THE O2\rAHA \ DAILY BEE : ITlUtLAY , FEBRUARY 12 , 1897.
CRITICISM OF STATISTICS
Figures of the Department of Agriculture
Are Called in Qucstiou.
RELATING TO THE WHEAT CROP OF 1896
V
nn Cllv Slnr PUNKON StrlctnrcH on
Uic Dciiitrtmcnt'NVnrt. . Stntln-
tltilnn Ilohliixou Sulimlt * a
'WASHINGTON , Feb. ll.--Speclal { to The
Dec. ) The Knnsns City Star has Just made
n assault on the statistical work of the
department of agriculture and Its statement
of the wheat crop ot 189C. The Star calls
this work "worse than valueless , " and de
clares that it hag not the support ot a well
informed grain man in the country. The
Star article proceeds to say :
The government estimate of th < crop Is
427,000 000 bnahcli. It la recocnlzetl by nil
competent authorities thnt this country re
quires 370OiU. ) iuo bushels for brcnd nnd seed ,
so that , If tlm government figures were cor
rect , tliero would bo an exportnblo sur
plus of only 57,000,000 bushel * , lint the
country hn already exported 100,000,000
bnsliclH Flncc the crop WIM harvested , nnd
thcro I-J no doubt that nt lonst 50,000,000
bushels moro will KO abroad before n now
crop Is hiirvostetl. Tlmt would mnkp a to
tal ofSIO.COJOOO Initlicln dlfpjacd of. It mny
bis posslblo that n surplus of 40,000,000 bush
els wa.t carried over from the crop of 1S33 ,
PO that there Is not the least rcngon to
doubt that th > crop of 1896 wns nt least
480.000.COO bushels.
Hon. Henry A. Robinson , statistician of
the Department of Agrleulturp , was seen
with reference to these statements today.
Ho gave his verwlon of the matter In con
troversy very fiecly. "No part of the gov
ernment service , " ho said , "has moro criti
cism to meet than the ono which collects
and distributes useful information on sub
jects connected with agriculture , and no
BUlidlvlsIon of this branch of the service
llnds more severe criticism than the ono
concerned , wlth agricultural statistic * ) .
"I will not pause to notice the cheap fling
that the report Jin question has not the support
"
port of a well "informed grain man In the
country , except to sny that I have heard nnd
seen moro than ono endorsement of the
report as a probably very close approxima
tion to exactness. There are , however. In
the Star computation some figures with
which no fault can be found. That 100.-
000,000 bushels , for example. Is a pretty fair
statement of the export from the beginning
ot the wheat year In July to the middleof
January. At that "date the visible supply
was 52,000.000 bushels , the whole of which
fliipply will , In all probability , bo either
exported or carried ovor. It is usual to
allow considerably morp wheat for an ex
port stock ( unlcro near the close of the sea
son ) , than the quantity stored as 'visible , '
but there are very good reasons for believing
that any such allowance this year must
bo small Indeed. The visible wheat ot which
I spoke , tlio atock accumulated at Important
upply points , usually Increases In Novem
ber and December. In fact , there te not
nn exception to this rule for the nine years
preceding 1890. The Increase for the same
two months In 1S91 was moro than 10.000,000
bushels , and In 1S95 nearly 20,000,000 , In
1S9C the stock was nearly stationary in
November and decreased considerably In De-
comber. The dopletiona have not yet como
to equal the exports , but It Is plain from
the general situation , and from the Indica
tions I have Just shown , that they must do
this before long.
"But along with the figures In which I
find no fault , thcro arc some others whoso
lack of completeness , or even departure
from accuracy. Is really surprising. These
are contained In the assertion , ns a mcro
possibility , of a surplus of 40,000,000 bush
els carried over from the crops' of 1895. It
is quite probable , In point ot fact , that
some such amount was carried over In the
producers' hands alone. Not far from 40-
OOO.OOO1 bushels were so found by the depart
ment's Inquiries last July , and the Chicago
Dally Trade Bulletin at that date estimated
that part of the reserve at 34,000.000 bushels.
In addition to this there were 48,000,000
bushels visible , to say nothing ot what wo
know as Intermediate wheat , a considerable
supply ot the less Important points of ag
gregation , In the mills , on the cars In tran
sit , and so on. The whole ot the supply
called visible 1s counted up In loss , than
twenty cities. These are the most Important
depositories , of course , but the others ought
not to he overlooked. Nevertheless , I pass
them by.because there seems to bo no way
of reckoning these amounts.
ACCOUNT BALANCED.
"Now , how does the account stand ? Ad
ding together the year's crop and the
88,000,000 bushels , moro or less , carried over
on the flrst of last July , -we find a total
stock ot 515,000,000 bushels that can bo
drawn upon. Taking from this the 200,000,000
bushels needed for export and for fall and
eprlng seeding , we have a remainder of
315,000,000 bushels to feed some 72,000,000
people for a year. That would allow an
average of four bushels and three-eighths to
each Inhabitant , which may bo a scanty sup
ply , and may not. The consumption of
wheat per unit of population has been var
iously estimated by careful Investigators ,
from four bushels to over five requiring , for
the whole country anywhere from 2X8,000,000
to moro than 360,000,000 bushels , There are
t uotiio etntlstlclans who used to talk of a
yard stick by which crop reporters can be
measured , which 'Is accepted by every
authority of any recognized standing , '
namely the estimates of 4 % bushels per
capita , or 336,000,000 bushels to supply our
people ) this year. Perhaps there ijiay be
genie who tali ; in that way yet. For myself
I do not dogmatize.
"Recognizing In the alleged frequently
confirmed and novcr seriously disputed cs-
tlmato Just quoted , merely n conclusion from
a few crop returns no moro carefully or
scrupulously collated than were those pub
lished by this division this year , I simply
enter my report as part of the evidence In
the case , to be treated llko other evidence
of the came kind , no better and no worse.
"It Is true that I am supposing a low
rate of consumption for human food. ' But
I have not a doubt that there Is less of
wheat Hour consumed In dull limes than In
flush times. People may not eat less bread ,
possibly , but they are certain to waste less.
Moro than that , they are certain to use moro
corn meal In place of flour. There will bean
an enormous deal of that substitution this
year , you may bo sure , with our unprece
dented abundance and cheapness of corn.
"It Is true , also , that I am reckoning
upon an unusual exhaustion ot stocks car
ried over , on farms , In the great elevators
and at alt the intermediate points , by the
end of the present crop year. But there
is every probability that that expectation
will be met , There Is less visible wheat
already than thcro has been at this date
within five years ; and I have shown you how
the amount Is diminishing. You sco , there
fore , that my Kansas City critic has failed to
provo his case. "
NO NGW THING.
