davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
NATION OWNS HUGE LAND AREA
Report Shows 754, 1895, 2e6 Acres IN
disposed OF in Various States.

The general land Office in Washington
has compiled its annual statement show
Ing the area of the public domain re-
manning undisposed of on July l, 1908.
The reports were recently received from
the various local land Offices in the pub
lie land States. excepting Alaska.
From the statement it appears that the
government still has an area of 754 $685.
296 acres of surveyed and unsurveyed
public lands distributed as follows:
Alabama, 129,713; Alaska, 36S,021,-
500; Arizona, 42,769,202; Arkansas, L.
060,1S5; California, 29,SI2, 1913; Colo
RADIO. 23,696,697 Florida, 414, $40; Idaho,
26,7S5,002; Kansas, III ,446; Louisiana,
116, 249: Michigan, 1861; Minnesota,
1,1SS,705; Mississippi, 42,T91; Missouri,
27,4S0; Montana. 1862, 40; Nebraska,
8,074.65S; Nevada CT III $50; New Mex
leo, 44,77 ,905; North Dakota, 1892, 100 !;
Oklahoma, S6,339; Oregon, 1851, 913 !;
South Dakota, 1851 ,295; Utah, 36,51S,-
99S Washington, 4,635,001; Wisconsin,
1920; Wyoming, 81, 1902; total, 754,-
S95,296.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
NEW YORK.

While conservatism still rules purchas-
ing, the number of buyers In leading
northern and western centers is very
large, and there is a distinct gain in the
jobbing distribution of fall and winter
dry goods, shoes, clothing, hats and milli-
merry. Optimism as to the future is noted,
and the practical completion of the small
grain harvests, especially of spring wheat,
and the advance of the corn crop toward
maturity have made for an accentuatlon
of the more confident feeling.
Southern markets are slower to feel
the impetus of prospective good crop
yields, and The strike in the Alabama coal
fields seriously affects trade in and near
Birmingham. Collections show signs of
Improvement, especially where the early
crop movement has begun, but there are
a number of reports of tagging settle
ments, and payments as a whole are not
yet up to normal.
Business failures in the United States
for the week ending Aug. 20 number 236,
against 249 last week, 1913 in the like
week of 1907, 155 in 1906, 176 in 1905,
and 1S5 in 1901. Canadian failures for
the same period number 80, which COM
pares with 81 last week and 10 in the
corresponding week of 1907
Commercial Report.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
gNllxA;4ERFCAL
l.. -:ie :::l:sI: ItM
Es tzEl AND Ssahal1
9FNKNCHL
CHICAGO.

1ne indications of recovery in business
ACTIVITY appear to be we'll sustained. Fur
tner decline Is seen in the comparative
shrinkage in volume of payments Through
the banks, and there is increasing demand
TOR industrial outputs and heavier opera.
tons In general merchandise.
Dealings in leading retail lines run close
to the aggregate at this time last year;
the buying being augmented by many Wis
ltors who spend freely, and the early de-
mand for fall apparel and household needs
expands to seasonable proportions.
There is general expression of conf
dence in uhe outlook for extending con-
sumption. 1t rs also made clear that
stocks throughout the interior are at an
unusually low average and that liberal
replenishment is likely, although that pro-
cess may be conducted gradually. Prices
generally stand upon an attractive basis
in staples and some heavy buyers secure
their needs in lines which continue under
curtailed production.
Encouraging agricultural conditions and
high values of the crops, rising pay rolls
at manufacturing centers and the I'M
provement in iron and steel branches IN
this section afford substantial reasons Tor
the healthier tone which now character
ICES commerce.
The total movement of grain at this
port S,554,630 bushels, compares with
9,S2S,2Oo bushels last week and 9,49o, III
bushels in 1907 Compared with last year
there is decrease in receipts of 26.1
per cent, and increase in shipments of
go per cent. Live stock receipts were
243,035 head, against 1851 head last
week and 2T3,637 head last year.
Bank clearings, 215,3O0,013, are 90
per cent under those of the corresponding
week in 1907 Failures reported in the
Chicago district number "A, against 10
last week and IA year ago. Those with
liabilities over $1,000 number q, againsA
8 last week and in 1907.-Dun' Re
view of Trade
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
NIGHT RAIDERS FIRE TOWNS.
Forced TO Let Firebugs Escape in
Order to Fight Fiarres.


