davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-29

pasturage concern, with headquar-
tiers at Shanghai, purchased in 1919
? large type tractor and complete
outfit of ploughs, seeders, harrows
end other tillage implements for use
OF its fields in Manchurla. An
American mechanic put the machln-
cry into operation, and last spring
600 acres were ploughed and seeded
to wheat. The crop has been har-
vested and averaged a satisfactory
yield, concerning that the soil is new
and was seeded for the first time.
The United States consular agent
at Shanghai, writing Of the tractor
experiment, says that the company
was so pleased with the first tractor
that it has placed an order for four
more complete medium tractors with
outfits, and in addition has ordered
embarrassing self-binders and
thrashing machines. The tractors
and other machines are of the latest
designs. and the engines are of the
kerosene burning type with modern
equipment. The company expects to
have fully 1900 acres ploughed and
seeded in wheat in 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-29
Price Marking
The Railroads
Government Has Perfected
Methods for Obtaining
Valuations, and Reports on
Larger Roads Will Soon
Be Made Public
Washington, October p.

Washington, October p.
With two-ffths Of its task of vau-
ing the railroads of the United States
to be completed by the first of next
year, the valuation division of the In
terstate Commerce Commission ex-
poets to be finished with the entire
job by the end OF 1921. 1t is now
going at the rate of $4,000 miles valua-
ton year.
ave shall probably complete our
surveys in the field by January l, 1920.
1t will take the rest Of the year to
finish computation work. By the end
of that year | can confidently say that
tentative reports of the valuation Of
all railroads in the United States will
have been published" said c. A.
Prouty, director Of the division and
eX-chairman of the Interstate Com
merce Commission.
The two reports published last Mon
day, those Of the Texas Midland and
Atlanta. Birmingham & Atlantic, it is
minated, will be followed in short
order by several others. among them
the Norfolk Southern. Winston-Salem
Southbound, Kansas City Southern.
Rock Island and San Pedro. Los An
geles G. Salt Lake railways The work
on the larger systems. such as Penn
ern, is understood to be progressing
rapidly.
The TcNas midland vnlnation. which
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-29

small-the new power unit is no
longer a novelty. In Europe, where
tie small farm is the rule and
where intensive agriculture has been
practised for centuries owing to the
limited amount Of land, scientific
agriculturists have begun TO con-
slider the tractor. Last week the
French Minister of Agriculture
pointed out that as a result of the
present lack of labor throughout
France all eyes are now turning to
"the marvellous mechanisms which
work with a hundred times the
power of man" The devastated
districts of France alone would need
1000 tractors, he said, in addition
to the 200 already available. Other
agricultural implement needs would
include 10000 ploughs, $4,000 har-
rows, $4,000 planters and $4,000
reapers.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-29
Expansion of Food
Producing Areas

Then suddenly overwhelming
changes began to take place. Steam
navigation and railroads opened TO
the cities the food producing areas
e the whole world, and at the same
time the introduction Of machinery
in agriculture enormously increased
the productive power Of those who
remained upon the land. The
amount Of agricultural labor re-
qUired to feed a city dweller was
decreased by labor-saving devices
en- the farm and by the new means
Of transportation. Wheat grown in
Russia, in Australia, in Argentina
or in Southern Europe could be
eaten in New York, London or Paris
at the world" price. There could
he no such things again as famine
H. one place and plenty in another.
Cities, therefore, were safe. They
increased and grew accordingly.
But the production Of food increased
even faster. One would think again
that the soil had been cursed. Food
prices declined from over-produc-
ton until there was no longer any
profit in agriculture. This was the
great phenomenon Of the second
third Of the last century.
The Civil War, by draining Of
farm labor, put high premium on
the use Of improved agricultural
machinery. It was in the first case
a necessity. Afterward food could
be produced with 50 much less labor
than before that a very much larger
proportion Of the population could
Pc spared for Industrial activity.
The cities, therefore, grew amaz-
ingly. But food production in
creased still faster. Then came the
days Of bonanza wheat farming.
The great virgin fields Of the West
were opened 20 a kind Of agricult-
ure never before imagined in the
world. Huge steam tractors. me-
chanical dinosaurs, with supporting
end driving wheels Of tremendous
iizc, moved over miles and miles
u virgin soil, tearing it up for the
nd reaping the grain by an
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-29
Method of Locomotion
Distinguishes Types

