davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-12-06
 BIRDS WITH BILLS OF STEEL.
New Guinea Cockatoos Crack Hardest
 Nuts with Ease.

A few New Guinea cockatoos, a rare species in this latitude, have been brought to Chicago recently and have created much interest by their odd ap- pearance and actions. They are as large as pheasants and jet black in color The bird is remarkable for it's immensely strong bill and the clever manner in which it is used. The bill is as hard as steel and the upper part has deep notch in it. The favorite food Of this cockatoo is the kernel of the canary nut, but there is wonderful ingenuity required to get at it, for the nut is something like brazil nut, but it is ten times as hard. In fact. it requires the blow of heavy hammer to crack it. 1t is quite smooth and somewhat triangular in shape. The cockatoo might throw the nut down, but it would not break, or it might hold it in it's claws like the parrots usually do with their food. and at tempt to crush it, but the smoothness of the nut would cause it to fly out of the beak. Nature appears to have given the possessor of the wonderful bill some intelligence to direct it's powers, for the cockatoo takes one of the nuts edgewise in it's bill and by a carving motion of it's sharp lower beak makes a small notch on it. This done, the bird takes hold of the nut with it's claws, and, biting off piece of leaf, retains it in the deep notch of the upper part Of the bill. Then the nut is seized between the upper and lower parts of the bill and is prevented from slipping by the peculiar texture of the leaf. A sharp nip or two breaks off tiny piece of the shell of the nut. The bird then seizes the nut in it's claws and pokes the long, sharp point of it's bill into the hole and picks out the kernel bit by bit. The cockatoo has a very long tongue, which collects each morsel as it is broken off by the bill This is a wonderful process, for it is quite clear that without the leaf nothing could be done, and it proves how certain structures in birds are made to destroy certain parts of plants. Chicago Chronicle
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-12-06
 rLE0 RIG NIAGARA.
Great Falls to Be Transformed Into 8
 Flood of Fire.


 Buffalos big exposition if only one-half the promises of the manage ment are realized it will be in every respect big affair-will be the occa- sion of what will doubtless be a most brilliant and startling electrical illu- imitation. Niagara Falls will be trans formed into flood of fire The seeth- ing, roaring torrent will be ablaze with all the hues of the spectrum The superlative natural grandeur of the scene will be so enhanced that the projectors of the strikingly novel en- terprise contend that it's success will make the exposition an event in his- tory. The idea is to erect series of tall towers on both the American and Canadian sides of the river. On the top of these loftly spires huge eleetri 2 searchlights will be placed, in such manner that they may be played on any part of the falls. The imagination may picture the dazzling effect that will be produced when score of those powerful instruments of illumination are brought to bear upon the rushing waters as they tumble ifresistibly over the rocky ledge into the depths be- heath. A C. 1stant Change of colors will be used in the manipulation of the searchlights, so that now the falls will be like molten silver. again a flood of crimson, again as green as old ocean itself, and so on through the whole gamut of the painters palette The astonishing effect will be still fur ther heightened by the use of electric arc lights in the Cave of the Winds which will give to the water as it falls in front of it weird, phosphorescent glow. The power for this record making illumination will be all within easy reach, as Niagara will itself be made to do all the necessary work This is expected to be largely a spec taeular arrangement, but scientists hope to discover something new about the effect of light on water, and make a careful study of the chemistry oi color. This has been done to some extent with electric fountains, but Niagara will offer an entirely new field
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-12-06
Whales Teeth as Coinage.

Whales teeth form the coinage Of the Fiji islands They are painted white and red, the red teeth being worth about twenty times as much as the white. The native carries his wealth round his neck. the red and white of his coinage forming bril- liant contrast to his black skin. 4 common and curious sight in the Fiji islands is newly married wife pre- senting her husband with dowry of whales teeth.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-12-06

Oregon Indians have curious names. Recently an Indian named Shot His Mother-in-Law signed a warrant of the treasury department, and other we'll
 known names are: Finds Them and Kills Them. Kills Over Beyond the Other, Hoop on Forehead, Rear Goes to Other Grounds, Crazy sister-in-faw, Points Gun in His Face, Got Many En- emies, Looks at the Ground. Steals on the Camp. Hears Every Way, Strikes on the Top of the Head, On Top of the House Sings in the Mountain, Bull Don't Fall Down, Does Many Good Things, Kettle That Boils, Strikes at Night. Kills Coming to the Birds, Bird Tail That Rattles, Charges Madly on the Enemy, Gets Hold of the Dead, Knot Between the Eyes, Goes to Look at the Prisoner, and Sits in the Middle.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-12-06
NAMES BIRCH TREES.
Constables Responsible for Their Origin
 in That State.


