0
nn
HE
OREGON
1ST
VOL, XXI.
EVENTS OF THE DAY I
ON TO THE NORTH,
(UTIOLD FROM ALL PARTS OP TUB
TWO HEMISPHERES.
Japanu Land Forces Advancing on
Ping Yang.
Wei Hul Wcl, Fob. 24-On Febru
ary ll the llalniuii arrived ut Cliemul
lo iiiul started for a private nnchorngi!
Unit 1 1 u 1 1 liKnti II lrtl 111,.,, I 1....
Cnmnrahenilva UavL ..I th. I I . " " ' v""
' .. . spieuoii at tho entrance of llio liar-
ani ...ppenrng. or IM Peat W-k, ,r W))r0 , wri,(.u f HuHHm
Prevented In Cumlenwd Form, Moat vessel (hut lia, boon Niink after tho
Likely to Prove Interesting to Cur engagement with tliu Japanese. Hub
Many Header, vngo operation hud already begun on
Mm VhiIuk anil tint diver woro nt
Turkey ami Montenegro are on the wo,k '" 1,10 ""i'u cruiser.
verge or war. Japanese army corn wan holnir
. "
J.ilin Mllcholl la PXperted to sue- r'u divisions. Tho 3 Silt
reed WrlKlit aa labor commissioner, division hud' already dlscmhurkcd anl
Secretary Hay haa addrnd an. 1,10 '"irurlal Guarda woro to follow
other nolo to th. i power In regard to Immediately. A general udvunce on
China. illt n.,i ii v i
... ,,,n . H,,n in 'Axr.: ii'ii
noon.
r'onikiT ami other of mlrrpreontlnu I Tim nicthoil i.r n.o r i...
Iilm on lila Panama atand. ,,. ,, .. ....
I' " " "! IdIll Ml
'!gn mllliary exnorta who ulin..u.
IK gnat preparation and war lu lh thm iiriiiui, ,i....i.. ...
-.-... mi nn.. ii'ruiy
bat It la an Improvement over any
thing In tlmlr experience and Mate
Hint It Indicate an organization mi
terlor to nnytliltiK In Europe.
jupuna Billon In Corco aiuonnla
Balkan la considered nvar.
Senator I-ester niUHt glvo up hit
bill or tin alalM of Washington will
not bo divided Into two judicial dla-
t rlrtH
Iturlon. of ()lilu, haa Joined the op
ST. HELENS, OUEGON, FItlDAY, FEKItUAltY 20, 1904.
mmmmmmmmmammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmtmmmmmm
FOUR SHIPS LOST
a.-. m JaV
JAPANESE FOOL RUSSIAN'S BV USE
OP SIGNALS.
Torpedo Boat at Port Arthur Captured
and Crewa Mad PrUoaera-AltxW
Uoca to Harbin Port Arthur la Now
Strictly a Naval Stronghold-Only 20
foreigner Remain.
BATTLE
LAND.
Ruaaiana Badly Beaten In
ment on Yalu River.
Engage-
pimltlon to tbo naval appropriation an acceptance of responsibility for the
bill, contending tbo nmount la too safety of foreigner throughout Corca
and all apprehension of locul ills-
largo
Jobii Carhi-r. of Han KranrUco, ban
declined tho nppolntmimt aa canal
commissioner, but some California
engineer la ulimiat suro to $vt tbo ap
plllllt tIK'llt.
Hi'vcn nr convlrta In th Now
turbmii'i-a lnivi boon allayoil .
Tbo original arhnnio on tbo part of
tho JapauoNo llnivrd of KtrutCKy baa
biH'ii to IiiiiiI at MiiHiinipbo nml innn h
northward, but tho naval vlitorli-a
Moxlro ponltontlary ovorpiword tbo M'hniiKod all tbla ami (nabli'il tho
Miporlntonitont and ruade a daah for traiiKporta t(i bind at Chemulpo, While
iio. uy. ... ero auii.io oy ura. ,n UunHlnn Hlberliin aiindron re
Henatnr llanabrotiKh haa lutrodueoil mulna llilai't at Vlndlvoatok It la ri
a inn ii. run , uou innq otii. Uardod aa unlikely that Japan will
Tlio i titr la tuiirrt downraat over tn attempt to land triHipa on tbo Kant-
war and apprara imio in puuiic. ,.rn roant. Tho r.mit ao far aa 1 1 wants
KourtiM'li poopta mot death to alJn U Kod. n u flanked by paddy
""" ,ro,n tlel.U. which nr., at prenent froal
ItHHHinna etpect Japan to lay aleue bound and rovered wllh two Im beg of
to i'nit Arthur and are preparing ir(l
a ) 1 1 K reaiaiauio.
