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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (March 23, 1900)
THE MOKNIG OREGONIAN, FEIBAY, MAECH 23, 1900. OFFER IS ACCEPTED Senate Will Separate Tariff and Governmental Bills. AND VOTE ON THE FOtyER Ualeas the Hcmse Shorra a IVHliasr ness to Accept the ForaVcr Amendment. WASHINGTON. March 22. The Repub lican peace committee met after the ad journment of the Senate today and prac tically ratified the offer of Senator For aker in the Senate to separate the HouSe Puerto Rico tariff bill from the Senate governmental bill, and to take a vote on the House measure. A report will be made to the Senate committee tomorrow as to the attitude of the House, and If Its report Is adverse to the amendment, Foraker will be author ized to renew his request for unanimous agreement to fix a time for a vote. In case the report should indicate a willing ness on the part of the House to amend, his request will probably be to fix a date to vote upon the House bill as amended. The programme then would be to go for ward with the consideration of the govern mental bill. Road Building in Puerto Rico. NEW YORK, March 22. A dispatch to the Journal and Advertiser from San Juan, Puerto Rico, says: General Davis, who has recovered from his illness, said In an interview: "We shall spend most of the money furnished by Congress in building roads. We will continue to feed the incapablo and destitute. If a man is able-bodied and will not work, he must starve. If he can not work he will be fed. "As free trade and Constitutional rights 2iave become political questions, I cannot enter Into this controversy. I have given the Government the true facts and have pointed out what I believe to be the only sound policy for the Government. That ends my duty. I cannot take part in ques itlons of high statesmanship. "The people of Puerto Rico are civilized and are more capable than the people of New Mexico, who were given territorial government 50 years ago. A SECOND CABLE BILL. Thia Provider for n. Line Up the Coant to Dutch Harbor. WASHINGTON. March 17. The reason why Senator Foster has Introduced a sec ond cable bill in the Senate is that the committee on naval affairs decided to re port a bill for a cable to Honolulu, for Immediate construction, and, prospective ly, with a view to securing a cable to Manila via Guam and the other islands of the Pacific. It was found that many Senators favored the northern route after giving the subject careful thought. At the same time so much attention had been given the southern route, both by the Army and the Navy, that it was im possible to secure Immediate favorable action for a cable via Alaska, the Aleu tian Islands and the coast of Japan, with land lines connecting with the principal cities of Alaska, the coast of Siberia, Japan and China. It was agreed, therefore, that a bill for a cable to Honolulu should be report ed without prejudice to a second bill by Senator Foster, providing for a cable to Alaskan points. It is believed Senator Perkins, who stand high on the committee- on naval affairs, will not oppose the Foster bill. The California delegation is, of course, very actively in favor of a ca ble to the Philippines vja San Francisco and Honolulu. Chairman Hale, of the naval committee, is not averse to an Alaskan cable, and Senator Elklns will probably give It his support. Senator Fos tear's new Alaskan cable bill Is as follows, and It will be noted that the cable as far as Dutch 'Harbor Is to be of the same capacity as would be re quired if the cable system were to be at once extended to the Orient and Manila: Foster's Xevc Cable Bill. "That there shall be constructed, main tained and operated by the United States a submarine cable or cables and connect ing land lines from the Pacific Coast in the State of Washington to the District of Alaska, with necessary stations at suit able Intervals and short branch lines to Juneau, Skagway, Dutch Harbor. St Michael, Cape Nome and other established Alaskan commercial or mining centers, to be determined and designated by the Alaska-Pacific Cable Commission herein after provided for. "Sec. 2. That upon the passage of this act the President of the United States is hereby authorized to secure such con cessions, land and other rights as may be necessary, to enable the United States to lay. maintain and operate said cable lines. ' And In connection with the sur veys, installation and operation of such cable system, the President is authorized and empowered to utilize. If consistent with the publiq interests, the personnel end resources of the Army and Navy and of other departments of the Government, as far as they can be advantageously used without detriment to such executive de partments. "Sec 3. That the submarine cable or cables, and the connecting land lines here in mentioned and specified, shall be con structed by the Government of the United States through a commission to be known as the Alaska-Pacific Cable Com mission, which is hereby createB, to con sist of the Postmaster-General, the Su perintendent of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, an officer of the Army, an officer of the Navy and an experienced engineer from civil life, to be appointed by the President, to serve for a term of four years, or until their successors are ap pointed. The compensation and allow ance for mileage and expenses for the members of the said commission