davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-01
"A coon TIME.

We have never known a better time
than the present for any man to i'm
prove the grade of cattle, whether dali
ry or beef animals, kept on his farm.
Registered and pedigreed stock has be-
come plentiful and very reasonable in
price. 1t is high time to go out Of the
ring streaked and speckled business
both in the dairy, the feed yard, the
hog pen and the poultry yard. Just as
well put the work and feed into good
and well bred animals as poor ones.
Once started in the good work. money
would not hire you to go back to the
old way. Never mind II your wife
pokes fun at you and your neighbOrs
mock you; just go right ahead and see
'em all come to your way of doing In
side Of three years. The most preju-
diced and thick headed old granger can
realize the difference between the run
Of the market and the top Of it when
he gets In Chicago with lot Of steers
or cream check from q COW which
amounts to $50 year and one at $25.
There is a great agricultural reform in
progress, and 1t means better stock,
bigger cream checks, fewer weeds, lar
ger crops, fewer acres to work and more
money in the bank. Better get In line,
and the sooner the better.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-01
WORKOUT LAND.

We are in receipt of an inquiry from
a northern Illinois farmer as to the
best method of restoring fertility to a
wornout farm, the farm presumably
being there located. 1t is difficult to
prescribe in case of this kind without
knowing more about the actual condi-
ton of the patient-the kind Of soil, the
treatment which has brought it into
such demOralized condition, etc. In a
general way-and that is the only way
the question-it may be said that soils
become impoverished and unproductive
because of the using up of the humus
(decayed vegetable or organic matter)
and the nitrogen which they once pos
sessed and which are absolutely indis-
pensable to the profitable production of
crops. If these two elements be re-
stored to the wornout soil its regenera-
ton will have been accomplished. This
process cannot be accomplished in any
one year or two years, but. takes time.
The humus may be restored to the soil
III NdiiOuc way W pooeuAoSS, W AAb
eral fertilizing with barnyard manure,
by the blowing under Of green crops, a
happy combination of the three meth
DDS securing the best results. Nitrogen
may be returned to the soil in two
ways-by the direct application of
some form of the many nitrate COM
mercial fertilizers or by the slower and
better method of growing such crops
as will take the nitrogen from the air
and put it in the soil, clover, alfalfa,
soy beans and cowpeas being the four
best plants to work with for this pur-
pose. Assuming that we had a field
Of, say, clayey soil, which was worked
out to a finish, we would try to give
it twenty-five loads Of manure to the
acre, then would pillow and pulverize it
to fine seed bed, then sow it to cow
peas, then pillow these under in Septem-
Der and SOW to rye, pasture the rye and
sow clover in the spring, still pasturing
the rye, and keep the field in clover for
two seasons, turning the second crop
under in September Of the second year.
The chances are that field so treated
would produce very fine crop Of Ell
Their wheat or corn the next season and
with fair and liberal treatment and
clover reinforcement every five years
continue to improve in fertility. Other
parts of the farm-for one could not
well doctor a whole farm this way at
one time-should be got into grass Of
some sort, this to be fortified as far as
possible to await its turn for the treat
ment above outlined There are two
other helps. Possibly tile draining
would accomplish much, this depend
ing upon the land, of course. Then eter-
nal war should be waged on weeds,
which on many farms are more respOn-
sible for impoverished soil than any
crops ever produced upon it. And last
~ not mouthful Of hay or pound Of
grain should ever be sold from this
farm while the process of regeneration
is going ON. but everything produced
on the farm should be consumed there
by some kind Of live stock. The cow is
the one animal which will work in
most happy conjunction with the meth
Cd given.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-01

When a man has good health and a
good appetite he has nine-tenths Of all
that money will buy in this world, and
so such degree of necessity as compels
the hard physical work which is the
sure begetter of these two blessings is
nothing to be lamented. There are mil
lions and millions of dollars in this
country waiting for any man who will
devise some way to obtain these two
things without work. 1t is altogether
best that it should be this way; other
wise the poor man would have no ad-
vantage at all over the rich one.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-01

