Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 1901)
V if kf m B ru IV Red Cloud Chief. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. RED CLOUD. NEBRASKA Orntigo county, Cnltfornln, has 300 ncros In pcnnuta. The output thin ne.v Ron is estimated at 400,000 pounds, worth ?20,000. A process hns JiiHt been patented for making nrtlflclnl woods out of pulp, bo as to Imltnto nuch costly kinds ns ma hogany nnd rosewood. A fruit troo In Bristol, Pcnn., bears two different kinds of apples nnd four different varieties of pears, namely, tlio Bartlctt, tho Duchess, the Cath nrino nnd tho Socket. In noma parts of tho north of Scot land flsherfolk turn back If a haro or til r ipnutfAn 4 linlt until ntirl nf atsrt 4 hAU Jjlf) VIUOOVD fcllVII fhli tl4l 1Kb DIM K.HVJ iiiivpp nrnnmmrn thn tmmn nf thn linrn nocr pronounco mo nnmo 01 tno naro, tho pic, tho fialmon, tho trout or tho dog. Workmen while digging n tunnel In Philadelphia uncovered n lino of wood water piping which hnd been laid in tho year 1R01. Much of tho plpo was perfectly Bound and capablo of serv ing itH original purpose. Birmingham medalists aro just now extremely busy upon tho production of medals for tho coronation. It Is probablo that upward of 10,000,000 med als will bo turned out of Birmingham workshops during tho next six months to copo with tho demands already pour ing in from all parts of tho empire. Tho experiment Is bolng tried in a largo New York public school of giv ing tho boys shower baths In tho base ment Tho equipment is such that each boy can havo n bath onco in two weeks a good deal oftoncr than tho boys would bntho otherwise Tho baths aro taken In recess time, nnd tho institu tion is said to ho popular. Tho Supremo Court of Iowa recently determined tho cash vnluo of a man's leg, plnclng it at 8,000. Tho Jury gavo a verdict for $14,G00, but tho court de clared it excessive, and followed a precedent in a similar case n fow years ngo, when a verdict of 12,000 was cut down to 18,000. This Is now regarded as tho standard value of an Iowa leg. J. R. Woods, who drew claim No. 1, adjoining tho city of Lawton, Oklaho ma, Is now attempting to fence his farm, on which aro located COO "squat ters," who refuse to move. To fence tho north sldo, ono rallo In length, ho must go through an almost solid row of tents nnd shacks, Hn In niMirlni. ' no IH muring . that sldo, and will again appeal to tho United States government to rcmovo tho squatters. As wo advance from youth to middlo ngo, a now field of action opens, nnd n different chnracter Is required. Tho flow of gay, lmpotuoua spirits begins to subside; llfo gradually assumes a graver cast; tho mind a moro sedato nnd thoughtful turn. Tho attention Is now transferred from pleasure to interest; that Is, to pleasure diffused over n wldor extent and measured by a larger Bcnle. nr. nimrlAB w TViiir.ni, ,... . tom of Charleston, S. C, was invited to address the National Association of iMinoral Directors thero last week, nnd staggered tho assembled undertakers hy making an earnest 'nnd eloquent ap- peal for cremation. Ho denounced tho .. . J. ii u"u,""-'-u ",u practice of embalming bodies as a vlo- lotion of natural law, and held that uuuii-o diiuuiu uu hiiuwbu vu uecay. itis hearers wero naturally Indignant, but allowed Dr. Pollock's address to go on tho minutes. Tf ina nrnhnhlv Vnnnii nAn.lu nverv Roman eltlron hnw tho mm-in enery numun ClUZCm 110W UlO mortar wnicn cemented tno stones of their .buildings was mado Just ns it Is now known to tho majority of Englishmen that tho principal ingredient of mor tar in England is Btroet scrapings. Hut, tho knowledge, being gencrnl, no body wroto It down, nnd In tlmo, ns tho Romans Bhlfted their building upon Klaves nnd lorolgnent, tho reclpo of .their mortar was lost. So fnr it has not been discovered, though tho secret of it would bo Immonsoly valuable, for tho cement outlasts tho very atones which it Joins. Soma reminiscences of Mr. Qlad Btone's latter years, published In tho Nineteenth Century nnd After, recall n remarkable conversation between tho aged statesman and DIshop Wil bcrforcc. They wero speaking of tho church, and of the fidelity nnd unsel fishness of hor servants. "It has been my lot," said Mr. Gladstone, "to dis pose of sorno fifty proferments in tho church higher preferments, I mean, such as bishoprics and deaneries. Not nno of tho motf I havo appointed has ever asked me for anything. That