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a Year, In Adr.nc "FOR OOP. FOR COUNTRY AND FOR TRUTH." Cpy g CmU. .
VOL. XIX. " PLYMOUTH, N, C FRIDAY; JULY 31. 1908, NO. 9.
As
,
'S PROGRES
Great Waterway WiSl Be Open
for Shipping in 1912
MOVING FASTER THAN HOPED
Of All Work on the Panama Canal,
the Great Cut Through the Moun
tain Backbone at Culebra is "the
. Most Unklndest Cut of All" Now
Figured That This Can Be Com
pleted in Three and a Half Years,
and With it the Rest of the Work
on the Canal.
CANAL
Washington, Special. In the dig
ging of the Panama canal it has. al
ways beea considered that, outside of
the construction -of the big lock and
dam works, the chief difficulty to be
encountered is the great cut through
the backbone of the American conti
nent at Culebra. The problem was
there presented of removing a moun
tain, and by the aid of modern steam
v shovels, drills and dynamite the solu
tion is being rapidly worked out. In
fact, according to information which
lias reached the offices of the Isth
mian Canal Commission here, over
one-half of this great work has now
been completed. --"
This cut through the hills and
mountains extends a distance of nine
amd one-half miles. At the highest
point the orginal surface of the
ground was 200 feet and a hole from
430 feet to 1,000 feet wide and 160
feet deep is being dug there. This
work involved the excavation of SO,
(598,248 cubic yards of earth and
stone. The old French company took
out 12,600,000 cubic yards from 1895
to 1904 and since the Americans
have taken charge of the work they
have excavated 18,443,426 cubic
yards. This leaves only 39,652,822
wbic yards yet to be removed, less
than half of the total. In view of the
fact that 11,191 ,4S8 yards were taken
ut last year after the Americans had
- v-.jft their machinery in operation and
."""itair organization perfected, the in
dications are that, at the same rate of
progress, the Culebra Cut will be
completed in three years and a half.
In the opinion of engineers here
that will fix the date for the comple
tion of the entire canal in other
words they think that the work on
the other sections will be so timed as
to be finished at the moment when the
excavation is done. If they are cor
rect in this the Panama canal should
be open for business in January,
1912.
The Dutchmen Are Indignant.
Amsterdam, By Cable. In retalia
tion for the summary expulsion of the
Dutch minister to Venezuela, it was
officially announced that all Dutch
warships in American waters be or
dered to make a demonstration
against unless President Castro makes
immediate apology. It is probable
that the Dutch will bombard La
Guayra and Porto Cabelle.
Interest in . Washington.
Washington, Special. The official
announcement from Amsterdam that
the, Netherlands government has de
cided to make a hostile demonstra
tion against Venezuela is received
with the greatest interest by official
dom. It is possible that the Dutch
government will consult other nations
who are smarting under President
Castro's attitude before deciding up
on a definite course of action and
may invite their co-operation.
Eurglars and Bank Cashier.
Ada, Ohio, Special. Six masked
men forced Clyde Sharp, cashier of
the First National Bank, to leave his
bed and go to the bank and open
the vault. Opening the inner door
lie managed to set off the fire alarm
and the burglars fled with six dollars
taken from the cash drawer. A posse
is pursuing.
Chinese Drowned by Typhoon
Hong Kong, By Cable. A typhoon
struck Hong Kong shortly before 12
o'clock Monday night, causing unus
usually high seas to run. A number
of Chinese were drowned. Members
of the crew of the British cruiser As
traea with a searchlight started out
in a cutter to rescue 43 men who were
fighting for life against the angry
waves. They " succeeded in rescuing
six of them, the others being drown
ed The proiv'ty loss on shore is
, vt
very heavy.
4j -.
COMMISSION HAS POWER
Inter-State Commerce Commission
Will Consider Reasonableness of
Frieght Rates' After They Have
Become Effective and Believes the
Increase is Effective After Notice
Has" Been Given by Carriers and
Before the Rate Actually Goes
Into Effect.
