Central High School - EN EM Yearbook (North Manchester, IN)

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MAPLE LEAVES. 19 chestnut ridges produce great trees from three to five feet in diameter. The bottom lands are so fertile that the timothy grass grows about four feet tall, and the other products grow in the same proportion; the beets weigh about one hundred and fifty pounds, and the potatoes are so large that a man may sit upon one end of it while the other is in the fire roasting.” These few items, together with our eagerness to investigate the territory for ourselves, soon caused father to want to come out as far as John’s, if not farther. August 28, 1831— We started early today on our journey. Father, Betsy and the little ones rode in the wagon, which carries our necessities; and the boys and myself, armed with the rifle and some axes, walked along urging the team over the rough ground, and provided food both for them and for ourselves. We camped at night, hobbling the mules to keep them from straying. Oct. 25, 1831-How relieved we feel! We have reached brother’s in safety. Father, who has been rather downhearted, has cheered up upon finding John’s all healthy and in good spirits. We leave the things in the wagon until we locate for ourselves. Today father seems interested in everything; he admires the large chestnut trees, and when, after asking about the beets, John told him that they were dead-beats, he could not conceal his surprise and distrust. Then he asked about the potatoes. John seemed not to understand him, for he asked, “What potatoes?” “Oh, those like you wrote about that you can sit on one end of while the other’s in the fire roasting.” “Oh, that is nothin; just cut them in two.” March 14, 1835— I am tired of trying to farm this broken and hilly country and as there is an opening of lands in Indiana, to be had at a dollar and a quarter an acre, I will sell out and investigate that. Sept. 30, 1835— The day is favorable for the journey to Indiana. I have sold my land and with Mike Secrist and Mr. Clever start on foot to see the new country. We carry an ax and a rifle apiece, but very little money and little more ammunition. Oct. 4, 1835— We had traveled for three days, and for about a hundred or a hundred and thirty miles we. had to follow our way along a line made by the surveyor’s blaze, until we came to a large river, which we learned from an Indian was the Wabash. He showed us a trail which soon brought us to a village which boasted one store and a tavern and a few dwellings. The little postoffice is called the “Treaty Ground Post-office.” The settlers here are hospitable and prevailed upon us to stay and view the land in the neighborhood and north for about fifteen miles. We put up at David Cassett’s Tavern, where we obtained a guide. He says the land south of the river is hilly, and rather rolling, but as he describes it, it does not form what I call good farm land, and so we will turn our attention to the north. Oct. 10, 1835— We traveled about four days, examining the land, before we came to the water-way our guide called the River Eel; and we had gone about twenty miles, though the direct distance is said to be but twelve. After ascending the bluff at Wabash Town, we immediately entered level country, which continued up to within about a mile from the River Eel. All this land is well timbered and full of underbrush. Our guide says there is a clearing several miles up the river where a Mr. Helvie is wintering; and so we forded the river, ascended the bluff on the other side, where we were surprised to find the barrens so much talked of in Ohio; and then followed the river until we found the opening. Mr. Helvie says the lands we passed through near the river are the best in the locality, for they are well drained. Our guide returned to Wabash Town, convinced that we would locate here, instead of near his town. We went with him until he struck our trail, and then we followed the river up its east side. About two miles from Mr. Helvie’s we found a good spring and a good place for a cabin. I, then and there, made up my mind that that land was to be mine. Mike will enter his land about a mile up from mine, but Mr. Clever don’t like the place and is anxious to return to Ohio, and so we will start back in a few days. Oct. 18, 1835-All three of us kept together until we reached the land office at Ft. Wayne, where Mike and I entered our lands. Clever got a horse and went on, but we followed on foot and beat him here by two days! Feb. 26, 1836— We got to our lands early this morning and unloaded near the spring. I felled an oak about four feet in diameter, which had several large branches, one high enough for us to stand under. Then I placed elm bark from the ground to the top of the branches so that it makes a tent-shaped shelter, which will be our home until I can get a cabin. May 4, 1836-Yesterday the neighbors, with a man from LaGros, came in to help build my cabin, and tonight I have a double cabin, with two good fire-places. I put Pete Ogan, Jesse Moyer, Teal and Mr. Lukens in the fatigue party, and Jim Abbot and John Ogan hauled the logs to the site and assorted them. Mr. Harter, Si-monton and Mr. Comstock hunted the roofing and fixed the puncheons for the floor. Sam Thurston,

