Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, September 8, 1894, Page 9

ESTABLISHED JUNE 1 - -~ "SATURDAY MORNING, SEPIEMBER TWELVE PAGES NOTSOBADASPAINTED | Presert Oondition of Nebraska's Drouth- Stricken Farme AS TOLD BY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Caly in Western Counties Will There Bo Oalls for Relief. MANY URGENT DEMANDS FOR SEED GRAIN The High Price of Corn Wil Largely Com- pensate fir Croo Bhortage. THERE WILL BE SOME ACTUAL SUFFERING Bpecial Correspondents of The Bee Through- out the State Report Their Interviews with County Commissioners Show- Ing the Farmers' True Condition, Recently The Bee sent the following note of inquiry to special correspondents at county seats throughout the state See members of your Board f County Com- missioners. Get from them the exact truth of reports of distress among the farmers of your county and the estimated number of people that will require and are worthy of @id. Has your board d-ne anything, or will 1t do anything, to provide necessary relief, and if s0, what? Has the board authorized any outdider to solicit ald for the poor of your county? Also state of ycur own knowledge the true condition of the people. WIill the county authorities be able, if disposed, to prevent actual suffering among the drouth- stricken farmers during the winter? Reports have been rec:ived from about thirty counties. They Indicate that the actual conditicn of the people in the drouth- stricken countles Is not and does not prom- ise to become as serious as heretofore pre- dicted. 1t will be notieed that only in the western portion of the state are there likely to be urgent demands for aid. The Bec's repcrts, coming as they do from the commissioners of the various coun- tics, are entitled to credence. Obviously there can be no more trustworthy source of information. It is reasonable to assume that county cficials know the true condition of the people of their respective counties, and The Bee has endeavored in the following re- ports to simply quote their views of the sit- uation: BLAINE COUNTY. The farmers of Blaine county are all busy taking care of their hay and corn fodder, and there is being prepared and taken care of more rough feed than ever before since the county was settled. Grass in the sand 1ills has cured in best condition known for years and will furnish splendid winter ranges for horses and eattle. While the corn crop is almost & fallure and a loss the farmers that are taking care of winter feed are all sure of & good market and in many instances will be in better shape than with a good crop of 16 or 20-cont corn. It is not ex- pected that Blaine county will need much ald for ita people and it is proposed to supply the few needy by glying them employment on irrigation ditches.” There has be:n no eall for help as yet and It appears to b> the general opinion that it will not be neces- sary to solicit aid. BUFFALO COUNTY. At the special meeting of the board of supervisors, held for the purpose of devising ways and means for relieving the needy in Buffalo county, it was learned that probably only the northern and northwestern part of the county would require any assistance. ‘Phere will probably be between 200 and 300 peaple in the county outsice of Ifearney who will be in destitute circumstances this winter, but the various townships have taken hold of the matter, and it is not thought that any outside aid, further than seed for next year, will be called for. No outsider has been or will be, so far as known now, asked to solicit help in any way for the drouth-stricken farmers in this county. Two or three townships at least will undoubtedly submit the proposition of issuing internal improvement bonds, and where the proposition carries work will be done on the streets and in providing for irrigation. In the northern half of the county there have been quite a number of removals, but almost all, If not all, so far, have been renters only, and if the spring opens up favorably they will come flocking back as never before, CASS COUNTY. The county commissioners have stated that no cases of distress among the farmers of Cass county have been reported to them Their estimate of the number of people who will require and are worthy of ald for the coming winter is Dbetween 400 and 500. The board now makes an allowance of from $6 to $8 per month for famiiles needing aid The people of the county, as a rule, are in fair condition, especially among the farmers. many ¢ whom have from one to four years crop on hand. The street commissioner of Plattsmouth estimetes there to be 1,000 Idle men in the eity. The city council has the matter in hand and will plan employment for a great many of these men at street work and other forms of municipal im- provement. The county and city of Plattsmouth will he able to take care of thelr own poor. The county board has authorized no out- siders to solicit ald for the poor of the county, nor will they give ear to any such proposition CEDAR COUNTY. No appMcations for ald have been made by farmers to the county board and they do not anticipate any. The crops here are not total fallures. The chairman of the board was of the opinion (which I certainly belieye) that the farmers are perfectly able to get along this winter without relief from any outskle sources. They have enough to carry them safely through and will not ap- peal for or need assistance. CUMING COUNTY. No distress exists or will exist ing county. Emory Briggs, States signal officer and ob Ing county, after an exhaustive examina tion, says: Wheat crop is more than an average; oats slightly below an average; corn, about one-fourth of a crop. People, as a rule, in this county are comparatively ell oft. Numbers have old corn in the crib. Banks are well supplied with money. A few isolated cases of distress, or rather nconvenience, may develop later, but not Mkely. Cuming county has had an unin- terrupted season of prosperity for twenty- four years, and consequently its people are in good shape to withstand a shortage In crop. Travelers from other portions of the state proncunce the lower Elkhorn val- ley @s being in better shape than any other portion of the state within their knowledge. CHERRY COUNTY. The county commissioners have not met sluce June and will not until October, there- fore notking has been done looking (o heip- ing through of citizens who have a total failure of crops, although likely the ques- tion will be fully considered at that time. In part of the county there Is a total failure and these farmers will, in many instances, need assistance to help them through until