Not long since we saw the wife Of
pretty we'll fixed farmer dragging a
heavy sack and hunting around the
place for fuel with which to cook the
evening meal, and as she found some
cobs or some sticks or some pieces Of
board she would put them into the
sack. Seeing this woman thus working,
we wondered if her husband thought
as much Of her as he did Of his cows,
horses or hogs. Now, you men who
read this, see here. Don't you secure at
once for your own comfort and conven-
fence each and all of the improved de-
vices for doing your farm work? And
don't you know that you often go into
debt for them at that? The use Of
these improved appliances has made
your work vastly easier and taken from
the farm very much of its old time
slavery and toll. Now, what have you
done in this line for your good wives?
Practically nothing at all-no soft wa
ter save as you can catch some in a
leaking barrel, no woodhouse, no wood
pile, no conveniently arranged kitchen
and modern cooking utensils, no paint.
ed floor, no washing machine, none of
the hundred and one little inventions
which so tighten the housekeeper's toll.
And the wife, partly because you al
ways preach that you are hard up
and partly because Of her ignorance
that such labor saving devices exist,
goes on uncomplainingly. There was a
time when poverty excused to some ex-
tent this neglect and selfishness but
that day has passed. and any man
worth 5000 who will compel his wife
to work in the old poverty rut needs
attending to. In all fairness man
should provide his wife with the same
improved facilities for doing her work
which he secures for himself. and If
he went do Il he IL an old brute.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-01

We know of some farm homes where
the domestic water supply is located
from fifteen to twenty-five rods from
the house. This is nuisance 800 days
in the year. one which the owner Of the
house should at once take up and get
rid of 1t may be done by sinking a
new well near the house or by putting
in force pump and piping and making
the windmill do the water carrying,
That woman has hard lot where she
has to depend upon the men or boys
bringing her the water needed that dis
lance or Juggling it herself. We would
sell good horse if necessary to change
this order Of things and think the horse
we'll sold too
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-01

If one could take six distinct and diff
ferent breeds of fowls-for instance,
White Brahma. Leghorn, Houdan.
Langshan, Plymouth Rock and Wyan-
dotte-and let the breeds mix, hit and
go miss, for six years, what sort OF a
breed Of fowls would one have at the
end Of that period? Well, for one thing
the law Of reversion would be very
nicely illustrated. The distinctive fea-
lures of each of these breeds would dis
appear. The ultimate product would
be just common scrub stock, with the
chance that the Leghorn type would
suffer the least in the metamorphosis,
as that breed more closely follows the
original type of jungle fowl from which
all our poultry originally came. This
same process of deterioration and re-
version to original types operates just
as powerfully with stock of the i'm
proved breeds as 1t does with poultry,
and it explains why when man starts
out to cross Jerseys with Holsteins.
Shorthorns with Polled Anguses and all
other sorts of cross breeding he soon
finds himself breeder Of simple and
original scrubs. The improved breeds
OF poultry and stock are, we might say
purely artificial productions, the re-
suits of careful selection by man, and
need to be continually REINFORCED and
fortified by additions of blood from ami
mails eXcelling in the particular quail
ties for which the breed may be noted
Now you can see why the grade sire
will always run herd Of stock or
flock Of poultry down and how impor.
tant 1t is to select only the purest bred
sires If herd Of cattle or a flock of
poultry il to improved in quality or
even maintained In excellence.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-01

Notwithstanding we are wont to
claim that the United States is very
prosperous country, there is still good
deal of poverty and always will be. The
causes of this poverty are mostly whis-
ky, laziness, unthrift, gambling, with
only very small part directly trace
able to unavoidable misfortune. Alco-
hol levies the biggest and heaviest tax
on the American people of any existing
agency.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-01

We heard a farmer at farm insti-
tute this winter object to his wife keep
ing poultry on the farm on account Of
the grain they consumed. We asked
him if his wife got the poultry money,
and he said that she did. An unregen-
crate old specimen, this.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-01

The promoter may always be found
doing business just as soon as there is
any new invention made. Within a
year or two it has been found that a
very cheap and indestructible fence
post can be made on any farm with &C.
ment, and our promoter is already out
selling rights to manufacture the same,
Pass him
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-01

1t is always better to have a flock
of sheep on farm than a mortgage
In fact, the sheep will help to drive a
mortgage off farm, just as they will
the weeds.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-01

