The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 23, 1898, Page 4

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, WEDNESDAY, MARCH. 23, 1898, DEATH IN AN DISASTER AT POINT Two Buildings at the Powder Works Destroyed. Chemicals Touched Off by the Machinery Overheating. A Laborer’s Failure tc Obey Orders Responsible for the Catastrophe. TWO LIVES SACRIFICED. One of the Victims Captain Jenks, Who Was Convicted of Starving Horses Spectal Dispatch to The Call. 000000000000 00000C0 [ o © THE DEAD. o © —_ (] © CHARLES A. JENKS. § © CHARLES NELSON. © [ Q OCO0000000000000000 SAN RAFAEL, March 22.—Two ex- plosions occurred at 3:50 o'clock this afternoon at the United States Smoke- less Powder Works, located near Point San Pedro, about three miles from here, | tnstantly killing Charles A. Jenks and Charles Nelson and completely de- stroylng two bulldings. The jar w distinctly felt for miles around. Only parts of the bodies of the dead could be found in the ruins by Coroner Eden and his deputies, and these were col- lected and brought to the morgue, where they present a ghastly sight. The accident was due to the careless- ness of Charles Nelson, a laborer, who, according to statements of officers and men at the powder works, disobeyed orders by running one of the sifting machines In the absence of the superin- tendent. Eric A. Starke, the superin- | tendent, when seen to-night by The | Call correspondent, freely discussed the affair. * said he, “was an ac* 'he exploston cident pure and simple, and was caused | by the disobedience of orders on the part of Nelson. We had only recently put in new machines for sifting chemi- cals used in making powder, and I had given strict orders that the machines | should be discontinued in the morning in and not run at all Nelson had evident and had started the sifting machine to fill up spare time. He got to running it pretty hard. Rush, the engineer of the company, went into the building and found that the bearings on the ma- chine were hot and smoking, and asked Nelson to stop the machine, as it was dangerous. Nelson answered that he bad no time and it was not necessary my absence. it out of work to ofl the bearings very many timel Rush left the building, and in a few minutes the explosion took pla wrecking the building in which Nelson was at work and causing another building about 100 yards distant to blow up. In this building Jenks was killed.” Ex-Captain Charles A. Jenks was about 31 years of age, and leaves a widow and young son. He gained considerable notoriet; by being court-mart horses in San Franci: He was sec- retary to Superintendent Starke and not employed by the powder company. Charles Nelson was a Swede, about 45 years of age, and single. Not an ounce of powder exploded in the two buildings. It was the chemi- cals used in the manufacture of the powder that expleded. In the building in which Nelson was there were only 300 pounds of chemicals, and this, be- coming ignited from the hot bearings, sent the building and the sifting ma- chine tearing into the other building, causing the two tons of chemicals in that building to explode. Two tons of wet chemicals in this building were some time ago led for starving not injured. Only the one machine, valued at $250, was destroyed. No other machinery was damaged. .The buildings were made of iron, and after the explosion the woodwork in them caught fire, but the flames were promptly extinguished. Jenks had gone into the building to exercise his muscle by lifting heavy weights. Charles A. Jenks, one of the victims of the explosion, enlisted as a private in Company F, Seventh Infantry, on June 3, 1889. Subsequently he joined Battery F, Second Artillery. In 1890 he | became sergeant of the company, and on June 5 became its captain. He re- signed on October 1, 189. On Novem- ber 5 of the same year he was elected first lieutenant of Troop A Cavalry, and became captain on October 11 fol- lowing. Recently he was fined $500 for starving horses belonging to the troop, and he was discharged from the Na- tional Guard for neglect of duty. . ADVERTISEMENTS. Pears No other soap in the world is used so | Chief of EXPLOSION i EX-CAPTAIN JENKS, One of the Victims of the Point San Pedro Explosion. SATS LEROT SHOT CROLY Burglar Searight Makes a Contfession to the Police. Tells of the Visit to thé Dwell- ing of the Sacramento Resident. Stood on Guard While His Accom- plice Entered and Shot the | Old Gentleman. | Spectal Dispatch to The Call. | SACRAMENTO, March 22.