arother crop. However, we are not as bad oft as we might be, from the fact that tha valleys between the sand hills are flled with hay, which bas heretofore been neglected, not more than a third the yleld In past seasons having been Eathered. This season, as soon as it was apparent that the cereal crops were failures, many of our farmers went to the sand bii In Cum- the United rver for Cum- of taking their stock with them, and are now putting up large quantities of hay, not only for their own stock, but for stock brought in from drouth-stricken counties in this state and {n fowa. Although the hay crop I8 but half as heavy as usual it Is safe to say that there will be twice as much put up this season as any past and cattle are being brought in in large numbers. Clierry county will k00n be the banner cattle county. Hay in stack anywhere within five to seven miles of the railroad 1s selling at §3 per ton, and baled and in car $1 per ton. Hundreds o cars will be shipped out. There is some talk of trying to vote bonds and build a court house, employing day labor and those actual residents of the county, the material to be of stone taken from a quarry near here. However, this has taken no definite shape. Help will be needed here to a limited extent, but we are in hopes that our de- mands will not be very heavy. CHASE COUNTY. There is considerable destitution among the farmers of this county, caused by crop fallures. Our county board Is relieving temporary distress by allowances from the general fund. No one s authorized by the board to solicit outside aid. The gen:ral sentiment is to pass a law autherizing the county to pledge its credit to assist deserv- ing_poor and all to seed. The county authorities without some _ special legislation, will not be abl: to afford the needed relief. A great many of our people have gone to irrigated districts in Colorado and are at work laying in supplies for the winter. Qur people have a genulne move on themselves. Feed, fuel and seed are the three things that are the hardest to secure in the winter season by even our best fixed people. A great many say that they can live, but don't see how to keep their stock. FRANKLIN COUNTY, There has not been in Franklin county { during the past sixty-five days rain enough to lay the dust. As a result, hay crop is entirely ruined. Where the corn is large enough it is being cut for fodder. Hundreds of emigrants have passed through here in covered wagons the past month and more going daily. It is admitted by men who have lived here during the past twenty- two years that there has been no season wherein everything Is as much of a total failure as now exists. Owiog to the poor crops during the past two years, the farmers’ surplus is used, and the chances are excellent for a year of great distress. Everything marketable in the way of stock is being placed on the market. Small pigs are worth- less, horses and cattle command no price and’ the price of feed is advancing daily, Shade trees ten and twelve years old are dylng for lack of moisture. Farmers living along the streams are now making efforts to irrigate their land and be preparel for another crop. Just south of Frankiin A. B. Gregory has turned Center creek on his land, and, as a result, will have half a crop of corn, the corn and FILLMORE COUNTY, The county board of Fillmore has taken no defivite steps toward relieving the drouth sufferers in the county. The matter will probably be up at the next regular meeting ot the board early in October. At the last meeting the proposition to lsy pavements in the court house square was tabled because it was urged that the money (between $700 and $800) might be sorely needed to relieve the poor next winter. This county has township organizaticn, and under such or- ganization the supervisor of each township is ex-officlo overseer of the poor of his township. Thus the townships are sup- posed 1o lcok after their own cases of need, only such as must of necessity be sent to the county poor house. But it is likely that the board will feel that this emergency calls for a more general movement. The matter of voting bonds for public works that the unemployed may have labor has not been much discussed here. There will be suome cases of destitution in the county, but probably the number will not ba large. There are a few xuch cases in the country and more in the towns and villaj But the aggregate will not be rge. Most tillers of the soll raised wheat n0ugh for breadstuff, a few oats as a relish or work horses, and have an immense crop of splendid corn fodder for cattle. The most suffering will be in the towns. There will be organized charity in most of these es, but that will not wholly meet the FRANKLIN COUNTY. The condition of the poorer class of farm- erg in this county is worse than ever be- fore. The grain crop is a total failure. The most that can be saved is corn fodder, and 50 per cent of that is so badly burn-d that it contains very little nutritive sub- stance. Notwithstand'ng the fact that a larger amount of hay than usual will be cut, it is of such inferfor quality that two tons will not go as far as one heretofor m a careful canvas I estimate that 0 per cent of our farmers will require as- sistance. Thirty per cent will have to be helped with seed and feed next spring, and 20 per cent will have to be assisted through the win- ter and furnished seed for next season’s farming. There is no labor. of any kind to be had, and no arrangements have been made by the county board or otherwise for employment or in any way assisting those in need. We are now having the only good rain fr nine weeks. A large amount of rye will be sown here in the next few days for winter feed . FRONTIER COUNTY. The county commissioners have held special sessions the past two days for the purpose of devisiug & plan to take care of the destitute of the county. The avallable funds of the county for this purpose are quite limited, and it becomes necessary to proceed with extreme caution. It is under- stood that a careful canvass will be made of each precinct In the near future, the re- ports to be filed with the county clerk. The justices of the peace are to receive instruc- tions as to what articles they may give or- ders for, and special contract made with store keepers for honoring these orders. A committee consisting of J. F. Green, J. H. Lincoln and L. M. Graham was ap- pointed to act with similar committees from adjoining counties to wait upon the governor and urge the necessity of a special session of the legislature to take care of the destitute of this section of the state. Reliable