Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 127, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 November 1904 — Page 7

FARMS AND FARMERS

Light ins the Batn Safely. One cannot be too careful using lights of any kind In barns, but there Is little danger if a lantern is used and some way provided so that it may be securely hung beyond the reach of danger. The illustration shows a simple way of doing this. If there are several places in the barn inhere light is likely to be needed stretch a strand of smooth fence wire so that it will hang taut over these places first sliding on another strip of wire with a ring and with a snap at the other end. When the lantern is to be put' in place simply snap over the bale of the lantern as shown in the illustration. If the lantern is to be placed where there is little chance of any one running against it, a long hoop may be made of one end of the wire, instead of the snap, and the bale of the lantern slipped over it By making the hook long and pinching the upper end so that there will be just room enough

THE BARN LANTERN.

to slip the handle of the lantern between, the danger of knocking it off la much lessened, although this plan is not as safe as the snap. Small Yards for Poultry. When it is not possible to supply a range of considerable size for the fowls and they must be practically kept in yards, an excellent plan is to divide the yard into two or three sections, according to its size, and treat them in the following manner: Plow or spade each yard, and in one or two, if divided into three spaces, plant some early vegetables that will require some cultivation radishes, for example. When the crop is taken out, turn the fowls into this yard and plant the others in the same way. When the yards are divided into three, one of them may be prepared thoroughly and grass seeds or oats, or millet sown in it, with the vegetables in the second yard, while the fowls occupy the third. When the grass or small grain gets two or three inches high, turn the fowls In this yard and sow the soil in the yard they occupied, In a like manner. By the time they have cleaned out the grass lot, the one in which the vegetables are grown -will be ready for them to scratch over. It Is surprising how well the fowls will do under this plan, even though each yard is very small.

Good Pi* Trough.

O. C. Burch, of Nebraska, sends lowa Homestead a plan for making a pig trough to prevent the hogs getting in it. “I have mine,” says Mr.

GOOD PIG TROUGH.

Burch, "with a number of holes In the uprights at the ends of the trough so It can be adjusted to suit different sized hogs. The top piece or rail can bo taken out In cleaning out the trough. A trough of this kind is almost nlways clean and such a thing ns mud is unknown about n trough of this kind.” The Pcrenninl Plants. More ami more people who love flowers are getting into the way of growing the old-faphionedi flowers such ns the sweet william, hollyhock, larkspur and others familiar to most people who have reached middle life. This class of plants are among the easiest to "grow and are particularly useful on the farm grounds where It is not always easiest to care for tender plants over winter. The one complaint about hardy perennials Is that they are not so profuse In blooming the second season of flowering. With many of the classes this may lie remedied by planting the seeds ns soon as they ripen, In the late summer, in the places where sou want the plants to grow and bloom. . N A Makc-Hhift Ice House. A New York dairy farmer secured n supply of ice which lasted nearly all summer by packing It In one end of a shed which was floored with polest, fllllng with Ice, partitioned with slabs battened with boards, the' spaces around the Ice filled with sawdust Fruit In Wrappers. Wrapping fruit In tissue, parchment Wn or newspaper has been found ong the storage sea sen of winter pples and late-keeping pears, preserr-

