Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-06
TOPICS. OF THE TIMES

4 u
The u. S. treasury statement for De-
cember shows surplus of receipts over
expenditures of over s10,000,000.
The United States government favors
referring the Chinese indemnity con-
troversy to The Hague tribunal, and
may suggest that course TO the powers.
which demand payment in gold instead
of silver. If there is likelihood of seri-
Gus difficulty it should go there.
There is policemen scollege in st.
force. There is museum combined
with the school where the pupils make
themselves familiar with the tools of
criminals, jimmies, drills, chisels and
contrivances for robbing collection
boxes, a special field of Russian thieves.
The Russian passport system is studied
in detail The duties of the dvorniks, a
sort of assistant police, are taught.
They keep watch on the residences, re-
port on the habits of tenants. their Wis
itors, examine the papers of newcom-
ers and direct them to report them
selves at the police station. The mem
bers of such a clever and complicated
system need careful instruction.
So
Iowa added ITO miles of new railroad
track in 1902, yet she needs more than
this many miles of good wagon roads.
Joseph Neumann, who spent his for
tune in futile effort to establish silk
making in California, died this week.
Mr.. Neulnann planted mulberry trees.
imported cocoons. raised silkWorms,
and set up looms, but his capital was
exhausted at critical time, and he
could not secure means to carry on the
work. A San Francisco writer says:
"rhere Is no doubt that the climate
and soil of California are favorable for
silk culture, but wages are so high that
there would be no profit in it,"
One year ago e.211 rural delivery
routes were in operation, and now the
number is 12,474. The country will not
allow the number to stop at that.
John Fulcher, a negro thief who has
been sleeping in his cell in the Kan
sas City, Kas., Jail since o'clock last
Monday night, had shown no signs OF
awakening up to l o'clock Saturday af-
ternoon. His case puzzled the doc
tors.
The surgeons of New York have in
dulged in considerable quiet amuse-
ment over the manner in which the
English language has at times con-
fused DR.. Enthusiastically the de-
partment Of American slang. He was
speaking of the fees he had earned
while here. 1--WE were told" said one
of the younger men, that you pulled
Armour's leg for $4,000" NO" said
the doctor grayely, sit was $4,000. But
not the fathers; it was that Of the
leetle daughter"
The cut In Iowa's corn crop has
meant cut in savings bank aggre-
gates.
In Missouri Shelby preacher knows
about the irony of fate. He
walked thirty-one niles on a cold, raw
day, thru ten inches Of mud, to officiate
at funeral service. When he arrived
at his destination he learned that the
funeral had been held day earlier
than was originally intended.
Mrs. Jennie Springer, a Kansas Wild
ow. is in hard luck. Her husband sold
his farm for cash and soon afterward
they quarreled and she threatened d.
yorce. Fearing that the money would
be taken away from him for alimony he
buried 1t, and died without telling any
one where it is buried. Now the widow
is hunting for the money, without much
hope of finding it.
Z .
The celebration of the centennial OF
Ohio statehood next spring Will be one
of the big events of the year. AS Sen
ator Hoar once remarked: Some men
are born great and some are born In
Ohio"
The American Young Mems Christian
reports prosperous year.
with especially notable growth in the
south and northwest and among rail
road men. The membership list is now
more than three hundred thousand, and
the number of associations over six
teen hundred. Particular attention has
been given to the army and navy work.
There are now $50 buildings owned,
costing over s24,OOo,000, and the amount
that appears on the books for 1902 as
available and expended is $12,OO0,O00.
The ship builders OF Maine had a
year in 1902, and the out
look for this year is very promising.
The total number OF merchant vessels
Of all rigs and classes launched in 1902
was an even hundred, of which one was
a ship, thirty seven schooners, thirty
eight sloops, eight steamers, six barges
and ten gasolene or naphtha launches.
-
Mrs. Ann Murray, who is reputed to
be 1O6 years old, cooked and carved g
big turkey for New Years dinner at
her home, in Brooklyn, New York, Al
which all her children and grandchil-
dren We're present. Mrs. Murray lives