Twice-a-week plain dealer., January 14, 1910, Image 3

About Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913

Image provided by: State Historical Society of Iowa

                
Novelized From
Eugene Walters
Great Play
—Ni
CHAPTEIt VI.
HKN the door had closed
behind the visitors Mrs
Brooks and Smith sat
down and gazed nt each
other in silence for some minutes
••Well?" exclaimed Emma. interrog
atively. at Inst.
"Weil," he replied, "between you
nnd nle, Joe enme ns nenr getting
skinned niive as any one I ever saw."
"it was terrible!"
"It was terribly true. You saved
him."
"I know."
"Tl:e captain must like you. 1 never
Aid think he could like anybody
"1 hate hlin!" she declared, with a
rrlinnee of disgust. "Ugh. what a
benst!"
Smith reflected.
"Mnybe. and maybe not." he mused.
"I can't Just make him out."
At this juncture the front door
opened and Brooks entered.
"I saw them drive off." he said, drop
ping into a chair. "I hope they will
stay nway in future. That mother
and sister of yours make me tired! I
ran't stand for them. and. what's more,
I won't! They'd drive saint to drink,
and I'm no saint and don't purpose to
lie, either."
His wife began to reproach him for
l:ls attack upon Captain Williams and
for bis general ill humor during the
evening, but he cut her short sharply:
"We won't talk nbout that! Not a
word, you understand? Not from you
»r any one else. That's final!"
"Very well It's dropped." she said
rnd. angry at last in turn, rose nnd
vent to her room.
Indifferently he watched her go, then
turned to Smith.
"Got anything to smoke, Jimsy?" he
demanded.
"No." he replied, fumbling In his
pockets, "as usual, I'm just out, but
I'll run around to the corner store and
get some cigars."
l.eft alone. Brooks began to give way
to the uneasiness and apprehension
it had followed upon his scene with
Captain Williams.
"I wonder if Williams will Are me,"
be muttered. "If he doesn't It's on ac
count of ICmma. He acted as If he'd
go a long ways for Emma."
lie wi^s anxious to know what had
happened after bis brusque departure,
lie went into the bedroom'and found
his wife In tears.
"Don't cry. Einma." he said soothing
lv. going to her and taking her in his
arms. "I didn't mean to hurt your
feelings. I know I've got a fierce
grouch on tonight, but I can't help It.
So would you have one If you'd bad to
put up with what I have today."
Mrs. Brooks was one of those sweet
mi Hired women who could not sulk for
more than five minutes if they tried.
It reeded but iiis caress and apparent
contrition to dispel her resentment.
"You certainly have had cause to
worry, dear." she assented.
"After what's happened tonight I'll
have to hunt another job." he said.
"But I don't care. I'm glad I told the
bc.ist what I thought of him. Some
dav somebody 'if tell him what they
think of hiui and plug him, too, as
sure as he's born."
"You'll not have to buut for anotlmr
.•"•Job yet awhile," she told him. "The
I si in said be would overlook it and
that It wouldn't make any difference."
Her husband looked at her in aston
ishment. half incredulous.
"lie said tuatV"
"Yes. and I'm glad it's turned out as
it has, for bow we'd manage if you
were out of work just now goodness
knows. 1 don't!"
"Just how did lie put it?"
"He said he was almighty sorry for
what bad occurred, that he knew he
had been hard at times and that as
far as your place and we were con
cerned there would be uo change."
Brooks' relief showed lu bis face.
"Well, that knocks me." be comment
ed. "Nobody else ever -bucked up
against him aud got off scot free. I
can't understand it. Did your mother
put iu a word for me?"
"No."
"Then it's you who must have a pull,
lie died right down when you spoke
to hiui. I never would have believed
such a thing. If you had been a man
standiug 1'iere iu front of hiui he'd
have smashed you. Darn it. I won
tier who's ringing now': Can't be
Jiuisy he hasu't had time to get to the
street at the gait he goes."
He weut to the head of the stairs
aud met a messenger boy who was
bearing a letter aud had received In
structions to wait for an answer.
perused the missive. "Tickled to
death! Go and get your things on,
Emma. It's from Beatrice Langley
and Willie Ferguson. Willie's giving
a sort of theater party, aud they want
us to go with them. There's going to
be a little supper afterward."
