Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, November 26, 1893, Page 7

THE OMAHA DAILY BEE: SUNDAY NOVEMBER 26, 1893—TWENTY PAGE PARALYZED THE PROMOTERS TFederal Officials 8mito Bond Companies Hip aud Thigh. THREE CONVICTED OF LOTTERY SWINDLING HMilarious Mustlers Plunged Into » Vat of Woe-The Use of the Mails Dented Reorgamzed Companies—Iiot Jdudiclal Opinions, “The success of the enterprise depends upon its gross and well known insolvency ; %0 insolvent that in the very method of its organization there isno hope of its carrying out its promises.” The words are a small part of the wither- ing condemnation of bond investment com- panies pronounced by Judge Grosscup from the federal district beneh in Chicago. There was ample provocation for this out- burst of judicial indignation. 1t was at the close of the trial of George M. McDon- ald, president of the Guarantee Investment company; William H. Stovenson, vice presi- dent and Franeis M. Swearingen, secretary, on the charee of using thej United States mail to promote a lottery. 'The testimony showed the company to be a swindle and that it had used the mails to further its operations. The conrt and the jury were of one mind and a verdict of Kuilty was returned. ‘The trial attracted widespread interest, not alone among vietims of bond companics but among the glib-tongued promotors wh realized that the outcomo 1avolved their prosperity and liberty. Wlhen the indict- ments against the guaranteo officers were brought in by the grand jury a few weeks ago the promoters affected indifference. Some of then hailed the action of the fed- 1 ofticiuls as a deliverance from menacing threais. 'hie indicted ofticials went so far a8 to telegraph a number of newspapers that the proceedings had been investi- gated by thowselves and they assured the victim that the outcome would be a tr umphant vindication. Now they are mum and struggiing w keepout of jail. Retrospoctive. The Guarantee Investment company, whose officials were convicted, was started in Nevada, Mo, about two years ago. insurance sharp, who had exhausted his use- fulness in legilimato business, formulated the schieme. Insurance tables wore juggled for the occision, and an claborate system produced by which the multitude might be- come rich in u jilfy. Of course the author and his backers did ot propose to en the multitude gratis. They were not in the business for_their health. They provided for a rake-off of 25 conts out of each monthly piyment of ¥1.95, and in_addition provision was mado for the rustler in tho shape of an initiation foo of $10. The scheme took root and flourished amazingly. In two years it becamno 5o opiilent as to_defy courts and leg- fWlaturcs, and spread its malign influence all over the west. From the Novac concern sprung 150 similar concerns, the manipulators of which are now skuriying for shelter. From Gay to Grave, During the trial of the swindlers In Chi- cago they were constantly surrounded by ch friends. The smooth hustlers tor a tenner as well as the indicted men were gay t0 the verge of hilarity. 'They regarded the proceedings ns a prologue toa feast. They contended that the multiplo system was in- nocent of chance; anyhow, they had de- cided to conform with the luw out of re- spect to the postal authorities. Hence thoy felt confident the jury would acquit with a caution. When tlio prosecuting attorney, in his closing address, got a livule mixed 1n his fizures, their hilarity broke over the bounds of court decorum. ~Several such scengs oc- curred, But their hilarity was of short du- ration, After the court stated the law Ja the case and began disscoting and denouncing the swindle, the gloom of a Chicago fog enveloped them and Jaws dropped 4 foot. The court roviewed ™ the scheme of organization, which is familiar to the readers of Tux Beg, and sud: Public Plunder. ‘“There is no douby, gentlemen, that the scheme on the face of it, according to its own cont is & cheat. The testimony shows that this company has been in exist- ence for two years, and has had 50,023 ap- plications. According to tho contract of its organization it has therefore received more than $500,000 from the §10 preliminary fees, and it has paid §200,000 to its bondholders. If it paid out all it received for that pur- and its contract required it so to do, it ved from the dues more than $40,000. So that after two years the stockholders re- coived moce than §540,000 and the so-calied aries received but §206,000. This is public plunder. Tt ie said that this has been done fairly. This court is notsitting to pa upon the ess of any such transaction But this, the judge said, dia not prove a lottery. Tho best dofinition of u lottery that ho could fina was where a pecuniary consideration is paid and it is determined by chance or lot, according to the scheme held out to the public, whether e who pays the money shall reccive a riturn and how much; that was a lottery. Every enterprise was supposed to have a roturn or incentive which made men ndustrious or active, but whether thut return or prize was de- termined by mere lot or chance made it cither a legitimate enterprise a lottery, and therefore unlawful. He explained the differenca between this enterprise and life msurance companies which invest their moneys in seeurities and pay a stipulated sum to the heirs and beneficiaries of n mem- ber after his death. The prize in tho case of life insurance was not determinanle by or dependent on chance or lot, but on the life of & man, Propability of u B Continuing, the judgo said *In the caso at bar tho retirn or prize is $1,000. Now, is that determined by lot or chance? s it detormined by one of tho laws of nature ov of industrial growth, which de- termines the other rewrns of 1ifo? Lot us look at tho practical workingsof the schemo, Let us look at it first indepenaently of what is called the multiple system, Hord Is a com- pany which in two years has talen in moro thai 50,000 applications. o order 1o make o return certain to each one of theso upph- cauts of the amount of money promised in the bond it would be necessary that the com- pany should havo a fond of 0,000,000, Iu 1wo yoars it has only accumulated a fund of $200,000. ording to tho constitu- tion of the company, outside of the lapses, there ure 50,000 men who aro entitled to these returns it they persist in paying. In two years 200 have been paid. If cach man were to get a return according to the prom- 1se of the company, outside of lapses, and dollar which went 1uto the fund of the company were to be used for that purpose, and no mun were Lo receive more than he paid in, it would take 1,000 months, or more than eighty-three years, for each wman to roceive back his réturn. This 1soney will be idle, not growing by interost or other in- vostment. Is it not perfeetly appar- eut that from the very necessity and coustitution of the scheme, it the aultiplo system were not introduced, the company could 1ot go on, and 1o man would receive back anything except those who had becn the fortunate possessors of the first bongls. 