davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-21

Another condition certain at least to
prolong the maintenance of market for
these furs is the practical cessation OF
killing silver black foxes since 1910. Inc
reason for this policy is obvious. The
profits from fox-breeding had proved so
exceptionally large that many desired to
enter the business and the demand Tor
breeding foxes absorbed all that were
produced Breeding foxes were sold in
1910 for something more than their pelt
value, these prices ranging up to $4,000.
and a number of new ranches were es-
tablished
The profits were in many cases enor-
nous and in some instances exceptional
ly So One citizen of Charlottetown in
vested 81 900 in his first fox venture and
at the end of the first year he received
$4,000 as his share Of the profits be-
sides getting his 1000 back. A widely
known woman in the same city invested
only $500 and in one year this amount of
capital earned $1,000 for her.
The story of the life of Charles Dalton
probably is the most strikingly interest
ing of all the fox farmers on Prince Ed
ward Island. He was not one of the first
to invade the native lair of the fox. but
he was the first man to actively engage
in the scientific demonstrating of the sill
yer black fox. He established the first
fox ranch on which he built several large
pens, the wire enclosures Of which were
fifteen feet high in order to prevent the
foxes from leaping to freedom.
In each pen Dalton built a substantial
shed without windows or doors, the only
place of entrance being a chute laying
fat on the ground and extending away
from the shed some fifteen feet This
chute is only large enough to permit OF
the passage Of q single fox at time and
it extends to the interior of the shed. be-
ing constructed in zigzag fashion so to
deceive the fox to the extent OF its think
ing it is reaching q place OF remote Sc
clusion upon arriving at the extreme far
corner Of the shed.
Thus II the mother fox provided with
her idea of an ideal place to raise her
young, safely away from the paths 81
man. Dalton's plan Of caring for and
keeping foxes proved 20 suoesssful that
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-21
Prince Edward Island Lays No Claims to Being
Home of Dance, but It Is Place Where Foxes
Worth as High as $4,000 Per Pair Are Raised

TT may cost bit to fox trot in New
York. Cleveland or Chicago bit
for gowns and all the other requi-
sites decreed necessary by Fashion
but where the fox trot costs the
most just now is away up in the north
west corner of Canada Prince Edward
Island. to be exact, for the war has trot-
ted in to the utter disaster of an indus
try which in more peaceful years filled
the Golfers of the Canadian hunter with
the gold of royalty.
For the fact is. this island is the favor
tie lair of the wonderful silver black
foxes, the fur of which is SO dearly be-
loved by royalty. But now, since Euro
pean royalty is so engrOssed in keeping
the various war chests filled with gold,
Prince Edward Island suffers because it
has always received the bulk of its orders
for fox pels from the members of royal
families. about the only class able to af-
ford this luxurious raiment and who con-
slider it Indispensable.
On this small island live people who
have realized the fondest dreams of
JaSor-busness men, farmers and fisher
men who have put the Midas touch to
pelt production, and all we're making re-
markable progress towards amassins
great fortunes until the Triple and En-
tente alliances of Europe locked horns,
and then, within three weeks, s5.00O.000
worth OF immediate business was lost be-
cause of the wholesale cancellations of
orders for the finest of all known furs.
There on that island you will find
man whose credit a few years ago was
not good" for months supply of flour,
now the possessor of a million dollars.
solely because of miady's unbOunded
fondness for a silver black fox fur coat.
Basking in luxury in the same neighbOr-
hood you will find man who worked as
a clerk for $40 per week for ten years.
and then after four years devotion TO
the raising of foxes amassed a fortune of
$4,000.
Three sisters who we're wise enough to
send home their meager earnings of SIS
a week are now getting an average re-
turn of SIS, 900 q year on an investment
of less than thousand dollars while an
Incorporated company. the stock Of which
Is owned mostly by working women. was
paying until the war, 900 per cent divi-
dendS.
There, too you witness the spectacle of
common tabby cat valued at twenty
FIVE cents. motherinE $4,000 worth of
black foxes that had been taken away
from their mother whose nature it is to
kill all save one or two of its young.
This almost fabulous wealth. making
truth stranger than fiction. is the reward
Of Prince Edward Island fur farmers for
their SucCeSS1ul domSStlcatlOn OF SILVER
black foxes. and the continuation of this
enrichinS process IS endangered by the
grave possibility of a prOtractcd up
heaval throughout the Old World.
As an emergency measure the pro-
moters of the island fur industry are
turning to neutral America, and a wide
spread camTa;gn is to be waged in the
hope of making silver black fox furs as
popular in the upper social set of the do
main of Uncle Sam as they have been in
the courts Of Europe and Asia. 1t would
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-21

