1901 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
6i7 
Events of the Week 
DOMESTIC.—Jack Winters, who stole $283,000 in bullion 
from the Selby smelting works, Vallejo, Cal., and after¬ 
wards confessed and disclosed the hiding place of the 
plunder, was sentenced August 21 to 15 years’ imprison¬ 
ment. Winters asserts that he had no accomplices. 
.... Five men were drowned August 21 as the result 
of an explosion in the tunnel under Lake Brie, at Cleve¬ 
land, O., where another casualty had occurred a week 
before.In a head-on collision between a pas¬ 
senger and freight train at Prentice, 111., August 21, five 
trainmen were killed and six badly injured.Au¬ 
gust 24t severe storms and cloudbursts occurred in sev¬ 
eral localities in New York, New Jersey and Pennsyl¬ 
vania. At Mauch Chunk, Pa., flood swept away a pave¬ 
ment on which a man and three boys were standing, 
drowning all four.The explosion of a soda 
fountain at Ashley, Ind., August 26, wrecked a drug¬ 
store, killed one person and fatally injured another. 
.... The falling of two steel girders of a new rail¬ 
way bridge being built across the Congaree River, near 
Columbia, S. C., August 26, killed four workmen and in¬ 
jured three otners.The Attorney Ueneral de¬ 
cides that newspaper guessing contests requiring study 
and calculation do not fall under the law prohibiting the 
advertising of lotteries or games of pure chance. 
The Government has discovered wholesale smuggling of 
Chinese over the Mexican border at Nogales, Ariz., where 
corrupt othcials have been seinng certihcates. One of 
the implicated oflicials committed suicide. 
PHILIPPINES.—The insurgent Colonel Loreel, with 
17 oflicers and 73 men, has surrendered at Talisay. The 
military force at Manila is to be increased to 1,000 ef¬ 
fective soldiers to guard against any possible uprising, 
it is expected that with the opening of Congress, the 
Government will submit a bill providing local self-gov¬ 
ernment for the Philippine Islands. The measure Is un¬ 
derstood to follow the lines of the government main¬ 
tained by Great Britain in the Straits Settlements. The 
subject of franchises will be the most uiiiicuit to settle. 
FARM AND GARDEN.—A decision handed down Au¬ 
gust 21 by Judge McConnell, sitting at Cleveland, Tenn., 
Uissolves the injunctions granted two weeks before in a 
case involving $5,000,000 invested in the copper industry 
near Ducktown, Tenn. About 40 farmers asserted that 
their land had been ruined by the copper fumes and that 
vegetation was being destroyed. Suits for damages were 
hied, injunctions were granted and the plants of the 
companies were shut down. The feature of the hearing 
preceding the dissolution of the injunction was a petition 
signed by 3,000 citizens of the county, asking that the 
industry be not interfered with. The companies concerned 
are the Tennessee Copper Company and the Ducktown 
Copper Company. The first has spent $3,000,000 and em¬ 
ploys 2,000 hands. The latter has spent $1,000,000, con¬ 
templates the immediate expenditure of $4,000,000 more, 
and employs about 1,000 hands. Individual suits will be 
lieard at the September term of court. 
John Hyde, the Statistician of the Agricultural De¬ 
partment, returned to Washington August 21 from a tour 
of the countries of Europe, where he arranged for a sys¬ 
tem for the exchange of telegraphic crop reports. 
Capt. G. P. Ahern, of the Ninth United States Cavalry, 
who Is in charge of forestry work in the Philippine Isl¬ 
ands, by resolution of the Philippine Commission, is in 
Washington to examine applicants for positions as for¬ 
esters, September 9. Six foresters, with salaries from 
$150 to $200 per month, are to be appointed. One of the 
qualifications is that applicants shall be graduates of 
forestry schools. 
Live stock shows will be held at Atlanta, Ga., October 
14-24; at Chicago, 111., November 30 to December 17, and 
at Philadelphia, Pa., October 8-19. 
The annual fair of the Michigan State Agricultural So¬ 
ciety will be held at Pontiac September 23-27. 
The Wisconsin State Fair will be held at Milwaukee 
September 9-13. 
The Tompkins Co. (N. Y.) Agricultural Society will 
hold its sixty-second annual fair at Ithaca September 
17-20. A night carnival will be held in connection with 
the fair, this being a novelty. 
The first Louisville (Ky.) Inter-state Fair will be held 
September 23—October 6. 
