davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1865-11-14
The Confederate Colony In Mexico.

We learn, says the 81. Louis REPUBLICAN, from
gentleman who lived formerly in Lexington, IN this
state something Of the prospects Of the Confederate
colony which ia cling established In Mexico The
on 20 which he beOnrr aud TO which he Will return,
ni rOon a. h can drpOte Of certain property In this
sac lie, rear CordUVA, town on the road between
Vera Cruz and the City Of Mexico, and about hun
dfcd MlIcs from tho former pace. II consists Of
about dozen large hAc endAs OF apparently good
land caphho Of Producing cotton, cCflec, cocoa and
tobacco. The land will 10 gwen to the settlers by
me EmpeToIs bOyemnCut, IN parcels Of tiI hundred
ana ioY acres 10 families, and Ia smaller Allotmenu
20 single men, Sterling Price, Gen. DO Shelby, kr-
Goy; llani., Of Tennessee, aud Judge Perkins
ol loultiana, were there At tie time Of his
departure, with Other proposed settlers OF
less note. Lieutenant haury, formerly Of
the Naval OhscrNi i,oTy at Warrington, was also
there, and actively engaged In furtherng the
r'heihe, by drawing M report to 10 circulated In
TIE - 'uth,rn States with view OF Inducing parties
OF coionlHia 10 coms over and Join them. The work
Of tlling the po would he postponed until there was
AsutAbls accession W thelr numbers, This they eI
p-'ti TO obtain In reasonable timo through tho
nrespApo which eX Governor Aen,of LOuiHlEns, has
columenco publishing in the city OF Mexico. MAXI
lnilAn' our Informant thinks, 10 secure enough on
ms lhicne, provided the Monroe doctrine be not
bioidly asserted b. she United States. The armed
Icsslance q the Llbe ais will be overcome and
mo opposition TO him be confined TO the Church
pIV sIone This opposition, however, 10 not apt 20
tske the loIm OF revolution inasmuch a. the Lib.
etA party nrut corUrs the Church property, and
h,IlhAn' MAJ offence eoU'bv epH IN rsiu'ns 70 1"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1865-11-14
CANADA AND TIE rENIASs.
Moro Prccauliour.

Toronto CIV, Sor. 1t has been decided TO
place force OF volunteers active service check
the fenisn raids. Two battAllons have received
orders to hold themselves in readiness for instant
duty. The guards at tho volunteer armorie, have
been doublodn consequence OF information received
OF the designs and projects OF ,he Fenisns. Tho l6,h
regiment OF British regulars have been sent from
Montreal TO Western Canada
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1865-11-14
GOOD NEWS!

South Carolina Abollshes sInvery!:
Columbia, S c., Nor. l3.-Ths Constitutional
Amendment sboli,h,ng slavery passed both Houses
Of the South Carolin, Legislature to-day, With but
little opposition. The Legil.tuIs his adjourned 70
the 9yth inst
The evening Argus., 1865-12-15

ing one side, and, scorning the party lash of
the clique and those who use it, look straight
into the illegal speculations practiced by of
fee holders, and come down on the whole
swarm of swindles, with both feet, and crush
them out! They can do it, if they will
But just SO long as they come here and listen
to the sweet talk of Office holders and forget
their own independence and manhood, just so
long illegal speculations, and illegal allow
ances will go on just so long will county or
ders remain below par, and the county credit
be kicked about the streets by every official
shark, and his dependents, who live out Of
the hard earnings and high taxes of the
masses.
The evening Argus., 1865-12-15
THE AGRICULTURAL BUREAU.
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER.

