FOR THE MUSTER OUT
Plans Will Be Completed by
First of the Year.
MANILA TROOPS WILL BE FIRST
following Their Discharge, the Vol
unteert in the Wrmt Indies Will
Ue Sent Home.
Washington, Deo. 24. Tlie war de
partment has not yet made definite
plans for the inuetei-ont of 50,000 vol
unteers, wliioh was decided on at the
cabinet meeting yesterday, but it is un
derstood that work will be pretty well
mapped out by the flist of the year.
The completion of the muster -out'will
depend on whether the department
adopts the plan of three months' fur
lough or immediate discharge, with
two months' extra pay, as suggested by
Congressman Hull. It has . been prac
tically decided to muster onfall the
volunteers in tho Philippines as fast as
they can be replaoed with regulars, so
as not to hamper the military adminis
tration of the island. Following the
discharges of the tegimentsof the Phil
ippine stations, it is understood the
volunteer troops in the West Indies
will be mustered out.
Twentieth Gout on the SohihIIr.
San Francisoo, Deo. 24. Major
General Merriam has ordered that the
work of preparing the transport Scandia
for another voyage to Manila be rushed
to completion. By the first of next
week he expects to telegraph the war
department, that he will bo ready with
in 10 days to have the Twentieth
United States infantry come here from
Fort Leavenworth, Kan., to'board the
Bcandia for the Philippines.
It is the belief at army headquarters
here that the First California volun
teers will be brought home on the re
turn trip of the Soandia.
Two ReglinenU Go Vin Suez.
Chicago, Deo. 24. Telegraphio :'u
structious were received today from the
secretary of war, ordering the Fourth
infantry at Fort Sheridan, arid the Sev
enteenth, at Columbus, to sail for the
Philippines on or before January 15.
The regiments will go via New York
nd the Suez canal.
MECCA FOR ALL RAILROADS.
I'aclflc Coaat Becoming- a Universal Ob
jective Point.
Chicago, Dec. 34. The Chronicle
ays: There are strong indications
that the Chicago, Burlington & Quinoy
and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
roads are figuring on extending their
lines to the Pacific coast. The absorp
tion of the Hawaiian and Philippine
islands by this country, it is expected
by the owners of these roads, will open
up an immense transcontinental rail
business, both' east and west-hound.
The recent dual by which the Santa Fe
will have its own line into San Fran
cisoo in the spring has awakened tho
officers of the competing semi-transcontinental
roads. An officer of one of
the Westem roads who has just come
from the coast, and who takes a keen
Interest in railroad affairs out there,
savs:
"I would not be surprised to wake
up some morning and find the trans
continental situation further compli
cated by the announcement that the
Burlington was to be extended to the
Paoifio ocean. The Builingtnn is a
good deal nearer the coast than most
people imagine, and I understand that
this road has been surveying through
Idaho all summer one line through
Nez Peroes pass and another through
Lolo pass. I understand also that two
or three independent lines that are now
being built in Western Idaho and
Noitheastern Oregon are " intended
eventually to form part of the proposed
Western extension of the Burlington.
"Another point of interest in his
connection is the faot that the Burling
ton is a large holder of valuable termi
nal and dock property at Gray's harbor,
whioh would bo of great value to the
company were it to enter the Oriental
trade. Such an extension would form
a short route from Taoouia to New Or
leans." Denver, Colo., is now the Western
terminus of the Rock Island, and Bill
ings, Mont., is the end of the Burling
ton's tracks. It has been leported that
the former company would soon pur
chase the Colorado Midland, which
would place its terminus 400 miles fur
ther west. Billings, Mont., the end of
the Burlington, is 1,020 miles from
Tacoma, or a little further than Ogden
is from San Francisco. While Tresi
dont Purdy, of the Rock Island, denies
the report that his company is figuring
on absorbing the Midland, nothing
definite can be learned regarding the
Burlington's Intentions.
Tralnrobbere Failed.
Grenada, Miss., Dec. 22. An 1111-
"liois Central express train, southbound,
was held up one-half mile south of
Pope's station, by two 'men. at 10:80
tonight. They suddenly appeared on
the engine and compelled the engineer
to stop, after which they attempted to
break in the express car door. They
fired several shots, but failed to gain
admission. The robbers then fled.
No one was hurt. . ;
Two New Discoveries lleported.
Victoria, B. C, Dec 21. -Fred
Smith, ol Vlotoria. Just out from Atlin.
brings news of he discovery of two
more rich gold-bearing creeks. The
new finds have been christened Moose
and Goose creeks. He had both hands
frozen and nearly lost his life on the
way out.
