davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-30
BUILD own ROAD
Missouri Farmers Have Hun
dred Mile Electric Line
Now Under Way.
JERSEY cow TRADE MARK
Agriculturists and Prospective Pa
irons Take All Stock to Bar
Possibility of Monopoly.

Southwest Missouri farmers are tax.
ing kindly to the idea Of popular own
ership of public utiIides-so much so,
In fact, that they are building their
Dwn electric railroad
This road runs from Springfield to
Joplin, with a branch line from Mount
Vernon to Pierce City, the entire line
to be 100 miles long 1t has been
named the s'Jersey route" a Jersey
cow having been adopted as the trade
mark, and all rolling stock and sta
tionery viii bear the big COW arranged
IS a coat of arms. There Will be FIVE
freight LOCOMOTIVES, hundred freight
cars, eight double truck coaches and
sixteen trailers.
The farmers and actual patrons will
take up the stock and arrange it so
that there viii never be an opening for
4 company or corporation to monopo-
hze the line. The plan was suggested
by ]. I. woodfiII, a retired railroad
man, who now lives on his farm near
Springfield and devetes his time to per-
fecting schemes for public improve
ment in his section
Other Attempts Failed.
! Several attempts have been made to
promote the same line along well worn
principles of interurban road building,
but all failed for the reason that they
could not interest the farmers in the
enterprise.
But Mr.. woodflI. being himself
farmer and in close touch with the
agricultural interests of his section,
undertook to show the farmers what 1t
meant to their farms to have the road
built and soon convinced them that it
would advance the value of their land,
estimating by a strip two miles wide,
$50, 900 per mile.
The farmers fell In with woodfilPs
offer to put the deal through for them
After securing the right OF way and
subscription of $4,000 a mile from
farmers he induced a broker to look
the proposition over and secure funds
to construct the road. This has been
done, and the enterE rise Is taking
shape.
To Develop New Sections.
Bonds are to draw 8 per cent and to
run fifty years. One of the new and
taking features of financing is that
40 stock is given away with the bonds
save to the purchasers of common
stock. The stock thus given away is
convertible into coupon books and
can be used to pay freight and pas
senger fares. thus securing business
for the road before it is built There
are 252. 600 persons in the territory
trayersed by this road. Moreover, the
territory tributary to this line is q
datrying and fruit growing section.
and much business will be developed
where now transportation is too re-
mote to make a success 1t also will
take in Paris Springs. where viii be
established a health resort.
1t has been little more than six
months since this scheme was first
launched, and the road will be in full
operation by the middle of 1911.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-30
Elephant Threnodiea.

The natives of certain portions of
south central Africa. says the Duchess
of AoSta in Harper's Weekly. look en-
the death of an elephant as an event
They attach an almost religious aspect
TO ii. "As soon as the animal stalker
is stretched out on the ground the
hunters climb upon the huge. still
warm body and there perform a dance.
gestculating and shaking their guns,
accompanied by sort of litany. in
which they extol the animal and his
qualities. his strength. his size. his
cunning: then they praise the ssill OF
the hunter. his prompt eye. his accu
rate shot. And this song is Just muir
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-30
PUPILS TAUGHT TO SHOOT.

priation For Schools.
The Austrian government has decld-
ed to give instructions In rife shooting
in all the; secondary schools. The ex-
pertinent viii be started by the Eighth
army corps, which has its headquar-
tiers In Prague.
The sum Of $4,000 kronen has been
appropriated for the experiment. RI
lies and 100000 cartridges will be pro-
Rided free, while a further supply Of
30, 900 cartridges win be supplied at
cost price
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-30
How Parchment Came to Re Used.

When tbe literary jealousy OF the
Egyptians caused Them to stop the SUI
ply of papyrus. the king OF Pergamos
city in Asia Minor. introduced the
use of sheepskin in a form callef
from the place Of its invention. perga-
mona. whence our word parchment E.
believed to be derived Vellum. a finer
article. made from calfskin. was also
used. Many Of the books done on vel
lum in the middle ages were tran
scribed by monks. and often IL took
years to complete single copy.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-30
WATER POWER LEFT UNUSED
canada's Resources In This Line With
out Limit.