"But why la It. Mr. Hoblnson , " asked The
iBoe , "that attacks of this kind are so often
made on you ? Did your predecessor gener
ally have an easy time of It. and were his
I reports accepted as sound , without ques
tion ? "
"Not a bit of It. You may not remember ,
and people generally do not remember for
things of the kind do not seem to linger
long In popular recollection but Mr. Dodge
was as vigorously lambasted In his day
and generation as I have ever been , I have
on my desk a copy of a milling Journal ,
published In the far west , In which the
country was cnthuslaitlcilly congratulated
on my appointment In 1S93. The editor was
good enough lo explain th.it this was not
because he knew anything whatever of me ,
but only because ho knew that no living
man could manage this statistical service
worse than Mr. Dodge had done. This
T paper was moro outspoken than most , but
It was not the only ouo to take a similar
view.
"As to always accepting his reports , any
one who thinks that was done only shows
a short memory. The last three of his wheat
crops , 1S90 to 1S92 , are all regarded as too
small , and so set forth In trade Journals
to this day. The Prairie Farmer In March ,
1894 , published an elaborate report ( gen
erally understood to have been prepared
by Mr. Dodge's trusted lieutenant and
close ally. B , W. Snow ) In. which It Is calcu
lated that iu the report of those three crops
ths understatement amounted to 177,000,000
bushels , an average ot 60,000,000 bushels
for each year , or moro than my Kansas
City friend , by overlooking the visible sup
ply c rrlpd In July , ISOti. and n probably
reduced consumption ot wheat flour , man-
ag d to figure out as a. shortage for my
IS'jfi crop. Mr , Dodga himself , In a letter
over his , own name , practically admitted
that Ms 1891 crop was 60.000,000 bushels
too small. "
THE MOTIVES.
When asked as to tlio probable motive
ot such a mighty volume of hostile criti
cism , Mr. Hoblnson appeared to think that
It lay very near the surface. "Politics
may have some part In It. " ho answered
"Of course every stump speskcr or con'
greRsnuin or editor who sees a chance to
find fault with an administration or any
part of an administration to which ho Is
politically opposed will do it and will
hasten to do It as savagely as ho knows
how. Hut this Is not so Important a fac
tor after all as self-Interest. Every crop
report has an Influence on the market , to
bo estimated by gains and losses In money.
The report must necessarily bo either 'bull'
or 'bear ; ' and , whichever It Is , the other
sldo will bo eager to discredit It to the
Utmost of Its ability , whether the facts bo
with It dr against It.
"Another important Interested party Is
that of the private crop reporters , who have
lately made their appearance as an adjunct
to several agricultural papers. For these
any sort of attack will serve as well as
any other , their object being to draw all
, the attention they can to tholr own report
ing work , advertise their Journals , etc. Ot
1 course , If ono of thrso reporters should
happen to have been connected himself In
former times with this department It
would bo easily posslblo for him to hold a
grudge against officers who have supplanted
him and personal vlndlctlvencss may en
ter to sorno extent In such sascs. "
A.VH MICE AMEIIICAX APPLES
OcrinnnN Ann i > relnllr SurprlHcil nt
Their Ki'i-pliiir ( limlltlt-M.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 11. Reports coming
to the departments from Europe show that
the American apple made an enormous mar
ket for Itself there- last year. Frank
Mason , United States consul general nt
Frankfort , declares that the victory has
been ono of superior quality rather than moro
cheapness , nnd says the agricultural papers
In Germany make the astonishing stalemcnl
that no less than 0,000,000 double centners
of our apples were consumed , iporo than
twenty times the Import of any previous
year. The consul general thinks this gain
of a great market may be made permanent
If certain precautions , which he notes , are
made by American shippers. Consul Mono-
ghan at Chemnitz says the wlxflo German
empire Is alarmed nt the great apple Im
ports. The keeping qualities of the best
American winter apples are subjects of as
tonishment to German growers , who ex
pressed Incredulity when told a Baldwin
easily kept six months. Even from Eng
land , where the American apple Is well
known , como words of surprise at the great
volume of the Imports of American apples ,
and United Stales Consul Meeker at Brad
ford sends cxtracls from newspapers to show
they were actually a glut on the market.
AGItKH UI'0IH1TIKS O.OIU3S. .
Jlnic on I.rnil Hf.storril nnd
cKrnliitliin ChniiRoiI.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 11. The most im
portant decision agreed upon today .by the
republican members of the ways and meana
committee , who are working on the tariff
bill , was to restore the McKlnley duty on
lead ores. The McKlnley rate Is 1 % cents n
pound , while the present duty Is threc-quai < -
lers of a cent. It was decided also to change
the law upon the assaying of Imported lead
ores and Instead ot having them assayed at
the port of entry to admit them under bond
and have them assayed at the assaying office
nearest their destination. Copper , brass ,
gold and silver were also restored to the
rates of the McKlnley law , which are 35 per
cent ad valorem on copper , 1 % cents on
brass and 30 per cent ad valorem on gold and
sliver.
The commltlee also disposed of a number
ot Items among the manufactures of Iron
and steel by giving them .specific rales
equivalent' ' to the present ad valorem duties
on them. This list Includes nails , spikes ,
tacks , needles , horseshoes , nuts and washers ,
brads , rivets , engraved steel plates , saws ,
acrews and umbrella ribs.
MOXCY FOR AVATEItAA'AY SURVEY.
niri-ctN the Enifliicorit to Mnkc nil Ex-
tinmto of the Cost.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 11. Senator Davis ,
from the commlttco on commerce , today re
ported with n favorable recommendation the
amendment to the sundry civil bill , intro
duced by Senator Davis , making an appro
priation for a survey of a deep waterway
between the great lakes and Atlantic lido
water. The amendment was amended so as
to require an estimate of the cost ot such
n canal as Is required as well as an examl-
atlon , to make which ? 100.000 of the $150,000
appropriated is made Immediately avail
able , and so as to require that the work bo
done by a board of three army engineers.
The committee report Is written and rec
ommends that the survey should bo pro
ceeded with ns rapidly as posslblo.
I < \YII En TO COMI3 UP AVITII HID.
Mr. Ilnhhnnl Sny the XIMV Yorlc Pnr-
tlN Deeelveil Him.
WASHINGTON , Fob. 11. The house com
mittee on Pacific roads listened to the readIng -
Ing of Representative Harrison's report on
the commission bill , which will bo
made to the house. Representa
tive Hubbnrd of Missouri made a
Htatement regarding the offer , which
nt a former meeting ho said capitalists stood
ready to makn for the Union Pacific , which
was , $10,000,000 better than the offer of the
Now York syndicate , which the government
Is considering , Mr. Hubbird said that a
New York gentleman , Thomas Ryan , whom
ho understood to bo a promoter of largo
financial schemes , had told him that such
nn offer would bo made , but It failed to
materialize.