Order to Fight Flames.
Revenge for the arrest of several sus-
pected horse thieves is believed, to be the
cause of the attempt to destroy the towns
of Lowry and Alaska, S. D., by night
raiders at an early hour Monday MORN
ing. Both towns narrowly escaped be-
ing wiped out by fire. All the buildings
are of frame structure and furnished
good fuel for the flames. The towns are
in Walworth county on the river extern
sion of the Minneapolis and St. Louis
railroad and only d few miles apart.
Lowry was the first town raided- A gem
eral merchandise store was fired by the
raiders and the flames spread rapidly TO
adjoining buildings. Seven masked men
were seen riding away, but no attempt
was made TO follow, for the town was in
danger OF being destroyed. While the
citizens were fighting the fire a telephone
message was received from Alaska asking
for aid and stating that the town had
been fired. Similar messages were receiv-
ed at Hoyen and other nearby towns. Six
buildings were destroyed in each town,
including the Farmers State bank at
Lowry. The hotel at Alaska was one of
the burned buildings No robberies are
reported. The loss probably will reach
about 100000.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
LOOT WAUKEGAN PoSTOFFIcE.
Thieves Perpetrate Daring burglary
and Get $4,000 Plumber.

Dynamiters descended the other night
on the Waukegan (Ill.) postofice and in
a spectacular raid carried off everything
of value the place contained. Forcing
open the safe they found plumber worth
$4,000 in postage stamps and cash. They
sawed their way into the Office through a
stairway, the top of which rested on the
ceiling, and dropped twelve feet. to the
floor. The way in which the safe had
been opened mystifed the postmaster,
Charles G. Watrous, when he arrived in
the morning. Dynamite had been used,
but the locks had been turned as neatly
as if the burglars knew the combination.
A fresh supply of stamps had just been
received by the postmaster and the po-
lice are working on the theory that the
daring robbery was committed by some
one who had knowledge of this fact. A
widespread man hunt was begun at once
following the discovery of the robbery.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
LIVES LOST IN SOUTHERN FLOOD
Heavy Rains Cause Great Damage
to Property in Two States.

Heavy rains washed out bridges in
South Carolina and Georgia, caused loss
of life and great damage to crops, ac-
cording to advices received at Atlanta.
Reports from Spartanburg, Camden and
other places show that apparently all
danger of further trouble has passed. At
Camden the situation was critical and
two lives were lost there. While the food
stage is past, practically every wire in
the Camden section of South Carolina
was destroyed. making telephone and tele-
graph communication difficult. The rain
was the heaviest in years throughout
South Carolina and Georgia. Factories
on the banks of rivers have been forced
to shut down because of flood conditions.
1t is estimated the property loss is $780,
600
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
POOR GIRL HEIR TO MILLIONS.
Restaurant Cashier Entitled to Part
of Soldiers S5O,OOO,OOO.

Miss Flossie E. Singleton, cashier in a
restaurant on Pennsylvania avenue,
Washington, has received word that she
is one of the heirs of Joseph Ball, a
Revolutionary soldier, whose estate is
said to have accumulated until it amounts
to S5O,O0O000. This seems altogether
too good to be true, of course" said Miss
Singleton In fact, 1 do not even know
my great-grandmother's name. What
would l do with a few million dollars?
Well, it will be time enough to talk about
that when l find some evidence that the
money is coming my way" The Ball es-
tate is said to comprise now S1,S500OO
in cash and some $3.50 acres of land,
containing iron, in Meadville, Pa, and
other towns in Pennsylvania and the
Carolinas, Kentucky and Virginia.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
TOLD In A FEW LINES

