smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1865

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The Nevada, Colorado and Moutana papers
are agitating the question of the establish
ment Of a Mining Bureau at Washington
City. The experiment of a mining bureau
has been tried in despotic Russia for many
wears, and has been found of immense advan-
tage. In this bureau young men are educa-
ted for the mining profession, and knowledge
thus obtained has been vastly useful % de>
vefouiug the mineral resources Of that coun-
trS> Without doubt, like result would fol.
low in our own country. Wehave now an
Agricultural Bureau, from which vast stores
of information are diffused among those who
are engaged in agricultural pursuits, and
carrying out this, we take it that the miners
have a right to demand that department of
the government be established to. which they
may look for information that will guide
them in the search for gold. Each mining
district has peculiarities of its own, aud it
would be part of the duty of the head of the
Bureau TO gather all the facts relating to
local peculiarities together, and combine
them in such shape as to make them acces
sible to the practical miner. On this head, 1,
an able advocate Of the proposition says !:
I" None of our miners are yet perfect; all i'm
prove with time. Let government adopt a

system by which this knowledge can be
gained, and then diffused for the benefit of
all. Since it is determined that one-third
of the area of the United States is rich in
gold and silver it becomes the more impor-
tant that the general government render
aid for its extraction from the earth. This
can the better be done by the establish>
ment of a Mining Department, and the pros
ecution of experiments in the reduction of
ores. The yield of gold might be doubled
in a single year if all who are engaged in
gathering it could be at once placed in pos,
session of the knowledge for saving all that
is contained in the ore. All the region Of
country stretching from the east foot of the
Rocly Mountains to the Pacific Ocean is in
terested in this project, and we hope it will
be generally seconded and urged upon the
attention of Congress An Agricultural Bu>
reau has been established, and it is found to
work well now let US have Mining Bureau,
which can be Of scarce less Importance
Year: 1865

The ANNEXATION PRoJyCr.-In the absence Of
any thing more important to talk about, our peo-
pie continue to discuss the annexation question.
The friends of the measure claim that it is con-
stantly gaining ground, LndtnSt among the per-
msnent residents in the Valley there is an
overwhelming prepondersace in its favor The
opponents to the measure confne their objse-
tions to the increased taxation that Wc1ld result
from our incorporation into Oregon, as also the
character Of the legislation which has chGTae-
teriEsd that State for year or two back. The
snneIGtiOnistI Adnit the force Of these objee-
tionS, but Itill contend that the advantages more
than eounterbSlGnes the drawbacks. It is true
that under the present organization our taxes
are light but in return for light taIAtiou we are
literally LEFT without any thing worthy the name
OF civil governmeut Courts Of law we have
none; Ssd what is worse, there is no prospect Of
amendment in this respect. Our Jail is crowded
With Prisoners-eVery one Of them entitled to q
speedy trinl-Snd yet there Is no certainty of
Court being held next month or next year. A
Government like this, it is contended, is dear at
any price, ana should be got rid Of the first op-
Portunity. 1t has been owing to this coalition
of affairs that our best citizens have felt COM
PEELED to take the law in their own hands and
administer summary justice. Under State or
ganiEstion we should have a voice in selecting
our judges, and absence from the district would
work forfeiture Of Office. Civil government
and Promp; administration of the laws design
ed for the protection of persons and property are
worth something, and for benefits so aIl-impor-
tant as these great and Aourishing community
can afford to pay literally. Some one has said
that the advantages Of good government are val
liable beyond computation aud reversing the
proposition, it may With equal truth be claimed
that bad government is dear at any price In
our present position we are shorn Of every thing
like political pOWer-have no voice in the selec-
ton Of our rulers-and are 20 all intents and
purposes the dependents of those who are in
power. It's not strange that our people should
grow restiTe under this condition of affairs, and
that they desire the benefits Of sslf-government,
even although it be at the expense Of greatly
increased taxation.
Year: 1865

