davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1902-09-01
Clearing With Oxen.

Prof. G.. G. Georgeson, special agent
nual report for 1901:
ut has been our policy to gradually
extend the clearing of land when the
time could be spared from other work.
The timber is small and the task is
not a difficult one, but the stumps are
numerous, and it became necessary to
devise some plan by which they could
be pulled rapidly. The roots do not
grow deep and it does not take very
great power to pull the average stump.
A machine which was set up over the
stump and worked by hand was first
tried, but it proved to be too slow
work. and it was too cumbersome to
move AS a cheap and efficient means
to aid in this work, | devised a simple
stump-pulling tackle, consisting of
two triple blocks and three hundred
feet of one-inch rope. One block is
anchored to a solid stump and the
other is attached to the stump it is de-
sired to pull. When secured in this
way the oxen are htiched to the rope
usually comes out without trouble.
Two men and yoke of oxen pulled
stumps in fifty minutes while | was
there. l mention this fact only to
show that it is a simple and efficient
machine.
When the stumps are II inches in
diameter, or when cut low SO as to
afford no leverage, we use device OF
two timbers about feet high, fasten
ed together in the form of letter A.
To the top of this A is attached a
chain or wire rope some or feet
long and terminating in a hook. The
A leans against one side of the stump
and the hook is attached to large
root on the other side. The power is
then applied to the top of the A, and
as this is raised up the stump is
tilted over. The device simply al
fords greater leverage than when the
block is secured directly to the stump.
Clearing with mattOck.-The mat
took is king of new ground tools. No
other instrument is so widely or salts
factorily used for grabbing Wher-
ever there are bushes the farm equip
age is incomplete without it's quota OF
mattocks in good condition. This
tool is the most simple and convenient
of all clearing implements.
Gradual clearing.-In most lnstan-
ces economy and convenience require
that clearing be done gradually, an
acre or two being added each year.
For such work the mattock is I'M
doubtedly the most economical and
best adapted. When large tract
is to be cleared without interm1sslon,
then other methods may be more suit
able.
It is not generally advisable to cut
off timber with view to grub out the
stumps afterwards. 1t is much easier
to grub the standing timber than the
stumps after the trunk and tops have
been severed, for it is the tap roots
that are most inaccessible and diff
cult to reach and cut, and the tops, by
serving as a lever greatly assist IN
loosening these.
Removal by wind and rain.-ln the
removal of trees of considerable size
much labor may be saved by digging
The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1902-09-01
CLEARING LAND.


ing machinery upon the market The
promoters of these various grubbing
devices claim great credit for their
respective machines, but catalogue
claims should be accepted with great
caution.
In the neighborhood of the writer,
and doubtless in many other neigh
borhoods, can be found such machin-
cry in idleness because it was tested
and found wanting. The difficulty
with most stump-pulling machines is
that if they are strong enough for the
work desired of them they are too ex-
pensive, cumbersome, and unwieldy.
When these machines are once pro-
perly adjusted their work, providing
nothing breaks, will be satisfactory.
But the labor of moving and the care
of adjusting, together with the liabili-
ty to breakage, more than outweigh
the virtues of any stump-pulling ma
chine known to the writer. Moreover,
usually, when the timber is large
enough and thick enough to suggest
recourse to machinery for clearing, it
will not pay to clear such land at all
unless it can be devoted to some spec
tally profitable crop.
However, it may be said of ma
chinery cleared land that the clearing
is thorough The machine removes
practically all of the roots of any size
from the ground, leaving the land in a
good tillable condition
When it is the intention to use
machine the timber should be cut
away and removed and the brush burn
ed. Such preparatory work will great
ly facilitate the moving and operation
of the machine. The stumps should
be left high enough to conveniently
loop with a chain, for it is much cas-
Ter to get secure hold above than be-
low ground
Best time to operate a machine
The best time to operate a machine is
Immediately after a heavy thaw or
rain. The stumps will draw much
easier when the ground is soft and
loose than when it is dry and hard.
Clearing With Horses and Chain.
up I1lo hCCuOu
consists in pulling the young trees out
of the ground. Where conditions are
favorable it is surprising how rapidly
this may be accomplished. Best re-
suits can be obtained where the growth
consists of saplings, say 2 to inches
in diameter. which have lateral root
system such as is possessed by the
locust, maple or dogwood. The
ground should be soft and loose. The
plan is simple It consists in fasten-
ing one end of a long chain to the
trunk of the sapling as high above the
ground as the f1exibility of the tree
will permit and hitching a steady
horse, or, if necessary, team of hors-
es, to the other end of the chain.
While the horses are pulling at the
tree a man should be at it's base with
an ak and assist them by severing
such roots as seem 10th to give away
Good and fast work.-In this man
ner, when tn saplings are of the right
size and kind, the ground in proper
condition, the horses true and steady
the man with the ak alert and dis
Greet wonderfully good and fast work
1,
The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1902-09-01

