Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 1903)
Huammmmmmmmmm - !- fj . H . - J a - I -.. 1 '. f ' THE NEBRASKA A Synopsis of Proceedings in Both of the Twenty-Eighth General Assembly. SENATE. - After a week's adjournment, the sen ate reconvened on the 3th. Chairman Jirown of the reevnue committee rc- ported that the Ml! was not ready, and " asekd for more lime. He stated that the bill would probably be ready by the middle of the week. Chairman Warner of the committee appointed to investi- pate the charge of telephone companies rwjucsted five days more time, and that the committee be authorized to sum mon witnesses and compel companies to produce books. The requests were panted. Hall of Douplas reported the time of meeting of the various commit tees, and this was ordered printed and distributed. At the afternoon session the following bills were passed: S. F. 14. authorizing county beards to appro priate money for agricultural societies. S. F. SI, compelling those in charge of portable engines to lay boards on cul verts before crossing with engine. S. 1-. 117, to memoralzc congress to oppose the Dietrich land-leasing measure. The bill was amended that fences around the public lands ccme down by July 1, 1904. H. R. 6. appropriating HS.000 to pay ex pension of legislature. Amended to read f-XOOO. The committee of the whole with OXcIIl of Lancaster In the chair .re ported favorably on S. F. 55. relating to the raising of money by cities of 5.000 Inhabitants for the purpose of water works. Bills were Introduced: 'Act providing for a commission to revise the statutes and Code of Civil Proced ure of the state of Nebraska and to prepare the same for the consideration of the lesislature of WG5. To amend sub divisions 3 and 4 of section C9 of article I. chapter xiv. of the Compiled Statutes, ertitled "Cities of the second class and villages." and to repeal said original subdivisions. Streets to be graded by two-thirds vote of council; three-fourths vote to construct sidewalks or curbing. Granting to persons, associations and corporations engaged In the generating and transmitting of electric current for power and other purposes the right of way In. along and across the public highways of the state of Nebraska, and prescribing a penalty for the wilful and malicious injury to or Interference with the poles or wires of such persons, as sociations or corporations. Joint reso lution making application to the con gress of the United States to propose an amendment of the constitution of the United States, providing for the election of United States senators by direct vote of the people. Senate file 53, allowing cities of 5.000 in habitants authority to levy an increased rate for establishment of water works, was passed on the 10th. The senate went Into committee of the whole, to consider bills on general file. The committee made tho following ren-Jrt: Senate file M changes lowest rate of Interest on county deposits to 2 per cent. Report that It be considered in conjunction with senate file Z'). Senate file 77. relating to organization of counties not under township organiza tion; recommended for passage. Senate file 38. relating to guardians and wards, that It be passed. Senate file 13. providing for county commissions to contract for bridges, was taken up. A substitute was offered by the committee. Many amend ments were offered and the bill, with the amendments was ordered engrossed. S. F. 62. an act to Increase the powers of the Food commission, brought forth con siderable debate. Hasty of Furnas made a big fight on the bill and said the Food commission didn't amount to anything, ar.yhow. In his category of boards that were not doing their duties or doing any good for the state, the senator said "most of the commissioners and the state oil Inspector." O'Neill. Wall and others, were in favor of the bill. It went over to Thursday. The substitution for S. F. 13. providing for the letting of contracts by county commissioners, was the occasion of much talk. The debate occupied al most tho entire session and enough amendments were offered to make the bill unrecognizable. A number of new bills were introduced. Most of the day In the senate on the lith was taken up as a committee of the nholo in discussing the "bulk law; providing that no retail merchant should of allowed to sell his stock, entire or In part, outside of the regular trade routine, without first having notified his creditors and filing a list of credit ors with the county clerk. The bill was amended and discussed so much that it was finally sent back to the committee, which was instructed to patch on the amendments and again bring It forth. S. F. 114. calling for a convention to amend the constitutioa. after a lengthy discussion, was recommended for pas sage by tho committee of the whole. Sheldon of Cass introduced a resolution authorizing the Judiciary committee to get up a bill making such changes In the ballot law regarding constitutional amendments as may be deemed neces sary and submit the same on or before February 18. 190T Bills on first reading Included: Fixing fees for county clerks for issuing instruments. To provide for the sale by railroad companies of un claimed goods. Authoriizng mutual fire Insurance companies to do business uot slde of the state. To extend the bound aries of all cities, villages, school dis tricts and other municipal incorporations ' bordering upon navigable streams which constitute state boundaries. To define the crime of desertion of minor child or children, wife or busabnd or home, by father. mother, putative father, husband or wife, and to provide punishment therefor. After being in session an hour on the 12th the senate adjourned for the day. This was done in order to give the com mittees time to get up a large general " file. Standing committees reported as fol lows: S. F. 68. providing for the payment - of certain fines into the school fund, in definitely postponed; S. F. 9. providing for a board of pardons, recommended for pas- .sage: S. F. 93. to prevent the mutilation of horses, recommended for passage; S. ' F. 65. relating to marks and brands, rec ommended for passage: S. F. 139, for is suance of bonds for Irrigation purposes, recommended for passage: S. F. 138. in regard to water rights, recommended for passage; S. F. 137. water rights, irriga tion, recommended for passage; S. F. 131. relating to the destruction of wild ani mals, favorable: H. R. 16. substituted for 8. F. 23. providing for the division of counties into districts: S. F. 64. relating to county treasurer's