Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1900 — Page 2

WEEKLY REPUBLICAN OEO. E. MARSHALL, Publisher ' -- RENSSELAER. itjQiAN FATAL FIRE IN HOTEL

FOUR PERSONS MEET DEATH AT POPLAR BLUFF, MO.

Many Others Are Injured—Guests of Gifford House Forced to Leap from Upper Windows - Yonug Men liedared Not Guilty of Wise Murders. A fire accompanied with terrible fatality occurred at Poplar Bluff, Mo., resulting in the total destruction of the Gifford House, a large three-story frame building. Four persons are known to be dead, two were fatally injured and «ne is missing. The tire originated it) the rear of the hotel, and in a few minutes the building was a mass of flames. There were in the neighborhood <d forty-fire guests in the building. and the porter, the.only person awake in the hotel, was unable to give an alarm, the smoke and flames driving him back. The guests on the second and third floors were Caught like rats in a trap, the flames preventing their escape by the stairs, and they leaped from the second and third story windows. Many of the gnests had hair-breadth escapes and ran from the doomed building clad only in their night clothes, losing everything they possessed in the world. Numerous feats of heroism are recorded, and if Mate of the male guests had not aided the women the death list would be larger. The Gifford House was one of the oldest hotels in southeast Missouri, and had been considered a death-trap for a number of years. W. P. Norrid was the proprietor. He and his wife escaped, but lost everything. ~ WISE MURDER STILL A MYSTERY.

James Hardy and Elmer Miller Found Not Guilty of the Crime. James Hardy and Elmrr Miller, who hare been on trial at Anoka, Minn., charged with the murder of two members of tie Wise family, were found not gnflf.NM-Sv.Wise and a young son were kilf.j on the night of May 27 by shots tired through a window while they were seated about a table in their farmhouse near Anoka. William Wise, her husband, aud an older boy were very badlywounded, and have not yet recovered. Eliza Wise, 15 years old, made a confession, alleging that Miller and Hardy, who were, said to be lovers of herself and her sister, had planned to get rid of the old folks, In order that the girls might inherit the farm and a small sum of money. Defense rested its ease upon an alibi, and songht to discredit the testimony of the Wise sisters by alleging that they had been coached by detectives who were working for tiie large reward offered by the State.

TO SETTLE BOUNDARY LINE. United States and Canada Will Determine I ocation of Mines. Sidney Fisher, Dominion minister of agriculture, lias written a letter. It is said, stating that Canadian and American surveyors will officially locate the boundary line in the, disputed territory, comprising the valuable Mount Baker mining district. This work is to be begun as soon as the winter snow disappears. Dominion Surveyor Doane, sent : from Ottawa for the purpose, lias report- j ed that after an investigation he believes , that all the rich mines of the district, hitherto supposed to be well over the American boundary, are really in Canadian territorv. MOROCCO REFUSES TO PAY. JJncle Sam's Next Demand May Be Backed by Warship. ; The government of Morocco has again to meet the demands of the States for the payment, "f an Mhdemnity on account of the killing, by a mob, of Marcus Essagin, a naturalized fAmerican citizen. The State Departjf ment has come to the conclusion that the jf consul’s representations will be more ofI fective if he is supported morally by the ‘ presence in Moroccan waters of a United States warship. Honnkong Struck by n Typhoon. I A typhoon struck Hongkong and iraged for several hours. British river ■bmboat was sunk, but her crew are reto he sa/o. Croat damage and of life occurred among the nativi , rc.<at:t. Hk ■ Ohio Town Wiped Out. 'HHpe broke out in a business block at Ohio, aud over Si■■o,l)oo damugt faria done before the flames spent their force. The town is without tire protection ajnd it was practically wiped out. Henry Vilt ard Passes Away. Henry VUlard. the railroad magnate and fiiief.ffier, died at his summer reside»£e*t Dobbs Ferry. N. V. ll'w death. ja Ba id. was caused by cancer of the 'throat. His age was 05 years. Great Faria Fair Ended. The Paris exposition of 1900 closed its gates at midnight Monday in the midst of a perfect blaze of illuminations of every kind. _ Burglars Enter Two Banks. Burglars broke into two banks in Bar bourville, Ky., the other night, obtaining S3OO from one of them and notliiDg from the other. ' Robert Graham Dun Dies. *i n. G. Dun, head of the mercantile Agency firm of It. O. Dun & f 0., died in New York City of cirrhosis of the liver. Marcus Daly la Dead. Marcus Daly, the Montana copper '•Jting, died at the Hotel 'Netherlands, New York. . Pdllceman Kills a GWiftbler. At St. Joseph,' M<>./) flfiifce Officer. ■ Charles S. Scott shot and killed Thomas Smith, a gambler. The shooting took place in the bafnoow of the Commercial Club, ft Is alleged that Smith accusedgcott of Having had ou article published reflecting on him,,,’-., I Farmer Killed by Train.. Bennett Holman, , diked 55 years ' a lafominent fnriner, was iustpniiy killed Kfc'.;* Panhandle train at a crossing neat borne, east of Greenville, Ohio, while •• ■'W&Bm&.r j. .-A*.-,-. • .j-v

