.f M
SECOND PART.
.MUD ROMJXPERTS
Come in From the Country to
Discuss the Condition of
Rural Highways.
CONVICT LABOR FAVORED.
Suggestions That Oil Hen and City
Folks Help Bear the Bnrden.
A E0A5T FOR THE SUPERVISORS.
Siilng Up the Agricultural Influence In
the Legislature.
RESULT OP THE DISPATCH AGITATION
The promptitude with -which the country
road conventionists got to work yesterday
was sufficient to prove that the delegates
were mainly country people and therefore
early risers. The object of the gathering
was to get a concensus of opinion that could
be presented to the State Commission ap
pointed to prepare a bill for the improve
ment of highways, for presentation to the
Legislature this winter.
The convention was held in Boom Ko. 30
in the Court House. There were 121 dis
tricts entitled to representation, and they
were generally represented, and intelligent
ly, the only thing marrinc harmony, and it
only made merriment, being the disposition
of a few untameable outskirters to regard the
participation of lawyers and merchants with
suspicion.
The convention was called to order by "W.
H. Eoberts, of Eobinson township. In an
swer to roll call 67 elected delegates re
sponded, and, as all the districts were other
wise represented, the list was made full by
the admission of all interested. Commis
sioner G-. Y. McKee was made Chairman,
and W. H. Eoberts and Percy F. Smith,
Secretaries.
A BUSINESS COMMITTEE.
A committee of five was appointed to pre
pare business. It was subsequently en
larged to 15, as follows: T. P. lams, Chair
man; J. W. Milligan, James Beges, L.
Douthett, "William Knoedercr, George
Burns, J. V. Snee, K. Stoner, "W. P. Mc
Junkin,' Alexander Gilfillan, Jr., George
C. Magill, K. H. Caughey, Alf S. Quinette,
Andrew Patterson, "W. H. Roberts and
George Y. McKee.
Alter the committee retired amotion to
adjourn until 1 P. si was voted down, and
Chairman McKee then enlarged on the ob
ject to be obtained and asked for suggestions
to guide the commission.
Mr. Andrew Patterson, of Chartiers town
ship, urged that action be in line with the
work of the State Commission, and said it
was not best to antagonize it
Percy P. Smith, the Virgin alley farmer,
now reported that the committee had con
sidered but two phases.
WANT OIL OPERATORS TAXED.
..Farmer T. P. lams, Esq., of Diamond
street, read the lucubrations of the commit
tee. It reported a recommendation that the
Road Commission be requested to insert a
clause in its recommendation to the Legis
lative that all oil companies and operators
be taxed in the respective townships in
which thev are operating.
Henry McCully, a Pattou township dele
gate, suggested an addition to the report
that oil borers be made to pay for the
bridges they broke.
The committee's report was adopted, when
Mr. Patterson renewed his remarks, and said
it was of prime necessity that the road super
visor should be dethroned. He deprecated
the laying down of law by the convention
to the State Commission, and hoped any
address would be suggestive rather than
mandatory in tone. He thought the County
Engineer should be at the helm. Road
work henceforth should be permanent, and
the services of 200 supervisors who cost the
county some $200,000 a year and whose ser
ices are not worth 8200, for the same time,
except to their sisters, cousins and their
annts
A voice There are several supervisors
present.
Mr. Patterson I don't care; I am sneak
ing generally and from personal experience.
EXHANCIXQ TOWNSHIP VALUES.
Mr. Patterson also held that the expense of
collecting the township taxes might be re
duced by consolidation. He said the ex
penditure of 5100,000 in his township,
Chartiers, wonld enhance the value of the
township $1,000,000.
August Bonnert, of Harmar township,
advocated a tax to be paid in cash as the
first thing. He spoke as an ex-Supervisor,
and dwelt upon soldiering on the roads and
the sending of cripples to do the work. Mr.
Bonnert then proceeded to peel his clothes
for Mr. Patterson, whom he charged with
being among a class responsible for the
present unfathomable mud. He said also
that no Court House red tape would
improve the country roads. He held
that gilt-edged officials would not make
good roads; only hard work can accomplish
any good. In conclusion he held that the
only way to get good highways was to ex
pend all the tax levied each year in the
making of as much road as could be made
right, and the appropriation not frittered
away in the distribution of mud and brush
over all the roads in a township.
Mr. Bonnert's style of oratory was so
efifectire that his periods were followed by
tnuudcrs of applause and stamping of feet,
and the latter brought ud Felix If egley from
the Quart -r Sessions Court, who announced
that the aforesaid court objected to having
the Court House shaken down, or something
to that effect, and Chairman McKee admin
istered a dose of soothing syrup which
stopped the action of the pedal extremities.
CITT FOLKS SHOULD HELP.
The question as to what should constitnte
township and wbat county roads was next
raised and Mr. P. F. Smith held that Pitts-
burst should be asked for more money pro
portionally to keep up some roads than the
townships in which they lay, as they were
of more use to city than to country people.
H. M. Alter, ot Wilktns township, held
that if the county were to maintain a por
tion of the roads the distauce ought to be
apportioned equally 'to the townships; that
the burden in each townthip should be di
vided between county and township.
The question as to whether the roadsshould
be classified as county and township, accord
ing to their use, was next discussed, those
used generally to be county and the re
mainder township.
