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FGDFD TWENTY-SIXTH YEAB. NO. 6G. SECRETARY FRANCIS MAKES HIS REPORT On Work of the Interior Department WTI HUH mOF Uf Passed to Private Parties Dur ing the Year RECOMMENDATION IS MADE Tbit ArlJ Lands Pasi Under Control of Slates Reasons Given for Refusing Patents to Rail, road Lands The Secretary Advises the Acceptance of a Lump Sum in Liquidation of Debts of the Bond-Aided Railroads. Associated Press Special Wire WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.—The annual report of the secretary of the Interior was i made public today. It deals wlth all the various branches of the interior depart ment during the past year, and makes j a number of important recommenda tions. It proposes a solution of the vexed problem of the bond-aided roads, deals exhaustively with the pension ad ministration, reviews the progress of the Dawes commission negotiations, and touches upon various matters of special significance in the west. The report opens with a discussion of the public domain. It shows that the total number of acres disposed of up to June 30 last was 946.000,000, leaving pub lic domain still vacant estimated at over 600,000.000. not including the district of Alaska, with an area of over 369,000,000 I acres Since the homestead act was passed j In May, 1862, there have been 162,891.132 i acres entered by homestead settlers. Of thla almost 103,000,000 acres will all be I patented when the legal conditions have j been made. Of the remainder. 42.000.000 I acres represent entries canceled, and al- j most 18,000,000 acres commuted to cash. ; The total number of mineral entries up to date is 29.820; patents to railways and wagon roads since the first grant was j made reach 85,729.751 acres. There also i have been 335.691.752 acres d.» posed of i ty pre-emption, cash sales-Scrip, ora tions, military, bounty land warrants, town sites, desert land, timber cuhure, timber and stone entries, Indian allot merits and donations to settlers. There are yet due to railroads and ; wagon roads under their grants 114.736,639 acres, of which not more than 60 per #.mt IS available for patenting under the con- ! dltions of the grants. The total grants to the various states and territories up to March 21 last aggregated 181.858.630 acres, In addition to agricultural college scrip for 7.830,000 acres. The total of all lands segregated from ' the public domain agrgegates 946,219,160 ! acres. The report says; "Of the 114. --000.000 acres granted to railroads but not ! patented there can be no objection to | transferring possession and control of , whatever portion has been earned by I complying with the grants and that may , be available thereunder (estimated at \ 0.000,000 acres) with as much prompt ness as possible, but until these grants ! are adjusted no additional ones should be made. During the year 15,257,844 acres were patented to railroads under congressional grants." Secretary Francis urges upon con gress the necessity for legislation for i the reclamation and disposal of lands Within the arid regions. Unless the Carey act could be amended so as to give j the state power to pledge lands for their j reclamation, he says, It would be better j to place the lands under the direction | of the states only as far as may be nec- I essary to secure their reclamation for i the benefit of actual settlers. The total amount paid by the govern ment upon pensions and cost of disburs- Ing the same for the last thirty-one years Is $2,034,817,769. The present number of pensioners, which is 970,678, is greater by 4606 than in 1893, when the maximum I annual cost was reached, and Is greater I than ever before. This Is due to death of old soldiers and the continued payment of allowances to their heirs, while the amount paid is decreased through the death of invalid pensioners, leaving no Independents. In- I crease from $6 to $12 per month is rec ommended for all wholly disabled and destitute Mexican war survivors. Under the head of Indian affairs, th; ! secretary repeats the recommendation j of his predecessor for a commission of I three, one of which shall be an army of ficer, to take the place of the commis sioner and assistant commissioner of In dian affairs. Under the head of bond-aided rail roads, the secretary says he has com piled with the Joint resolution of June 10,1896, requiring him to continue the is sue of patents to bona fide purchasers of lands sold by bond-aided railroad?, but he says he declined to Issue patents to all surveyed lands on the application' of the Central Pacific. He says: "The representatives of the Central Pacific