davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1911-05-26
Ladies and Misses
Spring Goats

We have the long coats and. the short jack
cts, and for Market day we will give discount
of Is per cent from our already low prices,
making $1,000 coat 90, $1,000 coat 50,
an S.. 90 coat $500, etc.
Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1911-05-26
ladies' and Kisses Skirts

We have good, durable skirt for ladies',
which we will sell for Market day at $1.98,
1926 and $3.50. The skirts are neatly
trimmed with silk BRAID and will give you ex-
cellent wear.
A discount of Is per cent will be given on all
other skirts, in panama. wolfe, etc., making
400 skirt 49, 40, SIS. 90 skirt 81. 25 and $500
skirt S.. 10, and all others in proportion.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-08-24

Forty years ago there were very few people In
this country who could boast of having seen
bunch of bananas The fruit was practically I'M
known Now, in even the most remote country
store, this pride of che tropics" is a familiar
sight
consumed, they belong almost wholly to one
member of the family the common yellow
Guinea.
Scientists have recognized and classified as
many as 40 different species, ranging from the
ornamental groups that do not develop fruit, to
the giant bananas, the Platano of the Spaniards.
The red banana is not common in the Ameri-
can markets. In the United States it is used
only to dress" fancy baskets Of fruit but in
the tropical countries 1t is quite favorite. The
individual banana is large, but the stalk does
not carry as many 'handg' as the yellow yarie-
ties, so as it does not byfng as large price to
the grower and wholesaler, it's extensive cultiva-
ton is not encouraged.
Banana culture is one of the oldest of indus
tries. 1t has been known since the origin of
the human race. Long before the dawn of his
tory in the old world, perhaps long before the
cid world rose from the waters, man lived on
the fruit of the Musas. The banana was gen.
orally considered a native of southern ASIA
and to have been carried into America by
Europeans until Humboldt threw doubt upon
its purely Asiatic origin, quoting early authors
who asserted that the banana was cultivated
in America long before the conquest 1t is
claimed that at the time of the Incas in Peru,
bananas formed one of the staple foods of the
natives Of the warm and temperate regions of
the Montana. In spite Of the uncertainty as
10 Just which country may claim the fruit as
indigenous, all tropical lands assert their right
to It.
The first importation of bananas to the
United States occurred in 1904, when the
schooner Reynard, on a voyage from Cuba,
brought into New York, as a commercial ven
ture a consignment of 80 punches; but the
real beginning of the trade dates back to 1866
when Mr. Charles Frank undertook the i'm
portation OF fruit from Colon to Now York
Previous to that venture small cargoes con-
sisting mainly of the red banana had been re-
ceiyed at irregular intervals from Cuba. In
1870 Captain Baker an owner Of Cape Cod
schooner took charter to carry gold miners
and machinery 500 miles up the Orinoco river
in Venezuela After discharging his cargo,
Captain Baker ran into Jamaica to secure
some cocoanuts as ballast to New York, carry
ing few punches of bananas on the deck as
an experiment. The result promised great
future for the industry that island, which
has been fulfilled the exports last year reach
ing $4,OO0,0O0
On the American continent, bananas are sue
cessfully grown through so degrees OF latitude,
from Tampico, Mexico, Is degrees north, to
Asuncion in Paraguay in the Tropic OF capri
corn, % degrees south-a belt over 5000 miles
In width Cultivation Of the fruit is practical
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-08-24

develops rapidly, continually Denulne ~ oo.,,
moro until In q short time it has turned COIL
Dletelv upon itself, so that the bananas grow
end up or in a position the reverse VI "n1o
they are usually hung. From seven W W." -
months after the blossom appears the llule
is ready for the gatherer At irregular inter-
walls along the entire stalk, and only e1tehulns
part of the way round at any one place. 'ne
bracts break forth tiny ridges OF mowers
which are almost Immediately repldceu "
nine to twelve embryo bananas. Inese are
the future hands" of the bunch, SO caleo on
account Of their resemblance to those meu-
bers when held in a certain position.
The banana has curious and prodlgal meth
cd of propagation, for before the parent stalk
and fruit have matured new ones spring up.
These are offshoots that grow from the root OF
the original planting, resembling sprouts from
the eyes of potato, and each IN turn De-
comes parent stalk with its fruit. 1t IolloWs
that unless most of the continually appearing
new plants are cut out (Which is the practlce)
the first stalk in few years will become the
center of miniature Jungle The plants grow
to height Of from fifteen to thirty-five feet,
spreading in all directions, until the soil is
overburdened with an enormous mass of stalk
and leaf growth and stunted fruit is produced
In planting for the market about 200 hills are
allowed to the acre. Sometimes the number
can be safely increased to 225, in which case
there will be 500 stalks. However, after one
year all of these stalks do not produce mar
ketable bunch of bananas, and the average
yield is not over 800 full punches to the acre
per annum.
Perry, the well-known authority on bananas
estimates that a grower can produce bunch
for from ten to fifteen cents, which will nave
a market value of 80 cents. The cost OF pro-
ducing after the first crop is confined to Guilt
waiting and harvesting, which may be done for
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-08-24

