i5o 
March 4 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
THE 
Rural New-Yorker 
TIMES BUILDING, NEW YORK. 
A. national Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
ELBERT S. CABMAN, Editor-In-Chief. 
HERBERT W. COLLINGWOOD, Managing Editor 
EBWIN G. FOWLER, Associate Editor. 
Copyrighted 1893. 
Address all communications and make all orders payable to The 
Rubai. Publishing Company. 
Money orders and bank drafts are the safest In transmitting money 
SATURDAY , MARCH 4, 1893. 
Our Nebraska friend, on page 146, makes a point 
about potato planting by machinery. Should the rent 
of a machine be regulated by what it costs the owner 
or by what it would cost to plant the potatoes by hand? 
If it costs a farmer SI. 50 to plant an acre well by hand 
and his neighbor with a planter will do it for SI, should 
the first man be glad to make a bargain that saves 50 
cents or find fault with the price because the machine 
owner will make a big percentage on his investment ? 
Here we have in a nutshell the contest between the 
public and the owner of an invention that saves labor 
—let us call it a “ corporation.” 
* # 
Owing to the extraordinary rise in the price of cot¬ 
ton of late, amounting to an average of over $15 per 
bale, due to a shortage of about 1,500,000 bales in the 
world’s supply as compared with its consumption, the 
prospect is that a very unusually large area will be 
devoted to the crop in the cotton States this year, in 
spite of the efforts of the different conventions to cur¬ 
tail the acreage. Indeed, there is a strong belief among 
many observant men in the South that the efforts of 
these conventions have an effect directly contrary to 
what is intended—that they tend to defeat their own 
purpose. It is charged that they induce every planter to 
believe that there is going to be a reduction in the 
area under the staple, whereupon he plants a few more 
acres to take advantage of the supposed reduction of 
the number put in by others. Whatever truth there 
may be in this allegation, there’s a good deal of human 
nature in it. 
« * 
From present indications at Washington there seems 
to be slim chance that the Anti-Option Hill will pass 
both houses of Congress and receive the President’s 
signature before March 4. The fight for it has been 
mainly made by the farmers of the country, and that 
against it by the Boards of Trade and Produce Ex¬ 
changes and other beneficiaries of the present system. 
There are of course, as in all cases involving such 
large interests, strong arguments on both sides of the 
question, and those antagonistic to the measure are 
likely to have greater weight in the next Congress 
than in this, unless the farmers are still more “unani¬ 
mous” and emphatic in their support of it. It must 
not be forgotten, too, that while Secretary Rusk, the 
present representative par excellence of the agricultural 
interests of the country, is very strongly in favor of it, 
his successor, Secretary Morton, will be equally 
strongly hostile to it. 
Hast Monday was memorable for the most remark¬ 
able and disastrous, but least lamented railroad col¬ 
lapse that has ever occurred in this country. It was 
the outcome of an unscrupulous, greedy, grasping, 
absolutely selfish policy pursued almost uninterrupt¬ 
edly for nearly a quarter of a century, and as wealthy 
speculators who for years have shown themselves 
utterly regardless of the public welfare, were almost 
the only losers, the public at large are disposed to 
rejoice rather than grieve over the disaster. Twenty- 
four years ago, the Reading Railroad Company was 
making 22 per cent per annum on its invested capital, 
and the great trouble among the managers was to so 
manipulate the books as to show a profit of only 10 
per cent, in order to prevent public clamor for a 
reduction of rates. Then its traditional conservative 
policy of attending to transportation only was aban¬ 
doned, and a policy of absorption and combination 
substituted. By the purchase of 142 out of the 470 
miles of Pennsylvania anthracite coal lands at extrava¬ 
gant figures, the absorption or leasing on equally out¬ 
rageous terms of other competing railroads and a 
canal, $146,000,000 were added to the company’s debts 
in 14 years. Then it went into a receiver s hands, 
emerged for a short time, went in again, and again 
came out to begin a career of combination and public 
plunder unparalleled in railroad history. By financial 
jugglery it obtained the control of various roads, and 
by threats and bribery induced others to combine with 
it in a conspiracy for public legalized robbery. It 
ruthlessly reduced the starvation wages of its oper¬ 
atives, regulated the production of anthracite coal so 
as to charge New-Yorkers $6 a ton, though it could 
be profitably mined, transported and delivered at 
$3.50. The same exactions were practiced throughout 
all the territory tributary to it and its confederates. 
Even if they sold only 40,000,000 tons and made only 
$1 per ton, they could divide $40,000,000 of public 
plunder among them, of which the Reading would get 
the bulk. Not content with all this, in their rapacious 
lust for extortion, the managers invaded the teeming 
townships and factories of New England, where they 
came into sharp competition with more powerful and 
far wealthier rivals. Then investigation of the “com¬ 
bine’s” financial standing and a ruthless antagonism 
pricked the bubble, and a collapse by which the stock¬ 
holders lost over a dozen millions in a week and 
a score of millions or upwards in a month, sent 
the greedy concern once more into the hands of 
receivers, or, in other words, into bankruptcy. Born 
in iniquity, founded on public robbery, actuated only 
by the unscrupulous desire of adding to the millions of 
its managers at the unjust expense of the general 
public, who will regret the downfall of the monopoly ? 