ing their fresh appearance, preventing accumulation of mould on the stem or at the calyx, lessening the decay and preventing evaporation from the fruit Little difference was noticeable In the efficiency of the different wrappers. It is believed that with all fancy fruit for long keeping wrapping is worthy of commercial consideration. Plea for Organization. There seems to be no good reason why an organisation among farmers for mutual benefit should not be as successful as similar organizations in othet lines. It is not Intended that such organization should increase the cost of farm produce to the consumer, for this is unnecessary. But there is certainly room for a plan which will enable the producer to market his crops at a price which will give him a fair return for his labor. The subject is too large to treat exhaustively in one item, for there are many essential things to do to make such an organization a success. The idea is worth serious consideration, but it must be based on business principles, the lack of which has caused the failure of nearly every attempt at organization among soil workers. Here are a few of the things which must be done to win success: Every member should bear a proportion of the expense In accordance with the proportion of his crop to that of other members. Oops of unequal ’quality should be marketed on their merits. In other words, the grower of Inferior fruit or any other crop, must not expect to share equally with the man whose shipment is of the first grade. The manager should be selected with care and then be given proper control. If these few essentials seem too formidable, work up to them by combining with one or two growers whosa crops are of the same quality as your own and select a good commission man and all work together. A year or two in this line will give you faith In the larger organization plan.—lndianapolis News. Fertilizers Tested. Bulletin No. 253 of the New York Agricultural Experiment Station (Geneva) gives the results of analyses of commercial fertilizers for the spring 1904. There were collected 4GB samples representing 371 different brands. While eighty-one of these brands fell short of their guarantees In nitrogen, twenty-nine brands in available phosphoric acid and seventy-five brands In potash, a general average of all shows that the guarantee was exceeded In these ingredients. Farmers who are purchasing commercial fertilizers should send for this bulletin in order to ascertain the standing of the goods they are using. Turkeys Grow Fat on Acorns. A farmer from western Massachusetts writes that he has successfully fattened turkeys on sweet acorns with very little other food. The turkeys would go to the oak groves in the morning and stay there nearly all day, and soon got themselves Into fine market condition. As soon as they are well fattened, they should be sold off, as they show a tendency to go off condition when the supply of acorns begins to fail. Look Out for Ticks and Scab. Your sheep should be carefully looked after before winter. Ticks and scab should be removed. It does not pay to feed ticks on expensive food during the winter months. Poultry Pickings. In feeding ground bone to young fowls, be sure to have it fresh. Young chickens may be fed almost anything that Is clean and wholesome. The dust heap is absolutely necessary for fowls. Feather pulling Is a vice that comes from confinement and Idleness. Allow no filth of any kind to accumulate within reach of tiie OnTtif. Thoroughness In detail In poultry raising Is the great secret of success. Common fowls do not possess the characteristic qualities of thoroughbreds. When fowls are permitted to roost In foul, damp houses It causes drooplshncss. Cnponlzlug should be performed when the cockerels are three or four mouths old. After the fowls begin to moult they should be given a little ground bone once every day. Exercise is cheaper than medicine. The brood Htlll under the mother’s care should be liberally fed. By giving young fowls a free range It will nld materially to develop a strong, houlthy constitution. Fowls will eat a great deal of granulated charcoal. As n preventive of disease It is invaluable. Poultry should always have access to green food when possible, ami when they cannot It should be supplied. It Is eusier to keep fowls hi a good condition now than to allow them to run down and then bulkl up again. The only sure and safe way to keep large flocks, whether young or old. Is to separate them Into small lota, each one to occupy a place for itaelf. The distinguishing characteristics of the Sylesbury breed of ducks are their fecund/ty and early maturity, combined with their great aptitude to fatten.

