Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1875 — Page 4

THE RENSSELAER UNION. Thursday, April 29. 1875.

Honest nxpn arc rejoicing because President Grant has accepted the resiguation of Mr. Attorney General Williams; and vet many bate their breath through fear that Mr. Benjamin F. Boiler may succeed to the vacancy in the Cabinet. From the vigorous manner that country newspapers are entering into the municipal campaign of Indianapolis this season it would appear that their patronage was largely depending on its Result. The tone of the Republican papers of that city indicates liar of a Democratic triumph, and that the Republicans are colonizing voters there in order to prevent an expression of the bona fide citizens. A post-office organ at Winamac, called the Republican, is engaged in the harmless recreation of criticising the political record of one of the proprietors of this devoted paper. The only remarkable peculiarities we have been able to discover in these criticisms are wonderful fertility of the critic's imagination, and his surprising hostility to veracity. Each of these endowments are sufficiently fervid to distinguish the home of genius.

It is reported that the Secretary of War, acting under instructions from Congress, will order a corps of government engineers to make the survey, during the approaching summer, a route-for a ship canal from Lake Michigan to the Wabash river at or near Lafayette, and report upon of each a work, together with an estimate of its probable cost. If the scheme should prove to be practicable there is no estimating the commercial advantages which might follow this uniting of the Gulf of Mexico with the Great Lakes by an intercontinental water passage protected from ocean storms. Should the shortest rpute between Lake Michigan and Lafayette be chosen by the engineers, Rensselaer will not be far from the line. All the railroad news we have to publish this week is, that people who earnestly desire the prosperity of Rensselaer are fully alive to the importance of the Chicago & South Atlantic project, and manifest a .spirit of liberality and enterprise in connection with their work to establish and put the scheme oiv its feet for which they have long been famous. We believe it is now safe to say that the full amount of subscriptions required of the people to bring the road to Rensselaer can and will be raise, and in season for the company to go on with its work through the county without interruption after it has been commenced. Every dollar of the $60,000 now pledged on subscription is sure to be paid when the conditions are complied with. Every note is good. There is not a “straw” among them. .The people who give these j notes aie iti earnest, and acting in good faith. Whenever the company is ready, now, she can proceed with work; and if a train of cars shall run over her road from Chicago, Illinois, iuto a depot within onehalf a mile of the court house in Rensselaer on or before the first day of January, 1876, she may send her agent along to get that $75,000 as soon thereafter she pleases, and it will be paid over promptly and cheerfully. No less than four times, before this within twenty years have the people here raised subsidies for railroad projects and been disappointed. If many were not discouraged by these repeated failures it would indeed be a remarkable incident, especially so when they have spent money, time and labor on the projects, all to their own loss; but we hope, yes almost to actual belief, that this campaign is the one that will bring us all out of the wilderness, and set this beautiful and naturally favored cofihty of ours on thfe broad highway of prosperity. Then let every man and woman do each what they can to hasteu the enterprise forward, and remember thaj by the exercise of energy, an indoni ini table will* and unfaltering perseverence ail obstacles that, are met In life?‘may be overcome, and

these together with some money will bjjukl this railroad, and make a good market town of pool but pretty back-woods Rensselaer.

Wanted, an Agricultural Society.

A good many people think we have one in every state ami in almost every county. Possibly we have in name, but that is all. We have associations for building annual fairs, but that is the beginning, the middle and the end of them. The members hold no meetings for any other purpose than to arrange for holding fairs, and to adjust matters when the fairs over. There are no addresses, essays, or discussions. No one would ever know by the talk of the members when together that they were engaged in agriculture. Their talk is that of showmen getting ready to hold an exhibition, and not of farmers engaged in the pursuit of agriculture and stock-raising. Those societies do no real work as other societies do where/members are engaged in occu pat Sonsy other Than fanning. They performs no experiments with a view of ascertaining results that would he of advantage in conducting operations. They publish no transactions, for they do not transact anything. The members at meetings do not even talk business in relation to the marketing of stock and produce, and buying supplies and farming utensils. They have no social meetings for the purpose of forming a better acquaintance. They simply meet from time to time to arrange lor holding fail's, and then meet to wind up the accounts of the shows.

