WEEKLY.
ZliVrrl'.'Zil'li,. Consolidated Feb., 1891
COB VAIililS, , BENTCXN COUNTY, OBEGON, FBTDAY, JANUABY 8, 1904.
VOIi. XXXXI. NO. 3.
EVENTS OF THE YEAR.
1903 LEAVE8 DARK RECORD IN
MANY RE8PECT&
Deeds of Kaplae Violence ill Tmw
Reach ins; Natural DUaatara Otr
Shadow Its Bhowins of the Fruits
of Industry and Peace.
The year 1903 has been marked by
massacre, murder, disaster and violence
that arc in sharp contrast with ths un
derlying spirit of progress that is stead
ily making for friendliness and better
mutual understanding between individu
als and nations. ' Religious intolerance,
political intrigue, class hatred and con
vnlslons of nature are the causes upon
which the dread responsibility rests.
In May occurred the great massacre of
Jews in Kishiner, Russia. A month later
King Alexander and Queen Draga of
Servia were murdered in their palace in
Belgrade by their own soldiery and offi
cers. Strikes and other labor disputes
hare beeu responsible for a good deal of
violence and several deaths in the Unit
ed States; and natural phenomena, un
der which classification are numbered the
disastrous floods and storms of last
spring and early summer in Kansas, Ne
braska, Iowa, Missouri and other parts
of the nation, hurricanes in the South
Sea Islands and an earthquake in Asi
atic Turkey, have caused the loss of
thousands of lives and much valuable
property.
The unfaltering course of commercial
achievement has been evidenced by the
opening of two new cables beneath the
Pacific ocean, successful practical tests
of wireless telegraphy, and the establish
ment of a Department of Commerce in
connection with the government in Wash
ington. The year's roll of deaths includes ec
clesiastic authorities like Pope Leo and
Canon P. M. Farrar, statesmen like
Lord Salisbury of England and ex-Premier
Sagasta of Spain, thinkers like Her
bert Spencer and Prof. Theodor Momm
sen, public men like former Postmaster
General W. S. Bissell, religious workers
like Mrs. Emma Booth Tucker, and
Inventors like R. J. Gatling.
The events of the year 1903 are briefly
summarized below.
January
t. Opening of Pacific cable between Ban
Francisco and Honolulu Asiatic plague
at Mazatlan, Mexico.
6. Death of ex-Premier Sagasta of Spain
in Madrid.
. Death of J. I. Case, of Racine, Wis.
11. Death of Gen. Samuel Thomas, prom
inent railroad man.
14. Congress votes tariff off coaL
17. German gunboat attacks Fort Carlos,
and is repulsed by Veuesuelans.
18. Death of ex-Mayor A. 8. Hewitt of
New York.
10. President Roosevelt and King Edward
VII. exchange greetings by wireless teleg
raphy Forty-four Chicago coal men in
dicted by Grand Jury.
20. Death of Julian Ralph, war corre
spondent. 21. Germans recommence bombardment
ef San Carlos.
22. Canal treaty with Colombia signed.
Si. Treaty for arbitration of Alaskan
boundary dispute signed in Washington
Senator Teller re-elected In Colorado after
hard light W. R. Day appointed to
United Btstee Supreme bench.
27. Fifty perish In burning of Colney
Hatch Insane asylum In England 24
killed and many injured by collision on New
Jersey Central railway near Cranford.
28. Train wreck at Vallo, Arts., kills snd
burns 20 persons, Injuring many others.
2d. Army of Sultan of Morocco routs that
of Pretender in battle near Fes.
February.
t. Earthquake shakes felt between St.
Louis, Mo., and LoulsTllle, Ky More
than 1,000 Uvea destroyed by hurricane la
South Sea Islands. .
0. William Hooper Young pleads guilty
to murder in New York and gets life sea
tenco. 11. One million five hundred thousand
dollar fire at Reck Island, 111., arsenal.
15. Allied powers sign protocols for rsls
tng of Venesuelan blockade.
IS. Venesuelan blockade raised.
15-18. Extreme cold and storm over
Cnlted States. . , ,
17. Eighteen Uves lost by sinking of
river steamer near Edenton, N. C.
19. Eight children killed by train in New
ark. N. J. M
20. Many Injured In fire that destroys
Clifton House at Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Pope's silver jubilee.
25. Four miners killed and many Injured
In battle with United Btatea officers at
Btannlford City, W. Vs.
26. Pike Opera House In Cincinnati burns
with half a square of other buildings; loss
12,000,000 Albert Knapp, of Hamilton,
0., confesses five murders Death of &.
J. Gatling in New York.
March.
2. President Roosevelt Issues message
calling Senate in special session March 5..
