davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Holt County sentinel. (Oregon, Mo.) 1883-1980, 1914-03-20
AT nlnE n.I.n og nAn.

DRAGGING AZ HlpE D,i,u ug HuNn
The next "trip ihr '.rug s!iu'ili l,r start,
cd little ncairr the middle. nul the
last trip over the rad the urig should
work close 10 the middle Itself. Small
ridges of earth will h. thrown In the
horse track aud sinrr,d 10y the round
side Of the log smoothly over the road.
The smearing Of the earth by the drag
~ called pudding. and II tends 10
make the surface smooth and hard
and turn or the water. especially after
the sun comes out aud dries II thor
oughly, The rond IL always dragged
after Il has rained and not when It Is
dry. With II good. stron. pair Of
horses AMI well built drug one man
can drug about three or four miles Of a
road u day. This Is the best possible
way 10 maintain good earth roads. In
every county some farmer along each
four miles Of road should own drag
and drag the road when It rains. aud
no would iind the road IN good condi.
ton when he goes to market.
The necessity for dragging the road
comes about from the fact thar water
stays on the road surface. because Il
cannot drain away into the side
bitches. II the road has been properly
dragged the water will run or the sur
face. Then II the bitches are properly
taken care OF the water will drain
away and leave the roadway In splen.
did condition. The crown of the road
should he ut least ten inches higher
than the outside. The rain as !: falls
on Il properly crowned road will run
quickly to the sides ana not soak into
the surface.
The side bitches for surface water
should run parallel 10 the right OF
point. SO that the water can run out Of
them into nelghborlng brooks or
streams. II the bitches merely collect
the water from the road surface and
do not carry It away large pools will
be formed along the roadside, which
will generally soak into the soil be-
meath the road and make 1t SO soft
that the wheels OF the wagon will cut
through the surface and soon destroy
II. Consequently 1t Is absolutely nec-
essary to have thorough drainage II
splendid earth roads are to be secured
In many places undertakings by
means of tile is absolutely necessary
for best results. The tile should be
laid along the side Of the road at least
two or three feet beneath the surface
Of the ground.
The Holt County sentinel. (Oregon, Mo.) 1883-1980, 1914-03-20
THE HoRSELESS AGE.
Automobiles and Heavy Auto Trucks
Make Road Problem Harder.


The astonishing results NJ u census
taken rcrcutly an u secondary thor.
oughiarc leading out of London show.
ell only : per cent of horse drawn We.
hiclcs. The exact count was fifteen
vehicles of the latter class 10 800 We.
hicles propelled otherwise than by
horses. Herein lies an explanation OF
the failure OF the public authorities
generally throughout tho world to
maintain roads and streets In good
condition,
A similar example OF the cxtraordi'
nary change that has occurred IN the
use OF roads IN recent years II that Of
furniture manufacturing concern In
Easton, Pa, which delivers on Its own
trucks to New York city instead Of
using the already constructed steel
roads-namcly. the railroads. This
concern uses the ordinary roads, 4
considerable tonnage Is thus trans
fcrrcd from the steel roads specially
constructed 10 bear II To the country
road not constructed for any such
weight or friction. II has thus come
to pass that the science Of engineer
ing. which was called upon TO furnish
experts TO railroad companies, Is now
also called upon to furnish experts to
road building authorities.
The Holt County sentinel. (Oregon, Mo.) 1883-1980, 1914-03-20
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
MERIT SYSTEM AND HIGH.
WAYS.

Two applications of the merit
system TO highway work which
will he noted with satisfaction
by road builders have recently
been made.
In Connecticut state employ.
mcnt has been put upon n merit
system basis by means OF the
state civil service law which he.
came effective on Aug. I, 1913.
As applied TO the highway de.
pnrtmcnt. this law puts NIL of
the officials mud employees, with
the exception of the state high.
way commissioner. into the
classified service.
In New York state the appoint.
mcnt OF six division engineers
has been made 10y competitive
examination. \ description OF
the method of conducting these
examinations was given by First
Deputy Commissioner George a.
ltrk"r ~ ~" recent sl"'.i ROAD
meetings ~ the AmoricnV Spcic.
IS OF ciyil Engineers
II hrS long been recognized
Tint efficiency IN the conduct Of
highway work could best be- oh.
tanned 10y the selection ~ men
with regard only H. their fitness
and ability. aud It has been gen.
orally believed that the absolute
elimination NJ political consider.
ntiuu, from appointment, 81 this
Kind was desirable. l,ut while
these have been generally ~.
'cpi"l rs abstract principles,
their actual application has not
been us frequent ~ might bc
desired Good Roads.
The Holt County sentinel. (Oregon, Mo.) 1883-1980, 1914-03-20
COED ROADS IN WISCONSIN,.
The Counties Take Advantage Of
State Aid.


