ffftffTTfttlMMftffttt OREGON NEWS nNcnrtsca ccsttoycd. lire on McCutty Mountain Supposed to Have Been Set by Campers. Albany The foiest fires which hare been raging ia tbe mountains of Oregon for the past ten days are having the oaual effect on valley towna. A pall of emoke, ao thick that the eyes burn, hangs over Albany, and the hariaon is narrowed down to a Tery abort dis tance. The sun looks like a ball of fire, being almost hidden from view part of the time. The emoke in Albany la particular ly bad because of a fire in close pioxlm ity to the city. Just east of Lacotuh, which U only about 15 mile from Al bany, is a fire which has been burning for several days, and is doing inestima ble damage. The fire ia on the aide of If cCully mountain, which ia covered with one of the finest bodies of timber in the county. There had been a num ber of flies in that section for some time, but all were under control -and the loss was normal. Albany people could see a large column of smoke ris ing from the aide of the mountain east of Lacomb, and later came the news that an immense and destructive fire waa sweeping over McCully mountain with irresistible force. The fire is thought to have been started by careless campers, and the authorities are inves tigating to see of the blame cannot be fastened on someone. BRING HIGH PBICC Last Year's Hons Sell Wen, and Picking Soon Begins. Salem Krebs Brothers, hopgroweis and dealers, have reported the purchase of 136 bales of 1903 hops from the A. J. Luce Hop company at 25 cents. This is the highest price paid for some time. Speaking of the hop situation, Leonard Kieba said that the greatest danger is that growers will begin pick ing too early. Some are talking of be ginning September 1, which Mr. Krebs eays is fully a week too soon. , In .the Butterville, Hubbard, Aurora and St. Paul districts in particular the hops are usually too green, causing a lorn in weight and also in quality. Mr. Krebs says that in view of the ab sence of vermin this season, there is no danger in letting the hops remain on the vine until they are ready for pick ing. Exhibits of State. Salem From information that has been received by Secretary Wylie A. Moores, of the state fair board, it is evident that the state fair next month will equal, if not excel the splendid expositions which have been held here for the last five years. There are more horses in training on Lone Oak track now than ever before at this time of the year. Many breeders of livestock who have never been here before are making arrangements to come with their herds, and the livestock - depart ment will be at great an attraction as ever. Space in the main pavilion is being lapidly taken for county and gen eral premium exhibits, and many new displays will be seen. Hop Market to Open. Salem Though 20 to 21 cents is free ly offered for contracts for 1904 hops, nothing of consequence is being done in this market. Growers are preparing for the harvest, which will begin about September 8 to 10, and are worrying very little about prices. Tbe hops in this vicinity are in excellent condition, bo far as quality is concerned, and there has been no change in the estimates of the probable yield. Al , Jenuan, who still holds 200 bales of hops of the 1903 crop, has refused an offer of 23 cents a pound for the lot. Urges Fruitgrowers to Organize. La Qrande A meeting of Grand Ronde horticulturists waa held at the Commercial club latt week, Professor 8. B. Green, of the Minnesota Agricul tural college addressing the meeting, who came here with Colonel Judson, of the O. E. & N. The professor urged the necessity of organization of the fruitgrowers, and believes tbe Grand Ronde odo of tbe grandest fruit sec tions he has had the pleasure of look ing over in the West. Wheat Crop Ready. Salem Because spring wheat is ready to harvest, farmers are hauling little grain to town now, and there is little activity in the wheat market. All the flouring mills in this vicinitv are paying a premium of 'lY cents above the export quotations, and buy ers for export are meeting the milling price. forest Pires Create Havoc. Eugene A number of forest fires are creating havoc in Lane county. Con siderable damage has already been done and heavy losses are feared. A large fire is now burning in some of the fin est timber on the McKenzie river. Several fires prevail. Harvester Burns In field. , Wasco While the harvest crew were at dinner tbe combined ' harvester of Henry Howell, near Wasco, caught fire and burned up completely. The cause of the fire is unknown. Loss $2,000, with no insurance. Only a small lot of wheat was burned. Wheat Market. Portland Export values: Walla Walla, 75c; bluestem,' 79c; valley, 60c; milling, Walla Walla, 76c; blue stem, 81c; valley, 