davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-14
The Eight-Hour Day.

"How about hours?"
I'VE use the e.ght-hour day This is the
law and we cannot do otherwise. That 1t
is so is a mistake. 1 don't think the
eight-hour law, the contract labor law, or
the Chinese exclusion act, should obtain on
the isthmus, Four-fifths of our employees
are bound to be foreigners, who are ac-
customed to longer hours and who work
SO much less intelligently and theoretically
than the Americans. that 1t is hardly fair
to consider them on the same basis. How
ever, that is a matter that congress will
have to determine We pay our men by
the hour, and we can by law give them
only forty-eight hours a week. If we
could work them for ten hours a day, we
could give them sixty hours week; and
In that case they. would accept lower
wages than they now receive. AS a mat
ter Of fact the skilled laborers would rather
Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-14

put the papoose In his arms. AS she re-
leased her hold on the baby Il set up =
howl.
Here, here" the alarmed purchaser ex-
claimed Take the kid / was only Jok-
ing l don't want to buy IT,"
mo. no. You ketch him." the Indian
mother said. Two bits you ketch him.
Two bits more / ketch him back"
The white man was glad TO be released
from his bargain for another Is cents. He
learned later that he was only one OF many
that had had the same experience In mock
purchases of Indian babiss.-Ikansas City
Times.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-14

when a rain started the
growth again. and It has
been doing well and pro-
duced a good second crop.
with good fall conditions
Of aftergrowth. In ordl.
nary years II will produces
three good crops. This illus.
trates the tenacity of alfalfa
to stand i'm the ground and
wait for rain. then resume
growth. This alfalfa is now
In its sixth year since seed-
ing and is yielding very sat-
isfactorily.
The station is conducting
experiments with a number
of one-tenth-acre plats Of
alfalfa. Many varieties are
being tested, seeds having
been procured from several
countries of Europe and
Asia. 1t is a test of variety
value. The general recom-
mendation, however, by Mr..
Snyder, the station superln-
tendent. is to use home-
grown seed as nearly as can
be. The imported seed does
better after being accli.
mated. The farm has
sixty acres of bottom
or bench land devoted
to alfalfa for general hay
Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-14

A stranger IN the Indian country was
much amused by the quaint dress Of the
squaws and their method of carrying their
babies on their backs. He conceived the
idea Of iokingly trying to buy one Of the
sharp-eyed infants.
How much catch him. papOose?' he
i ssked one OF the sauRws In the most APP
proved Indian fashion for inauiring the
price.
Two bits" the woman replied readily.
IAN right. take him." the white man
said.
He produced . quarter and the woman
Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-14
chief Engineer stevens.

Tell me something about the chief en-
gineer, Mr.. Stevens? Is he the right man
for the place?"
I'VE think So" replied Mr.. Shonts. HE
is a man of extraordinary ability, great
industry and infexible integrity. He is
as straight as a string He has been
dealing with big undertakings and is
accustomed to handle large bodies of men,
He understands how to organize his work
and he has selected able assistants. In
deed It seems to me that Uncle Sam
could not have gotten a better man for
the place"
when are you going to finish the
canal?"
The chairman of the canal commission
smiled as he replied:
THAT is a question which depends much
upon congress. and also largely upon
what kind of a canal is decided upon and
how the work is carried out to a con-
clusion. If a lock canal, such as we have
recommended, shall be permanently de-
cided upon, we can finish II and have
some of the largest steamers that float
the ocean going through II within eight
years. think Engineer Stevens puts It
at seven or seven and a half, but ] will
say eight, These figures are based upon
our present calculations and investiga-
lions, and we think them not far from
right" FRANK @. CARPENTER.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-14
Prattle Of the Youngsters

'Tssok, mamma" said small Dorothy,
here's hole in my stockings as big as .
dollar"
"oh, 1t isn't quite that large. dear" re-
Joined her mother.
WELL" continued Dorothy. its a. big a.
cents. anyway"
.
"oh, dear!" sighed small Harry. II wish
was a clock"
why do you wish that. Harry7" asked
his mother,
cause 1 wouldn't have to wash my
face and hands then" explained the little
fellow,
Mamma, Vys bean praying every naxna
Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-14
Theodore P. Shonts Talks on Work at Panama