She shook her head.
"Tell them we can't go."
"Can't go! Why not?"
"I simply can't."
"I don't see why."
"Well, then, I won't so there! You'd
better make some excuse."
"Write It yourself, then." he said,
irritated and deeply disappointed. "I'm
-•i not going to lie to thein."
Without another word she fetched
some writing mat»rial. Indited the
note and sent It off by the messenger.
"What's the matter? Are you sore
.'•* over what happened tonight?" lie de
it- manded sulkily.
"No, I'm not sore. Joe."
"Then why can't you go?"
"Because I can't. That's all!"
T*- "I think you might. If you didn't
want to go yourself you might have
accepted for my sake. I never get
any amusement, and you're always
cottiDlainlng."
I* EUGENE WALTER,
Author of "Paid in Full" and "The I
Easiest Way" I
"When do 1 complain, anil of what?"
"It's the selfish way you act. I mean,
for. once we get a chance to go and
see a decent show and afterward have
a supper party, you get sore. You
simply don't want to go. You haven't
any consideration for me."
Burning with indignation, she went
up to him nnd forced him to look her
In the face.
"You say I have no consideration
for you!" she said. "You know ns
well as I do why 1 can't go. I haven't
hail a new dress In a year. My gloves
are all worn out. I've skimped nnd
struggled and economized until I c-nu't
tic any more. I'd go to the theater
if 1 could go alone or with you or
with Jlmsy and hide somewhere in the
corner, but do you think I want to go
to a party looking like a kitchen maid?
My shoes are cracked Everything Is
secondhand and old and ugly. And
look at me! Do you know what's hap
pened to nie? I've grown common
nnd coarse and cheap. Sometimes
when I look at myself in the glass it
seems as though 1 could see the dirt
and the grease and the horrid Hasti
ness of ir all staring me right iu the
face. Why don't I go? I'm ashamed,
that's all. And you make it harder.
It has almost reached my limit of en
durance."
She turned from him, tears of vena
tion and humiliation in her eyes.
As she did so Smith, the peacemaker,
entered. He bad arrived in time to
hear the last part of the confession
that had been forced from her by her
husband's injustice and selfishness.
"Emma." he said soothingly, "there
ain't no use in making Joe feel worse
than be does. He works like the devil,
but somehow Joe wasn't built exactly
lucky, lie is oue of those fellows like
I used to know in Colorado who spend
all their lives looking for a gold mine
and never quite tind one. Hut Joe's
all right, and just to make this event
ful sort of evening end up nicely I'm
wing to hike to the best show in town,
and you two are going to hit my trail
while I dig up the necessary spondullcs
to defray any ami all expense incurred,
im Imling a slight and select grub stake
after the entertainment. Now, what
do you think of that?"
Brooks. who had been listening to
his wife and friend sullenly, was tilled
with sudden resolve.
"No, you won't!" lie said tempestu
ously. "I ain't going to be an object
of charity. I'm ns sick and tired of
this whole business ns she is. Emma,
you put on the best dress you've got
nnd fix yourelf up the best you can.
nnd I'll take you to a show, and if
Jlmsy wants to come he can come as
my guest. I'm still a man. nnd it's
just as right I should take care of my
wife nnd let her have a little fun as it
Is for the Astors and Vanderbilts and
all of ihem to spend money on their
families. I'm going to do it. and 1
don't care whether I can afford It or
not. I can find a way all right. Hurry
up. Emma!"
Mrs. Brooks would much rather have
stayed nt home. She was worn out
with, the constant quarreling and ex
citing happenings of the evening, but
she did not want to be accused of con
trariness. So she said:
"If you think we can really afford It
I'd like to go. I haven't seen a show
In nearly year. Do you think I'd
better go. .Htnsy?"
"Why. surely, my girl." was Smith's
reply "There's no use of sticking
around here all the time nnd getting
into more rows, (lo ahead!"
"Then I'll hurry and get ready," she
said, hastening to her room.
Brooks had seated himself and was
gazing before him with a determined
Sure!" he excYaiuied~'joy7uib" as he PM»esslon. his hands clasped between
his knees. Smith went to him and
tendered a bill to him.
"Joe," he snid kindly, "you'd better
let me slip you the ten that will be
necessary to pay for this business.
