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About The Maupin times. (Maupin, Or.) 1914-1930 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 13, 1915)
WORLD'S DOINGS Of CURRENT WEEK Brief Resume of General News from All Around the Earth. UNIVERSAL HAPPENINGS IN A NUTSP Live News Items of All Nations and Pacific Northwest Condensed for Our Busy Readers. Germans finally take Warsaw. Germany makes apology to Norway for sinking steamship Minervia. Five hundred Austrian troops on a train were burned to death when Ital ians shelled it. A comet, long "dead," is reported to be coming back and will cause meteor Bhower. Wheat yield in the Palouse country, Washington, reaches an average of be tween 85 and 40 bushels to the acre. Bursting of a dam in Erie, Pa., re sulted in the death of 26 persons and property and crop damage of nearly 17,000,000. A threatened strike among the Krupp gun workers in Germany has been averted by the government grant ing all demands. To strengthen the gold reserves for exchange purposes in England, the treasury has instructed the postoffice and all public departments to use notes instead of gold whenever possible when making cash payments. Pursuant to an invitation from the United States to the South American diplomats to aid in attempting a set tlement of Mexico's war, a conference was held at which it was decided to give that country one more chance be fore definite steps be taken. Salt consumed in the Untied States amounted to 9,998,520,660 pounds dur ing 1914, an increase of 41,575,800 pounds over that consumed in 1913, That amount, announced by the Geo logical Survey, would mean a per cap ita consumption of almost 100 pounds for the year. Sugar s per capita con sumption during 1914 was 89.14 pounds. The American forces from the bat tleship Connecticut have occupied, without striking a blow, the national fort of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, which dominates the town. A proclamation has been posted in all quarters, signed by the president of the revolutionary committee, protesting against the mis use of force against a friendly people. Members of the executive council of the B'nai B'rith in session at Atlantic City, N. J., declared the condition of the Jews in Russia has not been Im proved, and that Jews were being used as shields by Russian soldiers in the trenches. Great Britain in answering Amer ica a notes on the subject of blockad ing neutral ports advises that her course in this respect will not be altered, and recites that during the war of the rebellion the United States exercised similar rights. Taller, darker women, clothed in more sensible dress, hung from the shoulders, will typify the "eugenic , woman" of the future, Dr. A. J. Reed professor of hygiene In the Normal School of Physical Education at Battle Creek, Mich., predicted in an address before the Second International Con ference on Race Betterment at the Panama-Pacific exposition. Reports from Simla say interces sional services are being held in the churches, mosques and temples throughout India, all sections of the British and Indian communities par ticipating. Numerous patriotic meet ings also have been organized by In dian citizens. It is estimated that $5,000,000 has been subscribed to the British war loan through Bombay and Calcutta. Nine hundred and eighty-one persons lost their lives in the steamer Eastland disaster, according to final figures given out by the Western Electric company, after completing the cieck ing of its employes and friends who boarded the vessel. The identified dead number 833, unidentified dead two, and the final list of misisng 141. In 40-mile gale which raged on Lake Ontario Wednesday, the worst In several years, according to the weather bureau, the freight steamer Alexan dria, of the Canada Steamship lines, ran ashore. The surf waa too heavy to permit the launching of a boat, but Captain Btoomfield and his crew, 22 mer. all told, leaped into the breakers wearing life preservers and were dragged ashore by an amateur life- saving brigade. Hawaiian pearl divert are having a hard time aa result of the war. The entire absence of European market ia given aa the main cause. The bursting of a big dam at Erie, Pa., causea the loss of 25 lives, sub merges a great portion of the city and causes property lost estimated in the millions. Fruitgrowers of Palestine stand to lose $30,000,000 because of the Euro pean war, according to letter re reived in Philadelphia from George Kiat, general comltsionmer of com jnerce, with headquarters at Jaffa. THOMAS A. EDISON ! Mr. Edison has accepted the posi tion of head of the new navy bureau of Invention. Besides his other great ac complishments, he It an expert on sub marines and hat In hand several Im provements for the undersea craft NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA IN ACCORD IN DEALING WITH MEXICO