—As pre- dicted in to-day's Call, Searight, one of the Croly assaflants, has confessed. er and Officers Fisher and Maley, who have worked hard upon the case since Sunday night, had woven a complete web about the criminals. When the facts were related to Searight he weakened and told his story to Chief Dwyer and Officer Ma- Then Searight accompanied the officers in a carriage to Fourteenth and Q streets, wh the young burglar alighted and took two jimmies from un- der a wooden sidewalk. Searight said that at Leroy’s request he borrowed a ol from a friend, and bought cartridges’ from a second-hand store. They afterward bought one jimmy from a second-hand store on I street, paying 15 cents for it, and stole another jimmy at the same place while making the dicker. | The first attempt at burglary was made last Friday night, at Twentieth and H streets. They were frightened away while attempting to pry open a window. On the same night they broke into the residence of Mrs. John Miller, at Eleventh and O streets, but were frightened away by the ringing of bells, presumably a burglar alarm. Searight said that when the window was pried up the lateh snapped like a pistol when it broke. On Saturday night they vis- ited the quarters of some Japanese in the alley, between Second and Third, K and L streets. Searight stood cutside | while Leroy went into the house. Pres- ently Leroy came out. He had made a small haul. In a purse which he stole the sum of 85 cents was found. The purse was cut to pieces and thrown | away, and the money was spent enter- | taining women in a dance hall. They | visited other houses, said Searight, to | “get the lay of the land” for future | work. | On Sunday night they stated to do | some burglary work in the southern part of the city. Searight said that | they had no particular house in view. | At Twelfth and P streets Leroy, seeing | that the Croly house was dark, went up and ran - the bell a couple of times. Getting no answer, the front window was pried open with a jimmy and Le- roy entered, Searight standing guard. Presently Searight heard two shots, followed shortly by hurried footsteps, and Leroy dashed out of the house. The burglars ran to Fifteenth and Q streets and then crossed over to J street. Leroy told Searight that the '0ld man” hit him and he had to sheot. They walked to Fifth street and then crossed over to China Slough, where Leroy said: “YT will wet this gun,” meaning the revolver, and then he threw it into the water. A man named White called at the police station to-day and asked to see the prisoners. He said * that a few moments before Croly was shot he saw two men standing on_the corner near the house. ‘When White saw the prisoners he said at once that they were the men he had seen in front of the Croly place shortly before the shooting. E. J. Croly, who was shot on Sunday night by the burglar supposed to be Charles Leroy, is somewhat improved to-day. Dr. G. C. Simmons, his physi- cian, said that if no serious change took place within the next forty hours Mr. Croly would recover. The two bullets fired by the burglar have been located. One was found under the right armpit, near the surface, and will be easy to remove. The other bullet is ‘under the left shoulder-blade, and it will be a difficult operation to extract it. The attempt. will not be made until Croly grows stronger. To Elect a Licutenant. WOODLAND, March 22.—An election has been called to choose a second lieu- Police Dw: ley much; or so little of it goes so far. tenant of the local militia company to fill the vacancy caused by the removal of Lieutenant " Hilliker to San Francisco. The election will be held on March 25. ’l‘he:a is strong rivairy among the soldier | after KOCI'S VETOES IN THE WAY Injunction Against San Jose’s Council Dis- missed. Court Lacks Jurisdiction Under the Present Condi- tions. Restraining Order Not Necessary in View of Mayor's Attitude. the Special Dispatch to The Call. SAN JOSs March 22. brought by Sanford Smith to re- strain the Mayor and Common Council from entering imto contracts with A. J. Coffee for a fire-alarm system, and with Nash E. McReynolds for street sweeping, were decided against the plaintiff this morning by Judge Kitt- redge. In both cases it was held that the suits were prematurely brought, and that the conditions had not yet ved where the court could use its raining power. The applications were denied, and the restraining orders dismissed. Judge Kittredge as the action of the Common Council was vet in a formative state, not hav. ing reached a finality, as in both ca the actions awarding the con- tracts the Mayor had vetoed the actions of the Common Council and there the proceedings stopped, no attempt being made by the Common Council to pass the measures over the veto. He said that the courts universally held, and it was a well-defined principle of law, that the judiciary shall not in- terfere with the legislative bodies in re gard to any of their legislative ac until the action has reached a finality. In the cases at bar, it is presumed that when the Mayor vetoes a measure the Common Council in good faith regard the veto as final and this presumption must here prevail. If afterward