davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mena star., 1898-11-30
CHICAGO TO THE GULF.

It having been currently an nounced that the Pittsburg & Gulf railway company has purchased the Chicago & Alton the follow ing from the Rocky Mountain News will be of interest to our readers, showing what a great system of railroad we are located on and what vast traffic must pass our doors from Chicago and Quin- cy in Illinois, Omaha in Nebraska, St. Louis and Kansas City, to the gulf:
 For some days Chicago has been dis tur6ed by rumors that the Kansas City, pitttstbusrg its tbusrg & Gulf railroad com pany had purchased the Chicago x Al ton road. While the sale has been vigorously denied by officers of both companies, the real facts seem to be that majority of the stock of the All ton has been deposited in the valts of a Chicago trust company, that an op tion on the same has been given to parties in the interest of the Kansas City, Pittsburg X Gulf, and that more than enough money has been sub scribed with which to complete the deal The Alton has s43 miles of road, extending from Chicago to St Louis and Kansas City. The Kansas City, Pittsburg & Gulf has coz miles of track. The total mileage of the two lines would be l,445 miles. The dis tance from Chicago to the Gulf, via Kansas City. would be l,090 miles.
 The significance of this deal is appar- ent. If consimated, it will give a through line from the lakes to the gulf owned and controlled by one interest, which will divert traffic from the lines running to the Atlantic seabord tow ard the ports of the Gulf of Mexico As indicating the trend which traffic will take. this fact is startling in it's importance, and has bearing on the future trend of commerce in the West which cannot be overestimated. Chi cago has already felt the competition of the gulf ports in attracting grain in that direction. which formerly found a market through the city of the lakes. Now. apparently it is to be placed in direct connection with the gulf ports, and can ship grain to Europe by that route as easily as by New York. The changes that this new competition will bring about, and their effect on the New York Chicago lines. are yet to be realized, but the prediction is a safe one that new traffic map for the United States is being created.
The Mena star., 1898-11-30
THE cHERoKEEs AND CREEKS.

That portion of the Indian Ter ritory next to Arkansas, that we hope to soon see opened to settle ment, is spoken of by the Phila- dclphia Record as follows, while referring to the work of the Dawes commission in securing the allotment of the lands:
 Resistance to the governments plan for the substitution of civilized admin istration for the rude. semi bar barrie customs of the tribes is evidently stronger and more concentrated on the wealthy and populous Creek and Cherokee reservations than among the tribes of the southwest The Chero- kees and Creeks are on the very bor- ders of Arkansas and Kansas, with two trunk lines of railway running through the reservations. a population of about 40, 1000 Indians and 100 900 whites, and steady stream of i'm mi grafton pressing strongly upon the territory. The Creek reservation, which lies just beyond the western border line of Arkansas, extends over an area of 3,04O,oO0 acres, or 4,750 square miles. Watered by the Arkan- sas and Canadian rivers and their trib- utaries the country is veritable gar den in fertility, and its vast alluvial plains might easily furnish sustenance for many millions of people. This great principality is held as the pri- vate and personal possession of less than 4,O0O Creek Indians, whose lead CTS have steadily resisted all efforts to put an end to the anomalous condition of affairs in the territory-a semi bar barrie community in the midst of per- manently settled area of civilized states, claiming tribal integrity and practical independence of Federal au- thoritv
The Mena star., 1898-11-30
PRESIDENT STIL WELL.

The Kansas City Star, in an ar ticle referring to Mir. StiIwell and the great Port Arthur route, re- gently said:
 It is MT. Stilwell's am bition to con trol railroad system which shall reach out from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes and from the Missouri river to the Atlantic coast. The con solidation of the Pittsburg X Gulf with the Alton, together with the Lima &5 Northern now controlled by Stllweell. and the Lake Erie & Vest ern, which is owned be ex-Senator Brice, would be almost realization of the ambition of the man who bids fair to become rival in the railroad world in short time of the Wander bilts and Goulds.
 A. E. Stilwell has been Tn New York for months working on the deal, and it is reported that he made large amount of money on Wall street when Pittsburg d Gulf stock advanced seven points. He is now called a Napoleon of railroad finance and the Jim Hill' of the southwest.
The Mena star., 1898-11-30
Government Ownership.

