wwwwww5rU ami i I ".nl, f iiiiiiiin.,iiiiiii-Sa'p ) R0ABT0PR0SPER1TY list) t Wfeililale Isises ti Repleiisk sticks. BUY HEAVIER THAN LAST YEAI Country Fast Recovering From nanclal Depression f-actories Returning Operations. Fl- Chlcago, Feb. 13. That the na tion nealu Is on tho high road to prosperity was shown today by re port! from nil sections ot tbo coun try, on every nanu u is agreea ma. tho depression following tho finan cial flurry ot last fall Is a thins of tho past, and that tho outlook Is for n steadily Increasing volume ot bus iness until normal conditions havo been reached. In somo branches ot trade prosperity In a full measure has been recorded, and other lines snow an Improvement that promises some satisfactory records at the closo ot the year. Following tho end ot the stringency In money comes an Improvement In collections and a corresponding facil ity ot barter and sale. It also has been demonstrated completely that the general public escaped the effects of tho flurry. Tho peoplo havo cash with which to supply their needs, and their needs are Just as great as ever. With more factories resuming op erations every day. tho number of the unemployed Is decreasing, and it is believed that beforo long the Idle mill will bo the exception. ' Chicago wholesalers report that the country merchants are coming In with their spring orders In greater numbers than a year ago. In almost every case they say that their stocks are low and must bo replenished Im mediately to care for tho demands ot their customers. The steel business, recognized as the barometer ot trade In general, has shown marked Improvement within the last few weeks. Such ar ticles as wire and nails, which get to the general public quicker than the other products, aro in great de mand, and the railroads are coming into the market tor large quantities ot supplies. The outlook Is for bigger business, both in quality and In quantity, than last year," said Walter D. Moody, business manager of the Chicago As sociation of Commerce. "I have bsen around tho wholesale district a good deal lately, and I find It Is op timistic over the outlook for the spring business. I have had direct reports from many of tbo largo houses, and they all read tho same. "There are many merchants in town, and they aro coming by every train. They are flocking to tho wholesale houses, and In practically every case they are buying freely. JAPS AT TARGET PRACTICE Have Small Cannon Mounted Along California Coast. Santa Monica, Cal., Feb. 13. On an unfrequented bluff, which marks the northern limit ot Santa Monica bay, a party of seven Japanese, with a small cannon In their possession, have been for several days past en gaged In experiments that havo aroused tho suspicions of tbo settlers in the homestead district, and tho news of their operations, reaching here tonight, has created somo llttlo excitement, particularly as It is known that the portion of the Am erican battleship fleet will remain! several days In tho waters enclosed! py roini uuma, wnere tne pariy or Japanese made Its headquarters. Their evident anxiety to escapo ob servation, he said, drew upon them the careful observation of several of the settlers, who found them on ono occasion In possession ot a7 small pivot gun, which, mounted on a cliff 186 feet above tho water, was being fired, first In one direction and then in another. Tbo Japanese, unaware that tbey were being watched, seemed inter ested in determining tho ranga of tho little piece ot artillery, which threw missiles over a mllo from the Bhore. The gun was operated with smokeless powder. Free to Work for Strike. Norfolk, Va., Feb. 13. Judgo Mc Lutnoro 'has dissolved tho Injunction obtained In his court sometime ago by the Luckonbach To wlug Company, 'and naval gymnasiums ot Germany, of Brooklyn,. N. Y by which tho at tho express command of tho Em Norfolk