IN FRONT
Qneea Makes Announcement , But the
War Office ia Silent.
CRONJE IS REPORTED CORNERED
Events Indicate It May Ho So , Hut Au
thentic NOIVH Is Iv.ickliiK Buller ShellIng -
Ing Boer Positions Reported Strength
of the Rocrii at Slormherg. 0,000.
LONDON , Feb. 21. The War office
has Issued a dispatch from Lord Rob
erts , the main importance of which is
the fact that it is dated Paardeberg ,
7:05 : p. m. , Monday. Paardeberg is
thirty miles east of Jacobsdal. The
dispatch announces that the railroad to
Kimberley is open and that General
Methuen will proceed there with rein
forcements forthwith , and that largo
supplies'will be forwarded to the town
The queen , prior to leaving Osborne
house this morning , on her return to
Windsor , inspected the Fourth batal-
ion of the Lincolnshire militia. Her
majesty announced with a gratified
smile that good news had been received
this morning from the seat of war.
Another account says the queen spec
ified that the good news was from
Ladysmith.
LONDON , Feb. 21. Whatever good
news may have been received from the
front is being carefully guarded. In
spite of the queen's announcement to
the Fourth battalion of the Lincoln
shire militia this morning prior to her
departure from Osborne House to Winder -
dor that good news had been received
from the seat of war , the War officials
solemnly averred that they had re
ceived no news up to 1:30 : o'clock this
afternoon. Unofficially it is rumored
that General Kitchener has brought
General Cronje to a standstill and lias
engaged him , and it is added the War
ollice now is only awaiting the result
ot the battle. This , however , though
plausible , may be premature. In any
case the confident hope that General
Cronje has been cut off from Bloom-
fontein continues to prevail in London ,
especially in view of detailed dispatch-
ea saying that the Free Staters , when
they saw the extent of the British
forces , were in favor of surrendering.
The first train to Kimberley left
Capetown last night and the neigh
borhood of the famous siege seems
thoroughly cleared of Boers.
General Buller , apparently , is con
tenting himself with shelling the
Eoers from his newly gained position
at Monte Christo , whicn , according to
good opinion , is likely to form his
base for another attempt to relieve
Ladysmith.
The Westminster Gazette's military
critic says he believes the Boers have
started northward in Natal and will
raise the siege of Ladysmith and rein
force General Cronje. But this must
be regarded as rather optimistic , at
any rate , until General Buller has de
veloped a Boers' second line of de
fense , wnicli , on every attempt to
reach Ladysmith , has proved impreg
nable.
A dispatch from Pietermaritzburg.
dated Monday , February 19 , says all
if quiet in Zululand and the Boers'
main bodies are reported to be retir
ing upon Dundee and Kelpmaakar.
leaving small forces and two pieces of
artillery , at each magitsracy.
Accordin gto special oispatch from
Tarkastad , a refugee who has arrived
there says the Boers are 6,000 strong
at Stromberg , but that at Burgherdorp
they have only a small town guard.
AMENDS CiVIL SERVICE LAW.
Bill In the Bouse to Make Appointments
for Five Years.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 21. Repre
sentative Lacey of Iowa has introduced
a bill amending the civil service act.
It provides that government employes
shall serve out a term of five years ,
tunity for reappointment for another
five years. Those now in the service
shal Iserve out a term of five years ,
and those who have served beyond
that time shall be divided into classes
whose terms shall gradually expire.
The annual report of the commission
er of patents for the year ending De
cember 31 , 1899 , shows that the total
receipts of the office amounted to $1-
325,457 , a sum but twice exceeded since
1836. After deducting the expendi
tures for the year there was a surplus
of $113,673. The patent office has now
paid into the treasury $5,086,649 more
than it has drawn out. The number of
patents issued , including designs and
reissues , was 25,527 , a number but once
exceeded. The number of patents ex
piring during the year was 18,135.
NO ACTION CONCERNING MACRIM
Great Britain Will Take Her Tliue in
Replying to Charges.
LONDON , Feb. 21. No action has
yet been taken by the British gov
ernment in regard to the allegations
made by Charles E. Macrum , the for
mer United States consul at Pretoria ,
nor has Mr. Joseph H. Choate , the
United States ambassador here , re
ceived any instructions to make inquiries -
quiries in connection with the matter.
