davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-03-15
A Land which /. Without Anx Life

The West Coast Of South America
from north of Callao, Peru, tc the port
of Coquimbo, Chile, is rainless re-
gion. From the Andes to the Pacific
no rain falls, and no vegetation or an
imal life exists beyond what man
brings there. 1t is.s dead world. The
last rain which fell ii Antofogasta.
Chile, was the first that had fallen in
sixteen years, and the last shower in
Iquique, Chile, was the first rain which
had fallen in twentyfour years. The
hills or mountains back of both ofthese
cities are bare rock and sand and red
loose clay, yet the day after the rain a
greenish tinge began TO show itself and
by the second day these bare and in
hospitable hills were dressed in green
coat from top to bottom. AS no more
rain fell, this verdure quickly dried
up and died. The query rises naturally
whence did this vegetation coma? If
from seeds lying dormant in the soil.
then once sprouting would finish this
source, and the short life of this plant
gives no opportunity for the develop
ment of seed
Every succeeding time when rain
falls i'll these regions in periods of
from fifteen to forty years, the same
phenomenon occurs. The growth evil
IDENTIFY springs from some root which
lies dormant in the soil and is another
remarkable proof of the power of ma
ture to adapt life to hard conditions,
as there is no evidence that for several
million years past there have been any
fau HI f. r
this coast than existed now. No evil
dence exists that at any time vegetable
life has existed in all this region, and
until the course of the winds change,
all this region is destined to remain,
as it is to-day, barren desert; but
this strange phnnix-like vegetation is
worthy of the attention of the scientist
querist. Kansas CITY Journal.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-03-15
How Hawaiian. Got RID of insects

Few countries have been moro
plagued by the importation of insect
pests than the Hawaiian Islands; in
none have such extraordinary results
followed the introduction OF beneficial
species to destroy them. By far the
most conspicuous of the former class,
and hitherto the most injurious, have
been the scale insects. The number
OF species OF this gronp which have
spread throughout the islands is re-
markable, and OF less so the enor-
nous multiplication of individuals of
many or most of these species.
The first importation of coccinelidae
to destroy these hordes was made in
1890, when Vedalia, Cardinals, Muls. a
native Of Australia, was sent over by
Albert Koebele. AT that time many trees
were in a deplorable condition from
the attacks oficerya, monkey trees,
being particularly badly infested so
much so that they were being largely
cut down as the only resource.
The Vedalia was complete success !;
it became perfectly naturaized, in
creased prodigiously for time, prac-
tically cleared the trees, and that, as
the icerya became comparatively scarce,
decreased in numbers, while ut the
present time it is evident that the
number Of the scale and its destroyer
has arrived at fixed proportion. Pre-
viously to its introduction here the
same lady bird had done excellent SER
vice in the fruit orchards of Lower
California. Mature.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-03-15
How to nuila Road, in Georsln.

A suggestion for improving the
sand roads of Georgia, reported by
the Macon Telegraph, is to take the
misdemeanor convicts and assign
one gang to digging ditch right down
the centre of the road, with instruc-
tions to go to clay; sand to be thrown
to one side and clay to the other.
The other gang would come along just
behind and fill in with sand. and scat
ter the clay over the surface of the
road. The work would be done. The
first rain would mix the sand and
clay. 1t would never bog, as the
roads do in portions OF upper Geor-
gia, where it is all clay. And the
roads would never be sand bed
again, as it is where all is sand. This
mixture of equal parts of sand and
clay make the best roads in the world,
except where shell roads and mac
adam are possible" An enthusiastic
Georgian has said, "Kill the sand
beds of south Georgia, and I would
not exchange home among the pines
for any section on Gods green earth. :"
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-03-15
A Farmers Suggestion.

