davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-04-21

BENJAMIN HARRISON, President of the
United States, is now travelling in
the South. We hope he may make a
careful study of our section; and we
shall be glad if such study shall make
him heartily ashamed of having given
the great weight of his influence to a
tariff system that robs the South to
build up the North and East. We could
not work up our personal enthusiasm
to the yelling point over the Presidents
visit to our section if we should try
We do not believe in wineing and din
ing and iOnizing a man whose whole
official and personal weight is thrown
against our people. If the Southern
people would take our advice, they
would let the President pursue his way
through the South, without any demon
strations of enthusiasm. We may not
be able to rid ourselves, at once, of the
intOlerable tariff burdens Mr.. Harrison
has helped to fix upon us. But we are
not bound to lick the hand that smites
us. We can bear our burdens in silence
and be men. We cannot fawn and
cringe before this representative of a
wicked system without emitting our
selves to be called a lot of whining
ours. The above is meant to be plain
speech.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-04-21
BLAIR IN THE FIRST DISTRICT.

Mr.. EDITOR:-I began my tour of the
old FIRST district at home in Hertford
county. Notwithstanding the con-
tinued rains and swollen streams, and
that prophet is not without honor
save in his own country, etc., the hall
of Menola Alliance No. 991, was
packed to more than fulless, while I
declared for more than an hour the
gospel of the Farmers Alliance and
Laborers' Union to the general public.
Then all were cordially invited to a
public dinner given by the ladies OF
Menola. All were fed, and baskets full
were taken up and nothing wasted.
In the afternoon was held the county
meeting, the largest have seen in the
county 1t filled the hall. The sisters
were in attendance and one was dele
gate. Mrs. S. r. Brown, Secretary of
Menola Sub-Alliance, read a speech of
welcome which she had prepared. 1t
was handsomely responded to in an
impromptu speech by brother Overton,
of Ahoskie Alliance.
Sister Browns speech was so enthu-
siastically received that the County
Alliance unanimously requested it for
publication in The PROGRESSIVE FAR
MER, where you will doubtless see it.
Some singing was lead by that expert
vocalist and singing master, brother
- Matthews, of Bethlehem ALI
ance, from Farmers Alliance Songs"
The business of the County Alliance
was transacted with life and dispatch
in great harmony. l then addressed
the order, instructing and encourag-
ing it to more faith and activity. This
was the first of our circulating county
meetings and pronounced the best ever
held, so that other places asked for the
next meeting, but AhOskie got it and
will be well filled with visitors, and
will have better meeting, for that is
what we are to dO-GdUance; improve
by the mistakes and successes of the
past. God be with you till we meet
again was sung with happy effect, and
adjournment followed.
The breaking of the ferry cable
across the Chowan disappointed me,
so 1 had to go another route to Gates
vile, which [ did not reach till 1 80 p.
M, on Saturday and found the Alliance
in session to economic time. So
anxious were they to hear me that 1
addressed them at 2 p. m, without
dinner. Then closed a large meeting
fully in the Alliance spirit. Then,
strange for me, ate few oysters and
some crackers and soup, hastily, and
went to the court house and addressed
a good audience and an attentive one
till it was time to go home. The Presi-
dent, II. @. Williams; the Secretary,
Fl. ]. Reed, James Bond, Treasurer of
the county, J. ]. Eggleston, Sheriff, L.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-04-21
CIRCULATION.

The actual circulation of Volume V,
which closed with the issue OF Febru-
arv 18th, 1891, was as follows:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-04-21
EDITORIAL NOTES.

