People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 December 1896 — Page 3
MAKING CORN A KING.
THE THIRD OF THE GREAT WESTERN MONARCHS. Oat on the Prairies They Have Been Bnsj Celebrating Bit Greatness Tragedies Connected With His Beign—This Year ; Items Fortune Has Smiled. There bar* been three kings in the West—King Wheat, King Cattle and Bow King' Corn. Once the through passenger trains in crossing the prairies stopped that the travelers might gaze on the stretching fields of wifeat that covered thousands of acres in a single body. Then there' were excursions to celebrate the opehing of new stockyards 7 where the cattle by the herd were to be 1 shipped to market. Now there is a new' sovereign, atKflhbplains people are having "corn carnivals” and making the yellow and white ears that are bo plenty emblems’of rulership proud to be called the vassals of King Com. They sing pretty verses, which say : (The rolling prairie’s billowy swell. Breezy upland and timbered dell, Stately mansion and hut forlorn— AS are hidden by-walla of bora. Th*^’rebid Andneld by these walls of corn, j Whose banners toss in the breeze of morn. . “ Chit hi -tihti’ Kfctisak prnirieSa tnbnth ago they were busy celebrating bis greatness. There was a day of rejoicing and a night Of jollity. The people ’threw kernels at each other, and the girl with ibef red ear was kisted when caught. It awoke pleasant thoughts in the minds of the older ones to"observe this latter custom-—thoughts of the younger dayi in'that halcyon world "where everything seems beautiful and of gOod repute as they look back at the joysofit all—■“back east.” Com was then king in a way about this time of the year, and Abe husking bees were the delight of the countryside. No oamival of these latter days can compare with that time for real delight, but the attempt to put the grain on its pedestal is commendable. The western farmer has seen too many failures not to appreciate anything that is of promise and that is likely to give a permanent prosperity. Corn does this and is the one great solaoe of the settler. In the long rows that are so beautiful in the spring and so fruitful in autumn (if the hot winds do not blow), there is inspiration to keep him and his family happy through many a day and night. Its possibilities as ah implement of jollity have been a new discovery. The corn carnival is one of the outshoots of the flower festivals of the Paoifio coast that have turned the tide of amusement for the multitude from the old fashioned fairs to the more modern methods. It is surprising what can be done. Corn was even drawn into politics the other day in one of these celebrations out on the plains. It was a two days’affair. On the first the white corn was the mler and the decorations were all of that variety. The people who entered the gates paid as a toll one car of white corn each. This was silver’s day, and the speeches were of that stripe. The orowds yelled for the white metal, endeavoring to outdo all records. The next day gold had its inning. Yellow was in the ascendency, and an ear of yellow com was the price of admission. The decorations and the speaking •were of a nature to please the opponents cf those who attended the day previous. It was a stem rivalry, and the countryside for miles around was drawn upon to make the crowds as large as possible. Dreams of good times are always connected with the com oropon the plains. Wheat is so low and its price is so little changed in the course of the year that it is considered as a crop that will be of little speculative value to the settler. But the com crop is all right for a splendid gain if it tnrns out well. It comes to maturity in a few weeks, comparatively, and the settler can plant it after the wheat is seen to be a failure or after the oats are blown out of the ground by the spring winds. He knows, too, that if the price' is low he oan feed the grain to the oattle and hogs, and so have another Chance to recoup himself. Indeed, the most prosperous farmers nowadgykiare those whd do not sell their com in the grain, but feed it and take it to market in the more condensed form of pork and beef. Said a western farmer to a visitor the other day, ‘‘We took this country from the Indians too blamed soon!” Perhaps we did, but the redskins left a beneficent ‘ gift in the maize that has' been the foundation of so many a home through the passing years. As the settler looks back on the times when he was straggling to make the mortgage lessen he remembers that it was the corn that gave him the most help. It was this that made the batter cakes on which the family lived in the dull day* in ' the prairie oabih. He’ thinkß of these things, and if yon talk with him you will find that he is still loyal to the grain as the best of them «1L t . v But there ate tragedies of the com as well. When the summer has come to its height and the July sun is making havoc ih the Cities, fchbre come into the newspaper offices speoiai dispatches that tell of the dreaded "hot winds” opt on the plains. ‘‘Com is suffering,” they say, and the next night