Marino Engineers Union, Its) por or. fs Majesty has directed nil officers nnd members, were restrain-1 officers to acquire a thorough ne ed from Interfering with the em- nuaintanco with tho rules of Jlu ployes on the Luckonbach tugs In an effort to bring on aa engineers' strike. Judgo McLomoro ruled that no injunction could He until tho evi dence against plaintiffs, or their property, waa attempted by tho de fendant. Portugal Growing Quiet. London, Feb. 13. Tho Times this morning publishes a long Lisbon dls natch rolatlvo to recent events Jn Dirhirni it nvn that tho situation is Improving dally and that tho gov-J eminent adheres to lU policy of con-! dilating public opinion, but that It would be a mistake to consider all danger over. j COURT SHIELDED GRIME. Remarkable Petition for Re-Hearing Filed In Schmltz Case San Kninclsco, Feb. 14. In what la probably one ot tho most remark ablo papers ever addressed la n Cal ifornia court tho prosecution In tho San Francisco bribery-graft cases to day filed with tho Supremo Court a petition for n re-hearlug of tho de clsUu ot tho Court ot Appeals In whlcL ox-Mayor Eugene Schmlts and tho former political boss, Abraham ltuef, wcro virtually held to bo guilt less of extortion, tho conviction ot tho former reversed and tho plea ot guilty by Uuet practically nullified. Tho petition oponly crltlclics tuu Court of Appeals tor Its decision and charges that tho court by Its net had virtually legalized blackmail In tho state. The appeal Is signed by Attorney General U. S. Webb, Francis J. Honor, William II. Lnngdon. Charles W. Cobb and Joseph Dwycr. Tho pe tition concludes: Wo ask for n rehearing because the decision, with tho greatest re spect to tho court that rendered It and to this court Is: 1. Fallacious In Its logic 3. Dovold of reason to support It. 3. Unsupported by tho authorities cited. 4. Diametrically opposed to hign authorities, which wo cited In our briefs but which aro unnoticed by tho opinion. MAKE SECRET TREATIES. Germany Destroys Hope of Reform and Gets Concessions. London, Feb. 14. Tho Foreign OOlce has been advised by Sir N. R. O'Connor, tho British ambassador at Constantinople, that Duron Marschall von Dlcbcrsteln, tho German diplo matic representative, announced tt tho last meeting of tho ambassadors to Turkey that Germany has decided. Instead ot signing tho Joint noto to the Porto demanding Judicial re forms In Macedonia, to agree to the Turkish proposal that the Macedon ian foreign gendarmerie be placed under the control of Turkey. No confirmation has been received by tho Foreign Oince. however, of thVroUTthat Germany. Au.trla-be. Hungary and Turkey havo entered upon secret treaties, but tho ludo nendent action ot Germany In the matter ot tbo reforms In Macedonia has caused disquietude, as It upsets the work accomplished during the past year and makes the future un certain. In tho meantime tho powers nro continuing the consideration ot tho recommendations of their ambassa dors. It Is not expected, however, that tho Porte will accept theso recommendations, In view of Ger many's support of tho counter-proposals, and it Is believed that tbo entire question will have to be re considered. REACH VALPARAISO. Battleship Fleet Being Escorted by Chilean Warships. Washington. Feb. 14. Tho Navy Department has received the follow ing message from Admiral Simpson, of tho Chilean navy, pn board tho cruiser Cbacnbuco, which piloted Admiral Evans fleet partially through tho Straits ot Magellan: "Tnlcahuano, Chile. Feb. 12, 1908. Admiral Evans requests mo to In form tho Department from tho fleet at sea Tuesday 4 p. in., bound for Callao. via Valparaiso Everything Svans much going on we'll. Admiral Evans hotter In health.'" Mr. Hicks, tho American minister to Chile, today cabled tho stnto do tnmtmnnt thnt Ihn flillnnn rriilanp Chacabuco, presumably now at Val- paralso, would sail soutn toaay ror the purposo of joining tne batiiesnip fleet again with two Chilean war- ships, one of which is the Esmcr- alda. , I n.... . i. .. .