ORAXT SCOVEI , A CIVIL TUIAL.
MiiMt TnUo PIner , However , lu Prov-
Ineo AA'liere He AVim ArrvNteil.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 11 , The State de
partment has been notified that the Spanish
authorities will accord Sylvester Scovel , the
New York World correspondent , arrested In
Cuba , a trial before a civil tribunal. The
trial , however , must take placa originally In
Sanctl Splrltus , as the- law , like that of the
United States , requires the proceedings to
( ake place In the same province , where the
offense was committed. It Is probable that
In case the verdict Is against Scovel In this
trial an appeal will be entertained which
will permit of the removal of the case to
Havana , according to the dispatch of Consul
General Leo.
Ia nvf > N PoNtollleeM for MeKliiIey.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 11 , No further extension -
tension of the civil service rules will bo
made during the remainder of the present
administration. This statement Is made on
the authority of President Proctor of the
31vll Service commission , who says Presi
dent Cleveland has no intention of Issuing
an order bringing the host of fourth-class
postofilces Into the civil service. The jiresl-
lent on several occasions , It Is known , has
talked the matter over Informally , but has
lover determined upon making the exten
sion , regarding it as not feasible now.
ClirUleiilnur ut the AVhlte lloime.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 11. Marlon , the
youngest ot the three daughters of President
and Mrs. Cleveland , was christened at the
white house today. The ceremony was the
jrlrf. Impressive ono of the Prtabyterlan
church. Dr. Byron S. Sunderland , the pas $
tor of the First Presbyterian church of thU
city , oUlcIated , The guests were the mc-Ji-
iers of the cabinet and ladlrs , Mr. and Mrs.
ferrlne , Mr. and Mrs. Richard Watson
Wilder of Now York , Mr. Goodyear of Buf-
'alo ' and Mr. and Mrs. Thurber.
Uiiiiiilniouu AifiiliiHt AA'ntMon.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 11. The committee
(
on elections today unanimously authorized ,
a report In the Watson-Black contested
election case in favor of the altllug member.
Ilully TretiMury 3lutem < Mit.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 11. Today's state
ment of the condition ot the treasury
dhows ; Available cash balance , $210,325,251 ;
gold reserve , { 115,905,073.
TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND
Congress Make * Liberal Provision for tha
Big Nebraska Display ,
APPROPRIATION FOR THE EXPOSITION
United Sin to * ' Part In ( he Show 1'ar-
tlnllr I'roTlileil For Money
( o Complete the Jteiv
Fcilcrnl UiilliIliiK.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 11. ( Special Tele
gram. ) The sundry civil bill Just reported
to the house carries tin appropriation ol
$200,000 for the construction ot all necessary
buildings and the government exhibit at tha
Transmlsslsslppl Exposition. The committee
refused to report $276,000 , as the bill did not
authorize that amount. An effort will bo
made , however , In conference to secure $75-
000 additional. The same bill carrlea an
appropriation of $25,000 for the federal build
ing nt Omaha , to complete the structure
Und r the old limitation , and $100,000 ad
ditional , having Increased the limit of cost
to fl.300.COO. 'Sovcnty-flvo thousand dollars
Is made available for South Omaha.
The amount carried by the bill for the
Transmlsslsslppl Exposition will In all prob
ability bo Increased In the senate to $275-
000. Herculean work was necessary to get
oven $200,000 In the bill , for the reason
that members of the appropriations committee -
too wanted definite Information as to what
the Nebraska legislature had or would ap
propriate for the local exhibit. This was
the hardest thing the Nebraska members
had to contend with. A number of mem
bers of the committee wont so far as to
say that the government was In the attitude
of making an exhibit , whllo Nebraska , which
Is to bo vitally benefited , had not moved
In the matter whatever , except to report a
bill for an amount thnt seemed niggardly
alongside of the government appropriation.
Inaction on the part of the Nebraska legis
lature may have the effect of withdrawing
the enthusiastic support of even eomo of
the Nebraska delegation , Mr. Hnlncr being
outspoken that If the legislature did not
appropriate an amount equal to the govern
ment appropriation ho would feel like voting
against the bill.
MAY YET SELL THE SITE.
T. II , McCfiguo , receiver for the German
Savings bank. Is In the city upon matters
connected with the Garry site for the fed
eral building nt South Omaha. Mr. McCague
says an erroneous Impression has gotten
abroad ns to the likelihood of the abandon
ment of the site because of legal ( complica
tions. This ho hopes to provo In a confer
ence he will have tomorrow with Attorney-
General Harmon. Mr. McCaguo haa the
power of attorney from L. D. Fowler and
a stipulation from Judge Keysor , which he
believes will greatly simplify matters nnd
result In tha acceptance of the site on the
part of the government and the payment ot
money Into the German Savings bank.
Mr. Mercer by persistent efforts has se
cured n tariff on chicory nt the rate of 1
cent on" raw and 2 cents on the manufactured
product.
Mr. Mercer received a letter today from
First Assistant Postmaster General Jones ,
stating that In compliance with his request
of February S an order had been
Issued , establishing the house to
house collection and delivery sys
tem and the sale of postage and
special delivery stamps by letter carriers
by means of an official stamp selling en
velope at Omaha ,
Senitor and Mrs. Thurston left for Zanes-
vlllo , O. , tonight , where Senator Thurston
U booked to deliver an oration on "Abra
ham Lincoln" nt the banquet of the Ohio
Republican Hague. After the banquet Mr.
Thurston will go on t ? Canton , where he
will have an Interview with Major McKlnley.
Senator Allen haa presented two petitions
ot cltl/.ena of Nebraska , praying for the
passage of n bill to raise the age of consent
to 18 years In the District of Columbia.
Mrs. Thurston * gave the third of her
Thursdays-at-home , being assisted In re
ceiving by Miss Emily Wakeley , Mlas Daisy
Doane , Miss Lynn Curtis , Miss Thomas of
Iowa , Mlstes Stewart of Wisconsin and Miss
Shoup of Idaho , daughter of Senator Shoup.
John P. Flsch was today commissioned
postmaster at Dalton , la. , and George A.
Duke at Colvin , S. D.
SlJ.VimY CIVIL IlILIj FIMSIIED.
House Committee mil Ai > i > ro | > rJatloiiN
OetN Through with MciiHllri' .
