davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-04-11
THE CONVICT PROBLEM.

ut Can BE Solved by Employing Prisoners
in Road Construction.
The convict labor question is very
Lnotty problem that is still waiting for
solution.
1t knocks at the door of nearly every
state capital, during each session of the
legislature, but is usually turned away
with a promise of more consideration
mt some future time.
The good roads problem is also ques-
ton of Importance in the land. In some
localities one of these problems is per-
mitted to solve the other. Two birds
ART. killed with one stone.
That the present mode of employing
conVicts is very unsatisfactory is proved
by the unsettled condition of the ques-
ton in nearly every state where it is
done. The following is from a recent
issue of the Dayton CO., Herald:
The Ohio penitentiary seems to suffer
from the general business depression. The
annual report of the board of managers
shows that in 1893 the surplus of earnings
over expenses was $S1 079; in 1884, the de-
11cit of earnings was $9,1S7. and in 1895 the
deficit of earnings was $55, 461 %. The board
-ascribes several reasons for this change
of about 900, among them the passage
Df0nQ1TlS
pFfSon-made goods, and the passage of the
Lde&enyn law, restricting the number of
laborerS engaged in making any one kind
OF goods in the penal and reformatory in
situations of the state to ten per cent of
the free labor employed in making like
goods in the state. These have led, as the
board claims, to a decentralization of the
contract system. 1t recommends the re-
Qgeal of the last-named law. the first hav-
ing been declared Unconstitutional or if
then
fixed by the Llewellyn law be raised to at
least % per cent. The situation is one of
great interest, and will probably lead to
further agitation of the difficult questions
yof employment of convict labor.
In this connection it may be said that
whether or not the penitentiaries are
seif-supporting has nothing to do with
the case.
The more money the convicts make
for the state under the Ohio system, the
.plore free labor is deprived of. THIRTY
ing penitentiaries are not the most
hopeful of signs.
Lit would be even better to tax free
labor to support idle convicts than to
have the convictS rob free labor of it's
means of support.
At the present time the work of max
ing magnificent systems of highways
appears to offer the best means of EN-
Ploying many of the convicts. They
should not be permitted to compete
with free labor in the manufactures
Roads should be made better.
When, oh, when, will the immemorial
Eaoss-gatherers known as Legislators
awake to the needs of the hour ?-L A
w Bulletin.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-04-11
Incentive for Good Roads.

The pleasure drivers of a township
in Huntington county have made it a
rule for the past two years to present
gold watch and chain to the road super
visors of the townships for keeping the
roads in good repair. A Mr.. Allison
and his successor, Thaddeus S. jackson,
have each been the recipient of gold
watches and chains This is new
thing for public road supervisors, but a
very common thing for railroad section
supervisors to receive a prize every
year for the best sections of road beds
in each division of the Pennsylvania
railroad. This action on the part of
the officials make it an incentive for
good work and good roads beds.-Media
(Pa.) Ledger.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-04-11
" VIA r SE
WHIT An Yel
0DaMuz0M."s|02u4Mm0|

larger The pipe should enter the
pump about 10 inches below its dis
charge spout, and should enter the
tank at the top. Every time the pump
is used there will gallon or more flow
into the tank, depending upon the bore
of the pump, the size of the pipe and
the. length of time the pump is used.
The hotter the weather, the more
pumping is done, as a rule, and the
cooler the water will be kept in the
tank.
The tank must have an outlet at the
opposite end from which the feed pipe
enters, and a little larger than the feed
pipe. This outlet must be about two
inches lower than the top of the cans.
The water should always be a little
higher than the milk.
If it is possible to utilize the waste
water for stock it should be done. 1t
will save that much extra pumping. In
our case it is conveyed through an I'M
derground pipe CO. into the barn base
ment. into q tank, and used for the
horses as needed. -
In the diagram, the water enters the
tank through the feed pipeF). The
overflow escapes through the discharge
pipe CD into the funnel Co. L is a
faucet for ehptying the tank, which we
sometimes find necessary in hot wealth
er, when more water is needed in the
stable. The tank is then refilled with
fresh water. In case we wish to pump
direct to the stable, the pipe is closed
at B, in the tank, the funnel removed,
and the pipe closed at C. The water is
pumped into reservoir or trough at A.
and finds its way to the stable through
the underground pipe 60 independent
of the tank. Where this plan can be
adopted it will be found very satisfac-
tory, but can only be used where the
tank is higher than the stable.-Ohio
Farmer
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-04-11
MISSOURI CURIOSITY.

