Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, February 3, 1909, Page 1

Vor, XVI.—No, 33 Granp Rarips, Irasca County, MINN., WepnzspDAyY, FEBRUARY 3, 1909. Two Dollars a Year. WILL REQUEST APPROPRIATION For Two Building in Which School Children May Properly Dis- play Their Products. PREMIUMS SERVE AS IMPETUS Agricultural Society Will Endeavor to Increase Prize Money— Will Again Meet Feb. 27. Despite the severe wintry blasts which swept over this region, and not- withstanding that snowdrifts made country roads practically impassable, there was quite an attendance at the annual meeting of the Itasca County Agricultural Society, which convened at the county court house Saturday afternoon last. True, the number who had braved the chilling elements did not represent a bagatelle of the usual outpouring of the members, but the intense interest man- ifested by those present tended to make up, in part, what the gathering lacked in numbers. F, W. Fulton presided, and expedited the business with the precision and ability which always characterize his policy when in the executive chair, and, without any exodiums or superlatives, he in- stantly entered upon the business in band. Having heard and approved the minutes} of the previous meet- ing, asread by Secretary J. S. Gole, general discussion on topics germane to the assembly’s aims was begun by Prof. A. J. McGuire, head of the State Experimental Station at this point, who expatiated on various im- portant matters to general farming Messrs. Q. Yost, O. J. Niles and sev- eral other well-informed farmers and stock raisers ably debated relative subjects as they were broached, and proved beyond peradventure that much experimenting had been in- dulged in during the past twelve- month, and that an incalculable amount of valuable information had been derived therefrom, Shortly after the rapping of the chairman’s gavel for order, Prof. Mc- Guire was delegated to wait upon Mrs. Hattie Booth, county superio- tendent of schools, to request her presence at the session, so that the suciety might receive more enlight- enment on premium offers for school children. In response to the invita- tion, Mrs. Booth, in tense but im- pressive terms, illustrated the ex- treme importance and imperativeness of awarding prizes to the pupils of both city and high schools, citing as aconvincing und inspiring example the meeting of the Minnesota State Industrial Contest and the Minnesota Educational Association Convention, held in St. Paul, Dec. 29-31 of last year, when $1,350 in prizes were paid out to contesting scholars of the public schools, the premiums on wheat, corn and oats ravging from $50 for first honors, $40 for second, $30 for third, and so on down consecu- tively to $10 for sixth premium. Mrs. Booth also forensically depicted the obligatory duty which devolves upon the county as relates to competition among school children, and clearly elucidated the power of inspiration and the lasting benefits which the premium policy imparts. -She caused her audience to take notice of the fact that of the thirty counties which sent exhibits to the last meet of the Minnesota State Industrial Contest, Itasca ranked among the first in veg- etables, cereals and sewing, and de- plored the handicap imposed upon our bright and ambitious boys and girls through lack of sufficient oppor- tunity of displaying their creations. Mrs. Booth also contended that city pupils should not be permitted to compete with rural school pupils, this because city schools afford spe- cial instructors, which rural dis- tricts cannot afford. Prof. Freeman, city superintendent of city schools for Grand Rapids, be- lieved he discerned a practical metho: in the separation of agricultural productions from those of city school execution. Prof. McGuire voiced the sentiment of those present when he declared that his views lead him to advocate the idea that the county az- ricultural society should pay premi- ums on agricultural products only, leaving the matter of premiums on other work in the hands of the sev- eral city boards of education and the county superintendent of schools. @. A. Buell refiected a similar idea. WILL APPEAL TO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. The present plan of competition is to select six of the best respective products exhibited at the county fair and enter them at the Minnesota State Industrial Contest. Regretful to relate, however, the space now available for the reception of the pro- ductions of Itasca school pupils is confined to « small area, is wholly in- adequate to permit of display com- mensurate with the toil, patience and study which our young scholars lavish upon them, and the consequent result is a flagging of interest on the part of the young people. Realizing the urgency of decided improyement the officers were empowered to re- quest of the county commissioners an appropriation sufficient