A friend told us curious fact re-
Gently. He said farmer up in the
Assiniboia country sowed field Of
winter wheat in August 1903. The
wheat lived through the winter. and it
took it until September, 1904, to get
ripe enough to harvest, when it gave a
good crop. This is the first time we
ever heard of wheat requiring thirteen
months to make crop.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-01

The bur oak tree best survives the
effects of settlement and cultivation of
any of our native forest trees. yet even
the bur oak will not endure the con-
tinuous tramping Of stock around its
roots
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-01

When winter comes, too much can
hardly be said in favor of the evergreen
as an adjunct of the farm homestead
1t affords when properly planted an
impenetrable wall of protection from
the fierce and bitter prairie winds and
the drifting snow; it affords shelter
to many of the birds which try to pass
the winter in the north country and
when the ground is covered with snow
is the most attractive feature of any
country landscape. No man can do
better thing for his farm home than to
plant out next spring three or four
rows Of evergreens around the north
and west sides of his premises. Plant
white pine or Scotch pine, and if va
riety is wanted put in some red and
white cedar and spruce. Plant at least
twelve feet apart each way to give the
trees a chance to make good wide and
thick base. Take care of them, and in
fifteen years you won't care whether it
storms or not.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-01

The oldest living thing is not tree
nor an animal, but a joke, old chestnuts
Of Pharaoh's time still being served up
as after dinner novelties at twentieth
century banquet boards.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-01

We are told by the bug men that
there are 100000 different kinds Of in
sects. We believe 1t. We are inclined
to think that we had 147,O00 of them
around our garden. orchard and farm
last summer. Not plant, tree or
shrub but seems to have its special in
sect parasite. This manifold insect
life has it's mission. partly for one kind
to prey on another, partly as food for
birds and an equally useful mission in
the mystery of fertilization Of all plant
life. Again, others serve as sections,
undertakers and garbage destroyers.
The wonderful economy Of all plant,
vegetable. insect and bird life is so
closely interviewer and SO delicately
and marvelously adjusted that when
man rudely and arbitrarily interferes
with these laws he always suffers the
penalty. Thus in wantonly destroying
the birds he has thrown the machine
out of gear and disturbed the nice bal
ance of the species, the birds being one
Of the most reliable agencies for linn
iting the overpropagation of insect
life. The motto Spare the Birds
should have place in every home in
the land.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-01

The shade in the summer for stock
is not more acceptable to them than is
the sunshine in winter.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-01

TRAINS LEAVE DEBORAH AS FOLLOWS
No. 5O4 Passenger, except Sunday las p. m.
No. 542 Freight, except Sunday. -. $50 a. m
TRAINS ARRIVE AT DECORAH:
No. 507 Passenger, except Sunday.l rs p m.
No. SAL Freight, except sunday. bib p. m.
Sunday stock train leaves at SEQ a. m.
For sleeping car reservations, tickets, time
tables, etc., apply to any Rock Island ticket
agent. U. G. GRUNER,
Local Agent
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-01

We are again asked to give some
practical information about the grow
ing of alfalfa. The states east of the
Missouri river have been very busy in
vestigating this plant for the past two
years, and some important things have
been found out. This is settled-that
alfalfa will not grow and do well
where the soil is barren of the bac-
terial life essential to its growth and
development; another. that where this
bacterial life is present, whether sup
piled naturally or by system of in
oculation of the soil, therein nearly
all states and on nearly all soil, save
hardpan subsoils and fats where the
water will stand, it will grow and do
well. These are two very important
discoveries, and the knowledge of them
forms the base of intelligent and sue
cessful experimentation in the future
Given good corn soil. well drained
the preparation Of a good seed bed. the
sowing of twenty pounds Of alfalfa
seed in the month of August without
any nurse crop, the incubation of the
seed when sown by the bacterial cul-
ture. which may be obtained from the
agricultural department at Washing
ton, or by the distribution of inoculat-
ed earth from some field where alfalfa
grows well, the securing Of an alfalfa
hog pasture is an easily possible thing
for any farmer within the corn belt of
the United States. 1t is the most val
liable plant which can be grown upon
any farm and is worth making every
effort to secure.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-01