further contended their road is not in default to the government, and that if It were the lands are not covered by the government mortgage ar.d' cannot bo held to secure the same. "I do not agree with either of these statements. The tables presented clear ly show that the Central Pacific road is in default to the government, but whether so or not It unquestionably will fe* oo January lit, nest, or thirty days j hence, when $2,432,000 additional of its indebtedness, together with thirty years' interest thereon, will fall due and must be redemed by the government. "In answer to the contention that the government lien Is not secured by the lands granted the Central and Union Pacific compan les. section 5 ot the act of 1862 provides that on the refusal or fail ure of a company to redeem its bonds or any part thereof, the secretary of the treasury may take possession of all lands which at the time of said default shall remain In the ownership of said company. For the above reasons I have declined to patent lands to the Union Pacific railroad or the Central Pacific lailroad except in cases where It can be shown that the lands for which patents are asked have been sold to bona fide purchasers. Inasmuch as the subsidy bondß issued by the government to aid In the construction of these roads' are falling due from time to time and must be redeemed by the government as they mature, while the roads are unable to reimburse the treasury for the amount so paid and the further reason that a bill Is now pending in congress provid ing for a funding of this indebtedness, I deem It the part of prudence for this government to retain whatever of the property of the roads it may have In its possession or In its control until there snail be an adjustment of the amounts due the government." The secretary says he has requested an opinion from the secretary of the treas ury as to whether the Central Pacific Is In default, and the attorney-general as to whether if in default, he Is author ized to patent lands granted to bond aided railroads, even when they have been sold to bona fide purchasers. It will be noticed here that the secretary by Im ment subject to Its approval,but whether co*current resolution directing him to continue the issuance of patents. Referring to the railroad commission i er's recommendation for a commission ] to settle the indebtedness of the bond ! aided roads, the secretary says: "Con gress Is not likely to delegate to any commission the power to settle this in debtedness, without making such settle would meet the hearty approval of the congress would do so or not, the delay consequent upon the appointment of a commission and its work would be so great that most or all of the bonds Issued in aid of these roads would mature and the government be called upon to re i deem the same. In the meantime other bills would be introduced seeking to ef fect other settlements and in the end i the government would receive less for I its claim than It would if a compro j mise by the cash payment of a lump | sum should be effected In the immediate ! future and the government become rc j lleved thereby from all connections with j these roads. The Indebtedness has been a subject of attempted legislation for ! many years past, and It seems impose I- I ble to frame any renewal or extension of ; the loan which will be acceptable to both i the legislators and the indebted com j panics. A funding of the debt which i contemplates the government accepting j long-time bonds for Its advances wiil ! not remove this troublesome subject, and j would probably result In renewed moas | urea for the relief of the roads being pro -1 posed as those bonds approach maturl ty. | "In my Judgment it is much better for I this government to accept a lump sum j in cash for its claim against these roads, j if by doing so that claim can oe setttled and the connection between the govern ment and the only roads it hasrveralded by direct subsidy by effectually severed. Such a resolution of this vexed question would meet the hearty aprpoval of the j people generally and relieve the legisla tors and all branclis of the government of a troublesome problem and a trying responsibility." AN AWFUL CRIME. : A Hundred Families Toisoned to Spoil a Baker's Trade. i MILWAUKEE, Wis., Dec. 4.