aaajSKai -Tgf5 i THE PITTSBURG- DISPATCH, WEDNESDAY, DEOEIBER 16, 1891. mmgm Hje Bi&rafajj. ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 8. 16- Vol.46. No. 112 Entered at Pittsburg Postoffice November. 18S7, as second-class matter. Business Office Corner Smithfield and Diamond Streets. News Rooms and Publishing House 78 and So Diamond Street, in New Dispatch Building. FATFT!V ADYFRTISINR OFFICE, ROOM II. TRIRIJNE 1UIILDIVG. NEW YORK, wherecom-r-lete flies of THE DISPATCH can almnhe found. Foreign advertisers appreciate tlie convenience. Home advertisers and friends of THE DIPATCU. w hiie in Icw York, are also made -welcome. THE DI'SPATCITtirenvlnrl'on xaleatBrentaW. Hum Square, ac York, and V Are deVOprra. rant. linnet, where anyone xehn An been disap pointed at a hotel netcs stand ca,i obtain it. TERMS OF THE DISPATCH POSTAGE FREE IN THE CMTFD STATE":. TATLTl)isrATCiI. One Year J S 00 ruilr Disp ITCII. Per Quarter - CO Daily Dispatch. One Month TO Iiailv Disr ktcii. including sundsA, 1 Tear 10 01 D ULT DisrATcn. including undav, 3 m'ths. I SO I)LTl)irticK. including Snndaj, 1 m"tli . SrsriAY Pit itch. One 'S ear SW) WeekltDisfvtcii, One ear. 13 The D UIA Dispatch is delivered bv carriers at IV cent per week, or, including Sunday Edition, at Sv cents per tv eek. riTTSnL'RG. WTDNESDVY. DFC. 16. I'll. VALUE or srKKDY K ML 5KK1 ICfc. Xbw that tbePennsjlvania Railroad has sot control of the Allegheny Valley lines we may hope with some degree of con fidence that the latter will he made of much greater service to Pittsburg than it ever was under theoldmaiiaenieut. The Courts are by no means a hininc success in the executive management of outside business, such as running a railroad or undertakings of that sort. But it mustbe -aid that in the hands of a receier, the lleaheny T?lley has hardly been more .lucjjish than it was under its previous crippled management. Though the coun irv up the Allegheny Valley is capable of important development, and opuortunitios exist for many valuable connections, the railroad has made little effort to impro e them. The first train, for instance, going through to Oil City or any point beyond East Brady does not start until about half past eight in the morning near the hour for opening court while any one coming here from the oil regions and northern part of the State, or from Buffalo, has to tome on a train which stops at every sub urban t-tation near the citv for accommo dation traffic. The dilatory process of the law has penaded the schedule of the line v pry fully ever since it has been under the jurisdiction of the Courts. The importance of good railroad ser vice to Pittsburg, and for the ultimate in terest of the roads themselves, is worthy of more consideration than is usually gien to the subject The mercantile business of our city depends greatly upon the surrounding towns. There is much debatable territory open equally to Buf falo, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Baltimore, whose custom can be secured for Pittsburg by railroad service devised special ly for it, nr dri en aw ay from Pittsburg by slovenly, ill-considered arrangements. Pittsburg has a good market, and should be an admirable distributing point It has decided advantages over any of the other cities named. Its merchants are abundant in enterprise. But the people of mid-way territory must be given a chance to got their news from Pittsburg by early trains in the morning. Thus familiarized with Pittsburg newspapers, they would become acquainted with the inducements 'offered for trading in this tow n. Again, in coming and going from our market, they are entitled to a speedy r-ervice, as Time is money: and beautiful though the scenery be in this part of the State, life is too short for dalljing with it interminably on slow-poke trains What helps Pittsburg will in turn help the local roads. Bujers coming to the Pittsburg market swell the road's receipts; and whether they send their produce here, or bring their goods from this point, it is equally dollars in the treasury of the rail road they patronize. Some of our rail road managers do not seem to care enough fortius. To save a few dollars they will gie late and slow service out of and into the city in place of an early and speedy one. But the great Pennsylvania Railroad does not do things after this penny-wise fash ion; so the change of ownership of the Allegheny Valley is a matter for congrat ulation; as would also be the adoption of the Pennsylvania's enterprise by some of the other roads having their main ter minals here. When our railroads help Pittsburg they will be most efficiently helping themselves. This is something they can never afford to forget, though sometimes the less exper ienced of them think they can. THE CANAL KEPOKTS PROGRESS. The Ohio River and Lake Erie Ship Canal is now before tne Government. Yesterday Senator Quay presented a bill providing for its survey, and it only re mains for the Congressmen who represent the districts interested to push this pre liminary step further. By a proper presentation of the benefits to be derived from a waterway of the character designed by the projectors of the Ohio River and Lake Erie Ship Canal other localities than Western Pennsyl vania, Eastern Ohio and the river-washed hections of West Virginia will be aroused. When the coal, coke, glass, iron and steel consuming regions reached by lake, riv er J and canal navigation East and West through the medium of the proposed waterway realize fully its advantages, the national servants of the constitu encies which now stand alone in its interest will have powerful a'hes. It is not by any means a sectional scheme or a job whereby a clique hopes to reap a harvest through Government aid. It is a necessity of development which, while in a measure local, redounds to the benefit of the whole Nation an improvement that will be prosperous iu peace and powerful in war. In the advocacy of the survey bill all the internal waterway interests should, and no doubt will, heartily join. To aid them in argument all who have the inter (stsof the project at heart should furnish such data as will convince the skeptical that the canal for which Senator Quay has asked a survey is a legitimate, business like, resource-developing enterprise not a stock-watering foreign scheme like the Xicaragua ghost now plaguing the ad ministration that embraced it ORGANIC LOGIC. An interchange of political compliments occurs between two New York organs, w hich indicates the way the organ is apt to look at things. With reference to Speaker Crisp's remark in his