smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

Early in the season we called the attention
of the Board of Health and the Board of Po-
lice to the terrible condition of the lowlands
known as the Harlem flats The necessity
of immediate action was admitted on all
hands, and for a time we hoped that some
thing would be done to abate the nuisance.
1t has been found, however, that the red tape
and the working at cross purposes ofthe differ
ent departments Of the city government pre-
vent anything from being done, and now we
are almost without hope. Everything is tied
up but the smells, and these are fouler than
ever The frequent rains of the last few
weeks, followed as they have been by hot
suns, are making the whole district unen-
durable. 1t was bad enough before, and
during the whole summer an epidemic
seemed impending but from the causes we
have mentioned the condition of the flats is
so much worse now that we do not see how
plague is to be averted much longer. If an
epidemic begins in the upper part of thd
island its ravages will be fearful, and some
thing must be done to avert the danger. In
their present condition the Harlem flats are
a constant menace, and it is due to the long
suffering people of the metropolis that i'd
should be removed. Will the Board Of
Health make another effort to abate the
nuisance? There is some way to disinfect
these pest beds, and we depend upon the
health officers to discover it. Up to the pres
ent time no earnest effort has been made
either to obtain the money or to do the work,
and such an effort is imperatively demanded.
Should an epidemic sweep over the city from
this cause the responsibility incurred by the
members of the Board Of Health will be more
than they can bear, especially after SO many
appeals have been disregarded. They must
do the work or show the public that the OBJ
stacles in their way were insurmountable.
Year: 1875

they feel safe from removal if they happen to
be in possession of facts inculpating their
superiors. Their position is like that of
slovenly private servants who know scandal
Gus family secrets which they would be
likely to divulge if dismissed There is no
possible remedy for the inefficiency and de-
moralization Of our city police but in remoy-
ing these infamous Commissioners and put
ting honest, reputable men in their place.
We trust Mayor Wiclham will not shrink
from the discharge of this imperative duty


And as the Mayors removals cannot take
effect until approved by the Governor let us
hope that he will do nothing to affront the
pride or offend the official sensitiveness of
Governor Tilden and create another long de-
lay like that which followed his charges
against the late Corporation Counsel All
the evidence should be Immediately for
warded to the Governor without even
waiting for him to demand it, and
as this is a period of comparative
leisure there is no reason why His Ex-
cellency should not give it his prompt
attention. In so fragrant case he cannot
decline to act. We trust, therefore, that be-
fore the end of another week the accused
Commissioners will be decapitated and their
places filled by citizens of standing and re-
pute who possess and deserve public conf
dence
Year: 1875

In spite of rains and foods army worms
and grasshoppers, the crops promise to turn
out satisfactorily. The wheat crop will not
be so large as was hoped and believed six
weeks ago. but it will be an average crop.
Corn promises very well, which means large
meat crop for shipment, and from the South
we hear no bad news about cotton. The
floods have destroyed good deal on the
Lower Mississippi, but much less than was
feared. Elsewhere the cotton reports are
favorable. The European demand for both
grain and cotton will give US good prices for
everything we shall have to sell, and proba-
bly, brisk demand for our products. Farm
ers and planters will make money, the rail-
road people are hopeful and expect to have
busy and profitable season, and in the
West local manufactures of different kinds
are already fully employed This condition of
things would bring about a general revival
of industry if only we had sound and
stable currency. But so long as we have
currency of variable value so long as party
leaders on both sides urge still further in
hation and consequent depreciation of the
currency ; so long as no man can tell for six
months, or even six weeks, ahead what will
be the real value, the buying power, of q
paper dollar-just SO long prudent men will
lock up their means and decline to engage in
new enterprises, no matter of what kind
With abundant crops and promise of good
prices all the country needs is dollar Of
fixed value to start it at once on a new career
of prosperity. This unfortunately, our
statesmen refuse to give us. The best of
them are on the fence, the worst of them cry
out for ''more greenbacks" While this lasts
the best thing a farmer can do with his sur
plus cash is to turn it into gold and keep it
there, or to buy land. Then, at least, he
will know what he has got.
Year: 1875