OUT
To the practical engineer who visits
Canada nothing is so astonishing as
the enormous extent of the waterways
and the tremendous possibilities of the
yet embarrassed water powers for the
supply Of electrical energy.
Considering the recent utilization of
power from the Niagara falls over a
large area of Ontario, it seems almost
Incredible that only $4,000 Of the 25,-
$50, 900 horsepower which it is esti-
mated can be produced in Canada is
as yet in use.
In Ontario the water power is COM
puted at $4,000, nearly 10 per cent
Of which has been developed. The
province Of Quebec, however. owns
ltwo-thirds of the entire water power
of the Dominion, of which as yet a
bare fraction has been utilized.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-30

.lured. a. If they were. afraid that 1.
hey raised their voices they would
rrfract the curse OF the spirit which,
Ias just left the animal and is still
coating round him.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-30

shot. it makes most unearthly 70,
Keeper-Ye5: poor Bill amt got u mu-
steal voice. as e? But I heard him
say he was going to take singing les
sous.-LOndon Tit-Bits.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-30
MODERN BUSINESS.

The Big Jobs Demand HustIers Who
Are Gentlemen.
A notable change has taken place in
American business methods within
the last decade. Increasingly men Of
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-30

Hemdn. Not everybody cnn define II.
but everybody knows it ar sight.
The gentleman. in short. can work
along the line OF least resistance. and
that is why he is wanted. -Bookkeeper
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-30

The Best He Could Do.
G(.Ala AA-tazhatAzag il ia Iva
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-31
The Courier Junior
Fuhtishsd y
the couRlEr. PRINTING &C.
oTTuMWA. IOWA.
MATILDA DEvEREAux.
EDITOR.
A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Dear Juniors.-Happy, happy New
Year to all the Juniors, and thrice
happy, happy New Year to the mem
hers OF the Christmas Stocking club.
Each year our club has grown until
this year we made 27O little children
happy by presenting them with a par
OF we'll filled stockings. Many OF our
1909 members helped us and we are
happy to say that many new names
are added to our lists. In addition %
the stockings brought In we received
xifts Of dolls, money, candy, nuts ana
clothing. with the money we pur'
chased stockings. All the gifts were
delivered direct from the Courier OF.
fice and Just as the donors prougnt
them In. The Juniors OF 1911 VIII De-
long to the Christmas Stocking club,
because 80 many Of them, their nam
mas, papas, grandmas, aunts, 1rlenos
and uncles, belonged to the 1917
Christmas Stocking club.
We wish we could tell you about
every member Of the club and also
about the happy children who re.
ceived your gifts. They just smiled and
smiled when their hands went down
into those wonderful stockings ana
found so many good things.
The following names were un1nten-
tionally omitted from the membership
list Saturday:
PAULINE PATTERSON.
OTTO EDWARD scHAU7.
CLARA ESTHER DAaGETT.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-31
BLANCHE LIVES IN THE UNITED
STATES.

The country In which l live Is the
United States OF North America. It
is In the North Temperate zone. There
Is no more highly civilized country In
the world.
Some parts are covered with forests
and some parts are level prairies
They grow cotton, corn, wheat, to-
bacco, rice, oats, barley, rye, and flax.
Some Of our greatest manufacturers
Of the United States are flour, corn
meal, lumber, cotton, WOODEN cloth.
boot, liquors. clothing, shoes. books,
iron, steel goods, machinery, pork,
leather goods and newspapers.
Some of the minerals that are
found in the United States are coal,
iron, gold, silver, copper. petroleum,
and iron ore. Some of the wild ant
mails found in the United States are
the caribou, parrot, vampire, bat,
cable, polar bear, bighorn sheep,
puma, monkey, bison, mink. otter
alligator and beaver.
The United States contains about
81 100000 people altogether.
Some Of the vegetables that are
grown are potatoes, tomatoes, beans,
peas, squashes. pumpkins, ground
cherries, cabbage, beets, radishes, let
tuce and onions.
Here are some subjects that would
like to have the Juniors write about.
/. How to Grow Good Garden. q.
How to Make Clothing.
Blanche Wheaton, age II,
OttumWa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-31
} FRANCES HAS BEEN SICK.