they add, ‘‘Com ia severely burned and will be only half a crop if the county does not have rain eoOn. ” That does not tell it all by any means. In : tbh settlor’s family there we anxious eyes 16oking for tbfc cloud that does not come. The days go by, and the fields are parched, the stalks’ bent to the north by the furnace heated breezes that come up out of the south. Then the leaves begin to twist ’ and dull; and the oars that were ready to fill are seen to be dried. The corn crop is hurt. It means that the profit is gone for the year’s work, and that it is a question if there will be enough for the necessary feed. It doles not thkb muoh to do it—a week will spoil the whole crop—yes, three days of the dreaded winds krill make the fields ystasleas if they dome' at the right, or fames the wamag time. It is pitiful when tM| baggßto, and the farmer is not to be kbgbed if he looks •t the cloudless sky and offers a few
forcible remarks that are more spirited than elegant. It is pretty hard lack, for cam culture is by no means an easy task. It is only possible to win by doing the work well, and that is by the route of early rising and long days of following the plow, harrow and cultivator. But when there comes a crop! Then the farmer is happy. That iB the case out on the plains this year, and that is why they are celebrating the kingship of the grain. When corn is a success on the prairies, it is very much of a king. Along the lines of railway in northern Kansas and Nebraska there are yet the big cribs in which the speculators at'the last crop time put up the grain for a rise. There were hundreds of thousands of bushels stored in long sheds, ready for market, and the piles had a great attraction for all who saw them. The trains passed between these sheds as between the lines of freight oars on the side tracks in city yards. Bat as to profit, there is little in these years of plenty. Oorn sells out in the western counties of Kansas and Nebraska for 6 cents a bushel. That tdeahs small return for the days spent in the fields. Still, it is better than to be out altogether, and it makes certain the proper care of the cattle and horses of the settlers. Jewell county, in western Kansas,' this year has oorn enough to make a fence around the entire state of Kansas if it were piled in a long row. Over 9,000,000 bushels of it will be gathered. Com has a foreign cousin that is coming to the front rapidly in the west— Kaffir oorn. Over 100,000 acres will bd garnered this year in Kansas—twice the acreage of last season. It .grows where the old variety will not and is sure to make a crop if it has half a ohanoe. It makes fine feed, and the cattle are fattened on it as easily as on the Indian maize. It bids fair to help revolutionize the farming of the semiarid region. And it strengthens the power of the principal ruler—strength giving, prosperity bringing King Corn.—O. ML Harger in Chicago Times-Herald.
ALL LOYAL TO THE FLAG.
Beene at General Gordon’s lecture on the “Bast Bays of the Confederacy.” There was a touching scene'at the conclusion of Senator J. B. Gordon’s lecture on the ‘‘Last Days of the Confederacy” before the Lincoln club at Rochester the other evening. General Gordon spoke for two and a half hours under appeals to‘‘Go on; go on. ” In concluding he said: ‘‘As I stand here tonight in yonr presence and in the presence of the great God who is the judge of us all as the selected chief of all the living Confederate . soldiers I want to present to you my honor, the honor of ail the living Confederates, the honor’ of a great people, that we are ready to join with you in waving aloft this proud banner (here he caught up the American flag from the table and held it above his head), and we join with you all who love that flag in saying that, by Gou’s help, there shall never come to it one blot or stain; that as long as the ages remain that flag shall be the most proud and potent emblem of human Ircodom in all this world.” The large audience arose as ono man and fairly went wild with enthusiasm. Old soldiers, with empty sleeves and hobbling on crutches, rushed forward with tears streaming down their cheeks and greeted their former foe. General Gordon was much affected.
CHILDREN FOR BAILIFFS.
The Federal Court In Kansas City Swears In Boys. Lawyers who practice in the federal court at Kansas City have not yet grown accustomed to having boys for bailiffs. Freddie Graham, Saul Pruzan and Harold Gale were made bailiffs not long ago. They have been sworn to execute the duties of, their office with promptness and fidelity at the beginning of each term, and Saturday morning the sight of the three4ittle fellows marching Up before the judge’s desk to be sworn caused considerable merriment among the members of the bar present. As the little fellows stood up iu a row to be sworn the head of the smallest and youngest-—l 2 years old—reached hardly half way to the top of the judge’s desk. They held up their right hands quite bravely, however, and took the oath of office.—Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Dogs Accused of Theft.
