davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The record-union., 1899-08-20

reaches perfection are characterized by
deficiency of rain and a wide variation
of temperature. The summer heat is
intense, 115 degrees 'or more, though in
winter the temperature may fall as low
as is degrees above zero. Although
the date palm requires intense heat in
summer, it will withstand in winter a
temperature that would be fatal to
the fig or the orange. These climatic
conditions are practically identical
with those that obtain in the more
southern portions of the Great Colorado
Desert. So great is the similarity, in
fact, Mr.. Wilson says, that so far as
climate is concerned, we may reason
ably expect the date palm to fruit sat
isfactorily in the arid regions of the
southwest. The experiments carried
on through the department show that
probably the soil best adapted to the
date palm is one containing small
percentage of clay, fairly free from
humus, and charged with alkali. Irri-
cation and heat are all important con-
ditions. Water is Indispensable. The
roots should be moist at all times. An
old Arabian proverb says that "The
date must have it's head in fire and
its roots in the water" The water
used may advantageously be quite
warm and contain considerable alkali.
Dates may, however, be planted along
streams, or by springs or flood basins,
and in such situations will grow well,
adding much to the landscape by their
graceful pinnate foliage. The future
of the date industry inc the United
States, however, depends upon irriga-
ton, and upon irrigation which will
not fail in the dryest seasons. Irri-
cation in the Sahara has greatly in
creased the date areas of Africa and
the conditions are so Similar in our
own Southwest under artificial wafer
ing that the success of the Industry
there seems assured.
Varieties of dates are almost innunn-
erable They differ greatly in their
color size, sweetness, delicacy Of flavor
and length of time required to mature.
The dates of commerce are usually
light colored, these being Gbetter ship
pers. The male and female flowers of
the palm are borne on different plants,
the females only bearing the fruit. The
blossoming period is long one, usually
about six weeks, but it is always late,
thus escaping spring frostS. The aver
age yield of a tree is eight bunchess
each weighing about seventeen pounds,
although a bunch may weigh as much
as forty pounds. In Arizona, under
irrigation, Seeding trees, seven years
old, have produced upwards Of 200
pounds in a single season.
The record-union., 1899-08-20
AMERICAN DATES.
The Palm of the Ancients Likely to
Become Plentiful.

The United States mails are some
times used for rather curious purposes.
A number of years ago several wagons
drove up to the Postoffice at Washing
ton, D. c., and deposited a number of
of large tubs containing handsome
palms. Having delivered themselves
of their freight, the wagons drove off.
The Postoffice people went out to. see
what the performance meant, and
found to their surprise that these
palms were to be sent through the
mails The local superintendent at
first said that the Office would not
send them. It was preposterous, he
maintained to mail such things. Each
tub, full of moist earth and a good
could handle and on account of the
foliage they could not be packed to
any advantage. Nevertheless, there
were the tags on the tubs, containing
the frank" of the Department of Ag-
riculture and the proper addresses-Las
Cruces, N M: Phoenix and Yuma,
Ariz; Pomona, Tulare, ETC., Ca1.-and
the only thing for the Washington
Postoffice officials to do was to mail
them. So this was done, although it
/
care for and water the palms. Thus
practically commenced date growing in
the United States.
Of these trees, about forty are now
living and thriving, fifteen of them hav-
ing blossomed. Only seven of these,
however, are pistillate or fruit-bearing
trees. Since this first attempt at
American date culture, the Agricultural
Department has followed up the ques-
ton, and Secretary Wilson during the
past year, has had an expert in Algeria,
Mr. Swingle-making a thorough study
of this subject and sending home
plants. The Secretary proposes to
spend perhaps $4,000 during the next
two years, of the money allotted him
by Congress for the introduction Of
useful foreign plants. The dates now
being secured in Algeria and Morocco
are of the very finest kinds and are
shipped in tubs, the same as was done
in the original Importation Secretary
Wilson states it as his belief that an
other American industry will result
from this experiment, as he belleves
that dates will thrive as well in Ari-
zona as in Arabia.
/! The regions in which the date palm
The record-union., 1899-08-20
AIkali-Resisting Plants.

