THE OMATTA DAILY 1VRU : SI'XDAY , JANTAHV 2 { ) , 1800 ,
ACROSS THE ANDES BY KAIL
Trip Over the Stool HlRhway Connecting the
Atlantic and the PaciDc.
WITHIN FORTY MILES OF COMPLETION
Dimrtilt nnuliuTrliiK I'riililrnt * O T-
f n nit Hot * tinllonil ClliiiliN tilt ;
Aiiilvn Tin * Ciiniitrj- mid
1'voi'le.
( Copyright , 15S9 , by 1'rnnk O. Carpenter. )
MHNDO/5A , Argentine Ucpubllc , Dec. 15.
( Special Correspondence of The Ilee. )
Across South America by railroad , climbing
over the Andes on" Iron tracks ; pulled
through the vnst pampas ot the Argentina
liy a locomotive ; joining the Atlantic aud
Pacific by an Iron bam ! this Is the problem ,
the completion of which Is now agitating thu
Argentine and Chill. U Is a problem almoU
solved. The clouds of war as to the bound
ary question have cleared away. Both
countries are now financially In a better
condition and they will soon have money
for public Improvements. Chill Is espe
cially anxious that the road should bo com
pleted and I was told at Santiago that al
most any responsible American syndicate
can get the job with a surety of 5 > per cent
nnd a fair chance tor a big Interest on
its Investment.
As It Is the railroad Is almost completed.
There are less than forty miles yet to build ,
f when there will 'bo an Iron track from
ocean to ocean. The railroad from Men-
< loza to Ilucnos Ayrcs In excellent , although
n
the distance Is G51 miles. There H also a
fairly good line from hero almost to the
tops ot the Argentine Andes. I traveled
upon the track from Valparaiso , Chill , on
the Pacific , to very nearly the Argentine
boundary. It Is well built.
At present trains are running over the
xvhole road three times every week , travel
ers being taken over the unfinished part
In n day on mules or In carriages , nvcn
old pcoplo and little children make the trip
without much Inconvenience and during the
Biimrnor there Is plenty of travel. With the
stops It requires now only four days to cross
South America by this Iln0 and when the
last link Is joined I am told that the trip
from Valparaiso to lluenos Ayres will be
made lu twenty-nine hours.
The actual cost ot the completion ot the
road Is estimated at about $3,000,000. I
understand that this was the sum for which
W. It. Grace & Co. of New York City of
fered to finish It. For a long tlmo It was
thought that the Chilian government would
nvvard them the contract , but for some ica-
ron or other the deal fell through. Whllo
I was In Santiago I had conversations with
prominent officials close to the president ,
who told mo that the government was open
to an offer nnd that It would probably guar
antee a ccrtYIn rate on the capital required.
I was also told that an American syndicate
would probably get the preference.
AVuillil the It on ( I l'n > ' .
The road will pay very well. When com
pleted It will bo just nbout as long as from
Now York to Chicago and will reduce the
tlmo between Valparaiso and London by
nioro than two weeks. H will get nil the
travel which now goes from the west coast
nround the Strait of Magellan to Europe
nnd a line of ships between Valparaiso and
Australia will bo established , so that Aus
tralian passengers will come from nurope
to Bucuos Ayics and thence go across to
Valparaiso. It now takes thirty-seven doy-s
to go from the chief ports of Chill to Eu
rope via the Strait of Magellan. It re
quires about sixteen dajs to steam from
Valparaiso to Buenos Ayrcs and from Bu
enos Ayres to Liverpool Is about twenty
< lays more. Via the rallrosd ono ean go
across the continent In leas than two dnyn.
As It Is now I am told that the road Is
profitable during the summer months , notwithstanding -
withstanding the enormous cost of trans
portation between the sections. When it
Is completed tinlllc can bo carried on
throughout the year. As It Is now , during
the heavy snowfalls In the Andes passen
gers have > to wait for days at one sldo or
the other. This will be obviated by the
snow Hheds which are being cut out of the
eolld rock , so that the cars can go through
whether It snows or not There are forty
tulles of wooden snow sheds on one of our
roads In the Rockies. Hero stone sheds
will bo cheaper. The tran andean route ,
however , will not need so many , nor will
It have such heavy nor such long lasting
enowH.
The A ml en v . tinItocKlon. .
The crossing of the Andes hero Is not a
creator job than the crossing of the Itock-
les. The mere fadt. that It Is the Andes
has exaggerated the difficulties , but the
truth is that the highest point of this road
when completed will bo nbout 200 feet lower
than Marshall pass on the Denver & Klo
Grande and less than 500 feeL higher than
Lcadvillo. Thu Uspallata pass , where the
road crosses the mountain , la 13,000 feet
lilgb , but the tunnel which passes through
this will bo only 10,642 feet above the sea.
It will bo almost a mile lower than the
tunnel through Mount Mclgs , on the rail
road which goes across the Andes back of
Lima , Pom , and more than three-quarters
of a mile lower than tbo railroad from the
Bea up to Lake Titlcaea , on the Bolivian
plateau.
The building of the road Is merely n mat
ter of money. It has no engineering dlf-
flciiltkv ! which cannot be easily surmounted ,
although itho Andes are very steep just at
this point , making necessary different kinds
ot tracks to get over them. The summit
will bo reached by a racked rail In the
center of the track , the cars being hauled
by locomotives on cogged car wheels , which
work In these racks. The track will bo
bout the same , I understand , as that up
Mount Washington and these on Pike's
iPeak nnd the Ulghl. Similar roads are also
used to climb the mountains ot Brazil back
of Santos and Illo Janeiro.
