davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-19
EAT TONS OF PRUNES.
Crop Would Fill Train Reaching From
Chicago to Buffalo.

A Frenchman planted a prune tree
out in California in 1870. 1t was the
only prune tree in the state. All the
prunes used in the United States at
that time came from France But
now as a result of the prune tree that
NJ. Pellar planted California every
year ships enormous quantities of
plum, throve on the Pacific coast, and
that the hot, dry weather of the cOun-
try brought out its full saccharine
qualities. The first orchard was
planted in the Santa Clara valley,
just south Of San Francisco. a region
which is now the prune center of the
state. 1t was only ten acres in ex-
tent, and began to yield in 1875. In
four years the trees produced $4,000
worth of fruit.
European countries.
The growth OF the prune industry
in California all came from PeIlar's
single tree. 1t was found that the
prune, which is a species of purple
/ The size Of the prune crop in Cali
fornia is SO enormous that the most
cynical boarder in any boarding house
! in Chicago would be surprised In
1901 the state produced 100000
pounds of prunes, and the total crop
, of the year just passed exceeded that
: of the preceding year by several thou
sand tons. If put into ten ton freight
cars the California prune crop of
1902 would fill train reaching from
Chicago to Buffalo
The American prune has found its
way into the European markets for
the reason that it is sweeter alu
pleasanter to the taste than the fruit
raised there. The California prune,
| for instance, is dried wholly out OF
doors, for the long period of absolute
/ ly rainless weather which prevails in
California from July 1 to Oct. 1 per
mits the drying trays to remain OUT
Of doors day and night. The French
and other kinds of European prunes
are dried in kilns for fear of exposure
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-19

have left the medical profession ana
the public largely in his debt.
But what will naturally provoke not
a little surprise here is the statement
of the surgeon as to his income at
home. His practice there, he says,
is worth as much as $4,000 in four
months-the plain inference from
which is that it is not worth any
more than $500 a month, or $4,000
a year. That figure seems almost
ridiculously small when the practi-
toners wonderful skill and great rep
utatiOn are considered In the Unit
ed States-more especially, perhaps,
right here in New York-the same
combination Of skill and reputation
in a surgeon of DR.. LOrenz's pleasing
personality would be worth nearer
100000 than $4,000 a year; and he
would easily become a millionaire in
side of ten years-and would deserve
to be one.
The circumstance presents a gooo
illustration of the large way in which
we do things in the United States ana
the small way in which they are done
in most parts Of Europe. For one op-
Grafton in Chicago a surgeon gets a
fee equal to four months practice in
Germany, involving the exercise of
great skill, much hard work, much
time, and not a little anxiety. 1t is
extremely doubtful if, outside of roy
atty and few families who could b.
counted on the fingers of one hand,
a doctors fee as high as 100000 was
ever paid in Europe. 1t is rare here
But fees reaching up into the thou
sands are common enough here, and
yet DR.. Lorenz has to practice d
whole month in Germany in order to
earn $500
All the talents, all the skill ii the
world are not concentrated here in
| the United States, but all the world
will admit that this is the best mar
ket for them.-New York Evening
Post.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-19

