davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-03-11
Postage-Stamp history.

Now THAT stamp gathering is such
widespread recreation, it will be of in
terest to many to learn that the second
postage-stamp issued in the United States
was engraved by Thomas Chubbuck, of
this city, at Brattleboro, over twenty
years ago. Mr.. Chubbuck was in Brat
tleboro from 1916 to 1848, while his in
valid wife was undergoing treatment at
a water-cure there, and had an office d.
rectly over the Postoffice. by which he
became intimate with f. N. Palmer, the
Postmaster. At that time it cost FIVE
cents to send letter, and prepayment
was optional. Postmasters' salaries,
moreover, were graded, as they are now,
to some extent, by the amount taken in
at the Office, and the Postmaster at New
York, thinking that the people would be
more apt to prepay their postage if they
could do SO by means of stamps, had
some struck off at his own expense. One
of these reached the Brattleboro Post
office, and the plan commended itself to
Mr. Palmer's judgment, who determined
to increase the revenues of his office, if
possible, by the same means. Accord
ingly he employed Mr.. Chubbuck to pre-
pare copper plate for him, containing
eight stamps, and had 500 printed
They were printed i'm black ink upon
buff paper, and were of about the same
dimensions as those now in use. The de-
sign was very simple, consisting of
an octagonal center, differing from
the border in the direction of the
tinted lines. The center contained the
initials of the Postmaster, Of. N. P.," in
fac-simile of his handwriting; above it
was Brattleboro," below "Five Cents"
and on the sides "P O." Before the is
sue of 500 stamps was used up the Gov
eminent began to publish postage
stamps, and the destruction was ordered
both of the stamps on hand and the dies.
Hence has happened the extreme rarity
of the stamps, which has led some to
doubt their existence. Mr.. Chubbuck
had single sheet of the stamps IN his
book of samples of his work for num-
Der of years, but finally sold them about
two years ago to New York gentleman,
who gave him dollar apiece for them,
leaving the engraver chuckling over his
bargain. Meeting the gentleman some
time after, Mr.. Chubbuck learned that
he had sold the stamps for ten dollars
apiece, but the man l sold them to, y
said he, "got twenty dollars apiece for
them" This gentleman wrote an account
of the stamps, which was published with
out Mr.. Chubbuck's knowledge, in an
English postal magazine, with wood
cut of the stamps. In consequence of
this publication Mr.. Chubbuck has re-
ceived numerous letters inquiring about
the stamps and offering generous prices
for copies of them, one man being will
ing to give 800 for the original plate, if
obtainable. The plate, however, has
been destroyed, and the stamps are never
met with except in the album of some
philatilist who has been fortunate enough
to secure copy Of the rare curiosity
Springfield Mass. y Republican.
Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-03-11

1t is privately whispered that tho
Czarevitch and his pretty wife are not ON
the best OF terms He treats her n D,
Russc, and on a few occasions bas no,
hesitated to strike her. You may not he
aware that the whip is common article
OF domestic economy in this country and
that among the peasantry the bride pre-.
SCENTS a whip to the bridegroom. 1t is
hung at the foot of the bed and not in.
frequently used. The Czarevitch il snf.
ficiently fond of the customs of his com.
try not to allow this one, SO long and
favorably known, to fall into disuse
Where the ruler that is to be sets the
example the subjects viii be sure to fol.
low.
But, after all. any little family disci
pline on his part is not out of keeping
with the traditions of the Romanofis'
Jars have not been infreQuent among
them and sometimes they have been very
serious. The Emperor and Empress
have cat and dog life of it, but as most
royal and imperial couples are in the
same box we need not be surprised at il.
st. Petersburg Letter to Ciactnaati
Gazette
Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-03-11
Giant Trees in California.

