100 i. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
733 
EDUCATION FOR LOCOMOTIVE 
FIREMEN. 
It'. T. G., Brook ton, N. Y. —I enclose circu¬ 
lar letter received by a young man who works 
for me on the farm. He has an ambition to 
become a locomotive fireman and is inclined 
to send these people his money, expecting 
them to get him a situation when he has 
completed a five weeks' course of instruction. 
Ho you know anything about this concern? 
In your opinion would lie be likely to get 1 lie 
position he wants through their influence? I 
ask this of you in the interest of a large 
class of young farmers, who, like the young 
man, wish to find some other employment 
than farming and are easy victims to every 
scheme which promises to place tliPin in some 
other job. 
A ns. — The circular letter is printed all 
but the address which is written in with 
a typewriter. The offer is to give instruc¬ 
tion that will fit a man to serve as loco¬ 
motive fireman and then to secure a posi¬ 
tion for him—the charge being $20. The 
following extract from the circular is a 
fair sample: 
When you finish the instruction and are 
ready for work as a fireman, we will not turn 
you adrift witTi simply a recommendation to 
let you find employment or not, as may hap¬ 
pen. We are in touch with all the railroad 
officers in the country who hire firemen, and 
we personally recommend our student to the 
officers of the best roads in his vicinity. This 
is done by special letter to the proper officer 
regarding the particular student we want to 
place on his road. Should there be no imme¬ 
diate opening on the best road near our stu¬ 
dent's home, we then try the next best road 
if he wants work at once : and we keep this 
up, either with the railroads nearest ills home 
or with desirable roads further away, until 
we place our man. 
We have written the general managers 
about this and their answers follow: 
T have no knowledge whatever of the 
"Railway Educational Association,” of 
Brooklyn. Certain it is that this concern 
has never had any connection with our 
company, nor with any railroad in this 
vicinity with which I am familiar. The 
claims which they make, as set forth in 
your letter, are absurd. w. G. beasi.er. 
Vice President and General Manager. 
Central R. R. of N. J. 
So far as this company is concerned, 
we take on all firemen from the ranks, 
either from trainmen, hostlers or other 
less important positions, their promo¬ 
tion depending, of course, on their abil¬ 
ity to pass the proper examination. 
M. B. CUTTER. 
Gen. Supt. Lehigh Valley R. R. 
We have never heard of the Railroad 
Educational Association. In a general 
way, while mental training is a very de¬ 
sirable thing, it would hardly fit a man 
to keep up steam on a locomotive, which 
requires manual skill and dexterity as well 
as a practical knowledge of the subject. 
F. L. SHEPPARD. 
Gen. Supt. Penna. R. R. 
1 have no information covering course 
of the Railway Educational Association of 
Brooklyn, who advertise to train men for 
position of locomotive fireman. 
T. E. CLARKE, 
Gen. Supt. D., L. & W. R. R. 
There does not seem to be any train¬ 
ing, or education that can adapt a man 
to fire one of our modern locomotives. 
Actual experience, with agility, and 
quickness to learn the correct method of 
handling a shovel properly to spread the 
fuel in a fire box, seems to be the only 
means of producing first class firemen. I 
do not know anything about the Railway 
Educational Association of Brooklyn. We 
may have had one or two applications 
from these people, but I do not know that 
any have secured positions on the road. 
Most of our firemen have been promoted 
from cleaner, or helper about the round 
house and shops, where they learn some- 
tiling about an engine. , j. E. childs, 
Gen. Mgr. N. Y., O. & W. R. R. 
Rural MaiI Carriers and Automobiles. 
It has beeu reported that a rural mail ear¬ 
lier in New Hampshire is using a gasoline 
automobile on his route. Is there any truth 
in the report? 
Ans. —Inquiry at the postoffice depart¬ 
ment brings the following reply: “This 
office has no information as to the use of 
such automobiles by any rural carrier at 
the present time. Rural carriers are re¬ 
quired to furnish their own vehicles and 
there are no rules in force as to the char¬ 
acter of the vehicles to be used, except that 
the carrier is required to see that the mail 
is properly protected from the weather 
and otherwise, and to use such vehicle 
as will enable him to efficiently discharge 
his duties.” j. w. bristow. 
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General. 
Chemicals for Grass. 
Several Readers. —On page 713 W. B. Iv. 
speaks of using bone and potash in seeding to 
grass and grain. What proportion does he 
use and what form of potash? Why does 
lie not use nitrate of soda? 
Ans. —W. B. Kendall, of Sagadahoc 
County, Maine, makes the following an¬ 
swer : “Our fields were dressed with a high 
grade dissolved bone meal analyzing about 
four per cent ammonia and 20 phosphoric 
acid, using 1,200 pounds of this bone meal 
with 800 pounds of kainit. We always 
prefer kainit for its mechanical action on 
the soil and on the fertilizer in keeping the 
dry bone meal moist. We prefer kainit 
for long lasting use on grass lands. We 
have not had much experience with the 
muriate. In regard to the use of nitrate 
of soda we have not found it profitable to 
use owing to the fact that we are obliged 
to produce hay here at a cost year after 
year of not over $(1 per ton standing in 
the field. Our mixture of lime and kainit 
holds out five or six years with good 
crops from one application on our farms.” 
