1005. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
653 
Events of the Week. 
DOMESTIC Twenty-two men, all of them foreigners, 
were buried in an avalanche of rock that slid down the 
side bank of the stone quarry of the Lehigh Portland 
Cement Company at Ormrod, Pa., August 1(1. Of the en¬ 
tombed men only three were rescued alive. . . . An 
excursion train from Kingston. N. ('., for Norfolk over the 
Atlantic Coast Line, with lti!) passengers aboard, ran into 
an open draw at the point where the road crosses the eastern 
branch of the Elizabeth River, some five miles from Norfolk, 
Va., August 17. Cp to August: 22, 10 bodies were recovered, 
total loss unknown. The lirsl car of the train, which pas¬ 
sengers agree was filled with people, dived headfirst into the 
draw, which does not. exceed 40 feet in width. It struck the 
a 
portion of the roof, 
dozen or so persons who 
of the excursionists were 
August 21, eight 
center pier and thus displaced 
Through this small bole Ihe half 
escaped drowning crawled. Most 
colored. ... At Butte, Mont., August 21 , eight persons 
were killed on a trolley car which was slalled’ on a rail¬ 
road track, when a freight train crashed into it. It is 
said that the big car was practically in charge of a 12- 
year old trolley boy, and there was no watchman at the 
crossing. . . . Acting Attorney-General James C. 
Mclteynoids lias reported to Secretary Wilson, of the Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture, on the charges against Dr. George T. 
Moore, a scientist of the bureau of plant industry, whose 
resignation was recently accepted. Mr. Mclteynoids says 
nothing has been submitted to him which indicates any 
criminal action on the part of Dr. Moore, or justifies the 
institution of legal proceedings in lids case. Dr. Moore 
is a scientist who discovered a soil-inocujator, and his 
business relations with the Nitro-Culture Company of West 
Chester, Pa., form the basis of (lie charges made against 
him. ... In an effort to destroy an offensive vegetable 
growth in Jamaica Pond', Boston, by the use of sulphate of 
copper, thousands of lisli have been killed, and their bodies 
lined the shores until removed by the Park Department. 
August 22 three carloads of dead fish were removed. They 
are being used as fertilizers for the shrubs in the Jamaica 
Parkway. . . According to the court of inquiry investi¬ 
gating the explosion on the gunboat Bennington, July 21, 
by which nearly CO men were killed. Ensign Charles T. 
Wade, chief engineer officer of the gunboat, is charged with 
neglect of duty, and the court recommends that he be court- 
niartialeri'. Three enlisted men, members of tlie working 
force in the lire room of the Bennington, all of whom were 
killed, are held partially to blame for tin* disaster by neg¬ 
lect of duty. The explosion on the Bennington was caused, 
according to the written opinion of Ihe court, by excessive 
steam pressure in boiler B, which was the first to explode. 
That explosion forced boiler 1! al't upon holler 1 >, which in 
turn exploded. The connections of all four boilers of the 
vessel were broken, and the scalding steam, carrying with it 
water, ashes and fire, went with terrific force all over the 
ship The closing of Ihe valve connecting boiler B with its 
steam gauge, instead of the shutting off of the aircock alone 
as was Intended', rendered the steam gauge useless, not a 
pound of steam being recorded. Even this was not noticed 
by the tire room workers. So far as the court could learn 
through its investigation there was nothing to show that 
the safety valves blew off at any time during the morning 
of the accident. It was shown, too, that there was no record 
Of the safety valve of boiler B having been overhauled since 
July, IHiil, although orders were given to do tills in March 
last ; but there is no record to show that the orders were 
carried out. It was shown that Ensign Wad'e accepted the 
statement of subordinates that the safety valves were In 
good condition and set according to the pressure which was 
being put on the boilers. Furthermore 1L was shown that 
the safety valves were set to blow off at 145 pounds pres¬ 
sure. although several weeks before the accident orders had 
been given not to carry more than 130 or 135 pounds of 
steam. The safety valves were not changed, although this 
order was clearly understood. It was shown also that the 
hantfgear for working the safety valve was not in working 
order. . . Near Newport, R. I.. August ID, Vinson 
Walsh, son of Thos. F. Walsh, the multi-millionaire of 
Washington, I>. ('.. was killed, and four others hurt, in an 
automobile accident. 11is -10-horse power Mercedes automo¬ 
bile tore through a rail fence a short distance from Easton 
Beach and plunged Into 
with it. Police officers 
least 40 miles an hour 
young man was arrested 
limit on the roads in tlie 
him was mad’e by several 
was discovered that yellow 
City, Miss., and l.a 
covery of the fever 
through the 
Dr. Corput 
the town of 
four on the 
among the 
the health 
miles from 
sick there. 
