Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-03-07
Around the World
the Earth.
Indorse Tractors

Indorse Tractors
The engineering division of the depart
ment of agriculture has just completed a
study of the reports of 684 owners of trac-
tors in the states of North and South Caro-
lila, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia, and
announces that the reports show that in
general these farmers are satisfied with
their machines and expect to continue using
them"
The reports were made in the spring of
last year and at that time SO per cent Of
the farmers reporting believed their tractors
would turn out as profitable investments,
and 80 per cent said they intended to use
them the following year.
''It must be remembered, however, says
the statement of the department of agricul-
ture, 'that most of the owners of these
tractors were operating farms considerably
larger than the average. OF the 684 farms,
the average size was 290 acres, while
cording to the 1920 census of agriculture,
the average size of all farms in these states
was only about rs acres. Over 80 per cent
Of the farms reporting are more than rs
acres in size. On the average the portion of
the acreage devoted to cotton and corn on
these farms is slightly less than other
farms in the same states, but there is no
great difference between the crops raised on
the farms where tractors are owned and on
those where tractors are not owned.
'The 2-plow tractor is evidently the size
best suited to the needs Of most of these
farms. Seventy-six per cent of the 684 ma
chimes are Of this size and about sc per cent
of the men reporting now believe that this
size is the best for their conditions. About
20 per cent own 3-plow machines and 80 per
cent now prefer this size. Thirteen Of the
1854 men own 1-plow machines and IL own
the 4-plow size. No other sizes were report
ed.
"All of the men whose reports were used
in this study purchased their tractors be.
tween March, 1918, and September, 1920.
The average first cost Of the machines was
1850, and the average of the owners esti-
mates of their useful life was 7.6 years. On
this basis, the annual depreciation charge
is $138 per year.
American Telephones
The American people exceed all others in
the use of modern appliances, it is demon-
strated in the annual report Of the Ameri-
can Telephone and Telegraph company.
''Forty-five years after the invention Of
the telephone" says President H. B. Thayer,
Europe has only one telephone to each one
hundred of the population, while the United
States with only one-sixteenth of the popu-
lation of the world, has two-thirds of the
worlds telephones"
Referring to the company's financial con-
dition, President Thayer states that, while
gross earnings in 1921 did not increase as
might have been expected had business been
normal, net earnings more than held their
own.
Earnings applicable for dividends amount
ed to lilo per cent, against 1852 per cent
in 1920, when the company made the best
showing in its history.
Net earnings in 1921 aggregated $751;
523,813, against $7O,6S6,9O4 in the previous
year and assets of $1,000, 33O,663 exceeded
those of 1920 by $11O,462,417.
The American Telephone and Telegraph
company claims to have the largest number
of shareholders of any American corpora
a of
186,342, an increase of almost $4,000 dur
ing the year, with women in the majority.
Approximately $500 employees are part
ners" or owners of the company's stock
Bryan's Old Home
The home of William Jennings Bryan and
a ten-acre plot surrounding the scene of the
earlier life of the now famous lecturer, ora
tor and statesman, located on hilltop south
east of Lincoln, has been offered tentatively
to the Presbyterian church as permanent
home and hospital for missionaries, teachers
and members of families that have become
incapacitated in the service of the church.
The Bryan mansion, which has been idle
and devoid Of activity most Of the time since
the commoner changed his residence to Flor
ida, recently was visited by representatives of
the board of relief of the church. The men,
bers reported the home was admirably suit
ed for this purpose and would accommodate
about forty patients after a few alterations
%.
ter, one of the members of the board, said
it would report on the offer when the board
returned to Philadelphia.
This board represents the Presbyterian
Church of the North. The proposal suggested
the use of the home as an infirmary for pa
tients from China and Japan. Far Eastern
missionaries and teachers of the church in
capacitated in service now are sent to hospi-
tails farther east, members of the board stat
ed.
Bryan is reported to have at one time Of
fered to sell part of this land, but the home
and ten acres were reserved.
Corncobs Valuable
The common corncob, which heretofore
has been waste product on the farm, may
commerce as result Of experiments just
conducted by Professors E. B. Fred and w.
H. Peterson, of the University of Wisconsin.
CUfnloDs, it was discovered, are rich in the
acetic ands Tactic acids, both of which are
used extensively in the muu9Cries.
When the corncobs are partly water-soak-
ed and inoculated with bacteria lactobacillus
pentoaceticus, equal quantities of acetic and
Tactic acid are produced.
The laboratory results showed ton OF
corncobs will yield more than 800 pounds Of
acetic and 800 pounds of Tactic acid.
Costly Vertigo
An attack of vertigo experienced by a
man in the financial district of New York
resulted in the loss of wallet containing