Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 March 1898 — WAR SHIPS FOR SPAIN [ARTICLE]

WAR SHIPS FOR SPAIN

REPORT IS CONFIRMED BY ENGLISH NEWSPAPERS. Two Coast Defense Vessels Ready to Be Launched in France Also Purchased Official Bulletin on Live Stock in the United States. Three Cruisers for Spain. The English newsjiapers confirm the news of Spain's purchase of warships. The St. James’ Gazette, which published the denials of the Spanish embassy and Spanish naval commission, which has an office in London, says: “It is ascertained on very high authority, in spite of denials, that the Spanish Government has almost certainly succeeded in buying three nearly completed cruisers in England, and two coast defense vessels which are about to be launched in France. Experts are almost as much surprised at the success of Madrid in raising money as by the clever diplomacy which secured the Chilian and Brazilian cruisers of the Armstrongs at a cost believed to be £1,000,000, almost before the move was suspected." The article goes on to say that much competition between Spain and the United States for these various ships was expected, "but America has come to the conclusion that its naval resources are strong enough to confront Spain, and is playing a waiting game.”

BULLETIN ON LIVE STOCK. Decrease in Number of Horses, Cows, Cattle and Swine. The Agricultural Department at Washington has issued the following bulletin on live stock: The returns of the numlx-r of live stock on farms in the United States Jan. 1 show 13,960,911 horses, 2,257.665 mules, 15,840.886 milch cows, 29,264,197 oxen and other cattle, 37,656,960 sheep and 39,759.993 swine. These figures show a decrease of 403,756 in the number of horses, 100,841 in milch cows, 1,244,211 in oxen and other cattle and 840,283 in swine. There is'an increase of 838,317 in the number of sheep and 42,011 in mules. While there has been an increase in the number of milch cows in each of the New England States, and a considerable increase in the Northwestern States, there has been a decrease throughout almost the entire South, nnd this fact, together with a slight decrease in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, reduces the total for the country at large to six-tenths of 1 per cent below that of last year. Of the seventeen States reporting a total of over 1,000,000 hogs, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska show an increase, and Indiana, Illinois, lowa and eight Southern States a decrease. There is a marked increase in the value of live stock on farms reported from almost every section of the country, the total value of farm horst's having increased during the year by $25,713,011; that of mules, $6,728,972; milch cows, $65,573,933; oxen and other cattle, $104,367,218; sheep, $25,700,191, and swine, $8,078,639—a total increase in value of $236,162,859, or 14.27 per cent.

AMERICAN SCHOONER SEIZED. Captured by Spanish Gunboat on South Coast of Cuba. The Spanish gunboat Ardilla has captured in an inlet near Casilda, on the south coast of Cuba, the American schooner Esther of Edenton, N. C., bound from Pensacola to Jamaica. Thecaptain of the schooner was asked to give the reason for the presence of his vessel in the inlet and claimed that his rudder wus broken. No further details of the affair have been received, but if the statements of the captain of the Esther turn out to be correct the schooner will be liberated. The captain has protested against the seizure of his vessel. The Esther is of 1,131 tons gross register. Enforces an Age Limit. A maximum age limit for employes has been fixed by the new Union Pacific management. The rule is now in operation as far as the shops of the company are concerned. but as to whether it will be enforced in other departments is at present bothering some 10.000 men on the lines of the company in the West. Sixty years is the limit of employment in the mechanical department. Not only are all persons over that age in the shops being discharged, but none will be employed in the future who are near that period of life. No official announcement has been made by the company.

Moving Over the Passes. The steamship North Pacific, from Skaguay, Juneau and Wrangel, called at Departure Bay, Jter supply of coal having run out. Her officers describe the situation at Skaguay most favorably. They say that deaths from spinal meningitis were often the result of exposure on the trails, the men being brought into Skaguay dying. The number of deaths, Captain Carter says, has been greatly exaggerated. Fine weather prevailed when the North Pacific left Skaguay. White and Chilkoot passes were fit for travel, and many had already begun the journey inland. Higher Wages Granted. As the result of a conference recently held between Thomas Dolan and a number of workmen employed in the cloth mills of Thomas Dolan & Co. at Philadelphia, a 12 per cent increase has been granted. Russia Wins in China. The Berlin Tageblatt publishes a dispatch from Peking saying China has agreed to lease Port Arthur and Ta-Lien-Wan to Russia for ninety-nine years. Killed by a Burglar. William O. Hutchins, a manufacturing jeweler at Providence, R. 1., was shot and killed by a burglar. The robber was fleeing after discovery, and Hutchins was knocking the intruder over the head with a heavy walking stick, when the one fatal bullet was fired. Crushed Under a Car. Two Italian laborers were instantly killed and two badly hurt by a two-ton dirt car which fell upon them while they were at work on the new East river bridge at New York. Cashier Cunning Confesses. Sherwood S. Cunning, receiving teller of the First National Bank of Cincinnati, 0., was arrested and locked up on the charge of embezzling $23,000 of the bank’s funds. Cunning broke down when put behind the bars and confessed. He is married aud has a family. Big Tug Underwriter Lost. Terrific weather is reported from Northern Persia,- the worst known for a quarter ot • century. The highway from Resht on the Caspian sea to Teheran is impswaable from snowdrifts. More than 100 pmons hare perished, and many others ar? missing.