THE OMAITA ILLUSTRATED BEE.
Hgft Grade Wool Dress Goods
The new spring dress goods are here and they are beauties. We have as
usual more styles and varieties of fine dress goods than the combined stocks of
all Omaha put togther.
Shirt Waist
Suitings
59c
50c
i Mohairs Lead
150 style of mohairs In every lmagln
able color and weave, also cream,
white; and plain colors
at, per yard
200 different styles, Including oyer 1.000
shades looks finer than silk tf
at, per yard IUU
Trlestley's celebrated cravenetted mo
hairs guaranteed rainproof, t(
yard $ 2.50, $1.98, $ 1.60, $ 1.25, I.Ull
Panamas
All wool reseda Panamas 59c
Beautiful Mannish Effects 1.00
M-tnch. plain colors 1.00
Also 11.50, $1.08 and $2.50 per yard.
Prunellata Drop d-Ete. etc., J flf
rani. 14.1)8 dciwn to C1.50 and IUU
New, Mannish Voiles, fine effects,
worth $1.50 yard, at
New Mannish Effects Voiles,
per yard
$1
50c
Neat effect .
check .....
Mannish effect -gQg
Evening Shades
120 shades of Ians-
downs everything
new and up-to-date
In mohairs, eollerinea
voiles, crepes, B(tr
to, yard 16 to.-'V
Send for samples.
High Grade Wash Goods
We are now showing the choicest and most up-to-date line of
wash goods that was ever shown in this city.
Grecian Voiles, Mohair Ltistroa, Mercer
ized Voiles, Jacquard Voiles Superb
Voiles, Rummer Silks, Mayflower Silks,
Shimmer Silks, etc. at, yard
10c-12c-15c-19c-25c
French Silks and Mercerised Organdies,
all Mercerized Organdies, Gros Roman
Organdies and domestic Organdies
at, yard
I5C-I9C-25C-39C-50C-59C-75C
Just In Our new French Cambric or
Percale the finest made, 36 P
Inches wide, splendid patterns. . IjC
Our new line of fine Ginghams are now
complete linen finished, 36- 1 C
Inch wide I JC
Tule du Xords.
at
A. F. C. and other fine
brands
12k
10c
All the new spring Prints Simpson's,
Americans, etc. all fast f
colors, yard OC
White Walstlngs and Suitings In all
the new spring fabrics f SI
from $1.50 to.. IUC
SPRING SAMPLES XOW READY.
Warm Numbers from Our Flannel Dept.
75c ALL WOOL 8KIRTINO FLANNEL,, 42
In. wide with fancy border, AQn
special, at yard 5r W
10c COTTON FLANNEL, extra wide and
heavy, exceptional value Monday, B,
Ht, yard
t'ic OUTING FLANNEL, light and Jlc
durk shades, great snap at, yd. sw
...6ic
8j SHAKER FI.ANNEL. extra wide Br
and heavy, at yard JW
BEDD1TG BARGAINS
75c COTTON BED BLANKETS, very soft
Crescent Robe Draperies,
at yard
and exceptionally food values, A ti
at, pair , ,ul
$8.00 WOOL BED BLANKETS, color soar
let, size 11-4, treat snap, at . Q
$3.9 WOOL BED BLANKETS, grey nnd
white, wonderful value at, 2 98
$4.98 WOOL ' BED BLANKETS in grey,
white and plaids, 12-4 size, great , 'l la
bargains, at pair J
$2.60 fine Marseilles Bed Spreads, 4 OQ
large else, at ItJl
11.00 fine Marseilles Bed Spreads, TRr
Honey Comb, at
ANOTHER BIG DAY IN OUR LINEN AND
DOMESTIC DEPARTMENT
TABLE DAMASK, bleached and silver
bleached, choice of 50 bolts,
worth tip to $1.50 per yd.,
at, yard
85c TABLE DAMASK, bleached and
unbleached, special Monday, 4fA
rrji
79c
at yard.
