1904 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
57 
Events of the Week. 
DOMESTIC.—By their own evidence given January 6 
before Monroe Fulkerson, who is conducting the Fire De¬ 
partment investigation into the Iroquois Theatre horror 
at Chicago, the proprietors of the theatre showed that a 
worse condition of affairs existed than had heretofore 
been thought possible. Will J. Davis, Harry J. Powers 
and Thomas J. Noonan, active managers of the Iroquois 
Theatre, were examined by Mr. Fulkerson. All of them, 
pleaded ignorance of any precautions taken to prevent 
loss of life by fire at their theatre. They admitted failure 
to instruct employees in fighting fire and failure even to 
provide suitable appliances for use against flames. Their 
statements were corroborated by the testimony of 20 em¬ 
ployees of the theatre, none of whom had ever been told 
his duty in case of fire. Noonan, who is the working 
manager of the theatre under direction of Davis and 
Powers, admitted himself that 11 of the theatre exits were 
locked and bolted. Two of these exits, leading to the 
front of the theatre on the ground floor, were locked; 
three additional exits, on the north side of the ground 
floor, were bolted; three exits, on the north side of the 
theatre from the first balcony, were bolted, and three 
exits, on the north side of the second balcony, were 
bolted. Will J. Davis testified that he had given no or¬ 
ders to place a fire alarm box in the theatre; that he had 
given no direction to place a pump upon the stage, be¬ 
yond the fact that any apparatus the firemen wanted 
should be provided as soon as possible. He declared that 
he could not say as to whether the building had been 
finally accepted from the Fuller Company or not. He 
admitted that he never gave any instructions to any¬ 
body as to what should be done in case of fire. He had 
no knowledge as to whether the theatre had received a 
final certificate of inspection from the Building Depart¬ 
ment of the city before opening or not. Fifteen wit¬ 
nesses who had worked on the stage declared that they 
had never received any orders from the management as 
to what they should do in case of fire. There was never 
a fire drill in the theatre, and none of the stage hands 
was ever informed as to the location or use of fire ap¬ 
pliances, or the operation of the ventilators over the au¬ 
ditorium and stage. . . . “Guilty with a strong recom¬ 
mendation of mercy” was the verdict rendered January 
9 by the jury in the case of Edmund H. Driggs, charged 
with having while a Congressman secured for the Brandt- 
Dent Company a contract whereby that concern sold to 
the Post Office Department 250 of the automatic cashiers 
it manufactures, at the price of $150 per machine, Driggs 
himself receiving $50 for every machine so sold, or $12,500 
in all. Mr. Driggs's explanation of his financial transac¬ 
tions with Beavers was that he paid the money, not to 
Beavers personally, but as a contribution to the Na¬ 
tional Republican campaign fund. Mr. Driggs himself is 
a Democrat, and he explained his contribution of a large 
sum of money—$2,800—to the campaign fund of the oppo¬ 
sition party on the ground that Beavers was a friend of 
his and that he wanted to help him out. He denied in 
the most positive terms that he had drawn any of the 
checks payable to Beavers personally. They were all 
drawn, he testified, in favor of the Republican National 
committee. Driggs was sentenced to one day’s imprison¬ 
ment, and to pay a fine of $10,000. . . . Twenty persons 
were killed and 37 injured in a Rock Island passenger 
wreck at Willard, Kan., January 6. It is thought that 
carelessness of trainmen caused the wreck. Instructed 
to meet a special train at Willard, the engineer and con¬ 
ductor of the ill-fated passenger train, noting that a 
freight train stood on the sidetrack at Willard, rushed 
through, thinking that the cars they had seen were those 
which they had been instructed to pass. . . . Fire in 
the business section of Augusta, Me., January 7, caused 
a loss of $200,000. . . . The steamer Clallam was wreck¬ 
ed near Port Townsend, B. C., January 9, and 60 lives 
lost. . . . Samuel W. Tyson, a lumberman of Coffee 
Co.. Ala., was convicted January 11 of peonage and fined 
$1,000 by Judge Jones, in the United States Court. Tyson 
bought Will Brown from M. B. Crumpler for $96.50, work¬ 
ed him for eight months under guard, and sold him to 
George Stephens for $36.50. Tyson also got hold of Nick 
Anderson and held him in peonage. Anderson was traded 
around a good deal. His troubles began when he plead¬ 
ed guilty to the charge of assault and battery and wasi 
fined $5. The fine was paid by a man who sold him to 
Crumpler, and Crumpler traded him to Tyson for Jerry 
Sewell, another negro, and some money. Tyson held 
Will Thornton in duress also. It appears that Thornton 
was captured by C. D. Clemens, to whom he was indebt¬ 
ed, and sold to" Tyson, who worked him in stripes and 
under guard for three months. . . . The trial of former 
Superintendent Machen of the free delivery division of 
the Post Office Department, Samuel A. and Diller B. 
