Evening Star Newspaper, May 19, 1897, Page 11

THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY, AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, Cor. 11th St, by un Pesta beep = ‘New York Office, 49 Potter Building. Sodictesnels ‘The Evening Star ts served to subscribers in the city by carriers, on their own tbo 10 cents T week, or 44 cents per month. ies at the Exunter £ cents each. By mail—anywhere in the United States or Canada—postage prepaid—60 cents month. Seturdas Quintuple Shect Star, $1 per year, with foreign postage added, 00. (Entered at th> Fost Office at Washingtoa, D. C., as _secoml-class mail matter.) * &FAll mail subscriptions must be paid in advance. Rates of advertising made known on application. Part2. Che yew Star. Pages 11-14. WASHINGTON, D. C., WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1897—FOURTEEN PAGE Qrintere’ Inf (Be fittle scGoof: master of advertising), saps: Jt is claimed for the Washin afon Stor, and proBabfp trufStuffp cfoimed, tBat no ofser new soaper in f§e counfrp goes info 60 farz: @ vercenfag> of aff £82 Boxses tiffin @ radius of ftenfp mifzs from t6e office of puBfication. SITUATION IN KENTUCKY Maneuvering Already Begun for the Demo- cratic Gubernatorial Nomination. Lies Between Hardin da Goebel— Seramble Over Federal Offices Has Weakened the Republicans. Special Correspondence of The Evening Star. LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 18, 1897. The election of a governor of Kentucky is two years cff, but already the aspirants for the democratic nomiration are at work laying their lines, and foremost in this early activity is Gen. P. Wat Hardin of Mercer county, who was defeated by Gov- ernor Bradley in the last state campaign. Hardin, it will te remembered, accepted the democratic romination on a sound money platform, and then proceeded to kick that platform into smithereens and made his canvass on a free silver basis. Fis speech at the Auditorium in this city accepting the rominaticn was a silver speech, and it sealed his doom. Now Mr. Hardin end former Senator J. C. 8. Black- bura and others of that wing of the party are at work to secure control of the party mechirery in Hardin's interest, and the knowledge that such {s the case has brought State Senator Goebel, Chairman P. P. Johnston of the democratic committee, Elector Smith and ex-Congressman W. J. Stone into the race, although Mr. Smith is the first of these to epenly announce his candidacy Fight is Between Goebel and Hardin. Goebel is the strongest of the three, and it will be a bitter fight between him and Hardin. The coming state convention at Frankfort for the nomination of a demo- cratic candidate for the clerkship of the court of appeals will develop the first test of strength of the Hardin and Goebel fac- tions, and as Green, the Hardin-Blackburn c te, will have the combined oppo- sition of Shackleford and Mason, it seems that Gcebel has @ great chance to assume command of affairs in Kentucky. fact that the city of Louisville de- feated both Hardin for governor and Bryan for President, in Kentucky, is still rankling in the silverite breasts, and Mr. Hardin quoted in the papers as having said at «xington recently that it were better to Louisville to the republicans and carry the state by the outside districts; that such ® procedure would show the city politizian the state could do withoat Louis Such @ result would bring them to vote. ing upon this line, the politicians out- side ef the fifth district have had a called eting of the staie central committee and posed all of the committeemen chosen by the state convention, and put up a number of practically unknown and unskilled men in charge of Loutsville politics. This was dene just before the fifth district corven- tien had named its ticket, and we are threatened with two democratic tickets, which means defeat, certain, and a repabii- ¢ municipal victory. It will hardly mean t defeat of the state ticket for clerk of the court of appeals, but may bring ebout the end desired by Mr. Hardin, and teach that “lesson” to Louisville managers. De Not Speak as They Pass By. It is told quietly here that ex-State fena- tor Martin and ex-United States Senator Jo. Blackburn hardly speak as they pass by on the streets of Versailles, where both Eve. Martin openly charges that Black- burn defeated him for the Senate, ond ts now eager to get even with Jo. He may announce himself as a candidate for the leg! ture or Senate, and if Blackburn will enter the list against him, would be greatly pleased. At all events, Martin has his knife sharpened for Jo., and will use it at the first opportunity. He is a gold dem- ocrat, who stood by Blackburn through friendship. Jo. refused to return the com- pliment, and there's “trouble in de land,” as Jack Chinn's quartet sings. Rumors of the resignation of the govern- or have not been so frequent of late as when the senatorial muddle was in full blast at Frankfort. No one believes that Bradley will resign, cr that he ever ser- feusly thought of resigning, and that if. he does so, it will not be on account of poli- tics, but for private reasons, which will not bear ventilating. The scramble of the republicans for a share in the distribution of the feder.l of- fices has opened many breaches in the G. ©. P. in Kentucky, and it can be freely predicted that in the coming municipal elections in this state that there will be Mttle chance for any republicans to win. The anti-Hunter men are determined to stand or fall by Bradley: the Hunter peo- ple will knife every Bradleyite put up. <= SHARP WORDS IN THE SENATE. The Debaters Nearly Lose Temper in Discussing Cuba. After the close of The Star's report of Proceedings in the Senate yesterday, Mr. Hoar replied briefly to Scnator Mason's Speech on the Morgan belligerency resolu- tion. He said that the only effect of recog- nition would be to give