WASHINGTON , Feb. 11. Thfi house com
mittee on appropriations today finished the
sundry civil appropriation bill for the next
fiscal year. The bill carries $50,664,743. This
Is $8,141,086 less than tne estimates and
118,644,130 more , than the appropriations for
the current year ; $17,529,053 ot the ap
propriations Is for carrying out river and
harbor contracts and $4,072,925 for public
buildings. The principal Items for carrying
on work on public buildings are :
Allegheny , Pa , $55,000
Holso City. Idaho lOuOW
HllfTalo , N. Y 500.000
Cheyenne , Wyo 100.0JO
Denver , Cole , ( mint ) 200,000
Helena. Mont 100,000
Kansas City , Mo CO.O:0 :
Milwaukee , WIs 400,000
New York , city appraisers ) varchouso SOO.oro
Newport , Ky 50,000
Portland. Ore 200,005
Pueblo , Cole 1M.OO )
South Omaha , Neb 75,000
St. Paul , Minn 123,000
Sun Francisco , Cal 10J.OCO
Savunnuh , Ga 175,003
The limit of cost of the Omaha building"
Is increased $100,000 , and $125,000 Is appro
priated for finishing It.
The largest sums for harbor work , con
tracted.for by the secretary of war , Include :
Philadelphia harbor , for removal of Smith's
windmill and petty Islands and shoals , $ G9i-
000 ; Galveston , $500,000 ; tlio Hudson river ,
? 500,000 ; Improvement ot channel connecting
the great lakes between Chicago , Duluth
and Huffalo , $1,090,000 ; Humboldt Hay , Cal. ,
5400,000 ; Savannah. Ga. , $400,000 ; Cumberland
sound , Georgia and Florida , $400,000 ; Boston ,
$400,000 ; Buffalo , $550,000 ; Dunkirk , N. Y. ,
J39S.OOO ; Delaware bay , Delaware , $450,000 ;
Wlnyaw bay , South Carolina , $400,000 ; Sablno
Pats , Texas , $400,000 ; Cleveland , $400,000 ;
Milwaukee , $168,000 ; Duluth and Superior ,
$500.000 ; Gray's Harbor , Wash. , $400,000.
The river appropriations Include : Alle
gheny river , Pennsylvania , locks and dams at
Herr Island , above Six-Mile Island and
Sprlngdalo , $400,000 ; Upper Monongahela. six
locks and dams , $400,000 ; Yazoo and Vlcks-
burg harbor , $400,000 ; Bayou Plaqucmlnc ,
La. , $100,000 ; Cumberland , above Nashvllls ,
three locks , $400,000 ; falls of the Ohio at
Louisville , $400,000 ; Ohio river for dam No.
0 at mouth of Heaver river , $300,000 ; Chicago
river. $113,000 ; Illinois and Mississippi canal ,
$1,000,000 ; waterway from Kbweenaw bay to
Lake Superior , $400,000 : Mlsslstlppl , from the
mouth ot the Ohio to St. Paul , $673,333 , not
more than $100,000 of the sum to bo used to
prevent the Mississippi breaking Into Cache
river near Beach rldgo at Cairo , 111. ; from
mouth ot Missouri river to St. Paul , $826,660 ,
Including $30,000 for sandbar at Dubuque
and $15,000 for sandbar at Muscatlno , la. ;
Mississippi , from ' the head of the paeties to
mouth of the Ohio' $2.533,333 ; Missouri , from
mouth to Sioux City , $300.000 , Including $25-
000 for repairing works at Nebraska City ; Wil
lamette and Yp.mhlll rivers , Oregon , $160,000 ;
$10,000 , for lightship for San Francisco har
bor ; $200,000 for completion of two revenue
cutters now building on tlio great lakes ,
and $200.000 for n government exhibit at the
Omaha Exposition are Included In the bill.
For the Chlckamouga and Chattanooga na
tional park. $76,000 Is appropriated ; tor
Shlloh , $60,000 ; for Gettysburg , $50,000 , and
Yellowstone , $35,000.
The Treasury department estimates In
cluded $1,584,785 ( or lighthouses , beacons
and fog signals , but the bill allows only
$195,500. Under this head there U an Item
of $37,500 for a steam tender for the second
lighthouse district and a blmllar Item for
the seventh district and $40,000 for a light
ship for San Francisco harbor. The tec-
retary of war's estimate ot $1,000,000 for
the enlargement of military posts was cut
to $400,000 and the estimates for military
parks were roJticed. The Chlckamauga and
Chattanooga park , for which $145,000 wai
asked , gets $75,000 , and the Shlloh park , for
which the estimate was $ S7,000 , geta $60,000.
There U $50,000 carried for continuing the
work of marking and Improving the Qettyz-
burg park , with an authorization to .the secre
tary of war to leaie the lands for agricultural
purposes , The recommendation of tbo Joint
committee on Chlckamauga and Chatta-
looga park that state memorials be placid
on brigade lines ot CWfo Is affirmed and
the limit of cost or UMM'ln theShlloh park
Is Increased from $20OM1 | to $30.000. The
Yellowstone park get * . HSiOOO. The request
for $10,000 fof service riiools for the army
was not granted.
The completion ofTtwo revenue cutteri
being built on the grtWlakcs Is provided
for by an appropriation $200.000 , and $40-
000 Is given for establishing now life saving
stations already authb'rlz'ed by law. One of
the most lmporUnt"df the new Items Is
$200,000 for a government exhibit at the
Omaha exposition. The .estimates for the
geological survey ot JSOIIOW arc cut to $479-
000. The greater part ftfi.the appropriations
are for carrying on .tUe--Tcgular works of
various government bureaus and establish
ments , Including iWa'i public buildings
throughout the couatry , : , ,
IlHPOItT OX THIS PACIFIC ) ROADS.
HIUIHO Committee Fttvorx tSellltiR tlio
Trio lloniln TodoMuT.
WASHINGTON , F'cb. 11. Hcprcsentatlvo
Harrison of Alabama today made a report
to the house from the committee on Pa
cific railroads on the bill for the settle
mcnt of the affairs of the Pacific roads by
a commission. Mr. Harrison says that It
lias been demonstrated that It Is Impossible
to plnco tho' questions Involved In the gov
vernment's relations with the Pacific rail
roads , with all their technical details , before
fore congress In such a manner that Intolll
gent action can be taken. The report con
tinues :
"Tho debts due the government nro dally
growing larger and the means of payments
smaller. Foreclosure proceedings ore pend
ing against the Union Pacific , and this
road Is likely to bo sold and the govern
mcnt's claim against the same disposed of
before the next regular session of congress.
If this should occur the most valuable nnd
Important part ot this great line of rail
way across the country will pass to other
hands without the preservation to the gov
ernment of the many valuable rights nnd
privileges It now hns. " It Is argued that
a better price can bd obtained for the
Union nnd Central Pacific If sold Jointly ,
but that congress cannot conduct the neces
sary negotiations. The advantages ot a
commission consisting of the secretaries ot
the treasury and Interior and the attorney
general are pointed out , one of them being
that all Information relative to the roads
Is In these departments.
< for AVentem Inventory.
WASHINGTON , Feh. 11. ( Special. ) Pat-
cnls Imva been Issued as follows : Nebraska
John S. Ellemlller , Beatrice , slock waler
Ing lank ; William E. Taylor , Omaha , matrix
cleaning machine ; William Wilson , Fremont ,
road gato.
