davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24
Too Much Land.


Many a farmer is ruined by his
greed for land. lie wants all the
land adjoining him, and his poverty
is the result of his not possessing the
quaint wisdom Of the man who was
trying to hoe some corn on fearfnlly
stony patch, when one riding by re-
marked that he should think man
must be very poor with such land as
that. "Oh, sir" replied the farmer,
II am not so poor as you think am !;
don't own all this land" Many q
farmer is actually poor-or always in
Strengthened circumstances, which is
quite as bad-because OF his mania
for land. A farm is not regarded by
such as sufficiently large unless it
contains two or three hundred acres
of land. But there arc very few
farmers with sufficient capital to own
and work to advantage such farm.
A business man is only wise to
measure the size of his. business by
the amount of his capital. Occasion
ally you see man trying desperately
to swing a business which should
have capital of fifty thousand dol
lars, on q capital Of one-fifth that
amount the consequence is, he is al
ways t'hard up'-a wrctched pay
master, a victim to loan spongers; i
and in the end not worth dollar.
So of farming. A farm which re-
quires, for the proper management,
at least twenty thousand dollars cap
ital is run on quarter of that amount.
Mortgages exhaust soil faster than
crops. Much of the land is neglected.
Buildings get out of repair. Market
ing is not properly attended to. Pro-
ducc has to be sold at forced prices,
and leanness is marked on everything
except the circumstances of the farm.
But too much land is q loss from
the inability to work it. We can
bring out the point by citing the ex-
perience of two farmers we know
well. One has q farm of hundred
and fifty acres of land, pastnrage
of sixty acres, wood land covering
thirty acres, moving and tilling of
fifty acres, with some ten acres rum
ming to waste. His stock consists of
one yoke of oxen, five milch cows,
seven head of young cattle, one horse
and hundred sheep. This farmer
mOws over some forty acres Of land
to cut thirty to forty tons of hay; cul-
tivatcs ten acres divided up for plant
ing and sowing crops. He is always
short of pasturage, buys hay every
spring, and has but little to sell off
from the farm. Too much land is
that farmers poverty.
The other man, living in the same |
town owning land of the same char
actcr, has farm of scventy-fve acres.
His stock in the number of head, is
the same with the exception of few
less sheep. He mows over only fif-
teen acres; cuts thirty tons the first
crop, and about ten of the second.
He has produce to sell; his stock
looks sleek, and always brings the
best price. Old hay has not been
strange to his barn for years. The
farm is carried on with less help, and
everything shows thrift. Now as
both are hard working, good calcula-
ting farmers, we are satisfied the diff
ference in the circumstances is that
one has too much land to work over,
fence, take care of and pay taxes on.
Over the doors of many poverty
stricken farmers should be written
Ton much 1001
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24
NERRAsKA,s SENATOR.