be no task at all to accomplish this we're
II not for the almost prOhibitive costs OF
these superior furs. but when $4,000 is
required to purchase the finest of coats
of this material there is likely to he a re-
luctance on the part of Americans whose
predominating penchant is to have the
best or none.
On the other hand. it will not be easy
to find distributors who will care to Ven
ture so much capital in order to handle
these prize products of Prince Edward Is
land million dollars worth OF these
furs would fill but small shop and
would be too limited 4 stock to suit the
average American merchant
The nobility of Europe. the Far East
potentate, the millionaire of the United
States. the cattle king of the Argentine.
in fact wherever there is ability to pur-
chase an exclusive fur, will be found the
silver black fox fur of Prince Edward
Island This market of untold wealth
has ever been open to practically any
exorbitant price the astute fur farmer
may ask because those who want and
can have this comparatively rare luxury
in wearing apparel need not care enough
about the cost to ask for any bargains.
Ever since the Hudson Bay Company
hogan operations in Canada the extreme
rarity and remarkably high quality Of
the silver black fox pelt has been recog-
nized. Every season for the last two
hundred years when trappers go out the
prize they ever seek is the capture Of one
Just one-good fox pelt of this
precious variety.
From the inception and for long time
the standard price offered for silver fox
pelt lowered around the s1,000-mark.
but today. due to the predominating hab-
Il of fur farmers to keep their stock for
breeding. the average price paid per pelt
is $500, and there is at least one pair
of foxes on the island for which $4,000
~as offered without tempting the owner
into q sale. But although the price OF
silver black fox pelts always has been
high. and although men have succeeded
in trapping foxes of this class, 1t re-
NAMED for natives and inhabitants of
Prince Edward Island, the smallest
Drovinoo In the Dominion Of Canada. =
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-21

tenderly caring for a family Of two to
five baby foxes worth in all upwards to
$4,000. With the price of pelts at the
current quotations female can evident
~ be capitalized at a very large figure II
the fox farmer can succeed in preventing
the wholesale murder of the young ones.
Now arises the question naturally in
the minds of most persons as to just why
Prince Edward Island seems to be the
center of this fox industry, and when 1t
is stated that IS per cent of the silver
black foxes in the whole worlds market
come from that island wonder should
probably grow. In the first place. the
climatic conditions prevailing on Prince
Edward Island are ideal for the produc-
ton of the highest grade of fox fur. Al
though the last wild fox on the island
was supposed to have been killed early
in 1911, the strain has been perpetuated
and even improved, it is claimed, in the
captive royal blacks that abound on the
ranches of the island. The temperature
and humidity on the island are happy
medium between the intense cold and the
moist. dull weather of Newfoundland.
Labrador and Alaska, and the warmer,
drier weather of regions farther south
The far northern furs are said to be
coarse and shaggy. while the furs pro-
duced in the northern sections of the
United States are said to be thin and
light So far as climate is concerned it
is believed that Nova Scotia, Newfound-
land and New Brunswick are virtually as
well adapted to the growing of high
grade furs as is Prince Edward Island,
but the latter is thought to possess an
additional qualification in its soil and
geological formation. The presence OF
lime in the earth in which the fox bur-
rows has a tendency to burn out the fur,
remove the oil and render the pelt harsh
in texture and dull in color. Prince Ed
ward Island is fortunate in having an al
most wholly non alkaline soil. and the
Triassic formation, which is responsible
for this exemption. is found nowhere else
in eastern America except in a small sec
ton of New Brunswick, in the Annapolis
valley of Nova Scotia, and then as far
south as New Jersey, where fur would
not require the necessary weight.
Temporarily. also. the island ranch
men have a greater advantage in expe-
rience as to feeding and breeding for
fine pelts and as to recognition OF the
proper day to take the fur. The superior
estimation in which the fur Of the island
captive foxes is held is admitted to be
partially due to the fact that such foxes
can be killed at the correct season and
without mutilating the pelts. 1t is
acknowledged that those Newfoundland
skins which have brought prices nearly
equal to the best may have owed their
quality partly to having been. hg good
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-21