1t has been supposed that the Sierra
sequoias, or big trees, of California, were
confined to q few small and isolated
groves like those known to tourists by
the name of Calaveras, Toulomne, Mer-
ced and Mariposa, scattered at consid-
cradle intervals along the western slope
of the mountains for distance of sixty
miles. 1t was known that collection
of big trees larger than any OF those
known in the Mariposa and Calaveras
regions exists in Fresno County, where
Thomas mill has for several years been
saving this red wood of the Sierra to
supply the market of Visalia, but ii was
discovered last summer that this body OF
big-tree timber is not properly grove,
but forest extending for not less than
seventy miles in northwest and south
westward direction, with width in some
places of ten miles, and interrupted only
by the deep canons which cut across the
general course of the forest and reduce
the level to an elevation below that at
which the tree is found in wild con-
dltion, although when cultivated it
thrives in all our valleys.
Different persons have traced the forest
from the basin of the Tule River, in lati-
tudc thiriy-six degrees twenty minutes,
across those of the Kaweah and Kings
to that of the San Joaquin. The eleva-
ton has not been carefully measured,
but is supposed to vary from 1000 to
5000 feet At one point--and one only
this forest is accessible by wagon
road, and that is at Thomas mill, forty
eight miles from Visalia. Unlike the
groves further north this forest consists
mainly and In some places almost ex-
clasively of the big trees. and there are
also multitude OF small ones in all the
ages of growth, some just sprouting and
others saplings only two or three feet
through. The largest standing tree as
yet measured is forty feet in diameter; a
charred stump-the tree itself having
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES forty-one feet
across. A tree twenty-four feet in diam
eter, four feet above the ground, is pre-
cisely the same thickness sixty feet
higher. A fallen trunk is hollow
throughout and the hole is large enough
to drive horse and buggy seventy-two
feet in it as in tunnel.
The forest Is so extensive, the timber
Ii so abundant and excellent in quality,
and the demand for it is so great in the
bare valley at the foot Of the mountain,
that it cannot be withheld from the ak
and the saw-mill. The wood is similar in
general character to the coast sequoia, or
common red wood, straight in grain,
spill ting freely, even enough in grain for
furniture, and far superior to oak in its
keeping qualities in positions exposed to
Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-03-11
sa.m Total; sl4.sss.7s.

miscellaneous. sss-ss Total; sis,ess.7s. In
crease Sss5a6. Miles, 81.
Tokyo 4 NoEruwEsTElE.-Pas 81
.sa.ee freight. ss.5sss3; express, $1,000; malls.
$500. Total 81. el.
MISSOURI, Iowa & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. "a,
sool; freight ia,oss =. express. ssi4 IS: mails
S6s000: miscellaneous. Sl3s0. Total. SIT so. 81.
Increase. SaaT.G. Niles. 1871
Iowa EasrEns Narrow Gauge.-Passengers
Sf.siT4s: freight. SAILS; express. SSs.Ss: :
msils. ssss555. Total, SO, 76i.6s. Increase So
s2a.si Miles. IL
KEoKuK DIS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. $1S3. e75-
10; freight sssA2s3.se: express. &i7.0g6.is:
mails $l3SE.s5; miscellaneous, sl6,59000.
Total. Ss06 1855. Miles. 1918.
DEs MONIES q FoRT DoDcK.s-Passengers, $35-
20 65: freight. S5s-56s.0z; mails. $4a44-ot: ex-
press. s. 80 50; miscellaneous, si.s3iis- Total,
sI1s. s30.S3.
Total earnings 1873. sl5ss3o.Gla.7s; total earn
ings, 1874, si6,ss2, As 36 Increase, $50 $3.50.
The Narrow-Gauge from Des Moines to
Ames has made no report. 1t was not
opened until July ID.
Comprised the Des Moines Valley Road in
1873. Increase earnings. SO, gi605.
Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-03-11
Religious and Educational.

