davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1909-06-13

rays OF the sun. This vast number OF
young trees, like many a trained army
before a battle, starts Its campaign
under the most favorable. circum-
stances. and though many sicken and
die or are destroyed by the ravages of
rabbits or rodents, yet large proper
tion of them thrive and grow. establish
Ing themselves so firmly in the earth
that each succeeding season finds them
sturdier and more able to resist the
long summers drought.
The first work carried on at this
nursery was in the nature of expert
ments to determine the varieties of
trees best suited to meet the condf-
tions existing on the mountain slopes
Seeds gathered in all parts OF the
world were planted, and as the seed
lings Nrew large enough they were
transplanted to the hiIlsides and
watched as they successfully battled
for life or were ruthiessly denuded of
their foliage by rabbits or perhaps,
like some lost prospector on the desert,
died lingering death from thirst.
The first paintings were practically
all confined TO the hilisides in the i'm
The San Francisco call., 1909-06-13

mediate vicinity OF the nursery because
there they could the more readily be
watched, but during the fall of 1905
the experiment was tried OF having
each OF the 36 rangers on the Angeles
Forest plant certain number on his
district thus insuring a wider distri-
button under verying conditions. After
being planted 1t was found that certain
varieties thrived while others were
not hardy enough to live under tho
conditions encountered and the nur
sery stock was thereafter restricted to
those species which had proved the
most valuable for the work.
In ascsrtaining the principal causes
OF loss after the trees were set out 1t
was found that they suffered most
from drought and srlall predatory
animals. such as rabbits. squirrels and
rodents In some localities, rabbits
caused the greatest damage by denud-
Ing the trees of their branches In
other localities the trees died from lack
OF moisture, due to the character of
the soil Itself, while in others the
greedy chaparral absorbed all of the
moisture to the detriment of the young
The San Francisco call., 1909-06-13

L NcLE SAM has gone into the
nursery business for profit
profit IN dollars and cents But
the dividends. no matter how
enormous. viii be declared in favor
OF the whole people. particularly
the residents OF the localities where
the planting operations are being car
ried on.
Until few years ago the timber re-
sources OF this country were thought
10 be inexhaustible and In many re-
Eions the great timbered areas were
looked upon as natural enemies to
agriculture and hence were to be ruth
lessly slaughtered. Lumber companies
gave no thought TO the utilization OF
al the timber, but cut down trees in
discriminatory. using 6at portion
which suited theirSpurpose and leaving
the balance to r6t or to become fuel
for some forest fire which should fur
ther oevastate the area, making the
ground absolutely barren and worth
less. A tree was looked upon as being
merely 50 much wood. and its general
relationship 70 the economic world was
lest sight Of Little thought was
wasted upon the influence exerted by
trees upon the now OF streams or at
The San Francisco call., 1909-06-13

mospheric conditions. and our fore
fathers did not stop TO realize that the
great foods that yearly bring destruc-
tion and distress to many portions OF
our country through the overflow OF
mighty rivers would be the direct re-
suit OF the denudation OF our noun
tains.
But the people have at last awak-
ened to the Importance OF this sub
ject, and thanks TO the work OF ths
government forest service efforts are
being made to prevent the further
wanton destruction OF our forests as
well as to protect those timbered
areas which form the water sheds fur
nishing the irrigation waters of tho
west Not only is it sought to pro-
tect the existing forest cover, but
plans are being carried out to refor-
est those areas, now barren, which
are capable OF supporting a tree
growth In carrying out these plans
government nurseries have been estab-
lished at various points in the west.
one OF the largest and most successful
being located near San Bernardino, in
southern California At this nursery
hundreds OF thousands of pine seed :
lings are raised each year and trans
planted TO the mountain slopes, to be-
gin their battle for life under the
smiling. though for them unfavorable
The San Francisco call., 1909-06-13

