It's a Cold Day When We Get Left. VOL. X. HOOD RIVER, OREGON, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1898. ' NO. 25. Happenings - Both , at Home ... . and Abroad. . A v WEEK'S NEWS CONDENSED Interesting Collection of Items From : ,. Many Places Culled From the FiBil Reports of the Current Week. General Fitzhugh Lee's mother died Bt Richmond, Va. ... A , proclamation has been . .issued bringing Santa Ciuzand other islands under the British Solomon islands pro tectorate. . At Friday's session of the Paris peace commission the Spaniards rejeoted the Americans' proposals, and refused to give. up the Philippines. Later reports from the conflagration at Hankow, China, say that 10,000 houses were destroyed and 1,000 peo ple killed and burned to death.' . Ellis H. Roberts, treasurer of the United States, in his annual report,: shows that the treasury was stronger at tne piose man ai ine opening 01 me fiscal year. ' ' - Senator Redfield Prootor in an ad dress at Montpelier, Vt.', declared that there should be divided sovereignty and that the United States should retain the entire Philippine archipelago. ,: The work of removing the bodies ot all government soldiers burjed in Cuba, Porto Bico and Manila will begin in a few weeks The expense of the under taking will be borne entirely by the government. ... Major Helbnrn'a recital before the war investigating commission, while in session at ... Cincinnati, disclosed a ter rible state of affairs at Camp Thomas., Chickamauga, due to ignorance and ne gleot. The sick soldiers were treated like dogs. , 7 ' ' , ' ' ! The board of control of the Joint Traffic Association has decided to dis solve the organization. This aotlon vas taken because of the recent decision by the supreme court that the efforts of tbe association to control railroad rates was illegal. ," "'", By the explosion of a boiler at the 6il City (Pa.) boiler works, two men were killed, two fatally injured and a dozen more slightly hurt. The killed are "Richard McCIoskey and John Fraw ley. Tbe fatally inlured are B. J. Gid ders and Denis McMahon. ' ' , ; A recent disoovery of bituminous coal in the ; Klondike, region was made in American territory about 100 miles below Forty-Mile. A tunnel has been dug into the hillside a distance of 45 feet, arid .there the vein is . six feet In thickness; - The coal is said, to be of su perior' quality. ; 'i j The transport Panama, , which was reported lost with 800 lives, has arrived safely in Havana. . ' 5, Germany's exports for the first nine months of the fiscal year showed an in,- n l co den AAA 1. torn ; , The newly-organized French cabinet announces . that, it . Will, suppoit the court of cassation in the revision of the Dreyfus case. ' : ".' Several companies of native troops in the Visayas islands rebelled. That Were pursued and several were killed. The rebellion is ended. : ' " ' In a speech delivered at Worcester, Mass., Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts. expressed himself strongly opposed to the policy of expansion. 't ' Russia has declined to support France in the Fashoda affair, fearing that a re opening of the Egyptian question would interfere with her tremendous task in China. ' ". ' ', ' Action has been taken by the admin istration looking to the maintenance of the status quo with respeot to the con cession of the Maritime Canal Company IUI IUU UVUO.IUVI1VU V MUO A. .V... agUUU canal. ,, '., M. Fontaine, of Minneapolis, who has just returned from the Stickeea route, says he baa discovered rioh dig gings on an unexplored . creek on the Hootallnqua river. He shows a quan tity of coarse gold as evidenoe. v . The war between England and France bas been aveited. A general and satis factory arrangement is Baid to have been effected in relation to the disputed Fashoda question. ' An official note has Deen issued on mesuojeci in wncn ine British government announces that the situation is ameliorating. 