, the others 
investigate 
Mary’s parish. 
They found 48 
is near Patter¬ 
son 
account 
ii creek, taking part of the bridge 
say the machine was making at 
when the mishap occurred. The 
August 8 for exceeding the speed 
neighborhood. Complaint against 
farmers. . . . August 17 it 
fever has existed at Mississippi 
Place, La., for fully a month. The dis- 
nest at La Place, in the parish of St. 
John the Baptist, is due to Dr. Corput of the United Statqp 
Marine Hospital Service, who was sent through the river 
parishes to make an investigation. St. John Is one of the 
ironclad quarantine parishes and the loudest complaints 
against cruelty from quarantine guards have come from 
there. II is now known that while St, John was brutal in 
its treatment of all persons who wished to go 
parish, it was Itself nursing the yellow fever, 
found 33 cases of yellow fever, 21 of them in 
La Place, eight on the Diamond plantation and 
Terre Haute plantation. The fever is mainly 
better classes. Dr. Corput fears its spread, as he found all 
the houses full of the stegomyla, or yellow fever mosquitoes. 
A not tier yellow fever nest was discovered by 
officer of Lafourche at Lee, a little town about HO 
New Orleans. The officer found 100 persons 
Six of the cases were identified as yellow fever, 
being doubtful. . . . The physicians sent to 
I the suspicious cases of fever in Riverside, St. 
report that il is another yellow fever nest, 
cases of fever and three deaths. Riverside 
and may have been infected from that town. On 
of the number of stations on its line where yellow 
fever prevails. Lafourche Crossing, Patterson. Lafayette and 
ltavne' the Southern Pacific has been compelled to put on 
two trains, one running to healthy and the other to un¬ 
healthy towns. The healthy towns have refused to allow 
anv trains to slop that stop at yellow fever points, so this 
cuts off supplies from the latter. A special train has been 
put on that will stop only at points where the fever prevails. 
August 21 nine deaths and 01 new 
were reported at New Orleans, Ihe 
Gregory. Mo., 11 miles southwest - T .. 
doctors have reached Ihe conclusion that the Italians are 
more liable to yellow fever than any other and have it In 
a more violent - form, and that the high mortality among 
them is due to that fact as much as to their mode of life. 
On the other band, the returns prove clearly that women 
are comparatively safe, the deaths from yellow fever being 
five times as great among males as among rentallea,^ although 
tl,,,,-,. is a large female majority in New Orleans. Ihe 
difference is due to the fact that the men. for business and 
other reasons, are compelled to go about more* and there- 
fore run greater risk of being bitten by the infected 
niosmiitoes The women who remain at home avoid the 
risk, especially in the uptown residential sections, where 
there are few’ if any infected mosquitoes, rhe proportion 
of deaths to cases grows steadily less, it having 
than 10 per cent in recent eases. A sugar 
reported in Mississippi. Alabama and lennessee, 
quarantines against New Orleans Arkansas 
fined against the entire State of Louisiana. 
17 new cases was the record at New Orleans August —. 
CANAL In view of the comment that has 
been offered concerning the alleged depleted condition of the 
fund's of the Isthmian Canal Commission an official stati - 
was made public at the offices of the commission 
17 showing the expenditures by months, from April 
1 last the date when the present commission took Charge. 