You know Emma don't need to know,
and you ain't got the coin to blow In."
"Yes. 1 have." he asserted, pushing
the note from him. "and I'll pay for it
myself."
"All right. Joe. Rut. take my tip.
when you go into the borrowing busi
ness you'd better borrow from the fel-
FULL
By
John W. Harding
Copyright, 1908, by G. W. Dilling
ham Co.
do know that that I don't want you
to go wrong, and for Just thnt same
reason I want you to understand that
if you ever get Into a tight hole you
can gamble on me for bell), and I-
I ain't always been a spendthrift.
Good night!"
"You're not goiug, then?" inquired
Brooks as his friend moved toward
the hall, but there was nothing in the
tone of the query designed to encour
age the great hearted fellow to accom
pany them.
"No you two had better go togeth
er." lie replied as he passed out.
When lie had gone Brooks drew
quickly from the inside pocket of his
waistcoat the pocketbook containing
the collections In checks aud bills that
he had not had tkne to turn in to the
company, extracted a bill of $10 and
returned the wad to its hiding place.
Emma emerged from the bedroom
with her hat nnd jacket on.
•'I'm s'irrii linn unitl that. Jac."
"Why, where's Jimsy?" she asked.
"He weut home. He said he guessed
he'd better not come, as he wanted to
get up early, or something or other,"
lied Brooks.
"I wonder why he changed bis mind
so suddenly," she said.
It was o'clock when they found
themselves in the street, and Brooks
decided on vaudeville show as being
the only possible place of entertain
ment they could go to at that hour.
It had been so long since they had
permitted themselves the extravagance
of night out that Mrs. Brooks en-1
joyed tile change to the full. Watch
ing the actors and laughing at their
jokes anil nntics. she forgot for the
time her worries, anil the painful im
pression of the early evening was com
pletely dispelled. As tile performance
progressed Brooks also underwent a
change of mood, and by the time the
and attentive.
low who knows lie's giving it to you sin Syrup Co., 119 Caldwell Bldg.,
and ain't in a hurry to get it back."
"Look here. Jimsy!" exclaimed
Brooks hotly, jumping up. "Don't you
butt into my business! It's none of
your affair! And. by the way. it
might be just as well to remind you
had other chances nt the time."
Smith gazed at him without any
trace of offense, but with a look of
pain ln his eyes.
"I'm sorry you said that, Joe," ho
answered In his slow, quiet voice.
"Yes, I know Emma's your wife and
that she chose you after 1 asked her
*o be mine, and It la just because I
When they found themselves outside bioker.
ngain she was for going straight home.
"No." he said gayly. squeezing her
arm that she had passed under his aud
patting her hand affectionately "we
are out for a good time for once, and
we're going to have It."
She demurred feebly, wanting to go.
but feeling that scruple on the ground
of expense which, from the necessity
of exercising strict and unrelenting
economy, entered Into all her house
hold expenditures, but he brushed
aside her cautious calculations, and
soon they were seated iu a restaurant
of quite imposing aspect, and he was
ordering broiled lobsters aud wine
with the air of a man to whom money
was no object. He was In rare high
spirits and galinut with a tenderness
he had not manifested toward her In
many a moon. He chattered and chat
tered. an) Uls animation communicat
ed itself her. so that her eyes spar
kled, her pretty face was wreathed In
happy smiles, and she returned his
glances of love and admiration as in
the happy days of their early married
life, when they were all iu all to each
other and there was none so handsome
and so noble minded as he in all the
world.
(To be continued^
T. M. Hawkins, Kansas.
It is surely considered a good recom
mendation of sn article when the pro
prietor of the store uses it. With re
gard to medicines, the range of choice
is especially large. Yet when Drug
gist J. M. Hawkins of Mound City,
Kas., got ill and needed a reliable lax
ative and tonic for his'stomach he se
lected Dr. Caldwell's Syrup Pepsin,
which he naturally considers the best.
This remedy is absolutely guaranteed
to do what is claimed, and if you want
to try it before buying, send your ad
dress for a free sample bottle to Pep-
Monticello, 111. It is sold by all drug
gists at 50c and $1 a bottle.
that Emma's my wife—my wife, you Bridge, N. Y., when his lite was won
hear? She married me, no one e'.se— derfully saved. "I was in a dreadful
just me—although I've been told she condition," he writes, "my skin was
Saved at Death's Door.
