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About Corvallis gazette. (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 8, 1902)
V. s f? or, A. WEEKLY. 'TVX'2immm Feb., 1899. COBVAIililS, BENTON COUNTY, OREGON, FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 1902. VOIi. XXXIX. NO. 33. (X)UVALLIS EVENTS OF THE DAY FROM THE FOUR QUARTERS OF THE WORLD. Comprehensive Review of the Important Happening of the Past Week, Presented in a Condensed Form. Which Is Most Likely to Prove of Interest to Our Many Readers Rumor has it that the king of Siam has been assassinated. A cyclone destroyed 42 houses at Pompri. province of Kursk, killing 22 people. Senor Sagasta, in an interview, announces that he is about to retire from public life. Roll!, of Munich, Eavaiia, beat the world's six-hour bicycle lecord at Fried rau Sunday. He averaged 38 miles an hour. Commodore Joseph Montgomery, the Confederate naval officer who nearly captured Grant during the Civil war, died at Chicago Sunday. Dr. William M. Bradshear, president of the Iowa State college at Ames, and former president of the National Edu cational association, died Tuesday of nervous prostration. The circuit court of Cuyahoga county has dissolved an injunction against the Cleveland city council, which prevent ed that body from transacting business beci-ueo of alleged illegality and the in auguration of a 3-cent street car fare. Former President Steyn, of the .Or ange Free State, is reported to be in very bad health. He has gone to The Hague to meet President Kruger. An explanatory note issued by the Russian minister of finance states that Russia will regard as a violation of treaty the proposed American counter vailing sugar duties. At Helena, Mont., a lone highway man held up Samuel Trevis and James Randall, and after he had robbed them, compelled Trevis to stop a street car. tie a handkerchief over his face and go through the car. Whitelaw Reid", special ambassador to great Britain, has returned. The Shenandoah collieries may start np under the protection of troops A Chicago woman has been wrested for starving nine infants to death. Striking anthracite coal miners say ; incompetent men are being sent into j the mines. The Santa Fe railroad has issued a circular granting an increase of wages to the carmen. There is good reason to believe that the United States will secure a coaling station on the west coast of Africa. Press censorship in Russia has been vigilant and exacting since the assass ination of the minister of the interor. In a collision between a passenger train and street car at Terre Haute, Ind., three persons Avere fatally, six seriously and two slightly injured. There'is strong talk in Jamaica of annexation to the United States. Robbers at Astoria bound and gagged a man on a fishing scow and secured $400. The Vatican proposes a gradual with drawal of the friars from the Philip pines. A Salt Lake mining man shot and fatally wounded.two persons and then killed himself. The Seattle steamer Jessie Benning has been sold to the Colombian govern ment for $68,000. Troops will remain in Shenandoah, Pa., where the recent riots occurred, until the strike is ended. A secret organization in Tayabas pro vince, Philippine islands, has been up rooted by the constabulary. The cruiser Brooklyn, which con veyed the remains of the late Lord Pauneefote to England, has returned. An explosion in a colliery in New South Wales resulted in the death of at leajt 100 persons. The Louisiana Purchase Expositi-n company has secured an additional 50 acres of land for use in the St. Louis fair. A tidal wave in Costa Rica, following severe earthquakes, frightened hun dreds of residents and caused consider able damage. $400 Gift for Children at Portland Carnival Children's Day at the Portland Elks' Carnival will he Sent. 12. the last day but one of the great street fair. On that owaeion a pretty Shetland pony with an up-to-date cart and harness will be given to some lucky boy or girl who is present. The pony has been given by Dr. V. A. Wise and the cart is from Studebaker's. Besides this equipment, it is probable that a saddle, together with a handsomely embroid ered saddle cloth will be given with the pony. Prize lby day will be Sept. 5. William C. Whitney, of New York, has given a handsome house and lot to the physician who attended Mrs. Whit ney in her long illnses. Turners in convention at Davenport, la., defeated a proposition to admit women to membership and urged taxa tion of church property. St. Louis and eastern capitalists have organized to build a bridge over the Mississippi at St. Louis and a new de pot in the heart of the city. EARTH IS SHAKEN. Violent Seismic Shocks in' California People Warned to Move. Santa Barbara, Cal., Aug. 2 The inhabitants of the little town of Los Alamos, which has been the center of seismic disturbances