davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-27
Rat.hunting Snakes.

Some months AGO a gentleman from DUN
phries paid visit to friend OF MS IN tie
Township of Beverly, Canada, Mr.. Henry,
and remained with him several days. Durlhg
his visit the Dumphries gentleman complained
that his house was literally infested WIN rats
and mice. He had tried every. device 10 gel
rid of Them. and all had failed. Mr.. Henry,
who il as ingenious as he is fond of sport, de-
clared that he could battle the rats out OF his
friends cellar in less than no time, to use his
own eypressiDn Next day the two drove to
the geniemans house in Dumphrics. Mr. Hen,
ry took with him Il common quartergr0ss
matchbox, pierced with a few holes, which he
carefully placed under the seat of the buggy.
The Dumphres gentleman, feeling that his
friend was going to give him surprise, prob
ably with some improvement on the ferret ask
ed no questions, the better to eL Joy the surprise
when it did come. Arriving 1T the house they
had dinner and after the ladies had retired Mr..
Henry placed the box on the table and remov-
ed the lid. In an instant from the box leaped
a full grown garter snake, measuring three feet
and half in length. The reptile, which was
highly excited with the heat, reared itself al.
most on the extremity of its tail and gllded
about the table with remarkable rapidly. lick
ing its CHASTITY jaws with its forked and nlmplc
tongue The Dumphrcs gentleman shrunk
back into the corner almost petrlfed WIN nor
ror. Mr. Henry showed how silly TINS was py
taking the snake upon his arm and handling
it much like a hack driver would handle his
whiplash Finally his fears were overcome,
and when he had composed himself he leu MS
friend into the cellar, where the snake was set
at liberty. The reptile Immediately darted for
the wall. and the next moment discovered
hole, into which he glded with the greatest of
ease. An interested terrier stood at their heels,
and both gentlemen held clubs, which were
trumps lust about then. The snake had not
disappeared over minute before half a dozen
rats bounced out of the hole and met a terrible
fate at the hands of their enemies outside. But
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-27
The Agricultural Value of Worms.

In 1887 Mr. Darwin, IN paper read before
the British Geological society, explained how
the formation of vegetable mold which forms
covering several inches in depth on the sur
face of productive land was directly due to the
common earth worm. The soil, he stated was
simply the nOn-nutrcious matter contained in
the earth originally eaten by the worm and re-
jected by it, and the accumulated deposits Of
large numbers of worms produced the extern
sive layers commonly found. Quite recently
Herr Won Hensen has nveStigatcd further in
to this subject and has confirmed Darwins
conclusions while suplementing with many of
his own. An abstract of his investigations APP
pears in the xix Century.
He stated that the adult worms come to sur
face at night and, with their tails in their bur
rows, collect the twigs, leaves, etc. which serve
as their food This material is heaped around
the orficc of the burrow and is drawn in piece
by piece, the leaves IN time becoming macerat-
ed and decomposcd, and thus rendered suita-
bic for the worms eating The investigation
was conducted in garden having layer Of
mold nine inches deep and subsoll of yellow
diluvial sand. The worm tubes were not east
lytraced in the mold, but were perfectly clear
in the sand, running vertically downward to a
depth of from three to six feet. On the walls
of these burrows the black masses of excre
ment of the worms were plainly visible. Some
tubes were entrly filled with this substance
the black color of which was dlffused into the
adjacent soil. In about half the inhabited
tubes plant roots had entered, following theil
course BY extended observations the author
states that the roots of ANIMALS can only pene
taate into the subsoil through channels opened
out to them by earth worms, and he observes
that this penetration must be of service to the
plant as the subsoil retains moisture longer
than the surface layer of the mold.
In order to ascertain the precise part taken
by the worm in making this vegetable mold
two worms were placed in glass vessel filled
with sand, on the surface of which was spread
a layer of fallen leaves. The worms set tc
work at once, and after about six weeks the
surface of the sand was found to be covered
with layer of mold nearly half an inch deep
while many leaves had been carried to depth
of three inches. Worm tubes ran in all direc
tons through the sand some were quite fresh
others had wall of mold an eighth of an inch
thick, Others again were completely filled with
mold. In short, the soil of the vessel was al
ready perfectly we'll prepared for the growth o.
plants.
Herr Won Hensen finds that, although the
earth worm weighs only about fOrty-siX grains
it produces in four hours nearly eight grains
of excremcntitiouS matter. On an average he
finds about "a 600 worms to an acre of ground
Their combined eight is therefore over 22C
pounds, and they produce about thirty-sevcn
pounds of mold in twenty-tour hours. Be
side this, they produce uniform distribution
of the mold, oprn up passages in the sub-Soil
for roots and rem, the subSOil fcrtilc-.ScieH.
t!tc Americap.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-27

