davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-08-31

Fariation in the time of ripening
Barley requires more judgment in
harvesting than almost any other GER
cal. If harvested too early the ap-
pearance and value of the grain are
injured by shrinkage. If allowed to
become oVer-ripe the heads bend over
and shatter badly during harvesting
while in humid regions the grain be.
comes discolored.
The hardness Of the grain when
plnched between the thumb ana fin
ger will indicate when the crop is
ready to harvest If the grain can
just be denied with the nail, it is In
the hard dough stage and should be
cut at once.
In unfayorable seasons, when the
grain ripens unevenly, it is better to
cut when most of the heads are ripe,
even though there is some loss from
shrlnkage. If the grain is intended
for brewing purposes it should not be
cut too early, as it increases in value
until the grain is dead ripe. Barley
should not be cut when wet with dew
or rain as the bundles dry out slowly.
If weather conditions are favorable
it is best to let the bundles dry be-
fore shocking. They should then be
set up in oblong rather than round
shocks, as the oblong shocks allow bet
ter ventilation.
Barley is frequently injured by
heavy rains which in the shock Mois-
ture not only discolors the grain, but
ii excessive, may also cause it to
sprout. Opening the shock is the only
remedy. The common method is to
scatter the bundles on the ground,
but as there is danger that the grain
in contact with the soil will absorb
sufficient moisture to cause further in
jury, the method practiced in Germany
and by farmers in some localities in
the United States is recommended
When the shocks are opened the
first bundle is laid fiat on the stubble:
the second and succeeding bundles
are then laid across the middle Of the
projecting ones, the butt eLds rest
ing on the ground and the heads pro-
jecting beyond the bundles upon which
they rest, the object being to keep the
grain off the ground, as shown in the
illustration, the numbers indicating
the order in which they are laid By
tapping the bundles in this way the
heads are kept off the ground and
are exposed to the action of the air,
so that they dry out quickly. Even
though rained Oil while in this posi-
ton, they will soon dry and will be
damaged less than Il lying on the
ground.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-08-31

propose to me Of making me your can
didate, l regret to say that l must de-
Gins your proposition"
What" roared Benson. You amt
goin' to run them"
I haven't said anything to that eff
feet, have II"
But, interposed Poole, you can't
expect to succeed without any organ
ization back of you. Why, man, the
ring that's against you, the influences
that are opposed to you, both financial
and political, is something that you
can't imagine!
1T requires much more than candi-
date and majority of votes to win
an election"
THE ballots have got to be count
ed" said Benson, and the moneys
got to be spent. In common with all
the rest of us, I read those accounts
you're publishing from week to week,
and it makes me sick to see so much
good money goin' to waste. Not but
what it's dom some good; but a prac-
teal man like myself could administer
II 81 HUGH bGIlCi- lou COulu Duy a
voting precinct with what you spend
on q single ad. Wastin' good money
on the press! It's men you want to
buy, not newspapers. That's the rea-
son Liffey always gets the best of me.
He's got more money than I can get,
consequently he's got the men. But
with your own contributions and the
chances for success that you'll give
US, there's lots of other rich men
that'd be willing to take on our gettin'
in power"
I am not one of these men, Mr..
Benson. I'll take no chances what
ever on your getting in power"
Well, its got to be Liffey's crowd
or ours and your fightin' Liney's
crowd from beginning to end. There
fore logically you belong to US
I cannot see the force of your rea-
soning," said Gormly, and l tell you
here and now that while I shall be
very glad to have the votes of any or
every man in New York, yet / will
be beholden TO no political party in
the city. l have entered this cam
paign as an independent. If the peo-
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-08-31