 Norway (Maine) Correspondence of the New York Times: Since the paper makers commenced to build big sul- phite mills in the Maine woods the price of spruce timber lands has doubled, and in some cases trebled. Next to spruce, the timber in greatest demand is clean and thrifty white birch, which is sawed into bars and sent by the shipload to Scotland to be used for thread spools. Near all the factories in the United Stases, and more than half of those in Great Brit ain, obtain their spool stock from Maine. According to A A. Burleigh of Houlton, Maine, who has spent the best part of his life in the woods as lumber operator, Maine's birch trees are due to the spiteful conduct of two employees of the Maine land office Some French Canadians in 1920 squat ted on state land near the Penobscot river and defed all efforts to eject them. Finally, in 1925, two special constables were sent to the place from the land office in Augusta, with in= structions to make clean job of evict- ing the Frenchmen. The constables, after turning the families out, set fire to the houses and haystacks. Twelve hours later the French village was a smoking mass Of ashes, and the big gest forest fire ever known in the state was sweeping north, burning off more than fifty townships of old-growth pine and doing more than $10,000,000 damage to the state lands. Many square miles of hackmatack timber were also burned over, the fire eating ten feet into the black peat logs that had been accommodating for years and years. It is a tradition that, after crossing Aroostook county, the fire leaped the St. John river and swept over New Brunswick, terminating in the destruction Of Miramichi, where 120 persons perished. The survivors were forced to flee into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. where they stood neck deep in the water for two days and night, while deer, caribou moose, bears and wolves swam around them, seeming to seek protection from their enemies. After the fire had burned itself out and the land had absorbed the alkali of the ashes, about 5000, 900 acres came tip to wild cherry and white birch saplings. For more than ten years the two species struggled for control of the territory. Then the black knot, which had been imported from Europe, killed off the wild cherry trees, giving the birches the right of way. About 50.000,0o0 board feet of spool bars are now shipped out Of Maine every year and the supply is still large.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-12-06
WHERE nnEnE ARE NO 4RNEo. Inhabitants Of Lond's Island on the
 Maine Coast Pay None.


 Loud's island, on the coast of Maine near historic Pemaquid, in the Lincoln county town of Bristol, is one of the very few places on earth where there are no taxes. This island, otherwise known as Muscongus, was overlooked when Maine became state, and was put into DO town or county. It is said that during the war the people cast their votes for a time in the town of Bristol until some election officer dis covered the illegality of the vote. The island was first settled by John Loud, deserter from British man. war, and his grandchildren are now prominent inhabitants. By voluntary contributions school is maintained, the parents paying s4 for each child. The school term averages eight months in each year. and there is an average attendance of eighteen scholars. Catch ing bait for the fishermen of Boston, Gloucester and Pc is the most profitable business Of the people, out when bait is slack in running they turn their attention to lobstering, mackerel fishing and catching porgies for the big oil and fertilizing factory opposite the island in Bristol. After successful haul of bait large white flag is hoisted on the high ground in the center of the island. With glass it may be discovered far out at sea, whence come the Grand Bankers and others like buzzards attracted by the casualties of battle The people have comfortable homes, and are prosper ous ane eontented. Like the fisher men of isle, they are famous for their skill as sailors.-Po Portland Press.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-12-06
JAPANESE BUYING GOODS HERE Are Building Up Home Industries by
 the Aid of Chicago Machinery.

Are Building up by
 the Aid of Chicago Machinery.
 Chicago is building up by no means insignificant trade with Japan. The Yankees of the Orient are quick to discern whatever is of utility to them in the mechanic arts, and as a conse oaence they are supplying themselves with machinery for the development of their industries direct from the facto ries on the shores of Lake Michigan. Ill the history of the entire world no other nation has experienced such a remarkable growth in its commerce with Japan as has the United States. Japanese official figures give the inn pertations from the United States in 1893 at 6,090, 40S yen and in 1898 at 40,- GOT 097 yen. Meantime her importa- t=n snsn England increased from 27,- 929, ,62s yen to 62,707,572 yen; those from Germany from 7.318.134 yen to 1 25,610,96f yen; those from France from 3,305. PIT yen to 6,979,9 ,992 yen, and those from China from 17,095, ,975 yen to 30, 523, ,S60 yen, while the only part of the world which has experienced an in- 1 crease at all to be compared with that of the United States is the British East I Indies, whose increase has been from 1 8,679,029 in 1893 to 40,764 ,244 yen in 1898. Japan's importations have grown enormously in the last five years. In 1893 they amounted to 88.257, ,172 yen and in 1898 to PIT, ,502, ,166 yen. Mean time her exports have grown from s., TIP, ,864 yen in 1893 to 165, 753, ,752 yen in 1898. Thus the exports have doubled and the imports have trebled in the pe- rfod under consideration. The disposi- tion of Japan is to look to the United States for constantly increasing pro-
 portion of it's supplies. In 1893 the I United States furnished less than ' per cent of the imports into Japan and in 1898 IA per cent, while England, the principal competitor in the markets Of the east, which in 1893 furnished 32 per cent of Japan's importations, in 1898 furnished 22.6 per cent. Not only have the producers and exporters Of the United States developed in the last few years 8 disposition to push their sales in that country, but Japan herself is showing a disposition to make her purchases from the nearest markets those Of the United States-and has recently established steamship lines connecting with United States ports. Japan by reason of recent events is the nearest neighbor to the United States, aside from those whose territory is ac- tualiy tiguous-Canada and Mexico. Her comparatively recent exchange of mainland territory to Russia for the line of islands stretching northwardly from her central group brings her ter ritory to within about 800 miles of that of the United States in the Aleu- tian chain of islands, while at the south her newly acquired is' d Of Formosa lies within less than 200 miles of the Philippines Thus not only are the United States and Japan neighhors territorially, but their insular posses sions combined stretch along the en- lire Pacific coast of Asia from arctic 10 equatorial waters.-Chicago Chron- iele.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-12-06
Below the Ocean Level.

