davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1908-06-28

EmmOns X Ellsworth. Of the manu-
1acturers division. has been transferred
70 the diSbursing office 10 succeed
Daniel A Dunning. who resigned 10 go
10 Utah for the General Land Office.
The Washington times., 1908-06-28

Assessor +. ". ". Griffin, who has
been in for several weeks. viii leave
Washington the first o. the month for
thirty days vacation IL the noun
"a rs.
The Washington times., 1908-06-28

E. T. Bushnell. chief clerk in the bu-
-eau Of the First Assistant Postmaster
General. returned Wednesday from
trip.tO Rutherford. y. J.. where he held
a conference with Assistant Superiu-
tendent Norris. OF the division Of SaIa-
The Washington times., 1908-06-28

William Baker Dorsey. who for sew
eral years was connected with she dis
tributinE library in the Office Of the
superintendent Of documents. who now
Is employed as a clerk in Panama. Is
in the city for visit. and paid his
respects to his old friends in the office
the past week He viii return TO the
Canal Zone July Is. taking his family.
who have been located in Washington.
with him.
The Washington times., 1908-06-28

Clinton r Tucker. Of the pamphlet
bindery. IS receiving congratulations and
passing out the cigars. the sIOTK having
paid him a visit the past week. and
left a handsome boy baby.
The Washington times., 1908-06-28

John J. smith. OF the pamphlet 1ind-
cry division, has been away from the
The Washington times., 1908-06-28

J. l. c. Wilson. OF the Job division.
has the sympathy Of his friends AZ the
death Of his bright thirteen-year-old
daughter. which occurred al the family
home in Vienna. Va. last weeR
The Washington times., 1908-06-28

A. T. Frame. Of the division OF dead
letters, who has been ill ia Providence
Hospital. left last week for the home OF
his brother IN West Virginia. where he
expects to spend some time TO recuper-
ate.
The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-11-01

is of the greatest agricultural impor-
lance. Thousands of acres of exceed
ingly rich soils otherwise are just SUI
ficiently tainted with this corrosive
SALT carbonate of soda, as to render
crop production upon them very un-
certain. Such soils should be changed
to condition of extreme productive
ness by the use of gypsum in reason
able quantity. Those who are famil-
lar with alkali lands know how much
more deadly to plant growth is BLACK
alkali'' than white alkali." The ac-
tive element of "black alkali' is the
corrosive salt carbonate of soda, while
that of white alkali' is sulphate of
soda, which is comparatively innocu-
Gus within reasonable limits to plants.
Gypsum neutralizes the effect of the
black alkali.
DR.. e. w. Hilgard, the great author
ity on soils, says:
"This salt carbonate of soda) acts
injuriously, not only in corroding the
crown of growing crops, and even of
trees, but also by rendering clay soils
almost untillable, and by dissolving
out both the vegetable matter and part
of the phosphates of the soil. The
use of a proper dose of gypsum on
such soil obviates all these troubles.
1t neutralizes the corrosiveness of the
soda, renders tillage easy, and re-
stores to the proper condition the hui.
mus and the phosphates of the soil.
1t serves to correct similarly irrigation
waters containing carbonate of soda,
the continued use of which, without
the corrective use of gypsum, would
soon cause a fatal accumulation of
"black alkali" in the soil. The use of
gypsum in irrigation bitches, or on
the land itself, will effectually prevent
this trouble"
The California Experiment Station
was able thus to bring land which
ordinarily would produce no crop, not
even salt grass, to condition in
which it yielded forty bushels of wheat
to the acre.
May Protect Trees and Vines.
The effect of gypsum on "black al
kali land is often very striking. The
brackish puddles and spots disappear,
the soil soon loses it's hard puddled
condition and crumbles into loose
mass, into which water soaks freely,
bringing up the previously depressed
The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-11-01