Washington, Special. The an
nouncement by the inter-State com
merce commission that it would con
sider the reasonableness of rates af
ter notice of increases by the ship
pers and prior to their filling of pro
tests is regarded as of wide-spread
importance. Following closely upon
the action of Cincinnati skinners ap
pealing to the President to induce the
commission to take this course, it is
generally believed here that the sug
gestion calling forth the statement
came from President Roosevelt.
Chairman Knapp said last Saturday
that the law contemplated investiga
tion of the reasonableness of rates
by the commission after they have
become effective, but he thought the
commission might decide that the in
crease is effective after notice has
been " given by a carrier and before
the new rate actually goes into ef
fect. The commission 's statement
takes that view of its powers.
There is much interest in the action
by Judge Speer, of the Southern
judicial district of Georgia, granting
a preliminary injunction restraining
the Atlanttic Coast Line, the Louis
ville & "Nashville, the Nashville,
Chattanooga & St. Louis, the Cincin
nati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific
and the Southern Railway Com
panies. from putting into effect on
August 1st the increased rates on
shipments of staple products from
Western to Southern points.
Norman E. Mack Chairman.
Chicago, Special. Chairman Nor
man E. Mack, Buffalo, N. Y., vice
chairman, L. P. Hall, of Nebraska;
treasurer, Governor C. N. Haskell,
Oklahoma, sergeant-at-arms, John I.
Martin, Missouri, secretary, Urey
Woodson, Kentucky. After a seven
hour conference with William J.
Bryan and John W. Kern, respective
ly Democratic nominees for Presi
dent and Vice President, the sub
committee of the national Democratic
committee made its selections of the
officers of the committee. It was the
first time in many years that a nat
ional chairman had been selected by
the Democratic party only after a
bitter contest had been waged. The
choice of Mr. Mack was made pos
sible only after the New York leaders,
Charles F. Murphy, of Tammany, and
W. J. Conners, chairman of the State
Democratic committee, had yielded
to the personal desires of Mr. Bryan.
New Party's First Meeting.
Chicago, Special. Amid loud and
enthusiastic cheering and with its
members showing every sign of loyal
ty to their new standard of political
faith, the first national convention of
the Independence party Avas opened
at 8 o'clock Mondav night in Orches
tra Hall. The main floor of the hall
was filled by delegates. There are no
alternates. The galleries were over
crowded with a throng which entered
heartily into the spirit of the pro
ceedings and throughout the session
applauded vigorously whatever met
their approval. The arrival of W.
R. Hearst was the signal for prolong
ed applause. Mr. Hearst made a
brief but forceful speech on takuij
the temporary chairmanship, in
which he arraigned the Republican
and Democratic parties vigorously and
claimed that the time for instituting
a new order of things political has
arrived.
Famous Banks' Birthday.
Loudon, By Cable. Fifteen hun
dred employes of the Bank of Eng
land are Monday enjoying a holiday
at the institution's expense, in ac
cordance with the annual custom or
observing the birthday of "the Old
Lady of Threatneedle Street." The
bank was founderd 214 years ago
Mondav and is the greatest financial
institution in the world.
Fine of $29,240,000 Excessive.
Chicago, Special Following the
unanimous decision of Judges Gross
cup, Seaman and Baker, composing
the United States Circuit Court of
Appeals, reversing and remanding the
case of the government against the
Standard Oil Company, of Indiana, in
which case Judge Landis, in the Dis
trict Court had imposed a fine of
$29,240,000 the Federal attorneys
announced that the government had
thirty days within which to tile a pe
tition for a re-hearing and that it
would be filed within the alloted pe
riod. . i
EED STRONG NAVY
President Roosevelt Expresses
His Views
SHOULD HAVE AMPLE DEFENSES
To a Notable Conference of Naval
Officers at Newport the Chief Exe
cutive pf the United States Sets
Forth His Ideas in Regard to That
Branch of Uncle Sara's Fightinj
Equipment.
