Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-05-28

short distance below the ledge, aud
SO the original plan will prevail.
This will be greatly to the advant-
age of the completed canal, because
the locks and dams at La Boca could
have been shelled by Il hostile fleet
from a distance of four miles, whereas
at Mirafiores they will he four miles
farther inland. and completely hidden
from the coast.
After a while there may be a new
avenue of employment for the farmer
When the frost is on the pumpkin and
the corn is all in, he may he found
down at the little red schoolhouse with
the youngsters of his neighborhood
lined up before him doing stunts like
this: Willie Green, what is potato
blight and how can it be prevented?"
Charlie Brown. what is oats smut,
and what is the remedy?' For Uncle
Sam has an idea that agriculture
should be taught in the public schools.
The national government has no au-
thority to compel public schools to
adopt agriculture as Il part of the
study course, but it is doing its best to
encourage the states to follow the sug-
gestiOn. As IL substantial encourage
ment $4,000 has been appropriated
for each state which will take up the
plan, the fund to be used for the spec
ial preparation of agricultural teach
ers for the public schools. The gen
eral plan contemplates an additional
room or annex to public schools where
experiments may be made and prac-
teal farming demonstrated. 1t is ar
gued that even if pupil becomes
business or professional man! never
returning to the farm. a. practical
knowledge of farming will be valu-
able asset to him. Special instruction
is recommended according to loca lily.
IN the corn belt chief attention would
be given in corn growing, and in the
wheat, cotton. and tObOccO belts the
courses would favor those products.
In addition there would be a general
outline of farming Of all kinds.
A protest against the raising of cat
tie ard sheep on open plains under
conditions that mean wholesale death
to the animals from cold. starvation
and thirst has been submitted to Presi-
dent Roosevelt by Il committee of the
American Humane Association. CON
sitting of Sydney Richmond Taber OF
Chicago, chairman: Mrs. Caroline
Earle White of Philadelphia and Mary
Howe Totten Of Washington. The
committee says that according TO
United States government reports L.
$4,000 cattle and 1,2J0,O00 sheep died
March 81, 1905.
The Navy Department has begun ne
gotiations with Captain Alma Clark.
inventor of a secret device for locating
ships in the dark or fog without the
aid of a searchlight, to obtain eXclus-
i've use of it. Clark is on duty at one
Of the ports of Boston. and even his
brother officers have been kept III ignor
ance of the invention for fear that
some foreign spy may get hold Of the
secret.
Charles Bottineau. at one time chief
Of advisers of the Mississippi Chippe-
was, and later at the head of Turtle
Mountain band of Indians of North Da,
kota. died in Washington at the home
of his nephew. Judge J. B. BOTtineau
The county of Bottineau. \. D.. was
named in honor of the elder Bottineau /!
lie was 81 years of age.
-
The United States National Museum
has just received Il Request from the
late Stephen Decatur Smith, through
his son. s. Decatur Smith. Jr., Of Phil
adelphia, of Il plain gold ring. formerly
the property os Commodore Stephen
Decatur. given him by his fellow officer.
Richard Somers. at Trip0li, in 1904.
-
\ bill making it misdemeanor for
amusement places to discriminate
against persons wearing the uniform
of the army or navy. the national
guard or naval reserves, has been
passed in the Senate of Rhode Island.
President Roosevelt and many naval
officers wrote letters supporting the
bill.
-
Assistant Postmaster General De
graw expresses great satisfaction in
the growing interest daily being mani
tested throughout the country in the
good roads movement. Fifty per cent
of the roads are travelled by rural mail
carriers
The value of the potato crop Of 1907
was S190000,000. or , per cent above