Dr. W. H. McCuIlough, of Tarentum, a
member of the State Commission, was intro
duced and read the questions propounded
by that body as follows:
"Fits: Are you In Tavor ot abolishing the
present system of worklnp out road taxes and
Cijlng a cash tax instead ?
Second Do you favor State aid to public
roads T
Ihlrd If so, how shall It ba distributed, to
the townships or counties ? How shall the
jiinount be ascertained, by valuation of assess
able pronerty, number of inhabitants, road
mileage or otnerwise ?
Fourth Are you in favor of supervisors
serving without compensation, the same as
SchoolDirectors, whose dnty shall be the as
sessment of taxes and appointment of road
overseers to have charge of the wore T
Fifth How shall roads be superintended and
controlled by State, county or township super
visors or engineers! And shall the State aid,
If any, be handled the same as local taxes?
Sixth Is your county an agricultural, manu
facturing or mining countyT
Seventh Is the stone la your county suitable
for road building!
Eighth Are you in favor of authorizing
townships to borrow money for road pur
posesT
Ninth Are you In favor of convict labor on
public roads?
The convention adjourned until 10 o'clock
p. M. under an agreement to take up the
Commissioners' questions for discussion at
that time.
A CASH BOAS TAX FAVOBBD.
The first question was unanimously an
swered in the affirmative, and of course the
second was, though there was one no. As
to the third, a motion was made that the
distribution be to the townships. This was
followed by an amendment that it be to the
county. A member favored convict labor,
but was ignored pro tempore.
Mr. lams held that it should be to the
county, as that would assist the rural dis
tricts, three-fourths of the assessable prop
erty of the connty being in the two cities
and the boroughs. He held that some
townships would not properly apply the
money for the general good. Let the county
attend to the general roads and the town
ships tbe cross roads. Cities and boroughs
should aid, as bad roads are a tax on every
thing eatable.
Mr. Bonnert thought that Mr. lams' idea
would not work at Harrisburg. He held
that gentlemen in picadilly collars were not
likely to accomplish much for the benefit of
the "corn-cob" constituency. He would re
tain the supervisor, and if he does not do
bis work right appoint overseers in each
Congressional district with power to bounce.
Mr. lams came back with the remark that
the corn-cobs had the majority ot the Legis
lature, ana n tney didn t know enough to
get their rights they alone were to blame.
Several rural delegates suggested that
there were too many city people mixing up
in the pie, and that Pittsburg had better
pay her $15,000,000 debt and fix her own
streets, some of which, they thought, were
in but little better repair than the country
roads. It soon became evident that there
was something in the green-eye representa
tion present
Mr. P. F. Smith said that he owned 100
feet frontage or so in Chartiers township and
paid more road tax than did some farmers.
Mr. lams spoke to the same effect
It was decided that the convention was in
favor of distribution to the counties and that
the amount should be ascertained by the
valuation of assessable property.
WAX! THE SUPEBVISOKS APPOINTED.
In answer to the fourth question, tbe
convention, after a long discussion
and the suggestion that supervisors
be appointed by the Judges of the
Common Pleas Courts, which might cause
Judge Stowe to get up on his hind feet
there was a very large "No." The filth
question was also discussed very extensively,
and Mr. Patterson moved that the county
roads be under tbe supervision of the
county, the township roads under that of
tbe townships and all under the supervision
of the County Engineer. To the sixth ques
tion answer was made that it was all three.
As to the seventh some delegates held af
firmatively, while others just as firmly held
otherwise, according to what he found in
his district and Mr. lams proposed a way
out of the dilemma by the general answer,
"3Tes," and his suggestion prevailed.
Tbe eighth question was answered at first
very generally in the negative, but Mr. Pat
terson made an argument to prove that if a
township wished to expend $100,000 for the
benefit of its neighbors, -they would be very
long-eared donkeys to object, and though
jur. j. jj. otevenson, ot juoon townsnip,
suggested that an enterprising township
might be rewarded by having its burdens
increased by the triennial assessors, the
question was answered affirmatively.
The convention was almost nnammous in
favor of the employment of convict labor on
the roads, but to sugar it to the taste of some
kickers Chairman McKee added to the in
struction the words "where practicable."
Mr. Andrew Patterson's paper was next
acted upon. It was as follows:
First Public roads to ba classed as county
and township.
Second All roads to be on locations and
grades approved by the County Engineer and
Countv Surveyor.
Third The connty to make and maintain
county roads, and to receive from the State
contribution to its road fund in proportion to
the amount of road tax levied by the county.
Fourth Township road to 'be made and
maintained at tbe cost of the townships, which
shall receive from tbe county contribution pro
portionate to the township road tax.
Fifth All work on public roads to be bv con
tracts on specifications made by Connty En
gineer, contracts for connty roads to be ap
proved by Connty Commissioners and for town
ship roads by tbe township auditors.
FIXING THE BOAD TAX.
Sixth The assessment for road tax In the
townships shall be fixed by the township
auditors, but shall be levied by the County
Commissioners and collected with the connty
taxes, and it shall bo disbursed only on the
warrant of the township auditors, drawn
against the township and in favor of the Connty
Treasury.