daring the past four days, are tonight huddled around a huge Donfire, waiting for daylight to come. Many of the residents have left for places outside the tremor belt. Those who have remained could not well abandon their business. The town, of Los Alamos is situated on the Pacific ICoast railway, midway between Santa Ynez and Santa Maria, in the long, narrow valley of the Los Alamos, 15 miles from the coast. It has about 300 population. The Los Alamos valley is from one-half to one mile wide. Its population is about 800. There are no brick buildings in the little village, and the damage thus far is limited to the ruin of plaster, the collapse of chimneys, the breaking of crockery and glassware, the falling of the walls of the Piesbyterian church and two store buildings and the demolishing of an old adobe building which was seriously damaged by the first quake. The dam age will not exceed $10,000 in the opinion of conservative residents of the place. There is not a chimney left standing in the town. One residence was moved four inches and split in opposite corners. Not a building escaped some injury, and it n consid ered miraculous that no one was hurt There was a series of light vibrations during the day, which culminated in quite a severe shock at 7:30 P. M. Fruther shocks are anticipated. The most severe shock of the entire series occurred at 1 :20 this morning, when the hils were shaken and twisted to their foundations and the valley trem bled and rolled like the surface of the ocean, ureat nssures were run in the earth, hills appeared in level valleys, springs of water opened up in places that htd been dry, ai.d the general to pography of the valley was greatly changed in many respects.. The disturbance bad no general direc tion, but was what is known as a twister." It was preceded by a rumbling like that of distant thunder, which increased until the earth began to rock and twist and the hills began to tremble. With the first warning of the sound of the approaching disaster the terror-stricken people rushed into the streets and sought places of safety in vacant lots and fields, while many hastened toward the neighboring hills. The first vibrations were similar to the preceding disturbances in direction and effect, but they were immediately fol lowed by the most terrific shock ever experienced in this section of the state. The earth ti em bled and rolled and twisted until it was impossible to stand erect, and the terror-stricken people crouched together in the darkness, fear- mi that the earth beneath them might open and swallow them up. SOLDIERS ARE IDLE. Nothing for Them to Do at Shenandoah - Strikers are Orderly. Shenandoah, IPa., Aug. 2. Twelve hundred state troops are encamped to night on a hill overlooking Shenan doah. Down in the town, where riot era and policemen fought the bloody battle last night, all is quiet, and the indications are that so long as the militia remains the peace Jof the com munity will not again be broken. The riot which caused the soldiers to be sent here came like a flash and was over almost as quickly as it bad started, and not a single case of violence has been reported since. The tens of thousands of idle men and boys in this vicinity who have been gathering in large num bers and marching from place to place, did not repeat their demonstrations to day, and the authorities consequently had little or nothing to do. The arrival of the -citizen soldiery proved to be a great attraction for the large army of unemployed, and hun dreds of men and boys came to town to see the troops. Most of the commands were on the ground by 10:30 o'clock. Brigadier General Gobin, of the Third brigade, in command of the troops here, and his staff were on the scene early. The camp is located on a high bill just outside of the town, and commands a full view of the town. Beyond the presence of a group of soldiers here and there on the princi pal streets, Shenandoah does not show any evidence of having passed through a trying ordeal. The large numer of persons who had been attracted to the place by the coaling of the militia left during the afternoon, and tonight the town presents its normal appearance. French Official Greets Root. Havre, Aug. 2. General Pistor, of the French army, boarded the steam ship Savoie, on her arrival here, today, and officially greeted Elihu Root, the American secretary of war, on behalf of the French government. Secretary Root thanked General Pistor. He pro ceeded at once to Paris. General Horace Porter, United States ambassa dor to France, and General Leonard Wood arrived on the Savoie with Secre tary Root. Russians Hold on to Manchuria. London, Aug. 2. In a dispatch from St. Petersburg, the correspondent of the Daily Mail says the order for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Manchuria has been rescinded, as that country is overrun