f W
Shadows of Suspicion Eovor Over
the Officials
OF THE HOSPITAL AT NORFOLK
Strong Indications that tjio Drug and
Fuel Fund * Have IJcon Raided With
ait Appropriation of Nearly 3120,000
There'll bo u Deficiency at Knd of Year.
NORFOLK , Neb. , Sept. 17 , 1900.
Prosperous conditions are in evi
dence in every county of Nebraska.
No one but a rank partisan would
attempt to assert that such conditions
are transitory or unreal. It is mat
ter of slow growth there is nothing
artificial or uncertain about it. Within
four years the farmers of Nebraska
have been delivered from the bondage
of debt and thousands of them boast
of a surplus.
It Is true that the requirements of
the impending campaign have sug
gested the fullest exposition of facts
relating to the changed conditions 'n
every county in order that the people
ple of one county may be apprised
of the degree of prosperity in every
other county , but the republican man
agers do not need to magnify or over
state the facts , which in most cases
Jl speak for themselves.
Emphasis may be given to one all-
r Important fact , to-wit : that while the :
fanners are producing abundant crops
and receiving higher pr'ces therefor
than ever before paid , at the same time
the mechanics and laboring men in
cities and towns are all busy , receiv
ing higher pay for shorter working
days than ever before , and that the
demand for th'Mr ' services exceeds the
supply. A careful inquiry into the
status of things reveals these condi
tions :
1. That farmers are getting 32 and
34 cents for their corn ( of which there
Is a large surplus ) , whereas four
yeas ago they got but C and 10
cents.
2. That stock raisers and farmers
are getting § 5.50 for fat steers , where
as four years ago they got $2.75 and
$3.50. Hogs , four years ago , $2.77 ; this
year , $5.09.
3. That farmers are buying ad
joining acres and are spending hun
dreds of thousands of dollars upon
improvements. Residents of cities
and towns are putting up new build
ings and repairing hundreds of oM
ones. There is an air of thrift every
where.
3. That country merchants are sellIng -
Ing more goods and getting larger
profits and prompter pay for goods
sold than ever before in the history
of the state.
5. That mechanics are everywhere
"busy. From towns , large and small ,
come reports of a demand for me
chanics exceeding the supply. In Omaha
rf
aha more men are employed at higher
wages and shorter working hours
than was the case in any previous year
save 1897-8 , when the exposition pro
duced a temporary demand for men.
Inquiry among all classes of mechan
ics reveals the fact that the mean av
w erage of wage scale is higher , work
day hours shorter and the demand for
men very active. No man who wants
work need be idle.
6. That the jobbers and wholesale
merchants and manufacturers of Ne
braska are selling more goods at lar
ger profits than was true of their
trade in the year 1896 ; that of fifty
firms reporting , the increased volume
of business ranged from 20 ot 950 per
cent and that in no case was a de
crease of business reported.
7. That fifty jobbing houses , farm
implement houses , manufacturer's ,
wholesale houses , etc. , report a large
increase in the number of men em
ployed , in wages paid and the average
increase in the number of traveling
men covering Nebraska territory is
nearly 50 per cent.
The paramount question is : What
would any of these classes gain by si
change of government at Washing
ton ?
Do you want a change ?
WHAT THE MECHANICS SAY.
In Omaha the change in regard to
wages paid , hours of employment and
number of persons engaged is so grat
ifying that the classes affected will
gladly do what they can to support
the political party which has made
possible this remarkable improvement
in conditions. The following reports
were obtained from officials of tlic
various local unions :
Printing Pressmen's Union Our
scale of wages in 1896 was $16 to $1S
per week for ten hours ] er day. In
1900 our scale is the same per diem
for nine hours per day. In 1896 20
per cent of our members were idle all
the time and 40 per cent of those em
ployed were making but half time. In
1900 all members are employed and all
are making full time. In short , we
are working shorter hours and mak
ing more money than wo did in 1896.
Plasters' , Bricklayers' and Stone
masons' Tenders' Union Our scale of
wages in 1896 was 15 to 17 # > cents
per hour for ten hours. In 1900 our
scale is 2-1 cents per hour for eight
hours and we have 50 per cent more
men employed than in 1396.