The British officials declare that it is
exteremly improbable that consular
letters were opened at Durban as al
leged by Mr. Macrum.
Go to Invlto Dctvey.
SPRINGFIELD , 111. , Feb. 21. De
partment Commander Inman of the
G. A. R. Hon. Charles S. Rannels ,
Former Congressman William H. Hin-
richsen and M. F. Dunlap of Jackson
ville , left tonight for Washington ,
where they will be joined by Senator
Cullom. They comprise the commit
tee which bore to Admiral Dewey Jan
uary 16 the verbal Invitation which he
accepted to be present May 3 at the
department encampment of the G. A.
R. at Jacksonville. They take to him
a magnificent souvenir invitation.
THE POPULISTS FAVOR FUSION.
National Convention to Ho Held : \ \ Sioux
Falls , S. C. , on May tli.
LINCOLN , Feb. 22. The next
national convention of Uie populiot
party Avill be held in Sioux Falls , S.
D. , on May 9. Representation is bas
ed on the vote for Gen. J. B. Weaver
for president in 1892 , or if any can
didate for state office ha since polled
a larger vote , that vote shall be the
basis. Two delegates at large are
given each state. This was the de
cision reached in a somewhat extend
ed but harmonious meeting of the
fusion wing of the national commit
tee.
tee.The
The feature of the meeting was the
unanimity with which the members
accepted and indorsed the declaration
of Senator Allen , of Nebraska , that
Win. J. Bryan would be the candidate
of both the populist an'l democratic
parties , and the coupling with his
name that of Judge Henry C. Caldwell ,
of Arkansas , as the logical and most
promising vice presidential possibil
ity. Senator Allen went so far as to
say that he had positive knowledge
that if Judge Caldwell wore nominat-
nated by the populists as Mr. Bry
an's running mate he would be accep
table to the democrats , and the fusion
national ticket would be Bryan an.I
Caldwell.
Chairman Butler in a statement to
the Associated Press , at the conclu
sion of the meeting said he had no
regrets for his decisions of yesterday
which led to the bolt of the middle of
the road men. "It was a bolt here or
at the convention , " said Senator Buc-
ler , "and we preferred that the dis
turbers show their hands early in the
fight. "
IN LIEU OF WAR.
Police System U About to 5 uccced the
Army in the Phillippines.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 22. According
to information received at. the war de
partment from Manila , with the end
of the present expedition of General
Bates into the two provinces at the ex
treme southern part of the island of
Luzon , military operations in the Phil
ippines close.
Afterward there is nothing to do butte
to undertake to maintain order through
a police system. Attention is now be
ing given to that subject and steps are
being taken to form a thoroughly mo
bile , lightly armed gendaremie , some
thing on the order of the Canadian
mounted police , to cover the islands at
all points and conserve the energies
of the regular troops.
The arrest of a Tagal on the charge
of being a guerrilla , as reported from
Manila yesterday , it is stated at the de
partment , marks the initiation of an
other policy toward the insurgents who
still remain under arms.
As the summary punishment of guer
rillas cannot be had until some action
has been taken to declare the ter
mination of the application of the rules
of war , it is assumed at tha war depart
ment that General Otis has already is
sued some kind of a proclamation or
notice to the natives , warning them
that if they defy the rules of war and
pursue a predatory warfare they will
be treated as guerrillas when cap
tured.
The president is devoting special at
tention to the formation of the new
Philippine commission , acting on ad
vices that the army has reached the
end of its functions in the islands and
that the time is ripe for the establish
ment of civil government throughout
the archipelago.
Cuban Tobacco Dealers Protest.
HAVANA , Feb. 22. For some time
tobacco seed of an inferior quality has
been shipped to Cuba and the Cubans
naturally feel that this will militate
against the future reputation and
value of the local product. Earnest
protests have frequently been made
and today General Wood iSsued an
order which prohibits the further im
portation of such seed. Reputable to
bacco dealers and the public generally
are much gratified.
Senator Has Two Amendments.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 22. Senator
Culberson of Texas today gave notice
of two amendments he will propose to
the Porto Rican government bill. One
of these provides for free trade be
tween Porto Rico and the United
States proper. The other gives the
native Porto Ricans the same right to
choose whether they will become citi
zens of the United States that the
Paris treaty confers on the residents
who may have been born in the Span
ish peninsula.