the breed of the silver black fox had de-
clared a dividend of 200 per cent, anoth-
er 800. another 400 and still another
900. You cannot and will not under
stand that it is possible for business
of this kind, in its infancy, business OF
handling the pelts of an animal that has
a diamond value, has the chance of de-
clarirg big dividends which smash the
worlds records for remuneratiye returns
on investments 1t seems possible that
with the depletion of the fur-bearing ami
NAL the time will come when a silver
black fox cannot be purchased at any
price. the few in captivity becoming more
than a kings ransom. The organizing
demons of the trust will then arrive
and a pair of known breeding foxes Will
figure as an asset of 100000.
The writer has visited many OF the
fox ranches on Prince Edward Island ana
has talked with those who have the well
fare of the country at heart. The premier
of the island. ]. A. Mathieson, after re-
sourceful study of the industry, declared
it was difficult to see where the POSSIBLE
ity of failure gained admittance. Con-
tinuing he said: THE pelt of the silver
black fox of Prince Edward Island has
peculiar qualities that make 1t unique
and most desirable. 1t is the only fur
known that will take a golden tip and
its fine texture and glossy coat is not
found on any but Island-bred silver black
foxes. The fur recommends itself to the
fastidious of all nations"
The remarkable success Of these island
keepers in handling and raising the ca
PRECIOUS royal silver black foxes became
generally known and verified only so re-
Gently as 1910 and the fact that the
skins of these quasi-domesticated animals
had come to command the highest prices
on the London market, not infrequently
bringing $500 to $4,000 a pelt. partly
on the basis of an already accepted repu-
tation, came to light about the same
time.
Confidence in the permanence Of the
market is based primarily on the fact
that the silver black fox has from time
immemorial been affected by the royal
families Of Europe and BY other persons
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-21
Shooting Wasps on the Wing.

CHOOTING wasps on the wing is the
favorite sport of Lord Walsingham.
declared to be the finest shot in
rifle constructed for the purpose of wing
ing wasps, a feat which requires a mar
velous eye and the steadiest of hands.
His lordship also holds the record for
an unsurpassed grouse bag One year.
when. shooting single-handed for fifteen
hours. he had accounted for 1910
grouse. On another occasion with LOO
cartridges he accounted for S42 birds, au
amazingly high average.
Another record is also held by his
lordship. An enthusiastic entomologis'.
he spent years in getting together the
largest collection of moths and butter
flies in tie world, which he presented to
the nation by deed of gift in 1901. The
collection Is now housed in the Natura!
History Museum in Kensington.
At one time, too. he was keenly int r
ested in the question Of growing tobnc-
co in England, and was SO successful on
enc of his estates that his experiment
attracted the attention of the chancellor
of the exchequer of that period, the la 70
Lord Goschen, who. foreseeing a posi-
BILE reduction Of revenue. nipped the un-
dertaking in the bud. and refused per-
mission for further experiments.
So fearful, indeed, we're the revenue
authorities of the time that English
grown tobacco might become the vogue,
due to Lord Walsingham's experiment.
that they sent inspectors to see that the
stems of the old tobacco plants were
burnt on the ground lest they should b
converted into snu&
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-21