Well, Mr.. Gormly. since you put It
that way" said Benson coolly, If
was little stronger than I am, II
this city wasn't so hopelessly in Char
ley Liney's grasp, that's about what
we'd do. Now, we think that you've
got certain elements of strength with
the people that'H sort Of balance
things I don't know whether you
can be elected or not I'm speakin'
frankly now, gentlemen. and as a prac-
teal politician; but I believe you're
more apt to be elected than anybody
else, if we can get a fair count, or
count the ballots ourselves, which is
more or less doubtful with Liffey in
power, and therefore We want you for
our candidate, because We think we
can win.
"Liffey has been in power SO long
that he amt even decent He amt
willing to take a fair, respectable
graft; he wants everything But
when it comes down to talkin' bust
ness with the candidate in his private
Office, the best thing is the whole
truth. Certainly it's important from
one point Of view that we should win
this year. It may give US more power
in the national convention next year
If we can deliver the goods in New
York city, why, our voice is goin' to
mean something, our influence is
goin' to be worth something, ana that
accounts for Mr.. Pooles presence
here. As for Mr. Fitchett, he's one OF
the brightest young lawyers we've got.
He knows which side his breads but
tered on. He wants to be district at
torney and run with you, and you
couldn't get. better campaigner to
stand by your side AS for ne, all the
power we've got, which 1 admit amt
as much as we'd ought to have, I con
troll. put it at your disposal. Now
what do you say"
4 protest" began Poole angriIy;
while Fitchett bit his lip, but managed
TO control himself better than the
banker.
Gentlemen" said Gormly, at viii
hardly be necessary for you to contin-
ne the interview further on these
lines"
What do you mean?" exclaimed
Benson.
I mean that while I am, of course
deeply touched by your hearty and
spontaneous promises of support in
this coming campaign, and while
appreciate highly the honor that you
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-08-31

he could do the same and still have
balance in the bank. Flax produces
wonderfully well, and the current
price is about $3.50 per bushel. We
then drove over into another town
ship, getting further back from the
railway, and the main travelled road.
Here we found ourselves in the center
of a Swedish settlement. Those form
ing the settlement were originally
from Nebraska. Invited to put up our
horses and stay over for dinner, and
a dinner that was enjoyed not only on
account of the generous appetite Gre
ated by the celebrating drive, but
also because of the clean linen, the
well-prepared dishes of roast fowl, po-
tatoes, cabbage, and delightful des-
sert, some of the history of the settle
ment was learned. The host and
hostess were modest in describing
their own achievements, and equally
modest as to those of their friends,
but enough was learned to satisfy us
that they had come there about three
years ago, in moderate, almost poor,
circumstances. Most of them had re-
ceiVed their homesteads as a gift from
the government, and by careful dill
gcnce had purchased and paid for adj
joining land. They had plenty of cat
tie and horses, some sheep and hogs,
and large well-kept gardens, showing
an abundance of potatoes and cabbage
and other vegetables. Their buildings
we're good. Schools were in the neigh
borhood and there was evidence of
comfort everywhere.
On to the Park Country.
Reluctant to leave these interesting
people, the horses thoroughly rested,
were "hooked up and driven on. I'M
der a sun still high in the heavens,
with the horses pulling on the bit and
travelling at a 12-mile an hour gait
over a road that would put to shame
many of the macadamized streets, we
were whirled along sinuous drive
through the woods and then out in the
park country.
Here was another scene of beauty,
groves Of poplar, herds Of cattle.
fenced fields of wheat and oats and
barley and fax. Here was wealth,
and happiness and surely content
ment. The crops were magnificent
The settlers, most Of them, by the
way, from Iowa, had selected this To-
cation because of its beauty. It's en-
tire charm was wholesome. Fuel was
in abundance, the soil was the best,
the shelter for the cattle afforded by
the groves gave a splendid supply of
food, while hay was easy to get. They
liked it. Here was a sturdy farmer,
with his three boys. He had formerly
been a merchant in an Iowa town, his
children had been given a college edu-
cation and one of the boys was about
to marry the accomplished daughter
of a neighboring farmer.
Through Land of Wealth.
The invitation to remain to supper
was accepted, but that given to re-
main over night was tabled 1t was
only a 25-miie drive into town over
the best OF roads, through such
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-08-31
Equal to the Crisis.

