davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-07-30
FENCE 400 MILES LONG.
Battles o: the Australians With the Do.
structive Rabbit.

The New South Wales government,
1T may be remembered, oficied rward
of $125,OO0 to any person or persons
who could suggest an efficient method
Of getting rid of the rabbit: lnt, al
though this liberal reward lei 10 The
receipt Of no fewer than 1900 schemes
from all parts of the world, none Of
them was regarded as satisfactory, and
the offer was withdrawn.
The final outcome of royal commits
sions, Of intercolonial conferences and
Of the testing of every practical method
Of determination, is that the most effec-
tual method Of dealing with the evil is
found to be the construction of rabbit
proof netting, by means Of which the
animals can be kept from acres not
yet infested, can be shut off from food
supplies and can be more effectually
dealt with locally.
The length of some of these fences
Is enormous. There is one starting at
Barringun, on the Queensland border,
and following the Main Trunk line
from Bourke to Corowa-a distance Of
407 miles; and there is another along
the entire western boundary Of New
South Wales-a distance of 346 miles.
The Queensland government, too, has
erected similar fence along a consid-
cradle portion of the northern bound
airy Of New South Wales, but the sur
veyor general of Queensland, in the re-
port already referred to, says that "the
rabbits must have come through the
fence in mobs and droves of innumer-
able multitudes at some time," and
thus have established themselves in
Queensland as well.
This, of course, is the weak point in
regard to fences, which are liable to
break down in places, more especially
in times of flood and where they
cross over creeks, while keeping of
constant supervision over the fences,
so that immediate repairs can be done
when openings appear, is quite imprac-
ticable where the distances are so
great. In many instances countless
thousands Of rabbits have been seen on
one side of a fence dead or dying Of
starvation, after eating all the avail
able food supplies, and leaping up at
the fence in their attempts to surmount
1t. One can imagine how they would
rush through in the event Of any open
ing appearing, and how single break
in the fence might be the doom Of
country not previously infested.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-07-30
Bicycle DESTROYS Grazing Business.

"The bicycle besides doing other
things good and bad" said the owner
of stock and pasture farm in Mont
gomery county, Nd, lis playing sad
havoc with the horse grazing business.
The wheel does away with hundreds of
horses, and the necessity for them, and
consequently the number OF horses
sent out to pasture during the summer
months is getting smaller and smaller
each year. l am now blowing up and
planting fields that have been constant
ly used for pasture for thirty years,
simply for the reason that no horses
are sent me for pasture, and l can not
afford to let the fields remain non-pro-
ducing.
"As far as the pasture business Is
concerned, though at one time II was
profitable to many farmers within easy
distance Of Washington, il is thing
Of the past. We had taste of II last
summer, which prepared us for it
somewhat, but this season we have
been convinced that we must have
other sources Of income. My expert
ence is only that of others in the same
business, and though the most of us
are rather old to learn new tricks, we
have to try to do so or get left with
idle fields on our hands" Washington
Star.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-07-30

English military men are endeavoriug
IN determine whether the bullet for their
new service rife, the Lee Metford, which
has taken the place OF the Martini Henry,
IL not actually too merciful In its action.
The object of war Is to disable the enemy,
and not to kill him, but apparently the
new rife bullet fails to do either, says tho
st. Louis Globe Democrat. The report
on the use Of the projectile In the Trans
vasl says that the injuries which were
made by the Lee Metford were much
cleaner and healed much more quickly
than those from the Martini Henry. Both
the entrance and exit orifces were ex-
ceedingly small, and so clean were the
wounds internally that in one instance
burgher who had been shot clean through
the lungs was convalescent few days
after admission to the hospital.
II Is true that where the bone is struck
the effect is most violent, but there can
be no doubt whatever that the perforation
of the organs and feshy part OF the body
by the new bullet more often than not
absolutely fails instantly to disable the
victim. unless, of course, q really vital
organ of the body is struck. The wounds,
on the other hand, which were made by
the Martini Henry bullets, were, the 70
port states, of much more serious ma
ture, namely, "larger, jagged, slow heal
ing with bad entrance and worse exit"
Many instances were related OF the
merciful properties of the new English
bullet during the Chitral campaign, and
this latest report is likely to give greater
emphasis to the question Not only does
the bullet fail to stop man. but judging
by many accounts, it infiicts very little
pain, presumably on the same principle
as the popular scientific experiment which
shows a rabbit peacefully chewing itf
food while rapidly revolving knife Is
cutting its ears into ribbons. The horrors
of the next great war perhaps will not DO
90 great as some people imagine.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-07-30
HOW cuNPowDEa is MADE.
The Part That Each Of the Three lngrsd'-
ents PLAY.

