TTTTC OMATTA TATTV ) RFR * SUNDAY. R 2fi. IftnS TWT1NTV PAfTRS. PARALYZED THE PROMOTERS Tcdoral Officials Smite Bond Companies Hip and Thigh. THREE CONVICTED OF LOTTERY SWINDLING Illlnrlom Ilmtlcr/i ritniRnil Into u Vnt of Wnc Thn lifin of tlto Mail * Denied C ntmiilo | Hot Judicial Opinion ) . "The success of the enterprise depends upon Its gross and well known Insolvency ; no Insolvent that in tlio very method of its organization tncro Is no hope of Us carrying out Its promises. " The words nro a small part of the wither- inc condemnation of bond Invcatment com panies pronounced by Judge Grossoup from the federal district bench In Chicago. There was ample provocation for this outburst - burst of judicial indignation. It was at the close of the trial of George M. MeUon- nhl , president of the Guarantee Investment company ; "William II. Stevenson , vice presi dent and Frunols M. Swoarinpcn , secretary , on the ehai-KO of using tboj United States mail to promote a lottery. Tne testimony showed the company to bo a swindle and that It had used the malls to further Its operations. The conrt and the Jurv were of ono mind and a verdict of gulity was returned. The trial attracted widespread Interest , not alone among victims of bond companies , but among the pllb-tonguccl promoters who realized that the outcome involved their- prosperity and liberty. When the Indict ments ncalnst the guarantee oftlccrs were brought In uy tliu grand Jury a few weeks ago the promoters attcctcd Indifference. Somoot tlioii hulled the action of the fed eral ofltcktU as a dclivcranco from menacing threats. Tim indicted olllcials went so far ns to telegraph a number of newspapers that the proceedings had boon Investi gated by themselves and they assured their victim that the outcome would bo a tri umphant vindication. Now they are mum und struggling to keopout of jail. Itclroipi'.cllvr. The Guarantee Investment company , whoso otllclals were convicted , was started in Nevada , Mo. , about two years ago. An Insurance sharp , who had exhausted Ills use fulness in Icgittmato business , formulated the scheme. Insurance tables were Juggled for the occasion , and an elaborate system produced by which the multitude might be come rich In u Jiffy. Of course the author and his backers did not propose to enrich the multitude , gratis. They were not in the business for their health. They provided for a rake-otl of 25 cents out of each monthly payment of $1.25 , and in addition provision was madu for the rustler In the shape of an initiation fee of ? 10. The scheme tool ; root and flourished amazingly. In two years It hecumo no opulent HS to defy courts and leg- iiilaturcs , and spread its malign influence all over the west. From the Nevada concern sprung 150 similar concerns , the manipulators of which are now slcurrying for shelter. from CJny to Grave. During the trial of the swindlers In Chicago cage they were constantly surrounded by cheery frlcndu. The smooth hustlers lor a tenner ns well as the indicted mon were gay to the verge of hilarity. They regarded the proceedings as a prologue to a feast. They contended that the multiple system was in nocent of chance ; anyhow , they had de cided to conform with the law out of re- ' spcct to the postal authorities. Hence they felt confident the Jury would acquit with a caution. When the prosecuting attorney , in hls'closjug address , got a litilo mixed in his figures ; tboir hilarity broke over the bounds of court decorum. Several such scents oc curred , lint thelr'lillarity was of short du- ' ' ration. After the court stated the law , ) n the case' and began dissecting and denouiKiing.tho swindle , the gloom of a Chicago fog enveloped them and Jaws dropped a foot. The court reviewed the schema of organization , which is familiar to the renders of TUB BEE , and said : Public riumlcr. "Thero is no doubt , gentlemen , that the scbcmo on the face of" It , according to its own contract , is a cheat. The testimony shows that this company has boon in exist ence for two years , and has had 00,023 ap plications. According to the contract of its organization It has thqroforo received moro than WOO.OOO from the $10 preliminary fees , and It bus paid $200,000 to its bondholders. If it paid out all It received for that pur pose , and its contract required It so to do. it received from the dues moro than JMO,000. So that after two years the stockholders re ceived moro than $ 10,000 and the so-called beneficiaries received hut $200,000. , This is public plunder. It Is said that this has been done fairly. This court Is notsittlng to pass upon the fairness of any such transaction. " But this , the Judge said , did not prove- lottery. The host definition of u lottery that ho could find was whore a pecuniary consideration is paid and It is determined by chance or lot , according to the scheme held out to the public , whether liu who pays the money shall receive a return and how much ; that was a lottery. Every enterprise was supposed to have a return or incentive \vljieh made mon industrious or active , but whether that return or prUo was de termined by moro lot or chance maao It cither illegitimate enterprise or a lottery , and therefore unlawful. Ho explained the differcnco between this enterprisennd life insurance' companies which Invest their moneys In securities and pay a stipulated sum to the holvs and beneficiaries of u mom- btu * after his death. The prlzo in the case of llfo insurance was not dotcrinlnaolo by or dependent on chance or lot , but on the lifo of a man. J'riilmlilllty of u lluiul .Maturing. Continulnc , the Judge said : In the case at bar the return or prizeia $1,000 , Now. is that determined by lot or chance ? Is It determined b.vnno of the laws of nature or of Industrial growth , which de termines the other returns of llfo ? Lot us loolc tit the practical worltingsof thoschemo. I Ml us look at it llrat Independently of what Is called the mulllpla system , Iluro Is a com pany which in two years has taken In moro than 50.000 applications. In order to make u return certain to each ono of thcso uppli- emits of the amount of money promised In the bond It would bo necessary that the com pany should have a fund of $ .W,000000. ; lu two years It has only accumulated a fund of $200,000. According to the constitu tion of the company , outside of the lapses , thorn uro WKX ) ( ) mon who are entitled to those returns if th'oy persist in paying. In two years 200 have been paid. If each man wcro to got a return according to the prom Isn ( if thu company , outside of lapses , and eyury dollar which wont into the