davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily sentinel., 1909-02-16
WILL CONTRACT BE SIGNED
FOR THE CANAL TODAY

+ There was report this morn I
+ ing to the effect that Secretary )
i. Garfield had attached his sigma i
1. ture to the contract with the I
+ Grand Valley Water Users AS I
j. sociation for the High Line ca I
+ nal. /
+ The report has not been con- !:
+ firmed by the Associated Press 1
+ reports received by The Senti- I
+ mel from Washington. I
+ Up to a late hour this after (
+ noon the contract had not been I
+ signed. 1t may be signed late Z
+ today,-but it is not probable. I
= 4. l.. L. Z. 4. l.. q
The daily sentinel., 1909-02-16

Continued on page eighth
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-03

| Quotations given below are for large
lots Jobhers' prices are higher.
| EGGS-Nearby fresh Virginia. 30;
west Virginia and southwest virginia
| -; Tennessee, -.
BUTTER fancy. 31aSl y
western firsts. 30a31; seconds. 2SaS
Process. fancy, 26a27; fair to good. Iva
70 Store-packed. fresh. 16.
CHEESE. New York state factory
new. large; 1eal6h; .,
| OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES spring, per H.
| l6a1S; hens. per h., Is; ROSTERS, h.
g; keats, per h., 10: turkeys. hens, per
Id, aa22: turkeys. toms, per h.. 19a2o
ducks. per h., 11a12.
| DRESSED POULTRY.-Turkeys. lOa
81; hens. choice. per h.. 13a14: roosters
! per h.. 8; chickens, h.. 15a16: ducks
per h.. 14a15: capons. large. per h.
1920; eapons, SMALL per H.: 1'a ais III,
No. 1. 2.OOa2.5O: northern. per bu. 90a
| 100; potatoes No. .. per Dbl. LOCAL. 30;
sweet potatoes. Dbl. 2.25a:.73; vans
Dbl. 1.5oa2.oo; turnips. DO, 2oaSo; tur-
per Dbl, 1.ooa1.25: cucumbers. per bas-
ket. 3.00a5.OO; onions. per bbl.. 1.s5a22 Is;
| onions. per bu.. 90a1.O0; cabbages. pei
100. 4.OOa7OO; cabbages. per H., 2a2 X
brussels sprouts. per qt. 1Oa15; eGs.
crate. 2.0Oa2.25: snap beans. Fla. per
basket. 1.75a2.25; peas. Fla. per basket,
3.00a5.O0; spinach. Dbl, 1.7Ja2.OO; kale,
| per Dbl. 15a1OO; lettuce. Fla. per bas-
ket. 1.25a2.2 %: tomatoes. Fla, per crate
celery. per bunch. 25a1.10; okra. per
crate. 3.ooa4.oo; peppers. Fla. per
carrier, 3.OOa4OO; new beets. Dbl crate
2.5Oa3.OO; half bbl basket. 1.25a1.15.
3.50a5.5O: oranges, Fla, box. 1.5Oa2. 50;
lemons, box. 3.OOa3.75; grape fruit. per
crate. 1.50a3.OO; pineapples, per crate.
1:75a25o; cranberries. PEI Dbl. 13.Ooa
100: cranberries. per box: $.5Oa5 W:
berries. Fla, per quart. 20a30.
HAY AND STRAW. - Hay, western.
No. 1, 1i.5Oa15.OO; No. =, 13OOa13.Th;
mixed, 11.OOa13.OO. Straw, rye. bundle.
I7.0Oa1s.OO; rye. machine thresh, 11.OOa
straw. oat. per ton. S.OOa8.5O.
SEEDS.-Alsike, per bu.. 9.O0a9. 40;
clover. per bu.. 5.9Oa6.4O; timothy. ou.,
1.9Oa2OO
qu sAN small esr d per i sso
sum, each, 2Oa4O; squirrels, each, Gas.
LIVE STOCk.-Cattle. extra. per cwt..
6.5Oa6O0: medium. per cwt.. 4.ooa4,7 70
ordinary per cwt.. 2O0a3:OO. Hogs. per
SIT. gross 55 S, Sheep pc Per ~ H.:
medium. per h.. &. Calves, choice. per
H., Ska9; medium, per h.. 71aas
BEEF CUTS-Ribs. No. 1. per h., "a;
No. 2. IL; No. 5, 10. Rounds. No. 1. per
| TO-, ~; NO. :. u; No. 3, Z. Lo1ns, NO. !,
per H.. IA: No. ., II: No. 3. 10. chucxs.
No. 1. per lib. g; No. 2, Z: No. 3, 6.
DRESSED MEATS.-Pork, SMALL per
hundred. 500; medium, $50: heavy. 100.
WOOL AND HIDES.-Wool, washed,
free Of burrs, per h.. oSa30; wool. un-
washed, per h.. 23a25. Hides. green,
per h., IL; hides. dry. per h., 12a15;
| sheepskins, green. each. 75a1.25; calf
skins. green. each. 1.30a1.50: dry lint
hides. per h.. 12a14: dry sailed hid IS.
., 90 jv,lrS naA .
m pni s5aso: opossum mel i5a2o: srsy
fox. 4Oa1OO: skunk, 5Oa1.75: red OK.
o,OOa2.50: rabbit. L: raccoon. 4Oa1.O0.
GRAIN. - Wheat, per bu.. 1.00a1.05.
Corn. shelled, per bu., 6Sa72: per bbl
per bu.. 63aGS: mixed. 62a64. Bran, Par
ton, 2S.00a30.0O. Middling. per ton, 30. 90
a32.OO.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-03
SURGEON NASH TO Be TRIED
NAVAL COURT WILL MEET
HERE NEXT WEDNESDAY.
Charge Is Improper Medical Treat
ment Of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Couden to Preside.

