davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1900-04-28
Irrigation
 Matters.
UTILIZING SEWAGE.

Large Yields Expected from the
 Use of Waste City Water.
 Millions of dollars of waste oc- cur every year in the cities of the United States enough, 1t is stated, to sustain ten million people. The waste in a single large city, New York for instance, is enormous, the annual value of her sewage and manure alone being in the million. New York's and Chicago's sewage is carried out to sea, and Chicago ans think they have achieved a great engineering triumph whereby their hundred of thousands of tons ofc0ncentrated fertility are swept into the Mississippi and finally to the Gulf of Mexico. In this con- nectiUn it IS interesting to note that some communities are utiliz- ing their waste in enriehing adja- cent lands. Paris is making a vast experiment with using it's sewage for irrigating farm lands upon which can be grown wonder fnl yields. A dispatch from Walla Walla, Washington, states that fruit company owning a large or. chard near the city has contracted to take the entire city sewage for a term of 35 years without cost to the city. Here is mutual cooper ation, the fruitmen want water for irrigation purposes and the city has small task in getting rid of this surplus water. The fruit com pany owns large orchard just be- low Walla Walla and the trees re- quire irrigation to bring the best results. For years the company has been endeavoring to solve the problem now it is believed the ir- rigated property will be one of the best paying investments in the state.
 Irrigation as Practieed by the British Government.
 During it's course, the Ganges Irrigation Canal for long stretch flows nearly parallel with the foot of the hills and has to cross all the streams, torrents and drainages which flow from them. Vast aque. ducts have been constructed to car. " these bodies of water one over the other. En one place the Ram ipOre torrent is carried across the canal by masonry work 196 feet wide and 14 feet deep. Lower down the Puttri torrent is carried across by a masonry passage 296 feet wide. The Puttri torrent has a catchment basin of 80 square miles and both of these torrents are subject to sudden floods of great violence.
 In still another instance the ca nal encounters the Rutntoo torrent which has catcinnemt basin of 125 square miles. This torrent is boldly admitted into the canal it. self over masonry inlet, and pass es Uut over a masonry dam 800 1t. 1 III width and immediately opposite the inlet.
 Once again, when the Solani riv- {! CT is met, the entire canal is taken over this large stream by an aque- duct. The Solani has dischargh
The St. Johns herald., 1900-04-28

The public schools of Prescott
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-02
LAWToN's LETTER.

II there is any one in this country
who imagines that the anti-imperial-
lists are not doing their native land
and its defenders great wrong by as
suming the attitude they do, that per-
son may undeceive himself by reading
the last letter that brave General Law
ton ever wrote. 1t was made public
at the last dinner of the New England
society in Washington, by John Bar
rett, former minister to Siam, who
read from a personal letterfrom Law
ton received only a few days before
the generals death. Mr.. Barrett pre-
faced the reading with the statement
that had the writer lived the letter
would not have been made public, be-
cause of General Lawton's official po-
sition. This is the dead officers
last message to his fellow country
men:
II would to God that the whole truth
of this Philippine situation could be
known by every one in America, as I
know it. If the real history, inspira-
ton and condition of this Instruction
and the influences, local and external,
that now encourage the enemy, as we'll
as the actual possibilities OF these ISL
ands and people aud their relations to
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-02

this great east, could be understood at
home, we would hear no more talk of
the unjust shooting of the government
into Filipinos or of hauling down our
flag in the Philippines. If the so-called
anti-imperialists would honestly ascer-
tain the truth on the ground and not in
distant America, they, whom believe
to be honest men uniformed would be
convinced of the error of their state
ments and conclusions, and the unfa-
vorable effect of their publications
here. If am shot by a Filipino bullet
it might as well come from one of my
own men, because / know from obser-
vations, confirmed by captured prison
ers, that the continuance OF the fight
ing is chiefly due ito reports that
are sent out from America"
Coming as it now does the message
sounds like the speaking of voice
from the grave. 1t is full of patience
and forgiveness, but it has the pathos
of one who has struggled cheerfully
against hard conditions, in the making
of which he has had no part. 1t is a
gentle rebuke, but one which it is
hoped all anti-imperialists will ponder
over.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-02
A PLAIN-TALKING DEMOCRAT.

