davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-05-17
SHEEP AS LAWN MOWERS.
]. j. Van Allen, Newport Resident,
Thus Keeps His Large Newport
Estate in Order.

Newport, r. 1.-The grounds Of
James j. Van Aliens Newport estate,
"Wakehurst," have been turned into a
sheep pasture. The sheep arrived and
were turned loose on the "Wakehurst"
grounds. There they will remain until
autumn the sole occupants, savo the
keepers, of the handsome lawn and Ital-
ian gardens, which have been the, ad-
miration Of Van Aliens guests at his
Elizabethan castle.
Since leasing Rushton castle in Eng
land Van Allen has decided to abandon
Newport as his summer home for one
year at least, and to save the expense
of keeping the lawn In good condition
by frequent moving, an expense in
volvIng the pay of seven men six days
week at two, dollars day, has hit
upon the expedient Of using the sheep
as lawn mowers. BY this method he
win save the expense of moving, and
in the fall will have his sheep in prime
condition for market.
The understanding here is that Van
Allen does not intend to return TO the
United States to live, and that he viii
abandon his Newport estate TO his
sheep.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-05-17
OLDER STATES lRRIoATE.
New England, Alabama and Missis-
sippi Make Provision Against
Drought.

Irrigation is as useful in New York
state farming as it is in many places
where it is supposed to be more ap-
plicable to the conditions. The new
census bulletin just issued reports that
artificial provision against drought is
used in Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Alabama
and Mississippi. Exceptionally high
yields of fruit and vegetables are re-
ported as made possible by its use.
Thousands Of miles of canals, says the
bulletin, are distributing water upon
more than 100000 acres of land, pro-
ducing crops worth $1OO,OO0,OOO year.
The increase from 1899 to 1902 was 20
per cent; 500, 900 900 has been invested in
irrigation works. Running streams pro-
vide three-fourths of the irrigation now
in use, wells and springs the remainder
California leads in cost of irrigation
works, Utah coming next. The Nor
mons settled in an arid tract, which they
have made to blossom like a garden by
bringing water down from the noun
tains. In irrigated area Colorado ranks
first. But the California irrigated land
averages more valuable, and is more
extensively worked.
More than nine per cent Of the coun-
try's irrigated farms are in the semi
arid region between the Rockies and the
Mississippi, using the headwaters of the
latter stream. This takes in part OF
the great American desert" of old geog-
raphies.
The Columbia river basin is third in
Importance in irrigation projects. 1t
alone supplies nearly 1000 farms with
water. The Colorado river through
much Of its course lies in a canyon sc
deep that it cannot be coaxed out to
work. Only 20 systems are supplied
from the main stream. Systems head
ing near Huma, Ariz., are turning desert
lands into region of marvellous rich.
ness.
Not until 1897 was irrigation applied
to coast lands in the southern states sup
posed before then to be suitable for
pasturage only. Now they are produc.
ing big crops of rice upon thousands OF
acres. American rice is crop with q
vast future.
Texas and Arizona are curiously
handicapped as to irrigation by the
present treaty with Mexico, which for
bids the impounding Of any part of the
waters of the Rio Grande. Probably il
the future there will be no difficulty IL
arranging this matter. Streams subject
to sudden floods, like the Rio Grandt
and the Mississippi, are improved by the
construction Of .headwater storage sys
TENS. These tend to diminish floods
Extreme low water is also indirectly
minimized by headwater impounding
Rain tends to increase in frequency il
the dry season upon lands abundant!
supplied with water from reservoirs
Evaporation cools the air and promotes
rain.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-05-17
CHAPTER ExIEI.
VIII T TIT 1NENAAHs
NOT WHAT THEY EXPECTED. B

