davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-03

ment OF the Interior. It is also the
home-making bureau OF the Govern
ment and was organized in 1909. In
the sixteen arid States there are about
100000 900 acres of land belonging
to the Government, and 1t Is esti-
mated that at least 100000 acres
can be cultivated with proper irriga-
| ton. BY the Act Of Congress, known
as the Reclamation Act, of June II,
1902. all proceeds from the sale of
public lands in the arid States shall
| be expended in the construction OF
irrigation works. Since that time re-
| markable progress has been made by
the Service, and at the present time
| more than million and a half acres
of desert land have been made to bios
som as the rose by means OF bitches
and laterals connected with the big
reservoirs set up in the mountains
ore than thirty thousand families
have been established In homes of their
own In prosperous agricultural COM
munities, farming the land which was
formerly the desert home of the Jack
Rabbit.
Deeds or Daring.
Deeds of daring and resourcefulness
almost without parallel in history have
been performed in the perfecting of
this great scheme OF desert redemp-
ton and engineering feats have been
accomplished which have astonished
the world. Take for instance the great
Uncompahgre project in the State of
Colorado. The land in this section
was found to be particularly fertile
IL water could be brought to it So
the engineers of the Reclamation
Service set about the project and ac-
complished 1t only after strenuous
work.
The Uncompahgre and the Gunni-
son rivers were ten miles apart and
separated by mountain two thousand
feet high. it was decided to take the |
superfiuous water from the, Gunnison
River and divert It into the Uncom-
pahgre and so make fertile the hun
dreds or thousands OF acres In the |
valley. This could only be done by
tunnelling the mountain, which was |
no easy task. Surveying the route was |
hazardous as TO accomplish this the |
men had to swing ropes over precipices |
and often cling 70 crevices in the |
rocks, while others floatad down unex- |
plored streams on RATS encountering !
many dangers. They. however. sue |
ceeded and completed a tunnel six
miles in length which, Is accepted by |
all engineers as the greatest under
ground waterway in the world.
Four Great Dams.
The Service has also constructed |
four great masonry dams, this work
being second only to the building of
the Panama Canal The great Roose-
welt dam down in Arizona has a stor-
age capacity of water sufficient to I
cover more than a million and a quar-
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-03

completed 1t will open up homesteads
for hundreds OF people. Parts Of the
land are still being irrigated from a
reservoir near Caldwell.
The Elephant Butte Dam.
The greatest work. however. is the
huge EIephant-Butte dam in the
Southwest which has recently been
completed at the cost OF over $1,000
10000. The completion Of the dam
brings to an end the bitter interstate
and international controversy which
has ragged In the Rio Grande Valley
between New Mexico and Texas and
with Old Mexico. 1t was strife each
year between the farmers over water
rights, and at times there was danger
of rupture In the relations between
the United States and Mexico whose
rich valley was threatened with de-
struction by reason of the shortage, Of
water. Mexico has now cancelled her
claims and in lieu thereof will accept
supply of water drawn from the
broad base buried beneath the waters
and the sands Of the river bed reach
ing deep into bed rock below, there
Is easily room for two teams to pass
between the two six-foot parapets on
the roadway that forms the top. II
is five minutes walk from end to end
with a magnificent view spread out
before the traveller. The lake IL by
no means filled as yet, but the water
1t contains Is unusually clear. Great
carp and catfish of an unusual size
swim about in a contented fashion.
The main dam has numerous gal
leries and passages and one may ex-
plore its insides at will. Steps lead
fact It would seem
that you were going through to Asia
as you go down and down these iron
Finally. the wallis are damp
to the touch and you become conscious
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-03
that period of time no claim for recla-
nation will be considered.

that period of time no claim for recla-
nation will be considered.
She Prepares Packages For The Sale.
THE second opening OF the pack
ages is termed stripping and takes
place at tho end of the allotted time
Of holding them. They are then taken
from their original wrappings and
classified for tho sale. For many years
1t has been the duty of a woman, Miss
Annie Monroe. to take charge OF this
work. Through long practice she has
become an adept IN valuing the goods.
pointments. and for a number OF years
she has been assigned to the task Of
getting the packages ready for sale
at the Christmas auctions.
Until 1919 the goods as assorted by
Miss Monroe were put up In packag es
containing a variety OF articles some
what alike in character. Each pack
age was then tied up, the contents
noted upon the outside and auctioned
off In that way. Those were the DAYS
when the Dead Letter Once auction
sales drew such crowds that police
men were stationed at the doors Of
the downtown auction rooms to keep
the crowds In order. In those days
the Washington sales amounted to
well over ten thousand dollars an
nually.
"Since then all goods sold at our
package auction sales have been dis
played. and there Is no gamble what
ever about IT. They are now, too, ar
ranged in large lots OF one kind. In
this way our clientele has within the
past four years changed materially.
Whereas before that time the buyers
were composed of from FIVE hundred
to thousand private individuals led
to attend the auction by a love OF the
unknown. or the chance of rare
bargain. or by desire for job lot
of Christmas presents, now the buyers
are shrewd dealers or private specu-
lators In Washington and neighboring
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-03