-i. ...nt ...n...k iv, inu tiirvu yi:ovib win .uiiu imo , fleet to Valparaiso, whero President Montt will review It from u war ves sel and at the same tlmo salutes will be exchanged between tho vessels of the two navies. Tho Chacabuco convoyed tho bat tleships from I'untn Arenn to a point nearly opposite Porto Montt, when she left them and proceeded north. Jlu Jltsu In Germsny. Ilerlln, Feb. 14. The Japanese method ot wrestling, Jlu Jltsu, Is to bo Introduced Into all tho military tjltsu. Tho officers, upon obtaining their certificate!! or efficiency in this now method, will bo detailed to tho various local gymnasiums turougn out tho empire whero they will Im part n knowledge of the mothods to the recruits as soon aa they Join. Companies Incresse Forces. St. Louis, Feb, 14. Tho nepubllc Iron & Steel Company In East Bt. Louis put 900 men to work yester- day and today announccrnont was made by the Notional Enameling & Stamping Company thut 400 oxtra men will bo given employment In tho tin mills of the company nt Granite City next Monday. IfiEGON STATE ITEMS OF INTEREST FORBIDS GLAD HAND. Corrupt Practices Act May Be Found Unconstitutional. Salem Thnt tho corrupt-practices bm to bo submitted to n vote ot tho peoplo under tho Initiative and rot- orcudum. Is In direct conflict with mm si-cuuu ui wiu vuiiniiiimuu uivu -..,.,.,.... f,.,.in. ni .luvoh i. h-. Mloved by many who hnvo rend the measure. Tho bill makes it n critno ago n prominent speaker mtttin mo for any person to nsk, solicit or In nMert0n that lit order to do font a any manner try to Induce or per- referendum measure ona must vote suado n voter on election day to vote "Yes." This was an error. Ilnllots for or against any candidate or tuoaa- nro , bo lnnrKCd In exactly tho sumo uro. This would bar the use of any manner ns to both Inltlntlvo nnd rot kind of argument on election day and erendum measures. Those who wish there Is doubt whether It would bo um enacted or n proposed const! constitutional. tutlonnl amendment adopted should Under this section of tho law It Is ,unrk ,hclr ballots before tho word probable that newspapers published -Yes." Thoso who aro upposod to It on tho morning of election day would hould vote ".No." Whether sub bo prohibited from printing anything milled under tho referendum or pro calculated to Influence voter In de- ,MCll ur initiative, tho measures np termlnlng how to mark their ballots. ,,nr upon tho ballot In exactly tho Tho words "In any manner try to ,nmo forOTi A utll that has beon Induco or persuade" would cover a passed by tho legislature nnd has multltudo of nets. Candidates who ,Mn referred to tho people stands In went to tho polls and extended tho (l0 ,,,, position ns n measure that glad hand to voters would unquca- ,ng ucn proposed by Inltlntlvo. iionnuiy coino wiimn iuo icnns ui tho act, for It Is common knowledge that a warm handshnko Is one ot tho most potent means ot getting votes. LARGE RETURNS FROM COWS Tillamook Dalrymon Make Over SI0O a Year per Cow. Tillamook Another co-operative cheese factory to mako Its annual report Is that ot tho Ilcd Clover srtt1 Wgcsasw flattering to tho dairymen who take their milk to this cheeso factory, Following aro somo of the Interest- Ing figures In tho report: Amount of milk received for tho year, 1.739,04s pounds: amount of butter fat con- talned in milk, 68,677.7 pounds; avorago test, .03943 per cent; amount of cheeso manufactured, 195,009 pounds; returns received, $27,692.06; avcrago price received H 1-S cents per pound f. o. b. Tllla mook; nverago yield, 11.21 pounds -100 pound, of milk. Tho nrlco oald tho patrons for butter fat kept nt a high price dur- dlan .raoon stones, opals, rubltnted Ing the wholo year, aa tho following qunrtz. Thompsonlto, serpentlno, figures will show: January. 