In country where labor is dear, and lum.
Der scarce, it becomes important to inquire
whether we have not cheap substitutes for
the ordinary building material. In parts of
the world where they labor under the incou.
Veuiences to which we are subject, gravel
has been successfully used in the building
of houses, and has been found to be both
cheap and durable The method of construct.
ing these gravel houses is very simple. Upon
suitable foundation of stone, laid in hydraul.
ic cement, above the moisture of the ground,
two planks are temporarily secured on their
edges, and the thickness of the proposed wall
apart Between these the gravel wall is com
menced by depOsiting wheelbarrow loads of
gravei freshly mixed with sand and lime, as
in making mortar The proportion of lime
need not exceed one>fortieth Of the whole,
provided the gravel Is clean, with no mixture
of loan or clay. Rough angular stones are
better than smooth pebbles; broken brick,
cinders, etc., may be thrown in, and among
them stones Of so or IS lbs. weight. By
dropping the materials between the plan ks
from some height theypack more closely than
if gently laid in. As the wall reaches the
upper edge of the board or plank casing, au-
other tier Of the same is added, and when
this space is filed up the lower tier of the
boards is taken of and added to the upper ;
and so they are alternately raised one over
the other till the wall is raised the height re-.
quired. The casing is prevented from spread.
ing BY being fastened to sticks laid across
che wall, which may be covered over and left
in. Frames for doors and windows are set
in whenever the wall reaches the level on
which they are to stand. A sufficient thick
ness for wall 25 feet high, is l6 inches for
the lower half, and 10 or IL for the upper.
A house Ofthis description, 16 feet on a side,
with the labor of three men, can be raised
at the rate of a foot day. Where the ma.
teriai is of easy access, the cost of putting up
building of this kind need not exceed SIS
per foot in height, or 10 cents per cubic foot


If rough cast, building of the kind here
described will possess all the advantages of
either brick or stone, with the additional re-


commendation of being vastly cheaper.
Year: 1865

THE PREsIDESr's MEssAGE.-For some reason
or other, it appears that the PreIideuts Message
was not telegraphed across the continent, and
that our only dependence for getting this impor.
tAnt document is BY mail, which at this season
of the year is a slow coach We fail to recall q
message that was looked for with so much in
tersst as that Of President Johnson. The reason
for this unusual interest," without doubt, is to be
found in the fact that just at this moment the
whole country is in transition state, and the
forthcoming message is expected TO indicate the
policy which is to govern the conservative men
Of the country in the work Of restoring the
UnioR.
Year: 1865

Pm DoRErLIE ROUTE.Zit has been claimed
BY the friends Of this route that whilst other
roads were closed by snow during the winter
months, this route was open all the year round
Acting on this representation, a number Of trains
that left here late in the season for the Blackfoot
country, went by the Pen d'oreille route, and Of
these trains quite number have returned, being
unable to get through. The goods were stored
BY the way, and DO loss experienced other than
that incident 20 the failure to get iu at time
when merchandise Of every description is u de-
msnd at very high figures. The teams that
started out about the first of December, with
the merchandise for the Pen d'oreille boat have
all been showed in, and at last accounts the an
imAls were likely to perish. The Pen d'oreille
may be good winter route, but the experience
Of this season don't show it.
Year: 1865

WORKING MEN WANTED.-As soon as sprinp
opens, which every body predicts will be at an
earlier date than usual there will be needed A
thousand additional working men in the vicinity
Of Pioneer city. The new ditch coming in from
Upper Grimes creek will cover a large district
of very valuable placer mining ground which has
heretofore laid idle for want Of water This will
be available for use several times and Is an i'm
proyement required by the increasing enterprise
in that locality. Some ofthe ground covered by
this new ditch, on the Big Muddy, is so rich that
large wages have been made by wheeling the
dirt along disance and rocking it out, aud claims
thereabout have sold for from So, 900 to 81, OOO
Men at distance who have the sound discretion
to appreciate good wages and sure pay instead
Of rushing to another excitement, where the
claims are all taken will do we'll to turn up in
the vicinity of Hog'em at early spring. Such
course will prove much more advantageous to
them than chasing the phantoms of the Upper
Columbia mines or Blaekfoot The mines about
Pioneer city, including the Big and Little Mud
oles, the Apple Jack, &c, are settled districts
where the claims are all valuable rules and reg
ulatlons, have been adapted to the wants of the
community, law and order prevails supplies of
all kinds are cheap and plenty, society with wo-
men, children, schools and churches, has been
planted, and we know of no better or more at.
tractive locality to which steady reliable work.
ing men, or those possessed Of small capital
which they wish 70 proftably invest, might di.
rect their attention.-IddhO World
Year: 1865