Is the literal and absoluto fact, nnd I don't know that anything could bo said mora honorable to the church of Eng land ns a body." A grateful schoolboy In Boston ad mires his teacher ho much thnt tho other day ho gavo hor n tuberose. After dellghtodly Inhaling its frag rance, Bho nsked where ho had got It "Ob, dat was dend easy," ho replied. "I got It off'n a dead lady." Tho odor of burning leather Is con sidered a protection ugalust infectious disease. During tho provnlenco of chol era in VIonnn, years ago, no shoemak er wns attacked. They prevented it by burning scraps of leather In their hoiiBos, CANAL COMMISSION REPORT Nicaragua Route Is the Best and Cheapest. COST ABOUT $109,864,062, Hy the ranama Itnnto (lie Cont In Inti mated at 2o,3,374,RAH, nnd In Addition the Van! Concrimlon Would Volt tho United State 100,141,000. Tho Intcroccnnlc Canal Commis sion's report Is In favor of tho Nicara gua route and it will bo submitted to Congress before tho hollddnys. Hero Is tho report in full: Tho Investigations of tliln commission havo nhown that tho ("election of "thn moBt feasible, itml practicable routo" for an Isthmian catml must bo mndo between tho Nicaragua and Panama locations. Furthermore, tho completo problem In- tfnl ! ri Vi i Vi.t uni !,.. it ! itniml T 't 1 rt UVill till ni"41 JHUI I'llltl Vi LIIMIII """ uml wun cks. Tlio l'nnama routo nono 3 fenBlllIo fr a ca Iuvel cnnnIi nl. inougn both aro entirely practicable anil feasible, fur u canal with locks. Tho time required to complete) a sea level canal on tho Panama route, probably more than twice that needed to build a canal with lockn, exclude It from fuvorablo consideration, nsldo from other serious features of IIh construction. It la tho ronrltiHlnn nf (his cnmmlMilon. thnr''nr. that a plan of canal with lockn Hhnuld bo adopted. A comparlHon of tile prin cipal physical feature, both natural and nrtlllclal, of the two routes, reveals Homo polntn of similarity. Iloth routcn cross tho continental dlvldo less than ten miles from tho Paelllc Ocean, tho Pana ma summit being about doublo the height of that In Nicaragua. Itnth Itoute Require Rostly Dam. For moro thnn'half Its length the loca tion of each routo on tlio Atlantic sldo In governed by the course of a river, tho How from whoRO drnlnaga basin Is tho only sour co of water supply for tho pro posed canal; nnd tho summit levels, dif fering about twenty feet In elevation Panama being tho lower aro formed by lakes, natural In the ono caso nnd arti ficial In tho other, requiring costly dams and water ways for their regulation and for the Impounding of surplus waters to red ti co tho effect of floods and meet op erating demands during low water sea sons. Tho Investigations made In con nection with tho regulations of Lake Nicaragua havo demonstrated that tho ibko annrus on inexhnustlblo water sup. ply for tho canal by that route. The In itial proposition, on the other hand, for the Panama route. In to form Lako Ilohlo so ns to yield n water supply for a tralllc of 10,000,000 tons, which can bo supple mented when needed by nil amount suffi cient for tnoro thun four times that traffic by means of tho Alhajucla reser voir. For all practical purposes this may bo considered an unlimited supply for tho Panama route. So far as tho practical operation of a ship canal Is concerned, therefore, tlio water supply features on both lines aro satisfactory. Tho dllllcultles disclosed and likely to bo encountered In the construction of tho dams are less at Conchudu, on tho Nica ragua lino, than at Ilohlo, on tho Pana ma route. Uoth dams, however, are fracttcablc, but tho cost of that at lohlo Is one-half mora than that at Con chuda. Communion Desires n Perfect Structure. A less czpenslvo dam nt Ilohlo has been proposed, but through a portion of us icngtn it wouiu uo underlaid uy a de posit of rand and gravel, pervious to wa ter. Tho scenace mlsht not nrovn ilnn. gcrous, but tlio security of trio canal In tiir.v rteiwnilent nnnn this .lntn. nn.l tho policy of tho commission has been to select tho moro perfect structure, oven at a, somewhat greater cost. Tho water way at both locations present no seri ous dllllcultles. Tho advantages In the design and construction of tho dams are In favor of the Nicaragua route. Tho system of regulation nt Lake Ilohlo con sists of the dlRchargo of water over tho crest of a weir, us tho lake .level rises tinder the Inllucnco of