81c. Tacoma Bluestem, 81c; club, 75c. D .f.TT,..TTTtfttf.MH OP INTEREST j' 4 I SOP MEN IN HIGH GLEE. Crop Witt Be Large, and Quality Bet ter Than Last Year. Albany Pi aspects are veiv briebt fcw Lisko county hopgrowere this yeai . ine yield is expected to be fully as huge as that of last year, and the qual ity of the product much better. The weather haa been all that hop men could desire, and the crop is free from vermin. Picking will comnnnce the last of this month. The prices for picking will 1 the same aa last year. But few contracts for sale of hops have been made up to this time. The prevailing price for those few sales that have been made is 20 to 21 cents. Although growers have made no effort to sell their hops before the season is fairly opened, yet there does not seem to be any disposition to hold the crop, as there was last year. This is thought to be due to the fact that the slump in prices late in tbe season last year caused a loss ol thousands of dollars to thoee who were holding for top prices. Land Patents Held Up. Albany Word haa been received in ilbany by Ed Dorgan, the timbei lo cator, from the interior department at Washington, D. C, that Albany claim ants of timber land in the Klamath and Lake county distiicts will hiva In wait sotoe time yet before receiving their patents. All the claimants have proved up on their claims and hold re ceipts from the local land officers, but Messrs. Jones, Erickson and Brown, the special agenta sent out by Secretary micncocx, nave recommended that the land be held up for further investiga tion. This is a great disappointment to the holders, who have waited for a lone time for their natenta. Anil th large number ol people in Albany who nave timDet claims in the Eastern Ore gon districts have a considerable amount of money tied up in the land. Road to Aid Three Counties. Albany Countv Judre Scott, of Marion county, has been in conference with Uounty Judge Stewart, of Linn county, regarding the proposed road to connect the Willamette valley with the Deschutes country, in Crook county, and the outcome is very favorable to the road. Hon. John Minto, father of the scheme and discoverer of the pass through which the road will go, is now at his mountain home on the line of the road, and will co-operate with the county judges in an effort to sceure a conference with the judge of Crook county, to see if the three counties can work together and divide the expense of constructing the road, which will be a mutual benefit. Crops in John Day Valley. Prairie City The hay crop in the John Day valley is this year as good as usual, on an average. While some stockmen are complaining over a slight ly inferior crop, others have harvested a superior one over those of previous years. George W. McHalev harvested 25 tons of timothy hay fiom a five-acre parcel of land. Haying is now well under way, and in about another week the hay harvest will nearly te com Diet ed. Only a small amount of grain is Deing grown here, but It is of good av erage quality. The fruit crop is excel lent, with the exception of a few orch ards that was damaged by late frosts and hail storms. Cove Cherries Get Prize. La Grande Union county cherries carried on the prize at the St. Louis fair. C. M and O. G. Stackland of Cove, one of the greatest fruit sections in the state, have received word that their Royal Ann cherries sent in were given tbe 100 per cent mark by the judges. Oregon has her own way at the fair in the line of cherries, and those from Union county are consid ered the best. The county has shipped out 20,000 boxes of tbe best varieties this season, besides the big home con sumption. Incorporate at J 1,000,000. Eugene The Willamette Valley Electric railway company, which last week secured a franchise from the county court to build a system of trolley lines along Lane county roads, has filed articles of incorporation with the county clerk. The incorporators are: Congressman J. F. Wilson, of Prescott, Ariz., and M. Taft and W. J. Wilsey, also of Prescott. The capi tal stock is $1,000,000, divided into shares of $1!). Remove Name's Stigma. Salem That the name of the Oregon State Reform school be changed to Oregon State Industrial school, is one of the recommendations made in the biennial report of Superintendent N.H. Looney. This change is advised be cause the present name is to many a stigma of disgrace when applied to youths whose characters are not formed. "It is not the intention of the state to brand these boys when what they want is encouragement," says Superintendent Looney. Sulphite Mill Closed. Oregon City Having on hand a large surplus of the mill's product, the Crown Paper mills has temporarily closed dowwn its sulphite mill, throw ing ont of employment 40 men. The