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rORTLAND, TUESDAY, XEB. 28, 1005.
A QUESTION AND ANSWER.
Among other achievements of the
modern newspaper is the bringing on
to its page not only stories and sum
maries of events, but questions sug
gested by those events, and this,
whether solutions are given at the time
or not. Headers of last Sunday's Ore
gonian saw on the last page Mr. "Will
iam Thorp's brilliant article on the ad
vance of America eince the last Presi
dential election. The record in National
matters deals with the birth of the
Cuban, and Panama Republics, dealings
of the United States with, the over-sea
possessions In the Philippines and
Porto Rico, with the diplomatic tri
umph, of Secretary Hay in China, and
6pread of respect for American citizens
over the world. Rapid growth of the
Navy and the preparation of coaling
stations at vital points are also dealt
with. So far so good. The writer then
turns to Internal matters. At the head
of the list of rosy facts he states that
our total National wealth is now est!
mated at 105 billions of dollars, or
rather more than that of Germany and
the United Kingdom added together,
end is one-quarter of the total wealth
of the world. Dealing with transporta
tion, the writer quotes the valuation of
6team railroad property in the United
States at nearly fifteen billions of dol
lars, and notes the fact that the net
earnings of the railroads last year ex
ceeded those of 1900 by nearly $110,000,
000. In nearly every branch of human
enterprise a corresponding addition to
the Nation's capital is reported. All
this advance is either already convert-
ted or is in progress of conversion, into
amazing Increase in the total of real
Ized wealth of the Nation. No figures
of distribution are given. It is stated,
however, that the population has In
creased by over five millions in the four
years, of whom 1,800,000 were imml
grants.
Now, on the sixth page of The Ore
ponlan of the following day there is
quoted from the "Wall-Street Journal a
string of condensed statements of re
cent events In the financial and Indus
trial world. This question ends the
list: "Is there any explanation that
will account broadly for these phenom
enain a Nation and a period of abound
lac prosperity? The air seems charged
With the electricity of discontent with
certain existing conditions." "Why?"
is the -unanswered appeal.
Returning for a moment to the sum
mary of National possessions, we 6ee
how immense is the proportion due to
the valuation of associated capital and
the property which it holds. The recent
events referred to in the financial jour
nal affect, In turn, railroads, beef trust.
bt&naard Oil, united States Steel Cor
poration, Insurance companies, trust
companies, banks, interstate companies,
Active or impending action by the Na
tion and its high officers, or by some
etate and its officers, is reported, first
ito investigate, then to restrict and
control, or to regulate and to expose to
public view the Inmost workings of
these vast and Intricate machines.
There follow in the same -catalogue
notes of efforts to remove electric
roads, telephones, gas companies, from
private into public or municipal owner-
chip.
If there were but one target to be
shot at, special circumstances affect
ing that, and that only, would be in
ferred. But a condition, not an inci
dent. Is apparent It seems, then, that
the public is at last awake to the fact
that It has inherent power to dictate
terms tinder which associated capital
can operate. Further, that without do
ing violence to vested rights which the
courts can protect. It, the public, can
resume charge of public facilities and
conveniences which have been placed
under private control for private profit
In such changes is eeen the possibility
of forestalling and preventing in future
such enormous heapings and pilings up
of capital in one man's or in one small
group of men's hands, as, by its inev
itable power, Is felt rather than known
to be an Imminent public danger and
wrong. In appreciation of the extent
to which mischief has already been
done, and in resentment raised in men
who are "blinded to the other side of the
facts, lies the greatest public danger
In the United States today. In past
ages, in distant lands, such inequalities
In wealth and possessions have led to
proscription, banishment or murder of
the Individual, or to Insurrection in the
streets. In free America 'the sharpest
and the effective weapons appealed to
are Injunctions In the courts or prose
cutions by the Atterney-General. But
applicable to these wlde-apart scenes In
time and space, specially to the exi
gencies of today, the answer rings
true. "Why?" Because the aggregate
wealth of the Nation is no satisfaction
to the poverty and exigencies of the in
dividual. Because the rills of prosper
ity from a thousand hills are filling
full the great lake of the Nation's
wealth, filling it even to an overflow.
These streams Tun free. But the out
lets of distribution, they are choked
and dammed- So waters which should
earn prosperity to "millions of homes
are held back to the overenrlchment of
the few. "Why, then, should not unrest
go on until equilibrium is reached?
"Why should the National sense of jus
tice be'satlsfied until wrongs are right
ed? Until action of laws planned as
beneficent for the many but perverted
to the aggrandizement of the few be
corrected, be strengthened, be clarified,
for the general good?
SEA-lLEVETi CANAL PREFERRED.