There was then a balance of $7,420,563 from the apnroprL 
ation of $10,000,000 made by < ongress. On August lo theie 
remained $2.810.713 in addition to $1,000,000 In the hands 
of the disbursing officers. The monthly average of expend - 
tuns lias been in the neighborhood of $050,000. and the bal- 
«re on hand is expecled^to las. until early In January by 
which line it is expected that Congress will have provided 
more funds Mr. Shunts on assuming charge of the canal 
wo-k on April 1, planned to make the appropriation last 
cases of yellow fever 
disease is* reported at 
of Keokuk. Iowa. The 
and 
ISTHMIAN 
men t 
August 
been less 
famine is 
due to the 
has quaran¬ 
tine deaths 
until the first of next year. Aside from $1,300,000 spent in 
July for two steamships, the monthly expenditures have 
been as follows: April, $475,000; May, $503,000; June, 
$650,000; July, $770,000 and August, up to the 15th. $250, 
000. These disbursements have been for wages, salaries, 
materials, supplies and equipment. 
INDIANA CROP NOTES. 
The peach crop Is not at present fulfilling its early prora- 
iso. Beaches have fallen badly on account of damage by 
insects and rot, and lute peaches in many orchards will not 
amount to much. Apples are ahead of the season in ma¬ 
turity. Maiden's Blush and varieties ripening at the same 
time are almost gone, and Grimes Golden will soon bo ready 
to pick. In orchards that have been thoroughly sprayed 
and eared for there will be a good crop of fine large fruit, 
hut unfortunately this condition does not apply to more than 
five per cent of the apple trees In our county, and the other 
95 per cent will have hut little sound fruit left on the 
trees at picking time. Bears are not more than one-third 
of a full crop, although there are a few instances of abuii 
dant yields. The largest pear orchard in our county, com¬ 
prising about 100 acres, will have but little fruit, in 
almost all general crops except hay it lias been a banner crop 
year here. Some yields of 40 to 43 bushels of wheat per 
acre are reported," and 35 bushels is not uncommon. I 
would place the average for the county at 22 bushels, while 
the usual average is not more than 12 bushels. Oats are more 
than an average crop. Corn promises to be almost double 
an average yield, and will do to cut early in September. 
Many farmers are feeding to hogs now, August 21. Rains 
mave been frequent and abundant, aud young clover lias a 
splendid start for this season of the year. These frequent 
rains have interfered with thrashing to a considerable ex¬ 
tent, and there has been much damaged wheat and oats. Po¬ 
tatoes are a light crop, but not grown to any great extent 
except for home use. Tomatoes are about 80 per cent of 
an average; heavy rains destroyed the bloom, and hence 
there is a light setting of fruit. Fall plowing is unusually 
well advanced, many farmers being entirely done. On the 
whole, it has been the most abundant aud satisfactory crop 
year that many of us have known. ii\ J. H. 
Canton, Ind. _ 
MANAGING A FARM AT LONG RANGE. 
Early in the Summer we asked If any reader had been 
successful in running a farm by proxy—or at long range. We 
have often heard of city men wiio own farms at a distance, 
and make them pay good dividends without personal over¬ 
sight. We perhaps have several such men as subscribers, 
but John R. Williams, of St. Louis, is the only one who 
lias really sent us a statement. Perhaps some of our read¬ 
ers will remember the exhibit made by Mr. Williams at the 
St. Louis Exposition. He had a map of ills farm and sam¬ 
ples of his system of farm records. These were photo¬ 
graphed, and we have had engravings made from them. This 
week pictures of Mr. Williams and a page of the record 
are given on page 04(5, but we are unable to show the farm 
map, which will be given later. Mr. Williams says : 
"The farm is situated In Illinois, about two miles from 
a railway station. The land Is high and rolling and pre¬ 
sents a diversified and pleasing prospect to the eye. The 
land was originally covered with heavy timber, among whieli 
White oak was plentiful. This demonstrates a soil well 
suited to fruit. The fruit we find most convenient to han¬ 
dle is the apple, and hence we devote all of our attention 
to that. There are, of course, al the dwellings on tlie farm, 
the usual supply of small fruits. My brother owns two ad¬ 
joining farms, and as we are both non-residents we found 
it desirable to work out some systematic way of carrying on 
the work, and of being constantly informed of whal was 
going on. I hud a topographical map prepared of the lands, 
showing by 10-foot contours, the elevations and also show¬ 
ing the location of each tree. I also prepared a form of 
weekly report, on which was printed a cut showing in out¬ 
line the different fields and orchards which were designated 
by letters. 
