smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

My ice house is constructed as follows
Its dimensions in feet are IA in length,
10 wide and s high on the sides, with
steep roof; 4 feet are partitioned of as bin
to held the sawdust when it is not needed
around the ice, which leaves a space 10 feet
square for packing ice. 1t is balloon
frame, no plates. the rsftors being nailed to
the tops Of the studdings; rough boarded
on the outside-though we intend to clap
board it sometime--roof shiugled, ,!space left in
north end for a door when We got to it, near
the top Of each gable end there is a board or
two left off SO as to secure ventilation but
it must be banked tight about the bottom SO
as to keep the air out, and good drainage
must be provided to let of the water from
the melting ice. In winter VIC pack the
ice as compactly as possible six or seven
feet high, leaving space of about one foot
between the ice and the sides of the build
ing which is filled with saw.dust, packed
down as closely as possible. The great Sc
cret of preserving the ice is in keeping the
saw-dust packed closely about the sides we
go up as soon as tho weather begins to get
warm in the spring, and pack down the saw.
dust again about the sides of the ice with a
bar, or lever like sled. stake, and repeat
the process once week all summer. The
ice will melt a little and leave the saw.dust
loose so that the air will work through uu-
less 1t is repeatedly packed down. My
neighbOrs have nearly or entirely lost their
ice many times from want of care in this
respect. Keep about one foot of saw.dust
on the top all the while. We have
filled our ice house throe winters aud it has
supplied US with all We needed for making
butter from 80 COWS, and use 10 each Of our
two families, 1t used to be supposed that
an ice house was an expensive building, and
the preservation Of ice through our hot sum.
mers difficult matter, but we have learned
better.


Having seen Mr.. Deans ice house and
found it one of the best We ever saw, We
publish his account oft with great pleasure.
1t is 50 simple in construction that a person
with the least mechanical skill can build one
so cheap as to be within the means Of all
and such = necessity that no butter.dairy
can afford to be without one. 1t was located
so as to be convenient to the kitchen and
butter room, partially protected by the shade
of maple tree, we believe, and easy Of AP'
prOach with a team. Mr.. Dean, and biz
son who is associated with him, have model
grAnary also; they use the large milk-Pans
make 6rst-Class butter, and can tell us whether
draining wet land is profitable or not. Or
the whole We guess they will yet tell oul
readers little of the many things they
know about iarming,-ED. FARMER
Year: 1876

1t is Of vital Importance to the far.
mers that the political strife at Wash.
ington cease it has continued over a month
and has given check to the business reviv.
al from which the country may not recover
in all winter. II the deadlock continues the
distrust will be increased and business will be
so far demoralized that it will not regain its
normal condition for nearly if not quite an.
other year. The loss to the country 10 this
direction will be incalculable, and it is of
paramount Importance to the business pros
perity Of the land that the strife of politi-
clans ceases, and the wisdom of statesmen be-
gins.
Year: 1876

This is what the New England Farmer
says Of our Vermont board of agriculture:


vermont has certainly done an excellent
work for the agriculture Of the state, by es-
tablishing and maintaining her board Of agr-
culture, and the board, through these meet.
ings and reports, is surely educating the far
mers to higher position in their calling,
aud making it possible for the sons Of far.
mers to remain on the old homesteads, with
reasonable prospects for becoming indepen-
dent and contented farmers and useful citi.
zens."


And we hope those who were so zeal.
GUS in their endavors to destroy it will poA-
der these words from an outsider who sees
the result but cares nothing for the local
friction. The board is not perfect; all its
proceedings have not boen after our mind.
Sometimes we have most thoroughly opposed
it, but for all that it has done noble work
one which will bear fruit these many years,
and we want it perpetuated; we want to
see the forces at its command multiplying,
and Its influence going into every valley, up
on every hillside Of our state. And instead
of seeking its destruction, we prefer the good
old rule of wedding out the faults aud sowing
the good. There is such a thing as destroy
ing oil the wheat in endeavOring to rid our
selves of few tares, aud we fear those who
we're so jealous against it would find them
selves unable to replace it with anything
better. After all the best way to remedy
any defect 10 the board is to take hold and
do all we can to make it grand success in
its winters work. This ruthless iconoclasm
which only seeks to destroy without having
any means of rebuilding with better material
and in a superior manner is as bad in agri-
culture as in any other field of endeavor. We
don't like an old barn, but it is vastly better
than none, and our motto is, give the board
a good generous support till we can make it
better, though for ourselves we can't see that
it has so many aud glaring defects. With
chronic fault6nders we have no patience
they doubtless have their place in the world
but, with strange fatality, never seem to
find it.
Year: 1876