30.6 oolitic, sandstone, snturlltc, phallus cents; February, 28.27 cents; March, and mltlorltls, composed of Iron nnd 36 cents; April, 37.56 cents; May, sulphur. On this same plain-appear- 34.37 conta; June, 34.96 cents; July, Ing gravel bar Mr. Crawford has 34.08 cents; August, 36.7S cents; found In his searches In the past September, 36.16 conts; October, 36 year a fossil shark's tooth, primitive cents; November, 36.6 cents; Decern- axes, pastels nnd mortars and pnleo- ber, 33.33 cents. llths. . As the numerous cheese factories o.i,, u.irh.rv of Tillamook county nro making Salman Hatchery, their annual roturns, tho dairymen Astoria Master Hsh Warden nn aro now In n position to know tho Dusoti received from tho O. It. N. results of their year's work, who nro Co. n leaso to tho property on Tan comparing figures with previous ner creek, near Ilonnevllle, which years, and ns n result of this n large tho state fisheries department de number of dairymen have mndo over sires as u silo for the establishment $100 per cow for last year, nnd con- of a largo central salmon hatchery, slderlng that thoy rnlso all their own and of n systum of retaining ponds, feed on their farms ,nnd do not have where the small fry can bo fed nnd to buy mill feed, tho profit In dairy- kept until largo unouglt to protect Ing last year was exceedingly large, themselves against tholr numerous they receiving their pay every natural enemies beforo being turned month. A an Illustration of this, out. W. U. Alderman has mado 12,386.96 ann-rt wn tjn.aut.Tn from 21 cows, or 1113.61 per cow I PORTIAND MARKbTS. Ho takes his milk to tho Maple Leaf i Creamery Association, nnd It Is mndo into cheese, New Depot for Albsny. Albany-Sonio of tho material has n rvortvo.x h,ro for tho construe- tionn received hero for tho construe nun ui uiu uuw uiiiuii uvj'w m - !... ! imlnM xlftnt fit Ala be 'one of tho finest depot. In tho state outside of Portland, will stnnd n tl.nrt .tUtnr. nnrliiwtMit of the nsnv. 'i no nuw Hiruciiirv. wiiicu win a suori uisianco norinwvs. m u nresont structure. Ilesldoa tho lin- provement which will bo mndo by tho erection of tho now building, tho de- ... !. erection 01 wiu new ouiiuiun, - mi win im n dm rtiv sldo of tho ,rtkV.,?cImngeh.hS',IJ:eoSo0 of A.- bany. have desired for years. Tim onny nave ueairru ur .. . erection of tho now depot will necos- slfnto the movomont of tho present frclglit depot ona a awecping cnnnge in li,. uriHiiinl nrrnmrenmnt flf f 110 ... -.v .... ,...-.-..- -- yards. New College Building. Milton At a meeting of tho bonrd of Columbia college It was doclded that an administration building cost ing $26,000 should bo erected, and U 1 .....I .. n. et ihls ttitll. tints It la understood that this building shall bo ready for uso at tho next col leiro term next fall. Tho building ls', . . ..ln.. I At... h.ah. ... Itiln.n I IU UU UllUlfi'UU " "U ,llw ,ii,.M.... way, giving every ndvuntngo to tho studonts, This Is a South Methodist Institution, nnd Is proving very suc cessful. There Is nn enrollment of over 100 students this terms, all form different parts ot tho north west. Record FT ft of Logs. Astoria Tho Horonson Logging Company sold u raft of logs from Its camp at Svention Monday thnt IsOio Moved to have boon n record break er. The raft contained 61 logs, tho longest being only 32 feet, nnd still tho raft scaled 222,600 feet.