The Presbyterian congregations are
failing behind in their contributions to
the sustentation fund. OF the *i00, coo
recommended for this purpose, only
$l3, S42.55 had been received up to Feb. /.
The Presbyterian Synod of East
Tennessee, connected with the Northern
Church, has fifty-five churches, with a
number of outside stations thirty-seven
ministers, six licentiates and 3,490 mem
bers. The Southern Synod reports about
the same number of churches and minis
tiers in that territory.
The question of reducing the size of
the Presbyterian General Assembly is
mooted It has become too unwieldy for
the prompt transaction of business. 1t
has been proposed TO elect the Commits
missioners from the synods in place of
the presbyteries. Another proposition is
3. reduce the ratio of representation.
The subject is likely TO be fully discussed
this year.
The Waterman and Reflector notes the
fact that Notwithstanding the great re-
viyals Of last year, adding 100, 900 mem
beers to the various churches, there was a
falling off ia the contributions to the
cause of missions, and concludes that
the converts must have been received
with narrow ideas of Christian obliga-
ton.
I'm the two cities of Pittsburgh and
Allegheny, Pa, there are no less
than forty-eight Catholic churches
and chapels, most Of which have been
built within tho last twenty years. The
Catholic population of this diocese,
which comprises fifteen counties, is esti-
mated at 100000.
--Clergymen are SO often sneered at
for interpreting a higher salary for di-
vine call that they deserve the benefit of
a statement made by a Presbyterian
journal that Lewiston (Mifflin County,
preacher left $4,000 salary in that city
for $1,000 salary because he wanted
to go where he could do the most good.
The New York Observer asks for
union in the Presbyterian Church in
America: "While there are ministers
and members of the Southern Church
who are longing for union who feel, as
we do, that the separation is wrong, and
ought, for the interests Of the church,
North and South, to be instantly healed,
at the same time the influence of few
leaders prevents the contamination, just
as similar causes long delayed the re-
union of the Presbyterian Church in the
NOrth.o
Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-03-11