12'L-c HUCK TOWLS,
hemmed with fancy bor
ders, ppeclul, p7'
at 2C
85c -NAPKINS, dlco check
apr.:1:,z.en: 49c
15c BARNABY GING
HAMS. Monday,
per yard
TABLE DAMASK, bleached and - un
bleached, choice of 50 bolts, m
worth tip to $1.00 a yard, m
at, yard.. ""2V
69c TABLE DAMASK, bleached and
unbleached, special Monday, '
.. ...JJKt
at, yard.
81c
50c LUNCH CLOTHS,
hemstitched, linen, great
bargain Monday,
25c FOULARD TAFFE
TA, pretty pat- fl
era, at yd ..la2v
40c MERCERIZED SAT
EENS, all colors, f 9 1
at 12C
25c WAISTINGS. linen
finish, 26 in. wide, all
colors, Monday, fll
at yd
25c MERCERIZED
10c
WAISTING, all
white, at yd....
SPECIAL MUSLIN AND
.SHEETING BARGAINS.
Piates Plates Plates
Decorated China, very fine, all sizes and kinds, worth from 25c
to
each
$1.50 the whole lot on sale Monday at, 10c
Great
Sale of
Muslin
Underw'r
Coutinu's
Monday
T
THE RELIABLE STORE.
Marvelous Cloak Values
6.95
Our stock of winter cloaks is getting low, but our prices are even
lower. With a firm determination to close out the rest of our win
ter coats this week we have divided the remnants into three lots:
LOT 1 About 375 of these quarter length coats,
worth $18, $25 up to $35 choice.
LOT 2 About 1C0 handsome coats in great variety of A
style and fabric, that sold as high as $10, choice now.Ti
LOT 3 All the balance of our coat stock, all well made gar
ments and worth five and six times the price f PA
at, choice IU
WOMEN'S WAISTS in flannels, vesrings. albntross, etc.. in all
colors and good styles, worth up to $3.00 f yf Q
choice
300 CHILDREN'S COATS, worth O Cfl I ft. 25 Wrappers $1.00
up to tO.OO at OU .' JLS0 Wrappers $1.26
Monday at the Big Silk Dept. j
Fancy silks for suits and waists a big assortment of the best styles and lat.
est colors. Silks worth twice the sale price Monday AQc AQc
for, per yard J ,,t
KIMONA SILKS Two vcrv choice lines of handsome Japanese silks 30 inches A? f it
wide Monday, for, yard TV,-U :
CAWNPORE SILK The latest novelty for fine suits all the late shades is 27 inches QQ
1.50
wide very special for. yard
We have a complete line of all the new shades of SKINNER'S SATIN 86 Inches wide
at, yard -'
SILKS FOR BLACK SUITS AND WAISTS
27-lnch HABUTAI-spot proof-special, rt 127-Inch CHIFFON TAFFETA extra
yard l.UU fine quality for yard
36-Inch Swiss Taffeta, regular ll.fiD- I ri I 19-inch India Taffeta, regular 7Rc
special, yard sit
27-Inch Oswcda Taffeta, resuinr $1 36 Or-
special, yard Jj
36 Inch Waterette Taffetiv, rf-gulnr f 4I
mrial. vard l.ivf
l-lncb Puritan Taffeta, regular SJc
special, yard
63c
special, yara
19-lnrh Black Feau de Sclo, regular 85c
eperlal. yard iA-'
I7-li;rh Black I'eau de S.to, regular ll.Zo-
appclal )ard
36-lnch Black Peau de Sole, resutur $L4j-
special, yard
1.00
40c.
: 1.10
Great
Sale of
Muslin
Underw'r
Continues
Monday
Hayden's Old Time Furniture Sale
NOW WE GIVE YOU SALE NO. 3-R0CKERS.
200 Rockers below cost. Hotels, Boarding Houses and all those who
can use one or more rockers of which we have only one of a kind, ttin
now buy what they need at a fraction of tlie regular price. We make you
prices during these sales that are self-evident reductions.