Recent important scientific disclos-
ures point to the fact that the stand
ard natural histories will need soon
to undergo an oterhauling.
What biologists the world over
have always contended could never be
done, Carl Hagenback, the celebrated
German animal trainer, has finally
succeeded in accomplishing.
In the animal kingdom Mr.. Hagen
back has brought about a veritable
marvel Producing species of
brand new wild animal. At the same
time demonstrating the possibility Of
breeding lion and tiger hybrids with
the same degree of success as the off
spring of any other family known to
the animal kingdom are bred.
Naturalists have long been agreed
on one point That no success would
ever attend any such experiments.
This fallacy the great animal dealer
has, however, altogether set aside.
Having obtained some extraordinary
specimens Of this monster creature.
A true cross between the lion and the
IlSef. A strange beast having many
of the characteristics of both parent
stock
The animals which Mr.. nagenback
has produced are the only ones of
their kind in existence. That they
will shortly be the parents of an en-
tirely new and altogether unknown
species of the animal kingdom he has
every reason to anticipate as they
have attained an age sufficiently ma
ture to warrant their being classed IN
family by themselves.
The new creature is of enormous
size. Being larger than either the
tiger or lion. And it is generally
spoken of as a monster Although
this refers more to it's mammoth pro-
portions than to its disposition or ami
NAL instincts. For the lion and tiger
hybrid is said to possess a remark
ably mild and loving nature. Show
ing greater fondness for human com
partnership and taking greater delight
in being fondled and made much of
| than is characteristic of wild animals
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-19
HELPS MEN WHO LOSE RICHES
Curious Object of a Charitable lnsti-
tuition in PhiIadeI phia.

tuition in Philadelphia.
More than a century and half ago
Alexander Pope wrote of Humble
Allen" who with conscious shame
did good by stealth, and blushed to
find inspiration in such a theme"
Humble Aliens" are not many nova
days. Charity has become an insti-
tuition, and, like murder, it will out.
Philanthropists are sorely distressed
to avoid publicity for their benefac-
tiOns, and one cannot endOW refuge
for orphans or INDECENT cats without
noisy flourish from the housetops.
1t is curious and somewhat start
ling, then, to find that right here in
Philadelphia has existed for nearly
fifty years, without the knowledge of
more than a few persons, an assOcia-
ton OF men devoted to a unique and
transformations we'll doing. Public
| ignorance Of their enterprise is all
the more remarkable from the fact
that among these men are some of
the wealthiest, most influential, and
best known citizens IN the COM
munity.
Included in the membership list are
such names as Jay Cooke, n. Parker
Shortridge, Lincoln Godfrey, Joel j..
Baily. Justus G.. Strawbridge, Isaac
H. Clothier, John H. Converse, Rich
ard Wood and others of equal stand
| ing.
But it is the unusual character Of
their benef1cence that attracts inter
! est. All these men are wealthy
some beyond the dreams of avarice-
but their purpose has nothing to do
with the amelioration Of the condi-
| ton of the pauper. On the contrary,
! theirs is a society for the rescue of
! the decayed millionaire.
They call it the Merchants Fund
| association and the forty-ninth an
nual meeting was held the other day
in little old room in South Fourth
street, away from the clamors of the
more pretentious virtues.
| In a word. the plan of these kindly
old gentlemen is to relieve once
wealthy companions Of their early
days, who have since lost their for
| tunes, o. in other ways suffered the
vicissitudes of time.
The act of incorporation, dated 1854,
says that the object is f'to furnish re-
lief to INDECENT merchants OF Philadel-
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-19

country. They are good egg produc-
ers and good for table poultry, but
no better than our Plymouth Rocks
and Vyandottes. Orpingtons are pro.
duced of buff, black, white and broken
colors much like our Notified Javas.
and with both single and double
combs about all the difference be,
tween them and our American breeds
is the color Of shank and skin. In
| Orpingtons the shanks and skin are
white, this color having most favor IL
both England and France
1t is said that fowls that have white
skin bring "a cents per pound more
per pair in the English market than
! those with the yellow skin. Now
that we are sending so much poultry
abroad. the question of the color If
the skin is being considered. This
makes a convenient opening for the
Orpington to step in and attract at
tentiOn to it's value in this line. The
fact is the OrpingtOns are good
fowl in many ways, and fully deserve
all the favor granted them, but they
breeds. The selection of them through
preference for their special qualities
will not bring disappointment, but
they will not lay any more eggs, nor
will they grow any faster, or make
any better market poultry than will
other fowls. They have their good
qualities as have other fowls, but be-
yond this they cannot lay claim to
any special or individual high quail
ties over and above our American
breeds.
There might be more attention Civ
en- to the growing of ducks for fall or
winter rOasters For these the
Rouen or Indian Runner Ducks are
good; so are the Pekin ducks when
farm raised. Considerable attention
has been given to the growing OF
Cayuga black ducks for roasting
ducks. They and the Rouen have the
most gamey flavor Of all our domestic
ducks, and for this reason they are
highly valued by good Iivers as roast
ing ducks.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-19