We are asked how far bees will fly to
secure supply Of honey. 1t is not easy
to answer this exactly. Last summer
we knew of case where a man who
kept bees in a small town had them
store up a plentiful supply Of honey
made from buckwheat bloom grade
of honey which is easily identified, and
the nearest field of buckwheat to the
town was three and half miles. Civ
en- a plentiful food supply, we should
not be surprised if in fair weather they
went even a greater distance than this.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-01

Chicago, Milwaukee & 81. Paul Railway
Passenger Depot corner Water and Day streets.
Telephone HAP
2O6 2O4 20s
Opt Decorah $40 a. m. ll:45 a. m. S45 pm.
DIT Conover 1910 a. m. l2:l7 p. m. 9: IS p m.
Arr. Calmar 1920 a. M. 1870 p. m. $3.50 .. m.
20l 203 EOS
Arr. DEBORAH $40 a. III. 1925 a. m. 1925 p. m.
Opt Conover 500 m. II 100 a. m 800 .. m.
Opt Calnar. 7:45 a. m. 1880 a. m. $50 p. m.
Nos. 20l and 206 daily.
Nos. 203, 205, 204 and 209 daily except Sunday
No. 206 connects with points west of Calmar
No. 20i connects at Calmar with Chicago,
Dubuque, Davenport, Muscatine, Ottumwa,
Kansas City, Cedar Rapids, Omaha, st. Louis,
Peoria: connects at Conover for St. Paul and
Minneapolis, and points in the north AID
northwest.
No. 20S connects at Calmar for Chicago,
Kansas City, Madison and milwaukee.
S. V. POTTER, Agent
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-03-04
News from All Parts Of the World
Carefully Selected from the
Press kilograms.
A Weekly Digest Of the Most important
Facts and Happenings for Busy
Readers.

James A. Logan, IT,, a rolored hoy.
II years old. confessed to the Chicago
police that In an attempt at highway
robbery he shot and killed Mrs. Della
Howe Tracy. u domestic. This was l.o.
gan's second essay in the role Of hold
up man and he ascribcs the murder to
his inexpericnce. In his first attempt his
nerve failed him. According to his story
70 the police he longed for greater OK.
citcmcnt than was his lot assisting his
fnthrr. who was janitor Of the building
In which they lived. Stealing II revolver
from Leroy Shaw. the owner Of the
apartment building. he started out the
other night. just north Of j6th street
on the east side Of Monroe avenue. he
saw u woman walking. with n handbag
dangling from her hand. Stealing up
quietly behind her. he placed his gun ut
the back of her head and said: woman
give me your pockcthook." Mrs. Tracy
screamed. Logan pulled the trigger and
the bullet crashed through her brain.
entering her head close behind the Left
ear. Grabbing the handbag. Logan fed.
Had he been older In the business he
believed II" would not have shot the
woman. hut hor outcrics unnerved him.
he said. and he lost control Of himself.
Logan was arrested at his home on u
clcw given the police 10y his father, James
A, Logan
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-03-04
GREAT TUNNEL Is CUT.
Swiss and italian Workmen on the
Simplon Meet.

swiss and italian Workmen on the
Simplon Meet.
Piercing of the Simplon tunnel through
the Alps was completed ut i:2O o'clock
Friday morning. The work was begun
In 1S!)5. The meeting of the two boring
parties (Swiss and Italian was signalrd
throughout Switzerland by the ringing
OF church bells and salutcs by cannon.
Many unexpected obstacles were en-.
countered. the most serious being not
springs. which threatened to wreck lhe
whole enterprise. and temperature
which at one time rose to III ueere's
Fahrenheit. making a continuation vi
the work impossible until the engineers
found means of cooling the Atmosphere
Now that the horcrs have met VIII I've
possible for the water accumulated III the
north gallery To be drawn oil. The WORK
oi preparing tn" tunnel for u permanent
way viii be pushed as rapidly rs posi-
bic ahd II is hoped to open the tuhn''
about March ~. The piercing "i th"
Sumption Is regarded rs one Of the great
..t engineering achievements of the age.
Many difficulties were encountered an"
overcome. The length Of the tnnnrI from
Rriya IN Switzerland. to lscllc. IN tn"
Italian side of the mountains. Il about
twelve miles. According 10 contract the
tunnel must he ready for traffic May
ID The Swiss aud Italian governments
jointly financed the undertaking. share
nnd share alike. at u cost Of SlJ,WW.Ooo'
AS soon as the boring Is Thoroughly com
plctcd aud the track laid II smaller tun'
mel Is To be constructed. parallel I" the
large one. which will h" Increased in SH'
In 80. al Ina.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-03-04
BILL REGULATES FOOTBALL.
Lower Branch Of South Dakota
Legislature Passes Measure.

