Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1905-02-04

ton Will be taken up by the lawmakers
in the near future.
National Finances.
The finances OF the nation remained In
good shape, though the cash in the
treasury was reduced by the part pay
ment of some SAC. ZOO, 600 to the old Pan
ANA canal company and of $40. 900, 900 to
the republic OF Panama for the canal
right OF way II was recognized that re-
trenchment in public expenditures was
necessary and congress was urged to
exercise greater economy In making APP
propriations. The navy was made an
exception TO this program, the general
desire being to strengthen this arm OF
the national defense and not to retard
its development in any degree.
United States and Russia.
No complications with foreign nations
| occurred in 1904. Some irritation was
| caused I'm Russia in the early stages OF
! the war with Japan because OF a sup
| posed inclination on the part of the
| United States to favor the latter coun-
| try. The curb upon the expression OF
official opinion and the strict neutrality
enforced by President Roosevelt and
Secretary Hay alayed apprehension on
this score and caused a better feeling
to prevail.
Many Railroad Disasters.
Railroad accidents were more than
ordinarily frequent and serious. To
onumerate them in detail would require
much more space than has been allotted
to this review. but few may be men
toned. In July twenty-five were killed
and fifty eight injured on the Wabash
road at Iitchiield, ILL.,. and sixteen were
killed and fifty-eight injured on the Erie
road at Midvale, n. j.; in the same
month sixteen were killed and eighty in
jured on the Eastern Illinois road at
Glenwood III: in August a train on the
Denver * Rio Grande road went through
a bridge near Eden, Col, and between
seventy-five and 100 lives were lost I'm
September sixty were killed and 120 in
jured on the Southern railroad near
Hodges, Tenn; In October twenty nine
were killed and thirty injured on the
Missouri road near Warrensburg. Mo-.
in November fourteen were killed and
twenty-five injured on the Oregon Short
line near Grarger Wyo., and Dec. %
eight were killed and twenty-one hurt
on the Southern road at Maud ILL., And
so the list might be continued almost
indefinitely. The result of this slaugh-
ter on the railroads Of the country Is n
demand for more safety appliances and
n stricter accountability on the part of
those responsible.
The General Slccum Horror.
The worst disaster of the year was
the burning of the General Slocum n
large excursion steamer, at the entrance
of Long Island sound, near He'll Gate
n. V, June Is. The vessel was crowded
with the members of a Sunday school
and their friends bound for one of the
pleasure resorts on Long island. Fire
broke out and before the vessel could
be beachod the appalling number of 95S
persons had been burned to death or
drowned AS in the Iroquois theater fire
in Chicago most of the victims were
women and children.
Another marine liSnctor Of m yaor
was the wreck of the Norge on sunk
en- rock il the Atlantic north of Scot
land, June 2S. Some COO of the passcn-
gers and crew were drowned. Most OF
the victims We're emigrants from the
Scandinavian countries bound fof the
United States.
Baltimore Fire.
OF fires the most destructive was that
in Baltimore, Md, Feb. and s. One
hundred and forty acres of business
blocks in the heart of the city were
burned. The total loss was estimated
at between $4,000, 900 and 500 600. COO
while the insurance amounted to a little
more than $32, 900, 900. The work OF re-
building the burned district was begun
at once and is now far advanced. Sioux
City. Iowa had a fire Dec. %. which
caused loss of more than 50, 500 600
Worlds Fair In ST. Louis.
The Louisiana Purchase exposition in
of April to the first day of December
In the matter of exhibits. architectural
effects and general interest it was a
great success, but the attendance was
somewhat less than had been anticipat ted
and financially the enterprise was a dis
appointment. According TO an official
statement the total number of admis-
sions was 19,694,S55. OF these l., S04, GIG
were paid and $500, 239 free.
During the year rapid progress was
made on the buildings and grounds of
the Lewis and Clark exposition to be
held at Portland, Ore, next summer.
Gifts and requests Enormous.
Gifts to education. religion and char
ity in the United States in 1904 aggre-
gate more than $G2, 000, 900. The total for
1908 was about the same. Andrew Car
negie heads the list of givers. his bene-
factions amounting to $40, 907. 500. This
sum was distributed among nine libra
ries. five colleges, two clubs, home for
convalescents and q hero fund and for
excavations in Rome Nine people gave
away $1,000, 600 or more each during the
year. their gifts reaching a total Of
$4,000. $780,
Charity Is First.
Charities received the largest share Of
the 1904 donations, but educational insti-
tutions are close second. Each group
secured more than $4,000 900. The big
gest educational gift. $4,000 900, went to
the Carnegie Institute, Pittsburg.
Agricultural Prosperity.
Abundant prosperity has been en-
joyed by the American agriculturist dur
ing the year 1904" said Secretary Will
son in reviewing the last twelve months
from a farmers point of view. at is
true a few exceptions may be noted to
this general condition, but these excep-
tons are few in number ard trfling in
Importance.
ITO present il in form easily under
stood it can be stated that the prin-
cipal crops that are valued annually by
the department or by commercial houses,
had an aggregate farm value in 1904 of
more than $500, 900, 900, an increase of
more than 81 200, 600. 900 since 1900, and
over $500 600, 900 above 1908.
Farm horses never were so valuable
as in 1904, when the total exceeded ST.
900 900. 900. Farm mules reached their
highest value In 1904 when their worth
is estimated at s217. 532. 900. Cattle de-
clined in number and appreciably In
value as did sheep and hogs. Poultry
advanced in number. and the farm hens
now are producing one and two third
billions dozen of eggs yearly, and the
eggs in less than one month are worth
more than n years interest on the ma
II ~