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18 MAPLE LEAVES. unlawful, as it would refuse citzenship to stockholders. Direct legislation has been advised, but many difficulties would be experienced in enforcing the laws and there would always be the question as to their legality. If direct laws should be passed they could, seemingly, break up the trust, but the different factories could still continue operation and be secretly held in the corporation. The decisions could be held off many years by demanding new trials and appealing to higher courts. As to the legality of the power of Congress to legislate on this matter there is no clause referring to it in the Constitution. It is true that the so-called elastic clause might be stretched to include this power, but still it would be difficult to conceive of this clause covering the power of Congress to interfere in matters of private business, and the Supreme Court, before whose tribunal the question must finally be argued, might decide that it did not lie in the province of Congress. The causes for the increased growth of the trusts in the past ten years have been the protective tariff, freight discriminations, unlawful concessions which their wealth has been able to buy, and the secrecy with which they have been able to conduct their business. There was a time when American produce could not compete with foreign manufactures, but that time is past. Under the present protective tariff, American manufacturers ship and sell their goods in Europe cheaper than they sell them in America. It has been truly said, “Tariff is the father of trusts.” By lowering or entirely removing the tariff on goods made by trusts the immense profits now realized by them will be decreased. With the profits greatly lowered there will be no inducements for investing money in the trusts. Freight discriminations and other concessions which are given them aid much in maintaining their unwieldy growths. For instance, the Standard Oil Company, besides receiving immense rebates on its own shipments receives from all railroads a certain amount on every gallon of oil carried for other companies. On account of their great wealth they are able to bribe legislators and judges to grant them unfair advantages and pass decisions in their favor. Again taking the Standard Oil Company as an example, it is known that they are often permitted to run their pipes through the most desired parts of a city or locality because they have persuasive influence with legislators. Publicity or the knowledge of the financial basis of a corporation will tend to prevent over-capitalization, and since over-capitalization is one of the causes of monopoly, publicity will tend to prevent monopoly. With the books of the trusts kept strictly private, the people have no way of knowing their profits, money invested, or their business methods. While the people at large might think they were making a goodly profit of fifteen or twenty per cent, they were really making a profit of forty or fifty or even a greater per cent. Were this known, competition would immediately arise and their profits, therefore, decrease. Can we expect smaller corporations to live under such conditions as these? Place them on an equal basis, give them a fair chance and they will easily take care of the trusts. Smaller companies are now literally “starved out” by the trusts, which either reduce prices so that the independent owners must close up, or sell out their plants. And so determined are the trusts to secure the monopoly of the commodity, that they are willing, often, to pay the owner many times the real value of the business. If we take away from the combinations the possibility to reap great profits they will be unable to buy or “starve out” all the smaller companies, and the latter can then exist. Much heavier penalties should be laid for the giving of rebates or discriminations in freight rates, and great care should be taken that no one evades this law. The law should require that all the business books of the trusts be made public. With the many inducements offered by trusts stopped, and with the assurance that they will henceforth do a strictly lawful business, receive no concessions, favors, or rebates, smaller corporations will revive and will eventually bring about the destruction of their destroyers. LEAVES FROM AN OLD DIARY. LULU L. STKICKLLR. | The following leaves are supposed to have been taken from the diary of an old man, one of the first settlers of Chester township, Wabash County, Indiana. Although the dates of the months may be incorrect, the dates as to years are history.] Sept. 10, 1830— I just returned home from Shippensburg from muster-day. I heard them discussing this new country west of the Allegheny mountains, and I was so impressed by the talk that I intend to look into the matter. Brother John expects even to start soon. Sept. 24, 1830— I went as far as Carlisle with Brother John and his five companions, who are on their way to Ohio. On account of father’s health, I am forced to remain here. August 1, 1831— Just received a letter from Brother John. He says: “I am located in Richland county, Ohio, some few miles southeast from Mansfield. Here the land is very rich, though the country is broken; even the

