Is bro
ken," walled Albeit Van Alpten as he
lay on the ground at Sixty-third and
Halstcad streets, lie had been struck
by a southbound Halstcad street elec
tric car, and a crowd of sympathetic
men surrounded him. A doctor was
called and the ambulance from the
Edgewosd police station was summon
ed. The doctor made a hasty exami
nation and then laughed. The broken
leg was wooden. The crowd of sympa
thizers walked away In disgust, leav
ing the Injured man to the mercy ot
policemen. The ambulance was neees
sary, however, to convey Van Alpten
to his home, as he could not walk
without his wooden leg. Van Alpten
lives at CIS West Forty-sixth street and
Is a shoemaker.
LIVED TWO YEARS ON WHISKY.
Bancroft, Mich. Mrs. A. Tyrell, a
widow who lives a few miles northwest
of this place, has not enjoyed a square
meal In two years, and her case Is a
puzzle to all the physicians In the
neighborhood. Mrs. Tyrell has been
suffering from stomach trouble for
many years. Two years ago her con
dition became such that she was un
able to retain any solid food. Her phy
sicians prescribed raw eggs beaten up
In whisky, but she rebelled against the
eggs and ever since then her diet has
been pure whisky and other ulcoholio
stimulants. Tho woman la gradually
becoming weaker and has been reduced
In flesh until she Is almost a skeleton.
There Is no hbpe for her ultimate re
covery. Marshall O. Waggoner of Toledo, O.
who recently burnt hla rich agnostic
library, Is said to be about to be ad
mitted to the Roman Catholic church.
GO TO LINCOLN EARLY.
jTATE DEMOCRATIC, CONVEN
TION AT LINCOLN.
Delegates To Be Chosen to Attend
the Democratic National Con
vention at Kansas City.
Omaha, Neb. (Special.) Most of the
eli(,afes to the democratic state con
vention w ill go to Lincoln Sunday to be
n the ground early. But little is
known here as to the personnel of the
-andidates for positions as delegates to
Ihe national convention, if there be any,
M. F. Harrington of O'Neill is mention
ed as one and John A. Crelghton of this
c ity as another, -while R. L. Metcalfe
is candidate for delegate-at-large. At
the meeting of the democratic county
committee last Saturday an effort to
secure the endorsement of John A.
Crelghton and W. A. Paxton at the
same time was defeated, as the Douglas
county democracy refused to go on rec
ord in that manner. Under the terms
of the compromise between the demo
cratic factions each is entitled to name
one of the two delegates from this dis
trict, but neither has done so. It Is
understood that the Jacksonlans have
selected Crelghton, but the County
Democ rac y has expressed no preference
and the Jac ksonlans have not publicly
announced their selection. Members of
the county democracy say that they
have but one declared preference, and
they want to go to Lincoln in a posi
tion to confer with other counties that
may have aspirants.
One thing that the County Denrocracy
forces are determined to do at the con
vention next Monday is to work for a
reorganization of the state committee.
The membership of that organization
want to see Dahlman, Herdman., Maret,
et al retired from the head of the
state organization, even though it is
urged that the reorganization is not due
until the nominating convention In the
fall. Lee Herdman Is quoted by mem
bers of the County Democracy as au
thority for the statement that the se
lection of officers for the reorganization
has already been made, and that Mr.
Bryan wants his brother-in-law, Tom
Allen, made chairman and Benton Ma
ret secretary. Meantime, regardless of
'.his report, the County Democracy is
going to the convention prepared to
push the claims of WT. W. McCombs of
this county for the secretaryship, and
it Is claimed that even Mr. Bryan can
hardly afford to stand in the way of the
Douglas county aspirant.
The populists will hold their prima
ries Friday evening from 7 to 9 oclock
for the selection of delegates to the
populist convention the following day,
at which delegates will be selected to
the state convention at Lincoln on Mon
day. Every registered populist will be
allowed to vote at the primaries. Doug
las county will be entitled to 105 dele
gates In the state convention of next
Monday, but It is very likely that In
the convention later in the year for the
nomination of state officers the repre
sentation of Douglas county populists
will be materially .cut down, as popu
lists out In the state are inclined to
poke fun at Douglas county populism,
and it is frequently remarked that they
would would doubtless have a great
deal ot difficulty in finding enough ac
tive populists to fill out their quota
upon the basis that has heretofore pre
vailed. Unless some unforeseen erup
tion occurs the Douglas county delega
tion to the nominating convention of
the populists will go down primed to
work for Johfi O. Yeiser for governor,
and unless the representation is cut
down it will give him a leverage that
cannot be Ignored.
MAD HORSE CAUSES A SCARE.
An Omaha Horse Goes Mad and
Causes a Commotlcn.
Omaha, Neb., March 20. The spectacle-
of a mad horse kicking his stable
into kindling wood and making wild
endeavors to set his glistening white
teeth, covered with froth and foam, Into
the oesh of all who came near him,
drew a curious but respectfully distant
crowd to the barn of II. F. Boone,
Twenty-seventh and Indiana avenue.
The big beast showed every symptom
of rabies, thrashing about his stall,
foaming ut the mouth, biting and snap
ping at everything that came in his
way. and often burying his shining
:eeth deep In his ow n flesh. Mr. Boone
ent at once for Officer Cook and asked
him to shoot the horse, with which re
quest the officer, compiled, hastened by
tho owner's urgent pleas that he exe
cute the beast before he completely de
molished the barn.