SALT llHEUM.-Thc lady asking for salt rheun
remedies will find any drying, external applica
tons very dangerous to her health, unless she
take something internally to drive disease from
hersystem She can hardly be more afflicted by
the complaint than have been this spring In
the name of common humanity and common
suffering | send her my course of medicine
One tablespoonful of cod-livcr oil and phos
phate of lime and ten drops oftincturc of iron
in water, after each meal. Iron must be taken
through glass tube, to preserve the teeth.
find, too vapor and sulphur baths very bcne
fiCial.-COr. ChicdgD TribuHc.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-27

The shah Of Persia one day expressed long
ing for KrupN oNnon in the presence Of the
Russian minisic Who at once informed the
car of the shah 'rSirc. The car, who was
anxious to grat:!t The ,hah, by return mail,
rs it were, sent on Il the monster cannon-a
300 pounder-to his ally. The present was
landed at Enzili on the Caspian sea- but it took
a months labor by a regiment of the Persian
army to get the cannon to Tcheeran. Arrived
there day was appointed to fire it. The court
and almost the entire population of the city as
sembled. Bang! went the cannon, away scamp
cred half the multitude, and down tumbcd the
minaret off one of the city gates, near which
the gun had been placed But there was an
other disaster. In an hours time messenger
arrived from village five miles away. and re.
ported that its inhabitants were bewailng the
loss of their mosque. The cannon-ball from
the cannon had struck the building and ruined
it. The shah was so diSmayed by the effect
that he never permitted the cannon to be fired
again.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-27
Keeping Poultry IN Orchards.

This is a matter that should be practiced
when possible. We believe that if farmers and
trult-raiser knew the benefits arising from such
management they would adopt it at once. Last
fall we visited an orchard in which fowls were
kept; the owner of which told us that before
the fowls were confined in it, the trees made
little or no growth, and only a corresponding
amount Of fruit was obtained But what a
change was evident now The grass was kept
down, the weeds killed and the trees presented
an appearance of thrift which the most enthu-
siastic horticulturist could not but admire and
envy. The growth of the trees was most Wig
orous, and their foliage remarkably luXurant.
The fruit was abundant, of large size and free
from worm and other impertectons. This ex-
cellence was accounted for by the proprietor,
who remarked that the hens ate all the worms
and curculo in their reach, even the canker
worm. He found less trouble with their roost-
ing in trees than he expected, and that pick.
ct fence six feet high kept them within bounds
His orchard was divided into three sections,
and the fowls were changed from one to an,
other as the condition of the fowls or the or.
chard section seemed to quirc-Poultry
WOrld
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-27

Every farmer should have small room
tight and warm, which he can lock and where
he can keep his small tools. Then he wants a
good, solid work bench, with an iron wise on
one side, and a wooden one on the other.-FOr
iron working he wants solid piece of iron
for an anvil, a seven-pound steelfaced ham.
mer, riveting hammer one large and one
small cold chisel, two or three punches from
onefourth to three-eighths inch, IL trimmer and
countersink, to be used with bit-stock screw
plate that will cut a screw from one.fourth to
three-eighths inch; then, with round iron OF
the various sizes, and ready made nuts, he can
make any bolt he wishes. For carpenter work,
he wants square, shaving horse, drawing
knife, "A set Of planes, augur from one-half to
two inches, Il fine hand saw, with coarse cross
cut and rip saw, large cross-cut saw for logs
and grindstone
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-27

the snake was not satisfied; it discovered every
rat hole in the cellar, and glided in and out
among the rocks where even a rat could moi
have gone II was finally taken up and placed
in a box after twenty rats and almost as many
mice had been killed. The snake belongs to
the blacks garter family, which are in reality
the best friend the farmer has. They live eX.
clusively on the field mice, worms, flies and
other vermin, and. if they occasionally glide
across the path of a human being, their lives
should be preserved, as their good qualtie,
counterbalancc these defects The one DOS
sessed by Mr.. Henry was caught by him last
summer in pca-ficld, and since he has had il
no rats are to be seen or heard of in the neigh
bOrhOOd of his house
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-27

