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EEEE TEIBUNE.
F. M. E. 91. K1M3IEIX , Fab * .
r ,
McCOOK , : : : : NE
t iM aMagaBaiMa a MBBaaMM M MMB
> i > , OVER THE STAm
_
WANTS § 25,000 DAMAGES. On the evei
ing of the 22d of December , Mr. J. F. Di
trell , representing tho Superlative Purific
and Cockle Separator Manufacturing con
pany of Milwaukee , Wis. , boarded the we
bound.Burlington & Missouri trainfatth :
place for Juniata. Being late in reachir
the depot he did not purchase a ticket , bi ;
knowing that the regular fare was 20 cent
when the conductor came around he tei
dered that official that amount. Coi
ductor Clark reminded him of that wel
known rule of the company to collect 2
cents extra when the fare was paid on th
train and demanded 45 cents instead
This Littrell , though displaying a hnndh
of money , refused to pay , whereupon th
conductor pulled the rope nn'd when th
train came to a , halt fired his man at i
point about one and a half miles west < j
' Hastings. Littrell walked the remainde
of the distance to Juniata , where he wen
to put in some new machinery in the mi !
at that place. On the following day he re
turned to this city , and after consultin
legal authority , proceeded to institut
legal proceedings against the Burlington !
Missouri company for § 25,000 diimagei
The object of the suit is to make a tes
case of the law bearing upon such cases a
embodied in sections U and 4. page 475
revised Htutn tes of Nebraska. The preccd
ing sections fix the rates per mile whicl
railroads may charge passengers in Nc
Imiska after which the sections in questioi
follow in the following language , to-wit :
Sec. 3. Nothing herein shall be construec
as to prevent any railroad company fron
adopting the rule that when the fare is pait
on the train , the conductor may chargt
and collect not to exceed 25 cenls in add !
tion to the regular fare , for which he shal
give back to such passenger a conductor * !
check , which shall be good for the sum st
charged at any station on such road , 01
pi-escntation to the agent of said road.
Sec. 4. It Mbnli be unlawful for any rail
road corporation operating a milroad in
this state to expel or remove from anj
con ch used for conveying passengers ovei
their lines of road , any person who offers
to pay the regular fare not to exceed the
maximum rate herein fixed for conveying
passengers along the line of said road , pro
vided said persons conduct themselves pro
perly while remaining therein.
_ It is urged that under the last section
cited , a passenger who tenders the statu
tory rate per mile cannot be legally ejected
from the train so long as he conducts him
self properly. This construction of the
law would simply leave section three in the
predicament of a criminal law without a
penalty , and inoperative for want of ade
quate means to enfore it. Mr. C. H. Tan-
iier has brought the case and it is under
stood that he will have able assistance
when the case-comes up for hearing at the
June term of the district court. Mr. Lit-
trell seems to be in dead earnest and pro
poses to s e it through and have tho ver
dict of the highest courts before giving up
as whipped. Hastings Nebraskan.
NEBRASKA NEJTS AND NOTES.
DR. StVETNAxr , of Omaha , who has been
sued by a lady of that city for § 10,000
damages for malpractice and for communi
cating disease , has his answer to the peti
tion in the district court. He admits that
more than thirty day * prior to attending
Mrs. Saxe , he had attended a patient who
died of puerperal fever , but also claims
that at the time he thoroughly disinfected
himself and used all precautions generally
known to physicians. He denies that he
negligently or in any manner transmitted
said disease to plaintiff. He states that'it
became necessary to perform several minor
operations upon the plaintiff , but he
asserts that they were skillfully performed
and did not cause unnecessary pain or jn-
iury to palintiff.
THE Ord Journal is reliably informed
that a steam flouring mill , roller process ,
will be established in that place early in
the spring , by a couple of Grand Island
gentlemen who thoroughly understand the
business and have the means to put up a
first class mill.
C. S. JO.VES , o * Lincoln , for keeping ar
assignation house , was given sixty days
impnsonment. The court was also about
to impose a fine of § 135 , but a question
was raised as to the legality of a double
penalty of this kind , and the fine only was
imposed.
THE State Bee Keepers' association , in
session at Lincoln , elected the following
officers for the ensuing term : President. W.
F. Wright , Nemaha county ; vice president ,
J. Hedges , Saline county ; secretarj , H. M.
Patterson , Humboldt ; treasurer , R. E.
Leech , York. It was agreed to recommend
E. Whitcomb of the Friend Telegraph to
the state board of agriculture for superin
tendent of bees and honey at the state fair.
THE opening address of the winter term
ol the state university was delivered by
Prof. Edgren , of the chair of modern lan
guages , in the university chapel , on the
15th , to a large audience. The subject ol
the lecture was "Budhism. " In introduc
ing the lecturer Chancellor Manatt called
attention to the flourishing condition of
the university , and the fact that while last
year the attendance was 'decreased by
about thirty in the winter term the atten
dance is increased this year over the fall
term.