Any one can
see the values. IX' ALL THE TOWN XO SALE LIKE THIS. We invite
your consideration. . Oak cane seat rockers, high back, brace arm, regu-
. . 1 . i 1 -j. :
lar $1.00 rockers, now50c each. Read these items, act Mondav.
I Quartersawed Golden Oak Rock- O OSt
era, wood neat were $f).8o, no.,,."''1'
1 Quartersawed Golden Oak Rock- y OK
ers, wood seat wan S4.au. now
1 Rattan Rocker was $3.85, i Sfk
now I.OU
t Oak Rocker was $i7B, 1.50
I MahoRany finished Cobbler Seat O Sf
Rocker was $4.60. now "
$ Cane Seat Rockers were $1,50, 75C
1 Wood Seat Rocker was $1.25,
now
1 Golden Oak Cobbler Seat Rocker
was $3.6), now r.
1 Quartersawed Oak Saddle Seat
Rocker was $4.60, now
1 Wood Seat Arm Rocker was
$2.96, now
..65c
1.85
2.25
1.85
I lanre Wood Seat Rocker high DB
back was $3.60, now.... s.t7-
1 Golden Oak Cobbler Scat Rock
erwas $a.85, now
1 large Arm Rocker was $2.25,
now
1 High Back Wood Scat Rocker
was $2.00, now
1 Quarterpawed Onk Saddle Seat
Rocker was $2.85, now
1 Cobbler Seat Rocker -was $3.25,
now
1.95
.1.50
1.00
1.50
1.75
These are only a few of the rare bargains we now have to offer. The balance compare 'with these quoted
here. Only one or two of a kind. Come and see these and we will save you money. Extension Tables next.
BUY YOUR GROCERIES NOW.
BIG REDUCTION MLE STOCK MUST BE M0 VED-N0 ATTENTION PAID TO COST.
Hlg-h Patent Minnesota Flour, per
Bark $1.49
Pure Rye Flour, per sack 67&C
10-pound sacks beat kiln dried Corn
meal 15c
7 pounds best kiln dried Oatmeal 15c
5 pounds best hand picked- Navy
Beans 19c
5 pounds good Japan Rice '. 19o
6 pounds best pure Tapioca, Sago,
Barley or Farina 190
Yeast Foam or On Time Yeast, per
package 2c
Pearllne, per package 2c
Gold Dust, per package 15c
Sapollo. per bar 5o
3 bars Wool Soap 10e
10 bars best Laundry Soap 25c
8-pound can solid packed Tomatoes 7e
3-pound can Boston Baked Beans 7Ho
3-pound can Iye Hominy 7c
3-pound can Golden Pumpkin 7 He
2-pound can Early June Sifted Peas.... Tc
3-pound can Sweet Sugar Corn 7c
l-pouna can Anderson s soups.
assorted 7c
Quart cans Golden Table Syrup 7V4o
S Crown Muscatel RalRlns, per lb 6c
4 Crown Muscatel Raisins, per lb 7V4c
Cleaned Currants, per lb VAc
Fancy Crawford Peaches, per lb 8H
Choice California Prunes, per lb 4c
Force, Xcello, Malta Vita, Egg-O-See,
etc., per package - THc
BUTTER. BUTTER. BUTTER.
Fancy Separator Creamery Butter, worth
3uc per pound for this sale only OSi
per lb AOW.
ORANGES. ORANGES. ORANGES.
Another car of fancy -Highland Navel
Oranges arrived. There Is nothing finer
grown than thtee.
Regular 40c elsewhere our price, dos.. 25c
Regular 8oo elsewhere our price, d.iz.. 20c
Regular 20c elsewhere our price, dos.. 15c
Regular 1714c elsewhere our price, dos. 12c
New Colorado White Clover Honey,
per rack 10c
Fancy Imported Figs, per lb 10c
Hardware, Sfoves and Housefurnistilngs
Special Cut Price on Heaters
We will make a special cut price on all
our heating stoves for the next 10 days.