London, Fob. 24. The NiiKankl
(orrcHpondont of the Dally Telenrapb,
eubllfiK iiihIit (Into of February 22, re
I'orfa that the Japnueao Niiuulron Iiiih
luptiired four HuHHliin torpedo boalH
itJ'ort Arthur by uhIiib HiiKHlan
hIK'iiiIh, TIiIh illHpntcb nppeura tn
eon firm reporta from vnrloua uuiir
era of a freah attack on I'ort Arthur
by tho Jnpnnoao. The report reached
N'liKaankl from C'hefoo, und It addH
that tho ItiiKMlun crewa of the four
torpedo boats have been tranaferred.
No other news of tbla titlark haa
been received In Lonilon, but the
Crefoo correnionilent of tbo Morning
I'oat, In a dlaputch dated February 22,
naya the atatrment la current that the
.lapnnemi torpedo boat dcatroyor In
tho nltack on I'ort Arthur on Febru
ary M Hunk or daiimid two KuMlun
battlealilpa, tn addition to tho torpedo
bout already reported.
Viceroy Aleileff' rellretnent to
Harbin la now an necompllKhed fart,
and u correHponilent of tho Aaaoilnted
I'reaa cable that I'ort Arthur la now
utrlctly a naval atroriKhold und tho
forta are being manned by naval nun
uera. Only 20 foreigner are now at
I'ort Arthur, and they are traders c 1m-
pimlriK of their merchandlao.
Ht. 1'etornburg, Feb. 22. Authority
which prohlbllB doubting verully of
the report, In K pi to of the ofllclal dla
patchea atutlng that nothing la taking
plaeo and everything la perfectly
ipilet, Hiiyn, outpoat engngotnenta have
tnkeit place on the Yulu reaultlng In
the IliiKHiun advunco guurda being
driven back with conalderablo loaaes,
which are eatlrnuted at 2, MO Uvea, but
whether tbla meuna tlioHe who fell on
tho Yalu or the entire ItUHHlan loaaoa
aini.e the coinmencement of the war
I not exactly cleur.
Large Force Engaged.
Nlu Chwang, Feb. 22. A Japunoao
lctory la reported near the Yalu river,
but la unconftrmuble from any aouree.
According to the report current here
a large part of the forcea of both Hna
bIuiib and Japaneao wore engaged. The
ItiiHKlana are Bald to have lottt aeveral
tbouaund men. There are no details
of the engagement obtainable.
HAPPENINGS HERE IN OREGON
BUY THE DITCH.
SEEKING RUSSIAN 8HIP8.
With
Japanese Fleet Want Battle
Cable-Cutting Squadron.
New York. Feb. 22. -The American's
Toklo cable, dated February 21, says:
Kuaalnn warship are reported between
Japan and Corea. Transports carrying
troops uerofs ar heavily conveyed In
eoi!Hoiienco. Half the Japanese Meet
Is occupied In surveying and protect
ing the landing of troops In Cores
and tho other half la searching for
the Ruaalan Vladlvostoek warships.
I ho profoctural onlcc has received a
telegram from the chief magistrate of
tho Island of Mlyake. south of the
(iiilf of Corea. reporting that 12 Rus
sians debarked In a boat from a vessel
In the ofllng on February 19. Tbo sub
sequent movements of this mysterious
party are not reported, but Inquiry is
under way. The Russians were prob-1
ably seeking to cut the cable, aa three
warships were retorted off Okushirl
Some of them are undi-r suspicion, Island todav w-archina for the cable.
una inere is nKciiniMK or ineir ueing
Tho conditions Bro such that It
would bo iilmodt ImposHlhlo for the
Russian ut present to check the Jap
anese advance. However, tbo district
between tho Yalu River and I'ing
Yang Is of such strategic value aa to
Tho Oar will llkoly proceed to th
front lu tbo spring to take personal
iimimand of tha army
Japan baa had a dispute with China
ii-Kitrilliia a Russian gunboat which
tuiik refuge at Khanghal.
tlenrral Kouropatkln I to command ""' ' Mrenuous efforts on the
the ItusnlHti army, aided by two grand r" oi noin comiuitanta to occupy It
hike, uncles of tha t tar. 1 Success by tho Russians In this re
The I'm to Hb an haa demanded that ape t will render Chemulpo iinlenabl
I In r bo admitted to statehood or that las a base by the Japanese. On the
the Island bo granted Indopendenro. ,,,i.r mmi huh! tho Japanese six
Perry H Heath has resigned a tec-
ntary of tli" National nopunucan
omniltte. Klmor lJovcr will tomio-
rarlly buccimuI hlro
I'resbvt.'rlan churches of the Vnlt
c I Htati have agreed upon a plan of
union.
