The Aurora Boreal!
VOL. I.
AUltOItA, OKEGON, TIIUKSDAY, DKCKMlUHt ill, 15)03.
NO. 30.
BRIEF NEWS OF
THE PAST WEEK
Condensed Dispatches from All Parts
of the Two Hemispheres.
Interesting Events from Outside the
State Presented in Manner to
Catch the Eye of the Busy Reader
Matters of National, Histories
and Commercial Importance.
Many political exiles of Venezuela,
are returning to their homes.
Roosevelt says t he only thing attout
hi African trip he fears is the fever.
It is believed American Ambassador
Crittcont will resign his post at Koine.
Henry V. Poor, a leading Vail street
broker, has assigned. His liabilities
will reach $3,ulMi,(MH).
Cunt ro ha witnessed what to him is
a unique spectacle a snowstorm and
skating on natural ice.
(Jovernor Hughe has appointed
eotniuiMnion to investigate the New
York produce and cotton exchanges.
Chicago contractors who have been
in the habit of giving -presents to city
officials at Christmas tune tins year
had their gifts returned.
(loinez' power as ruler of Venezuela
is finally established. Many suits have
1 ceil commenced against Castro and he
will lose J,tK)0,()00 by the turn of af
fairs.
Plans are all complete for the arrest
of about 40 moro Pittsburg grafters.
The railroads are aiding the movement,
as it is cheaper to oust them than to
pay their price.
The bank at Monrovia, Cal.. has
lost $2U.0Oi, which mysteriously dis
appeared.
One man was killed and three per
sons injured in an automobile wreck
in California.
Christinas was celebrated all over
the United States by lavish gifts" and
leasts to poor.
The bribery of Pittsburg council
men by bankers has been taken up by
the government.
A crazy French Royalist tried to
pull President Falliercs' beard, and
was promptly arrested.
An appeal may be made to Taft to
pardon Gompers, Mitchell and Morri
son in case their appeal fails.
Clans Sprcckels, the sugar king, is
critically ill at his home in ban rran-
cisco, and it is feared he cannot sur
vive.
The Chicago saloon question may
be put to a referendum vote next
April. The anti-saloon clement is
gaining in strength.
Oklahoma prisoners, who are con-
tinea in me ransas penitentiary, com
plain of cruel treatment and an inves
tigation is to be made.
A boy of 1.1 is under arrest at Mount
Clement, Mich., charged with stealing
at least $i),iuio from postoftice boxes
lie was caught while cashing a check
Express companies were swamped
with Christmas business.
Cosgrove has so far recovered that
he is able to walk a little.
Count Boni dc Castellane lost his
suit for possession of his children
Harriman' has been reported ill
but his physician says it was only a
slight bilious attack.
The monitor Wyoming, now at
Mare Island navy yard, will be
changed to the Cheyenne.
Fire in Brooklyn drove hundreds
into the streets, destroying an entire
block of property, valued at $1,000,
0(i().
The steamer Stork sank in Hudson
bay, taking down a cargo of fur val
tied at $1,500,000. I he crew an
caped.
The receiver of the old Panama
Canal company declares the story of
Kraft in the purchase of the property
by the government a table
Fx-Scnator Clark, of Montana, re
memhercd his employees at Christ
mas by giving them turkeys. Between
loooo and 12,00!) birds were neccs
sary.
Fire destroyed a great tenement
building on West 127th street. New
lork. A number ot people were
in
jtired and it is feared nome
killed.
were
Secretary Root has signed an arbi
tration treaty with ban Salvador
A shortage of over $7,000,000 in the
city s money hai been unearthed at
Lisbon, Portugal.
The Japanese diet is in session.
member of the Constitutional party
was elected speaker.
The supreme court has decided that
I.os Angeles has the right to reguiat
Iitjunr establishments.
The cruiser Buffalo will leave San
Francisco early in January with a bit
ta!ion of marines, officers and men for
IioiioiloU.
Two hundred thousand Chinook sal
tion eggs have been shipped from the
government hatchery at Redding. Cal
to the Argentine Republic
NEW LIGHT ON HISTORY.
Stanford Professor Finds Key to An
cient Writings.
Stanford University, Cal., Dec. 5.
The key which bares the secret so loug
hiddeu behind the Etruscan and old
Italic inscriptions has at last been dis
covered by Professor George llempl,
the holder of the philological chair .at
Stanford university, and the manners,
customs and history of a people today
practically unknown may be read in
the future as iu a book.
