smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

We were commenting day or two ago on the as
tonshing accuracy with which political canvassers
calculated in advance the votes of some OF our
largest counties including Kings and New-York
Equally surprising is the accuracy and rapidity
with which the returns were reported for the papers
In New-York City this work is done for all the
papers by the Local Bureau of the Associated Press
conducted by Charles A. O'Rourke who after sew
eral years experience has reduced the work almost
to perfection. He no longer depends on the police
returns but collects the information directly at the
polls Independently of the police returns and as has
been repeatedly proved far ahead of them in the mat
ter of time With what accuracy he has done so
this time comparison of his figures with those OF
the official canvassers shows. OF the long list OF
forty-three local candidates elected published IN
The TRIBUNRs first edition the morning after the
election including Aldermen, not single name
had to be subsequently changed as incorrect. The
following figures indicate further the accuracy Of
the first hasty returns to the newspapers:
Year: 1876

To the Northern public, accustomed to see
the broad light of the daily press turned in
on almost every official act, the refusal of the
Louisiana Returning Board to admit repre-
sentatives of the leading papers of the conn
try as well as the local journals, will not seem
wise The Returning Board has given several
notable indications of an apparent desire to
do only what is right, and every good citizen
would prefer that his confidence In it should
be strengthened rather than shaken. And 1t
certainly is not strengthened by refusal OF
this kind supported by reason that seems
trivial
Year: 1876

notable indications of an apparent desire 10
do only what is right, and every good citizen
would prefer that his confidence In it should
be strengthened rather than shaken. And 1t
certainly is not strengthened by refusal OF
this kind supported by a reason that seems
trivial.


The effort which is to be made this Winter
at Albany to reform the cOrOner's office IN
this city by making the position a salaried one
ought to be successful. Those who are pre-
pairing the bill for that purpose Will find
interesting facts on which to base their argu-
ments in another column of tO-day's TRIBUNE.
1t will be difficult to devise a system which
will not grow corrupt, but it will tax ingenu-
ity to devise one more rotten than the one we
now have. The existing system of fees fur
nishes simply premium on fraud in the con-
duct of inquests, multiplying cases endlessly
and needlessly. II enables unscrupulous cOro-
ners to rob not only the city but the grave
itself. 1t is sadly in need of reform.


The startling news that Woodward, who
acted as the disbursing officer of the Tweed
Ring, has determined to turn States evidence,
will bring a shock of fear to many man who
JnOuSnU III Hdu alI DiOWu ONti' AIihO p''iJ
other corrupt combination. this one was COM
PEELED to make use of the respectable as well
as the vicious classes of the community, and
was always careful to put its money "where
cit would do the most good" long before
Oakes Ames told us his way of doing it,
Many a man who took Tweed's money In
secret lived to mOTalize in public over his
downfall and make speeches on econ
Omy and reform in Legislatures and conven-
tiOns. Some of them who, there is good reason
TO believe, did share in the plunder OF this
band of cormOrants, are in positions of trust
to-day, and the keen suspicion of the commu-
nifty has more than once singled them out to
the general contempt of their fellOw-citizens.
If Woodward shall tell all he knOws-and,
above all, if Tweed himself, whose lips have
remained sealed all these years, shall open
them-there is nc telling where the massacre
of regulations will end. And even should
all these projects come to naught the revela-
tiOns be unrevealed, and Tweeds unknown
cOnfederates go to their graves still haunted
by the fear of detection, there would yet be
ample compensation in the spectacle OF the
former chief of the most powerful municipal
ring known in history, sitting in prison cell,
n broken down, deserted old man, busily
thinking whether or not he shall save himself
from the penitentiary by betraying the con-
federates whom up to this hour he has
shielded. There are countless sermons III that
nicture
Year: 1876

Abundant details regarding the state of Eu-
rope are presented in our foreign letters printed
elsewhere. Their contents reflect the state OF
public opinion which has preceded the present
critical stage in the settlement of the Eastern
question.
Year: 1876