SIDE-WALKs.-With another season our City
authorities should take measures looking to a
permanent system Of street improve nents. The
level character Of the town plat is such that We
are spared the expense of grading, and hence
we can we'll afford to expend portion of our
means in works Of general utility and improve
ment. The permanent character of our town
based upon agricultural and other resources
that can never be eIhausted-is such as to en-
courage us in making improvements of the most
durable character, and such a. would not be
warranted in town depending on mining ex-
citements alone for existence. Following out
this idea, an ordinance should be passed requir-
ing property holders to place side walks in front
of their respective premises. These walks should
be uniform both in width and grade, and with
crossings placed at convenient intervals would
be about all that We require in the wAy Of street
improvements. With a system Of thi, kind in
fsrce, AAin street Weuld lose its present nj gag,
up-snd-dSWh appearance, and strangers could
pass GlSng our principal thoroughfars even at
night time without being compelled to pick
their way. A matter Of this kind may seem un-
important, but it is improvements Of this char
scter that 6I the attention Of visitors from
abroad and serve to give . good or bad impress
sion of our enterprise and public spirit Towns,
like individuals, can never afford To disregard
appearances, and on this score slone-to say
nothing of conTenisnce-money expended in the
improvement of streets is well invested.
Year: 1865

Public No. 1911


AN ACT lor the sale OF lot land IN Iowa. in the tort


Crawford reserVaIiOn.


BE it enacted By the Senate and House of ReDre.
sentatioes Of the United States of America, in Con-
gress assembled, That it shall and may be lawful
ior the Commissioner OF the General Land Office TO
cause TO be sod alter public notice The tract
as lot number one, in township ninety.ve norlh of
range three west OF the fifth principal meridian in
me STATE OF Iowa. situated in What known as Fort
Crawiord Military reservation subject TO such mini.
mum price per acre as The sud Commissioner NAV es
'aOlsn as iar and reasonable. less haIt two dollars
ana hity cents per acre and in the event of sad lot
not being disposed of public sale the Commissioner
lS hereby authorized to reoer the same at public sale
or after the second offering dispose OF SAID lot at such
minimum as he may establish, and for the sale SO made
patent shall issue as IN ordinary cases.


Sec. 2. And be it further enacfed, That if it shall
appear that thece any other lots said reserve moi
disposed of by the United States il shall and NAV be
lawful Tor the said Commissioner dispose of the same
Ia the manner provided IN the foregoing section.


Approved, July l, 1854
Year: 1865

I'm thinking Of thee in The twilight hour;
I'm weary. and lone and sad;
I'm thinking Of thee and the magic power
Of thy vOIce.-.'twould make me gad
But far away its sweetest strains


Float out on the zephyr air;
! hear them not. and my heart in chains
is bound, and laden with care.
I'm thinking Of thee as sit here alone,


And there's nothing to make me glad
I'm thinking of thee, and the days that are gone;
Canst thou wonder am sad
Those were halcyon days when you and
Sat by the pulling rIlI.
When you promised. love, with fearful eye,
To share my every i'll.
I'm thinking Of thee and the tears will fall,
As memory clings to the past;
Those hours of the song and lhe dance were all
Too bright and too happy to last.
As thus thinking cf thee, thy sway | own;
Thy picture press to my heart;
For cannot clasp thee as in days that are gone,
But we'll meet, love, and never more part.
Year: 1865

A fish story, from Boston paper: "At
Haverhili, on the Sd inst, a pleasure party,
consisting of Messrs. Melvin Brown and Chas
ri Brown, three ladies and two children, star
ted out in a small wherry on the Merrimack to
take little trip down the river When oppo-
site Maynard Island large sturgeon jump
ed from the river, directly over the head Of
one Of the young ladies, into the bottom of the
crowded boat. After many unsuccessful at
tempts to expel the unwelcome guest, the boat
gas put to the shore, when the fish was found
to be over six feet in length, and one hundred
and fifty pounds in weight. Had not the la
dies and children preserved the utmost quiet,
consequences might have followed which are
not pleasant to contemplate
Year: 1865

The editor of country paper put a dozen
saucy questions to a political opponent, and
with calling him brandy barrel
Whereupon the opponent" retorts, If he
has that opinion of us, no wonder he is so fond
of pumping us. -
Year: 1865

FAIRs.-A state fair is queen; an agricul-
tural fair is farmers daughter a church
fair is a parsons wife; an editors fair is the
est-looking girl he can get hold of; charity
fair is female pauper; and the most unpopu-
lar fair in the universe is lodging house fare.
Year: 1865

Why do young ladies of the present day re-
minds us of Niagra? Because their water
falls are frightful


Why is young lady's head like an old
barnp Because rats make a home Of it.