From the Arkansas Gazette.
 The question of government owner ship of railroads, telegraphs and tele- phones has often been discussed These subjects have received more at- tention by thinkers, students, writers economists and governmental theorists than any other.durlng the past decade. except the money question.
 On these questions ''The Gazette ed itor is hung jury. He has studied and thought over them from variops standpoints Just exactly what ;s best he is in doubt
 Now comes Gen. James Longstreet commissioner of railroads, who. in his annual report, recommends the con- strncton by the general government of a first class double track rail from Kansas City to San Diego. Cal by air line route. We are disposed to favor this proposition. It would at least demonstrate the advisabllitv of government ownership of railroads.
 For several years we have been a convert to government telegraph
The Mena star., 1898-11-30

system. operated in connection vii, the postoffice department, as we ha lieve in postal savings banks.
 Those who favor the building ana government ownership of a ca,., across the isthmus in Nicaragua-ioin. ing the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean could we'll afford to adopt the recon. mendation of Gen. Longstreet. Tho experiment is worth trying.
The Mena star., 1898-11-30
FREE SCHOOL BOOKS.

The state superintendent of public instruction of Missouri ear nestly recommends legislation looking to supplying pupils with text books at public expense and there are many good reasons why this should be done. To secure common school education for the masses we have legislatcd to sup ply school houses and furnish them and employ teachers all at public expense, but before we can secure the best results of this ex- cellent system we must supply the best text books at public cx- pensc also. Speaking of this law the superintendent says:
 Such law provides at the least ex- pense the only assurance that all chil- dren will be adequately supplied with books. Our Missouri politicians have grossly exaggerated the cost of school textbooks. There should be, at this time. outside of St Louis, Kansas City and St Joseph. about GOO. GOO children enrolled in our public schools
The Mena star., 1898-11-30
Evils of Corporal Punishment.

From the Chicago Times Herald.
 Evidence in the case of Arthur Bees, the Lake county boy who was logged by sectarian schoolmaster and who died several days afterward, tends to show that the fatal illness resulted from fall and not from the chastise- ment. This probably will relieve the schoolmaster from legal blame, but it will not exonerate him at the bar of enlightened public opinion.
 The practice of whipping children has been abolished in the public schools, and with the spread of intel- ligence is disappearing in the home. Il is practice that always denotes in. humanity and cowardice and often reaches degrees of cruelty and brut. ality.
 The man or woman who strikes child thereby expresses inability to govern his or herself, and is conse- quently incapable of governing the child. Unquestionably many parents administer corporal punishment as corrective, but even under such cir eumstances the desire to benefit the child is rarely unaccompanied by an angry impulse, while most of the blows children receive from their eld- ders are entirely due to unrestrained passion.
 Spare the rod and spoil the child'' IS as false and cruel as life was in the days in which it was first said. Ii complete statistlcs could be gathered of the boys who have been made crim. inals, of the girls who have been driven to shame, of ambitious natures checked and wrecked, of filial love driven from the heart by the use of the rod, the world would be amazed and mortified.
 The rule of the rod is the rule of might, and might is the only rule known to ignorance. Corporal pun ishment of children is survival of savagery and barbarism and has no  place in the lives of enlightened peo- pie.
 And going back to the particular case referred to, no person who can not rule child by reason, kindness and intelligent restraint is competent to have charge of the education or children. 1t has been so decided in the matter of public education. It IS equally true of private or sectarian in- structors.
 The laws do not and possibly cannot De made to reach the latter. but pnD- tie sentiment should never lose the opportunity to condemn the beating of children by whomsoever practlced'
The Mena star., 1898-11-30
"GLAD YOU BLEW"