WAR DURING A WEEK

INTEREBT WAS IN THE WAR SCARE RATHER THAN IN WAR Threatened Hostilities Between England and Russia Startled the WorldLion and the Bear Growled Viciously at Each Other. . -..1 The chief interest of the week centered not in the war, but in the war scare. The scare was a real one. England and Russia did not so nearly fight simply because of the fishing trawler Incident. The lion and the bear hated each other long before that happened, and will continue to hate each other long after it is forgotten. Since the Crimean war they have been perpetually growling at each other; continually showing their faugs; occasionally raising their paws to strike. Neither has ever dared to turn his eyes away from the other. The Dogger bank affair merely evoked a display of the hostile feeling which constantly exists. As for the happening itself, Russia was entirely in the wrong, and displayed an unparalleled Ignorance of sea manners, sea custom and sea efficiency. It is said that the Russian boats are commanded by cavalry officers and manned by farmers. This seems to be true practically, if not literally. The firing on tlie English—Trawlers began at 1 o’clock Sunday morning. Two or three hundred shots were fired In about twenty minutes' time. Two fishermen were killed and eighteen wounded. One fishing boat was sunk. No attempt was made by the attacking fleet to rescue the wounded fishermen, although a Russian boat staid on the scene until 0 o’clock in the morning. The last shot was fired at the trawler Kent at 7a. m. The British government immediately demanded from Russia: (1) An apology. (2) An indemnity for the families of the killed and wounded fishermen. (3) The punishment of the Russian officers responsible for the offense. (4) An adequate guarantee that there shall be no repetition of the act Russia consented to requirements one, two and four, but held out against three. It would not agree to punish the responsible officers. It skid its sense of sovereignty would not permit it to comply with such a request. Great Britain answered that the request must be complied with, otherwise the British fleet would not permit the passage of the Russians through the Straits of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean. At this point the tension was very great. France acted as a cruse of oil for the troubled waters and contributed to the eventual peaceful settlement. Rojestvenslcy's explanation, the Chicago Tribune declared, consisted of an extraordinary lie, but the lie undoubtedly averted a disagreeable alternative for the government—war or Muscovite humiliation. The admiral stolidly maintained that lje had actually been attacked by two torpedo boats. One of his officers —Prince Keretelli—went further, and said that there were eight hostile torpedo boats. Rojestvensky would have attained a greater degree of plausibility by making all stories tally. Rojestvensky’s report raised a question of fact between Great Britain and Russia. The facts must first be Investigated to see how they lie. A mixed tribunal of admirals will decide whether or not the Russian squadron was attacked by torpedo boats. A huge mass of evidence will be sifted. A large number of depositions will be taken. Finally the tribunal will' decide that there was no evidence that torpedo boats had attacked the Russians. By the time this decision Is reached the incident will have lost its burniug public interest. Russia will quietly npologize, pay an indemnity, guarantee immunity from like occurrences in the future, and punish (perhaps) the offending officers. Everything will go on as before, except for the unfortunate fishermen and their families. While the Baltic squadron has as yet

STORM FORT TRENCHES

”Japanese. Drive Russians from Onter Line oK'A oLks ut Port Arthur. The general assn'illt on Port Arthur which began Oct. 24 a fierce battle Suudny. AccoflHfcMm& hitherto i n fit Ii i i >le . nit . ill t Ill'll' thill! :1111• 1111 >l to inti tiding |>"siti"ti. The .1.:: f •' hi'"' " this iis-niiil i - M :i ■ 1 i:' !i. tln.t they did I ' • S; ■ ■ •.' t. tIBIIMSBHI i , - ■■■ i'i; .i rl |dll 11 u: ■ e. ill!® - ■ i I.: t, l: 1, 1 f I lit in mi :111,• 111).t t , 1"| t lie :rt ; ..i, h> i•• (■ Tl is as- :i nil , id,.- Ih • |)l h'Wed u • .11 v w.-.-hs <>f run ni"i]II11 nn i MiiaijflHHßHHHHj I I til" < 1;, 1111.»: I 1 > \ u|! ' - .i i ■ i• ■ 1 ■ ■ TdfIHHSSBBRH , ~ I'll t i: i mu i: id It I- - ■ ■ h.-iH ■* ’ " • ti l '■d r .-V - ; ■ ■■■ . 1 -■ • m . ■ - i i-fl.. • A make purchssenH ■ ! ’W