the Common Council should pass the meas- ures over the vetoes, independent pro- ceedings could bring the matter before the court to be reviewed. Judge Kittredge said the bid of Nash & McReynolds was certainly not the lowest and best bid, but it may or may not be the best bid. No evidence was presented on that point, and it.was not necessary, as the other element of re- straint is the governing one. no notice could be taken of the allega- tion that there was no money in the fund to pay for the work, as it was not shown that other funds could not be drawn upon. The same gemneral ruling applied to both cases. The Nash & McReynolds matter was to restrain the Mayor and Council from signing-a contract with this. firm for sweeping the streets for three .years. The Council passed an ordinance to award the contract, but Mayor Koch vetoed it. The restraining order was asked for to prevent the Council from carrying out its threats of awarding the contract over the veto. By the terms of the contract, the sweeping would cost the city about $4000 a year more than at present. The bid was higher than the others submitted. The Coffee contract was for a fire alarm system. This also was awarded to the highest bidder. The price to be paid was §3900, in installments of $65 a month. FREIGHT WRECK ON : _THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC. One Man Fatally and Another Se- riously Injured by the Ditch- ing of a Train. SAN BERNARDINO, March 22.—The worst wreck onthe Southern Pacific for some time occurred this morning at about 2 o'clock, and two men were badly in- Jjured. Seventeen cars were ditched.” The train was an East-bound extra freight, in charge of Conductor Best. It g\ad reached the summit of San Gorgorio pass and was traveling rapidiy down the 2 per cent grade near Whitewater, when a defective car wheel broke and threw one of the cars off the track, ditching it. Seventeen cars in the rear were piled up. The conductor was badly injured and hl’s rear brakeman sustained injuries from which he will die. - ok S Occupies Another’s Bench: ‘WOODLAND, March 22.—Judge Ellison of Tehama County presided in the Supe- rior Court of Yolo County to-day. e = —— e “THE RED FRONT,” 87-859 Market streel, sells “STANDARD” shirts. . —The two suits | held that the in-| junctions could not be made permanent | He said | CLARKTO -~ HANG FOR HIS CRIME Found Guilty of Mur- der in the First Degree: Verdict Returned After Deliberations Lasting an Hour. The Fratricide Dazed When' the Jury’s Finding Is Read. SCENES AT THE CLOSE. Burning Denunciation of the Culprit in the District Attorney’s Address. Special Dispatch to The Call. NAPA, March 22.—The trial of the | fratricide of St. Helena is ended and | the jury has decreed that George Clark must die on the gallows. His attor- | neys fought hard for a lighter punish- | ment. They hoped for a life sentence, | | but after Mr. Bell closed the case this | | morning there was but one oplnion! among those who listened. Clark | fidgeted and nervously clasped and un- | clasped his hands as the District At- torney denounced the crime and its perpetrator, and then when the court | was charging the jury he settled back |into a stolid apathy, broken only when | the Sheriff came to rouse him and to | take him back to the jail. | The jury retired at eight minutes to | | 8 o'clock. “The prisoner was taken back | [ to the jail, and while the crowd hung| around the court house he pacedaround | | the central well of the prison, his hands in his pockets, his eyes bent on | | the floor and blinking as if he had just | | come into the light and his steps quick | and nervous. | There was much speculation among | the waiting crowds while the minutes | dragged along. The fifteen-minute men | acknowledged their mistake, and then | the thirty-minute men followed suit. | The impression was that there was a THRE His Aged dence on that side. discovered these. a delegation of citizens and the “old lynched. 0000000000000 000000C000 LOS ANGELES, March 22.—A riot is reported at Burbank, a small town about twenty miles from this city. ‘deputies left at 11 o’clock to-night to quell the lawless demonstrations. The citizens of the place are aroused against J.