wood mills of both local paper com panies have suspended operations also, because of the low stage of the river. Because of this more than 100 men have been placed out of regular work temporal ily. MEANS MOVE TOWARD MUKDEN. Japanese Concentration Shows At tempt Will Be Made to Cut Line. St. Petersburg , Aug. 11. Although Lieutenant Gneial Sakhaiofl repoits that theie :s no change in the situation around Liao Yaig, it ia evident from the special dispatches to the Associated Press fiotn Liao Yang and Sintaintin that the Japanese are rontinulug their prepaiations for a flanking movement which may possibly alter tbe nature of the expected engagement at Liao Yang, and which may also further delay the crucial development. The conent ration of a strong Japan ese forces at Siamatse indicates an In tention to preti forward toward Muk den, and if possible to cut the commu nications and prevent General Kuro patkin from retiring northward. Gen et al Kuropatkln is evidently aware of this move, and is sending out recon noitring parties from SinUintin along the Sahnatse road. This is shown by the slight en winter with a Japanese outpost within 30 miles of Sintsintin. The Japanese are also bringing strong fortes from Yinkow. Column marching from Niu Chwang with the evident intention of flarking Liao Vang from the westward, included 10,000 Chinese from the island of For mosa, who, are Japanese subjects. The Associated Press correspondent at Liao Yang points to the alarming character of this develoment, and feais that the example may prove contagious. If the local Chinese are induced to join the Japanese it will be impossible to dis tinguish tbe Formosan and Manchurian Chinese. This revives the spector of Chinese embroilment, with the more remote possibility of foreign entangle ments. There is considerable anxiety re garding the presence of General Yuan Shi Kai, commander In chief of the Chinese forces, and Geneial Ma, with strong foices of troops in the north, lest, should a convenient opportunity present itself, they would be tempted to overstep the bounds of nentiality. ALASKA MAY flND TAULT. Department Does for Bankers What It Would Not for Territory. Washington, D. C, Aug. 11. The poetoffice department, by issuing an order today at the behest of capitalists and bankers of New York, eliminating all weignt restrictions on first class mail matter addressed to foioign coun tries where domestic rates do not ap ply, lays itself open to criticism of discriminating against Alaska. Last winter an effort was made to induce the department to waive the weight restrictions on first-class mail matter, so that Alaska miners might ship their gold to states by mail in packages weighing more than four pounds, but this privilege was denied. Shippers represented through congressmen that they were now at the meicy of the transportation companies, who weie charging exhorbitant rates to bring gold to the states, and they therefore sought the privilege of shipping by mail. The department then held it could not amend its regulation. Now, however, it amends the regulation in order that the banks may more conven iently ship their securities abroad. VEST IS NO MORE. Ex-Senator Passes Away at His Home in Missouri. 8weet Springs, Mo., Aug. 10. After lingering for weeks between life and death, ex-Senator George Vest passed peacefully away yesterday. He had been so near death for the last three days that the end came without a struggle. He was conscious until about 2 o'clock Sunday morning, when he sank into a state of coma from which he never aroused He lost the power of speech Saturday morning, but for several days before that he talked very imperfectly, and during the last 36 hours of his life his breathing was barely perceptible. The flutter of his pulse was all that showed that life still remained. At I he bedside when the end came were his wife, Dr. Jarvis, the family physician; Senator Vest's son Alexan der, his daughter, Mrs. George P. Jackson, and her husband, and Mrs. Thopmson, a niece of Mrs. Vest. The remains were taken to St. Louis last evening for interment in the pri vate car of A. A. Allen, vice president and general manager of the Missouri, Kansas Sc Texas railroad. Will Inspect Submarine Mines. Washington, Aug. 11. Captain Geoige F. Barney, of the artillery corps, was today detailed for special duty as inspector of submarine mines, and will proceed to the harbor of San Diego, the mouth of the Columbia river and Puget sound for the purpose of inspect ing and reDortincr on the condition and sufficiency of submarine mining mater ial and tbe scope and extent of subma rine instruction in those harbors. Upon completion of this duty he will report to the commanding officer of the artillery district ot f uget sound. Capital