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NEWS NOTES OF CURRENT WEEK Resume of World's Important Events Told in Brief. Railways are making preparations for immense business in 1913. Standard Oil stock took a sharp ad vance in the New York market. A government attache says plenty of fuel is the chief need of Alaska. General Wood plans for a big mili tary display at the inauguration of Wilson. A 3-year-old child was burned to death in a Christmas tree fire at Rio Bonita, Cal. Both the Turks and the Balkan al lies stand firm in the peace negotia tions and no progress is made. Chicago citizens have formed a law enforcement league to "help" the po lice enforce the existing laws. Prune packers of Vancouver, Wash., are preparing a shipment of four car loads to go direct to Germany. Archduke Ferdinand, of Buglaria, plans for a new Slav empi reminder the rule of the Hapsburg royal family. Admiral Dewey at 75 years of age says he stays young by keeping regu lar hours and avoiding midnight ban quets. The council of the city of Portland has forbidden the use of firecrackers by the Chinese in celebrating their coming new year. Two bodies of Mexican federals fought each other for possession of a village, each thinking the other was a rebel force. Several were wounded before the error was discovered. A Kansas City burglar climbed a fire escape six stories, then slid down an elevator cable five stories, to rob a jewelry store, escaping by the same route with only $80 for his trouble. The widow of Victor L. Mason, of London, who was killed by a fall from an aeroplane, has sued an acci dent insurance company for the face value of a policy held by her husband, insuring him against violent death. Turkish reinforcements are daily ar riving from Syria and Kurdestan. Balkan peace delegates are already talking over the new boundaries of Turkey. Bulgarian forces around Adrianople maintain strict censorship of press dis patches. The senate committee investigating conditions in Mexico finds the Madero government a failure and that a state of anarchy exists. A ' theater especially for. children and their attendants has been opened in New York City. A Denver man committed suicide on learning that his mother-in-law was coming to visit him. Twenty-two of the crew of 27, of the steamer Florence, perished when the ship was wrecked on the New foundland coast. Professor James Israel, noted Ber lin surgeon, denies having performed any operation on the young son of the Russian emperor. SEATTLE MARKETS Wheat—Bluestem, 83c per bushel; forty-fold, 80c; club, 79c; fife, 78c; red Russian, 78c. Oats —$25.50 per ton. Barley—s23 per ton. Yellow corn—Sacked, $31 per ton; mixed corn, sacked, $31. The following prices are offered to the producer by the local dealers for delivery in round lots, f. o. b. Seattle: Eggs—Select ranch, 32@35c per dozen. Poultry—Live hens, 12@14c pound; old roosters, 9c, turkeys, fat, live, 21c; do dry picked, 23#24c; geese, fat, 13c; this year's chickens, 15@ 16; old ducks, live, fat, 15c; duck lings, 16c; squabs, $3 dozen. Ranch butter—23<ir2sc pound. Fresh fruits—Apples, new, 50c@ $1.50 box; cranberries, $10.50@1l barrel; grapefruit, Florida, $4@4.25 crate; California, $3.50; grapes, im ported Malagas, $6.25(6 7.25 barrel; red emperor, in lugs, 9c pound; Far rars, $1.25 box; huckleberries, 8@ 10c pound; pears, fancy Eastern Washington, $1.50@2 box; pineap ples, $4 crate; pomegranates, $1.75@2 box; honey, new, $3.50@3.75 per case. Dressed Meats—Prime beef steers, Ils(gl2c pound; cows, lie; heifers, Nos. 1 and 2, lljc; veal, 13c pound; pork, 12c pound; pork, 12c pound; mutton, ewes, 9Jc; wethers, 10Jc; spring lamb, 12c. Vegetable — Almonds, 18c pound; artichokes, $1.50 dozen; beets, $1 sacjc; bell peppers, 10c pound; Brus sels sprouts, 7c; cabbage, lc; red, 2c; carrots, 75c@$l sack; cauliflower,' $2.25@2.50 crate; celery, 40(rf60c dozen; California golden heart, 75c* $3.75 crate; cucumbers, Los Angeles] hothouse, $1 dozen; local hothouse] 75c@51.25; chestnuts, B@loc pound eggplant, 8@10c; garlic, 8(210c; horseradish, 8@10c; head lettuce, hot house, 75c box; California, $2 per case; Onions, California, 90c@$l sack; Fanno, $1.25; parsley, 30c doz en; potatoes, local, on track, $10@ll per ton; Yakima, $14; sweet, Cali fornia, 2k(a2sc pound; Hubbard squash, 1(51 Je pound; string beans, 15c pound BRITISH SHIP BRINGS BODY Late Ambassador to England Re- ceives High Honors. Portsmouth, England—The British armored cruiser Natal sailed out of Portsmouth harbor Saturday afternoon with the body of Ambassador Reid on board, amid a salute of 19 guna. Full naval honors were paid to the body of Ambassador Reid on its ar