davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-06-24
Engineering Two Thousand Years Ago.

Perhaps ssme of the most remarkable
remains of ancient engineering are those
which were discovered by excavations
made some ten or twelve years since a
short distance from Rome and near the
ruins of the ancient city of Alatri. This
city was surrounded by massive walls,
and located on a mountain or elevated
point, and ill-provided with water.
About 159 years before Christ, as we
learn from Roman inscription, an i'm
mense aqueduct was built to bring water
from neighboring mountain better sup
piled with that element. We are fur
thermore told that this a1ueduct $40
feet high, supported upon arches and
provided with strong pipes. The to-
biography of the country, moreover, as
sures US that the water supply could net
have been conducted into the city, even
over such high supports, except hypipes
an inverted syphon-the lowest point
of which must have been some $40 feet
below the point of delivery, or under
pressure of at least ten atmospheres The
excavations already alluded to show that
the aqueduct must have been OF large
size, as the piers Of the arches are not
less than five feet nine inches IN
breadth, while the total length OF the
syphon must have been between tour
and five miles. The question natural
ly arises-How and of what mate
rial was this syphon built, AS IRON
pipes of large dimensions, if of any di'
mansions at all, were not known at the
era, we can only look to masonry or
woodwork for the material OF such con
struction. Possibly clew has been
found to the mode Of their construction
by subsequent discovery, near the same
locality, of field supposed to have been
the site of an ancient parade ground
near this once.walled city OF Alatfl,
\ complete system of underground
drainage has been revealed at depth OF
seven feet below the surface OF the
field, effected by well-constructed sys'
tenn of pipes made of tre-clay, each
about eighteen inches in diameter. 1t i
possible that such q pipe, OF larger ui-
mansions, and strengthened on us eA-
terror by strong and massive bui"afh
of masonry, may have been the means
of conveying the water int the cry
But, however that end might have been
attained, the work was certainly Won
derful feat of engineering, considering
the condition Of the mechanic arts 0;
that early day. The excavations ana
discoveries thus brought to light, and 50
fully confirming the truth Of the ancient
inscription, were conducted by order 0,
the present Pope, and under the lmnle-
date supervision of the weL-knoNu
Italian scientist, Father Secchi.-broe"'
Ign J,,rqdl Of Education.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-06-24
Cultivating and Trimming Apple Trees

For two or three years we have hea,
trying some experiments on cultivating
and manuring apple trees at differens
distances from the trunk. Only a gen.
eral brief statement can be given here
Trees which stood in grass and had small
circles about them, kept clean and well
cultivated, did not seem to be benefited
even when the space about the tree was
titled eight or ten feet each way with
trees fifteen years old. The trees an.
peared with yellow leaves and made slow
growth, the same as those in grass with
no culture. Other trees which stood in
a patch of grass, each tree in the center
OF sixteen-foot grass plot, and Gulf.
waited well beyond the grass every way
did apparently as well as those with
clean culture everywhere about them
Piling manure close about a large tree
is like trying to feed horse by TYING
hay to his sides instead of before his
mOuth.) 1t is too soon to draw conclu.
sions, but it so far seems to be unneces.
sary to cultivate closely to trees tomake
them grow well. know from observa.
ton that most of the best working roots
of an old apple-tree are out under the
ends of the longest limbs and beyond
them. The manuring at different dis
tances about the trees has not shown
much effect yet.
The trees are moderately trimmed
every spring, and young shoots rubbed
off as they appear on the large limbs
during summer. No limbs are removed
which are more than one inch in diane.
ter, unless they have died previously.
Two years ago the cold winter injured
severely some of the tender varieties, as
Sweet Bough, Jersey Swee. and Baldwin.
Some of these were heavily cut back,
some were let alone, and others moder.
ately trimmed. The results are decided.
ly against heavily cutting back
Other experiments with striking and
positive results have been tried. Many
people all over the country are trying the
same, and have been for many years, all
with the same results. They are as fol-
lows: Young trees are set in thick sod
with only little space dug about them
or they are set in land which is often
soaked with water for weeks together
They will never amount to anything. 1t
is a labor thrown away. 1t needs no
more proof.-Prof ". j. Bea!, Michigan
agricultural College.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-06-24
The Care OF Lawns.