Russia has abolished th censor
ship on all nowa excepting war move
Incut,
Mitchell Is aura to bead tho inter
oieauU- canal roninilttoo If i'lalt does I Us (ho following ruble from its Ht
not waul tho place. Petersburg correspondent:
Tbo Hi UUh proa warna tha na- "I havo received further rorrobora
tinn to bo prepared for an alllauc ny tlnn that active negotiation are In
ressfully occupy It, they will have a
( lenr field and an open s.-a behind
them, over which they ran hurry addi
tional troop aa they are needed.
BLACK SEA FLEET MUST GO.
Russia Again Negotiating for Passage
Through the Dardanelles.
New ork, Feb. 2t.-Tho Herald
arrested. Tin-re are many complaints
i.f unwarranted arrests, unexplained
expulsion and defamation of cbarac
lor by the I'ort Arthur police.
The report that largo bodies of Cos
fin ks and other troops are occupying
Mil Chwiiiig and Ilsln Ming Tin are
unfounded
A dlspnlch to the Hally Mall from
Hung Kong says n Hrltlsh squadron
Is concentrating there and that a cor
responding French' concentration of
warships Is occurring at Sagon. Indo
china. This Is supposedly a result of
the Anglo l-reucb understanding.
MANY SUSPICIOUS OF RUSSIA
tho powera against her.
Hi. Louis ronstable
a riot, in whim six men
precipitated
sera bot. by
Htivtnpilng to rloso a poolroom acroa
tho river In Illinois.
Russia I said to b preparing to
ovaruntn 1 urt Armor ana rosso nwr
bin her heiulquartor. Thi la claim
ed to bo a much bottar point of rant
x
Tho house 1 considering th naval
appropriation bill. It la tha deslra
to have a navy which will b tocond
to noun In tbo world. Tho bill carrlo
$14,000,00(1 moro than laat year' ap
pioprlatlon.
Tho house haa passed th fort I flea
Hun bin.
Insurance rompanlo Snd tha Haiti
luoro lire losaoa wera ororostl mated.
Canada la niacin heay modern
guns In nil of her coast fortification
Aimer McKlnloy I seriously III. A
number of his relative have been
ullled.
Tillman haa ro-lntrodtieed hi bill
In the senate to grant ox-Quoen
l.llluokulunl a gratuity.
A number or additional Indictment
will be mado In connection with the
Hydo llenson land conspiracy.
progress for tho passage of tho Par
iianoiiea by the Russian Iiluck Ken
fleet. I am further Informed that this
is tbo reason why such pains have
toon taken of lato to obtain tho good
will of Austria. (Jorinu'ny will very
probably bo willing to further Russia's
plan, being glad enough lo 11 nil there-
iy means of realizing her well known
ambition In Asia Minor and let litis
tin weaken herself In fighting the Far
ICnst. Russia knows all thla, but Is
nevertheless eager to get her ships
through, even If It Is necessary to
adopt the subterfuge of altering their
appearance, disguising them as nier
.'hantmon. Tho Porto Is almost will
tng, and If Kugland makes any oh
jectlon to thn passage it will be the
itlgnal for nn Immediate advunco to
ward India.
"Tho Russian government has Just
hartered from n local firm of ship
owners four ships, which Bull from
lllack Sea ports with cargoes
of coal. Very high terms were given.
and In rase of rapture the government
will pay tho full value of (he vessels.
"Tho order of the day Is thnt Japan
will bo allowed to occupy Corea. The
Meet haa received instructions not
ungage In any fight nt present, but to
remain quiet on defensive until the bo-
Two hundred and fifty picked htp-1 1nnlnK of July, when half of tbo
v-rlght have boon sent to Port Ar
thur to hurry repair on Huaslau war
vcshoIb,
Russia Is greatly surprised that Hay
did not wait for It reply before tell
ing of reception by power of his
Chinese note.
whole llnltlc fleet will bo dhuiutchcd
to tho Far Kast."
Bombardment Prevented
Nagasaki. Feb. 24. Tho ateamer
IStolberg has arrived hero from Vlndl
vostock with 20 white foreigners. 1500
Tho Lewie und Clark Fair bill will Chinese and (10 Japanese. Sho brings
not bo reported to the houae until tho in anuition iu survivors or mo japan-
tMtiilll.m L.nrna mnra nf the noflda Of OBO HlOniUOr INnKBnOUra
hu 120.000 man In I
the exposition.
Japan now
Coren.
Woman suffragist will hold their I
1 11H6 convention in Portland.
Marti, which
wna sunk ly tne itussian cruiser
I squadron from Vladivostok on Febru
ary 11. Two men were drowned dur
ing their transfer to tho Russian
hdilns. Tho survivor were wen
1 1 real oil and provided with return pas
laliirnu The VnillVOHIOK BOUUUTOn ill-
Hanim left an oatate valued at be- i011(i,w to hombnrd Hakodate, but a
tweni $7,000,000 and ,000.00. snow storm prevented the vessels
Russia will prepare for action by from entering tho Straits of TKunru
lliitaln tbreatonlng her hold ID tiiidoi
nml Persia. With Japan' Exhibit.
