The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-07-24
TIMELY TOPICS.

New England has over $50 farmers
library books to the number of 81, 900,
and in the United States there are nearly
1000 agricultural societies, $1,000
volumes in their libraries, and with ac-
cess to 800 different agricultural publi-
cations, all exerting direct influence on
the intelligence and future prospects of
the tillers of the soil.
The California ranchman or farmer is
to certain extent demoralized by the
climate, which allows him to perform
outdoor work the year round. Unlike
the Eastern farmer, therefore, he is in
clined to let things go by the board.
There is lack of thoroughness in build
ing in planting and in the care for ami
mails. There is little concern for ap
mains undisturbed upon the wagon
wheels; no flower garden is well cared
for; they mend the harnesses with bits
of rope, and they trust little or nothing
to the vanity of paint.
Twenty years ago two boys, about
q dozen years of age, were playing
"tag" in Lewiston, Me. They were
merry and active lads, and were frolick-
ing with schoolboy enthusiasm and
carelessness. One lad caught the other,
struck his heels and playfully tipped
him over. His whole weight came down
upon his falling playmate, whose spine
was seriously injured in consequence.
He was conveyed home, and it was found
that he was a physical wreck. For two
II very little, and then, rs the results of
his injuries gradually grew more serious,
he was obliged to be carried from one
place to another, entirsly losing the use
OF his lower limbs. At length his whole
body became rigid, and he was power
less. For twenty-three years Mathew
Rankins has sat fixed in his chair as in
wise night and day.
The New York Herald thus describes
horsepower: "This question is fire.
quently asked: What is understood by
II horsepower, and why came that way
of reckoning to be adopted and brought
into general use? Before the power of
steam was generally known and applied
to mechanical purposes. horses were
used to raise coal and other heavy
les. Mr.. N1oots, in his experiments,
carefully compared tie relative power
of the different breeds of horses, and
found its average equal to raising $4,000
pounds one foot per minute, or, what is
equivalent, to raise 800 pounds 100 feet,
or 100 pounds $50 feet during that spac
of time when attached to a lever or
sweep of given length. This afterward
became the standard of measuring power
or force applied to mechanical purposes,
and which is still retained in common
use."
Major j. NJ. Walsh, who has become
ia nous in the Indian country as the Off
Ger of the Canadian Mounted Police, in
charge of the camp of Sitting Bull and
the Uncapapa Sioux, has contributed
several columns ofopinion and narrative
to II Chicago paper He thinks Sitting
Bull is well disposed toward the United
States, but adds this criticism of the In
dian policy: Y ou can't make two gov
ernments-one for the Indian and one
for the white man. You don't need
them. Treat the Indian like n white
man from the start. Show him that you
recognize the fact that he has rights, and
point out to him what those rights are.
Teach him that the white mans rights
and his are identical. Then show him
that he will be protected in his rights,
and that he will be punished if he in
fringcs on the rights of others, and the
business is settled" And it is by en-
forcing this policy, he says, that Canada
has been enabled tolive at peace with the
savages for a generation.