NINEGREATCANALS
THE ARTIFICIAL SHIP CHANNELS OF
WORLD IMPORTANCE.
interest Therein Is Particularly Keen at
the Present Time because of tha
Pamm Agitation-Enormous Sum o
Money llxpendcd In Their Construe
tlon Sues the Most Important.
"Washington, Dec. 2. Tho renewed
attention being given to tho proposed
isthmian canal nt this tlmo lends es
pecial Interest to a discussion ot tho
great canals of tho world, presented by
tho department of com me at) and labor
through its bureau ot statistics.
Tho Sues canal Is usually considered
tho most important example ot ship
canals, though tho number of vessels
passing through it annually does not
equal that pas-dug through tho canals
connecting Lato Superior with tho
chain of great lakes nt tho south. In
length, however, it exceeds any of tho
other great ship canals, its total length
being 00 miles. 1 ho original cost was
105,000,000, and for the canal In its
present form slightly in excess ot$ 100,
000,000. Tho revenue, of tho canal . is
apparently largo in proportion to its
coat, tho Statesman's Yearbook for
1001 giving tho net profits ot 1800 nt
54,153,000 francs, and tho total
amount distributed among tho share
holder 51,533,023 francs, or nbout 10
per rent ot tho estimated cost of $100,
000,000. Tho canal connecting tho Bay ot
Cronstadt with St. Petersburg is des
cribed as a work of, great strategic and
commercial importance to Russia.
Tho canal and sailing course in tho
Bay of Constadt arc about 10 miles
long, tho canal proper being nbout six
miles and tho bay channel about ten
miles, acd they together extend from
Cronstadt, on tho gulf of Finland, to
St. Petersburg. Tho canal was opened
in 1800. The total cost is estimated at
about $10,000,000.
The next of tho great ship canals
connecting bodies ot salt water in the
order of dato of construction is tho
Corinth canal, which connects tho gulf
of Corinth with tho gulf of Aeglna.
Tho canal reduces tho distance from
adriatlc ports about 175 miles and
from Mediterranean ports aliout 100
miles. Its length is about four miles.
There arc no locks, as is also tho case
in both tho Suez and Cronstadt canals.
The work was begun in 1884 and com
pleted in 1603 at a cost of about $5,
000.000. , .
Tho Manchester ship canal, which
connects Manchester, England, with
tho Mersey river, Liverpool, and tho
Atlantic ocean was opened for traffic
January 1,1804. Tho length ot tho
canal is 35 K miles, tho total rise from
othe water level to Manchester being
60 feet, which is divided between tour
seta of locks. Tho total cost ot tho
canal is given at f75.000.000. Tho
revenue in 1001. according to the
Statesman's Yearbook, was 021,128
pounds, and tho working expenses,
483.207 pounds.
Two canals connect tho Baltic and
North seas through Germany, the
first, known as tho Kaiser Wliholm
canal, and having been completed in
1805 and constructed largely for mili
tary and naval purposes, but proving
also of great value to general mercan
tile traffic. Work upon tho Kaiser
Wllhelm canal was begun in 1887, and
completed as above indicated, in 1805.
Tho lentgh of the canal is 01 miles, the
terminus in the Baltic sea being at
Kiel. Tho total excavation amounted
to about 100,000,000 cubic yards, and
tho cost to aliout 140,000,000.
Tho Wplland canal connects Lake
Ontario and Lako Erie on the Canadian
sldo of the river. It was constructed
in 1883 and enlarged in 1871 and again
in 1000. Tho length of thn canal is 27
miles, tho nurnler of locks 25, the total
rise of lockage 327 feet, and the total
cost about $25,000,000. The annual
collection of tolls on freight, pnswin
gem and vessels averages about $225,
000, and the canal Is open on an aver
age about 240 days In a year.
Tho canals of Eault Ste. Marie,
Mich., and Ontario, are located adja
cent to the falls of tho St. Mary's river,
which connects Lake Superior with
Lako Huron and lower or raise vassols
from one level to tho other, a height of
17 to 20 feet. Tho canal bolonging to
tho United States was begun In 1853
by the stato of Michigan and opened In
1855, the length of tho cannl being 5,
074 feet, and provided with two tandem
locks, tho original cost being $1,000,.