A Hvilnev Aimlrnllii moh caused Tncomn. Wash.. Feb. 21. With the
Lnwle to quit the stage and suddenly most valuable cargo ever brought to
lenvo tho city. Iho Pnellle Const from the Orient, the
,, , American stenmsnip i.yrn arnveu in
RusnlaiiB nro vory cruel to foreign- T, ,,.,! .,,, ,i, Orient. The
ers ut. Nlu Chwang and a reign or . j,rnKht tho exhibit of the Jnp
terror la fonred, nnosn iroverninent for the Louisiana
...... r.
An .,vi,i,iiin I. ronnrtaA tn have RxiiohII Ion nt 81. Lou Is, besides n nils
occurred nt Port Arthur which badly collaneons cargo vniueu ni i,oeu.eo.
wroched Iho forts,
Thn death of Senator Hanna will
probably make Senator Mitchell
chairman of tho committee on Inter
oceanic ennuis.
Heavy landslides In California have
blocked railroad traffic.
It would bo Impossible to estimate the
value of tho entire cargo, for In the
Mikado's exhibit, nro nrtlelos of bmcIi
rnrlty that they nro priceless.
Believe She I Courting Publicity to
Influence French Sentiment.
ParlH, Feb. 14 St. Petersburg, in
time of peace ono of tho most difficult
l lare for Journalistic effort, has itid
dcnly become a great center for for
ilgn correspondents. Tho continental
press Is at present flooded with long
telegrams and letters from tbo Rus
sian capital.
Tbo sudden rush of tho Russian
government Into publicity hua aroused
suspicion In ninny quarters, whre the
question Is being asked: "What Is
behind the move?" It Is Inconceiv
able thnt Iho Rusnlnn government,
which took great pains to conceal ev
ery important happening In timo of
pence, should now want to make pub
lic every happening of importance. A
number of leading diplomats and army
and navul ofllrers are- Inclined to be
lieve that In permitting nil manner of
ensttllonu! stories to bo spread
broadcast. Russia hopes to Influence
the stock market In France, and thus
cause a diversion In favor of Russia.
ninod rulsonlug and Puerpnl Fever.
Formalin I the most powerful anti
septic agent known to science, and If It
la really an antidote for Mood poisoning
medical practice hna made some ad
vancement. Still Its use must be ac
companied by the greatest caution. It
It given ubctitancously by using 1-20X0
of formalin tn a dccl-iiormal salt aula
tloti. Of tills, sixty centimeters Is
hypodrrmli-ally administered, ami In an
hour the pattent'a temperature may be
reduced from 104 to 00. Tbo primary
effect of Introducing formalin Into the
arterial circulation Is to convert the
blood liitsclf Into an antiseptic solu
tion.
AMERICA HAS TROOPS PREPARE
Orders Issued That Men Be Ready
for Service at Short Notice.
San Francisco. Feb. 22. Under or
ders Issued by the War Department,
the commanders of the various mili
tary departments of the United States
Army are placing In readiness for Ber
vlre at short notice the organizations
under their Immediate charge. This
work la being done In the quietest
possible manner. Bad the officers in
barge are very reticent about talking
on the subject.
All hough It Is not generally known,
the San Francisco Presidio Is the most
active Army post In tho work of pre
paration. The troops of the Presidio
are doing extra drill dally, and It is
stated on tho best of authority that
lthln the next two weeks a large
consignment of cold weather clothing
will arrive at the post ready for distri
bution on 24 hours' notice. The fact
hat blanket-lined overcoat", fur glove
and heavy Arctic boots are among the
nipplles to -arrive In San Francisco is
significant of the intention of the War
Department to prepare the troops for
a climate more regoroug than that of
California.
Another phase of these preparatory
measures I the work of the Coast
Artillery that bus charge of the har
bor defenses. The recently organised
school In submarine mining hag taken
such an Interest in Its work that
corps of men is dally devoting the
hours between sunrise and sunset to
tho study of the methods of modern
harbor defense, while a large force
of men is working day and night in
the sheds near the Government
wharves preparing platforms such as
are used for placing the floating
mines.
Hood River Farmers Effectively Settle
Water Question.
Hood River. There is great re
joking among the farmers of Hood
River, and the thousands of nconlo in
the United Htatea who have come to
look to this llttlo garden spot of Ore
gon for their big red strawberries,
need worry no longer about their
supply of fruit, for the crop this year
will be larger and better than ever.