Spain the right to search our ships at sea, and to take away from American citizens in Cuba all hope of recompense for injury done them. He re- ferred sarcastically to Mr. Mason’s “inno- cent and youthful ardor.” “I am sick of this kind of action in the United States Senate,” declared Mr. Hoar. “I think it is disgraceful. The senator Qlason) wants to put down a war with Spain, and he would put it down with a ™mosquito—a mosquito of much buzz and very little sting.” “A New Jersey mosquito?” queried Mr. Mason, gayly, amid laughter. “I know the reputation of a New Jersey ™mosquito,” responded Mr. Hoar, “and one of them two hours out of the egg has more sense than the resolution urged by the senator from Hlinois.”” Mr. Hoar closed with the somewhat con- temptuous remark that he believed littie could be accomplished for Cuba “by speeches for buncombe er for Chicago, to be followed by no practical or sensible actor Mr. Gallinger of New Hampshire ex- pressed surprise that senators should be accusef of speaking for the applause of the galleries, and of furnishing buncombe for constituents. These senators had sought for months to secure consideration of a Cuban resolution, but had been cut off by filibustering methods. Mr. Hale protested against this reference to filibustering. He gave in detail the time consumed by the advocates an} the op- ponents of the pending resolution, showing that most of the speeches had come from those favorable to the resolution. “In view of this,” proceeded Mr. Hale, “it is the height of audacity and {:§pudence—"* Mr. Gallinger, who still held the floor, Ge- clined to yield further. “Then I withdraw the ‘impudence,’ " pro- ceeded Mr. Hale. “It was at least a sort of colossal cheek—” Yr. Gallinger peremptorily declined to yield further. He criticised the course of senators who accused their associates of nything to say in behalf of Cuba. Later Mr. Hale stated that there would be no unnecessary delay on the resolution. After fair discussion it would be voted on. He was as anxious as any one, he said, to See the resolution out of the way. me. aay of Connecticut said that while shared in the sympathy ex, for Greece and other afflicted count yet it was not for the United States to cerned, he feared ‘tic- War was con |. he war, par! ularly in view of our defenseless coast and imadequate armament. We should make ourselves fit for war before talking s0 manfully of a resort to arms. In the course of Mr. Hawley’s remarks a question arose as to the neutrality laws. Mr. Hoar endeavored to elucidate, where- upon Mr. Mason made a jocular remark in a stage whisper, which started several senators laughing. Turning to Mr. Mason, Mr. Hoar said: “It this is to be a circus, of course, I will sit down.” “if the senator from Massachusetts un- derstands he is a circus, he does not un~ derstand it from me,” retorted Mr. Mason. rd TO REGAIN A LOST MARKET. Secretary Wilson to Take Steps in the Interest of Cheesemakers. Secretary Wilson of the Department of Agriculture has taken steps looking to the enforcement of the law against the exporta- fon of filled cheese, except when plainly labeled as such. Representative Wilber called on Mr. Wilson in company with a merchant from Liverpeol, who had been imposed upon by American exporters o7 filled cheese as a pure article. The Liver- pool merchant brought with him proof of the fraud that has been perpetrated. Mr. Wilson at once conferred with ORCS Gage, who promised to see that the inter- nal revenue officers take uctive measures to prosecute those who export filled cheese as cheese and in that way largely destroy the foreign market for the dairy products of America. The fraud has done an enormous injury to the American export trade, and is re- garded as a very important matter at the Department of Agriculture. It has been largely instrumental in reducing American exports of cheese from $7,676,657 in value in 1892 to $3,001,914 in 1896, each year since 1892 witnessing a reduction of exports of this character. The united kingdom has Leen the largest consumer of cheese from this taking this product to the .312 in 1892, while last year it bought but’ $2,491,088 worth of cheese from the United States. The English dealers for some time after the introduction of filled cheese on the mar- ket could not tell it from the real article and merchants discovered that they had been humbugged only by having the cheese spoil on their hands. Then they gave it the name of imitation cheese, but year by year the American cheese product has gone down in reputation through the frauds en- acted by the dealers in filled cheese. Vhile the exportations of cheese from the United States to the united kingdom have diminished yearly, those from Canada to the united kingdom have increased, until last year, when the total exports of this kind amounted in value to $13,924672, or five times as much as the product shipped from the United States. As no country can produce more or better cheese than the United States, Secretary Wilson believes that by a rigid enforcement of the law in respect to filled cheese the American product will stand high in for- eign markets, and exports will be greatly increased. The experiment stations of the Department of Agriculture have for some time been investigating methods for the production of cheese, and it is claimed that no place in the world produces cheese on such scientific principles as in the United States, and nowhere can a finer product be secured. The Treasury Department will at once begin a prosecution of violators of the filled cheese law. $+ =-<—___ CONFERRING WITH MR. PLATT. New York City Leaders Spend an Evening in the City. A delegation of prominent New York re- publicans came over from New York last evening and held a consultation last night with Senator Platt. The purpose of the conference was to talk over the coming campaign for mayor of