f 1 The Xrgos. JnlILLSB6R i . KO. X. IIILLSBORO, OUECION, THURSDAY, JfElIKUAItY 25, 1M)1. NO. 50. I H EVENTS OF THE DAY QATrlL'KED FHOM ALL PARTS OP THE TWO HEMISPHERES. Coraprehtnalv Review of tbe Import ant Happenings of tlx Put Wash, PrMntc4 In Coaoanaod Porn, Moat Llaaly to Prove Interaettag to Our Many Raadera, m Fire at Brook port, N. T.. did great daniago to property. Kuaala la pouring troopt Into Port Arthur at ft rapid rato. .The United State hai ordered troop to Panama to rellevaiarlnaa, "Two member of a desperate robber band liave been raptured la Callfor nla. ltnoilun military official are confl ili'iit the war will bo over ty Septum-bt-r, General Charles Dirk appear almoat sure to luccued lb lata Senator I latin. Japan hna offered to aid Chin In requiring the Kuaalan gunboat to leave Shanghai. W.'Hourko Cock ran haa been elected to thu aeat In Congrea vacated by Mayor Mct'lellan, of New York. Franca glvea sympathetic aupport to tli note of Russia declaring that Japan baa violated International law. Prcaldent Roosevelt wilt favor the (r'f on Senator and reappoint Booth and llrldgwi at the Kuauburg land of fln, despite tbe protest of Hitch cock. The fear of war between Turkey and Bulgaria la Increasing. Germany baa been Informed that Bulgaria It buying largo qunntltlea of munition or war. Turkey and Montenegro are on the verge of war. John Mitchell U t petted to uc reed Wright aa labor ouowilaslonor. Secretary Hay baa addreeaed an other noto to tbo powers In regard to China, Senator Hoar accuiea Senator Foraker and other, of mlarepreaentlng him on bla Panama atand. Turkey and Bulgaria aro both mak ing treat preparation and war Id tbo Balkan la conalderod near. Senator Foster tnuat give up bll bill or the atato of Washington will lint be divided Into two Judicial dis trict. . ; flurlon, of Ohio, haa Joined th op position to the naval appropriation hill, contending tha amount I too large. John Oarber, of Ban Francltco. ha declined tha appointment a canal commlsaloner, but omo California engineer la almoat turo to gat tbo ap pointment $even life convict to tbe New Mexico penitentiary overpowered tha superintendent and made a dssb for liberty, but wero subdued by guard. II Senator Hnnabrough as Introduced M a hill to ami tha lieu land evil. Tbo Czar la much downcast over th war and appeara Utile In public. Fourteen people met death tit a Pari factory from an explosion. Ruaalans expect Japan to lay (leg ta Port Arthur and aro preparing for a long resistance. Tbe Ciar will likely proceed to th front In tha spring to tak personal command of tbo army. Japan has had a dispute with China regarding a Russian gunboat wbtrb took refuge at Shanghai. General Kouropatktn I to command the Kuaalan army, aldod by two grand dukea, uncle of the Csar. Tho Porto Rlcan ba demanded that they ba admitted to statehood or thst the Island ba granted Independence. Perry S. Heath ha resigned a c- rotary of tbe National Republican committor.' Elmer Dovr will tempo rarity succeed him. Presbyterian churche of th Unit ed States have agreed upon a plan of union. Russia ha abolished th censor ship on all news excepting war move ments. Mlu holl I sure to head the luter oonanlo canal committee If Piatt doe not want the place. St. Ixiula - constable precipitated a riot, In which six men were shot, by attempting to close a poolroom across the river In Illinois. Russia Is ald to b preparing to evacuate Port Arthur and make Har bin her headquarter. Thl 1 claim ed to be a much better point of vant age. The Tlrltluh nreaa warns tha na tion to be prepared for aa alliance by the power against ner, The house la eonaldarlna tka naval appropriation bill. It la the desire to -have a navy which will be second to bono In the world. The bill carries 114,000.000 more than UBt year ap proprlatlon. Insurance companies And the Haiti more lire losao wero overestimated. Canada Is placing heavy modern guns in ail of her coast fortification The house haa passed th fortlflca v),n bill. Abnor McKlaley 1 seriously 111. A number of his relative have been ca)lod. Tillman ha reintroduced his bill In ' the senate to grant ex-Queen LIMuokalanl a gratuity. A number of additional Indictments will be made la connection with tha Hyde-Benson land conspiracy, i ... Two hundred and Ifty picked ship wrights have been sent to Port Ar thur to hurry repairs on Russian war vessels. CANAL NOW SURE. Senate Ratifies