1 " The navy department has practically decided to abandon wrecking opera tions Tinder existing contracts on the cruisers Cristobol Colon, Vizcaya and Almirante Oquendo, near Santiago, which have become enormously - ex pensive td the government. A Swedish company has applied for permission to raise the sunken vessels. The. war'' department has issued a general order for the movement of troops to Cuba. . The first troops will leave on or about November 22, and will comprise a brigade under Brigadier-General Carpenter. The brigade will be taken from the Seventh army corps. ' The brigade will be sont to Neuvitas. Puerto Principe. ...... THE ELECTIONS. Republicans Claim the BOth Congress- State of Washington Also ' . Republican. ' ' Portland, Or., Nov. 9. The Ore- gonian (Rep.) in its summary of Tues day's elections says: , '. ' The Republican party will still con trol the 56th congress. Incomplete returns indicate that 157 Republicans and 143 Democrats have certainly been elected members of the lower house of congress. Out of this. total, 300 mem bora from the same districts two years ago 189 Republicans were eleotedj and 111 Democrats. The state of Washington was restored to the column of gold-standard states, There is no doubt of the election of Jones and Cushman, the Republican nominees for representatives in con gress, and Anders and Fullerton, the Republican candidates for supreme judges. Their majorities appear to be between 2,000 and 2,500. The Repub 1 icans have carried tbe legislature by a safe working majority on joint ballot The proposed single-tax amendment to the constitution is badly defeated, and the woman-suffrage amendment has probably shared the same fate, though little is known of the vote on it. The Ohio congressional delegation re mains unchanged, but the Republicans have elected their state ticket by about 50.000 plurality. , The Indiana election is still in doubt. Conneotitcut elects the Republican ticket by nearly 20,000, and its delegation is unchanged. In Illinois the Democrats have gained five, and probably six, congressmen. The Republican state ticket is elected by SO, 000 plurality. ' In Massachusetts, the Republicans eleoted their state ticket, but lost two or three' of their congressional districts. Nebraska re ports a Republican landslide. In Cal norma Gage, Republican, is . elected governor over Maguire, Demoorat, by not less than 5,000 plurality. Camp bell, Democrat, will be the new con' gressman from Montana, and Thomas, Mormon Demoorat, from Utah. The election in the South, as usual, went Democratic. Theodore Roosevelt, Re publican, has been elected governor of New York by a plurality anywhere from 18,000 to 20,000. ' Michigan re elected Pingree. Archbishop W. H. Gross, of Oregon, is seriously ill at Baltimore. The Cuban assembly has effeoted permanent organization at Santa Cruz. . The United States, it sis said, 'Will offer to buy the Philippines from Kpam. - Siam is about to re-establish its lega tion in tbe United States after the lapse of many years. Henry Failing, president of the First National bank, of Portland, Or., and a well-known citizen, is dead. , Mrs. Leslie Carter, the actress, has filed a petition in bankruptcy at New York, showing liabilities of 163,773 and no assets. Two' sticks of dynamite addressed to the Turkish consul at San Francisco, were discovered in the mails before any haim was done. . ,, . - Wooden rims for bicycles are not pat entable, according to a ruling made by Judge Seaman in the United States court at Milwaukee. Judge Grosscup, of the United States circuit court . at . Chicago, rendered a decision upholding the constitutionality of the war revenue law. A revolution is imminent in Samoa, and the cruiser Philadelphia has been ordered there to proteot American in terests. The Yorktown may follow. A Norfolk, Va., dispatoh says the Meiritt Wrecking Company has re ceived information that the Maria Teresa, which was reported sunk, is ashore at Cat island. '. Nikola Tesla claims to have learned how to control vessels at a great dis tance. By the use of an invention upon which he is working, torpedo boats may be sent out unmanned and guided into contact with an enemy's Bhip by an operator at a safe distance. General Miles' report on the late war has been filed. ' Plain statements are made, and there is no mincing of words. Faots regarding the conduct of the war are clearly stated. Friends of the gen eral says Seoretary Alger will be com pelled to publish tbe report despite his disinclination to do so. " r ' A London coroner's jury which has been investigating the death on Octo ber 29 last of Harold Frederio, a corre spondent of the New York Times, hai rendered a verdict of manslaughter against Kate Lyon, a member of the late Frederio's household, and. Mrs. Mills, a Christian Soientist , David A. Wells, the famous econ omist, died at Norwich, Conn. Half the population of Gibara, Cuba, is said to be suffering from smallpox. v. Major General Otis at Manila reports 12 deaths among the troops Since bis last( report. . . v .. .'..