Hoods In tho Chargres Itlver. The plan of regulating tho level of Lako Nicaragua Is less sim ple., though perfectly practicable. It In volves the operation of movnblo gates at such times and to such extent as tho rainfall on tho lako basin may require. Tho experience nnd Judgment of tho op erator aro essential elements to effective regulation of this lake. The regulation of Lako Ilohlo Is automatic. Tho only means of transportation now found on the Nicaragua routo aro tho narrow gauge Blllco Lako Ilallroad. about six tlon of San Junn Hlver and lake; but the ?,rS,nroriTel,,blea,c8h,,V?ombUiidrenyK. town to Monkey Point, ubout forty-ilvo 'i 0 to $& Hy means of a pier in tho area protcct- cd hY tho ,,olnl ooUs nn.rt. mnlcr,,al ?or canal purposes Can readily bo landed ' and transported by rail to Qrcytown. & Tnhlc0Sl.arStaau?ndon von would oo or great vaiuo during xne pe rlod of preparation and harbor construc tion, and should materially shorten that period. Panama Has Railroad In Operation. A well equipped railroad Is In opera tion along tho entire length of tho Pana- ' m route, nnd existing conditions thero (Yr,r,l lmmnllnt nrmmmnilntlnn fnr n. large forco of laborers. Tho Nicaragua route has no natural harbor at cither end. At both tho Atlantlo and Paclflo terminal, however, satisfactory harbors may bo created by tho removal of ma terial nt low prices and by tho construc tion of protective works of well estab lished design. An excellent roadstead, protected by Islands, already exists nt Panama, nnd no work need bo dono thero for cither harbor construction or main tenance. At Colon, tho Atlantlo termin us of tho Panama route, a serviceable harbor already exists. It lias afforded harbor accommodations for many years, but Is open to northers, which n few times In ench year aro liable to dnmago ships or forco them to put to sea. Con siderable work must bo dono thero to create a suitable harbor nt tho entrance of tho canal, which can bo easily entered and will glvo completo protection to ship ping lying within. Kxvaratlon Work Compared. The completion of tho harbors, us filannrd for both routes, would yield but Ittlo advantage to cither, but the bal ance of advuntnges, Including those of maintenance and operation, Is probably In favor of tlio Panama routo. The ex istence of n harbor at each terminus of the Panama routo and a Una of railroad across tho Isthmus will mako It practi cable to commence work thero, after the concessions aro acquired, us soon ns tho necessary plant can bo collected and put In place and the working force organized. This period of preparation Is estimated at one year. In Nicaragua this period Is estimated nt two years, so ns to Include nlso tho construction of working harbors mid terminal mid railroad facilities. Tho work of excavation on the Nica ragua routo Is distributed; It Is heaviest near Conchudu, nt Tnmbcrolto nnd in the divide west of tho lake. On tho Panama routo It Is largely concentrated In the Culcbra and Kmpcrador cuts, which aro Method for Concentrating Itlood. A cheap and rapid method for con centrating the enormous quantities of blood collecting lu abattoirs has been invented recently. Tho blood is inject ed into an oven-shaped chamber, open at tho top, and brought Into contact with a current' of hot air ascending from below. All tho water is evapo rated in this manner, nnd tho blood powder is carried to tho receiving chamber. Tho product thus obtained Is tnsteless, and contains 78.4 per cent Of dlKPRtllllo practically one. As n rule, distributed work affords a greater number of avail able points of attack, contributing a. quicker completion, but In cither of these cases such difficulties ns may exist can be successfully met with BUltablo organi zation and efficient appliances. Labor Bcarco There. The tlmo required for constructing the Nicaragua Canal will depend largely on tho promptness with which tho requisite forro of laborers can bo brought to Nica ragua, housed nnd organized with tho lo cations of heaviest work along tho route. Tho cut through the dlvldo west of tno lnke probably will require tho longest tlmo of nny slnglo feature of construc tion. It contains 18,O0O.O0U cubic yards of earth nnd rock execration, or a little less than 10 per cent of the total work of all classes Included. With ndenunto forco and plnnt this commission estimates that It enn bo completed In four years. This Indicates, under reasonable