—What is thought to be an attempt at wholesale | poisoning, in a large measure success ful, was reported at the police depart ment today when information was given of the sudden and serious illness of about 100 families, numbering between 5000 and i 600 persons, living In the northwestern I part of the city. The cause of the slck ! ness was traced to bread sold at a bakery j owned by Otto Foglesthaler, which has j a very large trade. Tonight analysis j of the bread showed It contained arsenic, j The sick persons are living, but a large | number of cases are considered serious if not critical. The police are convinced from the In vestigation tonight that arsenic was placed in the bread with intent to cause the death or serious illness of Fogles i thaler's customers, with the object of j ruining his business. Arrests will be j made tomorrow. THE FORMAL CALL. The Board of Trade Men to Reform the Currency. INDIANAPOLIS. Ind., Dec. 4.—The executive Committee in charge of the ar rangements for the currency reform con- I ventlon to be held in this city on Jauu | ary 12. today issued a formal call for the | convention. The call recites that the convention i! shall be composed of representative bus iness men cho?en from board's of trade, chambers of commerce, commercial clubs, or other similar commercial bod ies in cities of 8000 or more inhabitnat«, according to the census of 1890, the basis of representation to be according to pop ulation. The convention Is called, It Is stated, for the purpose of considering and suggesting such legislation as may be deemed necessary to place the cur , rency system of the country upon a sound and permanent basis. COL. SHELBY DEAD. DENVER, Col.. Dec. 4.—A dispatch to the News from SantaFe, N. M., says: Advices from El Paso announce the death there yesterday of Col. V. S. Shelby, a Tennesgeean, 10 years a ell tzen of California, Colorado and New Mexico. His mining ventures gave him large wealth. He has been a sufferer from cancer of the face for ten years. Hia body | vu burled; at El Pue today. THE HERALD LOS ANGELES. SATURDAY MORNING. DECEMBER 5, 1896.-TEN PAGES. WEYLER SUSTAINS DEFEAT And Brings His Wounded Back to Havana SPANIARDS CLAIM VICTORY And Promise to Slorm the Insurgent Entrenchments Congressman Expresses Cordial Sympa thy With the Cubans and Favors American Interference. CINCINNATI, Dec. 4.—A special to the Commercial Tribune from Key West, Fla., says: Passengers from the steamer from Havana tonight say that a train with 500 wounded Spanish sol diers arrived there today. It was said that most of them came from the vicinity of San Cristobal and Candelarla. No definite statement could be had as to what battlefield they came from. Ru mors prevailed on their arrival that Weyler had sustained another defeat. Counter statements were also made that the vanguard of Maceo's army had been defeated. Moreover, it was announced that Weyler is on the eve of attempting to storm some of the hilltops where Ma ceo Is entrenched, and this has raised great expectations in Havana. American correspondents at Havana have had friendly warnings that Weyler is contemplating deporting some of the more outspoken ones, because their re ports do not please him. SYMPATHY WITH CUBA. CHICAGO, Dec. 4.—Congressman Robert R. Hitt. chairman of the house committee on foreign affairs, was enter tained this afternoon at the Union League club at an Informal luncheon. At the conclusion of the feast Mr. Hitt said he was on his way to Washington, and the object of his visit to the capital at this time was to take some action on the Cuban quesion. He assured his 11s eners that within a month the president would issue a proclamation that would prove decisive. As to bis own position, he said he always had held to what seemed to be the prevailing sentiment among Americans, that Is, that he cor dially sympathized with the Cubans. He even went so far as to say that the Unit ed States should give them material as sistance. Just what shape this should take he did not say. A SERIOUS AFFAIR. HAVANA, Dec. 3.—The insurgent at tack on Guanabarcoa, on' the outskirts of this city, Thursday, was' much more serious than at first stated. Guanabar coa was attacked simultaneously at sev eral points, while another insurgent force fired upon the Spanish outposts at Bucara&as, on the coast. A garrison left that place to resist the attack on th? town, but was ambuscaded between the stone walls and farm fences by about 300 insurgents and, in spite of the gullant defense, all the Spaniards were klllei. The exact number of slain is not known. The insurgents are said to have burned seventy-four house*in Guanabarcoa. in stead of one house, as the official report stated. AN AMERICAN KILED. NEW YORK, Dec. 4.