The following railroads have reported
their gross earnings to the Governor for
the year 1874, in accordance with the
statute, for the purpose of classification.
The returns include only that portion of
the roads in Iowa.
CHICAGO, Rock ISLAND IL PAoIFIo--. Passengers
S03s 80, "a; freight S2,3D7, 74359; express. S51,
1900; mail, S939l3OO; miscellaneous, $6,95l 30
Total, S3s0s, 1905. Increase, $i97,i56.s7 Miles
574.6B.
CHICAGO & NORTHWESTERN Passengers S723,.
1922 freight, S2070 711.77 express, $109, 5S222
mails, Ssn;6s Total, sa,so'a23.6a. Increase,
CHICAGO, BuRIINaTos a. QUIscy--Passenger
S950,06bs0; freight $s,370, JJ7s0; express, Si8,-
$500; mails, Sis,9i7.33; miscellaneous, $l54.O2
1885, f1
CHICAGO, MILwAUKEE a. ST.. PAuL-Passengers,
S1S3, l73.70 freight, $500, 667 As; express, $2s,-
Total sss iasr %sss ssss Miles,
242.
CHICAGO, cL.sros g. DuBuouE Passengers,
mails, sseoe.5. Total, sis5, saS.a. Increase,
S76,1G6.07. Miles, 49,
CHICAGO, DUBUQUE u MINNESOTA Passengers,
$9s 423 a.: freight, 1855 ~; express, 81 st366;
mails, $3.50; miscellaneous, $50. Total, $780,
Cl5.3B Increase, $i4,9i5.36. Miles, 92. 50.
ILLINOIS CEsTRAL.-Pas Passengers, S465, F45b2;
freight, III express $ssSoi 81; mails az.
99S. 49, Decrease, S4g,3J2d1. Miles, a02.i6.
DAvgspoRT & ST. PAUL III MoNTiIs). --Passen-
gers, S49,8847; freight, $i0j ,26s37; express,
$s,5s7S8; mails. $7,e7s.7s miscellaneous, si0s..
81; December (estimatedl. S17.3a3.ia. Total,
S1S3,335. Decrease, $6,04g. Miles, 1886.
SIOUX Cry n ST. PAUL. Passengers, $s3, 800 As
freight, s9O535.S9; express. S30i0.S3; mails 81.
s31 ~ miscellaneous, $l6Si.90 Total. $l5f6l3.-
49, Increase, $751; 3i.s3. Miles, 57.25
CENTRAL RAILROAD OF acknowledgements f54, :
686.S0 freight, 39,b9l.SS; express. S6,3il4p;
mails, 50 $3.50; miscellaneous, Si2,6i2s3 Total,
S64e ,69D.33. Increase, Ss7,63664. Miles, 1914.
Passengers S3sl ,6i51e; freight, $780,, a.: ex-
press $l4,S0a "a: nails $i5.60u. 49, miscellaneous,
$374.2l. Total, $i.246s11.9O. Less ll,60 miles
In Minnesota, S33 953.43. Total, S1,2l295s.47.
Increase, Sl53, 1874. Miles, 36S.s5.
BURLINGTON e. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
S2s53909 freight, x85, .6g .62 express, $i.777 %;
mails, 81 sss,65. Total $li7,4ei sS.Increasc, S..
DUBUQUE T. SouTHwEsTERN.--Pass S3s,-
1890; freight and express, $7l ,4S0.13; mails,
S9,b9l6l; miscellaneous. $i.04o.0a Total, SllI,-
iH.70. Decrease, $5,860.5S. Miles, A.6
Mississippi VALLEY q WESTERN Passenger,
100; freight $2s 402 80; mails, $40 O0; ex-
Iowa, GA miles, $3,l27. 10; increase, $a7S.l2
ST. LOUIS, KANSAS Cry q NEBRAsKA.--P asscn-
gers, $ai,so3.bl; freight, $50, a3.s5; express,
SIS $40; mails, $3,3Sf.b7. Total, $54 5000. In
crease. $ll,t 1878. Miles, 4a.24.
SIOUX CITY q Passengers, SIS, 7S5b5;
freight, $i22 .Ss6.a4; express, S254S.23; mails,
$5,05r; miscellaneous, $l2,9es.M. Total, $si4,-
SARUI.A, ACKLEY a DAKoTA.-Passengers, &c.
433.4i freight, $685. 065; express, $40; mails,
$3514; miscellaneous, S57s44. Total SO, $780, SO.
Increase, $S2i.o7. Miles, 81.
DAKOTA SouTHERN.-Pa $b.860.66;
freight, $6s09.7 express, $l99S5; mails, $685.
Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-03-11
A Quarrel in the Imperial Family Of
Russia.

JUST now the report is that the
Emperor has had quarrel with his son,
the Czarevitch, and that the dispute is
assuming serious proportions. There has
long been difference between them
concerning their political views, and sew
eral time they have had sharp words.
The Emperor is progressist; it was
through his influence that serfdom was
abolished, army reforms were instituted,
railways were built and efforts were
pushed forward for improving the con-
dition OF the country and profiting by
the experience of the rest of the world.
The Czarevitch is reactionist, and be-
longs to the party known as Drarei
Rooski-old Russians. He believes in
the past rather than in the present and
future; he favors return to the condi-
lions OF fifty years ago, and, If he were
an American, he would have no barn
doors because his great-grandfather had
none. He hates all foreigners, especially
the Germans, and, when he becomes EN-
peror, which event we trust will be post
poned many years, he will make il lively
tor all persons not of Russian blood.
The present quarrel of the Emperor
actual and the Emperor prospective has
come from the coquetting which is now
going on between Russia and Germany.
The Governments are as thick as two
thieves, and it is just now the fashion to
follow the German lead, just as it was
the fashion few years ago to initiate
everything French. The Franco Prussian
war led to this, and Russia naturally de-
sires to be on the side of the strongest
power.
One DAY last week the Czarevitch freed
his mind to his imperial papa, and they
had somewhat heated interchange of
opinion. Alexander, Jr., stated that he
regarded all foreigners as beasts, and
the Germans as pigs, and that the course
OF the Russian Government was the
worst that could be pursued. Alexander,
Sr., rose on his aurfcular, and told the
junior to hold his jaw; the latter did not
hold, and the Emperor finally ordered
him from his presence.
Next day the Emperor sent word he
was ready to receive an apology. twas
not given that day, and whether it has
yet been given or not / am unable to
say. If the Czarevitch does not apollo
gize there will be serious scandal; the
affair has not yet reached the papers.
but is not unlikely to do so. 1t certainly
will get there whenever the Emperor
wills it.
The sold Russian party is pretty strong,
and several of the papers are said to be
in their interest, though they are forced
to be very careful in their discussion of
national questions. Two old Russian
papers were suspended a few months ago
one of them has resumed publication, but
the other is still under the ban. The
Moscow Gazette, the recognized organ of
the Emperor, has recently published sew
eral articles of an extremely progressive
character, and evidently the Emperor has
determined to manufacture public opin-
ion for his side of the question.
Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-03-11

