davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-22
NEW WAR sEcRETARY,s PLANS,

Secretary of War Garrison has is
sued an official statement Of policy In
which he outlines plan for preparing
the military forces of the country ts
meet any emergency. He would
shorten the present four-year enlist
ment term to two years so as to train
more men in short periods and turn
them back into civil life Immediately
available in case needed. Many fine
young fellows" he said, would de-
light in short, effective training, If it
did not unduly interfere with their
starting in civil pursuits" He would
insure sufficient supply of officers by
making better use of the academy at
West Point and turning into civil life
the graduates not needed in times of
peace. The regular army, the reserves,
made up Of young men who had re-
ceived some army training, and the
national guard he would have in readi-
ness to respond to the first danger call
Then the work of training a volunteer,
soldiery to join the trained men in the
field when needed would be taken up
"The leading men in the United
States army do not advocate militar-
ism, which means the existence of a
large standing army" Secretary Gar
rison says, "but precisely the reverse
"a small compact but thoroughly
efficient army. The most rabid anti
militarists could not seriously suggest
that the present army of 10000 to
look after a population Of more than
110.OO0,O00 in the United States and
the insular possessions had any hint
Of militarlsm in it.
mo one will pretend that with the
mobile force of less than $4,000 men
Gin the United States proper) we are
prepared; in fact, If you don't alter
the conditions, We are not even pre-
pared to prepare. If we are called on
to meet force with force, we simply
sacrifice men and money in shameful
way. We literally send men out to
acquire their education in armies un-
der the fire of an enemy"
Secretary Garrison says the execu-
ton Of his plans would entail no ad-
ditional cost.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-22
tions. It is believed that the knowl-
edge gained abroad of old world farm
ing can be used to the benefit OF the
American farmer.

The "open door" policy has been
adopted at the white house. News
paper correspondents have been notl-
fed that they can enter Secretary
Tumulty's Office at all reasonable
hours, unannounced. All the mem
bers of the cabinet, except Secretary
of War Garrison, also have adopted the
policy of seeing the newspaper men.
This policy is in contrast to that raw
ored by Lee O'Neil Browne, the Hi
nois legislator, who has introduced a
resolution which makes it possible to
exclude any representative of the press
to whom any member of the legislature
may object. The publicity given Mr..
Brownies connection with the Jack
pot scandal in the last Illinois leg
islature probably has prompted his
displeasure but it is doubtful if the
majority Of the Illinois legislature can
be brought to pass measure that
might easily be used to deny the peo-
pie the right to know what is going on
in the legislature. g...
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-22
Reply to Bridge Men.

Davenport Times: Chairman Brock
way of the roads committee has set
on foot an investigation of bridge
contracts in Iowa. 1t has been limited
that the bridge companies have
been dividing the state SO as to avoid
more than nominal competition, at
least and the members Of boards Of
supervisors and others will be called
on to tell what they know concern
ing how bridge contracts have been
let. The action Of the legislature is
believed to be reply of that body to
the activities of the bridge men in op-
position to any systematic state con-
troll of road building and contract let
ting in Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-22
THE GOING AWAY OF THE WATER

Des Moines Capital: We pass lit
tic brook without more than glancing
at it; we cross the river and give it
no more than a thought. The brook
runs into the river; the river runs to
the sea, and so the water runs away.
These waters come from the clouds.
The clouds may have been in the sky
for a thousand years before coming
down: yet other clouds were comm g
down, and vapor was being taken up
to make new clouds to float away. and
sometime, somewhere. melt into drops
of water, producing little brooks and
running streams. All our brooks End
streams are supplied with water by
clouds taken up from the surface of
lakes and oceans. The clouds that
float over the Mississippi valley were
taken up from the surface Of the
Gulf of Mexico by the heat of the sun.
When they are distributed in the
great valley, that distribution is due
to the heat of the sun. Greedy man
has been heard to complain because
the Creator made two-thirds of the
earth water But If he had not done so,
and had not placed the sun in the uni
verse to take UP moisture and dis
tribute it again, useless would be our
seasons, and starving would be the
human race. A few clouds may form
from moisture taken from the surface
of damp ground, but they are of no
particular consequence, The water
which runs to the CULTS and seas from
our great valleys is only going home.
because it was taken UP from the CULTS
and seas some time ago. maybe an
age. by the suns heat. Scientific men
say that the sun takes up from the
face Of the Indian ocean every ten
months twenty-five feet of Wcter.
This would eventually dry the Indian
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-22
THE SOIL.

