G' a- 7 ISSUED EVERY SATURDAY DOUTHtT, PubUabar. TB8CBXPTIOK DAILY On Tat ,y i 40 00 1. 00 1.60 BU Mount. -.WEEKLY One Yttf, by aiS,, fcix monrhi ... fl.fO n All Subeeriptlona Payable la Advance. SimfHlcuntaimra SATURDAY..... JANUARY 29 1897 . - TIME TO ACT. The Times-Mountaineer has laid be fore its readears in The Dalles a sug gestion with reference to the threat ened encroachment upon our com mercial interests by the building of the Columbia Southern railroad into the . sections seuth of here, which it believes is both practicable and feasible, and would urge that it be carefully ton . sidered by every property owner in the city. This paper is not an alarmist and doos not seek to make mountains out of molehills, but it hopes to pre sent facts as they exist, and give warn ing when danger threatens. Although the Dalles merits the confidence of the farmers throughout that section lying south and east of here, and has long enjoyed their trade, through the extra facilities it has had lor handling their business, it cannot hope to retain their patronage when more convenient facilities are offered them. People will not make long and 'tedious journeys over mountainous roads by wagon in order to bring their . products here, when there is a rail road at their very doors, just because ' they like us. Friendship cuts but little figure in business, at least it does not supersede personal interest, hence our former patrons will desert us when ever offered more cenvenient facilities elsewhere These will certainly be offered the people of- Crook, those re siding .in the northern part of Grant and the southern part of Wasco count ies just as soon as the Columbia Southern road is extended to Cross Hollows, which is its objective point. All the people of those sections can then reach the railway over compara tively easy roads and without paying toll. They can haul larger loads and can reach their shipping point in shorter time, hence it will not be to their interest to eome to The Dallee. These are facts that none ot us can . deny, however much we would like to convince ourselves "they are not true. . Then it rests with us to meet the con ditions as be lit we can and put forth an effort to overcome the threatened danger. Shall we undertake the task alone or shall we invite the assistance 'of others? . Possibly a large share of the trade ' from the south could be retained by the building 6f an independent line of road from The Dalles to Deschutes and up that stream,- but in that case the in dependent line would always have as a competitor the Columbia Southern, which would in all probability get at least half the traffic, and whatever it got would go to Biggs where that road makes connection with the O. R. & N. But if the Columbia Southern could be induced to unite with The Dalles, and build a circuitous .line of road from its present terminus, through - Srermau county and around through to Bake even and. Antelope countries, finally reaching The Dalles, all the trade south of here could be controlled and would finally reach this place, where . very advantageous rates can be made for further, transportation either by river or rail. If we are going to do anything for ourselves and for The Dalles now is the time to act. Now is when we should begin casting about and forming combinations that will make us masters of the situation in the future. . TEE SENATE AND SILVER The final vote on Teller's resolution was had im the United States senate last Friday and resulted in a very de cided vete -In favor of the white metal, it being 47 for and 32 against the resolution, ten senators being paired. Eleven republicans voted for the resolution and only ene democrat, Coffery of Louisiana, voted against it. ' The resolution was: - "That all the bonds of the United . States, issued or, authorized to be is sued under the said acts of congress hereinbefore recited, are payable, ' principal and . Interest, at the option of the government of the United 8 tates, in silver dollars of the coinage of the United States, containing 412 grains each of standard silver, and that to re store to its coinage such silver coins ; as a legal tender in payment of said bonds, principal and interest, is not ' in violation of the public faith nor in derogation of the rights of the public " creditors."'--' The fight against the resolution was persistent and bitter. Efforts were 1 made to so amend it as to read that the ' bonds of the government shall be paid, - principal and interest, in gold, but it . was promptly vooed down, and numer ,ous other amendments ware offered, 1 that pledged the nation to the single . gold standaad, but each met fate - that showed in unmistakable terms '- that the senate is composed largely of ! members who are bimetalists, regard less of party affiliation. Even the re : publican veteran, Chandler of New Hampshire cast his vote with the friends of sillver and registered his vote against the gold 'standard; That resolution will not meet the approval of the house is a foregone conclusion. Speeker Reed has his little manikans too well in hand to al low them to t against the adminis tration and pass the resolution. How- aver the passage of the resolution by the senate will be notice to the world that at least one branch of congress is not wedded to the gold standard, and that the creditors of the nation are not long to be allowed to dictate as to what kind of money their bonds shall be paid in. - The passage of the resolu tion by the senate can have no present beneficial effect, but it will bear good fruits in the future. ' - HIS