Mr. Boone, who runs a feed store at
1220 Cuming street, says that the horse
was bitten by a dog thought to be In a
'It, about six months ago, and attrib
utes the madness to the dog bite. '
FARM MACHINERY BLOCKS DEPOT
Omaha, Neb. (Special.) Both the
Burlington and Union Pacific roads mi.
iflod the leading implement houses that
hey could not take any more shlp
nents Thursday and asked thtsm to go
asy for a couple of days In order to
illow the congestion to pass away.
The prediction made; by some dealers
iviiiii gthe convention of the Retail
Implement Dealers of Nebraska In
Omaha In January, Ihat trade would
be 20 per cent less than last year, was
first knocked Into a rocked hnt and
now has licen thrown Into the ash bar
rel. Not only Is trade, ns large oh last
year, hut It will actually be larger, and
Healers who were expecting a reduced
demand are now keeping the wires hot
ordering more goods. In addition to
Ihe carload lots tho freight depots and
platforms are plied high with agricul
tural Implements and the Jobbers are
happy.
NUBBINS FROM
THE SHOCK.
(By a Corn Belt Veteran In Iowa Home
stead.) ,
Nearly everybody has a hobby I
lave two, viz: good roads In winter
and big crops in summer. I dislike to
chill my toes and do violence to my,
whole body while slowly moving alone
ovey a road In an effort to go some
where, and I have an equal dislike tea
harvesting a crop which should have,
been twice as large. I have a good
reason for believing that If our corn
raisers would do double the worlc in
preparing and cultivating the groundl
that they now do, the crop would be
nearly doubled. This would enable
them to sow a part of the land in cloves,
and harvest Just as much corn. In two
years, if the clover sod would first ba
heavily manured and then planted to
corn, the yield per acre would be nearly;
doubled again. When it is remembered
that the average yield is considerably
less than thirty bushels per acre, it will
readily be seen that to double it twici
would be in the range of possibilities.
The doubling of the labor upon oup
corn crop will necessarily imply the em
ployment of more men and teams or this
curtailment of acreage, and some wilt
be very loath to adopt either of these
methods, but I want to go on record
as saying that It is the true principle
and will surely come into general prac
tice among the wide-awake farmers oC
the corn belt. It may come slowly,
great reforms frequently do, but come
it must and will, and those who are
first to adopt these methods will be the
first to reap the benefits. Our general
average of crops raised is enflrely too
low. The only reason Is that we try to
do too much. Skimming ever large
areas with a "lick and a promise" only,
pays on virgin soil, where land is cheap!
and labor is dear. As our country,
grows older our population Increases,
our taxes Increase, our civilization de
mands improvements, both of publio
and private nature, and they must all
be paid for. The soil must pay It all
and it can only do it under a system oC
more Intense cultivation.
These remarks about corn raising ap
ply w ith equal force to nearly all crops.
More land in grass and clover and larg
er crop from what remains with a pro
per rotation of crops means the ability
to keep more stock, and this means
more fertility to be added to the soil,
which means larger crops again, and at
the end of twenty years the productive
capacity ot any farm so handled will
be largely increased, while twenty more
years of the skinning and skimming
process now practiced by many will
render the land practically worthless.
It Is easy to understand why a renter
should adopt soil robbing methods, but
why the owner of a farm, who expects
to spend tho remainder of his days
upon it, and then leave a rich legacy to
bis legal heirs, should do so is a mys
tery. It is true that some of our land
is very rich and produces large crops
for a long period of years; it is equally
true that the best of it is now falling;
where it has had no rest nor fertilizers
applied. I have alluded to this phase
of the corn nubbin question at some
length, at the rlsh of repetition, for t
have written before along the same
lines, not because it is the most Im
portant .question we have to sold in
this world not that at all, for there
are millions of people in the world that
never saw an ear of American corn or
maize but because of the fact that
anything that is worth doing is worth
doing well. The millions of people who
never saw an ear of corn will probably
never see this paper, and they could
not read It If they did see it, but they
all require something to seat, and they
are beginning to learn to eat Ameri
can corn; they find in it a cheap, pal
atable and nutrtious food. It should Da
the business of the thousands of corn
belt farmers who do read this paper to
supply these people with our surplus
corn in exchange for their money (any
kind of money except counterfeit), and
to do this at the least possible loss ot
fertility to our soil. This is the prob
lem that should be in the mind of every
corn raiser, and is the proper solution
of the good roads problem. To build
good roads requires the expenditure ot
large sums of good money. If we can
increase our surplus of corn, without
materially decreasing our soil fertility,
and can continue to exchange It for
foreign gold, we will soon have a sur
plus of gold, a part of which could
profitably be used in the building of
permanent roads. And then If we could
persuade ourselves to curtail our ex
penditures for chewing tobacco the fund
for road improvement could be enlarg
edbut that Is economy! To talk to
an American farmer about economy
when two Chinese families live fat upon,
the waste of un average farm when we
burn our cornstalks which contain so
much nutriment, when wc burn straw,
thus causing valuable plant food to go
into the air and be wasted, seems like
a work of supererogation.
I think a butcher has as much of a
legal or moral right to sell horse or
mule meat for beef as a grocer or hotel
keeper has to sell oleomargarine for
butter. But I find some of our city
farmers, who have studied law enough
to get their tongues loosened, defending
the latter practice and condemning the
olcomorgaiine Ii vs with an eloquence
not possessed by Ihe common herd, only
because they happen to have a few
dollars Invested In beef cattle. Tho
question Is, would this eloquence be di
verted Into oilier channels II' those
dollars had been invested In dairy cat
tle? Some men's morals are -lied up
w ith a rubber string. It Is strange how
,)ur minds are biased by our personal
interest. Early training, morality, i-d-ucatlon,
justice and even prejudice, all
go up when the mighty dollar Is upon
he opposite side of the scales.