FROM THE FOUR QUARTERS OF THE EARTH

YOUTHS FIGiiT FOR LOVE. Denver Girls the Cause of Exciting Street Scrimmage. Kittie Dillon and Sadie Howard are pretty maidens yet in their teens, and attend the Gilpin school in Denver, Colo., But the other night they were the innocent cause of a fierce battle betweeu two gangs of youthful admirers iu which a revolver threatened death. The tight waged for fifteen minutes. Bricks, sticks and stones Sew through the air and the dozen or more boys engaged on either side fought viciously. There were all sizes of boys in the melee, from 1* to 17 years of age. Some of them had no idea why-they were fighting, but cut in and bared their fists at the word from their leaders. In the thick of the trouble Harry Hay, aged 16, who is the leader of the Thirty-first and Thirty-second street gang, fired a revolver. At that moment Policemen Dexhimer ami Purcell, attracted by the noise, appeared on the scene, captured Ilay and scattered the fighting youths. Hay was arrested. He said the revolver was tired by another youth, and he simply picked it up when it was dropped.

FIGHT A DUEL OVER A WOMAN. New York Huabanl Fatally Injured and His Opponent Is Badly Hurt. As the result of a desperate encounter Hugh E. Jameson, a Wholesale eonfectioiier of North Tonawanda, N. Y., was fatally injured and John McDonald is fatally injured. Mrs. John McDonald, daughter of a wealthy lumber dealer and the cause of the combat, is also injured. Mrs. McDonald and her husband separated about a year ago, and the latter secured a divorce, but later they were remarried. Recently Jameson became attentive to Mrs. McDonald, and the other night McDonald found the two together. The enraged husband knocked Jameson down, and the latter, regaining his feet, drew a revolver and' shot McDonald in the mouth, the bullet lodging in the back of the neck near the base of the skull. McDonald wrested the revolver from Jameson and pommeled him about the head and face with it until Jameson sank to the floor unconscious. OIL WILL BUILD SCHOOLS.

Taxpayers Near Pittsburc Relieved by a Remunerative Well. Taxpayers in Ilowe township, Pa., are happy over the discovery of oil on a plat of the Clever school. The directors leased the plat to an oil company, which began drilling three months ago. Now the well yields forty barrels per day. Oneeighth, or five barrels, goes to the school board as royalty. This adds $5.50 per day to the school treasury. The well is expected to do 200 barrels per day. The money will be used to pay for the two new school houses, the building of which was strenuously opposed by the taxpayers before the oil find. Big Sums in Naval Expenses. The annual report of Paymaster General Kenny of the navy deals in large figures. He shows that last year he spent $10,659,000 on account of construction aud purchase of ships, $3,933,000 for repairs to ships, $11,715,000 to keep ships in commission, including pay: $1,589,000 for the marine corps and $56,983 for the naval militia. Save Crew of Steamer. While lying at her dock in Erie, l’a.. discharging a cargo of ore the wooden steamer Alcona, owned by Drake & Durban of Cleveland, had a narrow escape, from destruction by fire, and part of the crew was dragged from the houl unconscious from the smoke. The loss to the steamer is $12,000, fully insured. New Coal Company Formed. A syndicate, composed of Pittsburg and New York capitalists, has formed a new coal company, which will be capitalized at $10,000,000. The purpose of this proposed corporation is to develop immense tracts of coal land, practically all of which is located in I\ ashiugton County, Pa.