shall be the same as provided and allowed mem bers of the Nicaragua Canal Commission, except as regards the engineer, who shall receive an annual salary of $4000. The Alaska-Pacific Cable Commission shall submit to the President, on or before No vember 1 of each year, an annual report of their proceedings, with suitable rec ommendations. "Sec 4. That the construction, laying, equipment, maintenance and operation of such telegraphic system shall be under the control and direction of the said Alaska-Pacific Cable Commission, which is hereby empowered and required' to carry out the provisions of this act immediately upon its passage, with a view to the op eration of the cables herein provided for at the earliest practicable date: provided, that all the contracts for each span or link shall be awarded to and executed by the lowest responsible bidder or bidders, after advertisements for sealed bids for such time as shall 'be deemed reasonable and sufficient by the said Alaska-Pacific Cable Commission: and the contract shall contain a provision that the contractor shall maintain each span in successful commercial operation, under the Alaska Pacific Cable Commission, for at least three months after the completion of said span. "And the cables provided for by this bill shall be first class In material, construc tion, equipment and operation, and the main cable as far as Dutch Harbor shall be capable of transmitting not less than 40 five-letter consecutive sentence words a minute, and the branch cables to Ju neau and Skagway and other Alaskan rommercial centers shall be capable of transmitting- not less than 15 five-letter words a minute or as many more as the Alaska-Pacific Cable Commission may deem necessary. "And the cables shall. b of American manufacture and laid and maintained by ships flying the American flag. "Sec 5. That when any span of such telegraphic cable system Is completed, the operation of the same, until Congress otherwise provides, shall be under the con trol and general management of the said Alaska-Pacific Cable Commission, which shall have authority. In the Interest of commerce and the public to receive and transmit telegrams other than United States Governmental messages, and shall from time to time arrange In different classes telegraphic business offered and fix differential tariffs or tolls therefor, with a view to working such cables to their full capacity and at the lowest pos sible tariff rates; provided, that In any classification made In Accordance with this provision the official messages per taining to the Government of the United States or any department thereof, or any of its states or dependencies, shall Invar iably take precedence over all other mes sages, and that ordinary press dispatches shall be sent at reduced rates, to be fixed by the commission; provided, that in con nection with such differential tariffs the commission shall formulate such rules re- I gardlng unrouted messages as shall apply equitably to all American telegraphic cor porations. "Sec C. That there shall be paid into the Treasury of the United States the net proceeds derived from the revenues, re ceipts or other earnings of thesaid cables over and above the necessary expenses for operation, maintenance and repairs, and for such provisions for Indefinitely maintaining, as a permanent and contin uous asset, the said telegraphic cables by repair or substitution. "Sec 7. That for the purpose of carry ing this act into effect and execution the sum of $200,000, to be immediately availa ble, of the moneys now In the Treasury of the United States, Is hereby appropri ated and said Alaska-Pacific Cable Com mission is authorized to make contracts for the carrying out of the provisions of this act for additional amounts not to ex ceed J2.000.000 to be hereafter appropriated by Congress. "Sec 8. That when the cables herein authorized are completed and fully estab lish, the operation and control thereo! shall be transferred to the Postmaster General, who shall have authority to re ceive and transmit messages in the in terest of commerce and the public, and shall fix rates of toll and shall arrange for the transmission of messages from news associations, commonly known as press messages, at a suitable reduction from the ordinary rates for established private messages." a e IMPERIAL FEDERATION. Brought Jfenrcr as a Result of the War. TST3W YORK. March 22. A special to the Herald from Ottawa flays: The volunteer participation of Canada and other colonies of the Empire In the war in South Africa has brought the ques tion of Imperial federation within the do main of practical politics. This is not now denied even by those who a year ago were disposed to treat Imperial federation as an ultra-loyalist fad. To such an extent is this the caso that Canadian statesmen do not hesitate publicly to avow their sym pathy with the objects of the British Em pire League. Among its most ardent members today are the Hon. J. P. Tarte, Minister of Pub lic Works, who more than any other man In Parliament, represents French-Canadian sentiment In Quebec; Sir Louis Davles, Minister of Marine, who Is today elaborat ing a scheme for the formation of a Cana dian Naval Reserve under the aegis of the British Admiralty, and the Hon. Dr. Bor den, Minister of Militia, who Is fitting out a regiment to take the place of the Im perial Regulars that are to be withdrawn from garrison duty at Quebec for