davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-31

was thought, entered a permanent
period of reduced salaries and wages,
and it was incumbent upon the people
to eschew the national fondness for
generous spending and cut the gar
ment to fit the cloth.
But only eight years have passed
since then, and all but the children can
vivedly remember the hardships and
worries of those gloomy days, yet here
We are spending as freely as, if not
more so, than ever. The London pa
pers agree that of all the great indus
trial capitals New York is today the
most prosperous and enjoying the mer-
riest Christmas.
Locally, merchant after merchant
comes forward to say that there has
never been such a holiday trade as
that of this season. It exceeded all
estimates, and it was impossible for
the stores to engage enough help to
handle it as they would have liked.
The jewelers. and all dealers in lux
uries report unparalleled sales, and it
is that kind of trade that proves pros
perity. People must live, and, there
fore, must have meat and groceries
and clothes, but jewelry is bought
chiefly by people who have money to
spare, if not to burn.
Another sign of the plethoric condi-
ton of the Minneapolis purse was the
falling off of trade on the day before
Christmas. The crest of the wave of
trade came on Monday. When the
times were hard the day before Christ
mas was the day of the climax. The
difference is the difference between
eager and stinted spending. In the
hard times people put off parting with
money for gifts until the last moment
when, relenting, they scraped togeth-
er such coins and bills as they could
and, shutting their eyes to the morrow,
dashed in and bought.
The p%ostofice, the railroads and the
express companies join in the song
of good times. On some railway lines
travel is 100 per cent larger than at
any other Christmas tide. People are
not only sending presents by mail and
express, but they are carrying in per-
son and are travelling to spend the
season of good cheer with the old
folks at home or with the young folks
in the new home.
To the extent that material we'll
being makes for happiness, the United
States in general and the northwest
mas.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-31

OF the island of Guam, using them as
the basis of good natured ridic'lla
did the memo y of the dead sailor an
injIs, ice by remaining quiet on an
other epoch in his career, when he
upheld the dignity of the United
States and added fruther TESTIMONY
to the bravery and patriotism Of the
American seaman. 1t was Captain
antiquated wooden vessel, armed with
obsolete smooth-bore cannon, defed
two modern German warships and pre-
vented German interference in the af-
fairs of the Samoan islands at a time
when such interference would prob
ably have been fraught with serious
results to this country. By clearing
his decks for action and assuming a
position where his ship commanded
the harbor of Apia he prevented the
Germans from landing and forcibly
seating one of the two natives who
claimed to be the rightful kings of the
islands. Although his little craft was
no match for either of the German
vessels, he defied them both and by
his courageous action held them in
check and prevented landing of Ger
man forces until the arrival of other
American vessels in numbers equal
to guard our interests in the islands.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-31

Venezuela nc one gets out of
one scrape than another disturbs her
peace of mind. Just now she is
threatened with trouble from France
Johnnie Crapaud is going to send a fleet
down that way and demand that a
piece of land n of his citizens leas.
ed from a Venezuelan, but of the use
of which he finds himself deprived be-
cause the leaser took an active part
in one of the diurnal revolutions and
the government seized his property,
be turned over Immediately to the
lessee. Unless it adopts a change of
methods, poor, old Venez may find
itself compelled to apply for a receiv-
ership or take advantage of the bank
ruptcy laws. Those foreigne claims
threaten to swamp her.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-31

Although it's name is quite a mouth
full, if Professor Novy's ~"benzozone'
is really the specific for such intes-
final diseases as typhoid fever, dyson
terry and cholera that it's discoverer
and his friends claim it to be, the
people will accept it gladly and CRATE
fully and forgive him for not having
invested it with some simpler form
of designation.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-31

The Pullman porters have a griev-
ance, but are at a loss how to pro-
coed to obtain redress. They have
discovered a painful falling off in the
tipping system and consequent reduc.
ton in their incomes. without any re-
assuring symptoms on the part of the
company to make good the difference
by a raise in wages. If the porters
could devise some way by which the
company would be assured of it's abil-
ity to continue to pay - per cent
dividends, while at the same time in.
crease their wages, they might re.
ceive a hearing. Until such an event
they will probably have to be satisfied
with things as they now exist.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-31

According to one Of the Minneapolis
newspapers the officials of the Jim
Hill combine contemporary refer to
the governors of the northwestern
states who are preparing to combat
the merger as a lot of Indians beat
ing tom-toms. This may be SO, but
sometimes the tom-toms are laid aside
for the war club and scalping knife
and things are doing" The present
may prove to be one of these cases,
and the government will not be on
hand to save the hair of some persons
from ornamenting the belts of the In.
dians.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-31

While the causes may be different,
still as a contributor to the mortuary
lists of the country, Christmas this
year seems to have run the ordinary
Fourth of July a close second.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-31

While there may be no connection
between them, yet the announcement
of material freight reductions by the
merged roads and the date of hold
ing the convention of governors fol-
low n another so closely that they
are likely to be connected in the
minds Of people not given to making
fine analyses of things and events.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-31
1T MAY BE

Just when everybody considered it
as good as settled that the isthmian
canal was to be built via the Mica
raguan route, and two bills had been
introduced in the house looking to the
construction Of the canal in accord
ance with the recommendations of the
canal commission, something arises
that may upset all present plans and
be the cause of a long and contentious
Debate in congress-. While the COM
mission reported in favor of the Mica
raguan route, it was because of the
exorbitant price the Panama company
asked for it's rights and property in
t~erests, the commissions report be-
ing that both routes were entirely
feasible and practicable from an en-
cheering standpoint.
When it became evident that the
canal would be built the Panama COM
pany, through it's president, M. Hutin,
made overtures to the commission for
the sales of it's franchises and realty.
The price it asked, 500, 000, 900, was
deemed out of all proportion to the
actual value of it's holdings and the
commission so informed Mr.. Hutin. Ac-
cording to the estimates placed upon
it's value by the commission the latter
concluded that $40, 900, 900 was about
all the Frenchmen should ask or ex-
pect for their holdings of all kinds
in connection with the canal. This
was rejected by the company and the
commission accordingly dropped ne
gotiations with the Panama company
and set itself about to investigate
with a view to making report on the
Nicaraguan proposition. Since then
changes have occurred in the French
company. It's president has resigned
and the company is said to be in a
very demoralized condition and ready
to be more reasonable in it's demands.
1t is reported that it is prepared
to accept even less than $4,000 900,
should it find the United States in
cllleQ 10 uOlu OIL.
With matters in this new condition
it would seem that as a business prop
osition it would be the part of wisdom
to look further into the situation as
regards the Panama company's offer
and accept it especially as a large
saving would be made in the cost of
n CT ~ 0firr tho oano Hro nf tho
advantages possessed by the Panama
route is it's shortness. While the dis
lance across Nicaragua, as found by
the commission, is 1886 miles, the
Panama route is only 1900 miles.
From the standpoint of economy every
argument seems to be in favor of
the latter route.
Writing on this phase of the matter,
an eastern newspaper argues that
even with this advantage to recon-
mend it, should it develop that a ma
jority of both houses of congress is
controlled by sentiment in favor of
the longer route, after accurately
knowing all the facts, the minority
should cas- it's opposition and yield
to the majority, as the interests Of
he nation demand construction of
the canal at the earliest possible mo-
ment. Whether the minority, should
there be one, will be willing to take
this view of the situation remains
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-31

After making a few feints and find
ing that each was prepared for the
other Chill and Argentina have con-
cluded that, after all, war is a wicked,
horrid thing and not comparable with
the present stage of civilization. Be-
side, it costs too much and kissing and
making up is much nicer, anyway.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-31

In getting married three times in
one Gay. Chauncey NJ. Depew beat the
best record made by Brigham Young,
even when that much married man
was in the height of his glory. AS he
insisted on having the same woman
each time, however, Chauncey is still
second to Brigham and the record
remains in Utah.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-31

church a small sized battle was fought
between c~ontending factions evidently
did not lay sufficient stress upon the
"peace and good will portion of his
sermon. ..
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-31

The newspapers who have seen fit
to restrict their comments on the Of
ficial actions of the late Captain
I.eary OF the United States navy to
his accomplishments while governor
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-31
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 81, 1901.

Judging from the latest reliable
advices there is something doing"
down Cleveland way. n
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-31
GAINING NEW FRIENDS.

Rapid has been the growth of senti-
'ment in the east in favor of govern
ment aid in the reclamation of the arid
lands of the west. Not only is that
sentiment growing constantly among
the people, but the press is beginning
to take sides with the west in it's de-
mand that some of the vast sums Of
money which have Heretofore found
their way into the rivers and harbors
of the east be diverted into new chan
nels and made to contribute to the
good and welfare of the entire nation
by being expended in a manner cal
culated to increase the arabic lands of
the nation. One of the influential news
papers of the far east which has of
irrigationists is the Boston Tran
script, and it's sudden conversion is a
matter of much surprise, but it shows
the force of popular opinion, and, it
must not be forgotten, the force of
example as we'll. When President
Roosevelt in his message to congress
unequivocally and forcefully expressed
himself as favorable to government
irrigation the west obtained prestige
by having one Of the best and most
influential friends possible for it to
have in the fight it has been making.
The Transcript says:
"It is probable that our people, es-
pecially in the east, have not begun
to realize the vast potentialities of a
region that is now worse than useless
because it is in the way of other sec
lions that might be more successfully
compacted without it than with it in
it's present sluggish and inert condi-
ton. But there is a special as we'll as
a general reason why it is the part of
patriotism to redeem this territory.
AS the officers of the association de-
clare, it is the central and controlling
motive and object of the national irri-
cation movement to create millions of
happy and prosperous American homes
in parts of our territory now utterly
desolate and uninhabitable, and to do
this in a way that will beyond all ques-
ton benefit every class of our country
To do this these lands must be reserv-
ed for actual settlers. The govern
ment must take absolute control of
their development and give specula-
tors and syndicates no partnership in
the matter. The project is SO vast, so
feasible, so beneficent in it's possibil-
tiles and so thoroughly American that
it is n of the questions that ought
to have the earliest, the most thor
ough and the most honest considera-
ton that congress can give it."
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-31
THE COURSE OF BUSINESS,

'
Minneapolis Journal: All records
have been broken by the volume of
business in the year just closed.
Throughout our country prosperity
reigns. The year ends with condi-
tons more favorable and all
indications pointing to increased de-
velopment and business activity in
1902. Exact comparisons are as yet
impossible, but in the leading lines
approximate comparisons may be
made. The iron ore trade and the
anthracite coal production are far
ahead of previous totals and the traffic
on the great lakes was never before
so large.
The net earnings of all the country's
railroads we're 16 per cent over last
year. Bank clearings will show rs per
cent increase over any previous year.
The country had a failure of the corr
crop and one of the sharpest stock
panics, but with the resisting power
WV . 6AOoI IACoC ousCloS Adppcu-
ings have had no lasting effect.
To crown the year, the holidays
brought a trade never before equaled.
For a week broken by holidays the
bank c%learings were large, showing
$1,S40,626, 946, of which 1868, 749,587
was outside of New York. Minneapo-
lis gained 35.9 per cent over last year,
showing s13, 039, 347.2S, against $685.
82O.49.
Unless relief comes soon to the car
situation, an advance in all finished
iron and steel products is not unlikely.
With prosperity rampant, the inability
of the railroads to provide sufficient
rolling stock is playing havoc with
the trade. Some mills are closeu tenn
porarily through delay in the delivery
of raw material.
The stock market has been up and
down, following the lead of American
Sugar, which replaced copper as a
disturber. On Thursday sugar sold
to a low point lot touched since 1898.
Money continues easy. Some unset
ling influences are in sight, but there
is an undertone Of confidence. The
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-31

Calling cards at Gazette office.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-02-11