A. J. Demules, better known as the
"Turquoise King of Jarillas," ws mur
dered at his celebrated tuiquoise mine,
60 mites north of El Paso. New Mexico.
Th Melrose department building,
the largest structure of its kind on the
south side of Chicago, was almost t ton
rdieiv destroyed by fire, entailing
L.. !,. .ill mpmn! 1100.000. Scores
of occupants of the building were saved
from Injury by the heroism of Paul L.
w:.k. h. .loratnr I Kiv. employed in
IBVUVI . . - -
the structure. Through choking clou.ls
) almost unendming neat,
the hor made 10 trips with his cat and
o.-,0.i ii.. nn the upper Boors to
i,l.Minf af.iv. Then, exhausted from
bis efforts, he staggered out of the
building and was taken care of by those
whom bt bad rescued.
OPEN DOOR TO AS
IA.
John W Book wl,.r 8ay. u , T1,
Kuula Observations In Hiberia.
' London, Deo. 24.-Jol,n W. Book
waiter, of Ohio, who has just returned
from a three months' journey through
Kuasia, told the cot respondent of the
Associated Press, in an interview to
day, that he enjoyed unusual facilities
for observing what is going on in that
country. He traveled 17,000 miles to
the terminus of the trans-Siberian rail
way to the end of the line, reaching
the frontier of Afghanistan, and to the
end of the one penetrating China
through Manchuria. All these are now
practically completed. .
Mr. Bookwalter was allowed to go
everywhere, to see everything and to
take hundreds of photogiaphs, thanks
to special permits issued to him by the
minister of the interior on the applica
tion of the United States ambassador
at St. Petersburg. During his journey
he conversed with the governors of
provinces and with military and civil
officials of all ranks.
"Everywhere I found," Mr. Book
waiter said, "the kindest and most
friendly feeling toward America and
Amerioans, and heard many expressions
of satisfaction over America's success
in our wai with Spain. To this there
was not a single exception.
"America's best open door to Central
Asia and China is through Russia.
Already all the locomotives and rolling
stock on the railways are of American
manufacture. Central Asia will, in
the near future, be the greatest market
in the world for manufactures of all
kinds, and our obtaining the virtual
monopoly of this market only depends
on our retaining the friendship Russia
now has for us.
"America has very little to gain by
an open door in China. That country
is au industrial one, and whatever we
may now be able to sell to them, the
Chinese will soon be able to make for
themselves. One day, and that day is
near at hand, whatever China buys from
the rest of the world will reach her
through Russia and Central Asia.
Russia in the last three years has done
more to open the doors of China than
England and all the rest of the world
has done in 50 years.
"I traveled over 1,200 miles of rail
way which she has built from the Cas
pian sea to Tashkend, in Turkestan,
over a branch of this line which runs
to the northern frontier of India, over
another branch which goes from Merv
to the, border of Afghanistan. Then
there are also Russian lines all along
tho Persian frontier, and projecting
into that oountry, either completed or
rapidly approaching completion. All
the work on these lines has been done
by soldiers, who, in this way, are not
in Russia, as elsewhere, non-producers.
"All this tremendous Asiatic railway
system is owned and operated by the
government. All the lines are admira
bly built, and splendidly equipped.
Why, I saw a bridge across the Amud
aria, in Central Asia, at a point where
the river is three miles wide, that cost
20,000,000 roubles, and is the greatest
piece of engineering work ever accom
plished. There is nothing like it any
where else in the world.
"Wherever I went I saw cities and
towns springing up, such as Askobad,
in Turkomania, for example, which al
ready has 25,030 inhabitants. New
Bokhare, 12 miles from Old Bokhara,
has 12,000 inhabitants. Where do the
people come from to inhabit these
towns? Why, from European Russia.
The government is turning her surplus
Euiopean population into Central Asia
just as the United States turned her
surplus population of her Atlantic
states into her great Western territories.
No human power oan stay the onward
march 'of the Slav through Russia,
which will be the feature of the 20th
century, just as the march of the
Anglo-Saxon through America has been
the feature of the 19th.
"The United States will be commit
ting a woeful mistake if she fails to re
tain the friendship of this great world
power of the luture."
MASSACHUSETTS MISHAP.
Not Enough
Water for a
of Her Size.