service abroad. "If you want us to help you, call us to your council," said Sir Wilfrid Laurier, referring to the proposal that Canada should participate In all future wars of Great Britain. "If you want us to take part in your wars, let us share not only in the burdens, but the responsibilities and duties as welL" A prominent Liberal member states that the probable outcome of tho imperial awakening will be a conference of colonial representatives to be held In London at the close of the war to consider pome scheme of federal representation on the lines of mutual defense and mutual preferential trade that will not abridge the independ ence of the colonies In their management of local affairs. The Peace Conditions. CHICAGO. March 22. Lambert Tree re turned to Chicago last evening, after a five months' absence In Europe. Most of that time he spent In England, where his Interest In foreign affairs, gained during his residence as American Minister at Brussels and at St Petersburg, under Cleveland, caused him to devote much at tention to the varied phases of the Boer War. "I am Inclined to believe," said Mr. Tree, "that England will Impose no very severe condition on the Boers in the terms of peace. There does not seem to be any real feeling of bitterness against the Boers In England, and revenge will not be one of the motives to animate England in the settlement. "England will undoubtedly InslBt on a full acknowledgment of her suzerainty, and on a more liberal extension of the franchise and better representation for Uitlanders. so that they can have some thing to say In the taxing power. Fur thermore, she will Insist on the right to have English taught, especially In those schools where a majority of the children are of English parentage." That these terms will be accepted by the Boers, and that they will settle down quietly again after the war Is over Mr Tree feels assured, as well as of the fact that the end of hostilities is not far off. Boer Retired Before Brabant. ALHVAL NORTH. Cape Colony, March 22. Commandant Olivier left Smlthfield two hours before, the British scouts ar rived. He only succeeded in inducing about 15 men to accompany him, mostly insurgent colonists. The Free Staters re fused to go with him. and are returning to their farms. t - A KAFFIR "SMOKER." Tho Xatlve Women Are Enthusiastic Devotees of the Weed. London Daily Mall. In South Africa the native women smoke Incessantly. Tour native servant smokes as she cooks and as she washes. The tobacco she likes it rank. The dainty cigarette an English or Russian lady of fashion enjoys, smoked through a quill, so that no nicotine can stain either teeth or fingers, would be sneered at by a Kaffir. "Give me a pipe and something in it I can taste," is In effect what she says. . The men Kaffirs are neyond tobacco. They smoke something so vehement that it makes them cough and splutter, lose their breath, choke and sneeze to an alarming degree. They like snuff, too, and are fond of offering and taking pinches of it ("schnlff" they call It) when they meet and visit one another. Regarding tobacco as too mild for their taste, the Kaffirs take another weed, and smoke that. They proceed to arrange a smoking party, by squatting on the ground and getting ready their 'pipe," a cow horn with a thin tube In it In serted half-way down at right angles to the horn. The end of the tube Is In a basin, and It Is from It that the smoker sucks the strong stuff that makes him In capable of anything but a series of coughs and chokes for some time after he has had his turn at the pipe, which Is passed around from man to man, until a perfect chorus of coughs rends the air. The tobacco the Boeru smoke looks like poor tea, and Is peculiar In flavor, yet Bi it ;r englishmen who have become used to acquire such a taste for it that they never asK zor any other kind. NEW SIBERIAN SYSTEM IMPORTANT STATION AT THE SUM MIT OF THE URALS. la the Midst of Treasure-House of Mineral Wealth Connection Be tween Old and N'evr. OMSK, Siberia, Aug. 17. The City of Zlatoust Is virtually the summit station cf the railway across the Ural Mountains, a place of considerable importance, with a population approaching 23.000. It Is one of the chief centers of the great mineral industries of the Urals, and. In fact, owes its foundation to the erection of Iron works there about the middle of the last century. Now It Is the -seat of adminis tration of the Zlatoust mining district and the location of several important govern ment works. The Russian Government has an ordnance factory there, where modern cannon and rifles are made In great quantities, and other Iron and steel works have been established. Gold, too, is washed out of the sands of the rivers in the vicinity. The whole of this Ural region is a treasure-house of mineral wealth, and already It has proved of the greatest value to the Russians, though it is by no means fully developed. The Al River, which flows down from the moun- THE PRINCIPAL HOTEL tains through Zlatoust, Is sufficiently mav igable to float barges loaded with ore, so that transportation from the imlnes to the city Is convenient and cheap. It Is from Chellablnsk, the first place of consequence on the Asiatic side of the mountains, that the line of railway ex tends northward to connect the new Si berian system with the older Ural sys tem, between Perm and Tiumen, by vway of Yekaterinburg. This has made It pos sible to ship the