Tnn county county commissioners ol
Douglas county , last Friday , supplied 150
poor families with coal and provisions ,
this being the largest number helped in one
week during the nresent season.
t"1 *
APRIL 1,1886 , the new Saving Bank of
Hastings , with a paid up capital of § 100-
000 , will throw its doors open to the pub
lic. It is backed by local capital. Wm.
f , Kerr , president ; Win. Cline , cashier.
A LINCOLN thief took to his heels the
ofher day , and , * though chased tor several
miles into the country , finally got out of
sight of his pursuers. Hehad stolen money
and an overcoat. The latter part of the
booty he threw away that he might make
r better time.
THE life insurance company organized in
Hastings last spring lias done a highly sat
isfactory business.
THE Hastings Democrat says : Congress
man Laird arrived on the west bound B. &
M. train last Tuesday evening on the sad
mission of performing the last duties of a
Bon Co a deceased parent , bringing with him
the body of his mother whose demise in
Illinois was recently reported. The body
was taken on up to Juniata where the
foneral took place.
HARTINOTON is the county seat ol Cedn
county and , the jail islocatedat St.Hclem
fifteen miles away.
ODD FELLOWS of Omaha propose celebri
ting the sixty-seventh anniversary of thi
order. The date is April 26th.
LEWIS TALMAOC , of Ulysses , lost 30
sheep during the late storm.
DETECTIVES of Omaha are laying for
young man expected that way from Ch
cago , where he done up an old-time frien
to the tune of § 560. It was a clear case <
misplaced confidence.
NEAR Fairbury , a mnn who was drun
fell from a wagon , receiving injuries froi
whichjie dipd-in TL few cln.vs.-
THE Pierce Times is responsible for th :
paragraph : Everybody would suppos
that the hum of the old-fashioned spinnin ;
wheel had ceased forever , and that tli
work of spinning yarn had been given ovc
for good to the mills and factories. AY
were not a little surprised to find tho
nearly every farmer in the valley from Noi
folk to Pierce has one of them in his housi
and at this time of the year in constati
use. Talk about your fine wool. A pai
of socks or mittens knit out of the hoim
spun yarn will outlast a dozen ol the kin
you can buy in the market.
A man named Lcmmon , who was drivin
into Omaha last week , was unable to mar
ago his horse and the animal ran awa ;
with him. In order to save himself injur ,
Lemmon drew a revolver and shot the ani
mal dead while he was on the keen jump.
Mns. JOHN VALESH , a Bohemian womai
residing in Brush Creek precinct , Salin
county , gave birth to three healthy chil
dren the other day , and all parties into *
estcd are doing well.
AN artesian well has been bored on tin
farm of Gerhard Kohls , near Hartington
After the drill was down 465 feet it strucl
a hard substance , through which the dril
could not penetrate. While at dinner tin
well began spouting , and now a good flon
is had.
HERE is the composition of Willie Frank ,
an Omaha school-boy in the fourth 1
class : GENERAL GRANT. General Granl
helped us to fight tho Mexican War and the
Civil War. He was president for eight
years and because he helped us fight ho waf
not u coward. He ate at the Queens' and
lOngs" houses and all the people would ask
him to come in and eat with them. Ht
traveled over the % vorld and then the peo
ple gave him money. I do not think he
was very rich because when he came home
he had to pull money out of his pocket.
When he was poor he wrote a book , su
when he died his wife could get money for
it. He was a good man all his lifetime. He
died at the last of July and everybody was
sorry. He was buried in the place of Riv
erside Park , N. Y. City.
THE M. E. people of Beatrice are having
quite a religious revival. There is a largo
and increasing attendance.
THE postmaster at Omaha has received
n , reportfrom the third assistant post
master general showing the increase in the
receipts of a number of the leading post-
offices in the United States for the six
months ending Dec. 31 , 1885 , over the
corresponding six months of 1884. Omaha
lieads the list with an increase of 22.9 per
: ent. St. Paul comes next with an increase
of 3 8.5 per cent.
NORFOLK has raised a guarantee fund of
? 0,000 to secure the next G. A. R. reunion
at that place.
THE villain who held up Wells , Fargo it
Co.'s buckboard express near D.iwes City
and carried away the money box with
ivbout § 7,000 , has not Laen captured j-et.
The officer in command at Fort Robinson
lies reported to military headquarters at
Omaha , that his men who were out in
search of the robber tracked him to Chad-
ron and there gave up the chase , leaving it
to the civil authorities. There seems to
be an opinion in that section that the
robbery was committed by a local ama
teur and that he will soon be taken in.
