THE OMAHA DAILY BEE.
ESTABLISHED JUNE 10 , 1871 , OMAHA , TIIUUSDAY MOllNrSTGr , FEBRUARY 10 , 1898-TWELVE PAG-ES. SIJSGLE COPY FIVE CENTS.
THE FIELD OF ELECFR1CITY
Widespread Wreck of Overhead Wires by
thi Stoim in Nsw England.
DEMAND FOR UNDERGROUND SYSTEMS
Comitrflflmi of Trolley nml Inciimn-
tlvc In Conuc-ullctit X
I'IMVIT UrvcloiitiiciitN lit
( IHUT Direction * .
The greatest blow ever struck at overhead
% lrcs was dealt by last week's storm In New
England , Not only was the destruction enormous
mous/ / and widespread , 'but life woo In con
stant peril In the cities owing to the contac -
tac ( of electric light with telegraph and tel-
cpMone wires. In Boston the wreck and tan-
filtj ot wires was so complete that the city
was Isolated from the rest of the world for
tfilrty hours , entailing great lese and Incon
venience. Even In. the section of the city
whcro the wires are burled electric lights
wcro dispensed with In order to lessen the
peril of deadly currents. As might toe ex
pected the wreckage of overhead wires has
filvtn a strong Impetus to the demand for
underground wires , and the newspapers
liave taken up the cry with great vigor.
"Tho overhead wire must go , " exclaims
the Providence Journal. "At Phenlx , yoi-
tcrday It Is Buppoicd to have caused a
$25.000 conflagration , and at Natlck a Blighter
flro Is thought to be duo to It. Have wo net
suffered enough In time of tempest from
this dangerous annoyance to do away with
It as quickly , xs possible ? It W bad enough
to experience delay tn our news serv.co
when nothing ot overshadowing moment Is
Involved ; It Is wouo to endure the Incon
venience when really Important news Is heM
Iback by the falling of the poles and wires ;
nnd It lii worst of all when human life Is
endangered and large amounts of property
are destroyed by the breakage of heavily
charged copper lines or the contact ot these
\\lth eachother. . "
"If any further evidence were needed of
the necessity of [ rutting nn electric wires
underground , " rays the Baltimore Sun , "It
Is furnished by this Incident of the New
England storm. A cource of danger even
under ordinary conditions , the overhead
t-lcctrlc wire , It Is seen , may be converted
Into nn engine of wholesale destruction al
most aa formidable as a Galling gun. It
lias no reason or right of existence In any
civilized community. It has played the role
of Incendiary nnd slaughterer long enough.
There is no gx > .l reason for paying the costly
prlco which It demands for Its services ,
Thcro Is a rerlous Iccson for ua In the Bos
ton storm. "
"Tho most dangerous ot all overhead wires
belong to arc light clrcuita , " says the Now
York Tribune , commenting on the Now
England disaster. "The currents thus car-
Tied nro more powerful than those used hi
the operation of. street railroads. When
thcso wires are broken they are liable to
fall across o'.herwlss harmless ones , and
ttus open communication with places In
which suitable provision has not been made
( or such emergencies. Insulation which Is
adequate for a telephone wire or an electric
time service will often give' way under a
current of from 2,000 to 5,000 volts. No
end of destructive firca have been started
In dwellings and ofllcc buildings In thU
manner , and dozens of deaths have resulted
from the name cause. Great advances tavo
been made In the arrangement and kind
ot Insulating material used In Intcrloro
nowadays , largely through the action of the
Insurance companies , and public opinion ,
embodied In legislation , has brought about
the burial of a largo proportion of all overhead -
- head wires In largo cities within the last
few years. But It Is evident horn the ftory
which come.s from Boston tha * a great de.il
yet remains to be done in be'h rf these
directions betore fire hazards from electricity
can bo reduced to a proper minimum. "
What measures will he taken to reduce
those ever present dangers have not de
veloped but that Boston will undertake dras
tic measures IH Indicated by the sontlmen'a ct
Mayor Qulocy. One rcault of the New England
disaster is the crusade against overhead
wires Inaugurated .by . Mayor Harrison of
Chicago. Ho has crdored all wires In the
business district to .be put underground by
March 1. If the order Is not obeyed he In
tends ' ( o lay low the polo evil with axes
In the fcanls of husky men. Some sixteen
years age- another Mayor Harrlcon issuc-J f
like order to meet existing conditions and
the telegraph and other wirc-o.vnlng com
panies laughed at him. Then the gentle
man from Kentucky cut the wires and
laughed at the companies , making It alto
gether a very humorcus occasion for those
who lauplicd last.
The storm settled another question which
has agitated electricians In the east.
While tirollcy lines were crippled and
blockeJ by wrecked wires , the tht'rd rail
lines made a very satisfactory showing
during the storm , the lines being operated
more fre-qucntly than oven the steam roads ,
thus demonstrating the great superiority of
surface power over tirollcy lines ,
TROLLEY AND LOCOMOTIVE.
Perhaps In no state has the competition
between the trolley and the locomotive , been
livelier than In old Connojttcut.
The legislature ot that state chartered
ninety-two miles of trolley roads last year.
On one road paralleled by oloctrlcs the
steam cars last yea.r . carried 750 passengers
a ilay. The third-rail electrics now have a
ulally average of 2,587 persons. In spite of
the reduced fares the electric r&uto last
year earned $258.70 a day , wdllo the steam
road realized 'but $ lo5.
ijiicli facts ought to str ) ! the old conferva-
live roads to action. As for New England ,
the total gain for the steam roads during
tlio year -was but thirty-three miles In all
elx states , while In Connecticut alone the
.annual report of the railroad commissioners
allows a gain for the trolleys of 32.OS miles
of main track and 1.10 nf.les of siding ,
There- are now 302,02 miles of main track
nnd 23.CS of aiding In Connecticut.
NIAGARA POWP.R.