In response to the inquiries of COR
respondent, the Country Gentleman gives
the following directions for the prepare
ton of lawn and keeping it in order:
If the surface is rough, there are two
ways formaking it'smooth and even. The
first is by breaking up the whole ground,
working and reworking till fine and
mellow, and reseeding or returning. II
the ground is reseeded, SOW at the rate
of at least two bushels of grass seed per
acre. and roll or brush it in. Red-top,
white clover and Kentucky blue grass
will give a good green carpet. II re-
turfed, make the bare surface perfectly
even and level; cut the turf from an old,
even pasture, with straight edges, by
means of stretched line, and then in
vert the pieces or blocks on Il broad
board, and scrape the earth side perfect
~ even by means OF a sharp hoe. They
will thus form an even surface when
laid, and rolling will make the whole rs
smooth as floor The second mode OF
making an ever surface is to apply sand
or fine sandy loan to the surface, and
rake ii level, by which it will fill up all
hollows or depressions, and the grass
will grow through the sand. This is
well adapted TO lawns which have but
slight inequalities of surface.
Ii the defect consists in the grass being
too thin or sparse on the lawn the whole
surface NAV be loosened with a sharp
steel rake Tor fine sharp harrow on q
larger Scale) and grass seed sown as al
ready direCted and its termination and
growth Will be greatly assisted II the
whole surface is dressed with tine com
post before sowing and rakino. In some
instances better seeding viii be effected
by breaking up, aS already described.
II the lawn is defective from the
grow tn of coarse grass or weeds there
are two modes Of treatment One IS 20
rall mp all the weeds immediately after
a long rain, when the ground is soft, o.
to cut them out with a sDud; and the
other is 10 summerfallow the whole
ground for one season, kecping the sur
face stirred and clean al the time, which
will kill nearly all weeds. This IS 10 be
rcsorted to only in case the lawn IS full
of weeds and in a rather desperate con
dition to warrant it,
To keep lawn in good condition
apply top-dressing OF some tertll-
iler late in autumn, spreading II per
teCtly even. coarse MANURE II %
iecti1nable for two reasons, name
lv: its repulsive character al win
ter whenever the ground is bare OF snow
and The liability 10 scatter foul seed in
this way. But if nothing better can
he had be careful to spread il perfectly
even and not leave il in Jumps, as well
ss TO rake I'll all the tibrous material left
on the ground early in spring Finely
pulyerized compost answers We, OF q
compost made OF guano or Of hta ma
nure. The latter may Ne undiluieG. pro
vited il is in fine powder, or it may be
made into "A fine compost with road dust
ON some soils superphosphate answers
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-06-24
RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL.

Gen. Eaton, United States Commits
sioner of Education, estimates the child
population between the ages Of six and
sixteen in the thirty,seven States and
Territories at about 10, 29S, 600. An army
of 100000 teachers is needed to educate
this host of citizens and future freemen.
The Board of Foreign Missions Of
the Presbyterian Church does not pre-
sent a satisfactory report for the past
year. The entire receipts were $456, 71S,
$50, 900 less than the previous year. The
debt Of the Board on the LIST of May was
S3s,2S2 The gifts of the Ladies' Boards
of Missions during the year increased,
but there was falling off In the legacies
and in the contributions from the
churches.
in Massachusetts the law requires
that free industrial drawing Glasses shall
be established in all cities of over 10, 900
Inhabitants. Last year twenty cities
complied with the law and three disre-
garded it. 1t is now proposed that the
law shall be amended so as to include all
towns Of over 5000 inhabitants, which
would include forty-three more. There
is dificultyin obtaining competent teach
ers.
The CAurch Journal (EpiscopaD
make this startling statement Is it an
exaggeration 10 say that the professed
churchmen of city like New York, the
people who kneel at our chancels and
communicate at our affairs, spend more
ou their wines than on their religion?
We believe that the statement is far
within the truth. Their amusements cost
them far more than their churches.
Their luxuries receive their dollars
their charities carefully count their pen
MES"
The number Of ministers Of the Cos
pei in the service Of the American Home
Missionary Society for the past year in
-thirty-threc States and Territories was
S52; 46O were pastors OF single con
g:egations; 277 have supplied two or
three congregations each, and 2f5 have
extended their labors over still wider
fields. Two missionaries have preached
to congregations of colored people, and
thirty-tour in foreign languages - Welsh,
German, French and Swiss. Sixty-sevcn
congregations were organized and sixty
three churches built.
The Southern Baptist Convention,
which met al Charleston, $. c., recently,
reported that the Home Missionary Board
has employed during the year ffty.one
missionaries and agents, including the
native Indian preachers. 1t also reported
1895 baptisms twenty churches organ
dzed, thirteen meeting houses built, and
POS stations supplied by the missionaries
In thirty years 1870 baptisms had been
administered, $40 Sunday schools organ
ized, 4,Gs0 churches and stations sup
piled, cad 1921, 255 contributed for mis-
sipnNy work.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-06-24
Selection of Thrifty Stock.