Gunpowder then steadily developed
as mechanic skill constructed better
and better weapons in which to use 1t,
until to-day II has reached perfection
Of manufacture for various purposes
which allows Its effects to be foretold
In any weapon, even to the time II
takes grain to burn, and to the dis
lance II will drive shot.
Roger Bacon's gunpowder was made
of saltpeter, sulphur, and charcoal.
Saltpeter is chemically called inter, and
is a natural product found bedded In
the earth in different parts of the
world, chiefly in India and China.
Sulphur, too, Is found in n natural
state in many volcanic countries, like
Sicily while. as is well known, char
coal is made from wood or woody
substances by heating them almost to
a burning heat In an alright vessel,
thus driving off everything in them but
carbon.
Saltpeter, sulphur, and charcoal are
still the only ingredients of the gum
powder in common use, although n
new gunpowder made Of different ma
terials is undergoing successful expert
ment. A mixture of saltpeter and
charcoal alone would form an explO-
sive and sulphur is added chiefly to
make it plastic, or capable Of being
pressed into cakes and shapes. All
these ingredients have to be purified
by the most careful chemical skill BE-
fore they are combined .'hen an eX-
act proportion of each has to be meas
der to be made. :
For the gunpowder generally used
you would find In every hundred
pounds, If you could separate the in
gradients, seventy-five pounds OF salt
peter, fifteen pounds Of charcoal, and
ten pounds of sulphur;but it would be
almost impossible to separate the in
gradients, for they are not merely
mixed together as you might mix pep
per and salt, but they are ground and
rolled and stirred and pressed together
by special machines until they are al
most sufficiently united to form single
new substance.
This mixing process is called "tri-
turation," and the powder is thus made
into the form of big fat cakes, called
press-cake, and then broken up, and
screened into grains Of special sizes,
or ground to the fine powder used for
shot guns and revolvers. The large
grained powders are still further stir
red together until the grains become
highly glazed, and these are called can
non powders. A lighted match may
be held to n grain Of cannon powder
and it will be found impossible to set
it on fire, but once ignited it flashes off
very suddenly and violently-St. Mich
olas.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-07-30
NEW YoRk's FOOD SUPPLY.
Enough Always on Hand to Withstand a
Four Months Siege.

IF the city of New York and the
neighbOring district" writes John Gil
mer Speed In July Ladies' Home Jour
nal, were to be besieged or in some
other way entirely cut off from the out
side world, and therefore deprived of
the food supplies which in normal times
come in daily in great quantities, how
long would 1t be before the pinch of
hunger would be felt? That is
very hard question to answer, for the
reason that there are such inequalities
of purchasing capacity in New York
society that some go hungry in times
Of greatest prosperity from lack Of
means, while the great majority eat
more than is good for them. UndouBt-
eddy the number of those who always
go hungry would be increased after two
or three days Of a siege. and then day
by day this number would increase un-
til the public authorities would feel
compelled to take possession Of the
food supplies and distribute them
among the people. With the exception
of milk and some other things the sup
ply of meat, poultry, hardy vegetables
and fruits would last for two months at
the present rate Of consumption. If
all the supplies were taken charge of
at the beginning Of the siege-and this
could easily be done-the food within
New York could Ike made to last for
four months at least. The siege of
Paris lasted only four months. Before
two months had passed, high and low,
rich and poor, had learned what hunger
was. And, as is well known, tie
French are the most thrifty and Geo.
nomical people in the world. In the
arrangement and disposition of food
the Parisians are specially distin-
guished. But the food supply in New
York could be made to last as long as
the Paris siege lasted, and the people
would still be comfortable"
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-07-30
Unreal Life of Kings.