Panama Treaty by a Large Vot. Washington, Fib. 26. The United State Hi'iiiitn yesterday ratified, with out amendment, the treaty with Pan ama for a canal across the Isthmus of that name by a vote of C( to 14. The result was a foregone coucliiNlon, the Intercut In the mutter being only In the division of (he vote on the Demo cratic aide, which was not known definitely until tint roll was railed, all the Republicans being for ratification. Fourteen Democrats voted for ratifi cation and 14 against. Two Demo crats, Clark of Montana and Stone of Missouri, were paired In favor of the reuty and three Democrats, Overman, Mctaurln and Martin, were paired against, so In tho total vote It Democrat were for tho treaty and 17 against It- The only other vote was on the amendment offered by Senator Macon, providing for sn arrangement to com pensate Colombia for loss of the ter ritory of Panama. This was rejected by a vote of 24 to 49. It was a party vole on the affirmative side, and also on the negative side with the excep tion of Oilmen and McEnery, Dumo- crals. who voted with tho Republicans. Senators generally commend the management of the treaty by Cullom, halrman of the committee on foreign elation, who hna had charge of the measure during both the plain and stormy snlllng. The vote was taken much earlier than was anticipated at first, when lis opponent were vigor ously trying to secure enough votes to prevent rntlflcntlon. Tho debate In executive session was generally on the merlte of the treaty. with reference to the secret papers which were sent to the Senate by the President. Morgnn made a set speech J which occupied the greater part of tbe time. HANGED A8 SPIES. Russian, Discover Japanese Trying to Destroy Railroad. St. Petersburg, Feb. 2C. It wna of ficially announced today that three members of the Japanese staff, dls Kiilsed as coolies, were raptured while attempting to blow up a bridge on the Manchuria Railway over the Sungarl River, and after an Immediate trial y drumhead rourtmartlal, they were hanged to the very culvert they had tried to destroy. Tho three Japanese wore Colonel Assl, one of the most expert of Jap an cue engineers, and one of the In structors at (lie Wsr College: Lieu- enant Zoukl Ascba and Lieutenant Kaourata; the latter wero two expert sappers. The dlHKiilse of tho Japanese Is de clared to have been perfect, but they were caught while In the act of piae- ng the eiploslves In place and were recognized by a Russian officer, who was formerly stationed s a military nttacho at the Russlnn I.egntlon at Toklo. There wna no question of their guilt. In fuct, they did not even tnko he trouble to deny It. They were granted but a short time to prepare to die. The execution was witnessed by all tho Russian troops at tho post and a largo number of nntlvea. Tho newspapor of Port Arthur, lated February 4, reached St. Peters burg today, Indicating that they were ess than three weeks In transit. Troop tralnB probably require a longer time on account of the difficulties at ,nke llalkal, where provisions and roons are crossing, both on Ice trains and sledges. SAYS IT HAS ANNEXED C0REA London Journal Reports That Japan Hss Deposed the Emperor, London, Feb. 25. The Chronlclo hns a dispatch dated Harbin, which states hat news has been received there to tho effect that the Japanese Minister to Cores has deposed Kmperor Yl Heul, and has Issued a proclamation annexing Corea to Japnn,. According to a Chefoo dispatch to tho Morning Post, tho Russlun troops are deserting by wholesale In Man cburln. Tho Corea correspondent stales that the report that Japanese have landed nt Pigeon Day and near Dulny la confirmed. Tho Standard prints a dispatch union Seoul slating that a force of 2,000 Chinese are hnrnsRlng tho Russians at Lino Yang. Tho correspondent stntes thiit several Important bridges on the railway between Harbin nnd Vladi vostok hnvo boon destroyed. Chinese Troops Go to Front. Mew York. Feb. 2!. The World has tho following cable from Its Tientsin correspondent: "Tho transportation of ClilncHQ troops from this point to nutHldn the irreat wall beKnn today. Four trains filled with cavalry wore dispatched. Several Japanese omcora were at the station to inspect tne pro cnnilliws. Annrt from the 10,000 Chinese now being forwarded about 9,000 are distributed along tho railway line, 2,250 at. Llnnyang, 1,500 at I'liln- imiifn 1.800 at R nmlntung and 7tu nt