Greater New York. There were present, besides Senator Platt, Cornelius Van Cott, the new postmaster; Representative Quigg, C. M. Hackett, cha! man of the state committee; Edward Lau- terbach, president of the county committee; Fred S. Gibbs, Hugh O. McRoberts of Rickmond county, W. J. Youngs and Henry Roberts of Queens county, Mr. Palmer of Kings, Secretary Marchester of the county committee and D. H. Patterson of New York. The conference bore little fruit. The question of representation at the convention, which was the most important topic discussed, was not decided on account of the absence of ex-Senator Jacob Worth of Brooklyn. The discussion of this ques- tion proceeded on the basis of the repre- sentation at the last state convention. An effort was made to tnduce Mr. Lauterbach to reconsider his determination to resign the presidency of the county committee, but he declined to do so, and his Tesigna- tion will be offered tomorrow. Representative Quigg was the only person suggested for his successor, but Mr. Quigg refused at present to accept the position. The question of candidates was not dis- cussed, except very casually. Of course the purpose of the leaders is to harmonize all the anti-Tammany elements if possible. Gen. Benj. F. Tracy, Secretary of the In- terior Cornelius N. Bliss, Seth Low, ex- mayor of Brooklyn, and Representative L. E. Quigg are the names most prominently mentioned. Most of the New Yorkers re- turned last night. ———-e-—______ THE INDIAN BILL. Agreement Reached by the Conferees of the Two Houses. The conferees of the two houses of Con- Sress yesterday reached an agreement on the provision in the Indian appropriation bill concerning the Uncompahgre Indian reservation in Utah, the only item remain- ing in dispute between the two houses. Following is the text of the compromise provision: “The Secretary of the Interior is hereby directed to at once allot agricul- tural lands in severalty to the Uncompuh- gre Ute indians now located upon or be- longing to the Uncompahgre Indian reser- vation in Utah, said allotments to be upon the Uncompahgre and Uintah reservations or elsewhere in said state. And that all the lands of the said Uncompahgre reser- vation not theretofore alloted in severalty to said Uncompahgre Utes shall on and after the first day of April, 1898, be open for location and entry under all the land laws of the United States.” ——__-e-_____ FIRST WOMAN GRADUATE. Miss Briggs a Bachelor of Divinity at Union Theological Seminary. The first woman to be graduated by the faculty of the Union Theological Seminary, New York, received her diploma last night at the sixty-first annual anniversary and commencement of that institution. The interest in the event was doubled by the graduate being Emily Grace Briggs, daughter of Prof. C. A. Briggs, who was suspended by the general assembly after a trial for heresy in 1894. Dr. Briggs is still a member of the faculty of the seminary, although he cannot take active part in its workings before the ben of suspension has been removed. Miss Briggs, who is in her twenty-first year, carried off the honors, passing all the men, and was the first to receive the degree of bachelor of divinity-conferred by the board of regents of the University of the State of New York on graduates of the Unton Seminary last night for the first time. Repay a Steamboat Company. The Senate has passed the bill (S. 1010) for the relief of the Potomac Steamboat -an orr.ament. IN FLORIDA RIVERS Damage Done by the Spread of the Water Hyacinth. INTRODUCED AS A FLORAL NOVELTY It Now Chokes Up Streams and Impedes Navigation. MEASURES OF RELIEF eg eens Special Correspondence of The Evening Star. ' JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 17, 1897. A few years ago there was introduced in- to a small lake in Florida the aquatic flow- ering plant known as the water hyacinth (Piaropus Crassipes), and now the state is confronted with the unique condition of serious damage to its marine industries from this picturesque plant. From the small pond, which in 1890 was made beau- tiful by its blue bloom, the plant has spread to the St. John’s river and its tributaries to such an alarming extent that the federal government has been invoked to destroy it, or at least check its disastrous spread. Congress has been asked for an appro- priation to conduct experiments with a view to determining the best means of ex- terminating the hyacinth, and the engineer department of the army is conjuring its brain to devise a means of accomplishing this end. In order to fully understand the subject the Department of Agriculture re- cently sent one of its botanists, Prof. H. J. Webber, to Florida, to report upon, and if pessible suggest some practical means of getting rid of the beautiful pest. After a thorough study of the matter, Prof. Web- ber, in his report, states that in his opinion it will hardly be possible to entirely exter- minate the hyacinth by mechanical means, and is driven to the conclusion that some natural enemy of the plant must be intro- duced. This, he believes, will prevent its further growth and eventually reduce the pest to a manageable condition. In his report just made to the Depart- ment of Agriculture, Prof. Webber gives an interesting account of the introduction and spread of the plant in Florida. It was first grown in a small pond at Edgewater, near Palatka. It becoming desirable to clean the pond the plants were thrown into the river, where they flourished luxuriantly, produc. ing masses of flowers, which rendered the river front very attractive. They soon drew the attention of travelers, and were carried up and down the river, spreading rapidly wherever planted. Passing boats also picked up the plants and dropped them here and there, until in a short while the pretty blossom became a familiar sight, and was pointed out to tourists as one of the things to