Mesa free press., 1898-10-28


that their offer of September Is, 1898,
to purchase stock will be withdrawn
October 13, 1898, and that after that
date no stock will be purchased from
them under that offer.
The annual report of Commissioner
Hermann of the General Land Office
estimates that over eleven billions of
feet of public timber have been de-
stroyed by fire in the past thirty-five
years, representing in value many
millions Of dollars. The report says
forest fires form the main subject for
the. attention of the land office now,
threatening as they do, not only the
growing forests, but the forest lands.
whose productiveness it retards indef-
initely.
A Manila cablegram says that in ac-
cordance with general order from
the military governor, all the Spanish
civil courts within the Philippines.
now subject to American control, have
resumed the exercise of their juris-
diction, subject to the supervision of
the American military government,
which reserves the exclusive right to
exercise criminal jurisdiction. The
Spanish papers allege that the insur-
gents of Iloilo have surrendered to
Gen. Rios, but the statement is gen.
orally discredited.
Mr.. Lyons, the register of the treas
ury, has received a letter from James
Hill, Collector of Internal Revenue
at Jackson, Miss, in which he makes
an appeal for aid in behalf of several
thousand colored people there, who,
in consequence of the quarantine
against yellow fever, are unable to OBJ
tain work The letter says nearly all
the white people have left the city,
and there are at least 5000 colored
people in the city, and from $500 to
5000 have to be fed by charity. The
city is qparaptined.
The war department is Constantly in
receipt of requests from soldiers ask
ing to be mustered out, stating that
the war has closed and they wish to
go home. This is the excuse made by
nearly all those seeking discharge.
The department says the war will not
be over until the treaty Of peace is
ratified by the United States Senate,
and soldiers may be needed for fur
ther duty No discharges will be grant
ed except for sickness and disability,
and the requests in these cases must
be approved by the colonels and high
er commanding officers.
The battleships Oregon and Iowa
have sailed from New York with
sealed orders from Washington. There
has been considerable speculation as
to the destination of the battleships.
1t was first stated that they would pro-
ceed direct to Manila, but subsequent
ly it was reported that there was some
doubt of this, and Honolulu may be
their objective point, from where they
may proceed to Manila to strengthen
Admiral Dewey's position Capt A. S.
Barker is in command of the Oregon,
and Capt. Silas Terry commands the
Iowa.
Secretary Alger will recommend to
Congress that the existing railway
service in Cuba be extended SO as to
form line running directly from Cape
Maysi at the east end, of the island, to
Cape Antonio, on the western extrem-
ity. He will also recommend that this
work be undertaken by the United
States government and Congress ap-
propriate the necessary fund. The road
is military necessity and moreover
the construction Of the road will give
work to many of the unemployed la
borers. AS the road progresses, Sec
tions of the country will be opened
up that are now inaccessible to trade.
The Navy Department has sent in
structions to Capt. Barker of the bat
tleShip Oregon, senior officer of the
squadron under orders to proceed to
Honolulu, to be at Rio, Brazil, on No
vember Is to participate in the cele-
bration of the anniversary of the es-
tablishment of the Brazilian Republic
and the Inauguration of the first Pres
ident of that country This action was
taken on the notification from the
Brazilian legation at Washington of
the approach of the important event.
The Iris, Celtic and Scandia have also
sailed, the Abardenda having preced-
ed the squadron. The Sterling has
sailed for Hampton Roads and Mon
tevideO.
A Washington dispatch says that
United States Consul Frankenthal, at
Berne, has collected some information
upon business opportunities in the
Philippines, which he has made the
subject of special report to the state
department. The published report con-
tains in short compass a great deal of
information that may be of value to
business men intending to find open
ings at Manila. The Chinese, it
seems, controls the retail trade of the
islands, the Spanish coming next Sin
order and the remainder of the list,
including about three hundred citi-
zens of other European countries.
Caution is advised in dealing with
the Chinese merchants, as Manila has
no mercantile register.
Radical Cubans have formed an or
ganization, the motto of which seems
to be "Down with everything not Gu
ban." They urge the insurgents to re-
fuse to give up their arms until the