it has been followed ever since he first
introduced it and now all the many fox
ranches are arranged the same as his.
Black and silver foxes were for many
years regarded by natural history as
mere spontaneous variations or sports
from the common American fox, Wipes
fulvus, but as result largely of Prince
Edward Island breeding they are now
admitted to slightly more formal distinct
recognition as a color variety. Certain
breeders on Prince Edward Island be-
lieve that the local strain constitutes
separate sub-species, basing their conten-
ton on alleged cranial peculiarities, but
such scientific scrutiny as has yet been
possible does not confirm this theory. AS
a matter of fact an indefinite series OF
pelage color graduation occurs in the fox
family. ranging from the clear fulvus or
red animals. through the crosses. or
patch foxes. to light silvers and finally to
black silvers and blacks. Furriers CLASH
fy simply as silver" all shades of furs
from light silver-gray to deep black.
Although the first fox ranch was es-
tablished quite recently, the domestica-
ton of the black fox of Prince Edward
Island commenced about 1888. Fox pups
found in the woods by trappers were sue
cessfully bred in captivity in the vicinity
of Kildare, Prince county. The industry
progressed gradually, but between 1900
and 1910 as many as eight fox farmers
we're sending by mail to a London firm
insured packages Of pelts for auction at
The January and March fur sales each
winter.
The stock was bred from Prince Ed
ward Island wild foxes whenever such
could be captured, and some blood was
obtained from Anticosti Island and other
outside sources. 1t was found that
single female fox will breed eight or ten
times in the course of lifetime. the
average fox living nine to twelve years.
Each litter contains from two to seven
or even eight pups, the usual number
being four, but in order to conserve this
output 1t is invariably necessary to take
all but two pups away from each mother
because of her habit Of killing the ma
jority Of her offspring. Cats with kittens
are pressed into service to mother these
pups and II is q common sight to see q
cat. valued itself It twenty-five osnts.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-21

start the scientific, domestic production
of these foxes.
Not only have the island fur farmers
oDened new industry and thereby won
fortune and fame, but they have virtually
invented a new method of fur produc-
ton in demonstrating and ranching these
foxes. for they have increased the natural
crop of young. improved the fur and
added to the longevity of the valuable
peIt-producers until foxes will live eleven
years now where they formerly seldom
reached the age of nine years. This with
in itself is remarkable feat.
The men who inhabit this island are
virile in the superlative degree. For
sooth the island has produced many
men of great ability. including a presi-
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-21

dent Of Cornell University and a member
of the Cabinet of the President Of the
United States.
The silver black fox gets it name from
the presence of glistening white and
crayish hairs that appear amongst the
Jet black In the better grades the long.
silky brush has tip of pure white A
full-grown healthy fox weighs about
twelve pounds and the pelts of four foxes
are required to make one coat according
10 the prevailing styles. Thus, If one Is
able to buy four pelts at the average
price OF 81 500 each, the total cost of
coat will be $4,000, quite enough to buy
a coy home.
From the time you arrive on Prince
Edward Island your estimate of the sill
yer black fox business undergoes
change Due to the scarcity of good
breeders, the pedigreed, guaranteed fox
brings price which might be termed ex-
orbitant You are naturally skeptical
when you hear in New York that COM
pany formed on the island to promote
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-21
YCNz7JG SzZEEl0 GIT F2{ES H6G2T
WNaE HCIZHS Oh

fortune killed at favorable time of the
year, so that proper breeding and domes-
tication may in time give an assured po-
sition to Newfoundland fox skins. The
pure-bred black strain of the island IS
believed to be at present unmatched
however. The fur is thought to grow
softer and more lustrous after several
generations of intelligent care of the an
imalS.
This superiority of quality OF the
island silver black fox pelts have brought
for them the worlds record prices, the
largest consignment consisting of twenty
four skins bringing a total of S33,175. or
an average of s1.3S5.9S per skin. this lot
being sold by Charles Dalton to c. NJ.
Lampson Co. of London. the big
gest dealers in furs in the world. Thus
is it a justified claim that the silver black
fox is the most precious of all furs. worth
many times its weight in gold. the noblest
peltry known to man.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-21

Of highest fashion and wealth. 1t is
pointed out that the acceptance of this
fur as the choicest and most valuable is
time-honored and not vogue, and its
worth is almost as fully standardized as
that of the diamond among stones. As
in the case of diamonds, moreover. the
supply appears to have slight connec-
ton with the price The relative num-
Der of people in the wealthy class is in
creasing The habits of travelling ex-
tensively and residing in metropolitan
centers are rapidly increasing. Com
merce and more efficient craftsmanship
have introduced furs all over the world
SO that their admirers and users are null
tiplying.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-21

1T may cost bit to fox trot in New
York. Cleveland or Chicago bit
for gowns and all the other requi-
u sites decreed necessary by Fashion
White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-26
ESCAPED CONVICT HEAVILY
ARMED NEAR BATTLE Mt.