-'.. General Wade will have entire oharge of the government of Cuba, both civil and military. . . : The Omaha exposition proved a finan cial success, and subscribers will be paid back in full. Postofflce at Arago Robbed by Two Masked Men. ABOUT $1500 WAS SECURED Postmaster Was Compelled to Open the Safe Sheriff and Posse Found the Tracks of the Robbers. Marshfield, Or., Nov. 9. Last night at about 8 o'clock two masked robbeis entered the postofflce at Arago. The offioe is in the residence of W. H. Schroeder, the postmaster. Mr. Schroe- der was in the upper part of the house when the men entered, but a man, Peter Crow, was in the office. '- The robbers ordered him outside. They tied his feet and hands, and fastened him seourely to a milk oart, in such a manner that his face was down, and he was unable to turn. .' They then re turned to the house and foroed Mr, Schroeder to come down stairs into the office, and at the points of revolvers compelled him to open the safe. They helped themselves to its contents There was about $1,500 taken, $1,800 belonging to the . Arago creamery and $300 being postal funds. Postmaster Schroeder is a cripple, and was unable to offer resistance. Sheriff Gage and a posse found the tracks of the robbers early this morning and followed them until dark. The'country is well guard ed tonight, add the sheriff thinks they cannot possibly escape. WINTER IN ALASKA. The" Snow Lies Deep on White and Chllkoot Passes. Port Townsend, Wash., Nov. 9.-The City of Topeka arrived tonight from Alaska, bringing 124 passengers. She reports that heavy snowstorms have visited various sections of Alaska and nearly all mining operations have been suspended except quartz mills located near tide water. ' On November 2 foui feet of snow full on Chilkootand White passes, whioh completely put a stop to travel. Telephone messages from Lake Llnd emann to Skagway announce that about 400 persons are snowbound tbeie. - Another rioh strike is reported from the head of Salmon river, below Quiet lake. V .'';' According to John Olds, a pioneer mining and business man of Alaska, 800 claims have been filed and recorded in the Atlin mining district, and about 1,000 men will winter there. - He pre dicts that Atlin will have a population of at least 15,000, and that the output of gold will nearly if not quite equal that of Dawson. It is stated that an English syndicate has bought up about 4,200 acres o'i placer ground in the Atlin distriot. ILLINOIS LYNCHING. '- ' Miners Quickly Avenge an Assault on One of Their Daughters. ' Macon, 111., Nov. 9. The first lynch ing in Central Illinois in many years took place here early this morning, when 100 miners from Toluca, a min ing town a short distance east of here, broke into tbe county jail, took out F. W. Stewart, a Toluca negro, and hanged him to a tree. The work was done quickly and quiet ly. Only a few late stragglers notioed the number of strangers who kept ar riving in town, from the east. They were well ' organized, however, and shortly after midnight marched in a body to the jail, broke in the doors after a short parley with the sheriff, dragged the negro from his- cell, carried him to a tree a mile from town, where the re mainder of the party awaited them, and there swung him to a limb. Stewart s crime was assault on Friday evenir.g upon Mary O'Brien, the daugh ter of one of the Toluca miners. - Although many in Macon deplore the lynching, there is a general impression that the negro was punished as he de served, and the sheriff seems to think that public sentiment would not justify him in making strenuous efforts to cap ture he lynchers'. PEREZ BROUGHT TO TIME. . Cuban Court-Martial's Judgment Was , No"t Carried Out. Santiago de Cuba, Nov. 8. The Cuban general Perez, who has a half- dozen times announced his intention tc disband the troops under his oommand, has not yet done ' so, reoently ordered the trial by court-martial of one of his men on a oharge of deserting from the army in time of war. The prlsonei was condemned to death, but before the sentenoe was executed notification was sent to Colonel Ray, who laid the matter before General Wood. General Perez was at once informed that 11 the man was executed he and the fir ing party would be hanged as soon aa the courts could legally sentenoe them. Woman Killed by a Soldier. Lexington, Ky., Nov. 8. Private William Kane, company E, Third Ken tucky, whose home is at Carlisle, Ky., shot and killed a woman named Maud MoClure at a house of ill-fame here to night. Kane snapped the gun in the woman's ; face several times. H olaimed not to know it was loaded, but other women in the house said he had threatened to kill the McClure woman. BITTER FIGHT TO BE MADE. President's