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Exeter Times, 1903-5-14, Page 6ITAIN ARNS RUSSIA Hands Of in the Persian Gulf Says Lord Lansdowne. IA. London despatch says: Another tenatortaat change in the interna- tional political situation is recorded by Lord Lansdowne's import:1a an- nouncement in the House of Lords on Wednesday evening in regard to the British policy in the Persian Gulf. It has been clearly evident: for some time that 13:tiseia desired to develop her plans of agaranclizentent in two quarters before proceeding to execute her designs against Ottoman rule in Constantinople. One was Manchuria, and North China. There the United States has intervened with a protest which promises to be eftectual for the time being. The other was Persia, where Russia's ultimate object was to secure an outlet to the see, iri the Persian Gulf. Great Britain zaoav slupplies a checkmate to this ambition by de- claring t hat she will meet its exe- cution u h war. This die eive move marks a whole- some re, of vitality and vigor in British policy. It alters the whole cc., lexion of the general crisis SII i h is arising in European affairs. The Russian efforts in both the direetions inelicated are for the present paralyzed. The chief mo- ' tives which led Russia to hold in : chec'k the 13alkan troubles by- every means in her power are thereby re -1 moved. The only remaining reasons sent policy in Macedonia, and Bul-1 why Russia should continue her pre- garia are her partial unpreparedness for an innnediate campaign against Turkey, and the serious unrest with- in her own borders. The next few days will probably bring sonie indi- cation whether the Russian plans have been changed. It is not at all possible that her reply to Lord Lansdowne's militant threat will be the first move in the plan which will dulteinate in the march of Russian troops against Constantinople. It is safe to say that there will be no 33ritish threat of war to thwart her In that direction. Bat it is folly to attempt to fore- cast with any confidence the action. of Russian diplomacy. The Czar's Government has received within a week two rebuffs of almost terrific .violence, each from an unexpected quarter. They may bring imtmediate• retaliation, or they may be received en.Muscovite silence, which means, net acquiescence, but a long future reckoning. throat. As she dropped, iaseasible, he fled. Late Wednesday afternoon an Indian arrived at the lauding, and reported having seen Delorme lying by the roadside, as if asleep, about seven miles from the village. Mounted. Polk* went out for bine aid rowed hint dead, his throat hav- ing being cut. lies wife is now on the high road to recovery. 12 NEN BURNED IN CAR. A Shocking Railway Fatality on the C. P. R. A Winnipeg despatch says: One of the most horrible catastrophes in the history of the West occurred at 1 o'clock on Thureday morning on the main line of the 0. I'. R. near Dexter Station, about 52 miles east of Fort Wiliam. A tie train, fan- ning at a high rate of speed, was derailed and thrown completely in- to the ditoh. In the boanding car attached to the roar end of the ;train, and filled with employes, 12 ;mon were leurned to death, being un- able to extricate themeelves from the upturned caboose, Eight others were so seriously injured and burned that a number may die. Advices of the terrible affair were rushed to Fort William, and all the available medical aid, with nurses and appli- ances, for the relief of the injured, was despatched to the scene, arriv- ing about 4 o'clock. The injured were tendered first aid, and then taken to Fort 'William Hospital. The scene that presented itself to the more fortunate on the train, who hastened to render what as- sistance they could, was appalling. The cries of those confined in the burning car were plainly heard, but the fierceness of the flames made all attempts at rescue abortive. For a eine it seemed that all the occu- pants of the car were doomed, when one of them was seen to fall through a window, and he was quickly followed. by six or seven others, all of whom were fearfully borned. Their recovery is doubtful. Those who accompanied the injured here can offer no cause for the wreok. They all agree, however, that the victims suffered very little, some of them being dea.d before the flames reached them.. LABOR WAR IN AUSTRALIA The Railway Meet's Union Served With Ultimatum. A Melbourne despatch says: The Government of Victoria announces that unless the Railway Men's Union severs its connection with the Trad- ers' Hall, which is the central or- ganization of all the trades unions, the leaders will be dismissed with- out euxther nertice. The Govern- ment ultimatum is a challenge to the labor party, which threatens to entail one of the most important labor wars Australia has known. The situation briefly stated is this: The various railway men's uxrions of Victoria, owing to a reduction in wages, lately affiliated themselves with the Traders' Ilall, thereby ren- dering themselves liable to be called out in support of any outside strike, and thus placing all the railway cionemunications of the colony at the rpercy of any trade dispute. The Government, whic,h owns the rail- ways, is willing to allow the organ- ization of the men so long as they are not affiliated with the Trade/el' a.nd with this condition at- tached offered to discuss the general grievances of the railway employes. Several conferences have failed of late, and hence the ultimatum. TRANSVAAL LOAN. Conclitions of the New Issue Are Announced. .A. London despatch says: The is- sue of tbe prospectus of the Trans- vaal loan was awaited with the greatest interest in financial circles here, and there was a scene of con- Erecierable excitement at the Bank of England on Thursday, where thou- sands of people congregated hours before it. was finally given out that the prospectus announced the issue of $150,000,000 of the $1,75,000,000 authorized, and that the price would be at par. with interest at three per cent. The loan is redeem- able in 1953. A sinking fund of one per cent. will be applied to the pur- chase of stock when below par. The Government of the Transvaal re- serves the right to pay off stock at any time after May 1, 1923, subject to six menthe' notice. The rush for proepectuses was unprecedented, and resembled greatly a football scrim- mage. Crowds continued to enter the bank long after the usual dos- ing hour. It is understood that the' ,loan has been subscribed for twenty times. CUT HIS WIFE'S THROAT. The Zalf-Breed Suicided After Committing Deed. An Edmonton, N. W. Ter despatch says: Rep:ores of a ease of attempt- ed madder,. followed by suicide last :Wednesday, have just reached Ed.- monton by travelers froni the north, 'A. halfebreed, named Pierre DeIortne, leveled with his Wife for refusing o accompaay him to the north on a freight. Gaatzpiiag a knife he stab- beci her about the head and ghoul - dere an tlion attempted to ata her • P001 - FOOT CAUGHT IN FROG. Grand Trunk Switchman Loses His Life. A London, Ont., despatch says: Edward Addison, a switchman em- ployed in the local yards of the G. T. R. was run over at noon on Thursday, while engaged in switch- ing. His left leg was so terribly crushed he died in the hospital six hours later. The accident was due to Addison's foot becoming fast in a frog as a train of cars approach- ed. He was 22 years iff age, and TOOK BRIBE WHILE MAYOR A. A. Ames, Former Chief Magis- trate of Minneapolis. A Minneapolis, Minn., despateh says: Albert Aloneo Ames, former Mayor of Minneapolis, bas been found guilty of accepting a bribe of $600 while chief executive of the city. The leen interest in the case was shown by the silence in the crowded court room as the verdict was read. The usual motions were made for a stay and an arrest of judgment, and now will come the fight on appeal. The verdict came as a severe shock both to the de- fendant and his wife. THE "P:EACOCK" THRONE. A Visit to the Shah of Persia's Palace. The palace of the Shah of Persia is almost farcical in its dingy splen- dor. Here is the fabulous wealth of the Orient surrounded by decay and dirt. Mr. Donald Stuart in his book, "The Struggle for Persia," describes the strange contradictions of luxury and squalor. The throne is a sort of wooden bed nine feet by six, the woodwork cov- ered with diamonds, emeralds, ru- bies and sapphires, some an inch long; the whole value of the throne must be five million dollars. It is rumored that some of the precious stones have been removed and glass substituted, but Mr. Stuart found all the stones that he had time to examine genuine and beautiful. On the floor of the throne is a. car- pet so thick with pearls that the texture of the cloth is invisible. On the evalls a painting by an an- cient master is framed next the ad- vertisement card of a Birmingham