t
LEXIHSTOH WKEATFIELD
S A. TtlbUAS. FoMtfaw i
LEXINGTON.. . .Y. .... .'. OREGON
NEWS OFTHE WEEK
la a Condensed Form tor Our
Busy Readers.
A Resume of the Lm Important but
Not Let Interacting Events :
of tiio Pai Wook.
The pope has issued an encyclical
denouncing French church laws.
The last horse car line in New York
City ia to be equipped for electricity.
Thousands of Chinese in the famine
district are living on grass and roots. -
Congressman Charles Curtis has been
nominated for senator by Kansas Re
publicans. Hearst has won the first point in his
appeal to oust McClellan as mayor of
New York.
A resolution has been introduced in
the Idaho legislature favoring exclusion
of Japanese coolies.
Japan has eiven no reason for not
Bending the squadron to visit the Pa
cific coast as planned
Alaskans are endeavoring , to have
the president's order withdrawing coal
land from entry removed. ,
A move to ivestigate Gugenheim's
purchase of a senatorship has been
squelched by the Colorado legislature.
The Union Pacific will probably be
ordered by the Interstate commerce
Commission to sell the stocks of other
roads.
Fire that started in a tobacco ware
house at Lancaster, Pa., spread to
other property, entailing a loss of $1,
000,000. Russia is preparing to build several
warships. ,
The 1907-08 Japanese army and navy
budget carries $95,000,000.
The president is expected to send an
other message to congress on negro
troops. :,..,!
The train service between San Fran
cisco and Los Angeles is at a complete
standstill, owing to washouts.
Several Japanese have applied to
Texas Federal officers for citizenship
papers. They were told to wait.
It is conceded by many that Hearst
Btands a fair chance of wresting the
New .ork mayoralty from McClellan.
Congressman W. A. Smith has been
made the caucus nominee by the Mich
igan legislature for Alger's place in the
senate.
PORTLAND MARKETS.
"Wheat Club. 66c; bluestem, 68c;
valley, 66c; red, 64c. -
Oats No. 1 white, $252G; gray,
$24.5025.
Barley Feed, $21.5022 per ton;
brewing, $22.50; rolled, $2324.
flva M. 40(31. 45 t)er cwt.
' Corn Whole, $26; cracked, $27 per
ton.
Hav Vallev timothy, No. 1, $1314
per ton: Eastern Oregon timothy, $14
16; clover, $88.50; cheat, $7.50
8.50; grain hay, $7.508.60; alfalfa,
111.50: vetch hay. $88.50.
Butter Fancy creamery, 3035c
nor nnund.
Butter Fat First grade cream, 33 Vic
per pound; second grade cream, 2c less
nnr nrmnd.
Eggs Oregon ranch, 3233c per
dozen.
Poultry Average old hens, 1415c
ner nound: mixed chickens, ld14c
spring, 1415c; old rooters, 10llc;
HmsHod chickens. 1617c: turkeys.
live,1717c; turkeys, dressed, choice,
2022c; geese, live, iodize; uucks,
1415c
Vonl DroRRod. 5Ufni9c ner nound
Beef Dressed bulls, 1 2c per pound ;
cows. 4ffl5c: country steers, 5(5 We.
Mutton Dressed, fancy, 89e per
pound; ordinary, 67c.
Pork Dressed. 68Wc per pound
Fruits Apples, common to choice,
60(3),75c per box; choice to fancy, $1
2.50; pears, $11.50; cranberries,
$11.50 12 per barrel; persimmons,
si. 50 ner box.
Vegetables Turnips, 90c$ per
Rack: carrots. 90c$l per sack; beet
$1.25(31.50 per sack; horseradish,
offil On ner nound : sweot potatoes. 3c
per pound; cabbnge, 2o per pound;
cauliflower, $1.25 per dozen; celery,
$3.754.25 per crate; onions, 10
12 4c per dozen; bell peppers, 8c;
tmmpkins, 2c per pound; spinach, 4
5cper pound; parsley, 1015c; Bquash,
2c per pound.
Onions Oregon, $11.25 per bun
A rnrl .
Potatoes Oregon Burbanks, fancy,
$11.30; common, oajuc.