....Two Senators elected In Delaware, after
long light.
8. Pope Leo celebrates 25th anniversary
f his pontificate.
5. Special session of Senate meets.
T. Nineteenth lives lost by capsizing of
ferry boat at Spier Falls on Hudson River.
8. Six burn to death in hotel at Lelten,
W. Ya Death of Hawaiian Commis
sioner Blount at Macon, Ga.
9. Twenty-two lives lost by oil fire and
explosions at Olean, N. Y.
11. Cuban reciprocity convention ratified
by Senate in Havana.
12. Csar proclaims religious freedom,
through empire.
18. Tax riots at Colmba. Portugal.
17. Strike Arbitration Committee files re
port Senate ratifies Panama canal
treaty.
10-20. Floods along Ohio and Mississippi
rivers.
IS. Senste ratifies Cuban reciprocity
treaty and extra session Is adjourned sine
die.
21. Finding of Coal Arbitration Commit
tee made public
22. Death of Very Rev. F. W. Farrar In
London.
28. Six miners killed by xplesdoa at
Athens. 111.
25. Irish land bill Introduced In Parlia
ment. 27. Death of N. K. Falrbank.
8. Reciprocity treaty with Cnlted States
ratified by Cuban Senate.
29. Death of Oustavus F. Swift. Chicago
packer.
8L "Young Corbetf defeats Terry Mo
Got rn at Ban Francisco.
April.
L President starts oa long Western trip.
6. RepubUcsns gain In elections la Ohio
cities Republicans carry mHgan elec
tion. 1L General strike In Holland declared
off.
20. Erie train wrecked at Red House. If.
Y.. snd six persons burn to death.
21. Eight hundred thousand dollar fire In
La Croeae, Wis.
23. Riot in Illinois House of Representa
tives Russia demands Manchuria of
China.
26. Negro lynched for assault near Santa
Fe, IU 8600,000 fire In Columbus. O....
..11 killed In railway wreck near Buffalo.
TfsnssB
28. Forest fires la Northern Wisconsin
and Michigan Butting of Melbourne,
Iowa.
29. Dedication of St. Louis Exposition
, Death of Stuart Bobeon 2,000
lives lost la earthquake at klelasgherd, Asi
atic Turkey.
L Death of Lvdgl ArdiU.
. 8. Eight persons killed and SB hart by
Oread Trunk train at Detroit.
6. Steamer Saginaw sunk off Virginia
coast; over 20 lives lost 15 persons
drowned In wreck of Gloucester -'"g
boat Gloria na on Nova Scotia coast.
8. A. W. Machen, superintendent free de
livery, ousted by Postmaster General Payne.
9. Discovery of plot to blow up steamer
Umbrla in New York harbor.
10. Great fire in Ottawa, Out.
12. Death of Poet R. H. Stoddard.
18. Great massacre of Jews In Kishinev,
Russia.
28. Falling elevator In Pittsburg kills
five persons snd Injures 12.
28. Death of Max O'Rell (M. Paul Blouet)
Eight persons killed and six Injured In
Paris-Madrid automobile race Severe
storms in Kansas, lows and Oklahoma.
25. Nineteen persons killed and as many
more Injured by tornadoes near Hastings,
Neb.
28. New York City celebrates 250th anni
versary of incorporation British steam
er Huddersfield sunk In collision and 22
lives lost.
27. Eight trainmen killed In wreck near
Bryan, Ala.
28. Feudists attack Jail at Jackson, Ky..
and are repulsed Presbyterian general
assembly votes for revision of confession of
faith.
81. Great floods devastate Kansas, Ne
braska and Iowa Big fire In Racine,
Wis.
Jan.
I. Cyclone near Gainesville. Ga,, kills 85
persons.
4. Santa Fe train wrecked near Stillwell,
Kansas; nine persons killed and 28 Injured.
8. Heavy flood losses near Bpartansburg,
8. C .Negro hanged by mob at Belle
ville, III.
7. One hundred lives lost In collision of
vessels off Marseilles, France Flood at
Its height at St, Louis.
9. Marriage of Gov. W. J. Bailey of Kan
sas and Mrs. Ida B. Weede In Kansas City.
II. King Alexander, Queen Draga, two
brothers of the queen. Premier and two
Cabinet members assassinated at Belgrade,
Servia. Prince Peter Karageorgevltch pro
claimed king.
12. Death of Gen. Alex McCook.
15. Prince Peter Karageorgevltch-chosen
king of Servia Waterspout destroys
Heppner, Oregon.
20. American Derby at Chicago won by
The Picket.
21. End of Lowell (Mass.) textile strike
Death of Major James B. Pond.
22. Negro burned at stake near Wilming
ton, Del.