Gypsum is a natural compound of
lime with sulphuric acid, and is known
to chemists as sulphate of lime. In
the early time it was called Land
Plaster. Gypsum is one of the most
powerful agencies known to success
full and intelligent agriculture. 1t
has been used as a fertilizer from
the time of the Greeks and Romans.
There is a story that Benjamin
Franklin sowed gypsum upon clover
field so that the words This has been
plastered" were written in gypsum
in the middle of the field and could
be read there because of the more
vigorous growth of the plants as long
as the crop remained. Gypsum is
natural mineral manure.
Renders Natural Plant Food More
Available.
There are three primary plant foods,
potash, phosphoric acid and nitrogen.
To these should be added lime as ma
terially influencing the availability
of the two former. These are So
called critical soil elements" which
constitute the valuable portion of di-
rect fertilizers. Gypsum is mainly an
indirect fertilizer. 1t acts by setting
free plant food already in the soil, and
rendering it available for plant use.
Much of the natural supply of plant
food in the soil is in an unavailable
condition. Gypsum so acts upon this
chemically as to render it Immediately
available.
It also has a secondary and direct
action in supplying plants with both
lime and sulphur, both important e,e-
ments in plant economy, in case the
soil is deficient in these ingre dfents.
Gypsum encourages plant growth
Furnishes Potash to Plants.
The indirect action of gypsum pre-
viously referred to is mainly exerted
upon the unavailable potash COM
pounds of the soil. Potash is an ex-
tremeIy important element in plant
growth. Plants vary much in the
amount of potash they consume, but
it enters more or less into the compo-
sition of ALL and it is found in some
in large amounts. Numerous investi-
cations show that when potash is de.
ficient in the soil, or unavailable,
plants suffer greatly, the woody por-
ton of the plants and the f1eshy parts
of the fruit being dependent upon the
influence of available potash. Gypsum
renders potash available.
Antidote for Black Alkali.
From this standpoint alone gypsum
The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-11-01
GYPSUM, ITS ADAPTATIONS AND USES
By PROF G. w. SHAW, Berkeley Cal.

spots to the general level OF the land,
and permitting free drainage. Gyp-
sum may protect trees and vines al
ready planted from the worst effects
of alkali by surrounding the trunks
with it or with earth mixed with 1t.
Seeds may also be thus protected in
sowing and plants in planting. On
the surface, seeds will now terminate
and grow without hindrance.
Amount Required per Acre.
For the correction of alkali this
will, of course, vary with the amount
of carbonate of soda in the soil all
the way from a few hundred pounds
to several tons in the case of strong
alkali spots. 1t is not, however, nee
essary to add the entire, amount at
once, provided sufficient be used to
neutralize the portion near the surface,
and enough time be allowed for the
action to take place. In very wet soils
this may occur within a few days, in
merely damp soils in the course of
several months, but usually the effect
increases for several years as the
salts rise from below 1t should be re-
membered that all of the foregoing
statements refer to the effect of gyp-
sum upon "black alkali'' (sal soda)
and that the material does not have
any beneficial action upon white al
kali" (glauber salts).
Favors Development of Bacteria in the
Soil
1t thus becomes of special value in
increasing the yield of legumes, as
clover alfalfa, vetches, beans, peas,
etc. For ages gypsum has been used
to increase the growth of red clover.
But it is only a comparatively recent
discovery that the growth of clover
and related plants is very dependent
upon certain bacterial development
about their roots. Unless conditions
for this bacterial development are IA
vorable the legumes, or pod-bearing
plants, do not make satisfactory
growth. The presence of these bacte
ria is indicated by small nodules on
the roots of the plants. The activity
of these bacteria is favored by a neu-
trail or alkaline soil. Now the sui
phate of potash. set free in the soil by
gypsum changes to carbonate of pot
ash, and renders the soil very slightly
alkaline, which favors this bacterial
activity. Gypsum becomes then spe-
The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-11-01

pear, which gradually increase in size
and depth.
These lands, however, are still val
liable and only require drainage to be
made to yield abundantly again.
Reclaimed land is invariably more
highly and lastingly productive than
that commonly regarded by the farm
er as his most fertile land, because of
the larger supply of plant food, the air
supplied to the roots by the under
drains and the uniformity of warmer
SOIL
A Remedy.
This great loss of water from irri-
eating bitches, through seepage and
evaporation, may be entirely obviated
by the use of vitrified, salt-glaZed
drain pipe.
From bitches too large to be piped
from source of supply to distributing
points, a large amount of seepage is
unavoidable and drainage is, there
fore, the only remedy
A drained soil is one which Is moist,
but not saturated with water.
Soils used for the production of
plants most priced by the farmer, gar
dener and fruitgrower, must, in addi-
ton to other necessary elements, con-
tain a certain percentage of water, in
order to yield the highest possible re-
turns.
This is usually termed moisture"
and soils in which the proper percent
age of moisture exists are called "dry
SOILS" to distinguish them from those
containing a surplus of water, which
are called "wet Soils"
Pants take their nutriment from
the soil in liquid form only, it hav-
ing been prepared by the action of
heat and moisture on the elements
present. An excess of moisture re-
duces the temperature, excludes the
The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-11-01
TILE DRAINAGE OF FARM LANDS-DRAIN TILES