inflicted fatalities only on the English, it has practiced target shooting at several other nationalities. It fired on the Swedish Steamer Aldebaran, likewise on the German steamer Sonntag, on the Norwegian steamer Skaatol, and on a Danish torpedo boat These extraordinary performances may be explained by Rojestvensky’s original proclamation that he would fire on any ship whifih approached him. His officers evidently interpreted his words to mean that tb4y-must fire on every ship which they approached. The British trawlers, for instance, had their nets down and ware barely moving along. The Russian squadron came upon them and promptly fired. The War in Manchuria, After ten days of comparative quiet along the Shakhe river there are signs that the two armies are again coming together. The Russians claim to be the aggressors in certain places, but dispatches from correspondents at General Kuroki’s headquarters’ state that the Russians have now been driven out of their last position south of the Shakhe river. In the opinion of the Chicago Record-Herald, it would appear that the Russians are no longer strong enough to take the offensive on a large scale, while the Japanese have as yet shown no desire to push their way further to the north. There is sure to be a great deal of scattered fighting before winter sets in, but whether there will be another pitched battle is uncertain. The battle of the Shakhe river will be memorable in history for the economy of lives with which the Japanese fought it. In the battle of Liaoyang, although the Japanese had to charge again and again upon Russian intrenchments, the losses of the Russians were the heavier—the proportion being about four Japanese killed and wounded to five Russians. In the battle of the Shakhe the figures thus far available would indicate that the Russian losses were at least three, and possibly five or six, times as great as the Japanese. Concerning the losses, we have two facts upon- which we can absolutely rely, because both come from Japanese official sources, and Japanese official statements have not once during the war been open to the slightest suspicion as to their literal truth. The first is that the total Japanese casualties — killed and wounded—numbered 15,879 officers and men. The second is that the total number of Russian dead buried by the Japanese on the field was 13,333. Now in the Japanese army, for which we have detailed figures, the ratio of killed to wounded was as one to six, and If that same ratio should apply to the Russians their total casualties on the basis of the dead buried on the field would number about 90,000. The Russian official statement places the total number of killed, wounded and missing at 800 officers and 45,000 men. This sets the lowest limit of the losses, but unfortunately we cannot feel confident that it is the whole truth. An earlier figure purporting to come from an official report of General Kuropatkin’s, but not verified, puts the wounded alone .at 55,808. We have also the estimate of a correspondent at Mukden, who places the dead at 8,000 and the wounded at 40,000. If he was as much too low on the wounded as on the dead (using the Japanese figure of burials as the test), the total Russian casualties by this reckoning would be nearly 75,000. Reports from Fort Arthur indicate renewed attack on the Rlblung and Keekwan forts just north of the city. The end of the siege may very possibly be approaching. There are indications that the resistance of the fortress Is fast weakening and cannot be sustained much longer. The Japanese are creeping In on all sides, taking an advance post here, another ok there, a minor fort here, and a few machine guns yonder. They are always closing In, never receding. They are strengthening their artillery every day, while the Russian guns cannot be added to nor replaced when worn out Nogi fills up the gaps In the ranks as fast as they are made, while Stoessel’s gaps constantly grow bigger and cannot be filled up. Weight must shortly tell.

WAR NEWS IN BRIEF.

The Japanese captured n height near ntisiaputze, on Mukden road, and a c °ld steel on the summit left with dead. 111 *’ ,UIS i,M: " !b>! Ml 1