Too Niagara Falls Power company U ex
tending Its wheel pit and power houce.lii or
der to provide facilities for developing 23,000
tiorfcc-power. In addition to the 15,000 already
In use , while the Nlajjura rails Hydraulic
Power nnd Manufacturing company Is arrung-
Ing for 12,500 additional horse-power nn.l
over on the Canadian sldo of the rivrr , In
Queen Victoria rark , the Ccnadtan Niagara
Power comraoy Is making a temporary devel
opment of at least 1,500 horeo- . > o\V'3r , The
Niagara Falls Power company's now pit la
179 feet drp and about 275 feet In length , lu
this extension seven more 6,000 horse-power
turblrica are to bo Installed , making ten in
all , which will ilevcop 50,000 horse-power ,
A small portion of tlio product of the com
pany Is transmitted to Buffalo over rrppor
CublM. In the transformer house at Niagara
Falls adjoining the power elation men nrc
busy Installing1 additional transformers , so
that the valtege ct the power to be sent to
Buffalo may be raUed from 2,000 to 11.000 , at
which voltage the transmission U more
economical. In all thrao transformers will
iiumbor ten , each having a capacity ot 1.250
liortio-power. The transmission line to Buf-
fuo | la twenty-six miles long and the number
ot cables on U ha * just been Increased to six ,
or two three-phase llnea. The three cables
last placed am Identical with the flret three
and have been strung on the upper crew
nrnw of the pales. They have nineteen
g'.rinilB. Aa the length ot each cable Is about
twrnly-elx miles , the length ot the elk ca
bles Is about ISO mile * , whhd requlrru a
Urge amount ot copper. At the Buffalo end
of the line additional step-down transformers
r.re being Installed to reduce the voltage before -
fore It la supplied to customers. The men In-
tero.ftotl In the Canadian Niagara Power com-
jxxiy ore practically the taint ) as tliono con
nected wltti the Niagara K IU Power company
end for the rlghta which they bold ( here tbvy
pay an annual rental of t2G,000. Under Its
agreement the C&cadlan Niagara Power com-
jxiny 1 * to tiave complete water connections
( or the envelopment of 25,000 Lone-power by
November 1 next and to have actually ready
for use , supply and transmission 10,000 de
veloped horse-power by the came dale.
CHEAP TELEPHONE LINES.
Australian railroad men are quite progres
sive , especially where economy Is to bo gained
cud an Interesting Instance ot the adoption
ot modern Ideas In a minor way lias recently
occurred In connection with telephone com'
munlcatlon , The common Idea of a telephone
line Is a combination ot ordinary tclcgfnph
poles with wires stretching overhead , but the
commissioners ot the railroad in ( question have
been experimenting with telephones wllti
wires , In the first place , between the rails ,
and In the other , along the railway fenced
In the polcl9 s line the circuit follows a No.
C Iron fencing wlro In .the center of the track.
This wire rests at Intervals In a groove
across the top ot n hardwood block ( measuring
four Incshes long by two Inches high by ouc
and one-half Inches 'wide. ' A tap ot the same
wood dolds tha wire down and two four-Inch
Iron wlro nails through cap and block Into
the slecrper secures the whole so firmly that
It con bo loosened only by the use ot very
heavy tools. The blocks wcro dipped In a
preparation of Stockholm Mr , rosin , etc. , to
Increase their durability and Insulating prop-
.ertles. The maximum distance between any
two blocks Is about 160 feet , but the spacing
had often to bo regulated by the curvature
of the line and the weight ot the ballast.
In fact , contact with the ballast could not
Invariably bo avoided , and , although , except
In the worst weather , broken porphyry consti
tutes an excellent Insulator , It has been
deemed wise to lower the ballast where re
quired. The wlro had to be laid at the min
imum height , an the line Is unfcnccd nnd a
favorite promenade for cattle. At crossings
of roads or beaten tracks the wire Is brought
up to a pole on each side and connected by an
overhead copper wlro at the regulation
height. Up to the present the line has given
entire satisfaction. Of almost equal Interest
U the use which has been made on a branch
of the same road of the wire of the tnclailtu :
fence for1 telephonic purposes. It Is believed
that this means of communication may bt
largely taken advantage of In the future Zrc
railway and other purposes. It Is oven sug
gested that the rails themselves , In certain
circumstances , might bo utilized for telcifioiio
work , and It Is surmised thnt what with re
turn currents on the rails ot electric roads
end the use ofgas and water mains for tele
graphic nnd telephonic service , the tlmo Is
rapidly approaching : when It will bo Impossi
ble to lay.down 100 yards of metal for any
purpose whatever without having It coai-
plixcently appropriated by electrical engineers
for the conveyance of Current.
ELECTRIC SADDLE PADS.
It seems hnrd to * understand why the
stewards of Jockey clubs object to a horse
being stimulated on the track by an elec
tric current , when the sliosk given to the
animal Is necccsarlly so slight as to 'be ' mucli
less cruel than the lash of a whip. The
rule against electrical devices far getting
speed out ot a horse , however , is rlcldly ; en
forced. An electric lead pad was recently
taken from a Jockey at New Orleans. The
contrivance of which It formed n part
ishowed a great deal of Ingenuity. The mer
cury cell , tightly wrapped end protected ,
occupied three pockets on one ride of the
saddle and -two on the other. In operation
the wlre.t would bo Inclosed In the winding
of the cloth and connected with two small
ccpper plates In the lower edzcs of the flap.
The regulating 'button , which would rest
under the pommel of the saddle , cotikl ear.lly
bo reached by the jockey. The shock Is con
tinued as long as the finger rests' on the
/button. / In ordc't that the jockey -may knew
that all the connections are In good workIng -
Ing order , a buzzer , occupying one of the
pockets within Ihe flap , bo.ln,3 to scmd : r.s
| soon as the current Is stnrteJ. To test the
question of cruelty In the application of elec
tricity to anlmAla Pennsylvania humane
society has trough ! suit against a man who
was said to have'I'curcd ' a vlclotio and balky
horse In ono hour by the administratlca of
r. current from' n. three-volt dry battery.
The method of application was to connect
three wires each side of the bit and crupper
with the , ba.t.tery. The horse , which was a
hopclesj jlh'ier ' , wns hitched to a road cart.
U first he refused to move , standing on
all four feet Cn the defilant position which
ho had so often found effective. At the fl.it
touch of the 'button ' the horse jumped , and
snorted , nnd then moved off. The lesson
was continued dally for a week , nnd the
horse was cured. At the trial. Its' owner
was discharged , as it was proved that three
voMij cf curitmt were not enough t > hurt
the animal , even taking Into account the
greet susceptibility ot the horse to the In-
I fluence of electricity.
I Some electric lighting companies are be
coming anxious nt the Increasing uao of thn
Incandescent gas burner. Inferior ns It Is
In cleanliness , color , coolne j nd other 6V-
i slrnble. qualities , the new RSfllleht Is FO
, cheap thnt It U making Inroads of no small
: magnltudo Into the business of rcntral tt- :
, tlons. That It has rome to bt.iy M no longer
1 denied by the clectrlc'ans themselves. It
I Is unquestionably a valuable Invention , In
creasing as It does the luminous efficiency
; of < ! } anywherc-frem , five to seven times.
i nnd at a comparatively small cost. T.IF
! operation of these "burners depend * upon the
i substitution for the carbon particles pre-
clpltatod from the decomposing compounds
of ordinary , Illuminating gas , of a filmy
"mantlo" or , bn , of threads of certain ox
ides of rare metals , zirconium , thorium ,
cerium , etc. These substances possess the
property ot radiating a great proportion of
the energy emitted by them when tliey i reheated
heated ns light waves. Carbon i.eited to
the same temperature would give out a
I greater proportion of heat nml Ices of llsht.