Message Will Urge Action ' on Nicaragua Canal. New York, Nov. 9. A dispatoh to the Herald from Washington says: In President McKinley's message to con gress will be awery strong and urgent appeal for immediate legislative ao tion for the construction of the Nica ragua canal under, government direc tion. Tbe president will point out that oar new connections in the ra oifio and in the West Indies make it imperative for the United : States to build and control the great internation al waterway, and that delay in author izing its construction will jeopardize the chances for American control in the future. I President McKinlsy fully appre oiates the difficulties in the way of securing prompt action, but he and other canal advocates also appreciate that failure this year may mean per manent failure. Hence preparations are going forward for one of the most, bitter fights ever waged in tbe interest of the canal. The action of the Nicaragua govern ment in granting a new concession fer the construction of the canal conditional upon the forfeiture of the contract with the Maritime Canal Company in Octo ber next has added new complications to the difficulties in the way of legisla tion. The authorities consider that it adds another element of opposition to prompt action on tbe pending Morgan bill, ( which contemplates the construo tion of the canal under government direotion on the basis of the concession granted to the Maritime Canal Com pany. The Morgan bill in all its essen tial features is understood to have the indorsement of the administration. It is supposed that the new company Will be inimical to tbe Maritime Canal Company,' It is assumed if it does not succeed in selling out to the concession aires, it will exert its influence to pre vent action by congress this winter in order that its contract may go into effeot next October. Besides opposi tion from this new company, friends of the Morgan bill will have the powerful Huntington and Panama canal intei- ests arrayed against them. Friends of the latter party are already in Wash ington, preparing for a campaign against the Nicaragua oanal. . J. L. Morgan is to be a faotor in the coming legislative war. ', It is stated that while in Nicaragua fast winter he made an arrangement with President Zelaya to look after the interest of Nic aragua In this country. GARRISON NEAR HAVANA. Location Selected Has Been Approved ' by Secretary Alger. Washington, Nov. 9. Colonel Heok er, with Colonel Lee, of the board which was sent to Cuba to select camp sites tor the American army of occupa tion, has reached Washington, and has had several conferences with the presi dent and Secretary Alger. The secretary has approved the loca tions selected by ,the Heckef board for the principal garrison, which will be in the neighborhood of Havana. , The place selected lies about eight miles south, of Havana in the neighborhood of the town of Marianao. Two camps will be pilohed at this point, one on either side of the splen did aqueduct which supplies Havana with water. This aqueduct will be tapped and the water drawn by steam pumps from it to supply the camps, which will be pitched , in a plateau about 160 feet above sealeveL At.the nearest point to the camp on the sea beach, a dock is being con structed. The troops will be landed at this point and marched directly to the camp, the purpose being to avoid, ex posure to possible intection in Havana. FATE OF THE TERESA. The Spanish Warship May: Still Be i Afloat. New York, Nov. 9. James E. Ward & Ob,, " steamship agents, this after noon received a cablegram from Mr. Moyer, agent of the firm at Nassau, N. P., that a two-funneled steamer, the name of which had not been learned, is ashore on Cat island, about 80 miles from the point where the, former Span ish warship Maria Teresa was supposed to have foundered during a storm; The stranded steamer may be tbe war ship or one of the army transports. Department Is Uncertain. - Chicago; Nov. 9. A special to the News from Washington says: Navy department offioials feel a long way from certain that the Maria Teresa is really at the ocean's bottom. As a mat ter of fact, the fear that she would sink caused her to be abandoned. It is probable that searchers will be sent to learn the ship's fate, for it is felt that she may now be a derelict. ;;. ' : ' , An Infamous Plot. London, Nov. 9. The Daily Chroni cle this morning says: We have received information from a reliable source of a well-organized plot in Paris, in the event of an inquiry before thotourt of cassation proving favorable to Dreyfus, to foment