Battle-Ship
Washington, Deo. 24. The naval
authorities have learned, to their die
may, that it is not possible for one oi
our big battle-ships, like the Oregon or
Massachusetts, to get out of New York
harbor during extra low water, such as
prevailed when the latter battle-ship
struck on Diamond reef a short time
ago. To aid the court of inquiry now
in session at New York, trying to ascer
tain the responsibility for the ground
ing, the navy department called upon
the coast survey for special measure
ments of the water in the harbor near
Diamond reef, and upon the rock itself.
The report of the superintendent of
the survey has just been received. It
shows, in the opinion of naval officers,
that it is not possible for a ship of the
size of the Massachusetts and with her
maneuvering qualities to get out of the
harbor without touching the bottom
when the tide is ebb and the wind
strong.
Hones and Hulei for Manila.
San Francisco, Doc. 24. The bark
Tacoma, with 111 horses and mules,
besides a lot of material, sailed for
Honolulu and the Philippines today.
She will stop at Honolulu and take on
the animals she left there on her last
trip, and leave some cf her present
cargo there instead.
Predicts Peace In Cube.
Tendon. Dec. 24. The Havana cor
respondent of the Times, in the course
nf a letter published this morning.
says: President McKinley will have an
unfettered hand here. A majority ol
the Cubans are prepared to accept unre
servedly any regime treating them
justly, and insuung the tranquility ol
the Island.
A blind bat avoids wires and obstruc
tions as easily as if it could see per
fectly. Mezlcaa State Pays a Claim.
Washington, Dec. 24. The state de
paitment has just received, through
United States Ambassador Clayton,
from the Mexican government a drafl
for 5,000 to be paid to the heirs o!
Henry Hoppe. a native of New Or
leans. Hoppe, while traveling in th
mountains of Oaxaca, was biutallj
murdered by one of tbe Mexican rurali
or native constables, who are retaine?
for tbe express purpose of protecting
travelers. At the same time an
Englishman named McSweeney wai
killed in precisel the same fashion.
PACIFIC COAST TRADE.
Portland Market.
Wheat Walla Walla, SOj; Valley, I
41c; Blucstem, 62o per bushel.
Flour Best grades, $3.20; graham,
$2.05; superfine, $2.15 per barrel.
Oats Choice white, 4041c; choice
gray, 89 40c per bushel.
Barley Feed barley. $22(324; brew
ing, $24 per ton. '
Millstuffs Bran. $16 per ton: mid
dlings, $21; shorts, $16; chop, $15.50
per ton.
Hay Timothy, $9 10; clover. $7
8; Oregon wild hay, $6 per ton.
Butter Fancy creamery. 5560o:
seconds, 5053o; dairy, 4550o store,
30 35o.
Cheese Oregon full cream. ll18o:
Young America, 15o; new cheese,
10c per pound.
Poultry Chickens, mixed, $2.5o3
per dozen; hens, $3. 50 4. 00; springs,
fl.253; geese, $6.007.OO for old,
$4.605 for young; ducks, $4.00
5.00 per dozen; turkeys, live, 11
12c per pound.
Potatoes 60 70c per sack; sweets,
2c per pound.
Vegetables Beets, 90c; turnips, 75c
per sack; garlic, 7o per pound; cab
bage, $1 1.25 per 100 pounds; cauli
flower, 75o per dozen; parsnips, 75c
per sack; beans, 8c per pound; celery,
70 75c per dozen; cucumbers, 50c per
box; peas, 83c per pound.
Onions Oregon, 75o$l persack.
Hops 1518c; 1897 crop, 46o.
Wool Valley, 1012o per pound;
Eastern Oregon, 8 12c; mohair,
26c per pound.
Mutton Gross, best sheep, wethers
and ewes, 4c; dressed mutton. 7oc;
spring lambs, 7c per lb.
Hogs Gross, choice heavy, $4.25;
light and feeders, $3.004.00; dressed,
$5. 00 5. 50 per 100 pounds.
Beef Gross, top steers, 8.50$3.75;
cows, $2. 50 3. 00; dressed beef,
56c per pound.
Veal Large, 66c; small, 7 8c
er pound.
Seattle Market.
Onions, 8590o per 100 pounds.
Potatoes, $10 12.
Beets, per saofc, 75c.
Turnips, per sack, 60 60c.
Carrots, per sack, $1.
Parsnips, per sack, $1.
Cauliflower, 5075o per doa.
Celery, 8540o.
Cabbage, native and California
$1.00 1.50 per 100 pounds.
Apples, 85 50c per box.