rain and each puff of wind will con-
tribute toward loosening and breaking
those tap roots, which on account of
their position almost defy the mat
took. The assistance which nature
is capable of affording in clearing
away trees is wonderful. The spring
season, when the ground is loose, the
rains heavy, and the winds strong, is
the most opportune time to pursue
the above method.
Use sharp tools.-If a new mattOck
is needed do not be too economical
to purchase it, and if it is dull do not
imagine that you have not time to
sharpen it. With a worn or dull hoe
a man will pound more life out of him
self than out of the bushes. A good
plan is to have two hoes for each grub
her, always keeping one in good condi-
ton. For sharpening hoes there is
nothing so satisfactory as a steel file
II or 16 inches in length.
Do not attempt too much continu-
Gus grubbing 1t is very laborious
work, and men will soon tire of it
and become discouraged. A fatigued,
disheartened laborer is never a sue
cess.
Grubbing at intervals Plan to do
some weeks of grubbing in the fall
before winter sets in, continue it from
time to time during the winter as wea-
Their permits, and follow it up in the
spring with few weeks more. In
this manner a good deal can be ac-
complished without overtaxing your
men at any one time
Grabbing is slow and expensive, but
when the land is needed it is time and
means we'll spent. No farm is we'll
ordered where there are foul fields
and overgrown fence rows. No far
mer commands the esteem of his
neighbors when bushes are every
where encroaching upon him.
Bush land is yielding no income.
1t is a boarder and the owner pays
the board bill in the shape of taxes,
while the land is depreciating because
it is growing all the time more ex-
pensive to clear.
The Durability and PerlshapIlity OF
Stumps.
This feature of stumps manifestly
affects the problem Of their removal.
1t is expensive to remove them, what
ever method is employed, and if they
are readily perishable it will be wise
to leave their disposition to the pro-
cesses of nature.
On the other hand, cultivation
among stumps is unsatisfactory, and
if they are very resistant to decay 1t
will be we'll to take them out.
The inclination of stumps to resist
or succumb to the corroding effects
of time are most striking and vary
ing For instance, the stumps of the
locust and cedar are almost unaffect-
ed by the waste and ravages of age.
He who cuts off such timber expect
ing the stumps to decay will wait in
vain, for he will invariably pass away
while the stumps will remain firm in
their native fastness.
Stumps of the chestnut and white
oak if large, WILL though not so du-
rable as the locust and cedars, easily
survive for generation. While other
species of the oak genus, the yellow
The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1902-09-01