City finally Chosen. Melbourne, Victoria, Aug. 11. The location of the federal capital, so long in dispute, is believed to have been Anally settled by a vote today in the house of representatives, approving Dalgaty, in the Bombaal district. Dalgaty had previously been selected by the senate. Dalgaty is situated 296 miles south of Sydney, New South Wales, and is 23 miles fiom the near est lailroad station. The population is under 300. Japanese Losses Put at 23,000. St. Petersburg, Aug. 11. The Buss estimates that the Japanese losses thus far as a result of the siege of Port Ar thur, aggregate 23,000 men. TO END STRIKE a Butchers, Grocers and Others Hold Conference WILL WAIT ON THE PACKERS Effort Will Be Made to Settle Strug, gle by Mediation Compcrs Asked to Come to Chicago. Chicago, Aug. 12. Determined efforts arc now being made to settle the stockyards' strike by mediation. Negotiations begun today between the retail Kutchers' and Groceis' associa tion with representatives of several labor unions, which will undoubtedly be involved in the strike, shouid it be prolonged much longer, lesulted to night in the appointment of a commit toe composed of those who attended U day'a meeting, to negotiate with the packers tomorrow morning in an at tempt to bring about a joint meeting between the employers and tht striking unions. It was the sentiment of all who attended today's conference that should the meeting be arranged be tween the two opposing interests, a settlement satisfactory to both sides could be realiied. Meantime, Samuel Gompera, presi dent of the American Federation of labor, ha been summoned from New York to see if he cannot accomplish something through mediation. Mr. Gompera will airlve here Sunday morn ing. The packers tonight declined to make any comment on what, if any success might be expected from the meeting. "We cannot very well discuss this matter now," said one of the packers representatives tonight. "We now have our affairs in a better condition than at any time since tbe strike was declared, and as for myself, I am un able to see on what grounds we could meet the strikers." Under tbe direction of Mayor Har rison, who was urged to take the step by a committee composed of lator leaders and several aldermen, an inves tigation into the sanitary conditions of the various packing plants where strike breakers are being housed was begun today. Several of the plants wVre visited, but no flagrant violations ot the law were found. The investiga tions will be continued. Tonight the packets sent a com munication to Mayor Harrison, deny ing that they are keeping lodging houses not in compliance with the or dinances. ARMY IS AWAY. The Russians are Retreating North of LUo Yang. St. Petersburg, Aug. 12. Again the chance of a decisive battle between General Kuropatkin and the command er of the Japanese army seems to be disappearing. According to a state ment issued by the general staff to night, rains are again fulling over a wide area of Manchuria with the pros pect of impeding operations, but even more important is the information reaching the Associated Press tonight from an exceptional source that the Japanese have once more delayed too long. Geneial Kuropatkin has now withdrawn the bulk of his army safely north of Liao Yang. According to this information, the Japanese have about 300,000 men in the armies operating against Kuropat kin, rendering it too hazardous for him to risk a general engagement. The gen eral staff has no information bearing on the reported presence of a large force of Japanese at Paithuhi, a place that can not be located on available maps. The report agrees, however, with the gen eral tenor of the information received by the Associated Press and here given, that General Kuropatkin is already re treating north of Liao Yang. The advantages of the new Japanese base at Niu Chwang in greatly simpli fying the problem of provisioning their army is fully tealized. The rumor that they are moving up towards Sim intin, a short distance west of Mukden, from Niu Cwang is generally believed. The appearance of the Japanese on tbe other side of Mukden would almost pocket General Kuropatkin and he re solved to accept battle with bis whole army at Liao Yang. What Porte Expects of Russia. ' Constantinople, Aug. 12. Tbe porte has definitely accepted the assurances of Russia as to the character of the vol unteer fleet vessels seeking to traverse the Dardanelles. In a note to the Rus sian embassy agreeing to tbe exit of the steamers the porte emphasizes the fact that its understanding of the Rus sian statement is : Vessels of the vol unteer fleet shall not carry arms or mu nitions of war; they shall fly the com mercial flag throughout the voyage, and shall traverse the straits