to erect two pew buildings on the county fair grounds, one wherein townships may compete and one wherein individual contests may occur. Last year, in order to propagate this all-important work on the part of school children, the teachers of the county, after he- roic efforts and indefatigable labor, amassed through the medium of en- tertainments and donations from their individual purses. the sum of $348.35, the sum total of which was intended for building purpose, It is expected that each towhsnip will do its share toward this laudatory undertaking, thus making the epxense light an all parties concerned. Three committees, each consisting of three members, were appointed to establish standards essential to com- petitive activity of live stock, house- hold, and grain and vegetables. With these appointments the business of the session was practically over. Owing to the comparatively light attendance the annual election of officers. was by common consent de- ferred until Feb. 27, for which date the adjourned meeting has been set. The report of the past year showed $745.70 had been paid in premiums on agricultural products, and $59 to school children for their wisdom and perseverance, an outlay which dem- onstrates beyond cavil that Itasca county supports a prosperous and en- terprising class of farmers, stock raisers and dairymen who are bent, first, last and all the time, to bring the limitless resources of their home section to the notice of the entire nation. OLD SETTLERS ANNUAL PARTY Preporations Being Made For A ‘Delightful Time. The managers of the annual party to be given by the Old Settlers society are busily engaged in making prepor- ations for the dance and supper to be given on the evening of the Twelth of February, Lincoln’s birthday. This will be the fourth annual party given by the society and judging by those already given and the interest taken in the coming one, it will bea record breaker. The last two parties have been free to the members, but there not being funds enough on hand for the purpose this year a charge of one dollar per couple will be made to members which includes supper and those not members will be charged one dollar per couple sup- per extra. All citizens of Itasca county who settled in the county prior to January Ist 1896 are eligible for membershIp and can secure mem- bership tickets on the paymeat of two dollars. Roecker’s full orchestra and a good caller have been engaged and all lovers of the good old contry dances who are bona-tide old settlers should make an extra effort to be present. All coming to the county preyious to the date given Jan Ist 1895 are in- vited to attend whether receiving au invitation by mail or not. | The committees selected for the coming party are as follows: Arrangements, H. E. Graffam, Geo. F. Kremer and J. F, Metzger; Recep- tion, A. B. Clair T. R. Pravitz and M. McAlpine; Floor Managers, Truman Shoaff, Gene Neveaux and Geo Dewey. A Card of Thanks. We wish to thank the people of Grand Rapids for their kindness at the. time of our Father’s death and burial, also the Forester society, the Royal Neighbor’s, the choir and Father Buechler. Mrs. Martin Durricy, Mrs. Macgig DoneELLy, STOCK ROTS AN HOW TO GROW THEM The Value of Carrrots, Mangles and Sugar Beets When Pro- perly Raised and Preserved BETTER THAN BRAN OR SHORTS Live Stock Needs this Kind of Food During Winter Months Rather Than Medacines Give Them a Trial Stock roots under ordinary field conditions yield from 10 to 15 tons per acre; from 350 to 550 bushels. When the soil is very fertile, and given extra care, they may be made to yieldas high as 30 tons or 1000 bushels per acre. The cost of growing roots, taking everything into consideration such as value of land, cost of machinery, seed, labor, etc., need not exceed $25 per acre, or form $1 to $1.75 per ton. Two acres of stock roots are grown on the Experiment Farm every year. They are grown in a rutation with barley, clover and pears. They are sown with a garden drill in rows 24 inches apart. When the plants appear above the ground they are gone over with a wheel hoe, and later with a horse cultivator every week through the growing seasom. When plants are about two inches high they are thinned out, a common hand hoe being used for this purpose. The stock carrots being thinned to 8 inches, and the rutabaga and mangle to 12. Thinning the plavts early with the hoe, lessens the hand thin- ning later. With the plants well apart they are much easier kept clean and their yield is greater than when grown thickly. In pulling the roots in the row they are laid even in the row with the tops all one way. :The topping is then done with a corn knife, cutting the tops of two and three with a single stroke. The roots that are fed early in the fall before they are put in the root cellar may be fed tops and all thus lessening the labor. in storing the roots for winter a eellar