Groff, of Washington, manufacturers of the Groff patent 
letter box fastener, and George E. and Martha J. Lorenz 
of Toledo, O., joint defendants on the charge of con¬ 
spiracy to defraud the Government, was begun January 
11. The case against these five persons is the outcome of 
charges made by Mr. Bristow in his report on the scan¬ 
dal in the Department. It is alleged that the Groff broth¬ 
ers obtained the sale of their patent letter box fasteners 
to the Government by paying a commission to Mr. and 
Mrs. Lorenz, who divided the commission with Machen. 
As superintendent of the free delivery system,, Machen 
was responsible to the Government for the contracts in 
his bureau. The cost of these fasteners, it is asserted, 
was 25 cents each. Machen is charged with having ar¬ 
ranged for their sale to the Government at $1 apiece. 
Forty per cent of the difference was to go to him. Mr. 
and Mrs. Lorenz served merely as intermediaries between 
Machen and the manufacturers, the Groff brothers. 
FARM AND GARDEN.—The Northwest Fruit Growers’ 
Association .met at Portland, Ore., January 11-13. Other 
recent meetings in the same city were the National Live 
Stock Convention, January 12-15, and the National Wool 
Growers’ Association, January 12-15. 
The Winter term at the Connecticut Agricultural Col¬ 
lege (Storrs) opened with the addition of 14 new students, 
the Fall term opening with a total enrollment of 99. All 
of the College dormitories are full, the largest rooms 
having in them three students. The largest laboratory 
in Agricultural Hall, gi’eatly needed for work in soil 
physics, has been fitted with rows of beds and has been 
devoted since September to the more crying need of room 
for students. The President’s residence, even, is being 
use for the accommodation of nine students and two in¬ 
structors, the President and his wife occupying tempor¬ 
arily a suite of two small rooms in the main college 
building. The need of a new dormitory is most urgent 
and imperative. 
The thirty-second annual convention of the Wisconsin 
Dairymen’s Association will be held at Platteville, Wis., 
February 10-12. 
The results of the student judging contest held at the 
recent International Live Stock Exposition at Chicago 
have been announced. The Iowa Agricultural College for 
the third consecutive year has won the much coveted 
Spoor Trophy and every first prize. It was an easy vic¬ 
tory for the Iowa College students as. they were 300 
points ahead of the Ohio students, who stood second. In 
the individual competition for the Clay-Sanders special 
$500 money prizes, which were awarded to the 12 men 
(college students or farmers’ sons under 25 years of age), 
ranking highest in general proficiency on all classes of 
stock judged, the Iowa students won first, third, tenth, 
eleventh and twelf th prizes. _ 
NEW JERSEY STATE HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY MEETS. 
Part I. 
The State Horticultural Society of New Jersey held its 
twenty-ninth annual meeting in Trenton January 7 and 8. 
