New-York tribune. [volume], September 17, 1905, Page 3, Image 19

About New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
ALLIGATORS JUST HATCHED IN AN INCUBATOR.
r AN ALLIGATOR FARM.
"Novel Industry Pursued in an
Arkansas Locality.
Arkansas has never been in a position to boast
of diversified farms, but one locality of the State,
that of Garland County, of which Hot Springs is
the metropolis, is entitled to place its claim be
fore the world as having remarkable diversifica
tion in farm products. West of Hot Springs are
three farms that are worthy of notice. An alli
gator farm, an ostrich farm and a dog farm are
within a short distance of one another. The last
two named are not without interest, but the fir:-t
takes precedence over them in the mind of
nearly every ir.an that visits the three.
The alligator farm of H. T. Campbell lies on a
rr % .G.TI mountain ream that Bows the year
round. A series of fmal! I^kcs, ■■;• ponds, fed
by the stream, constitutes the breeding grounds
of the reptiles. Mr Campbell has not taken
stock of his farm for several months, but bniws
•• - there are over six hundred "frcitnrs in the
lakes at th<* present time, whlrh range ii length
from six inches to nearly fifteen feet. On ac
count of a disposition among the large ones to
make a dinner off the smaller ones, the 1 ikes are
separated by v. — netting. The number of oc
cupants of each lake is then determined by their
ability to take care of themselves.
Bis- .To*> is the inarch of the farm. He
measures nearly ffteen feet in length and
■weighs over five hundred pounds, en? Is secluded
in a pound by hints; If. as hi? viciousness is dis
played toward hie fellow reptiles in a most ex
pressive manner. If he had the liberty of the
farm he would booh be the oily alligntor th^re,
as he rats everything that comes within reach.
To look at this reptile as be moves slugs
about or basks in the sun with his eyes half
closed, one would imagine that he was a mass
of inert matter capable of no display of speed
or activity. But place a dog or hog in tl c in
closure and a sudden awakening i? witnessed.
The animals soon disappear down Big Joe's
throat, only one or two gulps being necessary to
consign it to the 'gator's inner region.
Until Mr. Campbell started his farm It was
always a problem for the dog catcher of Hot
Springs to get rid of the worthless curs that
were picked up on the streets. Mr. Campbell
and his reptiles soon solved it for him. After
holding the dogs the time prescribed by law the
poundmaster now delivers them to the alligator
farm, and their end is a story Quickly told. The
2SEW-YOEK iDATTra TRIBUNE. BUXDAY. SEPTEMBEB 17, 1905.
cages are opened beside the lakes and in a few
moments every 'gator is after them. A small
dog is swallowed without more than the blink
of the sleepy eyes of the reptiles, while a large
one is often lorn in two parts by two 'gators,
one having hold of its head and the other of its
Big Joe has been i;-;owi; to de
vour seven large dogs in one afternoon.
In the summer m i ' 'gators are fed
every ?■;• lay. They hibernate during fhe win
11 rot ear the most tempting morsel
placed at their mouths. The winter quarters of
■•71 is a ions, low ro i heated
am. The is divided in;o sec
■ Lch section possesses a pool of water,
with Bteampipes at the bottom. I;: the winter
• - cares nothing for space, and two
enndn n top of another, will occupy
one small pond.
The age of an alligator Ls something no one
can determine. Mr. Campbell's experience with
them will tempt him to do nothing more than
guess when the age of Big Joe is asked. He
y that Big Joe is over 150 years ol
perhaps 300, but he will not be more definite.
Mr. Campbell Fp.:-rd< a part of each year
hunting for 'gators to replenish the stock on
his farm. The bayous of Southern Loui
along the Gulf coast and the swamps of Florida
are his favorite hunting grounds. Th- small
alligator is caught with a net, but the capture of
a large one, that is, one nt feet long,
- attempted in the summer time. He la
located then and the hunter waits for him t«)
hibernate. When the 'gator thinks he is stowed
away for the cold season he awakes to find the
hunter upon him with unyielding nooses that
tighten with every vicious lunge he makes.
the hunter succeeds in getting
on its back then the rest is easy, as the pi
soon causes it to pass into an almost comatosa
condition.
In the hottest of the summer months the fe
male begins to lay Lc-r eggs. She will first make
READER ON PLATFORM IN CIGAR FACTORY OF M. STACHELBERG 4 CO.
ONE OF THE PRODUCTS OF THE ALLIGATOR FARM.
a nest resembling a rubbish heap on the bank
of the lake, and after laying will cover the eggs
with the same material In tropical climates
the heat of the sun hatches the eggs, but at
■Mr. Campbell's farm an Incubator is depended
on. One female will lay from thirty to forty
rga before abandoning a nest. Afterward
she will guard it night and day until the young
ones take to the water, but after they reach the
water they have to look out for themselves.
Mr. Campbell sold more than three hundred
alligators last year to zoological pardons, cir-
and private individuals. He supplied one
patent medicine company with one hundred,
which are being used for advertising purposes.
CIGAR FACTORY READER.
Place lie Fills an Important One for
Benefit of Workmgmen.
It was reported in press dispatches from the
?ou:h recently that Edgar J. i~tache!berg. of
Tampa, Fla., the husband of ilillie James, the
actress, had been challenged to fight a duel by
Sefior Euttari, who has been filling the elevated
position of reader in the cigar factory of M-
Starhelberg & Co., at Tampa.
Sefior Buttari's position is rightly termed an
elevated one, as he occupies a d.-iis in the centre
of the great room in the factory where the fra
grant weed is manipulated by Cubans and Span
iards Into the various brands of cigars turned
out by the factory.
The challenge, if there wa3 one, gre-..- out of
Mr. Stachelberg refusing to allow Sefior Buttari
to read extracts from "Tlerra." an alleged an
archistic paper published In Havana. The r.-ad
- ■ k the refusal as a personal insult. Mr.
Stachelberg ignored the challenge, if he ever
got it.
The article objected to in tha Havana paper
E. J. STACHELBERG AND HIS WIFE.
Scene at their fishing camp on Lower Tampa Bay.
contained violent personal abuse of Tampa man
ufacturers and Incited workmen to quit work.
When Mr. Stachelberg-, who is a member of the
firm, ordered the reading of the paper stopped,
the cigarmakers Indulged in a demonstration,
and demanded that the reader be allowed to read
anything- In print. When this was refused a
strike followed. Three hundred men walked out
The reader in a cigar factory is an important
personage. Mounted on a dais near the centre
of the room, with a skylight directly overhead,
he sits 111 a comfortable chair and reads to the
workmen the news of the world, fiction, history,
political economy, poetry and selections that
may be requested.
He is not employed by the owner or manager
of the cigar factory, but is selected by a com
mittee of the workmen. He is paid usually
about $20 a week.
Tii • factory open? at (V3O a. m.. and the rigar
makers work until 10 o'clock, when they stop for
breakfast. Before going to work in the mom*
ing- every Cuban and every Spaniard must have
his coffee. "Cafe con leche" is an absolute ne
eeaatty to a cigarmaker. A cup is filled two
thirds full of boiling- milk and then the coffee is
poured lr. ; and such coffee! Every Cuban and
Spaniard knows how to make coffee, and th*y
will not touch a cup of coffee that is not made
properly.
As soon as the -workmen are seated at thf>ir
benches or tables and start rolling the "smok
ers" the reader begins. He must have a dear
voice, not too loud or harsh, which can be dis
tinctly heard in all parts of the large room.
First the daily papers are taken up and th»
telegraph news of the world is read. "Where :io
paper printed in Spanish can be obtained con
taining press dispatches the reader translates
the English text, after first reading it aloud for
ihe benefit of the American workmen who maj
not understand Spanish. After the telegraphiy
report comes the local news and then the edi
torials. Thus th? first half hour is spent N< ■-r
more than one-half an hour's reading Is re
quired of the reader at one time.
Alter his first rest the reader takes up some
serial, usually a Spanish romance, and devotes
the next half hour to this. Then comes another
rest. In which the workmen discuss with th. it
Immediate working partners the merits of tha
■tory, the probable fate of the hero or the vil
lain and also the author.
Light literature occupies the next half hour of
the reader's time, short stories from magai
zincs, jokes, conundrums, comments and ful-de-.
rol.
History is then taken up, Cuban history,
Spanish history, the histories of various Euro
pean countries, and especial attention is paid to
the history of the United States.
In the afternoon reading half hours the readej
presents selections from the writings of -world
famous men of letters. The course has been
mapped out by the committee appointed for thai
purpose, and the reader must follow the com
mittee's selections.
Hrw tho factories came to be provided wit^
readers for the workmen is of interest It is ■
well established fact that people of the Latin
races will use their hands, arms, shoulders 01
heads when they talk to emphasize their re
marks. Th» Cuban or the Spaniard canncrt
talk two minutes without waving his hands an 4
shrugging his shoulders. It is second nature KM
him, and he can't help it
Now, a cigarmakcr has to use both hands la
Continued on Bth pace-
English, French Etchings
OF IKTn CKVTTKT.
MEZZOTINTS, PHOTOS AND CARBONS
OF ALL KUIUM'EAS i.M J.F.BIKH.
12 West 28th St GEORGE BUSSE
8