Freeiana tribune Established 1888. PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY AND THURSDAY. BY THE TRIBUNE PRINTING COMPANY. Limited OFFICE: MAIX STREET ABOVE CENTRE. FREELAND, PA. SUBsCltl **Tl ON KATES: One Year §1.50 Six Months 75 Four Months 50 Two Months The date which the subscription is paid to Is on tne address label of each paper, the change of which to a subsequent date be comes a receipt for remittance. Keep th figures in advance of the present date. Uo port promptly to this office whenever pnpe? is not received. Arrearages must be puU When subscription is discontinued. Mahe all mcmnj orders, checks, etc.,payable to the Tribunt Printing Company, Limited. What's the use of being a Sulit chieftain, anyway? One member of the Saltan's cabinet is drawing a sal ary of only sls a month, and the highest priced man in the list gets $2.50 a day. Those figures will not be likely to encourage polygamy un less the members of the harem will consent to take in washing. One of the strongest forces behind the development of the horseless ve- i hide has been the public demand for good country roads. It is believed that when the people fully realize the ! utilitarian value of the automobile as a conveyance in cities and for inter- ; urban transit the good roads will have to come. The perfection of the auto mobile therefore meaus a great deal to i the farmers. The cross-country lines , that are established between cities will demand smooth highways and they will not destroy them after they are built. The unanimous decision of the Court of Appeals of New York State in an insurance case iu which a policy holder tried to secure payment of an undivided share of the surplus is as* I suring. The decision of the court I denied the application. Not alone j the government of tlie insurance com- ! panies, but the policy holders them- : selves, who clearly comprehend the character of their contracts, will be ; gratified with this decision, which in I effect prohibits a single policy holder ; from iakiug with htm, when his j policy matures, auy portion of the surplus belonging to those whose policies have not matured, remarks the Christian Work. If a life insur ance company were to distribute all its surplus, it would become insolveni in the first panic that caused shrink- j age iu the market value of assets. — Cartoons Drawn l>y Empress. In an illustrated life story of tlw Empress of Russia in the Young Woman, we are told that the Czarina apealcs five languages,and that riding, painting, rowing, sketching, swim ming and tennis are among her recrea tions. But one of her favorite amuse ments is in drawing caricatures. Freed from the fear of the censor, she j indulges with her pen and pencil in a way which makes even Russiau Min ters tremble, drawing them in carica ture, which would mean death or Siberia to any other artist. She has drawn the Czar himself—a solemn, bearded, but bald infant in long clothes, tied in an armchair and sur rounded by a host of grand dukes and grand duchesses armed with feed ing bottles, all insisting on feeding him in a different way. No wonder the Czar is screaming at the top of his voice. K After an existence of thirty years, the German Association of Authors has ceased to exist, but it is believed that a similar society with more mod ern tenets will soon bo formed as a protective alliance of authors againsf -vhlishers and others. ON A CALIFORNIA KANCH. Women Work in Field. Just n They IJo In the Old Country. It is quite widely believed that na ture responds so generously to man in California that very little labor need he expended to supply himself with many of the necessaries of life. This tnay be true to a certain extent, says the Minneapolis Journal, but when the necessary labor falls to women It ap pears of much greater proportions than when it is accomplished by men. Among the foreign tenant ranchers of the state the women work much harder than the men, for beside carrying on their household duties they toil in the field, in the garden and in the barn yard. Mrs. Ramas, whose husband rents one of the many Stanford ranches in Santa Clara county, Is one of those who, living within sight of some of the largest educational institutions of the state, has toiled for many years as do the peasant women of Europe. Dur ing this time she has not oniy kept her house and raised enough chickens to clothe her family, but has built fences, planted and dug potatoes and walked miles through the grain fields carrying and throwing out poisoned wheat to exterminate the squirrels that swarm in this section of the country. Her life has been no harder, however, than the lives of her Portuguese sisters, and no more entirely devoid of amusements or recreation. In appearance Mrs. Ra mas is prepossessing and intelligent, and while her face hardly bespeaks so much endurance, it shows will power and ambition. —Minneapolis Journal. IN THE IN THE FALL. nre Imullne: In the buckwheat From the field upon the bill, \nd the swollen stream Is roaring O'er the dam below the mill; The ripened nuts are falling And the hungry peucock's calling For the break fust that tlio gander grabbed away. While the squirrels gnyly chatter As If nothing were the matter, And the gobbler's getting futter Every day. The colts nre in the pasture