fund of the company were to bo used for that purpose , mid no man were to receive- moro than ho paid In , It woul < J take 1,000 months , or moro than cighty-thrco years , for each man to rocqlvo kiclc his return. This inonuy will ho idle , noi growing by interest or other lu- VMtmeat. Is it not perfectly appar ent that from the very necessity itnd constitution of the scheme , if the multiple system wcro not introduced , the company could mn go on , und no man would receive back anything except these who had been the fortutuitu possessors of the llrst bonds. "It is said , and is otio of the boasts of the company , that everybody who has boon paid baric has been paid 21,000 on an investment not to exceed 10. That again shows the entire - tire Impossibility , according to thocoustitu | lon nf the schema , of but a limited few , one \n \ a hundred , over receiving any return or uny prize except for the law of lapses , Ho- oauso money lying tdlu In the treasury , shorn in the llrst place of 20 percent of the amount , will novur grow to pay 1,000 to ono , or 1,000 to tUlrty , so long ns the present economic law of the universe prevails. That Heilucllvo Multiple System , "Theso defendants have foreseen thU and foreseen that the company must therefore conm to an immediate end nnd have msti liued what Is called "tho multiple system. ' The chunco Is therefore hold out to a man to receive au early payment of his bond. Hut upor. what is that chance dependant ! What determines that return or that i rzor | Any law of naturu or of industrial growth tmch as applies to Insurance companies or real estate. Investments , which I have used ns Illustrations ! Not at all. U is solely do- I'tu ' Jaut upou the order lu which Uli baud may go through the registration process. If ho draws a multiple , nnd iho company con tinues , ho will eventually bo paid. If ho draws a numeral It Is as morally certain as any law of ttto universe that , unless the company Is almost entirely abandoned by Us bondholders , ho will never bo paid. "It Is said hero In argument that the Inusns will secure certain payment In time ; In other words , chough mon will become dlv couragcd at the outlook and will drop out seas as to advance these whoso bonds are de ferred. What docs that moan ? It moans that by the very constitution of this com pany the success of its enterprise depends entirely upon Us Insolvency ; its gross nnd well known Insolvency , so Insolvent that In the very method of Its organization no bopo of Its carrying out Its promises can bo entertained. Now , the court cannot say that that is a legitimate enter prise , promising n certain return of money which , by the very constitution of the com pany , is dependent upon the insolvency of the company , and n wholesale repudiation of Its promises. That is not the rule of anv other legitimate enterprise. The determi nation , therefore , of the return or prlzo is de pendent upon a chance or allotment. Wnrao Tim u lliu I.oulMnim Lottery. "Tho only substantial difference between ho scheme disclosed to you by the proof and ho well rccoijtiizod lotteries of the world , iucli as the ixiuisiana l Uery company , is hat the latter arc , in comparison , honest ind free from the opportunities of chicanery , The wheel of the lottery and the hat of the afllo are to the fortune luinlcrlncomparably 'aim- contrivances for the determination of : iis chance < * . Ho is not dependent , In them , ipon the honesty or accuracy of n Hcerctary , with whom it is as easy to nut ono application through the register as another. The whole scheme disclosed bv the uroofs 's a cunning trick to attract the cupidity and ignorance of men. A great menace to civil- zation not only ot the United States , bntot the world is the growing tendency to unm- bio or engage in lottery. Two hundred rears ago their promoters were character , zed In the streets of ICngland as robbers. "No prospect Is so attractive as that which Is wrapped up In the mysteries of a chanco. To the winner comes sonio money , many congratulations. wide advertisement throughout the newspapers and the pro pensity to go In ae.iln. To the losers , 100 fold In number , come stripped homes , Im poverished wives and children , lost opportunities of building up a com petence legitimately , and in too many in stances , the tcmutatlon to go in again upon means that are obtained from an em ployer , first by a snprosed borrowing , then jy intentional theft , forgery and embezzle ment. The rainbow of hope lures and lures until its chaser falls over the precipice into suicide or the penitentiary. The mails of thji United States are Intended for legiti mate businessor friendly communication and arc defiled by the dissemination and pro motion of such a scheme as the evidence in this case admittedly discloses. . " Tno maximum penalty in such cases is f 1,000 fine or ono year in the penitentiary , or both , according to the discretion of the court. Pondliig the determination of a motion for a new trial the prisoners wrro admitted to ball. Another Crushing IIlow. Since bond companies were excluded from the use of the mails , and especially alnco the prosecutions began In Chicago , there has been a general change of plans. Tho. mul tiple system , condemned as a lottery , has been generally abandoned and n system of redemption of bonds in numerical order insti tuted. The promoters Imagined this would square them with the postofllco authorities and give them access to the mails. A num ber of the reorganized concerns submitted their ulans to the department expecting ap proval. But disaster greets them again and blocks their operation under the consecutive plan. An opinion has been rendered by the assistant attorney general which , ho an nounces , applies to all companies. It is embodied in a letter to a .Missouri company and is as follows : " 1 have carefully investigated the modes and studied the plans of business adopted by your company , and am fally convinced that it ought not to bo permitted the use of the malls'to further Its interest. There are scores of companies in' thu United States of this class4 similar in'nil ' essential particu lars and differing only in details of , an unim portant naturo. The success of the business on the basts presented must necessarily depend on an appeal to the gambling spirit of the people or on their deception. The postmaster general is authorized under the law to exclude from the mails the business of an enterprise offcrintr prizes for dis tribution of money or property by lot or chance and of schemes devised to obtain money or property under false