speech to the Democratic caucus, "I pledge myself, here and now, to devote whatevermdustry and ability I possess to the advancement of the real interests of the Democratic party," the New Yorkifcwrefcrsajs: "The people of the United States do not pay Brother Crisp 58,000 a year to devote his industry and ability to the interests, real or unreal, of the Democratic party." Mr. Crisp would, of course, if answering this jibe, reply from his partisan stand point that the real interests of the Demo cratic party are the real interests of the country, and in devoting himself to the one he devotes himself to the other. And a Democratic organ might pertinently say that a newspaper which smiles on the rec ord of the Hon. Thomas B. Reed in the Speaker's chair might be a little more modest in demanding that a Democratic Speaker shall abjure party on assuming the position. But the New York Telegram rushes to the defense with the 'following assertion: "Judge Crisp was at that moment addiessing a body of Democrats as such who had designated him for a public post When Speaker Crisp has an opportunity of addressing the people of the whole country he will no doubt strike a broadernote." In other w ords, the Speaker is to say one thing to a partisan body, but, if we can comprehend the meaning of that mixed metaphor "a broader note," he is to say another thing to the whole country. "Any way," concludes the Telegram, "please observe that a man who is faith ful to his party is reasonably sure to ac ceptably serve the public" Let us see. Tweed was faithful to his party, the cer tain fortress of all machine politicians, in cluding those Republicans whom the Tele gram is wont to condemn, that are faith ful to their party. Consequently, Tweed, Connolly, Croker, Dudley, Quay and the entire class on both sides of the political fence are "reasonably sure to acceptably serve the public." Of course, such an avowal furnishes a full vindication of the last Speaker from all the Democratic at tacks upon him. The logic of a once independent paperconvertedinto an organ is often extremely useful as a warning. THE ADMINISTRATION'S CHANGE. Following closely upon the heels of the verj positive indications that the adminis tration and Senatoi Quay have ceased to occupv the same sleeping apartments, comes a rumor fiomNew York that ex Senator Piatt is no longer to hold the posi tion of patronage-dispenser for the State of New Yoik. For three-and-three-quar-ters j ears of the administration the roval road to federal office lay through the favor of Quay in Pennsjlvania and Piatt in New York. But this, it seems on good authority, is no longer to be the case. Quay audhis followers are already marked for turning down, and New York is given to understand that others beside Piatt will exercise the coutiolhng influence as to the appointments in that State. y tills change of base could be taken as a recognition by the administration of the fact that Messrs. Quay and Piatt have used the Government patronage in their various States simply to build up a politi cal machine, and that their use of patronage was a falsification of the civil service reform pledges of the President and his party; or as a determi nation to reform that matter and take the offices out of politics, it would be a strong point for the administration. But unfor tunately no such significance can be at tached to it With regard to Senator Quay.lt may be an open question whether he left the ad ministration or the administration left him; but there is no doubt that whatever changes are made in patronage as a result of the separation will be for the sake of political revenge and political discipline. As to Piatt, the trouble is not that he has used his patronage for the machine but that the machine has not worked well enough. The administration quest now is for a man who can use the patronage so much more successfully than Piatt as to 1 capture New York for Harrison next j ear. Briefly the showing of the cold shoulder to PJatt and Quay is not a warning to office-holders that they must keep out of politics; but it is an advertisement that they must keep in; that they must work for the interests of the head of the admin istration; and that if they do not succeed in their efforts, their state is parlous. All of which shows that it is one thing to make civil service reform pledges, and quite another thing to keep them. AN HONORABLE SETTLEMENT. The announcement that the estate of Hon. William A. Wallace has been re stored to his personal direction without impairment is gratifying. Mr. Wallace under pressure of business complications early in the year made an assignment; but the clearest assurance of the good condi tion of his affairs is that, with the consent of all his creditors, the court has vacated it, and returned the property to his con trol. This is gratifying in a double sense. The efforts of Mr. Wallace in developing the resources of the Clearfield region have added millions to the wealth of that dis trict It may be that his business troubles arose from the extended condition of his affairs as a result of that effort, and every one will be glad to know he has a fan chance of getting out of his embarrass ments with enough to pay his creditors and a margin for himself. There is even more gratification in the evidence thus given of Mr. Wallace's high standard of business morals in the care lie took to protect his creditors. Most insol vencies of late have been remarkable for the entire disappearance of assets. But this one shows that the creditors were so well protected as to warrant the return of the property to his hands an arrange ment equally creditable to both sides. IT SHOULD HE DECIDED HERE. At the meeting of the freight agents of the Western railways centering in Pitts burg, the long-standing application of the pig iron interests for a reduction of the rate from the valleys to Pittsburg was again presented. The local agents are re ported as impressed favorably toward the application; but the usual course was taken of referring it to the Central Traffic Association. This exhibits one feature of the combi nation policy of the railroads. The de cision of the question of rates affecting the prosperity of a single legion is not left to the railroads doing the business. Even the joint decision of the men in close touch with the interests involved, and knowing the capabilities apd needs of the traffic, is not permitted. The question must be referred to a committee meeting hundreds of miles away, some of whom have no interest in developing the traffic of this region, and some of