In fattening animals much depends
on having good, thrifty stock to begin
with. There is great difference in this
respect, some animals eating heartily at
all times, while Others are always dainty
and poor feeders, particularly among
ordinary native and grade cattle.
Doubtless there is equal difference in
specimens of full-bred cattle, and it is
worth more attention than it usually re-
ceives A pedigree is a good thing, but
only as it indicates good feeding, fatten-
ing or milking qualities. All signs fail
sometimes, and the result Of the most
careful breeding will occasionally be q
degenerate specimen, ill-favored and
practically worthless for breeding pur-
poses. Such animals should be sent to
the shambles at once, no matter what
the loss may he to fancy breeders. This
is one objection 10 the pedigree system.
The fact that an animal is registered in
a herd book gives it ayalue of hundreds,
perhaps thousands, of dollars, without
much regard to its intrinsic merits. Tn
less there be some rule of this kind the
cupidity of breeders will naturally pre-
vent the careful selection which should
prevail rs much after herd-b is
Opt0tu as OelOre.
Good breeds are originated by careful
~ wedding out inferior specimens. If
this process be not continued the breed
will degenerate 1t is an interesting
question for buyers whether defective
animals from pedigree stock are ever
refused admission to the herd. book.
There is such a thing as reversion TO the
original type, and if this be not recog-
nized registries and pedigrees may be
used to perpetuate and disseminate de-
teCts as well as eEcellencieS Breeders
and purchasers do recognize this fact TO
some extent, as is shown By the different
values fixed on animals from the same
strain. In my judgment the intrinsic
worth of the animal ought to have greater
influence in fixing its price and the pedi
gree less. This might not be so prOtita
bic rule for breeders, but il would be
better for the purchasers and the public
As regards general thriftiness, much
may be done by proper treatment and
feeding while young. Even an old
animal may, with care, be taught to eat
almost anything hit for food. This is
particularly important for COWS As
general rule, good mixer is never a
POOR feeder, and where the tendency 10
milk is established. the more q COW eats
the greater the amount OF milk pro-
duced In many reighborhoods some
poor laboring man has usually q better
cow than wealttier farmers. and one
reason is that the poor mans COW gets q
greatef yarie'yof feed and is therefore
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-06-24

well, on others it has no effect. The
manure or composts may be applied in
autumn, the more concentrated fertilizers
early in spring.
The surface having been already made
perfectly even will require no more roll
ing than is given to it by the lawn-mow.
ers. When the whole lawn is not more
than an acre or SO it may be kept cut
short in perfect condition by means Of a
hand machine and at trifiing expense. In
early summer, when the grass grows rap.
idly, it should be cut as often as every
1--WE days; later ia the season not so often.
This will enable you always to "tread on
velvet"
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-06-24
The WasherwOman of Sienna.

Charles Warren Stoddard writes to the
San Francisco Chronicle of Sienna, Italy:
Wandering down one of the narrow
streets we came upon low roof sup
ported by heavy columns. 1t looked
like mill.house, and as "a stream, small,
but lively, dashed in at one end of the
building and out at the other we con-
Cluded that it was factory OF some
kind or other. When we came to it we
were saluted by twenty buxom women
who stood in "A row along the side OF
stone cistern in the center OF the shed
through which the stream was flowing.
Every woman had pile of linen at her
feet and garment in her hand which
she was washing in the ice-cold water.
This was one OF the public wash houses;
the matrons and maidens gather in them
TO do their weeks work and learn the
| news of the hour. Just fancy the gossip
thai flows from those busy tongues in
the course of week They all paused
for q moment 10 exchange word with
US, and then the business of the day was
resumed without embarrassment, and, as
pretty faces, big black eyes and hrawny
arms are not uncommon in Italy, we
withdrew, Twenty women switched
twenty damp garments in the air and
sent shower of drops over US; but it
was their way of'bldding us farewell,
and as We shook the Suds from our hats
they laughed Justify for the episodes in
thclivts Of the wa,ery uymphs of Sienna
are few We are continually coming upon
opeu.air laundrieS in every town we
visit, and Judging from the good spirits
that seem To prevail in every case, it
must hc rather jolly than otherwise TO be
an Italian waShUrWoman."
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-06-24

