davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-06
Plan Includes Employment Of Millions Of Little Animals in
National Forests Of Country -Lumberjacks, College
Men and Hoboes Also VIII Take Part

so. in fact. that 1t looks like an equal
distribution Of both. This mixture IL then
taken to a tanning machine, where 1t is
sifted and busted until the seed comes
out pure. 1t is then sacked for shipment
to the field storage house, where 1t Is kept
until such time as wanted for use
When all the seed has been gathered
and sent TO the central stations 1t is
the plan TO supply 1T the following
spring to the national planting farms.
At these planting farms many unique
methods Of raising trees are resorted
to. In some places the seed 10 sown
broadcast upon the late spring SHOWS.
SO that in the thaw the moisture will
carry 1t down into the ground and
plant II. Some of the seed Is set in
nursery beds. and the trees then reset
to others after the first season. This
strengthens the roots. while at the
same time II does not subject the plant
to tire rigorous climate. The third
year after planting or two years later
sometimes they are transplsnted in
the newly organized timberland and
left alone. to fight their own battle.
The most common method of sowing
the seed. however. Is merely to scratch
over the ground with a narrowing ma
chine and then scatter the seed broao-
cast. All three of these methods have
been found to be very effective.
The seed collecting done the past
year was all in the way of experiment.
and the officials say 1t was wonderfully
successful. II has shown how the
work can be done to the best advaR-
tage. It also furnished a statistical
basis upon which all future plans may
be based. and has acquainted the coun-
try with what Is coming, SO that the
late summer and fall of this year will
see the campaign in full swing. with
hundreds of seed gatherers in all the
national forests Of the country. And.
with the assistance of Mr.. and Mrs.
Squirrel. they will collect pine seeds.
transport them to the tree nurseries.
and later make valuable forests OF
lands now practically worthless.
Copyright 1913. BY William L. Altorfer)
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-06
Harvesting Of Tree Seed Is the Scope Of One Of Uncle Sans
Most Recent Undertaking. VIII Plant 100000
Acres Of Unproductve Lands.

/, administrative ability Of Uncle Sans for
are more than 15,O00,0 900 acres of land
| in the United States today that Is unpro-
ductive. and must be reforested. Prob
ably half of this land will be naturally
covered with trees in the course of time
but that will still leave more than 5000, OO0
acres to be planted by human agency,
either by planting the seed or raising
trees in forest nurseries. and then trans
planting them to the forests. The cam
! paign was inaugurated in a small way
last year. when something over 5000
acres were planted. But even at the rate
Of 5000 acres a year. II would take
more than 10000 years to plant the land
needing reforestation. SO Uncle Sam is
now organizing his forces-including hu.
man and animation a gigantic scale to
take up the campaign the latter part OF
this summer.
Great National Forests.
Starting down in Florida and extend
ing around the southern boundary OF the
States. stretch the great national forests
OF America. From there on upward
through the Rocky Mountains and the
Sierra Nevada. These great forests
spread themselves out over much Of the
territory west of the Mississippi as far
north as Canada 1t is In this vast area
Of millions upon millions Of acres that
Americas land of romance lies. 1t Is
here where the gnarled pines and the
dark spruce stretch their gray outlines
against the heavens and where the forest
ranger and the COW puncher urge their
mares up the lonely trail
The life of these jewellers in the forests
is one Of sternest fact. and among the
grimest facts they have to face are the
great forest fires that annually destroy
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-06

From the Dundee Advertiser.
The London County Council has pre-
pared return with reference to the debt
Of London. which is now ELI. 1900 and
involves a charge on the rate payers Of
Is. sSsd. in the pound. This huge debt
has increased during recent years
through municipal trading. The water
board has been forced to levy a deficiency
rate Of nearly a penny in the pound. and
In years to come other such deficiency
rates may be anticipated. The debt Of
the water board is just upon forty mil
lions. The debt on the municipal tram
ways is over nine and q half millions,
but SO far the rate payers have not
been called upon to bear any de
ficiency" burden, though the outlook il
by no means hopeful The debt In re-
spect Of the various municipal electricity
undertakings Is about five and a half
millions. In past years the rates have
had to bolster UP many of these con-
Germs, but now they are becoming re-
munerative, and the future may be ex-
pected to yield profits to reduce the rates.
The debt in respect Of houses for the
working classes Is nearly three and q
half millions. The tendency 10 for the
debt OF London to decrease. but owing
to the recent reduction in the rateabls
value London has so far failed to ap-
preciate the slight lowering of the debt.
Last year London had TO raise out OF the
rates E3Sa0.oO0 for interest and repay
ment Of debt.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-06

