1903 
665 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
Events of the Week. 
DOMESTIC.—The new law regulating barber shops in 
New York State has become operative, and any tonsorial 
artist in that State caught shaving a customer without 
washing his hands in warm water and soap, or using a 
powder-puff or a towel on more than one person without 
its having been washed will be subjected to imprison¬ 
ment and fined. No alum or other astringent may be 
used in stick form to stop the flow of blood. The use of 
sponges is strictly prohibited. Mugs and shaving brushes 
must be thoroughly washed after use on each person, 
(jombs, razors, clippers and scissors must be thoroughly 
cleansed by dipping in boiling water or other germ de¬ 
stroyer after every separate use. Other provisions are 
made for the cleanliness of shops and every barber must 
have a certificate procured by an examination before a 
State board.Seven persons were killed in a 
railroad wreck near Rock Hill, S. C., September 3. The 
accident was due to a bridge giving way, as the result 
of rotten timbers.The Kansas cattle shippers 
have won their fight before the State Board of Railroad 
Commissioners. The railroads of Kansas had announced 
an advance in freight rates for September 5, which the 
cattlemen declared was equal to a raise of 16 per cent. 
The cattlemen immediately carried their grievances to 
the Commissioners, and September 3 the railroads an¬ 
nounced that the proposed rate would not be put in force. 
.... The home of Abraham Showalter. at Keystone, 
Wells County, Ind., was dynamited September 3 as a 
result of the persistent war of the owner against the 
saloon element. Mr. Showalter and his family escaped 
from the wreck unhurt, but their good fortune was not 
due to any consideration for him on the part of the au¬ 
thors of the outrage. For two months the temperance 
element has been engaged in a war against the saloons, 
and the "blanket remonstrance” has been used effective¬ 
ly in sending some of the saloons out of the village. Mr. 
Showalter has been one of the most active of the tem¬ 
perance people, and it is believed that his house was 
wrecked by the saioon element out of revenge. 
Ranchers and nnners of Lincoln County, in the extreme 
southern end of Nevada, are at the mercy of redskin out¬ 
laws. An uprising of the treacherous Piute Indians is 
in progress, and a reign of terror has begun in Las 
Vegas Valley, a uesolate and remote region of several 
hundred white inhabitants, wlio are scattered over a 
large territory. Manvel and Piecho, nearly 200 miles 
away, are tire nearest towns, and there are no officers 
in tne valley to preserve the peace. Every white person’s 
life is in imminent danger, and the Governor of Nevada 
is expected to ask for Fedei’al troops to suppress me 
murderous raiders.Miss Huldah Todd, post¬ 
mistress of Greenwood, Del., was recently removed from 
oitice by Postmaster-General Payne at the instance of 
Senator Alice on the ground that she "was personally 
and particularly obnoxious” to that Senator. Her kin¬ 
folk and many friends say they will take the case to 
I'resident Roosevelt and see if they cannot get a re¬ 
versal of the Postmaster-General’s decision, ft is said 
that slie was removed solely that her position might be 
given to some one subservient to Addicks, the political 
boss.Five persons were killed and 25 were more 
or less seriously injured in a head-on trolley car collision 
between Pelham and Nashua, Mass., September 6. 
ADMINISTRATION.—Attorney-General Knox has start¬ 
ed a drastic investigation of all oilicers in the Indian 
Territory under the jurisdiction of the Department of 
Justice. Although nothing has heretofore been made 
public, considerable progress has already been made 
under the direction of Assistant Attorney-General George 
W. Russell, chief of the insular and territorial bureau 
of that department.Secretary Wilson has 
awarded the contract for preparing the plans and speci¬ 
fications of the new Department of Agriculture build¬ 
ing to Rankin, Kellogg & Crane, of Philadelphia, at 3‘A 
per cent of the cost of the structure. The appropriation 
for the building is 11,500,000. Work on the plans alreauy 
has begun.Louis Kempnei’, superintendent of 
the registry system, Postoflice Department, has been 
found by the Postoflice inspectors to have carried on 
systematic smuggling of Cuban cigars through the regis- 
tered mails. Proof has thus far been obtained of the 
importation of between 50 and CO boxes of cigars, on 
which the payment of duty was evaded and many of 
which were sold for prices in the neighborhood of $7 a 
box. When confronted with the facts Kempner, who 
has long been under investigation, attempted to belittle 
his offense on the same ground that has been pleaded by 
all of the postal officials thus far detected in dishonest 
practices, claiming that the amount of which the Gov¬ 
ernment had been defrauded was too small to warrant 
official action in the premises. 