be seen in the flowery state. it was several years before it began to at- tract unfavorable attention from fishermen and steamboat men, although even then the danger of the pest was not apprehended. Its Rapid Spread. Soon, however, swept by storms and car- ried hither and thither by the currents, it massed itself in beds of great extent. Fishermen began to notice that it inter- fered with their nets and steamboat men began to be annoyed by the tangling of the plant in the propellers or paddle wheels of their vessels. The dense masses caught log beoms and held them fast; drift stuff of all kinds‘once in its clutches was there for good, end suddenly the inland mariner of Ficrida discovered that they had a dan- Serous enemy in the beautiful flower they had so long regarded as an attraction and Down the St. John’s as far as brackish water and up to Puzzle lake it has spread, ard in many places made navigation impossible. In many places it has practically put a stop to river traffic and caused a heavy loss to rivermen. Not only do its clinging roots, growing free in the water, clcg the propeller and choke injection pipes, but vessels are in constant danger when skirting the beds of hyacinth cf striking logs or timber held in its te- nacious embrace. Several vessels have been injured in this manner, and instances are recorded where small’ launches, sail boats and other light craft have been caught between masses of the floating plant and fourd it impossible to get out without aid. In this connection Prof. Webber says: “The rapid increase of the water hya- cinth in the St. John’s river in the short time ince it was introduced strongly indi- cates its still further increase if means are not found to keep it in control. Should it become much more abundant navigation will be entirely stopped—at any rate, in the Bpper, portion of the river south of Pa- tka.”” Interfcres With Navigation. Lying contiguous to the St. John’s are vast bodies of valuable timber which is largely sawed in Jacksonville and other river towns. The logs are rafted to the mills and a large number of tugs are en- gaged in this industry. Great difficulty is now experienced in getting the rafts out of the small tributaries, which have be- come entirely covered with a dense mass of the hyacinth plants. Rafts are some- times caught in the masses of the plant in the river and much expense and delay is occasioned. Prof. Webber, after careful in- quiry, places the damage to the lumber in- dustry caused by the hyacinth at $55,000 a year. This, however, is but one interest that suffer: Net fishing in some localities has been made impossible and in almost all of the fa- mous fishing grounds of the St. John’s and its tributaries the fishing is seriously ham- pered. Occasionally under certain wind conditions the fishermen are unable to set their nets for days at a time'and instances are recorded where valuable nets have ‘been carried away by the drifting plant masses and entirely destroyed. e fish themselves seem to be about the only thing which the hyacinth benefits. The fisher- men say that since the plant has become so plentiful the fish have increased, proba- bly due to the protection afforded the fry by the plant beds. “Should the hyacinth spread in the next four years as rapidly as it has in the past four,” says Professor Webber, ° “fishing with nets will. have to be abandoned. One fisherman informs the writer that he has been damaged to the extent of over $1,000 this year by the loss of time and nets caused by the hyacinth.” A Serious Problem. Another problem to which the past has given birth is the danger to railroad and other bridges. Masses. of the plant are swept against the piling, and in time of flood the pressure against the understruc- ture is enormous In some places walls and landings are almost unapproachable, and, as has been teen unneres salt streams gig tg eS water. The leaves form a rosette from one to two feet high, and the plants be- so tho. entangled and inter- roughly twined that they form a mass which almost end of the lake was covered for nearly a mile from shore. Through this aquatic jungle no boat could force a way. The tangled root mass fouls the wheels, and the strongest vessel is soon brought to a stand and must wait for-favorable wind conditions to extricate itself. A Picturesque Menade. It is this unique problem whfth Florida is trying to solve. These beautiful fields of blue flowers resting on thdir base of glossy green make portions 6f the St. John’s picturesque in the éxtremie, but the Florida riverman sees in it oply a menace to his calling. Thousands of dollars will have to be expended in the effort. to exter- minate the hyacinth, and even the re- sult is doubtful. In South Tica, its home, the plant in places covers many square miles, entirely blocking havigation, and it is related that tramp stedmers have fered badly when caught thi® Sargossa Bea. Suggestions for ita destruction there are in plenty; the question is whether they will succeed. Those who have studied the situ- ation, including Professor Webber and oth- er: botanists, seem inclined to believe that no mechanical means will achieve the de- sired end. A proposition of this character comes from the War Department. One of the engineers suggests the construction of a light-draft vessel, driven by a stern wheel and having a double bow or outrigger, which, being forced into the plant mass, would cause them to gather toward the middle of the boat, where an inclined car- rier would gather them up and deposit them in front of rollers driven by ma- chinery, which would force the water from them, thus greatly reducing their bulk. The» material could then be delivered into barges alongside and deposited ashore or cremated. Various other means have been suggested, but none cf them seem to give promise of doing what is desired. The hya- cinth is a good cattle