-M. Fawkes Jr., who has been arrested on a charge of threatening to kill his parents, and are demonstrating their disapproval of his conduet. Some time ago young Fawkes built a rough shed close to his father's house, and so arranged as to shut out the light from the family resi- This shed was removed one night by citizens -and burned. Ten days ago young Fawkes and a.person named Holberg be- gan another shed, and completed it last Wednesday. Fawkes, it is averred, was then overheard to declare his intention of blowing up “the old folks” if his shed was again interfered with. pursuance of the threat he placed two or three dynamite bombs along the footwall of the shed, nearest the family residence, them with electric wires; so that they would go off in case any one who was not acquainted with.the combination opened the door. Complaint Was made to the Prosecuting Attorney by the complaints, ‘warrants were issued and the parties arrested. feared that Fawkes will bé taken from 0000000000000 0000000000000000 MOB VIOLENCE ATENED - AT BURBANK| Citizens of the Town Enragéd by a Young Man’s Persecution of Parents. The Sheriff and a corps of In and connected Watchers folks.” The latter finally swore to. It is or jail and horsewhipped 0C000C0000000000C000000000 000000 FOR ALASKAN EXPLORATION Government Decides to Send Out Three Ex- peditions. Their Mission to Obtain Various Data Regarding the Country. Will Locate Feasible Railway Routes and Suitable Military Sites. hitch somewhere on-the question of the | penalty, and then as more minutes | went by and still no sign from the jury | room the waiters began to talk of a .| “hung” jury and the chances of an all- | night session. | Gradually the people began to drift away from the court house and stand | on the near-by corners to-discuss the delay. Forty-five minutes slipped by and then there was a knock on the door of the jury-room. The people in the court were suddenly silent and those out in | the hall came tronping in. The jurors | only wanted ink and pens, howeyer, and these were given them, but it was a good sign and more people came in | | from the outside and these on the cor- | ners came back to the courthouse and waited expectantly. The crowd was right. Within a minute a knock again came from the jury-room and it was announced to the elisor that a verdict had been agreed upon. The crowds poured in in greater numbers and the Judge, who had gone home, was sent for. The jury was called when the | court was seated, and then I. G. Her- | ron, the foreman, rose and pronounced the verdict, “Guilty of murder in the first degree.” | It had taken just an hour. | Clark hung his head and the tears started to his eyes, but no other sign did he make while Monday next was being agreed upon as the date ‘for ‘his sentence, and the court’s adjournment started the crowds to the hall or gave| license to those whe wished to jostle | one another in an effort to gain a closer view of the condemned. He was taken to the jail again and resumed his rest- less ‘walk around the narrow gallery, nervous, preoccupied, his hands clasped | before him, his face pale and the gath- | | ering tears chasing each other more | and more quickly down his pallid | cheeks. He was crying bitterly when | the Sheriff left him alone. He was asked if he had anything to say for| publication and spasmodically he put up his hand and replied: “No; I won't talk to no reporters,” and then he resumed his restless, rapid | walk. The jury cast four ballots. The first stood eleven for murder in the | first degree and one for murder in the | second degree. The second ballot was unanimous for murder in the first de- gree. The third baliot was on the pen- alty. It stood ten for hanging and two for a life sentence.. The fourth ballot settled Clark’s doom. | Mr. Bell followed Mr. Beerstecher, | and closed the case. He tore to shreds | Mr. Hogan's cratorical fabric, and he | dashed aside the theories one by one, | which the defense had advanced as pos- sible explanations of the murder. He devoted himself particularly to the| claim of the defense in argument, and he called attention to the fact that there had been no testimony to show | such a mental state in the defendant. In concluding Mr. Bell demanded a conviction with the death penalty. and | in doing sc he arraigned the defendant | in words that almost burned. He de- scribed him as one who had entered the | home of his brother, only to destroy it; | who had destroyed his brother's fam- lily; who had thrown disgrace on his | brother’s children and had despoiled his brother’s wife, and then he took all that was left—his brother’s life. Judge Ham then read his charge to the jury. It came as something of a | surprise When, after his openinz words, Judge Ham charged the jurors that they should not allow any remarks of the court, made when the Judge so se- verely criticized Henry Hogan of coun- sel for the defense last Tuesday morn- ing, to in any way prejudice the de- fendant in the eyes of the jury. The charge dealt with the = usual points touched upon in murder cases, with the addition that the jurors were to leave aside all question of confession, and arrive at their verdict without con- sidering it. Then the jury retired to decide the fate of Clark. Precautions are being taken to pre- vent any attempt at suicide that’the prisoner may indulge in. The Sheriff fears that should Clark lose all hope he will try to kill himself. There is a special guard over the “prisoner now, and there will be one always with him until he is sent to San Quentin. Clark was locked up for the night at 7 o'clock, and at that time he had re- gained command of himself. He has hopes that his case will fare better be- fore the Supreme Court than it has be- fore the lower tribunal, and no one tries to dispel this hope. It is evident his conviction is a surprise to him. The attorneys for the defense have not yet decided .whether or not they will appeal. The chances are that such a course will be taken. | > | tain Bogardus | Copper River and tributaries to the rSound, Alaska, about April 1, there es- Special Dispatch to The Call. PORTLAND, March 22.