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AT THECANAL
Work at Panama Progress
ing Satisfactorily.
COMMISSION REVIEWS WORK ON
Cost of Excavating Material lias
Dccn Reduced Nearly 30 Cents
Per Cubic Yard.
Washington, Oct. 14. Members of
tlio Panama cnnal commission now in
Washington called today by appoint
ment on President Roosevelt. A short
tlmo afterward, John ilarrett, Ameri
can minister to 1'annniA, had a confer
eucc with the. president. The. commis
sion remained with the president alnnit
half an hour. As they loft the execu
tive, olllce they said tho visit was a
"purely complimentary call" on the
president and was without special alg
ni Ilea nee. It is known, howevet, that
they discussed with him the conditions
on the isthmus of Panama which have
ariseii since the acquisition by this
country of an Amciicnn zone, and the
differences between the commission and
the government of Panama. What,' if
any, conclusions were m a. 'lied was not
disclosed.
The commissioners left with tha
president a memorandum giving In de
tail tlio work accomplished on the Uth
rant. Surveying patties are at work in
the vicinty of Colon, making plans and
estimates foi an inner harbor; also at
Uutan, surveiyng and boring at the
various proponsl dam sites in that
neighborhood, and for a cut-off between
Gutan and Tiger Hill. At Itohio the
surveyors aie making detailed surveys
and studies and investigating the vari
ous damsltes that have been proposed
in tnat locality.
An engineering corps along the main
line of the canal in the vicinltv of Cut
ebra is making surveys to determine
the feasibility of straightening the lines
of the French company and to determ
ine the amount of material removed
and to be removed in accordance with
the different canal plans under consid
eration. Another engineering force is
constructing a re-ervoir in the valley of
tho upper Hlo Grande, which will furn
ish n minimum supply of 2,000,000
gallons of water a day (or the City of
Panama; also a distributing reservoir
fur the City of Panama at Ancon. It
is also making surveys and estimates
tor a sewerage system for Colon ami
plans are being prepared for the con
struction of a harbor there.
The average amount of material tak
en cat of the Culberacut has been from
1,000 to 1,600 cubic yards a day. Tins
is with the me of old French machin
ery available. Three modern steam
shovels, which are to be put at work
on Culebra Hill, will increase the cut
five feet.
In August, the unit cost of excavat
ing material was rut to 60J? rents a
cubic yard, while during the time
Major lilack was in charge of the cnnal
work the cost, according to the Frtnrh
method of excavation, was 70 cents a
cubic yard.
EXCHANGE IDEAS ON WARSHIPS.
Important Conference Attended
by
British Expert.
Washington, Oct. 14. An important
.conference was held at the White
House this evening by tho president.
Admiral Dewey, Secretary of the Navy
Morton, Sir William White, formerly
naval eh'ef of the Ilritish navy, Ad
miral Cuppes, chief naval constructor
of the United States navy, Ittar Admir
al Converse, chief of l.urean of naviga
tion, Hear Admiral Frederick Rodger,
Rear Admiral R. I). Kvuns and Com
mander Sims, inspector of target prac
tice of the United States navy. The
general subject of battleship construc
tion was considerrd at the conference,
views beintt exchanged between Mr
William White and the Amerhai
naval officers.
The conference was called by the
president, Sir William While being
asked to attend. Sir William favored
the construction of fighting ships and
not those that could run away. This
met with the president's approval.
The idea found favor to have sold many
o! the gunboats and cruisers, purchased
during tho recent war, which are
maintained at great expense, and whose
complement of office is could lo UFed
advantageously on the new battleships.
Dewey Offers to Assume Command.
Washington, Oct. 14. Admiral
Dewey has again offered to assume com
mand of the combined fleet In the Car
ibbean sea and direct the winter man
euvers. If ills per vices can be spared
from the presidency of the general
board at that time Secretary Morton
will certainly accept the admiral's
offer. It is probable the admiral will
leavo in the Mayflower early in the
new year and assume command of the
fleet at Guantanarno. the fleet will
reach Guantanarno between January 8
and 10.
Snow Palls in New York. .
New York, Oct. 14. The first snow
of the season fell at Albany, Schenoct
adv and a number of other places up
the state today. It melted as faet as It
fell.
REGARD DErEAT AS COMPLETE.
London Papers Afjrcc That lUiro
pulkln Has Shot Ills Holt.