A great objection It seems to me In this
mountain line Is that It Is a narrow gauge ,
while both the Chilian and the Argentine
railroads which connect with It are broad
gauge. The cog line Is only three feet three
CPEC Medical
r HLC Treatment
FOR
Weak Men
Who are Willing to
Pay When
Convinced of Cure.
A scientific combined medical anil
mechanical cure has been dlt v-
ered tor "Weaknessof Men. " Tbo
proprietors announce that they will
Jena Uon trinl-rernedles and oppll-
anco-wlthout advinca pajnient-
toaur boncit man. If not all that
UchimeJ-aU sou wish-fend it
bark that ends It-pay nothing !
This combined treatment cures
qutcklr , thoroughly , and foreTcrall
effects of early tvil habits , later ex-
, etc. Ilcre-
cck , oterwork , worry
atui health. ttroiiKrh. vitality , sus
taining powers , and restores weak
and undeveloped portions of Uxly to
natural dimensions and functions.
Auy niiiu writing lu earnest will
rccclro description and references
In a Plain scaled envelope. I'rofcs-
_ slonal ewnfldence. No O.O.D. de
tention nor Imposition of oiiy nature. A na-
uooal reputation back * thla offer. Address
ErliNrilciOi..Bufffalt.N.Y. !
luclicx wide1 , .iiiil trati.ifrra will have to lie
irmelo nt both rn IK of II , DO HiV nltoKet'ipr '
the | iliti nfoiihlnuilnn recnu bad. There
should In- ono gnus * , troin ccoan to orcati ,
in tint goods rnn be t Krn from the1 l't
cine nml reimii 01. the ens until they nro
landed on tlio Atlantic , nnd vice verro.
Ai-riiMN ( lie Andi-N liy Hull.
This railroad when completed " 111 be one
of the great scenic railroads of the world.
Suppose wo cross the continent by It. W
start ut Valparaiso , the great fc.iport o (
Chill , o.i the Pacific. It has 100.000 people ,
end Its houses nro as fine as these ot any
European seaport. They arc built In terraces -
races rUIng ono above another In the shape
of nn nmphltheaUr nround a magnificent
bay. There nre green trees among Hum ,
nntl the ( lowers bloom all the year round.
Wo step out of the boats ontn Ltonc
wharves , and are taken In a carriage- a
fltio two-story slono station. There are
waiting rooms for first and second tlaes
passengers , and we find a crowd In both
places. Wo nsk for our tickets , but are told
that It Is jet an half hour before the train
starts and that no tickets will be sold until
fifteen minutes later. At precisely n quarter
of an hour before leaving time the ngent
opens the window and gives us our tickets.
We try to check our baggage , but arc told
that wo must pay express rates on every
pound , and that nothing Is free. Wo set a
receipt , howe\cr , and then cross over the
track to reach the cars. Wo step down tn
do this , for the traces arc sunken .md the
platforms ere level with the floor of the
cars.
cars.While vvo wait for the train let us make
a note of the passengers. Beside me stands
a young English girl , with school booka
under her arm , and there nro English and
German merchants who' are waiting for
the train for Santiago. There nro Chlllnos ,
with big hats and ponchos , who have come
In from thu country , and Chilian women ,
who ha\o their faces coated with powder.
They look the more ghastly from the black
shawls on tlielr heads. There are jounn
priests In black hats and black gowns which
reach to their feet. There ate Chilian mili
tary officers , In gav uniforms , and black ejcd
boja , who nro going to school from their
homes In the Interior.
Country Scciien In the Anilm.
A bell rings at the station before the train
starts. Wo skirt the harbor , pass through
the swell suburbs of Vina del Mar and then
como almost at once to the foothills of the
Andes. Wo pass oxen ploughing In the
fields , dragging wooden plows through the
furrows by a polo fastened to a joke on their
heads. Wo go by great vineyards , lemon
orchards and orange groves , and now nnel
then stop at a village or city of Hat one-
story houses. Wo pass over one low ridge
after another rising higher each time , until
wo como to the gre.it valley In which San
tiago , the capital of Chill , lies. Wo ride
through this all day and then strike the
second range of the Andes , with the highest
peak on our hemisphere rising above us ,
That peak Is Aconcagua. It is almost 21.00C
feet high , and It touches the sky further
above the sea than any peak outMdu the
Himalayas. Its top Is covered with per
petual snow. The Ice we sec upon Its side ;
never melts , and the winds which blow ovci
It In their everlasting march from ocean te
ocean howl at times like the shrieks ot the
damned.
Wo stop over night at Los Andes , a towr
n the valley of the Aconcagua river. II
las about 6,000 people and Is surrounded bv
orchards of apple and peach trees with rlcl
rrlgated gardens lying high up In the mo-m
ains. From here we go Into the statlor
vhoro wo take mules or stages to go over
ho mountain. The end of the roaj Is aloul
as high as the top of Mount Washington ,
and fium theio on the way la exceedingly
steep.
