AN EVIL IN FOOD THE SHOULD REACH. In reference to the use of alum bak ing powders Prof. Schweitzer, of the State University of Missouri, says: "The deleterious effects of alum anc the soluble salts of alumina upon the human system, even •when used in small quantities, are too well knows to need relating; their use in baking powder is dangerous, and should be re stricted." The effce:ts of the continuous use oi alum baking powders are thussummec up in a medical publication: "Alum taken into the stomach re tards the digestion of the> food. "It is an irritant which inflames and irritates the stomach and intestinal ca nal. "It is an astringent and tends to con stipate the bowels, which interferes with digestion. "It renders the albumen of the fooe: partially insoluble, and therefore takef away fre>m its nutritive value. "It is absorbed into the blood, whict it tends to thicken and coagulate. The free flow of the blood through the or gans of the heart is thus retarded. "Its continued absorption into th< system causes some forms of nervoui prostrations and many of those affec' tions of the nerves from which botl women and men suffer. "Fourteen grains of alum have causec the death of a child. Larger doses hav< frequently resulted fatally in the cas< of adults. "No drug so powerful anel deadly, ne matter in what proportions it may be employed, can safely be used in anj article of food." Sold l>y tlic Shook. A farmer went on a visit to a friend. Aftei dinner the husbandman requested to b< shown round the town. After visiting several places, ther finallj reached the electric lighting works. "What d'ye call this place, Dan?" queried the farmer. • "This is called the electric plan'," was th» reply. "lMant! What do they grow?" "They grow currents." "How ao they sell 'em—by the bushel?" "They don't s-e'.l 'em by the bushel; thej sell em by the shock."—Stray Stcries. In the west the farmer, stock-raiser, mer chant and manufacturer are busy, their products are bringing good prices, and the great agricultural belt of the Upp«r Missis sippi Valley is enjoying a degree of pros perity. that is probably unequaled in his tory. The crops this year have been good, the acreage larger than ever before known and the beneficent results of the harvest far-reaching enough to have a favorable ef fect on every man, woman and child in the region. Several expressions of opinion on the sub ject are being published by the passenger department of the North-Western Line, among them the following concerning Ne braska's outlook: Governor Mickey gays: "Nebraska will produce 200.000,000 bush els of corn and over 40.000,000 bushels of wheat this year. Her total crop ac re age is 15,000,000 acres and the value of live slock is over $150,000,000. Our state banks show mi increase in deposits since June oth of $1,016.299 and their reserve is 361-3 per cent., where the legal requirement is only 15 per cent. "Nebraska's outlook is indeed promising, The state holds an enviable position in this great country of ours and her name is no longer synonymous with drought and pov erty." Senator Millard says: "This being an agricultural region, it is most gratifying to say the farmers are very prosperous; the merchants have been doing an excellent business this year, and the out look for all kinds of business is good." Mr. Rosewater, publisher of the Omaha Hee, says: "During my residence of forty years west of the Missouri I have witnessed marvelous strides of progress, but at no period with in my memory have the people of this sec tion been more generally prosperous and contented with existing conditions than they are at this time. T.ie prosperity we are enjoving is not confined to any one class but embraces the farmer, the stock-rai.-er the merchant, the manufacturer and the wage-worker all alike." Tn bragging of the seed don't forget th< soil.- Judge. EVERY V/ALK IN LIFE. A. A. Boyoe, a farmer, living three and a half miles from Tr nt - was obliged to lay olf work on ac- jzUjf •Jount of the acliingin my Uii* back and sides. For a time I was unable to walk at all. and every makeshift ] tried and all thes medicine I took had not the slightest effect M.v back con. tiuued to grow weaker until I began taking Doan's Kidney Tills, anel I must -say 1 was more than surprised ane: gratified to notice the backache disap pea;-ing gradually until it Cnall\ Stopped." Doan's Kidney Pills sold by all deal ers or by mail on receipt of price, 5( cents per box. Foster-Milburn Co. Buffalo, N. V. Cures Colds, Collin, Sore Throat, Crcnp, Infln ssa, vvuooping Cough, Bronchitis and Asthma. certain cure for Consumption in flret fnaues, nd a sure relief m advanced stages. Isc at once! ou will see the excellent effect after taking tha rst dose. Sold by dealers everywhere. Lurec <>otUcs 25 cents and 00 cents. TASK AY AS TOO IJIU. Colombian Invasion of Panama Proved a Failure. Koltllrrn, liiotrnctrd to Ituild a Itoad to I'anama, ICudure Hard ■lilpn, Have Their Hrovbiuun Spoiled and are Obliscd lu lilt' Job. Colon, Dec. 1:!.