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* fe
i 1 1
l\ \ "A STORY OF THE
lH BOER CAMPAIGN
H ON THE , . . , * W XU : c IN NATALXXX *
* \ VELDTW
M VELDT Dy H , 0. Mackenzie
a1
CHAPTBIl V. ( Continued. )
It WUB n bright moonlight night , and
the palo Hllvory light foil on the Ions
rows of gum treoes and notttles , glv- "
Ing a atrango white nhoeu on tholr
leaves , nnd tracing a curious chcckored
pattern on the path below. Suddenly ,
us Uluobcll Booked , a horseman uhot
Into vlow a horao riding Htmlght up
towards the IIOUHO. Even as Bluebell ,
with a sudden llttlo gasping cry drew
back , she Haw the rldor pause. Ho
turned his horse round and waved
something It loooked llko a pistol-
in the air , aa If to some one behind
him ; then , turning again , rode straight
up the avcnuo.
Hluohell only waited to BOO another
and yet another borsoman Hhoot Into
vlow , then , turning quickly to her
door , she opened It and flow along the
passage to her father's room.
She knocked furiously. In a moment
her father's voice demanded sleepily ,
"Who Is there ? "
"Father , father ! " she cried , her voice
ringing out clear and strong , though
her heart seemed almost bursting and
her tongue parched and dry. "Illao
quickly and got your revolver ! The
Boors , they arc coming up the avenue !
They are almost on us ! "
She could bear her father mutter a
wild oath. At that moment It scut a
nbudder through her.
There were only women In the
house , Besides her aunt and herself-
there- was Marie , the girl they had
bad as servant for two years , and two
half-caste Zulu girls , who slept down
stairs. The native "boys" slept In an
outsldo shed. Adam Leslie and Blue
bell herself were the only two who
could defend thcmsojvos against an
attacking party , for Bluohell bad long
since learned to uno firearms.
"ftam ready ! " cried her father In a
moment. "Let the villains como on !
I'm more than a match , for u score of
Boer doga ! "
"Father , father , oh , don't speak llko
that ! " cried the girl as Leslie Hung
open the room door. "Let us speak
pleasantly to them. Perhaps , after all ,
they have no unfriendly intentions.
Why should they ? Wo have never
done them any barm. Wo have al
ways "
"Hist ! " .oxclalmpd hen father. A
horrible spasm had passed over his
face ; but at that moment the scunio of
what seemed a score of horses' hoofs
ooundcd under the stoop ontsldo.
nnd a loud exclamation wua uttornd.-
"Keoop back , girl ! I shall go to the
window myself , " said Leslie'In a low
voice.
Bhlobell stood back aMlUle. At , thjo
' '
Bame moment a sound 'of 'shrieks jbe-
hlnd told her that thq servants had
been , roused , frpnn tholr slumbers. She
turned And saw Miss [ Elisabeth , pale
and liorror-strlekon , in > her blue duffle
dreddlng'gowni h'er" hca'd'covered with
the ugly white cap which she always1
Wdro Ulirliii * tU ' 'night,4 "hurrying
towards her , followed by the shrlel -
ing Marie n'nd the howling native girl ? .
"Keep them quiet. It wllr bo all
right , -auntie. They i can't mean us
harm ; It in the Boors , " Bluebell said ,
in sho'rt 'whispers , 'for she was listen
ing at the samp time1 to what wetit on
' ' ' " " ' ' '
at'tho window : , .
Her father had flung It opo.n . A
'
v'oiqq frp.ni bolpw called out : <
"Open the door tous , Adam Leslie ,
and surrender yourself as our prisoner ,
or wo1' shrill burn your huutio about
your ears ! "
Bluebell tild not recognize the voice ,
which , though Dutch in accent , spoke
excellent English. Her , father an
swered , In a voice that-trembled with
' ' ' ' " ' '
passion' !
"I will not open the door to you , yoli
Boer dogs ! , What do ypu want with
mo' "
I10' ii I ' > !
