Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Oregon mist. (St. Helens, Columbia County, Or.) 188?-1913 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 27, 1905)
THE OREGON MIST. .11 ""' r if mmw n ii i . i i 1 1 VOL. XXII. . " ' , t . , , , , ' ST. HELENS, OREGON, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1905. , NO. 46. . -" ' " " - NEWS OF THE WEEK In a Condensed Form for Our Busy Headers. HAPPENINGS OF TWO CONTINENTS A Resume sf th L Important but Not Lsts lntrstlng Events of the Put Week. Tlie beef trust bat wad a new attack on lli Indictment tgalnat It. A iMrm area In Clackamas county, Oregon, ha I wen added to tb Cascade forest reawrv. American euetome officer have cap tured t large amount ot rebel arm in Haul" Domingo. "Tim Naaarlne" It Ilia title of a new llililiral ami historical play Just pro tlueed in Chicago. The Northern Pacific la to reduce th running tlma between Portland and Pratt la una- ball hour. Tli money in circulation In Ilia United Htate show a targe par capita Increase (or tha fiscal year ol 1906. Every railroad leading front Moscow ia tint up by t)a strike and a lamina imw threatens tha ancient Kuaaalo cap ital. During tha 12 month ending June SO HUb persons were killed and i:i,7w:l Injured a tha mult of acctdeul un railroad traina of lh United Mate. Tl government calila from Seattle to Hllka ia out oi order and la pre nuunitHl by expert to t mi of poor qual-tlx- A now Una may be put ia at a oal of 1500,000. IVnnaylvanie had over Il.0o0.000 In tha Alleghany bank which recently cln.de I la duura. Tlia alata treasurer aaya lia hat every reem to Iwliava tiiat It Ii amply protected. Tha rrancMJermaa agreement leave Morocvo in Ilia lurch. Amtaador Mayer urgen Improve ment In tha diplomatic service. Ker.atnt lKil liver declare that tha Chicago university amella of Htandard I'll. Official corruption continue In Chi na, iiotajtlhatandiiigth relornt policy adopted. A Wim-otialn woman beltevre alia ha found har ton, kidnaped 25 yaara ago, in health), Tha Union Pacific It to eetablleh a new limited train lietween Oinaha and lm Augrle. Method of a Pan Francisco trutt company hava rauaed Ilia batik examln aia to cluao Ilia door. ilaron Itayaahl, Japanese mlnleter to Kngland, I likely to I raited bonia to Uk charge of tha Foreign office. The Prince and Pilnceaaof Wale ara going to India to quiet I ha enUgoniam to I'm ton. The trip will Coat tht Hrlti.li people 11,000.000. Tall aay tha difference between Kooaevell and Itryan on tha railroad juration ia that tha preeldent wants rate control, while JJiyan dcetiee tov ernment ownership. There la a general feeling of relief In Europe now that Norway and Sweden hava nettled their difference. War lirt warn t bean two count rir waa only prevented by Intervention of the pow Rockefeller ba advanced tha priea of crude nil 10 centa. I'realdeut Kooaevelt vllited Ihe bom of hi niothri at Koawall, Georgia. MnieviU b ha orderail tha barricade and tranche b ha been occupying (Iwitroyod. Twelve comniiaaloned army officer hva been convicted during the paat year by court martial. Qiintltle ol rich pearl ara being found on tha Kankikea river, aay a Ia i'orle, lml., diapatcb. A Chicago woman dreaacd In man' garb liutlnctively reached for her k!it in cnmalng a ttreel. Her arreat fol lowed. The geographical turvey ha reportetl that tha aml of th Pacillo coait i nearly one-third Iron. Thl I tha ra till of tei nmda dining tha pt unf uicr at tha lair ground. The weather bureau y that during the clear cold night Northern Light ol rare beauty ahould be en. Japanese merchant are to put a fl l aieamera on the Pacific coaat trade that may make heavy Inroad on pre ut companle. They will carry lieight at about one-third the preaent lato. I'dkln advice eay Buaala and China will renew the treaty ol 1727. Thi will allow Kuimia tn eitvnd her trade in Mongolia and permit bin luhjoct to engnge In mining nd railway enter-priii-a. , Weitern railroad re placing heavy ordur lor exjnlpuiont. It I announced that the trlke In Ii um lu have been ended. The entire middle Wet 1 burled under a blanket ol mow. Kntlmlatlo ovation greet the presi dent at every top on hi Southern trip. Prealdent Rooaevelt