Pears, 75c$1.50 per box.
Prunes, 50c per box.
Butter Creamery, 27o per pound;
dairy and ranch, 1820c per pound.
Eggs, 85o.
Cheese Native, 1212c.
Poultry Old hens, 12c per pound;
spring chickens, 12c; turkeys, 16c.
FreBh meats Choice dressed beef
steers, prime, 67c; cows, prime,
6c; mutton, 7c; pork, 67o; veal,
68o.
Wheat Feed wheat, $22.
Oats Choice, per ton, $24.
' Hay Puget Sound mixed, $9.50
10; choioe Eastern Washington tim
othy, $12.
Corn Whole, $23.50; cracked, $24;
feed meal, $23.50.
Barley Rolled or ground, per ton,
$2425; whole, $22.
Flour Patent, per barrel, $3.50;
straights, $3.25; California brrnds,
$3.25; buckwheat flour, $3.75; graham,
per barrel, $3.60; whole wheat flour.
$3.75; rye flour, $4.
Millstuffs Bran, per ton, $14;
shorts, per ton, $16.
Feed Chopped feed, $1921 per
ton; middlings, per ton, $17; oil cake
meal, per ton, $35.
Ban Francuco Market. .
Wool Spring Nevada, 1012oper
pound; Oregon, Eastern, 1012o; Val
ley, 15 17c; Noithern, 9llc.
Millstuffs Middlings, $1821.00;
bran, $15.50 16.50 per ton.
On ion s Si 1 verskin,5075c per sa.-.
Butter Fancy creamery, 8Cc;
do seconds, 2024c; fancy dairy, 20;
do seconds, 1721c per pound.
Eggs Store, 1822o; fancy rancj,
8537o.
Citrus Fruit Oranges, Valencia, $3
2.60; Mexican limes, $6.50; Cali
fornia lemons, $2. 00. 800; do choioe,
$3. 50 4. 50; per box.
A Gravy Bath for a Boor.
During the excitement of the reoent
South African elections, says tbe West
minster Gazette, two Dutchmen at a
boarding house dinner table were eulo
glzing the superior virtues of theii race
as opposed to the English. Presently
Queen Victoria was mentioned, when
one exclaimed, "Damn Victoria."
With that the Englishman who sat
next to the offending Dutchman threw
the whole contents of his plate on his
head meat, potatoes, cabbage and
gravy. Every other boarder threw at
him the article nearest at hand half
a loaf of bread, a hot potato or a jug of
water until the poor victim cried for
mercy, which was granted him after
withdrawing his words and making a
suitable apology.
The liege for Fur.
Far is used on all sorts and condi
tions ol gowns, and is applied in any
way that may suit the wearer. Row
after row made as narrow as possible
is applied on the graded flounce of the
new cloth gowns, a short nap fur being
the easiest to apply and the best in
effect Buttons of fur are extensively
used on a gown of this kind, while ro
vers and collar, with cuffs to match,
trim the waist.
Carpet Laying Without Tacbs.
An Ohio inventor has patented a car
pet fastening which does awav with the
use of tacks to hold the carpet in place,
a metallio border being Inserted under
the edge of the baseboard and having
damps along its outer edge in which
the carpet is fastened after being
stretched. ,
The first day of January and the first
day of October of any year fall on' the
same day of the week unlets it be leap
year.
A decapitated snail, if kept In a
moist place, will In a few days grow a
new head, and it will be just as service
able as the original one was.
Every language contains such names
as cuckoo, peewit, whipporwill and
others in which the soond emitted by
tbe animal Is Imitated as the name.
As late as 1683 squirts were used for
extinguishing Are in England, and
their length did not exceed two or three
feet with pipes of leather. Wateretight
seam lei hose was first made in BethnaJ
Green ia 1730.
I NEED OF THE CANAL.
NICARAGUA DITCH WOULD SAVE
TIME AND MONEY.
As a Business Venture Alone the
Propoaed Artery, It Is Claimed,
'Would Be a Bis; Bonanza in the 'Way
of Toll and Lock Charge,
That the proposed Nicaraguan canal is
vital to the interests of the United States
was emphatically demonstrated during
the recent war with Spain when our bat
tleship Oregon was compelled to make her
long voyage down around the Horn to
reach the scene of naval operations. The
apprehension of the American people dur
ing the long detour was painfully and just
ly excited, while the Government was de
prived, ol several weeks' service of its
finest man-of-war during the time it re
quired to sail down the west coast of
South America and up on the eastern side.