Report Reciprocity Treaty.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 22. The senate
committee on foreign relations today
ordered a favorable report on the
tieaty of reciprocity with France. No
amendment was made to the treaty.
The committee did not take up the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty relating to the
Nicaragua canal.
Quay Case to Bo Called Up.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 22. An effort
is to be made to get the question in
volving the seating of Senator Quay
of Pennsylvania formally before the
senate for consideration.
Penrose of Pennsylvania gave no
tice today that he would call up the
case tomorrow. As it is a privileged
question he may be able to secure a
vote on the taking up of the case for
consideration and further develop the
Quay strength in the senate , at least
approximately.
Cronje in a Tight Place.
LONDON , Feb. 22. A private tele
gram received here fftm Berlin this
afternoon declares that General Cron
je is in a bad position bearing out
yesterday's Berlin rumor that General
Cronje was surrounded and that a time
limit had been siven him within which
to capitulate.
Canadian Reginient SufTers.
TORONTO , Feb. 22. A special dis-
patcn to the Globe says the First Ca
nadian contingent was engaged at
Modder river all day Sunday and that
eighteen men of the regiment were
killed and sixty wounded.
Some Eesolutions that Were Adopted Be
fore .Adjournment.
THANKS FOR A CORDIAL WELCOME
Those Wliii Have Generously Contributed
I'undx , the Givers of Low Transporta
tion , Kaltlifnl and IClllclent Ofilcers and
OUir.ru Conic in for Good AVords Other
Nebraska Matters.
LINCOLN , Feb. 2' ? . Before adjourn
ment the National Creamery Butter-
makers' association adopted the fol
lowing resolutions :
"Resolved , That we , the members
of the National Creamery Buttermak-
ers' association , in session assembled
at Lincoln , Neb. , February 22 , 3900 ,
having enjoyed the unstinted hospital
ity of the people of Nebraska upon the
occasion of their ninth annual con
vention , do hereby extend our sincere
appreciation and thanks to the state
of Nebraska for her cordial welcome ;
to the people of Lincoln for their lib
eral and fraternal treatment ; to the
members of the Commercial club for
their unselfish and thoughtful enter
tainment of the city's guests , and we
especially desire to extend to Messrs.
Morris Friend , J. C. Seacrest. A. M.
Priest , A. T. Peters and E. C. Folsom ,
the local committee of the Commer
cial club , the thanks of the association
for their labors in perfecting arrange
ments for this convention which have
resulted so satisfactorily in every par
ticular ; and , be it further
"Resolved , That in appreciation of
the dependence of this association
upon the financial support of the al
lied interests for a continuance of its
work upon the plans adopted by its
officers and managers , we. extend our
hearty thanks to all who have so gen
erously contributed to the funds of
this association during the last year ;
to the railroad corporations who have
by their grant or reduced transporta
tion rates pemitted the assembly of
so large a proportion of our member
ship , and to the dairy press for their
liberality in advertising the affairs of
the association without charge ; and ,
be it further
"Resolved , That the thanks of this
association De extended to the mana
gers of the Burlington route for their
prfouse decoration of the convention
hall in which our sessions have been
held ; and , be it further
"Resolved , That we extend our sin
cere thanks to the officers who during
the last year have so faithfully devot
ed their labors to the needs of the as
sociation , and to all others who , by
their personal efforts , have succeeded
in making this convention one of the
most successful in the history of the
National Creamery Buttermakers' as
sociation ; and , be it further
"Resolved , That we , the members
of the National Creamery Buttermak
ers' association , desire to express our
appreciation of the valuable work be
ing done for the agricultural interests
of the United States by the depart
ment of agriculture under the direction
of Hon. James Wilson , and especially
to thank the secretary of agriculture
for his attention to the needs of the
dairy industry , hia interest in our
association and his honored presence
at our convention ; and , be it further
"Resolved , That we , the members of
the National Creamery Buttermakers'
association , believing that all cream
ery butter should be adjudged as to its
merit upon a uniform basis of quality ,
respectfully recommend that in future
competitive exhibitions of butter under
the auspices of this association no dis
tinction be made between the product
cf separator creameries and that from
factories in which the butter is made
from gathered cream , but that all ex
hibits be accepted under the uniform
classiffication of "creamery. "
13
Porter Kept Busy.