in- formation ts not at hand as to the per cent of the population which will require assist- ance during the coming winter; indications are that it will be quite large. The county will be able to care for the people for the present, but the coming winter will bring great suffering to the destitute of this county even under the most favorable conditions, FURNAS COUNTY Many in the country will need ald this winter and will suffer should none be pro- vid.d. Storles of suffering and the killing of horses are much exaggerated. The county commissioners will care for the needy in this county. They have sent to each school board in the county for a report of the exact condition in,each school district. No person has been authorized to solicit aid for Furnas county. The folly of such solicita- tions was proven in 1890, when irresponsible parties went cast and secured supplies and funds, much of which was diverted to private use, GAGE COUNTY. There will be no trouble in the matter of caring for the poor of Beatrice and Gage county during the coming winter, as the county is amply able and will see fo it that there is no actual suffering, although un- doubtedly many will require assistance. The board has not yet taken any special steps in that direction, as none has been deemed necessary. GREELEY COUNTY. There Is no tress among Iimmediate suffering the people of this county, A tew will need aAss'stance betore spring 1t the winter is severe. The failure of corn means also a failure of cobs which constitutes fully half of the fuel used by the farmers. At a meeting of the county commissioners a few days ago 4 committee was appointed to petition the governor for aid; also a committee of two appointed to visit each township and ascertain the num- ber in the county who are entitled to and should receive aid. It is doubtful that the county authorities would be able, if dis- posed, to do much in the way of rellef, but or di possibly would be able to keep people from actual suffering. The farmers are disposing of all their stock, which supplies them with means for some time. The consensus of opinion {8 that there will be no suffering in this county on account of the drouth. GOSPER COUNTY. This courity hakijgen consldering the ques- tion of bonding fhe county for building roads, but at a mass meeting beld a short time ago it was decided not to do this, but to supply the wants of the needy out of the county general fund. Very few will suffer from want of provi- sions and fuel, but the farmers must be furnished seed to plant and grain to feed in the spring. There will be plenty of roughness for all the stock In this county, for the winter beet crop cannot be put in and work d without grain. GRANT COUNTY. In this (Grant) county the people will be able to take care of themselves the coming winter, This being exclusively a stock country and there being hay to sell and to feed our stock, there will be no distress among our people. We cultivate gardens and there is no farming of any consequence, s0 we have no crop failure, In the year 1890, when other and older counties were recelving aid from the state, this county did not ask nor receive one cent. We had only one case of destitution in this county and we took care of that ourselves, and we will be able to do the same this vear unless people should come here from other parts destitute. Our county commissioners have done noth- ing, nor will it be necessary, with our present population, to do anything to provide reliet for_our people. Our board has not author- ‘zed any ome to solicit aid for the poor of this county, nor will it be necessary for them to do so. The county authorities will be able to pre- vent actual suffering among our people unless some unforeseen calamity should get into the program a little farther along in the dran We have had mare rain m this part of the sand hills this season than we have had in any season in four years last past. As I pen these lines a fine shower is falling, the range is green and the stock doing well HITCHCOCK COUNTY. As to the number of the farmers In this county that will need help to get through the winter, it would be impossible for me or any one else to estimate what the number will be, but can safely say that at least one-half of the people of this county. will need help to get through the coming winter. We raised no crops last year, but the very mild winter helped the people and st through with less than was expected, while with another drouth and the expected and predicted cold and severe winter coming on 1 know that hundreds of the working people of the county, the poor people, will suffer before Christmas time unless they are helpad by charity from some source. The drouth Jast year caused hundreds of farmers to fail to pay their taxes, and of course they can- not pay this year's or last year's taxes, and, with only about $1,200 In the general fund, you can readily see that this amount could be absorbed in a few months by one single precinet of the county. The board of county commissioners, two of whom are populists, called the people together some few weeks ago to devise ways and means of caring for the needy, but, although every precinct was represented and dozens of different plans were sugested. not one was acted upon, except to ask his exclency, Governor Crounse, to call the legislature together in extra session, and, If neccessary, for the governor to call upon congress for help. No outsider has becn authorized to solicit aid for the poor of the county. Inmy estimation this county can come as near taking care of the poor, through the coming winter as I can come fo buying Omaha. This may be rough, but it is a good fair estimate of the matter and the facts, HARLAN COUNTY. I have made inquiry as to the probable number of people who will, no doubt, before another crop is gathered, require and are worthy of aid in some way. Probably 100 tamilies in the county will require some help to live through the winter and get seed for next year's crop, feed for teams, etc., and this number may vary, as it is hard at pres- ent to form a very close estimate. Our county board has taken no action as a board toward providing relief. There was a meet- ing of delegates from each of the sixteen townships of the county, and among the delegates several township supervisors, for the purpose of considering this question, and also to get the feeling of the people on voting bonds, and nearly all of the members were of the opinion that each township would be able to take care of its own poor. There has beem no one authorized to solicit help for any one in this county, so