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in Court Trial -- Dead Woman TeRs of Procuring Iron With Which Husband • k Killed Her. LUCE STORY Of QUO TIMES Supernatural Come* Again to Play : 0seognixed Part in Affairs of Man in Country Which Calls Itsolf ' Civilized. fMhtajton, D. C.--A man Is ac- .^.-icusbii of beating his wife to death, ^ 7 and is brought before a high tribunal -f *or tr,al. Judge and Jurors and audl- ^ 4 ence sit and listen In respectful sl- .. $ lence while the ghost of the dead worni;- { testifies that she herself procured t':', the Iron bar witli which she was killed, | y " that she had Intended to kill her hus- V< :, -band with It, and that he had great . provocation to kill her. This sounds like a story'of olden . times. It might have happened in any -.of the great ages of superstition • I when men believed in the supernatural t even more than they did in the nat- • o r a l . i - Civilization Is supposed to have freed man from these ancient fears, but it : has not done so. The fear is still * latent in us, waiting for a chance to - express itself. For example, the in- | cident related above happened, not in 4 the middle ages or in a fairy tale, but In the Supreme court of the District f of Columbia a few days ago. The dead '-i woman's mother testified that she had gone to several mediums, had conversed with the ghost of her daughter . > and had so gotten the daughter's story of what happened. Still more astonishing, she testified that an as- * sistant United States attorney had advised her to consult mediums. When you take this in connection with the fact that the Supreme court evidently ^ listened to the ghost conversation as part of the testimony, you cannot blink - at the conclusion that a ghost has been admitted to a court of justice in the United States. The supernatural has come again to play a formal and recv ognlzed part in the affairs of men In a ' country which calls Itself civilised! , Spiritualism Involved. Of course, the whole question of spiritualism is here Involved. There are many Intelligent and sincere peov , pie who believe that the existence of ghosts who can communicate with us I has been proved. * Out In the West there is a certain ^ placer deposit of gold which has been the grave of many fortunes. One man after another has tried to get this gold, and all have failed. Finally, ? along came an inventor with a most Ingenious and expensive plan for*getting the gold. He had a*«s*lute faith ? In it It appeared that ae was in comv munlcatlon with the ghost of his dead * ' sister, and that she had Imparted this J plan to him, and had told him it was \ sure to succeed. He spent every cent f he owned and could borrow on the . j plan and lost It alL The ghost was wrong. Here Is another example of a med- ? dlesome ghost who sought to make , trouble. A young and attractive widow was invited by an older woman who ' lived in the same boarding house to join her in some ouija board excursions to the land of the dead. They immediately got into communication with the spirit of the young woman's dead husband. He proceeded to crlt- > icize her goings and comings at great length. He objected to the man she went with. He told her that such and such a man was Immoral, that another ate cocaine, that a third had a wife living In Australia. Ha advised her to give up all frivolities and stay at home nights. v Widow Is Troubled. The young widow was considerably troubled at first. But she bad strong common sense. She reflected that even if spiritism was a true revelation, there were fake mediums, and her elderly friend might be one of them. She also reflected that her husband in life had been a Jealous fellow. Inclined to lie about all possible rivals, and she saw no reason to believe that death bad reformed him. She was able to prove that some of the messages which had been sent her from "The Beyond" were not in accord with the facts. When the next ouija board session cam* oft, then was a struggle. Hub- Ms fried to get in seas mora adrtoa, but the young widow had strong hands. Instead of hubby, it was the defunct aunt of her elderly friend who got the floor. This departed lady informed the elderly friend that she was in danger of serious financial reverses, that she was apt to die a violent death, probably by falling down stairs, that the rubber company in which she had bought three shares of stock was a swindle, and that if she did not drink less tea she would get cirrhosis of the liver. All of this threw the good woman into a sweat of apprehension; the ouija board readings were discontinued, and the dead husband lost his only means of communication with the world of the living, to the great relief of his widow.--Frederic J. In Chicago News. A New York building engineer has demonstrated that large structures can be safely built at seashore towns by making concrete foundations. Plaoed on Same Footing as Seeing as Result of Doctor Wheeler's Observations. NO LONGER Mi EXPERIMENT Blind Are Taught to Wind Electric Coil*--Effect of Being Self-Supporting Keeps Them Healthy and In Good Spirits. New York.