Iowa Albert L. Arney , Albion , car coup
ling ; Ell Halley , Keokuk , shears or scissors ;
John Darry nnd L. M. Shaughnessy , Lenox ,
shafting ; William P. 'Bellcndorf ' , Davenporl ,
bralco beam for cars ; Clnrcnco U. Drcnno-
mann , Marlon , pipe attachment ; Herman C.
Carver , Red Oak. sign writers' appatului ;
Charles Chase , Wichlla , spring bed ; Alfred
J. Glllcsple , Atlantic , voting machine ; John
A. Gulnn , Perry , swivel for chains or pul
leys ; Arthur M. KautTmann. Four Comoro ,
support for well walls ; Tone J. Lowell ,
Cedar liaplds , grais. . .catcher for lawn
mowers ; James A. Norton , Odebolt. lablo at
tachment for beds ; John 1C. Uhr , Eagle
Grove , screen and storm Uoor combined.
South Dakota Wllilafn jr. Cornell , Urook-
Ings , h so and garment ! supportei ; ; God-
fried Laube , Huron ' rplii holder ; Norman
D. Wlnteivsteen , Deadwood , tool for erecting
* " "
wlro fences
Ne'nH fnrr.thu Army.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 11. ( Special Tele-
grain. ) A board ot sofllcers , with Colonel
*
George H. Weeks as president , has been
ordered to meet In thls city to examine
officers for promotion ? , Captain John W.
Pullman , assistant quartermaster , has bcon
ordered before the board.
First Lieutenant Sptymon P. Vestal has
been detailed as professor of military sci
ence and tactics at , Cenfral University of
Kentucky , nichmondKy.1 He has been re
lieved froni duty nf , Degauw university ,
Greencastle , Ind. ( . , , (
First Lieutenant George , II. Sands" , Sixth
cavalry ; Arthur C.Ducat , , , T.\vqn y.-fourih
infantry ; William Bldck , Twenty-fourth In
fantry ; Lewis H. Strolher , First Infantry ,
and Edwin P. Pendleton
, Twenty-third In
fantry , have been ordered before the board
nt Fort Leavenworth Jor examination and
promotion.
First Lieutenant Tracy C. Dlckson , Ord
nance department , has , been granted two
months' leave.
Cn n n ill n n ComnilxsloiierH
WASHINGTON , Feb. 11. After a week's
stay at the 'capital city Messrs. Cartwrlght
and Davles , the Canadian liberal cabinet
members , will leave the city tomorrow for
their homes. According to the statements
ot ths commissioners they have had a very
satisfactory visit , having been given a
hearty reception by the public men on whom
they have called. They have found a decided
opinion on the part of. Uio public men that
there should be a thorough Investigation
Into the matter of trade between the two
countries , which should bo made by a com
mission , and they have found that a rea
sonable basis can bo reached. In their re
port to the Dominion government they .will
recommend tto formation of a commission to
make this inquiry and they hope that similar
action will be taken by the Unltod States.
No AVnr Ship * for I-'relKlilerx.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 11. Secretary Her
bert has been obliged to refuse the request
of a number of California's leading citizens
ns set forth by Colonel M. H. DoYoung for
the assignment of a naval vessel for the
transportation of a cargo of wheat and corn
to the famine-stricken natives ot India. The
secretary finds that naval vessels of the
modern typo are totally unfitted for the
purpose of carrying cargoes and that In
the case of such a long Voyage as that from
California to India they cannot carry coal
enough to carry them across without
replenishing at some Intermediate port ,
much less undertake to carry cargoes.
.HIM : its AIU : RUSHING TO AI-ASICA.
# _ _ _ _ _ _
ScnMim'M StaiiiiiruV of Ciolil IIiiatiTH
Alri-nily CoiiiinencM'iI.
SEATTLE , Wash. , Fob. 11. Once again
miners and searchers of fortune are getting
ready to ( inter the gold regions of Alaska.
The news brought down yesterday on the
Topeka by a party ot men who made the
dangerous Journey out from the uppen
Yukon of a ROW discovery and a marvelous
0110 on Klondike creek , has touched the
match to the excitement. Boats leaving for
.ho north , are already carrying1 pnusengcra
who are anxious to get near the gold dls-
.rlcts as early as possible and by March
t Is expected that thp rush will begin
greater than over. Transportation and mall
'acllltles ' will bo greatljr iqprovcd this year.
it. Is probable that thoigreater number of
gold hunters will thls. . year , go Into the
Yukon country , but rworts of good finds
at Cook irlot Jato Jmit season will un-
loubtedly attract a feredt 'many people. J.
? . Hopkins , a mlnlng'engneer | of San Fran
cisco , and others whW fli'o said to bo re-
lablo and experienced miners , say they
'on ' nil rich deposits of"Kravel In different
ocalltlca , near the InldH.'Hn paying quan
tities , and In the spring they expect to
ship In hydraulic mucliinrry to work their
claims. The steamer billed to leave March
5 has already cngagcd a full cargo of freight
for the Inlet. There i , , wt a stamp mill
working In Alaska no\v \ i < hat Is not making
big returns on the . . .quartz handled. The
number of mills ; , . ] | , , ) Increased
this year and their , fU.tfl t. together with
the output of the pUeer.- mines , Is confi
dently expected to Jj\iak'u \ ? a great record
for 1S97 , Next montUL\vlli.undoubtedly ( wit
ness the beginning or a great rush to all
the mining districts of the big territory.
TO CUXTlUnSlF'COA.l. ) OUTPUT.
Ohio Prciiliiprm IIo'liln , Scurot Mei-tlnjr
nnil Form n Combine.
CLEVELAND , 0 , , Feb. 11. An evening
paper says :
"At a secret meeting held In this city there
was consummated an agreement that will
practically control the soft coal product of
ho state. It was a uesslon of representa
tives of the Ohio Soft Coal association and
ot railroads lu the assoblatlon territory. It
was decided to establish a single sales
agency for all of the Ohio bituminous coal
producers. There was a discussion of the
percentage of the f raffle to be handled by
each of the lines. The details of the agree
ment were not completed , but tboy will bo ,
It Is expected , at a meeting to be held lu
Chicago next Tuesday. "
DISCUSSES THE TREATY
Senate Consider ? Arbitration Again Behind
Closed Doors.
MR , TURPIE SPEAKS FOR RATIFICATION
Ilciillcn to the Objection * Unlncil liy
Senator .M or Kim No Action TnUeit
ou the Treaty or Any
Amendment.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 11. The v senate
spent the greater portion ot the day In
executive session debiting the Anglo-Amer-
Icati arbitration treaty. The entire time
was consumed by Senators Turplo nnd Mor
gan , Ihe former In advocacy and the lat
ter In opposition io ratification. No action
was taken on any amendment or any part
of the treaty and but little appreciably
progress was made.