Experienced in his investigations of
old German inscriptions and rules,
Professor Ileum! was able to accom
plish in a single night the feat under
taken by science ages ago and never
fore pushed to a successful conclu
sion. Members of the faculty who were
present at the lecture of lr. llempl be
fore the Stanford Phililogical associa
tion today declared that the discover?
veritable triumph and will have
far reaching results It will necessi
tate a re stating of ancient Roman his
tory and it will throw a flood of light
many disputed facts of Latin gram
mar and etymology.
It has been the generally accepted
view among historians that the Etrus
cans were an element entirely foreign
their neighbors, the Romans. This
eory is entirely and conclusively over
turned by Professor llempl, whose in
stigations prove a great similarity
tween the Roman and Etruscan lan
guages and make possible only one con
clusion, that the Etruscans and Romans
rang from one race, which, follow
ing the old legend, wandered to Italy
front Troy after the fall of that great
ty. Thus irgil a hneid is substan
tiated by scientific proof. lr. Hempl's
liscovery is vet in its infancy. Out of
000 inscriptions he has read but 50,
t
the little work be has doua has
en sufficient to convince him that the
I idea of distinct races is entirely
erroneous.
QUICKSAND IN FOUNDATION.
nstable Soil Adds $500,000 to Cost
of Northwestern Depot.
Chicago, Dec. 28 A stratum of
treacherous quicksand underlying the
site of the new $20,000,000 station of
the Chicago tt Northwestern railroad,
now under construction, will add about
$300,000 to the cost of the structure,
owing to tne increased difficulty of
sinking the foundation pillars. This
information has been given to the
railroad company by the George A
Puller company, which has in turn been
Id to go ahead with the construction
of the building at any cost.
Interesting pneumatic processes are
now being used to overcome the diffi
ulties presented by the unstable soil
ngineers say that Chicago soil is alive
ith quuksand in the territory about
the river banks. Two engineering ex
perts who handled the situation in New
ork at the laving of two big river
tunnels of the subway, when quicksan
there furnished the gravest engineering
problem of the kind in the history of
America, were called by telegraph ami
are at work solving the problem pre
scnted.
Russia Approves Deal.
St. Petersburg, Dec. 28. Foreign
Minister Iswolsky met with a favora
ble reception in the douma today when
he presented the annual statement of
Russia's foremn policy, lie referred
with warm approval to the Japanese
American agreement, which he said
guaranteed the open door in the Par
East and the integrity of China, anil
the terms of which were communicated
to Russia before it was signed. The
rest of M. Iswolsky'e speech shed no
liifht on mooted questions, nor gave
any ulitance of the Russian proposals
rofardintr the annexation or jsosma ana
Herzegovina by Austria.
New Geyser May Result.
Virginia City, Mont., Dec. 'JS Thirty
earthuuakes have been felt in this sec
tion since last Sunday afternoon, the
last tremor being recorded at 4:10 yes
eidav morning. The ground has trein
bliJ very perceptibly, with the earth
wave anuarently coming from tne
south, which has lent color to the the
ory that a big new geyser m about to
bnrr forth iik the 1 eliowstonc para
which lies 75 miles southeast of Vir
uinia City. No damage has resulted
other than considerable plaster having
been thrown down.
Congressman Daved Dead.
New Orleans, Dec. 28. Representa
t ve Robert C Uavey, or me secon
congressional district of Liouisuna
died Saturday of apoplexy, lie na
served continuously at Washington
since the fifty third congress, with the
exception of one tcrm when ne ue
clined the nomination. Dsvey was
born in New Orleans in IHo.l, served
several years ia the state senate
I.ii inisi na. waa elected a judge in 18H0
and in ISMS was defeated for mayor of
New Orleans. He was re elected to the
sixty first congress.
Pearl Harbor Drydock.
Washincton. Dec. 22 Specifics
tions have been issued by the navy
department for the drydock at Pearl
Harbor. Hawaii. The structure will
iio feet Ion, divided by a eaison
so that two battleships can be docked
imu!taneoaly. The drydock will t
25 feet deep and 130 feet wide. Hi
will be opened on February 13, 1909
NEWS NOTES GATHERED FROM
YARIOUS
REDUCE BAG DUTY.
Iliam County Farmers Think Rate
Is Too High.