TiiEannual encampment of theNebraska
aepartment of the G. A. R. will be held at
Red Cloud on February 17 , when the place
tor holding the reunion next fall will be de-
:5ded upon. The towns which have thus
tar declared themselves are Kearney , Grand
Mand and Norfolk , and it is said that all
; hree will make propositions to devote
landsome sums of money to secure a per-
nanent location.
A HUGE temperance revival is about to
M inaugurated in Lincoln.
DURING the recent storm the snow drifted
igalnst 0. Nelson's sheep-sheds atSchuyler
ind broke them in. Mr. Nelson lost 140
ihcep.
JOHN T. ECKER , confined inthe , jail at
Albion under an indictment for fellony ,
nade his escape by reaching a window in
; he seond story and making a rope of his
jlankets , let himself down to the ground.
LVST year 4,118,400 eg s were shipped
rom Fremont , an increase of 100 per cent
> vrr the previous year. In addition to
.his halfa million pounds of butter were
lisposed of , 6,420 barrels of apples , and
. ,651 baskets of grapes. Fremont is no
louch as an exporter.
THE fourth newspaper for Beatrice is
ibotit to be issued. The office comes from
; rete.
S. SOVRENSON , of Dodge county , has be-
un action in the county court against the
J. P. railroad to recover damages to the
xtent of § 197 sustained by the burning of
, pasture field last fall by sparks from a
tassing locomotive.
THERE are over 600 traveling men in the
tato who travel for Nebraska wholesale
louses and eastern houses , who are located
ti the state.
ON the 18th , between 12 and 1 o'clock ,
re was discovered in the roar of a frame
uilding on the east side of Fifth street ,
eatrice , whichxsoon spread and before it
as stopped six frame buildings were de-
: royed. The city being poorly provided
ir fighting fire , most of the work was con-
jnlrated upon saving the goods. The
uildings were owned as follows ; C. E.
r'hite , Schell Bros. , Fred Kuston , W. D.
ox , Buchanan Bros , and LaSalle , and
ccupied in the above order by C. E.
'lute , attorney , and B. W. Davis , ir
irance , Schell & Nichol , boots and shoes
eorge Smith , butcher , C. K. Linzcnbeiy ,
ibinet maker , John Tcrlmne , paints and
all paper , and A. P. Spcrry , bakery. The
iss on buildings is about § 5,000 , and the
ime on goods. Insurance about one-half.
THE Omaha fair association has made a
iport which shoWs.tlrat total rccepts were
31292.75 ; disbursements , f 30.579.09.
THE other day an individual made
quite "lively" on a train from Norfolk t
Pierce. He was Buffering from 'partial ii
sanity , caused by alcoholic poisoning. II
became pugilistic and , armed with it larj
knife , undertook to "clean out" the ca
and was only stopped from carrying on
his intention by one of the passengers sei
ing the stove poker and striking him ov <
the head. The blow was sufficient t
quench his thirst for blood.
ALBION takes water-works in hers. Thei
were but 15 dissenting votes.
Mn. THOMAS DO.VAHOO , an old resident <
Douglas county , reports that six of hi
large hogs actually froze to death in h
hog house during the late cold weather.
AHIILAND received a few days ago , tli
largest mail wilhin the history of thetowi
The blockade done it.
THE Fairbury Republican says that Co
Baker , of St. Joseph , an employe of tli
Rock Island rond , arrived in that town tli
other day and had a conference with lent
ing citizens at the board of trade room !
In his remarks he stated that he came a
the instance of the hinnngement of hi
road. While no definite routes h-id bee
lixed upon , he believed his company ha
decided to build three lines west from tli
Missouri , one to run through southwester
Kansas , one through the central part t
state and the other northwest , throng
Kansas and this state , that their court !
would-depend bomewhat on the aid offerei
by the different localities. He assured th
people of Fairoury that when his compan ,
were ready for business , if they contem
plate coming that way , they would subini
a proposition which , if accepted , will in
sure the road ; that it alwavs had been th
policy of the company to keep faith wit !
the communities through which they passei
and fulfill all their promises.
THE people of Pleasant Hill recently ha <
to go nine days without any mail.
"JS'o BOYS Allowed in Here , " is a sign dia
plaj-cd in a number of Omaha saloons jus
now , the direct result of the recent effectiv
work of the Law and Order league of tha
city.
city.Tun
Tun , revival in Beatrice is one of grea
power. Theatteudance is greater than tin
beating capacity.
THE Nelson Herald says that many o
the sportsmen , who have been out huntiiij
since the storm , report the finding of score !
of quail , frozen to death. Some think thej
are nearly exterminated , the slaughter has
been so general.
