davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-11-08

Miss Katharine Donahue went to
her home at Nicola Saturday to re-
main during the vacation from her
school work in Douglas township.
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-11-08

Miss Sadie Ray a teacher from
Walnut came uD last of the week to
visit with her friend Miss Clara
Leonard.
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-11-08

Mrs. w. j. Lancelot of Extra came
up Saturday evening for visit over
Sunday with Mrs. w. A.. Thompson.
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-11-08

For Sale 10 head of thoroughbred
Poland China spring Bears, SO each
II taken soon. Can furnish pedigrees.
f. l.. HibbS.
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-11-08
MONEY TO LOAN.

MONEY TO LOAN.
With the German Savings
Bank at S per cent interest.
Optional payments.
NASH s. PHELPS.
G. S. McLeran, ID. ID. S., office
or Brorson's Drug Store Audubon.
Mrs. F. j. Root went down to Extra
Saturday for an over Sunday visit
among friends.
Thos. Davis went down to Oakfield
with sack of ballots for that pre-
cinct on Monday
Miss Margaret Twist went down to
Extra last of the week to engage in
work there for awhile.
Mrs. Chris Hahn and daughter
Selma went to Omaha on Saturday
for visit among friends.
Miss Bessie Roe went down to Extra
Saturday to visit with her grand.
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Roberts.
Neal Barentsen and family went
down to Brayton Saturday to remain
over Sunday with his wife's people,.
Mrs. w. j. Lancelot of Extra came
up Saturday evening for visit over
Sunday with Mrs. w. A.. Thompson.
For Sale 10 head of thoroughbred
Poland China spring Bears, so each
II taken soon. Can furnish pedigrees.
+. l.. Hibbs.
Miss Sadie Ray a teacher from
Walnut came uD last Of the week to
visit with her friend Miss Clara
Leonard.
! Alex Zinke was in town Saturday
To meet his broLher-in-law Fred
KOpaska who returned from Mime
sofa with his bride.
! >. IL. MantZ has returned from Ok
lahoma where he has been for three
weeks on business. He reports good
crops and promising outlook.
Miss Katharine Donahue went to
her home at Nicola Saturday to re-
main during the vacation from her
school work in Douglas township.
Miss Bertha Rogers of Anita who
had been teaching over in Guthrie
county passed through here on her
way home Saturday having closed
her term of two months.
}. H. Bell returned to his home at
Extra last Saturday having finished
his school in Douglas township. He
will teach this winter down in Greeley
township, which is much nearer home.
Rev. j. +. Christensen, son-in-law
OF S. p. Kragelund of Extra township
has gone up to Alta in Baena Vista
county to assist in a series of re-
yival meetings in the Danish Baptist
church.
( WANTED-A good live agent to
sell irrigated land in Western Colo
RADIO Also land in Eastern Colo
RADIO, Western Kansas and the Pan
Handle of Texas.
overwhelmingly Co.
Omaha, Neb.
FOR SALE:-Short-h bull and
fifteen Duroc- Jersey boars. All good
ones. Owen Davis,
44tf Audubon, Iowa.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-07-06

exceeds 100000 acres, the money value
of their best state will amount to at
least $40,000,000. The cost of reclaim
ing these lands and reducing them to
cultivation should not exceed the fifth
of this sum-
Shaler spoke of the need for we'll
skilled engineering direction In the
retaining of the marshes, and that 1t
was to be regretted the experiments
had not been directed by some one
trained in the work-as in the very
successful work on the northern shores
of Europe.
In Europe salt marshes are consid-
cred the most fertile of lands. For
many years past large areas in Den
mark, Belgium and Holland have been
land have been diked and ditched and
about million acres of matchless fer
tiity been reclaimed.
There are many kinds of salt marsh
es; some bare mud flats without vege-
tation; others with heavy growth of
grass, sometimes there is sod foot
and more thick. 1t is a comparative
ly slow process to get the salt lands
rid of water and saltiness, but in those
cases where proper precautions have
been taken, sufficient time and labor
allowed, the lands have given good
returns. The author of the circular
says it is generally conceded one acre
of reclaimed salt marsh is worth four
or five acres of upland, and that ac-
cording to the well substantiated fig
ures of Shaler, the cost of reclamation
should not exceed one-ffth the final
value of the land.
The Yankee farmer has found out
that certain class of bog land can be
turned to profitable account in grow
ing the cranberry, but when considera-
ton is given the extent of our swamp
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-07-06
A QUARTETrE BEFORE WHICH FARMER TREMBLEs

