f1
Hcppncr Gazette
Issued Thursday of Each Week
HEPPNER OREGON
RESUME OF THE
WEEK'S DOINGS
General Review of Important Hap
penings Presented in a Brief and
Comprehensive Manner for Busy
Readers National, Political, His
torical and Commercial.
Manv political exiles of Venezuela
are returning to their homes.
Lis African trip be fears is the fever,
It is believed American Ambassador
Griseoiu will resign his post at Home.
Henry W. Poor, a loading Wall street
Lrokor, has assigned. His liabiut
Mill reach $5,000,000.
(.astro has witnessed what to him is
a unique spectacle a snowstorm and
skating on natural ice.
Covernor Hughes has appointed a
commission to investigate the New
CUBANS IN CONTROL.
Evacuation by American Army Begins
New Years Day.
Havana, Dee. 29 New Year's day
will witness the beginning of the evac
uation of Cuba by the army of pacifl
cation, which has been in possession of
the island since the begiuning of the
provisional government, in October,
1!HU. The first provisional regiment of
marines, numbering 900, which will be
among the first troops to leave, are now
conccntratinir from various posts at
Camp Columbia.
About half this regiment will sail in
January on the cruiser Trairie, which
arrived here Christmas eve. bound for
Newport News. The Prairie will return
about the middle of the month and
embark the remainder. The final em-
Roosevelt says the only thing about k;irkation will not occur until April 1.
The embarkation will be effected with
as little ceremony as possible and it is
probable that their departure will be
made with as little notice as marked
their landing. The purpose in deferring
the departure of a portion of the 17th
Infantry until April 1 has been the
subject of considerable speculation, but
it is believed this was agreed upon at
a conference between Governor Ma-
goon and President-elect Gomez. It is
York produce and cotton exchanges.
Chicago contractors who have been not thought to be a measure of pre
in the habit of giving presents to city caution, for which not the slightest
officials at Christmas time this year necessity is apparent, but it probably
had their gifts returned. is for the purpose of keeping the bar-
Gomez' power as ruler of Venezuela eks and quarters in gooci omer urn
is finally established. Manv suits have PsslbIe to tunl over to. the t,lbun
will lose $2,000,000 by the turn of af
fairs.
model eamp for oeeupa
tion by the new permanent army under
command of General Pino Guerrera, the
nucleus of which will be formed, it is
Plans are all complete for the arrest intended, with the present corps of Cu-
of about 40 more Pittsburg grafters. h,an artillery and 1,000 members of the
The railroads are aiding the movement, Rurai Guard.
NEWS NOTES GATHERED FROM
VARIOUS PARTS OF OREGON
REDUCE BAG DUTY.
them than to
has
dis-
as it is cheaper to oust
pay their price.
The bank at Monrovia. Cal.,
lost $29,000, which mysteriously
appeared.
One man was killed and three per
sons injured in an automobile wreck
in California.
Christmas was celebrated all over
the United States by lavish gifts and
feasts to poor.
The bribery of Pittsburg council
men by bankers has been taken up by
the government.
A crazy French Royalist tried to
pull President Fallieres' beard,
was promptly arrested.
An appeal may be made to Taft to
pardon Gompers, Mitchell and Morn
son in case their appeal tails.
CASTRO THE LOOTER.
and
Claus Spreckels, the sugar king, is rich himself
Unknown Ten Years Ago, Now Prom
inent World Figure.
"Washington. Dec. 29. Since Cipria-
1 . . . T" 1.. 1...
no Castro, president oi ene.uiiu, uao
left his country but slight regret over
his departure and subsequent vieissi
tudes have been expressed on the part
of t he people over whom lie has tyr-
mnized and whom he has impoverished.
Since 1S09, when, at the head of a rev
olutionary army, he drove his predeees-
sor, I'resident Anuraae, irom me capi
tal and made himself absolute ruler of
Venezuela, Castro seems to have had
but one obejet in view, namely, to en-
And in this he has sue-
critically ill at his home in San Fran
cisco, and it is feared he cannot sur
vive.
The Chicago saloon question may
be put to a reierendum vote next
April. The anti-saloon element is
gaining in strength.
Oklahoma prisoners, who are con
fined in the Kansas penitentiary, com- ing vast
plain ot cruel treatment and an inves
tigation is to be made.
i-eeueii to an amusing tAirui.
