El Paso Daily Herald. (El Paso, Tex.), Vol. 19TH YEAR, No. 296, Ed. 1 Monday, December 18, 1899 Page: 1 of 8
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ERALD
4:30 p. m.
Last Edition
EL PASO. TEXAS MONDAY DECEMBER 18 1899
PRICE 5 CENTS.
EiL PASO BAJXilT
TO-DAT'S IEiWS
i . .
- t . . i
19th it An NU. 290
WALL STREET
STIRRED UP
By the Failure Of a Big
Trust Com-
pany WILDCAT FINANCIERING
Has Brought the Inevitable
Reckoning And Good
Will Come
Of It.
New York Dec. 18.--The failure of
the Produce Exchange Trust com-
pany caused a eeml-pacic in . Wall
street tbia morning-. The stock market
which ba9 been nervous and weak
could not withstand the shook and
declines ranging from 3 to 5 percent
were general. Strong' houses quickly
sent in supporting' orders and the
Blump was stayed though the market
continued feverish and unsettled
throughout the morning. The failure
of Henry Allen & Co. brokers added
to the excitement and stocks were
thrown on the market wildly.
The liabilities and assets -of the
Produce Exchange Trust company are
estimated ic the street at about $10-
000000. The embarrassment Is said by
well inforired bankers to have been
caused by big loans on securities to the
flour trust and the International Bank
ing and Trust company.
After 1:30 this afternoon the market
. again went to emath. Call money went
soaring atone timereach!cg70bid and
this caused the market to go to pieces.
Declines ranged from 2 to 12 and
were general. Sugar lost 8 American
tobacco 7 and Tennessee Coal and Iron
V. These wera the heaviest losers in
industrials. In railroad stocks Rock
Island fell 5 and Burlingtcn and New
York Central 3. Brooklyn Rapid
Transit fell 7 and Metropolitan street
railway 12.
Long stock was dumped on the mar-
ket in huge blocks and this helped
the bears to batter values to pieces.
At this time the market was wildly
excited with each bid bringing prices
lower and lower.
At -2:30 p. m. mcney on call was 100
per cent bid. Short' y after 2:30 J.
Pierpont Morgan sect 81000000
into the market to lean at 50. Money
on call bad reached 125 bid when the
Morgan money was thrown on the
market.
The clearing house committee of
associated banks got together and as a
result $10000000 additional money was
loaned on change. "
INCREASE IN WAGES
Joy Among the Mill Operations Of
New England.
Boston Mass. Dec. 18. The recently-announced
increase in wages in
the cotton and woollen mills of New
England went into effect today tbe
raise benefiting more than 300000 mill
employes. . The advance practically
includes all of the mill a of New Eng-
land though in a few instances the
new order does not become effective
until January 1. 1
The advance averages 10 per cent. It
is estimatad that the weekly earnings
of the cotton mill employes will be in-
creased to atital of $180 000' in excess
of their present wage while the
woollen mill operatives will benefit to
the amount of about $25000 weekly.
The advance gives general satisfaction
in manufacturing'centers though the
adoption of a sliding scale is still be-
ing agitated by the print cloth mills.
Tbe present advance is the second
increase in wages that the 'cotton mill
employes have received within the last
two years tb.3 first which was also a
10 per cent advance having gone into
effect in April of last year.
A DENIAL
That
Secretary Wilson Has
Ten-
dered His Resignation. j
Washington Dec. I8.'r-Se3retary
Wilson of the agricultural depart- i
meat has requested the publication
of the following in regard . to the
statementthat he bad tendered his re-
signation to the president because of
ill health.
"The announcement that I have j
been overcome with illness at my desk I
havino- been oblieei to call in physi
cians and having tendered my resigna-
tion to the president is without any
basis or foundation and has caused me
considerable annoyance. I have not
consulted a physician in ten years and
I am in no need of doing so now. I
have no intention of resigning my
office."
ROBERTS' CHARGES
Stir Up An Investigation In Utah
Which Reveals the Fact That
Two Officers Have Surplus
Wives
Salt Lake City Dec. 18. When
Congressman-elect Roberts in the
address delivered in tbe course of the
first day's session of tbe house in
defense of himself declared that the
administration had appointed poly
gamists to federal positions he stirred
up a hornet's nest.
Inquiry was begun at once by special
officers and among the discoveries
was one that two officials of the state
agricultural college had surplus
wives.
