Devoted to Progress and all that Makes Humanity Better
The Herald
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EVERY
SATURDAY MORNING
F The Herald is the Largest Paper printed in Walworth County and has the Largest Circulation in the County.
A Scientific Examination of the Bottom of Geneva Lake.
At the meeting of the Chicago Academy of the Sciences, Dr. E. A. Andrews made the following report:
This beautiful sheet of water lies in a valley surrounded by wooded hills. The lake is about a mile in width and nine miles in length and has a depth of about 140 feet, as proved some years ago by Mr. Charles Wilson. The object of my investigation was to ascertain the depth to which waves affect the bottom and also to ascertain what animals and plants occupy the deeper parts, which may furnish food for fishes. The interest felt in the latter question is owing to the fact that the artificial propagation of fish on a large scale has been commenced there on a large scale; consisting mainly of brook trout, Mackinaw trout, whitefish, bass and landlocked salmon from the lakes of Maine.
Though this lake is so small, its waves have considerable power, as shown by the shelf or terrace of erosion beneath the water, which has in some places worn the shore back some 500 feet from the original line. From profiles of the bottom, taken at several places, we proved the surprising fact that the waves of this small lake have power enough to erode the earth to the depth of 18 feet.
To ascertain the character of the bottom, we dredged along every line of soundings. The terrace of erosion is strewn with small bowlders. Among these flourish numerous water plants, which support various forms of life, while these in turn support the fishes. These terraces are also inhabited by the larger forms of shell-fish such as mussels, crayfish, etc.
Below 29 feet the waves exert no particular influence. A profound stillness reins there in a layer of clay, which produces a crop of minute aquatic vegetables, and is the pasture-ground of millions of the smaller fresh water mollusks, which in turn are fed upon by the larvae of the May fly, which are the food of the cisco, which support the whitefish. It seems probable that the introduction of the voracious Mackinaw trout may result in the extermination of the cisco, but this will only leave more room for the whitefish.
Southern Society.
After the war there was a sincere conviction in the mind of the average Northern Republican that it was essential to the prosperity of his party and the peace of the South to make the freedman uppermost in politics; the negro would be remanded back o slavery unless he controlled the legislatures, the courts and the executive offices. So for eight years the carpet-bag governors and the Administration party in Congress tried to make the pyramid stand on its apex.
The result is before the world. In one way or another, by fair means or foul, the control of several of the States has been secured by the colored race. They have had ample opportunity to develop their own latent capacities, to get an education, to make their fortunes, to rise in society. What have they done of all these things? As a race they are idle, ignorant and vicious. They neither learn nor save. They were fond of their books in the first novelty of freedom, but they care for them no longer. They were eager to get their own little farms, but they have let them fall to ruin. Why should a man work when he can make a living by stealing chickens, and sit on the fence for amusement? Let us face the truth. Our Southern policy has not only been a curse to the whites, but it has been a curse to the freed people. It has not made them good citizens. It has not taught them how to use the ballot. It has introduced among them a demoralization more dangerous to the country than the violence of the White League, for no republican government can stand which is not founded upon the suffrages of the virtuous and intelligent.
[Wow, I didn’t realize that getting demoralized was worse than getting hanged; nor did I know that carpet-bagger con men and poor white trash were better “citizens” than the blacks.]
The storm last Saturday blew down trees, unroofed some houses and prostrated fences.
ITEMS OF INTEREST.
A whistling ghost is the present novelty in Columbia, Ky.
There was not a single indictment in Maine last year for a capital offense.
More than fifteen hundred buildings were erected in Chicago during the year 1875.
Counterfeit dimes are in circulation, well executed in composition metal, but lacking the ring of silver.
Don’t put the end of your lead pencil in your mouth. The frequent practice has resulted in the ruin of health, and in many cases in paralysis or death. Besides, it is a vulgar habit.
Quails can now go walking around, talking and laughing among themselves on the streets, if they want to, for the law prohibits shooting, netting or trapping from January through August.
The rather startling news was received on Wednesday last, that Brigham Young, the notorious polygamous prophet had suddenly died. The papers state that already are the leaders of the Mormon church fighting among themselves as to who shall be the chief.
WHICH SHALL WE ADOPT?
THE SINGLE OR DOUBLE STANDARD FOR MONEY.
There is no question of greater importance, but less understood, than the question of regulating the finance. A movement towards making money easier and to move more freely than it has for the past three years, would, of course, be considered with great interest.
When the issue of paper money in such quantities as was necessary to carry on the late war was advocated, a strange and incomprehensible fallacy took possession of many otherwise level-minded men, to the effect that the greater the amount issued, the greater the depreciation in value of the whole amount. Blah, blah, blah…
[I read the entire lengthy article twice and from it, could not comprehend what the single standard or double standard is, or which one the author favored. But apparently it was a hot button issue.]
The City Council of Chicago prohibited the sale of fire-works in that city; the municipal authority of Elkhorn stops the sale of fire-water.
THE RIOTERS!
Having Sacked Pittsburg and Destroyed a large amount of Property at other places.
THEY ARE NOW TRYING TO BURY CHICAGO.
The Whole Country in a State of Anarchy.
The President issues a proclamation and sends all the available Troops to the Scene.
NO PROSPECT OF AN END TO THE TROUBLE.