ly restricted to the eastern coast line, for the
banana is one of the thirstiest of plants, and
cannot be expected to produce it's maximum
amount of fruit in districts where there are
less than 100 inches of annual rainfall I'm
fortunately for humanity, great areas Of the
land lying within this belt are high, dry and
sterile, while others are sandy rocky, SO
only a small fraction is so located that banana
growing can be made profitable. The altitude
must not invite danger Of FROST and high tenn
perature is necessary for the growth. The
southern coast of the Mexican gulf, the Puerto
Barrios section of Guatemala, the Puerto
Cortes district of Honduras, the Puerto Limon
district Of Costa RIGA, the Bluefelds district of
Nicaragua, the Bocas del Zorro region of Pan
anna, the Colombian province Of Santa Marta,
and certain portions of Cuba, Jamaica, the Do
mnican Republic, Haiti and Dutch Guiana, all
combine the favored elements OF soil and eli
mate.
The plant has two natural enemies-the
gopher and the wind storm-but against al
most all other tropical conditions its hardi-
hood is remarkable
1t is a matter of common observation that
the banana is absolutely seedless, cultivation
through innumerable generations having led
to a vegetable method Of propagation. Some
of the primitive seedbearing varieties are
still said to exist in isolated regions of the far
east.
The first step toward cultivation is the clear
ing of the land. Into the tangle of shrubs and
vines and the thick snarl of tropical vegeta-
ton the laborer comes with ak and
'machete' and cuts low everything but the
giant trees. When all of the small timber and
brush has been felled planting is commenced.
Young shoots are obtained from a planta-
ton already in bearing and these are placed in
rows about IL feet apart. When the planting
is finished, the only labor necessary is to keep
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-08-24

banana leaves the fruit is safely brought to the
railroads.
Bananas grown for the market are planted
as a rule on the border of navigable waters
Plantations are divided into sections or zones
of about ten to twenty miles in length and the
zones are "cut" in rotation, thereby cleaning uP
the available supply Of fruit in one or several
sections while it is maturing in others.
In Costa RIGA the system which has been
evolved for handling the fruit from the time 1t
is cut from the plant until it is placed on the
dealers little stand in the far interior cities of
the United States is indeed marvellous.
When a steamer starts from a United States
port to secure it's cargo cable is sent advising
of the departure, so that preparations can DO
made for cutting the crop. The carrying Ca
pacity of the vessel is known almost to bunch
Each plantation manager furnishes at the be-
ginning of the week estimate OF the amount
of fruit he can cut and one, two, or three sec
tons may be called upon, according to the size
of the ship and the quantity of fruit available
in each section. About thirty-six hours prevt
GUS to the expected arrival of the steamship or
ders are sent to the plantations, notifying
them to cut fruit for delivery a specific date
The day before the steamer is due trains are
made up and sent out to pick up the fruit, ,hese
trains being timed that steamers Will nat be
delayed waiting for cargo.
On the morning Of the cutting, the plantation
is all astir. First out are the cutters, who
go up and down the long avenues of banana
plants, closely inspecting each hanging bunch
In cutting the fruit long lances are used, palm
poles armed with broad steel blades. The stalk
of the tall plant is half severed at point about
eight feet above the ground. The weight Of the
fruit causes the top Of the plant to bend slowly
to the earth, where the bunch is cut from the
stem by stroke of the machete. Following
the cutters come the picking-up gangs, who de-
liver the fruit at the receiving platforms along
the railroad track An inspector watches the
fruit as it is passed into the cars. He counts
and grades each bunch, rejecting those that
show signs of ripenng and those that are un-
dersized bruised.
After cargoes are discharged in the United
States solid trains Of banana cars run as "spe-
Gals" every day in the week from New York,
Baltimore and New Orleans to all Of the large
cities of the country. Carloads are even shipped
to Calgary Canada over 1000 miles from New
Orleans
The front gentilators of the forward cars OF
these trains and the rear ventilators Of the
last cars, are connected by means of canvas
tubes run into main trunk chute. powerful
exhaust draws off the heat thrown out by the
fruit in it's ripening process, and the fans cir
culate cold air through every car in the train.
During the winter months the operation is re-
versed and fruit in transit during very cold
weather is warmed while proceeding to it's
destination.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-08-24