ha received meaaage ol thank Irom th car and mikado. -T-L II,' "J ---- i L. -L..I... - -I TRlINQ to heal split Foreign Agent Ara Eagerly Picking Up Cereal Where They Can. Chicago, Oct. 24. The American grain trade I Juat Winning to realiia that Kurope I practically barren ol all coarw grain auppllna and I willing to py whauver prlr 1 necaaaary to up ply th want. Unprecedented la Ira f new rirn, which thi year I ol eicep. llonally good quality and almoet equal to old corn lor all purpoaea, i one ol the igua on th commercial barometer. Hale within two day of mora than 2,000,000 buahel ol barley malt, at th t point alone, to aay nothing ol tale at other center, I another algnlflcant pointer. Agent of lorelgn houae ara louring th market everywhere, pick ing up all available duiuin wheat, which I being gieedllv npped up by Forope, more eapecial.y Kuaala, which I woefully abort of wheat. Thl I ahown by th fact that (Me.ua, hereto, fore the foremoat wheat canter of Kua ala, I prtctically an empty port thi year. Th public ha wondeied why th wheat market ha been qulercent while tti eiport demand for every other grain ha teen booming by leapt and bound. Th eiplanatlon it eaay. Canadian ei portere have been reaching Into the million of wheat- In Manitoba and eending juat enough to European mar ket to keep the price down until they can get poaaeaaion of the entire North- weal crop at their price. Farmer of th Northweat, In unde. volrped country, have no ttorage la li lt Ira, and mual (end their wheat to market. It I going into elevaUir at Motitrvel and other point Kaat and on the Pacific coaat, and when it 1 all cleaned up price will undoubtedly lake a aenaational Jump, lor fcurojie ha no wleat and mutt pay our prlca. MOVINa TROOPS HOMEWARD Trln From Harbin Ara Crowded With Men and Equipment. Harbin, Oct. 24. Now that the rati Oration of the praca treaty ba been announced to the aaaemhl, permia. aion ha been given by headquarter to telrgraph the fact thai the tioop are being rapidly demobilised. All north bound train from tha potition are hiled with troop and their equip ment. Half of all the native building In the northern part of KoancbengUu and vicinity have hem lequidtlonetl lorn preparatory to thie movement home ward and many hot and building there and elae where will be uaed by Ihoaetronpe which the authoiitiet will te unable to move before winter. Lieutenant General Llniavltch, who ha been here mire Motr 12, con template a vlalt to Vlatlivoatok. A proininrnl general ba been apiKilnted to conduct Oie movement ol Kuaaian prienner Iron) Nagaaaki. Th HuK Chinee bank It preparing to reopen ite former branch? along the Una ol the South Manchurian railroad and i arranging to ratablnh agencie at Ihilny. Port Arthur, Yiukow, Muk den and Ti Paa. Th Amur railroad will be Immedi ately eitended to lllagovwitchenak and Kiberovrk Iral autiioritie are oe Ing re-lnduatrie eitabliahed. GOLD STANOARO IN MEXICO. mport Have Ritan and Activity la Marked In Many Lin. M.ii.-n tilt. Oct. 24. The currency and exchange commiaaion which ha been In charge of matter conntcted with the putting Into operation ol the reloim. met yeaterday under the chairniaiiahip of Finance Minister 1.1 mantou. It wa announced that the mint had begun coining new ?5 gold plrcet. The monetary change to a gold haa bmn ooerative now for nearly aia month and haa brought about the lability in rate ot exchange on loreign market, regard Ira of the variation in the price ot ailver. i...nnrta hava rlacn. owlm to the greater pun-haling power of the people. There ha been an increaae of activity in manufacturing, mining, land trans action, etc., and Mexican exchange on gold bal ha been effected without paitubatlon of any kind and reaultlng in Increaae of general proapetlly. Reform of the Service. 24. Secretary Uool ha completed a plan lor the reorgan isation ol the diplomatic ami conamar u. Il haa recent v worked out a tcheme whereby he hope to e- cure the hearty co-operanon oi -grea. Among other thing he will recommend Increaae ot the talary lor embaaaadora, mliilter and comul; ownerahlp by the United State ol It lorelgn legation: tue mem ayaieiu .. .1.