The country Is wild la the extreme. Mucli
of the mountains are nothing but a dcs ° it cl
ocks and snow Inhabited only by condors ,
vlth hero and there a guanaco , a sort of a
poclo of wild llama. You cross the Puenta
del Inca , a wonderful natural bridge , near
vhlch there are hot springs of crystalline
vator , and go out Into the Valley of Deso'a- '
Ion or Cue\ns valley , where there are tikele-
ons of mules and oxen which have dropped
out of the droves which to the number ol
housands are annually driven across the
mountains. As you rlsu higher still you me
fortunate If jou do not have soroche or
mountain sickness , and you are glad when
you have passed the Cumbro or summit ini !
are on the railway which takes you down : c
ilcndoza , la the Argentine.
AcroNH tlie I'nuipnu.
From Meudo/a to Buenos Ayrcs Is abeut
as far ns from New York to Cleveland. The
ars are not uncomfortable. They are built
omcwhat after the Mann boudoir order ,
\lth a lot of little apartments running
hrough the car reached by an aisle outside ,
Each department has four berths , two upper
and two lower ; the upper berths are put up
tiring the daytime and you sit facing your
ollow passengers on the lower benches. At
night the bedding Is brought into the car
rom the baggage coach , I suppose , and your
) cds are made.
Most of the sleepers have traveling bars
on them. All kinds of liquor are kept tn
ho baggage car and you can get anything
rom champagne to cognac and from apolll-
narls to beer , by ordering It. There Is a
Ittlo stove In the car upon which the porter
makes coffee and brings It to you In the
morning before jou are out of bed. Ho
charges jou about 8 cents of our money
or a. cup of coffee , a little butter and a
ilscult , which Is cheap enough for the sorv-
ce. The most of the meals are taken ai
ho stations , about thirty minutes being al
ow cd for breakfast or lunch , and a violent
ringing of a bell announcing the starling
of tha train. The sleeping cars are more
ilalnly furnished than ours and the bed
ding Is not so good.
In commenting upon the lack of flue fur-
ilturo ono day an English railroad manager
old me that the companies found that li
lid not pay to make extravagant cars , for
t was so dlfllcult to keep them In order ,
Said he :
"You would bo surprised at the wanton
lamago that Is done by passengers. Mauj
ot these Argentines arc born Iconoclasts
They will write on the mirrors with theli
llamonds and scratch their names on the
ilato glass windows. Some of the rlcl
'cllows ' from the country think nothing o
getting Into bed with their muddy boots or
and Borne are filthy In the extreme.V <
ia\o to watch things \cry closelj' , for thoj
are stolen or destroyed. Why , wo hav <
had pawengers throw blankets out of thi
windows Just for fun and we havn to maki
a careful tally of our stock at the close o
"
e\ery run
ItiUlrumlH of tlic Arm-iitliic- .
And still the Argentine Is ono of the bes
railroad countries In South America. 1
has more railroads than any other country
and It Is now building many new lines
There are 11,000 miles of railroad In opera
tlon. Three years ago there were not mor
than ' . ' ,000 , The roads nro , growing bette
every jear. They are chiefly in the hands o
private parties , and the government U giv
ing up Its Idta of controlling them. H I
different In Chill , where the roads uro uU
good , although they are not rnoro than one
fifth as exi . 'n length of lines. Tli
Chilian f. seems to bet gradual !
acquiring ' 'ind ' It U also butldln
new one * .
There Is i > the world where It I
carler to bull < - > i load than In the Argcr
tine pamr > . Ti * " .racks go for hundreds (
miles over land * h'ch U perfectly level an
so tolld that but llttlo ballast Is ncedei
One of the chief expenses is In the matte
of ties. There are no trees on the pampa
and all kinds of lumber must be Importc
The most of the ties come down the Parar
river from Paraguay. The favorite kind
of quebracho or other hard woods which n
so heavy that a single tie will often wclf
00 pounds. The wood Is so hard that splk
cnnnot bo driven Into It without first boring
holes for tliciu. After the tails are once
llxcd It IH IniponMblo to draw the rplkcs out
Such tics are very expensive1 , no much to
that the southern in 11 road not long ngo tried
thu experiment of Importing Ik's from AUs-
tralla because they were cheaper than thu
1'araguay UCB.
lionIlitllriiinln Are Iliilll ,
The most of the railroads nro In the
hands of the English. Sonio have been
built much like our roads nt home , with
n heavy capitalization and with their lips
and donna on the stock market. It U safe
to say , however , that more than h.ilf a
billion dollars has been actually spent In
constructing railroads through the Argen
tine. In 1SOG thu capital stock of the roads
footed over 1310,000.000 and their gross re
ceipts were more than J31,000.0lln , while
the expenses were not more than $1(5,000,000. (
This made a clear profit of $13,000,000 $ gold
during that jear. The most of the roads
are English broad gauge , or wider than any
of our roads at home. Thu rails now being
used by the Southern railway weigh sev-
nty-four pounds to the yard. They arc
f steel. They arc Imported from England ,
rom where most of the rolling stock has
> ecn brought , although now the chief com-
lanlca have their own stock and are mak-
tig cars. There are a few Baldwin and
legers engines , but these are chiefly on
he government lines.
Italians are the chief railroad workmen ,
'ho work Is done by contract , ono Italian
aklng a gang and doing his work by the
ob or jard. The captain ot each gang Is
ailed a capltaz and he Is responsible for
ho work of his men. Upon a road In Pata-
onla. which I visited I found twenty gangs ,
ach containing ten men , laying tracks.
They were given so much per mile. The
workmen lived In tents which they put up
long the railroad , and they wcro supplied
vlth provisions from a provision car.
A Crorrrj- Store on Wlu-olH.