POSITION IS PLAIN. At last we know what position Pres ident McKinley will take on the finan cial question, v While hob-nobbing with National Association of the Man ufacturers of the United Suites at New York last week, he spoke In terms so plain that anyone can under stand. He has deserted his former views of bimetahem, and in nnmi&tak . able words announced to the world that the policy of his administration will be in the furtherance of the gold standard., Further, he takes the posi tion that the debtor; no matter what I .the contract, must pay his obligations in the higheBt priced money obtain able at the time the debt falls due. Ia short, if his contract should call for coin, or even sivler. he is morally bound to pay in gold if the creditor, demands it. Here are the painciples the president lays down: ''There is another duty resting upon the national government to coin money and regulate the value thereof. This duty requires that our govern ment shall regulate the value of its money by the highest standard of commercial honesty and national honor. The 'money- of the United States is, and must forever be, ungues tioued and unassailable. If doubts re main, they must be removed. If weak places are discovered, they must be strengthened. Nothing should ever tempt us nothing . will ever tempt us to scale down the sacred debt of the nation through a legal technicality Whatever may be the language of the ntract, the United States will dis charge all its obligations in the cur rency recognized as the best through out the civilized world at the time of payment." Plainly, President McKinley would discriminate in favor, of the bond holder. Regardless of the wording of the bond, he would say that every other currency of the nation shoulu be discredited when settling with the favored class, and this "sacred debt1 should be paid in gold, notwithstand ing the fact that the government has no means to force gold payments of obligations due it. This principl when stripped ' of its superfluous ver. bage means simply this: That there must be a continuance of the interest bearing debt of the nation. Not hav- ing any other means of securing gold but the sale of bonds, whenever the interest or principle of the bonded debt comes due, no matter how much other money it may have in its treas ury, it must go into the markets and buy gold on its credit (interest bear ing bonds) to meet the demands of the bond-holders. If his policy is pursued his administration will go down to his tory renowned for its servitude to Wall street, and the national interest bearing debt will be fastened upon the people till time shall end. SAILBUAD POSSIBILITIES. There seems to be little question but A. B. Hammond has negotiated for the floating of $10,000,000 bonds of the Corvallis Eastern railway (the old Oregon Pacific,) and that the money will be expended in extending the road eastward from its present terminus in the Cascade mountains. and on through Eastern Oregon to a connection that will make of it a trans continental line. Should this road be thus extended it will give to the cen tral and southern part of Eastern Ore gon an outlet that it has long needed, But it will not be an outlet to any pelnt in Oregon, for everything that goes west over this line seeding mar ket will go to Yaquina bay, thence to San Francleco, whileHhe wool and stock destined for eastern markets will go directly over the road to their destination. As a result San Francisco and New York will to a considerable extent become the jobbing towns for the Inland Empire. Merchants, will naturally buy in the cities where the products of their patrons are . sold, hence Portland will be a heavy . loser in the wholesale trade. ' The Dalles, too, is threatened with loss of trade on account of the proposed road. Cere then is a proposition on which The Dalles and Portland can 'join hands, for they are both ' interested in the trade of the central part of Oregonf and it is to their interest to act jointly in creating means by which it can be retained. At present the most feasible plan for accomplishing this end is the construction of a railroad from The Dalles leading south into the country which the Corvallis Eastern proposes to tap; and sdould this be determined upon, the question arises if it is most advisable to establish an idnependeat line or form a combination with some line that is already building in that direction. These are matters well worthy of the attention of both The Dalles a'nd Portland. PROTECT THE FRUIT. Blsewhere in this issue is published an order from Commissioner Emile Schano to fruit growers to spray their trees for San Jose scale, which is timely. Orchards throughout the dis trict are becoming infested with scale, and it will require the united offort of all te eradicate or even check the spread of the pest. The orchardist who cares for his trees can accomplish hut little in the way of keeping down pests so long as his neighbor neglects to spray, hence it is necessary that all orchards be treated systematically and very nearly at the same time. The fruit industry of this district is becoming of too great -importance to allow it now to be ruined through neglect. Wasco county fruit has an excellent reputation in' the markets abroad,' but ' if diseased fruit is per mitted to be shipped, this reputation will soon be gone. Half a car load of bad fruit sent out in a season can in jure the sale of an entire crop. Buy ers abroad getting a few boxes ef apples or pears affected with . scale will condemn all fruit coming from this section. It is therefore most im