* * 
Some of the papers are advertising what is known 
as “ Koal-spar.” The R. N.-Y. recently refused the 
advertisement of this stuff as the following “ claims 
for it seemed to us absurd. 
“1. Koal-spar saves25 percent of your coal bill. 
2. Koal-spar prevents smoke, therefore Is a smoke consumer. 
3. Koal-spar absolutely destroys coal teas.” 
“ Koal-spar consumes all the vitality there Is In coal.” 
One three-pound package of this “ koal-spar ” costs 
25 cents and is said to thoroughly treat one ton of coal. 
In times like these when the coal barons are making 
us pay a lively tax on heat, many poor people are 
eager to try anything that promises to make heat “go 
further,” and this stuff must have had a large sale. 
The Maine Experiment Station has analyzed it. It is 
a mixture of three parts of common salt and one part 
of carbonate of soda and Glauber’s salt, which can be 
prepared for five cents a package. “Kem-komansthe ’ 
mixture contains from four per cent of nitrate of pot¬ 
ash and 25 per cent of nitrate of soda. If you want to 
try “ Koal-spar ” throw a handful of salt in the fire 
and watch its effect. As to “ Kem-kom” its action is 
probably based upon the fact that nitrates supply 
oxygen and thus hasten combustion and heat. They 
would simply burn the coal faster. You can do that 
by opening the drafts. The way to save fuel is to let 
“Koal-spar” alone and see that the boy does his 
duty when he sifts the ashes. You might make wages 
by sifting them yourself. 
* * 
As might be expected in case of the originator of 
Arbor Day, J. Sterling Morton of Nebraska, the new 
Secretary of Agriculture, is an enthusiast on forest 
conservation and culture, of which he has for years 
made a close study. In view of the fact that the tim¬ 
ber-producing land of the country is reduced 25,000 
acres every day in the year, he is alarmed at the rapid 
denudation of our forests. There are but 40,000,000 
acres of timber left, and at the present rate of destruc¬ 
tion all this will last not more than a generation. As 
soon as he enters the Cabinet, therefore, he will 
promptly devote his attention to the preparation of 
forestry laws to be submitted to Congress. Among 
the most destructive agents of timber are the railroads 
which for each mile of track consume 3,000 ties, which 
last only from two to six years, according to the bal¬ 
last of the roads. The next Secretary is strongly in 
favor of legislation to compel the latter to utilize their 
rights of way to raise timber for their own consump¬ 
tion. With lines of trees along both sides of the 
roads from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and others 
adorning and protecting the lines all over the country, 
one could travel in a cool and dustless arbor in sum¬ 
mer and without the delays and discomforts of snow 
blockades in winter. The Secretary is full of new 
ideas on a multitude of agricultural subjects, and is 
likely to be as popular during the next four years as 
Secretary Rusk has been during the past four, though 
he differs with the latter on some important matters. 
* * 
A case of no small interest to investors and pro¬ 
moters of bogus companies has just been decided in 
England, and as English legal precedents have much 
weight with American judges, this will doubtless not 
be without influence in similar cases in this country. 
Mr. Wilding, a clergyman of the Church of England, 
some time ago bought shares in the Canadian Pacific 
Colonization Corporation, organized in 1888, and later 
brought suit for the amount of his investment against 
the chairman and directors personally, on the ground 
that he had been induced to take the shares on the 
faith of a prospectus issued by them and containing 
statements untrue to their knowledge. The company 
was one of several formed in Canada to promote immi¬ 
gration and colonization. The results promised were 
most alluring and grew brighter with each ensuing 
prospectus. There were highly deceptive statements 
about the rate of interest assured on investments, the 
wealth of coal and iron on the concern’s lands, and 
other matters. The defendants claimed that the pro¬ 
spectus was no more glowing than circumstances war¬ 
ranted or than such publications usually are; but they 
were ordered to refund the money and pay costs and 
interest. One of the greatest abuses in this country 
connected with corporate organizations is a woeful 
lack of personal responsibility on the part of the man¬ 
agers and directors, and if these were held to a stricter 
legal accountability for the management and presen¬ 
tation of the affairs of their organizations the public 
would be greatly the gainers. 
« * 
BREVITIES. 
UNCLE SAM TO GROVER CLEVELAND. 
Look out now. Nephew Grover, you are going Into power 
To run this country’s engine at a most auspicious hour. 
They backed you at the ballot box as folks are seldom backed; 
Put steam Into your promises and see if they are cracked. 
The time has come In history for common folks to rule. 
The working men and women have been quietly at school, 
And teachers have been teaching that It’s all against our health 
To have the few monopolize the country’s power and wealth. 
Remember, Nephew Grover now, that you were simply sent 
A-walklng to the White House as a big experiment. 
Snell out your party, Grover, with a very little p, 
But write your Country boldly with the very biggest C. 
Sttdown on politicians with your every ounce of weight. 
