NEWS ITEMS Of Cencral Interest About Oregon Oregon and California Land Grant Title Is Not Clear Washintgon, D. C As the Oregon & California land grant bill stands on the house calendar, it will not enable the government of the United States to pass a clear title to any settler or purchaser, in the opinion of Repre sentative Hawley, and he has the sup porting opinion of several of the good lawyers of the public lands committee in this opinion. "The bill," said Mr. Hawley, "makes provision for the payment of back taxes that is, for taxes that have accrued for the past three years, but I believe it does not provide for the payment of taxes which are now becoming collectable. Moreover, the bill fails to make provision for the payment of interest on back taxes and fails also to provide for the payment of penalties on those accrued taxes. These omissions, in my opinion, render it impossible for the United States to give an absolutely clear title and I will call attention to this shortcoming when the bill is before the house. "The prime reason for providing in the bill for the payment of back taxes was to enable the government to give a clear title. Unless that section is enlarged and made complete it will fail of its purpose and those who ac quire these lands from the government will be liable for interest and for the unpaid penalties and for the taxes that are not paid by the government under the Ferris bill." Smudging Need Shown in Southern Oregon Fruit District Medf ord In the opinion of local fruit men the year 1916 will mark the final demonstration of the necessity of crude oil smudging in the growing of fine fruit and apples in Southern Ore gon. At the beginning of the season there was a distinct movement against smudging, chiefly because of the an noyance involved and damage to trees from overflowing pots. In fact an in junction against smudging was ob tained by one group of orchards shortly before the May freeze. All this anti-smudge agitation is ended now in the opinion of local grow ers, for from May 8 to May 14 smudg ing in Rogue River valley orchards was worth at least $500,000. Those orchardists who smudged, and fortunately a large proportion of them did, lost practically nothing from the low temperature, while except on the high hillsides those who did not smudge were wiped out. While the loss has been serious, it is certain ac cording to experts who examined the orchards that the first reports were greatly exaggerated. 100,000 Acres in Willamette Valley Can Be Watered Salem Approximately 100,000 acres of land can be feasibly irriagted in the Wualmette vlaley at the present time, results of an investigation lust com pleted by the United States Reclama tion Service in co-operation with the state engineer's office show. A joint report of the inquiry into irrigation and power deveoplment possibilities of the Willamette valley was issued this week. The survey extended from Canby at the mouth of the Molalla river to the head of the Willamette river above Cottage Grove and included the area in the immediate vicinity of Portland. It is pointed out that the water sup ply for the proposed irrigation of the valley lands in many cases may be ob tained from wells by pumping. The report declares that the average econ omic duty of water which seems to be indicated for the valley as a whole is eight inches delivered to the land, varvine with local conditions of soil and crops. Those employed in the survey inves tigated the water power development possibilities on the north fork of the Santiam river with storage at Marion lake; the upper reaches of the Mc Kinzie river and the middle fork of the Willamette river. , On the McKinzie river there are two existing plants and at least two new developments proposed, one at Vida and the other between the outlet of Clear lake and the mouth of Smith river, involving the use of Clear lake for regulation of now. Mill Will Reopen. Hood River The Stanley-Smith Lumber company, which haB been de layed in the commencement of opera tions at its plant at ureen Point, in the southwestern part of this county, because of weather conditions, will start work in its lumber camp and open the mill next Monday. During the past week, according to Manager J. E. Robertson, who visited the plant, a snow of eight inches prevailed in the Green Point hills. The Green Point mill will employ about 175 men. It cuts between 80,000 and 90,000 feet, Oregon Grange Elects. Grants Pass The Oregon State Grange elected officers at its annual convention in progress here, as fol lows: Master, C. E. Spencer, Oregon City; overseer, C. D. Huffman, La Grande; lecturer, Mrs. H. t,. Bond, Eugene; treasurer, H. H. Hirshberg, Independence; secretary, Mary S. Howard; legislative committee, M. M. Burtner, Dufur; James Stewart, Fos sil: executive committeeman, B. G. Leedy, Corvallis. NGIAND TRIES KNIGHTED IRISHMAN ON CHARGE Of HIGH TREASON London The writing of a new chap ter of the history of the Sinn Fein re bellion was begun Tuesday when Sir Roger Casement, knighted in 1911 for services to the British government, and Daniel Julian Bailey, an Irish sol dier, one of his companions on the ill fated submarine trip from Germany to Ireland were placed in the dock of tho Bow-street police court for prelimin ary examination on the charge of high treason. While considerable testimony intro duced by the crown tended to incrim inate Bailey, the main attack of the prosecution was directed against Case ment in an endeavor to enmesh him in a net of evidence which would estab lish without question the leading part it is claimed he played in the conspir acy, whose ramihcations extended even to America. 