Washington County Hews
hM»ut*d B K h W eck
FOREST G R O V E ........... OREGON
NEWS OF THE WEEK
In a Condensed Form tor Our
Busy Readers.
A Resume o f the Less Important but
Not Less Interesting Events
o f the Past Week.
Norway w ill
for recognition.
ask the United States
Travel to the Lewis and Clark fair
surprises Eastern railroads.
Humors are thick in St. Petersburg
of plots to dethrone the czar.
Newark, N. J., offers a bounty on
pests which infest shade trees.
W itte says other powers may be
called into the peace conference.
Hussia is making arrangements to
double track the Siberian railway.
Both Norway and Sweden are pre
paring for war while trying to keep
peace.
There is a great increase of immigra
tion to the United States from Norway
and Sweden.
British cotton manufacturers have
combined to promote the growth of
cotton in the island possessions of
Great Britain.
President Roosevelt says he has done
hie part in bringing the warring na
tions together and w ill not meddle in
the peace conference.
The governor of Alabama has called
out the satte cavalry to prevent the
lynching of a negro confined in the
Linden, Marengo county, jail.
Japan has succeeded in raising the
battleship Bayan, sunk at Port Arthur.
Five Russian vessels are said to be in
such shape that they can easily be put
into commission.
DEFENSE WAIVES A R G U M E N T
I
W A N T A LONG C O N T R A C T .
—
Submits Timber Land Case
Without Debate.
to Jury
OREGON STATE ITEMS OF INTEREST
Portland, July 19.— After 12 days of
j trial, the reputation of three of the
prominent men of Oregon was given
BIG C R O P S IN LINN C O U N T Y .
! into the keeping of 12 jutvmen yester
day afternoon.
When the last testi
mony for the defendants, Representa- Hay, Wheat, Oats and Hops Giving
jtive J. N. Williamson, Dr. Van Gesner
Great Promise.
and Marion R. Biggs, had been heard,
Albany— The hay crop of Linn coun
• as well as District Attorney Heney’s
ty is greater this year than ever before,
opening argument for the prosecution,
and thousands of tons of hay w ill be
Judge Bennett sprang a surprise, lie
shipped away. In addition to the ex
refused to discuss, on behalf of the de
tra acreage is the yield. It is uuusual-
fendants, the case that had been made
j ly good. Hay is selliing for $4 and $5
against them, or the reasons why the
loose, a.id $6 and $7 baled— low prices
verdict should be one of acquittal. The
even for the opening market.
Haying
whole contention was left to the judg
has been in progress for some time, and
ment of the jury, without argument.
this week w ill see the crop cut and in
Judge Bennett, in making this request
the cock. Most of it w ill also lie in
to the court, said:
the barn or stack ere the end ot the
“ May it please the court, I do not week.
feel that the opening statement of the
Never did wheat in Linn county look
district attorney was very full or very better. Binders will begin moving the
fair in this case, and in view of the fact
yellow grain this week, much of it be
that the jury has been here now for 12 ing now fully ripe and ready for cut
days, trying this case, and has listened
ting. The aphis mentioned early in
to all the testimony offered by the gov the summer during the rains have all
ernment, and the evidence and explan disappeared, leaving no mark behind.
ations on liehalf of the defendants, and The output of the county w ill not be
must thoroughly understand our posi much larger than in the past, for the
tion in the rase from the arguments acreage is not much larger than usual,
that have arisen during the course of I but the yield is the greatest in years.
the trial, we feel that we would not Vie
Threshing will begin the last of July
justified in keeping them here for two or the first of Aguust, on the fall sown
or three days more to listen to an argu grain. Three or four weeks later work
ment in the case. Therefore we have will begin on the spring grain, which
made up our minds to submit the case is looking fine where sowed early
to the intelligence of this jury on the enough, but that sown late w ill ripen
evidence in the case and the instruc very close to the ground, making bind
tions which your honor shall give.”
ing difficult.
