1
Heppner Gazette
Issued Thursday of Each Week
HEPPNER OREGON
LEASE RANGE LAND.
RESUME OF THE
WEEK'S DOINGS
General Review of Important Hap
penings Presented in a Brief and . ema Bt0ckowner.
Comprehensive Manner for Busy
Readers National, Political, His
torical and Commercial.
Castro vows vengeance on France
Democratic senators have united to
fight the San Domingo treaty.
The will ot the lat;e Charles T. Yerkes
may be contested by his widow.
The Union Pacific has. bought a con
trol of the Illinois Central railroad.
W. C. T. U. workers will ask Miss
Roosevelt to bar wine from her wed
ding. Kansas authorities are after a broth
er of John D. Rockefeller for land
fraud.
John A. Linn, clerk of the Cook
county, Illinois, court, is charged with
embezzling $50,000.
From present indications the dispute
between France and Germany in Mo
rocco cannot be settled.
The Washington railroad commission
may make a stricter ruling on issuing
. passes by railway companies.
Germany is eiasperated because of
her inability to secure a reciprocity
treaty with the United States.
.ine governor of lowa will call a
meeting of the various governors early
in the summer for the purpose of unit
ing on a plan to secure election of
United States senators by the people
Witte is preparing a plan to Bell land
to peasanst. "
Roosevelt denies that he is acting as
dictator to congress.
The pope has advised French Cath
olics to give in to the state.
: uoionei uoiton reports that ptce
has been restored in Santo Domingo.
.twenty -seven bodies nave been re
covered from the wreck of the Valencia.
Seattle people are indignant over the
Valencia investigation and demand a
more rigid inquiry.
Senator Heyburn, of Idaho, is sen
ously ill and an operation for appendi
citis cannot long be delayed.
A cold wave has struck the eastern
portion of the United States. In plac
es the temperature dropped 40 degrees
in 24 hours.
Day of Small Cattlemen Is Near at
Hand in West.
Washington, Feb. 6. The time is
unquestionably coming when congress
will authorize the leasing of that part
of the public domain suitable for graz
ing, but not at the present session.
The tendency of the times is to break
down the large stockmen who have
dominated the public range in times
past and to protect and encourase the
The cattle ba'ron of
the past, like those of his number who
still Burvive, had little interest in the
public welfare. His was a war of ex
termination on the small stockman; he
had no care for the future; he looked
only to the profits of today. The result
has been that, when allowed full
swing, he has demolished all competi
tion, he has ruined the public range,
and has grown rich to some extent at
public expense.
But this order of things is coming to
an end. The Roosevelt administration
no lover of the wanton cattle baron.
NEWS ITEMS OF GENERAL INTEREST
FROM THE STATE OF OREGON
ADD TO RESERVES,
is
It perfers to see the West filled with
small stock owners, for these men be
come citizens, and good citizens; they
have an interest in the public welfare;
they exert an influence for good, and
it is the purpose of the administration
to help them as far as possible. But
the process of evolution must be slow;
it cannot be accomplished in a day.
One of the most effective means of pro
tecting the small stockowner is to adopt
a system of leasing the public grazing
landB and exerting a government con
trol which will preclude monopoly and
give the settler and the small stock-
owner a "square deal" in the parceling
out of the public range. A bill for this
purpose, which in general meets the
approval of the administration, was
drawn and introduced by Representa
tive Lacey, of Iowa, chairman of the
house committee on public lands.
True, it stands little chance of passing
the present congress, because there is a
strong sentiment among certain West
ern senators and representatives against
the leasing of the public domain. It
is a new departure; it is a radical
move, and, while it is bound to come,
the sentiment against it is sufficiently
strong at this time to defeat the Lacey
bill. Bui the bill serves a good purpose
it brings the leasing question before
the public; it will lad to general dis
cussion throughout the West; it will
be instrumental in shaping public sen
timent, and in the end it, or some sim
ilar bill, will go through, and a mater
ial check will be placed upon the oper
ations of the cattle baron. The bill is
the basis of what in time will become
a notorious fight in congress.