Good roadsl" exclaimed bright,
intelligent farmer, ''of course we
want good roads. Farmers don't like
to ride over bad roads any better than
any other class of men. We are all in
favor of the betterment of the high
ways, we are only divided as to ways
and means. Wheelmen are raising q
great hue and cry over highway i'm
provement aud are full Of schemes for
providing for the cost. I think the
whole problem might be solved by a
tax on wheels. By wheels don't
mean bicycles alone, but wheels drawn
by horses also. Let tax of 81 year
be laid on each bicycle, buggy, road
cart, ETC., etc, not owned by an ac-
tual taxpayer. Let every cent of such
tax be applied to improving the roads,
and [ think we would not be long in
solving the highway problem. How
would 1 provide for collecting such a
tax? L would have the town clerk is
sue q certificate to each owner of
wheel or set of wheels paid up, and
confiscate the property of those who
persisted in thus using theroads with
out paying the tax. Farmers and 9th
er taxpayers could pay or work out
their time just as they do now. -
Knickerbocke
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-03-15
WHOLE NO. 75S.
STRANGE SHEEP STORY.
After the Hcrter Was Killed the Largo
Herd Wandered 500 Miles.

A herder in charge II flock Of 1000
sheep, which were grazing near tho
bdse Of tho San Francisco mountains,
in Arizona, was killed by lightning
during n terrific storm which visited
that section about August I. AS the
herder was not expected to come in
with his sheep until the LIST OF October,
his absence during August and Sep.
TENDER attracted no attention. When
tho middle of October came and lie
did not show up, mess engers were sen.
out to find him
After search of some days in the
vicinity of where he was last seen, the
remains of camp were found under a
tree which had been riven by the
lightning. The cooking utensils were
scattered about, and the remains of
blanket were found. which were iden.
tilted as parts of one which the man
had taken with him, The water kes
also was recognized by mark which
had bee" burned into one of the
slaves.
A further search revealed the bones
o. human being scattered about over
the ground, some of them more than q
hundred yards from the tree, having
evidently been carried about by
wolves. A prospector who had passed
that way had camped for night with
the man about the 1st of August, and
said the herd was then moving north
ward. The tree around which those
articles were found was just about far
enough north to DO the next camping
place, and when it was remembered
that there was n severe storm of thun-
der aud lightning in that section one
night about the time referred to, it
was clear that the man had made his
camp Under this tree, and bad been
killed by lightning and his body de-
voured by wolves. The sheep had
never been heard Of, and no trace OF
them could be found anywhere in that
part of the country.
But now comes the strange part OF
the story. About two weeks ago n
herd of about 1000 sheep was found
on the plain in San Miguel County, in
this Territory, with no one in charge
of them, and to all appearances belong.
ing to nobody. The parties in Arizona
heard OF this fact, and wrote to an Off
Ger in this Territory, giving their
marks and explaining how the sheep
could be identified. 1t was found be-
yond any doubt that this was the herd
that had disappeared from the range
in Arizona about August l. The ami
mails had been shifting for themselves
for more than three months, and
turned up at a point fully 500 miles
from the place where the herder was
killed. They had crossed the Rio
Grande on the way San Francisco
Call.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-03-15
why the Needle Points to the North Pole

why the Nccule folnts TO the North Poles
Over three hundred years ago q
scientist studied out the theory of the
compass and why the needle pointed
to the north. 1t is not, however, a
fact that the needle points exactly to
the north. Sometimes it veers to the
east and sometimes to the west, de.
pending on the locality, and, as q
curious phenomenon, it does not al
ways point the same way in the same
place. The entire earth is magnet
and naturally controls all the lesser
magnets. The pole in the northern
hemisphere is consequently called the
northern magnet and tho opposite the
southern magnet, but, says an author
ity on this subject, "Since poles of
contrary names attract each other,
while those of the same name repel
each other, it follows that tho pole of
the magnetic needle which turns to the
north is really the southern pole of
the needle; while the pole turned to-
ward the south is the north pole. AS
the vertical plane passing through the
poles does not coincide with the me-
ridian plane of the place, it follows
that the needle does not always turn
to the true north. The declination, as
the angle Of the two planes is called,
is not the same in every part of the
world, which accounts for the varia-
ton" The study Of magnetic infu-
ences is most interesting, but as n
rule the subject is quite imperfectly
understood Ledger.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-03-15
Death From the Prick OF n Pin.