The SEED Corn QUEsTIoN.-I was early
taught to reject a portion of both ends of the
ears when Smelling for planting; using only
kernels of full size and perfect development
which is suppose, the general practice OF
corn growers. Many years ago however, l no
tced that in planting the same variety and
following the practice for series of years the
ears of corn gradully shortened; while thcil
size as to diameter seemed to increase, but no.
in proportion to the contraction in length
Some of my neighbors have noticed the same
result, and plant the whole. We find as a con
sequence, at harvest time, longer ears, and,
fully believe, an increased yield. The reason
for this lies, l suppose in The great princpl,
OF natural law, that like produces like" The
lndlscriminate diffusion of pollen in a field O
corn requires that all the kernels from the ea
selected as seed should he indiscriminatel,
planted.-Correspondeace Germantown Tele
graph.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-27

How To SELECT FLOUR.-In selecting flour
first look to the color. II it is white. with a
yellow straw colorcd tint, buy it. Ifitis white
with blush cast, or with white SpcckS IN it.
refuse it, Second. examine It's adhcsivcncss-
wet and kncad little of it between your fin.
gers; if it works soft and sticky, il is poor
Third, throw little lump Of dried Hour against
smooth surface; if falls like powder it is
bad. Fourth. squeeze some of the flour tight.
" in your hand; if it retains the shape given
by the pressure, tina, too, is good sign. It is
safe to buy -four that will stand all these tests
|-!HdcG JoYygGl
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-27

The editor of this paper has in his posses
sion Il copy of an agricultural paper published
in Albany, n. u, Of Dec 25th, 1919 called tn,
Pl2,r BRIL- in which appears the following:
BY the Illinois IRteUigencer, printed a
kas.aska, of the 18th of November, we motto,
with great pleasure that a state agricultural so
cict, was organized on the 10th of November
Al ,"' first meeting Governor Bond was elect
ed resident"
In' following persons were made honorary
mel pcrS Thomas Jefferson, James Madison
lsal' Shelby, VIM. II. Harrison and Gen. La
Fa,rtte-Haines's Adr.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-27
The Illinois CORRESPONDENT of the T0uDf

The Illinois correspondent of the Country
Gentleman, b. +. j." Champaign county, in
Il letter dated the 18th ult., notices peculari
ty of the growth of corn in this state The
continuance Of warm weather into October
ripened many pieces which an early hard
frost would have injured, but the peculiarly
noticed had become IA matter of observation
here as well as elswhere. He says
"As before noticed the corn crop this year
presents the singular anomaly of ripening
without the usual regard,to latitude-the fields
in the country on the parallel of Chicago and
north of it as far as AZ degrees and 30 minutes
the south line of wisconsin, and those south
of Chicago, and as far south as Kankakee 81
miles, being more than half Of them out of the
way of any frost but Il killing one, South OF
kankakec and for seventy miles, the corn
grows greener as one goes south, and even be
low that in the counties of Coles, Edgar, MOul
tr!e and others, tAc corn is grecner still, and
so green that IA light frost will do damage"
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-27

The unspeakabc Turk is doing his share of
the missionary work of the world by delivering
one of the greatest temperance lectures ever
listened 10. The endurance of the Turkish sol
diers, and the facility with which they recover
from the most desperate wounds, are justly at
tributed 10 their temperate habits of eating and
their entire abstinence from alcoholic drinks
Tolefl HIic
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-27

For bleeding at the nose, the best remedy as
given by DR.. Gleason. in one of his lectures. j.
a vigorous motion of the jaws a. in the act of
maSticatOn.-ln the case of child, wad of
paper should be placed in the mouth, and the
child instructed to chew it hard. II is the mo-
ton of the jaws that stops the flow of blood.
This remedy i 50 very simple that many will
laugh at it, but has never been known Ia fail
in single instance, even in very severe cases.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-27
FARM AND GARDEN.
Correspondence.