PUBLIC WORKS IN HAWAII.
Government Will Soon to Take Action
on Oregon Forests.
Washington The present year is
likely to see several million acrs added
to the forest reserve of Oregon. Up to
this time 6,072,550 acres have been
brought within permanent lorest re
serves, acd 6,908,336 acres additional
have been temporarily withdrawn
Just what part of this latter t.rea is to
become permanent forest reserve and
what part is to be turned back to the
public domain has not been determined
Out of the withdrawals, however,
2,130,400 acres set appart for the Blue
mountain reserve will be placed under
the forest administratoin.
There has been an intimation tnat a
proclamation will soon issue creating
a Rogue river forest reserve in South
western Oregon, for which 1,192,320
acres have been withdrawn. This pro
posed reserve takes in fully half of
Curry and Josephine counties and small
portions of Coos and Douglas. When
originally mapped out, the Rogue river
reserve was deemed impracticable, be
cause the railroad land grant traverses
the area. Now that the lieu land law
is repealed and there is no danger of
lieu land frauds, this objection from
the government standpoint seems to
have been removed.
various withdrawals ot small areas
in Marion, Linn, Lane and Douglas
counties, aggregating 250,040 acres,
have been made with a view to enlarg
ing the Cascade reserve along its west
boundary. It is quite probable that
these tracts will be permanent reserves
The same is true of the withdrawal of
12.000 acres in Clackamas county ad
joining the Cascade reserve.
In Morrow and brant counties a
withdrawal has been made embracing
417,000 acres, which will eventually be
made into the Heppner forest reserve
unless present plans are abandoned.
It has not yet been determined what
disposition shall be made of the Warner
mountain withdrawal, which embraces
2,839,816 acres in Klamath, Lake and
Crook counties. Much of this land,
upon examination, has been found un
fit for forest reserve purposes, and will
probably be turned back to the public
domain, but those portions which are
valuable for timber or as protection to
watersheds are likely to be permanent
ly reserved at some future time. In
addition to the foregoing, 1,280 acres
in Jackson county have been withdrawn
with a view to enlarging the Ashland
reserve and 4,480 acres in Crook county
withdrawn to enlarge Maury mountain
reserve.
PROGRESS ON UMATILLA.
Water Users Sign Contract Is Best
Among Irrigation Plans.
Washington-tOfficials of the recla
mation service are pleased with the
progress being made by the landowners
on the Umatilla irrigation project.
Late advices from the local engineer in
dicate strong interest on the part of the
water users, who have already pledged
13,000 out of the 18,000 acres included
in the project. As most of the legal
difficulties have been adjubted by the
secretary of the interior, it is believed
that no great delay will occur in sign
ing up all the land embraced in this
project.
Although Umatilla is one of the
minor national works in p6int of cost
and acreage, its favorable climate, low
altitude, fertile soil and adaptability to
a wide variety of products makes this
one of the most attractive projects un
dertaken. The land iB suited for orch
J 1 ii i -
aruo auu email iruns, ana. when so
used, from 10 to 20 acres are ample for
tne support of a family. The fruit and
vegetables are the finest on the market
Transportation facilities are excellent
the markets being Portland and Spo
Kane.
The engineering works ara simple
and, while the cost of the water is $60
per acre, it is relatively low. compared
with the values produced. Soil experts
wno nave thoroughly examined the
whoie area are enthusiastic concerning
tne iuture of this section when watered
and predict a populous and prosperous
community here at no distant day.
TEMPEST OF FLAME.
LAWYERS LOBBY
FOR BIG FAT FEE
Snow Is Heavy.
Burns With 24 inches of snow in
the Harney valley, and at places three
feet of it, with the mountain roads
almost impassable on account of the
still heavier snowfall there, stockmen
are anxious concerning the prospects of
getting their stock through the winter.