dealer in fish-hooks. A vase set with turquoise and pearls shoulders a cheap mug such as is sold at a country fair. Clocks in the shape of pagodas, that every hour pour forth a stream of pearls froxn foun- tains, stand next to a clock by a London maker that telis the time of every capital in the world. Great gaps in the walls mark the places where thieves have done their work; evidently with no opposition whatever, for it, is no uncommon thing to find in the public bazaars articles from the palace offered for sale. la one room the visitor saw a lit- ter of peeking cases half emptied of the gimcracks and ornaments the Shah had bought, in Europe, monu- ments to the way he had been fleeced by tradesmen of more civil- ized nations. Otte of the most interesting rooms was that filled with the portraits of all the monarchs of Europe, In the next room was his majesty's writing apparatus, Here stood a globe such as rimy be seen in a schoolroom, ex- cept that the continents were made with gems of different color ahd all the nemes end llama were marked dietaande. LEGISLATIVE ASSE1IBLYI Doiage of Oar law Makers at Toronto., CIVIO COAL YARDS., Mr. Preston, (South )3rant), in ex- plaining his bill to amend the Muni- cipal Act, said that it authorized municipalities to buy and sell coal or wood. The recent famine was sufacient justification for the mea- sure, he added. The Attorney -General said he was in favor of municipalities controlling certain utilities, such as water works and lighting systems, but he was strongly opposed to granting them indiscriminate powers and privileges. The bill was an import- ant measure ; it gave the muniel- palities the right to say when they should or should not enter into the coal business, and he believed that that would be dangerous. The bill was finally .given a sec- ond reading. SECOND READINGS. A second reading was also given to Mr. Holmes' bill which provides, among other things, that the voters' lists shall be printed in a uniform size. Other bills read a second time Were :-Mr. Dickenson's, to amend the Municipal Act, and Mr. Mathe- son's, to make better provision for keeping and auditing municipal and school accounts. TAXATION Brim. Premier Ross' municipal taxation bill was read a second time, and was referred to a select committee, consisting of Messrs. Barber, Gibson, Latchford, McKay, Patellae Pens% Pettypiece, Preston, Stock, Tudhope, Lee Duff, Beck, Carscallen, Foy, Hanna, Hoyle, Powell, Maediarmid, and Whitney. 111 moving the second reading, the Premier spoke °xi the salient features of the measure. Part of the report of the Commission is included ia the bill, the Premier explained. One feature to which special at- tention was called was the definition of the terms "land," "real property" and "reel estate," among other things included being "all mainory, fixturos, building, structures and other things existing, erected or placed upon, in, over, under, or affixed to, land or any highway, road, street, lane or public place, or water, but not the rolling stock of any railway or street railway!' There is a provision for a tax on special franchises, the term meaning "every right, authority or permis- sion to construct, maintain or operate within Ontario, in, under, above, on, or through any highwea, road, street, lane, public place or public water, any such structures, or other things for the purposes of bridges, railways, tramways, or for the purpose of conducting steam, heat, water, gas, oil, electricity, or any property, substance or product capable of transportation, transmis- sion or convayance, for the supply of water, light, heat, power, transpor- tation, telegraphic, telephonic or other service." WHAT ARE EXEMPT. One of the first clauses of the bill deals with exeraPtions, and to this subject attention was directed by Mr. Ross. In addition to the ex- emptions on Crown property and churches, there is a sub -section deal- ing with educational institutions. The buildings and grounds of col- leges, schools and universities are to be exempted as tong as they are actually used and occupied by such institutions, but not otherwise, and provision is made for "every other school or seminary of learning," which is conducted in conformity with the regulations laid down by the Province. The buildings and grounds exempt under the bill shall, however, be liable to be assessed for local improvements in the same man- lier and to the same