"Bolter apeak clvily , for the suko
of your own life ! " retorted the voice
* Tn answer. "Yoii'ro a base informer ,
nnd , but for thu klmlneus of Almlgthy
Qed , wo should have been without our
lenders through ydlij 'Surrender you'r-
eolf prisoner , ory SJll hang you tb the
nearest trcoo anil lau'ii your bouso and
nil It contains ! That's thp beat course
with villains UkQ youj"
"I refuse to isurronder ! " shouted
Leslie , ' bcsido himself with rage.
Ho turned to Bluebell. "Bring mo
my revolver loaded ! " he cried , be
tween his teeth.
.
But , instead of obeying. Bluebell i
sprang forward , nnd , pushing her
father aside , interposed herself be
tween him nnd the window. With
oye's that hardly seemed to sco she
looked down on the men below an
army they seemed to her uxcitcd mind
tall , stalwart follows in khaki and
wide Boer hats , each man armed , and
, cach with stern and relentless gaze on
the window. In front , on n fine , hlgh-
Rtcpplng horse , sat the man who was
ovldehtly the leader a young man lt
dressed llko the others ; but with a
face not unhandsome though It was
whose merciless determination struck
u cold chill through Bluebell.
"You make a mistake , " she said , and
her voice rang out clear and sWoct
after the men's bourse , , angry voices ,
"My father is no informer. Some one
has been tolling you a wicked lio. Wo
were always friendly wllh any Boors
.that we know. "
The young man looked behind htm.
The .noxUInstaut-a horseman in 'the ,
background rode forward ami came
alongside thn Boor loader. Bluebell
gave a faint cry , almost staggering
backward , nnd oho heard a fearful
oath burst from her father us he. too ,
recognized the man.
It was ( icrald Moore.
CHAPTER VI.
In the moonlight his mocking , dark
face bad a look upon It that seemed
to niuebcll's oycs us malevolent and
wicked us thut of any fiend could bo.
He was looking sValgth up at the win
dow.
"There Is no necessity for undeceiv
ing your daughter , Mr. Lcalle , " he
said ; "but. you see , there's absolutely
no tiHQ In icslstancc all Is known now.
If you don't surrender yourself as
prisoner It will bo worse for yourself.
Tlio commando have orders to shoot
you If you realat. "
A shriek broke from Miss Eliza
beth's lips behind Bluebell ; but the
girl uttered neither word nor cry ns
her horrified eyes , looking dark and
largo In the midst of her ghastly whlto
face , strained themselves to catch a
glance from her father. He gave her
none. His own face was contorted
and convulsed with some terrible emo
tion , the veins In bis forehead were
swelling to bursting. For a moment
or two ho could not speak , though his
lips twitched convulsively.
Then suddenly his voice broke from
him , low and bourse a voice that
made Bluebell shudder.
"You traitor ! " ho said , and ills tone
was terrible to hour , so that even the
Doer lender shrank away a little ,
glancing at Moore doubtlngly. "I see
your game now ! You urged me to
give information , and then you your
self turned and informed on me ! You
aio a Judas Iscurlot ! And I would
have sold my child into your bunds
for gold ! May God Almighty forgive
mo ! My "
The words were strangled In his
throat. Ho made a wild movement , as
if ho would have leaped out of the
window upon Moore ; then a sudden ,
strange convulsion shook him from
head to foot , and ho fell back against
Ulucbell , rolled from her grasp , and ,
falling to the floor , lay there , after
ono or two convulsive motions , per
fectly still.
Miss Elizabeth gave another cry ,
and moving forward , bent over him.