portant that fruit growers exercise the greatest care in- keeping down pests in their orchards. II the diseases can not be checked it is better that the trees be cut down and burned than to permit them to grow and infect other orchards. Many plans have been suggested whereby a union of the democrats, pop ulists and silver republicans can be ef fected in the state, whereby an un broken, union can be made, but the best and moat -effectual plan that we have yet seen presented is that sugges ted by Mr. M. J. Anderson in today's paper. The plan is such that all par- parties would have . full " veice in the convention and at ' the same time would have the benefit of the counsel of all parties interested. A ticket thus nominated would certainly be composed of such men as would be acceptable public servants, and would appeal strongly to the people. If any one else has a better, plan to suggest we would be pleased to hear from them. The Los Angeles Dally Times has issued a very creditable annual edition of 86 pages that 'are replete with in formation regarding the resources of Southern California. Tbe publication displays not only the enterprise of the Times, but also ef the business inter ests ef Los Angeles, which by the way is one of the most thrifty cities on the Pacific coast. The publication will be of great benefit in advertising tbe "Italy of America." FACTS ABOUT THE YUKON. The Year Book of British Colum bia," which has just appeared, con tains much information regarding the Canadian Yukon. The manual is really a digest of all official reports, and of all facts collected personally by trustworthy travelers regarding the whole fascinating region of which Klondike is at present the center of attraction. The vastness of the gold- bearing area of the Yukon staggers imagination. "The Yukon district compiises an area approximately 192,000 square miles, within Canadian territory, over 150,000 square miles of which is in eluded in the watershed of the Yukon, or almost equal to that of France and greater than that of the United King dom by over 70,000 square miles." . The gold field lies in the same miri eral belt as California, and is a con tinuation of Cariboo and Cassiar, famous for their gold diggings many years ago. In an area that is from 550 to 600 miles long and from 10 to 50 miles wide, embracing about 100.000 square miles, rich gold prospects have actually been found. When it is con sidered that Klondike is the only part of this territory which has been ex ploited, one is prepared to expect that the Yukon will prove the largest and richest gold field eve' known, o During 1897 some $3,500,000 was taken from the creeks near Dawson City. "Every dollar in gold lifted by the ordinary process of mining costs a dollar to produce it. ' Thin will be found particularly true of the wealth of the Yukon. Of the 10,000 people who started this year, $500 each by way of expenditure would be a moder ate estimate indeed. That represents in itself $5,000,000, as against $3,500,000 mined, and in reality $10,000,000 would be nearer the total of the expenditure in reaching the Yukon alone. Again, if we except the estimate that at least 100,000 persons will start for the mines in 1898, at an average $500the amount exDended will be $50,000,000 for one year. While the expenditure for one year reaches that enormous total, the gold that will be taken out of the creeks of the Klondike during the next 10 years is estimated at $65,000, 000 or $75,000,000. The individual finds and clean-ups range from $5,000 to $150,000. Pans of gold have aver aged all the way from $1.50 to $500. In the rich diggings, however. $10 and $12 a pan was a fair average. From the evidence of Mr. Ogilvie, Dr. Daw son and many others more or less com petent to form an opinion, it is un doubted that the whole Yukon ter ritory is rich in precious minerals, and that it will take many years before de velopment has reached it height." A description of several of the 278 claims along Bonanza and Eldorado creeks is given, in which it is stated that 100 of those on Bonanza will yield $30,000,000, that claim Ho. 30 will yield not less than $1,000 by itself, and 10 other claims will yield more than $100,' 000 each. Needless to sav all the ground within miles of Dawson City has been staked off. ' How a country like the Yukon can support and successfully accommodate the thousands of people who are about to rush in, is a question which cannot be easily determined: but a note of warning is necessary as to the capa bilities of. a country wholly., .unde veloped to maintain for any length of time from 100,000 to 500,000 persons, whose livelihood must, depend upon mining, and, in the absence of success in that, on the resources whioh they carry with them. The year book de scribes the severe climate of the whole region, sets forth the terrible hard ships of prospecting a-country wbere the bedrock is under a crust of moss and frozen sand, tells what mining un der these forbidding conditions entails for the workers, of whom nine out of ten need not expect success, and gives some idea of the risk to health andJife from cheerless, comfortless existence in a mining "shack." The Canadian government has just received a report from Majon Walsh, written on Christmas eve at Big Sal mon riyer, in which he discusses the foed problem as it will have to be faced after the territory-is filled up with the new population that will go in next spring. He calculates that the river boats will not be able to land more ihan one-half the supplies necessary to sustain the estimated population