separate ly at stated intervals. Condemns the Thea. Vladivostok, Aug. 12. The prize court today condemned the German steamer Thea, which was sunk by tbe Vladivostok squadron off the coast of Japan, July 24, and declared that the Russian cruisers were justified in sink ing the vessel. Evidence was produced that the Thea was chartered by a Jap anese company and that since March 25 she had been engaged exclusively in tbe Japanese trade between Japanese ports. Bandits Surprise Russia. London, Aug 12. The Tientsin cor respondent of the Standard says that 8,000 Chinese bandits attacked the Rus sian camp in the Tieb Pass Auugst 2. The Russians were taken by surprise and many were killed. a - tSawV Nt. T I a W Awtoaaatte FoanUlo. An Ohio niau gtves this description of his poultry fountain: Every poul tryman knows how difficult It Is to keep good, clean water for a large Hock of hens ahut up in a bouse or yard. If furnUhed In an open vessel It la soon lowered out of reach or filled with dirt and Utter by their scratching. Various small fountains are on the market which do for little chicks, but large fowla shut In a warm house drink a great deal and require lots of time and attention. The accompanying cut shows an automatic fountain which I dsvlaed for use In my poultry bouse. It la made of a 10-gallon keg. A pint tin cup la connected by a small tube to the lower end. from which the chickens drink. To fill the keg the tube Is corked, then the cork Is taken out of the top. When It la filled make the bung tight and open tbe tube be low. The water will not run out of the cup If the tube be an Inch or more below ths top. One cup will water a good slxed flock. Two or more enps may be nsed If necessary. Tht foun tain should be set on a box about eight Inches high, Just so the hens can reach It and not throw dirt Into the cup by scratching. With this arrangement they have plenty of clean water aud require our attention but once a day. Cara of the Hon. During the busy months of tbe year, farmers are anxious to get all ths work posslblo out of their horses, which Is proper enough. Food alone will not do the trick. A horse may be fed the best of rations, but he needs care In addition, ao try these things which may seem simple, but which will do a great deal toward making the horse contented and more valuable to you. Keep his coat clean, not only by brushing and the use of the comb, but use water on hlra freely, especial ly during the warm period. When his work for the day la done take a sponge and wash each part of his coat where the harness touched. If his muscles are tore, take equal parts of Iodine and aweet oil, mix them and rub the mixture well Into the joints and tendons. Want out his mouth occasionally and take care of his feet Above all. In warm weather, see that hla stable Is well ventilated and that screens are placed so that vermin are kept from annoying him. In watering the horse, let him have It before eating, and also a amall supply between meals, even If he Is warm. It will not hurt him unless you give him too much. , Handy Harrow. The barrow herewith Illustrated Is 8 feet long by 4 feet wide, with eight teeth In each beam. The teeth ahould be of -lnch steel and put through not more than two Inches. This makes a fine comb harrow which cuts all the top and does not pull up trash. Each beam Is attached to the pulling bar with a book and drop link. Through tbe middle la an Inch rod put through thimbles, one being slipped over each beacn as shown at a. This makes the harrow flexible. By withdrawing the Inch rod and unhooking from the pull- Ing bar, It can be sheltered In very small space. A boy can handle It The harrow Is very easy to draw, the beams being near the ground act as levelers, while the teeth cover every Inch of ground. J. Flomefell, In Farm Visitor. Money In Berries. Puyallup, Wash., Is the home of a man who gets $1,000 a year from one acre planted In berries. His crop con sists of the Washington dewberry and red raspberries. The little farm is in the center of the city and contains a neat six-room cottage and nice front lawn. A cow and flock of 200 chickens assist In making the Income approxi mate $1,000 every 12 months. The owner is almost an octogenar ian. He merely sits on the porch and watches the p'lckers gather hla golden harvest The chickens do not Injure the berries, but destroy the bags and rocKTAiir roa poi'ltbt. HABBOW a POSITION. keep down the grass and weeds. The berries are marketed through an asso ciation of local growers, A yield ef 850 to 01)0 crates Is considered the av-1 erare from an acre. Commercial Tribune. Htaawlac fltrawbarry Itada. Without doubt the digging of new ptanta aud setting them regularly in the place they are to grow la the best way of obtaining tbe