The Hillsboro argus. (Hillsboro, Or.) 1895-current, January 02, 1896, Image 1

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    The
JniILLSBR
VOL. 2.
IIILLSBORO, OREGON, THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 1896.
NO. 41.
MO DOUBT OF AN ISSUE
A Contract With a Bond Syn
dicate Agreed Upon.
C PREPARE!) FOR ANY KMKUHKSCV
The Amount Fleil at ll. I
Million, mid the Term More Fa
vorahle tu tha Government.
Wiis'iiuittoii. Jan. 2. There is now
no reasonable doubt thut a bond iBsuo
nan boon agreed upon, and that thu do
tails of a uuutraot with a syndicate of
whioh ?. Piorpout MorKUii in tho huad
have beou arranged; also that nothing
remains to bo dune to carry it into
effect exoept fur the secretary to sign
hit uamo thereto. Thus the president
ia proparod for any emergency and
there in uo doubt that should heavy
withdrawals of gold for export sot in
again another issue would be an
nounced. Tho fact that thore have
been uo withdrawal! for export within
the last moral days although Btorling
exchange hag ruled at or above the
shlppiifj point, gives orodonoe to an
opinion hold iu treasury circles that
the market has already beguu to fool
the gyndioato's inlluonoe against ex
norts. The amount of the next issue
It is almost cert, in has been fixed at
1100,000,000, and it is belluved the
t inns of the oontraot are rather more
I yrfavorablo to the government than those
S nndur which tho last issue was made,
t In this connection it is recalled that bo
ltweeu August 81, 1805, the date upou
I whioh the national debt reached its
highest point, and March 1, 18D8, the
amount of the government's outstand
ing obligations was roduced 1,881,
81)3,873, To aconmplish this reduction
bonds wore purchased to tho amount
of $770,809,750. Of this amount
$324,850, 800 wore purchased prior to
1871), and Mil, 460,460 since that data
Not l'ltpuliir In Knglnnd.
Now York, Jan. 2, The Evening
Post's Loudon cablegram says:
"As regards tho placing of a United
States loan, I understand that one
I Loudon bank and sevoral Binall lustitu
V tions have agrood to participate in any
issue which may be made, and that
talu firms ou the Continent have
TpJU'Htud their wiilinguoss to joiu in
ii it. fit .tnoso who aro naturally looked
to for support still decline to step for
ward, aud so the negotiations are not
likuly to make much headway at pres-
7
Money living HoKrilnil In Huston,
NNow York, Jan. 2. A special from
limlon to the Evening Post says:
."It is impossible to borrow money
hore tuday. The banks would not ao
e copt Pnllinan stock as collateral at 8
per cout. Several banks havo applied
i to the Clearing house for certificates.
I There 4 a suMpiciou that money is be
I ing hoarded to buy the expected now
government bonds."
To Prevent the Issue of llnnils,
Washington, Jan. 2. Allen, at the
request of Thurston, introduced a bill
in the senate today, prohibiting the
issue of bonds by the United States un
less oongress shall by resolution declare
the ueoossity for them.
Amendment to the llond II 1 1 1 .
Washington, Jan. 2. Senator Jones,
of Arkansas, today presented an amend
ment which he proposes to offer to the
house bond bill. It provides that any
holder of silver bullion, who is a oiti-
jfcn of the United States, may tender
he same to the secretary of the treas
ury and have it ooined into silver dol-
Ljirg, tho seigniorage to bo the differ
ence between the original value and
the rnarkot prioe of the bullion in New
York; for the cancellation of all bank
notosof less than $10; directing the
secretary of the tresanry to ooin the
silver bullion in the treasury into silver
dollars, to be used in redeeming the
treasury notes issued for the purpose of
purchasing silver bullion nndor the
Shermau act; and the redemption of
tho greenbacks in either gold or silver,
and for their reissue according to the
provisions of the act of 1878.
IU. Reached an Acute Stage.
Johannesburg, South Africa, Jan. 2.