Two Sycamores, an Oak and an Elm,
Growing from One Trunk.
Four miles from Pineville, Mcdonald
county, on the grounds of j. T.. Parish,
is a freak of nature SO curious that if
/ had not seen it with my own eyes, says
a contributor to an exchange, 1 could
scarcely have believed it possible. On
the bank of the Elk river rises large
tree that towers high above the neigh
boring trees. At the ground a solid
buttressed trunk appears from eight to
ten feet in diameter. A little higher
than a mans head this trunk divides
into four lesser trunks, the two smaller
of which are in themselves fair-siZed
trees, while the other two are far above
the average size. Here comes in the
queer part of the story: OF these di-
1ergent trunks the two large ones are
respectively an elm and a sycamore,
while the two smaller ones are an oak
and sycamore. Above the union of the
common trunk each tree in leaf, branch
and bark is normal to its type. The
trunk itself seems homogeneous whole.
l would not presume to say that close
examination would not show in the
trunk those peculiarities that dis
tinguish the bark of one tree from
that of the other, but certainly these
characteristics do not appear on cursory
examination, nor are the lines of join
ture visible where the four trunks
coalesce.
1 doubt if anyone can point to
stranger growth than this-two syca-
mores, an oak and an elm, all grow
ing from one common trunk. This
meeting together of four youthful tree
trunks as they thickened with age is oc-
casionally seen, but this is an unusually
fine illustration. Each tree must, how
ever, form its own bark-that is to say,
no one of them has been wholly en-
veloped by another. Hence careful in
vestigation ought to disclose slight.
line where the incurving bark of each
original tree meets.-Boonville Demo-
crat.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-04-11
HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

How can we know of the presence
OF the root louise? You can judge from
the knotty and woody appearance of the
root and its blush or grayish color; an
other tendency is to send out large
number of rootlets, these indicate the
presence of root lice.
As we approach the northern limits
Of the apple belt, the number of varie-
ties that can endure the climate rapidly
-s1iininishes. Obviously then, the num-
her of varieties Of first quality that NAV
l0c grown on the northern confines of
the apple region must be comparatively
very small.
The apple leaf crumpler is an orchard
insect of peculiar economic Importance,
because it winters on the tree not more
than half grown and attacks theyoung
leaves as fast as they put forth in
spring. 1t thus does vastly greater
mischief than it could a little later in
the season.-Farmers' Voice.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-04-11
The Cost of Bogus Butter.

We have often been asked what prof
its the dealers realized on the sale of
oleomargarine, but no definite or posi-
tive reply could be given for the very
reason that it has been difficult to get
at the facts from the manufacturers.
Dairy Commissioner Van Valkenburg,
of New York, has been looking into this
matter, and he gives the following
formula, together with cost: Twenty
four pounds of leaf lard, 81 pounds of
oleo oil, - pounds of cottonseed oil,
9 pounds of salt, IS pounds of milk.
This viii make 100 pounds of oleo,
which costs $5.91, and WHOLESALERS at
from 10 to 20 cents per pound.-Farm-
er'S Voice.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-04-11
JARRlNe THE cuRcuLlo.
The Process Is Very simple and Requires
But Few Tools.

The Process Is Very Simple and Requires
But Few Tools.
The Earring process is very simple.
Provide a tool as shown in cut, which is
an ordinary hoe handle, at the end of
which is a light, hardwood block, the
upper part of which is made concave, SO
as to permit being filed with cotton or
deers' hair, and then tightly covered
with leather of some kind. 1t must be
rendered soft, so as to do no injury to
the bark of the tree when used as 4
FOUNDER to jar it. No. 2 represents q
frame, that may be made of 21sx1A-
inch pine, notched and nailed together
at C, with a distance from A to of
about nine feet, and from B to d about
AZ feet. A cross bar of the same width
and thickness is notched and tightly
nailed at the points and d. Upon the
frame thus made stretch and tack a
piece of factory cloth three yards long
and ~ yards wide. Provide yourself
with two of these frames; have a boy
carry one, and with the other III your
own hands and the FOUNDER you are
ready for business. Drop the frames
under the tree with the sheet side up,
so that the tree may be about opposite
the point Co of the sheets. You then
have the ground beneath the tree COW
cred for about nine feet in each direc-
ton.
A sudden blow on few of the larger
limbs. if the tree is large, or one blow
on the body, if the tree is small, will
cause the curculios to drop upon the
sheets, from which they may be picked
A L.
experience will enable any eye to detect
them at once. Two or three minutes
will suffice at any tree, hence large
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-04-11

