Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 November 1901 — Page 7

Up-to-Date Beef Steer

URING one week in December of JR) each year 2.000 men who represent QzJ what is said to be the largest industry in the world hold their annual con▼ention in Chicago. These men are the delegates of the 8,000,000 live stock raisers of the United States. They repre•efitThe oWfters of nearly 50,000,900 -cattle and as many sheep, and a total capital investment of $4,500,000,000,--Moat of the delegates to this annual convention of the National Live Stock Association come from the great cattle sad ranges of the far West, Whence come also most of the cattle and sheep which feed not only the United States but a constantly increasing proportion of the civilized world. As a rule they are quiet, well-dressed, prosperous men, used to the good things of the world and accustomed to handling large business affairs. A visitor to their ranch houses on the western prairies and mountain slopes would probably be surprised to find oriental rugs on their floors, grand pianos in their parlors, and all the luxuries of modern life at their elbows, for they are men who like to live well and who are not afraid to spend their money. At the same time a visitor to the cattle country would look almost in vain for the cattle baron of ten years ago. Within that time the cattle business has been completely revolutionized, and instead of a few hundred men practically controlling the cattle and sending out great herds of 100,000 or more head each, there are now millions of owners, and the great bulk of the beef cattle run in herds of a few huhdreu. Less than ten years ago the cattle shipped in to the great markets from the ranges were all “long horns,” and they went .directly to the stoek yards from the ranges to be cut up into beef. These long horns were surprisingly hardy. As cattlemen put it, they were the best "hustlers” in the world. They could live "on air” and could stand almost any amount of hardship and privations. Also they were cheap, and a loss of a few hundred head in a blizzard did not mean much to the owner of 100,000 when he could buy others for from $5 to $lO

LIGHT ON CANAL REPORT.

Chief Beasons Why the Commission Ftvors Nicaragua Route. A synopsis of the report of the isthmian canal commission gives the commission’s reasons for selecting the Nicaragua route in preference to the Panama route. It says that the Panama route alone is feasible for a sea level canal, although both are entirely practicable and feasible for a canal with locks. The time required to complete a sea level canal on the Panama route, probably more than twice that needed to build a canal with locks, excludes it from favorable consideration aside from other features of its construction. With an adequate force and plant ttie commission estimates that the Nicaragua canal can be completed in four years. This indicates, under reasonable allowance for ordinary delays, that if the force and plant are available to secure a practically concurrent execution of all portions of the work on the route the completion of the entire work might be effected within six years after its beginning exclusive of the two years estimated for the period of preparation. The greatest single feature of work on the Panama route is the excavation in the Culebra section, amounting to about 43,000,000 cubic yards of hard clay, much cf which is classed as soft rock. It is estimated that this cut can be completed in eight years exclusive of a two-year period for preparation. The report goes on to say: “A canal by the Panama route will be simply a means ©f communicating between the two oceans. The Nicaragua route, on the other hand, would bring Nicaragua and a large portion of Costa Rica and other Central American States into close and easy communication with the United Btates and with Europe.” The report also points out differences in hygiene conditions existing along the Nicaragua and Panama routes and makes it clear that in this respect owing to •parse population the Nicaragua route is much more preferable than the Panama route. The total length of the Nicaragua route from sea to sea is 183.66 miles, while the total length of the Panama route is 49.9 miles. The length in standard canal •ections and in harbor entrances is 73.78 miles for the Nicaragua route and 36.41 for the Panama route. The estimated cost of construction of the canal on the Nicaragua route is $45,630,704 more than of completing the Panama canal, omitting the cost of acquiring the latter property. The estimated annual cost of maintaining and operating the Nicaragua canal is $1,350,000 greater than the corresponding charges for the Panama canal. The estimated time for a deep-drafg vessel to pass through is about twelve hours for Panama and thirty-three hours for Nicaragua. The cost of constructing a canal by tho Nicaragua route and of completing the Panama canal, without including the cost of acquiring the concessions from the different governments, is estimated as follows: / Nicaragua $189,864,062 Panama 144,233,358 For the proper comparison there must be added to the Panama route the cost <rf acquiring the rights and property of the new Panama Canal Company. The commission has estimated the value of these and the project recommended by it at $40,000,000. The report says that the French Panama Company asks $109,141,500 for Its property and concessions. This, added Io the coat of completing the work, makes the whole cost of a canal by the Panama route $253374,858, while the cost by the Nicaragua route is $189,804,062, a difference of $63,510,796 in favor of the Nicaragua route.

