davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29

their flow. Numerous irregularitie.
cause them TO meandcr about in an
parently wasteful ways. and mans
carelessness has added TO these trout
bles by allowing driftwood and loose
earth to form dams and sandbars.
All of these things help to hold the
flood of waters back and cause either
flooding or swamps, which not only o..
cupy land that could be more probably
used for farming. but also form fine
breeding places for mosquitoes and
other obnoxious pests. incidentally
they cause an annual loss running into
millions of dollars per year.
In this day of enlightenment such
things are both wasteful and, one
might add. criminal, especially so III
view of the fact that almost instant
relief may be had by few well placed
charges Of dynamite. Not only will
these blasts straighten out the kinks
and bends end remove lodges and
sand bars, but they will deepen and i'm.
prove the channels as nature has real
ly intended. incidentally by straight
ening the winding course of creek
much area of tillabe land can be Oh.
tanned and farm operation In many in.
stances made much easier.
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29

taking care of increased horizontal or
surface acreage are all right In their
way. but to go deeper into the farm,
to increase its fertility and productive
ness by increasing its depth, is a mat
ter that the practice of vertical farm
ing accomplishes quickly and econom
ically, and very often a single car
fridge of explosive will convert several
yards of otherwise useless subsoil into
half m acre of new root feeding sur
face Thus. instead of spreading out
and embracing more territory. vertical
farming enables the farmer to really
concentrate and by intensive methods
conserves In both labor and expense.
At the same time the resulting in
crease in crops emphasizes the profit
able features of the process.
And there is a practical reason for
this. BY breaking up the subsoil oxy-
gen Is admitted into the ground, and
the pent up natural fertilizing elements
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29
Digging a Ditch I'm a Flash

in cartridge of dynamite in the mid
die hole Of the line of charged holes and
fired will do the work.
A single row Of holes can usually b
depended upon to excavate ditch from
seven to nine feet wide and about thir-
ty to forty inches deep. Where larger
bitches are required the holes can be
made deeper and loaded heavier, or
two or more lines Of holes, spaced from
three to four feet apart, can be used.
incidentally the holes can be made in
the toughest kind Of swamp or in flood
muck beds. where other methods Of
ditching are practically impossible.
When the soil is dry or the weather
is too cold to use the propagated meth
cd of blasting described above low
freezing farm or stamping powder is
used in holes spread farther apart.
often in large bitches as far as four
or five feet. In this case each hole
must be primed with an electric cap,
us the explosive shock will not propa-
gate in dry ground.
The cheapest lineal foot of small
ditch is obtained by using the electric
firing method and farm or stumping
powder.
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29
Deepening the Farm For Bigger Crops
The Third Dimension of the Farm Important Factor to Greater
Crops and Bigger Dividends.

Of the lower soils are released and
utilized. A reservoir for the storage of
water is created, and a good home for
the roots is produced. Good roots
are essential to good plants. Men
who look below the surface realize
these facts. They know also that a
plant produces only in proportion to
the extent Of air. water and nourish-
ment given its roots. Thus is the new
or method Of vertical farming both
logical and profitable.
This method of farming vertically Is
in itself easy. simple and labor saving.
A half cartridge charge OF farm pow
der placed well down into the tight
subsoil at intervals of about rod.
tamped properly and fred carefully
will do the work quickly and econom-
ically. Subsoil blasting. however, can
be done successfully only when the
subsoil is dry.
Few tools are required for the work.
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29

Things move quickly nowadays. The
village of yesterday is tomorrow's
metropolis. Speed is requisite. and
newer methods that smack of rapid
ty and labor and money saving are in
demand.
bitches that once consumed many
days of hand or machine labor are now
being blasted out in almost the twin
king of an eye. By degrees man is
learning to adopt some Of natures sim
pie, but mighty forces. And the gull
lies and valleys that old Mother Earth
has created by her natural upheavals
and eruptions are being duplicated in
a smaller way by some of the more
progressive and up to date farmers.
Digging bitches with dynamite is
simply newer and more improved
method Of trench building. The meth
cd employed in wet work is simply to
punch holes from eighteen to twenty
four inches deep along the line desired
to ditch and then load each hole with
a charge of 80 per cent straight dyna-
mite.
Long stretches of ditch can be loaded
and fired at one time. One cap placed
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29

