davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-30

Some day in this country we shall
have old age pensions. Call 1t pater-
nal view If you will, but 1t is true that
the nation owes something to its aged
poor. They have served 1t, many of
them, as well as have its soldiers and
sailors. The American spirit revolts at
the almshouse. The fear Of such a fate
makes life miserable to many an unfor-
tunate. 1t is the height Of impertinence
for lusty young person to claim that
the world owes him living, but the
world certainly owes living to the
worthy, Industrious but unfortunate
old man or woman who has failed in
the attempt to save competence for
decent living. More and more does the
terrible law of the survival of the fit.
test crush under 1t those who have
made q faithful fight. They have done
the worlds work, but have been bereft.
no matter how, Of the adequate re-
ward. Society OWES II TO them to care
for them in respectable way when
they can no longer care for them.
selves. England is at this time attempt
ing to provide for her worthy aged
through pension system. There are
many more unfortunates Of this kind
there than here. They are said to num-
Der nearly half million. The aged pen
sioners' bill, now before parliament
provides pensions of SIPS to $1.75 pei
week for worthy persons Of 65 years OF
nge and over who have not an income
of more than $3.50 per week.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-30

of these wells were failures. but the
excitement had the result Of opening
up many new fields, notably In western
Pennsylvania, in parts of Ohio and in
sections of West Virginia, Kentucky
and Indiana. In Ohio and Indiana,
natural gas came as a secondary dis
covery and this product is now piped
In great quantities to many cities, no.
tably Chicago and Buffalo. In the lat
ter city, the use of natural gas for
heating and cooking purposes Is gen.
eral. In Chicago but limited part of
the city is served, though the pipes
of the company supplying the gas are
being extended rapidly.
The Pacific coast oil fields were first
worked in 1865, though the early wells
were improperly located and failed to
produce oil in paying quantities. Be-
tween 1880 and 1887 these fields fell
into the hands of Eastern oil men of
experience, who. after much experi-
menting and many unsuccessful at
tempts, struck oil in several counties
of California. Wells in Ventura and
Los Angeles Counties, some of the lat
ter being right in the city of Los An
geles have been profitable producers
ever since. Other oil regions of COM
paratively large value We're uncovered
in Wyoming and Colorado.
Commercial petroleum is found in
Russia in large quantities, as we'll as
in Austria. Oil fields in Peru produce
the fluid to limited extent, but the
output is steadily increasing under
proper management.
Oil wells In the Pennsylvania fields
are almost Invariably ''shot" with nj
tro-glycerin, contrary to the bailing
method of Texas.
Tests for Petroleum.
The tests of kerosene, the common
burning fluid which Is the most import
ant product of petroleum, tre made for
the purpose of ascertaining at what
temperature it will take fire and also
to find what proportion of naphtha, IL
any, is held in the oil. at ordinary
temperatures, kerosene should extin-
guish match as readily as water; 1t
should not produce an intlammable VA
por under ITO degrees f., and should
not take fire below 1875 degrees f. In
making tests, 1t is always remembered
that even very small proportion of
naphtha is exceedingly dangerous. The
first, or flashing test, is made for the
purpose Of determining the lowest tenn
perature at which an inflammable gas
is given off; the second, or burning test,
shows the lowest point at which the oil
itself is inflammable.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-30
Lime in Insecticides.

While lime is generally used in the
preparation of bordeaux mixture, in the
best known and most reliable of the
insecticides or remedies for fungus
diseases, other neutralizers may be
used with the copper sulphate, such as
concentrated Ives. For the beginner
in the use of the spraying tools the lime
is, however, the best to use, although
there is much complaint regarding it
because of the injury to sprayera. This
Is due, without doubht, to the fact that
poor lime is used; that 1t is used too soon
after shaking, and that 1t is not prop
erly strained. The lime should be Of
the first quality, such as is used by
builders, and it should be slaked for
two or three weeks before being used,
SO that all possible of the gritty ma
terial that is apt to clog or injure the
nozzle of the sprayer may be dissolved.
Then the lime should be strained
through cheesecloth, to keep out the
grit that was not dissolved.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-30

