The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-28


work out. Is extremely distasteful TO
the clerks. Those who would scorn to
fich few minutes from their gov
eminent, resent the implied criticism
OF their honesty Of purpose. Those
who have used many entrances TO
their advantage, are peeved because
they see a good thing taken from
them.
And then there is another objection
able feature to the plan. according TO
the viewpoints Of tn, clerks. IL will
soon be necessary for many OF them
TO walk a block farther than has here
tofore been necessary In order 10 get
into the building, and from the same
entrance back again In order TO get TO
their desks.
Six Disasters Coming?
Six big disasters will occur In the
United States in 1911 This is not the
pre- iiction of an astrologer, but the
American Red Cross society.
Experience has taught the Red
Cross TO expect an average OF five or
six big disasters in this country each
year. 1t does not undertake TO say
when or where they will occur, or
whether they will be caused by storm.
fire, food, earthquake or explosion,
but 1t Is sure they will come.
Experience proves not only that an
average Of five or six disasters. severe
enough to call aid from the Red Cross,
may be expected every year in the
United States, but the demands from
foreign countries are predicted to be
much more numerous.
Some idea of the character and
variety OF the disasters with which
the Red Cross deals is given In the
review OF those which demanded at
tention during the last IL months.
They include in the United States
One hurricane, one mine fire, two mine
explosions and forest fires in Idaho,
Montana, Oregon. Washington and
Minnesota. Foreign calamities demand
ing from the Red Cross included:
Floods in Mexico, France. Servia and
Japan; the Armenian massacres; the
earthquake in Costa RIGA and the re-
lief OF the starving soldiers Of
Nicaragua
In the disasters which occurred In
the United States 500 lives were lost,
while. approximately 1900 persons
We're given immediate attention. About
5000 persons lost their homes by fire
or hurricane. The Red Cross expend-
ed $4,000 for relief operations in the
United States and In foreign coun-
tries 500 500 was spent, making q
total OF $262,500. Other relief funds
expended in this country in conjunc-
ton with those OF the Red Cross
amounted to s2lS,000, making the
grand total of relief OF expenditures
for the year under Red Cross leader
ship s4S0.000
Dutch Fight Oil Trust
A fearless band of Dutch oil pro-
ducers have made plans to fight the
Standard Oil Co., In its own field,
right iere in the markets Of the u. s.
A. TINS startling development in the
commercial world is told In a report
from Consul-General Dubois, at Singa-
pore, in which he says
The Royal Dutch Shell group has
entered into competition with the
Standard Oil Co. Is placing oil in
France, and, il Is reported here. has
also determined to sell benzine In the
United States, and that four big tank
steamers started some time ago for
Boston.
Heretofore the Dutch combination
has disposed OF its products in the
vicinity OF production, and conse-
quently placed their oil on these mar
kets al very cheap rate. II will be
another thing to transport oil 10000
miles and face a great competitor In
it's home market, but the Dutch group
seem to believe that they have suffi-
GENTLY developed to succeed I'm the
wider field, and this makes the situa-
ton interesting.
"Oil is very cheap at Singapore with
the price under competition going
slowly down from day to day. so that
IL cents would buy as much oil at the
end OF October as 20 cents would in
August. The result OF the bitter fight
between the great oil interests In the
Far East Is reduction OF prices to
such an extent that the Cinnamon are
laying In good stores at a very low
price in hope of future profits, while
the native customers enjoy the luxury
OF plentiful light. II has been estimat
ed that it will cost the rival interests
at least s250,000 II the contest is con
timed much longer.
Would Pave Way to Senate.
To pave his way to seat In the
United States senate via clerkship
in the Navy Department is the unique
plan revealed in a letter received by |
Secretary Meyer
Arthur b. Prague. of Spokane, |
Wash. is the correspondent whose OPP |
imistic view OF the opportunities fur |
liJhed by the government service sur. !
passes anything ever before brought |
O the attention OF the government Off
,ials.
Prague's letter is written on a sheet
his candidacy for the state
legislature of Washington. as the
'Newsboy candidate Accompanying
lie announcement is his picture. show.
T. a tall, bony young man. with
great abundance OF curly hair and n
most expansive smile. holding n bun
die OF papers under his arm. A long