1009. 
EVENTS OF THE WEEK. 
DOMESTIC—An enclosure, surrounded by a 15-foot 
stockade, in which more than 1,000 working men are said 
to be kept in peonage at Argo, Ill., within 15 miles of 
Chicago, was discovered by United States District Attorney 
Sims December 16. Six prisoners who escaped from the 
place told of one man being shot in an effort to escape 
and of scores of others who, it is charged, are dying as 
the result of exposure to which they were subjected and 
the unsanitary condition in which they were compelled 
to live. Preparation for Grand Jury investigation was at 
once begun and 50 subpoenas for witnesses were issued. 
Indictments on a charge of peonage will be asked against 
those responsible for the imprisonment of the men. The 
Federal statute covering these cases provides fines of 
$1,000 to $5,000 and imprisonment of one to five years. 
The conditions at Argo are said to be the most revolting 
ever brought to the attention of the Government officials. 
. . The New York Central Railroad Company 
through its counsel, John E. Brennan, of Yonkers, settled 
December 16, three of the biggest suits for damages grow¬ 
ing out of the wreck of the Brewster express on Wood- 
lawn curve in 1907 brought by two White Plains resi¬ 
dents. Ira J. Dutton, a New York lawyer, sued the com¬ 
pany for $130,000 for personal injuries and $25,000 addi¬ 
tional for the loss of the services of his wife, Mrs. Char¬ 
lotte Dutton, who in turn demanded $25,000 damages for 
her injuries, making the total amount of suits $.180,000. 
The suits were settled out of court. Although the law¬ 
yers in the case declined to say how much the actions 
were settled for it is said that the amount was between 
$35,000 and $50,000. . . . Mrs. Isabella J. Martin, 
who was convicted December 16 of dynamiting Judge 
Ogden’s house at San Francisco was sentenced to life 
imprisonment. She took sentence calmly, but when re¬ 
moved to her cell in the county jail she swallowed some 
powdered glass and strychnine. Prompt aid saved the 
woman’s life. Her attorneys will make efforts to have 
her declared insane. . . . Through a representative 
E R. Thomas, who was recently expelled by the New 
Jersey autoists from' their organization, settled in the courts 
at Long Branch, N. J., December 19, the cases against 
him resulting from his accident of August 21 last. Thomas 
was fined $75 for driving without a license, $25 for ex¬ 
ceeding the speed limit and $75 for reckless driving. He 
got into trouble by running into a wagon owned by Emil 
Seelig, killing both the horses and injuring Daniel Con¬ 
nolly, the driver. Thomas himself was badly hurt. 
. . . December 19 fire in Central Falls, R. I., gutted 
the business district of the city, destroying two com¬ 
plete blocks and five small buildings. The loss is esti¬ 
mated at $250,000. . . . One of the most comprehen¬ 
sive of employees’ pension systems will be put in opera¬ 
tion by Morris & Co., packers, of Chicago, on January 1. 
The plan, which was worked out by Edward Morris, 
president of the company, combines a pension fund, an 
employees’ co-operative bank and an industrial profit shar¬ 
ing scheme. It probably will be participated in by 10,000 
employees both of the main and subsidiary companies, and 
the annual pension disbursements are expected to be about 
$100,000 at the start and more in the near future. The 
plan provides that the pension fund shall be raised by an 
annual contribution by the company of $25,000 until the 
fund reaches $500,000 and 3 per cent of the salary of 
every employee who wishes to take part in the scheme. 
Participants must have been with the company for six 
months and draw a minimum weekly salary of $10. None 
may pay on an amount to exceed $7,500. . . . Slow 
moving in the fog and amid a maze of shipping, incoming 
and outgoing, the big British freighter Catalone, from 
Boston, ran down and sank the steamer Daghestan, De¬ 
cember 18, off Sandy Ilook, at the entrance to the Gedney 
Channel. The latter sank slowly, and the crew, some 35 
men, were able to launch their boats and get away with¬ 
out loss of life. The Daghestan, also under the British 
flag, was feeling her way slowly toward the open sea, 
going cautiously, with her whistle sounding. This is the 
second accident of the Winter to happen off the Hook dur¬ 
ing the fog. The Daghestan lay within half a mile of 
where the Panama liner Finance was sunk by the White 
Star liner Georgic on Thanksgiving Day. . . . Angelo 
Basso, who for 40 years had been famous on the lower 
East Side, because he sold the biggest sandwich in New 
York for a nickel, died December 18, leaving an estate said 
to be worth $250,000. He was proprietor of a delicatessen 
store, and all his fortune was made through the business. 
