The diamond drill., April 30, 1898, Image 3

About The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996

Image provided by: Central Michigan University, Clark Historical Library

                
FIND A HEADY SALE.
Ihvr Tariff Law Stimulates Our
ExpGrt Trade.
jTle Old Worltl AVIIIintr to Take
YaM Quantities nt I'rlcea Initial
to Tlietac l'ald la This
Coanlr)',
LouU Halle is beck from England with
JJl.O'JO.WO worth of orders for American
jnaelc goods us a result of ten weeks'
work. He says that the selling of Yan
kee products in the mother country is
ns eusy u.h the showing of the goods,
ind that the prices current in the
United States arc from 10 to 15 per cent,
lower than in England, despite the fact
that American wages are much higher.
"It seems to me that one of the main
reasons for the improvement in the
times is due to the vast increase of im
portations," Kuid Mr. Halle. "I was
liniazcd at t lie success I hail in belling
poods made in Chicago and the east.
The English ure crazy after our wares.
The manufacturers there are quickly
learning they cannot compete with
United States shops. We can undersell
them on the very things they have been
shipping h"re for half a century. The
Jnglisli buyers Insist on having Amer
ican goods, and there are many signs
that the I'nited States is rapidly becom
ing master of the world in matters of
Commerce. This is the reason for much
of the foreign legislation which is
aimed against American industry and
3 in port at ions from America.
"This demand for American goods is
3iot confined to any one line. My orders
embrace at least a dozen varieties and
include leather goods, carriages and
wagons, hardware, brassbedsteads, f ur
Tiiture, essential oils, iron and brass riv
ets and buttons, and canned fruits.
The exjM)rtatiou business of this coun
try Is only in its Infancy, and the tide of
Kales nbroad has just set in. This is to
be the salvation of the countrj'. We
Lave been manufacturing more tliau we
could consume. The creation of n great
outlet into England and the continent
"Will open all the mills and put all the
idle at work.
"England Is looking more and more
to America for its largest supplies in
food products. I am planning to ship a
load of fresh fruit next month the
first consignment of the kind tei Liv
erpool. The ship will b loaded with
bananas, oranges, pineapples and the
like. I visited Manchester, Liverpool,
Birmingham, 'tilasgow and other ports
of importance, ami I want to tell the
manufacturers of the United Statesthat
all they have to do to well their goods
ion the other side is to show them.
They can get the same prices that they
lo at home and still beat the. English
competitors by a good margin. The
same feeling concerning American
g-ood.s is spreading through Paris and
France. We can beat them in the cost
jriee Wcausc we have, the best ma
chinery on the. globe and our labor is
r.iore intelligent and works underhigh
er inspiration. The bulk of the exporta
tion orders which I brought home will
be rilled right here In Chicago."
THE ANTI-TRUST LAW.
It Mmitlft it nn I'mliirlnir Monument
of II eputtl Ion n l.ouUla t Ion An
Important Decision.
An important decision has been made
"by the United States circuit court of
appeals for the Sixth circuit, applying
the broad interpretation of the anti
trust net of ls'jo, which interpretation
was established by the United States
supreme court last year in the trans
itu sou ri case. The court hold that
contracts as mil as combinations in re
straint of trade are forbidden by the act
of If-Hf).
Heretofore only combinations for the
regulation of trnfiic or of trade have
"been brought to the nttenliou e;f t In
courts. Tin court now holds that con
tracts' which were in unreasonable re
straint of trad' were at common law
not unlawful, in the sense- of being
criminal, but wire simply voiel and
were not enforceable by the courts be
fore the passage of the federal anti
trust law. The c licet of the act of iS'.to
Mas to render such contracts unlawful
in ini niVinnative or positive sense, to
make them punishable as a misde
meanor and to create a right, of civil
action for damages.
Every case which is brought before
the circuit court or the appellate courts
of the I'nited States, on complaint of
violation of the federal law of IS'.iO,
must, of course, !)( adjudicated upon its
own merit"'. Hut the rulings of these
courts seem to be gradually growing
broader, and they now appear to pro
hibit nery conceivable form of contract
which can be construed a j a lolation of
the Anti-trust law of ISOrt.
This act is now found to be even more
comprehensive in Its provisions, under
the Interpretation of the supreme court
decision, than was probably contem
plated by its author, Senator, now Sec
retary Shermrn. It stands as on en
during monument of republican legis
lation; It has withstood the ordeal of
examination by the highest. court in the
land, and it can be cited as evidence of
the attitude of the republican' party re
garding trusts.