From an editorial in the Montezuma
Democrat of Dec. IL, we make the fol-
lowing forcible extracts:
1t will also be noticed that since
1896, the republican majorities have
been getting larger instead OF smaller.
And the end is not yet. So long as the
so-called democratic party is dictated
to by the organs, Viewers, White and
other smaller ffys like in Poweshiek
county-the majorities to republican
candidates (not their principles) will
continue to grow larger until it will be
almost unanimous election for every
candidate on the republican ticket
county, state and nationall
Ii, in 1900, the same course is to be
pursued by the leaders of the so-called
democratic party, as has been since
1896, it will make no difference what
laws are enacted by the republican par
ty or who is to be the presidential
standard bearer Of the party the peo-
pie will vote the republican ticket in
preference to the Chicago anarchistic
platform and Bryan:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-02
THE DEMAND FOR HORSES.

During the course of an address on
the horse and its market, before the
Illinois Stock Breeders Association,
JohnA. Craig, professor of animal hus-
bandry in the Iowa Agricultural coll
lege made the following reference to
the increased demand for horses. It is
of interest to every farmer in Iowa.
In 1892 when the sheep market was
demoralized, I stood in the stock yards
in Chicago and saw good useful sheep
selling for so cents head. Feeling
that the market was bound to react, il
afforded me unusual enjoyment to adj
yocate sheep husbandry at that time.
Now that enjoyment is denied one be-
cause of the prosperity of that indus-
try which has brought to it many
friends. The horse industry at this
time is very nearly in the same position
that the sheep industry was in 1892,
with the exception that we are now
beginning to see in the horse industry
reaction towards better markets.
During recent years there has been
an unusual combination of circum-
stances against the horse. The bicycle,
hard times, oyer production and the
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-02

formation of many companies to per-
feet automobiles had their effect in de-
pressing the market. These influences,
however, have exerted at this time
their full strength and when, as re-
suit, we see the horse continue to adj
vance in favor, is it not fair to assume
that turn in the tide has come about?
1t appears at this time that the future
competition regarding the means of
transportation is going to be confined
to the machines that have been invent
ed during recent years. All of these
have done about as much as they can
against the horse, and now it would
seem that they have to fight out the
question of supremacy among them
selves. Since the agitation in favor of
the bicycle and the automobile and kin
dred inventions, it has become the
practice of some writer's to deride the
horse in every possible way. 1t is not
my purpose as an advocate of the ex-
tension of horse breeding to say one
word against any invention which is
likely TO add to the enjoyment or the
effectiveness of the labor of man, But
! am satisfied that the present indica-
tions show that the horse is extending
it's influence as medium of pleasure
in this country and Europe. There is
one paragraph in an article which APP
peared in the Tribune last Sunday that
/ wish to merely mention, as it carries
its own Interpretation with it. The
writer, discussing the subject of the
horse in favor again, says: "Last Sun
day fifty saddle horses galloped past a
house on East End avenue near jack
son Park in twenty minutes, and dur
ing the same interval one lone bicycle
passed. Three years ago the proper
ton would have been about 300 wheels
to one horse, OF more probably, none
at ALL" This indicates the extent to
which the horse as an agent of pleas
ure is being reinstated in this country.
Just one other fact to show the growth
lis in another direction. In 1892, 600
horses were exported to Europe. Dur
ing the first niue months of the pres
ent year, 25,143 have been sent to the
same market. In the face of these
facts, we find that the production of
horses almost ceased four or five years
ago. Is it any wonder then that prices
should have advanced during the past
year? / feel certain in taking fair
view of the question during that time
that the prices of horses have advanced
from 25 to so per cent, and I wish to
put on record right here that the prices
Are going to advance as much again in
the coming year.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-02