In looseuing shale and rock to facili
tate hand or steam shovel work dyna
mite is also very effective, while stumps
may be blasted from the roadbed just
as though they were being removed
from field to be cleared and cultivated
Boulders also are easily shattered by
suitable loading and when of hard rock
may he crushed into surfacing stone.
The side bitches as well as the long
outfall bitches can also be blasted in
keeping with the nature of the ground
In fact. there are no limits practically
to the many uses and advantages of
dynamite for road building when care
full and thoughtful attention is given
to the work.
incidentally the planting of shade
trees for roadside Improvement and at.
Effectiveness is greatly facilitated by
the judicious use of Il little dynamite
1t is a recognized fact thai trees plant
cd in blasted holes grow much more
rapidly and progress more favorabiy
than those planted in the average spade
dug ground.
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29

difference in growth between the I'M
dynamited tree and the tree planted
In blasted ground being so unmistak-
ably in favor of the latter that no ad-
equate comparison could be made.
Furthermore, there are so many sane
and logical reasons for this method of
tree planting that even the most skep-
tical could not fail to be convinced
Obviously when a tree has to use a
large part of its energies in forcing its
roots through the hard soil it can
not be expected to make the same
rapid growth and come into such
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29

the stump out OF the ground. To Sc.
cure best results the charge should be
placed in the soil well under the base
of the stump at The point where the
resistance offered TO the force Of the
explosion will he equal on all sides
Where the soil is of a heavy clay or
plastic nature slow acting powder is
preferable, such as farm powder or
powder. Where the earth is
sandy or loose and is apt to permit
the easy escape of gases a fast explo-
sive, such as 40 to 60 per cent dyna-
mite should be used. The condition OF
the soil with respect to moisture also
has great influence upon the amount
of work that certain quantity of pow
der will do. After heavy rains when
the soil is saturated to the base Of the
stump and the subsoil is just damp is
Il most favorable condition.
No set rules as to the amount of
powder necessary to blast certain
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29

kind or size OF stump can be given,
since different conditions govern all
cases. Two stumps Of the same size,
kind and age of cut. when one is grown
on well drained soil where the roots
must penetrate a great depth for water
and the other is grown on soil where
there is always water near the surface.
will demand different treatment for
extraction. The older stumps, especial
ly II from timber free from resin. re-
quire less powder The exact amount
necessary for set conditions can. how
ever, be readily determined with lit
tie experimenting.
Few tools and supplies are required.
A one and one-half inch wood anger
with shank about four and ouc-half
feet long, n medium sized crowbar.
round pointed shovel and wooden
tamping stick, together with the pow
der, fuse and caps. will serve 20 fill
the bill.
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29
Explosives In Road Building

One of the newer methods of road
building that Is fast winning the in
dorsement of the better versed contrac-
tor is that of employing dynamite for
reducing the heavy work.
Grading through hard ground or rock.
for instance. is tedious and requires
time and labor. The use of dynamite
for blasting such material is n welcome
relief. Both rock and hard clay may
be loosened in the cut by well placed
charges of explosives If holes are drill
ed into the ground u little way up the
bank and loaded. Careful spacing and
loading for electrically fired blasts will
result in bringing down both classes of
materials in the best possible manner
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29
Getting the Dollar From Under the Stump
How Up TO Date Farmers Are Easily and Economically Realizing
on Land Hitherto Impossible of Cultivation