Two distinct types of tractors are
now in common use. Both are alike
in one respect. They drive ahead in
the manner of a steam locomotive,
pulling the plough, harrow or what
ever implements the farmer may
choose to work with. 1t is only in
the method of locomotion that they
differ.
The caterpillar type has lately
gained widespread recognition, from
its use in the tank" the new British
engine Of war introduced in the
Somme offensive, where it is said to
have ridden roughshod over trenches,
forests and all natural obstacles.
This tractor, which is used for both
light and heavy work on the farm,
crawls over the ground on two end
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-29

almost any task the farmer may set
for it. 1t will pull a gang of ploughs
urtiringly or haul produce to mar
ket. 1t does all this with a mini
mum of human effort. This is
where the saving comes in.
Texas Gives
Demonstration
Down in Texas recently they had
a demonstration Of the motor tractor
at work. One hundred and fifteen
tractors, no two alike, were Oh ex-
hbition. Sixty thousand farmers
gathered to see them, and the re-
suits are given by "The Implement
and Tractor Trade Journal" thus:
The tractor conquered Texas.
The black, waXy soil could not
have been in better condition TO
offer combat 10 the modern tractor.
For four weeks il hadn't raincd.
The surface Of the ground was
baked hard. II was the hottest
weather In twelve years. II was Just
such weather that made ploughing
by any other means than tractors
impossible. For years the Texas
farmers have been scratching the
surface Of the soil for three and
four inches by using heavy mules.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-29

states Of the Continent 20 the low
est stage Of vitality; and by reason
OF the complaints Of their agri-
culturists the customs duties of
many countries have been largely
increased and the conditions of
consumers greatly modified. In
France the position has been taken
by not a few familiar with the
situation that the only possible
means Of salvation for the agri-
culture Of Central Europe will be
for France, Germany, Austria and
Italy 20 sink all political antipa-
'hies end jealousies and form an
international customs union 90 eX-
clude all food products from Rus
STA, Australia and America.
Projection is vanity. The drift
10 cities was an increasing phe-
The food consuming class
ir relation 70 the food producing
class increased in all the principal
countries Of Europe, in the United
States and even in Canada. And
here is the world all Of sudden
food conscious again. II is a prob
lem not created by, only made more
acute by, the war. In Europe war
has drained away the labor from
the farms, 80 that the difficulty Of
maintaining the food supply is per
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-29
Dinosaur Type
of Tractors Obsolete


These are very important ques-
tons. To them man now is adj
dressing his mechanical genius
anew. The huge steam tractor Of
bonanza days, the dinosaur, is OBJ
solete, as all unwieldy things soon
come to be. There are no more
bonanza fields. Farming is in
smaller units.
Almost before the steam tractor
was extinct a new animal had ap-
peared in its place. 1t is variable
ir size and shape, and may be
thought of as converging TO a type
not vet evolved. In its most eff
Gent present form it is a thing not
much larger than horse. You
pour a few gallons of infammable
oil into its stomach. start it with a
crank, hitch it TO a plough, har-
vesting machine or a truck and
drive it anywhere. 1t reduces the
cost of ploughing an acre of ground
by half or more-the labor cost.
This is the farm tractor. 1t is per-
haps the most revolutionary tool Of
this era.
This, as in the case Of the reaper
and binder and numerous other i'm
PIGMENTS, has been the achievement
of American manufacturers, who
were confronted with finding a pow
er unit suitable and practicable for
the modern farm at a low cost.
From a complicated piece of ma
ciinery that was originally more or
| less of a curiosity and a trouble
; maker there has been evolved a
motor power plant that is now work
4 ing the small farm as well as the
large ranch. Operating cheaply
with kerosene fuel, it will perform
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-29
New Mills Being Constructed