Ho lay on his side , his face still a
deep , almost a purple , red In hue , hs |
eyes half open but glazed and unsee
ing , bis Jaw dropped. Bluebell , strick
en dumb and motionless ; stood beside
him , unable to make 'miy tternjif to
raise him from the ground4. Meantime
a rapid consultation was going on be
tween the leader of the commando and
Qorald Moore. , '
"You can set fire to the house and
do ns you llko with the old man ! " said
Moore , savagely. " 1 have something
else to do. The girl is niy jjroperty
and I claim' ' her. ' "
"Do as you like , " replied the young
leader .coldly. Ho uyed Mooie with
cold contempt. ' "Notwlthstitndliig' the
use that they had made of Moore , big ,
was not a character which com
mended Itself to the Doer lenders , \vho
knew more aboht him 't'han did most
Englishmen. "I have nothing to do
with any dirty prlyatq work. , My duty
Is to ti\kq Adam Leslie , dead or alive ,
and I mean to confine myself to that. "
In a few minutes the word of com
mand had been given to' the com
mando , who proceeded lo break down1
the door , hull nlso to force their way
Into the house by means of the glass
door of n bedroom which opened onto
the stoop. The women upstairs heard' '
the noise , and Miss Elizabeth uttered ,
a terrified exclamation- while tlio
frightened servants howled and'
shrieked In concert.
"I shall go to them nnd demand
their right to force themselves Into
any one's hoiuo llko this ! " said Blue
bell , suddenly starting us if from 'a
horrible dream. Before Miss Eliza
beth could prevent her she had moved
from the room and out to the licai of
the stairs.
.
All was dark below , only she could
sco that the outer door had been
opened , and a flood of moonlight ,
streamed In upon the floor. In Its
light she saw the Boers , In tholr sandy-
colored clothes , striding through that
beam of light.
But she had no time to speak , no
time oven to think. Before she knew
what was about to happen she was
seized in a strong , almost vlco-llke
grip , something dark , close and stifling
was fastened tightly around her face ,
so that she could not utter a sound
save a low , stilled moan , and she felt
herself lifted off her feet and carried
as easily as If she was a child down
stairs. She struggled violently , mak
ing wild efforts to free her hands and
arms , which were bound lo her side
by a cloth ; but It was useless. As well
might a fly have struggled to escape
from an Imprisoning web.
She could not feel the channc from
the warmth of the air Inside to the
chilly atmobphero without ; but aha
guessed that her captor had Immedi I-
ately passed outsldo with her , and In. It
u few minutes sbo could feel the Jolt
ing of his steps a < ? 119 passed over thorough
rough and uneven pull } outsldq the.
homcdlcudlng. . ,
A deadly despair 'succeeded the 'first" '
, wild revojt of Bluebell's senses. She
I could have , no doubt , as to who her
| captor was. Shn had been can led off
as truly as was over maid of the eight
eenth century by the man who , for
some reason of his own Bluebell had
never thought It love wished to muko
her his wlfo. She was In the snare of
the fowler , as powerless to frco her
self as any poor , fluttering , broken-
winged bird.
The thought of what she was leav
ing behind was terrible to her as her
unknown fate. Her father had Bcemud
dead as she looked upon him. Was he
leally so ? It almost seemed to Blue
bell's shuddering heart that It would
be better for him If ho wore.
She had been stupelled at first by
the fearful accusation made against
her father , but In the moments that
elapsed between hid seizure by the
visitation of God and her seizure by
man's villainy Bluebell had slowly
been coming out of her stupor , to rea
lize that It might bo true.
If It were so If her father , tempted
by the traitorous villainy of the man
whom ho had called a Judas Iscarlot ,
had committed this base deed , though
Bluebell could not Hud It In her heart
to call It a crime , then the punishment
meted out to him might bo so terrible
that natural death would be a thou
sand times preferable.
And then poor Miss Elizabeth , left
to face these terrible men , with , per
haps , the dead body of her brother In
the house ! Bluebell felt her hearj.
torn with anguish and anxiety as she
thought of It.
Again she made violent struggles to
free herself. Alas ! they were worse
than useless. The strong arms held
her as In a vice.