far as [ have been able to ascertain. From my own obscrvation I think that the poor in the emall towns will suffer more than the farming class, especially day laborers, and with these renters who came here last spring and rented farms. I believe, so far as a living is concerned, the authorities will be able to care for the poor, but when it comes seed time, teams will suffer and sced grain will be short. HOWARD COUNTY, At a mass meeting here a committee was appointed and is investigating as to the needs of our people. As almost no grain at all has been raisel this year many, per- haps one-half, of our farmers will need some sort of assistance to procure the neces- sary seed and feed for next spring. Our county authorities are disposed to take the necessary steps to assist all who need help and it is my opinion that they will be able to do o, though it will go hard, this being the second year's failure In succession. Many here are in hopes of our next legis- lature doing something for the people in this part of the state, JOHNSON COUNTY. Concerning distress among farmers of this county, the commissione:s Inform me that they expect very little more call for eid this winter than usu Qur farmers are, as a rule, able to stand the loss of this year's crop. Most of them have okl grain on hand, and each of them raised a little despite the drouth. The board has not, as there is no necessity therefor, authorized any out- sider to solicit ald for the poor of the county. On the contrary, It will probably be called on, as well as citizens generally, to extend aid to the farmers of the western portion of the state, who will be compelled to ask for help. Though the loss Is a great one to our farmers, they seem disposed to make the best of it, and do not feel as forlorn as one would nmaturally expect them to. They have great confidence in what the future has in store for them. LINCOLN COUNTY. The dearth and destitution prevailing in western Nebrasks as the result of this year's drouth superadded to the partial crop failures of 18 1s only understood by those who have made the rounds of the country dis- tricts, On every hand abandgned home- steads and whitened and withered fields of corn tell the story of discouragement and de- spar. Along the streams, where irriga- tion or a seepage has furnished molsture, farmers have succeeded in raising erops. Eleswhere everything has burned. Many farmers are too poor 1o move away. With chattel mortgages on all their possessions, they must leave bare-handed or stay to starve unless outside help is furnished. Every day mew applications for county charity evi- dence the growing d stress. 1o many coun- ties the funds avallable for the relief of poverty are neasly exhausted. In this county e 1894 levy shows about $3,000 still in the general fund. Merchants will be slow to ac- cepl warrants on the 1895 levy for goods 1d. State aid is absolutely necessary To indicate the urgent need of this assist- ance it may be stated that correspondence locking to the calling of a convention to cons der the best methods for securing and rendering aid has been carried on recently between many county officils in these west- €rn counties, In response to a communi- cation addressed by the county clerk of this county to the county clerks of all counties west of Grand Island relative to the sub- ject twenty-three replies have been recelved From theso replies the following opin.ony are gleaned: Loup County—F. H. Smith writes: “Our people seo the necessity of dolng something and whatever Is soon."" Cherry County—Deputy, County Clerk J ©. Pettijohn sa It s 4 very grave question whether CNerty ‘county can possi- bly teke care of its poor." Hitchcock County~W. P. Filbert, county clerk, replies: “We are in favor of taking metion to present the situgtion to state and nation.” Harlan County—Co that “some action wil enablo our people to Custer County—A. and national aid. Sherman County—"Our county ls not able to support its poor,” i% the response of the county clerk. > Red Willow County—founty Clerk G. W. Roper says: “Our efunty made no provision to care for the- poor the coming year. We are not able to eare for many, and I do not know what will be done.” Perking county Is not able to take care of its poor, in the opinion of A. B. Wilcex, tho county clerk. The replies from the county clerks of Keith, Garfleld, Logan, McPherson and Rock counties agree in desiring concerted action for state help. Scotts Bluff county I8 prosperous and in the opinfon of the county officials of Banner, Deuel, Dawson, Franklin, Buffalo and Furnas countfes these countles are able to cope with the situation. In this county the county commissioners perceive the necessity of taking action to supply the needs of the approaching winter. No one has been authorized to solicit aid, but owing to the depleted condition of the poor fund something will have to be done to prevent suffering. There is no use in ques- tioning the penury of the people. Outside irrigation districts many are even now suf- fering for the necessaries of life. Unable to buy fuel, they are utilizifig “‘buffalo chips, gathered from cattle ranges to cook their scanty meals. It is, however, difficult to estimate the number who will require help owing to the daily exodus of those who can get away. In the opinion of George Ham- mond, chairman of the county commissloners, fully twb-thirds of the farmers living on nonirrigated lands in this county will need assistance. done eannot be done too ty Qlerk Mahn agrees bave to be taken to . Hyatt favors state LOGAN COUNTY. Have seen the commissioners. One hun- dred families in Logan county will need aid during the winter. But little has been done and that has been by orders on the stores. The commissioners have uot authorized any outsider to solicit aid for the poor in Logan county. The authorities will do all they can to assist the needy, but very much doubt their being able to help all and prevent suf- fering. MERRICK COUNTY. There will not be to execed fifty families that will need aid. The board of super- visors will relieve all suftéring without vot- ing aild and asking outside’assistance. There will be a good deal of corn rais:d; there is plenty of hay and fodder for stock. Pos- sibly it will require more assistance to procure seed than anything else. ~Our board was In session when I submitted your ques- tions, and the above is in'line with their answers. NANCE COUNTY. Nance county will be-able to take care of her people the coming winter. Three town- ships out of the eleven: kave called special elections to vote bands for improve- ment of