tional protection to the water sheds
furnishing municipalities with their
water supply.
In addition TO the trees planted each
year by the rangers themselves many
thousands are furnished to private
land owners within national forests
who desire to do some planting on
their own lands, especially il such
planting Will add to the water con-
serving capacity Of the mountains
The work OF planting is carried on
usually by two rangers working to-
gether. One ranger. carrying a mat
tock, goes ahead and digs holes about
is inches across and 10 to IL inches
deep. These holes are about six feet
apart each way. The best and most
protected spots are chosen for the
trees. The ranger who does the plant
ing follows with a bucket contafnfng
the young trees. the roots OF which
are kept wet. With a trowel he ar
ranges the hole previously dug to ac-
commodate the entire root system Of
the tree without bending and then the
soil Is filled in around it and thor
oughly firmed. II leaf litter is near
1t is used to mulch or fertilize the
Seeding.
Until recently the species grown at
the southern California nursery were
all conifers, but owing TO the part
which eucalyptus promises to play in
the timber supply OF this state the gov
ernment has recently enlarged its op-
erations to include experiments in the
growing of eucalyptus on areas not pos
sible TO irri5ate. but possessing a con
siderable amount OF underground A
moisture. Should these experiments
prove a. successful as they promise
to be 1t Will mean great deal to the
The San Francisco call., 1909-06-13

trees However, a suficient number
survived to encourage the governmen MT
to believe that reforestation can be
successfully carried on, and with the
experience of the past to go upon the
work is being pushed forward more
enthusiastically and systematically
than ever before.
1t has been found best to plant
principally upon the cleared areas and
on only the most favorable situations
To that end planting expert was as
signed TO the duty of making a tour
of inspection covering the entire
southern slopes of the mountains for
the purpose of selecting the most de-
sirable planting sites. When such a
site is decided upon crew of labor
ers. under the supervision of a forest
ranger, is set to work clearing away
the brush and grubbing out all growth
which would interfere with the trees
or course this method involves consid-
erable extra expense. but since the re-
suits have been found to be so much
greater this added expense is fully
instiiied. All the planting sites are
$ ossted with view to giving audi
The San Francisco call., 1909-06-13

osity Is one OF the things that GrstteP
counts on to bring Mr.. Squirrel back
to his hidden treasure. and this It gen
orally does.
His digs II up. takes it up in his nttla
hands. examines it all over. tries one
tiny taste as sample. and popl up he
goes In the air and the work Is done
There are the long days OF winter to
be provided for. however. and the
squirrel family is generally a big and
hungry one to feed So the lArdsP
must be nIlsd and well stocked. and
many pounds OF grain thus hnd thslg
way 70 a secret hiding place. This
ures. and sometimes makes this last
effort OF Monterey county appear quite
as futile as previous ones.
But II really means only defer
msnt Of success. for the funerals occur
later when the reserve stock Is opened
One mans experience Is enough to
illustrate this.
The hrst I'VE pounds distributed
brought absolutely no results Ths
second was equally as ineffective as
the FIRST. Both had been carefully
stored away In the family pantry.
Then. having provided for the futura
the third installment was allowed for
immediate consumption. Tho result
was rather disconcerting. and the old
farmer must have felt like his biblical
prototype-that the last state OF his
house was worse than the first. For
to the four corners OF the country the
wind carried the odor Of decomposition.
joyful tidings to buzzards and other
birds Of prey. In the end IL was found
necessary to provide a respectable
burial for the dead.
So the war goes relsntlessly for
ward. and, at the present rate OF NOR
tality, IL Is expected within three
years entirely to clear Monterey county
OF the quick mOtioned. bright little
creatures. we have so often seen scurry-
ing across the road before US and dis
appearing into holes in the ground.
The San Francisco call., 1909-06-13
AT WORh At 700
F0LLHOS OENE0[SON

assistancs, he turns cut nearly one
and three-quarters tons day.
The mixing and the making of this
poison is Grstter's secret. but II is in
its results that We are interested.
wholesoms good wheat Is put in great
wooden vats-5 by 1o-and the deadly
mixture is poured upon 1t. This Is
worked back and forth from side to
side. and Iengthwise. with huge wooden
paddles. until every grain is covered
Then it Is done up in heavy double
sacks and distributed to those who
ask for 1t
Perhaps it IL the inherent love OF
mankind to get something for nothing
as much as the desire to rid itself OF
the destroyers Of its crops that has al
ready made this crusade a success. For
day after day Gretter holds a reception
at his free dispensary in Kings City
men come in empty handed and depart
laden with free gifts. They are men.
too, made desperate by many repeated
failures. and having been duped by
every never fair that has appeared.
come eagerly, II a little skeptieaIly,
to try this last "pisen."
Even with this mixture much. Of
: course. depends upon the energy and
intelligence of the farmer and the man
ner of his distribution. One pound
should send so squirrels to a place
where they'll not need wheat-or any
thing else--to eat. though the record
catch stands at -
Those "a must have been veritabls
babes in arms. so TO speak. for the old
ones are willy and careful with the ex-
perience OF years. They roll on the
wheat. look the ground carefully over
with the air of q housewife deciding
upon her Christmas turkey. Then per-
haps they roll 1t up In the dirt, cover
ing 1t cautiously. and descend below
the ground TO talk the matter over
with the rest of the family But curl
The San Francisco call., 1909-06-13