tood, ‘and it is sug- a that this may help to solve the diffi- culty. Professor Webber, while in Florida, set himself to work to find a natural enemy of the hyacinth. After a long search he dis- covered a leaf disease, which is widely dis- tributed, and he thinks damages the plant considerably. This disease is caused bya parasitic fungus, which attacks the leaf in Spots and ultimately destroys it entirely. He suggests a search in the native home of the plant for some more formidable dis- ease which may be introduced in Florida. In this way he thinks the Pest could be suc- cessfully combated and kept down so that it would not seriously obstruct navigation. No one knows to whom belongs the honor of introducing the water hyacinth to the placid St. John’s. Whoever he is he has sown a rich harvest of troubles for the land of alligators, oranges and winter tour. SORE ON DINGLEY BILL Japanese Threaten to Retaliate by Shutting Out American Petroleum, They Claim the Tarif on sik Win Give the Trade to French Manufacturers. A special telegram to the New York Herald from ‘Tokyo, Japan, says: The Dingley bill is a sore Subject with the Japanese. Why, ask the Japanese, with very proper indignation, should our silk handkerchiefs be taxed 75 ber cent, when America cannot Possibly hope to produce sufficient to supply the local demand? The immediate consequence will be, Geclare the Japanese press, that French handkerchiefs made of Japanese silk can be put on the market in America more che@ply than those exported directly from Fukin or Osaka, in this empire. It is broadly rumor- ed and may be taken as a fact that Japan will retaliate by placing restri¢tigns on the sale of American petroleutg—hifherto the largest export to Japan; that preference will be given to Indian cotton, which is at the time of writing in danger of being ousted from the field by Américan products; that the large trade in leather with San Francisco will go to Australia, Queensland and New South Wales for choice—for these colonies have been wise énough to send first-class commissioners, supplied with samples of every needed commodity to Japan, with the sole idea of andermining American trade with this empire. Will Injure American Interests. The Dingley bill, in a word, if carried through in its proposed form, will seriously and effectually injure Ameriéan interests in both China and Japan. There is at the time of writing not more ‘than 10 to 15 cents’ difference per case between Batoum (Russian) ofl and the 115 degree fire test ex- ports of the Standard Oil Company. The Japanese have time and again openly de- clared in favor of American kerosene. On the other hand, the local agents of the Ba- toum oll, Messrs. Samuel Samuels & Co., import this commodity in specially con- structed tank steamers — fourteen fleet steamers, with a tonnage ranging from 3,200 to 5,400. America stands now first on the lst of consumers of oes manu- factures. This empire could find no appre- ciative market for its tea and very few ad- mirers of its silks if the United States should impose a prohibitive tariff, and yet, in the face of this possibility,-Japan would place such restagictions onthe sale of American oil that the trade would come to an absolute standstill, It needs but a word from the government organs to rouse the people to a feeling of indignation and sheer unwillingness to patronize American prod- ucts. The Nichi Nichi Shimbun of Tokyo, as well as the openly subsidized Tokyo Shimpo, has al ly thrown: out hints in this direction, and with their fervor of na- tional sentiment, and instant apprectation of the slightest injury, the Japanese people as a whole would and will follow the lead thus given. What America Needs. ee And why should—even under favorable circumstances—America figure as the larg- est consumer of Japanese products while she Js seventh or even-eighth’on the list of exporters? Simply because qur people do not go to work in the right ._ We have never had a properly ‘constituted commis- sion sent out ‘here to investigate matters or to deal directly—and that ig the sole way in which they are le—with. the Japanese. “We ‘have no ‘American daily peilebawa ae —— — Britain uae eee represe: t daily: pi mi ry. twelve have no Japanese edition of ny commercial publication, whereas Great Britain has a separate Japa! edition of the British ‘Trade Ji A is. sown broadcast the over. finally, we have no prose constituted civil or consular or alplomatic service aut in fe eas ir repressate! ve alm without exception, wh Tehorant of the language and customs of whom ‘they are located. -The AN ENORMOUS SEINE In Use on the Fishing Shore Down the Potomac. THE LARGEST IN THIS COUNTRY Thousands of Shad and Herring at Every Haul. SS HOW IT IS OPERATED A short distance from this city, on the Potomac river, is operated the largest seine in American waters, and probably in the world. The fishing grounds are lo- cated at Stony Point, Va., nearly opposite Indian Head, about twenty-two miles be- low Washington, the river at this point being one and three-quarters miles wide. ‘The seine is owned by Capt. William Neit- zey of this city, and used only during the shad and herring season, or nine or ten weeks each spring, beginning about thé middie of March. Although this seine has been hauled on this shore year after year for nearly a third of a century, few people, except those directly interested, are aware of its size and importance. The length of the seine is 1,600 fathoms, or 9,600 feet, 960 feet less than two miles long. Attached to each end are large, heavy ropes, leading to the shore, one rope being 8,100 feet long and the other 9,900 feet long, 2 combined length of seine and rope of 27,600 feet, or considerably over five miles. It is a novel and interesting sight to wit- ness the hauling of the seine, ard to ob- serve the skillful manipulations which re- sult in the capture of