Wreck on the B. & O. A head-end collision of Baltimore and Ohio freights Nos. 23 and 24 occurred at Pelleville, Ohio. Conductor John Oatman and Engineer Henry Hall o? No 23 were killed. A misunderstanding of orders is responsible for the trouble. A number of ears were smashed and traffic delayed. > 3— t Another Chicago HoUl-Up. Walter Graves, a messenger boy for the wholesale jewelry firm of George K. Harrington Co., was held up in Chicago by a negro and robbed of a satchel containing jewelry valued at SSOO. The I articles belonged to patrons of the house I and were being delivered. Preacher Victim of Hunting Mish-ip Rev. Stephen F. Reed, a recent graduate of the Princeton Theological Seminary, was accidentally shot and killed while hunting in the neighborhood of Lawrenceville, N. J. Mr. Itced had only been married six months. It was John Bahrenburg who killed the minister. Gamblers Fight Till Both Fall I'ead. Grant Reiner and J. Ralph Griffith, gamblers, between whom ill feeling had existed for a long time, met in a saloon at Middles boro, Ky. Each at once drew his pistol and the duel lasted until both men fell dead. ' Goes to His Death Smiling. .Richard Gardner, the Ross County negro -who killed 15-year-old Ethel Long, paid, the penalty of his crime in the electric chair at Columbus, Ohio. He faced death With a smile on his lips. Massachusetts and Marine. x The'population of the State of Massachusetts fit 2.805,346, against 2,288,943 •In l&M). The population of the State of Maine is 094,4<)U, against 661,086 in 1890. Fatally Hurt id Football Game, a football game at the Normal Park school grounds in Chicago, 17-year old Edward Gil}et was So seriously injured that he died a few hours later.

MARKET QUOTATIONS. Chicago—Cattle, common to prime, $3.00 to $5.75; hogs, shipping grades, $3.00 to $4.95; sheep, fair to choice, $3.00 to $4.25; wheat, No. 2 red, 72c to 73c; corn. No. 2,38 cto 39c; oats, No. 2,21 c to 22c; rye, No. 2,47 eto 48c; butter, choice creamery, 21c to 23c; eggs, fresh, 1 ;>o to 21c; potatoes, 27c to 30c per bushel. Indianapolis—Cattle, shipping, $3.00 to $5.00; hogs, choice light, $4.00 to $4.85; sheep, common to prime, S3IOO to $3.75; wheat, No. 2,71 cto 72c; corn, No. 2 white, 30e to 37c; oats, No. 2 white, 23c to 24c. St. Louis—Cattle, $3.25 to $5.70; hogs, $3.00 to $4.85; sheep, $3.00 to $4.25; wheat, No. 2,70 cto 71c; corn, No. 2 yellow, 34c to 35c;-oats, No. 2,22 cto 23c; rye, No. 2,48 cto 49c. Cincinnati—Cattle, $3.00 to $5.00; hogs, $3.00 to $4.95; sheep, $3.00 to $3.75; wheat. No. 2,75 eto 70c; corn, No. 2 mixed, 30c to 37c; oats, No. 2 mh:ed, 24c to 25c: rye, No. 2,54 cto 55c. Detroit —Cattle, $2.50 to $5.40; hogs, $3.00 to $4.05; sheep, $3.00 to $3.75; wheat, No. 2, 70c_to 77c; corn, No. 2 yellow, 39c to 40c; oats, No. 2 white, 24c to-25c; rye, 51c to 52c. —Toledo—Wheat, No. 2 mixed, 75c to 70c; corn, No. 2 mixed, 36c to 37c; oats, No. 2 mixed, 21c to 22c; rye. No. 2,52 c to 53c; clover seed, prime, SO.OO to $6.20. Milwaukee—Wheat, No. 2 northern, 74c to 75c; corn, No. 3,38 cto 39c; oats. No. 2 white, 25c to 26c; rye, No. 1,50 c to 51c; barley, No. 2,59 cto 00c; pork, mess, SIO.OO to $10.82. Buffalo—Cattle, choice shipping steers. $3.00 to $5.70; hogs, fair to prime, $3.00 to $4.90; sheeps fair to choice, $3.00 to $3.80; lambs, common to extra, $4.00 to $5.00. New York—Cattle, $3.25 to SS.SO; hogs, $3.00 to $5.40; sheep, $3.00 to $3.V5; wheat. No. 2 red, 76c to 77c; corn, No. 2, 45c to 40c; oats, No. 2 white, 27c to 28c; butter, creamery, 20e to 23c; eggs, western, 20c to 23c. BIG FIRE AT NOTRE DAME.

