Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 February 1898 — IN GENERAL. [ARTICLE]

IN GENERAL.

A dangerous counterfeit $1 American certificate is circulating in Montreal. A special cablegram to the San Francisco Evening Post from San Jose, Guatemala. announced the assassination of President Barrios. J., R. Sovereign, ex-feeneral master workman of the Knights of Labor, announces that he has almost completed arrangements for a secret politico-labor organization to bo an adjuuct" of the free silver cause. «, The high price of wheat has produced shipments from the far Western States, but the stocks in farmers’ hands are said to be the lighest ever known. There is an increasing export demand for flour, and the Minneapolis mills are running at their full capacity. Minneapolis has 3,800,000 bushels of good -wheat now on hand, not more than enough to supply the mills for five weeks. The Leiter syndicate proposes to reserve its enormous holdings for use in the United States. Mr. Leiter predicts one dollar and a half wheat. He denies that there is any corner and bases his estimates on the fact that there is a world-wide shortage due to the short foreign crops and large home demand. Bradstreet’s commercial review says of the week’s business: “Severely cold weather, accompanied by high winds and heavy snow, has been a feature eSercising considerable influeuce upon the movement and distribution of staple goods this week. In 6pite of this interruption of business a satisfactory trade for the season is reported in most lines, with special activity reported in the iron and steel trades and kindred lines. In the East the distribution of dry goods and wool has been checked aud the movement of produce greatly interfered with, but the tone of the cotton-goods situation is, if anything, improved. In the Middle States and in the Central'West the movement of iron into consumption is still very large, but nervousness as to possible overproduction affects the market. Steel is slightly lower in the East, but firmly held in Chicago, which also reports advances in iron bars, wires and nails. In the Northwest better trade is reported. The; export movement of cereals shows a heavy falling off for one week, but is still ahead of the same week of preceding years. The total shipments of wheat, flour included, nmotint to 3,433,794 bushels, against 5,020,000 bushels last week. Indian corn exports also show a large falling off, aggregating 4,104,981 bushels this week, against 4,902,000 bushels last week.”

Authentic information just obtained indicates that the proposed Copper River route to the Klondike is utterly impracticable. A short distance from the sea the river divides into Reveral branches, all of which are beset by flats and snndbars, and the water is extremely shallow and swift. Further up the main stream numerous glaciers project and are continually breaking off into the river, causing whirlpools and eddies. Beyond the glacial belt the river passes through deep canyons in furious rapids. The river is not navigable for steam craft of the lightest draught nnd even Indian canoes in experienced hands can be used only in certain places. The interior of this district is unexplored, but from the nature of surrounding country it is considered likely that it will always remain a sealed region. One of the latest arrivals in New York is Sir Adolph Caron of Canada, formerly a cabinet minister of the dominion. He is there in the interests of a Klondike company, recently organized in Montreal, of which he is the chief promoter. Sir Adolph has been to Boston for the company. “Canadians,” he said, “are greatly interested in these new 1 goldfields and beyond a doubt thousands will go there as soon as the way is open. There will be a good deal of Canadian capital invested in the territory.” /