The Canadian mills recognize their
opportunity and are doing their utmost
to take advantage of it. New mills
planned and in course of construction,
and extensions to existing ones will, II
they are carried out as intended, add
per-diem capacity Of $40 tons Of
newsprint by the end of 1918. The
shortage of labor, however, may cause
considerable delay. Last year the cut
OF wood for pulp was below normal
and a shortage resulted at a time Of
increased demand and higher prices
A year ago raw pulp wood could be
purchased in Northern Ontario at 81
per cord: this year the price is S5.25
and higher. Pulp wood areas which a
year ago were offered az $1,000 per
square mile can to-day be sold at $1,000
per square mile. United States inter-
ests are seeking not only pulp wood
areas, but also control Of Canadian
mills. Several of the smaller pulp
and paper mills have already been pur'
chased, and negotiations have been in
progress for others.
Pulp wood is one Of the Domnions
rich natural assets. and the United
States has apparently come TO realize
the immense importance Of the pup
wood areas in the hinterlcnds OF On
tario, Quebec, and elsewhere 10 Can
ada. Not only is such raw material
for paper making abundant in Canada
but, fortunately, it is for the mos
part near waterways by which It may
be assembled at points combining
manufacturing and transportation Ia
clities. The new National Iranseoh'
tinental and the Canadian Northern
railways both run through vast areas
of pulp wood a recent survey snow
no less than s.5OO,OOO cords Of pup
wood on Crown and company lahO'
along the Canadian Northern Ral"s!
in North Ontario. Plans are now oe'hs
developed for exploitation OF these
areas and settlement. with mills "
strategic points.
The railway proposes TO take ad'a"'
tage of the pulp wood supply to e.
able settlers to establish themselves
on a permanent basis, and at the sam.
time to create a permanent volume o.
traffic FOR the railway. For all inc
interests which share in the develop
ment Of Canada's pulp wood forests
there is splendid promise OF aoundS"'
rewards. Such development eahn0'
fail to be of considerable importance
to the consumers OF paper in the On'''
ed States, who will depend to an ~.
creasing extent upon the Dominion 'O'
large part of their supply.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-29
Higher Wages for LumberJscHS

The shortage of labor IS runn'"e -
costs and increasing the diiheu''''s
Canadian pulp and paper ope''', -,
Some of the companies have -.
forced to pay their IumberJseAs
woods operations upward OF s'V
month and board, and with the scar" scar
Of men now in the country the o'"'
was keen even at these advance" -
ures. Paper
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-29
THF, ETERNAL PROBLEM
OF A CITY'S STOMACH
Modern Solution Mqt Depared OF but for the timely Appearance
Of a New Mechanical Farm Animal That Lives on Kerosene
and Moves on Caterpillar Wheels

Horses can scarcely stand the work.
More intensive cultivation has been
impossible, for the lack of power.
When soil seven inches below the
surface was turned up the Texans
were amazed.
One could read real surprise on
the faces of many of these Texas
farmers. The ploughing efficiency
was beyond their expectations.
They could scarcely believe II.
They watched the ploughs closely
10 see that the inner disks were
running as deep as those in the
furrow. They weren't going TO
have any subterfuge put over" on
them. You can't fool a farmer on
ploughing. That's his business.
Gradually these Texas farmers
were becoming convinced that trac-
tors held out to them the solution
of their farm power problems. At
first suspicious, they gradually
changed 10 enthusiasts, especially
as the afternoons ploughing drew
along and the operators were
weighing their ploughs down with
additional men, sinking the disks
TO seven and eight inches. AS one
prominent Texas ranchman put II,
These ploughs are turning up land
that has never seen daylight be-
fore When we Texas farmers get
10 using them we can more than
double the yield of our land and
Texas can raise enough cotton and
grain TO clothe and feed the world"
The growing use Of the tractor j
lot confined to large farms, by an
means. In Eastern United States
n fact, in New York State, wher
he average farm is comparativel
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-29
Sir Thomas Whites Attitude