- Tho logs woro purchased by Flnko Ilros., who aro operating a coopcrugo plant at Drookflold, Eagles Worry Benton County.' Monroo A pair of largo eagles aro playing havoc among tho small lambs on tho foothills west ot town. Thoy are export In keoplng out of riflo range and no one has been ablo to get a shot at them. HOW IO MARK YOUR UALLOT Instructions tor Voting on Initiative I ard Referendum Petitions. Balcm That there Is n general misunderstanding ns to tho mantlet' In which ballots should bo marked t vot ,)0U referendum measures l.il,.i...i . it, (.nt it,. n,i Indicated by tho fact that In nd- dressing n public meeting n low days PRECIOUS STONES IN RIVER. Albany Man Makes Grest Finds on Gravel Bars. Albany That tbo gravel bars ot tho Wlllamctto river nro full ot vat- i uablo stones Is evidenced by the number found by J. G. Crawford, of this city. In the past year. Peoplo iponil houri ,MVB Mr Crawford, r "- lrhvt '.r stones, which, can bo picked up In ordinary gravel bars where no one over thinks of searching. On tho Willamette Just above and opposllo this city Is a wide gravol bar nnd on this during tho past year Mr. Crawford has found tho follow mg siones, nnu minerals; Agnien oi various colors, cornelians, various shades of Jasper, conglomerate Jas per, wnuo jauo, iciuspar wnicn ro- MmfalM Mu W Africa, Indicative ot J?" " "? semuiea inu uiuu Kruuuu ' ouutu diamonds; chni various colors. black obsidian, black nnd red obsi Wheat Club, 82c; bluestom, 84c; valley, 82c; red, 80c Oats No. 1 white, 27.50; gray, $27.60 por ton. "XVTitoo- rolled 19 O 30 ' urowlng, 132.00, rolled. 1.9 30. corn wnoie, saz.ou; crncKcu, .,. rj -..;- -... . .. lSrliZtmt'KXllm0vir. JU'l"' clover S14A16' "neat -0--. ClOVCr, I'M?". "n.nV ;.,.--.. wv tijtK- nirntfn :"U?1""' "",' .:: ' v lBL 111. IL'lLlli fill - IJ r'i," """" V' SI24T13: vetch. 114. creameries; Extra ,.,., o7r, n- ,,,,,. tnto oreumory, 37Vc per pounu, ainio SllMS i?e M VtttiM L cheese Oregon full cream twins, -"XmwJw. lloiOWo Pr ". TOUn' Ainonw. i '---, 1 """"'. Average old hens, 13(2 13 'Ac: mixed chickens, 12tPl-V4c; spring chickens, 12ti113c; roosters, 10(fllc; dressed chickens, 14c; tur keys, live, per pound, 9 10c; ducks, 14016c; pigeons, 76c0$l.OO; squubs, 11.60 fir 2. UjAjj dorcn; Eastern noml- ' - ' Eggs Kresii rnncn aoc, cuuuiou, " i veal 76 to 126 pounds, 9c; 126 tr.a ,w.,,n,ia ? 160 to 200 .V , , riounds. L6i OUiC. Pork Ulock. 76 to 160 pounds, CVjitlc; packers, 5Cc, Fruits Apples, tablo. $1.76 3.00; cooking, $1.20 l.DO per box; cranberries, $8011 por barrel. Vcgotahlos Turnips, 76o por sack; carrots, 06o tier sack; boots, $1,00 per sack; garlic, 8o por pound. Artichokes, 00cp$1.10 por dozen; boon., 20c per pound; cabbngo, il lc por pound; cauliflower, $1.76 01,86; colory, $3.764 por crnto; eggplant, 17'4e 4or pound: lettuce, hothouse, 60o$1.26 por box; on ions, 160200 por doxon; parsley, 20a por dozen; peas, lOo por pound; popporo, 17o por pound; pumpkins, 101UO per pound; rmllsbos, 20o por dozon; spinach, Co por pound; sprouts, 8o por pound; squash, 10 lio per pound; tomatoes, crates (0 baskets), $606.60. Onions Iluylng price, $2.60 per hundred. ,. Potatoes Duylng prlco, 40000c por hundred dollvorod Portland; sweet potatoes $3,2603.60 por cwt. THHEt DEAD! 93 INJURED, Sheridan Local Wracsod by Broken Rait at Forest Grove - Forest Urovo, Ore, Fob. 13. Three were killed nnd 33 wore In Jured, otio very orluutiljr ly tho do rallmcnt of thu Bherldnn local on n short trestle bridge nliout throe fourths of n tnllo west of this city nt 0 o'clock last night. Tho dead nro: Mrs. Edward Dales nud .months old daughter, of Forest Urovo. J. A. McDonald, of MoMlunvlllc. Mrs. J. II. Ilrown, ngvil 00, of Shorldnti, was budly crushed, nud tuny nut recover. Tito nrcldout resulted from a broken rail, one 30-fout section nt tho west olid ot tho trestle bridge be lug splintered Into four pieces by tho weight of tho heavily loaded couches. Tho defective rati appar oully did not give way until nllor the eiigliiti, mall nnd bnKga.a cars hud crossed In safety. Tho smoker was tho first to leavo tho track, carrying with It two day coaches. Tho smoker and the first day coach ran over the tlos for n dis tance of 30 yards nud pitched front tho trestle to the ground, ton feet below, striking on their sides. Tho