extent as other land. BUSINESS TAX PROPOSED. A business tax is provided, to get around some Of the anomalies of the personal and income tax. Any per- son engaged in carrying on any trade, manufacture, financial or commereial business shall be _assess- ed for the amount of the ann.ual sealue of the land occupied. The Premier said 7 per cent. of the actual value was the basis of the business tax. Incomes under $1,000 are exempt from taxation. Under the present act a tax is levied on 'incomes of more than $70-9. All machinery shall he registered as personal property. There is a provision respecting the assessment of, income, The tax is 5 mills on the dollar, which rate may be increased to a rate not exceeding 7 mills by hy-law of the municipal- ity. Under the present law, incomes are assessable at the same rate as laird or other property. TAX ON HOUSES. Section 15 provides for a house tax, and the word "house" is defined as a place of abode of one or more persons, forming a single household, with- so much of the lend and 'out- . buildings as is used in connection with the house for the purpose , ol. resideneer; bent ah.11 also include each a, building intended for use, as afore- said, though unoccupied or only oc- cupied bei a caretaker, and a build- ing, other than a hotelor place of public entertainment, used by the occupant as a place of residence, though boarders or lodgers may also be taken by hire. The mode of as- sessment is as follows :-Where the population is 4,000 or less, $70; 4,000 to 10,000, $105; 10,000 to 20,000, $140; 20,000 to 75,000, $175; more that 75,000, $245, These figures have been adopted up- on a consideration of the relative values of the property in the differ- ent Munielpalities. Some new ideas are embodied in the elatieee respecting 'the valuation of lands. It 18 stated that the real property shall be aseessed at its es 'real valuer The value of eee auild- ings shall be the amount by Which the value of the land is thereby in - elegised. This feature of the bill, it was claimed, is capable of misiater- pretation, and the member for West Toronto took the ground thee its meaning was exec*. the opposite of what Mr. Ross said it was. BAJLWAY TAXATION. If the railways of the province bore their fair share of the burden of taxation,. Ontario's coffers would be filled to overflowing. This was the contentiori energetically put forth by the member for West Lamb - ton (Mr, Pettypieee). He argued that the syetem of asseesment of railways was imperfect; that it was of euch a oharacter as permitted them to enjoy extraordinary pri- vileges, in retuan for which they paid a tax that was a great deal too .low, All this he peopoeed to remedy by a bill to amend the As- sessment Act. It is the se,mo meas - lire that he introduced and explained at the last session of the house. HOUSES OF REFUGE. Mr. Auld's bill to amend the Mu - It relates to tbe maintenance of per- nicipal Act was read a second time. sons sent to Houses of Refuge. SPEED OF AUTOMOBILES. The bill of Mr. Preston (South Brant) regulating the speed and the license of automobiles, was road a second time and sent on to commit- tee to be considered. LOSSES BY FIRE. aia. Reid (Adlington) asked the GOvernment to assist those people in the northern part of A,dklington whose possessions had been de- stroyed by fire a few days ago, which originated in the forest re- serve there. The Premier reported that the Government had rendered assist- ance in similar cases before, and the matter would be looked into. MAY RETURN TO FRANK. Reassuring Report From Summit and. Slope. An Ottawa 'despatch says: The situation at Frank is more reassur- ing than was deemed a few days ago, juidginee from the following tele- gram received by the Deputy Min- ister of the Interior; "A large number representing all interests visited the stone of the slide at stabmit and slope of same yesterday. Result is, the railway has started vigorously to construct a line across the slide. The miners have volunteered to start and open merles. Probably the citizens will re -occupy their buildings in Frank. (Signed) Wm. Pearce." e CAN'T CONTROL THE WOMEN Police Difficulties With the Douk- hobors. A Rostherre N. W. T., despatch says: Reports from the Mounted Police engaged in escorting the wan- dering Doukhobors to their homes again show they are encountering difficulties. The number of fanatics is reduced to about sixty, mostly women, and