Yesterday morning when the Federal
Oats are looking fine, and w ill be a
court convened, those present heard, fairly heavy crop. The acreage is not
after a few remaining questions had as large as in some years, but the yield
been asked of the last witness called in is excellent.
the case, a short statement of what the
One of the bumper crops of the coun
government had attempted to prove, as ty w ill be hops. There is every indi
told by Mr. Heney.
It was milder cation of a full crop— better than last
than those who had followed the trial year. No damage has been done by the
had expected.
The defendants were lice, the hot weather coming in time to
not called to account in any great put an end to the ravaegs of the little
measure for what tlie evidence of the pest. The few yards that were infested
government seemed to show them to with lice have been sprayed, and the
have done. Invective and attack were crop is not affeeted in the least. If we
wanting. It was, as styled by Mr. have warm weather until picking seas
Heney, a birdseye view of the case and on is over, the crop w ill be a full one.
the evidence.
A prominent Albany hopgrower esti
mates the output of Linn
A IR SH IP FLIES O VER PO R T L A N D . about 150,000 bales.
county
at
Portland is shipping cattle to Japan.
King Oscar says he does not favor a Wind T o o Strong for It to Return to
Exposition Grounds.
forcible union with Norway.
A severe wind storm has wiped out
the town of Anawa, Wisconsin.
A ll telegraph operators on the North
ern Pacific railway are ready to go on
strike.
The Union pnssenger depot at Louis
ville, Kentucky, has been burned.
I . o h s , $350,000.
•
A Boston man has been arrested in
Kingston, Jamaica, for taking photo
graphs of the fortifications.
W itte says that while he favors
pence with Japan, be w ill not agree
to it at anv terms that may be offered.
Unusually heavy rainstorms are re
ported in various parts of Germany.
Immense damage has been done to
crops.
The Chinese government is sending a
number of its aristocrats to various
countries to stady foreign ways. It is
regarded generally as a step in the
right diiection.
Within nine dayB 98 infants under
one year of age have died in Cleveland,
Ohio. The health authorities are mak
ing a close investigation into the sani
tary conditions of the milk supply.
The Japanese are driving the Rus
sians north.
New York City has purchased a home
for consumptives.
Sweden w ill send an ultimatum to
Norwav and is rea<Iv for war.
Japan is well pleased at the appoint
ment of W itte as a peace envoy.
Terrorists have attempted to take the
life of the governor general of St. Pe
tersburg.
It is fully settled that W itte is to be
one of the Russian peace enoys and will
Ire given full powers.
During the past two years the United
States government lias s|>ent $73,000,-
000 more than it has taken in.
A move is said to have been starter!
to force the czar to alslicate and that
he w ill turn the affairs of the govern
ment into other hands to administer
for his son ami heir.
An aged iqan living under the name
of Livingston has bis home at Freeport,
Illinois. He greatly resembes pictures
of John D. Rockefeller’ s father and it
is believed by many that he is.
The president has signed a proclama
tion opening to homesteaders and town-
site entry the Unitali reservation in
Utah. The reservation contains 2,445,-
000 acres, but lands reserved for mill
tary, forestry and other purposes will
leave only 1,069,000 availabe for entry.
The kaiser is trying to prevent Nor
way from liocoming a republic.
The mutineers of the Russian battle
ship Potemkin have all been shot or
are in chains..
A party has been formed by promin
ent Italians for the exploration of the
upper Amason river.
Portland, July 19.— Man tried again
yesterday to conquer air. It was the
same old story of partial defeat.
He
must try yet again before he can slip
the metaphorical harness upon the at
mosphere and make it serve him as the
giants steam and electricity have been
brought to serve.
For nearlyjtwo hours yesterday after
noon the airship Angelas hovered over
Portland and vicinity. To the casual
observer it looked like a great bird
moving slow!) across the sky with ease
and perfect i;oiitrol of itself. In fact
there was a battle going on every fec
und; a buttle against a strong wind
which has proved the evil genius of
airship inventors since the first. Every
inch the brave vessel moved to the
southward was an inch to the credit of
the contending elements. It is note
worthy, however, that the Angelns
bucked the capricious air currents yes
terday with a greater degree of success
than any previous air vessel. Captain
T. 8. Baldwin, of California, the in-,
ventor, is satisfied with yesterday’s
showing.