essential Iron products of tho Northern Urals, including rails themselves, directly to whatever point they were needed In Siberia for the use of the transcontinental railway. The Ural Railway always has been an Important system, and Its strongest friends thought they had a distinct advantage In urging that the Siberian Railway be extended eastward from the terminus at Tlumen, instead of being constructed from a more southern point. It Is proving, however. that Chellablnsk was well chosen fcr the western terminus of the great line, and since tho Ural system has been given a connecting branch, and has been extend ed far to the northwest of Perm to Kotlas, on the Northern Dvina River, there Is no room left for . difference of opinion. .The latter extension gives direct communica tion with the White Sea at Archangel, so that the Ural mines are able to ship their product at will by that route to the oceA-n. by the Siberian Railway eastward cr by tho Kama and Volga Rivers Into oil parts of Russia. The minerals mined In the Urals In com mercial quantities, which figure In the mining reports of the Russian 'Govern ment, Include gold, p.atinum, copper, iron, coal, salt and sulphur. The product of pig iron annually Is more than 500,000 tons and of steel about 65,000 tons. Coal to the amount of some 250,000 tons Is mined, and of salt there is produced above 200,003 tons. The gold from the Ural mines is reported by weight In the Russian statis tics as amounting to some 15 tons annu ally, and to be steadily increasing. More than 250,000 men are employed In the mines of the Urals, about 175,000 of these In the Iron mines and works, 50.000 in the gold workings and the rest alvlded among the less pretentions Industries. The gov ernment has fostered th mineral Indus tries of the region for many years by the establishment of technical schools and tho granting of special privileges for the de velopment of new districts and discover ies. The Ural mining school at Yekater- Cs BUSINESS STREET IN THE Inburg -was founded in 1721, and has con tinued uninterruptedly since that time, -while of late years several other schools of the same sort have been established. At present, nearly 1000 students annually are in attendance at the schools In this resrton. Not Trains Enough. At Chellablnsk It looked as If travelers were going to have a harder time con tinuing their Journey than they had be ginning It at Samara. On the west side of the mountains two dally trains were contributing to the east-bound immigra tion, while from Chellablnsk to this city and onward but one train Is in servlca other than the weekly express. When we reached the terminal city the train which was made up for tho Siberian Railway was already full. Our train discharged a large number of passengers, and even when half of them turned to the branch line for Yekaterinburg and the north It was still Impossible for all to find a place on the waiting train. While the railway authorities were contemplating affairs and deciding what to do no one dared to step out of reach of his things, for fear the expected car would come and be filled dur ing his absence. The platform of the big railway station was littered with the bag gage ,and bundles of worried passengers, who waited about two hours In that fash ion before any sign of action "was visible. Then two more cars were backed up to the train, and every one made a dash for them. It was the same sort of a race that Is seen on city streets when all the population decides to go home at once; but our railways do not have such things happening for thousand-mile Journeys. Since then. I have learned that this Is the regular thing on tho Siberian Railway, where the traffic is so much greater than the provision that has been made for It yet. For myself, took chances and had a glimpse of Chellablnsk, leaving my com panion to bear the burden of battle If there should be one. I found it a rapid ly growing place, with all the prospects of prosperity that appertain to tho terminus of a transcontinental railway. Whether or not It may In time become the Omaha of the Russian Empire, as some sanguine prophet has called It, I cannot say. It hag excellent railway repair shops, -which are bound to be larger, some prosperous manufactories and the outlook for large trade and shipping Industries. The rail way station itself Is a good one, but al ready It has proved too small, and Im provements arc under way which amount to a virtual rebuilding of It. The popula tion has increased from some 7000 to moro than 20,000 In 10 years, and the gain Is constant at this time. I got back to the, train in time to share the race, and when wo took stock we were In place with all our things. There were five passengers, however, in a compart ment built for four, and several others were occupying the aisle at the side -of the compartments because there was no other place for them. It looked a pretty dubious prospect for any comfort on the J long ride until It developed that not all i of us were going to stay on the train j through the night The train included I cars of the first, second and third class, but there was no choice on that score were all equally crowded. It was here that the local conditions of travel across Siberia began to be visible. The train for this long run from Chellablnsk to the Obi River, a distance of S& miles, requir ing three days and two nights for those I who were going through, carriedno