It Is unfortunate that this substance , the
1 only one available for Incandescent lamp
filaments , should have such a luvllnht -
cmlttlng power. A leading electrical Jour
nal says : "Why should not a lesion bo
learned from the enterprising makers of thci
now gas lamps ? " There BCCIIIS to be no
rr > pen why /llnmrnt / should not lie coate-1
with zlrronla , or , why thi.3 . material mny not
bo Incorporated with the ca-bon-form'ng '
compound of which the filament Is made.
This would certainly enormously Increase
the efficiency o , the lamp , and , moreover ,
make the cloqtrlc light so cheap ttiat ev
erybody could afford to use It.
A MONSTER LIGHT.
The United States government Is experi
menting with a remarkable projector , wltn
n view to Its 'Installation by the I'ghthousa
board at some point on tSie , e.'nst. ' The
light has a blvalvo lens nine feet In di
ameter , and will Illumine an object 100
miles off , and throw Ito reflection on the
clouds so as to''ho fieon at a muoh greater
distance. The" lamps , have Interchangeable
caifeons of dlffert'itt sizes , so that the light
can 'be ' varied lit' Intensity according to the
condition of the atmosphere. The light U
Fathered In a nlne foot beam , which huu nn
estimated Intensity1ot SO.000,000 candles.
The light and'lenses revolve six times a
minute , so that a beam from on ? of the
lenses Is flaahcfl In a given direction every
five seconds. Although 'the lamp , the lennes
and the supporting frame WPPI | ! twenty
tona , thn adjustments are po delicate they
Include the poising of the mechanism
on a hollow stcd.cyljndcr floating In mercury
that the w < hole mwis may ( be revolved by
a pivh of the flnger. Although the lamp
Is of French manufacture , American gener
ating apparatus has been substituted for
that 'built ' for H | n "Franco , and the dynamos ,
engine and boiler * are to bo duplicated In
cnno of accident. . The ( lash of the lenses
Is so blinding that It can not be looked on
at short irange. It hurta the eyes , even
when clewed ,
Killed III * Srrci-llicariV I'atluT.
LOUISVILLE , Ky. , Feb. 9.-John Scho-
lleld slut and lntantly killed Peter Pfcffcr
nt the lattcr'B home. Sclioflrld was In love
with Pfefrer's daughter nnd the girl's father
opposed hln suit and ordered him to leave
the house. Srhofleld drew 11 revolver , nnd ,
placing It ngalnxt Pfeffer'n left breast.
Hied , killing him Instantly. Sehofleld
e wiiied nml the police , have been unable
to rllid | any trace of him.
yiiiiKoiinil on ICurv lc or\r ,
WICHITA. Feb. 9-A special to the
Itr-ncon from Ncv.vklrfc. Okl. , states that load
nnd zinc lu rich payingquantities have been
discovered In the Kaw reservation , which
joins KU.W county on the enst. A Joplln
prospector declares the find superior to any
thing discovered In Missouri or southeast
DIRECTORS FAVOR THE PLAN
Expressions in Regard to the Proposed
Change in Management ,
ONE HEAD FOR THE EXPOSITION
Xcert of Some One Man Who Will He
HrNtotiNltilc nml Direct tlic
"Work Under the R&eentlvo
Committee.
As the tlmo approaches for the next regular
mooting of the Board of Directors of the ex
position the sentiment of the directors Is
crystallizing In favor of the creation of the
olHce of general superintendent of the cxpoi
sltlon referred to In The Dee yesterday or of
some other office which shall davc general
direction of the whole work under the con
trol of the executive committee. This Is
especially true In the case of those dlrectoru
who have had occasion to sec the practical
workings of the system now In vogue. These
men express their firm conviction that a
change Is Imperative , but say they have some
delicacy about Insisting on It unless the ex
ecutive committee gives Us full consent to the
change. Among this class la Director J. II.
Evans.
"I believe there should be n chcngo In the
system at once , " said Mr. Evans. "Tho
members of the executive commlttco have
accomplished wonders and deserve grca ;
credit for what has been done , but It stands
to reason that they cannot give their whole
tlmo to the exposition. Matters have come
to the point where the affairs of the exposi
tion must be In the hands of experienced
men who can guide the whole thing and 1
believe the best solution of the difficulties
that now exist Is the selection of some com
petent man to have general charge. I do
not think the executive committee should
have Its authority curtailed In any way , but
It should continue to have general charge
and leave the details to one man to work
out.
out."I
"I had occasion a .few days ago , " continued
Mr. Evans , "to go with a customer of our
bank to exposition headquarters , where lie
desired to transact certain business. Wo
were scat from ono man to another until we
had seen three men and each one gave 11.3
a different answer. The man I WHS with be
came disgusted end said he had no further
time to waste and he came away without
having made any progress. If one man had
authority to say yes or no , that would settle
It and strangers would not be annoyed by n
lot of different authorities. "
President Wattles aald he had not changed
his opinion that an office should bo created
where the \\holo work of .the exposition
should bo centralized , but he added that he
should do nothing to urge such n courac
until the executive committee Is a unit In
favor of It.
Other members of the directory expressed
themselves In favor of the move referred to ,
but said they would have some delicacy
about proceeding unless the whole executi ve
committee favored it , as that boJy was
charged with the responsibility frr making
the exposition a success and would have to
bear the- brunt of a f liure. These directors
said , however , that they deemed It only com
mon business prudence to so concentrate
the forces that there would be less strength
lost by departments wcrklng at cross-pur
poses along given lines.
IllSXVHIl Cli'lKK.VS AUK IX UAKXEST.
Dt > tcriiiliioil , < o Jliilif n Crrilltnlile
Show at tinRvnoMltioii. .
"You may tell the Omaha people thai Den
ver will be at the exposition and will make
a showing creditable to the city , " said
Mayor McMurray to a Dee man In his office
at Denvor.
The exposition has taken a hold nn the
Denver people at last and there is a wave
of enthusiasm manifest which Is cheerful
to contemplate In contrast with the apathy
heretofore noticed. The appo'ntment of
Mr. A. T. Macdonalil to represent the expo
sition at Denver Is a very popular one. The
wldo acquaintance of Mr. Macdoaald In the
city and his personal popularity gives him
opportunities to reach people that could
never bo enjoyed by a stranger , however
pushing he might be. The vigor with which
Mr. Maedonald has gone to work Is also In
spiring. In connection with the Denver
city commission ho has organlzc-1 meetlm
after meeting , one being held Tuesday night
and mother la.st night. aad sajs
this will be his program until the exhibit
from Denver , building and all. Is secured.