As jo the fairs themselves they seem to be ordinarily managed with a view of seeing how much money can he obtained at the gate. To do this there most be something to draw a crowd. Sometimes this something is a balloon ascefision, a gymnastic performance, an exhibition of a stump orator wtio makes a speech to get votes at the next election; or it may be a combination of all of them. Generally, however, the attraction of the occasion is a horse rate, or a series of horse races. To sum up the matter, the object of the agricultural society is to hold a fair, the object of the fair is to raise money. The way to raise money is to have what good Artemas Ward called *'a purely agricultural boss trot.” Of course there is something of the fair besides an exhibition on the race track. Ordinarily there are two or three herds of short-horn cattle, owned by breeders at a distance, and taken about, the country on exhibition tours for the purpose of taking premiums anil .advertising the herds. Of course this stock and other stocks of the same kind is of advantage to the fair aside from helping to draw people. It gives farmers opportunity of seeing improved animals, and in many cases causes them to be introduced. They are, however, so much superior to the animals owned in the vicinity, that the owners of them do not wish to bring them to the exhibition. Of late years almost everyone Ims noticed that there has been a falling oft’ in the number and quality of farm products on exhibition. The fairs have become essentially 1 stock fairs. There are ordinarily a large number of implements exhibited bv the manufacturers for the purpose of advertising them. On the whole the larger number of exhibitors bring their articles for the purpose of procuring sales directfy or indirectly. There is out little rivalry for obtaining premiums on the products of the lield, the orchard, or dairy. There is not a good exhibition of the things produced in tiie vicinity. what'we want is an agricultural society which shall do something to develop and improve agriculture, which shall render it attractive and exert an influence to cause men of wealth and education to at least take an interest in farming, orcharding, and stock raising. To do this, something else is wanted exceptan annual fair. To do this it is necessary to make experiments in the production of crops now growing in the vicinity, and to record them ; to test the value of fertilizers of every description, and the various ways of applying them to produce the most good ; and to examine in a scientific and practical manner the capacity of every soil. But more than these things need to be done. We want to introduce new ' crops that are grown in other countries iof about the same latitude, and to ! acclimate others that grow in countries warmer or colder than our own. We want to learn more about the construction of drains, the storage and distribution of water, the preservation of meats, fruits atiu vegetables, the economy of feeding animals for i the production of beef and milk, and i the relative value of the different i breeds of animals, To accomplish all ! these things requires the united efforts ■ of men of ability and means—requires ! the formation of a society of men working for a purpose. The Royal Agricultural society of Great Britain employs a chemist with i a number of assistants, maintains a botanical department where the acclimatation of vegetables is carried on aud the diseases of domestic plants are examined; publishes reports on the progress of agriculture in Great Britain and other parts of the world, aud conducts' experiments in everything that promises to reward the labor of investigation. It does hot neglect the matter of holding fairs, but it does not make them the leading object of the organization.

Important Suggestions to School Officers.

In peating a school room always avoid placing a small desk in front of a larger one. A scholar can neither sit nor write with ease when desks are so arranged. Desks of the same site should he placed in the same row; placing the largei desks in tiie ootside rows, aud the smaller ones in the inside. If necessary at any time to place a small desk in front of a large! one, a hack seat should lie placed between them, corresponding in size with the smaller desk, „ ’ As a matter of justice to the people, we would advise all trustee* to require a “warranty” to be attached under the seat of every desk they purchase. We are Convinced that this is about the only way a warranty will amount to much. Our reasons are that a trustee usually loses a guarantee, even if one be given him, and it is very seldom that his successor ever sees it, consequently when

d««k8 break, the usual result is that the trustee, not knowing whether the desks were warranted or not, buys new ones, as many haw done the past year. Furthermore, require a warrantee to be written as follows, and be sure the words “ ordinary or fair use” do not appear In it: FORM OF WARRANTY., “This desk is warranted for five years from the time of delivery. If it breaks in that time, or becomes rickety , we will upon notification, replace it with a new desk, complete, (not the costings only) free of all charges. (Signed) —Manufacturers.” Require the above “warranty' l to be given in aft cases by a responsible manufacturer. We propose to warraut every Bent Wood Desk in the above manner, and if one breaks or gels rickety, it is sure to be seen by the toucher or director that it belongs to us to replace it free of all charge* . if trustees allow themselves to be persuaded to purchase any manufacture of school (urnitare without such a warranty, they should be held s'rictly accountable by tiie people for gross carelessness. So much school furniture is breakiug in the country districts especially, that caunot longer be overlooked and passed by as an insignificant matter . We have, during the past year, had trustees to pay us fifty oollars and upwards for repairing broken coat iron desks with “bent wood.” All we ask is for you to purchase whatever desk you think best, but xchen you purchase any desk in tiie future, protect yourselves and your people as we suggest in the way of a practical “warranty.” \Ve clip the above from a circular issued by the Higgins Bent Wood School Furniture Company, of Indianapolis. There is so much sound sense in it, we feel called upon to give it the benefit of our circulation, and to call upon the people to see that more care be taken in the selection of good school furniture. Trustees should not at any price purchase furniture which tiie manufacturers cannot afford to artd will not “warrant” as above. School furniture properly made, and of durable material, should last (/raily years, and if the mailutaciurers will not fully warrant it for Jive years by attaching the warranty to each and every desk they sell they should not expect the people to encourage them in the manufacture of a worthless article. We hope there are no trustees in this State who will allow agents to persuade them at the expense of the people to purchase school furniture which will have to be replaced by the township for at least ten or fifteen years. We would further suggest that trustees at their May meeting pass a resolution not to purchase any desk unless every one has a “warranty,” attached similar to the above. — India,na Farmer.