The notice given by the war depart
msnt that zoe, 900 people in Porto Rico
Will require to be fed for some time,
and to an extent estimated at 1000 tons
OF provisions, may excite some suspic-
Ion, but need occasion no alarm or dis
pouragement. According to the war
departments statement, over 100000
pounds of supplies have been sent to
Porto Rico and 1000 tons, or big ship
load or two, principally of beans and
goldfish, is not much for the United
States to furnish in addition. 1t is
stated that the remaining sufferers in
Porto Rico are the people who live in
the mountains in a region where there
are no highways, and even relief must
be packed in on horses. It would be a
practical idea for the United States, by
The time the distribution of relief has
ceased, to abolish this condition of in
accessibility by building roads with ma
tive labor through the mountains. The
United States should start the good
roads movement with energy and effect
In Porto Rico.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-02

eral good of all the people. The Gour-
Ter heartily endorses and favors each
and all of these recommendations and
has no hesitation in urging their ia
vorable consideration by the present
: legislature. 1t may not be found ex-
pedient to establish Immediately three
additional normal schools, but whatever
legislation is undertaken in this direc-
! tion should have this result as the ul-
innate object.
Compulsory education for youth is
matter of very great Importance. The
policy of placing children in factories
and other industrial institutions, to
work for their parents, and of keeping
them there during all the precious
years that should be devoted to study
and the securing of an education, is SO
wrong that it should no longer be coun-
tenanced by the people of Iowa. If
parents themselves will not compre-
bend the irredeemable injury which is
being done to their children, the state
should step in and compel them to
give to their children the advantages
offered by the public schools of Iowa.
The almost niggardly policy that has
been pursued by the state legislature in
the past, towards it's educational insti-
tutions, is crying shame, and one
which should no longer continue, The
great commonwealth of Iowa, with its
two million people and vast productive
resources, owes a duty to the rising
generation TO provide it with the very
best educational advantages that can be
had anywhere. The State university of
Iowa should be put in a position to
rank with those of Michigan, Wisconsin
and other state state universities whose
regulations are worldwide. That the
Iowa State university should today, in
some respects, be second rate as COM
pared with the universities of Nebraska
and Kansas, is matter not only of
chagrin, but positive disgrace.
The advantages TO be secured by ex-
tension of free public libraries are SO
great and SO apparent that comment
upon this recommendation would seem
tobe superfuous. The time has come for
Iowa to make ample provision for the
growth and development of her educa-
tional institutions.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-02
THE NEW YEAR.


Before the Courier again comes to
its readers tine year of 1899 will have
passed away to join that long memorial
procession of other years which
stretches back and back into the past
to time when there were no years nor
no men can number them; when the
flight of days was only reckoned by
centuries, cons, and vast periods too
great for comprehension. The world is
very old, so old that the little numeral
1899 indicates that small part of the
ares through which it has existed.
Small part, however, OF the whole, that
each year or each century constitutes
the passing of one is yet an event of
Importance.
As we move on from this year into
the next, all of us, doubtless, feel a
shadow OF regret or tinge of sadness
at parting with the old and taking up
the new. It is always SO. One can
not leave familiar place, or an accus-
toned period of ones life without feel
ing little sorry at the parting. And
this holds true even when the thing
we leave is not in itself good. A pris-
oIer could not leave his dungeon for
ever, after long years of contin elnent,
without taking one more look at the
objects which time had made familiar.
No matter how irksome the days had
seemed or how dismal the walls that
had shut him in, the parting would be
to him tinged with melancholy by the
thought that he should never see his
prison again. This is human nature.
Thus it is with some feeling of sad
ness that we pass from 1899 into 1900.
We have every reason to expect that
the new year will be better, more pros
porous and happier than the old; yet
the old has been very good and very
pleasant. If there have been things in
the old year that we did not like, let
us resolve to better them in the new;
if there have been things which we
have left undone in the past, let us do
them in the future; and the other
things that we should not have done
in the past we may now leave undone
in the year to come.
AS we take leave, then, of this year
we can rightly express the wish that
to ourselves and our neighbors and all
mankind the new year will be very
happy one.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-02
SENATORIAL SITUATION.
[From Fridays Dai!y.l