PORTO RICO.—A bad state of affairs has been dis¬ 
covered on Cabras Island, on which the leper colony of 
Porto Rico is located, at the entrance to San Juan Har¬ 
bor. It has been believed, until this discovery, that the 
leper colony has been conducted in a manner most cred¬ 
itable to all concerned. The insular government has been 
expending about $10,000 a year for its maintenance, and 
the Director of Charities, B. H. Osterhoudt, of Kingston, 
N. Y., has made flattering annual reports to Governor 
Hunt. The director went north a few weeks ago, to re¬ 
main until November, and Dr. Goenaga, superintendent 
of the insane asylum, was appointed acting director. Dr. 
Goenaga first learned that the "practlcante,” or assist¬ 
ant physician at the colony, Jos6 Aldrich, was bringing 
to San Juan for sale chickens raisel by the lepers. Aid- 
rich was promptly suspended, arrested on a criminal 
charge and fined $50. Dr. Goenaga then went to the 
colony, where he was horrified by what he saw and 
heard. There are now in the Cabras Island Colony 23 
lepers, and at least as many more, it is believed, are 
scattered through Porto Rico. The Superior Board of 
Health, within whose province is the determination of 
this disease, has had many difficulties to contend with 
in its endeavor to deliver to the colony the balance of 
those afflicted and at large on the Island. One of the 
difficulties Is that of transportation after discovery, the 
common cairlers absolutely refusing to bring the lepers 
from the surrounding country. The board is now trying 
to solve the problem by arranging for special oxcart 
transportation at Government expense. It is hoped that 
within a year all the lepers of Porto Rico will be se¬ 
gregated at the colony. 
FARM AND GARDEN.-At the recent meeting of the 
Wisconsin Cranberry Association, Secretary W. H. Fitch 
said that the total crop would be 806,000 bushels, or 7,000 
bushels more than last year. New England will nave 
432,000 bushels, the Middle States 276,000 bushels, and the 
West, chiefly Wisconsin, 101,000 bushels. It was decided 
to pay the rakers this year $1.50 per day and board; 40 
cents a bushel to hand pickers, and 50 cents if the picker 
lemains all the season. 
The Southwestern Iowa Horticultural Society held its 
Summer meeting at Council Bluffs September 15-16. 
Victor H. Lowe, for some years entomologist of the 
Geneva (N. Y.) Station, died August 27 at Fort Collins, 
t;ol., where he went in an effort to recover his health. 
Mr. Lowe was a native of Michigan, 34 years of age at 
the time of his death. He was graduated from the 
Michigan Agricultural College in 1891. He became con¬ 
nected with the Geneva Station in July, 1894, being lo¬ 
cated for the first two years at the branch station at 
Jamaica, L. 1. In 1896 he was transferred to Geneva and 
became the head of the entomological work. His inves¬ 
tigational work was sound and thorough. The experi¬ 
ments which he conducted with the San Jos6 scale. Dr. 
Jordan believes to have been the most convincing of any 
yet conducted, that what is known as the California 
wash, with some modifications, will control the San Jos6 
scale in this State. His work in other directions was 
equally good. He was popular as a speaker at farmers’ 
institutes and as a man was beloved by all who knew 
liim. His burial took place at Lapeer, Mich., August 31. 
CROP REPORTS. 
Onions are a fair crop here and we think there will be 
enough in Ontario tor home consumption. 
Toronto, Ont. dawson commission co. 
I liave seen quite a number of the principal apple or- 
charus in Delaware, and it is my opinion that the crop 
IS larger ana belter ihan ever before. This is owing to 
tne more geneiai auopiion of spraying, lo an increase 
111 the nuinuer oi beaiing frees, and to ihe fact that tins 
IS the regular year for a full crop in this State. Dela¬ 
ware had tne good sense lo get in on the "off year.” 
orciiards oi Kieiter pears thai have been sprayed are 
showing a light crop of excellent fruit. Unsprayed or- 
cliarus are defoliated uy leal blight and the few pears 
hanging on me trees are worthless. This is probably the 
heaviest week for the tomato caniiers taepteinber 3j and 
they are working night and day. A good many tomato 
heids nave t)iigh,.ed to some extent, but the crop will be 
laige, aiiu a large part or it of excellent quality. 
Lelaware. wesley wbbb. 