deposits, indefinitely postponed: S. F. 114. providing for the calling of a constitutional convention, was passed. Bills on first reading were: Providing for general revision of elec tion law; 'Providing for the appointment o: a union soldier .having served three years a member of Board of 8oldiers and Sailors', to Serve three years, and the ap- . pointmect of one member annually thereafter. HOUSE. Speaker Mockett called the house to order at 11:30 on the sth. after a week's adjournment. Belden of Richardson in troduced this resolution, which was re ferred to the committee on revenue: Tour petitioners, residents and taxpay ers of saM state, present the following resolutions: That we think it unjust that in esse ' property Is mortgaged the property and Bsortgage should both be taxed. That tke law of Imitation on proaUs- LEGISLATURE sory notes, now and hereafter given, should be extended for ten years from face of note. That the law should be so amended that instead of districts immediately along railroads getting the entire bene fit of the school tax accruing from said railroads, that said tax should be dis tributed equally :anong all districts In tho county voting bonds, inasmuch as all districts must assist In the payment of the bonds. I. L. CORNELIUS. AND OTHERS. These bills were passed: No. 16, by Davis of Buffalo, to nermlt township to buy land for cemetery purposes: No. 24. by Jones of Richardson, to make the town clerk, treasurer and justice of tho peace constitute the town board: No. S, by Perry of Furnas requiring all appli cants for attorneys certificates to have an education aside from that in law equivalent to a three-year high school course before admission; No. 39, by Jones of Otoe, fixing fees for notarial service; No. 48. by Koetter of Douglas, providing for school districts In metro politan cities paying the cost of the bond furnished by the treasurer of such districts; No. 76. by Perry of Furnas, re lating to sureties and stays of execu tion, making no material changes in the present law; No. $1. by Loomis of Dodge, requiring school teachers to be at least 17 years of age and otherwise fixing the qualifications of teachers. Douglas of Rock, as chairman of the house special revenue committee, re ported that the Joint committee had failed to complete Its work of drafting a revenue bill and could not subml. such a bill for a few days. New bills were Introduced as follows: Relating to regulations of the Solldiers' Heme at Grand Island by abolishing visiting and examining board. To regu late the purchase of books by the state library, the university library and the Nebraska Historical library. Relating to bail Insurance companies, prohibiting the retention of more than three-fourths of the premium for expenses of the com pany. To establish an experimental sta tion west of the 100th meredlan. In the state of Nebraska, fixing the control and management of the same with the board of regents and making an appropriation of $5,000 therefor. HOUSE. Immediately after convening on the 10th the house passed house roll 99. by Gregg of Wayne, requiring notices of district school board meetings; also No. 100, by Hanna of Cherry, providing for the es tablishment of not less than three or more than five junior normal schools In western Nebraska; also No. 101, by Kittle of Sherman, raising the tax levy In town ships for road purposes from 2 to 5 mills. Bills on first reading included: To pro vide for the location of grain elevators on the side-track and right-of-way of any railroad, corporation or company In the state of Nebraska by any person, firm, corporation or association of persons by making application to the managing of ficers of said railroad for an elevator site. To authorize and require counties, pre clrcts, townships or towns, cities, villages and school districts to compromise their indebtedness and Issue bonds In pay ment thereof. Regulating the organiza tion and operation of corporations, asso ciations and societies to transact upon tho assessment plan, the business of acci dent or sickness Insurance. To provide for the state ownership, control, con struction and repair of all bridges of five hundred feet or more in length, within the state on public roads. To prevent fraud In railroad tickets. This Is an ef fort against scalping in unscrupulous manner. An act making It unlawful for any person to make, engrave, possess, keep or have any engraving implement for forging, counterfeiting, falsely alter Ir.g. stamping or dating any railroad ticket. To provide for a lien on grain and seeds for threshing. HOUSE. A petition from the Nebraska Federa tion of Woman's Clubs, praying for the passage of a pure food law. was intro duced in the house on the 11th by Gregg of Wayne and referred to the committee on commerce. H. R. 119. by Gregg, re quiring district school board to notify of ficers when reports are due, was read the third time and passed. Anderson of Kearney, moved that the house go Into committee of the whole to consider H. R. 112. a bill Introduced by Deles Dernier of Cass to authorize and empower, boards of county commissioners or supervisors to make contracts for tho construction and repair of bridges, to buy material and employ the necessary help to construct or repair the bridges. The matter was discussed at much length, but definite action was not taken. Bills were Intro duced: To amend section S3a. article i. chapter xviil. Compiled Statutes, by re quiring clerks of district courts to file notice of foreclosure or payment of mort gages with both county treasurer and clerk. Emergency clause. To authorize county commissioners to appropriate un expended balances credited to any pre cinct to such precinct. To permit the payment of money arising from the sale or purchase of Irrigation bands or cou pons at county treasurers' offices as well as state. H. R. 201, by Rouse, relating to district court fees. A joint resolution re lating to the unexpended balance In the hands of the Nebraska State Relief com mission, created by an act of the legisla ture at Its twenty-fourth session, and to provide for conevrting said balance of $396.96 into the state treasury. The house on the 12th concurred in the senate's amendments to H. R. 60. reduc ing the appropriation for legislators' ex penses from $48,000 to $28,000. It was shown by a report by the house deflciency cemmittee that the reduction was war ranted, as last session thousands of dol lars were spent for furnishings and dec orations, which arc not required this year. These bills were read the third time and passed: H. R. 88, by Shelly of Doug las, to prevent and punish the desecra tion of the federal flag; H. R. 166, by Kit- tel of Sherman, repealing the wolf bounty law; H. R. 175, by Burgess of Lancaster, known as the anti-printing trust bill, was recommended for passage. New bills in troduced were: To establish an experi mental station at or near Crawford. Neb., fixing the control and management of the same and making an appropriation of $18. 