Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-09-11
PANAMA CANAL.
Report on the Estimates for the Con.
struction Of the Nicaragua Inter-
Oceanic Canal.
The Oklahoma Don Have Dispersed
and Will Not Return to Camp
New Code of "Itules of
Practice"
woRK DONE on THE CANAL.

WORK DONE ON THE CANAL.
WASHINGTON, August 19.-Civil En-.
ginecr Monocal, who, under orders from
Secretary Chandler, went to Nicaragua fof
the purpose of revising estimates for the
construction of the Nicaraguan Inter- Oceanic
Canal, has made his report to Secretary
Whitney upon his observation of the work
Oh the Panama Canal. The result of his
survey is that he finds work has been begun
on twenty-three out of the seventy-fiye
kiiometers comprising the canal proper, and
the dredging in the Bay of Panama, leaving
thirty-two kilometers, or seventy per cent,
believes that s 5000, 900 cubic meters is a lib.
eral estimate of the amount of exca-
walton to May 1, although the com
pany claims 4, 1000, 900 more. The officers Of
the company report that 1875, 900, 900 metres
are required for the completion Of the
canal, but Menocal contends that only six
per cent. of the work required has been
done, while the cost is only three to four
and one-half per cent. of the total. The
past efforts of the company have'been di.
rected, Menocal says, to n reduction of the
abrupt elevations. the cutting down of hill
sides and dredging in tue Colon and Gatun
sections. IT a line be drawn on the profile
\ of the canal adjoining the basis of the iso-
Mated elevations, itmay be safely stated that,
with the exception of the dredging and
some insignificant excavations across some
Of the river bends below that line where the
heavy work is concentrated, nothing what
ever has been accomplished.
A distinguished member of Congress from
the Northwest, las written to the Secretary
Of the Interior that he is informed the set
tiers (Oklahoma boomers) have in good
faith dispersed, and will 10 longer remain
in camp. This action on their part is largely
the result Of the action Of the administration
concerning the issue of leases and occupancy
of the cattle syndicates in the Indian Terri
tory. He states that the proclamation Of
the President meets with universal favor
among the people and has inspired the
greatest confidence, that it is evident that
the administration intends to deal with equal
fairness with all classes of people, and he
feels assured that there will be no further
trouble on the border of the Indian Terri
tory.
Information has been received at the
Navy Department that the Yantic has been
q%uarantined at New Orleans. She recently
left Colon, where the yellow fever has been
prevalent. The vessel was on her way to
New Orleans to take silver from the mint
in that city to Washington. 1t is expected
that arrangements will be made for convey
ing the silver to the Yantic in quarantine,
so that its transfer will not be delayed. The
Swataras, which was also sent to New Or
leans to carry silver, will probably reach
that city Friday.
In the new code of ''Rules for Practice"
prepared by the COMMISSIONS of the Cen
eral Land Office and approved by the Secre-
tary of the Interior, the most important de-
parture from the present practice is in re-
spect to the initiation of contests. Under
the present rules, only a party in interest
can bring a contest except in the case of
abandoned homestead or forfeited timber
lture entries. The new rules extends to
every body the privilege of initiating con-
tests against ''The party to any entry OF
other claim under the laws of Congress re.
lating to the public lands, for any sufficient
cause affecting the legality or validity of the
claim"
The power of local land officers to order
hearings in certain classes of contests, is ex-
tended by the new rules, '"To all cases
where an entry has not been perfected and
no certificate has been issued as a basis for
a patent" The new rule takes effect Sep
TENDER 1.
The State Department is informed that
cholera is spreading rapidly in Barcelona.
Chief clerk Nash, of the P~ostoffice De-
partment, says he is assured that there is NO
foundation for the report that Postmaster
General Villas is suffering from nervous
prostration. When Mr.. Villas left here lie
was in vigorous health and the story that he
was accompanied by a physician is accounted
for by the fact that the physician in ques.
ton is a personal friend of Mr.. Villas.