Washington, D. C Powers of North and South America already have agreed upon a definite plan for deal ing with the Mexican problem, and when the Pan-American conference is resumed In New York the, program will be formally ratified. This Information came from Secre tary Lansing, who though he would not discuss details, said he was decid edly encouraged over the prospect. The confidence expressed by offi cials generally here, that the confer ees who are representing the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Gua temala and Uruguay will be able to shape a course likely to bring peace and restore constitutional government in Mexico, Is due to the fact that all are agreed that most of the people of the revolution-torn republic are thor oughly sick of war and with encour agement from friendly powers will promptly join In the movement to clean house. A large section of the country and a vast majority of the people have not been involved In the fighting which followed the overthrow of Huerta. Moreover, It has been reported to President Wilson and Secretary Lan sing that only the fear of reprisals by the military chieftains has kept the people in subjection while the country has been Impoverished by the battles of relatively small forces of armed men. Reaching their conclusion on these reports, the Pan-American conferees are understood to bave determined to present the situation to all of the var ious elements In Mexico, addressing directly not only Oeneral Carranza, Villa and Zapata, but the governors of states, all military leaders with any considerable following and other influ ential men, urging them to come to gether for a caucus at which a sub stantial provisional government might be framed. A government so set up would have the support of the United States and other American republics. John D. Rockefeller Changed Man Since Recent Death of Wife Cleveland, O. There Is a changed master at Forest Hill, the big East CTloveland estate of John D. Rockefel ler. That Is what Rockefeller's clos est friends are saying after visits to Forest Hill. The oldoBt Inhabitant who has cared for the lawns and drives of Forest Hill for years knows why their master has changed. It is because their mistress has gone, they tay. For the first time Mr. Rockefeller tramps and drives about his estate without the compan lonshtp of bis wife. The attendants tell, too, how the changed master broke down and cried at his first breakfast at Forest Mill after his return because of the vacant chair. Rockefeller used to play golf with a keen delight. He plays seldom now, and without the old-time zeal. Crop Found In Army Wake. Berlin, by wireless to Sayvllle, N, Y. Among the news items prepared by the Overseas News Agency for transmission abroad Is the following "Reports from the front In Poland say the Russian announcement that farm crops were devastated Bnd that the Russians left a desert behind them Is greatly exaggerated. The farmers disobeyed orders to destroy the crops, and a full harvest of rye, wheat and oats Is being brought In with the as sistance of Gorman soldiers. Only the villages were burned. Canal Soon to Be Clear. Washington, D. C Half a mile of earth which slid into the Panama Ca nal last week, reducing the depth through Galllard cut to 19 feet, will have been dredged away within the next three days, canal officials report Ten steamers are awaiting passage through the cut Taft It Grandpa Now. Bar Harbor, Me. Announcement of the arrival of ex -President Taft s first grandchild waa made here Wednes day. The child, a boy, was born to Mrs. Robert Taft at her summer home threo dy before, but the fact did not become generally known until now. BUSINESS REVIVAL IS NEAR AT HAND Gain of Confidence Noted in All Lines of Industry. EVEN POSSIBILITY Of WAR NOT FEARED WetWeather Does Good to Wheat, Livestock andDairy Industry Big Yields Is Now Seen. Washington, D. C. The former feel ing of apprehension, of "something is going to happen" because of the 'European war," has almost entirely disappeared, according to a special re port submitted Monday by the com mittee on statistics and standards of the chamber of commerce of the Unit ed States. Even with the possibility that the United States might become entangled in the gigantic world conflict, there still remains a pronounced belief that, MISS HANNAH WESSUNQ Mist Hannah Weanling Is the bread- making expert of the United States department of agriculture. notwithstanding such untoward con ditions, business is bound to show dis tinct advancement. Confidence in the future, according to the committee, of which A. W. Douglas, of St. Louis, is chairman, has grown apace with the steady prog ress of the crops and the slow but con tinual improvement in industrial af fairs. There still continues, however, to be conservatism and caution in buying and in new commitments. The reason seems to be that it is better