000 therefor. Providing for holidays to be known as Lincoln and McKinley anni versaries and Flag day. February 12. January 29 and June 14. respectively. To amend an act to give an award for the discovery of coal, iron ore. gas and crude oil. and to provide an appropriation of $25,000 to pay the award. To provide for the abandonment of operations by irriga tion districts and for their disorganiza tion. To provide for full width of publio roads of sixty-six feet and to keep them unmolested. This resolution by Cropsey of Jefferson was adopted: "Whereas. This, the 12th day of Febru ary, being the anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln; and. Whereas. His memory is revered by all people, his ability and loyalty acknowl edged and admired, his unbounded love for humanity and devotion to principle, zssrks him as an honorable example for geaeratioBs to come: therefore, be it Resolved. That the flag of our country, for which, he. cave his services and his life, be placed at full mast for today as a token of respect to the memory C the lamented saviour of our country. LEGISLATIVE NOTES. Major Buchanan, general passenger agent of the Elkhorn road, appeared toe fore the house committee on agriculture In the Interests of H. R. 138. by Jahnel of Washington, providing for more ex peditions methods of compiling and pub lishing state statistics. Major Buchanan said the railroads favored the 'bill as It wculd facilitate the work of their adver tising departments. Since the Introduction of bills into the legislature providing for the killing of prairie dogs, the legislature has attracted attention outside the state. Governor Mickey received a letter from a Hoosier who has a remedy that he desires to be tried In Nebraska that he guarantees will bring about the desired results. The let ter, dated "Clifty. Ind.." follows: "Your honor, I have a device for the extermina tion, for the destroying, of .the pests, the prairie dogs, guaranteed to do the work. If your state will remunerate, I will send you the device. I have applied for patent. Tho device Is this: attach rubber hose . steam engine. Insert the nozzle In the holes occupied by the dogs. Let steam on by proper attachments; will burn them out In a few seconds. Will destroy badg ers or anything that lives In the ground, by this means you can destroy the dogs on the prairie. Please give notice In some paper that will extend over the state that Is Infested with dote." Belden of Richardson presented a bill designed to impose greater restrictions on the proprietors of barber colleges and their students. It contemplates an an nual license fee of $500. to be paid August 1 each year; provides not less than a two years' course for every student, who In addition to this must possess a certificate from the manager before he can work at the barber's trade. LEGISLATIVE NOTES. A committee of attorneys from Omaha appeared before the joint judiciary com mittee and urged for the retention of the supreme court commission. The committee represented the State Bar association, also the Omaha Bar asso ciation. Three bills making different provisions for the retention of the com mission are pending before the legisla ture. The committee championed none of these in particular, but argued that the multiplicity of cases demanding at tention of the supreme court made es sential the continuance of the commis sion. "In my judgment it will require at least a month for this committee to complete its work In proper shape," said a member of the joint revenue commit tee in reference to the task confronting a subcommittee appointed to codify all the revisions of the revenue law made by the committee at large. This com mittee consists of these members: Sen ators Brown and Pemberton, Represent atives Thompson. Sears, Loomis and Sweezy. Its work is to whip Into shape all the fragments of revision thus far produced by the main committee, whose work is incomplete. Then the main com mittee is to resume operations and play for the goal by means of the codifica tion of the subcommittee. Under the circumstances, therefore, the Introduc tion of a revenue bill Is a very Indlfinlte proposition. Certainly there is good rea son for the general opinion that no such bill will be ready this week and prob ably not for a month, as the member quoted intimates. This member does not look for any sort of complete revenue bill, but merely a few amendments. By this same gentleman the substitution of the Kansas bill for the Nebraska law last week was explained. "Four of the committee were absent," he said, "and that left ten at the meeting: six of these voted to repudiate the committee's for mer action in taking the Nebraska law and substituting therefor the Kansas bill. Four opposed it." HARRISON'S REGISTRATION RE- FORM. Senator Harrison of Hall Introduced senate file No. 163, an act intended to change the entire system of registration. It Is to apply to all cities and towns where registration is now In force. The general plan is copied after the Massa chusetts law. Instead of having the reg istration taken by boards on certain specified days a short time before elec tion, the bill provides that all the work shall be done by the city clerk. With a littlo assistance it is believed this official can perform the work and thus the ex pense of registration can bo reduced. Under this plan the voters will be given plenty of time, at least one month, to go to the clerk's office and register. This will also give political organizations am ple time.to insepct the registration list and look up the voters to ascertain whether fraud has been committed. At present the last day of registration is Saturdav before the Tuesday on which the election occurs. This does not permit of a very thorough investigation. TAXATION OF TERMINALS. Lincoln Journal: Taxation of terminal railroad property received Its death blow si far as support from Lancaster's dele gation as a unit is concerned when tho motion was passed declaring It to be the sense of the meeting that the present unit system be retained. This motion was made by T. C. Munger and was car ried without opposition