“Fields G, II, L and Q are bearing orchards and have 
proved profitable. Other plots have been planted to trees 
as follows : I — 1 8D7*; B -1900; A 1898; E 4.901; M 
and N—1899. The plots C, D aud F are pasture lots. The 
land in the younger orchards is rented to tenants for corn, 
who pay one-third of the crop (gathered) as rental. This 
is a lower return than could be obtained in an open field 
where there were no trees. Special stipulations are made 
with reference to the avoidance of injury to the trees, and 
that the trees shall receive a certain amount of cultivation. 
Additional treatment, like hoeing, trimming, soaping, and 
spraying, 1 give at my own expense. As the trees get older 
tlie corn growing will be stopped and the ground will be 
cultivated and fertilized witli a special view to producing 
fruit. We try to keep up with modern ideas in the treat 
rnent of the land, in the application of rock phosphate, 
ground limestone and manure, and the growing of cow peas. 
I have one team, but we do not undertake to keep other 
stock. There are four dwellings connected with the place, 
each occupied hy an employee, who keeps a few fowls, a 
cow or two, and some of them have teams. We try to 
arrange so that these tenants may have enough ground 
among the young trees to raise feed for their stock. Each 
of these tenant employees pays a nominal rental for Ids 
house and garden, and also pays one-half of the rental of 
the telephone, with which each house is supplied. These 
telephones are on .the local circuit there, which may be 
connected with the Instruments in our offices here in town. 
One of these dwellings Is tlie old homestead, one of the 
rooms of which Is furnished by me and kept in order at 
all times for me or my brother whenever we desire to use 
It. One superintendent acts for both, and his salary is 
shared between us on the basis of the acreage of our lands. 
Each pays for the other labor actually expended on his own 
land. We own jointly all the implements used on the place, 
such as wagons, pulverizers, harrows, mowers, spraying out¬ 
fits, etc. 
“Regarding the weeklv reports, the superintendent nas a 
bound volume of these" and a supply of unbound sheets. 
Each dav he reports to ids wife (who acts as his secretary) 
the transactions of the day. At the end of the week, tlie 
record Is copied off and sent to me. If stormy weather or 
other causes prevent or interfere witli tlie work, that fact 
is reported. The “Projected for next week," is. of course, 
tlie superintendent's plan, which I can alter if necessary. 
In practice this is rayely done. lie finds tin* bound volume 
a valuable book of reference. There are two small Ranks in 
the town near by. In one of them I maintain a fund to tin* 
superintendent’s credit for disbursements, and in tlie other 
I have him deposit any collections he may make from the 
sale of produce or otherwise. Employees are paid each 
week by check The checks are numbered and the payments 
are recorded on the lower part of the report. If in settle 
ment with employees or others there should lie a credit due 
them, he makes out two checks, one for tlie actual pay¬ 
ment and the other for the credit, both of which are reported. 
Tlie latter check Is endorsed by the payee and handed’ back, 
and is deposited In the same way as other receipts. My 
brother follows the same plan, but uses the banks in the 
reverse order. 
“The division of the disbursements, shown on the bottom 
of the report, is tlie only record we require from the super¬ 
intendent as from this I am able to make up any classifi¬ 
cation I desire of the disbursements. The information from 
the reports is supplemented by occasional letters from the 
superintendent, and bv our occasional visits to the place. 
