davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
RAISE IN WHEAT PRICE LAYS
ENORMOUS TAX ON AMERICA
FIVE Gent BREAD FOR TEN CENTS WOULD COST J. s. PEOPLE
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF l,375, 100000 YEARLY
Would Make the Present War Tax Look Small Comparison
100000 Acres Planted to Winter Wheat According to Department
of Agriculture Receive High Prices for All Cereals

speedily terminated It would take at
least two years for Europe to get on
it's old Wheat-productiOn basis. And
there appears no prospect of peace.
Here are the figures showing there
is no actual wheat shortage. Exports
at the present rate of 100000 bushels
a week can continue practically up to
the time of harvesting the 1915 crop
without depicting the adequate supply
of wheat in this country.
The United States department of
agriculture figures there is an increase
of 4,100,000 acres in the amount of win
ter wheat planted for harvesting this
year. The weather has been good for
winter wheat, and last years enor-
nous yield of nineteen bushels an acre
may we'll be exceeded. Figuring con-
servatively on fifteen-bushel yield,
however, 61,5O0,00O additional bushels
of winter wheat alone should be har-
vested this year. Crop experts say
that with average good fortune the
spring wheat yield should be increased
40000,000 bushels.
The total crop for 1915 should be
one billion bushels, or 100,000,000
more than last years record crop. This
is enough to supply America and fur
nish a surplus of about 416,000,0 900
bushels for export.
The Italian government has been
buying heavily at Chicago, it is known.
and many believe other European
states are directly responsible for
much of the spectacular rise. The
French and English fleets have not yet
been able to force the Dardanelles, and
15O,O00,000 bushels of Russian wheat
stay tied up in Black sea ports. Rus
sia is unable to ship food to her allies
of the west, France and Great Britain.
If the United States chose to keep
all her wheat for herself, prices would
be very low in this country, certainly
below 81 at Chicago, and quite proba-
bly, IS cents or so cents, which would
mean bankruptcy for the farmers.
Sentiment Favors Embargo
In many sections of the country,
however, sentiment is growing for an
embargo act. There is the precedent
of the war of 1872 for this. Then an
embargo was laid on the expectation
Of all foodstuffs, in order to try to
starve out Great Britain, then our en-
emy. officials of the department of
justice at Washington say that the
right to do this exists in congress un-
der the federal constitution.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
GREATER FORESTRY
PROTECTION URGED

SACRAMENTO, Feb. 16.-Much at
tention is given in the biennial report
of State Forester G. M. Homans to
Governor Johnson, just issued, to the
need of further forest protective leg
islation in California-laws designed
to compel individuals and corpora
tions owning timbered area to take
proper precaution against fires.
Since the last legislative session.
Homans has investigated all the lum
bering companies of the state except
those in the redwood belt of the north
coast, and reports that out of twenty
companies owning extensive timbered
areas, only two burn their slash each
year to prevent future fires.
The report shows rnat the fire loss
of 1913 was more severe than any for
recent years-$511, ,077 in money, as
against $685. 100 for 1914. The 1914
figures are not entirely complete, but
the amount is nearly correct. During
1914 the total acreage burned over was
122,436, and the number of fires was
1855. Most of the area burned over
was brush and low forest growth land,
but 1924 acres of standing timber
was fire-swept.
Damage threatened by forest fires,
both government and state, is esti-
mated at total of $4,833,000, and this
loss was narrowly averted by forest
protection work, the report states.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
GERMANS AGAIN WARN
SHIPPING OF WAR ZONE

THE HAGUE, Feb. 15.-The German
legation issued long notice, again
warning neutral shipping in regard to
the war zone to be established by Ger
many on Feb 18. 1t contains the fol
lowing:
Neutral ships which are still with
in the war zone will run the same risks
as if they pursued a course through
the middle of sea battles between Ger
many and Great Britain, the place and
date of which cannot be made known.
For these risks Germans cannot be re-
sponsible.
"Thej route around Scotland cannot
be endangered by mines. There, as
well as in the North sea, with the ex-
ception of British waters and German
bays, neutral shipping will not be en-
dangered.''
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
ALL-STEEL CARS TO
BE USED ON P. E.