to get some mixture that would be at
once palatable to the squirrel and ef-
fectual In all kinds OF weather.
To the end. then, they let a con-
and Monterey. who was to deliver to
the county 90 tons of a preparation
with which he had been experimenting
for 10 years This, he claimed, would
meet all requirements
Cyanide and strychninel These in
gradients are only SOME of the good
things used in Gretter's mixture, and
when the mammoth contract is remem-
bered. 1t doesn't look as II the squir-
rels had even chance for their white
The San Francisco call., 1909-06-13
| u@&------ 71zXHG oSCu1199EL l11S0V-
L--- II -1ZNCsS cry

Lor square halls has not yet reached this
settlement Beauty is not their stand
ard OF domestic economy. Rather does
this give way to utility.
Like all breathing things. however.
these squirrels must have sustenance.
what most conveniently presents itself
II happens in this instance to be the
grain growing at their front doors.
AS one watches the daintiness with
which these little creatures feed, and
the tiny mQuthfuls which satisfy them,
it does not seem as If their depredations
could interiors materially with any
ones income.
But one man who lives about 10
miles from San Lucas has another tale
TO tell He seeded 14o acres. from
which he might reasonably have ex-
pected TO reap two-thirds of the har-
vest. But. after the squirrels had laid
in their supplies for the winter, IL was
found necessary to reseed over 40
acres.
One small offender is charged UP
with 80 cents worth OF damage a year
Multiply that by thousands of little
gray skinned thieves and you will be-
gin to understand why the war Is on.
It was declared some few months ago
when the supervisors OF the county
held an indignation meeting. When
that meeting adjourned all the ground
squirrels Of Monterey county were
doomed. Final sentence had been
passed. and failure 10 poison squirrels
became a rnisdemeanor! So dearly
in earnest YVES the board that 1t made
an appropriation big enough to pay for
70 tons of squirrel poison. which was
to be distributed to the farmers gratis
There have been poisons galore per-
petrated upon the expectant farmer
and the suspecting squirrel before this,
and the difficult task OF the supervisors
was to steer clear OF makeshifts and
The San Francisco call., 1909-06-13

alley.
To fill such an order. somewhat
larger supplies were needed than were
to be had in Pacific Grove or Monterey,
and accordingly Gretter came to San
Francisco. Here the wholesale drug
gists greeted him cordially and pre-
pared their order books and pencils
with a thanking you for past favors
and anticipating your future orders"
air
I'D like to have 1000 ounces of
strychnine," announced Gretter, land
100 pounds OF cyanidei"
The expression on the wholesalers
face changed to one of incredulity. fol-
The San Francisco call., 1909-06-13

lowed by very legitimate doubt as
to the sanity of the man before him.
Why. there isn't that much of the
stuff to be had on the coast" he pro-
tested.
Then telegraph east for it," said
Gretter, for 1 must have it right
away"
Twenty -four dollars and sixty cents
expressage was paid for its transpor-
tation across the country, and then
Gretter started his campaign of whole
sale murder.
In commonplace back yard in
Kings City he established his head
quarters, and here, with one mans
The San Francisco call., 1909-06-13
By Agnes Buchanan Crosby