Just do the people’s business and break up every “ slate.” 
Do this, and folks will love you “ for the enemies you’ve made. 
What greater veneration to a leader could be paid ? 
Stand up and face the schemers with a back as stiff as starch, 
And you'll march forth In triumph on a coming fourth of March. 
But if you shirk your duty when the “ managers ” provide 
A collar for your wearing, and desert the peop'e’s side, 
Then down the aisle of history this line will follow you: 
The people trusted Grover, but they didn't find him true. 
Go In and do your duty—probe the evils to the core. 
Look out now, Nephew Grover!—man had ne’er such chance before 
Abb your sheep as greedy as your pigs ? 
Who can tell how many hours a cow sleeps ’ 
There are no better Insect killers than Guinea hens. 
That stable Is overheated when gases rise from the manure In It. 
LONG walkers and short talkers make the best horses and hired men. 
Mb. Colby, page 142, Is correct In using the finest bone meal he 
can get. 
He who seeks to hide his light under a bushel will be found to have 
a very small light. 
DoN’t be too quick! Don’t be too quick! and get such a twist that you 
make yourself sick. 
Mr. Brigham, see page 147, shows that the Grange is not a unit In 
favor of free silver. 
“Chestnuts” make poor mental food. They digest easily but there s 
no nourishment In them. 
The coloring matter In good Jersey blood Is better than anything 
you can put In the cream. 
What do you think of Mr. Agee’s Idea about the distribution of 
town and farm population ? 
What man can honestly say that he ever gave strawberries too 
much manure or fertilizer? 
Every steep hill up which you must haul stable manure is an argu¬ 
ment In favor of a fertilizer bag. 
The finer the ground bone the better It Is as a fertilizer. Thus the 
most active pieces are those that will pass sieve. 
Many a lawn looks like a manure pile all winter. This Is a fine wav 
to seed your lawn down to weeds. Chemicals will answer for this. 
Happy Is the farmer who lives In a community where a neighbor’s 
boy will hire out to work on the farm. That Is a good old custom that 
made good farms and happy farming. 
Can you feed off the off crop of apples ? It’s an awful nuisance to 
have no fruit when the price Is high. More bone and potash would 
give more sinew to the trees perhaps ; then they would not need to 
rest. 
Every good housewife now and then gives the family a “ plcked-up 
dinner’’made up of remains of previous feasts “ too good for the 
dog,” and yet too small to make a full meal. That’s what we give you 
this week. 
ON January 23 our respected friend, T. T. Lyon, completed his 80th 
year. We rejoice to learn that he Is still In good health and dally en¬ 
gaged In horticultural work. May he long be spared to continue such 
work Is the wish of The R. N.-Y. 
Amen to the following from a New York State friend: “The country 
Is flooded with catalogues that have too much paint on the face. I 
appreciate beauty and also harmony. ‘ A man may smile and smile, 
and yet be a villain,’ and a pretty cover may cover a worthless book.” 
What do you think of that Illinois farmer who finds that It does not 
pay him to “cut a spear of hav?” This Is an unconscious confirmation 
of what The R. N.-Y. has been claiming for years, viz., that hay left to 
decay on the ground Is just as good for manure as when It passes 
through an animal. 
This quotation from a Nebraska reader will do to repeat: “ I would 
give a word of encouragement to those who, like myself, are trying to 
pav as they go. Let us bear In mind that the money lender serves us 
only In the present, binds us In the conditional mood, keeps us In the 
subjunctive and ruins us In the future.” 
One of the largest beet sugar companies In California has Increased 
the price to be paid for beets delivered during 1893 For beets show¬ 
ing 12 per cent of sugar, $3.50 per ton will be paid, and 40 cents extra 
per ton for each additional per cent of sugar. This will average an 
advance of nearly 50 cents per ton to farmers. Each contract, how¬ 
ever, contains a provision that these prices will not hold If the bounty 
on sugar Is reduced to below one cent per pound. 
Did you try nitrate of BOda on the wheat last spring? If so, did It 
pay you well enough to make you try It again this year? Here Is the 
first report from Maryland: “ I used 000 pounds last spring, 100 pounds 
to the acre, and Increased the yield five bushels per acre. The case 
was as follows: Without nitrate 19 bushels per acre; with nitrate 24 
bushels per acre. I think It will pay to use 25 to 50 pounds more to the 
acre. A neighbor with 125 pounds per acre Increased the yield of his 
tomatoes two tons per acre.” 
When fertilizers first came Into general use, their opponents were 
fond of calling them stimulants and comparing their effect on the soil 
to that of a “ condition powders” on a horse. Chemical analyses of 
some of these condition powders prove that they were right. One re¬ 
cently analyzed, contained, in a ton, 1,000 pounds of bran, 950 of linseed 
meal, and 50 poundsof mixed salt, ginger, pepper and slippery elm bark. 
It was good, sound food—a good “ condition” The “theory” that It 
would cure disease cost the difference between $35 and $300 per ton! 
That is just the sort of condition powders fertilizers are—they give the 
plant ]food, 8tlll|there was misrepresentation In both cases. 