in general.
From the nose to the tip OF the tail
the lion-tiger measures ten feet two
inches. Which is a greater length
than that Of a full-grown lion.
When it stands erect it's height
across the withers is forty-five inches.
Its correct weight being 467 pounds.
The animal shows slightly the
stripes of the tiger, without being fur
nished with a name like the tiger.
The lion begins to grow his name
when about three years old. Many
of Mr.. Hagenback's new species of
animals have gotten beyond that in
years. but none display any signs of
name. And he has no idea thai
they will ever do so.
Mr. Hagenback is justly proud Of
this new arrival to the animal king
dom, and his intentions are that the
children Of these hybrid parents shah
continue to preserve their type as
distinct in every feature except color,
which naturally may be expected to
vary il different members, as is the
of the great animal kingdom.
Two of Mr.. Hagenback's baby hy-
birds made friends at once with
small terrier. The dog mother nurs-
ing and caring for the young things
with as great care as she would take
Of her own puppies.
! They would lie across the terrier in
| the same manner they might have
! stretched themselves over the body
of their own mother And while the
lion-tiger hybrid babies were being
brought up on the bottle it was a
common thing for them to share the
/ dog mothers milk with her own chill
dren. None of the young things
seeming to think that family differ
ences should give rise to any distinc-
ton whatever.
Curiously enough, the males of this
new species have shown the tiger
markings more distinctly than those
of the lion, while the females have de-
veloped greater marked characteris-
tics of tn king of the wild beasts.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-19
LARGE FEES FOR SURGEONS.
Our Practitioners Get More Than
Those in Any Other Country.

Some interesting sidelights are
thrown on the practice and the in
come of the most eminent surgeon
in Germany, through a short state
ment that he gave out here in New
York the other day. He wished to
correct the erroneous impression Gre
ated in the public mind through GER
tain newspaper reports, to the effect
i that rs visit to this country had been
lucrative to him-.fyielding upward OF
100000"
"As a matter of fact" says DR..
Lorenz. Il got o~e fee OF 100000 anG
in the four months that I have been
here have earned just that $4,000.
My practice at home in four months
is worth that. My trip has been sue
cessful officially, but not materially .
| 1t is plain then-and the American
public will be glad to hear it-that
this largely philanthropic visit of DR..
lorenz to the United States has not
involved any measure of pecuniary
loss to him, or any sacrifice. 1t ought
however, to have yielded him much
more than 100000 in money, and then
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-19

70 rains, and the artificial heat fails
to bring out all the rich sugar prod
ucts Of the pulp.
San Jose, the county seat of Santa
Clara county, is the chief prune CEN
ter of California, and in its mountain
encircled valley there are 1857 lac
bearing prune trees. There are, be-
sides, great orchards of apricot, cher
~, peach, and olive trees, so that in
this one county there are about 5000
600 fruit trees. Fruit raising is car
rled on there on such a grand scale
that for some orchards of prunes
thirty acres are required in the busy
season simply as a drying field for the
fruit trays.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-19
GAS FROM PEAT.
Believed TO lie a Great Field for a New
Industry