these refuse to settle down on the farms. A band has succeeded in passing the Saskatche- wan River en route south. Local members of the Douieh.obors' General Council met to -day to discuss means of punishing the leader of the pil- grimage, Serapalken. It was de- cided to await the arrival of Peter Veregia, the Doukhobor leader, when a mass meeting of the people will be held to decide the best me- thod of dealing with the pilgrims, against whose acts there is a strong feeling in the communities. SCIENCE AND INVENTION. On many railways cement ties are displacing wooden ties. The average age at death has in- creased from 18 years in the six- teenth century to 85e years in the present one. Prof. Braun of the 'University of Strassburg, has undertaken to heat a room in Munich by a flash light in Nuremburg, 100 miles distant. The trolley car is not drawn or pushed by the electric current at all, but is lifted again and again by the attraction of magnets for the arma- ture coils of the motor. A. young Greek girl of Mitylene has discovered a method by which the punctured silk worm cocoons are made into beautiful artificial flowers of natural colors and forms. A lot of typewritten matter was stored in a slightly damp -vault for six months. On removal the paper and gall ink signatures were in best of condition, but all trace of type- writing had disappeared. It is proposed in Prance to estab- lish subterranean observatories by drilling miles into the earth with oil well machinery. In tlarse ane strata, temperature, and gasses at various depths would be studied. There was a nearly even number of electrical and gasoline motors in the National German Automobile exposi- tion ,just .closed 411-33erline With scarcely an exception the vehicles carried the motor in front, high above the axle. A new feature was rubber tires with steel soles. The sixty horse power trztetioir engines used on 'western ranches will pull simultaneously seventeen four- teen inch*plows plowing twenty feet wide. The outfit will, plow from forty to sixty acres per day, or will plow, drill, and harrow, all at one time, with properly arranged tools, from thirty-five to fifty acres per day. An unustial 'number of serious 111- eesses and operations, especially for appendicitis, having occurred in ladies of the French nobility, a pro- fessor of the fEteulty of medicine Was asked the cause. He daid, "Xt is all due to trio present fashionable cor- set, the preesure of ivhich displaces the ftlaleteato and itepedate digeetiore" THE ROUSE fl COMITONS Notes of Proceedings in the Can- adian rarliameutt BILLS INTRODUCED. The following- bills were introduc- ed and read a first Arm Respecting the St. Mary's River Railway Co. -Mr. Oliver. To incorporate the Cardiff Railway Co.; respecting the Medicine Hat and Northern Alberta Railway Co. - Mr, Logan. Reepecting the Elgin and Have- lock Railway Co. -Mr, Fowler. MILITIA PENSION ACT. The bill t6 amend the Militia Pen- sion Act was also put through the final stages, It provides that a civil servant who afterwards becomes an officer in the permanent force or headquarters staff, shall have credit- ed to his militia pension the amount he has paid into the Civil Service Supez.ann u ation Fund. FREIGHT BLOCKADE. Mr. Scott (West Assiniboia) drew the attention of the House to the serious congestien of traffic in the West, caused by the inability of the C.P.B. to handle the immensely in- creasing trade. He read a number of extracts from newspapers on the subject, a strongly worded resolu- ticn of the Winnipeg Board of Trade, and an address to the Governor- General -in -Council passed by the Ter- ritorial Government, all of which set forth the harm and incorrvenience that the West suffered through this congestion of traffic ; that there was a strong need for an inuneaiete en- largement of the railway facilities, and that unless something' was done to relieve the congestion Manitoba and the Northwest would receive a serious check. Mr. Tarte contended that the C. P. R. had done well under circumstances of great difficulty. Everything should be done to encourage a distinotly Canadian enterprise, and criticism should be reasonable. The rainfall in the west last fall had been so small that it was impossible to ob- tain sufficient water for locomotives. Large additions had been made to rolling stock, and the elevator ca- pacity had been increased. It was impossible for one railway to