Alllternllte and Olijnricatorr.
The "dead and damned Wilson bill"
5s the alliterative and objurgatory man
lier in which the St. Louis Star-Say
Ings alludes to a law that was chiefly
Xio'.able for its fecundity In respect of
Import?, deficits and bond issues. As a
tariff measure this law was in other rc
apects quite rotable. It secured the ad
miring regard of all foreign countries
and the commercial wreck of It own
country In about equal proportions. In
many ways- It wos a remarkable law.
jS'ot the least among its peculiarities
v;is the fact that It was, o far as the
people of the United States were con
cerned, quite generally damned before
tt was dead.
LACK kHCOURAGEMENT.
What tlie Dimcultr la with Afneil.
ran Milnplnic Fi-rlght Hates
and Subtllea.
A writer in the Nineteenth Century
complains of the Germans that by sub
sidizing' the North German Lloyds they
have made it possible for that steam
ship company to cut the rates on East
Indian freight in two, and to reduce
the passenger rates nearly as much.
He also wails that the German manu
factures ure sold at til Knit half the rates
of English goods. Of course he claims
that the German goods are poorer than
the English, and intimates that if the
subsidy to the North German Lloyds
was withdrawn the line would have to
go out of business.
This is very good considering the Im
mense subsidy the Peninsular and Ori
ental line has been receiving from Eng
land since 1837. Germany understand
this fully, and has decided to increase
her subsidy rather than withdraw it.
Experience has proved that this sub
tidy Increases German trade. The gen
eral public has cheaper communication
and cheaper freights. All the world
gains through the payment of the (Her
man subsidy except J.ritish interests.
In railroad transportation, whether
we take for our standard speed, luxury
or cost to the public, this country Is
ahead of all the rest of the world. The
machinery of our railroads has been pro
tected by our tariff, the roads' them
selves have, until the Canadian Pacific
wns built, been protected by position,
and we have nearly half the railroad
mileage of the w orld.
Our oversea shipping has been unpro
tected and unsubsidized, while the sub
jidies to Hritish ships have averaged
if.l.OOO a day. The result Is that Great
Hritain has over half the shjpplng of the
world, and they never reduce freight or
passenger rates on sea ony more linn
they have their railway rates on land.
Mr. Ackworth, the great English ex
pert, says In a late letter to the London
Times:
"In the last .10 years our English
methods of operation have remained
practically stationary, and our English
railway rates have fallen so little that
the outside public doubts whether they
have fallen at all. During the same
period the average receipts of the Penn
sylvania (railroad) have fallen from
Id. per 1on per mile to only a fraction
over Vid."
And the result Is that when they want
either good locomotives or locomotives
in a hurry, they come to this country
for them.
Whatever our fierce nnglomaniacs
may make, the whole world, as well as
this country, loses by the lack of en
couragement which keeps us off the.
sea.
TRUE STATESMANSHIP.
The American People Have a 1'remt
dent of. Whom Thejr May
Well He l'roud.
GOOD LUCK AND MANAGEMENT.
Wliereliy America Trnile llnlnnoe
for 1M7 Is Nearly jt IOO,oM),oM
An Knifllali Complaint.
The fact that Great Hritain's foreign
trade for 1S'.7 shows an increase of but
0.51 per cent., as against an increase of
7.39 in lS'll, G.CG in 1 '.).". and 5. .10 in IS'jC,
impresses the London Economist as a
very unfavorable showing. It is unite
of expansion less than the growth of
population in the United Kingdom. On
this subject the Economist remarks:
"Hut the causes of the comparative unex
panpivenoss of our foreign trade last year
are not far to seek. For one thlritf, many
of our best customers were stifferinK from
barl harvests, ami were consequently un
able to buy from us us much as they other
wlse would have done. It Is true that this
worked to the advantage of the United
Slates, where abundant crops were reaped,
which, owing to the Hearelly elsewhere, !t
was euay to el peso of at relatively hlRh
price s. Hut there w.i.h no eorrcupondlntf In
creao in the imports of foreign products
by the states, because of tho prohibitive
effec t of the new Dinley tariff, and our
trade, consequently, did not obtain In that
elin t-tion any apprr luble e oinpi iis.i Hon for
the cunt racttun in othe r eium tern."