Then, again, the commercial benefits to be
derived by the completion of the proposed
short-cut waterway are inestimable. A
most comprehensive article on the subject
of the Nicaraguan canal has been written
by Henry I. Sheldon, a Chicagoan. T!-:
is said by experts to be the most compleu
study of the canal question yet undertak
en. Mr. Sheldon visited Nicaragua three
years ago and traversed the entire route
of the projected waterway, examined the
work done, and secured reliable data as
to cost and methods of construction. Mr.
Sheldon went not as the agent of any com
pany or of the Government, but merely
as an individual having no Interest, pe
cuniary or friendly, with the present com
pany constructing the canal, and was
careful to incur no obligations which
would prevent his taking an unbiased
view.'
'It may be well to say at the outset."
writes Mr. Sheldon, "that I reached the
conclusion that the canal In Nicaragua is
practicable, and can be constructed at a
cost on which fair returns can be earned.
It also seems clear that, for many reasons,
it is not a suitable work for private cap
ital to undertake, and that it will be bet
ter that our Government should assist the
undertaking. There are strong equities
on the side of national aid, inasmuch as
the chief benefits will never be the tolls
collected from passing vessels. The canal
may so develop our trade with Eastern
Asia that a single year of that trade will
exceed in volume the total cost of
construction. Its opening will double
value almost every acre of agricultural
land la California, Oregon and Washing-
ion, ana tne population of those States
will be more than doubled. For manv
years I have occasionally visited the Pa
cific coast, for either business or pleasure,
and always the most striking aspect of
its condition has been the absence of sat
isfactory markets for its products. Not a
bushel of its large wheat crop comes to
tne Atlantic coast by rail, as wheat can
not bear the cost of so long carriage.
Neither can its lumber or ores come hv
rail. In many places, after the farmer or
the. fruit grower has paid the charges of
transportation companies, there is little
or nothing left for him. The population
continues small because the markets are
so inadequate. Twenty-five years' trial
has demonstrated that if railroads are to
be the sole means of communication the
development of the Pacific States will be
very slow. ' The only promise of relief Is
In securing for these States some shorter
transportation to the Atlantic States, and
also to Europe, by water. Now, every
thing carried by water must pass around
Uape Horn. J he only shorter route, ap
parently practicable, is by way of a shiD
canal across the isthmus, through Nicara
gua. This will save 10,000 miles of the
distance around Cape Horn, and will en
able an ordinary steamer to go from San
Francisco to New York in fourteen davs.
The exact distance, by such canal, will
oceans
MAP SHOWING
be 4,700 miles. The ordinary railroad
freight service consumes from seventeen
to twenty-oue days. Tbe canal line will
be only about 00 per cent longer than the
rail line.
Needed In the Time of War.
"Our country is so widaly extended,
8,000 nilks fioiu east to west, that cheap
sad speedy water transportation like this
is almort alsoiutely needed to bind and
bold it more closely together. At present,
In time of war. such parts of our growing
bit y as m U IU be on either tbe Atlantic
cr the Pacific side would be for a consid
erable time of no use on the other ocean.
The canal, when built, will promote the
development of better markets for our
manufactures In foreign countries border
ing on tbe Pacific. These are less exposed
ttiao those on the Atlantic to European
competition. This nation cannot be con
sidered a first-class power when our peo
ple are only buyers from the rest of the
world. Exporting sgricultural products
does not make a great nation. Tbe French
and the Germans do not engage in such
exportation, finding other activities to be
more profitable. A glunce st the principal
food-exporting countries shows the truth.
Tbry arc such countries ss Southern Rus
sia, India and, latterly, the Argentine
Republic, and tbey are poor, and they stay
poor. We need to keep our wheat, feed
our operatives with It, and send abroad
tbe products tbey manufacture. Tbe
change csnnot come suddenly, but we
should plan and work for it. Some neg
lected markets sre near as. Tbe Rio
Grande is quite a small stream. One can
ride a horse across It from Texss Into
Mexico and entering the first hotel, one
Bndi an English cloth on tbe table in tbe
Cemeat fthlpmeat. j
The British ship Port Elgin lias ar
rived at Seattle from Belgium with
8,000 tons of cement, most of which Is
for the government fortifications at j
Point Wilson. She is discharging at '
tbe West Seattle elevator, and will I
later load wheat for Balfour. Oat brie
& Co., destined for the United King
dom. The Blairgowrie is chartered
to bring cement from Antwerp. The
City of Florence will be due in a
month with general cargo from Liver
pool for Victoria and Vancouver; the
Drumlanrlg is en route to Vancouver
PA c Fj ccm
$LSCAP HORW
MAP SHOWING PRESENT ROUTE AROUND THE HORN AND THE SHORT
CUT MADE BY THE PROPOSED CANAL.
dining room. The cups and plates are
English, the cutlery from Germany and
the waiters wear a suit of German
clothes. There probably will not be an
article imported from the United States
in the house except a sewing machine. The
demand is there, but we have carelessly,
almost good-naturedly, made no effort to
sell.