Des Moines Capital: Soon the
plows will be going and the surface
of the soil will be turned over to give
the sunshine chance at those parts
of the soil that have been farthest
away during the winter. The awaken
ing OF the soil with the coming Of
spring is an interesting process. 1t
hardly seems possible that things
could have been better arranged than
they are Nature does everything but
nature furnishes the seed, It being
carried over from a former season.
Seeds of grains, If properly taken
care Of, never die. Excavations In
Egypt have brought to light certain
seeds that have been hidden for
thousands Of years, and when put into
the soil, they grow. The plows are
not put in the ground at the same
time. The revolutions of the earth
give us our turn in the temperate
zone. When we are planting, there
are other parts of the world where
the season is cold and the plows are
put away or are allowed to rust.
When 1t Is an open door to nature in
the north, it is closed door in the
south. Thus do the seasons run. Ma
ture furnishes the seeds for the diff.
ferent zones and climates. Human
beings found these ready to their
hand when they came. Corn is found
in the corn belt, and wheat in the
wheat belt, and so on through the
list. Far away grow the cotton and
the cane. the oranges and the ba-
nanas. Therefore the soil in the south
has a rest while the soil in the north
is at work. The moisture comes from
below sometimes, and sometimes 1t
comes from above. The coming and
going Of moisture requires the coop
Grafton of the sun. In fact, the sun Is
the source of all warmth. Not a
thing could grow without 1t. Useless
would be all our blowing and planting
were it not for the sun There are
moro than twenty stars known to be
larger than the sun, but they have no
part in human welfare SO far as the
earth is concerned. The man who fol-
lows the plow Is nearest to nature
and is to be envied. With him spring
time means something. He awakens
and goes through the busy season
with the birds which have been gone
all winter. Natures arrangements
bring about all times and seasons in
their order, and this Is the season for
the mellow, upturned soil.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-22
SIMPLICITY AT WHITE HOUSE.

SIMPLICITY AT WHITE HOUSE.
The Washington correspondents are
making much of the social precedents
President Wilson has overturned in
the short time he has been in the
executive mansion. Mention is made
Of the following:
Discontinuance of the inaugural
ball. ..H
Refusal Of honorary membership in
the exclusive" Chevy Chase club.
Reduction of the number Of military
and social aides at the white house.
Abolition of gold lace from all func-
tons not strictly official.
Determination not to use the May
flower or any other vessel as the pres-
dents yacht. ..
Determination not to use the Del
phin or any other vessel as the secre-
tary of the nayy's yacht. a-
Registration of all callers at the
white house, as well as future ap-
pointments, and access to the register
by correspondents.
Refusal Of the president to see job
seekers and their reference to the
heads of departments.
Announcement of subjects under dis
cussion at cabinet meetings. #
Refusal of the president to accept
passes to the theater, and prohibition
of any ceremonies in connection with
his arrival at or departure from places
of amusement. r."
Observance Of Sunday as a day of
rest and early retirement to bed.
Appearance, of the president in a
sack suit on formal occasions and in
his office. .
President Wilson is taking an indie
pendent stand that will win admira-
ton even from those who do not agree
with some Of his acts. There is no
reason why president should not plan
out his own program. without knuck-
ling under to line Of -precedents dat
ing back to Washington's time.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-22

The general adoption Of the narrow
skirt by the fair sex has brought signs
from some of our elders for return
to the sensible fashions of former
years" But even in former years
there was something like the same
protest against the fashions. Some
one has found a clipping from Peter
sons magazine in January, 1866. which
said: 1.-The present shape of the hoop
skirt is detestable. II the wind blows,
the skirt swings to one side, exposing
the person; even in stepping up a
curbstone the same thing happens.
The shape in fashions a year or two
years ago was much more modest.
Why not return to it?' And there
you are.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-22
Press Comment.
SERVICE or THE RAlLWAYe AND
FARMS.