nllowaiico for ordinary delays, If force and plant enough wero obtainable, to sccuro n practically concurrent execution of all portions of work on tho routo tho com pletion of tho entire work might bo exe cuted within six ycarB after Its being started, exclusive of tho two years esti mated for tho period of preparation. Tho securing nnd organizing of tho great forco of laborers needed, largely foreign ers, so as to adjust tho execution of the various portions of tho work to biicIi n definite program of closo fitting parts In a practically unpopulated tropical country Involves unusual dllllcultleH nnd would prolong tho tlmo required for com pletion. Tho greatest slnglo fcaturo of work on the Pnnama routo Is tho excava tion In thn Culebra section, amounting to nbout 43,(00,000 cubic ynrds of hard clny, much of which Is classed us soft rock, nearly 15 per cent of all clusses of material to bo removed. IMglit Yea is Iteqnlred. It Is estimated that this cut can ho completed In eight years, with altowanuu for ordinary delays, but exclusive- of n two-year period for prcparntlon nnd for unforeseen delays, nnd that tho remain der of tho work can bo finished within tho snmo period. Tho great concentra tion of work on this routo nnd Its less amount will requlro n smaller forco of laborers than on tho Nicaragua route. Hence the dllllcultles and delays Involved In securing them will bo correspondingly diminished. Tho total length of tho Nlca ragua route, from sea to sen. Is 18J.06 miles, while tho total length of tho Panama routo Is 40.09 miles. Tho length In standard canal section, and on tho hnrbors and entrances. Is 73.78 miles for fho Nicaragua routo und 30.41 miles for tho Panama route. Tho length of sailing line In Lake Nicaragua Is 70.51 miles, while that In Lake Ilohlo Is 12.68 miles. That portion or tho Nicaragua routo In tho canalized San Juan Is 39.37 miles. Tho preceding physical features of the two lines mcusuro tho magnitude of tho work to bo dono In tho construction of water ways along the two routes. Tho esti mated cost of constructing tho cnnnl on tho Nicaragua routo Is $15,630,704 moro than that of completing tho Panama Canal, omitting the cost of ncqulrlng the latter property. This sum measures tho difference tit tho magnitude of tho ob stacles to bo overcomo In tho actual con struction of tho two cunals and covers all physical considerations, such ns the greater or less hlght ct dams, the great er or less depth of cuti, tlio presence or absence of natural-harbors, tho presence or absence of n railroad, and tho amount of work remaining to bo done. Tho esti mated annual cost of maintaining and operating tho Nicaragua Canal Is Jl,3o0, 000 greater than tho corresponding charges for tho Panama Canal. Panama Itoute Shorter. Tho Panama routo would bo 134.57 miles shorter, from sen to sea, than the Nica ragua routo. It would havo less summit elevation, fower locks, nnd 68.44 miles less curvature. The estimated tlmo for a deep draft vessel to pass through Is fiiiniit twelve nours tor raimmn unu imr- ty-thrco hours for' Nicaragua. These pe riods aro practically tho meosuro of the relative advantages of the two canals as water wnyB connecting the two oceans, but not entirely, because tho risks to vessels and the dangers of delay nre greater in a canal than In the open sea. Kxccpt for tho Items of risk and 'delays tho tlmo required to pass through tho canals need be taken into account only as nn clement In the tlmo required by vessels to mako their voyage between terminal ports. Compared on this basis, tho Nicaragua routo Is tho more advan tageous for nil translsthmlan commerce except that originating or ending on the west coast of South America. For the commerce In which the United States 1b most Interested, that between our Pacific ports and Atlantic ports, Kuropean and American, tho Nlcaraguan routo Is short er by ono day. Tho same advantage ex ists between our Atlantic ports nnd tho Orient. For our cult ports tho udvan- tago of tho Nicaragua route In nearly two days. For commerco between North Atlantic ports and tho west coast of South America tho Panama routo Is shorter by about two days. Iletwcetj gulf ports and the west coast of South America tho saving Is nbout ono day. Tho Nlcaraguan routo would bo tho moro favorable ono for sailing vessels, because of tho uncertain winds In the Hay of Panama. This Is not, however, a ma terial matter, rb sailing snips