Seventh The townships shall have the right
to borrow money to an amount equal to S per
cent of its taxable valuation, and issue bonds
therefor, payable within 20 years, and bearing
interest not above G per cent.
Eighth Any taxpayer who shall pay double
his township assessment shall have the right to
have his entire payment applied in any local
Improvements of the roads that he may direct.
The paper was referred to the tbe commit
tee, which meets again two weeks from yes
terday at the same time and place.
Findlay township submitted the follow
ing memorial:
We levy our own road tax, collect and dis
burse the same. The voters to elect the com
missioners, whose duties it shall be to let the
working and repairing of the public roads; that
the commissioners levy the tax, not to exceed 5
mills, all taxes to ba paid in money. All work
put on roads in any one year must be done be
tween April IS and July 15.
It is further recommended that all corpora
tions or individuals developing oil, cas or other
minerals, fire clay, salt works and timber or
lumber, shall be taxed for said purposes, said
tax to be applied to the road of the township in
which thev are developing; and we would sug
gest that tbe State appropriate a certain sum
ut money each year to each townthip, to be ap
plied to grading and stoning of the principal
roads of said township.
The convention adjourned with the under
standing that the committee of 15 would
meet in two weeks in the same place to com
plete its report to the State Commission.
COimiTIOK OF THE PENNSYLVANIA.
Figures Showing Earnings and Expenses as
Compared With 1889.
Philadelphia, October 30. The state
ment of the business of all lines of the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company shows that all
lines east of Pittsburg and Erie for Septem
ber, 1890, as compared with the same month
in 1889, show an increase in gross earnings
of $351,606; an increase in expenses of $104,
OG3; an increase in net earnings of $217,513.
The nine mouths of 1890, as compared with
the same period of 1889, show an increase
in gross earnings of $4,375,564; an increase
in expenses of $4,402,881; a decrease in net
earnings of $27,317.
All lines west of Pittsburg and Erie for
September, 1890, as compared with the same
month in 1889, sho'tr an increase in gross
earnings of $458,289; in increase in expenses
of $211,442; an increise in net earnings of
$246,847. The nine months of 1890, as com
pared with the same period of 1889, show an
increase in gross earnings of $4,028,372; an
increase in expenses of $2,701,753; an in
crease in net earnings of $1,326,619.
An Art Merchant Falls.
New York, October 30. Ernest Huber,
dealer in paintings and other works of art,
assigned to-day with a preference to Chester
Billings bit to exceed one-third of tbe
assigned estate.
THE BTTSBDRG THSPAOTI
NEW YORK'S BATTLE.
1
The Struggle for Members of tbe
Legislature and Congress.
MANY DISTRICTS ARE IN DODBT,
Bat the BepnMicans Will Probably -la
Able to Hold Their Own.
INTERESTING POINTS OF THE CONTEST
rErlCMIi TZLBORJ.lt TO TITC SZSPATCa.1
New Xobk, October 30. No one expects
to see any material change in the political
complexion of the State's representation in
the next Congress as a result of the ap
proaching election. The delegation consists
of 34 members, of whom 15 are Democrats.
In the Blaine-Cleveland campaign they suc
ceeded in increasing their representation by
two members, making 17 in all; but that
only lasted through the Forty-ninth Con
gress, for in 1886 the Republicans recaptured
the two they had lost and they have held
them ever since.
The present numerical strength of tbe
two parties in the delegation is a fair test of
the sentiment of a million and a quarter
voters of the Slate when polled on national
issues and not distorted by factional dissen
sions or local prejudice. "Were the present
contest in the several districts confined to
the record of the Republicans in Congress
and in the Government, there would not be
the slightest reason to doubt the return of 20
ot the party's candidates out of the 34.
pactional fights.
Clashing ambitions, however, have led to
some dangerous perhaps serious compli
cations in three districts, which may not
only balk the effort to wrest a properly Re
publican district from the Democracy, but
may also place two other districts in their
control. The Democratic districts in this
State are "below the Harlem" an expres
sion which serves as an imaginary boundary'
line for tbe Democratic majorities, for on the
other side of the Harlem the Republicans
invariably sweep everything clean through
to tbe western borders of the State.
The figure men of both parties, therefore,
always base their estimates on what majori
ty the Republicans will carry throngh the
State down to Harlem bridge to offset the
sure Democratic majority that will be sent
up there from this city. Long Island and
Staten Island, which comprise all the terri
tory below that famous political boundary.
Fourteen Congressmen are sent to "Wash
ington from there, and it is aboutas easy for
a camel to crawl through the eye of a needle
as for the Republicans to capture more than
one district out of this solid block of 14 ly
ing in contiguous territory and having fully
500,000 voters. Once they did manage to
sqeeze Ashbel P. Pitch into a seat from the
Thirteenth, but the effect on him was such
that he crossed over to the other side while
down in Washington, embracing Dem
ocracy, and Tammany Hall Democracy at
that.
A solid community.
The district returned him as such two
years ago and he is up for re-election now.
This only illustrates the force of the state
ment that Satan himself would be over
whelmingly returned in any of the New
York City districts if running on the Dem
ocratic ticket.