rival at this port from London. Admiral Sir Hedworth Meux, the commander of the port, and all the high naval officers stationed here were present at the station when the train drew in. As it halted at the platform Nelson's flagship, the Victory, fired a salute of 19 guns. The coffin was borne across the jetty on the shoulders of eight petty officers of the British navy and taken on board the armored cruiser Natal, from the mainmast of which vessel the United States ensign was immediately broken. All the ships in the harbor and at Spithead raised the Stars and Stripes to their mastheads as the coffin was taken on board the Natal and then lowered them to half mast. The jetty was carpeted with purple, while guards of honor of marines and blue jackets stood with reversed arms on each side as the casket was taken through. The petty officers bearing the casket walked slowly to the mortuary chapel, lined with purple, which had been erected on the weather deck of the Natal, and as they deposited it on the catafalque, the ship's bugler sounded the "Last Post," while the crews of the warships lined the rails. The wreaths sent by President Taft and members of the royal family com pletedly filled the little mortuary chapel, which was so placed that it could be lowered in case of heavy weather. By a coincidence, the hospital ship Maine, presented to England by Amer ican women, was moored just outside the cruiser Natal. There was no service on board the Natal, which left port immediately on schedule time, passing through the lines of the other vessels, which all had their flags at half mast, and their crews standing at the salute. SPEEP WOULD BE ECONOMY Engineer Recommends Rapid Work Done On Celilo Canal. Washington, D. C—How $100,000 in cash and more than a year in time can be saved on the construction of the Celilo canal is fully set forth in a report by " 4 Captain H. H. Roberts, of the Army Engineer corps, recently transmitted to congress. It remains to be seen whether congress will be willing to direct this economy by in creasing the appropriations for the canal, so the work can be completed by January 1, 1915. The report of Captain Roberts, heretofore reviewed briefly, summarizes the appropriation to date, showing a total of $3,150,000, and adds: "The amount required to be appro priated for completion of the existing project is $1,808,392.64. "The delay incurred since January 1, 1912, as compared with what would have been the rate of progress had ample funds been available, is esti mated as at least six months, there having been necessary reservation made of a portion of the then avail able funds to provide for the possi bility of no funds becoming available by the last river and harbor act. This delay was made up of reduction of force and partial suspension of work for several months, total suspension of work for about two months, together with additional delays incident to de livery of materials, collection of force, etc., necessarily incurred in starting the work again. "After careful consideration of present conditions, it is believed that in view of the above-mentioned delays already incurred, the canal cannot be completed to best advantage before January 1, 1915, even with ample funds available for the work. The canal can, however, with funds avail able, be completed by that date, which is one year and six months in advance of June 25, 1916, the time orginally proposed in the river and harbor act of June 25, 1910. Motive for Attack Mystry. London—The motive for the attempt on the life of Baron Hardinge, viceroy of India, is a mystery on which it will be impossible to hazard a guess until it is known whether the miscreant is a Hindu or a Mussulman. It is not known whether the bomb-thrower has been arrested. Intense indignation is expressed in Calcutta and here over the incident. Fears are expressed that it may have been a manifestation of Moslem resentment at the British occupancy of the ancient Mohammedan capital of India. Death May Free Suspect. New Westminster, B. C. —On Jan uary 7 next Charles Dean, the only Bank of Montreal robbery suspect now held in this city, may regain his free dom. The prisoner's solicitor was granted an order calling upon the at torney general to show cause why the prisoner should not be discharged. Since the preliminary trial one of the principal witnesses, who claims to have seen the accused in the automo bile with four other men, has died. Destroyer Balch Launched. Philadelphia—The torpedo boat de stroyer Balch was launched Saturday from the Cramp shipyard. Miss Grace Balch, of Washington, a descendant of Commodore Balch, christened the ves sel. The destroyer is a sister ship to the Aylwin, launched from Cramps' a month ago. The vessel is 300 feet long and has 37 feet beam. .