Naturally no person knows, nor can
an estimate be made or me we.om
which Castro has garnered at the ex
pense of the poor and rich alike among
the Venezuelans. It is pretty definitely
known that for vears he has been semi-
sum of money to England,
ml fliis fact lends color to the beliei
that his departure lor r.urope, osten
si lily to consult a noieu pn siciau uw
cerninjr a serious maiaav, was oniy an
other of his tricks, perpetrated in order
safely to escape from the country
Fx-nress comnanies were swamoed which cxnects to see him no more.
with Christmas business.
A boy of 15 is under arrest at Mount
Clement, Mich., charged with stealing
at least $30,000 from postoftice boxes.
He was caught while cashing a check.
Cosgrove has so far recovered that
lie is able to walk a little.
Count Eoni de Castellane lost his
suit for possession of his children.
Harriman has been reported ill,
but his physician says it was only a
slight bilious attack.
The monitor Wyoming, now at
Mare Island navy yard, will be
changed to the Cheyenne.
Fire in Brooklyn drove hundreds
into the streets, destroying an entire
block of property, valued at $1,000,-
000.
Ten years ago Castro was practically
unknown. Born ot obscure parents in
the province of San Antonio in 18(50,
he grew up practically without educa
tion.
RELIEF WORK IS ENDED.
Committee and Red Cross Society to
Go Out With Old Year.
San Francisco, Dec. 29. "With the
end of the old year, the San l raneisco
Relief and lied Cross society, which
has handled $9,500,000 in contributions
since t ho rreat fire, will tro out of ex-
The steamer Stork sank in Hudson istenco. 1 ins huge sum as uistmnueu
K, f,t-incr itmvn a rarcro nf fur val- at an expense ot 2-i per cent, .eariy
ned at SI. 500.000. The crew all es- moo.ooo is lett.
Gilliam County Farmers Think Rate
Is Too High.
Condon.- The executive committee
of the Gilliam County Improvement
association has named January (5 as
the day for the big booster meeting
to be held in this city in behalf of the
experimental farm and the advertis
ing in general of the resources of Gil
liam county. Tlie meeting is to' lie
held during the sessions of the cir
cuit and county court, wiien a num
ber of prominent speakers will be here
to present their views on securing tlie
location of tlie experimental dry farm
station in this county. At the meet
ing of the executive committee were
present D. H. Thomas, president, Con
don; Charles H. Horner, secretary,
Condon; George H. Dukck, treasurer,
Mayville: J. L. Hlalock. Arlington;
Oscar Maley, Ferry Canyon; r.d
Palmer, Aiax.
It was decided to circulate a pe
tition among the taxpayers ot the
county to secure the names ot all
those who were in favor of a U-mill
tax to cover the expenses of buying
land and buildings for the experiment
station. Mr. Hlalock suggested that
those signing the petition should set
opposite tneir names tne amount ot
property on which they were paying
taxes, which would show how many
were interested in the movement.
Another important question dis
cussed was tlie renate on gram nags.
It was decided to circulate a petition
among the ranchers, to be sent to the
congressman ot this district, asking
him to work for the reduction of duty
on sacks. It is estimated that the
past year the farmers of this county
paid out $20,000 more than necessary
on grain bags, on account of the high
tariff.
Free Courses of Lectures.
Winter short courses of study will
begin at Agricultural college, Corval
lis. Or. on January."). Men and women,
young and old, interested in the farm,
the shop, or the home, are cordially
invited to attend. l!y writing at once
to the Agricultural college a circular
will be sent telling in detail what is
proposed to be accomplished by these
courses. A week of lectures on general
agricultural topics begins January .". A
special course for creamery operators
and managers runs from January 5
to l."; a course in dairying from Jan
uary IS to March 27; a course in hor
ticulture, January 11 to February 20;
a course in mechanic arts from Jan
uary 11 to February 20; a course in
road construction from January 11
to February (i; a course in household
science and art from January 11 to
February :o. Special leetures'nn bus
iness methods on the farm will be
given.
Irrigators Use Too Much Water.
Freewatcr. That water is wasted in
irrigating orchards and crops in this
vicinity, and that it is made to take
the place of proper cultivation, is
charged in tlie trial of the case of the
Peacock Mill company against ;!tid cit
izens residing along the Walla Ya!l;
and Tumalum rivers, which is before
Judge I'.ean. of the district court, and
wnl likely take up several (lays Wit
nesses have been introduced to show
that farmers arc using to,, much
water, placing it too frequently on
their crops, and keeping the soil in
such muddy condition that proper cul
tivation cannot be given the land.