Gymnasium of the University Totally Destroyed. The most disastrous tire in the history of Notre Dame, Ind., with the exception of the fire of IS7B, when the university was bitrned to the ground, occurred the other day. The tire broke out in one of the training rooms of the gymnasium, 'and before it was discovered had made great progress. The Notre Dame tire department and the department in South Bend turned out, but too late. It was at first Wrought that the two large triangular meets which Manager Eggeman hail scheduled for the spring, one with Chicago aud Illinois, the other with Purdue and Indiana, would be canceled, but during the progress of the fire the president of the university and' Father Zuhm, president of the board of trustees, made arrangements for a new The same evening it was declared to the student body that a newer, better and larger gymnasium will be built within sixty days over the ruins of the old one. The loss is $20,000, partly covered by insurance. YOUNG GIRL IS MURDK3KD. Shocking’ Crime Committed in Colorado—Dies of stab Wounds. Louise Frost, 11 years of age, daughter of a ranclfman at Litnon, Colo., was found unconscious and bleeding from many wounds in a patch of weeds about half a mile from her father's house. She had been stabbed, apparently with a dirk, no less than fourteen times. She died without having regained consciousness. She was evidently waylaid when driving home from school, for her horse reached the stable about dusk with the buggy empty. -

To Reconstruct Democracy. Don M. Dickinson of Michigan is authority for the statement that within three weeks a meeting will be held in Now York to outline a plan for the reorganization of the Democratic party. He says the call for the meeting will have the signatures of Grover Cleveland, William C. Whitney, Abram S. Hewitt and other proniineut Democrats of the old school. Albany Newspaper Suffers. Fire started in the candy factory of Kreieher & Co. in Albany, N. Y., aud before the firemen could get water on the blaze the immense building, running through a block, was a mass of flames. Next door, in Beaver street, was the Press-Knickerbocker-Express. So rapidly did the flames spread that the employes of the building had to run for their lives. Total loss, $135,000. Robber Killed by a Woman. At Phoenix, Ariz., a shotgun in the hands of a woman ended the career of Ventura Paco, a Mexican robber. Mrs. Lena Peterson saw a man trying to steal a calf. She tired both barrels of a shotgun into his body, killing him instantly. Wreck Near Pipestone, Minn. The Great Northern south bound passenger train was wrecked near Pipestone, Minn., by the spreading of the rails. One woman, name unknown, was fatally injured and several passengers were seriously hurt. Five coaches were badly wrecked. Wins Wife on the Election. Emmet R. Windle of North Forks. N. D.. won a wife by McKinley's election. His bride was Miss Dora E. Phillips of Oaktield, who promised to marry Mr. Windle at oned U McKinley was elected. Vanderbilt in New Deal. The American Rice Growers’ Distribution Company (limited), bus been incorporated at Crowley, La., with a capital of $15,000,000. William K. Vanderbilt of New York is president. Republicans Are Winners. The general election on Tuesday resulted in the election of McKinley and Roosevelt, the Republican nominees, and gave control of Congress to that party.

KILLS A FARMER’S WIFE. Laborer Fatally Shoots Mrs. Shafer After She Had Returned Home. farmers of the interested neighborhood threaten to lynch a farm hand named Linn., who shot and killed Mrs. Shafer, a woman with whom he had eloped. Joseph Shafer is a respectable middle-aged farmer, who resides ten miles west of Laeon, 111. A month ago Linn eldfted with Shafer’s wife. A few days later the couple returned, and that night .Linn was waited on by a band of WhiteCaps, who dragged him from the house and ordered him to leave the country or suffer the consequences. He went to Peoria, and a day or two later the woman followed. Later Shafer went to Peoria and induced his wife to come home with him._ The other morning Linn appeared at the Shafer home, and when the door was opened he shot Mrs. Shafer dead. He also shot at the husband, but missed him. Linn was arrested a few hours later and is now in jail. SWEPT BY CONFLAGRATION. Biloxi, Mississippi, l<e3ort Has a $300,000 Fire. Upward of seventy-five houses have been destroyed by fire at Biloxi, Miss., a well-known summer resort and business center on the Mississippi sound, eighty miles from New Orleans. The fire broke out shortly after midnight, and a heavy gale blew the flames from the Louisville aud Nashville depot to the beach. The small lire department was powerless to stay the flames, and houses had to be torn down iu various parts of the city to check the spread of the conflagration. The Catholic Church, convent and schools, newspaper offices, many business houses and residences have been consumed. Hundreds of persons were rendered homeless. The inhabitants were panic stricken, l’t is said the losses will exceed $300,OIK). HEIR GETS sls A WEEK.