-.—. - „ his bikt^^^an MANST^THICH HE WAS BORN HAWAII MAKES GREAT STRIDES Governor of Islands Reports Progress and Prosperity. Commerce, Homesteading, Trans portation, Public Works, Health, Etc., Improve. Washington, D. C.—Hawaii has en joyed greater prosperity and progress during the last year than during any other in its history, according to Gov ernor Frear's annual report, submitted to the Secretary of the Interior Fish er. The preceding four years had been notable for their prosperity, says the governor, but this year witnessed even greater strides forward. In commerce, homesteading, im provement in class of immigrants, bet terment of transportation facilities, construction of public works, public health, administration and public school facilities there had been marked advance. That the United States reclamation act be exended to Hawaii is one of the governor's recommendations. He says there are large areas which should be made available by irrigation for settlement by Americans in colon ies of considerable size. Imports and exports of the islands during the'year totalled $84,100,000, an increase of $14,680,000 over the preceding year. The increase was chiefly in trade with the United States, which constituted more than nine-tenths of the total. The increase in exports from the territory was 12 times as much as that in the imports, being $13,500,000 against $1,180,000. The exports totalled $55,400,000; the imports, $28,700,000. Governor Frear reports that "the percentage of homesteads taken by Americans and other Caucasians has been much larger this year than usual." During the last two years the de parture of Japanese steerage passen gers, exceeded the arrivals by 489. PRICE-FIXING TO BE TESTED Suit Is Begun Against Breakfast Food Concern. Detroit—The Kellogg Toasted Com Flake company is alleged to be violat ing the Sherman law in a petition in equity filed in the United States dis trict court here by order of Attorney- General Wickersham to setUe for all time the extent to which a manufac turer can control retail prices. The company and its officers, en gaged in the manufacture of Kellogg's toasted corn flakes, are charged with fixing prices at which the flakes are Smallpox Under Control. Washington, D. C.—Rigid steps by the public health service have brought under control a threatened serious out break "of smallpox along the West Virginia-Maryland border. Dr. B. S. Warren, detailed to investigate the situation, who has just returned to Washington, reported 11 cases in the vicinity of Martinsburg, W. Va. These cases, all within from three to ten miles of the city, are under proper control. All suspected persons in the region will be vaccinated and kept un der observation for 15 days. sold to retailer and consumer, prevent ing competition which would reduce the price to the public and creating a monopoly by concentrating the entire interstate traffic in this commodity in the hands of jobbers and retailers who abide by price agreements exacted by the defendants. It is alleged that the defendants have invoked the patent laws through the use of a patented carton in which the flakes are packed as a mere "subterfuge and device" to escape the provisions of the Sherman law. The government asks for injunc tions to prevent the company, its offi cers and agents from controlling the price of the breakfast food after it leaves the hands of the manufacturer. The suit is regarded by ,the govern ment as of vast importance because of its bearing on the right of a manufac turer to control prices to the consum er. It is alleged that the company sells only to jobbers, refusing abso lutely to deal directly with the con sumers or with the retail trade. The commodity, according to the petition, is sold to jobbers at a uniform price, under an agreement that the jobbers will sell to retailers at a price fixed by the defendants. The defendants are charged with strictly enforcing the agreement of sale by absolutely refus ing to deal with any jobber who fails to maintain the specified price. MEXICAN SHOPMEN STRIKE Higher Wages and Shorter Hours Demanded by 7000. Laredo, Tex.