From the Eritish view point this is a
saei state of things which would not
hae -isted, but lor the Dinglcy law.
I'mler the Wilson-Gorman law the case
would have been altogether diiicrent.
Then the United Slate s, being exce p
tionally f.ivorcd in an alninelanee ejf
crops which. were marketable nbroad
at unusually good prices, woulel lmtu
frittered away its advantage by spend
ing all the surplus money in the pur
chase ef foreign goods, and the traele
which Great Hritain lost in conse
quence of bad harvests in other parts
ef the world woulel have bee n made
goed by larger purchase's by the I'nited
States.
It was not so under the Dinglcy law.
As the result of that eminently sound
enactment the I'nited States was abb;
to expand its foreign traele' by an enor
mous increase in exports, while at the
same time' diminishing its imports in nn
almost equal ratie, so that our favor
able trade balance for the seven months
cmling January 'Jl was about $.'177,000,
0(10. Americans will be unable to share
the sorrowful regrets of the London
Economist in this eemnectiem. They
are rather disposed to congratulate
themselves upon n commercial comli
tion which is the result of good luck
and goexl management In about equal
proportions.
I.ocemtotlve for lnrope.
The Ha Id win loeoumtive works, of
Philalelphia,haveju.it receiveel an order
from Eirypt for 1.1 heavy locomotives.
It Is noticeable that the Egyptian state
railway is under Hritlsh control, butour
locomotives are not only superior In and
cheaper than those built in England,
but our builders' can furnish them on
shorter notice. The free traele plan was
to have all such things as locomotives
built in England, but our oliey of prev
tretion has changed all that, to the
great advantage of locomotive users.
The president of the United State
doeu not represent nor exercise the full
power of the government of the United
States. Vet this opinion is entertained
by many persons who should know bet
ter, and the president is sharply criti
cised because ho has not plunged th'e
country into war.
Even if he possessed the power to de
clare war, which he does not, he might
well hesitate to take that step. War
always is terrible, but with modem en
gines it is appalling. Who can predict
what would follow an encounter be
tween the cruisers New York and Viz
caya? How many of the crew of either
would survive? Would either ship sur
vive the battle? In such war as will be
conducted hereafter, for what will Indi
vidual valor count? Merciless engines
dexterously and promptly operated will
decide lights and the fate of nations.
Therefere, even though Mr. MeKin
ley possessed the power to declare war,
he might well hesitate before taking
the final step, lint he does not possess
that power, and In calling upon cen
gress to net he brings the country to a
realizing sense of the fact that the ex
ecutive is but a coordinate branch of the
government.
The encroachment of the executive
upon the legislative branch of the gov
ernment constantly practiced during
the administration of Grover Cleveland
caused a large portion of the American
people to lose sight of the constitution
al prerogatives of the legislative
branch, which in some respects arc su
perior ami greater than those of the ex
ecutive. Mr. CItveland derided that
branch ami sought In many ways to
bring it into disrepute. Mr. McKInley,
a trained nnd experienced statesman,
who has studied the constitution of his
country with care and Intelligence, de
fers to the legislative branch of the gov
ernment. lie has written a message which will
be read with admiration and approval
by all generations to come that uphold
nnd support republican Institutions.
He has brought the country back to
Its moorings. lit-, moves In accordance
with the constitution he has sworn to
support. lie has prodneeel n document
which may be criticised to-day by
many who have been leel astray by the
usurpations of a democratic executive,
or by emotional Impulse in plunge into
war, regardless of what may follow, but
that same document will be regardeel
hereafter ns one of the wisest of Amer
ican state papers.
The American people have on execu
tive of whom they should be proud.
This Is recognized by his political op
ponents, even if it cannot be seen by all
who once called themselves his friends.
Rome one Is reported to have said to
Kiehard Crokcr the other day that "un
less McKInley does so and so he will
lose the support of the republican par
ty." Thereupon Mr. Crokcr replied that
the republican party cannot make any
issue with McKInley. for he Is to-day
really stronger than his party, ond he
so thoroughly represents the American
people that if he were deserted by his
party he could be elected as a candi
date standing upon the issue which he
now represents.
This embodies sound Judgment, os
events will prove. Albany Journal.
PRESS OPINIONS.
TO INVADE CUBA.
rrepuratlona lie Inv Made, to Lajnd
Illtf Force of I'nited
States Troops.
Tally One!
The customs receipts for the last
month were larger than for any Febru
ary since President Cbvelanel war. in
augurated. Tally one for the Dinglcy
law. Scranton Ilepubllcan.