II am glad my children are all bows.
for / do not have to be SO particular
with them as should have to be IL thew
were girls" II should hate to have
one Of my girls marry one of YOUR
boys" The above conversation occur
red on street car. between a couple
of ladies, who were returning from the
meeting of club, Of which both were
members. Volumes have been written
on ''Causes of Crime" but one of the
largest factors responsible for crime is
represented by the mothers who do not
think it necessary to be $50 particular"
with their boys as they are with their
girls. 1t is this double standard of mo-
rality, which is held up by SO many
women, that is wrecking homes, de-
stroying health, running girls and boys,
deadening the public conscience and
filling our penal institutions. AS is the
sowing SO shall be the reaping. In the
penitentiaries of the State of Iowa
there are 1888 men and 20 women. In
the reform schools 200 boys and 95
girls. Is not this legitimate harvest
from the sowing of such mothers? An
other pertinent point is the fact that
All of the male inmates Of the peniten-
tiaries are under 80 years of age; 221
under 25 years Of age, and 1Os under 20
years of age. There is fearful ar
raignment in the above statistics of
the mother who is not $50 particular"
with boys as she would be with girls;
of the women who uphold double
standard" of morality for men and
women.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-30

Harvard and in Latin school and at
the age of 20 became Congregational
preacher and after filling pastorates In
Washington and Worcester he took
charge OF the South Congregational
Church in Boston in 1856 and served
there for many years. He interested
himself in philanthropy, as well as re-
liglous movements, and was the orig
inator Of the Harry Wadsworth Clubs.
which have for their mooto. Look up
and not down; lock forward and not
back; look out and not in; lend Q
hand" He aided in the establishment
Of the Chautauqua Literary and Scien-
tific Circle and has been active in I'D.
vancing the interests OF Harvard. He
has set type and filed every position
as writer on the Boston Daily Ad.
vertiser from reporter to editor-in-
chief, and has also written for various
magazines. His published works ex.
coed score and range from children's
stories to the most profound religious
and philanthroplc treatises. There are
tales of adventure and travel, history.
biography and essays. One OF the best
known is entitled "In His Name"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-30

lrlct We're 1aDul0uS. Two negroes, Nv
ing in tumble-down shacks, received
for them $4,000 each. Men who want
ed to start bank paid $4,000 for the
privilege Of using little barber shop,
and the same amount was paid to a
small dry goods dealer whose lease was
wanted by SPECTATORS. A firm paid
$3.50 month for the use of platform
sx10. on which to conduct their opera
lions. Land went from 81 to 100000
an acre in few days.
"Old Mar" Higgins.
"Old Man" Higgins, who had been
cooked upon for some time as n crank,
Is the man who is responsible for Beau
mont's boom. For five or six years he
had been talking about the possibilities
of striking oil at Spindle Top, his talk
ut last becoming SO incessant and
wearisome that the people refused
longer to listen to him. That there
was oil in southwest Texas was CON
ceded, but that Spindle Top had great
possibilities in that direction was look
ed upon as absurd.
AT last, however, "Old Man" Higgins
succeeded in interesting George W..
Carroll, president of a lumber company
and a wealthy resident. Carroll put up
the cash and Higgins began the search.
The first well struck oil at about 500
feet, but quicksand stopped operations.
This was repeated in second well.
Then Carroll drew out and the "folly"
of Higgins and Carroll was the joke
Of the town. An observant man named
Lucas did not believe the venture was
an entire failure, however. He leased
a small patch near by and sunk shaft
600 feet, finding oil and being stopped,
| as were the others, by quicksand. Be.
| lieving that If this vein of quicksand
could be pierced oil would be struck
below it, Lucas went to Pittsburg, and
after much hard work obtained enough
capital to bore well deep enough so
that his theory could be thoroughly
tested. When the drill had passed
through the quicksand, what is claimed
as the greatest reservoir in the world
was struck, and in night Beaumont
went crazy.
Scores of Spouters.
There are now in the district between
| $50 and 160 spouters. AS one conse-
quence, coal, the lowest price for
which had hitherto been SO ton, is
now very rarely used in southeast
Texas. oil having taken its place as
| fuel.
Within four months, 100000 was
spent in advertising Beaumont oil COM
panies. some Of the concerns having
least merit advertising the most. a
good share Of these companies were
swindles, pure and simple. Opportuni-
tbs for bunko games were many and
were all improved.
/ Most of the manufacturing plants In
southern Texas have given up coal and
are using oil as fuel This at first costs
considerable, but the saving is great,
after the first start is made. One firm
which paid $1,000 for the necessary al
terations in their furnaces, says that
amount was saved In the first six
months. Several of the divisions of
the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific rail
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-30