London, Oct. 15. Tho London pa
pers have to rely mainly on olllclal re
ports for news from tlio Far Kant, hut
the dispatches thus far received regard
a complete Japanese victory assured,
and cditoraliia from this point of view.
Says the Dally Telegraph:
''General Kuropatkin has shot his
holt. It seemed to bo speeding well
toward tho mark, yet missed It badly.
He has suffered not merely a repulse
but a disastrous defeat, while Japan's
Incomparable soldiers under incompar
able generals lime added another glori
cus page to the chronicle of war and
proved ihit Oyama Is still Kuroput
kin's master in every branch of the art
of war." ,
The Daily Graphic describes General
Kuropatkin's move as a "gambler's
throw," and considers the trunk blunt
nesa of his report to the emperor seems
to speak the language of a man who
has done his best with the bungling
advice of some superior agency.
The Standard rinds General Kuropat
kin's dispatch full of tragic meaning,
while the Daily News argues tho Rus
sian dash southward was prompted by
a desperate desire to relieve Port Arth
ur rather thuu o Viceroy Alexleff's
malign influence, the end of which, in
case of the fall of the fortress, cannot
be far uistaut.
Spencer Wilkinson, in the Morning
Pjet, discussing strategic possibilities,
thinks the issuo will turn upon which
side shall tlrst become exhausted by
the protracted operations.
"Telegrams," he la-'f, "do not yet
reveal the final decision, but they cer
tainly do not point to the scale turn
ing in Russia's favor. It remains to be
seen whether either army kept large
reseres ready to throw in when it be
comes apparent that the forces engaged
have become exhausted."
cost op rceoiNa the army.
Commissary General Reports the
Expenses Reduced to a Minimum.
Washington, Oct. 15. The annual
report of Brigadier General J. F, West
on, commissary general of the army,
says the total cost of feeding tho army
during the past fiscal year was $8,821,
760. During the year the losses were
$418,050 in the Philippines; $7,407 on
the transports and $120,853 in the
United States, Alaska, Porto Rico and
elsewhere.
General Weston says it is difficult
and often impossible to prevent I of so
of perishable stores. General Weston
urgently recommends the passagu of a
bill by congress to give authority to
all officers entrusted with the disburse
ment of subsistence funds to hold re
stricted amounts of such funds In their
personal postession. He says the ex
igencies of the public service require an
open disregard of the restriction of the
existing laws in cities where the treas
urer or an assistant treasurer Is located.
He urges legislation authorizing the
sa e at public auction of accumulated
subsistence stores in good condition.
General Weston says tho problem of
feedimt the army in the Philippine
was a difficult one, but "it has been
successfully solved, and subsistence
affairs in the archipelago are iow run
with system arid economy".
The subsistence department, it is
stated, was able to make a contract for
fresh beef for the fiscal year, 1005, by
which an annual saving of over $140,
000 was effected. The running expense!
gradually hate been ledurtd to a min
imum, the report save, and a saving of
more than $40,000 made in wages of
civilian employes alone.
Wreckage Prom Troopship.
San Franclcso, Oct. 16. Tho tchoon
or Gotarna, which arrived here early
this morning from Kurlle Island, re
ports that on August 4, when 40 miles
south southwest of Capo Curat, she
sighted a mass of floating wreckage,
Slfu made out parts of a mast. Captain
Macomber later succeeded in getting
closer to the wreckage, and established
that it was from the Japanese troop
ship Kinshiu Ma u, which was sunk by
tho Russians last April, when 200 per
ished. Entangled in the wreckage were
a number of headless trunks.
Great Dockworkers' Strike Ends.
.Marseilles, Oct 16. Tho coal heav
ers who have la-en on strike for nearly
two months have aimed to resume
work on the employers' conditions.
This brings the great dockworkers'
J strike to an ml.
DEATH LIST BIG
Twenty-Eight Killed in Mis
souri Train Collision.
SIXTY OTHERS ARE INJURED
Sleeping Pnsscnucrs Hurled lit Ev
cry Direction Scene of Wreck
on Down tirade.
Washington, Oct. 12. Twenty-nine
persons weiu killed and 00 injured by
a collision of Missouri Paelllc trains,
three miles west of Warreitshurg, at 4
o'clock this morning. The trains weru
the second section of passenger train
No. 30, which left Wichita, Kan., fur
St. 1auIs last night and an extra freight
train. Twenty-seven of the dead are
In undertaking rooms In this city and
the seriously wounded are In the rail
riud nospttal in Sodallu.