business to wait until the results of the crops are known beyond question before ven turing a more extended way, and as a consequence stocks of merchandise throughout the country continue light. The continued wet weather has done more good than harm to the crops, it is said. The conditions of mining vary sharply as to the commodity mined, Copper mines are running full time and new ones are opening up. Zinc and lead mines are busy and the min ing of iron ores is improving. There 1b little business in naval store because of lack of demand. Phosphate mines of Florida still re main closed on account of the Euro pean war. Unfavorable reports come from the fisheries of Oregon, Washing ton, the Gulf and the Atlantic Coast. Manufacturing varies much, accord ing to the article made, though in gen eral it is quiet Steel and iron bus iness shows distinct improvement, with increasing orders. . The manufac turers in different sections who have orders for war contracts are exceeding ly busy. Haitlen Brigand Taken. Port-au-Prince The presidential election to fill the place of General Vilbrun Guillaume, who was removed from the French legation by a mob of Haitiens July 28 and shot to death, has been postponed indefinitely. The Amer ican naval forces at Croix-des-Bou quets repressed some disorder on the part of a band of brigands. The chief of the band was taken prisoner and placed on board the United States cruiser Washington. Other disorders are reported to have occurred at St March and Aux Capes. Male Zebra Born In Zoo. - New York A lively 70-pound male tebra baby was added to the Central Park menagerie Monday. The aebra is three feet tall and three and one-half feet from tip to tail. Both mother and baby are doing well and the new pet will be shown to the public in few days. This tebra is the first that has ever been born in this country, and so far records thow the first ever born in captivity. Ir. AMERICANS OCCUPY U. S. Naval force Used to Take National Capital. UNBOAT ALSO TAKEN INTO CUSTODY 'resident of Senate Cables Protest In Name of Haitien Repudlic, Which Falls on Deaf Ear. Port-au-Prince, Haiti American naval forces Monday took possession of the office of the port, the national palace and the Haitien gunboat Pa cifique. During the movement to take the office of the port, the Americans open ed fire on the Haitiens and one Hai tien was killed. The occupation of the office of the port Bnd the national palace gave the Americans the last positions held by the Haitiens. The populace has been thrown into consternation by the opera tions of the Americans. The president of the'senate, in the name of the nation, cabled Solon Menos, Haitien minister to the United States, a new protest against the oc cupation of Haitien territory by the American naval forces. The American authorities have noti fied the diplomatic body and the con sular agents that Colonel Eli K. Cole, United States Marine corps, and com mander of the American expeditionary forces, is entrusted with the main tenance of order and the safeguarding of life and property. Captain Edward L. Beach, chief of staff to Admiral Caperton, remains in charge of the work of settling any differences of an administrative nature which may arise with the Haitien au thorities. Dr. Rosalvo Bobo, leader of the revolution, arrived here on board the United States refrigerator ship Celtic, On landing, he was cheered by the populace. A meeting of the national assembly has been called for Sunday to elect a new president. EX-PRESIDENT TAFT TO BE GUEST OF BAR ASSOCIATION Ex-PreBident William H. Taft will be in Portland Monday, August 23. He will deliver an address at the Heilig theater. Ex-President Taft has accepted an invitation to address a joint convention of the Bar associa tions of the states of Oregon and Washington. His address will be open to the public generally, and his subject will be Law and Government. Other speakers will be Senator George E. Chamberlain, of Oregon, Governor James Withycombe, of Ore- W H.Taft, gon.and Ex-senator George Turner, of Spokane, Wash. The meeting will ex tend over three days, beginning Au gust 23d. Lawyers and judges all over the United States and Canada are expected to attennd. Extensive prep arations are under way for the enter tainment of the visitors. Hotel ac commodations will be arranged by ad dressing Mr. A. B. Ridgway, North western Bank Building, Portland, Amonf other entertainments, it is planned to take visitors for an automo bile trip over the new Columbia High way. Warship Fire Explained. Philadelphia After a thorough ex amination while the damage was being repaired, officials of the New York Shipbuilding company are convinced that the fire which swept the hold of the dreadnought Oklahoma several weeks ago was caused by spontaneous combustion. Work on the latest dreadnought is being rushed. . The Oklahoma was to have been ready for delivery in Oc tober, but it is expected the fire will delay completion until early in Jan uary of next year. Rails Going to Russia. Seattle The Great Northern liner Minnesota sailed Monday for Vladi vostok with-8000 tons of steel rails for the trans-Siberian rairload, to be used in building sidetracks that will relieve the blockade at Vladivostok and ex pedite the shipment of munitions to the war front in Europe. The rails are valued at $1,500,000, The remainder of the cargo, part of which goes to Japan, it valued at $500,000. i , NORTIrW : GENERAL CROP CONDITIONS j Portland Wheat Bluestem, 96c bushel; fortyf old, 94c; club,. 