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MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
<3A?3. 8*1 
“PROCRESS AND IMPROVEMENT.’ 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
A NATIONAL ILLUSTRATED 
HUUAL, LITEM A till FAMILY MSPAPEB. 
D. D. T. MOORE, 
Kounder aixd Conducting .Editor. 
CHAS. D. BRAGDON, ANDREW S. FULLER, 
.Associate Kclitors. 
HENRY S. RANDALL LI, D., Cortland Village, N. Y., 
Editok or tin Dkpautmmnt or Smutr IIusbakdbv, 
X. A. WILLARD, A. M., Little Falls, N. Y„ 
Epitou OV TUB I>Er*IllMK.-'T or Daihy liCfiBANDBY. 
G. A. C. BARNETT, Publisher. 
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SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1874. 
THE PHILADELPHIA CENTENNIAL IN 
CONGRESS. 
When Philadelphia first, projected its Cen¬ 
tennial Celebration it went to Congress to get 
a charter for the Centennial Commission, It 
was then apparent to thoughtful observers that 
this was bul. t he entering wedge to further de¬ 
mands of Congress. Indeed, it was intimated 
in Congress that such would be the result, but 
Congress was assured by Pennsylvania Tnern- I 
bersthat Philadelphia and Pennsylvania would 
pay the entire cost. During the past week, 
however. Pennsylvania members have frankly 
avowed in Congress that t hey export ed to call 
on that body for aid; and M r. K p.t.ley spoke of 
the promises not to do so as “The foolish ex¬ 
pressions of enthusiastic Pennsylvania mem¬ 
bers.” 
Now, after skillful manipulat ion, by which it 
is asserted the Government is committed to 
the enterprise by previous act of Congress, the 
plea is made that “It would bo disgraceful to 
refuse the necessary means to celebrate the 
one-hundredth anniversary of the Nation’s 
Birth by a grand exhibition of the Arts of 
Peace.” 
It is apparent, therefore, that the Philadel¬ 
phians are going to ask Congress for an appro¬ 
priation of a few millions ol’ dollars to help 
them to take care of their Centennial Celebra¬ 
tion elephant. An effort was made, by the 
appointment of State Commissions, to got the 
required amount subscribed by the patriotic 
people. T;Jb scheme failed, only £3,500,000 hav¬ 
ing been raised, whereas the affair will cost 
from $8,000,000 to $10,000,000. Now the dear 
American poople are to ho asked to patriotic¬ 
ally put their hands in their pockets and pay 
the Philadelphia piper for this Centennial 
dance by Congressional appropriation ! Added, 
the State Commissioners in many of the States 
are asking, through their respective Governors, 
and otherwise, for Slate appropriations to en¬ 
able them to souure and forward articles to the 
exhibition. 
Where are the Granges? Are they thus pat¬ 
riotic? Where are the Farmers' Associations 
that denounce Credit Moblliers, back-salary 
grabs, railway monopolies and steals generally? 
Are they thus patriotic? Where are the men 
who suffer under and denounce the present 
oppressive taxation and demand a more eco¬ 
nomical administration of Government? Are 
they willing these Philadelphians should put 
their hands In the Public Treasury and with¬ 
draw a few millions of dollars, ostensibly to 
foster American industry but really to profit a 
ring of Philadelphia jobbers and speculators 
upon the nation's vanity* pride, patriotism and 
love of buncombe ? 
It is quite time these questions should be 
asked and that the people should answer. With 
a bankrupt (almost treasury, with laborers cry¬ 
ing for work, the people crying against taxa¬ 
tion, commerce bound and hampered by in¬ 
adequate transportation facilities, agriculture 
tied hand and foot by monopolies and corrupt 
rings, with financial anarchy resulting from 
want of ability to grasp and solve Impending 
problems on the part of our National Legisla¬ 
tors, Is It tint pertinent that the taxpayers of 
the country should give some expression to 
their opinions with reference to the profit like¬ 
ly to accrue from this investment in a Phila¬ 
delphia project ? Our opinion is that it is a 
matter with which Congress should have noth¬ 
ing whatever to do -that If the People are not 
willing to voluntarily subscribe to such a pro¬ 
ject, it is evident they are not. prepared to pay 
u lew millions of dollars involuntarily. Ye 
ask our readers what they think about it ? 