OF change in the air pressure. You
are nearing the bottom. The struc-
ture seems to shake by the vibration
due to the rush OF water to the power
plant and the sensation is by no means
pleasant The whole work Is a marvel
of engineering.
The West Changed.
All over the West one finds evil
dences of the excellent work of the
Service. and more than 5000, 900
Americans are now living on crops
grown on lands made fertile by irriga-
ton. Almost everything Is grown
upon these once barren hills and
plains. Beautiful homes now stand
where once only the rattiesnake and
the cactus plant could thrive: great
wheat fields spread out over land
where the sage brush and grease weed
once held sway: alfalfa has taken the
place of the mesquite brush. and roses
bloom where once the stickey cactus
thrived alone. Green spots where cat
tie find plenty to eat are now found in
the arid lands Of the great South
west. Even in the cold Northwest we
find great apple orchards and wheat
and barley fields. with fine homes to
house the farmer and big barns to
hold the crops until they can be sent
to market. Already more than $780,
0o0, 100000 has been spent in irrigation
projects and the prospect Ii that a.
much more will be spent during the
next ten years.
A few years ago Congress appro-
priated additional funds for irrigation
and as certain project Is completed
it is made available for settlement and
each settler may take about forty
acres OF ground for a homestead.
These homesteaders then go together
and form q water association, paying
the cost OF operating the plant, also
setting apart sum Of money to reim-
burse the Government for the con-
struction OF the plant As this money
comes in to Washington other opera
tons are started--a clear case OF
Uncle Sam helping those who help
themselves. Those OF US who know
the great West and the remarkable
changes which 1t has undergone
through irrigation feel that the Recla-
nation Service is y national asset
and Is laying the foundation for
great increase in the national wealth
and production as well a. providing
an outlet for the increasing popuia-
ton Of our country.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-03

are common knowledge. During the
recent excavations In Mesopotamia
some remarkable irrigation products
have been discovered showing that
the people OF that period were well
up on that subject, So, 1t WITH. be
seen that the greatest nations of the
ancient world maintained dominion
Tor centuries in practically rainless
land and raised crops equal to their
needs by the system of irrigation.
Even in our own land irrigation Is
older than tradition. Evidences Of II
are found In many places In the
Southwest, especially in Arizona and
New Mexico. Some of these ancient
canals are stiii plainly marked and so
well constructed that in some sections
the irrigatoia of tho present time are
utilizing the work OF this prehistoric
race. According to the records. at
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-03
ASketch Of the Work Of Retaining the Great West
How Water Has Been Brought To Arid Lands
The Great Elephant Butte Dam.

HE practice OF irrigation is very
ancient--in fact, II is one of
the Oldest arts of civilization.
As early as 2.0oG. y e.. history
!(xls OF the extensive IRRIGATION prof.
Aets and storage reservoirs Of Egypt.
|4eFodotus, writing four hundred and
kty years before the Christian era,
eacribed the Assyrian irrigation sys-
ia built by Nimrod King Of Babel,
Id Nebuchadnezzer about 2204, b. c..
nd which utilized canals and laterals.
ne OF which were navigable and
nnccted the Euphratea with the
M11A The historian pliny wrote of
- rseervoirs of the Nile Valley con-
3sctcd by King Maeris about 2e84,
g. The ancient flooding system
Egypt, the reservoirs OF Persia, tho
NciAn aqueduct. the Roman condults
~ the Jewish canals near Hebron
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-03

The Service has also constructed
four great masonry dams. this work
being second only to the building of
the Panama Canal. The great Roose-
welt dam down in Arizona has a. stor-
age capacity of water sufficient to
cover more than a million and a quar-
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-03

These Dead Letter Office auction
Ennles were formerly held In Washing
ton alone: but they are now divided
Nover the zone area OF the Parcel Post
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-03
Christmas GIFTS UnSale
At Bargain Rates In Thir-
teen Different Cities 80
Bargains ofPast Years
$4,000 Packages To Be
Sold This Year.
Ce9yrsa;, 1916, ty The -a,eruat.o=53
Svuss~ate-

