davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-03

width--and the comparison or COM
putation is easily made. Such lot
Is worth as many times the value OF
the Somers foot, Mt that point as the
lot is feet wide. This Is mathe-
NAUTICAL relation OF value that Is OBJ
vious, and well understood by all as
SCISSORS and real estate dealers. II all
sites in a city were Of one depth, with
out alley advantages, and with no
cross streets, the assessment of land
values would be as simply computed
as In the case Of the cloth at so cents
yard, but we find that these simple
conditions apply in comparatively
few city sites. We md some parcels
not as deep as 100 feet and we find
others of greater depth. Another
fact we find well understood Is that
part of any site near the street Is
worth more than the part farther
away from the street. The front half
of lot 100 feet deep is worth more
than the rear half. This difference In
value changes with every foot back
from the street.
Hoffman Rule Not Exact. 8
! When Mr.. Somers began his first
! Investigations OF this subject In ST.
Paul. as described i'm the first article,
he took as the basis of this differ
ence Of front and rear value. the so
called Hoffman dictum forty years
old. which was TO the effect that the
front half of an inside lot 100 feet
deep was worth twice as much as
! the rear half of the same lot. Fortu-
nateiy the predominatng depths of
lots in st. Paul were 100 feet, and
| in applying this relation TO the opin-
/ ions Of values In st. Paul Mr.. Somers
discovered that the difference was too
low: that the front half OF lot 100
foot deon was worth more than twice
as much as the rear half
He continued his Investigations
and experiments, and then at first
/ fixed on 20 per cent for the front
! half and 30 per cent for the rear
half. This still seemed TO be low.
and he tested rs per cent and 25 per
cent, and then the percentage OF the
front half appeared to be too high.
and he finally decided upon ~ IL per
cent for The front half and q Ia for
the rear half. The application Of
these percentages came nearest
I agreeing with the general opinion of
st. Paul at that time than any other,
and they were adopted for the work
| IN hand. The application Of these
same percentages has persisted In
all of the Somers system work since.
showing that the conditions in st.
Paul at The time OF the first applica-
I ton of the system agree with the
conditions in fifteen other cities by
actual use.
tr aasi ,he frons ed haivss Of
/ lot 100 Feet deep. thr next thing to
/ he investigated was the effect OF
adding at the back of the 1ao-foot
/ depth an additional SO feet of depth.
l making the lot $50, feet deep. In the
! same investigation and at the same
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-03
Many Towns Want
Lincoln Highway

vice-President Carl g. Fisher. OF
he Lincoln Highway association, when
Recently interviewed. said that the
construction Of direct trans-conti-
Rental, improved highway was bring
ng inquiries from all sections ~ the
kountry, as to the route. In this IN
erxierc Mr.. Fisher emphaslzed he
nany benefits to be derived by com
nunity through having the Lincoln
Highway pass through 1t.
Mr.. Fisher stated that requests. ar
suments, and demands were coming
"a the association from all sections OF
Fhe West. and Middle West, and that
bach one of them was 80 strong. and
khe' arguments so good, that It waf
kvident that the selection OF the final
pute could, only be governed by three
br four factors Those most vital
wore. the directness OF the route from
New York to San Francisco: the points
"a scenic beauty and historic interest
Which could be advantageousiy
keached without too many or too Ions
I4tours, and the character and amount
& support offered to the association
81 the local communities which would
- direct benefciaries Of the high.
Rays
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-03
Richmond's Social Advantages

Richmond city built hills
on heri~
In abundance Of hstosecond
in
historic
hands architecture.
adds greatyo he of Richmond
villages which
ablesu stree car
No cy Of nterurban
facilities social enjoyment OF
any
depart
and federal OF the principal hotels nearly an
modern once buildings All from every d.
rect through this center.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-03
FRACTURES SKULL
WITH REVOLVER
j. G. HARRIS LOCKED UP AND
d. w. HEBRON IN CITY
HOSPITAL.

