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VOLUME XVIII. THE GIRLLESS WOULD COME Automatic Phone Company Inves tigates and May Install Sys tem in Pullman The day of the "line's busy" and of the phone rubberer may be short now for Pullman, and that modern blessing, the "glrlleu" phone, may come to pluck many of the thorns from the flesh of the user of The telephone. A communication was received by' the council Thursday evening from the; general manager of the automatic j phone company asking about conditions j here, preparatory to a request for a j franchise when the system would be installed. The communication explained the many advantages of the automatic, not the least being the fact that your neighbor can not "rubber" and that there is no central to tell you that you'll have to try again, or to connect you up with an undertaking or a blacksmithing establishment when you want your grocer or your dressmaker. The "automatic" idea seemed to strike a responsive chord in the hearts of the councilmen, and the clerk will see that all needed data is placed in the hands of the company. In his letter Mr. Bishop, the man ager, explains that the automatic sys tem is now in successful operation in all the principal larger cities of the west, and in 68 cities in the east. Spokane and Walla Walla have just been'connected up. In explaining the workings of the new system, Mr. Bishop says: "In operating our automatic tele phones, a child can manipulate them very easily. Ist, we have no operators to tell you the line is busy when it is not. 2nd, the number wanted is se cured by bringing the number around to the point, press the button, and you have your party instantly unless the line is busy, which will be indicated by a buzz in the receiver, never mis in forming you. ;Srd, your conversa tion is strictly secret, barring all campers on the line. "I will make the assertion, and feel safe in making same, that I canjand will give you better, cheaper and far more satisfactory service than you are re ceiving at present, with an increiase of 50 to 75 per cent in number of Bub* scribera within a year, with an equal increase in business to your city ren dered from the use of telehones also by emloying men there and patronizing your merchants. "For examle, in Portland we emloy at recent date over 500 men, so you see it means work for your city as well as a revelation in telephony." A PULLMANITE IN MEXICO. An interesting letter has been re ceived from J. W. Steams, formerly oj Pullman but now in Mexico, where he is inspecting lands with the inten tion of purchasing a large tract and locating a 'colony. Mr. Steams in company with a number of well to do Mexicans, recently made a trip to the great grotto in the mountains of Oaxaca. The party set out from Tehuacan November 14 with large bag gage. Attemps have been made before to explore the grotto, but owing to steep preeipes no thorough examina tions had been made. The party was fitted out with rope ladders, whiich aided them materially in their explo rations. The party was under thejdi rection of Padre Cuevas, a Frenchman. From Teotitlan the party went to San Bernadino, passing through a rough country, past giant cactus 60 feet high and later through pine and fir forests. The farms along this portion of the road, he states, are on teep hillsides, where a misstep would mean that the farmer would roll 500 feet down hill. Stops were made along the trail at various little towns, all of which have their peculiar characteristics. At every dace the open handed Mexican §!)e IPmiltMtf lit nil il >^-~^ —^ pj „ -^■"""-rj v . hospitality was offered the travelers. At many of these towns brass bands and men laden with fruit were on hand to extend a welcome. Three padres joined the party. Mr. Steams remarks that there was no lack of padres and little chance in go wrong with them in the party. San Geronimo, a town near the | grotto, was the next, station. Here there were feasts, bands, padrea and identa. When the party lefl the lattter place for the grotto they were accompanied by all the local tit! and a party of 65 sight Beera. [At the mouth of the grotto the party counted aa it entered to guard agalnnt 'the possibility of leaving any behind | in the cave. "The entrance to the grotto waa [like the mouth of a dragon," Baid Mr. j Steams. "Just inside there were the great stalactites hanging from the roof and giant stalagmites rising from the floor, forming great rows of teeth for the great mouth and giving the one who enters the feeling that he was be ing swallowed by this giant monster. "Each of our party had a Mighted candle and when we passed from the light of the entrance it made a made a most weird procession. When we en tered the first great room we saw a most dazzling and bewildering sight. The room was of immense proportions and was studded with crystalized stal actites and stalagmites of the most fnatastic and beautiful designs. Some were of dazzling whiteness and others were dark purple. There were also great columns reaching from floor to roof and as perfectly shaped as though made for a Grecian temple. The floor was a solid mass of beautiful white