davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1909-12-04

Sigel E. Skinner has been arrested in Los Angeles by Deputy United States Marshal Franklin, upon an in dictment charging him with defraud- ing the government and impersonat- ing Federal officer. Bail was fixed at $5000.
 Skinner is notorious in Imperial Valley as a contestor of desert land claims, and his quarrels with other land pirates have brought him before the criminal courts frequently. In several interviews in the summer of 1907, says the Los Angeles Times, Skinner admitted that he filed the contests with the hope of making the entrymen or assignees pay him we'll for dismissing the suits. He said this kind of business seemed profitable.
 It is alleged that Skinner would in- stitute contest and then induce the occupant to relinquish his title through false representations. As con- testant, Skinner would then have thir- ty days in which to exercise what is called a preference right. That is, he would have the first opportunity to file anew upon the tract which had been relinquished by the timid holder.
 In securing information in regard to shaky titles, Skinner is charged with impersonating a government officer According to the Federal officials, they can produce scores of Imperial Valley| settlers who will swear that Skinner told them he was a special agent Oq the government, sent to investigate! the alleged frauds there.
 It is believed, so the officials say that Skinner has eXtorted thousands' of dollars by blackmail and by lead-s ing ranchers to believe he was in the service of the Department of the h. terior.
 Before coming to Los Angeles, Skin ner was in the United States army in the Philippines, and when he left the service he was a non commits stoned officer. But he was never em- ployed as a government agent, the de- partment officials at Washington state nor was he ever requested to assist in getting evidence against those who were suspected of land fraud.
 The Federal prosecutors insist they have a strong case against the de- fendant, who has been under surveil- lance for several months. Unknown to| him, a special agent has been on his| trail, and has accumulated lot od evidence, it is said.
Imperial Valley press., 1909-12-04
DESERT LEAGUE GAMES
First Class Baseball in Valley Town Puts EI Centro at the Top of
 The List.

The Desert League teams playe. good baseball last Saturday an, Sunday Yuma came over to Imper ial and defeated the home team by score of to 1. About 150 Yum| people accompanied the players an| whooped it up for the boys. Calex| ico played at Holtville and lost t| the home team by a score of ? to Brawley and El Centro played a clos| game on the Fl Centro grounds an| gave the most satisfactory exhibitio| of baseball seen on the home ground so far this season. The score was to 8, El Centro making the winnin' run in the last half of the ninth witt only one man out. Easterly made spectacular three base hit and score on an error in the sixth, and the
 Centro fans pelted him with silv} coins when he came in.
Imperial Valley press., 1909-12-04
THE COUNTESS IN JAIL
Woman Who Failed to Work Fl Cen tro Charged With swindIins
 in Los Angeles.

Mrs. Lillian Peters, alias the Count ess of Pumpernickel or some other old place, half sister to Queen Vic toria, cousin to the Czar, pianist of the Imperial courts of Russia and Austria, who vainly tried to work El Centro year or two ago, has been arrested in Los Angeles on a charge of obtaining money under false pre- tences, The police have been deluged with complaints of the woman's op- erations and urged by Bishop Conaty among others to put an end to them, She seems to have found it easy to fool the musical people of Los Ange- les with her preposterous pretensions, and 1t appears that she has been playing the game for quarter of a century from coast to coast and is known to the police of dozens of cit ies. El Centro's conclusion about the Countess" was that she was locoed, and she did not do much grating here.
Imperial Valley press., 1909-12-04
JAPAN INTERESTED
 IN IMPERIAL COTTON
Honorary. Commercial Con- mission to Send Delegates
 for Investigation,

That a ready market in Japan awaits the development of large cotton growing industry in the I'm perial valley is the substance of state ments made by Motosado Zumoto, owner of one of the leading news papers of Japan the Mail of Tokio and who was one of the members of the honorary commission of Japan csc commercial men who visited San Diego.
 MT. Zumoto acted as interpreter at the banquet rendered the commits sion by the San Diego chamber of commerce at Hotel del Coronado, and remained there until he left for New York city to take charge of the Orien- tai Information Agency of America.
 Regarding the possibility of Ja- pans becoming large customer of the cotton growers of Imperial val ley, Mir Zumoto said to the San Die go Union:
 JuSJ HOW Iue uSllldllu lOI COJLOU in the mills of Japan far exceeds the supply. We have introduced the cul- ture of cotton into Korea, and the Japanese manufacturers are drawing some of the mill supply from that country and India but there is al- ways a shortage in the amount required.
 "The members of the honorary commission were greatly interested in the experiments now being made in cotton growing in the Imperial valley, and will send several con- mercial delegates to that section to investigate the possibilities of the in- dustry, with a view to encourage the ranchers by promising them a ready market for all they can produce.
 Japan undoubtedly will be a large purchaser when there is a sufficient volume of output to warrant ship ping"
Imperial Valley press., 1909-12-04
BUILDING AT RRAWLEY