are rapiu ly being displaced by steamships. A canal by the Panama routo will be sim ply a means of communication between the two oceans. Tho routo hui been a highway of commerco for moro than 300 years, and u railroad lias been In oper ation thero for nearly fifty years; but this has affected Industrial changes but little, mid tho natural features of tho country through which tho routo passes are such that no considerable develop ment Is likely to occur as a result of thn construction nnd operation of a canal. in addition to its use as a means of com munication between tho two oceans, a canal by tho Nicaragua routo would bring Nicaragua nnd u large portion of Costa ntca nnd other Central American states Into closo and easy communication with tho United States and with Kuropo. The Intimate business relations that would bo established with tho people of tho United Btutea during tho period of construction by tho expenditure of vast sums of money In theso stntes, and tho use of American products and manufac turer would bo likely to coutlnuo after tho completion of the work, to tho bene fit of our manufacturing, agricultural and other Interests. Nicaragua the Healthier. Tho Nicaragua routo lies In a region or sparse population and not In a path way of much trndo or movement of peo ple. Conditions productive of much sick ness do not exist. On tho other hand, a considerable population has long existed on tho Panama routo und It lies on a pathway of comparatively largo trade, nlong which currents of moving pcoplo from Infected plnces sometimes converge, thus creating conditions favorablo to epidemics. Kxlstlng conditions Indlcato hygienic advuntnges for tlio Nicaragua route, although It Is probable that no less effective sanitary measures must be taken during construction In tho one caso than in the other. Tho com of construct ing a canal by tho Nicaragua routo and of completing the Panama Canal, with out Including tho cost of acquiring the concessions from tho different govern ments, Is estimated uh follows: Nicaragua 18O,SO41O02 Panama 144,33.1,3118 For a proper comparison thero must bo added to tho latter the cost of acquir ing tho rights and property of tho Now Panama Canal Company. This commis sion has estimated tho valuo of theso In tho project recommended hy It at $10,000,000. in order to exercise tho rights SORAPS. To bo vnln of one's rank or placo, is to Bhow that ono Is below It. Stan tBlaus. At all seasons of tho year o o'clock In tho morning Is tho coldest hour of tho twenty-four. Wo aro mado ridiculous less by our defects than by tho affectation of qual ities which aro not ours. This year's harvest In tho south of Ireland Is stated to bo tho best experi enced fnr n nnnrtor of a century. necessary for the construction of tha canal and for Its management after com pletion tho United Stntcft should acquire control of a strip of territory from sea to sea nuulclcnt In nren for. tho conveni ent nnd efficient accomplishment of theso purpose. Measures must nlso bo taken to protect tho Una from unlawful nets of nil kinds to Insure sanltnry control and to render polloo Jurisdiction effective. Tho strip should bo not less than nvo .miles wide on ench sldo of the center lino of tho canal, or ten miles In total width. No treaties now exist with any of tho stntes within whoso territory the two routes llo nmhnrlzlng tho united Btates to occupy Its territory tor the con struction nnd operation of n canal. When It linn been determined to undertake the work nnd the routo has been selected, the consent of Colombia, or of Nicaragua and Costa Illcn, for such occupation must bo obtained before tho Inauguration of tho enterprise, nnd ono or more con tentions must bo entered Into iby tho United Statew to secure tho necessary privileges nnd authority. Tho republics of Nicaragua nnd Costa Illcn are un trammeled by any existing concessions or treaty obligations, nnd nre free to grnnt to tho United States tho rights necessary for tho uttulnmcnt of these ends, nnd In December, 1900, demonstrat ed their willingness to havo their terri tory so occupied by tho United States by executing protocols by which it was agreed that they would enter Into ne gotiations to settle In detail tha plan nnd HgrccmontH necessary to accomplish tho construction nnd provide for tho ownership of tho proposed cnnal when ever tho President of tho United States Irt authorized by law to ncqulro tito