Plumbeis' Union Our scale of
wages in 1S96 was 45 cents per hour
for eight hours. In 1900 it is 50 cents
per hour for eight hours. Until July
1st we have had 30 per cent more men
employed than we had in 1896.
Painters and Decorators Our scale
in 1896 was 30 cents per hour. We
had no scale signed up regarding
hours of employment. Our present
scale is 35 cents for eight hours ; time
and a half for overtime and double
time for Sundays. In 1S9G our union
had about fifty members in good
standing. In 1898 we hail nearly 200
members. This was owing to the
Trans-Mississippi exposition. Our
members are all , or nearly all , em-
pi eyed at the present tiire.
Bricklayers' Union In 1896 our
scale ot wages was 50 certs per hour
for eight hours ; time and a half for
overtime and double time for Sun
days. Our scale for 1900 is 50 cents
per hour , with no other changes. Our
\ \ union has had about 160 members for
the past five years. There is more
work in our trade in Omaha at the
I ,
present time than we have had in the
last eight years.
Carpenters' Union Our scale of
wages in 1896 in South Omaha was 25
cents per hour for ten or twelve hours.
For 3900 it is 35 cents per hour for
eight hours ; time and a half for over
time and double time for Sundays- .
In Omaha our scale in 1896 was 30
cents per hour for eight hours ; time
and a half for overtime and double
time for Sundays. In 1900 It is 40 cents
per hour and no other changes. More
than double the number are now em
ployed in our trade than in 1897 , al
though there are a great many car
penters idle at present. This is ow
ing to the Trans-Mississippi exposi
tion , which brought a great many car
penters here who have remained.
Horseshoers' Union Our scale is
the same as it was in 1896 for the
same hours. We have not as many
employed as we had in 3.S96 , for the
reason that there are not as many
horses hi use. The bike has made a
grqat difference in our trade.
Sheet eMtal Workers' Union In
1896 our scale of wages was 331/ ! cents ,
but very few men got that amount.
The average wages paid were 271 ?
cents. The number of hours is the
same. Our scale at present is 38 %
cents per hour. There are 25 per
cent more men employed in our trade
now than in 1896.
Printing Press Assistants' Union
Our scale of wages in 1896 was $8
for sixty hours , or $8 per week for ten
hours per day. We now get $9.50 for
nine hours per day. In 1896 we had
thirty men employed ; we now have
forty-eight.
Machinists' Union Our scale of
wages in 1896 was from 25 to 30 cents
per hour. We were workirg ; from
forty to forty-eight hours per week.
Our present scale is 32 cents per hour
for nine hours per day , or fifty-four
hours per week. All members of the
union are employed , and our union
was never in a more flourishing con
dition , and we doubt if an idle ma
chinist can be found in Omaha today ,
unless he is idle from choice.
GROWTH OF THE LIVE STOCK IN
DUSTRY.
The increase of stock receipts at
South Omaha may be taken as a fail-
illustration of the change wrought in
business generally during the four
years the republican party has had
charge of national affairs. During
the seven months of 1900 ending July
31st the cattle receipts were 424,236 ,
as against 220,324 for a like period in
1896 , a gain of 202,964 , 01 nearly 100
per cent.
The hog receipts for the first seven
months of this year were 1,121,171 ,
as against 717,976 for the first seven
months of 1896 , a gain of 403,195.
For the period ending July 31st ,
1900 , there were 597,985 head of sheep
received ; for the same period in 1896 ,
161,841 , a gain of 436,144 for 1900.
There has also been a gratifying in
crease inprices during this time.
Steers , for instance , sold July 31st ,
1896 , at from $2.75 to $3.70 ; July 31st ,
1900 , they brought $5.50 ; hogs sold
July 31st , 1896 , at $2.77 ; July 31st ,
1900 , the price was ? 5.09. The price
paid for sheep July 31st , 1896 , range !
from $2 to $5.50 ; July 31st , 1900 , the
range was from $4 to $5.45. In the
month of July , 1896 , the receipts of
hogs were 97,000 ; in July , 1900 , 179-
000 ( in round thousands' ) , and the
price as given above but little more
than half in 1896 of that in 1900.
THE WHOLESALE TRADE.