Dear Editor:
] received your lovely card Saturday
thank you very much for 1t and am
sorry you had to miss my name from
the list OF Christmas Stocking club
members. But 1t was impossible for me
to join as was taken sick two weeks
ago Thursday and was taken to the
Ottumwa hospital on the next We'd
nesday for an operation for append
citis. OF course could not join
then for l was too sick to write much
and when did get able to write had
so many cards and letters to answer l
was kept busy writing them and l
could not get anything else done.
am getting alright now but can
not walk any yet. have II be car
ried or pulled in chair all of the time.
I came home Saturday afternoon so
would be here for Christmas.
would not have come only l didn't
want to spend Christmas in the hospi.
tai
Two of my Junior friends Mabel
Root and Hedveg Carlson came to see
me while 1 was In the hospital and
had nice visit with both of them
I received twenty three presents for
Christmas and seventy-two cards /
received sixty-three cards and about
twenty letters while was in the
hospital.
will close for this time and l will
try to write more often.
A Junior, N
Frances Norton, age 13
Melrose, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-31
MARIE's PLAYMATE.

Marie was little girl six years old.
She lived with her mother. Marie's
father died when she was year and
half old. She did not know that she
ever had q papa.
Marie's mother worked at different
houses. One day she told Marie to stay
in the yard while she was gone. Marie
promised to obey her.
An hour went past and Marie was
sitting on the door step by herself All
Of a sudden she heard a howl. She
looked around and saw little dos
limping toward her. She ran and pick
ed 1t UP, took II into the house and
bandaged up the foot which was
badly cut and stayed In TIL her
mamma came home. Her mother said.
ut is a homeless puppy and you can
keep 1t for playmate
Marie was delighted. She said Il will
name it Rob, and we shall always be
friends" Marie made 1t bed out OF
straw in box. Then she fed II and ate
supper herhelf and went to bed and
Rob went also.
The next morning Rob's foot was
better. Marie said Now shall never
be lonesome for Rob is my playmate.
Maries mother went to work as usual
and left happy little girl at home.
Margaret Murray, age 10,
514 West Second ST.. Ottumwa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-31
STORIES AND LETTERS.
iHANNAH's AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

I was born June 80, 1896 in Cleve-
land Lucas county, Iowa. The house
in which I was born is still standing
In the same place and we still live in
1t. 1t Is two story building painted
very light blue, trimmed in red. 1t
has five rooms and summer kitchen.
When was a year old got sick. |
was just getting over my sick spell
when swallowed hat pin. This was
the 9Th of August. / was sick until
after Christnas.A gathering came on
my side and on Christmas eve they
were changing the poultice and they
saw that the gathering had burst
and the end of the hat pin was pro-
jecting out about an inch so papa took
and pulled it out. But the head was
not on it.. We have part of the pin at
home.
When I started to walk I was two
years old because ! had been sick. |
started to school when | was six years
old. MY first teacher was Nellie Hun
ter. I will write the names of the
teachers who taught me from the first
grade to the 9Th grade: Florence Bell,
Edith Dale, Margaret Watkins, Bessie
Mongar, Edith Dale, Mrs. Swanson,
Mr.. Parishc and Alice Roddy.
I have been promoted every term
since started to school. About four
years ago when l was talking to a
friend our horse grabbed me by the
right shoulder and threw me up in the
air and when / could get on my feet
I looked at my shoulder Through a
hole which the horse had torn in my
dress) and it was all bitten. / went
home and wrapped it up and in less
than three weeks 1t was better.
have had many experiences through
these fourteen years but these are the
worst. am feet. inches tall.
have light hair and blue eyes. would
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-31
FORESTS BIOGRAPHY.

was born in the city OF Ottumwa,
Iowa on Monday evening at Z o'clock.
June 2, 1900, to Henry and May Weber.
Thu physician was DR.. j. B. Wilson
and the nurse was Grandma Hahn.
My first weight was IL pounds; the
first year, II lbs; second year. ~
ms: third year, 80 lbs.; fourth year,
80 TBS.
Mamma discovered my first tooth
when ] was six months old. When !
was a year old had Steeth. suppose
I was quite cross baby. had red
hair. 1t is still red, but quite dark,
blue eyes and real fair,
When I was five months old a friend
of mammals gave me little bank
with five cents in it, She said that she
gave me the first money ever had
and wanted me to start bank ac-
count, SO / still have it, but have
$38 in the savings bank. Her name Is
Mollie Vantruse. Her sister, Mrs. Har-
loft, gave me cup and saucer and a
plate. These were my first also.
/ first sat alone at six months, crept
at nine and walked at a year and two
months.
When wanted drink would say,
give me gink!" always called my
grandma, Dane.
The first thing ever said was man.
ma.
l called apples. hous
l started TO Sunday school when
was nearly four years old, and to
school when was five and am in the
intermediate department in Sunday
school and in the fourth quarter Of
the fourth grade in school. never
miss either unless I am sick. l never
had but one bad sick spell and then
| missed six weeks
}, | have taken several trips on the
cars. / have been to Kansas four
times.
When l was small wore my hair
curled. When was five years old
mamma had the curls cut of.
was four years old when had my
first suit and little gents overcoat.
MY first picture was taken when I
was three months old will be eleven
the second day Of June. 1911.
Forest Weber, age 10.
1906 East Main St. Ottumwa, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-31
MARY WRITES TO MAuDE AND
MABEL.