. . . Seven members of the finance committee of the 
Pittsburg. I’a., city councils were arrested December 21 
for alleged conspiracy, corrupt solicitation and bribery. 
The informations were made by Tensard De Wolfe, secre¬ 
tary of the Civic League of Allegheny county. . . . 
That plans to escape were being formed by two of the 
eight prisoners now on trial on the charge of murdering 
Captain Quentin Rankin at Reelfoot Lake, Tenn., was 
made known to the authorities at L’nion City, December 
21. Judge Jones ordered that each should hereafter be 
handcuffed and taken from the jail to the court room and 
returned to his cell under guard of both the sheriff and 
a detachment of soldiers. Developments in the night 
rider cases were of an extremely important character, the 
State introducing proof strongly implicating some of the 
prisoners in the murder of Captain Rankin and in the 
whipping of several men and one woman. The prosecu¬ 
tion also proved the oath and the password used by the 
members of the night rider organization and the existence 
of a conspiracy against the West Tennessee Land Com¬ 
pany, whose ownership and control of Reelfoot Lake have 
so long been disputed. In addition there was testimony 
about a plot formed by night riders to raid the town of 
Tiptonville, Lake county, and to capture and kill Judge 
Harris, the largest owner of the Lake property. . . . 
Inspectors of the Pennsylvania State Department of Agri¬ 
culture have discovered that sand has been used as an 
adulterant in cattle feeding stuff sold in Philadelphia, and 
arrests will be made. The agents of the Department have 
been at work in a number of counties and have found that 
ground corncobs, weed seeds and rice hulls are favorite 
“leaders” of the feeds. 
It has now been decided that flour bleached with nitrogen 
peroxide is an “adulterated product.” The Government 
gives the manufacturers and jobbers six months to get 
rid of the present stock of bleached flour. After that 
they will he prosecuted if thev handle it. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
IN CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. 
The season was an unusual one in regard to weather 
conditions. The early Spring was wet, then dry to last 
week of May. Then no rain fell worth calling a shower 
from last of May until July 24; another good soaking 
shower on August 14, another September 9 ; then no rain 
whatever until October 26, when a general rain set in, 
bringing water to springs and wells which were rapidly 
going dry. The past Summer will be recorded as very 
deficient in rainfall, and naturally some crops show its 
effects. Hay was a bumper crop, especially the clover, 
and quality fine. We are wrestling with a question. Hay 
is low, and local market glutted. Quotations at Philadel¬ 
phia, our nearest large city, are $.14 for prime Timothy. 
Freight and commission cost about $2.40 per ton. If we 
ship it will take the proceeds of three tons of hay to buy 
one ton of grain feed. Clover is only about $8 to $10 per 
ton, and it certainly must be worth more than that to 
feed it, but cows are high, from $40 to $70 per head 
for fresh stock, and frequently they are step mothers at 
that, and no guarantee whether they will milk five quarts 
or 20 quarts per day. Wheat bran is $27 to $28; gluten, 
$30; linseed meal, about $34. The milk situation is in¬ 
teresting here. The local creamery is paying 37 cents 
per pound for butter fat, but few get a test over 3.80. 
Supplee & Bro., of Philadelphia, started a large shipping 
station here at Kimberton last Fall, and are getting lots 
of milk at $1.60 per 100 for October; expect a gradual 
rise to $1.90 in a few months. We get $1.80 for No¬ 
vember; $1.70 for December. Much is shipped also to 
Philadelphia to individual dealers at four and 4 % cents 
per liquid quart, from which the shipper pays half cent a 
quart freight. The Malvern Condensery (Hires’) run a 
wagon from Phcenixville also, so we have a good outlet 
by competing parties. Silos are quite numerous, yet 
many argue their dairies are nearly a dead letter at the 
almost prohibitive price of grain feed. I wish we could 
produce milk like Mr. Squiers without any grain what¬ 
ever, simply silage and clover hay. Wheat was an aver¬ 
age crop, from 20 to 30 bushels per acre ; oats, 35 to 40 
bushels. Hay and grain were harvested without rain. 