LINCOLN , Feb. 26. Secretary of
State Porter is busily engaged these
days in securing and compiling evi
dence in the arguments to be heard
by the state board of transportation
March 1 on the tentative order issued
some time ago ordering the railroads
to reduce the freight rates on cattle
10 per cent and on hogs 5 per cent. It
will be rememberc'd that the secretary
and the attorney general were not dis
posed to sign the order demanding this
reduction , both contending that it was
not enough.
From the evidence already on hand ,
Secretary Porter is of the opinion that
he and Mr. Symth were justified in
their conclusions.
Funcr.il of a NcbrasUan.
FREMONT , Neb. , Feb. 26. The
funeral of the late Dr. L J. Abbott ,
who died at South Omaha , was held
from St. James Episcopal church. At
the request of the deceased the burial
service of the church was read by Rev.
Irving Johnson of South Omaha , and
there was no funeral sermon or eulogy
pronounced.
Prepare for Large Funeral.
YORK , Neb. , Feb. 26. As no church
in the city is large enough to hold the
large crowd who desire to attend the
triple funeral service of the three mem
bers of Company A. First Nebraska ,
whose remains have arrived from the
Philippines the large new auditorium
will be used.
Supreme Court Appointments.
LINCOLN , Feb. 26. It is learned
from reliable sources that at the sit
ting of the supreme court Tuesday ,
Judges Holcomb and Sullivan decided
to appoint Lee Herdman of Omaha to
the position of clerk of the court and
librarian , the position now held by D.
A. Campbell. From the same source
it is learned that Wilbur F. Bryant of
Hartington will be made official court
reporter , to succeed Charles F. Rose ,
and that Eland W. Nelson of the land
commissioner's office will succeed Ed
ward J .Streight as assistant clerk.
A NEBRASKA PIONEER GONE.
Otmtli of Dr. Abbott , Former Superin
tendent of tliu Iiimine AHyliuu.
SOUTH OMAHA. Feb. 24. Dr. L. J.
Abbott , late superintendent of the
Hospital for the Insane at Lincoln and
one of the best known pioneers of this
part of Nebraska , died at his residence
in South Omaha on Thursday. For a
time , in the early days , he was a promi
nent farmer and stock raiser in the
western part of Douglas county and
afterward , lor many years , was a prac
ticing physician at Fremont , from
which he was appointed to the super-
intendency of the hospital. From per
sonal participation few men , if any ,
had a wider knowledge or a more ac
curate memory than he of the events
and incidents of those early times in
Nebraska , his reminiscences of which
were peculiarly interesting and val
uable.
Dr. Abbott was. a man of marked
characteristics. His professional skill ,
his grasp of practical affairs , his in
tegrity and sturdy manhood secured
him the respect of all , while his warm ,
genial and sympathetic nature made
him hosts of friends. Without being
a seeker of place , he inclined to take
an active interest in party affairs and
controversies , with decided convictions
ui.on political questions , but his main
lines of life were professional and his
devotion to his family absorbng.
About ten days ago he had a para
lytic stroke. As a physician , he knew
at once and forecasted the result. For
the last three days he was unconscious.
After a long , useful and honored life
hr- died in the peace and quiet of his
home. His wife , four sons and two
daughters survive him , one of the sons
being now in service in the Philippines.
The funeral services will be held at
St. James' Episcopal cujych in Fre
mont.
- ' T ! a a
Triple Soldiers * Funeral.
BEATRICE , Neb. , Feb. 24. A triple
funeral of three First Nebraska sol
diers who died in the Philippines and
whose bodies were recently returned to
the United States , was held here. Their
names Avere Frank M. Knouse and
Bruce E. Macy of Company C , and
George W. Andrews of Company A.
The funeral was strictly a military
one and was conducted by the com
rades of the deceased soldiers. Serv
ices were held at the First Presby
terian church , where the remains lay
in state from morning until the serv
ices opened in the afternoon. The
services were conducted by Chaplain
Mailley of the First regiment. The in
terior of the church was decorated
with flags and flowers and the caskets
were draped in flags. The procession
to the cemetery included former mem
bers of Company C , the Wymore bat
tery , Rawlins Relict corps s nd other or
ganizations. Following this came a
long line of carriages. At the cemetery
the burial salute was given by the fir
ing squad.