This young mantle Kaiser ~
helm-from all / have observed since
he became my neighbor in Venice
(writes Mr.. Zangwill in Astor's maya
zine) lives a highly colored dramatic
existence, in which there are sixty
minutes to every hour and sixty sec
onds to every minute, the sort of life
that should have pleased Walter Pater.
He must be disciple of NietZsche, a
lover OF the strong and the splendid,
this German gentleman, who Is Just off
to Vienna to prance at the head of
1900 horsemen. While he lived oppo-
site me it was all excursions and
alarums. As neighbor an emperor is
distinctly noisy.
And yet, tits strange life, kings.
What an unreal universe of flags and
cannons and phrases must monarchs
inhabit. Do they think that the streets
are always gay with streamers and
bunting and triumphal arches, al
ways thunderous with threats of men
or guns, always impossible? DO they
imagine their subjects pass all their
lives in packed black masses, waving
hats? Poor kings! always class
them with novelists for ignorance of
real life. And to think that they can
only get to know life from novels!
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-07-30
POWER FROM REFUSE.
Electric Lighting and Other Uses Of
Power From Garbage.

0OWOt TTOIU 0obOok0s
Garbage and town refuse disposal Is
one matter where the cities of Europe
are far ahead Of those Of this country.
An ideal plant Of this kind Is that at
Rochdale. Investigators have allagreed
that burning is the best way to dispose
of the accumulations. This preference
Is due to the fact that by this method
not only is all organic matter liable
to putrefy and become menace to the
health Of the community destroyed, but
1t has been found by actual trial that
The heat derived from the burning of
this refuse may be used for the produc-
ton Of steam, which can be utilized for
commercial purposes, and the revenue
received from this source may be suffi-
cient to more than pay for the cost of
burning. There are no less than fifty
five such Instructors in different parts
Of England. The health committee of
Rochdale, n manufa curing town Of
1900 inhabitants, recently adopted
the method, with the idea of ultimate
ly using the steam produced for cleo
trio lighting purposes. 1t being found
that this rough, unscreened refuse, run
ming as much as 80 per cent. of clinker
and ash, will evaporate 1.6 pounds Of
water for every pound of refuse
burned, under boilers built to produce
steam at 40 pounds pressure. Coal
burned In the same boilers evaporated
seven pounds Of water per pound Of
coal. The two boilers have crate
furnace Of forty-five square feet each.
In building the two destructor cells a
large combination chamber, common to
both, was provided between them and
the boilers, SO that the gases could in
lowed for the combustion of gases be-
fore they came in contact with the
comparatively cold surface of the
boiler, noting the fact that II once
the organic matter in the fumes were
heated sufficiently high no amount of
subsequent cooling down could again
make them malodorous.
1t Is interesting to note that 1t Is not
necessary to use coal to aid in the
burning Of this refuse. The plant has
been able to produce $40 brake horse
power, burning two tons of refuse per
hour. This high efficiency is obtained
with ordinary boilers by using forced
draught. The weight Of the refuse is
reduced two-thirds and the volume
three-fOurths.
The author says in conclusions: ''The
disposal Of two-thirds Of the refuse
completely is an important matter, but
when to this is added the fact that the
remaining third is rendered quite free
from any organic matter whatever, it
is past conception that corporations
and local companies will continue to tip
such immense quantities of putrefac-
tive matter away, when, If they put
in suitable appliances and used the
steam which can be produced, the re-
fuse might be burned and profit made
on the ansaction.-Cassells Maya.
zine.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-07-30

