The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1905-01-13

mon win be taken UP by the iawmalkers
| In the near future.
National Finances.
The finances Of the nation remained IT
good shape, though the cash In the
| treasury was reduced by the part pay
ment OF some sac, 200, 900 to the old Pan
anna canal company and of $10,000,o00 t.
the republic Of Panama for the canal
right OF way. 1t was recognized that re-
trenchment in public expenditures was
necessary and congress was urged to
exercise greater economy in making APP
preparations. The navy was made an
exception to this program. the general
desire being to strengthen this arm oil
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 in 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 allayed apprehension on
this score and caused q better feeling
to prevail.
Many Railroad Disasters.
Railroad accidents were more than
ordinarily frequent and serious. To
enumerate 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 Litchfield, 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, Ill; in August a train on the
Denver G. Rio Grande road went through
a bridge near Eden, Col, and between
September sixty were killed and 100 in
jured on the Southern railroad near
Hodges. Tenn; in October twenty
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 Granger, Wyo., and Dec. 20
eight were killed and twenty-ohe 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 a
demand for more safety appliances and
a stricter accountability on the part of
those responsible. ~. 4.
The General Socunl Horror.
The worst disaster of the year was
the burning of the General Slocum, 4
large excursion steamer, at the entrance
of Long Island sound, near Hell Gate.
N. Y, June 10. 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
lya hafnrp 10
be beached 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 disaster of the year
was the wreck of the Norge on a sunk
en- rock in the Atlantic north of Scot
land. June %. Some 600 of the passen-
gers and crew were drowned. Most OF
the victims were emigrants from the
countries bound for the
United States. 4Y ,
Baltimore Fire.
OF fires the most destructive was that
in Baltimore, Md, Feb z 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 $780, 900, 900.
while the insurance amounted to little
more than $32.OO0.OO 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. 23. which
caused a loss Of more than $2,500,000.
Worlds Fair In St. Louis.
The Louisiana Purchase exposition in
st. Louis was opened from the last day
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 anticipated
and financially the enterprise was q dis
According to an official
statement the total number of admis-
sions was 1854, 1856. OF these 2,S04, GIG
we're paid and 6,S9O,e39 free.
During the year rapid progress was
made on the buildings and grounds of
he Lewis and Clark exposition to be
held at Portland. Ore, next summer.
Gifts and Requests Enormous.
Gifts to education. religion and char |
ty in the United States. in 1904 aggre-
gate more than s62,00O,000. The total for
1903 was about the same. Andrew Car
legie heads the list OF givers. his bene-
actions amounting to $4,000. 500. This |
sum was distributed among nine libra
les. five colleges. two clubs, home for |
and a hero fund and for |
excavations in Rome Nine people gave |
lway 81 900, 900 or more each during the |
'ear, their gifts reaching a total OF |
;40, 997, 500.
Charity Is First.
Charities received the largest share of |
he 1904 donations. but educational insti- |
utions are a close second. Each group |
more than $4,000. 900. The big |
,est educational gift. $5,000.0o0, went to |
he Carnegie Institute, Pittsburg.
Agricultural Prospefftv
Abundant prosperity has been en- |
Dyed by the American agriculturist dur |
ng the year 1904" said Secretary VIII |
ION in reviewing the last twelve months |
rom a farmers point of view. at is |
rue few exceptions may be noted to
his general condition, but these excep- |
ions are few in number and trifiing in |
Importance.
ITO present 1t in form easily under |
stood, it can be stated that the prin- |
,ipal crops that are valued annually by |
he department or by commercial houses. |
lad an aggregate farm value in 1904 of |
more than $500, 900. 900, an increase OF |
more than 81, 900, 10000 since 1900, and |
over $500, 900, 900 above 1908.
Farm horses never were so valuable |
rs In 1904, when the total exceeded ST. |
700. 0O0. 900. Farm mules reached their
highest value in 1904, when their worth |
IS estimated at s217. 900. Cattle de-
,lined in number and appreciably in
value, as did sheep and hogs. Poultry
advanced in number, and the farm hens