TO HAVE COOLING PLANT.
Across Continent Skipments Can Be
Made From Salem.
Salem. Fruitgrowers are jubilant
over the announcement that a cooling
plant will be erected to handle the
cherry and berry crops of l'to1.), 1
G. Dcckebach, of the Salem ice works,
announced at a meeting of the fruit
growers that his company will erect
a plant with about a seven carload
capacity, and have it ready for opera
turn this year. It will be constructed
in such a manner that it can be en
largeu to meet ititure needs, ine es
tablishment of a cooling plant will
enable growers to ship fresh fruit
across the continent safely.
i ne meeting ot lruitgrowers was
held under the auspices of the Marion
County Horticultural society. Horti
cultural Commissioner V. K. Newell
was the principal speaker. His ad
dress dealt almost entirely with mar
keting problems.
II. M. Williamson of the state
board of horticulture, delivered an ad
dress upon the future of the apple in
dustry. In a very exhaustive discus
sion Mr. Williamson declared that
though large additions are being made
to the apple producing area, there is
no danger of overproduction.
HARNESS DESCHUTES.
Proposed Project Will Benefit Farm
ing in Wasco and Sherman.
The Dalles. The construction of a
large power plant on the Deschutes
river, near Sherar's bridge, has been
commenced by the Interior Develop
ment company. If present plans are
carried out. it will mean a great deal
toward the development of Wasco and
Sherman counties. Notices of appro
priation of water have been filed in
the county clerk's office. A force of
about I.) or l'o men is at work on the
proposed canal. .
A dam o feet high will be built 1(500
feet above the falls of the Deschutes,
and from this a canal 85 feet wide and
:;." feet deep will convey the water for I
two-thirds ot the distance to the site
of the proposed plant. The water will
be conveyed the remainder of the dis
tance in eight parallel pipes, each 11
feet in diameter. A fall of 105 feet
can be secured. With the immense
volume of water an enormous horse
power can be developed.
It is estimated by engineers that
sufficient water can be thrown into
Sherman county to irrigate the entire
'county. At the end of the pipe line a
power house will be built and hydro
electric machinery installed.
M. A. Moody and other prominent
capitalists are back of the proposition.
The force of men is soon to be
doubled, and when the winter is over
hundreds- of men will be put to work.
NEW LIGHT ON HISTORY.
Stanford Professor Finds Key to An
cient Writings.
Stanford University, Cal., Dec. 28
The key which bares the secrets so long
hidden behind tho Etruscan and old
Italic inscriptions has at last been dis
covered by Professor George llempl
tho holder of the philological chair at
Stanford university, and the manners
customs and history of a people today
practically unknown may bo read in
the futuro as in a book.
Experienced in his investigations of
old German inscriptions and rules
Professor Hempl was able to accom
plish in a single night the feat under-
taitcn oy scienco ages ago and never
before pushed to a successful conclu
sion. Members of tho faculty who were
present at tho lecture of Dr. Hempl be
foro the Stanford Phililogical associa
tion today declared that the discovery
is a veritable triumph and will have
far-reaching results. It will necessi
tate a re stating of ancient Homan his
tory and it will throw a flood of light
on many disputed facts of Latin gram
mar and etvmology.
It has been tho generally accepted
view among historians that the Etrus
cans were an element entirely foreign
to their neighbors, the Hotnans. This
theory is entirely and conclusively over
turned by Professor Hempl, whose in
vestigations prove a great similarity
between the Koman ami Etruscan lan
guages and make possible only one eon
elusion, that the Etruscans and Romans
sprang from one race, which, follow
ing the old legend, wandered to Italy
from Troy after the fall of that great
ity. thus Virgil a hneid is substan
tiated by scientific proof. Dr. Hempl 's
discovery is yet in its infancy. Out of
8,000 inscriptions he has read but 50,
yet the little work he has done has
been sufficient to convince him that the
old idea of distinct races is entirely
erroneous.