Surgeon Francis Smith Nash of the
United States Navy has been detached
from duty as attending surgeon at the
Naval Academy, at Annapolis. and or
derel to his home in this city. He will
be tried by court-martial on charges
growing out of the medical treatment
which he administered to Midshipman
Harry w. Stephenson of Nebraska. Mid
shipman Stephenson was suffering from
granular eyelids and Surgeon Nash is
said to have treated them with nitrate of
silver, a powerful caustic. 1t IS charged
that Surgeon Nash used tod strong a
solution of nitrate of silver and burned
the midshipman's eyes. Stephenson was
removed from the Naval Academy to the
Episcopal Eye and Ear Hospital in this
city and treated by specialist. He
has been in the hospital for the last five
weeks.
An investigation was conducted, which
resulted in Surgeon Nash's relief from
duty at Annapolis. He is of the
senior surgeons Of the navy. and has the
rank of lieutenant commander. He en-
tered the Medical Corps In 1877 after
graduating from the University of Vir-
ginia. In 1880 he was on duty at the
Naval Hospital at the New York navy
yard. In 1891 he resigned from the navy,
but was reinstated in 1906 by act Of Con-
gress. From 1906 to 1907 he was sta
toned at the Naval Hospital at CanaCao.
=. 1. He had been on duty at the Naval
Academy since December TO- 1907. He is
a son of Judge Nash of Virginia.
president of the court-martial. and Capt.
John G. Muir. USING, retired, judge adj
vocate. The court will meet at the Wash
ington navy yard next Wednesday.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-03
GRAIN AND PROVISIONS.