whom may even be interested in preventing it from securing all the advantages it might secure by In dependent action. The request for a rate in the vicinity of fifty cents per ton seems like a large one; but recently published statistics show it in a different light The census bulletin on railway statistics shows that the aver age rate per ton mile on all freight in group II, consisting of New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and part of West Virginia, was slightly over eight-tenths of a cent The proposed rate is at that average. But pig iron is a freight far below the average in the cost of handling. It is one of the cheapest classes, and is moreover one of the fundamental freights on which a vast volume of other traffic depends. The pig iron interests are quite right in asserting that such questions should be decided by the men who are familiar with the subject and interested in the develop ment of the traffic. They might go fur ther and assert that each railroad should decide the question for itself, solely upon its relations to its own traffic. But that will never be done so long as the combina tion policy prevails which carefully re serves the decision of such questions for an organization interested only in keeping up railway charges. COL. MERRILL'S SERVICE'S. Pittsburg will join as a community in the public regrets over the death of CoL Win. E. Merrill. Although that officer was never a resident of this city, his posi tion made a prominent figure in connec tion with our river interests, and his long services in the work of bringing out the greatest possibilities of that natural water way, the Ohio river, identified him with both the past and future of Pittsburg. The most striking result of CoL Merrill's labors in the interest of Pittsburg's river transportation was the Davis Island dam; but in addition to that work, the labor of twelve years in maintaining and improv ing the navigation of the Ohio entitles him to a tribute from Pittsburg's commer cial bodies. There is no doubt that the recognition of Col. Merrill's public ser vices to Pittsburg will be prompt and warm. "Possibly the Government, in loaning a credit of $103,000,000 to the Nicaragua Canal projectors, maybe able to take security that the money will be economically and wisely expended. But theie is in experience small wairant for such an expectation," says the Philadelphia Record. Our cotemporary 's op position to the canal job is well founded, but it puts the case too mildly. When the engi neer's estimate of $60,000000 to $70,000,000 for tho coat of the canal is contrasted with the proposed Government guarantee of $100,000, 000, and a big tank of water in the stock on top of that, there is no chance that the en terprise on such a basis can be anything but a scheme of plunder. Commissioner of Navigation Bates is going thiough a course of instruction as to the deleterious effects of too much pre viousness w ith his repoits. Mr. Bates had a warning last year and a reprimand this year. What he will get next year must be left to the future. The New York Sun quotes irom a Mem phis paper the statement of a theory that the nasal twang generally attributed to the Yankees is a servival of lUe sanctimonious tones of the English Puritans. But what will this theory do with the fact that the most pronounced case of the nasal "mow" and "baow," previously supposed to belong ex clusively to Yankees, was emitted from the cockney, but beautiful lips of Lydia Thomp son's British Blondes when they flrt ap peared in this country years ago? Weie those undraped but gorgeous beings also a survival of Puritan sanctimoneousness? The impression that the curative acts do not cure is strongly affirmed by the learned counsel for the property-holders who do not wish to pay for the improvements. But the courts will have the last say on that point. Bismaeck now finds himself unable to coincide with the German Emperor s views of absolute power. The Iron Chancellor had a great deal to do with building up the Imperial power in Germany on the absolute basis, but then Bismarck: was the wieldor of that power. There is nothing more thoroughly calculated to convince a man of the error of absolutism than to (find himself on the outside of it. Twenty-nine million dollars tor the Allegheny Valley road elves those old in come bonds a more positive value than they ued to have. But how many of them are still in the hands of former holders? An example of "McKinley prices' is quoted by the Buffalo Courier, which on ex amination proves to consist of tho fact that carpets have got down to such a low level that the Courier alleges a trust to be neces sary. Has our esteemed free trade cotem porary reached the pass of acknowledging that the distinguishing characteristic of 'McKinley prices" is the unprecedented cheapness? The Irish factions are still doing their best to furnish campaign ammunition to their Tory opponents, in the way of practical demonstration that they will not oultivate the ability to govern themselves. Now we learn that a German Prince has left Berlin and his creditors w ith the inten tion of offering himself and his title for sale to the American heiresses. If some measures are not taken this unregulated competition for the sale of foreign titles will utterly de moralize the market According to all the trust theories there is an evident necessity for a combination in titles. The "get-poor-quick" societies do not advertise themselves as such: but there are plenty of them from speculation in Wall street down to playing the Gailleld Park races. It is "sad to learn that while the marriage of Prince Collars and Cuffs meets with the enthusiastic approval of tho Philadelphia Press and 'Squire Smalley, the Duchess of Edmbuigh is violently opposed to It. Some means should be taken to make these promi nent ladies flop in unison. Perhaps we can accept the President's indorsement of the Nicaragua canal Job as an evidence that Warner Miller has been taken inside the breastworks. Another rolling-mill strike is ended by the defeat of the men. The footing up of the losses to the workingmen by that strike will give a new demonstration of the prin ciple that a strike is not to bo resorted to, except as a last resort and not even then without a fair chance of victory. NEAR THE TOP EUXG. The Duke of Devonshire continues to linger between life and death. Carter Harrison, Chicago's ex-Mayor, has a fortune of more than $1,000,000. Mr. Crisp will keep order with a beauti ful new gavel made of Georgia pine inlaid with gold. The Virginia Legislature yesterday re