nec essary control and authority. Colombia Not Free. Tho government of Colombia, on the contrary, In whoso territory tho Panama routo lies, ha granted concessions which belong to, or uro controlled by tho Isew Pprmmn Cnnal Cnmnany, and nnvo many years to run, Theso concessions, limit ed In tlmo and defcctlvo In other ways, would not bo adequate nuthorlty for tho purposes of the United Btutes, but whllo they exist Colombia Is not freo to treat with this government. If tho Panama route Is selected theso concessions must bo removed In order that tho republics mny enter Into n treaty to enable tho United Stntes to acquire tho control upon tho Isthmus that will bo necessary nnd to fix tho consideration. An agree ment with tho New Panama Canal Com pany to surrender or transfer Its con cessions must Include n sale of Its canal property nnd unllnlshed work, nnd the commission undertook, soon after Its or ganization, to nscortnln upon what terms thlB could bo nccomplished. Much cor respondence) nnd mnnv conferences fol lowed, but no proposition naming nprlco was presented until tho middle of Octo ber. 1D01, nnd after prolonged discussion It wns Submitted to the commission In a modified form on tho 4th of November, to bo included In Its report to tho Presi dent. The Itemized statements nppear In nn earlier chapter of the report. The total amount for which tho company offers to sell nnd transfer Its canal prop erty to tho United States la $109,141,600. This, added to tho cost of completing the work, make? tho whole cost of n, canal by tho Panama routo $253,374,858, whllo tho cost by tlio Nicaragua routo Is $1R9. 8S4,0fi2, n dlfferenco of $63,610,796 In favor of tho Nicaragua route. Htates Must no Compnntcd. In each caso thoro must bo added tho cost of obtaining tho two of tho terri tory to bo occupied nnd such other privi leges ns mny bo necessary for tho con struction nnd operation of the canal in perpetuity. Tho compensation that the different states will ask for granting theso privileges 1b now unknown. There aro certain physical advantages such as n shorter cnnal line, a more complete knowledge of tho country tnrougn wnicn It passes nnd lower cost of maintenance and operation, In favor of the Panama route, but tho price fixed by tho Panama Canal Company for a Halo of Its prop erty and franchises 1 so unreasonable thnt Its acceptance cannot bo recom mended by this commission. After con sidering all the facto developed by the Investigations made by tho commission, tho actual situation ns It now stands, and having In view tho terms offered by the New Pnnama Canal Company, this commlnslon Is of tho opinion that "tho most practicable and feasible route" for an Isthmian canal to bo "under the con trol, management and ownership of the United States" Is that known us the Nicaragua route. TI1K MINORITY KKPOItT. George Morrison of the Cnnal Commis sion Favor Fanama Itoute. Following Is a summary of tho minority report of Ueorgo 8. Morrison of tho Nic aragua Canal Commission: Whllo concurring In tho excellenco of the greater part of tho majority report, I was unable to ncccpt tho conclusions at which my colleagucH havo nrrlvcd. I nc cept tho location for tho Nlcaraguan Canal as ono to which I can BUggest no Improvements. I consider that the esti mate does not mako enough provision for unknown conditions and contingencies. Tim cant of tho work on bath tho Nic aragua and the Panama routes has been estimated at tho Bumo unit prices and with tho addition of tho same percentage to cover "Kngliicerlng. Police, Sanitation and General Contingencies." Tho excavation of tho Pnnama Canal has been opened for nearly Its cntlro length, nnd the chnracter of tho material to le removed can bo examined In posi tion. On the Nicaragua route the chnracter of material has been determined by bor ings which, though unusually complete, do not glvo tho definite Information that Is vlshle at Panama. At Tanama thero aro fair harbors at bo in enus of the canal that nro fully ade quate for all demundfl during construc tion and connected by a railroad In high condition, tho country Is settled nnd many of tho necessary accommodations for a largo working forco aro there. Bo fore tho eastern section of tho Nicaragua Canal can bo begun a harbor must bo cn-aied at Qreytown, convenient lines of transportation which do not now exist !Tiit be orovlded. as must nlso tho means of housing nnd caring for n largo