A Practical Illustration in Clearing
Land.
In view of the various methods
above referred to in clearing land and
of the varying conditions of the land
to be cleared, it may be helpful to the
reader to take certain lot and des-
cribe from the beginning the clearing
process to be pursued. In presenting
such a practical illustration, however,
we will not discuss the method refer
red to and sufficiently described I'M
der the heading of Clearing by Pas
turing" This method is, when time
and circumstances permit, one to be
highly commended, but it presents
fewer difficulties than other methods,
and hence the present illustration
will deal with the other methods.
We will suppose a 5-acre lot covered
with variety of wooded growth, as
is usually the case, including white
and black oak, chestnut, hickory, pop
lar. pine and dogwood, varying in
size from the small sapling to me-
diminished trees, and the whole COW
cred with more or less, perhaps con-
siderable, underbrush. We will as
sumo that the owner of this lot de-
sires to use this land as soon as posi-
BILE, and that, after due consideration
of it's soil and location, character of
the growth covering it, and the proba-
BILE cost of clearing the same, he de-
cides that it will pay him to do SO for
| the purpose he has in view.
| The first step, regardless of what
subsequent methods he may pursue,
will be to select dry time, probably
in middle or late summer, to fire the
underbrush and thoroughly burn over
the lot. A good burning at this season
will clear much of the small growth
and consume the litter, both of which
will be of considerable assistance in
future treatment, whatever that may
be-
Now. were the character of the
growth on this lot fairly uniform as
to the age and kind of timber, the
underground being burned away,
uniform method of clearing could be
adopted to remove the timber still
standing, but, as we have said, the
growth varies in size from the small
sapling to the medium-sized tree. The
character of the timber includes more
or less of the kinds and varieties re-
| ferred to above under the head of
| taproot, indeterminate root, and lat
eral root systems. Consequently it
will be necessary for the owner to re-
sort to more than one means to effect
a complete clearing of this land.
After what has already been said with
reference to the matter, it is obvious
that the mattock and the ak must be
provided and considerable dependence
placed on these tools. The first thing
to be undertaken should be to cut
down those of a sufficiently large
growth to make serviceable timber
for firewood or other purposes, whose
stumps may be allowed to remain in
the ground, either because of their
tendency to quickly rot and decay or
because of their deep taproots, max
| ing the removal of the stump diff
cult and costly, bearing in mind also
that the taproot stumps offer COM
paratively little obstruction to the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-10-26

Yale in the islands, in this city. show how
the Yale teachers are living. Says one 0f he
Yale men in writing home:
Tn first impression which I received on reach
ing my district was a mighty unfaYOrable one
as far as school teaching went All of US Amer
lean college fellows We're distributed through
out The TOWNS. where We were all usually the
only Americans ,u The place. What schools
theT- Nere had natives Tor 'maestroS," and
thes- they were equally divided among young
men ana women. We're on The whole. ignorant,
and unable TO get out Ut their TutS. In the
schoal where ] was placed. for instance. ! had
seyefll experiences right away that showed
me the difference between faC-,I uut Spanish
CIVILIZATION ana what had been accuStomed To
IN America. The native teach hers We're hope
lessly ignorant. 1 Was going say illiterate.
When first talked with my assiStaut-a dandy
young fellow who paid more attention To his
patent leather shoes, Nhite cotton suit and long
finger nails than he did Ia his own education
found that he WAS unable TO answer even sim
pie questions in arithmetic or geography. 4
map was puzzle to him. Ny first assistant was
just like ala the rest ! have known since. ana
be GOULD not point out any country of Europe
on the nap OF tell even Ahere his own town
was situated. Instead Of jumping right into
the education Of the school children ! had TO
begin With The teachers. and all If the fellows
say that the normal schools for teachers they
have carried on have had 10 come first.
Says another letter:
found our pretty soon that in The NOR, re-
mote Of the American school districts in one
OF which was located. fellow has got to De an
kinds ~ man at once l have been called In
10 settle family disputes even and smooth over
difficulties between husbands and wives That
Is ucklish business sometimes Then again |
have had 10 get my gun and turn soldier anS
lead The natives against some thieves from the
mountain districts. But the funniest expa-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-10-26
FOR HIS GIFT TO The UNIVERSITY OF AN lNFlRAARY

are TO learn When they get to be fifteen gears
hard work teaching them anything. have.
= uidr classes with the elite ladies of the lis
ttlIC', some OF whom are quite wealthy. accord
rs 10 IocaI standards, ana after the lessons
they play their guitars. which they do like al!
me spanish people, with peculiar musical abIli-
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-26
RIVER AND HARBoR BILL.
Conference of House and Senate Com
mittees Will BE Held Today.