MT. Nathan of Kansas City, having wired President Stilwell, then in New York, that he caused the big knocking bird" whistle of his packing house to blow when he heard of the Texas supreme court decision in favor of the Pittsburg & Gulf against the Kountz Bros, over the construc- ton of the big Port Arthur canal, received the following reply: "Glad you blew. May give you a chance to blow again very soon" "
The Mena star., 1898-11-30

Probably those depositors who had sopmuch confidence in Cross, tho Emporia banker who recently failed and suiclded, and those commission men who loaned Gil lctte, the cattle plunger, so much mopowbefore he failed and ran ean say to themselves,
 ools we mortals be-
The Mena star., 1898-11-30

It has been proven that heavier loads can be hauled on wogons having wide tires than on those with narrow ones and among freightcrs as we'll as farmers wide tires are becoming quite popular. In several cities they have laws prohibiting loaded wagons with narrow tires from going upon cer- tain streets because of the damage to the streets and it is well known that wide tires do not cut country roads like narrow ones. Every man buying a new wagon should choose one with wide tires.
The Mena star., 1898-11-30

While some think that the United States, in its demand for the surrender of the Philippines is pursuing system of conquest, it should be clear to all that this is about the only way that we can give the people of those islands freedom from the slavish exactions of Spain. Our expansion policy is no more for expansion of terri tory than expansion of liberty.
The Mena star., 1898-11-30

The Texarkana Courier says: s'lllinois must be a queer state, and it's citizens a queer people. The oligarchy say that in the past decade Illinois has elected two an archists to be the governor of the state. And one is Democrat Altgclt- while the other-Tanner is a republican.
The Mena star., 1898-11-30

Every voter in Arkansas should use his influence toward securing a law to consolidate the elections. It is expensive and nnwise to held two elections when there is no good reason for holding but one.
The Mena star., 1898-11-30

With a new court house, col lege, three story postoffice build ing, a fouring mill, several resi- dcnces anl system of water works, all to be built the coming spring. Mena will be quite lovely, thank you.
The Mena star., 1898-11-30

m<<ndorsing the arguments of An sss.sw Carnegie against imperial ism, Gov. Pingree of Michigan lays that before engaging in for eign missionary work we should break mp our monopolies it home. St. Louis Post dispatch.
The Mena star., 1898-11-30

roads leading into a town rade and business to the 1t is to the interest of the 1t as we'll as the farmer to .od roads and they should } their influence to secure The town that advertiscs good roads leading to it spcr and grow.
The Mena star., 1898-11-30

Gillette, the cattle plunger who failed last week at Woodbine, Kan, is being much sought af CT hp his creditors who, by this time, have probably found that he has ..gone where the woodbine twin cth v
The Mena star., 1898-11-30

The proposed opening of the Indian Territory to settlement, when accomplished, will prove beneficial to Mcna A large sec ton of the territory must be tribu- tary to Mena and will long re- main so.
The Mena star., 1898-11-30

Spain has yielded, or more properly speaking, has accepted the United States generous pro- posal of settlement. She is now much poorer than before she went 10 war with us, but is also much wiser.
The Mena star., 1898-11-30

That Kansas is great, If not an cratic state, has been demon strated by the Cross bank failure and the Gillette cattle plunger's tiascO.
The Mena star., 1898-11-30

All new subscribers for the Star will receive 1t from now till Dec. 31, 1899, for Sl, the price of one year.
The Mena star., 1898-11-30

A wagon. ploM and handle fac tory would find plenty of business and make money in Mena.
The Mena star., 1898-11-30

The year of 1899 will sec great CT growth and prosperity in Mcna than ever.
The Mena star., 1898-11-30

Now is the time to subscribe for the Star and thereby get the best paper in Polk county thirteen months for one dollar.
The Mena star., 1898-11-30
BRIEF ITEnS OF NEWS.