—Although the Government has abandoned the re- lief expedition to Dawson City, it has | not abandoned the idea of obtaining information of the territory that may be valuable to the development of the | country regarding available routes of travel, feasible routes for railroad con- struction, available sites for military posts, mineral resources, timber, fuel, products, capabilities of sustaining stock or animals of any kind and - the animal best suited for Service in that country in winter and summer. In or- der to obtain this information the War Department has ordered the’following expeditions for exploring purposes in Alaska: Expedition No. 1—consisting of .Cap- Eldridge, Fourteenth In- | fantry, commanding; Second Lieuten- ants Elmer W. Clark and Robert Field and twerty enlisted men, Fourteenth | Infantry; Captain D. L. Brainard, com missary of subsistence, as quarter- | master and commissary; First Lieuten- | ant Franklin M. Kemp, assistant sur: geon; Acting Hospital Steward John G. | Abele and two privates of the Hospital | Corps; guides to be employed as need- ed; 200 reindeer, with proportional| number of sledges and drivers, -fnlly | equipped and supplied to June 30, 1898— | will proceed to Pyramid harbor or Haines Mission, Alaska, not later than | March 24, and via the Dalton trail to | Dawson, N. W. T., thence to the vi-| cinity of Belle Isle, Alaska, and there establish a military camp and depot. The expedition will proceed thence to discover, explore and mark a trail from | the Yukon up Forty Mile Creek to the Tanana River. It will also explore for other practicable routes southward | from the Yukon between Belle Isle and Circle City to the Tanana. Its district of exploration will not be limited ex- cept by the valley of Forty Mile Creek on the south, the Yukon on the east and north to Circle City, and the Tanana River on the west. It will also en- deavor to communicate with expedi- tions 2 and 3. Expedition No. 2—consisting of Cap- tain W. R. Abercrombie, Second Infan- try, commanding; First Lieutenant Guy H. Preston, Ninth Cavalry; First Lieutenant P. G. Lowe, Eighteenth In- fantry; Second Lieutenant R. M. Brookfield, Second Infantry; and fif- teen enlisted men from the Fourteenth Infantry; Acting Hospital Steward John W. Cleave and two privates of the Hospital Corps; fifty reindeer and supplies to include June 30, 1898—will proceed about April 1 to Valdes Inlet, Alaska, and there establish a camp and depot and explore the valley of the Tanana River, establishing a line of communication to the junction with expedition No. 1 on the Tanana River. Its d'strict of exploration will b2 the valley of Copper River. It will also erdeavor to communicate with exp=di- tions Nos. 1 and 3. Expedition No. 3—consisting of Cap- tain E. F. Glenn, Twenty-fourth Infan- try, commanding; First Lieutenant James A. Ryan, Ninth Cavalry; Sec- | ond Licutenant Henry G. Learnard and | nineteen enlisted men of the Four- teenth Infantry; Second Lieutenant J. C. Castner, Fourth Infantry; First Lieutenant John 8. Kulp, Assistant | Surgeon; Acting Hospital Stewari Ar- thur Neville and two privates of the Hospital “Corps; fifty reindeer, fully equipped to include June 20, 1895—wiil proceed to Port Wells, Prince William tablish a camp and depot and explore northeastward and northwestward for routes towards Copper and Suchitna rivers. This expedition will be ready to re-embark about May 1, 1898, for Cooks Inlet, thence to explore. north- ward and endeavor to discover the most direct and practicable route from tidewater to one or more crossings of the Tana: a River In the direction of the Yukon between Forty Mile Creek and Circle City. It will also endeavor to communicate with expeditions Nos. 1 and 2. The district of exploration will be the route indicated and the country north between that and the Tanana and Yukon rivers. Passes through the Alaska Mountaihs south of the Ta- nana should be discovered, if existing. Sudden Death at Chico. CHICO, March 22.