The county jail harbors Wilson Hoffman and wife, charged With being the instigators of a peculiar crime. According to the story of the neighbors, the Hoffmans used to go bn foraging expeditions every morning, accompanied by their two dogs. When the expedition reached a farmyard, the dogs would bound over the fences each seize a chicken and’ bear it back to the wagon. As the Hoffmans could undersell less fortunate dealers and quickly dispose of their goods an investigation disclosed the facts recited. One householder claims to have lost 160 chickens in this wAy. *—Philadelphia Press.
New Six-in-hand Record.
Lawson N. Fuller has made a new record with his team at Fleetwood Driving park. The time for the mile was 8:66)5, which was 1% seconds less than the previons record held by the team. The team was attached to a light two wheeled wagon. With the exception of Fleetwing’s slight break'at the start, the team troted evenly. The leaders were Dexter and Cricket, with Florrie and Higny in the center, and Lamar and Fleetwing as the wheel horses. The first eighth was made in .22%, quarter in .48%, half in. 1:27%, the three-quarters ih 2:18 and the mile in 2:56> a . .
A Georgia Challenge to the World.
Rumor has it that there is a family in Brooks county who will acqnffe four' sons-in-law between now and Christmas. We challenge the world to beat this.—Quitman Free Press.
THE PEOPLE’S PILOT, RENSSELAER, IND., THURSDAY DECEMBER 3, 1896.
WHEAT CROP OF 1896.
THE GOVERNMENT REPORT OF THE WORLD’S HARVEST. An Interesting Report of One of the GreaS Staples of Food Products—The Harvest of 1896 Was Over 185,000,000 Bushels Bess Than That of 1895. The consular reports of the world’s wheat crop for 1896, just issued, is very interesting at this time because of the recent spectacular jumps made by wheat in the stock market and the reports of the approaching famine in India. Following are extraots from it: The result of the last wheat harvest, although completed in some countries, cannot be ascertained precisely as yet. So far three estimates concerning the harvest of 1896 have been published, namely: 1886. 1886. Hungarian ministry Bushels. Bushels. of agriculture 2,606,784,000 2.866,886,000 Parisian Eoho Agricole 2,554,822,188 2,883,802,000 English Grain Trading Journal of Dornbusch. 2,670,683,880 2,420,106,886 It must be stated, however, that in all these reports, as well as in the following tables, the figures for Russia are only preliminary and approximate. According to the reports, the world’s harvest of wheat f6r 1896, in comparison with the preceding year, is below the average anfc considerably less' satisfactory in quality as well as in quantity. The late and exceedingly cold spring had a bad effect on crops, and the drought spoiled the crops in Europe—to a great extent in southern Russia, but in Spain and Portugal espeoially. As to the transatlantic countries of the southern hemisphere, in which grain ripens in December to February, the conditions for the growth of wheat were also unsatisfactory. The drought during the first period of the growth of cereals and the continual raiq during the harvest bad a bad effect on the last crop of wheat in the Argentine Republic, Uruguay and Chile, while the drougfat’also damaged to a great extent the crops of East India and Australia.