SURGERY FOR DOMESTIC ANIMALs.-Farm-
ers should know that broken bone may be
set aud the injury cured in a dumb animal,
as we'll, considering their different natures,
as in human being. once saved young
horse which got well and strong after his
hind leg was broken and not long ago had
year old heifer which got her hind leg
broken above the hook joint. The steer
that broke it chased her over the bars, aud
the broken bone projected through the skin
some inches. got her into pen we'll pro-
vided with litter, and set the bone as well
as the circumstances would admit, aud
splinted and bandaged it up, and in six weeks
it was apparently as we'll as ever with the
exception of small callous at the place where
broken. The animal may now be seen at
my place.--Cor. Maine Farmer,
Year: 1876

"GO West, young man, go West" said
the great and good Mr.. Greeley. Yes, 20
West if you will, but first consider what you
are coming to, from this testimony Of a Kan.
sas farmer "There is not man who can
SOW wheat the second time on the same piece
Of ground, in one season, and look at a fat
grasshopper sitting astride blade of grass
waiting for it to come up, without having
thoughts fit through his injured feelings,
which if expressed, would not sound we'll in
q Westinghouse"
Year: 1876

PooR HAY.-A correspondent of the Prac-
tcal Farmer says: my method Of dis
posing Of poor hay which Crews upon two
or three acres of cold, wet land which have,
is as follows During the cold days of
early winter feed my stock in the morning
with plenty of good hay. About the mid
die of the forenoon fed them, either in the
stables or barn-yards, with good, bright corn.
stalks. After they have had a run in the
yard for five or six hours | cut up lot oi
hay by running it through feed cutter
and put two bushels Of the cut hay into the
manger feach COW. l then throw on water
enough to moisten it, sprinkle on from two
to four quarts Of meal, and mix it up with q
pitchfork When the feed is all mixed
let the cows in. They eat the hay up clean
and neither dry up nor grow poor while kept
in this way. This is the best plan for dis
posing Of poor hay which have ever tried
and think it may safely be commended tc
the attention of all farmers who have this
kin of fodder on their hands"
Year: 1876

KEEP STocK WARN.-A COW fed on twenty
pounds Of hay daily, having no shelter in the
winter season, except perhaps an open shed
about TO tumble down, would be in no bet
ter condition in the spring than she would
he if fed on fifteen pounds daily, and kept
in warm stable at night, and allowed the
run Of the barnyard in pleasant weather.
This is a result that has substantially been
proven thousand times. Now we will
compute the loss to farmer on ten COWS,
which are left through the winter on the un.
protected system aud many barns afford
but slight warmth to stock over the open
air, being boarded up vertically, with cracks
between the boards from half inch to an
inch wide, and all sure barns come under
the losing system of wintering stock. 1t
would be fair to estimate hay to be worth
SIS ton as an average value throughout
the country. Ten cows not well protected
will require so pounds a day more than
when kept in a warm stable, for at least
four months, or 1l2 days, worth 371 cents
daily, or during ll2 days, S42. Probably
the loss on each animal, no matter how fed
would be at least So consequently, farmers
who study their own interests build warm
barns, but 80 as to be well ventilated in
mild weather, and thus save enough in fod.
der in few years to pay the cost of them
But much can be done with old buildings to
make them warm battens can be nailed
over the cracks, the roofs can be repaired,
doors made to shut close, and thus the CON-
fort Of domestic animals can be enhanced
to say nothing of the saving in fodder. Farm
ers, do you realize this important fact
Some Of you do not seem to realize it at all
aud such men are always talking Of "hard
times" being slack in all they do.-Farm
er'S Friend.
Year: 1876