A little over a week ago a strike occurred at Martinsburg, W. V. on the Baltimore & Ohio R. R. For a time it was thought that it would last only a few days and then blow over, but it did not. On the contrary, it assumed immense proportions and spread from one road to another until it began to be a regular riot, which reached its culmination in Pittsburg, Pa, on Saturday night in a destruction of all the railroad property to be found. Here is what the Times says in regard to the Pittsburg riot:
The crisis of the railroad strike in this city was reached yesterday when the Philadelphia troops who had been sent here to suppress the strikers, fired upon the crowd. The fatal effects of the shots fired by the troops exasperated the citizens as well as the strikers, and in less than an hour thousands of workers from the rolling mills, coal mines and various manufacturing establishments hurried to the scene of the conflict determined to have revenge on the troops and railroad officials.
It was stated that Gen. Pearson of the State Guards, had directed the troops to fire before any resistance had been made, and the fact that many of those killed and wounded had gathered on the hillside merely as spectators, served to increase the bitterness of the crowd. By eight in the evening mobs were moving about the city in various directions, sacking stores to secure arms and breaking into armories of the military companies, preparing themselves to execute threats of massacring the entire Philadelphia command. About 10 o’clock in the evening a mob numbering several thousands had congregated about the round house. Finding it difficult to dislodge the military from the building,
THEY RESOLVED TO BURN THEM OUT.
An order to this effect was issued and it was carried into execution with a fiendish alacrity by the rioters. While a portion of the mob surrounded the building in which the military had taken refuge, large groups proceeded to set fire to the oil cars, and in a moment the huge volumes of black smoke and lurid flames reaching out in every direction told that the destruction had commenced. The sight of the flames seemed to literally craze the rioters, who had complete control of the city. Train after train was fired by the infuriated crowd. They then procured a car filled with coke, poured petroleum oil over it, set it afire and pushed it against the round house. The building was soon ignited and the solders were now compelled to fight their way through the frenzied mass of humanity clamoring for their blood.
From midnight until five o’clock in the morning the main efforts of the crowd were directed at firing the buildings and the cars, but about half an hour later the mob which had been besieging the military left for some unexplained evening. This afforded the troops who were in actual
danger of being roasted alive,
an opportunity to emerge from the building. Their objective was the Butler street Armory where they expected to obtain shelter, but when they turned onto Butler street they encountered fully one thousand angry men who pursued them. Some of the troops fired at the citizens, either accidentally or intentionally, as they moved along, and this added fury to the cry for revenge.
CHICAGO.
The strike reached Chicago on Wednesday last, but should no longer be called a strike, but rather a riot or mob. The railroad employees who first began the trouble have now very little to do with it. The thousands of loafer, tramps, thieves and bummers which are so plentiful in Chicago took the matter in hand and went from one factory to another compelling the men to stop work and join in with them. All the manufactories in Chicago were visited, and where the men would not stop peaceably, the mob broke in the doors and windows and all the damage possible. The authorities were hardly prepared to stop the riot on that day. Thursday morning, however, they were ready for them with about 7,000 special police, two regiments of militia and four companies of regular troops besides any number of volunteers. Many fights took place during the day and large a number of roughs were killed and many more wounded. The regular troops were just in from the Indian wars and liked nothing better than a fight; their presence alone was enough to scatter the mob, but they were not called in until matters took on so serious a face that they had to be.
[A good summary of the strikes and events that led to them can be found in Wikipedia online. Google “railroad strike 1877”]
Local Department
The moon has changed, and we may now look for hot weather; well, that’s what we want.
Subject of the sermon at the Opera House to-morrow evening by Mr. Hoskin will be Science and Theology.
There has been plenty of rain and to spare lately; all the babies round here begin to feel sort of web-footed.
Excursions are coming here faster than a mule can wink. The hot weather is bringing hem out like “musketeers” and still they come.
Hammersley has begun to take the partition out of his store, and he will soon be in his new quarters. Glad to see such an evidence of prosperity.
Lawn Sociable at Dr. Catlin’s, next Thursday evening.
The grass has all been cut off from the public square, and now it looks much better than it did.
There is some sickness among the babies in town, but nothing fatal yet. A child of Palmitier and one of J. P. Forbes are both ill.
The Alumnae of Lake Geneva Seminary have set out a fine testimonial as to their opinion of its capacity and ability to instruct pupils.
Misses Crawford & VanAlstine have concluded to remain in town. The ladies will find it to their advantage to call on them for their Millinery & Hair Goods, as they sell cheap for cash.
A large number of Elgin people came up to Geneva on Saturday evening, to spend the Sabbath with friends.
Frank Banker of Elkhorn milked, at one sitting, this week, twenty-six cows in two hours and ten minutes. pretty fast work for one man to do.
This is the time of year when ten dollar bonnets can cause more profanity than can be cured by fifty dollars worth of preaching.
Three things that work on Sunday: a mustard plaster, advertising & interest.
A Submerged City in the Lake of Geneva.
A strange discovery is reported from the Lake of Geneva. A tourist having lost his trunk, two divers were employed to search for it. While they were below water they found what they supposed to be a village, since covered by the lake. Their statements led to an investigation by the municipal authorities. On covering the placid surface with oil, they were able to distinguish the plan of a town, streets and a square marking the bed of the lake. The ruddy hue which characterized them led observers to suppose that the buildings had been covered with the famous vermillion cement which was used by the Celts and the early Gauls. The Council has decided to have the site enclosed by a jetty from the land and to drain all the water off.