Information gained from a large
number of the principal business men
of Omaha through letters of inquiry
and personal interviews , discloses the
fact that , without a single exception ,
there has been a marked "expansion"
of business in Nebraska's chief city
during the four years the republican
party has been In charge of national
affairs. In securing this information
no regard whatever was had to politi
cal affiliations , the desire being to
make the exhibit a perfectly fair one
in every respect. The line of inquiry
covers a comparison of amount of bus
iness in 1896 with 1900 ; comparison
of the number of employes then and
now , and also of the wages paid. The
replies show , with one exception , that
the lowest increase in amount of bus
iness is 20 per cent , ranging from that
up to 950 per cent , with a large pro
portion of instances where the per
centage of gain was 75 per cent to 100 ;
the increase in the number of em
ployes ranges from 15 to 200 iper cent ,
and the range of increase in salaries
paid is from 10 per cent to 50 per
cent.
The Hospital for the Insane at Nor
folk contributes -another important
chapter to the history of mismanage
ment of the state institutions under
the Poynter administration.
On the surface there is evidence
of extravagance and recklessness in
dealing with the funds , while beneath
the surface there is unmistakable evi
dence of fraud.
Particularly is this true in connec
tion with the purchase nf drugs and
coal , if not clothing and other sup
plies. The demands on the fuel fund
have been enormous , and notwith
standing the large amount appropri
ated , there will be a shortage in this
fund of no less than $5,000.
EVIDENCE OF FRAUD.
The last legislature appropriated for
the maintenance of this institution
$119,350 , of which amount $12,000 was
for fuel and lights. Why it shoull
require such a large amount of money
for fuel and lights is a question chal
lenging explanation , but tt was appro
priated , and , as previously stated ,
that amount , large though it is , is go
ing to fall short of being enough by
at least $5,000.
From May 26th , 1899 , to July. 19th ,
1900 , $10,625,20 of the appropriation
was expended , leaving a balance of
$1,374. This was for fourteen months
and the rate of expenditure was there
fore about $760 per month , or $260 per
month in excess of the appropria
tion.
tion.There
There are less than 300 inmates in
the hospital , yet on a basis of 300 it
has cost the state more than $35 per
capita for light and heat for the last
fourteen months. That this is an un
reasonable amount is quite apparent.
Upon inquiry it was discovered that
Steward Rees of the hospital , who has
charge of purchasing supplies of this
character , is on very intimate terms
with certain coal dealers. In fact , at
the time he was appointed steward
he was engaged in the coal business
at Norfolk , in partnership with one
C. W. Braash , and it Is a noticeable
fact that since his appointment his
former business partner has figured
conspicuously in the fuel transactions
of the hospital. The records in the
auditor's 4nice bear evidence , not alone
of this , but of other matters equally
as significant.
Since May 26th of last year to July
19th of this year the Glen Rock Coal
company has drawn from the state
treasury for coal sold the hospital
more than $9,700 ( see vouchers
B30347 , B31197 , B31332 , B34280 ,
B37397 , B40267 , B41849 , B42785 ,
B44351 , B45054 , B46313 , B4C976) ) .
A significant fact In connection
with this is that during the summer
months of this year the supply pur
chased Is about the same as during
cold weather.
Another significant fact is , that
while Engineer Mohler of Ihe hospital
says that between eighty and ninety
tons per month are consumed , the rec
ords show that the consumption has
been at the rate of more than 150
tons per month. The contract price
is about $4 per ton and if Engineer
Moliler , who handles the coal , knows
what he is talking about , the monthly
cost , on the ninety-ton estimate ,
would only by $360 per month , where
as the official records show that the
monthly cost is $760 per month , a
difference of $400 per month.
Taking the highest estimate of En
gineer Mohler ( ninety tons per
month ) , and figure the cost at $8 per
ton , nearly the price of the very best
hard coal on the market , and it would
then amount to only $720 per month ,
or still less by $40 per month tlian
the amount actually paid by the state
the last fourteen months for soft ami
slack coal.
These figures are not alone signifi
cant , but are suspicious. They indi
cate quite freely that the state is be
ing defrauded. The figures of the en
gineer , the man whose duties are
such that he should know exactly
what the monthly consumption is ,
stand out in bold contract with the
bills rendered bills the state has
been required to pay. The disparity
is not easily accounted for , except on
the ground' fraud alone.