immense quantities of fish. The living quarters of the men consist of two long, narrow buildings, one occupied by the officers and the other by the crew, the total number usually employed being seventy or seventy-five men. The only other building on the grounds Is the en- gine shed, situated on the shore, nearly three-fourths of a mile south of the main buildings. This shed contains two engines, one known as the “land” and the other as the “boat” engine, which pull in the “land” and “boat” ends of the seine, respectively. ‘They develop tweive horse power, and were constructed expressly for this purpose. Making Ready. Two hauls of the seine are made every twenty-four hours—on each ebb tide—re- gardless of the weather. When the tide is highest the exact time is noted, and the water allowed to run out about an hour be- fore preparations for the haul are begun. All hands are then called out; the seine crew embarks in several row boats for the large seine boat, which is anchored a short distance off shore opposite the main build- ings; other men proceed in a number of smaller boats to various points in the seine berth to meet the big boat as it comes around; while still another boat, contain- ing a large stack of rope, one end of which is connected with the engine, three-fourths of a mile distant, makes off in the direc- tion of the’seine boat, paying out the rope as it goes. A few minutes afterward the captain of the seine crew is on board, and the boat, after lifting anchor, proceeds northward, almost parallel with the shore. The seine boat is sevénty feet long and about twelve feet beam; it is propelled with oars, having seats for twenty-four oars- men, twelve on each side. Continued prac- tice has made the crew expert rowers, the oars rising and falling with uniform regu- larity, and the click of the oarlocks sound- ing in unison. An extra man in the bow, the captain and the seine attendant com- plete the boat’s crew, in all twenty-seven men. The captain stands with his back to the seine,facing the men and directing their movements, as well as steering the boat. The seine is piled in the stern and occu- pies perhaps one-third the length of the boat. Its width or depth is accommodated to the depth of the water, ranging from twelve to thirty-eight feet deep, the lcad line being ‘supposed to always rest on the bottom. The cork floats, of course, hold the top line on the surface of the water. On hearing the upper edge of the berth, the seine is first let overboard, running over an iron roller at the stern. This is called the “land” end of the seine, and to it is attached the rope brought out in the boat before mentioned, which reaches to the engine, now over one and a half miles away. This rope is 8,100 feet in length. The “land” engine immediately begins to haul in on this line as soon as the seine is thrown out, but its movement is very slow compared with the speed of the boat. The boat is now turned to the east, making for the channel. The center of the seine 1s in- dicated by a large can buoy. The channel being reached, the boat is directed aown the river until all the 1,600 fathoms have run out, the seine being laid out in tlie form of a semi-circle and the ends being at least a mile apart. This end of the seine is called the “boat” end. Encircling the Fish. An enormous coil of rope which has been lying under the seine is now disclosed on the bottom of the boat, one end of which is fastened to the seirie and follows it cut over the foller. This rope is to connect the boat end of the seine with the engine, and is 9,900 feet long, or nearly two miles. Tie boat is now headed for the engine shed, which is but dimly discernible at such a Gistance, paying out the rope as it goes. Large wooden keg buoys serve to keep tle heavy rope near the surface of the water. ‘When the engines are reached the crew are landed, the rope is taken by the “toat” engine, and hauling in on this end begun, the ropes running around grooved wheels to prevent them from slipping. The process of laying out occupies an hour and a half. The five miles of rope and seine are now in the water, but, of course, the fish which are within the circle have not as yet felt any restraint imposed upon their freedom, and they do not discover their danger until it is too late to escape from it. ‘The small boats, six or seven in number, which mee: feet floats, two ropes: long leading from €ach, one to the cork and the other to the lead line, each “becket” being provided with @ ring; the ring of the first “becket” is the rope now brought and when. it is in another coil is sent and hooked into the next “‘becket,” and so bo. ee Engen OF teen. receive dark ae of the seine as it comes in, remaining in the eta tere ‘This part ance, z ‘back or | the men, 0. L. White, J. J. Croack. face and body, and or less severe. Buren street twelve by smoke. They revived r being y revi in a few minutes nene of them was seriously Thousands of Men Says: The strawberry picking Opened up here with the greatest and in many respects the gathering of people ever assembled in any community. Association, controlling a farm of 1,400 acres in strawberries, advertised for 10,000 so that they have to pull agains: the tide. A few hundred herring are found gille} in the meshes, and this ts the only indication thus far that any fish have been inclosed in the net, which has swept such a ire- mendous expanse of water. The two gangs of men, which are abou; 100 yards apart, now begin to move slowly toward each other, pulling in as they go. This is con- tinued until they Pave approached within 5” feet of each other, by which time the Water within the constantly narrowing limits inclosed by the seine fairly glistens with the silvery fins and tails of the cap- tured fish, which are frantically endeavor- ing to escape. A man follows the back of the seine, beating the water with an oar, to