davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-01-05

is published in these columns, COM
ments upon these two land laws.
:. The Communication clause originally
provided that after eight months OF
residence on a homestead claim a
man could commute" by paying to
the government SLIPS an acre and get
immediate title to his land After a
number of years of operation it was
conceded that this clause had opened
the door for much land requirement
without settlement, and amid great
blare of trumpets, Congress, in a
spasm of virtue, extended the time to
fourteen months. What has been the
result of this amendment? The OPP
ponents of the repeal of the comntuta-
ton clause have presented specific
reasons why this law should not be
touched; that the entryman needs to
prove up" and get title to his land
so that he can mortgage his property
and with the money buy groceries.
tools, ETC., with which to work his
farm, which may sound well. but thu
fact seems to remain that the gr
bulk OF the committed homesteadsf
not to-day homes.
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-01-05
THE CHINESE MINISTER'S DAUGHTER.

perience. At home they would not
dare.
Society is eagerly awaiting the ex-
pected announcement that Miss Liang
will be formally presented this season.
She has learned to speak English ex-
ceedingly we'll and is a familiar figure
in box at the theatres on Monday
nights. When she wishes to go shop
ping she does so unhesitatingly, and
her carriage is frequently seen stand
ing in front of some of the fashionable
shops.
Fewer girls, especially among those
who have not been presented to So
ciety, are more popular than this
charming daughter of the Chinese Min
lister. She has made friends with
every girl in Washington society, and
her chief delight is to jump in her car
riage in the afternoons and drive
about, calling on her young American
| friends. They are all delighted to see
her, and no matter what is on the pro-
gramme it must wait If the attractive
little Miss Liang happens to call. She
| is SO piquant, and appreciates an
| American joke as well as any of her
American associates.
Miss LANG is the constant compan-
ion of her father and accompanies him
on all his drives They are great
friends and apparently enjoy every
minute of their time together. The
Minister is very proud of his daughters
progress in learning American GUS
toms, and it is not unlikely that before
many more years are past the Chinese
Legation will be enjoying even to a
greater extent the American freedom
in living which makes the assignment
of Washington a diplomatic plum for
which many hands are always ready.
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-01-05
4 COUPLE OF
"HOMES" IN THE
WEST.

Gen. Morgan Neville, a rich pioneer.
and taught the district school. He had
word from France that there was a
chance to regain the Bourbon throne
If he could but get to Paris, but he
had not money enough for the trip.
Gen. Neville lent the prince the money,
something like $500, and the prince
gave in pledge the ring that Miss
Strong now wears. Going to New Or
leans by boat, PHILIPPE got to France
and the rest is history. He regained
his throne and the money lent by Gen.
Neville made it possible. The king sent
back the amount of the loan, told the
general to keep the ring and asked him
to visit him at the royal palace. The
ring is pear shaped diamond, set In
black enamel and is naturally highly
priced. ,4-ss-- :.ss,st Nj
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-01-05

COulInlSSlOU
he would be unwilling to pay SLIPS an
acre for immediate title, when by an
additional two years residence, he
could save this amount.
The provisions of the desert land
act, and the recommendation for the
amendment of which is included in the
following report will be discussed in
next weeks article.
Communication Clause of the Homes Z
stead Act.
In the preceding report state
ment was made that our investiga-
tons respecting the operations Of the
Communication clause Of the homestead
law were still in progress. We were
not at that time prepared to recon-
mend its repeal. Investigations car
ried on during the past year haves
convinced us that prompt action
should be taken in this direction -
that, in the interest OF settlement,
commutation clause should lie grS
ly modified.
A careful examination of the dis
tricts where the Communication clause
is put to the most use shows that
there has been a rapid increase of the
use Of this expedient for passing
public lands into the hands of cor
porations or large landowners The
object of the homestead law was pri-
marily to give to each citizen, the
head of family, an amount of land
up to 100 acres, agricultural. in char
acter so that homes would be creatcsls
in the wilderness. The Communication
clause, added at a later date, was
undoubtedly intended to assist the
honest settler, but like many other
well-intended acts its original intent
has been gradually perverted until it
is apparent that great part Of all
COMMITTED homesteads remains unin-
habited In other words under the
Communication clause the number eof
patents furnishes no index to the
number Of new homes.
To prove this statement it is only
necessary to drive through a country
where the communication clause has
been largely applied. Field after
field is passed without sign of per-
manent habitation or Improvement
other than fences. The homestead
shanties Of the commuters may be-
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-01-05
The Royal Crown of England.

