OREGON
MIST.
I JjlJjj
VOL. XXI.
ST. HELENS, OREGON, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1904.
NO. 12.
EVENTS OF THE DAY
OATIinRHD FROM ALL PARTS OP TUB
TWO HEMISPHERES.
Comrchnlv Review of the Import
nt Happening! of the Put Week,
lrMntd In Condad Form, Mutt
Likely to Prove Interacting to Our
Many tteetlere.
Secretary of Hlato liny In again III
Willi tno Kiip.
I'urt Arthur forte are running short
tr iiniiniiniiiiin.
Interior ili'imi I niont official er
IiiiihI y object to Itoovovolt' tii'W for
est reserve order.
lliinaln will consider the granting of
cable rontcRslon by America, a a
In. 'aril of neutrality.
Contraiy to rumor circulating, fix
President Krugnr. of the Transvaal,
In In tlm best of health,
Clarence Mackay propone to organ
Ire a trout to handle Iho toiiipuiilca
orlgltuiU'il by 111 rather.
Tlm report of the American rom
rounder at Chemulpo show that Hun
blutt criticism w unwarranted.
An Alabama .Negro, who (hot two
mall clerks, haa bc-cn run down, and
Ih now In Jail guarded by atate mill
tin to prevent lynching.
A bill tin bom Introduced In con
gross to allow the Philippine to Is
urn' f 10.000,000 of nontaxable bomlH
fur public Improvement,
The house hue panned a great num.
Li t of pension bill.
Ituimla haa Issued a proclamation
setting fin th the contraband of war
Fruncn la now eatlh4 Kuropoan
power will not be drawn Into the
war.
Advance guard of th two armlet
meet near I'lug Vang and a alight en
f ageinciit followed.
Itusalun demeanor toward Amorl
tan at Hi. Petersburg uu longer
uii" of frleiidiinosa.
iJiint tittles clerk deny on tand
Dint speculator llemou paid (hum for
untitle Information.
Ituniita haa a force (littered from
Wlju, on the Yalu river, to Jokunahan.
on the buy of Core.
Jnpuneaa expect their fleet to con
Hue It attack on Tort Arthur until It
falls or I made untenable.
Oregon aonator have opened a light
on the Frye shipping bill, declaring If
discriminate agalnat the Columbia.
A determined effort I being made
to luciraao the aalary of rural mall
carler. At their present pay they
only make a bare living.
The limine haa paaaed the naval ap
prtiprlullon bill.
Chicago atrlke Involving 26.000
Ineu are greatly feared during March.
Kn milliliter of France aay her navy
In too weak to attempt to aid Kuaala
Corea ha decided to order her
trooop to Join the Japanese force In
the Held.
Military expert predict a great
battle on the Yalu river and a Japan
cnu victory.
President flooaovelt haa Uaued
proclHiuntlon putting the i'anama
canal treuty Into effect.
Ity the collapao of a high acaffold at
the Chicago poatottlco one man waa
killed and 35 olhera narrowly escaped
hi f.ito.
:;:.ii(ilutl(in of the KnglUh parlla
tueiit la at hand and King Kdward l
prepared to havo l.ord Spencer form
a new cabinet,
Uecelver Booth, of the Rosobnrg.
Oregon, land office ha severed his
connection with the lumber company,
tlm removing the objection of Koos
evelt to hi reappointment.
Ten children were bndly burned at
a (lie In a church In Cincinnati.
The president haa fixed nla algna
turn to the I'anama canal troaty.
China I aure to Join Japan a soon
aa her army wlna a great victory.
IIiikhIu I very angry with Britain
over LiiiihiIowiio' book on Thibet.
Russian merchants have adopted a
policy of retaliation agalnat Airorloa.
The rntiaina canal company will In
no way block th tranafer of property
to tlm United State.
Tho aonnte ha paaaed the agrlcul
turnl and legislative, executive and
Judicial appropriation bill.
Tho house hn turned down amend
ment to strlko out a battleship and
cruiser from the naval appropriation
Mil.
Japanene force hnve landed, at Pos
nil buy and advanced to Hun Chan.
The Russian gnrrlaon on tholr ap
pronch (led to Klrln without firing a
aliot,
UiirhIii la pouring troop Into Tort
Arthur at a rapid rate.
Tho United State haa ordered
troopa to Panama to rollove mnrlnoa.
Two membora of a doperate robbor
hand have boon captured In Califor
nia, UuHtilnn military officials are confi
dent the war will be over by Soptein
ber.
Fire nt Jlrookport, N. Y., did great
dariingo to property.