The second International Live Stock Exhibition will be 
held at the Union Stock Yards, Chicago, during the first 
week in December. Entry blanks are now ready. If 
intending exhibitors of pure breeding, and fat stock, and 
horses, will make application for them to W. E. Skinner, 
General Manager, International Live Stock Exposition, 
Union Stock Yards, Chicago, stating how many animals 
they desire to enter, and the class or breed, it will greatly 
expedite matters in the office, and they will receive their 
many entry blanks promptly. Carloads of live stock do 
not need to be entered until arrival at the Union Stock 
Yards, Chicago. Premium lists will be sent out with 
the entry blanks only on request. 
The Western New York Horticultural Society, as the 
trustee, has awarded the Barry medal to Charles C. 
Hooper, Rochester, N. Y., for the new red currant. Per¬ 
fection (cross of Fay’s Prolific and the White Grape), 
combining mild, rich flavor of the latter with size and 
appearance of the former, with larger bunches and more 
of them than the Fay. The medal is offered a new 
fruit, ornamental shrub, tree, flowering plant or vege¬ 
table which, after a three years’ test, shall be considered 
worthy. 
The Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association held Its 
annual meeting recently. Nearly every town in Barn¬ 
stable County was represented, and a large delegation 
from Plymouth County was present. It was estimated 
that the crop this year from these two counties would 
be about 20 per cent less than last year, when the out¬ 
put was 175,000 barrels. It was the sense of the meeting 
that berries should not sell for less than $6 per barrel at 
the outset. Emulus Small, of Harwich, was reelected 
president; George R. Briggs, of Plymouth, vice-presi¬ 
dent; Fi’anklln Crocker, of Hyannis, secretary-treasurer. 
R. J. Warder, secretary of the Board of Control of the 
Ohio State Experiment Station, is appointed Superintend¬ 
ent of Parks in Chicago, Ill. He was at one time a mem¬ 
ber of the Park Board of Cincinnati, O. 
Louis Cusln, secretary of the Pomologlcal Society of 
Prance, and for many years a prominent figure In French 
horticulture, died on August 1 in his 78th year. 
The St. Louis World’s Fair, 1903, purposes to make a 
very special feature of agriculture and horticulture. The 
Committee on Agriculture was formed with the special 
object in view of gathering together in the St. Louis 
World’s Fair Grounds of 1903 the most magnificent and 
complete exhibition of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, poul¬ 
try, farm products, horticulture, forestry, etc., ever 
exhibited. 
The twenty-eighth annual Grangers’ Interstate Exhi¬ 
bition and picnic was opened at Williams Grove, Pa., 
August 26. The machinery exhibits were larger than ever 
before. Among the speakers were officials of the State 
Department of Agriculture; Aaron Jones, of Indiana, 
Worthy Master of the National Grange; W. F. Hill, Mas¬ 
ter of the Pennsylvania State Grange, and J. B. Rogers, 
of New Jersey. 
The Connecticut Pomological Society will hold its fourth 
annual fruit exhibit at New Britain, Conn., October 1-2. 
'ITie American Veterinary Medical Association met at 
Atlantic City, N. J., September 3-6. 
The Devon Cattle Club offers a special list of prizes at 
the Pan-American Exposition, which will be of interest 
to Devon breeders generally. 
The Holstein-Friesian Association will duplicate all 
prizes offered by the New York State Fair Commission 
in the butter-fat test, provided the prizes are won by 
recorded Holstein-Friesian cows, thus making a total of 
$5UU if won as above. Arrangements have been made 
with the oflicials of the Pan-American Exposition where¬ 
by all cattle to be shown at Buffalo may remain at the 
State Fair in Syi'acuse until Thursday evening, Sep¬ 
tember 12, at which time they will be sent by special 
train to Buffalo. Judging cattle at Buflalo will begin 
Monday, September 16. Prize lists may be obtained from 
Frank D. Ward, Empire House, Syracuse, N. Y. 
FARM VALUES. 
Farms in this vicinity have depreciated in value fully 
iwo-Jifths from what they wei’e worth 15 or 20 years 
ago, owing to the tact that farm produce does not bring 
more titan one-half as much as it did 16 years ago. For 
example, wool sold for 33 cents, now 16 cents; wheat 
from $1.25 to $1.40, now 70 cents; barley from 75 cents to 
$1, now 50 cents; while the cost of production is just as 
much now as it was then. The difference in the prices 
now and 18 years ago ought to make from one-half to 
three-fourths difference in valuation of farms. The only 
cases where there has been any increase in valuation 
have been on account of buildings being improved, and 
fences built and kept in repair. J. s. b. 
Ontario Co., N. Y. 
We have read the articles published in Thk R. N.-Y. 
from time to time on the subject of run-down farms, 
and more recently on the depreciation in farm values. 