The wives of Napoleon Ills mar
shals played a great part during and
after the second empire. When Mar
shall Bazaine was planning his escape
from the Isle Sainte Marguerite his
wife assisted him in the plan and
came in the boat to meet him.
When General de Cavignac died ~
exile and disgrace on the Riviera his
wife was determined that he should at
least be buried in the family vault at
PeTe La Chaise. In order to accom-
plish her object, with the aid Of a
faithful servant she had the corpse
arrayed in a huge travelling cloak and
lifted into a railway carriage. With
such companion beside her this
woman made the journey alone, in de-
fance of the law. These women
seemed to have been equal to any
crisis in which they found themselves.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-08-31

pie wish to elect me. they can do so;
if not, not"
Why, told you, said Benson pity
iDgly, that you might get elected;
but you've got to be counted in"
If am elected" said Gorbly, you
need not fear that I shall be counted
out
You have 10 be a regular nominee"
said Poole.
I shall be nominated by petition.
gentlemen said Gormly coolly. He
pointed to his desk. Look at that
pile yonder. They are coming in eV-
cry day"
Signed by women and children and
cranks, l supposed" sneered Benson.
I have a corps OF young men" an
swered Gormly, who personally visit
every petitioner, find out if he is a
voter and il he really means what he
says when he asks me to run Every
name is verified and registered"
We'll. III be damned cried Ben
son in great amazement
I am afraid if you continue in pol
tics with your present views that
you will be-" said Gormly coolly. "As
for organization, I have an organiza-
ton Of my own. We are discussing
the issues and preparing to hold
! meetings and send out speakers all
over the city
Who's managing the game?"
''One of my assistant managers in
the store Mr. Watson
What's he know about politics ?"
His experience compared with
your own has been little, but on diff
ferent lines. He is learning rapidly,
however, and I think before you get
through, you will find him worthy
of even your own steel, Mr.. Benson"
That's all very well, said the boss.
greatly taken aback over the situa-
ton. 1T does seem as if somebody's
got a head on his shoulders around
here"
1T might be concluded that I had
myself said Gormly genialIy; but
we'll pass that by"
But in spite Of all these things,
you'll be beaten as sure as fate. I tell
you, you've got to fight the devil with
fire. Of course, while 1 agree with
these gentlemen here that purity in
politics, which has been called an
iridescent dream, whatever that
means, is to be desired, and If we
could win without money and without
resortin' to the lodges that have made
the party in power infamous, we'd be
glad of it.
But as 1t is, it can't be done. Now,
every man is supposed to be in poll
| tics for what there is in it. What
| you're in it for, we don't quite know,
but admitting that you're more or less
disinterested, so are we. Amt that
so, gentlemen?"
Certainly, certainly, to BE- sure"
And therefore we offer you our as
sistance."
Il accept your offer, as 1 cannot per-
| nit myself to be allied with any po-
iitical party, or to be known specifical-
~ as the nominee of that party"
Mr.. Gormly," said Benson after a
| long pause, what's to prevent us from
nominatin you anyway, and maxim
you the nominee Of our party"
Nothing that 1 know of can pre-
vent your doing such thing; but
nothing can force me to accept your
nomination
But Mr. GormIy-" began the
banker.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-08-31
SYNOPSIS.

A foolish young tenderfoot becomes
fascinated with the bold, artful wife Of
drunken prOspectOr in a western mining
town. They prepare to eiSDe in blind
ing blizzard but are confronted by the
naudhn husband. He is shot by the
wife, but the chivalrOus boy pins a
note to the body taking the crime
upon himself In their flight to the
railroad station the woman's horse
fails exhausted: the youth puts her
on his own and follows hanging to the
stirrup strap. Seeing he IS an impedi-
meut, the woman thrusts her escort into
snow drift and rides on. Half-frozen
he stumbles into the railroad station Just
as the train bears the woman away.
Twenty-Five years later, this man. George
FOFmly, is q multi-millOnaire in New
YORK he meets Eleanor HaIdane,
Deauutul and wealthy settlement worker,
and cO-operates with her in her work.
tT0Tmly becomes owner Of steamship
line and finds himself frustrated in pier
and track extension plans by grating al
oeFmen, backed by the Gotham Traction
company. An automobile accident brings
the haldanes TO his country home CORN
~ announces that he will be mayor of
New York and redeem the city from cor
TuptiOn- Mr. Haldane in Il long desired
Interview with Gormly. makes an indirect
proposition 10 compromise the fight which
the latter has been Waging in the news
papers against the Gotham Traction CON-
pany. and which Haidane is suspected Of
being the head. GOrmly boldly announces
his plan Of campaign to Haldaue.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-08-31
IMPORTANCE OF GOOD ROADS
Value Is often Not Appreciated by the
Farmers as 1t Should ss-
Cost of Hauling.
Bv W. G. pALMERO