n1ittees Will Be Held Today.
Washington, April 26.-The senate
and house conferees will meet today
to consider the senate amendments to
the river and harbor bill. Chairman
Burton, Of the house committee. stated
there were a good many points of diff
ference that might cause some discus
sion, but that in his opinion the COM
mittees would be satisfactory to both
branches.
The provision in the senate bill for
the payment of the claims of the Bur-
lington road. amounting to some $47,-
600. for the Improvement of the river
at Sawyer's Bend, at st. Louis, will be
opposed by the house conferees, if the
amount is to be taken from the fund
appropriated for the improvement of
the Mississippi river between st. Louis
and Cairo. The wording of the amend
ment for this purpose. as passed by
the senate. provides that the secre-
tary of war iss authorized to cause
to be examined the materials furnished
and the work done since May %, 1901,
to prevent erosion of the banks at or
near Sawyers Bend, in the harbor of
ST. Louis, so as to improve the chan
mel and preserve protection works at
said point, and to reimburse for the
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-26
A Mysterious
Appearance
IN THE QUIET LITTLE VILLAGE
OF WlLsEY, KANSAS.
A Strange Event With More Wonder
full Sequel-Its Effect on the After
Life of One Woman.

About six years ago a stranger, a
woman, came to the little village OF
5Wilsey, Kansas, to live. This was the
important link in chain of events
which set the whole town wondering.
Mrs. Rachael A. Gardner, the person
whose life was most affected by 1t, tells
the story.
ut was very strange" she says. i
never could tell what caused 1T and
neither could anybody else. For long
time had bad spells with my stomach.
The pain would commence about by
heart and was SO deadly agonizing that
/ would have to scream aloud. Some
times it would last several hours and |
would have to take laudanum to stop It.
Besides this / had a headache almost
constantly. day and night. that nearly
orazed me and hemorrhages caused by
the change of life, so you see suffered
a great deal. And, when / think of the
agony it still makes me shudder
DOCTORS did you say? Their medi-
cine made me sicker l couldn't take 1t
and kept growing worse until this
lady came to our village. She advised
me to take DR.. Williams Pink Pills for
Pale People and did. l only took halt
box before began to feel better. and
after taking the rest, was wholly con-
verified to this wonderful medicine. 1t
did me more good than l had ever hop
ed for.I kept on with the pills and new
I recommend them to all who suffer-
The pills which cured Mrs. Gardner
have accomplished as wonderful results
in hundreds and hundreds of other
nocao i,St ac severe They are an UNI
failing specific for locomtor ataXia, par
tial paralysis, st. Vitus' dance, sctatica,
neuralgia rheumatism. nervous head
ache, after effects of the grip. paipita-
ton of the heart, pale and sallow COM
plexions and all forms of weakness
either in male or female. DR.. Williams
Pink Pills for Pale People are sold at
a druggists. or will be sent direct from
DR.. Williams Medicine Co., Schenecta-
dy, N. Y, postpaid. on receipt of price.
fly cents per box; six boxes for two
dollars and half. Send for free book
let of medical advice.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-26
WILL HAVE A HEARING.

