Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-01-11
NATIONAL CAPITOL GOSSIP.
Splendid Farming Sites Under the
Shadow of the Capitol.
( The Practica. Joker and the Whisker Comb
Expert Dispatch Writing.

Emigration from Wisconsin to Virginia
Is one of the curiosities Of American lie
that have fallen under my observation re-
Gently. Secretary Morton OF the agricul-
tural department has been taking an oc-
casional trip into Virginia for tho pur-
pose Of having look at some Of the old
farms offered there for sale. He was so
much impressed with the possibilities of
farming in that section that when q Wis
cousin friend of his wrote him that he
proposed to go west to get a bigger farm
for himself and lis four sons the secretary
urged him to come down here and have a
look around Virginia before deciding. The
Wisconsin man did come. He looked
around, and the result was that within 40
miles Of the national capital he bought
for SIG, 600, precisely the sum he had re-
allied by sale Of his 400 acre farm in WIS
consin, an 800 acre farm in Virginia.
Moreover, it is all tillable land. Two
hundred acres Of it,raised "A big crop Of
corn last year, and the purchaser got the
crop. The Improvements upon tho place
consist of a fine old mansion house, with
huge barns and great many outbuild-
inqs, the whole Of which must have cost
a coed deal more than the Wisconsin man
paid for the property.
Old Slave Farms.
Secretary Morton is n great believer in
the future of these old farms in Virginia.
Il believe moro m~uey az n ::.-ide farm
ing right here within the shadow of the
capitol than in the west, he said to mo
today. There are many farms for sale
near this city, and l have looked at
number of them. 1t is true the soil was
supposed to be worn out about the time oil
tho war, but most of the ground has lain
idle from that day to this, and nature has
done her work of rehabilitation. The
weeds and underbrush have enriched the
once impoverished soil, Last summer
saw beautiful crops Of corn growing on
this land that had been previously aban-
doned rs worthless. l know Of ono farm
of 200 acres that seems to mo to be great
bargain. 1t is beautiful land, has some
timber and running water. On part OF
1t q fine crop Of corn was raised last year.
The mansion house was put up in slavery
times, and 1t was the home Of a distin-
puished Virginia family. The house is
still in good state of preservation. 1t is
q country CASTLE Tho roof is Of copper,
and the great portico has mahogany tim
bers in it. The big fireplaces suggest
scenes of comfort and luxury There are
plenty of barns, eranaries and outhouses.
This farm can be bought for $50, 600, or
about S:}5 an acre. Land sells for as much
rs this, with few or no improvements,
away out in my state of Nebraska, and
while like Nebraska and believe 1t has a
great future, despite recent partial crop
failures, If were starting out farming to
day should buy one of these old slave
e farms across the river in Virginia"
Destitution In Nebraska.
Senator Henderson, who is soon to re-
trio from public life, tells me there is a
great deal of emigration from his state to
the south. Farmers who have had their
crops fail on account of drought In the
western part of Nebraska have been at
tractcd by the advantages of Indian Terri
tory, Oklahoma and particularly Of Texas.
There has of late been largo migration
from Nebraska to Texas, and more is ex-
pected. Tho Nebraska men here, like Mr..
Henderson and Secretary Morton, say the
stories of starvation and suffering IN thelr
state on account of recent crop failures
have been much exaggerated. 1t Is true
there are families which have little food,
and There arc sections or spots Of the state
where tho farmers have been compelled to
move out or staryc, bat the whole number
of people thus involved is onlya few thou
sand and they can he taken care of, it is
said by the people of the state.
A Practical Joke.
Secretary Gresham 5 private secretary,
Kenesaw Mountain Lands, is famous
practical joker but he played a prank q
few days ago that came near getting him
into trouble, One of the officials of the
state dcnartmcnt Is digniflod and rather
vain man wlso wears n pair of most Gle
CANT and lfxUriously flowing whiskcrs.
In order 70 keep these hilsute adornmonts
in fine condition he has always at hand
on his desk whiskcr comb, which is i'll
frequent use. One day Mr.. Lands saw
this whiskcr comb, and the spirit of devil
try overcoming him he watched an oppo'-
tunity and distracted it whilo its owner :
back was turned. The official made Il
great ado about his loss as soon as he dis
covered it. and his suspicious at once fel!
upon colorcd jantor. Determining to
keep close watch of this suspected but
wholly innocent colored brother he
bought another comb, and for about one
day enjoyed himself in its manipulation
Then it disappeared too. Now irregular
watch was set for the suspected Janitor,
and other employees were asked to help IN
catching the thief a third whisker comb
was purchased and in less than half a
day the sly private secretary managed to
get away with it as he had done with Its
predecessors. This was little too much.
The now thoroughly angry official prefer
red charges against the colored brother,
and that unfortunate victim of practical
Joking was on his way to the police sta
ton under arrest when Mr.. Lands, acct
dentally discovering the fact, jumped into
a carriage and drove at n mad ratio down
the street, arriving just in time to explain
matters and keep the janitor out of cell.
The Great Dispatch Writer.
Another state department story may be
rclished One of Mr.. Gresham's assistants
brides himself on his great ability as e
writer of dispatches. 1t being necessary
a few days ago to prepare letter to one
of our foreign ministers, technically called
n dispatch in the state department. though
It is sent out by mail, this official was as
signed to thu work. He labored for two
or three days, and when his task was fin.
ishcd was very proud Of the result. He
showed it all about the department as a
fine example of the high art of dispatch
writing The document covered "a of the
broad pages used for this correspondence,
and after receiving the admiration of the
minor officials it was sent in to the secre-
tary for his approval. When it came out
again. 1t had been reduced from "a pages
- oue maze and half Every one sup.