SENATOR VANCE denies that there
was any drunkenness or bad behavior
on the funeral train to California. The
Senator also denies that the expenses
were as great as they we're reported to
be. The Senator thinks, however, that
these Senatorial funerals are altogether
too expensive. We think so too.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-04-21

WE challenge any man anywhere,
to give a sound argument, based upon
facts, against the free coinage of silver;
the air Is blue with assertions that such
coinage will ruin the country. But
not one of these peddIers of economic
dogma, from Mr.. Cleveland down, has
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-04-21

WE gather from our exchanges that
some of the leaders of the Democratic
party in this country are still in favor
of running Mr.. Cleveland for the presi-
dency next year, in spite of his notions
upon the silver question. We do not
know how it will be. But we do know
that Alliance votes will not be cast for
Mr.. Cleveland, or for any other anti
silver man. We say this, because we
do not want anybody to lay the fatter-
ing JUNCTION to his soul that Southern
AIliancemen can be made to fall into
line and support any man that may be
set up up, simply because he is a Demo
crat. The Alliance demands of the
present parties contain well-known
financial reforms. These reforms are
just and fair to all parties and classes
And we mean to beat the men at the
polls who may be set up against these
demands, no matter what party they
may belong to. The old cry of negro
domination in these States has lost its
power, for the reason that the negroes
of the South the great masses of them
are honestly at work in the fields
and shops, trying to earn living for
themselves and families, notwithstand-
ing the burdens that have been put
upon them by the Mckinley bill.
Dear brother, if you are behind with
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-04-21

SENATOR VANCE told a reporter the
other day that he understood that he
had been instructed by the North Car
olina legislature to support the 'plan
of financial reform as contemplated by
the Ocala Convention, and not any
particular bill" This is our under
standing of the matter also. So far as
we know, there has never been any
disposition in the Alliance to embarrass
Senators and Representatives with par
ticular bills. The Alliance demands
certain objects at the hands Of legisla
tion, and it is willing to leave men in
Congress free to embody those objects
in such legislation as may be wisest.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-04-21

THE Hon. Thomas B. Reed, of Maine,
lately described the Mckinley bill as
"a bill which has for it's object the
aiding of the poor by raising their
wages" And yet, as the Ne1U York
Times has shown, since the enactment
of that Infamous measure the wages
of working men in all the branches of
the protected industries have been re-
duced. Did anybody expect anything
else? If man can be found anywhere
who really expected the Mckinley bill
to raise anybody's wages, he may
safely be classed as not of sound mind
and those who claimed that the tariff
outrage of the last Congress would
raise wages, can be as safely classed as
not of sound heart. In our secret soul
we believe that the man who favOrs
protection by the imposition of customs
duties, is either incompetent to think
correctly, or else he is a knave The
man who honestly thought the Nc
Kinley law would benefit wage -earners
must have been born an original stupid.
But Tom Reed was not born stupid
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-04-21

WE have heard of waterspouts; we
have heard of small waterspouts; we
have heard of dangerous waterspouts,
and we have heard of several other
kinds of waterspouts. But the New
York Herald has recently discovered
"a ferociOus waterspout." Since the
Herald has discovered this 'ferocious
waterspout, we feel it to be our duty
towarn Gen. Greely. When waterspouts
become 'ferOciOmS" there is no telling
what terrible thing they may do to a
man that goes prowling around o'nights
studying the habits of the weather.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-04-21

THE Herald thinks New York will
soon get small portions of the spring
weather that the West and South have
been enjoying for some time past. But
there is a tone of sad dOubtfulness about
it's predictions upon that subject. Ger
tainly this desponding tone is not due
to the decay of the HeraLd'S confidence
in it's ability to get its orders for
special weather filled by the clerk of
that industry. We suspect that the
HeroId's low spirits, just now, must
be due to the unwillingness of Mr..
Mckinley to let the weather come in
free of customs duties.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-04-21
THE TOBACCO TRUST.

The tobacco trust, formed and form
ing, threatens the entire tobacco in
dustry. It's influence has already
proved so pernicious, hurtful, and OBJ
noxious to the great mass of planters
and dealers, and so threatening to all
the manufacturers outside of the trusts,
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-04-21

Dear brother, if you are behind with
your subscription, please pay up.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-03-31
RAINFALL AND POPULATION.