According to Engineer Mohler , it
should cost not to exceed $360 per
month. According to the records it
costs $760 per month. This is a dis
tinction with a most significant dif
ference , one involving nearly . $5.000
per year to the taxpayers of Ne
braska.
braska.A
A DRUG DEALER'S SNAP.
Suspicious as are the figures asso
ciated with the fuel and light fund ,
worse abuses apear to have been prac
ticed in connection with the drug
fund.
Druggist Christophho has had
somewhat of a monopoly of the pat
ronage of the hospital , is said to been
on very "friendly" terms with Stew
ard Rees. The records show that it
has been expensive "friendship" to
the state. Not alone has Christoph
had the drug fund to play on , but
he has drawn money out of the "paint
and oil" fund , the "general repair"
fund , "carpet and curtain" fund ,
"board and clothing" fund , "book and
stationery" fund , and the "incidental"
fund.
Steward Rees was appointed to his
position about one year ago. In the
last year his friend Christoph has
drawn from the state treasury $1-
129,04. He has drawn $648.31 from
the drug fund , $38.50 from the general
repair fund , $204.86 from the board
and clothing fund , $14.96 from the
carpet and curtain fund , $22.85 from
the book and stationery fund , $42.23
from the incidental fund and $157.33
from the paint and oil fund.
Vouchers B34289 , B37404 , B41857 ,
B42776 , E44356 , B46972 and B47642
were drawn in favor cf Druggist
Christr i on the paint and oil fund.
Vouchers B42768 , B45060 and B46305
were drawn in favor of Druggist
Christoph on the general repair fund.
Voucher B36252 was drawn in favor
of Druggist Christoph on the carpet
and curtain fund.
Vouchers B34272 , B36229 , B40263 ,
B41835 , B42755 , B43473 , B44345 ,
B46323 and B47634 were drawn in
favor of Druggist Christoph on the
board and clothing fund.
Vouchers B33386 , E34283 and
B36237 were drawn in favor of Drug
gist Christoph on the book and sta
tionery fund.
Vouchers B40271 and B45534 were
drawn in favor of Druggist Chris
toph on the incidental fund.
Vouchers B34282 , B36235 , B4026S ,
B41851 , B42782 , B43478 , B44353 ,
B45055 , B45524 , B46315 , B46975 and
B47639 were drawn in fa vor of Drug
gist Christoph on the drug fund.
These are the cold facts , taken di
rect from the official records in the
auditor's office at Lincoln
These figures indicate that there
is something else beside.- ; friendship
in the intimacy existing between
Steward Rees and Druggist Chris
toph.
Another significant feature of the
matter is that while Druggist Chris
toph has had the contract since his
friend Rees became steward he has
also been supplying the "extras. " An
article that is not enumerated in the
contract is called an "extra" and is
not sold subject to contract prices.
Extras are bought at the retailer's
figures. It is within the power of the
steward to favor his friends in this
way , by omitting many of the arti
cles to be bought from the contract
and buy them at retail prices. That
this very thing has been done at Nor
folk can hardly be disputed. Fully
25 per cent of the articles purchased
from Druggist Christoph the last year
were not included in the contract and
were not bought at contract prices
( see vouchers B36235 , B4026S , B41851.
B42782 , B44353 , B45055 , B46315 and
B46975) ) . It is known that in in
stances of this kind excessive prices
are charged , in some instances double
the amount of the actual retail price.
It is also known thai Druggist
Christoph does not deal directly in
many of the articles with which he
is credited as having delivered to the
hospital. It might be a rather diffi
cult matter for either hm ! or Stew
ard Rees to satisfactorily explain
how it hapepned that articles legit
imately chargeable to and charged to
the carpet and curtain fund and board
and clothing fund were supplied by
a druggist.
-legislature appropriated § 1,200
for drugs. There remains in this fund
a balance of $387 , which means a de
ficiency at the end of the fiscal year
in this fund of about $150 , In face of
the fact that other funds have been
made use of in instances where goods
should be charged to the drug fund.
TURNS ON THE LIGHT.
Despite the efforts of other drug
gists to obtain the drug contract
Christoph has had it ever since Stew
ard Rees assumed his office. One of
the local dealers makes bold to charge
that the bids of others are opened be
fore the favorite puts in bis bid , so
that ho knows just what to bid to
get the contract. He claims that the
bids are either opened at the hospital
or at Lincoln.