EGYPTIAN TREE ONIONS. 
We are planting our sets now to raise 
a crop of sets for next year. The onions 
we picked sets off this year will have 
multiplied so each one will make a bunch 
of from three to seven to dig next Spring. 
You will see we get from each set planted 
a bunch, as sets the first year, and a bunch 
of green onions the next. We plant them 
in rows two feet apart and three inches 
in the row, most all of the working is 
done with a horse hoe. We fit the 
ground as for any other garden crop, 
leveling it off with a plank drag the last 
time over. We stretch the garden line 
where we want the rows and then make 
holes for the sets with a machine or 
marker shown here. The pegs which are 
h i'f I I I I l l l M i i i i l i i i l l l M i l 
one and one-half inches long punch holes 
in the ground to receive the sets, by plac¬ 
ing the marker beside the line and step¬ 
ping on it with one or both feet, at the 
same time holding it upright by the handle. 
The sets are put in these holes right 
side up and the dirt pressed around them. 
The pegs are cut from old broom handles, 
and most of our sets are large enough 
to fill the holes made by them. We 
think our way of setting is just as fast 
as sowing the sets in a trench and cover¬ 
ing with a hoe; besides we get our sets 
in straight rows and right side up, so 
our onions are straight when we dig 
them to bunch. Green onions are one of 
our main crops. In the months of May 
and June we take some loads of bunch 
onions alone to market that bring us $18, 
or as much as two loads of hay. 
Ingham Co., Michigan, wm. a. olds 
Introducing Weed Seed.— Poultry men and 
farmers who have not wild mustard and don't 
want it would better look out when they buy 
prepared chick food. We haven't any wild 
mustard in this section. Last Spring we 
bought a 100-pound sack of one of the highly 
advertised kinds made up of a dozen or more 
kinds of seeds. Wherever it was fed in our 
brooder yards we have a thick bed of wild 
mustard. a. j. >r. 
l'lttm, Pa. 
The hungrier a hog gets, the better- 
provided he digests and assimilates 
all he eats. The good appetite means 
more weight, quicker finishing and 
greater profit. 
DR. HESS 
STOCK FOOD 
gives a sharp appetite, and by toning 
up the digestive and assimilative 
organs, insures that the maximum 
amount of the food eaten will be 
turned into weight. It also expels 
. worms and prevents disease. 
It is nota condimental food,but ascientific 
stock tonic and laxative, the famous pre¬ 
scription of ltr. Hess (M.D., D.V.S.). Good 
alike for horses, cattle, hogs and sheep. 
Exeept In Canada 
and extreme 
Wefct and South* 
5 A per !b In 100 lb sacks, 
Y 25 lb pall $1.60 
Smaller quantities a 
little higher. Small done. ^ 
Sold on a Written Guarantee 
DR. HESS & CLARK. 
Ashland, Ohio. 
Also mannfacturers of Pr. Hess Poultry 
Pan-a-ce-a and Instant Louse Killer. 
SUPERIOR TO 
WOOD OR METAL1ATU 
in the construction of 
plastered walls and ceilings 
SAVES TIME IN CONSTRUCTION 
StcStj- Incombustible Materials 
NAILED SECURELY TO THE STUDDING AND 
FINISHED WITH PLASTER 
Walls and ceilings constructed with Sackett 
Plaster Board will not fall; are Economical, 
Fire. Heat, Cold and Sound Resisting. 
Sample and Circular on Application 
SACKETT WALL BOARD CO. 
19 BATTERY PLACE, NEW YORK 
WATER 
A PERPETUAL 
SUPPLY 
'J 
Ever 
buy two pair of 
f Rubbers in one Winter? 
You should 
have bought 
HOOD’S. 
ASK FOR 
Hood’s Pilgrim^ . 
HOOD RUBBERS 
' HOOD ’ 
TRADE ( rubber company ] MARKj 
BOSTON ■ 
NOT MADEBYA TRUST 
/£ you CSW/VOT G£T £U£S£ f?UB- 
l&j?S f/POflf yOU/? 0£4££/?-iV/?/r£ US' 
THE FAVORITE 
FENCE POST 
IS DURABLE, ECONOMICAL 
AND ADAPTED TO 
MANY USES. 
For VINEYARDS they are excel¬ 
lent. By m ans of the HINGE 
JOINT the top can be adjusted 
to any desired angle. Address 
CO-OPERATIVE MANUFACTUR¬ 
ING CO. OF IOWA, 
540 Good Block, Des Moines, Iowa 
UNION LOCK POULTRY FENCE. 
