The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-12-26

scarce This country is increasing in
wealth and people are spending fabu-
lous sums for furs. There are two or
three society women, Mrs. Astor and
young Mrs. Clarence Mackay, among
them who own fur clOaks costing S1O,-
| 600. With the great demand the sup
| ply has been shortened. Of the 90
| 600 Alaska seals caught this season
only 10000 are fit to make up into
garments and it takes an average of
| five skins to make - garment How
many women, then. can obtain seal
skin coats when there are only $1,000
skins to furnish the entire world?
Pneumonia is running up the death
rate rapidly in New York. For the
past few weeks the rate has been high
| err than last year at the corresponding
| time and the difference is due almost
entirely to deaths from pneumonia.
| The movement to erect a costly me-
mortal to the late Henry Ward Beecher
seems to have come to standstill.
Subscriptions were not made as freely
and generously as was expected and it
is now suggested that Plymouth church
in Brooklyn be repaired with the money
already raised and q new building
erected on the site of the present lect-
rial to Beacher.
The plan adopted by the board of
education 20 relieve the congestion in
the public schools is meeting With much
success. This plan, in brief. is to be
gin school earlier and close later. The
new system substitutes two sessions
instead of a morning session for one
group and one afternoon session for the
other. The number of part time classes
is not decreased.
Blackwell Island almshouse which
is famous the country over will soon
be closed and new system of caring
for the city paupers instituted. \ large
farm on Staten Island has been pur-
chased on which the aged and destitute
will be cared for. This will give the
able bodied men and women who have
become a charge upon the city an OPP
portunity to work for their living
and they VIII, therefore, be able to
feel more independent than if living in
a large domitory and doing nothing.
1t is asserted by seVerel men prOmi-
nent in steamship circles, that the re-
fusal of the Secretary of War Foot, to
permit the extension of steamship piers
200 feet further out into the Hudson
river may result in the large liners
seeking a new port. as the present IA
cilities here are entirely inadequate.
The transa tlantic liners have increased
in tonnage and length until at present
they are Of a size taking the capacity
of the largest piers along the city's
water front, and taxing the ingenuity
of the steamship companies to handle
their cargOes. If the large cornpanys
hold to their intention of building
steamers 500 feet long, they will OF ne
cessity be compelled to abandon New
York as a port of entry.
Plans for a museum of security for
the exhibition of devices for the pre-
ventiOn of accidents to working peo-
pie are being discussed by members of
the American Institute of Social Ser
vice. 1t is proposed that the museum
which is to be founded in New York
shall contain exhibits of safety mining
lamps, appliances to make the use of
acids as harmless as possible, mater
ials for clothing suitable for different
kinds of work and safeguards to life
and limb in every variety of oc-
cupation.
Next Friday will witness the formal
opening of Gordon House in West Sew
enteenth street, the latest acquisition
in organized settlement work in this
city. The building has been erected as
a memorial to the late Dr. Theodore G.
White, of Columbia university by his
cousin Theodore B. Starr and his two
sons Louis NJ. and Howard w. Starr
Gordon house is named for Chinese"
Gordon who had a great interest in
boys and the work to be done there is
the development of effort begun by Dr.
White and the late Dr. Moir
Taxes collected from state and ma
tional banks and trust companies in
Greater New York during the coming
year will be $641,195.94 greater than
during the present year. Under the
law all banks have to pay 1 per cent
on their capital, surplus and undivided
earnings. The taxable properties of
the banks of Greater New York under
this for the year 1903 aggregate over
two hundred millions.
Police Commissioner Greene, whose
administration has been repete with
incident, upon his retirement next Fri
day will go to Buffalo where he will be
head of the Albright-Hayes Power COM
pany, which is building plant on the