The extent to which the Russian and Turk
ish Governments are employing the various
arms and cartridge manufacturing companies
of this country viii probably astOnish many
who read the account elsewhere. The industry
Is one which all will prefer to see thrive at
the expense of foreign countries rather than
our own.
Year: 1876

The Commissioners of Police explain, in an
swer to the suggestion made yesterday, that
the fines imposed upon members of the force
are placed to the credit of the Police Life In
surance Fund. 1t would be well if every de-
partment of the City Government could
answer as promptly and explain as creditably
the disposition of the funds which come into
Year: 1876

We can repeat with approval the follow
ing advice in the Mirror aud Farmer: 1t
touches one Of the most prolific sources of
waste. Farmers whose minds and bodies are
active in winter show more activity of body
and enterprise Of mind than those who Glaze
round" all winter long, and get into torpOr
which lasts all summer.


The lumber business is dull and the farm.
er won't do much in winter. Taking care
of the stock is quite a chore, but it won't
take nearly all the time. Going visiting is
pleasant but the number of our friends is
limited and "the best bed" is always cold
one. Sitting around the store is profitable
to your party and may make you selectman,
but it won't fill your barn nor fattsn your
pigs, and so on. There will, therefore, be
some time between now and spring which it
won't take much Of an effort to waste, and
which, if saved, may be made to tell on the
next years crops. 1t is best to save it.
How? First by study, by mapping out the
campaign for the next season. 1t is charged
that our farmers run too much in the old
ruts, and there is some truth in the charge.
Many OF them began last spring Just where
they began the spring before; planted just
the same crops, manured them in just the
same way and cultivated them with just the
same kind of hoe as in all the other years
they have been farming. Perhaps this was
best, but perhaps it was not, and the time to
fnd out is in winter. Bring to your aid books
and papers, and study the experience of 9TH
ers and see if there isn't some crop which is
adapted to your farm, but which you have
not yet tried some method of cultivation
which you can adopt, or some breed Of stock
i that you can introduce to your advantage.


1t may be that you haven't kept as many
sheep or as good COWS as would be profitable
on your farm, that you might raise ton or
two of beets or other roots with profit; that
deeper or shallower plowiug than you now
practice would be better, and that other
changes 10 your plans would be of advan-
tage. You should find out all these things
in winter as far as they can be found out
without actual trial. Then, when you find
out what you will do another summsr, study
the best way to do it.
Year: 1876

gect manual labor-this is but the other
half. Aud just here large majority make
a grand mistake and fail to develop perfect
manhood. The farmer, generally, labors too
many hours with his hands, to the neglect Of
mental culture. Suppose he should set apart
one hour in each halliday for reading and
study, and supply himself with library
within his means composed Of scientific works,
biography, history, travel and standard
poetry, rejecting trash; he would soon be
astonished at his intellectual progress, and
also to find he had lost nothing in greenbacks
by the investment. With what zest he would
go forth to labor, meditating upon, digesting
and appropriating the valuable truths re-
vealed in his hour of study.


The professional man labors too many
hours with his brain to the neglect Of manual
labor, and is in consequence, too often of a
feeble constitution aud fails of that intellect
ual greatness he might otherwise possess.
His sickly habit betrays itself on every page
and he scatters his dispeptic ideas among his
hearers and readers like the dry leaves Of
autumn. If he would labor with his hands
two hours daily, adding strength to his mus
ces, he would also be astonished at his inn
provcment in physical power; and his read
ers would also be astonished and thank him
for the vigor and freshness of his ideas.


The mind and body are SO closely allied
and SO mutually dependent that if one is in
an unhealthy condition the other will suffer
But for his intellect, man is but brute. But
for healthy physique he is an intellectual
pigmy. What race of physical aud intel.
lectual giants would appear in a hundred
years with an endless activity Of greatness
before them, if all the powers could have a
proper degree of training and exercise
What magnificent result would be achieved
through couple of felonies s. Il. Q.