- The French steam er Fonrnel arrived here Friday from Savanilla. and Cartagena. She was the first vessel to reach this port since tin* decree closing those ports to vessels to and from Colon was cancelled. The Fonrnel brought pas sengers and mails. The authorities of the department of liolivar are still unreconciled to the loss of the isthmus, which they do not regard as hopeless, as they issued clearance pa pers not for the republic of Panama but for "Colon, Department de Pana ma." Gov. Melendcz, in an interview Fri day, said: "1 have just learned un otlicially. through passengers on the Fonrnel, that the Colombian warships General I'inzon and Cartagena left Cartagena at the beginning of De cember. having on board the same 400 troops which (Jen. Tovar brought to Colon. These were landed at the Kio Atrato, with instructions to build a road toward Panama. Ilut after ter rible suffering for four days in their efforts togo up the river in small boats and canoes, and being in want of provisions of all kinds, their sup plies having been soaked with water and completely spoiled, the troops re solved not togo any further. The passengers also ailirm that the troops have since returned to Car tagena." News has been received here from the interior to the effect that -1,01)0 Colombian troops left Bogota a fort night ago togo down the Magdalena river, but on reaching Ilonda they received orders countermanding tins movement and returned to Bogota on December 2. It is believed that (Jen. lleyes is responsible for the counter manding of the order. {Jen. Melendez further said that he had sent commissioners to the chief* in the Indian territory requesting them to come to Colon and interview the oflieials of the government on important matters concerning their interests. One chief from the Indian settlement at Point Diablo has al ready accepted this invitation and ar rived here. He gives assurance that Colombian troops have not been seen tn this territory and further that they would not be allowed to cross the country. DUN'S REPORT. Better Condition* In Hie Iron and Steel Industry itre Apparent. Xew York, Dee. 12.—1{. (J. Dun & Co.'s Weekly Review of Trade says: Developments are not encouraging as to cotton spinning, but there is evidence of better conditions in the iron and steel industry, while retail trade feels the usual impetus as the holidays approach. Idleness among Xew Kngland lumber mills is offset by increased activity in the south. Owing to pressure of grain there is still delay in handling freight promptly at a few western points, but as a rule traffic facilities are ade quate, and railway earnings for No vember show an average gain of 4 per cent, over last year. It is significant evidence of the at titude of consumers that while out put of pig iron declined to about one million tons iu November, the lowest point in several years, furnace stocks rose to (558,107 tons, far exceeding all records. Such a striking discrepancy indicates clearly the extent of con traction iu this leading branch of manufacture. From present indica tions it seems almost certain that the situation will show some improve ment by the end of this month. Quotations of cotton goods are now practically nominal, lu the woolen goods division new lines of overcoat ings have been opened at a slight de cline below last season's prices, and there is no improvement in other branches of the industry. Failures this week numbered 331 in the United States, against 260 last year, and 20 in Canada, compared with 30 a year ago. A .liyMcrioiin Murder. Washington. Dec. 12.—With six bul let wounds in various parts of her body, almost any one of which would have caused death, Mrs. Kaehel Ann 1 iea 11 was found murdered in her home Friday. Many mysterious fea tures surround the case. The police have two men and a women under ar rest on suspicion of knowing some thing about the crime. All'of them are members of the murdered wom an's family and evidence points to a long standing dispute as the motive of the murder. Those in custody are Andrew Weedon, husband of Mrs. lieall's stepdaughter, and Charles Oelrich and his wife Jessie, son-in law and daughter. Situation at ISiitler Improved, I'utler, PH., Dec. 12. Hut one death from typhoid fever and four new cases were reported Friday. The