public highways. This will make work for the umemployed until late in the fall. Farmers, as a rule, have cut and shocked allitheir corn fodder, which will be abundant to earry horses and cattle through. The hogsof our county are being sold and shipped out of the couniry. The fuel question is ome tMat demands im- mediate attention at the present time, and our county and cily ofiders are doing all they can ‘to provide for'. any emergency which may arise. PAWNEE COUNTY, As to the matter of distress among the farmers, we will have no more cases in Pawnee county than of ordinary years, unless it be among those who move In from the western counties, and so far there are no cases from that source. ' Crops are fairly good in this county, there being an abundance of oats, wheat and rye, a good deal of old corn and about half a crop of mew corn. The farmers here are, as a rule, well fixed financially, with but few renters. There is no probability any calls for aid more than is usual will be made and our county commissioners do mot think it will be necessary to take any particular steps to provide ald for the poor. In fact, Pawnee will be amply able to help supply the people of some of the western counties. POLK COUNTY. Polk county commissiouers were in session September 3. They say that since their last meeting there have been only two ap- plications for relicf and they were sent to the county poor farm; that the county will not find it necessary to call for outside help; that there is mo one authorized to solicit for help; that it. will not be n.ces- sary to issue bonds, and if the poor fund should be exhausted they can transfer from some other fund, and hus be able to furnish relief to all the county poor that apply 3 RICHARDSON ,COUNTY. There is no distress in this county. The ccunty board has dome nothing. A half a crop of corn is assured, and, with double the price of former years, and with a good yield of small graln, Richardson county fs all right. STANTON COUNTY. There 15 no euffering in this county. Enough has been raised.to keep the people through. It is true there are individual cases where aid will be necessary, but the county is amply able to care for all. Some farmers are in debt, and of course they can- not pay. Most of them, however, are able to live through until another crop is raised. The corn_crop will be very short, but there is a good lot of rough’feed, such as corn fodder. SCOTT'S BLUFF COUNTY, There is no destitution in Scott’s Bluff county. Crops are better than they have ever been, a larger acreage than ever was planted. The harvest now in progress is en- tirely satisfactory, and as there Is plenty of hay and grain, and [rrigation canal work to do, there will not be an idle man who wants to work in the founty this fall or winter, except it be same lazybones who prefers to put In Wik time devising means to save the country from' the bow-wows. Since there is no suffaripg. of course the county board has appointed mo solicitors, nor have they taken steps of:amy kind in any such direction. Irrigation is wealth. SALINE COUNTY Saline county can and Wil lock after all her own deserving peor, The increased distress, it any, will be In the towns and not among the farmersy who are fully able to look after thems:lvek 'The worst pinch will be with those who heve bought farms at $50 per acre, mostly on time, of whom there are quite a number. SHERIDAN COUNTY. It will not be necessary for the commis- sioners of Sheridan cownty to furnish aid to more than the usual mumber of persons the coming winter, and that number s in- significant, confined almost entirely to the towns. Although the aggregate smount of food product of the county. cannot be sald to be bountitul, there is ample to feed the people, with congiderable t~ sp-r-. SARPY COUNTY. After interviewing members of the Board of County Commissioners, ‘I find there’ will be but little distress amoug farmers, and but very few, i any, thar will require aid. The board has done nothing to provide re- liet. The condition of the people of county s In no wise alarming. There may be occasionally a renter of land that will find it & littie hard to pull through. As a gencral thing, they are in fair shape. The authorities have ample means at hand to provide for any suffering that may develop, as the finamces of the county are in good shape. THAYER COUNTY. There will be but very féw people, if any, that will require help to-carry them through this winter on account of the drouth. Our county commissioners will promptly act in case some need help, No suffering bas been reported, except one tamily near Alexandria, whom the commissioners have provided fo No one is authorized to solicit ald from ¢ siders for Thayer county people. This county is amply able to take care of itself. WEBSTER COUNTY. Interviews with the members of the Board of Supervisors develop the fact that in the opinion of a majority of them no extraor- dinary means will be necessary to enable the county to care for the destitute this winter. A proposition to issue bonds for grading the roads and to give the people work and an- other to ask the legislature to grant county boards additional power in some way that would enable them to supply seed to needy farmers in the spring have met with no en- couragement from the board. The super- visors say that the county will be able to care for its poor In the regular way. No one has beeh authobized by the board or any other organization to solicit aid for the poor of the oounty, and so far as is known no one Is contemplating such an errand. In my opinfon, while the poor fund may be somewhat inadequate, the county will care for the destitute and will in no event allow herself to go on record as a begging county There are many farmers in the county who have from 500 to 3,000 bushels of old corn left and good judges say there is enough to supply the county. - NEWS FOR THE ARMY. eutenants Ordered to Leavenworth to E ned as to Fitness for Promoti WASHINGTON, § pt. 7.—(Special Telsgr :m to The Bee.)