handle the whole crop in the short season of navigation. Farmers ought to build more private granaries, as American farmers do. PRIVATE BILLS. In the Private 13111s Committee Mr. Morrison's bill to incorporate the Dominion Institute of Amalga- mated Engineering was killed, on the ground that it would interfere with existing organizations. Mr. Leigh- ton McCarthy's' three land 'company bills, respetting the Winnipeg West- ern Land Corporation, Limited ;, re- svecting the Ontario & Qu'Appelle Land Co., Limited, and respecting the Canada, Northwest Land Co., Limited, were reported. NO INCREASE FOR JUDGES. It is about settled that there will be no increase in the salarles of judges this session. To give an in- crease of $1,000 to the Supreme Court judges and $500 to • the County Court judges would entail an extra expenditure of about $198,- 000 annually, an amount which is considered too largo to saddle the country with. at the present time. BILLS INTRODUCED. The following bills were introduc- ed: -To incorporate the Montreal and Longueull Bridge Co. -Mr. Geof- frion.. To incorporate the Brandon, Saskatchewan & Hudson Bay Rail- way Cb. -Mr. Davis. To incorpor- ate the St. Cheysostom Railway Co. Mr. Brown. To incorporate the Canadian Yukon Western Railway Co.'also to incorporate the Stew- art River Development Co. -Mr. T. 0. Davis. Respecting the Hamilton & Lake Erie Power Co., and to change its name to the Jordan Light, Heat and Power Coe -Mr. German. Re- specting the United Eznpire Life In- surance Co.-Liout-Col. Thompson. To incorporate the Pacific Rank of Canada -Mr. Galli -her. To incorpor- ate the. Algonquin Lumber & Power Co. -Mr. Gould. To incorporate the Gaspe & Western Railway Co. -Mr. Gauvreau. Respecting the Montreal Bridge Co., and to change its name to the Montreal Bridge & Terminal Co. - Mr. Bicker- dike. To incorporate the Ohicou- timi & Northwestern Railway Coe -- Mr. Deland. RAILWAY BILLS. Three bills of great interest to the Counties of Elgin and Middlesex par- ticularly, and Western Ontario gen- ce ally, were dealt with by the Rae. - way Committee. They were Acts respecting the St. Thomas Street Railway, the Southavesterrx. `Vrac- tion Co., and the Middlesex and El- gin Interurban Railway. The first will confer on the City of St. Thomas all the rights and powers possessed by the defunct fAreot railway company of that municipality. It provides for the road's management by a board of commissioners and empowers the city to raise money for the im- provement of the oxisting line, and its extensioa 6e miles south to the village of. Port • Stanley, on Lake Erie. The latter Provision Of the • was opposed by a representae tive of the Solithwesternearraction; Co,, which holds. a fratiehise over the •same route, bat the bill was fa- vorably reported without amend- atil°hn' The So'uthwesteen. Traction Co. asks to have its capital stook fixed at $1,500,000 while both it and the Middlesex and Elgin Betererban seek increased powers of amalgamation avid right of way. Mehemet Dry- den looked upon thezn aelcance, and Mr. McDiaeteed (Elgin) said they were not aeeeptable In thsit present form to the 'different municipalities interested, They were botli laid over for a week to alio* of the ob. jectionable pottiOns beltag modifiea, 4 Light pessee front the Moon to bite earth Th. 1* seconds, THE MARKETS Prices of Grain, Cattle, etc in Trade Centres. Toronto, May 12. - Wheat - The market is quiet, with a limited do- nated, No, 2 white arid rod quoted at 71 to 71.ee, middle freigats. No. 2 spring nominal at 71ec on Mid - laud. Manitoba wheat steady; No. 1 hard quoted at 82c Goderieh„ and No. 1 Northern at 81c Gaderich. No, 1 hard,. 88c, grinding in transit, lake anti rail, aud No. 1 Northern, 87c. , • Oats -- The derana is limited. No. 1 white quotea at 814c east. No. 2 white unchanged at 291c high freight, and at 80tc Middle freight. Barley - Trade is quiet, with No. 8 extra • quoted at 44e middle freight., and No. 8 at 2e.4i Peas - Trade dull, with No. 2 quoted at 63 to 64c, high freights. Rye - Market quiet at 51ec for No. 2 east. Corn - Market ,is 'dull. Cana- dian feed corn quoted at 40 to 41c west, and at 46e here. No. 8 Am- erican yellow at 50 to 50e0 .on track, Toronto, and No. 8 mixed at 49 to 50c. Flour - Ninety per cent. patents unchanged at 52.67e, middle freights, in buyers' sacks, for ex- port. Straight rollers of special brands for domestic trade quoted at 53.25 to 53.35 in bbls. Manitoba flour steady; No. 1 patents, 54.10 to 54.20, and seconds $3.90 to 54.