next summer. . He does not believe that 50,000 people can get in. One part of his report contains important warning, of which the public should take notice. He says: . I am informed that la to 20 agents and brokers have come out from Daw son City, carrying with them, some say hundreds, some say thousands, of certificates for entries of mines on all the streams in the neighborhood of the Klondike river, upon which streams I belieye there never was an ounce of gold found, and on all other streams in the district and to the mountain tops, with the hope -that they can be put on the market and be readily seized by the gullible public of the United States and Canada. They are trying to imitate the brokers of South Africa and Rosaland, and there is no question but that it will be injurious to the country and to good . properties that may be put on the market." CAN'T. BE LONE. Portland's 3ity council is undertak ing to legislate against the "high hat" nuisance at theaters, presumably hav ing nothing -better to occupy its atten tion, since It has about given up hope or suppressing gambling, prostitution 'and ether like eyils. But it will likely be ho more successful in abating the former evil than it has in stopping the latter, nor should it. High hats at theaters and public gatherings are an noying, but no community will ever be able by legislation to prevent their being worn, however custom of society can. A woman with any considera tion for her neighbors will not hoist a towering mass of millinery on her head so as to blind the vision of all be- behind her, but if she has worn such a contrivance to a public gathering will remove it if custom will permit her to do so. If the leading women of society would make a practice of re moving their bats when they enter the church or theater, the same as men do, it would be but a short time until the custom would be universal. But tbe American woman will never submit to a law aictaung wnat she shall, or shall not wear. However, if the Port land councilmen are determined to work a reform among theatre goers. why should they strike at tbe ".high hat" as the only nuisance? Why not pass an ordinance preventing men once in the theater from going out to see a friend between acts? This habit is lust as annoying to the women as is the high hat to the men. If Portland is going to have reforms, why not have them by the wholesale, and wipe out all evils at once? TEE HAVANA HORDES. The whole truth about the situation in Havana has not been told by the American press correspondents, but facts occasionally leak out from the local newspapers which' enable one to form a fair impression of the con ditions that impelled our government to issue that aDpnal for the relief of the starving people. La Discussion yesterday printed the following: "The scenes witnessed at the residen ce of Dr. Castro Jesus del Monte, - pre vious to the distribution of food to the reconcentradoes, are too pathetic to be described. As soon as the doors were opened a mass of beggars, living skele tons of all races, all ages and both sex es, invaded the places where food was to be distributed, with outstretched hands, almost fleshless, and imploring and almost frightful spectral faces, at the sight of food. Many were not strong enough to endure the food, and fell in the etreets as they passed away a few others more fortunate, seemed to gain some vitality." It doesn't make any difference whether Spain likes it or not, human ity demands that a speedy end be put to the hellish state of affairs in Havana. We cannot feed a famishing foreign people interminably, but we can com pel Spain to either furnish tbem with food or relinquish her protectorate over them. Portland Telegram. The prosecution of the case of the government against Seufert Bros., the third trial of which has just been com Dieted at Portland, seems to be need less at this time. The government seeks to condemn a right-of-way for a boat railway around the dalles of the Columbia, an improvement that w:ll likely never be made, since the chair man of tbe rivers and harbors com mittee will recommend that the scheme be abandoned, and canal and locks be substituted. In this eyeut the right-of-way for the boat road would be useless, and it appears to have been needless expense both to the government and defendants to have dragged the case into court the third time.. It should have been let rest until it is determined if the right- of-way will be occupied. The Oregonian is right in asserting that there can be no middle ground taken by congressional nominees on the money question this coming year. The candidate must come out squarely for or against the gold standard No questionable protestations of faith is permissable with either party. The republican nominee must declare em phatically for tbe gold standard, while the nominee of the opposition parties must be emphatic against it. The coming election will be one in which candidates must define their principles. A late issue of the Yomiuri, one of the leading Japanese papers, says "The financial panic which oecurred in Osaka is only the first of the disas ters that will follow tbe adoption by Japan of the gold standard. Several big Osaka merchants have become in sol von t and as the circulating medium is becoming lesa daily embarassnment will increase." ' The gold standard means less and less business and the centralization of what business there is in a few hands. It is pleasing to note tbe dispatch with which the Teller resolution was disposed of in tbe house Monday. Not because of lack of merit in the resolu