—Timothy Crowley, an early pioneer of California, dropped dead at the residence of his daughter, Miss Lizzie Crowley, in this city at 1i olclock to-day. He came to California in 1849 and for, many years was en; in mining in Bl Dora T Eh:Dar ‘o Trinity and Butte Ry rother and son re- FUSION AT BE DEFEATED Conventions of Three Free Silver Parties at Portland. Conference Committees Auempt_ to Effect a Union. Will If They Succeed the Middle-of-the- Road Populists Will Bolt the Ticket. Spectal Dispatch to The Cail. PORTLAND, March 22.—The Demo- crats, Populists and Silver Republicans of Oregon will hold State conventions | in this city to-morrow for the purpose of nominating two candidates for Con- gress and a full State ticket from Gov- ernor downward. The Democrats and silver Republicans are almost unani- mously in favor of fusion, but there is a division in the ranks of the Popu- lists which threatens to cause a serious split in the convention. J. P. Young, chairman of the Popu- list State Central €ommmittee, who has a large following, is opposed to fusion. The middle-of-the-road Populists, how- ever, are believed to be in the minor- ity, ahd in case the Populist convention insists on fusion with the Democrats and silver Republicans, it is said, a number of delegates will walk out of the conveintion. ‘When the convention meets to-mor- row the first business of importance will be the appointment of a confer- ence committee by each. The confer- nce committees will endeavor to agree upon a platform and a division of the offices. No nominations will be made until the committee reports, and in consequence candidates are at sea. John B. Waldo of Marion County, a former Republican and Justice of the State Supreme Court, is the most prom- inent candidate for the Populist nomi- nation for Governor. ‘General H. B. Compson of Klamath County, it is said, has a large number of delegates pledged to support him, and his friends assert that his nomination is assured in the event that the governorship goes to the Democrats. There are a dozen or more candidates for Congressman, but to-night no candidate can judge his strength. There is no controversy over the financial plank, which will favor the free and unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1. ARE 0PPOSED T0 ANYERATION Hebbron of Salinas Tells of the Stand of California Sugar Beet Growers. Great Industry That Claus Spreckels 1s Fostering of More Import- ence Than Hawail. Spectal Dispatch to The Call. Call Office, Riggs House, Washington, March 22. J. R. Hebbron of Salinas, Cal., who is at the Riggs House, in conversation with a Call correspondent said: “There is great opposition among the sugar beet producers of my State against the annexation of Hawali. In fact, I think that outside of San Francisco the general sentiment of the people is ad- verse to the annexation policy. The beet sugar industry is assuming enormous proportions out in our country, and has already come to be a source of large rev- enue to the farmers. Claus Spreckels is building in Monterey County, near my home, a sugar refining plant that will be, when completed, the largest and most perfectly equlnred in the world.. Machin- ery for the plant {s coming over con- stantly by the shipload from German When completed it will cost $2,000,000. the county adjoining Mr. Spreckels has a large plant in operation, but the sugar roduced there is sent to San Francisco o be refined. Such an interest as this, which benefits a large number of people, far outweighs in importance the advan: tage to.be gained by a comparatively small number of men who_profit by com- mercial intercourse with l-fn.wa.u.' WOODMEN HOLD HIGH REVEL AT WINTERS. Delegation From Madrona Camp of ‘Woodland Tendered a Banquet. WOODLAND, March 22—The Wood- men. of the World held high. car- nival at Winters last night. A delega- tion of twenty-six members of Madrona Camp of Woodland paid Acacia Camp at Winters a_fraternal visit. A Wooediand team conducted initiatory ceremo; e Y. n s royal entertain- fi San Francisco, whither Sent for Interment. e cordial reception THE COST OF THE BIG CAKAL One Hundred Millions of Dollars Will Probably Do the Work. That Is the Figure Set by the American Canal Com- mission. Some Honest Differences of Opinion as to the Best Method of Procedurs. Special Dispatch to The Call NEW YORK, March 22.