Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-01-18

klnglV Illustrated III the CROWN
and spread of the thistle, which
at one time, was considered worth
less, but vas finally found to be a
most excellent food for asses, aud
for ages the supply aud demand
have held their equilibrium. Though
in the past few years, the accumu
latIon of that class of animals by
such acquisitions as the noted gov
ernors Pennoyer, of Oregon; Waite
OF Colorado and Lewelling. of Kan.
sas, has caused great alarm, lest
their favorite food should be so
scarce as to create a famine. The
advent of the Russian thistle has
allayed all such fears, and, with the
prairie dotted with these delicate
plants, four feet high and from
eight to ten feet in diameter, the
indications are that there will be
enough and to spare, so that our
local SIC, 900 celebrity, can have a
manger full at his disposal, with
out even the exercise incident to
his favorlte pastime of multiplying
mortgages. There is nothing like
a home market for all our
produce. The thistle must not 60
so long Is the animal for whose
sustsinance nature has supplied it,
remains, or he will regale his asso-
ciates with the beautiful couplet,
"Twas ever thus, from childhood's
hour,
I've seen my fondest hopes decay
| never loved a tree or flower,
But that 'twould fade and pass
away"
$4,000.
Another phase of the Alliance
Purchasing Company has now
shown up. At an early period OF
this company, the organizers prom
ised great things Irvine, machin-
cry, hardware, groceries, in fact
everything that the farmer uses,
was to be bought at unheard of
prices. All the established rules
and regulations of trade were to be
revolutionized, not all by this
company but by the aid of the
Scandinavian Elevator Co., and
the Fidelity Insurance Co.
At the outset the very smooth or
ganizers represented that in order
to get the thing properly started, it
would be necessary to sell shares of
say ten dollars each and pay two
dollars down, giving a note for the
balance. This note would ne er
be presented for payment, but was
to be used simply as capital. After
a time the Alliance Purchasing
Company, a would.be monopoly,
vas sold out o the National Union
Company, an out and out monopoly,
but the notes were never returned
Since the National Union went the
way of Fidelity, etc., the notes have
turned up IN the possession of an
Illinois firm, who propose to collec.
them. The total amount Of these
notes is in the neighhorhood of
$l60, 900 and if collected will make
II nice pile for somebody. The pro-
motors of this great reform scheme
are sadly ignorant and when ques.
toned about the matter. invariably
say: al know nothing about it,"
$1,000.
1t Is very noticeable nowadays,
that outside Of the men who are
looking for official appointments at
the hands Of the present admins,
tration, or who have actually been
thus placated, there is precious
little enthusiasm expressed or de-
Tense made for the good Of demo
cratic days now on US all over the
nation. The activity OF former
shouters is very conspicuous by it's
absence. The spectacle Of $4,000
miles Of railroads in the hands Of
receiyers-of 5000, 900 idle men in
the country-of Dun's and Brad
streets report that the commercial
situation in 1893 was the worst in
fifty y~ears--of Carlisle asking Con.
gress to authoriz' al increase of
our national debt by u bond issue of
$500, 600, 000-of s.ndry other dem-
ocratic signs OF tl- coming pros.
psrity," all are, for q fact, bitter