1906. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
933 
EVENTS OF THE WEEK. 
DOMESTIC.—Great Riiffrring Is reported as a result of 
the coal famine in the Far West. It is the direct result 
of tlie absolute coal monopoly established by the Union 
Pacific and the Rio Grande Western railroads. These two 
roads, which mean, of course, llarriman and Gould, com¬ 
pletely control all of the available coal supplies of Wyoming, 
Utah, Idaho and Nevada and part of Colorado. What 
with the car shortage and the greatly increased demand, 
they are utterly unable to supply enough fuel to meet the 
hare necessities of these States.’ By litigation ' of various 
kinds they have succeeded in excluding all independent 
capital from the field. This state of tilings gives special 
point to the inquiry begun at Salt Lake City November 117 
liy Interstate Commerce Commissioner Clarke into the coal 
operations and the acquirement of public coal lands by the 
Union Pacific and the Rio Grande Western. The Rio Grande 
Western owns more than SO.000 acres of coal land in the 
State of Utah, most of it is held in the name of the Utah 
Coal Company. It was largely acquired by transfer from 
the State of Utah, the land coming to the State from the 
United States Government, not as coal lands at all, hut as 
agricultural or grazing land. . . . For accepting from 
the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Company 
some $20,000 in rebates on payments made on shipments of 
sugar from Palmer’s Dock in Brooklyn to Cleveland, a fine 
of $ 18.000 was imposed November 27 by Judge Holt in the 
United Slates Circuit Court, Criminal Branch, upon the 
American Sugar Refining Company of New Jersey. A fine 
of like amount was imposed the previous week upon the 
railroad company for giving the rebates. . . . The New 
York and Florida Limited train of the Southern Railway, 
carrying Samuel Spencer, president of the Southern Rail¬ 
way] and a party of guests, including General Philip Schuy¬ 
ler. of New York, was run Into November 29 near Lawyer 
station, 14 miles south of Lynchburg, Va., by the first section 
of flic Southwestern Limited, following it south. Presi¬ 
dent Spencer's car, which was at the rear of the first train, 
was smashed into kindling wood. President Spencer, who 
was asleep in his berth at the tirno, was no doubt instantly 
killed, as was General Schuyler. Five other persons lost 
their lives, two of whom were guests of Mr. Spencer. As 
is common in rear-end collisions, fire was added to the 
horror of the wreck and most of the bodies were badly 
burned. The accident, the worst that has occurred on the 
Southern road in many years and practically unparalleled 
in railway accident history in that it cost the life of the 
president of the road on which it occurred seems to have 
peen due to a mistake by the operator of the block signal. 
CONGRESS.—President Roosevelt’s message was trans¬ 
mitted to Congress December 4. He recommends a law pro¬ 
hibiting corporations from contributing to campaign funds. 
Revision of the statutes to give the Government the right 
of appeal in both civil and criminal actions against trusts. 
Rigid enforcement of the eight-hour law where practicable. 
Shorter hours for railway employees. Investigation of the 
conditions of the labor of children and women. A more 
stringent employers’ liability act. Provision for Federal 
investigation of controversies between capital and labor. 
Withdrawal of public coal lands from sale or entry. Amend¬ 
ment to meat inspection law providing for placing dates on 
cans. Some method whereby at an early date the Federal 
Government may exercise a more complete control over 
corporations. “A graduated inheritance tax and, if possible, 
a graduated income tax,” to be accomplished “when next 
our system of taxation is revised." National laws on di¬ 
vorce ' and polygamy. Subsidies for the development of 
American shipping. Revision of the currency laws. Lower 
tariff or absolute free trade for the Philippines. Citizenship 
for the Porto Ricans. An act providing for the naturaliza¬ 
tion of Japanese. The amendment of the statutes so that 
we can enforce the rights of aliens under our treaties. That 
the navy he maintained at Its present strength by replacing 
obsolete ships with new ones. A new principle of selection 
In both the army and navy “which will bring into the higher 
ranks fewer men. and these at an earlier age.” It was 
one of the longest messages ever sent to Congress 
OBITUARY.—George Ellwanger, of the firm of Ellwan- 
ger & Barry, Rochester. N. Y., died at his home November 20. 
at the advanced age of 90 years. Mr. Ellwanger was born 
on December 2, 1810, at Gross-IIeppach, Wurtemberg, Ger¬ 
many, the sou of a grape grower, lie was educated in 
Europe at tire Sorbonne and the University of Heidelberg. 
He came to America In 1835. and as he passed through 
New York State on his way to Tiffin, O., he was greatly 
impressed with the beauty of the Genesee country. He 
returned to Western New York and in partnership with 
Patrick Barry established the Mount Hope Nursery Com¬ 
pany in 1839. Mr. Barry died on June 23, 1890. Messrs. 