Tlonchunntal. The movements of the Russian troops are being strictly guarded from observation cars. Vladivostok Fleet Can't Ba Located Toklo, Feb. 25. It Is Impossible to ua.iiin nnv news of the Russian Vladivostok squadron. It. Is expected that the Japanese Diet will men bdoui tho middle of March, at which time the government will Introduce bills to provide the finances for carrying on the wnr. It Is expected that those measures will provide for an annual revenue for military purposes or ou, nnnnnn von flltO.OOO.OOO). but the ex net nature of the measure will be kept secret. Russian Can't Repair Ship. Wei Hal Wei, Feb. 25. All the me chanics at Port Arthur, Dnlny and inn,iivr,utnir nre Chinese, and It la lm- posslblo for tho Russians to repnlr their damaged warsnips. FOUR SHIPS LOST JAPANESE FOOL RUSSIANS BY L'SE OF SIGNALS. Torpedo Boats at Port Arthur Captured and Craws Mad Prisoners Altsltf Oo to Harbin -Port Arthur Is Now Strictly a Naval Stronghold-Only 20 Port l( ears Kernels. London, Feb. 24. Tbe Nagasaki correspondent of the Dally Telegraph, cabling under date of February 22, re ports that tho Japanese squadron has captured four Russian torpedo boats at Port Arthur by using Russian lunula!" This dispatch appears to confirm report from various quar ter of a fresb attack on Port Arthur by the Japanese. The report reached Nagasaki from Chefoo, and It adds that tbe Russian crews of the four torpedo bouts have been transferred. No other news of this attack has been received In Iondon, but the Crefoo correspondent of the Morning F'ost, In a dispatch dnted February 22, say the statement Is current thst the Japanese torpedo-boat destroyers In tho attack on Port Arthur on Febru ary 14 sunk or damaged two Russlun battleships, in addition to the torpedo boat already reported. Viceroy Alex left" retirement to II a rbl n Is now sn accomplished fact, and a correspondent of tbe Associated Press cables Hint Port Arthur Is now strictly a naval stronghold and the forte are being manned by naval gun ners. Only 20 foreigners are now at Port Arthur, and they are traders dis posing of their merchandise. Homo of them nre under suspicion, and there Is likelihood of their being arrested. There are many complaints of unwsrranted arrests, unexplnlned expulsion and defamation of charac ter by the Port Arthur police. The report that large bodies of Cos- sacks and other troops are occupying Nlu Chwang and Hsln Ming Tin are unfounded. A dispatch to the Dally Mall from Hong Kong says a British squadron la concentrating there and that a cor responding French concentration of warshlns Is occurring at Hagon, inito- Chlna. This Is supposedly a result of the Anglo-French understanding. MANY SUSPICIOUS OF RUSSIA Believe 8h Is Courting Publicity to Influence French Sentiment. Paris. Feb. 24 8t. Petersburg, In tlmo of peace one of the most difficult place, for Journalistic effort, ha sud denly become a Brent center for for eign correspondents. The continental oress Is at present flooded with long telegrams and letters from tbo Rus sian capital. The sudden rush of the Russian government Into publicity hss aroused ansnlclon In manr Quartern, where the question Is being asked: "What Is behind the mover It is inconceiv- m iKdi iha nmalan a-overnment. which took great pains to conceal ev ery Important happening in time oi tinntn ahnllM nnw Want tO make DUb- llc every happening of Importance. A numtier or leaning uipiunima mm nnd naval omcora aro Inclined to be lieve that In permitting all manner of sensational stories to be spread broadcast, Russia nopes to liimieme tho stock market In France, and thus cause a diversion In fnvor of Russia. Blood Poisoning and Puerpal Fever. Formalin 1 the most powerful anti septic agent known to science, and If It la really an antidote for blood poisoning medical practice has made some ad vancement. Still Its use must be ac companied by tbe greatest caution. It I given subcutaiieously by using 1-2000 of formalin In a decl-normsl salt solu tion. Of this, sixty centimeter Is hypodermlcally administered, and In an hour the patient's temperature may be reduced from 104 to 09. The primary effect of Introducing formalin luto tbe arterial clrculnflou I to convert the blood lutself luto an antiseptic solu tion. Japanese Order Filled In Record Time. Philadelphia, Feb. 24. In conse quence of a rush order from the Jap anese government for locomotives, a local plant