WlR,inoton
Year: 1876

We write much of the value and import
ance Of certain minerals as fertilizers, and
the necessity ofsupplying them if they are
lacking in the soil. PhOsphOric acid, potash
and nitrogen, are the substances which we
most generally seek to add in the form Of
manure; but in our eagerness to supply
these we should not overlook the Importance
Of the presence Of carbon, not only as plant
food oil ITSELF but as a solvent of other plant
food in the soil.


Carbon forms large proportion of the
vegetable matter which by slow decomposit-
ion becomes the vegetable mold in the soil,
growth Of crops. 1t is found in its purest
form in the diamond, in graphite, plumbago
or black lead, as it is more commonly called
and in charcoal.


United with oxygen, it forms a carbonic
acid which operates as powerful solvent,
rendering available those other mineral COM
pounds so necessary to the growth Of plants
DIR. Gregory, Professor of Chemistry in the
University Of Edinburg, gives the following


ITO illustrate the power Of water contain
ing carbonic acid to dissolve phosphate oI
lime, which is insolube in pure water,
may state" says he, "that found the car
cass of a pig which had been buried fol
fourteen years on the slope of hill which
was moist and undrained, to have shrunI
into fat cake of fatty acid the muscles,
membranes, nerves and vessels had purified
and disappeared and not = trace Of 6OH'
earth was to be found The whole had beer
dissolved by water percOlating through the
body, and had thus been carried down tC
the lower ground. found the water, like
all water which passes through soil, to con
tain sarbonic acid, and this had been thu
solvent.
Year: 1876

and the tendency Of the inAammationis to an
increased action Of the arteries sending more
and moro blood to the affected parts. To
relieve the heat, reduce the inflammation and
save the uddsr, the congestion must be re-
moved, first by reducing the circulation and
rush Of blood to the affected parts; second,
by restoring tho action of tho veins and
absorbents. Change the feed. Take away
the corn meal which is heating and give in
place of it oats, bran and roots, enough of
the latter to loosen the bowels only uery
slightly. The most effectual and safest local
application is hot water with little ammo
mia, enough to give it puugOnt odor, with
frequent, thorough manipulation and rub
biug of the udder. In obstinate cases regu-
lar milking may be resorted to. We have
taken ten or twelve quarts day for fort
night before calving from a two-year.old
heifer. But it must be borne in mind that
milking before birth tends to weaken the calf,
and should not be resorted to where a strong,
healthy calf is desired, as in case of these
heifcrs, unless absolutely necessary.


A little pains at this time often saves
great trouble after calving. So long as the
inflammation continues with no measures taken
for relief the tendency is to an increase Of the
heat and fever in the parts. 1t may, at
calvng, have affected the whole uddsr, which
is swollen, hard and tender; the least touch
causing pain. Then there is trouble in milk
ing. The poor heifer suffers inexpressiblO
tortures, and stands reasonable chance Of
becoming vicious, and the product Of milk
is likely to be permanently affected We
do not like to put heifer on short rations
at this time, as sometimes recommended,
because she has especial need Of nourshing
food. And the weakening result of short
rations sometimes has the effect to get her of
her feed. 1t is better to keep her up tc
full feed every day, but by changing it as
above, and perhaps the substitution Of riper
or poor quality of hay, to help relieve the
inflammation.
Year: 1876

tentatious public institutions. Every search
er after, and laborer for, truth should have
credit for his work. Tho Sturtevant
Brothers Of South Framiugton, Mass,
deserve especial mention for what they
have done and are doing. And yet, in all
these cases, the conducting Of experiments is
an incidental work, and is subsidiary to other
and moro eugrossing business. The stations
at Middlctown and Middl0bury, on the other
hand are designed to make a speciality Of ex-
periments, and to conduct the work with the
system and method which are thus more
attainable than when the work is more des-
utory. The first and most vital experiment
they have at hand, is the one Of existence.
Will the farmers sustain them in the labor
for their benefit Though the Vermont sta
tion is entirely voluntary, and asks for no
funds from the public or the state, it
must be apparent that any considerable re-
suits cannot be gained without material aid
from some source Let the farmers consider
the question whether it will pay.
Year: 1876

The average American Is in great hurry
to realize on his investments. If he orders
few garden seeds in January, he is
anxious to have them set Immediately; and
if he forwards six cents for copy of some
paper which contains story of which he
has read or heard, he does not forget to
request the publisher to send it "by return
mail" Patience which takes the form of
quiet waiting is virtue of which he seems
to be wolly ignorant He cannot wait the
progress OF events, but must constantly hurry
aud frOt in order to make nature move a
little faster than her wonted pace.