1L is said, and 1s one of the boasts of the Lompany, that everyboay who has been paia bacle has been paid” 81,000 on un investment NOL to excoed $30. Thatagain shows the en- tire impossibility, according to the constitu- yion of the scheme, of but a liwited few, one n o hundred, over receiving wny return or any prize except for the law of lapses. Be oause money lying idloin the treasury, shorn in the first place of 20 por cent of the smount, will never grow Lo pay 1,000 to one, or 1,000 10 thirly, so loug as the present cconomio law of the universe prevails. That Seductive Multiplo System, “These defendants have foroseen this and forescen that the compuny must therefore come o an immeaiate end aund havo insti- tuied what is called “the muitiple system." The chance is therefore held out to 'a man peceive an early paymeat of his bomd. ut upor what ls that” chance dopendant? What dotermines that retura or thal prize? Any law of nature or of indusirial growth, such as applies to insurance companies or reul estute luvestments, which | have used as ilustrations! Not at all. It s solely, de- peadaut upon the order iu which bis boud Maiuring, ihay @o through the registration process. Tt he dravs a multiple, and the company con- tinues, he will eventually be paid. ~ If he draws o numeral it is as morally certain as any law of the universe that, unless the company is almost entirely abandoned by its bondholders, he will never be paid. ‘It Is said here in argument that the Iapses will secure certain payment in time; in other words, enough men will become dis- couraged at the outlook and will drop out so as to advance those whose bonds are de- forred. What does that mean? It means that by the vely constitution of this com- pany the success of its enterprise depends entirely upon its insolvency; 118 gross and well known insolvency, 8o insolvent that in the very method of iis organization no hope of ity rrying out its promisos can be entertained. Now, the court 10t say that thatis a legitimate enter- P promising a certaiu return of mone whicn, by the very constitution of the com- pany,1s dependent upou the insolvency of the company, and a wholesale repudintion of its promises. That is not the rule of any other legitimate enterprise. The determi- nation, therefore, of the return or prize is de- pendent upon a chance or allotment. Woarse Than the Lonisiana Lottery, ‘“I'ie only substantial difference between the scheme disciosed 1o you by the proof and the well recognized lotteries of tho world, such asthe Louisiann Lottery company, is that the latte ,in comparisou, honest and free from the opportunitios of chicanery. The wheel of the lottery and the hat of the rafiie are to the fortune hunierincomparably rer contriva for the determination of his chunces, Ho is not dependent, in them, upon the honesty or accuracy of a secretary, with whom it is as easy Lo put one pplication through the register as another. The whole scheme disclosed by the vroofs is a cunning trick to attract the cupidivy and ignorance of men. A great menace to civil- ization—not only of the United States, but of the world—is the growing tendency to gam- ble or engage in lottery., Two hundred years ago their promoters were characte ized in the streets of England as robber: “No prospect is soattractive as that which is wrapped up in the mysteries of a chance. To the winuer comes somo money, many congratulations. advertisement throughout the nowspapers and the pro- pensity to go in again. 'To the losers, 100 fold in number, come stripped homes, im- poverished wives and children, lost opportunitics of building up a com- petence legitimately, and in too many in- stances, the temptation to go in again upon means that are obtained from an em- ployer, first by a supposed borrowing, then by inténtionu! theft, forgery and embezzle- ment. The rainbow of hove lures and lures until its chaser falls over the precipice into suicideor the penitentiary. The mails of the United State: intended for legiti- mitte business or friendly communication and defiled by the dissemination and pro- motion of such a scheme as tho evidence in this case admittedly discloses.” The maximum penalty in such cases is $1,000 fine or one year in the penitentiary, or both, aceording to the discretion of the court. Pendirg the determination of a motiou for a new trial the prisoners were admitted to bail, Avnother Crushing Blow. Since bond companies were excluded from the use of the ma and especially since the prosecutions began in Chicago, there has been a genel nge of plaas. The mul- tiple system, condemned as a lottery, has been generaily abandoned and a system of redemption of bonds in nun order insti- tuted. The promoters imagined this would square them with the postofice authorities id give them access to the mails, A num- v of the reorganized concerns submitted s plans to the department oxpecting ap- proval. But disnster groets them again and blocks their operation under the consecutive plan. An opinion has been rendered by the assistant attorney general which, he an- nounces, applies ‘to all companies. It is embodicd ina letter to a Missouri company and is as follow: “lh refully investizated the modes and studied the pians of business adopted by your company, and am fally convinced that it ought not to be permitted the uso of the mails to further its intervest. There are scores of com| ies in the United Stutes of this class, similar in all cssential particu- lars and differing only in details of an unim- portant nature. The success of the business on the basis presented must necessarily depend on an appeal to the gamblng spirit of the people or on their deception, The postmaster general is authorized under the law to exclude from the mails the business of an enterprise offering prizes for dis- tribution of money or property by lot or chance and of schemes devised toobtain money or property under false pretenses. Therefore when you eliminate the chance feature from your Schemes you will be con- fronted by the fraud element in it, if any, An examination of your plan convinces mo that if successful it must inevitably result in gigantic losses to your patrous as a body. "The proposition to réceive vhe money and re- turn a portion of it to your patrons in un- qual proportions and to induce people to emb in . the enterprise of a ne- ceasity makes the distribution depend on lot or chance, or you mask the plan of operation. 