Mayor McMurray is giving the matter a
great deal of his own t'mo ' and promises to
do nil ho can to forward It to a successful
conclusion. Mr. McMurray is well remem
bered by older citizens of Omaha as a for
mer Gate City business man , and while he
is as loyal to the Interests of the Queen
City as any In It , ho has not forgotten his
residence hero , nor Ills friends.
Governor Adams Is still energetically at
work with the state commission and has
written personal letters to the county boards
of the state , polnt'ng out what. In his opin
ion , Is n successful way to arrange for funds
to cover the expense of an exhibit for the
state at large. He with others Interested
promises that Colorado will be hero with a
good showing.
The newspapers of Denver are taking hold
of It with great energy and columns arc
now devoted to the affairs , whcro a. few
weeks ago only lines worn given.
TBXAS TO UAKi : A OOOU SHOWiXCJ.
VlctI'rcNldriit JoliiiNon ArraiiK'rH for
Spiu'e for IIIH SaU ( %
Vice President S , J. T. Jahci.son . of Corsl-
cana , Tex. , who la chairman of the Texao
Exposition commission , Is In the city .n ' tlie-
Interest of his state to look over the cxponl-
tlon grounds and make arrangements for
space for the display to be made by Texen ,
After seeing the bulldlngo and walking
around the grounds his enthusiasm wan
aroused to the highest pitch cad ho was merit
emphatic In his statements that his ntate
must make a creditable allowing.
"Our people do not comprehend the mag
nitude and full wope of this oxpoiltlon , " ho
declared wHh emphasis. "Neither do they
fully comprehend the great benefit our atato
will derive from having a good exhibit of Its
resources at this show. I am free io eay
that I did not have even a faint Idea of the
magnificence which I have tern at the
ground * and the evidences on every "hand of
the broad scope of thia exposition. Our
atato has been rather backward about mak
ing exultlto at former expoaltlcos , but I bo-
llevo the time- has now come to' show the
other states that wo have * Just what wo
claim to have the best , as well as the- big
gest , state In the union , and the one with
the most diversified resources.
"I have reserved 2.000 feet of floor space
and 1,500 feet of wall space In the Agricul
ture building and 200 feet In the Mines
building. Wo ought to have more space ,
but we have no Btato appropriation and are
having moro or less dllllculty In raising
money for the exhibit. I believe this dif
ficulty Is owing to the Ignorance ot the true
situation and I shall try to remove that as
much as possible , but whether I succeed In
Increasing our space or not I can guarantee
that our state will have a line exhibit. Wo
have n commission composed of one member
In each senatorial district In the atato ami
good work Is being done. Our people have
a warm spot In their hearts for Nebraska
and wo will be here In force when the ex
position opens , "
Colonel Johnson went homo lost night.
Mnr ret Another Convention.
Hastings II. Hart ot fit. Paul. Minn. , sec
retary of the National Society of Charities
and Cprrectlon , ha * notified President Wat-
: | eg ot the action o ! the executive committee
of that body on an Invitation sent It by the
president ot the exposition to convene the
society In special session at Omaha In Sep
tember ot this year. The Invitation was con
sidered by the cxocutlYCi committee In New
York January 28 , at which lime It was de
cided by the committed that , In view ot the
fact that the society will bold Its annual
meeting In New York , May 18 , It would be
beyond the authority of the commlttco to
order A special ineetlng-.to be held In Sep
tember. The secretary sfales'tlmt ' the matter
will bo laid before the society by the execu
tive commlttco and hr Vayg' his Individual
opinion Is that the meeting will be arranged
at that tlmo and that theBt > clcty will meet
In Omaha In the fall , t
uui.iss POII Tiuot' Anr KXHIIIIT.
Director Cr 1(11 Hi I nt o n Clrcnlnr tn
All 'tt'lio Arc Tn > tC'Von Ml
Art Director Griffith J lias Issued a
circular to all artists ami''people ' owning
works of art who may lesT.ro or consent to
the exhibition at the Tr msmlsslsslppl Expo
sltlon of their works , The circular nn-
nounccs that the expos tlon authorities be-
Hove that the purchase > flplctures will be ft
greater encouragement to artists than the
awarding of medals and' have , therefore , au
thorized the purchase of Works from exhibi
tors to the extent ot not less than $5,000 ,
and that there Is good reason to believe that
this sum wilt bo Increased by citizens ot
Omaha.
Rules governing the art exhibit are an
nounced In this circular as follows :
No accepted work cnn be withdrawn be
fore the close of the exhibition and nil
works must rerun In as placed by the hang
ing committee.
The superintendent will attend to sales ,
upon wihlc'i a commission of 10 per cent
will bo charged. Prices should be stilted on
the list when sent In.
In consideration of the consignment of ap
proved walks to tills exhibit the Trnns-
mlsslBSlppl ami International Exposition
directorate agrees : (1) ( ) That nil expenses
ot collecting , packing , shipping and returnIng -
Ing such works s'nnll be paid by the Bald
Transmlsslsslppl nnd International Exposi
tion. (2) ( ) That the Transmisslsslppl and
International Exposition will Insure such
works , while In transit nnrt during their
exhibition , at a valuation agreed upon be
tween the owners and the association or
Its duly authorized npent. (3) That the
superintendent will make dlllpent effort to
find purchasers for such works as may be
ottered for sale.1) ( ) That all works unsold
at the close of the exposition shall bo re
turned to their owners at the earliest pos
sible moment , In as good conditlin as when
received from said owners , this clause being
understood to cover frames as well as
pictures.
Honorary commissioners of the art bureau
and committee on selection are announced
as fo'.lows : Jules Rolshovtin , England ; Fred-
crick Mayor , France ; Dr , C. Hot tedcJ de
Greet , Holland ; W , M. K. French , Illinois ;
John L. Griffith , Indiana ; Stephen N. Crc.iby ,
Mnatachuse.rts . ; Charles L. Freer , Michigan ;
Thomas H. Walker , Minnesota ; F. L.
Illdgely. Missouri ; John W. Bookwalter , Now
York ; Frank Duveneck , Ohio ; Daniel Baugh ,
Pennsylvania ; ThcoJore Cooley , Tennessee ;
John L. Mitchell , Wisco-.sln.
WISCONSIN'S STATE llt'II.UIXG
Aroltitfi't ClitN ot Ttlllivnukcc llorcto
Si-ttli ; thv VveMmlnuvlvH.
Alfred C. Gins , treasurer of the Wisconsin
Expedition commission and architect of the
proposed Wisconsin building to be erected
on the fair grounds , wcs In the city toJay
and made a personal Inspection ot the ex
position grounds aud the proposed location
of the building for a more Intelligent idea
of the requirements in the way of 'decora
tions. He passed the morning In conference
with T. II. Klmtall , one of the arciitots-
In-chief , and visited the grounds In the rain ,
where ho made a casual , gjrvey of the situa
tion. s.