Hops ll13Xc per pound, accord
ra nun litv.
Wool Eastern Oregon average best,
1318c per pound, according to shrink
age; valley, 2023c, according to fine
ness; mohair, choice, zotseo.
ltd, Mi.MEET ATr ALBANY. , , "
Producers and Shippers Unite In De
v manding Legislation.. .
Albany,. Or., 'jan.ll. If any partic
ular pomt touching on the derelictions
or iniquities of the railrtadd was over
looked at the car shortage meeting .in
Eugene last month,. it was supplied at
the Shippers' and Producers' conven
tion held in this city yesterday. The
meeting, like its predecessor at Eugene,
was held for the purpose of impressing
ou the members of the legislature the
necessity for railroad legislation.
,, The people are so terribly in earnest,
ami so unanimous in their demands for
remedial railroad legislation that prac
tically every other matter to come be
fore the legislature has been lost sight
of. The attendance yesterday, included
a large number of people who were at
the Eugene meeting, and if there has
been any change in their feeling to
wards the railroads it has not been in
favor of the corporations . Both in the
sentiments openly expressed and in
private conversation there are plenty of
indications that the people are "nurs
ing their wrath to keep it warm" until
they can get action at Salem.
At this meeting, as at Eugene, there
were none of the "cinch-bill" type of
politicians, and but little unreasonable
abuse of the railroads. The attendance
was made up of people who have been
so seriously hurt in a financial way 'by
the car shortage that they 1 are becom
ing desperate and are prepared to go to
most any length to improve conditions.
The details or the form to be taken by
the proposed legislation have not yet
been worked out. As a matter of fact,
they are no farther along than when
they were at the Eugene meeting, and
the Albany convention might not in
appropriately be termed a ratification
meeting inspired by the Eugene affair.
MOVES TO SEATTLE.
Interstate Commerce Commission to
Meet in Sound City
Chicago, Jan. 11. The investigation
by the Interstate Commerce commis
sion into the traffic alliances and other
business deals of the railroaus con
trolled by E. H. Harriman, was cm
pleted today, so far as Chicago is con
cerned, and the commission adjourned
to meet in Seattle January 21, when
the case will be resumed. James H.
Hiland, third vice president of the Chi
cago, Milwaukee &, St. Paul railroad;
Julius Kruttschnitt, director in charge
of maintenance and operation; E. A.
McCormick, assistant traffic 'director of
the Harriman linesj and J. A. Munroe,
freiuht traffic manager of the Union
Pacific, testified today. '. '
Testimony showing that the, consoli
dation of the Union Pacific and South
ern Pacific had eliminated competition
to a certain extent was given by Mr
Hiland and Mr. Kruttschnitt, who ad
mitted that the purchase of rolling
stock for both systems was practically
under his control. Mr. McCormick
was questioned regarding the advertis.
ing department of the system, but de
clared each road had its own bureau of
publicity.
After the commission aajournea mis
afternoon it was said that after the
commissioners had concluded their in
vestigation in the West the hearing
would be resumed in New York. At
that time, Mr. Harriman, William
Rockefeller, Standard Oil officials and
others, including H. H. Rogers, II. C.
Frick and James Stillman, . would be
called before the commission.
ANNUL TIMBER AND STONE ACT
Senate Committee Proposes to
Sell
Timber and Keep Land.
Washington, Jan. 10. The senate
public lands committee .today agreed to
report favorably the bill to repeal the
timber and stone act and substitute
therefor a law directing that the govern
ment retain title to its remaining tim
ber lands, selling only the timber, at
not less than apprised value. As this
bill virtually creates forest reserves of
all government timber land, the land
can never pass to private ownership,
and hence can never be taxed.
To compensate for this loss of taxes,
Senator Fulton secured the adoption of
an amendment to the bill stipulating
that 25 per cent of the money derived
from timber sales shall bo paid to the
counteis in which the timber is cut.
Heaviest Rain in Years.
Los Angeles, Jan. 11. In amount of
precipitation, the storm that has
drenched Southern California during
the rast four days is the heaviest in 18
years. The total precipitation is nearly
four inches, of which 1.4 has fallen
during the past 24 hours. The storm
has been severe in its effects north and
east of Los Angeles. Landslides south
of Santa Barbara had, at last accounts,
tied up four or five passenger trains
hound for this city. Four or five lives
are known to have been lost as an in
direct result.