1 cannot comprehend how o sane man would mvest his money in a schemo like yours. Grauting that the chance ele- ment is eliminated from it, the absence of a plain advantage over co-investors and of deception, some must bo deceived if the plan succeeds. Il you remove the chance element you must mask your plan of operations so as to cover your real designs, chiefly by jug- gling with figures, by which people can’ be readily deceived and overreached by holding oulto them hopes of magnificent results that can never be realized. The practical outcome of such a scheme bas been in the past to defraud the people, and i many states thoy have been prohibited by statute, 1 can mstance a great hordeof enterprises in Massachusetts aund other eastern states which drew millions of dollars from the peo- ple to their great damage, and even to the aisturbance of the business of the country, These are now dead. Judging the future by the past [ do not hesitaie to say that the scheme must from iis very nature result in the iujury of the muny for the benefit of the fe: nd especially for the bevefit of the company, und in & short time 1must breuk down of its own inherent weakness,” B INDICTED BY THIE GRAND JURY, the Indianapolls National Heid tor Wrecking tho Bank, IxpnaNarons, Nov. —The United States grand jury has voted to indict Theodore P, Haughey, president of tho [ndianapolis National bank, Schuyler C, Haughoy, president of the Indianapolis Glue company and of the Indianapolis Curled works, Francis A, Coffia, president ‘of the Indranapolis Cabiuet company; Perei- val B. Cofiiu, secretary of the Inaianapolis Cabinet company; A. J. Reed, treasurer of tho Indianapolis Cabinet company, These are the five men already under bonas for wecking the Inc polis National baal. It is possible that additional indict- ments have been veturned in the bank case, The jury returned sixty-three indictments for minor offenses. The persons under bond in the bank case were among the first persous indicted by the jury, but the indictments could not be reported to the «clerks of the courts for thy veason shat the district attorney and his assistant, have not had time in which to prepare them. Assistant District Avtorney Corr went to work on the indictments this afternoon T Tostifiod to Her Good Churctor, Mrs. Ellia Barton wus arrested yesterday on & charge of obtaining money undor false pretenses. It was alleged that she had rented o house which she did not possess to “Lattle Ked Cloud.” an Indian soldier. Sue gave bonds for her appearance for trinl nexy Friday. Several well known business men testified 1o the good character of Mrs. Bur- ton, and claim she Las a year's lease on the house which she rented, and that the com- plafut was due to the inability of the lndian 10 understand Eoghsh. —-—— Released the Chinamen. CixciyNaty, Nov. 25,~The government has lost its first case in Ohio under the Geary law. Four Chinamen who arrived here last Monday from Detroit were arrested by a LUnited States iuspector om suspicion that thoy were newly imported and were beiug smuggled from Canada to New York. Upon u full heariug before United States Commis- sioner Brussie that oficer hold that the gov- crument had failed to make iis case and als- churged the prisouers, Oftivers ¢ MAKE WESTERN NEBRASKA Ity Roil Waiting Only for the Flow of Irr{gatiun. IT MAY BECOME A BLOOMING GARDEN Every Inch of Land fs Good and All Ac- cossiblo to Water Supply — A Great Fleld for Faturo Omaha Trade, Gruxa, Nov, M. —[Special to Tur Bre.]— Arizona, New Mexico, Caliiornia and Colo- rado are recognized as irvigating states, and capitalists seeking profitable felds of invest- ment in the line of irrigation have for years turned their eyes toward these localities. It not strange that this should be true, con- sidering the position they willingly occupy and the certainty of remunerative invest- ment they affard. Yot Nebraska, with an immense area of gable land and an abund- antsupply of water waiting to be diverted into canals has, as a whole, persistently oc- cupied the position of a rain belt state. The entiro area of these other commonwenlths are not only accepted by their citizens to be so-called arid lands, but are even claimed to be such with a species of glory in the fact. They say, give us water and we will trans- form our deserts into flowering [idens. 1tal hears this story, tests it, and the re- sults have wmvariably proven that the al- loged arid lands ave fullyas productive under the magical influence of artificial watering as that cultiveted undor the most encouraging natural rainfall. - Nebraska, a succossful farming state only so tar as thav portion of her surface lying east of tho one hundredth meridian is concerned, has ihrough her press and peovle attempted to maintain the integral position of a rainbelt state. Lot a cry go up from this Macedonia through the channels in which capital is sought that there is a section of Nebraska eomprising one-half of her entire area which is the samo sory of arid land exactly, and where immigration is possible and will bo welcomed. and who can doubt that if proper conditions and probable profit can be shown that capital will grapple with the subject and make for Nebraska's fair plains an ag- ultural renown as celebrated as that of lifornia, Utah or Colorado? Sust Enlarge Omaha's Fiefds The question merely resolves itself into a mutter of the ability to show theso condi tions, and it is a gratifying fact that Tue Breand the state press are apparently be- gnning to realize that Nebraska does not end at Grand Island or Kearney. Somo rea- sons for the awakening are evident. The great city of Omala—the gateway of the state—with her united