25. Peter Karageorgevltch takes oath as
king of Servia.
27. Million-dollar fire In Milwaukee.
8a Two hundred and thirty-four men
lose lives by explosion In mine at Hanna.
Wyo.
Jir.
L New Department of Commerce started
In Washington.
4. American Pacific cabla from Ban Fran
cisco to Philippines completed.
5. Fifty to 100 persons lose lives by
breaking of dam near Jeannette, Pa.
Race riots at Evansville, Ind. Ham
mond packing plant at St. Joseph, Mo,
bums, causing loss of 1,500,000.
6. Beven killed In race riot at Evansville,
Ind.
7. Twenty-four killed In railway collision
near Charlottesville, Vs.
15. Death of Mrs. James G. Blaine.
18. Son born to Grover Cleveland and
wife.
20. Death of Pope Leo XIIL
21-26. Great financial storm la Wall
street.
22. Death of Gen. Casslus M. Clay.
25. Entombment of Pope Leo.
28. Negro lynched and burned and public
buildings defaced by mob at Danville, 111.
29. Twenty-five persons killed and 80 in
jured by powder explosions at Lowell, Mass.
Almost.
A Cardinal Sarto chosen Pope,
T. Circus trains wrecked at Durand.
Mich.; 21 persons killed.
8. rail of balcony at Phllaaelnhla baas-
ball park causes nine deaths.
w. crowning or Pope Plus X.
10. Fire and panic on Paris underground
railroad causes 100 deaths.
14. Jeffries whins Corbett In Ban Fran
cisco.
15. Russia sends fleet into Turkish wa
ters.
20. Turkey accedes to demands of Rus
sia.
22. Death of Lord Salisbury, former pre
mier of England.
28. Death of Chas. C. Bonney of Chicago,
originator of World's Fair Congress.
24. Lou Dillon trots mile in a minutes at
Readvllle. Mass 60 persons burned to
death at Budapest.
war game es Mama coast ana
Portland harbor.
8. United States Vice Consul Maawissew
assassinated at Beirut, Syria.
XI. Heavy ram storm sweeps western
States. v
September.
8. Reliance wins International ens race
from Shamrock III.
7. Town of San MixueL Yucatan, de
stroyed by hurricane.
14. Kain. snow ana xrost injures crops
In Northwestern States.
16. Severe storm on Atlantic coast.
17. Joseph Chamberlain and two others
resign from British Cabinet.
19.. Four more members of British Cabi
net resign.
22. Curtis Jen convicted of cocxreu
murder at Cynthlana, Kentucky.
28. Death of ex-Senator Chas. B. Farwell
of Chicago.
zb. tug not in Bauit me. juane, uanaaa.
80. Death of Sir Michael Herbert. British
Ambassador to Washington.
October.
8. Tornado sweeps Northwestern States.
Tillage of St. Charles, Minn., rased. Twelve
lives lost or sinking or. steamer In Green
Bay. .
o. Peter Elliott, armed anarchist, tries to
force his way Into President's room In
White House New British ministry an
nounced. 6. Death of former Postmaster General
Wilson S. Bissell.
8. Heavy rainstorm causes losses of lives
snd property In New York City, New Jersey
and vicinity.
1L Marriaae of United Btatea Senator
Thoe. C. Piatt of New York.
18. Death of Archblahoo Kain of Bt.
Louis.
18. Million-dollar fire In Aberdeen, Wash.
17. Decision of Alaskan tribunal an
nounced.
26. united States Senator Win. M. Stew
art of Nevada marries at Atlanta. Ga.
28. Mrs. umma Jtsootn-Tucker killed in
train wreck at Dean Lake, Mo.
81. Members ol Purdue Colleee football
team killed in train wreck at Indianapolis.
23 persona ourn to oeata in New York
tenement fire.
November.
1. Death of Prof. Theodor Mommsen....
Fire in Vatican In Rome destroys nrleelna
literary treasures New Irish land law
goes Into effect.
8. Elections in several Btatea.
A Revolution In Panama; new Rennblic
proclaimed.
o. voiomoian troops eracuiate colon.
8. United Statee extends recognition to
new Republic of Panama.
9. Flfty-elghtn congress meets In extra
session.
12. Big strike on lines of Chicago City
Railway Co. begins and rioting occurs.
18. Treaty with Panama signed.
in. Cuban reciprocity treaty passed bv
House of Representatives 81 men killed
In wreck on Big Four near Tremont, IlL
2L Thirty men cremated In Are at Lilly.
Pa. Mine explosion at Counellsvtlle,
Pa., destroys rz uves.
24. Gustavo Marx, In Chicago, confesses
car-barn robbery and several murders by
"Automatic Trio."