The value of good roads is often
not appreciated by the farmers as
much as it should be. OF course the
burden of making better roads falls
directly on them, which is another
side to the problem. The average
cost of hauling a ton one mile on the
ordinary country roads is s.25, while
the average price of hauling one ton
one mile on the railroads is q of 1c.
In other words, the cost of hauling is
SO times as much with teams and
wagon as with steam. This has been
accomplished by number Of factors.
Some of these can be and must be
considered in making good roads, that
is, to have a good hard road bed and
to eliminate grades. The railroads
do not as rule have a grade of more
than per cent, some Of them have
adopted 2 per cent. as the maximum
grade. Two per cent. would mean a
rise of feet in 100 feet
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-08-31

Peas, like clover and alfalfa, i'm
prove the soil.
Diversified farming and intensive
thinking go hand in hand.
A leak in the roof is far more ex-
pensive than the shingles necessary
70 repair it.
Plant a tree at the end of the wire
fence; it will make a post in time
that will last
Very few farmers take enough time
in fitting the field for planting either
corn or potatoes.
Running the mower along the sides
of the bitches will make it easier keep
ing them clear Of weeds.
When clover can be grown, profit
able crops can be grown, and the land
kept up by clover and lime.
The only way to decrease the
amount of smut in corn is to pluck OF
the snutballs and burn them.
Good seed, good cultivation, good,
common sense, are a pretty good com
bination, if good crops are desired.
Keep up the warfare on weeds in
the cornfelds these hot days, when
soil moisture needs to be conserved
to it's utmost limit.
Clean up, pull up, burn UP, all use
less vegetation in the garden, and thus
help to aveYent the spread OF fungus
and insect 4Iemies.
A proftab!e crop cannot be grown
on land deficient in humus, which is
the same thing IS rotted sod or rotted
manure with fertilizer alone.
The loss incurres from plant dis
eases is often undereztimated by the
farmer, passes unrecog<jZed or is re-
garded as natural and Inevitable.
Fence corners full of 1ead weeds
make fine alternating PLACES for all
kinds of bugs which viii get ryesT with
your crop next spring.
Much may be done to increaas the
value Of a woodlot by cutting out The
unsound OF unlikely trees which are
crowding more valuable ones.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-08-31