business interests extending westward along the Union Pacitie, the B. & M. and the Elkhorn roads, sighs for new fields to conquer. Omaba can no longer doubt that theso desired new fields are cither not in existenco or are alread pre-emyted by commercial centers as ente self. What, then, can she do L to develop those fields whiy 1y hers by right of posses: ty, for instance, was largely 1ns wing the opening of the Oklahoma lands and the Cherokee Strip—not from a benevolent desire to provide homes for an overflow from the surging tide of eistern hu- manity -no, indeed, simiply to develop a te ritory alveady hers, that the incroasing busi- ness might benefit her manufacturers, mer- ts and jobbers, Why should not Omahu profit by KKansas City’s cxample and arize to the demands of the situation which con- fronts her? All Subject to Irrigation, Western Nebraska is fortunately composed of a rich and fertile soil, capable of tlooming as the rose. There is not a square mile of waste land in the entire western half of the state, Irrfgation will reclaim millions of acres of land along the water courses, atd tered acres will bring forth grain and produce for the Omaha market, corn to fatten swine for the Omaha market, and alfalfa to feed cattle for the Omaha market, The higher lands upon which water cannot be conducted are now, as they have always been, covered with the most nutritious of prairio grasses, and will become the grazing grounds of ‘hundreds of ranchmen as soon as the corn and hay are grown in the valleys to feed stock through the inclement portions of the winter seasons. 1t i3 only a question of time when the condition your correspondent has outlined will come to pass. Wealth and prosperity are knocking at Omaha’s door, and it may be conceived that her duty is to put away ali foolish novions of rainbelt prejudice, and tangibly encournge the developuent of irrigatioa in the western half of the state. ‘T'ne old theory, which was 80 tenaciously held by the pioneers, that in- creased preeivitation would follow the pro- gress of cultivation, has long since been ex- ploaed. If 1t stilllingers in vhe minds of any they have but to look ut the history of crops auring the last four or five years west of the 100th meridian. A Poor Substitute for Irrigation. Some oue who was born to be a phitoso- pher has said that the notion ti , is a miserable substitute for rainrfall should be rendered thus: That rainfall is a poor substitute for irrigation. Perhaps it is not necessary for the purposes of this corre- spondent to state it thus radically. Yot ic- rvigation farmers seldom recant—seldomn leave an irrigated farm for one in the rain belt, Some of the beauties of the irrigation system are tho certainty of crop, the in- creasedyield and the better quality of the pro- duce. Irrigated wheat is always a better flour maker than nonirrigated wheat, Irrigated land is not worn out and laid by to rest after every thard or fourth season. The alluvial deposits carried over the surface with the water euriches and recuperates the soil, as well as eunhances the harvest. The cer- tainty of a crop is, however, perhaps the greatest advantage the irrigating farmer has over his brother in Iowa or Illinois. The 1085 of one crop to the average favmer is the very thing which cripples him and defeats the purposes of his industry, andin many cases of these rs when failures occur a canal could be built by the amount he loses, which would place his land in safety as to crop. For instance, one of the greatest raiu- fulls 10 the world is supposed to be that of Italy. Yet the Italiau farmers are working under one of the wost advanced: systems of irrigation on the globe, simply because they cannot afford 1o think of the possible loss of a single crop. Many a rain_ belt farmer no doubt considers irrigation an absurd deviation from nature's method = of cultivation, but the fact remains that they would no doubt be surprised to learn that over one-half of the world’s popu- lation subsists upon the food produced by irrigation. So much for the advantages of system. Now as to its possibility in Nebraska, There is ample reason to believe that the outside world, nay, even the eastern half of the state, is full of peo- ple who never heard of irrigation in Ne- braska. Yet your correspondent has, iu the past week, seen thousands upon thousands of acres of Nebraska land glowing with the green and yellow of growing and ripen- ing grains aud vegetables, He has stood at the side of a thresher and seen the plump and well developed wheat and oats pouring into the bios; he has seen the huge stacks of y and alfalfa, the fields of genuine Ne- braska corn, the potatoes and vegetables, all the result of irrigation. And this in the western Lalf of Nebraska which is only croedited by the commercial apencies with a thard, or, at most, a half crop, and in wmost counties an absolute failure, Snatehed from Drouth, I write from Gering, a thriving little town away out on the fronticr ouly twenty miles from the uttermost end of the state. The Nortn Platte river flows from the northwest to the southeast corner of the county, and is already diverted upon either side iuto mon- ster canals and thence into laterals which are the veriiable arterics carrying the life- giving fluid which has produced crops in the midst of a land withered by drouth and shrivelled by hot winds. This was the seat of the orlzkhml movement toward irrigation in Nevraska, being in its early settlewont,in the years from 155 to 1857, peopled in part by men who know something of the system, and who at once set about the organization of canal projects among their various communi- ties. The earlicr canals were the Farmers and the Minatare, each in Scotts Bluff county. 