25. End of cniesgo street-car strike.
97. Bandits Nledemeler. Tan Dine and
Roeskl captured after fierce battles in Lake
County, Indiana Grover Cleveland an
nounces he Is not a candidate for Demo
cratic nomination for Presidency.
December,
i. Receiver appointed for John Alexander
Iowle's Zlon City and Industries. -
X vanat treaty signed at ranama.
f. Congress meets In regular session
American Consul assaulted at Alexandretta.
Tl8Death of Herbert Spencer.
18. jrngia wave corcro jamais west;
thermometer registers IS below sere In Chl-
"ItV Senate)
Cuban reciprocity Mil.
EVENTS OF THE DAY
GATHERED FROM ALL PARTS OP THE
TWO HEMISPHERES.
Comprehensive Review of the Import
ant Happenings of the Past Week,
Presented in Condensed Form, Most
Likely to Prove Interesting; to Oar
Many Readers.
News just received from Japan states
that hostilities have opened between
that country and Russiaand that the
war is on m earnest.
Two-thirds of the Chicago theaters
now closed will probably never be able
to reopen.
Two "Holy Roller" , apostles were
given a coat of tar and feathers by citi
zens of Corvallis.
The navy department wants 3,000
additional enlisted men to man the ves
sels now completed.
"Minister Bunau-Varilla, of Panama,
will resign as soon as the canal treaty
is ratified by the United States senate,
John Redmond, leader of the Irish
parliamentary party, denounces the
present British government as corrupt,
Prince Cupid, delegate to congress
from Hawaii, spent a night in the
Washington jail on account of intoxi
cation.
Dowie has been looking over Texas
for a favorable site for the establish
ment of a new Zion, to be called "Eter
nal City."
Representative Dixon, of Montana,
has introduced a resolution providing
for a wire fence along the Canadian
boundary between Lake of the Woods
and Point Roberts. It is the intention
to endeavor the illegal entering of Chi
nese into the United States. The fence
is to be so constructed as to give a sig
nal when any one climbs over it. -
Japan is placing large orders for coal
in WaleB.
King Edward is reported to be trying
to get the czar to yield to Japan.
Roosevelt has'sent a message to the
senate defending his Panama policy.
""The conspiracy count in the indict
ment against Senator Dietrich has been
Quashed.
Fire in the Iowa' state house partially
destroyed that building. The loss is
placed at $500,000.
The supreme court has decided that
Porto Ricans are not aliens and can
freely enter the United States.
The senate committee, by eight to
three, has decided for confirmation of
appointment of Wood as major gen
eral. gThe president has sent to the senate
the nominations of William H. Taft to
be secretary of war and Luke E. Wright
to be civil governor of the Philippines.
The British masses are heart and
soul with Japan.
Princess Mathilde, one of the last of
the Napoleons, is dead.
The Washington shingle mill com
bine expects large profits during the
coming year.JJ
Marine insurance companies have
made great advances on ' all vessels
bound for the Orient.
Horace G. Burt, president of the Un
ion Pacific, bas resigned. Harriman is
almost sure to succeed him.
i China regards war as inevitable.
She will remain neutral as long as pos
sible and then side with Japan.
JA scene shifter in the Iroquois thea
ter, Chicago, declares that the fire cur
tain raught on a reflector carelessly left
open.
The production of gold in the United
States for 1603 was $74,425,340. Of
this amount Oregon produced $1,364,
341, Washington $434,109 and Idaho
$2,067,183.
War between Japan and Russia is
more probable than ever.
People from many cities are flocking
to Chicago in search of loved ones.
The revenues for Great Britain show
a decrease of $13,497,040 for the past
nine months. .
! Washington officials believe the
probability of war with Columbia is
growing less.
Fargo Squiers, eldest son of United
States Minister Squiers, was accident
ally shot and killed at Havana.
Twelve emnloves of the Iroquois thea
ter, Chicago, have been arrested on a
charge of accessory to manslaughter.
Fearing he intended to flee, secret
service officers have rearrested John A.
Benson, the California timber op
erator. Chicken will station firemen at the
several theaters, at their expense, and
any objection will cause the closing of
the place.
Sir Thomas Linton has signified his
willingness to donate from $500 to $1,
000 to those in need as the result of
theChicago fire.
To learn the land policy desired bv
Oregon was the object of Roosevelt in
aonriintr a commission to Portland to
attend the meeting of the national live
stock association.
On account of the theater holocaust
the striking Chicago hack drivers and
their employers have declared a trace
for 10 days. Wages and . other ques
tions are not to be considered daring
that time;. .".:-.- r
Jerome Sykes, the well known actor,
is dead.
WAR IS AT HAND.
Japan steady to Land Troops in Cores
Russian Troops to Scene.