- iiill.,.. nl ia..aiiriea in all ooiition under the grade ol ambaiiador and consul genoral. Mexican Crop la Short. u..M rit v. Oct. 24. The thorium , .1.. i.u.i nmn ia nreater than waa vi wiv w.. r eillmated a low week ago, end miller are looking for the entire removal oi the duly on American ana wheat by the Bret ot next year. The city baker hve reduced the ie of ...ArLloir that it ia linpoi- lible to give th ame weight aa for merly. There are ome Biocaa oi .1.. i...,.i. trmt farmers here, but not ufflcient to bring down the price. Protatta to th Porta. Comtantlnople, Oct. 24.-Mr. Lelh- .1.- . mlnlatnr. Ill U- man, wo nmjiii . , --- dreiaed a note to the Porte, protecting ... . .t 1-. ! (I.a ... again" ......w trial of Ubirki VartanUn, of the Porta anurance uiiBim.i tMwvv- i.i is. MMatutn.Uwl iiAndimr the .ettlement of the question ol principle arising irom vnruwmu v.. American cltixeuahlp. OREGON STATE ITEMS OF INTEREST QUIDE TO OREGON ELECTOR?. Secretary of Stat lut Compilation of Stat Law. Halem Halem and a number ol other Oregon town which have election In December have overlooked the fact that nomination are required to be made in accordance with the direct primary law. In Balem the direct primary wa not thought ol until a lew day before the time tor filing petition had expired. Horn of th iietition filed by Republi can hear the (ignature of .Democrat, although the law require that every man tigning tuch atitlon must assert that he it a nieinlwr of the political paity named In the petition. Section 6 of the direct primary law provide that in title holding their municipal election on a day other than th date of a general election, the pri mary election (ball be held on the 30tb day preceding the day ot the municipal election. Petition for nomination for city ofllce muit le filed 15 day before the date of the primary election. Secretary of Ktale Dunbar ha recent ly huiued In pamphlet form a complete compilation of Oregon election law and will mail a copy free to any jieraon requeetlng the aame. Sawmill at Oalla. Dallas The proposition of ( ieorge W. Cone, ot St. John, Ore., to build a lumber mill in Dalla with a capacity of 11,000 feet per hour ha been accept ed, with but very alight modification. It I understood work will commence at once on both mill and pond. When tbi mill I completed, Dalla will have within her corporate limits three mill, and already there are four other in territory tributary to the Polk county seat. Mr. Cone' proposition wa put before Ihe businee people at a meeting and met with almost unanimous sue cea. Negotiation have been brought to an rnd and now nothing remains, it ia listed, but the formal tigning of the paper. University Needs Money. University of Oregon, Kngeue Only a mimh shed will be used to house the timber testing machine which has been on exhibition in the Forestry and Irrigation building of the United States government building at the Lew i ami Clark exposition, tha reason assigned being a lack of funds. The university asked an appropriation tor thi purpose at the last session of the lelmlature. but it was denied. In a rough hed, therefore, will be con ducted the teal which will be part ol the engineering course at the univers ity. In other departments, it if itated, there will be a similar, but less ap parent enforcement of economy. Governor Accept Monument. cut. On lhlf nf the Deonle of the atate and the Public ituilding com missioner, uoveinor cnamoenain naa addressed a letter to Vice President E. K. K. MeJimaey, of the Missouri com mission to the Lewis tnd Clark fair, formally accepting the presentation of the Missouri monumeut to the state, .unrina iIim MiMiinrl romniission v m-" n that a prominent ite on the capitol ground wouia oe eeiecieu iur i tiw :nn Tli monument presented to Oregon by Missouri i known as the heroic utue and i lituated Immedi ately in lront and to the left of th Missouri building, receniiy uesiroyeu by fire. Frost Cut Fruit Short, Freewater The fruit packing house, of which there are three here, have flniahed their buaine for the season. The fruit crop ha been considerably abort of tha usual yield on account of the late spring frosts. The shipment fortheteason are a follow: 15,000 boxeoftrawlerriee, 2,000 crate of cherrie. 