Al the counties or Wisconsin are
taking advantage uf state aid for the
Improvement 1T their roads this year
The increasing popularity of this plan
l. described 10y John \. Lakewood.
chairman ~ the state highway com.
mission, ~ follows;
WISCONSIN embarked upon u policy
of county aid Tot highway improve.
mrnt ur the principal roads IN the
counties of the state 10y Hu enactment
Of the legislature IN 1905. AMI under
the policy of county nli twenty coun.
ties IN tho state accomplished great
deal Of good prior To 1917.
IN 1911 the Wisconsin legislature
decided upon the policy of state nid In
In 1901 aud mndc nn appropriation of
SljO.OOO annually 10 carry the under
taking along. During the year loi2
sixiy.fivc counties out of scvcnty.onc
asked and received county aud state
aid. Last year siSty.cisht out OF the
scvcnty-onc have received county nnd
state MD for highway bcttcrmcnt
lHe FgiShtufc VI i"ib' hpl"''h'y
approaching the success nnd populnri'
~ of the state aid provision over that
OF the county nid policy. appropriated
81 10000 annually 90 cnrry niong tho
good roads work. In 1911, 10y n mar.
row margin OF one vote. the state np'
preparation was made for the new poll.
cy. while In 1913 every vote In both
houses Of the legislature. with the OK
ccption of seven. was cast for tho ST.
100000 appropriation.
"Sincc the legislature adjourned the
three counties not engaged In good
road work prior 10 this iimc have vot.
ell 10 come under the provisions Of the
state aid policy. Consequently In 1914
the entire state Il carrying on rond I'M
proyemcnt under the state aid policy"
The Holt County sentinel. (Oregon, Mo.) 1883-1980, 1914-03-20

CoSvicrs AT WORK ON COLORADO Roads
I'm ciRcLkl; ALSO ROAD BUILT ny THEM.
ciarcs. the conyicis nrc 20 DO placed
on their honor. Another feature Of
North Dakota's prison laws In worlcd
as follows:
Each short time convict worked
upon snii state roads shall receive u
credit upon his time Of ten days for
each thirty days that he shall faith
fully nnd diligently work upon said
state ronds, and IN ease IT conyicts
serving life sentences such privileges
shall H. given them ~ ~ the Judgment
1T the WARREN l. proper. hui In case
that any runv!,i fails IT, lu inthini
Hnd "'.lrirH Nu, ~ aitrIi,H, - cs
cape hr shan i"ri"li all ~ N, many III
sail credit, ~ IN the iiulgmrnt of the
warden slI.i h" prupcr
III 80 convict. WIN were worked
under the honor system In Ohio only
clghtcrn-lrss ihnn : I"r cent-attcmpt
al Ia escape. according 10 the report
Of Preston T.. Thomas. warden OF tho
Ohio state pcnitcntlnry. While these
men were thus employed there was no
barrier except their own honor between
them AMI freedom, or the eighteen
men who broke faith. all but seven
were caught aud returned TO the pris'
ON. 10 that the percentage OF those who
failed to serve their full sentences was
only 2H This record. says Warden
Thomas. compares favornbly with
trusts IN the outside world.
Also In Michigan. where all persons
convicted OF drunkenness or vagrancy
are sentenced TO work on the roads In
stead Of to Jail. the practice OF trusting
prisoners has been found successful,
Not only that. but. according 10 W,
NJ. Bryant. good roads commissioner OF
Michigan. the sentencing Of c0nvicts
20 work on the highways tends Ia elm
mate much petty crime. II was In
Colorado, under Warden Thomas j,
lyman. that the honor system was
first employed among prisoners ut work
on the highways, ana IL Is In that
state ana Oregon that the system has
been most extensively developed, Coy
crnor West of Oregon, In u statement
TO the national committee on prison
labor concerning the honor system
among prisoners ut work on the roads,
said:
"Our road gangs are made up Of from
fifteen to twenty-five men. with free
man as foreman, who lives aud works
with his crew. His word Is law In
camp, ana his report rs to conduct OF
the prisoners carries great weight with
the prison officials. II Is most essen
tial, therefore. that great care be cx'
ercised In the selection Of these fore,
men. We have had unexpected sue.
cess In the operation OF our road gangs,
Some have been maintained as far ms
800 miles from the prison. and nearly
all In the hills and mountains. where
every opportunity was given to escape,
At first we lost number OF men. due
largely to the novelty Of the plan and
unjust newspaper criticism. which
made many Of them fear the abandon,
ment Of the policy and their return ia
prison. There has been less newspa'
per criticism Of late. ana the public
seeing the merits Of the system. u &C.
cspting It - settled policy"
The Holt County sentinel. (Oregon, Mo.) 1883-1980, 1914-03-20
Plan Midway Improvement.