—The leave of absence granted Captain Paul Clendenin, assistant surgeon, Is extended five days. Charles B. Stivers, having been Teap- peinted captain of Infantry by recent act of ccngress, is placed upon the retired list, as of date December 30, 1864. Leave of absence is granted First Lieutin- ant Frank Eugene L. Loveridge, Fourteenth infantry, recently promoted, s extended three months. Colonel Adelbert R. Buffinton, Ordnance department, is ordered from Rock Island, L1, to Fort Riley, Kan., for examination of carriages of light batterles at that post. Captain Ira McNutt, Ordnance department is ordercd from South Bethlehem, Pa., to the works of the Carpenter Steel company. Reading, Pa., for inspection of arm'r plercing shot. The following changes of stations of officers of the Ordnance department are ord=red: Cap- tain Stanhope E. Blunt, from Springfield armory, Springfleld, Mass., to Westervelt ar- senal, West Trcy, N. Y.; Captain James Rockwell, jr., from Westervelt arsenal to | Springfield ‘armory, Springfield, Mass. Lieutenant Colonel James Henton, Twenty- third infantry, is granted one month's exten- sion of leave. Li nt M. K. Smith, Twenty-third in- fantry, Is granted leave for two months The following officers will report to Lieu- tenant Colonel John Andrews, Twenty-ffth Infantry, at Fort Leavenworth, for examina- tion by the board as to their fitness for pro- motfon: First Lieutenant Millard F. Walt Twelfth infantry; Second Lieutenant John 8. Winn, Second cavalry; Second Lieutenant Solomon P. Vestal, Fifth cavalry; Second Lieutenant Charles A. Hedkin, Third cavalry Second Lieutenant Bacd P. Schenck, Twelfth infantry; Second Lieutenant Samuel A. ghteenth infantry; Second Lieuten- ant Frank Halbright, Ninth infantry; Second Lieutenant Frederic D. Evans, Eighteenth intantry; Second Lieutenant James Baylies, | th infantry; Second Lieutenant William | Neary, Third infantry; Second Lieutenant | George A. Detchmendy, Sixth infantry; Sec ond Ligutenant Ear) C. Carnahan, Twelfth infantry; Second Lieutenant Walter L. Tay- lor, Twentjeth infantry; Second Licutenant Aléxander L. Dade, Tenth cavalry; Second Lieutenant Archibald A. Cabaniss, Twentieth infantr: e A LAWS ARE WELL ENFORCED. Superintendent Byrnes Says as a Kule Now York's Police Are Eficient. NEW YORK, Sept. uperintendent Byrnes at a meeting of the police board sub- mitted a report made in’compliance with a resolution passed by the police board three months ago directing him to investigate the condition and efficlency of the police force. Superintendent Byrnes tells the committes that the laws to suppress crime aze well en- forced with the exception of the excise law. He shows that the fact that this law is con- tinually violated is due to the great difficulty encountered by officers in their effoits to pro- cure evidence against offenders. “As to gambling,” continues the report, ‘my in- vestigations show there is no public gambling in this city at the present time. Isolated cases of gambling in a large city will always exist,” says the superintendent. The report speaks similarly of policy and other petty gambling. The suppression of the houses of ill-fame and assignation is a difficult prob- lem, according to the report. The superin- tendent recommends that the legislature deal with the matter this winter in such manner as it deems fit. As to the discipline of the force Superintendent Byrnes says that while in some respects it is not what it ought to be, yet under the circumstances it is as good as could be expected Ll DELEGATES HAD GONE HOME. Irrigation Congress Ialling in Interest Now the Excursions Are Over, DENVER, Sept. T.—The attendance at the irrigation congress today was smaller than heretofore, some delegates having already left for home. Joel Shoemaker of Utah moved that the committee on resolutions be requested to report at once. The chairman announced that the committee would not be ready to report until 2 o'clock. This an- nouncement raised a storm of protests and Mr. Shoemaker's motion was put and carrled, 2 committee being appointed to wait on the committee on resolutions and demand its report. While waiting for the report Thomas R. Cutter of Utah read a paper on beet sugar culture, after which Senor Yberolla of Mexico | spoke on the necessity of having an intern tional water commission to settle disputes between Mexico and the United States re- | garding water privileges. R e Ralsin Crop Falls Short. FRESNO, Cal., Sept. 7.—The general re- port received thromghout th: raisin vine- yards 1s to the effect that the first crop, While of a good quality, is falling far short of expectations in the matter of amount. One of the leading vineyards, which had 166 tons of first crep of raisins last year, has thrown upon the trays and finds it will amount to about 85 tons. The second crop in this instance is also far short of that of last year. It Is explained now that with even the most favorable weather for handling the first and second crops th output will be less than for the past three years, and that there will be a glut of the market. e -—— Rought by a Loeal Syndieate. GREEN BAY, Wis., . T.—The Green Bay and Fort Howard water works plaut has been sold by E. Marvin of Indianapolis, George and G. Norman Weaver of Connecti- cut, to a local syndicate headed by M. Joannes and J. #. Bertles. The considera- ton is $300,000, subject to a mortgage of $150,000 in bonds held by the eastern capltalists, e Hard Thmes Kills » Bank, MIDDLETOWN, Pa., Sept. 7.—The Middle- town bank, the oldest Institution of its kind in Dauphin county, has failed on account | of depression in business. The directors say the institution will resume In a short time and the depositors will not lose a cent The institution was founded by General Cameron. e Wrecked on & Dangerous Rref. GLOUCESTER, Mass., Aug. 7.—The steamer Marjorie of Essex, Mass., bound from Greens Landing, Me., for Boston with 300 tons of stone, is ashore on the London- ner, a dangerous reef off Rockport, and will probably prove a total loss. It is supposed that the vessel went on the rocks during | the Grand ! was stopping. the night. The Londonner Is known as one of the most dangerous reefs on the New England cosat, and it is very doubtful it anything can be saved from the steam The Marjorle was built at Essex I 188 and was owned by A, J. Story of that place She is insured for $17,000, TCIDE IN A NEW YORK PARK. Strange Lepter Found Man Wh W YORK, Se H. T. Cresson, 45 rs old, of 1336 South Seveuteenth street, hiladelphia, a well dressed man over six fest tall, shot himself at the Fourth street entrance to Bryani park. He was found by a policeman lying in the grass still breath- ing An ambulance was summoned, but be- fore it arrived the man was dead In the clothing was a_plece of paper on which was writt:n in_red pencil the follow fng: “Return that book stolen from my room et once, and be quick about it, and if you open my trunk with a key or any other way again, and tamper with my effects, 1 shall have you and your husband arrested Tell him to quit his lying. I have plenty of evidenes to swing you both Into jail, and it will not be long before you land there. You think 1 am a fool. The best thing you can do 18 to turn state's 1d €. 