stones with which many farms arc
strewn, and which every year have to
be removed and are generally piled
around stumps, or carted and dumped
in some out-of-the-way nook. pictur-
esque dairyhouse may be made out of
these stones. The house may consist
of one room, or the rear may he used as
an icehouse-a very desirable appendage
to a dairy. The building should not be
near any outbuildings containing stock,
and should be shaded if possible. No
cesspools should be near dairyhouse.
II an icehouse is not practicable then
the house may be partitioned and one
part used for a cheese room. IF wanted
for winter dairying or cheese nanufac-
ture, an old-fashioned fireplace, or stove,
will be needed. The windows are to be
provided with screens in summer. A
long table will be needed. besides
shelves, and the floor should be paved
with stone or brick. Here all he work
connected with the dairy can be done,
from Dreaming to packing for market.
If stream of water can be conducted
into the house then the labor will be
very much lessened; and if possible, the
dairyhouse should be situated near a
well or stream of water.-Mrs. A. c..
Mcpherson, in Country Gentleman.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-04-11
A GOOD INVESTMENT.
Experience of a German Town Shows
That Improved Roads Pay,

experience or German Town SHOWS
That Improved Roads Pay,
B. E. Fernow, in an article in the In
dependent, to show that permanently
good roads are an important element
in any rational system of forestry, cites
the example of the little city of Goslar,
in the Harz mountains of Germany.
This old town owns a forest of $500
acres, which the citizens treasure as
one of their best investments, because
it not only furnishes them outing
grounds and good sport in the way of
hunting, but with a sure and continu-
ously increasing revenue. Under con-
servatiye management the annual cut
is 100000 cubic feet of wood, and the
net income from the sale is, in round
numbers, $4,000 a year, or $3.50 an
acre year, which is good return from
soil unfit for agriculture. Formerly
the district was without good roads,
but in 1875 the forest manager per-
suaded the city fathers to appropriate
enough money to construct a first-class
road system, which was gradually COM
pleted. In 1891 900 had been spent
on roads, and 141 miles of these roads
were in good order. The manager kept
an account of the influence of this i'm
provement on the profits and cost of
his forestry operations, and he was
able to show that the annual cost of log
ging had been reduced by $2,450, the
cost of hauling by $3.50, and the result
of the sales due to the fact that much
formerly unstable material could now
be disposed of and all could be Trans
ported more conveniently was increased
by 1926, being a net increase of 1925,
or nearly 33 per cent. of the amount in
vested in road Improvements. On one
road which was macadamized and main
tanned for year at cost of 7,440 an
instructive comparison was made be-
tween the cost of hauling 100000 cubic
feet of wood over the old and over the
new roads. On the old road 4.273 loads
were required of 10 cubic feet each,
and costing $500, or amounting in to-
tai 10 SIS, 2S2. so. On the new road the
same quantity was moved in 1859 loads
of TT cubic feet each, and the cost, at
the same price a load, was $9,547.20,
which means that the saving in haulage
alone was $5,735, or rs per cent. of the
cost Of the road in one wear.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-04-11
HANDY GRATING TOOL.
The Cost of Making One Need Not Ex-
coed Twenty-Five Cents.

