THE COLUMBIAN, BLOOMSBURQ. PA THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK l'ltI.OOJISJJUUG, lA. THE OLDEST AND STRONGEST. Capital $100,000 With tlif T.iro-pst ("mit.il Strong Directorate, Competent Officers and Every Mod ern Facility, we solicit Accounts, Large or Small, and Collections' on the Most Liberal Terms Consistent with Sound Ranking, and Invite YOU to inspect our NEW QUARTERS. 3 Per Cent. Interest OFFICERS! E. W.M. Low, President. James M.Staver, Vieel'resident , DIRECTORS: fames M. Staver, Fred I keler, M. C. Creasy. Clinton Herring, E. W.M.Low, F. O. Yorks, Ijoui? Gross, M. E.Stackhouae. THE COLUMBIAN. ESTABLISHED 1866. THE COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT, KSTABLISIIKD 1S37. CONSOLIDATED 1869 PUIU.ISIIF.0 EVERY TlllTRSIlAY MORNINCJ, At Bloomslmrg, the County Seat ot Columbia County .Pennsylvania. GEO. E. ETAVELL, Editor. GEO. C. ROAN. Foreman. Terms: Insidt the county $ t.oc a year la advance; $ 1 . 50 i f not paid in advance. Outsidethecounty, tl.2S year, strictly in kdvv ce. AT communications should beaddressed THE COLUMBIAN, MoomsburR, Ta. THURSDAY, DECEMBERS. 1M0 GREAT NATIONAL PROBLEM. One need not share J. J. Hill's gloomy view that "high cost of living is the beginning of every na tional decilne" to agree with him that it is now and here in America a great and grave national issue. There is no question as to the facts. Bradstreet's "index figure" of commodity prices shows an aver age rise of 56 per cent, in thirteen years in the price of the necessaries of life. Rent has in many cases risen in even greater ratio. Wages have generally risen not nearly so much. We must wait for the 1910 cen sus to show how the workingmau now shares in the division of his product, but already in 1909 the wage fund in manufacture was shown to be growing only half as fast as capital and only one-third as fast as miscellaneous expenses. In 1S96 the workingraan, clerk or professional toiler could buy more food, shelter, clothing and other necessities and comforts .vith his wages, salary or fees than at any time since the civil war. Today the man of moderate means can buy less with his income than in 1896. For him the wheels of pro gress have turned backward, and he is deeply dissatisfied. He is ready to wreak political vengeance upon whatever or whoever is re sponsible. What is doing the country this ill turn ? Some say the trusts; it is a coincidence that the tendency began about the time the trusts did. Some say the tariff. Some say the middlemen. Some blame the increased production of gold since the invention of the cyanide process and the end of the Boer war. Some say living costs more because we have reached the end of our free homestead land though Mr. Hill and his railroad friends are right in urging that better farming would double our yearly yield. The cause and cure, whatever they may be, it behooves statesmen and leaders of thought to discover. The conditions of which Mr. Hill speaks, and are known to all men, cannot continue without the most far reaching social consequences and political upheavals in what Americans have long been proud to call the best country on earth for the average man. Altoona Times, - . . The Swedes have a custom at Christmas time of decorating a pet lamb with red ribbons and bells, then loading it with gifts for the family. The lamb is turned loose iu the house, and each person at tempts to catch it and find his or her gift. Fur News. This is akin to the custom which prevails every week-day in the year in Wall street. One Dose for Coishs Children cougli at night? Give the:n Ayer's Cherry Pec toral. Often a single dose at bedtime will completely control the cough. Good for any one with a cold or cough. Good for easy cases, hard cases; good for acute cases, chronic cases. Ask vmir Anrtnv tr tu . . - - , , - v iku juu, tiuiivsiiy unit frankly just what he thinks of this old standard remedy. No alcohol in this cough medicine. jrc.Aye,Co.,Loweimai;. iu; i.ver manes a lazy uoy. An active brain demands an active liver. No better laxative for bovs and aids than Avert Pills. Ask your doctor about them, lie know.! a I 1: . . Surplus $160,000. and Rtirnlus in the Countv. .1 Paid on Time Deposits Mr rnn T. Tow. Vice I'itmIiIciiI. Frank Ikeler, Cnshirr Myron T. Low H. V.l lower, Frank Ikeler. THE COAL TRADE. The Prospects Are Bright for a Pros perous Year. Anthracite is in full demand, without question as to price, which of course is not at full circular. The outlook is for a good winter. Certainly the hard coal market has not been overstocked, tor the monthly tonuage statement shows but a moderate tonnage for the month recently closed. Although the October business in coal shipped from mines was larger t'lon that of any month since. April 1st, the ton nage was by no means a record breaker, and the year's total will be three or four million tons be'ow the early estimates and not much ovor tne tonnage shipped in the year toot. Manifestly the demands of the country in the hard coal line nave not decreased, and the lessen ing tonnage that has sufficed so far this year means that all , accumula tions were used up prior to the commencement ot the present peri od ot restocking, also that ad vance requirements have not yet been met in the usual manner. This means, too. that trade durincr the months cf January, February and juarcn, 1910, will be active, and that the hard coal business during those months will be decidedly above the usual basis In this way the tonnage for the year, April to April, win make a decidedly better showing than the tonnage of the calendar year. With shipments of 36,000,000 tons for the seven months, April to October, inclusive, and shipments of 30,000,000 tons for the five months, November to