tion, but because of the foregone con clusion that it could not pass. It would have been useless to have taken up a week discussing a measure on which every member had fully determined how he would act. The resolution was defeated by a majority of 50, only two republicans voting for and two demo crats against its adoption. Oregon legislators are paid only $3 a day during the session of the legisla ture and mileage to and from . the capital, still there are plenty of good men ready to accept the job. Sheriffs and county clerks get from $150 to $300 .a month the year round, but it is said if their salaries were reduced we could not get good men to accept the offices. How would it do to give the matter a trial? The people are willing to take chances on getting good officials at re duced salaries. The Dalles should begin to put on its best appearance to receive those who will soon be here attending the wool growers' convention. Sidewalks should be repaired, streets cleaned and the city put in a presentable ap pearance to receive its guests. If tbe city is put in good repair, it will at tract the attention of those- who will come to the convention, and when they return to their homes they can at least give The Dalles a good name. It is said no new enterprises will be built in The Dalles until foreign cap ital is induced to invest here. Possi bly this is true, but it seems to us there is sufficient local capital to set ths wheels going if it were only put into employment. While we are waiting for foreign money to come in we are allowing lots of good things to slip by. - When we learn to help our selves, we will have learned an excel lent lesson. ' The widow of Capt. D. W. Bradshaw, of company D, Seventh Illinois cayalry, will cease to draw a pension after this month.. It is her -own request that the pension be discontinued, and in letter to the commissioner of pensions she returns the certificate, adding that she no longer " desires to draw a pension of $8 per month from the gov ernment, since she has recently fallen heir to an estate valued at $200,000. In the public schools ofBrookiine, Mass., they have introduced a new idea. Alternately the girls as well as the boys, are taught tbe use of the ordinary tools for working in wood, and the boys are taught how to do simple cooking, such as making coffee and broiling steaks and chops. The plan has been a notable success and other schools are adopting it. If this congress fails to pass a law requiring the publication of the pen sion list, it will have failed to enact a measure that Is calculated to discour age fraud, and to save money for tbe taxpayers. Very few fradulent pen sioners would stay ou the list a year if their names were published every six months. Somebody would make It so warm for them that they would be more than glad to hide from public gaze. That meeting of representatives of republican clubs in Portland was in tended to effect harmony among the clans. ' Whether that end was accom plished or not can be better told on the evening of June 6th next.1 It will require a practical demonstration to ascortaln if the acts of February 1st were conducive of general good feeling ia the ranks of the party. That there will be oo extra session, of the legislature called before the June election is a foregbne conclusion, but after the election look out. If suf ficient pressure can -be brought to bear on Governor Lord he may con vene the legislature to elect a senator, espeeially if tbe republican party should not be successful at the polls in June. This is one year in the history cf Oregon when the politicians and pro fessional officeseekers should be re quired to step aside and give the people a chance. The state has been run long enough by politicians, and it is time those wbo are to be governed be given an opportunity to chose their governors. What Oregon needs today is fewer laws and lighter' taxation. No man should bo permitted to take a nomina tion on the legislative ticket of any party who will not pledge himself pub licly to labor for a reduction of salaries and tbe repeal of all laws creating boards and commissions. The gold fever spreads like a disease which is both epidemic and contagi ous. Since the Klondike excitement began in the west, New York has be come so much interested in mining that no less than 4000 gold and silver claims have benn recorded in that state within six months. vv hen ono thousand or more men seek to patch up old gmdges between two political classes, they have under taken a big job. It la a thing easier said than done, as some who attended the love feast in Portland are now ready to testify. Railroads, wheat farmers, cattle raisers and wool growers are prosper ous beyond question, but other branches of indurtrv are not much improved over a year ago WANT TO POOL. ISSCK3. Chicago, Feb. 2. A Tribune special from Washington says: Quiet negotiations have been going on in the senate for several days, look ing to a sensational combination of the friends of both Hawaii and Cuba with the object in view of precipitat ing a crisis on both questions without waiting either for the annexation treaty in the Pacific or the slow move ments of autonomy in the Atlantic. When the diplomatic and consular appropriation .bill was before the house, the democrats made several efforts to tack on an amendment for recognition either of the belligerency or the independence of the Cuban in surgents. Tbe house has strict rules against the insertion of new legit-la- tion on appropriation bills. Similar rules exist in tbe senate, but they are seldom or