elected John W. Daniel United States Sena tor without opposition. Henry Burden McDowell and two daughters are all that remain of General Irwin McDowell's family. Lord Provost Russell is prostrated with the gup, as is also the ex-LoidTiovost, the Bight Hon. John Boyd. Samuel B. Thayer, United States Min ister to the Netherlands, will return to his post of duty to-day, after a vacation of six weeks. Harry Crisp, a brother of the Speaker of the House, was at one time a well know n actor. He played several seasons in "My Partner." The Prince of Naples, heir apparent to the Italian thione, has been betrothed to the eldest daughter of the Duke of Edin burgh. The wedding will take place next spring. Congressman Sherman Hoar sits in the same pew with his distinguished uncle on Sundajs, but it is believed that their paths do not cross on the other six days of the week. JtOSA Bonheur has finished the largest animal picture ever painted. It is called Lo Depiquage, and represents ten horses large as Jlfe trotting over the thrashing floor still used in parts of Southern Europe. LIVE WASHINGTON WAIFS. Washington, D. C, Dec. 15 An inter view with J. VY. Woodruff, of Lander, Wyo., Chairman of the Shoshone and Arapahoe Indian Commission, published to day; stated that Mr. Woodruff was on his way to Wash ington to oppose the ratification of the treaty negotiated by the majority of tho commission, on the ground that the nnco paid was more than the lands ceded were worth C. II. Menllat, who was one of the majority of the commission, to-day said: "The commission secured more than half of the leservation of these Indians in Wyoming. The amount ceded is estimated at 1,100,000 acres, out of 2 000,000 acics belong ing to those Indians. For the lands ceded the commission paid $3 0,000, or 55 cents an acie. The Wind ri er reservation included an unusually large number of fine streams of water. The Big Horn river and its con tinuation, the Wind liver, tiaverse nearly the whole of the reservation. Numeions tributanes 'flow into th6 main stream, so that the trouble of securing a water supply, the lack of which is the great drawback to the and regions, is considerably less on this reservation than in other sections where streams aie to be found only a great dis tances apart. Good timber i3 found in the noi thern and w estei n portion of the lesei v a tion, ana when tho reservation is thrown open the indications favor the development of mining propeities. In Wyoming thi Wind liver country is regarded as one of the favored portions of the State. To make It piospeious railroad communication is needed moie than anything else It is sm pnsing, theretoie, that Mr. Woodruff, a Wyoming man, should make the objection that 55 cents an acre is an exorbitant price to bo paid for the lands. But Mr. Woodruff is disappointed because the Indians abso lutely i eiused to accent an offer he made of $100,000 for only about 60,000 acres additional on the southern pait of tho reservation near the town of Lander." Secretary Blaine has received a long cable message from United States Minister Egan, at Santiago, Chile, but refuses posi tively to say anything about it. It is under stood to convey the substance of the com ments of Mr. Matta, Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the recent official utter ances of the President and the Secretaiy of the Xavy in regaid to the Valparaiso mci- cent Assistant Attorney General Shields, of the Intenoi Department, has de cided that Jane Waldron, who is the daugh ter of a white father aud a half-blood In dian mother, was a born citizen of the United States, and that her claim that she is Indian by virtue of being born of an In dian mother cannot be allowed. Neither can she longer be permitted to draw ritions and annuities as such from the Government, nor can she receive lands in severalty. It is said at the Indian Bureau that this case practically decides from f 00 to 1.000 similar cases in all paits of the West. In many cases, howevei, the right of a half-blood to be regaided under the lawns an Indian, is fully acknowledged in a number of treaties. In order to afford the young men of the West and Noithwest an opportunity of en tering the medical department of'the army, Acting Secretary Grant to-day ordeied a board of medical officers to convene at Chi cago February 1, next, for the elimination of all applicants for appointment in that service. Minister Denby, at China, has in formed the Seoretary of State that while the Chinese Government will make no provision foi an official representation at the World's Columbian Exposition, it has, in order to facilitate exhibits by Chinese merchants and otheis, lemoved the export duty on all articles exported for exhibition at Chicago. Secretary Foster has so much im proved that Dr. Hamilton, who has attended him ever since he was taken sick, left Wash ington to-day for Chicago, to resume his offi cial duties at that place. Dr. G. L.TIagrn der, of this city, who was lately called mtho case, will continue to attend the Secretary during his convalescence. One of the disappointed men on the Dem ocratic side of the House is Representative Bynum, of Indiana, who was in charge of Mr. Mills' Speakership campaign, nad the result been otherwise than it was, Mr. Bynum, it was understood, would have been appointed Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, having served as a mem ber of the minority on that committee in thej Fifty first Congress. 9r. Bynum, how ever, takes his defeat good naturedly, and it is understood has in view the nomination for Governor of Indiana, to make the race next year. Indiana politicians say that Mr. Bynum can have the nomination if he de sires, and, having been disappointed in se curing the place he wished in the organiza tion ot the House, it is more than likely that he will tnrn to for consolation to the suf frages of his ptirtv in Indiana and head the Democratic ticket theie in ISM. The sentence in Secretary Blaine's recent conditional acceptance of an invita tion to deliver an address before an Ameri can commercial club in Boston, by which bis appearance was made to depend upon the condition of Mrs. Blaine's health, caused much comment. The deference paid by Mr. Blaine, to his wife's judgment, in all matters pertaining toftiis political career, is a matter of political knowledge: hence the general interest felt in tne statement implying that she is not in good health. It was felt by many that her illness might, and probably would, have a distinct and active bearing upon the Secretary's attitude toward the nomination for