—The Hier- ald’s correspondent at Greytown, Nic+ aragua, writes under date of March 5: The Canal Commission, consisting of Admiral Walker, Colonel Haines and Professor Haupt, has finished its tour of observation and study of the canal line across this country, and is prepar- ing to return to New York. The com- mission has been in the country for nearly three months, and during this period it has gone over the line of the proposed canal from Greytown, on the Caribbean, to Brito, on the Pacific. Many of the important points of the canal route were visited twice on the journey westward, and the commis- sioners return home with adequate knowledge of the country and, the de- tails of the proposed canal. This store of knowledge will be increased by the monthly reports from the surveying, hydrographic and geological parties that will remain at work along the ca- nal line for some months. The report that the commission will prepare can hardly be ready before next fall.. There is a vast amount of calculation to be done, looking to reaching satis- factory estimates as to cost, and the final conclusions along the several lines will not be reached as long as there is a possibility that the reports of the parties now in the field can mate- rially affect the opinions of the mem- bers of the board. It can be said on high authority that the proyisional estimate of cost will be about $100,000,000, although this figure may be altered if any radical changes are decided upon later. The estimate of cost by the Maritime Canal Com- pany is about $70,000,000. The provisional estimate of the com- mission of 1895 was $133,000,000, though it is said that this difference of $60,000,000 between the canal company’'s estimate and-that of the commission was largely due to the fact that the commission recommendations provided that many of the features of the project be on a larger scale than was contemplated by the canal company. There are honest differences of opin- ion in the present commission as to the best ways of Surmounting several of the engineering difficulties of the proposed canal. The great dam at Ochoa, on the San Juan River, and the corresponding dam at La Flor, on the western division, the regulation of the summit level—these are the problems over which the members of the commis- sion have spent much time, and while the general disposition of the commis- sion may be said.to be favorable to the cahnal project, still there exist these Qifferences which must disapp be- fore a report which would be wholly satisfactory to the friends of the canal can be made. These differences of opinion, however, will be molded into satisfactorr com- promises in the months that will inter- Vene. before the report is ready for Congress. The full report, when rsarly‘ should be the most complete and sat- isfactory document on the canal yet produced. It will carry all possible bearings on the canal much further than ever before. The commission has a vast amount of data available from the canal company and previous Gov- ernmental survef$s, and these will be supplemented by reports from many parties now at work all along the line from one ocean to the other. ADVERTISEMENTS. Good habits, three great con- fservators of health.- Good health is the atest beautifier. Neither a man nor a woman can bave an attractive person- ality who suffers from ill- health. If it were not for Jisorders of the digestive organs, nine- tenths of the medical books in the world could be safely destroyed. Not only the tminor maladies, but the majority of serious fiseases have their inception in a disorder- ed digestion. Consumption is undoubtedly the most deadly enemy with which man- kind has to contend. Like all other wast- ing diseases, it has its origin in disorders of the digestive organs. As a result of these disorders, the appetite falls off; the life-giv- ing elements of the food are not properly assimilated; the blood becomes thin and im- pure; and all the tissues of the body are im- serfectly and improperly nourished; the lungs become cloggef:vith inert, half dead tissues that offer an attractive soil for the invasion of the germs of consumption. It has been said thousands of times that con- sumption is incurable. It is not. Ninety-eight per cent. of all cases of con- sumption are cured by Dr. Pierce’s Golden Med?cal Discovery. It corrects all disorders of the digestive organs, invigorates the liver and makes the appetite keen and the assim- ilation perfect; ?l ‘makes new blood, pure blood, and lots of it. It builds new and healthy tissue. It is the great fiegh-builder. It acts directly on the lungs, driving out all impurities and disease germs. Thousands have testified to its merits. All good drug- gists keep it. Geo. H. Shl"e;. FEsq., of Yates City, Knox Co., Tlls., write haye been troubled with indi- gestion and d; psia for the last two years. got a bottleof your ‘Golden Medical Discovery,’ and it did me so much good I am going to get another bottle. It is the best me ine in the world for stomach trouble."” Good health is the best endowment. Those who have it cannot be too careful to preserve it. Constipation is the worst enemy of health. It causes nearly every disorder known to physicians. Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets are a sure, swift, safe and permanent cure for constipation. One little ‘* Pellet ” is a gentle laxative, and two a mild cathartic. They never gripe Druggists sell them. OFFICE DESKS. LARGE VARIETY. - DESKS DESKS Get Our Prices Before Buying. GED. H. FULLER DESK GO., 638-640 MISSION STREET.