93c; red Fife, 92c; red Russian, 90c. Oats No. 1 white feed, $25.50 ton. Barley No. 1 feed, $24.50 ton; bran, $24.25; shorts, $24.25. Millfeed Spot prices, : Bran, $27 ton; shorts, $28; rolled barley, $27.50 $28.50. Corn Whole, $38 ton; cracked, $39. Hay Eastern Oregon timothy, $16 17ton; valley timothy, $15; alfalfa, $12.5013.50. Vegetables Cucumbers, Oregon, 15 20c dozen; artichokes, 90c; toma toes, 6075c box; cabbage, llie pound; head lettuce, $1 crate; beans, 2i4c pound; green corn, 20c dozen; garlic, 77Jc pound. Green Fruits Cantaloupes, $1.50 2.25 crate; apricots, 90c $1 box; peaches, 50 60c; watermelons, 1J ljc pound; plums, 75c$l box; new apples, Astrachan, 75c$l box; Grav enstein, $1.601.75; peaches, $1.50; grapes, $1.602 crate. Potatoes New, 7585c sack. Onions 75c sack. Eggs Oregon ranch, buying prices : No. 1, 24c dozen; No. 2, 19c; No. 3, 15c. Jobbing price: No. 1, 26c dozen. Poultry Hens, 131 14c pound; springs, 17c; turkeys, 1819c; ducks, 812c; geese, 810c. Butter City creamery cubes, ex tras, 27c; firsts, 25c; seconds, 24c; prints and cartons, extra; butterfat, No. 1, 28c; second grade, 2c less; country creamery cubes, 2025c, Veal Fancy, 12121e pound. Pork Block, 9Jc pound. Hops 1915 contracts, 13c; 1914 crop, 14c; olds, 1213c, Wool Eastern Oregon, medium, 25 28Jc; Eastern Oregon, fine, 1821c; valley, 2630c; mohair, new clip, 30 31c. Cascara bark Old and new, 4c pound. Cattle Best steers, $6.507; good, $6.256.60; medium, $66.25; choice cows, $5.355.50; heifers, $4.75 6.50; bulls, $3.505; stags, $56.25, Hogs Light, $7 7 :15; heavy, $5.506.10. Sheep Wethers, $4.755.05; ewes, 25; lambs, Chicago Black rust reports are coming in thick and fast, and bo also news of wet weather damage to wheat in the shock. After an all-day ad vance the market closed steady. Corn gained llc to ljljc, and oats 2 2J to 31c In provisions, the outcome was 10c to 27130c decline. Black rust reports becoming more numerous gave the wheat market a de cided upturn at the opening. Accord ing to one expert, 50 per cent of the crop in Southern North Dakota was in danger. There were also advices in dicating that all the winter wheat still uncut in the fields south of the Nebras ka region would virtually be a com plete loss. Corn, stimulated by cold that sug gested late autumn rather than mid summer, kept pace with the rise in the value of wheat. Shipping demand from the east was of a lively sort, but could not be taken advantage of, as supplies here were too limited in vol ume. Independent strength developed in the oats market. A huge Bhort in terest was said to exist, mainly be cause of big sales for export and be cause of lack of corresponding con tracts for deliveries from first hands. Owing to wet weather, the country was said to be ottering virtually noth ing. Stop-loss selling formed the rule in provisions. There seemed to be no demand except from shorts. Peaches Plentiful and Cheap. 'Portland Peaches are abundant on Front street and sell fairly well. Ore gon Hales brought 25 to 50 cents, ac cording to size. The larger part of the offierings were small size. The best California peaches were held at 60 cents. Local apples were more plentiful. Astrachans were quoted at 75 cents to $1 and Gravensteins at $1.25, with an occasional sale at $1.50, Huckleberries are coming in in a more liberal way. The general price is 8 cents a pound, but fancy large berries from the coast are quoted at 10 cents. Oatt Bought at Higher Level. Portland The feature of a recent session at the Merchants Exchange was the firmness of the oats market, Five hundred tons were told at $26.60 for prompt delivery. The demand for oats, however, is not large. Wheat was steady to firm, and bids were raised 1 to 2 cents for the various sorts. Asked prices were in no case lest than 3 cents above offers. A lit tle business it being done in the coun try in club at 82 to 84 cents. Portland Wool buying in this state ia now almost at an end and the atten tion of the trade is centered on the selling movement in the Eastern mar kets. About 600,000 pounds of wool it still left scattered throughout the state in small lota. Buyers are con tinually after these lots, but the hold ers are indifferent at to letting go. considerable quantity of consigned wool remains to be disposed of here, Poultry In Moderate Supply. Conditions were not changed on the Portland market in the line of country produce this week. Poultry was in moderate supply and sold well, hem at 13c13Jc and springs at 17 cents, Dressed veal continues weak. Eggs were firm for the best grade and other kinds were weak. The but ter market waa steady and unchanged, EUROPE'S WAR LOSS TOTAL 14,398,000 ranee Estimates Dead Alone at About 5,290,000. AUSTRIA-HUNGARY IS WORST SUFFERER Number of Killed Almost Equal to That of Wounded Losses of Serbia Are Not Included. Paris The losses of Europe in the present war up to May 31, aa com piled by the French ministry of war, are as follows : Killed. Wounded. Prisoners. , Total. 