1893 
THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
337 
THE PROSPECT. 
The development of great commercial and manu¬ 
facturing enterprises has almost ceased to attract 
general attention so common has it become. The 
most of these have been creatures of gradual and 
sometimes even of slow growth, starting often from 
very humble beginnings. Some of the extensive meat 
packing firms had their origin in a single small 
wagon. By shrewd and economical management, and 
often by unscrupulous combination they have acquired 
enormous wealth and resistless power in their depart¬ 
ment of trade. To such an exact science, and with 
such economy are their operations conducted that 
the saving of what in small concerns would be 
waste products returns them a handsome profit. 
But their latest projected enterprise seems to indi¬ 
cate that they have not yet reached the limit of their 
capabilities. One of the products of a great slaughter¬ 
ing business is hides. Three of the great Chicago 
firms, Armour, Swift and Morris, produce about 
4 000,000 annually, and control about 90 per cent of 
the native stock. They own about 4,000 acres of land 
at Tolleston, Ind., only a short distance from Chicago, 
and thither they contemplated, at one time, moving 
their slaughtering business. Now they propose to 
erect on the land tanneries with a capacity of tanning 
90 per cent cf the hides produced in the country. The 
Calumet River by a little dredging can be converted 
into a harbor large enough for any lake vessels. The 
railroads have made propositions to lay tracks across 
the property. j j j 
Immense quantities of bark are within easy reach in 
the States of Michigan and Wisconsin, which, while 
not so strong as that in New York and Pennsylvania, 
is still excellent for the purpose. The State of Wash¬ 
ington, too, has an unlimited amount of bark, which, 
though practically excluded from the Eastern mar¬ 
kets on account of the cost of freight for such a dis¬ 
tance, may yet be made available through a process of 
condensation of the extracts. The newly discovered 
canaigre, of Arizona, may furnish its supply of tannin. 
Representatives of the packers are said to have been 
securing hemlock lands in Michigan and Wisconsin 
for some weeks, and while, as usual, these people 
don’t herald their intentions abroad with a brass 
band, it is impossible for them to carry on all their 
negotiations and still keep their secret. It is said that 
a hide works up into 68 percent of leather, and, as the 
expense of handling these will be reduced to the 
minimum, the venture will mean cheaper leather or 
still larger returns to the packers. But the packers 
haven’t planned to stop at tanning the leather. Manu¬ 
factories of boots and shoes, harness, and other leather 
goods are projected, and it is expected that other allied 
industries will follow. The plans are not yet com¬ 
plete, and much of this is simply projected in a gen¬ 
eral way, but the possibilities of such an aggregation 
of capital and industry are somewhat startling to con¬ 
template. It will be able to control not only the price 
of all the hides produced by others, but also that of 
leather and all the manufactures therefrom. It sug¬ 
gests a sort of concentrated cooperation. 
X t X 
“ The Scott Seed Company, Toronto, Canada,” is en¬ 
gaged on a monstrous scale in practicing on the public 
an old swindle under a new form. From the safe 
ground of the Dominion it is flooding the United 
States with circulars and advertisements offering 
“free trips ” to the “ World’s Fair” on terms which 
must be almost irresistible to the gullible gudgeons to 
be found in every neighborhood. It asks the readers 
of its advertisements to make up as many words as 
possible out of the letters in the words “ World’s 
Fair.” To the first person in each section who will 
send in to it 70 words the bogus concern offers a free 
trip to the World's Fair and return, paying all the 
outlays, including railroad fare, hotel bills and $50 in 
cash for incidental expenses. It also offers a free 
trip and return, with $25 for incidentals, to the first 
person who sends in 60 words, and a free trip without 
a cash accompaniment to the first sending in 55 words. 
Moreover, to the first sending 50 words it will give—it 
says—$50 in cash, $25 to the first sending 40 words and 
$10 to each of the first five sending 35 words, and $5 to 
each of the first 10 sending 30. With each list of words 
must be forwarded 15 two cent stamps for a packet of 
flower seeds. For a month it will give special prizes 
to the first four persons in each locality who will send 
20 words made from the above letters. 
X X X 
Among the promised prizes are cash donations, dia¬ 
mond bracelets, silver services, solid-gold rings, French 
china services, etc. ! etc. ! ! etc. ! ! ! Those who have 
already sent in lists of names with 30 cents in stamps 
are now receiving circulars declaring that they are 
among the fortunate few entitled to the “ free trip” 
with accompanying largesses, or to some of the other 
valuable prizes, Inclosed ig also a list of flower seeds 
and a “Certificate of Reward” with places for the 
names and addresses of the lucky competitors, and a 
request for $2.75 for the expense of “ boxing, delivery 
and guaranteeing safe delivery.” With the 30 cents 
in postage stamps already sent, the dupe who for¬ 
wards the $2.75 will have paid $3.05 for an empty 
promise of a “free trip” to the World’s Fair, and 
other bewildering allurements. Of course, the con¬ 
cern is a barefaced swindle, as anybody gifted with 
even a modicum of common sense should know ; still, 
according to a multitude of reports from a dozen 
States in the Union, the number of dupes who fool¬ 
ishly sent on their cash must be high among the thou¬ 
sands. The career of this concern under its present 
name is likely to be short-lived, but it will probably 
resume operations under another name in some other 
place, or, if it should not, it is pretty sure to have sev¬ 
eral imitators, who in turn will find a host of gudgeons 
ready to jump at their bait. 