has established a new rec ord by the construction of seven loco motives In a day. The engines order ed by Japan are for the military rail road Hint will connect Fusan. on the southern const of Corea, with Seoul. An order calling for 20 locomotives, to bo completed with SO days, was re ceived late In January. Eight of the 20 have already been shipped to Fu san. The remaining 12 will be shipped this week. Threat to China. New York, Feb. 24. The American prints the following copyrighted dis nntch from Its lxmdon correspondent: "A dispatch to the Express from Shanghai says: It. is ofllclnlly stated that M. Pnul Lessar, tbe Russian Min ister to China, hns threatened Lien Fang, the vice-president of the Chin ese foreign office, with tho direct con Henuonees. If China Insists on the de parture from Shanghai harbor of the Russian gunbont Mnndjur lor wnicn the Jnpanese cruiser Atsumma is ly ing In watt. First Ballot for Hanna's Successor. Columbus, O., Feb. 24. Sepnrate ballots will be taken In the House snd Senate at noon on March 1 for the election of a successor to the Into Senator Hanna and a Joint session wfll be held at noon on March 2 to declare the result. This Is provided In a lolnt resolution Introduced and adopt ed In the Senate tonight, and which will be rntlflod by the House tomor row. , ON TO THE NORTH. Japanese Land Forces Advancing on Ping Yang, Wei Hal Wei, Feb. 24 On Febru ary 19 the Hainiun arrived at Chemul po and started for a private anchorage that had been arranged for. Con spicuous at the entrance of the har bor were the wrecks of the Russian ressel that bad been sunk after the engagement with the Japaneae. Sal vage operation bad already begun on :he Variag and tbe divers were at work on the sunken cruiser. Japanese army corps wa being landed In three divisions. Tbe 12th division bsd already disembarked and tbo Imperial Guard were to follow Immediately. A general advance on the road to Ping Yang la expected soon. Tbe method of tbe Japanese excite the greatest admiration from all for eign military experts who witness them. British officer declare openly that It I an Improvement over any thing In their experience and state that It Indicates an organization su perior to anything In Europe. Japan's action In Corea amount to an acceptance of responsibility for tbe safety of foreigners throughout Corea and all apprehensions of local dis turbance have been allayed . The original scheme on the part of the Japanese Board of Strategy has been to land at Massmpbo and march northward, but the naval victories changed all this and enabled tbe transports to land at Chemulpo. While the Russian Siberian squadron re mains Intact at Vladivostok It is re garded as unlikely that Japan will attempt to land troops on the East ern coast. The road so far aa Hwang Ju Is good. It Is flanked by paddy fields, which are at present frost bound aad covered with two inches of Ice. The conditions are such that it would bo almost Impossible for the Russians at present to check the Jap anese advance. However, the district between the Yalu River and Ping Yang Is of such strategic value as to necessitate strenuous efforts on the part of both combatants to occupy It. Success by tbe Russians In this re spect' will render Chemulpo untenable as a base by tbe Jspanese. On the other hand, should the Japanese suc cessfully occupy It, they will have a dear field and an open sea behind them, over which they can hurry addi tional troops as they are needed. BLACK SEA FLEET MUST GO. Russia Again Negotiating for Passage Through the Dardanelles. New York, Feb. 24. The Herald Las the following cable from its St. Petersburg correspondent: I have received further corrobora tion that active negotiation are In progress for the passage of the Dar danelles by the Russian Black- Sea fleet. I am further Informed that this Is the reason why such pains have leen taken of late to obtain the good will of Austria. Germany will very probably be willing to further Russia's plan, being glad enough to find there by means of realltlng her well-known ambitions In Asia Minor and let Rus sia weaken herself in fighting the Far Cast. Russia knows all this, but is nevertheless eager to get ber ships through, even If it is necessary to adopt the subterfuge of altering their appearance, disguising them as mer chantmen. Tho Porte Is almost will ing, hnd If England makes any ob jection to the passage It will be