davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-03-25
CHICAGO

Trade returns reflect the impetus of
wider preparations for the spring ac-
tivity. Bank clearings continue to show
encouraging gains. and the commercial
mortality includes a decreased number
of large failures. Tariff revision may
cause some temporary hesitation among
manufacturers. but proposed changes
are not regarded as severely drastic,
and an early disposal of the bill is de-
Sirable. Larger forces now find en-
ployment in iron production, and the
starting up of outdoor work has great
ly reduced ranks of the idle. Notable
Improvement in current demands APP
pear in steel. raw materials and gen.
eral merchandise.
Building operations make seasonable
expansion. and there is stronger de
mand for lumber. planning mill outputs
and quarry products. Contracts for
structural shapes add to the accumula-
ton of work at the mills and FORCES,
but pig iron for future delivery vet
sells slowly at weak prices.
The money market continues favor
able to borrowers and this stimulates
new enterprise and investment. Dis
tributive operations have been adj
vanced in the leading wholesale
branches. Fashionable retail lines are
unusually attractive, and nearby buy
ers appear in satisfactory numbers in
the markets for prompt forwarding of
dry goods. footwear. clothing and food
stuffs Mail orders for fall and winter
staples show increase, and advices are
good as to the growth of winter wheat
and agricultural prospects generally.
Failures reported in the Chicago dis
trict number twenty-eight. against eigh-
teen last week, thirty-two in 1908 and
twenty in 1907 Those with liabilities
over 5000 number six, against six last
week. ten in 1908 and six in 1907
Dun's Review of Trade.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-03-25
HUGE COUP IN COFFEE.
one-Third of Worlds Supply of
Beverage in New York.

Nearly one-third of all the coffee IN
the world is in New York to-day. The
vast warehouses that line the harbor's
edge are damned high with millions of
bags-hundreds of thousands of tons.
A dozen great steamers, coffee laden
to the Piimsoll mark, are blowing their
way northward through the 5000 miles
of dark ocean that stretches between
the coffee coast of BraZil-away south
of the line" at the other side of the
world-and Sandy Hook.
At Rio and Santos half dozen more
steamers are loading hurriedly with
coffee for New York. In Hayre and
Hamburg and Antwerp, too, there is
great activity along the coffee docks
and in the huge warehouses where the
worlds reserve supply of Americas IA
vorite breakfast beverage is stored.
Everything is being got in readiness
70 fill ship after ship and send them
hurrying across the Atlantic to New
York with still more coffee.
All this is because of the belief
the great coffee gamblers of the world
that the United States Congress will
put tax on this fragrant berry that
hitherto has entered this country free
of duty. Millions of dollars tremble in
the balance on the outcome. There are
nearly 100000 bags of coffee in stor-
age in New York and on the sea bound
hither. If duty Of 4 cents pound
is decided upon it is quite possible that
the quality will be increased to 1900
900 bags. A bag of coffee weighs 49,
pounds. Seven and a half million bags
would weigh nearly billion pounds
900 100000 to be exact, or $4,000 tons.
The saving in duty on this tremendous
amount of coffee, if it were all landed
here before the new tariff went into
effect, would be $39,600,0O0.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-03-25
| TAFT ASKS CONGRESS
TO REVISE REVENUES
IMMEDIATE ACTION IS URGED.
Says Business Interests of Country
Demand Settlement OF Nations
Import Schedules.

President William II. Taft on Tues
day presented to Congress his eagerly
awaited message calling for revision
of the tariff. Both the House and the
Senate were surprised by the breyity
of the document, which comprises less
than $50 words; they regard it as a
welcome change from the long mes
sages of previous executives. The Pres
Ident explained in the message that
Congress must change the duties to fit
changed business conditions, and sug-
geSted that the work be ACCOMPLISHED
at once. AS his position on the subject
was well known he, considered it use
less to state it again. Following is the
full text of the message:
To the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives:
| have convened Congress in this ex-
ira session in order to enable it to give
immediate consideration to the revision of
the Dingley tariff act.
Conditions affecting production. manu-
facture and business generally have so
changed in the hast twelve years as to re-
quire a REIMBURSEMENT and revision of the
import duties imposed by that act.
More than this, the present tariff act.
with the other sources of government rev.
enue, do not furnish income enough TO
pay the authorized expeno. sures. BY July
L next the excess of expenses over re-
ceiptS for the current fiscal year will equal
S100000.000.
The successful party in the late cleo
ton is pledged to revision of tn> tariff.
The country. and the business commun-
ity especially, expect it.
The prospect of a change in the rates
of import duties always causes a suspen-
sion or halt in business because of the
uncertainty as to changes TO be made and
| their effect 1t is therefore of the highest
| importance that the new bill should be
agreed upon and passed with as much
speed as possible consistent with It's due
and thorough consideration.
In my inaugural address / stated in a
| summary way the principles upon which,
| in my Judgment the revision Of the tariff
| should proceed. and indicated at least one
| new source of revenue that might be
| properly resorted to in order to avoid a
| future deficit 1t is not necessary for
me to repeat what / then said.
| venture to suggest that the vital bust
ness interests of the country require that
| the attention of he Congress in this SEES
sion be chiefly devoted to the considera'
ton of the new tariff bill, ard that the
less time given to other subjects of legis
lation in this session. the better for the
country. WILLIAM H. TAFT.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-03-25

The British authorities at Calcutta
have continued to seize important native
newspapers which support the National
list movement.
The treaty settling our differences with
Columbia over Panama, has been approx
ed by President Reyes and is before the
Columbian congress
The officers of the American supply
ship, Celtic, and the gunboat, Scorpion,
made an excursion to Mount Vesuvius as
the guests of the municipality of Naples
During the ensuing session of the Man
itoba Legislature the government will be
severely questioned regarding the prom
ised reduction in telephone rates, which
have not yet been announced despite the
fact that the province took over all the
Bell lines in the province more than a
year ago. The liberals claim that, owing
TO the fact that the system has made q
profit for the year of $500, 900, the prom
ised reductions in rates should be made
Russian diplomacy appears to have
solved the Balkan problem, so far as il
involves Bulgaria and Turkey, by OFFERING
to remit to Turkey the annual payment
of S1.6O0,OOO which under the Berlin
treaty was to be paid to Russia for 100
years until the claim of Turkey against
Bulgaria shall be satisfied. namely, S24..
OOO, 600 Russia in turn will collect that
amount from Bulgaria in smaller pay.
ments on easier terms, Both sides have
assented to that plan.
Queen Helena, of Italy, has decided te
undertake with her own private funds
the reconstruction of a town on the out
skirts of Messina, the actual location r.
be on the hill where the lighthouse stood
The new community will start with ] OO(
inhabitants.
A committee of the French Senate hs,
drawn up bill to establish g system o.
old age and invalid pensions and insur
ance. which goes far beyond the recent,
adopted British system of age pensions
1t reduces the age limit to 90 instead O
20 years. and Incorporates many of tn.
features of the German labor insuranc,
laws.
Emperor Nicholas of Russia came f,
st. Petersburg to entertain King Ferdi
nand of Bulgaria at the Winter Palace
Although the visit of the latter was saif
TO be nonpolitical, it is believed that til,
meeting of the two monarchs means tn,
de facto recognition by Russia of Bulgar
ian independence
President Gomez has asked the Cuba,
Congress TO appropriate S1,023, 344 t.
equip at once an army of 10000 soldier
to be organized under one head, an in
lspector general who will be under the i'm
| mediate orders of the president. Fl,
points out that this need did not exis
while the American soldiers were il
Cuba, but that it is very imperative now
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-03-25
STEAL BOY; DEMAND $4,000.
Unknown Men Kidnap Pennsylvania
Attorneys Son from School.


Attorneys Son from School.
William Whitla, the S-year-old son
of James p. Whitla, well-known at
torney and former Republican candi-
date for Congress, was kidnapped
from school in Sharon. Pa, by two
men Thursday and later his parents
received letter demanding ransom
of $4,000.
About $50 O'Clock in the morning
two men drove up to the school i'll a
buggy and told the janitor that Will
lam Whitla was wanted at his ia
theirs Office Immediately. The boy was
taken away in the buggy and that
was the last seen of him.
Mr.. Whitla was in New Whining
ton on business. When the boy failed
to return at noon, Mrs. Whitla went
to the school and there learned that
the boy had been taken away by two
men. About l O'Clock in the afternoon
the postman stopped at the Whitla
home and left a letter addressed to
the boys father. Mrs. Whitla open
$4,000 ransom. The letter instructed
Mr.. Whitla TO advertise where the
money could be secured. Mr. Whitla
is a brother-in-law of f. Ii. Bull, the
millionaire iron manufacturer. The
kidnappers are said to be Italians.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-03-25
RIVAL TO STEEL TRUST.
Combine with $500, ooo, 900 Capital
Will Be Formed by Independents.

The great steel trust is TO have a
rival, also trust, giant with assets
of approximately SS00.00o.000. The
new combination. of which John ".
Gates is reputed to be the leader, will
include twelve or more independent
steel concerns that are now. consider
ed separately, thoFns in the flesh of
the so-called billion-dollar steel trust,
known corporately as the United
States Steel Corporation. Other plants
will come into the opposition, but the
dominant concerns, under the plan as
it stands at present. will be these and
one other still more important: Jones
and Laughlin Steel Company, Ltd,
Lackawanna Steel Company, Cam
bridge Steel Company, Pennsylvania
Steel Company, Pittsburg Steel Com
pany. Midland Steel Company. Midyale
Steel Company. Inland Steel Company,
Maryland Steel Company. Republic
Iron and Steel Company, Bethlehem
Steel Company, Youngstown Sheet and
Tube Company.
itiIIlItllINlil VI AAiS "a an S7NA-ANi
for the new combine appears to depend
upon whether w. 7. Snyder. head Of
the big Shenango Furnace Company,
the man who controls the Independent
pig iron interests Of the country, joins
the movement. Mr.. Snyder is said to
be more than agreeable to the creation
of combination to battle for suprem-
| acy in the steel world, but as his hold
| ings are so great in the iron ore terri
| tory his demands in the partnership
agreement in Pittsburg caused the 9th
ers to hesitate 1t is not felt that they
can be granted at this time
| The independents are on the eve of
acquiring extensive holdings in the
| iron ore territory but the trust is
working to prevent the acquisition Of
| the new sources of supply. If the in
| dependents obtain the proposed areas
| Mr.. Snyder may not enter the com
bine. remaining. nevertheless, most
| important seller of ore to it.
| The present plan is that Mr.. Snyder
| shall be the president of the independ-
| ent combine. He has steadfastly de-
| clined all overtures to go into the
| United States Steel Corporation.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-03-25
OF TAX BILL AND
RESULTS 1T MAY ACCOMPLISH.

Total estimated revenue under new bill,
S3OO,0OO,OOO.
Expected increase in revenue under bill,
$40, 000,0 900 or $50,000000
Inheritance tax law is urged.
With normal years business treasury
deficit will be wiped out.
Panama bonds provided to reimburse
treasury for $40,000,000 paid in Panama
canal purchase.
Issue of certificates provided to replenish
treasury, raising amount from 500, 900, 900
to $3.50 100000
Increases on watches perfumeries, toilet
articles, fancy soaps.
Cocoa, crude transferred from free to
dutiable list; manufactured product in
creased; spices now largely free list
Duties increased on peas, figs, lemons and
pineapples.
Slight advance in cotton schedule rates.
Free wood pulp provided conditionally. Re-
duction in duty on print paer.
Many reductions made on chemicals.
Glass, unpublished, cylinder, crown and
common window glass reduced.
Gypsum, fire brick or glazed brick re-
duced. Building and monumental stone re-
duced.
Steel ingots, cogged ingots, blooms and
slabs. reduced. Iron ore and basic Stag free.
Pig iron, scrap iron and steel, bar iron,
round iron. charcoal iron. beams, girders,
joists. angles, etc, iron and steel forgings,
all reduced. Railway bars and steel rails,
cotton ties, iron steel sheets, reduced.
Tin plates reduced. Boiler tubes reduced.
Table, butchering and carving cutlery re-
duced. Nails, spikes, tacks, nuts and wash
ers reduced.
Steam engines. cash registers, typesetting
machines, printing presses and other ma
chfnery reduced
Heavy reductions in timber and lumber
rates.
Duties lowered on fresh meat, bacon, hams
and certain other foodstuffs
Duties on wool of third class reduced.
Bituminous coal and coke on reciprocal
free list.
Cattle hides on free list
Large reductions in rates ON leather and
boots and shoes.
Agricultural implements reduced
Works of art free. Women's and chill
dren'S gloves increased.
Cast polished plate glass increased.
Cigarette internal revenue tax Increased.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-03-25
FATHER AND SON HELD.
Arrest of Counterfeiters Is Caused by
Young Woman Cashier.

Six miles across the sand dunes
from Gary, Ind, counterfeiters' den
has been uncovered by Federal secret
service operatives. The raid resulted
in the seizure of a complete counter
feiters' outfit at the home of Ford
FREEDOM and his son, James FREEDOM.
who are under arrest. The FREEDOM
home is a short distance from the home
of Adam Racke who is known in secret
service circles as the wizard of the
counterfeiters."
Although two molds were found in
the cellar of Racke's home, and it was
reported that he had taught the trade
to the Freedoms, he was not arrested.
He is 6S years old, and has served five
prison terms for counterfeiting. His
home is in Horsford's Park. and he is
the nearest neighbor of the Freedoms.
In spite of Racke's past record and
his many terms behind prison bars,
Captain Thomas I. Porter, head of the
Federal secret service at Chicago, ex-
pressed implicit faith in the professed
reform of the wizard"
The arrest of Ford and James Pre-
dom was due to Miss Mary O'Brien,
cashier at the Thirty-fifth street sta
ton of the South Side Elevated Rail-
road. Chicago. 1t is asserted that they
tried to pass a counterfeit half-dollar
at her station. She refused it and tele-
phoned the Stanton avenue police. De-
tective Thomas Mulcahy was sent out
to find the two men and arrested them.
The secret service operatives were
of the Freedoms in Hosford Park. The
| raid resulted in the discovery and seiz-
| ure of mOlds and a lathe, which is be-
| lieved to have been used in milling the
SDuriOuS coins
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-03-25
FLOOD SWEEPS TOWN.
Two Killed and Several Hurt by
Bursting Of Reservoirs.

Three persons were killed. three 9TH
more slightly hurt. while ten Or more
hoases were completely wrecked and
forty more badly damaged when the
two large water tanks supplying the
city of Parkersburg. w Va. with wa
ter burst early Friday. As two explo-
Sions We're heard just before the col
lapse of the huge water towers, it is
believed they We're blown up with dy-
Mantle by some miscreant.
The dead are: Mr.. and Mrs Walter
Maggie and small child. The bodies
We're found in the ruins of their home.
The seriously injured are: Mrs. John
Maloney. both legs broken, hurt inter
nally: probably will die. Mrs. Kate
Harness. invalid, badly bruised and
shocked; may die. Clara Jones, color
ed. hurt internally: probably viii die.
The towers burst at $50 Il. m. and
the immense stream of water rushed
down Prospect hill. sweeping every
thing before it, Houses were swept
into the street and the residents were
knocked from their beds. All the mem
bers of one family, while sleeping in
an upstairs room, were carried down
a street seventy-five yards, their house
being split almost into splinterS, yet
all escaped injury except one girl,
whose collar bone was broken. The
two huge tanks contained the entire
city supply of water and a water fam
inc is now imminent.
The damage will amount to between
100000 and S250,OOO The st. Johns
Lutheran Church was almost complete
~ demolished, but through its sacrifice
many lives were spared and much
more damage prevented, as it was di-
rectly in the path of the water.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-03-25
NEW YORK.

The introduction of the new tariff
in Congress and the advance of the
spring iobbing season toward its close
have made for rather quieter tone
in trade this week. 4 fair business is
doing in nearly all lines, and the turn
over is in excess of year ago at this
date, but conservatism rules.
Spring jobbing activity has passed
its zenith. buying is only to cover inn
mediate necessities, the results of
Easter trade at retail are awaited with
interest, collections are only fair, and
the volume of business done this spring
so far is, in some respects. disappoint-
ing.
Jobbing trade seems to have quoted
down at a number of markets East and
West: Chicago. st. Louis and Kansas
City in the West, and New York. Phil
adelphia, Baltimore and Boston, in the
East, reporting some reduction in de
mand, partly eXplainable by the adj
vance of the season and the return OF
buyers to their homes
ITlce TeuuctionS III IRON ana steer
have brought out some new business
but unsettlement still rules. Pig iron
stocks are accommodating and prices are
weak. The same is largely true Of 9th
er metals. Additional reports of wage
reductions come from iron and steel
interests. In the cotton goods lire the
spring rash is over
Business failures in the United
States for the week ending with March
IS were 224 against 254 last week 3O3
in the like week of 1908. 1877 in 1907.
10 in 1906 and 2O4 in 1905
Business failures in Canada for the
week number thirty-two, which COM
pareS with forty last week and thirty
nine in the same week last year
BradStreet'S.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-03-25
ANTHRACITE MINES MAY CLOSE
officer Says Operators Have Supply
and VIII Strike First.


and VIII Strike First.
Rumors are taking definite form tha-
the anthracite operators will shut down
their collieries April l unless the miners
come to an agreement with them before
that time. A shutdown, a strike or a
continuance of the present working agree
ment for three years is the only possible
solution, according TO prominent opera
tors. George F. Baer, president of the
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, did
not come to New York the other day, as
his been his custom, to confer with presi-
dents of other anthracite roads. Wheth-
er any significance may be attached to
this or not an officer of a big wholesale
coal firm, who speaks with authority,
summed up the situation in these words ::
Il know positively that there VIII be a
lockout if there is not strike on April
/ unless there is settlement in the mean
time. There is so much coal on the
ground the operators are not going to
allow the union to take its own time TO
strike a t1ow. but will strike fist"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-03-25
TRAIN CRASHES INTO ROOM.
Six Persons Are Killed in Wind
sor Station, Montreal.

Six Persons Are Killed in Wind
sor Station, Montreal.
Six persons were killed and several
were injured when a locomotive attached
to a Boston and Maine train crashed
through the walls of the women's wait
ing-room at the Windsor station, in Mon
treal. The train, which was made up OF
a locomotive, a baggage car and three
coaches, carried few passengers, or the ac-
cident might have been much more seri-
Gus. When passing Highland station, a
few miles from Montreal, a plug blew out
of the engine, and the engineer was
thrown from his cab. The fireman tried
to stop the train, but found the brakes
would not work. Arriving at the Wind
sor station, the engine plunged through
several barriers and brick wall, enter
ing the waitingroom and crashing
through the floor. The fireman was pinned
beneath the wreck and killed. A man at
work in the room below the waiting-room
also was killed. Another victim was a
little girl who was sitting in the station
waiting for a train.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-03-25
CARUSO IN BREAKDOWN.
Great Tenor Faces Permanent Re.
tiremeut-NocaI Chords Relaxed,

1t is announced that Enrico Caruso
will not appear in any of the operas at
the Metropolitan. in New York, Tor some
DAYS. 1t is thought advisable 10 let the
great tenor have a complete rest. This
is all the official announcement contained.
but friends of Caruso declare he is suffer
ing from relaxed vocal chords and that it
is not only doubtful if he will sing in
public again this season. but entirely pos
sible that he may have to retire per-na-
nentlV.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-03-25

Texas Man Says Victim COMMENTED
to His Execution.

Fred Morris, in Jail in Fort Worth,
Texas, admits that he deliberately shot
and killed Otto H. Meyer, his former
friend. He declares that Meyer knew
his death sentence had been pronounced
and that he unf1inchingly accepted his
fate. The shooting followed a confession
written and signed by Meyer, that he had
won the love of Mrs. Morris, and the
avenger will rely on the unwritten law to
free him of the charge of murder He
said that as he prepared to shoot Meyer
barred his breast and spread his arms out
to offer A fair mark begging his execu-
toner to take careful aim and be cer-
tain of hitting the heart.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-03-25
WANTS FATHER IN PRISON.
Chicago Boy and Mother Say They
viii Help Send Marks There.

Mrs Emma Marks, first wife of Solo
mon Marks, and their son, Samuel e.
Marks 1918 Stewart avenue, Chicago, ar
rived in st. Joseph, Mo-, the other day
and made affidavits pertaining to domestic
complications of the former manager of
Joseph, Des Moines and Omaha, an al
legged get-rich-quick concern suppressed
by the government. Marks refused at
first to meet his son and wife at the Jail
Office on grounds that the son had threat
ened to shoot him. He finally talked
with them through the bars. and begged
their aid in keeping him out of the peni-
tertiary They said they would help
send him there.