X X X 
In Europe a drought of almost unprecedented length 
and severity is causing general alarm and much suf¬ 
fering and loss, especially to farmers. For over two 
months no rain has fallen in Paris or London except 
a single slight shower. In England there is no record 
of so long a drought, nor has there been one like it in 
France since 1733 In both countries and, to a some¬ 
what less extent in Germany and Austria, there is a 
genuine famine of green vegetables and prices have 
advanced from 50 to 100 per cent above the normal 
figures During last week disastrous forest fires which 
have destroyed many villages have devastated wide 
areas in various parts of Europe. Grass has withered 
and there is no spring pasturage for stock. The tem¬ 
perature of March and April was like that customary 
in May and June, and crops were put in some weeks 
earlier than usual; but owing to the parched condition 
of the soil, the seed has either entirely failed to ger¬ 
minate or made but a feeble growth which promises 
but poor crops. Water is becoming scarce, not only 
for stock but for human use, and the drying up of 
ponds and watercourses is a serious menace to the 
sanitary condition of the country. In the chief cities 
bulletins of showers in distant places excite as much 
interest as those announcing the progress of battles 
during our late “ unpleasantness.” 
X t X 
There is nothing like printer’s ink for broadcast¬ 
ing information—good or bad. As a rule the biggest 
stories have the biggest advertising. The following 
note has been sent us by at least a dozen people who 
ask if there is “anything in it” : 
Some wonderful results have been obtained In potato culture by a 
gentleman farmer, a distinguished ohemlst, near Nantes, France, who 
selected the best seed and soaked It for 24 hours in a mixture of water 
25 gallons, sulphate of ammonia six pounds and saltpeter six pounds; 
and then drained It, allowing It to stand for 24 hours longer. Then 
he planted It In land well manured and deeply plowed or dug, and 
obtained a yield of 42 tons per acre. 
So far as we can learn, this story was started by 
the British Consul at Nantes, France. “ Wonderful 
results !” We should say so ! A yield of 1,400 bushels 
per acre from six pounds of sulphate of ammonia and 
six of nitrate of potash is indeed wonderful. We 
wrote for information to Vilmorin-Andrieux & Co , of 
Paris, thinking the grain of truth in such a story 
might be valuable. Here is the answer : 
We beg to say we have no knowledge of the experiment referred 
to, nor could we gain any Information about it from other parties 
here who are specially well posted about anything done towards the 
Improvement of the culture of potatoes. 
Replies from other French agriculturists are in the 
same tenor. So much for the ending of another “big 
story.” t t % 
Who can tell where cream of tartar comes from ? 
A year ago the wine makers of California asked the 
Secretary of State to obtain for them information 
from foreign countries as to the manufacture of this 
product. No. 150 of the Consular Reports contains the 
information sent in by our foreign consuls. Most of 
the cream of tartar comes from France, Austria, Italy, 
Spain and other grape-growing countries. It is a 
product of wine making. After the wine has stood in 
casks or vats for a time a hard, white precipitate 
forms on the staves. This is the impure cream of 
tartar. It is scraped off and purified by dissolving it 
in hot water and then the pure cream of tartar is 
precipitated. This is all there is to the manufacture 
of this necessary article, and it will open a new field 
for California industry. At present this country 
draws its supply chiefly from France. There is a 
tariff on the raw goods, while the crude stuff or 
“argols” is admitted free. Thus the manufacturers of 
baking powders get all the benefit of this tariff. It 
will have to be revised if California wine makers are 
to be benefited. 
X X X 
One cent will buy a postal card on which to send us 
your friend’s name for a sample copy of The R. N.-Y., 
if you wish to preserve your copy. 
FROM THE WORLD’S FAIR. 
[SrECIAI, EDITORTAI, CORRESPONDENCE.] 
Chicago, May 2.—May 1 has come and gone and the 
great Columbian Exposition is formally opened. The 
first query which should be asked persons contem¬ 
plating a visit to the exposition at this time is, “ Can 
you swim ?” If a negative answer is given, they had 
better stay at home. Chicago is no fit place at present 
for any one, unless web-footed. It has rained every 
day since I have been here, and, though my eyes were 
gladdened this morning at 6 o’clock by a glimpse of 
the sun, long before noon the skies were clouded over, 
and at this writing—1 p. m. —it looks as if the rain 
would be on us in a minute. The streets are muddy, 
the fair grounds are muddy, and so was my coffee this 
morning, in order to be in the fashion. Life in such 
a climate is a bore, and everybody is what Mantalini 
threatened to become, “a demnition, moist, unpleasant 
body.” 