March, inclusive, there will be total for the coal year of 66,000,000 tons which was the amount estimated as probable shipments in 1909. Coal Trade Journal, Taft Starts On His Message. President Taft has begun to dic tate his first annual message to Congress, and unless something most unexpected interferes it should be ready for the Public Printer by the last of the week. Although it is not known how long this document will be, if it comes up to some of those of Mr. Roose velt, Mr. Taft will be kept busy for the rest of the week dictating it. Even if the message is in the hands of the printer this week it will take several days probably for it to be set, revised and printed, as it will go to Congress and the country at large. Mr. Taft is a rapid worker and so are the men in the Government Printing Office who handle such documents, but it seems improba ble thst it can be finished more than a few days in advance cf the opening of Congress. Editor Tohn E. Barrett of tb Scrautou Truth, has been named acting postmaster of Scranton by the bondsmen of the late Postmast er Ii. H. Ripple. Acting Post master Barrett is one of the best known men in Scranton and has a very wide acquaintance throughout the State. He has been editor of "The Truth" since its organization 25 years ago. In 1879-1880 Mr. Barrett served a term in the State Legislature. Since then he has taken no active interest in politics excepting in his capacity as editor. 1 mHiiwKiaaiMi WASHINGTON From our Kegulnr Correspondent. V ashiugton, I). C.Jov. 29, 1909 Now that Thanksgiving is over, but a little more than a week will clapf-e before Congress assembles The city is rapidly filling up with Members ot Congress and the &en ate, their families, secretaries and friuids. The coming session prom ises to be interesting, if not excit mg. The city will, as usual, be rtplete with the many who habit ually spend the season hero and from time to time it will be crowd ed with conventions. A single con vention, that of the Waterway Im provement, is expected here next moutli and it is said that there will be as many as 5,000 delegates Numbers of these will, doubtless, bring their families, and, thus, early in the season the hotels and boarding houses will have a full complement of guests. During the summer season the building, espec ially of apartment houses, has gone on more rapidly in Washington then durirg any previous summer ana many commodious apartment houses have been built, and tluy are no sooner fiuished than they are taken up by the great nuny who have contracted or are learn ing the apartment house habit. Thousands of houses have also been built in blocks, many of them sold. The city is increasing in popula tion and wealth. Doubtless in time it will be equal in splendor to the great capitals of the old world. Palatial houses have been built. others are in the course of con struction. One . of the most con- spicucusof these will be the Frencn Embassy building. It will eclipse in grandeur that of the British Embassy on Connecticut Ave; tie. The latter has been for a long time the most imposing diplomatic resi dence in Washington. The British Government was the first to buy the ground and build a home for its representative at Washington and for a longtime the Br tish Em bassy building was the most com modious of all the diplomatic resi dences. In recent years, however, a dozen or more residences of mil lionaries and multi millionaires have eclipsed in spaciousness and elegance the home of the British Embassy. It has still, however, held the first place in its class. No other foreign tmoassy can compare with it. Now, however, the one planned by the French Govern ment, aud which will he built al most entirely of material brought from France and the French Prov inces, will eclipse in spaciousness and elegance that of Great Britian. The French Embassy building will occupy ground on Twenty-second and Decatur streets It will have a front igo of 3S5 feet 011 one street with a depth of 213 feet and it will be surrounded by landscape gardens such as are peculiar to the more im posing residences of France and es pecially of Paris. It will be remembered that Rep resentative Longworth from Ohio, the son-in-law of Ex-President Roosevelt, duriug the last session presented a bill in the House oi Representatives looking to the pur chase of residences iu foreign capi tal as homes of representatives of this country at foreign courts It is difficult to nuke the average American realize the importance of having our foreign representatives established with dignity and ele gance as to their place of residence abroad. The average foreiguer, even if he is an iutelligent Parisian, Londoner or Berliner, is 0 accus tomed to judging by exterior ap pearances that he is incapable of appreciating or respecting a nation or a people uutil he has been im pressed by a favorable mise-eu-scene. It is just as importaut to the Nation that we shall make a good appearance, or, as the saying is, "put our best foot forward" abroad, as it is to the family that "Johnny shall have his face washed, his hair combed and his shoestrings tied when he is sent to school". Apropos ot foreign mission, the President of tte United States will have to appoint two ambassadors at an early day, one to Great Brit ain aud another to France; and, also, possibly an ambassador to Germany to succeed Mr. Hill who is now visiting in this country aud is being entertained at the various embassies iu Washington. It is not easy to find an ambassador fully qualified for these posts. Thirty or forty years ago the Americans now old enough to be ambassadors were in school It was thought of little importance that they should know any other than the English lan guage. The representative at the Court