frighten the fish toward the center and to relieve the pressure against the net. Fifty men are now working with the seine. The water in which those nearest the shore are standing is about knee deep, while those farthest out are up above their waists. At this juncture a number of board planks are placed end to end in the water, reaching from one side of the open- ing between the men to the other, the tops of the boards extending several inches above the surface. This effectually closes every possible avenue of escape for the fish. The seine is now gradually worked past the ends of the boards, the inclosure in which the fish are held getting smailer and smaller, until the length of the cork line still in the water about corresponds with the length of the board line, Le., 50 or 60 feet, when the moment for the final maneuvers has arrived. The lead line is now moved slowly toward the boards un- iil it touches the bottom of them. It is then carefully secured by the men, and at a signal from the captain, raised out of the water. The scene which follews almost defies description. The fish are all re- tained between the cork and lead lines, this being the widest part of the seine, the middle, of course, resting on the bottom, the men, holding up the sides or walls of the net, standing so close as to almost touch cach other. The water, which is about waist deep, is churned into foam by the thousands of struggling fish, held in this comparatively small inclosure, not over 60 feet long by 20 feet wide; and it would seem that surely the climax of ani- mal activity had been reached. Nearly everything appears to be herring, but oc- casionally larger fish are seen plunging through the mass; these are shad. Shoveling in the Fish. A large lighter is now brought alongside the net, and the cork line thrown over the rail. Four or five men, with short dip nets, get inside the circle, and, standing in the seething mass of struggling fish, commence to shovel them into the scow. The fish beat a merry tattoo on the bottom of the boat as they are thrown in. Soon, however, the bottom Is covered and the pile rapidly deepens. The fish on top are all flopping vigorously, displaying a scene of the most intense activity and bewildering the eye to look upon it. The incessant patter of such a multitude of fish in tneir expiring movements is unlike any other sound ever heard. The shad are separated from the herring, countcd and put in a compart- ment to themselves, many of them being splendid specimens. At the haul of whi this is a particular description nearly 100, 000 herring were taken, and over 5) shad, representing an aggregate weight of about 42,000 pounds, which tested the carrying capacity of the lighter. As to the herring this was considered a good haul, being above the average, while as to the shad it was somewhat below the average. The largest number of shad ever taken with this seine at a single haul was 9,000, and of herring about 350,000. Within a few min- utes after the lighter was loaded the tug having it in tow was steaming toward Washington, and the haul of the largest seine in the world, so far as is known, was ended, the whole time consumed, from commencement to finish, being six hours. ed WHITNEY FOR PEACEMAKER. Report That He Will Try to tcunite New York’s Democracy. A New York special to the Baltimore American says: Ex-Secretary Whitney has postponed his intended trip abroad for the summer, and it is now announced that he is to bend his energies toward bringing the two democratic factions in the city into harmonious relations, and put the democracy of the state into something like fighting condition. According to one story, he is to act as the general adviser of the party, as Samuel J. Tilden did once, suc- ceeding ex-Senator Hill, under whose lead- ership the control of the state has passed from democratic hands. Mr. Whitney is about the only member of the Cleveland regime whom Tammany would follow, and, while the ex-Secretary has been an advocate of sound money, he is not distasieful to the few silver shouters in Tammany Hall. The coming visit of ex- Candidate Bryan to New York, and the an- nouncement that he will spout for 16 to 1 fills the local democrats with dire appre- hensions. It is believed that such a speech of Mr. Bryan at the opening of the cam- paign for mayor of New York will destroy any chances that Tammany has for ob- taining control of the enlarged city, and make the triumph of the republicans and good government advocates certain. ————_+-e-+___ CHICAGO FIREMEN INJURED. Badly Burned by the Explosion of a Tank Containing Gasolin. Twelve firemen were frightfully burned last night by the explosioa of a tank con- taining eighty gallons of gasoline in the grocery of W. H. Manley in 43d street, Chicago. The explosion was heard for several blocks, and many windows in the vicinity were shattered. The severely in- Jured are: Joseph C. Pazen, third assistant chief, burned about face and body; condi- tion serious. John Fitzgerald, marshal, lth Battalion, burned about body; condi- tien serious. John C. Champagne, hands, face and body frightfully burned; may die. The others, whose injuries are not con- sidered to be us, are: Michael Doyle, Henry Wingie, Capt. Thomas Kin- ney, Lieut. James McGraw, James Hickey, Morris Maloney, Lieut. James Burke, Cz pt. All the men were burned about the hands, their injuries are more The chances are that Pazen, Fi la will recover. saeciien fire last night on Van firemen were overcome into the fresh air, ind injured. MISSOURI STRAWBERRY CROP, Picking the Lus- cious Fruit Near Sarcoxie. A recent dispatch from Sarcoxie, Mo., Season has most picturesque The Sarcoxie Horticultural [THE GEN ERAL ASSEMBLY Presbyterian National Judicatory to Begin Its Session Tomorrow. Commissioners From Wa ington Presbytery on Their Way to Winona Questions to Be Considered. The commissioners