Omieral Charle Dick appear almoat
euro to succeed tho late Senator
Milium.
Japan hna offered to aid China In
requiring tho Russian gunboat to leave
Bhnnghiil.
Franco give sympathetic support
to tho note of Russia declaring that
Japan has violated lntornatlonal law.
W. Rourko Cockran hns been elected
to tho seat In Congress vacated by
Mayor McCIellan, of Now York.
FIRE AND WATER.
Twin Element Take Fourteen Live
Off Tillamook.
Belittle, Feb, 20, Kourlcun people
lost their live mm iho result, of the
fire on tho Pacific Coast Steamship
Company' steamer Queen from 81111
Francisco to Bent tie, early yesterduy
morning. Tlm origin of the lire Is as
yet unknown. It started In the social
hall of the vchhc) at about 4:30 In the
morning, and raged for three hours
before It wus got under control.
When the conflagration was first
discovered, the life bout, containing
the women and children and many
men, wero launched, but three of
these, owing to the heavy seas, were
capsized, spilling I lie pusHcngers In
the water and causing I he loss of their
lives, Three men, waiters on the ves
sel, were suffocated before they could
reach the outer air In sitfety from
their bunks In the glory hole In the
after part of the ship, and one. woman
died from exposure.
According to tho storiea told by
I'l'.ssiingers and crew of the Queen,
which arrived In this ort at D o'clock
thl afternoon, tho venae! was off Til
lamook and about 30 mile from land
when tho fire was discovered. There
wa a heavy sea 011, and the ship
was pitching badly. When smoke was
discovered coming out of the social
bull on the aft of the main deck of
the veanel the crew Immediately rout
ed out and the hose manned, while tho
stewards went from cuhlu to cabin
waking up the passengers. There whs
no disorder, either among crew or pan
rt ngcr.
RUSSIAN SCOUTS DRIVEN BACK
Japanese Encounter Infantrymen in
Neighborhood of Ping Yang,
Toklo, March 2 The first shots of
tho war on land were exchanged yes
lerday at I'lug Yung. A small detach
ment of Kusslan Infantry, evidently
mollis, appeared this morning to the
northward of the town. The Japan-
e outpost opened fire from a range
if 17(H) meters, ami the Russian re
Ired. Tho telegram reporting tho In
Idcnt falls to mention any casualties.
It Is presumed there was none, on ac
otint of the small number of men en
gaged, and the distance separating
the OPIHinlug fort es.
It Is anticipated here that there will
be a small engagement aoon some
where In Northern Corea, where the
Itunnlan are scouting over an extend
d area, clone to tho JupaneBO post
hitis, but a general engagement Is not
expected to occur for some time.
The Kusslan force south of the
Yalu Hlver Is Inconsiderable, Its
git-ntest strength seeming to be In tho
vicinity of WIJI. North of the lain
he Itunnlan army Is constantly In
mining In numbers, and Is being
mobilized, but tho chiincea of ft a as
suming the offensive are still slight.
Japan Is constantly strengthening Its
ositloij and Increasing Its force 111
Corea.
JAPANESE SHIPS HEADING BACK
Tak on Coal and Ammunition, and
Leave for Port Arthur.
Wcl Hal Wei, March 2 A portion
if the Japanese squadron was sighted
ff tho Shantung coast this morning.
Tho warships are believed to have
been coaling and replenishing their
upplles of ammunition preparatory
.- rejoining the ships at Port Aithtir
and renewing tho bombardment of
hat port.
Mill Mimg Chul, the new Corean
Minister to China, who Is proceeding
, l,.UIn tin 1 , 1 11 n ofllellll Visit to tilt'
llrltlsh Commissioner at Wei Hal Wei
iidnv. Ho exnressed tho opinion that
ho new Japnuose-Coroan treaty will
:reatly strentghen Corea and give tne
ountry renewed life for the future.
I 'nrc nim bo Hitld. recognize Japan's
honest Intentions regarding their fu-
:uro welfare, and ho considered mat
ho future development of t urea Is
low assured. Japan will prevail
ignlnst Russia, ho said, and Corea
t ill do all In her power to bring this
1 bout.
No Great Sea Battle.
Toklo, March 2. As the campaign
progresses ll seems mm mo ciiituccn
111 o growing slimmer for a great
pitched bnttlo on tho open sea no-
ween tlm Hoots or modern nnmoHiups
which tho world has long awaited. It
s believed hero that tlm Russians
luck tho strength to assunio tho of-
nslvo and Unit they will prolmmy
stick to Port Arthur doggedly to
await a sea and land Investment.