after brief dis cussion. In talking over this problem, a general sentiment appeared that there was justice in the plan and that rail roads did not pay their just share of municipal taxes, but it was realized that the majority of the members of the legis lature had been made to believe that If municipal taxation of railroads was per mitted in ono or two cities, it should be granted all along the lines to towns and villages or else the taxation in one or two places would result In the lowering of the share the railroads pay for county taxes. The business men gave up hope of pass ing the bill and released the delegation from supporting the measure. TACK IT ON REVENUE LAW. An amendment Is proposed to be made to the revenue bill now pending before the legislature making the same rule as regards taxation in municipal cities ap plicable to incorporated towns and vil lages in the state. This is intended to reach the same end as that aimed at by house roll 171, but making application broader. This decision was arrived at Wednes day at a meeting of the "committee of ten." of which ex-Governor Crounse Is chairman, which met at the Calument. The bill as it now stands provides for the assessment ol railroad property at full cash value within cities only. Wagner Royalties . Accounts are published in Germany showing the amount of royalties earn ern in 1902 by the compositions of Richard Wagner, says the Westmin ster Gazette. The most lucrative of the operas was "Lohengrin," wnicn was played 997 times in Germany, 420 times in France. Holland and Italy, and 318 times in England and the Uni ted States, and brought in 13,600. Next in popularity came "Tannhaeu ser," played 268 times in Germany, and 210 times elsewhere, at a profit of 7,065. "The Flying Dutchman" earn ed 2.550, "Die Meistersinger," 3, 600, "Tristan and Isolde," 700, while the "Walkuere," "Rheingold." "Sieg fried' and "Gotterdamerung" brought in 4,400 among them. The total royalties of the year were 30,000, and this figure does not Include the Bayreuth receipts. Good fortune never gets to walking right in without knocking until a man can have "private" printed on his of fice door. It is an illwind that does not blow a driver's dust in the eyes or a man who is trying to beat him. InM ubsi IuuibV bbVIbbmbbs Issnanj bbsi tlHBjl WBH iBBBB1 JbYuBBhSBsBhUsSBSj The Death of Napoleon. Wild was the night, yet a wilder might Hung around the soldier's pillow; In his bosom there waged a fiercer fight Than the fight on the wrathful billow. A few fond mourners were leaning by. The few that his stern heart cherished; They knew by his glazed and unearthly eye That life had nearly perished. They knew by his awful and kingly look. By the order hastily spoken. That he dreamed of days when the na tion shook. And the nation's hosts were broken. He dreamed that the Frenchman's sword still slew. And triumphed the Frenchman's "eagle." And the struggling Austrian fled anew. Like the hare before the beagle. The bearded Russian he scourged again. The Prussian's camp was routed. And again on the hills of haughty Spain His mighty armies shouted. Over Egypt's sands, over Alpine snows. At the pyramids, at the mountain. Where the wave of the lordly Danube flows. And by the Italian fountain; On the snowy cliffs, where mountain streams Dash by the Switzer's dwelling. He led again, in his dying dreams His hosts, tho broad earth quelling. Again Marengo's field was won. And Jena's bloody battle; Again the world was overrun. Made pale at his cannon's rattle. He died at the close of that darksome day. A day that shall live In story; In the rocky land they placed his clay And left him alone with his glory- New Monument for Shitoh. The bronze figure that Is to com plete the monument to be dedicated to the Illinois soldiers who fell in the battle of Shiloh has been shipped from Chicago to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn. The statue was cast by the American Bronze Foundry company, from a model made by R. W. Bock, a Chi cago sculptor; it weighs 7,000 pounds. The figure is thirteen feet high, with a seven-foot square base, and repre sents the "Mother of Illinois" In a sit ting posture. On her head she wears a diadem filled with jewels, typifying her sons. In one hand she holds a sword, while with a finger of the other hand she marks the page in history that tells of the deeds her sons have neoomnlishod with the sword. The State Legislature appropriated $25,000 for the pWpose of erecting this monu ment three years ago, and since that time Mr. Beck, the sculptor, has been working on clay models of the figure. The statue will rest on a solid granite pedestal twenty-three feet high. The Bob-Tailed Nag. "To hear all these bands playing, see these flags flying and watch the horses prancing around," said a Con necticut veteran, "reminds me that In the spring of 1864, when Gen. Banks was in command at New Orleans, three brigades were encamped at Ba ton Rogue. A review was ordered and Admiral Farragut was to be the guest of the occasion. With so distinguished a visitor, the bandmaster of each regi ment strove to have a better pro gramme than would be given by any other. Besides the regular stock mu sic, "Star Spangled Banner," "Red, White and Blue," "Yankee Doodle" and "Dixie," the band of tho Twenty fourth Connecticut had a dozen of the catchy airs of the day I believe they are known as 'rag time.' "For the occasion, Gen. Banks and his staff were handsomely dressed and superbly mounted. The uniforms of Admiral Farragut and his staff were resplendent, but their mounts were such as could be secured on short no tice, and were not only poor in flesh, but also lacked drill. A large white horse was furnished to the naval chief. It was bony and minus a large part of its tail, the remainder of which was kept nervously in constant motion. "The bugle sounded, and the column passed, marching in splendid form to the music of the various bands, each doing its best Of course, the march ing men could not see what kind of hcrscs that had been provided for the guests, and as the Twenty-fourth Con necticut approached, the bandmaster gave a peculiar sign and the band struck merrily into 'I bet my money on the bob-tail nag, duda, duda, day.' Gens. Banks and Grover were chag rined and were about to order a change of music when they observed that the admiral was laughing heartily and, with hat in hand, was bowing lew to the men from the Nutmeg state. He appeared to take it as a compli ment from the regiment to him on his recent passage of New Orleans, prob ably as a prophecy