REVIVAL meetings arc in progress in manj
Nebraska towns , and in some of them t
good deal of religious interest is manifested
A COMPROMISE OA" COINAGE.
How it is to to Jlrouyltt About ami by Whos <
Washington special : Every day has f
growing tendency toward compromise witl
reference to the silver coinage question ,
Indications point to an increase in tin
amount of silver in the standard dollai
as such a compromise. The opponents o :
the silver dollar are seeing that they can-
nob possibly get suspension of coinage , and
are inclined to accept whatever they car
get. An increase of the amount of silver ir
a standard dollar , so that it might be
worth about 100 cents , would be satis
factory to them. It would not be entirety
so to the extreme silver men , but it would
probably be supported by the great mass
of members who are not radical on either
side of the question. The majority in botli
houses have been represented as silvei
men. This is scarcely a fair statement ol
the case. There is doubtless a large major
ity who are opposed to the suspension 01
to the demonetization of silver , but fully
three-fourths of the members of con
gress will tell you that something
ought to bo done to stop the system
of coining an SO cent coin and calling it a
dollar. They say it will not do to stop
the coinage of silver , for currency is de
manded by the people. There are evidences
ol a growing belief among the majority ol
conservative thinkers in congress that an
increase in the value of the dollar would be
the eabiest and wisest solution of the difii-
julty. The proposition for increasing the
ilollar to 100 cents , making coinage free , so
that everybody may have all his silver
joined into full valne dollars at United
States mints and the right to exchange
these coins for silver certificates at the
treasury , would meet with very strong sup
port from the more moderate silver men ,
ivilh the gold men who see that this will be
the best thing that they can get , with the
arge conservative element of congress , and
, \ ith the people generally. The press of the
? ast is beginning to &ee , too , that somepro-
josition of this sort is the most satisfac-
: ory one that can be found , and ia begin-
ihm to ad vo rate it. _
JJ/M.YC7/Z1VG OUT I ? OK IS US fX ESS.
"lie Jlhiotiri Pttci/ic'x Plan fur Development
of II * Si/tlein.
The directors of the Missouri Pacific rnil-
oad company have addressed a circular
o the shareholders , in which they say that
o provide the necessary money by which
o control the ownership of the branch
oads. necessary to a proper development
f the Missouri Pacific system , it is pro-
oscd to increase the capital stock of the
ompauy § 6,000,000 and to offer the same
o the stockholders at par. The circular
iiys : "It will be necessary under the laws
f the states through which your roads are
pcratcd to own or control some of their
ranches and extensions , by means of in-
ependent auxiliary local railway com-
ames , through acquisition of their bonds
r stock. or both. This company , so far
s'it shall use the proceeds of the sale of
nch additional block for this purpose , will
lace the acquired bonds and stocks of
nch railway corporations in the hands of
lussell Snse , Henry G. Mnrqnnnd and
ieor c F. Gould , to be hold in trust , not to
e pledged or sold or in any way disposed
f. unless the company shall acquire full
wnership by consolidation or otherwise. " '
'lie ' transfer books of the company will be
loscd on February G for the annual meet-
ig , and stockholders of record at that
ate will have the privilege of subscribing
j an issue of stock at parequnl in amount
D one-tenth of their respective holdings.
meeting of stockholders will be held in
t. Louis on March 10 , when an issue of 20
er cent of the new stock will be ratified.
-I r.HTIIFVr. FATHER.
Finwas ili-iMivcrcd in the house of Berry
ooksiin at Greenbiisli. Maine. The flames
nvsiil rapidly and Cookson. in endcavor-
i ! tn rescue his son's wife and two chil-
rcii. was caught in the ruins by the falling
lof.just as he passed the second child out ,
nd he was burned to death. He was 75
iars old. Thewoman and children wer
irribljr burned , but will recover.
REGULATING RAILROADS OX PAPER
What Han Seen Brought Forth by Senatoi
Cullom and Sla Committee ,
Following is a brief synopsis of thebill t <
regulate commerce reported from the sen
ate select committee upon inter-state rail
way transportation by Senator Cullom :
After specifying the classes of carriages
or rather kinds of traffic to which the regu
lations prescribed are to apply , niu
declaring that all charges made by suci
carriers bhall be reasonable , the prelimin
ary section aims to prohibit every vnrietj
of unjust discrimination , to prescribi
adequate penalties for its enforeemen
in th < Tcourts of the United States. Tin
sections include a requirement that al
carriers shall afford reasonable fncilitiei
for the inter-change of traffic with connect
ing lines and the prohibition of a greatei
charge for shorter than longer distance , ex
cept when it can be affirmatively estab
li.shed by the carrier that such charge doci
not constitute unjust discrimination.