This-information, of course, refers to the harvest gathered in those countries during the last days of • 1896 and the first months of 1896. The greater part of the small surplus in these countries enteied the international market long ago and was ronsnmed during the second half of the last campaign, bnt in view of the fact that the new grain from these countries will not enter the European markets before the second half of the present campaign and owing to the insufficiency of information concerning the outlook for the future harvest the report of the present campaign for these countries has been made according to she figures of the last harvest. Ikon, figures sent in by different consuls it is seen that, in general, the harvest of 1896 decreased 186,486,642 bushels as oompared with the harvest of 1895. The harvest in the United States, Canada, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Australia and the East Indies shows a viecrease of 165,892,959 bushels. Of the European producing countries, only Rus.-j a shows a largeTdecrease —s6,s7s,467 bushels. The countries of consumption harvested 87,205,128 bp she Is more than last year. Only Spain afd Portugal among them had a bad crop. France harvested this year nearly* as mnch as last year. An increase compared with last year is to be observed only in Italy and Great Britain. •' The decrease of this year’s harvest is due also to the decrease in the wheat acreage. Already, last year, in nearly all the large wheat growing countries the area under this cereal had greatly decreased. The great decrease took place in tho United States, Russia, the East Indies, Austria-Hpngary, Argentina and Germany, the principal cause of which was the extremely low prices the last three campaigns. The information concerning the other cereals and grasses is very poor and of such indefinite character that any estimate, even approximate, is impossible. In general it may be said that the decrease in the rye harvest is still greater than that in wheat. The Hungarian ministry of agriculture estimates it at 154,765,714 bushels. Here the decrease falls mainly upon the exporting countries, especially Russia. Of the other countries, Austria-Hungary has scarcely an average harvest—a little below last year’s. The bad harvest of breadstuffs is not compensated this year by a good harvest of fodder grasses, except maize, which promises a good yield. A decrease oompared with last year’s harvest of oats and barley is very probable in the principal countries of production in Europe and in the United States and also, in the importing countries at Europe, but this decrease is not of such significance as that of wheat and rye.
It Followed Them to School One Day.
News has reached Williamsport, Pa., of an adventure with a bear in the wilds of Brown township. While Miss Lulu Beaver was teaching the little country school of 20 pupils all were thrown Into a state of panic by observing a good sized beak entering the schoolroom. Boys and girls alike dashed throhgh the windows, while the bear stood in the aisle, startled’ by the commotion. Miss Beaver, the teacher, hastened down one side of the room and ran ont, closing the door, after her. In the meantime several woodsmen heard the commotion, and. hastening to the soene with a rifle, quickly dispatched the animal. The hide will be presented to the teacher.— St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Nothing More For Chicago to Annex.
Chioago is very proud of the fact that she cast 46,686 more votes than New York and 16,080 more votes than New York registered. But, then, Chicago has annexed everything she could find, While New York is just New York.— Buffalo Courier.
WON’T SHOCK BOSTON.
Wooden Fence Will Bide the Bacchante's Beautifully Chiseled Limb*. The MacMonnies statue of a bacchante is going to Boston, after all, and is to be set up in its destined place in the courtyard of the Public library, which Architect MoKim is bound that it shall decorate. It has been refused once. Then an attempt was made to give it to Brooklyn, and that city declined it Now a decorous wooden fence will be built around it, which will hide the chiseled limbs of this representation of physical delight from the eyes of all except those especially bidden. It is said, however, that it will be only a matter of a short time when this environment will be removed, and the beautiful figure will be open to the inspection of- all who visit the library.
TO PLEASE HIS WIFE.
Meek lowa Hu Pleads Guilty to Bigamy to Preserve Peace. Gustave Erickson of Sioux CJity, la., went to the penitentiary to please his wife. He was alleged to have married * in several years ago, to have deserted his'wife after a time, and, coming to Sioux City, to have remarried; without having previously scoured a’ divorce from No. 1. He entered a plea of guilty to the' charge of bigamy and was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment. ‘‘l, was really never married to more thah one! woman,” he remarked as he followed the Bheriff from the oourtroom, ‘‘but my wife was determined to send me to 1 prison, and I’d do anything to please her.”
In the Vernacular.
To go back to the previous question for a moment, it has to be confessed that the sultan still has the ball, even if the playing has mostly been done behind his ten yard line.—Detroit Tribune.