--- 
AMERICAN PISCICULTURE. 
Tbe American Tish Culturists’s Association 
is to hold its third annual meeting at the office 
of Geo. 8. Page, No. 10 Warren street, New 
York, Feb. 10. The following experts have 
been Invited to read papersThe Hon.StuuN- 
< EK F. Baird, United States Commissioner of 
Fisheries, “On his Recent Examination Into 
the Condition of the Coast F isheries of New 
England Charles G. Atkins of Bucksport, 
Me., Special Commissioner for the associated 
{Rates, -'On the Collection of Salmon Ova and 
Salmon Hatching at Bucksport, Mo.;” the Rev. 
Livingston Stone of Charlestown, N. II.. “On 
his Recent Experiments in the Collection of 
Salmon Ova in California and the Food Fishes . 
of the Pacific. Coast Setii Ok ken of Roch- 
ester, N. Y-, Commissioner for the Stale, “On 
ids Recent experiments in the Collection of 
the Ova and Hatching of Useful Fishes.” E. 
A. Brackett. Fish Commissioner for Massa¬ 
chusetts, has been invited to rigid a paper on 
“Fishways,'* and to give an account of the 
fishway recently erected on the Connecticut 
River, at. Holyoke, Mass. Chan Laisun of 
Springfield, Mass.. Commissioner on Education 
from the Chinese Government to the United 
States, has been asked to read a paper on “ Fish 
Culture in China," and the Rev. Witt, Clift, 
president of the Association, one on the 
“Transmission of Qualities In Species, as Re¬ 
lating to Fish.' The Hon. Horatio Seymour, 
Fish Commissioner for New York, R- J. Pike 
F ish Commissioner for Connecticut; J. H. 
Slack, Fish Commissioner for New Jersey, and 
Jas. Wokkall, Fish Commissioner for Penu- 
| sylvanlu, have also been invited to read papers 
| on subjects of their own selection. 
The subject of Pisciculture is becoming one 
of such interest and Importance that we pur¬ 
pose devoting more space to it in future, and 
hope to give articles from Prof. Baird, Seth 
Green and several of the other gentlemen 
named above. 
-♦ « ♦ — - 
ARE WE GOING TO RUIN 1 
No! There Is a large class of people who 
think so, and who have taken alarm at the 
moral anarchy which prevails. This fact alono 
is sufficient proof that all honor, honesty and 
moral responsibility is not extinct. The alarm 
■ felt Is evidence of the existence of salt, enough 
to save the people, and this development of 
alarm Is the first step towards the development 
of reform. If a house is on fire the first step 
towards securing the safety of its occupants 
and putting out the fire Is to alarm them. Once 
alarmed, action begins, the people and per¬ 
haps the superstructure are saved. Boin.civil 
and moral dangers. Our safety consists in the 
fact, that we are becoming thoroughly alarmed 
at the peculations, venality and moral turpi¬ 
tude of those whom we hare trusted. Tbo 
American people have begun to light t heir lan¬ 
terns and lo hunt for honest men upon whom 
to bestow places of trust and honor. The de¬ 
mand will create a supply.* Be assured of it! 
As soon as it is thoroughly understood that 
honesty and intelligence are more valued and 
respected than the money a man may have ac¬ 
cumulated. no matter how, honesty and Intel¬ 
ligence will rise to the surface and assume 
sovereign control. It ail depends upon the 
undcr-ourrent of Public Opinion — upon the 
tune of the Public Press, and upon the rigid 
enforcement of the laws of restraint and res¬ 
ponsibility by which every Public Servant 
should be governed. 
—-m-*-- 
WHAT IS FARMING? 
There are two classes of so-called farmers. 