This provision car of the Argentine Is a
urloua railroad Institution which I have not
con elsewhere. It Is called a provlderla ,
md It Is , In net , a little grocery and de
partment store on wheels. The car Is fitted
ip with shelves , upon which are clothes , to-
> acco , liquors , groceries and In short every-
hlng that the men can possibly want. It
ms a storekeeper In It , who furnishes goods
o the railroad men at the lowest possible
rates.
The company supplies the goods and pays
nil the bills. It keeps about $80,000 worth
ot goods In stock , and sells them to Its
men nt such rates that Its profits are about 3
per cent. It puts the goods at such prices
hat the nien know they can buy more
cheaply of the provlderla than at the
stores.
For Instance , good Italian wine Is sold
for about 40 cents of Argentine money n
quart. This Is less than 15 cents American.
3eef costs nbout 4 cents of our money a
pound , and clothing Is proportionately
cheap. Among the curlous.thlngs I saw In
ono of these stores were London jams and
ndlan chutney. I saw olive oil , macaroni
and all kinds of crackers.
I was Interested In the tracklajcrs and
visited them In their camps. I was told
that a man could live on about 20 cents ol
our money a day , and that the average man
received nbout $23 n month and saved about
GO cents n day out of his wages. The men
complained that their tents were too small ,
They were of the A shape , so little that only
bur cots could bo placed In each tent. Mill
Ivo men were allotted to a tent , and so one
man had to sleep on the ground.
FrclKlit CnrH tilth Null * .
Among the discomforts ot railroad riding
n the Argentine nro these which come
rom the wind. It blown on the pampas at
Imes with all the force of a Kansas bll/-
ard. I arn told that while the road from
Juenos Ajres to Mendo/a was building the
: ars were sometimes blown off the track
, nd that It was customary to put sails ou
ho frclglit tiains and allow the wind to
msh them along over the rails. This , 1-ow-
iver , I doubt , as I am prone to do other
lories told here In this land of luxury ,
azincss and lies.
I do not doubt , however , the stories ese
o the dust. There Is no land wtiero the
lust blows more than It docs here. The
iuststorms are thicker than snow storms.
They sometimes stop the cars , filling the
grades and cuttings so that you need a plow
o get through. During a storm a few
'ears ago It took 2,000 men a week to clear
ho track of ono of the roads.
Such duststorms sometimes obscure ttie
lun and If a rain comes while the dust Is
n the air It brings down a shower of mud ,
vhlch paints the houses and fences and
iverjthing with ei sticky mass. If the rain
ontliiues the wood Is scoured clean by the
mud , but If not It Is left In a moat do-
> lorablo condition.
I have heard of dust-storms which have
illed the floors of the cars , the dust being
o fine that It went through the windows
and doors , and I know to my sorrow that
iuch a storm will coat your face and
ilothes In ten minutes with a thick coat of
dirt and make vvhlto man and Indian , Af-
Ican and Caucasian of the same gray com-
ilexlon. It will cause jour lips to crack
and coat jour tongue so that you feel as
hough jou had been biting Into ono of the
apples of Sodom and had gotten therefrom
a mouthful ot ashes.
TOANK G. CAIU'ENTEIl.
CO.VMJIIIALITIKS.
A Missouri gill Is , engaged to n jouog man
nanieu Nick Whltehelfer and seems to be
glad ot it.
Mlbs Hannah WalUer Sampson , the second
aughter of Admiral Sampson , Is engaged to
: nsl n Wat Tyler Cluverlub. who will bah
or Moulin on < uio Solace within the week.
IB will return lu the summer and thu wed-
ling will prooably take pluco then
George Heresford of Peorla , 111. , has ac
cumulated a lot of trouble by having teven
vlves conveniently located In as many titles
n this country. He Is a traveling man and
itcded them to drive away dull care in his
ourncjs. At present ho Is resting in Jail.
'
A peculiar matrimonial comi'llcatlon U
reported from Ohio , where u wouiun who had
> e i once divorced from her husband Is
lulng him for breach of piomlsc because hi
ecuurted her mid then refused to marrv her ,
The complications of a Milt of that sort an
positively bewildering and ita trial will un-
loubtt'dly establish a number ot new piece-
dm is 111 the matrimonial line.
All romance U not dead. Here is the os-
utng report of a Texas reporter's account 01
i village ) weeldlng "Thursday was a mosl
jeautlful day. Not a cloud flecked the blut
sky and the eun placed a mantle of gold r
the earth. It was a winter day by tht
cjcles vl thn earth : It wag a bummer day b )
the tcniccr ot tbo air , the pulsation ot heart !
and the smllo ot radiant faces. While un
sctn tingi-lt ! Eaiic the marriage nnthern
visible * forms whispered o'er and o'er thi
old , old soorf of love that the heart fosten
through the vallej 3 overgrow u with shadow ;
trcts. "
An enterprising joung couple from Or
leans have been spending their hcmj-mooi
tti the summit ot Mont Blanc .says the St
Louis Po3i-Ulfipatch. It Is recorded that tin
greatly durlns couple battled with terrlfli
nowstnnus for nearly twelve hours , hut li
spite of all dancers and difficulties they fol
iowed tenaciously the route marked throuel
the Melds of Ice and at las ; stood proudi :
a i the top ot the mountain , 13SCO feet high
There they embraced and swore eterna
lulellty toward ono another In the presenc
ot their guides , who had assuredly neve
before seen so daring a bride and bride
groom. The descent , with Its many daa
gets , was then effected with i > uccct > . On cr
riving at Chamountx , after nearly thrc
days' altacnce. they were given a rnagnlllcen
re > ccptlci by the Inhabitants and tourists , .
big gun was fired In their honor , tiler * wa
n pyrotechnic display end the Inevitable trl
urnphant music ( rom a blaring bnua ban
followed.