Failing to meet her husband at tn.
Minneapolis Union depot. Mrs Leftin,
Russian woman, wandered aimlessly about
the streets until she was half starved
when the police took her in charge. found
her home and sent her baby to the hos
pital, where it died For three week.
husband and wife hunted for each Other
before they met accidentally. The re
united couple, together with their only
remaining child, boy 3 years old, have
established a household in northeast Min
neapolis.
The wool market for Montana was
topped at Miles City with 1875 cents fol
one clip and 1917 cents for two others
Miles City will ship about 100000
pounds this year.
At Galesburg, H., Judge Alfred NJ
Craig. more than 10 years old and one
of Galesburgs wealthiest and most promi
nent citizens. was joined in marriage tc
Miss Mary Davis. who is 80 years his
junior. The groom served the State OF
Illinois as judge of the Supreme Court
three terms. The couple left for Old
Orchard Beach, Me-, where the honey,
moon viii be spent and where it is said
their romance started.
The recent agitation in Marshalltown
Iowa. for pure milk and meat which re-
suited in the passage of an ordinance pro-
viding fer the inspection of milk cows
and meat, has caused more than 100
farmers of the country voluntarily TO pc
tition the veterinarians of that city 70
inspect their nerds. The herds have been
inspected and many cattle have been con-
demned because of tuberculosis
4 run,or is current in London state cir
cles that Lord Tweedinouth, president of
the council. and Lord Loreburn. lord high
chancellor are about 70 resign and that
Mr.. Haldane. secretary for war. viii be
named as lord high chancellor aud Wins
ton Churchill as secretary for war.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
80 ARE sUFFocATED IN MINE.
Men EntOmbed Alive When Fire
Cuts Of Surface Connection.

Men Entombed Alive When Fire
Cuts OFF Surface Connection.
More than thirty men were suffocated
Wednesday morning in Hailey-Ola mine
No. l at Haileyville, Okla, when fire de-
stroyed the hosting shaft and airshaft
and cut off air from the men below
Twenty-six bodies were removed from
the mine, following successful three
hours battle with the flames. 1t is be-
lieyed that six or eight more will be
brought out. Twenty-Five mules were Suf-
located and some of their bodies were
burned. After the entombed men had
gone down in the cage a fire broke out.
occasioned by the ignition of barrel Of
oil which a miner was trying to divide.
The flames spread at once to the hosting
shaft and the air shaft and all communi-
cation with the top was at once shut off.
The Hailey-Ola is owned by DR.. d. NJ.
Haley, James Elliott and a number of
Chicago and st. Louis capitalists.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03

action probably will insure the solution
of the great Congo problem, there still
remains open the important question OF
Belgium's financial responsibility.
The passage of the treaty by the
Chamber of Deputies means that the
now practically assured, as the Senate
and King Leopold are ready to indorse
the bill.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION.
WESTERN LEAGUE.
WEALTHY CATTLE MAN SUICIDE
Poor Health Causes John III. Briggs
of Attica, Ind, to End Life.

John Henry Briggs, aged 81 years,
millionaire cattle raiser, shot and killed
himself at his home in Attica, Ind. He
owned 1000 acres of valuable land in
Warren county. Standing before a mir
ror he showed the muzzle of a 3S-calber
revolver into his mouth and pressed the
trigger. The bullet went through his
brain. His wife rushed into the room
and found the body. Briggs had lived in
Warren county all his life. He served
in the Civil War, being member of the
both Indiana volunteers. Dependency
due to poor health was the cause of his
guicide
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
Theatrical Trust n Reality.

Every form of theatrical amusement
and every kind Of playhouse in the United
States has been brought under a huge
combination of interests by means Of
what is known as a ''gentlemen's agree
ment'' made at New York recently in the
Offices of Klaw Granger. The ostensi-
bic object was to discuss the betterment
of conditions and harmonious co-opera
ton, and a committee was appointed TO
draw up a plan. Even Belasco and Fish
were gobbied in this agreement through
the presence of Lee Shubert. 1t is in
effect union or organization of the man
a
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
Feud Ends in a Death Duel.

George Britton and Frank Davis met
at the Louisville & Nashville depot at
Shawnee, Tenn, and engaged in a duel.
Britton was shot FIVE times, the fifth bull
let penetrating his heart and killing him
instantly. Davis is not expected to live.
The shooting was the result of a feud.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
FITZGERALD ARRESTED
FOR $4,000 THEFT
Former Asserting Teller of Chicago
Subtreasury Released on
Bonds of $4,000.
CRIME EIGHTEEN MONTHS OLD
Taking of Former Official Follows
Detectives Investigation Offer
to Sell Big Bills.