Interstate Commerce Commission In
vestigating Traffic Conditions.
st. Louis. April 26.-Interstate Com
merce Commissioners Prouty and Fifer
and Special Agent Marchand are in ST
Louis for the purpose of Investigating
the matter of rates. facilities and prac-
tees applied in the transportation
handling and storage of grain and
points to the Atlantic seaboard and
other destinations. The hearing be-
gan yesterday.
Last evening at the Southern Hotel
representatives of the Wichita cham
Der of commerce and others concerned
In Wichita business interests in inter-
esting shipments had conference
with the commissioners. furnishing ma
tcrial which may later on form the
subjects of an investigation. A COM
mittee of the Southern Millers' Asso-
citation likewise had an informal talk
with the commissioners.
The executive and the chief traffic
officers of the Frisco and the Mobile &
Ohio were requested by Secretary Mos
ley, of the interstate commerce COM
mission, to attend the hearing today
when complaints of discrimination will
be taken up. A Vicksburg firm figures
as one of the compliments.
Officials of the Frisco and freight
traffic managers are not in the city. The
president is in Europe, and the general
manager is in the southwest while the
freight traffic manager is on the Pacific
coast General Counsel E. L. Russell
of the Mobile & Ohio, and Traffic Man
ager Poe arrived here last evening
from Mobile to attend the hearing.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-26

y
same in a sum not exceeding 100000
1t is not clear, either from the wording
of the provision, or from its position
in the bill, what fund the amount shall
be taken from, or whether 1t is a spe-
cial appropriation.
Mr. Burton has always opposed any
appropriation for reimbursement OF
funds expended by private individuals
or corporations for the protection OF
their property, even tho the river was
improved and protected by the process.
Attorney John H. Carrall, of the Bur
lington, is pressing favorable action
upon this feature OF the BILL
The house conferees will also OPP
pose. it is understood, the senate
amendment which increased the app
preparation for the Improvement of the
Missouri river and the protection OF
it's banks from $4,000 to 100000.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-26
TAX ON DISCHARGED SPIRITS
Warwick Housh Argues in Washington
for a Reduction.


washington, April 26.-Warwick
Hough, of ST. Louis, appeared before
the ways and means committee and
urged favorable action upon the bill
providing for the reduction of the tax
on discharged spirits from $110 to
70 cents gallon. Representatives of
al, of the big liquor associations o.
the country We're present in support
of the bill. Their argument is that the
tax as now imposed Is exorbitant, and
places them at disadvantage in COM
petition with foreign manufacturers.
Another argument is that the removal
Of the tax would discourage moon
shining" and thus cause an increase
in the output Of the legalized product,
and so overcome the loss of revenue
occasioned by the reduction of the
tax.
Mr.. Yerkes. commissioner of inter
nal revenue, is opposed to the pre-
posed reduction, asserting that it would
cause a too great decrease in the rev.
enues. He has informed the commit !,
tee that he does not believe it would
be advisable to make any reduction
of the tax below 81.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-26
THE COMBINE DETRIMENTAL.
Both Government and People View
Shipping Deal With Alarm.

London, April 26.-Further questions
IN the house of commons yesterday on
the subject OF the shipping combines
elected information showing that the
government was taking steps to cope
with the situation, which evidently was
officially considered detrimental to
England.
The president of the board of trade.
General Balfour. said the board Of
trade had no official information about
the combine. but plenty of unofficial
intelligence had reached the board
The effect of such a combination on
British shipping generally would re-
ceive the careful attention of the
board. but any formal inquiry would
be premature. No Information regard
ing the arrangements made by the
American syndicate to control the At
lantic traffic, including passenger.
freight and other charges and the
movements of the vessels largely be-
longing to British companies, had been
submitted to the board before the ar
rangements were made. AS to steps to
secure the commercial and political In
terests Of the United Kingdom and to
prevent foreign interference with Britt
ish shipping, conflicting with engage
ments made with the admiralty, the
matter had occupied and is occupying
the governments attention.
The statements regarding the inten-
tions of the managers of the Atlantic
shipping combine vary with each edi-
ton of almost every newspaper here,
and most of them entirely lack even
the semblance of authenticity; but they
serve to enhance the general scare
which is fully voiced by the startling
newspaper posters and headlines.
Much is made of the fact that the In
man line steamship City of Paris (now
the American line steamer Philadel-
phia) and the City of New York (now
American lines New York; receiving