Brawley's building activities are making a general transformation of the town. The two-story pavilion be- ing erected by MT. Huddleston is near ing completion. The Brawley Coop erative Building Company is erecting a blaming mill a machine shop is in course of building near the depot and new freight buildings are going up for Peter Walker A barley mill Is being built for the Beale Brothers. In various parts of Brawley good cot tages are building.
Imperial Valley press., 1909-12-04
CALEX|CO'S COTTON
 ACREAGE ESTIMATE
Twelve Hundred Acres Already Assured and Five Thousand
 Confidently Expected,
(Calexico Chronicle.)

Two weeks ago the Chronicle print ed blank asking the farmers about Calexico to fill it out. The purpose of the blank was to find out if Cal exico's farmers were taking any in- terest in cotton and to find out if there would be at least one thousand acres planted next year to the new crop.
 The result of the campaign is far better than we expected. Up to date we have received signed statements of farmers which lack fourteen acres of being twelve hundred acres of cotton for next year.
 This is by no means all nor, we sincerely believe, half of the total acreage that will be planted. MT. Giles says Your figures are too low-make it 5000 acres at least for Calexico."
 The announcement is not ready yet for several large acreages of cotton that are under way.
 One of these is on the Sherman Syndicate land on the Inter -Califor- mia railroad, 16 miles southeast of Calexico Probably 5000 acres of this land will be put in cotton.
 The Packard tract across the river in Mexico, is almost certainly going to be farmed to cotton next summer The estimates on this land will run all the way from 4OO0 to 10000 acres. Several other extensive Mexican cot ton propositions are being matched all necessarily adjacent to CaleXico
 There is every indication that Cal eXico next summer will be the center of at least 15,000 acres of cotton with 5000 acres of it on this side of the line.
 Gin is Assured.
 With the guarantee of 1900 right now, a gin is assured for Calexico. The First State Bank has already of fered, through Mr Kloke, to advance money to local cotton association to build a gin and there is another fi- nancial concern which is planning on installing a gin If there is enough cotton in No. the farmers over there will erect @ gin of their own
 The Chronicle believes the labor question will be solved when it be- comes known what acreage will be planted next year in Imperial Val ley.
Imperial Valley press., 1909-12-04
BABY SHOW AT FAIR

There will be baby show at the Fair Saturday afternoon. Prizes will be awarded as follows: month to 1 year; l year to 2 years; years to 3 years 8 years to years. A first and second prize will be awarded the best Mexican or Spanish baby under years, Mrs. Havermale is chair man of the baby show. Come and bring your babies.
Imperial Valley press., 1909-12-04
STREET FRANCHISE
 IS NOT EXCLUSIVE
City of Imperial May Lay Pipes In Its Own Streets, Says
 Judge Cole.

Efforts of the Imperial Water Com pany, the Paullin interests, to prevent the city of Imperial from building an adequate water system unless it shall buy the useless pipes of the old sys- tenn, were blocked this week by Judge Coles denial of the company's ap- plication for an injunction against the city restraining it from laying pipes in it's own streets
 When the plats of the valley towns were filed with the supervisors of San Diego county the Imperial Land Company reserved the right to use the streets for public service systems. The water company contended that the reserved franchise is exclusive even as against the municipality. The city alleged that the company's system was inadequate and maintained that the franchise is only permissory and not exclusive. Judge Cole sustain ed the demurrer of the city and gave the company fifteen days in which to amend it's petition. In the meantime the city will proceed with the laying of pipes in the streets.
 The city was represented by George H. P Shaw, city attorney, and Judge Britt of the Los Angeles law firm of Hunsaker and Britt; Contractor Rog- CTS was represented by Attorney Sher- CT of Los Angeles; Brawley by H. w. Brewer; Calexico by F. P. Willard and the Imperial Valley Gas Con- pany by Eshleman and Swing, while Attorney Frank Klein represented the water company.
 Judge Britt made the chief argu- ment in defense of the city. The other towns were represented be- cause of similar reservations made in the town sites of those places, and the gas company was interested be- cause the reservations cover the main tenance of gas distributing system
Imperial Valley press., 1909-12-04
Preparations and Entries Indi- cate Great Exhibition of
 Valley Resources.
Texans Will Take Charge on Cotton Day and Entertain Los Angeles Ex- cursionists With Big Barbecue Program of Races and Games For the Four Days.