a riot ous outburst in the French oapitai, to attempt to overthrow the civil power, and to assassinate the leading cham pions of Dreyfus. ' r 4 . These reports are confirmed by in terviews had with M. Trarieux, former minister fit justice, and M. de Pres sonso, foreign editor' of the Temps, as well aa others,." lilDlipilfifllt Cruiser Maria Teresa Lost in v the Bahamas. NOW LIES THREE MILES DEEP Strain Opened Leaks Which Could Mot Be Stopped The Men Were Saved, But Lost All Their Personal Effects. , Charleston, S. C, Nov. 8. The tug Merritt put into Charleston this morn ing, and reported the loss of the cruiser Maria Teresa off San Salvador, the Bahamas, November 3, in the midst of a furious storm. ; The cruiser left Caimanera, Cuba, on the morning of October 80 in tow for New York. She had already passed Cape ' Maysi and ' started northeast around the Bahamas. A furious storm overtook her, and in her condition she was unable to weather the gale. The strain opened rents in the hull which had been patched to enable her to make the journey, and she began to fill rap idly. The Merritt took off Lieutenant Commander Harris and crew from the sinking ship and she soon went down The Merritt brought the officers and men here. No lives were lost.: This afternoon the survivors came ashore. They lost all their olpthing and personal effects. The Teresa sank 30 miles off Walling island at midnight Tuesday. She met the storm Tuesday morning and began to strain. Parts of the hull thought to be safe became weakened, rivets broke and water made rapidly in the hold. The boilers began to give way and finally tbe water extinguished the fires in the engine-room. The pumps would hot work. ' The whole vessel showed signaof collapse and the men stood stripped awaiting orders to quit the ship, ' The -Vulcan was towing the Teresa while the Merritt rescued 114 of the orew, made up of volunteers from the Cincinnati, Newark and Vul can. Ropes were cut and she then rap idly rilled. The Merritt then headed for Charles ton with 4;he rescued.. A The orew left this afternoon for Norfolk. Opinion at the Navy Department. Washington, Nov. 8. No orders were Issued by the navy department up to the olose of office hours as to the dispo sition of Lieutenant-Commander Harris and his crew, and Captain Crowin shield, of the bureau of navigation, said no orders would be formulated tonight. It is the opinion of the navy depart ment that the government has lost, be sides the value of the ship herself, only the amount of the per diem of $800 per day through the sinking of the vessel, because the contract appears to have required the deliveiy by the wrecking company of the vessel at the navy yard at Norfolk. Aocording to the contract, salvage was to consist of such fuither compensation over or above, the per diem and stipulated expense as might be awarded by a board appointed for that purpose, consisting of a represent ative of each party and a third party, their survey to be made after the ves sel's delivery at Norfolk. The first thing in order now is a court of inquiry; in fact, the department has no option in the case of the loss of a vessel under such conditions. , This court- is re quired to fix the responsibility' for the loss. COAL : MINE DISASTER. Seven Men Killed Through an Engi neer's Carelessness Wilkesbarre, Pa., Nov. 8. Seven men were killed and three fatally in jured at the Exeter colliery of the Le high Coal Company, at West Pittston, today. The accident was due to the al leged carelessness of Engineer David Price, who, acting in disobedience of positive orders, caused three oars to run in to the top of the shaft. These oars, loaded arid weighing 11 tons, fell down the 860-foot shaft and crashed with frightful fordeupon a carriage car rying 10 men. ' Seven were almost in stantly killed. .They are: . . Michael Smith, Andrew Tinko, Miohael Podesabanny, Michael Bra- zuke, Joseph E. Culock, Michael Was lokse, Joseph Andrewsky. ; : ! The aooident' ocourred as the men were , going to work, and being Bent down the shaft in parties of 10. t Pribe, in oharge of the little donkey engine, was shifting loaded cars from the new red ash shaft some ' distance away. This track approached tbe head of Ex eter shaft, and at a distanoe of 80 feet from it curved gently to the right and around the shaft to a breaker. At a point where this track commenced to curve was a switch and 20 feet of track leading to the head of the shaft, which was used for storing crippled cars. Close to the head of the shaft it was closed by a head blook. The train was going at good speed, when, instead of curving around the shaft, the cars dashed into the switch, which was open, struck the head block, dashed through it, and three of them toppled down the shaft. About 20 feet from the bottom they struck the car riage with awful force, completely wrecking it. The mass of wreckage fell to the foot Of the shaft, choking it, and' when, after hard work, the men were extricated, seven were dead and three fatally hurt. PACIFIC 5 COAST TRADE. Portland Market. Wheat Walla Walla, 6lc; Val ley and Bluestem, 63o per bushel. Flour Best grades, $8. 