While Waiting for His Fortune Alfred Kitson Inspects Billboards. Looking at the way his son, Alfred S. Kitson, was making i the money fly, old Commodtfre Kitson of St. Paul, Minn., left a will tying up his estate. Now the youth, one fortune spent, is waiting for another to fall due. He is working for sls a week as inspector of billboards. At 25, under the Commodore’s will, the son was to have SIOO,OOO. lie got it and the pace was merry. The Commodore had figured that this would last the young man five years, and at thirty Alfred was to come into the bulk of a property worth millions. But the young man spent his money as if he were drawing from a bottomless well. He went to New York, when St. Paul appeared no further field for proper extravagance, and came up with a short turn when the money gave out. Electrician Meets His End. Paul Schubert, 19 years of age, an expert electrician employed by the Westinghouse Electric Apparatus Manufacturing Company in Newark, X. J., was instantly killed by 1.000 volts of electricity. lie is supposed to have picked up the two plugs. " Election Ardor Loses Man His Life. , Charles Allen celebrated McKinley’s election at Strothers, Ohio, by shooting off an anvil. He loaded the charge, then went behind a tree, seventy-five feet distant. Just as the anvil exploded Allen put out his head. The pieces took off the top of it. Youtsey Juror Burns Alive. James A. Norton, who was one of the jurymen in the Youtsey trial, was burned to death in the jail at Sadieville, Ivy., in which he had been put on the charge of drunkenness. It is supposed bed clothes caught tire and ignited the building. Rock Island Engineer Killed. L. P. Parish, a Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific engineer, was killed in the Union Pacific yards in Omaha, his head being struck by a passing engine. Parrish was a prominent engineer and lived in Council Bluffs.

Strange Murder of a Woman. The body of Pearl Forbes, aged 20 years, was found in a ravine near her home in Leavenworth. Marks on her throat indicated she had been murdered by strangulation. The surroundings gave evidence of a terrible struggle. Ferrell to Die March 1. At Marysville, Ohio, Judge Melhorn overruled the motion for a new trial and sentenced Rosslyn Ferrell to be electrocuted on Friday, March 1, for the murder of Express Messenger Lane, Aug. 10 last. Ironworkers En 1 Strike. By the settlement of the strikes at the Riverside iron works of the National Tube Company at Pittsburg and the Bessemer Alabama plant of the Tenrtessoe Iron, Steel and Railroad Company, 8,000 men will •resume work at once. Cherokee Fraud 1b Bared. The special committee to investigate the irregularities of the Cherokees’ auditor's office reported to the Legislature at Talequa, I. T. The report shows $194,IHM) in fraudulent Cherokee warrants are now ou the market. Strike Gold in Missouri. A big gold discovery has been made in the southwestern part of Carter County, Mo. Specimens of the ore which have been analyzed show a large percentage of yellow metal. Crushed Beneath u Water Tank. At Milford, Va., a railway water tank fell over on the pump house, killing W. N. Gregory and John B. Clinely, plninbers. The accident was caused by the giving way of the foundation of the tank. Roc efelltr Gives to a Negro Coll -ge. John D. Rockefeller has made a gift of a new dormitory and dining room to the Atlanta, Ga., University, a negro educational institution, and the contracts, aggregating $56,500, have been let.

CENTER OF POPULATION.

Hecent Census Shows Star of Empire Still Moving; Westward. Westward the star of empire still wends is way. The census of 1900 will show that the center of population of the Unired States has moved some distance nearer the Pacific coast. Officials of the census office say the pivotal point of the great American population is still following the sun in its course and keeping pace with Bishop Berkeley's star of prophecy. The westward movement of this most interesting mathematical spot has not been as great during the decade just ended as in past decades, but it is highly important to know that the trend of the past hundred years has'not eome to a full stop with the close of the nineteenth century.