One of the druggists who believes
that this very thing is being done is
A. H. Kiesau. Speaking of it he
said :
"Being unable to secure the contract
even at rock bottom figures I resolved
to get it even at a loss , particularly
to see if I could find out what the
cause was of our not getting it. We
had been quoting very low figures , yet
each time the contract was awarded
to Christoph. I wrote to a wholesale
drug firm in Omaha , where I do my
trading , telling them of what I wanted
to do and asking them if they would
not help me by making a reduction
in the wholesale price.
"I sent them an itemized statement
of what was called for in the contract
and they agreed to let me have the
drugs at a reduction of 5 per cent be
low the regular wholsale cash price.
"I then took this reduced wholesale
price and I made a further reduction
of 20 per cent , making a total reduc
tion of about 25 per cent on the cash
wholesale price.
"I sent in my bid at these figures ,
and , what do you think ? Christoph's
bid was 60 cents lower than mine.
This convinced me that there was a
crooked deal somewhere , for , in the
first place , on a drug bill of § 200 , 60
cents is too close a difference , and ,
in the second place , how did it hap
pen , after I had bid away down below
the wholesale price , that Christoph
should bid about 25 per cent below
what the goods actually cost him at
wholesale , unless my bi-3 had been
opened and he had been informed be
fore the contract was awarded and
before he put in his bid what my bid
was ?
"There was fraud on the face of it ,
that's certain.
"I don't mean to say by this that
the state is getting its drugs at a bar
gain. On the contrary , I think if you
look up the list of goods purchased as
'extras' you will discover that on the
whole the state is paying top prices. "
There are somewhat startling ru
mors afloat , too , relative to deals in
connection with the clothing contract.
It is currently reported that favor
itism is practiced in connection with
this end of the business , and that
certain persons have reape.1- handsome
rewards at the expense of the state
by reason of it. The last legislature
appropriated $40,000 for board and
clothing , but even this large amount ,
between diversion , perversion and
extravagance , will be completely wiped
out before the next appropriation will"
be available. Most of the special
funds are overdrawn , and there is ev
ery indication that the general de
ficiency in the funds of the institution
will run up well into the thousands.
LOOSE BUSINESS METHODS.
It is a matter of history that loose
business methods have ben employed
here throughout the official existence
of the present State Board of Public
Lands and Buildings.
Repairs have been made to build
ings and the bills paid out of other
specific funds. A fire occurred about
two years ago in one of the buildings ,
necessitating repairs to the extent ot
$5,500. It was "repaired" at that cost
without advertising soliciting bids
for either labor or material and the
bills were paid out of the board and
clothing fund.
In 1897 this same board let the con
tract for the building of a new wing
to the hospital , for which $25,000 had
been appropriated , to a firm of con
tractors from Omaha. The contrac
tors entered upon the performance of
the work , but the disposition exhib
ited on their part to pockf t the money
allowed by the board and pay nobody
resulted in numerous unpaid bills for
labor and material being sent to the
board , with requests that no more
contractors until
money be allowed the
til they paid or secured the claims
against them. The board made a ter
rible messof the whole affair. The
contractors left the work to be com
pleted by their bondsmen and the
bondsmen , owing to serious complica
tions , requested that the board com
plete the job. The work was finally
completed , but it was a long time be
fore the bills were allowed and paid
and it is said that even some remain
unpaid to this day. The bondsmen
were ready and willing to liquidate
all legitimate bills , but the who-o
deal was so replete with blunders
made by the board that it was diffi
cult to determine the difference be
tween the status of the debtor and
creditor. The building was finally
completed , but up to this day no one
has yet come forward to exhibit it as
a model of modern architecture.
CRUEL TREATMENT.
Numerous complaints are afloat
concerning the practice of cruelty by
employes in dealing with the inmates.
Last spring an employe named Charles
Rossin gave one of the inmates a se
vere beating and that , too , it is re
ported , without provocation or justifi
cation. The outrage was so flagrant
that the management was compelled to
discharge him.