Charging that he had called Mrs,
Harris a liar, j. G. Harris, OF 1905
North Twenty-flrst street, struck ID. W.
Heron. who rooms in the same house.
with the butt of revolver shortly
afted o'clock last night, and II is
believed that Herron's skull is frac-
tured. II was at first reported that
Heron had been shot, but DIR. Tore
grosa, of the City Hospital staff, who
examined the wound, said that Her
ron was only struck with the pistol.
The scuff1e between the two men
occurred in Harris's house. Harris
said that ne fred the pistol when
coming down stairs 10 meet HERON,
and that when he approached Heron
threw his hand back to his hip
pocket Then he struck Heron with
the butt end of his revolver Police
man H. F. Sweet, who lives hut a few
doors away. heard the sounds of the
sc,iffe Jand reached the, house just
after Heron was felled. He placed
Harris under arrest.
Heron was taken to the City HOS
pital for further examination and
treatment Harris. a hoilermaker by
trade, is twenty-eight years old.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-03
Relieving Street Car Congestion.

Among the methods for caring for
congestion Of traffic in city streets,
where already as many cars are being
operated as the crowded condition OF
the streets VIII permit, Is the use OF
trains of two cars each. This will
permit OF the accommodation OF
twice the number OF passengers, with
little increase in congestion, and may
eventually be adopted as the best
method of relieving the strap hanger.
The Public Service Railway COM
pany. OF Newark. y. J.. has been con-
Quoting an elaborate series OF expert
ments to determine the practicability
of the method. J, w. Brown, the as
sistant general superintendent of the
company. in his report of the tests
made in the July Aera. concludes that
the train operation is entirely prac-
ticable. over two months were con-
stunned In the tests upon which he
bases his conclusion. and as a result
his company IL operating daily two-
car trains. through the city streets.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-03
SPLENDID CROPS
IN NORTHERN NECK
FINEST CORN CROP In THAT
SECTION FOR DECADE--ALL
OTHER CROPS LARGE

HEATHSvILLE. VA. Aug. 2.-The
Northern Neck OF Virginia has one of
the finest corn crops seen In this sec
ton in decade. The weather has
been seasonahle and the crop has not
suffered for rain during the spring
and summer, as Is usually the case.
The early tomato crop. which has
been so profitable to the truckers. is
about exhausted and the late tomato
crop is coming on. This crop will be
utilized by the local canneries, which
have already begun operation. Many
OF the truckers have in fine crops of
canteloupes and are making ship
ments every day. The price Is good.
The hay. wheat and other crops were
large and the Northern Neck farmers
are rejoicing over the bumper crops.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-03
RICHMOND, VA, SUNDAY, AUGUST 3, 1918.
MATHEMATICAL APPLICATION OF COMMUNITY OPINION
TO LAND APPRAISAL BY SOMERS SYSTEM

time that Mr.. Somers was solving the
first problem, the second was also
under investigation. The final decis-
lon was that the added depth Of so
feet was found to add liz per cent to
the value OF the front 100 feet.
Thus we have four agreedto
points: First, no depth. no value;
second so feet Of depth. 70 L. per
cent Of value; third, 100 feet Of
depth. 100 per cent of value; fourth,
$50 feet Of depth, lis per cent of
value.
Somers Curve of Value
BY diagramming these four points
upon scaled paper and drawing a
curve through the four points. it will
be found possible to obtain the per-
centage Of value for any intervening
depth. The resulting curve shows
the following percentages for each
10-foot interval:
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-03
WHAT BOARD DOES
FOR COMMONWEALTH
GOVERNOR GIVES OUT STATE
MENT REGARDING WORK OF
UNITED AGRICULTURAL BOARD.