baskets as q maximum load, which
was regarded as heavy one. Real
estate has gone begging for years;
there was no market for 1t. 1t has
been impossible to settle up estates, be-
cause no buyers could be found for
the land. A few years ago the people
of the community woke mp. The town
issued $4,000 worth Of bonds and APP
piled the proceeds to building good
roads. AS a result the wagon-makers
In the vicinity are making 2-horse
wagons to carry, not ffty-five bushel
baskets, but loads made up Of ninety
to 125 bushel baskets. and still the
loads are not regarded as heavy. Two
horses are able to do more work than
four horses formerly could do, and
with greater ease. On the old roads
two men and four horses with wag-
on weighing 1900 pounds could take
two and half tons Of produce to mar
ket and bring back an equal weight Of
fertilizer, making one trip day. Now,
on the good roads, one man with two
horses and wagon weighing $500
pounds takes four tons to market,
bringing back an equal weight, max
ing four trips day."
One Of the most discouraging items
shown by the recent official census is
the rapid increase In the amount Of
child labor in the United States. Hun
dreds of children who are barely old
enough to leave the nursery, and who
are scarcely able to distinguish be-
tween right and wrong, are brought
face to face with the hard world and
compelled to grapple with men in the
fierce competition of life. This state
ment suggests n train Of sad reflections.
Without the power to resist evil and
possessing none of these educational
incentives which kindle a yearning for
higher and better things, the cOnse-
quences Of this infantile exposure to
the vice Of the age are direful to con-
template. Some may escape unin-
jured and grow up into useful and Wig
orous men, but the great majority of
these young toilers are in danger of
drifting into the straits Of error. In
Chicago, where attendance on the pub
lie schools is compulsory, the report
shows that large number of children
are employed in the stockyards, fac
tories and business houses, devoting all
the time which they can give after the
expiration of school hours. One Of the
saddest phases of the stern necessity
which compels these children to earn
their daily bread is the fact that many
OF them are engaged in occupations
which are not conducive to good NOR
ais. Even in Boston there are hun
dreds of children under twelve years
old who sell papers, black boots, de-
liver messages and serve as cash and
errand boys in large retail establish
ments.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-07-30
The Judges Reproof.

The venerable Judge Allen. of the
United States Circuit Court. at Spring
field, ILL.,, was hearing case a few
years ago, in which James G.. Courtney
was one of the attorneys. The counsel
on the opposite side had asked ques.
ton of witness, and Courtney had
objected. The point was argued by
both sides, and the objection was over
ruled. The opposite lawyer asked the
same question Of the next witness, and
Courtney again objected. and began to
argue 1t over again. Judge Allen inter
rupted him with this observation: .Mr.
Courtney, you remind me of a dog that
keeps barking up the tree after the
coon is gone" Mr.. Courtney thereupon
subsided.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-07-30
sleens in Two Counties at Once.

There is probably but one person In
the State of Pennsylvania, says the
Philadelphia Record, who can boast
that he sleeps with his head in one
county and feet in another. Joseph
Wilson of near Allentown, who is at the
present time studying at the Philadel-
phia School of Design, claims that
when he is at home he rests with his
head in Lehigh County and his feet In
Northampton. He says the house he
lives in stands on the dividing line Of
the two counties, and his bed lies direct
" across the line. There is also bed
In the same house which Is bisected
from head to foot by the county line, 30
that two persons may lie side by side In
It and yet be in two different counties
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-07-30
A Novel Storm PIT.

II. j. Pettus has built novel and
unique storm pit at Healing Springs.
He informed us that he had been trou-
bled a great deal by nervous guests
who came from cyclone districts, and
built the storm pit to relieve their anx-
ieties. The pit is built under the hill
in such manner that 1t would be i'm
possible for the severest storm to reach
it, and is so arranged that should all the
cottages at the Springs be blown there
on and burned ii would not affect the
refugees in side. Ample provisions have
been made for ventilation, and il can be
truthfully said Healing Springs has "a
refuge in time Of storm. Washington
(Ala.) News.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-07-30
New Use for Glass.