the Piesideucy, and the con dition of her health has been the subject of anxious inquiry. Since hei return to Wash ington with the Secietary Mrs. Blaine has been confined to the house almost con tantly, and part of the time to her bed. Her trouble was a sort of general prostration, probably due to a relaxation from the strain under which she laboied during the illness of the Secretary in the summer. Now, how ever, she is able to bo about the house, but still does not go out, although much im pioved. The Comptroller of the Currency has authorized the Chemical National Bank of Chicago to begin business with a capital of $L00O,O0O. The Brazilian Government has asked for an extension of time for the ratification of the treatv of aibltration recently concluded between Brazil and the United States. The National Executive Silver Commit tee will meet here Tuesday, January 5, 1892. A cablegram received at the Navy De partment announces the arrival of the Chi cago and Burlington at St. Thomas, West Indies, to-day on their way to the South Atlantic station. THEIR CIGARS AND HATS. Mr. Reed wears a 7J derby. Secbetart Foster sports a 7J-C tile. Calvis S. Brice smokes the best cigars ob tainable. Major McKislet wears a blight silk felt, size yt. The Shah of Persia has a tobacco pipe worth $400,000. Joh D. Rockefeller pi efers a mild cigar costing about 40 cents. Mr. Blaixe wears a 7 hat, as also do Sec Tetaiies Tracy and Noble. Presidext Harrisos and ex-President Cleveland wear " hats. Cornelius Va,drbilt smokes strong cigars costing 25 cents each. Senator Voorhees wears a 7J tile, and has the largest head in the Senate. Jay Gould never smokes, but he keeps tho best brand on tap for his friends. J0KEES SENT TO THE 700B HOUSE. How a Union City Lawyer Got Even With ;Friends Who Dined at His Expense. Erie, Dec. 15. F. M. McClintock, lawyer, of Union City, was in Erie and dined at the Reed House. Soon after he had registei ed for dinner, C. S. Olmstead, of Corry, and J. W. Sproul, of Union City, came in. Seeing McC's name, they winked slyly at the cjeik, and registered, affixing to tneir autographs tle woids, "with McClintock," so that tho bill of the paity would be charged to phe latter. McClintock when coming to the counter, saw through the joke. He paid the bill with out protest. Then he went forthwith to the office or the Pool Directors, where ho filed an application in regular form, setting foith that C. S. Olmstead and J. W. Spioul are destitute and without yislblo means of sup port, "and I being n relative of said parties, f. e a brother (in-law), do most lespectfully Eray that an order of relief be at once issued v your honorable Boaid of Poor Directors."' The petition was granted and an order made outTor thb commitment of Spronl and Olmstead to the almshonse, and there was anmA tnhnrrn humeri nt their exnennn Ahntif: J the Court House. AN0THEB SHIP CANAL SCHEME. An Ohio Senator Wants to Connect the Elver With tho Lakes. Cohtmbus, O., Dec. 15. Hon. W. C. Gear, of Wyandot, who was a member of the last House and will be a member of the next Senate, is here to-day, and gives the outline of a bill, which he will introduce eaily in the session, providing for the abandonment of a poition of tho canal system of the State. The bilf which Senator Gear has prepared provides for the appointment by the Gover nor of a commissioner to act in conjunction with the State Board of Public Works in selling the canals and canal propeity be longing to the State, except the Miami and Erie Canal from Toledo to Cincinnati and that poition of the Ohio Canal between Cleveland and Dresden. The idea of the authororthe bill is that; the State, with the assistance of the general Government, should widen and deepen the two canals so as to conveit them into ship canals uy which large boats could ply between Lake Erie and the Ohio liver. Senator Geai s pi oposition is to divei t the course of the Ohio Canal into the Musking um, lecentlv improved by the Government, at Dresden, which would permit Lake Erie boats to enter the Ohio river at Marietta, while he would divert the course of the Miami and Erie into Mill creek at Cincin nati, cutting off that portion ljiug within the city limits, which would permit the con struction of a boulevard so long talked of. Senator Gear, who la a civil engineei, esti mates that the cost of tho Miami and Erie improvement would be about $18,000,000, while that of the Ohio Canal would amount to $10,000,000. The proceeds derived from the sale of tho canal propeity and the abandoned poitions of the canils, Senator Geai thinks, would go far tonard paying for the proposed improvement. CHILDBEH IMITATE ANIMALS. One Was Bitten by a Dos and the Other by a Cat a Year Ago. Cvto, O.. Dec. 15 Several days ago Honaid Davis, aged8 yeais, taken from tho Fairmount Cliildien's Home by George M. Smith, showed signs of hydrophobia. He became violent, balking and snapping like a dog. The physician who has been attend ing him makes the staitling statement that the trouble is the ieult of a blow over the boy's heart, caused by a snowball thron n at school several days ago. The milk of the blow is visible. A year ago the boy was bitten in the hand bv a pet dog at the home or Ezra. Moore, at Salem, wheie ho lived lor a time. Another case of hydrophobia is lcported from Hartford City, Ind. A 10 year-old son of William Smith, a farmei, has all the actions of a cat during tho spasms with which he has been afflicted daily, and twice Saturday he was tied fat to his bed, yet it was with difficulty that live men could man ago him without danger to themselves. He spits like a cat, claws, and as the spell at tacks hnn paw s and plai s like one and licks himself witn his tongue. Fully 50 men were present during his last spasms. He was bitten by a cat about a year ago, but no bad effects followed. TO DEAIN A LAKE. Its Waters Never Give Up the Dead That Lie at Its Bottom. Nzw York. Dec. 15. A movement is. now on foot in the neighborhood of Hutton Lake which will, in all probability, solve a mys tery and show the cause for a legend which has attached to that body of water ever since man has been in this part of the coun try. Abou. tho middle of October M. B. Dawson, a prominent and wealthy man, fell into the lake, sankandnevernasseenagain. The lake was dragged and then a diver was sent for flora San Francisco, who searched the lake, but gave it as his opinion that the body was fast in the mnd at the bottom As there is an insurance of $27,000 on Diw son's life it is necessary that the body should be recovered. To this end arrangements have been