The political orisis here, brought
about by the efforts of the foreign
population to obtain equal polittoal
rights With the Boeis, has readied an
-mfji ,ffe. The exodus of women
.ml nhildren is increasing. All trains
leaving are crowded, aud the prioe of
I faod stuffs has raised greatly. Ail
licinds of bollioose rumors are ourrent,
4, ana tne govmuuia"u wviu
frt to be ready for aotive gervloe in
oase oi emergonuj'-
The mercantile association has
formed itself into a town guard for the
purpose of preserving order and pro
tecting life and property. The mera
... not take part in a revolution
or riot of any kind, and have asked the
, government to supply tnem wun arms
Ammunition.
I Several leading mines are expected
to olose today. ,
President Kruger in an interview
with a representative of the Associated
n... ftitnressed regret at the present
-Nation and said: "If the position
is aggravated many disatrous oouse.
; nifenoes are to be apprehended, espeoi'
F An in minina and oomraereiai enter
A i " Tho nrpsent attitude of the
Unitlanders does not oonduot to the
nnoideratin of their alleged griev-
. . The government will give
them an opportunity for free speech on
their grievances, snob, as do not incite
to rebellion, but is fully prepared to
I op any movement aiming at tne uis
ynrbanoe of law and order."
THE TREBIZOND MASSACRE.
Another Story as tu the Cause of the
Awful Slaughter,
New York, Jan. 2. A letter from
Trobizoud, giving the testimony of an
eye witness status:
"liahixi Pasha, governor of Van,
started to come to Constantinople and
it wus lourued that he was bringing
with him four of the fairest young
maidens of Bassoun who had been
spared iu the massacres, to make an ao
ooptublo present of them to the sultan.
This aroused tho Armenian people of
Trobizoud to a frenzy, and as it was im
possible to resist, tho more daring of
tho young men Urud upon Bahiri Pasha
when he was going about the city
wounding him. After he was cured
he carried out hirf infernal mission to
Constantinople and was honored with
tho highest decoration aud appointed
governor of Adaua, iu spito of the
nerveless protest of the aiuabssadora.
Aftorwurd the pasha of Trebizond de
manded the oltuudors. But they oould
not be found.
"The pasha has already begun to
communicate with the sultan by tele
graph, and, calling to the commanders
of the soldiers, ordered them to be
ready at 5 o'clock. When tho maids
had arrived uud the people went to
ward the post, both the soldiers aud tho
mob ruHhed upon them. Men and
women were torn and murdered aud
the groans of the dying oould be heard
everywhere. It is the most awful of
tho massacres.
"News from Diurbekir report nnut-
terablo suffering among those well-to-
do a short time auo. Tho same in
formation comes from Guorin, whore
not an Armenian house haB been left
staudng where a large community was
to be seen only a few weeks ago.
iroui every part of Armenia comes
tho call to Armenians who are out of
the country, bugging that money be
sent to the survivors of their families
without dolay, as they have uoither
food nor fuel, and scarcely any cloth
ing. No men are allowed to travel
from city or village. That which
brings most grief to the Armenians is
that numbers of young maidens were
taken to the haroins of the Kurds and
Turks."
PREPARING FOR WAR.
VenoEiielans Determined to He Heady
for All Emergencies.
New York, Jan. 2. A special to the
World from Caracas, Venezuela, says
the Venezuelan government is negotiat
ing iu the United States for war sup
plies. Four heavy guns have been
sent from Caracas to fortify the har
b r at Maracaibo. Special oommis-
iouers appointed to arrange un alli
ance of South aud Central American
republics against England are ready to
depart. A rumor comes from Colom
bia that the Spanish minister to Bogota
has been escorted out of the oountry by
a troop of soldiors, beouuse he made a
protest against the government giving
to the British minister his passport.
General Biohino will go to tho Ar
gentine Republic
J ut Ice lirewer Selected.
Washington, Jan. 2. Justice Brew
er, of the supreme court, has been ten
dered aud accepted a plaoe on the Ven
ezuela commission.
Hays England Must Not Yield.
London, Jan. 2. The Duke of Somer
set writes to the Post this morning
protesting against Lord Salisbury do
ing anything to assist the Venezuela
commission, which the duke says ought
to bo ignored. He added:
"If England yields in the slightest
to America, it will be as serious to our
prestige as when Mr, Gladstone allowed
our flag to be trodden by the Boers."