And the cows wind o'er the lea; All the swaying limbs are naked Where the green leaves used to be; The house-wife all a-llutter, Stirs the bubbling apple-butter, With the wood smoke in her nostrils nnd her eyes; On the lino the wash is gleaming, On the steps the dog is dreaming, And, übove, a hawk is screaming As it ilies. The glossy quail Is resting On the weather-beaten log, Aud the huntsman from the city Stumbles down through brake and bog; Over roots and over bowlders, With a pair of aching shoulders, Ue goes trudging with his fifty-dollar gun. Always to his purpose cleuvlng, Never halting, never grieving, But contentedly believing It is fun. I THE JOSSLYN REUNION. I pS BY HARRIET CARYL COX. jr- ES. I have heard of Jr the reunion, but I cau't say that I feel HrsH called upon to go," / BSJ / Elmira remarked, as 7 sslSi "k 0 ' e * p r ' u ' / &3T S ''P a " ' u '° er 'aP "I never felt very proud of the Josslvn blood, anyway. Moth * er would stick it into my name, but I must say the folks I've seen bearing that name weren't anything very remarkable. And now there'll be a whole gang of them—a whole gang of Josslyus." She sniffed (scornfully, "No, I really don't feel called upon to go to their old reunion," phe repeated decisively. "I don't suppose you do," Amelia agreed. "Of course there wouldn't be nobody you ever knew or would want to know. It ain't as if it was father's family." Elmira reared her head proudly. "I should say not," she answered em phatically. "Why, there are gov ernor's, and senators, aud] lawyers, aud—and everything, in grandfather's ancestors." "They might have some among all the Josslyns," Amelia suggested. "Perhaps just a senator or something in some branch of the family." Elmira shook her head decisively. "Do you remember Great -aunt Sarah ?" she demanded. "And Uncle Job and —and the apple tree?" This she spoke in a whisper. Amelia nodded. "And did you ever see such a lot of nobodies in all your life as you used to see at the funerals and weddings? You felt as if you'd got to apologize to your neighbors for them. Ances tors, indeed! You needn't try ond tell me they ever had auy ancestors at all, any of them." She took up the paper and glanced it through again. "It is proposed to gather together all the genealogical lore and traditions, to separate tradition from fact, and finally to publish a book in which shall be a complete history of the Josslyn family from Adam to the pres ent generation. To do this it is nec essary that all branohes of the family be represented, and it is earnestly re quested that as far as possible all per sons in whom flows any drop of the Josslyn blood gather at this reunion and contribute their share to the fund of information." "I suppose I might go," she said thoughtfully, after a few moments' pause. "Of course I'm not called upon to, hut it wouldn't hurt mo any, and I might find it kind of interest ing, just to look on." She looked inquiringly at her sis ter. "I would if I were you," Amelia replied promptly. "I'd go if I had the chance. It's a dreadful thing to be so lame." She sighed dismally. "I s'pose you'd like to hear about it," Elmira remarked. "I might go on your account, so as to amuse you talking about it afterwards. It might n't be so very bad, because I'm uot very much .Tosslyu, you know. They always said I favored father's side, anyhow. The Bumsteads were all dark and grandfather used to say he didn't believe I'd a drop of Josslyn blood in me at all. You got it all, Amelia. Y'ou ought to be the one to go, but seeing you can't, I s'pose I will. You'll be glad to havo me, won't you, Amelia?" Amelia sat by the little side window and peered anxiously out. The train had come some time ago. She had heard its whistle and seen long puff's of smoke over the marshes, and she knew it ought to be time for her sister to appear. "1 never knew her to be so long coming before," she murmured fret fully to herself. "Maybe she's stopped at Sarah's to get some eggs. I hope she hasn't, because Sarah brought some over just after she went away." There was a sudden peal at tho front door bell. Amelia ros6 and hobbled to tho door. "My laud!" she exclaimed as El mira's face confronted her, then she dropped her voice as she saw a strange man by her sister's side. "T forgot my latch key, you know," Elmira said airily, "or I wouldn't have troubled you, Amelia. This in tiur cousin, Bradford Josnlyn. He's The farmer's rosy daughter Helps the busy hired man; ' They are husking corn as blithely And as briskly as they can; They are very near together As they husk and wonder whether There are red ears they shall chance to find or not; She is looking out to see one. He is hoping he may "tree one," But there doesn't seem to be one In the lot. A subtle charm enfolds them As they tear the husks away; There is music in the cackle Of the hen up in the hay; Now she hears his exclamation And is full of perturbation. For at last—at last—the lucky enr is found! Flushes mount into their faces, He the happy chance embraces— Aud she giggles us he chases Her around. O the farmer's lot Is happy, Aud the farmer's dreams nre sweet, If there's money in his pockets And his bins are full o? wheat— Free from all the city's clamor Ho may live defying grammar, And the loaves that fall serve not to make