doctors of the city are all taking a more hopeful view of the situation and several stated yesterday that they believed the backbone of the epidemic had been broken. Treas urer Shufllin has received over $21,- 000 and there is enough money on hand to maintain expenses for lo or 12 days. A I)i*aMtr force It cjl(l<■ rd at (ripple Crock. Trinidad, Col., Dec. 10. —While a number of deputies and clerks were driving from Berwinel to Tobascc Wednesday afternoon, tliey were fired upon by several men hid beliim rocks and brush. The deputies and clerks jumped from the wagon am returned the fire. The shooting' eon tinued at intervals for 30 minutes though no one was injured. Hheritl Clark and posse were preparing t<: lea\e for the scene on a special train | when word was received that rein j forcements of guards had arrived | from 'l'obasco, half a mile away, ant! ; the ambush party fled. No arrests | were made. The trouble is said to have origi nated in the morning when a miner came into the mine office at Herwind and became very abusive, lie was kicked out by a deputy and it is thought that he stirred up his friends to start the difficulty. The double funeral of Vela no and Band, the miners killed by guards in tlie battle at Segundo Monday night, j will he held in Trinidad, from the Catholic church, this afternoon under i the auspices of the Miners' union. This being tin- first blood shed sine ■ | the strike began, great preparations 1 are being made for a demonstration. Denver, Col., Dec. 10.—Orders were issued at the capitol yesterday for the withdrawal of 150 soldiers from Cripple Creek, reducing the military force there to 500 men. A BIG MERGER. More than 1,000 Telephone Com pa nic* aire to be Combined. Chicago, Dec. 11. —Final .arrange ments were made Thursday for the incorporation of the Inter-State Tele phone association into one company. This means the amalgamation of over 4,000 independent telephone companies iu Illinois, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Missouri, lowa. Indiana, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Minnesota, Ohio and Michigan, involving prop erty valued nt more than $200,000,- 000. This action was taken at the closing session here of the associa tion. A permanent committee was appointed to work upon plans of ac tion for the company. "One of the first things to be done by the new company will be to form a ceinnection with the Illinois Tele phone and Telegraph Co. in Chicago, bringing our company in direct com petition with the Hell lines in Chi cago," said President Hull, of the as sociation. "The Illinois Telegraph and Telephone Co., which is now op erating lines in the down town dis trict in Chicago will connect its wires with those of our company at Hyde Park, early in the spring. The two companies will then build lines to the Chicago city limits, where they will be connected with tho.-e of the- inde pendent telephone companies." WOULD CHECK DIVORCES. Olilo (oinniluiiiii o«i I niforiu I.aw* Itcport* to l«ov. Nash. Columbus, ()., Dec. 10.—The Ohio commission on uniform laws has filed its report with the governor. I he commission recommends an act to establish a law uniform with the law of other slates relative to migra tory divorce. It provides that "no divorce shall be grante-d for any cause arising prior to the residence of the complainant or defendant in this state*, which was not ground for elivorce in the state where the cause arose." No person shall have a divore'e on any ground arising in this state who has not resided in Ohio for one year, with bona fide intention of making Ohio a permanent home. No one shall be entitled to a divorce unless the defendant shall have had personal notice. No divorce shall be granted except on actual hearing. llore I*ay lor 11 inor*. Ha/.leton, Pa.. Dec. 10.—William Dettrey. president of the I'nited Mine Workers of the seventh dis trict. was notified yesterday by Com missioner .Will, who was appointed to compute the rate e>f wages due the miners each month under the op eration of the sliding scale, that the; men are entitled to a 7 per cent, ad vance on November earnings, the selling price of coal at tidewater now being s4.«r> per ton. This is 1 per cent, higher than the rate paid the previous month. ICcdnclns Ihe Force. Sharon, l'a., Dec. 12. —The Carnegie Steel Co. has again reduced its office force n1 South Sharon and after Jan uary I there will be but five or six of an original force of 30 or 00 clerks left. Notice has been served on a large number of clerks, heads of de partments and mill superintendents that after the first of the; coming year their services will be dispensed with. Four Children Elurn lo Heath. Manchester, Conn., Dec. 10.