davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1888-07-26
Construct Reservoirs.

The method of saving water in reservoirs for the purpose of irriga- tion and household use, is one that eventually will come into use in Arizona on an extensive scale. In Africa where the rainfall is extreme ly light, splendid crops are raised by the use of water caught during the rainy season in immense reser- voirs. The fact that during the rainy season in Arizona, particular ly in Pima and Cochise, great quan- tity of water pours down the noun tain sides, causing freshets, injur- ing farms by washing the soil away and wasting itself in the sea, is one that set people to thinking. If only a small part of this was saved in reservoirs, the farmers on the dryest uplands could have a plentiful sup ply the year round. Of course, the construction of reservoirs of ade- quate size would require capital. This might be raised by the forma- ton of companies among those who might be benefited by the wa ter. No investment would yield more certain, and few a more speedy return. Those supplied with water in this way could laugh at the ele- ments. The "dry season" would no longer be an object of appre- hension. The irrigation question would be largely settled. Nothing is more certain than that a great part of the desert lands of New Mexico and Arizona will in time be made productive by such means, and will in time be inhabited by populous communities.--PhGnix Gazette,
The St. Johns herald., 1888-07-26
Petrified Forests.

This deposit is situated about twenty-five miles southeast of Hol- brook in Apache county. The sili- cifed trees are found protruding from the the volcanic ash and lava, which IS covered with sandstone to the depth of twenty or thirty feet. In the gulches where the water has worn away the sandstone they lie exposed.
 Petrifed wood, d,abounds in sections where precious minerals are found, but so far as explored this one To- cality only, affords silicifed mate rial in it's innumerable combina- tions of color. Sections of this fall en forest, whose only rivals are the gaints of the Yosemite and Gala ver9s, lie around in profusion, meas uring from two to ten feet in diam eter, containing all the colors of the rainbow, some of whose hearts are solid crystals of amethyst and to- paz, and only a slight degree from the diamond in hardness.
 The park has yielded many splen- did specimens over which lapidists have gone wild, but Mr. Adams has in his possession the most curious bit that has ever been discovered anywhere. It is a small, oblong section of chalcedony in which the faces of President Cleveland and Gen. Logan, and the full figure of a nude female with her hair banged in modern style, appears wreathed in marvellous fern-like tracery of dentrite, the effect being beautiful in color and unparalleled in the delicacy and lifelikeness of its sin gular portraiture. The ferns are a harmonious blending of the den trite in yellows, reds, blues, greens, purples, etc., varying in shade ac- cording to the light, and the faces and figures are formed by their ar engagement like the figures in pug gle picture.-Chicago mail.
The St. Johns herald., 1888-07-26
Russia Iron.

Probably the only secret process which has been kept inviolate, and for ages openly defied the world of science, is the iron trade of Russia. The secret ofmaking Russian sheet iron is owned by the Government, and is such an immense monopoly that it is currently supposed to defray the entire expenses of the Government. The works, consti- tute an entire city, isolated and fortified against the rest ot the world. When workman enters the service, he bids a last farewell to his family and friends, and is practically lost to the rest of the world. He is never heard from after ward, and whether he lives or dies, all trace of him is forever lost. There have been several desperate attempts made to steal or betray the secret, but in every instance it has resulted in the death of the would-be traitor. In one case letter attached to a kite, which was allowed to escape, was picked up by some peasants, and, despite their protestations that they could not read they were at once put to death by the guards to whom they delivered the letter, and it was af- terward decreed that the guards themselves should pass the remain der of their days within the works. The wonderful properties of this iron are so well known that 1t is unnessecassary to enlarge upon them.
The St. Johns herald., 1888-07-26
New York to BuenOS AyreS by Rail.