Reports of cruelty arc quite numer
ous , but as the inmates are of un
sound mind to a greater or less ex
tent little or no dependence can be
placed on what they say , and for this
reason it is difficult to obtain satis-
tory proof or disproof.
Upon the whole , so far as the man
agement is concerned , there is no ev
idence of sincerity on the part of the
authorized representatives of the fusionists -
sionists to live up to the professed
economy of their party. On the con
trary , the per capita expense to the
state , the pay roll , the general ex
pense , is greater today than it ever
has been.
Mesquites die within a few hours
after gorging themselves with human
blood.
CABLE fROM LI HUNG CHANG.
Assurance that Ho Has rower to 1'rotcct
Amorlciuiii.
WASHINGTON , Sopt. 1-1. Minister
Wu has received a cablegram from Li
Hung Chang , answering the hope ex
pressed in the American note of a few
days ago that his powers are sufficient
to protect American lives and inter
ests in China. Earl Li says he has
that power and will see that the pro
tection is given.
The Chinese government has made
swift answer to the latest communica
tion from the state department rela
tive to the recognition of LI Hung
Chang as an envoy competent to ne
gotiate a peace settlement. There had
never been any doubt here as to the
sufficiency of Li's credentials as a
plenipotentiary , but the effort of the
state department has been to cause
him to use any extraordinary powers
he might have for the protection of
American life and property in China ,
pending a final settlement. It has
succeeded in attaining thin object , as
is indicated in the response from Li
Hung Chang presented to Assistant
Secretary Hill this morning by Minis
ter Wu. The department asked Li
Hung Chang "without further delay to
Give assurance that the life and prop
erty of Amercians will henceforth be
respected throughout the Chinese em
pire. "
The viceroy has given the assur
ance asked for. His word came in the
shape of a cable dispatch to Minister
Wu , dated yesterday , at Shanghai.
Mr. Wu called at the state depart
ment this morning and presented the
answer to Mr. Hill. He in turn sent
it forward to the president. It will bo
for the latter to decide whether Li's
assurance is sufficient to meet- the
needs of the case.
It is believed that if the powers can
get together themselves and through
commissioners arrange for certain
common bases of compensation for
certain classes of outrages good pro
gress can be made toward a final set
tlement. However , if the attempt to
secure unity of action in this direction
is no more successful than that di
rected to the evacuation of Pekin the
United States government will look
to its own interests , and , appointing
Its own commissioners , proceed to deal
directly with the Chinese commission
ers.
ers.It
It is believed here that Li Hung
Chang already has been advised by
Prince Clung of the urgent necessity
for his attendance in Pekin to initiate
the negotiations , hence his announced
intention to sail tomorrow from
Shanghai for the capital.
CITY'S CRYING NEED IS MONEY.
Charitably Disposed Peraons at a Distance
Advised ofVnntH. .
GALVESTON , Tex. , Sept. 14. To
the Associated Press : We. are receiv
ing numerous telegrams of condo
lences and offers of assistance. As
the telegraph wires are burdened we
ask the Associated Press to communi
cate this response to all. Nearby cities
are supplying and will supply sufficient
food , clothing , etc. , for immediate
needs. Cities further away can serve
us best by sending money. Checks
should be made payable to John Sea-
ley , chairman of the finance commit
tee. All supplies should come to W.
A. McVittie , chairman of the relief
committee. We have 25,000 people to
clothe and feed for manv weeks and
to furnish with housel'old goods.
Most of these are homeless and the
others wil require money to make
their wrecked residences habitable.
From this the world may understand
how much money we will need. The
committee will from time to time re
port our needs with mora particular
ity. We refer to dispatch of this day
of Major R. G. Lowe , which the com
mittee fully endorses. All communi
cants will please accept this answer
in lieu of direct responses and be as
sured of the heartfelt gratitude of the
entire population.
W. C. JONES , Mayor.
M. LASKER ,
J. D. SKINNER ,
C. H. M'MASTER ,
R. G. LOWE ,
CLARENCE OWSLEY ,
Committee.
An Appeal to
HOUSTON , Tex. , Sept. 14. The fol
lowing appeal was issued tonight :
"To All Druggists : The storm-strick
en district is very much in need of the
following drugs : lodoform , chloride of
lime , gum camphor , assafoetida , crude
carbolic acid , phenol sodique , gauze
bandages , quinine and iodoform gauze.