Tt is frequently assumed that where
soil shows surface incrustations of al
kali salts, it is valueless for agricultur-
al purposes. This is shown not to be
the case by some experiments made by
the Wyoming Government Experiment
Station. There are, however, few
plants so alkan proof as to- flourish
under these conditions. Incrustation
of ordinary white alkali on the surface
is usually marked, at least during dry
weather. where there is as much as
two inches of soil. Such an amount
of salts will prevent the growth of
any of the cereals or of alfalfa. Bar
ley or rye seem to stand more alkali
than wheat or oats.
In the termination of seeds 1t was
found that the influence of small
amounts of alkali hastenS sprouting
and also assists in the life of the
plant either stimulating growth or
acting directly as plant food" 1t did
not appear that any of the salts eX-
cept common soda exerted directly pol
sonous or corrosive effects on the
seeds The injury appeared due to
the fact that the salts in solution IN
terferred with the absorption by the
seed of the water necessary for gerIni-
nation. Two important plants which
have been successfully tested as alkali-
resisting are sugar beets and Bakhara
or white sweet clover. English rape
is also found in the same class.
The record-union., 1899-08-20

The word efficiency used in con-
nection with the bicycle is frequently
heard nowadays and riders are begin
The record-union., 1899-08-20

here and there in some gardens. Burr
is coming out rapidly on all varieties,
and a few sprays of newly formed hops
can now be seen on some of the earlies.
The quantity of Worcesters remaining
unsold of 1898 is extremely small, prob
ably less than for many years past,
consequently holders are not disposed to
lower quotations for the small remnants
of their stock.-J H. Meredith & Co.,
Worcester July 31St
The record-union., 1899-08-20
City Finances.

Following is the report of City Auditor
Young for the week ending Saturday.
The record-union., 1899-08-20
GRAIN STEALERS.
A Former Sacramentan and wo-
man in Jail at Suisun.

A dispatch from Suisun yesterday
says:
Robert ]. Northrop, who with Mrs.
Ida Ichtertz, is awaiting trial here on
charge of stealing grain from farms
in the vicinity of Winters. is an old Of
fender. 1t appears Northrop was for
years a resident of Sacramento, and
after leaving the Capital City was con-
victed Of stage robbery in Mendocino
County.
Since serving his term in the peniten-
tiary at Folsom he has been earning a
living by working on farms about
Dixon.
The record-union., 1899-08-20
To Judge Poultry.

Henry Berrar of San Jose has been
selected by the Directors of the State
Agricultural Society to judge the poul-
try exhibits at the coming State Fair.
The record-union., 1899-08-20
Young Peoples Meeting

All the young peoples societies of
the city will meet at the Calvary Bap-
tist Church early this evening.
The record-union., 1899-08-20

Fine watch repairing at Steinman's.
1912 Fourth street All work war
ranted.
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-31
IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES
AT LAWT0N'S FUNERAL

MANILA. Dec. 3o.-The funeral Of Gen
eral Henry ". Lawton, who was killed
ar san Mateo December IS. was held to-
day with impressive ceremonies. The re-
mains were conveyed from Paco Cemetery
down 10 the Luneta TO Pasig and thence
20 The transport Thomas. which sailed
this afternoon.
AS the body was removed from the
vault Chaplain Marry read the prayers.
The personal stan OF the late general was
augmented by Color Sergeant Simon.
Trumpeter Haber1zam and Privates Oak
um and Mohrusen. and these. all Of whom
were closely connected with General Law
tons recent campaigns. bore the casket
from the vault 20 a siX-horse caisson,
awaiting az the gate.
The funeral procession was composed OF
the band ~ the Twentieth Regiment. Cen
cral Hall and his stan two troops OF the
Fourth Cavalry. who were with General
Lawton az the time OF his death, a battery
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-31
GENERAL FUNSTON
DID SWIM A RIVER

MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. so. Seymour of
81. Paul, veteran Of the civil war and a
friend of General Funston, saw a pub
hshed statement which intended to cast
discredit on the latter's swimming ex-
ploit. for which he has been honored by
Congress. Mr. Seymour cut out the clip
ping and forwarded the same with a letter
TO Funston. Mr.. Seymour is I'm receipt of
a letter from the general. who writes
from the transport Indiana, at sea, No
vember 30. as follows:
The officer of whom you spoke is un-
doubtedly one OF those small-souled crea-
lures who, never having the courage to
do anything themselves. take a sort OF
puppyish delight in depreciating the laur-
els won by other men, His statement
that he heard me say that / never swan
river in the Philippines. and that in fact
could not swim. is lie out Of whole
cloth. VIII you do me the favor 10 tell
him that / said so. and show this TO what
ever persons We're with you when he made
the remark? / swan the Bagbag River
with one other officer and four men Of the
Twentieth Kansas under a hot fire April
70. The Rio Grande River | crossed two
Gays later on raft. and with forty-fve
men, after desperate fight, drove 200 of
the enemy from an entrenched position
IL was for this latter feat that l was made
brigadier general
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-31
BROWN READ OUT OF
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
Senator Elected on the independent
Ticket in Ohio Denied Voice in