Another section requires all carriers sub
ject to the provisions of the proposed ad
to file their tariffs and classifications will
tiie inter-state commerce commission , am'
provides they shall be posted or otherwisi
published , but leaves to be determined } iy
the commission the manner of publication
and the places at and between which ratw
shall bo published. Provision is made foi
enforcing the requirements of the commis
sion in these respects through the courts ,
and for the maintenance of the rate that
may be thus published. Provision is iilsu
made for the appointment by the president
of five commissioners to be confirmed by
tin ; senateand several sectionsaredevoted
to pre.seribing the duties of the commis
sioners and the manner in which com
plaints sire to be investigated and tin
prosecutions instituted under its direction
when found nee.\ssary. Such common car
rier may , however , in special cases , be au
thorized by the commission to charge for
longer than for shorter distances for the
transportation of paHsengersand property.
The commisHioders first appointed to con
tinue in office for the term of two , three ,
four , five and six years respectively , begin
ning the 1st day of July nuxt , nut-mor *
than three of whom Khali be appointed
from the same political party. The salary
of each commissioner is to be 57,500 per
annum.
The report of the select committee of the
scijate upon the inter--state railroad trans
portation , to accompany the Cullom inter
state commerce bill introduced to-day ,
forms a printed volume of 210 page * . Tt
saj'S the outlook is noc good for the United
States to ship breadstuffs in unlimited
quantities throughout the civilized world
and the principal markets both for bread
and meats must henceforth be sought at
home. In its discussion of the power of
congress to regulate commerce , the com
mittee reviews exhaustively the declara
tions of the United States supreme court
on the subject. Unjust discrimination , it
says , is the chief cause of coinplninta ninst
the management of the railroads in the
conduct of business , and gives rise to much
of the pressure upon congress for regula
tive limitation. Railroad companies do
not recognize , as they should , the fact that
they sustain different relation to th pub
lic from persons engaged in ordinary busi
ness enterprises. Railroad corporations
necessarily rest under the same obligations
to deal fairly and equitably with all citi
zens , without , favoritism or discrimination ,
as the state itself. The subject of compe
tition between waterways and railroads is
discussed biiefly , and the conclusion is
reached that waterways are the most effec
tive regulators of railroad charges , and
that the emancipation of waters ia a na
tional necessity.
Of the Hennepiii canal the committee
says the commerce of the nation would de
rive fresh and continued advantages from
the construction of thia canal. Cheaper
transportation between Chicago and the
seaboard , the report bays , is assured by a
line of free water comminution open
through the great lakes , the Erie canal and
Hudson river and no method has been sug
gested by which controlling influence of this
water competition could be extended over
so wide , populous , and productive terri
tory , also at as moderate an expense as by
constructing this short canal of seventy-
four miles , which would give the people of
the Upper Mississippi states direct water
transit connection with all the states of the
Atlantic seaboard and with Europe. The
necessity of this improvement is made more
urgent by the high and oppressive rates of
freight prevailing between thegrain-produc-
ing states of the Northwest and Chicago , as
compared with charces made between that ;
point and the Atlantic coast by the con
struction of this canal. These charges
would be materially reduced and the grain-
producing states would be given that cheap
transit which has now become necessary to
jnablc them to successfully place their bur-
plus products in foreign market. TheComte
formulates its conclusions as follows.
The public interest demands regulations
at the business of transportation because
n the absence of such regulation the carrier
s actually sole and final arbiter upon all
lispnted questions that ari < e between the
dripper and carrier as to whether the rates
ire reasonable or unjust discriminat'on
ins been practiced. It is the duty of con-
trcss to undertake the regulation of the
jusiness of transportation , because of the
idmitted abuses in its management and of
; he acknowledged discriminations between
) crsons and places in its practical opern-
iions. National legislation is necessary to
emedy the evils complained of. because
; he operations of the transportation Bye-
cm are for the most part beyond thejurib-
liction of the states , and until congress
icts not subject to any governmental con-
; rol in the public interest , and because the
mbincss of transportation is cssentinlly of
he nature which requires that uniform
lystem and method of regulation which
mtionnl authority can alone prescribe.
Che failure of congress to act is an excuse
or the attempts of the railroad companies
: o regulate the commerce of the country in
iheir own way and in their own interests
> y whatever combinations and methods
hey are able to put into operation.
That a problem of such magnitude , im-
) ortance and intricacy can be summarily
iolved by any master stroke of legislative
visdom is , the committee says , beyond the
lounds of reasonable belief. That the
ailroads , unaided or unrestrained , can or
till eventually work out its solution , is
lighly improbable , judging from past expe-
ience , and cannot reasonably b ? expected ,
"hat a satisfactory solution of the prob-
em can cither be secured without aid of
rise legislation the committee does not be-
ieve. - The committee declares publicity is
he b < > st remedy for unjust discriminnton
tnd recommends the posting of rates under
lirection of a commission. The concluding
hapter embodies recommendation for the
stablishment of a national commission
o enforce legislation which the committee
ecommends.