Few people, probably, have given
much attention to the relation between
rainfall and temperature and the popu-
lation of the country. Possibly few
are interested in knowing what control
OF vOlItlOn nature exercises, or care to
believe that man is not as Independent
as he assume to be in the selection of
his habitat. The Census Commissioner
is an exception to this rule of human
Indifference as to the causes of settle
ment here and the absence of settle
ment there, and points out how Obedi-
ent to the gentle sway of the elements
IS the race of men supposed to be self
a~ssertive and superior to circumstances.
He informs us that the great proper
ton of population in certain divisions
of the country is not the result of tOpO-
graphic charm or commercial cOnven-
fence so much as the effect of the mean
of rainfall and temperature throughout
the year. His tables prove that the
main body of population inhabits the
region in which the annual rainfall is
between 80 and so inches, quite three
fourths of the population being found
in that range. On either side as the
rainfall increases or diminishes pOpu-
latiOn decreases with corresponding
rapidity, so that where the rainfall is
less than 20 inches, and twO-fifths the
entire area Of the country is thus I'm
fortunate, there is less than 3 per cent.
of population. The most favored re-
giOn is that in which the rainfall is be-
tween 40 and SO inches. The density
of population in that area is an aver
age of SO inhabitants to the square
mile. AS the rainfall increases above
50 inches there is a steady diminutiOn
of population until at 70 there is a per-
centage of only 1.3. The most rapid
proportional increase of population in
the past twenty years has been in the
ire where the mean rainfall is 20 to 30
inches, comprising the eastern portion
of the great plains ranging from Texas
to Dakota. The increase has been from
1.6 to 81. The report gives the average
Of the annual rainfall for the United
States as 29,6 inches. The average an
nual rainfall with relation to the popU-
lation, deduced by giving weight to
each area of country in proportion to
the number of it's inhabitants, was, in
1879, 42.5 inches; in 1880, 40 inches, and
in 1890, IA; the diminutiOn being
caused mainly, it is supposed, by the
settlement of the great plains and the
arid regions of the West. The relation
of temperature to rainfall is, of course,
understood. In the most populous
areas the average of temperature is
from so to So degrees, more than half
the population living in a temperature
between As and 55 degrees. Where
the average is greater than 20 degrees
only a tri1e over 1 per cent. of popula-
ton is found. The average annual
temperature of the United States,
Alaska excluded, is 50 degrees.-Chi-
cdgO Tnter-OceGn.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-03-31

which the bronze powder remains sus-
pended. Articles bronzed with the
preparation are said to retain their
metallic lustre for years.
Some time ago Prof. Parish, of Athens,
was surprised at being relieved of a
tape-wOrm after VERY free use of cocoa
nut. Since then he has tried this as a
remedy with almost invariable success,
and good results are reported from it's
trial in America.
A number of magnetic fOci have been
found in the Alps by SignOrs Sella and
OddOne, the rocks with distinctly mag
netic properties being magnetic, ser
p~entine, diOrite and syenite. A mag
netic rock on Punta Ginfetti showed
traces of fusion, as if it had been struck
by lightning, and it is suggested that
this circumstance has given the rock
it's magnetic properties.
PNEUMONIA FROM BLOws.-TwO cases
of pneumonia as a result of conclusion
of the lungs have been reported by DR..
f. w. Burton. A boy of eleven, who
was f9rcibly struck on the left side of
the chest with a Ratchet, began to
cough about four hours later, and soon
developed, the symptoms of pleuro-
pLNCOlLIlOLllCb ~ ULlC OdSS VI JUL llllSSs
A man of twenty-five, who strained
his right side by trying suddenly to
stop the fall of asackO Of malt, developed
all the signs of pneumonia in both
lungs, and died.
MOTIVE POWER OF THE SOLAR SYs-
TEM.-Mr. G. H. Zenger claims to have
first suggested in 1878 that the sun acts
as a huge dynamO-electric machine,
controlling the motions of the planets
and comets by electro-dynamic energy
instead of gravitatiOn. Since then he
has made various experiments, which
tend to prove that all the motions in
interplanetary space, on the surface
and in the interior of the plants, r
explained by this theory. It has been
demonstrated that cyclones and lorna
does have an electrical cause, and rea-
sons have been found for believing that
not only cyclOnic and magnetic storms
and the northern lights, but also earth
quakes and volcanic disturbances have
a periodicity, corresponding to a semi
rotation of the sun. A copper sphere
has been made to initiate, by the infu-
ence of electromagnetic, the motions of
the planets around the SUM-; and a hol-
low glass sphere has been rotated on
it's axis by discharges from an electric
machine. The appearance of the
eclipsed sun, showing the protuberances
and the corona, has been reproduced
by electric discharges against discs of
copper and tinfoil on smoked glass
plates; and an exact copy of the spots
and other familiar characteristics of
the suns surface has been given by
discharges on a hollow sphere OfsmOked
glass or on a silvered mirror. Finally,
the phenomena of comets tails have
been initiated by discharges on
wrinkled surfaces.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-03-31
L

