PAGES H TO 20.
HE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE
ESTABLISHED JUNE 10 , 1871. OMAHA , SUNDAY MOKNTNG , AUGUST 20 , 1801) . SINGLE COPY" HTVE CEXTS.
RACE FOR PHILIPPINE TRADE
Thrilling Story of American Occupation of
the Manila Custom House.
LIKENED TO A RUSH OF LAND BOOMERS
[ Wlint It Cant SiinnlnrOn o Cntch on to
Uncle Sniii'n Wn > n of
JIunlncHii-fierce lllnlrjr
for the Triulci
The financial returns of the ( Manila custom
house covering the period from August 22 ,
the date of the American occupation of the
custom bouse , to December 31 , 1898 , tell
a Btory of nn Importation race almost as
exciting In the telling ns a rush for claims
on a newly opened reservation.
The totaf revenue , In excess of expenses
md refunds , amounted to $1,886,058.76.
These figures arc ot Mexican currency or of
PCBOU instead of dotlars , and can BO be con-
eldered throughout the report. The duties
collected on Imports were $1,553,473.04 , and
on exports $335,374.20. Of these amounts
$765.80 wore collected In fines. In other
words it cost the bewildered Spaniard that
amount to catch the drift of Uncle Sam's
way of doing business. The Spaniards con-
eldorcd our methods frightfully complicated
nt the start , but they now admit them
elmple , once ono gets accustomed to them.
Four hundred nnd fourteen dollars nnd flfty-
flvo cents were collected as translation fees.
It costs the unlucky skipper who has BO
far neglected his education as to slight the
learning of English 10 cents a line for trans
lating every document that comes to the
custom houao veiled In the mysteries of
Castclnno. Thus will the language ot the
conquerors prevail In time.
There were sovcntj'-seven foreign nnd 260
coast vessels entered Manila during this
period. Eighty foreign and 251 coast vessels
cleared for ports various In nnd beyond the
Philippines. These figures represent a total
tonnage of 09,047.63 entered and 68,692.91
tons cleared. England heads the list of
foreign traders with 67,907.89 tons registered ,
nnd Norway second with ships registering
n total of 10,153.92 tons. American ships
como next , followed by Spain , Germany ,
Franco , Italy and Denmark In their order.
In the coasting trade the American flag
floats proudly nbovo old Spain Itself , which
Is a very good example of the fickleness of
Spain's sons In thus taking up so quickly
with the new love. May it be said , however ,
of a few Spanish captains , and with the
"honor of Spain" staring us In the face , that
they preferred to sell or leave their ships
for others to command , rather than face the
odium of Old Glory at the masthead. The
tonnngo of vessel's In coast trade flying the
American ling wns C4.032.91 , while that ot
poor , but once proud Spain , Bummed up at
a paltry 1,192.19 tons , hardly the size of a
plouccstcr fisherman. So
rWo'll sail the sens with our added tons ,
( A part ot the "Whlto Man's Burden , " )
[ With a knife in our teeth for the Mores wo
meat ,
( Still more ot the "Whlto Man's Bur
den. " )
Now lot us take a look at the importation
figures. They rlso and fall like a barom
eter nnd one can find no better method for
judging ot the enterprise ot the different
countries of the world thaa to look at the
importation 'Barometer ' at 'Manila for the
first few months after her occupation by
Americans. ( All my figures are lor the period
ironi August 22 to December 31 , 1898.
Kcooncil on ClKnrcttc 1'niieF.
In a country that probably smokes ns
many clearettcs as a good part of the rest
of the worjd put together , cigarette paper
is an item ot importance aswell as of Im
port. There are no paper mills In the Phil
ippines. They have depended upon Spain
almost exclusively for their cigarette nnd
print .paper. Wrapping paper is evidently
too expensive , for It is very seldom used.
In lAucust there wore 4,555 kilograms ( a
kilogram , or kilo , Is equal to 2.2046 pounds )
arrived from Spain. China was quick to
foresee a paper famine and landed 1,395 kilos
4n this month , but its owner evidently did
not oncot with the success 'honed for , ns
China does not again add fuel for the
flames until December , when she brought In
262 kilos , probably for Chinese consumption
only. In September it seemed na if the
world had seen a fortune In cigarette paper ,
( or England Jumped In with 8,813 kilos
Germany with 17,632 kilos , Franco with 10,606
lillos nnd Austria with 8,432 kilos. Where
rvvns Uncle Sam all this tlrao ? Well , In this
case at least ho wns "scooped. " for ho did
not offer to Manila a particle of clcaretto
paper during the year 1898 , and thus mlssei
the Greatest opportunity of Ills Ilfo In not
sending his clcaretto fiends on a chase to
tils now possessions for the necessary plating
for the odorful "cofiln nail. " Soaln , how
ever , was not out of It for good. In Novem
ber she dropped In with 6,115 kilos nnd fol
lowed It up with 21,762 kilos In December
She may make a few moro spurto for favor
In the paper market , but it Is safe to Bay
that Undo Sam will likely look into this
question himself a bit In future.
The trade In firowoiks always has am !
more than likely always will bo hold by
China and Japan. It might , however , bo In
torretlng to note that the Importation o
flroworKn amounts to quite a bit In the
course of a year , In which tlmo there are no
less than 195 holidays on which the minia
ture rattle of musketry Is lot IOOBO by our
newly acquired Young America. The total
importation of this article of commerce for
the period mentioned was 0,692 kilos , or somewhat -
what over six tons , notwithstanding the fact
that great effort was made by the American
authorities to suppress this species of ex
uberance In view of the strained conditions
of nerves nnd affairs.
Would > ou bollovo It that Manila , the
homo of the mango , paupau , lime , lemon ,
orange , banana , mountain apple , water
melon , pineapple and dozens of other fruits
was Importing freeh frultaT Well , she Is ,
nnd during the time for which I nra quoting
figures she Imported no less than 141,927
kilos from the United States alone , Here
is ono branch ot trade wherein Uncle Sam
van not entirely "ecoopcd , " though ho was
teat on out by China , which shipped all the
rest of the fruit received , amounting to
8C9.S54 kilos.
riour to the extent of 2,819,439 kilos was
chipped from the United States , its only
competitors being China and Japan , who
shipped but 218 and I'll ) klloa respectively.
It will be but a short tlmo before the Filipinos
pines will discover the higher value ot our
Hour as a food supply over and above that
cow attached to the crudely manufactured
rice product now In use.
Of the 25,685,993 kilos raw hemp exported
from Manila but 42,621 kilos came back in
manufactured articles , principally from Spain
and China. This trade will undoubtedly be
controlled by the United States in future.
Not for any commercial value as to trade
possibilities , but simply to show their rela-
tlvo consumption , I want to ray that 7,200
Kilos of joss sticks are down on the repot t.
I refuse to clara John ns stingy when ho
burw > up this amount of Incense to thj godr
In leu * than five months.
It took 395,4(9 kilos of matched to light
Manila' * cigar * and cigarettes during this
time. All of these came from Japan with
the exception of seventy-five kilos from
England , who had probably not figured on
ho marketable value of luclfers In an at
mosphere almost cloudy from tobacco smoke.
Triumph In Machinery nnil Oil.
That the United States are going to Im
press upon the natives some of their own
nechanlcal genius Is evident from the tact
hot 9,102 kilos of machinery came In from
tore. These figures are small , however , and
t Is gratifying to note the figures of Im-
> ortatlon from other countries as showing
ho amount of trade In this direction that
Jnclc 6am should control , and as evidence
hat the trade can be wonderfully Increased
o meet the newly acquired demand for
methods quick and sure. Spain was the
smallest Importer with figures showing but
1,130 kilos. It can not bo said that England
neglected this trade , nor Germany , for they
show shipments aggregating 33,306 kilos and
19,307 kilos respectively. The ether figures
are China 13,060 , Franco 12,193. The ma
chinery from China , however , must bo
credited to England. China certainly leads
the world In the joss stick business , but
wo can not credit her with mechanical
achievements to the extent that these figures
would Indicate.
The fact that 1,542,749 kilos of Illumlnat-
ng oil came Into Manila during the period
wo are talking about may bo the reason
.hat Mr. Itockcfeller's name Is almost as
well known hero as It Is at home ; 1,623,040
kilos of this came from the United States ,
while Germany and China supplied the rest.
There Is no doubt , however , but what these
latter points are simply distributing centers
tor the great American trust article. It
that credited to Germany originated In the
Russian fields it would still bo American-
owned oil.
Paints , oils and varnishes were Imported
n the amount of 182,873 kilos ; 31,16 ? kilos
came from the United States , England and
Germany supplying tbo greater part ot the
rest. Hero is a great field for American
goods.
The fact that the Philippines do not come
anywhere near raising a necessary amount
of rlco for their own consumption Is evi
denced by Imports from Japan and China
amounting to 1,790,638 kilos and from Spain
47,185 kilos.
The United States Is entirely left out on
the tinware proposition , but there were 19-
991 kilos Imported. It Is not likely that
Uncle Sam will attempt to comueto with
Europe in this trade unless enabled to do so
ay some favoring clause of tariff which may
ae adopted along with other tariff require
ments for th < 5 Phllloalncs.
Strange ns it may seem , tobacco , cigars
and cigarettes were Imported to the extent
of 23.765 kilos. But 5,938 kilos of these
came from the states , although the whole
amount mav be classed as American goods.
England nnd Germany were quickest to
realize the demand for this product , so they
got the trade. Jointly they exported 14,870
kilos to appease the demands of the Ameri
can soldier and sailor In the Philippines.
This trade certainly should toe ours.
It Is evidently not much of a Job to trans
port fresh vegetables across the Pacific ,
Judging from the 51,094 kilos of this article
to the credit of the United States. China
sent in 1,378,427 kilos , showing a largo de
mand , and this not at all on the part of the
army or navy , as their wants are supplied
almost entirely from American goods. The
figures for coeds Imported on this account
do not enter the custom hotiso report.
IIoozc on the I.Int.
Liquors are next on the list. In August
Spain exported 1.800 liters ( a liter is equal
to 1.0567 quarto , liquid measure ) and Ger
many 2.100 liters of Cognac. Spain (6,306 (
liters ) , England (4,905 ( liters ) and France
(3,609 ( liters ) are the exporters In Septem
ber , but In October the United States came
In with 325 lltera an experiment , evidently ,
2,300 liters In November and then dropped
to twenty-six liters In December. Too bail !
The total Importation was 29,723 liters , all
of which Uncle Sam should have supplied.
The trade here does not demand a standard
label.
Spain exported for the Philippines 17,365
Alters of gin , against Germany's ( Its only
competitor , practically ) 10,183 liters. If
Spain could do this the United Stntco can
certainly do likewise in Cognac , gin , whisky ,
beer , champagne , claret and sherry.
Even in whisky Spain's figures are 16,232
liters , against the United States 12,088 liters
and England 5,936 liters. Spain evidently
knew wherein was money.
The stuff that made Milwaukee famous waa
well handled. Here Is the one place where
Uncle Sam came nowhere near being beaten
out ; 511,140 liters of beer are the figures
that show to her credit or discredit , through
Woman's Christian Temperance union eyes.
Germany , the only competitor In this line
worthy our steel , shows but 47,348 llteis.
Just to show that Spain was not to bo left
out even on the beer question , the figures
ehow 21,500 illters from Spain. The total
importation of beer for the period we are
dealing with was 597.233 liters , valued at
$120,000 ( gross ) , nnd the market just com
mencing. Under the Spanish regime no
gloat quantity of beer was consumed , tiio
one brewery of Manfla being capable of sup-
piling the resident demand.
In champagne the United States take their
proper position at the head of the list with
9,891 liters. Spain follows with 5,100 liters ,
and then France , beaten at its own game ,
with 2,813 liters ; England close behind her
with 2.121 liters.
Spain evidently Intends to fight for the
claret market , as it brought In 22,823 filers
In August and 41,881 liters in September.
In October Uncle Sam entcnt with 1,450
liters , against Spain's 136 liters , but in
November the tables are again turned by
Spain with 126,225 liters to our 26,664 liters.
Spain again Increases its lead In December
with 254,400 liters to America's 7,493 liters.
Who will win out ? These are practically
the only two nations competing.
In sherry Uncle Sara -won out , but did
not enter the market until November.
Spain had already to Its credit 3,717 liters.
For the whole period the figures are : United
States , 16,200 liters ; Spain , 13,937 liters.
Practically no other competitors.
Eggs are consumed In enormous quantities
In the Philippines. Their own production
not equal to the demand , China has come to
Its aid with 288,390 eggs in these five
months.
Hero will be found a great market for
slightly damaged or out-of-date hats. Our
now encumbrances , as we will certainly learn
to call them In time , do wear hats on Sun-
duyu at tbo Gall era or on paseo and so
long OH they bear a foreign stamp or look
they will hold a steady demand. "Whero did
you get that hat ? " could be sung here and
ever elicit replies covering every point
of hat production in this wide , v > ldo world.
Spain and Germany and China are evidently
the only ones fully appreciating this state
of affairs. Complete figures are as follows ;
Spain , 2,826 ; Germany , 2,748 ; China. 2,236 ;
England , 718 , and France , 12 , or 8,540 old ,
damaged and out-of-stylo hats that could
hardly find an open market elsewhere.
Our boot and eboo manufacturers are no
doubt waiting for the civilization ot the
Filipino to reach the point of bis wearing
ehofs before to Ing the market , as not a boot
or shoo was exported to the Philippines by
Undo Sam , However , I win say for the
benefit of these manufacturers that our new ,
If obstreperous , citizens are not all shoe
less. There were 39,123 pairs Imported In
the time. I write of. Spain got the benefit
of most of this trade , -with the cheap and
worthless production of China a clcsa becond.
It would teem a good field for anticipation of
demand for some enterprising Yankco to
enter.
Umbrellas are In great and growing de
mand , and Spain succeeded in getting rid ot
6,780. Its only competitor was England ,
with 400.
We have reached the end of the present
available list of Filipino Imports , It can
plainly bo seen that Uncle Sam has come no
where near holding up his end for enterprise.
Not a demand , except that of liquors , was
anticipated by us as it was by other nations.
It Is hanUy justice to the United States that
cold figures should show that thU traffic
holds the palm for enterprise , but such they
do show. In every ono of the articles I
have mentioned , except possibly joss sticks
and Standard oil , there la plenty of room
for enterprising Americans to get the mar-
Icot and hold It. In the pacification and per
manent occupation of three Islands our trade
enterprise must take a hand as well as the
army and navy. Otherwise wo will bo payIng -
Ing the expenses while the nations of Europe-
collect the rents.
GEORGE ARTHUR SMITH.
* Editor American Soldier , Manila.
CLOCK UUXS FOR A YUAIl.
Wonderful Wcntcrn Timepiece Opcr-
ntcil ! ) > iicctrlelty.
A clock that will run for n year without at
tention Is the Interesting Invention of ivttr
M. llavensklldo ot Cabory , III. The clock ,
which Is an accurate timekeeper , was started
going in August , 1898 , and has run ever
since , Its owner claims , without any atten
tion from him and has been as mcthod'cal '
In Its actions as the cun.
The clock Is the product of many years of
study and labor nnd has cost Its owner con-
sldorablo money. The clock proper is run
with a wheel slxtv Inches In circumference.
From the outer surface of the circumference
are suspended 120 cups , each one-half Inch
In dlamctor and a third of nn inch deep.
Each of forty of these cups , which are suc
cessive , contain steel balls thrco eighths of
an Inch In diameter. Every minute and a
half as this wheel turns by the weight or
these balls ono of them falls out of Its cup
and rolls down nn Inclined piano twenty
Inches long , when , by its own weight , It re
unites a broken circuit of electricity and Is
ngaln elevated by a llttlo car traveling along
a steeper inclined plane to the top of the
wheel , where it falls Into a cup which
stands vertical for a short time. After the
car discharges Its cargo it returns to its
original station from Us own weight. From
the tlmo ono of these balls Is dropped Into J
cup until It Is again dronped Into another
cup It travels thirty-six Inches * Thus the
work done by all of the balls Is equivalent
to ono ball traveling over one mile a day ,
400 miles In ono year and during the life
time of a person living three-score years the
distance around the globe.
The electricity used is generated In an
ordinary storage battery , which does uot
require any attention for fully a year. Mr.
Ravenskllde has been asked to exhibit hia
clock at tbo Paris exposition , but has de
clined to do so.
SOME LATU INVITATIONS.
A Vermont man has patented a snowplow
which can bo attached to an ordinary pair of
sleighs , consisting of a V-shapod plow sus
pended on two vertical rods , with pivoted
levers set In brackets In the box to engage
the rods and adjust the height of the plow.
For the amusement of the children a new
toy is in the form ot a parachute , which is
attached to the head of an arrow , to be shot
into the air in a clotted condition , the stem
of the arrow acting as the balance and caus
ing the parachute to open in its descent.
To Increase the tension of exercising ap
paratus which employs elastic cords in
place of weights , auxiliary cords are pro
vided , with hooks at either end , by which
they can bo fastened in the rings which con
nect the main cord with the base and grips.
Two Callfornlans have designed an ad
justable hanger for electric lights , compris
ing a reel suspended in a bracket , to bo
attached to the celling , with a spring
mechanism on the reel which winds up the
wire by which the lamp la suspended.
In a now Indian club a frame is formed
of spring wire , with a covering of Feather
or other material , the handle consisting of a
celled spring , which imparts flexibility to
the grip and allows the club to bo swung
with greater ease.
Penholders can bo held in position for
writing without gripping them with the
fingers by the use of nn Illinois man's at
tachment , consisting of a piece of thin metal
bent to fit the portion of the band between
the half of the thumb and the base of the
first finger.
Boiler tubes can bo rapidly and thoroughly
cleaned by a Michigan man's Invention , nn
accumulator being formed of sheets built up
of strands of vegetable fibre , with wires In
terlaced , making a circular mass , which Is
surrounded by a wire cage to scrape the
flues.
Churns can be operated by theiest by the
USB of a new mechanism , in which"on up
right frame carries u sliding head , to bo
attached to the dasher , with springs to ralso
the head , a pair of hinged pedals being at
tached to the base to dcprebs the dasher In
tbo cream.
An electric door-opener has been patented
by which a puah button can bo used to draw
the latch and allow a caller to enter , a
sliding bar being suspended in proximity tea
a magnet , so that a push on the button com
pletes the circuit and pulls the bar out of
connection with the latch.
A Washington man has designed a com
bination cano and umbrella which comprises
n hollow tube with internal screw threads
at each end , with the central rod of the
umbrella carrying scrow-threaded sleeves
which can be fitted In the ends of the tube
to hold the latter over the umbrella.
TUB 01.I-TIM1 II ! > .
William Durant of Boston , who hns Just
celebrated his 83d birthday , has been n
newspaper man for the past slxty.five years.
A few dajs ago the house of Daniel D.
Emmett. the author of "Dixie , " at Mt.
Vernon , 0. , took fire. The owner , though
n man of 84 , climbed to the roof and ex
tinguished the bla/c.
Huggles W. Clapp , who went to Califor
nia in the gold craze days of ' 49 , Is now 72
years old. He Is a mining expert and has a
largo Income , but he hns never been able to
control n craving for drink , which took hold
upon him half a century ago. New Yort
doctors are now trying to nave him from
delirium tremens ,
A man has Just died at Mlddleboro , Ky. ,
at the ago of 01 , after drinking , rhowlnc
and smoking nil bis life. For forty years ,
It Is said , ho drank half a gallon of whisky
a day. This Is wonderful1 , and It Is lee
bad that he did not move out of Kentuckj
before it was too late , so that ho 'nlght
have died n natural death at last. ,
Among those who will attend the sesqul-
centennlal exercises of York county , Pa , ,
and who will bo ono of the most honored
guests of the sesqut-centennlal committee.
will bo Mrs , Catharine ( Ilelslnger ) Rudy.
She Is the oldest woman In York county ,
having reached her 96th jenr , and the old
est native. She Is stlfl well preserved for
one of her advanced years. Mrs. Rudy was
born in Hcllam township , York county , In
1803 , the daughter of John and Rebecca
Holslnger. Mrs. Rudy Is a remarkably veil
preserved and pleasant old woman , anil
has a good memory. She threads a needle
without glasses and regularly reads her
bible. Her recollections of past events are
very bright. Her brother , Daniel , was a
soldier in the American army during the
war of 1812 and she relates the circum
stances attending bis preparation and de
parture from homo very vividly. Ho died on
his return home from dleeabe contracted lc
the army. She has lived air her life within
A mile of the place in which she was born.
HISTORY OF THE KLONDIKE
Omaha Man Narrates the Story of the Dis-
oorery of Gold.
PROSPECTORS HAD LONG SEARCHED FOR IT
Yukon Dlxtrlot Opened In 1885 mill
Miner * Ijcil Prccnrlotm Uxlntciicc
Urlitlnnl Klondike I.ncntluii
.Mnile 1 - Skookum .lint.
Through a residence In Alaska prior to
and during the stirring days which followed
In the wake of the discovery ot gold In the
famous Klondike region , George Voss of
this city has acquired a great deal ot ac
curate Information regarding the history
and conditions of that remarkable region. |
Mr. Voss went to Alaska In 1893 ns a repre
sentative of the government. He was an
Inspector of the coal which was purchased
from England for the American vessels durIng - I
Ing the tlmo that they were In Alaskan
waters while the controversy over the
(
Bering sea boundary was In progress <
Later Mr. Voss wcut Into the heart of
Alaska , Into the very region which after
wards became famous because ot the gold
discovery , and remained there during the |
Intense gold excitement. Mr. Voss' under
standing ot the Alaskan mining situation
has thus been gained after many years of
personal acquaintance and his opinion becomes - ,
comes , for this reason , that ot an expert. '
"Gold was discovered , " said Mr. Voss tea
a Bee representative , "In the Yukon dis
trict In paying quantities about 1SS5 , when
some bar gold was picked up about the
mouth of hto Hootallnqua river by some
French Canadians , who worked It In n' '
primitive way. These French Canadians ] i ,
would come In In the spring of the year
and work the bars during the summer sea
son and then go out In the fall. The most
successful of these men were Joe
King and Jack Tromblay , typical French
Canadian voyageurs , who , during the win ,
ter season , worked at the Alaska Tread-
well mine near Juncau.
"Tho Alaskan Treadwcll mine. In fact ,
haa had n great deal to do , In an Indirect j
way , with the first discovery and the ulti
mate working of the gold In these bars , for
a man who was unsuccessful at prospecting
could go back to work In the mine ot good
wages and save up another grub-stake , |
and then start out once moro to sock his
(
fortune on hit ) own hook. This mlno has an
Interesting history. It was discovered by
French Pete , a squaw man of doubtful ,
morality and a magnificent physique , nix | '
feet and two Inches In height. He sold the
mine to Joseph Juneau for $500 , and con
sidered that ho had struck a splendid bar
gain. Juncau , In turn , sold It to Treadwell
for$30,000. Treadwell organized the Alas
ka Treadwell Mining company and after
many yeara of successful and profitable op
eration recently sold It to the Rothchlld
syndicate at a figure approximating
$2,000,000. The town of Juncau was named
after Joe Juneau. It Is related that the
day Joe received the $30,000 In cash from
Troadwell for his mice ho cried like a child
for fear that he would not < bo able to spend
all of the money before be died. It Is a
significant fact that Inside of two years
from that time Joe didn't have a cent , but
he had the satisfaction of a meteoric career
that was a daisy. He died last year , a
physical wreck , and absolutely penniless.
BIcQ.ncnti'n , Friend of I'rowpcetorH.
"But to return to the working of the gold
in the Yukon. After tbo French Canadians )
liad1 'worked the fears for a tlmo an old
trader named L. N. McQuesten , but famili
arly known as Jack , opened up a trading
post In connection with A. Hopper at the
Junction ot forty Mlle creek with the Yukon
ken , about 1,800 miles from the mouth of
the latter. McQuestea had spent the
greater part of his lite in Alaska. Ho was
q | rare type of frontiersman. In the early
" 70s he started from St , Paul on his pil
grimage to Alaska. He first went to Winni
peg , thence to Great Slave lake. From there
ho went down to Mackenzie and reached the
Yukon via the Porcupine river. After he
established his trading post at Forty Mlle
creek ho offered Inducements to prospectors
to come to that region , and in the summer
of 1887 a few located there. They iwero
practically , and indeed actually , dependent
upon McQueston for supplies. As most of
them went along for years without making
a cent McQucstcn's provisions often fell far
short ct even the bare necessities , and many
times the existence of all of them was de
cidedly precarious. However , In the fall of
1888 good bar diggings 'were found on Forty
Milo.
"McQuesten had promised a friend in Cali
fornia that in case he ever struck a place
iwhero gold was discovered ho would send
word to him , and In order to fulfill this
promise a man named Williams was sent
out over the snow nnd ice in December ,
188S , bound for California to carry the news
of the discovery of gold ou Forty Mlle creek
to McQueetcn's friend. Ho reached the sum
mit of 4ho Dyea pass In safety , but there
encountered a severe storm iwhlch resulted
fatalljHo died at the little Indian trading
Btatlon of Haley & Wilson In Dyea , two days
after crossing the summit.
"Hoiwevor , the news reached the outsldo
world , nnd the spring of 1889 brought a few
moro prospectors to that region. These men
worked the bars to their best ability , but ,
unfortunately , the returns were very meager.
That fall , however , gold waa struck In
Franklin gulch , from which a creek flowed
Into Forty Mile , and these diggings kept the
camp alive for two years. After this Na
poleon gulch , Nugget pulch and Canyon
creek were opened up , but they yielded llttlo
better than grub-stake diggings , with few
exceptions , and no fortunes were mado.
"In 1891 Miller creek was opened up nnd
men from all over the country joined In a
Htainpedo thither. This creek Is a tributary
to Sixty Mlle creek , which flow a Into tbo .
Yukon fifty miles above the present elto of I I
Dawson City. Miller creek proved the rich
est gold field discovered up to that time , al
though on tho. start no fortunes were
realized. During the second year the two
men took out about $10,000 each , The first
fortune to the token from the placers ot the
Yukon was made In 1894 by John Miller ,
who took out 1n that season In the neigh
borhood ot $52,000 from claim No. 18 , below
Discovery. The adjoining creek Glacier
creek was worktil with Indefinite results.
"The spring of 1895 opened with a very
unfavorable outlook for the miners in the
| '
Yukon region , No new creeks were in sight ,
no now strikes of particular value v > ere
chronicled , and the outlook for the laboring
men was very poor. To add to their cup of , .
bitterness McQuesten bad gene down to a j
now camp called Circle City , and tbo miners
were confronted with the fact that from that
time on they -would have to pay cash for
their supplies or else go hungry ,
"Circle City , tbo camp to which McQuesten
drifted , was in a newly discovered district ,
about 175 miles below Forty Mlle creek. The I I j
region at first promised great results , though i
but few claims have yielded any largo
amounts of gold , and the present camp Is
email.
llUroiorer of Klondike Iloiiniirii.
"As I stated , McQuesten's removal made
It necessary for the prospectors to rustle for !
food and with thU condition staring him In 1
4ho face , one George McCormack , who hail
been living at the mouth of Sixty Mile creek , \
concluded to drift down to the mouth of the
Klondike river , whcro ho could catch salmon
and after drjlng them eell them to the trad
ing posts for dog meat. iMeCormack , who
was known as 'Slwash George , ' was a tj pleat
equawman , with all the peculiarities ot
that typo of men. When compelled to do so
by necessity ho rustled any old job , but
managed to get along with as llttlo labor ns
possible. When ho went down to the Klon
dike to catch salmon ho was accompanied
by his squaw and all her relatives , and
they were many. They bellc\ed that Slwash
George's determination to work was such a
laudable one that they would all go along
and sco how It agreed with him and all
looked forward to a pleasant summer's outIng -
Ing , as the tlmo of their departure was early
In July , IS'JG. One of the brothers-in-law ,
Skookum Jim , an Indian term meaning Dig
Jim , had that turn of mind peculiar to the
prospector , and he took a trip up the Klon
dike river In search of gold. His mission
was successful , for he discovered the precious
stuff on a tributary ot the Klondike , known
na the Lost Chance. The report reached
some whlto men who were prospecting
around In that neighborhood and there was
an Immediate stampede thither , but Jim
doubled his tracks and came down to amore
moro fa\ arable looking creek called the
Bonanza. Hero ho discovered the famous
Klondike mines and located bis original
discovery right on that creek.
"Skookum Jim rushed to the mouth ot tbo
creek and Informed Slwash George , who re
paired to that district with all of his family
nnd relatives and they began active work
Immediately. In two weeks McCormack
took out o\cr $1,500 and came down to the
settlement at Forty Mlle with the gold dust.
His statements of discovering the gold on
the Klondike were not credited by the old-
timers , as ho had the icputatlon of being
the biggest liar In the Yukon region , and had
been the cause of several fruitless stampedes
In jears gene by. His story was believed
by some of the new-comers , contemptuously
called tenderfoot by the old-timers and
dubbed as chechakocs , meaning practically
the same thing , by the Imltaus , and thcsa
men accompanied Slwarh George back to
Bonanza creek , where they located. Later
they returned to Forty Mlle and reported
McCormnck's find to bo genuine and this
caused a general stampede to the now fields.
Everjono endeavored to get locations either
on Bonanza creek or Its nearest tributary ,
Adams creek , and these were soon covered
with locations. Many of the men were com
pelled to locate on Eldoiado , though they
did so with great reluctance and many
curses on their luck. However , within two
mouths Eldorado was proven to bo one ot
the richest gold mining districts ever dls-
covered. After Eldorado was entirely taken
up the later comers turned their attention to
the upper end of Bonanza creek and hero
again was shown the luck of the placer
miner , for the upper end of Bonanza , which
was formerly looked upon with disdain ,
proved to bo second In richness only to
Eldorado.
"Tho winter of 1896-7 promised to be
fraught iwlth considerable want nnd sufferIng -
Ing through lack ot sufficient provisions , but
late In the fall a quantity of beet was driven
In and averted starvation , though many ot
the men got through the winter with but
ono sack of flour and fresh ( beef , minus fat ,
grease , and 'With tout little baking powder.
The men all had to live In tents. Fortu
nately the winter was not very severe.
Itnnli to the Xcrr Elilormln.
"Tho people of the Yukon district were
unprepared for such a rich strike as has
been made , and few wxiuld believe that the
claims were as rich as their owners prom
ised until sluicing began In the spring of
1897. The sluicing was wonderful. Ono
claim turned out gold at the rate of an ounce
a minute. In Juno , 1S97 , the first large bhip-
mont of gold TV-IS sent out and reached San
Francisco on the steamer Excelsior. This
sot the world on fire. Immediately a Jargo
number of men started on a pilgrimage for
the now gold fields , attracted there by the
highly colored reports which had been sent
out , nnd there 'was great suffering on the
trails which led to the Klondike In the fall
of 1897. Many of the men went unprepared
iby reason of their physical condition to
stand the rigors of the journey ; many wore
Insufficiently equipped with the necessary
outfit , having overlooked this important pro
vision in their 'Wild attempt to reach the new
diggings first. The now town of Dawson
rwas located on the banks of the Yukon and
that was the Mecca toward which all the
gold-seekers directed their steps. The jour
ney 'was up the Insldo route from Seattle to
Djeo. Then the gold-seekers bad to pack
their provisions from Dyea over the moun
tain pass to the head of Lake Bennett , whcro
they ibullt boats and Ooated down the lake
and the Yukon to Dawson City.
"Such an Influx of men , arriving short In
their supply of provisions , threatened an
other period of suffering from want of food.
A quantity of beef came in , however , and
relieved the situation materially , and many
of the men who had arrived during the sum
mer and fall either became disheartened or
afraid of starvation , sold what provisions
they hud , and went out. Prices were aston
ishing. Nothing la the way of provisions
could bo purchased for less than $1 a
pound , and many things were much higher.
Flour reached $2 per pound , Tjeef $1.00 , and
other things In proportion. However , active
work Diegan in spite of the difficulties , and
a good deal of additional prospecting was
carried on which resulted In the discovery
of Dominion creek. This equaled In no way
the older discoveries , but still was quite
rich. The result ot the work of the winter
of 1897-8 approximated $12,000,000 , though
some reports bavo It much larger.
"Tho spring of 1898 witnessed an Immense
Influx of people Into the Klondike region.
It Is estimated that between 2r.,000 and 30-
000 crossed the Dyea trail and the newly dis
covered Whlto Pass or Skagway trail , on
which the town of Skagway sprung up. The
town of DawBon wan overcrowded and a
great many men who bad been attracted
thither by dreams of the discovery of vast
wealth wont out again , sorely disappointed.
Last fall saw probably 18,000 people In Here
distress. Still tliero was an abundant supply
of provisions of all kinds and at reasonable
prices , butHhe trouble waa that many of the
men were without money to purchase even
the necessaries of Ilfo. The output of gold
for the season of 1898-9 will probably fall
short of the year previous , because the
richer part of tbo gold fields had already
been worked out ,
"Perfect order Is maintained In Alaska
through the excellent administration of the
Northwestern mounted police of Canada ,
They are assisted by a force of 200 men be
longing to tbo Canadian field force , which
Is a militia organization. There are courts ,
both police and chll , and all disputes and
differences are settled In them.
"It was a great mistake for so many men
who bad absolutely no experience In mining
to go to the Klondike and none should go
there now In hopes * of gaining a fortune.
In the first place most of the
good districts were located Ion ? be
fore the vanguard of the fortune hunters
from the States arrived. And then the
method of mining IB BO different from any
employed in this country. It is a slow and
expensive operation and would try the
patience of n saint. The prospector has to
dig don through the enow and Ire and
frozen muck until he reaches the gravel ,
This 1ms to be thawed out by a slow-burning
fire. In fonio places this gra\cl for thrco
foot abo\o the bed rock carries gold ; In
others , It Is necessary to dig clear to the
bed-rock before encountering any pay gra\cl.
Well , after this gra\cl Is thawed out tt haste
to bo laid by until spring , when It can bo
sluiced , and the whole operation Is tedious
and unsatisfactory.
Diinkrnpt KliiKT of I InKlondike. .
"Did I Know Alexander McDonald ? Why ,
certainly. Everjono In Alaska knew him
the king of the Klondike. 1 became ac
quainted with Aleck when ho first struck
Alaska In 1 93. At first ho went to work for
wages and he said that his Idea In coming to
the Klondike wns to get enough money to
gether so ho could return to Aspen , Colo. ,
and raise the mortgage off a team of bur-
res , with which ho expected to go Into the
market-gardening buelnes" . Soon ho wns
able to buy a claim which paid him about
$2,000. When the gold discovery In the
Klondike region was first voiced about ho
went there and bought some mlnea which
turned out Immensely rich Then McDonald
began to speculate. Ho bought options on
ground nnd did first rate for a time. After
wards ho came In possession of much worth
less property , which hail been unloaded upon
him at fancy figures. McDonald Is a very
Ignorant man , being hardl } able to write
his own name , but ho has great confidence
In his judgment. It served him well at the
start , but his success turned his head and
ho reached out too far. 1 wns not surprlecd
to learn that he had become a bankrupt it
short tlmo ago. Ho wns conducting his
operations toward the last on borrowed
money , for which ho paid enormous rates
ot * Interest , and bis ruin can bo attributed
directly to Injudicious speculation. "
Twn.vrv vn.viis AGO.
"Pinafore" was raging.
Telephones were a novelty. „
"Baby Mlno" wns prevalent.
Denis Kearney wns rampant.
Sitting Bull was a "big Inlun. "
Campanlnl wns the great tenor.
Adelaide Ncllson wns playing Juliet.
SIx-dny walking matches were a craze.
Prince Louis Napoleon was nlaln by Zulus ,
England was fighting Afghans nnd Zulus.
Kaiser William celebrated bis golden
wedding.
General Grant was finishing a tour of
the world.
"Wot d'yer say ? " was the slang phrase
of the day.
The great Brooklyn brldgo was nenrlng
completion.
The United States army was fighting
with Ute Indians.
Leadvllle was two years old and had
20,000 Inhabitants.
Zola's "L'Assommolr" had Just shocked
the reading world.
Millionaire A. T. Stewart's body was
stolen for ransom.
Grevy succeeded Marshal McMnhon as
nresldcnt of France.
Pierre Lorlllard's Parole won the New
market handicap In England.
Sol Eytlnge , jr. , Frank Bellow .md
Thomas Worth were leading humorous
artists.
Bernhardt created a furore in London
and announced an Intention of coming to
America.
The "exodus" of negroes from Mississippi ,
Louisiana and Texas to Kansas was in
progress.
"She's a daisy , she's a darling , she's a ,
dumpfing , sup's a. lamb , " was sung in all
circles of society.
The Jcanctto Arctic expedition , com
manded by Lieutenant De Long , sailed
from , San Francisco.
The "bloody shirt" was waving and the
"rebel brigadiers" In congress were terilfy-
Ing republican orators.
Rutherford B. Hayes was president , Dis
raeli waa premier of England , and John P.
St. John governor of Kansas.
Paul Boynton , In his life saving suit ,
floated 2,342 miles down the Allegheny ,
Ohio , and Mississippi rivers In eighty days.
Stanley's "Through the Dark Continent"
was out-eeFllng any other book and Stanley
himself had Just returned to Africa.
Alice Oatcs still adorned the stage and
Almeo was enchanting American audiences
In "Tho Llttlo Duke" and "La Perlcolp. "
Thomas Nast was the great American
caricaturist and the "solid south" was his
especial subject. Keppler was coming on.
The Arizona (465 ( feet long ) nnd the City
of Berlin were the largest passenger ( steam
ships afloat. The Kaiser WllheFm dor
Grosse of today is 649 feet long.
The first great battle between Ironclad
ships was fought In the Chill-Peruvian war ,
nnd the Huascar was captured by the Al-
mlranto Cochrano and the Blanca Eucaloda.
John Sherman was secretary of the treas
ury , William M. Evarts secretary cf state ,
Charles Dovcns attorney general , II. W.
Thompson secretary of the navy , Carl
Schurz secretary of the Interior , George W.
McCrary secretary ofvar , and David M.
Key postmaster general.
Presbyterians from all over Iho world nrn
to hold their seventh general council at
Washington September 27 to October C. Hev.
Dr. DeWItt of Princeton is to preach the
opening sermon.
It Is stated that the largest salaries ever
paid to clergymen In this country wore
those of Henry Ward Beeihcr and Dr. John
Hall $20,000 to each. Hov. Dr. Hlrsch of
SInal congregation , Now York , now iccclvea
the highest $12,000.
It Is stated that In Belgium the people
seem to live In the presence of Ood. At
0 o'clock In the evening you hear fiom
every cottage the voices of father , mother
and children and servants saying their pray ,
era , nnd It Is much the same ntloon. .
The Church Standard publish the state
ment that Hobcrt Ingcrsoll'n antagonism to
Clulstlnnltv w'ns first excited by his nbuso
1 nt homo with kicks nnd cuffs for Indulging
, in childish play nnd fiolic on the Sabbath ;
nnd the Standard adds "Wo bellow * Ihat
much of the irrollglon credited to this gen
eration may bo traced to those who thought
i they were doing God service when tnoy put
the children's plajthlngd away on Sundays -
days , "
Rev. George W. Pepper , a noted Mothodlsi
minister , died nt Cleveland , O , on the t'tli
Instant , at the ncf of Cli , Ho was an Irish
Protestant and Identified with the home rulu
I movement , which made his services on tliu
stump of some value to the republicans. As
a reward President Hnnlson made him con
sul nt Milan in 1890 , whcro ho remained
five years. Ho came to the United States
, In 1831 , and served on the union side dur-
' lug the civil war.
Dr. David H. Moore of Cincinnati , who IB
being urged by his friends us a candidate
for the place loft vacant In the Methodist
church by the death of Bishop Newman , Is
editor of the Western Christian Advocate.
1 hi was born on a farm near Athens , O. ,
In 1840. In ISC'J ' young Moore wan gradu
ated from the Ohio State university and
entered the ministry. When the war broke
out be enlisted as a private soldier , anrl
rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. When
the war was over be returned to tbo min
istry.
On Tast Tuesday evening , In the middle
ot the street In front of the Memorial United
Brethren church , Toledo , 0. , the elegantly
bound volumes which composed the library
of Marshall 0 , Waggoner , formerly one of
the most pronounced agnostics In the world ,
were burned. He was recently converted
to Christianity and made a public declara
tion of faith a few weeks ago and became
a member of tbo United Brethren church.
The library In question was valued at eoverat
thousand dollars and the volumes are the
works of some of the brightest and bralnl"nt
authors of the world. Nearly every author
of any note who wrote In defense of In
fidelity and agnosticism found a place for
his worka In Mr. Wageoncr'u library.
AN ATTRACTIVE INDUSTRY
The Pnlm of the Ancients Is Likely to Be
come Plentiful in the Southwest.
DATE GROWING IN THE UNITED STATES
l'rnnr ; < > Nft of r.viH-rltmMit * tit the Intro-
iliirtlnn ot I'ni'fnl l'orcl n
rlllUlM ITCOMllllK tllO
KlTrtM of AlUall.