" Paris, Jan. 7. The Chefoo corre
spondent of the Paris edition of the
New York Herald cables as follows: i.
"Eight thousand Japanese troops are
ready to land at Masampho, and their
landing will probably mean war.
"A regiment of Cossacks is expected
at Port Arthur. Reserves are being re
moved from Blagoveschensk, the capi
tal of the Amur province in Eastern
Siberia, to Tsitschiar, in Manchuria.
- "The position of -the troops in Man
churia is being rearranged, but their
location is kept a secret."
Russian Troops to Cores.
, St. Petersburg, Jan. 7. A semi-official
dispatch to a news 'agency from
Vladivostock, and private information
from Mukden, states that, owing to
disturbances between the Coreans and
the Japanese in Corea. the Russian
Second Rifle regiment, at its fall
strength has been dispatched to Corea,
in order to protect Russian interests
there.
American Marines to Scene.
Washington, Jan. 7. The navy de
partment is in receipt of two cable
grams from the commanding officer of
the United States steamer Vicksburg,
at Chemulpo, dated the 4th and 5th
inst., respectively, as follows:
"After consultation with the Ameri
can minister, we are of the same
opinion. The aspect of affairs at Seoul
is very grave. There is much fear of a
riot by Corean soldiers. I have com
pleted arrangements to send a company
of marines overland by railroad at the
critical moment: also about 35 men
and field guns from this vessel, at Che
mulpo, if deemed necessary."
, The second message is as follows:
."Two officers and 36 men left at 10
A. M. for Seoul. The remainder of the
guard is prepared if there is any de
mand. There is little change id the
situation."
Britain Sees War in Move.
London, Jan. 7. "Nobody will sus
pect the captain of an American man
of war of being a scheming alarmist,"
says the Standard editorially this
morning.
This sentence expresses the view
taken by the press of Great Britain of
the grave condition of things in the
Far East, as revealed by the fact that
the United States government finds it
necessary to send marines to Seoul for
the protection of American interests.
While it is still hoped that a peaceful
issue may be found, this action of the
United States is held to indicate that
the view of the situation taken at
Washington is that the crisis is drifting
rapidly to the danger point. The ac
tion of the United States government is
generally approved.
The Morning Post says editorially:
"The landing of American marines
proves that the United States is not
watching the Far Eastern imbrogilo
without intelligent interest. We hope
they will be accompanied by British
marines.
KANSAS TRAINS COLLIDE.
Engineers Are Killed and Many Passen
gers Hurt.
Topeka, Kan., Jan. 7. Rock Island
passenger train No. 3 collided 1 with a
freight train about two miles west of
Topeka about 1 o'clock this morning.
Engineers Reardon and Benjamin were
killed. Over a dozen passengers were
fatallv hurt.
All the passenger coaches except the
last two Pullmans were piled up in a
heap. The two trains met squarely in
a head-on collision.
Wrecking crews have been sent to the
wreck from Herringion and Horton.
Assistant General Superintendent
Sutherland said to the Associated Press :
"We have no positive information at
this hour about the wreck other than
that both engineers and both firemen
are killed. There are also some pas
sengers killed and injured but we do
not know how many.
"The last report we got from Willard
was that many people were yet under
the wreckage and that all the cais were
wrecked but two."
Early Hearing to 1905 Fair.
Washington, Dec. 7. Chairman
Tawney, of the house committee on in
dustrial arts and expositions, today
notified Representatives Hermann and
Williamson that he would take steps
immediately to arrange for a hearing
on the Lewis an Clark exposition bill.
He will endeavor to find a day on which
the members of his committee will all
be able to attend and hear what argu
ments the representatives of the Lewis
and Clark exposition have' to present.
It is probable that some date next
week will be set.
Harbor Frozen Far Ont.
Baltimore, Jan. 7. Today is the
coldest of the present winter, the ther
mometer having dropped as low as 2
degrees above zero. In the suburbs the
mercury went to 6 below this morning.
At Hagerstown, weather records for 20
years were broken when the mercury
reached 26 below zero. Sharpsbnrg
was the coldest place in the state heard
frcm today, thermometers registering
20 below. At Annapolis the harbor is
frozen far out into the bay.
Japan Will Keep Orders Secret.
Tokio, Jan. 7. An extra edition of
the official Gazette has been issued con
taining army and navy orders prohibit
ing the publishing of any reports of the
maneuvers movements of troops or war
vessels from this time on. Otherwise
the Japanese authorities are not inter
ferring with press messages.
HAPPENINGS HERE IN OREGON f
BXPBNSBS FOR YEAR.
Wm Be the Largest Ever Known In the
History of the State.
