Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 April 1898 — WESTERN. [ARTICLE]

WESTERN.

The Exposition Hotel Company hns been organized iu Omaha, Neb., for the purpose of erecting n mammoth hotel for the accommodation of exposition visitors. The coal u’ashing plant of the Anaconda Copjier Mining Company at Belt, Mont., Mas burned to the ground. Loss, $250,000; no insurance. Cause of the fire uukuou'n. The Akron, Ohio, Salt Company has assigned. The company is incorporated for SBO,OOO, and has made over SIOO,OOO in salt u-ells and evaporating plants. Liabilities are S3O,IKK). Fire broke out in the village of Osborne, Ohio, and only the prompt assistance of the Dayton tire department saved the villnge from totnl destruction. The loss is übout $20,000, chiefly to business houses. The steamer Superior City was launched nt the yards of the Cleveland Shipbuilding Company nt Lorain, Ohio. The Superior City is the largest ship ou fresh water. The dimensions are 450 feet over all, 430 feet keel, 50 feet beam and 28 feet hold. The United States Supreme Court has sustained the decision of the State court in the million dollar First National Bank stock case from Butte, Mont., by which Amlrew J. Davis, one of the heirs ot the Davis estate, comes into the possession of the First National Bank of Butte, valued at fully $1,500,000. The railroads have refused to reduce rates to the Omaha exposition, asserting that the brokers would reap ull the profit by scalping tickets. The brokers say that if the railroads could find out wbat tickets they hold in stock they would-be canceled at once. This matter touches all towns from Chicago to Denver.

Two shocks of earthquake were exnerienced at San Francisco. There wa gentle swaying motion, very perceptible in tall buildings. Ten minutes later a much heavier shock occurred, but it was mild in comparison with that of n few weeks ago. The second shock lasted fully ten seconds. No damage was done. George W. Lipscombe, in the National Union offices of Toledo, 0., went before Police Prosecutor O’Hara and made an affidavit charging Otto E. Miller of Winton place, Cincinnati, with having murdered his wife, who was Mr. Lipscombe's sister. The affidavit was sent by special delivery to the Cincinnati authorities. At Miller, S. D., Henry Kolda, a furmer, was arrested on a charge of having started the prairie fire which recently destroyed a large amount of property and live stock. The farmers are determined to put a stop to the fires, and will hereafter prosecute all offenders. Another fire has been raging, and Ree Heights, a small town, was threatened with complete destruction. The Main street inclined plane and Mount Auburn electric line in Cincinnati, owned by Louisville parties, and over which there has been much litigation, were sold at auction by order of the United States Court. The property ns a whole was bought in by the Cincinnati Consolidated Street Railway Company for $278,000. At Lincoln, Neb., Chairman Otto Mutz and Mr. Moran, of the legislative investigating committee, submitted the report of the committee, which has been at work since the adjournment of the Legislature. The charge is made that by the negligence and cupidity of officials stealings aggregating in round numbers $1,323,000, including the SOOO,OOO taken by Bartley, were committed. The Omaha, Neb., City Council has passed an ordinance to rcgnlate tickeC brokers. The rules art- so stringent that the brokers declare it la absolutely pro-

hibltive and announce that the legality of the measure will be carried to the court of last resort. It prescribes among other things that a record of all transportation bought and sold shall be kept and inspected by the city antborities monthly.