Newport, It. I., Special. Pleading
for popular support for a "first-class
fighting navy," a navy capable of
seeking out the enemy and "hammer
ing him into the quits," Piesident
Roosevelt was the central figure here
in the most notable conference -of
American naval officers ever called to
gether to consult and discuss, in a
broad, general way, the future oi
United States battleships. The Presi
dent spoke publicly for more than
half an hour, and then the conference
went into executive session for one
hour. During this session the Presi
dent took a leading part in the dis
cussion. He argued as a layman, he
explained, and did not attempt to give
advice to professional men.
The President said in part :
"Admiral, Mr. Secretary, Gentle
men: I could not speak to you tech
nically. I can speak to my fellow
countrymen, who are deeply interest
ed in the American navy, but who
sometimes tend to be mislead as to
the kind of navy we should have and
as to what the navy can and ought
to do.
"For instance, there are always
I certain numbers of well-meaning,
Oiable individuals, coupled with
others not quite so well meaning, who
advocate merely a coast defeiise navy.
Such advocacy illustrates a habit of
mind as old as human nature itself
the i desire at the same time to do
somfhing, and not to do it.
"No fighting was ever won yet ex
cept by hitting," and the one unfor
giveable offense in any man is to hit
soft. That .applies to the individual
and it applies to the nation, and to
those who advocating a coast defense
navy, are jtdvocating that we shall
adopt as a national principle the
principle of hitting soft. I hope with
all my heart that never will this na
tion of ours hit unles it cannot pos
sibly be helped. But when this nation
does have to go to war, such war will
nly be excusable if the nation in
tends to hammer its opponent until
the opponent quits fighting.
"For the protection of our coast we
need fortifications, not merely to pro
tect the salient points of our possess
sions, but so that the navy can be
foot-loose. A year ago, at the time
it was announced that the fleet was
to go abroad, there was a certain
number of newspapers, especially in
my own city of New York, that rais
ed a clamorous protest against it. It
took at one time the form of a mis
taken prophecy to the effect that the
fleet would not be allowed to go
around the world, and one of the
reasons alleged was that to let it go
around the world would leave New
York defenseless in the event of war.
"We have taken the Philippines,
but if we had not taken them not a
particle of difference would be made
as regards the needs of our naval pol
icies. There has been a division of
this people as to taking the Phillip
pines. "There has been no division on the
Monroe doctrine, no division on build
ing, maintaining policing and de
fending the Panama canal; no di
vision about Hawaii and Porto Rico;
no division about keeping Alaska; no
division about asserting our superior
relit to defend and protect Cnba.
Not one of the courses of action thus
outlined can be followed out except
ing with a first-class navy. The
Monroe doctrine was in danger of
falling not merely into disuse, but
into contempt, until we began to build
up our navy. The Monroe doctrine
unbacked by a navy is an empty
boast.
"If we have a coast defense navy
only, Ave had beter at once turn over
the Panama canal to some stronger
and braver nation, and give up
Hawaii, P'erto Rico and Alaska, and
say that we had no more interest in
Cuba - than the smallest outside
powers.
"We do not want any navy at all
if it is not a first-class one, and such
a navy will be necessary for us just
so long' as we demand the right to
administer our national affairs as we
think best.
"It is verv possible that we shall
have to exercise a continually greater
supervision, a continually greater
exercise of the right of rejection
among imigrants that come hither,
and shall, it may be, take an attitude
that will tend at first to provoke
friction. I
BOLD MAIL ROBBERY
Car Sintered and Route Agent
Bound and Gagged
MUCH MAIL MATTER RIFLLD
Two Desperate Men Eoard Ulster
Express at Edge of Catskttl Moun
tains, and After Disposing of Mail
Clerk Peck in an Original Manner,
Loot the Mail Car Posses are in
Pursuit, Seeking the Robbers in
the Mountains, Where They are
BeKeved to Have a Hiding Place.