CThc people of the United States
certainly displayed their w isdom when
In 1S'.)G a republican presielcnt was elect
ed. Albany Journal.
?Thcre is rrnson to fear that Mr.
P.ryan will Ioek upon the talk about
Gen. l'it.hugh Lee as a candidate for
the presiileney in 11)00 as only a revival
of the rebellion of IfcGl on a new line
Chicago Tribune.
C VJhn'S Mr. Jiryan really think the
people of this country are deeply inter
ested in the question of bimetallism
just nt present, or is he just sitting up
with the corpse out of respect fer tho
memory of the ile e e-ased ? Hostoti ller
uld. f'.Mr. Eryan is beginning te compre
hend that he will not be nominated by
ae'clamation in HUH). The enemy's coun
try is after him, and perhaps his his
tory will he finished two years from
now with the femtliote that he "also
ran." St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
BPresident McKInley need not ex
pect exemption from criticism. Which
ever conric he fedlems the jackals of
so-called public opinion will follow nt
his heels. That is inevitable. Hut the
president is u patriot and a Christian.
Let the cowards insinuate and the jack
als bark. Iowa State L'egister.
CIn view of the way President Mc
KInley is acting just now, our convic
tion is that very few of those peopleout
side the republican party who voted for
Mr. McKInley are disposed to regret
their action. We hue no doubt that the
pevscssion of the presUlency would
have sobered and steadied Mr. I'ryan
to a considerable degree, but, in the
face of what has occurred since the elet
Mem, we are inclined to believe that
there are a good many who voteel for
him and yet congratulate themselves
that the country did not take the risk
of his election. Huston Herahl (Ind.).
Throughout all this excitement
the coolest and the busiest head in the
country has been the president's. With
n full knowledge of the country's needs
ami knowing from actual experience
what war means he lifts endcavorcel to
prevent premature action and to secure
time for putting the country on a war
footing. The same clamor that has been
raised against him in some quarter
was raised ogalnst Lincoln in t lie early
days of the rebellion. In the present
crisis it reepiires greater moral courage
to take the stand that the president has
taken than it would to bow to the senti
ment of the radical clement nnd adopt
a policy that his knowledge of the situ
ation ond his own good Judgment tell
him is an unwise one- Albany JaurnaL
Washington, April 27. Gen. Miles
will leave Washington on Thursday.
The first important lauding on Cuban
soil will be made early next week. The
attack is planned for two grand di
visions. Gen. Merritt will be in com
mand of the first of these columns, not
withstanding reports to the contrary.
With the second column Gen. Miles will
go. He cannot lead the first, because
he is in command of the entire army,
much of which will be unorganized
when the first column lands. Hefore
he goes to Cuba he will Inspect the four
Important military stations Chicka
mauga. New Orleans, Mobile and
Tampa bay. The embarkation will be
made from the last named point be
cause of the scarcity of gooel water at
Kej' West.
Kingston, Jamaica, April 27. Gen.
Garcia, commanding the Cuban forces
In the eastern end of the Island, Is now
In full possession of rtie United State
military plan of campaign. He re
ceived his Information from Lieut.
Itowan.of the Nineteenth Infantry, who
has succeeded in landing on the coast
of Cuba and reaching the insurgent
forces.
Lieut. Howan was ordered by the
secret service bureau to go on a secret
mission in behalf of the war dejwrt
ment. It was at first thought that his
destination was Puerto Rico. Then
definite orelers were Issued for him to
proceed to Jamaica, and thence cross to
Cuba ami endeavor to reach Gen. Calix
to Garcia's camp, to communicate to the
general the plans of the Uniteel States
government.
lie was also to ask the rebel leader
to make arrangements for effecting a
Junction of the Insurgents in south
eastern Cuba with a probable American
expedition. Lieut. Howan was told to
obtain information of the character of
the country and to make maps and
plans for the use of the information
bureau as soon as he made a landing.
He sailed for Jamaica April 9 by the
Atlas steamer, and reached Kingston
April 15. He put himself at once in
cbmmunlcation with Mr. Dent, the
United States consul here, and per
fecteel his plans to cross over the line.
As he went to eastern Cuba, it is in
ferred that a blow will be struck there
before one is struck at Puerto Hlco.
With him he took an oftlclal Spanish
map of eastern Cuba, with emendations
made by the war department hydro
graph ers. It is expected that Gen.