1he former was later morged into a ml');:rllhn which has its general oftices in Oma! and todsy is a ditch completed about thirty miles with an average width of slxty feet, aud iutended, whea completea, 1o water an acreage of abo¥ €000 acres. The Minatare canal is about 'tyventy miles long and furnishes water to A area of about 5,000 acres. These projétts were closely fol- lowed by the Winters Ctéibk canal, an oxcel- lent one about fifteon wiles in length; the Enterprise, over thirtf iiles long; the Mitchell, about thirty" miles long; the Castlo Rock, about eighteen miles long, the +Bayard, the Centr8l, the Lawrenc the Chimney Rock and ahtmber of smalier ones, ranging in longth t#om five to fifteen miles and watering from 1,000 to 5,000 acres each. These are the caniils which head in Scott's Bluff county, antl they are supple mented in tae work of waking the N Platte valley a farming Fogion in the mod- ern senso by a host of smaller ones just above the stato line in Wyoming, and to the east of the county in Cheyonne and Deuet counties. Indeed there is one which ranks right alongsidoe the canals already mentioned as to size and capacity, the Belmont, head- ing near camp Clark and extending along the foothills south of the river a distance of thirty-five miles, and covering over 35,000 acres of land. Mow the Canals Were Built, From the figures alveady adduced it will be seen that in the western scction of the state there are taken from the North Platte river alone a grand total approximating 800 miles of main ditch. A gratifying feature of these statistics 18 the fact that, with two exceptions, these canals have been constructed, equipped and maintained undera co-operative plan by the farmers residing under the respectivo lines, the dirt being moved by the farmer's own bone and sinew, with no outside assistance and are consequently owned and controlled by the farmers who are interestod, who aro under no corporato rentals or restrictions. A compilation made some two years ago is said to have shown that the first cost of these mutual entorprises divided by tho number of acres for which they could furnish water loft as the quotient .50, In other words, thoe farmers had sccured for the pal- try sum of $2.50 per acre a inty of crop forever and perpetually, with the trifling cost of maintenance added annually. Viewed from the general standpoint of irrization this is a remarkably low result, as the gov- ernment reports have shown' the average annual rental of water to be from $1.50 to $18 per acre in the vavious irrigation states or tervitories, It 1s true that these canals men- tioned uro the oues most casily construcred, by reason of the topography of the Platte valley, as they are for the most part simply conduits built to take advantage of the known fall of the river, and are constructed on a less grado across the level valloy lands skirting the stream. But this does not measure the irvigation possibilities of this great stute, Conditlons All Favor Nebraska, Trrigation canonly be extensively and at the same time successfully practiced from streams having their source in lofty moun- tains where the supply of wateris inde- pendent of the local rainfall. The North Platte river is one of the largest, if not the lurgest. river flowing east from the Rocky mountains. Statistics show that a groater volume of water enters the statoof Ne- braska at the state liae in this river than in all the streams of Colorado combined. Now, to bring this matter down into a practical form for the consideration of he who runs, it must be understood thay, from the source of the Platte (the north fork) to the line between Wyoming and sNebraska the river canons almost the entivardistance—that is, the valiey is too narpow-to permit of the diversivn of water forirtigation purposes to any appreciable oxtent. Oaly a very small portion of this mighty flood ean ever be used in Wyoming, and Nebrasl, through natural laws, must become tha - beneficiary, for at the state line the gigantic bluffs, which have flanked strbam on either sdie, sweep fam the river, and’ there is formof one of the most_beautiful valleys''in the west, os well as one of the mos’titural irmgating territories in the world. =“For a distance of u hundred miles with a wigth of from fifteen to twenoy-five miles stresches the belt which is 50 far the scene of thg most active irvri- gration operations in_thg, state. The soil is rich, the climate 1s mildy fhe water is pure nd enough has alvegdy, bogn dono in the way of irrigation to indicate the possibilities in store for Nebraska, - What Omaha Can Do, There are but two drawbacks to the cre- ation of an agriculvural paradise in this ro- g1on, and in cach of these Omaha can boa faithful ally if she will, and at- the same time she is doing this she will simply be adding a good many rounds to her ladder for reaching the pinnacle of commercial su- premacy. One of those things is the en- courageément of a railroad line giving a more direct outlet to market thau is uow enjoyed. “The other, it should be needless to say,is the encouragement of further 1rmgation pro- jects. Itis apparent not only that the citi- zens themselves ave not able to construct the mighty canals required to reach the bigher lands, ‘They have sequitted them- selves nobly so far heiv conditions and the topography of the country would per- canals, not on but in many instances storage or resorvoir systems, will be necessary. Such operations require actual eash. Tt must be borne in mind that in presenting this subject your correspondent is not urging experiments which might prove disastrous failures, but on the contrary is simply placing before the eyes of men who should be able to influence cupital _scemes of ceviain and unfailing profit. Irvigation investments are sought in proference to any others in mauy localities. With this understanding why should such investments in western Nebraska, a known and admitted arid country, prove unre- munerative. Along the North FPlatte. Nor do wo mean to confino the possible scene of these operations to this stretch of territory 100 miles or so from the state line. On the contrary the very same conditions ex- tend on down "the North Platte, with still wider expanse of valley capable of being reached and fertilized by its houndless vaters; the Loup basin is another fit subject for consideration as well with its 15,000 square miles of territory., The voiume of water in theso streams is not restricted to that acwually discovered by measurement, It is believed by many that what is termed the underflow comprises almost as much more, I necessary it can be brought into service, If there stiil be any doubt of the supply, con- stract _immense reservoirs into which the products of the rains out of irrigating seasons may be stored for use ab the vroper times. Encourage and nssist the artesian well idea, e ally since it has boen so pel feetly demonstrated by the recent expe meut at Gering that there is flowing water obtaivable at practicablodepths. Whatever 18 done, rehnquish the fogyish notion that the western half of Nebrasks is in an agri- cultural condivion under rainbelt systems, And in tho years Lo come; when this region fias become the peer of ¢dsteru Nebraska in population and wealth, tiié men who are your suceessors in mainthfiling Omaha's po- sition umong the cities of’6he earth will arise and call you blessed. Whare Capital Shoiill Be Applied. There is one project iy particular which needs only the magic power of capital to make it wonderful in capacity and results The Laramie and Scolls' Bluff proposed diteh line has been syfiveved and cross- sectioned, and is complptely ready for the plow and scraper. Anamaupt approximating 20,000,000 has been used'iy this work and it is said to be without a flyly,- The line covers an_immense stretch n?