never applied, and the upper house of congress is always relied upon to fill the appropriation bills with purely legislative enactments, which then become a part of a conference report, and are not specifically the subjects of points of order in the bouse. Take advantage of this situation, three or four prominent republican senators, among whom is at least one member of the foreign committee, have a scheme for bringing immediate action iu these two matters. The scheme involves a union of forces be tween the friends of Hawaii and Cuba. Although the annexation treaty is said not to command two-thirds of the whole senate, it has in its favor an undoubted majority representing all parties, and the same is said to bo true as to Cuba. It is proposed, therefore, to draft an amendment to the diplo matic and consular appropriation bill, containing, first the entire wording of the Hawaiian annexation treaty, and secondly, a private declaration that a state of war exists in the island of Cuba. A mere majority vote would be sufficient to pass the amendment. As it would be part of a general appro priation bill, there would be no rule of the house which could prevent its con sideration, and if passed by that body it would go to the president, who would bo put in the position ef having to approve or veto both propositions at the same time. An Important Treaty. ' Pocatello, Idaho, Fen. 2. C. G. Hoyt, of the Fort Hall Indian commis sion, has practically concluded a treaty with the Bannock . and; Shoshone Indians for the purpose of the Fort Hall reservation for the lump sum of $525,000. The treaty also carries a provision for the payment of $75,000 to the Indians for tbe relinquishment of their hunting rights in Jackson's Hole. Tbe treaty is the result of more than a year's work on the part of the com mission. About one-fourth of the land to be sold is fine agricultural land and the balance, mineral laud. It is thought that the treaty will be ratified before congress adjourns. Zelaya Inaugurated President of Nicaragua New York, Feb. 3. -Cable dis- patcbea from the Herald correspondent in Managua state that President Jose Santos Zelaya took the oath of office yesterday for his second term. In his message to congress President Zelaya referred in glowing terms to the. pros pect of a realization of the canal scheme, and pledged himself to exert every effort to bring the work to a suc cessful issue. . In the Yosemite VaTler a while ago, a young fellow wfnt out on the edge of a snemng precipice two tnou- 1 sand feet high, and balanced himself on his head. A lit tle slip or little puff of wind would have sent him to eternity. Not one man in a million would be that kind of a fooL But nine men in ten are all the time taking loonsa cnances. There is no deadly peril uuuui at nine ill vi muiKes. tion or bilionsness, and yet if a man allows these troub les to fret a hold on him he is takin? serious risks. Dyspepsia alone seldom Kins anyooay ; mat is, it only kills you oy mcnes, ana takes a frood many years doing: it. But it weakens and under mines the constitu- llll Dll - non so mat it is all !l" E I ready to receive and fertilize the danger ous diseases which do kill yon outright. .Diseaae-grerms Cwud v gr w in healthy blood any more than corn will grow on a rock. A man who keeps his digestion perfect and his blood pnre may eat and drink and breathe -disease-germs, but they gain no foothold. They are cast out of the system. But a roan with a - dyspepsia- tion breathes in typhoid, or diphtheretic germs and down he goes. The best health-insurance a man can have is Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery. It acts directly on the stomach and liver. It gives the blood-making organs power to make healthy blood. It clarifies the blood from all imonritiea. and builds in the healthy flesh, muscular power and nerve energy, which fortifies you against disease. His life-long success in the treatment of chronic diseases has given Dr. Pierce'a medicines world-wide reontation. His "Pleasant Pellets" cure constipation. CONCERN IS: The President and Cabinet Discuss the Situation. PREPARING. TO FLY The Son of Inventor Edison Has Struck on a flan For Aerial Navigation. Frank Phtavator Will Lead a Government Expedition Into Alaska Iowa Is Struck With! Klondike Fever A Kloh Strike. Washington, Feb. 1. General Mer- j riam yesterday opened at Seattle dis patches brought by Spacial Messenger Wells from Captain Ray, tbe depart ment's special representative in the Klondike, and telegraphed an abstract to the department. Acting Secretary Miekeljohn was so much impressed with the statements wired that he sub mitted the dispatch at once to Secre tary Alger, and the paper was Anally sent to the White House, where it formed the subject of consideration at the cabinet meeting today, It is said the report fully justifies all that has been done to relieve the sit uation at the Klondike The report is particularly acceptable in view of I the conflicting statements as to the conditions in tbe gold fields, for it is not doubted that Captain Bay had a broader field of observation than others who made reports. This report is taken as establishing facts for all official purposes. The state of affairs in tbe Klondike, as thus revealed,' is worse than was ex pected at the war department. So large is the task that remains to be ex ecuted in order to insure the safety of life and property on the Ame-ican side alone that the war department officials have concluded to advise con gress as to the facts and place upon tbe legislative branches the duty of deyising