with Chinese robber bands. Quantities of Russian goods in transit have been looted, says the cor respondent, and two Russian merchants in Manchuria were recently burned alive. .NEWS OF THE STATE ITEMS OF INTEREST FROM ALL PARTS OF OREGON. Commercial and Financial happenings of Im portance A Brief Review of the Growth and Improvements of the Many Industries Throughout Our Thriving Commonwealth Latest Market Report. Circuit court is in session at Oregon City. An additional free delivery route will be established Sept. 1 at Salem. Oregon produced, about 19,500,000 pounds of wool this year, and nearly all of it has been disposed of at prices between 12 and 14 cents. The first wheat of the season was stored at the Albany Farmers Compa ny's warehouse at Albany Monday af ternoon. It was of Al quality. A contract has been awarded H. C. Per kins of Grant 8 Pass to survey six town ships on the line of the Oregon Central Military Wagon road land grant. About 20 tons of hay recently cured and baled by J. E. Murphy was burned near Salem. The fire caught from a spark from the engine which furnished power for the baler. Governor Geer has appointed Z. Z. Rigge, of Salem, a memrjer of the state board of pharmacy to succeed G. C. Blakley, of the Dalles, term expired; also A. D. Charlton and A. L. Craig, both of Portland, delegates to the min ers' congress at Butte, Mont., Sept. 1 to 5. State Treasurer Moore has apportioned the proceeds of the irreducible school fund, $214,639.35, among the counties of the state according to school popula tion. This is the largest sum ever legal ized in one year upon the irreducible school fund, though the rate of inter est is lowei now than it was a few years ago. The first car of 1902 wheat has been received in Portland. The wheat crop of Umatilla county will be 15 per cent less than the usual yield. fire at Elgin destroyed $25,00 worth of property. Eleven horses were burned to death. The run of fish on the Lower Colum bia continues exceptionally heavy and the fish of good size. The report of the superintendent of Columbia county schools shows 64 more children than last year. The Elks' carnival to be held in Portland promises to surpass anything of the kind ever before attempted. The Southern Pacific will form a fire patrol to protect its large timber hold ings in Southern Oregon from fire. Many small fires have been reported in Eastern Oregon grain fields, but so far no great amount of damage has been done. Harry Wright, who is believed to have assisted Tracy and Merrill in es caping from the penitentiary, has been located in Lane county. The Crown Paper company, of Oregon City, will in a short time begin the construction of a pulp mill on the east side of the river at that city. This will make the output of the company 20,000 pounds of pulp a day. PORTLAND MARKETS. Wheat Walla Walla, 6263c for new crop; b4boc lor old; valley, ooe; bluestem, 6566c. Barley $17.75 for old, $16.50 for new croD. Flour Best grades, $3.05(33.60 per barrel; graham, $2.953.20. Millstuffs Bran, $1516 per ton; middlings, $21.50; shorts, $18; chop, $16. Oats No.l white, $1.051.10; gray, $1.001.05. Hay Timothy, $1215; clover, $7.5010; Oregon wild hay, $56 per ton. Potatoes Best Bur banks, 7586c percental; ordinary, 50c per cental, growers prices; sweets. $Z.Z52.50 per cental ; new potatoes, lc. Butter Creamery, 2021c; dairy 1618c; store, 15 16c. Eggs 2021)6c r Oregon. Cheese Full cream, twins, 12$ (E?13c;Young America, 13)14c; fac tory prices, 1 l)c less. Poultry Chickens, mixed, $3.60 4.50; hens, $4.005.50 per dozen, llllc per pound; springs, 11 llc per pound, $2.504.50 per doz en; ducts, $z.oU(33.Uu per dozen; tur keys, live, 1314c, dressed, 1516c per pound ; geese, $4.005.00 per dozen. Mutton Gross, 2)3c per pound; dressed, 6c per pound. Hogs Gross, 6Jfcc; dressed, 77c per pound. Veal 78c per pound. Beef Gross, cows, 33r; steers. 34c; dressed, 78c per pound. Hops 1617c; new crop 17 18c. Wool Valley,12M15;Eastern Ore gon, 814c: mohaii. 2526c pound. Yale university gave degrees to a class of 650. Plans for a Chinese vol unteer mission were announced. A Chicago dispatch savs that the fear of a bituminous miners' strike is cans- me coal dealers and railroads to store thousands of tons as a reserve supply The will of very Rev. E. A. Hoffman. dean of the general theological semi nary of New York, disposes of an estate estimated at $12,000,000 to $15,000,- 000. CONTRACT iS LET. Construction of Snake S?ver Line to Lewis ton to Commence at Once. Portland, - Aug. 5- Contract for building the O. R. & railroad on the north bank of the Snake river between - . . v Riparia and LewistonCias been award ed to Wren & Greenongh, contractors, who had hitherto beeq identified chiefly with construction work on the North ern Pacific. Work onthe new contract is to begin at once and? be completed by April 15 of next