Thousands Of people in Iowa will
read the dispatch, to-day, announcing
the election Of Alvin Saunders as
Senator from Nebraska, with mqual-
fed satisfaction.
lie was one of the pioneers Of
Iowa, having located at Mount Pleas
ant at an early day, ultimately be-
coming one of her leading merchants
and most public spirited citizens.
When the State of Iowa was firmly
welded to the idols of democracy,
"Iligh Henry" had habit, nevcrthc-
less, of sending Alvin Saunders as a
Whig to Constitutional Conventions
and to the State Senate, and when
Mr.. Lincoln sent him to Nebraska as
its last territorial governor, he was
among the most promising republic
cans in Iowa. and we have no doubt
he would have succeeded to promi-
ncnt positions here, earlier than he
utts uouC III ANCDlaShd, IL
manned and sought official promo
tion.
He went out of Office when Ne.
braska was admitted, and since then
has been engaged in banking and
many other business enterprises at
Omaha, where he has by the integri-
ty of his character, and his general
usefulness long held position as
one of the most influential men in
our sister State.
He is a man OF fine personal pres
ence, great general information, de-
cided tact for public affairs, and of
nnqucstioncd integrity.
His election is a triumph Of brains
over brass, the success Of sturdy
character over gimlet-eyed thimble-
riggery, for which the country at
large, and the republicans of Nebras-
ka have abundant cause to be satis-
fed
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24
VIM. 3. chandIer restif,es.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE Hous
select committee on the rights, sc.
Of the House in counting the elector
al vote examined to-day VIM. L
Chandler. He said he was membe
of the national republican committee
and of the executive committee. II
question as to whether he or al,
other members of the committe,
sent kilograms to Louisiana, Florid,
and North or South Carolina, witness
replied affirmatively. He had see,
copies of the kilograms produced
yesterday by Mr.. Clancy, but die
not remember any others particular
ly. He, however, sent kilograms ear
ly in the morning before Clancy wa
up. He thought he sent them sub
stantislly to the same persons men
toned in those States, but briefer
His recollection is that he telegraph
ed that Hayes had received 1S5 yotcl
with Florida and Oregon: that tn,
democrats would attempt to wres
these States from the republicans b,
fraud or other improper means, and
requested them to be diligent in as
certaining the result and communi.
cate it as soon as as ascertained.
Question = Were any promises
made in those kilograms of money OF
troops?
Answer-Nonc to my recollection
In response to the question as to
names of the friends mentioned in
in his dispatch to Mr.. Keogh, who
had left for Raleigh, witness replied
Gen. Fitzpatrick end L. G. Crapsy, the
latter having been the correspondent,
Of The New York Times.
Question-Did you give instruc.
tions to these gentlemen
Answer-I think not. None to my
knowledge.
Question = Were they furnished
with money?
Ans.-Simply to pay expense. No
more.
While in Tallahassee witness be-
came counsel for the Governor OF
Florida and other republican candi-
dates for Congress and electors.
Question-While in Florida did you
receive any letters or kilograms from
any member of the national commit
tee in which mention was made of
money or troops.
Ans.--I ought not to answer with
out the consent of my clients, whom
l will advise to give me permission
to answer.
The committee after private con-
sultation unanimously decided that
witness must answer the question,
and that there could be no privileged
communications between an attorney
and his clients as against committee
of the House.
Witness said as at present advised,
he declined to answer the question
without the consent of his clients, and
he declined with all due respect to
the committee.
Did you send letter or telegram
to any member of the National Com
mittee mentioning money or troops
Al make the same answer as be-
fore.
Witness said he was not certain
that the letter to Mr.. Keogh, pro-
duced yesterday, was actually sent to
that gentleman. He thought many of
the kilograms were known to z
Chandler and Gov. Mccormick, and
that he, witness, dictated all of them.
Some of the kilograms were sent after
consultation with members of the
committee and others were sent on
his own authority.
The committee then went into pri-
vatc consultation.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24

L. S. B. PINCnBAcK has elailned to
b, republican of the negro race.
although he is only about onc-cighth
negro and the other seven cighths
white black-lcg blood.
lie has been hanging around the
Senate Chamber of the United States
Senate for three or four years, claim
ing seat in that body from Louisi-
ana, but the republican majority Of
the Senate has steadfastly refused to
admit him, on account of his notori-
ously disreputable character and the
fraudulent and questionable nature
of his credentials. Moreover, at the
last session OF Congress the Senate
refused to allow his claim for cxpcns-
es incurred in contcsting the seat,
amounting to some twenty thousand
dollars. Since then, "Pinch' has had
blood in his eye, and finally, when the
present Legislature of Louisiana the
other day elected Kellogg to the SEN
ate instead of Pinchback, it was the
last feather which broke his back.
With great show of virtuous indig-
nation he went into the bogus
Nichols LcgislatuPs recently and
renouEced his allegiance to the
republicans and gave in his adherence
to the democrats i'm a buncombe
speech. The extent OF his influence
may be inferred from the fact that he
was only able to carry three members
with him.
We can prove by the files of every
democratic paper published in this
country from the Belize to the Golden
Gate, for the past five years, thai
Pinchback is thief, gambler, pimp
scoundrel and dead-beat negro, bu
now that he has gone over to them
you may look out to hear from then
occasional yawps about the distin
guished colorcd gentleman, Statesman
and reformel, the Hon. p. S. d
Pinchback
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24