Horrible ngony is caused by plies , burr
and ekln diseases. These ore Immediate !
relieved and cjulcklv cured by De Witt' '
Wltch-Haiel Salve. Dcwaru of worthies
imitations.
IVl'P/'T I'niM' AP 1MIMIIM1P
INSLll I'Ohb ' 01 ( rARlIbllS
Dettructlvo Operations of Chinch Bugs
ThrotiRhont ths West.
WHAT AN INVESTIGATION DISCLOSES
lcllioiN l'rniu | < iiMl liy < lic
Dcpiirlnifiit tf AKrliMilliiro HUH-
IX llf ( itTIltlllllL tO
the Coiintrj' .
WASHINGTON , Jan. 26. ( Correspond
ence of The Bee. ) Of all the pests In
jurious to the grain crops of our country
the chinch bug Is generally known as the
moat destructive. Its ravages have been to
such a great extent throughout our grain-
growing districts for many years past that
It him caused the most thorough ami diligent
experiments on both the farm and In the
laboratory by our scientists toward Its ex
termination. As a result the United States
Department of Agriculture will BOOH have
In process of Issue n bulletin that will at
tract extraordinary attention and Interest
to the gmln-growers of the countrj1. This
publication will treat on the origin and
diffusion of the chined bug , its habits and
development , natural checks and remedies
and preventive measures.
In the history of this devastating pest
the department has found that Us presence
was llrsit known by Its ravages In the wheat
fields of North Carolina In 1783. In that
j-ear this state was to overrun with them as
to threaten a total destruction of the grain.
In the jear 1809 tde chinch bug again bo-
earno destructive In that state. In 1S.J9 the
pest spread and devastated the Carollnas nnd
Virginia and In IS 10 there was a similar
outbreak nnd both wheat and corn were se
riously Injured.
During the years from 1S45 to 1850 the In
sect ravaged over Illinois and portions of
Indiana and Wisconsin nnd In 1S31 nnd 1S35
It again worked havoc In Northern Illinois.
It was estimated that the loss to the farm
ers of Illinois In 1SSO was $4,000,000 , or $4 70
to every man , woman and child living In the
state. In 1863 , 1804 and 1863 the Insect was
again destructive lu IlllnoU nnd other west
ern states , Its ravages being especially
severe In 1SG4. During the latter year In
computing the losses throughout ninny ex
tensive districts , comprising almost the entire -
tire northwest , It was estimated that about
30,000,000 bushels of wheat was destroyed ,
together with 138,000,000 bushels of corn ,
which aggregated a total value ot $73.000.-
000.
The Secoml Ha Id.
There was a serious outbreak of the
chinch bug In the west again In the year
1SG8 nnd again In 1871 , but in 1874 the
ravages wcro both widespread and enor
mous. Tlie computed loss In 1871 in seven
states , viz. , Iowa , Missouri , Kansas , Ne
braska , Wisconsin and Indiana amounted to
$30,000,000. The loss In Missouri alone In
the year 1874 was $19,000,000 , nnd added the
statement that for the area covered by the
statisticians' estimates In 1871 the loss in
1874 amounted to almost double , or upward
of $60.000,000. The estimated loss of the
whole country for the same J'car was over
$100,000,000.
The next serious outbreak of chinch bugs
occurred In 1887. and covered more or less
territory In the states of Kentucky , Ohio , In
diana , Illinois , Wisconsin. Minnesota. Iowa ,
Missouri and Kansas. In this case the
United Statee statistician estimated the damage -
ago at $60,000,000 , the heaviest losses oc
curring in Illlnolo , Iowa. Missouri nnd Kan
sas. This gives us as the estimated loss 'n '
the thirty-eight years.l 1850 to 1887 , both In-
cluslve , the enormous sum of $207.000,000.
Another serious outbreak occurred In Kan
sas , Iowa , Minnesota and Illinois , having Its
beginning probably ns early ns 1892 , but
reaching Its maximum severltjas In Ohio ,
In 189G. The los * In Ohio during the years
1894 , 1895 , 189G , and 1S97 , was close to
$2,000.000. The losses occasioned in other
states referred to were not definitely com
puted , but being very severe must have
amounted to millions of dollars. If the de
partment had careful estimates of the loss ,
during the past seven yeais It would prob
ably swell the amount to fully $330,000,000
for the period from 1830 to 1898.
When It Is taken Into consideration that
the financial losses as above estimated have
not fallen upon the entire- nation , but al
most without exception upon the nine states
previously named , It will be seen that this
diminutive Insect constitutes a formidable
enemy to the agriculturists of these states.
In fact , small ns It Is. this pest has cost
the people of these states a sum of money
sufficient to defray the entire expenses of the
national government for a whole year. Fire
excepted , there Is no other element that has
caused such an enormous financial loss with
in the same period over the same aiea ot
country.