The water question, which hag been
causing the farmers so much t run 1,1c
the past three weeks, is practically
fccttled, and tho Irrigation ditch will
hereafter belong Bolely to the farmers.
10 pay ror the ditch and make nec
essary repairs to Insure a supply of
2500 Inches of water will require an
expenditure of about $'i0,000, equal
to 2,000 shares. Where farmers are
rot prepared to pay cash for water
privileges, arrangements have been
mode to secure loans from the atat
school fund at 6 per cent. It Is figured
oui mat maintenance, expenses an'
interest on the loans will bring the
cosi or water to the farmers to le
than $3.50 an inch. To those able to
pay cash for water right, the coat will
tie a little over $1.60. The cost
water each year la regulated bv th
cum tii rn? nd expense appor
tioned pro rata among the land
owners. The ditch Itself is to remai
entirely free from debt, the farmers
assuming all obligation
As soon aa a majority of Btock I
taken, a call will be issued for
stockholders' meeting, orglnazation
will he effected and a board of dlrec
tors elected. Work will begin imme-
nateiy toward getting the ditc
of
shape to have water for
berries by May 1.
in
the straw.
WAR CALLS FOR '04 MONEY.
Japanese Order Filled In Record Time.
Philadelphia, Feb. 24. In conse
quence of n rush order from the Jap
uneso government for locomotives, a
local plant has established a new rec
ord by tbo construction of seven loco
motives In a day. The engines order
ed by Japan arc for the military rail
road that will connect Fusan. on the
southern coast of Corea, with Seoul.
An order calling for 20 locomotives.
o bo completed with 30 days, was re
elved late In January. Fight of the
!0 hnvo already been shipped to Fu
san. The romnlnlng 12 win be shipped
this week.
Threat to China.
New York, Feb. 24. The American
prints the following copyrighted (lis-
'id eh from Its London correspondent:
A dispatch to tbo Express from
Shanghai says: It is officially stated
lint M. Paul Lessor, the Russlnn Min
uter to China, has threatened Lien
'ung. tho vice-president of the Chln
se foreign office, with tho direct con
sequences, If China insists on the te-
urture from Shanghai harbor of the
itnsslnn gunboat Mnndjur for which
tho JnpnnoBO cruiser Atsnhlina is ly
ing in wait.
Philippine Commissioner Confirmed.
Washington. Feb. 24. Tho Sennfe
todav confirmed W. Cameron Forbes.
Foruker olllclnllv notified th son- of Massachusetts, to be n member of
nto of the death of Hanna and Oroa- tho Philippine Commission and to sue-
vonor tho house. Doth bodies adopted ceed na secretary of tho Department
resolutions nnd took other tep to of Commcrco and Police, Luko K.
honor his memory, Wright.
First Ballot for Hanna' Successor.
Columbus, O.. Feb. 24. Separate
ballot a will be taken In tho House nnd
Sennto nt noon on March 1 for the
election of a successor to tho late
Senntor Hnnna and a Joint session will
ho hold at noon on March 2 to declare
tho result. This is provided in a
Joint resolution Introduced and adopt
ed in tho Senate tonight, and which
will bo ratified by the House tomorrow.
Russia Officially Notifies St. Louis
She Will Not Participate.
St. Louis, Feb. 22. Official confirm
ntion of Russia's Intention to abandon
nrtlclpation in the exposition was re-
reived today In a cablegram to Presi
dent Francis from Commissioner-Gen
eral Alexandrovaky at St. Petersburg.
Tho rablegram follows:
"Notwithstanding the best of feeling
to America and a readiness for par
ticipation In the World s Fair, Russian
tradesmen thluk their patriotic duty
la to give the money appropriated for
the exposition to the Red Cross and
wounded soldiers. I am going person
ally as the chief delegate of the Red
Cross to the- Far East. My sincere
thanks for your kind, atentlon to our
stuff and me personally. My best re
gards to all directors and chiefs."
China Denies Request for Aid.
Toklo, Feb. 22. Advices to the Jap
nnese government from Pekin say that
while at Mukden, Viceroy Alexiff ask
ed the Chinese troops to aid in guard
ing the railroad, so as to prevent the
Interruption of traffic.. The Chinese
refused tho request and asked for in
structions from Pekin. The Chinese
government told them to Inform
Alexiff that as Russia had insisted the
Chinese were unable to guard the rail
way In time of pence, surely Russia
could not expect them to guard It in
time of war.
America Is Criticised.
St. Petersburg, Feb. 22. The re
fusal of the Commander of the United
States gunboat Vicksburg to unite
with the Commanders of other foreign
warships at Chemulpo to protest
against the fighting there on Febru
ary 8, which resulted in the loss of the
Russian warships Variag and Koreltz.
and tho fact that the Vicksburg did
not tnke on board any of the surviv
ing Russlnn soldiers, has created much
unfavorable public comment here.