- 10; strong bakers', 53.80 to 54, bags included, Toronto. Millfeed - Bran is dull, at $17 here. Ai' outside points bran is quoted at $15.60 to $16, and shorts at $17. Manitoba bran in sacks, $18, and shorts at $20 here. TIM DAIRY MARKETS. Batter - The market is quiet, with supplies more liberal, and ship- ping demia,nd slow. Prices are heavy. We quote: Fresh, large rolls, 16 to 17e; choice, 1-1b. rolls, 17 to 18c; fresh dairy tubs, 15e to 16c; secondary grades, 14c; cream- ery prints, 22c; do., solids, 19c. Eggs - Market steady, with sales of case lots at 13c per dozen. Cheese - Trade is quiet. rrio quote: New, 121 to 13. HOG PRODUCTS. Dressed hogs are nominal. Cured meats are unchanged, with a good demand. We quote; Bacon, clear, 10 to 10ec, in ton and case lots. Pork - Mess, 521 to 21.50; do., short cut, 522.50 to 523. Smoked meats - Hams, 12e to 13ec; rolls, 11 to 11eca shoultiers, 10e0; bacl.s, 14 to 14ea; breakfast' bacon, 14 to 141c. Lard - The market is unehanged. We quote: Tierces, 10ec; tubs, 10e0; pails, 11c; compound, 8e to ac. UNITED STATES MARKETS. Duluth, May 12. - Wheat - To arrive - No. 1 hard, 79ec; No. 1 Northern, 771c; ale. 2 Northern, 751c; May No. 1 band, 79ec.; July, 76.1e; Septem- ber, 701c. Oats - May, 83ec. Milwaukee, May 12. - Wheat - Steady; No. 1 Northern, 80eco No. 2 Northern, 78 to 79c; July, 72/c. Rye - F11711; No. 1, 52ec to 58c Barley - Lower; No 2, 58 to 60c; sample, 40 to 55d. Corn - July, 451c. Buffalo, May 12. - Flour - Firm. Wheat -Spring, quiet; No. 1 North- ern, c.i.f., 81c; No. 1 hand, 85c; winter steady; No. 2 white, 81c; No. 2 red, 79ec. Corn - Quiet; No. 2 yellow, 51c; No. 2 corn, 49c. Oats -toady; No. 3 white, 38c; No. 2 mixed, 8410. Bexley, track receipts, 47 to 55c. Canal freights - Steady. Minneapolis, May 12. - Flour - First patents, $4.10 to 54.20; sec- ond patents, 54 to 54.10; first clears, $3 to 53.10; second clears, 52.45 to 52.50. Bran - In bulk, 511.25. CATTLE MARKET. Toronto, May 12. -There was a good run at the cattle market to -day and a brisker trade than for several markets past. There was a very good demand for butcher cattle of almost any kind and prices were firm. There seerns to be a very good de- mand for heavy feeders and short - keep. Several lots of cattle brought in this week for export have been bought at 54.00 to 55, to be put out to grass. There is also a fair steady trade in light and medium heavy stockers. Sheep and lambs are steady for good grain -fed stock. Only good calves are wanted. Too many little ones being sent in. Milk cows were a little easier to- day. The hog market is weaker and prospects are that prices will be lower. They were unchanged to -day at 56 to $6.25. Export, heavy... $4.70 $5.00 Export, light . . . 4.50 4.60 Bulls, export, heavy, cwt 3.50 3.75 do light. 8.00 3.50 Feeders, light, 800 lbs. and tiptearde4.00 4.90 Stockers, 400 to 800 lbs2:50 8.75 do 400 lbs.. 8.7'5 Butchers' cattle, choice-. 4.00 4.50 do medluizi- .-.. 8,50 4.00 do picked... 4.25 4.75 do bulls... -ea.. 8.00 3.30 do rough.,. 2.'75 8.25 Light stook bulle, cwt.- 2.25 3.00 Moll cows.. - -30.00 53.00 Hogs, best.. ..• 6.25 do light- ..." -.err 6.00 Sheep, export, cwt. 4.00 4.75 ealeaseea are, 850 4.00 e.t.a aeakaa 2.2$ 2,50 Lambs,. -ea; 646 6.25 Calvee, ker aa 2.00 10.00 Spring larailata 4.00 5.00 Only a physatitia. Of long experience likowe what to do when there is ho occasion ter...doing anything, SELL WIVES Ali I) CHILDREN 0011I3ON PRA.OTIOE IN (MINA IN FAMINE TIMES. ••••••III Children Sell at the Bate of 52 or 5.50 for Every Year Year of Their Lives. There is nothing surprising in the despatch from Hong Kong to the et - beet that in the famine district of southwest China men are, selling their wives and • children to 'prevent them from starving to death. Their purchasers supply them with food and the lives of the sellers of their own flesh and blood are also pre- served, by the money they receive. When Mr. Nichols traveled through the famine stricken Province of Shensi he heard much of this prac- tice. He wrote that however miueh Chinese parents might love their lit- tle ones, they could be induced to sell them when all were starving. This practice marks the worst and last phase of famine horrors. There is always a marlcet for ohildren in China and the demand is usually far greater than the