Garcia will cover a landing of the
United States troops.
Washington, April 27. Conditions in
Washington are rapidly settling down
to those of actual war. Notices came to
the state department from the four
quarters of the globe Tuesday showing
that the nations as a rule arc prepared
to assume an attitude of strict neu
trality as between the United States
and Spain in the present struggle. In
most cases they were in answer to the
identical note sent out Monday by the
state department to all United States
embassies and legations instructing
them to inform the governments to
which they were accredited that war
lms existed since April 21.
Great Hritain always has taken an ad
vance stand in the principles of neu
trality, so that it was with great in
terest that the news was receiveel here
of the terms of the neutrality procla
mation issued in London. On the whole
ollieials are disposed to take the view
thut the strict aelherence by Great Hrit
ain to these rule? will be rather more
advantageous to the United States than
to Spain, particularly ns we now are
operating in the na a! sense close to oifr
ow n base of supplies nnel in all proba
bility seion will cut Spain off from the
two baes that sh- now has In the neigh
borhood of Cuba.
The preshlent issued a proclamation
during the I a y laying down rules ns to
the seizure of prizes nnd the result.it
is believed, will be t lie rele ase of some
of the ships already wptureel, though it
w ill be fer the pri.c courts to de'termine
in each case w lie-ther the conditions un
der which the ship was captured arc
such as to warrant release'. The im
pression prevails that the Huena Ven
tura, the first on the1 list of prizes, will
be declared no prize. The case of the
Panama, whose seizure was reported
Tuc?elay, is more complicated, owing to
the fact that, while otherwise exempt,
the ship w as reported to have contained
Kiipplics for the Sp.rnish army In Cuba,
which are contraband. However, it
may be saiel that wlrile the settlement
ef these questions' will be left to the
courts, the administration believes the
greatest liberality should be shown in
the application of the laws where a ve
M'l is not ceuitrabaud or attempting to
run the blockade.
It is noted aUo that the administra
tion has not been deterred by any ciitl
cism in congress from again formally
pledging itself to the nations of the
world to refrain from privateering and
abide by the declaration of Paris of
1S5G.
Se far as Is known all the United
States consuls have made their way
safely out of Spall Consul Fay, nt
I'ttuia, has reported to the department
from Lisbon; Consul Ilowen, at Harcc
bma, from Paris, and Consul Carrol, at
Cadi, nnd Consul Hartelam, at Malaga,
from Gibraltar. The department has
assured itself that the others are safe.
liar He ke Heal riuMlnir.
lionelon, April 27. The Washington
correspondent of the Dally News fays:
President McKlnluy thinks Cuba can be
reduced by hunger, w hen ; the powers
will intervene to compel Spain torreog
nlre the loss of the Island nnd to aban
don the war. There is a growing lin
pTesslem that there will be no real fight
ing, especially since the Spanish fleet
seems disposed to remain on the
European side of the Atlantic.
lit llenomlnateil.
Freepoxt, 111., April 27. Kobert 1L
Hltt his been renominated for congresa
by acclamation.
A ROYAL DECREE.
fly It Spain Itecocalses Existence af
War with I'nited StalesTreaties
Arc Declared Void.
Madrid, April 23. The Spanish gov
ernment has formally recognized the
state of war that exists between Spain
and the United States. A royal decree
was gazetted here Sunday announcing
that diplomatic relations between the
two nations had been broken off and a
state of war begun. The decree is as
follows:
"Diplomatic relations ara broken off be
tween Fpaln and the t'nlteel States, and
the state of war having begun between the
two countries, numerous questions of Inter
national law arise which must be pre
cisely defined chiefly because the Injustice
and provocation come from our adver
saries, and It Is they who. by their de
teatablo conduct, have caused this grave
conflict.
"We have observed with strictest fidelity
the principles of International law and
have shown the most scrupulous respect
for morality and the right of government.
There Is an opinion that the fact that we
have not adhered to tho declaration of
Paris docs not exempt us from the duty of
respecting the principles therein enunci
ated. Tho principle Spain uneiucstlonaMy
refused to admit then was the abolition of
privateering. The government now con
siders it most Indispensable to muke abso
lute reserve on thla point In order to main
tain our liberty of action and uncontested
rljmt to have recourse to privateering
when we consider It expedient, tlrst by or
ganizing immediately a forco of cruisers
auxiliary to the navy, which will be com
posed of vessels of our mercantile marine
and with e-iiual distinction In the work of
our navy."