him sad! Having cleared up all his labors, Fearing naught from ships or sabers, He plays checkers with the neighbors, Aud is glad. —-S. E. Riser. come out to see the Josslyn china, ami's got to back on the next train, so we'll have to hurry. You take him into the dining room, while I go and get it. We have to be very careful of it, you see, because we think so much of it," she explained to the stranger, as she departed towards the attic. Amelia led the way silently to the dining room. The parlor was cold. Elmira had evidently reasoned that out, nnd then, too, the dining room was the best place to show china, of course. But jnst what was the china? Thus she ruminated as she passed through the long hall and ushered the man into the old-fashioned dining room. "Yon are very fortunate in having so much beautiful old furniture," their guest remarked. "Iu so many families it gets scattered, but you seem to have a mine of it here, and the china, if it is the china " He stopped, Elmira was fumbling at the door knob. She entered proudly and walked across to the table, where she deposited her burden. There were a pitcher, some onps and a plat ter, with a dull-red pattern running over them. "It is!" he cried, exultantly. "Of course!" Elmira assouted care lessly. "I kuew it as soon as the paper told about it aud wanting to find the other pieces. There are more upstairs, but this is all I could bring at once." There was some more conversation and a search iu the family Bible, aud the man departed. Elmira saw him to the door, then she slammed it hard and fairly ran back to where her sister was waiting, and dropped into the old rocker and began to rock violently to and fro. "We are somebody," she announced triumphantly. "We nre big some bodies, Amelia. We can be Daugh ters of the Revolution, and Colonial Dames, aud Descendants of tho May flower, and—and " she was fairly out of breath. "I'd cool off a little if I were you," her sister suggested. "Kind of slow up, can't you, Elmira, and toll me all about it. You know I couldn't go!" "Of course not, you poor dear." Elmira leaned forward and kissed her tenderly. "But you're a Josslyn just the same, Amelia, and you've the looks more'n any one there. I always said you had, yon know. "There was a lot there, aud at first I felt kind o' queer. And you had to tell all you knew about your ancestors to a man, and he had a lot of papers, and seemed to know everybody, and he said I was very straight descended —that means you, of course, too, only you weren't therfr—and he was talking about me, and he introduced mc to a woman, aud said something that jl didn't hear, but it made her extra nice to me, and she took me around and introduced me to 'most every body, and they was as fine a looking set of folks as I ever see, even if I do say it, and they're relations. "They've been having a dreadful time straightening out some records and trying to trace some pattern that was on some china that came over in the Mayflower and was used in Eng land before that. A lot of tho sons had had whole sets made like it and it had got all scattered round, and when they came to describe it, it came across me all of a sudden o' that box of crockery up in the attie, that grandfather gave us and we didn't ever use 'cause 'twas so old aud cracked. So* lup and told 'em about it." "Right out afore everybody," Amelia gasped. "Of course! Wasn't I as much a Josslyn as auy of 'em, eveu if my last name isn't Josslyn? My middle name is anyway, and a person's middle name is just as much their own as their last. "Well, they were dreadfully inter ested, and I told 'em lots of things they didn't seem to know, and I guess they was glad I came. "That man didn't seem to more'n half believe we had the china, so I jnst brought him out to see for him self. I guess the Josslyus ain't im postors. He could see for himself." She turned her head proudly. "And that man is worth $.8,000,- 000," she confided to her sister im pressively. "Three million dollars, and he's a big swell, aud be hasn't but one piece of the china with the Josslyn pattern on it, and that came to him through an aunt." She glanced at the table exultantly. "There's more up in the attic," she said, as she clasped her hands. Amelia moved laboriously across the room, took up the cups and wiped them carefully with a fine towel. Then she took the teapot offthestove, "We might have a cup of tea in them to-: ight," she suggested. "I suppose we could use them quite often," Elmira said. "It's only proper that we should use the family china." She sipped her tea slowly. "I've ordered a new set of cards," she announced with a furtive glance at her sister, "and they're going to read, Elmira Josslyn-Bumstead." There was silence for a moment. "And I ordered some for you, too, Amelia," she added. "Because we are both Josslyus, you know."