ABOUT 4oo,oO0.Ooo acres Of land
~ included in farms throughout
A the United States are unim.
proved. Figuring that each
acre could be made to produce at least
S25 worth of produce per year. there
is approximately S1O.OO0.OO0,0OO pro-
duction being lost annually. Quite a
tidy figure. And when we take into
consideration that in many cases it re-
quires only the removal Of sundry
stumps and boulders to make this land
profitable. it certainly looks as though
something might be done to save the
waste. "Stumping with dynamite" is
both an economical, quick and labor
saving method as well as one that is
growing in popularity daily.
The method involved in the blasting
Of a stump is to confne a quantity of
explosive in such manner that when
exploded The expanding gases will lift
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29

early bearing as a tree would that had
he'd The ground in which it was planted
thoroughly prepared by dynamiting be-
forehand
No tree should be planted over hard
ran or impacted subscil without first
resorting TO blasting. so that the soil
may he made open and porous. Such
blasting not only creates channels. in
creases absorption of soil moisture and
permits deeper roofing, but 1t also in
duces better growth and larger yields.
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29
Strengthening Streams
With Dynamite

The ancient Egyptians were noted
for their trops because. as history
states. they "sowed their seeds In the
Nile" This does not mean that they
actually cast the seed in the river. At
certain seasons of the year the Nile
overllows its banks. deposlting on either
shore II rich silt or earth that is highly
conducive to bumper crops, and the
wise ancient Egyptians, realizing this,
protited thereby.
brooks up to the largest rivers play an
important part in the scheme of things
inasmuch rs they are natures way Of
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29

tree planting time. unless It is desir-
able to add some manure or fertilizer
to he diffused through the soil. This
is an excellent practice. especially in
poor soil. II the earth is sour, sticky
clay few pounds Of lime scattered in
the hole will materially assist in foe
culating the clay and keeping 1t per-
manently graduated and sweet.
Immediately after the blast the soft
blasted ground should he dug out down
to the location of the charge. where
n hole will usually be found about
the size of bushel basket. This
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29

must be filled to prevent settling of the
tree after planting. The roots should be
placed in II natural position In good top
soil. covered with more top soil and
treaded down firm. The hole can then
be Tiled To little above the surface
with subsoil
The fact that nearly all commercial
orchardists use this method proves
that 1t pays in reduced first year loss.
earlier fruiting and larger and better
Yields.
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29
Blasting Ground For Tree Planting

Blasting for tree planting is best done
in the fall, because ut this time of the
year 1t is easier to catch the subsoil
in dry condition. Blasting in the spring
for spring planting. however, is much
better than planting in dug holes. not
withstanding the fact that the subsoiI
is apt 20 be wet or damp.
If the holes are blasted in advance of
the time of setting the trees they are
left without further attention until
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29

Much has been written on how to
plant a tree or trees, but If the expert
ences Of scores of famous orchardists
have any weight on the topic. then the
practice of using dynamite preliminary
to planting young trees has fully
proved its merits.
The writer has personally seen spe-
citic examples of the value and excel
lence of tree planting with dynamite
OH a private orchard in Delaware. the
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29

Is no immediate danger in handling a
stick OF farm powder If the user will
use but an ordinary amount of care
and intelligence.
A common incorrect method of prim-
ing Is to punch hole right through
the cartridge, pass the capped fuse
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29
Printing a Dynamite Cartridge

To properly prime dynamite or
farm powder cartridge four things are
essential-the cap. the fuse. the car
fridge and Il crimping tool. The meth
Cd in itself is very simple,
First crimp the printing cap about
the fuse. using the crimping tool as
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29
rArIsE farmers are beginning to

TAT1SE farmers are beginning TO
~ realize that a farm goes
w farther than length and
breadth. Depth is a vital
factor, and incidentally this third d.
mension has clearly identified infu-
ence upon the producing value of the
earth's surface.
Thus vertical farming" newer
method Of agriculture, is rapidly de
veloping. Merely to scrape the bris-
ties from hogs hide is not enough.
Deeper cutting is essential in order to
reach the bacon. And experience has
shown that to simply pillow or turn the
top soil is very often only the scratch
ing of the surface when 1t comes to
bumper crops.
Often the productivity of a farm Is
limited by the tight clay or hard pan
underlying the top soil. Costly imple-
ments for tilling this upper soil and
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29

both irrigation and drainage. But be-
ing formed according to natures die
tates their courses do not always jibe
with mans desires or needs.
Rock lodges impede their progress.
OverhanginG stumps and trees retard
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29