The location of farm property has much to do with its 
value and its capability to produce. A farm located in 
this tobacco belt is worth more to-day than for years 
preceding. The tobacco industry was never more promis¬ 
ing tlian at the present time. A new feature of the culti¬ 
vation is the growing under canvas, and many acres have 
been grown in this way this season. An experimental 
piece was grown last year which was sold at about 60 
cents per pound for wrappers, while that not shade 
grown brought from 25 to 30 cents per pound, 'i'his to¬ 
bacco was grown under the supervision of an expert fui- 
nished by the Government, and proved so much of a 
success that acres and acres are this year grown under 
canvas. d. k. 
Hartford, Conn. 
It is my opinion and that of others who have lived 
here longer than I have, that farm values will not aver¬ 
age to exceed 40 per cent of what they were 20 years 
ago, although the buildings, etc., are generally much 
improved since then and the farms in fully as good a 
state of cultivation. This for our immediate neighbor- 
hood. A little north and west of us the decline has 
been much more even than here. 1 know of no case 
where there is any increase of values nor of any farm 
that will bring 60 per cent of the supposed value of 20 
years ago. It is very i-are that thei’e is a farm sold 
unless it is by the mortgagee. I did not sow any cow 
peas this year owing to want of time and the wet sea¬ 
son, but there are a few growing that came up after 
plowing the orchards. They have mostly made a very 
fine growth, much better than last year. I have two 
bushels of seed saved from last year that I expect to 
plant next season. s. D. 
Greene Co., N. Y. 
For the last 15 or 20 years farm values have steadily 
advanced. Land which sold then for $25 to $35 now sells 
more readily at from $35 to $45. This is land without 
permanent improvements to speak of. An 80-acre ad¬ 
joining mine, without permanent improvements, was 
bought in 1880 for $35 per acre. The same farm was sold 
last Winter for $65, with about $1,500 permanent im¬ 
provements. A 160-acre farm adjoining mine was bought 
about 18 years ago for $6,000, and was sold last Winter 
for $10,000; the improvements are worth probably $500 
more now than then. About my own farm I do not 
know what it would sell for. But the assessor puts a 
higher value on it than any near It. I bought It 29 and 18 
years ago, at about $25 and $30 per acre. I do not know 
that the advance has been greater for the last two 
years than the average, but more land has changed 
hands than at any time before. The farms I have spoken 
of are two and three miles from the railroad; six to 10 
miles back land sells from $40 to $50 per acre. j. s. 
Corning, Iowa. 
Farm land has dropped in value about one-third, and 
is not changing owners. About the only sales that I can 
report are in settling up estates. Land in this section is 
yielding larger crops at the present time than years ago; 
everything in farm production is bringing a good price 
except wheat, which is worth 70 cents; old corn, 60 cents; 
oats, 45 cents and none to sell; a complete failure. One 
farmer got 80 bushels from 20 acres. Potatoes, $1 a 
bushel; hay, $12 a ton; rye, 56 cents; horses, $150 to $200; 
cows, $30 to $50. Everything In good demand; butter, 28 
cents; eggs, 16 cents. The reason for land producing 
more I credit to late Improvements and information 
gained by our young people through farm papers and 
institutes. I can call to mind farms to-day that yield 
three times the amount of grain that they did 20 years 
ago. These farms passed into the possession of young 
men who are using any amount of commercial manures, 
and have learned what to use and how much; have also 
learned how to handle barnyard manure. We are hav¬ 
ing plenty of rain at present, which is helping out our 
late planted corn. 1 planted 16 acres June 6, and before 
the rain 1 put it down as a complete failure, but it is 
earing all right and promises well. On the other hand, 
all corn planted early will be a short crop. The buck¬ 
wheat ill this section is looking fine and promises to be 
a good crop. A great many farmers take off buckwheat 
and sow wheat on same ground. In 1899 1 sowed wheat 
on buckwheat stubble and harvested grain that yielded 
34 bushels per acre. This wheat was sown October 2. 
Columbia Co., Pa. b. h. s. 
It must be admitted that farm values have steadily 
declined during the last 15 years in our vicinity, except 
where some other consideration titan that of farming 
had kept up the price of land in favored areas of limited 
extent. Good farm land now within a radius of three 
miles from Harrisburg sells at from $80 to $100 per acre, 
while 15 or 20 years ago such land sold from $100 to $150 
per acre. As to whether the sales from the farms are 
equal to those of 20 years ago, we believe they are not 
where the farmer depends largely upon the sale of the 
cereals for his revenue, but that they are where suc¬ 
cessful dairying or gardening is combined with the rais¬ 
ing of grains. In our judgment the Pennsylvania 
farmer of 100 acres cannot compete with his western 
oiOLher, who farms perhaps 1,000 acres in raising grains. 