The day is not far distant when an all-rail line will connect New
 York City with Buenos Ayres the capital of Argentine Republic, in
 South America. The plan is cer- tainly feasible. An internation- al railroad extending from the
 United States through Mexico, Cen tral America, and draining South America, from one extreme to the other, must of necessity cement in- ternational trade on the American
 continent. Much more has been accomplished toward a realization ofthis railroad project than is com monly credited. Within the past three years the south American
 States have actually built and sur veyed routes at least one third of the distance, about 1000 miles, be- tween Buenos Ayers and Bogota the capital of Columbia, not 500I miles from De Lesseps' canal in Panama. Railroad connections are already established between our country and the City of Mexico. And the task of binding the Span ish Republics of the south to the Mexican capital, though of stu pendous character, is certainly within the possibilities of engineer ing triumphs. The completion of De Lesseps' great canal at Panama will be a great stimulus to the pro- ject. Undoubtedly the gap of 1000 miles between the City of Mex and the Panama Canal will be closed by railroad connection as soon as the commercial importance of the interoceanic canal is estab- lished. There would be, in that event, about 25O0 miles to be built between the Panama Canal and the termini of the railroads leading nrothward from Buenos Ayres. The difficulties in the way of a South American Railroad are no greater than the obstacles which attended the building of the Union Pacific twenty years ago. What can be done in the next twenty years may now appear fanciful and harebrained.-Omaha Bee.l
The St. Johns herald., 1888-07-26

MT. Lyman Follett, from near Fort Thomas, is in the city. He informs the Star that cattle in the western end of Graham county are in magnificent condition pasturage is excellent. The calf crop this sea- son has been unusually large, hence stockmen are all happy. The grain crop is the, largest that has ever been in Graham county, and farm CTS are now busy hauling wheat and barley. Hay is also a good crop. There is considerable fruit. The late frost caught some of the early fruits. The farming population is increas- ing all along the valley and Mir. Follett thinks the immigration into the Gila valley will be large this fall and winter and he truly says there is room enough for all.-Tuc- son Star.
The St. Johns herald., 1888-07-26
Alien Land Owners.

Very few people have any idea of the vast areas of government land held by alien land-holders in the United States. The largest tract, four million five hundred thousand acres, Is held by the Holland Com pany, of New Mexico. An Eng fish syndicate holds three million acres in Texas; Sir Edward Reid and a syndicate in Florida own two million acres; one million eight hundred thousand acres belong to an English syndicate in Mississip- pi; one million three hundred thou sand to the Phillips-Mars Com pany, of London; and one million six hundred thousand acres to a German syndicate. These comprise the larger land-holders. There are, however, a score or more of persons and syndicates owning less than seven hundred and fifty thousand acres. The grand total foots up to twenty million seven hundred and forty-seven thousand acres of gov ernment land held by aliens in the United States.-Argonaut.
The St. Johns herald., 1888-07-26

An exchange says that the valid ity of the celebrated Maxwell land grant is soon to be put to a severe test. The Interstate Company, which, under the leadership of Charles Goodnight, the Texas cat tie king, purchased Beals' grant few years ago, has just secured the original papers in Beals' grant, and will soon institute suits in the Uni ted States Courts to dispossess the owners of the Maxwell grant, which is in the territory comprising the Beals grant. The land covers mill ions of acres in New Mexico, Colo rado and Kansas, and is of enor- nous value, as a number of towns are located thereon, Trinidad being one of the number. The Interstate Company began suit in Colorado some time ago, but found their case was worthless without the original papers, and an agent was sent to Europe to secure them. After nine years search he succeeded in fnd- ing them, and they are now ready to proceed.
The St. Johns herald., 1888-07-26

The "coon boom" is now on in South Carolina, and the colored population are especially affected by it. The devotees of the sport are easily recognized as appears by the annexed from The Carolina Spartan "When you see an old time darkey, with one gallus on, a horn worn smooth with long use, a sharp ax sticking out at his shirt collar behind, a business-looking half-hound that puts on no airs, a bobtailed yellow cur, considerably scared up, and half-grown pup that he carries along, to see if he won't larn some sense,' you may know that he is going a coon hunt ing"
The St. Johns herald., 1888-07-26
Bad for Nervous People.

The fifteen puzzle which some years ago demorallzed the general public here and elsewhere is to have a successor. The same firm that constructed the fifteen puzzle has devised another soul-dismaying article. The latter affair is called the forty-nine blizzard puzzle, and while like the former. it may be solved, it is likely to render any person whe attempts to conquer 1t a fit candidate for Bloomingdale before the task is finished. Like the fifteen puzzle this one is made up of small wooden blocks, each numbered. There are forty-nine of them in all ,and the point to be gain ed is to arrange them in such way that they will count 175 sixteen times across the square box in which they are arranged. There are several thousand ways to fail in an attempt to solve the puzzle and only one way to solve it. For per son who have abundant time which they do not know what to do with the new puzzle will be treat. Its inventors believe that it will become even more popular than the fifteen puzzle, of which millions were sold. New York Mail and Express.
The St. Johns herald., 1888-07-26