He w ill make some delicate
alterations anil pit his vessel against
the wind at once.
He has no doubt
that his boat could navigate in any
direction under favorable atmospheric
conditions. He intends to make it sail
under any conditions.
The Angelas made the first airship
(light in Northwest history and the
first of the exposition competition. It
was witnessed by many thousands. It
started from the exposition grounds and
drove southeast bucking a strong wind
from the north. Lincoln Beechey, of
Los Angeles, went up with the ma-
chin , end displayed remarkable skill
and courage in his work. After lieing
drifted along an irregular southward
course for alamt six miles he tacked
east and made a safe landing on a dock
at a W illam ette river pleasure resort.
The vessel was not damaged to any
great extent and arrangements were
made for its conveyance back to the
exposition whence other test flights ere
to be made this week.
Lay Siege to Vladivostok.
London, July 19.— A Japanese army
has been landed north of Vladivostok
and the complete envelopment of the
fortress is imminent. The Tokio cor
respondent of the Daily Telegraph
wires: “ Thus Japan carries the war
into undisputed Russian territory on
the main land. Undoubtedly, too, a
strong Japanese fleet is outside Vladi
vostok. Japan’ s navy lias nothing else
to occupy it at the moment.
The in
vestment of Vladivostok is regarded
here as a strong argument in favor of
peace.”
Indians Go Into Law.
Chemawa — Among the 32 young
men who were recently admitted to
practice law before the Supreme court
of Oregon were two Indians, graduates
of the Chemawa Indian school.
Both
young men were successful, and give
great promise of a creditable career.
They were Oscar Norton, of California,
who graduated in 1898, and George
Bernier, of Oregon, of the class of 1900.
Word has also reached here that Rich
ard Graham, another California Indian,
who was a student of Chemawa in
1897, has been admitted to practice law
in the courts of Washington City. Mr.
Graham lias been a government depart
ment cletk for a number of years, and
has attended and graduated from the
Columbia law school.
Frozen Wheat Short.
The Dalles— Through the High Ridge
and Fifteen-Mile country, the section
of Wasco county where grain was most
seriously damaged by the freeze of Feb
ruary, and w here much reseeding was
necessary, crops arc looking fairly well.
Some of the spring sown wheat is short
and rather thin, but is of good color,
and with favorable weather will make
a comparatively good crop.
Farmers
in that section estimate that their
spring grain w ill average 15 bushels to
tlie acre. In that section the fall grain
that was not frozen out w ill yield from
35 to 40 bushels to the acre.
Every
where throughout the county fall grain
is ripening rapidly, and heading has
already begun.
Bohemia Men Want Smelter.
Bohemia— At an important meeting
of the Bohemia Mineowners’ association
this week steps were taken to interest
some suielterrnen in Bohemia camp.
One mining man stated that in case in
terested parties put up a smelter, he
woould sign a contract to deliver 50
tons of ore per day. With this amount
of ore from one man, it is considered
an assured fact that a smelter would
pay if once put in operation. Men who
are now doing nothing with their prop
erties would proceed to active develop
ment.
Clerk Robinson Suspended.
Pendleton — Charles M. Robinson,
clerk of the Umatilla Indian reserva
tion, has been suspended from office by
Major J. J. McKoin, United States
agent in charge of the reservation,
pending an investigation of the affairs
of Robinson’ s office.
This action on
the part of the agent is understood to
be a result of the investigation of the
affairs of the reservation, by R. G. V a l
entine, private secretary to Indian
Commissioner Leupp.
Albany Summer Normal.
Albany— A summer normal school
for the benefit of public school teachers
is being conducted in Albany this sum
mer by County School Superintendent
W. I,. Jackson, City School Superin
tendent Hayes and I. E. Richardson.