11. S. to Send Insistent Note to England on Interference With Mails Washington, D. C. Negotiations with Great Britain regarding interfer ence with mails to and from the Unit ed States and interruption of neutral commerce by the British fleet are to be resumed in the near future. A note insisting sharply on modification in the treatment of mails already is being prepared at the State depart ment, and as soon as possible work will be begun on a reply to the last British note defending the operation of the blockade orders in the council. Secretary LanBing let it be known last week that the implied condition in the German note on submarine war fare, expressing confidence that the United States would hold Great Britain to compliance with international law, had made it difficult to proceed with the British negotiations. He said. however, that these negotiations would be continued promptly in spite of the embarrassing situation. Fourteen Killed and Thirty Injured in Great Powder Plant Explosion Uibbstown, N. J. At least 14 men were killed and about 30 injured Tues day in a terrific explosion at the Re- pauno plant or the Du Pont Powder company, near here. The blast oc curred in the building in which trini trotoluol is manufactured, and wrecked that structure and three others. The cause of the explosion is not known, and, according to officials of the company, may never be ascer tained, aB all those believed to have been in the building where the first explosion occurred are dead. Trinitrotoluol is not considered an explosive risk, and company officials believe it caught fire before exploding. This blast caused a nearby building, in which nitro-benzolis was manufac tured, to blow up. So great was the force that two buidlings some distance away, in which huxite was manufac tured, were wrecked, but the explosive did not go oft. Near-by Blast Causes Restaurant Building to Collapse; Ten Killed Akron, O. At least 10 personB were killed, two are missing and a score were injured early Tuesday night, when the old Beacon Journal building. occupied by the Crystal restaurant, collapsed as a result of a blast of dyna mite in an adjoining excavation. Seven identified and three unidenti fied bodies have been recovered and two persons now missing are thought to be in the ruins. A tremendous roar, echoing the screams of diyng people, brought thousands to the scene of the disaster, in the heart of Akron s business dis trict. A great pile of ruins, broken tim bers, twisted steel and tons of brick and mortar buired the victims, who a moment before were dining in the res taurant. Eight bodies were taken out of the wreckage after firemen, police and vol unteer rescuers had worked frantical ly, digging and chopping through the debris. Twenty more, some slightly injured, were extricated and sent to hospitals. Only two or three of those known to have been in the restaurant succeeded in escaping before the crash. Bomb Droppers Sent to Border, Columbus, jn. M. Aeroplane ma chine guns and bomb dropping devices arrived here Tuesday for the use of the first aero squadron. Army avia tors here deny knowledge as to wheth er tne planes to be sent into service in Mexico are to be equipped with the devices. A "dead line" was drawn about the base arsenal here. It is was said that a suspicion that incendiaries may have been responsible for the recent fires at Fort Bliss, Tex., caused the added precautions here. Dakota Snow Two Feet Deep. Sioux Falls, S. D. Snow to a depth of two feet fell Tuesday in parts of the Black Hills in South Dakota, and to a depth of 10 inches on the Chey enne Indian reservation, in the central part of the state. Heavy rain and snow fell in the entire eastern half of the state, but in Sioux Falls, Water town and Aberdeen and snowflakes melted immediately. High winds and falling temperature, recorded at 30 promise further wintry weather. NORTHWEST MARKET REPORTS; GENERAL CROP CONDITIONS Portland Wheat Bluestem, $1.03 per bushel; fortyroiu, yzc; club, vie; red Fife, 92c; red Russian, 92c. Hay Eastern Oregon timothy, $23 tf,23.50 per ton; alfafla, old crop, $19 i;20. Milfeed Spot prices: Bran, $23. BO per ton; shorts, $20.00; rolled barley, $31.5032.60. Corn Whole, $38 per ton; cracked, $37. Vegetables Artichokes, $1 per dozen; tomatoes, $4.25 per crate; cab bage, $2. 