‘thu valley lying in Scott's Bluff county, afid when the canal, which 1t represents, is completea and tne water flowing. it will makes homes upon the broad acres of the North Platte valley for thousands of farmers. fwich an enterprise as this see ns Lo be entivgly beyond the reach of the homesteaders who ave now livin under the line, yot without exception they have held on with 4 grit born of desperation waiting for the building of the canal. The movement towurd securing govern- ment aid for these irrigation projects is not strong enough to move by its own innate power': it needs assistance. Inculcate into the minds of the Nebraska delegation at Washington every avgument that can be ad- duced for it—the fact that there are thou- sands of acres of public lands that will be sold and bring their procecds to the spot where the surplus ought to be it irrigation 18 4 probability; that it is as cheap w0 con- struct systems for diverting the floods of our Nobraska streams into canals, whence they ean be used in vivifying the fertiie prairies of Nebraska, as to build levees along the lower Mississippi to keep them withiu due bouads. A. B. Woon, ———— Con ued Until Monday. New Yokk, Nov. 9. —There was no ses- sion of the grand jury in the Madison Square bank cases today, the cases contin- ued until Monday, balng CLOSER TRAFFIC RELATIONS Rumora of a Combination Between the Union Pacific and Great Northern. OFFICIALS ARE RETICENT ON THE SUBJECT Vislt of Jim HIll's Licutenants to Omaha— Other Railway News of terest— noral In- *rospocts of w Transfor of Headquartess—Notes. One of the brightost genoral passenger agents in the country is Frank Whitney of the Great Northern system, with head- quarters at St. Paul. He was in Omaha yesterday. Mr. Whitney was a graduate from the ranks previous to 1881, having been clerk and chief clerk in the ticket depart- ment of the Michigan Central, In Septem- ber ot 1881 he became assistant general passenger agent of “the Michigan Central, which position he held for six years, when he became passenger agent of the Lake Shore & M n Southern in Chicago, but only held the place from April to July, when he was made western passenger agent of the samo road, and in July of 1588 he be- came general senger and ticket agent of the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba rail way, now the at Northern system, Mr. Whitney is the mildest mannered man who ever cub a rate or paid a commission, but he 18 & railroad mau from the eround up and *husiness” is written all over his typical New Eogland face, His business in Omaha couldn't say—but just wanted to call on Mr. Lomax to sottle & matter that w. clerical in its nature, and thought a Satur- afternoon would tind Mr. Lomax dison- gaged. *“T'he Great Northern," said he; while his eyes were intently viveted upon a pile of formidable looking papers before him, *is comparatively a new road and anything that comes our way is like finding it. We are not a California_iine, you know, and traverse a section of the country that is comparatively undovelope: Then the reporter sugzested that the Great Northern had made considerable trouble last suwmer for the Union Pacific with its line of & “That was Jast summes mildly spoken general passen; “Our tourist service, our southern neighbor, the Union Pacific, considerably, but we were a new road and had to introduce ourselves to the traveling public. But we are not of the fighting kind, except that being in a broil wo make the best of it 1f we can.” “You do not come to labor with Mr, Lomax over the immigrant situation?” haz- arded Tue Bei man. “We are not members of any assoc and are peculiarly a law unto ourselves. Noj ny mission 1s purely one belonging to the Still, Ishould like to Lomax stands on the immi: grant question, although we have little bus: ness of that kind on our line except to loca pomts.” *‘Ave rates stable on your line nov?" “Vei Weare not sceking to demoralize business willing to wait for our opportunity to still further popularizo our road when the time comes. The Great Northern 1s in splen- did condition, our equipment is good and physically we are fist class. Mr. Hill is oue of the greatest financiers of modern times, the secrot of his great success being that he is personally interested in every en- terprise with which heis connected. He backs his opinion with his money.” +13 Mr. Hill arich man as ricl men go?” “‘Well, that i3 rather a vague question. Mr. Hill is probabl twenty millionaire, although u not advised as to his wealth. 1 do know, however, he is a genius in finan- al matters.” **Is it the intention of the Great Northern to build to Omaha, **Really, thut 15 a question that 1 can not answer,” replied Mr,-Whitney, shifting his position and crossing his legs. *I anticipate, however, that Mr. Hill will not be content to terminate his line at Sioux City, but it has been. a disastrous year for rairoad building and the future must solve that qauestion, Tt may be that Mr. Hill has his eye on Denver, siopping at_Omaha en route, but no man can tell what is developing 1n the brain of the president of the: Great Northern.” 