always hearty feeder, obeying PAM.
injunction, Whatever is set before von
eat, asking no question for censcisnca
sake" A cow that will not do this bs';
better be turned over to the butcher a ~
sold as quickly as possible. would no
gin much younger, as it is easy to decide
whether calf gives promise of thrift;
ness or otherwise. The common wav os
selling those calves that thrive best ana
therefore bring the highest price is al
wrong. Better sell the worst and tear
the best, either for beef or milk.-Coap
Country Gentleman. WI
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-06-24

sin case barnyard manures are applied, only
about one-half their value should be charged to
the crop, as their iertilizng effects remain for
several years.
Such an account would not only be
valuable in showing the cost of each
crop, but also in determining which
were the most profitable ones to produce.
If generally kept our farmers would
have a much better idea of the profits
and losses of their business than they
now have, and would be induced to
adopt improved methods of culture, and
thus improve not only their crops but
also their financial condition, Buffalo
Lice Stock Journal,
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-06-24
AGRICULTURAL AND DOMESTIC.

About squash: Did you ever fry
any? l cooked some that way to-day,
and it was nice. Take a summer squash,
cut itup in slices, roll it in flour and fry
In spider in hot butter. Salt and pep
per it; and if you like fried oysters
you'll like this.-Art.ur's Home Magazsne.
The value of flannel next the, skin
cannot be overrated. 1t is invaluable to
persons of both sexes and all ages, in all
countries, in all climates, at every season
of the year, for the sick and the well. In
brief, cannot conceive of any circum-
stances in which flannel next the skin is
not comfort and source of health. 1t
should not be changed from thick to
thin before the settled hot weather of
summer, which, in our Northern States,
is not much before the middle of June,
and often not before the LIST OF July.
And the flannels for the summer must
| not be three-quarters cotton but they
must be all wooden if you would have
the best protection. In the British army
and navy they make the wear of flannel :,
point of discipline. During the hot season
the ships doctor makes daily examina-
ton Of the men at unexpected hours to
make sure that they have not left off their
hannels. Day.
Il find cucumbers paying cropwhen
grown for pickles, and sold either be-
fore or after salting-price per 100 the
same in either case. lplOw as deep as
two horses can pull the pillow, then mark
one way four feet apart, letting the
pillow run as deep as the ground was
plowed. ! then put shovelful of barn
yard manure where each hill is wanted
say four feet apart and then thorough
ly mix with the soil, making the hills
about two inches higher than the general
surface of the ground. | plant about
the middle of June. AS soon as the
plants get large enough to be out of the
way of the striped bug thin to four
plants to each hill. l cultivate them fire.
quently, and hand-hoe two or three times
before the vines commence to run. In
this vicinity the price ranges from fifty
cents to one dollar per 100, and the prod
uct of an acre sells for $500 to $780,
u. S. Ransom, IN OHIO Journal.
However aghast some =" fine ladies"
may regard the idea of working in the
garden l consider it one of the most
wholesome means of exercise within our
reach. Wholesome especially because
we have an object-and an interesting
one in taking this eXerclse-which is the
growth of flowers and plants. Before
commencing work in the garden put on
pair of WORKOUT leather gloves, a
broad brimmed sun hat and a pair of
good stout boots; if not stout then wear
pair of thin gum over-shoes. The
dampness of the soil is very liable to
produce "cold.' Don't be afraid that
the labor will hurt you, even if you
should become very tired; on the con
trary, it will strengthen you, give you
rosy cheeks, and may add years to your
life. There is not "a spring that do not
spend two weeks at least at work in the
garden, and tell you that to me there
is nothing so agreeable, | may say fasci-
mating; and this feeling is doubled when
! see the fine flowers and good vegetables
growing and put upon the table from my
own NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., an Germd7a-
toaon Telegraph.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-06-24