Sir Thomas White. Minister OF FL
rance. has left no doubt as to the
governments sympathies. The cost OF
production should not be the sole de-
termining factor in fixing fair selling
price, he has iaid. and the government
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-29
French Authorities
yperip,eDtipO

Ia i'CA
France has been experimenting
with the tractor for some time, and
last month held a series of demon
strations in the Loire district. The
project of that department called
the attention of the farming popu-
lation to the Importance of the DEM
oLstrations, advising that they had
the cooperation of the highest civil,
military, scientific and mechanical
authorities Of the region.
In Scotland the spread of the use
of the tractor has been quite rapid
since the Highland and Agricult-
ural Society of Edinburgh held a
demonstration a year ago. What
they think of the tractor there is
indicated in the following from one
Of the American consular Offices in
Scotland:
a month or two ago we chron-
iclcd the fact that one of our most
progressive farmers had purchased
a motor tractor in order TO over
take his work. He farms in all
about 1000 acres. The tractor is
of the Mogul build and of 25 horse
power. In the spring he found the
tractor Of great advantage in the
ploughing Of his land as il saved
considerable amount Of labor
Now with the harvest he has put
the tractor 70 further use by hav-
ing Z attached to two binders for
the cutting of his crops. Again
the tractor has given the utmost
satisfaction, and already more than
one hundred acres Of oats, barley
and wheat have been cut. 1t has
been found that the binders work
far more steadily when drawn by
the tractor than by horses. The
tractor has created great deal of
interest, and agriculturists from
Aberdeen and even from Edinburgh
have visited the farm and inspect
ed it at work. A farmer near FL
gin has secured tractor of the
same make and is using il as
harvest machine. II is understood
that the work is highly satisfac-
tory. This farmer recently intro
duced a new mill, and he finds the
tractor Of great value. No doubt
within the next year or two many
new tractors will be introduced
into Morayshire.
China, also, is becoming acquaint-
cd with the American farm tractor
Climatic conditions and insect pests
in Northern Manchuria render farm
profits uncertain. About 30 per
cent Of the working animals sue
cumb TO large horse flies during the
short summer. The Chinese realize
that the tractors will solve this
problem. A large cultivation and
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-29

SPANS unmined iron ore Is estimated
at 100000, 900 tons. capable of yielding
about 30 per cent OF metal. Annual
production averages 100000 tons.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-29
Canadian Publishers Demand
Cheaper Paper by Decree
Producers Are Warned by Government That High
Prices Being Charged in United States Should
Not Apply to Home Newspapers

protect the newspapers, even il soma
apparent injustice to the mills wera
done. The Canadian mills, he reminded
the paper manufacturers, had a splen.
did market at high prices for lsrss
proportion of their output in the Unit.
ed States, where the newspapers wer.
better able 10 pay high prices than
were the newspapers of the Dominion
He made II plain that if the mills and
the newspapers failed to agree, tia
government would fix the price or i'm.
pose an embargo. deciding the issue A..
cording 20 its judgment Of what was
in the best interests of the country.
United States Biggest Customer
Canadian consumption Of newsprint
is not over one-sixth Of the Canadian
production. The latter is consers,.
lively estimated at 1900 tons day.
while recent reports show that the
Canadian newspapers consume slightly
less than 300 tons a day. The larger
part of the surplus has been going to
the United States. During the twelve
months ended March 81. 1915, the
amount of printing paper exported
from Canada was 463,2O4 tons, or a,
the rate of 1914 tons day, as com.
pared with a tonnage of only 2e2 57e.
or 975 tons, a day, in the correspond
ing period ended March 81, 1914, an
increase of SO per cent in two years.
Since the provincial governments
imposed restrictions on the exporta.
ton of pulpwood from crown lands
the Canadian pulp and paper indus.
try has experienced a rapid develop.
ment. Pulpwood cut on crown land
must go through at least the first
stage of manufacture before it is
available for export from Canada. The
result Of this legislation was to give
the Dominion a thriving pulp and
pdpeT INDUSTRY even btApte the war
began. There has been a steady in.
crease during the last few years in
the exports of both paper and pulp.
For the fiscal year ended March 81.
1916. Canada exported more than
$20,O0OOOO worth Of paper. over slO,-
100000 worth of pulp, and only about
/ S6,000,000 worth Of pulpwood. The
Dominion supplies practically all the
mechanical pulp imported into the
United States. During the twelve
months ended June 30, 1916, no less
than 353,l24 tons of Canadian wood
pulp, valued at Sl0,432,4sS, crossed
into the United States. During the
fiscal year 1914-'15 the corresponding
figures were 294,936 tons, valued a,
s7,5S3,0s1, and for 1874, 23i0l
tons, with a value Of S5,9Os,517. Can.
ada is to-day supplying nearly 70 per
cent of all the wood pulp imported
into the United States, while Norway
and Sweden provide most Of the re.
naming 80 per cent
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-29
Roman Methods
Were Crude