Albany, . N. Y., Special. A report
from Grand Gorge, a country station
on the edge of the Catsjcill mountain
region says two desperate mail rob
bers held up the Ulster Express be
tween there and Stamford, and after
binding and gagging Mail Clerk Peck
and throwing him into the mail bojc,
the cover of which they secured, went
through the mail and took everything
of value. They also took a watch,
chain and $25 from the coat of the
clerk, which was hanging in the car.
After rifling all the pouches they
made their way back to the day coach
and got off at Stamford, taking a
road that leads to tho mountains,
where the sheriff and railroad detec
tives believe them to have a hiding
place. At Stamford, Peck was miss
ed, and a search by the conductor
and brakeman resulted in the clerk's
extrication from his tight quarters
in the mail box. An alarm was sent
out all along the line from this city
to Montreal, and posses are looking
for the robbers.
LIGHTNING KILLS SIX.
Terrific Storm Strikes Encampment
of Pennsylvania National Guard at
Gettysburg The Dead Members of
the MiEtia A Score or More In
jured. Gettysburg, Pa., Special. As the
result of a terrific electric storm
which passed over the Pennsvlvania
national guard encampment here it is
reported that at least six . troopers
were killed, and two score injured,
some of them seriously, by being
struck by lightning. The known dead
are:
Private Morrison.
Private Barbe.
Unknown Man, Tenth Regiment. -The
tent occupied by Governor
Stuart was blown down as weie a
number of others. Several friends
were sitting with Governor Stuart
when his tent collapsed, but the party
managed to hold the canvas and all
escaped injury. The camp is flooded
and telegraphic service is practically
at a standstill. The entire camp is
panic stricken. The darkness is im
penetrable and men are wildly run
ning about through rivers of water,
seeking the injured.
Every tent of Battery B was blown
down, but no one in the battery was
hurt. The regimental guard tent of
the Tenth regiment was struck by
the lightning, and forty men of Com
pany C were badly injured.
The field hospital is full and men
are lying about the camp waiting for
aid.
The Young Men's Christian Asso
ciation tent, which was filled with
men and women who had taken
refuge from the storm, Avas razed to
the ground, but so far as known no
one Avas seriously injured.
Assistant U. S. Treasurer Dead.
Washington, Special Major James
F. Meline, for sixteen years past the
Assistant Treasurer of the United
States, died at his home in this nity
late Friday afternoon, after a long ill
ness. He Avas 07 years old and a
native of Ohio. He will be buried in
the National Cemetery at Arlington.
Richard Crcker to Come Back.
NeAV York, Special. Richard Crok
er, one-time boss of Tammany, is to
return to New York this fall, accord
ing to a NeAV York World special.
While denying that he Avculd take an
active part in the -campaign for Bry
an, Crokcr said he hoped the Nebras
kan Avould win and thought his
chances good.
Montana Is In Commission.
Norfolk, Special. The new armor
ed cruiser Montana Avas commission
ed at the Norfolk Navy Yard last
week. Capt. Alfred Reynolds is in
command. The Montana will begin
taking on stores at once for her shak
ing down - to Guantanamo, Cuba,
which will occur Avithin the next two
or three weeks. It is expected that
the Montana and her sister ship, the
North Carolina, will foi-m the nucleus
for a new armored cruiser division of
the Atlantic fleet, and that they will
shortly be joined by the Tennessee and
i Washington, now on the Pacific.
HEADS PEACE LEAGUE
la a Letter to Mr. Hayne Davis the
President of the United States Sig
nifies His Willingness to Accept
the Position of First Honorary
President of the Peace and Arbi
tration League.
New York, Special. President
Roosevelt has accepted the honorary
presidency of the Peace and Arbitra
tion League, which is the outgrowth
of the North Carolina congress, and
which has as its object adequate
armament and effective arbitration.