As I was born on the place and lived there until I was 
grown, I can perhaps plan the work more understanding^, 
and the reports as they come to me are more Intelligible 
than would be the case with a mere amateur. We pay the 
superintendent a salary (and In crop years an honorarium) 
and furnish him house, barn, garden and pasture for Ins 
cow He owns a team and receives pay for its use. He 
employs other men and teams as may be required. Credit 
for him is established at the local hardware store, lumber 
yard, etc., for supplies. The periodical bills rendered by 
"these dealers are passed upon by him before being paid 
Employees are fairly well paid, and seem to be luithful and 
efficient The rural free delivery brings mail to the door. 
The greatest drawback to the situation Is the occasional 
condition of the roads. If we had a road that was suitable 
for use every day in the year, the situation would be quite 
satisfactory. , , .. . , 
“Assuming that the asset value equals the cost of the 
trees and the labor expended upon them for the first 
jears (less the total proceeds from the ground in tlie way 
of corn), and allowing tlie subsequent crops to pity Ihe rent 
of ihe ground for the first It) »ears, we would have the re- 
lurns as shown below. The year 1897 was an unusually 
profitable one for the reason that the best crop and' the 
best prices came together, and the resulting yield in dollars 
was much greater than would probably' occur again in many 
years. As will be seen by the statement, tlie later years are 
not productive. We are giving the orchards heavy treat¬ 
ments of cultivation and fertilizing, and if there is not a 
crop by another year, I expect to take out every alternate 
row (treating them as ‘fillers’) and plant young trees in 
their stead. This will give a chance for better cultivation 
for Ihe remaining rows arid give them more of the strength 
of the soil. Then in four or five years the remaining old 
trees will be taken out and no others planted', but tlie whole 
ground will be given to the young trees that will then he 
four or five years old. The net results of the 10 years of 
the orchard are ns follows: 
Returns from 56 acres of apple orchard planted 1885— 
came into bearing 1895. 
Debit Balance. Credit Balance. 
1895 . $2,481.00 
1896 . 212.80 
1897 7,637.20 
1898 . $406.90 
1899 . 3,032.85 
1900 862.75 
1901 . 49.75 
1902 750.00 
1903 . 629.95 
1904 . 188.60 $15,626.35 
$1,225.45 1,225.45 
Net total income... $14,400.90 
Average per year from time of planting (20 years) . . $720.04 
Net average income per acre. 257.10 
Value of the bare land per acre. 50.00 
Average income per acre per year for 20 years. . . . 12.86" 
CROP PROSPECTS. 
The apple crop is decidedly short here, and Fall apples 
are selling for shipment at 40 to 45 cents per bushel, with 
but little culling. The usual price at this time is 20 to 
25 cents. a. w. n. 
Buna, HI. 
The crop prospects for the mountain section are much 
less than last year. Beaches, plums and pears, none, grapes, 
five per cent, apples, 10 per cent, grapes 15 per cent, rotting 
badly. Delawares and Maxatawuey only are free from rot. 
All apples are scabby; but few first-class apples will be 
put on the market. All are looking for good prices for 
first-class apples. 
Waynesville, N. C. 
From advice received from the West we Judge tlie hay 
crop is large, hut little No. 1 hay'; quite a lot wot in field 
and considerable clover; in fact most of the crop poorer 
than last year. In Canada a large crop and’ quite a lot 
put in in good order without rain, remainder No. 2, wet In 
field. A lot of (dd hay is left over. It looks as though 
the quality of tlie crop would be very unsatisfactory to 
dispose of. m. judd & son. 
Boston, Mass. 
How thankful we are for this rain (August 16) tlie first 
of any account since the snow left. We have had the 
severest drought I can ever remember in this section. Hay 
is not half a crop; corn very poor, some that was planted in 
May last is just fasseling. A great many potatoes are not 
worth digging. 11 commenced raining yesterday morning 
and most of the day, and last night; to-day a fine wet 
mist, at times showers; the ground takes it all in, and I 
think we now will lie able to plow for Fall grain. Apples 
about half a crop. I have none not even for my own use, 
the first in a lifetime. We have nothing very Inviting to 
show at present but hoarders: the woods are full of them, 
some good, some otherwise. The fields are a red brown, but 
I see quite a change in tlie last 24 hours putting on a green 
tint. We still hope for better times and crop. What a 
tiling hope Is. it gives us strength and courage to go on. 
