davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-10-28

president authorized the widening OF
the Culebra cut for five miles from
200 feet to 300 feet at the bottom. This
would enable ships to pass going In
opposite directions anywhere In the
cut and increased the cost Of this part
of the canal by $ll.C0O.0OO Since these
three important changes there hay"
been no substantial changes In the ca
nal plans except the decrease In tn"
proposed height OF the huge Gatun
dam. Additional excavation 10 the eX
tent Of 10.STl.59i cubic yards was ne
cessitated by the new plans over the
estimate OF l03 10000 yards made in
1906. or Il total OF lT4.G6G.594 yards for
the completed canal. But slides that
later developed and further changes In
the plans since 1908 have added II,
100000 yards to that total. bringing II
up to 22l,U00OO0 yards Thus Colonel
Goethas has had to dig more than
twice us much dirt as Mr.. Stevens eX
pected to take out and has done II IN
less time than was estimated for the
original yardage
BaSing his figures on the revised
plans, Colonel Gocthals In 1908 issued
the following estimate of the cost oI
the Panama canal:
ATLANTIC DIVISlON-SEvEN MILES
Breakwatcr In T.Imon bay........ Al. 5000
From Caribbean sea channel 10
Gatun lOCi.S NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. li,i0O,UVJ
Gatun locks three twin locks. .5.SiOOO
Gatun dam ........................ lS,o'-,Dy
sGs.5Ci OoD
CENTRAL DIVISION - THIRTY-TWo
MILES
Channel from Gatun locks to
Bas Obispo ................i...... SLs'''p'
Culebra cut. nine miles. Bas
Obispo to Pedro Miguel lock-. S,iSl.Vn
SIS. .4jS 900
PACIFIC DIvISlON-EIGHT MILES.
Pedro Miru,l llock.................s 81. .693 OpI
Pedro Miguel dam. .5lOD
l! Mirnaores locks .................. l9.Il5Cc)
MlraNorcs dam ..................... 2I'OV'
Channel. Pedro Miguel to Pa
ciic Observation-Disclosures. io'i'"V''
HISS 900
New Panama railroad. ............ S.iCiOO
Land damage .... ................. eD"N
GENERAL ITEMS
MunlclpoI improvements ......... $l2.lliOOo
Ru,IhInrs liG5l 900
General expenses. salaries. sub
sistence. etc. ...................... lS,ISuVO
Loans to Panama railroad.....". s,ou.VVV
Con,ipgencies ............. 20.00o. .00O
Ligh thouses. ships. wharves...... 3.s'VVN
Double tracking. land and stock
purchases ......................''. hNV'"'
SSi.0a5 900
Grand total cost of construction t2gI. .766 900
ALI. OTHER ITEMS.
sor,,,tior so. .O53. 900
Civil administration MINIMUM. i'3s-,Wo
Paid for French property....... RVvVU
Puid for canal Zone................ W'VU'vV
81, ,435. 900
Total cost for completed canal. 1915. 2oi.Q
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-10-28

~ RESIDENT ROOSEVELT had
u at last found public sentimen,
educated to the point where
the canal could be put exclusive
ly In the hands Of the government en-
gineers. The personnel Of the third
commission he appointed on April /.
1907, was rs follows:
Lieutenant Colonel George w. Goe'
thals, chairman and chief engineer;
Major D. d. Gaillard. q. s. A.; Major
William l.. Sibert U. S. A.; Fl. Ii.
Rousseau, U. S. NJ; Colonel w. c. Cor,
gus, U. S. A., medical corps; ]. c. 5
Blackburn, Jackson Smith. Joseph
Bucklin Bishop. secretary.
The president also took advantage OF
the reorganization Of the commission
to further consolidate power In the
chairman. Not only was Colonel Goe'
thals made chairman Of the isthmian
canal commission and chief engineer
of the Panama canal. but the eXecu-
tive power In the canal zone. formerly
exercised by the governor. was vested
in him. as well as the presidency OF
the Panama Railroad company. thus
making every official and employee
and the members Of the commission
subordinate to him.
Colonel Goethals appreciated the
feelings the employees had over the
prospect Of army engineers for direc-
tors of the enterprise and In his hrst
speech I'm the canal zone dlspelled the
idea of militarism in the canal man
agement. He promised fair hear
Ing to every man with a grievance
the manner In which he carried out
this promise being one Of the distinc'
lively great qualities he later revealed
as an administrator. Few persons In
the canal zone had heard Of Colonel
Goethals before his appointment as
chief engineer. Yet his previous eX'
perience had qualified him ideally for
the important work now In hand. He
had been building locks and dams. had
beep chief Of engineers In the Spanish
American war. was graduate OF ana
had taught In West Point and had
seen other construction experience that
made him ut home In any kind OF work
the canal should require.
Contrast for a moment the situation
as fuced by Colonel Goethals with that
faced by Mr.. Stevens In 1905. In 1907
| fire was under the boiler and steam
WIS up. When Mr.. Stevens relinquish'
ed the throttle the army Of workers
had begun to come close to the MIL
lion mark in monthly excavations In
the Culebra cut. There were sixty
| three steam shovels at work on the ca
nal. The Panama railroad had been
double tracked throughout and the
! mileage in the Culebra cut and else
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-10-28
The Weakest Spot.