—A special to the Herald from Guiinaro, Camaguey, gives the following details of the death of Major Dana Osgood, the football player, who commanded a Cuban battery dur ing the recent siege of the town of Gulmaro. General Garcia ordered Major Osgood to open fire upon the Spanish forces. Later a fort located on a hill about 700 yards from the town was aban doned by its defenders, who took refuse in the town. On the second day of the siege Major Osgood, under heavy Bro from the Spaniards, was training one of his pieces on the forts, when a Mauser ball struck him on the forehead. He uttered the word "Well," and bending forward on his cannon hugged it and breathed his last in behalf of Cuban lib erty. The news of his death deeply im pressed' President Cisneros and the com manding officers, all of whom had great regard for the American officer. The Spaniards, who had an abundant sup ply of ammunition, kept up an Incessant fire against the Cuban intrenchments. General Garcia on October 27th made up his mind to capture the place by as sault. The Spaniards had abandoned all the forts outside of the town and had made themselves' strong inside. They had taken commanding positions in stone buildings and a massive stone church in the public spuare. At a signal General Cebreco and Creneral Capote, at tlie head nf their men. charged the town from different quarters. The Spanisn garrison took refuge in the old stone church and strongly barricaded it. Gen eral Garcia ordered that the three guns be brought to bear upon the stone struc ture and fire was at once opened upon it. One of the shots from a 12-pounder mor tally wounded the Spanish officer In charge, Major Martinez, and killed some of bis men. Shortly after a tremendous cry of "Viva Cuba, libre" came from the Cubans. The Spaniards had signaled their unconditional surrender. CIVIL TRIAL DENIED NEW YORK. Dec. 4. —A Havana spe cial to the World says: Oscar Cespedes, an American imprisoned in San Serva do prison, Matanzas, has been denied a civil trial. The case is sent back to the military authorities for "considera tion by courtmartial." Cespedes landed in Cuba with Tru jilo's filibustering expedition on June 23 of this year, and shortly afterwards joined La Crete's insul'gent forces in Matanzas province. Madrid dispatches quote Premier Can ovas as having assured the queen at yes terday's cabinet council of his confidence that President Cleveland's forthcoming message will be in no wise unfavorable to the Spanish interests. Today's government reports announce the defeat of Castillo's rebel force in Ha vana province near Nazareno. A ROYAL SOUVENIR PARIS, Dec. 4.—President Faure is sending to the czar and czarina a baautl ful souvenir of their visit to Paris In the shape of an album containing an au tograph, poems, original drawings, etc., of the recitations, addresses, programs, menus incidental to their visit to France. M. Jules Claret, Jose Maria de Hora dla, Francois Coppee and Prudhomme have written verses in the album; M Reyer has written music and Mme. Bernhardt, Rejan and others their au tographs. A TRAIN DITCHED Bloodhounds on the Trial of Supposed Wreckers ARDMORE, I. T., Dec. 4.—A freight train on the Gulf, Colorado and Santa, Fe railroad, ran Into an open switch this morning at Justin gravel pit. fifty miles south of here, causing a wreck In which Fireman W. P. Holman and Brakeman J. F. Mitchell were Instantly killed and Engineer Mobley possibly fatally in jured. The freight train was running close upon the time of the southbound passenger train, which was just behind It, and It is believed the switch was tam pered with, with the intention of wreck ing the passenger train. The railway officials have asked for bloodhounds to be sent and hope to trail the wreckers. CHIPPEWA WATER FALLS To the Oreat Relief of the Citi zens Menominee River in Michigan Dammed by an Ice Gorge Causes Dam age and Threatens More CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis., Dec. 4.— The water tonight has receded thirty seven inches and many of the buildings lately under the flood are commencing to reappear. Some of them have been crushed in by the lee. A few business men are moving back, although the ma jority will remain at their present loca tions and take no chances. The ice pack has ceased to grow, the anchor ice being carried under the gorge by the swift current of the river. If the pres ent conditions continue the ice will gradually wear away. Everybody is feeling not only relieved, but very san - guine over the outlook. WATER RISING DETROIT, Mich., Dec. 4.