"In building up a foreign trade our nat
ural course will be to begin with the coun
tries where we shall meet least competi
tion. In order to he profitable, trade re
quires to move along the lines of least
resistance. Our geographical situation is
such that we are the natural producers
for all countries bordering on the Pacific
ocean. The relative distance of European
manufacturers, as compared with our
own, gives us a great advantage. The
Idea of trying to sell much of our products
to China and Japan is new to our people;
but those countries are entering on a ca
reer of great development, and why should
not the American people have a share in
supplying their wants? The trade reports
tell the story of their awakening. The
purchases of their silver were:
In 1885 $28,000,000
In 1894 113,000,000
China bought from foreign countries:
In 1885 $132,000,000
In 1S94.. 243,000,000
"We have not been alive to this demand.
Of Japan's purchases abroad of $113,000,
000 in 1801, we sold her only $11,000,000.
We excelled in paying money to her, how
ever, for in that year we bought of her
goods amounting to $143,000,000. Of
China's purchases from other nations of
tfft ...ma f l v
ROUTE OF THE PROPOSED NICARAGUAN CANAL.
$243,000,000 In 1801, we supplied only
$10,000,000. We were good buyers, how
ever, taking $25,000,000 of her products.
Our diplomatic agents report that with
more alertness and enterprise we could
have furnished to Japan, and at a reason
able profit, 00 per cent of all her foreign
purchases in 1894. One reason why the
people of our gulf States are so unani
mous for a canal in Nicaragua, is thut it
will open sn additional market for their
cotton. The United States is the chief
producer of the world's cotton, and prices
for this product have been deplorably low
of late years, entailing great privations In
many Southern homes. It is the old story.
We have been producing more cotton than
we could find markets for. The new buy
er of cotton is Japan. That country Is
going strongly Into tbe manufacture of
cotton goods, such ss are used hy the peo
ple of the warm countries, and now not
only exports these goods to China, but
undersells the English 'manufacturers In
their own dependency of India."
Favors Government Ownership,
Mr. Sheldon takes strong ground in fa
vor of absolute ownership and control of
the Nicaragua canal by the United States
Government. "Congress could prescribe
the tolls to be paid by ships using tbe
csnsl, making the charges sufficient to
meet tbe expenses of operation and a sult
sble Interest on the capital invested In tbe
undertaking and also, if considered advis
able, for an annual payment into a sink
ing fund, to meet, st maturity, any Gov
ernment bonds which might bsve been
issued.
"As commerce Increased, tbe tolls could
be lowered, and anr other reduction In
favor of American ships, found desirable
with general cargo from Liverpool, and
the Druinburton is out from London
since September 31 with a cargo chiefly
of cement for Vancouver and Tacoma.
Hop Lands In femant.
It seems that California hopdealers
are turning their attention to the
Northwest, realizing it is a splendid
field for tne Imp industry. For many
years Ssn Francisco dealers hare had
renident agents in the centers of our
principal hop ditricts, and this year
acreage has been acquired also in Brit
ish Columbia. Messrs. Hortt Brothers.
. .... ...
as an aid In building up our carrying
trade, could be made by the same author
ity. If any European complications as
to the use of the canal arose, our Govern
ment would not be hampered by the exist
ence of a canal company, nor by being
obliged to obtain the current action of
Nicaragua and Costa Rica, but would be
in a position to decide for itself what
course to take. The possible claims of
England to joint control of the canal un
der the Clayton-Bulwer treaty should be
ignored. Those claims could never be al
lowed, and we probably would hear little
of them after we had constructed the
canal with our own money and were In
full possession. The Suez canal has been
neutralized by an agreement between the
great powers, but that waterway is close
ly connected with the Eastern question,
the balance of power, and other large sub
jects Involving the nations of Europe.
There Is no analogy as to neutralization
between the situation at Suez and that at
Nicaragua."
Katimatea of Probable Revenue.