sleep I lng car. It was so crowded that space was lacking for comfortable rest in the day time. The express train that had I gone on a few hours before, and which would go again a week later, had been Just as crowded. Altogether, I was glad when I had had the experience of some weeks on the military railway In Turk- IN THE CITY OF OMSK. estan, where not even first-class cars aro in service, to prepare me for this Jounrey. I found that my Russian fellow-travelers were far more critical about the limited accommodations provided then I was. Siberian System of Sustenance. There was no hardship at all in adopt ing the Siberian svstem of siiRtennn nn , the Journey. The rule was clear that one must eat as heartily as possible at every station possible, assuming In each case that It might be the last time that any- thing would be available for a meal for 'another week. So at each station I I Joined the movement of travelers for the buffet, there to eat a meal. If It were the J time to find a meal ready, and. If not, to buy such things as could be carried con- l vcniently to the train. For weeks I have been carrying my own pillow, pillow-cases and blanket, because that Is necessary In Central Asia. On the Siberian Railway I have added a plate, cup, spoon, knife, fork and teapot to my equipment, all nicely stuffed Into a Siberian traveling-basket, and so now I am Independent of hotels and the like. It goes without saying that I have been carrying a commissary of my own, too, including the absolute es sentials, which are tea and sugar, and a few other things which are of secondary importance. Professor Raufast was simi larly equipped for the Journey to Irkutsk, and while we were together wo fared lav ishly on the productions of the country through which we were passing. This Is a good place to say a word for the eating-houses along the route. Rus sian dining-rooms In the railway eating houses arc notably the best In Europe These In Siberia would not by any means compare with the pretentious ones In the more thickly settled provinces of tho em pire, where travel Is heavier and travel ers can be more exacting, nor does an American traveler find them as good as those he knows at home. Nevertheless, they aro In most Instances highly satis factory, with an excellent variety of food, well cooked and at the most reasonable prices. Travel already has outstripped the preparation made for It, so that the buffets are overcrowded when the train stops, and service becomes somewhat hasty and imperfect. It Is necessary to be patient, but In a country where the stops at stations are as long as they are here, that Is not difficult. When the train stops at the regular buffet station, which Is about every five hours, the passengers L L' --- SIBERIAN CITY OF OMSK. find a long counter In the dining-room heaped with steamlng-hot platters full of all the things which can be served. There are roasts of beef, veal and fowl, cutlets of two or three kinds, beans, peas and potatoes, various sorts of bread, fruits, tea and coffee, and various cold beverages. If the rush Is not too great. It Is the Intention that guestsxshould seat themselves at the table, which Is nicely spread, and wait to bo served. In prac tice, however, there Is no time for that. Each traveler takes an empty plate apd presents It to the serving-man behind' the buffet, asking for whatever he sees that he wants. The plate Is heaped generous ly, according to demand, and the passen ger finds a seat for himself at the tabic Then, when every one has been served, the waiter comes around and collects from oach for what has been ordered. A meal of soup, cutlets, potatoes, peas and tea or coffee In this fashion, all good, costs from 25 to 50 cents. TRUMBULL WHITE. The Growth of Electric Roads. Chicago News. In a recent address before the Montauk Club, of Brooklyn. Charles W. Price stated that over 5600.000,000 had been Invested in electric lighting In the United States, and that the total horsepower required in the electric lighting of Greater New York was not less than 200.000 horsepower, and that in the last 13 years, since the birth of the electric railway, there had been an ex nendlturo nf mnr thnn tirmiwitwi -j that now any one could travel by electric cars irom jraierson, j. j., via New York, to Portland. Me., with only three Insig nificant Interruptions, which collectively amount to less than 15 minutes. a Utah's Jury of Eight. Scottish American. The United States .Supreme Court has decided that the provisions of Utah's Con. stltution, allowing proceedings in criminal cases to be prosecuted on the process of "information" and limiting juries in cer tain cases to eight persons, instead of re quiring the common law Jury of 12, were not in contravention of the Federal Constitution. BOERS CLAIM A VICTORY ANNOUNCE THE DEFEAT OF GATA CRE AT BETHULIE. The Story Discredited at London Lord Roberts Makes No Men tion of the Affair. KROONSTAD, Orange Free State, March 20. via Pretoria, March 22. The Boers, commanded by General Olivier, have en gaged the British troops under General Gatacre In the vicinity of Bethulle, repuls ing the British with heavy loss, and cap turing many of them. Burghers are arriving here In great numbera. General Dewet arrived today. Desultory fighting with Colonel Plumer's column has occurred near Gaberones. NOT BELIEVED IN LONDON. Gatacre's Forces "Were Not at Bethu lle Tuesday. LONDON, March 22. The report