Experiments in a German technical
school have yielded an excellent build
ing material in a mixture of sawdust
and mineral refuse pressed into bricks.
These are very light, imperviOus to
wet, and absolutely freproof.
LIQUID BRONzE.-A solution in which
bronze powder is held in suspension for
a long time has been patented in the
German Empire. Damar resin ismixed
with one-third of dry carbonate of
potassium or carbonate of sodium, and
the mixture is melted and thoroughly
stirred together, and then in thin lay
ers is exposed for several months to a
temperature of 100 degrees. The resin
thus obtained is dissolved In benzine
freed from all traces of acid by ammo
MIA gas, when a varnish is yielded In
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-03-31
C394

part at least, this chasm. While ira
versing last year, uneXplOred portions
of New Mexico, Schwatza found him
self, on several occasions, and notably
at Barranca del Cobra, in the presence
of quite numerous bodies of savages.
They were exceedingly timid, and the
moment they perceived the Ameri-
cans they hastily took flight, and
were seen to reach their abOdes by
climbing, with the agility Of apes,
almost perpendicular precipices; at
first, by means of ladders, which they
drew up after them, and then, by
stakes driven into the aufructuOsities,
which they grasped with both their
hands and feet. The exploring party
were able, after repeated vain efforts,
to accost some of them. They were
tall and extremely meager, but their
limbs well proportional, and complex
ion of deep red approaching black,
resembling more that of negroes than
of Indians. They worship the sun,
and, as homage to their god, expose to
it's rays their newborn children on the
first day of their existance. Are these
men the only representatives of the
Cliff Dwellers? This we may certainly
doubt. 1t is probable that they have
established themselves in the more
fertile plains by reason of the difficulty
Of obtaining in the higher attitudes
the necessary supply of water for their
requirements Translated for Public
Opinion, from the Paris La Nature.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-03-31
Poetry.
AN OLD SWEETHEART OF NINE.

