1144 
The Rural New-Yorker 
THE BUSINESS FARMER'S PAPER. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
Established. I860. 
Pabllihed weekly by the Rural Publishing Company, 409 Pearl Street, New York. 
Herbert W. Collingwood, President and Editor, 
John J. Dillon, Treasurer and General Manager. 
Wm. F. Dillon, Secretary. Mrs. E. T. Hoyle, Associate Editor. 
SUBSCRIPTION: ONE DOLLAR A YEAR. 
To foreign countries in the Universal Postal Union, $2.04, equal to 
88 . 6 d., or 8*2 marks, or lO^ francs. Remit in money order, 
express order, personal check or bank draft. 
Entered at New York Post Office as Second Class Matter. 
Advertising rates 60 cents per agate line—7 words. Discount for tim< 
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 
responsible person. But to make doubly sure we will make good any 
loss to paid subscribers sustained by trusting any deliberate swindler 
advertising in ourcolumns, and any such swindler will be publicly ex¬ 
posed. We protect subcribers against rogues, but we do not guarantee 
to adjust trifling differences between subscribers and honest, respon¬ 
sible advertisers. Neither will we be 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. 
TEN WEEKS FOR 10 CENTS. 
Tn order to introduce The R. N.-Y. to progressive, 
intelligent farmers who do not now take it, we send it 
10 weeks for 10 cents for strictly introductory pur¬ 
poses. We depend on our old friends to make this 
known to neighbors and friends. 
* 
The New York Experiment Station at Geneva has 
issued the report of analysis of fertilizers sampled last 
season. The general average is high, and a smaller 
proportion than ever of the larger concerns fall 
below guarantee. Our old friend the Buffalo Fertil¬ 
izer Co. makes about the worst showing of any. Out 
of 30 brands that were analyzed eight are so far 
below guarantee that they are noted in italics. One 
of these brands at the station’s method of figuring 
values falls $3.16 per ton and another $4.64 below the 
guarantee. 
* 
We give the facts about that Massachusetts farm 
community in order to obtain comparative statements. 
Here is a farm town where the chief business is 
dairying, and the crops that make good side partners 
for cows. This is in New England where, we are 
so often told, farming is dying out. Now we want 
similar statements from other localities. We do not 
care for the wealth in factories or towns except as it 
affects the business of farming. Tell us if you will 
the plain, unvarnished story of farm life and its future 
in your town. 
* 
We hope some of these Western corn growers will 
conclude to go into a friendly contest with Eastern 
farmers. Such a contest as we suggested last week 
would, if fairly conducted, and carried out in good 
spirit, prove one of the most instructive lessons we 
have ever had in American farming. It might be 
admitted at the start that a bushel of corn will cost 
more to produce in the East than in the West. On 
the other hand the price to the Eastern farmer 
for both grain and fodder is higher and thus he can 
afford to pay more for fertilizer and labor. Here 
would be a vital question aside from that of mere 
production of grain and fodder. The East is surely 
going to produce more corn, and we honestly think 
it can show the West a few tricks on corn production. 
* 
One of the best chapters in “The Business Hen” is 
written by Geo. A. Cosgrove. It is in the line of advice 
to the city man who, in middle life, goes to the country 
to make a new home. What can a hen do for such a 
man? Mr. Cosgrove knows, for the business hen 
has shed her softest feathers to make his home com¬ 
fortable. He gives a plain and simple story which 
is worth, to an earnest man, more than all the so- 
called “systems” put together. There is not a single 
“big story” or extravagant record in the book. They 
were purposely cut out in order that “The Business 
Hen” might be, as its name implies, the plain tale 
of a good hen. Running all through it is the theory 
that, while a book may supply facts and inspiration, it 
cannot give a man “instinct” or common sense. These 
are natural qualities and you will need them in the 
hen business. 
* 
The terrible death by electricity of the California 
farmer mentioned on page 1135 shows the danger 
which may lurk in neighborhoods where electric wires 
are run. There is something fearful in this action 
of the deadly current leaving its legitimate path and 
creeping along the wire fence to strike a deadly blow 
to the farmer at his own home. While such accidents 
must of necessity be rare the corporations or indi¬ 
viduals who put up these deadly wires must be forced 
to take care of them. These wires should be insulated 
and whenever they cross wire fences or houses pro¬ 
tection must be given. We are to have in the East 
a great development of electric power. A few weeks 
THE RURAL NEW-YOKKER 
since we gave the picture of an abandoned water 
power in New England. At least half a dozen people 
have written about it. Before long wires carrying 
this deadly power will be stretched over or near our 
farms. Such an accident as that in California is pos¬ 
sible in such localities, and the public must be pro¬ 
tected. 
* 
THE TRUE REMEDY FOR FRAUDS. 
The story of the Post Office Department and Burr 
Bros, is told on the next page. These young men 
succeeded in stealing $50,000,000 chiefly from poor in¬ 
vestors. There was not enough of it left to get them 
out of prison on bail. For over five years people drew 
money away from safe securities and threw it at these 
plausible rascals. Business men knew from the first 
that the scheme was dishonest and doomed to failure. 
Yet the stock exchange and other business organiza¬ 
tions, the newspapers and the State Government stood 
still and let this robbery go on until the Federal Gov¬ 
ernment was forced to act. Some of the very papers 
which have shouted loudest against “Federal encroach¬ 
ment” have given by their actions in this case the 
strongest argument in favor of greater federal activ¬ 
ity. -They show that other agencies which might do 
the work are too feeble and cowardly to act. For 
Burr Bros, and similar swindlers could not live with¬ 
out the aid of newspapers. These papers take their 
share of “graft” in exchange for advertising and 
“write-ups.” Even while doing this they help the 
particular rascal by talking in a general way against 
frauds. These papers know that the cash they receive 
for this service is dirty stolen money and that they 
attracted the attention of the victim, while the actual 
robbers went through his pockets. When the rascal is 
finally run down by others, they bellow out against 
him while his money jingles in their pockets. Men 
like E. G. Lewis work a scheme which is in principle 
the same as that operated by Burr Bros. Lewis has 
been sharp enough to hide his scheme beneath a cloak 
of philanthropy and “co-operation.” Thus far he has 
been protected by “business interests” and by pub¬ 
lishers who are after some of the “graft,” but there is 
a stronger power—as Burr Brothers finally found. 
One trick of Burr Bros, was to keep their victims 
quiet by exchanging stock. When one bogus scheme 
failed they always had another ready and by paying 
a little extra the “investor” could exchange for stock 
in some new enterprise. Lewis has played this trick 
for years, and other agricultural publishers are doing 
the same thing to keep their victims quiet. 
The stock exchanges and the big corporations might 
have cleaned out such concerns as Burr Bros, long 
ago if they had been willing to open their books and 
rip up the records as the Post Office Department does 
with the frauds. Burr Bros, would get an option on a 
piece of land and then sell stock in a gold mine or 
an oil well, hiring some “expert” to bait the hook 
with an opinion. That shameful fraud was only 
carrying out to its logical end the schemes of watered 
stock, inflated values and over-capitalization which 
a full investigation of hundreds of similar enormous 
corporations would reveal. The State govern¬ 
ment obtains part of its revenues by licensing these 
big concerns and seldom or never interferes with their 
operation. Thus the newspapers receive their share 
of graft, the corporations their special privilege and 
the State its revenue, and all sit still until the Federal 
Government steps in and nails the rogue. The news¬ 
papers are chiefly responsible for this state of affairs. 
They could, if they wanted to save their readers and 
rouse public opinion, so that the frauds and rascals 
would be blown out of business and public life. They 
never can do it while they handle dirty money or dis¬ 
honest graft by advertising fake schemes and standing 
for political dishonesty. All the editorial eloquence 
in the world will never wash out the stain, for the 
people have seen it and will not be deceived. There 
has never been a time in this country when the 
press and specially the farm papers could do more good 
than right now if they would only drop their cowardly 
and evasive policy and come out boldly and openly and 
denounce by name what they know to be dishonest 
and a hold-up game on their readers. 
* 
In 1798 the United States Senate contained 32 mem¬ 
bers. A very important public question was to be 
voted on, and 17 Senators held a secret caucus. A 
solemn pledge was enacted of all that the will of 
the majority should rule, and that all must support 
anything approved by the caucus. The vote was nine 
to eight, and there were strong arguments on both 
sides. The 17 Senators voted as the nine dictated, and 
passed a bill which a large majority of the Senate 
really opposed. Under the caucus pledge nine men 
decided the action of 32. This is an extreme case to 
show the power of the old caucus and convention 
system—not the rule of the majority, but domination 
December 10, 
by a political minority. The primary nominations 
system aims to make such tricks impossible. There 
will be an end of secret caucuses, but an open ex¬ 
pression of opinion on the part of voters. Some 
members of the Republican party in the East have 
said that direct primaries will mean political ruin. 
We can point out to them that in the late election 
every State which gave its voters a chance at a 
direct primary elected their party ticket by a fair 
majority. 
* 
Right now is where a real tariff commission 
would help the country. The last election showed 
without doubt that the people demand a revision of the 
present tariff, and want the rates lowered. While 
we are all waiting to see what Congress will do, 
manufacturers and importers will run their business as 
closely as possible, because they cannot tell how a new 
tariff will affect them. This will mean men out of 
work, and thus not earning money to spend for food. 
And no one expects that Congress will ever make a 
really fair tariff bill. There will always be more or 
less playing politics and trading in any bill which is 
fought through Congress. All this would be changed 
if we had a tariff commission composed of strong 
men with the power to settle rates after a thorough 
study, somewhat as the Interstate Commerce Com¬ 
mission settles railroad rates. The coming struggle 
over the next tariff bill ought to be the best argument 
needed to compel the people to demand a tariff com¬ 
mission. 
* 
There is at least one State in the Union which will 
do something'for parcels post. That is Maine. Sen¬ 
ator Hale, who will now retire, was a “careful con¬ 
sideration” man. I he two leading Democrats who 
are in the race to succeed Mr. Hale were asked how 
they stand, and they are prompt to reply. 
I wish to state that from the time this question was 
first discussed I have believed in and advocated the same. 
In my opinion the enactment of a law which would pro¬ 
vide for the transportation by the Government of parcels 
post would be in the interest of all the people. 
CHARLES F. JOHNSON. 
It seems strange to me to be asked in Maine how I 
stand towards a parcels post, as I have advocated the 
establishment of a parcels post in most of my addresses 
to the State Grange from 1897 to 1907, but in answer to 
your question will say I am thoroughly and unreservedly 
in favor of a parcels post system. I send you an abstract 
taken from my address to State Grange, 1906, which fully 
defines my position on this very important subject. If 
you will look in Grange Journal of that year you will 
find how emphatic my position is. o. Gardner. 
Neither of these men can now refuse to vote for a 
parcels post bill. They are on record, and it is a 
distinct gain for the cause, for votes are badly needed 
in the Senate. We think a bill will pass the House 
without great trouble, and Postmaster General Hitch¬ 
cock will renew his suggestion to start a limited par¬ 
cels post at once. In New Jersey John Kean will be 
left at home. Various gentlemen are after his job, 
and we shall try to put them on record. John Kean is 
another “careful consideration” man. That is one 
reason why New Jersey showed a rough lack of con¬ 
sideration for him. 
BREVITIES. 
IF we make the mistake of having nothing about parcels 
post or Alfalfa in an issue of The R. N.-Y. we want to 
be reminded of it. 
Mr. Dunn on page 1140 gives some good advice to insti¬ 
tute correspondents. A live man can make a good insti¬ 
tute if he will go at it early enough and stay by it all 
through. There must be some one to develop the interest 
and study out the programme. 
A new English dessert apple is St. Everard, a cross 
between Cox’s Orange Pippin and Margil. It is ruddy 
crimson, with juicy yellow flesh, and is described as rich 
and aromatic in flavor, and one of the best apples hi 
quality now in existence. It ripens in September. 
Speaking of driving horses called for in this city, how 
can a man afford to keep a poor one? It costs $30 per 
month to board a horse at a livery stable, and about $5 
more for shoeing. That makes $420 a year for keeping 
the horse, and he must be a good one to make it worth 
while. 
All good things are sometimes p t to disreputable uses 
—witness the apple, that best of all good things. Report 
has it that in Georgia voters were bribed by putting money 
inside apples and then giving the fruit away. In England 
they actually exhibited apples and cider at a convention 
of brewers! 
A Massachusetts farmer tells us how he takes his 
vacation in Winter by going to Washington for a while. 
He says he and his wife can live there very comfortably 
at $2 per day, and look over the Departments and other 
interesting things. This man is a gardener without much 
Winter work on the farm. 
When we talk about “cover crops” of course we rec¬ 
ognize the fact that as you go north you reach a line 
above which these catch crops amount to little because 
the season is too short for them to grow. In Maine, for 
example, most of the crops which we in New Jersey can 
safely put in the standing corn would have but a poor 
chance in Winter. In this northern latitude where the 
ground freezes early there is less loss of nitrates than in 
warmer countries. 