—A special to the Free Press from Menominee, Mich., says: Reports were received this evening to the effect that tho water is still rising in the Menominee river above the ice gorge, which lias formed for sixteen miles above the head of Grand Rapids. It is stated that on sev eral farms the people are fleeing for their lives. Barns and cellars are overflowing and much fodder and provisions are de stroyed. The river has overflowed to the Cedar river, thus changing its course. A WASHINGTON STORM SEATTLE, Dec. 4 —The Northern Pa cific bridge over the _White river, be tween this city and Tacoma. was swept away at 2:30 today by the swollen tor rent. Repairs cannot be completed be fore Monday at the earliest. Meantime Northern Pacific passengers will be taken to and from Tacoma on the steam er Flyer, connecting with the train there. The Chinook wind that has been blow ing for two days rapidly melted the re cent heavy fall of snow, and this, to gether with unusually heavy rains, has brought on a flood that threatens to night to equal the one the effects of which the railroads are just recovering from. Along the Scuttle and Interna tional road the water is within two feet of the recent flood and rising. On the Great Northern many washouts and land slides have occurred and none of its trains arc getting ir. The weather Is cold tonight, and It Is hoped the floods may recede. The North ern Pacific has the iron on the ground for a new bridge over White river, which it will have built in a few weeks. The tem porary structure was wrecked during the recent flood ,and has been repaired so as to permit of the passage 0i trains, until the flood of today carried It away. ATLANTIC GALES LONDON. Dec. 5— Violent gales have occurred along the coasts, with several casualties at Brighton. The chain pier there has bev-n destroyed and the shore is strewn with wreckage. There were exciting scenes at Dover. The East End packet found itself unable to make tho harbor and notified those on shore by the firing of rockets. Another vessel is reported to have went ashore east of Dover. A NEW CURE-ALL. A Patent Sanitarium to Be Located in Los Angeles. COLUMBIA. Mo., Dec. 4.—Dr. Thomas Powell of Columbia, claims to have learned hnw to inoculate the human sys tem so as to render it impervious to dis ease genus. As vaccination prevents smallpox, so this discovery will ward off scarlet fever, consumption, diphtheria, and every other disease caused by germs. So confident is Dr. Powell of the truth of his discovery that he has writ ten largely for scientific journals on the subject and has himself tested it prac tically by exposing himself to ail man ner of diseases. He entered this week into an agreement with California cap italists by which he is to be paid $9000 for a one-third interest in the discovery. A sanitariun{ wilf be erected in Los Ange les anil experiments begun. If success ful, Dr. Powell's fortune is assured. TURKEY WON'T PAY. LONDON. Dec. 4.—The Constantinople correspondent of the Daily Mail hears that the porte has decided to decline the payment of all claims for indemnity for massacres except those advanced by Americans. RECTOR HOUGHTON ILL. NEW YORK. Dec. 4 —The Rev. H. L. Houghton, rector of the Church of the Transfiguration (The Little Church Around the Corner), is dangerously ill i from pneumonia. PRECIOUS METAL PRODUCED And Made Into Coin or Commer cial Bars THE YEAR'S AVERAGE RATIO lias Been I of Gold to 30.58 of Silver No Doubt That American Silver Coins Are Being Counterfeited at a Good Profit to the Makers. Associated Press Special Wire WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.—The report of R. E. Preston, the director of the mint, shows that the original gold bul lion deposited at the mints and assay offices during the year was valued at $68,769,383. The original silver bullion deposited represented a coinage value of $11,672,077. The purchase of silver bul lion for subsidiary coinage under sec tion 3526, revised statutes, was 184,578 fine ounces, costing $122,429. The coinage executed at the mints dur ing the fiscal year was as follows: Gold, $58,878,490: silver dollars, $7,700, --882; subsidiary silver, $3,939,819; minor coins, $69,377; total, $71,188,528. There was a total coinage under th act of July 14. 1890. up to November 1. 1896, of $56,306,876. with a seigniorage of $13,304,036, leaving on hand at the mintr a balance of 5125,001,202 fine ounces, cost ing $113,865,626. The balance on hand July 1,1896. avail able for subsidiary silver coinage was 1.161,708 fine ounces, costing $1,514,520 The total amount of minor coins issued by the mint at Philadelphia since 1792 to June 30, 1896, was $27,818,107. Of this amount $2,382,461 has been remelted, leaving $25,435,616 as the total amount outstanding on June 30, 1596. Deductinpr the balance on hand at the mints July 1, 1878, the net seigniorage, or profit, or. the coinage of silver from that date to uJne 30. 