— A mes sage from North Coventry, a small village 10 miles from here, states that while Fred Olds, a farmer, and his wife were visiting friends last night, his house caught fire and four small children, who had been left in bed, were burned to death. Joiicn Is*in*4 a Cull* Washington, Dec. 10.—James K. Jones, chairman of the democratic national committee, has issued a call for the committee to meet at the Shorcham Hotel in this city, Janu ary 12, for the purpose of eleciding upon the time and place of holding the democratic national convention. To Prevent Extortion. Hosfon. Dee. 10 —As a test case and in the hope of putting a ste>p to a system ol extortion said to be prac ticeel by foundry foremen to make ignorant men pay for their positions, a bill in equity has been filed in the United Slates circuit court against Alexander Mattson and Robert (Jill, of Lynn, two foremen in the (ieneral Electric Co.'s works. The suit was begun at the instigation of the Inter national Iron 'Molders' union. The plaintiffs in the l action are several Kussians, all members of the Iron Molders' union. LEADERS MEET. TTlip It o pub! I can National (omi tt^f ANNoinblcn at \%a*liini;(on. Washington, Deo. 12. The nati. nal republican committee, presided ovet by Senator M. A. llanna, met at tin Arlington Motel Friday for the pur pone of deciding the time and place for the next national republican con vention. After a brief session, at which Sen ator llanna' congratulated the com mittee on its past achievements and predicted future success, the commit tee paid its respects to President Roosevelt at the White House. Tht exchange of greetings between the president and the committee was most cordial. A group picture of the committee was taken on the White House portico, in which the president and Senator llanna occupied the foreground. A small amount of routine busi ness was laid before the committee by Secretary Perry S. Heath, the most of which was referred to the executive session I<> he held today. Hen. C. R. Brayton, of Rhode Island, who had announced that he would present a resolution for re vision of the basis of membership in the national convention, stated that on conferring with members since his arrived in Washington he had decided not to bring up the question at this time. St. Louis and Chicago, which seem to be the chief rival cities for the convention, are maintaining head' quarters at the Arlington, and will be given an opportunity to present their claims at the session today. MUST KEEP PLEDGES. Powell Inform* (lie Kc\v ertime in of Kail Domingo thai Agree ment* r hotnorMUe explainlm; .ilTor. No postal cards answered. KTKATFOItO I»K> CO., MTKATroUO ULDtt., «41.\1r Vr.. ( I\(IX\,VU,». ~ The (wit TOWER'S JtL POMMEL SLICKER KM-A • V HAS been advertised fliSk TfX AND SOLD FOR A IfH \ QUARTER OF A CENTURY. AvLFm T L|KE all OT&.J iJSES.WAMOOF CLOTHING. Y(f It' s '""de °f the best Nm \6ti materials, in blacker \1 ™ fully guaranteed, and sold by reliable dealirs everywhere STICK TO THE SIGN OF THE FISH. TOWER CANADIAN CO, Limited. A J TOWER CO, j TORONTO. CAN. BOSTON. MAJV. U i.*. I WINTER TOURS TEXAS, ARIZONA, OLD MEXICO and CALIFORNIA Arc most inviting during the winter i months. Tlie rates are reasonable. I Mention where yon want togo and j we'll gladly send Tour liook and particulars. Address GEORGE MORTON, • ■N'L PASO. AOSNT, M., K. A T. R»Y, 10 Katy Bldq. St. Louis. Mo. T IF [foil T€2 48-pape bonk fkeb, AIIZQ£I£AX«D & CO., llox 14., Washington, I). C. heals all inflammation of the mikuas membrane wherever located. In local treatment of female ills Tar tine is invaluable. Used as a douche it • is a revelation in cleansing and healing power; it kills all disease germs which cause inflammation and discharges. Thousands of letters from Avomcn provo that it is the greatest euro for leueorrlioea ever discovered. Paxtine never fails to cure pelvic catarrh, nasal catarrh, sore throat, sore : mouth and sore eyes, because these j diseases are all caused by inflammation of the mucous membrane. For cleansing, whitening and pre- i serving tho teeth we challenge the i world to produce its equal. Physicians and specialists everywhere prescribe and endorse Paxtine, and thou sandsof testimoniallettersprove its value. I At druggists, or sent postpaid 50 cts. I A largo trial package and book of j instructions absolutely free. Writ.® J The K. FaxtonCo., Dept. a, Boston, Maew. i tfcflE! Gold Filled Watch for 50 cts KSs N»MHI no money. \Vrlt«* lorruiriU'tt lari. I*. O. BOX 21b4, UA&i CALIFORNIA 112 V. 1 ? 5, Catalogue »cm fre^ UHLllvnniH M. \V uobUjr Co., §au I? rauci&t**. 7