A large number of the teachers in the
public schools of Linn county are at
tending this summer school, w here in
struction in practical pedagogy is given.
Shipping Trust’ s Deficit.
New York, July 19.— A deficit of
$1,142,098 for the year ended Decem
ber 31 last, as compared with a surplus
of $1.797,797 for the preceding year, is
shown in a statement given out by the
International Mercantile Marine com
pany at its annual meeting at Hoboken,
Minister W itte has bad a stormy in N. i . , today. President Bruce lsmav
terview with the csar and may refuse ascribes the poor showing largely to
to act as a [>eace envoy.
State Land in Klamath.
the continued depression in freight
rates on the North Atlantic during the
Salem— State I-and Agent Oswald
Major fjnigfltt, government engineer,
latter part of 1904.
West has returned from a trip to Swan
with headquarters at Portland, is to be
Lake, Klamath county, where he in
succeeded by Major Boeasler.
spected a large tract ot land believed to
Battleship Ohio Accepted.
Washington. July 19.— The Navy de be swamp in character, and therefore
During a high wind, following a so»
He found
vers rain and electric storm, the walls partment has finally accepted thV bat the property of the state.
of a brick building in course of con- tleship Ohio, flagship of Rear Admiral 5,000 acres to which he believes the
sturction at Winnipeg, Manitoba, fell, Train, commander of the Asiatic fleet. state is entitled to a patent, and he
burying a nmuher of people.
I t is The Ohio was built by the Union Iron w ill take stepe immediately to perfect
title.
works, of San Francisco.
feared at least ten are dead.
RAILROAD FOR W ALLO W A.
Independent Capitalists Will
Branch to Joseph.
Build a
La Grande— A corps of engineers are
at work establishing a line for a new
railroad down Grand Ronde river to
the mouth of the Wallowa river, thence
up the Wallowa to Wallowa valley.
The right of way lias been secured to
the mouth of the Wallowa river.
The
new road will be independent of all
other lines and is backed by New York
capital.
A construction company is ready to
liegin grading as soon as part of the
line is established, and w ill be at work
within the next 30 days, and it is stat
ed the road will be completed to the
Wallowa bridge this year and w ill be
extended to Joseph next year.
This activity has caused agents for
the O. R. & N. to go to Elgin this week
and busy themselves securing rights of
way on all deeded land through which
their final survey was established about
five years ago.
The probable purpose of the rtew
promoters is to get the right of way in
the Grand Ronde and Wallowa canyons
away from the O. R. &- N., which it is
supposed has already expired or soon
w ill expire by limitation.
The outcome w ill likely be the forc
ing of the O. R. & N. Co. to build on
its proposed line. If it does not in
some way renew its pre-emption of the
surveys already made, it w ill lose its
rights, and this the 0. R. & N. Co. is
not expected to do. In any case, W al
lowa county has a better prospect for a
railroad than ever before.
Only Terms on Which Japanese Will
Work on Canal.
Seattle, July 18. — Japanese labor
. contractors w ill not agree to the Isth
mian commission’ s programme of ex
perimenting with the labor of different
countries.
A recent dispatch from
Washington says the commission has
decided to secure 2,000 laborers of d if
ferent nationalities under a 500 day
contract, with the idea in view of re
newing the contract for such laborers
as were found satisfactory.
The question of employing Japanese
laborers on the isthmus was first taken
up with the commission and Secretary
Taft by the Oriental Trading company,
of Seattle. This is the most important
labor contracting firm in the North
west.
Vice Presiden! C. T. Takahashi said
today that his company would not
agree to such a proposal. “ There is no
money in such a short contract,” he
continued. “ I f we could get a four-
year or a five-year contract, Japanese
laborers could be supplied.
As it is
the laborers would have to be brought
from Japan and returned to their
homes after the work was completed.
To collect 2,000 men, carry them to
the isthmus and then return them to
their homes after a 500-day contract
had been completed is not practicable.