10 to my lawyer CORTIE. There were a number of other letters also found, One was addressed to Charles Ritter, Philadelphia, Another was addressed to Cortland, Dorrance street, Providence, R. I. By the side of the body was picked up a bag which contained surgical instruments, sev- eral preparations of oplum, laudanum and medicines. in the Pocket Himself. of a e i NEW YORK OFFICIALS AT OUT Comptroller Refuses (o Puy the Salary of a Brother OMeinl’s «lerk. ALBANY, Sept. 7.—Secretary of State Palmer made application to court for & writ of ohin the supreme mandamus (o compel Comptroller Roberts to pay the salury of William B. Ewell of Rochester, appointed a clerk in the office of the secretary of state last Jume. This is the first time in the his- tory of the state where two officials of the same political faith have gone to law to settle difficulties. Ewell Is a veteran of the late war. Palmer appointed him under the vet- erans exemption act of st winter, which provides the head of any department may appoint an honorably discharged veteran with- out any civil service examination when the salary does not exceed $4 per day. Ewell's position comes within the law. Roberts has refused to pay him his salary until he pro- duces a certificate from the adjutant general showing that he was honorably discharged and the civil service commissioners notifica- tion that he is eligible under the law. FINAL RUSH OF PREPARATIONS. Advance Guard of the G A, K. \lready at Vittshurg—Blue Everywhere. PITTSBURG, Sept. 7.—The influx of Grand Army of the Republic men, with their wives and daughters, to attend th: national en- campment, has commenced. Every train ar- riving here today had cxtra sections attached for the accommodation of the increased travel. The peopl: arriving today come from distant points, and are in advance of eir organizations. Only one post has ar- ed so far. It me from Washington, D. The streets are rapidly filling up, and Army of the Republic blue is everywhere in evidence. The local commit- tees are almost rushed fo death with putting the final touckes on all the arrangements and giving information to the visitors who are thronging to the encampment head- quarters. Spurious souv:nir badges have been put in circulation, and the police are hunting for the makers and sellers. - Never Talked With the Russians. NEW YORK, 8:pt. 7.—Mana. ‘Waring of the Standard Oil company sald to v that there was no truth in the published state- ment that there had been o hitch in th deal between his company and a Russian cate, uld not be a Waring, ‘because the pany has never entered tlons with Russians or any other foreign ing to control the petroleum market o the world. It is true that Mr. Rockefeller i8 now in Burope. He went there for his health and nothivg else. lie has paid no attention to busin s at all since ) went away, and he did not visit Russia, Neithe has he met any Russians Interested in the oil market. Mr. kefeller has regained his health and will sail for home on the 5th inst.” hiteh,"” said Mr. Standord Ol com- into any negotis Shotgun to His Rival, PARKVILLE, Mo, Sept. 7.—Near Wal- Mo., today A. C. Veach shot and Charles Morris on the eve of his Miss Jane Jones. Both men ng attentions to Miss Jone: When I this morning heard that Mor- ris and Miss Jones were to be married this evening, he procured a_shotgun and_going to the home of F. M. Kerns, where Morris jed the latler to the door and deliberately shot him. Morris died al- most instantly, He was 00 years of age and a widower. Veach Is 30 years old, The murderer escaped to the woods. He s being diligently searched for, and if cap- tured will doubtless be summarily dealt with, Took e Dynamite Gun u Success SANDY HOOK, N. J., Sept. 7.—The en- durance test at the dynamite battery on Monday last having proved satisfactory to the board, the test for aceuracy of firing of live shells from the E-inch gun took place this afterncon. Five S-inch shells, ch loaded with 860 pounds of nitro-glycerine, were prepared for the test. Dummies had been fired to obtain the range of 2,000 yards, Of all the shells which have been fired only two have failed to explode. Only a few more shells will be fired and the official test will then be concluded. Banker Set Free PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 1. Work, the banker and financler sentenced in February, 1891, to serve four years In the eastorn penitentiary for fraud- ulently taking and confiscating bank securi- ties, was released today, having recelved, under the commutation law for good be- havior, the benefit of six months time. The ex-banker declares that he has not a dollar in the world and must get to work to sup- port himself and family e Suit Aga'nst the Tobacco Trost. NEW YORK. Sept. 7.—The taking testimony was begun today at the office of Einstein & Townsend in an action brought by Attorney General Stockton of New Jer to annul the charter of the American cco company on the ground that it was ating trust against the laws of New Jersey. The testimony was taKen be Walter Cleary, a commissioner fr. Jersey. The first witness called was J. Duke, president of the American Tobaceo company. of il Mrs. Coleman Urayton ¥ TRENTO, J., Sept. of Mrs. Coleman Drayton petition for divorce ha though yesterday was doing so. Thix necessarily w No Keply. The answer her husband's not been filed, al- y the last day for fallure does not, however, a forfeiture of the right to make a defense, as the time for filing the answer can be extended by application to the chancellor or any of the four vice chancellors, or even by & mutual agree- ment of counsel for both sid ——— < Underwriters Make Becommendations. WATERTOWN, N. Y., Sept. 7.