The passenger train, consisting of
two day couches, a Pullman car and a
caboose, was loaded with world's Mir
excursionists, from Southeast Kanas
and Southwest Missouri. The regular
passenger train, No. U0, had been cut
In two at Pleasant Hill on account ot
the heavy load and hii engine attuehed
lo the front car without a baggage ear
as a buffer.
The extra freight had sidetracked at
Moutserrat for the tlrst section of No.
30, wnich carried signals that a second
Hection was following This was fol
lowed by tHisseniser train No. 60, w lift Ii
the freight crew took (or the seioud
soctlonot.No.au. me ircigui puiicn
out of the sidetrack, und time miles
west met the second section. The im
pact telescoped the tender of the pas
senger engine into the front tar, which
was loaded with wisBengers, and It wan
here that the sucritkcot life took place.
The aisenger conductor, K. 1..
Barms, ran all tho way to Warrens
burg and broke the news of the wreck.
Kvery physician in the town responded,
and huudeds of citlieiis hastened to I
the wreck and assisted the wounded
from beneath the limU'rs of the broken
cars. Twsnty eople weru killed out
right and seven died before H o'clock.
The dead were plmcd upon tlatcars and J
brought to this city, and Dr. Hills, the
coroner, immediately impaneled a Jury I
and suited an inquiry which is still in
session. The afternoon was taken up
In identifying the dead.
WORK ON TREATY.
New Chinese Exclusion Act is
Now
Dclng Considered.
Washington, Oct. 12 Secretary
Hay and Sir Cheng Tung Liang Cheng
have at Unt begun to lay the foundation
for a new Chinese exclusion treaty and
It Is expected the convention will be
ready for submission to the senate at
the approaching session. Tho treaty I
will, it is undeiatood, replace all exist- j
ing laws on the subject. It Is the In-1
tention to continue In full force In the ;
treaty the principle of the exclusion of
Chinese coolies and the Chinese guv-1
eminent itself is perfectly willing that
this should lie dune. Hut the treaty I
will contain provisions regarded as
much needed and earnestly sought by
the Chinese government for many
years, looking to a more considerate,
liberal and kindly treatment of the
higher class of Chinese seeking to enter
our ports.
WILL DO OR DIE.
Kuropatkin Has About Paced and
Will Assume Offensive.
St. Petersburg, Oct. 12. A battle
upon which the fate of this year's cam
paign in Manchuria depends teems
only a few days ahead. Advices from
the front are rncagvr. All that is posi
tively known officially is that General
Kuropatkin has cast the die at last,
alout faced his aimy and Is marching
resolutely against the enemy as if re
solved to do or die. According to un
official reports, Field Mtrshal Oyama,
at the first sign of General Kuropatkin
taking the offensive, began drawing In
his line and concentrating upon forti
fied positions north of Mao Yang Ac
cording to the latest reports, which
are contained in a dispatch to the As.
soclated Press from Muxdon, the Jap
anese outpatH aro being driten in all
along the line.
Scandal Over Stale Hinds.
Topeka, Kan., Oct. 12. Governor
Hal ley today gave out an official report
covering an examination of the state
treasury and school fund accounts,
The reports says: "This examination
has developed shortages, irregularities
and discrepancies nmountlng to many
thousands of dollars in the 12 counties
examined. In my Judgment, tho same
conditions will be found existing in
tho remaining counties of tho siato,
not only In the permanent school (und,
but in tho normal and agricultural
fund.
Stocssel Must Have Help.
London, Oct. 12. Tho morning
Post's Shanghai correspondent rays it
is stated that Lieutenant General Stocs
sel has reported that unices ho is re
lieved before December he must sur
render.
LOSS IS 43(10,000.
I'lrc Destroys llircc lliiainc.vt
Mucks In Wlunlpcil.
Winnipeg, Man., Oct. 13. Fire to
night destroyed thieo of tho lined bus
iness blocks In this city, eutulllug a
loss of at least $800,000. For a time
the liames threatened to spread to ad
Joining buildings, and but for the
splendid wolk of the lite bllgrtde u
much larger money damage would have
been Incurred.
Tho lire started In the new Pullman
block, which was totally destroed.
The Ashdowu Hardware company, on
lliinnutinu street, one of the largest es
tablishment ot Its kind In Canada, was
next attacked by the flame. Many
explosions weru caused by powder and
cartridges curried In the slock of the
hardware company, but no one was In
jured, riie Itlalto block und the Great
Northern tulegraph olllce were also de
stroyed. There Is no estimate of the
amount of Insurance.