The st. Louis Giobe- Democrat has
the following good advice to little
Bluford Wilson and his gang:
We do not think the republicans of
Illinois, or Of the country, will feel
grateful to Mr.. Russell Jones, or Blu
ford Wilson, or any other member of
the small band OF conspirators now at
Springfield for the purpose OF defeat
ing Gen. Logan, through the dcfec-
tion OF republican members Of the
legislature. Nothing Is now more
certain than that the choice for scna-
tor lies between Logan and some such
democrat 9s Palmer and Trumbnll.
The republicans intend to adhere to
Logan, and it is useless to make them
reconsider their caucus choice in fa-
vor of Washburn or anybody else.
Tho independents seem to MS to be
morally bound to support Logan in
preference to any democratic nomi-
nee. Their constituents demand this
ofthem and any attempt on their part
to give aid and comfort to the demo
orats willbe severely reprehended by
the people.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24
secesh Tact,cs lIlustrated.

BALTIMORE, MD, Jan. l7.-Yestcr-
day Alex. Ross, Vim. II. Rice, John
Stitcher, Henry Huff, and Geo. III.
Hodson, United States Deputy Mar
shals at the late election, were arrest
ed by order of Sheriff Wilson, on a
cdpids issned by Judge Brown Of the
Criminal Court, to answer an indict-
ment for assault at the polls. on the
day of the presidential election, and
were committed to Jail. Subsequent
ly they were brought before Judge
Bond, Of the United States Circuit
Court, by habeds corpus, and released
on their own recognizance until Mon.
day next, when a hearing will be
had.
The city has appropriated $4,000
for work for unemployed men in
clearing the streets.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24
The State Of Feeling on the Com
promise Bill.

| WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.-In th,
House, Hurd, Wallace, Southard
Cate, Bell and others, are opposed tt
the Compromise Bill, saying it is al
outrage on the democratic party.
Others say that it is unconstitution.
lal.
Douglass, of Virginia, profanely
says, 81 will see it in - before ri
vote for it."
Watterson is not pleased with it
but won't raise fight.
Tarbox says, "no department of the
government can abrogate any of its
proper functions in favor of any
body. l prefer Hayes should be
counted in and let the republican
party take the responsibility of theil
fraudulent count, than that Congress
should stultify itself by the delega.
tion OF any of its powers to any one.'
Cox elegantly says, 81 want to lei
the matter soak till morning before
|exprcssa decided opinion, for would
like to consider whether we can give
any of our powers to any other fel-
lows, and who those other fellows
are"
Banks opposes and Chittendcn sup
ports the bill, as do nearly all the
New York Congressman.
Jere Black says its bad bill,
The New York Times says the re-
publicans generally are unwilling to
place themselves on record, while the
democrats support it the most warm-
lysof1Any, looking upon it as an un-
expected offering by the republicans,
who, however, feel confident of their
cause and are willing to trust to this
tribunal.
The democrats opposing the bill do
SO on the ground that arbiters v ould
take the Presidency from Tilden, and
1t would be much better for the
democracy to have Hayes declared
President by the Senate.
The republicans who oppose the
bill do SO because of its giving up a
certainty for doubt to accept it /;
that no democrat would abandon
such chances, and that the bill is un-
constitutional and impolitic.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24
Reasons for Getting Drunk.


Thomas Charlton hooked his chin
over the prisoners bar at the Fifty
seventh Street Police Court, and re-
gardcd his Honor with a bland smile.
"Thomas: you are charged with be-
ing drunk" said the Court.
Il can't deny it," said Thomas, grim
ming from ear to ear.
"You don't seem to be very sorry
"Pm happy, yer Honor" said the
prisoner, giggling.
"What excuse have you for getting
drunk 7"
"Pvc got seven Of 'cm, Judge"
s'Seven excuses 2"
"Yes, yer Honor, seven. Now,
don't mind tellin' We all bout it. VI
see, I've got six boys in my family
and las night,-it's girl, Judge
Thomas got of.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24
Tho Cubans TrIumphant In Two
Battles.

