Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 November 1898 — TIME OF QUIETNESS. [ARTICLE]

TIME OF QUIETNESS.

GENERAL TRADE IS STEADY BUT NOT BRISK. Wheat Relapses Into Dullness Upon Withdrawal of Excited Foreign De-mand-Supreme Conrt Declares Nebraska's Occupation Tax Law Valid. Quiet Prevails in Trade. Bradstreet’s says: “Further quieting down of new business in iron and steel, the relapse into dullness, though at steady prices, of wheat, consequent upon the withdrawal of the excited foreign demand and some slight increase of,quiet in general trade, chiefly at the South, are all features calling for special mention this week. Among the more actively favorable features are the price steadiness displayed by most staple articles and the enlarged distribution of staple goods at many Western and Southern markets as the result of improved weather and removals of quarantine. Confirmatory of the quire favorable reports as to general trade during October are the returns of Ixink clearings for that month and scattered reports as to the increased business doing at many centers in that mouth as compared with one year ago. Export statistics of grain, too, are beginning to show that an ample basis for the stories of heavy foreign buying really existed, week being the heaviest on record. Wheat, including flour, shipments for the week aggregate 0,773,643 bushels, against 5,560,991 bushels last week. Corn exports for the week aggregate 3,566,640 bushels, against 2,424,376 bushels last week.” OCCUPATION TAX VALID. The Nebraska Supreme Court Decides Against the Burlington at Lincoln. The right of a city or town to assess an occupation tax on a railroad corporation whs sustained by the Supreme Court at Lincoln, Neb., which holds that such a levy is not in violation of the interstate commerce act, nor void because it taxes a business transacted wholly within the city. Further, the court says, it is not an attempt to impose a tax on the railroad depot in-addition to the tax arising from the general assessment of the railroad’s T>roperty. The case in point was that of the City of York against the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy. The railroad fought the ordinance, and was sustained by the lower court. The Supreme Court reverses and remands. The ordinance expressly exempts interstate business from he action. FELL OFF HIS ENGINE. Engineer Found Beside the Track with His Skull Fractured. Joseph Desmond, fireman on a Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago locomotive drawing a fast passenger train, near Columbiana, Ohio, suddenly discovered that Engineer W. B. Sourbeck was not on the engine. Conductor Hollaway ordered the train run back, and Engineer Sourbeck was found lying unconscious beside the track with his skull badly fractured. It is thought he climbed out upon the running lxmrd, and, losing hjs balance, fell to the’ ground.

National Capitol Damaged. An explosion occurred at the national capital at Washington in the basement beneath the Supreme Court chambers, and caused a fire which consumed a part of the Congressional law 7 library, a priceless collection, and destroyed the furnishings of the Supreme Court chamber. The explosion was caused by the ignition of illuminating gas. The damage is irreparable. The damage 1o the building will amount to about $200,000. Alleges Robbery on Train. John Fluett. a wealthy investor of Toledo, Ohio, arrived at St. Louis over the Mobile and Ohio with scarcely street cat fare in his pocket. He reported to the police that he had been chloroformed and robbed in a Pullman car a short distance from Mobile. He lost a gold watch and chain, a diamond stud and S4BO in cash. Kansas Town 4 torched. The town of Little River, Ivan., was almost annihilated by fire. Nearly all the business portion of the place was consumed, including a dry goods store, grocery, feed store, hotel, restaurants, drug stores, barber shops and me:(t markets. The total loss will reach nearly $50,000. Origin oi the fire is unknown. Big Fire in Cleveland. The works of the Standard Car Wheel Company at Cleveland, Ohio, were destroyed by fire. Three thousand car wheels were damaged, and the total loss, according to the owners, will foot up between SBO,OOO and SOO,OOO. Killed by a Splinter. Ilarvey, tlie little son of Mr. and Mi's. Michael Smilh of Newvillo, Pa., ran a splinter in his hip. The bit of wood was extracted and the wound healed, but still the hoy suffered. Finally lockjaw 7 set In and the lad died. Mine Operated Mysteriously. The operation of the Shanty Hill mine at Malvern, Ohio, is conducted with the utmost secrecy. Lessee Wbartman says ihe will not divulge the production of the mine. All the land in the vicinity has been leased. Death of David A, Wells. David A. Wells, the economsf, died at Norwich, Conn, lie was born at Springfield, Mass.. June 17, 1828. He was t)he author of a number of books on tariff and financial questions. Fcven Killed in a Mine. Seven men were killed and three fatally injured in the Exeter colliery of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, West Pittston, Pa. The accident was due to the alleged carelessness of Engineer David Price, in allowing three loaded cars to full down the 300-foot shaft. $8,000,000 Fire at Hangow. Fire at Hunkow, a Chinese river port, destroyed 10,000 houses, and 1,000 inhabitants Were burned to death or killed by falling buildings. The damage was SB,000,000. Twenty-five Men Baricd. The roof of the New Wonderland Theater at Detroit collapsed, carrying down the Iron galleries of the structure, nnd a great mass of scaffolding and debris. Some twenty-five men were working under the wllapsed parts of the structure. Eleven men were killed.