COLUMBUS. Ohio. Dec. so.-The Ohio
Legislature viii convene on Monday and
organize. The Republicans have a ma
3ority IN both branches.
The Republican and Democratic eau
cuses were held to-day. The Republicans
OF the Senate refused TO permit General
Charles r. Brown. the independent SEN
ator from Hamilton County, 10 participate
IN their caucus. lie was present when
the caucus opened. but was requested 10
retire, and did so amid an ominous s.
lencc.
The scene when General Brown was ex-
PEELED was Impressive. Senator Nippert
offered resolution 20 the effect that all
Senators except those elected on the Re-
publican ticket be excluded from the de-
hberauons Of the Senators. He said II
was his duty 10 oppose the presence Of
General Charles T. Brown. an independent
Republican Senator from Hamilton Coun-
~. This was a caucus Of Republicans, Re
said, and only Republicans were compe-
tent 10 take part in il.
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-31

NEW YORK. Dec. SO.-A World special
from Hongkong says: IL is well known
here that General Otis IS badly worried
over the situation in Cavite province
There are 2ec0 organized insurgents in
Cavite. and as many peasants have rifles
and are ready 10 take a shot al an Amer
fcan whenever opportunity IS offered.
Before General Lawton's death IL had
been planned that his movement 10 sub
jugate Cavite should be pursued two
weeks. or longer II necessary. His death
has had "a bad effect on the troops, and
the fighting since then. with its list %
American casualties. makes the statement
that the war is over seem absurd. Nego-
tiations are said 20 be IN progress for the
surrender Of The province. There has been
talk Of this sort before. hut the negoua-
;ions fell through. II they fail now Cen
eral Otis. "a IS thought. viii depend upon
American successes in the north and fam
ine in the south 20 bring about the dis
persal ~ the southern insurgents. no
Manila paper IS allowed 10 criticise the
administration or 10 publish news from
the United States relative 10 the Philip
pine policy Of that Government. The so
reward brings in few rifles. Outside OF
the northern provinces no one is safe with
out a good sized military escort
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-31
BRITISH CRUISER SEXES
A GERMAN MAIL STEAMER
An Incident in North Delagoa Bay
Causes Anger in the Kaiser's
Realm

DURHAM. Friday. Dec. 29.-The British
cruiser Magicienne seized the German
steamer Bundesrath in North Delagoa
Bay. She will be taken before a prize
court.
LOURFSZO MARQUEE. Delagoa Bay.
Dec. 30.-The steamer Bundesrath. which
belongs to the German East African line
has been taken to Durham. The Bundes-
rath arrived here from Mozambique She
sailed from Hamburg on November for
East Africa.
The capture of the Bundesrath has in
creased the already strong anti-British
feeling here among the Hollander and
German section of the population.
HAMBURG. Dec. 30.-The directors OF
the German East African line have re-
ceived news OF the arrest OF the imperial
mail steamer Bundesrath. The command
er of the port of Durham refused an ex-
PLANTATION OF the cause of the seizure II
is declared here that there was no contra
band of war on board and when applica-
ton was made to the German Foreign
Office the latter Immediately promised In
terposition with the British Government
The seizure OF the Bundesrath was re-
ferred TO at meeting of merchants held
here to-day. After a speech by Adolph
Woermann. president OF the Hamburg
Chamber of Commerce. dealing with the
great progress of the German empire dur
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-31
WOLFSOHN PROVES
THAT HE IS ALIVE
Arrives in Los Angeles and IS
Identified by Agent Jones and
Clerk THOMPSON.

/ OS ANGELES, Dec. 3o.-Aaron Wolfsohn the who
is supposed have committed suicide in this city last
July, is in Los Angeles He has been identified by Eu-
gene Thompson clerk OF the Naeau Hotel and by Agent D
A. D. Jones Of the New York Life Insurance Company who
placed the $4,000 insurance upon the life OF Woohn. The
mchwaned stepped from the westbound Santa Fe train
I5 this afternoon accompanied by Attorney OBryan OF
Chicago and Attorney Bomberger OF ST. Louis who repre-
sents the senior Wolfsohn of the Missouri city
That Wofsohn coming to Los Angeles in response
Public Administrator Keoggs demands that he be identi
fled in his flesh evidenced by Agent Jones meeting the man
he stepped from the Wosohn refuses be inter
viewed He says however that he has here clear up
the mystery in which his has freely been used Aor
ney Leon F. Moss who has acted or Kellogg inclined to
the belief that the mystery will be ahomed and those
who responsible for the attempted swnd upon the nsur
company will be shown
Mrs Maggie ONe is ncensed and does believe that
the present living Wofson the party She also in
censed by the of the dispatches from Chicago in which
hints have been given OF completely her part in the
Wosohn insurance swinde it regarded by many.
She declares that she will hold her traducers strictly
count for any reflections upon her character.
Mrs O'Neil still insists that Wolohn committed suicide
this and that his body buried Evergreen Cemetery
She unable understand the dispatches relating his ap
pearance Chicago and she tempted ascrbe the nur
company ueror designs the transmission OF such tel
egrams this
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-31