1t is understood that W. W. Findlay, gen- eral trafilc manager, and I. . «Whitn in Omaha to forma closer traftic agreement than now exists between the Union Pacific and the Great Northern. well, really, he replied nt, 1 am_told, affected the auditing aepartment. know how M Decided sn Kussell Sage's Favor, S, Paut, Nov. 25,—In the case of (ieorge Hanpan vs Russell Sage pending in the United States: cirenit court of this state, Judge Nelson has filed a decision which 1s of ag importance to a large numbec of peo- in the western part of the state who are occupying lands granted by congress 1o aia in the eonstruction of the Hasting & Dakota railvoad, 1t was an action to quit titlo to a quarter-section occupicd by the plaintaff. ‘The defendant, Russcll Sage, set up that it was a part of the grant made by congress to aid in the construction of the Hustings & Dakota road, and had been earned by that company by the construction of its line of road; that subsequently thereto tho com- assigned and transferred to the de- ant in trust for its stocicholders all the land that had been earned by the construc- tion of the road. Bubsequently thereto the tract in question, with otherlands, had been certified to the state as appertaining to said road ana had been conveyed by the govern- ment to the defendunt as such assignee in trust. The plaintiff claimed the company had no authority to make tne assignrient and trans- fer to the defendant, Sag i Judge Nel- son decided in favor of ATEANEINE (0r J. H. Lothrop, vice president and general manager of the Kearney & Black Hills rail. road, was in Omaha yesterday arranging for the transfer of the auditing department of his road from Kearney to Omaha December 1. Mr, Lathrop 1s very much like Othello, in that his occupation is alinost gone, although “Loth” will still hold the position of assist- ant superiutendent of the system, with headquarters at Kearney, Ior purposes of ecouomy the operation of the road will be merged into the Union Pacific system, Gen- eral Manager Dickinson assuming charge of the road after thut date and General Super- intendent Nichols looking after the physicul condition, The removal of the auditing office from Kearney, while not changing the census of the city very mueh, will undoubtealy be felt in a commercial way, as many odds and ends have been purchased there instead of mak- ing requisition on the storekeeperin Omaha. “The change is made necessury by the ap- pointment of receivers,” said Mr, Lothrop, “and a desye to operate the system more ux-unumlral‘l)x Iam still vice president of the company, but will assume the title of assistant superintendent, with headquarters in Kearney, it being the wish of the people there that the road be operated frow that point.” Rutiway Notes, orge W. Loomis of the Burlington was at his desk yesterday after five days spent among the quail and rabbit in Red Willow county, There was a tired feeling very noticeable about Mr, Loomis and he spoke of & very old arm of which he was possessed. Together with W. W. Bingham and Charles johannes Mr. Loomis bagged between 300 and 400 quail and a cargo of rabbits, the distribution taking place on Mouday at the general oflices of the Burling- ton, A Nulelde of an Edito 8. Pavr, Nov. 25.—Albert Eolf, until re- cently editor of the St. Paul Daily Volks Zei- tung and a prominent Cerman democrat, threw himself in front of an engine in the union depot this afternoon, His body was badly maungled. Despoudency over faliure to secure & government appotment is given as one probable cause, e g Shot us She Bade Her Lover Farewell, Sr. Lous, Nov. 25.—The death this morn- ing of Aunnie Nessen, a comely lass of 19, adds another to vhe list of lovers' tragedies. James IMitzgerald and the girl, who lived at 701 South Broadway, were lovers, and had been bidding each other adieu yesterday. _AMUSEMENTS. I5TH STREET THEATRE | EVERs NIGHT THIS WEE USUAL MATINEES, COMM o Far ™ ENCING . oy TOD Iy “Up 10 Da POPULAR RICES. AY 21 2:30 TONIGHT 27815 and a Little Ways Boyond. COSGROVE & GRANT'S COMEDIANS 1 the 41l Bditton of the soason's Glortons Relghing Coniedy Sensation "“THE DAZZLER’ . enty Metropolitan Comed! STHE Widow: ™ the groat Clipde Curran, Jessa Hatehor, Anule Wi GAAND EXTRA M ording to Titzgerald, when an unknown man opened fire on the couple. Fitzgerald claims to have pursied the assassin without avail. The police aro working on the case aund also holding Fitzgerald on the theory that he is the murdere —— HINTS FOR THANKSGIVING, Oxyana, Neb,, Nov, 2 To the Editor of Tue Bee: “It1s a good thing to give thunks unto the Lord.” “For the Lord is good, His merey is everlasting and His truth endureth to all generations.” The Lord has been gracious unto us as a_peoplo, and the mani fold blessings received attest this fact more than tongue can expross. Noxt Thursday is & day set apart for thanksgiving and upon that day we should not only offer thanks and praise unto the Lord, but we should also remember by our slore aud purse thoso engagod in saving tho allen, The Rescue Home for Women, located at 403407 Bancroft street, this city, is an in- corpd stitution worthy of our greatest benevolence, and wo know of no place more deserving, as its object is to provide a home for penitent fallen women and to rescus them from lives of ne; to reclaim, edu- cate and instruct them in industrial pur- suits, and to restore them when possible to their homes and rents, Those in chavge of the work are thoro covsecrated to the duties develving upon them, and are doing great good. Over seventy persons have been caved for since the home was established (December, 1501). ‘The home is supported by free-will offorings, and is constantly in_need of supplies, such as arc used in large families or hospitals,— clothing, groceries, vegetables, fruits, jellies ana delicacies suited for the sick, in fact, anything you can give will be thankfully re- ceived and duly acknowledged. Diréet a postal card to the superintendent, Rev. Lydia A. Newberry, 403 Baucrofu_street, city, stating what youmay have to give unto this cause and a worker will call und get it. CHRISTIAN, —_—— HOME INDUSTRY LUNCH. ghly Nebruska Manufacturers Will Feed the Stato OfMciats at Lincoln, Secrotary Holmes of the Manufacturers and Consumers association of Nebraska has returned from Iincoln and revorts that the arrangements have been made for a “home patronage lunch or banquet,” to be given in that city on Friday, December 1, at 9 in the evening. The invited guests will include all members of the Manufacturer association who will be 1n the capacity of nosts, the governor of the state. tho mayor, city attorney, Board of Public Works and city council of Lincoln and the superintendents and stewards of the state institutions, The latter will be in session av Lincoin at that time. The affair will take place at the Lincoln hotel. The different manufacturers in the