REDLANDS, Feb. 16.-A1l-steel cars
on the Pacific Electric between this
city and Los Angeles. That is the
plan. 1t has been learned that an or
der has been placed with an Eastern
car factory for the all-steel cars, which
will be models of suburban electric ser
vice. The order is for twelve of the
cars, and more will be ordered as soon
as these are finished. 1t is planned to
have all-steel trains on all lines in
Southern California, and to make them
the finest in the country. The cars are
to have all the latest modern appli-
ances and safety devices.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
NEBRASKA CORN
HURT BY DISEASE

LINCOLN, Neb., Feb. 16.-The raw.
ages of the cornstalk disease among
horses this winter are the worst in the
history of Nebraska, according to DR.
Charles NJ Day, state field veterin
arian.
According to word received by the
state veterinarians department from
one of its field men, over 200 horses
have died in one county alone as a re
suit of the disease.
The animals affected with the dis
ease first are overcome with drowsi-
ness and later become delirious. The
disease is acute, and death results
within a few days. The attacks are in
almost every instance fatal.
A substance in the cornstalk On
which the animals feed causes the
poisoning. An analysis by government
experts at Washington resulted in the
report that the poisonous substance is
a species of mold.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
SAN FRANCISCO EXPOSITION
OPENS ON FEBRUARY 20
GREATEST OF ALL PROFESSIONS
WILL MARK OPENING DAY
Biggest Noise Ever Heard in Bay City
Will Greet Dawn of Saturday, Feb.
20 President Will Open
Fair by Telephone

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 16.-Proba-
bly, never in history has there been
such spontaneous outpouring of a
city's entire populace as that which
will celebrate the opening of the Pan
ama-Pacific international exposition on
Feb. 20.
Between 100000 and 100000 people
will march in the parade along Van
Ness avenue to the exposition gates.
Yet this greatest of all parades will be
practically without spectators. Every
one who can walk Or hobble will be in
the marching line. There will be no
automobiles and no equestrians. The
Panama-Pacific is the exposition of the
people of California, and it's Inaugural
typically Californian, but the event
will occupy a unique place in the
states history.
At dawn on Feb. 20 the citizens will
be aroused by the greatest conglom-
Grafton of noise that the city can pro-
duce. The guns of the Presidio forts
and of the warships in the bay will
boom forth a national salute.
Every steamer, factory and locomo-
tive whistle in the bay district will
toot continuously for half an hour.
Every street car and church bell and
every automobile horn will contribute
to the air-splitting diapason.
But this will only be a part of the
noise than will herald the event as far
as sound can carry. Scores of drum
corps, bagpipers and bands will go
about the city on street cars and in
sightseeing automobiles to awaken
such as may be still asleep. School
children will be asked by the school
authorities to ring all door bells in the
neighborhood as soon as they are up.
All the noise-making facilities of the
fire department will be called into
play, and the members of the entire
police force will also be ordered to
blow their whistles and beat the side
walks with their night sticks.
The actual opening of the exposi-
ton, in keeping with it's purpose as the
nations celebration of the completion
Of the Panama canal, will be ordered
by President Wilson. His mandate,
throwing wide the gates to the people
Of the world, will be received in San
Francisco over the transcontinental
telephone. Electric megaphone appa-
ratus will distribute the presidents
voice all over the exposition grounds.
Thus, for the first time, thousands will
hear the actual voice of the president,
and for the first time, too, words that
have been carried across the continent.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-The rise
in the price of wheat is laying a tax
on the people of the United States
which makes the war tax" of $100, ,00O,-
900 look small. The standard five
cent loaf" has gone to six and seven
cents in many cities, and predictions
of ten-cent loaf are numerous in re
sponsible quarters.
What does this mean to the Ameri-
can housewife?
American citizens consume on the
average a barrel of wheat flour per
person year. From each barrel 275
standard five-cent loaves of bread can
be baked. For each rise of one cent
in the price of the loaf, every Ameri-
can must pay $2.75 year. The CEN
sus department figures that the popu-
lation of the United States passed the
10O,OOO,OOO mark some time in Janu-
ary. So each one-cent rise in the price
of the loaf means a tax on the country
of $275,000,000. A rise from five to ten
cents will cost us $1,375, 100000!
But this will not be the total cost.
With the rise in the price of wheat
there is an increased demand for other
cereals barley, rye, oats and corn
and these rise in price, too. A further
tax is laid on the consumers of rye
bread, and it costs more to eat "corn
pone'' also. Then hogs are fed mostly
on corn, and if the farmers corn is
worth more, they will get more for
pork, and meat prices will rise in con-
sequence. So we are in for an era of
high prices; what those who were of
mature age in 1861-1S65 will remember
as the war prices"
For the farmer it will be Glover
We raised 891 100000 bushels of wheat
this year, and larger area will be
seeded next year. When wheat rises
from 81 to $1.50 the farmers of the
country get $445, 100000 more without
any extra effort, and if prices rise 81,
the vast sum of 1891 100000 will drift
into the farmers stockings.
In addition, the farmer is getting
most gratifying prices for corn, oats
and barley-in fact, almost everything
This $445, 500, 900 which 50-cent wheat
rise brings would buy more than mil
lion substantial automobiles. No won
der the agriculturist breathes an at
mosphere of gasoline.
The high prices for wheat are based
more on expectation of shortage than
actual shortage. Well-informed men
say that if the European war were
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
MEASURING DEVICES USED
IN DELIVERY OF WATER
GIVES REPLY TO INTERESTING
QUESTION, "WHAT'S AN INCH?'
Agricultural Experiment Station at
Berkeley Issues Bulletin Dealing
With Subject-TeIls of Unit
to Measure Water