NOT WHAT THEY EXPECTED, BUT
STILL
Inspector" returned Thomas, in a
voice that trembled in spite of his eff
forts to the contrary, II give you the
solemn word of man who at least
believes that he speaks the truth.
There has been no murder!"
But for the excited breathing Of the
living in the Office Of John Lamm, de-
tectivlL there was no more sound in
the moment following this utterance
than there would have been il Thorn
as auditors had suddenly become so
many ingenious and lifelike pieces Of
waKwork.
The inspector was the first to re-
cover sufficient command of himself
to trust his voice.
"Do you mean to have us believe
that it was suicide?" he demanded,
with scornful incredulity.
81 do not" Thomas returned, de-
cisively. 81 mean to have you believe
that Paul North died from accident.
pure ard simple, without the inter
yention Of any second person in any
possible way"
"And is this man, said the still in
credulous inspector, with a toss Of his
head in Fetridge's direction, supposed
to have knowledge of this fact?"
mel" gssped Richard Fetridge. 81
assure you, sir, that haven't the
faintest idea Of what he is talking
about"
"Umhal And the conspiracy" muir
INJURED 6 reproachfuI voice close to the
reporters ear.
Thomas turned quickly to grasp
Lamm'a hand.
my friend" he said, solemnly, 81
am sorry TO say that you were quite
right. There was a conspiracy. You
were shrewdly specializing here one
day % to which person was at the
head Of it and which person carried II
out; but you fell, wide Of tile truth
there. Damn, Paul North himself was
at the head Of that conspiracy, and
that pitiable &oman, his adopted
daughter, was the misguided instru-
ment of perpetuating his vengeance
Among those who stared ct Thomas
there was certainly none whose face
expressed more Of bewilderment, dumb
and hopeless, than Richard Fetridge
Thomas observed this, but the slight
seemed to kindle his indignation,
eAnd a. for the cause Of the whole
thing" he said, ~ Is easily to b
found 10 the man who entered into 90
Intrigue with en- adventures for pur'
poses OF his own 70 completely ruin
the Husband Of Paul Ncrths daugh
ltes.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-05-17

SRW ne cause - UFutA ana iustiee,"
interposed Fetridge In q faiht voice
FOR the family honor and-and my
own"
Thomas turned from him with a
contemptuous shrug of the shoulders.
And yet was he wholly just in con-
demning this man, whose chief fault
had been that he loved Marion North
Stackhouse too we'll to give her up so
long as a chance remained of winning
her? With what feverish eagerness
Richard Fetrldge must have seized
upon the straw of hope which the re-
vengeful Creole had brought into his
Office that fateful morning in May; and
how he must have argued with his
own conscience till he had justified his
course to himself! But, then, allow
ance must be made for the frame of
mind of Mr. Thomas, who was griev-
ously dissatisfied with the outcome of
the North case.
"And Thornton Stackhouse% he
asked. ITO speak more plNinly, per-
haps, Albert Runyon. l was told that
he was here"
Thornton Stackhouse Is dead" re-
turned the inspector, impatiently. "He
committed suicide this morning. We
are wasting precious time, Mr. Thorn
as. If what you say is true, 1t is emil
nently important that l should be as.
sured Of it at once. Tell your story in
the fewest possible words. In the first
place, how did you become possessed
of this information?"
"Dead!" murmured the reporter
He looked about him sharply and the
truth seemed to come to him. lie
pointed toward the inner room. "Ir
there?"
Lamm nodded.
"What a coincidencei"
Everybody noticed that the report
er's lips had turned white. For 6
short time he seemed vainly trying t
articulate.
The inspector, unaware of the cause
of his agitation, again reminded hin
impatiently of the flight of time
Thomas drew himself together with al
effort.
Permit me to sit down." he said
and dropped at once into the neares
chair. He began to search in an inne
pocket, and drew therefron a foldet
document
"All necessary information is con
tanned here" he said, His voice gain
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-05-17

try. This the bill removing the tax
from denatured alcohol. BY making
alcohol free from internal revenue tax,
that is alcohol manufactured from POI
tatoes, corn and other products after
1t has been rendered unfit for beverage
or medicinal uses and by mixture with
suitable denaturing materials a new
industry has been established. This
alcohol is expected to form staple
product of the country and be used as
fuel and in the manufactures and In
the running of explosive engines.
In Germany the bulk OF denatured
alcohol is used for the purpose OF light,
fuel and heat. A lamp is made which
produces a very strong, steady and
high grade light by the use Of alco-
hol. Experiments have been made
with this lamp which show that one
gallon of alcohol is equal to two gall
Ions of kerosene for lighting purposes.
During the past few months exreri-
ments have been made in adapting
gasoline power engines to the use OF
alcohol. In Germany this has been
successfully done for a number of
years. There they mix 25 per cent. OF
the gasoline with the alcohol and OBJ
tain more ready ignition of the fluid.
The experiments in this country show
that alcohol can be used by itself and
the operation of the engine with its
use is perfect.
1t is estimated that there are 300,-
900 motor engines in use In this coun-
try and the number is growing greatly
every year, the annual output being
more than 100000. These engines are
used on the farm for pumping water,
cutting feed, filling silos, threshing
grain and all the uses to which sta
tionary power on a farm is adapted.
The objection to the use Of gasoline is
the danger of fire to farm buildings.
The gasoline fire cannot be quenohed
with water. This danger is minimized
by the use Of alcohol, as an alcohol fire
can be extinguished by use Of water.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-05-17