Car Shortage Coses Flour Mills.
Minneapolis, Jan. 11. Because they
could not get cars in which to ship
their products, the leading flour mills
of the city have been forced to close
, wn temporarily. Three hundred
men are out of work.
Western Men Do Not Like Pres
ident's Oriier.
BLOCKS THE WAY TO PATENTS
Hansbrougn Has Bill to Sell -Timber
and Keep Land Several Bills
to Lease Coal Land.
Washington, Jan. i2. Western men
in congress do not take kindly to Presi.-.
dent Roosevelt's order holding up every
public land entry, pending investiga
tion of each individual case by special
agen. I he president, upon advice or
Secretary Hitchcock, made this order
in the expectation that congress, in or
der to relieve the congestion, wonld
hastily appropriate morrt-y to permit
the employment of a vast number of
special agents, but it seems that no
such liberality will be shown if the
Western men adhere to their present
opinion. They are now, m most in
stances, inclined to believe that the
president s order was too sweeping and
that it will work more harm than good..
Mr. Hitchcock, however, is firmly con
vinced that this is the only way to
head off fraudulent entries. But as
one experienced Westerner said:
"Who is to guarantee the honesty of
several hundred special agents?"
Senator Hansbrough, chairman of
the committee on public lands, will
renew his fight to secure the repeal of
the timber and stone act and the sub
stitution of a law authorizing the sale
of government timber at not less than
its appraised value. Mr. Hansbrough
has drawn a new bill which shall re
serve to itself title to all public timber
land and sell only the timber. The
bill stipulates that persons residing in
the immediate vicinity of any govern
ment timber land may take, without
cost, not to exceed 100,000 feet, B. M.,
in any one year, for itheir own use for
farm and domestic purposes. Timber
land shall remain open to entry under
the mining and coal lnd laws, and
timbered land chiefly valuable for stone
shall be subject to entry under the
placer mining laws. Persons devel
oping claims on forest land may cut
therefrom not to exceed 100,000 feet,
B. M., in any one year, provided they
need euch timber in developing and
operating their claims.
Coupled with and very similar to the
legislation providing for the disposal of
public timber are the various bills now
pending proposing to regulate the use
of coal, gas and oil on government land.
There are many bills for this pur
pose, all drawn along one general line
In the main they propose that the gov
ernment shall retain title to coal, oil
and gas bearing land and shall permit
the development of their resources on a
royalty basis. This land is now tied up
under a sweeping withdrawal ordered
by the president, and until some sort
of legislaiton is enacted it will be im
possible for private capital to get hold
of and develop the coal, gas and oil
resources on ay part of the public do
main.
ALASKA LEADS THEM ALL.
Mint
Director Estimates Total
Gold
Production for 1903.
Washington, Jan. 12. The director
of the mint today made a preliminary
estimate of the production of go d and
silver in the United States during the
calendar year 1906.
Of the more important increases in
the production of gold as compared
with 1905 Alaska stands first with a
gain of $0,316,000; Nevada comes next
with $45,00,000, and Arizona third,
with $523,000. Colorado shows a loss
in gold production of $2,900,000 and
California a loss of $564,000.
In silver production Montana shows
a loss of 2,000,000 ounces, Colorado a
loss of 65,000 ounces and Utah a gain
of 2,217,000 ounces. The figures for
all the states sho , a net gain in gold
production of $7,920,700 and a net
gain in silver production of 82,100
ounces. .
i
Small Sum for Forts,
' Washington, Jan. 12. In presenting
the fortifications bill to the house in
committee of the whole today, Repre
sentative Smith, of Iowa, stated that
only once in 13 years had so small an
amount been carried in a fortifications
bill. The bill carries $132,000 to make
14-inch guns. He said the members of
the appropriation committee found
themselves between two conflicting ele
ments, the one "thinking that we were
progressing too rapidly in the defense
of our possessions, and the other that
we were proceeding too slowly."