- UT IN the open parts OF Monterey
county. away from the places
where men have laid concrete
psvements and where traction comps-
MES agree TO provide rapid transit IN
exchange for q nickel, there is weep
sng and wziling and gnashing OF teeth.
It's another Rachel weeping for her
children and refusing 10 be comforted,
only this time II isn't a slaughter of
the innocents.
Monterey county has officially under
taken the thorough determination OF
its greatest pests-the ground squirrel
thereby setting an initiative which
has already reaped its harvest of Co
operation and support With most OF
us, the knowledge OF squirrels is re-
stricted. The very name conjures up
only e small. furry animal which lives
81 a constant state OF excitement and
svoIution-on a wheel-and which blig-
3ngly cracks the nuts we offer him,
throwing US q knowing little wink the
while. Some OF US may have been for
tunate enough to make his acquaint-
ancs in his own natural haunts-among
oaks and birchez. where low hanging
and intsrlAcing beughs form trapsss
for the tiny feet to swing from
But always to the city bred a squir-
rel is q friend and pet rather than the
destructive enemy the Monterey farm
era would have Us believe. And until we
pathiss are all with the squirrels.
The entire area Of Monterey county
has two strata Of habitasons-the up
per. visible one. g monument to mans
struggle for existence. and the other
cut OF sight under ground. where the
squirrels have made for themselves q
labyrinth OF devious burrowings- Many
% their Railways stretch their narrow
1snErhs an far as so feet. for the craze
The San Francisco call., 1909-06-13

owners OF lands not capable % produc-
ing agricultural crops. but which can
grow trees.
The forest service IS also expert
ment1ng with broadcast sowing on
certain areas in the west, but expert
ence has shown that the best results
are obtained by raising the trees IN
nurseries and then transplanting them.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1909-02-04
A GREAT TUNNEL is FINISHED
Tube for a Railroad Under the Hud-
son River Is Completed.

New York City.-The simultaneous
explosion of IL dynamite charges
yesterday afternoon, following the
pressure of lever by Chief
Engineer Charles M. Jacobs, blew
down the four feet of natural barrier
far under the North river between
the two sections of the third tube of
the Hudson & Manhattan railroad, be-
tween Cortlandt street, Manhattan,
and Jersey City. When the smoke
cleared the little group of officials
and newspaper men in one section
were greeted by the cheers of work
men in the other to which way was
now cleared.
Mr. Jacobs mounted the boring
shield and in a short speech told of
the work on the tunnel which had
been notable, he said, for two worlds
records. The first was the driving of
the shield through the silt formation
and erecting 72 feet of tunnel lining
ready for track in "a hours. The
second was blasting through the rock
section 800 feet during 80 working
days.
The center lines of the two sections
were within fraction of an inch of
exact meeting. The point of contact
was about 4,500 feet from the Jersey
shore and 1900 feet from where the
tracks enter the terminal buildings
on the Manhattan side The Hudson
& Manhattan railroad officials expect
to have this section of the tunnel and
the terminal building completed by
July 1. The finished tunnels will be
Is feet 8 inches inside diameter, 16
feet inches outside and will consist
of cast steel rings in nine segments
and a key piece. Each segment is "a
inches long and weighs LOO pounds,
a complete ring weighing five and
one-seventh tons.
The running time for trains at the
opening will be three minutes be-
tween Jersey City and New York.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1909-02-04
WEEKLY REVIEW OF TRADE
Dizziness Prevails in Many Lines,
Notably in Iron and Steel.

New York City.-R. G. Dun &c
Co.'s Weekly Review of Trade says:
Some irregularity continues in in
dustrial and mercantile activity. A
fundamental factor of strength is the
steadily multiplying evidence that
stocks are so depleted as to render a
large and general resumption of the
nations industries inevitable and
measurably nearer as confidence is
restored
There are numerous reports of en-
.aIged industrial activity at widely
scattered points throughout the west
and south, and distributors of mer-
chandise in all lines anticipate a
slow but steady return to the normal
volume of transactions.
Uncertainty regarding the ultimate
tendency of prices of finished iron
and steel restricts improvement in the
general trade and the volume of new
business is still disappointing, al
though January is usually a dull
month. Concessions in quotations are
not large, but the fact that they are
becoming more general has disturb
Ing effect. Reports are generally con-
flicting, some branches of the indus
try noting slight improvement in de-
mand while in other divisions busi-
ness is smaller than during the latter
part of 1908.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1909-02-04
SURPRISES NAVAL OFFICERS
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT NAMES
A COMMISSION TO CONSIDER
NAvY'S NEEDS.
The Head of the Department wac
Not Consulted in the
Matter at All.