The extreme eastern part of the United States suffered from fearfpl blizzard and snow storm Saturday. Al Providence, k. l., all traffic wac stopped for twenty-four hours. The snow fell so fast that the snow plows were stalled and it was impossible to hire men to work. Some lives wera lost by freezing
 The big building at the corner of Eleventh street and Grand avenue. on. posite the Emery, Bird, Thayer store in Kansas City was almost completelv destroyed by fire Monday morning and the big stock of furniture and carpets of the Keith Furniture company is ruined by fire and water. The loss is estimated at s16O.oo0.
 Terrible loss of life has resulted from the storm of Saturday night along the Atlantic coast, Shipping also has sui tered and in the neighborhood of Bos- ton more than thirty vessels have been wrecked and as many lives lost The property damage will range up into the millions. All traffic was suspend ed in Boston and New York on Satur- day night and the surface trolley lines have not yet completely resumed. Old-timers say this is the most severe storm since 1851.
 c. G. Gillett of W ood bine, Kan. who has gained the reputation as one of the heavlest cattle plungers of the day failed last week and later disappeared. It is discovered that his dealings of lac have been very crooked and his creditors will probably lose million dollars. His career has been short and exciting. Four years ago he was candidate for the office of deputy sher- if at salary of $50 a month. Since that time he has handled millions of dollars and it is estimated that at the present time there is paper out against him to the amount of two mil. lion dollars.
The Mena star., 1898-11-30

Advertise in the Star if you would reach tho people.
The Mena star., 1898-11-30
lpreme court of Missouri

IPTVIIIU CUuiE OT WIssOuTI
 ling a suit brought by d
 of St. Louis merchants ~~ area that the Wells Fargo Axpresa Co. must buy the stamps for all receipts as provided by law when receiving express packages. The sheriff served the notice on lie general agent at Kansas City ast Friday. The express com panics should have paid the war ax from the start instead of com pcllirg their customers to do so $ they have.
The Somerset reporter., 1898-05-19
The Hired Man.

A good hired man is a jewel if he is
not of great price. and should be kept as
long as possible. The great trouble in
this country is that the good hired man
may soon start out for himself and has
hired men of his own, and farmers, as a
rule, must be content with much ineffi-
cient help.
The selection of hired man should
not always depend upon great physical
strength or capability for endurance.
1t is common to make him one OF the
family. and in that case his character
should count for much and his morals
should be matter of strict investiga-
ton. The hired man is as good as any
body as long as he behaves himself, and
one who is polite, good tempered, intell-
gent and cheerful should be made to
feel that all these things are appreciated.
| have found in the course OF my eX-
perience that the man who is willing to
work for low wages is the one whose ser
vices cost the most in the end. 1t is
better to pay an intelligent, handy and
capable man s2s a month than to get
one who can not use tools and team
intelligently for SIS month.
always iOuhd IL a SOONA pan W man
the hired man feel was interested in
him by giving him little privileges of one
kind or another. | tried to arrange the
work so as to have things in good shape
for the week some time in the afternoon
of Saturday. If he wanted to go to the
circus or to a convention or picnic, |
tried to get ahead of him by asking him
if he wanted to 90 before he mentioned
the matter to me, and offering to give
him the time.
talked to him as if he were a human
being and tried to get him to take an
interest in the work of the farm by con.
sulting with him about it, and accepting
his suggestions whenever they were good
or telling him why did not if | did not
take his advise. If he was doing the work
in satisfactory way did not undertake
to make him do it my way. | had him
in my service to perform certain work,
and as long as it was done thoroughly
and well did not insist that he should
begin in certain way and continue as
would have done il had been doing the
work myself.
1t doesn't do bit of good TO fume
and fret when things go wrong, even if
the hired man is to blame. II every
Thing goes amiss through his fault |
believe from personal experience he feels
as badly about it as you can. If the
hired man does his work neatly and
quickly tell him so and show that you
appreciate the fact.
A good master usually makes a good
man, and this is particularly true OF the
American farm hand. for there is not a
more intelligent class of employees, nor a
class that needs more intelligence to
make success than they. Try to give
the hired man a chance to show what
is in him, and you may be able to sell
your farm to him about the time you get
The Somerset reporter., 1898-05-19
Washing Bedding.