Uncle Sam has inaugurated new In
dustry. the unique part or the undertake
ing is the fact that most of the work in
the new industry will be done by the mil
lions Of furry little squirrels that swarm
the national forests of America. The
government plans to take advantage OF
the industrious habits of these little AMI
mails, and turn them to good account.
Harvesting tree seed Is the name OF the
newest industry inauguated by the Forest
Service, with view to replanting with
forest trees the millions OF acres OF I'M
productive land now in the United states.
1t is in this work that the little SQUIRRELS
OF the forests will lend helping hand.
The principal stores Of tree seeds are
the little pine cones familiar TO everyone.
and it is in collecting these cones that
use will be made of Master Squirrel
These small animals, who are usually
great enemies of regular tree planting.
are the most efficient collectors of pine
cones. They know which trees bear the
best crops and alsU how to store them
SO they will keep during the winter. The
squirrels usually select the finest speci-
mems Of pine trees in the forests. and cut
of the cones. They then collect them
from the ground and store them in
caches" for their winters supply of
food. The human collectors will then
come along and take away the greater
part Of Mr.. Squirrels winter horde
though as rule, leaving sufficient to
tide squirrel and his family over hard
times that might come when the snow
ION the ground.
This harvesting Of tree seed is really
(e beginning of a big campaign by the
Ulsters will be called into play There
government. in which all the science and
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-06

growth Of underbrush. they were startled
by a great cracking of the bushes which
| usually meant the advent Of bunch Of
grixxiies. As they turned to make theii
get away the bushes parted, reveal
ing fve big Swedes crawling on theil
sacks OF cones on his back. This made
a great story for the camp fire. but the
big fellows merely grinned and took II
good naturally.
OF the many classes of men employed
all were good workers. though the lum-
berjacks. ranchmen. and college men
seemed TO be the most effective This
was probably due to their knowledge OF
the country and forest conditions or their
application. The ranchmen were very
useful for their resourcefulness. while the
lumberjacks displayed wonderful knowl-
edge Of the habits Of forest animals and
the nature and bearing propensities of the
trees The college man. on the other
hand. brought his power of concentration
into play and aptitude in learning the
signs which Indicated the presence OF
seed. A story Is told of one man who
was racing his partner in filling sack
To divert his attention the partner be-
gan to talk. and ended by telling a story
In which he became so interested that he
himself forgot to work. while the other
fellow. who had the habit of keeping his
mind on his work. unconsciously filled
his sack and had to break in on the story
to carry the sack away.
Not only the pine and spruce. but the
other cone species were sought. While
most trees deposit their seeds in some
form Of nut she'll the cone Is the repos-
tory Of the evergreen. Naturally the col
lecting Of these cones makes quite a bulk.
and this bulk must be transferred to
some convenient spot where the seed can
be properly extracted. The process is old
in itself. though its application is unique.
The cones are spread out on a canvas or
oilcloth. and are pounded until their ends
pop open and the seeds fall out From
this point on the process is something
like that employed in thrashing grain.
There IS a great quantity of cone chaff
and dirt mixed up with the seed. so much
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-06

The value OF the mine production OF
gold. silver. copper. lead and zinc in Vir-
ginia In 1912. according to II. d. McCas-
key. of the United States Geological Sur
vey. was s7i.S5. against slss.3s4 in 1911.
There were sold or treated $3.50 shor,
tons Of ore against 17.Is2 tons in lslD.
yielding with gold placers and mine
waters producing cement copper s2ls in
gold. 9s2 fine ounces of silver. ll2.s3s
pounds OF copper. 1905 pounds of lead
and 49,, 235 pounds of zinc Figured as spell
teri, against $3.O6i in gold. q ounces of
silver. 5000 pounds OF copper. $50. 81
pounds of lead and 2.oa.SlS pounds of
zinc in 1911. The values. besides that of
gold, in 1912. were as follows: Silver.
1904: copper. sls,6Is; lead, 81. los. and zinc.
s3i. 800. All the gold yield was recovered
from siliceous ore in 1872. and all the sill
Yer from the refining Of copper. The gold
output was derived from small quartz
mine operations In Fauquier and Gooch-
land Counties. the copper from pyrite
mines in Louisa and Prince William Coun.
ties. and the lead and zinc from wythe
County. in the Southwestern Virginia.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-06