Joe Gibson, the mail contractor Globe and Verde route informed us of the discovery of wonderful rich ledge of silver, located near the head of Canyon creek, close to the line of Yavapai and Apache counties. The locators are Lew Robison, John Gilled and Frank Bissig, of fayson. The ledge is large and crops out for some dis tance. The ore is black sulphuret, and, a small piece given to us by Mr. Gibson, is very rich. The specimen has been subjected to heat, and the surface is studded with little beads of the pure metal. Fuller particulars ot the find will probably be received this evening. Silver Belt.
The St. Johns herald., 1888-07-26
Absurd RumOr.

It is said that the Atlantic & Pa- cifc Bailroad-in the interest of compelling the cattlemen having cattle on their unfenced land grant, to buy land of them or run their cattle out of the country-will en- deavOr to have the legislature pass a law to compel cattlemen to fence their ranches and thus stop the free range system. This effort, if suc- cessful, would strike death blow to Arizona's most profitable indus try. Such an act would be an ab- surdity, viewed from any point, and if the railroad undertakes to com pei the purchase of their lands through a subterfuge of this kind, its can not but result disastrously to them, as such a suicidal step as wiping out the cattlemen of Ari- zona would effect disastrouly every business man in the Terri tory. We can not help but regard such a statement as to the inten- tions of the Atlantic < Pacific as simply arumor without foundation. Citizen.
The St. Johns herald., 1888-07-26

The county of Pinal is in the best financial condition of any political division of the Territory. It has no bonded indebtedness and only a small amount of unpaid warrants are outstanding, which will all be paid from the tax levy of the pres ent year. It's rate of taxation is the lowest in the Territory, and all it's affairs are managed with fidelity. and economy.-Enterprise
The St. Johns herald., 1888-07-26

The Socorro Chieftain suggests q scheme for bringing about confu- sion worse than that experienced at the tower of Babel. It says:
 "How would it be for the edito- rial fraternity of the Territory to follow the example of the clergy in exchanging pulpits every now and again, and exchange the editorial chair? The reader, too, might ap- preciate the move. With Judge De Baum on the Times and Whitmore on the Chieftain; with Albright ex- pounding Democracy on the Citi- zen and Tom Hughes teaching true Republican doctrine in the Demo- crat we say with Russ Kistler steer ing the political course of the New Mexican, and the New Mexican man opening the eye of the Optic with Col. Blake preaching the gos pei on the New Mexico Methodist and Brother Harwood looking after the worldly welfare of The News all this for a few trips might possi- ply be appreciated. But, Great Scott what a commotion there would be, my countrymen!" !"
The St. Johns herald., 1888-07-26
There was consummated at Den

There was consummated at Den ton, Texas, on. June 28th, one of the largest cattle transactions of the season. Henry c. Clark, of Dallas, Texas, sold to Thomas Williams, of Denver, Colorado, 5000 head of stock cattle for the sum of $I00,O0O the cattle to be taken from CIark's Knox county ranch.-Southwestern Stockmaa.
The St. Johns herald., 1888-07-26

Physicians wife-Are your af- fairs in bad shape, John? Physi- cian-Yes, but I hope to pull through. My creditors have ex- tended my paper to the middle of the watermelon season.
The St. Johns herald., 1888-07-26

A Coroner's jury summoned to inquire into the death of China man who shielded recently at the penitentiary at Yuma, rendered a verdict that "he came to his death by hanging by his own hand"
The St. Johns herald., 1888-07-26

Last news from the spirit world 1.-The spirit of the late MT. Jones is present" Jones' widow, with emotion: T hope you are happy, Jones'" Jones raps out: "Far happier than ever was on earth" Jones' widow: "Oh, Jones, then you must be in heayen" Jones; "On the contrary"
The St. Johns herald., 1888-07-26

Bobby-Ma, did the doctor bring me in the night time or day time? Mother-In the night time, Bobby. Bobby-Well, I guess that's the reason I don't remember anything about it; I must have been asleep.
The Newtown bee., 1888-09-28
EASToN.