The commissioner of agriculture, after al.
ludIng to the contest, as resulting in the tri
umph of free labor, says:
believe that a higher state OF prosperity
than was ever before enjoyed by the people
of the south, will be ultimately attained. Ii
may be that the system of free labor will not
prove favorable to the large landed estates !:
and | am willing to confess my full belief
that such a result will be beneficial to the
great masses and to the country. The aver
age size of farms in the United States, in
1860, was 1879 acres : almost double the aver
age for Great Britain, which, in 1851, WAS
lO2 acres only, notwithstanding the great
size of many baronial and aristocratio hold
ings"-there being no less than l70Sl4
farms in the kingdom, or considerable more
than one-half OF the entire number having
less than so acres each. But the average in
the southern states is far greater than the
general average for the United States, as the
following table will show:
The evening Argus., 1865-12-15
OLD SETTLERS MEETING.

\ meeting Cfold settlers of Rock Island
county was heldat the book store of j. Norris
Il Co. on Wednesday evening Dee. l4th 1865
and on motion OF Dr. p. Gregg, Charles Case
was chosen chairman and on motion of J b.
Frick, +. Wilson was appointed secretary
On motion OF Jacob Norris, the chair ap
pointed a committee OF three on resolutions,
and or motion of j. B. Frick two more added
whereupon the chair appointed Jacob Norris
DR.. Gregg, VIM. Bell, John II. Eby and d..
n. Beals said cpmmittee. Com -2ittee reported
the following.
WHEREAS, 1t has been in contemp plation for
some time past by the old settlers of Rock Island
county to organize a society for the purpose OF
perpetuating and handing down to our posterity
the cherished memories and reminsances of the
early settlement OF thIslocalIty, therefore be IL
ReSoiUed, That all those who became residents
OF Rock Island county prior to December 3Ist lSi0
form themselves into society the object of which
shall be to renew old acquaIRtaBces, interchange
congratulations and promote each others happi-
ness.
Resolred, That this society shall be known by
the name Of Old Settler Association.
On motion report adopted.
On motion of j, Cham berlin the same COM
mltIee were appointed 10 draft constitution
by laws to be presented at the next meet
ing
On motion of Jacob Norris it was ordered
mat meeting Oe calieu at tne court mouse
in this city on the 10Th day of January 1866
at o'clock p. NJ. aud all old settlers who
were residents ot Rock Island county prior
to Dec. 3lst 1910 be cordially and earnestly
invited to attend for the purpose of adopting
the constitution and by-laws, re-electing of
fcers, and completing the organization Of
the Old Settlers Association and transactiDg
such other business as may come before
them.
On motion the meeting adjourned.
FRAZIER WILSON, Sec'y.
The evening Argus., 1865-12-15

Total bu ,22S SOL ,2s2 LOIS, .s74 953 2ss 67O
Hay, tons. .... - 1851 l3,II6 75l 9,736, SAT
Tobacco, 1873, 36,953 1877, ,I6S, ,229 267, ,267 900
In the western states the wheat crap is
very deficient in quality. 1t has been esti-
mated by the department thar the deficiency
in both quantity and quality is PC. al, ,69S
bushels in quantity alone - l72. .944 bush
els. The quality of the corn crop is excel
lent, and that OF the remaining crops is be-
lieved to be an average The number of
bushels in 1866 exceeds those of 1864 by
2l5.07l,4 Al.
The prices, average and value of the crops
of 1865 Will not be calculated until February
next. The greatness and excellence of the
corn crop must BE- gratifying to al
The sbalanoe Vi the appropriation fer the
service OF the fiscal wear ending June 30
1865, remaining unexpeuded on the lst of
December, 1864, was S9j ,S9l,jI. There was
appropriated tor the fiscal year ending June
80. 1866, $lj5, 300.
The expenditures from December /, 1864,
to November, 1865, amount to Sl52 .6I4,7O
leaving an unexpended balance of S95, ,5S4,SI
Since my last report OF the special appro
priatlon OF $50. coo ''iOg Investigations TO ties,
the pracJicabiity of preparing fax aud hemp
as a substitute for cotton" there has been
expended S4,5O0 40, leaving a balance of
$40, 500 remaining In the United States
treasury.
The evening Argus., 1865-12-15
Chemicals and Drugs
decSdw3m