1896, was $73,145,603. Gold and silver bars were manufac tured at the mint and assay offices during the fiscal year as follows: Gold. $53,438,532; silver, $7,370,454. The average Londn" price of silver bullion during the fiscal year was equivalent to $0.68005; the New York price was $0.68491 and the average price at the part of ex change was $0.67588. The highest quota tion during the year was equivalent to $0.70204; the lowest quotation, $0.660?1. The commercial ratio of gold to silver was 1 to 30.58 and the bullion value of a United States silver dollar at the yearly average price was $0.52262. The number of grains of pure silver, at the average price, purchasable with a United States sliver dollar was 710.06. equivalent to 1.479 fine ounces, The net gold exports for the fiscal year were $78,904,612, as against $30,177,376 for the previous year. The net silver exports were $33.262.255. as against $27,631,789 for the previous year. The employment of precious metals In the industrial arts in the I'nited States during the calendar year 1895 was: Gold. $13,429,085; silver, $12,777,024. The new ma terial consumed in the manufacture of these |, ars was: Gold, $8,481,729; silver, $9,825,387. The metallic stock in the United States on .July 1. 1896. was: Gold, $599,597,954; silver, $628,728,071; total, $1,228,326,035. The estimated production of the prec ious metals in the United States during the calendar year 1895 was: Meials. Ounces. Value. Value Fine Commercial Coining Gold ..$ 2,254.760 $46,610,000 $4(1.610,000 Silver 55.727.000 36.145.000 72.001.000 The estimated production of gold ami silver in the world for the calendar year 1595 was as follows: Fine Commercial Coining Metals. Ounces. Value. Value Goldi ..$ 9.094.640 $200,406,000 $200,406,000 Silver . 168,308.353 110.073,700 217.510.800 The total coinage of gold and silver by the various countries of the world was as follows: Gold; $231.087.435; silver, $121,610,219; total, $352,697,657. The total metallic stock and uncovered paper in the world was estimated at January 1 1896. as follows: Gold, $4,143, --700.000; full legal tender silver. $3,616. --700.000: limited tender silver. $020,300,000; total metallic stock, $8,38.300,000. Uncovered paper, $2,558,00,000; grand total, $10,938,600,000. The director ir his irport states that there is no doubt that the silver coins of the I'nited Sales are now being coun terfeited exactly similar to the genuine size, weight and devices. Some of these coins cannot be distinguished from the genuine even by experts. A very dan gerous counterfeit silver half dollar has made its appearance, in the cast and west., the weight of which Is 192 grains. With a fineness of 867'/!;, while the w eight of the genuine is 192.9 of the fineness of 900. Tlie profit to the counterfeiter is now about 100 per cent. So far the best known protection against the counter feiting of coins has been found to be the lettering placed on the edges similar to that on the first coinages of the United States, or the live franc pieces of France. The director recommends that author ity be given the secretary of the treasury to have experiments made to determine the best means of preventing the coun trfelting, or at least minimizing the dan ger. SHERIDAN'S RIDE Has Been Committed to Canvass by a Celebrated Painter PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 4.—Mrs. Phil lip N. Sheridan, widow of the illustrious general, was accorded a notable recep tion at the Hotel Lafayette tonight, in cidental to the unveiling of John Mul vaney's picture of "Little Phil," making his famous ride. At 8:40 oclock, to the accompaniment or music, the son ol the dead warrior FFFGFFHGFF NEWS OF THE MORNING By Telegraph: Fair weather today. Echoes ot the Fitzsimmons-Sharkey mill. Reports of floods in Michigan and Wis consin. A formal call for the currency reform convention. The state fruit growers conclude their convention. A hundred families poisoned' to hurt a baker's trade. A hitcli reported in Venezuela in the ar bitration proceedings. Dun & Cos. and Bradstreet's reports of commercial conditions. Political gossip and speculation regard ing possible legislative action. The director of the mint reports coinage statlsitcs of the United States and of the world. The Transpacific steamer project. Yoko homa to San Diego, lias substantial men behind it. Secretary Francis makes report ot the year's work of the Interior department, in cluding many Important recommendations. The ranch and Its products—Page 6. Senator Rose's opinion of the fair—Page 4. Meeting of the board of supervisors- Page 7. -viiss r.iiiuta cuuuer run over uy