The session opened with Senator Turplo's
speech , which was In reply to Senator Mor
gan's attack upon the treaty and a demand ,
for Its ratification by the senate without
any amendment. Ho opposed the amend
ments made by the committee on foreign
relations as useless and as having tend
ency both to weaken the trcaly and lo ren
der It Inharmonious In construction. He
laughed at and held up to rldlculo Senator
'Morgan's fears of the effect of the accept
ance of the treaty , saying that so astulo
a man as Morgan should not fear to be led
into a trap set by the English. He declared
the United Stales as a nation was big
enough to bo perfectly Independent and fear
less -In such a matlcr , and said wo ought
to set an example to other nations lu all
mailers looking to the promotion ot the
reign of pence , which was the paramount
purpose of the pending agreement. Ho con
tended that the adoption of the trcaly
would have Iho effect of preventing such
war panics as these which followed the
action over Venezuela , as the existence of
a trcaly providing for Iho submission of
all * questions to 'arbitration would bo both
a guarantee against war with England and
also a safeguard In case of war with other
counlrles. In case Ihc enforcement ot the
terms Involved the Monroe doctrine and
the Nicaragua canal , the question could
Ihen bo Inken up by congress and ncled
upon as effectively as nt present.
The arbltrallon proposlllon , declared Mr.
Turple , was no new llilng. It had been
proposed many times. In the Fifty-first
congress a concurrent resolution was
adopted by a congress , republican In both
branches , In favor of the general principle
of arbltrallon. The resolution was as fol
lows :
Resolved , The bill approved by Ihe
Bcnnlo ( the house concurring ) . Ihnl Ihe
presldenl be and Is hereby requested to
Invlto from time to time ns fit occasions
may nrlso , negotiations with any govern
ment with which the United States 1ms
or mny hnvfc diplomatic relations , lo the
end that nny illlTcrences or disputes arising
between the two governments which cannot
be adjusted by other means may bo set
tled. -
This resolution , Mr. Turple said , gave an
expression that congress was in favor of
arbitration , an expression which the people
believed In and which had never been con
demned.
TURPIE QUOTES EDMUNDS.
Mr. Turple said his views had been ex
pressed in a recent article by ex-Senator
Edmunds and that he could not do better
than to quote him In full. He then proceeded
to read the entire article of Mr. Edmunds
on the arbitration trcaly which was recently
published in the New York Independent.
From time to time he would elaborate nnd
give his own views , amplifying Ihose ex
pressed by Ihe ox-senalor. Senalor Turplo
said he acccplcd Ihe views of Senator Ed
munds as to the fourlh article of Ihe treaty
and claimed thai It could not Involve the
Nicaragua canal or any other questions such
as claimed by Senators Shoiman and Morgan.
Senator Turple declared that arbltrallon
would nol prevent war , but It was one ot the
means to tend In that direct Ion. War scares ,
when Ihcro was no excuse aud when Ihere
was no possibility ot war , would bo averted
by the adoption of general arbitration trealles
with the leading nations of the world.
At the conclusion of Mr. Turpie's remarks ,
Senator Morgan took Ibe floor and went over
the ground which he had before discussed ,
paying mori particular attention to the
points adopted by Senator Turple with refer
ence lo Ihe Nicaragua canal. Ho declared
lhat under Iho lerms of Ibe Ireaty and
unless specifically prelected by an amend
ment nnd especially Ihe abrogation of the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty , the canal would be
subject to arbltralion , Mr. Morgan also
pointed out the Influence which England was
exerting In the Cenlral American states and
declared the senate must protect the Inter
ests of this country. Ho replied to Mr. Tur-
ple's attltudo and said If Iho Indiana
senator was such a man of peace as he now
professed to be , he had created a very false
Impression In bis attitude on the Cuban
question.
At the close of Mr. Morgan's speech Mr.
Teller made a motion to have certain cor
respondence which had been sent with ths
treaty made public. This correspond
ence has been printed some time
and Iho facts It contains were pub
lished before the treaty was sent to the
senate. The motion was withdrawn for the
presenl. Senator Tcllor saying ho would
renew It again.
Senator Sherman took no part In the dis
cussion , but ho told several senators that he
was exceedingly anxious to have the question
disposed ot as speedily as possible. He said
lhat he was contemplating asking the senate
soon to fix a day by unanimous consent for
a vote. It Is the general opinion , that the
request will not , bo acceded to.
I'UOCUHIIIXGS IX THE HOUSE.
Drift Into H niHCMiMHloii on
1 1 IIII IK.'IIII ( lllfNtlOIIH.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 11. The house to
day passed the fortifications appropriation
bill with but a single amendment , and made
some headway with thu postofflco bill. Dul
Iho major portion of the day was consumed
In a political debate on the financial ques
tion , 'which was preclpltaled by an innocent
provision In a hill providing for funding
Iho debts of the terrllorles. The bill
aroused the opposition of Mr. McMIIlIn because -
cause It provided for gold bonds and the
payment of Interest In gold or Its equlva-
Mr. Knox , republican of Massachusetts ,
said the stipulation regarding gold bonds
applied only to Arizona , which had out
standing gold bonds to be refunded.
Mr. Payne , republican of Now York , saw
no reason why the territories should not
bo permitted to Issue gold bonds. This
bill bore this relation to the nutation
whether wo should put gold in the bonds
of the United Stalest He had volcd to put
gold In the bonds when the administration
put the country In a position where not
to do it would cost the people $12,000,000.
Congress refused and now the taxpayers
would have to pay these $12,000,000 ,
"And yet you maintain , " Interrupted Mr.
Terry , democrat of Arkansas , "that wo
should pay those bonds In gold , although
wo paid $12,000,000 for the privilege of payIng -
Ing them In silver. "
" 1Cvery one maintains , almost every one
maintains , " replied Mr. Payne , "that the
bonds are payable In gold , Even the late
democratic candidate for vice president
( Sowall ) , who ran on a sliver platform , held
gold bonds , and the silver mine owners
who were rampant for free silver eentlraenl
wrolo 'gold' In their notes. "
Mr. Harttuan , republican of Montana , In
dignantly denied tills statement , but Mr.
Paynu insisted that ho was right. He > said
the western debtors , In order to get money
at a respectable rate of Interest , were
obliged to jtgrco to pay principal and In
terest In gold. He salj he believed every
United States bond should be paid In gold.
HONESTY QUESTIONED.