There is an abundance of hay in the
county, but stock, arw especially sheep,
lose flesh after feeding any length of
time on the wild product of the valley.
In addition to this fact, there is the ap
prehension that a cold snap would prob
ably have an injurious effect.
, The American Smelting trust is buy
ing control in the large copper compan
ies and it is believed a huge trust is
being formed.
The United Mineworkers of America
have decided to call a strike in every
sat April l. The order is expected to
affect 600,000 men and cut off the fuel
supply of the nation.
Hermann has offered a bill to the
house providing for $200,000 for the
construction and maintenance for the
first year of a sea-going dredge for Ore
gon harbors.
Great Britain may institute radical
reforms in her army to please Japan.
Vladivostok rebels have driven out
the Cossacks and enforced an armed
truce.
The annual report of the Philippine
commission shows the island to be in
good condition.
General Chaffee has retired as chief
of staff of the army. He is succeeded
by John C. Bates.
Many bodies are being recovered
from the wreck of the Valencia which
are not being identified.
Fire destroyed an entire block in the
city of Panama. The loss will reach
$500,000, with very little insurance,
Cossacks in Siberia after an armed
conflicth with rebels threw over 1,300
into Lake Baikal through holes in the
ice.
the transport
Three lives
out in
Fire broke
Meade at San Francisco
were lost. The property damage will
not be great.
The First United States infantry has
sailed from New York for the Philip.
pines . The troops
the Suez canal.
will go by way of
It has just been given out that for
the past four years the Equitable Life
Insurance society has insured free the
lives of its 900 employes for $1,000
each.
A suit has been started in Nebraska
to break up a combine of fire insurance
men.
King Frederick, of Denmark, will
work for an alliance with Norway and
b wed en.
A high official in Tifli3, Russia, has
been blown to pieces by a revolution
ary bomb.
The net earnings of the United States
Steel corporation in 1905 total nearly
$120,000,000.
Sbonts says Le canceled the Market
contract for hotels on the canal soce
because there was too great a graft.
The Postal Progress league, at its an
nual meeting in Boston, declared in
favor of consolidation of third and
fourth class mail matter at the third
class rate, I cent for two ounces. This
would reduce general merchandise rates
W per cent.
Delegation Comes to Urge that Cus
toms Money Be Used There.
Washington, Feb. 6. A delegation
of Hawaiian citizens arrived here today
to appear before a committee of con-
gresB to advocate legislation requiring
three-foutbB of the customs duties and
internal revenues collected in the terri
tory to be expended on public works
there.
It is Bftid $1,200,000 a year, equal to
$8 per capita of the population, is
taken out of the territory, which the
members of the. delegation say consti
tutes a heavy drain on its resour-es.
The f members of the delegation include
W.O.Smith, attorney general of the
island before the annexation; George
W. Smith, president of the board of
supervisors ot (Jahu county, in which
Honolulu is situated; Mark B.Robin
son, J. K. Oalt, Ii. A. Mctjuerny, V.
H. Case and A. B. LoebenBtein. W. O.
Smith, the chairman of the commis
sion, in speaking of the visit of the
delegation, tonight, said:
'We ask nothing for the exclusive
benefit of Hawair. We are here to ask
that 75 per cent of the customs duties
and internal revenue collected in the
territory for the next twenty years be
expended on public works. We do not
ask a dollar for our own current ex
penses, lhe only beneht the people of
the islands will reap will be that the
money spent for wages on the proposed
public works will be kept in circulation
in the islands instead of being shipped
in gold to San Francisco.
Initiative Petitions Filed.
Salem The secretary of state has
notified the governor that be has re
ceived and placed on file in his office
two initiative bills, one to abolish toll
roads and for the purchase of the Bar
low road over the Cascade mountains,
and the other for amending the local
option law. Both bills are accom
panied by petitions having the required
number of signatures to insure their
submission to a vote of the people.