second day conch-also left tho track, und turned only partly over. Miss Grace Harding, of Gaston, n passenger In tho rear coach, was thrown through a window Into less than two teet of water beneath the trestle, but escaped uninjured. PRINTERS SENT TO PRISON. Msmbsrs of Nsw York "O g U" Fined and Sent to Jail. New York, Feb. 13. President Patrick McCormlck, of tho local Ty pographical Uulon, known ns the "Itlg 6" and George W. Jackson nnd Vincent J. Costvllo, union orgauliers, yesterday wore fined 2S0 each and sentenced to 20 days' Imprisonment for disobedience of an Injunction ob tained by tho Typothetno of Now York In 1906. Thomas llcnuett and William H. Anderson were fined f 100 on tho same charge. Senteuco was Imposed by Justice lllshoS In tho supremo court. This Is tbo first tlmo any such heavy sentonco In tho caso of a labor organization for violation of Injunc tion has beon Imposed In these courts. Tho troubles grow out ot the strlko ot Typographical Union No. C. commonly called "Dig Six," ordered early In 1906 against tho As sociation of Employers known as tho Typothetno of tbo city ot New York for a closed shop nnd an olght-nour day, WILL BAR JAPS. British Columbia Legislature. Enacts educational Test Law. Victoria, II. O., Feb. 13. Tho now Immigration law, enacted by the Ilrlllsh Columbia loglslaturo recent ly, on tho lines ot the Natal act, which applies an educational test to immigrants arriving In Ilrlllsh Co lumbia, who must bo ablo to road and write In English or n languago of Europo to bo permitted to land, beoamo a law today, when I.leuten-nnt-Uovornor James Dunsmulr as sented to tho bill. Immediate provisions woro mndo for tho enforcement of tho now law, which Is obviously nltnod at the Jap anese, and oltlcluls huvo been In structed to carry out Its effect on all Immigrants arriving after today. There nre nt tho quarantine station 268 Japanese, left thuro by tho steamer Knca Mam. In Quarantine. 1 126 of whom nro bound hero, nnd I these will como under tho provisions or tno now taw. RURAL PARCELS HOST BILL. Burnhsm Proposes Measure lo Help Country Msrehsnts. Wnshlngtnn, Fob. 11. Senator Ilurnham, of Now Hampshire, today Introduced In congress a mmisuro of distinct Importance to rural intoreats throughout tho United Htntos, It Is n bill to provldo n rural delivery par cels post for morchnudlsu and other articles uctually mailed on rural de livery routes. Thu rural froo deliv ery routes now number inoro than 38,000, and on thorn In excess of 16,000,000 peoplo rccolvo a dally postal service. Tho tneasuro has tho Indorsement of tho president and postmaster-gnu- oral, Moyor. It provides, In brief, for tho establishment of n rural par eel post nt spoclal rates ot postngo for tho dollvory ot foodstuffs, dry goods, drugs, books uud other mer chandise, Funu for King's Slayers London, Fob. 12. -A special dis patch to tho Standard from Lisbon Htntos that tho ptibllo ncqulcsco In thu nssiisslnntlon of tho King and Crown Prlnca ns n Jtistltlablo politi cal net, nnd that no effort will bo mndo to bring to justtco tho accom plices of tho niurdororH, nlthough thoy nro numerous nnd In tunny cises known, On tho contrary, snys tho dispatch, no surprlso Is expressed thnt tho republican nowspnpors du tnand tho criminal prosocutlon of tho kliig's oqunrry, Floguorln, who sob ered ono nssnssln. Arbitrate With Franco. Washington, Fob, 12. Secretary Hoot nnd Ambassador Jussorand to day signed a tronty providing for tho arbitration of any Issuo that mny arise between Franco and America, CAN'T MAKE RATES State Railroad Commission Has No Such I'uwer, COURT SO DECIDES WHEAT CASE mate Constitution Olvos Kale Mskltg Power lo leglslaturetalr Session May tie Called, Olympln, Wash., Fob. 16 (list tho Washington stato railroad dim. mUslott tins no authority lo (Is mm liiium rates Is tho ull of n ilH-lun linnded down liy Judge