This tendency crops out very plainly
when he purchases trees. He finds them
described in the catalogue as "second class"
medium, first class" and extra" The
difference in these classes is principally, if
not wholly, in the size and height of the trees.
The larger the tree, the higher the price.
But tho farmer "dont care anything about
that" He wants good trees or none; aud
gives his orders for those of extra size, aud
which are four or FIVE years old. In doing
this he thinks he is acting wisely, but the
nurseryman knows better, and the farmer
will 6nd before long that with equal care,
the small trees will grow faster (f a fruit
tree,) and come into bearing condition sooner
than the larger ones.


In half dozen years, the tree that was
small will be larger and finer than the other.
The reason for this is obvious. The larger
the tree, the larger the roots which it has,
and the larger the roots the less fbres there
will be upon them. A tree that has plenty
6brous roots will grow readily, If proper
care is used in trausplanting But no amount
of skill eau ooaI tree 10 live and flourish
which is destitute Of these little 6bres. The
roots of large trees ara more or less mutiated
in the process of taking up, while the small
trees sustain little injury from this source.
Dealers in trees assert that experienced men
buy SMALL thrifty trees, while those who
are just starting, are anxious for the largest
ones to be had. Those who are to set trees
the coming season will do well to learn from
the experience Of those who at considerable
loss to themselves, have demonstrated that
small trees are the ones to buy.-N f.
Homestead.
Year: 1876

L. B. Arnold writes to the New York
Tribune on what is the most economical food
to buy for cows in milk in winter. He
omits to make any allowance for the value Of
straw. In many sections, even distant from
cities, straw sells at eight to ten dollars per
ton. If cut early aud cured bright, its value
as food for stock is equal to late cut hay not
we'll cured. Mr.. Arnold says:


1t does not pay to buy hay for cows in
milk at the present prices of grain. Oats
and corn are now cheaper than hay. When
have had food to buy for dairy of cows,
as have sometimes had occasion to do, l
found, by careful attention to weight and
cost Of food consumed and milk produced,
that kept my cows as satisfactorily on straw
aud corn at one dollar a bushel as on hay at
$40 ton. Feeding an equal cost Of corn
and hay, got the most milk from the corn.
The straw cost but little, and was paid for
by the excess of milk produced by the corn
Hay is now from $40 to $50 ton accord.
ing to locality, and state corn about 10 cents
bushel Corn is therefore considerably the
cheapest food. But oats are cheaper than
corn. With oats at 40 cents and corn at 10
cents, their cost per pound is equal; but
oats are much the best milk-producing food
when equal wei yhts are taken. think them
better than corn by 20 per cent ln days
past have shared in the opinion generally
entertained by dairymen now that the best
course in feeding cows is to give them all the
hay that can be crowded into them. But
am fast losing my sympathy with this kind
of feeding If the hay is early cut-in
blossom or before--it will do very well to
let COWS eat all they will, but not otherwise.
Hay cut later than in the blossom digests
too slowly and imperfectly to enable cows to
get enough ont of it to give as much milk as
they would on a more digestiblO diet.
Year: 1876

Farmers who sowed grass seed last fall
should SOW the clover seed at the first oppor-
tunity. The certainty of a good catch will
be enhanced if the seed is sown while the
ground is still frozen. A free application of
plaster to clover lands pays. On a clover
sod the best time to SOW is after the clover
has made good start in spring. Just be.
fore slow rain is the most favorable cOndi-
tion of weather for sowing plaster Whether
to SOW with the seed, or wait until the young
plants Have come up, on new stocked land
is a question which we would like to have
farmers answer.
Year: 1876