ways and meacs to meat the exigencies of the situation. TO NAVlUATE THE A IB, Young Edison Thinks He Has Solved the Problem. New York, Feb. 1. Thomas A. Edison, jr.. Is experimenting with an airship which be believes will be a success. It is the invention of Frank Sauther, of Milwaukee, but Edison hit by accident on a gas which he be lieves is tbe ocly thing required te make the ship a practical one. Sails were substituted icstiad of any pro pelling power. Mr. Edison says: "It was at this point that I conceived the really new principle. It struck me that it would be a good idea .to in flate tbe sails with gas, thus making them serve as balloons as well as sup plying the sailing power. It would not do to make baygy balloons for the sails, so they are divided Into numer ous compartments, which, when in flated, resemble water bags. Tbe tubes running to the balloon are tapped in three places to supply gas to the mainsail, and rubber tubes carry gas to two jibs. The compart ments of the mainsail are connected by "narrow openings, the gas thus flow ing' freely through the entire sail. A rudder completes the airship.' "After many failures we were suc cessful. The ship actually flew,- and we succeeded in steering it. I believe that the Inflated sail idea is the one that is going to solve the aerial prob lem." IN THE UEKVIOK OF UNCLE SAM. Frank Fhiscator to Lead an Alaska. Exploring Party la ' New Carlisle, Ind., Feb. 1. Frank Phiscator, the Klondike king ot Baroda, near this city, wb sold his claim for 91,000,000, has left for Alaska with a compady of prospectors. He was recently in Washington confer ring with Secretary -of war Alger in regard to explorations in Alaska. Be agreed to accompany any party of ex plorers in the interest of the govern ment, and they will leave Seattle March 1 to begin their work. Phis cator, before leaving, said: The greatest drawback ia tbe country now is the lack of provisions, but this will soon be overcome, as I believe that 9 year from now will find railroads running to all points in Alaska. I am taking a number of good, strong men back with me and I will devote the greater part of my time to the government's interests." Coming- From Iowa. Dubuque, Ia., -Feb- 1. Between 40 and 50 eoldseekers will leave here for Alaska within the next two weeks. Two : parties will leave tomorrow. They will go by way of Skagway pass without dogs. A third party will leave tomorrow from Clayton and Allamakee county. A party of 10 will leave here next Monday for a point 600 miles north of Dawson city, with 12 dogs. and will go via Chilcoot pass. James Elwoll, of Cassville, Wis., who came down from the Klondike last fall with $7a.000, starts February la, with a party of 25 and a carload af dogs. Tblr-y fjTea War Lost. Plymouth, Feb. 1. During ,a fog this morning, the mail steamer Chan nel Queen struck on the rocks off the island of Guernsey. The captain was saved, but 30 persons are supposed to have been lost. Early reports said the loes of life was light, but later advices say that of 65 persons on board 44 were lost. The remainder were saved in boats, the launching of which was very difficult, one boat being swamped. The Channel Queen ran between Plymouth and the island of Jersey. Another Blch Strike. Winnipeg, Feb. 1. A party of 34 from Stamford, Con., have arrived here and have purchased the schooner Moonlight, on which they will sail next Tuesday for the mouth of the Copper river. They have with tbem a saow sled with a 20-borae power en gine. The sled . weighs about seven tons and is propelled by a stern wheel fitted with spikes to catch in the ice and with paddles for snow. Yeng;eance Waa Swift. BtfXMWELL, W. Va.f Feb. 1. An unknown ne?ro who was refused the privilege of walking through the tun nel of the Norfolk, & Western railway near here, last night, shot Harry Dra per, the watchman, killing him in- stantly. At midnight 50 men teok the prisoner from the jail and lynched him, after which his body was riddled with bullets. Small pill, safe pill, best pill. De- Witt's Little Early Risers ourebilous- ness. constipation, sick headache Snipes, Einersly Drug Co. mnmjimwmmmnmmfmnmmnmm I SPECIAL Muslin In order to make room for our Spring Stock of Muslin Underwear, we will offer our present stock at the following prices: - 25c Values 18c 35c Values... 24c 50c Values 3Sc 75c Values 55c $1.00 Values 78c ALL GOODS MARKED IN PLAIN FIGURES Ltlllll We carry constantly on hand a large stock of Rough and ; Dressed Lumber of all kinds. .SASH AND DO ORS. Paints, Oils and Glass, Build-ing- Paper, Cedar Shingles, and ' Redwood Shingles. . . . r & JOS. T. PETERS 5 CO. THE DALLES, OREGON SOT FAVOB able to corbktt. Coffery 8npports the Committee Report Advene to Heating Htm. Washington, Feb. 3. In the sen ate today Germany's order prohibit ing the importation of American fruits called out a resolution from Davis, chairman of the committee on foreign relations, calling on the president if not incompatable with the public In terest, to transmit to the senate cor respondence and other information bearing upon the matter In his posses sion. The resolution was agreed to. In accordance with notice previous' ly given, Coffery called up Informally the resolution de' taring H. W. Cor- bett is not entitled to a seat in the senate from Oregon. Coffery spoke in support of the committee report against seating Corbett. He claimed a constitutional legislature had failed to elect, and the eeiiate could not put a premium on such a delictioo of duty, and thereby allow the governor to place a favorite of his in the seat. FKEFAR1NG FOB EXEBOENC1KS. More BntUh V easels Ready to Proceed to Cblneae Waters. Shanghai, Feb. 3. The China Ga zette says the Rritish Indian, Austra lian and Pacific squadrons have been ordered to be ready to reinforce a fleet capable of coping with "any combina tion opposing the British policy.