pretenses. Therefore when you eliminate the chance feature from your schemes you will bo con fronted by the fraud element in it. if any. An examination of your plan convinces mo that if successful it must inevitably result in gigantic- losses to your patrons as a body. The proposition to receive the money and re turn u portion of it to your patrons in un equal proportions and to induce people to embark in tlie enterprise of a ne cessity makes the distribution depend on lot or chance , or you mask the plan of operation. I cannot comprehend how a sane man would invest his money in a suheino like yours. Granting that the chance ele ment Is eliminated from it , the absence of a plain advantage over co-investors nnd of deception , some must bo deceived if the plan succeeds. If you remove the chance clement you must mask your plan of ouarations so as to cover your real designs , chiefly by Jug gling with figures , by which people can bis readily deceived and overreached by holding out to them hopes of magnificent results that can never bo realized. The practical outcome of such a schemb has been in the paflt to defraud the people , and in many states they have been prohibited by statute. I can instance a great hordoof enterprises in Massachusetts nnd other eastern states which drew millions of dollars from the people ple to their great damage , and even to the disturbance of the Business of the country. These arc now dead. Judging the future by the past I do not hesitate to say that the uehemomu'it from Its V < .T.Y nature result in the iujury of the mauy for the benefit of the few. and especially for the benefit of the company- and In a short time must break down of its own itinerant weakness. " I.\IIWTK It ltTIIK tllt.l.MJ JVHY. Oilu T ul tlio Iiicllnimpolls Mntlonal Held lotVrccklni ; tliu Hume. I.vi'MX.U'Oi.is , Nov. 25 , The United States grand Jury has voted to Indict TheoJoro P , Haughoy , president of the ( ndituuipolls National bank , Schuyler C. Haimhoy , president of the Indianapolis Ohio company and. of the Indianapolis Curled works , Fr.mcli A. Coflln , president of the Indianapolis-Cabinet company ; Percl- val B. Coflln , secretary of the Inuianapolls Cabinet company ; A. J. Ueod , treasurer of the Indianapolis'Cabinet company. Thcso are the live men already under bonds for wccklng the Indianapolis National bank. It is possible that additional Indict ments have been returned in the bank case , The Jury returned sixty-three Indictments for minor offenses , The persons under bond in the bank case were among the 11 rat persons indicted by the Jury , but the Indictments could -not bo reported to the clerks of the courts for the reason that the district attorney and his assistant , have not hud time In which to prepare thorn. Assistant District Attorney Corr went to work on the indictments thla afternoon Toitlflod tu llur ( loud GliurHctor , Mrs. Kllia Barton was arrested yesterday on a charge of obtaining money under false pretenses. U was alleged that she had rented a house which she did not possess to "Uttlo Hod Cloud , " an Indian soldier , tjho gavu bond * for her appearance for trial next Friday. Several well known business men tostl tied to the good character of Mrs. Bar ton , and claim she has a gear's lease on the house which she rented , and that the com plaint was duo to the Inability of the Indian to understand Knglish. Ili-lctmeil ( ho Clinimmcu. CISCISXATI , Nov. 23i The government has lost Its first case in Ohio uudor tbo Goarj law. Four Chinamen who arrived hero las Monday from Detroit were arrested by : J.'nilcd States Inspector on suspicion tha. they wcro newly imported and were being smuggled from Canada to Now York. Upon u full hearing bcforu United States Com mis sioner Brussle that oulcer hold that the gov eminent had failed to make Its cane and a Is charged tUo prUouort , MAKE WESTERN NEBRASKA Iti Boil Waiting Only for the Flow of Irrigation IT MAY BECOME A BLOOMING GARDEN Uvery Inch of I-timl I * Ooiiil nml All Ac- ccuslhlo to Water Supply A Urent I'lc-lil , for Vutnro Omntia Trtutc. Gnuixo , Nov. 2J. [ Special to Tun Ben. ] Arizona , Now Mexico , California and Colorado rado are recognized as irrigating states , and capitalists seeking profitable- fields of Invest ment in the line of Irrigation have for years turned their eyes toward thcso localities , It is not strange that this should bo true , con sidering the position they willingly occupy and the certainty of remunerative Invest ment they afford. Yet Nebraska , with an immense area of Irrigable land and an abund ant supply of water waiting to bo diverted into canals has , as n whole , persistently oc- cupird the position of n rain bolt state , The entire area of thcso other commonwealths nro not only accepted by their citizens to bo so-called arid lands , but are even claimed to bo such with a species of glory la the fact. They say , glvo us water and wo will trans form our deserts into lloworitig Kilens. Cap ital hears thU story , teats H , and the re- suits have invariably proven that the al leged arid lauds are fully as productive under the magical Influence of artlliclal watering as that cultlrcted Under the most encouraging natural rainfall , Nebraska , a successful farming state , only so far as that portion of her surface lying east of the ono hundredth meridian Is concerned , has tnrough her press and peoiilo attempted to maintain the integral position of a .rainUolt state. I ot n cry go up from this Madodonla through the channels In which capital Is sought that there Is a scctioti of Nebraska comprising one-half of her entire area which is the same sort of arid land exactly , and where immigration is possible and will bo welcomed , and who can doubt that If proper conditions and probable profit can bo shown that capital 'will grapple with the subject and make for Nebraska's fair plains an ag ricultural renown as celebrated as that of CaliforniaUtah or Colorado ! Must ISnlargo Omulm'a 1'iclcl. The question merely resolves Itself Into a matter of the ability to show these condi tions , and It is a gratifying fact that THE BEE and tno state pi-ess are apparently be ginning to realize that Nebraska does not end at Grand Island or Kearney. Some rea sons for the awakening are evident. The great city of Omaha the gateway of the state with her united business interests extending westward along Uio Union .Pacific , the B. & M. and the Elkhorn roads , sighs for now Holds to conquer. Omaha can no longer doubt that these desired1 new fields are either not In existence or are already pre-empted by commercial centers as enter