There was a very good attendance throughout. Many ex¬ 
cellent papers were read by practical men. The question 
box was unusually well filled, and the discussions were 
freely participated in by young and old members. The 
programme was not overburdened by experiment station 
professors, as has previously occurred. Some of the “pro¬ 
fessors” so plentiful at farmers’ meetings appear to have 
a rather limited stock of ideas useful to the actual cul¬ 
tivator, and consume time that is better devoted to the 
interchange of practical experience. The president’s ad¬ 
dress was chiefly a plea for better agricultural education 
in country schools. Children are being educated away’ 
from country life. Steps must be taken to increase in¬ 
terest in rural life among children and to educate them 
more especially for their actual life-work. There are too 
many city-bred teachers in our country schools. The re¬ 
ports of the various committees on horticultural products 
brought out the general impression that the season of 
1903 was particularly trying on most cultivated crops. 
The sharp frosts of May were followed by a severe 
drought lasting 54 days, then many weeks of ram and un¬ 
seasonable cold. A severe gale in September blew off a 
great proportion of tree fruits all over the State. The 
estimate of loss from this storm ranged from 40 to 95 
per- cent. Grapes and cranberries only brought full crops 
to maturity. In some localities grapes were largely de¬ 
stroyed by birds at time of ripening. While the year 
was generally one of short crops, good prices prevailed 
and there was a brisk demand for all products. Strawber¬ 
ries and cherries were generally a disappointment. Early 
varieties suffered much from the depredations of birds. 
Cuthbert and Kansas raspberries gave better crops than 
other varieties. There were some severe losses from; 
birds. Wilson proved the most profitable blackberry. 
Rathbun is very similar. The new Ward blackberry, a 
supposed seedling of Kittatinny, that originated in Mon¬ 
mouth County, received a strong endorsement from the 
special fruit committee. It is hardy, of best quality, and 
more productive than any variety yet disseminated. 
Japan plums were generally a failure from frost. Some 
European varieties bore small crops. Peaches bore a 
light crop of good quality. Kieffer pears almost an en¬ 
tire failure from frost, followed by leaf blight. Apples set 
a fair crop, but suffered great losses from gales. San 
Jos6 scale is spreading throughout the State, but it is 
hoped that a more general use of the lime, salt and sul¬ 
phur wash will hold it in check. It is generally reported 
rs effective but very troublesome to handle. 
Joseph Barton. Marlton, N. J.. read an instructive paper 
on trucking in South Jersey. It is a great industry, giv¬ 
ing employment to many thousand workers. The soil 
in Camden and Gloucester counties is light and easily 
worked. The roads are generally good and the climato 
favorable. Truckers must have wide information con¬ 
cerning crops, plants, fertilizers and have good marketing 
ability. For early legumes phosphoric acid is needed, ni¬ 
trogen for the various vine crops, and potash and phos¬ 
phoric acid in quantity for tubers. Every possible device 
iO gain earliness must be used, such as running rows east 
and west, soaking seeds, starting plants under glass, etc. 
The earliest tomatoes are grown on the eastern shores of 
wide creeks. Frosty winds usually come from the north 
and west. Dry fish scrap is an effective application on 
melons and ether vines for the Striped Cucumber beetle. 
Bisulphidg of carbon applied early is a practical remedy 
for aphids or vine lice. Bordeaux Mixture checks Melon 
blight if applied in time. The best truckers specialize on 
a few crops, but manage to find work for men through¬ 
out the season. 
Prof. J. B. Smith, State Entomologist, showed conclu¬ 
sively that birds, aside from sentimental reasons, were 
not particularly beneficial to the fruit grower. They did 
not disturb the balance of insect life, and some species 
destroyed far more fruit than their services paid for. The 
robin, for instance, was of no practical benefit in the 
orchard, though he might be in the garden, and fre¬ 
quently destroyed the greater part of valuable fruit crops. 
He outlined an amendment to the present game laws al¬ 
lowing farmers to destroy birds actually injuring crops, 
but forbidding the sale or shipment from the State of 
birds killed for such purposes. The paper and suggestions 
were referred to the legislative committee with instruc¬ 
tions to confer with the similar committee of the State 
Agricultural Society. Some of the points in Prof. 