made to have the lake drained. It is estimated that this work will cost $10, 000, and it will take nearly six months to complete the task. Engineers have 'ceen figuring on the work, and the contract will be let at once. The move has attracted the attention of scientists from all parts of the country, and It is expected that valuable in formation will be obtained from the bottom of the death-trap. F0THD A CEYSTAL CAVE. It Is in a Mountain That Seems to Be Hollow to the Cbre. Oroviixe, Cal., Dec. 15 A day or so ago a prospector named James Boos, discovered at Table Mountain a beautiful crystal cave. He was walking on the north side of the mountain when the earth gave way beneath him and he fell into an opening several feet deep. Having a prospector's lamp with him he lighted it and partially explored the ex cavation. Proceeding down an incline for some distance he found at its end a room some 30 feet square, its walls and roof being com pletely covered with the most beautiful crv btals Not having sufficient light he did not explore taither and does not know to what extent the cavern extends. This new discovery is near the old cave that has been so long known. It is possible that the entire Table Mountain is a mammoth cave for to one walking on the surface it sounds hollow and empty. PEEPABIHG FOE THE P0W-W0W. The National Bepnblican Sub-Committee Meet Minneapolis People. Mixukapolis, Dec. 15. The sub committee of the National Republican Executive Com mittee arrived in the city this morning from Chicago. There were in the party Chairman J. S. Clarkson and others. The committee was met by the Citizens' Executive Com mittee, and at once went into Joint session to map out tho work of getting ready for the National Convention next June. The plans of Architect Wan en H. Haye3 for remodeling the Exposition building to meet the emergencies of the convention were reviewed. Colonel Clarkson said he sawnoieason why Minneapolis could not take care of the convention in fine shape. He again denied ever having said the things attiibuted to him in the Harrison inter views sent out from Washington. He re turns to-night to Des Moines to attend a' family reunion. THAT FLEECY WAR CLOUD. The Euiopean warcloud is having another inning. Omaha World-Herald. The Russian bear does not seem to be hibernating this winter. Detroit Journal. The war cloud is hovering over Russia again. How that cloud does travel from one place to another. Boston News. The Czar and the Sultan may make it up Just now for a purpose. But they will watch each other lifce two thieves all the same. Rochester Union. Emilahd, for all the woild knows, may be now face to face with the problem of the in vasion of India. She is at war with tribes on the border that aie protected by Russia. Washington Star. If the sensitiva feelings of Great Britain are at all hurt by that little affair at Gilgit, Russia can afford to apologize. It would not do to give too much piominence to the steady advance of Russia toward India. IV. I'. World. Pamir, winch may yet be the battle giound of two great powers contending for supiem acyin Asia, is only a nan ow rocky valley. But it is a gateway to India, and therefore a prize to be coveted cageilyboth by Russia and England. Boston Globe. Painting Seized in Minneapolis. MrNXEAroLis, Dec. 15 United States Treasury officials seized another painting to-dav, the "Aux Ainien," from the Salon of '91, by Berne-Bellecui. It is claimed the duty has not been paid. On Satuiday they also seized Gerome's "The Lien Awaiting His Prey." There aie still four other valua ble paintings in the possession of Gross and Van Gjsch which the Government will piobablj seize and offer for sale at public auction. The collection has been on exhi bition here at a picture store. Th Story In a Nutshell. Chicago Iutcr-Ocean. Tammany furnished the animal, Gov ernor Hill gloomed him, and Cleveland crawled Inside. That is the story in a nutshell. They Will Lard the Lean Earth. Omaha World-Herald.3 The superstitious who fear"agieen Christ mas" seem In a fair way to "lard the lean earth with their tears." DOINGS IN HIGH LIFE. Mrs. c. L. Mageo Presides Over a Dinner for Two Cincinnati Belles Mrs. Merrill, or the Artistic Needle, Returns to Town Gossip of the Hour. Mrs. Christopher D. Magee entertained a few friends at dinner yesterday evening. The guests were seated at a round table ar tistically decorated witli American beauty roses. The service used was largely of rare old china which Mrs. Magee has picked up from timo to time when choice pieces were avail able. Miss Semple ana Miss Jordon, of Cin cinnati, Mrs. Schoonmaker's visitors, were the guests of honor. Mrs. Mary Bath Merrill, of Columbus, the artist in needlework, is at the Slonon gahela House and expects to remain over Thursday, provided that much timo is re quired for the lessons arranged for to-day, nndin concluding the anangement for her rittsDnrg work next j car. Sirs. Merrill has enjoyed the most flattering reception ever accorded real artistic work by the ladies of Pittsburg and expects to have full classes wnen ner uays nere aie estamisnea. Social Chatter. If Cincinnati does not soon demand the leturn of its two beautiful young bellesMiss Joidan and Miss Setnple, it really will not bo surprising to hear that Pittsbnrg may keep them always. They have made a social sensation here and have been accorded a welcome such as Pitt-burg rarely gives any body. In social circles it is said that the number of aspirants to dance attendance on them would be difficult to count. Dr. C. B. Kiya -ent out invitations last Friday to the number of several hundred for the coming out ball of hi3 daughter, Miss Nina King. It is to be given in the assembly l ooms of the Duqnesno Clubhouse, and is the first large attair, given there this season. Next Tuesday evening at 8 o'clock is the time set in tho invitations. If the dansant grows in such favor as to teach Pittsburg, our society men will find it harder than ever to combine business with pleasure. There has been talk of Satur day afternoon entertainments obtaining, bnt as this is always a great matinee day in town, the innovation hardly recommends itself. An attendance or ncaily200 was at the regular lehearsal of the Mozart Club in their pleasant rooms on Fourth avenue last even ing. The woik of tho chorus was excellent and indicates that the "Messiah" at old City Hall, on Monday evening, Decembers, will bo well remembered. Jin. and Mrs. Fpedebick W. Vat Ostfx have plea-antly established themselves in a cottage belonging to and adjoining the E at t residence in