The most continental region on the globe-farthest removed from an ocean-lies in central Asia, south of Tsian-Shan. It lies below the level of the ocean. and the Russian government has established meteorological sta ton there.
The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1899-11-30

must have been fewer or lazier. for
made no complaints about the scarcity
of chestnuts.
II l remember rightly, those l ate
were remarkably fine. either one great
chestnut in single hull. or fairly
large one with two little ones which
did not interfere with the expansion
Of the fittest.
There was a popularity about the
weather of that November; very often
the skies were really cloudy and gray.
and the rain sometimes came down
with steady persistence. while the cold
and penetrating winds made people
think of heavy overcOats before their
appointed time. But these days OF
bad weather had very little effect upon
me or upon my spirits. 1t did not &C.
cur tc me that the melancholy days
had come. and as for their being the
saddest of the year. that was impossi-
BILE. At that time some sort of sun
was always shining. If it were not
the ordinary sun about which our
earth revolves, it was a particular orb
which existed for my especial salts
faction. It sometimes even shone at
night, after l had gone to bed-that
is. if l happened to be awake.
But it was not only nature that was
more than usually agreeable; the peo-
pie of this world, so far as l knew
them, were very pleasant, remarkably
so. l do not remember quarreling
with living soul during the whole of
that November. 1t seems as though
my intercourse with my fellow beings
was unusually genial. In regard to
social progress and the steady better
ment of the human race, l was an
ardent optimist. Even people l knew
as not being very pleasant of manner
or intelligent of speech seemed then
good company.
Politics did not trouble me at all.
suppose good many people voted for
the wrong men, but l paid no atten-
ton to their misguided actions. 1t
was scarcely possible there could be
any candidates for Office who did not
possess some virtues, and a strong
disposition in the direction of general
altruism made me wish we'll to all
good people who had been selected to
administer the affairs of township,
county or state.
There was truly something excep-
tional in this Thanksgiving season.
Other people may not have noticed it.
but it impressed itself most forcibly
upon me. How could it be otherwise!
It was a time that my first book wa
published.
The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1899-11-30
Wasted Corn Fodder.

Each year, as the seasons come and
60. we note the major portion Of the
country's corn crop is allowed to
stand until the cold chilly winds of
November" have blown hundreds of
tons Of the very best of our corn plant
away.
And yet many farmers who suffer
this practice on their farms find their
young cattle, cows and horses sorely
in need of just such feed as they have
willingly allowed to 60 to waste, says
w. D. Wode in Rural World. In the
corn belt Of the Mississippi valley there
is enough corn fodder allowed to go to
the waste places to winter we'll three
times as many cattle and sheep as are
maintained within this territory. It's
true this crop cannot be properly saved
without some labor and expense. but
with the modern corn harvester. which
cuts and binds in convenient form this
valuable crop, no reasonable excuse
can be offered for allowing 1t to be
carried to the fence corners and bitches
by the fall winds Let US note these
things in time this year.
The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1899-11-30
MY MOST NOTABLE
THANKSGIVING
BY FRANK r. STOCKTON