from the Washington Presbytery to the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America—Rev. Dr. Byron Sunderland of the First Church, Rev. Dr. Alexander of West Street Church Georgetown; with Rul- ing Elders Wm. H. H. Smith of the West- ern and Samuel D. Luckett of the Metro- politan Church—ieft Washington last night for Winona, Ind., to attend the annual meeting of the general assembly, which begins its session there tomorrow, to con- tinue for about ten days or two weeks. The general assembly is composed of min- isters and elders appointed by the presby- teries, of which there are 224, and the basis of representation is one minister and one elder for each twenty-four ministers of which the presbytery ts composed. These commissioners represent nearly 7,000 min- isters and nearly 1,000,000 communicants, and are entirely distinct in their organtza- tion from what is known as the Presbyte- rian Church of the United States, which is the official designation of the Southern Presbyterian Church. Election of Modcrator. It is expected that there will be some lit- tle excitement over the election of a moi ator. One of the candidates for this pos tion is Rev. Dr. Sheldon Jackson, who is temporarily a resident of this city, but who S0es to the general assembly as a repree sentative from the presbytery of Alaska, in which distant section of the country he has spent many years of his life. Others who are named for the office are Rev. Dr. Min- ton of California and Rev. Dr. Semple of New York city. The former is a professor leading Presbyterian theological eminary on the Pacific coast, and the lat- ter is pastor of one of the wealthiest churches in New York city. The names cf ex-President Harrison and Mr. John Wanamaker, respectively, have been mentioned in various quarters in con- nection with the moderatorship, but in the opiwion of some of the prominent Presby- terian clergymen in Washington it is hard- ly probable that a layman will be elected to the office. It has, they say, never been filled by a layman, the constitution of the church seeming to render the elder ineligi- ble to the performance of some of the du- ties of the position. Wihen it was attempt- ed in 1887 to make a leading elder eligible to the office, and a vote thereon was taken in each of the 199 presbyteries, there were only fifty which voted in davor of the prop- osition. Action of Southern Assembly. A few years ago the Southern Presby- terian assembly elected an elder as modera- tor, but it was only after the church, by formal vote, amended the constitution so as to permit it. Among the most important matters that will come up for consideration before the general assembly will be the report of the committee on the mission house in New York city, which has given rise to much discussion in former assemblies. Among the prominent me:nbers of this commitice are ex-President Harrison and the present moderator of the assembly, Rev. Dr. J. lL. Withrow of Chicag& It is believed sere that this committee will report in favor of retaining the mission house as the home of the boards of the church. ‘The property is one of the most magnificent buildings cn 5th avenue, New York city. The question of the debt of the various boards of the church will, it is believed, also occupy a large share of the attention of the assemty The foreign mission work of the church, which will, of course, be presented for con- sideration at the coming session. extends to fifteen different countries. Its missionary and benevolent work in the Unived States is carried on by eight different boards. Three of these boards are located in New York city—home missions, foreign mis- sions and church erection; three in the city ef Philadelphia—publication and Sabbath school work, education and ministerial re- Hef: one, the board of missions for freed- men, at Pittsburg, and one, the board of aid for colleges and academies, at Chicago. The contributions for congregational ex- penses for the year 18% were $10,413,7! and the contributions for mi other benevolent purposes, $3 The Woman Question. While there are no women comm stoners: in the assembly, and no effort has been made to secure representation for the fair sex in the courts of the Presbyterian Church, as has been done in the Me thodist bodies, the woman question has in the past come to the surface, now and then, and some think it may do so this year. Last year the presbytery of Baltimore asked the assembly for an expression indicating clearly what should govern Presbyterian churches concerning the occupation of their pulpits by women. in reply the assembly reaffirmed the judicial deliverance of its predecessor, in 88S, sustaining the presby- tery of Newark in holding “that passages of Scripture do prohibit the fulfilling by women of the offices of public preachers in the regular assemblies of the churches.” Another phase of the woman question, which has not been settled yet, relates to the baptism of men who have more than one wife. The synod of India requested some time ago that in view of the exceed- ingly difficult complications which often occur in the cases of polygamists who de- sire to be received into the church, the ul- timate decision in all such cases in India should be left to the synod of India. The syned of Utah also had an overture relat- ing to polygamist corverts. The commit- tee to which this matter was referred could not reach a decision, and it is regard- ed as more than probable that the matter will be again brought up at the coming ses- sion of the assembly, Committee Failed to Agree. In the committee which considered the subject at the last meeting two members were of the opinion. that only monogam- ists should be baptized, two were of the opinion that the repudiation of any wife yea whom marriage had been contracted year, reports on their work of preparing a constitutional rule, or formulating such