6,000 other lierries, 5,000 Ikixc pears, 30 car of prunes, 25 care of apples, 36 car watermelon, 18 can onions, 6,000 boxe peaches and grape. During Ihe packing season 150 people have been given employment, receiving wages to th amount of nearly $6,000. Corvallia Poultry Show. Corvallis Committee are working i.. .t i, tlia I. lu nnultrv show to 111 rmm-n. r he held here Novemlwr 2 to December n 1....1...1... I vear'a ahnw was a a. uii'iuBi.f. - - pronounced anccess, both In attendance and financially, n ia hnn to make the coming IMV v - - i'mw still btt'er in every way. At the regular annual meeting oi mo n ... . t . I I .....1 n,a n4)t Poultry association tne iunoinn um cers were elected tor the ensuing year : Pr. Howen, presmenv; i nrre coin Kinseley, vice president; Eugene Simpson, tccretary-tteasurer. Redmond Now On Mp. Bend Redmond postofllce wa e tabliihed last week, with Carl Ehret a postmaster. Service i daily by the PrliievlUe-Sister tage. Kedmond i a new townsite laid out by the Dee chute Irrigation A Power company, in the desert on the main irrigating canal, 20 miles north of Bend. It is now headquarter of the Deschutes Irriga tion & Power company, the ofllce and commUsary having been removed to that point from Bend. New Clothe for Convict. Salem Within the next few days the prisoner at the penitentiury will be garbed In new uniform of a blue gray color, mlnu the tripe. The new uniform are now being made In the prison tailor ehop. The olid color uniform 1 an Innovation, and at the same time a concession to the well be haved prisoner.' Hereafter only re fractory Inmate will be obliged to wear the (tripe. First shipment of copper. Douglas Mining Firm Send Three Ton to Tacoma 8melter. Glendale Swank A Burnett have made the flrit shipment ol copper ore ever lent from thl vicinity to the Ta coma Smelting company. The ship ment consisted ol three ton ol ore, es timated to average above 30 per cent pute copper, though a goodly portion ol it 1 upward ol 40 per cent. These man have not an extensive de posit ot thl ore, but from uch devel opment of their property a ha been made the owner are confident they have a valuable mine and that further tunneling will develop a more extensive deposit. Largt deposit of copper ore have been discovered in number ot placea within a lew mile ol Glendale, but io far none have been lonnd that warrant extensive development, though it i believed that such will yet be dis covered. The location of the deposit Irom which the above ore come 1 about 18 mile eat ot Glendale, on the west side of Green mountain, a mountain mined and prospected for gold for the hurt 20 years, more or lee. Rich Ldg In Mohawk Valley. Eugene Residents of the Mohawk valley, in the vicinity of Marcola, about 20 mile northeast ot Eugene, are considerably excited over the dis covery ol gold bearing quatrs io the bill in that locality. When pounded with a hammer, gold in large quanti ties can be seen in the quarts. Ex perienced mining men aay the ore i rich, and II the ledge I found to be extensive, there will be a big rush ol people there to (ecu re claim. No assays hive yet been made, but the ore taken out i apparently rich. Llbrariea for Rural Districts. Salem Mi Cornelia Marvin, secre tary ol the State Library board, is ar ranging circulating libraries to be sent to several rural districts. Owing to the tsct that the legislature did not provide any money for the purchase ol book, Mis Marvin baa to depend on the generosity of friend of the move ment to provide libraries. Thirty state maintain state library boards and purchase book tor cuculation among the people. Stamp Mill Nrxt Spring. Glendale Willi Kramer, ol Mrytle Creek, wa in Glendale a tew day ago, and said that be wa preparing to place a lorce ol men on bis V, buky creek properties lor the winter, and would install a modern ttamp mill in the spring. Mr. Kramer i now associated with bis two brother, and tbey hve the mineral and the money with which to develop it. Thi mine ia about two milea Irom the famous uold Bug mine. Bringing Sheep From Mountain. Pendleton Sheepmen are now com mencing to drive in their flocks from the mountain range, which in some