Salem The expenses of the state of
Oregon for the year 1904 will be $1,
498,310.10. Of this amount $273,
310.10 will be derived from miscellan
eous sources, such as the corporation
tax, insurance tax, fees, sales of books,
etc., and the remainder, $1,225,000
was today apportioned among the . sev
eral counties, to be raised by them by
direct taxes and to be paid by them
into the state treasury.
ThiB expense account will be the
largest in the history of the state, the
nearest approach to it being in 1892,
when $1,121,345.51 was raised by di
rect tax. The magnitude of the reve
nue to be raised in 1904 is due largely
to four appropriations, the Lewis and
Clark appropriation, $250,000 of which
will be raised this year;. .the Portage
railway appropriation of $165,000, and
the Celilo canal appropriation of. $100,
000 and the Indian war veterans' ap
propriation of $100,000. If these four
unusual appropriations, amounting to
$615,000, were deducted, the total ex
pense would be but $858,000, and the
amount to be raised by direct taxation
would be but $610,000. Aside from
the unusual appropriations, the ex
penses of the state are lower than for
several years past.
On an assessed valuation of "$165,-
000,000, which is approximately cor
rect, the revenue of $1,225,000 will be
at the rate of not quite 7 mills on
the dollar.
STATE LANDS FOR SALE.
Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Acres
Open to Settlement.
Salem The state of Oregon has for
sale some 250,000 acres of school land,
mostly in eastern Oregon. This land
consists of the 16th and the 36th sec
tions in each township, where not al
ready sold. With the exception of
land which snail hereafter be sur
veyed, all this school land is offered at
the uniform price of $2.50 per acre.
Land hereafter surveyed will be sold to
the highest bidder, but no bid of less
than $2.50 per acre will be accepted.
Any person over the age of 18 years,
who is a citizen of the United States,
or who has declared his intention to be
come such, may purchase 320 acres of
school land . The applicant must de
clare under oath that he wants the
land for his own use, and that he has
made no contract, directly or indirect
ly, to sell the same. No residence
upon the land is required. Payment
for the land may be made in five an
nual payments of 50 cents per acre.
The first payment must be made when
the application is filed. Deferred pay
ments draw 8, 7, and 6 per cent inter
est. UMPQIM PROJECT IS DOOMED.
Chief of Engineers Deems Commerce Too
Small to Warrant Big Outlay.
Washington The chief of engineers
today sent to congress a report recom
mending against any appropriation at
this time for improving the Umpqua
river from Gardiner to the sea.
A survey by Major Langfitt showed
that to provide a 15-foot channel
throughout this stretch of eight miles
and across the bar would require the
expenditure of at least $621,41, and
probably to insure a permanent chan
nel at the entrance of the river, an ad
ditional jetty would have to be con
structed at a cost of $27,111. Major
Langfitt said the expenditure of so large
a sum was hardly justified at the pres
ent time. His opinion was sustained
by the division engineer, by the special
engineer, board of review and by Gen
eral Gillespie.
Boom In Butter Making.
Union The dairy industry of this
section has nearly doubled itself during
1903. The creamery company operat
ing at this place is extensively patron
ized. The company this year paid the
farmers $19,000 for butter fat, while
during 1902 the farmers received $9,
450. Butter manufactured during the
year totals 80,000 pounds; for last
year, 42,000 pounds. Butter is selling
in the retail market at 40 cents per
pound. During the latter part of
the summer it sold at 30 cents per
pound.
Crown Company Using Coal.
Oregon City For perhaps the first
time in the history of the manufactur
ing institutions of this place, a scow
loaded with coal has been towed up the
Willamette river. The fuel will be
used by the Crown company instead of
wood, temporarily, until the manage
ment can introduce oil burning ma
chinery, about February 1. Coal has
never before been used as a fuel by any
of the manufacturing institutions of
this city.
Short in His Accounts.
Baker City Postal Inspector Clark
has removed W. H. Kelly, postmaster
at Greenhorn, Grant county, and ap
pointed W. R. Draper in his place.
Kelly is alleged to be short in his ac
counts about $1,000. . No arrest has
been made and it is stated that the
friends of the ex-postmaster will make
the shortage good.
Improvement to Oregon City Locks.
Oregon City The Portland General
Electric company is making some ex
tensive improvements to its locks at
Willamette falls, in this city. New
piers and timbers are replacing the old
lumber that has served for years, but
the dimensions of the locks will not be
disturbed.
WATER IS THERE..
. , . , ,
Artesian . Wells Needed la Southwest
Oregon for Irrigation.
Washington Engineers, of the geo
logical survey, after making examina
tions in southeastern Idaho, have come
to the conclusion that the irrigation of
that country must be largely .worked
out through the utilization of artesian
well water.