from Kroonstad, via Pretoria, that the Boers .have defeated the British troops In the vicinity of Bethulle is not believed here A dispatch to the Dally News from Spring fonteln, dated March 20, says General Gatacre was "all well." and adds that he and General Brabant had not lost a dozen men In a fortnight Last advices also placed Gatacre about 30 miles north of Bethulle, where tho Boer report says the defeat was Inflicted. This, combined with the fact that no mention of the affair was made by Roberts, In his dispatch of March 21. confirms the belief that the Kroonstad advices are erroneous. Reports of the skirmishing near LobatsI, while apparently not inflicting any serious loss on Plumer's column, cause grave anxiety In regard to his ability to reach Mafeking. Further news from that quar ter is anxiously awaited, for In the six days that have passed since the last messages were sent off a serious engage ment may have occurred, though not of Plumer's seeking. The Boers seem de termined not to give up their prey at Mafeking without a fierce struggle. In reply to the Mayor of Capo Town's request to make "Mafeking Relief Day" a public holiday. Premier Schrelner wrote: "May the holiday come soon, and may a spirit of general good will and kindly consideratlon prevail later." Tho Times, In its second edition, pub lished a dispatch from Lourenco Marques, which quotes President Steyn as saying at Kroonstad that the Boers could con tinue the struggle for six months longer. The Boers In the Orange Free State are taking advantage of the period of Inactiv ity to take a rest; those on the border are planning to show activity. A special dispatch from Durban says the town of Pomeroy, 30 miles east of Lady smith, has been burned by the Boers. A British detachment arriving at Pomeroy as the Boers evacuated the place shelled the burghers, but they succeeded In taklng up a strong position In the hills with a force estimated to number 5000 men. Lord Roberts telegraphs from Bloemfon teln under date of March 21 as follows: "So many burghers have expressed a desire to surrender under the terms of the last proclamation that I have sent some columns In various directions to register their names and take over their arms. A cavalry brigade has gone to the eastward to Thananchu, and a detach ment from Sprlngfonteln has occupied Smlthfield. where some Transvaalers and a wagpn with arms and ammunition were captured. The Scots Guards are at Eden burg and Rendersburg. General Clement's brigade Is marching hither by way of Philippolls and Fauresmlth." IN MAGERSFONTEIN TRENCHES. Mistaken Estimates of the Boers' Strength of Position. LONDON, March 22. "That many mistaken estimates were made of Boer strength and guile, while Methuen's forces remained passive In front of It. Is clear from the following accounts of a per sonal Inspection of Magersfontein. written by the Daily Telegraph correspondent, after the Boers had evacuated the slaughter-place of the Highlanders. "We looked In vain for the 'eight-foot wire entanglement of whicn we had read so much from the pens of hysterical and probably frightened young soldiers after tho Magersfontein mishap. Instead of an entanglement there was only a simple wire boundary fence not .continuous but placed at Intervals along the line of the trenches, and hung with strips of beef drying Into biltong. This comestible was probably a more formidable obstacle than the poor little fence on which It hung. "Then we looked for the deep trenches underground dwellings, deep enough to en gulf man and horse of which we had also heard. Disappointment again. A simple trench, or rather a double row of. simple trenches deep to mldthlgh, very narrow and well protected by bead cover of sand bags and a slight breastwork. The trenrh was as simple as the profile and confined Its complications to a light waviness of plan and an occasional tra verse to minimize the effect of shell fire. The most noticeable fact with regard to the trenches was that the back of the front trench was always left quite clear so as not to Interfere with the fire of the second line. Along the trenches lay skins, cooking utensils, food and cartridges, giv ing us the first indication we had had tha.t tho retreat had been anything but an orderly one. "From tho trenches It was a step to the gun emplacements. Here, our good friends had told us we should find traveling and disappearing carriage?. Again were we greeted with the very simplest plans to minimize the effect of the shell fire,, a high embrasure covering the gun and sharp slope behind It and a deep recess, cut In the solid rock, provided all protection necessary to en able Albrecht's Germans to live through nearly 12 weeks of lyddite and common shell. One gun had. It is true, been de molished, but the others had maintained a fairly regular and accurate fire for two months of our winter at Modder River." NORTH OF MAFEKING. Boers Arc Active In the Vicinity of Lobat.il. LOBATSI, Friday. March 1C The Boers, under Commandant Snyman, are advanc ing In force from Mafeking toward Lo baUd. Colonel Bodle made a reconnois sance on March 13, and found Pltsanl and Potlugo occupied by the Boers. He re turned to Goode Siding, and made a dem onstration March 14. He found the Boers In strength at a sharp curve on the rail road. They had mounted a gun on the line, and were lying In wait for the con struction train. A brisk firing occurred a few miles south of