TVDGE ST.IT.T.O SXUIIS THE r.lT/CM.V.
The New York Sun's London cable says :
Hie story i-i published in Rome newspapers
hat.Judge Stallo , the new United States
uinister to Italy , abruptly left a dinner
: iven by Dr. Dehimatcr , an American den-
ibt living in Rome , on dibcovering that tho
hamberlain of the pope's household was
imong the guests. In explaining his de-
larture to Dr. Delamater , Judge Stallo ia
epresunled to have said that hehad orders
o have no relations of any sort with the
atican. The affair has created considera
te sensation , but is not credited by Amer-
TOE OUTLOOK VERT FLATTERING.
That tn Relation to Winter Wheat in Ohio
Jllchiijan anil Other States ,
S. W. Talmadge , of Milwaukee , gives th <
associated press tho following iuformatioi
in relation to the condition of the winte :
wheat plant in Ohio , Michigan , Illinois
Kentucky , Missouri , Kansas and Mary
land.
The secretary of the Ohio state board o
agriculture says : "Our wheat was fineli
covered with snow before the severe col (
weather came , and the plant went intc
winter in good condition. "
The secretary of the state oP Michigar
says : "I do not think the wheat crop o1
this state has suffered any material injury.
We had a general break-up , followed by r
severe freeze , but previous to this then
was a light fall of snow , which dotibtlesf
served as a partial protection to the wheat
plant. "
S. D. Fisher , of Springfield , 111. , says : " ]
have as yet heard no complaints. Tin
plant is protected more or less by thesnow
which fell to a depth of five or six inches
before the late severe cold weather was
upon us. But there was considerable
wind , and there must be a considerable
area butthinlv protected. "
The commissioner of agriculture of Ken
tucky says : "Up to the present time nr
injury to wheat has been reported to tint
bureau. On tho first of this month we had
n good fall of snow , which will protect tin
wheat crop for the present. Correspond
cuts , ni ) to the 1st of January , were unan
imous in reporting the condition of wheat
to be No. 1. "
The secretary of the state board of agri
culture of Missouri reports tin ; condition ol
wheat very favorable , and says the cold
weather has done no material injury to the
plant.
The secretary of the state board of agri-
tnre of Kansas snys : ' 'There has been an
injury to the wheat crop by tho late cold
weather. "
Ezia A. Whitman , of Maryland. Bays :
"The snow in our state is from six to ten
inche.s deep. Tin * mercury has been nearly
to zero for several nights , and through the
day 15 ° to 20 ° above. We can not learn
that the wheat crop has been in any way
injured during the winter. "
The commissioner of agriculture for Vir-
p'nia says : ' 'The recent cold weather has
done no special injury to the plant. The
land has been covered with snow , not deep ,
but siiflicientl\ to protect wheat. "
John II. Stridcr , of West Virginia , says :
"Cold wed I her has not let np sufficiently
for us to determine what damage , if any
has been done. "
-NIXZ : MEN EXTOMHED.
A fearful Ulini' Disaster in Virginia Great
J.ON.S of Life Feared ,
On the 21st an explosion of fire-damp oc
curred in the shaft of the Newburg Oriel
coal company , at Newburg , W. Va. , which
shook the buildings in the inime-
iliate vicinity and caused conster
nation and alarm among the rela
tives and friends of the miners em
ployed there. Immediately following the
jotuul of the explosion , flames of fire arose
ibove the mouth of the shaft and timber
uul debris of all kinds was btrewn around ,
jreat excitement ensued and crowds of
: > cop1c hurried to the bcene. The shaft in
ivhich the explosion occurred was sunk
ibout two years ago and has reached a
lepth of 350 feet. From the base of the
ihaft the iwiin heading runs o.ut abouthalf
i mile from where narrow rooms diverge
rom either side. The theory advanced as
.o the cause of the explosion is is that fire-
lamp had accumulated in one of these
c oins and was accidentally ignited by a
niner's lamp , but nothing positive has yet
) een learned. The force of the explosion
> Iocked the air so close that no one would
renture in the main heading to ascertain
, he fate of the imprisoned men until the air
> assage could be established. This wok is
> eing pushed vigorouly. Up to midnight
10 bodies had been recovered. It is sup-
loscd that thirty-seven men areimpr isoncd.