TOTAL EXPOSURE
OF BEEF PACKERS
QUICKSAND IN FOUNDATION.
is lett, which win ne Trans
ferred to various charities. 1 he so-
eiety not only too ana lougoa inousuiiun
for several months after the fire, but
it has provided 8,000 permanent homes
for 30,000 people and has established
a permanent home ror t lie aged ami in
firm at a cost of $.175,000. Of the
money contributed. .ew inrK gave
750,000 and Illinois $Go0,000.
caped.
The receiver of the old Panama
Canal company declares the story of
graft in the purchase of the property
by the government a table.
Ex-Senator Clark, of Montana, re
membered his employees at Christ
mas bv trivintr them turkeys. Between
10.000 and 12,000 birds were neces-
Sdr- Poison Sauad Test
Fire destroyed a great tenement San Francisco, Dee. 20. A campaign
building on West 127th street, ISew experiments calculated to demon-
ork. A number ot people were in- U-trate bevond anv doubt whether su
iured and it is feared some were ri lr dioxide, as used at present in this
killed. state in the preparation of dried fruit,
harmful to the human system, has
' . . . i 1 i n ..,, wn e A V, r tlm lnn) mmllnl
. . ; , tit, r .ith Van Sa vsnnr. iil-cn iii.iui;uior.i i"'- i-f-
...v.. ' , ..! P tl.o
I nw'M Him cnt'inim. an a ii-mt hi mo
A shortage of over $7,000,000 in the long .stan,ing controversy between the
pure-food authorities at Washington
and tlie dried fruit packers of Cali
ti, t-mpcn rtVt is in session. A fornia. A "poison smiad has been
j in. j uj.... : . . . .' . . . , .
memher of the Constitutional party selected and it is proposed to use in
-ac fWtpd sneaker. own familiar weapons against Dr. liar
!.' v-x-.vs-.s I A
..... t... j .)... .u.. vcv . Wiley
1 ne supreme conn nas ucoucu mm
t A.irr.1oc tins tlip richt to regulate
linnor establishments. Shortnana ecora mane.
,, , .,, , c San Francisco. J)ec. 2!. Huth Ulsn,
Ihr cruiser tiunaio win leave oan
Vr:mrisrn rarlv in January with a bat- a
n',,, r.f mirinps officers and men for established a new world record for her
Honolulu. afro for rapid shorthand writing. In
. . . .In test l.efore Superior .Iiiclfe Thomas F
T l.n.lrArl Ii r.ii c -i i A ( hinnoV snl- ' . .. , .
i mi. i.iv-.j i.. .......... - .- - Ulrahain. the L'irl wrote .id words in
mon ergs nave Deen snipped iron, w c niinnt(.. ,, ra,j the same eor
government naicnery ai neuuuig, wi.,
Richland Land Price Soaring.
Richland. --FoMthill land under (lite!
skirting tlie north sido of K.u-le v.-il
ley is attracting the attention of home.
seekers and speculators. Several Inner.-,
were in the valley last wevk. look
ing over this land. Some of these
fields a'ong the foothills have neer
been eultivated, but owing to their
elevation above the valley thev are
winner and better adapted' for rai-ii'"
l .1 n... i-
ouii iii.iii mi- v.uiey nseii. 1 lie
oi i.ii- i a no is ;m acre
it could be bought for .-f'.Vi, ai;
daily rising in value.
price
.-ist ye-ir
11 l-
. .i i
citv s money has Deen unearmeu
Lisbon, Portugal.
Bold Robbery at Freewater.
Freewatcr. A bold robberv was
ff.UHill,,,! 1 1 I. , '
. ....... 1 1 iv u iiv.iv u iieii ine residence or
Mrs. A. A. Jinidy was broken int.,
and -i::o in valuable old coin- taken.
I runks were forced open, their con
tents strewn on the floor and a draw
er containing jewelry of Mrs. Rrady
was pilfered, valuable rings be-'ng in
cluded. Footsteps were discernible in
the soft soil surrounding the house
.-Mid bloodhounds from the Walla
Walla Walla penitentiary are be
ing engaged. It is expected arrests
will follow in a few days.
. Part of General Scheme.
The winter course is a part of a
general scheme of agricultural exten
sion which the agricultural college
faculty is working for. Traveling ag
ricultural and domestic science
schools, farmers' institutes, demon
stration trains, free circulating li
braries, home reading courses, winter
courses, and free bulletins are all
j features of a comprehensive system
of extension work that the Agricul
tural coliege faculty has recommended
! to President Roosevelt's uplift cmi
i mission.