Catsklll, N. Y. _ i- c. u. 
LIGHTNING RODS are not used as much ns they were 
some years ago This Is true in the cities as well as on 
the farms. Some believe in them and use them. More 
farmers depend on insurance. I think very few dispute 
their being some protection. Insurance companies insure 
buildings not rou'ded at tbe same rate as those rodded. 
Much loss occurs from stock being struck while standing 
near wire fences, but I do not know of one farmer who 
grounds his pasture fences, though most of them carry 
insurance on their stock, H. o. s. 
Dallas Co., Iowa. 
THE AI’BLE C'ROB. Alfred' W. Otis, of Boston, reports 
condition of the European crop as follows : The following 
table shows the comparison with previous crops: 
Reports Over average 
This year . 3 
Last year . 128 
1903 . 2 
1902 . 12 
1901 . 15 
Average Under average. 
44 
223 
109 
15 
17 
248 
98 
184 
90 
163 
The above figures indicate a very light crop, or about the 
same as two years ago, when it was very nearly a failure. 
Germany, Holland and Belgium are also reported very llgl)t. 
Reports - concerning the American crop are not complete, but 
those received show on the whole rather a light crop. The 
New England states all report a very light crop of early 
npples, and a light crop of Winter fruit, possibly an average 
of 35 or 50 per cent of last year. Some reports show better 
quality than the last two years. The new orchards, which 
are coming into bearing, will undoubtedly partly offset an 
apparent shortage, so that even if the crop Is reported light, 
there will be a surplus over domestic needs for export. Con¬ 
ditions in England are certainly favorable Tor a good demand 
for American Trait. Early shipments should do better than 
usual, particularly colored varieties. w. l. 
Lancaster, Mass. _ 
BUSINESS BITS. 
Those looking for peach and vegetable baskets can get 
prompt shipment by sending their order to Coles & Company, 
top 111 Warren St, New York. This is a well established 
house, and carries a full stock of everything in the basket 
line. 
“I have used several' bottles of Absorbine with great 
success,” writes G. E. Hill, liveryman, of Gladstone, N. .1., 
June 27. 1905. Absorbine will remove blemishes from horses 
or cattle In a pleasant and efficient manner: does not blister 
or remove tlie hair and horse can lie used during treatment. 
Will deliver you a. bottle upon receipt of $2.00 if not to lie 
obtained handily from your local druggist. W. F. Young, 
I'. D. F., 88 Monmouth St.. Springfield, Mass. Send for 
free book, testimonials, etc., if more information is desired. 
Tmc Banner Rubber Company of St. Louis, Mo., tells in 
this issue in a very straightforward way the unusual merits 
of the Buckskin Brand of rubber boots and shoes. The cuts 
show simply and forcibly how thoroughly well the Buck- 
skill goods "are made, and give good and sensible reasons 
for theif long wearing qualities. The Banner people are a 
well known and reliable firm, and since every reader may 
have the opportunity to try their goods, no risk is incurred 
in purchase. They publish a very interesting little booklet 
on how rubber hoots and shoes are made. They will mall 
you a copy free if you ask for it. 
Horace L. Bronson, of Cortland. N. Y.. sends the follow¬ 
ing note regarding the sale of Holstein cattle of James II. 
Walliek, Middletown, N. Y„ September 7. “I sold many 
of the famous cows of this herd to Mr. Walliek, and know 
that it is one of the choicest lots ever offered by a single 
individual In this country. There are about 100 registered 
ITolsteins. mostly females, and a few finely marked hulls 
about a vear old. aired hy Mercedes Julio's Pietertje Baul, 
“9830 The remainder of the herd are cow a two to six years 
old This sale will give a great opportunity to get choice 
stock." 