Arming Black Sea Coast.
Warsaw, Feb. 22. Heavy Biege guns
are being mounted on. the coast 15
versts (ten miles) from Odessa. They
will cover the approach to the harbor.
Russin a feverish military and naval
activity belies the optimistic official
assurances to the effect thnt nothing
untoward Is anticipated and that no
other power is expected to become In
volved in the present conflict.
TERMS OF SALE VIOLATED.
Purchasers of Umatilla Timber Land
Sell Wood Wholesale.
i-enuieton. Charles Wi!kin3, agent
at tne t, matnia Indian reservation
nays that during the past six months
I here hag been wholesale consumntlon
or limner on ceded lands, which prac
tire Is a violation of the lawB. The
lands were sold some time ago in 40
acre tracts at $2.25 an acre, but the
purchasers were informed that
would be unlawful to convert the tim
ber into wood or lumber until two
years after the date of sales.
It is Bald that many have naid but
little attention to this stinulation. and
recently have sold large quantities of
wood to Pendleton dealers. One man
ir anld to have delivered 800 cords
of wood to a fuel firm of Pendleton
since last fall.
Mr. Wllklns sayB the timber lands
are out of his jurisdiction, and ac
cordingly It Is not within his province
to preter charges against the alleged
violators. The lands are In the dls
trlct governed by the Land Office a
I. a Grande and it will be for the Land
Inspector to investigate the irregu
larities. A great deal of apprehension is felt
It is believed that many prominent
farmers will be Included among the
violators.
NURSERIES DO A BIG TRADE.
Milton Firms Supply a Large Territory.
Milton. Two large nurseries do
business here, and just now the man
agement Is busy preparing for tho
shipment of nearly $50,000 worth of
trees to all parts of Washington and
Oregon for spring planting. Ship
ments will be made during the early
part of next' month In many cases.
other orders "going out later. These
i roes are grown near this city, and
all the care and attention Is given by
loon! men. The . varieties generally
are those that are known to thrive
well in this climate and the principal
output is apple trees.
During the past decade a large
imoiint of money has been sent out
of the country for fruit trees, and a
row years ago local capital became In
terested and a nursery was establish
ed to furnish trees for the orchards
which seemed to be certain of estab
lishment. The business proved satis
factory, and it is now difficult to get
formers to send away for nursery
stock of any kind. Following the suc
cess of one nursery, another was es
tablished, and now Milton sends out
more trees annually than any other
place of similar size In the northwest.
AS8E880RS' TERMS OF OFFICE
Do Thoe Now In Hold for Two Years
Longer?
Salem. Do County Assessors, now
In office, hold two years longer, under
the act of 1903, extending the term of
office to four years, Is a question
which will he submitted to the Attorney-General
for an opinion. The
Assessors now in office were elected
under a law which prescribed two
year as the term of office. In 1903
the Legislature amended the law mo
as to read that "there shall be elected
at the general election by the quail-
eu electors or each county In this
Hate a County Assessor, who shall
hold his office for the term of four
years, and until hla successor la elect.
ed and qualified." There Is nothing
in the act which specifies whether as
sessors now In office shall be affected
by the new law. It ha h POT! crftnoa.
ally supposed that the present Incum
bents would retire when their two.
year terms have ended, but there may
be some doubt about this.
On the other hand. It is a general
rule that law changing the length of
a term of office do not affect incura-i
bents unless the intention to do so
is ciear. in the present Instance, th
words "there shall be elected" woub
seem to indicate an intention that th
law should affect only those elected I.
the future, but as these words were
in tne old lew and were merelv re
peated In the amendatory act. they
may not have any particular meaning
iu luai respect.
BATTLE AT HAND.
FINE COWS FOR DAIRYING.
jacKson County Farmer Buys Hot
steins Big Farm to Be Made.
jacKsonvllle. Brophy Bros., the
owners of a fine dairy ranch in this
aney, nave received from Hcannnnuo
Columbia County, a carload of fine
Holsteln cows to add to their already
t-uun-e nera or milch cows.
uenton Bowers, of Ashland, who
mieiy purchased the Beekman &
Reames tract of land on Rogue River
seven miles north nt .Tar-kanm-nio
have a force of 20 men at wnrlr ro.
pairing tne buildings. rebuildine
n-ucea and clearing additional anrt
inere tg ,uo acres in the tract. 400
acres or which will be put to grass
300 acres of this beine seeded in ai.
falfa this spring, and the remaindlng
ouv io pasture, nne stock is to be
kept upon the land, and Mr. Bowers
pians to have one of the best selected
neros in Kogue River valley.
isaac HouE-enolder has sold his in
erest In the Rain's Creek limekilns
near Jacksonville, and will at once
put In a wood camn on Poorman'n
.reek and a woodyard In Jackson
tne.