DIR. Felix G.. Allen, of Oran. Mo.
died recently at st. Mary's Infirmary.
His death was caused by one of the
most vicious attacks Of blood poison
ing on record So swiftly did the
poison spread through the system that
the house surgeons could find no place
on his body TO operate.
DR.. Allen came to St. Louis and st.
Mary's infrmary about two months
ago. He wanted the practical expe-
rience which can be had nowhere ont.
side n hospital, and for two months he
had been acting MS sort of general
assistant to the surgeons ut the.in-
Urinary.
Not long ago a prominent railroad
official was admitted to the hospital.
Tho sweet-faced and gentle. hearted
young nun who had charge Of the door
and the Office refused 90 give his name.
His blood was bad aud his arm was in
| such condition that the trained nun
nurses were shocked at its appearance.
He was suffering from blood poison
ing
When this; railroad man was first
admitted DR.. Allen helped bandage his
poisoned arm. a pin from tho band
age the man was wearing pricked DR..
Aliens flesh He paid no attention
TO it.
That night DR.. Aliens arm where
the pin had pierced it began to swell.
BY morning both arms and legs were
affected. Then his death wss only
question Of time. The end came
quickly. The death certificate puts
the cause Of death "a septic fever
ST. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-03-15
The Symptoms of "Buo,s Fever"


A Marquette citizen tells the Jour
nal his experience with "buck fever"
He had never tried to shoot deer,
and hunt L them was new to him.
After spending q few hours tramping
through the woods, feeling tired, he
sat down on log to rest for short
time. Now, like most hunters, he had
taken his pipe and tobacco along. Fill
ing the pipe, he smoked for time
without interruption, when, happens
ing to turn his head n little to one
side, he saw large buck coming
straight toward him. AS luck would
have it. he had sat down to smoke near
q deer trail.
The deer kept getting nearer and
nearer, until he got nearly opposite
the place where the hunter sat con-
cealed. While tho hunter was watch
ing the approach of the deer be forgot
that no had gun and that the deer
was Ibis meat" He began to trem-
bic and shake in every limb and joint,
and it was difficult matter for him to
restrain yell of fright He watched
and trembled until the deer was pass
ing his hiding place and into the
thicket beyond. Then feeling for his
pipe, he discovered that it lay on the
ground near his feet. BY the time he
had picked it up the deer was out OF
range, and then he discovered that
in his excitement he had bitten the
mouthpiece of his pipe in two.
He was greatly relieved to see the
deer move on, as it seemed to him
that he was the game and the deer the
hunter. Marquette (Mich.) Mining
journal.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-03-15
A ,tnnlann nerh Of nnnn1n.

a. y Hammond, OF the Astoria
Railroad, has presented the Oregon
ian with o photograph Of band OF
buffalo, which are the property OF %
couple OF half-breed Indians on tho
Flathead reservation, near Missoula,
Montana. The original herd eleven
years ago consisted Of q couple Of
buffalo calves. n now consists OF
125 head, aad is about all that are
lett Of the vast numbers which, fow
years ago, swarmed over the Western
plains. These men have gone into
the buffalo raising business as n source
of profit, and are making money.
Portland Oregonian.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-03-15
VOICES OF THE NIGHT

Not from airy heights descending
When the frightening shadows fall,
Not with mournful accents blending
with tho owlet's lonely cal,:
But within my lowly dwelling
when quench the glimmering light,
Clearly through the silence weIliny
Rise the Voices of the Might.
Ali still my hearts quick beating.
And some prayer / mutter DER,
Vatnly for response entrelting,
Natnly; for they come once more:>
Henry. someone's I'm here. surely.
There's a smell OF smoke, think;
Did you bolt that door securely2"-
"Papal Papa! Want drink7"
-Puc'-.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-03-15
Bay Sac Ahnndoncd rarm..

