1008 . 
TALKS WITH A LAWYER. 
Maintenance of Road. 
Five farmers are on a lane running 
from the main road to a point within; 
this lane is kept up by a part of the 
abutting owners. Is there any way to re¬ 
quire the owners to contribute to the main¬ 
tenance of the lane with reference to the 
value of the property they own? 
Connecticut. p. ji. w. 
We think that you should have the town 
take charge of it, have it dedicated and 
accepted by the town authorities. This 
will throw the matter on to the town offi¬ 
cials to adjust. A few need not maintain 
a road for the benefit of the many. 
Tax on Mortgage. . 
We executed a mortgage of our farm to 
a man who has transferred it to a Mr. C., 
who has compelled us to pay the State 
tax on the mortgage in addition to the in¬ 
terest. Who should pay this tax? 
New Jersey. j. h. c. 
The owner of real property must pay 
taxes on the value of same less the mort¬ 
gage. The lender, called mortgagee, must 
pay taxes on the mortgage, as it is per¬ 
sonal property and belongs to him. You 
should see that the matter is entered 
correctly on the tax books, as taxes col¬ 
lected are rarely remitted, even though 
paid in error. 
Lien on Baggage. 
Please explain the lien that a boarding 
house proprietor has on the baggage of a 
boarder. a. c, f. 
New Jersey. 
A person who keeps an inn or boarding 
house has a lien on the baggage and other 
property of a guest to the extent of the bill 
due him. He must keep the property GO 
days, then advertise it for sale for three 
days, then sell it at public auction. Any 
sum in excess of the bill should be returned 
to the boarder. If you wish to shorten the 
time you should get the consent of the 
boarder to an early sale. He is given the 
six months to pay his bill and redeem his 
property. 
Title in Growing Crop. 
An owner of a farm proposes to sell it 
before all the crops are harvested. What 
provisions'should he make to retain title to 
the crops? j. c. b. 
Connecticut. 
A conveyance to the land passes title to 
all uncut crops growing at the time, so that 
if the seller wishes to keep the crops he 
should have it recited in the deed, or enter 
into a written contract with the purchaser 
providing for the title and possession to 
the crops. If a tenant occupies the farm 
the crops are his despite the sale, so that a 
purchaser should inquire if the farm is 
leased, otherwise he may not get the crops 
he thinks he is buying; besides he may 
learn that the tenant has a long-term lease 
on the place. 
Interference With Mail; Slander. 
1. One man takes another’s letter from 
a mail box and keeps it. What can be done 
with the offender? 2. I am unjustly ac¬ 
cused of writing a letter. Have I any re¬ 
dress for this unjust charge? h. k. 
Pennsylvania. 
1. A person who interferes with or de¬ 
lays the delivery of mail or steals same or 
opens another’s box is guilty of a crime, 
punishable by either the United States Gov¬ 
ernment or by the local authorities. The 
punishment will depend on the seriousness 
of the offense. 2. It is slander to accuse 
a person of doing anything base or wrong, 
and the amount of damages will depend on 
wbat injury you prove to be sustained by 
you. It would depend on the letter and 
the circulation of the rumor. A person who 
defames or slanders another is liable, but 
such matters should be adjusted out of 
court. 
Straying Cattle. 
My neighbors allow their cattle to roam 
and graze along my roadside and enter 
my fields, what are my rights? Must I 
maintain a fence along my road? a. s. 
Pennsylvania. 
Your land runs to the center of the road¬ 
way and you may use it for any purpose 
that will not interfere with the free use 
of the highway, and to graze or trespass 
on the roadside is as illegal as if it were 
on any other part of the farm. You need 
not fence in your fields along the road 
against trespassing cattle wrongfully on the 
road. The notion that the roadsides are 
free for nuts, fruit or pasture is error; 
it is free for traffic and use. 
Law as to Ugly Dogs. 
While calling on a neighbor I was bitten 
by his dog, which is known to be vicious. I 
What is the law as to ugly dogs? 
„ Connecticut. h. p . n. 
A man may safely keep a dog until he has 
some warning that lie is apt to bite; after 
this notice the owner is liable in damages 
for any injury done by the dog. The owner 
must use prudence and care. If the dog is 
THIS RURAL N IS W -YORKER 
a trespasser the owner is always liable. If 
the dog is rightfully in his place the owner 
is liable only when it is shown that be had 
knowledge that the dog was vicious. The 
owner of a vicious dog keeps it at his 
peril. A person is at liberty to kill a dog 
if'he is attacked. You should send written 
notice to the owner of the dog, and com¬ 
plain to the authorities, as usually the own¬ 
ers of such dogs are unreliable financially, 
so that suit would be useless. 
Payment on Account of Purchase. 
