davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-15
Drainage in Vermont.

1t is said that since the lands in
Vermont have been thoroughly drained
consumption has very much decreased"
The above item, from the New York
Tribune, is slightly different from its
reading in some other papers, where
fifty per cent is stated as the decrease.
If emigration societies and land-grab-
bling railroads were booming this old
state. we would smile at this item and
wish it might draw new settlers. The
truth is that understanding with tile
or stone, or surface-draining with open
bitches, is not common in Vermont. |
have been in every county and among
the farmers back from the lines of
travel, and have visited many of the
best farms, and know that most of the
drainage of Vermont is by the brooks,
rills and natural depressions, such as
nature formed. Some tile has been
laid in the Champlain valley and in the
vallies of the largest rivers, but not one
quarter of the farmers of Vermont have
ever handled a tile, or put in an under
drain, unless it be from their house
cellar to lower surface, few rods
away Most Vermont farms have eX-
cellent surface drainage by the inclin-
ing hill-sides, and very many have
abundant drainage through a porous
sub-soil. If consumption could not ex-
list on naturally well-drained soil, it
would not prevail in Vermont to any
great extent, and large sections would
be perfectly free from that dread
disease. The terrible cold of winter.
and abrupt changes of weather when
all surface water is frozen and every
bog covered with snow, is what proves
injurious to weak lungs. To prove the
decrease of disease like consumption,
which is not suddenly fatal but afflicts
the patient for many years, would re-
quire very careful observation and
careful gathering of facts and sta
tistics relating both to the causes
of consumption and to its preva-
lence. If drainage affects consump-
ton, the fact must be proved in more
level and swampy country than Yer
mont, and where drainage has very
much reduced the stagnant water. If
consumption has decreased, who has
gathered the proof? And if it is proved
that it has decreased, it is reasonable to
believe that the decrease has been
wholly caused by an emigration to
Colorado, California, Florida and other
perhaps a dryer atmosphere. 1t is a
fact that the drainage of consumptive
persons from Vermont has been in
creasing. Some remain away in the
winter and return in the spring,
some locate permanently in milder eli
mates, and some are so low with con-
sumption that they die in the place OF
their sojourn. The prevailing advice,
from one end of the state to the other,
to persons with lung troubles, is ego to
a warmer climate in winter" Probably
more of this class of persons have left
the state than of any other class. Let
the man who says Vermont has been
thoroughly drained give us his facts
And if consumption has decreased
how much of this decrease is due to
emigration? 4. f. j.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-15

IT is a curious fact that the " dollar
of our daddies " has more purchasing
power to-day (besides being much more
abundanD than at any previous time
in the history of the country. The
Boston Commercial Bulletin has been
figuring on the subject, and states as
its result that the purchasing power of
dollar is nineteen per cent greater
than it was in 1925, and thirty-two per
cent greater than it was in 1885. Dur
ing the war, and many years after, the
purchasing power Of even the gold dol
lar was much less. And it is a singular
commentary on prevailing doctrines on
this subject in the East that while the
eighty-five-cent dollar" has been de-
nounced as ga swindle," nearly hun
dred millions in gold coin have been
paid into the national treasury, dollar
for dollar, for silver certificates, upon
which this "eighty-fve-cent dollar y
only can be drawn. While the news
paper organs of the capitalist interest
denounce the silver dollar, the capital.
lists themselves show by their acts that
for some purposes, at leasD they pre-.
fer it to gold, and are not in the least
afraid of losing any money on it
Truly, actions speak louder than words
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-15

THE excessive railroad freights
charged by the Central Vermont sys-
tenn, which virtually monopolizes the
carrying trade of the Geeen Mountain
State, act as a dead weight on her farm
ers, as we have frequently pointed
out. The aggressive DR.. Hoskins of
the Montpelier )Vatchmon thinks the
present prohibitory rates on small
shipments are illegal in common law,
and if not, should be made so by statute,
with competent railroad commission
to enforce it. He very truly says " the
stronghold of all abuses is popular in
difference" Vermont farmers need
to rouse from their indifference and
fearlessly prosecute reform until it is
accomplished.-Nec England Home
stead.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-15