For every 100 miles of railway main
track in 1900 there were 129 miles in
1910. For every 100 acres of improved
farm land In 1900 there were 115 acres
in 1910; for every 100 acres devoted
to crops In the former year there were
ITO In the latter. That ia, during the
census decade, the latest period for
which official statistics are available,
the railway plant Increased at over
double the rate of the agricultural
plant.
For every 100 ton-miles in 1900 there
we're $50 In 1910; for every 100 pas
senger.miles there we're ZOE. For every
100 bushels, bales or pounds of the
ten principal crops In the former year
there were 100 in the latter. That H.,
the output of the railways increased
at rate over ten times as great as
that of the farms.
Measured per mile the output of the
railways increased 40 per cent and 81
per cent respectively. Measured per
acre the output Of the ten crops aver
aged decrease of about one per cent.
That Is, the output Of the railways per
unit of plant increased by one-half,
while the output of the farms per unit
Of plant averaged decrease.
The population in the ten years in
creased about sixteen million per-
sons, or Fl per cent. Measured per in
habitant the ton-miles of the railways
increased 40 per cent and the freight
revenue 81 per cent, the passenger
miles 67 per cent, and the passenger
revenue 81 per cent That Is, the work
performed by the railways and the
money received by them increased at
very nearly the same rate. Measured
per fnhabitant the output of the ten
principal crops ranged from decrease
of 81 per cent to an increase Of 20 per
cent, while the farm value increased
from "a to SO per cent. For example,
the relative supply Of corn that was
100 bushels in 1900 was 70 bushels in
1910, the relative farm value of corn
that was 500 in 1900 was $144 in 1910.
That is, while the supply of corn per
inhabitant fell off 81 per cent. the
value of the supply per inhabitant in
creased "A per cent. In the same rela-
ton the supply of wheat fell off IA per
cent, while it's value increased AZ per
cent, the supply OF cotton fell off 8
per cent while its value increased 80
per cent.
In 1910 one thousand bushels of the
seven principal food crops could pur-
chase over 25 per cent more Of COM
modities in general, and so per cent
more Of transportation than in 1900;
but conversely, the purchasing power
of the receipts from one thousand tom
miles fell off 13 per cent, and that
from one thousand passenger-miles
fell off 10 per cent.-The bureau Of
railway economies. .
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-22
Work With Hot Beds.

One or the finest ways OF watering
hot bed or cold frame where one
has water with hose connections is to
secure large sprinkling hose with
coarse holes in it. This is simply the
so-called nozzle or spout on the sprin-
king can. Take this to the timers
shop and have long tin tube solder
ed on to It. This should be about Is
inches to 2 feet long and have a
slightly larger diameter at the outer
than at the nozzle end.
To water a hot bed with this tool,
stick the end of the hose down into
the tin tube as far as possible Get
everything ready for watering with
hose properly connected up. Turn
on the water and let 1t begin to
run. Hang the hose over the should
er so that the sprinkling hose
hangs down in front Of the body.
Hold the sash of the hot bed or
frame up with the left hand and
hold the improvised nozzle of the
hose with the other. BY proper
manipulation the water can be dis
tributed over the soil in the proper
amount to good advantage. 1t should
not be held still long enough to
cause the soil to wash. AS soon as
one has covered the area OF one sash
he can very easily catch up another
and move right down the entire
length Of the bed or frame.
The following principles should be
kept in mind when watering hot
beds or cold frames at this season
Of the year:
Always water with lukewarm wa.
ter If possible. Water on rising
temperature. This will mean to do
the bulk Of the watering in the ear.
ly part Of the forenoon, in the even
ing the temperature is beginning to
fall on account of the lowering of the
sun and the evaporation which takes
place following the application OF
water tends to accentuate the cold
If one were in danger of experience.
ing low temperature and should al
this time of the day he could ex.
pect several degrees greater fall In
his hot bed than If he had watered
in the earlier part Of the day. 1t
is not best to water when the sun Is
at the highest This Is especially i'm.
portant with the tender foliage plants
The drops of water stand upon the
leaves and act like burning glasses
to focus the suns rays, thing
which very often greatly Injuries the
foliage. These same rules hold for
the application Of water in the case
of greenhouses, Conservatives or
with house plants kept in windows.
The question often comes up,
how much water is necessary in wa
tering hot bed or cold frame? The
only advice that can be given on
this point is to give as much water
as is needed. Any experienced per-
son can easily tell this. For the
inexperienced, the following may be
laid down as Indications: If there
is condensed moisture on the under
side of the glass on the frame or hot
bed there is probably enough mois
ture present If the surface of the
soil will crumble when pinched be
tween the thumb and fingers 1t il
safe to give more water. II 1t ad
heres in a mass when pinched pc
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-22