Ellwanger & Barry set out together to create and supply a 
demand for fruit. They selected their stock in Europe by 
persona! visits to France and Germany, shipping the stock 
to this country in sailing vessels. The nursery comprised 
seven acres at first and was on the site of the present ex¬ 
tensive establishment. Ellwanger & Barry also established 
large nurseries in Columbus. O., and Toronto, Canada, and 
subsequently sold them. After producing a brisk trade in 
fruit trees the firm created a demand for ornamental stock 
which increased rapidly. From the pioneer days to the 
present time it has kept pace with the wonderful progress 
in fruit and ornamental tree, culture , much of which has 
been the direct result of the firm's efforts. The Mount 
Hope Nurseries now comprise over 500 acres. In 1846 Mr. 
Ellwanger married the daughter of General Micah Brooks, 
one of the pioneers of western New York. Four sons were 
born of this marriage. One son, that late H. B., was author 
of “The Rose,” and another. George II.. who died April 23 
of this year, was the author of several books on outdoor 
and other subjects. Two sons survive, William D. being 
an active member of the nursery firm. Mr. Ellwanger was 
president of the Ellwanger & Barry Nursery Company, and 
the Ellwanger «.t Barry Realty Company: first vice-president 
of the Reynolds Library and vice-president of the Powers 
Hotel Company. He was a life member of the American 
Bornological Society, the New York State Agricultural So¬ 
ciety, and the Western New York Horticultural Society, and 
a corresponding member of the Massachusetts Horticultural 
Society. He was also a member of the Pundit Club, in 1900 
Mr. Ellwanger donated eight acres of land including a large 
building on South avenue, which is now used as a Home 
for Aged Germans and to his firm the city is indebted for 
its gift of beautiful Highland Park. He was a lover of 
paintings and statuary, and in his home are many rare 
works of the sculptor's and painter's art. Two years ago 
a birthday celebration was given as a tribute to his char¬ 
acter, by many prominent citizens. He was a member of 
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. 
NATIONAL ORANGE MEETING. 
The fortieth annual session of the National Grange 
closed on November 23 at Denver, Col. Twenty-four States 
were represented by their Masters. The secretary’s report 
showed the order to he in a most prosperous condition, 
249 Granges having been organized and 66 reorganized 
during the past year. The treasurer's report showed the 
National Grange resources to be $94,671.94. Geo. A. Fuller, 
Master New York State Grange, said there had been a 
gain of 6,000 new members the past year, and that this 
Grange had paid over $3,000 Into the National Grange 
treasury the year past. This Is by many hundred dollars 
the largest amount paid by any State Grange. Maine 
stands next to New York with a total membership of 
53,366. that of New York being upwards of 70.000. ' The 
aggregate value of Grange halls In Maine was reported at 
$887,000. IToulton Grange did a co-operative business last 
year of $100,000, and their Patrons’ Co-operative Corpora¬ 
tion transacted a business of $275,000. and the co-opera¬ 
tive financial work among the Maine Granges amounted to 
about $100,000 more. 
The reports from all the Eastern and Middle States 
were of a most encouraging character, those of the Far 
West unusually so. Among the most important resolutions 
that the Grange had to act upon were the following: A 
special committee of five was appointed to report at the 
next meeting some feasible plan of life insurance on a 
National or State basis which should be exclusively for the 
benefit of Grange members, and independent of any other 
ritualistic organization. A resolution introduced by Mr. 
Kegley of Washington declared for the initiative and ref¬ 
erendum, direct nominations, direct elections, proportional 
representations and the right to recall executive officers. 
The resolution did not take very well, and it was finally 
decided to offer Hie whole matter to the state Granges 
for such action as in their judgment would seem best. 
This was done on motion of Mr. Fuller, of New York Stale 
Grange. A resolution relative- to the laws governing rail¬ 
roads in case of accident and loss of life in operating 
trains provided that in the event of injury or loss of life 
the compensation should be fixed by a board, of which 
the probate judge of the county in which the accident 
occurred should bo chairman; one member should be chosen 
by the railroad and one by the friends of the injured or 
killed. Strong resolutions favoring a parcels post system 
were adopted, and several resolutions, all opposing any in¬ 
crease in the rate of postage on second-class mail matter, 
were presented, and in effect adopted. The Committee on 
Good Roads presented a strong report and asked that 
generous appropriation be made by the Government for the 
improvement of our public highways, and that Federal 
and State departments of agriculture be requested to 
publish and disseminate information on the best methods 
of road building and maintenance. Emphatic opposition 
was expressed in resolution to the continuance of the free 
seed distribution of the Department of Agriculture, and 
it was characterized as being without benefit in any im¬ 
portant sense, and should be abandoned. 