000. Tho United States government,
by consent of tho state, began in 1870
to'enlarge the canal, and by 1881 had
increased its length to 1.0 miles. Tho
state relinquished all control of the
canal in March, 1882. In 1887 the
government further enlarged tho canal.
, Tho Canadian canal, 1J6 miles long,
was" built on tho north sldo of tho rlvor
during tho years 888 to 1805.
DaVnta Divorces Null and Void.
Des Moines, la., Dec. 2. Judge
James A. Howe, of tho district court,
held today that a decreo granted un
dor tho Dakota divorco statutes, if it is
proven tho non resident litigant re
sides there merely for tho purpposo of
securing a divorce, is null and roidj
WAR CLOUD UONH.
Russia and Japan lltlcct an Agreement
In Corcn and Manchuria.
Paris, Dee. 3. Tho Assocclated Press
learns that Jnpun and Russia arc on tho
verge ot n settloninotof tho Fur Eastern
controversy, with h promises to dissi
pate tho war cloud that has Iwcu hang
ing over both countries, mils settle
ment will lie tho result ot tho negotia
tions which have lieen impending for
somo tlmo past) and which were assist
id by tho friendly representations of
Franco to Russia and ot Great Britain
to Japan, Tho two nations havo prac
tically agreed upon tho basis of a treaty,
tho signing of which cxn bo prevented
only by some unexpected development.
Tho bawls of this forthcoming agree
ment follows:
Russia will accept tho two agree
nirnts entered into by Japan and Corvn,
dated 1800 ami 1803, respectively,
under which Japan secured various
rights in Corvn, including tho mainten
ance ot a garrison nt Seoul. In ex
change for this concession, Japan will
accept ltus-ta's treaty with China re
specting Manchuria. It ii M loved,
though this cannot bo stated positively,
that Jaiian and Russia will reiterate
their support of tho principles of tho
uoHn door" and tho integrity of China
and Orea.
In diplomatic and official circles hero
much gratification is expressed nt tho
Mitisfactory stage iion which tho ne
gotiations between Russia and Japan
have now entered. Information has
nxn received hero to tho effect that
Japan is constructing at Seoul barracks
for 1,000 men, though she now main
tains only 500 in the Corean capital.
This is accepted as an indiintlou that
Japan contemplates tho strentghvning
of her garrison at fccoul.
CRUISER SBARCHOS FOR UOUOTA.
Pirate
Ship Much Wanted by
Doth
America and Panama.
San Francisco, Dec. 3. Tho Ilttlo
gunboat Bogota, which left here Octo
ber 7 of last year for Panama to sweep
tho seas of all enemies of tho Colom
bian government, has becomo tho object
of search ot tho United States men of
war. A letter received yesterday from
an officer of tho cruiser Boston, dated
at Panama, states that tho Cruiser had
just returned from a three days search
for the Bogota, which has been de
clared a pirate, and is much wanted by
tho new republic of Panama and tho
American warships.
When .tho new isthmian republic
hoisted its Hag, tho Bogota, controlled
by tho Colombians, hastily weighed
her anchor, and after firing npon tho
city, put for tho open sea with tho Pa
, put for ho open sea with tlio !'
i, her ers while enemy In the form-
ebelllon, in hot pursuit. Tho Pa-
i is not tho equal of tho Boogta,
dilla
cr rebellion
dilla
and soon was distanced.
Tho Bogota was at last acounta be-
lioved to 1)0 hovering somewhero in tho
vicinity of Panama by, for reports were I
received at tho isthmus that tho vessel
had captured two Eng Hah merchant
vessels. A reward of $50,000 for tho
capture of the Bogota was immediately
offered by tho English government.
Tho gunboat is disowned by tho Colom
bian government, which sees in her
acts of piracy no end of trouble.
MAN'S FINQER 15 SUNT B8LL.