shown in the illustration. Next punch
diagonal hole in the cartridge with
the end of the crimping tool. making
the hole deep enough to entirely bury
the cap. Insert the cap into this hole
and tie the fuse to the side Of the car
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29

through 1t, then insert In another dag
onal hole below the first hole. No ty-
ing is necessary to hold the cap in the
cartridge. This method is called "lac-
ing the fuse through the cartridge"
II is unsafe and unreliable. The fuse
is likely to break at the sharp turns
and the powder train spit fire through
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1915-12-29

the break, setting fire to the cartridge
instead OF exploding II. or the fuse
may miss fire altogether, leaving an
unexploded charge In the hole. or Il
may hang fire for half an hour or half
a day and cause serious accident.
Short cuts do not pay In handling sy-
plosives
The Elbert County tribune., 1915-11-12
TIE bpoKEN(0IN
AStory Of Mystery and Adventure
& EMERSON HOUGH a
From the Scenario bT W
GRACE CUNARD . .sasssx;xz y l

dispose your majesty wholly to the
good of his people?"
Precisely. 1t is as l would have
said 1t. mademolselle. You Americans
are extraordinary"
Kitty took from his hand the broken
bit of metal and regarded 1t thought
fully
Il thank you more than I can tell,
your majesty" said che. soberly. 1T
shall be my mission to find out for
your people the uncompleted message
Of this coin"
A silver bell sounded afar in the
hall. announcing the approach OF a
servant. An official OF the palace en-
tered and stood motionless near the
door.
What then. Andreas?"
The Count Frederick OF Gretzhof-
fen: the Count Sachio OF Grahaffen. "
Let them enter, Andreas"
Both gentlemen bowed deeply as
they entered and each kissed the
royal hand respectfully. Kitty ig-
nored Count Sachio and bowed but
coldly to Count Frederick
Count Frederick, in whose mind
seemed to linger but scant remem-
brance of any unpleasant scenes in
which he had figured, smiled now, and
after the American fashion. as he
fancied. held out his hand
Kitty could not refuse it. Quickly
she shifted the broken bit OF coin
from her right hand to her left
quickly. but not SO quickly as to es-
cape the keen eyes OF the man who
faced her now.
Count Sachio, you are welcome
from your kingdom to ours. believe
you have never heard OF the young
American of distinction who has come
among us of late-you have not metz"
Kitty looked calmly at the count
and made no reply.
Pas encore, votre majestic" replied
Sachio in the common language used
The Elbert County tribune., 1915-11-12

Il have made my plans. My own regi-
ments will be faithful The regiments
of the king are none too faithful The
banditti OF the desert are with us. To
morrow there will be n new king in
Gretzhoffen, and that king will be-
Frederick the First"
Kitty slipped from the room. The
hall was empty. An instant later she
was out of the great entry and passing
to her car
At her hotel once more she hurried
to her room. Here WAS somewhat to
be done. She knew the plot now-all
was plain as to the Intentions OF Fred
erick in regard to the kingdom of
Gretzhoffen and to Che monarch who
held the throne.
Your majesty" she wrote in her
rolling hand now, the young Ameri-
can so much hoDored by your gift
which is returned to your care at mid
night tonight-has by chance learned
of plot to injure your majesty and to
in1ure the kingdom of Gretzhoffen as
well. Trust her to explain when op-
portunity shall come. Meantime have
the word of one who is solicitous for
your safety. Drink no wine. Beware
Once more she telephoned to the
bureau of telegraphs. called for a mes
senger, and sent her simple missive to
the king.
The Elbert County tribune., 1915-11-12
CHAPTER XII.
Before the Ball.