Novel Scheme for Theater.
COLUMBUS , Neb. , Feb. 24. Jasper1
Hoffmann of York recently made an
offer to the citizens of this place that
if they would take insurance in the
company he represented to the amount
of § 8,000 in premiums , he would invest
$13,000 in an auditorium here. Pledges
from responsible paties now lack but
$225 of the required amount and the
subscribers have elected the following
committee to proceed with the work :
C. S. Gray , Jonas Welch , George Leh
man , I. Silberman and Daniel Schwann.
To Advertise Its Possibilities.
BROWNVILLE , Neb. , Feb. 24. The
business"men's association of Brown-
ville is taking steps to thoroughly ad
vertise this section's resources as a
fruit growing country. No finer fruit
is grown in this latitude than Nemaha
county fruit , and the business men be
lieve all the county needs to develop
its possibilities is to procure a canning
factory and other needed improve
ments necessary to the growth , of
Brownville and vicinity.
Johnson "Will Satisfy Creditors.
MEAD , Neb. , Feb. 24. Lee Johnson
has made arrangements with his cred
itors /vhereby they receive 80 per cent ,
of which 40 per cent will be paid at
once and the balance in six months.
No clue to the robbers has been se
cured , but local talent is suspected.
Things are beginning to look brighter
for the creditors.
Fulr Grounds for Stile.
NORFOLK , Neb. , Feb. 24. The old
Norfolk fair grounds have been adver-
ti&ed for sale by a committee ot the
owners of the grounds. This associa
tion was formed in 1S9G and for sev
eral years conducted fairs that were
well attended , yet not sufficiently to be
a financial success.
Accused by Girl Brother.
SOUTH SIOUX CITY , Neb. , Feb. 24.
M. Priest of Homer has been ar
rested on the charge of being the father
of a child born to Maud White , daugh
ter of Herbert White of Hm3r. Yo irg
Priest denies the charge.
Snullpox Nearly Stamped Out.
DU BOIS , Neb. , Feb. 24. Barring
the case of one of Dr. McColm's chil
dren" who is now down with the dis
ease , there are no cases of smallpox in
Du Bois or vicinity. The sick child
is doing nicely so far , and the attend
ing physician and nurse are confident
cf his recovery. There is no uneasi
ness felt now as to the disease spread
ing , and btisines goes on very much as
usual. The authorities have the mat
ter will in hand , and have had since
the first case appeared , and it is only a
matter of a little time until it will be
stamped entirely out.
HSs Jawbone AVorth S1O.OOO.
PLATTSMOUTH , Neb. , Feb. 24.
William Tate has brought suit against
the Burlington road for $10,850. On
the 23d day of last March Tate" was
stealing a ride on a passenger train
from Pacific Junction , and when near
this city he claims the conductor kicked
him off , breaking his jaw bone , badly
bruising his face , and rendering him
insensible for three weeks , during
which time he was cared for by the
county physician of this county. Plain
tiff claims $10,000 damages for personal
injury and $850 for doctor bill , loss of
time , expenses , etc. , during the time
he was disabled.
I STANDARD OIL
Their Celebrated Case Gomes Up Before
the Nebraska Supreme Oourt.
ARGUED BY PROMINENT ATTORNEYS
Senator Tlmr.Htim and J * . 1 , . McCoy Plead
for the Corporation , AVhlle Attorney-
General Smyth Represents tlio State
AVhat the Oil Company Sot * 1'orth.
LINCOLN , Neb. Feb. 22. The ques
tion of the jurisdiction of the supreme
court to try tne case of the State of
Nebraska against the Standard Oil
Company , brought under the anti-trust
Inw , was argued before the supreme
court by Senator John M. Thurston
and F. i , . McCoy of Omaha , represent
ing the defendant , and Attorney Gen
eral Smyth representing the state. The
case was called up for consideration
on the demurrer filed by the attorneys
for the defendant company denying
the right of the supreme court to hear
the case in original jurisdiction.
The argument was opened by the
attorney general , who spoke for near
ly an hour on the legal phase of the
question , attempting to prove that the
case at issue was civil and not crim
inal in nature. Senator Thurston fol
lowed , speaking for an nour on the op
posite side of the case. McCoy of
Omaha closed for the defense.