0TlHuluS 4 OOu LOT SIOCks
While there are differences of opin-
ion as to whether or not food for stock
ought to be ground, there Is no doubt
but what young stock Of all kinds
thrive best on the ground food. This is
but natural, for the immature stomach
Is much better able to digest the ground
food than the whole grain. That ground
food is also beneficial for mature stock
no one will deny, and yet how benef-
cial depends both on the food used and
upon the animal.
Wheat fed to hogs must of course be
ground or the hard portions will pass
through the animal undigested; SO with
other foods fed to different animals,
and the feeder should use common
sense in determining whether it will
or will not pay to grind the food he has
to give. Many COWS of considerable
age would still be profitable If more
care was taken in the preparation of
the food given them. While the sub.
ject is one that must be largely worked
out by the feeder, it will pay every time
to follow the suggestion that food for
young stock be ground.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-30

roads have also given up coal for oil.
Arrangements are being made for pip
ing the fluid even as far away as New
Orleans, where, 1t is asserted, 1t Is to
be distributed to houses in the same
way as gas.
"Bringing in" Well.
The two engravings accompanying
this article were made from snapshot
photographs taken at the bringing" of
gusher at Beaumont. After the drill
had been sent through the quicksand
and the cap rock, the t1inty substance
which is the roof Of the cavern In
which the oil has long been stored, 1t
was known that success had crowned
the efforts of the drillers after Just a
year of labor. The drill was immedi-
ately hoisted out of the 1,100-foot pipe
which incased it, and the bailer was
brought into use. This is a bucket
fastened to continuance which forces
1t down into the tube and then pulls 1t
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-30
zinc shipping off Exrs,

1t is common practice among fan
ciers to ship eggs by express, but the
average farmer is afraid to trust the
cars, and contents himself with ex-
changing with his neighbor, or with
those that he can reach by days jour
ney there and back. But If he would
only try he would soon learn that 1t is
perfectly safe to ship eggs by express,
and that they will hatch as well after
going thousand miles as If picked up
out Of his own barn loft or manger.
Have roomy coop, where you can
place the sick fowl for doctoring. 1t is
best not to doctor much, but very often
a fowl will get out of condition and
then the others impose on 1t and keep
1t away from its feed. 1t is in cases
Of this kind that the coop is needed,
because few days Of rest and careful
attention away from the others will
often be all the doctoring necessary.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-30
Boys ON the Farm.

The boy who is in love with machin-
cry ought not to be compelled to give
up that love to remain on the farm.
So, too, there may be the boy whose
whole soul Is full of music and who
ought to think of no other profession,
or the one to whom questions of law
appeal with supreme force, or the one
to whom the practice of medicine seems
especially enticing. So, too, there may
be the man especially adapted for sue
cess In business. The boy who lacks
energy, who is willing to be led. who
finds 1t too hard work to think, who is
willing to be directed may pass life
of more composure working under the
direction Of another in some city call
ing.
The young men who ought to consid-
er whether they may not better remain
on the farm also fall into two classes.
In the first class comes the boy who
loves the farm. There are such boys;
there would BIO far more but for the
parents. 1t is surprising how many
young men the teacher meets whose
parents urge, If not insist that they
shall follow some other calling than
farming.
The second type Of young men who
may welt consider farm opportunities
is the bright, all round boy who may
easily become interested in anything.
This embraces the largest class of ALL
l wish I might impress upon the
young L1en belonging to these two
classes the fact that the farm offers
opportunities second to those extended
by no other calling. The chances for
the majority are better in agriculture
than In other lines. These chances do
not include the opportunity to amass
fortune, but one mead only consider
the large percentage OF business fail
ures to realize that the chances in such
lines are not so great rs they seem.
After all, money is not the measure
of success, though this Is hard lesson
for humanity to learn. can imagine
boy becoming so absarbed in digging
bait that he would forget to so fish
ing, but never saw vuch boy. A
boy has more sense; q man has not.
The man keeps on digging long after 1t
is too late for fish to hlfe.-Prof. w. r.
Gard, In New England Farmer.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-30