Tbe announcement is made that both
these officers will tender their resigna-
tions to the state board and will retire
under fire unable to clear themselves
of the charges alleged.
AFTER RAILROADS
Governor PIngree Calls An Extra
Session Of the Legislature.
Lansing Mich. Dec. 18 The
Michigan-legislature convened in ex
traordinary session at noon today in
accordance with the call issued by
Governor NPingree last week. The
extra session was necessitated by' the
action of the supreme court declaring
the Atkinson railway taxation bill
which was passed by the last legisla-
ture unconstitutional.
As stated in ' Governor Pingree's
oall the extra session will accordingly
"consider the submissionjof an amend
ment or amendments to the constitu-
tion which will permit the enactment
of laws for equal taxation of alt prop
erty by the assessment of the eame at
its cash value."
KNEW HIS VOICE
Though Unconscious on a Surgeon's
Operating Tabfe.
Chicago Dec. 18. While Wm. Bell
was being operated on last night for
what was supposed to be a fatal wound
in the head he jumped off the operat
ing table and fiercely attacked Charles
Aronson who inflicted tbe wound.
Bell had been unconscious for some
time but as soon as be heard A r ori
son's voice Aronson having been
brought in for hoped-for ante-mortem
identification coneciousess returned.
Aronson was being badly used up and
it required the combined efforts of
three men to drag Bell off.
GRAND OPERA
Seats At A Premium In the Metro
politan Opera House
New York Dec. 18.- Seats are at a
premium in the great Metropolitan
opera bouse for tonight when the
local season of tbe Grau Grand Opera
company will commence.
Financially tbe season promises
great success but from a social stand
point the brilliance of the affair will
be somewhat xcarred by reason of
mourning in several of the prominent
families in the fashionable set.
PROOF AT LAST
That Agulnaldo Had The Moral Sup!
port Of Anti-Expanslonlste In
The United States.
Manila Dec. 18. General Otis it
is stated has forwarded to Washing-
ton a number of important letters
found in the rebel archives which
were recently captured by the Amer-
ican troops.
The letters show it is ea'd that
Agulnaldo had tbe active moral sup-
port of prominent anti-expansionists
in tbe United States.
HALF A MILLION
Lost By the Burning Of the Steamer
"State Of Kansas"
New Madrid Mo. Dec. 18. The
steamer State of Kansas belonging to
the Tennessee River Packet company
burned at 1 o'clock this morning at
the wharf here where she was tied up
to await the passing of a severe wind
and rain storm. Loss about $500000.
Metal Market.
New YORK Deo. 18 Copper $16.00;
silver 591; lead 4.45. -
Daily Herald 15o per week.
TWO BIG
GENERALS
'Little Bobs" And
Lord General Kitch-
ener Big
WITH 200000
To "Begin a Second South
African Campaign As Soon
As the Force Can Be
Mobilized.
London Dec. 18. There is general
satisfaction in England over the new
war plan to be inaugurated in South
Africa and the appointment of
Field Marshal Lord Roberts or "Lit-
tle Bob" as be is affectionately called
by the soldiers together with General
Lord Kitchener is strongly approved
in all quarters. Tho vigorous action
of the war office in meeting the emer-
gency in South Africa has mitigated
tbe fear prevalent since the news of
Buller's defeat. .
In order to expedite the transpor-
tation of volunteer reinforcements to
tbe Cape more swift liners will be char-
tered! at Liverpool as transports and
it is expected that by six weeks at tbe
latest Roberts' forces will b mobiliz-
ed in Cape Colony and a second South
African campaign begin.
With the depature of Roberts tbe
Prince of Wales and General Lord
Wolseley commander-in-chief of the
army both of whom are field marshals
will be the only officers of the highest
rank left in England. -
While the war office has not stated
the number of volunteers to be called
out for service it is estimated tbat at
least 50000 men will be added to the
force already in South Africa or en-
route which will give General Roberta
an army of something like 200000 men
when tbe new colonial cootinpent is
included.
PRAISE FROM PARIS.
Paris Dec. 18. Paris papers for a
wonder are cot jubilant over Gen.
Buller's defeat in Natal and many of
them commend England's pluck and
fortitude in the hour of her adversity.
SINOW IN AUSTRIA.
Traffic Stopped And Alany Fatalities
Reported.