Great preparations are in progress for the second annual Imperial Coun- ty. Fair, to be held at El Centro the last four days of next week.
 From all parts of Imperial County come reports of intending exhibitors and parties who are planning to at tend this exposition of valley pro ducts. It is believed that the attend ance will be fully double that of last years fair, and that the number of exhibits will be far in excess of that display.
 The race track has been put in fine condition, having been sprinkled and rolled, and the racing programme is an attractive one for each day.
 The main exhibit hall is practically completed. It is 96x64 feet, and will be fully utilized by the fine arts dis plays and special booths.
 The stock sheds and stalls are ready and many reservations for space here have been made.
 The county school exhibits have aroused much interest in the var ious schools; the baby show gives promise of being a great event; the juvenile work is sure to bring large exhibit; stock and poultry are listed in large numbers; merchants are preparing for fine special booths; the concessionaries are busy with their plans for public entertainment. and the committees on special pro /grahmes are completing their plans. Texas Day will provide great free barbecue and a general Texas re- union; Cotton Day will attract many outside visitors, among them special patries from Los Angeles.
 Juvenile Work
 The Committee of the Woman's Ten Thousand Club on Juvenile exhibits for the fair, request that all child ren under twelve years of age take part in the exhibition.
 The work must have been done since last September, and includes patchwork, dressed dolls, outline or embroidery work, darning, mending, hemming or any needle work, piece of fancy work, wood carving, boat making, model work, weaving cook ing, etc.
 Articles intended for the exhibit may be left at the fair grounds any time after Tuesday morning, Decem- Der 8, or at the grammar school build ing in Fl Centro.
 This department is entirely outside of the school exhibit, and will oc- cupy separate place altogether
 The Los Angeles Chamber of Com merce will send an excursion to Fl Centro on Cotton Day, and the visi- tors will be shown what the valley is doing to establish an industry of vast importance to their city and to the State. The Oakland mills will exhibit fabrics made from Imperial cotton, and the gin will be in opera tion during the day. The Texas So- ciety will entertain all visitors to the fair on Cotton Day and will provide a big free barbecue. The Southern Pacific has made special rates of one and a third fare from all points from Pomona south, good from the 7th to the 12th.
Imperial Valley press., 1909-12-04
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW
Woman's Club to Give Flower Exhibit For Benefit of Fund For lm-
 proving the Depot Park.

The Womens Ten Thousand Club will give a chrysanthemum show in the Masonic Hall on Friday night, December 10, for the benefit of fund to create park at the passenger de- pot of the Southern Pacific. A gor- geous display of chrysanthemums is pormised, and there will be refresh ments and musical programme.
Imperial Valley press., 1909-12-04
NEW JUSTICE OF THE PEACE

Rev. w. F. Oglesby, Methodist pas tor at McCabe Church, Silsbee, is now able to offer as an inducement to matrimony various sorts of ceremon- ies-ecclesiastical or civil Tester. day he took the oath of office as Justice of the Peace for Silsbee Town ship, having been appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resigna- tion of G. w. Denny.
Imperial Valley press., 1909-12-04
FAIR POULTRY EXHIBIT

Ample provision has been made at the Fair grounds for the exhibits of poultry and the committee in charge of this department is anxious to pre- sent the best showing ever made in Southern California. Bring your ducks, pigeons, chickens, etc., and they will be given the best of care
 COMMITTEE.
Imperial Valley press., 1909-12-04

Saddle race, half-mile; 4-Run- ming race, five-eights mile. Thursday, Farmers Union Day, De.
 cember g. 1909.
 Morning-League Base Ball game Afternoon--Horse racing: liar ness race, breed mares, half mile, best two out of three heats; 2-Running race, half mile; 3-Race for COW pom ies, one quarter mile 4-Runnng race, five eighths mile; 5-Running race, one mile.
 Saturday, December ii, 19oe-Cotton
 Day, Chamber of Commerce
 Texas Society.
 Morning-Grand display of all stock eXhibited-Parade before grand stand Noon-Big feed, provided by the Texas Society.
 Afternoon-Horse racing: liar ness race, half-mile; 2-Mile harness race for stallions; 3-Horse race, half mile; 4-Horse race, five eighths mile; 5--5- Mile relay race; 6-Running race 1 Is miles.
Imperial Valley press., 1909-12-04
FAIR ENTRIES