PROFESSOR RILEY has made the
" new discovery that grasshoppers
are a delectable article of food, when
properly served Some of the New
Hampshire farmers whose intervals
have been overrun with them for sew
eral years would like, when the crop
again appears, to have him come down
and eat them up. If the department
of agriculture, under its new manage
ment, is to be devoted to the production
of this method of destruction, we would
suggest that, as in the distribution of
agricultural documents, the politicians
be allowed to take their share first
Maine Farmer
1t has been said, Brother Gilbert,
that it was brave man who ate the
first oyster. 1t may be worth some
thing to somebody, yet, to know that
grasshoppers are harmless, palatable
and nourishing food. AS it is now,
we only eat them at second hand, as
it were, after the fowls have made them
over into eggs and meat. They are
very good that way.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-15

PEA SoUP.-Take one-half pint of
dried peas for every two quarts of soup.
Put them in three quarts of cold water
after washing them well; bring them
slowly to boil, and add bone, either
from ham orfresh meat, one turnip, one
carrot and one onion, and simmer for
three hours, stirring occasionally to pre-
vent burning; then pass the soup
through a sieve and stir into it one
tablespoonful each of butter and flour
worked together. Fry some dice OF
stale bread, made by cutting a slice
into narrow strips one way and then
across the other way to make little
cubes, and drop them into the bottom
of the soup tureen, and pour in the
soup after ii has boiled three minutes
with -four and butter added.-Our
Country Home.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-15

IT appears that that eminent Dutch
man." Prince Bismarck, is not quite so
bull-headed as we thought him to be
on the question of bi-metallism. He is
reported as admitting that he made a
mistake in demonetizing the silver coin
of the German empire and making
the world so much trouble by disturb
ing the market for that ancient and
honorable metal. He told an American
member of congress (Mr. Kelley of
Pennsylvania, we believe), when speak
ing of that piece of monetary re-
form -: " We listened to an eminent
political economist, and we now see that
we have put only plain water into our
soup-boiler." This is a quaint and
characteristic way of saying that gold
basis" is too thin and needs liberal
thickening of silver to make it financially
nourishing, and capable of sustaining the
business interests of a nation. The
leading English economists themselves
agree that the gold basis is safe only
for that single nation which has the
greatest money capital, and acts as
banker for the world. Some of them
are beginning to doubt if even then the
nation, as distinct from the capitalist
class, is benefited by the mono-metallic
system which the banking interest has
forced upon it.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-15

DR.. LoRING, as commissioner of ag-
riculture, only fulfilled the promise of
his previous record. AS leader of the
New England agricultural ring, he for
many years has shown his interest in
agriculture to be only that of a cheap
politician, his ability as an executive
nothing, his achievements nothing. All
this was easy enough to find out at the
time of his appointment. 1t was we'll
known to thousands. Yet when those
who knew him demonstrated at his APP
pointment, the cry of the wise men of
the agricultural press was, 80 give him
a chance; give him a chance" Well,
you had your wish, gentlemen. How
do you like the retrospect? Are you
surprised that agriculture has not adj
vanced under the leadership of this
brilliant talker? Yes, he can talk
well.-Ow Country Home.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-15

HERE is an English remedy for crib
biting. Nail astrip of sheepskin, about
eight inches in width, the entire length
of the crib; select skin covered with
long wool, and sprinkle it freely with
cayenne pepper. Renew it occasion
ally, and the worst cribber can be per-
suaded to desist from his habit
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-15

IN France every dealer convicted of
selling adulterated food products is
obliged to suspend conspicuously in
his shop window, for one year there
after, large placard bearing the Off
cial statement of that fact.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-15

A MAN that don't weigh and measure
everything about dairy can't I'll what
he is doing, and it is just as easy for
him to lose dollar a day as it is to fall
off a log. Now, my boy, put that wrinkle
on your horn. It's worth a thousand
dollars to you if you don't forget it, but
you are welcome to it for nothing.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-15