What are you doing with the old French
machinery"
I'VE are still using some of 1t, but are
introducing modern appliances just as rap
idly as they come. There is no economy in
working over the French stuff. 1t is out of
date. out of repair and will go to the scrap
heap just as soon as new tools and tracks
can take its place
Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-14

for a new doll" said little Dorothy. ana
God hasn't ssnt II yet"
Perhaps aod doesn't think that you need
another doll, dear" answered thu mother.
Then why doesn't he tell me-" asked the
little girl ''se could pray for somsthana
elsS7"
Now, them" said Tommy's m0tnen
that's the last straw. I'm going 70 whip
you for that"
sol say, ma, pleaded Tommy. Tets OOm-
promie this thing"
''What?"
Just call IL quits an TN use my influence
with p to sss Tea tAAa nss arsAs you.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-14
Live stock Experiments.

The live stock feature Of the farm has
not been developed rapidly. but a substan-
tial and good practical foundation has Been
laid. The summer Of 1904 fifty yea-lng,
high-grade Shorthorn heifers were pvr-
chased in southeastern Nebraska Ties.
heifers now show good growth, are ae-
veloping into a creditable herd of ;sreodl.lR
Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-14
Whom in FuIl swing.

els forty steam shovels the maximum
capacity of operaton?"
mo we shall install more ana more as
rapidly as we can. We have now slxty-one
steam shovels on the isthmus and we shall
eventually be working 100 or more. l think
the time will come when We shall work by
night as well as by day, using electricity
to give US the light"
Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-14
Uncle Sam IL interested.

The government cooperative work in dry
land agriculture that is being carried on
at this station, in charge of L. C. Chilcott
at Washington, d. c., and under the man.
agement of Superintendent w. p. Snyder,
is conducted by w. w. Burr. recently OF
the Agricultural College of Nebraska This
work consists in rotation of the ordinary
crops for period of three to six years.
The rotation work is planned. however, to
be carried on Indefinitely
The main plan of this work is conserva-
ton of moisture I'm the SOIL to compare
summer following with corn growing to
seed which Of the two methods of fertility
of soil produces best results, green manur-
ing some plats by turning under rye when
about heading, to compare summer fallow-
ing. There are other Dlats that are con-
stantly cropped, some in grass for a period
of years. and compare these as to advan-
tages in fertility. There are ninety
plats of one-tenth OF an acre each devoted
to this work
There is located on these lands a tank for
testing the evaporation. An ordinary gall
vanized stock watering tank eight feet In
diameter is used. The tests are conducted
by wire stretched across the top of the
tank and measured every ten days. A rain
gauge will be set beside the tank to get
correct measurement of rainfall in the
meantime. There are about 100 acres in
the valley and eighty acres on the table
devoted to experimental corn crops and
tests. These plats contain from one-half
of an acre to Ave acres. Variety tests and
methods of cultivation are the main fea-
lures considered in the corn growing oper-
atoms.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-14
$4,000 Men working. >.

"Just about how many men have you at
work."
Something like 5000" said Mr.. Shonts
Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-14
Location Wen Adapted to work.

The selection of this site seems to have
been a very wise one in MANY respects.
Its accessibility by railroad. its diversity
Of physical character, representing at least
three distinct conditions of lands that the
western part of the state has to deal with
in farming and ranch operations, are fea-
lures of special interest to the observer.
While some may say that this station
should have been. located farther. west. or
NORTH, more central in the part of the state
Its work will be largely taken up with,
there can be but little criticism. Of well
grounded merit against the location.
The operating force OF this enterprise
consists of w. p. Snyder superintendent:
w. c. Weakly, farm foreman; George Felt,
live stock feeder, and w. w. Burr, in
charge of government experimentation
work on the farm, This is the force that
practically handles all the farming and live
stock operations. Some of the many things
that have been commenced and are now in
successful progress of crop test and feed
ing experiment may be of interest in gain
ing a better knowledge Of what is being
done on this farm. The cultivated crops
OF various kinds grown under experimental
test occupy $50 plats and in size are from
one-tenth OF an acre to thirty-five acres.
The tests in wheat crops are made with
FIVE varieties OF spring and twelve varieties
O fall or winter wheats. These tests were
made to determine methods of cultivation
and varieties of swheats best suited to the
soil and climate. The winter varieties av-
erage forty-one to forty-slx bushels. The
Spring wheats. local varieties. eleven BUSH
els, against twenty to twenty-four bushels
of other varieties. A test was made in 1904
Of macaroni and the common local spring
wheat, seed raised in the neighborhood,
The macaroni produced twenty-five and
one-half bushels and the local wheat eight
and one-fourth bushels. planted on adJoin-
ing plats. This was made 10 test the ad-
vantage of macareni over the local spring
wheats as crop producers.
The tests in oats have been mainly in the
different depths of seeding Some broad
cast sowings have been done, but the main
seeding process has been by drilling at
different depths. The drilled oats have
done best in all tests; start earlier and
make stronger growth. In variety tests.
where they do not prove of good quality,
they are discarded. Twenty bushels per
acre have been secured for local varieties
against forty-five to forty-seven bushels
with the Kherson variety.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-14
(copyrisht, lsOe, BY Frank q. carpenter.l