The Cost of Making One Need Not Ex-
ceed Twenty-Five Cents.
The accompanying engraving shows
the side view of a complete grating
tool or knife, which is not only a per-
feet tool, but also has the decided adj
vantage of being very cheap.
Almost every person having grating
to do, has about the place an old fiat
file or rasp, II inches or more in length,
that has been thrown aside as worth
less. By taking the old file to black
smith, it can be easily forged into a
tool shaped like the cut. The main
part should be brought to about Il half
inch square, leaving the wide part (as
shown) to be drawn to an edge for
cutting blade ~ inches wide, which is
to be used to split the stock, and also
pare it if desired, care being taken in
forging that sufficient steel is left SO
as not to weaken the tool at this point.
This cutting blade should have mild
temper only, not SO hard as to leave
the steel brittle, else the blows given it
with mallet in splitting the stock
will be likely to crack the steel. Now
forge the shortest end to wedge shape,
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-04-11
wants No class Legislation.

One member of the Massachusetts
legislature wants to pass a bill pro-
viding for a tax of two dollars on BIZ
cycles the amount so raised to be APP
piled to the improvement OF roads
This will afford an opportunity for the
wheel1nen to pay their own freight,
as it were, and that of the teamsters,
carriage owners and pedestrians also.
If vehicles are to be taxed, let every
man who uses the highway pay his own
freight. Discrimination is not popu-
lar, even in legislation.-Cycling Ga
zette.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-04-11
THE FARMING WORLD.
STONE DAIRY HOUSE.

A Woman's Description of a Very Useful
and Picturesque Structure.
1t is the ambition of all good butter
makers to possess the best conditions
possible for the manufacture of the
same. Cellars are often lacking in the
necessary qualifications for the making
IF prime butter, either from defective
drainage OF i'll ventilation. and the diff
Guilty or impossibility of keeping milk
and vegetables in juxtaposition with
tut impairing the flavor of the cream
and butter. Butter making in the
kitchen also has its disadvantages.
We offer suggestion in the accom-
panying illustration of a way out of
the difficulty by utilizing the loose
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-04-11
Temperature Dominates the Dairy.

All of the trouble that so many ex-
perience in getting butter to come is
due to some mistake in handling the
cream 1t is neither not ripe or over
ripe, or if properly ripened, it is too
warm or too cold; or, again, it may
be that there is too much in the chu1n.
The Jersey Bulletin says that tempera-
ture is the law that dominates in the
dairy; it governs in the setting of the
milk, in the ripening of the cream and
in the churning, in the making and pack
ing of butter as well. The only index
of temperature upon which the but
ter-maller can rely is the thermometer,
and the butter-mal<er without Their
mometer is as bad off as mariner
without compass. Use thermom-
eter and know when your cream is too
hot or too cold.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-04-11
Roofing Cuttings in Sand.

Clean sand is the best substance in
which to root cuttings. The cuttings
should not be set more than one-haIf
inch deep. The sand should be some
what compacted againstit. The cutting
box or pot should occupy warm, light
place, shading the slips if the sunshine
is strong. Enough water should be APP
piled to keep the shoots from tagging,
and frequent sprinkling of the foliage
is desirable. As soon as roots one-half
inch in length have been formed it is
time to pot the young plants.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-04-11
KEEPING COWS CLEAN.
just Before Milking Is the Best Time for
Grooming.

just Before Milking Is the Best Time for
Grooming.
If one-half is true that the scientists
tell us about the extreme susceptibility
of milk to taints and disease germs, the
Importance of keeping cows clean can
not be exaggerated.
Assuming that, for their own COM
fort and for the sake of keeping the
milk claen, the cows are to be brushed
and groomed, where and when shall it
be done? If in the stables where they
are to be MIXED, then the atmosphere
of the stables must soon become loaded
with the dust and dirt, brushed or
carded from the COWS, and the milk is
more likely to be contaminated than if
the filth had been allowed to stay on the
COWS. The practice in good horse sta
bles is to take the horse out of the stall
for grooming.
The cow needs grooming more than
the horse, and in the opinion of the
Jersey Bulletin, it is of vastly more i'm
portance to those who are to drink her
milk Certainly, then, the COW is ell
titled to as much pains, as the horse,
and should be groomed in a separate
place from that in which she is MIXED.
For this purpose, an open shed is per
haps best. AS a practical test of the
value of grooming cows, we suggest
that those who doubt it, make fair
trial by carefully weighing the milk of
two or three cows for three weeks or
30 days without grooming them, and
then, grooming them thoroughly for
the same time, note if there is any per-
ceptible difference that can be fairly at
tributed to the grooming. That the
cows will feel better, look better and
really be better off, we have not
the least doubt.
As to the time for grooming, it has
been found that just before milking is
the best
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-04-11