' 'Wisconsin will begin ] the construction ot
her 'building ' within a few * \veelta , " said Mr.
Clas to The Bee at the Billiard after he had
disposed ot the buslnesj that brought him
to Omens. "Wo Intend to spend about $15,000
on our building and the ( money Is now being
raised by popular subscription throughout
the state to meet the rcaulremenls of a fine
state building and a drift-class exhibit. Our
building will be exclusively almost a state
club house of the classl 'firder of architcc-
tuie , and the best feature of the. structure
will be the grand fish pjmd in the center of
It , as well as the big aquarium which will he
constructed under the 'ethlrway. The people
of Wisconsin arc proud df their fisheries and
ono of their greatest efforts will bo to dis
play this feature to the 'best possible ad
vantage.
'
"The inteif or ot the building will present -
sent a Pompellan style of architecture and
the reception and lounging rooms will bo
decorated almost entirely ) with p 1ms , flowere
and rugs. There will be very little wood
work atout the . 'nterlor' , all of the finish
ings being In cement Ani plaster. There
will also be located ' 'u the building two
fountains , where all who press the button
may get a glassful ot mineral water. I am
entirely s tlsfied with the progress of the
construction at the exposition and In this
connection I may say that from appearances
the buildings will ba attractive and novel
from nn architectural standpoint. I had no
Idea * of the magnitude of the . iinlertaklng
until I visited the gr. unds today ami I am
moro than pleased with the prospects for ono
of the most complete nnd Interesting expositions
'
tions that has ever lici'n attempted In this
country. "
DoillllilN Comity'H Sluire ,
The $50,000 In Douglas county warrants
which the commissioners of Douglis county
have turned over to tho. exposition manage
ment will t-o turned -Into the expssltlor.
treasury as soon an they have been cashe'1
and will be "dlsbursed.ln the regular course
'
of business , " according to' Secretary Wake-
field. The face of the warrants show that
they are In payment of the following
amounts : In payment of part cciiBtructlo
of the Agriculture building , $12,000 ; Manu
factures building , $10,000 ; Liberal Art.i'
building. $3.000 ; Art building. $5,000 ; tn- :
part payment for Improving and beautifying
the grounds , $15,000. and for part payment
for maintenance of buildings , $3,000.
HIioilo iKlmul'v Attitude.
Governor ElLaha Dyer of Ilhodo Island
writes to President Wattles as follows re
garding the conOItlcns In that state relating
to the exposition : " 1 am very anxious to do
everything In my power to hive Ifils state
represented at your exposition. In view of
the fact that at Atlanta In 1895 and at Nash
ville In 1S97 our people ma do so little of on
exhibit at the first and no exhibit at all at
the Boccnil , I am unwilling to ask for an
appropriation for this purpose. I bivc
brought the matter before .the legislature In
my message and If it sees fit to provide the
means the commission can very readily bo
appointed. "
' \V liter Situation' ' Xut
There has been no change In the situation
between the Omttw Water company and the
exposition management since the formal de
mand of the latter -was hiade upcti the water
company for water for tire protection and
other purposes waa llled with Manager Dlcr-
bower. Thu latter stated that tlio attorneyn
of the company are engaged In drawing up
the reply to be made to the exposition offi
cials and thnt this would bo made public as
soon as completed ,
II , S. Hall , one of' tlio attorneys for the
water company , eald'that the formal reply
would probably bo irfade public today.
XotOM Of tilt * U
The Minnesota Exposition commission ban
Ifsued an appeal to the 'people of the state.
aoklng them to make'eutacrlpt'rns ' to a fund
for an exhibit ot ; the' resources of the state
at the exposition ,
The San FrancCoco 'Board ' of Trade baa
taken ho'.d of the matterof securing a Btato
exhibit for California' at the exposition and
has declared -that no 'parl whatever will to
taken In the affair unless California can
make a showing to bd proud of , As a condi
tion precedent to an # etep * In the direction
of making an exhibit , 'the board aays 10,000
feet of floor cpace la tbe exposition buildings
must be donated freeof can and that $5,000
must bo In the hands of the board by April
U When Mete conditions are compiled with
Hie board ekya It will undertake to collect
the exhlblU.
CENTERS ON CONFERENCE
Likelihood of a fiato War Depends on
Today's ' Debate ,
INTEREST IN THE PASSENGER SITUATION
Wcntorn Men "VVnlt for the
of Kxcctitlvo onicern nt Clil-
OIIKO I'nut Mull Contract
IH Involved ,
The attention ot passenger men of nil
western roads nnd others who closely follow
wctstern passenger matters Is now centered
on the meeting of the executive officers of
the Northwestern , the Union Pacific , the
Burlington , the Rock Island nnd the Santa
Fe , to bo held In Chicago on Thursday. At
this meeting , It Is believed , there will be
sorao action taken relative to .the threat of
some of the roada that If the Northwestern-
Union Pacific and the Iltlrllngton roads keep
on their fast trains between Chicago and
Denver via Omaha the rates will bo cut noJ
a rate war precipitated.
The last twenty-four hours has seen no
great change In the situation save the un-
ofllclal announcement by the Rock Isl.ind
that lt will replace the fast Chlcago-Omaha-
Uoaver trains Nos. 21 and 22 on April 1 In
stead of on May 1. The Hock Island people
had been figuring on the restoration of thcso
trains on May 1 , but the cst.bUshmcnt of
fast train service has hastened the time
somewhat. The trains would be put Into
serlvce today It the company had the equip
ment on hand It desires. It Is understood
that , the time between now nnd April 1 will
be put In nt the Rock Island shops In pre
paring the very best cochcs and chair cars
and nt the Pullman shops in getting out
some new cars for the Rock Island's new-
trains.
General Agent Rutherford ot the Rock
Island's passenger department , 'Who ' has
been watching the situation very closely In
Chicago for the last tew days. IMS returned
to Omaha , and declares that the Rock Island
will certainly restore trains Nos. 21 nnd 22
to service this spring , the only question
being the exact datp. The running time of
these trains has not been definitely fixed
aut the westbound tra' ' n will rvss through
Omaha about 5:50 : a. in. , and the castbound
train obcut 3 a. m. On the question ot
lower rates to Colorado Springs than to
Denver , which have been demanded liy the
Rock Island for Its own line , Mr. Ruther
ford said : "A lower rate by our line th-in
by other lines to Colorado Springs would
lot be differential. It would merely bo a
short line rate. Ours Is the shortest line to
Colorado Fiprlngs , aud if the other roads
have an advantage Into Denver , there Is
every reason why we should have it Into
Colorado Springs. "
SANTA FE IS IRRITATED.