Says Kentucky Journal Educated men
and women in this day have an aversion to
work. Ifa boy can read Greek he is too
good to plow if girl can finger old school
pieces on the piano, she is theme eforth exempt
from all domestic labor. Thus children be.
come positive expense to the farmer" All
Of which may be true, though we never could
see that the reading of Xenophon increased
our natural reluctance to guide the plow
share or use hoe. This talk about education
spelling men for the farm is all nonsense.
That many farmers sons do not follow the
calling of their fathers after leaving college
is because they can, or think they can, do
better at something else, just the same rea-
son which induced the father to become q
farmer. 1t is folly to suppose that farmers
would not follow some other calling If they
were satisfied they could do better at some
thing else. Men usually choose their call.
ings from motives Of self interest whether
they read Greek or not. If an educated
young man despises work, it is proof that
his culture is superficial and his brains shal.
low. And, by the way, it occurs to US that
we have seen not few men exhibiting q
strong dislike for work who never saw q
Greek letter, and might find some difficulty
in reading the vernacular. Laziuess has its
roots back Of education it does not all
sprisg from Greek roots and mathematic
rules or chemical symbols, and this attempt
to shirk personal depravity off on the shoul
ders of old Homer may not be a myth, but
it is a despicabe deed. Now just own up that
you arc ipnately lazy, for that is the truth ia
the case.
Year: 1876

CANADA SHEEP.-Over eleven hundred
sheep have recently been shipped on two
steamers from Canada for Liverpool market.
Their arrival in England is hailed with much
delight, as is any movement that will reduce
the cost Of butchers meat in English markets.
now excessively dear. This movement is
one Of great interest to our American farm
ers, as well as consumers. During the last
few years we have been importing annually
half million sheep from Canada, on the
import value Of which the importer has been
obliged to pay the United States government
twenty per cent. duty. Now our shrewd
neighbors estimate that this twenty per cent.
Of the value Of their sheep, now paid to us
to help support our government, will cover
the cost Of shipping the Same to Great
Britain, hence they can lay the animals
down at Smithfed market, London, at the
same cost as at Brighton market, Boston,
As the English market is much better one
for the seller of meat than the American,
this movement may eventually result in quite
a diversion Of the Canada sheep trade
American CultiUator.
Year: 1876

DemOCf0t0 ~ kex0tmeE0s


The Democrats do not succeed we'll in
the role Of reformers. It does not suit
their tastes, habits, or inclinations, and
they get on in it something as an old topper
who should undertake to lecture on tenn
perance, wettiDg his whistle with black
strap or brandy after every pause. They
seem to have been so tickled at the dis
covery of mares nest in the War Depart.
ment which they could use for political
capital that they kept the matter from the
knowledge of the Republican members Of
the committee al long as possible. and only
reluctantly admitted them into the eecret
at last. But they blundered fatally at the
business. They let Marsh, the most i'm
portant witness against Belknap they had,
escape from their hands and from the coun-
try in spite of the warning Of Mr.. Bass, and
now the impeachment business over which
they made such q demonstration hangs
in mid-air, q notifying exhibition of
Democratic incompetency. They &C.
cused the Cabinet of soaring Marsh away:
but the Cabinet did not hold it's meet
ing till that rascal, who had been dismissed
by Clymer, was crossing the Canada line.
the members of the committee to furnish
the data for a suit against Belknap to the
grand jury, when they were under the pro-
lection Of the House, and ceuld not have
been taken out of it by force. In short,
they have bungled and blundered through
the whole business from the outset by try
ing to use public misfortune for private
partisan end, and squeeze political capital
out of national calamity. Every move
they make in the investigation business
shows their ignorance and incompetency,
and their unwiIlngness to 60 to the bottom
Of the roatter and propose a real remedy in
a thorough reform of tie civil service proves
their lack of earnestness. 1t begins to look
as though there were a Democratic cat nm
der the meal which they are afraid Of ex-
posing, for it is hard to believe set of
politicians are half as stupid
as these Democratic managers appear to
be.-Ne,c York Graphic.
Year: 1876