number of trees can be run over in a
day. The work should begin as soon
as the fruit is formed and be followed
for two or three weeks, at first daily,
or until it is evident that the number
of insects is being greatly reduced, so
that only few are found, when ii may
be safe to do it only on alternate days.
The insects usually begin their work on
the outside of an orchard, especially if
there be a nearby belt of timber; hence
we begin to hunt them first on the out
slzirts.-S. d. Willard, in Rural New
Yorker
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-04-11

preserving the size SO the wedge will
be half an inch wide, and turn it at
right angle in the same direction with
the edge of the blade. The length
ought to be about two inches SO the
wedge" will be gradual.
To use this tool, the limb is sawed
off, the stump pared, the split made by
the cutting blade, which is to be at
once withdrawn; then drive in the
wedge so as to admit the scions, and the
tool has done its work. The cost of such
grating knife ought not to exceed
25 cents, and it should last lifetime
ST. Louis journal of Agriculture.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-04-11

made known to all Americans, through
the tongue and eye of the pen and the
camera.
IF we only had such roads at home!"
has been the wish, and from it has
come efforts that have served to set
the people thinking and doing. Amer
leans, who excel in SO many of the arts
and sciences, will sometime attain their
proper place as the builders of perfect
highways.-Good Roads.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-04-11
FARM AND GARDEN.
GOOD MILK TANK.
Homemade Device That Can Be Used
With or Without Ice.

Homemade Device That Can Be Used
With Without Ice.
Some one asked for plans for home
made milk tank or creamer for six or
eight cows, to be used with or without
ice. describe one that we have used
with good satisfaction with water only.
It is simple, convenient, durable and
cheap.
Any kind of cans can be used. Com
mon cans, holding Il quarts, can be had
of timer for about rs cents, with
cover. Have them made to order, with
o fange all around the bottom and a
bail like pail to lift by. A round can
of this description, So inches in diam
eter and Is inches deep, will hold about
31a gallons. It is a nice size, convent
ent to handle, and in my Judgment
preferable to an oblong can.
To. accommodate four cans of this
size the tank ought to be about AXIS
inches inside, and IS inches deep. By
making it 20 inches longer it will hold
two extra cans, and it will be good
place in which to keep the cream cans
in hot weather. The additional cost
will be but little.
The tank can be made of two-inch
material, well fitted and firmly bolted;
it can be made of lighter boards and
lined with galvanized iron. It should
have tight-ftting hinged cover, and if
unprotected from the direct rays of the
sun, the cover ought to be double, with
an air space between. The tank should
be placed near the pump, and be con-
L 49,, 81,
pipe, or larger if the tank is much
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-04-11
Lnree seeha Are the Reat

The question of the influence of the
size of seeds upon termination and upon
the size of the plant that springs there
from has been recently studied anew by
Mr.. b. X. Galloway, summary of whose
conclusions is given by the Gardeners
Chronicle. The weight and size of the
seed are of great Importance. A large
seed terminates better and more quick.
ly, and with it one can count upon hay
ing at the same moment from So to 90
per cent. OF the total crop, while with
small seeds the crop reaches maturity
only in successive periods of time, so
that at no moment in gathering the
crop in could we have the same proper
ton of the whole. Besides, where with
small seeds four successive crops are
obtained, we have six with larger seeds,
their evolution occurring with greater
rapidity.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-04-11

Farmer Budd, of
New Jersey, or
any other person,
is the suggestor
of t h e S t e e |
tracked roadway,
perhaps the most
promising of the
new good roads
ideas. Farmers
O'Donnell, Budd
and others pro-
pose, in brief, to
lay wide, shallow
steel rails in the
public highways,
s4I f,,r.,nnfc ot
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-04-11
EUROPEAN ROADS.

Their Perfection Is q Source of Delight to
American Tourists.
AS one good road in community is an
incentive for the people to build others,
SO the good roads of one country inspire
the people of other countries to emulate
the good example.
Since European bicycle tours have be-
come popular, the excellence of the
highways of foreign countries has been