Constable Hash of Battle Mountain
has the trail of BILLY" the porter.
who shot and seriously wounded
Nightwatehman Coon of that place
on the night of last Thanksgiving.
Another man is in company with
the escaped prisoner and 1t is said
that they are armed with a rifle and
a s~ix-shooter. They have left the
railroad and are evidently suffer
ing severe hardships. They have but
a small roll of blankets and they
are without food. At one of their
camps there were evidences of their
having eaten a j~ackrabbit raw.
1t will be remembered that Billy
made his escape from the Battle
Mountain jail. and that two men of
that place have been held under $500
bonds for alleged completely in the
escape. 1t is thought that besides
assisting Billy out of Jail that they
furnished him with guns and ammu-
milton.
TIE officers believe that 1t Is but
a matter of time until the fugitive
will be captured.-Elko Independent.
White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-26
INDIAN WOMAN GOES TO
RENO FOR RABIES CURE

With her right arm bandaged as a
result of being bitten by her house.
cat on December Is. Matte Wines,
an Indian woman from Wells was
sent to the university laboratory by
Dir. W. l.. Samuels to be treated for
rabies. She was sent to Reno from
Wells by DR. A. C. Olmstead who
has the cat in a cage observing its
actions.
The Indian m says that on De-
eember 5, in the morning, her cat
came home covered with blood and
wounded about the head. From that
time on he acted queerly and on the
morning of December Is when she
tried to hit him with a stick jumped
at her and sunk his teeth into her
arm. Prior to biting his mistress
the cat bit a puppy which was kill
ed. In a letter carried by Minnie
Wines. DR.. Olmstead says the cat
bites and snarls continually and when
offered a piece OF meat to eat pays
no attention to it other than to paw
it around in the box.
After hearing Minnie Wines story
Dir. Samuels expressed the opinion
that undoubtedly the feline has rab-
les. The Indian will be given the
Pasteur treatment.
Minnie Wines say mad coyotes are
very plentiful in Elko county and
that the Indians are in great fear of
them. She says the mad animals
travel in bands of 10 or II and are
quite %ferocious. 3
Minnie Wines came to the police
station from the train and after read
ing the letter from DR.. Olmstead
Chief of Police Hiilhouse turned the
case over to DR.. Samuels.-Reno Ga
zette.
White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-26

"ln other words. in utilizing the
rights awarded to the defendant, n
| the rights awarded to the plaintiff on
account of the $500 acres, the
parties will be permitted to draw
from the stream during the season
specifed at the rate of one second
foot for each 500 acres until they
have received the maximum in acre
feet allowed
In his decision Judge Dietrich
states that the evidence was meager
and somewhat unsatisfactory toucfs
ing the amount of land to which
water has been applied by the par
ties to the action or their p~redeees-
sors in interest The plaintiff holds
two water permits, one for 500 sec
end fee, dated March 81, 1908. and
ond feet. dated March 27,190S, and
10, 1909. These permits are greatly
i'm excess of the amount of water
flowing in the stream and presumab-
ly were granted for the purpose of
enabling the plaintiff to divert and
impound in its storage reservoir all
the excess of the amount of water
flowing in the stream and presumab-
ly surplus flood waters of the stream
at all times of the year.
There a be no question that the
plaintiffs diverting and im%pounding
works are more than sufficient to di-
vert and conserve all of the water
flowing in the stream, and that it
has need for more water than the
stream supplies properly to irrigate
the lands of its stockholders must
also be conceded a y the decision.
''Inasmuch. therefore, as these per-
mits, which, it is found, have ripened
into vested rights, absorbed all the
waters of the stream not heretofore
appropriated, it is of interest to in
quire only touching those claims of
the defendant which were initiated
prior to the dates of the permits
The decision is therefore based
upon the rights of plaintiff and de-
PENDANT acquired between the years
1875 and 1900, as before mentioned.
Counsel for plaintiff are directed
to prepare deeree.-Boise Udaho)
Statesman.