He needs nearly the same appliances, requiring almost 
the same investment, and has much less use for them, 
and consequently receives much smaller returns from 
tlie same investment. The farmer here must depend 
largely upon fruit, vegetables or milk if he would make 
his farm pay. Many are doing this and succeeding. 
Our farmeis in general here complain that they cannot 
make money as they could years ago; but even those 
who complain will point out a farmer here and there 
who has changed with the times and admit that he is 
making money. Farmers of this sort are not the ones 
who sell out for $80 or even $100 per acre. J. o. 
Progress, Pa. _ 
CROP PROSPECTS. 
AUGUST 19.—Hay, good; oats, half crop; apples a fail¬ 
ure. Corn, 75 per cent; potatoes looking fairly well, but 
only a few in a hill. Buckwheat never looked better. 
Rye about H bushels per acre; grapes good. L. M. s. 
Yates Co., N. Y. 
AUGUST 25.—We have had heavy rains here this Sum¬ 
mer that have done damage by washing side hills, but 
it also made crops grow wonderfully. No apples near 
here; every peach tree full. Late potato tops look well; 
no early oixes planted on account of wet Spring. Buck¬ 
wheat and corn look very well. Meadows as green as 
June. Bees are gathering honey from buckwheat ana 
Fall flowers. f. w. 
Center Co., Pa. 
AUGUST 22.—Oat harvest nearly completed; the crop 
greatly injured by rust and some smut. White Russian 
oats I treated with formalin and sowed May 25 arc well 
filled, and no smut or rust visible. Corn planted June 5 
is over 12 feet high and heavily eared. Many silos are 
being built in this section now. Last Winter the silage 
from 31 ^ acres fed 14 cattle five months, without other 
feed, and left them in fine condition. There is but very 
little fruit of any kind here. Grasshoppers are very 
thick. Numerous heavy showers. Beans are not filling 
well. J. s. B. 
Allegany Co., N. Y^_ 
Crop and Weather Report. 
During the past Week the Middle and South Atlantic 
States have suffered from heavy I’ains, which have dam¬ 
aged crops and hindered work, and in some instances 
washed the land severely. The drought still continues 
iii Iowa, Oklahoma and Texas. Great Improvement ia 
noted in the condition of late corn. Much heavier earing 
than was anticipated is reported in the Central West 
and the Ohio Valley. The last of the Spring wheat har¬ 
vest was hindered by rains, but is now practically fin¬ 
ished. Thrashing is in progress and yields are satisfac¬ 
tory except in North Dakota, where the grain ripened 
prematurely and the kernels are shrunken on account of 
excessive heat. Shedding and rust are reported through¬ 
out the cotton belt. Tobacco prospects are favorable in 
the Ohio Valley and Tennessee. The apple outlook in 
Illinois, Indiana, Arkansas and Missouri is improving. 
Plowing is in progress in the Central and Eastern States, 
where the ground is in condition to work. 
The MUk Producers. 
The annual meeting of the Five States Milk Producers’ 
Association at Binghamton, N. Y., resulted in the elec¬ 
tion of President, Ira L. Snell; vice-president, T. J. Ar¬ 
nold; secretary-treasurer, H. T. Coon. Executive com¬ 
mittee—J. C. Latimer, Ira L. Snell, H. T. Coon, F. B. 
Aiken and O. G. Sawdy. After four years’ work the 
Association has a cash balance of $108.48. The following 
resolutions were passed: 
We affirm that the present net price of milk paid to 
the producer, which is now on the basis of the Milk Ex¬ 
change only about 1% cent per quart, is Insufficient. 
Besofued—That in view of the prices of hay, grain and 
all products that enter into the production of all dairy 
food and the certainty of a great advance in the near 
future, we do not deem it expedient to fix a valuation on 
the same to govern the action of our members until our 
cooperative stations are so united that they will stand 
together as a unit in sustaining the price set by the com¬ 
mittee, recommending to all that they carefully calcu¬ 
late the cost of producing the same and demand a re¬ 
munerative price to cover cost and a fair compensation 
for labor, and all sales should be made subject to the 
demand of the milk by a F. S. M. P. A. 
Besolved—That we unhesitatingly earnestly recommend 
and advise that our members shall refuse to make any 
contracts for delivery of milk to dealers. 
We reaffirm our desire to coSperate with all efforts to 
procure clean, pure milk for the consumer by greater 
care in the production, and the prevention of skimming 
and adulterating of the milk before it reaches the con¬ 
sumer. 
We heartily welcome the action of the medical society 
In New York in its endeavor to secure healthy dairy 
foods for the people of the city, and pledge our help to 
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