Smith’s paper were: There are thousands of species of 
insects in New Jersey scarcely 10 per cent of which are 
harmful. Some birds live almost entirely on harmful in¬ 
sects, others eat Indiscriminately beneficial and destruc¬ 
tive kinds. On the whole they do not check orchard 
pests. If every bird would do his be«t it would still be 
necessary to spray and use insecticides. Chickens, tur¬ 
keys and Guinea fowls eat more destructive insects 
than wild birds. The robin has become a great local 
pest to fruit growers, and does not destroy enough in¬ 
sects to make any return. Complaints come In from 
many States. w " v ‘ F- 
Reports from southern Illinois are that peach buds are 
practically all killed. 
While all Florida as far south as Tampa suffered from 
the cold, no serious damage seems to have come to 
oranges as far north as Jacksonville. 
Mercury reached 20 degrees below zero here January 3. 
I have examined peach buds and find all varieties killed 
but Hill’s Chili. w. a. b. 
Farmer, N. Y. _ 
KEEPING CABBAGE.—My plan of keeping cabbage in 
Winter is as follows: We have sawmills close by that 
are always glad to get rid of sawdust, so in the Fall I 
get two or three loads, put it in a heap, cut my cabbage 
from the stalks, rank them in as small a heap as pos¬ 
sible, and cover them with sawdust about 15 inches thick. 
They are easily got out, and always nice and crisp. This 
is for family use. I do not know how large lots would 
keep stored in this way. a. a. 
Ocean Co., N. J. 
BUSINESS BITS . 
Five cents in stamps will bring any reader of The R. 
N.-Y. the mammoth catalogue issued bv C. C. Shoe¬ 
maker, Box 324, Freeport, Ill. It tells all about the 
chicken business and the famous Globe incubators. The 
information it contains should be worth many times its 
cost to anyone interested in the poultry subject. 
Users of Post’s Sap Spouts claim that the air trap 
contained therein pulls more sap from the trees than is 
secured by the natural flow. All parties interested writ¬ 
ing to C. C. Stelle, 81 Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y., 
will receive a free catalogue fully describing this money 
maker, or for five cents will receive, in addition to the 
catalogue, full-sized samples of each spout. 
C. L. Dine, M. D., of Minster, O., writes the Rex Buggy 
Shield Co., 41 Oak St., Connersville, Ind., under date of 
December 2, 1903, as follows: “Your vestibule storm 
shield is all right. It has been in use every day since the 
cold wave struck us, and I am highly pleased with it.” 
These buggy shields should appeal to anyone who has 
driving to do in cold or stormy weather. 
The need of a properly balanced ration for young 
chicks is understood by all interested in poultry. Mr. 
Burtt, of the Pineland Incubator & Brooder Co., James- 
burg, N. J., has compounded the Fidelity food, which ap¬ 
pears to be pretty near perfection for this purpose. It is 
made from various grains and seeds, the chicks like it, 
it keeps them healthy, and makes them grow. It is fed 
dry, and does not have to be mixed with anything. This 
company also makes a full line of foods for all kinds of 
poultry, besides incubators, brooders and other devices 
of service to poultrymen. Write for their free catalogues. 
BURPEE'S Farm Annual 
“The Leading American Seed Catalogue,” is now more “a leader” than ever before. 
Thoroughly revised and greatly improved, it tells not only the Plain Truth about seeds, but 
has also many new features for 1904. 
An elegant book of 178 pages, it contains hundreds of illustrations from nature and six 
superb lithographic colored plates. It shows in natural colors thirteen “ true and tried ” new 
Vegetables of sterling merit, three new Nasturtiums (of a distinct type), and seven Superb Sweet 
Peas,—all painted from nature, by New York’s leading artist, at our famous Fordhook Farms. 