1,300,000' 871.000 4,000,000 4,385,000 349,000 14.398,000 France.... 460,000 600,000 180.000 England . . 181,000 Belgium.. 48,000 Russia.... 1.260,000 Germany ,1,630,000 Austria.. .1,610,000 Turkey.., 110.000 200,000 49,000 1,680,000 1,880,000 1,865.000 144,000 90.000 15,000 850,000 490,000 910.000 96,000 Totals... 6,290,000 6,478,000 2,630,000 This table originally was prepared for publication, but finally was with held because authorities feared the enormity of the figures might have had a bad moral effect upon the population. The computations, while probably not exact, may be taken as the most com plete record of losses which has been- put together. The losses of Serbia are not available, but as that country has suffered from plague in addition to the war, these must be considerable. The largest total loss is charged to- Austria-Hungary; the largest propor tionate loss to Belgium. The number of killed in Europe up to May 31 was 5,290,000, or enough individuals to-. populate a country like Sweden.. The French offensive north of Arras,. where 15,000 are said to have been slain; the Austro-Italian engage ments; the great battle in Gahcia and the German offensive in the Argonne, all go to swell the totals, and the war is not over. The most astounding fea ture of this table is the ratio of killed to wounded. In previous modern wars the number of wounded has been to the number of dead as four or five to one. Here the two categories are approxi mately equal. Many of the wounded have rejoined their regiments, but many are crippled for life. The sick, who have been numerous in all armies, are not listed here. Germany Is Firm in frye Case; Will Pay but Not Admit Guilt Washington, D. C Germany is un yielding in her refusal to concede that the sinking of the American sailing ship William P. Frye by the auxiliary cruiser Prinz Eitel Fierdrich in the South Atlantic last January was a vio lation of American rights under the Prussian-American treaty or of inter national law. In reply to the last representations of the United States, the German fore ign office, in a note made public here by the State department, reiterates a previous justification of Germany'B course, declares again her willingness to pay for the ship, and accepts a pro posal first advanced by the United States that the amount of damages be fixed by two experts, one to be se lected by each country. Such a sum the German government pledges itself to pay promplty, with the stipulation, however, that the pay ment shall not be viewed as a satisfac tion for violation of American rights. Should that method be unsatisfactory, Germany invites the United States to arbitration at The Hague. The unofficial view here is that rep aration through a commission of ex perts probably will be saitsfactory to the United States, with the express provision, however, that it ia not a waiver of treaty rights for which the American government contends, but applies only to the matter of damages. Dominions to Have Voice. London Andrew Bonar Law, secre tary for the colonies, speaking at Folkestone said it was his belief that as the result of the war the time would come, and come soon, when the whole self-governing dominions in proportion to their population and resources would take their part in the duties of govern ing the British empire. It was already understood, he added, that when the time came for peace negotions the dominions would have their eay in those negotia tions. Business on Up-grade. Washington, D. C. General busi ness conditions throughout the country continue to show improvement, but until crops are harvested the full measure of this improvement cannot be judged, according to the monthly bulletin of the Federal Reserve Board just issued. Crop prospects are unusually bright and in teveral reserve districts war orders have brought a boom to many Industries. Villa Loses 7000 Men. San Antnioo, Tex. Seven thousand Villa soldiert were killed, wounded or captured and "immense spoils of war" taken at the fall of Aguas Calientes, Mexico, according to a report of Jesus Acuna, Carranza't minister of foreign affairs, received from Vera Crua by the Carranta consulate here.