The Sacramento, with a displacement
Of 800 tons greater than that of the
other gunboat, can, on account Of her
SO less horsepower. a saving of $4,000 on
the initial cost of the vessel.
The saving in coal consumption is best
shown by a comparison between the
Connecticut and Michigan. two battle
ships Of different STYLES. almost different
eras. The average ship of the Connscti-
cut class required Is. 100 horsepower for
eighteen knots. while vessels of the
Michigan type need only 13100 horse
power for the same speed. This means
that for l0000 miles the saving in coal
alone amounts TO 1,1o0 tons. not to speak
Of the difference in the initial cost AMI
the difference IN bulk of the engines and
boilers,
The toy ocean, at WASHINGTON has al
ready saved Uncle Sam many millions of
dollars. besides giving him better ships
and ships capable of attaining high speed
with minimum coal consumption. The
expenditure Of 500 900 for the initial cost
Of the basin and the annual 5000 re-
quired for its upkeep have been returned
MANIFOLD to the Treasury of the United
States, and. with the dawn of the era OF
the hydroaeroplane. the efficiency of the
basin probably will be increased many
times, for here can accurately be de-
termined the best shape for the floats
or pontoons to be attached to the air
ships and the most economical build for
the bodies of the air craft themselves.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-06

was not by any means embarrassing.
nor was it. on the other hand. "ho-
bo's delight" There were times when
into the squirrels caches and draw
out bag after bag OF cones by the
handful Sometimes hours were spent
by the men leaning over the trunks
of felled trees with their knees on the
damp leaf-covered ground, while their
arms and bodies swung necessarily
back and forth between squirrels
horde and a burlap bag. The instinc-
tive self-preservation of the squirrel
helped them not q little in their task.
and they were often deceived in the
caches. The crafty little animals had
packed them 80 tightly that they con-
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-06

draw up the specifications which are de
| signed to make the ship the best of II.
| class in the world.
| But, unfortunately. the men who max,
| their calculations On paper are apt e
slip up and err in important particu
| lars, so that the completed product is not
quite as high class as might be desired
Therefore. the testing basin is called into
Use
] After the specifications for the new
| ship. have been drawn up at the Navy
Department they are sent down to the
Navy Yard at Washington and turned
over to Naval Constructor D. W. Taylor
| the man in charge Of the testing BASIN
the Neptune of the toy ocean.
The lines" of the new vessel are LAID
on big glass-covered table and mechan.
ically reduced. by means of a panto-
graph, to the uniform size of all the mod
els used at the testing basin. The PEN
ell Of the pantograph draws cross-sec-
tons OF the hull at different points fore
I ahI aft. and these sections are repro
duced on heavy paper. which serves as a
pattern for the making of the first
mos Ell. constructed along the exact lines
recommended by the constructors at the
Nav Department.
The model itself is cut out of thin
stripes of wood. carefully nodded and
sAoPcu " IoIHl al eAdCt REPRODUCTION OF
the lines OF the completed vessel II the
specifications of the constructors were
followed out. This structure known as
the former" is transferred to a special
machine. which has two platforma. one
above the other. The former" is placed
OF. the lower platform. On the upper one
there is a rough approximate mass Of
pine planks held together by waterproof
glue.
tgain the photographic mechanism 10
called into servic- The lower arm ter
over the surface of the former and
translates its motion to the upper arm,
which Is equipped with cutters. These
knives revolve at high speed and eat into
the wood Of the upper mass of planks,
roughly reproducing the shape of the
former below.
shaping Done by Experts.
Sandpaper is then substituted for
knives. and the surface of the model ia
finished Off. 30 that the miniature war
ship will slip smoothly through the wa
ter. The shaping Of the delicate curves
Of thu bow and stern. together with the
proper placing of the propeller shafts,
the rudder. and other portions of the
completed vessel which would naturally
retard the speed Of the ship. are all done
by experts. and the model is then ready
for its final test to determine its en-
cheney under the Froudian law of the
ratio of shape to speed.
Before being placed in the water. how
ever. the model is painted, vanished. and
marked with an intricate system of wa
ter lines. which serve to indicate the
heights of the waves formed at high
speed. The positions Of these wave for
nations indicate graphically whether the
model is being pushed beyond its eco
maximum capacity. Motion pic
lures OF the model In faction" enable
the naval constructors at the yard to OBJ
tain. accurate information OF the relative
size. both as regards height and length.
Of the wavea
AL models are made the same size
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-06

tanned several times as many Of the
long cones as would appear from the
surface. Usually. however. to the con-
venience of the harvesters. the squir-
rels gathered only the most desired
species OF seed
In the preliminary work several OF the
men were given the task Of discovering
the squirrels retreats. These men
would rove about the woods with sticks
and eyes intent upon every sign Of the
fores. Wherever the trees showed signs
OF squirrels teeth they searched about
in the corners and underbrush. and FIRE
quently poking their long sticks into the
bushes would often startle from their
quiet snug quarters Mr.. and Mrs. SOUR
rel. who would go bounding or to some
distant spot and there sadly watch the
establishment of their little homes. But
the men were not SO inhuman as this
would make them appear. They never
deprived the little animals of an abund
ant supply of food for the winter. Often
the impish little creatures would re-
taliate by stealing back some OF the
cones taken from them. A French Ca
madam camper who had been watching
the full sacks along the road remarked
as he picked up a piece Of a broken
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-06
Task Performed by Experts Is Intricate in Many Cases.
Government Saves Millions Of Dollars, and Is
Enabled to Build Better Ships.