The MASSACRE PASIc.-The negro scare in
Georgia appears to have been gotten up for
political effect. So far no conclusive proof of
an intention to massacre has been found, and
in all probability no such thing ever existed.
Even the most ignorant of the blacks must
feel that 30 bring on war of races would be
to insure their own destruction. If a few OF
the scoundrelly white men Of both the politi-
cal factions who are engaged in tanning i'll
will between the races were hanged to the
trees and left as a warning to their fellows it
would be great advantage to the South and
to the nation. Let the law inquire into the
facts of the reported conspiracy to massacre,
and if any be found guilty let them be
punished severely especially the fellows at
the bottom of the trouble but let as have no
panic and no outcry for vengeance based on
an imaginary wrong.
Year: 1875

THE EXPLORATION COMMISSION seems likely
to terminate in row. Among the investi-
gators yesterday something like the 'lie
direct passed between two of the gentle
men" composing the committee, and one
member announced his intention of retiring.
1t is difficult to see what the aim of the Com
mission is. So long as Mr.. Nolan was in
view there was very evident desire on the
part of the members to find out how that
simple young man pocketed his ''big fee
and how it was distributed. Failing in this
theinquiry has become little Wild and every
body seems inclined to tread on every other
bodys favorite corn, but the public service
does not seem to be much the gamer.
Year: 1875

RAPID Transit seems again in danger Of
eluding the anxious citizens of New York.
The time is rapidly approaching when the
Commission, called into existence by an act
of the Legislature, must terminate its labors
and yet nothing definite has been ac-
complished. There are the usual rivalries
of interests and opinions dividing the coun-
ellis of the Commissioners, and charges of
self-seeking already begin to be whispered
about. We hope the gentlemen of the Com
mission will not allow the splendid opportu-
nifty that has been placed in their hands
of advancing the interests of the city to be
lost, but that they viii prove their fitness for
che trust reposed in them by giving to New
York q cheap and sffantiys system of rapid
transiA
Year: 1875

There will be rendered to our returning
hope, however, that the people of America
will mark their appreciation of the pluck,
self-denial and skill displayed by the men,
bers Of the American team in the interna-
tional rifle contest at Dollymount. That
victory reflected credit on the American
people. 1t was not a victory for any city or
section, but for the whole nation and it is
only just that all should join in mark
ing their appreciation of the splendid
conduct of our champions. So far the
work of procuring a suitable testi-
monial for the members of the team
has been confined almost wholly to New
York and the few with whom the com
mittee have come personally in contact 1t
is evident that unless a wider interest is
taken in the collection of funds the testimo-
NAL to the team will not be worthy of the
event. This would reflect discredit on the
American people and would be an exhibition
of ingratitude very foreign to their habits.
For the honor of America the gentlemen
composing the team made great personal
sacrifices in abandoning their ayocations for
so long period with no prospect of reward.
Under these circumstances the nation will
fail in its duty if some substantial testimo
NAL worthy of the occasion be not rendered
to them, and it cannot be done without
money. Every man who takes pride in the
victory won at Dollymount should send in
his subscription to the committee.
Year: 1875

1t is said that good deal of real estate is
being sold under foreclosure of mortgage, at
this time particularly by insurance compa-
MES. Wherever this happens it may be
taken for granted that it is speculation on
unproductive real estate which is thus sacri-
ficed and this is benefit to the real estate
market 1t is simply such clearing out of
odd lots as is needed to put this kind of
property on a sound basis. Trade is so dull
just now, and so much capital is lying idle,
that its owners are but too glad to be able to
invest it in valuable mortgages; and no
mortgagor who pays his interest regularly,
and has really valuable property pledged, is
likely, for the present, to be called on for the
principal. But there is a large quantity
still of unproductive real estate in this city
and Brooklyn the owners of which find it
difficult to pay their interest, taxes and as
sessments, and where they default the prop
erty is foreclosed of course. When we hear
of the great fall in the value of real estate it
is mostly such property as this which is
spoken Of 1t has fallen, and it may fall
lower yet; but productive real estate, well
placed, is not falling, and the owners of such
property are not inclined to sell it at any
price. They hold on, because it is the best
investment they can have, and every move
ment for ''more greenbacks" really increases
the value of such property; for if the infa-
tionists should carry the day there would be
only two kinds of property for prudent men
to put their means into-namely, gold and
real estate.
Year: 1875