The action is the one in which the
attorney general seeks , on the ground
that the company has violated the
anti-trust law , to enforce the forfeit
ures and penalties provided by the
act , by means of an injunction en
joining the defendant from doing any
further business in the state. The
attorney general first instituted the
suit in the district court of Douglas
county ; afterward dismissed it and
then began it again in the supreme
court. The Standard Oil company con
tends that the attorney general was
right in instituting the suit in the dis
trict court but wrong in instituting it
"in the supreme court. The company
contends that the supreme court can
hear the case only on appeal or possi
bly ancilliary to an appeal. It cites
the constitution to prove its belief that
the supreme court has no jursdiction
Li original actions of injunction be
cause the word "injunction" does not
appear therein.
Considerable early history of Ne
braska was related by the attorneys
for the defendant company to prove
that the constitution had shorn the
state of the power it once had to as
sume original jurisdiction over a cer
tain variety of cases. It was insisted
that the main purpose of the new con
stitution of 1875 was to take away
the original jurisdiction of the su
preme court except in particular spec
ified cases , tne original jurisdiction of
all other cases being vested in the dis-
tuct , county and other inferior courts.
The attorney general brought this
case in the supreme court on the the
ory that it was a civil case , in which
the state was a party and , therefore , by
the constitution one over which the
supreme court had jurisdiction. This
assumption was denied by the attor
neys for the Standard Oil company ,
who held mat the action was purely
penal or criminal in character.
" \Vllson Addresses the Hutterinakers.
LINCOLN , Neb. Feb. 22. Secretary
Wilson of the Department of Agricul
ture spoke before the buttermakers *
convention. Mr. Wilson said his pur
pose in attending the meeting was to
get an inspiration for his work in
Washington and for studying the
needs of the dairymen. He said the
Department of Agriculture was at
tempting to open up new markets for
dairy products in the Orient , and
while the results so far obtained were
not very satisfactory , he hoped for bet
ter conditions in the futre and for a
wider and more extensive market. The
speaker also called attention to the
fact that the dairy market in the
United States was the greatest dairy
market in the world and that foreign
butter and cheese men were constant
ly trying to break into it.
A Soldier's Burial.
SILVER CREEK , Neb. , Feb. 22.
The body of Charles W. Paterson of
Company H , First South Dakota vol
unteers , killed in action at Calumpit ,
Philippine islands , April 25 , 1899 , ar
rived here Tuesday tor burial. The
remains reposed at the home of the
deceased's sister , Mrs. A. L. Davis ,
until Wednesday , when they were
taken to the Congregational church ,
from which the funeral occurred at
2 p. m.
Omahan to Zlleet Oem Paul.
OMAHA , Neb. , 20. Dr. G. Adolpli
Koerber , until recently an instructor
in the Omaha Medical college , will
start for Pretoria , South Africa , Thurs
day of this week to enlist as a sur
geon in the Boer army.
"I have had no correspondence with
the military authorities of the Trans
vaal , " said the doctor , "but I think
there is no doubt of my being accepted.
I go solely for the experience I will
get in the army hospitals. Being a
German , I am naturally in sympathy
with tne Boer cause , but this sympathy
has little if anything to do with taking
me to Pretoria. So far-as I know at
present I shall go alone. "
Soldiers' Bodies are Home.
YORK , Neb. , Feb. 22. The bodies
of two more of York county's volun
teer members of Company F , First Ne
braska , have arrived. Sergeant Wal
ter Poor , the son of Henry Poor , a
pioneer farmer , living north of York ,
and Private Milton Lynde , the son of
Rev. Lynde. Sergeant Poor was 22
years of age and while in the front
ranks in a charge in the Philippines
on March 26 , 1899 , was shot , dying
instantly. Four days later Milton
Lynde was killed in battle at Gingen-
nettes. Lynde was only 19 years of
age.
A NEWSPAPER FAMINE
SCARCITY OF PRINT PAPER
MAY BRING IT ON.
Great Shortage of tlio Material front
AVhlch It I * Slado Canadian Supply
of Wood Tulp Shut OS Kntlroly for
tlio Present.
( From the Chicago Daily Inter-Ocean. )
A ucrloiiB famine threatens the paper
Industry of the United States. Various
causes have conspired to lessen tlio
product of the mills , while the demand
for print paper and the other ordinary
grades Is unprecedented.