is necessary, and should be in connection with the barn for conven- ience in feeding. Roots that are to be fed in October, November and the fore part of December may be piled on the ground near the barn and covered over with straw and litter sufficiently to keep from freezing. In storing the roots in a cellar care must be taken to remove as much of the dirt as possible to avoid heating. The more free from dirt the better they wil! keep. In feeding carrots and mangles to stock it is desirable to cut them, but not necessary. When the fall work is rushing they may be fed whole, but later when time i. ample it is advis- able to cut them. Mangles, sugar beets, stock carrots and rutabagas have been compared on the Experiment Farm. On high well drained soil and a favorable sea- son, mangles give the largest yield, but on low ground and ina cold wet Spring are apt to fail. This is also true of sugar beets. Stock carrots have never failed to produce a crop. Rutabagas are also very hardy but objectionable for dairy cows. Taking all conditions, the stock carrot is recommended for this sec- tion of the'state. Rutabagas may be grown for sheep, pigs and young stock but either the stock carrot or man- gle for dairy cows. A sandy loam soil is best for roots, It should be weli manured. In pre- paring the seed bed harrow thoroughly immediately after plowing as the soil is most easily pulverized at that time. It is also well to plank or-roll it. be- fore seeding as the garden drill is- difficult to work in an uneven ground. A garden drill is the first thing that should be secured in preparing to grow roots. Witha garden drill an acre can be sownin half a day. A good drill may be bought for $8 to $10. Twoor more farmers may buy ne in co-operation to good advantage. In seeding sow plenty of seed. ‘The surplus may be thinned out easily. For carrots or rutabegas from 14 to 2 pounds per acre, fur mangles 15 to 20 pounds. The time to plant willjdepend upon the season, from May 10th June 10. Carrots and rutabagas may be seeded quite early without danger. Ruta- bages may be sown as late as July and a good crop secured, but earlier planted is safer. Grow roots. The money you spend OD one ton of bran or shorts if invest- edinan acre of roots will produce from four to five times as much feed Live stock of all kinds need some succulent feed in the:winter to be healthy. When roots are fed there will be no need for expensive stock foods and medicines. Grow roots. They have a fuod value not only in themselves but alsu in the effect they have on other feeds fed in connection with them, making them more diges- tible and nutritious. Death of Mrs. M. Ponti. Last Thursday the 28th of Janyary the community was shocked to hear of the death of Mrs. Josaphin Ponti. She was a women apparently in the best of health, never having been sick during her residence here of over fourteen years. At the noon hour of the day in question she ate dinner with the frmily and was apparently in her usual good health. After din- ner Mr. Ponti and his second son Andrew went to the woods for a load of wood, the balance of the family being away from home at the time. Upon their return a couple of hours later they found the stable locked on the inside and on forcing an entrance they found the wife and mother dead inan alley way back of the stalls. She had apparently been tending the stock when sticken with death. Coroner Russell was called, but as there were no visible sigas of injury and death having to all appearences, been from natural causes no autopsy was held. , The deceased was born in ltaly in 1850 beingin her 59th year at the time of*her death. In the year 1874 Mr. Ponti came to Duluth and locat- ed being joined in that city by his wife in 1885. From that time uotil »|Santina, the 14 years age they resided in Dulnth. While there four children were born to them Katie, Charles, Andrew and latter being 14 years of age. During the past fourteen years. the deceased, together with her family, have resided in Grand Rapids, and during that time those who have made the acquain- tance of the deceased speak of her in the highest terms, as being a warm hearted, obliging neighbor and a woman devoted to her family. The funeral was held from St. Josephs Catholic church on Monday forenoon the Rev. Father Buechler officiating and interment was made in Itasca cemetary. Pathetic Incident. Com. Trebilcock has a sad story relating toa Finnish family ‘located near Big Sand Lake. As a member of the county relief committee he was called to visit the family of Jacob Olli. The home was inaccessable, and being misdirected he made three trips before the place was located, and then was piloted to the place by E. Gross. The commissioner found the head of the family had died the ' week before of tuberculosis, and that the woman with asix months old child was on the verge of starvation. The commissioner took off