An AZTEC CrY-In our Colorado letter is
an interesting account of the ruins Of an an
cient city seen by our correspondent in the
southwestern portion Of that Territory on
tributary Of the San Juan River As these
ruins are the remnants Of extensive struc-
lures Of masonry they have, of course, no re-
lation with the story of the red man known
to us as the occupant Of the country, who
has no masonry in his history. But upon
cursory examination no more than this can
positively be said Of them. It is, however,
probably most rational to call them, as our
correspondent has done, Aztec ruins, and
thus to associate them with the history of
the older race known in the story of
Mexican civilization for it can scarcely be
possible that time should have left MS such
relics as these of any prehistoric inhabitants
of tha Continent
Year: 1875

JAPANESE LEGISLATION AND STATEsMANsHIP
form the theme of very interesting letter
from Toxic which we print this morning
The organization and work of the Genro In
are detailed and hereafter we shall probably
have as full details of the doings of this
Legislative body as of the Prussian Reichsrath
or the British Parliament.
Year: 1875

The rumor that Governor Allen is to
invention. The correspondent of the
HERALD, who interviewed Mr. Allen at
his farm few days since, found him in ex-
cellent health, full of talk and vivacity, and
buoyant with sanguine hopes. He is not the
kind of man to back out after accepting q
nomination. However deluded he may be
on the currency question, he is under no de-
lusion as to the popularity of initiation with
q majority of the Ohio democrats, and he
knows that they could substitute for him
no candidate who would receive as many
votes Even Mr. Pendleton would not run
as well, because the hard money minority of
the party would then have to support
imitation, pure and simple, or desert
the ticket So fatal would it be to
change the ticket in the midst of the canvass
that the party could not even afford to put
a man of sense and discretion in the place
of the voluble General Carey, who is spout
ing floods Of nonsense over the State 1t is
to be hoped that the democratic party of
Ohio may be laid out as very cold corpse in
October, since no calamity short of a third
term could be worse than the success of the
infationists. But only the improbable event
of his death can take Governor Allen out of
the field. His party will succeed with him
if it succeeds at all, and we should rejoice to
see the infationists beaten when led by their
most popular man.
Year: 1875

General Alfred Anstell, broker of
Atlanta, Georgia, who ha- been visiting
New York, gives his experiences in an
Atlanta paper. He tells the Southern
farmers that they are in a better condi-
ton than the masses of the North:


The merchants are depending upon
the West and South to bring in some
trade. They calculate to get our cotton
cheap. Goods are now cheaper than
when cotton was from FIVE to six cents
per pound. If they cannot sell the
goods they make, they cannot pay big
prices for cotton, and they think the
price of this crop will go down to 10
cents. Contracts are made now to de-
liver cotton there in November for from
121 to 133 cents per pound. Last year
we made upwards of four million bags
of cotton, and yet the people cannot
consume all the goods made. Matters
will not be bettered much by the pres
ent crop.


We are better off to-day than the
North. They have their paupers and
their people out of work, and must pro-
vide for them We are an agricultural
people and produce, by which, if a man
has anything made he can sell it. If he
has it there is a market price for it.
Such people are always safe, but those
who cannot make and hence have moth
ing to sell, must suffer. They must
steal, commit crime. or be provided for
by puhlic charity. We have produced
that which is staple. and there is plenty
of money to buy it, and We will sell and
profit nv our industry. Our prosperity,
is measured only by our industry. This
you may rely upon as an axiom to the
Southern people.