Tennessee Backs Up Roosevelt
Nashville. Tenn.. Jan. 12. The
house of representatives adopted a joint
resolution indorsing the action oi pres
ident Roosevelt in dismissing the bat
talion of neuro soldier's in connection
with the rioting at Brownsville.
!";oppbsle. Chinese" tAeoa;-
Congressional Committee Has Formed
Deckled Opinions on Canal.
New York, Jan. 9. The congressional
committee of 12, headed by Congress
man McKinlay, of California, which
has been Inspecting the work on the is
thmian canal, arrived here today on the
steamer Panama from Colon.
The members of the committee said
their observations were that work" on
the canal is progressing favorably, and
that the employen were well satisfied.
In speaking of his visit to the isth
mus Senator Flint said:
"I -found everything in excellent
shape and work progressing very favor
ably on economic Hues. The men were
well housed and fed, but the duel dilli-
culty of the future to1 my mind, ia the
building ot new noimes. 4- am emphat
ically of the opinion that there is abso
lutely no necessity for the employment
of Chinese labor in completing the
Mr! McKinlay said:
"We investigated thoroughly the
work done and the conditions prevail
ing on the isthmus. -1 am satisfied
that there is not the slightest necessity
for the employment of Chinese on the
work. The canal lone is getting very
healthy, and it seems to me to present
a fine field for American workmen
without employing Chinese. The work
is progressing satisfactorily and I feel
assured that the canal will be com
pleted within a reasonable length of
time."
Congressman F. S. Dickson, of Illi
nois, said he was opposed to the em
ployment of Chinese labor on the
canal. He said the men now'there
were doing good work, were contented,
and resent the criticisms regarding
conditions in the canal zone.
HURRY REPORT ON TARIFF.
Experts Reminded Uerman Treaty
Will Need Legislation.-. ..
Washington, Jan. 9 The State de
partment has intimated to the experts
who were sent to Germany to confer
with German experts and to compare
notes relative to the complaints against
the American tariff schedule tliat it
would like to have a report before the
middle of February. This request was
made necefoary by the fact that if any
legislation is necessary to give effect to
the recommendations of the tariff ex
perts, at least two weeks' time will be
required to perfect it.
While it is hoped by the department
that as the result of their conferences
with the Germans, the American ex
perts will be able to recommend tome
changes in administration that could be
effected by a mere amendment of the
rules by the secretary of the treasury,
it is regarded as probable that, the
changes recommended will be such' as
will require legislation. In this latter
case if congressional action upon the
propositions cannot be expected before
the adjournment of the present session,
then it will be necessary to ask the Ger
man government to again extend the
provisions of the present German law
admitting America to the priviliges of
the minimum tariff In Germany.
PLOT TO MURDER.
All White Officers Doomed to Death
by Negro Soldiers.
El Reno, Okla., Jan. 9. Belief of
the army officers at Fort Reno that a
conspiracy to murder every white offi
cer at Fort Reno, beginning with Cap
tain Edgar Macklin, against whom
every negro soldier at the post enter
tains a personal grudge aB a result of
the affair at Brownsville, Tex., and the
discharge of the negro soldiers that fol
lowed, and then proceeding down the
list of officers, became known today as
a result of the preliminary hearing in
the case of Edward L. Knowles, cor
poral of company A, Twenty-fifth in
fantry, who was found guilty of assault
with intent to kill Captain Macklin, on
the nteht of December 21. Knowles
was bound over to await the action of
the Canadian county grand jury at the
pring term of court.
Every effort has been made by the
officers at the post to keep the alleged
conspiracy a sceret, but it is learned
that an investigation is being made at
several army posts, and within a short
time several arrests of members of the
troop recently discharged in disgrace
are expected to follow.
Buy Flour for Chinese.
San Francisco, Jan.9. Major Charles
R. Krauthoff , of the Subsistence depart
ment, U. S. A., has been authorized by
the American National Red Cross soci
ety to purchase 600,000 pounds of flour
to be used In China. E. ti. itarriman
has offered the use of his, line for trans.
portation of this commodity free of
charge, and the flour will be sent on
the steamer Coptic. It will be sent to
the United States consul at Shanghai,
who will then distribute it among 'the
famine-stricken residents of China.
The Coptic sails January 15.
Big Stove Works Burns.