of his future achievements, and was enjoying it thoroughly. "The generals were relieved, and what at first seemed to be an awk ward predicament proved to be one of the funniest and most enjoyable inci dents of the day. Washington Star. Ohio's War Governor. "John Brough," said an old soldier recently, "was one of the strongest characters in Western politics. His best friends never excused many things that he did, but they stood by him. He was honest beyond question, and courageous to a fault He was aggressive and merciless in his aggres siveness, but so was Stanton, and, by the way, I remember that in 1865, when Brough declined to be a candi date for re-election, it was understood among the public men in Ohio that the governor who bad done so much for Lincoln, who had been the strong arm of the war department, was to suc ceed Mr. Stant6n as secretary of war. But events that were epoch-making In their influence followed one another rapidly. Lincoln was assassinated, Brough sickened and died, and Stanton remained secretary of war. "I remember the first week in April, 1865, when all Columbus was excited over Grant's pursuit of Lee. On Son day, April 9, four or ive of us went over to the state bouse hoping to hear sews of Lee's army. All the offices &- v BsbbbY were closed. We rapped at the door of the governor's office, but received no answer, and we started out disap pointed. In the hall we surprised Gov.; Brough, who had slipped out from the Adjutant General's office, and was aim ing to get quietly away. ; "We surrounded him and asked for news. He looked at us coolly, and then said: 'Gentlemen, I have a dis patch from Gen. Grant, but it is confi dential. You understand that' We all said we did. Then he said: 'Gen. Lee has surrendered.' We dropped our bats and started, yelling like In dians, at a full run for the street I looked back, and Brough was laughing laughing with tears in his eyes, and with his head uncovered. That night I saw him stand in the rain and talk to the rejoicing people as I never heard man talk before." Monument to Raiders. Sheltered by waving branches, kissed by breezes perfume-laden, on the battle field of Chickamauga, is the strangest monument ever made. A mimic engine of quaint, old-fashioned pattern, in solid bronze, rests upon a granite pedestal. Upon the sides are graven the names of the heroes in an exploit, the most daring ever conceived by man. To steal an engine, destroy a railroad, cut the communications of a state. This was the slight task attempted by the Andrews raiders, James K. An drews and his followers. Had they succeeded the result would have been disastrous to the Confederacy. They stole the engine most successfully, at Big Shanty, on the, Western and At lantic Railroad, while conductor, crew and passengers breakfasted. And then began the queerest run, the hottest chase on record, though the chasers started perforce on foot, on what seemed a hopeless errand. An engine was soon secured, however, and there after the race was a more equal one, delayed by the leaders obstructing the track, wherever possible, though this also delayed their own flight Lack of fuel finally forced the aban donment of the "General," and its plucky kidnapers were promptly cap tured. Eight, including the leader were executed in Atlanta. Eight cs caped and six were exchanged from Libby prison. All, with one exception were Ohio's sons, and the state has raised this monument to tell succeed ing generations of their courage. The "General," long in constant use but at last out of service, stands in the Union depot in Chattanooga, dally viewed by hundreds, a proud veteran, scornful of the newer snorting things which puff about without a history. Battlefield of Antietam. The battlefield of Antietam has ie ceived but little attention in the direc tion cf preserving the lines of battle until within the past ten years. Dur ing that time considerable has been done in the way of locating the situa tion of different organizations of both armies along the lines of battle. Suitable iron markers bearing the names of the organizations have been erected; drives have been built along t'ae battle lines, and the tourist can now ride comfortably over the battle field from the Burnside Bridge on the south of the extreme northern line' ol battle on the Hagarstown pike on the north, passing in the drive such points of interest as Cemetery Hill, the line of the "bloody lane" from the Boons boro pike and the Hagarstown pike, rassing the Dunkard Church and the East Woods, and including in this drive points near the Roulette and the Piper farms. While this ride does not comprise within its limits views of as many monuments as at Gettysburg, the country possesses far more charm in natural scenery. Although the entire battlefield is farming country, there is a pleasant diversion in the rolling fields, the beautiful valley of the Antietam, and the distant view of the range of South Mountain, also memorable as the scene of a battle in this same cam paign, for from South Mountain, Boonsboro and Keedysville the route cf Lee's retreating army was marked by battle and skirmish until the final stand was made at Antietam and the question of the superiority of the two armies debated on that bloody field. . Military Bearing of Americans. "The day of the Swift boiler ex plosion," said the doctor, "I was call ed hurriedly to look after the wound ed. I noticed as I drove up dozens ol teamsters sitting erect on their wagon seats with their arms folded looking over stolidly toward the turmoil about the boiler house. In some way their position and bearing reminded me ol artillerymen sitting on caissons when the batteries were scurrying forward to go, into action. I have no doubt that most of them were soldiers or sons of soldiers. I have noticed fre quently workmen engaged on new buildings sitting on wheelbarrows in the same way. I have noticed cow boys in Montana sitting their horses or bronchos with arms folded. Why fold their arms? Because of the fixed habit that came with four years of war. "I have been called here in the city to see patients and I knew they were men of soldier habits the minute I en tered the room. You pa&3 any one of the hack stands in the city and you will notice that some of the men sit erect in their seats with arms folded waiting, while others lounge. There is soldier blood In the folded arms. I am not the only one who has noticed all these things. Matthew Arnold and1 other observing Englishmen and Ger man soldiers who have traveled through the several states all have remarked