At this time no word had been ut
tered. Suddenly Bluebell's captor
paused ; the next moment Bluebell
heard a long , peculiar cull rising on
the night air. It was llko the "voo-
ee ! " of the Australian bush. After a
momentary pause It was answered.
Then Bluebell's captor continued his
walk , Jolting nnd stumbling at every
step.
Presently there was another pause.
Then Bluebell funded she hoard the
sound of horse's hoofs , but her bearIng -
Ing was so deafened by the thick cloth
that she could not be sure. In a few
minutes , however , she knew she had
been correct. She felt herself lifted
up and placed on the side-saddle of
some animal , which she guessed , from
the height and from the use of the
side-saddle , to be a 'horse.
Then a voice spoke close to her ear
the voice that was so hateful to
Bluebell , and with such good reason.
"There is no use In resistance ; you
are wholly In my power , and 1 am
determined you shall not escape me
ndw. You are on horseback' ' . I am
going to release your arms so that you
may hold on with allyour might , for
wo are going over a bad bit of ground.
If yon-don't make any resistance 1
will take off that head-dress presently ,
but the more resistance you make the
worse you will be treated. And let me
tell you it Is perfectly useless ; noth
ing but death can save you from mo. "
Of course Bluebell could make no
attempt at moving. Her hands were
relcuhod from the cloth that had pin
ioned them to her side , reins were
i placed'In her hand , a whip was flicked
in the hir , and the animal beneath
moved forward.
For the next hour Bluebell found
thinking Impossible. The horse Jolt
ed , stumbled nnd bumped at every
steifeomotlmca \ putting bis fore-feet
Into holes from which he had to bo
extricated by main force , then plung
ing over loose clumps of grass or
shrubs with such suddenness as al
most to unseat her. Bluebell was ac
customed to the difficulties of riding
on the veldt , but now , disabled by the
want of sight , MilYocated as she wns
'by the cloth over her head and mouth ,
she , was Utterly unable to keep steady ,
and several times her gnUlo had to
seize her as silo was falling from the
horse.
( To bo continued. ) '
SmoUril WhlV llcliig I
Dover ( Del , ) correspondence Phila
delphia Press : Robert Tllghman be-
llovos in the novel , oven though he be
an offender against larceny laws. To
day , for fracturing the state's rules
of correct living , Robert underwent a
whipping. This was not unusual , to bo
sure , but the .10 persons who watched
the floRKlngs were dumbstruck when
Tllghmah1 deliberately lighted it clgnr-
etto and puffed contentedly while the
lashes wei'6 beihg delivered. Sheriff f
Wlihrfon used the customary rawhide -
hide whlp.altogether different from the
instrument of torture used in New
castle county , known us the ont-o'-
nlnc-talls , and while ho piled the lash
vigorously on the bared back of
Tllghman the prisoner was unmoved ,
to the uwo and wonder of the crowd.
In all nlno persons underwent the
punishment.
llrotlior'H Anlit'4.
Mr. E. W. Scrlpps , of San Diego.Cal. ,
of the Sorlpps-McRao league , newsa-
per publishers , says the Cincinnati En
quirer , arrived and registered at the
Hotel Alms yesterday morning with
Ilia family , consisting of two sons ,
James G. and John P. Scrlpps , nnd
daughters , Misses Dorothy and Ellen
Scrlpps. . Ho la also accompanied by
his secretary. Mr. II. B. Clark. Mr.
Scrlpps left San Diego some days ago
with the ashes of his brother , Mr.
George II. Scrlpps.who died at the Mlr-
amar Ranch , In California , on April
13 , and whoso remains were cremated
in that State. Mr. E ; W. Scrlppa will
louve tomorrow evening for Rush-
vllle , Ilh , with his brother , ' : ) ashes ,
where they , will bo Interred. A. num
ber of ; relatives of the late.Qeqrge II.
Seripps will uccompanyj > Mr. 'E , Wi
Seripps to Rudhvlllo , . Ill , to attend the
funeral.