—At lanta Constitution. BRIDGE MADE OF BAMBOO. Yankee Ingenuity Quickly Conquered n Philippine Stream. Major B. F. Cheatham, of the First Tennessee Volunteers, sends to the Engineering News, fromMolo, Philip pine Islands, a very interesting ac count of a floating bridge constructed by the American army iu the Island of Pauay, which possesses some unusual features. He says: The Iloilo Biver at Molo is 290 feet wide, twenty foet deep, and has a difference iu eleva tion at high and low tide ol three and a half feet. The orders were to "build a bridge sufficiently strong for in fantry and light artillery to cross; to build it quickly and cheaply." As there was no other material available it was decided to use bamboo exclu sively, and in the entire structure nothing elso was used—not even u nail or piece of wire. Long pieces of bamboo were assembled in bundles of fifteen and tightly bound with rattan. These bundles supplied the buoyancy for the bridge, and were placed ten feet apart, parallel to the current. They were held iu this position by four stringers, which were securely lashed to the bundles so as to form a foundation for the roadway, ten feet wide. On these stringers were placed small bamboo, cut ten feet long, each piece beingtiedto the stringers by the invaluable rattan. Over these poles were laid n rough matting woven from split bamboo, which made an even surface strong enough to support a horse. A sufficient quantity of bamboo was not on hand at tho stnrt, and the work was delayed somewhat in consequence, but the bridge was completed in four days by ten native workmen. The totul cost for material and labor was $125. The banks at the place selected were one and a half feet higher than the water at high tide. In order to allowenrts to cross atall times, aprons were made of hamboo, one end fast ened to the bank anil the other al lowed to slip ulong two pieces oi plank, placed ou the bridge for that purpose. The bridge was guyed so as to allow it to rise and fall with the tide. The success of this bridge would seem to solve a problem here, and our experience shows conclusively that with plenty of bamboo on hand a regi ment can cross any river here in four hours' time. Women and Buzzard's Feathers. In the use of the long quill feathers now so much in demand for women's hats, those of the eagle are especially desired. Those of either wing or tail are used, and it is not uncommon to see a woman passing along the street bearing on her hat the single tail feather of a war eagle, much as the Indian warrior of old times used to tie an eagle's feather in his head. However, the supply of eagles does not at all equal the demaud for these quills and almost any long feathers are used. Among these are the prim aries and tail feathers of the turkey buzzard, a bird which, as Mr. Lucas has pointed out, has hitherto been lit tle pursued to satisfy the whims of fashion. Wo may wonder how long this demand will keep up, and whether it will result in the extermination or marked decrease in the numbers of buzzards. The use of the feathers of this malodorous and notorious fowl on the heads of women who are endeavor ing to be fashionably important is not without its humorous side.—Forest aud Stream. An Original Jurist. Fighting Bob Bowling, the warlike Kansas City justice of the peace, was trying a case in which a party was attempting to recover $lO for tho death of a dog that the defendant had killed after being bitten by the canine. The case was nearly through, the evideuce had all gone the plaintiff's way, and it seemed probable he would get damages for the loss of his treas ure, when one of the witnesses in describing the dog, stated it was a yellow cur. "Did you say that this dog was yellow?" asked the judge, taken by surprise. "Yes, sir," was tho reply. "Well, this court don't propose giving judgment for the loss of a yellow dog, and verdict is ren dered for defendant."—Tho court then adjourned.—San Francisco Wave. When Ho Broke Hie Rule. "I never turn ray back to danger," said tho young man who was endeav oring to impress tho girl with a sense of his fearlessness. A moment later her father kicked him down the frout stops. "George," sho called after him as he ran, "George!" "What?" he cried, seeing that tho old gentleman had gone back into the house. "How about never turning your back to danger?" she asked. But the wind moaning through the trees in the front yartl brought the only answer she received.—Chicago Times-Herald. FRIEND OF THE BOERS OLIVE SCH REINER IS ACTIVE IN THEIR BEHALF. CTants the Tyranny of llrltaln Clearly Understood—Sketch of a Peculiar H'oman'n Life—From South African Farm to Merited Fame. One of the most peculiar of con temporary writers is Olive Schreiner, who suddenly leaped into great popu larity over ten years ago by her strong romance, "The Story of an African Farm." Since then she has never pro duced another sustained bit of im aginative worl. in several smaller books she has shown creative power of a rare kind. Her father was a Ger man missionary and hsr mother an English woman, and all her girlhood she spent at a remote station in Cape Colony. This lonesome life she has reproduced with startling fidelity in her book, which was a powerful pro test against the world's failure to per mit a girl to enjoy the same training as a boy. Her sketches of Boer life were ag graphic as Rider Haggard's in "Jess" or "Swallow." Olive Schreiner OLIVE SCHREINER. feels deeply the wrongs of the Boers, and her pen has been active for months in presenting their side of the contro versy with England. HOW WASHBOARD WON FAVOR Mrs. William Warren Kay* She Had Much to Do with It. Mrs. William Warren of Erastina place, Mariner's Harbor, Staten island, claims that she