Whoever wins the war, Port Artliur
will iinilmibtedlv ceaso to bo an im
portant base. Tho fortifications will
probably bo dismantled.
American to Bo With Army.
Washington, March 2. The Tins
slnn army formerly hns granted the
request of the United States that cor-
nin officers of tho American Army bo
permitted to nccompnny tho Russian
roups and witness tnoir operations 111
h war with Japnn. Ambassador Me-
Cormlck, In a cablegram Informing
Secretary Hay of this fact, states
that tho olllcers cannot Join tho Hus
nlnn Army beforo April 15 of the
lluHslan calendar year.
New War Near.
Odessa. March 2. Tho orders that
woro Issued a week ago to tho two
regiments Infnntry at Klshlner and
tho ono nt Hendory havo boon rescind
ed and tho commandants of three
regiments hnvo boon orttoroit to noiu
their commands In readiness (or ac
tion with contingencies In tho Hal-
knns. This Is construed ns moaning
Hint tho Russian government now
considers war between Bulgaria and
Turkey as Inevitable.
SUNK BY SHELLS
RUSSIANS AGAIN LOSE IN BATTLE
AT PORT ARTHUR.
On Torpedo Boat Sunk and Two Battle
ship Badly Damaged Attacking
Flt Which Withdraw In Oood Or.
dr, I Met Outside, but Opponent
800a Seek Shelter.
Ijindon, March 2. A dispatch to
Hid Dally Telegraph from Ylnkow,
listed February 2!, says:
Fifteen Japaneso warships furious
ly bombarded Port Arthur from 10 un
til 12 o'clock this morning. Tho Rus
sian cruisers Novlk, Askold and Hay
an. accompunled by four toriivdti-
boat, steamed out to meet tho at
tack. They wero, however, forced to
retire. Tho Askold was In a sinking
condition. The Novlk was badly dam
aged, and a torpedo-boat, was sunk.
Tho KiihsIuii battleship Hetvlzaii
was ngiilii damaged. Tho Japanese
withdrew In good order.
This bnttlo shows a repetition of
tho now familiar tactic of Japan, and
It Is presumed tho attack wa made In
bud weather, previous telegraphic ad
vice having reported a severe gale
raging at Port Arthur, As usual the
Japanese did not remain long enough
off tho harbor to enable tho gunners
at tho foit to get their range. Again
at tho time tho three cruisers, the
tliiyan. tho Askold and Novlk, came
out to meet tho attack, and this sug
gests that either they were tho only
effective ships there, or that tho
lurger battleship wero unable to get
out.
Many alleged dispositions of the op
IMisIng forces are published this morn
ing, but they tllfTer too much ln de
tail to be of any great value.
A dispatch from Shanghai to tho
Dally Chronicle soys the Russian nre
transferring the gun from the dls
abletl ships at Port Arthur to the
forts there.
A dispatch from Chefoo to tho
Standard, tinted February 29, says a
Japaneso cruiser and torpedo-boat en
tered that harbor without lights at 1
o'clock on tho morning of tho 21t h.
and It Is believed they embarked the
Japanese who took refuge there sfter
the attempt to bottle up I'ort Arthur.
A Toklo correspondent of the
Times cables that tho steamers sunk
by tho Japnneso on either side of tho
Russian battleship Rctvizan at Port
Arthur practically obstruct tho en
trance to the hurbor.
NOT RELISHED BY RUSSIAN8.
Chinese Troop Are Consentrating to
the Weitward of Mukden.
I.lao Yang. March 2. General
Mlshtchenko, with a detachment of
mounted Cossacks. hag reached
KaahiiJa. Corea, and Is expected at
It hlo Yang at once. HI men and
horses are In good condition and ho Is
well supplied with provisions.
The concentration of Chinese
troops westward of Mukden, In the
district of ttuhantsn, is not Tellshed
by the Russians. War material Is being
brought up and the mllltla posts are
being strengthened. It la doubted If
the attitude of tho population can be
relied upon. Tho people at several
points refuse to sell produce to the
Russians. Snowstorms are raging
hero and the frost is intense. The
railroad Is working perfectly and
troops are arriving uninterruptedly.
Their health and spirits are excellent.
SAY FORT WILL DESTROY FLEET
Runsijn Military Authoritie Have No
Fear for Port Arthur.
Moscow. March 2 Interest
throughout Russia Is now fixed on
Port Arthur, and speculation as to the
probable fate of that supposedly im
pregnable fortress takes tho widest
range.
The publication of General Stos
sel's order to tho troons white It tins
had tho effect of arousing enthusiasm
In Russia, hud also attracted atten
tion to tho tremendous strategic val
ue of that fortress and to the crucial
art It plays In Russia 8 tilnns for the
defeat of the Japanese In Corea.