Of Hie AlcKinley
, , , Administration. , ;
Washington Letter : "TtiftJ settle
ment lo'f1 ; the Pacific railroad 'indebted
ness must bo ranked ns ono of the
greatest achievements of President
McKlnley'd administration. " said Gen
eral Charles Dick , member of Congress -
gross from the Nineteenth district of.
Ohio , and secretary ot the Republican
National Committee , to-day :
"All efforts , either by Congress or
the executive departments prior to
1897 , were of llttlo avail in protecting
the government's interests in these
roads. In fact , there were grave
> < oubts whether the government
would succeed In being reimbursed ,
oven in part , the vast sum expended
by the United States In aid of their '
construction. But the government has
realized In cash or Ito equivalent ,
within two years , the sum ot ? 124-
421,671 out of about $130,000,000 that
was due , and more than half the
money collected was for accrued In
terest that had not been paid.
"The discovery of gold in Cali
fornia ; the rapid increase in wealth
and population In the territory west
of the Rocky mountains , and a move
ment on the part of the older states
lo establish closer connections during
the Civil war with those outlying
communities , led Congress in 1SG2 to
authorize the construction of a rall-
road to the Pacific ocean. The direct
benefit to bo derived by the govern-
ment Was its use for postal , military
and other purposes. The act of July
1 , 18G2 , chartering the Union Pacific
Railroad Company was not sufficient
ly liberal , and therefore nothing was
accomplished after its provisions.
Though the Union Pacific Company
was organized no one was found who
would venture money In the construc
tion of the road.
"On July 2 , ISO I , Congress amended
the act of 1862 , by making provisions
more favorable to the companies. The
actoflSG2 provided that the''govern- '
ment Should have'a first mortgage ! on
the property of the company , while
the. fffVt of ISC i provided substantially
thatr for the bonds the go.ve.rnn\ent
should issue in aid of the construc
tion -ot the road , it should take a sec-
ondllihortgage. Two companies were
organized under the provisions of the
acttof 1861 , and entered energetically
UP. ° A .the work of construction. The
road was built from the California
end' eastward by the Central Pacflc
Railrortd Company , and from the Mis
souri -river westward to the common
meeting Jiol f aj , Ogde , ' , liy 'the
Pacfic1 Company. , , , ' , , , , , . ;
"Their lines -ware united May 10 ,
1869 , anticipating by more than seven
years the time required by Congress.
The Union Pacific Company construct
ed 1,034 miles , and the Central Pa
cific 743 miles. The rood of the latter
company was subsequently extended
140 miles , nnd the lines of the two
companies from the Missouri river to
San FrrincIs O represent a mileage of
'
l
1,917 miles. ; , , ,
"In aid of these roads and connect
ing branchea the United States Issued
bonds to the amoin'it of $64)G23,512.I )
Failing to fle reimbursed for the In
terest paid 'on these , bonds , it tiecamo
necessary , In protection of the Inter
ests of the government , to pass the
act of May 7 , 187S , known aa the
'Thurmun Act. ' This act provided
that the whole amount of compensa
tion which migh.t from time to time
bo due to the railroad companies for
services rendered the government
should be retained ' by the ' gov
ernment , one-half .to be applied
to the liquidation of the inter
est paid nnd to bo paid by the
United States ' upon the bonds Is
sued to each of the companies , and
the other half to bo turned Into a
sinking fund. But It soon became ap
parent that , with the approaching mar
turity of bonds Issued in aid of tiio
roads the provisions of the 'Thurman1
Act' were not adequate to the pro- ,
teotlon of the government's interests.
Efforts woi-o persistency made lookIng -
Ing to a Settlement of this vast indebt
edness , but without success. So ' re
cently as the Fifty-fourth Congress
nn attempt was made to pass n bill
to refund the debts of the Pacific
Railroad Companies , but it was de
feated in the House by a vote of 167
nays to 102 yeas.