Ono of these classes says farming does not pay ; 
tho other asserts that it does. This suggests 
the questionsWhat is farming? Who are 
farmers ? Why is there this difference of opin¬ 
ion? If John Johnston or Geokge Geddes, 
or a score of other men we could name, should 
assert that farming does not pay, wo should be 
Inclined to believe there was something in it! 
But we never have heard that they ever made 
such an assertion. Who do take the negative 
of this question? Are they men who make 
agriculture n study ? Are they men known as 
model business men and who base their asser¬ 
tion upon incontrovertible facts and figures, 
realized from tho intelligent, economical and 
yet liberal treatment of soils, crops, live stock, 
agementof his farm? We are anxious to get : 
at the root of this matter—to know' whether ) 
the reason wljy farming does not pay certain f 
men is due to the soil, climate, location rela¬ 
tive to markets, want of adaptat ion of crops 
cultivated to the market demand, management, 
railroads, middlemen, taxes, indolence or ig¬ 
norance? Who will bo the first, to tell us what 
farming is and why it will not pay? 
--— 
INFLUENCE OF AGRICULTURAL COL¬ 
LEGES UPON EDUCATION, 
It cannot be successfully denied that tbe 
demand for a technical education to which 
public attention was called by tho organization 
and endowment, of Agricultural and Mechan¬ 
ical Colleges, Is remodeling our Colleges and 
Universities to a considerable extent both as 
to method of imparting instruction and the 
kind of instruction imparted. The growth of 
practical education in this count ry is something 
we may be proud of, and that, ought to make 
us hopeful as to the future. Yet there are still 
many well-rooted tradit ional notions as to what 
constitute education which can and will only 
bo eradicated by tbe coining generation of edu¬ 
cators. We still have a class of so-called edu¬ 
cators left who look with intolerance upon any 
education that has not Mr Its object to lift tbo 
educated Into a realm of metaphysical inquiry 
above the domain of common, practical, every- I 
day life. Tho days of such educators are num- | 
berod. The wrestling the present generation 
has to do with material problems and stubborn j 
facts Is creating a distaste for and intolerance 
of metaphysical abstractions. Necessity is the 
mother of this revolution ; and we are glad to 
know that her maternal relations to Progress 
are being recognized. 
--♦*-♦«- 
RURAL NOTES AND QUERIES. 
The Ice Crop.—The open winter has alarmed 
many city people, as they have feared the ice 
crop would prove a failure. This would prove 
a serious and expensive matter to many city 
people, as wo will proceed to demonstrate. 
Thousands of our readers at a <i istance are not 
probably aware of the importance of ice to ihe 
people of New- York and Other large cities. 
Twenty years ago ice was considered a luxury, 
but now It Is regarded aa n necessity during 
nearly tho whole year,- for even in mid-winter 
most hotels, restaurants and private houses 
deem it. indispensable. Up to the 25th Inst., 
but little or no ice had been formed in the vi¬ 
cinity of New York—say on the Hudson River, 
Rockland Lake, Ac., and both dealers and 
consumers feared a scarcity and high prices. 
Some two weeks ago wc called at the office 
of tho Knickerbocker Ice Co. (the principal 
ono In New York,) and had an interview w it h 
Mr. Robert Mac-lay, the Vice President. He 
stated that tbe annual consumption of ice In 
the cities of New York and Brooklyn was 
between 500,000 and 000,000 tons that no Ice 
had yet. been stored, except that carried over, 
but still hoped fur a crop. In 1870 the Company 
brought ice from Buffalo, Canada, the Adiron¬ 
dack 8 aud even Nova Scotia, but think they 
will not be thus caught again, as they have 
Ice houses on tho Hudson and at other points 
where they can get a supply, even in an open 
winter. In a season of short supply (1870 for 
example) pork-packers were charged $10 per 
ton. Instead of $3, the usual price. Mr. M. 
stated that the pork-packers of New York use 
some 300,300 tons of ioe annually, ami the 
brewers of lager beer about 100,1100 tons. Next 
I o these come the hotels, restaurants, saloons, 
etc., which consume a large amount of the 
congealed liuid. Our readers in the country 
can figure upon the above, and may possibly 
conclude that city people regard the Ice Crop 
as one of no little importance. 