While tho fill hi re of the Jnnnnose
nttempt to bottle up tho licet evoked
sarcastic comment from tho Russian
press as to the Japaneso cunning and
tho miscarriage of tho enemy's plana,
the Russian military authorities are
pointing out that this attempt having
been defeated, therefore It must fol
low Poit Arthur Is Impregnable and
tho Japanese can never capture It.
Original force of Rebel Was 3000.
Manilla. March 2. General Leon-
aril Wood reports, under date of Feb-
mary IB, an engagement with Datto
Moros, under llnsnn. on tho Island of
Jollo. Lieutenant West and six pri
vates were wounded. Ono has since
il:ed. Tho Moro loss was heavy.
Hasan succeeded In making his es-
capo. Ills original force of 3000 hus
now been reduced to 15. Tho island Is
liow under control of tho American
authority, and influential Moros are
aiding In tho pursuit of tho outlaws.
Tho members of tho constabulary
who revolted at Mgan are all In cus
tody. Ration are Very Short.
New York, Mnrch 2. Tho Sun has
tho following cable from Its London
correspondence: Tho Tientsin cor
respondent of the Express says that
tho repeated attacks on Port Arthur
havo created a condition approaching
demoralization ninoiig the troops.
There Is llttlo hope, that tho place will
be able to make a long defense. Ra
tions there are already exceedingly
short, and It la expected that when
tho town Is Invested, hunger will soon
r-ompel Its capitulation.
Will Not Advance for Month.
Paris, March 2. Reports received
from Russian sources Btnte that the
Russian land preparations In Man
churia will not bo completed for a
month, and the general advance can
not bo ordered beforo that time. It
1? then expected that whatever
ground tho Japaneso have gained will
bo overcome and they will be Anally
annihilated.
FIRE RUINS CAPITOL.
Wisconsin Muat Reconstruct Its Fine
State Building.
Mudlson, Wisconsin, Feb, 29. The
lire at the Wisconsin state capltol
building caused a loss of $8U0,00
Tho nro means the building of a new
capltol, a special session ot the legis
lature and the probable renewal of the
agitation In favor of the removal of
tho capltol from Madison to Milwau
kee.
The fire was caused by defective el
ci tric wiring. At 8 o'clock It had com
pletely ruined the east and west wings
containing the senate and assembly
chambers and the departments of the
ti.x coiiiiiiImhIui), the adjutant-general,
railroad commissioner, state school u
pcrlntcndent, superintendent, of pro
perty, board of agriculture, state nor
mal school, commissioner of fisheries
fish and game warden, state board of
pharmacy, state land office, dairy and
food commissioner, state treasurer,
commissioner of labor, governor, see
ictary ot slate, state board of control
and Insurance commission, the su
premo court, law library, and the state
library commission.
j'ructlcuily all the valuable state
records arc bcllved to be safe. Must
of them remain In masonry and steel
vaults In the rulna.
Fire apparatus was sent from Mil
waukee. Governor Scholleld maintained in
surance on tho building throughout
his term totalling $000,000, but the
ltiKt legislature instituted an Insurance
fund and directed the state's officers
to allow the Insurance policies to
lapse.
In June last there lapsed $510,000,
and In Decern Per $'J0,00U. There la In
the Insurance fund at the present time
about $i000 to meet the loss.
The lire practically devastated every
portion of the capltol building, with
the exception of the north end. This
was saved, but is ln such a delapldat-
ed condition that this portion, togeth
er with the standing walls, will have
to be torn down.
Governor La Follctte was early on
the scene, and by hi coolness and
self possession did much to enforce
order among the workers. All the
contents of the Immense law library
were caried out, together with a large
quantity of other books and papers.
The priceless records stored In the
Grand Army room also were saved.
Chief Charles llcrnard was over
come by smoke and fell from a ladder.
receiving serious Injuries. He Is un
conscious. From an original cost of $00,000 in
1837, appropriations from lime to time
for new additions made the cost of
the state capltol to date about $900,
000. RUSH TROOPS ON.
Japanese and Russian Armies Draw
ing Together,
Wei Hal Wcl, March 1. A lengthy
description of the progress of the Jap
anese operations In Corea has been" re
ceived over the new wireless tele
graphic station between Seoul, Che
muplo aud Wei Hal Wei. During the
past few days but few troops have been
lauded from transports, the chief work
having been the landing of supplies
and 4500 ponies. These latter will be
used for the transport of artillery and
by the corps commanders. It is esti
mated by the Times correspondent
that there has been landed, since the
Japanese Invasion began a total of 20,
000 soldiers, including the entire
Twelf'h division and a part of the
Second division. The Imeprial guaras
who are expected to constitute the ad
vance, havo not a's yet arrived. The
artillery consists of six batteries at
tached to tho Twelfth division. The
guns are chic 11 y of the rapid fire va
riety, and designed especially for
mountain use. When lu shape for
transportation, five ponies are requir
ed to transport each gun and carriage,
and tho members of the batteries are
leclared to be unusually expert in
the use of the arms.