A one cons at evening over an album all alone,
And muses. on the facesof the friends that ne mas
So 7 turn the leaves of fancy, till in shadOwy
design -.-A
of mine.
The lamp-Iight seems to glimmer with a flicker
4 turn G8 it low, to rest me of the dazzle in my
And light my pipe in silence, save a sigh that
seems to yoke
Its fate with my tobacco, and to vanish with the
smoke.
,Tis a fragrant retrospection, for the loving
1n+o beiDg are ike perfumes from the blossom
And to- dream the old dreams over is a luxury
When NV frunut fancies wanders with that old
sweetheart of mine.
Though hear, beneath my study, like a futter-
The v Ie = of my children and the mother as she
7 feel I no ffwfngs Of conscience to deny me any
When Care has cast her anchor in the harbor of
a dream.
In fact, to speak in earnest, I believe it adds a
To spice the good a trihe with a little dust of
For I find an extra flavor in Memory's mellow
That makes me drink the deeper to that old
sweetheart of mine.
face of liIy-beauty, with a form of airy grace,
Floats out of my tobacco as the genii from the
And 1 thrill beneath the chances of a pair Of
As glowing as the summer and as tender as the
skies.
| can see the pink sun bonnet and the little
She wore when first 1 kissed her, and she an
Swered the CareSS
With the written declaration that, as surely as
Grew round the stump she loved me-tha old
sweetheart of mlne!
And again feel the pressure of her slender
As we used to talk together of the future we had
planned;
When I should be a poet, and with nothing else
But Write tender verses that she set the
music to.
When we should live together in a cozy little
Hid in a nest of roses, with a fairy garden-spot,
Where the vines were fruited, and the weather
And the birds were ever singing for that old
sweetheart of mine!
And l should be her lover forever and a day,
And she my faithful sweetheart Till the golden
hair was gray,
And we should be so happy that when others
lips were dumb
They would not smile in heaven till the others
kiss had come.
But-ah! my dream is broken by a step upon
the stair.
And the door is softly opened, and my wife Is
standing thereI
Yet with eagerneSs and rapture all my visions l
resign
To greet the living presence of that old sweet
heart of mine.
JONES WhitcOmb Riley.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-03-31
SCIENTIFIC.
THE CLIFF-DWELLERS.

Since the memorable expedition of
Messrs. Jackson and Holmes in 1874
1875, all who interest themselvs in the
remote past of America are aware of
the existence, in the canOnS and deep
gorges Of Arizona and New Mexico, of
human habitations, situated at alti-
tudes of several thousand feet above
the ~sealevel. Cliffs absolutely perpen-
dicular are covered with dwellings
which can not be better compared than
to the cells of a beehive. Everything
attests a numerous population, and
very superior in civilization to the
more savage and fearless of the North
American Indians which to-day roam
over those regions. The dwellings,,
abandoned from a point of time that
it would be difficult to exactly deter
mine, comprise actual villages, extend
ing over distances often quite con
siderable. These are sometimes exca-
waited in the rock itself, sometimes
constructed of bricks baked in the sun,
or of stones, and laid without cement.
The absence of doors, the small dimen-
siOns of the apertures with which they
are provided by way of windows, the
extraordinary difficulty of access to
them, and towers and fortified inclos-
ures commanding the approaches to
the valleys, clearly attest the dangers
to which their occupants were sub
iected. Around these deserted abOdes
considerable piles of broken crockery
are. often found. This earthenware,
formed of clay and pulverized quartz,
is, in general, of a very superior quality
to that of the Mound Builders or the
Aztecs. Other expeditions have veri-
fed these first reports. Major Powell,
director of the Geological Survey, as
certained, in the same region, the ex-
istence of mountains covered with beds
of lava Of great thickness. Man had
clearly excavated these beds to often
considerable depths, in order to estab-
lish habitatiOns. The partition walls
were covered with a coating of which
lava constituted the basis. These
dwellings were numerous, since Major
Powell counted sixty different groups,
and in each group twenty or more
houses. He considers them among the
most ancient of human habitatiOns in
America, but this is avery exaggerated
Judgment, as they Indicate assuredly a
civilization unknown to the aboriginal
Indians, of whom traces are found on
the banks of the Delaware and Missis-
sippi. The Smithsonian Institution,
well known for the labors of it's mem
bers, organized, on its part, an explo-
ration. of the Verdi valley in Arizona.
There also were found mountains ris-
ing to the altitude of 6, 500 feet, covered
with cliff houses, of not less difficult
access than those of New Mexico. The
absence of human bones around or
near these dwellings, appears somewhat
singular. This absence leaves us in
absolute ignorance of the physical
characteristics of the cliff dwellers.
The recent discoveries of Lieutenant
Schwatza permit is to supply, in