BERKELEY, Feb. 16.-What is an
inch? This question, as it refers to
water measurement, is interesting.
The agricultural experiment station at
Berkeley, Cal. has just issued Bulle-
tin No. 247, which deals with the meas
uring devices used in the delivery of
irrigation water In it is the follow
ing:
The Inch-This is a variable unit
having different meanings in different
states and even in different sections
of the same state. The old miners
inch of California was the quantity of
water flowing freely through an open
ing one inch square, the center OF
which was four inches below the sur
face of the water standing above the
opening, and which is equivalent to a
flow of nine gallons per minute, or 1-50
cubic foot per second. The present
statute inch of California is defined as
a flow of one and one-half cubic feet
per minute. 1t is measured under a
six-inch pressure, and is equivalent to
flow of liz gallons per minute, or
LAO cubic foot per second. While the
meaning of the inch varies with local
practice, it is not a stream of water
one inch deep and one inch wide, re-
gardless of pressure. Where it's mean
ing is clear the inch is a convenient
unit for measuring small streams up
to, say, so to 100 inches, and is quite
commonly used for such streams, par
ticularly on many of the Southern Cal
ifornia systems. For larger streams
it's use is generally discarded in favor
Of hn of II ~
ond.
The Twenty-four Hour Inch.-This
is very common unit, especially in
Southern California, and is, as it's name
implies, one inch (the exact amount
of which varies with locality and local
custom) running for twenty-four hours.
Variations of this unit found on some
of California irrigation systems are the
one-hour inch and the twelve-hour
inch.
The Cubic Foot Per Second.-This
unit represents an exact and definite
quantity of water, viz, the equivalent
of stream one foot wide and one foot
deep flowing at the rate of one foot
per second. 1t is therefore the most
satisfactory unit for streams of one or
more cubic feet per second.
The Twenty-four Hour Second Foot.
This is one cubic foot per second,
running continuously throughout a
twenty-four hour period 1t is equiva-
lent to approximately two (exactly
19S34) acre-feet.
The Acre-Foot.- is the equiv
alent of body of water one acre in
Sfea and one foot deep, or 43,50O cubic
feet. AS already stated, one cubic foot
per second, or fifty Southern Califor-
MIA inches, or forty California statute
inches, running continuously for TWEEN
ty-four hours, will supply approx
mately two (exactly 1.9834) acre-feet
The Acre-Inch.-This is one-twelfth
of one acre-foot, or the equivalent of
sheet of water one acre in area and
one inch deep. 1t is the unit some
times used instead of the acre-foot,
especially in expressing quantities of
less than one acre-foot.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
FARM HAND GRANTED
$16,167 BACK PAY

CANTON, Ohio, Feb. 16.-For TWEEN
ty-fve years George F. Brown has
worked as a farm hand for Frank F.
Yingling without receiving any wages.
When he first went to work for Ying-
ling, Brown says, he was offered $50 a
month. Then Brown happened to re-
member his agreement made with
Yingling back in 1889. He figured up
his wages, and began a suit for $4,000
with compound interest.
Yingling filed an answer to Brown S
petition acknowledging the claims. A
verdict for $16,167 was awarded to
Brown.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
SHERIFF ORDERED
TO ITEMIZE BILL

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 16-Sheriff
Cline has been ordered by the board
of supervisors to file an itemized and
verified account of his bill for feeding
jail prisoners in January.
The motion to this effect was made
by Supervisor Norton, and unanimous
ly adopted. 1t is the first step in an
attempt to bring the county's expendi-
lures for meals for prisoners down to
an actual cost basis and remove the
element of profit to the sheriff. 1t is
contended that under the provisions of
the charter the sheriff is required to
perform this service at cost.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
ITALY PLACES BAN ON
EXPORT OF FOODSTUFFs