The Santa Fe ofllcinte are said to be very
nucli provoked because President Hurt of
the Union Pacific promptty declined to leave
tiie controversy to the executive oflleers'
: he eastern liners for arbitration. This prop-
: sltcn ! was made by Paul Morton , second
? ice president of .the . Santa Fe , but President
Hurt spoke up rod salj that aa there wars
.lathing to arbitrate such a c'Uggestlon ' would
not be listened to. Now the Santa Fe Is out
with the threat 'that It will again cut the
rates and precipitate a rate war. This wars
; ried last week , but after twenty-four hours *
sklrmiahlng the rate war was declared off
&y a trucfr.that will qxplro on the adjourn
ment of Thursday's meeting. If the Santa
Fe then begins to cut the rates there Is no
Joubt In the world but that the other lines
WlP foUOW S'Ult. '
The crux of the whole movement toward
the establishment ot better train servlcF
in this part ot the country Is found lu the
approach of the date for the award of the
four years' contracts by Uncle Sam to carry
his nio.ll. However great may be the desire
of the railroad.'j ' to offer the traveling public
better train service than It has enjoyed
for some time ono cannot gainsay the fact
hat It Is the award ot the profitable postal
contracts that the big western lines an
. According f'
n'atchlng.ivrlth covetous eyes.
o. most'excellent authority , It was especially
with this object In view that the North-
weotcrn-Unlon Pacific decided to make tin.
first move. The Northwestern wants to
carry the mail between Chicago and Omaha
as the Union Pacific carries. It west of thci
Missouri river. A man In a position tr
knew also aays that the Hurllngton woulO
have never followed suit but It did not care
to run the'slightest rl.sk In losing Its con-
iracts between Chicago and Council Bluffs.
Cu April 1 , 1S8S , the period of weighing
the mails carried on all railroads In this
crrltory will come to a close. Between now
and that time eah ( road will make stconuou/
elf ; rts to show the government that It has the
best line and the best trains. This period
of welghlLg the malls Is a very Important
: > r.e to the railroads , for on the result of this
examination of n few months depends the
award of the contract to can-y the mall from
April 1 , 1898 to April 1 , 1802. In this fight
the strife Is practically narrowed down to the
Nnrtfiwcstern-Unlon Pacific on the one hand
end the Burlington on the other. The Union
Pacific would like the Northwestern to have
: lie mall ccntrnct east of the Missouri river ,
while the Burlington Is quite anxious to
handle the mall from Chicago to Council
Bluffs Ittclt and would mot mind getting
the through mall for the west.
IIiid'IilNiiii nt HIM DfNk.
Smuel A. Hutchison , the popular assist
ant general passenger agent of the Union
Pacific , was at his * dealt In the headquarters
yesterday for. the first time since his ap
pointment from general travolCng passenger
agent to the higher post ho now fills. Dur
ing the morning he received many congratu
lations. During the Installation of the new
train service Mr. Hutchison had charge of
the eastbound trains from Denvor.
Itiillwny XotOM nml I
President Burt nnd General Passenger
Agent Lomax of the Union Pacific remained
ever In Chicago to attend Thursday's matlneo
on the subject of fast train service and
cheaper rates by the differential llnm.
The shcrtenlng of the Burlington's new train
sorvlco to Seattle via Billings and the North
ern l\iclflo line , which becomes effective on
Sunday next , will make no change In the
tlmo of the arrival or departure of trains in
and out of Omaha. There will be no now
tialn for the northwest added to tlio tlmo
card , but the running time of the present
trains will bo abbreviated a few hours ,
General Passenger Agent Francis of the
I ) . & M. says that It may be some little tlmo
before It will too finally decided whether or
not the Burlington's eastbound "Colorado
Special" will ibo run through Omaha or not.
It Is hoped to make this change , but the
matter depends entirely on some prospective
changes In tire tlmo cards ot lines west of
Denver that inaka close connection with the
Burlington there.
It Is announced that Mrs. Hetty Green of
Now York will build a railroad through
Oklahoma. The proposed road will run from
Mcdford , on the Rock Island , to Sherman ,
Tex , , wtiero U will conect with the Texo-i
Midland. There the line will bo connected
with the Hutchlnson , Oklahoma & Galvealon
from HutchlUECa , Kan. , and will give the
territory another connection with the gulf.
The road , U Is said , will be built during the
present year. The Texas Midland Is owned
by Mrs. Green and managed by her son. u
connects with the 'Frisco for St. Louis.
llcmorrnlN Will Klwht In the CourtH.
CHICAOO , 'Fob. 9.The democratic stntc
central committee has selected Mny 17 as
the date for the etnto convention. Peorla
or Springfield will bo chosen ns the place.
The committee also decided to make two
legal flghtu as a result of recent republican
legislation. The flr t battle will be over the
reapsortlonment bill recently passed , chang
ing the senatorial dlstrlcta of the. state. The
second is 111 be over the untt-futilon law
passed by the regular session and Intended
to prevent the future coalition of populism
and democrats , '
SLOIM'V SMITH lltXS KOll IilllKHTY.
Dnnlirn Arvny from n Thirty-liny Jnil
S < 'lltPII MS
"Sloppy" Smith , sentenced to thirty days
on the chain gang for petty larceny , hns
gained his liberty , U was accomplished
about S o'clock yesterday rrioming , Smith and
another prisoner with a similar sentence ,
named AVllllam Roth , were confined In one ot
the Iron cells Monday night. Dy some menus
unknown to the Jailer lloth got hold of a
saw and with Jt the two men succeeded In
cutting oft the lock of their cell. This was
accomplished early In tlio morning , when
nearly every ono around the Jnll was nslcep.
As soon ns 'tho men found them
selves out In the corridor they
discovered that In order to gain
the open they would have tp run n gauntlet
In which the Jailer and his turnkey would
play Important parts. While ) they were fig
uring upon .the test way out of their
dilemma Jnllcr Hnvey hnd occasion to
descend Into the lower portion of tlio jail ,
nnd Smith , panic stricken , mndo n flying
leap through n window Into the woman'a cell
end landed squarely upon n negro woman
who was sleeping there. Of course the game
was up nnd the men were once more locked
In their cells.
Smith was determined that no mistakes
should bo mndo In his second "get away"
nnd this was nicely cnrrled out. As the
street gnng wns being marshaled In front of
the Jnlier'u desk by Spcclnl Easton yesterday
morning , Smith wntchcd hts chance nnd
when It came ho dashed bis keeper nnldc
nnd sprang up thestnlrwny lead'rig to the
street. Spectnl Easton Is of the opinion that
he Is running yet , ns he wns only nble lo
descry n dnrk brown streak going up the
street In the direction which "Sloppy" hnd
tnken.
WAITING KOK A MJXV I.IOIIT.
Fraud * C. ( JraliliIOON Hopefully ( o
tinFuture. .