I Fine for Violating Game Laws.
Eugene. Judge liryson fined Clar
ence E. Warden and his nephew. Til
den Warden. ."jO each for a violation
!ot the state game law in regard to
ideer. At the same time he sent Al-jk-n
Warden, another nephew, under
17 years of age. to the reform school
authorities. Warden and his two
nephews live in I. inn county. It ap
peared that they have been killing
deer and selling the meat and hides
The case w;.s brought bv Game War
den George Holcomb.
PORTLAND MARKETS.
Feed, $27 per ton; brewing,
Unstable Soil Adds $500,000 to Cost
of Northwestern Depot.
Chicago, Dee. 28 A stratum of
treacherous (luicksand undoi'lvim the
site ot the new $20,000,000 station of
the Chicago & Northwestern railroad,
now under construct ion, will add about
500,000 to the cost of tho structure.
owing to the increased difficulty of
sinking the foundation pillars. This
information has been given to the
railroad company by the Ueorge A.
Fuller company, which has in turn been
told to go ahead with the construction
of the building at any cost.
Interesting pneumatic processes are
now being used to overcome the diffi
culties presented by the unstable soil.
Mutineers say that Chicago soil is alive
with quicksand in the territory about
the river banks. Two engineering ex
perts who handled the situation in New
York at the laying of two big river
tunnels of the subway, when quicksand
there furnished the gravest engineering
prolilem of the kind in the history of
America, were called by telegraph and
are at work solving the prolilem pre
District Attorney Sims Declares Aim
of Present Inquiry.
Possible Existence of Price Agree
ment to Be Looked Into as Well
as Shipping Rates Great Secrecy
Being Maintained by Government
Attorneys.
Chicago, Dec. 2(5. Nothing less,
than a complete exposure of the meth
ods of the beef trust is contemplated
by District Attorney S nits in the pres
ent grand jury investigation which is
being carried out with the aid of spe
cial agents of the interstate commerce
commission.
It developed today that, in addition
to the inquiry in regard to shipping;
rates and possible rebates, to which
the work of the interstate commerce
commission and its agents is confined,
a number ot secret service operatives,
who work directly under the depart
ment of justice, have been looking
into another phase of the packing industry.
these officials have been trvimr to.
determine whether tacit agreements.
between packers as to the fixing of
prices and the division of territory for
distribution have been in systematized
operation. The sweeping nature of
the inquiry was indicated today in the
first positive statement made bv Mr
Sims since the investigation started.
I Ins is no mere fishing expedition
as has been said by some critics of
the department." declared the district
attorney. "We know what we are go
ng after, if we are not permitted hv
the nature of the inquiry to state what
is. e arc now mere v starting
it
little
road:
we can unearth some
which would be of value
as a basis for a new and
sive investigation, there is nothing
vague or indetinite about this inquiry,
and it has a purpose which 1 am not
permitted to disclose."
case, in which packers or rail-
are concerned in the hope that
inforinatii n
or be useful
more exten-
RAILROADS FOR OREGON.
!i'ift!i7c: club,
Russian, KSc; 40
to the Argentine Republic.
King Manuel, of Portugal, has
charged Dr. W. Desperca de Lima, ex
minister of foreign affairs, to form a
cabinet, the success of which, how
ever, is doubtful.
The supreme court of California has
denied a petition for a rehearing of
the case of Mrs. Cornelia Botkin, now
servir.g a life sentence for sending
poisoned candy through the mail.
Chiefs of the native tribes of Ger
man Samoa are planning an uprising
against the home government.
reetlv. Miss Olson s record is consid
ered phenomenal, as mo m.itu-r reau in
:ind written bv her was taken trnm a
transcript of proceedings taken from
the court files.
Natives Desire Opium.
Amoy, Dec. 29. Orders were issued
Saturday to a number of natives at
Tun nan. 20 miles north of Amoy. to
cease planting opium poppies. They
declined to acquiesce, and a riot fol
lowed, in which one officer and ten
civilians were killed. The populace at
Tungan is up in arms and 500 troops
have been sent there to restore order.
Irrigate Molalla Section.
Oregon City. A move toward the
inauguration of summer irrigation on
a large scale in the Willamette valley
is indicated by the organization of the
Canby Canal company, which has
tded articles of incorporation in the
county clerk s office. The company
is a close corporation, with a r.-initnl
!. . J- - 1 .
ioi k oi .-s.i.w-Mi. ;iiki proposes to irri
gate about .".000 acres of land in
Clackamas county, taking water from
the Molalla river for the purposes.