Center avenue, and qmte look upon themselv es as old married people. Thev will be at home after and during tho remainder of this month. Modikska's grip has caused the wheels of society to revolve les smoothly than is their wont; a number of theater parties having been arranged for this week. This is a favorite mode of entertaining a debutante this winter. , The marnago of Miss Blanche Plavford. daughter of Congiessman Playford, of Uniontown, to Mr. Edgar C. Boyle, is ar ranged to take place January li Invita tions w ill include people in Pittsburg and its suburbs. The Club Theater is, what might be termed, an electric light beauty. The colors were chosen with a view to their evening effect and tho whole work of decorating done in the full blaze of the incandescent lamps. Mas. A. E. W. Paixtek gave a dance last night for the Misses Lane, of Troy; Miss Newport ot Cleveland, and Mr. Agassiz, of Boston. XEELY'S rOIIOWERS EXCITED. They Refuse to Believe the Arkansas Death Besaltcd From the Treatment. White Plaixs, N. Y., Dec. 15. SpeciaZ. The members of the Bi-Chloride of Gold Club of the Keely Institute have circulated In knots to-day in the hotels and in the streets discussing with the greatest interest the announcement made this morning that H. J. Johnson, a contractor, had died at the Keely Institnte at Hot Springs, Ark , while undergoing treatment for the liqnor habit. Ont of tho 140 patients not one could be found to day who believed that Johnson's death was attributable to the Keely treat ment. Superintendent Persons, when seen at the institute, said that Johnson's death was at tributable to alcoholism. "He was dvlng when they took him there," said Mr. Per son". Dr. Vandenberg, the physician in charge, pooh-poohed the idea of Johnson's death hav ing been caused by the treatment. The doctor said thatxseveral caues may have been productive of Johnson's death, the most likely and probable one being al coholism. The doctor said that any patient who had been strongly addicted to drink was liable to die while under treatment. SWALLOWED A BABY'S LEG. A Snake Escapes 9rom Its Owner Startles an Indiana family. and DanvilIe, Isd., Dec. 15. John Craig, who is Forepaugh's snake charmer, and who winters in this place with his cage of per forming reptiles, missed a 11 foot boa con strictor Sunday morning. The snake es caped the night before from its box in a barn. He hunted all day for it without success. Yesterday morning, at the open door, it crawled into the house of James Reasoner, while the family were in the rear portion. When the mother entered tne sitting room she saw the monster stretched across the apaitment floor beside her sleeping babv. Her screams alarmed the neighborhood, and when Craig arrived with some others they found that the serpent had already swal lowed one of the child's legs, who, awaken ing with a veil, had alarmed the inmates. The constrictor's jaws were pried open and the infant's leg was withdrawn, after which the leptile grew so furious that he had to be tied with ropes before he could be removed. BEMABKABLE VITALITY. A Young Woman Eecovers After Her Sknll Was Fractured Twice. Guthrie, O. T., Dec. 15 Some months ago Miss Annie Ice, a young lady living near Waco, I. T., had her skull fractured by be ing thrown from a horse. Possessed of re markably vitality, she soon recovered com pletely. A week ago she was thrown from a car and again fractuied the skull at the same place and forced a large piece of the skull In upon the brain. She became a raving maniac and in no way could she be quieted. After she had been in this condition for some days two physicians chloroformed her and removed a piece of the skull as large as a silver dollar. A silver plate was supplied in place of the bono and the young lady at once became rational and sat up. Before night she was going about all light. PLACING SHERMAN. The political silversmiths of Ohio are still yelling "great Is John Shermanl" llko their pi ototypes of Ephesus Toledo Blade (.Dem). It is presumed that Mr. Foraker would be well pleased should John Sherman become a Piesidental candidate Washington Post (Ind). SEJ.ATOR Sherman will be returned to the Senate. Tho people have so declared, and the people mustj be obeyed. Cleielnnd Leader (Rep). Johj. Shermax is coming down the course an easy winner of the Ohio senatorial sweepstakes. Foraker isn't in it, according to present appearances. Boston Herald. Sexator Sherman is said to be a "full fledgedj'residental candidate." While there isnoieasonabl&doubt of Mr. Sherman's re election to the United States Senate, it would, wo think, be well enough to restrain the Presidental bee. iVno York Advertiser (Rep). It is said that John Sherman has re entered tho race for the Presidency in order to save tho country from financial lunacy. The old man haa tried to save the country on three occasions already, but with singu lar indiffeienee to its peril the country has each timo played Emln to his Stanley. St Louis Post Dispatch (Dem). Blaine Will Be Born Again. Chicago Inter-Ocean. I Whenever Democrats get to bo "Blaine protectionists," the sooner they begin to march in the Republican column the better. Blaine's record as a protectionist is clear and clean, and when a Democrat gets onto it he is "born again." Many Cranks In Congress. Chicago Times. 1 There are a good many cranks In Congress this year, but if their presence there will frighten Wall street men away from the capital they may count upon re-election. CUEIODS CONDENSATIONS. The City of Mexico has a population of 329535. Forty-eight different dialects are found In Mexico. Blotting paper is made of cotton rags boiled in soda. Harvard College ha3 219 courses in lib eral arts and sciences. Florida has a man 28 years old and 41 inches high who weighs 50 pounds. Yale College received 5343,305 in gifts, ranging from $100 to $50,000, last year. In 1890, 21,412 people were killed in India by snakes, and 510,050 snakes were killed by people. In the parrot's beak both mandibles are movable a peculiarity unknown in other species of birds. In 12 years the city of Paris has ex pended $270,000 on statues and $65,000 on ornamental toun tains. In West South'port, lit, a clam has re cently been dug which measuredOiU fnches and weighed 14 ounces. The horse has no evebrows, and if much white is visible in the eye itself it is a sure sign of a vicious nature. In England and Scotland Saturday, Sun day and Monday are considered lucky days on which to get marned. The University of 3Iichigan has 2.750 students, a larger number than is enrolled in any other institution, of