"On January 12 , 1897 , " continued
General Dick , "tho day following the
defeat of the funding bill , the at
torney general was informed by the
President Unit default had occurred In
the payment of-tho Union Pacific and
the Kansas Pacific indebtedness to
the Government , nnd ho was directed
to make arrangements to secure , as
far aa practicable , * the payment ot
their indebtedness. An agreement w'as
entered into between the government'
and the re-organlzatlon committee ot
the Union Pacific Railroad , by which
the committee guaranteed , should the ,
government undertake to enforce H.s
lien by sale , a minimum bid for Uio
Union nnd Kansas Pacific lines that
would produce to thu government , over
and above any prior lines nnd charges
upon the railroads and sinking fund ,
the net sum of $ 15.731,039.99. In per
formance of this agreement the bid
was guaranteed by a depoajt of $1-
500,000.
"Bills were then filed In the United
States Circuit court3.for ( Uio foreclos
ure of the * government Hon. ' Thq de
crees entered tor fbe sale of thVtoads
not being satisfactory to the govern-
Papers wore prepared for an ap-
peiil. Then thb.lrc-orgaatzatlou'com-
mitteo came forward with an offer to
increase Its bid to $50,000,000 instead
of $45.751,039.99. Subspquently , to set
tle all polntc in dispute , the rc-organ-
izatlon committee decided to abandon
this second bid and to increase the
minimum amount to bo offered for the
property to $58,118,223.75 , being the
total amount duo the government on
account of the Union Pacific road , ns
stated by the secretary of the treas
. ury' , Inclu'dlng the sum 6f $4,549-
368.20 cash In the sinking fund. Such
nn amount was bid by the reorganization
tion committee on November 1 , 1897 ,
and ' the sale was confirmed by the
court -November G , 1897. After the
confirmation of the sale the whole
amount was paid into the treasury
of the United States in convenient In
stallments , thus relieving the govern
. ment from any loss whatever upon
Its claim for principle and Interest
due upon its subsidy , and bringing tea
a final and most satisfactory termina
tion : one of these loifg-stnnding and
' troublesome ' questions.
"In the case of the Kansas Pacific
indebtedness , by decree of the court
an upset price on the sale of the
property I wns fixed at a sum which
would i yield to the government $2,500-
' 000. ( The re-organlzatlon committee
Ic In I conference with the government
declared its purpose of making no
higher bid than that fixed by the de
cree of the court , so that the govern
ment was confronted with the dan
ger of receiving for itsr total lien upon
this line , amounting to nearly $13-
000,000 , principal and interest , only
the sum of $2,500,000. Believing the
Interest of the government required
' that an effort should be made to ob
tain a larger sum , and the govern
ment having the right to redeem the
Incttmbraiiccs upon the property ,
which were prior to the lien of the
government subsidy , by paying the
sums lawfully due In respect thereof
out of the treasury of the United
States , the President , on February 8 ,
1S9S , authorized the secretary of the
treasury to pay the amounts lawfully
due upon the prior mortgagca upon
the eaatqrn and middle divisions of
said road.
"Thentho re-organlzatlon commit
tee of the Kansas Pacific offered to bid
for the road a sum which would realize
to the government the whole amount
of the principal of the debt ? G,303,000.
It was. believed that no better price
than this could bo obtained at n later
date' if the sale should be postponed ,
and it was deemed best to permit the
sale to proceed upon the guaranty
fault bo made cither of the p
of principal or Interest of either 8jl5
notes or in any part thereof , thcnall
of the notes outstanding , principal and
Interest , immediately .bccamo duo and
payable , notwithstanding any other
stipulation of the agreement of settle
ment , i i i 1 '
"U was further agreed tthat the pay
ment of principal and Interest of the
notes should bo secured , by the depos
it with the United States treasury of
$57,820,000 faqOjValuo of. flrat refunding
mortgage 4 pijr cent gold bonds , to bo
thereafter Issued by the Central Pa
cific or Its successor having charge of
the railroads then owned by the com
pany , such bonds to bo part of ! the
issue of not exceeding $100,000o6o in
nil , and to bo secured by mortgage
upon nil railroads , equipments nnd
terminals owned by the Central Pa
cific Railroad Company , the mortgage
being a first Hen upon the property.