All entries for prizes of household exhibits must be handed in no later than o'clock Tuesday the 7th, as the Executive Committee must have the blanks at that time
Imperial Valley press., 1909-12-04
COUNTY FAIR PROGRAM

Wednesday, December 8, 1909
 Morning-Judging of stock,
 Afternoon-Horse racing; liar ness half mile, best two out of three heats; 2-Running race, quarter mile;
Imperial Valley press., 1909-12-04

II. R. Ramsey has returned from Santa Monica and will spend the win ter in El Centro.
Imperial Valley press., 1909-12-04
CONTESTOR SKINNER
 ACCUSED OF FRAUDS
Arrested for Posing as Federal Officer and PraCtiCing
 ExtOrtiOn.

First Move of the Government to Break up the Gang of Land Pirates That Has Been BIackmailing Set tiers in Imperial Valley and Specu- Iating in Contested Entries.
The Prescott daily news., 1909-08-21
CANE FOR SEN. DAVIS

Little Rock, Ark, August 21- To add to his collection of near ly 300 walking canes, Senator Jeff Davis received one by ex- press yesterday which he prizes as high as any in the collec ton. During the last session of Com gress Senator Jeff Davis made a plea in his speech on the tariff question for the uniting of the South and West against the East and North on the tariff. The cane he received yesterday came from r. C. Smith, Of Lincoln, Neb. fand was sent on account of his speech It is made of leather with a hea- " rod running through it.
 Near the head there is a section of ivory upon which bar IS the name of Senate Davis, and clasp ed hands representing the united South and West, together with the date. The head of the cane is rounded and is inlaid St the tor with very pretty piece of mus Sel shell.
The Prescott daily news., 1909-08-21
DAVE NELL HERE

i). |. Neill of German. Texas came in this morning on few days visit to old friends in this vicinity Mir. Neill is en route to Missouri to attend the state con vention of the Farmers Union, which meets on the 2Sth.
 teW days aro Mr. Neill went out of the office of president of the Texas Farmers Union which position he held for two years, and mas accepted the editorship oI the Cooperater, Farmers Un- ion paper published al Ft. Worth. Texas.
The Prescott daily news., 1909-08-21
BALLOON REMAINS
 IN AIR l7 HOURS
Tho peoria Passes Over Summit of 0zarks at an Altitude of 6,OOO Feet, Land-
 inS at Dixon, Mo.

s+ Louis. Aug. 20 Passing over the summit of the Ozark ranre at an altitude of 6,OOO feet the balloon Peoria piloted by II. E Honeywell, with Geo. E. smith of Peoria as an aid, landed near Dixon, Mo-, at 11.15 this morning and won the prize in the balloon race which started at Peoria. Ill.,, last night. Two oth- or balloons participated in the race for the $500 trophy offered by the Aircraft Club of Peoria.
 The balloon covered about 25O miles air line and remained aloft IT hours and , minutes. The land- ing was on a field belonging to John Riddle close to the Gascon- ade river. five miles south of Dix on on the top of the range. It was not until 20 minutes after land ing that anyone came to the as- sistance of the aeronauts. Honey we'll says that he was. in rough country away from the railroad and so decided to come down. He crossed the Mississippi river at Louisiana, Mo-. and the Missouri
 Morrison. Mo-.
The Prescott daily news., 1909-08-21
SERVED THEM RIGHT

Carr Manus an,l Carroll Tidwell were arrested Thursday morning and fined S2S.50 each in the Mayors Court for disturbing the peace. ty dlscharging firearms near the Baptist church Wednes- day night. These boys were a. morg some twenty members Of Company e." of the State Guard who arrived home at S.45 from Dardaneile where they went to the encampment with Company Nj from Prescott. Company. c of this city not being called out to the encampment. As the train bearing the returning troops en- tered the city a volley of shots were fired from the train blank |cartridges such as were used in
The Prescott daily news., 1909-08-21
SIX EARS FROM ONE KERNEL

DeQueen, Aug. 21-Corn grow CTS are going some in the vicinity of DeQueen. The latest contribu- tion to the hall of fame has been made by A. T. Lewis one of the leading farmers in Sevier county He broke all records in this part of the country this year by rais- ing six large, well formed ears Of corn as he expects it to aver age forty or fifty bushels to the acre.
 Mr. Lewis is so enthusiastic in regard to corn raising that he is going to give away twenty bush els of choice seed in order to help the industry along and to get the farmers more deeply interested in raising more and better corn.
The Prescott daily news., 1909-08-21
LOSES EYE BY ACCIDENT