No other Insect native to the western hem
isphere has spread Its devastating hordes
over a wider area of country with more
fatal effects to the staple grains of North
America than has the chinch bug. But for
the extreme susceptibility of the very young
to destruction by drenching rains and to the
less though not Insignificant destructiveness
during rainy seasons of the parasitic fungus
on both the adults and young , the practice
of raising grain year after year on the
same areas , as followed In the United States ,
would be altogether unprofitable. Some of
this Insect's o\vn habits , also emphasizing as
they do the effects of meteorological condi
tions , are the most potent Influences that
servo to hold It within bounds , by giving Its
tendency to excessive Increase a decidedly
spasmodic character.
HllllllH Of tillIlllK. .
ThVj species Is widely distributed over the
world , but are more numerous and disas
trous In their work In America than else
where. In making a study of their lives and
habits It Is found that the bug In nutumn
seeks the dense stools of wild grasses , the
rubbish of hexlges , wind breaks , corn fodder ,
logs and numerous other places , where It
hibernates. Early In the spring they de-
poalt their eggs , after which the adults die.
Later on , during May and June , the joung
hatch and at once commence to migrate to
cultivated fields , where they sweep across
the areas like walls of fire , destroying every
thing within their course. U has been on-
Ecrvcnl by the scientists 'that ' chinch bugs
have commenced their operations along one
sldo and worked part way across fields , kill
ing the grain ns they advanced , nnd con
tinued their depredations the follow Ing year
precisely where they suspended work the au
tumn before. This singular evidence shows
that the adult bugs seem to be almost proof
against either wet or cold weather. It Is
not bccauso of the excessive numbers of
chinch bugs that renders their attacks so
fruitful of Injury , but the persistency with
which they will congregate en masse on
limited areas.
Over the western country the most damage
done Is to fields of wheat , barley , rye and
corn , the outbreak generally originating In
wheat or barley fields , and the bugs migrat
ing at harvest to the cornfields. During the
Indian summer days of May they are seen to
take wings In vast hordea and catching the
scent of grain they settle upon U. The first
Indication of their ravaging work Is noticed
by the whitening patches ' In the fields , and
then constantly wV'lenlng until the whole
Held appears to ripen prematurely and
crinkle down.
Beside tno natural enemies for the de
struction ot the bug artificial checks have
been effected with great success. Particu
larly has the Introduction of upc-cles of para-
Grand
Opening
"Exhibition" and "sale" of imported and doWashablcgultS
mestic wash suits for children whose ages range
from 3 to 12 years.
February \ , 2 , 3 and 4 , in our parlors on
the second floor of our store , corner J5th and
Douglas streets , we will exhibit the largest ,
best and most complete assortment of foreign
and domestic , novelty wash suits ever shown in
the west.
This superb collection of foreign suits is
direct from London , and reflects every passing
phase of current juvenile fancy , and in price , as
in style , is bound to merit your favor.
This is a "sample sale. " You don't buy the sample but
you make your selection from the sample , and your order is sent
direct to our "London agent , " if you choose an imported suit , and
direct to New York , if you choose a domestic one. These suits
are made practically to your order , and will be delivered through
us about May J. Among the hundreds of styles shown , is one
in particular that is especially attractive , and is called a gros grain
pique. This material is being introduced for the first time in the
county. In connection with the grand exhibit of high novelties we
will show a splendid selection of home products. You will then
be able to judge style , quality and workmanship of two countries
and to make your choice accordingly.
Hoping you will remember the dates , February I , 2 , 3 and
4 , and be sure and favor us with your presence on one or all of
those days , we are , Respectfully yours ,
S. W. Cor. lOth and Douglas Sis.
sltlo fungi , called cntomophthora , caused
spontaneous effect In destroying great num
bers of bugs. This fungus disease experi
ment as Intioduced by Prof. Snow of Kan
sas State university. There seems to have
liecri In all experiments of jears past none
so remarkable and rare phenomenon for the
whole iilci killing of these Insects than his
adopted theory. Prof. Snow based his opin
ion Vn his experiments that "in the warfare
of man against his Insect foes'a most valu
able ally will be found In the bacterial and
fungoid diseases which may be artificially
introduced when nutuio falls to como to our
aid. " IHs plan Is to confine healthy chinch
bugs with these diseased and utilise the In
fected Individuals by transplanting them to
sections of the country supposedly free from
Ihe disease In order to create newaicas of
infection.
I'l-pc'iiudonnry McitNiiri'N.
Among tne precautionary measures for
destroying the chinch bug the department
suggests the sowing of a bacterl.il enemy
with the * grain. This fungus grows delicate
tubes and cells , which In result of decom
position forms vast rnasbcn of microbes ,
which attack the chinch bug and kill It. The
practical utility ot parasitic and bacterial
fungus enemies in fighting this pest can
only bo employed In cases of excessive
abundance and during wet weather. Then
It would be necessary that the basis for In
fection bf > provided by some central propa
gating station from which farmers could re
ceive piompt and abundant biipply. In the
matter of guarding against the spread of the
jug more attention Is 'Invited ' to the neces
sity of destroying It while In hibernation.
All dry grass , leaves or other rubbish In
which they may shelter should bo burned
during the winter and early spring.
Katal effects are obtained by a generous
Die of kerosene In variow , ways In lighting
these pests , which the department heartily
recommends. One method Is to spray or
fcprlnklo corn with an emulsion made prin
cipally of kerosene , which makes an Inex
pensive insecticide. Diluted and ready for
jse the emulsion 1s prepared as follows
Dissolve one-halt pound of hard boap In one
gallon ot water ; heat to boiling point , then
i > our the suds while hot Into two gallons of
kerosene. Churn the mixture Into a cream-
like consistency ; when cool It will form In a
Jellyllko mass. Tor each gallon of this
emulsion use fifteen gallors of water , mix It
thoroughly and apply to growing corn. This
la especially a good preventive to use for
an Invasion of bugs from ono field to nn-
other If Bprajed on the marginal rows. An
other measure Including the use of kcrccene
IB to plow a furrow along the edge of the
field and saturate it with the oil , thus form-
Ins ; a temporary barrier to the Incoming
hordes.