George Kuhne, our genial tea peddler, sports brand new wagon.
 Rev MT Atkinson preached for the Baptists, Sunday.
 The Baptist church Is being cleaned and repairs made; all that Is needed is . pastor.
 James Ward has taken the contract to build the bridge at Wilson street.
 Chester w. Tyrrill spent Sunday with his grandfather, John Wheeler. fs ttifi
 John McNie of Grand Forks, Dakota, has visited Mrs Eliza SilIiman; Charles Goebel of New York George Keller; Mrs James J. Ward and son William Ward, while James J. visited Niagara Falls 1; Miss Ida Judson and mother Postmaster Osborne.
 C. s. Everett's horse fell dead Ut the Baptist church, last week.
 Rudolph Stocffel's wife andrtwo child- ren still reside at their place near Lewis Goodsell's, which Mrs Stoeffel is said to own In her own name.
 Stephen A.. White has finally movedto Chauncey McCarty's old home.
 MT and Mrs David o. Banks will cele- brate their china wedding, Friday, DC tObor 5.
The Newtown bee., 1888-09-28
LONG HILL.

Glad to see that the bad place in the road near c. B. Hawley's is to be oblit- erated. F.. M. Middlebrook has put in a sluiceway which will carry the water under the road. A similar swamp, even more extensive, exists opposite Good Templars hall, where the water entirely covers the road. Something must be- done here at once. This is partly caused by the adjacent swamp, but a stream of water has flowed through the road and added to the quagmire. Earth has been scraped on the upper end of Broadway, whose stones were washed clean by storms.
 Milo Coan of Paris, N. r., is visiting his brother, Albert $. Coan. Although S3 years of age, Mir Coan came here alone and surprised his relatives by suddenly appearing. The united ages of these brothers are l64 years and each is in good mental and physical health.
 Seymour E. Beardsley moved to his new home here, last week. His shop is in running order and he has already fin ished several orders, but is not yet in full operation.
 W. B. Coan has made arrangements to do the finest ornamental sleigh painting and would be pleased to have you call. Miss Lottie Bennett has spent few days in New York.
 Mir Logan, engineer of the Wales Wheel Co.,, Bridgeport, has been assist ing W. R. Coan. He is a first class work man and understands wheels thoroughly.
 F. J. Squinobal has sold fine cows to D. Mahoney, H. N. Ayres, E. Clark and others and says that, although constant ly buying and selling, he always has bar gains on hand.
 Next Sunday, services will be resumed in Grace church at 10 30 m. ..t Mir and Mrs Frank l.. Wheeler have moved into their new home.
 The wet weather has interfered with the cigar makers stock and they could work but part of the time.
 Mir and Mrs F. l.. Turney, MT and Mrs l.. M. Wakeley, Mir and Mrs Frank Sher- man, Mrs D. $. Finch, Ed Wolhtman ac- companied the Housatonic excursion to Niagara Falls, last week.
 Seeley Perry of Stepney has charge of the men, mostly local talent, who are
 
 was raised, last week.
 Mir George Wheeler and son Howard started to visit friends in York State, Saturday.
 Mrs Susan J. Hayes, who occupied part of Mir Radclitfe's tenant house, died in Bridgeport, Friday, after a short ill., ness of typhoid malarlal fever, which is quite prevalent in the city. She leaves a child, Nellie Lewis.
 Miss Belle Chambers of Brooklyn, who has spent some weeks with Mrs John Fulford, expects to leave Brooklyn and make her home with Mir Fulford.
 W. $. Gildersleeve is building wagon for Charles E. Hawley.
 c. E. Wheeler has purchased a new horse.
 X Bridgeport woman has purchased the Point House and, if current reports are true, will follow in tIe footsteps of Frank Judge.
 \ horse driven by White of Bridgeport ,ned on the road, near w. c. Wheeler's, Saturday. It was not in prime condit- ion.
 c. E. Hawley says that his colt was killed because it's leg was accidentally broken and that 1t was physically sound.
 Gilbert Hitter and family have moved from Bridgeport into the tenement over Mir Platt's store,
The Newtown bee., 1888-09-28
NICHOLS.

