The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-06-04
Irish Waste Land.

In the review which appeared in
your last issue of the able and valua-
BILE article of O'Connor Power, M. p,
in this months Nineteenth Century,
you refer to some points Of objection
in the proposal he makes for the Eek
preparation and reclamation of the
waste lands of Ireland" As his ideas
upon this important economic ques-
tion happen to more fully elaborate
the rough outlines of a similar
scheme suggested by me in letter
which appeared in the Spectator of
September 20, 1879, I trust you will
accord me the privilege of explain
ing with more minuteness those ap-
parent blots which you condemn as
impracticable.
!. In reply to your question as to the
remark that by the most recent re-
turns there are 1858, ,551 acres of alb
solutely waste and unproductive
land in Ireland Cover a fifth of the
total area). The unanimous opinion
Of those best capable of judging of
the natural capabilities of the soil
and the relative difficulty sof It's im-
provement, calculate that at the
lowest possible estimate over 2,000,-
600 acres are capable of easy and
profitable reclamation. Such was
the opinion Of the Parliamentary
Commission, and such is the judg-
ment of every experienced agricul-
turist. By alloting this extent of
now waste land in twenty-ac acre par
celments to the landless laboring
population or dependent cottier class,
over 100000 families or 100000 per-
sons would be comfortably and
wisely provided for, who would
thereby cease to be an incumbrance
as paupers or disturbance as agita-
tors. IF the problematic claims of a
proprietorial class who nobly kept
these lands waste since by "traud or
force" they became possessed of
them, and who religiously intend
maintaining them in the same condi-
ton, be disregarded and uncom-
pensated, the subsequent cost of
drainage and thorough reclamation,
and even the initial expense Of build
ing a house, providing implements,
seed and food for the first year,
would be an average rent for twenty
acres of G5 year for the first three
years, and ETA for thirty-two years,
being for principal and interest about
5 per cent. on the original advance.
The encouraging incentive that at
the end of that term, or sooner if he
purchase the rent-charge, the occu-
pier Of that annually improving hold
ing would be its sole and absolute
owner, would nerve his arm and
quicken his brain to ceaseless labor
and constant toll. With the charac-
teristic aearth- hunger" Of the Celt,
he will keep grip of the farm, and
by no conscious act suffer himself to
be deprived Of the accumulating
fruits of his endeavors. Of course,
in the surrounding competition for
land, and the conviction of the unre-
lenting sternness of the obligation
and the risk of confscation of years
of industry, no one except criminal
or fool would dream OF evasion or
reputation. The consequences that
would follow are sufficient to deter
any from such course, and the ex-
perience of the working Of the
Church act clearly proves the hon.
esty Of intention and ambition of aim
on the part of the Irish peasant to
fully and expeditiously clear away
the debt, when regulated upon such
intelligent principles. AS the waste
lands are a sscommon commodity"
their allotment as suggested in
twenty acre appointments would more
evenly distribute the population,
lessen the national weight of pauper-
ism, and increase the general pro-
ductiveness of the country.-L0nd0n
Spectator, December 9th.
THE EFFECT OF COFFEE AaAN.-Dr.
Richardson, the eminent English scien-
tist, in respect to the popular notion that
coffee is an unhealthy beverage, that it
keeps up constant irritation of the
and brings on depression of
spirits, etc. There was great deal of
truth in that statement, says the doctor,
as coffee cannot be taken in excess with
out producing dyspepsia and irritation,
but moderately used it is an invigor-
aGlQG, Q6alGQIul anu WQOieSOm0 OflnK,
bringing mans best energies into play.
The quantity taken, however, must not
be large, and should be good. DR.. Book,
of Leipsic, another celebrated scientist,
says: 'sThe nervousness and peevish-
ness of our times are chiefly attributable
to tea and coffee; the digestive organs of
confirmed coffee drinkers are in state of
chronic arrangement, which reacts on
the brain producing fretful and lachry-
NOSE moods. Ladies addicted to strong
coffee have characteristic temper, which
I might describe as mania for acting
the persecuted saint. Cocoa and choco-
late is neutral in its psychic effects, and
is really the most harmless of our fash
ionable drinks. !"
An s.old turkey ralser," who has been
experimenting as to the effect of charcoal
upon turkeys, says he shut four turkeys
up in q pen and fed them on meal, boiled
potatoes and oats, while four others from
the same brood were given the same
food, except that q pint of finely powder
ed charcoal was mixed with it every day,
and liberal supply of it was placed in
the pen. The eight were killed the same
day, but those given charcoal weighed a
pound and a half apiece more than the