Dear Junior friends:
received letter from one OF you
but I had forgotten which one 1t was,
SO will write to both Of you.
I was very glad to hear from you
through the Junior page. I have not
joined in any of the contests yet.
Have you? have received six post
cards from the editor and wish to
thank her very much. am at school
today. My teachers name in Lulu
Mason. like her fine. My seatmate
Is Elsie Friberg. am In the fifth
grade. We had a very nice pro-
gram Christmas. was In two
dialogues, a speech and some songs.
have q little brother. He Is just
learning to crawl. He Is very sweet.
How many brothers and sisters have
you? / have four brothers and two
sisters. My Oldest sister is married.
Well girls, | guess I will close, hop
ing to hear from you soon, am your
Junior friend.
Mary e. Tweedy,
r. F. d. No Z, Fairfield, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-31
AMY's CHRISTMAS STORY.

Dear Editor:
I thought would write to the Jun
Tors about the Christ child. What 9
wonderful child he was, loving ana
kind from his birth up. We see him
as baby; again we see him with
Joseph at the carpenter bench. When
he was IL years old we see.him In the
temple and asking questions, 80 we
see the wisdom he had. We so back
to where we read of Joseph and Mary
going to be taxed in Judea. into the
city of Bethlehem and where he was
born in manger because there was
no room for them in the inn. The angel
said for unto you Is born Savior VINO
is Christ the Lord. We read when they
saw the star they rejoiced with ex-
ceeding great JOY We read OF the wise
men coming with their gifts OF gold
and frankincense and myrrh.
Amy Lucas, age II,
49, Chillicothe, Ia, r. No. !. s
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-31
widow Brown had happy Christmas.
Dorena Lowe, age II,
r. F. D. No. 3, Ottumwa, la.
THE CHRIST CHILD.

One night some wise men OF the
east saw very beautiful star. These
men knew every star in the sky, but
had never seen such large and bright
one before. Surely" said one OF the
wise men, this is bringing us won
derful news. Perhaps 1t has came to
tell us that the long promised Saviour
IS born. Let us 60 and tell Herod the
king" Herod had not heard OF the
Saviour's birth and sent them to
bethlehem, saying, go and search
diligently for the young child, and
when you have found him bring me
hack word.'
And as the wise men went forth rid
Ing upon their camels, wondering
which way they should CO. they saw
the same beautiful star they had
seen in their own country, moving
gently before them. Let us follow it,"
they said. Perhaps 1t will lead us
where he is." So they followed 1t I'M
til 1T suddenly stopped over stable
and seemed to beckon the wise men
to go in. He cannot be here" they
whispered. for who is born will be q
king" But as the star did not move
they went doubtfully In. Directly the
wise men saw the little baby, smiling
in its mothers arms. Something told
them that it. was the Saviour. SO
they went out and took from their
camels gold and frankincense, and
myrrh, and laid them gently at his feet
rejoicing greatly that they had found
the long promised Savior.
This little baby is king" said the
wise men, "and we will love and honor
him forever
This is why we give presents and
celebrate December Is to remember
the birthday of our Savior.
Alice e. Thompson. age 10,
r. F. D. No 2. Russell, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-31
like to exchange post cards and letters
with the Juniors.
Your Junior friend
Hannah Clark, age "A.
Lucas Iowa.
MARIE's SURPRISE.
Lucas, 10,