The Woodbine hotel block and
D.iftorlnx block were also badly dam
aged. The chief sufferers in those
blocks were the Slater Shoo roiiimuy.
tha Gundy Music company, fabler 'a
photorgaph supplies, ami Haver's sta
tionery slock and Connelly, drugs.
Tho electric light and power service
was cut off on lug to the tire, and all
uewspaptr olllies are In darkness.
I lie Frte Press olllce, in the rear ot the
llulltnaii block, escaped Injury.
JAPANESE GIINIiOAT LOST.
Ilcl Yen Strikes u Mine, and Nearly
200 Person arc Drowned.
Toklo. Oct. 13. The Japanese gun
boat llel Yen struck a mine olt Pigeon
bay on the night of September IH and
foundered. It is officially stated that
ll7 men were lost. Those receded
managed to reach ChUo Pal Island,
from which they were rt"K,uoJ. Per.
mission was today granted by the au
thorities to publish the details of the
disaster.
The llel Von, which was engaged In
guard duty off Pigeon buy, was mleil
by the licet, and a search for the vessel
wt Immediately Iregun. The petty
olll -ers and sailors found on CIiIao Pal
isUud reported thai at dusk on Sep
tember 18 a storm came u nccompnu
led by high seas, 'the llel Yen endeav
ored to return to her base, when she
suddenly struck a lloatiug mine, which
exploded under her starboard side
amidships. The vessel hogau to sltk,
and an attempt. was made to lower the
boats. The boats were swamprd and
the ciew Jumped Into the n-a, wl.ere,
uwin to the heavy comlwrs, they were
quickly drowned,
Tho Japsnrre licet rairfully searched
tho patrolled locality, but failed to find
any other survivors.
"An olllclal announcement of the
disaster, Issued today, says:
"It is highly regrettable that no re
port in any form ha lieen rccevled ol
the fate of the other survivors. The
sad evert was made worse on account
of the weather, which must have added
greatly to the already awful remit
caused by the explolnu of the mine."
CAUGHT WITH HIS MOLDS.
Secret Service Men Swoop Down on
Counterfeiter at Work.
Seattle, Oct. 13. United States Sec
ret Service Agent Hell, of this city, to
day descended upon a counterfeiter's
cabin in thu wood nine miles west of
Tacoma and captured II. N. Stone vir
tually In the act of manufacturing
spurious United States half dollars,
quarters and dimes. Mr. Hell was as
slated In the rxi-1 by a deputy United
States marshal, two 1 aroma detectives
und u special secret service agent who
has been working on the case fur two
weeks.
One of tho most elaborate outfits ever
captured In the Northwest was scliod
together with the molds, which e-ere
discovered In a slove, whein they had
been placed to dry only it few minutes
before Stone confessed his guilt when
confronted with the evidence, but main
ta'ned that hu was only "experiment
ing" and had not actually put sny ol
the counterfeit money into circulation
The cabin in which Stouu conducted
his operations Is lecated in a dense
swamp, entirely removed from nnnau
habitation. It Is conceded that It
would hardly have been discovered had
not the secret service officers secured a
clew in Seattle, where a considerable
part of the layout was purchased.
Many Greeks Assassinated,
Ahtons, Oct. 13. Thu following semi
official statement has been Issued:
Hardly a day passes without nfsnssln.
ations of Greeks by Unitarians being re
ported from Macedonia, This Sunday
in the village of ilrote, near Mnnastlr,
an orthodox prbst was murdered while
hu was celebrating muss, and his wife
was burned alive in her home. A
Grok notable v as also assassinated In
tho church. The object of these crimes
is to terrorize tlio Greeks intoilcclurlng
thomeolvos to be members of the Hub
garlan committee,
Russians Hold Railways,
Mukden, Oct. 1.1. Thu battle com
menced this morning along the lino (f
tho railroad with u terrilleartillory II ro
on both side. Tho railway lino al
most to Yental is in possession of thu
Russians.
LARGEST EVER
Battleship Nebraska Added
to American Navy.
IS SUCCESS! IILLY LAUNCHED
t'lilly .10,000 People Viewed the
Ceremonies Christened by Miss
Mickey, Governor's Uuiiutilcr.
