Durango semi-weekly herald., 1907-05-27
CRADLE OF OUR UNION.


Three hundred years ago, counting
from the 18th OF this month OF May,
several boatloads Of Englishmen
rowed UP the James river, landed at a
spot some thirty miles above the pres
ent city of Norfolk, Va. and estab-
llshed what proved to be a perma-
nent colony. That was the beginning
of the United States White men had
previously visited different parts of
the coast and tarried awhile. but not
until the little party stopped at James
town was there a settlement that
abided The outlook was dreary and
the hardships great for many years
after the landing. King Powhattan,
with his warllke Indians, controlled
all that section OF country, and resent
ed the intrusion OF the pale faces.
War and massacres were numerous.
The little colony was often on the
brink OF starvation, and would surely
have been exterminated but for the oc-
casional arrival OF recruits from Eu-
rope. Hunger forced them to utilize
as food certain plants and fruits
which they found growing wild. but
with whose properties they were hith-
erto unacquainted They learned
from the Indians that tuber which
produced purple flower after running
It's roots in the ground. was Of an
edible nature. and, though a rather
poor and scrawny affair, was better
than nothing to allay the pangs of
hunger. They dug 1t up. planted 1t
in their gardens and In time greatly
improved It's quality. This was the
first cultivation Of the potato in North
America. Another important discov-
cry was made destined to exercise a
potential influence In the agricultural
world and contribute enormously to
the wealth of nations. An aromatic
shrub, growing wild In the savannahs
and swamps around the Chickahom-
lily. was plucked by the Indians. dried
In the sun and used to make smoke
In pipes. The settlers observing this,
gathered, replanted and cultivated
what In time became the celebrated
tobacco of commerce.
Thus 1t will be seen that American
agriculture had Its beginning here. an
infant industry. indeed. but one which
in course of years was to result in
something to amaze the civilized
world. -Four years after the first ar
rivals stepped ashore shipload OF
cattle was sent over from England,
and this was the germ of the live
stock industry OF the United States.
They were not the fine cattle we see
now. only the common scrub cattle
OF Europe. which were the best the
world then afforded, but poor and
scrawny as they were they proved a
blessing to the infant settlement on
the James. By degrees the Indians
were conquered or beaten back, and
the colonists were able to spread
out their farms as far back as the
falls OF the great river, but fully
century elapsed before white men
were able to cross the Alleghanies
and find lodgment on streams that
flowed to the west. Much history has
been enacted since the fateful arrival
OF the three boatloads OF men. Rev
olutions. wars. rebellions, the making
and overthrow Of governments, In fact
the most marvellous achievements OF
the human race occurred between the
dates Of May 13. 1907, and May 13.
1907. when this number Of the Ameri-
can Farmer goes out to tell about 1t.
Three centuries Is not a long time in
the life of q world, merely q span
when measured with eternity. but no
similar space Of ume has been fraight
with events of such Importance to
the human race.
And now great exposition IL in
progress to emphasize and celebrate
what has occurred during this me-
morsble interval. One would think
that 1t would be devoted to showing
what had been done for the educa
tion and uplifting Of man, what for
hfa comfort and hauoinena. what ad-