Governor Mann yesterday gave out
the following statement regarding the
demonstration work in Virginia as
conducted by tho United States de-
partment of agriculture and the
United Agricultural board. OF which he
Ia chairman:
short statement OF what IL being
done In the demonstration work Just
at this time may prove interesting.
There are now fifty-one demonstra-
tors In as many counties of the State.
whose salaries are paid al follows:
One-half by the county In which the
demonstration works, one-fourth by
the State. and one-fourih by the
United States department Of agricul-
ture. The amounts paid by the coun-
ties and State are by warrants signed
by Governor Mann, chairman OF the
United Agricultural board. so that
three-fourths OF the salaries are paid
through the United board.
Three Thousand men, and 1890 boys
are working under the directions OF
the several demonstrators. and are
not only doing well. but are enthu-
siastic.
Last fall 5000 acres of alfalfa were
sowed under the direction OF demon
stratora. and fully double as many
acres will be sowed this fall under
like direction.
1t is practically impossible to keep
up with mixed grasses. but at least
10, 600 acres were sowed last year. and
the acreage is constantly increasing.
Those in charge OF tho demonstration
work, especially the United States de-
partment of agriculture. are turning
/ their attention to encouraging our
farmers 20 raise hogs, and at least $50
farmers in Eastern Virginia are fenc-
ing their lands and getting ready
for this Industry. Hogs now sell for
II cents per pound on hoof In Rich
mond. and especially advantageous ar
rangements have been made for our
farmers with prominent packing
house. which agrees to take all hogs
raised. Mt Chicago and Louisville prices
plus freight This arrangement 1t Is
thought win give our farmers 80 cents
per hundred pounds advantage over
those living elsewhere
The important work OF land drainage
has also been taken UP. and a skilled
man has been employed. and Is now
at work in our large counties.
The demonstrators are now equipped
| for testing the percentage Of hutter fat
In milk, thus enabling the farmers TO
get rid OF his Improbable cows. and
UP To this time between Ave and six
hundred cows have been tested
The fact that nifty one counties have
made appropriations under the act OF
the general assembly establishing the
Emitted Agricultural board; that 5000
ing under demonstration agencies. and
I men and 2,50e boys, and between coo
and 700 girls in tomato clubs are work
the wonderful results everywhere
obtained, ahundantly prove the value
and popularity OF this the greatest
agricultural work now being done in
7 Virginia today.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-03
DICKINSON COMING
COUNTY Of STATE
COUNTY HAS MADE
LONG STRIDES IN IMPROVE
MENT OF AGRICULTURE

Especial to The Richmond Virginian.)
FREEZING, VA, Aug. 2.-Dick-
enson. the irundreeth county of the
Old Dominion, has made long strides
in the Improvement OF her farm inter-
ests, in the development of her natural
resources In the thirty-three years
Of her existence as separate county.
At the time the county was organ
,ixed.. farms were few. and far be-
tween: agricultural pursuits were
carried on In the more primitive meth
DDS. and by isolation the people were
cut off from the markets and marts.
The nearest railroad point at that
CONTINUED on Fourth rage.)
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-03

Company, OF New Jersey
ALFALFA SHOULD BE
GROW ON EVERY FARM
I. II IL q profitable crop.
2. increases farm values.
5. Excels every other crop.
In yield per acre.
In feeding value.
As a drouth reetstcr.
As q soil enricher.
4. No harder to grow than clover.
S. Make . bcginning-start now
grow some alfalfa
Repeated experiments made by the
agricultural colleges, and the results
obtained by the actual growers OF al
falfa in the semi-arid sections of the
West, throughout the corn belt States.
and in the South and East, are con-
elusive evidence of the great value
OF alfalfa.
There are few farmers whose profits
would not be increased greatly by
raising alfalfa. Every farmer should
aim to produce. as far as possible. his
foodstuffs upon his own farm.
During the last few years. the area
devoted to alfalfa has greatly In
creased In the region west OF the Mis-
Souri, river, and it Is certain that
there VIII he An equally rapid increase
throughout the Eastern and Southern
parts OF the United States.
Many OF the attempts In the past
to grow alfalfa in the humid regions
have failed, but with our present
knowledge Of the requirements OF the
crop there will be little. X any. more
trouble in securing stand.
Alfalfa will soon be grown album
dainty and profitably upon every farm.
1t Is no more difficult to grow than
clover and gives double the yield.
The deep roofing habit OF alfalfa en-
abIes It to resist dre.ath when clover.
timothy, blue grass and other forage
grasses die for want OF moisture. Al
falfa roots grow deep into the soil
far beyond the roots OF other plants.
Its drouth resisting power IL of no
greater importance than Its great
value as a soil enricher. The long
roots bring phosphorus. potash and
other plant foods from below and
store them in the upper soil for the
use OF other plants. Experiments
show greatly increased yields OF 9TH
or crops grown up on alfalfa sod.
Alfalfa is rich in protein the most
essential element in feed TO make
bone and muscle in growing animals.
why We Need Alfalfa.
Tlsere ID no combination Of feeds, 20
CONTINUED on Fourth Pag&)
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-03
United States Tobacco Report.