“ Our proposal to supply Japanese
labor has lieen before the commission
and Washington officials for some time.
We have not been notified that an
experimental contract might be made
and I do not think we would accept a
contract if offered one.”
The Oriental Trading company pro
posed to provide its own foremen,
choosing men accustomed to directing
railroad and similar construction work.
MINERS IN TE RROR.
Ready to Start Cut-Off.
Eugene— C. 8. Freeland, construction
engineer of the Southern Pacific com
pany, is in Eugene with a force of men
preparatory to the construction of the
bridge across the Willamette river at
Springfield for the Henderson-Spring-
field cutoff branch line, which will be
built immediately. The people of Eu
gene herald the news of the beginning
of the work on this line with great sat
isfaction. They have looked for it long
and earnestly. It means the making
of Eugene a terminus for all trains on
the Woodburn-Natron and Springfield-
Wendling branches, increasing the pop
ulation of the city considerably by the
addition of the trainmen and their fam
ilies, and affording the people residing
along the aforesaid branches a quicker
and better means of reaching this city
to do their trading.
Platinum on Santiam.
Lebanon— George B. Whitcomb, who
lives about 30 miles above Lebanon on
the South Santiam river, reports hav
ing discovered platinum in paying
quantities. A quantity of black river
sand was sent to the government assav
office at Washington, D. C., and partly
concentrated sand went $50 to the tow,
while reconcentrated sand went as high
as $175 to the ton. Mr. Whitcomb has
sent other samples to the government
assayer at the Lewis and Clark fair.
He expects an expert in a few days who
will make a thorough examination.
Mr. Krebs at Dallas.
Dallas— Growers report the Krebs
hop pool meeting in Dallas a success in
every respect. A ll those present are
said to have signed up, and the scheme
in this vicinity seems to be progressing,
while news comes from other hop local
ities in this county indicating that
Polk county w ill be quite generally in
the poo). Evidently the project is giv
ing speculators considerable concern.
It is reported that Salem speculators,
were here the day of the meeting.
Appeal to Government for Protection
Against Outlaws.
Seattle, July 18.— Miners operating
on the creeks near Fairbanks, Alaska,
have appealed to the United States
government for protection from out
laws who are terrorizing that district.
General Constance Williams, in com
mand of the Department of the Colum
bia, has been instructed by the War
department to investigate, and if condi
tions are as bad as the miners claim,
troops w ill be rushed into the Tanana
country.
The telegraph lines into
Fairbanks are dow’n and General W il
liams’ investigation is likely to be de
layed for several days. In the mean
time a large Alaska community is ter
rorized, for the situation is even worse
than that which existed at Skagwav
during the “ Soapy Smith” days.
Telegraphic advices from the North
declare that hold-ups and the boldest of
robberies are becoming so frequent that
an attack on some of the banks is
feared by the miners. The mine owners
are afraid to either bring tbeir dust
into town or keep it at their camps.
The outlaws are holding up strong pack
trains and robberies at camps are so
numerous that they have become ex
pected.
The miners in the Tanana country
have but a few weeks in which to make
their annual cleanup and the depreda
tions of the outlaws threaten the year’s
business. The district about Fairbanks
has had a remarkable winter and the
cleanup would be the heaviest in the
camp’ s history if the miners are able
to work. Fear of losing everything by
robbery is holding back the spring
clean-up.
Independence for Corea.
Honolulu, July 18. — Coreane here
have raised a fund to send Rev. P. T.
Yon, a Corean Methodist minister, to
Washington to see President Roosevelt
for the purpose of asking (hat efforts
be made by the United States in the
forthcoming negotiations to bring about
P O R T L A N D M AR K E TS.
an agreement by which the Corean na
tion w ill become independent within
Wheat — Club, 82®83c per bushel; 20 years if it shows fitness for self-
bluestem, 89®90c; valley, 85c.
government.