ROME, Feb. 15.-As result of the
general prohibition of exports from
Italy, the frontier stations are over
crowded with goods, especially food
stuffs, which have been held up by the
police. These goods are accommodating
to such an extent that storage is i'm
possible
The police have stopped consider
able consignments of contraband of
war destined for Austria, and have ar
rested the agents in charge of the
shipments, who bore credentials from
the Austrian embassy
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
CANAL ZONE STORM
DAMAGE 100000

COLON, Feb. Is. = The damage
wrought by the storm is estimated at
nearly $1,000,000. More than half OF
the eastern breakwater in course OF
construction here has been destroyed
The waves are still rolling over the
western breakwater, but the storm, the
worst norther since the breakwater
was built, is now abating.
The storm was responsible for the
death of two Indians. Six inches of
rain fell which was unprecedented for
February, the dryest month of the year
here.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
Wheat Shortage in Northwest

PORTLAND, Ore, Feb. 16.-Wheat
supplies in the Pacific Northwest are
so low that further sales to outside
points will menace the home supplies
so that the local population may suf-
fer from the lack of grain products.
Europe is combing the entire Pacific
Northwest for supplies of wheat and
-four There are in the hands of mill
ers and farmers less than 100000
bushels of wheat California alone dur
ing a normal season purchases from
100000 to 100000 bushels of wheat
from the Pacific Northwest during the
spring months.
Mil1ers have at last realized the seri-
BUSINESS of the situation.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
MODEL OF WARSHIP
SAN DIEGO AT FAIR

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 16.-Complete in
every detail, a 9S5-pound model of the
U. S. S. San Diego, flagship of the Pa
cific fleet has been received at the San
Diego exposition and placed in the
navy department. exhibit. The model,
which is constructed of wood and steel,
is an exact replica of the powerful
cruiser, even to having the tiny oars
securely lashed to the miniature life
boats. Two other models of American
war vessels also will be placed in the
navy departments display.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
PEARL FISHING is
STOPPED BY WAR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-The pearl
fishing industry of the Philippine
islands, which heretofore has yielded
the government about 5000 annual
revenue and furnished employment to
about 1000 men, is practically dead,
as a result of the loss of the European
market for shells, due to the war
Those interested in the industry are
now trying to get the legislature to
modify the law which authorizes muni-
cipalities to fix the tax upon pearl fish
ing within their respective jurisdic-
tions. This would permit fishing un-
der more favorable circumstances
along the coasts in the Visayas.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
u. S., NETHERLANDS AND CHINA
SIGN ANTI-DRUG MEASURE

THE HAGUE, Feb. 15.-Representa
tives of the United States, China and
the Netherlands signed a protocol
adopted at the anti-opium convention
in 1912, which aims to suppress traffic
in opium, cocaine and other noxious
habit-forming drugs.
Henry Van Dyke, American minister
to the Netherlands, made an address
saying that the war now in progress
should not make civilized nations ig-
more things which operate forthe vel
fare of mankind.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
County Health Officers WAGE

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 16.-The board
of supervisors fixed the salary of the
county health officer at $175 a month
at the beginning of service, 5000 after
six months, and $225 at the end of two
years.
This action was taken at the request
of the civil service commission, which
desired the salary fixed before a civil
service examination is called to fill the
vacancy caused by the resignation OF
DR.. E. o. Sawyer.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
Turks litter Battlefield

CAIRO, Feb. 15.-Bodies littering
the battlefelds to the east of the Suez
canal bear witness to the slaughter
caused among the Turkish troops by
the English warships on the canal in
the recent conflict. Bodies of dead
Turks are heaped everywhere. These
bodies were left unburied by the Turks
when they retreated, and the vultures
are feeding on them.
The fire of the Turkish batteries is
inaccurate, and the only damage caused
was done by shell that struck the
funnel of one warsh1p at Timsah.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
Harvard Aqain Has "Phenom"

BOSTON, Feb. 16.-The phenome-
non that Harvard lost the day Willie
Sidis, prodigy and master Of the fourth
dimension, got his first pair of long
trousers, has been regained for the
university. Once more there is boy
in knickerbockers at Harvard studying
in the college alongside physical
giants. He is Louis B. Keane, aged Is,
freshman, and product of Boston. If
his intention to finish the course in
three years is carried out, he will re-
ceiVe the bachelor of arts degree at
the age of Is, when most boys are get
ting ready to enter college.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
SMALLEST EXHIBIT AT
FAIR MOST VALUABLE