government experts are looking for a
suitable kind When it is obtained they
propose to propagate it artificially,
placing cultures of it in the hands of
farmers perhaps, with instructions for
using the stuff in such a way as to
make it as detrimental as possible to
the mice.
The meadow mice are especially de-
structive to fruit trees, the bark of
which they know, but they also attack
crops. They cut down the stalks OF
grain, spelling in this way several
times as much as they eat, and, when
the grain is harvested and left stand
ing in shocks they take possession of
the latter, building their nests in them.
In winter they make tunnels under the
snow, carrying on their mischievous
work unobserved.
Now the chief cause of the mouse
plague seems to be found in the reck-
less killing off of the natural enemies
of the little rodents, such as foxes,
weasels, owls and hawks. Owls and
hawks, which are among the best
friends of the farmers, and the deadly
foes Of the mice, are destroyed when
ever possible, bounties for them being
actually offered in many of the states.
In this way the balance of nature has
been upset, and hence the enormous
MULTIPLICATION of the furry pests that
occurs at intervals. The same remarks,
indeed, apply to other kinds of gnaw-
ing animals which are at the present
time eating millions of dollars worth
of crops in this country annually.
In Florida, owing to similar causes,
cotton rats have become vastly de-
structive. In fact, all along the gulf
coast they swarm, and at times they
multiply to. such an extent as to
amount to a literal plague, like the
yoles which from time to time have
overrun parts of Europe. Living I'M
der cover of tall grass and weeds,
around the edges of cultivated fields
and along the banks of streams and
bitches, they make bulky nests of
grass on the surface of the ground or
in Underground burrows. They eat
both the green and the ripening grain,
and often their runways are fairly
lined with cotton that has been pulled
from the bolls and dragged under COW
er. Some of the cotton they carry
away for their nests.
Nearly related to the cotton rats are
the rice rats, which range as far north
as the dismal swamp of Virginia.
OF much more serious importance
than the mouse problem is another TO
dent pest that devours the crops to a
greater or less extent over most of the
west. This is the 'spermophile. or
ground squirrel--a small burrowing
animal which eats pretty nearly every
thing that the farmer grows, and which
will even carry on young chickens
from the poultry yards when It gets a
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-07-06

lands it would seem nothing has been
done in the developing of the posi-
bilities that lie therein. Shaler, writ
ing in Science in 1886, argues for the
utilization of our swamps and gives
information in regard to the various
classes of swamps in the United States.
These neglected districts are of great
extent and very varied nature. They
consist, in part, of land which is some
what less fertile than the best soils,
but which in every other respect is fit
for tillage. A preliminary
study of the field has shown the re-
markable fact that we have left I'M
touched in the region east of the Mis-
sissippi districts of easily drained
swamp lands amounting to more than
$4,000 square miles Of area The mum
dated lands of the lower Mississippi
remain in the state in which they were
when first seen by men, while similar
areas in England were long ago won to
the state of the most fertile fields of
that country.
Our American inundated lands are
divisible into several classes, deter
mined by the condition Of their origin
OF these the most important are the
tide water marshes, the lacustrine
swamps of the glaciated district, the
delta swamps of the Mississippi, and
the class of wet lands or upland
swamps where the marshy condition
is due to the action of plant in retain
ing water under the surfaces of con-
siderable districts.
Preliminary studies Of the great
area of fresh water marshes, extend
ing from the mouth of the James river
south to Albemarle sound, show that
in that district this class of marshes
covers an area of about 1000 square
miles. This class Of marshes
can easily and cheaply be drained and,
when so improved. they afford exceed
ingly rich soils. Along the outer mar
gin of these vast morasses, some hun
dred thousands acres have been won
to culture. These lands are remark
ably fertile. 1t seems likely that of
these easily reclaimed upland morass-
es, resembling the Dismal Swamp.
there is total area in the southern
states Of not less than $4,000 square
miles. In the northern states the area
of improbable swamp land is less ex-
tensive. but there is not state in
which they do not constitute an i'm
portant part Of the land reserve which
the coming generation win be glad to
use"
CHRISTOPHER WEBSTER
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-07-06