FROM THE CATTLE AND SHEEP RANGES OF THE GREAT WEST

each. They were sent to market when they were 5 to 7 years old, and they brought about 3% or 4 cents a pound on the hoof. Now the cattle bred on the western ranges are grade short horns and are brought to maturity and market when they are 2-year-olds on the average. Nor does the man on the cattle range ship his cattle directly to the market. All but a small proportion of them are sold as “feeders.” That is, as soon as the young steers have got their growth they are taken off the ranges and sold to farmers and dealers in the great corn raising States. The average “feeder” weighs 800 or 900 pounds, and the stockman gets 4 cents a pound for it. The corn raiser feeds it on corn for five ot six months, by the end of which time the “feeder” weighs from 1,200 to 1,500 pounds, and is sent to the stock yards as “prime - beef,” where it brings as high as 7 cents, or even a fraction more, a pound. In other words, the present cattle raiser of the great West sells his 2-year-olds at present for at least as much money as he got for his 5-year-old long horns five years ago. At the same time the man who prepared “feeders” for the market makes a profit not only of several cents a pound, but also adds from 300 to 000

Alaskan Officials Foil Miners’ Plan to Form Republic. Of all the wild dreams of empire since the days of Louis Riel that concocted by a little band of plotters scattered mlong the valley of the Yukon from the upper lakes to Circle City is probably the most fantastic yet recorded. The story has been made public of the exposure of the conspiracy at Skaguay and of hurried measures that were taken by both Canadian and American officials to thwart the scheme of the plotters to make of the Yukon and Northwest territory a republic. The organizatoin was formed in December, 1900, at Dawson. Its headquarters for months last summer were at Skaguay. It was called the Order of the Midnight Sun. Its members, 1,500 in number, took a hair-rais-ing oath to reveal none of its secrets. Death was the penalty for violation of dlls oath. The plot might have succeeded temporarily as did Riel when he Invaded the Northwest territory with a band of halfbreeds. But the leaders of the conspiracy lacked the requisite nerve. Some one “leaked” and the organization, it is believed, will disappear quietly and completely

GETTING RID OF SHEEP.

SCENE OF MINE DISASTER IN COLORADO.

Smuggler-Union mine at Telluride, Colo., scene of Mie recent terrible fire disaster, In which scores of miners lost their lives. The Smuggler-Union is one of ths oldest mines in the district.

KLONDIKE PLOT IS BALKED.

Old-Time Long Horn.

pounds to each of the cattle he handles. This revolution in the business haa been brought about by the substitution of pure bred beef cattle for the old long horns. These pure bred animals not only mature in one-third of the time taken by the “Texas steers,” but they furnish a much better .article jSI beef. They cannot be left to take care of themselves, however, as could the old long horns. They must be given much m'ore attention and must also be protected from undue exposure and privation. Where a long horn would go out and rustle a good living for himself one of the new grade steers would lay down and die. Consequently it is no longer possible for a man to handle so many of them, and the average size of the herds has been cut down to less than one-ten th their old size. The gradual settlement by homesteaders of the most fertile parts of the old cattle ranges has also had its effect in cutting down the size of the herds. It is also true that within the last five years hundreds of cattlemen have gone out of that business and started into the raising of sheep. The demand for both wool and mutton has been an increasing one, and the sheep men have been as a rule exceedingly prosperous. This great increase in the number of sheep men has necessarily greatly cut down the amount of country which is open to the cattlemen, and as a consequence there is at present a bitter rivalry on between the breeders of sheep and cattle. In many instances this rivalry has broken out into open warfare, and in some of the Western States the cattlemen are organized for the purpose of keeping out the sheep at the point of the Winchester rifle. On one occasion in Colorado, where the fight between the cattle and sheep men reached the climax of violence, the cattlemen at night rode down upon the flock of a bold herder, started the sheep down a mountain road in a wild panic and never stopped until most of them had been driven over a high precipice to destruction. To appreciate the bitterness of feeling which exists between the two classes of live stock men it is necessary to understand something about the results of feeding sheep in a cattle country.