llnfird in the federal court In this city In a de cision In tho Joint wheal rale css. Judgo lltinford holds Hint irw section 18. ot article XII, of tbo stale constitution, tho power to . tablUh and fix maximum frulKlit ami passenger rates Is reserved lo the leglslaiuro and cannot bo ilclt-wninl to n commission, lly this decision tho usefulness uf the railroad comiiiUilou ns to rata making Is destroyed, nnd Governor Mtsul staled tonight that ho Has un tie r consideration tho advisability of calling nn ultra session of Hie Uri laturo to consider siibinlltltig at th next geimral election n propwsrd amendment to tho state constltNlliv giving the railroad rommlsiluii the power of rate making. Tho decision Is n victory fur the O II. ft N nud the commercial tain eits of Portland ns opposed to lb efforts ot the Northern Pacific and the Great Northern to dlturt Enstsra Washington wheal trade from Port land to Pugvt Hound seaports The ease will Imiiivdlalnly lw rr rlvd to the supremo court nt lh United States. It tho ruling Is up held In tho higher court of appeals, tho stato commission will have pourr only lo lake testimony and gather data relative to rates and forward this to tho legislature with recom mendations for fixing rates CHILEANS CHEER FLEET. Navy Thunders bstute Roosevelt end Evane Toasted. Valparaiso, Feb. IS. Tho grwvl American fleet of 16 battleships, un der command of llrar-Ailmlral Evans, pasted Valparaiso yslerdsy afternoon and continued on Its voy nito northward fur Callao, Peru, tlio next stopping place. All VatpsralMi nnd thousands of persons from every city In Chile witnessed tho pasting of tho flott. President Montt nnd the. other tilgti omclals of tho republic rsnio out from shorn to greet tho battle ships, and almost the entlrn Chilean navy exchanged salutes with them as they swung around CtirMiuillln Point and Into Valparaiso Hay In single file, headed by tho Chilean critter Chacabuco nnd flvo Chilean torpedo boat destroyers. President Montt and other Chilean fllclals embnrkod on tho training ship General llaqumlano and took a position well out In tho harbor. Around the llnqiiodann iho flt swung nt a speed of four knots, fir ing thu presidential saluto ns thry passed In review. It was ono hour from tho tjmu Iho head of tho fl't entered the bay until tho last vil had passed tho president's ship and turned toward the open sea. SHIP QOES ASHORE, Veisol and Cargo of Coal Lost on Oregon Coast. liny City, Ore, Feb. 16. Thu American wooden ship Emily Hoed. 103 dnys out from Newwisllo. N H. W., with n cargo of ronl for Port land, went ashore half u mllo south ot thu Nehnlom river, nn tho Ore gon const ,t 1:30 o'clock this morn ing. Tho vessel Immediately broko In two and ton members of the crew went drowned. Captain Kennel, his wlfo, Second Mala Charles Thompson and thrca members of thu crow weru suved. Tho survivors woro brought lo liny City yesturdny morning and aru now quartered nt private residences Tho ship has broken tin nnd will Ik' a total loss, ns will also tho cargo of 2,110 tons nt coal. Tho vessel wns consigned In tho Pnclflo Coast Com pany ut Portland, Army of Ujers in Nsw York. Now York, Fob. 16. Tho Mer chant Association estimates that ! inn ivv imiru uuycra rencuuii ion yesterday, milking nearly 4,000 now In tho city. Although yustcrdiiy whs n holiday, largo wholvsulo liotise woro compollod to keep open nil day .becnuso of tho groat number of buy ers. Tho winter goods season which Is supposed to closo In January hits been lengthened nnd many largo or ders uro reportod iih placed yestor ,dn, Merchants and buyers from tho west report a groat Increase of btisl- HUBS, After Express Company. Rlnnlnnnll n i.'i. m Vlntn. Hon of tho postnl lawn by cnrrylnif flrut-clnss mail matter was chnrgud against tho American Express Com pany In n suit filed In tho United States district court horo today.