New YORK, Jan. l9.-Cuban dis
patches state that two important cn-
gagements had been fought on the
island. The most important took
place at Farallanes, where tho Span
iards were defeated by the Cubans
under Gems. Modesto Diaz and An
tonion Maco. The other action was
at Dapatta, west of Cicnfncgos, on
the south coast, and here also the
Spanish force suffered reverse.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24

Jim Wallin, Of the Quincy Herald,
stands right mp before the audience,
and without blush or shame, tells
this: "On seeing man wearing
short pants in the street day or
two ago, an accomplished young lady
and graduate, remarked, "Shoot
the breeches I" The man heard,
stopped and remarked; aI'll bet you
q dollar they are longer than yours
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24
HOUSE.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.
Hunton, from the judiciary COM
mittee, reported resolution dis
charging Orton from custody.
Adopted, without division.
Governor Wells and Gen. Ander-
son were brought before the house
for contempt. They asked to be al
lowed to postpone their answer un-
til the remaining members Of the Lou
isiana board arrived. The matter
was referred to the Judiciary commit
tee.
Ellis offered a resolution calling
on the president for information re-
garding the rival Louisiana govern
ments. Referred.
Reilly, of PENN, endeavored to In
troduce resolution directing the
military committee to report what
arms and troops are being transfcrr-
ed from one section to an other; the
number of troops in Washington
the object of collecting them and by
whose order done, but was prevented
by point of order being made that
the resolution was out of order.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24
Powder Mills Explode.

Troy, N. Y, Jan. l7.-An explo-
sion of five tons of powder early this
morning demolishcd three buildings
of the powder mills. The shock was
felt 20 miles around. A large guam
tity Of powder was on hand for the
Prussian government.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24
Foreer Arrested.

New YORK, Jan. 1S.-Horace Z.
Brown, broker, of 35 Broad street,
was arrested on suspicion OF having
been implicated in tho forgery Of a
check for $62, 900 which purported to
have been drawn by the New York
Life Insurance Company, and which
was certified to as genuine by the
cashier of the Union Trust Company.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24

WE notice that it is intimated thro'
specials from Washington that all
save Morton, Of the Senate committee
arranginging plan for the electoral
count, have agreed. 1t is further
stated that this agreement provides
for the final arbitcrs to be five men,
bers of the House and five members
of the Senate, with five of the judges
of the Supreme Court. The plan is
that SIX judges are to be appointed,
three by each side, and one of these
Judges to be dropped by lot. Doubt
less all these reports, so far as they
give plan agreed upon, are not cor
rect. 1t is probable that they are
mere spcculations of newspaper re-
portcrs. At all events it can hardly
be supposed that honorable and sem
sible men will agree upon a PROPOSE
tion to gamble for the Presidency.
Unless the opening of the electoral
votes now in the possession of the
President of the Senate shall disclose
a far different state of facts than is
now apparent, the issue of the cleo
ton is plain; SO plain that it is i'm
possible to have two sides to it. The
trainers of the Constitution failed to
define in the clcarest manner who
should be the final authority in the
count of the votes, though they placed
their own Interpretation upon what
they did say, time and again, by per-
mitting the Vice President to count
the vote. What the fathers left un-
done, the nation since has not per-
fccted, and it may be, and, no doubt,
it is true, that the law upon this sub
ject of the count is imperfect, that is,
it can, and ought to be bettered.
However, as the law no stands, with
the two houses of Congress at un-
compromising variance, there is no
other way out, than to place the final
determination of the case with the
Vice President, where the Constitu-
ton places it, il anywhere.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24
Wall street Excited Over a Forge ~


New YORK, Jan. l7.-Wall street
to-day was excited by the news that
bogus check for $4,000, purporting
to be drawn by the New York Life
Insurance Company, on the Union
Trust Company, and bearing the
same number and date as another for
$l5O.0OO had been presented and paid
and subsequently it was found to be
clever forgery. The stranger pre-
senting it, after securing his money,
bought $4,000 in gold Of a broker on
Bond street, and disappeared. The
Trust company assumes the loss. De-
tectives are busily working up the
case. Hatch Bros, in card, caution
the public against negotiating their
check No. 1902, for $500 gold, on
the bank of York, certified by the
bank, payment having been stopped
on account of frauds.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24
Peiton Again.