the signal for an immediate advance to ward India. "The Russian government has Just chartered from a local firm of ship owners four1 ships, which sail from lilack Sea ports with cargoes of coal. Very high terms were given, and In case of capture the government will pay the full value of the vessels. "The order of the day is that Japan will be allowed to occupy Corea. The licet haa received Instructions not to ongnge In any fight at present, but to remain quiet on defensive until the be ginning of July, when half or the whole Baltic fleet will bo dispatched to the Far East." Bombardment Prevented. Nagasaki. Feb. 24. The Bteamer Stolbcrg has arrived here from Vladl- vostock with 20 white foreigners, l&OO Chinese and 50 Japanese. She brings n addition 40 survivors of the Japan ese stenmer Nakanoura Maru, which was sunk by the Russian cruiser snuadron from Vladivostok on Febru ary 11. Two men were drowned dur Ing their transfer to tne Kussian skips. The survivors were well treated and provided with return pas sages. The Vladivostok squadron In tended to bombard Hakodate, hut a snow storm prevented the vessels from entering the Straits of Taguaru. With Japan'a Exhibit. Tacoma, Wash.. Feb. 24. With the most valuable cargo ever brought to the Pacino Coast from the Orient, the American steamship Lyra arrived In Tacoma today from the Orient. The Lyra brought the exhibit of the Jap anese government for the Louisiana Exposition at St. Louis, besides a mis- celianoouB cargo valued at $1,000,000. It would be impossible to estimate the value of the entire cargo, for in the Mikado's exhibit are articles of such rarity that they are priceless. Philippine Commitsloner Confirmed. Washington, Feb. 24. The Senate today confirmed W. Cameron Forbes, of Massachusetts, to be a member of the Philippine Commission and to suc ceed as secretary of the Department of Commerce and Police, Luke E, Wright. HAPPENINGS HERE IN OREGON l - . BUY THE DITCH. Hood Rjvcr Farmers Effectively Settle Water Question. Hood River. There I great re joicing among the farmer of Hood Klver, and the thousands of people In the United States who have come to look to thl little garden spot of Ore gon for their big red strawberries, need worry no longer about their supply of fruit, for the crop this year will be larger and better than ever. The water question, which has been causing the farmers so much trouble tbe past three weeks. Is practically settled, and the Irrigation ditch will iiereafter belong solely to the farmers. To pay for the ditch and make nec essary repair to Insure a supply of 2300 Inche, of water will require an expenditure of about $60,000, equal to 2,000 (hares. Where farmers are rot prepared to pay cash for water privileges, arrangements have been made to secure loans from the state school fund at 6 per cent. It is figured out that maintenance, expenses and interest on the loans will bring the cost of water to the farmer to less than $3.50 an inch. To those able to pay cash for water riht, the cost will be a little over $1.50. The cost of water each year is regulated by the cost of repairs and expense appor tioned pro rata among the land owners. The ditch Itself la to remain entirely free from debt, the farmers assuming ail obligations. As soon as a majority of stock Is taken, a call will be issued for a stockholders' meeting, oririnaiatlon will be effected and a board of direc tors elected. Work will bealn imme diately toward getting the ditch in shape to have water for tbe straw berries by May 1. TERMS OF SALE VIOLATED. Purchaser of Umatilla Timber Land Sell Wood Wholesale. Pendleton. Charles Wllklna, agent at the Umatilla Indian reservation. says that during the past six months there hss been wholesale consumption of timber on ceded lands, which prac tice Is a violation of the laws. Tbe lands were sold some time ago In 40 acre tracts at $2.25 an acre, but the purchasers were Informed that It would be unlawful to convert the tim ber Into wood or lumber until two years after the date of sales. It Is said that many have paid but little attention to this stipulation, and recently have sold large quantities of wood to Pendleton dealers. One man Is said to have delivered 800 cords of wood to a fuel firm of Pendleton since Inst fall. Mr. Wllklns says the timber lands are out of bis Jurisdiction, and ac cordingly it ia not within his province to prefer charges against the alleged