IOWA’S "FIRST LADY."

Mrs. A. B. Cummins, Who Becomes Mistress of the Executive Mansion. Mrs. Albert B. Cummins, who succeeds Mrs. Leslie M. Shaw as the “first lady in lowa,” is, according to a Des

MRS. A. B. CUMMINS.

merly Miss Ida L. Gallery of Michigan, and she was married to Governor-elect Cummins in that State in 1874. Mrs. Cummins is a leader in the intellectual and philanthropic circles of the city. She has served as president of the Des Moines Woman’s Club, and is now president of the board of managers of the Home for F~iendless Children. She la considered one of the most tactful and brilliant entertainers In Des Moines.

Moines correspondcn t, eminently fitted for the social duties developing upon her as mistress of the executive mansion. She is one of the leading society ladies of the capital city and one of the handsomest matrons in town. Mrs. Cummins was for-

RECORD OF THE WEEK

INDIANA INCIDENTS TERSELY TOLD. X I Keith Hanged in Michigan City Prison —Girl Found Lifeless tn an Orchard —A Madman Terrorizes Passengers— Girl Fulfills Death Visional Kokomo, Maintaining the remarkable nerve that characterized the closing days of the doomed man’s life, Joseph D. Keith shot through the trap of the gallows in the death chamber of the Michigan City prison at 12:10 o’clock Friday morning. Within twelve minutes the prison physician and his attendants anonunced that he had paid the penalty for taking the life of Nora Kiefer, near Elberfield April 10, 1899. Supported by two he was led from his cell a few minutes past midnight. As he mounted the scaffold, when the warden asked him if he wanted to make a statement, his month worked Convulsively and his voice was harsh and tremulous as he said he was a victim of enemies who had hounded him to his death. As he finished speaking the black cap was quickly adjusted and the trap was sprung. Keith made a complete confession of the murder before going to the scaffold. Girl’s Death la a Mystery. About daybreak Sunday morning the body of Miss Bessie Decker, aged 21 years, was found in an orchard in the rear of the family residence by her brother. The Decker home is in the edge of the woods northeast of Hartford City. When the family retired about 10 o’clock the previous night Bessie was playing the organ and singing sacred songs. When ■found the body was neatly dressed and on the head was a white fascinator. Investigation of the girl’s room disclosed the fact that her bed had not been occupied during the night and it is supposed that when she left the organ she went into the yard, but at what hour or whether for a clandestine meeting no one knows. There are no marks of violence on the body and the cause of death is shrouded in mystery. The girl’s mother and brothers are of the opinion that after she left the house she was taken ill and froze to death. The coroner thinks death was due to heart disease. Madman Amuck on Train. Passengers on a Big Four Southwestern limited train were terrorized by an insane man Who boarded the train a few miles out of Cleveland and became violent. Conductor S. F. Engle and several of the train crew attempted in vain to quiet him. Passengers left the car and. going into other coaches, demanded that the door be locked so that the maniac could not enter. A porter and a brakeman were put in charge of the man and did what they could to prevent him from demolishing the furniture. He was removed from the train by force at Union City and given over to the marshal. Stricken After Telling of Dream. Cecil Champ, a 10-year-old orphan at Kokomo, told her classmates at school of a dream, in which her mother (fame down from heaven and requested her to accompany her back to the celestial shore. Cecil, in the dream, consented to do so. An hour after telling of the vision she was taken violently ill and died in a few hours. She had been in excellent health. Cecil was a student of St. Francis’ Catholic Academy and lived with her aunt. Mrs. A. B. Coonfare.