was the first woman to introduce the washboard into the Interior part of England. Mrs. War ren, who is of English birth, says she returned to Gloucestershire some twen ty-six years ago, and it was :hen that she first noticed the primitive mode of washing there. When she saw the long, L-oflln-shaped tub and noted the great labor made over a wash, she told about the American washboard. Some util ized huge barrels, with pounders; the clothes were put in and soft soap was poured on. After two hours' pounding the clothes were rinsed in brooks or streams, and then bleached in the sun. Others used large tubs and rubbed each part of the garment with the open palm of the hand; some had "slid" boards, through which the clothes passed back and forth s .n a slow manner. Mrs. Warren sent for a wash board, and when it arrived a holiday was taken. Everybody triad it, and a great rubbing took place. Mrs. War ren, to show how the board was used, traveled from house to house. Every body bought one, and the villages around soon caught the fever. All old fashioned designs were put aside, and the Yankee washboard found its first friends among the country people of England.—New York Tribune. HABEAS CORPUS SUSPENDED. Ruling of a Country Judge Which Made I-an-ycrH t.atp. "Church congregations are always mightily well pleased to see their pas tors in their pulpits after the summer season is ended, but not as thoroughly gratified as are members of the bar when the judges return from their va cations," remarked a prominent Brook lyn lawyer. "Why do you make the distinction between the emotions of church congregations and lawyers?" 1 asked. To which my friend replied: "Well, a congregation is not forced to accept the views of a poorly informed country parson who conies to the city as a substitute for a brighter man who has gone to the mountains or seashore. But it is different in (he courts. You've got to knock under, at least until an appeal can he heard; have got to sub mit to the rulings of this and that second-class country judge who comes to the city to make a show of his un f .miliarity with law, until the regular j idges return to their seats. During 1 ist summer a case came under my ob servation which will illustrate the in competency of some of these country judges who visit us in vacation time. In a surrogate's case an order had been Issued for the arrest of two executors on the ground that they had failed to turn over certain moneys as directed by the court. One of these executors did comply with the order of the court, but, nevertheless, was arrested and locked up. His counsel appeared be fore one of the country judges sent down to this section temporarily, and applied for a writ of habeas corpus. Whereupon the judge made the re markable decision that a Supreme court judge could not grant the writ called for; that the Supreme court could not interfere with a case under the jurisdiction of a surrogate. And so the poor prisoner had to sweat in jail because this countryman did not know the law. That ruling made every laNvyer in the courtroom gasp for breath."—Brooklyn Eagle. MEXICAN SECRETARY OF STATE Although President Diaz of Mexico was prevented from visiting the United States this fall on account of the ill ness of his wife, his minister of foreign affairs came. Senor Ignacio Mariscal stands closer to President Diaz than does any other official at present con nected with the government of Mex ico. Before he accepted the portfolio of foreign affairs in 1884 he had been minister of Mexico to Great Britain. Senor Mariscal is said to be the best informed man on cither side of the water in regard to the intricate nature of Spanish-American politics, being thoroughly conversant with the situa tion in every republic in all Central and South America. This is by no means an easy task when one consid ers the frequency of revolutions every where else but in Mexico. Senor Mariscal has a great admiration for the United States, and every plan for more cordial relations between the two republics has had his cordial approval, IGNACIO MARISCAL. while, indeed, many of them originated in his active brain. Cucumber Crop Destroyed. The great cucumber district, em bracing hundreds of acres southeast of Benton Harbor, Mich., with an annual output of over 1,000,000 bushels, has been destroyed in the last two weeks by a foreign red bug. The new pe3t, although much smaller, belongs to the "lady hug" family. One of the leading cucumber growers today said: "About three weeks ago the vines, which were in fine condition, as well as the fast maturing cucumbers, were discovered to contain hundreds of small eggs, which the warm weather soon hatched out, producing the unknown hugs, which soon destroyed the vines. The total loss throughout the district is estimated at $100,000." A Possible Dilemma. A judge of the old school, loving port wine and hating trouble, is said to have once summed up a very compli cated case in the following terms: "You have all heard the evidence; you have also heard what the learned coun sel have said. If you believe what the counsel for the plaintiff has told you your verdict will be for the plaintiff but, if, on the other hand, you believe what the defendant's counsel has told you, then you will give a verdict for the defendant. But if you are like me, and don't believe what either of them has said, then I'll be hanged if I know what you will do."