Potatoes, 50 to 100 bushels per acre. Acreage was large, 
but crop small owing to blight and lack of moisture 
at the critical time. The Hope Farm man kept in good 
spirits over his crop until the digging time, then he sud¬ 
denly broke to us the expected news—few potatoes. A 
few fields of corn planted extra early suffered from 
drought at earing time, but the crop in general was a 
bumper one and was all housed early. The Winter wheat 
is fine in spite of the dry weather at seeding time. Apples 
are a genuine failure. Many farmers must buy for 
kets. hired help, besides what I did myself, was $475. In 
1908 I did not have so large a crop, and the price was 
not so good. With one more acre in bearing. I received 
$1,414.96; the lowest price received was 12 2/5 cents: 
the highest 14 2/5; actual cost for hired help for same 
was $395. w. x. slawsox. 
Chautauqua Co., N. Y. 
r. X.-Y.—If Mr. Seeley did the work himself lie should 
be paid for his time as well as the hired man. The other 
expenses seem fair. He ought to be paid for working for 
himself the same as if he worked for others. The $16._0-> 
profit per acre represents 10 per cent interest on $160.50. 
At the valuation of vineyards which Mr. Slawson speaks 
of the $16.05 represents 3.2 per cent! No doubt a good 
share of the better prices for Chautauqua grapes was due 
to co-operative selling. 
COUNTRY LIFE COMMISSION AT ITHACA. 
The Commission or. Country Life spent December 16 
in Ithaca, visiting the New York State College of Agri¬ 
culture. During the day the buildings and the work or 
nearly every department were carefully inspected. In 
the evening an assembly of the students and faculty ot 
the College was held, at which four old students spoke 
on the benefits and influence of the agricultural course 
on the community in which they live, and nine presen! 
students gave short addresses on why they had come to 
the Agricultural College. The talks were short and were 
designed to give the Commission concise views of tin- 
effect of the college on the student and his life after 
returning to the farm. The essence of these talks was 
that the influence was not only for better agriculture 
on the part of the individual, but on the part of the 
whole community, and for better social conditions. Dean 
L II Bailev, chairman of the Commission, represented 
that body on the platform in a short address, in which 
he spoke of the work of the Commission and the pur¬ 
pose of the college. He said, in effect, that the work 
of the Commission was being accomplished by co-opera¬ 
tion. The Commission has been hearing testimony such 
as has never been heard before. It has been gathered 
from north to south, and from ocean to ocean, so that 
something was heard from all points of view. In spite 
of the fact that there is a general advancement in agri¬ 
culture, there are deep problems yet to be solved, for 
although we are developing in the country because of 
increase in acres, still there is a great social sterility. 
Whatever the Commission may accomplish can be hut 
temporary unless the farmers co-operate in the advance- 
fent of social ideals. Conditions in the country underlie 
public prosperity. Throughout the six-weeks trip the 
Commisson was everywhere received heartily. The gen¬ 
eral erv all over the country is for something to be done 
in the'matter of public schools. Out of about 100,000 
replies to the letters sent out to farmers, by far the 
greatest number of suggestions were in regard to the 
improvement of public schools, by improving the build¬ 
ings and grounds, and by introducing the study ot agri¬ 
culture We do not need new laws to improve our social 
conditions, but rather do we need leadership. Law’s can 
modify to a certain extent, but they cannot produce the 
leaders necessarv for social progress. These leaders must 
be resident, and the people must co-operate in order to 
do much in the improvement of roads, schools, churches 
and in the betterment of other conditions. c. F. b. 
their own use. The writer will have 10 bushels of Win¬ 
ter apples, but has sold about 20 bushels Fall apples, be¬ 
sides many bushels of dropped the hogs ate. Farmers 
are generally prosperous and contented in this locality, 
and Mr. Norton would change some of his opinions if be 
spent a few weeks visiting in this portion of Chester Co., 
other portions likewise. t. i„ n. 
THE FARMER’S SHARE. 
Close to a Market. 