localities are alieady covered with snow. On the range close in they are being left, because the recent ram have improved pasturage and sheep will do well for some time. Ranchmen After Supplies. Pendleton The Grant county ranch men are now coming into tbia city lor their winter supplies, come of whom came a distance of over 100 mile, re quiring several days to make the tnp. They report a hard time coming thiouiih snow and mud over the mountain range. PORTLAND MARKETS. Wheat Club, 73(S74c per bushel; blueetem, 76077c; valley, 72c. Oats - No. 1 white feed, $24.50 25 50: gray, $2425 per ton. Barley Kwd, 2U 6021 ; brewing, $21.5022; rolled, $21.60($22. Rye $1 40(31.45 per cental. Hay Eastern Oregon timothy, $14(3 15 per ton; valley timothy, $1112; clover, 8(S9; grain hay, $89. Fruits Apple, $191.75 per box; peaches. 60(875c per crate; hnckleher rics, 7c per pound; pear, $1.251 60 per box; crabipples, $1 per box ; grapes, muscat, 750c per- box ; Tokay, 75c ($$1.30; black, 0e$l ; Concords, 15c; oulnces. $1 per box. Vegetable Beana, l4c per pound; cabbage, lU4c per pound; caulidow er . 76c per doxen : celery, 75c per dos- en ; corn, 05c per sack ; cucumber, 10 15c per doxen; pumpkin, ?klc; tomatoes, 30r40c per crate; squash, ?4Jlc per pound; turnips, 90c(3$l per sack; carrot, 6575c per sack; beets, 85c($$l per sack. Onions Oregon yellow Denver, $1 0 1.25 per lack. Potato Oregon fancy, 585o per sack: common, nominal; Alerced tweets, 22V4c per pound. Butter Fancy creamery, 25 30c. Kits Oregon ranch, 2IM80o. Poultry Average old bans, ll,Si 12tc; young roosters, 10911c; sprimrs. 11 W13c; dressed chicken, 12W(313c: turkey, live, 1617t,r; geese, live, 8(3 9c; ducks, 14H V Der Dound. Hops Oregon, 1905, choice, ll13c; olds, 910o. Wool Eastern Oregon average best, 19921c; lower grade down to 15c, according to shrinkage; valley, 269 27o per pound; mohair, choice, 30o. Bee( Dressed bull, l2c per pound; cows, 394c; country steer, 434SJ0. Veal Dressed. 397 k'c per pound Mutton Dressed, fancy, 6?4'97c per pound; ordinary, 495c; lamb, 79 7Wo. Pork Dressed, 696,0 P61 pound. Negotiation On for Merger of Rival Livestock Associations. Denver, Oct. 23. The proposition to amalgamate th National Livestock asso ciation and the American Stockgroweri' association on a bail that would also dispoce of the much mooted question ot representation of the packing, railroad and commission bouse Interest, wa taken up at the Joint conference of the executive committee of the two organi sation at the Brown Palace hotel yea trday. A plan outlined by a (ubcom- mittee wa voted down after a some what extended discussion and the sub committee instructed to make another effort to formulate a plan that would be acceptable to all interest. The subcommittee will report gain today The report, which wa defeated yes terday, recommended that the National Livestock association be changed to Na tional Livestock committee, conaiiting of representative of the producer of livestock. This committee would in turn appoint committee on railroad, packing bouses, commiaaion houses, etc, which would give those interest a representation and a right to be beard whenever they felt the need of expres sion. The report recommended tnal the American Stockgrowei becom known a the American Cattlegrowera' association, with a membership con sisting of cattle, horse and (wine grower. The abeep men, the report suggested, should affiliate with the American Woolgrowers association. FIGHT WITH FEVER ENDED. Nw Orleans Now Prepares to Wel come President. New Orleans, Oct. 23. Yellow fever report to 6 p. m.: New cases, 7; total, 3,359; deaths, none; total, 435; new foci, 2; under treatment, 92: discharged, 2,832. Though Dr. White would not confirm the statement, it was generally re ported today that practically the bole force employed by the Marine Hospital service here would be honor ably discharged witbin the next week or ten days, in view of the practical extinction ot yellow fever in New Or leans. There seems to be general desire to have all ot tha men remain here until the preident's arrival, in order that tbey may participate in a formal presentation of the Federal le ver fighters to the president, an event which