davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-04-08
THE
Milwaukee Road
Milwaukee and Chicago.

No. 6.
Day Express-Leaves the Twin
Cities every morning. The Mis-
sissippi River, the Dells of the
Wisconsin River and the Wiscon-
sin Resorts in daylight-Mlwau-
kee at TOO P. M. and Chicago at
9:25 Pm. Buffet Parlor Cars and
Dining Cars. Electric lighted train.
No. 2.
Night Express Leaves the
Twin Cities in the early evening,
arrives Chicago at TOO A. NJ, in
time for eastern connecting trains.
Electric lighted,-Dining Cars and
Sleeping Cars.
NO. 4.
The Pioneer Limlted-Costliest
and handsomest train in the werld,
leaves the Twin Cities later in the
evening, arrives Chicago 9:3OA.M.
Has Buffet Library Cars, Compart-
ment Cars, Standard Sleepers and
Dining Cars-a train that has
no equal in the world. Its fame
reaches around the globe. Elec-
trie lighted train.
Ask your nearest ticket agent
for through tickets and baggage
checks via the Chicago, Milwaukee
& St. Paul Ry., or for maps, time
tables or otherinformation, address
". B. DIXON.
Northeastern Passenger Agent,
ST. PAUL, MINI.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-17
AGRlnuLTnRAL EXpnRrS-

There is a good foreign demand for
wheat and corn, the exports of which
during the present month from New
York have been about 100000 bushels.
The active purchases, it is noted, are
not the result of any material sreduc-
ton in prices of grain, but are rather
the result of decreases in foreign stocks,
rendering the foreign buyers less dis
posed to keep up the independent atti-
tude they have manifested for some
months. Aside from the smaller stocks
abroad, the purchases have been stimu-
lated to some extent by the wet weather
delaying shipments from the Argentine.
Another stimulant of active export pur-
chases, says an eastern commercial pa
per, is the abnormally low ocean rates
for transportation, due to the profit
able figures tramp steamers obtain for
bringing full coal cargoes this way.
Meantime II is stated that the freight
congestion on western railroads is seri-
Ously affecting the export trade, partic-
ularly of corn. The New York Journal
of Commerce says there has been a very
active demand for export corn. but ex-
pOrters have had no end of trouble In
filling the orders and have sustained
considerable loss because shipments
have not come forward within specified
time, thereby forcing them TO go into
the market again and hll their contracts
as best they could, Oftentimes at a ma
terially higher price. The trouble is in
the shortage of ears and lack OF motive
power, which when remedied. as is grad
ually being done. win be followed by an
enormous movement Of grain from the
Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-17
CIVILIZATION AND GREED.
Instincts of Common Humanity
Ignored by "the Superior Race"
INDIANAPOLIS Journal

Instincts of Common Humanity
Ignored by "the Superior Race"
Indianapolis Journal
That very acute heather" Mr.. WI Ting
fang, makes, in current periodical, some
comparisons between Chinese and western
civilizations by no means to the advantage
Of the latter. He defines civilization as
the sum Of mans efforts to advance from
lower to a higher level, and. while he
admits that western nations have done
much to raise this level, he holds that the
present tendency OF Americans to devote
themselves to money getting and TO at
tempts to become rich by the shortest roads
is likely to cause the highest qualities OF
heart and intellect TO suffer and so retard
general progress.
II Mr.. WI were In this country now he
would see in the coal situation much to
confirm him in his belief. Even those
thick thin upholders OF the american
idea" and American methods as expressive
OF the highest development OF mankind
will hardly wish to class the various out
growths OF the coal strike as manifestations
Of the best twentieth-century civilization.
But how shall they avoid itI The evidences
Of barbarity and brutality brought out by
the e0al commission In jta Inquiries into the
Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-17
NOT GREArLr ILARMEn

II Howell has his way the city would be
compelled to pay for the franchise as well
as for the tangible property. On those
terms the company we feel sure, would
cheerfully sell out, but the city might
have to pay anywhere from one to two
millions more than the plant could be
duplicated for.--The Bee.
II the company would cheerfully sell out
on the terms prescribed by Mr.. Howell.
II is strange that the representatives of
the water works are not cooperating with
the senator from Douglas.-World-H Herald.
The Omaha representatives of the
water company do not appear to be
very much concerned about the COM
pulsory purchase bill and are not likely
to show their hand by cooperating with
Mr.. Howell but we have positive
knowledge that the owners of the water
works in New York would be very much
pleased with a compulsory purchase on
the terms proposed by Mr.. Howell.
! There never was a time since the
works were built when machinery and
cast iron pipes have commanded as
high price in the market as they do
now. Water mains which could be
bought five years ago at $1S per ton are
selling today at S37 per ton, and the
labor cost, computed at the present
wage scale, would be equally in favor
Of the company and against the city.
An appraisement under the original
contract excludes.the franchise. An ap-
praisement under the compulsory pur-
chase clause would include the franchise,
or at any rate raise a question about
the value of the franchise to be settled
in the courts, with a possible judgment
against the city. Under such conditions
there is no doubt that the owners Of
the water works would cheerfully ex-
change their bonds for an equal or
larger amount of the bonds of the city
of Omaha with a very liberal allowance
for their watered water stock.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-17
CITY AND COUNTY MERCER.

The charter committee of the Com
merclal club has decided to ask the
legislature to submit constitutional
amendment to permit the enactment of
a law authorizing the merger of the
governments of Omaha, South Omaha
and Douglas county. The proposition is
eminently sound and in the interest of
more economic and better government,
but the verbiage of the amendment is
too ambiguous.
1t should be borne in mind that the
proposed merger of the city and county
governments was embodied in an
amendment to the constitution by the
legislature Of 1895 and submitted with
eleven other amendments in 1896, in the
following language: y
The government OF any city of the
metropolitan class and the government OF
the county IN which it is located may be
merged, wholly or in part, when the propo-
sition so to do has been submitted by au-
thorfty of law to the voters of said city
and county and receives the assent of a
majority Of the votes cast in such city and
also majority Of the votes cast in the
county exclusive of those cast In such
metropolitan city at last election.
1t will be noted that this amendment
permits not only the merger of the
whole county government with that of
the city, but any part thereof, so that
one board of commissioners, or one
mayor and council, could manage the
affairs Of both city and county, or one
treasurer and one auditor could make all
the disbursements and collection of
taxes and check up all the financial
transactions of the county and city
without consolidating any other branch
of government.
The last clause in the amendment Of
1895 would, doubtless, he most objec-
tionable, as it would enable a small
minority to defeat the will of the ma
jOrity, but this clause was inserted as q
compromise with Senator Noyes, who at
the time declined to support the bill
unless this provision was inserted. As
a matter Of fact, the legislature could
provide for the merger of county
and city treasures without a constitu-
tional amendment by requiring the
county treasurer to collect all taxes
within the county, thus doing away with
all the other treasurers. A county tax
commissioner could assess all the prop
erty in the county for state, county and
city purposes.
A separate amendment granting to
cities of the metropolitan class the right
to make their own charters was also
introduced in 1895, but defeated by
the lobby representing the franchised
corporations. That the same influence
will make itself felt at the present ses-
sion nobody need doubt. 1t is barely
possible, however, that the corporation
managers no longer have any objection
to home rule, by reason of the policy
adopted in the mode of assessment and
taxation through the tax commissioner
and Board Of Review.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-17
MORTGAGING THE CONTINENT.
steady Flow of American Dollars Into
Canada and Mexico.
PhiIadelphia Rulletin


Not long ago an oficial report stated that
not less than half billion American dollars
had been recently invested in the railways,
mines, plantations and factories Of Mexico.
1t is now declared that a decided movement
OF capital from the United States over the
Canadian border was witnessed during the
last year, and the prediction is made that
within a comparatively brief period the
amount of American investments devoted TO
developing the great natural resources Of
the Dominion will reach a very high figure.
A few ultra British Canadian newspapers
have bewailed this tendency, Just as they
have deplored the steady increase Of Ameri-
can emigration northward. It does not ap-
pear, however, that these apprehensions are
shared in any perceptible degree by Cana
dian business men who are intelligent
enough to understand that their fairly pros
porous but as yet undeveloped country
stands in urgent need both of Yankee capt.
tai and enterprising Yankee farmers to in
crease its annual grain and meat produc-
ton.
AS a matter Of fact, the flow of funds
from this country over the frontiers OF
Mexico and Canada is simply an example Of
the economic law by which abundant capi-
tai always seeks profitable investment
without much regard to arbitrary geo.
graphical lines Within the last FIVE years
or SO the amount Of cash in the United
States available for investment has in
creased enormously, and a considerable
share Of IL was bound TO find its way into
the potentially rich regions adjacent to
this republic.
The actual annexation Of Mexico may
never occur and that Of Canada may be a
long distance in the future. but there are
net wanting indications that before the
average American schoolboy reaches middle
age the United States will hold a virtual
mortgage on pretty nearly the whole North
American GoRtiRsAh
Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-17

treatment OF nonunion miners could hardly
show a greater lack OF humanizing and re-
ining influences had the events described
occurred in the wilds OF Thibet They
will. perhaps, be set aside as not pertinent,
on the ground that the rlotous miners are
not typical Americans, but ignorant for
eigners--an assumption not easy to sup
port, since a large proportion OF native
born Americans are among them and an
other large element has lived in the region
long enough to have imbibed something OF
that finer civilization Of which we boast.
But, omltting them from the discussion,
what is to be said OF coal operators, trans
portatlon companies and retailers who, re-
gardless Of the suferings and needs Of mil
lions OF their fellow-creatures, have, among
them, placed what is in many instances a
prohibitive price on one OF the necessities
OF life? Not content with fair and honest
profit they have taken advantage Of an
unusual situation to exact exorbitant prices
for the product OF the mines, have placed
unnecessary difficulties in the way of pro-
curing sufficient supplies Of the fuel and
all over the country are grinding the faces
Of the poor. Whatever the miners Them
selves may be, these mine operators and
owners, these railroad companies, these
spectators, these retailers, most assuredly
do represent the average intelligence, the
average humanity and the prevailing Chris
tian sentiment OF the country. They are
educated men, some OF them cultivated
men, SO far as the schools go; some OF them
are professedly religious men, and all Of
them have had the full benefits OF the
religious and moral instruction and infu-
ences which, we so proudly assert, tend
to place our civilization on a higher plane
than was ever, reached elsewhere in the
history Of the world. Yet, for greed OF
money, these types Of the highest Christian
civilization ignore the instincts Of the COM
monest humanity. For a multiplied per,
centage Of gain they trade on the necess,-
ties and sufferings of their fellow beings
and apparently divorce themselves from all
sense OF moral responsibility. Some OF
these very men were loudest to complain
when the exactions OF the beef trust"
caused an increase in their butchers bills,
but high-priced beef and high priced fuel
are evils not to be compared. There are
satisfactory and procurable substitutes for
beef; there is no substitute for fire when
the mercury is at zero.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-17
PROSPERITY or wAon FARMERS.
Gains In Wages More Permanent Than
Gains in Prices.
San Francisco Chronicle.

San Francisco Chronicle.
An Unsuitable home demand for staple
commodities is gradually raising their
prices in spite OF the counter effect Of econ
omies reducing the cost Of products This
rise OF prices. however. is by no means so
great as social agitators would have us be-
lieve. Increased eNpenseseof households Il
mainly accounted for by the satisfaction Of
more costly desires. Few are now satisfied
with what would have contented them de-
cade ago. But while prices are rising they
do not yet even approach the level Of twelve
years ago, when all we're happy and social
agitators had not got fairly to work In the
United States. On October l, 1890 Brad
streets index number indicating the rela-
tive range OF prices was 105,996, On Octo-
Der 1. 1902, It was only S7,422-a difference
OF 1852 points It is only by comparing
present prices with those Of the lean years
OF the middle '9Os that we discover a rise
On April l, 1895, the indext number was Co.
S72, fall OF S9124 points from the high
water mark of 1890. Since those dark days.
when labor was unemployed and commodll
ties we're sacrificed at any price which
would bring money, commodies have gained
2O55O points. And they ought to have
gained 1t is not to the interest Of society
that men should do business at a loss
The one commodity which has risen 10
the price level OF the early nineties is
labor. According to Carroll D. Wright
United States commissioner OF labor, and
our most reliable authority on labor stat
istics, wages in nearly all industries are
higher than ever before--hlgher. even. than
at the high water period Of 1892. for in
the early nineties wages continued TO rise
even after commodities began to decline.
Indeed, during the hardest times. day
wages did not fall in unison with commo-
dities. The trouble was lack OF employ
ment at any price. Now, not only are
wages higher than ever before, but labor
was never so constantly employed The
annual receipts OF the average working
man must now be nearly double those OF
1895. There was never a time in the his
tory Of any nation when the workingman
could get so much comfort for his years
wages as he can get today. He gets more
money than he got even in the early nine
ties, and for given amount OF money he
can buy far more than he could buy then.
The gains in wages are more permanent
than gains In prices. They come rather
more slowly, but they last much longer.
They do not nuctuate like the prices OF
commodities. When workingmen suffer IL
is not so much from a reduction of wages,
as from the inability OF employers to pro-
vide work. The prosperity OF the work.
ingmen is, therefore, bound up with tha
prosperity Of the employer. When en-
ployers make money on their output they
employ all the labor which they can get
When prices are low they discharge all
who can possibly be spared. Society
should therefore rejoice in that general
prosperity, which induces strong demand
which causes prices to rise, which en-
courages all employers to employ all the
help they can get and pay high wages
for the service.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-17
TIE pRrs1prNr IS rMph lrln.

Washington reports say that Presi-
dent Roosevelt has been very emphatic
in stating to members of congress who
have conferred with him. that IL there
Is not antitrust legislation at the pres
ent session he will call the Fifty4eighth
congress In extra session very soon after
March A. The president is quoted as
saying: 'If there is not time to pass an
anti-trust law at this session there will
be enough time between March and
August / to do it, and there will be time
for the ratification of the Cuban reel
procity treaty In that time too"
There is no doubt that Mr.. Roosevelt
is most earnest in the desire for early
anti-trust legislation and probably
would not hesitate to call special ses-
sion of the new congress If the present
one should fail to act. 1t appears prob
able, however. that this will not be
necessary, the indications being that an
antitrust measure viii be passed. This
is fully assured so far as the house of
representatives is concerned and repub-
lican senators are showing favorable
disposition toward such measure. The
president is no less anxious that the reel
procity treaty shall be ratified and the
prospect is very good that this also will
be done AS matters now look, 1t seems
quite safe to say that there will not be
an extra session Of the. Fifty-elghth con-
gress
Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-17
EkIpEkcE oF CONSPIRACY.

There is abundant evidence Of combi-
nations and conspiracies to limit the
coal output and withhold that fuel from
the public. The testimony before the
senate committee of investigation has
shown conclusively that there was a
perfect understanding among those en-
gagged in the industry in regard to the
distribution Of coal and also in respect
to prices, while investigations made at
various localities have developed the
fact Of combinations between railroads
and dealers for the purpose of keeping
coal from the markets.. These investiga-
tions have disclosed facts attesting the
most culpable disregard Of the public in
terests and the we'll known sufferings
Of hundreds of thousands of people.
The facts presented to the grand jury
at Chicago point Enthusiastically to con-
spiracy between the coal operators and
dealers, in which the railroads are prob
ably involved. The evidence shows that
there would have been a sufficient sup
ply Of coal If it had been placed on the
market instead Of being sidetracked. At
Milwaukee 1t was found that some of
the dealers had large amounts of coal
which they were holding for higher
prices. A large store Of coal was found
at Terre Haute and other points in cars,
the pretense being that 1t was not
shipped to its destination because of
the lack of motive power. These and
other facts brought out by inquiry and
investigation prove beyond a question
that there has been widespread COM
bination. and conspiracy, embracing
both anthracite and bituminOns opera
tors and dealers, with the coal trans
porting railroads as a party, to curtail
the distribution of coal and extort the
highest prices possible from the con-
sumers
Yet in the face of all this President
Baer, at the conference a few days ago
with Mayor Low Of New York, had the
hardihood to say that there is no coal
combination and to assert that while he
is responsible for the companies of
which he is president, he is pvwerless
to control the action of the other COM
panies and of the individual operators.
IT Is a matter Of common knowledge,
however, that most of the hard coal
production is practically in the control
Of railroads united on the community
of-interest plan and that the presidents
Of these roads have been in the habit
Of meeting periodically to regulate out
put, freight charges and prices. So far
as the independent operators are con-
eerned they have .annulled their con-
tracts with the railroads, but until very
recently they were completely under the
control Of the eoal-carrying railroads
which are in possession Of nearly all of
the anthracite field.
1t is useless. for Mr.. Baer or anyone
else to deny that there is a coal COM
bination or that there has been con-
spiracy to deprive the public of coal.
The evidence is overwhelmingly against
them and there is every reason to expect
that It will be made still stronger by
further investigation ~ R7a
Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-17
StupendOus Undertakings,
New York Press.

While we boast Of our big engineering
feats let us look beyond the seas for a mo-
ment. There is the Siberian railroad, cost
ing $401, 200, 900. The Russians have planned
other lines In various parts OF the empire,
private companies to build them. But the
imperial government will indorse their
bonds to the extent of $3.50 ,OO0, 900. The
Simplon tunnel. now we'll under way, is to
be fourteen miles long and will cost
$1,000O00 a mile. Enormous difficulties
have been overcome. Water trickling down
from the top Of the mountains, 5000 feet
high, flows into the tunnel at the rate of
IL, 900 gallons q minute, and at a tempera-
ture OF from NJ degrees to 14O degrees,
rendering not only work but life impos-
sible. The engineer, by pumping cold air
against the currents, has reduced the tenn
perature to 20 degrees. He uses the water
not only for power to operate the refriger-
ating apparatus, but to compress air for
use in the drills.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-17
A Beat that Was a Beat.
New York Tribune.

Yankee jack tars still hold their own
against challengers in Craftsmanship. Never
theless, It is a strange tale which comes
from China that boats crew from Uncle
Sans battleship Kentucky beat the best
rowers OF John Bulls man-o'-war Glory
by a mile in a five-mile race at Hong Kong.
A hundred yards victory would be enough
for the Stars and Stripes, and to spare,
To dim the fame Of the British rivals by
a full mile IN I'VE seems an Incredible ex-
pIoit. So extreme triumph might be
thought ill-natured. s.511.5 "a. '.r-
Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-17
PASSING PLEAsASTRIEs.


MnTOh6G MJOhnny" said the teacher. what is
For a certain kind OF kid leather made
from dog skins in America-"-Brooklyn
Eagle.
base ball factions Is ended"
wonder what they will do now?"
Take IL out of the umpire, perhaps
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
secS sO%e peoRIs, said X3els Essn "its
trys to be pleasant, folks takes II foh
Star. "
Head Clerk-It seems to me that old
Joblots Is beginning to lose his grip.
are right. He went out and bought an
umbrella yesterday.-Somerville Journal.
Caller-Tve found that there dorg that
y'r wife Is advertisin s. reward fer.
.Caiier-Yep; an II yeh don't give me SO
I'll take It to 'er.-New York Weekly.
MY friend" said the fakir at the street
corner, II can sell you a salve for 10 cents
that viii cure that big wart on the back
IT don't want It cured" the hollow-eyed
man in the crowd responded. The baby
uses 1t to cut his teeth on."-Chicago
Tribune.
your boy" said the college president,
has been very wild, the worst boy in his
'IndeedI' exclaimed the father, "and will
you withhold his diploma on that account"
"Oh, mol But II really should be black
sheepskin. n."-Philadelphia Press.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-17

One OF the bills introduced into the
legislature provides for a reduction in
the interest payments ON bank deposits
OF county funds from 5 per cent to IA
per cent, or a reduction OF one-half the
present requirement. With our banks
paying per cent On deposits OF country
correspondents and receiving per cent
on their balances In Chicago and New
York. why the county money should be
given over for smaller rate is hardly
explainable. II the present rate Of 8
per cent is too high, the proposed rate
Of Ia per cent is certainly too low.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-17
PeriIs of the Coal Squeeze.

The leading citizens OF another Illinois
town have been selling upon tralnload
OF coal belonging to someone else and con-
hscating 1t to their own uses. From an
Ohio city comes the report that prosecu>
tions for petty fuel thievery have been sus-
pended. which means that anybody is at
liberty to steal coal IL he does not steal
much at one time Thus we have in this
crisis what appears to be a pretty distinct
start in a reversion of society to anarchy.
1t is an experience which the forces Of law
and order will do well to see does not recur
again.