will help to put China in accord with
the rest of the civilized world. The
Importance of the reforms that are
following one another in China and
the extent to which they are radical
may be appreciated when it is con-
sidered that until the present genera
ton outsiders, in practically every
part of China, were foreign devils"
There were no railroads, and no dis
position to permit the construction
of any or to encourage anything not
already tested by centuries OF prac-
tice China not only has railways
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-08-24

down the weeds and care
fully clean the ground
about the the root Of each
stalk.
The banana plant will
grow with wonderful rap
idity under favorable cir
cumstances. In fact, the
development from a new
ly planted sucker to the
plant in full bearing is
simply short of marvel
Gus. Within a space or
six or seven weeks the
two or three foot plant
has more than doubled in
size, and a month or so
later the leaves cease TO
unfold and a spike ap-
pears out of the center OF
tbe crown. This is the flu
ture stalk of the bunch
and carries a huge red
blossom at the end. IL
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-08-24

from $40 to $40 per yearly. The net profit.
however, averages about $50 per acre IN the
various banana producing sections The banana
often grows in combination with other products.
In some cases it is used as a shade for young
coffee plants.
great many people are of the opinion that
the banana would be much better if it was al
lowed to Tipen the plant but this is not the
case Such fruit is strong in flavor, does not
mature to perfection, and the skin breaks, at
tracing numerous insects, while the weight OF
the bunch itself becomes too great for the plant,
either one or both coming to the ground. The
punches are cut when the fruit is one-haH to
three-quarters matured, though still green and
as hard as nails. 1t continues to feed from the
cut stalk, which contains great amount OF
sap, until fully ripe. Should the cutting occur
too soon, however, the fruit, although turning
yellow will never attain the perfect flavor.
With the cutting of the bunch ends the life
of the plant, for it bears but once and is usual
Iy cut down to obtain the fruit, or succumbs
few days later to the cleaning process, which is
merely the bringing of a spent piece to the
ground Cutting the fruit itself involves the
only careful labor on the banana plantation, as
the punches weigh from fifty to sixty pounds,
and even slight knocks are followed by bruised
spots. under which the fruit quickly ripens and
decays However. by the liberal use OF dried
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-08-24

rest of the party went off to find a
spring. When the searchers returned
with the water, they found nothing
ready but the coffee. which, being in
temperature-retainin bottles, re-
quired no preparation.
Where's the bacon?" asked one of
the men. Didn't the fire burn well
enough?"
1.-THE fires all right" said the
would-be cook, but we'd like to know
how you expected US to fry bacon
without any lard7--Lippincott's MAJ
aZine
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-08-24

now, but is building more and has
in prospect network Of lines to grid
iron the empire 1t has parliament,
a constitution and cabinet, all the
acquisitions of a decade. China seems
destined in very short while to take
a much more important position that
is now occupies in world affairs.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-08-24

the 1910 importation, at point Of export, was
over $1250000O, while in all probability the con-
Stunning public OF the United States expended
over $35 900 900 for this delectable fruit.
During the past ten years the number of
bananas consumed in the United States has
more than doubled, and the increased tropical
acreage under cultivation assures even more
startling figures for the next decade. Many
European countries are importing large quaint
ties Of bananas; last year Great Britain con-
sumed over $8,000O00 worth, Germany, over
$1,000,000, and France 100000.
With the worlds decreasing food supply, and
the wheat crop at a standstill the banana comes
forward important factor in saving the
day. One acre with little labor will annually
produce IL 600 pounds Of bananas, or more than
one and one-third times as much food substance
an acre Of corn, two and one-third times as
much as oats, almost three times as much per
acre as wheat and potatoes, and four times as
much as rye The chemical composition of ba-
nanas and potatoes is almost identical
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-08-24
Sunday Observed in China

of western civilization. and is fastening
to make up for lost time. Its latest
move is embodied in an official de-
termination to observe Sunday as a
day of rest. While the considerations
prompting this step, may not be re-
ligious, the result is sure to be bene-
fetal. Six days of work to one of
rest constitute proportions justifiable
Oh scientific grounds. and furthermore
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-08-24
People of the FIowery Kingdom Will
Keep Holy, the First Day of
the Week.

China is showing signs Of exceeding
even the speed attained by Japan,
when once started on the way from
medievalism to modernism. The
F7owery Kingdom, which. during
many centuries, has existed unto it
self is awakening to the advantages
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-08-24

CALIFORNIA SPECIAIs-10 acres and free
~ dom on the beautiful Mendocino County Coast
The coming fruit belt of the world. SIS down and S5
monthly buys 10 acre fruit tract where freedom
and independence await you. No interest OF taxes.
Address California Apple Land Co., lOl Telegraph
Avenue, Oakland, California.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-08-24

F you did not eat three dozen
bananas last year, you did not
have your share. Over 100000
900 punches, or more than
3,000,000,000 bananas, were I'M
ported into the United States in
1910. The immensely of this
shipment can be more readily
grasped by the statement that
it would cover an area 20 feet
wide, reaching from New York
to San Francisco, or, placed end
to end, would extend thirteen
times around the earth at the
equator. The slip" in the peels
would launch the ships Of the
world. The wholesale value of
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-08-24
Volunteer Cooks.