Our condition is in every way promis
ing. We are far better off than the
Northern people, all things considered.
Our Georgia seven per cent. bonds are
commanding par in New York to day.
We owe less money than almost any set of
people in the Union, and made onr crops
this year worth fiftv per cent. less money
than in any year since the war. What
we want to do is simply to practice
economy, husband our resources and de-
velop our industries. ! don't think the
South has anything to fear from the
prostration and panics in the North;
we'll sell all we produce, whether nt
high or low prices makes little matter,
for we'll buy what we need at proper
tionately high or low figures.
Year: 1875

Sheep are undervalned by the mass of
landholders, as means of keeping mp
the fertility Of the soil and putting
money into the pockets of the farmers.
The moment one begins to talk of sheep
husbandsy, the listener or reader begins
to look for wool quotations, as if the
wool is all that yields profit from sheep.
One might as well look for wheat quo
tations alone when there is talk about
the profits of farming. Sheep on farm
yield both wool and mutton. They are
the best farm scarvengers, "cleaning a
field" as no other class Of animals will.
They give back to the farm more in
proportion to what they take from it
than any other class of animal, and dis
tribute il better with a view to future
fertility of the soil. Prove this. There
is no need of proof to those who have
kept sheep, and know their habits and
profits they yield. To prove it to those
who have not had the experience, it is
necessary they should try the expert
ment or accept testimony of an expert
enced shepherd New York Herald.
Year: 1875




From the Pittsburgh Commercially
Several years ago considerable excite
ment was created in Fairmont, West
Va, by the discovery of traces of an old
macadamized road extending along the
right bank of the Monongahela, opposite
that place. Recently the government
engineering party engaged in the sur
vey of the Upper Monongahela River,
with the view of slack watering that
stream from Morgantown to Fairmont,
examined this old road, and from the
members of the party we learn that there
can be no doubt but that this road furn-
ishes another trace of the lost race that
once dominated the continent long be-
fore the Indians came into possession.


There are traces of the road for nearly
eleven miles along the narrow strip of
bottom land between the hills and the
river, though at many points the river.
having shifted its channel and cut into
the hills, has entirely obliterated every
evidence of it. Generally the road is
covered by from two to FIVE feet of al
luvinm, either deposited through the
course Of ages by the river floods, or else
by the slow washing off the hills skirt
ing it. Its width is said to be fifteen
feet.
The most curious feature about the
road is that the stone from which it is
formed appears invariably to have heen
| burnt. Wherever the road shows itself
in the cutting banks, it is marked by the
black substratum of ashes. In depth
the broken stone varies from six inches
to eighteen inches, of irregular frag-
ments. The material employed appears
to have been largely composed of bouid-
ers of red sandstone, and the conjecture
is that they were broken aften being
made hot with water thrown upon them
There being few (f any) boulders in
the river or adjacent country, the query
arises, where could the material have
been obtained to make this road?


At the crossings of the streams there
are no traces of bridge abutments or
piers, which leads to the conclusions
that the streams were crossed on wooden
bridges. At many points the road is
covered with trees over 150 years old.
which makes it certain that it was con-
structed long before the advent of the
white man; and there are other circum-
stances surrounding the case which lead
inevitably to the conclusion that it was
made in those early ages when semi
civilized people inhabited North Amer.
ica. No one acquainted with the habits
of the American Indians would give
them credit for constructing such work
of art as this
Year: 1875




Five years ago Benz. s. Grosvenor
lived in Dowaeiac. In June, 1870, he
left home for The purpose OF going to 81.
10 to butcher. lie did not return and
his wife could only learn that he got of
the cars at Miles but did not reach 81.
10. She heard nothing OF him until
the following September, when in a
huckleberry marsh near Buchanan a
body was found so badly decomposed
that the features were unacceptable.
Some of those who saw il were positive
that it was Grnsvenor, and sent to Dow
agiac for his wife to come and view the
body. She went down and was met at
the depot by a dentist Of DowaRiac who
bad seen it, and he told her that he WAS
positive il was Grosvenor, az be recogniz-
ed the teeth from some work he had
performed on them. She went down 20
see the remains, and, thongh she could
not positively identify them a. her hus-
band, all the indications looked that
way, and a day or two after she wept
over the grave Of her husband, az she
supposed. Not long after son, who
was lying very sick when the father
went away, died also, leaving her with
one child, little girl. She left Dow
agiae and came to this city, and Is now
cook in the Grand River House.