will operate successfully can be laid.
Natural streams are often INSULT
cient and should be improved in size
and alignment. In fact, the location
and carrying capacity of general out
let's as related to the drainage area,
should receive particular attention in
the formation of drainage plans.
When it is desired to reclaim and
improve large areas of level land, such
tracts must be cut up into sections or
districts by large bitches.
Then drainage tile may be laid in
every part without necessitating the
use of mains too large and costly to
be profitable.
While these open bitches are not de-
sirable in themselves, yet they are
necessary to every system of under
drainage.
The Use of Tile.
Using tile for the purpose of drain
age introduced in England about
1870 has increased to a remarkable
extent. The art of using it has been
so perfected that the tile drain is now
regarded as the best type of under
drain.
Well burned clay pipes of circular
form, and one or TWO rect In length,
are laid through the soil in contin-
uous line, upon such grade that any
water that finds it's way into them will
be carried by gravity to some lower
point, thus. conveying the surplus
away.
The water enters the line of tiles
through openings left between the
ends, or "joints," as they are common
ly called. The ends of the tile should
be placed close together to prevent
the soil from entering, yet not so close
as to prevent the entrance of water
The action of the tile-drain in remov-
ing the surplus water from the soil is
as follows:
The drain being surrounded by SOIL
the spaces of which are filled with
water, the water in the soil flows by
gravity through the crevices between
the ends of the tile, thus entering the
drain, and passes off more or less rap
idly, according to the grade upon
which the line is laid.
Continued on page 40.)
The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-11-01

This is the key of all improvement.
Farmers frequently desire better meth
DDS in the general management OF
the lands. without being sufficiently
informed regarding the specific
changes that will be necessary to bring
it about.
When a farmer finds his land too
wet for cultivation he admits the ne
cessity of drainage for the time being,
but hopes the following season may
be more favorable. He accepts the
loss as one of the vicissitudes of farm
ing rather than loss to be prevented
by the use of well-lOcated and we'll
constructed drains.
Those who have gone into the sub
ject of soil improvement by drainage
have discovered greater advantages
and more surprising benefits than were
formerly thought possible.
It is now conceded to be necessary
accompaniment of scientific agricul-
ture, and progressive farmers have
taken advantage of it to much great
err extent than is generally supposed
1t is, therefore, to his interest to
have an intelligent idea of the theory
as we'll as the practice of drainage, in
OTu0T dudC HC ludy ooe1Pt iA0 WIN W
the several varieties of soil and con-
ditions with which he has to deal.
Seepage.
This is one of the greatest Difficult
ties with which farmers have to con-
tend. Land is rendered unproductive
by seepage or leakage from irrigating
bitches, and by careless or over-irri
cation.
The pressure of the water in irri-
eating bitches forces the water down.
ward and the soil, being loose and
deep, absorbs it.
when the ground surrounding the
ditch has become saturated the excess
water passes to the lower levels. The
quantity of water thus lost is enormous
and many acres of once productive
land eventually become water-soaked.
This also browns out all useful veg
citation, shadows the soil and renders
the land barren.
If measures are not taken to pre-
vent them, swamps and marshes ap'
The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-11-01
Increases Yield of Grapes.