ASHINGTON. Oct. ii. - Especial
Correspondence of The Bee.)-
'The people would like to know
just what Uncle Sam is doing
at Panama"
Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-14

have the ten-hour day, and some of them
would be glad to work overtime at extra
pay. AS it is now. they expect to get
time and a half for all work done over
eight hours"
Chances for Young Men Mt Panama.
What do you now think of the chances
for young Americans at Panama."
They are good The wages are higher
than in the United States, and there is no
more risk of health there than there is in
railroad building in many parts of our
southern states"
do you have many applications for
Places"
Plenty Of them Our mail is filled with
letters from men of all classes who want
to go to Panama; and we are sending
down mechanics and others by almost
every steamer. We have no trouble in
getting all the men we want; and those
WHO are now applying are far better than
those of the past. Among the first corps
that went there to clerk and do other
work were a lot of sissy boys, who ex-
pected to lead a luxurious life in the tropics
with settler and apollinaris on tap. The
men we have now are earnest and hard
working fellows. who go down to stay
and grow with the work"
rs there much dissatisfaction among the
clerks?"
mo I heard no complaint during my
stay on the isthmus. In fact, attended
a dinner there of the mechanics and others
at Corozal, where the men made speeches
denouncing some recent newspaper cIlti-
cisms of the work and eulogizing the Iofi-
cials in charge. i am safe in saying that
there is no dissatisfaction in Panama"
Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-14

fever has for the time departed Indeed.
was surprised to find so few mosquitoes
Take La Boca, where our wharves are. /
had occasion to stay there over night, and
slept on one OF the Pacific mail steamers
without mosquito netting or any other sim
liar protection. During the evening 1 did
not see a mosquito, and it was only after
going to bed that l heard one buzzing. 1
got up, turned on my light and killed It,
and then went back to bed. The work done
by the sanitary commission in that respect
is wonderful. A year or ago one stop
ping at La Boca would have been eaten up
by mosquitoes. Now there are not, 1 VEN
ture. on the ten-mie zone one-hundredth as
many mosquitoes as on any similar strip
along the New Jersey coast"
rs the malaria also Disappearing"
I'VE are decreasing the malaria" said the
chairman of the Isthmian Canal commits
sion, but there will always be more or
less Of that at Panama just as in many
parts of the United States / would say,
however, that the health of our employees
Is extraordinarily good. We have sick
rate of only twenty per thousand, and that
is better showing than in New York City
DR.. Gorgas reports that there are $50 beds
vacant in the hospitals, and he is sanguine
that he can now control the health situa-
aon Our quarantine arrangements are
good and we shall do everything we can to
keep out yellow fever and other diseases
Indeed, doubt If there is any place in the
world so carefully watched from a health
standpoint as our stations at Panama.
When we open a new labor camp the sani-
tary engineers go ahead and lay 1t out
They attend to the cleaning and the men
are not allowed to begin until the dangers
of ill-health are minimzed."
Have you a good water supply?"
Yes, Panama has Its own water works
with a reservoir in the mountains OF some
thing like SOOO00,00O gallons Empire has a
big reservoir, and so also have Gorgona
and Colon. Bias Obispo is supplied by a
running stream. The water has been ana
lyzed at all these places, and 1t is good
with the exception that it contains a
slight percentage of vegetable matter
Notwithstanding this at some places they
are boiling the water"
Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-14
80