Industry.
! For nearly a year past P. J. Buck
| ley and Hon. Frank L. Fraser have
been carrying on experiments IN the
use of peat for heating and illuminat-
| ing purposes, at their plant enc
! mile south OF BeUIah station, Wis.
They have demonstrated beyond CUES
! ton that there are sufficient Quantl-
ties of gas in their peat to render it
| a valuable product, says a cores
pondent.
Several public exhibitions have
! been made at their plant which stands
on the edge Of the peat marsh near
! the Wisconsin Central railway track.
and the writer was an interested OBJ
server at an exhibition Of gas pro-
duction that was surprising to say the
| least.
| The retort used in producing the
gas is a small and crude affair con-
sisting Of a square iron furnace with a
movable top, steel cylinder that
fits into the furnace with supports at
front and back, and of eight or ten
gallons capacity, and made similarly
to the heaters used with kitchen
ranges. To this retort is connected a
gas pipe which leads through two
small tanks designed to aid in clear
ing the gas of deleterious substances,
to burners of various sizes and styles,
and located 20 feet away in a separate
structure. Three Welsbach burners
and nantes were in the row.
In carrying on the test, two large
pans of peat broken into a coarse
powder and all weighing about IS
pounds, were placed in the little steel
retort, while in the furnace a roaring
wood fire was started. Just fifteen
minutes after the fire was started gas
passed through an open burner and
! in twenty minutes several flames of
varying sizes and under good pres
sure, were burning brightly. A little
later the Welsbachs were lighted and
produced fine illumination. Varying
numbers Of lights were then kept
burning for nearly two hours.
Some annoyance was caused by
reason Of the tar and oil in the gas,
and oil and tar clOgged the burners at
| times SO that the lighting test was not
all that could be wished. However,
the purifying process is simply a mat
ter Of detail, and with a proper
equipment can be brought about TeaG-
lily. The quantity of gas given off by
the two pans Of peat was sufficient to
have kept several ordinary Welsbach
lights burning for many evenings.
During the evening coffee was
boiled over one of the heating burn
ers, and a campers supper was served.
The heating qualities Of the gas
were illustrated during the test thro'
the breaking of a mantle and chin
ney. Where the fame afterward came
in contact with the glass it melted 1t
down.
The gas produced flJm this peat is
Of a whitish color. 1t gives forth an
odor much less Objectionable than
coal gas and is nOn-poisOnous.
1t is very evident to those who have
witnessed the tests that the great peat
marshes Whereabouts contain guam
titles of heating and lighting material,
and when means are provided to con-
vert the peat into a form available for
practical uses, no one can question
! the result: this section will afford its
| own fuel supply for heating and light
| inc
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-19
REVOLT OF THE MoRoccANs.
Sensation in Africa, the Land Where
Sc Manv SURPRISES Come From

Pliny's characterization of Africa
as a perennial source of novelty is
not yet obsolete. That vast and even
yet little known continent can gen
orally be depended upon to supply
some sensation for the current record.
When Fashoda and Khartum grow
stale the Transvaal breaks loose.
When peace is restored in the south
a Mad Mullah becomes rampant in
the great eastern horn. When Somali-
land subsidies into comparative quiet
there is a sound of war on the slopes
of Atlas. Morocco alone furnishes
a large variety of sensations There
have been troubles with the Rifiar
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-19

"Tal' Dodge, a popular sea pilot Of
Providence, sits in the Rhode Island
legislature. A good man for the
steering committee.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-19
Just for Fun.

Let me see,' said the man at the
desk, pausing with his pen in air,
"who was the author Of 'Twice-Told
Ta1es?'
"Chauncey Depew, wasn't it," sug-
gested the man at the other desk
Chicago Tribune.
Briggs-Great Scott. how you smell
of kerosene!
Griggs-Yes, it is the fashionable
perfume nowadays. 1t gives one the
air of possessing an automobile. l
always put little on my pocket
handkerchief before I come away
from home-Boston Transcript.
George says his father will cut
him off with shilling if he insists
upon marrying me-"
"And what did you say"
Il reminded him that papa is a
lawyer and that he'd be glad to take
up the case against his fathers es-
tate on shares. "-Cleveland Plain
Dealer.
Stigginson-Poor Santos-Dumont is
in hard luck again.
LazaroWicz-I didn't hear about it;
what has happened?
Stigginson-Why, he was attempt
ing to ascend in his machine yester-
day when a cop ran him in for having
no visible means Of support.-Col-
umbia Jester.
There once was a Frenchman from
Pau
Who went for slide on the snau
In the rough Pyrenees,
Where he skinned both his knees;
And his cuticle now has to grau.
Columbia Jester
"Tal'' Dodge, a popular sea pilot of
Providence, sits in the Rhode Island
legislature a good man for the
steering committee.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-24