Condon. The executive committee
the Gilliam County Improvement
association has named January 0 as
the day for the big booster meeting
be held in this city in behalf of the
experimental farm and the advertis
ing in general of the resources of Gil
liain county. The meeting is to be
held during the sessions of the cir
cuit and county court, when a num
ber of prominent speakers will be here
present their views on securing the
location of the experimental dry farm
station iu this county. At the meet
ing f'f the executive committee were
present I). II. Thomas, president, Con-
n; Charles II. Horner, secretary,
ondoii; George B. Dukek, treasurer,
ayviile: J. L. ltlalock. Arlington;
scar Aiaiey, lerry canyon: l.d
aimer, Ajax.
It was decided to circulate a pe
tition among the taxpayers of the
unty to secure the names of all
ose who were in favor of a H-mill
tax to cover the expenses of buying
land and buildings for the experiment
iitimi. Mr. Blalock suggested that
those signing the petition should set
opposite their names the amount of
ropcrty on which they were paying
taxes, which would show how many
ere interested in the movement.
Another important question dis
cussed was the rebate on grain bags.
was decided to circulate a petition
among the ranchers, to be sent to the
congressman of this district, asking
him to work foi the reduction of duty
sacks. It is estimated that the
past year the farmers of this county
ud out $20,000 more than necessary
on grain bags, on account of the high
tariff.
Free Courses of Lectures.
Winter short courses of study will
begin at Agricultural college, Corval
s. Dr. on January 5. Men and women,
young and old. interested in the farm,
the shop, or the home, are cordially
invited to attend. Hv writing at once
to the Agricultural college a circular
ill be sent telling in detail what is
proposed to be accomplished by these
courses. A week of lectures on general
gricultural topics begins January 5. A
necial course for creamery operators
and managers runs from January 5
to 15; a course in dairying from Jan
uary 18 to March 27; a course in hor
ticulture, January 11 to February 20;
course in mechanic arts from Jan
uary, 11 to February 20; a course in
road construction from January 11
to February 6; a course in household
science and art from January 11 to
ebruary 20. Special lectures on bus
iness methods on the farm will be
given.
Irrigators Use Too Much Wster.
Frtcwatcr. That water is wasted in
irrigating orchards and crops in this
icinity. and that it is made to take
the place of proper cultivation, is
charged in the trial of the case of the
Peacock Mill company against r.oo cit
izens residing along the Walla Walla
and Tumalum rivers, which is before
Judge P.can. of the district court, and
will likely take up several days. Wit-
ses have been introduced lo show
that farmers arc using too much
water, placing it too frequently on
their crops, and kerning the soil iu
such muddy condition that proper cul
tivation cannot be given the land.
Richland Land Price Soaring.
Richland. Foothill land under ditch
skirting the north side of Kagle val
ley is attracting the attention of home-
seekers and speculators. Several buy
ers were in the valley last week, look
mg over this land. Some of these
fields along the foothills have never
been cultivated, but owing to their
elevation above the valley they are
warmer and better adapted for raising
fruit than the valley itself. The price
of this land is 7.1 an acre. Fast year
it could be bought for $50, and it is
daily rising in value.
Bold Robbsry at Freewater.
Ireewater. A boid robbery was
committed here when the residence of
Mrs. A. A. Brady was broken into
I $I.Ki in valuable "Id coins taken
Trunks were forced open, their con
tents strewn on the flor and a draw
er containing jewelry of Mrs. Brady
was pilfered, valuable rings being in
cluded. Footsteps were discernible in
the soft sod surrounding the house
and bloodhounds from the Walla
Walla Walla penitentiary are be
ing engaged. It is expected arrests
will follow in a few days.
Ontario Is Next.
Ontario At the Oregon state irri
eation convention held at P.aker City
Judge Stephen A. Lowell, of Pendle
ton. was elected president, and Wal
tcr Griffeth director in charge of the
Malheur Water Users association
was chosen secretary. Ontario was
named as the next meeting place of
the congress. The meeting will take
place in September. l'J09.
Site for La Grande Postoffice.
I .a Grande The site of the new
tr,.vnoo federal building promised Pa
Grange has been selected, according
to information received. The site cost
over $s(i(o. and is located on the msirt
ttrret. where the J. M. Herry resi
oence now stands.
PARTS OF OREGON
TO HAVE COOLING PLANT.
Across Continent Skipments Can Be
Made From Salem,
Salem. Fruitgrowers are jubilant
over the announcement that a cooling
plant will be erected to handle the
cherry and berry crops of U09. F.