It presents also twenty-one faithful photogravures of America’s Largest Mail-order Seed 
Trade,—views in both town and country. Altogether it is pronounced the 
Best Seed Catalogue Ever Published 
Anri FiiaaT provided you will ask for it now. It will cost YOU one cent to 
**11U 113 1 I CC * mail your address on a postal card to us. It will cost us four cents 
postage—plus eight cents for the catalogue,—just twelve cents to respond to your request. 
We are willing to bear this risk—twelve for one I If you will only read 
BURPEE’S FARM ANNUAL for 1904 
we feel quite sure that you will favor us with at least a trial order, and 
this is all we ask, as Burpee’s Seeds will tell their own story in your 
garden and fields. 
Better send for this catalogue to-day I One cent spent by you insures 
twelve cents spent by us, and this should be sufficient to convince you that 
we have faith in Burpee’s Seeds and also in our ability to persuade you 
to try Burpee’s Seeds, if you will only read Burpee’s Farm Annual. 
Are you willing to spend that cent ? 
Shall we hear from you? If not, You will miss an opportunity to 
become acquainted with the very BEST SEEDS that can be grown ! 
W. ATLEE BURPEE & CO., Philadelphia, Pa. 
SEEDS 
FROM 
THE 
rj.’DrkTTnr'P'O We are Seed Growers 
(Not Mere Dealers) 
And sell direct to the Planter at WHOLESALE PRICES 
Our specialties are choice Vegetable Seeds, Seed Potatoes, selected Seed Con, improved 
Oats, etc. Catalogue Free—Don’t miss seeing it. JOSEPH HARRIS CO., Coldwater, N. Y. 
SALZERSSEED 
SALZER’S NATIONAL OATS. 
Yea, farmers of America, lend me your ears, while I chant I 
the merits of this new Oat Novelty. 
.Editors, Agricultural Writers, Institute Orators, all talk 
and write about this new Oat. Ityieldedln Wis. 156 bu., in 
Ohio 187 bu., in Mich. 231 bu., in Mo. 265 bu. and in N. D. 
310 bu. per acre, during 1903, and In 1901 you cun grow Just 
us easily 300 bu. per acre of Salzer’s National Oats, as 
weean. Your land is just as good, just as rich and you are 
Just as good a farmer as we are. We hope you will try this 
Oat in 1904, and then sell same for seed to your neighbors 
at a funcy price, next fall. 
Macaroni Wheat. 
It does well on arid, dry lands, as also on rich farm lands, 
yielding from 30 to 80 bu. per acre. 
Speltz and Hanna Barley. 
Greatest cereal food on earth. Yields 4 tonselegant straw 
hay and 80 bu. of grain, as rich as corn, oats and wheat 
ground together ! Does well everywhere. Hanna Barley 
grows on dry, arid lands, yielding (50 bu. per acre. 
Salzer’s Home Builder Corn. 
Positively the biggest eared early corn on earth, yielding 
in Ind. 157 bu , Ohio 160 bu., Teun. 198 bu., Mich. 220 bu. 
and 8. 1). 276 bu. per acre. It is really a marvelous corn. 
Sinks its roots deeply alter moisture aud nourishment and 
grows like a weed. _ 
Brornus Inermls and Alfalfa Clover. 
Bromus Inermia is the most prolilic grass for permanent 
pastures ou earth. Yields 7 tons hay per acre. Good on 
sund, lime, cluy, gravel—yes, on all kinds of soils! 
Alfalfa Clover produces more hay and better hay than 
any Clover known. It is good for 7 tons per acre. 
Potatoes 736 bushels per Acre. 
The Editor of the Rural New Yorker says, “Salzer’s 
Earliest Potato is the earliest out of 68 early sorts tried, and 
yields 464 bu. per acre, while Salzer's JEarly Wisconsin 
yielded for them 736 bu. per acre. Salzer’s Potatoes for 
yield challenge the world !” 
FOR 10c IN STAMPS 
and the name of this paper, we will send you a lot of farm 
seed samples, including some of above, together with our 
mammoth 140 page illustrated catalog. Send to-day. 
JOHN A.SALZER SEED CO.UCrosse.Wis. 