Ontario Is Next.
Ontario At the Oregon state irri
gation convention held at I'.akcr City.
Judge Stephen A. Lowell, of Pendle
ton, was e'ected president, and Wal
ter Griffeth director in charge of the
Malheur Water Users' association,
was chosen secretiry. Ontario was
named as the next meeting place of
the congress. The meeting will take
place in September. 1!0!t.
Site for La Grande Postoffice.
I.a Grande. The site of the new
$",.-,. ooo federal building promised I.a
Grande has been sele- ted. according
to information received. The site cost
over SViOO, .-md is located on the main
street, where thc J. M. Lerry resi
dence now stands.
ISarlcy-
?2s
Wheat li'uestt tn
(He; fife. (He; red
fold. O.'Ic; valley, 01c.
Oats 'o. 1 white. $:!lrtri;i2 per ton.
II ay Timothy, Willamette Valley,
Jll per ton; Kastern Oregon tim
othy, .sHi.Vl'V 17; clover, $12; alfalfa.
'.l( FJ; grain hay, 2ru l.'i.
Fruits Apples, 7'ctf; $2.75 per box;
pears, $lf7 .1.75 per box; grapes, O.lctff
$1.50 per crate; quinces, $K 1.25 per
box; cranberries, 15 per barrel;
persimmons, $K7 1.25.
Potatoes swri !0c per cwt.; sweet
potatoes. 2 ft, '2 Jc per pound.
Onions 1.25 per 100 pounds.
Vegetables 1 urmps, $1.2.) per
sack; carrots, $1; parsnips, $1.25; beets,
$1.50; horseradish. Hdt toe per pound;
artichokes, !iOc'ri$l dozen; beans, 15W
174c per pound; cabbige, iK'li'c per
pound; cauliflower, 75cV$l per dozen;
celery. $4. 5or; 4.75 per crate; cucum
bers, $22.50 per box; egg plant, 11c
per pound; lettuce. 75c(V; I per box;
parsley, ::0c per dozen; peas, 12c per
pound: peppers, 15W 20c per pound;
pumpkins, '(t 1 c per pound; radishes.
:;0c per dozen; spinach. 2c per pound;
sprouts. Ut 10c per pound; squash.
(o lc per pound; tomatoes. $1.75.
Butter City creamery, extras. ::r.r;
37c; fancy outside creamery, :'Z0i'.jc
per pound; store. 1 Mi 20c.
Kggs Oregon ranch, 40'?42jc;
Kastern, :w((i?,:c per dozen.
Poultry liens. lOfrillc per pound;
spring, large, 0Gt 11c; small. ?,Ci)
Fljc; mixed, lojc; ducks, 15rK,c;
geese, 10. fi 10'c; turkeys, 17'r; isc
dressed turkeys. 20'r 25c.
Veal Fxtra. (Vd 10c per pound; or
dinary. "friSc; heavy, 5c.
Pork Fancy, "tic per pound; large,
C(i c.
Mutton 5f.Cc per pound.
Russia Approves Deal.
St. Petersburg, Dec. 2 S. Foreign
Minister Iswolsky met with a favora
ble reception in the dotima today when
he presented the annual statement of
Russia's foreign policy. He referred
with warm approval to the Japanese
American agreement, which he said
guaranteed the open door in the Far
Mast arid the integrity of China, and
the terms of which were communicated
to liussia before it was signed. The
rest of M. Iswolsky h speech shed no
light on mooted questions, nor gave
any substance ot the Russian proposals
regarding the annexation of Bosnia and
Herzegovina by Austria.
New Geyser May Result.
Virginia City, Mont., Dec. 2S. Thirty
e.-'it hquakes have been felt in this sec
tion since last .Sunday afternoon, the
last, tremor being recorded at 4:10 yes
terday morning. Tho ground has trem
bled very perceptibly, with the earth
wave apparently coming from the
south, which has lent color to the the
oiy that a big new geyser is about to
burst forth in the Yellowstone park,
which lies 75 miles southeast of Vir
ginia City. 'o damage has resulted
other than considerable plaster having
been thrown down.
Competition Forces Harriman to Con
sider New Lines.