Washington, d. C. - President
Roosevelt is of the opinion that the
organization of the navy department
Is not such as to bring the best re-
suits and yesterday he appointed a
commission whose announced duty
Will be ito consider certain needs of
the navy" The presidents action
was somewhat of surprise in view
Of the authorization by the senate of
an inquiry into naval expenditures,
the conduct of business and the need,
il any, of legislation to improve the
administration of the navy depart
ment.
Announcement of the presidents
action was entirely unexpected at the
navy department. Secretary New
berry, who had just issued an order
carrying out his proposed plan, with
particular reference to the navy
yards, appeared to be the most sur
prised of all. He declared that he
was not aware that the president had
taken such action, had not seen the
letter of appointment addressed to
the various members of the commits
sion and did not know the purport of
the letter addressed to him. His first
information on the subject had come
to him from the press.
The president has sent identical
letters to each of the eight members
of the commission, which is headed
by Paul Morton. former secretary
of the navy, the other members be-
ing Justice Moody, also former Sec
retary of the navy; Judge A. G. Day
ton, formerly chairman of the house
naval affairs committee, and Rear Ad-
mirals s. B. Luce, A. T. Mahan, Will
liam M. Folger, Robley D. Evans and
William S. Cowles, all of whom are
on the retired list, He sets out GER
tain subjects for the commission to
consider under two general heads,
first as to the fundamental principles
of an organization that will in
sure an efficient preparation for
war in time of peace, and, second
ly, specific recommendations as to
the changes in the present organiza-
tion that will accomplish this result.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1909-02-04
OBTAINED SIS, 600 BY H0LDUP
A Mobile Man and His Wife are Ac.
cused of Bold Crime.

Mobile. Ala.-Fleetwood Lester, a
travelling salesman for the South
ern Supply Co., and his wife are
in Jail charged with holding up Hard
way Young, president of the company,
at the point of revolver at the for
mer's home Friday afternoon and rob-
bing him of $5,600.25.
1t is charged that Lester telephoned
to Young to come to his home to dis
cuss the sale of Testers stock in the
company. When Young entered the
Lester home, it is alleged, Lester
forced him at the point of a revolver
to write an order to his cashier di-
recting him to pay Mrs. Lester S.
60025, the alleged amount of Testers
stock.
Mrs. Lester took the order to the
cashier who wrote out check for the
amount and identified her at the
bank. Mrs. Lester cashed the check
and then returned to her home, where
Young was held practically prisoner,
and gave the money to her husband.
Two hours later after his release
Young swore out warrants against Mr..
and Mrs. Lester, charging them with
robbery and they were arrested They
declined to make any statement
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1909-02-04
SEEMS ANXIOUS FOR TROUBLE
BULGARIA. ADOPTS A DEFIANT
ATTITUDE TOWARD
TURKEY.
Dispute Over Indemnity to be Paid
Turkey by Bulgaria May
Lead to War.

Sofia.-The Bulgarian government
last night delivered a note to
representatives of the powers COM
planning of the irreconcilable and un-
compromising attitude of Turkey and
declaring that the Porte must be re-
sponsible for the consequences.
The note does not solicit the inter-
vention of the powers, but draws their
attention to the tension of the stua-
tion.
For several days past the relations
between Bulgaria and Turkey again
have been exceedingly strained by
reason of the fact that Bulgaria had
modified her reserves and brought
up to its war strength of $4,000 men
the eighth division of her army on
the Turkish frontier.
The present situation is a result of
the failure of Bulgaria and Turkey to
reach an amicable agreement con-
corning the amount of the indemnity
Bulgaria shall pay to Turkey for her
independence, which she proclaimed
last October, and for the seizure of a
portion of the Oriental railway. Tur-
key is willing to accept $25,000,000 as
compensation for all her losses, but
Bulgaria has offered to pay only
about $16000,000.
London, Jan. 30.-The British rep
resentatives at Constantinople and
Sofia have been instructed to warn
Turkey and Bulgaria of the danger of
military action on the frontier and to
exhort peaceful arrangement Of
their dispute.
According to special dispatches re-
ceived here from Sofia, the Bulgarian
note to the powers takes a mandatory
tone toward Turkey, declaring that
unless the Porte promptly recognizes
Bulgaria's independence Bulgaria will
consider herself freed from the en-
gagement she voluntarily has under
taken to negotiate with the Porte on
the basis of pecuniary compensation.