Plans for highway Improvement In
Cedar Falls, H., In 1914, rs suggested
by the Cedar Falls Commercial club,
contemplate the construction Of high
way. entering the city from the north
west. across a long stretch Of river
bottom, and the erection Of . bridgs
across the Cedar river.
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-07-11
skUNKs AS PETS.

The Department of Agriculture says
the skunk is much more efficient and
satisfactory than cat.
Unpleasant to have around? Not a
bit Of it. A very simple surgical oper-
alton, performed in five minutes by an
expert, at the age of four or five weeks,
renders the creature unobjectionable
as any domestic pussy.
The skunk, it seems has not been
generally appreciated. ut presents
possibilities of widely extended useful
ness in domestication," says the Gov
eminent Department above quoted, in
bulletin that is about to be issued.
1t soon becomes very tame" does not
take part in nocturnal concerts on the
back fence, and costs nothing to keep,
inasmuch as it forages for it's own
provender.
A cat can not follow a rat into the
hole or Granny in which the latter
finds safe refuge. 1t is different with
a skunk
But the kind of skunk recommended
for household purposes is the small
species-the so-called "little spotted
skunk" which is only about eighteen
inches long, including the tail. Re-
sembling weasel in shape, long and
thin, it can easily enter a rat-hole.
In Florida skunks have long been in
use for catching mice in houses.
Most often they are merely persuad-
ed to take up quarters near the prem
ises by exposing fresh milk or other
food they like; but, if nothing is done
to annoy them, they soon become so
tame as to enter the family dwelling
in search of prey.
Skunks ordinarily make their homes
in holes among rocks or in burrows
that have been dug by foxes or wood
chucks, but they frequently establish
themselves under well-covers and hay.
stacks, in abandoned cellars, or in
caves used for storing vegetables
When they dig their own burrows they
go down only far enough to get below
frost-line and then excavate hori
zontal passage which ends in round
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-07-11
DERATiZATlON.

The following bulletin of the State
Board of Health is sent to physicians
and others:
Two cases of bubonic plague deyel-
oped June 27 and 18th in the home of
Volunteers of America, New Orleans.
In the occurrence of these cases,
there is no cause for alarm.
Proper precautions for control of the
disease were promptly instituted and
at the request of the superintendent of
the city board of health and represen-
tatives of commercial interests, the
situation was placed in charge of Sur
geon General Blue, United States pub
| lie health service, city and state boards
cooperating.
The State Board of Health will as
sist in the deratization of New Or
leans and take necessary steps to safe
guard the people of the entire state
Every community, for its own pro-
lection, is urged to prosecute a cam
paign of precaution.
If possible every building, stables
and barns especially, should be rat
Iproofed
Rat trapping should be undertaken
by the city and individuals.
Rats caught should be killed, dipped
| in kerosene, to destroy fleas; packed
| in ice in sealed can preferable a
milk can; shipped with charges pre-
paid to State Board of Health, bacte-
biological department, New Orleans,
where they will be examined and record
kept. Mark: rats, Rush"
Garbage and other refuse upon which
rats feed should be promptly destroyed.
You are requested to cooperate in
having your citizens carry out meas
ures of rat destruction and improved
sanitation. Will you not jointly with
the city authorities and others, sys-
tematize effort to this end?
Advise promptly deaths and cases
of sickness with causes.
In the event that other cases de.
velop you will be Immediately notified.
Hoping for your active and cordial
Incorporation,
Yours very truly,
OSCAR BOWLING, President.
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-07-11
GIRL LOBBYISTS.
Correspondence, N. O. States:

Correspondence, N. o. States:
Representative Caulfeld of East Fe-
liciana declares he has been made the
victim of one of the most energetic
and resourceful school Hobbies in the
state. Mr. Caulfield fathered a bill to
establish a normal school at Jackson,
La, in the old Centenary College build
ings. 1t was defeated in the House.
Il want to say" declared Mr.. Caul-
field, that the failure of my normal
school bill was due wholly to the &C.
tivity of the State Normal School at
Natchitoches and the Louisiana State
University. The management and stu
dents of these institutions labored I'M
ceasingly to defeat my measure. They
have been working against it through
out the session, while | have had to
labor against this heavy handicap
alone.
81 did net think it proper to have
the leading people of my section come
down here and lobby for my bill,
"On the day before final passage l
had Y votes pledged, but the day it
was actually called UP it received but
I36.
81 am going to try to come back here
next time and when do it will be with
"a proposition to establish an agricul-
tural and mechanical school at Jack
son."
Mr.. Caulfield charges that the girl
students at the State Normal swamped
the House with letters against his bill.
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-07-11
THE BANKS FUNDS.

Mrs. Green was worried That fact
was evident to her husband, although
she endeavored to maintain cheerful
manner. Before the evening meal was
over, however, he discovered the cause
of her anxiety.
will" said she, 81 am very much
afraid that my bank is in a bad way"
"How foolish, Mabel. Don't let that
cause you moments worry. Why,
it's one of the strongest financial in
stitutions in the state. Whatever got
that idea into your head"
well, it's very strange replied
Mrs. Green, still unconvinced. They've
just returned check of mine for $40
marked No funds -Harper's Maya
zine.
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-07-11
THAT COOL SPOT.

One afternoon very stout woman
was rambling along a country road
when she suddenly noticed little boy
walking closely beside her. Not know
ing the youngster, she was naturally
somewhat surprised.
Look here, little boy, she heatedly
cried, "why are you following me along
like that? Go away from me instant
|ly!"
81 amt dom nothin', lady," pleaded
the little fellow. please don't send
me away"
"You must go away at once repeat.
ed the perplexed woman. "Why dc
you wish to follow me?"
Because" was the startling retain
der of the youngster, you are the only
shady spot along the whole road
Philadelphia Register.
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-07-11

Louisiana is claimed as Demo.
cratic state. We were informed last
week that democracy means govern
ment by the will of the majority. Nearly
every good measure that has been de.
feated in the Legislature this session
has had q majority, but the law re.
quires two-thirds. Is this democracy
when the minority can defeat the ma
jority? Better try the initiative and
referendam.-Mer Rouge Democrat.
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-07-11
ONE SORT OF MIRACLE.

A revival was being conducted by
muscular preacher. He was disturbed
by two young men who scoffed at
everything they saw or heard. He
paused and asked them why they had
attended the meeting.
eve came to see miracles perform
ed" imprudently replied one of them.
Leaving the pulpit and walking quiet
ly down the aisle, the minister seized
one after the other by the collar and,
as they disappeared out Of the door,
remarked:
eve don't perform miracles here,
but we do cast out devils. New York
Call.
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-07-11
A VACATION DECISION.
Youths Companion:

YOutn companion.
when you went home last June"
began Doctor Tynndale's gentle voice,
as he opened the first chapel service
latter the summer vacation, you girls
could have slept until ten every morn
ing, you could have sat in your kimo-
nos until dinner, you could have swung
in the hammocks all the afternoon,
reading the latest popular novel, You
could have been the typical schoolgirl
home for vacation-never really awake
until evening, but then so full of life
that your tired father and your worn
out mother were often kept awake for
hours by the ragtime songs or bursts
of hilarious laughter that came from
sitting room or piazza.
"You were home for vacation
What wouldn't that happy mother or
that proud father have endured to give
Sallie a good time after the nine
months of study and restraint? What
would those admiring little sisters and
brothers have thought too much to
offer to do for Big Sister, home from
college?
Vacation means holiday and the
vacation was yours. But like every
thing else, vacations have two Sides
You'd been at college. True You'd
taken good rank Probably. You'd
been under strict rules. Certainly. For
nine long months. Now you were
free!
But wait! Who sent you to school?
Who paid the bills? Who gave you all
the opportunities that were yours for
the taking? Father and mother! For
nine long months! Were they free
now? Because he had worn last years
overcoat all winter so that he could
pay for the extras you enjoyed; be-
cause she had darned and redarned
her cotton stockings to keep you in
silk ones; because they had both work
ed a little harder than ever, and de-
MED themselves a little more rigidly
than ever-because of all this were
they free now?
Gould they turn over for another
nap after the clock had struck six be-
cause it was vacation? Could they
read together some favorite book those
warm, lazy forenoons because they had
worked so hard on SO many cold, bleak
ones? Could father take spin on his
bicycle in the pleasant evenings be.
cause he'd spent so many long even
ings over his books at the store? Could
mother run over to Mrs. Smiths for a
little harmless gossip after the supper
things were cleared away because
she'd spent so many winter hours darn
ing those worn stockings:
"That is the other side. Father and
mother have reached the time when
they cannot answer those questions
for themselves. They have come to
the time when their children alone can
answer for them. They had given for
nine long months; you had taken for
nine long months. Did you continue
to take, did they continue to give for
those three remaining short ones?
"They could not decide. You had to.
What did you do?"
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-07-11