An important resolution concerning the oleo laws was 
reported favorably and adopted. It opposed the concealing, 
of stamps, marks and brands after they had been placed 
on packages of oleomargarine, renovated butter and adul¬ 
terated butter. The law should be so amended that these 
stamps, marks and brands shall be exposed to public view, 
and the word “knowingly” as it appears in the law should 
be stricken out. In another resolution Congress was asked 
for an increased appropriation for the extension of agri¬ 
cultural education, the committee recommending $20,000 
a year, in stead of $5,000 as at present. The Committee 
on Forestry believed that the time had come when the 
common good demands that both logs and lumber should 
be placed upon the free list, and the Legislative Committee 
of the National Grange was instructed to urge such legis¬ 
lation upon Congress at the coming sessibn. The Commit¬ 
tee on Taxation recommended that whenever any of our 
manufactories are using the tariff laws to enable them to 
sell their surplus products in foreign markets at a less price 
than they are sold at home, the laws should be revised to 
prevent such abuses, and if this cannot be done under the 
existing laws the committee favored changing the Consti¬ 
tution of the United States in order that a graduated 
income tax law might be enacted. The committee also 
advocated that all laws for the assessment of taxes be 
made uniform in all the.States of the Union, In so far as 
the manner of assessment and the basis of value Is con¬ 
cerned. Resolutions were adopted favoring further 
National legislation in behalf of pure food: also that Con¬ 
gress be urged to make the compensation of the rural free 
mail carrier equal, all things considered, to that of the 
city carrier. 
The Grange took a strong position against the franking 
privilege. In view of the fact that the franking and penalty 
privileges are subject to abuse, and are a great loss of 
revenue to the postoffice department, amounting to mil¬ 
lions of dollars aifnuall.v, the committee recommended that 
Congress be urged to abolish these privileges and require 
all mail matter to be prepaid at the regular postage rate, 
as was formerly the law. 
On one day of the session the National Grange visited 
the State Agricultural College of Colorado at Fort Collins, 
and were received by President Aylesworth and given a 
lunch in the chapel of the college buildings. They also 
visited the Immense sugar beet factory situated at Fort 
Collins. Ex-Governor C. J. Bell, of Vermont, was re¬ 
elected a member of the Executive Committee for three 
years. The Committee on Finance recommended that 
$10,000 be appropriated for election extension work, and the 
report was adopted. A resolution was adopted to estab¬ 
lish a weekly National Grange paper and the matter was 
left to the Executive Committee. The National Grange 
Legislative Committee for the ensuing year are: N. J. 
Bachelder. of New Hampshire: Aaron Jones, of Indiana, 
and E. B. Norris, of New York. The next meeting of the 
National Grange will be held in Connecticut, probably at 
Hartford. 
A Stevens Rifle is a whole Christmas 
tree to a boy. It is something that he’ll never 
desert and that will never desert him. Stevens 
Firearms are built to last and stay true in action and 
shooting qualities. Every one is fully tested before 
leaving our factory and is guaranteed perfect in every 
way. Give your boy a Stevens and make of him a man with 
steady nerves, straight eye and alert, quick muscles. Let him 
practice on targets, and clean out the rats, crows and hawks. 
If your dealer cannot supply the Stevens, we will send, 
express prepaid, upon receipt of price. 
Write for Our 140-Page Free Catalog 
Any man or boy interested in firearms will find it 
full of helpful information on hunting, proper care 
of weapons, notes on sights, ammunition, etc. 
Why not write to us to-day ? Send 4 cents 
in stamps to cover postage. 
For 6c. in stamps we wifi mail you our ar¬ 
tistic ten-color lithograph. It is an attractive 
hunting scene worthy of space on any wall. 
RIFLES FOR BOYS: 
Little Scout, No. 14, • 
$2.25 
Stevens-Maynard, Jr., 
3.00 
Crack Shot, • • • 
4.00 
Little Krag • • ■ 
5.00 
Favorite No. 17, • • 
6.00 
J. STEVENS ARMS AND TOOL CO. 
200 Pine Street, Chicopee Falla, Maea., U. S, At 
PLANNING FARM WORK 
Prosperous, Progressive Practical Farmers 
Study the Needs of Their Crops. 
Successful farmers plan their work well in advance. 
They study carefully the needs of their crops, and take 
time to read the beSt literature relative to farm topics. 
For the benefit of such farmers we issue the following special 
publications: 
PLANT FOOD PROBLEMS, Edition “A.”— Treats of the 
elements of plant food, their combinations and availability; mat rials 
furnishing plant food, and the home mixing of fertilizers. 
PLANT FOOD PROBLEMS, Edition “B.”— Treats of the same 
important principles as Edition “A,” and the proper use of ready- 
mixed fertilizers. 
A REMARKABLE FERTILIZER, “BASIC SLAG AND 
ITS USES.” —Deals especially with the fertilization of fruits, 
cereals, root crops and pastures. 
POTATOES: A MONEY CROP. —How to grow, fertilize, spray 
and harvest them. 
THE NEGLECTED GRASS CROP. —How to raise five tons 
of hay per acre at a handsome profit. 
TOBACCO AND ITS FERTILIZATION.— A critical study of 
the needs of the tobacco crop and how to supply them. 
The above are entirely unlike ordinary advertising litera¬ 
ture, and should prove an inspiration to any farmer. They are 
prepared by a man who has had years of experience in practical 
farm work. The one in which you are moSt interested will 
be sent free of charge if you mention The Rural New-Yorker. 
THE COE-MORTIMER COMPANY 
Sole Importers of Genuine Peruvian Guano, Special 
Importers of Basic Slag Phosphate 
HEADQUARTERS FOR FERTILIZER MATERIALS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION 
135-137 FRONT STREET, NEW YORK CITY 
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