r. f. GRUNDY having tscone rs.;.
.fi dent OF Rock Island, takes this method .
inform the musical public that he is prepared 70
tune and repair PIanoes and MelOdeons, anc cu
sell at factory prices the following first class
struments:
Gold Medal Pianoes, VIM. Knabe & Co., 5,--
more, Nd.
A. II. Gale s Co.'S. PIanoes, n. y.
Organs and Melodeons from the factories Of g.
H. Prince 3 Co., Buffalo, n. Y; Cahart s. Need.
ham, y, Y; Mason & Hamlin, Boston.
Second hand Pianoes and Melodeons taken II
exchange cor new ones-
Orders for Yiolins, Flutes, Acconieons, Brass
instruments, SC, promptly filled at Chicago Pti-
n. B.-Orders for tuning Of instruments LEFT Al
Island City Hotel p. o. box 432, at resIo ehos,
on Madison street, sd house south Of HFE.aaa
street, promptly attended to. oct5dSE.
The evening Argus., 1865-12-15

Rob't Ross, John NJ McCandless, John NJ
Wilson, John l. Long, j A Jordan, j Betty.
John Clark, James johnson, Alex NJ Crock
urem, f A Cobb, VIM Wait, VIM ID Hatton,
r b Olmstead, Timothy Dutton, II w Buff
FUN, Arthur p Roberts, VIM Drury, F j
Whitney, David Mardock, Silas Drury, VIM
A Miloy, Eli Drury, b Ii Kimball j Silas
Leas, John Buck, Chas Lyman, o X Fer
guson each 400. Thomas Karr 5.25, Thos
Mccall SIS. r III Webster 400, Daniel n
Beal 5.25, III L Abbott Is, G w Heflin 4 90.
Thos Corhs 4.S0, VIM Miller $50, Isaac Rich.
ards ASS, Nelson Sherwood 4SO, John III
Eby 5.25, Anthony Ricketts, $50.
Adjourned until tomorrow morning, at 9
O'clock
The evening Argus., 1865-12-15
MISPLACED ENtraYasance.

Tue MY. Post .rIdicules the announcement
that" bridal chom bers" and other ike extray-
agancies, such as trescoed ceilings, sumptu-
Gus tapestries etc, are about TO be Introduced
into some OF the northern railroads cars. Il
says:
Bridal chambers are disgusting enough in
hotels and on steamboats,, where they nave
long since been condemned by public opinion,
even the least refined but bridal chambers
in railroad car would be too shocking
to tolerate at all. Tue first load of decent
passengers would cast their taudry fnery cut
Of the windows. The ambition of railroad
managers should be turned not to an increase
of frIppery in ornamentatiOns of cars, but Of
safety in their conduct
"If money is to be spent, let it be spent,
not IN fantastic decorations, but in substau-
tial in provements. Does it not seem a mock
cry, when we have over hundred frightful
slaughers by rail each year, TO be told that
the cars are TO be trescoed and glided and
carpeted? Or are the managers mad careing
nothing for life or limb, and only eager to
make a display? Or. do they make SO much
money, in spite of the large sums ever and
anon paid for '3amagss,' that they can afford
to throw it away in this silly ostentation. in
which bad taste aud ill-breeding unite to pro
duce. at best, only a shabby gentility?"
The evening Argus., 1865-12-15
WORK OF THE BUREAU.