Letter Say Ear and Head Will Follow
If Troops Remain.
Denver, Dec. 3. Adjutant General
Bell today revolved from Tellurido a
letter wrapped around a human finger.
Tho letter stated tho finger belonged
to a man who disappeared from Tell
nrido some time ago, and stated if tho
troops wero not withdrawn from Tell
urido tho man's ears and then his head
would follow in a few days. Tho letter
was signed "8 N."
A physician who uxamincd tho finger
said it was evidently out off shortly be
fore tho letter was mailed.
It develops tonight that tho bloody
flngor camo from tho officu of a local
surgeon, and it is charged that it was
sent to General Bell us a Joke by cer
tain nowKpapor reporters, Gonural
Bell tonight issued a statement, in
which he declares ho has placed thn'
matter in tho hands of tho postal
authorities, and no effort will bo spared
to secure tho apprehonison and punish
ment of tho parties responsible for tho
hoax.
Panama Commlsilonc'rs Start Home.
New York, Dec. 3. Dr. M. Amador
and Fredorico Boyd, stectal commis
sioners from tho republic of Panama,
sailed for Colon today on tho steamer
Seguranca, having completed their
treaty mission to this country in two
weeks. It is expected that as soon as
they reach tho isthmus a constitution
will bo framed and arrangements madu
for the early election of a president
and other permanent officials for tho
republic. Carlos Arosema remains at
Washinton ns secretary of tho now le
gation. To Prolong Presidential Term.
Mexico City, Deo. 3. An important
bill is before the chamber of doputies
looking to tho amendment of tlio con
stitution, so as to prolong tho presi
dential term to eight years. This
measure has somo influential sup-porteis.
-' i ' i. i i I, 1 1 1,,
HAPPENINGS HERE IN OREGON
SCHOOL FUNDS IN DUMANO.
Borrowers Turn to Stat When Market
lleitlns to Tighten.
Salum Tho Indications of n slowly
tightening money market aro tending
to increase tho demands for loans from
tho statu school funds. Tho statu loan
board last week approved applications
fur loans to tho amount of 100,315.
Earlier in the mouth applications wore
approved to tho amount ot $30,000,
making a total of about $100,000 put
out In loans during November.
Tho demand for school fund loans
may bo accounted for by two circum
stances. Tho state Is lending at as low
n rate of interest as can be secured any
where, and in caw of hard times the
statu will not lw forced to call in its
inonoy. An applicant' a few days ago
wanted to Isirrnw inonoy from tho
school fund in order to transfer his
loan. Ho then hail money from n pri
vate capitalait at 0 pur cent. In stat
ing his reason foe wanting to chango
tho loan, ho raid he thought it possible
that theru might lw u stringency In tho
money market within tho next year or
two and ho was afraid his creditor
might need tho money. Ho know that
tho stato would not need tho money
and that his loan from tho school fund
could stand as long at tho security re
mained good and tho interest was kept
paid up.
Tho rato of interest charged by tho
stato is 0 per cent. Tho security re
quired by tho stato is greater than that
generally required by private capital
ists, so that many find it Inconvenient
to borrow from tho school fund. On
November 1 tho stato had $2,778,100
loaned out on mortgage security and
$03,000 on school bonds, or a total of
$2,841,700.
Every dollar of this Is loaned on se
curity that Is perfectly sate. On tho
first ot tho month there was cash in
tho school fund to tho amount ot $045,
432.80. Since that tlmo somo loans
havo been paid and $100,000 moro has
been loaned out.
UliT TIMI1DR CHGAP.
Rich Tract Near Dcnd does to an East
Concern. Salem Ono of tho largest deeds ever
executed by (he statu land board was
issued n few days ago when 15,853
acre of laud wvro conveyed by n single
nitrument to the A. J. Dwycr plno
,,, com,mny of 8t. iuI Mlnn, Tll0
,aml , , 0 jyVKmXcn j,!no Mi
uthwest of Bend. Tho consideration
of tho transaction Is $10,817, or $1.25
per acre.