BY new process glass is made TO
appear like wood with a very high
polish. Itsis used in windows, and
gives a peculiarly subdued and agree
able light. The glass is put through
what might be called veneering pro-
cess, being coated with a liquid that
represents the wood which 1t is de-
sired to initiate. The color, after dry
ing, Is vanished over and slightly
heated. Sometimes standings are APP
piled to bring out the tint, then the
glass Is again vanished and thor
oughly dried, and is at for use.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-07-30

they come. II may be said mere rnar
while the appearance OF asbestos is Of
ten very deceptive as a gauge Of Its
commercial value, the points most
sought for In the mineral are the length
and fineness of fiber, combined with
infusibility, toughness and fiexibility.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-07-30

"Where are you going to take you
family this summer, Hicks?"
ITO Coney Island"
what! For the summer%
mo; for day"
WOULDN'T HAVE THE CHANCE.
Mrs. Newife-I acknowledge that
have my faults and am sometimes cross,
Jack, dear, but If had the last two years
of my life to live over again / should
marry you just the same.
Mr.. Newife-I doubt it.
II tell you, / drank nothing but soda"
.'But you tried for five minutes to light
your cigar at"
~ couldn't reach it"
At an electric light"
he COULDN'T HKLP 1T.
Old Longnecker (severely)-Young
man, do you love your neighbor as your
self2
Young Tutgall enthusiastically You
bet! And, say, you lust ought to see her
: curly hair, dimples in her cheeks and
not day over nineteen
Arthur think we had better IN
further in and hug
Emily-Why Arthur! Aren't you
ashamed of yourself!
Arthur-the shore.
Emily-Mr. Merriam, take me to shore
at oncel
AT THE SUMNER HOTEL.
May. And you told your mother that
he had been introduced to you!
Ethel. Well, he was introduced to me.
May.-By whom?
Ethel. BY himself.
FOWL LANGUAGE
Chick-Ma, that hen setting over there
has laid seven eggs to-day. She's quite
pbenom. isn't she?
Old Hen-My son, l wish you would
refrain from using such vulgar slang.
Why do you not call her phenom her
on?
First Girl-She doesn't understand base
ball at ALL
Second Girl-No?
First Girl-No. Whv, the other day
she went to game and fell in love with
the umpire.
HARD ON THE HOTEL
"What sort of climate have your in
CURED the prospective guest.
First rate" said the proprietor of the
ates great appetite. Why, our guests
declare that they are as hungry after
meal as before"
ONTO 1T AT LAST.
Great Scott" said the mosquito, as
the jet of air from the punctured bicycle
tire struck him. what low trick these
cyclers are putting up on us! But
then"
He hummed meditatively.
luckily Pve got wind of it,"
THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE.
Everybody is grumbling about the hot
weather"
Not everybody. The sum mer hotel
keepers haven't made any kick as yet
about the hot weather"
SEEMED TO NEED AN oPIATR.
City Boarder. Cant anything be done
for those poor chickens of yours?
Farmer.-Whati is the matter with 'em?
Boarder. Insomnia; none of them
could sleep a wink after four o'clock this
morning.
ONE OF JoHNNIE's SISTERS.
Johnnie Chaffie's sister, Lille, is some
what given to flirting. A few days ago
MIR. Phoneyman asked her:
Miss Lille, were you born in March"
"Why no, Mr.. Phoneyman; why do
you ask 2"
81 didn't know but you were born in
March, as you have some arch ways about
you"
ALL THE REQUISITES.
so you have written a novel;"
Yes"
"Has your heroine satin skin, velvet
eyelashes and hair like threads OF spun
gold ?"
Eyes"
''Is her name Gwendoline?"
1T is"
"Then don't see why it shouldn't =.
a success"
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-07-30
THE JOKER'S BUDGET.
TESTS AND YARNS OF THE FUNNY
MEN OF THE PRESS.

Perhaps He Favored the Home Team--'
Hard on the Hotel.--onto II at Last
the Exception to the Rule.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-07-30

Earls take precedence of the younger
sof,s Of Dukes AZ the blood royal.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-07-30

Montana mines yielded $47,115, 900
Of minerals last year.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-07-30

The Kansas wheat crop will be dou-
BILE that of 1895.
Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-07-30
ACCORDING TO NATURE.

ACCORDING TO NATURE.
She-Dont You always pity girl who
ls frightened in the dark?
He-Naturally, ] cannot help feeling
for her