LobatsI on the morn ing of the 15th. The Boers' Maxim was freely used. Colonel Bodle came in touch with the Boers Just in time to prevent the camp being surprised. The Boers attacked the advance party, and captured a few boxes of ammunition, and nearly secured a Maxim. Lieutenant Tyler was killed, and Lieutenant Chapman captured. Colonel Bodle coming up put the Boers to flight with heavy loss. The Boers yesterday were within a few miles of LobatsI. Yesterday afternoon they pressed closely on Colonel Plumer's main camp, and kept up a hot flre with a Maxim gun and a 12-pounder on a hill on the east side of the line. 400 yards from the camp. The British right is protected by Chief Bathlon, who has warned the Boers not to enter his territory. Colonel Plumer's present endeavor is to insure the safety of the railway north of LobatsI. and to watch well tho left flank. It Is probable that before the Boers re treat toward Pretoria, they will tackle the Rhodesians in force. It Is reported that the burghers are abandoning the environs of Mafeking. leaving only a sufficient number of artillerymen to man the big guns. There arc none at Ramathlabam, BRIGHT For the First Time in the History of Medicine, a Cure for Bright's Disease Has Been Discovered. SWAMP-ROOT, THE GREAT KIDNEY REMEDY Has Proven oy Thousands of Triumphant Tests Its Won derful Success in Diseases of the Kidneys, . Bladder, Blood and Bright's Disease. , "0REG0N1AN" READERS MAY V es laboratory- XSaL&Jk IBL j . The Cmlneat Kidney Specialist, Discoverer of Swamp-Root, in His Laboratory. Just as sure as the break of dawn, means another day, so does pain in tho back indicate kidney trouble. "When your kidneys become weak and are unable to throw off tho waste In the blood, they clog up with poisonous mat ter, break down cell by cell, and the par ticles pass away In the urine. Then tho albumen, which, makes rich, red blood, leaks out, your system breaks down and you have what Is known to all mankind as Bright's Disease. Bright's Disease is taking away more lives today than any other known ali ment, excepting possibly consumption; and yet with a little atttention you may pre vent such a calamity as Bright's Disease befalling you. Are you fortified with, the necessary knowledge about Bright's Disease? Do you know how to find out If there is any thing the matter with your kidneys? Hero is a simple but sure test: In the morning, on arising, take of your urine about four ounces, and put it in a glass bottle;1et It stand about twenty four hours, and If, on examination, yon find any Settling or sediment, if It is cloudy, or If small particles float In it, then you may be assured that nature has warned you, and that your kidneys need attention. The mild and immediate effect of the famous new discovery, Swamp-Root, is where they were supposed to iavo their base. Colonel Plumer's scouts were at Ramathlabam yesterday. The usual Mafeking dispatches are over due, but no "anxiety Is felt on that score. Dynamite explosions wrecking the rail way aro occurring south of LobatsI. - j PAYING TWO FREIGHTS. The Folly of Oregonlans in One Di rection. In Corvallls there was never so much talk about Oregon hardwoods as now, and half a dozen men are scheming and planning to engage In the manufac ture of hardwood lumber, says the Corvallls Times. Attention turns par ticularly to Oregon oak, for which there Is a constant and growing demand at If the time were not far distant when Increasing prices. It begins to look as Oregon farmers would stop hawking fine second-growth oak about town as wood at the price of $2 50 or $3 a cord. The better of their oak grubs and trees prom ise to become much more valuable to them for other purposes. The oak, for Instance, in a cord of wood would make 500 pieces of spoke timber. Bach of these pieces turned Into a wagon spoke would be worth somewhere In the neighbor hood of 10 or 12 cents. Eastern oak spokes, no better than Oregon spokes. nrA nnxir miotori rtt 1? nnrt 11 ppntfUPiinh- i trhnlocnTn At tho-aa flmiroQ tha nnlr n a cord of farmer's wood would, after being turned Into spokes, bring J60 or 570. The-farmer, for sawing and splitting his grubs 'into rough spoke timber, ought to realize $10, $12 or $15 per cord for his oak. Besides, the sawing, splitting and deliv ery would give him employment In dull winter days when he would otherwise bo Idle. And after paying the farmer $10, $12 or $15 per cord out of each cord of his oak, thoro would still be left a huge prof it for the spoke factory. Similar possl bllltles are within reach in the manufac ture of ax handles, wagon hubs, wagon felloes, plow beams and a thousand other useful and necessary implements, used dally and hourly by Oregonlans. The trouble Is" that at present Oregon is with out the jiecessary factories for turning to account her valuable woods. Oregon oak Is ultimately to become pre cious. Mechanics years ago held it to be unfit for use. They are now learning that, for spokes, felloes, hounds and oth er parts of wagons and for agricultural implements. It is the best timber in the world. 