alterations of moisture. The Sierra Sc
quota does not throw up sprouts from its
stump, as does the red wood, and can
therefore be felled out more readily. 1t
was wise for Congress to make reser-
walton for pleasure purposes of the Mari
posa Grove, which is near Yosemite,
small and conveniently accessible to
tourists by the present route of travel !;
nut the Tulare- Fresno forest--it is all in
those two counties-cannot be converted
into public reservation. Numerous
saw-mills will be built on its lines, and
fumes will carry the lumber down to
the consumers. Wagon-roads will as
cend from the railroad turns to the Cali
fornia Alps, passing through the forest
and receiving great attractions from it,
San Francisco Alta.
Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-03-11
Incidents and Accidents.

Miss Brooks, of Mortified, VT, re-
Gently horsewhipped a fellow named
Kelley, eighteen years old, for throwing
an obscene publication into her sleigh.
"A daughter of Mr.. James Gray, of
Parksville, Sullivan County, N. Y, was
recently the victim of a peculiar accident.
While combing her hair in front of a
looking glass her older sister called her
attention TO something, when she turned
her head around suddenly, and through
the displacement of some cord her head
has since remained almost in the same
position.
MIR. Bradford Page, of st. Johns.
bury, VT, IN order TO keep his cellar
from freezing lately, placed about a
bushel of lighted charcoal in it in an
open vessel; in the course of an hour the
effects Of it were felt by the family, five
In number. The oldest daughter tainted
and was restored to consciousness only
to faint again, and not till this was re-
peated some four or five times did they
discover the cause. The whole family
had begun to be seriously affected by it.
Charcoal is at discount in that house.
81 Mr.. Kent, resident of Rochester,
n. Y, recently heard his door-bell ring,
and going out quickly found baby on
the steps and man running around
the corner. He chased the man, collared
him after a long race, and discovered
him to be DR.. Elijah l.. Wood, a we'll
known young physician of that city.
Wood had been paid fifty dollars 10y the
mother Of the baby to rid her Of il In this
way, she choosing Mr.. Kent's house be-
cause he had just lost little child, and
so she hoped he might welcome this one
in its stead.
"A Portsmouth IN. H. man lost his
pig from its sty in a mysterious way the
other day. A vigorous search of the
neighborhood did not reveal its where
abouts. Two days later, as the sad owner
was standing by the deserted pen medi-
tating upon his loss, he cast his eye
toward barrel that stood on end within
a few feet of the Enclosure and noticed
something feebly reckoning him to APP
proach. He looked again-it was pigs
TAIL He walked along quickly and
looked into the barrel and there was
piggy with scarcely breath Of life left
in him. The pig had evidently fallen
into the barrel when he jumped from the
pen and had stood on hts head for two
days and nights while his owner was
hunting all over the city to find him.
Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-03-11
KREDULrTY.