Following Is a summary of the more Im
portant of the live clauses outlining the
rules Spain will observe during the war:
"Clause 1. The state of war existing be
tween Spain and the United States annuls
the treaty of peace and amity of October
27. 17.C, and the protocol of January 12,
1877, and all other agreements, treaties or
conventions In forco betwe-vn the two coun
tries. "Clause 2. From the publication of these
presents 30 tTays are granted to all ships
of the United States anchored In our har
bors to take their departure free of hin
drance. "Clause 3. Notwithstanding that Spain
has not adhered to the declaration of Parts,
the government, respecting the principles
of the law of nations, proposes to observe,
and hereby orders to be observed, tho fol
lowing regulations of maritime law;
"1. Neutral flags cover tho enemy's mer
chandise except contraband of war.
"2. Neutral merchandise, except contra
band of war, is not eelzable under the ene
my's flag.
"3. A blockade to be obligatory must be
effective viz.: It muat be maintained with
sufficient force to prevent access to the
enemy's littoral.
"i. The Spanish government, upholding
Its right to grant letters of marque, will
at present confine Itself to organizing, with
the vessels of the mercantile marine, a
force of auxiliary erulsera which will co
operate with the navy according to the
needs of the campaign and will be under
naval control.
"6. In order to capture the enemy's ships
and confiscate the enemy's merchandise
and contraband of war, under whatever
form, the auxiliary cruisers will exercise
the right of search on the high seas and In
the waters under the enemy's Jurisdiction,
In accordance with International law and
tho regulations which will be published.
"6. Defines what is included In contra
band of war, naming weapems, ammuni
tion, equipments, engines, and, in general,
all the appliances used In war.
7. To be! regarded and Judged as pirates
with all the rigor of tho luw are captAlna,
masters, ofllcers and two-thirds of the
crews of vessels which, not being Ameri
can, hall commit act of war against
Spain, even If provided with letters of
marque issued by the United States."
JOHN SHERMAN RESIGNS.
Venerable Secretary of State Steps
Out of Cabinet After l.onic
l'ublla Service.
POWDER WORKS BLOWN UP.
Seven Lives Known to Have Ileen
Luit br Citilutluii of a I'lanf
at tiauta. Crus, t'al.
Washington, April 20. Another res
ignation from the cabinet occurred
Monday, w hen the venerable secretary
of state, Mr. John Sherman, handed hi
Y
HON. JOHN SHERMAN.
resignation to the president. Mr. Sher
man retires from public life after a
service of over 40 years, embracing the
house of representatives, the United
.States senate, the secretaryship of the
treasury ami the secretaryship of state.
The reason for the resignation Is the
condition of the secretary's health,
which Is oonv impaired as the result of
years of devotion to the public serv
ice and tlhe arduous lalors of a life
time, added to age, the venerable sec
retary now being within a few days of
73 years of nge.
Canton, ()., April 2o. William 11. Day
came to Canton Monday ns assistant
secretory of state. He Is-now secretary
of state, by action of the president, and
will accept the place tendered him.
May Tight nt Manilla.
Hong Kong, April 20. The Ameri
can squadron is speeding on Its way to
the Philippines and should be almost
half way there. A big fcjrtnlsh fleet
is waiting for Admiral Dewey's ships,
expecting and looking forward to a
fbght.
liat Overboard.
l'hilndvlphia, April 25. The ltritisfo
hlp Alghburth, Capt, John Jones,
which arrived, here Sunday evening
from Java, reports having lost over
boarel Chief Ollicer Uvan Richards and
John Miller, a seaman, during a ty
phoon in the Indian ocean on Decem
ber 7.
lilt: Shipment nt I'tmeler.
Santa Cruz, Cnl., April 25. The pov
der works here shipped east Sunday
night IDO.nnf) pounds of brown powder.
The consignment will be rushed
through, the runtoChlcngobelnjj made
in 03 hours.
Santa Cruz, Cal., April 27. Three ex
plosions about 2:15 Tuesday afternoon
at the California powder works caused
a greater loss of life than any of the
previous accident in the history of
these works. The wildest rumors are
prevalent regarding the number of
killed and injured, the exact number
of which cannot be ascertained now.
It is known that seven were killed and
four seriously injured.