upon the unconscious mili tary bearing of Americans, North and South. This is not the result of a lik ing for military life, because there is no such liking. It is a habit, inde pendent of and distinct from any ten dency toward militarism, and is worth study." Chicago Inter Ocean. Nerve of the Spanish Brigand. Toribio, a famous Spanish brigand, appeared at mass in a church of a small Sierra Faladora town, the other Sunday, and while some of his men covered the doors with rifles, he went through the pockets of the congrega tion, beginning with the pastor and winding np with the organist, whom he pulled from a closet in the loft by his ears. Then the pastor was order ed to empty the holy vessels, which Toribio appropriated with many apolo gies to the saints. That done, he com manded the pastor to proceed with the service, and in particular offer thanks to the virgin, his patron "who had been exceedingly good to bim (the brigand) that morning." i J -BBBssrvrsHaT Ms 'fc TsV BBBBBbIuBBBBWUV BsflHuBBBBBBBBSk BBBBBBBBBBBBBby!bT National Live Stock Convention. -The National Live Stock convention convened In Kansas City, Jan. 13 to 16. The first session was very sliraly at tended, not more than a dozen people being In the big theater when the meeting was called to order. Presi dent Springer in his annual address said that the stockmen of the United States had, four billions of capital and could construct and operate a packing plant of their own if they had to. His remarks were directed against the so called packers merger. Secretary Martin, In his annual re port, referred to the anti-shoddy bill now before Congress. He declared that the free importation of shoddy makes it possible for the manufac turers of snide clothing to sell a $3.00 suit for $15 to the unsuspecting American purchaser. This bill is ask ing both for the protection of Ameri can wool growers .and for the protec tion of consumers. The tax to be laid on the Imported shoddy is only one tenth of a cent per pound, to enable a suitable Inspection to be maintained. However, there is strong opposition to this bill front some of the clothing manufacturing centers. Senator Harris spoke on the Lou isiana Purchase Exposition. W. C. Bailey spoke on the "Angora Goat," in which he referred to the rapid de velopment of the goat industry in this country during the last three years. George F. Thompson read a paper on "Our Markets for Live Stock and Their Products." He said the home market was the one to be looked after the closest He called attention to our expanding foreign market for beef and other meats, but said that we had powerful competitors in Denmark and some of the other foreign countries. There is great need for American breeding animals in Mexico and Ar gentina, A resolution was adopted request ing Congress to so amend the inter state commerce act that the commis sioners would have power to enforce their own acts. Another resolution thanked the Department of Agricul ture for the vigorous way In which it had stamped out the foot-and-mouth disease. Dr. W. H. Dalrymple read a paper on "Infectious Diseases," after which a resolution was adopted calling for the disinfection of all hides import ed Into the United States. William M. Springer, counsel for the association, made a report of the va rious bills he had helped or opposed In the interests of the stockmen. He declared that the output of oleomar garine in Chicago during the past December was greater than for Decem ber of the previous year, and ex pressed the conviction that the lack of coloring matter would not ulti mately result in restricting the sale of that article. John H. Hobbs sent a paper in which he warned stockmen against diseases like rinderpest coming In from foreign countries. He pointed out the claimed fact that tuberculosis had been imported into this country in 1841 by a Dutch cow, and that the loss in a single year was $8,000,000. Some of the most important work of the convention was done in the discussion and passage of resolu tions. One of these urged the nation al government to take measures to se cure markets for American meats in Manchuria and other parts of Asia. Another urged Congress to clothe the interstate commission with power to enforce its rulings. A third asked Congress to pass a law authorizing railroads to keep cattle in cars for 40 hours without unloading. Yet an other favored the bill introduced in Congress for a board from the War Department to stimulate the breed ing of horses along improved lines for cavalry service. A strong resolu tion against the proposed merger of packing plants was passed, and in con nection with the same $7,500 was sub scribed to further a bill in Congress "to protect trade and commerce against unlawful restraints and com binations." Members of the conven tion said that should the merger be accomplished they would string packing-houses from "Chicago to San Francisco." Other resolutions adopt ed were: Indorsing the policy of the Agricultural Department in its efforts to eradicate poisonous plants on the ranges; Indorsing the Tongue pure food bill now before Congress; asking the Agricultural Department to repeal the forest exclusion order and protest ing against the government setting aside tracts of land for game pre serves, and asking the transference of the administration of the affairs of the forest reserves to the Department of Agriculture. ' Officers elected for the following year are: President, John W. Springer, Denver; Secretary. Chas. F. Martin, Denver; treasurer, Geo. L. Goulding, Denver. Farmers' Review. Evaporation from Land and Water. Water in invisible form is always going up from the visible surfaces of our lakes, rivers and sea3. This is regulated and controlled by the heat of the sun and the amount of water in the air. There is also a great evaporation going up from the land, even when not covered with verdure. Just how much this evaporation is we do not as yet know, and probably never will know very approximately, as soils differ immensely in their porosity. There is another factor that now comes in, and that is the height of the water table in the soil, a thing that Is seldom taken into considera tion when estimating the loss of soil water. It now appears that the higher the water in the soil the greater the evaporation. Some recent tests were made at the Wyoming station to dem onstrate this point The evaporation from an open tank was taken as a basis for comparison. When the wa ter table was kept at only six inches below the surface, the evaporation was 95 per cent of what it was in the