1t has suddenly dswned upon the public
that Miss Mary Anderson, now playing at
the St. Charles Theatre, is young lady of
unusual talent, and twice the number of
people were present last night, compared
with the night previous, and the new
actress was greeted With enthusiasm. This
must have been very gratifying to one who
comes here q novice, q stranger. and IN
known to fame; and it is pleasant for o
chronicler of theatrical events to be able to
say the lady deserves this hearty pub
lie recognition Of her talents. Her
rendition of Juliet is crude: but
che is go unstudied and earnest
in the character that she wins hearty ap-
proval. Juliet is a much-abused character.
The cold and statuesque acting Of Miss
Bateman, and the warm sensual zation Of
Nelson, carry it to extremes not within the
bounds of the simple love story of "Romeo
and Juliet" Miss Anderson appears not to
act. She is the simple girl, led by her
heart, all for Romeo. Her earnestness ia
her present charm. Tonight she will play
julia, in the "Hunchback


Miss May Howard will repeat her char
acter of Mercy Me,rick in the New Mag
dalen' at the Varieties Theatre this noon
and at night. The play is we'll put on the
stage and pleasantly acted.


The entertainments of General Tom
Thumb and his little party at Odd Eel
lows Hall, given every afternoon and eve
ming, are immensely pleasing to the young
generation, and interesting to all classes.
They are much in little.
Year: 1876

yno SuOAtltuuO0 OI S1lvGrs


Says Washington special to the Phila-
delphia Press:


1t is ascertained that the Secretary of the
Treasury will not sign the order for the
substitution of silver for fractional currency
unless specifically directed so to do by the
President, or by resolution of Congress.
The higher officials of the treasury admit
the entire practicability of the measure,
and have strongly urged it within the past
few days. but the Secretary persists in with
holding bis signature. The silver now lies
idle in the vaults of the sub-treasuries and
United States deposltaries at the money
centres in every part of the country, ready
for the Secretary's orders. In political
point Of view it is thought that the Score.
tary would promptly seize the opportunity
to meet the expectations of the people in
this matter. In conversation with friend
be stated that he did not wish to assume
the responsibility, though he felt assured
that the step would be successful. In the
meantime the fractional currency on hand
at the date of suspension of work in the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing is we'll
nigh exhausted. This would force the use
of silver, but, as the Secretary's friends
cav, it would be attended with no special
credit.
Year: 1876

The reported failure of the National Bank
of the State of New York caused consldera'
BILE excitement ON Change here yesterday
morning, and especially among bankers
who had deslings with the Bank OF New
York, the two being confounded IN the
rumors, though the latter named institution
was not affected. The press dispatches OF
last night give further particulars, showing
that the suspension was by order OF the
conference committee of the Clearing House.
A private dispatch received here yesterday
afternoon by banking house from q firm
of leading bankers in New York says:


The National Bank, State Of New York.
depositors will be paid in full. No other
banks affected.


This comes as private advice from we'll
informed men not connected with the bank
under suspension, and leads to the belief
that the suspension is only temporary, or
that peculiar arrangements have been made
to protect depositors, who are usually
made to suffer for managers mistakes.
Year: 1876

We publish in another column an article
from the Japan Gazette showing how the
strange work of our Bourbon House of
Representatives on diplomatic and con.
sulnr matters appears from an Oriental
standpoint. We can see from these state
ments what credit is given to the United
States Government by foreign nations for
the penurious economy shown in our dip
lomatic and consular service, to say nothing
of the degrading position we, as nation,
would be placed in should the further re-
ductions recommended by the Committee
on Appropriations become law. To those
who have been obliged. as Americans, to
see and hear what people from other na-
tions think Of our system it becomes mat.
ter that greatly affects our national pride,
aside from the great injustice done to us
by comparison with the liberality Of other
representative nations in their foreign
service. We have in the past suffered
from the severe economy in the expendi-
lures for foreign intercourse, and now to
still reduce it goes beyond endurance, and
would make it true that this action was
unworthy any selfrespecting nation. Can
our Appropriation Committee see them
selves as others see them in this matter?
We hope they may, and at least undo some
of the work they attempted in the diplo-
matte and consular bill. There is good
chance for reform in this direction before
this stupidity makes US the laughing stock
of the world
Year: 1876

about one fourth of the year, and this OBJ
struction it charges to the people of the
United States in the shape of high tariff or
non payment Of interest. 1t does not
matter which is the greatest item, for both
come out Of the people, and the two
amount to at least $40 600, 900 a year.