However, we are comforted by the assurance of 
weatherwise people that we shall have pleasanter 
skies ere long. Chicago people cannot be held re¬ 
sponsible for this weather, and they pre entitled to 
our sympathies for being obliged to do so much in such 
a pluvial period. They are working manfully and 
deserve due credit therefor. 
The fair is officially declared “ open,” but let none 
of our readers be deceived. Don’t dream of visiting it 
before the middle of June. There is not a department 
that is ready Many of the buildings are not com¬ 
pleted. At this date not one-tenth of the exhibits are 
in shape to be seen, and no amount of industry will 
work the miracle of getting them ready before June 1. 
There are whole trains of loaded freight cars filled 
with exhibits, and goods that come by express are 
from two to five days in being delivered after they 
have reached Chicago. Every day’s work on the 
grounds makes the delivery easier, and in a week or 
so this particular rush will be over. So don’t come to 
Chicago yet awhile. 
I registered at the Tremont House about April 27. 
A smallish room was assigned me on the fourth story. 
It had a washstand and bureau, and one chair, no 
closet and not even a nail to hang clothes on. 
“ What is the charge for this room?” I deferen¬ 
tially inquired of the gentleman behind the counter. 
“ Three dollars per day until Monday morning, May 
1; after that date it will be $5 per day.” 
“ Thank you,” I said, “ on Sunday I will move.” I 
did, and I must confess, I am as yet undecided as to 
whether I did well, or ill. Make no mistake: Chicago 
hotels are going to bleed the public as deeply as the 
dear public will stand. Rooms may be had in private 
houses, if one has time to look them up, for $1 per 
day, and there are numerous small hotels near the 
grounds where a similar rate prevails, but they are 
not pleasant or comfortable. 
Things will be better later in the season and l in¬ 
cline to the opinion that rooms will be cheaper. Tbere 
will be a break in the railway prices, too, before long 
and tickets will be sold at half the present rates—un¬ 
less we are all very much mistaken. So I advise all 
readers of The Rurai. to take their time. 
I shall not attempt to say much about the fair in 
this letter—it is in too inchoate a condition. The 
buildings are very beautiful and so large are they, so 
wonderful, that no pen and ink description can give 
any adequate idea of them. The situation is charm¬ 
ing, or would be if Lake Michigan would not persist 
in sendirg so much aqueous vapor ashore. The island 
is charming and the lagoon between it and the main¬ 
land is very picturesque. The sea-gulls are skimming 
its surface in great multitudes and domestic water 
fowls are paddling over its bosom in flocks. The 
bridges which span it are very artistic—it is all very 
lovely. 
The transportation facilities are very good. The 
fair is about seven miles from the heart of the city. 
The Illinois Central Railroad runs trains from the 
foot of Van Buren Street to the grounds in about 15 
minutes—fare 10 cents—and the elevated road brings 
passengers directly into the inclosure. 
So far. New York State shows the largest number 
of varieties of apples, which have been kept for this 
purpose. They have about 100—no other State has 
yet exceeded half that number, though many show 
wonderfully beautiful exhibits of fruit in glass, kept 
by antiseptic solutions. I shall speak of them more 
in detail later. Meanwhile, I repeat the caution : 
“ Don’t come here before June 1” and June 15 would 
be better. e. g. f. 
BUSINESS BITS. 
The flrst year we used our silo we put the corn In whole, but were 
not satisfied with the results. The next year we bought a Ross 
cutter and carrier, and the results have since been most satisfactory 
We would not have It put In whole again, if It cost double what It now 
does to cut It. The cutterls made by the E. W. Ross Co., Springfield, O 
We have had domestic animals treated by Moore Brothers, veterin¬ 
arians, of Albany, N. Y., and the result was most satisfactory. In the 
treatment of a valuable young mare for sore eyes they evinced especial 
skill. It Is always best to have a skillful veterinarian treat valuable 
ailing animals. Treatment can often be done by mall If a careful 
description of the trouble Is given, and Moore Brothers have had a 
large experience In this line of practice. 
The awards In connection with a Government trial of harvest¬ 
ing machinery, which took place In Denmark last season, are just 
announced, and the Johnston harvester machines received the first 
prizes, and carried off the only gold medal awarded to any n.achlne. 
The steel binder, wrought Iron harvester and Continental reaper w ere 
placed In the field against their competitors, and won the highest 
prizes. The golden medal Is the second one ever given there by the 
Government and we are Informed will be presented by the King of 
Denmark. This Is a victory crowned with more than the usual 
honors of such occasions 
