The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1919-07-12
saw, easily was worth So of any man g

saw, easily was WortH @o VI any ihdh
money.
Then several hundred suits Of cloth
ing were sold to the same Cohen at
bargain counter prices, instead of be-
ing given to hinterland fire sufferers.
One Duluth merchant once informed
the Rip-saw that there was clothing
ample in quantity and good enough in
quality to warrant small factory to
make it over. The fabric was better
than money can buy now but styles
were old. This informant said that,
made over, there would be excellent
clothing to the value of $4,000.
No one really knows what became Of
ali the potatoes that were donated for
relief Of fire victims. There is a
strong report that a considerable guam
tity spoiled at Cloquet. Towards the
end of spring, potatoes fairly were
crowded onto those who went back to
the farms. Those who asked for 10
bushels for planting were sent Is and
even ~ bushels.
There is a firm belief, too, that
profiteers made heavy profits on pota-
toes sold the relief commission. Hay,
however, was a favorite medium for
profit. It is declared that certain
dealers made a great killing. 1t can
be proven that inferior stuff was
shipped to Floodwood and other places
al prices far in excess Of first class
local hay.
MANY a settler has reported to the
Rip-saw that his neighborhood was
sent hay that was not fit for horse
bedding and that it would not support
animal life, even if animals were able
to eat it.
Now comes true and startling tale
about wire grass, stored up for use in
making Krex rugs, being shipped out
TO settlers to feed their cows and
horses. This wire grass is no more
edible or nourishing than excelsior,
sawdust or shavings. Not only did the
recipients know that it was the coarse
wire grass, cut between Duluth and
Aitkin for the making of Krex rugs,
but Krex rug tags were attached to the
| bales of grass. Those tags have been
promised the Rip-saw and, when re-
ceived, can be seen at the office.
Some one had a big stock of wire
grass for making rugs that were not IN
demand during war times, therefore
dumped it onto the state relief com.
mission as edible hay for cows and
horses at fat price.
The only man who ever beat tnat
| was the North Dakota farmer who put
Green goggles on his cows so that they
would think the flax straw was green
Grass. and, therefore, would consume
| It with avidity.
Considerable has been said about
this ssinsulite," sort OF 1nrer1or
beaver board, made from wood pup
refuse by Baron Backus at lnterna-
tional Falls.
This uinsulite" has been touted as
an IDEAL lining and as not inflammaoie'
It is, in fact, highly inflammaDle, as
those who recommended it for ceiling
| in the Duluth armory will flnd OUT Il
that structure ever gets on fire.
One woodsman says that he once
saw Backus' camp north Of Ft. Frances
burn down in 20 minutes after getting
on fire. They were covered with IN.
sn,;te. Then, as the Rip-saw said last
winter. that finsulite" is highly
soluble in water. It has greater
affinity for it than plotting paper
even. Spring rains reduced more than
one relief shack to pulp. IT enough
water and agitation are given lnsullte,
f. will turn into a veritable pulp, as
Il once was. It has been suggested
that making pancake batter OF some
of it and then frying the cakes IN a
shop window in Duluth would prove
very enlightening to some who boost
insulite for purposes to which it is ut
terly unadapted.
A Canosia farmer nearly lost his
life recently when his "insulite -
setback caught on fire. The absorb
ing story of Mr.. J. w. Johnson's ad-
| venture and narrow escape from a
fierv death was told in recent num-
Der of the Duluth evening Herald, as
follows:
"John w. johnson, IS, clerk Of the
town of Canosia and secretary Of the
Jackson Producers club, is at St.
Luke's hospital suffering from severe
burns about the head and arms as the
result of attempting to save his paper
/ shack from destruction by fire yester-
/ day afternoon. The fire is believed
to have started from an overheated
stove pipe.
"Mr. johnson is bachelor and had
been living on his farm alone for
twelve years. His home was burned
| in the fires of last October and one Of
the paper board houses was built for
him by his friends some time later. In
this he has been making his home.
"While working outside of the
shanty early yesterday afternoon he
heard cracking within the house. In
vestigating he found the interior in
] flames. In spite Of this he entered
in the hope of saving the ballots for
today's election. The door closed and
before he was able to get out, he was
badly burned about the head, face and
arms. Neighbors went to his assist
ance and removed him to st.. Lukes
hospital.