prising as herself. What , then , can she debut but proceed to develop thosu Holds which are already hers by right of possession i Kansas City , for Instance , was largely-instrumental In securing the opening of the Oklahoma lands and the Chorokco Strip not from a benevolent desire to provide homes for an ovcrllow from the surging tide of.oastcrn hu manity no , indeed , simply to develop a ter ritory already hers , that the increasing busi ness might benefit her manufacturers , mer chants and Jobbers. "Why should not Omaha profit by Kansas City's example and arko to the demands of the situation > vhlch con fronts her ? All Subject to Irrigation. Western Nebraska is fortunately composed of a rich and fertile soil , capable of blooming as the rose. There is not a square inilo of waste land in tbo entire western half of the state , irrigation will > reclainii millions of acres of land along the water courses , and the watered acres will bring forth grain and produce for the Oniaha market , corn to fatten swine for the Oniaha market , and alfalfa to feed cattle for the Omaha market. The higher lands upon which water , cannot bo conducted are now , as they have always been , covered with the most nutritious of prairie grasses , and will become the' grazing irrnnnda nf t hundreds of ranchmen as soon as the corn and hay are grown in the valleys to feed stock through thu inclement portions of the winter seasons. It ia onlya ; question ot time when the condition your correspondent has outlined will como to pass. Wealth and prosperity are knocking at Omaha's door , and it may bo conceived that her duty is to put away all foolish notions of rainbolt prejudice , and tangibly onpouragu the development of irrlgatio/i in the western half of the state. Tno old theory , which was so tenaciously held by the pioneers- that In creased precipitation Would follow the pro gress of cultivation , has long since -been ox- ploacd. If it still lingers In the minds of any they have but to look ut the history < > f crops durinsr tlio last tour or five years west of the 100th meridian. A. J'oor Subnlttito for Irrigation , Some ouo who was born to bo a philoso pher has said that the notion that iirlgatidu is a miserable substitute for rainfa'll should bo rendered thus : That rainfall ia a poor substitute for irrigation. Perhaps it is not necessary for the purposes of this corre spondent to stale-it thus radically. Yet Ir rigation farmers seldom recant seldom leave un irrigated farm for ono ia the rain belt. Some of the beauties of the irrigation system nro the certainty of crop , the in. crcascdyield and thobotterqualltyof the pro duce. Irricated wheat is always a bctter.llour maker than nonlrrlg.Hed wheat , Irrigated land is not worn out and laid by to rest after every third or fourth season. The alluvial deposits carried over the surface with the water enriches and recuperates the sgll , as well as enhances the harvest. The cer tainty of a crop is , however , perhaps the greatest advantage the irrigating farmer has ever his brother in Iowa or Illinois. The loss of ono crop to'tho average farmer is the very thing which cripples him and defeats the purposes of his industry , and In many cases of those years when failures occur a canal could ho built by the amount lid loses , which would place his land in safety us to crop. For Instance , ono of the greatest ruin- falls in the world Is supposed to bo that of Italy. Yet the Italian farmers are working under one of the most advanced' systems of irrigation on the glebe , simply because , .they cannot afford to tnlnlc of the possible los ? pf a single crop. Many a rain belt farmer no doubt considers irrigation an absurd deviation from nature's method of cultivation , but the fact remains that they would no doubt bo surprised to learn that over one-half of the world's popu lation subsists upon iho food produced by irrigation. So much for the advantages of the system. Now as to its possibility in western Ncbrasitn , There is ample reason to believe that the outside world , nay , even the eastern half of the state , is full of pco plo who never heard of irrigation in No- brasku. Yet your correspondent bus , In tlio past week , scon thousands upon thousands of acres ot Nebraska land glowing with the green and yellow of growing and ripen ing grains and vegetables. Ho bus stood at the side of a thresher and soon the plump and well developed wheat and oats pouring Into the bins ; ho 1ms seen the huge stacks of hay and alfalfa , the Holds of genuine Ne braska corn , the potatoes nnd vegetables , all the result of irrigation. And this in the western half of Nebraska which is oaly credited by the commercial apcncios with a third , oiat most , a half crop , and in uiost counties an absolute failure. Kuatchvd from Drouth. I write from Gerlng , a thriving little town away out on the frontier only twenty miles from the uttermost end of the state. The North PJatto river flows from the northwest to the uoutheast corner of the county , and Li already diverted upon clthor side iuto mon ster canals and thanco Into laterals which are thu veritable arteries carrying the life giving fluid which has produced crops in tie | midst of a land withered by drouth and shrivelled by hot winds. Tnls was the seat of the original movement toward irrigation in Nebraska , being in Its early soUloium\tln \ the years from lt > S5 to 18ST , peopled in part by men who know something of the system , and who at once- set about the organization of canal projects among their various communi ties. The curlier canals'wcro tlo | Farmers and the MInataro , each In Scotts Bluff county. The forrnor was latur merged iuto a corporation which has Its general oftlccs la Omaha , and today is a ditch completed about thirty miles with , an average width of fuut , aud iuteudcd , whcu completed.to , water an acreage ofaboxVt'io,000 ' acres. Tlio Mlnatard canal I * about " 'Ijxonty miles long and furnishes water to ' 'M\ area of about 15,000 acres. Thcso project * ware closely fol lowed by the Winters Crook canal , an excel lent ono about fifteen miles in length ; the Enterprise , over thlrt.V knlles long ; tbo Mitchell , about thirty" nillcs long ; the Castle Hock , , about eighteen miles Ion ? , tbo Hayaitl , the Central , the Lawrence , the Chimney Hock and a-number of smaller ones , ranging In length 'ifbrn ' five to fifteen miles nnd watering from 1.000 to r ,000 acres each. Thcso are the canal's which head in Scott's Illuft" county , anVT they are supple mented In tao work of making tbo North 1'latto valley a farming 'region ' in the mod- ci'n sense