The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-07-14
TICKLE JADE
tContinued from pnse H.

fairs may exist in other cities. Rich
mond, for example. The seven drivers
of ice wagons arrested for giving
short weight generally forfeited the
collateral deposited for their appear
ance in court, but two of them pre-
ferred to fight. The cases will come
up next week 1t is the intention of
the grand jury to prosecute the ice
trust if sufficient evidence is adduced
to warrant the institution of suit
Commissioner Harry L. West is be-
hind the movement to probe the trust,
and it would seem that he has made
out his case.
The published report that Edward
E.Clark of Iowa, the railway con-
ductOrs' chief, was slated for one of
the new interstate commerce commits
sionerships has started some notable
adverse comment 1t is recalled BY
the critics that Mr.. Clark was original
ly and all the time opposed to rail-
way rate regulation and that he was
instrumental in stirring up opposition
sentiment among railway employees;
that moreover, he conspicuously ex-
erted himself to defeat the measure
1t is also recalled that early in the
struggle MIR. Clark wrote letters to a
number of senators and representa-
tives stating his objections to the pro-
posed law. He used the argument so
frequently employed by Senator Elkins
and others friendly to the railroads,
insisting that federal regulation of, the
railroads meant lower freight charges,
with inevitable reductions in the
earnings of the roads. He argued
that this would necessarily result in
the cutting down of wages of rail-
way employees, and that the proposed
legislation would be decidedly detri-
mental to the men in the pay of the
big railroads.
Bearing in mind this particular
conduct of Mr.. Clark, the men who
put through the rate bill say that his
selection to be member of the new
commission Is unfortunate. No charge
Is made rejecting upon his ability or
integrity to fill the position. He is
we'll known to possess exceptional in
formation pertinent to the place.
The magnitude to which the reclaim
alton service has grown is somewhat
astounding even in these days of re-
markable events. The reclamation
service was organized four years ago
and during its existence has increased
from less than a dozen men to over
four hundred engineers, carrying on
work throughout widely scattered To-
calities in the arid west. Contracts
have been let and work is under way
involving the expenditure of $25,OOO,-
600, and other contracts are being pre-
pared which will necessitate the ex-
penditure in all of nearly $4,000, 900.
There are now working for the con-
tractors about 10000 men, and the
reclamation service has working di-
rectly for it over 1000 men, including
day laborers and mechanics The
monthly expenditures aggregate about
$1,000,000, having gradually increased
until they are now practically at the
maximum. 1t is not probable that
there will be further expansion, but,
on the contrary, a considerable con-
solidation and reduction of force as
the larger works are completed. The
rapid growth of the reclamation serv-
ice is indicated by the annual expendi-
lures. For the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1908, there were a little
over half million dollars; for 1904,
one and one-half millions; for 1905,
three and three-quarter millions, and
for the year ending June 80. 1906, very
nearly eight millions, the greater part
of this amount being expended during
the months of May and June, when
the expenditures reached over mil
lion dollars each.