'A local mechanic last year had a largo quantity of It sawed out for use in wagons and other work. The late "William Uhlman, who was for many years a fore man In the Moline agricultural and wag on works, after several tests and experi ments, declared Oregon oak to be of su perior adaptability for wagon and agri cultural Imnlement manufacture. Before his death he had arranged for Its exten- slve use in the manufacture of wagons at the Corvallls wagon factory. Samples is thought in exalted quarters that danc sent a few weeks ago by a Corvallls man ' lng would be Indecorous. King Humbert to Portland experts for tests and com- a"d Queen Margherita will give two parison with Eastern oak for spokes, ' fiate. cSncc,t at the Q"irinal Instead of brought back the verdict that the Oregon I JS't&BSStSSSffett Rom? oak was the better. On account of its for. of course, as the court has prohibhed great strength, tough fiber and smooth dancing, It follows no balls will be given Surface, it Is come to be much sought aft- at any of the embassies. er by all Coast manufacturers of agri cultural and other Implements. Large quantities of it are constantly shipped from Benton county mills to Baker & Hamilton, at Benicla, Cal.. for the manu facture of plow beams andother agricul tural Implements and machinery. And It has still other uses. It takes a beautiful polish, and is most popular for the manu facture of furniture. Such of it as is too brash for Implement building is valuable for this nurpose. Oak furniture, on ac count of Its massive beauty. Is most pop ular in the drawing-rooms of the wealthy. 3 iIi3LnitjL HAVE A SAMPLE BOTTLE FREE soon realized. It stands tho highest -for Its wonderful cures of tho most distress ing cases. Swamp-Root Is the discovery of the emi- Inent kidney specialist, and Is not recom j mended for all diseases, but If you havo kidney, bladder or uric acid troubles, or diseases depending upon these disorders, you will find Swamp-Root just the rem edy you need. Swamp-Root Is used! In the leading hos pitals; and is taken by doctors themselves who have kidney ailments, because they recognize in It the greatest and most suc- j cessful remedy for kidney and bladder I troubles. Swamp-Root will 6et your whole sys tem right, and in order that all afflicted may know Its benefits, a special arrange ment has been made with The Portland Dally Oregonlan by which all readers of our paper who will send their names and addresses to Dr. Kilmer & Co., Bing hamton, N. T will bo sent absolutely free, by mail, a sample bottle of Swamp Root. Also a book of value treating of all kinds of kidney diseases and con taining some of the thousands of testi monial letters received! from sufferers cured. If you aro already convinced that Swamp-Root is what you need jou can ' purchase the regular flf ty-cent and one- dollar size bottles at the drug stores. It Is also much sought by tho "man with the hoe." Oak lumber for tho manufac ture of furniture brings ?35 per 1000, and sometimes more. Eastern oak is getting to be very scarce. Forests that used to supply tho world" are practically denuded. It has becomo necessary to seek new timber supplies. A Corvallls dealer has received notlco from an Eastern manufacturer "to push the sale of plows with iron beams." Tho price of the iron-beam plow was made to this local dealer the same as a wooden beam plow. The incident Indicates how high-priced Eastern oak for uso in plow beams has become. It Indicates how se rious is the scarcity. Prices, in conse quence, are skyward, as Is seen In tho quotation of Eastern spokes at 12 to14 cents apiece. Of course. It is possible that the fine Italian hand of the trusts may also exert an Influence in these very high prices, but experts say that the chief In fluence is the scarcity of oak timber. These higher prices make It oil the more certain that Oregon oak is to become moro valuable. The scarcity and the high prices of the Eastern article are sure to bring the local hardwood moro and mora into use. And there are other Influences. Oregon must and. will do more manufacturing. The state has never grasped its opportu nities in this line. "With soil and climato well adapted for beet-sugar production, the state manufactures but little mora than 1,000,000 pounds of sugar per year. Its population Consumes 2S.000.0CO DOUndS. ' Tho state ships wool to Massachusetts and has It shipped back again for our people to buy In cloth and garments. Oregon fir is shipped East, is manufac tured there Into wagon poles, wagon coup lings, wagon boxes and Into various parta of agricultural Implements, and Is then shipped back and sold to Oregonlans. The same Is true of Oregon larch, a wood that Is far superior to Eastern wood for certain parts of wagons and agricultural Implements. In the transactions Oregon lans pay two freights across the Conti nent they pay profits to Eastern Instead of Oregon manufacturers, and give em- j ployment to Eastern labor instead of fur nishing work for laborers who are idle at home, Oregon ash and maplo aro shipped by carloads and shiploads to Cali fornia and the East, are there made into furniture, which is shipped back to us and we buy It, having no thought of how foolish and how nonsensical It is for us to pay charges each way. These conditions will not long prevail. They are unreasonable. and unreasonable; things do not long survive. Tho field is developing, the necessities are approach ing, and It is only a matter of time until many of these things that wo buy abroad will be made at home. Jfo Court BnlLi Thin Tear. Chicago News. As a rulo two court balls are given in Romo during the winter, but 1000 1? rp- garded In Italy as a jubilee year so it CASTOR! A Por Infants and Children. The Kind You Have Always Bought Bears tho Signature of &&&& A