state who produce food products have agreed to fu; nish the necessaries for the occasion. Every thing served, so far as possible, will be of sia_production, the object being to to the ofticials of the state and city of Lincoln, that Nebr a food products ar not only equal but superior to manufactures from other states, and that they are worthy of the attention of those ofticials who purchase supplies for the public institutions, A Had Nover Henrd of Ike. A Chicago gentleman was 1n town Friday and whiled away a few pleasant hours with City Treasurer Bolln. The Chicagoan was the representative of a syndicate of English bond buyers, and the high regard with which Omaha securities are held in the financial world caused him to covet a few of the bonds. His mission was in vain, as he was in search of bonds that were never voted. He had heard of the proposition to bond the city for §1,500,000 to construct a anal, and supposed that they were vove His iznorance on this subject, however, is probably excusable from the fact that he had never heard of Ike Hascall, the labor- ing man’s candidate for mayor,” and his support of the canal scheme, e £aid the Kiection Officials, Yesterday the city commenced dslivering pay warrants to the judges and clerks, su pervisors of registration and special police men. The judges and clerks received § each, supervisors of registration 15 and ial policemen #4. Some of those to whom warrants were delivered discovered breakers ahead when the warrants were presented at the treas- urer's ofice, The council recently adopted a resolution providing that there shall be delucted from all warrants issued the amount due the city in personal taxes if any delinquency te found on the books. Several delinquants were brought to time in this manner, although they protested againsy the amounts being taken from their pay. e —— ¥. M. €, A Notes, Rev. J. M. Patterson will deliver the see- ond of the scries of addresses Lo men this afterncon at 4 o'clock in Young Men's Chris. tian association hall, The association or- cheatra, under the leadership of Me, I, J. Pennell, will furuish an orchestral prelude, ‘I'ne association buildwg will be uvpen to all young men from U 1o 10:80 a. m. and 12:30 7 p m. Mr. Acheson, the new president of the M gue Saviogs bank, will conduct the Sunday afternoon bible class at 3 v, m, Colonel Bird is expected to be presest and make a brief tallkk at close of class. Secre- tary Ober's class is held at9:1 Thursday evening occurred the third annl. versary social and ball of Alpha camp No, 1, Wooamen of the World, at Myrue hall in the Continental block. Probably 200.couples were present and enjoyed the hospitality of Alpha camp. These catertainments during the winter will bo given each month and a reat deal of pleasaut anticipation is afford ed y reason thercof. Miinge Inw B, A frame barn belonging to A, I, Clark at 2517 Harney street was considerably dam- aged by fire last evening. ‘Ihe blaze was caused by a defective flue in the heating apparatus. About $00 will cover the loss on the building, The contents were damaged to the extent of $200. Several valuable horses were in the slable at the time, but were rescued. Prendergust's Case Continued. Cuicago, Nov. 25.—The trial of Prender- Tho Only One," JOSEPH A, OTT N SOAWARY DAY WITH - G THe"DARZLERY ANNIE LEWIS as imons & Comadians: Max Miller, .5 Waed, Jobn e Tor, Albert Hart, Howard Grandm, W. 11 Ways TO-NIGHT. BOY D’ STonGHT THIS (SUNDAY) EVENING, NOV. 26, Last Performance of Mr, CARL A. HASWIN AND COMPANY In tho most powertul of all me! THE SILVER' KINC, By Heney Arthur Jones. APLAY FOR THE PEOPLE. 554 Good Seats at 50¢ Each. _Box oftice open all duy Sunday. BOYD'S ., Tunee Niants, Commencing GET A GOOD AT FOR MOKDAY, NOV. 27 WILLIAM CALDER'S COMPANY In Sutton Vane's Thrilling Realistic Drams, The Span i Li Under the dircetion of H. 8, TAYLOR. THE GREATEST MELO-DRAMA of the AGE After 20 weelcs runat the Now York theater thie New Yook Horald ealls it Tl choverost o most’ exciting melo-drama. seen. hore (i moons." in many Strong Cast Firat floor b, 7 Box oflice open all d; BOYD’S THANKSGIVING ENGAGEMENT. Appearance of the Tragedian, ROBERT DOWNING Supported | JGENIE BLAIR, EDMUND COL-~ LIER, and strong company of players, Son REPERTOIRE THANKSGIVING MATINEE—*‘Ingomar,” THANKSGIVING EVEN ‘The Cladiator. FRIDAY EVENING-**Virginius,” SATURDAY MATINF “Richard the Lion Hoarted.” SATURDAY EVENING - “The Giadiator.” Box Sheets open Wednesday. rrices: Lirss floor, and £{; baleony, fe and 75, Mutinee: First floor, 5c and 7 lcony, f0c. MORAND'S DANCING SCHOOL, 1510 HARNEY ST. WINTER TERM BECINS DEC. (ST, Childre i 10 . m. id 3 p,m. Friday Effective Scoaes. 0 Infanta Wil reakonabl PROF, J. O, BIS, &l AMUSEMENT CIRCUIT, Sherldan, Wyoming, Shuring Torms. | Address for Partienlar Before Buying Cloaks, Fur Capes CARMENTS. SEALSKIN RELIABLE GOODS OUR 8PECIALTY, K SCOFIELD CLOAKS SUTS RS, COR. I6TH AND FARNAM STS.OMAHA Paxton Block, Entrauce on 16tk St gast for the murder of Carter Harrison, which was to have been begun on Monday, was continued today for one week. One of Prendergast's attorneys is ill and asked that the case be continued, Buried Alive, John flaley, sdministrator of the estate of m Haley, dec ed, has brought suit rthe sum of §,000. The .plaintift allezes that on May 5, 1802, William Huley was employed in the sund pit owned and operated by Patrick Bagley, working some twenty feet beneath the surfa He fur- ther alleges that the bank caved in and that the dife was crushed out of William Haley ; that the fatal accident was due Lo the fuulo of a drunken foreman, who failed to furmish the proper facilities for supporting the earth above the sand where the men were work- ing Sl Conteactod tor Bond A representative of Farson, Leach & Co., tue New York bond brokers, was in the city the entire day yesterday. He coutracted for street improvement bonds of the city in vhe amount of 52,500, paying par aud acerued interest for the same, The gentleman gave Preasurer Bolln encouraging words and eon- sidered the outlook for the takiug of the re- mainder of the bonds as being good. Fire in Blsmurok's Castle, HampurG, Nov. 2.—-A fire broke out in a room at Frince Bismarck's chateau at Friedrichsrub yesterday as a vesult of a de- fect in the heating upparatus. Tue flam were speedily quencbed by the servanis under the sungryision of the priace himself,