The New York correspondent of the
Times argues that the fact that Senator
Shermau allies himself with the presi
dent on the Venezuela question augrs
ill for the cessation of the controversy.
Mr. Shermau sides with President
Cleveland against all the great lawyers
and all the hist authorities on this
questioon, both Amerioan and Eu
ropean, and against Monroe himself,
gays the correspondent. He thinks
Senator Sherman's attitude indicates
that the Republicans are not entirely
separated from President Cleveland.
He sees danger in Senator Sherman's
assumption thut the quieter state of
affairs grows out of the beliet among
the people of the United States that
Lord Salisbury is ready to aoquiesoe
in arbitration.
A Melbourne dispatoh to the Times
says: "A banquet was held at Ade
laide to celebrate foundation day, and
many patriotio speeches wore made.
Sir Jame3 Henry Youug, the minister
of works for New South Wales, who is
Amerioan-born, ridicules the idea of
war. Mark Twain was also present,
and eohoed the statement that talk of
war between blood relations was
ab-mrd."
The Chroniole, in the course of a
complimentary editorial, sends a New
Year's erecting to Amerioa and to
President Cleveland.
NuiMinrt From France and H inula.
Vienna, Jan. 2. The St. Petersburg
correspondent of Freie Prosse tele
graphs that Russia and Franoe have
actually promised diplomatic support
to the United States in the Venezuela
troubles, and adds Russia is prepared to
facilitate the United States loan with
their own gold reserves.
Another Chinaman Ileheaded.
Berlin, Jan. 2. A dispatoh from
Swatow, province of Quangha, China,
Bays the ringleader of the mob whioh
plundered the German mission at
Moilin has boon beheaded.
Earthquake In Auntrla.
Vienna. Jan. 2. A violent earth-
nuake shook was felt today at Woiner
Neustadt, thirteen miles south of this
oity.
THE VENEZUELA AFFAIR
A London Paper Publishes
Mass ot Matter.
AS THE ENGLISH WOULD VIEW IT
Una Writer Buys the Claim Would
Similar to One Made by Spain
for (Jluraltar.
Be
London, Deo. 81. The Chronicle
publishes a mass of matter on the Vene
zuela affair, including maps in posses
sion of the colonial office, extracts
from the Amerioan papers which have
arrived by mail, and an article by
Frederick Harrison, declaring that the
Venezuela claims is on all fours with a
Spanish claim to Gibraltar. Harrison
says:
"If the United States can persuade
Venezuela to submit to a bona fide
boundary settlement and to drop her
swagger about Charles V and Philip II
of Spain, and can enforce an award
when it is made, the quetsion could be
settled in a mouth."
The Brussels delegate to the Vene
zuela government, Veloa Guitiooa,
recently visited The Hague, and ex
hausted every channel without success
in support of the Venezuela claim.
Five years ago the British vice-consul
at Ciudad Bolivar, examined the Span
ish records and proved the British as
pect of the case completely. "
The Berlin correspondent to the
Standard says:
I have excellent reasons to state
that the reports of au agreement be
tween Russia and the United States
about Venezuela are unfounded. On
the contrary, the czar was painfully
surprised at President Cleveland's mes
sage, and any war involving England
would bo unwelcome to the Russian
court, ou the approach of the corona
tion."
The Now York correspondent of the
Times, whilo he affirms his previous
convictions thut there is no longer any
feeling for war with England at present
in the United States, says there lies a
lys there lies a "T'1
ure. He of! w
personal or
r that qnaliv
real danger for the future,
butes this partly to the
actor oi the president or
it "which his friends oall flrmuoss andTs--.
his enomies stubborness. "
The proposed meeting of the Ameri
can society for the purposo of an ex
pression of the people for aa amicable
settlement of existing differences be
tween England and the United States
has been abandoned in view of the im
proved situation.
The Ordor of Crusaders has for
warded, through the Hon. Neal Dow,
Mother Stewart and Miss Frances Wil
lard, a New Year's greeting to the
Temperance Workers of America, with
the hope that the war will now be
averted.
The Venexuela Commission.
Hagorstown, hid., Deo. ,81. The re
port that Richard H. Alvey, chief
justice of United StateB oourt of ap
peals, District of Columbia, has been
requested by President Cleveland to be
come a member of the Venezuela com
mission, is confirmed. The request
was made Thursday last in Washington.
The proposition took Judge Alvey by
surprise, and he begged for time to
oonsider the matter before committing
himself. This the president granted.
He is at home in Hagerstown, and will
be here until his court meets the first
Monday in January.
Tonight Judge Alvey said that he
had not yet fully made up his mind
whether he would acoept or not, for
many of his oases would come np be
fore the district court of appeals at the
January term. Because of his heavy
judicial duties, and for other reasons,
he hesitated about immediately accept
ing the president's offer. He is heart
ily in aooord with the president's
views, and feels under obligations to
further Mr. Cleveland's polioy.
Venezuela's Representative Here.
Washington, Deo. 81. General
Targe Uslar, special commissioner to
the United States from Venezuela, is
here with his family. General Uslar,
who is commander of the army of Vene
zuela, was appointed commissio..ei
to oome to the United States and watch
the negotiations with Great Britain re
garding the boundary dispute.
President Crespo, General Uslar
says, as soon as President Cleveland
announces the Venezuela commission,
will appoint a commission of five of
the most representative citizens of the
South Ameroian republio to oome to
the United States, and to convey to
President Cleveland, oongress and the
country, Venezuela's thanks and ap
preciation of good will shown by the
United States government in its an
nouncement of ita intention to fearless
ly enforce the Monroe doctrine. This
commission has not been appointed,
though the gentlemen who will serve on
it have been notinod.
THE FIGHTING AT ZEITOUN.
A Maisacre May Follow the City's
Capture.
Constantinople, Deo. 81. It is ol
floially announced that the most ob
stinate fighting preoeded the oapture
of Zeitoun by the Turks. Semi-official
advices from Zeitoun say the Armon
ians lost 2,500 'killed during the on
gagements and 250 Turks were killed.
The narrow pass between the hills
leading out of Zeitoun is said to be
orowded with Armenians, men, women
and children, and it is feared they will
be massacred. The ambassadors of
Great Britain, Franoe, Russia, Ger
many, Italy and Austria sent their
dragomans to the palace today to make
representations with a view of prevent
ing the Armenians being massaored.
The financial situation oontinues very
bad.
THE INDIAN TERRITORY.
A Potent Argument for a Change In the
Existing Condition.
Kansas City, Kan., Deo. 81. A spe
cial to the Journal from Washington
says W. J. Watts and Colonel Hub
bard, of Muldrow, L T., will tomor
row file with the secretary of the inter
ior a potent argument for a change in
the conditions in their country. The
document filed within due time, will
reach the various committees in con
gress interested in legislation for the
country. The information collected,
it is insisted, will be enough to dis
prove the many statements made by the
delegates from the tribes, that it is a
very orderly country, and that thore is
no need of congressional interference
because of lawlessness.
The document contains a partial list
of murders committed in the Indian
territory from March 5 to the' last of
October. In this time 186 murders
have been committed and accounted'
for in the record, and the claim is
made that the list is not complete. In
each case a short statement is given.
This is set forth as evidence of the
need of a change in that country. This
is a part of the basis for the position
taken by the Dawes commission, and
will be used by members therof in jus
tifying them for their recommenda
tions and open that country to settle
ment after paying the Indians a fair
and equitable amount for their lands.
IMPROVING STEADILY.
The Financial Situation In Thli Conn-
try Gradually Growing Better. '
New York, Dec. 26. The stock mar
ket opened in good tone, with specula
tion very brisk. There was good buy
ing, in which foreign houses were
prominent, and nearly all active lists
made rapid advances. Some realizing
sales caused a retrograde movement
and declines were recorded from to
2 per cent The market, however,
was fairly steady, and there were no
indications of panicky oondition.
The depression which came on the
market at 10:45 continued about half
an hour, the extreme decline being in
sugar, which fell 2 cents. At 10:45
were again moving upward,
selling at 6 per cent and
to 2 per cent ad
"".between 6
una
but at one tim
no business. The rate at
per cent, and 12:50 $200,000 was loan'
at 20 per cent. Loans have been made
on dividend-paying stock at 6 per cent.
Gould, Hall & Company suspended
today as the result of the slump in the
stock market Friday and Saturday.
The firm is a small one, and the sus
pension had no effect on 'change.
i
Improvement in LonAon.
London, Deo. 26. At 1 o'olock this
afternoon there was less excitement in
the stock exchange, but the market was
still unsettled. There was a disposi
tion to take a more hopeful view of
the Venezuelan question politically,
but grave apprehension is felt regarding
the fiuanoiar outlook of the United
States. There was not much improve
ment in foreign government securities.
The American railroad market, which
was very exoited at the opening, was
quieter at 1 o'clock. In fact the
panicky feeling seems to have given
way to one of more confidence. On
the Liverpool and Manchester and
Glasgow stock exchanges the tone
showed a marked improvement and
prioes for Ameircan securities were
steadily advancing.
Are Glad of It.
London, Deo. 26. The afternoon pa
pers today, comment editorially at
length on the Venezuelan matter, but
their remarks are on the finanoial
rather than the political phase. While
there is no abatement of expressions of
belief that the gronud taken by the
United States is untenable, the tone
is altogether more pacific Yet there
is considerable display of satisfaction
at financial difficulties in the United
States.
Business during the day was ex
ceedingly quiet on the exchange.
Operators generally were disposed to
await further news from the United
Statos. American stooks, however,
olosed steady; Brazilians particularly
heavy.
In Boston.
uoston, ueo. 20. more was a no
ticeable reaotion from the panioky con
dition of last week's market at the
opening this morning. It is believed
the worst is over. The advance in
prioes noted during the first few minu
tea of business was not seriously broken,
and a feeling of greater confidence was
apparent.
On the Asiatic Station.
Washington, Deo. 81. An order has
been sent to the admiral commanding
the Asiatio station detaching the Petrel
from his squardon and directing that
Bhe proceed to San Francisco. Arriv
ing there she will be put out of oom
mission for an overhauling. Her re
lief, the Boston, is now at Mare island
navy yard. She has been put in first
class condition, and will start on her
long voyage aoross the Pacific, in a day
or two. The Petrel will not await her
arrival, but will start for home as soon
as Bhe cun be prepared for the trip. It
is the evident policy of the administra
tion to maintain a strong fleet on the
Asiatio station until the disappearance
of all signs of further trouble among
the oountries of the Orient
Fortlons of Spain Shaken.
Madrid, Deo. 81. An earthquake
ha 3 been experienced in the districts of
Orensa, Vienna, Pueblo de Tribes, Lu
gudini and Valdeorreas, in the province
of Gahoia, Several houses
but no deaths are reported.
T
NORTHWEST BREVITIES
Evidence ot Steady Growth
and Enterprise.
ITEMS OF GENERAL INTEREST
From All Parte of Oregon, Washington,
Idaho, Montana and British Co
lumbiaWashington. The state road commission has just
closed a session at which was fully
discussed the doubts entertained of the
legality of the appropriation for the
state wagon road across the Cascade
mountains. During the past summer
the commission spent but a small part
of the sum appropriated, the effort be
ing made to investigate the routes as
cheaply as possible in order to keep
the bulk intact for construction pur
poses, as tbe members of the commis
sion realized the meagreness of the ap
propriation when the length of the road
to be constructed was considered. The
result of the examination of the differ
ent routes showed that to construct
even a good four-foot trail across the
Casoade division would cost from $25,
000 to $35,000, according to the route
selected, while only $20,000 was" appro
priated for that purpose; while the
same conditions prevailed upon the
other divisions. The commission be
ing in doubt whether the law would al
low it to construct a four-foot trail
which had been urged referred the
question to the attorney-general, who
furnished an opinion that tha law con
templated the construction of a waogn
road, and to build a trial would be to
spend the money appropriated without
authority of law. At the recent session
Commissioner Watson offered a resolu
tion to report back to the legislature,
furnishing full details of the best route
the oost of a trail and of a wagon road,
but owing to opposition the resolution
was withdrawn, the other members de
siring to continue the investigation
further. It was then agreed to accept
the opinion of the attorney-general as
final regarding the necessity for con
structing a wagon road under the bill.
For the purpose of ascertaining whether
tne cheapest kind of a wagon road
be built with the appropriation,
rade, for the puprose
was agreed
feet, "; n" t, i Jtrees I
off level with the roarf? and
only where streams oould not be forded1
in ordinary low water. Two of the
members express themselves as opposed
to such a road, but agreed to figure
on it to satisfy the third member.
So that, should it be found possible to
build such a road, it is not certain
that the majority would agree to go
ahead. "The trouble is, said a mem
ber of the commission, "that the or
iginal law of three years ago provided
for a road, and the members of the
first commission construed that to
mean a trail or wagon road, as the
circumstances seemed to warrant.
The old commission in recommending
the last legislature to appropriate
oertain sums, made its estimates evi
dently on the trail or road, but the
legislature, while not materially
changing the sums asked for, changed
the law to read 'wagon road.' "
Generally in public improvements it
is understood the sum appropriated
by the governgment is to be expended
on the work, whether completing it or
not, and relying upon another appro
priation to complete the work. Those
who have studied the Cascade road
law, however, agree that the sums ap
propriated were intended to complete
the road, and there is a prevailing
sentiment in the present commission
that the money should be spent only
if a safe wagon road can be built and
the object of the law honestly enforced
The question of a seleotion of a pass
has been purposely deferred by the
commission until after these other
matters are disposed of, but it is be
lieved will oome up for final action at
the next meeting.
The Tacoma school board has under
consideration the reduction of the
present sohool year from nine to six
months, in order to lessen the expense
and put the distriot on a sound finan
oial basis for the next year. A special
eleotion ia to be held for the purpose
of validating the indebtedness to
$38,000.
The recent storm on Puget Bound was
the most severe that has taken plaoe for
many years. The Port Townsend and
Victoria shipping experienced consider'
able damage.
Oregon.
The new hotel at Bandon is nearly
oompleted.
There are sixty-four pupils now en
rolled in the state sohool for deaf mutes
in Salem.
A sehoolhouse has just been oom
pleted at Port Orford with funds raised
by popular subscription.
Gold Beaoh ia to have a new hotel,
The Masonio building will be reoon
struoted for that purpose.
The Presbyterians oi Medford are
receiving bids for the erection of a new
church edifioe in that town.
The recent storm played havoc with
the telegraph and telephone lines be
tween crescent city and the copper
mines.
The school board at Pendleton has
made a reduotion of nearly 25 per oent
in the pay of teachers in the publio
schools.
The assessment roll of Umatilla
county, just oompleted, shows a gross
valuation of $7,471,535. The number
of polls is 1,707.
The total area of Malheur county is
6,277,440 aores. The population of
to
The stock inspector of Umatilla
county report! that there are about
240,000 sheep in the county and con
trary to the recent reports are in good
oondition for the winter. The stock
men are better prepared this winter
than last
The completion of the new water
works system at Astoria was cele
brated with pomp and ceremony. The
expense of the system was $200,000.
The entire salmon pack, spring and
fall season, for the entire Pacific coast,
was 2,034,877. Of this amount Alaska
furnished 637,000; British Columbia,
512,877.
A miners' convention has been called
for the early part of January, for the
purpose of organizing a miners' associa
tion for Southern Oregon. It will be
held in Grant's Pass.
The census enumeration of 1885,
compared with that of 1895, shows a
production of wheat in Oregon ten
years ago to be 8,933,718 bushels, and
this year to be 9,019,192 bushels.
A wood war is reported at The
Dalles. The price of wood by the com
petition of the local dealers has been re
duced to a lower figure than for previ
ous winters. An unusual amount of
wood has been bought up the river dur
ing tbe year.