crystaj. The roof was like the roof of the Mormon Tabernaacle, only very much higher and longer, but it arched in much the same manner. All of the roof was studded with the beautiful stalactites, in many places they formed great clusters like bunches of flowers. "Fro this room we passed through a narrow entrance into another room called the pipe organ room. This im ense room is about 800x1000 feet and perhaps 200 feet high. On one side is a geat white column so fluted that it resembles a pipe organ. A native crawled inside it and when when he struck the pipes they gave forth res onant sounds. Besides the organ is an immense column 50 feet high. Stair were found on the inside leading to the top. This is called the pulpit. In the center of the room is an altar sur rounded by vessels which appear to be very ancient. The place waa evidently once used as a place of worship. On leaving the room we were forced to pass over the face of a cliff 100 feet high which we did by mean of a ropp ladder. "We next entered a chhamber with a liver running through it. Here we found a number of old relics, among them human bones. Other rooms opened out of this. In one we found a pit which appeared to be bottomless. Rocks thrown into it brought back no echo. The room was as beautiful Bfl those we explored previously. We finaly entered a great room, the noor of which sloped down for a distance of 20 nto a huge bowl, the forming an ampi theatre. We sp \ni six hours in the grotto after which we left for refreshments, which were well earned." The balance of Mr. Steams' letter is descriptive of the country and the agricultural conditions. In speaking of the thrift of the natives, Mr. Steams says: "If we were to cultivate Wash ington lands in the same way that these are cultivated and practice the same degree of frugality we could sup port a population of 75,000,000 people. —A severe cold is working a great hardship on Councilman Baker, for that time-tried and fire-test-d remedy in which he is indulging will force him either to unwrap his sock.s from around his neck, or to borrow one from some friend to hang up tomorrow night—we mean the sock, and not the neck, for hanging purposes. PULLMAN, WASHINGTON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1905, CITY TO DISPOSE OF LIGHT PLANT Contract Made With M. J. Shields for Bringing Current to Pullman The long drawn out discussion Ml I agitation <,\ er electric current for HgJlt and power for the city of Pullman has at last reached a Bomewhat definite shape, and the city council Thursday night closed a deal with M. J. Shields, of the Moscow Electric Light and Power Co., whereby the latter is to bring its current to Pullman, and to also purchase the municipal light plant if the voters at a special election au thorize such for sale. Propositions and counter propositions have been made the council till with each new one the question seemed to become more and more complicated, when the council concluded to go into the prop osition making business itself. As a result, a document covering the various phases from the stand point of the city was drawn up and submitted to both the Moscow and the Colfax electric light people, and they were notified that the first one to meet the demands of the town tould have the contract. Immediately upon receipt of his copy of the proposition Mr. Shields came to Pullman and ac cepted the conditions imposed with one or two minor chanes, and the terms of the contract as agreed upon were ratified at the meeting of the council Thursday night. Mr. Shields was present at this meeting, and put up $1000 as a cash bond for the fai.thful performance of his part of the deal] the SIOOO to apply toward the purchase price of the city's plant in case the people ratify the sale proposition. Under the terms of the contract, the company represented!)? Mr. Shields i: to purchase the present system of the city at the price of $6000 cash, and is to have current here for both light and power by July Ist. A twenty four hour service is to be given, and maximum rates, which are considered much better from the citizens stand point, than those now in force, are established. Current for running the city pumping station is to be supplied at a stated rate, which it is estimated will save the city several thou dollars annually. The proposition as accepted by Mr. Shields for the Mos cow people, is as follows : "The city <if Pullman, Ws I -inn, having received propositions from both of you people Codd and McKenzie of jColfax. and Moscow Electric Light and Power Co., of Moscow for the ; furnishing of electric current to the City of Pullman and its inhabitants thereof, would respectfully reject .