Come in and let us figure with you. You
let us know what you want and you will
get the stove IF YOU MEAN BUSINESS.
Oak Airtight Heaters we have up from $4.75
Base Burners, the Universal line, up
from $22.50
25 kinds of Steel Ranges up from $5.00
Gas Heators ., 9oc
ODDS AND ENDS.
Granite Wash Basins ....10c
Granite Dippers 10c
No. 8 Granite Tea Kettles 60c
8-quart Granite .Sauce Pan 23c
Granite Dish Fan w., 29c
Wood Frame Wringers 1.09
2 quart Pudddlng Pan, granite 10a
Granite Sauce Pans 10c
Granite Coffee Pot 21o
6 quart Granite Pudding Pan 23o
Large Gr.anlte Chambers 39c
b9 lb. Flour Cans 69c
GREAT CUT ON COASTERS AND SLEDS
New Spring Suits
For the spring and summer season 1905 the silk shirt waist
uit will be the most pTtpular. We are now showing hundreds of
beautiful ;41k suits in a diversity of styles and colors that cannot
lieipbu7i (lease our customers, and the best part of it is the enlic-
ing prices for early buyers.
See These Suits at Once
All garments shown are exceptionally well made and wonderful 4 1 fi(
valucH-dowu to SHu.OO. $25.00, $20.00. $1S..V), $15.00 and . Jlsll
Our Showing of New Covert Jackets
Are beyond question tlie most extensive and moderately priced to be found In
the city. Style, tit and linish cannot be Improved upon and prices cannot ho
duplicated. Cull and eo them. Prices down to $20.00, $15.00, tf
A V V V
NEW SPKIM! WAISTS IN AM. MATERIALS.
$12.5o nnd.
BANKRUPT STOCK SALE
The second day of the great bankrupt sale on the Bloom & Co.
Fancy ecdle Work and Art CSood Stock.
GREATER BARGAINS THAN EVER.
FANCY HOODS of all descriptions at 4 their regular price.
L'oc Fancy Pillow Tops 61c I ',0c Dresser Scarfs 15c
20c Silk Cord, per yard 5c 5.00 l'iano Scarfs 1.25
All kinds of Fancy Stamped Linens, worth 10c, 20c. 40c, 00c an 1
$1.00. Sale price." 2$C-5c-lt)c-l5c-2oc (
The New Buster Brown Collars on sale
00 Sheets of the linest Note Taper and 50 Envelopes, full sized, for . .."d
VALENTINES THURSDAY
The most complete stock of valentines ever shown in Omaha, and at prices far
below those on hiiv similar line ever offered.
nnuiT cnDr.u r buy yoi r valentines Thursday.
LIUIl J rUHUCI HCY YOUR VALENTINES AT HAYDEN'S.
Lining Department
We have, undoubtedly, the finest lining department nnd tailors finding do
partment lu the west Complete line of shades. Complete lino of everything
that goes to make up a first-class stock.
1.50
SKINNER'S SATIN Best
made nt, a yard
OUR NEW OPERA SATIN 3(1 Inches
wide, all the fine shades now used the
best lining satin made warran-f Aj
ted one whole year at, yd. .... l.UU
SAMPSON'S SILKS Tho best all silk
lining taffeta innde we have It in over
100 spring shades. We guarantee It to
wear well for one whole year CO
at, a yard OC
45c
YUMA MIA All silk at.
. a yard
Gloria Cloth Permanent finish, used
for tine linings, drop skirts, etc. best
cloth made, every shade Z J"
known J DC
Spun Glass Manhattan Silk, Movreens
Mercerized Satin, Pen Bilk, Percaliues,
Near Silk, etc.
A complete line of tailors' findings.
Optical Dept.
We are still Belling at CUT PRICES
the Best Frames and Lenses.