WASHINGTON, Jan. l9.-John +.
Hamilton has been nominated as U.
S. Attorney for Kentucky, and Alon-
20 b. Cornell for naval officer at New
York.
Col. VIM. T. Pelton testified before
the Senate Committee on Privileges
and Elections this morning. He did
not recollect telegraphing Senator
Kelly on the Sth of Nov. last, that
Tilden must have one electoral vote
from Oregon and Kelly would be
depended upon to see that he obtain
ed that vote, while he (Pelton) would
furnish the means necessary.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24
hui, pox,nr n Canada

MONTREAL, Jan. ,19.-At the local
election in Delisle village, yesterday,
some forty men engaged in a brutal
free fight. The town hall was COM
pletely sacked and the polling booth
wrecked. The French Canadians
would not allow the English to vote.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24
Tho Democratic State Central Conn
nnittee Endorse the Plan for tho
Electoral Count.

DEs MONIES, IA, Jan. l9.-The
Democratic State Central Committee
met here this evening and resolved
that the Democratic State Central
Committee on behalf of the demo-
Gratis of the State, heartily approve the
Joint committee bill, believing its
adoption will secure pcaceable soln-
tion Of the dangers which now threat
en- the country, and trust that the peo-
ple of Iowa, regardless of party, will
Join in endorsing the action Of thu
Joint committee.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24
LOUISIANA.

New ORLEANS, Jan 16.-Chlef JUS
ticc Ludeling to-day filed with chair
man Morrison, of the House commit
tee, a lengthy brief showing titles of
himself and associates as justices of
the Supreme Court of Louisiana.
Representatives jerks, Townsend
and Phillips left for Washington to-
night.
The six assistant sergeant-at-arms
of the Republican Senate, who were
arrested last evening by Nichols po-
lice, were released this. evening on
bail.
The city is very quiet tonight.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24

CoNcoRD,J Jan. 1.-THE Democratic
State Convention to-day nominated
Danl Marcy for Governor. Thos.
j. Dinsmore was nominated for rail-
road commissioner. The republicans
OF the first Congressional district
nominated Gilman Marston, and in
the second JAS Briggs.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24

TIE democrats of Dane county,
Wis, have announced that Tildcn
must be inaugurated. We have been
afraid of this all the time. We felt,
IL Dane county would hold off its
hands, there was much hope for Mr..
Hayes, but experience teaches US that
when the democrats Of Dane resolve
upon their course 1t is simply fool.
hardy to oppose them. Luckily they
don't specify that he shall be inaug-
uratcd President of the United States,
Possibly the. may be satisfied If he il
inauguratcd President of the bank
which sent the 5000 to Oregon
There is yet a glimmcr of hope
Inter.Occan.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24
WASHINGTON, Jan. l9.-The Exc.

WASHINGTON, Jan. l9.-The Exec
utive Committee of the Western
Union Telegraph Company will be
released from subpGnas of the House
Committee which has arranged with
the Senate elections committee for
the reception by the subcommittee
Of the kilograms desired from Orton.
Many of the kilograms are already
here
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24
THE USE OF TROOPS.

WASHINGTON, Jan. l6.-The Presi-
dent to-day received kilograms from
Gen. Augur conveying information
that Gov. Packard had applied to him
for assistance to rc-instatc the Su-
prcme Court in the building of which
they had been dispossessed, and to
Herewith enforce Packard's procla-
nation, and that he had informed
Gov. Packard that he did not UNDER
stand his instructions as authorizing
the use of troops for any such pur-
pose. but he had referred the matter
to the President. The President re-
piled to Gen. Augur that his under
standing of his instructions We're cor
rect, and that the forces under his
command are not to be used except
to prevent a breach of public peace
by either of the opposing political
parties.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24

New ORLEANS, Jan. l6.-The fol-
lowing, published as an extra to-
night causes much rejoicing among
democrats, and is regarded by the
citizens generally as preventing any
collision between the opposing par
ties:
ITO Gen. G. c. Augur, New Or
leans, Louisiana Your understand
ing of the Presidents telegram Of the
l4th is entirely correct. The Presi-
dent desires me to repeat to you that
he wishes the present status through
out the State maintained until the
Congressional Committee now in
Louisiana report.
[Signed j. ID. CAMERON,
Secretary of War"
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24
Wells and Anderson Arrested,

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1S.-Anderson
and Wells, of Louisiana. arrived here
this morning, and were Immediately
arrested by the Sergeant-at-Arms of
the House, and an officer of the
House left last night for New Orleans
to bring Kenner and Cassanove.
Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-24

The laws of New York State against
dueling are very severe. The mere
fact Of sending challenge is pun
ishablc by several years in the State
Prison.