new strawberry bed. True, this requires considerable labor and the selection of the best run ners from the old bed. If tLU plan la to be followed the best plauts will be obtained by going over the old bed aa tbe runners are forming and keep ing the tips rut off to one or more plants, ao as to obtain strong plants for re-aettlng. Another advantage of this plan Is that just ths number of plants that may be set In a given pe riod are dug. so that none sre left to dry out as with planta bought The other plan of making the new bearing plantation Is a good one, and quite generally followed, especially where the berriee are grown on the matter row plan. The mower Is ran over the field after the crop la gathered and. after raking off the rut planta, a light plow Is run through the field and about oue-half or more of the planta cut out leaving the new ones, which will be about a foot apart composed of the new plant. Care is required In this work, but the results will be profitable, provided the new planta formed are strong. Ths "Ooldaai Halt" Kansas grows more and better wheat than any State In the Union. Tbe crop of 1001 waa 90.000,000 buahelat the crop of 1003 was still larger. Thla la one-seventh of the entire crop of the United State, one-tblrUeth of the world's wheat crop. No wonder a hot wind or a rain In Kansas cauaea a flurry In the wheat pit of Chicago. To thoee who would but do not know It may be said thst the "golden belt" Implies a section of Kansas con sisting of about CO counties running north and south through ths central part of the State, Thirty-five of these counties In 10O3 yielded over 1,000,000 bushels of wheat each. In 1001 one couuty (Sumner) waa credited with a yield of nearly 7,000,000 bushel e ef wheat which Is greater than the total output for the same year of all the New England States and several addi tional States thrown In for good meas ure. Of this vast quantity of wheat only about 12.000,000 bushels Is con sumed in Kansas. The rest must go elsewhere, until now there Is not a country on earth where Kansas wheat or flour la not favorably kuown. Reltctlng Heed Corn. The true selection of a better breed of corn Is not confined to the selection of the best rare by any means, al though thla la the popular Idea of corn improvement As every corn raiser knows, certain seed will raise corn that Is almost Ideal, ao far aa the ear goes, but there are but few ears on a plant. This being the case, It Is evident that the true selection of corn Is the selection of the plants which show the desired characteristics all through their growth up to. the time of harvest ao that the planta should be closely watched from the time they break' ground And thus securing the habit of growth aa well aa the perfection of ear so desirable. Many of the plants will make a stronger growth than others and ripen the full crop earlier; If such a plant la what Is desired. It can only bo found by watching Its growth through tbe aeason. Then If the yield In all that ia desired one comes pretty near hav ing the Ideal plant and one which la, probably, capable of eveu greater Im provement Ak of Kara. An Eastern paper recently published a lengthy article on how to tell the age of eggs. While the article Is very Interesting and the information it con tains Is no doubt accurate and relia ble, we are of the opinion that to the farmer that makes the most money out of 'eggs it Is not very mnterlat The only good egg Is the fresh one, and the way to make the most money out of the sale of eggs Is to get them Into the bands of the consumer as soon as It can be done after they are laid. Guaranteed strictly fresh eggs alwaya find ready sale, and generally at a premium thla time of year. Ex change. Poultry Picking. The time of hatch, more than the breed regulates laying. In-breeding should not be tolerated for more than two years. The best stock Is the cheapest therefore, never sell the best and never buy anything but the best Fowls in confinement need a variety of food, and one of the most import ant of them Is green food of some kind. In no case can we make good, ma ture fowls of poorly-fed and badly managed chickens. It is economy first and last to feed well. Put a good floe- of bens in the plum orchard and the trees will be less sub ject to curcullo and will produce good crops of fruit So far as can be done, green food should form a part of the dally ra tions through the year, as it seems necessary to insure health, productive ness and fertility. , Tbe poultry business Is one of many details, and they need close following. Unless a person la willing to give at tention to little things, and not only to them onee, but many times, as occa sion may require, it Is not advisable to go Into the business Tory extensively.