RECORD OF THE WEEK

INDIANA INCIDENTS TERSELY TOLD. Tatint Leads to Son’s Suicide—HusbandReturns After Absence of 25 Years— Fear for Life of Boy Orator—Lons . Electric Line Planned. \ “When father gets well tell him that I didn’t do it and that I didn’t have anything to do with it,” was the message left by Floyd Fifer, aged 22. Friends found the young man’s lifeless body hanging in his father’s barn near Goshen. When the Kinney bank failed at Angola Addison Fifer lost all of his ready money. He brooded over the failure until lie became insane and then,so violent that it was necessary to take him to Longcliff insane hospital at Logansport, where ho is still restrained. Floyd Fifer visited his father frequently nnd his messages from home appeared to have a ben ficial effect upon the afflicted father. The last time Floyd was there the father seemed to be more rational. “If it hadn’t been for you I wouldn’t have lost my money and wouldn’t be here to-day,’’ the old man declared. When the boy went back home he brooded over the charge of his father. Mourned us Dead, Is Alive. After an absence of twenty-five years, during which time his wife and children thought him dead, Frank T. Yount has returned to Muucie as mysteriously as lie disappeared. He tells a remarkable story of an irresistible desire to leave the country. He has visited almost every foreign land nnd lias acquired extensive flouring mill interests in Canada and is now wealthy. The return of Yount suddenly terminates a courtship. His wife, satisfied that her husband had been dead for years, was soon to be married to an easterner. It is said the wedding Kas been called off and that Mrs. Yount will return to the north with her husband and make Canada' her future home. Plan a Line to Cleveland. A fact not generally known is that the St. Joseph Valley Traction Company’s interurban, now being built between La Grange, Elkhart and South Bend, was intended by 11. E. Buck'lin to be one of a series of co-ordinate electric roads from Chicago to Toledo and Cleveland. Those who know' him beat say that he will keep pounding away until an electric line passing through Elkhart will connect Chicago with Cleveland. Fear Boy Orator Is Slain. Charles Benadum, 15 years old, is strangely missing from the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Benadum, north of Muncie, and it is feared lie has ended his life. Young Benadum was so ambitious that he practically ruined his eyesight from constant study. He received highest honors at school and when forced to give up his studies owing to his eyes lie became distracted. He was known as “the boy orator.” Lighthouse Dweller Insane. Having lived in the Michigan City lighthouse for nearly fifty years, Miss Ann Hartwell has become violently insane as a result of being removed from it. She had been the sole companion of Miss Harriet Colfax, the keeper, who recently resigned the position. State News la BrleL T. T. Butler of Noblesviile will manufacture patent egg eases. Nelson Cook, 10, of Columbus, was struck by a “shinny club” and his nose was broken. There is much complaint in Indiana towns because many persons burn leaves in the street. Mrs. Eliza Forrer, 80, of Clarksville, sustained a stroke of paralysis and is perfectly helpless. Burglars made an unsuccessful attempt to crack the safe in the office of the C., C. & L. railroad at Muucie. Mrs. Aaron Worth, 81, of Bryant, is dead. Her husband is the Prohibition Candidate for Congress in district 8. A man supposed to lie Vernon Kroll of Hoopeston, 111., committed suicide in the railway station in Kokomo. A note in his pocket accuses Dowie’s church of robbing him. Experts have reported that Perry Groves, former county recorder in Kokomo, has been found short in his accounts $1,500, receiving fees in that amount not turned over to the treasury. Samuel Eastliam, who lived three miles south of Terre Haute, was drowned in Lake Murel by the overturning of a boat in which lie and his father and mother were fishing. The parents got ashore safely. Mayor Zimmerman of Richmond believes that incurable insane persons should be put to an easy death. He says that he believes that nine out of ten physicians believe as he does, but are afraid to express such an opinion. t , A freight train on the Big Four railroad broke in two near Marion, and the rear part coming down a grade crashed into the engine, hurling Harry Pillman, a brakeman, between the engine and the binder, pressing his body against the Hjjfew, where lie was burned to death. p.is--i:ig ilie house of Willlgtei, , u .-::i 11-i.vanl e->an--1.1 • -• 1 :i *!■.:•]

ILLINOIS MINES IDLE.