Double its Capacity.
La Grande. The La Grande Cres
ent Knitting Mills, the only factory
of its kind in the Northwest outside
of Portland, is arranging to double
is capacity and has ordered a dozen
new machines. The factory makes
stockings, shawls and underwear.
Suits of underwear are placed on the
market all the way from $2 to $25 Der
sun, ana are manufactured of cotton,
wool and silk. It is now imnossible
for- the factory to fill all the orders
oming in. This factory has been In
peration in La Grande only a little
uvt-r six montns.
Busy Time at Prairie Citv.
Prairie City. As snrlne aonroaehes
development or this district begins
10 assume snape. it is now conceded
that the Sumpter Valley and Bonta
railroads will race for the occunancv
of this field. The Bonta road has se
cured a part of the right of way and
me surveying corps is busy locating
the remainder. The enterorise has
been financed, and it is given out that
It will be a steam road instead of an
electric. This brings It in touch with
he O. R. & N. .and simplifies the
transfer from one road to the other.
PORTLAND MARKETS.
Grand Ronde Apples Go Fast.
La Grande. Within the past three
weeks the Blue Mountain Fruit, Com
pany in La Grande has shipped to the
L'nstern markets 15 carloads of Grand
Rondo apples, which were held over
last full by the growers. J. D. McKen
noil, one of La Grand's leading
erocers, has shipped out two carloads
if apples and several carloads of
potatoes of late. About 20,000 boxes
of saleable apples were raised in the
Cove district alone in the year 1903.
and a much larger crop is expected
in the year 1904.
To Move County Seat Back.
La Grande. Petitions have been
put In circulation In almost all locall-
ics In Union County asking the coun
ty Court to submit the question of re
locating the county seat from Union
o Ia Grande to the vote of the people
at the general election in June. This
petition is formulated under the gen
eral law of 1903, which provides for
submission of the question upon peti
tion of three-fifths of the total of all
he votes cast.
sour
To Reduce Rate of Interest.
Astoria. The Astoria school dis
trict has bonds amounting to $12,000,
which ran be redeemed on March 1,
and the directors have made arrange
ments to refund them by borrowing
money from the state. This will re
duce the rato of interest from 6 to 5
per cent and effect quite a saving to
the district.
Wheat Milling quotations: Walla
alia, iiSiSe: bluestem. S2(S'S3c:
alley, S2c.
Barley Feed, $21?22 per ton:
rewing. $22: rolled, $23.
Hour Valley. $3. 75 Iff 3.85 Der bar-
ci ; nam Wheat straights, $3.90 4.10;
ears. ij.&dSi 3.7o; hard wheat Dat-
nts, $4.204.50: graham. $3.75; whole
neat, $4; rye flour. $4.50(34.75
Oats No. 1 white, $1.15; gray, $f.l0
jt-i- it-uiai,
Millstu Its Bran, $18.5019 per ton;
middlings. $26; shorts, $19.50'20;
chop, $18; linseed, dairv food, $19.
Hay Timothy, $15JH7 Per ton;
clover. $1113; grain, $1213: cheat,
$12H3.
Butter Sweet cream butter, 32VjC
per pound: fancy creamery, 30c;
choice creamery, 2527c; dairy and
more, nominal.
Butter fnt Sweet cream, 3lc
cream. 29c.
Poultry Chickens, mlxed.-l 2 H 13c
per pound; springs, smallt 1415c;
hens, 1313tye; turkeys, live, 1516c
per pound; dressed. 18((I20c; ducks,
$S9 per dozen; geese, live, 8c pet
pound.
Eggs Oregon ranch, 24
dozen.
Vegetables Turntps 80c per sack;
carrots. 80c; beets. $1; parsnips, $1;
cabbage, l(jr2c; red cabbage, lc;
lettuce, head, 25ff 40c per dozen; pars
ley, per dozen, 25c; tomatoes, $1.60
S per crate; cauliflour, 75c$i
per dozen; celery, 65c per dozen;
pumpkins, lc per pound: cucumbers,
$2.25 per dozen. Onions Yellow
Danvers, $22.25 per sack .
Potatoes Fancy, $lfff 1.10 per sack;
common, 7090c, growers' prices;
sweets, 2ic In sacks; 2c crated.
Beef Dressed, 6 7 He per pound.
Mutton Dressed, 67c; lambs,
Sc.
Veal Dressed, small
large, 6H7c.
Pork Dressed, 781c.
Hops Choice. 2628c per pound;
prime, 25c; medium. 24c.
Wool Valley. 17j18c: Eastern
Oregon, 1215c; mohair, 3235c.