his coat and chopped enough wood to prevent freezing, and the next day supplies were sent. There are no neighbors in the vicinity. It was oueof the sad tragedies of pioneer life. Of Interest to Fireman Among the many bills already in- troduced in the State Legislature few have more merit, as eftecting smalls towns and villages, than the one in- troduced by L. C. Spencer of Morris, providing for a pension fund from a special tax which is compulsory on all cities and villages having organized fire departments. The bill was drafted at the instance of a committee from the state association, and is ardently backed by the firemen. It requires a tax of one-tenth of a mill, which may be increased to one mill, to be turned over to the fire department {relief association. The fund is never to be disbursed except for the following purposes: (first) for the relief of the sick, injured and disabled members of any fite department in such village or city; (second) for the payment of pen- sions to disabled firemen and widows and orpkans of firemen; (third) for the payment of pensions to retired fire- men, Horses and Cows for Sale. If you are looking for something in horses, I ‘have got them. Six pair good horses. Three pair matched grey colts, three to five years old, also some good cows. Come and see them or write me. MING, Bena, Minn., Who sells everything. ErN SENATOR SULLA HS DY OREN Wants to Sink A Round $3.000,000 In A State Agricultural Im- plement Plant SENATOR GUNN FOR DYNAMITE PLANT The Latter Named Investment Would Pay Immediate Returns Help the Farmers and Enrich the State No people of this senatorial district will be mightly interested in the im- port of certain bills which were pre- sented in the state senate during the week past, but more perhaps will germinate as much adverse, discussion as the one introduced by Senator Sullivon of Stillwater. Mr. Sullivan, from the standpoint of an optimist, easily goes before the state and asks for the estahlishment of a state plant tor the manfacture of farm imple- ments of sundry and divers sorts, the same to be under supervision of the board of control, and to cost the modest figure of $3,000,000, The purpost of his billis to supply the farmers of the state with every con- ceivable device known to farmers on the pretext that such an institution would be profitable to the tllers of the soil. Mr. Sullivan does not deny the fact that a state manufactory of this character cannot produce farming implements at a lower cost than the present prevailing range of prices. He admits that no saving in the price of such wares is possible under pre- sent conditions, as he confesses that the general prices of agricultural im- plements are excessive, and that the question of competition does not enter into the proposition, In other words, Mr, Sullivan muchly’ desires to secure a $3,000,000 plant for Still- water, the benefit of which would re- quire a century of time to realize. In an interview with a Herald. Review reporter, Senator Gunn stated that while the proposed appropriation of $3,000,000 for a state implement manutactory might be possible at some distent time, the matter of a state dynamite plant was of more im- mediate and practical importance. The present quotations of dynamite hover about the 18 cent mark, and have been known to reach 38 cents. It has been calculated to a certainty that dynamite can be produced for 5 cents per pound, and could be sold for 6 cents, the extra cent in the aggregate covering the cost of manufacture. The matter of dynamite means much to the residents of this section of the state as it represents the only practical medium of removing the millions of stumps which obtain in the “cut-over” region, With dynamite at 6 cents a pound, there is no reason why hundreds of thousands of acres should not be cleared within a twelve month, and the land devoted to the bountiful crops which are peculiar to Minnesota land. It is the theory of Senator Gunn that an expert be sent to the experi- mental station here, to demonstrate the advisability of this powerful explosive in the removing of stumpage, and at the same time instruct the farmers in its safe handiing and use. A certain day could be designated for such an exhibition, when all those owning lands containg stumps could secure necessary information and _ training relative to the matter of clearing their fields, The sum required for the establish- ment of-a state dynamite plant is in- significant compared with the amount requisite for the construction of an implement manufactory. And again, a state dynamite plant would be a gilt edged investment from the start, and mean tens of thousands of good hard dollars to the farmer, not to mention the swelling of the state’s wealth in both farm values and production. We do not blame Senator Sullivan for his diligence in his effort to secure $3,000,000 for Stillwater; We give him credit for