During the past year Messrs. Y. d. Col
lns aud j. NJ. kiiippaTt. were sent to visit
various parts of Asia and Europe in the In.
terests of agricultural science. They have
not yet reported, but their narratives will
appear in the agricultural report for 1865.
Large quantities of new and valuable
seeds, cuttings and plants have been distri-
buted during the last year throughout the
country, in order 20 test the adaptabllity Of
such varieties to the various soils and clim-
ates of the different sections. These expert
ments, whenever they have proved success
have been of lnestimable value, not only i'm
proving qualities, but also increasing the
crop productions per acre. and inciting to
emulation in the introduction of new vsrie-
ties.
Ia the distribution of seeds, 234, 94j pack
ages have been delivered to senators and
representatives in congress ll9. 693 to agri-
cultural and horticultural societies, aud
4OS 5S3 10 regular and occasional CORES
pondents, aud in answer to personal applica
catons-making a total of all varieties of
seeds of f763, 23i packages.
The distributions from the experimental
andpropagating gardens during the past year
have been mainly confined to varieties of
small fruits, sucn as grapes, Strawberries,
gooseberries, raspberries and currauts. Of
these about 35 900 plants have been distrib
uted through the usual channels.
The allauthus silk worm, which has sue
ceeded 20 well in France, has been rentro
duced this year from Paris. This insect can
now DO considered perfectly acclimated,
and the silk produced by it is very strong
and of good quality.
GENERAL SUMMARY RELATING TO FARM STOCK
Showing the total number Of live stock for
January, 1864 aud 1865, the increase and
decrease thereof, the general average price
of each kind, ami the total value of all
The evening Argus., 1865-12-15
Total sos III .IOI, ,7l4 764, ,s67 $50

The large proportion-almost three fourths
of unimproyed land in farms, in addition to
the unimproved public lands, illustrates
pointedly the necessity that vastly more labor
be applied to their cultivation. The most
populous states in the Union have the small.
lest farms, commanding the highest price per
acre; and the value per acre is, as a general
fact. inversely proportionate to the size of
the farms Thus the farms of Massachusetts,
average q acres of Rhode Island. 90 of
Connecticut, 90: of New York. 100: of
Pennsylvania, 100; and of Ohio, ia acres
Every head of family should have a
homestead if possible. Thus an incentive to
industry is created, and a spirit of enterprise
encouraged, that will soon double the pro-
duets OF the country, increase the wealth of
the states and ada 20 he resources of the ma
tOn
The evening Argus., 1865-12-15

The table of comparison between 1868 and
1864 exhisits much that Is important The
increase in the bushels of grain is large, and
the decrease in the pounds of tobacco raised
is also great. The decrease in acres culii-
waited is 1,lS5,4 ,45l, but the increase in the
value Of the above crops Is S4S4. .65l, ,ll3.
The first increase is from the corn crop.
and the last may be attributed to the increase
in the currency, or a spirit Of speculation.
General summary of the amount of the
crops of 1865. compared with those of 1864
and 1863.
The evening Argus., 1865-12-15

Artemus Ward says shooting isn't as pop
luar in Nevada as it once was. A few years
since they used to have dead man for
breakfast every morning. A reformed des-
persdo told me that he supposed he had kill
ed men enough to stock graveyard" feel
ing of remorse," he said. sometimes comes
over me But Pm an altered man now. I
hain't killed man for over two weeks =
Whatl yer poison yourself with !" he added,
dealing a resonant blow on the bar
The evening Argus., 1865-12-15
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,

NOTICE is hereby given to all whom Il
~ may concern that the oommls'lonens aP
pointed by the city council ofthe city OF hoc'
Island to assess damages or benefits, as the C''-
may be, for the purpose OfOPeE!ng and e1'eho.L.
ST. Clair street, have made their return Oi sa's
assessment, and that the city council VIII, al Il
adjourned meeting Of the CITY council TO De As.-
on the 18th day OF December inst, at oeo.i .'..
p. NJ, confirm said assessments unless 0R.eo1'A'
are made by some person Interested
J. X. JOHNSTON, City Cleih-
Rock leland, Dec. 6, 1862.
The evening Argus., 1865-12-15
TO WHOM NAY CONCERN.

NOTICE is hereby given that the comm--
~ sIoners appointed by the city council Of ;la
CITY of Rock Isiand to assess damages or beHefI
as the case II ay be, for the opening Of al aisy
through block 81, in Chicago or lower addition;
have made their return OF said assessments, sla
that the city council will, at an adjourned meet
ing to t held on the 10Th day of December nsi.,
at O'Clock p. M, confirm said assessment unless
objections are made by some persons Interested.
j. R JOHNSTON, City CeTk.
Rock Island Dec. 8, 1860.
The evening Argus., 1865-12-15
Gamblers I'm Smoking Cars-Beware of
Genteel-Looking Persons Who Invite TO
Play EuchTe.
From the Cleveland Plaindealer.