labor ing population, nearly all of which must bo Imported. Tho preliminary engineering has been dono nt Panama nnd tho general contin gencies havo been reduced to a minimum. Comparing modified estimates, the cost of completing the Panama Canal would bo $07,000,000 less than tho cost of building tho Nicaragua Canal. On tho Panama route two concessions must bo extinguished before such lights can bo acquired. They nro tho contract of 1S67, by which tho Panama railroad holds Its present rights, and tho Wyso concessions, under which tho French ca nal companies havo been operating. ri.n ootiinmnnt with the French must bo simply an extinguishment of their rights; tho authority to build tho canal must be derived from a new treaty with tho republic of coiomoia. Tho Panama routo has advantages over tho Nicaragua routo In cost pf construc tion. In coat of operation nnd In conven ience when dono, whllo Its use Ii less likely to lead to local International com plications If tho United States govern inent la to build nn Isthmian canal the Panama louto Is tho best. The French rights must first be extin guished, and whatever this government may pay for such extinguishment will be salvage to tho French. If these rights cannot bo extinguished tho Nicaragua route Is available. g MonmBONf Steel Hoof. A new patent steel roofing will short ly bo placed on tho mnrket, and it ii asserted that this product will com pletoly displace galvanized iron for roofing purposes. Tho system of man ufacturo consists of steel strips bent cold in tho press, tho covering being formed of plain galvanized sheets bent bnclc on tho edges and locked into tubular rafters. Works for tho manu facturo of this product on a largt scalo aro being constructed at Dar ltngtnn. England. Current News and Views COMFORT. FOR THE AQED. That many persons llvo In long-continued dread of landing In tho poor houso Is not to bo doubted. That this fear is wholesomo is believed by somo and doubted by others. That It tends to stimulnto Increased endeavor to provldo against destitution is obvious ly true. A typical enso of tho way In which life sometimes winds up In tho public rcfiigo dcsplto this fear is that of an old truck gnrdcuer In the south ern outskirts of Chicago whom tho County Agent has been urging to go to tho poorhouso. Ho hnd scon hotter days, but old age disabled him, his wife died, the title to his little "spot" slipped into other hands, und, dcsplto his resolute determination never to meet that fate, ho has finally yielded, or probably must yield, to tho County Agent's solicitation. Somo of tho most commendable Instances of charity, whether public or private, are thoso devised for tho aged poor, and especial ly such ns provldo for aged couples to live together Instead of being separat ed as they uro In tho typical Utitlsh workhouse und In our own poorhouse. Of this sort nro tho greut Krupp works In Essen, nnd Home of the almshouses maintained by somo English towns, nnd now and then by private charity. Thero is a Benso of fitness In provisions which nllow destitute old couples who have performed their work to completo their days In peaco together. Such provisions dignify human life, and likewise human labor. STRETOHER IN A LAMP POST. An ambulance in a lamp post Is the latest Idea In street contrivances. THE AMUULANCE LAMP POST OF PARIS. Paris has Just been endowed with several specimens of what is called a "pharo do sccours," or flrst-nld light house. It consists of an ornamental bronze pillar about fifteen feet high, with a round, overhanging top resem bling that of a lighthouse, nnd con taining a clock face barometer and three transparent pictorial advertise ments, revolved by clockwork and lighted by gas from within. In the base of the pillar is a letter box, and In the shaft Is a folding stretcher, with printed directions for affording first aid to the Injured. In case of a street accident the stretcher can be immedi ately obtained by breaking a small glass window Just abovo the letter box, taking out the key, and unlocking the receptacle. PRINTER BEATS MILLIONAIRE. It would bo difficult to find two men who presented such a marked contrast as the candidates for mayor In the aristocratic city of Yonkcrs. John E. Andrus, the Republican nomi nee, Is reputed to bo worth ?30,000,TJOO. O p p o s cd to this man of CO whoso rec ord It would seem, could do naught but establish him firmly in the esteem of the