ed over to a corner and looked out
window, while tear glistened in his
eye. The father had not intended to
be cross. He was worried. Stocks had
taken slump late in the afternoon and
his broker had called for further mar
gins. So, thinking only of his losses,
he had pushed his son from him. At
school that afternoon the boy had been
taught his first example" in multipll
cation. He had waited until evening,
when his father should arrive, that he
might illustrate to his parents the
knowledge he had gained. 1t was to do
this that he had asked that point be
given his pencil. What surprise
would 1t prove to the father should he
propose some new plan, a product of
his brain, to those above him in the
business world, and be met with the
rebuff, Don't bother mel" But the
wound to his pride would be no more
severe than that inflicted ON the boys.
And II the father had been worried
during the day by the fall of stocks,
SO had been the boy by the breaking of
slate, the loss Of q prize marble or n
top. What seem to us mole hills in
retrospect were ut one time mountains,
and the Instructions of childhood days
are every whit as difficult to climb as
those encountered later in life. Do not
push the boy from you. If you do there
will come day when he will no longer
seek you for advice and comfort, and
then you will bitterly regret the re-
fusal to sharpen his pencil.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-30
up there came with it gush of brown

up there came with 1t gush of brown
foam.
Then slowly, majestically, arose a
fountain of green fluid until there was
a steady stream of oil reaching nearly
to the top Of the derrick. Suddenly
there was whish of gas, as the last
vestige Of pressure over the oil reser-
voir was removed and with roar the
great jet arose far above the derrick,
The drillers then congratulated one an
other most joyfully, for, to all appear
ances, the well was equal to flow of
$4,000 barrels n day, should its full ca
pacity ever be necessary.
| At this time the wind was blowing a
gale and it was thought there would
/ be less danger to the derrick and well
| if the stream were turned to one side.
The gate valve was quickly shut, the
| joint was placed and the pipe was
shifted Again the gate was turned
and out rushed stream with a swish
and roar loud enough to be heard at
u great distance.
| And that is how great gusher is
brought in. 1t is time of great ex-
element, among both spectators and
operators, and its consummation is
marked by great footing Of engine
whistles and yelling of men.
The large picture accompanying this
article was taken at the instant the
| great stream of oil shot out of the pipe
after 1t had been turned to one side of
the derrick. The small picture shows
the same well when the first flow had
nearly reached its height.
Oil in the United States.
In the production of petroleum, the
United States leads the world, though
oil was used in Eastern countries, no.
tably China, long before the dawn of
history. In Japan and Persia, it has
been obtained from dug wells for cen,
turtles. Springs of petroleum have long
been known in the Caucasus mountains
and the Russian oil fields are world
famous.
The first mention of oil in the Unit.
| ed States was made by n Franciscan
missionary who found it in Allegany
County, N. Y, before 1852. This oil
which came to the surface in springs
was used by the Indians for medicinal
purposes. 1t was not until 1859 thai
the petroleum business Of the United
States reached any great height. Pre-
vious to that year, kerosene had, to 6
limited extent, been manufactured on
of coal. The first well was 'brought
in" at the place where Titusville, Pa.
now stands, on Aug. 80, 1859. OIL was
struck at depth Of but 60 feet.
The scenes enacted there at that time
have been duplicated at the opening OF
every new field since. Spectators
aocked in from every part of the Unit
ed States and Oil Creek became am
Gus. Within very few years. hun
dreds of wells We're drilled along tho
tributaries Of the Allegany river.
From Pennsylvania, the oil excite
ment extended westward until hun
dreds of wells had been sunk east OF
the Mississippi river in any and al
places where for any reason the dis
covery Of oil might be expected. Mos
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-30