The first heavy shock from the explo
sion was felt for many miles around
and was separately followed by two
lighter shocks. The smoke from the
works arose in such dense volume that
it was impossible for a time to perceive
the extent of the damage that had been
caused by the explosion. It was said
that the fire was spreading and tho
main magazine was in imminent dan
ger. Xot only the smokeless powder plant,
but the nitroglycerin and gun cotton,
works were destroyed. The force of
the explosion was so great that tho
shingles from the roofs of buildings
were blown Into Santa Cruz, over two
miles away. The worst feature of tho
disaster is that this was one of two
smokeless powder works in the country
and the government is anxious to get nil
of this powder possible. Only last
week a big shipment of 100 tons was
made to the east. It will take several
months to rebulhl the works.
The explosion was followed by Are,
which spread to the surrounding shrub
bery and timber on the hillside.
force of 100 employes was immediately
called out to fight the fire, which waa
extinguished. The part of the works
destroyed was situated on the opposite
side of San Lorenzo river from the main
plant. No powder, except that in proc
ess of making, is known to have been
destroyed. There was probably about
COO pounds of that in the buildings.
No doubt is entertained among tho
ofllcials of the works that the explosion
was due to an accident. Extraordinary
precaution had been taken to prevent
treachery, and no well-informed man
entertains the opinion that the accident
was the work of a Spanish spy, as waa
at first suggested. It is not thought tho
explosion will interfere with the manu
facture of smokeless powder for tho
government
While it is said there is no reason to
believe that a SpanlsJi spy had anything
to do with the fire and explosion, it is
significant that precautions were im
mediately taken to guard the powder
works at Point Pinole, across the bay
from San Francisco.
The Santa Cruz powder works arc tho
largest In this country next to the big
Dupont factories, and the largest by far
for the manufacture of the brown pris
matic powder for coast-defense gun
and the smokeless for the guns on tho
warships. Since the war scare began
such heavy orders have been receiveel
from the government for both theso
powders that the works have been more
than crowded. The works were estab
lished In 1861 on the present site, on tho
line of the South Pacific Coast railroad.
They comprise 21 powder mills, ten
shops, six magazines and stores and
35 other buildings.
ANSWER THE CALL.
Patriots from ISvery State Hespontt
to the I'resltlent'a llequeat
fur Volunteers.
Washington, April 27. At the close of
oflice hours Monday Adjt. (Sen. Corbln
had received dispatches from the gov
ernor ef nearly every state and terri
tory In response to Secretary Alger'a
call for information as to the tretopa
the states and territories will be ex
pecteel to furnish under the president's
call for 125,000 men. The tenor of
these replies shows there is no mistak
ing the patriotism of the pcep!c ef this
country in the present emergency. On
every hand there was expressed a will
ingness tei come te the government's
rhl and the ofTers were In excess of the
present demands. The body of the tele
grams was made up for the greater part
of an enumeration of what the national
guard had on hand, and for this reason
the reports of the governors were not
made public.
llecruiting for the regular army un
der the Hull army reorganization will
be begun at once. A circular has been
prepared giving direction for this werk,
nnel this will be issued probably to-day.
The recruiting will be carrieel on In tho
regiments where they are now located
by regimental recruiting boards nnd nt
the various army pests throughout tho
country.
TRAINS COLlTdE.
One llniclnrrr Killed nnel Two Others
Hurt by n Hallway DUaater Near
I'onel tin I.ac, VU,
Milwaukee, April 27. A special to
the 1'vening Wisconsin from Fond dm
Lac, Wis., says: A special double
header freight train and the (Ireen Hay
pasAtnger train collided on n bridge
half a mile north nt here Tuesday. Kn
glncer Dola:i, eif the first freight engine,
was killed, and Fnglreer Nelson, of the
second engine, w- badly hurt. Pas
senger Engineer Acl.rrr.ian was badly
bruised. Firemen escaped by Jumping
In the river. No passengers were in
jured. An Alliance 1'rolialtle.
I'.crlln, April 27. The New York cor
respondent of the Cologne Oazetto
cables his paper that he learns from
"an especially trustworthy source,"
that agreements already exist between
the Uniteel States and (Ireat Hritain
which, If the present Ilrltlsh cabinet
continues In office, must lead, In the fur
ther court-e of events, to an alliance.H
Vt I lTM eet In St. 1'a u I.
Chicago, April 27. An Invitation to
hold the next national W. C. T. U. con
vention in St. Paul was accepted Tues
day. The dates of the convention a to,
November 11 to IS.