OF late years the public has had o.
fered no little information regarding
the watering of dry lands to make the
desert bloom; and now there are signs
public attention Is to be called to the
draining of swamp lands and the
Transforming of these waste places.
Recently bill was introduced in
congress for the reclamation of swamp
lands under a system similar to that
adopted for the reclamation of the
deserts in the southwest. AS yet only
beginning has been made, begin
ming that probably will some day lead
to legislative action.
The total area of our swamp lands
is impressive, and it stands to reason
this large portion of territory will
some day be coveted by our fast-in-
creasing population. eve are feeding
now nearly 100000 of people within
the boundaries of our own country and
sendslg enough material abroad to
clothe and feed an almost equal num-
ber." And when one considers the adj
vantages offered by the swamp lands
one wonders why experiments have not
sooner been made in their reclamation.
tell us swamp lands can
be reclaimed as cheaply as arid lands.
Once drained swamp land is drained
for good. Drained lands are more fer
tile than the average agricultural soil,
require little or no artificial fertiliz-
ing. And, what is of decided impor-
lance, generally these lands are To-
Gated in the midst of well settled re-
gions, market near at hand, trans
portation provided. And not only for
utilization Of waste lands is it urged
the swamps be drained, but because
many of them are such a menace to
health. In an article on Reclamation
of Salt Marsh Lands" in the circular
bureau of soils. department of agri-
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-07-06

Time was when the American farm
er would have laughed to scorn the
notion that he could be afraid of a
mouse. And yet this is undeniably
the situation in which he finds himself
to-day.
There is a plague of meadow mice,
which at periodical intervals assumes
the proportions of an epidemic, the lit
tie rodents multiplying in enormous
numbers and devouring the trees and
crops. Such an epidemic recently ex-
tended clear across the country from
Massachusetts to the Rocky mountain,
the mice appearing in veritable armies.
In the Mississippi valley they did hun
dreds Ct thousands of dollars worth of
damage.
These are not the common field mice.
They are of quite a different species
thick-set little fellows, with sqaure
heads and short tails. Assailed by
them, the farmers are well-nigh help
less, inasmuoh as they are too small
and too numerous to be destroyed by
guns, or by traps, or by poisons. For
which reason it is that the department
of agriculture is trying to find a new
and effective means for wiping them
out wholesale.
1t is microbe that is wanted-a ba-
cillus which can be used to infect the
rodent legions with a deadly and cas-
lily distributed malady. Such germs
are obtainable-one of them has re-
Gently been employed with most salts
factory results in Europe-and the
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-07-06

grain is hard, they carry quantities of
it into their burrows, to be consumed
at leisure. They dig up squash, melon
and oiher seeds; and another little trick
of theirs is to cut holes in nearly ripe
muskmelons and watermelons, to get
at the seeds.
Yet another rodent nuisance which
does immense damage is the gopher"
little animal, often confused with the
ground squirrel, but which is alto
gether different, living underground
like mole and rarely appearing above
ground. 1t is described by DR.. Mer-
riam CT the department of agriculture
as one of the most ferocious of living
animals. Apparently it is not afraid
of anything, and it will even attack
man ON slightest provocation and try
to eat him up. Its tail is an organ of
touch, and it can run backwards as
rapidly as forwards. But the most re-
markable thing about it, perhaps, is its
battery of teeth, with which it is able
to make 1920 cuts minute.
This remarkable creature is found
everywhere in this country west of,
and in, the Mississippi valley, and
south of the Savannah river.
Here again the farmers have been
making the mistake Of killing off the
weasels and harmless bull snakes,
which are the worst enemies of the
gophers. 1t is a favor which the
gophers should highly appreciate, but
for the interests of agriculture it is ex-
tremely unfortunate. Tillers of the
soil in this country are the most intel
ligent and best-informed people OF
their class in the world, and it is high
time they should realize the danger of
interfering with nature too much. Ma
ture makes abundant provision for reg
ulating the numbers of animals and
preventing their too rapid increase.
But, in their blind efforts to arrange
their friends instead of their foes-a
kind of mistake which is largely ac-
countahle for the rodent plaques that
are causing so much anxiety at the
present time.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-07-06
RODENT ENEMIES OF THE FARM
AND WARFARE ON THEM
of the United States Suffers
rom Depredations of the Little Animals