The one spot below Harlem bridge on
which a Republican candidate can thrive is
the Third district over in Brooklyn, where
William C. Wallace is the party
candidate 'for re-election. He ran
2,800 votes over his Democratic opponent
two years ago, and would win easily this
time if .the party machinery was in good
running order. It isn't. Still Wallace has
more than an even chance of pulling
through. Secretary Tracy addressed an en
thusiastic gathering at the Academy of
Music in his behalt a few nights ago, and
has since then brought many ot the discon
tented ones into line. He tells me that
Wallace will win.
As in the Wallace district, so throughout
the State the only places in which Repub
lican success is endangered are those in
which the local leaders have placed their
personal inclinations above their party
loyalty. Eight of the present Republican
representatives are up for re-election Bel
den, Raines, Sherman, Wallace, Kctcham,
Payne, Quackenbush and Sanlord. All of
them but Wallace arc reasonably certain to
be returned, and even he is not far off the
line. Such danger of loss as may exist is in
the districts that have for one leason or
another retired the sitting members,
A distbict in danoeb.
This is notably the case in the Rochester
district where John Van Voorhis, a former
member of Congress and a man of strong in
dividuality, wrested the nomination from
Mr. Baker, whose friends thought him en
titled to a fourth term. In the Elmira dis
trict, where Congressman Flood's victory in
Federal patronage over that risingyoung'Re
publicau, J. Sloat Fassett. has cost him his
seat In Buffalo, where John M. Farquhar's
defeat for renomination has hurt the party's
prospects, and in the Orange-Rockland dis
trict, where Moses Stivers, who won by less
that 100 votes two years ago, was defeated
for renomination by Clarence Lexow, whom
the Democrats expect to beat with Henry
Bacon, a man who vanquished Stivers four
years ago, and was in turn vanquished by
him in the 1888 campaign.
Tbe Democrats claim all fonr of these dis
tricts, but I doubt whether they can carry
more than one. Ex-Senator Piatt assures
me that they cannot even do that. Prob
ably if the Rochester district didn't contain
about 5,000 more Republicans than Demo
crats, ex-Congressman Van Voorhis would
not be able to pull through, for Baker's
friends claim that he was unfairly dealt
with, and are openly opposing" Van
Voorhis' election. Halbert S. Greenleat,
his opponent, enjoys the distinction of being
the only Democrat that ever represented the
district in Congress. He was swept into the
place by the historic tidal wave that landed
Grover Cleveland at Albany as Governor,
backed bv nearly 200,000 majority. Mr.
Van Voorhis has strong friends as well as
strong enemies, however, and will probably
save enough of the normal Republican ma
jority to keep Mr. Greenleaf in private life.
A POPULAB CANDIDATE.
Far more dangerous is the situation in the
Buffalo district, for the Democrats have
shrewdly insisted on running Dan Lock
wood, who is popular from one end of the
city to the other, and certain to poll a larger
vote than any other man they could have
named. Tne Republican majority here
averages less than 2,000, and quite a slice of
this will disappear through local dissen
sions. Benjamin H. Williams, the Repub
lican candidate, is a business man of high
reputation. If the election were held to-day
the chances for success would be small, but
he is steadily gaining ground, and if he con
tinues to do so for the next few days he will
squeeze into the place.
The Twenty-eighth, or Elmira, district
maybe counted upon to remain in the Re
publican ranks, though Henry T. Noye,
the nominee, will not get the majority that
Congressman Flood polled two years ago
about 1,200.
Coming down to the last of tbe four Re
publican districts to which the Democracy
may lay claim, we have the only one which
I believe they will carry the Orange
Rockland district extending along the
west bank of the Hudson river. Up to six
years ago the Democrats steadily carried tbe
district, their majority in the 1884 contest
bsine 1,934. Since tben the establishment
of cement works and other industries has
PITTSBURG-, FRIDAY,
brought over 4,000 new voters into the dis
trict, of whom the Republicans have cap
tured three-quarters. Besides these acces
sions, manr of the ham's employed in the
cement works in Rockland county stepped
out of the Democratic ranks when cement
was placed on the free list in tbe Mills bill.
In this way the old time Democratic plural
ity was wiped out altogether two years ago,
and if Congressman Stivers had been made
the Republican standard-bearer again, little
fear conld be felt tor the success of the party
candidate. The result will depend on the
ATTITUDE OP THE WOBKXHGMEH
who bolted the Democratic ticket last time
because they believed it menaced their work
and wages. If they continue to stand by
their tariff views, Lexow will secure 200 or
300 plurality. This is an uncomfortably
narrow margin in a vote of 38,000, but it
took six years of constant hammering be
fore Moses Stivers captured the seat by ex
actly 74 votes, -and in a Presidental year,
too. Mr. Lexow is conducting a vigorous
canvass, speaking night; and day, and is
making friends on all sides.
I have dwelt on the situation in these
four Republican districts to show tbe basis
of the Democratic claims there. The Re
publicans, on the other hand, have good
reason to look for the redemption of two dis
tricts now represented by free traders
Wiley, in the Erie-Niagara district, and
Stahlnecker, in the West Chester. There
are votes enough and to spare in the Niagara
district to elect any Republican candidate,
butex-Concressman Dick Crowley remem
ber, President Arthur's close friend has
regarded the nomination as his personal
property for many years, and he controls
enough votes to defeat the man who wrests
it from him.