Az farmers we are desir0us OF increas-
ing our profits; most of us are willing
and able to spend certain amount OF
time, money and effort to do so. The re-
suits which we get depend upon how
wisely these are spent. Many of us sue
ceed more of Us fail. Few of US study
our business carefully enough, nor do
We think enough about our problems.
There is nearly always weakest
point" in any business or any system OF
management. This weakest point meas
ures the success of the business or OF the
system just as the weakest link meas
ures the strength Of chain. Economists
call it the ''limiting factor" 1t may be
any one or sometimes more than one OF
several things. Whatever 1t is, it is I'M
portant that We recognize and remove II.
In a system of farming on particular
farm the greatest weakness Is most like.
ly TO be lack of humus, the need OF
lime. the absence of proper and sufficient
drainage or infertility. II may also be
lack of adaptation Of crops to soils, cli-
mate or other conditions, a poor rotation
Or any of several factors. Whatever II
is, it should be removed as soon as pos
sible, for as long as it exists 1t matters
little what else is done; success is pre-
vented by this limiting factor.
In the Northeastern States our obser-
vatiOn leads US to believe that two
things more often limit the profitable
ness of farming than any others. These
are the need of humus and Of lime. 10
general importance they are closely FOL
lowed by the need Of drainage. Many
persons will not agree with US when We
state it as our conviction that lack OF
fertility is less often cause OF unprofit'
able crops than any Of the trio-humus,
lime and drainage. Yet fertility usually
receives first attention and too often
plant food is wasted because the alb
sence of one or all Of the other necessary
factors makes it impossible for the plant
to utilize to advantage the food supplied
to it.
We would not by any means be under.
stood as minimizing the necessity OF
keeping soil we'll supplied with plant
food. Rather do we wish to emphasize
the futility of doing so when the soil
needs humus, lime or drainage so badly
that much of its fertility, Inherent or
supplied, is wasted. A dead, sour, un-
friable or wet soil, no matter how fertile,
can never give its owner maximum
profit until it's limitations are removed.
What do you most need to improve
your farm? Study your conditions and
when you find out remove that limiter
first before spending money on other i'm
provements. BY 80 doing you will get
the biggest return from the money
spent. Get humus into wet, heavy. un:
tractable soils; lime them, especially II
sour. Drain your wet soils. Do all OF
these things according to your means,
but do the one first which will remove
the greatest handicap to your business.
Tribune Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-10-28
NUMBER 43

stating digging down from the nlgn.
est point on the surface. depth Of
272 feet, between Gold and Centrac.
tors hills.
The equanimity with which Colonel
Goethals has met every unexpected de-
velopment In the construction work Is
distinguishing feature Of the mans
mental processes. II he ever has for
one moment entertained the shadow OF
q doubt of the success Of the lock type
canal he has not allowed his fears to
be manifested. The slides. the slip In
the Gatun dam. the volcanic evidences
in the Culebra cut. the cracks In the
lock walls. earthquake disturbances
and host OF lesser troubles have not
shaken his faith.
The mammoth Gatun dam had been
begun In 1906 and by 1905 WIS taking
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-10-28
More Silage Used.