Tim .itirrtinan warn ninitii In Ifillft
t, ' ,,,, f ,i.., !.! wi. i a
BOro M 10 ,aml WM BCjwle) ,,.
. nnv Mt,,,.,ivo buvini. iin, .,.
done in that legion, this Is proltahty
tho best of the Doschutes plno lands,
and was secured nt nn exceeding low
price, especially in view of tho advance
in tho valuo of timber lands In tho last
Ave years.
In tho original purchase 02 Certifi
cates of sale were Issued to as many
different imtsoiis, and all then) wero
later assigned to tho Dywer company.
Premiums for flood Roads,
Salem Tho Greater Salem commer
cial club has adopted a resolution pro
viding a plan by which tho city will
stimulate tho building of vpormancnt
highways leading into tho city. There
aro five road districts adjacent to Salem.
Tho club will ralso a pttrso of $2,000
and divide it into premiums ot $800,
$000, $400 and $200, to lw awarded to
tho road districts according to the
amount of money or InlMir volunteered
by tho residents of tho districts for
tHirmuuuut road building. It is pro
vided, however, that no premium shall
bo awarded for moro than 40 per cent
of tho valuo of tho amount volunteered.
Cordwood Will tie Scarce.
Salem It Is apparent that cordwood
will bo scarce and high priced ogniu
next season. For several weeks tho
stato boards havo been advertising for
8,000 cords of wood to 1m furnished to
tho state Institutions next summer.
Tho bids opened aggreagtcd lesi than
4,000 cords, find tho figures named
wore $2.05 for seoond growth and $3.50
for old growth, tho latter price being
on board tho cars, making tho price
delivered $3.75, Tho bids were asked
this early In order that men might
havo plenty of tlmo to fill contracts,
but tho bids wero comparatively low.
Dasswood lllossoms for Dees,
Oregon City Hermann Anthony, of
Now Era, this county, is believed to
havo on his property tho onlybasswood
trees in tho state, Mr. Anthony
planted this variety for tho benefit tho
trees aro to his largo apiury, which
consists of moro than 100 standH of
bees, When in bloom tho trees uro
invaluable for houoy-makliig, whflo
tho wood is especially adapted for man
ufacturing boxes. This vurloty of
trees is very general In Ohio, Pennsyl
vania, Illinois and many others of tho
central and eastern states,
SWAMP LAND CONTIJST.
State Hoard (Irants Application of Mars
ters and Associates)
Salem The stato land hoard has de
cided tho content over 7,000 acres of
unsurvoyed swamp land near upper
Klamath lake, by awarding to Sena
tor A. 0. Marstors and associates nil
tho laud for which thoy havo applied
and upon which there Is lift contesting
application, but nil tho other swamp
laud in tho tract will bu advertised for
sale nud sold to the highest bidder.
This decision permits tho Marsters
people to purchase nbout 4,000 acres
ot swamp land at $1 per ucro, while
tho remaining 2,400 acres will bo sold
at auction. As tho laud Is not sur
veyed tho statu has not acquired com
plete title and nil purchasers will (hi
required to waive nil claim to recover
the purchase price If the tltlu should
fall.
Tho Ismrd nlso made a rule to tho
effect that hereafter when application
Is mado for tho purchase of iiusurveycd
swamp laud ami there Is no contest,
tho board will take Its own means of
ascertaining the value and tho price nt
which It will 1h sold, hut where theru
ts a contest the laud will Imi sold to tho
highest bidder.
The contestants In this case wero J.
I). Carr and others, of Klamath
county.
CLACKAMAS POTATO CROP.
Successful Yields are Heine Shipped to
San Francisco.
Oregon City Tho potato crop of
Clackamas county was very generally
a success this year, yields exceeding
200 bushels nu aero having been re
ported. Particularly In tho vicinity
of Now Era was the crop of tubers
prolific.