Why is young lady's head like that of a
stag? Because its horns lay close to the crown
and extend we'll back


Why is young lady head like horse in
fly time? Because it S covered by net.


Why is young lady's hair like framed
building? Because it requires many pins to
hold it up.


Why is a young lady's hair like birds
nest? Because it takes portion of old wool


Why is young lady's head like a cross
child? Because it often has the GdacLs on it.
Year: 1865

A GREAT CHANGE Richmond Wig
discoursing ON the re-establishment of the in
dustry and prosperity Of Virginia, says:


"0nly let labor be made honorable and in
dolence questionable in the Old Dominion
and her soil will be worth quite as much per
acre as that of New England, New York, Penn
syvania, OF Ohio, and her population be rapid
ly sweled to an aggregate of not less than five
millions" That is it. If the recent revolu-
ton in the South had produced no other good
than teaching the people to rely upon their la
Dor for their own maintenance, instead of ex-
acting it from unwilling sources, it will have
effected great deal for the future permanent
prosperity of the State. 1t is singular how the
old feeling sticks to system which from the
nature of things could not continue much Ion
ger, and which gratiied pride at the expense
of the real wealth and power Of the people
When labor is free to go and come to work or
not to work, as it pleases, it will always seek
the place where it is most remunerated, and
Virginia presenting resources equal to those of
Pennsylvania or New York, will with free la
Dor and equal political privileges invite the
same kind of industry and enterprise which
have made them the leading States in the
Union in population and wealth.
Year: 1865

blue waters to some other vessel.


whose white sails were inst in sight.


10 watch its near approach; or tc


come nearer home and look down
into the deep blue water, to see the
fish sporting playfully by the side OF
our vessel, and then dart ahead of
us rs easily as though our vessel
were some stationary object We
landed safely on the evening OF the
1th, and after marching five miles
down the beach, towards Mexico,
we arrived mt our destination. and
found our island home to be any
thing but 4 LAND flowing with milk
and honey"


For Che first two days and nights
we lay in the sand, with bnt little TO
eat and scarcely any thing to drink;
but that crisis has passed. We now
have tents, plenty to eat and some
thing to drink. We haul ali OF our
water for drinking and cooking pur-
poses from the Rio Grandc, but for
Washing, we have TO use the Gulf
water; we have plenty Of that, how
ever, for it is not more than fifty
yards from our tent The town OF
Bagdad, in Mexico, is in sight, about
three miles to the south Of US. Refu.
gees come over almost daily; most
OF them are rebel deserters. The
rebs are not very plenty in this part
OF the State, but small squad of
them show us their heels nearly every
day. j. Q. c.
Year: 1865

We left the city of New Orleans
on the Sd inst. and went on board
the splendid steamer Clinton, and as
there were but two companies OF Us
we had plenty of "sea-room. The
weather was fne-every thing was
pleasant, and considering my expert
ence as sailor. / enjoyed the trir
very much. X was interesting IN
deed to he on deck. and look Will
searching eve far across the dark
Year: 1865

much they impress little or nothing. This
KIND OF preaching has been denounced by
the most eminent divine of the century, who
says; "Tbe only appropriate occasion for
this generic language is when we wish to
aro'a giving vivid impression, when our
object is to soften what is offensive, disgust
iug or shocking"


Has not that been the object Of pro-
slavery preachers for the past thirty years ?
To what but their teachings can we attrib-
ute the fact that system which induces
every species Of outrage on humanity has
come to be considered Heaven ordained?