Mr. Sheldon's estimates of the probable
revenue to be derived from the canal are
encouraging. "As the conditions are so
similar, it is necessary, in taking a broad
view of probable earnings, to consider the
business transacted by the Suez canal.
The results there shown are more helpful
than mere estimates; they are ascertained
facts. That company deals with the
world's commerce, just as will be done in
Nicaragua. In 1805 Its business amount
ed to 8,440,000 tons. It had then been In
operation twenty-five years. The first
year, 1870, its business was only 430,000
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
tons; In 1871, 700,000 tons; in 1872, 1,100,
000 tons, and there has been a fulrly
steady Increase ever since, up to the
amount In 1895. During all this time the
volume of the world's commerce has stead
ily increased. Not only has trado more
and more adjusted Itself to the Sues route,
but also the aggregate amount of trade
has become much larger. Some sllowsnce
should be made for the advantages pos
sessed by the Suez canal as a now well
established route. Taking its business
eight years sgo may be a fair offset for
this Item. The amount for 1S88 exceeded
11,000,000 tons. The earlier Suez tolls were
$2.77 per ton, which have been gradual
ly reduced the past twenty years, snd
traffic is not prepared now to stand heavy
charges In sny direction. A moderate
tariff will be In every way desirable. A
favorable, but approximate, estimate of
tbe possible revenues in Mlcaragiia would
be as follows: With tolls at $1.50 per ton
at the outset, and a business of st least
0,000,000 tons after the canal is fairly In
operation, a gross Income of $9,000,00(1
would be obtained. Administration, main
tenance and operation for 1895 cost the
Suez canal about $1,800,000. Taking Into
account all the dam and embankment
work at Nicaragua, as well ss the heavy
rainfall, an allowance of $3,000,000 as sn
annual average for expenses may he fair,
leaving a net income of $0,000,000. An
undertaking of this character Is to be
gone Into only ss a long-term Investment,
snd the earnings for tbe first few yesrs
after It Is completed are not to be consid
ered as sufficient for a final judgment. The
greatest esrnings will come later on.
i be canal route, as at present project
J ed, ia to be 174 miles long from Brito on
the well-known hop merchants of Han
Francisoo, have leased tbe hop ranches
of Messrs. Ilamenley, Blch & Lane;
McDonald and Captain Moore, near
Agassiz, comprising in all some 800
ores. Preparations for the coining
season are now being made. M. J.
Herman, another hop merchant of Han
Francisco, is looking over the field with
a view, it is ststed, of commencing
busineHS in the province.
(laming- Aleeka Trade.
The first big order, 500 tons, for
Alaska, is being filled by Vancouver,
U C merohsnts. Special Induce
' the Pacific to Greytown on the Atlantic
The first half mile from Brito is at sea
level. Then in two miles the canal rises
110 feet, through three locks to tbe sum
.:t level, 151 miles long, then in 4 miles
it descends, through three locks, to sea
level again, and then continues at sea
level 94 miles to Greytown. The esti
mated time required for an ordinary
. steamer to cross from one ocean to the
other is twenty-eight hours. Electric
lighting is to make passage by nigst quite
feasible. The allowance for passing
through locks Is forty-five minutes for
each lock. Only twenty-six miles of the
1G8 miles of canal Is to be through excava
tions. Some twenty-one miles is through
basins, and 121 miles through the lake
and the river. Provision should be made
from the first for increasing the accommo
dation when it shall become necessary.
Widening can be carried on at the same
time that vessels are passing. So can
deepening. To increase the size of the
locks, however, will cause all traffic to be
suspended. The locks in the present plans
appear to be too small for permanent use.
They are each to be 650 feet long, 70 feet
wide, and 28 feet deep."
Hiatory of the Canal Scheme.
In December, 1881, Senator Miller of
California introduced a bill in Congress
to incorporate "The Marine Canal Com
pany of Nicaragua," with the purpose of
constructing the canal. Gen. U. S. Grant,
Howard Potter, E. D. Morgan, H. J. Jew
ett and other prominent capitalists were
concerned in the proposed enterprise. The
bill met with bitter opposition in Congress,
and was utterly defeated by the failure
of the Marine Bank of New York, in
which the Grants were ruined financially.
The Nicaragua Canal Company was in
corporated In 1887, with former Senator
Warner Miller as president, and for a
time made good progress. Its success In
duced opposition, and in 1889 the Marl
time Canal Company of Nicaragua, which
received the sanction of President Cleve
land, was incorporated. Hiram Hitch
cock was the first president, but he was
subsequently succeeded by Thomas B.