Georgu Brown, an extensive grower
at that point, reports a yield of 700
bushels from 34 acres. Mr. Brown's
crop consisted of Garnet Chill, tho
Peerless and Burbanks. Farmers ro
ceivu 75 cents a sack nud the product
of this 'locality is shlpju-d almost ex.
cluslvoly to Snu Francisco,
Frequent shipments of tnrload lots
aro being made from New Era, and it
Is estimated that from 15,000 to 17,
000 sacks will Iw marketed this year
from that point. As a rule tho crop
in this county is ot good quality.
Plenty of Feed In John Day.
John Day Joseph Oliver, for many
years tho leading dairyman of Grant
county, says that tho recent rains,
warm nud bountiful, have placed the
stockmen on a basis of practical cer
tainty ns to having ample feed for their
stock in tho John Day valley. Mr.
Oliver lias always Ih-oii inclined to lake
a hojHiful view of tho stork nud feed
supply situation, nud vigorously denied
tho reported scarcity o! hay. Ho now
points to tho fact that a largo Milliliter
of both sheep anil cattlo have !ccn
driven into tho valley.
PARTLAND MARKETS.
Wheat Walla Walla, 72c; bliiestom,
77os volley. 78c.
Barley Peed, $10 per ton: brewing,
$20320.50; rolled, $21.
Flour Vnlley, $3.75(33.85 per bar
rol; hard wheat straights, $3.0034.10;
clenrs, $3.553.75; hard wheat pat
ents, $4.20(34.50; graham, $3.75;
whole wheat, $4; ryo wheat, $4.75(35.
Oats No. 1 white, $1.07J; gray,
$1.05 iHir rental.
Mlllstuffs Bran, $10 por ton;
dllngs, $23; shorts, $20; chop,
linseed, dairy food, $10.
Hay Timothy, $15010 ncr
mid
$18; ton;
clover, $12; grain, $12; cheat, $12
Vegetables Turnips, 05o ier sack;
carrots, 76c; licots, 00cj parsnips, 76
(300c; cahbago, 101ic; tomatoes, $1
(31.25 per crate; cauliflower, 76c$l
per down; celery, 4090o; pumpkins,
lc per pound; onions, Yellow Duuvers,
fl0c$l per sack.
Honey $3(33.60 per case,.
Potatoes Oregon, tholeo and fancy,
003l5o per sack; common, 50:;
sweet potatoes, wicks, 2o; boxes, 2Jo.
Fruits Apples, 76c$2 er box;
pears, $1(3.60; cranberries, $0(310,60
per barrel.
Butter Fancy creamery, 3032Jdc
per pound; dairy, 20(322 Jjfc; store,
15 16 He.
Cheese Full cream, twins, 14(3l5c;
Young America, ISdJlfic.
Poultry Chickens, mixed, Oo tier
pound; spring, 10c hens, 10a turkeys,
live, 10014c dressed, nominal ducks.
$0(37 jwr dozen; geeso, 8c per pound,
Kgfg Oregon ranch, 36o; Eastern,
267317 io.
Beof Dressed, 6(30 Hfe per pound.
Veal Dressed, small,' 8o; largo, 6o
por pound.
Mutton Dressed, 60c; lambs,
dressed, (I He
Pork Dressed, 0(3(1 Ho.
Hops 1003 crop, 12(322o por pound,
according to quality,
'fullow Prime, per pound, 4(3Cc;
No. 2 and grcaso, 23a.
Wool Vnlloy, 17018c; Eastorn
Oregon, 12015c; mohair, 35037c.
DROPS WAR PLAN,
(leneral Reyes Finds Such Talk Don't.
Affect America,
Witslilutou, Dec. 2, Dr. llorran,,
the. Colombian minister, has allomed
nil tho iiicmlcrs of tho ltuyeii party
and tho llollvar commission. ,Tho
Colombians are now holding warm con
ferences, In which thoy am attempt
ing to find out Just what steps should
bo taken to bring tho South American
republic out of tho present squahblo hi
tho best form. Geuetal I ley en Is
known to have undergone a chango of
mind ns to the liest method of looking
after his country's Interests hero. War
talk did not make any impression upon
the United States. It U now presumed
that Dr. Ilerrau's ndvlco Is UiIhi taken,
nud an attempt will now probably lie,
mado to bring Colombia out of tho
muddle with all tho money possible.