When the impartial historian shan sum
up the records Of our bloody civil war, he
viii charge against the adherents Of the
slaveholders' rebellion fearful balance Of
cruelty and barbarity, and for the depravity
that produced those crimes he will hold
none more responsible than those professed
servants Of Christ who have been recreant
10 their duty. BETA.
Year: 1865

The New York Times says Of the Presi-
dents speech to the southeruers the other
day:


These are generous wsrds, and they will
be echoed by the great body Of the Dsople
rom one end OF the land 10 1he other. This
mon Is to bo perpetuated. Now that
slavery Is extinct, all sections have a com
mon interest IN its preservation. We have
now no interest to divide the North from
the south, no Institu ION cherished by one
section and hated by the other. We have
now none but common Interests, common
objects and aims, and We must cherish com
mon symPathies aad common sentiments in
their pursuit.


Also


'We believe the people will sustain and
applaud this policy. Il Is the only one
that can be pursued with safety and with a
wise regard for the public good. The action
OF the Democratic par Y in this State proves
that they recognize its strength, and dare
not array themselves against It.
Year: 1865

The London Times suggests the possibility
OF escape from the cholera III England. Its
course from the East towards the West has
been marked by excentricities, which
prove that it has not advanced from the sea
coast into the interior as yet In single in
stance. 1t appears abruptly at Alexandria,
thence along the coast to Damietta, then at
Smyrna, and along the Mediterranean till it
reached Marseilles. The Times says, 'upon
summary of the evidence, we come to this,
not that an Asiatic pestilense is advancin g
upon us across Europe, but that there has
been an extraordinary outbreak of cholera
in the basin of the Mediterranean. Within
the basin of the Mediterranean no shore has
escaped beyond it, no cholera has appear
ed. The latest intelligence reports panic
from Wallachia and Moldavia, but the dis
ease had not yet declared itself in those
provinces, though it is obviously probable
that it might creep into the Black sea and
make the circuit of those coasts also. 1t
will not do to rely upon theories when the
causes which control the course of this fatal
disease are so little known. 1t should be
assumed that it is likely to visit not only
Western Europe but America, and every
effort which can mitigate its effects and
hasten its departure, should be made in all
our cities and towns. Cleanliness, general
and personal, public and individual, should


be rigidly adopted. This will not only
make cholera comparatively innoxious, but
it will, by contributing to the general purity
of our cities, exempt them from many other
diseases equally fatal, but not dreaded to
the same extent.
Year: 1865

Dear to me the constant splashing
Of the rain drops falling fast,
And the dripping leafiess branches


Waiving in the autumn blast
When the withered summer flowers
Dead and cold are strewn around,
When the autumn leaves are lying
Black and wet upon the ground,
Then l wander through the forest
Then l haunt each dark retreat,
But the leafy carpet never


Starts an echo from my feet.
have listened to tho murmur


Of the quiet autumn rain,
As it fell with ceaseless patter


On the tinkling widow pane.
/ have stood to hear the music


Of the quiet autumn rain,
AS upon the spectral darkness


Floated by the sweet refrain.
And 1 love the gentle whisper


Of the natter on the pane,
For feel the spirit near me


When l hear the autumn rain.
Year: 1865

ABSURD HOPES. The English holders of
the rebel cotton loan have still an idea that
the Government of the United States is re-
sponsible for the payment of asdebt contract
ed to destroy that government. Besides
the absurdity of such an idea, how are these
bond holders to como into court claiming
rebel property as an indemnification, when
they must have lent the money in vio-
lation Of the neutrality act and the queens
proclamation?
Year: 1865

EVERY able bodied negro who was once
Wade Hampton's slave, in South Carolina, is
now hired by him men at SO per month
women at $S without board. He expects to
raise 800 balls of cotton this season, and
means to give free negro labor fair trial
Year: 1865

SUPPLIES FOR THE ARAY.-We observe that meet
inss are being held in various localities to raise
supplies for the army. The condition Of things Is
such as to render it necessary that voluntary con-
tributions of neat and -four meal should be soiic
tied and received, in order to ensure supply to
Gen. Lees army. Many Of our people have nothing
to spare, but there others who are able TO con-
tribute, and we trust they will do all in their power
to relieve the wants of our gallant troops. This Is
practical patriotism We feel sure that all OF our
neop,e who are able to do so will respond promptly
and cheerfuly.