St. Joseph County Independent, Volume 22, Number 28, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 30 January 1897 — Page 4

®|jc Independent. EVERY SATURDAY ' JWALfcERTOM, - - - INDIANA. ty. A. Endley, - Editor and Publisher. - SI .25 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE. SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 1897. There was great suffering among the ■ poor people of the large cities during the resent cold weather. Charitable movements for the relief of the desti- . tute end suffering have been the order dftfhe day in Chicago and other great citaeh, and noble and effective work in thmrause of charity were accomplished. President-elect McKinley, it is stated upon good authority, thinks of calling an extra session of congress in March. Mr. McKinley says he desires that his ^protective system be immediately inaugurated after ho goes into office, and he wants a rneaen*^ .Mxjjt will uaqaa ojc men employment. Th* monetary conference recently held ■st Indianapolis adopted a resolution declaring “That a banking system be prosided which should furnish credit facilities to every portion of the country -and an elastic circulation, especially with a view of securing such a distribution

df the loanable capital of the country as will tend to equalize the rates of interest in all parts thereof.” K ' Goe. A. B. Cornell has an article in chePanajary Forum advocating a longer presidential term. Among o;her things, he says: “The primary and apparently the most prolific cause of our present political instability is believed rorrekide in our two frequently recurring presidential elections* Longer continued periods of uninterrupted business tran--9a. Sity are extremely desirable, and inted indispensible, for the safe developof a diversified industrial progress. ■“These conditions can be attained only by increased exemption from unnecessary political agitation. This desirable result can be promoted with the greatest certainty by extending the length of the presidential term. The first and last yeas’- of every national administration axeaaaturally seasons of political activiso that, under a term of four years, barely two years of quiet can be expect- ' If the presidential term were ' lengthened to six years, we might fairly ' anticipate at least four years of continu \us.exemption from political strife.” I

The Weather. The coldest spell since January 7, 1887, _ . . ..-ettled down over this locality last Sunday. The thermometer, which registered 2 below zero Sunday morning at 10 ^o’clock, steadily fell all day and by 10 v o’clock at ‘ night registered 20 below. Monday morning it was 25 below, but by noon the mercury had risen about 10 degrees. Towards evening it descended rapidly to 20 below. Tuesday morning .he weather had moderated slightly, the mercury standing at 18. The tendency has been toward more moderate weather since Tuesday, the temperature lowering a little each evening, but rising a ittle each succeeding day. Wednesday d noon the mercury was 6 above zero. Thursday marked a cessation in the -.everity of the weather and the ushering in of a more endurable temperature. .There have been but few cold snaps in i net years in this part of the country that exceeded in severity the one just past. JI tom a weather diary, which was kept ny T. J. Wolfe for a number of years, we get the following record of extreme cold roells that have visited this locality in

he past: February 13,1885, 31 below zero. March 20, 1855,10 below zero. January 23, 188 G, 21 below zero. February 3,1886, 21 below zero. January 3, 1887, 29 below zero. January 7,1887, 30 below zero. February 6,1889, 10 below zero. 1 February 12, 1889, 6 below zero. March 6, IS9O. 2 below zero. In addition to the above the diary roords some freaks of the weather as follows: November 28, 1889, rained all the afternoon and next morning there was of snow. ^?*^ay, 1892, rained 25 days. The late cold snap has brought forth from some of the older inhabitants many hair-raising stories of cold weather in years past and among them, of course, 'he “cold New Years” comes in for its share of honor. Later. It is not always safe to write . eat- er reports beforehand. The above as written Wednesday, but did not t urn out quite as we expected. Thurs- ! ay didn’t moderate, to speak of. Last Notice. All those owing the late firm of Ross, ~*arrell <t Co. are requested to call and i-tile at once, either by cash or note. The affairs of the old firm must be seted immediately, and unless those owing ns are prompt in paying, their accounts ■ ill be given to an attorney for collection, ’bis is the last call. Ross & Jarrell.

The Kankakee Drainage Question. South Bend, Ind., Jan. 26, ’97, Ed. Independent: Dear Sir: In your issue of Jan. 16 I noticed an article from the pen of C. F. Rupel cautioning the people to study well the question of drainage before favoring the drainage of the Kankakee river and adjacent territory. I hope all interested parties will take his advice, for after a careful study of the beneficial effects of tile drainage to all classes of soil I believe that the intelligence of the people will cause a very large majority of them to favor drainage. The simple fact of straightening and deepening the channel of the Kankakee river will drain only a very small area of land but will furnish the much needed “main outlet” for the myriad latteral drains, that when this system of drainage is completed will make the Kankakee valley the garden spot of Indiana. I am aware of the fact that a considerable number of people still hold to the view that drainage lessens our rainfall. But the mere the drainage question is studied scientifically the more convincing the proof becomes that the position is erroneous and is rapidly being abandoned. Mr. Rupel says: “How often during the summer season of the past few years (except 1896) did you hear such expressions as these: “How I wish it would rain, etc., etc.” Surely if drainage caused the recent dry years it also caused the very wet one just past, for I heard of no ditches or tiles being filled up during the year of 1895, thereby causing the very wet season of 1996. Such reasoning fails to satisfy. From a