From Messrs. B. Iv. Bliss it Son, Seedsmen, :>4 Barclay street, N. Y., we have received a Catalogue ot Potatoes Tor~Seed, in which is published the following directions for growing two crops of potatoes a year: Take good, sound, early potatoes, and cut them into single eyes. Allow these pieces to dry for a day or two, and then plant as early as the ground can be worked (a slight trust will not injure the potatoe after being well planted). With ordinarily favopUJo* weather the new crop of tubers will mature in from eight to ten weeks. As soon as they aie ripe, dig them, and after remaining a day or two In some dry and warm place, proceed to out them into single eyes' as before. Place the pieces thus obtained info pans or boxes containing dry plaster or gypsum. This absorbs the abundant moisture, which would otherwise greatly check the growth it it did not destroy the sets entirely. Allow them to remain in the plaster tor ten or twelve days, or until the eyes commence to start, when they are to be taken out and planted as before. In the latitude | of New York this is only appliea- | hie to early varieties, like the ; famous Early Rose, or Extra Early Vermont, which are of quick growth, and early maturity; hut in many parts ot the South, where the growing season is long, it may be practiced indiscriminately upon all varieties. A gentleman has raised two crops of Early Rose, a short time since, in this vicinity, the two crops yielding an aggregate.weight of twenty-five hundred pounds. He planted his pound, cut into single eyes, early in March, and dug his first crop about the middle of May. These were iheu treated as above described and planted the tenth of June, and the secoud crop dug the first of September. The yield from the one pound at the first digging was fifty pouiids, and the second crop of this increase was twentyfive hundred pounds, or over forty bushels. This method is within the reach of all, and there is no extra expense incurred for hot-bed sashes o or auy other forcing requisites. A

The best evidence we have that the Indianapolis, Delphi & Chicago : railroad will be built this summer, ! is, that work is now progressing I rapidly at the most important points | along the line between this city and Chicago; that the iron for the road has been purchased, and that tracklaying will be -commenced between Dyer and the Kankakee river in Lake county, within a few days.— Jjelphi Times: W. T. P. writes to The Union from Franklin, ind., April; 19th, 1875, that wheat from Indianapolis to Johnson county looks well; farmers here say that thekleet injured f it some, but to me, coming from Jasper county, it looks very promising. Hogs, which are a great staple staple of this county,

arc not so plenty* as common. PricM here in most cases range about the same as with you. Times quiet and close. Not much said of Grange or politics. Health is generally good. Miss Celia Wilkinson writes from LaPort'e under date ot the 21st instant that the winter wheat there is thought to be mostly killed. Of Miss Cynthia M. Bishop, whom we annouced last week was contemplating a visit to Rensselaer shortly for the purpose of lecturing, she says, “Having been a pupil of hers I am quite well acquainted; she is a finely educated woman, is counted an able speaker, and lectures on a variety of subjects.”