At the ofilccs ot the Edgemont comrcolcx
yesterday Mr. Grnble's local representa
tive , M. L. Parrotte , eald that so far as he
knew there Is nothing new relative to the
situation to make public. Mr. arable hnd
not been there nnd Itafl not at/ull / likely
that ho would visit the pinto for several da > s
to come. Mr. Parrottc said that so far as he
knew there wcco no developments In Mr.
Qrable's affairs which ooiilU chniigo the gen
eral situation and consequently nothing coulu
bo said tCiat the public did Abi airt-ady know.
At Mr. Parrotto's residence. 2053 Hnrmej
street , where Mr. Grable Is a guest. It wnt
announced that the gentleman could not
receive callers. He had given his state
ment to the public and for the present there
was nothing more to bo said.
" \Ve ore all waiting for n more favorable
light to break over Mr. Gruble's affalt-n , " said
Mr. Parrotte in explanation of the present
situation , "and about all we cnn do Is to
wait and hope that everything will come out
all right. Wo expect to experience a change
for the better within a few days , but at
present I don't sec what can be accomplished
by Idle predictions. "
Open tin * Cnlc.H on. Siuuliiy.
OMAHA , Feb. 7. To the Editor of The
Bee : I , too , have been Interested In the
reports from Drs. Franklin and Mann upon
the question of opening the gates of the
coming exposition on Sunday , also noted
the article signed by Rev. J. O. Stnplcn ,
who as It appears la greatly oppcacd to
any such movement , as well as the rights
and llbeitics of the working man.
To my miad . .Rev.Staples f Is having a
Similar experience os'dld5acchneiis } , In
Luke 19:4 : , and from what cnnbe' ? gained by
the liberality part of h'ls'ettrchloiit , ho Is
there yet. /Vi
Surely we have nil been , tiuigUt the lesson
of religious liberty. If not we have heeded
teachings against the law of God us well
as the law of our land : That every man
may servo God according to the dictates of
Ills own conscience Is not orily n God given
right , but the privilege ot every free born
American citl/.cn , according to the laws ot
our land. But It Is aa apparent fact that
some are seeking to change these laws and
place In their stead the. most stringent Sun
day laws. In some states they have been
forced to Sunday observance , as In Ten-
nc&iee and Maryland.
God Is not a hard master as I understand
It. Ho does not believe In persecuting peoplt
The dictates of Mammon supersede the
precepts of right and Justice in shaping our
attitude towards the olservanee of Sunday.
.V day was set apart by God as a day of rest ,
but It absolutely cannot be proven that
that day was Sunday ; furthermore , It 1.3 . a
memorial unto Him , as He says , It shall be
a sign unto all people throughout nil genera
tions , Nor does Ho say wo must keep It
holy , liut gives us the choice of right nnd
wrong. Romans C:1C. : Ho docs not compel
by any law , but by "love , " and that word
"love" should bo ta rod letters nnd stand a
foot high. Pence and pardon Is a gift of
God's love ; observing Supday does not aid
us In obtaining a better position In life If
there are no other virtues back of It. We
nhapo our own future , destiny , He causes It
to rain on the just and tno unjust , as the
scripture terms It , and says : "Come untc
mo all yo that are weary and heavy laden , I
will give you rest. Tnko my yoke upon you
and icarn of mo , for my yoke Is easy nnd
my burden light. " There nro no commands
n this offer. The word "come" Is simple
however. It takes In a broad meaning.
God docs not say the Transmlssisslppl
Exposition shall bo closed on Sunday , neither
does Ho say It is a clay ot rest , and If we
are so unlucky ae to bo delarred from at
tending the exposition on Sunday It will be
In the dictates of man , not the will of
Almighty God. The majority of the laborIng -
Ing class cannot afford to loose a week's
salary or even a day. They are dependent
upon their weekly Income for their support
and God knows thulr salary Is little
enough.
Colonel Ingersoll Is referred to In u
mythical way ? iy Rev , Staples , yet lie
can -teach us many good lessons on love of
our fellow men ; also Tom I'.ilno has some
extraordinarily bright Ideas In regard to Sun
days laws , Let us learn n lesson from the
parable of the fig tree , and dnvote on'
tlmo to other pursuits than that of dictating
to our superior , The liberty of choosing
right from wrong ibclng endowed upon all
men by our Creator , why should wo seek
to take away that liberty ?
Going to church Is ono way of praising
tlio Lord , and viewing the wonderful works
of nature and mankind Is another. Wo
can acknowledge God In all nature , but wo
cannot In nil the preacher says. Those
who .wish to keep ( Sunday moro 'holy , can
do as IXinlcl , the prophut , and pull down
the 'blinds and keep their wCndows open
toward Jerusalem.
In the eyes of the majority of the bril
liant-minded people ot Omaha It would bo
moro pleasing to the general public If chil
dren were taken to some modest recreation
park and allowed to study the beauties ot
nature , nither than bo coopH up In the
back yard , 'making the atmosphere hideous
by their cr 'cs of mirth while enjoying a
Kaine of t > ase ball or shooting craps. Tha
lummles referred to byRev. . .Staples are
iho very ones Drs. Franklin and Mann
have been endeavoring to demolish , while
some oppear to Idolize them , These people
are certainly the dummied in question ,
In London the chief of police may be
the SaUbatli but we nre. In Omaha now ,
and the police , sold'.erg , etc. , tctm to be a
minus quality. So , If the grounds should
so closed on Sunday "thugs" and so-called
'bums" would have no place to go nnd
wo would be sure to Iwve plenty of com-
liany , then where would the rent rome In ?
Aa thin cxpatltlou Is utrictly nn enter
prise for the advancement of the western
country , orthodoxy Khuuld be omitted , How.
ever. It will tie a great place to got In your
missionary woik , and -win couls to Christ
by scattering needs ot Kindness. The man
agers of thli Industry ere men of great
and good resolves , backet up by a wonder-
: ul amonut of perseverance , and victory
crowns tbe effort * of these who arc faithful.
Therefore lot ua remember we thape oir
own destiny by the "nalla" we drive around
Ml , Revelation 111 , 18. J , M. CRAIG , j
HAMPERS STREET CLEANING
Cutting Down Expenses Takes on a Vciy
Serious Fcrm ,
FOF.CrD ECONOMY MAY PROVE COSTLY
Action of < ! io. CniinrU Crlpplr * < Hp
lion rd n f I'ulitlcVnrkn Sumo
( lint Mn- lie
1'a < ' < ( ! .
The action of the city council In limiting
the expenditures of the llonrd of Public
Works department during February to $500
will probably result In the dUmUBal of the
< ntlre force tonight. The cost of cindering
the Florence bicycle path nnd the snlnrlts of
the employes , who nro paid by the month ,
will require the entire K'OO nnd under the
action of. the council City Engineer Rosewater -
water says he hns no choice except to stop
nil work until the council becomes more llb-
ernl.
ernl.This
This enforced economy Is not n clrctim-
stnnco , however , to what will follow If the
present policy of the cotmc.l Is cnrrled out.