~ 4-E SAM 2 as a T'StNc s9arE IQE
selll-g or his unwarted Cup
plies. and being AT economical
~ old bachelor these sales Of
shat n1.gh. lie termed Federal by
pro1cces seem 20 give him rare de-
light sszce TIE revenEe therefron gees
kraight .a,o his owz Treasury
L One ct The 1cst popular Of these
Iaaes ts tire Christmas Dead Letter
pMce aactiors % packa ges whtch have
6r@n found impossible 20 deliver 70
he people TO whom they we're das-
MINATED ard urteci2imed by their
senders. The results OF these sales
ut the Post once Department any
where from two thousand 20 tan thou
and dollars and over a season.
The goods cover everything imagin-
ahle from automobile supplies to but
tons. electrical equipment 10 baby
kfocks. Everything IS sold of; no old
l1ock remains upon the shelves of
3AGir disposer. Also, the auetion AZ
fords fine chance for the wise buyer
~ pick MP Christmas presents in Job
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-17
St Louis. Hax Market.

|
st. Louis. Mo-. June 16.-Hay-Re-
ceived So cars (23 on west and IL on
east side Of river) which included 81
timothy 4 clover-mixed, 5 prairie. l
clover and alfalfa. Prices unchanged.
Demand for timothy and clover-mixed
continues fairly active. and, as supplies
are limited. the feeling generally is
firm Prairie is slow and weak on cur
rent offerings Of ordinary No.,1 and
lower oualities-high grades not being
received. Glover is scarce, but no par
ticular inquiry noted therefor Alfalfa
is sparingly offered demand, however,
is rather quiet. hence market continues
easy on the better grades, while COM
mon stuff is exceedingly dull and
cheap. Sales on this side: I car good
No. Q heavy mixed at SIS, 1 car good
No. 2 light mixed at SIG; timothy,
car and part car, no grade at $40, car
no grade at S11. 4 cars No 3 at $12, 2
cars No, 3 at $13. 1 No. 3 at $3.50, 8
scant No 2 at s14014.50, l No. 2 at SIS,
/ No. at SIG. ] No. at $3.50, car
ordinary No. at s18; also. car part
scant and part good No. at $14 and
$16 and car part scant No. 2 at s14.50
and part scant No. ! at $17.50zno
good No 1 reported, worth $3.50 to
$40: prairie. 3 cars common Arkansas
at $3.50, 2 cars No. 3 at 81 switched, 2
cars ordinary No at s12;;' alfalfa, 2
cars no grade old drown and grassy
at 81, / car badly bleacled new at SO.
part car No. i at s14--quote high No. /
to choice at SIS. On east side: Clover
, Clover-1 car common No. 2 at 81.
Straw-Quotei sound wheat and oats
straw at $3.50 track; scarce: III
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-17
Stock Market

New York. June 16.-Dealings IN snt
flrst hour were the lightest TOT ila ma
period in fortnight, aggregatlng isss
than 100000 shares, with lncreasins
dullness toward noon. Prices suheneu
however. despite the restricted cnai ;aS +
ter Of the trading, Reading, Cruci ny
and Mexican Petroleum leadlng ~.
more prominent stocks, with an, lui.n Nd
gain In Louisville and Nashy,lie ar ID
substantial advance in Lake ERE any any
western issues. Anglo French % efar'
.tinued heavy on greatly reduced ohie'
nirs Bonds were irregular. or.
Declining tendencies were tuo.s
marked during today's early tI Ia ne
the acute Mexican situation ana .ns ~
lection by the railroad brothernooua 70 ~
the proposals. made by the genera, mel, aaii
ayers induced further professions! s,,as
inr. Specialties were the weakest iss ,ith
Beet Sugar breaking over poin.s, mt. a
severe recessions in some OF the 4 pe,,1
group. including zinc shares. 81. raul
Northern Pacific and Erie first pretst-
red were fractionally lower, WIN ui
setting gains in Norfolk ana Wes 5i+ea
and louisville & Nashville: ohi'e'
states steel was barely steady
The closing was heavy. y'
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-17
Grain Review