it baa been arranged will take place at the city ball. The em rency hospital wa finally closed today. A thanksgiving service marking the close ot the fever fight, ia being arrang ed to take place at Trinity church on Sunday next. Mayor Bebrman today issued a pro clamation in connection with tbe visit of President Roosevelt, asking all bus! ness houses to close during tbe presence of the distinguished visitors, in order that (be whole community might have the opportunity of manifesting it ap preciation of tbe service rendered by tbe preaident in tbe fever fight. CHOLERA UNDER CONTROL. Attacka European and American Rather Than Filipino. Washington, Oct. 23. The cholera plague in the Philippine is being got ten under control by the Marine Hos pital service. A peculiarity of the dis ease is that it has not shown any ten. dency toward location and tbe persona attacked have been generally ol the better classes. In proportion to tbe population there have been more cases among the Europeans and Americans tbsn among natives. The origin of the cholera baa not been discovered. Tbe body of a person who died of the disease wa exhumed at Pateros shortly before tbe outbreak. The belief is growing, however, that cholera may live indefinitely in the well of Pateroa and at time . become virulent. Many medical men are in' clined to believe that tbe disease ia in digenioua to the islands. A land quarantine haa not been In itituted and a cordon around Manila would require 100,000 men. This free dom from restraint Las enabled tbe board ol health to secure co-operation Irom the natives in effort to stamp out the disease. Food Supply Running Short. St. Petersburg, Oct. 23. The strike in Moscow has resulted in practically a general suspension of railway traffic. and the effect ot thi are making themselves felt in a general advance in price ot foodstuffs. It ia almoet im possible to get food and supplies through to Moscow, owing to the tie up, and there is much suffering in the city, especially among tbe poorer class. Some heavy consignments of food have been stopped In transit, and it is im possible to move the cars into tbe city. Cruiser Lena to Leave. Vallejo, Cal., Oct. 23. It i expected that the Russian cruiser Lena, whlcn ha been Interned at the Mare Island navy yard for more than a year, will depart from here about November i She will take on coal at 8an Francis" o after she has received ber breechlocks and other portions ol her equipment now atoied in the ordnance department at Mare Island. The official order ot release from the State department and from St. Petersburg have not arrived Death List Growing. Chicago, Oct, 23. Later returns from the storm which swept the Great lakes tor 38 hours; subsiding yesterday morning, increased the known death list to 21 and th numher of veesel either lost or damaged to 42. Several small craft are missing, and it is feared J that the death list will grow. DIG BY CONTRACT Government's Probable Action on Panama Canal. EXCEPTING GREAT CULEBBA CUT Doubt Whether Any Concern Would Undertake Thl Work on Ac count of Magnitude. Washington, Oct. 24. The govern ment of tbe United State ia willing to enter into contract with corporation or individual for the construction of any portion or all of the Panama canal. This statement was made by Secretary Taft today, while discussing the condi tion upon the isthmna and the policy of the government. There is come doubt in hi mind whether any concern would be vrilling to undertake tbe excavation of the Cu lebra cut on account of tbe magnitude of that work. It is not the excavation that will be so difficult as much a tbe disposition of tbe earth taken out ot the cut. But as to the other work the government will be ready to enter into contract for its completion as soon as it i determined wbat type of ounal ball be constructed. It i stated that contract wonld not be made during tbe preliminary stage because the gov ernment had to prosecute the work un til its officer knew what wa to be done and bad a sufficient knowledge of tbe condition to pas upon bid and make judicious contract. STRUGGLE IS ENDED. Jerry Simpson Diea After lllneas of 8everal Yeara. Wichita, Kan., Oct. 24. Ex-Con gressman