The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-12-02
Chinese village at the Chicago Fair.
/ They were carefully examined and trans.

Chinese village at the Chicago Fair.
They were carefully examined and trans
ferred under guard 10 the train for
Chicago. But only about one-third OF
the number that left San Francisco
showed up in the village at the Fair, and
in the closing days Of the Fair but thirty
could be mustered there. 1t is time, ac-
cording 10 the schedule, for the three
hundred "actors" 10 re-embark for
China, but nothing has been seen OF
them in San Francisco. 1t now trans
pires that each Of the alleged actors paid
a Hong Kong firm Of Cinnamon $3.50 for
the privilege OF belonging 10 the village
party. II any succeeded in eluding the
vigilance Of the United States officers
and settled safely In this country, the
$3.50 was 10 belong 10 the firm; if com
PEELED 10 return the money was 10 be re-
funded. The firm, Kowong, Hong, On
4 Co., has Ss4 900 on deposit, aud as
none of the alleged actors seem likely TO
re embark, the firm is reasonably well as
sured Of It's ultimate possession.
The people of San Francisco boast that
their Midwinter Fair will exceed in
point of exhibits and attractions any
fair hitherto held in the United States,
with the exception, of course, of the
Columbian Exposition. Work is being
rapidly pushed on the grounds and the
buildings, and application for space on
the eighty acres reserved for the fair are
coming in so fast that il is now said
there will not be room enough for the
exhibitors. AS nearly every county in
the state wishes 10 erect a special build
ing, the assignment of space is giving
the executive committee great deal OF
trouble. Among the attractions already
decided on are an ostrich farm, an Indian
village, an electric theatre, tamale vii
lage, and castle OF Heidelberg, which
is 10 be erected by the counties in the
northern citrus belt Of the state. The
main buildings are now far advanced,
and water pipes are being laid for i'm
mediate use in case of fire. Every de-
partment is naturally being modelled on
the lines OF the successful fair at Chic
ago. Contracts with the Columbian ex-
hibitors are being made daily, and the
Midway Plssance is 10 be duplicated.
The amount Of money in the treasury OF
the exposition will soon be quarter Of a
million dollars. All of this, however,
has not been given as subscriptions.
Thousands of dollars of it have been re-
ceived in payment of concessions.
British Columbia has been interested in
the fair, and British Midwinter Fair
Auxiliary has been formed in San
Francisco.
STATISTICS have been furnished the
Agricultural Department at Washington
showing that the introduction Of the
Russian thistle has damaged the crops Of
the Northwest this year 10 the extent OF
"a, 600, 600, and is reported that the as
sstant botanist of the department, act
ing under orders from Secretary Morton.
has been despatched 10 that section to
make further investigation. 1t appears
to the Trenton IN. j. True American
that the pest WAS introduced into this
country about seventeen years ago in flax
seed brought from Russia and sowed near
Scotland, in South Dakota. A few peo-
pie noticed it at the time, but gave it but
little thought until il became too abund-
ant to be easily checked Now it is be-
lieved that if measures are not speedily
taken to eradicate it, it promises to be
spread over the entire country. 1t is
described as an innocent looking little
Seeding which in May or June sends
up tender branching shoot with mar
row succuIent leaves. 1t makes its best
growth in July and August, and by Sep
tember has changed into a vigorous
spreading weed two TO six feet in di-
ameter and half as high, making dense,
bushy mass of rigid branches, Offering
an etfectual barrier to the passage Of
man or beast. The full grown plant,
shaped like an inverted saucer,
two to six feet in diameter, all
grows from single root less than
half an inch thick. When the ground
is frozen in November, and the prairie
breezes begin TO blow, this small root is
twisted off, and the whole plant turns
up an edge and goes of before the wind,
scattering seeds in every direction. IL
has already gained foothold in six
States, and there is nothing in the ns-
ture of the plant to prevent it from
spreading as far south as Texas, and
proving u very serious enemy 10 flrmers
in all the drier regions throughout the
entire country. 1t takes complete pos
session of the land, choking out the
wheat and other crops, often makes it
impossible TO run harvesting machinery
and sometimes even stops plows. 1t is
often necessary to bind leather or other
protection on the horses legs before
they can be driven among the spiny
weeds. Trains have been stopped by
the thstles ban king Up on the tracks.
Prairie fires are carried long distances
by the burning thistles blowing across
fire breaks. In many other ways this
terrible weed causes serious damage.