companies, which has a charter to use
water from the Niagara river and
which would be cut of from the en-
joyment of this charter by the enact
ment of Chairman Burton's bill, has
offered, in case it is permitted to use
a portion of the water conceded by it's
charter, to perform an engineering
feat which, instead Of diminishing the
glory of the falls, will greatly enhance
Its spectacular beauty.
This company, known as the Nj
agara County Irrigation & Water Sup
ply company, plans, at its own ex-
pense, to excavate the bed of Niagara
river above the falls so that nearly so
per cent. more water will flow over
the American falls every second than
now flows over the same spot and that,
too, after all the water needed has
been diverted for mechanical purposes.
At present, according to the engineers,
the average fall of water over the
American falls is $1,000 cubic feet Of
water a second. After the proposed
excavation the fall will be 10000 cubic
Reet.
According to the same engineers,
who have been living near the falls for
20 years, the present use of power has
not affected the spectacular appear
ance of the falls so that 1t could be
visible to the eye and they declare
that If all companies now under char
ter should be permitted to use water
to the limit Of their charters the diff
ference in the spectacular appearance
Of the cateract would still be unap-
preciable-not nearly as great q
change as is wrought by an ordinary
wind on Lake Erie from the south
west or northeast which varies the
depth of water on the crest of the falls
frequently as much as three feet.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-05-17

that in Samoa he had discovered the
earliest reducible language. Mr.. Rice
sent this letter to Senator fittreage,
a member f,fhe United States senate
from South Dakota, suggesting that
some means be found by which Mr..
Churchill could devote his life work
to the prosecution of his pathological
researches. Senator Kittredge brought
the matter to the attention OF Mr.. L.
A. Coolidge, formerly a leading jour
naliat Of Washington and a man Of
scientific knowledge and attainmenta.
Mr.. Rice's rare discovery was dis
Ssased and II at once excited the deep
est interest among scientific men iE
this city. It was determined to Or
ganize a pathological society for the
purpose Of encouraging Mr.. Cnurchiiis
work.
The society was organized by Tire
election of Hon. w. L. Chambers, for
merly chief justice of the Samoan
court, as president; Mr.. westcott, Sec
Rotary; Mr.. L. A. Coolidge, treasurer.
Judge Chambers knew Mr. Churchill
when the latter was in the consular
service in Samoa and knew of his de-
votion to the study of the Samoan
language and has great confidence in
his ability to establish the theory that
the Samoan language is the father OF
all languages. In union with the Ma
tional Geographical society the Wash
ington Pathological society brought
Mr.. Churchill to Washington a few
days ago and the latter delivered
most instructive and Illuminating adj
dress embodying his favorite theory
under the title of THE Reduction OF
the Samoan Root"
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-05-17

sfed my hnSbas,d; and eouid ~ no harIR
to result from this means OF obtaining in
formation. entrusted nobody with the
contents Of that letter, but, resolved TO ac-
cept the advice therein contained, took
my keys to the house in MsFlboro street,
and late in the al srnOon of 4 hurSdSy went
II reached tho house before seven o'clock,
and let myself in by the font door. 4
the noise OF the latch key. 1 was then on
the stairs, near the floor above, and when
the door opened l very plainly heard the
voices Of my father and Mr. Richard Fet-
ridge.
81 am very sure. said my father. that
Thornton is here. or else he has been here
and forgotten to lock the storm door when
he went out
ITO Be Continued
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-05-17