Much adverse criticism over the
seemingly dilatory tactics and great
secrecy maintained by the Panama Ca
nal Commission has apparently result
ed in announcement of the engineer
ing plans of the Commission. These
plans, which have just been made
public, are accompanied by a recom
mendation from the engineering com
mittee of the Commission that a sea
level canal be constructed. As the cost
of this sea-level canal will be but $52,-
462,000 more than that of a canal with
locks and a summit level sixty feet
above mean tide, and but $80,000,000
more than the estimated cost of a lock
canal at an 85-foot level, no opposition
to the increased plan need be expected.
The total cost of a eea-level canal is
estimated at 5230,500,000, and It Is said
that it can be completed in ten or
twelve years. "When the magnitude of
the traffic expected to flow through this
canal between the two oceans is con
sidered, this seems like a very small
sum. As a matter of fact. It is but lit
tle more than double the sum which the
Stat of New York is spending for in
creasing the dimensions' of the Erie Ca
nal within her state lines.
A lock canal at Nicaragua has al
ways been regarded as to a degree a
temporary expedient, for it was the
general impression that the rapid
growth of the world traffic would In a
comparatively few years render neces
sary the enlargement of the canal.
This, in the opinion of the engineers,
could not be done except by great hin
drance of traffic, and the cost of en
largement, added to the original ex
penditure, would be greatly in excess
of the original cost of the ssea-level
canal. This canal is not for a few years
or for a century, but for all time, and
as the expense of operation and main
tenance of a lock canal is vastly
greater than that of a water-level
highway, this increase would be run
ning against the investment as long as
the canal was operated under the lock
system.
The sea-level canal has been so gen
erally Indorsed by the podple in prefer
ence to the lock canal that It Is prac
tically a certainty that the recommend
ations of the engineers will be adopt
ed. As soon as they are adopted and
everything Is In readiness for active
construction work, it is to be hoped
that the wishes of the President will
be respected and the Commission cut
down to proportions leas unwieldy than
those which now hamper and subject to
criticism the work of the organization.
The expenditure of such a vast sum of
money warrants the employment of
the highest talent to be found in the
world. The President has been quoted
as desiring the service of a Vhundred-thousand-dollar"
man, and certainly
the task Is of sufficient magnitude to
warrant the salary, providing such a
man can be secured. The present Com
mission, despite the fact that its work
has been in a measure unsatisfactory
on account of the meager results shown
and an easily explained tendency to
work at cross purposes, would hardly
consent to the employment of a man
whom the President would, in all prob
ability, clothe with sufficient power to
overrule the Commission when in his
judgment It was advisable to do so.
The President, however, is in earnest
over the canal, and, as he has absolute
power over the Commission, It is rea
sonably certain that he will either
mould it into shape to suit his purposes
or he will have a new Commission.
The canal is an undertaking in which
Senatorial courtesy or patronage should
have no part. It is strictly a business
matter, and it should be carried
through to completion by the most ap
proved business methods. There should
be no loopholes that will admit of such
complications and scandals as marked
-the French canal scheme or some of
the Important Government works in the
United States. "With a sea-level canal
practically agreed on, the money for
building it available aud a man In the
President's chair who is determined
that it shall be rushed through to com
pletion as a business undertaking that
must be kept free from political entan
glements or jobbery the waterway con
necting the Atlantic with the Pacific is
today much nearer an accepted fact
than ever before.
EXPLORATIONS IN THE INTERIOR.
It is impossible not to sympathize
with the schoolgirls who find that the
study of "physiology" makes them too
nervous to do justice to their other
studies. Colored pictures of the lungs
and the other things that come under
the comprehensive name of "Insides"
'Rre indeed terrifying objects, and even
an adult may be excused for shrinking
from a detailed examination of 6uch
alarming objects. In the case of the
internal organs, ignorance Is real bliss,
and It is folly to seek for inBlde Infor
mation. More than ever one realizes that
beauty is only skin deep. When a girl
learns .for the first time that she has a
liver, what a train of Imaginary evils is
sure to follow in the wake of her newly
acqulred knowledge. If she can re
member upon which side her surprising
possession is placed, what evil signifi
cance will be assumed by the slightest
pain In that quarter.
It is the old story of the man who
reads patent medicine advertisements.
Today's issue will persuade him thai
he has catarrh, tomorrow's will add
cancer, and by the third or fourth day
the reader will have all the Ills that
flesh is heir to, and some to. which it
isn't. It is not long since many estima
ble persons had their breakfasts spoiled
by the Iterated and reiterated an
nouncement that coffee was Just the
opposite -ot wine, which maketh glad
the heart of man, in that it malevolent
ly ruined the hearts of all who
drank it.
If the happy nations are those which
have no history, the happy men and
women are those which have no insides.