CHICAGO, February 3.-Renewed profit
taking by several leading holders of wheat
caused moderate weakness here today,
following slight firmness at the opening
when prices were unchanged to 3.c higher
May opened at LOSE to LOSS, and sold of
to LOSS.
May corn opened a shade to 1sahc
higher, at 63A to $685., and for time held
within that range.
May oats opened unchanged to a shade
higher at 51& to 51%a517s. and sold at 51A.
Provisions a shade higher to sc lower.
Toward midday the wheat market made
a sudden squirt upward. owing to lively
competition by commission houses and
local shorts for the moderate offerings in
the strong cash situation in the south
west. May advanced to Ito. The mar
ket closed strong, with May up 1lsa1A at
1.O35sa1 .O3sa.
Additional corn strength developed later
in the day owing to the bulge in wheat,
May advancing to &c. The close was
strong, with May up 5saa at 637s.
Close: Wheat-AIay, 1.O95sa 1.U9s4; Sep
TENDER, 941aa946s; December, 95i4.
COrn-February. G03s: May, 631s; July,
631sa631s: September. 631a.
Oats-NIay. 521sa52A; July, 46%; Sep
TENDER, 3914a39ss.
Pork-May. 17.O5a17.O7k: July, 17.12la.
Lard-May, 3.671aa9. 10; July. $50.
Ribs-May S.95; July, 9.O71sa9.1O.
Rye-Cash. 76Is: May, 7Sa79.
Barley-Cash 61a67.
Timothy-March. 800
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-03
JOHN G1LMER SPEEDS SUICIDE
Author and Journalist Shoots Him
self in the Head.

MENDHAM, n. j., February 3.-John
Gilmer Speed, the author and Journalist,
committed suicide by shooting himself in
the head while in his bedroom st the
Phoenix House here yesterday afternoon.
He left no explanation of his act. lie
leaves a daughter, Mrs. Dudley Gray OF
Morristown.
John Gilmer Speed was born in Louis
VILE. Ky, September 81, 1858. He was
the son Of Philip and Emma (keats)
Speed. He was a graduate from the Uni
versity of Louisville in 1859. from which
university he secured the degree OF mas
ter Of arts and civil engineer.
States board of transportation at the cen
tenniaI exposition of 1876. He joined the
staff Of the New York World in 1877. and
was it's managing editor from 1917 TO 1885
Among his works were "a Fan River
Incident THE Gilmers in America. "A
ca" 1905 M-16." and a number of sim
liar works.
He was a contributor to Century, Har-
per's, Forum, North American Review.
McClure's. Ainslee's, Outlook and other
magazines.
John Gilmer Speed was closely related
to one Of Louisville's oldest and most dis
here, Mrs. Enos Tuley and Mrs. Harry
Macdonald. Another sister, Mrs. Rogers.
lives in Washington, D. c., and another
sister, Mrs. Connors, lives in Chicago. He
was a cousin of Charles B. Speed of the
Louisville Trust Company.
His father was Philip Speed and his
fathers brother. James Speed. was Attor-
ney General in President Lincoln's cab.
met On his mothers side he was related
to the poet Keats.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-03
PAROLE OF JUVENILES.
House Committee Reports Favorably
on jenkins Bill.

The House committee on the judiciary
today authorized a favorable report on
the bill introduced last Saturday by
Chairman Jenkins to provide for the pa
role of juvenile offenders committed to
the National Training School for Boys IN
the District Of Columbia.
The bill provides that every male
Juvenile offender who is now or may
hereafter be committed to the National
Training School for Boys. and who has
by his conduct given sufficient evidence
that he has reformed. may be released
on parole as hereinafter provided.
That if it shall appear to the satisfac-
ton of the board of trustees Of said
school that there Is reasonable proba-
bility that any boy detained in the
school. will, if conditionally released. re-
main at liberty without violating the
laws, then said board of trustees may In
it's discretion parole such boys. under
such condition and regulation as the
board of trustees may deem proper. pro-
vided that the parole of all such juvenile
offenders committed by court, other
than those of the District OF Columbia,
shall be subject to the approval Of the
attorney of the United States
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-03
COTTON MARKETS.

NEW YORK, February 3.-The cotton
market opened steady at decline of 4a5
points in response to lower cables than
due. but steadied right after the call on
moderate support from leading bulls, COW
ering and southern buying. Prices ruled
about unchanged to 1 point higher during
the middle of the morning. but business
remained quiet. The light estimate for
Houston was attributed by some to recent
bad weather.
Futures opened steady. March. 96:
May, 90; July. 9.46; August, 935 bid !;
October. 926; December. 3.19 bid; Janu-
The market continued steady late in the
forenoon, with prices at midday about
net unchanged to l point higher. bet
ter inquiry is reported from New England
mills.
Spot quiet: middling upands. $50; mid
ding gulf. 1915.
Estimated receipts at the ports today.
1900 bales, against As. 744 last week and
42,T79 last year. For the week go 900
bales. against 2I7.05 last week and 211.-
030 last year. Today's receipts at New
Orleans. 1O.596 bales. against II $50 last
year, and at Houston 1859 bales, against
3,1V last year.
Spot quiet: middling uplands, go;
middling gulf. 1915; sales. none
Liverpool Cotton Prices.
LIVERPOOL, February 3.-CloSing
Cotton-Spot dull; prices unchanged to s
points lower: American middling, fair,
SIC; good middling. $40: middling, go:
low middling, 500; good ordinary. 4.5S;
ordinary. AIS.
The sales of the day were $500 bales of
which 200 were for speculation and ex-
port. and included 800 American. Re
ceipts. 81 900 bales. including 1900 Amer
lean.
Futures opened steady and closed quiet
and steady. February. 5.OS11: February
March, sos: March-Aprl. sos: April
May, sos: May-June 5.O6: June-July,
500; July-August. 500: August-Septem-
Der, 4.8sha; September October. 4.95: Oc-
tober-November 4.91h: November Decem-
Der. 4.S9ia: December January ASST !;
January-February 4.S7h.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-03
FOX AND A VIXEN.
Follower of Hounds Tells Story Of
Animal Devotion.

From Country Life.
1 had attended the meet of the Surrey
Union foxhounds at Burford Bridge
Hotel at IL am. (on Boxing day.. and
after following them until 1918 started
to cycle home for lunch. When some two
miles from Ranmore Church 1 struck a
small road leading toward Effingham viii
lage, and at once decided to ride that
way. in the hope Of seeing hounds again.
This narrow road winds through a small
wood. upon entering which I heard view
halloos and hounds in full cry some dis
lance to windward. l determined to wait
here, as the spot seemed likely one,
and propping my machine against a tree
took careful cover.
After some few minutes stealthy
movement in the leafy woodland drew
my attention, and within five yards Of
me there passed a dog fox. evidently
hunted and dead tired. He paused in the
roadway some fifteen yards in front Of
where I stood, when, to my establishment,
lie was joined by a vixen. apparently
quite fresh.
They trotted on up the pathway for
twenty yards side by side. looking for
all the world as If they were holding a
whispered conversation, when to my sur
prise the vixen turned back deliberately
in their tracks for about fifteen yards,
crossing and recrossing, in order, / sup
pose. to make the scent as strong as pos
sible on her own line. She then returned
to where she had left her husband Il
presume he must have been her husband,
as there seemed to be such a perfect I'M
Outstanding between them), and on reach
ing that point made off in the opposite
direction.
1 eagerly waited for the hounds to come
up, which they did in a few minutes.
Three Of them seemed doubtful, but after
a momentary pause appeared convinced
that the new trail was the right one, and
all departed after the lady with fresh
zest and much music. ] fancy this must
have been most satisfactory to poor,
weary Reynard. who was still within my
sight, creeping stiffiy down the adjoining
hedgerow. 1 wondered what would be
the fate Of the devoted vixen. and could
not help hoping she would escape. in
which case I would have given much to
see the reunion.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-03
The World of Finance and Trade
Washington; New York; London
LOCAL FINANCIAL NEWS.