being a loyal and patriotic representative, However, we cannot agree with his iridesent dream, and incline to the belief that a state dynamite plant for immediate purposes moved immeasurably prove of more value at this time than the Utopion plan outlined by Senator Sullivan. Two nice cottages for rent at ten dollars per months each, En. | quire of H, E, Graffam. State Divsion. Senator P. R. Vail returned from St. Paul today and annuunced to those with whom he conversed that it is his opinion that Minnesota should be devided into two states, the southern part one and the northern part another. He states that the people of the southern part of the state have no sympathy or interest in common with the northern part and that sooner or later the state must be cut in two, in order that the interests of the ircn ranges shall be conserved. Senator Vail believes that during the fresent session of the legislature the initial moves will be made for the division of the state. He says when the tonnage tax question comes up for discussion there will be real war= fare in the legislature, and that a tax law will oot be enacted.—News Tribune. A good idea and one that will rreceive the hearty support of the people in the north half of the state. The tax payers in the southern part of the state seems imbued with the idea that the mining interests should pay the cost of the state government besides building their roads and re« heving them of taxasion for all time to come. A Homestead Excitement Three weeks ago Walt Johnson, Ole Ferguson and John Jackson. three Prominent men of Cass Lake, came to Deer River, and after a few trips in the woodsit was discovered they were “squating” on government lands on the reservation. Their ac- tion led people to believe that the gentlemen had gotten inside infor- mation from the Cass Lake land of- fice, that a prior settlement right will take precedence over other filing, and that the land is soon to open fot settlement. Immediately a wild rush set in and in a few days every cut over forty was settled upon and some single forty- acre tracts nave two settlers and each enter a tight race to see which will get his shanty up first. The excite- ment was rampant up to a few days ago, and now it is,said not a forty re« mains in the fract that is not ‘‘squat« ed” upon whether it has any valuable timber or not. It will be remembered by News readers that this tract of land from which the pine timber was cut was advertised to be opened for settle- ment last September, and the order of opening was withdrawn and the date of opening was canceled by the department. The land will be opened as soon as the department by date declares itso, but there is no knowing when that will be. The News sought to obtain information from the Cass Lake land office in the matter, and the following is the answer received: In. reply: to your favor of the 19th inst., must confess that I do not know what has occasioned this sudden rush for lands in your vicinity, unless it has just dawned upon the minds of 4 number of people that the so-called ‘cut- ove’ lands are subject to settlement under provisions of the act of May 23, 19s. If the people mentioned have the right construction of the said act, said lands are subject to homestead settlement, although it may be a good many months before they ure opened to entry. ‘his office will not say whether or not persons will secure a right to enter the lands by virtue of settlement thereon; they tust use their own judgment in the matter.” The nearness to town and the ex- cellent quality of the land makes the claims desirable, and besides many of them contain stands of valuable hard- wood timber.—Deer River News. Played Great Game. The girl’s basketball team of the Hibbing high school lost to Grand Rapids here last night in the hardest- fought game the Hibbing team ever played. The score was 7 to 4. Hibbing scored in the first few minutes of play, but was unable to to make another count until well along in the last half. Grand Rapids had five at the end of the first half and scored a count of two in the last minute of play. It was a rough-and-tumble game, from the start, and several of the girls were bably brusied, but they are of the game sort and did not seem to heed the bumps and bruises. The Hibbing girls confidently ex- pected to win the game, but that was rather too much. The Grand Rapids team is one of the festest in the state, and all of the plapers are ulder and much heavier those composing the Hibbing team. The locals have nothing to be ashamed of in defeat—they put upa rattling snappy article of basket ball and did mighty well to hold the score as even as they did. The Hibbing girls played at Grand Rapids in the latter part of Noyem- ber and were defeated by the decisiye score of 30 to 0. The Hibbing team is surely coming on, as the difference in score of the two games played shows.—Hibbiog Mesaba Ore.