---Blackberries were in the San Fran.
cisco market the last OF May,
Crystal Springs, Miss, will ship 90
600 boxes of peaches North during the
season.
"A Boston damsel who put on her
ssi0yse to clean them with benzine and
then went too close to the gaslight found
thet she had first.class contlagrstion on
hand.
The success met with by Col An.
uhoDp TN deiyng death is accounted for
hv Jne fact that death is masculine aud
Susnx is feminine, and she's been pro
;eoeng her brother against the other
tvrNnt,
There is a French court trying the
question whether a iunctionary charged
with process of the law is justified in
Selling a soldiers two wooden legs il he
can get them at Il moment when they are
not worn.
a f'ultonTi,ic man got rid of an
organ grinder by pointing to the elegant
lenNcry, and informing him that the
fENajty occupying that domicile were eX-
,u"cdngly fond of organ music. The
egTganman stopped playing before the
henDcry when the aroused roosters be-
yHp 4, CROW .-ftica O5serpsr.
rorofhis rocn hos ii, If IN.
,.,,;,,, e. ~. ,;",n,,,ni ,,o',,., la5;as
,,a ~, as hsb,'s tentb;nr
-, t t','' r,,orno - ,,arr;od I;foo
-. No ,,",oa, oa, sa"i any, sonti.
mn, for ,n." VINO tr"ysIs arn,n6 !,
III. ,;,t, shirt ~ bnt s,,,n,orss ern
,,,,,, - s',raIi;,,,, i,fa,t 5arHi;n,r o,.nr bis
shoulder II IS then that She stops call.
ing him Darling and desccnds TO such
commonplace observations as: John
tambge, be careful how you hold that
baby
A hat after the latest podr is q
widc-hrimmcd I.oghorn. turned up on
the left side and faced with cream.W hite
silk, edged with q band of black velvet
half an inch wide. The trimming around
the crown consists OF h.ac, velvet and
sutt, WIDE gros grain ribbon mingled aud
tW isted together, while bows OF each hold
'"S stem W ~. "s''',a l'al"'' "UleH
,I.aol,s W Nv III, ,,l l,nL' - S''" III
1 Sa;i,r -, w., -,,, .,',n ,''''' NOM
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-06-24
The Cost OF Crops.

Ii merchant were to sell his goods for
just what anyone who came along saw
mt to offer him, without any regard either
to their cost or value, every one who
knew his habits of business would feel
free to say that he was on the broad
road to financial ruin. His course would
be considered the very height of reckless
folly, and would be universally con-
demned. But it seems to me that great
many farmers do business on very much
the same principle as that which was
supposed in the case Of the merchant.
They often sell their crops for just what
the first buyer who comes along will
offer to pay, regardless Of their value. In
almost numberleSs cases the sellers do
not keep posted regarding the markets,
and consequently have little idea of the
cash value of their crops. In regard to
the cost Of their crops they are still more
in the dark than they are on the question
of value. They have kept no account
not know how much they cost or at what
price they can afford to sell them.
Every farmer ought to know how
much his wheat, or corn, or potatoes cost
him a bushel. Until he does know this
he must work very much in the dark.
He cannot tell which crop pays him best,
or whether some return large profits
while others are source of loss. But he
can very easily ascertain, and it is GER
tainly his interest to do so. 1t will cost
but little. Anyone who has brains
enough to manage farm can do it with
out any great expenditure of time or
labor. BY simply keeping debit and
credit account with each field he can
determine the cost of his crops readily
and accurately. The following specimen
will illustrate:
Crop, potatoes. Value of land, $50 per acre.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-06-24

AMONG the passengers on the train a.
Harrisburg was a lady who carried ,
large basket. The conductor DECIDED
that the baggage was entirely too cum,
bersome to be allowed in the car, ana
politely informed her that she would De
obliged to remove it to the baggage-csI
As he was about seizing the basket the
lady showed him picture the sight OF
which had magical effect in producing
change in his feelings Before nm
we're a pair of twins few months ole,
who seemed to be supremacy happy II
their basket bed.