The governor must issue a proclama
tion for each bill, to be published in at
least one paper in each j idicial dis
trict. The publication of these pro
clamations costs the state $275 each.
Look for Busy Season.
Baker City In spite of the
heavy
snow, the past week has been lively in
mining circles, especially have the
placer men been active in preparation
for the coming season with the pros
pect of a plentiful supply of water
George W. and Edward Borman have
just put 15 men at work cleaning out
their big ditch near the old Virtue
mine, seven miles east of Baker City
in mat vicinity mere has been more
snow this winter than at any one season
in the 31 years the Bnrmans have been
here.
Even Swap with Italy.
Washington, Feb. 6. A statement
prepared by the secretary of Commerce
and Labor shows that the commerce
between Italy and the United States in
the fiscal year 1905 aggregated $77,-
500,000, almost equally divided be
tween imports and exports. Exports
from the United StateB to Itay the last
fiscal year were valued at $38,740,607.
Imports from Italy in the same year
were valued at $38,628,579. In 30
years our trade with Italy has aggregat
ed considerably more than $1,000,00 ),
000.
Heavy Steel To Be Laid.
Albany The Southern Pacific com
pany has already begun the work of re-
placing tne ngnt steel on its track in
the Willamette valley with heavy 75
pound steel rails, and the distributing
train is scattering the new material
along the company's lines through Linn
county. Before the end of the coming
summer the company expects to have
the entire line through the western
part of the state laid with these heavy
rails.
Order for Coal Strike.
Indianapolis, Feb. 6. It was int
mated at the national headquarters f
the United Mineworkers of America to
day that before the adjournment of the
present sesnon of the executive board.
Secretary-Treasurer W. B. Wilson will
be instructed to prepare a formal strike
order, effective April 1, in order to
void the necessity of reassembling the
board after the adjournment of the
present session. No meeting of the
board was held today.
Japan to Increase Navy.
Tokio, Feb. 6. At a meeting of the
secional budget committee today dele
gates representing the government said
that Japin expected to increase the
tonnage of her navy to 400.000 tons for
tbe fiscal year 1900-7.
Feed Cattle On Beet Pulp.
La Grande Grandy & Russell, the
butcher firm, are feeding 1,000 head of
cattle this winter, mostly for their own
ose. A great deal of sugar beet pulp is
nseu, also a large quantity of hay.
Ten men are employed eteadily in feed
ing and caring for the stock. Five
teams are engaged in hauling beet pulp
ana tnree wagons are used in hauling
hay.
To Prospect for Oil.
Eugene J. W. Zimmerman and C.
F. Mitchell, of this city, who are work
ing op a coal prospect ten miles south
west of Eugene, are preparing articles
of incorporation and will organize a
joint stock company immediately to
work the property. They have struck
, 1 m . .
vein oi coai wnicn tney say promises
well. They also announce that they
win Dore i.uimj leet or more in hope of
striking oil.
Minors Smoke Cigarettes.
Eugene The members of tbe Loval
Temperance league, recently organized
V. I A - 1 . . . .
iicic, uc uttni np ne mauer oi en
forcing the law against giving and sell
Traffic Resumes.
Sumpter The severe weather which
has visited this section for several days
past has at last subsided, and business
conditions as a consequence are assum
ing a more normal tone. Roads are in
better shape and sleighing is good
again. lhe Bumpter ValJey railway
trains are still somewhat delayed in
making the round trip from here to
Austin and return, and almost every
day are several hours late in making
connections at Baker City.
Land Money Divided.
Salem Secretary of State Dunbar
has apportioned the 5 per cent land
sales fund among the several counties
of the state. This fund was received
from the United States government and
constitutes 5 per cent of the proceeds of
sales of government land in Oregon for
1905. The apportionment is made
upon the basis of the acreage of the
several counties. The amount is $28,
212.37.
