The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-10-24
JASPER RLINEs' JoTTINGs.
The Matter Of Population-Brooks
Confessed Corn Vet Subject to
Injury by Frost, Etc.

The Matter of Population-Brooks
comet-Seed Corn Vet Subject to
Injury by Frost, Etc.
To the Editor of The Gate City:
l ann real glad that my home coun-
ty of Clark did not gain population in
recent years. A decrease of over
twenty-five hundred within ten years
shows that the factor OF safety is
ruling. and that the county is to re-
main rural for some years to come.
Let us avoid abnormal numbers, and
have the country populace just far
enough apart so that the people may
be neighborly. About one mile apart
is the proper equation for rural
homes. Human nature is kind OF a
selfish edifice which repels familiarity.
Halley's comet having vanished
away on its long journey, we may now
resume the comet subject and ac-
quaint ourselves with another chap
ter. The periodic comet of w. R.
Brooks has come within range of tele-
scopes. and Is now one of the great
attractions of mysterious space. The
comet was discovered by Professor
Brooks on July 6, 1889, and computa-
ton showed that it was moving in an
elliptical orbit, with a period of revo-
luton around the sun of seven years.
The comet duly reappeared in 1896
and 1908, and is now proving that it
is obeying its time of arriving at the
station. An interesting fact concern
ing this comet is that it is attended
by four companions. So you learn that
M Brooks fine flyer in space is a
right royal leader, and one to admire
and be proud of. If you have forty
thousand dollar telescope convenient,
why, you may secure nice view OF
the shining orb end its attendants.
In q business house over in Farm
ington recently half dozen men were
talking of the samples of corn which
the firm had received as good speci-
mems of the present great crop. One
man suggested that farmers should
collect their supply of seed corn
along in late September and early
October. and protect the grain SO as
to have it we'll dried before freezing
| temperature comes. Another man re
piled that the plan is all right, but
modified the subject by adding that
seed saved now Is all safe, since the
corn is matured. The advocate Of Sc
lecting seed early made the closing
speech, and showed that all the sam
pies Of white and yellow corn on ex
hibition contained sufficient moisture
to injure the vitality of the grain tx
a very serious degree. The speaker
knew one fact real intelligently, ant
few of his class all over the lant
possess wisdom en- ugh to save al
ample supply of seed corn when tax
grain is in its first degree of matur
ing. l have travelled around owe
several counties this autumn and have
observed that ninety per cent of thu
corn is not entirely removed from
serious loss of vitality by freezin!
temperature. Very favorable weather
with absence of frost, were mercifu
indeed, and with this four or fiv'
weeks of favorable conditions, tn,
crop attained a fairly normal stage
Corn which will show an ability o
ninety to ninety-five per cent of vi
tally next spring will be in active de
mand.
Land ownership in any district o
Clark county is gradually moving in
to larger bodies. Tens, twenties for
ties and eighties are passing ava.
forever. Three dwellings have beef
taken down where one has been erect
ed. The rising generations who de
sire farms are compelled to go t
newer regions. A large per cent ar
drifting into towns and cities. EuroI
can landed conditions are taking dee
and abiding root here in Clark county
Land is very precious possession.
The little waves of conflict in tn
sea of republication appear to b.
quieting down, and on election da
all the little waves will be of the sam
color.
A great steamship company has OF
dered a ship which will be eight hur
bred feet in length. The builders dc
clare that by the time the vessel 1
completed it will be nine hundred
Don't risk saying what will happe
tomorrow Sufficient unto the day !
the evil thereof
The trouble about reforms Is tina
they begin at the top. The mora
training Of the home is the prope
mission
What fine pink colored republi
: this would be if government affair
were conducted upon plans prescribe
: by the editors of those forty thousan
reform papers.
4. JASPER BLiNES.
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