WKST SHOUK.
News conies from Quebec that the Northern Pacific
is negotiating with the Canadian provinces of Ontario
and Quebec for aid in constructing a short line across
them from Sault Ste. Mario to Quebec, which would
give it a line 100 miles shorter than the Canadian
Pacific, as well as access to the Atlantic coast cities
independent of the American lines now connecting
with it at Chicago. If this be done it will be tho Wild
est move in the railroad ganio yet made, and will
make a really trans-continental lino out of the North
ern, u distinction now only enjoyed by the Canadian.
As tho latter is backed by the dominion government,
no aid is expected from that source in this invasion of
its territory, but the provincial governments of Ontario
and Quebec are free to do as they choose, and as the
new road would bo of incalculable benefit to those
provinces, thero is little queation aliout their willing
ness to render what aid then can. As each provinco
owns great tracts of unoccupied land, a valuable land
grant will probably bo made. The Canadian Pacific's
monopoly seems to havo been badly encroached upon
the past two years. Attorney McNaught denies that
there is any such scheme on foot, and says that he
and President Oakes were in Quebec to secure a "sal
mon fishery," and that the Northern Pacific will con
fine its attention to building new lines in tho northwest
and Manitoba ; but denials of this kind are looked for
as a matter of course, and as the premier of Quebec is
authority for tho original statement, the denial of Mr.
McNaught has but little weight. Tho scheme may
never come to an issuo, but there is little doubt that it
has been broached and is under consideration.
Corvallis has aroused herself and has put her foot
firmly in tho path of progress. A meeting of citizens
was recently held, at which three committees were
appointed, ono to look into tho question of a branch
line of tho Oregon Pacific from Corvallis to Prowns
ville and from Corvallis to Kugene or Junction, one
to see about the construction of a water ditch to the
city for manufacturing purposes, and a third to reort
on measures for building a bridge across the Willam
ette. Any or all of these projects would I of vast
benefit to tho city if carried to a successful issue. An
electric light plant is now being put in and an ice fac
tory is projected, a street railway c pany has Im-n
incorporated and many other improvements are on the
Intards.
It is announced that the delegates to the convention
of American states now in session at Washington will
visit the Pacific bIojhj uon the completion of their dc
liberation They recently made a tour of tho eastern
tatca lasting forty days, and were royally entertained.
Now let our western cities prepare to receive them in a
manner creditable to ourselves and the nation. The
relations between the states of tho Pacific coast and
the nations of Central and South America aro going to
lie very close and the interchange of traflic large in a
few years, and nothing will stimulate it better than
giving these representative men a correct Idea of our
great resources and ability to supply things they need.
When the canal across Nicaragua is completed many
of those states now out of our reach will lie brought
into close communication, and now Is tho time to lay
a foundation for tho trade that will then spring tip.
This matter should be taken in hand by the various
Iniards of trade in season to make suitable prepara
tions for their coming.
It is with deep satisfaction that every honest Amer
ican citizen receives the verdict of the Cronin jury, if
it will only run the gauntlet of tho supremo court as
well as the anarchist cases, Chicago will havo reason
to foci proud of her ability to punish criminals In spite
of tho fact that unlimited money and great legal abil
ity were combined to secure their release. If any man
objects to tho punishment of these men, bo ho Irish or,
otherwise, he is no true American nor truo friend of
Ireland and her suffering people. If there Is any mis
carriage of justice whatever, it is the fuilure to bring
home tho crime to the chief plotters In the conspiracy
to " remove " the objectionable doctor.
Official dishonesty has met with at least a teniM.
rary check in Mormondom. Indictments have lieon
rcturned by tho grand jury against tho mayor of Hall
Lake City and a doien other city and county olllclals,
charging them with a wholesalo plunder of tho treas
uries. The cry of religious iersecutloii will no doubt
bo raised, but tho fact that the Mormon church ami civil
officials have always considered themselves entitled to
a "good living" out of tho mA Is well known, and
an effort to put an end to such a stuto of affairs Is lin
ing made. Indictments, however, aro easier to secure
tlmn convictions, and the culprits may escape their
just deserts,
Dm tors disagree in other things Wsides thopror
mcthml of giving their patients happy dispatch, At
Olympia now the fight Is over a state medical board,
in which tho "regulars" are trying to shut out tho
others. Orthodoxy in medicine Is getting to bo quit
as absurd and dogmatic as in religion,
The Ciar lias refusal to reeognlio tho Hraiillan
republic. Never mlndi One of these lino days
dynamiter will so work upon the Ciar that llraill will
not recogni him, nor will anyone vIm, not even Itli
own mother,