Statistics show that Vermont farmers
cut sixty-two percent of their corn crop
for silage. New Hampshire cut forty
two percent; Massachusetts, thirty-eight
percent, and New York thirty-six per-
cent. Getting out in the so.called corn
belt we find Ohio cut but 5 3 percent,
Indiana 81 percent, Illinois five percent,
Iowa five percent, Nebraska 4.5 percent
and Kansas five per cent.
This indicates that the eastern states
are dairy states, and, hence, have become
accustomed to silage AZ feed. Wiscon-
sin uses twenty percent of her corn crop
for silage, indicating the development of
her dairy interest.
Taken in its economic importance, the
percentage of corn cut for silage through
out the cOrn-growing states shows a de-
cided lack of thrift among farmers.
When we consider that about forty per-
cent of the food value of corn Is in the
stalk and leaves it appears to be an enor-
nous waste to let 80 much corn stay IN
the fields to be practically wasted.
OF course, you think you save most OF
1t by feeding down the stalks after husk-
ing, but if you stop to think moment
you can see that of the edible and digest
ible parts that are left after the wind has
whipped most of the leaves off. after the
weather has bleached and washed
ont most of the natural flavor, and after
the dirt of the fields has been driven in
to stalks and husks, there is no compari-
son to good silage. When you put corn
into the silo you have preserved almost
every bit of the plant. 1t is little more
digestible than if you fed it from the
shocks; it is more palatable, more COM
plelely consumed.
If you raise corn to sell instead OF
turning 1t to market in the form of meat
products, then you can't afford to put it
in the silo. You readily see that where
you save the forty percent Of corn food
, usually wasted, you could largely
increase your stock without Increasing
your corn acreage.
There is a change in methods coming
over the grain-growing section. We've
got to settle down to a permanent agri-
culture like England and France. We've
got to quit selling grain off the farm as
grain. We've got to raise live stock and
maintain fertility, and no one thing will
| make this so easy as the silo.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-10-28
Gasoline Engines on the Farm.

There is nothing on the farm that will
pay for itself any sooner than the gaso-
line engine, and save SO much time.
Why should man devote so much val
liable time to the hand turning of the
separator, ETC., as we'll as using horse
power on the corn sheller, wood saw and
feed grinder. Even the good wife will
appreciate the use of the engine on wash
day.
One great fault. with the engine
on the farm, the owner is apt to
tinker too much with an engine, or al
low some one else to do so. This should
not be tolerated. Carefully follow di.
rections and good results will follow.
A gasoline engine will cause some
trouble in cold weather, which may be
avoided somewhat by using torch to
warm up the intake pipes, etc.
A careful observer will always see to
it that the cylinder always has plenty oi
oil, it does not become dry, also that the
splasher cupis cleaned and filled with
clean oil occasionally.
One great trouble is in trying to run
an engine on weak batteries. Strong
fresh batteries, and clean magnetic will
do wonders in holding on to your relig
ious faith and patience.
At times when my engine did moi
work l have simply left 1t, and taken uI
another job, and at another attempt II
was willing worker. However, tbi.
should not be the case, but nevertheless,
this is trait of the gasoline engine. A
great many times the connecting wirel
will become slightly broken or some par
tcle Of SCOT or dirt has become attached
to the point Of contact, or perhaps the
mica has become dirty. -.
The make-and. break spark is the mos
satisfactory for farmers use, as also II
the tank cooler If care is taken to with
draw all the water during the winte1
months. have always found that foul
batteries by using the multiple serie
will be sufficient for two-horse power
engine, used for the starting, sfterward
switching on to the magnetic, and viii
last for six or eight months, giving goot
service II properly cared for, and de
tached from engine after each time 1t Il
used.
At one time had considerable trouble
with my engine and found the trouble
was that the iron rods that held the en-
gine on to the ground were surrounded
by water, thus grounding the circuit
A little experience and caution viii
enable one to master the "Greates
Worker on the Farm"
Always use the best grade of cylinde
oil; never use heavy oil In the cylinders
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-10-28
fro DE coNTINUBD.l
Bamboo Lighthouse.

A lighthouse OF bamboo which Is In
use in Japan is said to have great pow
er Of resisting the waves and does not
rot like ordinary wood.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-10-28
Cynical.

"My wife is an angel" said the boob.
How long has she been deadT
asked the crouch. - Cincinnati En-
luirer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-10-28
CHAPTER X.

CHAPTER X.
Goethals a Great Administrator.
~ EGINNING July l. 100S. Colo
mel Goethals initiated changes
in the organization. which was
to be the final one for the ca
nal. The department Of engineering
aud construction was divided Into
three grand divisions. to be known as
the Atlantic. central and Pacific. In
the central division the main excava'
ton of the canal has been made. as the
mountain chain had to be pierced with
cut. the bottom Of which would be
only forty feet above sea level, neces'
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-10-28
Her Preference.