-
It was Thanksgiving time, nearly
thirty years ago. To the ordinary in
habitant of that portion Of this coun-
try where then dwelt the season was
very much like other seasons OF
Autumnal fruition; there was nothing
In the earth. the skies, or the waters
that gave to this period any peculiar
1ty which would distinguish it from
the similar period of any other year.
past or to come
this Thanksgiving season very pecu-
liar In my eyes. For some time the
whole world had seemed to me to be
permeated by the knowledge that
something was about to happen which
had never happened before, and which
could not, by any possibility. happen
again.
had always loved the Thanksgiv-
ing season. To be sure, much Of the
brightness and color in which the land
scape reveled in October was lost,
but the rich browns Of the oaks, the
heavy green's of the pines and the
cedars, lighted up here and there by
some late hanging sumac leaves or
reddening ivy. with hill and dale
gently softened by the mists of Indian
summer, made a picture in which l
delighted as much as l did in the
beauties Of any other season.
But in this year the late autumn foil
age was much finer than l had ever
known it before. Van Dyke never
dreamed of such browns as now saw,
and the curtains of distant mist seemed
ever about to rise upon visions of
even greater beauty than those which
then entranced me-
had always liked the first keen
winds which had come to us as the
avant couriers of winter, making it
delightful to walk and be out Of doors.
and also agreeable and satisfactory to
90 into the house. But this year there
vas a sparkling spice in the air which
& would have been impossible for
ether people to understand. even II
The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1899-11-30

The Kansas Experiment Statioa =
studying the effect Of various modes Of
soil treatment upon soil moisture.
That the well-known effect Of . mulch
can be approached by proper tillage OF
soil Is fact not as widely acted upon
as good farming dictates. One Of the
station fields which contained in round
numbers Is per cent Of water In the
first foot Of soil. on July z. 1898. had
one portion plowed, another disk-har-
rowed and a portion left untreated.
The ensuing dry weather In the course
OF four weeks. Notwithstanding several
light rains. reduced the moisture Of the
untreated part to Is per cent and mat
Of the disked land to Is per cent. the
plowed ground retaining q per cent.
The last two were in excellent condt-
ton for seeding, while the first would
pillow up lumpy and unsatisfactory.
The weight Of an acre Of the dry soil
as 1900 tons. Each per cent Of water
In soil to that depth represents about IL
tons Of water per acre, or one-seventh
Of an inch. The water apparently lost
by the untreated soil was 176 tons per
acre, equivalent to over one and half
inches of rain. This Is about one half
what the soil would hold after . soak
ing rain. The real loss was much more
than this, since as water escaped from
the upper foot, other would be drawn
up from below by capillary attraction.
The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1899-11-30

connection between water supply Of
streams and forest preservation Is be-
coming realized at home by even East
ern people where irrigation is not nee
essary. Governor Stone has deter
mined to make forest protection one
Of the features of his administration.
He has appointed a commission to ce-
lect and locate three state forest res
ervations. aggregating 10000 acres. at
the head waters Of rivers Of the state.
The State Board of Property has unan-
imously declared in favor Of obtaining
these lands as natural reservoirs. de-
claring that the control of them Is
Pennsylvania one hope Of preserving
her agricultural and farming interests
as well as water supply.
The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1899-11-30
Horticultural Observations

Massachusetts, has again this year
appropriated 100000 for the extermin-
alton Of the gypsy moth. This makes
over half a million dollars that have
been so expended. 1t should point a
moral, and that is that there ought to
be a branch Of the general government
whose duty it is to keep out injurious
insects. The proper officers, armed
with authority. could not only in many
instances prevent the introduction Of
insect pests, but they could attack and
destroy the pests that did get foot
hold before they could spread.
California has profited greatly by the
short crop of peaches this year in all
of the states east of the Rocky noun
tains where peaches are grown. Even
the merchants of Georgia have been
buying California peaches by the car
load and selling them at good price
to local consumers. This can but slim
ulate the planting Of peach orchards in
California and we look to see great &C
tivity in that state the coming season.
New orchards will doubtless 60 in by
the thousands of acres. On the other
hand the growers of peaches in the
states where the crop was this year
a failure seem not to be discouraged
and promise to put in large areas Of
new trees. The high prices Of this
year seem to have more effect than the
failure of the crop. AS consequence
in a few years we may expect to see
the supply of peaches enormously in
creased.
It IS reported from France that the
Lombardy poplars. which have SO long
been . decoration Of roads in that
country. are being cut away and their
places taken by plum trees. The process
Of supplanting the poplars by the fruit
trees has been going on for several
years. and it Is said that already the
fruit from some of the plum trees is
being sold for the benefit Of the dis
tricts through which the roads pass.
It seems that the public does not hesi-
tate in those countries to derive all the
revenue possible from sales of fruit
even though 1t does come into compe-
ttion with the private producers of
fruit. In Belgium it is said that this
revenue amounts to oves $4,000. 900 per
year. The planting Of fruit trees by
the roadside is not thing to be en-
couraged unless the fruit is to be care
fully looked after and be the property
either of the government or of the man
on the side of whose land it is. Fruit
trees left to take care of themselves
soon become objects that are anything
but adornmen.s to the highways.