open tank, showing that the six inches cf soil over the water table had very little effect in checking evap oration. When the water table wa3 lowered to 12 inches below, the evapo ration sank to 70 per cent At 18 inches tne evaporation was 45 per cent and at 22 inches below the evaporation was 35 per cent Alkali in the soil was also found to retard evaporation somewhat American conditions change import ed dairy breeds. It has been fre quently remarked that the descend ants of Channel Island cattle imported to this country increase in size in a few generations, and that the Amer ican Jersey cow Is larger than the Jersey cow on her native island. The number of passengers carried by boats on the great lakes is from a quarter to a third of a million each season. gu P Soil Humus. F. M. Lewis: The most Important question the farmer has to deal with to-day regarding the maintenance or restoring fertility of the soU to "Soil Humus." At the annas! meeting of the Experimental Unim in 1900. Prof. L P. Roberts, of- Cornell Uni versity, stated that the soils of our continent contained sufficient plant food for the production of from 300 to 500 crops, yet to-day we Ind oar farms already becoming leas produc tive simply because this fertility is an unavailable or locked-up condition, and the successful farmer Is the one that is finding the key for working the best combination. The time has been when most every farmer who prided himself on doing proper work piled his manure in the yard at least once, and often more. The more it heated the better work he thought he was doing, when in reality all the good he did was to kill the weed seeds, and it was a wonderfully expensive meth od. Every day that his manure heap steamed he was losing the very best fertility it contained, and that was only part of the loss, for it has been ascertained that the rotting of the vegetable matter in the soil is the great secret of unlocking the plant food, and especially that which is the most difficult to unlock,' "the mineral plant food," so he not only lost fer tility by fermenting In the heap, but also lost the power to unlock what is in the soil. Increases Moisture. This Is not the only advantage of putting plenty of vegetable matter In our soils, as It has a wonderful effect upon the water holding capacity of our soils. A piece of land, part of which had been cropped for years, until it was about exhausted of its humus content, was tested for moisture. Another part of the same soil which had only two crops taken from it was sampled' for moisture. The atmospheric condi tions of each was the same, yet that which was rich in humus contained 1 quarts of water per cubie foot more than the other. These same soils, when wet to the same extent and exposed to the sun for ten hoars, the one rich In humus contained a quart more moisture per cubic foot We see by this that the amount et humus in our soils plays a very Im portant part as to Its water-holding capacity. When we remember that all plant food in the soil must become soluble In water, and that snch food is taken Into .the plant only through the moisture that Is In the soil, we realize the importance of anything In our soils that will increase Its water holding content. Farmers' Review. Wheat vs. Other Grains for Fattening Pigs. At the Nebraska Experimental Sta tion 48 pigs weighing about 110 pounds each were divided into eight lots, six in a lot After a prelimin ary feeding of nine days, they were put on their respective rations Octo ber 21, 1901. During the experimental period of thirteen weeks following this date, the food consumed in the production of one pound of gain on the different rations was as follows: Lot 1, 6.37 pounds of whole dry wheat Lot 2, 5.75 pounds of soaked wheat Lot 3, 5.59 pounds of ground wheat Lot 4, 5.86 pounds of ground wheat and corn, equal parts. Lot 5, 6.21 pounds of ground wheat and rye, equal parts. Lot 6. 6.12 pounds of ground wheat and shorts, equal parts. Lot 7, 6.09 pounds of ground corn. Lot 8, 6.24 pounds of ground rye. At the time this experiment was conducted, wheat and corn were each worth 55 cents per bushel, rye 50, and wheat shorts $18 per ton. The cost of grinding the wheat and rye was eight cents per hundred and the corn six cents. At these prices the net profits were greatest on soaked wheat, amounting in this case to $1.30 per pig, as compared with $1.07 on ground wheat In this experiment, corn at 55 cents per bushel gave a net profit of only 60 cents per pig. It was therefore tho most expensive food used. The ground wheat pro duced 9 per cent larger gains than the ground corn, pound for pound, and the ground corn 2 per cent larger gains than the ground rye. Wheat kernels .are so small and hard that many passed through the animals undigested, and unless first ground or soaked this grain is unsatis factory for feeding. Of the two meth ods, soaking is more economical un less the grinding can be done for 2 cents per hundred. E. A. Burnett Nitrogen-Gathering Bacteria. Attention wa3 called in my last re port to the importance of nitrogen in the nutrition of plants, and the discovery of a new method of culti vating the bacteria which gather nitro gen in connection with leguminous crops was announced. This method has been perfected during the past year. The reason for the failure of former work in this line, both in this country and Europe, has been deter mined, and a new, simple, cheap, and thoroughly satisfactory method of growing and distributing the tubercle bacteria for all the Important legu minous crops has been perfected. The nitrogen-gathering power of the bac teria grown by our new method is at least five times as great as the nitrogen-gathering power of the ordinary forms found in nature, and the new forms, instead of being restricted to certain legumes, have a much wider range of activity. Field tests on a large scale were stated during the year, and advance reports from the co-operating farmers show extremely favorable returns from the use of these organisms. Secretary of Agri culture ilson. The United otates ha3 20,000 miles of railways, upon which there are 548 employes for each 100 miles. The cost of operating these roads with steam power is $502,600,000 a year; but to carry on the same amount of work with men and horses would cost the country $11,908,500,000 Exchange. Present Play by Oscar Wilde. "Salome," by the late Oscar Wilde, was given in Berlin the other after noon at a matinee before an invited audience, a public representation hav ing been forbidden by the police. It wa3 a tremendous