"Contributions should be scut to the
Houston relief committee.
( Signed )
"HOUSTON RELIEF COMMITTEE ,
"By A. E. Kesling. "
Damage to the Cotton Crop ,
HOUSTON , Tex. , Sept. 14. There is
no doubt the cotton crop has ben
considerably damaged throughout the
southern and central part of Texas.
Owing to the excessive rains this year
the cotton has grown to weed mor ?
than ever known and in some fields
it ranges from six to ten feet high
and is very rank with leaf.
Iulnth Has Grown.
WASHINGTON , D. C. , Sept. 14. The
population of the city of Duluth , Minn. ,
as officially announied today , in 1900 ,
f.2,969 ; 1890 , 33,115. These figures
show for the city as a whole an in
crease in population of 19,854 , or 59,9
per cent , from 1890 to 1900. The pop
ulation in 1S80 was 838 , showinging
an increase of 32,277 , or 3,851.67 per
cent , from 1880 to 1890.
Eleven Go Down with Ship.
CONNEAUT , 0. , Sept. 14. The tug
Day went to the supposed place of the
Lyons disaster yesterday and steamed
about four hours without finding any
trace of the vessel or its crew. Eleven
persons are believed to have gone down
with the steamer , which foundered in
the storm of Tuesday night. Five sur
vivors , two women and three men ,
drifted ashore yesterday afternoon
near here , lashed to a mast. They had
been in the water fifteen houra. The
Lyons carried a , crew of sixteen.
THE LIVE STOCK MARKET.
Lit teat luotnlonn J'roin South Otimlia
niul KniiHHH City.
SOUTH OMAHA.
Union Stock YurdH , South Oniuha.
Cat tit -Tli ere was only u llKht nut of
cuttlo hero today niul the fact lh.it tlio
weather won bad had u tendency to hurt
the market. Chicago nl o rtrpurtt-il a dull ,
weak market and a a retiult tliuro wan
not much doing hero. Tlicrw won ? only a
few loiulrt of corn fed utefcrH on Halo and
the finality of the offerings wan ratlxn-
common. IluyorH did not take hold with
much llfo and It wan u dull , wotik mar
ket. The supply of COWH was very llKht.
hardly enough to innko u tcm of the
market. Although the hulk of the offer
ings today were on the feeder order , still
there wcro not enough to go around atul
trade was very alow. Yard traders h.ivo
a Kood many cattle on hand and the hail
weather seemed to shut off tlm di-maml
from the country today entirely , so they
were very cautious about buying more
cattel so near the end of the v.-eek. The
market was very quiet nnd bids wen- un
evenly lower. There were not enough
western beef rattle hero today to at
tract the attention of buyers * , but a * the
market has been steady all tlm wi-t-k thy
would probably havu sold that \v ; y today
had there been any good ones hiv. .
There were only a few cows and tluy
sold from steady to a little lower
Hogs There was a goud run of h > ri
hero today , counting what was carric-l
over , but packers all seemed to bi want
ing fresh supplies , so that th market
ruled fairly active at the start. La. lit
hogs dl < l not sell quite au well on the
whole today as they did on the opening
market yesterday , but still they brought
better prices than they did at the close
yesterday. The top of $ .1.20 was a-t gooil
as the high price yesterday , but tin bulk
of the light weights sold from 15 07' " to
Jo.lO. Heavy hogs were again rather
neglected , and. as Chicago came lower
on the heavy weights , packers took off .t
little more on those asaln todav. The
bulk of them sold around $ T .oKijj.Oji _ . . nJMi
the medium weights at $5. X-/ ! i. " .f5.
Sheep Receipts of sheep today were lib
eral for the last end of the week , but the
demand was also In good shape. The sup
ply was made up mostly of sheep and
puckers picked up In good season at Ju'jt
about steady prices. There \MTO only a
few lambs on the market , but tin y alwi
met with ready sale at about st ady
prices. They brought ? " > .25. but they w. r
not of as good quality as the siring thit
sold for $ . " . : ! . ' > . It was a good , steady ac
tive market all around and everjthlnjr
was sold early in the morning. Th < n
were not many feeders here today , but
prices remain just about the saui" .
KANSAS CITY.