ALL knowledge is not of equal value
to man who must make his living by
the labor of his hands. His education
should be adapted to the conditions of
his life, and should aid him to perform
more efficiently the particular duties
which circumstances will require of
him.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-15

COLONEL NORMAN j. CoLMAN, the
United States commissioner of agricul-
ture, is a short man, but with a big
head, an intelligent face and evidently
an unlimited amount of enthusiasm.
He strikes us as man who, while not
oblivious to self-aggrandizement, is
more intent on performing his duties
so well as to warrant advancement or
support rather than on trying to get
preferment through political wire-pull-
ing. In this particular he is a great
improvement on the late DR.. Loring
Colonel Colman also possesses hearty
interest and love for his work, and APP
pears to have little of the selfishness
that took such good care of DR.. Loring
at the expense of the latter's admins
tration. A genial hearty man, in in
tellectual accomplishments well quail
fed and with a thorough and more or
less practical acquaintance with the va
rious branches of our agricultural in
dustries, Commissioner Colman fills the
Office after the farmers own heart. We
feel that he is more intent on serving
them than himself. This being so. his
errors may be treated more leniently
than in the case of his predecessor,
whose administration at Washington,
as well as his career in Massachusetts,
demonstrates that he has always been
intent on serving George B. Loring in
stead of the farmers.-HomeSteod.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-15
agricultural.

~ This department is wholly under the control
of the agricultural editor, T. II. HosK1Ns, MD,
Newport, Vt, and he alone is to be held responsible
for the opinions herein expressed.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-15
Gbe 4ouseboIo.

~ Communications for this column should be
sent to the agricultural editor, DIR. Hoskins, at
Newport VT.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-15

REPLY BY AGRICULTURAL EDITOR.
We cannot solve the problem of the
cure of " gapes." In all such diseases
an ounce of prevention is worth ton
of cure. One sure prevention is not to
keep fowls for a year or two; then be-
gin again with healthy stock, confne
them as little as possible; use white
wash, well tinctured with carbolic acid,
on every part of the hen premises, in
side and out, spring and fall; allow no
accumulation of dung or dirt; never
feed upon the ground inside of the
poultry quarters, and change the yard
every two or three years to fresh place.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-15

through the columns of THE WATCH
MAN, if any one of your readers can
tell, as / am very anxious to know. l
dislike to kill the little things to put
them out of misery, but presume that
it would be better so. l shall look for
an answer soon. Yours truly,
Mrs. II. X, Chelsea, Vt.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-15

nor SALE.--A new Mudgett hay tedder as soon
Il las my early haying is done, probably next week.
Price, $40; cost nearly $50 Also to rent-cottage
house newly painted situated on Terrace street
Barre Street, Montpelier VT, July 9Th, 1885.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-15
Desirable Farm for Sale.

Said farm Is situated one mile south of Plainheld
Springs, the main road to Chelsea, containing
about two hundred acres, some nifty of IL being re-
claimed meadow, Extra grass land, most of which is
work. Keeps about thirty:hye head Of cattle;
Never,failing water at the buildings, Apple and
and timber easy of access Also the stock, hay,
grain, farming and sugar tools, and about twenty
i've cords of dry stove wood, with farm II desired.
For twenty years 1t has been my aim to improve
this farm FOR "a pleasant home, but circumstances
and health make 1t absolutely necessary to sell.
Possession given at any time. j. L. LADD.
Plainfeld, VT, January 10, 1885. S-f
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-04-16
Tho Claw Hammer on the Farm.