From data already in hand it is roughly estimated that the center of population during the last decade lias been about twenty miles to tt»e west and eight miles to the north of the center iu 1890. .Ten years ago the center was near the town of Groensburg, Ind. It is now in the vicinity of Columbus, Ind., probably no more than six or seven miles from that city in a northerly direction. Only the official calculations upon the completion of the census can accurately locate it, but this is near enough for all practical purposes. f The westward march or the center of population since the foundation of the republic is shown in the following tabic: 1790—Twenty-three miles east of Baltimore, Md < 1800—Eighteen miles west of Baltimore, Md U 1810—Forty miles northwest by west of Washington, D. C DO 1820 —Sixteen miles north of Woodstock, Va, 50 -1880 --Nineteenth miles west southwest of Mooretleld, W. Va w 1840 —Sixteen miles south of Clarksburg, W. Va ' 55 1850—Twenty-three miles southeast of Parkersburg, W. Va.... 55 1800—Twenty miles south of Chlllicothe, Ohio 81 1870—Forty-eight miles east by north of Cincinnati, Ohio 42 1880 —Eight miles west by south of Cincinnati, Ohio 58 1890—Twenty miles east of Columbus, Ind e. 48 1900-Seven miles north of Columbus, Ind. 20

PRESENT STRENGTH OF ARMY.

Total of 08,790 Is Shown by Adjufant General Corbin. The annual report of Adjutant General Corbin to the Secretary of War for the year ending. June 30, 1900, is a complete statistical record of the army of the United States. It shows that the regular army consists of 2,535 officers lyad 63,861 enlisted men, and the volunteer army of 1,548 officers ahd 31.039 enlisted men, a grand total of 98,790, not including the hospital corps, which is not counted as a part of the effective strength of the army. The regular anil volunteer army at present is- distributed as follows: United States, 998 officers, of whom 76 are volunteer officers, and 18,898 enlisted men, all regulars; Alaska, 41 officers, 1,088 enlisted men; Porto Rico, 98 officers, 2,406 enlisted men; Guba, 260 officers, 5,468 enlisted men; Philippine Islands, 2,367 officers, 69,161 enlisted men; Hawaiian Islands, 6 officers, 219 enlisted men; China, 80 officers, 2.000 men. There are 879 volunteers enlisted men in Porto Rico, aud 30,200 in the Philippines. These are the only places where volunteer enlisted men are serving. Some staff officers are serving in nearly all o* tin* places named 1 . The deaths reported in the army, both regular and volunteer, by the same division are: United States, 14 officers, 264 nibn; Alaska, 3 .men; Cuba, 7 officers, 146 men; Porto Rico, 36 men: Hawaii, 1 officer and 4 men; Philippine Islands, 49 officers, 1,393 men; at sea, 3 officers, 84 men. Total, 74 officers and 1,930 men. In seven instances, owing to an error, officers dying have been counted twice, once as regulars and then again as volunteers, the actual total being 67 officers dead. During tbe year there were discharged from the service 22,592 men; deserted, 3,993. The casualties in the Chinese campaign between July 1 and Oct. 1 were 9 officers and 200 enlisted men. In the statistics given is a table showing the chronological list of actions in the Philippine Islands from Fe'b. 4, 1899, to .Tune 30, 1900, together with the losses in killed and wounded. The totals show 3o officers and 470 men killed, and 14T officers iind 2,076 men wounded.

THE RAILROADS

Fourteen new dining cars are being delivered tb the Santa Fc road. The Soo line will soon add three giant freight engines to its rolling stock. A new electric road is being built between Lima and Minster, Ohio. It will be thirty miles long. Ten locomotives for the Cape railway in Africa will he shipped by an Eastern firm in a few days. The new steel bridge of the Lake Shore road over the Sandusky bay at I remont, Ohio, has been finished. Net earnings of the CajiaiUnn Pacific for September decreased $88,18.) from those of the preceding year. Net earnings of the Milwaukee and St. Paul for September were $1,240,989, an increase of $30,601 over last year. Grain rates from Chicago to the principal Atlantic coast cities have been advanced on an average of 2'/j cents per 100 pounds. Work of double tracking the Northwestern between Cola and Carroll, lowa, n distance of eighty-six miles, will be started early in the spring. Live stock business on Western roads presents a new condition this year. Cattle shipments are said to be considerably lighter, but the shipments of horses are said to more than offset the shortage. A great many bronchos are being taken east. A new device for the Consumption of smoke given off by locomotives has been invented and tried to the satisfaction of several expert*. It is claimed to be a perfect smoke consumer, Irrespective of the moving or landing position of locomotives. The cost of equipping nn engine with tbe device is said to be $25.

WORK FOR CONGRESS.

MAY BE EXTRA SESSION TO DISPOSE OF BUSINESS. Needs of the Army with Appropriations and Apportionment Urgent — Nicaragua Canal Bill Must Also Be Taken Up in Senate on Dec. 10.

Washington correspondence:

on March 15, 1897.

The appropriation billsliave the right of way at the short session, and as these must be passed before the close of the session or' Congress fail to provide for the government, Chairman Cannon in the House-and Chairman Allison in the Senate will take no chances by allowing general legislation to endanger the bills prepared by the committees on appropriations, These bills will monopolize a good part of the three months of the session. There are two bills which must be considered outside of the appropriation bills. These must provide for the basis of reapportionment under the new census and for the reorganization of the army. The apportionment under the new census law' is obligatory. The constitution requires that the apportionment of Representatives according to population must lie made within ten years from the date of; the last apportionment. The Fifty-first Congress made the last apportionment at, the short session in February, 1891. This makes it necessary that the Fifty-Sixth Congress shall make the now apportionment.

New Appointments to Be Ma e. The census returns are ready, aud Cqhgressman Hopkins of Illinois, as chairman of the census committee, will have a bill prepared to’apportion the representatives so as not to increase the membership of the House. The present apportionment is one Representative for every 173,901. The increase in population will make necessary an increase in the number of population for each Representative. It will be increased to about 200,000. ns that will keep the membership of the House about as it now is in numbers. On this basis Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Texas would each gain twb~ representatives, and several other Western States would each gain one. There need he little time consumed with such legislation, unless the Crumpnckor bill is brought forward and an effort made to make the basis of representation in the South exclusive of those disfranchised by reason of their color. The Crumpaeker bill would precipitate a fight which would consume much time. The Nicaragua bill, which passed the House last May, is before the Senate, and by special order it will be taken up in that body at 2 o’clock on Dee. I<>. Senator Morgan secured unanimous consent to this special order on the closing day of the long session, and lie will lie on hand to insist on the Senate taking up the canal bill. The bill will not be passed until the Senate has taken some action on the llay-Pauncefote treaty. The Hepburn canal bill ignores the Clay-ton-Bulwer treaty, and before it can become law that treaty must be modified ns in the Hay-Pauiioefote treaty, or by formal abrogation. The Hay-Pauncefote Treaty. The administration will press the Ila.vPauncefote treaty for ratification. The State Department has been engaged in negotiations with Nicaragua for a new concession, and will report to Congress, but no indication has yet been given as to the success of this effort. There will be a bill for the reorganization of the army. This is one of the necessities in the way of legislation. The present army of nearly 100,009 men will of necessity be reduced to 27.000 men after June 30, unless some provision is made for continuing it at the larger figure between now and the elope of the fiscal year. ’ The present act was only a temporary makeshift, ns to both the increase of the regular organization and the volunteers. It provides for these increases until June 30, 1901, and that after that date Ihe army shall be reduced to the old establishment of 27,0(H) men. The report of General Mae Arthur shows that a considerable force must he kept in the Philippines for some time to come. To provide for that force there must be legislation between now and June 30. as on July 1 next the larger part of the army in the Philippines will have to he discharged and sent home. If such legislation is not enacted by the Fiftv-sixth Congress, before March 4, the ‘Fifty-Seventh Congress must be called in extraordinary session soon after that date to pass an army reorganization bill. '

Elections, Aftermath.

lowa's Republican plurality is placed at 99,072. . . The Republicans will have a majority of nine on joint ballot in the next Utnh Legislature. It is figured in Washington that the Republicans will lose two votes in the next Senate. In his home county tStnrk), President McKinley gained nearly 2,000 over his plurality of 1890. The Republicans of St. Louis are figuring on n contest on the ground that from 3.900 to 5,000 fraudulent votes were counted for the Democrats. A boom for Samuel Alsehuler, late Democratic candidate for Governor of Illinois, for the Vice rresideutinl nominipition in 19(M has been started at his home at Aurora, 111. , The Executive Committee of the National Association of Antl-Imjierinlist Clubs, at n meeting in New Yotk City, decided to reorganise the assoeiiution and continue the work of opposittnli to -.he Republican policy in the Philiiyiues.

iHE short session of the Fifty-sixth Congress, which will begin on Dec. 3 and continue until March 4, will have a number of very important bills up for consideration, and the uncompleted work will probably compel the f President to call an (extra session of the Fifty-seventh Congress early next year, possibly as early as ithe call for the Fiftyffifth Congress four years ago, which met