It Is reported that roaps are being
landed in smull bodies along the coast
immediately souln of Wlju. Thse can
easily reach the Pekln road, along
which tho Rusians are reported to be
encamped, lly landing troops here
instead of at Chemuipo the Japanese
commander succeeds in placing them
five days nearer tho scene of prospec
tive hostilities. Kight thousand Japa
nese regulars, accompanied by a
mountain battery, are reported to be
advancing beyond Seoul towards Ping
Yaug, at which place 350 Japanese
scouts are encamped.
Russian Route Japanese.
St. Petersburg, March 1. A dis-
natch received here from Lloa Yana
dated February 28 says that Chinese
on the Yalu river report that an ad-
vnnifl mini-fl nf Ruulnn i-flvnlrv which
has penetrated Corea for a distance
of about 200 vorsts across the river,
had an encounter with a detachment
of Japanese and that the Japanese
were compelled to retreat and fled,
leaving their horses, which were seis
ed by Cossacks. General Ltnevitch
despatched cavalry and a body ot in
fa nt rv in mirsiilt and with an order
to occupy Northern Corea.
Blockade of Vladivostok.
London, March 1. Vladivostok has
been blockaded by a Japanese fleet
since Thursday, according to a Dally
Mall dispatch from Hakodate, which
adds that Incoming steamers report
Russian cruisers on tho east const of
Kingwnssaii, in the Hay of Sendel. Ja
pan. Japanese warships have been
reported In the vicinity of Vladivostok,
but this report of a blockaue. although
considered probable, hag not been eon
firmed from other sources. The Bay
of Sendal la on the enst coast of the
northern end of the Island of Nippon.
Chinese Troops to the Front.
Pokln, March 1. Since February 23
four troop trains have left Pao Ting
Fu for tho Northwestern frontier. The
last contingent leaves today on two
trains, completing the force of 10.000
troops. These troops are all regulars
and their equipment Is excellent. They
will be replaced by troops from Shan
Tung province.
HAPPENINGS HERE IN OREGON
AN IRRIGATION 8ECTION.
Echo the Pivotal Point for Many
Enterprise.
Echo. In no other part of Eastern
Oregon Is there as many Irrigation
schemes under way as along the Uma
tl la river between here and Pendleton
on the east and here and Umatlilla
on the Columbia river.
Kcho Is the center of this unusal
activity In Irrigation enterprises.
Some of the companies which have
been Incorporated, many of which are
in the midst of extensive improve
ment work, are Maxwell Irrigation
Company. Relthel Ditch Company,
Minnehaha Irrigation Company, Ore
con Land & Water Company. Three
Mile Fall Irrigation Company, Sun-
lllla Ditch Company, Oregon Land It
Construction Company, Bailey Ditch
Company, Inland Irrigation Company,
Browneir Ditch Company, Columbia
Ind & Irrigation Company, Allen
others. There are also a number of
others. There are also a numeb of
private Irrigation schemes under way
by some of the farmers of the sur
rounding district.
Because water has already been
supplied to a large section of the land
below here, the district is now known
sr. the famous Echo alfalfa meadows.
Hundreds of tons of alfalfa are raised
there yearly.
The irrigation project under way
this year will be prove exceptionally
valuable to the farmers who are now
entering the sugar beet raising in
dustry. Some of the compalnes have pur
hased laTee tract of the district and
the properly will be resold In small
plots to be used for gardening and
fruit raisins purposes. The people
are trying to make this district, which
was once a land of desert and sage
brush, a famous fruit belt.
HOW CHEMAWA HAS GROWN.
Great Indian School Celebrates Birth
day With Good Cheer.
Chemawa. The Chemawa Indian
School celebrated its twenty-fourth
anniversary one day last week. The
pupils were given a balf-holiiiay. In
honor of the day, and ln the evening
the whole school assembled In the
auditorium and an appropriate pro
gramme was rendered, consisting of
addresses and music.
Twenty-four years ago the school
una ainrte.l hv f'nntaln Wilkinson, of
iho t'niied States Army, at Forest
Grove, and shortly after was moved to
its present location at Chemawa.