year, IS There are 71 miles of railroad to band and this con tract covers grading ajad bridging for the whole line, . involving about $800, 000. - ' , r The company now has eight crews of engineers on the line ready to direct and supervise the worKon the several sections. J. Q. Jamieion is the en gineer in charge of theiwhole work, his headquarters being at Almota, near the middie of the line. f There is not much Abridging . to be done on the line included in this con tract, but at Lewiston it will be nec essary to construct a bridge 10,000 feet long across the Clearwater river. This will be made of steel with -concrete masonry abutments and piers, and its cost will be about $350,000. It has not yet been determined - whether the company will build this structure itself or let it out by contract. After the completion the roadbed next April the company will lay its own track. It has already begun send ing ties forward, and the rails are pro vided for. It will take about three monthsjto put the track in shape for operation after the contractor has fin ished his work, so it is not expected that regular running of trains will be-. gin much before the first of next Au gust. The Northern Pacific will use the line jointly with the O. R. & N. -track to Wallula Junction. 5 - ENGLAND IS WARNED. Trinidad Asks for Relief Measures In Favor of American Annexation. London, Aug. 5. A striking contrast to Colonial Secretary? Chamerlain's optimistic West Indian f speech Thurs day is furnished by advices from Trini dad to the effect that ; a ' deputation is starting from there for London to make a strong presentation to the colonial office on the island's financial condi tion. The party includes influential members of the legislative council and the president of the ' island's chamber of commerce, who are charged to point out the inadequacy of the 4,000 pounds refund of the immigration tax which it is proposed to allot the island. The loss on the sugar crop just gathered is estimated at 50,000 pounds, while the planters must continue to lose at the same rate for an indefinite period or be obliged to throw 50,000 laborers on the hands of the government. The depu tation was requested to remind the Colonial secretary that if Trinidad was taken under the American flag, like Porto Rico, the sugar estates could be run at a profit. FIGHT IN PANAMA. Governor Salazar Says It is Still in Progress and Desperate.. Washington, Aug.- 5. "Battle 'still being fought desperately." These are the words contained in a dispatch re ceived at the Colombian legation from General Salazar, the governor of the department of Panama, and were in answer to a message asking that offi cial for-information regarding the con test which has been in progress since Tuesday at Agua Dulce, when the Colombian revolutionists began to at tack that place. The officials here are anxiously awaiting additional news of the battle. The understanding here is that the government's force of 7,000 men is en gaged with a large portion of the revo lutionists who have in the department of Panama about 4,000 men in all. Agua Dulce, about 70 miles from Pana ma, is an inaccessible part of the coun try' for ready communication. It re quires eight days to make the overland journey, while water communication is very irregular, and is carried on main ly by small boats. ' BAD NEWS FROM CUBA. Natives Are Not Thriving Since Withdrawal of American Troops. Washington, Aug. 5. Discouraging reports are received from Cuba. There has been a great falling off in the rev enues since the United Rtates withdrew' from the island. It is reported that the daily receipts at Havana do not average more than $5,000. Capital is cautious, and men of means are wait ing to see what the government will do before investing. The expenses of the government have been largely reduced, bat this has caused dissatisfaction among the Cubans who want fat salar ies. There are rumors that many of the officers placed in important posi tions are incompetent, and some may not-be straight. A general feeling of disquiet is apparent, which is not a good indication for the new republic. Withdrawal of Friars. Washington, Aug. 5. The war de partment has received no confirmation of the information from Rome that the Spanish friars in Manila are to be re lieved, but it is stated that such a coarse would be in furtherance of the plan of Secretary Root, which was pre sented to the Vatican by Governor Taft. It is also stated that if such action was taken it would greatly simplify the negotiations, which will be renewed at Manila. OUTLAW TRACY DEAD, Spokane, "Aug 6. Harry Tracy is dead The notorious criminal, convict, outlaw, deseprado and multi-murderer committed suicide last evening, after being shot twice by his pursuers. His body was found at an early hour this morning, cold and 'dead, lying face upward, and the hands still caressing the famous 30-30 rifle and 45-calibre Colt's revolver.