Jerry Simpson died at 8:06 o'clock yesterday morning at Si. Fran cis hospital, from aneurism of the aorta. He bad been hovering bewteen life and death for ten days. At tbe bedside were Mrs. Simpson and their only child, Lester Simpson, of Koswell N. M. Mr. Simpson waa conscious up to five minutes before death. The end came without struggle. The ex-congressman s last illness be gan at the time of bis final campaign for congress. In spite of failing healtn be continued hi businee activity, working as an agent for the Defreest- Draper land company, of Chicago, and operating an extensive ranch near Roa- weli. Six month ago bis condition became such that be went to Chicago to consult a specialist, who pronounced bis malady hopeless. From that time be continued to grow worse until final ly compelled to abandon business. He was brought to the hospital here Sep tember 21. ONLY ONE LINE STILL OPEN. Strike ia Preliminary to General Sus pension of All Labor. St. Peterbsurg, Oct. 24. The rail road strike situation shows no sign, of amelioration. Traffic across tha cen tral belt is paralysed, while a genera' strike, which broke out today at Kba- ton, nas cut on communication in an other great section oi the empire. , Kharkoff u tbe most important rail road center in Southern Russia. Tbe strike affects, among others, tbe line to tbe Douetx coal region, on which Rus sia largely depends for fuel during the crisis in the oil regions, and the line to Odessa and Sebastopol. Moscow is isolated except tbe line to St. Petersburg, while the capital has an international line, by Fydtkubnen, openo Berlin. Tbe strike is part of a general scheme by Social Democrats to compel the emperor to grant universal suffrage and compel political freedom, but tbe plan of the leaders is to avoid a collision with the authorities. Their present purpose is to make tests of the strength of the various organisations preparatory to tbe inauguration of a general atrike of all classes in support of tbe radicals at about the time the national assembly meets. Will Send Machinery to Panama. Seattle, Oct. 24 In competition with the leading machinery houses of the East, the Hallidie Machinery com pany, formerly the Hallidie-Hensbaw-Bulkley company, ot this city, waa awarded 73 contracts for machinery and supplies for the Isthmian canal. The class of machinery which will be shipped from Seattle to Panama con sists principally of engines, drilling mills, rasps and miscellaneous sup plise, showing that the Seattle house is . well equipped to handle such busi ness in the face of such competition. America Great Gaa Producer. Washington, Oct. 24. An Important report shortly will be issued by tbe United States geological survey on nat oral gas and its production and con' sumption. It will show tbst iu 1904 tbe United States produced 98 per cent of tbe world's knwon output of gas, the value being $39,496,760. Four state Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana and Ohio produced 93.5 per cent of the output in the United State Pennsylvania leading with 47 per cent. Witte Appointed Premier. St. Petersburg, Oct. 24. It was per sistently reported in the clubs and in government circles late at night that the emperor yesterday bad appointed Count Witte premier, with the port folio of minister of finance. All tne papers thi morning give prominence to the report. ATTACK ON LOCAL TRUSTS. Government I Proaecuting Hawaiian Lumber and Meat Monopolies. Honolulu, Oct. 20. Acting under instructions of the United States attor ney general, District Attorney Brackens has Instituted the first of a number of injunction' auit for tbe purpose ol- breaking up tbe local trnsts. A solt waa filed today against tha firm of Allen & Robinson, Lewer A Cook and Wilder A Co. It ask that tbe Federal court issue a perpetual in junction restraining tbe above named firm from carrying out an alleged agreement controlling tbe entire lum ber busineas of tbe islands. It i alleged that tbe three firms named control 90 per cent of the busi ness here and have combined, in viola tion of an act of congress to prevent the unlawful restraint of trade. It is fur ther alleged that the price of lumber here, a a result of the combination, ia 175 per cent in advance ot that on the mainland. Practically all tbe lumber used here ia imported. United HUte District Judge Dole signed an order to show cause why the injunction should not be issued.