DidIyou ever think about what on i'm.
| portant thing good claw hammer Is
about place, or what n mean thing q
round faced loose handled one Is? There
is nothing outside Of good sized bach.
| elor Billy.goat about ones place that can
show more bruises or bring forth more
"cuss words" (mental ones, at least, than
q ronnd faced, loose handled claw.ha
mer. There are three species of the claw
hammer family that are "no good" One
| Is loose kcndled round faced fellow that
you dou't drive nail with, another is
yonr grand daddies' claw hammersscoat
That you don't often wear nowadays, and
| the other Is that old time claw hammer
goat, that old bachelor William goat that
can drive nail up to the head, or you
| through the paling fence every pop.
The principal difference in the claw
hammer goat and the claw hammer coat
is the claws of tho coat is on tho tail,
while tho claws (horns) Of the goat ia on
the head or butt end Of the goat; and
the main difference in The claw hammer
is, the latter flies off the handle, knocks
down, aome of tho, children, and barks
your hngers-while The former barks
everything out on the place, except per.
haps the iron crowbar, and knocks you
down unceremoniously and irrespective
Of your age, color, or previous condition
apd without flying of the haudle.
Now we will leave it to those of most
experience to say which of the two latter
arc the more productive and prompt in
wrenching from ones lips disconnected
sentences or utterauces that the parson
must not hear.
A good square faced hammer with o
stout, we'll fitted handle is the most useful
tool on the farm, and ought to have q
fixed place TO kct ;.r two claw ham,
mers at one place is as demoralizing as
two drinks Of whisky is to one man at
once, they are usually both out of place.
Have but one claw hammer in common
use, and keep that in good fix and you
Will find 1t very easy to tell who had it
last.
With good claw hammer and few
nails you can stop that crack In the pig
Or horse trough that is leaking away your
income, or the leak that .is rotting your
building aud worrying your wife, and
nail on the garden paling, and stop the
hens from raising such rumpus in the
family aud the seed bed.
After carefully reviewing tho subject
we are led to believe that the selecting
and keeping Of claw hammer about the
place has moro influence for good or evil
about the farm house than does the
selecting of our President, or regulating
his Cabinet.--J. 9. STRIBLING, IN West.
ern Plo,onan.
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-04-16
Gen. Logan Very Angry.

CHICAGO, April 5.--The political ak.
citement attending the municipal election
on Tuesday ne 1t has been intensified to
fever heat by the attack made last night
upon Mayor Carter Harrison hy General
John A. Logan. A few nights ago at q
large Democratic meeting the Mayor
openly charged that some time prior to
the trial of Mackiu and Gallagher for
election frauds, certain persons Connected
with the prosecution had offered to pro.
vide. loophole for the escape Of the
defendants upon condition that Msckin
should secure the co operation Of o suffi.
cient number Of Democratic members Of
the Legislature to enable the Republicans
70 secure majority on joint ballot.
United. States District Attorney Tuthill
and Gen. Logan were mentioned as being
privy to the alleged scheme. Last night
Gen. Logan spoke to ap immense con-
course OF Republicans ut Battery D
%Armory. Hi address vas a merciless
arraignment of HArriaon'e e administration,
and when he came to the Mayors speech
he became greatly excited. Su5denly be
paused fore moment and th ,aiaing
his voice he shouted ! demon Mayor
Harrison On; ,n..e'ing an aic famous, viii
IHiuOuS ialbeii00a, nc le vile, INFAMOUS
liar, poltroon and a coward.n For q
moment the audience ant speeehless.
Then there was D mnrmnr of snrprise,
followed by round after round Of ap.
plause. When quiet had been restored
General Logan again advanced to the
front Of the platform, and said In sten.
torian tones 81 again pronounce 4ar-
rison q vile, infamous aiesderer, pol.
troon and a coward I repeat this remark
that the press nay get II correctly; and
that I may not + . misunde derstood.n = He
then took his sea-. In; what manner, II
any, Mayor Harrison will respond % this
attack Is not yet known, but there is an
nncnafrDned report that he has addressed
o letter TO General Logan demanding en-
apology and retracti ion. The mGttef
creates o great; sensation, especially at
political eadquastsss. It 10 an Interest
Ing fact that while General Logan was
Mayor Harrison wac repeating
his charges at the North Side meating and
reading 40 affidavit from d member ot
the Legislature in corrob oboration.
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-04-16
Singular Call Upon Q aeyernor. q,