-aid propositions and in litu thereof by its council and mayor offer the .folio proposition. "That we v\ill grant to the first one accepting '<ur proposition herewith set. forth a franchise on the following terms and conditions: "First—That you will furnish to the city of Pullman and its inhabit ants electric current for light and pow er purposes for 24 noun each day, or | what is called a contiuous cum Sundays, lighting hours only. ''Second-That you will purchase from the city of Pullman, Washington, all poles, wires, transformers and other material that the city now has in use for its distributing system for the sum of $6000 as soon as title to the same is transferred to purchaser* said purchase price to be paid as fol lows: Beginning July Ist, $100 per 1 month until paid. "Third That you will extend the poles and wires of said system to all parts of the city wherever patrons tak ing 15 or more 16 c. p. lamps can be served from one transformer. "Fourth That you will put in meters for each and every customer at a rential of not to exceed l;;> ceni per month t\. each meter, or the r having made a deposit of $1(1 for the return of said meter on cea to Use the same. " Fifth That you will furnish cur rent not to exceed the following prices per k. w. hour: 18 cents for the first 50 k. w. hours. 11 cents for the sec ond BO k. w. hours, and 9 cents for all current over 100 k. w. hours used each month, minimum charge for current on mete basis, $1.26 per month. "Sixth That you will furnish the city of Pullman current to run a motor for the pumping of the city water at the price of one cent per k. w. hour, said current not tobe used fora period of four hours during the time that the peak of the light load is on, except in the case of fire or oilier emergency existing. "Seventh That you will furnish current to the city for the lighting of its Btreeta and city hall for the price of two and one half cents per k. w. hour, you to install and maintain all lights on the .streets and in and around the city hall that tin- city may need or require; provided that you shall not be compelled to put in any street lights in the outlying districts that is a greater distance than 800 feet from any transformer necessary to he put in for residence lighting; provided fur ther that in the case of outlying street lights, incandescent lamps may he at tached to the general circuit and the lights be paid for on the estimated amount of current used for time burned, on the basis of the above price stated. "Eighth That as soon aw you shall accept this proposition, you shall tile with the city clerk of the city of Pullman a bond in the penal sum of $1000 conditioned that you will carry out the provisions of the acceptance of the said franchise on the terms aid condil ion i above named as soon ■■> legal conditions necei sary foi to ent< v into ill | the franchise can he carried • Ninth 'J bat as ii i.-. n for the qualified electon id" tin- city to vop- on tin' sale oi thai the city now has. that this proposition in madi! Bubji ct to tl II of an elecl - ion to I;'- held for that | "Tenth Thai the t< mi of this fran chise to lie granted in accordance with this proposition shall be for the term of twenty years. "Eleventh That the city council > t the city of Pullman at the end ol years may readjust tin' prices that shall In' maximum, provided that the same -nail nol be I a !<■ amount than \'w prices when* named shall bear to the b ea tern Wa h ing ton p | above nameed !>• i o ants at thii i .nil-. "Twelfth That thi hall not be an exclusive one. "Thirteenth Thai in case thi proposition is accepted by the people the Moscow Electric Light and Power Co. agi ■! i'!y pow< r not later than July Ist, '06." BRITT-NELSON PUGILISTIC PICTURE One of the molt interesting branches of motion photography \a the portrayal of pupjili.stic battles, and the advance made in this ilne of art la wonderfully evinced by the Britt-Nelson films, now on exhibition,and conceded by every one o be the best and most, attractive ever shown. The first fight pictures evet displayed, showed a battle between young Gritfo and Walter Campell, and although posed especially for the cam era, were blurred and unsatisfactory. Then the Maher-Chlynskl boul and the great Corbet 111 Immona mill at Canon received the attention of the camera. Marked improvement was noticeable, but the pictures were still far si,en of perfection, rifta of light and shadow marring the effect and fre quently i In at the most excit ing momenta of the mill, The Jeffries-j Shark, y contest was given fairly good picturing, but the same defects were still perceptable. A little over a year the bal tie between Jack Root and George Gardiner, atFortErie, was the subject of motion photography, and the ■ irea then taken freal im provement over the past. It remained for the Britt-Neli on films however} in illustrate the pi rfeelion which could be achieved with the motion cameras. These films were imply su perb clear, bright, every movement and detail faultlessly portrayed. They are not only a Splendid set of pictures, but they mark an epoch in the history of motion photography. Those pictures will be shown at the 'Auditorium on Thursday evening Decemheer 2Sth. NEW MASONIC OFFICERS. Whitman Lodge, No. .i(.t, F. and A. M., has elected and appointed the fol lowing stalT of officers for the ensuing term: Master I.cvi B. Miller. Senior Warden N. E. .1. Gentry. Junior Warden Edgar Harvey. Tn aaurer Jesse W. Burgan. Secretary I). A. MacCracken. Senior Deacon W. M. Prater. .Junior Deacon Ross R. Rupert. Senior Steward A. I). Bautn. Junior Steward S. H. Cameron. Tyler ii. n. Benton. Chaplain Cyrus Spurgeoti. Marshal J. !