chance. Two species of these ground
squirrels annually destroy from two to
five per cent. of the grain crops in the
state Of Washington, and from four to
ten per cent. of all crops produced In
that state, where the total loss caused
by thom runs up into millions of dol
lars yearly. In the wheat fields (Wash-
ington raises about $15,OOO,0O0 worth OF
wheat per annum) the loss is at least
one dollar per acre. All of which
makes no reckoning of money spent in
trapping and poisoning of the pestif-
erous creatures, which in single
county (Whitman) amounts to 100000
each twelvemonth.
Twenty years ago DR.. Elliott Coues,
a famous naturalist, wrote of some OBJ
servations which he had made of one
species of ground squirrel, commonly
known as the "flickertail," on jour-
ney through the northwest.
The evil in question is one of great
magnitude over more than two-thlrds
of the United States. There are about
35 species of these ground squirrels,
and one of the most destructive of
them, the striped spermophile, has
special trick of digging up newly plant
ed corn. In this way large fields OF
corn are often destroyed by them, and
have to be planted over several times.
1t is the same way with wheat, oats,
barley and rye. AS the grains begin to
develop soon after blossoming, the
ground squirrels cut down the stalks
and ca. them And later on, when the
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-07-06

culture, attention is called to the fact
that marshes and stagnant pools are
the principal breeding places of mos
quitoes. Science has shown that mos
quitoes are the most common, If not
the only means of conveying malarial
germs and introducing these germs
into the human system; and that mos
quitoes are the only proved cause of
the infection of yellow fever. In Italy
vast areas of land have been aban-
doned because of the mosquito pest
While our salt marshes do not seem
to present the conditions necessary for
the breeding of the species of malaria
mosquitoes in this country, they are
breeding places for immense numbers
of other mosquitoes that prove a pest
to persons and to stock, in some cases
SO troublesome they lower the valua-
ton of the land.
Engineers believe the everglades of
Florida can be drained, and here
would be added to our rich lands 7,000,-
900 tillable acres. There are 100000
acres of swamp lands in Michigan, be-
tween 100000 and 100000 acres in
Minnesota, 100000 in Wisconsin. In
New Jersey and Virginia there are
large areas. Salt marshes are promi-
nent features of nearly all the states
bordering the Atlantic and Pacific.
In preparing this article we have
found it difficult to get any very recent
writings on the subject Of the reclaim
ing Of the swamps, but are looking
shortly for flood of literature on the
subject Some years ago quite good
deal was said, crusade started for the
reclamation of our salt marshes; their
value as farming lands emphasized,
and that in the existing state they
were a serious menace to the health OF
the people living in their vicinity.
Notable among the government re-
ports issued at the time was Shaler's
"Sea-C Coast Marshes of the United
States" and Nesbit's Tidal Marshes.
Writing on the sea-coast marshes OF
the eastern part of the country, Shaler
said: THE great advantage of the
northern marsh areas is found in the
fact that they generally are near the
large centers of population of the
country, where they will have a high
value as market garden soils or fields
for the raising of hay. When brought
into their best state such areas will,
measured by the price Of other lands
IN the same neighborhood, have a
.ralue Of not less than 5000 an acre.
AS the total reclaimable area between
New York and Portland (Me.) probably
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-07-06

Senator Whyte is most interesting character
and has earned the title of Maryands Grand Old
Man." He has a beautiful country estate called the
"Roost" on the Gunpowder river in eastern Mary
land He is very fond of outdoor life and while he
attributes his activity and excellent health at his
advanced age to abstemious life, very largely
he also gives credit to outdoor living.
81 get plenty Of fresh air." said the senator
speaking of his excellent health the other day.
Nearly every afternoon | go for drive, whether
| am in town or in the country. We stay in the
country from June to November and drive all
through the beautiful valleys in that section We
live informally at our house in the country as well
as in town. There are always seats at the table
for those who may drop in. At one meal we may
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-07-06
ONE OF THE MOST FINISHED SCHOLARS IN PUBLIC LIFE