Macadamize Milton Street.
Milton Arrangements are being
made to macadamize Mam street as far
as the depot and on to connect with the
road that will be macadamized from
Walla Walla to Freewater and Milton.
This will be done in the early spring
Great Fire Devours Elevator, Wheat
and Horses in St. Louis.
St. Louis, Feb. 5. Fire, which orig
inated in the Union Grain elevator in
East St. Louis, 111., last night, after
completely destroying that structure,
spread to surrounding buildings and
freight cars iu the yards of the Termin
al association, and caused damage esti
mated at $1,250,000 before its progress
was checked. At an early hour this
morning the flames were still casting a
ruddy glare, but it is believed that the
fire is well under control, and there is
little further danger of its spreading.
A detailed estimate of the losses fol
lows: Union elevator, $300,000; grain in
hVrB its nnn 7Z iiT Washington, Feb. 3.-An attempt of
500, feed, $3,000; Waters Pierce Oil certain lawyers to hold up the Colville
company, $5,000; seven dwellings, $7,- Indians for $150,000 cash is apt to de
000; 20 box cars, $20,000; total, $1,- feat the bill now pending in congress to.
Attempt to Get $150,000 for Nego
tiating Sale of Land. .
Opening of South Half of Colvilla
Reservation May Be Defeated by
Effo.t to Revive Expired Contract
With Indians Hitchcock Stands.
In the Way.
316,500.
The fire originated in a brick engine
houBe, 30 feet away from the elevator
proper, and was discovered by the
night watchman. Before the arrival of
the fire department, the flames had
spread to the elevator. ' Assistance-was
sent from St. Louis, and the efforts of
the firemen were principally directed
toward preventing the file from spread
ing to adjoining elevators and ware
houses, the Union elevator having been
converted into a furnrce within a few
minutes alter it caught fire.
The heavens were brightly illumi
nated and it is estimated that 50,000
persons viewed the fire from both banks
of the Mississippi river and the bridge.
Seven dwellings were covered by
burning oil by the explosion of four
tank cars and entirely destroyed. The
occupants, however, were either outside
viewing the conflagration, or were able
to escape before the flames consumed
their homes.
PICKING UP THE VICTIMS.
United States Revenue Cutters Are
Cruising Off the Straits.
Victoria, B. C, Feb. 5. A special
dispatch to tbe Associated Press from
Bamfield tonight says the United States
cutter Perry landed a party at Darling
creek today and succeeded in getting
open the south half of their reservation
and pay tbe Colville Indians $1,500,
000 for the land which they relinquish
ed in the north half of the reservation
ten years ago. These lawyers have
been itching for many years to get ft
large slice of money which they believ
ed the government would pay the In
dians, but so far have not succeeded,
because congress has never made an ap
propriation to pay for the Colville land.
Back in 1894, Acting Secretary of the
Interior Simms approved a contract be
tween the Indians and Marsh & Gor
don, under which the latter were to se
cure the passage of a bill through con
gress paying the Indians $1,500,000,
the lawyers, in turn, to receive a fee
amounting to 10 per cent, but this con
tract expired in ten years, and, when
the lawyers sought to have it renewed,
Secretary Hitchcock put his foot down
and refused to permit the Indians to
become involved in any such deal.
Ex-Senator Marion Butler, of North
Carolina, and Hugh Gordon, of the old
law firm, are now lobbying before con
gress in behalf of securing an appro
priation of'$l, 500,000, and then pull
ing down a fat fee of 10 percent of that
amount. Mr. Butler became an at
torney in the case by assignment, and
has been pusy on the Colville bill for
a year or two, though not invited to
take a hand by any member of the
Washington congressional delegation.
Only last year Mr. Butler appeared
nine bodies from tbe beach, and also
took off Lieutenant Gromville and six before the smate committe in advocacy
men let there the previous night. The of this bill, aude, when questioned, as
PORTLAND MARKETS.