From that time she lived a widow
and believed herself such, though she
says that there was always a PRESENT.
ment on her mind that thev had all
been deceived and that her husband was
still alive. But her friends we're con
fident that he was no longer living, and
as the years passed by without tidinga Of
him she had TO give up hope, and only
at times would doubts arise in her mind.
Any doubt she might have felt was not
shared by others and il was supposed
that he had been murdered, and she has
received a number of letters from detec-
tives-one from Europe 10 fer
ret the mystery and bring the murderer
to justice. She had some reason to hold
to her doubts, for her husband, when ab-
sent before, had threatened to stay away
till he had acquired competence, but
she did think that if he carried this
threat into execution he would have
written 10 her.


Tuesday night at midnight man got
off the cars and presented himself before
her. 1t was the lost husband. He had
gone to Missouri and had been living
there. lie had not yet become rich but
got sick of the country and Returned
East. His wife was so indignant at his
leaving a sick family as he did and leav-
ing her TO work for herself, without let
ting her hear from bim-though he says
he did write but the letter miscarried-
that she gave him reception more cool
than that which is popularity supposed
to be the thing in such cases, and rather
minated that as she had got along very
well without him for five years she
could keep on doing so. This somewhat
dismayed him and he went to see a
brother near Saginaw and Is there still.
jackson (Migh.,) Patriot
Year: 1875

There is a funny side to even so sad a
case as the abduction of Charley Ross.
The father of the lost boy tells the story
to a reporter of the Philadelphia Times.
While in Canada recently, he saw a cir
cular of circus manager announcing
wax figures of the Ross family, together
with an offer of a reward of 1000 for
the discovers of the boy. Mr.. Ross
went to the circus and saw figures of
himself and wife, and Charley, none of
which bore the least resemblance to the
originals. Without making himself
known he talked with the exhibitor, who
told him he was a frequent visitor to the
Ross household, and that all the figures
were strikingly accurate likenesses.
When Mr.. Ross made made himself
known, the man was dumbfounded for a
moment, but Immediately expressed his
deep sympathy, declaring his willing
ness to pay the $4,000 reward, and Of
fered, in case the boy we're found, 10 give
the father 1000 a week for 80 weeks,
for the privilege of exhibiting himl
Year: 1875

EARLY FEEDING. - Early feeding
adds flesh more rapidly than late, and
puts on thick covering Of fat during
the warm weather to protect them dur.
ing the colder season Of winter. The
early fed corn being soft is easily digest
ed, and assists the fattening process great
iy, IA all know who have tried cooked
food for stock. We have known many
farmers TO delay the feeding Of their
hogs until late in the fall, 80 that they
might save sheir corn and hit late
market for their pork, but we never
knew one to secure the best results in
that way.
Year: 1875

PPoFIT IN PICKLEs-Many farmers
in this State do not know that they can
realize more money from raising cucum-
bers than from any other crop. There
is always a good demand for them il
picked small and well cured. They
should be salted by making strong pickle,
not dry sailed, as that will shrink them
up and cause loss to the grower as we'll
as to the parties who put them mp for
market. We are now compelled To- go
Chicago for pickles, on account of the
scarcity of them here. Even in Boston
and New York the supply does not meet
the demand, and millions of dollars
must go out Of this State for the very
article that we should ship to other large
cities.-f Maine Farmer.
Year: 1875

Farmers often raise poor stock which
will not begin to pay its cost, simply be-
cause at the start they save dollar or
two by using an inferior male animal


1t is a well established fact that pure
bloods transmit their characteristics to
their offspring with much more certain
~ than natives, which being generally
a combination of many strains of blood
are liable TO give US progeny of all i'm
aginable charaeteristics- But 1t does not
follow that we cannot improve upon our
native stock by carefully selecting the
breed. Get the best is the true policy.
Year: 1875

An exchange says: Lowers of house
plants will be sorry to learn that the
oleander is dangerous plant; but so it
is. Children have been poisoned by
eating the flower petals; cattle have been
by browsing on the foliage; single
drop of the milky, acrid juice, that
exudes when a twIg or leaf is broken of,
may produce the death of an infant.
The odor exhaled from the blossoms is
also deieterious to the health.