The outlook for all kinds of fiuit, with the exception 
of peaches, was never better in this State. 'The Italian 
prune, or wiiat has become known commercially as tne 
■Dregoii ’ prune, is a fine crop, probably more prunes 
than the drier capacity can handle, unless the season is 
very favorable, ’riie output should be 25,000,000 to 30,000,000 
pounds, intelligent spraying and cultivating have put the 
appie crop in the best of shape, in the Rogue River 
Valley there will be 4o0 cars; in Hood River Valley loO 
cars, with probably 200 cars for remainder of atate, 
making 8uu cars in all. As a usual Hung our growers 
market early, our finest fruit going to England, France 
and Germany. Apple buyers have been in iJie neiu, but 
I have not learned of any saies being made. 'The season 
usually opens with prices at $1 lo $i.25 per box f. o. b. 
Isec'y Ore. Board of Horticulture, ueo. u, ulmbekbon. 
THE NEW YORK STATE FAIR. 
The fair for 1903 must, on the whole, be classed as a 
great success. The weather was cool and pleasant, the 
exhibits in most departments were complete, and there 
were few if any objectionabie features. The display of 
vegetables was not as good as usual—due to the poor 
season which has delayed ripening. There was a good 
fruit display considering the season, but much of its 
effect was destroyed by the lack of plain labels. In many 
cases it was impossible lo read the labels, or tell what 
the varieties were. Of course a display of Winter va¬ 
rieties at this season means iittle, for green or only 
partly matured fruit is, of little value as an educator. 
'The New York State Fruit Growers again won first prize 
for their coilection. There was the usual display of live 
stock, many of the animals being carried about from fair 
to fair like race horses on a circuit. Such animals are 
useful for showing farmers what fine specimens of the 
breeds ought to be, but most of them would tail to pay 
the mortgage if put out on the average farm and given 
the job of producing milk, meat and wool on the average 
farmer’s tare. The farmer’s business animal is a high- 
grade—not a “pure blood,” and we still hope to see the 
day when prizes will be offered for a sire and four of 
his get from grade females. Such stock would be far 
more useful for farmers than the present herds of "cir¬ 
cuit trotters.” We also hope some day to see growing 
crops on or near the Fair Grounds where implement 
dealers may show some of their tools In operation. 
The managers of the Fair are alive and making, each 
year, solid and steady improvements In the grounds. It 
is a pleasure to see the lawns and flowers, and the trees 
are growing so as to give promise of well-shaded ave¬ 
nues. A new Woman’s Building is an excellent feature. 
In connection with this building is an emergency hospi¬ 
tal, rest room and other helpful features. This fitting 
up a building exclusively for women has proved a very 
popular feature. Farm women are taking an active part 
in the work of the Grange and all other work that has 
to do with the farm home. It is a very wise thing to 
give them a headquarters at the fair. 
As usual the best exhibit on the grounds was the 
farmers themselves. Monday usually brings a slim crowd 
but this year President Roosevelt delivered an address 
on that day, and thousands came to hear him. It is 
doubtful if he ever had a more respectful and orderly 
audience than the crowd of New York farmers who 
gathered before him. They were not demonstrative men 
and women—10 per cent of their number of college boys 
would have made far more noise than they did. The 
President understood his audience and talked to them as 
man to man in a way that put them all at ease. It was 
a very happy opening for the Pair, and day after day 
the attendance grew so that when the week was half 
over the financial success of the Fair was assured. 
Farmers talked freely about their hopes and problems. 
It is a mistake to suppose that this season has discour¬ 
aged them entirely. Crops have been damaged in some 
localities, but prices are high. Stock men and particu¬ 
larly cattle growers are all hopeful. They have had good 
hay crops, and while the corn is backward a warm Sep¬ 
tember will carry it through. Hundreds of farmers re¬ 
port great success with Alfalfa. The future seems to 
offer good prospects for milk and its products. 
The fruit crop appears to be very uneven. As a whole 
there seems to be less good fruit in sight than last year, 
and buyers in the fruit districts are reported as offering 
$2 and over per barrel already. Last year the specula¬ 
tors lost much money on apples and they are not likely 
to repeat their operation this season. Potatoes are re¬ 
ported generally fair though rot is appearing in many 
fields. The cabbage crop is heavy, but backward in 
growth, and onions are a light crop on the whole. New 
York farmers evidently have their troubles, and many of 
them are face to face with tough problems, but they are 
facing them with stout hearts and asking no favors that 
do not belong to them. In all the years that The R. 
N.-Y, has been represented at the State Fair it never 
did so much business, or secured so many new sub¬ 
scribers as this year! 