\ hill to regulate the manner ut play
ing football was passed 10y the South
Dakota House Of Representatives. TIL,
bill hisImnlitics any player who injur"'
another and makes it u mislcnrannr fol
u player 10 enter another game Tor Il
period Of ten days from the date of dis
qualification. /, also makes it II misdc
ncanor for a captain to allow II disunali
fled player to enter II game and pr"hihit'
the entrance Of students into State in
stitutionS as players with only II part u
the course Of study.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-03-04
BANDITS HOLD UP A TRAIN.
Express Car Blown Open In Arkan-
kansas; About s. 900 Secured

East-bound passenger train No. JOB on
the 81. Louis and San Francisco rail
road. known ~ "thc Arkansaw Trnv-
clcr." was stopped by three bandits eight
miles south Of Mammoth Springs. Ark.
and the express ear robbed. The safe
was blown open and all of its contents
were secured. The train was sgnnied
shortly after leaving Mammoth Springs
by three men heavily armed. They en-
tered the ear of the Southern Express
Company and covered Messenger Harry
White with revolvers. After rifiing tho
safe the robbers made II dash for the
woods and escaped. The amount Of
money usually carried on this train In
not large. The robbers got probably
%!,OOU.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-03-04
NAV Build Russian Ships,

With the reported sale Of :DO acres Of
land NJ Perth .\mboy. \. j., to Charles
NJ. Schwah and his associates began the
hrst important move IN the effort of the
Russian government to add to its navy
by building and purchasing ships in this
country. Here. according to report. II is
intended To build wurships and it il be-
lieved that u great contract already Sc
cured from the Car will he carried out.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-03-04
Berth for an Illinois Man.

Oscar J. Ricketts,, foreman at the
government printing office in Washing
ingt0r. will be made public printer upon
the retirement Of 4. W. Palmer. lie Is
an Illinois man and entered the govern
mcnt office when young. Although Mr..
Palmer has not announced when he win
retire. it is understood in Washington
that he will step out.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-03-04
MAY FIX Their OWN RATES.
Court Says phone Companies May
Charge Cities as hey Please.

CnarRe cities as ney tIease.
The Ohio Supreme Court held that nm
der the laws of Ohio n Telephone COM
pany has the right to fix its own rates
even to the poin, " ignoring rates agreed
to in II franchise granted by Il city. The
decision comes in the suit Of the Attor
ncy General to Dust the Toledo HON,
Telephone Company. on the ground that
II was charging u rate In excess OF tn,
figures named in its franchise. The If
feet Of the finding Is that the State Leg
islaturc has never granted the local an
thorities the right to regulate telephone
rates, and hence any rates fixed IN I
franchise are null and Void.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-03-04
Girls mo" Leads to Slaughter.

Anna Onnafrcy was the central figure
10 bloody battle NJ the Strickler works
of the Veteran Coal Company In Mount
Pleasant township. Pa. In which two
men were killed AMI six others were
stabbed. shot or slashrd with knives.
Anna Onnnfrcy's refusal to dance with
ieorg" Lnkcsz. an unbi,llcn guest at a
wedding celebration. started n riot.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-03-04
Swayne 10 Not Guilty.

court of Impeachment for the trial of
Charles Swayne, district judge for the
northern district of Florida. acquitted
him on all of the twelve articles Of i'm
parchment brought by the House of Rep.
rescntatives.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-03-04
M,chiuap Bov's Awful Death,

In rush to get to lunch, Walter Net
Teton Of Grand Marais, Mich, aged
10. fell into vat of boiling logs In
creosote. With weather below zero and
his body literally cooked from the waist
down, he ran home one mile and die'l
He refused to be carried to save his
father the shock.