In the first plnce the nppraprlntlon for thi >
expenses of the board proper will merely
stilllco to pay tbe ofllclnls now permanently
employed nnd the olllco expenses. H will
not admit of the employment of sidewalk
Inspectors nor of men to servo notices. The
result will be tnnt tlio board will go out of
the sidewalk Dusmcsii for tie ! year.
Iho citizens of Omaha who have occasion
to use the streets will have un opportunity
to pnta comment cii the conditions which the
'ack of funds will tmfirnc on the paved dln-
trlctn. There are eighty miles of paved
streets In the city , ot which fifteen miles
are sixty feet wide. The- entire paved sur
face mny bo stated In rou.U numbers ns
1,500,000 square yards. It one-half Inch of
dirt was distributed equally over this sur
face It would bo equal to n depth of ono
Inch on 750,000 square ynris ! , one foot o
12,500 square yards , or three feet on over
20,000 square yards. It would require 20,000
wagons to move th'.s accumulation at ono
trip and thp army of the Potomac would
find Itself busily occupied for some llttlo
tlmo In filling the wagons. At the lowest
estimate It will co.it 25 cents n load to do
the work , or $5,000 In nil. The accumulation
of dirt acid refuse that Is now lying on the
streets of Ornnlm Is several Inches deep In
places and few spots can be found where It
is ICES than half an Inch. It la conceded
thnt the average would be materially greater
tlina the last figure and 55.000 Is the very
owcst estimate that the engineering depart
ment Is willing to place on the eost of the-
Irst spring cleaning. But the Board ot Pub
lic Works Is expected to do this repeatedly
and keep the 1.G00.030 jarda of streets clean
tor a year for $23,000. The- city of .Mlnno-
ipolls , which has a considerably smaller
, mved surface than Omaha nnd has no ex
position In sight as nn extra inducement to
: leaallncss , has Just appropriated $55,000 for
itrcet cleaning during 1S9S.
The appropriation for street repairs nml
Maintenance Is nlso lees than half what has
jcen expended for the came purpose In pre
vious years. City Engineer Rosewater saya
Lhat under these conditions It Is apparent
ibat it will bo Impossible to keep the streets
n anything approaching a creditable condi
tion. ' " : Uut he proposes to work within the
appropriations nnd lut the taxpayers decide.
.vhother euch economy Is advisable.
' .Mortality
The following births and deaths were re
ported at the health office during the twenty-
four hours ending nt noon yesterday :
Births WI11I3 Coy. S13 South Twenty-fifth
avQiiue , boy ; Louis B. Wemmer , 1017 South
Eleventh , boy ; John S. Bossard , 2332 Popple-
ton avenue. , boy ; James Adams , 614 North
Nineteenth , boy ; Harry Marclcy , 1532 North
Nineteenth , boy.
Deaths Joe Mangel , 2 months , 3310
Larimer avenue , Holy Septilrficr ; Nina
. .latliilda Smith , 4 , 2SH Webster , Mount Hope ;
Roy Welch , 7 months , 7M North & veiileentli.
. 'orest Lawn ; Mrs. Christina Anderson , .15 ,
27 Cedar. Springwell ; Mi-s. Catherine Swift ,
)5 , 2012 Clark , apoplexy , St Mary's.
Condition of flly'H FiiiulH ,
The annual report of City Treasurer Ed
wards has been filed with thu comptroller.
It includes the account current , balance
sheet , bond statements , etc. , for 1897. It
ihows that regular taxes amounting to $805-
ir,2.95 were collected during the year. Spe-
jtnl paving taxes were collected amounting
' , o $182,830.65 and other special taxes amount
ing to $14GU09.GO , The balance on hand at
the close of the year as Indicated by the
treasurer's books Is $521.1)05.17 ) , against
vhlch there are warrants outstanding
amounting to $530,913.48. Of these warrants
iggregatlng $119,108.1(7 ( are registered and
drawing Interest.
( iiiNolliM * .S < rr 't
The now gasoline lighting contractors
have completed putting In their plant. Their
superintendent was In the city for two or
thrco days and he. Is said to have declared
that the company can never light the city
successfully nt the prlco on which It ob
tained the contract. The gas Inspector re
ports that there Is n good deal of trouble
on account of the new lighters that have
been employed. They do not know how to
keep the lamps In condition and a largo
number of them are already BO black that
they nro of llttlo or no service.
_
The report of License Inspector McVUtlo
shows that 1,595 licenses wcro Ifisued during
IS97 , on which the fees amounted to $12-
317.17 , or $1,729.70 more than the receipts of
the ofilco during the previous year. The
principal Items of receipts worn : Peddlers'
licenses , $3,485 ; milk licences , $2,018.60 ; ex-
prccs licenses , $1,015 ; Blot machines , $1,470 ,
and pawnbrokers , $1,150. The expenses ot
the office during the year were $1,524,70.
City Hull .VolcN
The annual report of Custodian Sodgwlrlc
of the city hall shown thnt the present value
of the furniture In tho' building Is $37-
C95.20.
The special afiscRsment ordinance to cover
the cost of the lest annual weed cutting has
Just been completed by the engineering de
partment. The aggregate tax to bo assessed
Is $2,508.65 $ ,
Mt'OII CIIITiriSM ( ) ! '
t'mcil In Vain to llrlnu Action AKti
lluV M > HiairM | |
LINCOLN , Feb. 0. It l wld there Is
trouble In the p-ipoeratlc camp because
Chairman EdmlHtt-a has allowed Ifio charges
of fraudulent marking of the ballots In the
recount to go without any attempt ut refuta
tion. A number of Mr. Edtnlsten's friends
are urging him to swear out warrants for
the arredt of n number ot newspapers on
the charge of criminal libel , but Mr. Ed-
mitten , who IH the person especially men
tioned In the accusation , Is of tha opinion
that It la bt-ttor not to go Into nn Investiga
tion and declines to make cny move. His
Inaction Is racing much surprise among
both rcpulilliant and popocrntH ,
lluriclar CauulH lit Cellar ItiiiiliU ,
Chief Gallagher lm u telegram from
Marshal Farmer of Cednr Hapldn notifying
him of the cupture In Unit ulty of John W.
Murphy , who IH wanted In this city for tlio
burglary of the houaii of Mru. Efllo Kelly
December 1 ! > . Murphy tmcwded In uetllnff
n way upon the nlcht In which the ofllccm
inndft n descent upon the other members of
thn gunp nnd hiiii not been heard of until
yesterday , t'hltf of Detectives Cox will
f--cure icqultdtiun papers for Murphy unO ,
will to utter him In u few duyu ,