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.