On camping trip of young persons
two of the girls volunteered to get
breakfast the first morning while the
Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1911-07-05
HOW OUR COUNTRY GROWS.

Most appropriate to the Fourth of
July season when the grandeur and
growth of the Nation are uppermost
in the minds of the people is the Sta
tistical Abstract Of the United States
issued by he Department of Com
merce and Labor. In seven hundred
and fifty pages is told the exact sta
tistical story of what tremendous
country this Is, and what has been
accomplished in material progress
from 1900 to the present time.
The one hundred pages devoted to
Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1911-07-05
TELEPHONE 1874

the general subject of area and nat
ural resources and population show
the date of the admission OF each
State and Territory and their respec-
tive areas. the land area unappro-
priated and unreserved, amounting In
1910 to 712 million acres, and form
ing Al per cent of the total land area
of the country; swamps and overflow
lands. IS million acres; developed
waterpowers, 8 1-3 million horsepow-
err; estimated coal supply by states
and territories. estimated iron ore
supply: the number Of farms irrigat-
ed, 10000 in 1907. and number OF
acres II million; the various irriga-
ton projects commenced and the re-
spective area to be reclaimed; popu-
lation from 1890 by decennial years
to the present time, and population of
states and principal cities at each
census; share which persons of for.
eign birth form of the population at
various dates; marriage and divorce
statistics; school population. enroll
ment, and attendance of pupils, mi
versities, colleges and technical
schools, with students and instruct
ors; and temperature and rainfall for
various sections Of the country.
The fifty pages devoted to agricul-
ture, forestry and fisheries show the
number and acreage Of farms by de.
cennial periods extending back to
1880, value of farm property by
States and Territories amounting to
over 90 billion dollars in 1900, the
latest year for which complete sta
Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1911-07-05

tistics are available; the production
of principal cereal crops, and of other
farm products, including fruits. but
ter. wool and chickens, the wealth
produced on farms for term of
years showing growth from bill
lion dollars in 1900 to practically 8
billion in 1910; and numerous other
facts relating to the wonderful de-
velopment of the agriculture of the
country for long term of years.
The fifty pages devoted to manu-
featuring and mining industries show
the summary of manufactures by
principal industries in census years
from 1880 to 1905, the gross value Of
MANUFACTURES having grown from l-3
billion in 1880 to Is billion in 1905;
the production of iron ore. pig iron,
steel, tin plates, coal, gold and silver;
building operations in principal cit
les; and numerous other facts re-
garding the development of the manu-
featuring industry of the United
States.
The twenty-five pages devoted to
occupations, labor, >and wages show
the share of the population engaged
in gainful occupations, including sep
arate tables specifying number OF
each sex employed, and data MS to
strikes. lockouts, wages and hours OF
labor.
The forty pages devoted to internal
communication and transportation in
clude data on the postal service, tel
egraph statistics, miles of railways
operated. length of track. number OF
persons and tons of freight carried
showing "A growth of railways operat.
ed In the United States from 3OH
thousand miles in 1860 to $4,000 IN
1870, $4,000 in 1880, 10000 I'M 1890
10000 in 1900, and 100000 in 1910
Data regarding express companies
transportation upon the lakes ant
Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1911-07-05

principal rivers of the country;
freight rates from principal interior
points to the coast, and to European
ports are also shown.
The one hundred and seventy pages
devoted to foreign commerce show
values OF imports and exports and
trade with various countries for n
long term of years, the imports hav-
ing grown from 6GS million dollars in
1880 to 7S9 million In 1890, $50 mil
lion in 1900, and | ,557 million in 1910;
while the exports show growth from
S35 million dollars in 1880 to S5S mil
lion in 1890; 1894 million in 1900,
and to Lac million In 1910. The
share which crude materials for use
in manufacturing formed In the total
imports In 1890 was ZIG per cent. In
1900, 1915 per cent, and in 1910. 3G.4
per cent Manufactures ready for
consumption formed 29.2 per cent OF
total imports in 1890, $50 per cent in
l9UO, ana 23.6 per cent III 1917. Man.
ufactures exported in condition ready
for consumption formed in 1890, 1914
per cent of the total domestic ex-
ports; in 1900, 24.2 per cent; and In
1910, 29.2, per cent; while manufac-
lures for further use in manufacture
ing formed in 1890, 55 per cent; in
1900, H. per cent; and In 1910, 1871
per cent; foodstuffs In the meantime
showing a material decline.