72c;
Wheat Club, 70c; bluestem,
red, 68c; valley, 73c.
Oata No. 1 white feed, $28; gray,
$27 per ton.
Barley Feed, $2323.50 per ton;
brewing, $23 5024; rolled, $2425.
Buckwheat; $2.25 percental.
Hay Eastern Oregon timothy,
$13.5014 per ton; valley timothy,
$910; clover, $7.508; cheat, $78;
grain hay, $78.
Fruits Apples, common, 75c$l
per box; choice, il.Zd(gl.oU; fancy,
$2(32.50; pears, $1.251.50 per box;
cranberries, $13 13.50 per barrel.
Vegetables Beans, 20c per pound;
cabbage, 22.jc per pound; cauliflow
er, $1.85 crate; celery, $3.50 per crate;
pease, 1215c per pound; bell pep
pers, doc per pound; pumpkins, (gilc
per pound; sprouts, 6 7c per pound
squash, l)lcper pound; turnips
uuccgsi per sac k: carrots, too(goc per
sack; beets, 8oc$l per sack.
Onions Oregon, No. 1, $1.101.25
per sack; No. 2, 70c$l.
Potatoes Fancy graded Burbanks
65c per hundred; ordinary, 50c
sweet potatoes, 22Jc per pound.
Butter Fancy creamery, 2732J
per pound.
Eggs Oregon ranch, 2324c per
dozen.
Poultry Average old bens, ll12c
per pound-, springs, ll12c; mixed
chickens, 10(310,'c; broilers, 15(3I7c
dressed chickens, 1314c; turkeys,
live, 1617c; turkeys, dressed, choice,
1820c; geese, live, 3l0c; geese,
dressed, 1214c; ducks, 16018c.
Hops Oregon, 1905, choice, 10(31 lc
per pound; prime, 89c: medium,
78c; olds, 57c.
Wool Eastern Oregon average best,
1621c per pound; valley, 24 26c;
mohair, choice, 30c.
Feef Dressed balls, 22Vc per
pound; cows, 34Jc; country
steers, 4 (3 5c.
Veal Dressed, 38c per pound.
Mutton Dressed, fancy, 88)c
per pouna; ordinary, ($; tamos,
Perry also picked np one male body at
sea, badly decomposed.
The United States Hteamer Grant also
found a male body badly decomposed
and unrecognizable. This is the 30th
body recovered. The 11 bodies have
been landed at Bamfield and will be
shipped to Victoria by a tug leaving to
morrow morning. All the bodies have
now been taken from the shore at Dar
ling creek, but the Bearchers will re
main in the hope that some others may
come ashore. It is feared, however,
that those now coming ashore will be
in such bad condition that they will be
unrecognizable.
The tug Wyadda brought eight bod
ies, five that were picked up by the
Perry on Friday and three taken from
the beach at Darling creek, a landing
having been effected from the Wyadda
this morning in a dory. The majority
are in a badly decomposed condition,
some with parts of the head and skull
missing. Both the revenue cutters
Perry and Grant will remain cruising
near the wreck in search of other bodies
that may be found floating.
to his rights in the premises, declared
that he and other lawyers were acting
under an approved contract with the
Indians. Yet at the same time he
made that statement, the contract had
been void for more than a year.
Mr. Butler, it is learned, takes the
position that the old contracts are stilt
in force, notwithstanding that thev
have not been renewed by Mr. Hitchcock.
SOON TO TRY FRAUDS.
BLIZZARD SWEEPS DAKOTAS.
24
Mercury Falls 65 Degrees in
Hours Railroads Blockaded.
Grand Forks, N. D., Feb. 5. One of
the most severe blizzards of the winter
is raging in this state. While there
has been only a slight enowfall here,
the western part of the state has had
a general and heavy snowfall. The
wind has blown a gale all day and
night, and no trains have arrived from
the west since morning. At midnight
the storm was unabated, and it promis
es to tie up railroad traffic badly.