45; graham, $3; superfine, $2.25 per barrel. ' Oats Choice white, 89 40c; choice gray, 87 88c per bushel. Barley Feed Parley, $2122; brew ing, $28 per ton. i - MillstuffsBran, $15.50 per ton; mid dlings, $21; shorts, $16; chop, $15.50 per ton.; Hay Timothy, $8 9; clover, $7 8; Oregon wild hay, $8 per ton. , Butter Fancy creamery, 4550o; seconds, 4045o; dairy, 8540o store, 25 30o. . Cheese Oregon full cream, ll12o; Young America, 12c; new oheese, 10c per pound. Poultry Chickens, mixed, $23.50 per dozen; hens, $8.504.50; springs, 1.253; geese, $5.000.00 for old, $4. 50 5 for young; ducks, $4.00 5.00 per dozen; , turkeys, live, 12) 12c per pound. Potatoes 50 60c per sack; sweets, 2c per pouhn. - ; ' ' Vegetables Beets-, 90o; turnips, 75o per sack; garlic, 7o per pound; cab bage, $1 1.25 per 100 pounds; cauli flower, 76o per dozen; parsnips, 75a per sack; beans, 8c per pound; celery, 70 75c per dozen; cucumbers, 60c per. box; peas, 8Sc per pound. Onions Oregon, 75o$l per sack. ' Hops 1017o; 1897 crop, 46o. Wool Valley, 10 12o per pound; Eastern Oregon, 8 12c; mohair, 25c per pound. Mutton Gross, best sheep, wethers and ewes, 3o; dressed mutton, 7c; spring lambs, 1a per lb. . Hogs Gross, choice heavy, $4.75; light and feeders, $3.004.00; dressed, $5. 50 6. 50 per 100 pounds. , Beef Gross, top steers, 8.50$3.75; cows, $2. 50 8. 00; dressed beef, 66c per pound. Veal Large, 66o; small, 6 'Kc per pound. . Seattle Markets. Tomatoes, 50 85c per box. Cucumbers, 1015cpei doz. ; Onions, 8590o per 100 pounds. . Potatoes, $10 12. ' Beete, per saok, $90o. ' Turnips, per sack, 60 65c. Carrots, per sack, 60c. . Parsnips, per sack, $1. Beans, green, 2 80. ,N, Hroon mm 111 flflrtJll .KO nor flnnlr. Cauliflower, 75c per doz. i Celery, 4050o. . : ' Cabbage, . native and California $1.001.25 per 100 pounds. ' Apples, 60c 65c per box. Pears, 75c $1 per box. v .Prunes, 50c per box. Peaches, 75c. . Plums, 60c. -t t Butter Creamery, 27o per pound; dairy and ranch,y1820c per pound. - Eggs, 80c. ' ' Cheese Native, 12 12 Jc. Poultry Old hens, 18c per pound; spring chickens, 14c; turkeys, 16c. , Fresh meatB Choice dressed, beef steers, prime, 67c; cows, prime, 6o; mutton, 7o; pork, 78o;- veal, 78o. ' ' ' - - 1 , Wheat Feed wheat. $1920. Oats Choice, per ton, $2223. Hay Puget Sound mixed, $9.60 10; choice Eastern Washington tim othy, $13. Corn Whole, $23.50; cracked, $24; feed meal, $23.50. ' Barley Rolled or ground, per ton, $24 25; whole, $22. Flour Patent, per barrel, $3.60; straights,' $3.25; 'California brpnds, $3.25; buckwheat flour, $3.75; graham, 1 per barrel, $3.70; whole wheat flour. $3.75; rye flour, $4. Millstuffs Bran, . per ton, $14; . shorts, per ton, $16. N . Feed Chopped feed, $1721 per ton; middlings, per ton, $17; oil cake meal, per ton, $35.- San Francisoo Market. - , Wool Spring Nevada, 10 14c per pound; Oregon, Eastern, 1012o; Val ley,. 15 17c; Noithern, 9lle. . Millstuffs Middlings, $1921.00; bran, $16.60 16.50 per ton. 1 ' Onions Yellow. 80 45c per sack. Butter Fancy ' creamery, 21o; do seconds,' 18c20 fancy dairy, 21 22c; do Beconds, 2024c per pound. .. Eggs Store, 1822o; fancy . ranoh, 8841o, . Citrus Fruit Oranges, Valencia, $2 2.50; Mexican limes, $86.50; Cali,' fornia lemons, $2. 00. 800; do choioe $3.504.50; per box. ': ; LABOR AND INDUSTRY. Camden, Me. manufactures more ships' anohors than any other place in Amerioa. 1 ' Ninety-five per cent of the railway tracks in the country are laid with steel rails. '.' ' ''''. . More steel is used in the manufacture of pens than in all the swords and gun factories in the world. ' Alabama produced 947,831 tons of pig iron last year, while the output of Tennessee aggregated 272,730 tons. With the exception of the phenomen al record-breaking fiscal year of 1892 8, the fiscal year of 1897-8 is the biggest on reooard for the cigar industry. An increase at enoe of over half a million, or to be exact, $511,132,780, in the cigar production, after five years of stagnation and actual retrogression, ig an event to be marked.