"Oh what a bad day this is" said
9-year-old Marie Blake. Marie was
really too old to be standing there do
ing nothing, but today was Saturday
the very day she and seven other Of
her girl friends had planned to coast
on Jones hill. It had showed all week
and so the snow was just the right
depth for good coasting and snow
balling. Marfes mother was afraid
Marie would catch a cold If she went
out in the snow. please let me go
mother" pleaded Marie Not now
Marie sternly replied her mother. 1T
is of no use begging me to do thing
after / tell you you cannot well 2
guess its of no use then" "Of course it
isn't, anyway do not think 1t very
ladylike of you to stand there idling
away your time like that when you
know there are stockings for you to
darn" Just then Susie, Mary, Louise,
Mildred, Verna and Eva, the girls who
were going coasting came by. Hello
Marie going coasting today?" screamed
Eva. No, mamma won't let me 60"
Suddenly Marie's face lighted up
Mother, Aunt Jane said In that let
ter we got last. Saturday that this
Saturday / would get a surprise But
before her mother had time to answer
the door bell rang. Marie was the first
one to the door and so got to open 1t.
The expreSsman was standing there
with basket. on his arm addressed to
Marie "a package for you ma'am."
Marie took the basket into the sitting
room and took off the lid. Ont hoped
a little white poodle dog. The next
surprise was trunk with three coats,
two paid Of stocking and two pair Of
shoes In the bottom of the trunk was
q note that said the coats. shoes and
stocking were for Fluffy. So Marie had
O very nice day after all.
Theodore VAIL. age 8,
5oS w. Myrtle ST. San Antonio, Tex.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-31
WHY THE CHRISTIAN WORLD
CELEBRATES CHRISTMAs.

We celebra ted Christmas because It
Is Christ's birthday. It was on the 25th
day of December when Mary's first
born son came to earth. She wrapped
him in swaddling clothes and placed
him in the nnanger because there was
no room for him in the inn. Why It was
SO crowded was because their own
town was to be taxed. The shepherds
in the fields of the some country were
watching over the fiocks by night
When they saw the star In the east
and they followed it, and they saw It
lowered over where the babe lay and
when they got there they found JOS
eph and Mary and the babe in the
manger They worshiped him and re-
turned to their own homes.
Grace Miller, age IL,
Abba, Ia, r. No. Z.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-31
THE WIDOWS CHRISTMAS.

There once lived widow Brown.
She and her three children we're very
poor. Now it was coming Christmas
and she had no money. Ned said, II
want red ball mamma and Harry
wanted top. They all wanted pair
Of shoes, and tree, although 1t was
ever SO small One evening when the
children were in bed she was sewing
by the fire place where the ashes
were cold. A man came UP to the door
and gave her letter. She was very
surprised when she saw it.
She opened the letter. What per-
son is this writing me? It's from the
city, suppose" she said why here
is ten dollar bill, red ball for Ned,
a top for. Harry, a doll for the baby, a
tree and new shoes for ALL" And the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-31

are you going, sir? Have you a homer
I'm going to live with my married
granddaughter who lives in this town.
have just arrived on the morning
train and decided to walk to her
house 1t lies at the father end OF
town, so felt would have to get a
drink before completing the walk. |
was very tired when l stopped at your
door. However, now feel not only
rested, but much cheered up by your
kindness. my fine boy
"But-why didn't your granddaugh-
ter meet you at the station?" asked
Johnny, eagerly. He thought the old
man was being mistreated.
Il did not write them exactly when
i would start. I wanted to surprise
them. You see. I'm from the Old Sol
diers' Home, and my granddaughter
has not seen me in years Her hus,
band, likely young doctor. is getting
well established in town, and / shall
now have a home with them. Both
have written and urged me to come.
At first felt | could not accept their
kind invitation, for / feared would
be in the way-a burden on them, you
understand. But they would net take
mo- for my answer. So. here am al
most at their door and they do not
know am in town.
What is their name?" asked
Johnny
"Martin--Dr Martini said the aged
soldier.
ooh, he's my rncle!' cried Johnny,
as happy as could be at the discovery.
Yes, DR.. John Martin is mamma $
younger brother And just to think
he's married to your granddaughter!
Isn't that splendid? Now we shall be-
come the greatest of friends you
and l."
Eyes, the old soldier and the young
soldier" smiled the aged man.
And Johnny led him to his grand
daughters home, where he was made
so welcome and happy. and where
Johnnys father and E1cther and HIM
self were invited to dinner to meet
the "Old Soldier" of rebellion days.
And the happiest person at the table
that evening-if it were possible to be
the hapipest of so happy a group =
was Johnny, the little soldier.