by a host of smaller ones Just above the state jlne In Wyoming , and to the cast of the county in Cheyenne nnd Douel counties. Indeed there is ono which ranks right alongside the canals already mentioned is to slzo and capacity , the Bclmont , bead- ng near camp Clark and extending along : ho foothills south of the river a distance of thirty-live miles , and covering over O.'i000 ; acres of land , lloxr tlio CnnnU Were Unlit. From the figures already adduced It will lie seen that in the western section of the state there nro tnkon from tbo North Platte river alone a grand total approximating .100 miles ot main ditch. A gratifying feat uro of thcso statistics is the fact th'at , with two exceptions , these canals have been constructed , cqulnped and maintained under a co-operatlvo plan by the farmers residing under the respective lines , the dirt being moved uytho farmer's own txmo and sinew , with no outside assUtanco and arc consequently owned and controlled by the farmers who are Interested , who are under no corporate rentals or restrictions. A compilation made some two years ago Is said to have shown that the first cost of thcso mutual enterprises divided by thu number of acres for which they could furnish water loft as the quotient JJ.50. In other words , the farmers had secured for the pal try sum of &J.50 per aero a certainty of crop forever and perpetually , with Iho trifling cost of maintenance added annually. Viewed from the general standpoint of irrigation this Is n remarkably low result , as tha gov ernment reports have shown the average annual rental of water to bo from f t.M ) to $18 per aero In the various Irrigation states or territories. It is true that thcso canals men tioned uro the ones most easily constructed , by reason of the topography of tbo I'latto valley , as they are for the most part simply conduits built to takq advantage of tbo known fall of the rivori and are constructed on a less grade across Iho level valley lauds skirting the stroam. Hut this docs not measure the irrigation possibilities of this great stato. Conditions Alt Favor Nebraska. Irrigation can only bo extensively and at the same tlmo successfully practiced from streams having tholf source in lofty moun tains where the supply of water Is Inde pendent of the local rainfall. The North Platte river Is ono of the largest , if not the largest , rlvor flowing eas.t from the Kocky mountains , Statistics show that a greater volume of water enters the state of Ne braska at the state line In this river than In all the streams of Colorado combined. Now , to bring this matter down into a practical form for the consideration of ho who runs , it must be understood thft-ti from the source of the Platte ( thu nortli'ifork ) to the line between Wyoming anduNcbraska tbo river canons almost the ontiruiLcllstance that is , the valley Is too narrowvio permit of the diversion of water for.infisation purposes , to any appreciable extent. Only a very small portion of this mighty flood can over bo used In Wyoming , and Nobras'Ua' , through natural laws , must become tltdi. beneficiary , for at the state line the gigantic buifTs , which have flanked the sbveam on either sdle , swoop away ( fcnm , the river , nnd there is formgd' ono of the most beautiful valleyslliii the west , as well as one of the mosfPtmtural Irrigating territories in the world.i-JFor a distance of a hundred miles with a wiiJith of from fifteen to twciuy-flvo miles strcujjies tho. belt which is so far thok sqeuo o'f tlyi most active irri gration operations jn thjvstato. 'i'iio.soll is rich , the climate 19 inUdfjfa < J.-watqr Is. purp and enough lias already , , been > Jnrio" .in the way of Irrigation to inliicato the possibilities ia store for Nebraska.- - AVImt Oinalm CAH Dp. There are but two drawbacks to the Cre ation of an agricultural paradise' in this re gion , and In each of these Oniaha can bo a faithful ally If she will , and nt the same time she is doing this she will simply be adding a good many rounds to her ladder for reaching the pinnacle of commercial su premacy. One of these things Is the en couragement of a railroad line giving a moro direct outlet to market than is now enjoyed. The other , it should bo needless to sayis the encouragement of further irrigation pro jects. It is apparent not only that the citi zens themselves are not able to construct the mighty canals required to reach the higher lands , They ha\o acquitted them selves nobly so fatas their conditions and the topography of the country would permit - mit , but for reaching higher lands enormous canals , not only embracing direct headgates , but in many instances' storage or resurvolr systems , will bo necessary. Such operations require actual cash. It must bo berne in mind that in presenting this subject your correspondent Is not urging experiments which might prove disastrous failures , but on the contrary is simply placing uoforo the eyes of inch who should bo able to influence capital see m cs of certain and unfailing prullt. Irrigation Investments are sought in proforeneo to any others in many localities. With this understanding why should such investments lu western .Nebraska , a known and admitted arid country , proyo unro- muncrutive. Alone tlio North I'lnttc. Nor do wo moan to con Quo the 'possible , scene of these operations to this stretch of territory 100 miles or so from the state lino. On the contrary the very same conditions ex tend on down the North .Platto , with atlll wider expanse of valley capable of being readied and fertilized by its boundless waters ; the Loun basin is another Jit subject for consideration as well with Its 15,000 square miles of territory. The volume of water in these streams is not restricted to that actually discovered by measurement. It is believed by many that what is termed the underflow comprises almost as much moro , If necessary It can bo brought into service. If there still be any doubt of the supply , construct - struct immense reservoirs Into which the products of the rains out of irrigating seasons may bo stored for USD at the nropur times. Kiicourajjo and assist the artesian well idea , especially since it has bocn so per fectly demonstrated by the recent experi ment at fjorlng that thcrjo Is flowing water obtainable at practicable depths. Whatever is clone , relinquish the fogylsji notion that the western half of Nebraska is in an agri cultural condition under ralnbclt systems , And in the years to coni ( & when this region has become the peer of pastern Nebraska in population nnd wealthtiji men who are your successors in inalninliling