Vienna Dec. 18. The greatest
snow fall since 1865 has stopped traffic
all over Austria. Many fatalities are
reported.
MRS. GENERAL PICKETT
V
Will Be Pleased To Meet Her Friends
This Afternoon. Which Is To
Say the Friends Of the Old
Confederacy.
Mrs. General George E. Pickett
whose late husband "Gettysburg'?
Pickett was one of the most magni-
ficent figures of the civil war is in El
Paso with her bon Major George E.
Pickett U. S. A. They are
guests of Mr. and ' Mrs. H. D.
Slater at the residence of Dr. Brown
508 Magoffin avenue.
This afternoon from 5 to 7 Mrs.
Pickett will hold an-Informal recep-
tion and all adherents of the old Con-
federacy and especially all Virginians
are cordia'ly invit3d to call and meet
one of the truest and most loyal
daughters of the Southland.
Mrs. Pickett has several relatives in
El Paso Rev. M. Cabell Martin and
Mrs. W. H. Saamoa baing cousin?.
Major Pickett saw service in the
Cuban campaign and was recently or-
dered to Manila. Upon his arrival in
San Francisco he was seized with
pneumonia and was very ill for several
weeks. His wife anl mother were
with him. His wife returned to
Michigan a short time ago and his
mother remained with him and is ac-
companying him back to Washington.
Mrs. Pickett's book "Pickett and
His Men "has been immensely success-
ful. The first edition is already ex-
hausted and the second is on the press.
She is now engaged in writing a
series of sketches on the faces
she has seen on her trip from Wash
ington to San Francisco aid back. '
She was much interested in many
types she saw in El Paso and Juarez
yesterday. " .
Major and Mrs. Pickett leave tonight
on the G. H. train east.
GOVERNMENT
WORSTED
In Today's Session Of the
Court At Las
Cruces
THE RIO GRANDE RIVER
Dissected And Generally Torn
Up To Furnish Testimony
For the Defend-
ants.1 '
Special Dispatch to the Herald.
Las Cruces N. M. Dec. 18. This
forenoon's session of the court in the
dam case was a bad one for the govern-
ment. The defence recalled tbe plain-
tiff's civil engineer witness P. E. Har-
roun and showed a great and un-
explained loss of water in the Rio
Grande in the flow from the San Mar-
cial guaging station to El Paso the
presumption being tbat the loss was
due to seepage.
W. W. Follett a member of the in
ternational boundary commission and
consulting engineer was then recalled
by the government in rebuttal and ex-
amined wib reference to the cross-
section of the Rio Grande at the
mouth of the Conchos raised by tbe
defendant's engineer Reid for the
purpose of showing the discrepancy
between Reid's figures and the cross-
section. Judge Burch for the government
then examined Follett at length with
reference to the alleged disappearance
of the river between El Paso and the
mouth of the Conchos as testified to by
witness McMahon1 for the. defense on
the trip he made down the river in
December 1893. In this examination
Judge Burch qualified Follett as an ex-
pert which had been carefully avoided
in Follett's first examination and thus
opened the way for a more ' searching
cross examination of Follett by the de-
fense. In order to partially explain a
loss of water between Saa Marcial and
El Paso Follett declared the measure
ments oi ban Marcial were inaccurats
because of local conditions there.
Attorney Fall for the defense drew
from Follett the admission that having
bad an agreement with Judge Burch
tbat Follett should not be qualified as
an expert and subjected to a general
examination" be was surprised that
Judge Burch had asked him the ques-
tions which did so qualify him. The
defense is now examining Follett with
a view to discrediting the measurement
and record at the El Paso guaging
station.
Saturdays' Proceedings.
The torrent of testimony which the
defense has been pouring in for three
days reached its climax today when
Prof. Carpentec and Engineer Reid
were put on the stand. In the case of
Mr. Reid as in that of the govern
ment's engineers Messrs. Follett and
Harroun the direct examination was
confined to limits so narrow tbat the
opposing counsel had small latitude for
cross-examination and short work
was made of it.
Judge Parker and the counsel for
both parties bad a conference at 9
o'clock tonight and reached an under
standing about the fruther conduct of
the case. Tbe government will put
Messrs. Follett and Harroun on the
stand again Monday morning in re
buttal after which tbe case will be
argued and eubmitted always pro-
vided something does not turn up to
change tbe plan.