On the other hand, there are many Re
publicans who will not support Crowley's
candidacy. When he ran two years ago
they either staid at home or voted for the
Democratic candidate, who was elected.
This time the auti-Crowley faction secured
control of the Congressional convention and
nominated George H. Davis, a Buffalo busi
ness man of irreproachable character and
well known throughout the two counties.
AN OBSTACLE TO SUCCESS.
The single obstacle to success is the atti
tude of the disappointed Crowley followers.
At the outset ot the canvass they stood out
firmly against all overtures for peace, but
there is a rumor that they have taken off
their war paint and are about ready to re
turn to the party fold. A significant Indi
cation of the Democratic feeling lies in Con
gressman Wiley's refusal to accept a re
nomination when he found that Crowley
was not pitted against him. Everyone
looked for another battle royal between
Wiley and Crowley, but the former with
drew when a new name was entered against
bim.
The Democrats thereupon nominated
Thomas L. Bunting, who brings no strength
to the party and is likely to be defeated.
The chances for getting control of the West
chester district are not to rosy, but thev are
nevertheless good. Congressman Stahl
necker,who is running (or a fourth term,has
made a poor record. In the last session he
was in his seat less than one-fourth of the
time. This fact is beiug used against him
with telling effect by the Republicans. They
have nominated J. Thomas Stearns, a life
long resident and favorably known in every
voting precinct in the district. He is sure
to make a close race of it.
THE SUCCESSION TO EVABTS.
A United States Senator is involved in
the battle for the Assembly, as "Our Own"
Evarts' term expires in March. Governor
Hill started ont last winter to capture the
Legislature, and thereby the Senatorship,
but his friends concede now that the Repub
licans will continue in a majority. The
Upper Branch of tbeLegisIature holds over
another year, and has a Republican major
ity of eight. The struggle, therefore;-lies in
the Lower House, in which the Republicans
expect to have 70 of the 128 members.
General Knapp, Chairman of the State
Committee, ntatea that his reports indicate
more than this, so that 70 can be taken as a
conservative estimate. Even should tbe
Assembly be evenly divided the Senate's
Republican majority wonld Insure a party
successor to Mr. Evarts. The latter is not a
candidate for re-electiou, so that a few
months more will close a career extending
over the most momentous period in our his
tory, and closely associated with its most
conspicuous events. Don't be surprised if
you see Chauncey M. Depew in bis place.
H. L. Stoddabd.
BOBBED A P0ST0FFICE,
The Clerk Chloroformed and Money
Orders Stolen in Midday.
Niagara FALLS, October 30. At 1230
o'clock this afternoon, George Lammerts,
clerk in the Suspension bridge postoffice
and a brother of the postmaster, went to
the office safe to get a supply of stamps for
the tray at the stamp window. He was
alone in tbe office, and while getting the
stamps be was seized from behind by an un
known man, and a cloth, supposed to be
saturated with chloroform, thrown about
his head. He was thrown on the floor,
where he was found later.
The money order tray is missing, but
what the loss is is not yet known. Tne
postoffice is just across the platform from
the Custom House department, where sev
eral men were working at the time. The
thief must have entered the postoffice
through the postmaster's room.
THE PEW-EENTI5G SYSTEM
Adopted by the Butler Street M. E. Church,
at a Recent Meeting.
At a recent meeting of the trustees of the
Butler Street M. E. Church it was decided
to change their present system of
raising funds to the pew-renting
means. The change was
to be necessary in order to equalize the ex
penses among the mem'jjrs or the congrega
tion. In past years a deficiency has ajrrays
been found when settli-ig :uie came, and at
last the trustees decided U. resort to the pen
renting plan.
The move is a decided one for so pro
nounced a church of that denomination, the
general rule of the church at large being to
raise all funds by assessments. It is not im
probable that other Methodist churches will
follow in the footsteps of the Butler Street
Methodist Episcopal.
THE BOTTOM FELL OUT.
A Large Explosion Narrowly Averted at the
Halnesworth Steel Works.
There came very near being a fatal explo
sion at the Huinesworth Steel Worts, Penn
avenue, yesterday afternoon. The charge
had bean drawn from the large converter
and tbe men were just about to make the
'drop" to clean the furnace. There chanced
to be a pool of water in the bottom. Before
the men were ready the bottom fell out, and
the hot steel remaining and coke fell into
the pool of water. A loud and terrifio ex
plosion followed, but no one was hurt.
If the bottom had fallen before the dis
charge had been taken out, it could hardly
have helped resulting in a large and fatal
explosion. As It is, the men think them
selves very lucky in escaping a horrible
death.
THINKS SHE WAS MURDERED.
Herman Schon Insists That His Wife Was
Foully Dealt With.
Coroner McDowell held a partial inquest
yesterday on the body of Mrs. Louisa Schon,
who was drowned at the foot of Eighth street
on Tuesday night. The woman's husband
insisted that she was murdered, but there
was no evidence to support his statement.
He further stated that he left his wile be
cause she tried to poison him.
A post mortem will be held on the body
end the Inquest continued to-day.
OCTOBER 81, 1890.
TONS OF SWEETNESS
Made Daily by Pittsburgers and Their
Capital in Nebraska.
THE BI& SUGAR BEET INDUSTRY
As Observed hy an East End Preacher "Who
Keeps Ui3 Eyes Open.