The oontract recently made by the
Oregon Railway & Navigation Com
pany, making its line of steamers to
the Orient permanent, insures a great
trade in Oregon's flour with Asia. The
manager of one of the leading flour
mills of the state says their flour
trade with Asia has doubled twice
within the past three years, and he is
confident it will be doubed again
within three years. The arrangements
at present are sufficient to handle 4,000
tons per month, and in two or three
years at farthest, two steamers per
month will be needed, instead of one,
and the possibilities of the trade in ten
years no one can even approximate.
Idaho,
Five thousand rabbits were killed at
a recent drive at Oakly.
Two or possibly three new steamers
will be built on the Kootenai for pas
sage between Bonners Ferry and Lake
Bounds next spring.
A feed and flour mill is to be estab
lished at Ferndale. Bids for a daily
mail service between that place and
Whatcom has been sent to the postoffice
missioners to have 10,000 acres of
land withdrawn from settlement for
the purpose of reclaiming it under the
Carey act. Two hundred thousand dol
lars is the estimated oost of the irri
gation works.
Coal has been found in several
places within the limits of Stevens
county, also on the east side of the Co
lumbia river above Market, where there
is a seam of one foot in width and a
depth of eighty feet Coal is also
found in other parts of the county not
far from the boundary line.
A special agent of the treaurer has
dispersed in payment $50,000 to the Nez
Perce Indians. It is estimated that 843
native Nez Perces have died sinoe the
Fletcher allotment of land was com
pleted in 1893. The births are re
corded to the number of ninety-four.
These statistics show the destiny of
this favored Indian tribe.
The W. R. L. L & Co., have oom
pleted their Nutmeg reservoir and now
have a substantial dam 200 feet long
and fifty feet high, holding water suf
ficient to irrigate 4,000 acres. Water
is guaranteed by the projectors by May
15. AU the government land in this
tract is taken up, but 1,000 acres of
state university land are still open to
spplication.
The state land timber estimator has
reported to the land commissioners
that timber will soon be offered for
sale. The timber will probably go to
different lumber firms. They will
have to build about twenty-five miles
of railroad in order to transport the
timber. In all he has estimated 410,
297,000 feet ot timber, divided as fol
lows: white pine, 144,219,000 feet;
yellow pine, 25,791,000; white fir,
40,671,000; red fir, 2, 886,000; tam
arack, 95,601,000 and oedar, 47,129,-
000 feet
Montana.
The fire at the Mure tunnel on the
Northern Pacific is still smoldering. It
will take months to repair the damage
done by the fire.
The manager of the Katy mine is re
ported to have disposed of one-third
interest to Springfield, Mass. , capital
ists, who will build a 500-ton mill and
probably a smelter during the coming
year.
A syndicate of Helena capitalists
whioh has purohased the right to man
ufacture acetylene, the new illumin-
ant, in Montana, ia said to be content
plating the establishment of an acety
lene manufacturing plant in Livings'
ton, the requisites of a great water
power, lime and coal, being at hand,
The new state penitentiary building
has just been completed at Deer Lodge
It was built almost exclusively by
oonviot labor. Tbe new buildings
only cost the state $1,000. The founda
tion walls are granite and red brick
was used for superstructure. The re
cent report of the penitentiary shows
the expense of the prison in the last
year to be $46,726.20. ,
The establishment of a school in the
penitentiary at Deer Lodge is a oom
mendable movement originated by Gov
ernor Biokard. The prison offloials
have been instructed to collect and
provide a library for the speoial bene
fit of the inmates. There are now a
number of exceptionally fine eduoa ted
persons in the prison and they have
volunteered their services as teachers.
the county is 2,638, one person
every four square miles.
THE CULTUREOF FLAX
Latest Agricultural Enterprise
In the Northwest.
CAS SEEK FOKEIGN MARKETS
Expert Opinion of John M. Barbour
Farmers Waiting for a Hill Soil
Necessary How It Pays.
A decided interest in flax and flax
culture has been awakened during the
past few weeks in the Northwest
through the efforts of Dr. A. W.
Thornton, who proposes to form a
company under the name of the Puget
Sound Flax Fibre Company, with a
capital of $40,000. He estimates the
cost of constructing the plant at $11,
500, and the annual current expenses
at $28,500, making a total outlay for
the first year of $40,000. The net profit
for that expenditure is placed at $31.-
250 for the first year.
