Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1900 — IN GENERAL. [ARTICLE]

IN GENERAL.

There is a shortage this year In the production of olive oil, and large holders, it is said, are attempting to corner the output. Ex-Consul Macrum declares the British censor opened bis official mail and held up his cable messages from Washington. Four well-to-do residents of Mont Carmel, Quebec, were killed by the Quebec express on the Canadian Pacific at a crossing near Three Rivers. Bishop Newnham sends from Fort Churchill, Hudson’s Bay, a story that indicates that Andree’s balloon descended in North America and the explorer and his companions were murdered by Eskimos. The Ontario Government is about to make a survey of the immense territory north of the forty-seventh parallel, which is known to contain very valuable mineral deposits and large areas of excellent spruce aud poplar timber. The United States steamship Nero, during its recent survey for a transpacific cable, broke the record for deep-sea soundings. One sounding near Guam Island marked 5,269 fathoms, only sixtysix feet short of six statute miles. Preparations are now being made at the War Department in Washington for a reduction within the next few months of the American military force in Cuba. There are now in Cuba four general officers with a total of less than 9,000 troops.

Construction work on the all-Canadian telegraph lines to Dawson City has been commenced. J. B. Charleson, superintendent, sent seventy men to Quesnelle, B. C., to begin building the line to Hazelton, and twenty-five men and supplies to Bennett to begin building from Atlin to Telegraph Creek. Jean Louis Legare, who surrendered Sitting Bull and hundreds'of his Sioux to the United States government in 1881 and 1882, is about to push, with the promised help of the dominion government, his claims for $13,400 and interest from the time of its presentation eighteen years ago. Rains and a rapid thaw caused many rivers to overflow and there are unprecedented floods in various parts of the United Kingdom. Several provincial towns are inundated, great damage has been done to farms, hundreds of sheep and other live stock have been drowned, and much of the railroad traffic suspended. Au American syndicate with a capital of $10,000,000 will immediately begin the construction of a great steel plant in Monterey, Mexico. The plans for the mammoth concern have been completed and the ground purchased for locating the several buildings. An abundance of high-grade iron ore and coal is within easy shipping distance. Capt. Porfirio Diaz, son of President Diaz of Mexico, has been paying a visit to the camp of Gen. Bravo’s troops, who are waging the campaign against the Maya Indians iu Yucatan. While out with a reconnoitering party he had a narrow escape from being killed or captured by the Indians. The detachment was ambushed and several were killed or captured.

The business situation is thus spt forth by Bradstreet’s: “Satisfactory advices as to expanding spring trade in dry goods and kindred lines come from a number Of markets. That the aggregate business of the country is of good volume otherwise is, however, indicated by detailed reports of increases iu trade as compared with last year, confirmed by satisfactory railroad earnings reports, by fair gains in bank clearings and by reports of better demand for money in commercial channels. Though some talk of lack of snow in the grain growing regions is beard, no widespread damage from cold weather is yet noted. Some cutting of the list price for anthracite coal is reported, while bituminous grades are very firm, and leading operators talk of a further advance caused by increased cost growing out of advanced wages of mine workers and also by the steadily growing foreign demand.”