Sheep require especial care at this sea-
son. Their feet should be kept dry by the
liberal use of bedding. A little grain to
take the place of a considerable reduction Of
hay as the weather becomes warmer and
their appetites lose the stimulus of cold
weather, is favorable to their health. Extra
care is needed in feeding, to give as much
as they will eat and no more. Pure air by
all means should prevail in their quarters.
In case they occupy close sheds or Easements,
and the manure is not removed, special care
iu ventilation will bo necessary. Breeding
ewes should be made to gain and come to
lambing time in strong condition.
Year: 1876

"In a dry situation bones remain unaltered
for centuries, as in the sandy soil Of the
battlefield of Gamma fought more than two
thousand years ago), in which the bones Of
thoOe killed in that battle are found to this
day entire, though havingilost much of their
animal matter. The solvent power of car
boue acid must act in every soil, and hence
the value of humus," this is the material
Of the soil which is the result of vegetable
decomposition), "in the soil and Of decaying
organic matter in the manure."-American
Rural Home.
Year: 1876

Experiments on the Michigan agricultural
college farm determined that bushel Of
gypsum (plaster) sown on an acre, added one
ton of cured hay to the product Of the land
in two and one.half years. Our own farm
has shown results more satisfactory than that.
In one instance fall application of bushel
to the acre changed the crop from white top
to red clover, and increased the crop more
than ton per acre the first season. 1t will
not do to depend on equal results in many
cases, because disappointment would come.
Such experiments as these have convinced
farmers of the value of plaster.
Year: 1876

Professor Arnold states that in winter,
when there is not milk enough at a milking
to fll the large pans, two messes-m may be
strained in one pan, and if the temperature
of the room is quite low, more cream and
butter will be the result. The second mess
warns up the first, and facilitates the rising
of the cream.
Year: 1876

Tho editor Of the New Eugland Farmer
says, That the average NewEngIand farmer
could do better to pull up stakes and go West,
we do not believe, and the longer we live
and the more we learn of the two sections Of
our country, the stronger is our faith in New
England as place to live in"
Year: 1876

The Boston Journal relates the follow
ing: Among the many horses owned
by street railroad coL.pany is one who
used to give the hostlers q deal of
trouble by slipping his halter and roam
ing ut will about the stable. The halter
was on each occasion buckled on as
tightly as possible, but to no purpose,
for the horse would invariably be found
half an hour afterward making digni-
fed tour of the stable. This became
monotonous to the hostler, and he de-
termined to ascertain the modus operandi
by which his equine friend secured his
liberty. Again the halter was tightly
buckled on, and taking a seat where he
could watch his troublesome charge, he
ava ted developments. Pretty soon a
horse who stood beside the troublesome
one was observed TO poke his nose into
his neighbor's stall, and catching the
end of the halter strap between his
teeth, he pulled at it. His first, second
and third attempts to unloose the
buckle were unavailing, but with re-
markable perseverance tho horse re-
turned to his work repeatedly, and
finally out dropped the buckle tongue,
the throat, strap fell, and the horse of
inqnisitive mind was soon stalking about
the stable again. A change of location
was OF course necessity.
Year: 1876

The Richmond Wing says: In few
weeks young lady of great wealth and
personal attractions who lives in this
city will be led to the altar by the man
of her choice, who is an ex-penitentiary
convict, he having served for nine years
for robbery. The young man, since he
was released from confinement, has led
q model life, and has worked industri.
ously at his trade. There is tinge of
romance about the affair. The young
lady remained true to her lover during
his long confinement. There is no little
opposition on the part of her relatives,
but she will marry the man of her
choice, all obstacles Notwithstanding.
Year: 1876

If your kitchen floor squeaks, don't
put oil in the crevices; just engage a
cook whose sweetheart visits hor on the
sly and stays till the small hours. You
will never hear another squeak from
kitchen floor or basement door hinge as
long as they remain unmarried.