Uneasy is the head that wears the
crown" The crown Of England is a
costly toy and is better to look upon
than to wear. Around the circle there
are twenty diamonds, worth $500
each, two large center diamonds, $780,
900 each; fifty-four smaller ones at the
angle of the former, $500 each; four
crosses, each composed Of twenty-five
diamonds, $4,000; four large dia.
monds at the top Of the crosses, 500
900; twelve diamonds contained in the
feur-de-lis, $4,000; eighteen smaller
ones in same, $4,000; pearls, dia-
monds, ETC., upon the arches and
crosses, $4,000; also one hundred and
forty-one small diamonds, $4,000;
twenty-six diamonds in the upper
cross, $4,000 and two circles of pearls
about the rim, $4,000. The cost of
the precious stones alone is nearly
half a million dollars.
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-01-05

There is a class of people who have
apparently lost sight of the fact that
the federal land laws, from the home
stead law down, and even before the
homestead law, were enacted Tor the
purpose of fostering the making of
homes for the nation; they seem to
think, and it must be confessed that
they have successfully. put into prac-
tice their belief, that the laws are to
be construed into passing on the title
from the government into private
hands with absolutely no regard to
homemaking. They argue that when
the public domain goes into private
ownership it becomes taxable property
and this helps the country and the
State, and the question is ignored as
to whether men and women go upon
that land and make homes and rear
families.
The following part of the rep6v
the Public Lands Commission shows
that the communication clause at pres
ent is farce and that land can be
entered under it and almost immedi-
ately added to already large individual
holdings. The Commission recon-
mends that the period of residence
be extended from fourteen months to
three years and that the residence be
actual and not constructive, as it is
at present. With such law strictly
enforced the evils of the commuta-
ton clause would be largely obviated.
1t is, however, highly improbable that
if man actually resided and i'm
proved his homestead for three years
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-01-05
A Ring for a Throne.

Miss Josephine Strong, who was
private secretary at Washington for
Congressman Hawley, has diamond
ring that was once owned and worn
by Louis PHILIPPE. king of France.
The ring has peculiar history. 1t
will be remembered that PHILIPPE lived
in this country when he was an exile.
He lived one winter in GAINESVILLE,
Ohio, and spent another winter with
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-01-05
AMERICAN. LAND MONOPOLY.
IS BEING FOSTERED BY OUR PRES
ENT SYSTEM OF LOOSE
LAND LAWS.

Homestead Communication and Desert
Land Act, Supposed to Encourage
Settlement-Largely Utilized for
Land Grabbing.
Land monopoly is black cloud OF
dread from which Ireland is just
emerging, and we applaud England's
act, while we may yet possibly be a
little skeptical, in providing a plan
whereby free Ireland may become a
fact.
Yet we ourselves are as rapidly ap-
preaching land monopoly in America
as it is possible to do, considering our
vast extent of territory. Land monop-
oily brings with it more state evils
than can be recounted in any single
article. 1t retards every internal de-
velopment, it smothers individual eff
fort and enterprise and finally it
transforms the stem and fiber of the
individual citizen from that of SUBJ
stantial, self-reliant supporter of free
government to supine, Indifferent
and passionless individual, lacking in
mental and moral poise and in those
sturdy and heroic qualities which
have made America the greatest name
in history.
Land monopoly, did you say?'
says the American land grabber.
"Why, there is enough land for the
children of the nation for generations
If not centuries to come. The gov
eminent owns in the West alone near
ly half billion acres and how can
there be any land monopoly when this
vast area is always open to free entry
under our various land laws?"
Half Billion Acres Remaining.
1t is true that there are valuable
lands in the West yet remaining open
to entry, or at least land which will
be valuable when 1t shall have been
furnished water for irrigation, but
what is the general description of this
Mlf billion acres yet remaining under
Uncle Sans control? Is it reasonable
to suppose that the shrewd land oper-
ators, living on the ground, have not
skinned the cream of this land, and
are not doing so to-day--the fertile
valleys and the rich plains, where
water can be applied-and leaving the
great bulk Of the land to their pos
terity, land composed Of mountain
tops and impossible canyon sides
which will probably forever remain in
the hands of the government and at
least can never support life. Glance
at physical map of Colorado, just
for an instance. and note the vast
preponderance of mountains. There
are many fertile valleys in Colorado,
for the map is on much reduced
scale, but from its appearance you
would think the entire State was COM
posed of nothing but chain upon chain
and range upon range of untillable
mountains.
Denounced by Commission.
This question of land monopoly in
the West, as it is fostered through the
use of the Communication clause of the
homestead act and the desert land act
has been studied by the Presidents
Public Lands Commission, and their
report, the third installment of which
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-01-05
Into the Earfh's wells.