-' "Meanwhile," adds the Gazette, the British claims in the Yang-tse- Kiang will be supported by a strong squadron stationed at Chusan, to which place two other warships are en route In the event of Russia hoisting her flag at Port Arthur, the British admiral has been ordered to hoist the British Jie over Chusan, and the Japanese fleet will ascend the Yang' tse-Kiang as soon as the river rises. "About 7500 Russian artillery and cavalary and quantities of stored and munitions have arrived at Kirin. A Settlement Reached. Washington, Feb. 3. Japan has been removed as an element in opposi tion to the consummation of the an nexation of tbe Hawaiian islands by tbe United States. This result has been attained by the conclusion of an agreement between both governments, which, by practically settling the status of the Japanese in Hawaii, re moves the only substantial difference that existed between the two governments.. in Underwear.... 1 .$1.25 Values $150 Values $1.75 Values $2.00 Values $2.50 Values $3.00 Values PEASE LUMBER 1 ( The exact basis of tbe agreement has not been made public, but its gen' eral scope is understood to be recogn tion of the rights of the Japanese in the United States under tbe treaty with Japan proclaimed ia 1895. JSneoarmglne; Htsne. Washington, Feb. 3. It now looks as if the war that has so long bee raging in Cuba with such appallin disaster to both life and property, will be brought to an end. It is cer tain that state department official hare been in earnest consultation with the insurgents, and the concen tration of th.e big naval force of the United States about tbe island of Cuba carries out the theory so prevalen that the time has arrived to put a stop to further barbarities. Five Below Zero. New York, Feb. Ss. This is the coldest day of the season. At 8 o'clock this morning the thermometer regis tered 5 degrees below zero. East and North rivers are full of ico and naviga tion is mu:b impeded. Surface and elevated railroads run behind time and local traffic is considerably con gested. The Third avenue cable broke down. Jk Defaulting- Caabier. New York, Feb. 2. William J Quinlan, jr., cashier of the Chemical National bank, has resigned. He ac knowledged in a letter to the directors that he loanei $393,000 of the bank's money without consulting tbe presi dent, and knowing that the directors would not approve the loan. He de nies that ho profited by the loan. The Storm In New England. Boston. Feb. 2. Tbe financial loss caused by the great storm which swept a great part of New England Monday nicbt and yesterday will amount to more than was first thought. In this city alone it is estimated that the loss will amount to over $1,000,000. The Boston Elevated Railway Company lost about $225,000 by the storm. To day the comoany has nearly 7500 men at work clearing the tracks. Reports of stranded vessels along the coast continue to come in, and it Is thought at least 15 lives were lost by wrecks at various points. to Cam Conetlpatloa Forever. Take Caaoarata Candy Cathartic. 10c or So. U C a O. IaU oare. drug-Jata reload 2 E5 $ 90 1 10 1 35 1 59 1 98 2 29 & flAYS 1 Lum b'er THE END DOT FAK OFF. Negotiations Pending for Ending the Co ban War. Chicago, Feb. 3. A special to the Tribune from Washington says: Secret negotiations are now actual ly In progress between the state de partment and the insurgents in Cuba looking to a stoppage of the war on some financial bapis to be agreed upon hereafter. President McKinley has not recognized the insurgents as bel llgerants. and be cannot therefore treat with them ooonly, as be would do with a diplomatic representative of an inde'pendent nation. Direct com munication has, however, been bad within the last few weeks between the insurgent government and the admin istration here. The insurgents have expressed per fect willingness to assume a reason able share of the Spanish bonds issued against the Cuban revenues. The proposition has been considered with some favor, and the president and his cabinet have discussed reveral plans for guaranteeing the Cuban debt on the sole basis of independence. ' Thnse negotiations have gone side by side with the gradual massing of the ships of the North Atlantic squad ron within strikine distance of Cuba. Orders to tbe crusler Montgomery to sail at once for the harbor of Matanzas have been Issued, and the ship is ex pected to be received there quite as cordially as the Maine was in Havana. The orders to her commander contem plate a call on Consul Brlce at Matan zas. Should everything be found peaceable the ship will proceed to San tiago de Cuba, but hould affairs look threatening at Matanzas, another ship HI quietly be slipped to the latter port, and before Captain-General Blanco knows what is happening to him American ships will be in tbe harbor of every important port in Cuba. The gradual occupation of the island by a naval force is understood to be part and parcel of the negotiations with the insurgents. When they are concluded, if everything goes cn well, tbe United States will be In a position to offer Spain a heavy financial bonus for giving up the island, while at the same time the icsurgente will find themselves in a position to make a junction with tbe U cited States naval forces at any one of the half dozen ports.