Tnr nn n Chrek.
Differing quite materially from the pre
ceding methods to check their progress are
the various combinations of coal tar and
ridges ot earth , smoothed and packed along
the apex , or Instead of the ridges of earth a
six-Inch board placed on cdgo and the top
'coated with tar. Another'Idea ' Is to hprcad
a thin tar line , Intersecting it with post
holes every fifty rods. The hug cornea up to
the line , follows It and finally dropa Into the
holes. The tar methods are better adapted
to wet weather , as the material will not
wash awaj * .
With these barriers of either rldgo or fur
row and the use of coil tar or crude petro
leum , Bupplemcntcd by kerosene emulsion , a
very largo per cent ot the Injury from
chinch bugs may bo preventel , and , with a
reasonable degree of watchfulness and
prompt action , all Injury from migrating
hordes may bo prevented.
L. W. TIIAVIS.
I * IIIIMI AMI 1MUSTHV.
Seattle , Wash. , Is to have a glass factory ,
The cream of tartar fdctory at Hcalds-
burg , Cal. . la being run night nod day.
The Edgefle-ld ( S , f ) cotton factory ! now
running night and day , with a full force ol
bends.
Wo send ttiough raga to .England and Ger
many every year to furnish 200,000 people
with clothes.
A $400,000 company has been formed U
establish a fcllK dyeing and printing workr
at Lambert's Pclnt'a. .
Carpenters ot Den Molnea. la. , eiocct tc
Inaugurate n eight-hour day April 1. The
now sralo calls for 30 cents per hour.
According to btories published with slight
variations of fact In the Limerick , Ilelfnst
and Dublin papers , a veritable Klondike Is
nbout to be developed In Ireland iu the
County \VlckIow.
Contract lhas been awarded for building
: ho now branch of the Now York rnllld at
llockn.art. On. The plant will probably run
. ' 5,000 spindled and will cost $400,000.
About 80 per tent of the population ot
India la composed of agriculturists and field
laborer * , wholly dependent upon a proper
water supply to enable , them to carry on
their Industries piofitnbly.
T. V. Powder ly's suit ngalnbt the Knights
of Labor for ? 4.000 back filary Ins beet ,
settled out of court. Judgment for the full
irnount with Inteicst was entered l.ibt
December. _
Secretary Klapotzky ot the DarA'rs' in
ternational union , In reply to uiBmqulry ,
rilled that women barbers were not admitted
nto the union , neither could a shop employ-
Jig one dlsj.Hy a union card.
The manufacture of matches In Oermany
has become so Important an Indira try that
the factorlfa are now using evcrj' jear abou
" > , GOO,000 cubic feet of uspen wood , of which
about ithreo-llfths Is Imported fiom Russia.
The report of the hUHIstlcian of the DCS
Molncu ( Iowa ) Trader and Kabor Assiamblj ,
t > njs the lou.i Capital , shows that org&nlzoii
labor In that city Is earning 25 cents to ? l.r > n
per day more than the unorganized workers
and In addition to this they uro working
from one to five hours lew per day.
The principal products of the United States
bold In. considerable quantities In Turkey
nro tools , locks and other house hardware ,
clocks and watches , cotton twills ( un-
blcochcd ) and "canot" rubber shoes , lamps ,
pumps , stoves , perfumery and patent
medicines , -lubricating and kerosene oil ,
typewriters , planes , deis > Ks and chairs ,
machinery for flour mlllx , agricultural Im
plements , lion water pipes and other prol-
iiots of Irca acid steel , sowing machines and
Hour.
Cook's Imperial Kxtrn Dry Champagne la
the1 purs Juice of the grape naturally fer
mented , l-'or boquet tt has no superior.
TIII : OLD-TIM mis.
Mrti. Virginia Key , daughter-ln-Iaw of
Francis Scott Key , is living quietly In
Chicago at the ago ot S5 ,
Mrs. Mary Sawyer Peter of Hennekcr , N.
H. , recently celebrated her 100th birthday
by taking a Rlclgh rldo of five miles In a
temperature of 20 degrees below zero.
The late William Endtcott , whc > no death
the other day took nway , at the age of 100 ,
the oldest Inhabitant orileverly , Mass. , vvna
a direct descendant of the John Endlcott ,
the famous Puritan le.idcr at vvhobo old
homestead , Orchard Kami , Ui Damors , ho
was born
The late Prof. Jonathan n. Turner , the
oldest member of < the faculty of the Illinois
State university , who died the other day ,
had continued teaching , tiiough Ofl years of
age , until bo was taken III. Ho had been
with the univernlty slnco 1533 , when ho
graduated from Vale.
John ( ' . fieer of Port Jcrvitt , N. Y. , Is
deal In his 8&th year. Since early manhood
ho had made u living catching rattlesnakes
for mcnigerlo managers and whoever else
wanted them. He al.so did a good buslncm
in Belling rattlesnake oil to druggists for
medicinal purposes , and the skins and rat-
tlea to summer visitors and tourists , as
souvenirs of the locality.