From the Cleveland Plaindealer.
There many pests that infest trains and
railroad depots, but none more despicable and 10
beavoided than the ''poker players" to be found
in the smoking cars most of the trains of
many of our roads. To the credit of some rail-
road companies, by it said, these nuisansss and
pests have been hunted out. They usualk go in
companies Of two or three, and put on the ap-
pearance of strangers TO each other. One propos-
ses.a friendly game for pastime. The aecomplices
consent, and generally manage to draw a stran-
ger in with them. The game progresses, be.
comes monotonous, and another proposes a small
stake to give interest to the game. The story is
soon told. The stranger is feeced. A gentle
man arrived here yesterday one of the roads,
lost Ill fI,e ha had &lT5 in .h;.
The evening Argus., 1865-12-15
In describing the scene at Central Park, a
New York naner SAYS:

New York paper says:
Parsons and parsons wives may be seen there
in fashionable '.drags," putting s'three minute"
and ''two-forty'' horses to the very top of their
totting speed, wheel wheel with fast actress
es; and rich philanthropists, who profess to be-
lievs that the republic owes it's salvation TO the
negro, driven by black fellows with the badge of
servitude on their hats and collars, sweep along
in the same column with gamblers, and painted
women several degrees below the grade of the
demi-monde. We speak by the card for we have
seen this beautiful moving mosaic ha;f u dozen
times within the past month, are tree TO say that
so far as outward gauds were concerned, it was
difbcslt to distinguish piety and philanthropy from
prOhigacy and Plundermongry, or the professional
last women from the virtuous matrons and maid
ems who Wed with them in the theatrical style of
their costumes and surroundings.
The evening Argus., 1865-12-15
Total s., cas- 30. 2ss 276 eos, ,s67 los, SIS
VALUE OF CROPS.
Total. .s9s5 764 BE s. DO 5aa 69o ss4s re 80.

The above tables of the general summary
do not show the exact comparative difference
between the years 1868 aud 1864, because
the latter year embraces the crop of Ken
tucky, which are not in the year 1868 De.
Quoting Kentucky from 1864, the comparison
will be a. follows:
TABLE OF COMPARISON BETWEEN 1868 AND
1861
The evening Argus., 1865-12-15

Wag in Appleton, Wis, supplied far
mer with four quarts Of Hungarian grass
seed last spring, from which the farmer this
summer raised about IL 900, 900 comely mul
len stalks
The evening Argus., 1865-12-15

The bill allowing blacks to testify in the
courts OF Tennessee, which passed tue senate
by 10 70 ., has been defeated i'll the house by
50 to 2I-the east Tennessee unIOnists Op
posing, while many OF the ex-rebels support
ed. The New York Tribune, commenting on
these facts, says:
'.Thoss east Tennessee unionists have been per-
mltted, by weak and worthless union general
commanding and i reyeTned backguard who is
styled governor, TO murder two three negroes
balance each oi the paroled and returned rebel
soldiers whom they nave seen ut likewise to dis
patch, until they have good reason to deprecaIe
TIE admission OF negro testimony; for II would
hang hundreds of them If there any semblance
of law or justice In that region. According to our
information, not less than hundred rebels and
negroes have thus been butchered since June last
IN and around Knoxville alone and there will OF
course be more If the strong hand of authority be
not stretched over them.
Tennessee has many staHlch unOnIsts and
worthy men among her citizens; but she Is never
theless pandemonIum OF passion and crime, and
more fit for self-goyernmeEt to-day than Da-
honey;
We think 1t very probAblo That there Is
more truth than fiction in this s:atement.-
Had the ex-rebels who are disfranchized been
permitted TO vote, tue statewould not have been
cursed with rererened blackguard Tor gov
ernUr, nor with a legislature whose ingenuity
Is chiefly exercised Ia framing enactments
tina; will still more embitter its opponents
and widen the limits OF the pandemonium of
passion and crime. The proof Is that the
rebels, on the question of admission of negro
testimony, wore more disposed than the self
styled uuionists to do justice to the blacks
The 1ri6ue'se statement will not help the rep
resentatiyes from Tennessee in obtaining
seats In congress. IL was probably intended
10 DO so.-- Chicago Times
The evening Argus., 1865-12-15