Seattle, Oct. H. 'I he battleship ,SV
hrusku, dc stint d to ho one of the llncsi
lighting machines alloat and already
showing in every detail thai she will
come up to expectations, slid grateful y
Into tho water promptly at two minutes
after 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
The great mass of nearly 15,000,000
pounds of steel moved down the ways
as easily and noiselessly as though It
were only a diminutive llshlug schooner,
Instead of one of the largest battleship.
In the world.
The statement that she moved noise
lessly may be difficult lo prove, for
bedlam broke 'use almost simultaneous
ly with the Nchrurku and wild cheer
ing from 40,000 throats diowied the
music of hull a dozen bind ami made
the roar of the big cannon on the Unit
ed Stales monitor Wyoming seem faint
and far away. Taking up the refrain,
whose key was pitched under (he build
ing studs of the janls every steam
whistle lielvvcen Italian! am! Illack
river turned looe and hundreds ol craft
ranging In sine (mm giant steamships
diwu to launches and eery lixoiiinlive
ou the water front Mifditl tti the riiuslo
with whistle and bell.
Fully 60,000 HMiple vlewitl the crre
inonles and saw the big vessel slip into
the water. She creatnl hut a very
small wave ss she took her maiden
plunge, ami Heated out gently ami
gracefully. Naval men who viewed tlm
launching stated that ll was the most
micceMful tluiy .ver saw
Mis Mary Naln Mickey, daughter of
the governor of Nebraska, christened
the veMul.
CLAIM, INNOCENT PURCHASER.
Title Disputed to Land Grants Ac
quired rraudulcnlly.
Hun Franclcso, Oct. 10 The rase of
the United States against Senator Wll
Ham A Clark, was argued today brfor
'he clirult court of appeals, ll ramn
before this Imnch on an apxat Irom
the circuit court for the district of
Montana.
The action is brought to annul 82
laml grants under which Clark claims
title lo timber land ilhln the state
of Montana, on the grout I of alleged
frauds committed by the trttteen In
securing the same.
It Is charged that the patent! were
secured under the direction of Hr'erl
,M. Cobban, who later transferred the
land to Claik. Cobban is alleged to
have (list examined tlm laud ami then
hired persons to enter them under tlm
stone and tlmW set, agreeing to wy
them for their H-rvic, to tUfray all
their exeni- arid furnish the pur
chase price of the lauds '
The lower eonrl hld that, on such
slate of facts, Clark, the Innocent pur
rliaer for a valuable consideration,
acquired a valid title. The govern
ment took the riiittt.tr on a writ of er
ror to the circuit court of appeals,
ALASKA CAIILE COMPLETED.
Actlno Governor Dlslln Announces
Event by Mcvvkjc.
Seattle, Oct. 10. Tell graphic roui
muuicutlnn has now been iwtahtlshod
between the states and all purls of
Alaska At 7:17 o'clock this afier
noon the following official rriwsage was
received here, announcing thu opening
of the line'
Sltxa, Alaska, Oct. H, 11)01. Tlio
newspapers of Seattle and the Associ
ated Press: Thu completion of the
government cable from Vnlilrx toSitka,
making a complete connection by an
all-Amerlcan Hue with 1(1 stations in
Alaska, Is the beginning of a new era
for Alaska, Wagon roads anil rail
ways will open up thu greulcst mlnui
center of the world. Other Indnsiries
will quickly follow and insure thin
country's; future prosperity. William
L. Dlslln, acting governor of Alaska."
tllothade-Riinner Captured.
Toklo, Oct. 10. Tho Port Arthur
blockading fleet has captured n Junk
laden with provisions, The Junk was
endeavoring to enter tha harbor. The
statements of tho crow and evidence
found aboard the Junk Indicate the
existence of u licet of 80 Junks organ
ieil to run tho blocknilu frnm tin. vl.
clnlty of Tslngtoii. Despite the vlgl
I on I'D of the hlockadlnu Meet, nuiov
Junks reach thu Russian Ilium at a num
ber of lauding places on the lower end
of thu peninsula. Tho Junks enter at
uigui.
Russian Troops In Good Health.
MOSCOW. Oct. 10 Professor fliiln.
win, of the Red Cross souletv. wlm linn
Just returned hero fioin thu front, re
ports tlio health and mineral eomlltlon
o( the troops are remarkably good.
There aro no epidemics, and no very
serious disease, the nruviilllmr mm.
plaints being u light form of stomach
typhus and dysentery,
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