—Seven thousand shop employes of the National Railway of Mexico struck Friday because of the refusal of the management to grant an eight-hour day and an increase in wages. The strike was called simul taneously at Nuevo Laredo, San Luis Potosi, Mexico City and Aquas Cal ientes. At Nuevo Laredo 100 skilled mechanics and 100 other employes walked out. The shops are closed. Because of the demoralized condi tion along the line of the railway as the result of the rebel activity the strike has caused the greatest concern. Railroad officials refuse to discuss the situation beyond saying that the strike will not cause a tieup of the lines and that they believe regular train service can be maintained. At several points bridges and sta tions have been burned by the revolu tionists and long stretches of roadbed destroyed. The employes presented their de mands some weeks ago with an ulti matum that if they were not acceded to, a strike would be called before the end of the year. No intimation had been given that Friday was selected as the date of the walkout. Soldier of Fortune Dead. Reno, Nev.—With both hands cut off and his skull fractured, Max Yon Buelow, said to be a descendant of Count Yon Buelow, the famous Ger man general, was picked up on the railroad track near the state line and died two hours later in the railroad hospital at Sparks. Yon Buelow was a globetrotter and soldier of fortune. Several years ago he married Miss Christine Plummer, a wealthy wo man of Pueblo, Colo., and they trav eled through Europe in regal style. Yon Buelow was highly educated. Beef Cattle Are Scarce. Chicago—Fewer cattle by 281,298 have been received at the Chicago stockyards this year than in 1911, ac cording to figures given out here. Despite this fact, more money was paid for beef in 1912 than in 1911 by $3,282,735. The total paid out this year was $183,488,909. PRESIDENT-ELECT AT HOME Staunton, Virginia, Gives Noisy Welcome to Wilson. Staunton, Va.—Virginia enthusias tically welcomed home Governor Wil son, the eighth of her native sons to be chosen president of the United States. From the moment the presi dent-elect crossed the state line at Alexandria in the afternoon, after he had a ten-minute glimpse of the na tional capital, until 9 o'clock, when he reached the little parsonage where he was born 56 years before, the recep tion was one of great enthusiasm, noisy demonstration and spectacular display. Escorted by cavalry, militia com panies and a torchlight procession, the governor and Mrs. Wilson motored through the streets of Staunton to the home of Rev. A. N. Frazer, pastor of the Presbyterian church. In this home Rev. Joseph R. Wilson, father of the president-elect, lived in 1856. "It is fine to be back again," ex claimed the president-elect, as he stepped indoors. Suffering from the effects of his cold, he returned immediately to the room in which he was born to rest. Staunton was not alone in celebrat ing the arrival of the distinguished visitor. Fireworks shot across the skies and red lights threw a festive glare at all stations along the route. Mrs. Wilson stood with her husband on the rear platform of the train and enjoyed the demonstration. Red Hair Frightens Seal. Los Angeles—Women with red hair will have to be barred from the Venice Aquarium, or the latter will have to dispense with "Old Hundred," a re cently captured seal. "Old Hundred,'' is extremely docile in ordinary cir cumstances, but the moment a woman appears whose hair has even a touch of sunburn he seemingly becomes panic-stricken. Dr. P. S. Barnhart, instructor of biology at the University of Southern California, who was at tracted by reports of the seal's behav ior, is unable to explain the matter. Simple Ceremony Preferred. Washington, D. C. -» Inauguration ceremonies in the past have been too spectacular and pretentious, in the opinion of President-elect Woodrow Wilson. Governor Wilson talked with William Corcoran Eustis, recently chosen chairman of the inauguration committee. "The thing has been overdone in the past," said the gover nor to him. "I wish you would have the ceremonies as simple as may be consistent with dignity and order." Gum Chewer Discredited. Chicago—United States Judge Car penter revealed one method he haa of judging whether a person is testifying truthfully. If the witness chews gum and talks rapidly the chances are no great weight should be attached to his satetments, the court said. This de veloped when the court told Joseph Burns, a witness chewing gum while on the witness stand: "The harder a person chews gum the less responsibil ity you can place in his testimony." Schrank Model Patient. Oshkosh, Wis.