$4,000 for the prosecution Of re-
search into this interesting subject.
At the instance of the Washington
Pathological society the Carnegie in-
ltitute has authorized William Church
III, OF New York, formerly United
states consul In Samoa, to complete a
most interesting investigation which
he has been prosecuting and which he
believes win unquestionably prove
that the root OF all language is In the
Samoan tongue.
The Washington Pathological society
Is Of recent origin and owes its being
o the interest excited by Mr.. Church
lls most interesting researches, Not
ong ago Mr.. Churchill wrote 70 a for
nsr classmate h the class Of 80 at
Yals, Mr.. james Rice. q letter IN
9hicA he sssmed 10 DEoVe, most Clearly
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-05-17

oOoTIy, IL II not No Dustaess. psyanpu
but you are sure that in arreSting Mr..
Fetridge you are not making q mis-
take?"
The inspector put on at once his In
visible robe Of official dignity.
81 think I know what am about, Mr..
Lamm." He was very curt.
"Oh, no doubt, no doubt, Mr.. In
spector," responded the private detec-
tive.
"Of course, II you are possessed Of
any information, sir, the authorities will
be glad to have you disclose It," Thus
Inspector Applebee still, with his of
fetal manner emphasized.
II do profess to some knowledge of
this case, Mr.. Inspector" returned Mr..
Lamm, land that is the rNason why l
made that suggestion just now about
Mr. Fetridge here"
ooh, we understand that this is a
complicated affair."" remarked inspect
or Applebee. I'VE know very we'll that
Richard Fetridge is not the only per-
son in the case. It's not professional,
perhaps, to tell you, Mr.. Lamm, but it
is fact that headquarters have a man
at Swampscott now, and another impor-
tant arrest has already taken place. Mr.
Eetridge, are you ready?"
Another arrest!" he gasped. "In
the name Of heaven, who is It? Who7
Not that unfortunate sufferer at the
North villa?"
The inspector replied to this wild, inn
petuous appeal in no other way than
sy a very grim smile.
Mr.. Lamm had stepped aside, and In
seactor Applnbee had already hooked
his arm firmly in Mr.. Fetridge's when
great noise at the door attracted their
attention.
Angry remonstrance and determined
assertion were contending for the up
per hand, when Mr.. Lamm recog-
nized, or thought he recognized, one
of the vices.
81 must go in! / must, sayl"
It was Kingman f. Thomas who
spoke the words, and there was no doubt
about T.. Diminishing all formality, Mr.
Lamm .nastened to the support of his
ally, tired and true.
inspector Applebee, still attached to
Richard Fetridge in this peculiarly
professional" manner, had not made
up his mind whether or not to Tebuke
Mr.. l.amm for his precipitate action
wher Klngman r. Thomas entered the
room and Joined the trio.
BIeathless from his verbal and physi.
cal contest WITH the guardian of the
portal-himself painting and angry
enough-Thomas could not speak for q
moment.
well, Thomas said the inspector
testify, what is the matter with your
Something will be the matter will
youth a minute-'when tell you wha
l know" gasped the reporter.
His manner was so unusual and ex
cited that everybody began to have live
ly misapprehensions.
What do you mean?" asked the in
spector, hastily. do you refer to thu
North case?"
Most assuredly do" cried Thomas
II am in possession of all the facts
} Lock the doors, gentlemen. Every
thing must stay just as it is till hav
! told my story"
There is no time for stories," sal
AIplebee. 'If you are in possession o
all the facts, you know who committe,
tho murder. Tell us in word. VIII
was it? Name the maa."
There was profound silence in tn
} room as Kingman F. Thomas, at las
himself again, opened his mouth TO
a reply.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-05-17

farmer can have at hand a conveni-
emit fuel and light and material for
running all his farm machinery. A
bushel OF corn will make almost i've
proof gallons of alcohol. The corn has
averaged in price for some years past
about AS cents bushel. Alcohol after
It has been denatured by the use OF
crude wood alcohol is worth about 20
cents a gallon. This would mean that
bushel OF corn could be turned into.
about 80 cents worth Of denatared ar
cohol.
At the same time where corn Is
cheap and where potatoes are cheap
this alcohol can be made cheaper than
the price for which gasoline and kero-
sene sell. In Europe the principal ma
terial for the manufacture Of dena-
tured alcohol. is the potato, but corn
seems to be the best material found
in this country. II does not need to be
the highest grade of corn or potatoes.
so that the farmer expects to be able
to utilize great deal Of what has
hitherto been waste in his crops. He
can sell for food his largest and best
potatoes and then turn the smaller
and immature fruit into alcohol. II his
corn should not all DO perfect he can
use Il up In a profitable way by maxi
ing It into alcohol TO run his automo-
bile, his motor launch or hia farm ma-
ehinery. Other grains such as oats
and wheat. that does not come up 70
the standard. can also Be utilized and
the visions Of wealth now dancing be-
fore the eyea q the farmer are veIl
attractive
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-05-17