Our abandoned farms, rs advertised
by the State, continue to find pur-
chasers. But there are many yet in
the market. The State Board of Agri-
cultures annual report mentions the
sale of twenty-seven of these proper
ties during the year, and eight more
were withdrawn from the public cata-
logue published by the State. Some
236 abandoned farms were described
IN last years catalogue. OF the TWEEN
ty-seven reported sold, fourteen were
bought for general farming purposes,
and the others for special objects, like
poultry aud stock raising, summer
residents and for the timber aud pas
turage. Six of tho purchasers are
resident outside of New England:
Florida, Ohio aud New Jersey con
tributing one each and New York
three. Massachusetts furnished four
teen OF the purchasers. Gradually,
10 doubt, this abandoned land will be-
brought into some use. 1t is rather
surprising though, that more OF il is
not being taken for sheep raising and
grazing. The tax assessors reports
for the year show that the number OF
sheep Ia tho State continues TO de-
cline. The farmers say that there are
too many dogs in ,Rssachusetts. -
Springfield Mass Republican.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-03-15
HER REWARD,

throng OF women who had the Lord
Waited before heavens gate for their reward.
Each shining soul had her fair record brought
Oh glorious service for the Master
One gentle one, full and long,
with her great pen had slain giant
With starving children spent;
To nameless outcasts hope that presence lent.
For dwared and these we'll.
And left loves blessings in the prison cell.
For poor humanity sin-cursed me
They gave their lives, and counted not the cost
On, they bright beautiful to seel
Earths fame has crowned them their souls
But one there who lone n trembling stood
Among this throng OF women great
To whom the recording gel, speaking said
what doest thou here among the blessed dead
Rearing record7 thou nothing done
On earth where those their of glory
To whom She weeping LET me return
10 Snat dear earth for which yearn
THE hearts that loved m nj my service got;
Not any service for the Lord wrought.
Life was too short for me- when had como
had but made on earth happy home"
Daughter OF heaven. go in the
'The hearts that thou shalt ha va ap,in.
None may return but thou shalt lose thy pain
For thou shalt breathe in thy native air
And in its glorious mansons greats and fair
ITO tho familiar all Joys shall como.
Heaven IS whns thou hast loft happy
FRANCES Ekin Allison. in the Chicago Intero
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-03-15
Road wori, i'm New Hampshirc,

"This year, Concord, n. H. ;" says
the Concord Monitor, Eat the sugges.
ton of the highway commissioner, di-
vided its highway appropriations so
that small part was set aside for
permanent work in the construction
of highways and streets which would
only require nominal repairs for a
series of years. The result is all that
could be expected, and the policy
should be continued in succeeding
years. Other towns would do we'll to
follow this practice, seeking at the
same time to get the most competent
men it is possible to find to take
charge of the road-building. There is
no public work in which there is such
crying necessity for intelligent di-
rection as in the construction and re-
pair of our highways"
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-03-15
GOOD ROADS NOTES.
rAetirity in North Carolina.

At the Road Congress, lately held
in Raleigh, n. O., q committee of
twenty-five was appointed ''to act
with the North Carolina Good Roads
League in considering the revision of
existing road laws, aud in urging the
next General Assembly to adopt such
Legislation as will remedy the existing
defects in these laws, and as will pro-
vide for the employment in public
road improvements of all able.bodied
male convicts whose term Of sentence
does not exceed ten years"
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-03-15

The latest gift of China TO the
West is q variety of duck. It is
called the mandarin duck, and it is
regarded as particularly. delicious in
flavor and highly ornamental. It is
therefore likely to prove a feature OF
of the ponds in landscape gardened
estates, and also OF those in plain but
far-seeing pougersrs' places. New
York Journal,
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-03-15