& TOPEKA, KANSAS, April B 3.--Last
week e young woman living In Howard
County wrote to Governor Martin, Eoiic.f
iting from him q donation of $50 or $100i
to,help her get married.. The letter and
the Governors reply are as follows
KIND SIR: Please excuse the seeming
impertinencs of this letter. lam o poor
girl. ! am engaged to q yonng man and,
we wish to get married aud go West and,
take Up o claim, but we have not money
enough. Will yon please send me $50
or S100 Z Please send it and Sou will
make two perBpns very, very happy.
Please dosend me some money. It would
be god send TO us. Il it.sss
FL In reply to this the Governor wrote 4:
:. DEAg MADAM: ackHow edge the.
receipt of your, very curious letter Of the,
25th Instant. The State OF $Kansas In
not remarkably generous To its officers,
and 1t does not afford Balariea that would
justify them In making such donations as
you request. hope the young man TO
whom you are engaged is energetic In
dustrions and Intelligent. IF he i8, the
lack Of $50 or 500 will not be o serious
obstacle In the wny ! OF your marriage,
and o good Yifeiwill mat festa,s Il Il :sssiss
him In conqueriBg q respectable place int
tho world. Thouesnds al; men who are
how prosperous and pronitient began
their married life with hardly d dollar ia
their pockets. What has beon done may
be done. If,yonr Intended husband is
worthy of o good wifi nc can no ! West
and take o claim aad aoof, earn money
enough 10 frrniah d home for yon.,
Yours, vesy respect tflllg 4.
i 81 JOHN A. AgAREIlS, SsaTarnori 81
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-04-16
ANDERSON. S. O., THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL l6 1885

must 60 back once or twice aud then she
is reconcited. A lady friend of mine q,
Dallis was told that another family
whom she knew at Dalton were moving
| out and she looked surprised and indig.
| nant as she exclaimed, "well what ia tue
world arc they coming for ?" This lady
he's nos been back tn Georgia yet, and
her husband says he will have To send
her or have no peace.
But Sunday or no Sunday there is no
more lawlessness here than iu tho old
States. | have not heard quarrel
between man and man in all my travels.
! have not seen 4 man with g pistol about
his person nor e dagger in his boots.
Everybody is civil and even courteous.
There are all sorts OF people aud all
sorts of religion. The Roman Catholics
are numerous, and have their churches,
schools aud convents all over Northern
Texas. And so arc the Campbelites, and
Cumberlands, and Northern Presbyteri
ans, and Northern Methodists as wei. as
Southern. But there is nc bitter secta.
rianism. The people Of all these church
es are ready 10 unite on any movement
that is for tho public good. The laws
are rigidly and promptly executed.
There are 40 judicial circuits, and 40
judges keep the dockets clear. As an
illustration Of speedy justice Mr.. Fears
told mo to-day about {, Man who was
tried for larceny aud the Jury found him
guilty and fixed the punishment at forty
lashes.
His lawyer moveG for new trial and
the judge said he would hear the motion
after dinner. He adjourned the court,
and after dinner when the court con.
vened, the lawyer began his argument for
q new trial and had got partly atnrted
when his client, who was just behind
him, pulled his coat tail. He did not
notice him at frat, bu. after two or three
pulls he turned round and said, "What
do you waut?"
II don't want new trial." said he,
for while you was gone TO dinner the
sheriff took me out and whipped me.
tell you, squire, he' done whipped me-"
This reminded me Of Judge Underworld
old story about his arguing case for au
hour before an old magistrate up ia the
mountains and when he got through the
old feller looked at him over his brass
sspeectacles. and remarked, "young man,
judgmenticated that case last night at
home.
wish yon would tell Joel Har.
pieasnutries about the girls but what he
publishes TO tho world that am piaDcirg
around among them like young colt iD
a barley patch. paid few compli.
ments to the Indian maidens of Atoka,
and now he paragraphs mo and tells
everybody that am flirting with the
half.breeds up in the Indian nation.
We'll, did throw a little taffy to Miss
Tallulah Corntassle-a little patriarchal
tafy that's all, and Harris published
me, and the next letter got from home
was a postal card from Mrs. Arp, and all
it said was "Come home."
BILL ARP,