of St. James can get along very well without a knowledge of French and, although Mr. White-law-Reid was ambassador to France ten years ago and filled that post with credit, it is doubtful if he can FARM CENSUS SCHEDULE. The Most Thorough Ever Compiled by the Department Census Director Durand has rc ceived from Assistant Director Wil Ham F. Willotighby the general schedule for the census of agncul lure. April nth next, which Mr Willotighby, in conjunction with Prof. LeOrand Powers, duct sta tistician for agriculture and the ad visory board of farm economists and other agricultural experts, has been formulating during the sum mer. Director Durand has approv ed the form and subdivision of the inquiries and has ordered nine mil lion copies of the schedule to be printed by the government printing oflice 111 readiness before January first, although they will not be placed in the hands of the 45,000 farm enumerators until the usual time before the enumeration date. It is believed there are nearly seven million separate farms in the United States, each requiring a separate schedule. The schedule is printed on both sides of a single sheet, thir teen inches long and sixteen inches wide, of white writing paper, twen ty-six by thirty-two inches. There is a three-inch wide column of in structions to enumerators on both left sides of the sheet so that it can be cut off after the filled-in sched ule has been returned to the census bureau. This makes the schedule smaller in size and better adapted for handling 111 tabulation than previous schedules. A separate book of instructions to enumerators supplements the schedule informa tion. The nine million copies will consume 4,500 reams of paper, which, counting fifty-two pounds to the ream, w ill make a weight of 234,000 pounds, 'the c.iarge of priuting, including the cost of pa per, will be $13 660. ThcMtchcdule is so standardized that it will feed on the perfecting press used at the government printing oflice, which makes 9.000 revolutions p-r hour and prints four schedules eu.-h rev olution, 01 a product of 56,000 per hour, as against the old flat-bed presses used on the 1900 schedules with a speed of from 1,200 to 1,500 revolutions per hour. It will take about three weeks to print them with the press running sixteen hours a day. He Wouhfn be Mad. When Georgia first became a prohibition State a man with a tlnr- t was made to suffer untold ag onies. Take the matter of drinks on trains, for instance. Not onlv was it against the law tor liauor to be sold in transit f 10:11 one point of Georgia to another, but no passen ger might even oiler a dnuk to another. Once a stranger was travelinc- through Georgia on a train. He entered the dining car, called the negro waiter, and, wit.i guileless innocence, order a highball. He was enlightened. He became re signed. But his request produced an ex traordinary effect. Every passenger who had been seated within hear ing distance of the order at once rose from his seat, vanished for a moment in the dire tiou of hand bags and suitcases, aud reappeared with a bottle. Every known bev erage from port to whiskey, and back again by another route, was represented in that Georgian gal I axy. mere was 1 popping of corks. The stranger licked his lips and sat silent and unhappy. Pres ently a Georgian on the next seat turned to him. griuniug benignly. "Stranger," he remarked, "it's agin the law for me to offer yon a drink, but God knows I wou't quarrel with a man who steals my liquor." speak French half as well as the present French Ambassador, Mr. Jusserand, in Washington, can speak English. Our late ambassa dors to France, Mr. White aud General Porter, both spoke French fluently. A language half acquired after the years 01 maturity can nevjr be spoken with er.se and any one who remembers his difficulty in finding the right wo.d at the right moment in his native tongue can imagine how that difficulty will be increased when the language is other thau his vernacular. There are two prominent men in the pub lic eye lor these foreign mission. One is Mr. John Hays Hammon, and the other is Mr. Seth Low. Both are accomplished gentlemen, both, I believe, are linguists and both are possessed of great wealth, the last of which possessions ap pears to be necessary to our repre sentatives abroad, for the salaries fixed by law, even for our ambassa dors of the first class, are less than those paid by foreign countries to their representatives here and elsewhere. Children Cry FOR FLETCHER'S C ASTORIA THE f. p. pur OPENED IN BARWMC F. P. PySEL, BLOOMSBURQ, PA. An Irresistible Bargain. $1.75 Value for Onlv $1.15. ALL FOR ONLY $1.15 McCALL'S MAGAZINE Is a large, artistic, handsomely illustrated hundred-page monthly magazine. It contains sixty new Fashion Designs in each issue. Every woman needs it for its up-to-date fashions, entertaining stories and complete information on all home and personal topics. Over one million subscrib ers. Acknowledged the best Home and Fashion Magazine. Regular price. 5 cents a copy Worth double. McCall Patterns So simple you cannot mis understand them. Absolute ly accurate. In style, irre proachable. You may select, free, any McCall Pattern you desire from the first number of the magazine which reach es you. Regular price, 15 cents. DON'T THIS EXTRAORDINARY OFFER Call at our office or address yourorder to The Columbian, Bloomsburg, Pa THE BTTTimMfi One Year's Subscription fcr McCall's Magazine Anv 15-Cent McCall Pattern you may select One Year's Subscription for The Columbian. The Columbian is the oldest newspaper in the'eounty. It is not sen sational, and what it prints is reliable, and fit to be read by anybody. Regular price $1.00 per year. MISS
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