LATEK. The scene of the mine disaster
Continues to present a heartrending spectn-
; le. The east-bound train to-day brought
L great many people from Chirksburgh ,
? airmount , Grafton and intermediate
toints and sympathizing friends camefrom
is far cast as Piedmont. They swelled the
topeless and helpless crowd that hung
iround the pit's mouth. Men , women and
hildren were gathered there , pale , tremb-
ing , weeping , staring at the bhaft , almost
tumb with consternation. Few words
rere exchanged and these in a low tone , for
he people there knew theybtood above the
omb of thirti'-nine men who went down to
leath. No bodies haveyct been recovered.
The idea is advanced that most of the ex
icrienced miners , knowing the nature of
he gas if the men were not killed n.t once ,
rotild have thrown themselves on their
ices , their being the least foul air on the
loor. This gives friends some grounds for
ope , but it is so slight that it is not en-
ouraged. It is believed by some men who
, re familiar with the mines that the rooms
: i the extreme portions of the working are
re comparatively free from gas and that
hey may have afforded a refuge to those
i or near them. These gleams of hope are
ict by the afllicted families with moans of
espnir. The e.ilarnity falls with terrific
) rce on the little town of Newburg. The
ccent cold weather froze out the miners
nd they could not work for ten days , and
ttle money is coming to the men who are
n the death roll. Few of them had any
avings and their taking off will leave their
unifies in destitution.
! ' Tcf Tim jrissounr JUVEK ,
Prominent PltyvifiHn of St. , Josci > h
trriottilif Jtisapjieam.
St. Joseph ( Mo. ) dispatch : Dr. S. A.
iclunond , manufacturer of patent mcdi-
ne , has been mibsing bince Thursday last.
wo years ago he was sued by an eastern
Jvertising agent for § 58,000 for breach of
mtract. The wise was recently compro-
iscd for § 7,000 , which Richmond agreed
> pay. On Tuesday last he left a bick bed
nd went to Chicago , returning Thursday ,
at has not been been orheard of since.
The theory prevails that he was physi-
dly and mentally exhausted , and prob-
ijly wandered into the Missouri river , the
lanncl of which is open in front of the
rnncis street depot , where he left the
ain. Diligent search has been made , but
i trace of him can be found. His wife is
implctely prostrated with grieft and can
fer no explanation except that her hns-
ind was not in hi ? right mind , and has
> t been for several weeks. His business
us worth several hundred thousand dol-
rs , and his wife owns one of the most
uutiful homes in St. Joe , with probably
ic finest conservatories of any private
> rson in the west. No action has yet
: cn taken concerning the management of
IP 'doctor's business , hopes being enter-
ined still that he may turn up and as-
ime charge again himself , although the iu-
cations are that there is little foundation
r such hope.
RAILWAYS iy
A syndicate of French capitalists has
; en formed to compete with the German
fndicate in supplying the Chinese govern-
ent with material for the construction ol
lilways. The delegates of the German
ndicate , who recently sailed for China to
gotiate with the Chinese gpvernment for
ic construction of the projected railways
icre , took with them $100,000 lor their
eliminary expense * .
THE C03IMK11CE KKTWEKX STATES.
Tlio Iiilrr-Sltttc C'ominrife Itill A 1'apcr
fiimi UIK Prriltlent af the C' . , It , t O ,
Washington dispatch : Senator Cullom'a
Felcct committee on intcr-stato railroad
transportation will probably report to the
senate at an early day an original inter
state commerce bill , and at the same time
submit an exhaustive reportin 5U support.
The committee , which spent a good part * > V
the summer in investigations , has beeTT
holJiug daily sessions since tho assembling- <
ol congress.
The board of railroad commissioners ol
Kansas contributes to this volumca paper
which expresses tho opinion that a national
commission should bo established , vested
with certain supervisory powers over the
subject of inter-state commerce. Ihese
powers should be confined to tho function
or regulation and not to the management
or inter-state commerce. It would , the
board thinks , serve no uso or practical pur
pose to give to such commission power to
establish maximum rates for either passen
ger or freight traffic over inter-state rail
ways , the subject being too largo and intri
cate to be intelligently dealt with by a sin
gle body of men , even though composed ol
men trained to tho study and business ol
railroad affairs.
Mr. Charles Perkins , president of the
Chicago , Burlington , it Quincy railway
company , contributes an interesting paper
Betting forth what may perhaps be as
sumed to be railroad side of tho question.
He assumes that it is the settled policy ol
most of the states to permit railroad con
struction to be free , and also that tho Eng
lish common law doctrines relative to com
mon carriers are not now open to discus
sion. Many of them arc relics of an ago ol
horse power or water craft. He thinks the
best method of preventing extortion or un
just discrimination is by an appeal to the
courts , but he says that very little , if any ,
extortion or unjust discrimination is prac
ticed. in evidence of which he points to the
fact that few cases arc taken to a court or
made public , and the record of state rail
road commissions show very few com
plaints and still fewer decisions by the
commissioners against theroads. Through
rates , he says , are generally lower than
local rates , because through business is
wholesale business , larger in amount and
therefore less expensive to transact , and
for iidditional reasons , that tho competi
tion for it is severe , and that through rates
are more generally affected by direct water
route competition.