cific for increasing the yield or le-
gumes.
Increases Yield of Grapes.
l.. Grandeau the eminent French
authority, reports some experiments
extending over a number of years as
to the value of gypsum in grape cul-
ture. These showed that applications
of gypsum both alone and in connec-
ton with barnyard manure, largely in
creased the yield of grapes.
DR.. James Withycombe, Director of
the Oregon Experiment Station, re-
ports yields from an acre of fall-sown
vetch, which received an application
of 100 pounds of gypsum April II, and
yielded 9,031 pounds of hay July II,
as compared with yield of 1884
pounds of hay from an adjoining acre,
used as check. This was an increase
of % per cent in favor of gypsum.
Other Important Uses.
1t favors the growth of many other
plants, particularly cabbage, rape, tur-
nips, hemp, fax and maize.
1t is an active absorbent of ammo
MIA gas, and thus becomes valuable in
preventing loss of costly plant food III
stable manure, especially that of
liquid nature, and in making composts.
When mixed with decaying organic
matter it acts as a preservative and
prevents the escape of the valuable
and costly nitrogen. For this purpose
it may be scattered with liberal hand
in stables and over manure heaps.
How and When to Apply.
Gypsum is sold in pulverized con-
dition and is easily applied. 1t may
be either plowed in, drilled in, placed
about roots at the time of planting,
or sown broadcast, depending upon the
time of year and condition of the crop.
While it is the more Immediately eff
fective if applied in the early fall or
winter, it may be used at any season
of the year without danger of loss. It's
effect will not be noticeable, however,
until it has been acted upon by either
rains or irrigation water to distribute
it we'll into the soil and bring it into
close touch with the soil ingredients.
The quantity to use will be entirely
dependent upon circumstances. There
is no danger from an excess, as in
the case of some materials, as it eX-
erts no harmful effects. The usual
quantity employed for use as a fer
tilizer is from 100 to 800 pounds per
acre, while as an a,kali CORE ctive from
500 to 1000 pounds per acre may be
required.
The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-11-01

air and dilutes the plant food, thus re-
tarding or entirely stopping the growth
of the plant as effectually as lack
of moisture.
Surface Drainage.
AS commonly understood this is &C.
complished by open bitches which, in
addition to receiving and removing
water from the surface of land con-
tiguous to them, may, if sufficiently
deep, act as receiving drains for water
which percolates through porous
substratum through which the bitches
are excavated.
Under such conditions it facilitates
underdrainage as we'll as carries off
water from the surface.
Some of our best soils have per
fectly natural drainage. They are
underlaid with strata of material
which give free passage to surplus
water, and are composed of elements
which respond readily to the efforts
of the cultivator.
On the other hand, there are soils
just as rich in natural fertility which
are unproductive because they contain
too much water.
Whether the excess of soil water is
caused by rainfall direct or seepage
from lands which occupy higher lev
ell, the surplus water must be removed
before the soil will be in proper con-
dition for plant growth.
Underestimate Drainage.
This directly affects the soil and
puts it in proper condition for plant
production. Provision for it assumes
that sufficient natural water courses
or artificial channels exist to carry off
the water discharged by such under
drains as it may be found wise to use.
1t is often the case, however, that
outlet channels must be provided be-
fore system of underdrains which
The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-11-01

The following article was sent to The
Ranch for Immediately publication and
too late for reference to Prof. McLaugh-
ject of drainage in a comprehensive man
ner The article is compila ton by Mr..
Robert Bradley from the following
sources:
l. Farmers Bulletin No. 1877, Drainage
of Farm Lands, by c. G. Elliott, Drain
age Expert, Irrigation Investigations;
Office of Experiment Stations.
The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-11-01

2. Some Engineering Features of
Drainage, by c. G. Elliott, Drainage Ex-
pert.
8. Irrigation and Drainage Investiga-
ton of the Office of Experiment Stations,
by r. P. Teele.
4. Farmers Bulletin No. SO, Alkali
Lands, contains much information of
value to Eastern Washington.
These bulletins are distributed gratui-
tously by the u. S. Department of Agri-
culture.-Editor The Ranch.
The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-11-01

cific for increasing the yield of le-
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-07-09
NEW VOL. 43.-NO 80
Tanest Of Skyscrapers.
Plans for a new skyrrapsr, whicl

Plans for new skyscrapsr, which
VIII overtop all of New York's lofty
buildings and the hagpole Of which
will pierce the sky at greater height
than the Eifel Tower in Paris. the
highest structure in the world, were
fled Monday by architectsfor the Equ'
liable Life Assurance Society with
the building department.
The projected sdi6ce will have 50
stories and will have height Of 900
feet from the tip Of the tower, upon
which will be stepped a fagpols l5o
feet long The ball on the hagpols
will be "a feet higher than the sS5-
foot steel Eiffel Tower.
The main building. which will 90
cupy the site Of the present structure
on lower Broadway covering an entire
block. will have 81 stories. above
which will rise a square tower Of %
stories, capped with cupolA. The
facades are to be OF brick and granite.
The structure is to cost $l0.00o.00o.
The last steel rivet was driven
Monday in the tower of the astropoli.
tan Life Insurance Company building,
the tallest office building in the world,
and Gag dOated from pole 7lo feet
above the pavement. The building is
657 feet high.
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-07-09
"And He Was a Leper."