A man agrees in writing to buy my 
farm, paying $150 on account. At the time 
for closing title he objects to the usual 
terms, and now wishes his $150 repaid to 
him. Later we agree orally as to all the 
terms, but he now declines to buy. Can 
he recover his $150? s. r. b. 
California. 
The purchaser cannot recover his part 
payment, as you were willing to sell on 
the usual terms. He should see that all 
the terms and conditions are in the con¬ 
tract of purchase before he paid. An oral 
contract to sell land is not binding. All 
transactions tending to pass title to real 
property must be in writing. This law is 
to prevent misunderstanding and fraud. 
THE LIGHTNING ROD. 
Your correspondent on page 711 refers to 
a glass insulator in rodding a building. The 
glass insulator is a detriment for the reason 
that the purpose of the rod is to drain the 
building of its overcharged electrical condi¬ 
tion, and to do this most successfully, it 
must come into direct contact with the 
structure. In this opinion we are sup¬ 
ported by the highest authorities, and by 
the successful result of years of practical 
experience. Prof. Franklin, of Lehigh Uni¬ 
versity, says, “The matter of insulating the 
rod from the building either by air spaces 
or by glass is of no importance whatever.’’ 
The National Board of Fire Underwriters, 
rule 4, in their booklet on lightning, reads 
as follows: “Conductors should never be 
insulated, but fastened securely in place.” 
Dr. Hopkins, who conducts the Government 
experiments at Washington University, in 
the city of Washington, does not approve 
of insulators of any kind, for the reason 
that “trouble is brought about through the 
collection of electricity on the outer surface 
of the structure,” thus the rod should be 
in direct contact # in order to drain off elec¬ 
tricity instantly. See also Government Bul¬ 
letin No. 2G,* page 33, subject. “Lightning 
and Rlectriclty of the Air.” See also Gov¬ 
ernment Bulletin No. 37, page 14, para¬ 
graph 5, which reads as follows : “The rod 
is not to be kept from the building by 
glass or other insulators, but attached to 
it by metal fastenings.” We consider the 
above conclusive, in fact 10 years’ actual 
experience with pure copper cable rods at¬ 
tached direct to the buildings proves to us 
that this method is the correct one. The 
ground plate is another idea, while by no 
means objectionable, which is likewise al¬ 
together unnecessary and as far as we are 
advised is no longer used. On the other 
hand we absolutely insist that our rod he 
put down to permanent moisture, which 
means from .10 to 15 feet at each ground¬ 
ing and when the rod reaches permanent 
moisture, it is then in contact with nature's 
own earth plate, which is the best that can 
possibly be secured. 
Niles, Michigan. national cable co. 
Fencing Timber For Pasture. 
I have 100 acres of timber. Will it pay 
better to fence it for pasture than to buy 
pasture land at $15 per acre? n. 
Oswego Co., N. Y. 
I think if the correspondent can get fair 
pasture land for $15 per acre it would be 
advisable to buy it. The cost of fencing 
100 acres of land is quite an item, and I 
have a very poor opinion of an all-timber 
pasture. It does not produce much feed, 
and wbat does grow is poor quality. 
Malone, N. Y. e. w. r. 
When you write advertisers mention Tun 
R. N.-Y. and you’ll get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” See guarantee, page 8. 
FUMA 
Hwuwmm i kills Prairie Dogs, 
Woodchucks, Gophers, 
and Grain Insects. 
“The wheels of the gods 
grind slow but exceed¬ 
ingly small.” So the weevil, but you can stop their 
*wlth “Fuma Carbon Bisulphide ” are doing. 
EbVVAIU) It. TAYLOlt, Penn Yan, N. Y. 
FIX YOUR ROOF 
Cnuaro —Wo will guarantee to put 
iib rer dijuare. any 0 idt i eakyi WO rn-out, 
rusty, tin, Iron, steel, paper, felt or shingle roof in 
perfect condition, and keep it in perfect condition 
for 5c per square per year. 
The Perfeet Roof Preserver, makes old, 
worn-out roofs new. Satisfaction guaranteed 
or money refunded. Our tree roofing book 
■ tells all about it. Write for it today, 
the Anderson Manufacturing Co.. Dept. 35, Elyria, Obits 
iur ou per squa 
Roof-FiX; 
THE NEW 
Demi-Bloc System 
of 
Double-Gun Manufacture 
adds new excellences 
to the superiority of the 
STEVENS 
FIREARMS 
One of these new features is the 
forging and compressing oi’the barrel 
and lug all in one piece. This gives 
the strongest breecli mechanism pos¬ 
sible to make. 
Then the barrels, loop and exten¬ 
sion rib are brazed in one process. 
So the barrels are necessarily straight 
and true. 
While the solid top-snap, illustrated 
below, operating with our new rotary 
cross-bolt, makes a fastening une¬ 
qualled for strength. Thus Stevens 
Guns cannot shake loose. 
If you’ll send for the Stevens 
Catalog, you’ll learn all about these 
new Demi-Bloc features, and all the 
many superiorities of Stevens fire¬ 
arms—shotguns, rifles, pistols. 5c. 
for postage brings it. 
“Guns and Gunning,” by Dan 
Beard—all about hunting and shoot¬ 
ing, game, the care of a gun, etc., 
will be sent, postpaid, for 20c., paper 
cover; or 30c. cloth, 
stamped in gilt. 
If you don’t find 
Stevens firearms at 
your dealers, we’ll 
supply you direct, 
on receipt of cata¬ 
log price. 
Mistakes 
Cost Money 
Hence the only way to avoid them 
is to be prepared. 
For instance when buying; a separa¬ 
tor examine it closely, especially 
the bowl and see if it is simple or 
complicated: heavy or light; suspend¬ 
ed or supported? 
All supported bowls are fed at the 
top, requiring complicated interiors 
to assist separation. They are not 
only top heavy,but hard to clean and 
handle—due to their complicated 
mechanism. 
The three simple bowls on the 
the right are 
TUBULARS 
Their simplicity and lightness are evi¬ 
dent at a glance-—they are easy to clean 
and handle. The Tubular bowl being sus¬ 
pended and bottom fed, necessitates but 
a simple smooth interior; because the 
milk passes but once through during the 
separation. To avoid separator mistakes, 
write for and read our catalog 153-free. 
THE SHARPLES SEPARATOR CO., 
West Chester, Penna. 
Toronto, Can. San Francisco, Calif. Chicago, Ill. 
WILDER'S 
i. Stevens Arms 
& Tool Co. 
500 Grove Street 
Chicopee Falls, Mass. 
RUNNING WATER ON FARM 
THE AERM0T0R GASOLINE ENGINE 
is designed to supply water for the farm 
blinding. This outiit insures a supply of 
water at all times and the price is within 
the reach of every farmer. 1’umpcap.—1600 
K«ls. per hour, 15 ft. elevation; 800 gals. ,25 
It.: too gals., 50 ft. J42.50 Delivered at 
It.It.-Sta. Write fot descrip¬ 
tive Catalogue No. 5 giving 
full Informal ion. 
.J. H. EDff.. 
59 Park Place 
J No. 5 glvlug *** 
n. 
) WARDS, ' ■ 
lace, N. Y. I 1 
~p Self-Adjusting 
Steel Latch 
8TANCHION—a firm, safe, 
simple stanchion; fastens 
easily and holds stock se¬ 
curely. Gives cattle the 
Kfeatost possible comfort 
and freedom standing or 
Bung down. Can be open¬ 
ed and closed without re¬ 
moving gloves or mittens. 
It s made of hard wood, 
has no cold iron to chill 
animals in frosty weather. 
A stanchion that combines 
comfort, cleanliness and 
utility with durability, 
strength and economy. 
Strong enough for dehorn¬ 
ing cattle. A most satis- 
. c £? ry equipment for any 
stable. Send for our free 
catalogue and prices. 
Wilder-Strong Implement Co. 
Box 33, Monroe, Mich. 
STANCHION 
EXCELSIOR SWING STANCHION 
Warranted the Best. 
30 Days Trial. 
Unlike all others. Stationary when 
Open. Noiseless. 
I’HE WASSON STANCHION CO. 
Box 60, Cuba, New York. 
Trinidad Lake Asphalt is the only 
lasting weather-resister. There’s nothing 
better for roofs. 
Genasco 
Ready Roofing 
is made of this perfect natural water- 
proofer. No artificial substitute will last 
anywhere near as long. Look out for 
the roofing that is “ just as good.” 
Ask your dealer for Genasco. Mineral or smooth surface. Insist 
on the genuine with the Genasco trade-mark. Write for samples and 
Book 10 
THE BARBER ASPHALT PAVING COMPANY 
Largest producers of asphalt, and largest 
manufacturers of ready roofing in the world. 
PHILADELPHIA 
New York San Francisco Chicago 
DON’T BUY GASOLINE ENGINES 
DlTto Buf-Lels to R^QSickSfrS?- ®il5i. nei v^.^!?H on ! 2l, I?T2 wer - Its "eight bulk are half that of single cyllndlTe. 
' - „ ,- 
engine. Send for Catalogue. THE 
UNTIL YOU INVESTIGATE 
_ “THE MASTER WORKMAN,** 
Its weight and bulk are half that of single cylinder engines, with greater durability ° (kwts 
come. Cheaply mounted on anv wauron. It iHARnnihumtimi tuirtni.io _ 
L 1 LUl'LL 1 CMP CO., Ultra., Meagher and 15th Sta., Chicago. THIS IS OUK FIFTY-FIFTH YEAR 