There was a great display of farm implements. If such 
displays indicate the tendency of farm labor it would 
seem that windmills are less popular and that gas en¬ 
gines are taking their places. It would also seem that 
horse powers are less popular, and that the low metal 
wheels for wagons are not so much In use as formerly. 
There is a wonderful development In power spraying ma¬ 
chines—and it would seem that traction engines are more 
in use. , n. 
FUTURE OF THE MILK TRADE. 
Tacf and Conservative Judgment Needed. 
I was called upon to attend a meeting of the Milk 
Producers’ Association of Oswego Co., at Fulton. N. Y., 
September 5. The Nestl6 Food Co., a foreign corpora¬ 
tion, has its only American plant located here. Some 
friction has developed between farmers and the Com¬ 
pany, and the meeting was held primarily to fortify and 
strengthen the Producers’ Association, a wise thing to 
do. The discussions, however, drifted somewhat, and I 
was criticised by a certain element for taking a conserva¬ 
tive stand and what I consider a broader view of milk 
organization, and the outcome, it seems to me, has some¬ 
thing of a general interest. The Company has built up 
a large business, receiving at present 57,CMX) pounds of 
milk a day, having received in the flush 88,000 pounds 
daily. The following schedule of prices has been main¬ 
tained since October 1, 1902: October, $1.20; November, 
$1.40; December, $1.55; January, $1.55; February, $1.45; 
March, $1.35; April, $1.30; May, $1.05; June. .90; July, .95; 
August, $1.10; September, $1.20. The Company furnishes 
cans and hauls the milk, the farmers paying about one- 
half the expense of hauling. One year ago the president 
of the Association secured some concessions from the 
Company; the details would not perhaps be of value here. 
In speaking to these people 1 took this ground: That 
here was an institution with a plant valued at $400,000, 
which was a valuable asset to any dairy community: 
that the dairy interest of the East must depend for its 
future support upon special products; in other words, 
if we were wholly dependent upon butter and cheese¬ 
making, and were deprived of our condensery, fancy 
cheese, milk and cream shipping business, that New York 
would not long lead as she does now in dairy output, 
and that differences should be settled by arbitration, 
upon both sides rather than by war. This position did 
not at all suit the radicals, who wanted to build a cream¬ 
ery or seek another outlet. They cited the success of 
the Delhi cooperative creamery in its successful com¬ 
petition against Borden prices, and wondered why they 
could not do the same. The Delhi people have a very 
rich milk to deal with; 4V^ to 5V^ per cent fat is an aver¬ 
age of large quantities in that Delawai’e County section, 
while the milk contract at Fulton places 3.5 per cent as 
a minimum from September to March and 3.2 per cent 
the remainder of the year. It makes a vast difference 
in the manufacturing value of milk whether one gets 
four pounds or 5^ to six pounds of butter from lOO 
pounds of milk. 
The vital question of cattle feeds and their limitations 
as prescribed by condenseries and milk purchasers who 
require a pure clean milk was also freely discussed. 
.Much has been said upon this question pro and con. 
Condenseries refuse silage-fed milk and also the by¬ 
products of corn. These rules were made some years 
ago, when there was no doubt danger, before means were 
at hand for thoroughly drying the refuse, and also when 
silage was foul-smelling and sure to taint the milk. I 
am sure to-day if farmers would organize and through 
the medium of a careful conservative level-ljeaded busi¬ 
ness farmer (don’t have more than one on a committee), 
meet the representatives of these concerns, they could 
get concessions that would make possible the feeding of 
nearly every well-known cattle feed under company in¬ 
spection. In fact, a condensery concern of western New 
York has agreed upon just this line of action. Organize, 
therefore, not to disrupt but to work with the buyer. In 
my judgment milk manufacture is bound to pass slowly 
into strong moneyed concerns, which will enhance the 
price of milk to the producers. Certainly this has been 
the past history, and our relation must be upon an in¬ 
dependent firm basis yet one of cooperation, for the 
highest good of both. We have no more moral right as 
patrons of these milk companies to aim at their destruc¬ 
tion than the mechanic has to work against the success 
of his employer. From a long experience in these sec¬ 
tions I am satisfied that much ill-feeling is caused by a 
lack of tact on the part of the examiner or stable expert; 
or whatever he may be called. He may not always use 
discretion or uniform judgment, and disaffection follows 
i would say lo this man, carry the Golden Rule v.Mth you 
when about your official duties, and a happy contented 
patronage will follow with the same schedule of prices. 
H. E. COOK. 