Caught by Fallins Tin. r .Tames Ebert, a hot mill shearman at the Elwood tin plate mills, was caught by a bundle of plates weighing several hundred pounds that fell from a crane. It crushed him to the floor. His leg was broken in two places, and the bones were crushed. He may die. It is a miracle that he was not killed outright. State News in Briet. Mrs. Mary Pott, 63 years old, died at St. Mary’s Church in New Albany, while attending the burial services of her husband. Kenyon College has been made richer by an addition of SIOO,OOO to its endowment fund and a gift of $50,000 tor a new dormitory. Whitestown has put on her hustling raiment, and now is talking of incorporating. The town also wants an interurban electric line. In a quarrel ensuing from' the flourishing of a revolver in a football game at Terre Haute Louis Lemley shot Charles Wilson, causing a serious wound. George Brush, a farmer of Perry County,’ built a fire under a balky horse. Now Mr. Brush is sorry. The animal kicked the stuffin’ out of his new S2OO rig. The horse lost its tail during the conflagration. Seized by a sudden uncontrollable impulse, Elmer Montgomery of Logansport on his wedding day shot himself through the temple, dying within a few minutes without divulging the cause of his rash act. Sam Hollingsworth, Russiaville, cut down a hollow tree. When it fell, two bushels of apples and a brood of young groundhogs rolled out. The apples camo from Hollingsworth’s orchard, several rods away. Miss Floy Gilmore, the young attorney, who left Elwood three months ago to engage in law practice in the Philippines, writes that she has arrived safely, and is delighted with the coitntry. She has opened a law office in Manila. Miss Minnie Coddington, while being baptized by a minister of the Thorntown Christian Church, in some way slipped from his grasp and narrowly escaped drowning. She was rescued by the bystanders, aided by the minister, and physicians restored her to consciousness after two hours of hard work. The body of Joseph D. Keith, who was hanged in Michigan City prison, was buried in the Barnett cemetery, near Elberheld. A great crowd attended. A constable went to the home of Mrs. Frank Rubright in Evansville to arrest her on a warrant charging her with resisting an officer and she jumped into the cistern. She was rescued. ' J. R. Riley, Muncie, arrived home at an early hour from work Thursday morning, and found his wife and five children unconscious from escaping gas. Riley carried the members of bis family into the cold and revived them.

A YOUNG FINANCIER.

How a Small Boy Made Double Profit* Ont of a Dog. “There is a small cross-eyed l>oy living in this city, who if be doesn't lose his life through just retribution will grow up to become a great financier," declared Jones. “For some time my wife haf* possessed a yellow purp that has no earthly excuse for living. But she thinks that be Is the finest dog Id the city and spends most of her time hugging and kissing bis dirty little nose. Finally the dog worship became so unbearable to me that I resolved to end the nuisance. Chancing to meet a small cross-eyed boy one day, I said to him: “ ‘See here, boy, do you want to earn a dollar?’ “ ‘Sure,’ said he. “ ‘Well, then,’ said I, ‘you go up to my house, watch your chance and steal the yellow cur that you will find hanging around there. When you get him bring him down to my office and get your dollar.’ “Within twq hours the boy was back with the cur tied to a rope, “ ‘What will I do with him, boss?’ be asked after I paid him. ‘“I don’t care,’ I snapped. ‘Drown him if you want to.’. “That night I discovered my wife in tears and I Was informed between sobs that poor, dear little Fido was missing. The next day she bad an advertisement Inserted in all the papers offering $lO for his return. The third day tfhe met me joyfully at the door and announced that Fido had been found. “ ‘Where?’ I asked, concealing a groan. “ ‘A little boy brought him back,’ she answered. “ ‘What kind of a boy?’ I asked, suspiciously. “ ‘A small, cross-eyed boy, with the most honest face that I ever saw on a boy. I gave him $lO, it being all I had, and told him if he would go down and see you that I knew yon would be glad to add $5 to it.’ “But the boy didn’t show up," continued Jones, according to the Detroit Free Press. “As a matter of fact I hadn’t the slightest idea he would. I wouldn’t mind giving him $5 if he would call.”