In her hotel, albeit something OF a
subject of gossip. as she herself could
not but know, Kitty felt herself at
least safe from any such occurrences
as of late had been her lot. Roleau
still was missing.
1t was the morning of the great
black and white ball when Kitty. her
gown finally in her own possession,
stood before the tall mirror in her
rooms to give it its final proving.
The case on her dressing table now
held but few simple rings and
brooches. trifiing things which had
been given her or which from time
to time she had purchased for her
self
The only thing of value which lay
upon the table was something which
to display. The broken coin-how
could she make sure that 1t would be
safe?
Kitty swiftly conceived plan which
she fancied would afford greater safe
ty for the cherished coin. There was
at hand no machinery of ceremony.
even had she been familiar with it.
"The simplest way is the best" said
she to herself. her lips compressed.
She sat at her desk and inclosed
the broken coin in double sheet of
paper. Upon one sheet she wrote
these few words:
Your Majesty, the young American
woman SO honored with this gift asks
its safekeeping for little time"
The Elbert County tribune., 1915-11-12

at It she saw face thrust out---a face
upturned towards her.
"Roleaul" she exclaimed. Can II
be possible? Roleau, help mel" Kitty
extended her arms appealingly. 81 am
a prisoner here-they have locked me
in-there is no way out. Help mel"
Roleau's own presence In the palace
she did not at the moment undertake
to explain As a matter OF fact. he
had but that day come in from the
camp of the banditti. where he had
been detained.
Wait" he cried. II will show you"
An iron grating. with the stairs of
fire escape. led down directly in
front OF Roleau's window. He came
out upon this. Draced his legs across.
and back under the rail. and held out
his mighty arms.
Jump" he cried; ut is safe"
An instant later she was on the iron
grating and into the window. and Ro-
ieau. gaunt, unshaven. smiling. her
friend and rescuer. had led her to the
door.
Come" he said and without paus-
ing for any discussion, he hurried out,
she following
ut is late. Roleau." whispered Kitty
back to him 1T is eleven o'clock.
The king goes to the great ball at
midnight, Hurry. | must be there.
Quick,"
The Elbert County tribune., 1915-11-12

the world who wished hmm to drinx
wine. Why2 Who was that person,
Might 1t not be this man here--Count
Frederick-the man whom really he
feared? u SO. would not feigned in
toxication serve we'll to discover the
others nature2
Reasoning thus. King Michael with
small exertion OF histrionic art man
aged to give an excellent imitation to
his friend of monarch far gone in
wine. Frederick. pleading fatigue and
thirst, piled him farther. and Michael
apparently yielded. using still such
arts as served him for the time be-
ing.
When. not too long before the ap-
pointed hour of midnight, Frederick
left the palace. he left behind him as
he was assured. a monarch hopeiessly
fuddied.
So the fights famed on at all the
windows OF the Winter palace
Suddenly the music broke. crashed
and swept into the national air. A
murmur went about The king. The
dancers hastened back to the sides
of the room. All eyes turned toward
the great entrance.
Under the fcstooned flags, escort
ed by his uniformed officers, himself
wearing all his decorations and garbed
as a king should be. there appeared
King Michael OF Gretzhofren.
The hour OF midnight struck. The
eyes OF more than one man on the
great dancing hoor-including those
OF Count Frederick OF Gretzhoffen-
looked at the king amazed. Here was
no staggering monarch. maudlin in his
cups, come to make a spectacle of
himself before his people. No. he
walked straight as any And behind
him from the street there came not
shouts of derision. but something of
welcome, of confidence-a pitiful ex-
preston of people willing yet long
er to endure a king
At the kings side, her hand on his
arm. there walked the dgure of tall
and beautiful woman. arrayed-as
were all those others present--in a
costume of black and white-a tall
young woman whom not many of those
present recognized A few passed the
word. THE Americanl"
The music of the royal anthem
ceased. An instant and the orchestra
broke out once more In the sensuous
strains OF southern waltz. King
Michael as yet did not dance. but he
gave word that the ball should pro
coed. A uniformed officer of the court
now approached Count Frederick as
he stood not far removed from the
royal presence.
Monsieur. the count said he de
ferentially, Il have had for some
hours in my possession this package
which | have not opened. 1t is marked
to be presented to his majesty at mid
night here. Do you think It should be
delivered?"
Even as they spoke the king him
self. accompanied, in accordance with
| his request. by the young woman who