—At the convention of Insurance underwriters of the United States at Alexandria Bay today the committee on laws made a report, which was adopted, recommending the enactment in each state of stringent laws for the im- vestigation of the causes of all fires and providing for' the removal of all inflamma- ble materlal in the buildings and for the prompt and vigorous prosccution of al Incendiaries, Soclety Man BALTIMORE, Se ris ston, & well known young soclety Baltimore, has enlisted cavalry. Mr. Johnston He recelved from his father, but it is 0od that all this has been spent. This fact and love affair with & well known young Bal- timore mtlfl{ lady are understood to be the causes of his enlistment, John- man of nited States age, npetence TWENTY-THREE DEADINDIANS Horrible Discovery of a Gourier Who Pasted Through the Woods, COURIER COUNTS CHIPPEWA CORPSES Forest Fires Swopt Over the Reservation eft No Avenue for Escape—Hodies Lylng on the Sands us Prey for Buzzards and Wolves, POKEGAMA, Minn, Sept of twenty-three Chippewa rquaws and papooses, lie sands between here and settlement on the ecastern shore of Mille lace. They are scattered over ten miles of country and will in all probability prove food for buzzards and wolves, as the coun= try where they died Is too far from elviliza~ tlon for burial ceremonies. Such s the story brought who, for three days and forcing his way through the tangled skein of charred logs, trunks and roots. He passed through the Millelacs reservation and encountered many small blazes, which are destroying what the fiery cyclone of Satur- day left. The Indians left their reserva- tion two months agd and bullt a hunting lodge slong one of the forks of the Shad- ridge creek. Chtef Wancouta was the “‘big chief” of the party, and he perished with his followers. The first body found by the courler_was that of an infant barely 1 year old. Then came these of two squaws and five children. They had evidently turned west when the flames swept through the for= est. A mile further brought him to a pila of cshes, which marked the sight of the hunting ‘camp. There was one tepee, the shriveled rawhide thongs markng the place Wwhere it stood. Around it were the ruins of a half dozen birch wood bark shantes, and protruding from the ashes were the fused barrels of rifles and shotguns. Then for five miles the pathway was lined with charred bodies, The courler counted twenty-three. T.—~The_bodl Indians, bucks, upon the baked Opstead, & small by a courier, nights, has been RELIEF 10 BE PERMANEND. Steps Belng Taken to Place the Fire Vie thns 0 Farms in the Burned Country, DULUTH, Sept. Hospitals have been established all over the city. Nearly $15,000 in actual cash has been paid into the reliet funds here, and the subscriptions, including lumber and all supplies, will aggregate $20,000. Governor Nelson, a member of the state relief commission and Mayor Eustis of Minnes apolis arrived here last night and held a meeting with the local committeemen at the Spaulding. The matter of permanently pros viding for the refugees was discussed. The owners of the burned towns will be asked if they will rebuild and if not it is designed to make an agricultural country of the burned territory. Two representatives of the land department of the St. Paul & Duluth road were present and offered to give farms free to all heads of familles who do not mow own their farms. All heads -of families will be sent down as goon as Doy ble and will be furnished with timber for temporary homes, their familles in the means time belng provided for here or whereyer. they are. In order to ascertain what this providing of necessaries auring will cost a thorough census will at once be made, The single men will be aided In getting work elsewhere and it Is hoped to have most of the orphans adopted by worthy familie: The commissioners left for the scene of the fires today. The relief register shows 1,234 sufferers to be here, ninety-seven of whom left here today. and the the winter Worst Is Know Hinckley. PINE CITY, Sept. 7.—The worst has been told at Hinckley. There has been but ono party of dead discovered since last night's report. They were in a cellar west of Hincke ley, and it cannot be told whether there are three or four bodies, 0 badly are they burn:d. The work of draining the mill pond is progressing slowly, but the opinion |s that little will be revealed. fr Many Sottlers Are A lssing. WINNIPEG, Man., Sept. 7.—A large num- ber of scttlers on the banks of the Rainy river are still missing, and friends are searching the burned district in the hopes of sccuring their bodies or finding them alive. The country Is so dry from want of rain that whole fislds of potatoes have been burned. Fires Starting Out Anew. NEGAUNEE, Mich., Sept. T.—Forest fires have started on the north and east side of this city. The damage fs confined to stand= ing timber and farm crops. With a strong breeze blowing the fire’is epreading rapidly. e EVIDENCE IS CONTRADICTORY, Some Witnesses Suy Goodwin and Others Swear He W 3 VANCOUVER, Wash., Sept. T.—At the military court at Vancouver varracks, before which Captain W. P. Goodwin was ar- raigned, charged with drunkenness, Attorney Ceswood of Portland appeared for the des fendant. The prosecution called Lientenant Charles H. Martin, first licutenant of Cap= tain Goodwin's company. He testified that at Spokane, while on duty, Captain Goodwin had appeared drunk on several occaslons On the 24th of July, when the troops were 10 be boarded on a train for home. Goodwin did not show up at the depot and he was compelled to give orders for the emparkation in his absence. When Goodwin finally did appear he yas very angry and asked by what authority he had loaded the train, Martin answered shortly and (hreatened Goodwin, Captain Carter, surgeon of the company, testified In the same manner. Willlam Alperson of Spoksne, a mining man, was emphatic in his statement that Captain Goodwin was sober all the time he was In Spokane. He saw him-every day and was sure of it. On the morning the train left and Captain Goodwin was said to be drunk by Lieutenant Martin witness saw him at the Hotel Spokane with General Carlin and was certaln he was not under the Influence of liquor. The ctse will not be concluded for several days. Was Drunk Rl Woman Jal for Murdering a Blacks) JACKSON, Mo., Sept. 7.—Mrs. Mary Ells- worth, 50 years of old. has been lodged in jail here for the murder of Henry SUff, & blacksmith at Oriole and & neighbor of Mrs, Ellsworth, Bad feeling existed on account of certain charges agalnst Stff and counters arges agalnst a grown daughter of Mrs, Ellsworth. Mrs. Ellsworth, her sen Presse ley, and the daughter, drove to the home of SUf, Stift was called out, and without a word Mrs. Ellsworth began firing on him at close range. Stff ran, pursued by the woman, who emptied her revolver into the helpless man. The son also discharged (he contents of his musket into SUM's back, shoot him to the ground. Pressley Ellg= worth has not been caught. —— Kobbors Could Not Reach the Cash, RANDOLPH, N. Y., Sept. T.—Robbers ene tered the State bank of Randolph at an early hour thi morning and made an attempt to rob the safe. They burst off the lock to the vault with a sledge and punch, and then tried to blow up the safe with dynamite. They succeeded in drilling through two plates of chilled stecl, but were unable to penetrate the third, and left without securing any booty. The vault Is a complete wrick, No clew to the robbersy he