violators. The lands are In the dis trict governed by the Land Office a' La Grande and it will be for the Land Inspector to Investigate the Irregu larities. A great deal of apprehension Is felt. It is believed that many prominent farmers will be Included among the violators. NURSERIES DO A BIG TRADE. Milton Firms Supply Large Ter ritory. Milton. Two large nurseries do business here, and Just now tbe man agement is busy preparing for the shipment of nearly $50,000 worth of trees to all parts of Washington and Oregon for spring planting. Ship ments will be made during the early part of next month In many cases, other orders going out later. These trees are grown near this city, ana all the care and attention Is given by local men. The varieties generally are those that are known to thrive well In this climate and the principal output is apple trees. During the past decade a large amount of money has been sent out of the country for fruit trees, and a few years ago local capital became In terested and a nursery was establish ed to furnish trees for the orchards which seemed to be certain of estab lishment. The business proved satis factory, and It Is now difficult to get farmers to send away for nursery stock of any kind. Following the suc cess of one nursery, another was es tablished, and now Milton sends out more trees annually than any other llace of similar size In the northwest. Grand Ronde Apples Go Fast. La Grando. Within the past three weeks the Blue Mountain Fruit Com pany in La Grande has shipped to the Eastern markets 15 carloads of Grand Ronde apples, which were held over last fall by the growers. J. D. McKen- non. one of Grands lending grocers, has shipped out two carloads of apples and several carloads of potatoes of late. About 20.000 boxes of saleable apples were raised In the Cove district alone In the year 1903. and a much larger crop Is expected In the year 1904. To Move County Seat Back. La Grande. Petitions have been put In circulation In almost all locali ties In .Union County asking the coun ty Court to submit the question of re locating the county seat from Union to La Grande to the vote of the people at the general election In June. This petition is formulated under the gen eral law of 1903, which provides for submission of the question upon peti tion of three-fifths of the total of all the votes cast. To Reduce Rate of Interest. Astoria. The Astoria school dis trict has bonds amounting to $12,000, which can be redeemed on March 1. and the directors have made arrange ments to refund them by borrowing money from the state. This will re duce the rate of mterest from 6 to 5 per cent and effect quite a saving to the district. AS8E880R8' TERMS OF OFFICE Do Those Now In Hold for Two Year Longerf Salem. Do County Assessors, now In office, bold two years longer, under tbe act of 1403, extending the term of office to four years. Is a question which will be submitted to the Attorney-General for an opinion. The Assessors now in office were elected under a law which prescribed two years as the term of office. In 1903 the Legislature amended the law so as to read that "there shall be elected at the general election by the Quail ed electors of each county In this Hate a County Assessor, who shall hold hit office for tbe term of four years, and until his successor is elect ed and qualified." There Is nothing In the act which specifies whether as sessors now In office shall be affected by tbe new law. It has been eener- ally supposed that the present incum bents would retire when their two- year terms have ended, but there may oe Bome oount aDout th s. On the other hand. It Is a general rule that law changing the length of a term of office do not affect incum bents unless tbe intention to do so Is clear. In the present instance, the words "there shall be elected" would seem to Indicate an intention that the law should affect only those elected in the future, but as these words were in tbe old law and were merely re peated In the amendatory act, they may not have any particular meaning in that respect. FINE COWS FOR. DAIRYING. Jackson County Farmer Buys Hoi- stein Big Farm to Be Made. Jacksonville. Brophy Bros., the owners of a fine dairy ranch in this valley, have received from Scappoose, Columbia County, a carload of fine Holsteln cows to add to their already choice herd of milch cows. Benton Bowers, of Ashland, who lately purchased the Beekman & Reames tract of land on Rogue River, seven miles north of Jacksonville, have a force of 20 men at work re pairing the buildings, rebuilding fences and clearing additional land. There Is TOO acres in the tract. 