Now that tbe teetlmony is practically
all in it can be seen pretty clearly
first that there is practically no na
vigation of the Rio Grande at present
if indeed there ever has been; second
that is not practicable to make the
lower Rio Grande a navigable stream
of any value; and third that dam or
no dam at Elephant Butte El Paso or
an where else up this way neither the
perennial flow nor the floods of the
Rio Grande are of any consequence to
the river flow ten or twelve hundred
miles below El Paso. In other words
the government or rather tbe Interna-
tional dam coterie which has ueed tbe
government as a catspaw ib these
proceedings is whistle! down tbe
acequia on this last proposition as it
was on all the others which it took to
the United States supreme court some
time ago.
When will the curtain be finally
rung down on the "farce" (see testimo
ny of H. A. McClelland below) of Rio
Grande navigation?
interesting testimony.
When court met this morning J. H.
McMahan the trapper and guide who
piloted the Hill geological expedition
down tbe Grand Canyon last October
acd floated down tbe Rio Grande from
El Pa?o in 1893 was recalled for addi-
tional cross examination by the gov-
ernment in regard to the character of
the bed and banks of the Rio Grande
from El Paso to the mouth of the Con-
chos. He described thesuccesaion of low
sandy val'eys and rocky canyons in con-
siderable detail.
George Lynch of Hatob N. M.
forty mile3 up the Rio Grande from
Las Cruces was the next witness for
the defense. He testified that he was
a United States mineral surveyor and
also engaged in agriculture. He has
lived in that locality since 1876 and
has been engaged In cattle raising and
farming. He named and described
seven pr elgbt torrential streams or ar-
royos each fifty to one hundred yards
wide and thirty to fifty miles
long emptying into the
Rio Grande between Elephant
Butte and El PaBO. These streams
usually flow into the Rio Grande but a
few hours after rainstorms though
some of them have water nearly all the
time farther up toward their sources.
Witness said the Rio Grande went dry
at his place in July 1879 and wb dry
probably five or six months. Of late
years it goes dry every year. For sev-
eral years from about 1888 to 1895 there
was severe drouth causing tbe death
of great numbers of catt'e. Witness
had 12000 cattle at the beginning of
this period and but 4.C00 left after it.
The deposition of H. B. Bee was
read for the defense. He is a United
States inspector of customs and has
been for the past five ears. He has
lived at Laredo three years. He ba3
known the Rio Grande since 1885 from
Fort Selden N. M. to Rio Grande
City and has oow-hunted on it from
Selden to Devil's river. He" lived at
El Paso two years and Del Rio three
years. . .He has noticed no change in
the river. The Rio Grande goes dry
above tbe mouth of the Conchos and
he has traveled 15 or 20 miles in. the
dry bed of the Rio Grande. He does
not thick floods running pa9t El Paso
would have any perceptible effect on
the river below the mouths of the Con-
chos. Pecos Devil's river Las Vacas
and Las Moras.
The deposition of Thomas R. Wor-
sham for the defense waa raad. He has
been United Statas inspector of 'cus-
toms at Laredo for nine years. Has
known tbe Rio Grande since 1867.
From 1868 to 1889 he resided within 36
miles of the river and was in the cattle
business. For tbe last ten years the
volume of water in the river has de
creased on account of drouth.
IRRIGATION NOT NAVIGATION.
"I don't believe the Rio Grande is
susceptible of navigation for any prac
tical purpose" said witness "and in
my opinion it never will be so. In my
opinion the greater number of tb'e popu
lation will be decidedly more benefited
by irrigation than by navigation.
"He believes the proposed storage of
water at Elephant Butte would have no
appreciable effect on the river at La-
redo. "Informer years say ten 'or twelve
years ago" he continued
"there was a small stern
wheel fiat bottom steamboat
that used to make four or five trips a
year from Brownsville to Rio Grande
City oarrylng freight foe -the govern-
ment and merchants at the river
towns but I am Informed that this
boat has been discontinued on account
of low water."
H. A. McClelland 's deposition was
reai for the defense. He has resided
at Laredo for eighteen years. Has
lived and scouted on the river from
Camargo to its mouth. Resided at
Brownsville in 1872-73. Has noticed
diminution in flow of river for the last
ten years due to diminished rainfall.
Every interest has suffered. .