a uiuycie —Page 10. Hastings has a preliminary hearing a' the police court—Page 6. The city attorney thinks Garland's elec tric light franchise Is all right....Auditor's report—Page 4. Sample Instances of fraudulent registra tion in the Eighth and' Third wards....Po litical notes—Page 3. Closing sessions of the Teachers' Insti tute— Many valuable papers read A teachers' club formed....Excursion to Mt. r.owe today—Page 6. The Parkhurst society's mass meeting for males....Dr. McLean and others tell of their vice investigation Fifteen defend ants arraigned at the police court—Page 5. News of the courts—Strong depositions foi the defense in the Fhnrb trial....The complaint against Superintendent Coffin of the Whlttier school dl missed A note's maturity — A letter from Lee's wife.... The county cash....A Jap's diamonds.... New suits and court notes—Page 10. Southern California Specials—Pasadena's Shakespeare club holds nn open meeting — The tournament of roses program Death of Dr. rt-riey and' J. C. Post al Po mona....Frank Miller's trial tor abduction at Santa Barbara Robbery of the Corona postofflce — The tramp nuisance at San Bernardino....Santa Ana Athletic park to he converted into a barley field—Page 7. drew the cord which released the flags from the paintings, and as the work came in view it was greeted with tu multuous applause. Gov. Hastings and Col. A. K. McClure made appropriate remarks. The can vas Is eleven by twenty feet, and the lusty road from Winchester is occupied in the center with a figure of Sheridan nn horseback, the commanding feature. CAPTAIN BELL DEAD A Pioneer and a Vigilante Joins His Friends SAN DIEGO, Dec. 4.—Capt- William Bell, who was a prominent figure in the stirring events of the pioneer days of California, died in this city today, aged 75 years. Capt. Bell was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1821, and ar rived in San Francisco in 1852. There he engaged in ship-building and con structed quite a number of the best known vessels of early days. He also built the marine ways at Eureka and in this city. During his early days Capt. Bell was a member of the vigilance committee of San Francisco, and as sisted that organization in the suppres sion of the lawless element. He has lived in this city since 1888. He was greatly respected for his upright and fearless character. He leaves a son. who lives in this city, and a married daughter, who resides in Oakland. THREATENED TROUBLE. Beef Trust Practices Interest the Chi cago Grand Jury. CHICAGO. Dec. 4.—Trouble Is said to be in store for the alleged beef trust. The federal grand jury.although through with its regular business, has not been requested to be discharged and It is re solved to investigate the combination that exists between the hig packers for the purpose of "regulating" prices and forcing dealers tn buy from them. A number of subpoenas have been is sued fnr employes of the packers and railroads who may be able to throw light on the subject. As was the case at the last term of the court, however, trouble is being experienced In finding the witnesses most desired,and this fact may balk the desire tif the grand jury to go into the investigation. BLACKMAILERS BLOCKED. 1 ' WASHINGTON. Dec. 4 —Postmaster- General Wilson today checked the op erations of an enterprise that hasibeen sending insulting and threatening let ters broadcast, by issuing a fraud cir -1 cular against the Western Letter Brok j erage company of Chicago. The concern claims to possess a host of compromising medical letters, and in lieu of the de manded fee. threatens to deliver the let ters to scheming blackmailers, "hands that have no mercy and will stoop to al most every crime on the calendar." GOLD CONTRACTS GO ATLANTA, Ga., Dec. 4.—The state senate yesterday, by- a vote of 21 to 11, rejected a bill introduced by Senator Culver to declare null and void all obli ! gations and contracts which may be made payable in specific character of money, whether the same be coin or oth erwise, so far as the general assembly is concerned; therefore, gold' contracts may stili be made in Georgia. THE COUNCIL OF WOMEN. ! BOSTON. Dec. 4.—At the second day's j session of the Councli of Women there was a large attendance. Reports ma* were of a most entertaining nature, and the greetings from the several councils were encouraging. A THEATER BURNr.II. MUSCATINE. lowa. Dec. 4.