■'. Baymiller. The installation ceremonies of ih ( , Officers of Whitman Lodge No. 4 Free and Accepted Masona and of Crescent Chapter No. :.:!, Order of the Eastern Star, will take place on Fri day evening, January nth, litOii, in Masonic Temple. Mr. I). S. I'res cott, of Spokane, Grand Lecturer of the Grand Lodge of Washington P. and A. M. will he installing officer. There will he a musical program and light refreshments will he served. All members of the Masonic fraternity and their families and members of the Eastern Star arc cordially invited to alt< ;ni. comic OPERA COMING. The fa cinal in comic ra, '' When Johnny < !omea March ' by Stanislaus Strange and Julian Edward , authors <d' "Dol ly Varden'' and ol h< t highi ly ucce . ful comic operas will be presented at the Auditorium Friday evening, .lanu ary 19th. '! [ • ory oi' the opera haa to do Y. ith Ihe period I now n a i the < 'is-il War and Ihe music i ■■' of the familiar song i of thai i ime, n of which have lived to the pr< time. An exceptionally attractive fea in the di of I he opera is the ■ rhei Is a tnil- ni .I!ing tli" i from 1; nd, '.'.lnch finds expression in tl ory, musii and scpnic W. T. Carleton has ilecti 'I ional i xcellence to t " When Johni i Marching Home," W. I. Carlteon in the till.' role. Youi ' on ia an ideal ' 'Johnny. Mi i chool : - ■ me at Coeur d'Alene, having i her position 1 here udies in the State Normal school at Ellens burg, lire place in the school has not been filled. Bright and frosty weather put a good deal of the spirit of Christmas time in a person, and Santa (,'laus will find the Palouse country up and waiting for his arrival. Mr. and Mrs. J. W. JeSM have gone to Spokane and Meyers Falls, where they will visit with relatives over holidays. — Watler Burns was down from Spokane the t end of the week. NUMBEB 18 MORE ROOM FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL One Department will be Housed in Congregational Church After the Holidays Again has the attendance at the public school outgrown the capacity of the building, and the board has rent ed a room In the < itional church which will be fitted up, and one of the ivy grades will be moved Into it after the holidaj A year ago the attendance having grown till more mom was necessary, the city hall was enagged, and fitted up with Beats, blackboards, and the other paraphernalia <>f the modem school room, and it has since served its purpose admirably, and for a time relieved the stress, but now it has become necessary to engage room in addition to thin. The room that will be furnished for school purposes at the church is that part that is out off from the main part of the building hy the folding doors, and will make a very acceptable school room. Hut new school huild- Ings in the c>ty are an imperative need, and their construction is a problem that is causing a good deal of wear and tear on the gray matter <>f the di rectors. DEATH OF A VETERAN. Monday evening Levi Crawford, veteran of the civil war and pioneer resident of Pullman, succumbed t<> an attack of appoplexy, and a well ipent life was brought to a close when tin; spirit of tlic gray haired old gentle man was taken from iin tenement of clay. Death came ai ■ Hidden ■am* moni, ai Mr. Crawford had not been seriously ill up to a few minutes before hifl death, although ho had suffered a lii t stroke of appoplexy Monday morning. The deceased served in tho war of the rebellion with the I9Brd Ohio infantry regiment. He located in Pullman some fifteen years ago, and was always an honored citizen, Berving one term on the city council, and taking an active intere.it in mu nicipal affairs. Aa R member of Whit man post, C,. A. R, he was a loyal worke t among his comrade-, who mourn the I" of one whom jjal I re« specti d. Be idea hia \ ife, the d leaves three on . Ed. P. and Walter Crawford, of S] - and Gilbert Crawford of this city, and one daught er, Mrs. Whit more of Mo Funeral services were held Wedi day morning, at ten o'clock, from the on Military hill, i onducted by Rev. R. C. Sai or of it" 1 i!hri;>ian church, of which the decea led was a men The remains were followed to the de pot by many . orrovi ing friei v were taken to Moscow for bus ial. 'I he council had a buisj Thursday night, all members being nt except Prii I and \\ hite. Tlw prii cipal matter to h was that of th prop< sition, of which full mention ii made else where. The itreet and highway com wa • orderi d to conti ;ul> the work on north Grand street til! the . lain road connect! with the country road at the city limit-. A petition, signed by various ladies on Mechanici hill, was read, protesting a^aii conditions of a street ing at the Northern Pacific ti [t being charged that the mod was "ankle deep" on the crossid^. The city marshal will investigate the depth of mud, the petition being re ferred to him with ''power to act". Win. Irwin, the well known farmer near town, bfl gone to his old home at G< mm, N.Y., for a month's visit, it being his first trip th?re for (i wars. Hvre's hoping he'll have 'In- pleasant time he deserve-. "Dodd" lay lor was in the city from Spokane Tuesday.