Mr , Magulre , democrat of California , re
plied lo Mr , Payne. Ho said the honesty
of ( ho believers in free sliver was not to bo
questioned , because some of them In loan
ing their money made gold contracts. Sli
ver hail been deprived of its legitimate
function as money. Gold had been given
ipcctal privilege. Silver was mere token
money. Why should a business man aban
don the builucai advantage which tbo law
him becauto ot hli conviction that
AS a matter of policy silver should bo re-
monetized.
Mr. Bailey , democrat of Texas , made a
brief argument to demonstrate that a gold
contract , being contrary to public policy ,
was Illccftl.
Mr. Walker , republican of Massachusetts ,
chairman ot the committee on banking and
currency , declared that it was as notorious
as that the sun shines that thcro wrro cer
tain states of the union whoso monetary
system was beyond the reach ot congres
sional legislation. There were seven states
where nil transactions were In gold , and yet
It WAS curious that the representatives from
these states on this floor sought to compel
the rest ot the union to take bO cents on
the dollar. He urged the house to vote
down an amr > ndmrnl thai had been sub
mitted by Mr. McMllIln , which was as fol
lows :
"Provided , that the principal and Inter-
t of the bonds funded under this act
shall be payable In any lawful money ot
the United States , except the Arizona
bonds ab9vo described , heretofore Issued. "
Mr. IJartlett , democrat of New York ,
warnciT the house thai the adoption of this
amendment was equivalent ta a declaration
In favor of soft money ,
Mr , Laccy , republican of Iowa , deplored
the fact that a financial debate had been
preclpltaled by Ihe bill and expressed the
hope thnt this bill would bo run ashore
and wrecked on a silver coast.
HAIITMAN DENIES.
Mr. Hnrtman again gel the floor to deny ,
the statcmenls of Mr. Walker , who , Kb
said , had furnished "moro mlslnformallon
to the world on this question UnTu the rest
of the houso. " Ho Insisted that gold con
tracts were not madeIn his state and rend
ono of fifteen letters from cashiers o ( banks
In his state , all denying gold contracts.
His correspondent said he had boon lu the
banking business twenty years and had
never seen a cold note.
In Justification of hli statement Mr.
Walker produced and read some gold notes
made In Utah and California.
Mr. McMlllln's amendment was agreed
to 14 ! ) to 7 alter which the bill was passed.
The house then went Into committee ot the
xvhblo nnd took up the postofilco appro
priation bill.
Mr. Loud , In charge ot the bill , said there
was bomo question about the Justice of
Iho method of determining the compensation
to bo given to the various railroads for
carrying malls. Ho said congress could do
nothing but fix the maximum compensa
tion. 11 was within the power of the post-
masler . 'general to devise methods for ob
taining the transportation at Just rates.
The cost ot the transportation of the malls
during the past eighteen years had been
$309,000,000. Of this amount $30,640.000 had
gene to Ihe land grant roads , which received
20 per cent less than non-aided roads. Yet
the transportation .of mall was so pronublo
to these land grant roads nt the reduced
compensation that they had put ( in fast
mall trains In order to get the contracts.
Ho thought all the roads should 1)0 put on
Ihc same basis. The non-aided roads could
afford to carry the malls at the rates paid
land grant roads.
Mr. Bromwell , republican of Ohio , re
fused to give his assent to the subsidy of
oven the fast mall from Now York to Now
Orleans. Ho declared the $186,000 appropri
ated was a gift to the railroad. Ho gave
notlco that ho would tomorro.v move lo
strike out this appropriation. .
Mr. Swanson , democrat of Virginia , de
fended the appropriation , which he declared
furnished a fast mall service on a tnink
line for the distribution of mall through
the soulhem slnles. It was an Inestimable
service to the section.
The commltlco then rose nnd nt 5:15 : the
house adjourned.
Si-nitte'ft Oiteii SeNNloit.
WASHINGTON , Fob. 11. The senate to
day passed the dlplomallo and consular ap-
proprlallon bill and fixed next Wednesday
at 4 p. m , as tie | time for a final vote on
the Immigration eonferonco report. The
diplomatic and consular bill as passed car
ries $1,645,308 , a slight Increase on minor
Items over the house bill. Mr. Morgan
queslloned the Items In the bill of $ lOCi1
for a minister to Nicaragua , Costa Rica and
Salvador and $10,000 for a minister to
Guatemala and Honduras.
"Bills fixing the time and place for federal
trials In Oklahoma Territory nnd providing
for the retirement of enlisted men of the
army and navy after thirty years of con
tinuous service nt threc-quarlers pay were
passed.
At 1:30 : p. m. the senate went Into ex
ecutive session and at 4:50 : p. m. adjourned.
The old reliable remedy for cough , cold ,
croup and sore throat. Dr. Bull's Cough
Syrup , should bo kept In every home.
FORECAST OF TODAY'S WEATHER.
Generally Fair Toilay lit XehrnxUa ,
with AVest AVIiulH.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 11 Forecast for
Friday Is :
For Nebraska Generally fair ; west
winds.
For Missouri Fair and slightly colder ;
northwest winds.
For Iowa Generally f.ilr ; vnrlablo winds.
For Kansas Fair ; west winds.
For South Dakota Increasing cloudiness
probably with Know In western portion
tion ; warmer In eastern portion ; winds be
coming BOiilhwest.
For Wyoming Cloudy nnd Ihrcnlcnlng ,
probably with light snow in northern portion
tion ; west winds.
Local Record.
OFFICE OF THE WEATHER BUREAU ,
OMAHA , Feb. 11. Omnhn record of rain
fall nnd temperature compared with cor
responding day of the past three years :
1S97. 1S9C. 1S33.1SD4.
Maximum temperature . . 31 33 19 G
Minimum temperature . . 15 19 4 2
Average temperature . . . . 23 27 12 4
Rainfall 01 T T .07
Record of temperature and precipitation
nt Omaha for this day and since March 1 ,
1S9C :
Normal Icmncraturo for the day 23
Accumulated CXCCPB since March 1 20.2
Normal precipitation for the day. . .0.1 Inch
Excess for the day 01 Inch
Total precipitation since r.I'ch 1.36.10 Inches
Kxce.su Hlnc'o March 1 4.i8 ! Inches
Deficiency for cor. period , ] S9R..ll.nTi Inches
Deficiency for cor. period , 1S95..15.3G inchc.s
ItciiortH from Statlonit nt 8 p. in.
Seventy-fifth meridian time.
1" Indicates tructi of precipitation.
I. . A , IVKUm , J cal Korecaitt Official.
EIGHT DOLLARS IN ONE CUT
Manufacturers Scale Down the Kates for
Their Ontpnt.