Area planted, 1t44.350 acres, com
pared with 1,225,S0 acres last wear.
Conditions. SIS per cent of normal
compared with ST. per cent last year
and s4.S per cent the ten-year average
on July .st. Indicated yield. So9.e
pounds per acre. compared with 1888
pounds last year and seas pounds the
arevarge for the past five years Es-
timated total production, $4,000, 600
pounds, compared with $50, 900
pounds last year, 905. 1000 pounds
in 1911, l,le3,4 5000 pounds IN l9lo,
and l.O56,o0o, 600 pounds in 1909.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-03
MISSOURI HOLDS
RECORD FOR PLUG
PRODUCES MORE OF THAT VA
RIETY OF TOBACCO THAN
ALL OTHER STAGES

Missouri broke the worlds record
for the quantity Of plug tobacco It's
factories Ir oduced in 1912, leading all
States with a total output OF 62,04S,-
l70 pounds. worth. at so cents a
pound. retail. $3l,024,s5. No other
State--and, In fact, no foreign coun-
try-came within 100000 pounds
Of this high production marx. Far
years this State had held first rank
as a producer OF manufactured plug
tobacco. but 1t remained for the OUT
put of last year to break any previous
record.
The figures given were made public
In a bulletin issued by Commissioner
John T. Fitzpatrick, of the bureau of
Continued on Fourth Page.)
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-03

BY the use of this table, or rather
a able which includes each foot of
depth, the foregoing being simply
for the principal depths, any inside
lot. with regular side lines and with
out alley advantage. may be, com
pared as to value with the price set
down for the Somers foot at that
point The next article will under
take to show how the Somers rules
are applied to lots at or near corn
ers.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-03

The bottom line of the diagram
represents the lot depth. To use
the curve for lot so feet deep,
find the So-foot line. then follow up
the perpendicular line to the curve
intersection: this point carried ont
to the left will give the per cent of
the unit which produces the front
age value for an So-foot depth. This
curve of value" when reduced to
figures Is as follows for the princi-
nal depths
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-03


be applied mathematically.) 80.
How much is that cloth per yard?"
asks the customer Of q dry goods mer-
chant
Fifty cents" is the reply.
The customer is thus given . very
simple mathematical method OF COM
the basis OF the price Of one yard.
The customer multiplies ten b.
fifty and sees that the quantity de-
sired will cost $500.
This Is a common transaction, and
illustrates the millions of transact
tons for many kinds Of commodities
In millions of quantities the world
over. 1t illustrates the transactions
In all things except land In cities.
Without the unit of quantity de-
scribed in the preceding article Of
this series, there exists the confu-
sion of thought and expression so pre-
valent in real estate markets the coun-
! try over. and IL we adopt the Somers
foot as the unit of quantity upon
which to express prices, We find that
! the method of arriving at the value
of any given quantity upon the basis
] of the price OF the Somers foot is not
so easily found as in the straight null
/ tiplication method used in the fore
going illustration. While this is not
so simple. IL Is exactly the same in
principle: that Is. we find there liz a
/ mathematical relation of value i. be-
tween the Somers foot and the site at
/ the point where that particular foot
was priced or valued. The operation
depends upon the ability of working
| out the mathematical relations for all
sorts of sizes and shapes as COM
pared with the value of the Somers
foot, and so to work Il out that IL
may be used easily and accurately by
| ordinary people.
/ The Somers Unit System of Realty
Valuation 10 the result of the work
of Mr.. Somers in solving these prob
lens.
! An Elastic System.
! When we apply the price set down
for a Somers foot to the valuation of
sites. we find that the sites vary in
depth. In alley advantage. in shape.
in proximity to- corners Any sys-
tenn to be a workable system OF land
computation must be elastic enough
to make 1t possible to solve any prob
lem, no matter what combination OF
! factors may be found to arise; and II
/ must be exact enough to check up
with itself as II were; that Is IL must
! be fundamentally accurate In its ap-
| plfcation.
Take a site that has exactly as much
depth as the Somers foot, namely 100
! feet, without alley advantage. with
straight side lines and without any
advantage from any cross street-Aali
OF which compares with the advan-
tages Of the Somers foot except the
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-03

I'm this article, the third in = Sc
ries OF scdentIhc tai assessments, Wal
ter w. Pollock, OF Cleveland, o.,
shows how community opinion. ex-
pressed by the Somers unit foot, may
be applied mathemattcally.) 80
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-03
ADDS FERTILITY TO SOIL AND
YIELDS THREE TO FOUR
CROPS A YEA n
EXCELS ALL FORAG E
MEANS MORE AND BETTER LIVE
STOCK AND LARGER RETURNS
FROM THE CROPS THAT FOL-
Low ENRICHED SOIL

(By PROFESSOR p. G. HOLDEN.
Director Agricultural Extension De-
partment International Harvester
Company, OF New Jersey
ALFALFA SHOULD BE
GROW ON EVERY FARM
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-03
Richmond F F acts and Figures

hundred lowest
$4,000 population
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-23
TWO FACED RoNCoNI.
He Could Depict Tragedy on One Side
and Comedy on the Other.