The conditions led to a secret meet
ing of the leading paper manufacturer } *
of the United States yesterday at thv
Great Northern hotel , to consider what
could bo done to avert the famlno
threatened by the shortage In wood
pulp , which , if It Is not relieved , will
cause the vast paper millH of the coun
try to shut down and cripple seriously
every industry which depends upon tlio
product of the mills. Nearly all or
the leading paper manufacturers of tn !
country were present , and the principal
topic of interest was a new fiber for
the manufacture of paper , to take the
place of the wood Hbre now In
such universal use. What the new
fiber is , the paper manufacturers would
not say. They averred that at present
the process by which It la manufactur-
ered is in a crude stage , but they dis
cussed it as the only visible solution
of present difficulties.
Great Liolc of Material.
"Not for twenty years has such a
serious condition confronted the manu
facturers of paper , and there Is great
danger that we may be forced to close
our mills for lack of material , " said A.
D. Schaeffer of the Hartford City Pa
per company , who presided over the
meeting. "Various causes are respon
sible for this condition. The principal
one Is that wood pulp , from which the
lower grades of paper is manufactured ,
is so hard to get that there Is a con
stant scramble for material. Recent
inquiry of the pulp mills at Sault Stc.
Marie , the largest pulp mills In tlio
world , develops the fact that there la
not a pound for sale there , and other
mills are as hard pressed. The rapid
cutting of the forests of the Eastern
and middle Western states , and the
stopping of the supply from Canada
is largely responsible for the threaten
ed famine. Added to the scarcity ot
timber is the recent mild weather ,
which has made it Impossible to bring
the pulp wood which has been cut to
market. A large part of the season's
cut of the forests of Wisconsin and
Michigan , upon which the middle
Western states depend for pulp wood ,
is now lying on the bare ground and
cannot be moved until snow comes.
Another great danger comes in the
possibility of a heavy fall of snow fol
lowing this long dry season. A fall oC
eighteen inches of snow would cover
up the pulp wood already cut so that
it would be next to impossible to dig
It out and float it down the river to the
mills.
T.ahor AI o Scarce.
"A great scarcity of labor in the pin
eries has also made the movement of.
pulp wood to the mills slow. Com
panies cutting pulp wood have spent
thousands of dollars importing men
into the pineries to cut pulp woodenly
only to lose them when they got there.
Boys of eighteen and nineteen are be
ing largely employed in the work.
"Canada has been the source of sup
ply for many of the Eastern millH ,
but that source of supply has been cut
off as the cutting of timber on crown
lands has been prohibited and the
province of Quebec makes the importer
pay S1.90 per cord duty , which makes
the material too expensive. The only
solution we can see is to zTJopt a now
fiber as a substitute for wood fiber.
That is the subject of discussion. Wo
have one in view , but I do not care to
talk of that now.
"Another difficulty which confronts
Eastern manufacturers is a lack of
water upon which they depend for
power. That , too , is the result of the
cutting av.-ay of the forests. The mills
cf the middle West are not embarrass
ed in this respect to the same extent
r.3 the Eastern mills.
"We have not come together to form
any combination or to raise prices.
The demand naturally governs prices.
The sole object is to avert a famlno It
possible , for a famine would hurt the
producer as much as the consumer. "
.7. C. Brockelbank , vice president and
Western manager of the Manufactur
ers' Paper company of New York , with
cSces in the Rookery building , con-
Srrscd the statements made by William
Schaeffer concerning the trade.
Condition 14 Serious.
"It present conditions in the pineries
continue , there will be a serious short
age of pulp wood In the West until
nest fall , " he said. "It has been sim
ply impossible to get the spruce , from
which wood pulp is made , to market.
It grows in the swamps of the pineries ,
and the winter has been so open that
it has been impossible to haul it to the
rivers , down which it Is floated to the
mills , as wagons would sink to the
hubs in mud and water. Only contin
ued cold weather can relieve the condi
tion. "
The stock of paper now on hand Is
extremely short. The export trade ,
which was large , has been abandoned
entirely , and the jobbers have very
little free paper on hand. The mills
have no free paper and will see that
they are in condition to meet contracts
already made before they sell to any
one else. There is serious danger that
the mills may have to shut down en
tirely for lack of pulp wood. The great
est danger to the trade is likely to bo
during March and April , and May. but
the faoilne will continue until next
fall.