Deckibach, of the Salem ice w orks,
announced at a meeting of the fruit
growers that his company will erect
a plant with about a seven carload
capacity, and have it ready for opera
tion this year. It will be constructed
in j.uch a manner that it can be en
larged to meet future needs. The es
tablishment of a cooling plant will
enable growers to ship fresh fruit
across the continent safely.
The meeting of fruitgrowers was
held under the auspices of the Marion
County Horticultural society. Horti
cultural Commissioner W. K. Newell
was the principal speaker. His ad
dress dealt almost entirely with mar
keting problems.
II. M. Williamson of the state
board of horticulture, delivered an ad
dress upon the future of the apple in
dustry. In a very exhaustive discus
sion Mr. Williamson declared that
though large additions are being made
to the apple producing area, there is
no danger of overproduction.
HARNESS DESCHUTES.
Proposed Project Will Benefit Farm
Ing In Wasco and Sherman.
The Dalles. The construction of a
large power plant on the Deschutes
river, near Sherar's bridge, has been
commenced by the Interior Develop
ment company. If present plans are
carried out, it will mean a great deal
toward the development of Wasco and
Shot man counties. Notices of appro
priation of water have been filed in
the county clerk's office. A force of
about 13 or 20 men is at work on the
proposed canal.
A dam tio feet high will be built 1600
feet above the falls of the Deschutes
and from this a canal 83 feet wide and
5 feet deep will convey the water for
two-thirds of the distance to the site
f the proposed plant. I he water will
be conveyed the remainder of the dis
tance in eight parallel pipes, eacn li
feet in diameter. A fall of 103 teet
can oe secured, wiiu inc immense
olume of water an enormous horse
power can be developed.
It is estimated by engineers tnat
ufficient water can be thrown into
Sherman county to irrigate the entire
county. At the end of the pipe line a
owcr house will be built and hydro
lectric machinery installed.
M. A. Moody and other prominent
capitalists are back of the proposition
I ne force of men is soon to be
doubled, and when the winter is over
hundreds of men will be put to work
Part of General Scheme.-
The winter course is a part of a
general scheme of agricultural exten
sion which the agricultural college
faculty is working for. Traveling ag
ricultural and domestic science
schools, farmers' institutes, demon
stratum trains, free circulating li
braries, home reading courses, winter
courses, and free bulletins are all
features of a comprehensive system
of extension work that the Agricul
tural college faculty has recommended
to President Roosevelt uplift com
mission.
PORTLAND MARKETS.
Parley Feed, $27 per ton; brewing
$28.
Wheat P.lucstem. 00rt7 07c; club,
')lc: fife. lc: red Russian. 83c: 40
fuld. Mc: valley. 01c.
Oats No. 1 white. $31fn33 per ton
Hay Tfmothy, Willamette Valley
114 ner ton: latrrn Oregon tim
othy, $lf ..'.ofti 17; clover, $12; alfalfa
12i '1.1: grain hay. 2'a 13.
Fruits Apples. 73ci $2.75 per box
pears, fn 1.75 per box; grapes, fl.lcfiT
$1.50 per crate; quinces. $K'i 1 23 per
box; cranberries, n per barrel
persimmons, f Km 1.25.
Potatoes miOi title per cwt: sweet
potatoes. 2i2lc per pound.
Onions $Kn 1.25 per 100 pounds
Vegetables lurnips, $125 per
sack; carrots, $1; parsnips, $1 23; beets
SI. 50; horseradish, K'u lc per pound
artichokes. Wc0i$i dozen; beans. 1SW
I7lc per pound; cabbage, p lie per
pound; caii'iflower, 75cf. $1 per dozen
relery. $4.50'i 4.75 per crate; cucum
hers, $2'i 2 50 per box; egg plant, lie
per pound: lettuce. 73cVi 1 per box
parsley, 30c per dozen; peas, 12c per
pound: peppers. I.vi20c per pound
pumpkins, Kuljc per pour-4; radishes
:toc per dozen: spinach, 2c per pound
proiits, JK" loc per pound; squas
I fci He per pound; tomatoes. SI 75
Putter City creamery, extras. 372
37c; fancy outside creamery, 32)6t35c
otr oound: store. lsf.i2oc.
Fgas Oregon ranch. 40421
Pastern, ao'ii .l.'c per dozen.
Poultry Hens, loillc per pound
spring, large, 10lilic; small. l.Tv
i:.c; mixed, ink; ducks, l.'''lftc;
geese, loiiojc; turkeys, ll'jc
dressed turkeys, 20i23c.