President Roosevelt's letter accepting
the honorary presidency was made
public by Hayne Davis, former pres
ident of the league. It follows:
"My Dear Mr. Davis:
"I am in receipt of your letter en
closing notice of my election as first
honorary president of tne peace
league, and gladly accept ; for I most
emphatically believe that the whole
American people should subscribe to
Avhat you call your 'practical pro
gramme for peatje;' that is to the
doctrine that we should provide ade
quate armament to protect us all
against aggression, and at the same
time strive for the effectual arbitra
tion of any and all disputes that
may arise betAveen us and foreig'n
powers Avhere it is possible to submit
to arbitration. In other Avords, I
cordially sympathize Avith your an
nounced purpose to secure present
protection for the nation and at the
same time, make as rapid progress as
possible toward permanent Avorld
peace. you well say we should
have an unquestionably superior
poAver in our OAArn possessions and in
the Avaters adjacent thereto in the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans; and we
should also do everything possible to
secure agreements with all govern
ments to respect each oter's terri
tory and sovereignty and to arbitrate
all other questions.
"I should be delighted to see Sena
tor McCreary president of the league
if you do not feel you can continue in
that office.
"Sincerely yours,
"THEODORE ROOSEVELT." .
Senator James B. McCreary, of
Kentucky, is the active president of
the league.
PLAN FOR CAMPAIGN.
Prominent Republicans From Every
Section Confer With National
Chairman Hitchcock in Regard to
the Coming Campaign.
Chicago, Special. As the result of
the Republican conference here Sat
urday, Avhich Avas called byFrank II.
Hitchcock, chairman of the" national
committee, heaquarters will be es
tablished immediately in eight States
and active campaigning for Taft and
Sherman begun long before these
States had expected to take up work.
The States taking part in the con
ference were Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kentucky, Missouri Michigan, Minne
sota and Wisconsin. They Avere rep
resented by the following: National
Committeeman E. E. Hart, Iowa; A.
T. Rogers, Wisconsin, and A. R. Burn
ham, Kentucky; State Chairman Roy
0. West, Illinois; J. P. Goodrich, In
diana; C. F. Franke, Iowa fit. H.
Winn, Kentucky; G. J. Diekema.
Michigan; A. D. BroAvn, Minnesota;
W. . Dickey, Missouri, and W. D.
Connor, Wisconsin, State Secretaries
Edward St. Clair, Illinois; Carl Rid
dick, Indiana; A. P. Adi?r, Iowa; A
S. Bennett, Kentucky; D. E. Alyward,
Michigan; D. II. Salmon, J A. Mar
tin, Minnesota, and J. E. Thomas,
Wisconsin.
Leaders Enthusiastic. .
The meeting was one of the mo?t
enthusiastic vet had 'by Mr."" Hitch'-,
cock, although at the outset the men
Avere less receptive, than Avere the
representatives of the States in the
far West who met in early part of
the week at Colorado Springs. This
was due, it is said, to the fact that
some of the men came from States
which they regarded as debatable and
they had little data on which to base
political estimates. It Avas agreed
that polls should be taken at once in
order to gather necessary informa
tion concerning tho -A'oters and Wil
liam Havward, State chairman for
Nebraska,, arid Victor Rosewate.r,
national committeeman from that
State, explained .the system they have
used there for. a number of years.
To Uurgo Radical Reforms.
Chicago, Special. The platform of
the Independence party, which is to
meet in national eonA-ention this
Aveek will, if present plans are car
ried out, contain a much mcr radical
declaration on the question of in
junction than was embodied in the
p a form of either the Democratic or
Republican party.
From present indications the tem
per of the convention Avill be in fa
vor of a declaration doing ftAvay en
tirely Avith preliminary injunctions
in cases of labor disputes.
PRICE JIT QUEBEC
Heir to British Throne Visits
Canadian City
RECEIVED WITH GREAT HONOR
A Multitude of People, Thousands ef
Soldiers and a Fleet of Internation
al Warships Assemble to Do Honor
to the Heir of the, .English Throne.
Quebec, Que., Special. The Prince
f Wales landed from' the British bat
tleship Indomitable amid the deafen
ing roar of guns from the internation
al fleet of British, French and Ameri
can' warships, and the. tumultuous de
monstrations of 50,000 people massed
upon the wharves and .the terraced
heights of the city. It was a spec
tacle of, truly royal splendor, for the
latest type of British Dreadnought,
with the royal standard flying, came
to anchor among the double column .
of foreign warships, and the Prince
was welcomed ashore by Earl Grey,,
Governor-General of Canada; Pre--tnier
Laurier and the assembled dig
nitaries, flanked by thousands of
soldiers and a multitude of people.
It was 2:45 in the afternoon when
the croAvds assembled on the cliffs
saw the Prince of Wales' fleet em
erge from the mist far down the riv
er. Immediately the guns of the war--ships
began to thunder, the British,
French and American ships firing
their royal salutes together, while ev
ery ship hoisted the royal standard ,
and broke out a mass of color from "
stem to stern. The Indomitable ad- .
vanced majestically, ATith sailors and -marines
ranged along the gun deck.
As she SAvung along side the . New,
Hampshire the collossal magnitude,
and power of the British ship stood ,
in bold relief against the American -battleship,
Avhich looked like a deli
cate white yacht beside this truly '
monstrous engine of destruction. Back
of her came the Monitaur, another
naval colossuc.
At 4 o'clock the battleships again;
roared "a salute as the Prince disem-
barked from his ship and came
ashore. He Avore the uniform of an
admiral, Avith waving Avhite plume
and dark coat faced Avith gold em
broidery. Premier Laurier delivered to the
Prince an address of Avelcome, in
which he assured him of the un-:
SAverving loyalty anrl devotion of
Canada ,to the King and its united
resolution to promote the interests of
the Empire. The Prince responded in
happy vein, speaking both English and
French, extending the good wishes':-,
of his royal father to Canada, and
making pleasant allusion to the loy
alty of English and French Canadians
alike. The ceremonies concluded the
Prince was' driven in an open carri- .
age, through the streets, lined. Avith
soldiers and packed Avith people to -the
Citadel, Avhere the royal quarters
are established during his week's
stay. .
Naval experts are much interested
in the Indomitable, knoAvn in, Eng
land us "The Mystery Ship," owing '
to the secrecy with Avhich her recent",
construction has been surrpnnded. In
appearance she is a complete depart"
ure from the old battleship and is
little more than a huge gun "platform",
with all top hamper cleared away so
as to give open speed to her eight
12-inch guns, capable of firing fore
or aft or broadside Avith a concen
trated fire of 13,600 pounds of steel
projectiles . eery minute. The "old
time masts and fighting tops t are
eliminated and in their place is seen
for the first time the steel tripod
masts, fore and aft, any part of
which can be shot aAvay and the rest
stand. ",
Headquarters Removed to Atlanta.
Macon, Ga., Special. President J.
F. Hanson, of the Central of Georgia,
will move hh headquarters to At
lanta August 1st, having leased a
suite of rooms in tho Candler build
ing. Major Hanson has been a resi
dent of Macon for 40 years and has
been identified Avith many public in
terests here. His large office force t
will go with him to Atlanta.
Fleeing Convict Shot. 'I
Winston-Salem, N. C., Special. Ed
Scott, colored, was shot and mortally ,
wounded about sun-up Tuesday morn
ing in an attempt to escape from the'
county convict camp, near Walkcr
tewn, where he Avas serving a two
years.' , term for forgery, being tried
and sentenced "at the May term of Su
perior court. The guards Avere jest
starting to work the convicts Avhen 1
Scott bolted oir. - Four guards opened
fire on him, and two shots took ef
fect, one going through the left'lunr
and the other entering the lowc pay!:
of his back. " ' '