On Japanese Copper Mines.

The total number of persons employed in various services at the Ashlo mines and furnaces Is about 10.0QO, and these with their families make Up a small city of 17,000. Of these 75 per cent have been born on the spot, as were their fathers and grandfathers, and some have never seen beyond the red hills which close in the village and mines. They are cared for by the proprietor, fed and sent to school until twelve years of age. The village has a well-equipped hospital, at which the operatives and their families are tended without charge. Ohly men are employed below ground to dig the ore, working in shifts of eight hours each, while those employed at lighter labor work shifts of twelve hours. Women are employed at the light tasks, such as sorting and washing ore by hand, most of them being the wives of the miners. The average pay per diem for those engage;! in manual labor, says a writer in Engineering, is 13 cents in silver money and a stated quantity of rice and fuel, while the miners are paid by the quantity of ore extracted. The furnace and shaft men receive from 11 to 30 cents per day and the women are paid 7 cents.

They Were W hispering.

A conspicuous corner in the business district of Chicago is a favorite resort of deaf-mutes on Sunday afternoons. Here they meet for a social hour, often to the great amusement of the passers-by. One interesting incident of these weekly reunions is reported by the Chicago Tribune : Two men were at soipe distance from the others. They werfi standing three feet apart and talking energetically in the sign language. One of them leaned over to the other, grasped his coat lapels and drew him toward him. When they were close to each other the second man caught hold of the other’s coat, and they Cood face to face. From where the other deaf-mutes stood it was Impossible to see the movements of their bands. Intensely interested in the performance, one of the spectators, who was not a deaf-mute, took out a pencil and a piece of paper and wrote this question, which be handed to the mute: “Why are you two standing away from the rest and talking with your fingers hidden behind your coats?” The mute read the question and scribbled the answer: “I am telling him a secret, and we don’t want the others to hear.”

Scholarships.

For six scholarships recently awarded by the Georgia .School of Technol!>gy there were 560 applications. This s accepted as evidence that the young white men of the South are Inclining toward manual and mechanical work as a career. Georgia papers note this change of sentiment with much satisfaction. Formerly there was a prejudice against mechanical labor.

Blue Back.

The first spelling book printed In this country was entitled “The American Spelling Book,” by Noah Webster. It was Issued In 1783. and for considerably more than half a century was the standard work used In all American schools.

Do people occasionally run from yon because you are a bore? Watch yourself the next time you stop a man to have a good long “talk.” Wealth is a bottomless sea In which honor and conscience may be drowned.