= - -
The POLITICAL situation at Des Moines
has cleared UP considerably during the
past few, days. There is now great re-
joicing in the Gear headquarters. When
the minor candidates for speaker with
drew it left Bowen and Eaton in the
contest. For a few days it was spir-
tied contest to get the leadership in
the speakership. 1t was conceded that
Eaton, was several votes stronger than
Cummins, and victory for Eaton, it
was seen, would help the Cummins
men greatly in the final contest. 1t was
this feature that gave spirit to, the con-
test over the speakership. At present
the supporters Of DR.. Bowen are conf
dent that he already has enough votes
to nominate him and that more are
coming. The feature of the past few
days was the authorized letter OF
Representative Grouse, of Adams coun-
sty, who has been claimed by both
sides. He now Gomez out and saws
that he will vote for Gear and that he
believes the time has come when all
Gear men ought to come out for Bowen
for speaker.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-02
SHAW FOR PRESIDENT.

The Chicago Times-Herald of yester-
day prints under the caption wood
ruff, Shaw and Roosevelt the follow
ing communication and editorial COM
ment thereon:
ITO the Editor of the imes-Herald:
L notice that Tom Platt has decided to
nominate a person by the name OF
Woodruff for vice president. What's
the matter with Governor Shaw?
"Des Moines. Dec. 81.
Before answering our Iowa cores
pondent's question it would be well,
perhaps, to enlighten him concerning
the person by the name of Woodruff,
whose identity appears to be a mystery
to him. The Woodruff referred to is
Timothy or Jimmie, Lieutenant gov
ernor of New York. He is a gentleman
OF social eminence, comfortably endow-
ed with this worlds goods and an
an excellent find for Platt. 1t would
never occur to him to work along in
dependent lines in face of the hostility
of the boss. But having an ambition
which goes beyond his abilities he
courts the machine in the hope that he
may disport himself in the official
show as reward for services rendered.
Mr.. Woodruff yearned to be the candi-
date for governor year and more ago
when Roosevelt ran, and it is probable
that Platteis complimenting him now
because he was good boy then. AS
for Governor Shaw there is nothing
the matter with him except that it IS
not likely that both places on the tick
ct will be given west of the Alleghan-
les, and the, governor of Iowa may be
wanted for higher things later. The
vice presidency is not promising step-
Pine stone to the presidency, but the
reverse. Leave Shaw out of the contest
this year and he will loom up large in
1904 He may then dispute the nomin-
attn with Roosevelt in a battle royal.
Both men are able, vigorous and cour-
ageous, both have a genius for arousing
popular enthusiasm, both will com
mand the answering loyalty of their
state following.
"The fight, then would depend large
" on geographical considerations.
Roosevelt would represent the east and
Shaw the west in the new sense in
which those terms have been usea
since the Mississippi came to be regard
ed as dividing line.
"Aet our Des Moines friend control
his fretful soul and reserve his energies
for the future He will find them
handy when the time comes for a
charge upon the rough rider"
The Times-H erald's suggestion is a
good one and will be very pleasing to
Iowa men. We should not be impa-
tieut and clamor for the vice presi-
dental nomination next year. The
state of Iowa, and Governor Shaw are
both younp and both can afford to
wait for future honors. Shaw for pres
ident in 1904 would be splendid head
ing for the republican national ticket
and would enable it to roll up ma
lority the like of which was never seen
before
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-02
IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS,

ID
The recommendations of, the legisla-
tive committee OF the State Teachers
association, published elsewhere in this
issue, are important and deserve the
earnest consideration Of every member
OF the legislature and the people of the
state generally. These recommenda-
tons are:
1. The establishment OF three addi-
tional state normal schools in the
southeastern, southwestern and north
western corners of the state.
2. Compulsory education for youth
under fourteen years Of age.
8. Liberal appropriation for the sup
port Of the state educational institu-
lions.
4. Legislation that will encourage
and secure the extension of free il
braries.
These recommendations are all reas-
enable ones, and are in line, not only
with the higher educational develops
ment Of the state, but with those
things which go to make up the
best citizenship and inure to the gem
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-02
Des moline. and Che NOW.