400 acres of which will be put to grass. 300 acres of this being seeded to al falfa this spring, and the remainding 300 to pasture. Fine stock Is to be kept upon the land, and Mr. Bowers plans to have one of the best selected herds in Rogue River valley. Isaac Householder has sold his In terest In the Kain's Creek limekilns near Jacksonville, and will at once put in a wood camp on Poo: man's Creek and a woodyard In Jackson ville. Double its Capacity, La Grande. The La Grande Cres cent Knitting Mills, the only factory of Its kind In the Northwest outside of Portland, is arranging to double its capacity and has ordered a dozen new machines. Tbe factory makes stockings, shawls and underwear. Suits of underwear are placed on the market all tbe way from $2 to $25 per suit, and are manufactured of cotton, wool and silk. It Is now Impossible for the factory to fill all the orders coming in. This factory haa been in operation in La Grande only a little over six months. Busy Time at Prairie City. Prairie City. As spring approaches development of this district begins to assume shape. It is now conceded that the Sumpter Valley and Bonta railroads will race for the occupancy of this field. The Bonta road has se cured a part of the right of way and the surveying corps is busy locating the remainder. The enterprise has been financed, and it is given out that It will be a steam road instead of an electric. This brings It in touch with the O. R. & N. and simplifies the transfer from one road to the other. PORTLAND MARKETS. Wheat Milling quotations; Walla Walla, 7778c; bluestem, 8283c; Valley, 82c. Barley Feed, $2122 per ton; brewing, $22; rolled, $23. Flour Valley, $3.753.85 per bar rel; hard wheat straights, $3.904.10; clears. $3.553.75; hard wheat pat ents. $4.20 4.50; graham, $3.75; whole wheat, $4; rye flour, $4.50 4.73. Oats No. 1 white, $1.15; gray, $1.10 per cental. Mlllstuffs Bran, $18.5019 per ton; middlings, $26; shorts, $19.E020; chop, $18; linseed, dairy food, $19. Hay Timothy, $1517 per ton; clover. $U13; grain, $1213; cheat, $1213. Butter Sweet cream butter, 32V4c per pound; fancy creamery, 30c; choice creamery, 2527Msc; dairy and store, nominal. ; Butter fat Sweet cream, 31c; sour cream. 29c. Poultry Chickens, mixed, 1213c per pound; springs, small1, 14l5c; hens, 13134c; turkeys, live, 1516c per pound; dressed, 1820c; ducks, $89 per dozen; geese, live, 8c per pound. Eggs Oregon ranch, 2425c per dozen. Vegetables Turnips. 80c per sack carrots. 80c; beets. $1; parsnips, $1; cabbage, l2c; red cabbage, lc; lettuce, head, 2540c per dozen; pars ley, per dozen, 25c; tomatoes, $1.50 2 per crate; caullflcur, 75c$l per dozen; celery, 65c per dozen pumpkins, lc per pound; cucumbers, $2.25 per dozen. Onions Yellow Danvers, $22.2o per sack . Potatoes Fancy, $11.10 per sack; common, 7090c, growers' prices; sweets, 2Uc in sacks; 2c crated. Beef Dressed, 67Hc per pound Mutton Dressed. 67c; lamba 8c. Veal Dressed, small, 89c; large, 67c. Pork Dressed, 77c. Hops Choice. 2628c per pound; prime, 25c; medium, 24c. Wool Valley, 1718c; Eastern Oregon, 1215c; mohair, 3235e. BATTLE ON LAND. Russian Badly Beaten In Engage ment on Yalu River. St. Petersburg, Feb. 22. Authority which prohibits doubting veracity of the report, in spite of the official dis patches stating that nothing I taking place and everything is perfectly quiet, says, outpost engagements have taken place on the Yalu resulting in the Russian advance guards being driven back with considerable losses, which are estimated at 2,500 lives, but whether this means those who fell on the Yalu or the entire Russian lossea since the commencement of tbe war I not exactly clear. Large Force Engaged. Nlu Chwang, Feb. 22. A Japanese victory is reported near the Yalu river, but is unconfirmable from any source. According to the report current hero a large part of the forces of both Rus sians and Japanese were engaged. Tbo Russiana are said to have lost several thousand men. There are no detail of the engagement obtainable. 