1t is barely possible that the house will shortly
lose of it's most interesting characters and one
of its ablest members. John Sharp Williams, the
minority leader the floor, has under considera-
ton the profer of professorship in the University
of Virginia. He has been asked to take the chair
of political history in that celebrated institution of
learning This offer is very attractive to Mr.. Will
liams he is a graduate of that university and is
one of the most finished scholars in public life
Political history would be we'll treated at his hands
for he is thoroughly posted the subject and has
himself had hand in the making of considerable
political history in the United States
Mr. Williams is divided in his wishes as the
public service has grown very enjoyable to him,
no ticnlnrlX since his marty has remarkably hon
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-07-06

throughout the
cdabe which
makes nj
which
been said of
that he make
that had long established the
will probably
the race for governorship Kentucky.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-07-06

Senator Joseph Clay Stiles Blackburn, OF
Kentucky. will retire from the senate on the third
of next month. During the few remaining months
of his service he will occupy the highest position
of honor in the gift of his fellow Democrats on
the floor of the senate He will be the leader OF
the minority. This is the place so long held by
the late Senator German and to be chosen for 1t
is proof of senator's popularity and staunch par
tsanship The principal part of the duties of
minority leader is to take advantage of every
opening where party capital can be made. He is
also the chairman of the minority caucus and the
decisions of such a caucus are put into his hands
for enforcement
Mr. Senator Blackburn is an old time south
erner and one of the very few confederate soldiers
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-07-06

AN oPTIMIST.-Secretary Wilson'S
surely an optimist. He says: The
grasshoppers will soon find so much
to eat, that they will not be noticed,
and the hot winds will find so much
fresh and green to blow against that
they will be checked and cooled. :
In 1910 the production per acre win be
twice as great as it was in 1900"
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-07-06

him
although
bilious gentlemen willing WELD the gae Mr. Williams
life characteristic leads
university professor with considerable favor
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-07-06

larly grateful
is a friendship Presi
things advocated SINH
little than
is still interesting
md each other
political speculation
mated by Republicans
Roosevets
Republican would
popularity candidates IT, the general impression
H. their principles do not differ widely
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-07-06
LETTER FROM THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
Senator Whyte's Return to the Senate
-Forn1er Colleagues Tempting
ProfeSsorship of
BRYAN and Roosevelt

WASHINGTON.-Ther three octogenari
ans in the United States senate now Senator William
Whyte of Maryland, stands with Senators
Pettus and Morgan, of Alabama He is in his
eighty-second year. just about the same age as Mr.
Morgan but is as vigorous men of half his age
and is by far the spryest of the group of senators
who have passed the three score years and ten
mark his rapid step gives promise of an ability
to run foot race. His form is as straight as a
cedar and he would easily be taken for man just
in the prime of life.
To him it interesting experience when
he stepped up to the vice presidents desk few
days ago and took again the oath Of Office from
which he had retired just a quarter of century
ago last March. He was a good deal affected as he
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-07-06

FEEDING ENGLISH BACONH0Gs
In England. practically all the breed
ers Of bacon" hogs use dairy by
products as the principal feed In theii
stock.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-07-06
EXPRESSIONS OF ENTHUSIASM FOR BRYAN.

Political circles in this city have all been stir
red up recently by the revival of the talk of Will
liam Jennings Bryan as candidate for the presi-
dency in 1908. Mr.. Bryan served two terms in con-
gress away back in the early COS and while in
Washington he made a vast number of warm
friends and intense admirers. The recrudescence
of his boom for the presidency has brought great
pleasure and satisfaction to these old friends and
they have seen to it that the mention of his name
has received the greatest enthusiasm. 1t has been
noted that during the last few weeks in the house
whenever Democratic orator would mention the
name of Bryan the applause would be instantane-
Gus and enthusiastic. There are a few Hearst en-
thusAsts among the Democrats in the house and to
these the mention of Bryan has not been particu-