The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1911-07-13
INVESTIGATING EX-
PRESS COMPA PAN|FS

commerce commission has undertaken
the investigation OF the express
companies. The announcement that
this policy has just been decided up is
misleading, for the commission has had
men in the field for months making a
searching inquiry into the business
methods of the companies. AS re-
suit of this investigation, it is be-
lieved, the carriers under investiga-
tion filed new schedules which are prob
ably intended to meet some of the
more serious complaints regarding the
manner of conducting the express
business 1t has been contended for a
long time that the express monopoly
was making excessive profits. It will
gratify the public if something can be
done to insure more equitable charges
for service and better protection to the
cntomers of the companies.
The Sheep Census.
According to the census bureau, the
sheep industry has not shown any ma
terial change since the last census in
1900. Excluding lambs, because of
the difference in the time of year when
the census was taken, it is shown that
there were 39,470,312 wool-producing
sheep in 1910, as compared with &c.
S52 ,967 for 1900. Corrected figures are
expected to show an actual decrease of
about l per cent from 1900. Taking
the returns by geographical divisions,
there was decrease of about 1,00O,-
600 sheep in the North Atlantic divis-
ion, in the South Atlantic division
there was decrease of about 154, 900,
and the South Central division the
decrease was about 100000 In the
North Central division there was
scarcely any change, 10,069,451 being
reported in 1910, or only some $4,000
more than in 1900 The Western di-
vision showed an increase of about i,
900, 900 sheep.
Game Protection.
The department of agriculture has
made careful estimates of the number
of deer killed last season, and it an
nounces that in % states for which
statistics are available the bag was
60, $50 deer. No estimate was made for
California and some other western
states, and in other states, such as New
Hampshire, North and South Carolina,
no stastics were available Making
fair allowances for such states, the
number of deer killed in the United
States last year is estimated at 75,-
900 or 10000. The number of elk is
put at 1900, or less, and of moose 3,
$50.
Buffalo Increasing.
The American Bisan society made a
careful census and found that there
2,208 pure-blood buffalo in North
America as compared with 1,917 when
the 1908 census was made. OF these
buffalo l,007 are in captivity in the
United States, 626 are in captivity in
Canada, and AIS are wild. In 1908
there were 1,116 buffalo in captivity in
the United States, and of these a
considerable number was purchased by
the Canadian government, but the
buffalo census shows an actual increase
of 200. The largest herds in private
hands now are at Belvedere, Kans.,
Roman, Mont. Newport, N. H.; Paw
nee, Okla; Goodnight, Tex; and on
Antelope Island. Great Salt Lake.
Stopping Cuctoms Leak.
For many years, according to the
customs officials, the government has
been losing large sums of money an
nually because the importers of Sicilian
lemons did not pay duty on all sound
fruit imported. Wehn Collector
Loeb discovered this leak the authori-
ties set about the making OF regula-
tions which would stop the leak. They
finally decided to base the amount OF
rotten fruit, Con which customs duties
are remitted) on the samples shown
by the importers to the trade. The
secretary of the treasury approved this
plan, but the importers protested
that it was not fair. "Why mott"
asked Secretary McVeagh. The i'm
porters could make no satisfa etory re-
ply, so the order stands, and the gov
ernment will save much money.
Congress is Weary.
There is no lodging thhe fact that
congress is anxious to avoid the CON
sideration of all legislation at this
session except what it simply must
take up. Statehood for New Mexico
and Arizona, reapportionment, direct
elections of senators, Panama canal
tolls, Panama exposition matters, army
legislation, conservation legislation, the
control of corporations, these are some
of the things which seem destined to
go over. An excetion may be made of a
resolution for the president TO invite
Latin American countries to exhibit at
the Panama California exposition in
San Diego in 1918, which Col. ID. G..
Collier, director general, is here to
urge, as that is not looked on as legis-
lation, strictly speaking.
The Honduran and Nicaragran treat
les involving loans, are not likely to
go through at this session, and there
is great disappointment befause the
countries to the southwark are pretty
dard up and need the money.
President Will Assist.
An event of international signif.
cance will occur July 10. when Pres
dent Taft will assist in breaking
ground for an exposition to be held
in celebration of the completion and
opening of the Panama canal Pres-
dent Taft will press a button which
will close an electric circuit in San
Diego, and "break out'' great flag
the president S own flag especial
ly constructed of unusually large size
for the particular event-rght over
L. Al