George W. Fitzgerald, who was dis
charged as asserting teller of the Unit
ed States subtreasury at Chicago a
year ago following the mysterious dis
appearance of $4,000 from the vaults
of the government treasury house, was
arrested early Sunday on a state war
rant charging him with the crime, and
was arraigned before Judge Arthur H.
Chetlain Monday.
Fitzgerald was released by Judge
Chetlain on $4,000 bonds, the hearing
being continued for week. The bonds
men are James Ralth, 1929 Wabash
avenue, formerly in the cooperage bust
ness, and John c. McCafferty, treas
urer Of the United States Tent and
Outing Company.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
MAN EATEN ALIVE BY RED ANTS
Sick Traveller, Overcome in Cali
fOrnia Road, Prey OF Insects.

Burton r. Jarvis, aged &c, contractor
of % Chestnut street, Terre Haute, Ind,
died in Los Angeles, Cal, after having
been literall; eaten alive by red ants.
Jarvis, who was suffering with tuberculo-
sis, started on Sunday to visit the ostrich
farm. On the way he tainted and fell by
the wayside unconscious The exposure
induced pneumonia, which probably caus-
ed his death. AS he lay half conscious
red ants attacked him and there were
large spots on his body and legs eaten by
the insects. When taken to the hospital
Jarvis told the doctors of the agony he
suffered as the insects swarmed over him
and the scornful looks of the passers-by
who thought he was drunk when he beg
ged for assistance.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
Lake Shining Increases.

Five big lake freighters which have
been idle since navigation opened went
into commission the other day The in
creased activity in ore shipping by the
United States Steel Company gives some
of the Independent boats a chance for
cargoes and the grain trade will begin in
few days. Vesselmen predict a busy
trade on the lakes.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
Switchmcn Vote to Strike.

The Lackawanna railway was on the
verge Of a general tie-up owing to the
proposed strike of the switchmen The
union of the latter voted to go out unless
two men discharged at Buffalo were rein
stated. The company had refused to re-
cede, saying that in a day they could get
more than enough men TO take the places
of the strikers from the ranks of the IN
eUDloyed
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
VIII Build Two Big steamers.

The Pittsburg Steamship Company has
placed an order with the American Ship
building Company for two 600-foot steel
freight steamers to cost 100000. The
boats are to be ready for next season.
They will be built at the Lorain ship
yard, which has been idle all summer.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03

Cooks. pastry cooks and chefs of Great
er New York. to the number of 800 and
upward. have formed a local union of the
Hotel and Restaurant Employees Inter
national Alliance The 5000 and odd
cooks of Greater New York work from
fourteen to sixteen hours day in the fall
and winter time, but during the summer
of
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
Boil weevil Damage Less,

The United States bureau of entomol-
ogy has just completed a special investi-
CATION to determine the present status of
the boil weevil. In this work entomolo-
gists have visited Texas, Louisiana, Okla
homa and Arkansas. The result indi-
Gates the damage by the weevil to be con-
siderably less this year than in 1907.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
Frees Rows for Spanking.

Or condition that the boys get sound
spanking United States Commissioner
Mitchell in st. Louis released Sam Boyer
slaw, 9 years old, and David Schwartz,
10, charged with passing counterfeit
money The parents promised Mr.. Mitch
ell that the order would be executed and
the prisoners were discharged.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
Shortage Is Suicide Cause.

Alonzo Walters, % years old, cashier
Of the Bank of Ellaville at Ellaville, Ga,
was found dead in the lavatory of the
Windsor hotel with bullet hole in his
forehead and pistol at his side. 1t is
said that an hour before a warrant had
been issued for his arrest for alleged dis
crepancies at the bank amounting to
about 81 600
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
Frost Nips Corn in Iowa.

Jack Frost made his first visit of the
season TO Iowa Sunday night. Early re-
ports indicate that in the lowlands of
Northern Iowa corn got more of a nip
ping than is good for the crop at his
time of the year, but the full extent of
the damage cannot be told at this time.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
Paper Trust Strike On.

The employees of the international Pa
per Company, or trust, which operates
mills in many places, were ordered out
recently as a protest against the reduc-
ton of the wages of some of the mem
bers of the union. Most of the 10000
workmen responded, and the mills were
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
Kills Neighbors; Cause Unknown.

Meeting Edward Ford, boss carpenter
for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company,
on the street in Bordentown, n. j., Jo-
seph Hoover shot and killed him. Ford
was shot four times The men were
neighbors and the motive for the deed is
not known. Hoover. who was arrested,
refuses to say anything.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
Rich RecIusc Is n Suicide

Herbert Fryer. an Englishman, re-
cluse and owner of a ranch of 5,731 acres.
was found dead at his ranch house near
Ventura, Cal, having died by his own
hand. Fryer had taken a large caliber
revolver and a rife, placed the muzzles
of both in his mouth and pulled the
triggers simultaneously.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
Arrested at His Home.

Fitzgerald was arrested at his home,
943 Chase avenue, on a warrant sworn
out before Judge Chetlain by Herbert
f. Young, head of the Young agency.
The detective manager acted under the
orders of Subtreasurer Boldenweck
when he made the arrest.
The arrest of the former teller took
on some of the spectacular. No warn
ing was given him until Detective Jo-
seph Kinder of States Attorney
Healys office and Detective Young
dashed up to the house in au automO-
bile. When the bell rang at his new
home early Sunday morning, the for
mer asserting teller responded in per-
son. The pressing of button had
flooded the porch with electric light
Fitzgerald opened the door and the de
tectives announced their mission.
Il know what you want" he said
'Never mind reading the warrant
81 prefer to read it." said one of the
detectives.
The prisoners wife appeared sud
denly and intuitively she grasped the
situation.
my God, they have got him. she
cried, the detectives say, and swooned
but soon recovered herself. Fitzgerald
was granted permission to kiss his chill
dren good-by, and was then taken to
the La Sale street offices of the Young
Detective Agency in an automobile
He was held in the offices Of the agen,
cy until o'clock in the morning, when
he was taken to the county Jail and
locked up.
1t is said that representatives of the
government secret service department
in Chicago are skepticaI and inclined tC
diScredit the evidence gathered by the
Young Agency, operatives of which
have trailed Fitzgerald for months
picion and was dismissed following the
failure of the government detectives tC
detect the thief, evidence against hin
strong enough to warrant his arrest
WAS never unedftIIeu ny Ihe 1eueIiI
authorities. Herbert f. Young. head OF
the agency which caused the arrest OF
Fitzgerald is confident. however, that
he has landed the man responsible fol
the theft. Mr.. Young has limited that
one of two prominent men suspected
of being accomplices in the gigantic
theft has made partial confession OF
his part in the crime.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
Sentiments of Candidates.

Mr.. Taft, answering Mr.. Bryan's chal-
lenge, shall the people rule?" declared
they rule now through the Republican
party. w. ]. Bryan opened his cam
paign with a big meeting at Dos Moines
and devoted his attention chiefly to the
tariff.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
SHONTS SAYS RAILROADS WAIT.
Will Make Few Improvements Unit.
They Know Election Results.


That the approaching election will have
much to do with the making or the MARI
ing of the railroad future was the gist of
a statement made by I. p. Shonts, presi-
dent of the Chicago and Alton and Clover
Leaf railroads and father of the Duchess
de Chaunes, who was in Chicago en-
route for a Homecoming celebration at
Centerville, Iowa. He refused to COM
NIT himself with regard to political pref
erence.
Railroad property is falling away be-
low the usual standard at which it is held
because of the uncertainty in the outlook.
The railroads of the country are not
spending a dollar for improvements. |
have not spent a dollar for such purpose
within a year nor bought nor laid a ton
of rails. The other day | bought 1000
steel cars for the Alton because they were
absolutely necessary. That is the only
reason that any railroad will spend a
penny at this time"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-03
Baron Won Sternburg Dead,

Baron Speck Won Sternburg, the Ger
man ambassador to the United States,
died in the Hotel Victoria in Heidel-
berg, Germany. The baroness, who was
Miss Lillian May Langham of Louisville,
Ky. was with her husband at the end.