A LARGE STOCK OF STAPLE & FANCY GROCERIES, PROVISIONS. &c.. May always be found at the Shanghai Build ing. Sugars, Teas, Coffee, Spices, Canned Fruit, Soap, Candies. Coal Oil, Indigo, Baking Powdeis, Soda, Cream Tartar, Nutmegs, Flavoring Extracts. Candies, Raisins, Nuts, Fijoun, best brands, by the barrel or sack, Hominy, Rice, Salt, Crackers, Cheese, Salt Fish, Beans, Dried Sweet Corn, Ac. TOBACCOS. Standard favorite brands of Plug, Fine Cut, Shorts and Smoking Tobaccos ; excellent Cigars ; Pipes, Cigar Holders, and Tobacco Pouches. QUEENSWARE, GLASSWARE, Table and Pocket Cutlery Stoneware, Tubs, Pails, Washboards, Clotheslines. Churns, Meal Seives, and hundreus of other articles usually kept iu such stores not necessary to euumeiate, HOLIDAY GOODS. The most extensive and varied assortment of Holiday Goods iu the county, ranging from children’s Tin and Wooden Toys, Dolls, and Fancy Candies up to Elegant Silver Table Sets! All of which will be sold for a fair business profit. Couutry produce bought and kept for sale. Call at the Shanghai Building for good fresh Groceries and Provision*. 7-12 C- C. STARR. iSHSi IF YOU*WANT Apple Trees, Pear Trees, Plum Trees, Cherry Trees, Shade Trees, Quinces, Evergreens, Grape Vines, Raspberries, Strawberries, or lIE3DGE PLANTS for planting this spriug, go to tha RENSSELAER NURSERY* RENSSELAER, JASPER CO., IND.-26-8 JOHN COEN, Proprietor. JASPER COUNTY OPiAINTOE Purchasing Agency* The undersigned having been appointed bv the Jasper County Council of Patrons of Husbandry, will take orders from members of Ihe Order for all kinds of farm implements, washing machines, wringers, sewing machines, coru sheilers, feed cutters, threshing machines, field rollers, reaping and mowing machines,&c. Have ou exhibition the

INDIANA CULTIYATDft, CHAMPION CORN DRILL LAFAYETTE STIRRING PLOWS, Heckendorn’s Doable, Self-Sharpening ‘•BOOHOlilO” PIOWS, SEWING MACHINES. ■■v {'s ' s Will also sell the Weed Family Favorite* the Home and the Home Shuttle sewing machines ,and the Buckeye, Ohio, Climax and Bali REAPERS AND MOWERS, Ohio Lock-Leper Rakes. Terms cash. One per cent, added to list prices to defray expenses of the Council. Price lists famished on application. . All ordefs accompanied by the cash promptly attended to. (i Sample machinery may be aeon on my farm, o miles north of Rensselaer. Indiana. 111 LEY NOWELS, Secretary Jasper County Council Patrons of Husbandry, and Purchasing Agent. 99 , * * .■ ■ .• ». ’ . 's'.. *

TUG HP CORNER People who trade in Jasper County, and all others who may be interested, are hereby informed that the place to buy Dry Goods, , Clothing, Groceries, Notions, &c., is on the northwest corner of Washington and Vanßensselaer streets, in Rensselaer, at • A. Leopold’s Store. My stock of Dress Goods is the largest, most complete, best selected and lowest priced ever brought to this place, and includes a line line of ~'Y~J ■ ' SIIjiKS, 4) LUSTRES, MOHAIRS, MERINOS

Alpacas, Prints, Pongees, Poplins, Reps, Scotch Plaids, Empress ClotV, Waterproofs, Ginghams, tfcc. My stock of Men’s and Boys’ Coats, Pants, Tests,, Overcoats, either by single articles or in suits, cannot be excelled in finish, quality or cheapness. 1 not only make a specialty of READY MADE CLOTHING but also keep an extensive variety of Tailor’s Goods, such as Broad Cloths, Doeskins, Casimeres, Tweeds, Jeans, Vestings, Ducks, Denims, <fee., by the piece or yard. Also, brown and bleached MUSLINS. TICKINGS, Sheetings, Table Liner, Oil Table Spreads, beautiful Stand trovers, Crash Toweling, Bed Spreads, Wool Blankets, Cotton and all Wool Flannels. Balmoral and Felt Skirts, Knit Goods for men, women and children-, ladies’ and gentlemen’s Underwear, Hosiery, Gloves, Pocket Handkerchiefs, &c. BOOTS AND SHOES. The public are respectfully invited to call and inspect my large and superior stock 'of leather, rubber and serge goods, for men’s, women’s and children’s foot wear. My stock in this department is unsurpassed by any in the market.

GROCERIES. In connection with my other goods I shall keep a select lot of choice Staple Family Groceries, including Sugars, Teas, Coffees, Starch, Spices, Soaps, Dried Fruits, <fcc.; also a splendid article of Tobacco, both for chewing and smoking. All the above enumerated articles, together with thousands of others we have not space to name here, will be kept in stock and sold at the lowest reasonable prices. When you want bargains in Dry Goods, Clothing, Groceries, Boots, Shoes, Hats, Caps, Notions, <fcc., go to ' <** A. LEOPOLD’S CHEAP CORNER.