ticket which hung toff.le elegant fan
upon the counter
'Ten dollars Oh, dear! Then of
course can't afford it,
And Nina laid down the pretty
trinket, and walked slowly out of the
store
She was sparkling, black proved
brunette, with great, languid ewes,
mouth like wave wet coral, and n shy,
bewitching way, which gentlemen
called charming, and ladies couldn't
appreciate at all. And Miss, Philpotts
was just about to be married, and Miss
Philpotts had asked Nina to be her
second bridesmaid, aud the other
bridesmaids had given such elegant
wedding gifts-and Nina, girl-like,
had no wish to be left behindhand.
THAT white lace fan, with the Law
ender silk lining, and the pearl sticks,
would have been the very thing" said
Nina to herself. ooh, dear, what
wretched life it is to be poor! And
what will Mr.. Fortescue think, if L
give Nellie nothing on earth but q
two-six-peuny dud of pocket hand
kerohief?"
Mr.. Fortescue was the groomsman
who "stood up with Nina hand
some young graduate of Yale, with an
auburn mustache, head of curly
Saxon hair, and laughing blue eyes,
and whom the girls oil liked, and Nina
well. she liked him, too-iust lit
tie. At all events, she was anxious to
stand we'll in his eyes, and from this,
quite as much as from her affection
Tor the bride-expectant, sprang her de-
sire for the white lace fan, with the
lavender silk lining and the carved
mother-of-pearl sticks. For Allie
Mortimer had given gold watch and
chain, and Esther Ames silver
smelling bottle, with a diamond
studded stopper.
must give something decent"
said Nina, COMPRISING her cherry
lips together; aud she went home to
her grim old grand-uncle.
"Uncle Leopold" said she, "can
you spare me ten dollars?"
Uncle Leopold turned upon her
with sharp and whitening glance.
You know, child, cannot" said
he Money isn't 80 plenty with the
Carols that ten-dollar bills Autter
through the air like sparrows. I
gave you five dollars day before YES.
terday 1t is all Tat you can have at
present"
But, uncle, here is a bill lying on
the desk-a tea dollar billr"
"Humph" and Uncle LeonoId
shrugged his shoulders. you're vel
come TO that if you want it. It's a
eounterfeit-a dead loss, go far as /
am concerned. / don't know where /
could possibly have taken it in"
Bat 1t looks good, Uncle Leopold. "
"Of course it does, else shouldn't
have been sold as 1 was. Take il away.
child-,ake it away It's not pleasaI
to DO reminded OF ones folly by the
perpetual witness lying there before
ones eyes. ="
And 40, with sigh, Nina put the
money in her pocket-book and went
away
81 don't believe it's counterfeit. 8"
said she TO herself, q sudden idea
springiug into her mind. ~ dare say
IT IS n good bill, only some old fogy or
other has refused to take it from Uncle
Leopf 4. AZ Ill events, mean 10 try
the e. .fment II certainly can't do
any harm. and do want the money
30 much"
"Hisg Carrolir'
"Oh, Mr. Fortescuel it is you?"
Nina colOred scarlet. She was lit
tie vexed that Mr.. Fortcscue shonId
hlve overtaken her just on the TIRES
hold OF Newton & Taxleys great fancy
store, and yei Why should che be an
Dnyed2
Am in the say? May accom-
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-03-15

Advsrslssnsns VII b inserted q &c asSlA
per s(asrs tor tAs IRA inssrtiea - ~
'ecs Tor sAsh subsequent inssstioa.
Local, Busineos and Special notices ~
esnss hns. and no notice inssrtsA ~ -
than one dollar.
Legal advertisements viii b inssxssA %
the rssss allowed By Law and VIII, In al saseA
Be required upon delivery Of certified copy.
CAAb40 YoR ANNouNCKMcNrB-fcg
oeanty e0esss. 81 State and Congress. 80.
Terms Or etan1ing advertisements made
Known ea application - the publisner.
dtpsesh. 1gOrd@s ~ nall xu resolve
ero0U4 st1Gnkisa.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-03-15
A Hsge I;renIsrntsr.

The new breakwater now under
construction by the Government at
Buffalo. N. Y, under the charge of
Major Thomas w. Symonds. engineer
corps, United States Army, will be
the largest in the world. The origi.
nal breakwater was begun in 1868,
with q projected length OF 1000 feet;
this was increased to 1900 feet!by the
project OF 1874, and the work was
finished in 1894. The inclosed water
harbor thus formed by the breakwater
and the snnd-catch pier was one and
a half miles long. The new breakwater
now being built will be -, 500 feetlonq:
making n total length Of 2O,1O0 feet
from the light house 70 Stony Point.
The nearest approach to this construc-
ton IN length. said Major Symonds.
in late address before the Buffalo
Real Estate Exchange, is the cele-
brated breakwater ut Cherbough.
France, which is ~, 200 feet long, cost
SO, 200, 900, and was seventy years in
bulldog Engineering News.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-03-15

000i and having the expenses borne.
fifty per cent. by the State, twenty
five by the county. twelve -and-a.
half by the town, and the same by
AUDITING property, though these
changes may be somewhat modified at
q final conference.