The door of death seemed ready to
open for Murray W. Ayeis, of Transit
almost yellow eyes sunken tongue
coated, emaciated from losing 40 pounds
growing weaker daily. Viruli nt liver
trouble pulling me down to death in
spite of doctors. Then the matchless
medicine—Electric Bitters—cured me.
I regained the 40 pounds lost and now
am well and strong." For all stomach,
li/er and kidney troubles they're
preme. 60c at P. A. dammar's,
PIONEER IOWA STREET
RAILWAY BUILDER DIES
John Weber, Sr., aged seventy-two
mm
1
JOHN WEBER, SR.
by having two ribs broken when he
was struck by a street car near his
home in Sevastopol, Des Moines.
Weber was born in Eslinger, Ger
many, and came to Amerjca when sev-1
enteen years old. Ho was first a coal ....
T,„
miner and later was an operator. He
built the first street car line into Se-
vastopol and later sold it to the Polk!
interests. He leaves four children' After several
and much property.
PROJECT AIDED BY CAPITALISTS
Prosecute the
Agricultural Statistics.
The assessors of Iowa received from
Secretary Simpson of the state board
of agriculture extended blanks on
which to make reports of agricultural
information. Under a new law they
will be required to report on the acre
WATERLOO COUPLE
WEDDED FIFTY YEARS
NewYork and Boston Financiers Tak« ness.
Up Building of Keokuk Dam. I Mr. Crittenden recalls with great
A syndicate of prominent Newj vividness some of the events of the
York and Boston capitalists have un- early history of Waterloo and the sur
dertaken lo finance the erection of the rounding country.
second largest dam in the world, which The year 1S58 is known as the year
will span the Mississippi river at Keo- of the big flood' and it. Is remembered
kuk. Contracts have been taken by that that year nearly everything that
three St. Louis concerns to furnish was not t,ied, nailed or otherwise per
power from the dam to nearby cities manentlv secured to the earth floated
and the work of building the dam Js away. This is particularly true of the
to begin immediately under the super
vision of the war department. The
estimated cost of the dam is $15,000,
000.
One thousand men are to begin
work on the structure which will har
ness the Mississippi with reinforced
concrete 5,800 feet in length. The
dam is to be thirty-seven feet h,igh
and will be built seven feet deep into
solid rock of the river bottom.
BROKER HAS TIGHT CLAMPS
Colored Man Held in Bondage by Des
Moines Pawnbroker.
A surprising case of peonage came
to the attention of the Des Moines po
lice department. A colored man named
James Bratton is the v.ictim. He asked
the police for aid and insisted that he
was penniless anil almost starved. He
said he had been employed and had
earned something right along. In
vestigation showed' he had borrowed
$80 from a pawnbroker four years
ago, since which time lie had paid
$32(1 to the broker and still owes him
a
,ar«e
curtain fell he had softened to some- tematie method of keeping the colored
thing of his old self and was tender!
was
man in (lebt 11:1,1 bpon
fo"nd a, s-vs
™'™ed. An
effort wU1 be nlacle to
age aud yield of all crops, also the ^eeP diilts between Waterloo anil
animals, .implements and farm equip-
in this way the state will soon be able
Prosecuting for Oleo Fftauds.
Just at present the state pure food
department is very active and has on
hand a dozen or more cases involving
the sale of oleomargarine which had
not been properly labeled. It is found
'.hat owing to the high price of butter
.he makers of oleomargarine are push
ing their sales in all parts of the
state. In most cases they sell it un
der .its right name, but occasionally
a restaurant keeper fails to post the
proper signs.
Work on Des Moines River.
A. C. Miller, banker, and head of
the Iowa river commission, has re
turned from Washington, where he se
cured assurances from government
engineers that work in the matter of "rhe
making the Des Moines river naviga
ble will commence somet.ime next
month. The plan is to immediately
make the river navigable.
Demonstrate Land Value.
With the view of demonstrating to
the world the wonderful resources of
Iowa's land, especially that in the vi
cinity of Des Moines, the Greater Des
Moines committee decided to establish
a trial acreage garden near the city
limits. Expert agriculturists wjll be
employed to till the land and conduct
the experimental farm.