Silveis river and Donner and Blitzen
river, which flow into Malheur and
Harney lakes, are now utilized at their
full capacity for irrigation, but the de
partment report that there are favor
able conditions for storing the waste
waters of these two streams, thus in
creasing their efficiency: The sxaller
streams of southwestern Oregon, flow
mostly during the spring season, when
the snow on the uplands is melting or
during the prolonged rainy spells.
They all become dry ' during the sum
mer. The .full flow of these streams is
now utilized for irrigation, and it is
doubtful if any increased use can be
made of their water.
Therefore, attention is drawn to the
possibilities of developing artesian
wells in the southwestern counties of
Oregon. Experimental wells have al
ready been driven in the Harney and
Whitehorse artesian basins and proved
the presence of subserface water and
sufficient pressure to cause it to rise in
the surface and overflow.
There are approximately 2,000
square miles of territory lying in the
artesian basins of southeastern Oregon
and southwestern Idaho, but it is not
to be assumed that all this area can be
irrigated by means of artesian .wells.
The conditions are such as to warrant
careful testing of each basin and a ju
dicious development of its water sup
ply. Want Creamery at Lai Grande.
La Grande There is a strong move
ment on foot here for the establish
ment of a creamery. Agents have
been traveling through the district to
ascertain the number of milch cows
available. Nearly every farmer of the
now famous Grand Ronde valley, an
exceptionally produc tive section, which
stretches for miles along the Grand
Ronde river, owns milch cows. Farm
ers are favorably imprsssed and there
is reason to believe that a plant
will be established during the coming
season.
Real Estate Business in Marion.
Salem The increased activitv in real
estate transfers in Marion county in
the last few years is indicated in a
measure by the increase in the amount
of fees collected by the county recorder
of conveyances. Three years ago the
fees for a year.amounted to $2,776.60.
Last year they were $3,893.40, and
for the year just closed the recorder
collected $4,195 30. Not only has the
number of conveyances been greater,
but the consideration of the transfers
has been much larger. :
Healthy Fall Wheat.
Pendleton A. L. Knight, one of the
neavy wheat buyers of this plaee, has
returned after an extended trip through
the wheat belt of the country. - He
said: "The fall sown wheat was never
in a better condition than at the pres
ent time. It has been growing all fall.
There is more moisture in the ground
now than there has been for many
years. .Last year the wheat was killed
by weeds, but this year there is no sueh
bother."
PORTLAND MARKETS.
Wheat Walla Walla, 73c; blue-
stem, 78c; valley, 79c.
Barley Feed, $20 per ton ; brew
ing, $20(820.50; rolled, $21. ,
Flour Valley, $3.753.85 per bar
rel; hard wheat straights, $3.904.10;
clears, $3.55(33.75; hard wheat pat
ents, $4.20(34.50; graham, $3.75;
whole wheat, $4; rye flour, $4.50
4.75.
Oats No. 1 white, $1.071.10
percental; gray, $1.05.-
Millstuffs Bran, $18 per ton; mid
dlings, $23; shorts, $19; chop, $18;
linseed, dairy food, $18.
Hay Timothy, $16 per ton; clover,
$12; grain, $12; cheat, $12.
Vegetables Turnips, 65c per sack;
carrots, 75c; beets, 90c; parsnips, 85c
$1; cabbage, KSlJc per pound; red
cabbage, lc; lettuce, head, 15c per
doz; parsley, 25c; tomatoes, $1.502
per crate; cauliflower, 75c$l per doz:
celery, 75c; pumpkins, lc per pound;
onions, Yellow Danvers, 80c$l per
sack; Fannos, $1, growers' prices.
Honey $3(3.50 per case.
Fruits Apples, fancy Baldwins and
Spitzenbergs, $1.50 per box; cooking,
75c $1; pears, $11.50; grapes,
$1.50. .
Butter Fancy creamery, 2730c
per pound; dairy, 2022c; store, 13
lc.
Cheese Full cream, twins, 1415c;
Young America, 15(3 16c.
Poultry Chickens, mixed, 11
llKc per pound; spring, ll12c;
hens, 1212Mc; turkeys, live, 17
18c; dressed, 20c; ducks, $77.50 per
dozen; geese, live, 8c per pound.
Eggs Oregon ranch, 27 30c;
Eastern, 2526c.
- Hops Choice, 2425c per pound;
prime, 21'tt22c; medium, 1920c;
common, 15S17c. - ',
Wool Valley.l 7 18c: Eastern Ore-
-gon; 1215c; mohair, 32 35c.
Beef Dressed, 5 J4 7c per pound.
. Veal Dressed, small, 88Kc;
large, 56c per pound.
Mutton Dressed, 67c; lambs,
dressed, 7c per pound.