Chicago, June 16.-Bearish views
on the export situation tended today to
depress the wheat market here. The
fact was pointed out that the decline
in ocean freight rates had not caused
any increase Of shipments from the
United States. Predictions were cur
rent that the outcome would be di-
version of vessel tonnage to South
America and Australia. Opening prices
which ranged from a to n a &c lower,
with July at s1.02A to s1.925s and Sep
TENDER at s106A to $1.04ss. were fol-
lowed by good rally, but then fresh
downturn
The close was nervous y to 112c net
lower with July at $1.021a @9s ana
Sept at S1.O3@1O4.
Seaboard demand gave firmness 10
corn. Weakness of wheat had only
transient bearish effect. After UNI
changed to Il c lower, the market pose
all around to above yesterdays finish
The close was unsettled, varying from
Rc decline to 1sc advance as compared
with Yesterdays finish.
Oats sympathized with corn. Price
changes, though, were slight
Higher prices on hogs started pro-
visions upgrade The only selling was
in small lots. ~
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-17
SAM CROSS GIVEN !
Mayer SILVER Gun
BURLINGTON BOY, WEI LkNoW0
HERE, GIVEN HONOR FoR
UNIVERSITY WORK. Ss|

Iowa City. June Is. The, Max Mas
er silver cup, valued at 325 avardS4s
annually to the senior at lows univel
sity, who excelled in athletics, prowee6s
and scholarship. during four yearS|
work was awarded at the fifty-sixth IN
nual commencement exercises at s. IN
l. to Samuel E. Gross OF Burlington.S
the stellar Hawkeye quarterback.
The intercollegiate conferences ATM
letic association medal, similarly
awarded, was won by Forrest w. DestA
dorff, Of Malvern, Iowa's crack pitcher
Other prizes were awarded as for
lows:
Colonel F, o. Lowden prize in getsS
logy t$25). Early G. Allen, Beakin. n
Lowden prize in Latin ($25), RUBY
Mcbride, Agency: Rose Edie, Bur-
Oak. gg
Lowden prize in botany ($25) Loren1:s
G. Byrnes. Clutter. s3Ss
Lowden prize in mathematics II 1GOyY
Glenn B. Miller, Wilton Junction.
Thomas j. Cox prize for engineering
thesis ($1OO). Garrison p Anthes. F0yl
Madison sss
William J. Bryan prize for an essay
on the science OF government (9101
John F. Pfiffner, Emmetsburg.
d. A. R. American history medal
Florence Whiteford. Williamsburg. 3l
Prizes in oratory and debate totaline
($10) were awarded. ~ }ss IA 4
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-17
CONVENTION WORK
BEING FINISHED
CONTINUED From Page ~


Endorsement of the Underwood tar
if act was given general applause. The
democrats seemed too wearied to in
terrupt with lengthy applause. The
much discussed plank on Americanism
drawn by President Wilson himself
was next read. 1t was interrupted by
handclapping. DISCRIMINATION of con-
spirators for the advancement of for
eign influence in this country was
roundly applauded. hssF Wy
Criticism AppIauded. r.
The plank was intently followed. It's
criticism of disloyalty by some Ameri-
cans. was loudly applanded, Excoriation
Of a political party that should receive
such support received similar approval
Declarations for military prepared
ness we're also uniformly applauded
Close attention was given the plank
relating to foreign policies. There was
occasional scattering applause and
cheers. gsi,5 WEI t-s-ts
The Latin-American policy plank got
some applause but more greeted the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-17
LUCAS CO. FARM
TOUR A SUCCESS
SEVEN STOPS MADE m ONE pAYi|
WOMAN MAKES AN m
ADDRESS roo. M Y

Charlton, June 16.-The farm tour
this week under the supervision Of the
extension department of the Iowa
State agricultural college at Ames xAss
a great success, there being fifty-f0ura
automobiles in the party and about
three hundred persons. Seven stops
were made during the day. the first
being at the Chas. Young farm south
west Of town where talks were mailel
on the care and culture OF potatoes
and of the orchard by r, s. Herrick Oh
Ames, while e, s. Girton discussed
the points Of a good stallion. "a ss.ss
At Lucas a stop was made. 1T the
farm of Leehart Bros, where talkSs
were made on silos and farm con-
structions by H. D. Fenton, while NJ
Girton, the live stock speaker, co1at5
mented on the herd Of Herefofds. II \
They then proceeded to the Ri
Miller farm near Norwood, where the
herd of Shorthorn. cattle was inspect(d.
and commented upon The next sSt6ts
was made at the j. G. Kenney farm,
near Oakley where the party enjoyed
the MONDAY lunch in the orchard. Hot
coffee and cream we're donated by Mr.
>.
by the members OF the Ames party
and quartet composed OF Messrs
Mikesell, Teas, Dillman and Dillman
rendered several pleasing selectiona.S
The next stop was made alta. VI.
iiWhitlatcll'sa where talks were made on,
i farm construction. From there the
party proceeded to the Henry Allen
place northeast Of Russell. where talks
iiwere made on sheep, hogs and steers
by Mr.. Girton, and questions pertain
ling to small grain were explained ~
G. S. Dorchester; The last stop wal
made at the j. w. McDougall farm
near this city, where the visitors had
an opportunity to see milking done by
machinery. 8 aSs,! Y!
At all of the stops ! the ladies' were
addressed by Miss Neale s. Knowles,
,of the home economies department.
who spoke on the many things OF In
terest to the housewife.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-17
chicaao hay Market.