say they will come into a price nearer
their legitimate value of $50 or $50 an
acre quite as quickly as the southerly
lands. And I believe it.
Throughout all this great country.
practically 500 by 500 miles square.
there are still a great many home
steads which are given free to actual
settlers. Many who have secured pat
ents for their homesteads consider
their land worth from s18 to SIS per
acre.
Immense Crops Assured.
Throughout the southern portion of
Alberta, district that suffered more
or less last year from drouth. there
will be harvested this year one of the
best crops of fall wheat, winter wheat
oats, flax and alfalfa that has ever
been taken off these highly productive
lands.
In Central Alberta, which comprises
the district north of Calgary and east
two hundred miles, through Camrose-
Sedgewick, Castor, Red Deer. Wetas-
kiwin, Edmonton, Lacombe. Vegre-
vile, Tofield, Vermillion and a score
of other localities, where are settled
large numbers of Americans. the
wheat, oats and fax, three weeks ago.
was standing strong and erect large
heads and promising from 80 to 50
bushels Of wheat and as high as 100
bushels of oats on carefully titled
fields, while fax would probably
yield from Is to IS bushels per acre.
In these parts the harvesters are
busy today garnering this great crop
and it will shortly be known whether
the great anticIpations are to be real
lied.
Throughout all parts of Saskatche-
wan, whether north, south, east or
west, the same story was heard, and
the evidence was seen of the splendid
and bountiful crop.
Rich Yield in Manitoba.
In Manitoba it was the same. The
fields Of grain that were passed
through In this province promised to
give to the growers a bumper yield.
and as high as 35 bushels of wheat
and so bushels Of oats was freely dis
cussed.
1t would appear as if the expecta-
ton of an average of % bushels Of
wheat throughout the three provinces
would be met.
In a few days the 10000, 000-busheL
elevator capacity throughout the coun-
try will be taxed, the 25,000,000 bush
els capacity at Fort William and Port
Arthur will be taken up, and the rail
ways and their equipment will be
called upon for their best. Today the
great, broad, yellow fields are indus
trial haunts, the self-binder is at work
in its giant task of reducing into
sheaves the standing grain, the har-
yesters are busy stocking and stack
ing, the threshing machines are being
fed the sheaYes, the large box wagons
are taking it to the elevators, and no
matter where you go it is the same
story and picture such as can only
be seen in the great grain fields OF
Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-08-31

at once provide him with a respect
able following, and, as they claimed,
lend dignity to his position. The pur-
pose of this political party, whose in
fiuence was considerable and whose
ramifcations were many, whose lead
ers were men Of experience, was Of
course thoroughly well-known.
The conference between these lead
eTs and GOrmIy was short, sharp, and
decisive. It took place in his own
business Office. The deputation was
made up of a banker named Poole.
who had a certain prominence in mu-
nicipal affairs through his connection
with the national committee Of the
party to which he belonged, who
was a brilliant financier, a liberal Civ
er, and a valuable member Of the CD
position; Benson the real leader Of
the party, the political boss so far
as the outs had anything to boss; and
Fitchett, an attorney as bright as he
was unprincipled who aspired to po-
litical preferment himeself The
trio met Gormly il his business Office.
Poole was the natural spokesman.
We are" began Poole impressively,
"A committee, might say a deputa-
ton, from the board of management
of our political organization, who
have been appointed to-ah-inter-
view you about the mayoralty situa-
ton"
I'VE have" continued Poole with
lofty dignity, "of course observed
your announcement of your candidacy
in the daily papers" Gormly bowed.
We have been struck with your pc
GUITAR availability for the office Your
large business interests, the fact that
you are so well known to the people
of New York, your undoubted probity.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-08-31
Lord Palmerston's Fall an Instance
of the Way They May Wreck
Career.

Letter writing has long been cOnsid-
cred an art, but there are often times
when the writer's of certain epistles
wish that they had been a little more
discreet before posting the same. A
great many lives have been ruined and
careers wrecked all because of one in
discreet letter, which it would have
been better not to write.
A notable case of this kind is the
letter which Lord Palmerston, in 1851,
when he was minister of foreign af-
fairs for Great Britain, wrote to the
prince-president of France, Louis Ma
poleon. 1t was when Louis executed
his famous coup d'etat. Regiments of
infantry, probably at his direction.
swept the boulevards with rife balls.
The streets of Paris ran with blood
and out of the crimson mist rose Louis
Napoleon, no longer prince-president,
but rather president for life, and soon
afterward emperor of France.
All Europe was Mortified at this
bloody leap to power, and no one more
so than the queen of England. Lord
Palmerston however, admired the new
emperor. Without consulting his Off
cial chief and much less the queen,
PaImerston wrote a letter to the Brit
ish ambassador in Paris expressing
his approval of the coup d'etat. When
the queen heard of this unauthorized
action she was deeply indignant She
sent for the prime minister and he
soon afterward officially notified Lord
Palmerston Of his dismissal in the fol-
lowing words:
No other course is open to me than
to ask her majesty to appoint a sue
cessor to you in the foreign office"
All this on account of a letter. Lord
Palmerston was one of the foremost
men in the kingdom. But this one act
of indiscretion was the end of his
famous career.