- Tbe bearing was set for December 4. It is reported that Mr. Brackens is about to file a similar suit against tbe cattle and meat dealers, of whom there are about 70, including many very prominent ones. It is alleged that practically all of tbe cattle ranchers of tbe island have combined to control re tail prices, agreeing not to compete and to sell only at a aingle market in Hon olulu. AMERICAN RIGHTS SUSTAINED. Root Proves Glouceater Fishermen May Fiah Off Newfoundland. Washington, Oct. 20. After a con ference between Secretary Root and Sir Mortimer Durand, tbe Brititb ambas sador, lasting for an hour and a half, it wa announced that a speedy and satisfactory solution of tbe Gloucester Newfoundland fisheries controversy was in sight. Tbe facts obtsined showed that the Newfoundland inspector of revenue protection service directed that American vessels should not be sllowed to fish under American register, on the ground that they had never done so in the past. Prior to this time the Amer ican fishermen had bought bait in New foundland nnder fishing license. They are now prevented by law from buying bait, and the authorities have been un willing to permit tbem to catch herring without a special fishing license. Mr. Root informed the ambassador that an American register is a ship's highest proof of nationality, and carries with it not only a license to trade, but also a regular fiahing license. As soon as this fact is msde clesr to the Newfoundland anthorities, it is ex pected they will withdraw all objec tion. Meantime, the American fisher men, witn toe approval of tbe 8'ate department, . have been instructed to continue their fishing. WARSHIPS IN CARIBBEAN. France Ready to Enforce Demand on Venezuelan Government. Washington, Oct. 20. Secretary Root i doing all he can to assist in bringing about a settlement of the differences between tbe French and Venexuelan governments growing out of tbe refusal oi the lattei to longer maintain diplo matic relatione with M. Taigny, French charge d'affairs, in Caracas. Today be discussed tbe situation with both H. Jusserand, tbe French ambassador, and Senor Veloz, tbe Venexuelan charge d'affairs here. The French ambassador, as be was leaving the State department, said M. Taigny was entirely without fault in the matter. He had merely obeyed tbe directions of the Paris foreign office when be sent to the Venexuelan gov ernment a letter of protest against its action in seising tbe property of tbe French cable company. "Therefore," said the ambassador, "France will support him." He added significantly: "We have two beautiful warship now in the Caribbean sea." Alturas, Cal., is in Ruins. Reno, Nev., Oct. 20. From an un known cause a fire started at Alturas, Cal., at 9 o'clock last night, and when the flames were under control late this afternoon tbe greater portion of the thriving Modoc county town was in ashes, at least $75,000 worth of prop erty being swept out of existence. Tbe fire started in a candy factory, from what cause will probably never be known.. A brisk wind carried the flames from one building to another, tbe Are fighter being unable to check it course. Francis la Found Guilty. Philade.phia, Oct. 20. Stanley Fran cis, who has been on trial in the Unit ed States District court since October 9, charged with using the mails to de fraud la connection with the defunct Storey Cotton company, was today found guilty. Francis, who was known under several aliases, waa charged by the government with being a principal in the Storey Cotton company, which when closed by the postal authorities, owed $2,926,578 to "customers." Great Storm In Oklahoma. Guthrie, O. T., Oct. 20. Heavy wind storms prevailed throughout East em Oklahoma last night. The worst was at Manfoodkit, where two children were killed and nine person injured, two prabsbly fatal 1 v. At Meriden a house was demolished, but no on was hurt.'- Near Cunning farm building were damaged, but no person .have been reported injured. '