- The" resting place was in a wheat field near the Eddy home, where Tracy spent the last few days, and whither he had been tracked by his hunters. The body was taken to Davenport, udner care of Sheriff Gardner of Lin coln county. Its disposition will be decided later by the officials in charge FIGHT OVER JAPS- British Columbia and Dominion Governments In Serious Controversy. Vancouver, B. C, Aug. 6. British Columbia has started on a battle for provincial rights against the Dominion government. The Japanese have caused the conflict. For many sessions past private members of the legislature have introduced bills to prevent the employ ment of Chinese and Japanese on pub lic works granted franchises by the As sembly. As fast as the bills became acts, the federal government disallowed them. Last session the provincial govern ment took a hand in the game. It passed an act based on the Natal act and perhaps going one better than any measure of a private member. The Ot tawa authorities have answered this defiance in the same way as the others. But this is more serious. The Duns- muir government will not, it is thought, consent to be sat upon in this manner; at all events Joseph Martin, the leader of the liberal party, will not. Mr. Martin is demanding that a special session of the legislature be called, to re-enact the anti-Japanese legislation, and he uiges that as fast as it is disal lowed the members meetjagain and pass the bill until the federal government is brought to time as it was in Manitoba some years ago. It le very probable that the Dunsmuir government will pay attention to the requests of Mr. Martin, because he holds the balance of powei in the local house and can turn Mr. Dunsmuir out of office if he does not do as Mr. Martin wishes. The attitude that the Dominion government takes on this matter is that the British Columbia legislation is unpopular in Great Britain, which country is desir ous of keeping on the best of terms with its new ally, Japan, with whom it has so recently made a treaty. The fight, therefore, which' British Colum bia has started is likley to become fam ous. How it win ena 11 is not possiDie to forecast, but Manitoba won its fight for provincial rights against the federal government, and Joseph Martin was the leader. THREE DECISIONS. State Supreme Court Makes Some Rulings of Importance. Salem, Aug. 6. The state supreme court, in opinions juet handed down: When a lessee continues in possession and pays rent after the expiration of a 10-year lease, it is held that this is a continuance of the relationship of land lord and tenant from year to year un der the original agreement. Sharing profits and losses is not alone evidence of partnership, but there must be community of interest and control of the propei ty. The listing of land of the state as swamp land does not convey title, and the secretary of the interior may cancel the list any time before patent issues. The state's grantee must contest the question whether the land was, in fact, swamp land in the land departmet. BEET TRUST FIGHT. Attorneys for the Barons Have Prepared a Demurrer Against Injunction. Chicago, Aug. 6. The attorneys representing the alleged beef trnst have prepared for filing a demurrer to the bill by virtue of which the federal court issued an injunction to prevent the packing houses from conspiring to manipulate the inarset. The insuffi ciency and unconstitutionality of the anti-tiust law and the denial of the right of the courts to compel packers to produce their books for inspection are alleged, in addition to a general denial of the truth of charges made in the bill. The demurrer will be filed as soon as it can be verified by the differ ent defendants. Great Catch of Salmon. Astoria, Aug. 6. The greatest indi vidual catch of salmon made on the Columbia river in many years was reported Saturday at the Elmore can nery, when Julius Ericfeson, of West Astoria, brought in 3,548 pounds cf fishT the result of about an hour's work. Erickson's net was in the water less than 20 minutes, and his haul netted him $141.92. Timber Deal Closed. Portland. Aug. 6. Chief Engineer Kinney of the Great fCentral Railroad company announces that an important deal has just been closed, several weeks ago M. J. Kinney took an option on 97,000 acres of timber land in the Coos Bay district, and in the deal is included the maior portion of the plat ted town of Empire City." The land was owned by the Southern Oregon company, represented by Prosper Smith of Boston. WOULD PAY. FULL REWARD. Warden Janes Thinks the $1,500 Should be Paid for Return ot Merrill's Body. Salem, Or., August 1. First Warden J. T. Janes, of the Oregon penitentiary, has created a stir in official circles by giving out an interview in which he differed radically from