work being done at the Nebraska
experimental substation at North
EfHtE Platte or the work attempted.
49, even. In fact, there are not a
great many OF our people who seem to have
knowledge of the existence of this expert
ment station. This may be accounted for
owing to the newness of the enterprise
and the consciousness OF the management
in not yet having things fixed up and in
shape to make a favorable display.
TITO North Platte experiment station.
fhich Is substation TO the greater. the
Experimental farm at Lincoln, is designed
ito deal with agricultural problems peculiar
ITO western conditions of soil and climate
The greatest effort of the present time in
crop work has been to secure crops that
pXlll adapt themselves to the moisture and
Soil conditions of the districts they are in
tended to grow in. Western Nebraska has
been a subject OF anxious inquiry and
study for many years by the scientific ag-
rlculturists of the state farm in an attempt
to find "a series of crops that would yield
probably on the rich but arid lands Of
that district.
The North Platte experiment station
lands, consisting of three sections, were
purchased and possession acquired in the
early part Of 1904. These lands are located
three miles south of the town of North
Platte and south Of the Platte river. They
comprise about $50 acres of valley land.
none of which is low bottom or overflow
lands, being thirty to forty feet above
water, and 15O acres of smooth table lands,
all in crop, 225 feet above water. The bal
ance of the tract is hill and rough pasture
lands, we'll covered with buffalo, gramma
and other native grasses, and most admir-
ably represents the average hills grazing
lands of the western part of the state.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-14

given them. At the beginning OF winter
they were turned on alfalfa haystacks as
a substitute for alfalfa pasture, and to
each sow was given an added ration Of
two pounds Of corn per day, until short
time before narrowing, when the grain
feed was increased. Prof Snyder says
that two and one-half to three pounds OF
corn per day would have brought these
sows through to narrowing in splendid con-
dtiGn.
There are now 2lO shoats on the farm
about months old, which are on alfalfa
pasture and a light feed of corn. that pre-
sent about wholesome an appearances
for thrift and rapid development as could
be desired i'm lot of pigs of this age.
These pigs will be divided and used in exc
detrimental feeding tests a little later in the
season. Sows are bred to have two litters,
March and October. usually. Sows, after
pigs are weaned, run on alfalfa and get no
other food or drink, except pure water.
which is supplied from drinking fountains.
with which each lot is supplied. As soon
as these sows have their fall filters they
will be put on a light feed of grain.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-14
Solving Agricultural Problems North Platte Experimental Substafor

HERE is but little known Of the
work being done at the Nebraska
experimental substation at North
Platte or the work attempted.
even. In fact, there are not a
Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-14
About Health.

DO you think you have stamped out the
yellow fever. Mr. Shonts?" asked.
I'VE have had no cases since last NoSem-
ber and the warfare on the mosquito seems
20 have largely abolished 1t from the 18TH
mus. Many OF the men are growing
careless and fail TO put down their mos
quito nsta At night ana the fear OF yellow
Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-14
New Homes and New Food.

New Homes and New Food.
"Have you sufficient quarters for the
men, Mr.. Shonts?'
Yes. We have done a great amount OF
building since we took charge and we
could give quarters to 5000 more employees
than we now have. We are building and
improving right along. We have nine
hotels on the canal zone and nearly every
American has a room looking out on a
veranda, sometimes alone and sometimes
with a roommate. The Tivoli hotel at
Ancon, which is intended more specially
for the administration employees, has 16O
sleeping apartments. We have a practical
builder in charge of the new construction
and more than 1000 men are now putting
up new buildings and repairing the old
ones"
How about food?''
1--WE have organized a good system OF
supplying the men with meals at low
rates. The native workmen are charged
10 cents a meal and the Americans pay
30 cents a meal at the hotels. The native
food is of course, much cheaper than the
American. A Decent meal consists Of
SOUP made of meat and some rice, sweet
potatoes or yucca and bananas. That Is a
sample. OF course, there is considerable
variety. 1 have eaten such meals and
they are not bad"
How about the 9O-cent American
meals?"
They are to be found at the hotels and
mess houses. They are just about equal to
the 5O-cent meal that one gets at country
hotel in the United States. The bill Of
fare usually includes several kinds of meat,
some vegetables. fruit and perhaps ice
cream or pie. We have established cold
storage plants and put refrigerator cars on
the railroads, and We are doing all we can
to make the men comfortable"
How about amusements?"
I'VE have been very busy improving the
sanitary conditions and have not done as
much In that line as We should like 20 do.
Nevertheless, we have established reading
rooms in the hotels at Corozal and Culebra
and equipped brass band which has been
organized by the employees OF Chrlstobal
The Americans are adapting themselves 20
conditions there. They are forming clubs
of various kinds, and among other things,
an International University club, which is
composed OF American and Panaman col
lege men. The Masonic and other orders
already have branches there"
About Health.
do you think you have stamped out the
yellow fever. Mr.. shonts?" 1 asked.
I'VE have had no cases since last Nogem-
-.
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1906-09-05
News From Route No. 3.