SHEAR NONSENSE

Maud—l’d hate to think that you’d throw yourself at Fred. Mamie—Why not? He’s a good catch.—Harlem Life. Parke—Wiggson married a widow, didn’t he? Lane—Yes. Parke—l wonder how he likes her former husbaud?— Puck. Clarence—Did my proposal surprise you, Clarissa? Clarissa—lndeed it did, Clarence; honestly, I didn’t expect to get it without hinting for it. Contractor—You won’t sell me a carload of bricks on credit?” Dealer—No. Me an* my bricks are very much alike. We’re hard pressed for cash. Smith—What makes so many people crazy to get into society? Brown—Well, what makes so many other people crazy to keep them out?—Detroit Free Press. Husband—l wonder what we shall wear in heaven. Wife—Well, If you get there, John, 1 imagine most of us will wear surprised looks.—Smart Set. Phrenologist—Yons bump of destructiveness is very large. Are you a soldier or a pugilist? Subject—Neither. I’m a furniture mover.—Brooklyn Eagle. “Bllmber is getting poetical. He says there is something very rhythmical in the click of a typewriter’s keys." “Blimber has a very pretty typewriter girl.”—Cleveland Plain Dealer. She—l am told you said some very clever things last evening. He—Yes; it is very discouraging. She—What is? He—The surprised manner In which everybody seems to be talking about it. “That great Italian tenor told me he had a mattress stuffed full of the laurel wreaths that have been given him.” “A mattress full? Then lie ought to retire on them.” —Cleveland Plain Dealer. “She caught a thief in the bouse and chased him four blocks,” said the admiring friend. “Isn’t it strange,” replied the sarcastic rival, “how some girls are always after the men?”7-Chl-cago Post “Wheeler seems to be stuck on that new doctor of his.” “Yes, he’s up to date. When Wheeler was sick in bed the doctor said, ‘Oh, we’ll have you on your pedals again in a few days.”— Philadelphia Press. “Couldn’t she induce him to stay at home?” “No, not even by offering him all the comforts of the club.” “What was his argument?” “That the main comfort of the club was that it was the club and not home.”

"This gold mining business is being overdone,” said the small speculator, with the air of one who knows it all. “That’s so,” replied Sharpe. “There’s one mine that Is sure to go to the wall.” “What’s that?” “Kalsomine.”—lndianapolis Press. “Now,” said the doctor, “if you wish to escape a return of the grip, you must take every precaution to avoid getting your feet wet.” “All rigtjt, doctor," said the grateful patient “Shall I wear rubber shoes when I take a bath?”—Baltimore American. “You haven’t explained how you came to have Mr. Smith’s chickens in your possession,” said the judge. “I’m trying to think, yer honor,” replied the accused; “give me time.” “Very well,” replied the judge, blandly, “six months.”—Cincinnati Enquirer. Mamma— Tommy, do stop that noise. If you’ll only be good I’ll give you a penny. Tommy—No, I want a nickel. “Why, you little rascal, you were quite satisfied to be good yesterday for a penny.” “I know, but that was bargain day .’’-Philadelphia Tinies. “Biddy,” Pat began timidly, “did yeer Iver think av marryin’?” “Sure, now, th’ subject has nlver intered me thoughts,” demurely replied Biddy. “It’s sorry Oi am,” said Pat, turning away. “Wan minute, Pat!” called Biddy, softly. “Ye’ve set me a-thinkln’.”— Harper’s Bazar. Professor—lf a person in good health, but who imagined himself sick, should send for you, what would you do? Medical Student—Give him something to make him sick, and then administer an antidote. Professor—Don’t waste any more time here. Hang out your shingle.”—New York Weekly. Papa (severely)—Did you ask mamma if you could have that apple? Five-Year-Old—Yes. papa. Papa-Be careful now. I’ll ask mamma, and if she says you didn’t ask her I’ll whip you for telling a story. Did you ask mamma? Five-Year-Old— Papa. I asked her. (A pause.) She said I couldn’t have it —Tit-Bits. Solicitous: Mother—Where have you been, Johnny? Johnny-Down by th’ ole mill watchin’ a man paint a picture. Mother—Didn’t you bother him, Johnny? Johnny—Naw. He seemed to be real Interested In me. Mother—M hat did he say? Johnny-He asked me If I didn’t think ’twas most dinner time and you’d miss me.—Harlem Life. “You are convicted of bigamy,” remarked the judge, impressively, while the prisoner glanced over his shoulder at three stem-vlsaged women. “Now,” continued the court “1 Intend to give you the severest penalty the law allows.” Here the prisoner covered his face with his hands and wept “I shall sentence you to prison for two years. What are you grinning at?” “I thought” smiled the prisoner, through his tears, “you were a-going to turn ma loose.” *“»