"In pursuance of another provision
of the agreement , the four earliest ma
turing notes were purchased by
Speyer & Co. , March 10 , 1893 , and tli3
proceeds , amounting to $11,762,543.12 ,
and accrued Interest to the date of
payment , $35,771.02 , In all $11,793.-
314.14 , wore received by the Treasury
March 27 , 1899 , as part payment of the
Indebtedness of the Central Pacific nrt )
Western Pacific Railroad Companlcp/
The proprietors of the various com
panies comprising the Central Pacific
system were subsequently conveyed tea
a new corporation called the Central
Pacific Railway Company , which latter
executed the mortgage nnd bonds pro
vided for by the agreement of settle
ment.
"On October 7 , 1899 , bonds were de
livered to the Treasury Department by
the Central Pacific Railway Company
to secure the outstanding notes held
by the Treasury. The United States ,
therefore , holds the notes of the Cen
tral Pacific Railroad Company to the
amount of $47.050,172.30 , bearing inter
est payable seml-unnally at the rate of
3 per cent per annum , nnd secured by
the deposit of an equal amount ' ot
first-mortgage bonds of the Pacific
Railway Company , thus providing , be
yond any doubt , for the sure , and grad
ual payment of the whole of this sub
sidy debt , nnd providing in the mean
time for the payment of Interest at the
rate of 3 per cent upon the unpaid bal
ances. The Unlt9d States , through the
settlement agreement thus entered
Into will bo reimbursed the full
amount of the principal and Interest
of the Central Pacific nnd Western
Pacific debt , aggregating $3S"812- ;
715.4S.
"The' amounts due to the United
States March 1 , 1900 , from Pacific Rail
roads on account of bonds issued1 in
aid of their construction , were as fol
lows :
IA\
AMOUNT DUE THE UNITED STATES MARCH 1 , 1900 , FROM PACIFIC
-n , S'T ' ' > i n ' " { ' " ' ' iRiVIIjROA' A ! ' n / i jf "i ' > ' '
" Name of Road. Principal. Interest : * Total.
Central Branch Union Pacific $1,600.000$2,152,359.54 $3,752,359.54
Sioux City and Pacific 3,628,320 2,578,677.68 4,206,997.68
Totals $3,228,320 $1,731,037.22 $7,959,357.22
of a minimum bid which would real
ize to the government the whole prin
cipal of Its debt. The sale thereupon
took place , and the property was pur
chased by the re-organization com
mittee. The sum yielded to the gov- '
crnment was $6,303,000. It will thus' '
be percolyed Uiut the government secured - '
cured ahVadvance of $3,803,000 on ac
count of'lts Hen , over and above the
sum which the court had fixed as the
upset price , and which the reorganiza
tion committee had declared was the
maximum' which they were willing to ,
pay for , the property. ' '
"The result of these proceeding
against the Union Pacific system , crh-i
bracing the main line and [ the Kan
sas Pacific line , is that the government ,
haa received on account of its ' subsidy
clajm the sum of $ G > ,751,223.75 , which
Is'an'Increase df $18,9'97.-163.78 oven'tho
sum which ftho're-organization ' com
mittee first a.grecd to hid for thp Joint
property , leaving duo the suni of $ G-
588,900.19 Interest on the Kansas Pa
cific subsidy. The prosecuUon of a.
claim for this amount against the 're
ceivers of the Union PacificjCompany
in 1S9S resulted In securing to the
government the , further amount of
5 21,897.70. ' ' ' "
"Tho indebtedness of1 the. : Central
jPaclfic Rullrond , Company tq the gov
ernment became duo January , 1 , 1898 ,
When dcfa'nlt ' in payment wasMnaflo-
by the company , The deficiency ap
propriation act of July 7 , 1898 , ap
pointed the secretary of the treasury ,
the secretary of the Interior and the
attorney general a commission with
full power to settle the indebtedness
to tho-"government " growing1 out of the
issue of bonds to aid in the construc
tion of the Central Pacific and West
ern Pacific roads , subject to the ap
proval of the President.