The yield of flax straw on Punet
sound ranges from two to four tons and
15 to 20 bushels of flax seed ner acre.
Fine Hackled flax is worth in the Bos
ton market from $370 to $800 per ton.
according to quality, the average grade
being $500 per ton; and scrutched flax
from $180 to $500 per ton.
lhe Eastern flax mills imnort all
their flax, while here it would be pro
duced at less cost Great Britain im
ports 60,000 tons of flax annually,
more than she can porduce herself,
and Germany imports 60,000 tons.
A good working plant, with a caca-
city of 1,000 tons per annum of flax
straw, and facilities or enlarging to
any extent required, may be estab
lished for $40,000 upon a fully paid up
cash basis, according to the doctor's
showing.
A Flax Colony of Hollanders.
There is an excellent prospect that
Washington will soon demonstrate
more fully even than ever before the
fitness of its soil for flax culture. The
effort is to be made by a colony of
Hollanders, who are to be brought out
from their native land and located on
Whidby island. The party is to be in
charge of K. A. Bottema, who has
gone to Europe, where he will make ,
up the. colony and return to this
.country.
accompanied as
10 Beastre,-
tie expects to return"
them during the first week of the new
year.
An Expert on Flax.
The rospects for flax in the North
west are indicated in a recent letter,
says the Seattle Post-Intelligencer,
from John M. Barbour, one of the
large flax spinners at Lisbum, Ireland,
who was in Seatlte a short time ago
with his brother. Flax was grown by
J. MoCann, an experienced flax grow
er, on the Jorgeson and Garham
ranohes on the Duwamish river, eight
miles south of Seattle, and Mr. Bar
bour was asked by mail about the
quality, value and chances of shipping
the product, of which samples were
sent him. Mr. Barbour's letter, which
was written at Portland, says;
"The flax sample is better than what
I saw at the chamber of oommerce in
Seattle a few days ago, and the form '
in which it is known is hackled flax j
or dress line. The condition in which
flax is sold is in the- soutched state, as :
from every hundred tons of straw
there is only yielded some 12 to 18
per cent of fibre; so you will Bee that
it would be too expensive to pay
freight on the straw flax.
J'l should say the flax similar to the
sample sent would in the soutched
state be worth about 14 cents a pound,
though it has the appearance of having
been hardly retted enough.
"As to the best means of disposing
of flax, it seems to me that you must
always Dear in mind that you must
look to Belfast or the spinning centers
of Europe for your market for this pro
duct, as the flax in the United States
is trifling compared to that required by
the above mentioned market More
over, the United States consumption
is limited to a very few grades of flax.
whereas, the other markets can take
all grades. As the quality of flax
varies bo much, flax buyers prefer to
look through eaoh parcel of flax before
buying, but it seems to me that the
best way for you is to ship the tlax i
to some commission house in the East
or in Belfast, who would find a pur.
chaser for you. The Barbour Flax
Spinning Company, Patterson, N. J.,
will be happy to give you the names of
flax dealers in the East, or William
Barbour & Sons, Lisbum, Ireland, will
be happy to afford you any informa
tion as to the British or European mar
ket. It is out of the question to shiD
it either in the unretted or in the
scutched Btate.
"We are sending to the Seattle
chamber of oommerce samples both of
Irish and of Frenoh flax, to illustrate
quality, eto., whioh we hope will be
of servioe to those interested in flax in
your neighborhood."
At the prioes given by Mr. Barbour,
who is now in San Francisoo on his
way East, Mr. MoCann estimates that
flax on the Duwamish will pay $100 an
acre on any gqod cleared bottom land.
The soil will produoe from three to
four tons of straw per acre, as against
only one ton in Ireland, where flax has
also been grown by Mr. MoCann. Mr.
MoCann, as well as other farmers, will
engage in flax culture, if the proposi
tion for a mill here recently submitted
to the chamber of commerce by Dr. A.
W. Thornton, speoial agent of the
United States department of agrioul
twe is carried out.
At "the chamber of commeroe now
ate samples of flax in every stage np
to hackled.
I I'MIS
en