At Bendigo, Australia, there is a
gold mine $500 feet deep, or only so
feet short Of three-quarters of a mile.
This is said to be the deepest gold
mine in the world.
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-01-05

Here lies my wife's nearest relative.
All my tears cannot bring her back.
Therefore weep.
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-01-05
MARK TWAIN AT SEVENTY.
THE HUMORIST ENTERTALNS
GROUPS OF AUTHORS AT
BANQUET.

At Three Score and Ten He Is Hale
and Hearty-Cives Views on How
to Live-Never Smokes or Drinks
While Asleep.
Mark Twain, that prince of humor-
lists has reached the limitation of life
as laid down by the Scriptures-three
score years and ten. And yet he is
still able to give us gems of humor
and wit-such gems as attained fame
for him years ago when Huckleberry
Finn, Tom Sawyer and Innocents
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-01-05

Continued on next paFl
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-01-05
Denounced by Commission.

This question of land monopoly in
the West, as it is fostered through the
use of the Communication clause of the
homestead act and the desert land act
has been studied by the Presidents
Public Lands Commission, and their
report, the third installment of which
The Forrest City times., 1906-11-02
A Bone of Mystery.

Standing alongside the railtoad tracks near Hackensack, N. J.. is a row of four little workingmen's cot tages that bear the cryptic title in that countryside of The Mastodon Houses The reason for the title is based on the fact that when the eel lars for these cottages were being dug in the soft black loam the workmen came across bone of such an m usual size and appearance that the fame of the find soon spread through the neishborhood. attracting the attention Of all of the amateur naturalists.
 One of them wrote to the State Geologist at Trenton giving him a complete and accurate description of the bone and requesting the official to take some steps toward securing the relic for the State Museum. But the geologist replied that he had no money for such a purpose, and as the builder and the naturalists could come t0 no agreement over the possession or the thing the builder took it upon himself to decide the fate of the bone by sticking it back in the earth again. where, so far as anyone knows. it still remains, Its monun it consists of the shabby little houses with the title that oyerbalances their size and appearance materially.
The Forrest City times., 1906-11-02
Treatment of Weak Wrist

Not Very long ago a wel-known schoolmaster declared of a highly promising pupil that he would never be able to write we'll on account of his wrist being too weak. This eondf. ton is by no means rare. For the benefit of such sufferers the following hints are given: During two full min utes, night and morning. let the cold water tap run with some force on the affected parts. Dry thoroughly. and then use friction with a soft towel. al. ways rubbing from the hand towards the elbow. The best exercise for strengthening the wrist is fencing with toils. Another excellent plan. when the wrist has become stronger, is to face companion, interIoek the fingers of your right hand with those of his right hand, and to try to so force his wrist down that if the effort is sue cessful he sinks to the floor.
The Forrest City times., 1906-11-02
THE PARTRIDGE WAS DRUNK.
Bird Had Become Victim of Poke
 berries-Queer Antics.

One night a little after dusk as we rare about to % into the house our younger boy saw something dark nov ing behind the dog kennel. says a correspondent of Outing The older boy reached in as far as he could and with the hejp of his father. who stood at the UtLer end of the kennel, ne drew out a fluttering female partridge that acted so queerly We could no' make out what was the matter, for she did not seem 10 be hurt; there were no b,oodstains on her feathers no marks anywhere, but she could neither walk nor fly. and, what was the strangest of all. she did not ap' pear frightened. and every one thirk knows that nothing living IS shyer than a partridge. We marveled at the sight as she sat quietly In the older boys hand breathing very fast but showing absolutely no fear.
 Suddenly our younger boy ex claimed: "Oh. know what ails her; she's drunk; she's been eating poke berries,a Sure enough, We had all read about cartridges getting drunk on pokeberries, but had forgotten it.
 We took her into the house and she sat on the table while we ate our SUD- per. How indescribably funny she looked sitting there by my plate, al lowing me to stroke her smooth brown, mottled back, permitting-the wild-woods ing-familiarities from each of us, Poor, helpless, drunken little dame, Her bill would partly open and shut and if We put her ur on her feet she would sway and tot ter, with half-closed eyes and. droop ing tall and wings How We laughed and how We regretted that We had not a camera and SO were unable to take her picture, What a chance for Mir. Job. Not another such chance would anyone be likely to have in a lifetime
 As I held her up against my face and felt the soft. faint little puff5 of breath from her bill against my cheek. she seemed the very spirit oi quintessence of all that is woodsy shy, remote and inaccessible, and yet there she was. right in my hands dozily, dzzily, dauntlessly drunk
The Forrest City times., 1906-11-02
NEWS OF
 ARKANSAS
Capital in Arkansas"

The information comes from Pine Bluff that the International Harester Company is negotiating for the pur- chase of the Pine Bluff Lumber and Veneer Company, which is at present fin the hands of a receiver. No cor. roboration from headquarters could be secured. but it is believed that a deal will be closed shortly, if 1t has not al ready been consummated. In the event that the purchase is made a line of railway will be constructed either from Pine Bluff or Warner, and other extensive improvements will be made.
The Forrest City times., 1906-11-02
May He Return Late to Heaven"

Col J. NJ. Montgomery. of Lewis vile. celebrated his S0th birthday, Oc- tober g. He is the father of K. L.. Montgomery, senator-elect of the Twenty first senatorial district. Col. Montgomery was elected clerk of La fayette county in 1852. and served un- til 1868. He was appointed county clerk of Miller county by Gov. Jones. He was a citizen of that county for several years prior to 1868. He was licensed to practice law and is ac- tive in practice today. is hale and hearty and gives promise of living to be 100 years old.
The Forrest City times., 1906-11-02
Key to Room Returned

In Machias, Me, lived a well known character named Lunn, who was ad. licted 10 the use of spiritnous liquors. He visited the county fair at Cherrv- field. where he imbibea. and on his return stopped at Columbia Falls and applied at the tavern fer lodging. which was refused. The ,landlady in. lisnanuy told him the barn was good enough for him. and to go there and sleep
 With several hoon companions he went and slept on tbe hay. In the morning he took the barn shovel and went 10 the hotel summoned the land. lady to the door, and lowing with the courtesy of cavalier. handed her the shovel, saying. Madam here is the key 10 my room"
The Forrest City times., 1906-11-02
Chinese Sayinas.

Some of the ordinary expressions of the Chinese are very sarcastic and characteristic. A clustering, harmless fellow. they call paper tiger" When a man values himself overmuch. they compare him to "a rat falling into a scale and weighing itself" Oyerdoing a thing, they call "a hunchback mak- ing bow A spendthrift they com. pare to rocket which goes off at once Those who expend their charity on remote objects. but neglect their family, are said to hang a lantern on rope, which is seen afar but gives 10 light below"
The Forrest City times., 1906-11-02
The Lid On At Pine Bluff.

After closing the gambling houses and destroying all the gambling par aphernalia, the authorities at Pine Bluf are perfecting arrangements to clamp the lid down tight on Sundays. This will mean the closing of all busi- ness houses. including meat markets, drug stores, cigar stands, confection- cries, and in fact every kind of busi- ness will come under the ban if their present plans are carried out.
The Forrest City times., 1906-11-02
A Prominent Shipping Point.