hill. AS this news comes from
native runner it requires con-
frmation.
The War Office has not yet is
sued anything about either Cen
eral Gatacre's venture or General
Whites reported success.
What does seem certain, low
ever, coming as 1t does from
many sources, is in the dis
patches published yesterday
morning that Dordrecht has
been reoccupied by General Cat
acre. This is regarded by mill
tary experts as move by Cen
eral Gatacre of great strategic
value, opening up as it does
some fifty miles of country hith-
erto in full possession of the
Beers.
Nothing further has come to
hand about heavy firing in the
neighborhood of Stormberg. 1t
was thought that General Cat
acre might have been engaged
with the Beers. But had that
been so the War Office would
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-31

OF artillery. number OF clergymen. the
caisson covered with flowers, the personal
stan, Generals Wheeler. Bates. Forsythe,
Kobbe and Schwan and Admiral Watson
in three carriages. a naval battalion. Ma
Jor General Otis and staff, the foreign
Consuls in full dress and the members OF
the Philippine Supreme Court. Native
delegations from the towns WI Ge General
Lawton established civil sernments
held wreaths. Women from ne same
towns waited upon Mrs. Lawton yester-
day and presented her with their condo
lences and flowers
Crowds of natives and Americans wit
messed the procession. the band played
dirges and the crowds uncovered.
At Pasig the casket was transferred 10
tug, taps" was sounded and prayers
were offered by Chaplain Pierce
-Four enlisted pall-bearers accompany
the remains TO the United States.
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-31

ing the closing century. Herr Eiffe. speak
ing I'm behalf OF the firms trading with
South Africa. asked whether the chamber
was doing all that was necessary for the
protection OF German trade In that part OF
the world. German commerce. ne asserted
had already suffered detriment through
the war I'm South Africa. and now news
came OF the seizure OF German steamer
by a British waTship.
Herr Woermann replied that the cham
bcr had already considered the question
OF representations with the view OF TAX
ing action I'm the matter. The Chamber
he continued. had been Informed that ths
steamship company owning the seized
vessel had telepraphed 20 Prince Hohen-
lohe. the Imperial Chancellor. asking sor
Government Intervention, and II was de-
clared that nothing whatever had been
done by the company which could In anv
way be regarded as a breach OF neutral
ity.
LONDON. Dec. 3O.-It Is stated ho-o
that there were three German offcsrv
and twenty men. attired I'm khaki ana A.
tending TO serve the Beers. on board ~.
Bundesrath. which explains her capture
WASHINGTON. Dec. 9.-Dipiomats a..
much interested in the seizure by a Rr,t-
ish cruiser OF the German steamer Bun-
desrath. with German officers and rra,, =,
board. and some think II will precIni,.ts ts
a controversy that may affect the a,ti-
tude OF Germany and other Euronean
powers toward the South African W.
At the German Embassy the incide.. Il
not regarded as serious Said an attarss.
IF German vessels or any other nasssn.
ger steamer has passengers who are reg
istered for Pretoria II Is difficult 10 see
how they can be riehtfully stoppsd :, i
fair TO presume that II they were h,-,,nd
for the Boer army they would NJ, an.
nounce that fact As long as the VA c,n-
tinues there are likely to be seszu-a. tsr
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-31

surely have had something to re-
port about it by this time.
From General Butler nothing
fresh has come in. 1t is calcu-
lated that he now has a force OF
about $4,000 men, with sixty
one guns, not counting heavy
naval weapons.
Military experts here are in
clined to think that General Bull
Ter may contrive to achieve
something important, though he
is still handicapped by want OF
cavalry. 1t is not believed that
his selection of a time for Strik-
ing will be in any way affected
by the approach OF Lord Rob
erts.
Lady Sarah Wilson, the in
trepid woman war correspond
ent, has been interviewed and
tells much OF what she heard
among the Beers during her
captivity. She says that her inn
preston is that the Beers are
heartily sick of the war. 1t is
evident that the Beers have suf-
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-31
FR0HMAN'S STARS
ROBBED OF JEWELS
Burglars Enter a Boarding House at
Which the Company Is
Sronpino

