The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-06-24

Co ID OuC anu 10 tH'iuCooAoh"oAy 0AO
finest special edition ever issued in the
state. 1t is valuable Compendium OF
general information on the states re-
sources and advancement.
THE Spanish reserve fleet under
Camara, sailed from Cadiz, as usual,
this week, but put back within "a
hours, as usual. One of the vessels
was reported disabled. The Ameri-
cans are losing some sleep over that
Cadiz fleet; they are afraid it will
never show up.
ASIDE from the landing of troops at
Santiago this week, and some desulto-
ry fighting there is nothing of especial
interest in the war this week. 1t is
said that 60 war vessels are now lying
in front of Santiago and the general
landing of troops will be made in
day or two. Dewey is still holding his
own at Manila, awaiting the troops.
THE Grand Lodge of Masons of the
State of Washington has made an adj
vance in keeping with the progress of
the age in recognizing the legitimacy
of colored Masons. This matter has
been discussed for many years, but the
grand lodge of this state IS the first
one to take action looking to recogni
ton,
ADvICEs from the Klondike by re-
cent steamer states that some of the
heaviest operators in the district are
coming out by way of st. Michaels.
It is estimated that the total amount
OF gold dust will not be far from $22,-
100000, and the first boat down the
river will carry in the neighborhood of
Sl2,000,OOO. A great many of the
miners are leaving for good, while
others are firm in the determination
to stay until their fortunes are made,
probably less than two hundred can
be considered as being so fortunate
thus far.
FoRGERIEs of state warrants, amount
ing to several thousand dollars have
come to light, by the state treasurer
paying duplicate and triplicate war
rant for the same amount, and the
forgery has been traced to Geo. d. Ev-
ans, deputy auditor under Grimes.
The fOrgeries occurred under the re-
publican administration, by a trusted
employee, but the payment of dupli-
cate warrants indicate poor ways OF
doing business in the treasurer's office.
There are provisions for checking such
transactions by the use of a warrant
register, in which all warrants are en-
tered, and checked when presented or
paid. There is some question as to
who will stand the loss, but it will
probably fall upon the present treas
urer, who must be on his guard in the
payment of any moneys for which he
is responsible. Evans, the forger,
seems to have led a double life, and
comes from an excellent Iowa family.
Gov. Rogers has offered reward of
$500 for his capture.
The United States district court at
Seattle. WASH, has settled case of
considerable magnitude which was
started about ten years ago. The his
tory of the case is briefly this: Timber
land in Whatcom county, amounting
to some 300 acres was taken up by
settlers who decided the property to
Thomas ID. Stimson. Later on the
lands were decided to the Stimson Land
Co. The government officials investi-
gated these entries and declared them
invalid. The same parties again en-
tered these lands and this time legally.
They were sued by the Stimson Land
Co. for the purpose OF showing that
the holders Of these lands were simply
trustees for the Stimson Land Co.
The court decided the case against the
land company, which fixes the title
with the men who entered the lands.
These tracts of timber are some of the
most valuable in Whatcom county and
this decision will throw them open fol
logging.
NEARLY all kinds of fruit trees are
carrying too much fruit in this state
this year and great deal of thinning
is in order. This is especially true Of
stone fruits. The germs of brown 70,
are now found in nearly every part O
the state and only await favorable con
ditions to develop and do great dam
age. When large number of plums
or other stone fruits touch each Other
in cluster the rot is liable to take
the whole cluster if spell of damp
warm weather comes along about RI
pening time. 1t is of course well un
derstood that the pits of stone fruits
are almost as large in small specimen.
as in large specimens from the same
tree and that the pits draw very heav
lily on the soil. 1t pays much bette,
to sell the flesh of the fruit than thu
pits and by proper thinning TIT
weight of the fruit is not reduced ma
terially but the proportion of pits i