WASHINGTON' , Aug. IS ( Correapomloncs
ot The Bee. ) The United States malls nro
sometimes used for rather cm Ions purposes
A number of jears ago several wagons drove
up to the pojtolllco at Washington. D. C ,
and deposited a number pf largo tubs con
taining handsome palms. Having delivered
themselves of their freight the vvngoni drove
off. The postofllco people went out to sea
what the performance meant and found to
their surprise that these palms were to bi >
sent through the malls. The local superin
tendent at first s > ald flint the olllco would not
send them. It was preposterous , ho main
tained , to mall such things. Each tub , full
ot moist earth and n good-sized palm , wns
as much as two men could handle , and ou
account of the foliage they could not bo
packed to any advantage. Nevertheless ,
there were the tags on the tubs , containing
the "frank" of the Department of Agricul
ture and the proper addresses Las Cruces ,
N. 'M. ' ; Phoenix and YunuCArlz. ; Pamona ,
Tulare , etc. , California and the only thing
for the Washington poMolllio officials to do
wim to mall them. So this was done , al
though It necessitated spot'UI arrangeiioiin : (
tii cnro for and water the palms. Thus
practically commenced date growing In the
United States
Of these trees , about forty nro now living
and thriving , fifteen of them having bloa-
somcd. Only seven of thcs-o , however , nro
pistillate or fruit-hearing trcca. Since thlu
first attempt nt American date cultuto the
Agilculttirnl department , has followed up
the question and Secretary Wilson , during
the last > ear , has had nn o\pert In Algcila ,
Mr. Swluglo , making a thorough study of
this subject and sending homo plants. The
secretary proposes to spent perhaps $10,000
during the next two ycais ot the money al
lotted him by congress for the Introduction
of useful foreign plants. The dates now be
ing secured In Algeria and Morocco nro ot
the very finest kinds and are shipped In tuba ,
the some as was done In the original Im
portation. Secretary Wilson states It ns his
belief that another American Industry will
result from this experiment , ns bo believes
that dates will thrive as well In America us
In Arabia.
IVhcro ThpjThrltr. .
The regions Jn which the date palm reaches
perfection are characterised by deficiency of
rain and a wldo variation of temperature.
The summer heat Is Intense , 115 degrees or
more , though In winter the temperature may
fall as low as 16 degrees nbovo zero.
Although the date palm requires Intense heat
in summer it will withstand in winter a ,
temperature that would bo fatal to the fig
or the oranco. These cllmatlo conditions
are practically Identical with these that ob
tain in the more southern portions ot the
great Colorado desert. So great Is the simi
larity in fact , 'Mr. Wilson says , that so far
as climate is concerned , < wo may reasonably
expect the date palm to fruit satisfactorily
In the arid regions of the southwest. The
oxperlmenta carried on through the depart
ment show that probably the soil best
adapted to the date palm is ono containing
a small percentage of clay , fairly free from
humus and charged with alkali. Irrigation
and heat are all Important conditions.
Water Is Indispensable. The roots should
bo moist at all times. An old Arabian
proverb says that "Tho date must have Us
head In flro and its roots In the water. "
/Tho / water used may advantageously bo
quite warm and contain considerable alkali.
Dates may , however , bo planted along
streams , or by springs or flood basins , anil
in such situations will grow well , adding
much to the landscape toy their graceful
pinnate foliage. The future of the date In
dustry In the United States , however , depends -
ponds upon Irrigation , and upon irrigation
which will not fall In the dryoat seasons.
Irrigation in the Sahara has greatly In
creased the date areas of ( Africa , and the
conditions are so similar in our own Bouth-
west under artificial watering that the suc
cess of the industry there seems assured.
Varieties of dates are almost Innumerable.
They differ greatly in their color , slzo ,
sweetness , delicacy of flavor and length of
tlmo required to maturo. The dates of com
merce nro usually light colored , these being
bettor shippers. The male and female flow
ers of the palm are "borno " on different
plants , the females only bearing the fruit.
The blossoming period la u long one ,
usually about six weeks , but it is always
late , thus escaping spring frosts. The av-
orngo yield of a tree Is eight bunches , each
weighing about seventeen pounds , although
a bunch may weigh as much as forty
pounds. In ( Arizona , under Irrigation , seed
ling trees , seven years old , have produced
upwards of 200 pounds In a single season.
AlUnll-ltrMlNiliiK I'lniitn ,
H Is frequently assumed that where soil
shows surface Incrustations of alkali Baits ,
It Is valueless for agricultural purposes.
This is fiho-wn not to 'bo the case by aoma
experiments rondo by the Wyoming Govern
ment iExperlment elation. There nro , however -
over , few plants so alknll-proof ns to flour
ish under these conditions. Incrustation of
ordinary whlto alkali on the surface is
usually marked , at least during dry weather ,
whore thorn Is ns much ns J'/4 or 2 per
cent of salts In the top two Inches of soil.
Such an amount of salts will prevent the
growth of any ot the cereals or of alfalfa ,
Dnrlcy or rye seem to stand moro alkali
than wheat or oats ,
In the germination of needs It was founil
that the Inline-new of small amounts of
alkali hastens sprouting and nlso "assists
In the Ilfo of the plant , olthor stimulating
growth or acting directly as plant food. "
H did not appear that any of the saltn
except common toda exerted directly poison
ous or corroslvo effects on the HocdB. The
Injury appeared iluo to the fact that the
ballH In flotation Interfered with the ab
sorption by the seed of the water necci-
t > ary for germination. Two Important
plants which have heun successfully tested
a alkali-resisting are sugar beets and
Ilakhara or whlto sweet clover. English
rape. Is also found In tbo am class.
iil h > mini thy.
Detroit Free Press : Jack Ho you npent
last ovonlng with the colonel. How did you
enjoy yourself ?
Hob Bored to death !
Jack Why , I'm surprised I The colonel
is a notoriously entertaining fellow.
Deb I know It , but ho spent most of bis
tlmo telling Jokes that ho had read.
Jack Well ?
Hob Well , I had written moat of them
myself.
Jack Ob , I see I No wonder you were
bored I
Kodol DvHpc-psIa Cure cures dyspepsia because -
cause Its Ingredlentx are mich that H can't
help doing BO "The publlr can rnly upon
it as a master remedy for ull disorders
arising from Impel feet nl pston ! " Jjmci
M , Thomas , M 1) . , In American Jourual
of Health , N. Y.