supply; for par- ents will not sell their children, as a rule, until they have suffered long through hunger. Wo hear comparatively little of slavery' in China. The fact is. how- ever, that it is a time-honored in- stitution. Housemaids and women In dornestic service in. the interior towns usually receive no wages. Un- til they are married they are the property of their masters, who pur- chase them when they are little girls. • Tufa EXTREMEST POVERTY, the inability to provide their family with food, is the solo cause of the selling by fathers of children into bondage. Rich familes often own these girls by the dozen and most families in easy circumstances have at least one slave among their ser- vants. The slave state is for the women only temporary, their mas- ters being obliged to provide them with a husband when they are of marriageable age, and as married women they cease to be slaves. The absolute right of the father to sell his offspring into bondage is ful- ly recognized by the law, but the descendants of slaves cannot always be held in bondage. Male slaves have a right before their thirtieth year to require their owners to and wives for them, and as heads of fa- milies they transmit the slave stato only down to the fourth generation. In all respects, except that they are in bondage they are treated, as a rule, like the other servants, re- ceiving instruction in the schools, competing at the public examina- tions, and sometimes obtaining offi- cial appointments. In this case the ownee is bound to permit them te eedeem themselves and 'their fam- ilies. ' A late despatch says thathus- bands are selling tb.eir wives as well as their children. It is permit- ted under the Jaw for married wo- men to be sold, but never as slaves. They aro purchased only as wives by those who buy them. When the famine was at its worst In Shensi, men in carts, according to Mr. Nichols, appeared in the city of Sian -fu. They were speculators whose business was the buying of children in THE FAMINE MARKET. Starting at Siam as the headquar- ters for the trade they made excur- sions into the surrounding country. They bought hundreds of children, paying ordinarily about 2,000 cash for a little boy, while a little girl could be purchased foc half that se trade was carried on by whole - sal and the children were scattered all over China to be sold' to the rich. Reclus says that the price of children is usually at the rate of 52 to 52.50 for every year of their age. A while ago Bishop Favier pub- lished a book on Pekin in which he spoke of gambling as the national vice of the Chinese. He told how beggars in rags would bet their last scrap of clothing; and how some frenzied gamblers would stake their vexes and children at the gambling table. }Te of one young man who RbIee. staked his wife and lost her. The woman was only 20 and the gamb- ling debtinvolved was only 53.60. Bishop Foxier paid the debt and .re- turned the young' woman to her mee ther. A few months afterward she rejoined her husband and, "in all probability," added the Bishop, "he has played and lost her again." It is extreme poverty also that is responsible for a large proportion of the enoreious infanticide that is known to exist in China. This crime is much more common in the south than in the north; but it ex- ists everywhere e.nd is especially prevalent when the people. who, in their most prosperous days are drinking the dregs of poverty, find themselves unable to procure en- ough food to keep their children froest. -- "la your cook piinsssattaisreiviendgGe' Guest. doesn't put less red pepper in his dishes I shall have to quit comiag here. I can't stand it." Proprietor of Restaurant - "Good heavens! pay ray chef 55,000 a year, and heale leave me in a minute if I found fault with his cooking, Try to leara to like red pepper, can't you?" MAKING SOFT WOOD HARD. Mr. Powell, a Liverpool merchant. Is said to have discovered a process of hardening and toughening soft woods so that they can be used in place of naturally hard woods, The treatment consists in saturating the timber with a solution of sugar at the boiling pont. The water a af- terward atria:We:lad out, leelvieg tae Peree Eked iaterstices of therVOOd filled with solid matteia which ie not brittle and shows no tendency to :Milt or crack. The process also preservea Wood and renders it re - inimitably impervious to water, Evei. hard woods aro said to be benefited • d- Aw