The Potomac Electric Light Company s
consolidated IS, sometimes termed Sec
onds, and which have just been listed.
| were called for the first time at the meet
ing Of the exchange today. 1t was stated
the amount Of these bonds listed was s..
Al 600. The bid for them was 1Ol and
the asking price 1O211. but there were no
sales.
The other class Of bonds Of this COM
pany, which pay the same interest. are
known as firsts, and have been listed for
some time They are dealt in on the basis
OF los bid and 1O611 asked. The company.
as is well known, is owned by the WASH
ington Railway and Electric Company,
and supplies not only the electric power
for operating that railway system. but
also supplies the public and private cleo
trio lighting of the city.
The traction stocks did not occupy
much attention and, with the exception of
Railway and Electric Company. there was
not much done in any OF them. The for
mer was dealt in about on the same basis
as that of yesterday namely. SSas, ana
one ffty-share lot sold for 50. At the
close the asking price was - and the bid
q quarter of point less.
An advance was made In the bid for
the stock of the Capital Traction Com
pany which brought 1t up from 1924 of
yesterday to 1888. while the asking price
In connection with the tendency Of the
past few days indicates to market OBJ
servers that Capital Traction stock Is get
ting ready to go to higher levels At 135
orally claimed for this stock that its
proper place on the market Is per cent
basis. which Is $50.
4, 90
certificates sold for 1914. and then the bid
for the security was 1O7 and the asking
price 100, which are about the recent pre-
vailing rates for these bonds. The per
cent bonds of the company, which is a
limited issue, are seldom dealt in, as but
few come on the market. The figures
for the bonds, however, do not change
very much, and today 100 was bid and
1O5 asked. as has been the case for some
time.
Today bid OF 107ls was made for s1o-
600 of certificates, but such lot was not
offered.
Nothing was done in gas stock except
the principal trader bid SO for loo
shares, but nothing resembling such lot
was offered. The bid for the stock, or
twenty-five shares, was 69A and the ask
ing price was 20. The figures yesterday
were 69as and 69la.
The bank stock list has fallen again into
the inactive class, where 1t may usually
be found. 1t recently came out into some
activity owing to the changes made in
the personnel Of some of the banks. The
only transaction in this class of stocks
today was the sale of ten shares Of Met
ropolitan Bank stock for 219 The bid
was then 21S and the asking price 2191s.
which are the same as those recorded
yesterday.
The annual report of the business OF the
year ended in December last of the Bell
Telephone Company of Pennsylvania,
which has just been made to the stock
holders, shows that out Of total earn
ings Of over $11. 600, 900, the balance which
was added to the surplus was $IS7 1891,
making the latter So, 27S, 956.
The capital stock is given as Sal, $50 900
and the bonds So, O03, 600.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-03
WORLDS BIGGEST BANK.
Plans to Merge National City and
Bank of Commerce.

NEW YORK. February at was
learned this afternoon that plans are ap-
preaching completion for the merger Ct
the National City Bank and the National
Bank Of Commerce. with a combined cap
ital and surplus Of O0.OOO,OOO and de-
posts of about $500. 600 900. making it by
far the biggest bank in the world.
The consolidation, 1t Is said, will be
very easily carried out. The National
City Bank has nearly $4,000. 600 more
surplus than the Bank Of Commerce. SO
that all that will be necessary to do will
be for the National City Bank to declare
for the amount, and then the stock In
the new bank would be exchangeable
dollar per share for share for the stock
of the two consolidated banks.
1t is said that Frank A. Vanderlip. now
president of the National City Bank, will
become president of the merged institu-
ton Valentine P. Snyder is president of
the Bank Of Commerce. and 1t Is pre-
sumed he will have a high position in the
new bank.
The National City Bank has a capital
Of $25 GOO. 600 and a surplus Of $21 $3.50
Its deposits are In excess OF $2GO,OOO,ODO.
So. 100000. a surplus of S13,250.OOO and
deposits Of about $2O0.0OO.000.
The National City is what is known as
a Standard Oil Bank. while the Morgan
and Kuhn-Loeb interests dictate the pol
icy Of the Bank of Commerce. Kuhn.
Loeb & Co. are also influential In the
City Bank
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-03
ELEVEN JURORS ARE OBTAINED
OVER 200 TALESMEN REMAIN
FROM THE FOURTH VENIRE.
Resumption of the Carmack Murder
Trial-Whitworth Case Yet
Undecided.

NASHVILLE. Tenn, February 3-With
the fourth venire Of 500 talesmen half
exhausted, the trial of Col. Duncan b.
Cooper Robin ]. Cooper and John d.
Sharp. charged with the staying of former
Senator E. w. Carmack, was resumed
today. OF the talesmen yet to be ex-
amined nearly 60 per cent are farmers.
and upon this condition is based the
hope that the jury may be completed.
AS soon as the venire is exhausted the
case against Juror Whitworth will be
taken up and decided.
A few minutes after court opened J. A.
Woodruff was selected as juror No 10.
Woodruff was not examined by the de-
Tense. He testified on questions by the
state that he had read nothing about
the case and merely knew Carmack had
been killed. He sad he was a friend OF
John Sharp, but would consider only the
law and the evidence.
Jacob Frutiger, another talesman, came
to this country from Switzerland when
eleven years old. He had never been
naturalized. but his father had. He was
accepted by both sides as juror No IL.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-03
LEWIS Is REELECTED.
Chosen President Of the United
Mine Workers.

INDIANAPOLIS. February 3.-Thomas
l.. Lewis Of Bridgeport. Ohio. today was
reelected president Of the United Mine
Workers Of the United States and Canada
by a majority. Of more than $4,000 votes
over his opponent, John II. Walker, dis
trict president Of Illinois.
The report Of the tellers of the ballots
cast in the election of last December
was made to the convention today.
Before the delegates began to mark
their ballots w. D. Van Horn, president
Of the Indiana district. withdrew in spite
Of cries of mo, no." as candidate for
vice president Of the national body. He
had received more than $4,000 more votes
than his nearest rival, John T. Dempsey
Of Scranton, Pa, but withdrew, he said,
because of the action of this convention
in deciding against us in our controversy
with the national officers"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-03
ARcHDEAcoNRY IN SESSION.
Bishop Harding Attends Meeting at
Trinity Church.

A session Of the archdeaconry Of Wash
ington began in Trinity Episcopal Church,
Sd and C streets northwest, this after
noon at 2 o'clock. Bishop Harding was
In attendance.
The archdeacon of Washington is Rev.
Richard P. Williams. rector Of Trinity
Church. The secretary Of the organiza-
ton is Rev. H. Allen Griffith, chaplain of
the Soldiers Home.
The business before the session is the
discussion of certain special work Of the
Protestant Episcopal Church in the Dis
trict of Columbia.
The archdeaconry membership includes
about forty rectors of local churches and
as many members of the laity.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-03
American Tobacco Dividend.

NEW YORK, February "a quarterly
dividend of 21a per cent and an extra
dividend OF ) per cent on its common
stock was declared today by the Aneri-
can Tobacco Company. a year ago. be-
sides a quarterly dividend Of y. per cent,
an extra dividend of 21e per cent was de-
clared The extra dividends three months
ago and six months ago were IA per cent
and nine months ago per cent extra
was declared.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-03
BALTIMORE GRAIN.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BALTIMORE. Md, February 3.--WHEAT-
Strong; spot contract. 1.O8A al .0s7s: spot No. 2
red western 1.lOa1 10Y; February. 1.o3s II 087s
March. l.lOAa1 1917: May, liz: steamer No.
red. 1.06+4 al.o7 receipts. 4,272 bushels; south
ern on grade .O6a1 90.
CORN-Firmer; spot contract, GI12a67k; Feb
ruary 07l,a07M: March, 67Isa6S: May, 10:
steamer mixed 65laa65ss; receipts 60.555 bush
els exports %. ia bushels; southern white corn.
6Sa70; southern yellow corn. 65a67.
OATS-Firm; No. 2 white. 55laa58; No. =
white. 541aa55h; No. mixed, 54a541a: receipts,
L. 100 bushels.
RYE-steady: No. 2 western export. s2A asked.
HAY-Dull.
GRAIN FREIGHTS-Very quiet.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-03
SPRINGS A SURPRISE.
Government Makes Move in Mosco-
gee Town Lot Fraud Case.

MUSCOGEE, Okla, February 3.-The
government sprang surprise In the
Muscogee townlot fraud investigation here
today when it was announced that the
probing of the grand jury would be ex-
tended to include alleged frauds in sched-
uling individual blocks"
Many persons built temporary fences
around whole blocks of land and claimed
ownership. on the ground that those i'm
provements secured deeds to the prop
erty. 1t had been supposed that the in
vestigation would not take so wide a
scope, but would be confined to the Sc
curing illegally of town lots.