w ClC ~ANN~
Crude as the methods of farming
were in the time of the Romans,
the food supply could have been in
creased by making the best Of them.
Put agriculture was in i'll repute
and improbable. Roman literature
is rich in illusions to this problem|
There was knowledge enough to in
crease the yield, but people could
not be induced to apply it. There
was the labor question. 1t is COM
monty alleged that the decline OF
the Roman Empire Is synchronous
with the decline of Roman agricult-
ure, which is apparently true, but
the decline of agriculture was not
inevitable. The Romans could have
fed themselves if they had been
willing to do it, even with the
shining share" ploughs and the
primitive means Of transportation
at their command.
Down to the end of the eigh-
teenth century very large cities
we're impossible. The amount Of
agricultural labor required to feed
a city dweller was fairly constant,
because farming methods did not
improve, and the food producing
area that could be drained by city
was relatively small, owing TO the
difficulties Of transportation. A
great inland city was quite impos-
s;ble.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-29

was announced Monday, was the hrsI
work the valuation division undertook
Il was. in Judge Prouty's words, ian
illustrative road" On it the valuation
experts worked out the methods and
formulas il uses over the Uniteo
States. In its case it was found thaI
the value exceeded the capitalization.
But in the case of the Atlanta, BIZ
mingham & Atlantic the capital ana
liabilities outstanding were found 10
be far in excess of the valuation
figures.
Cost of Work Heavy
The work of valuing all the railroads
in the United States was placed IN
the hands Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission by an act Of Congress
passed March l, 1918. From the date
of it's organization to June 30, 1915, a
total of S6,SO0,000 was appropriated
for its upkeep. For the present year
s3,5O0,OOO has been allowed by Con-
gress. The total amount necessary for
the work before completion has been
variously estimated from ten to thirty
millions, the latter figure being more
plausible.
Figures Of the two railroads re-
ported date I'D to June 80, 1914. How
ever, Director Prouty stated that no
such delay in publication would be
caused in the case of other roads. on
the two which have been published
many matters came up which will APP
ply to all roads equally. Decisions on
rulings, rates, values Of uits and SINH
lar matters having been made. time
will be saved on later reports. In
fact, the director indicated, it is likely
that but few months will intervene
between the closing of the field work
and the publication of the tentative
valuations.
The work Of the division is divided
into five districts, with headquarters
at Washington, d. c., Chattanooga,
Tenn, Chicago. Kansas City and San
Francisco. The headquarters of the
main organization is at Washington,
as are the district headquarters Of
the Eastern section. In each district
a thorough organization is maintained.
1t is in three sections: Engineering,
land and financial A large force OF
men is employed in each of these Sec
/ tions.
| First in Importance in each district
is the member of the engineering
board. All of the engineering work Is
under his direction, and his salary Is
1 ST, 800 a year. The engineering depart
ment is subdivided into mechanical,
structural, signal, telephone and tele-
graph and roadway groups, experts be-
ing employed in each group. Al
together there are about 1,lOO men
employed in the engineering groups.
The second division is that which
/ puts values on land owned by railway
companies. 1t is under the direction
of valuation attorney" and per-
haps a hundred men, all told, are en-
ployed in this work. This division
covers about $500 miles of road each
month, as opposed to an average of
/ little over 1000 for the engineering
man