WHEN YOU'RE AS HOARSE as a
crow. When you're coughing and gas
ping. When you've an old-fashioned
aeep-seated cold, take Allen's Lung
Balsam. Sold by all druggists, 25c, 50c,
and $1.00 bottles. 34w4
Instruction in Music.
I am prepared to receive all of my
old pupils and any new ones desiring
instruction in music.
Miss LAURAINE MEAD.
& A I S E S
Th« famous tittle nUtei.
John Weber, Sr., Succumbs Mr. and Mrs. George R. Gritten-: Claims to Have Been Married to imp0rtant statement by Govern
Alter Being Hit by Des
Moines Street Cat.
den are Well Known in
Northern Iowa.
Mr. and' Mrs. George R. Crittenden
lone of the pioneer street railroad of Cedar Rapids, well known pioneers,1 claiming to be the wife of Barney,
builders in the state, owner of the1 have just celebrated their golden wed- Kline Frank, is causing him muchj
first brewery in Des Moines before the) ding and a glance at their life is a I- trouble over his wedding to Miss Rae
passage of the prohibition law and an most a history of the state during that' Golristone, a prominent, society girl
extensive coal operator, is dead from time that Iowa had any history worth of Davenport.
pneumonia, which was superinduced
GEORGE R. CRITTENDEN.
trip, they entered a bobsled and went
slt relat ves 150 mlles
a«ff°n
coun
awa''
ln
ears as a farmer, Mr.
Crittenden engaged in the grocery
business. Then for twenty-five years
he served as city engineer for Water
loo. Later he was in the grain busi-
west bank of the river. It was ln
that year that the Dubuque-Sioux
City line of railroad was- surveyed
through this country and after the
big flood the citizens took hold of the
levee which had been thrown up by
the railroad contractors and utilized
it as a shield against high waters,
wh.ich in that early day came every
year.
The Illinois Central began to run
trains into Waterloo in 18R0 and dur
ing the winter of 'i0-'G1 the citizens
MRS. GEORGE R. CRITTENDEN,
of Waterloo were called upon several
limes to form "snow bees" for the pur
pose of shoveling the trains out of the
,IebllI)-
lhat winter was remarkable]
ment, the poultry and butter and all *or h^avy snows. Hie men would of striking appearance and with
other products. It is expected that
6bovc'
('a- ani' n'Sht
to have a valuable report on farm distant engine. They would retire for sit ion, whi£h necessitates much level
values. 'kp night with the comforting reflec-
would be released and the town sup
plied with necessaries and the east
ern ma.il received. Over night an
other heavy snow would fall and the
train would be just as far away as
bpfore the shoveling was commenced.
Anally the effort to shovel out the
ofain was abandoned and' the spring
thaw was awaited for relief.
BARNEY SUOCEEDS WRIGHT
Governor Carroll Appoints Food and
Dairy Commissioner.
W. B. Barney of Hampton has been
appointed state food and dairy com
missioner by Governor Carroll to suc
ceed H. R. WriglU, the present incum
bent, whose term expjres April 30.
now
the Iowa State Dairv association.
New Packing Company for Iowa.
The articles of incorporation of the
Corn Belt Packing company of Au
gusta, Me., were filed with the secre
tary of state at Des Motnes. The ar
ticles would indicate that the purpose
is to conduct a packing house at
Port Dodge. J. J. Ryan of Des Moines
is connected with the company. The
Farmers' Cooperative Elevator com
pany of Belmond and tne Sauer Tele
phone company of Hartley also be
come incorporated.
Iowa.
Madelia, S. C. Christensen Milling
Co., Madelia, Minn.
Pillsbury's Best, Pillsbury Milling
Co., Minneapolis, Minn., and Feed of
all kindi. F. Ci
MISS ETHEL PALMER
SAYS SHE IS A WIFE
remembering. She says she was married to Frank
Mr. Crittenden and Miss Annie Is.1 under the name of Kline by a rabbi at
Courson were married in a log cabin Kansas City, Sept. 15, 1918, and that
in what, is now the heart of Waterloo.! they l,ived together for a year in Des
Elder A. G. Eberhart, long since dead,! Moines as man and wife.
performed the ceremony, wh.ile snow She heard of the approaching wed
fell outside and the thermometer reg- ding in Davenport and appeared at
istered 1C below zero. As a wedding the church and dramatically stopped
the ceremonies, but Prank was able
Barney Kline Frank, Who
Takes Another Bride.