his superior otfi- cer regarding the payment of the re gard for the return of Merrill's body, j He contends that the whole amount , offered for the capture and return of 'Merrill, $1,500, should be paid.. Sup- ' Z 1 A. T fP . . . TIT ' ciiuujuucut jjbo onerea mrs. aggoner $300. Superintendent Lee declines' to say anything regarding Mr. Janes' statement, which is as follows: "Since there is no doubt that the re covered remains are those of Merrill, there should not be the slightest hesi tation on the part of the state in the prompt payment to Mrs. Waggoner of the entire amount named in the reward. The state, cannot afford to be niggardly in this matter, because of the unpleas ant reputation it will receive, in fact, has already received throughout the country in relation to its treatment of the criminal class. The effect on the discipline of the penitentiary that re sulted in the return to the institution and the burial of the remains of one oj the escaped desperadoes has in itself been worth more than the amount of the leward. "There- is a second, and even greater, reason why the reward should be paid Mrs. Waggoner the failuieof the state of Oregon to promptly and liberally re ward the return of Merrill's body has discouraged many who have been pur suing Tracy, and the result is that large numbers have entirely abandoned the search for the remaining bandit, since the hope of adequate reward has been largely lemoved by the state's tardy action in the consideration of tbe claim presented for the return of Merrill's body. "Hence, for two distinct reasons, I think Mrs. Waggoner is entitled to the full reward. First, because she re turned Merrill's body, and because of the beneficial effect resulting in the gen eral discipline of the institution; sec ond, for the reason that by its action in the matter the state is retarding the search for Tracy. I do not wish to be understood as particularly criticising the judgment of my superiors, but at the same time I have my own opinions, and I do not hesitate to express myself in the matter." MINERS AND POLICE. One Killed and Many Wounded in a Riot on the Streets of Shenandoah. Shenandoah, August 1. In street fighting tonight between a mob of strik ing miners on one side and deputy sheriffs and police on the other, Jos eph Beddall, a leading merchant, was beaten to death, two borough police men were shot, one fatally, and more than a score of strikers were shot by policemen and deputy sheriffs. Sheriff Beddall ai rived at 7:15 P. M. from Pottsville with a posse of deputies. He has taken up his headquarters'at the Ferguson hotel. To an Associated Press reporter he said he had asked Governor Stone to send tbe militia. The governor wired that if the citizens of the town petitioned for troops he would send them. The trouble started about 6 o'clock tonight, when Deputy Sheriff Thomas Beddall attempted to escort two non union workers through the strikers' line of pickets. The workmen were dressed in their street clothes, but one of them carried a bundle under his arm and this aroused the suspicions of the strikers. The bundle was torn from him, and when it was found to contain a blouse and overalls, the man was taken from the deputy and beaten almost to death. In the meantime, Beddall opened fire on the mob which had gathered, and emptied his revolver. Two of the shots took effect, one man being shot in the leg and another in the foot. The dep uty and the other strike-breaker were now compelled to fly foi their lives, and took refuge in the Philadelphia & Reading railroad station. The- station was soon surrounded by an angry mob of 5,000, which was becoming more threatening and demonstrative every moment. Joseph Beddall, a hardware merch ant and brother of the deputy sheriff, was seen making his way through the crowd in an effort to reach his brother, and the mob, divining that he was car rying ammunition to those inside the station, struck and beat him with clubs and billies . into insensibility. He died en route to the Miners' hospital. Collision in Wisconsin. Elm Grove, Wis., August 1. In a collision here today between -a pas senger train from Waukesha known as the "Scoot" and a west bound freight train, Dennis Connell, the engineer of the passenger train, was killed, and Fireman Chamberlain was badly in jured. Several passengers on the Wau kesha train were slightly injured. Engineer Connell was powerless to avjid the crash. He died at his post, acrificing his life to save, his train. - Forty Uvea Lost Singapore, August 1. In a collision off Malacca, Straits Settlements, be tween the British scboners Prince Alex ander and Ban-Hin-Guan, the former vessel was sunk and 40 lives lost. High Prices for Rare Books. London, August 1. An auction sale of rare books this afternoon brought high prices. A Caxton Royal book Boldfor 1,400 pounds, and a second, folio