Detroit, Mich., Jan. 9. Fire de.
stroyed the major portion of the Mich.
ican Stove works on Jefferson avenue
tonieht. causing a loss estimated at
$7750.000. The entire plant covered
an area of 10 or 12 acres. The office
building, the foundries and part ofjhe
storae building were saved.
TEN MILLION SUFFER
Chinese Refugees Swarming Into
Cities in Search ol Food.
NEARLY FOUR MILLION STARVING
All Sufferers May Die Unless Charity
Comes to AidHundreds
Perish Daily.
Victoria, B. C, Jan. 10. The steam
er Shinano Maru, which arrived today
from the Orient, brought further ad
vices regarding the appalling famine in
Central China. The extent of the fa
mine area is boundod on the south by a
line from the sea through Human and
along the Huai river in North Anhui,
on the west by a line from Ochou to
Kweitoh, north from the eastern corner
of llonan to the sea which bounds the
eastern Bide.
The worst conditions are expected to
set in after Chineso New Year in mld
Febniary. The population affected is
set at 10,000,000, of which Viceroy
Tuan Fang estimates that 4,000,000 are
n actual want, mostly starving. J he
famine area is about 40,000 square
miles, embracing between 20 and 30
huge walled cities, besides the scattered
country population. The figures given
from nine large cities show 8U0,UUl
starving refugees have already collect
ed, with no account of those who have
migrated south or congregated in walled
cities outside the famine area.
Mr. Bostwick, sent from Shanghai to
investigate, says all these refugees may
perish from starvaton unless fed by gov
ernment or public charity. He esti
mates the daily expenditure to feed the
4,000,000 now starving at $20,000,
while the period of relief must be ex
tended over some months.
With tens of thousands of starving
huddled in the walled cities it is feared
epidemics will add to the horrors of the
famine.
The North China Daily News, of
Shanghai, publishes many telegrams
from missionaries in the famine areat.
A typical one from Hsuchoufu says:
"Half people actually without provi
sions daily and die. Many leave coun
try. Numberless brigandages and mur
ders. No local relief hoped for."
THIRTY-FOUR BURNED.
Explosion. Scatters Molten Iron With
Fearful Results.
Pittsburg, Jan. 10. Three workmen
were killed, seven fatally injured and 24
are missing as the result of an explosion
tonight at the Eliza furnaces of the
Jones & Laughlin Steel works. Gas,
accumulating at the base of the fur
naces, became ignited. In the result
ing explosion tons of molten metal
were showered around the furnace for a
radius , of 40 feet, overwhelming the
workmen in a fiery flood.
While the mill officials are inclined
to believe all of the missing men were
not cremated in the molten metal, noth
ing definite is known as to their where
abouts. Only one man, George Knox,
has appeared since the explosion. He
says everything happened so quickly
that he doubts whether the men escaped.
The scenes about the entrance to the
mill were pathetic when the families of
the victims learned of the disaster.
Women, men and children gathered be
fore the gate and made frantic efforts to
gain admittance. Several of the fren
zied women rushed upon the officers
and tried to fight their way into the
mill. Children ran through the streets
crying that "Father is dead." Later
it became necessary to call additional
police, forcibly to escort the women and
children to their homes.
The officials at the mills refused to
allow anyone to enter the yard where
the furnace is located. : Information
was refused to newspaper men, the offi
cials saying that later they might issue
a statement. A heavy guard of foreign
workmen was placed at the yard en
trance and even the police were power
less to get past. , ,
Uncle Sam Does Not Need Money.
Washington, Jan. 10. The secre
tary of the treasury will iinmediately
notify the depository banks, with
which the temporary deposits of about
$12,000,000 were recently placed to be
returned January 20 and February 1
that the dates for the return of the de
posits have been extended so as to re
quire the funds to be repaid to the
treasury, one half on February 1 and
one half on Februaty 15. It is stated
in explanation of this change in date
that there is no particular need for the
money at this time.
Another Candidate for Bullets.
St. Petersburg, Jan. 10. General
Dratschvsky, ex-Russian inspector gen
eral of railroads in Finland, has been
appointed prefect of St. Petersburg in
place of the late Von der Launitz, who
was recently assassinated.