ITS POSSIBILITIES IN THE FDTDRE
Rev. George W. Chalfant, pastor of the
Park Avenue Presbyterian Church, East
End, travels with, his eyes and ears wide
open dnring his vacation, and thereby has
picked up a stock of practical knowledge
which is not only of much mental satisfac
tion to the owner, but of use to a man in
any vocation. This season's outing was
spent on the treeless plains of the West
and amid the Rockies, and was unusually
expanding. Having "done" Denver,
Boulder, Pueblo, the Pittsburg of the West;
Canon City and Florence, and noted the
immense fruit farming profits about Flor
ence, which has started into being through
irrigation, with petroleum wells and Stand
ard oil refineries turning out 1,200 barrels
of refined oil a day, Mr. Chalfant concen
trated his attention on the new sugar-beet
industry at Grand Island, Neb., a business
that, though in its infancy in this country,
may before ten years turn the sugar trade
topsy-turvy the world over.
In order to get to the base at the start, it
may be stated that Grand Island is a city of
13,000 inhabitants, and rapidly growing, on
the main line of the Union Pacific Railway
in the Valley of the Platte, 155 miles west
ot Omaha. A branch of the Chicago, Bur
lington and Quincy Railway from St Joe
runs throngh Grand Island diagonally on
its way to the Black Hills. There is also
another railway there, and the trunk lines
are working to make connection in order to
secure the large freightage shortly to be de
veloped. A WELL-BUILT WESTERN TOH.
The town is well built, of brick and stone,
and Die country around fertile. It is seven
miles from the Platte to the Court House.
Grand Island has two lines of street cars,
has electric lights, and is in all respects a
well-arranged modern city, with good
schoolhouses and fine church buildings,
among them that of the Presbyterians, whose
pastor is Rev. Thomas C. Clark, whom Mr.
Chalfant visited, and through whom he was
enabled to learn particulars of sugar-beet
culture and sugar manulacture. Mr. Clark
is well known in the neighborhood of Pitts
burg. The refinery is operated by Heury T. Ox
nard, President; James G. Oxnnrd, Vice
President, and C. Kennedy Hamilton, Jr.,
Secretary, and the style of the company i
the Oxnard Beet Sugar Company. The
works are located a mile and a half from
the center of the town, and all the railway
companies have switches running into the
works. The refinery has been in operation
six weeks and is the second of the kind in
the United States. It is a coincidence that
it got to work just ten days after the passage
of the McKinley tariff bill, and some
curiosity outside of self-interest is mani
fested to see how the two will thrive to
gether. The company owns 5,000 acres of
land given it by tbe city as an induce
ment to locate. Tons of sugar-beet
seed were imported from Germany
and distributed among tbe farms. The
plant is called in Europe the "Sea-beet"
owing to its cultivation in Holland and its
adaptability lor culture in low land. The
crop this year was 10 to 15 tons to the acre
of 12 percent beets, 84 percent water, 12
per cent sugar and 4 per cent celulose.
Analysis shows constituents to be 79 to 84
per cent water. 10 to 17 per cent soluble
sugar and 4 per cent celulose. The com
pany pays for beets containing 12 per cent
saccharinity $12 a ton and 50 cents lor
each one-half per cent more found by
analysis or assay.
beets paid foe by analysis.
When a load of beets is delivered, a sam
ple is analyzed, and the price above $12 de
pends on what tbe analysis shows. The ob
ject of this care is to prevent the farmers
from manuring so heavily as to produce
quantity instead of quality. If the beets
grow too large they carry a large percentage
of water. The crop this year was a short
one, but it was all the sweeter therefor. The
refiners prefer small beets. The company's
land is not intended for beet culture, but
for the keeping of cattle to eat the refuse
which fattens stock rapidly.
The company's investment is $750,000.
There are two receiving sheds, each of 1,000
tons capacity, a quantity sufficient to keep
the refinery in operation three days. These
sheds are side by side, and the cars are run
alongside, so as to unload direct. The sheds
slope so that a channel 3-feet wide is at the
bottom, through which runs a stream of
water. Into this the beets are raked, aud
the water washes them, and at the same time
carriers them to the factory, a brick build
ing three stories high and 300 feet in length,
containing 800 tons of machinery, much of
which was imported, as it could not be got
ten in this country. A very great amount
oi steam poweris necessary, not only to do
the labor, but in evaporating processes as
well. ,
When the beets reach the factory
they are lilted by a large water-wheel
which not only completes the wash
ing, but carries them to the slicers. They
are not crushed, but the saccharinity is
secured by diffusion. The beets "fall
into a series of tanks filled with pure water.
Into the first tank tbe water comes with the
beet and extracts part of its sweetness, and
so on until it passes ten tanks, the last con
taining hot waterand steam, and when the
refuse leaves this tank it contains but a
small percentage of sugar. This refuse is
at present sold at 40 cents a ton. It con
tains phosphates, and is valuable not ooly
for cattle food, but for fertilizer. The water
is mostly retained, and in it are albumen,
nitrogen, fat, soda, iron, lime and silica.
To prevent this juice from being converted
into glucose or invert sugar, it is treated
with lime and carbolic acid, under heat, in
large tanks, and then passed through a
chemical filter with great force and is thus
treed irom toreign suostances. It is then
concentrated under steam heat and filtered
again.