Next to cheating sumboddy else exists
the desire to be cheated by sumboddy.
Mankind, az a lump, are an open
mouthed set of spooneys, and luv to
hang around things that hav got good
helthy fraud in them.
think, perhaps, that every human
being aktually luvs the truth better than
they do lie, when they cum right down
to aktual dizziness, but they all ov them
do luy to fool little with wha. they al
most aktually know amt SO.
This may arise from kuriosity--it NAV
arise from vanity-but Edo know that
kredulity is a trait that possess, in COM
mon with all mi brothers and sisters ov
the Adam family.
Thare liz real positive fun in Citing
phooled, or, at least, in comeing az near
az we kan to it.
Human natur luvs to be tempted, not
bekauze they expekt to git beat, but be-
kauze they expekt to beat the other phel-
low.
Kredulity IL diffrent from kuriosity
kuriosity liz often very cunning and
most always haz sum objekt in view, but
kredulity IL generally too lazy to be
cunning.
But after all ! am real glad thare liz
more kredulity in the world than in
kredulity or cunning; it may not be so
smart, but it liz good.natured, and kind
ov honest, and abov all things it liz dred-
full human.
Kredulity liz a failing, no doubt, and
the failings ov poor mankind are az in
teresting to me az their virtews are.
/ am az full ov kredulity az emmy one
/ kno ov, and, az weak az it il, wouldn't
swop it off for twice its weight IN cum
ming or impudense.
/ would rather every human being on
the face ov the earth could say that he
had cheated me, and could do it agin,
than to hav one say that / had cheated
him.
Now that think of it, rather hate a
cunning kuss that nobody can cheat
Josh Billings, in N. y. Weekly.
Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-03-11

An English paper says: "Mr. STAN
ley's first letter from Africa shows that
he has, at the outset of the journey, ac-
complished great work, the moral and
material Importance of which can hardly
be exaggerated. In thirty days he ex-
plored the Rufigi River, which Mr. Kirk
reported to be navigable. Mr.. Stanley,
as the result of his spirited voyage in the
Yarmouth yawl, the Wave, informs US
that the river carries good navigable
channel fifty miles inland, and he be-
licyes that for nearly half that distance
the largest Mississippi steamboat of
5000 tons might safely float. Mr. STAN
ley by his initial bit of work puts the
British Consul at Zanzibar to shame and
justifies the belief that he is not un-
worthy to continue the work which was
begun by Livingstone"
Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-03-11
Farming a Dull Business.

TALKING with very BRIGHT and am
bilious young woman, farmers daugh-
ter, where we stopped over night, she
said farming was dull sort of life.
/" Yes" said young man of twenty-five
years, there is no incentive to work.
1t Is all hum drum, routine, and hard
work-no relaxation of effort and moth
ing to stimulate the mind"
what nonsense" we replied. "There
is everything for stimulus. Each farm
is world itself, about which those who
have lived upon it know little or nothing,
comparatively. Suppose, for example,
we were to ask how many kinds of
grasses-redI grGsses-grown on your
farm. Could you tell us, with their cor
rect names, habits and history? Suppose
we ask you how many species of plants
are indigenous on your farm and the
names of these plants, time Of towering,
color of flowers, soil and locality in
which they grow. Could you tell uss
Suppose we were to ask you how many
species of birds visit your farm every
year, the time of their arrival and de-
parture, their habits while with you, their
names and their habits while absent from
your locality the balance of the year.
Could you tell usg' Suppose we ask you
how many species of insects are to be
found on your farm; their names, his
tory, habits; whether injurious to you or
not; upon what trees or plants they live;
when and how often they appear and
how long they stay. Could you tell u.s.
Suppose we ask you to show US speci-
mems of the grasses and other plants, the
birds, insects, etc, which may be gath
cred within your boundary fences. Could
you show them to us? And yet, If you
were to undertake to acquire the knowl-
edge we have suggested by these in
quiries you would find your life too short.
Yet the knowledge you would gain, the
interest you would soon take in it, and
the knowledge of your own impotency
you would acquire would prove to you
that it is not the farm that is dull
place, but it is you who are dull."-Rurdt
Nep Yorker.