2oc per
8W9c;
Armies of Japan and Russia Masted
on Yalu River.
Cbefoo, Feb. 20. Many wild rumor
are current here, but there Is a dearth
of reliable .news and there Is consa
quently much anxiety felt a to tha
latest developments in the war. It la
believed that there has not been
clash of the opposing land forces, but
news of one is hourly expected. The
two opposing armies are now face to
face and it Is simply a question a to
which will attack first.
Owing to the fact that the two
armies are unaccompanied by war cor
respondents, there will probably be
some delay in getting the new out af
ter the battle actually occur. Th
Japanese commanders have made
namerous promises to the correspond
ents, but passes to the front have not
teen forthcoming, and they are all un
der guard and likely to remain there,
according to present Indications. The
Russians, of course, want no English
speaking correspondents with them
and grant no passes. The result of
this absence of trained observer from
the front explains to a great extent
the lack of reliable news and the re
petition of old news. There is no
way to get news through the same day
and, even after it has passed the cen
sorship, in many cases it is held uo
ana laid aside by official direction.
The report that Russian forces are
in possession of Wiju means that they
are In strong force on the Yalu and
thr.t the Japanese' advance will prob
ably soon be checked. The Czar's
forces in Manchuria, it Is now be
lieved, have been underestimated, and
it is believed here that there are
enough under arms to compel the Jap
anese to put forth their best effort
to gain even a slight advantage in
the first battle. That this is realized
in Tokio is Bhown by the fact that
transport after transport Is discharg
ing its quota of trained warriors la
Northern Corea and that the Japanese
are holding their advance until the
majority of the troops arrive.
CHINA COMPLICATES 8ITUATION
Belligerent Are Warned Not to Dis
turb Tombs of Ancestors,
New York, Feb. 20. The Sun' Lon
don correspondent cables aa follow:
'A communication of the utmost Im
portance which may add fresh com
plications to the Far Eastern situa
tion has. It is said, been handed to
the various government by the Chin
ese Ministers in Washington and th
European capitals. The Chinese gov
ernment haa addressed both Russia
and Japan, reiterating its Intention to
maintain strict neutrality, but declar
ing that the sanctity of tombs of the
ancestors of the Chinese dynasty at
Mukden and elsewhere muBt be re
spected by the belligerents.
"China's communication states that
she ha troops at Mukden and other
points in Manchuria, and In caae
either Russians or Japanese desecrate
the tombs, or in other ways does In
jury to them, orders have been given
tc the troops to vindicate the honor
of China and meet force with force."
HAY WROUGHT UP.
Russia' Attitude to America Is Very
Aggravating.
Washington, Feb. 20. Secretary
Hay is disposed to request an explana
tion from Russia if the fact is' de
termined that Russia is detaining
American vessels In Chinese ports and
preventing Consul Miller from protect
ing Japanese interests In Nlu Chwang.
He is much dissatisfied with the in
dications of Irritation felt by the Rus-
lan government at the attitude of the
United States and the preparation be
ing made for retaliation. No Instruc
tions have been sent Admiral Evans,
the intention being to await the re
port on his inquiry now under way.
ii it is proven that American ships
are being prevented from leaving
Manchurian ports, Secretary Hay will
arry out his intention of addressing
some pointed inquiries to the St
Petersburg government.
British Steamer Detained.
Shanghai. Feb. 20. The British
steamer Hsl Ping, from Chin Wang
Tao for Shanghai, arrived here today.
The captain reports that she was fired
on by the Russian ships and forts
when seeking shelter in the outer
roadstead of Port Arthur, and that
she was then ordered to Dalny, where
she was detained four days, in spit
of the captain's protest. The Russian
gunboat Mandjur has not gone up the
river to be dismantled, as reported.
She remains at Shanghai in defiance
of the orders of the Chinese officials
to leave this port.
Two Russian Vessel Still Ashore.
Washington. Feb. 18. The JananeBe
minister today received a dispatch
from Tokio stating that trustworthy
Information has reached the Japanese
government to the effect that as a re
sult of the Japanese attack on the
Russian squadron off Port Arthur on
February 8, the Russian battleship
Retvizan, is still aground outside the
port, the Czarevitch was towed into
port, and the Pallada Is still aground
at the entrance of the port. All three
at hors de combat.
ID NOT WAIT FOR WAR NOTICE
Japan Attacked the Russian Fleet Be
fore Relation Wee Broken Off.
New York. Feb. 20. The Herald'
St. Petersburg corresnondent pAhtaa
as follows: "The fact Is now known
to all foreign nations that, according
to careful calculations made, allowing
for the difference in time, the torpedo
attack upon the shins at Port Arthnv
took place one hour before M. Kurino
called at the foreign office to announce
that diplomatic relation had been
broken off,"