A MOST CRITICAL PBOCESS.
The next process is a critical one. The 1
sugar is not yet white and it must be boiled
down. If this boiling be done in an open
kettle the result is a brown, caramel that
will ntit granulate. Accordingly it is
boiled in vacred and the moistnre is
evaporated at a temperature considerably
below 200 degrees. It next is put into a
centrifugal machine, somewhat like a flour
bolter, 'which throws off the moisture
(molasses). Passing through the meshes
the product finally comes out granulated
sugar, the quality of which every house
keeper knows. Mr. Chalfant brought sam
ples home yith him. Tbe granulation is
perfect, but owing to the wood In the tilnks
being new it colors the sugar slightly, just
as a new water pail does water.
The present capacity of the refinery at
Grand Island is 250 barrels of sugar a day,
which can be made 275 if desired, and at
preaent prices the veuture is profitable with
out taking into consideration the profit aris
ing from the refuse which is worth $1 C0
2 00 per ton. The only drawback to Sugar
beet growing Is the fact that it must have
hand culture, and this goes against the grain
of the American larmer. He is immense
where he can ride and work at the fame
time. Guiding a pair of burses, while tbe
driver sits on a spring seat, is comparatively
easy work, bnt sugar beets must be hoed and
the weeds must be pulled out.
Mr. Chalfant suggests the dire possibility
of the Chinese catching on on their native
heath. In that event, the Celestials work
ing for 6 cents a day would soon produce
lufficicnt sugar to sweeten the Pacific Ocean.
Tbe greater danger, however, is that suffi
cient heathens may be imported to work the
same mischief in the United State. Even
then, however, it is doubtful whether there
would be any radical harm accomplished.
Cheap sweetening is not an unmitigated
evil. In England low-grade sugar is dis
solved in water and rough food which well
kept cattle refuse to eat is saturated, when
they devour it with a relish, aud the resul
tant product is cheap and well-fatted beef.
When sugar-beet culture is fully developed
in the United States we can furnish the
world's supply of sweets as well as of cotton.
AP0IXD-ARIS WATER,
How the Famous Spring Was Found and
How It Got Its Name.
London Times.
Herr George Krenzberg, who lived at
Ahrweiler, had a vineyard on tbe left bank
of the River Ahr, at a short -distance from
the village of Neuenahr. He noticed that
the vines would not flourish on a particular
spot, and be learned that carbonic acid gas
issued from the ground there. An eminent
geologist, Prof. Bishofjof Bonn, was con
sulted as to whether anything could be done
in the matter, and he suggested that
search should he made for a mineral spring,
which might prove quite as remunerative as
the most productive vines that tbe earth
could produce. Accordingly a well was
sunk, and at the depth of 40 feet a spring
was reached which rose to the surface with
the force and effect of a small Icelandic
geyser. This occured in 1851. The Apollin
aristcirche is not far distant from the spring
which was named after it
Chemical analysis showed a close resem
blance between the Apollinaris spring and
those at Belters and Ems, while in one respect
it differed from any oue of those which were
then in high repute. This consisted in its con
taining such an extraordinary proportion of
carbonicacid as to cause the water to boil up
ward as if ithad been forced from belowunder
steam pressure. Tbe volume of gas is
so great that it is dangerous to approach
the spring on a windless day. More than
oue fatal accident has been caused by ap
proaching the spring and inhaling the gas.
At the outset it was found difficult to bottle
the water. However, a means was devised
for doing so.
CARTRIDGES EOR SHARKS.
Bow a Sandy Hook Pilot Has lots of Fun
With the Man Eaters.
New Tork Herald.
Readers of Charles Reade's "A Simple
ton," will remember the ingemons device by
which the hero of that entertaining story
kills the shark. He rigs up a gunpowder
charge in a glass bottle, fixes electric
wires to the bottle, throws it overboard,
and just as the shark bolts the bait tbe hero
explodes the charge with his little battery.
This is neat, bnt electric batteries are not
always handy, and sharks are unpleasantly
common, particularly on the Banks. So a
certain Sandy Hook pilot of a thoughttnl
turn of mind has devised an improvement
on Mr. Reade's idea. He fonnd a paper
gun cartridge that can be exploded simply
by pulling out the central pin. He ties or
splices he calls it a piece of fine strong
wire to the pin, puts the cartridge in a
piece of meat and heaves it overboard fast to
a stout line. The shark gulps down the
meat, pulls a little on the line and there
you are a nice dead shark.
Shark fishing ianot advised for snpplying
the larder, but it is mighty useful just the
same. Sharks rob the fishermen on tbe
Banks oi about half their bait and catch
every year, besides occasionally nipping off
an unwary fisherman's arm orleg, and being
disagreeable neighbors generally. This
modest pilot, who will not patent bis device,
recommends it to the fishermen's use free of
charge. He has been trying it this summer,
and be says its a sure pop and lots of fun too.
HER BROTHER E0SSED HER,
And So little Annie Coleman Ban Away
From Her Indiana Home.