Chicago, Dec. 20. Oregon bids fair
soon to come into its own with respect
to transportation facilities. Alunnol
over the activity of other railroad cor
porations in surveying and construct
ing lines ot road through various por
tions of the Pacific Northwest Fd-
ward If. Harriman and his aids have
decid.ed actively to occupy all of the
territory in the Northwest which bids,
fair to become of value from a tr.-iffi,-
standpoint.
Plans have been perfected by Mr.
arriman for the construction of be
tween 750 and 1000 miles of r.iilro-,,t
in tlie Mate ot Oregon alone, and that
surveys have been ordered of a great
deal of territory which is now without
means of transportation.
Julius Kruttsehnitt. director of main
tenance and iper,ition for the Harri
man lines, and J. 1). Isaacs, consulting
engineer for Mr. Harriman. have re
cently returned from New York,
where these plans were perfected. It"
is admitted by the Chicago officials,
that there are such plans,
JOHN BULL NOT SO MERRY
Christmas in
Congressman Daved Dead.
.New Orleans, Dee. 28 Representa
tive Robert C. Davev, of the second
congressional district of Louisiana,
lied Saturday of apoplexy. He had
served continuously at Washington
since the fifty-third congress, with tho
exception of one term, when he de
clined tho nomination. Davev was
born in New Orleans in 18.r3, served
several vears in the state senate of
Louisiana, was elected a judge in 18S0
and in 1SH8 was defeated for mayor of
New Orleans. He was re-elected to the
sixty first congress.
Claus Spreckles read.
San Francisco, Dec. 28 After an
illness of less than a week's duration,
Chins Spreckles, widely known as tho
"Sugar King of tho Pacific (.'oast,"
died at his home in this city Saturday.
Mr. Spreckles was 80 years of age, and
was taken ill with a seven? cold early
this week. This developed into pneu
monia, and during tho last two days
tlie veteran sugar refiner sank rapidly,
Ins death occurring at 4:30 o clock Sat
unlay morning.
England 'is Marred by-
Poverty.
London, Dee. 2(1 The dark side of
the hnglish Christmas is the great
number of unemnloved .-m,! tl,,. ,i;t
tressmg prevalence of destitute and
suffering. This is seen principally in
London and at Glasgow, and at other
shipbuilding centers, where shipbuild
ere are out of work.
A small band of shabbily dressed,
miserable looking unemployed persons
have paraded fashionable streets dur
ing the past week, threading their
way among the crowds of Christmas
shoppers. The police accompanied the
band as it marched, in order to pre
vent disturbances. Its motto showed,
" e want work."
More than looo homeless men as
sembled on the James embankment at
midnight to get Salvation Army tick
ets for beds. The newsii.-mers
record cases of men being sentenced
to imprisonment for stealing food who,
have families suffering from want.
New Canadian Coal Fields.
Vancouver, B. C, Dec. 25. Henry
Hewitt, the Tacoma smelting man,
has acquired coal mining rights in
Graham island, one of the Queen
Charlotte group. Immensely valua
ble coal deposits have been discov
ered there and an application for a
charter for buildi ng railroads nnrl
steamship wharves and for the gen
eral carrying on of business is ad
vertised to be marie at the next meet
ing of the British Columbia legisla
ture. Indications are that the mine's
will far exceed in value the f.miniK
Dunsmuit properties
Pearl Harbor Drydock.
Washington, Dec. 22. Specifica
tions have been issued by the navy
department for the drydock at Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii. The structure will
be 1195 feet long, divided by a caisson
so that two battleships can be docked
simultaneously. The drydock will be
35 feet deep and l.'io feet wide. P.ids
will be opened on February 1.1, l'JOD.
Wreckers Throw Switch.
Hillsdale, Mich., Dec. 20. Instead
of a broken flange, it is reported here
today that a tunnel switch was the
cause of thc derailment last night near
Pleasant Lake. Ind., of a Lake Shore
passenger train, in which about .10 per
sons were injured, one possibly fa
tally. It is also said here that there
arc suspicions that it may have been
misplaced by members of the gang
which have been robbing safes recent
ly in this section of the country.
Oklahoma 1 own Burns.
Oklahoma City. Okla.. Dec. 20
Virturally the entire business section
of Ravia, Okla, a town of 1200 inhab
itants in Johnston county was wined
out yesterday bv fire, the loss aggre
gating about $55,000.