Is strongest and best by every test. Our low prices 
will surprise you. We ship from mills in Conn.. 111., 
Calif., and guarantee prompt delivery. Write to-day 
for F'RKE catalogue of F’arm, Lawn and Poultry Fence 
Case Bros., 12-18 Main St- Colchester. Conn, 
EUREKA INDESTRUCTIBLE FENCE POSTS. 
Cheap as cedar. Made where used. No freight to 
pay. Great inducements to Agents to work territory- 
For terms, etc., address, with stamp, 
J. W. WYNKOOP, B. R. No. i, Erie, Pa. 
ADDI C RARRCI Q —Buy now and save money 
ftllLL DftIIIILL0 1 Robt. Gillies, Medina.N. Y. 
HARNESS AT WHOLESALE PRICES 
We made 100 styles and sell direct to conaumer. 
Send for Catalog F. 
KINO HARNESS CO.. 6 Lake St.. Owi£o, 1. 1. 
BOWSHER MILLS>. 
(Sold with or without Elevator.) 
For Every Variety of Work. 
Have conical shaped £Tin<Iers. Different 
from ali others. Handiest to operate and 
LIGHTEST RUNNINC. 
7 »!ze»—- to -5 horse power, ^ne style for 
windwtieel use. ( Also make (Sweep 
Urlnders—Ueorerl untl Plutn.i 
P. N. BOWSHER, South Bend, Ind. 
usiially means perpetual expense. The windmill and 
gasoline engine are costly to install and run. 
NIAGARA HYDRAULIC RAM 
Will work continuously wherever there 
1 U running stream. Nothing to blow 
down, blowup, or require attention. 
Requires less head of water to oper¬ 
ate than any other ram. Neverneetls 
repairs. In use by U. S. Govern¬ 
ment. Catalogue free. 
Niagara Hydraulic EngineCo. 
P. O. Box 78, Chester, Pa. 
GET BIGGER PRICES 
for your apples and 
fruit, bend them to market 
in our Ventilated Ship¬ 
ping Boxes. Customers can 
see how sound and fair they 
are. 9c each per hundred 
Ask for free booklet No. 20 
6eneya Cooperage Company. Gent,a, 0. 
The one roofing 
on the market 
which has steadily maintained its 
- individuality. Standard for thirteen 
ye^ Avoid inferior imitations. 
Loo. for the registered trade mark 
“ RUBEROID,” 
stamped on the under side of our 
Roofing every four feet. The most 
durable on the market. 
Send for Booklet “K.” 
THE STANDARD PAINT COMPANY, 
Sole Manufacturers, 
100 WILLIAM ST., NEW YORK 
VICTORY FEED MILL. 
Oldest and Best Grinding Mill 
Made. Willeriisb and grind 
corn and cob and all kinds of 
grain, mixed or separate. 
„ Grinds faster, finer and with 
less power than other mills. 
Are built strong, well made of 
good material, and will last 
a lifetime. Small size adapt¬ 
ed for windand tread power. 
Made in four sizes for 1,4,8 
and 10 H. P. Free Catalogue. 
Til OS. ROBERTS, 
Box 92. Springfield. O. 
^SeaThis Is the 
Quaker City 
Grinding Mill. 
For Com and Cobs, Feed 
and Table Meal. 
Send for all mills advertised: 
„ J ■ I keep the best and re- 
OSm Oil I lldli turn all others. Built 
in 8 sizes. 1 to 20 horse power. Ball bearing, 
easy running. Freight paid. Send for our 
38th Annual Catalogue. It’s free. 
TL. I Ilf OlvnnU Pft *737 Fllbert8t., Philadelphia, I’a. 
I 116 A.W.OlrdUQ uO. 47-19 tuual St., Chicago, III.. 
9 CORDS IN 10 HOURS 
SAWS DOWS 
TUBES 
BY ONE MAN, with the FOLDING SAWING MACHINE. It 
saws down trees. Folds like a pocket knife. Saws any kind of 
timber on any kind of ground. One man can saw more timber 
with it than 2 menin any other way, and doit easier. Send f..r 
FREE illustrated catalog, showing latest IMPROVEMENTS 
and testimonial, from thousands. First order secures aeeney. Address 
FOLDING SAWING MACHINE CO., 
10 & 18 S. Clinton Stroet, Chicago, llllroia. 
WE’LL PAY THE FREICHTc 
and send 4 Buggy Wheels, Steel Tire on, . 47.25 
Bpjj With Rubi.*r Tires, $15.00. I mfg. wheels % to 4 in. 
S&5 tread. Top Buggies, $28.75; Harness, $3 60- Write for 
catalogue. Learn Ik - t0 buy vehicles snd parts direct. 
Wagon Umbrella KULK.'.V.R.BOOB,Cincinnati,O. 
SAVE THE MAPLE TREE. 
Ask for Free Catalogue “ G ” and samples of No. 1 and 
No. 2 GRIMM SAP SPOUTS. How to procure one-fourth 
more sap of better quality is fully explained. A large dis¬ 
count on orders received during the month of October. 
G. H. GRIMM, Rutland, Vt. and Montreal, 1*. Q # 