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED.
Secretary William H. Taft's Great Department and Its Problems
w
(Copyright, 1906, by Frank O. Carpenter.)
IA8HINQTON,- Feb. 2.-(Speclal Cor
respondence of The Bee.) "Tell
me something- about the work of
l,,vj".!0 the secretary of war."
V'-TtSf l made this request of Mr. Taft
as we sat together In his private office in
the War department. I had asked for an
interview and an appointment had been
tlxed for 4 p. m., but a stream of official
callers preceded me, and It was now almost
t. The routine clerks had long since de
parted. The clerical wheels of the great
granite building had Btopped humming, and
the secretary of war, for the first time in
the day, was at rest. I say at rest. He
was not entirely so, for while we talked
other callers came In and were asked to
wait. Oeneral Chaffee brought a bundle
of 'papers which Mr. Taft said he would
pass upon before morning, and his private
secretary was given memoruhda of things
to do.. Nevertheless. Secretary Taft looked
as untroubled as a May morning. He Is
the picture of health. Rig-headed and
strong-framed, his eyes lack the worried
lines- of the strenuous statesman of the
day, and his laugh, which goes with good
digestion, carries with it that catching
good fellowship which makes most men
his friends. Hs works eaally and aucom
- plishes much
, "The secretary of war has plenty to do,"
Svas Mr. Tuft's reply. "I think Mr. Root
found It so. The offlcs is one of respon
sibility, snd It grows with the country.
.It deals not only with the army organisa
tion of the United States and all that that
' Implies; but also with our coast defenses,
our vast expenditures upon rivers and har
bors, the govern mrrt and management of
the Philippine inlands, and now with the
fanama canal.
' "Nevertheless, the secretary of war has
the advantage of an excellent force of
trained' men to help him In the work of
bis department." Judge Taft continued, ss
lie arose and walked to and fro across the
room. "Ever) thing la thoroughly system
atized, and each division Is under a trained
head. Take our vawt engineering depart
ment! That is mannged by skilled en-glnrei-e.
under an engineer omVer wjjo has
been rduraUd n such and has lieen doing
nothing elAe but engineering all his life.
The nnsrtermmter's department Is undrr
a man who has been connected with that
depurtmrnt all his life; and It Is the same
with every brain h of our war buvlnes. ,
Indeed, ene mli'lit utmost think the de
partment could run itself for a time with
out a seeietHry. Still, there Is niueh (n do.
New qnxtloni come up every day, snd new
lines of TMillry must be considered. Much
general direction is required, the question
of military courts arise, and now we have
the govt riiniert of our colonies snd the
isthmian canal."
i
Une Hadr T ca: KIt Mlllloas.
"Can you givs me some Idea of the money
Involved?"
"It is nut small." asld the secretary of
war. "Tills is one of the richest, if not the
richest among the nations of the world, snd
It must he prepared to defend Itself. Our
eeacoast defenses we: e begun on the pres
ent plan by (ingics in JSSS sn 1 they have
already rest lldO.ftiO.on. They are shout
half completed and we shall need iS,00O.uno
tnoro before they are dona. That, how
ever, is a matter of thna. We spent "last
year In round numbers mora) than $1,800,000
in fortifying the Philippines, and we are
asking fnr( double that amount this year.
We spent something like (34,000.000 on pub
lic works and rivers and harbors last year,
and the estimates of this year are mors
than $40,000,000. For the military establish
ment alone we are asking $77,000,000, which
is a little mors than was expended in 1904.
Altogether the total estimates for 1906 are
just about $126,000,000.
"What is the present condition of the
army, Mr.. Secretary?"
"Excellent., The war has improved ths
temper of the men and the service in Cuba
and the Philippines baa made them better
soldiers than ever before. As to soma
things a steady improvement is going o.n.