Chicago June 16.-Hay-Receipts 1913
tons; shipments, 113 tons. Timothy hay
firm. Demand good and offerings light
Prairie hay quiet. Demand only fair
and offerings liberal. Choice timothy
hay quotable at s20@2l; No. 1 at $3.50
10; No 2 at s16@17 No. 8 at $13@14.
Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri prairie
hay-Choice, s13@13.50; No. I $11@
S11012 Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin
feeding prairie hay, $9.50@10.50; pack
ing hay, $500; alfalfa hay. s11@17.
Sales were: On track-Not graded
timothy cars at SIS, car at SIT.
Not graded participant car Kansas at
81, part car at SO. cars at SO, 3 cars
at $11, car at s12, 1 ear at $13.
Straw-Rye straw quOtable at 500
10. Dat straw at s6.5O@7. Wheat straw
at $606.50.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-17
REPORT VARIES IN "a.
IT'S PRINCIPLES
Merchant Marine Plank.
The plank covering merchant !
Continued From Page -

,na The xap piank COVERING merchant mar
Immediate provision should be
made forth development of the carry
ing trade of the United States. Our
foreign commerce has in the past been
subject to many unnecessary and vex-
atious obstacles in the way of legisla.
ton of republican congresses. Until
the recent democratic tariff legisla-
tion, it was hampered by unreasonable
burdens Of taxation. Until the recent
banking legislation, it had at it's dis.
posal few Of the necessary instrume1l.
talities of International credit and ex.
change. Until the formulation of the
pending act to promote the construc-
ton of merchant marine, it lacked
even the prospect of adequate carriage
by sea. We heartily endorse the pur-
poses and policy Of the pending ship.
pima bill and favor all such additional
measures OF constructive or remedial
Legislation as may be necessary to re-
store our flag to the seas and to pro.
vide further facilities for our foreign
may be made to remove unfair. contii.
lions Of competition In the dealings OF
American merchants and producers
with competitors in foreign markets
Leave Suffrage to States.
A suffrage plank somewhat similar
to that adopted by the republican con
vention, indorsing the issue, but leav
ing its adoption or rejection to the in.
dividual states. was adopted early to
day, 25 to 20. A straight. federal
amendme nt proposal was lost BY ma
tority OF two votes.
Half dozen suffragists, who re
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-17

president was declared the standaFs
bearer for a second time.
1t took only four minutes to plact
Vice President Marshall's name b.
fore the convention and to nOminGti3
him by acciamation. Senator Johil
w. Kern, who had prepared LOAF
speech nominating Mr. Marshall, AiD|
carded 1t and In placing the TndjAGS
simply said that in the name OF th9
great state Of Indiana he, nominat4@
Thomas Riley Marshall forlvice preSls
dent.
Rules Are Suspended. ss|
There was q wild cheer from tkI
Indiana delegates and others and II
the din the rules were suspended AMI
Chairman James announced that tho
vice president had been renominAted'
by reclamation.
What Is the pleasure of the con
vention." shouted Chairman James
when 1t was learned the platform
committee was not ready to report
and back came the answer, "SpeechSA
Then for a half hour the crowd listons
ed to democratic doctrine ,expounde(
by Senator Lewis OF Illinois and Ron
resentative Heflin OF Alabama ant
the recess followed. The gallery waG
empty when the recess was taken and
the tired crowd that streamed out o1
the dozen exits was composed mostly
of delegates and alternates. ~
The crowd came early last night q
hear the oratory and to see the der
onstrations in honor OF the candidatS6l
The delegates, however, were slow ~
arriving and scores of tardy on01
were doomed to wait outside the bi6
building while the Wilson demonstra
ton was In progress. The crush with
In the building was so great that th4
city authorities ordered the doors
closed.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-17
St. Louis Live Stock.

St. Louis, June 16.-Hogs Receipts
10000: higher; pigs and lights. $50
9.95 mixed. s9.75@10: heavy, $4,000
1905: bulk. S9.75@9.95.
Catt]e-Receipts 1900; steady: beef.
steers. S7.5O6u.15; heifers, $500
1905: cows, S5.5o@s.5o: calves, $50
1850. ~ 80
Sheep Market steady; receipts. o.
500: ewes. S4m7.50: wethers, sos;
spring lambs, $7@11.65. S