ION my travels in Venezuels," said
a New York man, II stayed in q ho-
tel with a young man in whose family
there was taint Of leprosy, though
he apparently did not have it. One
night sitting at supper he became
angry at a waiter aud brought his
hand down on the table with full force.
Instantly he realized that he did not
feel the blow, and sat looking at hi
hand, his face whitening with horror
Give me your knife. Bob !" he
demanded Of his companion. BE
grabbed the knife in a frenzy and
stabbed the side Of his hand with
vicious cuts from finger tips to wrist
You may not know that lsProsy sp-
pears inside Of the hand, numbness
being a sign. The man did not feel
the cuts. he arose from the table,
knocking over his chair, rushed out
into the yard of the hotel, where we
soon heard the sharp report Of q re-
volver ring out on the open air, and
we knew ne had conquered the lePer a
curse by ending his own life !"
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-07-09

Heat prostrates the nerves. In sum
mer ,one needs tonic to of set the Gus
tomary hot weather Nerve and Strength
depression. You will feel better within
4s hours after beginning to take such
remedy as DR.. Shoop's Restorative. It's
prompt action in restoring the weakened
nerves is surprising. OF course, you
won't get entirely strong in few days
but each day you can actually feel the
Improvement. That tired, llfeless,
spiritless, feeling will quickly depart
when using the Restorative. DIR. Shops
Restorative will sharpen failing appe-
tite it aidS digestion F; II will strengthen
the weakened Kidneys and Heart by
simply rebuilding the worn-out nerves
that these organs depend upon. Test
it few days and be convinced. Sold
by Hills Pharmacy,
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-07-09
sHEPHERDSTOWN W. VA, THURSDAY. JULY g. 1905
JuncO, A New Source OF Hardwood.

The junoo is the missing link of the
tree family. Restricted to a single
valley, that Of the Rio Grande, in
Mexico and Texas, this tree. with its
small crooked trunk bristling with
thorns, is little known to the outside
world. 1t is popularity supposed to
bear no leaves, flowers, or fruit but it
really bears all three.
The minute leaves are scale-like,
the flowers very small, and the fruit
is a tiny berry. 1t is the only known
representative of its family in all the
world. II is not known that the jun
co ever grew anywhere outside of the
valley OF the R.o Grande, or that it
ever had relatives close enough to
claim kinship. Some trees, now near
ly extinct, had wide range in past
sges-the Big Trees Of California, for
example, which grew all the way to
the Actic Ocean. But the junco, so
far as is known, has always lived in
one place and has always been the
same dwarfed, crooked tree that it
now is.
Except as fuel, it has not been put
to any use. Thousands of cords
might be cut in the valley Of the Rio
Grande, in Mexico and Texas. Of
late, however, the growing scarcity Of
hardwood has called attention to the
despised junco tree as possible sub.
stitute for some of the more popular
woods, and the result is surprise to
those who thought the wood had no.
commercial value. Clarence A. Mil
Ter, Consul at Mstsmoras, Mexico,
has called the attention of this gov.
ernment to the good qualities claimed
for it.
The wood sinks in water. In color
it ranges from brown to black. 1t re-
ceives a high and beautiful polish,
fitting it to take the place Of such e1.
pensiVe woods as ebony and rosewood
for small cabinet work. The trunks
are so short and crooked that only
small pieces of timber can be obtained
from them. Few trunks exceed seven
feet IN length and eight inches in di.
ameter. The wood is said to be sd'
mirably suited for the keys Of musi.
cal instruments, Jewel boxes and
other bureau cabinets, chess men,
checkers, paper knives, knobs and
other small turnery, iulaid work, and
indeed for almost all purposes for
which costly foreign woods, in small
peices are now used.
Many of the trees, whose woods are
familiar in the lumber markets, belong
to large families. There::are $50 mem
bers-they are called species-of the
pine family, and they are scattered
all over the northern hemisphere.
The beech and theIoak family has even
more members, and they, too, are
widely scattered. The laurel has over
900, the palm l 900, while the apple,
counting the many varieties. is said to
have more than 5000. But the juncO
is fighting its life battle alone on the
dry slopes of Texas and Mexico, with
out relative in the world.