Then it had accommodations for 25
pupils, now It can care for 600 pupils:
then It had three small frame build
fntFB tkrA a hnlf-ncro nf land, now it
has 37 commodious structures and
345 acres of as good land as be found
in the Northwest. From this small
beginning It has grown In size and im
portance and is now the fourth larg
est in the United States, and is class
ed as the Industrial School of the In
dian Service.
Tta minlla rnme from California.
Oregon. Washington. Nevada, Idaho,
Montana and Alaska.
Will Condense Milk In Coose.
Marshfleld. The establishing of a
condensed milk plant In this city at
the terminus of the Coos bay & Rose-
burg railroad Is almost assured. A.
J. Seely, of Newberg, Or., Is here on
his second visit with a view of start
ing the enterprise. The Marshfleld
board of trade has offered all the in
ducements he could ask, and Manager
Chandler of the railroad, has proffered
the site, which is Ideal, being the most
central point in the county, from which
miyk can be received from an locali
ties daily. The dairy interests of the
county are extensive and the condens
er will start with many tons of milk
dally.
Will Quarry Belgian Blocks.
St. Helens. The letting of the con
tract for 640.000 Belgian blocks for
paving the streets of the metropolis
will be a considerable help to the busi
ness of this community, as the blocks
ire to be quarried here, necessitating
the employment of a large number of
men whose wages run from $250 to
8 per day. Two quarles will be oper
ated. One on Milton Creek, and the
other below town, know as the Lis
ters' quarry. The latter has several
of loose rook over the quarry and
this will be barged to Portland, crush
ed and used on the city's streets.
Drop In the Price of Hay.
Fendelton. The first drop In the
price of hay as the result of the open
winter." has occurred. Wheat hay,
which for the greater portion of the
winter, has been selling at $13 per
ton, now sells at $11. Indications are
that the price will go still lower.
Palled timothy is still selling at $22
per ton. There is a good supply on
band, because a small amount, com
pared to other winters, was used dur
ing tho season about closed. A drop
in the price of timothy is expected in
a short time.
Mineral Exhibit for - e Fair.
Baker City. State Commissioners
3affoty and Williams, of the Lewis and
Clark Commission, are here, looking
over the exhibit prepared by Superin
tendent Fred Mollis for the St. Louis
reposition. They found a choice col
lection of ores and mineral specimens
already arranged for the exhibit and a
long and exhaustive list of specimens
secured from the various mines, which
will soon be on hand ready for trans
portation. It will be the most com
plete collection of minerals ever plac
ed on exhibition from this state.
To Forbid Insurance Trust.
Lebanon. In view of the fnet that
the cost of Insurance Is steadily in
creasing instead of decreasing, as
companies hero asserted that It would,
Hon. M. A. Miller stotes that at the
next session of the rtate legislature
he will introduce a bill forbidding in
surance companies to combine, as
they are continually doing.
FROM CATTLE TO SHEEP.
Many Lane County Men Turn to
More Profitable Stock.
Eugene The present Winter,
while the winter has been unfortunate
ly mild, has set a number of cattlemen
to thinking on questions of economy,
and the Tclative profits of cattle and
' u i 1. 1, Aa a r.i u 1 1 1 manv will urQ'Inn I.
ly work away from cattle and devote
their attention more to sheep. There
has been no great profit in range cat
tle for some years, unless they could
be kept on range that cost nothing,
while sheep are paying handsome pro
fits on any of the best farms in the
Valley, after charging them with feed,
Interest and all Items of expense.
The cattlemen are brought to a realiz
ation that It costs nearly as much to
keep an animal over the winter a it
will sell for In the spring, and In this
they see no profit. This winter hay is
worth $18 a ton or better. It takes
no less than a ton to each animal to
winter them in decent shape, and very
few ranges could sell out their stock
r.t $18 per head. For this reason they
are loo... ng more to sheep, which sub
sist almost entirely on the range, re
quire little attention, yield an annual
revenue In wool that will pay for keep
ing and have the mutton left as profit.
RULING ON LAND LAWS.
Opinion on Important Point Given by
Attorney-General,
Salem. In response to a question
propounded by Clerk of the State Land
Board G. G. Brown, Attorney-General
Crawford has rendered an opinion in
which be held in substance, that if a
person purchase Indemnity school (and
from the state and divest It of its tim
ber, and thereafter it is found that
the state cannot convey title thereto,
said purchaser Is entitled to the re
payment of his purchase price paid
to the state, under sections 3310 and
3311 of the code.
