zn * * * $ ? > -
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Conservative * 9
oliim and Florida. The one element of
soil nutrition which is in some measure
deficient and expensive is
I'otiiHh.
Wo are very largo importers of potash
from Stassfnrt , Saxony. If I am right
ly informed the mine from which this
supply comes had been worked as a salt ,
mine. The salt on the first level giving
out , borings were undertaken to find a
lower stratum , -which passed through
an intermediate stratum , striking salt.
The borings of the intermediate stratum
were thrown aside , which happening to
attract the attention of an outside chem
ist , proved to bo potash in different com
binations. This mine has proved such
an adequate source of supply at low
cost , with enormous profit to the own
ers , as to have practically stopped sup
plies from many other sources.
As this deposit of potash exists in
combination with salt , may it not be ju
dicious to investigate the conditions of
our own salt and alkali deposits with
the specific purpose and intention of
discovering a potash mine ? To this end
the suggestion will be made to the con
sular representatives of the United
States in Germany to report upon the
Stassfurt product and upon the geologic
conditions and surroundings of that
mine , accompanying such report by
samples of what I ruppose may bo called
the different ores. The suggestion will
also be made to the Philadelphia Mu
seum to make a thorough investigation
of the sources of potash , especially the
Stassfurt mine , in the thorough manner
which marks all the work of that insti
tution.
Look For Wealth.
The suggestion is now made to certain
persons to whom this missive will be
sent to take this matter up and perhaps
enter upon a "grub'stake" with "a pros
pector" in order to find a potash mine.
Such a discovery will add much more
to the wealth and welfare of this coun
try than any discovery in gold or silver
mining could possibly add.
Who Answers ?
All of which is respectfully submitted
for whatever it may bo worth , with the
caveat on the part of the writer that he
is entitled to make this suggestion by
what he doesn't know but wants to
know. Therefore if there are scientific
reports relating to the'subject of potash
in our Geologic Survey , or if there has
been any undertaking with the specific
view of discovering a potash mine , in
formation on these points would bo very
welcome.
Respectfully submitted ,
EDWARD ATKINSON.
In the storm of protests against as
similation stirred up by home producers
of tobacco , rice , and sugar , the Philadel
phia Ledger ( Eep. ) sees "some chance
that arguments for prudent , conservative
tivo action and just , honorable polioies
may be accorded a hearing , at least. "
' "
A
THE GRACE OF SILENCE.
Of nil the graces that wo seek
To make our lives complete ,
Jot ono more heavenly beaxity wears
Tor shines with light more sweet
flmn the true grace which seals the lips
And checks the words that spring
With careless mirth or bitter scorn ,
Until the tongue is lashed to lling
\ . taunt to ono who turns from good
And falls in Life's swift rush-
All then , O lips , in silence wait ,
The loving Father bids thco hush.
fho ono who wanders may have trod
3o thoughtlessly along ,
Too eagerly , too far led on
By pleasure's subtle song.
Or burdened with a hidden woo
Some saddened hearts may ncho
Until their weary , blinded eyes
See not the path they take.
Ah , who so perfect as to feel
No penitential blush ?
O kingly words of Christ I "Judge not. "
Close lips. God's mercy bids thce hush.
MAIIY FiiENcir MORTON.
AN OLD TIM Ell.
MY DEAR EDITOR :
Yours of the 17th received in regard
to your request for publication. While I
did not write as carefully as I would
tiave , had I intended it for the public , I
have no objections to your publishing it if
you prime it up a little. In regard to the
convention , I intended to say the
first democratic territorial convention.
And in respect to the resolutions that
came to me in council , a tie vote , I
cast my vote against them , defeating
them ; the man from Sarpy afterwards
changed his votemoved to reconsider and
the resolutions passed. I wish to say that
I was not an advocate of slavery , but be
lieved the constitution recognized slaves
as property , and therefore it was not the
way to remove the evil. I never be
lieved in the Kansas and Nebraska bill ,
and what was called squatter sever
eignty , but had faith in the Benton doc
trine , that the territories were the
wards of the states until they had a
sufficient population to form a state to
be admitted to the Union , and then to
decide whether it should be free or
slave. The Kansas and Nebraska bill
was a proposition north to make the ter
ritory free , and south to make it slave
and it made Kansas the checkerboard on
which pro-slavery and anti-slavery
game was played. I was a witness to
the game , being all the time on the
border in Andrew county , Mo ; but
enough of this.
How many of the old members thai
served with you and me are living ? ]
know but few. Gov. Furnas and Dr
Miller served the territory and state in
many responsible positions , with honor
to themslves and great good to the com
mouwealth. They , with yourself , were
the leading journalists of the territory
But I must close. I will try and visi
Nebraska and attend the old settlers
convention this year ; it would give me
great pleasure to meet Furnas , Hans
comb , Dr. Miller and a few more of the
early settlors.
I am now a non-partisan member of
the St. Joseph school board and give it
the most of my time. My friends say
I am the most active old man in the city ;
when I take hold of any thing I usually
make a full hand.
Respectfully ,
E. A. DONELAN.
When THE CONSERVATIVE -
THE DEVIL.
SERVATIVE entered
upon the publication of a newspaper
from the block-house of old Fort Kear-
icy , upon the site of which Nebraska
City now stands , the nineteenth century
was only a little more than half-grown.
The first number of that pioneer period
ical was issued April 12th , 1855. The
'printer's devil" of that establishment
was John W. Freeman , a lad of fifteen ,
who was soon lured into the job of pilot
ing a six-yoke team of oxen across the
plains to California. He was a fine ,
iionest , industrious , handsome boy , and
for more than forty years has been a
valued correspondent.
The Woodland Daily Democrat , of
Yolo county , California , on the 22d of
January , 1900 , mentions our successful
devil thus :
"John Freeman will ship a carload of
thoroughbred bull calves about forty in
number , from Davisville on Wednes
day , to his stock range in the state of
Nevada. These calves were purchased
from Frank and Will Chiles and the
Montgomery Bros. They are Durhams ,
and Mr. Freeman says they are as good
calves as he has seen anywhere in the
state. Before purchasing he made a
trip to Merced and other counties in the
San Joaquin valley. He also visited
one of the Miller & Lux stock farms ,
where calves of the same breed and no
better form are sold for $100 a head.
Mr. Freeman paid an average of $40 a
head for the Yolo county calves and is
well pleased with his bargain. He will
accompany the shipment to Nevada.
From the foregoing it seems that
modern devils enter into cattle instead
of swine , and go out into green postures
instead of down into the sea.
"If a two-thirds vote is required to
expel a member of the House , " reasons
the Baltimore News ( Dem. ) , "this is
precisely because it has been deliber
ately adjudged , as a general and perma
nent principle , that a man duly elected
and possessed of the constitutional qual
ifications shall not be deprived of his
seat unless the case against him on other
grounds is so clear as to command a
two-thirds vote in the House. What
the precedent will do , if Roberts is ex
cluded instead of being expelled , will be
to subject future members-elect to ex
pulsion by a bare partisan majority ,
when the reason for it is not strong
enough to stand the regularly estab
lished legal test. "