Ezra Smiths house is finished and a fine one it is. The woodwork was done by l.. A. Hawley of Trumbull, J. c. Beardsley and D. M. Nichols.
 H. l.. Fairchild and D. M. Nichols de- serve credit for clearing up the Nichols cemetery at their own expense. This is something which ought to be done regu- larly and private persons should not bear the expense.
 J. c. Beardsley and D. M. Nichols are erecting an addition to Fairchild < Sons mill.
 Nathan J. Clark has recovered his 2 year-old heifer. It was found with other cattle belonging to Charles B. Nichols and had been gone nearly three months.
 Agents for a telephone line are negoti- ating with owners of land on the Cross road; it will also cross the farms of the late Oliver Plumb and Henry c. Brins- made. Et
 Thompson Bros. offer p acres of land for sale.
 Chicken thieves are again at work.
 A large hydraulic press has been re- ceived by Fairchild & Son.
The Newtown bee., 1888-09-28
TRUMBULL.

Mrs Stiles Belfield of Southbury has visited her aunt, Mrs C. N. Brinsmade and others.
 l.. A. Hawley has finished work on Ezra smiths house in Nichols and will soon begin canvassing for Stephen Hoyts Sons, Canaan nurserymen.
 George Loomis Sterling, who arrived from Europe short time since, spent Sunday with his father, s. II. Sterling.
 Frank N. Burr writes from Ohio that he is well pleased with his location and work, but that the pace of that part of Uncle Sam's big farm Is eXasperatingly slow. Busy, energetic Yankee that he Is, he cannot become accustomed to Western deliberatioL. Where Daniels Farm people would hurry along with horses on a keen trot, the Buckeye is content to go on a slow walk, although his horses are fully equal to ours. Mir Burr will probably return in few weeks for short visit.
 W. N. French has bought new horse.
 Mrs l.. A. Hawley seems to understand to perfection the proper care of plants and always makes them produce the largest amount of flowers. All through the Summer the bright blossoms adOrn the green lawn and many of them bring cheerfulness and light into the house during the Winter. Most of the 50 vari- cities of roses have ended their seasons display, but the foliage plants, repre- senting over 20 shades and colorings, are dyed as deeply as ever. The showy hy- drangea and fragrant geranium are also found in profusion and combine with others to form beautiful floral attract ion.
 Mrs l.. Booth of Shelton and Mrs Blakeman of Plymouth were recent guests of Mrs l.. A. Hawley.
 Arthur Burr has suffered with infiam- matory rheumatism.
 Mir and Mrs William Tait were among those who joined the excursion to Mag ara Falls.
 Mir and Mrs John Turney, who have spent the Summer with Mrs w. Fl. Brothwell, expect to return to their Stratford home soon.
 Revs F.. K. Holden and N. T. Merwin will exchange pulpits, Sunday, 30th.
 Clarice, youngest child of Mir and Mrs C.. B. Sherwood, died, Saturday, and was buried, Monday.
 Miss Fannie Brinsmade of Shelton has visited ut the parsonage.
The Newtown bee., 1888-09-28

buckets, covering the ground for rods from the mouth of the shaft with debris and boring with an augur with a stick for handle and two men trOtting round and round working it through the solid rock. A dry we'll 60 feet deep on the old Asa Peck homestead. 40 rods distant, re- mains as one of the results of that specu- lation, for, when partly dug, the shaft filled with water, one night and the Peck well was found dry and has never fur nished water since. After carrying wa ter some years, negro witched water for the Pecks and a fine we'll was had l6 feet deep, within 30 feet of the old one. This water, which came into the shaft, Mir Wheeler remembers as having dis agreeable odor with a scum on it and, by some means, fire got into the shaft, which burned out the curbing and the derrick, and Cleveland disappeared, a defaulter to the Wheeler estate ill $l50. The South bury records show the ancient lease made for 999 years, if treasure was found and Mir Wheeler has books of his father which are interesting as showing his transactions with the spectators. About the same time, similar attempt was made near South Britain, which was also fruitless, though old residents remember the peculiar odor which clung to the Workmen emplOyed.
 T. l.. Wheeler's place and Perry Smiths are connected with wires and their sons intend learning telegraphy without the aid of the business college.
 The potato crop is about harvested and the general verdict is a good crop and splendid quality, though some complain of rot.
 George P. Pierce has been quite sick.
 Dr Cooley has added to his profession al outfit one of Woods medical libraries of 100 volumes of the highest medical authorities. He reports his time more fully occupied with professional calls than ever before.
 Mrs Theodore Mallory is home from a visit with Meriden friends.
 Dr CoOley's wife entertains a sister and husband from Newark, N. J. ss
 Mrs Rice of New Haven has been with her brother, s. l.. Futile. -a.
 Miss Augusta Osborne and niece have returned from their visit with Massachu- setts friends.