I have just read with interest the article “Figures of 
a Grape Grower,” on page 977, and I would like to sub¬ 
mit the following report of my grape crop sales for the 
past three years, 1906-7-8. My vineyard comprises 
something less than three acres, and in computing my 
expenses I cannot go into details as Mr. Seeley does, as 
I do not keep an accurate account of the labor and mate¬ 
rial that go into each crop of fruit I grow. I bag all 
my grapes and pack in small baskets, but do^ not use 
covers on the baskets. When I sell in the New York 
market I do so through a commission man, delivering 
the grapes from my own wagon direct from the vineyard. 
All other sales are made from my wagons in the Newark 
market, or.on the place. The lower gross receipts for 
1908 were *due to the fruit not setting well in the cold 
wet weather of last May. As I grow an exceptionally 
fine article the price remains about the same each year: 
.1906_ 
1907.. .. 
1908.. .. 
Gross Receipts. Expense, Est. 
. $1,369 $600 
. 1,260 600 
. 1,138 550 
Net. 
$769 
660 
5SS 
$3,767 $1,750 
$2,017 
Average receipts per acre each year, $226. 
The land is valued by the city at $1,000 per acre, and 
our taxes are pretty high, but we have a market right 
at our door for everything we grow', and we have no 
freight to pay. Our greatest problem is to get good help 
at fair wages. w. h. ooldsmitii. 
Essex Co., N. J. 
R. N.-Y.—Mr Seeley on page 977 figured a total income 
of $973.67 from eight acres of grapes with a net pi'bfit 
of $128.47. This means an income of $.121.70 and net 
profit of a little over $16 per acre. These grapes were 
sold through a commission man at an average of 7.9 
cents per basket. Mr. Goldsmith, during the same season, 
sold from th> e acres $1,138 worth of grapes with a net 
profit of $588. As compared with Mr. Seeley’s record. 
Mr Goldsmith produced over $380 per acre with a profit 
of $196—the latter being 12 times as much as Mr. Seeley's. 
What are the reasons? Mr. Goldsmith got very much 
more of the consumer’s dollar because he was close to 
market and delivered the grapes himself. A large share 
of the difference represents what the middleman got from 
Mr. Seeley. Also Mr. Goldsmith’s grapes were bagged, 
and thus were of higher quality. 
Grapes in the Chautauqua Belt. 
After reading over F. A. Seeley’s report of a farmer’s 
share in the grape business, I think it time, in justice 
to the grape business, to speak of what is being done m 
the Chautauqua grape belt. In the first place, we would 
judge by his report that he hired everything done: or it 
not, got all it was worth to do the work himself, ana 
then figuring that he got all it was worth to do the 
work, also interest on investment, taxes, depreciation on 
wire and posts, we find that be made a eiear ’l 1 ’ 0 *?! 
$16.05 an acre. Now, what is the matter with that? 
Are there not a great many farmers who would be satis¬ 
fied to get pav for all the work they did and a net profit 
of $16.05 an acre? Mr. Seeley certainly got a very large 
crop of grapes, but they were sold at a very poor price. 
We also notice that he charges his grape crop with two 
cents a basket for picking and packing. We hire the 
same work done here for one cent a basket, and women 
earn from $1 to $1.75 a day. No doubt President Roose¬ 
velt’s Commission could find out the trouble, but ought 
not the man who has been in the grape business for 20 
vears to know? In reference to the Chautauqua grape 
belt I wish to say that good grape vineyards are worth 
$500 an acre; and one year with another will pay HI 
to °0 per cent on the investment and lure everything 
done. I have myself 12 acres of grapes. In 190, so'd 
?° 457 °6 • the lowest price received per basket was is 
cents the highest price 19Ms cents. Actual cost of bas- 
I live near Elkborn, Walworth Co., Wis.. 40 miles from 
Milwaukee, and nearly 80 miles from Chicago. Our land 
ilternates as follows: You will find a great number of 
it-res in one bodv that we call prairie, then crossing over 
hat vou will come to a large body of land that used to 
wow 'timber It makes little difference which you want 
’o buy: it costs nearly the same, from $80 to $10<> per 
lere. ' The Bordens pay us for milk on an average for 
:he six months of Winter $1.51 per 100. Last October I 
;ot a four-per-cent test and received $1.25 per 100. Oats. 