—John Schrank, who attempted to assassinate Theodore Roosevelt, is reported to be a model patient at the Northern Hospital for the insane. The superintendent says he is faithful in his work and spends much of his time reading and writing and doing work around the criminal ward as it is required of patients there. -■ , COST OF LMNG UP TO FARMER Government Expert Says h Depends on Size of Crops. Soil Must Be Made to Yield More Proportion of Fanners Growing: Smaller. Washington, D. C—The 'ever th will break the backbone of high pric of foodstuffs is Jmore intensive fan ing, cultivation of unoccupied lan near the large cities and more intel gent methods of agriculture, in t opinion expressed by Professor Milt Whitney, chief of the bureau of soi of the department of agriculture. E Whitney is a leading authority on so and their uses and his many public tions on soils and their adaptation crop production and their relation food consumption have attract world-wide attention. Dr. Whitney is preparing a bullet on soils of the country and their rel tion to the nation's future food su ply. He draws specil attention to tl vast amount of uncultivated areas land, the decline in the cultivati areas compared with the rapid i crease of the country's population. "The country is advancing in eveij line," said Dr. Whitney. "People a) living better than ever before. As i result we are stronger physically an mentally. We are consuming mon foodstuffs per capita than the populj tion of the European countries andl would not f©r a moment attempt ti discourage less food consumption. 1 is plain that until we get a larger sup. ply of foodstuffs, and if the period of high salaries'continues, we can expec! the present high cost of living to co& tinue. "So let us touch the producing side of the question. For instance, the states north of the Potomac and east of the Ohio river have a total area of 12,322,880 acres. The area under cul tivation in this territory is estimated at a little over 40,000,000 acres. Add ed to this is 27,000,000 acres used for forestry. So we have over 42,000,001) acres of idle land in the territory lying in the states. "During the past 30 years the amount of land in use has steadily de creased until it is now about 20 pet cent less than in 1880, while the coun try as a whole has been growing at a phenomenal rate. "The number of persons engaged is agricultural pursuits in the states above mentioned has also decreased during the past 30 years, while the total population has largely increased "There are at present, mark you, about 1,300,000 persons engaged in agriculture in the area under consider ation with a population of over 30, ---000,000 non-agricultural producers to be fed. "The bureau of soils estimates that the land under cultivation in the area can be made to yield at least four times as much as at present by more intelligent and intensive methods of farming. Moreover, the same up-to date, methods used on the idle lands will have a yielding capacity of over eight times as much as at present. "Careful investigations conducted by the bureau prove that these lands are well adapted to all classes of crops from the early fruit, truck and vege tables to the latest storage fruits and vegetables for winter use, and to the most intensive kind of dairy farming. "The conditions in the eastern sec tion of the country are similar to those existing in other sections. So whether the cost of living is to be reduced or not, it is perfectly plain to even the layman mind that to feed the present and constantly-growing population of the country a greater production of foodstuffs must be raised. "To do this more people have got to return to the farms; it is necessary to put more land under cultivation; more improved methods of agriculture, and more intensified farming must be fol lowed." World's Crops Reported. Washington, D. C. — The Interna tional Institute of Agriculture at Rome has reported to the department of ag riculture on the year's crop figures. According to the institute, the produc tion in Germany was: Wheat, 160, ---227,000; rye, 456,608,000; oats, 965, ---999,000; barley, 159,927,000 bushels. Austria produced in wheat 69,640,000; rye, 117,114,000; oats, 167,423,000; barley, 78,384,000 bushels. In W European countries and Canada the production of sugar beets was 136 per cent of last year's production. Taking: of Town Confirmed. El Paso, Tex.—Despite the denial of Minister Hernandez, the taking o: Ascencion by the rebels is confirmed officially at Juarez and reported by nu merous "refugees coming from the town. The taking of Casas Grandes as reported by rebels, remains uncon firmed. Railway reports say nothing of the Casas Grandes attack. Tne Seventh Federal cavalry is proceeding slowly behind railroad work trains toward Ascencion. Flying Santa Sheds Furs. San Francisco—Santa Claus in a» aeroplane flew over the heads o thousands of persons gathered her Christmas at the third internationaj aviation meet of the Pacific Cost, an dropped bags of candy and nuts m the crowd. The warm weather, how ever, made it uncomfortable for ban and he" soon alighted, to shed his fl"*