CHICAGO. Dec. 3o.-Sneakthieves enter
Ing the clearinghouse Of Mrs Alice
stewart. on Michigan avenue, tonight.
while the members OF the household were
at dinner. and carried away jewelTy. dia-
monds anc other property valued at more
than 1920 The stolen property belonged
10 members of Charles Frohman's COM
pany. which is playing in The Girl From
MaNims' at a local theater
The losers are: Miss Josephine Hall. the
star Of the company; Miss Gertrude
Whitty, and Robert Hickman, the stage
manager
About the same hour porch-climbers en-
tered the residence OF Robert LindbIoom
OF the Civil Service Board and stole cash
and valuables amounting TO over $1,000.
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-31
Ore From the Orient.

TACOMA. Dec. 3O.-One hundred and
seventy-one sacks OF ore concentrates
were brought here on the City Of Lon
don from the mines near Singapore. in the
Straits Settlement. for treatment in the
Tacoma smelter. This is the first ship
ment Of ore from the Orient 10 an Amer
lean smelter. The product Of these mines
has been sent TO England in the past. and
this shipment is in the nature OF trial
order for the Tacoma smelter. There are
a number Of large producing mines in the
settlement and others are being opened up
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-31
THE SEIZURE IN DELAGOA BAY.
-~-~~-@-~~-~~~-~--%~eo
ONDON, Dec. 3I.-Two
officers killed.. two others

Il lhO OlllNlo
wounded-and they per
sons of such social consideration
as Lord Edward Cecil and Lord
Charles Cavendish-Bentinck =
and a loss aggregating upward
of one hundred, such has been
the disastrous outcome of sor-
tie from Mafeking, according to
Boer advices received via Lou
renzo Marquee. That up to the
present no confirmation of this
has been received from British
sources does not invalidate Com
mandant Snyman's report. News
about Mafeking can come much
more quickly by way OF Pretoria
and Lourenzo Marquee than by
way OF the Modder River and
Cape Town.
Colonel Baden-Powell, the
British commander at Mafelling,
seems to have carried out the
threat made in his proclamation
and adopted offensive tactics by
attacking the Boer forts. The
Beers say that the fighting was
carried right up to the forts and
that the British retired with very
heavy loss-hfty-hve according
to one dispatch and 100 accord
ing to another. The Beers re-
port a ridiculously small number
of casualties on their side-two
killed and seven wounded.
Another highly interesting
item OF news at hand this morn
ing is that the Hamburg steamer
Bundesrath has been seized by
her Majesty's ship Magicienne
in Delagoa Bay, having, it is al
legged, three German officers and
a number of men on board, who
were on the way to fight with
the Beers against Great Britain.
The Bundesrath had also on
board cargo of what is de-
scribed as contraband of war and
has been brought to Durham for
adjudication by prize court.
This seizure is regarded as
most important, not SO much
from the value OF the cargo,
whatever that may have been,
but from the fact that it shows
that the British authorities are
on the alert. This should have
an effect in keeping back other
craft which are bound to Della
goa Bay on a similar errand.
From Ladysmith comes the
statement that General White
has again been the aggressor,
having made an attack on the
Boer position and captured a
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-31
Carnegie's Gift to Chevenne

CHEYENNE, 'Wyo.. Dec. 3O.-Andrew
Carnegie to-day made Cheyenne a pres
ent of $4,000 to be used in constructing a
Tree library building. The conditions ap-
pended were that the city furnish a site
and that the library be maintained at a
cost Of not less than $1,000 a year The
offer will be accepted
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-31
FILIPINOS BEATEN
BY LOCKETTS MEN
American Troops Make a Brillidn'
Charge and Drive Insurgents
From Their Position.

n ANILA, Dec. 81, o:3oa. m-Coone Lockett has had
MI second engagement with the insurgents northwest of
Mont Alban, and by brilliant charge drove the enemy
from their position.
Only one American was killed and five wounded,
but the loss OF the insurgents was heavy
The American troops captured number of rifles and
quantity OF ammunition and provisions.
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-31
Attacked bv Plague.

MELBOURNE. Dec. 3o.-Advices from
Noumea. New Caledonia. say that 1--WE
whites there have been attacked by the
plague, one Of them dying. Fifteen Ka-
nakas and Chinese have died from the
plague and twelve are under treatment.
The San Francisco call., 1899-12-31
Miner Killed

MARIPoSA. Dec. 3O-Late this after
noon an unknown man was killed by a
falling rock in the shaft OF the Mount
Gaines mine, near Hornitos