George W. Clark of Detroit , who has Just
dlod at the ago of 87 , was known among the
rtbolltlonlsts as "Our Old Liberty Singer. "
Ho wrote and pre'ache-d ' In the causes of
( ibolitl n and tomporarrcn for many jears.
The stirring libertj poems written by
\\TilttIer and others wore set < o music and
sung by Mr. Clurk In reform meetings , and
In this way he became a natlon.il Hguro
during the pcrlwl which led up to the civil
war.
If Mrs. Mary Median of narahoo , WIs. ,
lives until the 2d clay of February next she
will bo 101 years of ageHer maiden narno
vva Mary N'ulhltn , and flhei was Iiorn In
Itahecn , County ClareIreland. . In 1821 she
man led Pf'rlck McCluan , and with him
pifesod through the Irish famine. ' In 1SVJ
Mr. and Mrs. McGuan cumc to America ,
and utter living for a time In Ohio rernsvej
to Wlsc'onsln. Mrs. McOuan now rtsldca In
the town of Honey Creek. Shu remembers
the fall of Napoleon and many other ovcnts
of that time. Of her eight children , six soeis
and two daughters , but one son survives.
Mrs. McOuan ( . .ill enjoys good health and
frequently walks several blocks to call on
her friends.
THIoici : or n.ownits.
( Head before Nebraska State Horticultural
Society. )
At Nature's ) throne , free and .ilone ,
liy zephyr' gentle bn-eze ciirrsseil ,
Hinv theie jour lit-ads. je mortals of the art ,
To voiceless llp , O ( lowers.
Hacli cup n pulpit , each Ic.if .t text ,
A prnver In each petal noft.
That lights the gloom of snddc't heart ,
And grace and goodness sends aloft.
i'lonil npostles v\lth devv-el.id brows
[ Jlusli without fin and weep without crime ,
How there j'our hmds mid doiplv lo irn ,
And ne'er surrender your love divine.
iwe-ft as the mnniliig light they nre ,
Swept as n mothers love.
Hrrke l li > tbo winds of liemrn nbove.
Wu'lied by the springs ot crystal dew.
Tokens of pure nrirt boundless love ,
[ Emblems of Innoeeuro d'vinc. '
Emblems nf the brighter Innil ,
Whore never comes the , blight ut time.
Sweet as the rippling brook that flows ,
Acre s Noliroskix'H fertile plains ;
An eagle. H.illlng to and fro
Across the billowy gru-s below.
Piom shore to shoio HIP ocean 'round ,
Prom sh iggv mountains , cot.il Isles ,
Spring out from lillln and mnss-iUul totks ,
Svve t petals for whom Natuie hnill'H.
Brcnthp roft and deep VP towcrlnrr plne > ,
To fvcrj" flower In spiltiKttnu * Hw > t ,
Tr.m emeu * springs , the violet ppen | ,
And straggling vln ° s begin to cieep.
Now vvlnten brown ulve.s pliioo to tlnlH ,
Until soft and ilch , a.s stirliiK dr.tu.s on ,
And beart.s turn gay , both old nnd
llecause the spiliig mid blossoms como.
Hreatho Nature's pralso In every flowering
leaf.
From cloud to elnud xprlnp lueeriKp lare ,
And pralss tn Him who hnth lipstnwod
On us such wealth of blossoms in'r.
LUWIS iinxonusoN
Omaha , Neb.
Twenty-five years ago pig iron fetched $73
a 'ton. ' It sells now for $9 and $10 n ton.
"Those we
Leave Behind. "
Men arc care.
less about their
lives for their
own sakcs , but
a k'n ' < l and
tender man
should think if
he should die
of those he
leaves behind
to grieve and
sorrow and
struggle on
without him.
I-'or this reason
alone , if for no
other. , every
man should regard -
gard his health
as a precious
treasure riot to
be thrown away or spent and scattered
in vain.
If any man's health is weakened or
wasted , or running down , he should take
the right means to build himself up strong
and well , so that he ran both live and care
for those hi ; loves He should investigate
the virtues of that great remedy , the
"Golden Medical Discovery" originated
by Dr. K. V. Pierce , chief consulting phy
sician of the Invalids' Hotel and Surgical
Institute , of Iluff.ilo , NY It is a remedy
that males a man thoroughly well by giv
ing power and capacity to the digestive and
assimilative organs , H makes healthy in-
vigjoratiut , ' Mood ouj of the food he eats
It gives him strength nnd energy to put
into his daily task. It builds U | > hard mils-
culnr flesh and nerve fiber , rcvitalues the
tissues of the throat nnd lungs , btals in-
fltmmation , purges the blood of bilious
poisons and makes a man , btrong , vigorous
and hardy
"My hiubaiid had been sick n long time , "
writes Mr J W Ilrittln , of Clinton , Dewitl Co ,
Jits ( Ho * 175) , "Ind doctored with home jiliy.
niclaus and even went toCliicJKonnd coimulttd
n doctor there but without receiving any help.
lie went to the hospital and was operated on
and after three months raine home to die ( at the
doctors here thought ) , hut after awhile he com
menced to taVr jour wonderful medicine , the
'Golden Medical JHsccnery1 and now , thanks to
jrmr rao.it welcome medicine , he ran eat any *
thing he wants a nil is again a well nun. "
No remedy relieves constipation so
quickly and effectively as Dr. Pierce' *
PclleU. They never gripe ,