abled to obtain accurate data on the
two essential points OF the experiment.
| resistance in relation to speed.
After the model has been towd up and
down the tank several times at varying
speeds and the data carefully recorded
| on paper ruled for that purpose. the con-
structor in charge Of the experiment re-
duces the results of the test to the form
Of a curve. the upward movement OF
which represents the resistance Of the
model and the forward movement the
| speed of the vessel II these curves
show an undesirable pull at the particu-
| lar speed desired. the model must be
modified and this new model retested
until a miniature vessel is found which
slips through the water with the least
possible resistance.
Task Sometimes Hard.
II the model to be tested at the basin
| at the Washington Navy Yard is of a
known class, the number Of experiments
with it are usually small: for the con-
tractors are guided by former expert
ence in designing the vessel But II, as
was the case of the scout cruisers. the
craft IL essentially novel. the task is q
harder one: but It is the surest and by
far the cheapest method OF obtaining
satisfaction in the full-sized vessel. The
models il only q few hundred dollars,
while a mistake in calculation or con-
struction might cost the government any
thing I'd to several millions or dollars,
according to the size Of the warship and
the gravity of the error.
The economy Of this method Of deter
mining the shape OF . completed vessel
in order to offer the least possible re-
sistance to the water through which It
passes was demonstrated in a remark
able manner in connection with the con-
struction Of the scouts OF the Salem
ciass-a type new to naval constructors.
and therefore presenting a novel problem
in construction. both as to shape and
size
Using the best judgment and informa-
ton available. these vessels OF 1000 tons
displacement. intended to make twenty
six knots an hour, were frst designed to
be $50 feet long. Experiments at the
basin At Washington disclosed the as
tonishing fact that by making the ves-
sells $50 feet long, but signify narrower
and shallower. the displacement remain
ing the same. only half the original
horsepower would De required to make
the desired speed.
As each horsepower represents in cost
Of engines and boilers about SD and the
power saved in each OF the three ships
Of the class was fully f.ooG horsepower.
the testing pasln saved uncle sam some
O. 900. 900. or more than N.Uo00O on eacn
scout ship constructed.
1t should also be remembered that this
uoes not include the other economies
with respect to increased interior space
or reduced consumption or ruei.
BtG savinE Accom- plishcd.
Another instance Of still more recent
date ID found in a comparison between
the construction of the yunboat Nash
Vile. built about seventeen years age. \
and the gunboat Sacramento. now being
constructed.
Isis tons. and with engines developing
200 horsepower, and can make sixteen |
kuota
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-06

twenty feet in length. 1t has been found
that a model OF this size is large enough
to eliminate practically all possibility Of
error and not too large for the length
Of the Washington testing basin. 800 feet.
The Washington basin. in addition to
being one Of the finest constructed in
the world. also includes q feature not
met in any Of the other TOY oceans' Of
the world-a balancing BASIN" where
the model is loaded with bags Of shot
until 1t settles in the water to the de-
sired draft
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-06

the tank. 1t is propelled by four cleo
trio motors, so arranged as to give q
very smooth, regular motion. 1t can
actually attain a speed Of twenty knots
an hour. but the scale upon which the
models are constructed does not require
them to be towed at even half this rate.
The model 10 attached to the towing
carriage so that It pulls against q spring
which indicates the resistance of the
miniature battleship At any speed at
tanned by the carriage. BY the use of
this apparatus the constructors are en-
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-06

By William Mskcreace rhackeray
We view the world with our own
eyes. each Of US. and We make from
within US the world we see. weary
heart gets no gladness out Of sunshine:
a selfish man il skepticai about friend
ship, ~ a man with no ears dossn't 9aEs
for music.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-06

With this preparation completed the
miniature battleship-assuming that the
plans have been those for . new dread
nought-is then attached to the towing
carriage or platform, and all II ready
for the ultimate test which II to show
whether the paper calculations Of the
constructors at the Navy Department
were. in realty. the best possible lines
for the new vessel.
Tho towing carriage 10 . platform
which spans the tank from side to. side
and has Q run Of the entire length Of
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-06

Upon the appropriation by Congress of
the necessary funds to build the vessel.
the board of naval designers at the NAVY
Department Immediately sets to work To