The fall shipment of eggs and poul. try from Siloam Springs, the largest shipping point on the Kansas City Southern road has begun, the first carload going to New Orleans. Last year a single firm in Siloam Springs shipped S7 carloads of eggs from January 17 to April r. and another firm, SS cars in about 100 days It is estimated that the purchases of eggs and poultry alone by the Sloan Springs dealers amounts to $200,0 900 annually
The Forrest City times., 1906-11-02
A Chance in the Law,

A move Is being made by the Synod of Arkansas of the Presbyterian church, U. s. A, to have the present law in regard to liquor license changed. They will petition the next legislature to provide that before the saloons can be licensed a majority of the adult inhabitants, male and fe- male, shall first petition the county court in favor of such license.
The Forrest City times., 1906-11-02
Garland County Contest.

The Supreme Court has denied the application for writ prohibiting the Garland Circuit Court from acting In the alleged election frauds in that county in which o. H. Sumpter and R. l.. Williams are charged with con. spring to beat z. w Lakeman for the office of county judge. thus giving the Circuit Court of Garland county full power to proceed with the suit.
The Forrest City times., 1906-11-02
New State Officials.

The terms of three state officials will expire this week and the newly elected officers will take their places. Superintendent of Public Instruction Hinemon retires in favor of J. J. Doyne. Commissioner of State Lands Conway retires in favor of l.. l.. Golf. man, and H. T. Bradford, commis- sioner of mines, manufactures and az riculture will be succeeded by Guy B. Tucker.
The Forrest City times., 1906-11-02
Farmers Union at HoxTe.

The Farmers Union of Hoxie are contemplating putting in a stock of goods in their warehouse, wkich they propose disposing of to the farmers of that vicinity. It will also have the capacity of storing large quantity of cotton for which it proposes to give the farmer credit in the union store for half the value of the cotton he stores
The Forrest City times., 1906-11-02
Federal Officers Have Him in Charge.

Twemley, the man who is charged with being implicated in the murder of James MeKeegan at Paw Paw, has been turned over to the federal auth critics, as the killing was done in the Indian Territory. Both Twemley and his wife claimed at the time the mur- der was committed that it was done by James Harris, who, after the kill. ing. went to Eufaula l. T, with Mrs. Mckeegan, and they still stick to their story. As yet, the federal auth. critics have been unable to locate Harris.
The Forrest City times., 1906-11-02
Seven Year Courses.

Superintendent Hinemon who has recently returned from a trip to Kan sas City. where he went for the pur- pose of making a careful study of the school system in that city, ex- presses himself as very much pleased with the seven year course of study in the grammar schools in that city and is in favor of the adoption of the system in the schools in Arkansas
The Forrest City times., 1906-11-02
Selling Whiskey Without License.

William Walker was arrested in Polk county by Deputy United States Marshal J. l.. Holt of Texarkana, on a charge of selling liquor without pay. Ing the government tax. Being una. ble to make bond, he has been talk. en to Fort Smith to await the action of the federal grand jury.
The Forrest City times., 1906-11-02
Clear Docket for the Supreme Court.

It is expected that at the close of the present term of the Supreme Court, July g, 1907 it will have dis posed of all cases before it with the exception of cases coming in late The court has been handing down de cisions at the rate of from 12 to 15 week for some time, and if the pres ent average is kept up the end is in sight.
The Forrest City times., 1906-11-02
George Trimble Dead.

George NJ. Trimble. son of Judge T c. Trimble, prominent lawyer of Central Arkansas. is dead from the effects of burns received in the explo- sion of coal oil lamp. He had been a sufferer from Bright's disease for several years, and the shock from the burns was too much for his already weakened condition. and he died after three weeks of intense suffering
The Forrest City times., 1906-11-02
Struck a Vein of Sand.

w. II. Pursell of Saline county, dis. covered sand in a vein fifty-five feet thick. Those who have examined it say that it contains no iron and may be grade fit for glass manufactur ing purposes. It is the color of white corn meal and very fine.
The Forrest City times., 1906-11-02
Poultry Exhibition.

Much attention is given to the raising of fancy poultry in and around Sloan Springs. and to further the interest, the poultry fancers have decided to have an exhibition of their choice specimens in January