Bentonville. Aug. 21-Only the sight of one eye will be lost to Bert Stewart of Gravette, who was last week injured by too heavily charged bottle of soda water exploding in his hands when he was about to open it. At the time of the accident it was feared he would lose the sight of both of his eyes, and he was rush cd here for treatment. The ,oth- CT eye is now out of the cast and is all right.
The Prescott daily news., 1909-08-21
COTTON CROP IS
 GREATLY DAMAGED
Reports From Throughout State Indicate That DrOuth and Recent Excessive
 Heat Have Played Havoc.

Little Rock, Aug. 21- Reports received from throughout the cot ton growing districts of Ar kansas. indicated last night that the crop has suffered great dam age from the drouth and the re- cent hot wave. In some sections of the state the hot parching winds of last Monday and Tuesday caus- ed the damages. In other sections the damage is due to the drouth but in all cases the net result is that stalks have lost much of their vitality and that bolls are beginning to shed as fast as they form
 The reports indicate that the first two days of this week played havoc with the cotton and that regardless of what may happen in the way of favorable conditions from now on. the crop has been materially damaged. It seems to be the concensus of opinion of planters throughout the state that appreciate bains will have to come within the next few days or a great reduction in the pro- duction will result. Planters be- lieve the cotton crop of the state is facing crisis and that good rains must come to keep the crop from being greatly diminished.
The Prescott daily news., 1909-08-21

top the inscription "Hudson-Ftil- ton Centenary" with the dates 1909 and 1909, Below this inscrip- tioD in curved linz are the words 'U. $. Postage" At the bottom on each side is a promine mt Arabic numeral 2 With the words Two Cents" in panel between the figures.
 Iii the center Is engraved a pie ture showing the Palisades of the Hudson ill the background with the Half Moon going up the river with the Clermont steaming in the opposite direction In the foreground is an Indian in a canoe and in the distance. just discernable, is a canoe containing four other Indians the canoes rep resenting the first means of navi- gatlng the river.
 The stamp will be printed in
 the same color as the present tW o-cent stamp.
The Prescott daily news., 1909-08-21
LITTLE ROCK 8 MEMPHIS 5

Anticipating another attack on Umpire O'Brien 6 large crowd went to West EnN park yester- day afternoon to see the second Little Rock-Memphis game. They were sorely disappointed for Um. pire O'Brien was on his good be. haNior and made no close de- ciSiOns in way that could be questioned. Little Rock made a number of costly errors and (par- mitted Memphians to set .the mitted Memphians to get on bases after which the visitors would take hitting spell and score the runners. The Travellers won the game, 8 to 5, by working hard in the first four innings, getting all of their runs and hits in these il nihgs. With this commanding lead Buchanan easedc up and the Turtles touched him for II hits altogether four being doubles
 Memphis did all it's scoring in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings Dick pitched for Memphis and was very easy. Berry formerly with Helena in the State League, caught for Little Rock and filled CaSey's space very well, making a hit each time he was charged with a time to bat, Dick walk ing him twice also.
The Prescott daily news., 1909-08-21
NEW POSTAGE STAMP

Washington, Aug. 20-A new two cent stamp will be issued by the Postolfice Depal tment to commemorate the Hudson-Fulton celebration from September 25 to October 9 Postmaster-Gencral Hitchcock today gave the order Tor the new issue. Fifty millions ol these stamps will be issued and II IS hoped to have them on sale by September 20.
 The stamp is oblong, about 7-S by | 3-S inches in size and com prlseS border containing at the
The Prescott daily news., 1909-08-21
RELIGIOUS SERVICES --FOR PREsCoTTs woRsIPPERs TOMORROW ====

Christian Church Robert A. Highsmith pastor. Bible school 10 am. Preaching at II am, Subject, Work"
 Preaching at S.15 pm, Subject, '"The Church of Christ" A short sermon.
 Everybody cordially invited to attend.
 6 6 6 Presby terian Church - There will be no preaching at the Pres by terian church tomorrow. Sunday school at the usual hour.
 6 6 e Baptist Church Rev. l.. NJ. keeling, pastor, Services tomor- row morning and evening by the pastor.
 Morning subject Testimony