He Could Depict Tragedy on One Side
and Comedy on the Other.
In "The Memoirs of an American
Prima Donna by Clara Louise Kel-
logg, there is good story of Ronconi,
who played second cobbler in "Crls-
plno e la Comare" We are told that
he was one Of the finest Italian bari
tones that ever lived and succeeded in
getting degree Of genuine high COM
edy out of the part that has never been
surpassed.
HE used to tell Of himself story of
the time when he was singing in the
Royal opera at st. Petersburg. The
czar-father Of the one who was muir
dered-said to him once:
" Ronconl, understand that you are
so versatile that you can express trGg-
edy with one side Of your face when
you are singing and comedy with the
other. How do you do itI'
Your majesty, rejolned Ronconl,
when sing maria de Rohan" tomor
row night | will do myself the honor
of showing you
"And accordingly the next evening
he managed to turn one side Of his
face, grim as the tragic mask to the
audience, while the other, which could
be seen from only the imperial box,
was excessively humorous and cheer
ful. The czar was greatly amused and
delighted with the exhibition"
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-23
PeIieans and rhsir Pouches

The pelican is not an attractive bird.
He offends both the eye and the nose.
But he is commercially regular in his
habits, The parent birds catch fish
and after eating their I'll deposit the
others in their pouches under their bills
and carry them to their young. These
pouches will hold from three to eight
pounds Of fish. They are elastic and
when dlstended to their utmost nearly
touch the ground. When empty the
pouch lies close up under the big bill
and is merely mass Of wrinkles. 1t
is this pouch that gives the pelican his
characteristic and dlsagreeabe odor.
caused by particles Of decaylng fish.
The pellcans legs are short aud strong,
and its feet have large webs 1t is not
a fast swimmer or rapid flIer, but 1t
is practically tlreless in both air and
water. On land II is awkward and un-
wleldy.
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-23
COACH OF THIS TEAM
IS SUCCESSFUL GIRL
Mrs. Carrie Burchart Believes All Girls
Who Are Physically Able Should
Play Football.
LEARNED GAME BECAUSE SHE
HAPPENED TO BE LONESOME
engaged as Coach for Another Year
and Looks More Like 20 Years
Than 81.
IUNirrD PRESS LEASED wIan.l

Covington, KY, Dec. 23.--Coach
Burckhart, of the Price Hill high school
football team, didn't get very much
publicity during, the passed gridiron
season, but Price Hill students believe
there isn't better prep school high
school football coach in the country.
Under Coach Burckhart 8 tutelage Price
Hin played six games and won them
all with total of 16l points, Their op.
ponents scored six points, Coach Burk.
hart has been re-engaged for next year
and SHE. has accepted. Yes, Coach
Burckhart is a woman and about the
most attractive, most feminine little wo.
man ever, say the Price Hill students,
She is 81 years old and looks co. When
she garbs herself in sweater, abbrevi.
ated skirt and tasseled stocking cap
and gets out on the field with "her
boys" she looks like a high school girl
instead Of Vassar college graduate
which she is,
Mrs. Carrie Burckhart-al the boys
call her "Coach "-believes all girls
and women who are not physically I'M
able would derive much benefit from
playing football. Believing this, Mrs
Carrie Burckhart is going to organize
a girls football team next year. She
will play quarterback and captain the
team. It is probable that her team will
line up against the Price Hill eleven ia
give the latter practice work between
regular games Mrs. Burckhart not
only believes in strenuous physical ex-
ercise when the constitution can stand
1t, but she believes in housework also
In fact, she believes the houseworh
should come first, and then, If there Z
any time left for exercise, IL should be
as strenuous as the physique can stand
Swinging a broom over the floor, OF
waving dustcloth or dishrag, says
Mrs. Burckhart, furnishes as much ex,
ercise as swinging an Indian club OF
taking calsthentics.
"I don't recommend football for all
women, said Mrs. Buckhart, "because
the game is too strenuous for some
boys. I do not understand, though
while all women don Y 60 in for sports
outdoor sports preferred. ] started play
ing boys games Il don't see why they
are called boys games) when I was
young. I had five brothers, and had tt
play their games to keep from being
lonesome, and now I'm glad / did. "