"The Rio Grande is not susceptible
of practical navigation between Rio
Grande City and Brownsville" says
witoesf "and such navigation between
the paints last mentioned is a mere
farce. I wa9 once 42 days in making
a trip from Brownsville to Rio .Grande
City and return on the steamboat San
Roman. I was engaged in steamboat-
ing on this river from December 1872
to June 1873 and conditions if pos-
sible are more unfavorable now than
then. The Rio Grande has never been
considered a navigable stream by
those that have any knowledge of na-
vigation. Navigation is most decided-
ly a farce from Brownsville up."
Witness thinks the proposed dam at
Elephant Butte would have no notice-
able effect on the Rio Grande at
Laredo.
Continued on 5th page
CURRENCY
BILL PASSED
The Result Greeted By the
. Cheers Of Republi
cans
NEV YORK DEMOCRATS
To the Number Of Eight And
Three Other Democrats'
Vote In Favor Of
the Bill.
Washington Dec. 18. The cur
rency bill passed the House on a vote
of 190 yeas 150 nays. The result was
greeted by republican cheers. The
democratic members who voted for
the bill were: Clayton New York
Denoy Indiana; Driggs New York;
Fitzgerald New York; Levy New
York; McAleer Pa ; Rap pert New
York; Soudder New York; Thayer
Massachusetts; Underhill New York;
and Wilson New York .
Io( anticipation of a vote on the bill
there was a large attendance of mem
bers on the floor when th9 house met
at noon. Bartlatt (deaa) of Georgia
made his first appearaace In the house
on crutches as a result of an accident
to his foot and was sworn in
administering the oath to him stand-
ing at his desk instead of being requir
ed to appear in front of the speaker's
table.
Immediately thereafter the special
rule for the consideration of the cur
rency bill waaread. The third read-
ing of the. bill and its engrossment
was agreed to without opposition.
Then Overstreet republican of In-
diana demanded a roll call on the
passage of the bill. BjiIa sides in-
dorsed 'the demand and the clerk at
12:10 p. m. proceeled to call the roll.
The vote was one of the largest that
has ever been cast in the house on any
bill. Only 17 members throuerb being
paired or being unavoidably absent
through sickness failed to cast their
votes of the totil membership of 357.
The speaker annouocad his list of
committers of tie house a) soja as the
currency bill had baen disposed of.
Darin; the reading of tie list Bailey
(dem) of Texas inquired whether the
list included tha 'oanu of General
Wiieeler (dem) of Alabama. The
speaker answered: "It does not."
Billey's parpose wrs to.objact to a re-
cognition of Wheeier as a member of
the house.
Payne was appointed chairman of
ways and means committee; Canon of
appropriations- Ray judiaiary; Hep-
burn interstate commerce; Burton
rivers and harbors; Grosvenor
merchant marine; . Cooper insular af-
fairs; Hltt foreign affairs; Hull mili-
tary affairs .
Slaydoo of Texas and Perea of New
Mexico were put on the military af-
fairs committer; Henry of Texas on
the insular affairs; Cooper Texas oa
the ways and meatns; Laaham Texas
on the judiciary; Hawley Texas on
the interstat? commerce; Ball of
Texas on tb.3 rivers and harbors com-
mittee. '
FLOWERS FOR JACK
Sent To His Old Kentucky Home
With Roses In His Coffin
Special Correspondence of the Herald.
Laredo Tex. Deo. 15. The body
of Jack Hardesty tbe murdered brake-
man was embalmed by funeral direct-
or Convery and shipped to his rela-
tives in Louisville Ky. by United
States express yesterday morning.
Mrs. J. T. Murpby Mrs. John
Bruni Mrs. Will C. Long and Hos
pital Steward Miller of Fort Macin
tosh stripped their flower gardens of
roses chrysanthemums and all the
other beautiful and fragrant flowers
still in bloom here and sent them t!o
the undertaking parlors where they
were placed in becoming bouquets
about the body of the dead boy mak-
ing the corpse look as attractive as
possible. There fs as yet no positive
clew pointing directly to th assassin
but the officials military county and
c'tyare working industriously to bring
tne guuty parties to justice. . Several
arrests have already been made but
the parties gave a good account of
themselves and they were released.
Daily Herald15c per week.
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Slater, H. D. El Paso Daily Herald. (El Paso, Tex.), Vol. 19TH YEAR, No. 296, Ed. 1 Monday, December 18, 1899, newspaper, December 18, 1899; El Paso, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth297297/m1/1/: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .