THE RURAt NEW-YORKER 
72 
The Rural New-Yorker 
THE BUSINESS FARMER'S PAPER 
A Notional Weekly Journnl for Country and Suburban Home* * 
Established 1850 
Published weekly by the Rural Publishing Company, 409 Pearl St., New York 
Herbert W. Colungwood, President and Editor. 
John" J. Dillon, Treasurer and General Manager. 
Wm. F. Dillon, Secretary. Mrs. E. T. Rotle, Associate Editor. 
SUBSCRIPTION: ONE DOLLAR A YEAR 
To foreign countries in the Universal Postal Union. S2.04, equal to 8s. 6d., or 
fyi marks, or W)4 francs. Remit in money order, express 
order, personal check or bank draft. 
Entered at New York Post Office as Second Class Matter. 
Advertising rates so cents per agate line—7 words. Discount for time orders. 
References required for advertisers unknown to us ; and 
cash must accompany transient orders. 
“A SQUARE DEAL” 
We believe that every advertisement in this paper is backed by a respon¬ 
sible person. But to make doubly sure we will make good any loss to paid 
subscribers sustained by trusting" any deliberate swindler advertising in our 
columns, and any such swindler will be publicly exposed. We protect sub¬ 
scribers against rogues, but we do not guarantee to adjust trifling differences 
between subscribers and honest, responsible advertisers. Neither will we bo 
responsible for the debts of honest bankrupts sanctioned by the courts. 
Notice of the complaint must be sent to us within one month of the time of 
the transaction, and you must have mentioned The Rural New-Yorker 
when writing the advertiser. 
Twenty-five years ago, while in the West, I escaped 
by the skin of my teeth from signing a note for $100, 
■when to all appearances I was giving my name to an 
agreement for a patent wire fence. I was The R. N.-Y. 
that came to the rescue. Ever since when one of those fel¬ 
lows come around I simply smile, and wind up with an 
emphatic no. david eeid. 
New Jersey. 
That will do to keep as a New Year’s “resolution” 
when such orators as H. M. Whiting come down the 
road or Uncle Sam brings you pathetic letters from 
E. G. Lewis. The ability to “smile and say no” is a 
great gift—and the smile can often be omitted to 
good advantage. 
* 
I have the honor of being one of the 62 farmers in 
the House, and there are 14 farmers in the Senate. I 
believe Kansas is safe from any fool game laws, and I 
hope from any other fool laws. J. w. H. 
Surely 76 farmers in a State Legislature ought to 
prove a good fool-killer for such game laws as we 
have in New York. While we have no such propor¬ 
tion of farmers in this State, it is true that an even 
larger proportion of statesmen would not be at Albany 
if the farmers had used boot instead of ballot. There 
has not been for a quarter of a century a better 
year for obtaining needed farm legislation at Albany. 
It is no time to go begging, hat in hand, but rather 
the time for farmers to assert themselves boldly, 
* 
Nearly every local paper I take is fighting the parcel 
post, claiming it will ruin the country merchant and 
yet if it was not for the farmer subscribers the editors 
would starve to death. J. E. m. 
Missouri. 
They would, because they could not eat printer’s 
ink; and if they had no subscribers there would be 
no advertising. You would surely think the local 
papers would recognize that fact and let the interests 
of their readers come first of all. That is one reason 
why farmers are at a disadvantage. They have no 
local paper to stand boldly up and defend their in¬ 
terests, but are more likely to be sold out to politi¬ 
cians or advertisers. Strange that these local papers 
do not realize what a home power they might be if 
they would stand by their readers. 
* 
“Electrified irrigation”—what do we know about 
it? Very little—yet probably as much as some of the 
people who are talking learnedly. The scheme is to 
use the usual overhead system of irrigation, but in 
addition the water is charged with electricity before 
being sprayed out. It is claimed that this electric 
water increases the growth of crops and also acts 
to kill insects or plant-disease germs. It is a plausi¬ 
ble theory but the best scientific men we have con¬ 
sulted can see no basis for believing that electricity 
applied in this way could benefit crops. The system 
of overhead application of water is a success when 
reasonably used, but we would not advise our read¬ 
ers to try “electrified irrigation” unless they have 
money to blow away without caring where it goes to. 
* 
Once in a while some impatient friend comes along 
asking why we do not discuss all the big public ques¬ 
tions. If we have learned anything at all it is the fact 
that the only way to make progress is to take a few 
things and try to do them well. He who tries to 
spread all over the universe never warms even a 
square foot of soil. There are too many men who 
fail because they will not understand their limita¬ 
tions, but rush in to attempt things which everyone 
else can see lie beyond their powers. The R. N.-Y. 
selects a few things which seem of vital importance 
to its readers, and hammers away at them. This 
might be done so as to become tiresome, but we try 
to make it interesting. There can be no progress 
until popular thought is aroused. Once let it be 
aroused and nothing can stand against it. Yet years 
may be required to arouse such thought, and it may 
be a thankless task to hang to the proposition until 
it is on the way to settlement. Possibly the things 
which we select for a bulldog grip are not what 
some of our readers consider most important. That 
is a matter of judgment—we use the best we have. 
There are two other things which may well be said 
now. The R. N.-Y. fully realizes that it has no 
power of its own. It is great folly for a paper to 
put up a noisy bluff and claim that it does great 
things for the people by its own efforts. We know 
full well that The R. N.-Y. has no power save what 
its readers provide, and they will not provide an 
ounce of power unless they have confidence that we 
will represent them fairly and not betray them. We 
will stand for anything they demand, for we know 
that whatever they think out and endorse will be 
right. And, again, the method of doing work for the 
public. We are often asked to pull wires or go into 
secret politcal combinations to bring about results. 
That is out of our line, and we realize it. We have 
one weapon—strong, unfading printer’s ink—with teeth 
on it if necessary. Others may pull wires or beat 
bushes if they care to, and if that is their nature. 
The R. N.-Y.’s part of the programme is to come 
right out openly, give names if need be, print the 
facts and see that they are painted on the minds of 
readers. 
* 
In our little book, “The Child,” the following state¬ 
ment is found: 
“Emerson made many guesses at truth, like the rest 
of us. Some of them still remain guesses, and wide 
at that.” 
An admirer of Emerson comes forward to say that 
the philosopher made no guesses. He challenges us 
to name one important statement of Emerson which 
is a “guess.” In “Man the Reformer” we find the 
following: 
“In general, one may say that the husbandman’s is 
the oldest and most universal profession, and that 
where a man does not yet discover in himself any 
fitness for one zvork more than another this may be 
preferred.” 
This was written 81 years ago. It may possibly 
have been true of society at that day, but who will 
say now that it was not a bad guess at the future? 
In fact, we are still trying to get over the damage 
which was done to farming as a business by such 
a doctrine. For this is only a wordy way of claiming 
that “any fool can farm.” That was the proposition 
which discouraged many farm boys 40 and more years 
ago, and gave manufacturing and transportation more 
than their share of wealth and popularity. The 
same false doctrine is still deceiving many a back-to- 
the-lander who has a skilled hand at some trade and 
thinks little skill is needed to make a good farmer. 
Modern education is proving that statement to be 
a guess, for it demonstrates beyond question that a 
successful farmer must possess skill and judgment 
far superior to what is needed in a trade or in ordi¬ 
nary business. 
* 
The Vermont Legislature is considering a farm 
drainage credit bill somewhat after the plan of the 
Canadian law. Under it, whenever a majority of the 
legal voters of city, town or village favor, such mu¬ 
nicipality may borrow from $2,000 to $10,000. De¬ 
bentures which are exempt from taxation and which 
bear four per cent, interest will be issued to meet the 
loan. These debentures are issued and sold by the 
municipality. They carry 20 coupons each for the 
sum of $7.36. Any person owning land in the town 
or village may apply for a loan to be used for drain¬ 
age purposes—under safeguarded ownership. Such 
loan cannot exceed 60 per cent, of the appraised value 
of the land for taxation, nor more than 75 per cent 
of the estimated drainage cost. No person can bor¬ 
row more than $1,000. This money can only be 
borrowed for the purpose of tile or cement pipe drain¬ 
age, and for 20 years. A drainage inspector will over¬ 
see the work and protect the town’s interests. Each 
year for the term of 20 years the borrower pays $7.36 
for each $100 of borrowed money. This is collected 
like other taxes, and at the end of 20 years of such 
paying the loan is wiped out, but the land owner may 
pay the debt in full before the end of the time if he 
sees fit to do so. In brief, these are the principles 
of an excellent law. The Vermont Legislature should 
pass the bill promptly, for there are thousands of 
farmers in that State who can use such loans to great 
advantage. Some of the finest soil in the State lies 
in valleys or pockets. For centuries the available 
plant food of the hills has been washing down into 
these utility spots, yet the wet soil has remained stag¬ 
nant and unproductive. Drainage will save these 
spots and turn them into gardens, and, what is more, 
the business of issuing such debentures for soil im¬ 
provement right at home will create a public spirit 
and practical interest which will give solid character 
to the town. 