—Household Words. I CTOOD ROADS NOTES. I Abolish the Y*ll System. The continuance ? the toll system is simply the perpetuation of an oner ous tax upon the people for the bene fit of the baldest kind of a monopoly. In various parts of the country toll roads have been gradually abolished, as their franchises have expired. I'se of Crude Petroleum. A writer in a St. Paul paper states that he recently drove over a piece of road at Fort Worth, Texas, which was treated last fall with a wetting with crude petroleum. He says that dur ing five months of drouth, when all other roads were enveloped in dust, this one was clear of it, and that when heavy rain made mud of the dusty roads this one remained dry and pleas ant. Where the Farmer Profits. We may say that it doesn't cost the farmer anything to market his crops, because he does all the hauling him self. True, but isn't his time worth something? Suppose that in place of every ton of wheat or hay or potatoes loaded 011 his wagon he was able, as a resu't of good roads, to load up two tons, and to market the entire crop of his farm with just half the labor and in just half the time which is required at present, which would be the case with good roads, wouldn't the amount | of time he could save be worth some thing, and wouldn't it be worth sav ing'? , Automobiles and Goo.l Roods. The "good roads movement," which has been quietly and steadily pro gressing ju the United States for sev eral years, is likely before long to be come a great national issue in politics. The movement was first started by the wheelmen, through their national organization, the League of American Wheelmen, and hundreds of thou sands of dollars have been spent by this organization in agitating the question. To the wheelmen will soon bo added a large number of owners of horseless carriages as ardent advo cates of road improvements.— Los Angeles Times. One County's Experience. Mecklenburg County, North Caro lina, not long ago began the con struction of a system of macadam roads. It was customary there to load up two bales of cotton ou a wagon to be hauled by a mule team. The mules could draw this load very well during dry weather. After a rain, when the roads were soft, the load was too much for eveu a pair of I tough mules. After the county had begun to build roads this load was doubled several times, aud it was found that the same two mules were able to haul as much as twelve bales, or six tons, iu place of their former load, which amounted to only a single ton. And more—the improved roads made it possible to haul this load iu wet and dry weather alike, for, being properly built of stone, they were tit for use immediately after a heavy rain. liiter.tate ObJect-Lcon Road*. It is the intention of many States be sides Massachusetts, either by con necting their detached sample roads or by laying down long lines to be built as a whole, to establish State roads upon the principal routes of travel, which shall be object lessons on a large scale. The Legislature of New York has frequently had under consideration the subject of a network of roads connecting all of the county seats by north aud south and by east aud west lines. The same or similar plans have been proposed in Pennsyl vania, Maryland and California. Other States have proposed to limit these object lessons to a single road running lengthwise of the State or two lines crossing each other at the capital. Should these plans be put into execution, it will be very impor tant that those roads iu the different States should be made to connect at the State lines and thus form inter, state roads. Tile Anti-Rut Agitation. Over 82,000,000 has been spent by the State of Massachusetts iu the buildiug of improved highways. It must be plain to any one who gives the matter thought that we suffer enormous losses each year as the result of bad roads. Earth is the poorest of all road materials except sand, and earth roads require more attention than any other kind aud generally receive less. The fact that the Davis automobile trip from New York to San Francisco was abandoned on account of bad roads will make a text for the good roads people. The best road for the farmer, all things being considered, is g Bolid, well-built stoue road, so narrow as to be only a single track, but having a firm earth road on one or both sides. Where the traffic is not very exten sive the purposes of good roads are better served by narrow tracks than by wide ones, while many of the ob jectionable features of wide tracks are removed, the initial cost of construc tion is cut down one-half or more, and the charges for repair reduced in pro portion. A mile of broken stoue road, fifteen feet wide, costs iu the State of Massa chusetts about 8570(1 per mile, while a mile of the same width and kind of road costs in the State of New Jersey only 81700. This is due partly to the fact that tlio topography of Massa chusetts is somewhat rougher than that of New Jersey. Herr Kiggenbach. who introduced the cog-wheel railroads that have en abled tourists in Switzerland to do their mountain climbing without effort, died recently.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers