P0M Valley News yoti, C€in*f Keep J^otun a YfarK^n^ Totatx; Let*j South I have been struck by the signs of actnity, progress "nd development. I t^ee land being brouJiht more and more into cultivation; more and more being done for agricultural methods. I saw !h« resources of your soil, of con! and iron, being brought to light and I saw a new spirit in the South wh’fh desires to make educational prjgress commensurate with material ievciopment.^' The ambassador pointed out tLa cnormouse difficulties with which the South has had to contend since the civil uar. “Now, however,” he con tinued, ‘‘there is a great door open before you and as one of the well- uishers of the South, who believes in its greatness as a flourishing and important part of the country, I ven ture to congratulate you on what is being done and to say that still greater prospects are before you.” The afternoon session was presided over by Judge George Hillyer, a mem ber of the Georgia State Railroad Commission, v»ho in a brief address, reviewed the work of that bod>^' in diealing with transportation cerm- pajiies. The principal speakers were WUliam J. Oliver, of Knoxville, Tenn.; Clarence H. Poe, editor of Th^e Progressive Farmer, Raleigji, N. C.< find Dr. J. A. Bonsteel, of the rnite» freely re sorted to, with the r^«>ilf that iTve times the roil wa% called. ’'J''he first ratJgle occurred eii rc?o- PANAMA EXPLOSION Results in a hkimber of People Losing Their Lives SCENES OF GREAT EXCITEMENT Care of Our P.,esonrces. Washington, "Specihl. — President TiooseA*elfc and President-eliact Tafi p\iblif dynamite Avas exploded. Numerous reports are current as to the cause of the accident but the of- icial version from Culebra, which jives an estimate of ten killed and i’fty AA’ounded, states that during the loading of the last hole of the blast the dynamite in this cutting Avas dis- L-harged, and the remaining 22 tons vere exploded by concussion. The holes had not been connected •lectricfllly as the discharge of the blast was set for 5 o’clock in the afternoon. The last hole Avas being oaded under th« supervision of one )f the most efficient poAvder men in the employ of the commission. A passenger train had just passed w^hen the explosion occurred, but it N&S not in any way damaged. The majority of the victims are Spaniards. Relief trains Avere sent to the scene of the disaster and one which re turned hefe several hours later brought back the report that 45 of the injured had been sent to Ancon Hospital. The officials on the train stated that eleven dead had been found labile many others in the gang of 120 who were employed in the cut were nissing. It was also reported by the train men that the explosion was due to a passing stearn shovel, Avhich hook ed the wire leading to the immense charge of dynamite. Whether or^ not this AA^as the cause of th-5 accident, a steam shoA’el and creAv, which Ixip- pened to be on the scene were pimc- tically buried under the mass of rocks an^ eartli thrown up. Gangt5 Avere soon .searchings for the dead and assistin|;f the wonudefl. Electric lights w^re set up and at tti^ht -shorels Av^-e ^t \Vork re fhe Gelderland Steams Into the Har bor of Williamstad Towing the Veneznlean Coastguard Ship Alex Flying the Dutch Flag and Sport ing a Dutch Crew. ope Pins Blesses Mr. laft and Hit Family. Rome, By Cable.—Pope Pius bless 'd President-elect Taft and his fam ily. The blessing Avas declared ii he presence of Archbishop Glennin of St. Louis, Avho told the Pope tha ?e had receiA^ed a .letter from Taf n Avhich the President-elect express d cordial friendship for the Cath( ics. The Pope received the nev.- ^ vith unfeigned delight and pronoun* | J the blessins: upon Taft «nd fami]> fOR[ST mim One of the Most Urgent Needs of the Nation THE DEMAND FUILY GONE OVER lu'.ron fixing tfie boiilidary line tAveen the StO-tes of Colorado, Okla- homp ajid Ne^ ^^exico, Avhrch Ayas ag) oed to st majorUy but not witlT- out t'Avo roil calls, TJje Hoiise then by a dtei«ive vote refused to furthD*’ consider the bill providing for, arbi trary Settlement of disputes betAveefi employers and employes. Next turning attention to the bi-il pi-oviding for the protection of aliens in the Unit-cd States the sul/ject Avas threshed cuf at length. The measure ha-1 rough sailing and it ^vas ])assed Uy a slim majority after the roll had been called twice. Map'y t^i^ ifn^n bave beeir seriously fpiiV’ed, some of them probably fa-. taid: ^•'The capture of our ||arships of const guards and war vessls is not be considered an unfriendly act igainst the Venezuleans. It is mere ly a reprisal against Castro’s govern ment Avhich refuses to give satisfac tion for his unfriendly acts toAvard Holland.’’ It is learned from the officers of the Gelderland that the battleship Jacob Van Hemskerk and the cruiser Friesland are now off La Guyra and thajt further captures may be expect- sd at any time. Taft’s View of McKinley. New Yofk, Special. — President elect W'illiam H. Taft, speaking Sun day night at the dedication of a Mc Kinley memorial organ in Metropoli fan Tempie, told to the audience the story of his official association Awith the late Prseident, and di6clared reference to the Phifippine Island's that the policy laid dow* by Mr. Me Kijiley in 1900 had been the policy of the present as it will be the policy of his OAvii administration in the White House. Mr. Taft will remain here uittil Thursday, Avhen he leaAies for Augusta^ Ga., to spend tte fiA»o wee'ks preceding his proposed depart ure to the Panama canal. Wife of Millionaire is Arrestd Foi Shoplifting. New York, Special.—Mrs. Louis J Schloss, wife of the Avell known Ne\A York and Baltimore clothier, Avas ar rested here last week for shoplifting Different articles she had picked ur amounted to about $16. She pleads- nervousness and ill health. The ease will be heard soon Thomas F. Ryan Gives .$1,000 to Uncle Remus Fund. Atlanta, Ga., Special.—J. G. lis ter, secretary of the “Uncle Remus” memorial association, announced the receipt of a contribution' of $1,000 from Thomas F. Ryan, of New York, to the fund of perpetuating the mem ory of Joel Chandler Harris. Mr. Ryan Avas tendered and has accept ed the vice presidency of the asso ciation. Mr. and Mjs.. Taf/t Given Reception. Washington, Special. — President elect and Mrs. William II. Taft Avere tor the carrying out of expert plans for ronservation of the nation’s re- vnurces. An audience Avhich filled the ilirnire and Avhich inchided Andrew Carnegie, John Mitchell, Senators Cor-grcs ?men and Ihe Governors of f^overal States, applauded every senti- ineut expressed. raft gaA-e their unqualified approval ^ tendered a reception by Miss Mabel Bcardman, a Washington society lf>adev, at lier home on Dupont circle. Tho function was one of the most notable of the season, and among the giic+>t Avere a large number of the rep- resentatiA’e persons of the Capital’s orficial, diplomatic and soeiol circlcs. Crniser North Carclinrs Docked. Norfolk. Va., Special.—The United "‘aifs aniiored cruiser North Caro lina v/as sufessfnlly docked in the new dry dock at the Norfolk navy ynrd, this being the first vessel to be i'ccived since the completion of the The North Carolina’s bottom he scraped an'd cleaned. Fanatics Fire on Police. Kansas City, Mo., Special.—In the siiadoAv of the city hall a riot in ''■'.hich religious fanatics and police- Avere participants, and during avhieh a liundred shots Avere fired re- '^ulted in the dea*h of Policeman A. Dalbow, probable fatal injuries to aiul slight injuries to tAvo other porsons. Those probabl}’^ fatally in- .jined are John Sharp, known as Adam God,*’ a street preacher; Michael Mulkne, a patrolman; Lola years Qld, and Patrick tlark, a police sergeant. The Evacuation Cuba. Washington, Special.—At the War Department the first details regard ing the Aviithdrawal from Cuba of the American army of pacification, which has been oii duty there since the fall of 190G, Avere made knoAvn. The moA^ements of the troops will be gin on January 1st and will be com pleted by April 1st. — Killed by Electric Shock. Yorkville, Special.—Mr. W. F. DoAvns, a native of Fort Mill, and for the past three or four years head machinist at the Tavora Cotton Mill at this place, was instantly killed by an electrical current. The electrical current which is furnished by the Southern PoAver Company, had failed and Superintendent Ramseur and Mr. DoAvns w’ere searching for the trouble. The s'vvitch had been opeH«d~ and Downs placed his hand on a wire he supposed dead but it proved not to be and he fell back lifeless. The Dead. Total Fourteen. Colon, By Cable.—The explosion Sun day at B^r Obispo of 21 tons of dynamite blast Avas the most serious accident in connection Avith the build ing of the Panama canal since the Uni^ed States took control. A thor- ono'h investigation Avith a vieAV to fixing the responsibilitv has been or dered and already officials are tak ing evidence. Crooked Wisconsin Banker Sentenced Mihvaukee, Wis., Special.—John F. Schulte, aged 38, former paying tel ler of the First National Bank of Ra cine, was sentenced to fiA^e years at Fort LeaATiiAAwth by Judge Quarles. Schnite embezzled $15,000, pleaded guilty and asked for leniency. FiA’e years is the minimum penalty. Scliuite was arrested at CleA’eland on July 7. A^mcrican Railway Company Asks For a Charter. IlaAvkinsvalle, Ga., Special.—Char ter Avas applied for by a 'local attor ney on behalf of interested parties for a charter for ‘^The American Raihvay Company,’*’ which proposed buiWing a line from Abbeville, Ga., to Vfinchester, in Macon county, Ga., via HaAvkinsville and GroA’ania. The proposed road Avill tra\'erse one of the richest farming sections of the St^te. It will tap the Seaboard at .\bbeAdlle and the Gulf line at Haw^- kinsville. Work wiU begin at once it is stated. 1G03 Cotton Crop. Washington, Speeiad.—The cro|: reporting board of the bureau of sta tistics of the Departent of AgTicul ture has estimated from reports oi correspondence agents of the bureaiv that the total production of cotton in the United States for the yeai 1008-9 Avould amount to G,1S2,970,00( pounds. Mail Carrier Badly Hurt. Spartanburg, Specipjl. — Jesse L. Wood, a Avell known letter carrier, Avas throAvn from his buggy early Sunday morninsr and seriously injur ed. The horse Mr. Wood was driying took fright on east Main street, just in front of the First Presbyterian | church. He Avas thrown violently to the sidewalk and knocked uncon scious. When taken to his home it was diseoA’ered that three of his ribs had been broken and one of his shoulders terribly injured. He is threatened with pneumonia, which makes his eondtiion trebly worse. Ohio Congressman Critically 111. Wooster, O., Special.—The man found unconscious in the chair car of a Pennsyh^ania westbound train here Sunday and taken to a local hospital was later identified as Con gressman Grant E. Mouser, of the Marion, 0., district. Physicians de clare he is suffering from uraemic poisoning and acute congestion of the kidnevs. Governors and Prominent Men From Every Section of the Country Ap pear Before the House Committee and Urge the Establishment of Forest Reserves. WiU Affect aU Catholics. Manitowic, Wis., Special.—Judge Calloupeck, in the county court de clared the will of Thomas Calloghan, void because he bequeathed money for masses for the dead. The court says no court could recognize such a provision. The will was contested on this ground alone. The case will be appealed. The decision affects every Roman Catholic in the country. Mr. Kitchen’s Resignation Effectiv' Day Before He Becomes Governor. Washington, Speeiak—Representa tiA’e W. W. Kitchcn, of North Caro lina, Governov-elect of his State, haF forAvarded ^o Governor Olenn his re S'ignSii^ip^i as the Representative fron the fi^th North Carolina district, U take effect January llth. Mr. Kitch in wilF be inaugurated Governor Jan uarv 12th. Hale Succeeds Allison. Washingtofi, Specjal—A largely at tended caucus of Republican Senators unanimously elected Senator Hale, of Maine, as chairnJan of the Repub lican caucus to succeed the late Sen ator Allison, of loAva. The positi - carries AA’ith it the chairmanship ot the Republican steering committee of the Senate. Senator Halg*’s nomina tion Avas the only one before the caucus. Washington, Special.—A distin guished assembly of witnesses tes tified before the House committee on agriculture to the need of the Fed eral government establishing forest reserves in the White mountains and in the Southern Appalachians. It marked the opening of the fight in this session of Congress for the crea» tion of these reserves to protect tho navigability of navigable streams, a purpose which the committee conced ed is constitutional. Besides Governor Guild, of Massa chusetts, who was the spokesman untid he was compelled to leave the city and turn his duties over to Col. William S. Harvey, of Philadelphia, Governors Chamberlain,, of Oregon; Ansel, of South Carolina; Hoke Smith of Georgia, and Johnson, of Minne sota, former Governors George E. Pardee, of California, and Blanchard, of Louisiana, and Dr. Edward Ever ett Hale, chaplain of the Senate, were among thsoe who appeared. Chair man Scott, of the committee, said the committee appreciated the public sentiment in favor of the project bat that the problem of obtaining the desired end was difficult. Representative Scott explained that the House committee on the judiciary had questioned the constitutionality of action on the part of Congress looking toward the purchase of land for the conservation of forests what ever it might do toward protecting the navigability of the streams of the country. Governor Guild, in responding, laid " emphasis upon the ability of the gen eral government to undertake pro jects for the general welfare of the country, saying the appeal come from all quarters of the nation. It is probably the first time in his tory that the Governor of South Car olina and the Governor of Massachu setts have joined haiJd in hand to ap peal to Congress for the enactment of law for the general welfare of the United States,’^ said Governor Guild, as he bowed to Governor An sel, of the Southern State. President Van H^se ^ook the posi tion that the peculiar rapidity of erosion in the Southern Appalachian mountains necessitated the establish ment of a re^rve there, fot* the pres ervation jof the navigability of the streams aiid the protection of the harbors. He gaVe it as his opinibn that the crucial area to be purchased was the lower slopes of the mountains where the inclines are so sffeep and erosion so rapid that their use for agriculture is less important than the preservation of the streams. Will Welcome Battleships. . Washington, Special. — President Roosevelt will Avelcome the return of tho battleship flee to Hampton Roads from its cruise around the Avorld about neon February 22d. Details for the ocasion are noAV being Avorked oiit. Admiral Arnold, cf the third squadron of the Atlantic fleet will meet home-foming ships Avell out in tlie Atlantic and escort them to Hampton Roads. After the review tho men avIH jio to NeAv York and be fiivGn a shore leave. — tc England Rushes More Troops India. London, By Cable.—Another heaA^y draft on English home regiments foi service in India Avas ordered by the Avar office. The troops will be ready to embark for India as soon as pos sible as the threatened Indian up rising is believed to be imminent. Fri- Iday’s draft Avith the heavy rein forcements that started foi; India last Wednesday, has reduced m'any of the home battalions to mere skeletons and an xidditional call for recruits will soon be made. Death of Moses H. Cone. Greensboro, N. C., Special.—Moses H. Cone, knoAvn throughout the commer cial world as a leader in the indus trial deA’elopment of the South, died suddenly Tuesday afierncon at 5 o’clock at Johns Hopkins Hospital, ill Baltimore, Avhcre he had gone for treatment Aa’c Aveeks ago. He had been in ill health since his return frcm a trip around the Avorld OA'cr v year rs'o, but foAv ef his most inti mate friends su?poeted that his con- Avas serious. WHEN CHARM ME^JSTS CHARiM. Mr. Black—I done hab my rabbit’s foot erlong, but she gimme de mah- ble heaht Jes’ same. Mr. Jones—Mebbe she done ha;b her rabbit’s ^oot erlong, too.—Mil* waukee Wisconsin. Nine Injured by Bomb. New York, Specia'l.—Creepirig over the roof to an airshaft in the five- sto«7 tenement at 330 fiixty-third street, a Black Hand agent dropped a bomb to the ground. The explosion that resulted Avas terrific. The wallsl, of the building reeled and tottered, almost falling, and CA’^erj’^ window within a block or more Avas shattered. Nine people in the building and in the street wece injured by the ex plosion of the bomb, some of them seriously, although it is not thought that any of them will die. It Avas a miracle that no one Avas killed out right. The police are investigating fhe case and they have come to th<‘ conclusion that the bomb dropping was the work of the aam.e Black Hand agent who three years ago kid napped the small son of an Italian banker, who owns and occupies a part of the building, and that the motive was revenge, the banker liaving re fused to ransom his son. The bomb- thrower made good his escape, but the police belieA’e that they hav’e clues which may lead to his capture, or pos sibly to the breaking up of a Black Hand gang. Every Citizen to Become a Soldier. Washington, Special.—Every male citizen in the United States between the ages of 16 and 45 is to become a part of the military force of the country and to be liable for militai’y duty under the terms of a bill, the passage of which has been recom mended by the President in a special message to Congi’ess. The bill pro vides an elastic organization and, as the President says, under its provi sions it will be just as easy to raise an army of 2,500,000 as of 50,000.