10 cents per bushel: corn, $18 per ton ; barley, o5 cents; 
lour per barrel, $5.50; pork on foot, $5 per 100; beef 
mist be good to bring four cents on foot; in short, every¬ 
thing brings Chicago prices, with a very little taken out 
for freight and commission. Land rents all the way from 
$3 to $5 per acre. Money can be got on good security for 
five per cent. F - 
Elkhorn, Wis. 
NEW JERSEY GRANGE.—The thirty-sixth annual ses¬ 
sion of the New Jersey State Grange held in Atlantic 
City, December 1-3. was one of the best sessions during 
the writer’s experience. The National Master, N. J. 
Bachelder. arrived during the evening session of the first 
day and gave those in attendance an agreeable surprise. 
This being the year for election of officers, Geo. \\. F. 
Gaunt was returned to the Master’s chair by nearly a 
unanimous vote, together with many of the old officers 
and a number of the new ones. Returning Brother 
Gaunt to the Master's chair for the fifth term shows in 
Itself in what esteem he is held by the ever-increasing 
membership all over the State. At one session the mem¬ 
bership was treated to a very able address by S. Lila 
Southand. of Massachusetts, which was highly received 
and loudly applauded. This same lady exemplified the 
unwritten work at Wednesday evening’s session, and in¬ 
stalled the newlv elected officers on Thursday evening. 
The National Ma'ster. N. J. Bachelder. gave a very able 
and interesting address Wednesday evening. During the 
session Wednesday afternoon Master Gaunt discovered a 
familiar face in the audience in the person of Edward 
Van Alstyue. of Kinderhook, N. Y. He was called to the 
platform ‘and entertained the assemblage in his usual well- 
defined and good-natured way. Thursday morning’s ses¬ 
sion was treated to a short talk by Franklyn Dye, Sec¬ 
retary of the State Board of Agriculture, also a paper on 
“Beautifying the Farm Home,” by Mrs. C. W. Brodhead, 
of Pennsylvania. The rest of Thursday’s session was 
taken up' in receiving the reports of the various com¬ 
mittees and the discussion of many resolutions. The 
sixth degree was conferred on a class of seventy. The 
order in New Jersey as shown by reports is in a very 
healtliv condition and has made substantial gains in mem- 
Farming is not greatly diversified in this section of the 
State. Corn, hay and oats are the staples raised, and 
these mainly as an adjunct to the dairying business. 
Nearly all of the farmers are engaged in the production 
of milk, which is sold to the Borden Condensing and Bot¬ 
tling Companv. and other smaller companies here and in 
Chicago. A long period of drought, dating back almost 
continuously to Julv, has made the season a severe one 
on the farmer, necessitating the constant and heavy feed¬ 
ing in barns and yards on account of the lack of pastur¬ 
age. The bav crop was generally good, as we had good 
and timelv rains during its growth. Oats yielded two- 
thirds to 'three-quarters crop. Corn not up to the aver¬ 
age, although some good yields are heard of in certain 
localities. The potato crop is never large here, and what 
wer“ raised this year was a poor yield and inferior in qual¬ 
ity Illinois cities depend upon neighboring States to 
supply them with potatoes. A few farmers have under¬ 
taken' the raising of sugar beets in a small way; near¬ 
est factory about 80 miles away. Some growers are seem¬ 
ingly satisfied with the returns: others who have tried it 
have given it up. Japanese and Hungarian labor had to 
be employed to make the crop. Not much fruit is grown 
in this section, especially this year. We have to buy 
eastern grown apples at from $3 to $4.25 per barrel and 
then get small ones in the middle ! Next year’s crop de¬ 
pends upon weather conditions of the next two weeks, 
says the Elgin Daily News of Nov. 21. according to Elgin 
fruit growers, who are alarmed at the long-continued 
Fall drought. They predict that unless a heavy rain 
falls before the ground freezes permanently, thousands of 
dollars worth of fruit trees will be completely destroyed. 
It is asserted that Winter blasts will not only ruin trees, 
but also kill shrubbery of all kinds unless there is suffi¬ 
cient moisture in the ground to protect the roots against 
zero atmosphere. The only other condition that will save 
the trees is a heavy fall of snow before the ground freezes, 
and this is not believed probable. w. c. b. 
Elein. Ill. 