"An agreement for the settlement of
this Indebtedness was entered Into be
tween the commissioners nnd the
iallroad ; companies pn Februoj/ ,
1899. The amount' ' then cine to the
United States for principal and inter
est upbn its subsidy liens upon the
.Central Pacific and Western Pacific
railroads was $58,812,715.48 , more than
one-half of which was accrued Interest
upon dhe/lJrlnclpalJdobt : ' The. ngreer
incut for settlement provided for the
funding of this amount Into promis
sory notes bearing date of February
1 , 1899 , payable respectively on or
before the expiration of each suecoii-
Bivo six months -for ten years , each
note being for the sum of $2,910-
035,78 , or one-twentieth of the total
amount duo. The notes bore interest
at the , , rate of 3 pef cent annum , pay
able 'serii'l-ahmmlly. and had a'condl *
lion attached to the effect that , if de-
"Efforts are now pending looking to
the collection of this indebtedness.
"Out of an indebtedness of about
$130,000,000 , more than one-half of
which consisted of accrued interest ,
the government has realized in cash ,
or ita equavllent , he sum of $124,421-
670.95 , within a < panpd' of less than
two years' ' No oUjer a.Smlnlatratlon In
the history of Uie United States has
ever so quickly , so thoroughly , and so
satisfactorily enforced the settlement
of large " chUms held , by _ .the govern
ment"-"againsT business corporations ,
oTj Jlos nny filmllar settlement over
Deviously been mndo by the govern
ment to such goodifinancial advan
tage. The claims were due. ? The
President insisted upon their collec
tion , nnd this was done ; In a prompt
and bualnoss-llke manner. . " , , < c
WESTERN WOOL V'AlluES.
I'arnifM In Idaho Sco tlio UeiU'lflH of
' 1'rotectloii. ' . " * ' >
Western wool values continue , to at
tract the attention bf farmers , daho
affords an interesting exhibit , as fol
lows : , , j V. ,
Farm Price Tola lf"
Ypar. Pouniln. in Cents. Value.
IbSl 3,51SSJ n
1M 2 ; 3.CSU.53' ' ) 13 -IT'J.GW
1S9J 5J6'J,5.i 10
10G
1S9I 5,456SL : i G
WH , t..vr WjjMrY ,
ISSG . . . . . . . . 7.632I
1507 9C.12S31 9 WK5.93I
13 1,502-Ji
1SU9 t.lG.\KlltiO \ 12 1.541,973
11)00 ) IS.CIO.Cil 12 > , i 2,32CS ± >
, The .valuo of Idaho's wool decreased
by one-half under free trade , but It is
n w back to regular protection prices.
In 1891 the value of 8,514,000 pounds
of Idaho wool was 5456,790. But double
the quantity , was worth less money
in 1896. ' '
Just before President McKinley was
Inaugurated In 1897 the value of 9,633-
000 pounds of4 Idaho wool was $866-
951. This year , for less than twice the
quantity , the farmer in that state got
nearly three tlriies as much monoy.
1'roxvrutlon , Not I'roti > rtlnn.
The Republican'party prbaep.lites and
punishes these oft its public officials
> vho betray th.olr trusts. Protection for
tllshoiiestyhevVr was a Republican
practice.
Disappoint IIIK Di'inorrnry.
The peaceful and satlafactory solu-
tfon 61 n labor 'difficulty' Is always n
disappointment 'to Democratic leader-
' '
'
Vttrletle * of I'npnllim , /
iMldde-ofTtho-road.PQp"ullsb ! contlnW
ilek" to' show light to UIQvariety thai
dodges about the fence corners.