success. Subsidies cf Various Powers. France gives the largest subsidy to shipping of any power. The total amount, including postal subsidies. Is $8,500,000 a year. Japan comes next with about $3,000,000 and then Ger many and Russia. A small voice in a man often has tee same effect as a holo in a nickel. Get Ready to Spray. Every year farmers lose heavily through the Insects and fangaa that attack their plants. Raspberries and other small fruits suffer as well aa the arger economic plants. Spraying will save the crops that are now permitted to be taken from the aard-Iaboriag husbandman. The currants and other bashes need to be looked after If they are to be expected to yield a crop at all commensurate with the amount et labor and money that has been ex pended on them. At this time of year is the proper season for preparing the outfits to be used later. The man with a small garden to protect will not need the large apparatus of the man that has an orchard, but In either case some apparatus is essential. Ev ery kind of fruit bearing plant needs different treatment from every other, and this is a matter that should be studied now. As soon as spring opens the fruit grower or the vegetahlo grower should be fully equipped for the work of spraying the plants he Is trying to grow. The great danger is that the well-intending fruit grower will defer making his purchases of ap paratus and materials till it is too late to get ready for the first and most nec essary sprayings. If his product is at tacked by Insects or fungus later, sub sequent sprayings will not repair the Injury, for it must be remembered that spraying a preventive and not a cur ative. Spraying as an adjunct to the other operations of horticultural ef fort has been well proven to be valua ble. There Is still some prejudice against it in many quarters, but the preponderance of testimony Is over whelmingly In favor of the practice. Year after year the writer has noted In his vicinity the rose bushes bleached by the attacks of insects that could have been easily kept off by tho use of a small hand sprayer. Cer tainly the things that we labor to grow are worth spending a little more on to preserve. Points in Catalpa Growing. Wm. L. Hall: With close planting and cutting back two years afterward, thinning will become necessary with in eight or ten years from the timo of planting. Some of the trees will be large enough for fence posts, and If the work is judiciously done good returns may be secured from this first cutting. When the Irst growth Is bushy and undesirable, a better growth can usually be secured by cut ting the stand clean and reproducing it by sprouts. A clean-cut stand should be protected by occasional strips of timber left uncut for the protection of the succeeding crop of sprouts. This is especially necessary on the prairies where heavy winds prevail, for the young sprouts are very tender and easily broken off during the first year or two of their growth. The protective strips are best run cast and west, as the most damaging winds are from the south. The best growth of Catalpa Is not obtained in pure plantations. This statement is contrary to general practice and belief, for almost all Catalpa plantations throughout the country are pure planted. The advan tage of a suitable associate tree Is that by shading the ground. It will keep out weeds and grasses and kill off the lateral branches of the Catalpa. thus giving the tree a straight clean bole to the height of 18 to 20 feet. The best trees for planting with Catalpa in the Middle West are Osage Orange and Russian Mulberry. Growers need not hesitate to forco the growth of their Catalpas. as tho wood is apparently just as good when grown fast as slow. The rate of growth makes no difference in the sale of the product Only shape and size count. Dr. von Schrenk finds that Catalpa wood, if cut from the living tree, is one of the most dura ble timbers known. No fungus ha3 yet been found that will grow in the dead wood. The wood of living trees is attacked by two fungi, one caus ing a soft rot. the other a brown rot Forestry for Farmers. Tho farmers of this country own about 500,000.000 acres of woodland, ten times the acreage of all the fed eral forest reserves. Most -of it con sists of small woodlots from which the owners derive their timber sup plies for farm purposes. It was to help the farmer in caring for his tim berland that the Bureau of Forestry several years ago undertook to fur nish him. without cost, with the serv ices of its foresters. The offer proved popular, and applications for assist ance have far exceeded the ability of the bureau, with its limited num ber of trained foresters, to answer them. During the season just passed the bureau has accomplished more than ever before in putting small woodlots under forest management and in teaching the farmer how prop erly to treat his timber. Two experts have been employed in the North and South who have examined and have put under management several thou sand acres of woodland. A great deal of wood is consumed every year on the farm for fuel, posts, poles, and other uses. Ordinarily, the farmer cuts what he needs without thought 03 to whether he is lessening the power of his forest constantly to yield its supplies. The result is that the forest becomes poorer every year and less able to furnish the wood its owner needs. The skill the farmer sxercises in the management of his irops is not of the kind that enables ilm to manage properly his timber. He needs the services of a forester. Usually, only one visit to the farm by the bureau's expert is necessary, and this service is given without cost to the owner. When, as occasionally happens, a second visit is needed, the awner is required to pay the travel ing and living expenses of the expert while employed at the work. Pomegranates from Arkansas. Among the many not-to-be-expected jroducts of Arkansas are pomegran ites, says the Little Rock (Ark.) Ga :ette. The Agricultural Burea at the :apltal, has received a specimen of his fruit that weighs one pound two junces and was larger than a grapo 'ruit of average size. It was grown at -lope by Col. G. W. Wiggins, who has several pomegranate trees in his yard, ill of which bear fruit. Arkansas pro luces many novelties along with her igricultural staples. Possibly the people cf the fro;en torth would think that strawberries m Christmas day are no more of a iovelty than football on New Year's, fet Arkansas can beast of both. The first electriccl railway was that if Siemens of Berlin in 1879. I. t7 v &zz. ". - ssyp XSJ!'