It is well to eat, drink and he merry
without a thought of how the lobster
or the flowing grape will affect the
stomach or of how the cigar will affect
the throat or lungs. No wonder Port
land's schoolgirls grow nervous when
they think of the strange and unsus
pected contraptions with which they
are filled; It Is one case in which youth
does not want to see the wheels go
round. There will come a time when
each will discover for herself that she
has a heart, and without any colored
charts or talk of any ology. The dis
covery will be fully as surprising to the
owner as those that are made in the
physiology classes, but less likely to
bring on attacks of the nerves. It ls
to be hoped, also, that the knowledge of
owning a heart will not Justify the
Elizabethan poet who declared that
The sea. hath many thousand sands.
The sun hath motes, as many;
The sky la full or stars, and Dove
As full of woes as any.
WAR ON A GREAT EVIL.
Kansas has received. a great deal of
attention from the press of the coun
try, because of the war declared
against the Standard Oil Company. The
people of Kansas are beginning to
think themselves mighty fine fellows;
heroes all. The papers of Kansas de
pict that state as leading all others In
the fight for the rights of the whole
Nation. A little grandiloquence Is
pardonable In the Kansans; they have
begun a campaign that Is likely to
benefit a considerable proportion of the
people. The . blowing of the trumpet
and the beating of the drum are good
accompaniments to the onward march,
as Kansas well knows, but such noisy
progress should be compared with the
grim silence in which little old New
York goes about the killing of a custom
that affects far more people than does
the Standard Oil. TheyNew York Sen
ate, without any blare" of trumpets, has
passed a bill making tipping a misde
meanor. Courage of the highest quality Is re
quired to vote In favor of such a bill.
Remember what happened to Alonzo
Tubbs, who introduced an anti-tlpplng
bill at the last session of the Missouri
Legislature. It was Tubbs against tips,
and tips won. When the news of his
bill was spread abroad in Jefferson City
Tubbs was up against it. When he
came down to breakfast in his hotel he
was forced to wait 30 minutes or so.
His hat was mislaid. All the petty an
noyances that cumulatively become In
tolerable were the lot of Tubbs, who
persevered with his bill. Needless to
say, his fate warned others, and the
antl-tipplng bill was squelched forever.
In New York it is evident that men
are of 6terner stuff. The Assembly Is
likely to pass the Senate's bill, and the
Governor has announced his readiness
to sign it. The 1)111 may become a law,
but that it will "be enforced not the
most sanguine reformer can hope. The
custom of tipping Is too deeply rooted
in human nature ever to be eradicated.
Even In the shelter of the club, where
It is prohibited by all kinds of regula
tions, the tip now and then passes in
secret,
As it . Is Impossible to do away with
tipping, legislators would be more sen
sibly employed in devising measures to
make its burdens lighter. Uniform
scales might be established for the
benefit of the public, and as general
prosperity prevailed or dwindled, tips
might be increased or decreased. But
even then it would be a useless en
deavor to protect the public, which
would transgress the laws established
for its own. benefit. If Smith thought
an extra tip would cause him to be
served before Brown, the extra tip
would promptly be forthcoming. As a
rule the tip is no more creditable to the
giver than to the receiver, having its
'origin in the. desire to get ahead of
others. But the man who should try to
reform himself and the world In this
respect would soon find, like the quix
otic Alonzo Tubbs, that he wasv classed
as a "dead one," and might as well
seek a desert Isle without delay.
AN OREGON UNIVERSITY BULLETIN.
A bulletin setting forth "Tendencies
in Recent American Road Legislation"
has been compiled by F. G. Young, pro
fessor of economics and sociology of
the University of Oregon, and published
under the auspices of that Institution.
The matter presented in this bulletin
is pf almost universal interest, since
it gives in detail the results of the
widespread effort in this country
known as the "good-roads movement."
It is also of special local Interest, since
it shows a careful and systematic pur
pose to broaden the field of usefulness
of which the University of Oregon may
bo said to be the center In this state.
Not only are the several courses in the
university carefully planned and
earnestly followed by the student body
under competent and exacting instruct
ors, but work supplementary to the
prescribed curriculum has been Inaug
urated, as witnessed by this bulletin,
that cannot fall to extend the useful
ness of the university and add to the
honors that It has already achieved in
the field of education.
This bulletin makes timely present
ment of a subject that is of National
importance. There was, as is well
known, a remarkable awakening of the
people of this country some fifteen
years ago, to the interests that are
represented by the condition and con
struction of the public highways. Fol
lowingdlscusslons of the various phases
of the question In different parts of
the country. It was discovered that
there Was very little, relatively speak
ing, in the way of roadbulldlng in any
section that was of a permanent char
acter, or that was the result of system
atic, well-planned effort. People came
rapidly to recognize the difference be
tween good and bad roads, and to re
alize what good roads meant. Agita
tion has been going on somewhat In
termittently during this decade and a
half, and the results as set forth in
this bulletin are gratifying. Professor
Young's bulletin is arranged in two
parts. The first recounts briefly the In
cidents of the good-roads awakening
and the progress of the movement In
various sections of the country. The
economic side of the question is clearly
presented, and estimates of the finan
cial benefits that -would accrue from
good roads are given. These facts and
figures are not few, but they belong
to the class of things the" truth of which
la emphasized "by the passing ' of the
years. It was held to be true In 1897
that ;COO,000,000 will "be saved to the
country annually when good roads be
come universal. If that estimate was
true, or approximately so, eight years
ago, it I true now, with heavily accru
ing interest-
Supporting this estimate, arguments,
old yet ever new, are thus presented
by Professor Latta, of Purdue Univer
sity. "A good road will economize
time; enable the farmer to take advan
tage of market fluctuations in buying
and selling; permit transportation of
farm products and purchased commodi
ties during times of comparative leis
ure; reduce the wear and tear on horses,
harness and vehicles, and enhance the
market value in real estate." The truth
of these statements is admitted. They,
Indeed, form the basis upon which the
entire good-roads contention rests.
Having reiterated and gone over and
given figures that support these state
ments. Professor Young further pre
sents a carefully tabulated statement
of the laws that have been the outcome
of this movement in .various states.
Among the new features in road laws
as thus noted are provisions for skilled
superintendence in the location, con
struction and continuous repair of
roads; substitution pf the money tax
for the labor tax; the substantial in
crease of rate3 of taxation for road
purposes; work done under contracts
publicly let; recourse to bond Issues;
utilization of convict labor In construct
ing roads and preparing road material;
protection of roads through the use of
wide tires, and the conversion of toll
roads Into public roads.
The -bulletin throughout is a credit, to
the compiler, and, what Is of much
more consequence, to the University of
Oregon that stands sponsor for It,
, .
The Cecil Rhodes scholarships at Ox
ford, as entered upon by a large num
ber of American students, promise well.
As an indication of this, George C.
Vincent, Rhodes scholar from Ohio,
gives In a recent number of the Inde
pendent a statement of the manner In
which American freshmen are received
and treated at that time-honored insti
tution. Though well pleased with his
reception and work there, this young
man says that he and his fellow-students
from the United States have not
yet lost faith in American colleges and
the real education that they give. As
to the estimate in which these students
are held, an Oxford tutor is quoted as
having said: "The Rhodes scholars
have given the impression of being
picked men and men picked along the
right lines." American pride in all
that Is best In American youth ambi
tion, studiousness, ability to adapt
themselves to new conditions and to
succeed in whatever they undertake
will be properly stimulated by these
first reports from our Rhodes scholars.
Twenty-six coasting steamers have
departed from Portland for California
ports during the month of February,
and there were still in the river under
schedule to sail this month four others.
With the exception of four oil-tankers,
which went out in ballast, all of these
vessels carried full cargoes of Oregon
products. This trade has displayed a
more remarkable growth than any
other branch of Portland's shipping
business, 4nd, despite the large number
of vessels engaged, arrangements are
being made for others to handle the
large passenger business expected dur
ing the Lewis and Clark Fair. It would
be impossible to name any feature of
Portland's commercial interests that is
not showing a healthy growth at this
time, but in comparative volume, noth
ing else approaches the increase In the
coastwise trade.
The Southern planters who recently
decided to reduce the available supply
of cotton by burning several thousand
bales have been partly relieved of their
unpleasant task by the fire at New Or
leans. So far as elimination of cotton
is concerned, the end sought ha3 been
gained, but this contribution to South
ern prosperity on the part of the in
surance companies was wholly involun
tary. If the destruction of the cotton
should have effect on the market, the
planters might show their good will
by presenting the Insurance companies
with as much of the staple as was lost
by the fire. Results were wha they
sought, and in this case they were not
even obliged to supply the matches.
The stir that Is being made In the in
terest of a clean city and a city beau
tlful by the Civic Improvement League
is wholesome and gratifying. May It
continue and irather force until such
unsightly piles as that on Fifth street
near Stark by the side of and including
the old rectors of Trinity Church, for
example, are abolished, not only from
prominent corners, but from those that
are more remote throughout the length
and breadth of the city.
The negro seems to be working out
his own salvation from a financial as
well as a political -standpoint. At the
annual Tuskegee conference, held last
week, a statement was issued showing
that the negro race had accumulated,
since the war, property valued at $300,-
000,000, and that in twelve Southern
states negroes owned 173,000 farms. It
was also said that the members of the
race support 28,000 churches In America.
The Supreme Court of Dakota has
affirmed judgment secured in a lower
court by a lumber company against a
firm of grain brokers for money lost by
an embezzling employe who gambled
on margins. If this refusal of the law
to recognize Individual responsibility
should become general, bucketshops
should display in a conspicuous place
the favorite gambling-house motto.
"Don't play if you can't pay."
Mr. W. T. Shanahan, president of the
Oregon Humane Society, has done
many deeds that entitle him to the
admiration of the merciful, but in no
instance has his humane endeavor been
more justly enlisted or more success
fully prosecuted- than in the case of
the wretched animals horses and
mules that have been used in "making
time" over the mountain mail routes
in Oregon.
The act of the recent session of the
Legislature providing for the payment
of salaries of state employes monthly
Instead of quarterly will be a great con
venlence to the employes, but what is
to become of the poor warrant-scalp
ers?
The United States Senate appears to
have established as a fixed principle
that 510 a day for expenses under all
conditions, free passes, private cars
and extreme bias on the bench are a
proper equipment for Federal Judges.
In the search for John Paul Jones'
body, Ambassador Porter reports that
he is "getting rwaxm." '
NOTE AND COMMENT.
(Oaring to a conviction that a. largo number
ot letters and telegrams of public Interest
would pasa through the Portland Postofflce and
telegraph offices yesterday, the unrivaled de- !
ducUve service of Note and Comment was used
to obtain copies of the following- communl ca
tions, which were all addressed to W. F.
Matthews.)
RIVERDALE, Or. Although my ac
quaintance with you Is of a limited char
acter, I take this opportunity, while the
plow team Is resting, to assure you of
my confidence. I shall be glad to welcome
you at any time to this sylvan retreat,
wherp a man can shake his own plum
trees, and a good team furnishes all the
pull he requires." C. H. C-R-Y.
PORTLAND. Your 'retirement places
one in an awkward position. I shall find
it difficult to fill your place. W. B. AY-R.
SALEM. Or. Tour reHrmon mnv rArrv
an emergency clause. I have no desire to
veto it G. CH-B-L-N.
PORTLAND. Duck! I have broken the
awful new3 to Mills. S. B. L-TH-C-M.
PORTLAND. I understand you have
retired from something. What is it? I
have heard rumors of a machine, but lack
definite information. Though the sun con
tinues to rise, also to set, there appears
to be as much moonshine as before.
A. L. M-LLS.
OREGON CITY. Forget the unholy past
as I havo done, and come fishing with
me. Suckers are biting in the Clackamas.
G. C. BR-N-L.
PORTLAND. This makes two of us live
ones in retirement. I Invented the plan.
but you are welcome to use it. Your ac
tion is timely; perhaps wo may wander
down the political pathway hand in hand,
as we used to do in the long ago.
J. S-M-N.
WASHINGTON. D. C (Night rate.
Collect.) What becomes of me, Jack? Or
did you have your fingers crossed when
you said it? J. N. W-L-M-S-N.
BALTIMORE, Md. I have put your
name down as a member of the Chloro
form Club, although you aro under the
age of 60. No use living after opportunl
ties for activity are gone. WM. OSLER.
WASHINGTON. D. C.-(ColIect)-I In
terrupted the President's Jiu-jitsu lesson
to tell him of your retirement. The Pres
ident was greatly shocked, but expressed
surpriso at only hearing now of a retire
ment which took 'place In 1902. Fortunate
ly at this moment the jiu-jitsu expert got
a strangle hold bn the President, so there
was no need for diplomacy. Have you
retired into retirement or just retired?
Have to send this collect, as franking
privilege only extends to mails. Shall
soon be in Portland. Is your phone num
ber still Main 411 C. W. F-LT-N.
PORTLAND With your experience
around machines, could you putr water
wagon int.o good running condition now
you are at leisure? . I. H. AM-S.
BLUE RIVER MINES Can't say what
I think, as telegraph operator here is a
lady. L. M. S-LL-V-N.
PORTLAND Should you be looking for
new headquarters, I havo on my list
cheap, but thoroughly respoctablo, lodg
ings on Third street. T-M W-RD.
SALEM (Over special leased, private.
secret service, long-distance telephone di
rect to Main 41) "Is this Jack Matthews?
Yes Hello, yes, this Is Geer, T. T. Geer
you know I am not a miscellaneous can
didates-hello not a miscellaneous can
didate, I say Kcop oft the line, central
that Is. you know, I don't want more
than one office Yes, Governor would do.
or Senator hello, what's that? news
paper yes, that'll do a good editorial
job hello, I can't hear you I'll write you
I'm better at writing letters anyway
good-bye hope you won't be lonely."
8T. HELENS Misery loves company,
therefore I welcome you into temporary
eclipse with myself, the only member of
the family not holding an office
worthy of my merits. Perhaps we shall
emerge together from this obfuscatlon.
G. W. MC BR-DE.
FROZEN GULCH ROADHOUSB, Alas
ka. As ono-United States M-rsh-1 speak
ing to another, I would inform you that a
man doesn't have to skato on thin. ice in
this country unless ho wants to do so.
T. C-D-R P-W-LL.
THE DALLES, Or. Does this Include
Williamson? M A. M-DY.
WASHINGTON, D. C-(ColIect.) Not
withstanding anything that may be indi
cated by appearances, or what gossip the
news of your retirement may evoke
among certain scoundrels In Oregon, I
assure you of my unalterable belief in
your innocence of any charges that may
have been made or may be made in the
future. J. H. M.
P. S. Burn this telegram.
PORTLAND Wa"take this opportunity
of thanking you for the almost fatherly
care you took of us during recent af
flictionsand 1rial3 end hope that our
pleasant relations with you will not bo
disturbed by anything that may occur
in the future.
M. W.
B. W.
) S. A. D. P.
H. McK.
P. S. They couldn't get me Into a con
spiracy, could they? M. W.
P. S. Don't laugh at me for writing
that postscript. Women just have to, and
other people, as well. M W.
GRANTS PASS I don't .want to butt
in, which Is something I have never done,
but let me offer a suggestion. Join the
Democratic party and make it three
me and George and you.
R. G. SM-TH, of Josephine.
PORTLAND All right. I will take your
job. Have notified the National.
MRS. W-DC-K.
FOR SALE Party machine, slightly dam
aged; owner going out of-the business. Phono
Main 41-
Mr. Roosevelt's Luncheon.
New York Press.
When the clock strikes 12 noon the
President of the United States wants
his luncheon. Ho has been known to
break up cabinet meetings, halt diplo
matic negotiations, dismiss Senators,
when the appointed tlmo comes for
him to take a bite. Sensible men. of
affairs have learned to be absent at
such an hour. Mr. Roosevelt is a big,
hale, hearty man, with a glorious appe
tlte, at times almost gargantuan. Be
ing under- 10,000 pounds steam pres
sure at all moments, he requires fuel
and plenty of it. He enjoys eating this
midday meal In the executive office, and
it is brought In by a White House
flunky on a silver tray.
Guard Well Thy Tongue.
Baltimore American. y
Nlyer say arinythlng unniclssary un
ites ut's something kolnd. An if ut's
J.kolnd ut's nlclssary.
, ALL ABOUT SOUTH AMERICA
Hott the Great Continent Is Reins Devcldjied Chilean Congress Raise
President's Salary Church Trouble in Peru.
THE Chilean, government has raised the
salary of the President of the republic
to 50.000 pesos ($1S,2S0), and ot members of
the Cabinet to 20.000 pesos ($7300). The
same body has also perfected a project
by which it hopes to Chileanlze the re
fractory provinces and cities of xacna
and Arica, captured from Peru in the
war of 1S79-SL
Tho Chilean Senate ha3 been discussing
the project of a railroad in the rich min
eral desert of Tarapaca, from Iquique,
one of the finest harbors on the Paclnc
Coast, to La Paz, the capital of Bolivia,
a distance of 2u) miles. In the region are
several short lines connecting the various
mining centers with each other or with
the coast, which will become worthless
when the nitrates are exhausted, but
being joined In one continuous line with
the trade between the port and the rich
capital, will become a valuable channel
of wealth. The distance Is now traversed
by caravans of llamas, mules and don
keys, driven by the native Quichuans of
Bolivia, who measure the length of tho
road by cocoa "chews." These arrleros
(drivers) all chew the cocoa leaf, which
Is renewed at regular intervals of tlme
and distance; so that, having no concep
tion of distanco as measured by civiliza
tion, if asked how far it is between
points, answer in the number of "chews"
they take on the road. They know only
moons, days and chews, as units of time
and distance. Such a line of railroad as
tho Chilean Senate proposes will traverse
tho most varied and abundant mineral
region of the Andean Cordillera, so that
the wealth of traffic will compensate for
tho approaching loss of tho nitrate (salt
petre) traffic.
The present political condition of Chile
excites great interest and even anxiety
among all classes by reason of the hos
tile condition of parties against the lib
eral Balmecedists, the real progressive
party ot tho republic, the declared ene
mies of clericalism, who receive the op
position clamor with a cheerful nonchal
ance that creates apprehension of a coup
d'etat In the approaching Presidential
election.
The Peruvian Congress has just ordered
a census ot the republic, which has not
been made since 1876.
The same body has provided , for the
formation of a rifle club in Lima, the cap
ital, and In every province of the coun
try, authorizing free importation of am
munition for their use and presenting
eacn club with rifles of the state for their
practice.
The Archbi3hop of Lima has ad
dressed a very urgent note to each
member of the congress beseeching
him to aid in securing for the churches
of the Republic the rents and allow
ances that were cut oft In the war
with Chile by reason of tho nation's
poverty and which as yet have never
hoen renewed. The archbishop com
plains that, although he has addressed
every President In turn, all have
turned a deaf ear to his prayer, and
his appeal has thus far been without
effect.
A brother of Don Jose Pardo, tho
SOLD BONDS TO THE PEOPLE.
New York Evening Post.
The death of Jay Cooke, on Thursday,
called to mind an episode which has ba
como one of the legends of the Civil War.
Even the most complete obituary notices,
however, have failed to point,, out the
really unique character of the incident
through which he won his financial fame.
His real achievement, in 1S53, was his dis
covery of the fact that, although the
bankers and financiers were timid, and
deemed themselves too poor and the mar
ket too uncertain to admit of large pur
chases ot tho 5300,000,000 of bonds project
ed by the Government, the people were
reallyrich and could be got to buy direct.
His proposition of sending out retailors
on the road, like book agents, to collect
subscriptions, was at first scoffed at by
Wall street, but the agents went their
way, and in two months thero was hard
ly a household in the flourishing Interior
towns which had not had set forth to it
tho motives, financial and patriotic, for
putting into a 6 per cent Government
bond, at par, the money lying Idle in the
bank or the chimney corner. Even the
story books of the day assumed tho "cou
pon bond" as a part of the outfit of every
well regulated family, and the adventures
of the bonds played a frequent part In
tho progress of the narrative.
This was not the only occasion in our
history when a similar discovery was
made. The $100,000,000 United States bond
Issuo of January, 1S9S, from which Wall
street shrank, was offered outright for
popular subscription. A whim of enthu
siasm, like that of 1S63, swept over the
country. It was heavily oversubscribed,
and tho bids come in through ten sub
treasuries located in every corner of the
Nation. It is not an unfair comparison to
recall that the success of the United
States Steel "billion-dollar flotation," in
1901, was based in large degreo on paral
lel methods. Two years later, one could
hardly visit a well-to-do New England
mill town where his host would not pour
forth his recollections of the local agent
who "got him into Steel common at E0."
Essays of Little Bobbie.
Milwaukee Sentinel.
WISCONSIN.
Wisconsin is our boam state and we
like it beckaus there is always sumthing
doing in politicks. Wisconsin is boupd
cd on tho west by Minnesota and In the
middle by Guvnor Lafolet. Sum of the
things which is rased In Wisconsin Is:
lpine trees.
2 suggcr beats.
3 Tobacko.
4 Galm wardens.
5 Taxes.
Thare is quite good Hunting In Wis
consin last week i shot 2 blue jays
and 1 yellowhammer and 3 chipmunks.
Gaim wardens is hard to shoot except
'during tho Open seeson beekaus that is
tho only time they are thare. but last
week 1 shot an owl with a arrow and
when I toald my teacher he said "to
whoo" she said No Bobble, ha must
have said "to whom." I know raoar
about Wisconsin but my paper is all
gone.
A Building All of Iron.
Engineering and Mining Journal.
Two Baltimore architect havo drawn
plans for a building entirely without
wood. It will be six stories and will
have a frontage of 41.5 feet. The en
tire structure is to bo of reinforced
concrete and steel. Even tho doors,
trims, window sashes and door-jams
aro to bo of metal. Tho windows will
be glazed with wire glass. The frame
for the show windows will bo of steel,
Into which the plate glass will be fit
ted. The side walls, columns and roar
walls, as well as .tho supporting col
umns of the front walls, will be of
concrete. The floors will all have a
top dressing of cement one- and a half
Inches thick. The stairs will be of
concrete with slate treads and wrought
iron balustrades.
Too Much Fussing About Health.
Housekeeper.
A famous physician upon being asked
recently what is the chief cause of ill
health, replied: 'Thinking and talking
about It all the time. This ceaselessly In
trospection In which so many of tho rising
generation of nervous folk Indulge is cer
tainly wearing them out. When they are
not worrying as to whether they sleep too
much or too little they are fidgeting over
the amount of food they take or the quan
tity of exorcise necessary for health. In
short, they never give themselves a mo
ment's peace.
President, has come into Peru from a
convent In Ecuador to join his influ
ence to that of the archbishop in the
effort to secure the desired aid to the
church. What a brother's influence
may do, it is difficult to say, but the
father had .only contempt for the "holy
orders" of the church nd they are dis
credited among all respectable classes
In South America, where no self-respecting
husbands and fathers will ad
mit the clergy to the society of their
families, knowing them as notoriously
corrupt and miserable debauchees.
A growing movement is towards the
complete separation or cnurch and state
among the leading citizens of aU those
republics, which is held back by the
Influence of the women, who are in the
main the superstitious slaves of the
priests, who, they believe, can open
to them the gates of heaven or turn
them into hell.
One reads with a wondering amuse
ment in a late paper of the Port of
Callao that "in the traps placed for
this service, there have fallen 22 fe
male and 12S3 male rats, which have
been burned to ashes."
Manuel de Qulntana has been Inaug
urated President ot Argentina to suc
ceed tho celebrated General Roca.
Qulntana Is without experience as a
party leader, but Is known as a learn
ed and wise man of elevated purity of
character, who will follow the policy
of peace laid down by Roca. There
are, however, grave fears of a revolu
tion, so that troops have been quar
tered all over the republic to quiet
any attempted disorders. Three lead
ing newspapers of Buenos Ayres, La
Nacion, La Presna and El Pais, re
view the administration of Roca. La
Nacion declares it tp have been irregu
lar; La Presna says it was disastrous;
El Pais, calls it "Inexorable." whatever
that may mean. The country is there
fore in a disturbed condition.