Waterloo Courier: The Cummins
newspaper combine at Des Moines is
becoming SO badly warped that it is
entirely unable TO present the senator
ial contest in anything like fair man
ner. 1t appears that only Cummins
prejudices are entitled to be considered
as news" The Des Moines candidate,
it is, of course, expected, will be given
the best of it everv time opportunity
is offered, but that is hardly reason for
ignoring the fact that there are 9TH
ers. For newspapers that claim state
constituency the Des Moines publica-
tions are becoming very narrow and
bigoted. Politics accounts for many
strange happenings, but this is one Of
the most eccentric that could be
ascribed to such cause. Home pride
is all right in its way, but it is being
overworked in this case. If the capital
city papers would present the situa-
ton as matter of news rather than
as one of personal interest their ac-
counts might read differently, but
they would be vastly more reliable.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-02
BIG FIRE IN BURLINGTON.
Stock and Building of the Biklen. WI,
ger Grocery Company Deetroycd,

Burlington, Dec. 29.-( Especial AT
3 o'clock this morning Flagman Decker
at the Third street crossing of the Burr
lington road, discovered flames BURST
ing from the upper windows OF the
Biklen-Winzer grocery company's
wholesale house. Though he at once
turned in the alarm the flames had
gained much Roadway before the fire
department could respond. The entire
third and forth stories were consumed,
and it was not long before the iron
doors between the old and new secs
tions of the building gave way, and the
fire attacked the new part of the struc-
ture. No attempt was made to save
any of the general stock, which was
entirely destroyed. The safe and valu-
able papers in the office, were saved.
The loss on stock and building will.
amount to $155,0O0; insurance $94 900.
The work of the firemen was excellent,
considering the conditions under which
they labored. The hose was covered
with ice and the water'i frozesion the
side of the building almost as soon as
it was thrown.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-02
KEEPING UP COURAGE

For good specimen of whistling
through the graveyard in order to keeT
ones courage up to respectable pitch
the following reprinted from the tele.
graph columns of Thursdays Courier
is as good one as has recently an.
peared: |
London, Dec. 2s.-(By Associated
Press 1.-The latest from Ladysmitb
says: sour field Notifications would
now Withstand any organized attack
the enemy is likely to deliver. There
are sufficient foodstuffs for two
months. The question of forage
might be troublesome, but since the
rains there has been some grazing
within the British lines. There Is
some horse sickness. Casualties caused
by our she'll fire are increasing and the
Beers are reported as becoming nerv-
Gus. They fear night sorties and con-
stantly open heavy fusilade on an
imaginary attack
1t is not easy to see why any sane
person would imagine that the Beers,
who are safely esconced in secure posi-
tions in the hills have any idea of try
ing to carry Ladysmith by force, when
they can comfortably wait until the
garrison is starved into surrender.
The armies advancing to the relief OF
the town are defeated and held well in
check, so that the Beers are scarcely
losing sleep over the dangerousness Of
their own position. They can well af-
ford to wait, and if the British find any
consolation in pondering over the
heighth and thickness of their own
breastworks, they are probably well
come to it. The part of the dispatch
which says the Beers are becoming
nervous and are starting at shadows is
pleasant fiction which can do
no harm to anyone, the burghers least
of all
After all, the British are hardly to be
blamed for whistling. They aresin the
valley Of the shadow and any device
which relieves the dreariness of that
pace should be freely allowed them.