A FINE PAssAGE.-Rowland Hill once said to n
conceited minister who had preached in his pull
pit and was fishing for 4 compliment on his ef-
fort. There was one passage I very much ad-
mired. "Ah, which was that ," Your pass
age" said Mr.. Hill, from the pulpit to the
door"
The evening Argus., 1865-12-15

way.
From the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser.
A day or two since a person who travels on
one of the roads leading into the city called upon
US with the request that we would say something
about the evil complained of above He says
there is trio of genteel thieves who 60 over the
road two or three times a week for the purpose
of fleeing verdant passengers, and they are gen.
orally successful. This trick to which they gen
orally resort is that of getting up friendly game
of "euchre," having prevailed upon one or more
of the passengers to join in, "just to relieve the
monotony.' In the course OF the game one of
the sharpers complains that he has no luck in
holding ''eucher" cards, but that if the game was
poker his hands would always win. A bet 10
made between two of them, and the braggart
looscs. BY and by one of the innocent passen-
gers, who has the game of "bluf'' or
'poker' finds that he has got -four OF. kind"
in his hand and when the gentleman who propos-
ed the game offers to bet that he has got 1.-The
best bluff hand round the board, passenger can
not resist the temptation, he regards -four
queens and an ace "sure thing" Twenty
fifty, perhaps hundred dollars is put up tive
know a late instance where the stake was over
two hundred dollars,l and the hands are exposed,
when the yerdant traveller is shown -four kings
and an ace,' and his opponent "rakes the pile. F"
There is not IA single week passes without occur
rences of this kind. a few days since drOver
was feeced in this manner of several hundred
| dollars, and the black-legs who swindlcd him
were obliged to jump from the while in mo-
ton to escape the consequences of the storm
which raised against them.
| While it might with perfect propriety be af
| frmed that those who, from verdancy ana
avarice combined, permit themselves TO be 1eec
ed in this manner, rightly served, it may still
! be argued that the railroad companies Temiss
/ in their duty when they permit such things on
/ their cars. Let the conductors keep their eyes
on those fellows who the railroads for their
thieving operations, and bundle them of, neck
| and crop, whenever found ON board.
The evening Argus., 1865-12-15
FARM WAGONS FOR SOLDIERS.

GOOD MANY FARMERS, who M .
n served their country faithfully and rs &c hen
bonorabIe discharges, are now returning 70 ln
eUno f,rm. and thew want new wagons. To all .aen;
Who purchase IF me, will make deduction .
rive Dollars from the regular price. ,,p.II.
f"' B. II, RAbALN
pock Island Aug. %, dwu
The evening Argus., 1865-12-15
BY TELEGRAPH
Reported for the Daily Argus.

New YORK, Dec. Is.
The n. Y. Tribune's Washington special
says:
Intelligence has just been received that the col
lector at Rochester, N. Y, has just made an i'm
portant seizure of CANADIAN vessel containing
contraband goods, whisky, tess, dry goods, &C. at
Fond. Na~ Vark
The evening Argus., 1865-12-15
Total -. .5s, ,S57, ,279 5s, SAT, 363
NUMBER, AVERAGE PRICE, AND TOTAL VALUE IN
JANUARY, 1865.

GENERAL SUMMARY RELATING TO CKoPs,
Showing the number of bushels, &c., of
each crop. the number of acres of each, the
value of each. and the bushels, acres and