■a. Jl ful. Thousands entitled under the new law. Hl||l Bounties, pensions, and back-pay collected, ■TI) new discharges obtained and pensions inV] g creased. Soldiers war of tßts, and Mexico, or Ipr their widows, pensioned. SoUUeri Record, a .■I 16- page paper, with digest pension and boun- ■ | ty laws. No soldier can do without it. Send io cts. for it. Address (with stamps) Nathan W. FmG*»AU>, U.S. Agt, Indianapolis. lod. MeatoHr Number Fotrr. Fated to bo Free. J«n Ingelow'e great Story ; price, iu book form, |i,T5. Twenty Short Stories,a rick variety of miscellaneous reading ; over sixty large pages splendidly illustrated. Ten Steel Reproductions, fae-eim-ilss of famous pictures ; original engravings vArth $15.00. All the above sent post-paid with Hearth and Home, the great illustrated weekly magazine, two months on trial, for only SO Ct», Object t to introduce the paper to new subaertbers. Price reduced to only $3.50 par year. Single number six cents —none freeAt news stands or by mail. Gnat inducements to agents and clubs. The Graphic* OoMFANr, Publishers, 39-41 Park Place, New York. Please state in what paper yon saw this advertisement. 29-4

EXCELLENT LAUDS AND Cheap Homes FOB THE INDUSTRIOUS In Jasper County, Ind. Ho! Every One who Desires to Make Profitable Ivestments in Land! The Lands of the Indiana fit Illinois Central Railway Company iu Jasper county, Indiana, are now put npon the market tor sale, for the tint time. They were Selected with Great Care some twenty years ago, and many of than comprise the Best Farming and Oraxing T rnnifr in Our County. They consist of about 10,000 AORBS PART PRAIRIE AND PART TIMBER? well located as to roads and school bouses, and will make DESIRABLE FAM HIS for parties wishing to attsw permanent homes. Lands generally in this county ar* rapidly increasing iu value, and are being readily taken by pctyal settlers at the prices asked for them. Ho those who want to secuto-G-ood Investments better attend to tha matter at once*.Propositions to purchase any or all’of the*# lauds, In Li> rge ar Mtall Qaantltisi, will be revived by the undersigned at the Clerk’s office iu Rensselaer, Jasper county, lndiaua, who a ill at all times take great pleasure lu showing the lands and furnishing all necessary inforimt.ion as to quality, prico and terms of sale. Title perfect. BKABXON L. BFZTX.BR, Agent for Trustee of Ind.A IIL 0. K. W. 4» DXJVALI-’S DAILY HACK LINE AND LIVERY STABLE, United States Mail Hacks run daily, except Sundays, between RENSSELAER AND FRANCES VILLKt Making connection at the latter place with trains on the Lonisville, New Albany and Chicago Railroad, and conveying passengers and freight each way. Extra teams sent at any time on application. Goods or money shipped by express to any part of the United Kates. Livery Team*, With or without drivers, furnished on application. Stock boarded by the day or week-. Office and stable on Front street, aboveWashington, Rensselaei, Indiana, •T. W. DUVALL.

HEADQUARTERS FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS Hard wars, Tinware, AMR HOUSE AND CHAMBER FURNITURE IN liberal corker block. All kinds of house and farm hardware for ■ale. Stoves and stove furniture ; extra plates and eastings ; axes, mattocks, picks, shovels, spades, hoes, hav forks, manure forks, garden or spading fonts, and irons, all kinds of kitchen utensils, aawa, hatchets, hammers, chisels, planes, draw knives, sugars, bits, bit stocks, 100 kegs of nails, bats, bolts, screws, locks, carpenter's hardware of every description, table and pocket cutlery of tbe very beat manufacture ; all kinds of tinware made to order by first-class workmeu. Tbe celebrated Moline plows, manufactured by John Deere, favorably known to every farming community in the West, Pern City plows, Dixon (J. K. Orris) plows, the world renowned Champion mowing and reaping machines, the well known Ohio Buckeye mower and reaper, a favorite machine among farmers everywhere.the Advance cultivator, one of the bent implements In the market, Coquillatd’a famous Booth Bend term wagone, wagons and buggies of mj own manufacture made of the vggt host material and tally warranted in attPbpsete; note agent, for the Empire cloths*wringer, the best machine of ita class yet invented Abo, coal oil, machine oil, ote., tec. All of these articles and a thousand more are for anle vary cheap at the funo and reliable “LIBEKAL CORNER,” N. WARNER, it Proprietor.