H Courtry Store"*(§ Is a strange place for a city boy to seek his fortune. •a* But Alec Howe sought it there, and found it. The strange story of his adventures is told in entertaining style in the new serial j* In Hk Bean jh of Hk Bills %} By SHERWIN CODY Which you may read In this paper J* J* J tSSnMiaSniIBSSISSSSIMSNMMSIfSSmsSSSSMMSSSWSSSSSMSSSSSISISMSI ■ IE MRS. HDGH TREINOR, Agent, Remington, Ind. C. W* Puvall, Th© only reliable ' Hackman In town. DUVAL’S ’BUSS makes all trains, phone WC 147, or Newels House. Transfer wagon in connection with ’bus. Calls to all parts of the city promptly attended to. ,
| Warner & Collirfs, | 9 Three doom south of McCoy’s Bank, Rensselaer. | South Side * * * J y ** * # Grocery. • A Highest Price Paid for Butter and Eggs. m 2 # 0 |CHAMPION! 8,,,8,5RS | •BUCKEYE !™J and other Farming Implements. jjj SBU GrGr l ES, The reputation of these thoroughly HI p t yt\ r~\ t -r—\« modern harvesters, Champion and A OVJ nn I Buckeye, have tean here places Tvr a them in the front ranks of favor - It m WAGONS itea 9 m Have the kindness to get prices and terms from Warner d> » ' Collins bo fore buying.
NEW UNDERTAKING. W. E. OVERTON Wishes to announce that he will open a new under- ;m taking establishment on Dec. 21st in the NOWELS HOUSE BLOCK. A NEW HEARSE And first class funeral furnishings have been provided, and special pains will be taken to merit a share of the public’s favors. Mr. Overton has CAREFULLY FITTED Himself for this work, having been for some time under the instruction of one of the best practitioners in Chicago. 1 * ■ Jasper ® Tile ® Works, TWO MILES NORTH OF RENSSELAER. |M|ANUFACTUREHS of superior drain tile. Manufacture tile sizes from 4to 10 inches in diameter. Will duplicate prices of any person handling tile in the county for like amount, and same terras. Works fitted up with latest improvements in machinery and kiln. Those contemplating using sizes from 12 to 16 in. in diameter call at works and get prices and leave order. m A. E. & H. A. ALTER. A. L. Willis,^ayy. Bicyclesmith and Gun maker.,^^Repairing of all kinds. complete line of extras for r & all! kinds of wheels. New * tubes, rims, pedals, etc. A specialty of cleaning bicycles. Ordinary handle bars changed to adjustible at small t cost. Opposite Nowels House Block, Rensselaer. *M fc***#*#*#***#*#*#**#*#*#*#*#*#***#* f Robinson Brothers Lumber Co. * ■ v. . v W nPHERE is but one valid y rt > rt \ -r 1 * * t S‘c! p sSfilr:! LU M B ER, f jalf- give as great, or greater, 7 value for the money as cau If be had elsowhere, either In f S“\ AT ’I 1 T T T"H * 0 pxiests&Ss*vaii WUAL, IILE, # W lng to do this we do not 7 y. uh. deserve the trade. - -v—v J Sewer Pipe. J
WM. B. AUSTIN, LAWYER AND INVESTMENT BROKER, ATTORNEY EOS THE L.,N.A.& C.Ry. and Rensselaer W.L.& P.Oo Office over Chicago Bargain Store, RENSSELAER. IND. Geo. K. Hollingsworth. Arthur H. Hopkins. Hollingsworth & Hopkins. ATTORNEYS AT LAW. Rensselaer, - - Ind. Office'second floor of Leopold's Block, corner Washington and Van Rensselaer streets. Prrctice In all the courts, and purchase, sell and lease real estate. Atyty’s for L. N. A. & 0. Rw. Co., B. L. &8. Assoclan and Rehsselaer Water, Light A Power Company. Simon P. Thompson. k P. J. Thompson, M. L, Spltler; THOMPSON & BROTHER, Lawyers and Real Estate Brokefe Have the only complete setii Abstract Books in town. Rensselaer, - - Indiana.
MORDEOAI P. CHILCOTE, JLttCOZtxrErZ- J&.'Z Rensselaer, Ind. Attends to all business in the profess, os JAMES W. DOUTHIT, LAWYER, Rensselaer -- Indiana. RALPH W. MARSHALL, H JL.*TTOI?J^E3'Sr J .Special attention given to settlement of Decedent s Estates, Collections, Conveyances, 'Justices’ Cases. ' agsgiSijaairfaiJt- ow,i,, ' o " n Ira W. Yeoman. JLTTOBKTE ~¥Trt mbmington, inii: and real estate agent. Any iMPV? 1 of private money to loan on farm
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