its kind. The skin of a black deer is worth about $500. One of these animals has recently been seen in Maine, and hunters are after it. Fish swallow their food whole because they are obliged to keep continually open ing and closing the month for the purpose of respiration. The cargo ship of the future will be a flve-masted vessel with auxiliary steam such as is now buildin j on the Clyde. She will carry 6,000 tons. Melbourne, Australia, which was founded less than 50 years ago, has now a population of 500,000, and is the fifth citv in size-in the British Empire. The bog of Allen, Ireland, is the largest unreclaimed bog, covering nearly a quarter of a million acres. The heating power of peat is about half that of coal, and it forms a very valuable article to the poor Irish peasant. Babbits, snakes, birds and fishes never cloe their eyes because unprovided Xirith eyelids. The rabbit and tho common barn jardfowl are each provided with a thin membrane which is let down over tho eye when asleep or at rest. The fox hound was so named because it was originally kept as an addition to ev ery pack of fox honnds. It was always noted for being up within a few minutes ot run ning to ground and aiding very materially in tho capture of Reynard. Bloodhounds derive their name from the possession of a peculiar power of scent ing the blood or a wonnded animal, so that If once pnt on the trail they will hunt the quarry through thick and thin and seldom, if evor, deviate from their course. In the southern portion of Formosa the natives are of the Malay type, fierce, warlike and cannibals in their habits. No white man has ever been among them, and no ono knows their numbers. It would be as much as his life would be worth to go among them. A handsome sarcophagus of Carrara marble is being constructed in Italy, in which the remains of Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada, a former President of Mexico, are to be guarded, and then placed in tho rotunda for illustrious men in the Dolores Cemetery. The British Museum has received as a bequest the Tapling collection of stamps, containing about 200.COO specimens.excluslve of manv cards and envelopes, and valued at between $250,000 and $300 000. 3Ir. Tapling was more than 20 years in making it. Itis pronounced the finest collection of stamps existing. A Skye terrier is so called because the breed was once chiefly raised on the Island of Skye, one of tho Hebrides. The cele brated Dandy Dinmont terrier obtained it3 distinctive title from the fact of its being depicted as the favoi ite of a character bear ing that name in Sir Walter Scott's "Guy Mannenng." Block Island is doubtless the most ex clusive spot in the United States. There people grow up. marry and are buried with out ever having toucned the mainland, not 20 miles away. Only in summer is inter course with the outside world encouraged. Almost everybody on tho island is related to everybody else there. A Maine man bought a spring from a Boston firm. The Ann sent it to him, pay ing 2 cents for postage. The bill was then forwarded for 2 cents the cost of the spring and postage was paid on this. Then the Maine man sent the 2 cents to Boston and the postage was again 2 cents, making a total of 6 cents paid out to collect 2 cents. Gold is so very tenacious that a piece of it drawn into wire one-twentieth of an inch in diameter will sustain a weight of 500 Founds without breaking, says an exchange, ts malleability is so great that a single grain may be divided into 2,000,000 paits and a cubic inch into 9 523 800,529 Darts, each of which may be distinctly seen by the naked eye. In the Yornba country, "West Africa, the natives send messages by means of shells, feathers, peppers, corn, stones, coal, razors, powder and shot and many other things. The meaning of each object i9 known, and all of them together make up a, sort of "code," by which intelligence re lating to anything whatsoever may be trans mitted. A missionary on the Middle Zambesi, who has traveled over all that region, says the best maps of the country are very inac curate: that Tivers are laid down where they do not exist, and that numerous villages ap- Iiear where there is not a trace of a human labltation. He says the maps are simply an aggravation to travelers, who are often put to inconvenience by relying on information which thev find later to be inaccurate. The Island of Formosa is about 270 miles long and 110 wide. Ranges or mount ains extend from tho center to the southern portion. Some of the peaks are quite lofty. Mount Morrison being 12,000 feet high, and all are volcanic. Every little while there is a rumble in the center of one of the peaks and the whole island is convulsed. The climate is favorable to such disturbances, the thermometer rarely getting below 40. DIVIMCTIVE LAUGHS. He There's a good deal to be said Jn favor of cremation. She (shivering) Yes. Indeed. It's so clean and nice and warm. Puck. They skated together, but little they said, Forthey'djnst been made known to each other. But he wished, as they over the bright surface eped. That they thus might through life be together. A crash, they went through "Oh, how awkward," cried 6he. "Tisn't deep, but has any one seen us'" "Jlever mind let me tell you I love yoa," said he. "Since the ice 1 cot broken between us." -.V. r. Press. Chicago "Woman I called to see about getting a divorce. Lawv er What will be your charge? Chicago Woman That's all right; Iwoo'tchargt youaujthlDg. A'. 1'. Herald. The leading man, in love sincere, Did seek the sweet soubrette to wed : I would accent jon but for fear Of quarrels we might haie."snesa!d. The Thespian answered, as he smiled. "Should such conditions e'er upgrow They'll readily be reconciled We're skilled at TnaKing up. ' you mow. Boston Courier. Husband I've changed my mind abou that sealskin sacqne. Mrs. Brings. Vife I'm glad you'v c changed it, Mr. Brlggs You've needed a new one for the last 10 years. Brooklyn Eaale. "Your son is a half back on the Mulli gatawnv University eleven, is he not. Mr. Hicks'' "He was this morning. I don't expect to se more than a quarter ofhtm back to-night, though.' VaryTa Bazar. "Love is blind," they say; Yet 'tis very runny That he sees much $tter V hen the girl ha money. Philadelphia Press. Bessie (aged 6) Mamma, what kind of i L house wlU I Uve In if I get to heaven? Mimm&-I doaa xnow cucu;, aear..oui lb wu be a beautiful, happy and delightful one. Bessie (not exactly satisfied) But what if th janitor doesn't like children. CAtcojo Tribunt,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers