The Forrest City times., 1900-02-23

The coldest weather ever known in Santiago de Cuba was experienced. on the 18th. the thermometer falling to $ degrees. For the first time in 90 years snow fell on Mount San Piedro, 20 iailes to the northwest.
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 Dr. D. K. Pearsons. of Chicago. has Ieaoe an offer 10 the Congregational Educational society of Boston to give Si5.000 to the general treasury provid- ed the society will secure s3o00O addi- tioral from friends of its work.
 Ex-Speaker Reed. who was in Wash ington on business before the depart merits, visited the house. on the 18th, for the first time since his retirement from congress, and was obliged to hold quite a levee in the ways aud means committee room.
 The British ship Westgate arrived at New York, on the 18th. from Chic, New Caledonia, a French convict set tlement near New Zealand. The West gate brought 2,750 tons in nickel ore to the American Metal Co, and is the first vessel to arrive here direct from New Caledonia.
 Former Congressman Isaac Stephen son made public announcement, on the 10th. of his intention to give to the city of Marinette. Wis, where he has lived for nearly fifty years, a public library building to cost S50,000. The structure will be built within two years of Marinette county granite.
 Acting upon the recommendation of Qrartermaster-Gene Ludington. the secretary of war has ordered the es- tabiishment of bi-monthly transport serylee between San Francisco and Ma nila. The service will be started by the trooEship sherman. which will leave San Francisco for Manila on the 18th or 16th inst.
 Gen. French entered Kimberly, on the 18th, at the head of his victori 1us troopers. He dined at the club, and next pushed on to get in touch with thc retreating enemy. The success cf Gea Roberts initial move caused rejoicing in London, where it is hope.l that the long series of reyerses has at last come to an end.
 Tn, bill generally known as the Louo bill, relating to second class mall matter, was favorably acted on by tle house committee on post offices on the 10th. As finally agreed on q uniform rate of one cent per pound is fixed, the proposed clause making the rate two cents in case of extreme distance being omitted
 Mayor Ashbridge of Philadelphia, on the 10th, sent to National Chair man Hanna a check of S25,000, repre-. senting the first quarter of the amount that city promised to raise for the Pc publican national convention in June. The work of collecting the second qua1 ter begun on the same day, and neariy $5,000 was raised.
 Secretary Root has plan to have the military schools anG colleges ot the country brought into close touch with the regular army and track kept of pupils when they go into civil life. especially if they join the national guard, and thus secure the creation oi a reserve list of persons in civil life wfo are fully equipped for instant mil itary service.
 The speech of the governor, Sir Hugh McC alum, at the opening of the New fogndland legislature, on the 18th, in- timated that the session had been called at the request of the imperial government to renew the modus vi- yendi on the treaty coast so that FreI ch fisherman may be enabled to prepare for the summers operations without delay.
 Commissioner-Gener Ferdinand W. Peck left Chicago, on the 18th, en route for the Paris exposition Mir. Peek leaves with the satisfaction of having succeeded in awakening Amer fear manufacturers and producers 10 the opportunity offered by the fair 10 American commercial expansion and of having secured and sent over the exhibits of some 7,500 exhibitors.
 The British embassy, upon inquiry being made, on the 18th, authorized tn. statement that there was no truth whatever in the story contained in the Paris dispatches that President Me Kinley had sounded Lord Pauncefote, the British ambassador at Washing ton, to ascertain how an offer of medi. ation in the Transyaal difficulty on the part of the United States would be re- ceived by Great Britain.
 The state department has taken steps to make sure of the position it has assumed toward ex-Consul Mac rup' in anticipation of an inquiry iron congress, by directing an inyes- tigation into every phase of the ale gations contained in that officers statement, including especially tho,cugh investigation of the eon1i-