50(i (,3 per hundred; garlic, 10c per pound; peppers, 17JC'20c; eggplant, 20(n2Bc; horseradish, 8jc; cauliflower, 75c(Ui$1.10; lettuce, $1.85 ((42.25 per crate; cucumbers, $11.25 per box; Bpinach, 46c per pound; as paragus, 7590c per dozen, $1 per box; rhubarb, ll(fi)2c per pound; peas, 66ic; beans, 8llc; celery, $3.50 per crate. Potatoes Jobbing prices: Oregon, $1.40(i51.65 per sack; Yakimas, $1; new California, 4(i5c per pound. Buy ing prices: Oregon, $11.15. Onions Oregon, $1.35 1.50 per sack; Texas Bermudas, $1.602. Green Fruit Strawberries, Oregon, $2(i;2.50 per crate; California, 75c $1.65; apples, $1 1.75 per box; gooseberries, 8c per pound; cherries, $1.60(a;1.75 per box. Eggs Jobbing prices: Oregon ranch, candled, 23c per dozen; un called, 21J22c. Poultry Hens, 1717Je per pound; ags, 13c; broilers, 2830c; turkeys, live, 1820c; turkeys, dressed, choice, 2325c; ducks, 1618c; geese, 10c. Butter Extras, prints, 2829e per pound; prime firsts, 27c; firBts, 26c; cubes, 2425c; butterfat, No. 1, 27c, delivered Portland; No. 2, 25c; store butter, 1820c. Veal Fancy, ll12c per pound. Pork Fancy, 10Jllc per pound. Hops 1915 crop, 1012c; 1916 con tracts, ll12c. Wool Eastern Oregon, 2129c per pound; valley, 3336c; mohair, new clip, 4851c. Cascara bark Old and new, 4c per pound. Cattle Steers, choice grain and pulp, $8.759.15; choice hay, $8.50 8.75; good, $8.158.50; medium, $7.75 .15; cows, choice, $7.508; good, $6.75 7.25; medium, $6.25 7.25; heifers, $5 8.25; bulls, $2.756; stags, $35.25. Hogs Prime light, $99.25; good to prime, $8.608.75; rough heavy, $7.908; pigs and skips, $7.908. Sheep Yearlings, $8.2510; weth ers, $89.05; ewes, 7a; lambs, $8.2510.50. English Beer Output Cut; Oregon Hop Market Affected Portland The export demand for hops is not going to be as much of a factor in the coming Beason aB in pi years, unless the war is brought to a close, as production of beer in England is to be limited. Word has been received from Lon don that arrangements have been made between the British government and the Brewers' society to reduce the beer output from April 1, 1916, by 28 per cent of the output of the year ended September 30, 1914. The aim of this restriction is to reduce the im portation of brewing materials by 33 1-3 per cent, though no direct steps will be taken to restrict the importa tion of materials. At the moment there is a very good market at all points on the Coast, and prices are, if anyhting, steadier than last week. The Furnish crop of 195 bales at Reedville was bought by Ralph E. Williams at 10 cents. Offers as high 114 cents were made for good Ore- gons in other sections. The Chamberlain lot of 126 bales at Chehalis was purchased by Harry L. Hart at 101 cents. Another important Western Washington deal was the sale of 360 bales of the Klaber crop at Che halis at 11 cents. In Yakima orderB at 11 cents are going unfilled. Only five crops remain unsold in the Yakima Bection. In Sonoma, where unsold stocks are reduced to 3000 bales, bids are out at 11 and 12 cents. The sale by Mrs. Duncan of 115 bales of Sonomas at 11 cents is reported. Hofer & Johnson sold 99 bales of Mendocinos, but the price was not wired. Marks bought the Gerber crop of 263 bales of Sacra mentos at 9 J cents. New Fruit Plan Is Adopted. Wenatchee, Wash. It is probable that the majority of the large tonnage expected from the up-river country this Beason will be packed out through community or central packing Bheds. The system of co-operative packing which has proven a success in Califor nia and Oregon has received a strong impetus in Okanogan county and the large centers. Ira Cleveland, of the Growers' league, expert on central packing, has returned from a two weeks' campaign through the up-river country. Growers like the new system. Fruit Damage Is Now Feared. Marshfield, Or. Fear is felt here for the fruit crop, particularly berries, in the finish of the present Btorm, which commenced five days ago. The weather has been cold and much hail has fallen at intervals. Srawberries which are about coming into market will be injured unless there is a sudden ending of the storm. Nearly three and a half inches of precipitation is the record for five days. AMERICANS i '1 n Vt(! : Mtiv VI i K W '$4 Vil' ' ff-jjljl iff. 4, Crowds gathered In Washington square, New York, the other day to witness the dedication of a string o( army ambulances presented to the Russian government by Americans. At the right in the Illustration 1b seen a priest ol the Orthodox church blessing the ambulances. APACHE Thei are the Apacha Indians who in tracking Villa. P0INCARE VISITS THE fjt jit ' Ji A lit, b4 tirjg ? M. Polncaro, president of France, accompanied by officers, on a visit to the trenches in the Mouss district. M. Polncare Is attired In a military cloak and cap of a color not easily discernible from the enemy s trenches. NO ONE WILL EAT It required fifty gallons of kerosene and five hours time for two deputy UnlUd States marshals to cremate 89,280 bad eggs, which were condemned by the fuprema court of the District of Columbia as being unfit for use. These egg were seized In the municipal market where tbey bad been offered for sale, bakerlM being the usual purchasers of the canned product GIVE AMBULANCES TO 4 SCOUTS HELPING GENERAL PERSHING have been sent to the front in Mexico VERDUN TRENCHES THESE BAD EGGS RUSSIA -lei: 9, n iJZ.1 ;:? as scouts to aid General Pershing . I hero of kut-el-amara Gen. C. V F. Townshend, command er of the BrltiBh expedition against Bagdad. He has been holding off a superior force of Turks for months on the TlgrlB at Kut-el-Amara. ' CAMP BARBER AT WORK The camp barber of one of the de tachments of the American force far suing Villa il here seen iolig his beat to make a soldier presentable. 1 J