Omaha's po sition among the cities of'th'o earth will arise and call you blessed. ' ' * ! ' \Vlioro Capltul Khotftfr llu Applied. There is ono project iu ! ? particular which needs only the magic'poiwor of capital to make It wonderful in capacity aud results The Laramlo and ScoUs' liluff proposed ditch line lias boon Biiiv yed and cross- sectioned , and is complpLply ready for the plow and scraper , Aii amount approximating fcJO.OOO.OOO has boon useiUi/ / this work aud it Is said to bo without a llMy , ' ; The line covora nu immense stretch oytno valley lying in Scott's I ) lu ( I county , and when the canal , which It represents , is-completoa and tlio water flowing , it will muVu. homes upon tlio broad acres of tlio NortlfcPlatto valley for thousands of farmers. Rjich an enterprise as this soo.iis to bo entirely beyond the reach ol the homesteaders who are now living under the line , yet without exception they have held oil with a grit born of desperation waiting for the building of the canal , The movement toward securing govern ment aid for thcso Irrigation projects is not strong enough to move by its own innate power ; It needs assistance. Inculcate into the minds of the Nebraska delegation al Washington every argument that can bo ad duced for It the fact thut there are thou sands of acres of publlo lands that will bo sold and bring their proceeds to the spot where the surplus ought to bo If Irrigation is n probability ; that it Is as cheap to construct - struct systems , for diverting tha Hoods of our Nebraska streams Into canals , whence they can bo used in vivifying the fertile prairies of Nebraska , as to build levees along the lower Mississippi to keep them within duo bounds , A. B , WOOD. Continued Until B NEW YOIIK , Nov. 'J5. There was no ses sion of the grand jury la tlm Madison Square bank cases today , Iho cases bola ? contin ued until Monda/ . CLOSER TRAFFIC RELATIONS Eumota of a Combination Between the Union Pacific and Great Northern , OFFICIALS ARE RETICENT ON THE SUBJECT VUlt ofJIin Hill' * I.leulrnruiM to Omnhn Other Itnllwny > 'ow * of ( Icunrnl lu- tornt I'rnflpoctR of u Trnmlor of lleul ; < itmrlc.'s r > uton. Ono of the brightest general passenger agents In the country Is Prank Whitney of the Great Northern system , with head quarters at St. 1'anl. Ho was In Omaha yesterday. Mr. Whitney was a graduate from the ranks previous to 1881. having boon clerk and chief clerk in the ticket depart ment of the Michigan Central , In Septem ber ot 183L ho became assistant general passengerajccnt oPtho Michigan Central , which position ho hold for six years , when ho bccamo city passenger agent of the Lake Shore Ss Michigan Southern in Chicago , but only held the place from April to July , when ho was made western passenger agent ot the same road , and in July of 1SSS ho became - came general passenger nnd ticket agent of the St. Paul , Minneapolis & Manitoba rail way. now the Great Northern system. Mr. Whitney Is the mildest mannered man who over out a i-nto or paid a commission , but he is u railroad man from thocrouud up nnd "business" Is written all over his typical New England face. His business in Omaha well , really , ho couldn't say but' Just wanted to call on Mr. Ijomax to settle a matter that was purely clerical in its nature , and thought aSitur- day afternoon would find Air. Lomax dison- naccd. "Tho Great Northern , " said ho ; while his eyes wcro intently riveted upon a pile of formidable looitlhg papers before him , "Is comparatively a new road and anything that comes our way Is "llko finding it. Wo are not a California line , you know , and traverse a section of the country that is comparatively undovplopcil. " Then the reporter suggested that the Great Northern had made considerable trouble last .summer for the Union Pacific with Its line of boats. "That was last summer , " replied the mildly spoken general passongciagent. . "Our tourist service , I am told , affected our southern neighbor , the Union Pacific , considerably , but wo were a new road and had to Introduce ourselves to the traveling public. But Wo nro not of the lighting kind , except that being In a broil wo make the best of It if wo cam" "You do not come to labor with Mr. Lomax over the immigrant siUiationt" haz arded Titii.Bm . : man. " \Yo are not'mpmbcrs of any association and are peculiarly a law unto ourselves. No ; my mission is purely one belonging to the auditing department. Still' . I should like to know how Mr , Lomax stands on the immi grant question , although wp have little busi ness of that kind on our line except to local points. " "Arc'rates stable on your line now ? " "Very. Wo are not socking to demoralize business willing to wait for our opportunity to still further popularize our road when the time comes. The Great Northern is In splen did condition , our equipment is good and physically wo are lirst class. Mr. Hill is one of the greatest financiers of modern times , the 'secret of his great success being that he is personally interested In every en terprise witll which he is connected. Ho backs his opinion with his money. " "Is Mr. iill a rich man as rich mon go ? " "Well , that is rather a vague question. Mr. Hillis probably a twenty millionaire- - , although I am not advised ns to his wealth.- I do know , however " , ho is a genius in finan cial matters. " 'Is it tli6 , intention of the Great Northern to' ' build.to Omahai , "Keall.y , thut is a question thafl can not answer.roplied . Mr.-tVliltncy , shifting his position and crossing his legs. "I anticipate , however , that Mr. Hill will not bo content to terminate his line nt Sioux City , but it has been a disastrous year for railroad building and . .tho future must solve that question. It may be that Mr. Hill lias his eye ou Denver : "stopping at Omaha en route. but no. man camtell .what Is developing in the brain of the president of the- Great Northern. " It Is understood that W. W. Flndlay , gen eral trafilumauageiYand F. I. Whitney are in Omaha to .form a closer traftlc agreement than now oxistp between the Union Pacific and the Great Northern. Drciiluil Jii llijssoll Kugu'ii Favor. ST. PAJJII , Nov. 25 , In the case of George Hanoan vs Russell Sago pending in the United States- circuit court of this state , Judge Nelson has filed a decision which is of jjroac importance , to a Inrgo number of people ple in the western part of the state who are occupying"lauds granted by congress to aid In the construction of the Hasting & Dakota railroad. It was an action to quit tltlo to a quarter-section occupied , by the plaintiff. The defendant , Kussoll Sago , sot up that it was a part of the grant made by congress to aid in the construction of the Hastings & Dakota road , and had boon earned by that company by the construction of Its line of road ; that subsequently thereto the com- 'pany assigned 'and ' transferred to the de fendant in trust for its stockholders nil the land that had been earned by the construc tion of the road. Subsequently thereto the tract in question , "with other lands , had boon certified to the's'tato as appertaining to said road nnd had been-convoyed by the govern ment to the defendant as suoh assignee in trust. The plaintiff claimed the company had no authority to make tno assignment and trans fer to the defendant , Sago , and Judge Nelson - son decided in fav'or ' of Sagu. 