«♦«-- 
The People and ihe Press have ever been fa¬ 
vorable to this Journal, but their favors of late, 
iu the shape of kind and cordial letters and 
, uotlees, are more numerous and hearty than 
at any corresponding season since its com- 
| mencement. Had we space we could easily 
prove this assertion by giving extracts, and 
we could fill a page with thoso of recent date,— 
but at present can only thank our hosts of 
friends for their appreciative aud gratifying 
greetings. Our friendly correspondents and 
brethren of the Press are assured that we fed 
more than wc cr.n write in response to their 
generous aud sympathetic epistles and notices. 
The Profit of Hired Labor on (lie Farm must 
> depend upon the character of the work to bo 
■ done, and the intelligent direction with which 
' that labor is employed. There are few farmers 
1 who can afford to hire the ordinary class of 
1 farm hands and leave them to systematize and 
‘ direct their own work. But it will pay to hire 
1 the best help that, nan be obtained, provided 
' there is work enough that, needs doing aud it is 
' properly systematized and labor and time eoon- 
> omlzed at every step. This is in answer to a 
* correspondent wjio asks our opinion. 
--- 
Gclldiuin for Food.—E.UMA R. R. asks “What 
is Gelldium, and is it ever used as food ? ” it is 
yet liberal treatment of soils, crops. Jive stoea, ^ eed of Uic pe , uls A \gw and of the sub 
&c.? Can these men give its an intelligent dell- some of the species of whicl 
nitlon of farming? We are anxiou3 to bo en¬ 
lightened on thissubjeot. Will not some one 
who believeB farming will not pay give us the 
grounds of his belief, based upon a clear defini¬ 
tion of what he means by farming, with the 
facts and figures iu detail relative to the mau- 
order Ccramia<xa\ some of the species of which 
are believed to afford the material used by cer¬ 
tain species of swallows in building the edible 
neats so much prized by the Chinese. Several 
species of these weeds are used as food in the 
East, for they ore almost entirely gelatinous, 
and when boiled with condiments to give pun¬ 
gency and flavor, are said to form a very whole¬ 
some and agreeable food. 
- •+* - 
Machinery for Boring Post-Holes.—E dward 
Baker writes“ Let me know if you have any 
knowledge of machinery for boring post-holes, 
&e." We know of no " machinery" beyond 
the common post auger. Address 11. H. Allen 
& Co., 189 and 191 Water St., N. Y., and we 
think you will obtain the Information you 
desire. _ _ 
The Attention of New York Sheep Breeders 
is called to the official announcement that tho 
State Association is to meet at Canandaigua, 
Feb. Uth, at 12 o’clock M., to elect officers and 
arrange for a spring Fair. The revival notice¬ 
able in the wool business renders it desirable 
that this meeting should be well attended. 
■—--• 
RURAL BREVITIES. 
About 3,000,000 bushels of grain, half of 
which is said to be wheat, are locked up in tho 
Erie canal. 
An elaborate seel catalogue and floral guide 
has been received from Kern, Sterer & Co., 
St. Louis, Mo. 
Ckosman Brothers, Rochester. N. Y., send 
us wholesale price-list of garden, agricultural 
and herb seeds. 
Three hundred members attended the 
meeting of the State Grange of Wisconsin at 
Janesville. Jan. 21. 
The Kansas Farmer Ib now a handsome eight- 
nage paper, live and vigorous, edited by J. K. 
Hudson, Topeka, Kan. 
St. Louis is urging the location of the head¬ 
quarters of the National Grange of Patrons of 
i Husbandry in Unit city. 
T). M. Ferry & Co. Detroit, Mich,, send iib a 
beautiful and elaborate Catalogue of garden, 
flower and agricultural seeds. 