No votes will be given
for a cash payment unless
the amount exceeds 81. 90,
but it may be for back sub
scription, as we'll as ad-
vance.
This is on the basis of
one vote for every one cent
paid, although no extra
votes will be given for less
than S.. 90 paid at one time.
w h ere remittance is
made by mail it must be
stated positively that the
same is to be entered as
credit for votes.
This contest is open to
any man, woman or child
living in any town or state,
and no effort will be spared
to make the entire contest
fair and impartial, and no
favoritism will be shown
anyone.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-24
The Plan

s The St. Paul Globe has
5 decided to send six people
; to any point in the United
; States which they may Sc
) lect on an enjoyable outing
; tour. The readers of the
; paper are to decide who
; shall go. In every issue
s of the paper will appear an
s official coupon, which, when
s filled out and voted as des-
s ignated and deposited in the
ballot box in the business
5 office of the Globe, will be
counted for the person
voted for.
The six persons receiving
the most votes, as stated,
will be given their choice
of trip.
Remember-any point in
the United States may be
selected.
To-for instance
New York.
Boston.
Baltimore.
Philadelphia.
Washington.
New Orleans.
Los Angeles.
San Francisco.
Seattle.
Salt Lake City.
Denver.
Niagara Falls.
The items OF expense de-
frayed by the Globe will be
the railroad and sleeping
car fare, meals on trains
and one weeks board at
point of destination.
In addition to this a con-
ISOLATION prize of a ticket to
Chicago, Omaha, D e
Moines or Kansas City and
return will be given to the
four next highest, making
a total of ten grand prizes.
The RULES ordinarily
adopted in contests of this
kind will govern. T h e
votes will be counted every
day and the standing of the
various contestants publish
ed daily until the close of
the contest.
Extra votes will be given
5 for every cash payment
5 made on one subscription
5 to either old or new sub
5 scribers, for either the daily
only, daily and Sunday, or
Sunday Globe only, as fol
lows:
BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1903-08-17
Ia memoria de los ln0n03

I Una Sefiora de la alta Sociedad franz
cesa. muy conocida por su afici6n los
animales, vic hace agl1u tempo en- una
calle ,1n na1sico ambulante que dejan-
do en- el suelo su organil1o, golpeaba
Ibarbaramente un mono que con Sue
gestoS y sus saltos le ayudaba q ganar-
lse la vida. Movida compassion, Ia Sc
fiora quiso ibrar al animalito de tam
cruel trato, y no encontr6 mejor name
ra de hacerlo que comprarlo y llev5r-
selo 4 su hotel.
En- POGO tempo, el mono, induds bic
mente agradecido, hizo tai derroche de
|gracias y piruetas, que lego ser el
favorito de su anna y de cuantas perSo-
mas frecuentaban Ia casa.
No hace muchos dfate la sefiora OBJ
sequio varios amigos de amboS sexos
con un concerto casero. Una hermo-
sa Senorita Sc Sento al piano y, en- me-
dio del religioso silencio de los invi-
tados, TOGO con una verdadera maestro
una pieza de diffcil ejecuci6n; apenaS
hubo terminado, el mono, que sc en-
contraba en- Ia sala, salt6 de SD percha,
y cogiendo TN sombrero que uno de loS
caballeros habfa dejado sobre una silla,
fue pasandolo por todos los presentes,
por fin Sobre Ia falda dc
Ia pianista. Ei inteligente cuadruma-
20 sc acordaba de la epoca en- que re-
,ogfa lisinonas para el organillo.
La nronGdG cay6 en- gracia; en- el SOM
orero habia monedas de orc y plata, y
lasta billeteS de Banco.