report of the Smithsonian institute of observations that have been made of the annual variation of rainfall extending from Western Pennsylvania to Eastern Missouri and covering a period from 1817 to 1865, I find that the average annual rainfall over the region stated may be 15 per cent below the average and the same amount above in a decade of years, and that the average variation in the “annual rainfall” is from one third of the average below the mean to one-third above. We have had wet periods and dry periods from time immemorial and will continue to have them in all time to come. The idea that by draining a few lakes and marshes that our annual rainfall will be decreased is also erroneous and not borne out by facts. Statistics prove that the annual rainfall at Springfield, 111., Indianapolis, Ind., and Columbus, 0., is greater than at Chicago, 111., Detroit, Mich., and Cleveland, O. The first named cities being far inland and the others located on large lakes. North ern Michigan is noted for the extreme droughts that prevail annually and still that peninsula is almost surrounded by water. Growing crops will induce greater rainfall than lakes and marshes

covered with water. When they began planting Kansas and Nebraska in corn the annual rainfall was wonderfully in creased until the desert of 50 years ago is now a popular and prosperous country. It is a fact demonstrated beyond successful contradiction that 100 acres of well tiled land planted in corn and well tilled will evaporate out of the soil and exhale by the growing crop more moisture during the growing season than will be evaporated from the surface of KKI acres of a lake. Careful experiments conducted by our state agricultural experiment station show that during the time of growing a crop of corn on well tiled land there will be evaporated from each acre of soil 2,322 tons of water and exhaled from the growing crops 960 tons of water: total, 3,282 tons, equal to 28.5 inches of rain. Also for every pound of dry matter produced, either corn stalks or weeds, there was pumped from the soil from 300 to 500 pounds of water. Hence, we see the importance of destroying the “weed pumps” and thus saving the moisture for the corn. I firmly believe that if every acre of land in Indiana was tiled 100 feet apart and 3 feet deep the rainfall would be increased and the production of the state doubled.

The importance of tile drainage has been overlooked by the people. Who ever heard of any man who regretted having tiled his land? Experience teaches that well tiled high land retains moisture better than land not tiled and thus stands drought better and produces better crops. Tiling airifies the land and acts on the principle of the subsoiling plow, causing crops to root deeper and thus stand drouth. It makes the soil mellow and puts it in a condition to absorb the rainfall instead of allowing it to run off, thus washing the land and thereby carrying away a largo per cent of its richness. The benefits of tile drainage to low lands can hardly be over-estimated. It is well known that grain crops will not grow in a soil saturated with water. Thoroughly tile a field of low wet land to a depth of say three feet you remove from that land all the “surplus” water. That is the water that lays between the particles of soil, and still the particles of soil are full of moisture. It is only the surplus water that is removed. What is the result? Air will take the place of the surplus water removed and you have a warm, moist, airy seed bed three feet deep in which your crops will take deep root and pump up plant food from deep down in the soil. Will absorb the rain fall instead of allowing it to run off the land, thus losing the enriching elements so largely contained in rainwater. This class of land can be farmed much sooner after a heavy rain than upland. There

is no doubt in my mind t . of Kankakee valley l ands ° ‘J 10 va U ® properly drained. Forth years I have raised from 501 St of corn per aero on dee until lately has been consul \ a ” d , Thorough tile drainage my success. g the Becret Respectfully y ours bixoN w. Place. Work of the W. c Commander H. A. Adel, of J eßse Con-' pock Post, has kindly handed us the fX lowing facts, which show the good work that is being done by the Womens Re lief Corps throughout the country "^° n 7 T 7 pendo< ? in relief work for d ii ■ A... or B a nization, $1,371,832.63. By their aid in post work and in watching over the sick and needy they have endeared themselves to us. Comrades, up hold their hands. , H. A. Adel, Post Com.” 1 On March 1, 2 and 3 the Baltimore 1 & Ohio Kailroad will sell excursion tickets to Washington, D. C., at rate of one fare for the round trip, account Inauguration of President-ElecllMcKin-ley. Tickets will be good for return until March 8, 1887, J- - Wanted.—l would like to j^sr from some one between 25 and 49 ywrs of age who would like housekeeping ob a small farm for a living. No objec^P to one small child. Address C. H.Tbox 15,' Baroda, Mi ch The bill to make St. Joseph county a separate judicial circuit hrs passed the legislature and now awaits the governor's signature to become a law. Try the Defender, the smoker’s de light. To Grocery Buyers. To any party that has bought or intends to buy groceries from the Chicago travel- । ing retail grocery house I will say I will fill any bill of same amount at ten per cent less than they furnish the goods. Noah Rensberoeb. IVANTEI)—Several faithful men or women to ’’ travel for responsible established housein Indiana Salary S7BO, payable Jls weekly and expenses. Position permanent. Reference. Enclose self-addressed stamped enveloped. The National, star Building Chiego TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE IN DEPENDENT’S CLUBBING RATES.

