The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
A merry Christmas.
A Happy New Year,
And Prosperity to All in 1898.

and trust that all will be III fetter
humor and spirits TO begin the new
year than for some seasons past.
THE JOURNAL begins Volume XII
this week. Nothing unusual about
that,-neWspapers, like individuals,
grow older as they live, but few news
papers in the state have remained I'M
der original management SO long a
period.
THE people can face the New Year
in a cheerful and confident spirit, the
closing year has been largely occupied
in clearing up distractions that have
accumulated during the years OF de-
preston, and Jan. LIST we will be ready
to lay the corner stone for future pros
perity.
THE postal department has ruled
excluding all publications advertising
missing word, letter or similar fake
schemes,-which is the latest idea to
get money out of a gullib]e public.
The authorities have tie step in fire.
quently to protect the people, who are
easily worked by these schemes.
WHILE Theodore Durant may not
have the traditional nine lives of the
cat, the laws delays have accorded him
several lives, but it now seems that
the last resort has passed and he will
expiate his crime on the gallows Janu-
airy 7th. This is the fourth time he
has been sentenced to be hanged for
the murder of Blanche Lamont.
II is reported that the Northern
Pacific Railway Co. will discontinue
the ferry at Kalama, and will build
the road to Vancouver, where they
will construct a bridge across the Co.
lumbia river. They also intend build
ing line from North Yakima to
Vancouver, thereby shortening the
distance to Portland eight hours.
The X-ray has demonstrated its sci
entifc value, by locating a quarter in
the eosophagus of seven-year old
farmers lad at the Tacoma hospital
last week. The boy swallowed the
piece of silver several weeks ago, but
continued difficulty in swallowing re-
quired a medical examination to To-
cate and remove the coin.
EVERYTHING points to a prosperous
year for 1898, aside from the grain,
coal, fish, oysters, evaporated products
and dozen other sources of large
revenue, the lumber industry is i'm
proving, and the demand for lumber
and shingles during the coming year
promises TO crowd the capacity of our
mills. For all of which blessings we
should cheerfully give thanks.
MARRYING for a pension is one of
the greatest abuses practiced on the
government, and 'the house will add
an amendment to the pension bill to
the effect that no woman marrying an
old soldier after July next will be en-
titled to the customary widows pen
sion when he dies. While but two
veterans of the revolutionary war are
alive and drawing pensions, a score or
more of widows are yet drawing pen
sions on this account. Many young
women marry old veterans tor their
pensions, and unless the law is chang
ed the pension list will increase and
be without an end.
MANY people who have not the re-
ssonsibilities for the safety and pros
perlty CT The country on their shout
ders, express the sentiment that Pres
ldent McKinley's message did not
give satisfaction on the Cuban Ques-
ton. The dispatches have been full
OF the atrocities in Cuba, practiced
mainly by the Spaniards, but to some
extent by the Cubans. Aside from
interests which some American capt..
tallsts have in Cuba, the people have
no other interest than for humanlty's
sake. While we believe that SPANS
offer OF autonomy is not worth much,
still this government is not the Judge,
and no hasty steps should be taken.
that might bring about the possibility
of war. We have troubles enough of
our own.
The daily papers of the Sound laid
themselves out last Sunday, in the
publication of splendid. editions, the
Tacoma Ledger, Seattle Post Intelli-
gencer and Times issuing "a, % and
81 page editions, respectively. In
point OF topographic appearance and
news service the Washington dailies
rank with those of the Eastern cities,
and the local Offices are becoming so
well equipped that tie issue of large
,ditions appear as often as occasion
Grants. The Seattle Times is hav-
built new perfecting press which
'rint 1000 complete copies in
II, and yet some people will be
to say that Washington is not
Of The times, and its people
prospering. Evidently the,