receipts ii the crop country and weak
ness III foreign speculative markets
were the depressing influence here.
Selling was for both local and foreign
account. Total sales were 11,750 bags,
including March at $3.50; May at $3.50;
July at $3.50; October and November
at $3.50 and December at s5.95.
Molasses sugar 311ec; refined, steady;
standard A 5.3oc; confectioners' A,
5.30c; mould A, 585c; cut loaf, 6.00c;
crushed, s6.00c; powdered, 5.6Oc; gran
ulated, 5.50c; cubes, 5.75c.
CHICAGO. February 9.-Grain and
provisions fluctuated within narrow
limits to-day, governed largely by To-
cal conditions. Wheat closed I'M
changed; corn b@Ac higher; oats a
shade lower, and provisions 21ac i'm
proved.
AT the opening, wheat traders were
inclined to extreme bearishness, ow-
ing to skeptism over recently reported
export business, and the moderate tenn
perature and snow covering enjoyed
by the wheat belt. The fact that Liy-
erpool was comparatively steady and
that Northwestern receipts looked light
against last years they ignored May
opened A@5sc to $@1ac lower at
74as to 74Ac. Considerable wheat was
dumped out during the first few min
utes, but the selling pressure was not
long sustained influential bulls
bought and prices began to grow firm
The strength of corn and reported cash
sales of 100000 bushels finally started
a covering movement which forced
May UP to 74a4c. The close was steady
and unchanged at 745s@Ac. Export
ers reported but six loads taken for ex-
port, which, however, did not deter
shorts from covering. Seaboard clear
ances in wheat and flour were equal to
$4,000 bushels. Primary receipts
reached total of 5000 bushels COM
pared with 100000 bushels last year.
Minneapolis and Duluth reported 356
last year. Local arrivals amounted to
So cars, none of which graded con-
tract.
Corn experienced narrow but
strong market. Climatic conditions
unfavorable for moving the coarse GER
cal to market; light country accep-
tances to bids sent out last night, COM
bined with a good cash demand were
the factors sustaining the market.
There was nothing conspicuous in the
days buying, but the scarcity of Of
ferings in the pit came into clear re-
lief. Receipts were 381 cars. May
sold between 3S%039c and 39Ac and
closed B@Ac UP at 39B@Ac.
Oats were dull and narrow, May sell
ing between 2514 and 25ssc, with the
close shade depressed at 25Ac. Re
ceipts were 322 cars, which was consid-
erably over the estimate, but country
offerings were small.
Provisions ruled dull and steady, Of
ferings being scarce in sympathy with
the corn strength. After fiuctuaNng
narrowly the market closed Pork 21ac
higher, May pork at $14 021a; May lard
at 81 521a and May ribs at 81 05.
Estimated receipts Monday:
Wheat 40 cars; corn 215 cars; oats
165 cars; hogs 81 600 head.
There will be no session of the Board
of Trade Tuesday, Lincoln's birthday.
The leading futures ranged as follows:
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-02-11
Articles.

Cash quotations were as follows:
Flour dull; winter patents So GOO
80; bakers So 10000; specials SO 200
So; clearances 81 1908 80; patents
So 60@80; straights So. 10@40.
Wheat, No. 8, spring, 65@71c; No.
red 731a@741zc.
Corn, No. 2, 375sc; No. 2 yellow
315sc.
Oats, No. 2, 25A@1ac; No. 2 white
271ac; No. 3 white 26A@27hc.
Rye No. 2, 501s@51c.
Good feeding barley 57@5Sc.
Fair to choice mailing 53064c.
Flaxseed, No. l, 81 60; No. l N. w.
81 60.
Prime timothy seed 81 so.
Mess pork, per bbl., S13 so.
Lard, per 100 lbs, $13 421a@45.
Short ribs sides, Qoose), $6 1907 10.
Dry sailed shoulders, (boxed), Ga q
kc.
Short clear sides, (boxed), 81 $50
Z %.
Whiskey, basis of high wines 81 q.
Glover, contract grade, 81 25@50.
On the produce exchange to-day the
butter market was quiet; creameries
14021c; diaries 111ac.
Cheese dull, 10A @11%c.
Eggs quiet.
PHILADELPHIA, February 9.-But-
ter firm, good demand; fancy western
creamery 221ac; do prints 23c; do near
by prints 24c.
Eggs, fresh nearby 22c; do western
22c; do southwestern 22c; do southern
21c.
Cheese unchanged.
Refined sugars quiet but firm.
Cotton steady.
Tallow firm; city prime in hhds. Sc;
tierces 5A; country prime in bbls.
4h@5c; cakes SIC.
Live poultry quiet but steady; fowls
9%01012c; old ROSTERS &c; chickens
9a10c; ducks 12Q13c; geese 10@11c;
turkeys &c.
Dressed poultry firm, good demand;
fowls, choice 10c; do fair to good 90
91hc; old roosters 6h@7c; nearby
chickens 10@13c; western do 9@12t
turkeys, nearby choice 11@13c; do
western 10G12c; ducks, nearby 1904;
western do HOBO.
Wheat quiet but steady; contract
grade February 751a@7Gc.
Corn, No. 2 mixed February $50 Kc.
Oats steady; No. 2 white clipped
321ac.
, Receipts:-Flour 5000 bills, and
10000 pounds in sacks; wheat $500
bu; corn $4,000 bu.; oats 1000 bu.
Shipments: Wheat none; corn 1884,
coo; oats 5000 blu.
BALTIMORE, February 9.-Flour
dull; western family So 1908 SIS: win
ter wheat patent. So S564 05; receipts
5,504; exports 7,46S. Wheat strong;
spot and February 1850; March 761a
&c; May 77@Ac; steamer No, red.
1889; receipts 6,945; exports $4,000;
Southern by sample 70@77Ac; do on
grade 75A @77Ac.
Corn firm. Spot, February and
March 431s@Ac; May 43Ac; steamer
mixed 421A@Hc; receipts 305, 900; en-
ports $4,000: Southern white corn 43
@44c: do yellow 04skc
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-02-11

the present negotiation deprecate the
excess Of the speculation. But their
interest in REFRESHING too urgent de-
mand for properties OF which they are
themselves seeking control detracts
from the force Of their efforts. In one
well-known instance, the u1bridied
speculation has necessitated the aban-
Comment or at least the postponement,
OF efforts to secure control of great
railroad system. The volatile advance
in the stock market of the steel stocks
is said to be an obstacle to the nego-
tiations in progress for adjustment OF
control 1t is pointed out, also, that
what is called the sympathetic action
OF the stock market causes a rise In
price not only OF those stocks concern
ed in the deals, but of others not in
fcluded, and which might be presum-
ably damaged by being left out. In
junction proceedings call attention to
possible legal and State constitutional
obstacles to some OF the combinations
regarded as already achieved. As for
the great 'billion dollar steel combina-
tion,' as it is colloqually termed In
Wall street, there is an occasional
warning voice heard that the results
promised from it, including safeguards
against destructive competition, re-
striction of output to the limits of de-
mand and an adequate equipment to
command the steel and other trade
combinations of two years ago, all oil
which has proved more or less defec-
tive. The cessation of the gold export
movement and the marked relaxation
in foreign money conditions have re-
moved the apprehension Of possible
drain upon our money market on that
score. 1t is not improbable that the
financiers who are so busily planning
great projects have long foreseen the
present conditions in our money mar
ket as the result of the spring refiux OF
funds to the depository centres and
the vast expansion of the circulation
Of the country during the year. 1t Is
clear that gold would have continued
to flow abroad had not the railroad
combinations taken up enormous cred
it's and thus absorbed large proportions
of the banking surplus. 1t is claimed
that the money market is safe from
Inc uduSeI VI uloLul DtbHC0 AiohA oHS
projected steel combination as such
transactions are accomplished largely
through exchange CT old securities for
new. But the requirements of unde-
writers of new securities issued and OF
syndicateS which act as Intermediates
in the transfer from one corporation to
another make heavy inroads upon sur
Mus reserves of the banks.
The railroad bond market has been
almost unprecedentedly active and
prices have advanced more steadily
than those Of stocks Low grade
speculative or semi-speculative bonds
have been in largest demand.
U. S. refunding rs declined Is and the
So advanced Il per cent over the call
price Of a week ago.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-02-11
Silver.
BradS streets.

Bradstreets.
There was recovery in the London
silver market at the beginning of the
present week, due to the temperance
OF better Eastern demand for bars.
This buying caused a rise in the quo
tations for bars to % Sled. per ounce,
though the rise was not held, and a
reaction ensued, under which the price
shaded off again to 277sd. New York
commercial quotations for bars were
correspondence affected, rising to
611s cents, or IL cents above the low
est figures of last week. The market
here, however, eased off with the re-
newed decline in London, bar falling
again to CO.'S cents.
Prices-London. February -, Febru-
airy 4, 2S1ad-, February 5, % 3-16d.,
February 6, % 1-16d., February z,
2SBd., February s, n 15-16d
New York, February 2, 60Ac, Febru-
airy 4, 61Ac, February 5, 61hc, Febru-
airy s, Gle, February 7, 605sc, February
s, 605sc. *Holiday.