We shall be glad to receive, for publication
in this department, short and pointed commu
nications from farmers, gardeners, stock-rais
ers anu others, on any topic Of general inter
est to agriculturists The name and postotfict
address should accompany each letter, mo-
necessarily for publication, but as Il guaranty
of good faith. It's our purpose to open thi:
column to free exchange of experience ant
opinions between its readers
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-27

Mrs. Abraham Butts. Of Dartmouth, Mass.
is a model newspaper subscriber. Although -
wears old, she walked. the other day, all the way
from her home TO the Office of the Standard, in
Bedford, and back again, for the sole purpose
Of paying her subscription. The distance is
fourteen miles
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-27

Within ten years tobacco culture has become
a most important industry in Pennsylvania
Tobacco is grown in Lancaster, York, Dau.
phin and Chester counties, but the main bust.
ness is in Lancaster county. The crop in that
county this year, now nearly all gathered, is
by far the largest ever secured
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-27

The funeral was all that could be expected. -
says an aged lady who looks upon these events
with an artistic eve. The display of flowers
was grand and the widow wept like born
angel"
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-27
THE MARVELLOUS PEN.

The adysnta-es % This wonderful Pen arr these.
Ffrsr NJ iuk j. ussTi'i-.iuly Na'e~.
>seDad The Pen never Cs-TiF- and W ll.t ul4f o..
eT rhBu ordinary Irus.
TAbrt II = aiuay, clean. and requires M s1ping
F0uTfh. Ilr INK material being -Blidihet thrrr O.
danger Of s1rg The nncr- any part u the clothing
FnR SALE ~ OsMAN & HArEMAN.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-27
GOOD BOOKS FOR ALL.

For sale by OSMAN HAPEMAN IS La Sale St. Ottawa.
Ills Any Of these Books will be forwarded By mall post
maid on recpint of nr,cc'.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-27
$50 DISTINCT BOOKS

OF Universal Interest It includes Agricultural Bocraph
cal. Historical Religious and Miscellaneous Works, with
Size Title and Description of each Book, Specimen Pages
aud Specimen Illustrations Sales mad" from this
Prospectus when all single books fail.-
A lsO nm
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-27
+; Rxis?; WAR !
DREADFUL MASSACRE OF CHRISTIANS

In bulgaria: the E'rightfiul Turkish Atrocities
in other places the uprising OF the masses In Herzegovina
II gives the stirring Battles and TIL riling Incl
dents OF the war and is the most fascinating and exciting
work OF the age. Agents OF prompt and ready
sales. Prospectus Books now ready.
Also Agents Wanted on our Grand Com binntion
representing
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-04
EAST RIVER BRIDGE.
MEETING OF TIE BOARD OF TRUsTEEs-Coy.
TRACTS FOR STONE, STEEL ROPE AND

MEETING OF TIE BOARD OF rRusTEEs-coN-
TRACTS FOR STONE, STEEL ROPE AND
SOCKETS.
There was regular monthly meeting OF the Tru ses
OF the East River Bridge held at their Office ia Wafer
street, Brooklyn, yesterday afternoon, President
Henry q. Murphy in the chair Tho report Of tho
Treasurer Tor November showed tho receipts TO have
been Sl0l,6pl TO- and tho expenditures S906.s So
The report approved. Fom tho report OF ths
Secretary was shown that tho total receipts 10
date were $500 933 90, and the expenditures
amounted to S. 1s7,1s2 81. The amount Of cash on
hand 7,15l 3d. rue Liabilities were about S25 goo
The report was accepted.
When the minutes and the reports had been road an
approved by ihc meeting the Board went into execu
tive session Tor the purpose OF considering the awards
OF the contracts for wire, stone other materials
The contract Tor the parapet stone and
TO tho bridge was awarded Tor $40, 754 49, The pro-
posals Tor the cast iron wire rope, sockets, and
Tor tho cable bands were referred to tho
officers 81 tho bridge with power 10 make tho
tract BIDS Tor the wire rope suspenders were re-
ccved from three firms. J. Lloyd Haigh put In a bid
Messrs. Copeland X Bacon's bid Tor Bes-
semcr or cruciblo steel was twenty
cents per pound. j. A. Rocblng and
sons offered TO supply Bcssomcr steel cents
and crucibc steel Tor nine cents Tue Board OF Trus-
tees awarded Roebling n Sons tho contract Tor
Bessemcr steel at tho prices named. Tho contract
VIII amount TO $22. 100.
The specifications OF Chief Engineer W. A. Roobing
for tho cast IRON wire sockets tor tho suspendors
OF the East River Bridge call for tho manufacture aud
delivery OF 1872 cast rope sockets, weighing
Az pounds Tor the larger and ~ bs Tor tbe aer szo
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-04
RAPID TRANSIT.