The 58th annual commencement ex-
ercises of Soule Business College, New
Orleans, La, have taken place. There
were 131 graduates in the commercial,
shorthand and academic courses. There
were 1907 students in attendance dur
ing the session, and the prospects for
the coming year are very encouraging,
as the business public is rapidly ap-
preciating the fact that thorough and
high grade business school is a great
asset to any community, and Soule has
maintained that position through many
years, like wine, improving with age.
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-07-11
CLARION SITUATION IN STATE.

Charlton, killer of valuable cattle
and an enemy recognized by breeders
as fearful menace, is prevalent in 90
parishes, but is being put under con-
troll according to DR.. e. p Flower,
secretary Of the state live stock sani-
tary board.
Dr. Flower recently returned from
a visit to number of parishes in the
state, and he has gotten the police
juries to draw up stringent measures
of quarantine, with provisions for the
cremation of those animals dying from
Charlton.
For five years" he said, Eve have
been begging the people to vaccinate
early in the spring and during the
month of February. | sent out over
200 letters from this Office reminding
the people that it was very necessary
to vaccinate early in the spring, as it re-
|quires about 80 or 40 days after the
vaccination for it to become effective.
| If this had been done, not one-fiftieth
of the cattle lost in the parish of East
Baton Rouge alone would have died"
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-07-11
EDUCATE YOURSELF BY READING.

Do you long for an education? Are
you lamenting the fact that you had to
stop school at an early age on account
of poor health, or the lack of funds to
finish? 1t is said that Is minutes
spent in reading something useful
every day will make you an educated
man or woman.
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-07-11

Members of Democratic State Cen
trail Committee, who propose to join
the Bull Moose party, are asked to re-
sign from the committee. In event
that they do not resign their places
will be declared vacant. John Marks
of Assumption has already resigned.
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-07-11

1t is an unspeakable affront against
decency that the man Walters should
be importuned by theatrical managers
of more or less degree to go on the
stage. And it is even worse that so
many curious people would throng the
play-houses to get glimpse of him.
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-07-11

ed chamber containing nest of leaves
or dried grasses. Here they rear their
young.
In summer time the baby skunks
may be dug out of their holes.
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-07-11

The Fleury bill imposing the death
penalty on 'kidnapers was passed.
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-07-11

Get the Little Ad" habit.
The Republican journal., 1914-02-12

TROY.
The High School, taught by Mr.. Wilson of
Bowdoinham. closed last week. 80. Will Damon
of Montana, called on old neighbors and
friends in Troy last wee k.. Miss Angie
Garcelon is visiting her sister. Mrs. Allie
Bradford, in Auburn. The Art Club will
meet Feb. 18th with Mrs. L. ]. Sanderson. {. i.
On account of the fire which destroyed the
home of Truman Cook, John Harper o f
Lewiston came to Troy last week, intending to
take his wife's mother, Mrs. Knowles, home
with him, but she decided to remain at the
home of neighbor until warmer weather.
Friends of Mrs. .Abbie Myrick, regret to learn
that she recently fell on the ice, breaking her
hip. She is in FRANKLIN County Hospital
Greenfield, Mass. >. The Sunshine Society
held most enjoyable meeting last week with
Mrs. Hattie Sanderson. Much admiration
W as felt and expressed for her beautiful oil
paintings, two Of which she recently sold for $50
The next meeting will be with Georgia Woods.
Feb. 18th.