Veal I'.xtra. j'i loc per pound; or
dinary. 7'WMr; heavy, 5c.
Pork Fancy, 7ic per pound; laige,
Mutton 5Cc per pound.
ASKS FOR FRIENDSHIP.
Eight Months' Rupture With Venei
lutla Draws to Close.
Washington, Dec. 23. After eight
months, the United States has re
sumed friendly relations with Vene
zuela, and William I. IUichanan has
left on the cruiser North Carolina to
isit that country, look into the situa
tion and make a report to the state
partment. This will decide whether
the United States will accord formal
recognition to the government.
It has not yet been fully estab-
shed that the Gomel government
ill retain its power without trouble,
as there are many adherents of Pres
ident Castro in the country. Indeed,
the possibility that disorder may
arise is indicated in a request for an
American ship at La Guayra, to
hich this government has promptly
responded.
Phe general opinion is that the
new order of things will open the way
fof the pacific settlement of Vene
zuela's disagreement with this coun
try, Holland and France.
ihe refusal in March last of tne
Castro administration to consider
separately the issues with the United
States made it plain that diplomacy
could accomplish nothing further
toward their settlement.
In 1003 the Venezuelan govern
ment, having failed to satisfy claims
against it by various powers, Great
ritain. Germany and Italy, block
aded the ports of that country with
the view to the forceful collection of
the debts.
Venezuela appointed Herbert W
Iiowcn, then American minister to
Venezuela, as a commissioner to take
up the question with the various gov
ernments, and he signed protocols
ith them which reserved a certain
percentage of the customs receipts, to
be set aside to satisfy the claims. The
blockading powers were made pre
ferred creditors.
LABOR LEADERS SENTENCED
Prison for Gompers, Mitchell and
Morrison, Who Appeal.
Washington, Dec. 25. Twelve
months in jail for Samuel Gompers
president; nine months for John
Mitchell, one of the vice-presidents
and six months for Frank Morrison
secretary, all of the American Feder
ation of Labor, was the sentence im
posed by Judge Wright, of the su
preme court of the District of Co
lumbia yesterday for contempt of
court in violating an order enjoining
them from placing on the unfair or
We don t patronize list the Uuck
Stove & Range company, of St. Louis.
All of the defendants were in court
when sentence was pronounced and
notice of an appeal to the District of
Columbia appellate court was filed,
jompcrs being released on $5,000
bond. Mitchell on $4,000 and Morri
son on $3,000.
Judge Wrights decision, which con
sumed two hours and twenty min
utes in reading, was a scathing ar
raignment. "Lverywhere," the court
said, "all over, within the court and
out, rampant, insolent defiance is her
alded and proclaimed; unrefined in
sult, affront, vulgar indignity, meas
ures the litigants conception of the
tribunal's duty wherein his cause still
pends.
OUSTS OIL TRUST.
Missouri Supreme Court Lands Dody
Blow to Rockefeller.
Jefferson City. Mo.. Dec. 25. The
state supreme court yesterday handed
down a decision which ousts the
Standard Oil company of Indiana, and
the Republic Oil company, perpetu-
allv from the state.
The decision also dissolves the
Waters-Pierce Oil company of St
Louis. In addition to the other fea
tures of the decision, each company
is fined $50,000.
The fight on the Standard in this
state has been waged for a number
of years. Attorney General Hadley
the governor-elect, was the prime
mover in the fight on the Rockefeller
interests. He caused a big sensation
several years ago by going to New
York to take testimony and putting
ths high financiers of the Standard
through one of the most trying cl
animations they ever withstood.
The Waters-Pierce Oil company
for many years was the representa
tive of the Standard in Missouri. Its
connection with the Standard was de
nied steadfastly for years, but proof
that it is a subsidiary has been de
veloped in both the state case and
the federal suits. The Republic Oil
company is a similar concern.
The order to dissolve the water
company is effective January 15. To
day's decision was the result of a
suit started in 1003. Seven judges
concurred. Judge Lamm in his in
dividual decision declares the trust
ought to be fined $1 000,000. Judge
firaves in his opinion says the evi
dence shows that the water company
was taken over by the trust over the
protest of the minority stockholders.
Bank Clerk Gets Five Years.
Pittsburg. Dec. 23 Herbert W.