PRICE OF STEEL RAILS LOWER THAN EVER
Dissolution of the I'ool Rennlf * In
lifir Drop nnil HIP I'lnclnir ot
Knormoim ( Intern for
Hull * . , ,
CLKVELAKD , fob. 11. The Iron Tr d
Kcvlow tills week will say : "Though netlike
like a bolt out or a clear sky for the clouds
have been plentiful of Into the amiounrc-
mont that tli9 Etcol n.ll pool had gone to
pieces shook the Iron trndo profoundly. It
meant the sweeping away of the chief bul
wark of the steel mnnufactuicr * np.ilnst
n pi'ollllcps struggle tor supremacy , nnd the
fact that the giants arc now willing to try
conclusion In mi open flold excites the
liveliest speculation as to the outcome. The
flrst effect of n $20 quotation by an eastern
mill ivns to maltu thnt the agreed price nt
the adjournment of Monday's 1'lttsburc
meeting , with | 21 as the Chicago basis. Hut
on Tuesday Itns evident thnt continued
agreement was Impossible nnd In tha pant
two days quotations have gene as low ns
$17 for IVntsjrlvanla mills In response to
low quotations In the Chicago district. That
the inllwnys will appreciate the fact that
tlio present opportunity warrants the strain
ing ot a point to make the necessary flii.in-
clal arrnnKcmcnts to buy now Is A natural
Inference. Two sales already reported nro
42.001) ) tons to the Illinois Central by the
Illinois SUcl company and 10,000 tons to
the Santa Ke by the Carnenlu Steel company ,
both reported nt about $17 mill. The ex
tent of the complaint by the railroads of the
$25 basis would Indicate a desire to buy
for the price , and with the stimulus the
market will receive from the placing of
rail orders and the accompanying tonnage
of track supplies , It Is only a reasonable
expectation that the start will como which
has been so long delayed. "
I'lTTSUUHQ. Feb. II. Andrew Cainoglo
arrived In the city last night , and was
closeted today with tbo officers of the Car
negie Steel company , limited , denying him
self to all Interviewers. None of the offi
cials would express themselves upon the
recent collapse ot the billet and rail pool
and the threatened dissolution of the Iron
ere combination. The steel market Is In
a highly agitated state over the present con
ditions , but It Is evident that the Uarneglo
company Is by no means worried over the
prospect ot open markets with the flcrcost
competition. A prominent steel manufac
turer ald : "As far as low prices on billets
lots and steel rails arc concerned It Is con
ceded that the Carncglcs are prepared to
compete under any conditions. Their recent
completion of the two largest blast furnaces
In the world , by which -the cost of pig Iron
Is reduced , their alliance with the coke
Interests , and the fact that they arc paying
a wage p ale which contains a 10 per cent
bonus that can bo taken oft at any time ,
gives them nn advantage that la conceded
In Iron and steel circles. "
A matter that Is Interesting the trailo
particularly at this time Is the question
nhethi'r the Iron ere combination can with
stand the Inlluonco that has been wrecking
the combination's finished products. Last
jear the output of ore was apportioned among
the manufacturers with a vlow to limiting
the production to 10,000,000 tons and putting
the price up from $2.90 per ton to $4 , and sus.
taln'log It at that point. This was ac
complished throughout the year , but It hud
as a sustaining Influence the steel rail , 'billet '
I and beam pools , which kept up thc price of
finished products. Tlio recent llfty-ycar
lease of the Iron Mountain mlno In the
Mesaba range from the Rockefeller Interests
by the Cdrneglo Steel company may provo a
largo factor In the ore trade. It will en
able this company to secure a largo amount
of Its ere at a decided advantage , nnd this
advantage will bo enhanced by the low rail
road rates on the Duller & IMttshurg rail-
toad , which the Carnegie company Is buildIng -
Ing from Plttsburg to-tho lakes.
CHICAGO , Feb. 11. The Tribune says :
Tlio Iron Ore association , which has con
trolled prices and fixed the output of Lake
Superior mines , stands directly In the track
of the cyclone which has swept away every
combination and pool In the Iron and steel
trade for the division of business and the
maintenance of prices. What the Hockcfel-
ler-Carncglo combination will do In the ere
pool will become manifest within a fort
night. The flrst announcement , It Is said ,
will bo In the shape ot large sales of the
ere for delivery during the coming season of
navigation , without regard to the pool.
Even more Important than the collapse of
the steel rail pool will bo this collapse. It
will mean a terrible war of prices by the
Iron mining companies of the north. Among
some there Is sorlous fear of the result.
No allotment has been made and no prices
fixed for the coming season.
CLEVELAND , O. , Feb. 11. What is
called the last move In a long , line of re
ductions has been made by Carnegie. Here
tofore ho has recslvcd his ore through mid
dlemen. Hereafter ho will use the Rocke
feller ore and It will bo looked after by his
Cleveland agent. An Item of Interest In
connection with the collapse of the rail
pool is the fact that the Cleveland Rolling
Mill company has beeh receiving $100,000
per annum for refraining rrom making steel
rails. Many ot the Cleveland ore men claim
the ere pool Is not affected by the death of
the rail and billet pool for the reason that
the railroads , taking advantage of the lower
prices , are putting In heavy orders for rails ,
which will call for a vast quantity of oro.
PHILADELPHIA , Feb. 11. The flurry
and excitement In the Iron trades hero
caused by the dissolution of the stool rail
pool and the cut to $17 per ton In Chicago
subsided todiy and the belief that a recov
ery will follow before- the close of the wcelc
Is felt. It was officially stated this after
noon that no sales had lAjcn madf by any
ot the companies in this etato below the
$20 rate , and Joseph Wharton , a director
of the Methlehcm Iron company , said ho did
not believe the cut rate made by the Illi
nois Steel company would bo mot In Penn
sylvania , Mr. Wharton denied that any
meeting of the various companies had been
called and stated that It would bo folly
to endeavor to have a conference In the
present condition of affairs.
Trill n Roliber Hunt I'reNNeil. ,
KINQMAN , Ariz. , Feb. 11. The posse In
pursuit ot the train robber Is completely
worn out. The man hunters followed thu
trail through enow two feet deep and came
close on the fugitive about forty miles north
of the railroad. The latter was pressed so
closely that ho abandoned one of his horses
and took to the woods. Several shots were
exchanged , but no ono was hurt. Sheriff
Cameron of Coconlno has a. carload of fresh
horses this morning to take up the trail ,
and before night It Is thought the robber
will bo surrounded. Ho Is known to bo a
desperate character. Warrants are out for
the arrest of several men suspected of til-Ins
accessories to the holdup.
Drex U Sliooinnn Is Into everything 'J
that IIIIH a Halo to It ho'a now gonu to
Washington to see that they have a
f grand clearing sale of tlio entire Union
Pacific system the kind of a sale he'd
been having at our Htorc everything
goes prices cut awny STREET.'J
e rid of the odds and ends of u big sea
son's business nothing bought-Just
4
for this sale but it's our regular stock
i nt clearlifg out prices. , i
Drexel Shoe Co. ,
1410 PAKNAM STREET.