The Attorney-General adds that if
such timber is removed from the land
and it is found that the title thereto
lies in the United States, tbe party re
moving it is held accountable for the
same to the Government, but that the
Government cannot hold the state li
able for such devastation.
So far as is known, there is only one
case of this kind in existence, the one
in which the question was raised, and
In this case, the timber has all been
cut, but remains upon the land, owing
to a lack of faciliites for bringing it
out.
Buys Hroce at Pendleton.
Pendelton. John Michaels", of North
Yakima, shipped a car of araft horses
from this point to his Washington
ranch last week. He paid from $200
to $300 per team, purchasing the most
of the horses from B. FT McElroy, a
farmer living about five miles out
from Pendleton. Good draft horses
are held at a high figure in this dis
trict, said Mr. Michaels this morning
I could have purchased horses In Ya
kima county, but not as readily as I
could here. The Seattle buyers have
bought up a large number of the Wash
ington horses."
Oregon Potatoes Shipped East.
Milton. The Blalock Fruit Com
pany, of Walla Walla, is loading one
or two cars of potatoes daily at this
station for Minneapolis and Missouri
River points. It has already shipped
ten cars during the past few days and
expects about 15 more from this vicin-
ty. Farmers receive about 75 cents
per sack, making the industry quite
profitable. The soil in this vicinity
is highly adapted to fruit and veget
able raising. The majority of the
farmers depend entirely upon this in
dustry. PORTLAND MARKETS.
Wheat Walla Walla. 78c; blue-
stem. 83c; valley, 82c.
Barley Feed. $21 22 per ton:
rrewing. $22; rolled, $23.
Flour Valley. $3.753.85 per bar
rel; hard wheat, straights. $3.901
4.10: clears, $3.553."5; hard wheat,
patents. $4.204.50; graham, $175;
whole wheat, $4.00; rye flour, $4.50
4 75.
Oats No. 1 white, $L17Uffl.20;
gray. $ 1.10 1.1 5 per cental.
Millstuffs Bran, $18.50(819 per ton;
middlings., $26; shorts, $19.5020;
chop, $18: linseed, dairy food, $19.
Hay Timothy, $15il7 per ton:
clover. $1118; grain, $1213; cheat.
$12013.
egetables Turnips. 80c per sack:
carrots, 80c; beets, $1; parsnips. $1:
cabbage, 2c; lettuce, head, 2540c
per dozen; hothouse, $2 per box: par
sley, per dozen, 25c; tomatoes. $1.50
Jf2 per crate; cauliflower, 75c$1.00
per dozen; celery, 65(750 per dozen;
squash, lc per pound; cucumbers,
$1.7502.25 per dozen.
Onions Yellow Danvers, $22.50
per sack, growers' price.
Honey $303.50 per case.
Potatoes Fancy, 9()c$1.35 per
cental; common. 75090c;. growers"
price: sweets, 2Hc In sacks; 2ic
crated.
Fruits Apples, fancy Baldwins and
Spitzenbergs, $1.500 2.25 per box:
choice. $101.50: cooking, 75c.
Butter Sweet cream butter, 32Hc
per pound; fancy creamery, 27 H
30c: choice creamery, 25c; dairy and
store, nominal.
Butter Fat Sweet cream, 31c, sour
cream, 29c.
Poultry Chickens, mixed, 12t4013c
per pound; springs, small, 144015c;
liens, 13134c: turkeys, live, 15
Hie per pound; dressed, 1820c;
, ducks, $80"9 per dozen; geese, live,
sc per pound.
Cheese Full cream, twins, 14c;
Young America, 15c.
Eggs Oregon ranch, 202tc.
Beef Dressed, 507c per pound.
Mutton Dressed, 67V4c; lambs,
Sc.
Veal Dressed, small, 89c; large,
6V47c.
Pork Dressed, 707c.
Hops Choice, 25026c per pound;
prime, 24 0 25c,
Wool Valley. 17018; Eastern Ore-
son, 12015c; mohair, 32 0 35c.
CUT8 RIVERS OUT.
Chairman Burton Lined Up Agalnat
the Columbia Appropriation.
Washington, Feb. 27. Chairman
Burton, of the house rivers and har
bor committee, today notified Senator
Fulton that he would oppose the in
sertion In the sundry civil bill that I
to 'be passed this session of any ap
propriation for continuing the Im
provement at the mouth of tho Colum
bia river, or for continuing tbe con
struction of the Dalles-Celllo canal,
which has been begun with tbe pres
ent appropriations.
Burton, contrary to the belief of the
department, holds that neither of these
projects are recognized by congress a
continuing contracts; therefore, ha
will oppose appropriations for them
until the regular river and harbor bill
is framed next session.