8EEKING RUSSIAN 8HIP8. Japanese Fleet Want Battle With Cable-Cutting Squadron. New York, Feb. 22. Tbe American' Toklo cable, dated February 21, says: Russian warships are reported between Japan and Corea. Transports carrying troops across are heavily conveyed In . consequence. Half the Japanese fleet is occupied in surveying and protect ing the landing of troops In Corea . and the other half ia searching for the Russian Vladlvostock warships. - The prefectural office has received a telegram from the chief magistrate of the Island of Miyake, south of tho Gulf of Corea, reporting that 12 Rue elans debarked In a boat from a vessel in the offing on February 19. The sub sequent movements of this mysterious ' party are not reported, but Inquiry is under way. The Russians were prob ably seeking to cut the cable, aa three warships were reported off Okushhn Island today searching for the cable. AMERICA HAS TROOPS PREPARE Orders lasued That Men Be Ready for Service at short Notice. San Francisco, Feb. 22. Under or ders Issued by the War Department, the commanders of the various mili tary departments of tbe United States Army are placing in readiness for ser vice at short notice the organizations under their immediate charge. This work la being done in the quietest possible manner, aad the officers In charge are very reticent about talking -on the subject. Although it is not generally known, the San Francisco Presidio is the most active Army post in the work of pre paration. Tbe troops of the Presidio are doing extra drill dally, and it is stated on the best of authority that within the next two weeks a large consignment of cold-weather clothing will arrive at the post ready for distri bution on 24 hours notice. The fact that blanket-lined overcoats, fur glove and heavy Arctic boots are among tho upplfea to arrive in San Francisco is significant of tbe intention of the War Department to prepare the troops for a climate more regorous than that of California. Another phase of these preparatory measures is the work of the Coast -Artillery that has charge of the har bor defenses. The recently organised school in submarine mining haa taken such an Interest In Its work that a corpB of men is daily devoting the 1 hours between sun-rise and sunset to the study of the methods of modern harbor defense, while a large force of men Is working day and night In tbe sheds near the Government wharves preparing platforms such as are used for placing the floating mines. WAR CALLS FOR '04 MONEY. Rusaia Officially Notifies St. Louis . She Will Not Participate. St, Louis, Feb. 22. Official confirm ation of Russia's intention to abandon participation in the exposition was re- -ceived today in a cablegram to Presi dent Francis from Commissioner-General Alexandrovsky at St. Petersburg. The cablegram follows: Notwithstanding the best of feeling o America and a readiness for par ticipation ia tbe World's Fair, Russian tradesmen think their patriotic duty s to give the money appropriated for the exposition to the Red Cross and wounded soldiers. I am going person ally as the chief delegate of the Red Cross to the Far East, My sincere thanks for your kind atention to our staff and me personally. , My best re gards to all directors and chiefs." China Denies Request for Aid. Toklo, Feb. 22. Advices to the Jap anese government from Pektn say that while at Mukden, Viceroy Alexiff ask ed the Chinese troops to aid in guard ing the railroad, so as to prevent the interruption of traffic. The Chinese refused the request and asked for In structions from Pekln. The Chinese government told them to Inform Alexiff that as Russia had insisted the. Chinese were unable to guard the rail way In time of peace, surely Russia could not expect them to guard it In time of war. America I Criticised. St. Petersburg, Feb. 22. The re fusal of the Commander of the United States gunboat Vicksburg to unit with the Commanders of other foreign warships at Chemulpo to protest . against the fighting there on Febru ary 8, which resulted in the loss of tho Russian warships Variag and Korelti, -nnd the fact that the Vicksburg did not take on board any of the surviv ing Russian soldiers, has created much unfavorable public comment here. Arming Black Sea Coast Warsaw, Feb. 22. Heavy siege guns are being mounted on the coast IS versts (ten miles) from Odessa. They will cover the approach to the harbor. Russia's feverish military and naval activity belles the optimistic official assurances to the effect that nothing untoward is anticipated and that no other power is expected to become In volved in the present conflict.