1t saves great deal of trouble to
wash up the heavy bedding by degrees
instead of doing it all on one day in the
season set aside for it. There are always
some counterpanes and some blankets
that are ready to be washed and put away
for the season as early as March AT
this season the washings are usually
light, and one or two of these pieces can
be washed on Monday every week with
out interfering with the other washing
A windy day is not a good day 10 dry
blankets, but blankets can be dried in
a well-ventiated kitchen, and dried bet
ter and more quickly than any other way.
1t shrinks them to expose them to the
suns OF summer or the irosts of winter.
The only objection to drying blankets in
the house is the "stutfy' unpleasant odor
that may be acquired. This is obviated
by ventilating the room thoroughly while
they are drying. The night, when there
is no one in the room, is the proper time
to use the kitchen as a drying room.
1t may then be thoroughly ventilated,
and the air be made as fresh and pure
as the air outdoors Tribune.
The Somerset reporter., 1898-05-19
Knowledge is power" There Is

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The Somerset reporter., 1898-05-19
Soils for Fruits.

Apples will do we'll on almost any corn
soil. Pears like a medium clay loan,
ounces bear best and live longest on
heavy,n OF soggy clay. Plums do well
on heavy loan. Gooseberries should
have stiff clay loan Currants and
strawberries rich lcam. Grape vines
should be planted on a sandy loan with
a dry sub soil. Raspberries flourish in
a deep and rather moist soil. All the
fruits will of course grow on other kinds
of soil, but to get the best and largest
product at lowest expense it is best to
adapt the soil as closely as possible to
the crop.
The Somerset reporter., 1898-05-19

The sure strengthening tonic is
SIMPSONS Extract of Malt at SIMPSONS
corner drug store, zoe, 6 for $1.00.
The Somerset reporter., 1898-05-19
Delicious Strawberry Dumplings

Put one pint of flour into bowl; add
to it half teaspoonful of salt and tea
spoonful of baking powder; rub in care
fully tablespoonful of butter, and add
sufficient milk to just moisten, knead
lightly, and roll out into sheet about a
sixteenth of an inch in thickness. Cut
with large round cutter; put three straw
berries in the centre of each round fold
over the dough, rolling it carefully so
that you cannot see the opening stand
in creased baking pan, brush the top
with milk. and bake in q, lex oven for
fifteen minutes. Serve with strawberry
butter which may be made by beating
two tablespoonfuls Of butter to cream
and adding gradually one cup of powder
ed sugar. Add one mashed berry, beat
thoroughly. then another and another
until you have added at least four good
sized berries Dish, and stand aside to
harden as you would any hard sauce
Mrs. s. T. Rorer.
The Somerset reporter., 1898-05-19

1t is always best in pasturing sheep
to have the field divided into two or
three parts. so as 10 allow each to be
pastured alternately. The sheep scatters
its manure better than any other domes-
tic animal. and it is more sensitive
about it's feed than any other. 1t bites
close, and after the sheep have pastured
field no other stock can thrive on it..
So soon as one field is eaten down turn
the sheep into another, and if there be
a third field it will be all the better. In
this way the smell of manure from ex-
crement dropped during pasturing will
be very largely removed before the sheep
are turned on again. II there are any
grasses which the sheep refuses to Craze,
cut them down with the scYthe, and the
fresh second growth will undoubtedly
be eaten greedily when the sheep are
turned into the field where it is.
The Somerset reporter., 1898-05-19

The average woman knows how to manage
her dau xhter's hus band.
As soon Love began to watch where its
feet were going it got round-shouldered.