Annie Coleman, aged 14 years, arrived in
this city from Altoona yesterday, having
been sent thus far by Chief of Police Weir,
of that city, on her way to Coal Bluff, In
diana, where her parents live. The girl ran
away from home two weeks ago because her
brother was, as she puts it, "entirely too
bossy." She got as far as Altoona, where
Chief Weir picked hr up, and, after learn
ing her story, sept her here with a letter to
Inspector McAleese.
The girl is innocent, but quite intelligent,
and expresses great contrition for her
thoughtless act in running away. She
made such an impression on Inspector Mc
Aleese that be paid her way borne and sent
her on the 8 o'clock trainlast night.
POISONED BY A FLY
That Sprang From an Innocent-Looking
Bag of Bananas.
Thomas Morris, a brakeman on the Fort
Wayne, now carries his right arm in a sling,
as the result of baying some bananas, as he
avers. He saw some delicious big yellow
ones in a store, and bought a bag. The
moment he opened the bag a slim-looking
fly flew out and alighted on the forefinger of
his right hand.
Mr. Morris felt a little stinging sensation
on the finger, but thought nothing of it
until four or five days later, when the finger
began to swell and then the hand and arm,
until he is greatly concerned for fear he may
lose the use of his arm.
THE SUGAR TRUST'S C0HD1TI01T.
Decision in the Case Reserved, bnt the
Flan and Statement Published.
New York, October 30. Tbe argument
in the Sugar Trust case ended to-day by
Judge Pratt reserving his decision, but he
modified the injunction so as to allow the
publication of the plan of reorganization
and the financial statement. The plan pro
vides for the issue of $25,080,000 70 per cent
preferred stock, 25,000,000 in common stock
and $10,000,000 in bonds to be secured by a
mortgage on the property.
The financial statement shows the total
assets to be $20,537,836 and the total liabili
ties to be $8,794,181.
SETTLED THE WAGE SCHEDULE.
Agreement Reached Between the Bock
Island and Its Firemen.
CniCAOO. October 30. The Chicago,
Rock Island aud Pacific Railroad Com
pany has finally concluded a settlement
with its firemen of their demand for a re
vision of the wage schedule.
General Manager St. John said to-day
that the terms agreed upon were entirely
satisfactory, both to the company and men.
Victims of the Tunnel Catastrophe.
Somerset, KVsr., October 30. The bodies
of John Welch, fireman, and John MooU
eomerv, brakeman, who were supposed to
have been burned In tbe recent collision and
fire at Sloan's Valley tunnel, have been
found beside the track in the debris.
Bled on a Train.
Mrs. Haverstraw, wife of a miner at Glen
shaw, dled'on a Pittsburg and Western train
yesterday morning while on her way to this
cifv for medical treatment. She had been
sunering from heart disease for some time.
NEW ADVEBTTSEMliMTS.
ON NOVEMBER 9,
WILL BE PUBLISHED IN
THE PITTSBURG DISPATCH
THE FIRST CHAPTERS OF
pft pfb
ENTITLED
H LIT
4--
WRITTEN BY THAT BRILLIANT YOUNG AUTHOR,
RUDYARD
No other young author has so favorably impressed the critics both
in America and Europe. His stories and writings have received the
highest commendations from persons whose judgments were of value.
LA UBENCE MUTTON, in Harper's Magazine, says:
"No writer since Dickens, in England, or Bret Harte, in America,
has promised so much. . . . He has been very fortunate in
his experiences, he has made the most of what he has seen and
heard, and he has an unusual gift of expression. ... Mr.
Kipling's short stories are unexcelled."
An Eminent English Critic said:
"The four English authors who possess genius are Lord Tenny
son, George Meredith, Robert Louis Stevenson and Rudyard
Kipling."
ME. ANDREW LANG, a Critic of no mean order, says:
"He has seen a perfect Odyssey of strange experiences, has
known or has devined the most unheard-of dealings of men with
men, and everywhere has found them human. To myself, Mr.
Kipling seems one of the two or three or four young men (and he
is far the youngest) who flash out genius from some unexpected
place, who are not academic, nor children of the old literature,
but of their own works."
TH UGHT
MR. RUDYARD KIPLING'S FIRST NOVEL
It is a story of extraordinary interest and merit It is prac
tically a love story. THE OPENING SCENES ARE
LAID IN EGYPT during the time that
GORDON WAS SHUT UP IN KHJPUM
It opens with a description of a fight in the desert, in
which the
AEABS CHARGE A HOLLOW SQUARE
Of soldiers, and so intense is the interest in the description
of this scene that one forgets his surroundings and feels as if
he himself were a
tylljlClrWT :-: iji -:- Jill? -:- TthhlbLt :- tipj.
THE HERO OF THE STORY IS A WAR ARTIST
doing sketches of the battles for illustrated weeklies in
Europe.
THE SCENE SHIFTS TO LONDON,
Where the hero, fay his original and extraordinary geniusf
becomes the talk of London. Much is expected of this
story, as Mr. Kipling has, by his minor writings, not only
captured thoroughly the popular imagination, but he has
received the very highest praise from the critics.
THE dispatch
Is glad to be the means of introducing this brilliant author's
first novel to the reading public of this metropolis and the
great West. Remember, it will begin to run
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9.
sz.
PAGES 9 TO 12
totthrlii. sjoli
TIT FAILED
4-
KIPLING.
THAT FAIUD
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