Cattle ItccciptH. III.OOO : market stoifly ;
native steers , $ .f.ir.firi.7T : > ; Texas st. r" .
$ : : ooftj.20 : Texas cows. $2.2.Vf ' ! .2ri. native
cows and h Ifers. $1.2.Vif. .10 : stackers an I
feeders , 52.757/4X0 ; bulls , $2. lf I.2T. . nlvt-s ,
receipts. 200 ; market steady , $ l.25i"7"i. .
Hogs Receipts , S.OOO ; market weak to
"e lower ; bulk of sales , $ r > .17'/'i/f > .2. > : IH-UVV.
? r .12VMi.1.22 i : packers. yr..l55 n.271mlva. .
$ " > lOfi3.221/4 ; light. ? ! . ( ; < K/-W : ; Yorkers. f' . . i
< &r .3 ( ) ; pigs , $1J..W/.2U.
Sheep UecpiptH. 1.000 ; markf-t * tfi < ly ;
lambs , $ X5W 5.25 ; muttons , $2.0 < y rj 03.
OVER FIVE THOUSAND DEAD.
Two Thousand Seven Hundred Storm
Victim * I < l < ! iitlll ( l fit Calvcston.
HOUSTON , Tex. , Sept. 15. The Posfc
today prints a list of 2,701 names oi
the Galveston dead , compiled from va
rious sources , hue believed to be au
thentic. There were hundreds of bodies
ies burned , buric'l at sea and in the
sand , of which no identification was
possible. There were other hundreds
who were buried on the beach of the
mainland , few of whom have been
identified. There are many bodies
still in the ruins of Galveston and
scattered along tbe beach of the main
land and in the marshes , where they
were thrown by the water , b'ome of
these bodies have been sent twenty
miles inland along small watercourses
by the rush of high waters. Taking
all things into consideration , there
seems no longer any doubt that the
number cf dead will reach beyond the
estimates of 5,000 which has been made
by Mayor Jones , Major P. G. Lowe
and other reliable citizens of Galves
ton.
ton.About
About 1,300 refugees arrived here
from Galveston last night and aie be
ing cared for as well as possible Four
buildings have been set apart for the
benefit of refugees , but of the 3oOO who
have reached here so far not more
than 800 remain in the public charge ,
the remainder of them having gone
to the homes of relatives and friends.
The owner of the steamer Lawrence
has ordered the Loat turned over to
Adjutant Scurry , who is in charpe at
Galveston , and the transportation of
people from Galveston to the interior
will proceed faster. There have been
delays in the transportation of provis
ions because of a lack of boats , but
there are more boats now and th. ? work
will be faster and more complete
TO EMPLOY OLFSIDE LABOR.
O ill vent on Kelief Derides to Km ploy
Laborer * to Clean the Cltv.
AUSTIN , Tex. , Sept. 15. From ear
ly this morning until far In the after
noon Governor Sayers today was In
conference with relief committeo. > from
various points along the siormswept
coast. Among the first committees
to arrive was one from Galwston As
a result of tins conference it > % as de-
i that instead of looking to the
laboring people of Galveston for work
in this emergency that an importation
of outside laborers to the number of
2,000 should be made to conduct the
sanitary work while the people of Gal
veston were given an opportunity of
looking after their own losses inti re
building their own propeny without
giving any time to the city at large
It is believed that with the work of
these 2,000 outside laborers it v-nl re
quire about four weeks to c > an the
city of debris and in the meantime the
citizens can be working on tlri.- own
property and repairing damage there.
Krujrer Chances
LOUREXZO MARQUEZ , Srpt. 13
President Kruger has removal from
the home of Herr Ptto , the consul of
the Netherlands here , to the residence
of the district governor.
Order to Surrender Bond * .
WASHINGTON. Sept. 13. Assistant
Treasurer Spalding today gave notice
to banks having old 2 per cent bonds
on deposit to secure deposits of public
moneys that these bonds must be sur
rendered at once and ether bonds sub
stituted or their deposits will be cor
respondingly decreased. These bonds
on deposit amount to $2,188,500.
3Iore Prlvilfcdjjes for Women.
VIENNA , Sept. 15. An imperial de
cree issued today admits women to
practice as physicians and chemists on
the same conditions as men.