Senator Fulton says an effort will
be made to attach appropriations for
the dalles Improvement, and for the
mouth of the river, when tHe sundry
civil bill reaches the senate. In th
hope that the Items can be retained
in conference, for he regards It as
vitally Important that more money
should be made available, so that work
can continue throughout the coming
fiscal year on these two important projects.
POWERS LIKELY TO FAVOR CZAR.
French Diplomats Deem Protectorate
Over Corea Invalid.
Paris. Feb. 27. It is the belief in the
highest official quarters that tbe pow
ers will support the Russian view of
the Invalidity of the Japanese treaty
with Corea so far as It creates a Jap
anese protectorate over Corea, owing
10 me emperor being under duress.
But it Is said that no Immediate action
on the part of the powers is required,
as Ee protectorate will definitely arise
when the terms of peace are consider
ed. In the meantime official onlnlon nam
Is strongly sympathetic with Russia'
position, and It is considered that Rus
sia's note to the powers protesting
against Japan's violation of Corean
neutrality fully protects International
rights as the protest antedates tbe of
ficial announcement of the conclusion
of the treaty. -
The foreign office considers the an
nouncement confirmatory of the view
that Russia's protest to the Dower
was designed to reserve all her rights
and to prevent international accept
ance of the treaty establishing a pro-
leciorate.
WRECKS ARE ONLY HULKS.
Boat Japan Sent Into Port Arthur
Were Old Transports.
Paris, Feb. 27. Additional details of
the Japaneso attempt to close the har
bor of Port Arthur have been received
from most authoritative ouarter.
These say the Japanese sent five or
six 01a transport nuiKs, convoyed by
torpedo-boats, to Port Arthur with the
evident nitrnndo nf ilnklns ika t...it
at the entrance of the harbor. The
oatuesmp itetvizan discovered the ap
proach and her fire on them was
stronelv aocnn1tt hv that tv .knM
batteries north of Port Arthur.
tub report adds that two Japanese
ships were wrecked and lie Jn Tiger
Bay. that alone- the shorn nnth T.n.
anese ship was burned, and a fourth
i:es a wrecK on tne snore outside Tiger
Bay.
Itis believed that tHeao wrorVi om
not warships, but hulks designed to
ee sunn at me entrance of tne harbor.
The wrecks are sail o be at conslde
able distance from' tha Va.w
trance, which remains open.
AGAIN OPEN FIRE.
Japanese Squadron Determined to Des
troy Port Arthur Fleet
St. Petersburg. Feb. 27. Major
General Pflug, the chief of staff of
Viceroy Aliexeff, telegraphed as fol
lows under today's date: "The enemy
aealn attacked Port Arthur from I to
3 A.M., and was everywhere repulsed.
Details follow."
Following the dispatches of Major
General Pflug, saying the Japanese had
attacked Port Arthur Thursday morn
ing aad had been repulsed, Viceroy Al
exieff has sent ln an Identical report
to the Czar.
The fact that the Jananese have re
newed the attack is interpreted here
to mean fhat they are determined to
bottle up or destroy the Russian fleet
at Port Arthur In order to give them
selves freedom for land maneuvers to
cut off or invest the city, or as a feint
to cover a movement elsewhere.
Damage to Port Arthur Serious.
New York, Feb. 27. The Herald
prints the following cable from its
Chefoo correspondent, who received
his Information from Port Arthur peo
ple: "The Port Arthur forts had Ave
enns silenced in the last battle. The
damage to the town was serious. One
shell struck amid the anchorage of
junks, blowing many to atoms. The
Newsky works and the entire fort
were struck three times. Several
shells fell just short of the arsenal,
striking the mute wall surrounding ft,
but doing no damage."
Conspiracy of 8llence.
London, Feb. 27. War corres
pondents and Europeans in Japan,
commenting In amazement upon the
success of Japanese officials In pre
serving secrecy regarding all the op
erations of war, declare that this
"conspiracy of sllence,"ls not only con
fined to government and secret service
circles, but It extends to every section
of the community. All classes of peo
ple are submitting with marvelous pa
tience to being deprived of news,
which they recognize as Imperative to
the success of the cause.
Trying to Intimidate China.
Toklo, Feb. 27. The question of the
stay of the Russian gunboat Mandjur
at Shanghl remains unsettled. Paul
Lessar, Russian minister to China, Is
said to be trying to ontlmidate the
Chinese government In tbe matter, d
daring emphatically that Japan has
little chance of victory against Rus
sian army of 500,000 men "Strong.