Dead wood, 1 8. D., Feb. 5. A high
wind and driving snow all day has
broken the eummer weather here, the
mereury fal.mg 65 degress in the last
24 hours. Tonight the thermometer
registers 10 below zero.
Heney Says He Will Prosecute Her
mann Among the First.
San Francisco, Feb. 3. Francis J.
Heney is engaged in mapping out
plans for the continuation of the land
fraud prosecuions in Portland. For
th ree days he has denied himself to
callers at his office, but today stated
that he had not completed his arrange
ments. He is confident, however, that
he will he able to reach all the offend
ers who have not yet been brought to
justice. The disappearance of S. A. D.
Puter, Horace McKinley, Marie Ware .
McKinley and Emma L. Watson does
not worry him greatly.
"lean get. along without the four
perpla mentioned in probably every
p ndin? case except one," remarked
Mr. Heney today, "but I believe we
will locate most of them. I know
where Marie Ware McKinley is. She
is in San Francisco, and I have every
reason to believe does not intend to re
fuse to be a witness again. I under
stand Horace G. McKinley has gone to
the Orient, deserting his wife, Marie
Ware McKinley."
Mr. Heney added that he will, in a
day or two, be able to announce his
plans. It is known that, while in
Washington, he promised President
Roosevlt that the case against Con
gressman Binger Hermann would be
one of the first taken up.
ing tobacco to minors. They announce
that the first one caught violating the. 7a7c.
law will be arrested and fined. I Pork Dressed. 637c per pound.
Baltic-Black Sea Canal.
St. Petersburg, Feb. 5. An Ameri
can named Wendell Jackson has a pro-
ect for linking the Duna and Dnieper
rivers by a canal near Vitebsk and
forming an international waterway from
the Baltic sea to thn Black sea. Tbe
plan is seriously thought of in some
quarters and a committee was estab
lished today and authorized to examine
and make a report on the matter,
though, owing to the financial situa
tion, there is no prospect of immediate
further action being taken in the matter.
Will Not Sell Telegraph.
Washington, Feb. 5. The secretary
of war has turned down ajproposal made
by tbe local telephone company of Nome
to take over the entire government tele
graph system of Alaska on condition
that it shall operate the same and
transmit government businen free of
cost for the next 25 years. The depart
ment is not ready to dispose of the gov
ernment telegraph system, but when it
decides to take this step, will not sell
it for less than its actual valne.
Many New Rural Routes.
Washingtor, Feb. 5. According to
the report of Fourth Assistant Post
master General De Graw, 271 rural de-
iverr routes were established during
January. Of the 3,468 applications
for routes now pending, 22 have been
assigned for establishment.
Deficit Nearly Wiped Out.
Washington, Feb. 3. The monthly
statement of the government receipts
and expenditures issued today shows a
condition of the treasury which is emi
nently satisfactory to the authorities.
Or e year ago today there was a deficit
of over $28,500,000, which has now
been reduced to less than $3,400,000,
with the prospect that this amount will
be entirely wiped out within the next
30 days. This improved condition is
due almost entirely to a lsrge increase
in customs and internal revenue re
ceipts. Imports Double in Seven Years.
Washington, Feb. 3. The imports)
into the United States have practically
doubled in value in the last seven
years, according to a bulletin issued by
the bureau of Statistics in the depart
ment of Commerce and Lalior. In the
calendar year 1905 the imports aggre
gated in value $1,179,000,000, as
against $635,000,000 in the calendar
year 1898. The increace in importa
tions is distributed through all classes
and all articles of merchandise.
Military Reserves in Hawaii.
Washington, Feb. 3. The president
by proclamation has set aside certain
lands at or near Diamond Head and at
Kupikipikio and at Punchbowl Hill, in
the territory of Hawaii, for military
purposes, until it can be determined
by actnal survey what portions of the
land described will be required for
permanent military reservations.