Rev. Mr. Yon will so
B arley,— Feed, $21.50®22 per ton; licit the good offices of President Roose
rolled, $23®24.
velt to ask Japan to grant independ
Oats— No 1 white, fetal, $29®30 per ence as the United States did Cuba.
ton; gray, $29.
Hay — Timothy, $14@16 per ton;
O f f for the North Pole.
clover. $S®9.
New York, July 18.— The Roosevelt,
F ru its— Apples, new, $1.50®1.85 in which Captain Robert E. Peary
per box; apricots, 90c@$l per crate; hopes to reach the north pole, started
peaches, 80(390c per crate; plums, 65c on her long voyage today. Captain
(385c per crate; Loganberries, $1.25 Peary and a party of guests were on
per crate; blacklierries, 10c per pound; board at the start, and remained with
cherries, 7 ® 1 2 4 c per pound; currants, the ship on her trip down the bay, but
8c per pound; prunes, 8 5 c® $ l; rasp they left her at the narrows, returning
berries, $1.25 per crate.
to the city on a navy tug. Captain
Vegetables— Beans, l® 4 c per pound;
P ary started tonight by rail for 8yd
cabbage, l ® l l4c per pound; cauli ney, Cape Breton, where he w ill join
flower, 75®90c per dozen; celery, 90c the ship.
per dozen; corn, 20® 2 7 4 c per dozen;
cucumbers, 4 0 0 75c per dozen; lettuce,
Captain King in Blackmar’ s Place
head, 10c per dozen; parsley, 25c per
Baltimore, July 18.— By the death of
dozen; peas, 2(35c per pound; toma
toes, $1.25(33 per crate; turnips, $1.25 General Plackmar, Captain John R.
(31.40 per sack; carrots, $1.25(31.50 King, of this city, senior vice com
mander in chief, becomes, under the
per sack; beets, $1(31.25 per sack. ,
Potatoes— Oregon, new, 75c(3$ 1 per laws of the G. A. R., acting command-
er-in-chief, and w ill continue such un
sack.
Butter— Fancy creamery, 174@21 l4c til the next National encampment.
Captain King is pension agent for
per pound.
Eggs— Oregon] ranch, 22(323c per Maryland, District of Columbia, V ir
ginia and West Virginia, and has an
dozen.
Poultry— Average old hens, 124<S office in Washington.
1 3 4 c ; mixed chickens, 12(3124c; old
roosters, 9® 10c; young roosters, 11(3
12c; turkeys ».live, 18® 19; geese, live,
7 4 ® 8 c ; ducks, old, 13c; ducks, young.
15c per pound.
Hops— Choice 1904, 16® 19c per
pound.
Woo’.— Eastern Oregon average best,
19® 21c; lower grades down to 15c, ac
cording to shrinkage; valley, 25®27c
per pound; mohair, choice, 31c per
pound.
Beef — Dressed bulls,
1 ® 2c per
pound; cows, 3 4 0 4 4 c .
Mutton — Dressed, fancy, 5c per
pound: ordinary, 4c.
Veal— Dressed, 3®7c per pound.
Pork— Dieased 6®7 4 c per pound.
j CLAIMS
•
INNOCENCE
i
Williamson Denies Entering Plot
to Suborn Perjury.
KNEW GESNER LOANED MONEY
Cross Examination by District Attor
ney Heney Brings Out This
Fact from Witness
Portland, July 18.— After the coun
sel for the defense places several wit
nesses on the stand this morning to
show that the timber claim of Marion
K. Biggs, one of the defendants in the
trial of Representative Williamson and
Dr. Gesner, was valuable for timber,
all of the evidence w ill have been laid
before the jury. By refusing to permit
the defense to place on the stand a long
list of witnesses to prove the good char
acter of tne three defendants, Judge De
Haven shortened the trial and for the
next few days the courtroom w ill be
ringing with the voices of the attorneys
making their argument to the jury.
Yesterday morning Representative
Williamson took the stand in bis own
behalf and declared to the jury that bo
was innocent of the charge of conspir
ing to cause certain applicants for gov
ernment timber land to commit perjury.