Shakespeare brought 615 pounds TO REDUCE EATES CONFERENCE OF FARMERS AND RAILROAD PRESIDENTS. Meeting Held at Davenport Very , Satisfactory to the Farmers of the Big Bend Country. ' Important Link of Road Eighteen Miles Long, Which Will Save a Haul of Over a Hundred Miles Reduction In Rates. Spokane, Aug. 6. Graian rates will be reduced from all points in Eastern Washington, and the redaction will take place in time to benefit the farm ers on this year's crop. The amount of the reduction is yet to be deter mined, but conjecture ranges from 1 to 2 cents per bushel. The Great Northern and the Central Washington branch of the Northern Pacific will be connected by a cross road, to run from the terminus of the Central Washington, in the Grand Coulee, to Adrian, on the Great North ern. It will be 18 miles in length, will cost in the neighborhood of $350,000, and will be built as soon .as the surveys can be completed, con tracts let, and the work done under pressure. It may be completed be fore January 1. As a result of this arrangement, the Northern Pacific will cease hauling garin eastward to Spokane and thence westward to the coast, and will move its share of the tonnage to the termi nus of the Central Washington Branch. There it will be taken by the Great Northern and carried to Seattle, in stead of to Tacoma, as heretofore. - Davenport, Wash., Aug.- 6. The greatset aggregation of railroad talent that ever came into the west on ona train pulled into Davenport at 9 o'clock a. m. on a special of six cars, and before the magnates took the back track to Spokane in the afternoon they substantially agreed to make a lower rate on grain to tide-water points. It was a great day for Daven port and the Big Bend, but the effect of the assurances made by the railroad presidents will reach beyond the con fines of Big Bend and beyond the Snake river, for, in the language of President Mellen, "tbe transportation interests of the entire Northwest are so closely interwoven that, like a card house, when rates tumble in one part of the country they must come down all along the line." As a reason for making the reduc tion, Mr. Mellen announced that his company would at once extend the Washington Central from its present terminus, at Coulee City, to Adrian, on the Great Northern, thus saving a haul of 150 miles. This announcement created wild enthusiasm among the' large audience of farmers which had previously listened to a very interest ing speech by President James J. Hill, in which the reduction had been hinted at only in the faintest possible manner. The big Bend is exclusively Hill and Mellen territory, and for that reason President Mellen of the O. R. & N., when called on, very aptly an nounced that he was a railorad man without a railroad, so far as this section was concerned. The meeting was very enthusiatsic, and the speeches of the three railroad presidents weie gems of the first water. The amount of reduction and the time of its taking effect will not be decided until after the meeting at Colfax. At the conclusion of the mass meet ing, a conference was held between a committee of farmers and the railroad men. At this conference, both sides submitted arguments in support of their respective claims regarding the amount of the reduction, and the mat ter is under advisement nntil the rest of the territory affected shall be heard from. In his speech to the farmers Pres ident Hill vigorously attacked legisla tion on railway rates, saying: "As well try to set a broken limb by statute, as to adjust rates. You can legislate until the barn doors rot off. The best thing to do is to act as you have here with the officials. We will try to act in. such a way that you will realize that we are doing something fair and in good faith. "What you want is the highest price from any store. You want a new mar ket. You must make a market. You must make more people use your stuff. Statesmen tell us how to do this; but they get a consideration for doing so. I cannot find in public acts one intelligent thing that you have done to get new markets. I don't know any place where you have not been left to shift for voursleves as farmers. You have crops that keep you busy four months in the year. You want to do something the rest of the time besides whittling and holding down a nail keg. What you should do is to raise stock, roots, forage. "There is nothing better " than raising stock." Taylor Denies It Chicago, Aug. 6. Rear Admiral Taylor denies the story telegraphed from Washington to the effect that he believes the United States and Germany will go to war in 1907. When asked if he had set a date for a conflict between the two countries, he said: "Such as sertions as have been credited to me are without foundation other than that I have said our seacoast defenses thould be well protected against attack by any European power.