The return of Panama to tho Colom
bian union, nud tho retraction of all
tho steps taken by tho United Htatos
government, aro so far out of tho ques
tion tlint they will probably not ho
suggested.
Repiq-ts from tho United Stales min
ister nt Bogota nud other sources that
war talk in Colombia Is becoming morn
widespread call attention to tho fa ill
that eeu If General Reyes' mission to
tho United States accomplishes no
other puroo, It will servo tlmo for
tho Colombian armies to mnhntUo nud
equip in case a campaign should I hi
undertaken against tho Isthmus. It Is
now coiicccdcd that tho pawtgn of
troops by land from Colombia to tho
isthmus Is not Impossible. ',
rOSTOFI'ICU FRAUDS.
Figures Telling What the Oovernment
Lost by Corrupt Olflclals.
Washington, Dec. 2. Tim amount,
of money secured by tho corrupt olllo
lals and their confederates Is small,
ns compared to tho total loss to tho
government. To illustrate: There Is
no evidence that Iula received any
compensation from Atilt k Wlborg,
yet (luring tho first year of his ad
ministration tho exiHUidlturcs for can
celing Ink Increased over $10,000.
Barrett received hut $0,000 from,
Arnold, yet that company defrauded
tho ixoplo out of over $3,000,000.
Macheu probably did not receive
moro than $20,000 from tho Groft fas
tener. Yet the government has paid
approximately $130,000 for that do1
vico, which represents a nut loss, since
the department continued, by tho
terms of the contract for letter boxes,
to pay for tho original fasteners.
Beavers and his atsoclato received
less than $20,000 from tho automatic
cashier. Yet tho department ex-
landed $74,276 for this wholly un
necessary machine.
The total amount that thn H!rpotra
tors of theso frauds themselves received
cannot lm definitely 'learned, but It
will aggregate between $30,000 and
$400,000, while tho loss to tho gov
ernment, considering tho uniiccoi'usry
supplies that havo been purcthaiH'd
and tho Inferior quality of thosu'fur
iiishcd by fraudulent contractors, can
not ho estimated with any degree of
accuracy.
VIRTUALLY SHUT OUT POWHU5.
Russia and Austria Propose to Have Ac.
tual Control of Macedonia.
London, Dee. 2. Tho Chronlulo
learns of a curious episode. When tho
appointment of Eurocau officers to
tho Turkish gendarmerlu In Macedonia
wan proposed, Great Britain asked that
three English officers lie appointed,
thinking that each of tho other powers
would rrqulro tho appointment of u
similar huiiiIht. Thu government of
Austro-lltingary, however, demanded
the appointment of 1H0 Austrian offi
cers, and Russia asked for nn equal
numlwr of Russian officers, tho obvious
Intention on tho part of Austria nud
Russia lR-Ing tho exclusion of all other
powers from any real share In the
control of the gendarmerie.
Tho Chronicle says tho directors of
tho Macedonian relief fund havo re
ceived advices that pnoiimnnln and
plcnrlsy aro working havoo among tho
refugees in tho burned villages as tho
results of exposure nud destitution.
Russia Branching Out. ,
Imdon, Dec. 2. Tho Times' Peklu
correspondent says that small nMcn
of Russian troops aro patrolling thu
country around Hsluinliitun, tho ter
mination of a branch lino of tho rail
way lietween thu great wall and Nlu
Chwang, on tho pretext of suppressing
brigands, although thu region is per
fectly quiet and peaceful, Tho Chi
neso aro daily expecting to hear that
the Russians 'havo occupied tho rail
road there and havo resumed military
occupation of tho country down to tho
great wall.
China Will Retaliate'
Loudon, Dec. 2. Tho Morning Post
says it has reason to bollevu thu Chi
nese government has prohibited thn
recruiting of laborers for South Africa
in uny part of China. "This 'decis
ion," says tho Morning Post, "Is main
ly duo to legislation by tho Dominion
of Canada excluding tho Chinese from
Canadian territory,"