In the death of John Peach Ottum-
wa loses one of it's most loved citizens.
Mr.. Peach was one of the organizers
of the Y. M. C. A., in Ottumwa and for
wears served as secretary of it's board
of directors. He aided in the organ
ization of the First Baptist church in
Ottumwa, served for years as superin-
tendent of the Sunday school and as
one of the trustees and was a member
of the building committee when the
new church structure was built. Mr..
Peach also was prominent In Masonic
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-22

The Waterloo Reporter approves Of
the "See America First" campaign,
and believes we should start on Iowa.
Icwa's lake resorts are declared to be
on a par with the famous health re-
sorts of the east, yet Iowans do not
properly appreciate them. Surely
the Reporter says, eff it is worth
while to start and foster movement
national in it's scope to see America
first it is equally worth while to bring
the matter of travel little closer
home and blaZon upon our state BAN
ners new slogan: See Iowa First. y
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-22
THE REDFlELD WHISPERS.

Chicago Tribune: Before President
Wilson, Secretary of State Bryan and
the other clean jowled statesmen OF
the new cabinet commit themselves
too harshly on the subject of Secre-
tary Redfield's whiskers they would
do we'll to find out whether Mr.. Red
field is coming or going in this mat
ter
A year ago we we're assured that
the tight trousers and whiskers OF a
day supposed to be happily forgotten
were to lead their disasters back on
helpless generation OF men. A dis
position toward the whiskers has not
been noted. but the tight trouser Is to
be had unless a severe word OF eau
ton is given the tailor. The prophecy
Is half fulfilled, and 1t Is reasonable
to suppose that the Dundrearies are
on their way.
The fates forfend, but it may be so,
and in such case Mr.. Redfield, In
stead Of displaying contumacious
disposition and a tory nature by facing
the world with his all too precise and
sanctimoniously' aggressive whiskers,
may be leading the way toward a de.
lOuGIllSut WHICH III lIS "oASl ooPOSs
will present the cheerful countenance
of William Jennings Bryan decorated
and devastated by the beard Of the
Assyrians.
IF it were necessary but sufficient
to sacrifice Secretary Redfield's head.
to pass over such a small thing as his
whiskers. to prevent this we are not
certain that our humanity would re.
sist the temptation to call the execu-
toner. A prejudice against such
whiskers easily prevails. They are too
precise. They rebuke disordered
world by the severe orderliness of
their aspect and habit. If they are not
Intentionally censorious. they are in
nocently so. We imagine the Pharisees
at the age of 20 had them luxuriantly.
1t will be seen we have small liking
for them, although filled with admira-
ton for Mr.. Redfields attainments
and character. Nevertheless a preju.
dice yields to caution. Before Presi.
dent Wilson demand the attendance
of shearer and shaver upon Mr.. Red.
field, he ought to consider the posi-
sbility of Mr.. Bryan coming bearded
like a pard to some cabinet meeting a
year from now.
Mr.. Redfield may be the most
whiskerful progressive in the new adj
ministratiOn.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-22
The New Hat.

Sioux City Journal: From the size
OF the hat proper you might figure
that the price would be good deal
lower than last year. Such Is not the
fact. It develops that those whatyo,,-
maycall'ems that stick up SO high in
front are very expensive, and elevate
the cost of the whole contraption
slightly above last Casters figures.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-22
Stories About People.
No Taste for Music.