"Yes. enjoyed the voyage" said
Mrs. Twickenbury. but on the whole !
think | prefer terra cotta."-Christian
Register.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-10-28

This may be the threshold of the
horseless age, but just try to buy pair
of good horses and you will find out
that the horse is still In good demand.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-10-28

The greatest foe of the pig Is hog
cholera, and the greatest enemy Of hog
cholera is cleanliness.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-10-28

Sloth makes all things difficult. but
Industry all things easy.-Franklin
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-10-28
AMONG THE FARMERS.
"sPEED THE PI,ow."

correspondence on practical agricultural t ,p,, G
i solicited. Address all communications !.
tended for this department to HENRY u
HAMMOND, Agricultural Editor Oxfor', t'.'r
ocrat. Paris. Ne.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-10-28

Any person fifteen years of age or
over will be admitted 10 the Short
Courses without examination. 1t Is
very desirable, however, that theCollege
of Agriculture shall have as accurate in
formation as possible concerning the
number of students who will attend the
courses in order that satisfactory accom-
modstions may be provided.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-10-28
CHAPTER TX.
Tho Canal Under Gosthals.

ORESIDENT ROOSEVELT had
. at last found public sentiment
educated to the point where
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-10-28
EXPENSES.

No tuition or fees of any kind are
charged. Board and room can be Sc
cured for S4 so to $500 a week. Stu
dents are not required to purchase text
books. In the course in \dairying each
student will be expected to provide him
self with two white suits. These suits
will cost about one dollar each and can
be obtained here in Orono if the student
desires.
A list of boarding places will be sup
piled students on their arrival, or accom-
modations will be engaged in advance
for those who make application.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-09-04

Continued on Page -Four.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-09-04
SYNOPSIS

Senator Murchell. leader OF the state
machine. and Sheehan. local boss of New
Chelsea. offer the nomfna ton for district
attorney to John Dunmeade. Dunmeade
Ia independent In his political ideas
Dunmeade will accept the nomina tion
His father. partisan Judge, congratu-
lates him. His Aunt Robarta urges John
to call on Katharine Herapden, daughter
OF a capitalist
Katherine Hampden is a worshiper of
success. She and John are friends Jere-
my Applegate. a political dependent. cam
paigns for John and the state ticket
In New Chelsea lives Warren Blake, a
model young bank cashier. connected with
Hampfen in high finance" They try
without success for Johns aid
The rottenness Of politics in his state
and party as revealed in his campaign dis
gusts John. He calls upon Katherine
Katherine's peril in runaway reveals
to her and John their unspnken love.
John publicly turns down the machine
OF his party
John will not compromise with his con-
science even for the sake of winning
Katherine. and the two part.
The course of his son Is disapproved by
Judge Dunmeade. John is elected and
puts Shecha' on trial for political corrup-
tion.
Sheetan is convicted and fees John
meets IIaiS. q novelist who Is introduced
to him by Warren Blake.
Haig and John visit the Hampdens
Blake proposes to Katherine and is re-
jected. He praises John to her. Murchel
has visitor.
The visitor Is Sackett. head Of the At
lantic railroad. trying to keep the Mich
igan out of the Steel City He want:
Murchel to retire. The latter cannot in
duce John to stop his attacks on the ma
chine John and Katherine meet.
She still thinks John follower Of i'm
possible ideals. He loses in his fight 70
cleanliness in state politics and falls i'll
Murchell offers financial aid to the Dun
meades
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-09-04