'i'S ' ' ' ' u Trnnsler. J , II , Lothrop , vice presidentnnd general manager of the Kearney & Black Hills rail. road , was in Omaha yesterday arranging for the transfer of the nuditingdopartmont of his road from Kearney to Omaha December 1. Mr. Lathrop 13 very much llko Othollo , in that his occupation la almost gone , although "Loth" will still hold the position of assist ant superintendent , of the system , with headquarters at Kearney. Kor purposes of ccoiiomy the operation of the road will bo merged into the Union Pacillu system , Gen eral Manager Dickinson assuming charge of thu road after that data and General Super intendent Nichols looking after the physical condition , The removal of the auditing office from Kearney , wlillo not changing the census of the city very piuch , will undoubtedly bo felt in a commercial way. as many odds and ends have been purchased there Instead of mak ing requisition on the storekeeper in Omaha. " ' 1 ho change la inuilo necessary by the ap pointment of receivers , " said Mr , Lothrop , "and a desire to operate the system moro economically. I am still vice president of tlio company , but will assume tha tttlo of assistant superintendent , with headquarters In Kearney , it being the wish of thu pcoplo there that the road bo operated from that point. " Itiillmiy Nntfg. George W , Loomls of the Burlington was at his desk yesterday after live days spent among the quail and rabbit in Hod Willow county. There was a tired fcoling very noticeable about Mr. LoomU and ho spoke of a very old arm of which ho was possessed. Together with W. W. Blugham and Charles Johannes Mr , Loornfs bagged between' i'-OO and 400 quail and n cargo of rabbits , the distribution taking place or Monday at thu general offices of the Burling ton. Niilcldo n ( mi Killtor. ST. PAUL , Nov. 25. Albert Eolf , until re cently editor of the St. Paul Dally Yolks Zel tung and a prominent German democrat threw himself In front of un engine in the union depot this afternoon. His , body was badly mangled. Despondency over faiiuro to secure a government appointment is given us ono probable cause. Hhut Hi Mlm Ilade Her I-nvor Farewell , ST. Louis , Nov. 25. The death this morn ing of Ahuie , Ncsson , a comely lass of 1(1 ( , adds another to the list of lovers' tragedies. James Fitzgerald and the girl , who lived at T01 South Broadway , were lovers , end had bidding each other adlou ycsterd&y , AM US EM HINTS- I5TH STREET THEATRE N1OHT THIS WKRK. WITH MVtll \ V rn O.Qfl T/"lXTlf > I IT rt.1 " ! v v USUAL MAT1NKK3 , COMMKNC1NH LV.ll/Al AT ZtOU I UiMU 11 L ArO.Ll : ? Tno Fnivpimody "I'p to Dale" nnd a Llltlo Ways llcyonrt. COSGROVE & © RANT'S ' COMEDIANS in tlm-ltli Edition ot tlio Honiou's Glorious Helghlnc Comedy Scimtloii "TH Twenty Mclropolllnn Commllani , IncliHlliiir "Tlio Only Onp , " JOSUl'lt A. OTTi ANNIK I.WWIfl ni "THK Widowj" tint ( trout ClIiidiT Qiiiirtulta : tin ) Famous fi CoiiuMI.-m1) : Mix : Mlllt'i- - ' . T , Ward , John I * . Curran , Jessa Hatuhur , Amilu Wllnmrtli , tiraclu Oaylor , Albert Hurl , Howard UrnhnmV. . It. Wny. , GAAKI ) KXTlt.V JIATlKr.K THUUSDAY , NOV. .iO-THANKSOU'lNO. according to Fitzgerald , when an.unknown man opened flro on the couple. . Fitzgerald claims to huvo pursued the assassin without avail. The police are working on Iho case ami also holding Fitzgerald on'tho theory thut ho Is thu murderer. ron T//.t.v/iaH/n.\o. OMAHA , Nob. , Nov. So. To the Kditor of Tins 13uis : "It 1.4 a good thing to glv6 thanks unto the Lord. " "For the Lord is peed , ills mercy Is everlasting and Ills truth cndurcth to all generations. " The Lord has been gracious unto us as a people , and tlic mani fold blessings received attest this fact moro than toncuo can express. Next Thursday is a day sot apart for thanksgiving and upon that day wo should not only offer thanks and praise unto the l/rd , but wo should also remember by our store and purse these engaged in saving the fallen. The Uescuo Homo for Women , located at 103-107 Bancroft street , this city , is an In corporated institution worthy of our greatest benevolence , and wo know of no place moro deserving , as its object is to provide a home for penitent fallen women and to rescue them from lives of shame ; to reclaim , edu cate and Instruct them in industrial pur suits , nnd to restore them when possible to their homes and parents. These in chirgo ot the work are thoroughly consecrated the duties devolving upon them , and nro doing great good. Over seventy persons have boon cared for since the homo was established ( December , IS'Jl ) . The homo is supported by free-will offerings , und is constantly In need of supplies , such as are used In large families or hospitals , clothlm : , groceries , vccetables , fruits , jellies and delicacies suited for the sick , in fact , anything you can give will bo thankfully re ceived and duly acknowledged. Direct a postal card to the superintendent , Hov. Lydia A. NowborrylOIl Bancroft street , city , stating what you may have to glvo unto this cause and a-worlter will call and got It. HOME INDUSTRY LUNCH. Xobruska Alnnurnctiiror * Will LYod the State OllletiUn at Lincoln. Secretary Holmes of the Manufacturers and Consumers association of Nebraska has returned from Lincoln and reports that the arrangements have been made for a "home patronage lunch or banquet , " to bo given in that city on Friday , December 1 , at 0 in the evening. The invited guests will include all members of the Manufacturers association who will bo in the capacity of hosts , the governor of the state , the mayor , city attorney , Hoard of Public Works and city council of Lincoln and the superintendents and stewards of the state Institutions. The latter will bo in session at Lincoln at that limn , Tbo affair will take place at the Lincoln hotel. The different manufacturers