]. A thief broke into a Madison ave.
nue. mansion early one morning and
found himself in the music room.
Hearing footsteps approaching, he
took refuge behind screen
From eight to nine o'clock the cid
est daughter had singing lesson.
From nine to ten o'clock the second
daughter took piano lesson.
From ten to eleven the eldest son
had q violin lesson.
From eleven to twelve the other
son had lesson on the flute.
At twelve-fifteen all the brothers
and sisters assembled and studied an
ear-splitting piece for voice, piano.
violin and flute.
At twelve forty-five the thief stag.
gered out from behind the screen and
falling at their feet cried:
"For heavens sake have me ar
rested National Monthly.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-22

Mr. Bryan is being censured by some
of the English papers for declaring
himself in favor of home rule, those
papers taking the position that the
secretary Of state should be more Dip
lomatic than to comment on foreign
politics. Do these papers mean to say
that it would have been an act OF
diplomacy for Mr.. Bryan In st. Pat
ricks day speech to have declared
himself against home rule?
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-22
$500 a Year While He Slept.

Upton Conservative: G. l.. Peters,
of near Lisbon, was in Upton Friday
and on being asked about the sale of
his farm, admitted that the price re-
ceived was big enough to make the
deal profitable one to him. Two
years ago he bought the place for
$23,7O0 and sold it a few days ago for
$4,000, clearing up $4,000 in addi-
ton to the use Of the land. This is a
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-22

The one-hundredth anniversary OF
the birth of David Livingstone, the
famous missionary and explorer, is
celebrated this week. DR.. Living
stones exploration of darkest
Africa" how he was given up for lost
and then found by Henry M. Stanley,
the American explorer, and his refus-
al to give up his missionary work and
return to civilization, form one of the
thrilling chapters of history.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-22

tween the fingers there is moisture
enough present. A great many peo
pie register failure with hot beds and
cold frames because they water too
often and not copiously enough. Wa
ter should be put on the surface OF
the soil as long as 1t will soak away
rapidly. When 1t begins to stand In
puddles 1t is time to stop. Frequent
watering with only light applications
is conductive to Camping of" and to
root killing In the young plants.
One OF the most satisfactory fol-,
iage plants for rank growth is the
castor bean. There are several va
rieties of this, ranging In height from
21a to 10 feet.
They grow quite rapidly and make
an abundant lot of tropical foliage
in the latter part Of the summer
They are fine for screen, for the CEN
tiers Of large flower beds or for use
In planting around the bases "
porches and houses. To get best
results with these one or two seeds
should be started now In the paper
cylinders which were described in the
previous article in this department.
BY using this device the plants will
be we'll established and four or six
inches high when 1t comes season.
able weather for putting them out Of
doors.
Another device for getting tropical
foliage effects is to get thrifty
young bas wood stump and plant
where one wishes the screen. This
will throw up a great mass of sprouts
with large palmate leaves II one
does not care for this to be made
permanent the stump Is easily re-
moved at the end of the first year.
The stump may stand for a series
of years. the suckers being cut back
each season and allowed to renew
themselves each succeeding year. The
stump of the Kentucky Tree Is also
often used for this purpose. have
seen this tree throw out leaves
which were foot and half to two
feet long, pinnately compound and
gave most beautiful gigantic fern
like effect.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-22

A Des Moines physician who was
run down by boy on bicycle picked
himself up with mud in his eye and
murder all over his clothes" accord
ing to one of the Capital city news
papers.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-22
Auto TRUCK saves Money.

Iowa City Republican: The new
auto truck and chemical engine yes.
terday morning saved between $500
and $1,000. In two months It has
cut fire losses at least $4,000, perhaps
double that. It can be depended upon
to save an average Of $4,000 per year.
Yet some people want to make it's pur-
chase an election issue.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-22
Not the Same.

Council Bluffs Nonpareil: Instead
Of being thankful for the vast amount
of useful information which the news
papers have dug out for legislators at
Des Moines some of the members
actually appear to be resentful. The
ingrates!