people w a s Michael J.f Walsh, an active, reput able young man of line chnracter and something of a politician. Ho Is a printer by trade nnd, though he Ima a small estab lishment of his own, has been but moderately successful In business. As a writer for newspapers and ns alder man, he has, however, gained great popularity and bo well did the pcoplo of Yonkcrs think of him that they elected the printer, his plurality over tho multl-mllllonatro being 050 the largest ever given u candidate for mayor In Yonkers. Yonkcrs contains more rich people than any city of Its size In tho oast. Clot mi the llraln. An cxtrnoulliinry oporatlon In n Now York hospital recently was tho cutting through a man's skull and the removing of n blood clot on tho right sldo of tho brain. His entire right side nnd leg wero paralyzed. Two days after tho removal of tho clot tho man could move Ills leg, tho paralysis grad ually left him and last to bo recovered was tho power of speech, which was a matter of days, and was not perfectly accomplished at last accounts, but tho surgeons bad uo doubt of his entire natanaMMkB IH 8kmvA ii' rrBBBt wm n C PEOPLED EVENTS HELEN GOULD ACCEPTS. Miss Helen Gould, who has accepted hor appointment ns member of the hoard of lady manngors of tho 8t. Louis world's fair, Is the mo3t dlstln- HELEN GOULD, finished member of tho family of the late Jay Gould. 1 ijptyf DRESS HAS THE ADVANTAGE. It may be unfortunnte, but It Is true, that drcs3 nnd manners count for lO nbout as much as ability In tho capi tals of Europo and South America. A diplomat who Is laughed at In society can be of little use to his government. He loses much of the gossip heard In cxcluslvo circles which a diplomat ought to know, and ho meets with coldness instend of cordiality at tha foreign office. Tho general character of the United States representatives abroad has been raised of recent years. But congress has not yet appreciated tho vaiuo of the social standing of tho government's envoys. Knnsa3 City Star.. PEACE TESTS OF BRAVERY. Peaco has Its tests of a sailor's or a soldier's bravery no less severe than thoso of war, though they may bo less glorious. Few civilians would fancy tho duty which has been assign ed to several naval officers of scaling themselves up in the new submnrine torpedo boat Fulton, of sinking then below thn surface of the water, and of remaining there from twelve to fifteen hours. Tho officers and men who nro to undergo this experience will breathe bottled air, so to speak, the necessary supply of utmosphcrlc fluid' being con tained in compressed air flasks. New York Mall and Express. FROM COOK TO MILLIONAIRE. William Morgan, second cook at the St. Charles hotel In St. Joseph, Mo Is WILLIAM MORGAN. (St, Joseph, Mo,, chef, who lias fallen heir to $1,000,000.) preparing to claim the $1,000,000 for- i tuno left him hy an unclo's will. His uncle resided in Loudon, England. Ancient Flo En(ers. An antiquarian has been searching through the records of tho city gov ernment of Genov.i in tho hope of find ing Bomqthlng of historical valuo with reference to the times of John Calvin. Tho seurch cannot bo pronounced suc cessful, as most of the material ex humed Is rubbish; yet ono llttlo noto Is amusing If not precious, and It shows how puritanical was tho little Swiss city In tho Sixteenth century. Tho record in question preserves the W Interestinc; fact that threo artisau.i wero punished for having eaten threo dozen pies nt breakfast this bolng re garded as cvidenco of dlssolulo living. When Welshmen ttacil tli How. Thoro still exist proofs In tho pipe rolls nnd other government documents that tho nnny of Edward I., In that monarch's campaigns, both against tho Welsh and tho Scots, partly consisted of Welshmen, drawn from Monmouth shire nnd Ureconshlre. Thoso Welsh men wero tho first to use longbows In war. Thoso bows wero mado of yew,' and it Is an Interesting fact that t,hero nro still moro yew trees In tho coun ties Just mentioned thnn In any other part of Wales. Cardiff Mall. lteelproolly with Cauudu. A delegation representing the Cham bers of Commerco of tho United Stated has told President Roosevelt thnt it bo lloves reciprocity with Canada will bo of great valuo to Amorlcnn commerco nnd Industry. Tho President told tho delegation that lie would tako tho mat ter "under advisement." This is usual ly a pollto mothod of saying that ono Is nnt rendv to tnkn nctJon. r. li M'