He was inclined to be combative under
cross-examination but District Attorney
Heney, apparently had no desire to
press the witness to the point where he
would lose his temper. During the di
rect and redirect examination, Repre
sentative Williamson frequently turned
full upon the jury and delivered bis
evidence at various times
directly
at the 12 men who w ill later pass judg
ment upon him. Naturally his testi
mony was the feature of the day, and
while he made a good witness for him
self, Mr. Heney nevertheless got ad
missions from him that tended to show
that he knew that Gesner was making
loans to entrymen.
T O T A K E V L A D IV O S T O K .
Japanese Hope to Capture Fortress
Before Envoys Reach America.
Tokio, July 18.— Judging from the
activity at present being displayed at
the Navy department, it seems certain
the investment of Vladivostok can be
expected before the end of this week.
A ll arrangements are known to have
been completed, and it is reported, evi
dently upon the best authority, that
Admiral Togo’ s entire fleet w ill sail
from Sasebo before nightfall. In addi
tion, an army ol invasion, which was
landed from transports in Peter the
Great bay very recently, ,is already
moving to complete the investment by
land. Since June 1, 50 ocean-going
foreign-steamers have been placed un
der the Japanese flag, laden with am
munition and supplies, and will accom
pany Togo’s fleet.
It is the hope of the Japanese gov
ernment that Vladivostok w ill be taken
before the peace envoys land on United
States soil. With this object in view,
nothing is to be left undone to make
the campaign, as planned, brief and
eminently successful.
HEAT IS KILLING.
Temperature in Metropolis o f United
States Causes Prostrations
New York, July 18.— After a respite
of one day. the hot wave that swept
over New York last week, causing scores
of deaths and hundreds of cases of pros
trations, returned today with renewed
intensity, the temperature being by far
the highest of the season.
Thu highest point reached was at 4
o’ clock in the afternoon, »h en the
weather bureau thermometer touched
95 degrees. In the streets, however,
the beat was much greater, some ther
mometers recording as high as 103.
While the heat was intense, the air
was stirred by light breeze, and the
general suffering was somewhat miti-
g'ated by the absence of the excessive
humidity that prevailed last week.
It
was largely owing to this that only two
cases ol death directly resulting from
heat were reported.
Nothing to Investigate.
Caracas, July 18.— Venezuelans were
very much surprised on receiving the
news that President Roosevelt bad ap
pointed Judge Calhoun a special com
missioner to Venezuela to investigate
the claims of America. The Constitu
tion, the government organ, says: “ If
the claims of Americans or others ex
isted, they would have been already
heard before competent authorities. It
may be the president requires infor
mation regarding the case of the New
York Jt .Bermudez Arhpalt company,
which is still pending.”
Ripe Fruit Can Be Carried.
Sacramento, Cal., July 18.— Harold
Powell, of the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, says he baa
demonstrated conclusively that ripe
fruit, well refrigerated before shipment
w ill arrive sound under ordinary rail
road refrigeration, even after being
from 10 to 15 days on the way.
Rapid Transit for London,
London, July 18.— A bulky bluehook
tonight contains the report of the royal
commission on hcoinotive transport in
London. The advisory board of engin
eers recommends the construction of
two main avenues through London, 140
feet wide and between four and five
miles long, carrying lour lines of tram
ways on the surface and four lines of
railways below the surface. It is esti
mateli that the cost ol construction w ill
be £12,000,000.
Packing Plant is Destroyed.
Columbus, O., July 18.— The plant
of the Columbus Parking company on
the South Side, was destroyed by fire
today. Lose. $185,000.
The fire ia
believed to have been of incendiary
origin.
Assistant Engineer o f Canal.
San Antonio, Tex., July 18.— Jackson
Smith, formerly passenger agent of the
National railroad of Mexico, has been
appointed assistant to Chief Engineer
Stevens, of the Panama canal, accord
ing to a telegram received here tonight.