Atkins. The work of digging the canal
was begun and continued until financial
misfortune overtook the enterprise, the
construction company failing in the terri
ble panic of 1893. The contract for the
construction was then awarded to Warner
Miller Nicaragua Company, which still
holds its concession. Many attempts have
since been made to secure the aid of the
Government, but the bills have failed to
pass both houses. Congress, however, au
thorized the appointment of a technical
commission of civil engineers to re-examine
the canal line, and it Is the report of
this commission which will be presented
to Congress in December.
The principal authorities on transporta
tion statistics have made estimates that
the Nicaragua route should divert from
2,000,000 to 3,000,000 tons of low-rate
freight, such as flour, dry goods, machin
ery, coal, etc., from the overland traffic.
Suppose 2,500,000 tons were diverted to
steamship lines from the Atlantic and gulf
ports, going by the canal route. With the
usual ocean tonnage from New York to
the Pacific, and other vessels which would
go through the canal, a conservative cal
culation places the annual freight ! at
7,000,000 tons. At the lowest Suez canal
rate this would give an annual revenue of
$12,810,000. The route in favor runs from
Greytown on the Atlantic coast,' via the
San Juan river and Lake Nicaragua to
Brito, on the Pacific. The total distance
Is 174 miles, divided as follows:
Miles.
Brito to lake 17.27
Lake Lajas to San Juan river 50.50
Slack water In the San Juan 68.54
San Francisco Basin Ochoa to East
ern divide 12.01)
Cut through the Eastern divide 3.00
Canal to Greytown 10.48
The Nicaragua canal route was sur
veyed first by Col. O. M. Cbilds in 1852
for the then existing Transit company
which had established transisthmian com
munication with California by steamer,
from Greytown by way of the San Juan
river to Virgin bay on the west shore of
Lake Nicarngua, and thence by stage to
San Juan del Stir, about eight miles south
east of Brito. The route selected by Col.
Childs, who was an eminent engineer,
has not been improved upon very greatly
by subsequent Burveys. The last survey,
made by Mr. Menocnl for the Govern
ment, lays the line along the Lajas and
Rio Grande rivers on the weBt. Between
the headwaters of these rivers and the
divide is lower and the route more practi
cal than anywhere else. From there the
route leads across the lake, thence by way
of the Son Juan river and canal cut to
Greytown.
Tolstoi's Colonies.
Tolstoi colonies are Increasing In
Russia. The Tolstolans, of course, live
together, having constructed their own
bouses and their own furniture; there
Is nothing new In this, the tale has been
told before. What Is remarkable It
the arrangement of the mutual dining
table In the Tolstoi table d'hote. The
bowl of the community a bowl of
soup Is shared among six persons,
each dipping Into tho same dish, but
having the right of personal property
In the matter of a wooden spoon and
salt. Bread also Is private to the In
dividual. Thus the six consumers get
a fair start and then they are all off
together. But one would have thought
this a fatal arrangement. Age, teeth
and digestion are sadly unequal. What
Is there to prevent tho venerable grand
mother from being left hopelessly be
hind by Ivan the Terrible, her youth
ful grandson, who I rents the whole
course as a point-to-point race, and so
shows forth the eternal Inequality of
things? It Is added that there Is a
beautiful simplicity and decency In
these repasts, and that there are three
napkins to each symposium. Thus we
have six consumers to one bowl and
three napkins to six consumers. But
some will do well to avoid the table
d'hote a la Tolstoi.
Thunderstorms In Jamaica.
At Port Royal, Jamaica, for six
months In the year thunderstorms aro
of almost dully occurrence, and guests
to picnics and garden parties are usu
ally Invited to assemble "after the thun
derstorm." All Husbands lo.
lie When we are married I will lie
at your feet
She (Interrupting) Yes, and to my
face, I supiHjsu.
The French may be flcklo in every
thing else, but tbey are always faithful
in their love of change.
ments ate being made to tlie northern
merchants and the Vancouver papers
claim this to be the first large order
they have secured in direot competition
with the principal outfitting houses of
Portland, Heattle and Taooma. Tbe
gotn's will bo sent north in a Canadian
bottom. Victoria is also securing some
of this trado, the Yukon Trading Com
pany having placed an order there, one
item of which was for 4,000 pairs of
overalls. The Pad Ho Contract Com
pany, building the White Pass & Yu
kon railway, is getting its supplies from
Viotoila merchants.
s