It is an interesting fact that Interior
boundaries of South American states,
boundaries in the heart of the conti
nent, have never yet been fixed. Nor
Is it strange that such lines are undo-
fined, for the regions have remained
utterly unexplored until very lately. In
the headwaters of the Amazon canni
balism still exists and tho whole in
terior region is an impenetrable for
est. But as the nations grow in popu
lation and develop the adventurous
spirit of the age, enterprise pushes
forward the exacting demand to settle
boundaries. Thus Ecuador and the
United States of Brazil have just con
cluded a treaty fixing, their mutual
limits, which are to be a direct line
northward from the Junction of the
Rivulet San Antonio with the Amazon,
to the junction of tho Yapura and Apa
porin Rivers, subject, however, to an
arbitrated decision touching the bound
ary of Ecuador with Peru.
Brazil. Peru, Chile and Bolivia are
also engaged in ncgotions to settle
their interior boundaries? all of which
are In unexplored regions about the
headwaters of the Amazon Rivera
NEW YORK CORRESPONDENCE.
Chicago Journal
NEW YORK, Fob. 18. Rev. Hillis will
conduct divine services next Sunday at
Plymouth Church, Brooklyn borough.
Ye scribe has been a little under the
weather for a few days and therefore has
been unable to collect tlte usual batch of
Items.
Spring Is coming. A hand-organ ap
peared on our streets one day this week.
There was a runaway on Fifth avenue
yesterday and one of the stages had a
wheel taken off. We . didn't learn the
name of the driver.
Mort Anderson, the motorman on the
Belt Line, -is laid up with a sore hand.
Hi3 place i3 filled temporarily by Ed.
Andcrson.
Peter Johnson "had his right arm frac
tured by the cars running over him Mon
day before last. It was an accident.
Correction: Last week we reported that
George Adams, the well-known milkman,
had the little finger on his right hand
frozen. He desires us to say that it was
the index finger on his left hand.
A basket social was given at Albert
Sherry's one day last week, and those
present reported a good time.
The Sons of Temperance will hold their
regular monthly meeting at the Odd Fel
lows' Hall next Friday night. All are In
vited. A new lumberyard has been opened on
the dock at the foot ot Fourteenth street.
Work on tho new bridge across the river
to Brooklyn 13 progressing finely. Several
carloads of iron arrived from Chicago
yesterday.
There will be a molasses candy pull at
the home of the Du Peyster3 Wednesday
eve. MORE ANON.
Cost of the War.
London Express.
It is obvious that a war conducted on
a system of such magnitude as that In
the East must be terribly costly. From
tho latest official figures given out in
Russia It appears that the Czar's gov
ernment has spent, up to the end of
1904. over 5300,030,000. This is, of
course, exclusive of the loss represent
ed by her fleet which Is out of action
and by the artillery which has beffn
captured by the Japanese. These two
Items have been estimated in round fig
ures at $60,000,000, so that the cost of
the war to Russia has been practically
$7,500,000 per week since the war began.
As regards the expenditure of the
Japanese, tho Mikado's financiers have
calculated that to March 31 of this year
the war will have C03t, Including in
itial outlays $238,003,000, or $5,000,000 a
week. On this basis It will be seen that
the war has cost in 12 months over
$625,000,000. The total cost to this coun
try of the South African war, it will
be remembered, was estimated at $1,
140,000.000. It i3 fairly safe to assume
that for so long as the present struggle
lasts the expenditure will continuo on
something like the same gigantic scale,
draining the resources of both coun
tries to the utmost.
No Real Handshakes in Society.
New York Press.
Mrs. Joe Larocque. Mrs. Jimmy Gerard
and pretty Gladys Mills were discussing
salutations In general at the Orme Wil
son's vaudeville show after the headdress
dinner on Tuesday night, when Mrs. Lee
Toiler sold that in her opinion society had
forgotten how to shake hands. True it is.
for the handclasp of the average man or
woman of fashion today Is a limp, nerve
less motion that is enough to give any one
with good red corpuscles the creeps. It
Is suggestive of the darkened room, the
wreaths of immortelles, the horsehair fur
niture and the crepe-swathed mourners of
an old-fashioned houso funeral. One won
ders whero the handshaker left his or her
energy. The hand is slipped into yours and
lies thero for a moment like what the hus
band of Mme. Montalini would call "a
demned moist, unpleasant body" in a mis
fit coffin. You try to give the moribund
fingers an honest grasp and they slip away
altogether. Even the high handshake of a
decade or so ago, senseless affectation
though It was, at least had a suggestion of
character and certainly was incomparably
superior to the die-away effort of tho
present season.