Tiers, formerly a discount cleik in
the First National bank, was sen
tenced to serve five years in the pen
itentiary yesterday. Parly in
IVOfl
jTiers embezzled $31,000.
GOMEZ SUPREME;
ENEMIES CRUSHED
Puts an End to Castro's Dictatorship
In Venezuela.
Nips Plot to Assassinate Him by Dar
ing Act Seeks Peace With Pow
ers and Suspends Decree Against
Holland-No More Cash Will Go
to Castro.
Caracas, Dec. 24. The end of the
rule in Venezuela of Ciprano Castro
has come. The dictator w ho has gov
erned the republic with a rod of iron.
ever since he took forcible possession
of the icllow House in Caracas in
l!u, is now openly charged with con
spiracy to encompass the assassina
tion of the man whom he left at the
head of the republic when he sailed
away on November 23 from La Guyra,
nominally to secure skilled medical
aid in llcrlin for a malady of long
standing, and is todiy thoroughly dis
credited.
The Rank of Venezuela has cabled .
its correspondents at Berlin and Paris
cancelling the unlimited letter of
credit given to Senor Castro when he
left Venezuela for Furope, and no one
in Caracas believes he will ever dare
return to the capital. The Castro cab
inet has been forced to resign, and a
new and progressive ministry has been
appointed by Juan Vicente Gomez, the
acting president.
The attempt on the Iile ol senor
Gomez was frustrated by the coolness
and courage and the daring act of the
president himself. Alone and unsup
ported, he arrested the ringleaders of
the conspiracy with his own hands in
the presence of their armed adherents,
and after this action he issued a proc
lamation saying that not only had he
saved his own life, but he had main
tained the highest ideals of the re
public. "
Already the new administration
shows signs of a desire and intention
to settle the disputes between Venez
uela and foreign powers that have
kept the republic in a light of unen
viable notoriety for several years past.
At a conference held yesterday be
tween Senor Gomez and Uaron von
Seckendorff. the German minister in
charge of the interests of Holland
since the departure of the Dutch min
ister. M. de Reus. last summer, it was
agreed to suspend the operation of
the decree issued by President Castro
prohibiting the trans-shipment of
goods destined for Venezuela, rend
ing the signing of a treaty between
Holland and a duly empowered Ven
ezuelan commissioner, the Dutch war
ships that have been patrolling the
Venezuelan coast for nearly three
weeks will be withdrawn.
CASTRO KEPT IN IGNORANCE
Would Refuse to Believe His Down
fall If He Were Informed.
Pcrlin. Dec. 24 Castro apparently
is unaware of his downfall or the grav
ity of the occurrences in Venezuela.
Members of his party say he receives
no dispatches of any kind. The opin
ion is steadily gaining ground here
that Castro's power is completely
broken.
One of the most prominent mem
bers of his suite, who did not wish his
name made public, said:
No one has informed President
Castro concerning the reports of what
is going on, as the president would
refuse to believe the dispatches. I
cannot ask the president's opinion on
these things, because he is on a sick
bed. I am perfectly sure that he has
not received a dispatch since Sunday,
ind am certain that there has been no
exchange of cipher dispatches, because
the president does not possess a se
cret code."
The same personage ridiculed the
idea of Castro's complicity in a plot
to assassinate the acting president,
Senor Gomez.
RECORD WORK ON CANAL.
Thirty-seven Million Yards Taken Out
This Year.
San Francisco. Dec. 24 The Pan
ama canal will be opened January 1,
P"1V recording to an ouiciai com
munication received yesterday by the
California Promotion committee from
Joseph P.ucklin P.ishop. secretary of
the canal commission. 1 he statement
in "rt i s foMows:
"There has been excavated from the
line of the canal since the Americans
took control about M.OOO.OOO cubic
yards. This is as near as can be cal
culated at the present time, and is
about one-third of the entire excava
tion necessary to comnlcte the work.
Of this SriKin.ooo cubic yards, about
,5 oon.nno, has been removed during
the Lt thrco years. In 190. down
to November 1, nearly 31.000 000 cubic
yards were removed, and the total for
this ve-r will not he far from 37.000.
0o cubic yards. This will bring the
grand total of American excavation to
about 6VHo.ooo cubic rrds.
Bullet for Aerial War.
Pcrlin, Dec. 24 A Gottingen gun
smith named Schraeder has invented
and patented an expanding bullet
adantrd for the destruction of dirgible
balloons The bullet can be fired from
Jthe regular infantry rifle.