But it is obviously inexpedient to re
quire railroads to reduce local r.ites be
cause the combined influence of a larger
aggregate traffic and the competition ol
other railways , water routes , or rival mar
kets , which influences , not felt at local
points , may imike it to their interest tc
participate in through business on a very
small margin of profit. If all trades were
comnellcd to sell everything on a basis ol
the lowest margin of profit , which they
may find it necessary to do on some one
thing , tho effect would bo the same over a-
wide field as the effect of requiring rail
roads to _ give up through business or re
duce their local rates accordingly. Is it
more for the interest of the public to make
railroads unprofitable than to makebusi
ness generally unprofitable ?
Perhaps the best evidence that the local
rales of railroads throughout the country
are reasonable is to be found in the pros
perity of local points all over the country ,
and by a comparison with railroad charges
elsewhere in the world. It has some time
been assumed that competition docs not
[ > xist at what are called "local points , " but
this is not true. The desire of the railroad'
to increase the volume of business upon
which it must always depend for its sup
port , as against sometimes quite distant
regions served by other railways tributary
to the same or competing markets , consti
tutes active competition. Rates between
local points on a line of road in northern
: > r central Iowa and the markets of Clii-
: ago and St. Louis influence the rates be-
iween local points on a road in southern
[ own , and those markets , and vice versa.
Again between two railroads , even if they
vre a considerable distance apart , there is
ibout , a half way belt of country , the in-
labitants of which can generally go to
: ither road , and the contest between rail-
vays to secure the biioinrbS o' that belt in-
luences prices of transportation not only
jn that particulartrallic but on othsr bus-
ness which is translated at the same sta-
; ions on the respective roads. Railroads
mist remain in the country where they are ,
vhatcver happens , and their punishment
or excessive charges , while it would be a
ittle slower in coming than than of an in-
liyidual merchant , would be far more ccr-
ain and severe , because their business
vould bo ruined , or other roads would be
milt as a permanent competition. Never-
heless it is true , and will remain true as
ong as railroadsareconducted or business
iiincipleM. that trade centers will be able to
btain lower rates of transportation than
ocal points for precisely the sains reason
hat such places are able to obtain many
Conveniences and luxuries which local
loints du not and cannot enjoy. The low-
st rate of freight must go where there are
nough other persons who desire the same
o.nmkc it profitable- supply them. This
3 not because the railroads wish it to be
o , but because in tho nature of things it
mist be so.
It is manifestly not for the interest of
ny railroad to arbitrarily drive business
way from a local point where the traffic
; iust bo divided with other roads. It has
ecu said that railroads make the trade
filters , but such is not the fact. The
endency of railroads is to put different
rade centers on an equality by the anni-
ilation of distance , but they no more
lake centers of population and trade than
o the other manufacturers or trades who
eek such points for their own profit.
Most , if not all , tho cases of alleged un-
easonableness in railroad charges will on
( ireful investigation , tw ! ound to be due , to
misapprehension or misunderstanding ol
lie facts. The experience of the state com-
lissions has Hhon this to be true. To re-
nire absolute publicity of rates , and that
lianges should not be made without pub-
c notice , would be a great inconvenience
D the business community.
z.v nrc MISSOURI RIVER ,
Prominent P/iy.iician of St , Joseph
teriini.iliDisappears. .
St. Joseph ( Mo. ) dispatch : Dr. S. A.
ichmond , manufacturer of patent medi-
ne , has been missing since Thursday last ,
wo years ago he was sn I by an eastern
Jvertihing azent for § 5S,000 for breach of
mtract. The case was recently compro-
iKed for $7.000 , which Richmond agreed < . .
> pay. On Tuesday last he left a sick bed
: id went to Chicago , returning Thursday ,
: t has not been seen orheard of since.
The theory prevails that he was physi-
illy and mentally exhausted , and prob-
lily wandered into the Missouri river , tho
innncl of which is open in front of the-
nincis street depot , where he left tho
ain. Diligent search has been made , but
: > trace of him can be found. His wife is
miplctely prostrated with grief , and can
Ter no explanation except that herhus-
ind was not in his right mind , and has
jt been for several weeks. His business
; xs worth st-vural hundred thousand dol-
rs , and his wife owns one of the most
; autiful homes in St. Joe , with probably
ic finest conservatories of any private-
irson in the west. No action has yet
; en taken concerning the management of
10 doctor's business , hopes being entcr-
lined still that he may turn up and'as- .
ime charge again himself , although the in-
catinns are that there is little foundation
r euch hope.