Is figured, at a fall of 295 feet would
produce 100000 horse power. The use
Of this amount of horse power means
new employment for 228,000 men, rep
.resenting a population of 1,140,000.
Based upon the census population of
1900 it would yield gross annual prod
ucts to the amount Of $514,00O,0O0. The
value of all the farm property in the
state of New York in 1900 was 81 ,069,-
100000, the income from which at 20
per cent. would be $213,000SO00, which
Is only about 40 per cent of $514, OO0,-
BOO.
1t is also estimated that the use Of
power to this extent will save 3,000,-
300 tons of coal year, representing
an annual disbursement of s7,5O0,UOO.
If this could be accomplished by the
use of 1900 cubic feet of water per
second, it is easily figured how much
could be accomplished by the use OF
the entire force Of the falls, which is
$4,000 cubic feet per second. OF
course, that will never be realized; be-
cause it is plain that the people Will
not permit the entire force of the falls
to be devoted to unitarian purposes;
but something of what It signifies may
be judged from the words of Daniel
Webster who said at Rochester In
1874: "If the Thames had a fall OF
$50 feet within the limits Of London,
london would not be town, but
would be the whole world"
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-05-17


ing strength. Il have obtained it. 1t
is my property, and stipulate but one
thing, Inspector am to dictate just
how much of 1t is to be given to the
press. Just enough of it may be pre-
sented to satisfy the public. No more,
There is scandal enough in this affair
at the best, without heaping the whole
truth upon the heads of the unfortun-
ate family"
"You know yourself whether your re-
quest is reasonable" returned Apple
bee, III it is, you know very well
that shall only be too glad to COM
ply with 1t, If can do so without plac-
ing my department in false light be-
fore the public"
This" continued Thomas, unfolding
the document, lis the sworn statement
of Marion North"
"You mean Mrs. Stackhouse?" the
inspector said.
II mean Marion North, sir. AS to
how obtained it, may say that was
partly by threat, partly by argument.
accidentally became possessed on Sat
urday Of the cause of her separation
from Thornton Stackhouse. The In
formation I found in a letter written by
her to him. found her in the last
agonies of determined conflict be-
tween her pride and a sense of justice
which am sure would eventually have
ended in the surrender of pride, even
without my Intervention. At hrst she
fought me on with all her strength, but
was fortunately possessed Of a strong,
eT argument than anybody else could
have brought to bear upon her in the
person Of her sister"
You'll" cried the inspector.
IT," returned the reporter. Exact
~, my friend. The lady Is particular
| friend of my mother, and has beer
stopping with her for the week past.
took Stella North to Swampscott with
me yesterday afternoon. obtained 6
full confession last night. But
was obliged to wait till morning for 3
justice of the peace to prepare It in prop
er FORM Permit me, gentlemen, Il
this explanation Of how / came by tn,
document Is sufficiently explicit, to reat
It to you
"Read II" commanded the inspect
or, briefly.
'swampscott. June q, 1857,
about noon OF the 18th Of June last
received an anonymous letter which hRl
\ since been stolen from my writing desk
warning me that an aflair OF great impor
lance TO my happiness Was 20 be discusses
al my fathers house IN Marlboro stree
that eveping. and advising me, n ] valued
ny future happiness. 10 be secretly preeen
I ana oVerhear the conversation
II had previously become suspicious tina
everything was not right about the ailair
- ~ eathaF ah1 tht Nnn Uhn.n consid
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-05-17
straw-Man Gives Guard Scare

When night guard at the St. Paul
mimi workhouse SHOOK up" q pris-
oner to arouse him, the prisoners arm
came of at the shoulder and fell TO the
hoor. But the prisoner didn't move,
and when the guard grasped leg to
straighten the man around in the bed,
that limb was torn on Unstrung by
this second catastrophe, the guard
pounced upon the figure and found the
prisoner" was straw man. George
auckland, the supposed oceupsht Of the
bed, was gone. auckland had carried
the straw, sticks and rags to the cell
few at a time secretly.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-05-17
Name Is sugRestiva.

Germany names MIR. Tincanza as ita
member OF the board OF consulting en-
glneers for the Panama canal, This
win be . happy selection Tor the other
engineers when Il Is deolded that tbs
time bss come . rush ne grsulst