The health of our community is
very good at this writing.
Mr.. W. d. Edens visited relatives
in Anderson county last week.
Mics Lille Gilstrap, char miup
young lady, is teaching a fourishing
school at Hampton.
Miss Boulah Lynch, of Route 4,
spent last week with her grandfather,
w. D. Edens.
Mr. Bob Mosley and sister, Miss
Minnie, are gone on q visit to their
sister, Mrs. J. M. 'Silver, of Hender.
sonville, N. @.
The Singing Convention at Antioch
was we'll attended and very much
enjoyed by all.
Mr.. W. D. Edens was in Green
vile on business last week.
Prof. J. w. Baker is teacbing q
fiourishing singing school ut Moun.
tain Grove.
Misses Beulah and Lille Lynch
were the guests of Miss Texie Porter
last Saturday afternoon.
Miss Dora Gillespie returned home
last Saturday from pleasant visit to
her aunt, Mrs. L. e. Childress, of
Greenville. Pansy.
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1906-09-05
Honor Roll Mile Creek School
For month ending August 10th

cot nohtu endlnS august 1Uth.
Attendance 100-Laurens Duncan.
Tommie Duncan, Surie Duncan,
Ruby Holden, Tillman Holden, Inez
Lumpkin, Bowen Parsons, Inez
Tcmpkina, Lois Latham, Lille Nix,
Clarence Nations, Dorsey Nations,
Holvey Boyd, John Revis, Will Revis,
Tier Revis. Minnie Reese.
Scholarship 80 Edward Chap.
man, Nora Chapman; Laurens Curtis,
Lille Curtis, Lizzie Cox, Pearl Dal.
ton, Bessie Dalton, Ruby Holden
Kizzie Holden, Mary Holden, Essie
Lumpkin, Lois Latham, May Belle
Mauldin, C'aud Nix, Hattie Nix
Bowen Parsons, Gladys Parsons
Morton Stephens, Adolphus Cox
Eber Parsons, Clerence Nations
Gwinn Parker, Shaffer Parker, Stell,
Parker, Mamie Parker, Minnie Rec sc
Myrtle Bovd. Willie Parker.
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1906-09-05
Miss ClHrko'B Recital.

On Monday night, August 9th,
Miss Irene C!e:ke's music class gave
their annual recital iu the school
auditorium at Liberty. Although the
audience was quite good still it was
not fs crowded as it would have been
had the weather been less inclement.
The exercises were thoroughly en-.
joyed by all present, az was attested
by the keen aud enthusiastic applause
that eech selection elected.
Miss Corke was elegantly dressed
in rich and beautiful Ice effect
over nile grean. IN her management
of the stage she was apparently at
great ease and was a master of direc
ton.
Every piece rendered, whether
song or instrumental, showed that
the performers had been given per
iect training and practice. The
writer was never more impressed
than by the touch shown by Inc
entire class, end espe cially by little
Miss lrmin McCravey. This attested
the fact that os music teacher Miss
Clarke is OF the best, both in talent
and experience.
Miss CLARKE will open her music
cl"ss work the first of October ir
como otion With the Graded Sohoo
at Liberty. II. M. s.
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1906-09-05
"Unmsrcifully whipped"

Mr.. Lee Roper, who is teaching
the CLASSY Mountain school, has
had some trouble with his schol
and OH the 29th ult., he used the
birch on one of the scholars, Miss
Matte Leslie, girl between the
age of 13 and ID years. For this
Whipping warrant has been
sworn out against Mr.. Roper by
II. D. Lesley, who in his affidavit
before tho magistrate says: "Did
wilfuIly, ma1iciously and without
just cause, numerically whip with
stick or switch, four or five feet
long. one Matte Leslie, and did
thereby commit the offense of as
sault and battery of a high and
aggravated nature.
We have 10 comments to make
OH this at the present time. When
the case comes to trial before Mag
istrate Harris We will give the gist
of the tertlmony as taken to our
readers, unless the preliminary is
waived, In which event it will be
aired in court. Let us hope it 10
no as bad as painted and if Mr.
Roper had to Use the birch at all,
we hope he was perfectly justified
in his act.