< I Now is your time if a I । you have a want in Dry Coods, | Groceries, I ■ Boots, Shoes, Class and Queensware. t I "4— — | A A Stock in Perfect Touch (h Fashion s Requirements. I<> pass A 2 mo by would be an inexcusable injustice to your pocket book. Come A and learn why I J Economical People Prefer to Spend their ♦ Money with me. X | NOAH RENSBERGER. | • LEADER IN LOW PRICES. • mm wiwi umiiw i rtrirrn-rwi —• ■ m 111 ■■■ nimnm ■ i imi 1 THE RED STAR ...FOR... GROCERIES AN9 NOTIONS. (Highest Market Price fori Country Produce. • ® • J. A. Williams. ’ “ 4 Planing, Hatching, or Re-sawing, on short niij ce) and us ual ly while y|q wait . Logs and Picketts sawed at once. All work AL-antecd. Prices same BL other mills. HAkI) & SOFT j WOOD LUHBER I always on hand. Tw. en ty thousand fine oak fence Pickets ‘4 api|] 2 inch, 4 feet long, at $4 per l,uoo. S’ TRY THE VETI ^AN MILL MAN. w. BAUGHER. 1 —

Walkerton Market. CORRECTED WEEKLY BY STEPHENS AND GRIDER. Eggs ..-12 Butter 12 Lard 6 Green Hides 4 Potatoes new 25 to 28 l Corn 16 Clover Seed 3.50 to 3.75 Wheat 81 Oats 12 to 15 , Beans 70 to 75 Ryo 28 Onions new 30 to 35 Chickens young 5 to 5^ Wool 10 to 12 TUTS Fanners’ a B< । Walkerton, IndJohn B. Johnson, Pres. | Morgan Johnson, Vica-Pres. Thompson turner, Cashier. Does a general !>»>'iking business; I.u.VH .....I malum ^*>l loot ions OU Illi points at lowest possi ; ble expense. Accounts of individuals ' and oorporations solicited. ' --— Grancl View Hotel (FORMERLY THE AMERICAN HOUSE) Has been overhauled and refurnished and made comfortable and pleasant for guests. NEAT, CLEAN ROOMS. The table we set we know will please our patrons. Meals all Hours, -25 c Rates Per Day, - $ 1 .50 B L RINEHART, B ro£>

— — : THE GLOBE. luuuuiuimiuiuumuiuuuuiuiu^^ Clearing Out Sale! A LOT of Hoys’ Long Tant Suits have been placed on our bargain counters and will be sold regardless of cost. WE HAVE a lot of .Men’s Tants of good quality and style which will be closed out at big bargains. Space too short to give prices. Come in and learn prices for j-, yourself and be convinced that ive are selling goods at a very narrow margin. Everything generally kept in a first-class clothing store will be found at our establishment. Yours to please, Koontz & Fair. | Stephens & ©rider. ♦ WE ARE Going to place on sale at nnnn n full and complete line of SPRING DRESS GOODS Including the latest fashions, shades, etc. We also take pleasure in announcing a complete line of Ladies’, Gents', Children’s and Misses’ SHOES Latest toes, shades, etc. We also take pleasure in announcing the most complete line of Popular Priced Gents’ Furnishing Goods Ever shown in this city. Purchase no goods until you see our Spring line. Produce always wanted. | HEATING STOVES! | • 1 have a few heating J 0 stoves that 1 will close ▼ J out at Big Bargains. J | COME SOON BEFORE THEY ARE | | ALL GONE. | A GENERAL LINE OF X HARDWARE AND X J TINWARE. X # A FEW SASII AND DOORS J AT A BARGAIN — | L. A. Reece. | ALWAYS HUSTLING. FEEL POOR? - - Everybody Does. You feel as if every dollar ought to buy about twice as much as 'it did a couple of years ago. Bring your dollars here. No field like our store for planting dollars if you expect to get a big crop of values in return. BRUBAKER & BLAINE. General Merchandise.