—The Co lumbia, Muscatine's principal theater, was destroyed by Are this morning. The loss Is 130,000. CITY PRICR, PBR SINOLECOPV, 3 ;EVT«. ON TKANSPOR 1 aTION LINES, a C6NTS THE TRANSPACIFIC STEAMSHIP LINE Backed by Men Controlling Ample Capital m of news hiomis Sec Promise of Profit in the Scheme SAN DIEGO AND YOKOHAMA Have Already Been Scheduled at Ist) Terminal Ports Arrangements Are Pending tor Transcoatl* ncntal Carriages Millions of Money Must Be Raised and Some Years Spent In Securing favor* able Legislation—Bayr.cllmate People Industriously at Work Associated Press Special Wire CHICAGO. Dec. 4.—There Is no longer any doubt as to the Identity of the mov ing spirits in tho proposed transpacific) steamer line. O. W. Potter, president of the Commercial National bank, prac tically admitted, although he declined! to make any specific statement to that effect, that his stfn, E. C. Potter, was en gineering the big project. A. H. Butler is also a prominent henchman. The Jun ior Potter, together with Mr. Butler, Is now in San Diego in the interests of the enterprise. It Is also known that negotiations are under way with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad company, look ing toward utilizing the latter as the connecting link between the Pacific andi Atlantic ports. E. C. Potter Is a stockholder In the Santa Fe road. Mr. Potter, sr., declined to state what capitalists are interested! with his son in the enterprise, and de clares emphatically that he has not a dollar's worth of Interest in !t. "I really am not specifically advised as to the exact nature of my son's business in California." said the banker. "Per haps it would be better to wait until his return before connecting his name au thoritatively with the transpacific en ' terprise. I will say this, however- My son has been Interested in such a move ment for two years. The necessity of an American line of steamers between this) country and the Orient was made appa rent when he visited Japan.' It is a. gi gantic undertaking and one that will in volve an expenditure of many millions nf dollars and possibly years of time be fore what can be regarded'as a fair be ginning can be made. In the first place* much tedious legislation will have to be put through before the project would be upon any sort of a basis. The federal government will have to legislate upon the question of subsidizing vessels for the transportation of the mails. It will also have to be apparent that good rail road connections can be made between the Pacific and Atlantic coasts for the forwarding of freight across the coun try." "Between what ports will the steamers) ply?" "Probably the United States port will be San Diego, and naturally Yokohama will be the Japanese port. But, as I said before, I am not posted definitely re garding the project, and this is largely new work with me." "What road Is It proposed to transport freight over, once It reaches Chicago?" "There has been talk of negotiations being under way with the Santa Fe road. This has a terminus ijt San Diegb and has direct connections across the entire country, but the agreement with the railroad is another matter that will re quire much time to perfect, it will re quire between $7,000,000 and $8,000,000 to build the steamehips alone, tv say noth ing of the other expenses. That is agoodi deal of money to raise in these times." THE WORK IN HAND. SAN DIEGO, Dec. 4.—A meeting was held at the chamber of commerce this morning and a committee appointed to go to Lose Angeles and confer with a similar committee there, and with E. G. Potter and A. H. Butler, the steam ship men who propose to organize a company to operate a transpacific line from this port. The San Diego com mittee consists of President Philip Morse of the chamber of commerce, J. E. Fishburn, president of the merchants and manufacturers' association; G. H, Ballcu and John H. Gay, jr. A. AND P. INSPECTION. PHOENIX, Ariz., Dec. 4.—D. B. Rob inson, president of the St. Louis and San Francisco railroad, will arrive in rhoenix tomorrow with a large party of eastern railroad men. Tlie trip is under stood tv be an official inspection of the Atlantic and Pacific and its connecting; southwestern lines. The A. and P. dur ing the past two months has come into the hands of the main stockholders of the 'Frisco road. The line from Albu querque has been leased temporarily to the Santa Fe, but if the trustees' sale of the road, which is to take place in Cool idge, N. M., January 17th.goes favorably for 'Frisco Interests the line will be at once extended from Sepulpa, Indian ter ritory, west to Albuquerque, giving the Frisco line control of the Santa Fe line to the Pacific Coast. REPORT WILL BE MADE SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 4.—United States Circuit Judge McKenna, on mo tion of Assistant United States District Attorney Samuel Knight, dismissed tarn