barrow, feet and inches. The end
board is run into n slot with cleat on
each side of each end, the same MS a
tailboard on wagon box, and can be
removed at will to permit of the con-
tents of the barrow being easily
dumped. The small Illustration in the
upper corner shows the construction
of the endboard. The wheels are fas-
tened by a five-eighths inch iron rod
and run on the same hub as when they
We're on the binder. 1t will take but
little time to construct the barrow
shown, and IL one has the material
mentioned the expense for blacksmith
ing will be small.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-30
IN THE OIL COUNTRY.
"eRlNelNG IN" A GusHER NEAR
BEAUMONT, TEXAS.
Tales of the Great Boom When For.
tunes We're Made in Day-The In
itia1 Discovery of Oil and the De-
ve1opment of the Oil Industry.

tunes We're Made in Day-Thc In.
itia1 Discovery of Oil and the De-
ve1opment of the Oil Industry.
The chase of oil is almost as fascinat-
Ing as the chase of gold. And, in the
main it is nearly, if not quite, as profit
able. The greatest oil field in the coun-
try to-day is in Texas, with the town
Of Beaumont as its center. Other fields
notably those of Pennsylvania and
Ohio, are probably more remuneratlve
at the present, but the Texan, In look
ing into the future, sees his own State
far overshadowing al others in the oil
industry. The futufA of oil in Texas
is, beyond cavll, bound to be sensa-
Honal. For that matter, it is sensation
nj already. Nowhere else on earth has
SO much ever been accomplished i'll SO
short time; nowhere else have lands
worth barely a few cents an acre ad-
vanced in value far up into the thou
sands as they have in the Beaumont
district. Nowhere else, in fact, has de-
velopment been as rapid and remunera-
tive. And as yet, the Texas oil indus
try Is in its infancy, though millions OF
dollars have changed hands since its
start.
The advance of any wonderful boom,
whether in gold, oil or anything else, is
always attended with marvellous sto-
ries of individual strikes and conse-
quent enormous profits. Beaumont is
no exception to this rule. 1t is but lit
tie more than year since Beaumont's
first car Of oil was sent into the outside
world. Since that time more than p
100000 of barrels have been exported,
there are now nearly 100000 Of bar
rels In storage and probably 100000
OF barrels have been wasted before the
gushers could be capped or controlled.
The Beaumont Fields.
When the oil excitement was Mt its
height in Beaumont, the Influx of peo-
pie was SO great that trains were daily
run between that city and Houston,
distance of a hundred miles, so that
people could obtain hotel accommoda-
lions. Some men with little more than
the clothes they Wore organized COM
panies with capital of millions-on pa
per. Anything in the shape of lease
or land title was foundation enough
for an airy structure to attract the at
tention of the gullble. The lust for
money was rampant. 1t was all gam-
Bile. If fortune smiled, you made
million; If not, you lost what you had.
But everybody seemed willing to take
the chance. to the full extent of his
pile.
Prices paid for land in the oil dis
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-30
Green Food for swine.

Those who have had experience In
feeding swsne during tho early days of
spring before there is any pasture fit to
eat realize that the expense for grain
is very heafy without auy correspond
ing increase in the weight of the AMI
mails. Such results are discouraging,
but the remedies are to provide such
crops as clover, alfalfa and an abund-
ance Of roo: crops to feed at intervals
during the winter, but mainly at this
time, between seasons.
Then If T. is still possible to get in
an early pasture composed of wheat or
rye sown early, following this with
rape at the proper season, and as the
ground becomes warm using sweet
corn or sorghum sown so MS to cut
when needed, the want will be sup
piled.
There Is some objection to feeding
heavily of grain food early in the
spring, but this comes mainly because
a supply at salt and ashes Is not sup
piled as an aid to digestion and to off
set any tendency to dysentery. This
question is worth looking into by those
who raise swine In large numbers.