Pork Dressed, 66)ic per pound.
CHANOINQ M1NINQ LAWS.
BUI Relating to Mineral - Veins Within
Boundaries of Placers.
' Washington, Jan. 6. Representative
Dixon, of Montana, - has introduced a
bill to amend the laws relating to min
eral vems or lodes within the boun
daries of placer claims. He" proposes
to change section 2320 of the Revised
Statutes so as to read: 4,The deputy
mineral surveyor making a survey i for
anv a'nnlic&tinn nnrW ty,a " ootinn
shall examine and state iu his field
notes whether there is within the boun
daries of such claim
as is described in4 section 2320, and if
so, snan designate the location of , the
same upon the nlat to be filed with
such application." . ;--?
He also proposes to change section
2333 by inserting the following:'
"When a vein or lode snob aa in Har.
cribed in section 2320is shown by the
field notes and plat filed with the ap
plication to exist within the boundaries
of a nlacer claim, an annlif at.inn fnr e
patent which does not include an appli-
cation ior tne vein or lode claim shall
be considered as & eonrlnsivw rWl ora
tion that the claimant of the placer
claim has no right of possession of the
vein or lode claim; but where the.exis-
yence oi a vein or lode in a placer claim
is not so shown a patent for the placer
claim shall convoy all valuable min
eral and other deposits within the
boundaries thereof." . : , ,
MORE .UNDER BAN.
Chicago Closes All Public; Places Save
the Churches.
Chicago, Jan. -6. After tonight it
will, for some weeks at least, be prac
tically impossible to hold a house meet
ing of any kind in Chicago outside the
churches. Building' Commissioner
Williams tonight issued an order clos
ing all public halls, ' dance halls and
turner-verein halls and all similar
places' of public assemblage until inspec
tion has shown that they are complying
with all provisions of the building
ordinance.
As there are more than 5,000 halls
in Chicago, this order will probably
affect, as many persons as the theater
closing . order. Protests were numer
ous, but the building commissioner
was inflexible. He said :r
"Many of these halls are worse than
any theater in Chicago, some of them
are put up with no restrictions, such
as govern theaters, and many of them
are firetraps of the worst kind. ' '
Two years ago a general inspection of
halls was made, before the commence
ment of Building Commissioner Wil
liam's administration. Notwithstand
ing this, the commissioner declares he
will take no chances, and every hall
must satisfy the rqeuirements The
sole exemption is in favor of private
lodge halls, which do not fall in the
scope of the order.
DIVISION OF ARMY.
Departments of Columbia and California
Merged Into Pacific Division.
San Francisco, - Jan. -6. An order
making important changes in the army
organization on the Pacific coast has
been received here. The order is is
sued by direction of President Roose
velt, upon the recommendation of the
general staff, approved by the secretary
of war, dividing the territory of the
United States and its possessions into
geographical departments and divis
ions, changing existing boundary lines.
There will be four divisions in the
United States and one in the Philip
pines. The new order of things is to
take effect January 15.' Officers as
signed to new posts " must report for
duty on or before that date,' if' they are
in the United States. , . .
The division of the . Pacific will be
composed of the department of Califor
nia and the department of CpTumbia,
with headquarters' at San Francisco,
Major-General MacArthur, will be in
command of the 'division of the Pacific
and retain command of the department
of California, temporarily.. .
Brigadier-General Funston will be in
command of the department of the Co
lumbia. . .. . i
All Is Quiet at Panama.
" Colon, Jan. 6.- An Indian courier
who came in last night with a message
for Governor Melendez, reports that the
Indian Chief Inanaquina has returned
to Carti. The courier says that the
chief is silent concerning his confer
ence with the Colombian officials, but
the courier supposes that the Colom
bians attempted to win the good will
of the chief as to learning what he
United States naval officers were doing
along the coast. The general situation
on this side of the isthmus is tran
quil. Jewelry Frozen in Ice.
Chicago, Jan. 6. Probably $25,000
worth of articles lost in the fire are still
unidentified. Dozens of pieces of jew
elry are frozen in the ice in the ill-fated
theater, and officers were busy all day
digging out watches, rings, hairpins
and furs. Money to help bury the un
identified dead and relatves who may
be suffering from the fire has Com
menced to pour in. Only four bodies
among those taken from the fire remain
unidentified.
Porto Ricans for Panama ..,-
San Juan, Porto Rico, Jan. S.Gov
ernor Hjint has received advices .from.
Washington countermanding te order
to . dismount the remaining mounted
Porto Rican troops. ' .From thisfact,
coupled with the constant determina
tion of the troops; it is- inferred, that
the Porto Rican regiment will soon be
ordered to proceed to Panama.