January 18, 
When a down-town church moves back to the resi¬ 
dential section, it does seem sad to think of the old 
church building being used for manufacturing purposes; 
but there is no such feeling regarding the former edifice 
of the Chelsea M. E. Church. The old church building 
Is to be the centre of a wider parish from which the 
same Gospel is to be promulgated under different condi¬ 
tions and methods, for the uplifting of humanity. We 
rejoice in the true Christian spirit of brotherhood and 
man to man square dealing which permeates every page 
of The R. N.-Y. May 1913 be your most successful 
year in every way. Joseph n. dummer. 
Massachusetts. 
We have received many pleasant words about The 
R. N.-Y.’s new home. It is surprising how many of 
our friends knew of or attended this old church. A 
grain of performance beats a ton of promises, and 
we only ask to be judged by the former. 
* 
Some of those gentlemen who claim the present 
game laws afford full protection against sports and 
hunters may read the following from “The Harlem 
Valley Times”: 
A hunter on a motorcycle came down Main street, 
Poughkeepsie, Sunday afternoon with his gun strapped 
to his machine, while to the rear part of the cycle was 
attached a basket carrying a dog whose head protruded 
above it. The hunter’s pockets were stuffed with game. 
There is a fine way of remembering the Sabbath 
day. What a beautiful time a farmer of small size, 
or with poor health, and with a law prohibiting his 
carrying firearms, would have arresting such a man! 
Before he could obtain help this “hunter” would be 
miles away, dog and all. We understand that this 
hunting by gasoline power is not uncommon. A 
hunter comes into a lonely section, kills what he can, 
and when farmers are aroused hops on his motor and 
away to some new spot. We want a law which will 
give a farmer control of his own farm, and then 
farmers must get together and protect their rights. 
* 
About two years ago James A. Patten and other 
speculators started out to “corner” the cotton crop. 
The methods to be employed are stated in the legal 
charges brought against Patten and the others: 
The conspirators were to make purchases from specula¬ 
tors upon the New York Cotton Exchange of quantities 
of cotton for future delivery greatly in excess of the 
amount available for delivery when deliveries should 
become due. 
By these means an abnormal demand was to be created 
on the part of such sellers who would pay excessive 
prices to obtain cotton for delivery upon their contracts. 
The excessive prices prevailing upon the New York 
Exchange would cause similar prices to exist upon other 
cotton markets. 
As a necessary and unavoidable result of their acts, 
said conspirators were to compel cotton manufacturers 
throughout the country to pay said excessive prices to 
obtain cotton for their needs or else curtail their opera¬ 
tions, and also, “as a necessary and unavoidable result” 
of said acts, an unlawful obstruction would be put upon 
inter-State trade and commerce. 
The Circuit Court decided that these speculators 
were not guilty—that is, that under the Sherman anti¬ 
trust law this did not constitute a conspiracy in re¬ 
straint of trade. The Supreme Court has now re¬ 
versed this ruling and declares that a “corner” does 
involve restraint of trade. Patten will be tried again 
under this final ruling. There is no chance to mis¬ 
understand the meaning of the court. 
It was a conspiracy to run a corner in the market. This 
control and the enhancement of price were features of 
the conspiracy upon the attainment of which it is con¬ 
ceded its success depended. Upon the corner becoming 
effective, there could be no trading in the commodity 
save at the will of the conspirators and at such price 
as their interests might prompt them to exact. And 
so the conspiracy was to reach and to bring within its 
dominating influence the entire cotton trade of the coun¬ 
try. 
Bearing in mind that such was the nature, object, and 
scope of the conspiracy, we regard it as altogether plain 
that by its necessary operation it would directly and ma¬ 
terially impede and burden the due course of trade and 
commerce among the States, and therefore, inflict upon 
the public the injuries which, the anti-trust act is de¬ 
signed to prevent. 
That ought to settle it so far as the law goes. Now 
give us men to enforce the law to the extent of send¬ 
ing the big “cornerers” to jail. 
BREVITIES. 
The Egyptian cotton crop of 1912 is larger than any 
previous year, being estimated by the British authorities 
as worth $12,500,000 more than the crop of 1911. 
Durixg November England imported over 95,000 pounds 
or about 47,000 quarts of milk from France. The English 
retailers pay from five to six cents per quart. 
In New York State the Sullivan law prohibits the keep¬ 
ing of a revolver in the house without a license. The 
Supreme Court has just uphold this point, and an effort 
will be made to get the Legislature to change the law. 
The entire world’s consumption of petroleum is 1,000,000 
barrels per day! This country produced last year 220,- 
200,000 barrels of 42 gallons each. It is not generally 
known that California was the best oiled State—87,000,000 
barrels. 