Not long sgo w had 109 posts in the Phil
ippinea scattered all over the islands. Boms
were small, and at times a lieutenant and
even a sergeant might lie in charge of a
post. Vnder sueh conditions the men be
dims lax In their drill. The number of
poets is now greatly reduced and the drill
is improving. . The responsibility ,of such
places has done much 'to bring out the
latent powers of the subordinate officers.
They have lenrned to rely upon themselves
and have Improved in resourcefulness.
There la. no training for war sn good as
war Itself, and It seems to ma that our
soldiers are now In better condition than
they could poswibly be through the most
rigid disciplinary tactics In time of peaoe."
military departments. Each division Is
commanded by a major general, and each
of the departments, with one exception, is
under a brigadier general. Four of the five
divisions comprise the United States proper
and the other is In the Philippine division.
The Atlantlo division includes all the east
ern states, taking in the Atlantic coast, the
gulf coast as far as Louisiana and the
Canadian frontier as far as Lake Erie. If
you will draw a line from Erie, Pa., to Mo
bile, Ala., you will mark the western boun
dary of that division. The northern division
takes In a large part of the basin of the
Ohio, the Missouri and the upper Missis
sippi and all our northern states from Lake
! to western Montana, It la divided into
the three departments of the Lakes, the
Missouri and the Dakotaa. The southwest
ern division takes in the lower Mississippi
valley, tho southwestern states and terri
tories and states along the wextern frontier.
It is divided into tho Department of Texas
and that of "olorndo. The Paeltic division
embraces the Pnclfio states. Alaska and the
Hawaiian islands. It has two departments,
namely, California and Columbia. The
Philippine division has the Departments of
Luton, of the Vlsayas and of Mlndnnao.
Oar .w HI flea.
"Tell me something about the new rifles
which are being made for the sodler "
"I supposa you maan the Springfield
The American sis m Soldier.
"Does the American make a good sol
dier?" "Yes. One of the best. He Is naturally a
lighter: he adapts himself to his surround
ings and takes advantage of them. We ara
a warlike nation, although we have com
paratively not many troops In ths field. OMr
army ts not expected to defend ths country.
It Is merely the nucleus of the great Amer
ican srmy which will rise up whenever It is
needed."
"What is the sisa of the army now, Mr.
Secretary?" I asked.
"In round numbers we have about 60,000
officers and men. There are more than 3,700
officers and more than Sti.ooo men. We have
more cavalry and artillery In proportion to
the needs of a great army than Infantry.
The Infantry, you know. Is the backbone of
an army. It does, It Is estimated.- K per
cent of the effective work. Hut our Infan
try can easily ha Increased-, whereas-
takes time to train and equip cavalry
artl'lery. For that reason we have
portionately larger number of the latter In
order to be ready In time of sudden war."
"Where are our soldiers stationed?"
"About 46.000 of them ara in the Vnlted
States." replied the secretary of war. "We.
have mora than 1,000 In Alaska and about.
12.000 in the Philippines. Ws also have a
few troops In Porto Rico, the Hawaiian
Islands and China."
Oar New Military Divisions.
"Where ara ths soldiers stationed In this
country, Mr. Secretary T"
"They are to ha found In every part ot tt."
was the replr. "We had a rearrangement
of the military commands last January. By
these the territory of the United. States Is
divided into five grand military divisions,
each of r hich is dlvldud Into two, or mora
reaa it i
Iry and
pro-
' "ul "" '
'.V '0'-.
l
I
:
-WILLIAM It TAfcT.
rlflas," replied the secretary. "They have
as yet been only issued to the cadets of
the United States Military academy, but
wa expect that all arms of the service will
be equipped with them before the end of
the present year. They are now manu
facturing these rifles at the rate of 300
per day, and they will soon be making
625 dally. The Springfield rifle Is shorter
and weighs less than ths KragJorgensen
or the Mauser.
"Are there many new things in war
fare, Mr. Secretary?"
"There Is always something new."
"How about automobiles? Will they be
used in the army movements of the future?"
"I do not know. Oeneral Corbln had
soma at our maneuvers this year."
"Is there any bulletproof armor?"
"If so I do not know It. It has been
written of in the newspapers, but so far
I have not heard of any coat of mail
cloth or steel that would withstand one
of thoso Springfield bullets going forth
from the gun at the rate of twenty-tlve
Miles a minute. It would take good cloth
to ward off that."
Tho Army of American Don.
"Would you advise a boy to go into ths
regular army, Mr. Secretary?"
"That depends on the boy. If he has a
taste that way and is fitted fur it I do
not see why he should not be a soldier.
If he does well ha may rise to be an of
ficer, and at any rate the position la a
good one and fairly well paid."
"What does it pay, Mr. Secretary? And
how do our soldiers fare in comparison
With those of other countries?"
"They are far better off than any other
soldiers on earth," was tho reply. "Tho
American private receives $13 a month and
his rations. He lias a fulr clothing al
lowance and Is well treated. The private
soldier In Russia gets less than half a cent
a day and the Japanese 2 cents. The
Austro-Hungarlan soldier gets 73 cents a
month, the French $174 pi r month, the
German $2.50 and the Rrltish $7.H. In
other words, the American private Is paid
more than 100 times as well as the Rus
sian, more than twenty times as well as
the Japanese, more than five times as
well as the German and almost twice as
well as tha soldier of Ureat Britain."
"Suppose tha boy could get an appoiut
Bient to West Point and ba on army of
ficer. What then?"
"That again depends upon the boy and
his ability. . The army officer has a good
profession and a very honorable one, with
many possibilities for a promotion. Wa
always have more applicant for West
Point than ew have placen."
"But are not such pluiex unually given
to the sons ot army officerx? Ara we not
fiat building up s military autocracy?"
"No. West Point Is filled up from the
ranks of the people. The apKilntments
grs moatly given hy comprint , e x,tniitii
tjon through the congr'Fnmei. The only
Other appointments are tlo.ie alluded to
the president. He given them to tho miiii
er army officers because such officers fre
quently hava no homes, aui hence no cou-.
gressional districts from where their boys
can be appointed by congressmen."
The Panama Canal.
The conversation here turned to tha
Panama canal, and I asked Secretary Taft
to tell me something of his recant visits
there. He replied:
"I am not an engineer and I cannot esti
mate the work from any such standpoint.
I went down to learn something about the
situation, in order that I might know ths
lay of tha land and thereby understand
such reports as might be sent to the de
partment from time to time."
"What did you find?"
"In brief," replied tho secretary of war,
"there are about twenty mi las that in
volve the same problems as the Sues canal
being simply the dredging out of mud
and earth and preparing the ditch as a
water highway. Most of this has already
been done, and little more Is now needed
but to take out the silt. Then there are
perhaps about fifteen miles where the
work is much the sama as that of the
Chicago drainage canal. Tills can be ex
cavated and tha rocks and dirt piled on
the banks of the canaL In addition, there
is also the Culebra cut, whlob Is, I should
say, about tns miles lung and 100 feet
deep and 126 feet or more wide. It Is there
that will be tha great work of tha canal,
the work that will take a vast deal of
time and money, tiers ths excavated ma
terial cannot be left on ths banks. It will
hava to ba carried away on tha cars for
ten or twelve miles, and so much has to
be done within a short space that It must
take a long time."
Twenty Years and 254,0H),000.
"Did you figure on how long it will re
quire to build tha canal and what it will
cost?"
"I repeat that I ara not an engineer, snd I
cannot apeak with any nuthorlty from that
standpoint. The French, who were working
upon a soa-level canal, after, they had spent
V'O.Ouo.Otio, estimated that it would take &).
trn.000 more to complete It. They put tho
time at twenty years. Kngineer Walluco
tells me they were not fur out of the way."
"But do you think, Mr. Secretary, that a
sea-level canal is preferable to a lock
canal?"
"I do not know. That Is for the engineers
to determine. The canal Is to 1 for all
time, and It may be better to spend more
money ami more time to build the best
canal for oil time."
"Is there any doubt that the canal can bo
built?"
"I think not. As far as I can learn the
problems connected with It. while Intricate,
and great, are all within the posslhlllth-s of
modern engineering. The work will, of
course, re. sire the best of engineers, and
also men of abllltv along such lines, who
can organlre the work snd handle the men.
Indeed, the problems are largely those of
executive organisation."
"Will there be much trouble getting labor
for the work?"
"I think not. although It Is hr.rd to know
just where it is lu come from. I doubt
whether Atl'.eriiMiiH inn xtand the rllmate.
The pienrli used Jamaicans to a large r.
tent, but It is nut certain that wa can got
Jamaicans it wo want them. 1 went from
Colon to that Island to Investigate the ques
tion. As it is Jamaica has not enough re
liable labor to do Its own business, und It
has Imported DO.OuO coolies from East Indhv
for its plantation and fruit businesses. Re
sides, when the French stopped their work:
they had In their employ Jamaicans.
Them were left stranded, and it cost tho
government of Jamaica something liko $lu0,
000 to get them back homo. According to
the laws of Jamaica ths people of eacli
parish hava to support their own poor. It
is said thst about 07 per cent of the inhabi
tants there are illegitimate,, and if 10,0 1
or moro men should be taken awuv It wouM
probably place many families In want. Thl!
would Increase the chnrlty demands of ona!l v
parish to such an extent that they might
have to apply for relief to the general gov
ernment. So you see the government la not
very anxious to hava Jamaicans go to Pan
ama. I saw tlie governor during my visit
there and talked with him."
"What wages are thu preJnt common
laborers paid on the canal?"
"Wa are now paying $1.60 In silver. This
Is equal to 76 oetits In gold. It la Just twlr
as much as Is paid In Jamaica for similar
work, so that I doubt not we could hava
Jamaica labor If we should want It."
FRANK G. CARI'KNTKR.
A Country Editor's Dream
Last week," says the MoPherson (Ivan )
Opinion, "ouo of our thoughtful subscriber
furnished us with some excellent sausage.
It was real country sausage, and It isn't
necessary to explain further. That article
having been previously a. little scarce lu tho
household, was Indulged in very freely at
tho suppor table. The tiausuge was all
right, but wo overdid tha thing and ha ;h
consequence dreams, though all not un
pleasant ones, were Indulged In. Wa
thought that Tom Henderson ot Klyrin.
drove up in the haek alley and threw a
nice load of cobs Into ths dllor's baru mnl
when caught in the act refused lo tako n y
pay for the same, saying that ho was '(,
subscriber of the Opinion and thought id
was worth more thnu $1 a year, anyway.
We thought that Joseph Ollvor of Mt;rM;ni
township, while wo were In tho office, dt
a nice ham with his compliment!,; Iluiir
Jameson of H.iyes townahlp dropped fn,
left a t wo-biifchcl sack of very lino tipples,
saying that he didn't want liny credit, tlr.it
they were a donation and hero w:is where
the fatly part of the. sausage cumo in,
John ClOHenrin (we will not give his loru
lion) dropped Into the office and left alm it
three perks of badly d"niorsllzed potato,
which he couldn't well lo tha merchant unI
left word to give him crodlt for a year's
subscription to this religious Journal. Mr
dream took a more .l. nsHnt turn at this
Juncture. There seemed t 1 Imi a great coin
motion lu front of the printing office. A.
greut crowd had gathered and were Ii
mandlrg entrance. ICiuh one of them car
rled something for the editor. The article
ranged from the heart of a big beef to a
side of hg. and each seemed anxious to
make his donation firm. At this time our
1 1 - .iiir was bioken Into by a c all to gt$
up and mnke a lire. Wo scrambled out,
i-flit up a piece of board, used some ot
Hockefollur'B coal oil and start! tUlngS
going for th day ,
1 II
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