keep them ont. Keep an eye on him.
Sackett"
We're counting on you to help
there"
Murchell shook his head. I'm
through"
look here! WHAT'S the use Of your
getting your back up over this busi-
ness? You understand perfectly we'll
that we must stand in with whoever's
on top. You put Sherrod out and we'll
back you as strong as ever. | wish."
Sackett said persuasively, you'd keep
an oversight of the Michigan matter
l doubt myself that Sherrod can keep
them out"
Little late thinking that. aren't you!
He can't. Don't trust him to do It.
Sherrod won't last. Sackett He has
no self control. He's too greedy But
I'm through. | don't want to put him
out
We'll make 1t worth your while. If
that's the trouble"
'You can't make it worth my while"
You politicians" Sackett exclaimed
angrily. make me tired with your in
fernal chickering's and iealousies. I'd
as soon be back in the old days.
"No. you wouldn't" Murchell inter
rrpted again dryly. "Yon wouldn't go
back to those days for many times the
millions it'll cost yon to keep the Mich
igan out-if you keep it out. You
| know that-I know it. You railroaders
have grown hog fat the last few years
Just because in every state Of the
Union there's been man like me, viii
ling to prostitute himself at your serv-
ice"
Sackett looked a real astonshment-
and suspicion
"You needn't be afraid,' Murchell
grimly answered the suspicion ''1ts
too late for the leopard to change his
spots. I'm not going to fight you. I'm
going to quit"
He slOuched back in his chair. hall
closing his eyes as though he were
very tired He sat for several min
utes without speaking. forgetting tina,
Sackett's time was precious. Sackett
too. seemed to have forgotten this i'm
portant fact He was wrinkling hi:
brow over the problem. what mean:
to devise to induce an old. pigheaded
betrayed minister to remain in tn,
service in n minor capacity. He wa!
too shrewd to argue For many year
he had had intimate knowledge O.
Murchelrs inflexibility
'I'll tell You what III do" he begal
Mt last. I'll see Sherrod and
Senator Murchell looked up sharply
as though he had forgotten the other
presence. I'm through. I've earned ,
rest. and my health's gone back on me
I'm going back to the farm to raise pc
tatoes-the farmer vote crop has peter
ed out And if l ever do come bacl
into politics I'll make my own terms.
He nodded careless goodby an
went slowly out Of the Office. Appal
emily he had forgotten to shake hand:
Sackett did not remind him Of th
omission. He remained with the in
preston Of having beheld broker
hence harmless. old man.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-09-04


N3k8119 sea- in one preparing with
dogged energy to begin new campaign
against the state machine
The campaign that followed was but
a weary repetition of other years. with
nut the stimulus of hope. The spasm
of enthusiasm past. the people had
sunk back into habitual lack Of inter
est The only notable political feature
Of that year was the quiet contest
within the organization between the
old boss and the new, struggle il
which Murchell was forced to yield.
When man sees the best years OF
his life slipping away with no accom-
plishment, when he has suffered not
only denunciation and misrepresentn
ton, which are not easy to bear, bnt
also treachery and ridicule, which are
harder. and misunderstanding and liz
difference from the people he is trying
to serve. which are hardest of all. he
cannot be greatly blamed for wanting
sometimes to "chuck the game as
Haig put it to John one evening in
early winter The bantering friend
ship between them. grown deeper as
the years passed. had been worth more
to John than he quite realized.
"Why don't you chuck the game:
You're further back than you were four
years ago The novelty's worn off; the
dear pee-puIs tired Of hearing you. and
| they believe that somehow you're worse
than an anarchist. And you're even
going to be kicked out Of Office here
next spring Do you know that:
You're breaking down your nealth
You're doing the work of three men
and small boy-for nothing. This
county is growing There's going to be
/ plenty Of law business And you could
he the biggest lawyer around here
You are that now in point Of ability
though the Lord knows where you find
time to study your cases Why don'1
you chuck it? Serving the people is tl''
most worthless. thankless job in tht
world
"You besotted cynicr' John laughed
What If we don't get any farther for
ward? We can't let 'eln have the state
by default. can we? And it isn't alto
gether thankless. Once in while
run into men like Cranshawe or Girls
we'll or Sykes. When see how the!
dcpend on me. IL have to stick 1t out
1t isn't necessarily worthless. either
I've generally found that if yon ho!t
on to the breaking point and then hol'
on little longer. things get easier al
of sudden"
Sunday school aphorsms. WHAT
to be the next slaughter Of the limo
: cents?'
I'VE elect a governor next year.
"And where'n you find a candidate?
; "Well," said John cheerfnlly.
could run myself. yon know"
"And offer 'em more bread pills
eh!" Haig was trying to decid
whether he was Socialist or no
hence was critical of all remedies an
theories.
Il suppose you are thinking OF you
brotherhood as substitute?"
"Not my brotherhoodr' Hais snor
ed II wouldn't have the dol:s 20
call the people as my brothers They
interesting to me only as a study
asininity. What can you expect OF
= people whose very ideal is coucentra
ed selfishncss"
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-09-04

bright. He rose, with an ease that
did not betoken approaching dissolu-
ton, to relieve her Of the basket, shak-
ing hands warmly.
I'm very glad to see you, Roberta.
Take a chair"
She seated herself primly. you don't
look as bad as they say" She observ-
cd him suspiciously.
Roberta he said lugubriously.
the doctors tell me that even with