second arch erected on Sixth avenue, near
Forty second street, yesterday, by the Gilbert Eic-
waited Railroad La tho forenoon tho double decker OF
tho Sixth Avenue Horse Car Company
ticed coming down the avenue from tho
bcs mt Forty-ourth street, and forthwith ex-
pcctation was tptoo whether IL could pass
unaer the arches without being scratched.
The double decker passed under the arch without being
at all hindcrcd IT'S progress. In aci there ten
to twelve spare between tho very top OF Tho
high anu the arches that now span Sixth avenue.
1t was rumored last evening, with what truth could
Avenue company VIII be u Two, and. II necessary,
three story car TO MAINTAIN ITS night
TO tho franchise that reaches to tho SKIES
above 0nc OF the ludicrous incidents
ncctcd with the extraordinary state IN which Sixth
avenue now finds tsclI drought hundreds o people
10 corner oil Tnirty -scconu street. Car No. l01
OF the Sixth avenue road nai kicking horse when
gave the driver good deal Of trouble all Tho way
down from tue stables UNTIL reaching the corner OF
thirty. second street, u passing wagon disturbed the
temper OF the kicker Unable to KICK anybody or
anything else ,hnn hts mate, the kicking animal
threw tho other horse clean mo one OF the holes
dug by tho Elevated Railroad people,
Along West Broadway considerable more material
for tho suporstructure OF the Gilbert Elevated road
was received yesterday. St more iron pillars wero
erected and frames dumped the side
walk. Above Tnrtien street in Ninth avenue yestor
day the laborcrs employed by the New York Elevated
Railroad were digging foundations Tor tho double
track.
Although some understanding has been arrived at
between the two elevated railroad companies In regard
to the right OF way 10 Chatham street no definite
ciusIon has been reached as TO the manner which
the agreement to be carried out. meeting OF the
officers or tho two companies VIII be held to-day or
tomorrow settle the question. Tho engineers OF
the two roads instructed yesterday 10 ascertain
when tho holes dug for foundations by the rival
roads could be hcd up as 10 prevsnl unncccs-
sary impeachment TO travel, and wormcn engaged
in this work during tho day under the direction Of
these officers Beyond this work IN tho street has
| not YET been resumed and Will not DO Tor day or
two Mr.. William Foster, Jr, the president Of tho
Gilbert Elevated Railroad said 10 HERALD reporter
yesterday that the matters Ia dispute between the
Two companies were OF so little Importance that II
took much longer TO settle them than u they had boon
OF greater moment when two mon really have a
quarrel" he said, thcy come 70 nstcui!s, and that
~ the end OF ~ but when ncy only dispute IN words,
II takes longer reach satisfactory scttlomenLu
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-04

Each socket has q conical holo In the middle,
and two side holes for suspcnder bolts. One
or the sockets "a. Tor TX inch steel rope, and
the other for u inch steel rope. About GIG OF
each size required. Tho quality OF iron required
Is to have tensile strength OF 900 pounds 10 the
Square inch Deliveries 10 DO made In regular
quantities and be all completed By Aprii, 1873 Tho
steel ropes TO be furnished TO be made OF
Bcssemer crucble cast steel wire. galvanized
The smallest siza rs to measure u inches IN
diameter and have breaking strength
OF not less than 10000 pounds. II Will 90
composed strands OF seven wires each. Fifty
Thousand lneal feet OF this sizo IS required. Tho
largest OF the ropes To and threoquarter
inches diam TO have breaking strength Of
less than 200 900 pounds 20 900 linea feet OF the
latter rope required. Tho ropes are 10 be thoroughly
IL syected and tested and tho tractor must deliver
three coils OF rope each week, commencing with the
first week in january 1875.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-04
THE JERSEY SHOW.

Park Hall, IN Newark, was tho scene yesterday Of
The most novel exhibition witnessed that city,
being tho grand exhibition or babies Nearly
three hundred babies wero entered and nearly
every one was hand with its nurse
mother. Altogether tho display IS credltaulc to
Newark. Among the chief .attractious" are thirteen
pairs of TWINS set vi trplets and several odd twins
IL expected that before tho exhibition the
number oi trpies will TO Increased During the after.
noon only father had tho courage Taco tho
music anu his offspring. The variety includes
battles having parents Of many nation
alities but America pfcdominatcs-a fuct not antic
pated, beng expected that Newarks largo German
ana Irish population would be most largely repre-
sontcd The object OF tho show TO raise funds Tor
the Foster Home, OF Newark's most deserving
charities, and gives every promise OF being decided
succass.