Strike of Hoisting Engineer* Begi—and Thousand* Are Idle. Two hundred and forty mines, practically every coal mine in Illinois, employing 46,000 men, were closed Tuesday by workers thrust into idleness by the strike of the hoisting engineers. 800 in number, whose wage scale was attacked by the operators. The miners and other mine employe*, sympathizing with the engineers, walked out quietly at midnight, and the machinery for hoisting coal in every mine in the State ceased running. Efforts have been made by the operators to man the pumping machinery and keep the water from accumulating. The strike of the engineers, it is believed, is but the beginning of the struggle, although the operators declare they will man the engines with non-union engineers. They declare that the army of miners is not in sympathy with the strike and that they will return to work with non-union man at the engines. Already the coal dealers of Illinois art predicting an increase id the prices of soft coal, which, of course, will be reflected in the price of anthracite. The coal industry of Illinois was paralyzed by ona blow. The strike is not sanctioned by the United Mine Workers of America. The huge walkout entails the loss of $140,000 a day in wages to the miners not directly involved and $1,200 a day to the engineers.

INDIAN OUTBREAK.

Primitive lowa Muaqnakiea Jealoua of Dog-eating: Igorrote*. It has been reported to the Interior Department lit Washington that no more typical example of the primitive Indian is to be found in this country than the Musquakie tribe of some 400 men, women and children, who live right in tha center and heart of lowa, one of the most advanced States in the Union. Just at present the Musquakics are very much wrought up and jealous over the notoriety which has been gisaa the Igorrote tribe® at the world’s fair on account of their dog-eating habit. The chief of the Musquakies claims that the Igorrotes arc not the only savages that enjoy dog as a tribal dish, that the Musquakies have been pioneers in the habit for centuries and that the American people have never raved over them. With the Igorrote no female is permitted to partake of the dish, as it is a delicacy for warriors only, but wihen the Musquakies have a feast on the reservation the women eat as much as do the men. The Indians scarcely ever taste of beef, preferring pork, chicken, skunk and dog meat. Dogs are very numerous an the reservation, being raised and fattened for feasts, dances, pow-wows and other special occasions.

Great Grain Crops of 1904.

From the government’s latest figures • corn yield of 2,464,000,000 bushels is Indicated for 1904, as compared with a harvest of 2,244,000,000 bushels in 1903. The com crop never was larger than this year except in 1902, when it was 2,523,000,000 bushels. Wheat is placed* at 551,000,000 bushels, as compared with 675,000,000 for 1898, 748,000,000 for 1901, 670,000,000 for 1902, and 637,000,000 for 1903, the only years which exceeded 1904’s yield. The oats crop for this year will reach 887,000,000 bushels, which is the biggest harvest of that cereal ever gathered except in when the crop was 987.000,000 bushels. Barley, with 140,000,000 bushels, breaks the record. Rye, 27,000,000 bushels, has been beaten only in 1901, 1902 and 1903, when there was a slightly larger yield than this years. The 15,000,000-bushel crop of buckwheat goes ahead of all former figures. Potatoes, with a yield of 305,000,000 bushels, also beats all the figures of the past. Cotton, of course, with its 12,000,000bale crop, breaks all records.

PERTINENT Personals

Surgeon General Rixey, U. S, N., will urge Congress to enlarge the general naval hospital at Portsmouth, Va. John Bruce McPherson of Gettysburg, Pa., has been made secretary of the National Association of Wool Manufacturers. Rabbi Glazier of Des Moines, whose synagogue is the oldest* west of Chicago, is compiling a history of the Jews in lowa. W. T. Brinson of Way cross, Ga., weighs 570 pounds. His wife weighs 115 pounds. He is the father of eight children. Dr. Matthew Harkins celebrated tha seventeenth anniversary of his consecration as bishop of Providence, It. 1., recently. The charitable institution in which William Waldorf Astor takes most interest is the London Cabmen’s Benevolent Society. Harry Van der Weyden, a young Boston artist, has painted sixty-five pictures in two years. They are on exhibition in Paris. C. W. Post of New York possesses a curious volume, a copy of Shakspeare’s “King Henry V 1.,” firlt part, edited by Alfred Tennyson. Mrs. Rachael Albright, granddaughter of Betsy Ross, who made the first Anierlive® at Fort Atkinson, lowa. B^^Miiaker.