Two hundred and seventy-live Oranges were 
represented at tbe meeting of the State Grange 
of Georgia, at Atlanta, Jan. 21. 
We believe wc have said before that .James 
Tick's Floral Guide for 1874 is, as usual, beau¬ 
tiful and good—if not, we say so now. 
It Is assorted that the Iowa Granges have 
contracted to have 1,81X1 Werner Harve-ters 
manufactured and ready for delivery June 1. 
“Pringle’s Snow Flake ” potato is the latest 
new thing out — originating with Mr. C. G. 
Pringle, Charlotte, Vt. It is to go on the 
market t his spring. 
The Technologist or Industrial Monthly ap- 
appears under the management of our friend 
;uul former contributor, John Phin, It is 
meaty and good. 
A Grange of the Order of Patrons of nus- 
j toandry—Manhattan Grange No. !7 —has been 
organized in New York City, with ROBERT 
Farley, Jr., Master, and II. W. !'. Chambers 
Secretary. 
The “ Sovereigns of Industry,” we learn, 
were organized in Worcester, Maas., not, long 
‘•ince, William. II. Earle of Worcester being 
chosen President, and J. C. Abbott, a deputy 
«• f the order of Patrons of Husbandry, being 
made Secretary. 
Brioos A Bko., Rochester, N. Y., are out 
with a gorgeous first number of their “Quar¬ 
terly Floral Work ” for 1874. It is full of mat¬ 
ter ol' interest u> every one who grows plants 
and vegetables. 
F. D. Curtis, Grand Central Hotel, New York 
City, has copies of the proceedings of the Na¬ 
tional 8wine Breeders' Association, which ho 
will furnish on application to such Agricul¬ 
tural Societies as may desire copies for their 
respective libraries. 
Talking about the comparative value of 
“the riff raff of Europe " and the colored peo¬ 
ple of the South, a Mississippi planter says the 
former “ will do us no good. 1 have seen them 
work around one cotton stalk fifteen minutes 
and leave it nearly dead.” 
The Morrisanla Colonization Society, com¬ 
posed of artisans, mechanics and workingmen, 
who contemplate migrating to some State 
south of New York, (particularly the Virginias, 
Carolina,-!, Delaware or Georgia.) desire infor¬ 
mation In regard to cheap lands, adaptability 
to manufactures, farming, etc. Quantity of 
land desired not limited beyond 1,000 acres. 
Address G. W. Jennings, Morrisaniu, New 
York City, N. Y. 
-- 
PERUVIAN GUANO. 
We have, several times dining the last year, 
called the attention of our readers to the adul¬ 
teration of guauos, and condemned the prac¬ 
tice as it should be. We now bring to their 
: notice the card of li. Balcazar, whoso busl- 
; ness wo have investigated. Among tho best of 
' pure guanos is that imported from Peru, under 
the auspices of tho Peruvian Government. 
’ Mr. Balcazar is in direct communication 
witli tbe agents of that Government, and Is en¬ 
abled to supply that guano, unadulterated, 
i full 2,240 pounds to the ton, directly to con¬ 
sumers, thus saving the profits of middlemen, 
i Ho will also ship in small or large quantities 
' from the seaport nearest to the locality of the 
consumer, thus saving no inconsiderable 
i amount of freight. Mr. Balcazar claims that, 
l by the above plan he can furnish consumers 
\ with pure guano at rates very much lower than 
they are now paying for it. 
BUSINESS NOTICES, 
Avilude, or Game of Birds.— thirty-two beau¬ 
tiful pictures, thirty-two interesting descriptions. 
The best possible Incentive to the study of Natural 
History. 1’UE ONLY CAME EVER PUBLISHED IN 
the interest OP Science. For sale by nil dealers, 
or sent, post-paid, ou receipt of seventy.five cents, 
i by Wlst & J uk. Worcester, Mass. 
" Teaches Natural History Incidentally, yet in tho 
most systematic manner.'’—IJ wLjh Daily Globe, 