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 16.-The
smallest and most valuable exhibit at
the Panama-Pacif1c International expo
sition will be the fraction of a. grain OF
mesotherium, derivative of radium
valued at nearly 100000, which will
be placed in the German section of the
palace of liberal arts.
The exhibit is now on it's way from
Hamburg, in lead box, carried by a
personal representative of the discov.
erer, DR.. Hugo Lieber.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
GREAT BRITAIN BUYS NAVY
AIR CRAFT ACCESSORY

NEW YORK. Feb. 6.-Aboard the
Adriatic of the White Star line, sailing
for Liverpool, one of the most import
ane consignments was a small box
weighing thirty-seven pounds, shipped
to the British admiralty. 1t contained
an automatic stabilizer for aeroplanes
of the gyroscpic type purchased by the
United States navy, and is the first of
these machines to be sent abroad for
use in foreign navy. Others already
ordered by England will follow.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
Governor,s Veto Overridden

MOBILE, Ala, Feb. 16.-The veto Of
the anti-liquor advertising bill by Gov
ernor Henderson was overridden in the
senate, after a hard fight, by vote of
16 to 4.
The bill becomes effective at once,
and prevents all periodicals from car
rying advertisements regarding the
sale of liquors of any kind. 1t also
prevents newspapers and magazines
from coming into the state that carry
whisky advertisements.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
Liberty Bell Asked For

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 16.-So that
the patriotic citizens and school chill
dren here may see the famous relic of
revolutionary days, local officials, civic
bodies and schools, headed by Mayor
Rose, have joined a movement to have
the old Liberty bell brought from Phil
adelphia to the San Francisco fair via
Los Angeles.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
CUT THREE MILLION OFF
POSTOFFICE APPROPRIATION

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-Carrying
totals of $317,94S,869, which is $9,77O,-
105 less than the estimates submitted
by the postoffice department, the an
nual postoffice appropriation bill was
reported to the senate.
Experimental work of delivering let.
ters in villages, which was begun three
years ago, will cost but $150,000 this
year. The house bill proposed 100000
for this item.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
Value Southland at s1,1ee, ,es2, ,15o

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 16.-With every
county in Southern California showing
immense gains in the assessed value of
property, County Assessor Ed Hopkins
announced at meeting of the assess
ors of the eight southern counties that
the assessed value of all Southern Cal
ifornia property now totaled $780,
9S2,150.
This is gain of nearly half a billion
dollars in the five years that have
elapsed since the last meeting of the
assessors of the eight southern coun
ties.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
Prisoners Must starve First

AMSTERDAM, Feb. 15.-The Co.
logne Gazette says, regarding Great
Britain's plan to cut off food supplies
from Germany:
Prisoners of war must starve first.
We have 100000 prisoners, and the
parts of Belgium and France we oc-
cupy contain 100000 people. If it
comes to starving, the subjects of hos
tile countries will suffer first"
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
TWO CUPS OF WATER
ON GOTH DAY OF FASTING

PALO ALTO, Feb. 1.-two cups of
warm water, slipped at intervals, COM
posed the Sunday meal of Louis C.
Roth, who reached the sixtieth day of
his fast at o'clock Sunday afternoon.
DIR. Wilson, the family physician,
says he does not believe Roth will sur
vive the ordeal, even if hunger should
return.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
snowfIakes Two Inches Wide

GRASS VALLEY, CAL, Feb. 16.-
Stage drivers arriving in this city re-
port a fierce snowstorm raging in the
mountains, which old mountaineers
say is the worst in twenty years. Some
of the flakes appear two inches in
width.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
U. S. EXPORT REPORT
SHOWS BIG INCREASE

NEW YORK, Feb. 16.-Exports at
this port in the week ending Feb. 6
are officially placed at $23,526,6 COM
pared with $26,272,091 in the week be-
fore, according to custom house state
ment made public today This years
exports to date total $14S,146, 500,
against $119,4 ,507 in the same period
last year.
The Parker post., 1915-02-20
Quake Total .24.2oo

ROME, Feb. 15.-Twenty-four thou
sand and two hundred lives is the toll
of the recent earthquake in the Avez-
zano district, according to statistics
made public.