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20 MAPLE LEAVES. Cox, Gill and Anderson were the corner men, and everything was in readiness this morning for the lifting. Nov. 1, 1837— Our crop of corn has done well and will furnish meal for us throughout the winter, and the fodder will keep the oxen in good condition. I have just returned from registering the stock, so that I may let them run at large until cold weather, feeding on the nuts and acorns. My herds are marked by a hole in the left ear and a slit in the right one. Neighbor John just came from Richmond with his load of salt for the neighborhood. I got about two barrels of it, paying twenty-five dollars for it. I poured a small bucketful of it into a springy place down near the river to make a lick. Dec. 5, 1837- Neighbor John came over this morning and said that this is the time for butchering and that the other neighbors, ready for work, would soon be down to the river. I made all haste to get there in time to help with the catching of the cattle and swine. They fenced in a large pen near where the animals spent the night, and tolled them into it with grain. The hundred and seven head which entered made us a good day’s work. John got fourteen, but only twelve of mine entered, although I had wanted fifteen. Oct. 14, 1838— We have just been to Neighbor John’s to a husking bee, given for the new neighbors. Some of those there were James Abbot, Col. Helvie, Mr. Ogan and his brother John. Mr. Harter, Mr. Halderman and John Wesley Williams. John Ogan says his new corn-cracker is now almost ready to grind; and this means no more trips to Bristol for meal. The last part of the evening was spent in the telling of their various experiences, especially of those with the Indians. We had not all told our experiences, when a big chief came to the door calling for the “jenup-inan.” He had a squaw and a papoose with him which he placed by my side. Then he would walk part way from us with little Conrad, our black-eyed and black-haired boy. He w’ould bring him back, and start away with his squaw; then he would repeat these actions. When I saw he wanted to trade his squaw for my boy, I shook my head and said, “No, no,” and the Indian, understanding me better than I did him. walked away with his squaw, all the time saying. “You no jenup-man, no jenup-man,” evidently thinking that any gentleman would trade. Sept. 29, 1850- Today I have worked as usual on the new Methodist church at North Manchester, and we now have it almost ready for dedication. It will be one of the best and most comfortable churches around, for it is large, roomy and well lighted, and the benches are well finished and comfortable. UTILIZATION OF WASTE PRODUCTS. ALBERT N. JOHN. As one thinks of the innumerable millions of people who have been using up and wasting the natural products of the earth during so many thousands of of years, he is led to wonder why the supply has not been exhausted and to ponder how long it will before it is exhausted. But from the well known law of physics that matter cannot be destroyed, although changed in form or chemical composition, we are safe in concluding that the resources of the people of ten thousand years from now will be as abundant as they they are at the present time or ever have been in the past, if they know how to utilize them. Science has been the leader in discovering new uses for what was considered formerly as waste-products. A good illustration of the extensive use of these is shown in the refining of crude oil. Kerosene was the only product obtained from it until about half a century ago and that was so expensive that only the well-to-do could afford to use it, while the poorer classes had to be content with the old grease-lamp or tallow candle. But now so much use is made of the by-products that the price of kerosene has been reduced until its light has replaced the dim, flickering candle, where electric or gas light has not already supplanted it. There are about two hundred of these by-products that have brought about this change. Gasoline is one of the most important, and its value in cooking, in the gasoline engine, in the automobile, in torches and flaring lamps is too well known to need discussion. Naphtha is used to run the naphtha launch, which is so popular as a pleasure boat; makes the finest of carbon for printing ink when burned, and is a solvent for india rubber and gutta percha. Lubricants hold a high place among the by-products on account of their connection with all the industries of today. Vaseline has remarkable healing qualities and paraffine is used in etching glass, making candles, as a preservative in microscopy, and in making chewing gum. an industry that has reached enormous proportions. From this we see that the by-products of distilling petroleum have played a considerable part in the unprecedented industrial advancement that has been taking place during the last century. For it would be much more unhandy to have to get up steam to run the cream separator on a cold winter morning than to start the gasoline engine by the production of an electric spark. It would seem strange to see automobiles with smoke-stacks eight or ten feet long rising up in the rear in order to get sufficient draft. And even if we had the gasoline engine but no mod-