Miss Ethel Palmer of Des Moines,
to convince Miss Goldstone and' her
MRS. ETHEL PALMER-KLINE,
relatives that he had not married the
Des Moines girl and the wedding was
solemnized a few days later.
Now Miss Palmer, wno says she Is
the only and original Mrs. Kline or
Frank, says she will prosecute Frank
for w.ife desertion, and if she makes
this charge good she will go after
him for bigamy.
She now thinks she was the victim
of a mock marriage in Kansas City.
She says she went to Kansas City
with Frank, that he took her to a room
where there were several men, and'
one of thein said he was a rabbi, and
they went through a ceremony be
fore him, anil he signed a paper which
she thought was a marriage certif
icate. She admits she has not got
th.is now, but says it is In her trunk,
stored by Frank in an Omaha storage
house.
BOOMING WOMEN'S CLUBS
Mrs. Julian Richards of Waterloo Ac
tive in Organization Work.
Mrs. Julian Richards of Waterloo,
president of the Iowa Federation of
Women's clubs, is giving much time
jn visiting the different clubs of the
r^
W
tion that on the morrow the train over the state. Mrs. Richards was
MRS. JULIAN RICHARDS.
state and assisting the local officers
in building them up
'"ve ail possessed for several ample time at her disposal, Mrs. Rich-
could just see the ards is the very woman to fill the po-
1
head work and much traveling around
elected at the biennial in Davenport
last May.
NINETY THOUSAND LIES IDLE
Money From Game Licenses Must
Await Appropriation.
State Treasurer Morrow reported
that the fund realized from the licens
ing of hunters at $1 each will within
a few days pass the $103,000 mark.
Only about $10,000 of the fund has
been used in the payment of deputies
and law enforcement and about $90,
000 is lying idle. The legislature will
bo asked to direct what to do with jt.
George Roseman Dies From Burns.
George Roseman, one of the wealth-
commissioner is president of iest farmers in western Iowa, died
from burns received when he fell
while carrying a lighted lantern
dowllBtairB nt h,8 home
We Sell Flour. Few Snaps in Farm Lands.
IliO acres 5 miles from Cresco with
White House Flour, Ashton, South fair improvements, price $51 per acre
Dakota. 160 acres 9 miles from Cresco, has a
,, small set of buildings, the price is $46
Cream of Wells, Jersey Cream and por
Hcre.
Ethan Allen, Wells, Mint1. 90 acres 8 miles northeast of Cresco,
Angels Food. Sweet Cream and Ex- Kood house, other improvements fair,
celsior, Spencer Milling Co., Spencer, F"??
Wobm.stkin.
north of Har-
Hjs clothing was
drenched with
oil, which caught fire. Death followed
his suffering with,in a few hours.
Muscatine a Model City.
Muscatine may rightfully claim to
he a model city now. For the first
time in the history of the county, the
grand jury^met without a criminal In
vestigation in prospect. It is believed
that the condition exists through the
abolition of saloons.
$41-f)er acre'
Will carry loan of
$1600 at 5 per cent.
160 acres of good land in North Da
kota to exchange for Cresco property.
If interested see W. I1. MILZ,
office over Clemmer's Drug Store.
N. A. Blackburn, Lawyofi otfice
opposite th« National Bank.
EXPERT SEES FUTURE
FOR ALASKAN FARMING
ment Agent Just Returned.
There are many thousands of miles
of good tillage land In the valleys of
the southern coast of Alaska, to say
,,otl,ilig
of the great tuter or, ccor
lag to Levi Cbubbuck. special agent
for the department of agriculture, who
lias just returned from the uortuland
Mr. Cbubbuck spent the entire sum
mer making a general reconnoissance
of agricultural lands that may be sur
veyed for homesteading by the general
land oliice. The chief areas examined
were the Sushitna bnslu north of Sew
ard. the Copper river aud the 'i'anana
vul'eys. Concerning agricultural prog
resg and possibilities in Alaska he
makes stutemeuts that may be consid
ered most conservative, but that will
be amazing to the great majority of
those "outside."
"The most obvious fact concerning
nearly all the valleys of this area 1
have seen—from tidewater northward
15(1 miles—is that they are natural
grazing lands. There are certainty
thousands of square miles of a very
high quality of wild grass, the nutri
tive value of which for stock seems
well established. The grass otten
stands six and seven feet high and is
of the most luxuriant growth also it
can be cured and is of good keeping
quality.
A Great Dairying Country.
"Nearly all of this land except some
side bill areas has more or less stand
ing and fallen timber on it, but much
is immediately available for grazing.
With adequate winter protection stock
thrives, aud the market with the de
velopment of roads would seem as.
sured. At present every pound of men
consumed must come from Seattle, aud
meat is of first importance in the diet
ary of so cold a country as this, ln
many parts of the couutry also it costs
the cotisumer $1 a pound. All dairy
products, too, are brought in by steam
er at high cost, and this Is certainly a
dairying country.
"There need be no speculation as to
some present possibilities. Farmiug
has just begun In a few localities in
this region, and local conditions are
most varied, but oats and barley are
being successfully grown, timothy
flourishes, aud the root crop Is of high
excellence.
Found Many Fine Farms.
"I have been astonished at the
amount of farming under way arouud
Seward. 1 had expected practically
none, and instead 1 tind half a dozen
nourishing ranches on a commercial ba
sis and dozens of home gardens. Pota
toes of first quality are being grown In
half a dozen neighborhoods, excellent
turnips grow freely, and there seems
no difficulty with beets, carrots, rad
ishes. beans, peas and lettuce. Cab
bage aud cauliflower are a surprising
success iu some localities. 1 believe
this list can be extended almost Indefi
nitely with careful selection of varie
ties. a study of soil requirements and
acclimatization by selective breeding.
The possibilities are still practical^
unknown, but we do know that tliey
are far greater than most people even
here in Alaska imagine. Some of the
most promising parts ot this area
have uot been tried at all. aud the
most successful tests have generally
beeu iu the least likely locations,
"riegarding climatic conditions 1
have been somewhat surprised. Witli
lu a thousand feet of sea level lu fairly
open country the growing season Is nu(
I shorter than iu the mouutaiu region of
New Hampshire. I'eas are safely
planted iu May. aud danger from frost
Is considered over after the first few
days in June, lu the fall the first
frosts are rarely before the second
week in September. It is true that the
summers are cooler than In the north
ern states and on the immediate coast
have more rain, hut there is compeii
nation in the fifteen to eighteen hours
of sunshine daily and the continuous
daylight for nearly three months.
"The exact area of the tillage lands
in the Sushitna group of valleys, as an
example generally appli able, is still
impossible even to estimate, as much
of the territory is uninhabited and Mill
because of its undeveloped state rath
er than because it is inaccessible.
There is a total area of about 2.500
square miles along the western edge
of Kenai peninsula bordering Cook in
let. the greater part of which is prob
ably available and some small valleys
in the iuterior of the peninsula. 1
roughly estimate the rest, which in
cludes the Knik Arm region and Ma
tanuska valley to the eastward, the
Yentna to the westward, the main
Sushitna valley and smaller tributaries
running northward far into the in
terior at. say, 2.500 square miles, but
It might exceed this considerably."
TONS OF ALASKA COPPER.
Report of Geologist Brooks Shows
Enormous Yield This Year.
"The season of mining in Alaska has
been a prosperous one," says Alfred
H. Brooks, geologist In charge of the
Alaska work of the United States geo
logical survey, who has just returned
to Washington from his annual "swing
around the circle" iu the far uorth
west "While dry weather and other
unfavorable conditions have curtailed
the placer gold production at Nome,
most of the other camps have either
maintained or Increased their output.
"figures of gold output are not yet
available, but it seems probable that
the production for 190!) will bo be
tween nineteen and twenty million
dollars. The low price of copper has
not encouraged miniug of that metal,
but about half a dozen properties sblp
,Ved ore during 1009. It appears proba
ble that the Alaska copper output for
the year will exceed 4.000,000 pounds."
If you want to sell your Farm, your
House, your Business, your Business
Buildings Etc., come and see us. If
you want to buy a Farm, a House, a
Business Building, etc., come and see
us. We Sell, Trade and Exchange
Properties,
LUkbh Lanb AobNgv.