The people of the country. especially OF
the West and South, have come to the con-
clusion that this force dcontribution should
cease, and tlat, instead of extortion and re.
pudiation, they should have an open high
way to the Pacific. They desire to have
line of railway, on or near the thirty-second
parallel, free from climatic and other physi-
cal distractions, and one that would fur
nish needed facilities of travel and trans
portation to twelve millions Of people.


Even Il the Union and Central Pacific
were paying their debts to the Govern
ment, instead of forcing the money from
the people, and were carrying freight and
passengers at ordinary rates, still there
would exist the necessity for another road
to accommodate q vast territory, lying
quite beyond the range or reach Of this
line. The mineral wealth alone Of New
Mexico, Arizona, and the northern States
of old Mexico, is sufficient to warrant the
construction of such road.


Why not build the road in question? 1t
is too vast an enterprise for individual
means or credit, and the company who
have undertaken its construction come for
ward and ask the Governments good will
and a friendly Endorsement of interest to
enable them to prosecute the work. They
do not ask for money or lands or loans, but
a simph guarantee of interest on their
construction bonds. For such guarantee
they pledge beforehand not only the
earnings Of the road, but all its property
and franchises. The Government would
be saved from loss in the single item of
transportation and border protection.
Who opposes this enterprise? The same
men that now levy tax Of ten millions a
year upon the country to enable them to
fully satisfy their anxious greed. To
crafty their selfish desires they would
have vast territory chained down to per-
petual barharism, and tax Of ten millions
a year collected from the people of the
United States.
Year: 1876

THE scandal mongeTs at the other end
Of the Avenue, known as the ex Confed-
erstc-Doughface majority of the House Of
Representatives, are reveling again over
an er pdrtc exposure of the incidents at
tendant upon the safe. burglary affair.
The jackals Of the Detective Press have
taken up the howl and the country echoes
and re- echoes with loud scclaims of their
pretended discoveries. Meanwhile, the
answer Of inculpated parties is entirely
withheld from publication or given to the
press in a garbled form. At the same
tine the public service is seriously inter-
fered with, because the House has failed to
attend to its legitimate duty Of appropriat-
ing funds to defray the legitimate ex-
penses Of the Government This may
appear to some people as craftsmanship,
but to the unprejudiced eye it looks very
much like mud throwing demagogism.
Year: 1876

we re introduce coin generally as circu-
lsting medium, the chances are that the
temptations offered, combined with in.
creased facilities at hand, would subject it
to frequent immersions in sweat baths,
which would result in an alarming increase
of public loss over all former experience.


The question presents itself with much
force, whether in resuming coin payments
we shall use the coin per force or take the
option of representative paper in the shape
Of coin notes. Economy, utility and con-
venience would seem to dictate the latter
as the sound policy. The cost of paper.
printing and issue of the notes is more than
compensated by those losses which occur
in the yicissitudes of life to destroy paper
currency beyond the possibility of its pre-
sentation for redemption. As shown above
the cost is less than one half the gain.
And this loss to individuals by careless
ness and accident is in nowise such as the
Government is bound to make good. 1t is
one. moreover, that may be suffered with
a coin medium to a considerable extent,
perhaps equal TO the liability with paper.
The loss of individuals is gain to the peo-
pie collectively. On the other hand, the
coin loss from sweating is the loss Of the
people collectively and gain to the
thieves. The coin loss from attrition is
absolute annihilation of intrinsic worth.
Ifthe coin is deposited in the Government
vaults and certificates or coin notes issued
to represent it, the loss by "sweat" and at
triton will be greatly avoided. The in
stances in which coin will be handled
under this arrangement will be rare, and
the landings be chiefly in boxes and large
bulk. The question is one of serious i'm
portance, and the present is the proper
and opportune moment for its solution.