in the state who produce food products have agreed to fur nish the necessaries for the ocrasloiu Every thing served , so far as possible , will be of Nobrasica production , the object being to prove to the officials of the state nnd city of Lincoln , that Nebraska food products are not only equal but. superior to manufactures from other states , and that they nro worthy of the attention of these ofllclals who purchase supplies for thu public institutions. Hud Novrr lleitril of Il < n. A Chicago gentleman was in town Friday and wliiled away a few pleasant hours with City Treasurer Bolln. The Chiuagoan was the representative of a syndicate of English bond buyers , and the high regard with which Omaha securities are held In the financial world caused him to covet a few of the bonds. Ills mission was in vain , as ho was lu search or bonds that were never voted. Ho had heard of the proposition to bond the city for $1,500.01X1 to construct a canal , and supposed that they wnro voted. Ills Ignorance on this subject , however , is probably excusable from the fact that ho had never hoard of Ike Hascall , "tho laborIng - Ing nmu's candidate for mayor1 aud his support of tbo canal scheme. raid the Kluctlmi Olllclnlt. Yesterday the city commenced delivering pay warrants to the Judges and clerks , su poi-visorsof registration and special police men. The Judges and clerks received ? 3 each , supervisors of registration ? 15 and special policemen * ! . Some of these to whom warrants wcro delivered discovered breakers ahead when the warrants were presented nt the treas urer's olllco. The council recently adopted a resolution providing that there shall bo deducted from all warrants Issued the amount duo the city in personal taxes if any delinquency be found on the books. Several delinquents were brought to time in this manner , although they protested against thu amounts being taken from their pay , C' ' V. M. V , A. Nolf > , Rev. J. M. Patterson will deliver the second end of the series of addresses to men this afternoon at 4 o'clock in Young ftlcn's Chris- linn association hall. The association or chestra , under the leadership of Mr. T. J , Penncll , will furnish an orchestral preludu. The association building will bo open to all young men from U to 10:110 : a. in. and 1UU3 ; to 7 p.m. Mr. Acheson , thu now piosldtmt of thu McCaguu Savings bunk , will conduct the Sunday afternoon bible class at 3 p. m. Colonel Bird is expected to.bo present und make a brief talk at close of class. Secre tary Ober's class is held atUlQ ; a , m , Tlurd Anniversary Koclul. Thursday evening occurred tlio third anni versary social and ball of Alpha camp No , 1 , Wooamen of the World , at Myrtle hall lu the Continental block. Probably 203.couplos were present and enjoyed the hospitality of Alpha camp. These entertainments during thu winter will bo given each month and a great deal of pleasant anticipation is afford cd by reason thereof. iiiiizo in u num. A frame barn belonging to A. F. Clark at 2517 Harney street was considerably dam aged by Ore last evening. The blaze was cauaod by a defective flue in the boating apparatus. About tttM wll. cover the loss on the building. The contents were damaged to the extent of00. ! . Several valuable horses wcro in the stable ut the time , but wcro rescued. rr iuIortr Kl' < Cnn Continued. CuiCAQO , Nov. 25. The trial of Prouder- THIS ( SUNDAY ) EVENING , NOV. 20 , Last Porforimincu of Mr. OAKI. A. HASWIN ANB COMPANY In the must powerful of all melodramas. lly Henry Arthur Jones , A PLAY FOB THE PEOPLE. SSI- Good Scats nt nc Hex ollicc open all day Sunday. OKTA GOOD SKAT VOIl fiOc. TnnnK NiniiTS. Commencing , i WILLIAM CALDER'S COMPANY In Simon Vano'H ThdllIns KoallMlc Urania , Under tlm direction of II. S. TAYLOR. THE GHEiTEST'MELO-DRAMA.of the AGE After 20 week's run al tinNo - York'llicatiTri , the luw York Herald call * It "Thu eltivrn'st ami moHt uxcltlii ? melo-ilrama een IHM-O In many moons * StrouK Cnst - Effective Scoiioti. Kirst floornnc.TSc and $1 : balcony fiOuaudTCc. Box ollloo open all itay Sunday. OH VTV C ! Tlmrailav , rriclay , Satnrdnv , DUYJJ buoy. 30 and Dae. 1 and 2 THAHKSGIVIHD ENGAGEMENT. Appearance of IliuTragedian , ROBE11T DOWNING SupportMlby KUOKNIK IILAIK. KDMUND COL- LIKU , and Hlronc company of playcra. KKPKKTOIUi : : THANKSGIVING . " JI.VTINKK-ngomar | THANKSr.IVING EVKNINB-ThO Gladiator. PHIDAY KVKNIKG "VlrglnlUS , " SATUHDAY MATINEK- "Rlohard the Lion Hearted. " SATURDAY EVENINO"Tho ClldlOtOr. " Ho.vShcotsopon Wednesday. 1'riucs : l < lr.sfe floor , > . " > o anil ! 1 ; balcony.Me und ' " . . Mutlncoi Kirst floor. Wo und T.'o ; balcony , COf. IfilO HAnNKY ST. WINTER TERM BEGINS DEC , 1ST. Children : Tuesday p. m , : Battmluy , 1 ( ) a. m. and : t p. in. AdultH : Tuesday. Tlimwluy , I'rlday tiiirf U'i < 11 til < i t * U it 1,1 HMxt I n > 't till f ill fTliitlfitlt ,7. -U/S//O.TVS AMUSEMENT CIRCUIT , Sharing Terms. Address for Particular : . ' ? SEE US Before liuyin/i / SEALSKIN GARMENTS. HKIIAHIK GOODS OUll 61'EOIAWY. CLOAKS.SIIT.FP. ! $ COR. I6TH AND FARIIAM SIS.OHAHA. 1'itxton lllook , Kntratico on IGih BU ' cast for tbo murder of Carter Harrison , which was to have ucnn ucfnin on Monday , was continued today for onuvouk , Ono of I'rcmlergaBl'fl attorneys is 111 and nuked that thu case bo continued. Hiirlmi Alive. John llaloy , administrator of the citato of William Haley , deceased , bat brouKbt suit to recover the sum of fj.UOO. Thu .plaintlfl alleges that on May ft , 18W , William Haley was employed In tbo- sand pic owned and operated by P-atrlclc Hagloy , working some twenty fuel beneath the surface. Ho fur ther alleges that tbo iiuulc caved In and that tlio llfo was crushed out of William Huloy ; that tbo fatal accident was duo to tbo fault of a drunken foreman , who failed to furnish the projior facilities for supporting iho earth ahovo the sand where the men vvcrovork - ! ! , ' Ciintruotixl lor lloniln. A representative of Farson , Jcarli & Co. , tbo Now York bond brokers , was lu tbo city the cntiro day yesterday. Ho contracted for street Improvement iMiids of tbo city In thu amount of $ .V00 ! , paying par and accrued in lores t for the Baiuo , Thu ( 'ontleman gave Treasurer Holln encouraging words ahd con- nlduru-d iho outlook for the taking of tbo re mainder of tliu bonds as being good. 1'lro in lll niircl : ( ' Cuitlr. lUMiiur.a , Nov. 25. A lira broKe out in a room at I'rinco Kistnarck's chateau at ITrlcdrichsruh yesterday as a result of a do- foot lu tbn boating apparatus. The flames were speedily iiuuncbod by thp servant * U" "irvlslou of tbe prluco himself ,