--So many of the war blinded have found work in the electrical manufacturing plant a means of supporting themselves, rendering them Independent of any charity or philanthropic assistance, that special attention is being directed to the work of Dr. Schuyler Skaats Wheeler, who made possible this new field of gainful occupation for the sightless. There Is nothing new in the endeavor to enable the blind to work or even In the effort made to find a ready market for their product, but in the Crockei^Wheeler company's factory the unseeing work on an exact par with the seeing, their "goods," therefore, being placed in the open market. Doctor Wheeler's interest in the probjem of the blind, starting some years ago, became intensified when the war brought their numbers, both here and abroad, to a highly increased total. In going through the various departments of the company's electrlcaLmanufacturing plant at Ampere, N. J., of which he Is president, he noted the fact that girls skilled In winding wire colls performed their work without watching the movements of their hands, as a 'touch typist or a piano player Ignores her fingers. The collwindlng girls chatted and laughed among themselves as they worked, and their work was satisfactory. Doctor Wheeler then blindfolded himself and attempted to wind a coll. He proved to his own satisfaction that here was work which, with little practice, the sightless could do on a par with normal workers. Proves a Suoosss. The Double Duty Finger Guild was the direct result That is the name given to the department employing only men and women without sight This department has been In successful operation for three years in the Crocker-Wheeler factory, and It has ceased to be considered an experiment or even an innovation. At first special Instructors were engaged and a small group of blind were set to work at winding the wire colls. The members of this first group were paid during their apprenticeship 15 cents an hour, and, after four weeks' instruction, were given places in the shops. Later the hourly rate of pay for trained workers was changed to a piecework plan and this proved more interesting and stimulating to the worker. At the factory It was said that a skilled blind worker earned from $3 to $4 a day at piecework. More startling than the work In the coll-winding rooms Is the handling of various kinds of machinery by the sightless. At the notching machines they put in metal plates and stamp them with the desired notches. Blind men also stack these plates, or "punchlngs," and weigh them. Sightless typists and stenographers' also are employed by the company. In the Job room a special system of individual records keeps track of more than 2,000 Jobs In process. Here a blind stenographer handles the phone calls coming In at spaced plugs down the length of the room, using a simple chair and typewriter stand on rollers, in which she travels up and down the line. A Blind Secretary. Miss Jessie Lewis, secretary to Ttrs. Ida H. Gifford, director of the Double Duty Finger Guild, handles the stenographic work and filing in the guild's office. She Is a graduate of the Perkins Institute for the Blind. Miss Lewis is the creator of the American Braille shorthand system. All her cards and records are marked In Braille, and she turns to a desired paper with the ease and promptness of a skilled sighted worker. Most of the successful blind applicants for positions in the factory come from Independent sources rather than institutions. The age limit Is supposed to be forty-five, although older men from the state of New Jersey have been accepted. Two persons must guarantee one month's board and return carfare, in case the applicant does not "make good." The worker stands absolutely on his own merit and soon learns to, take pride in bringing his work.up to the standard required by the factory inspectors. Marked independence Is shown by the sightless employees In handling their work and In moving about the factory and grounds. The effect upon them of being self-supporting and engaged In work which is the same as that done by normal persons and which must pass the same tests of inspection, works wonders in keeping them up to a healthy standard of good spirits and courage. , , Meeting the Housing Problem in Berlin tr View Uvmii uim m ui -iutt la of houses. "WtatiViinu ti4u>4t«r iut»u mwU llm totituu ttV- Oie aluuu^gc SANITATION BADLY NEEDED Spain Awakens to Necessity of Improved Hygiene. Movement Launched to Promote the Health of People by Mod- I* em Methods. itadrMs---Spaniards are awakened to the necessity of improved hygienic measures to decrease the mortality of this country. Several of the leading newspapers have joined in a demand that a ministry of health be organized to give proper attention to sanitary conditions in factories and houses, to reduce accidents to workers and to have charga of the erection of cheap houses for the poor, to provide old age pensions, health Insurance, maternity allowances, prevention of epidemics and hygienic instruction for the people. One newspaper quotes Doctor Juari- yos as having asserted that smallpox, diphtheria and tuberculosis had increased enormously, that births had decreased and the death rate among Infants grown to such an extent that these deaths now comprise 20 per cent of the national mortality. An Infinitesimal number of houses boast of a bath, he said, public baths were entirely lacking, and the houses of the poor were so badly constructed that the occupants did not have As many conveniences as'were afforded by the prison. The Institute of Civil Engineers has taken up the subject and is agitating for hygienic meas^stexeduce the death rate. •" Crippled Dishwasher Is an Heir. Mitchell, S. D.--Harry Loft twenty years old and a cripple, who has earned his living several months by washing dishes in a lunchroom, has left for Oakland, Cal., to receive his share of a large estate left by a relative of his deceased father. Builds His Pet Animals Fine Apartment House Oakland,, Cal.--High cost of building material and lack of accommodations for mere man were no deterrents to F. D. Strlngham of Berkeley, who, out of consideration for his pets, built the animals a fine apartment house. The present tenants are apparently well satisfied, as to date they have registered no complaints. The house has four apartments, the two on the ground floor being occupied by A. Beagle and Mr. Irish Setter, and one on the upper floor by Miss Persian Cat. The apartment adjoining Miss Cat's is said to be the only vacancy at present. This is the ideal apartment house life, the meals being served from the Stringham kitchen, doing away with the servant pitoblem for the tenant* AT SPA MEETING Delegates Bafc at Allies' Demand to Give Up ..,.vTheir ANns*^,, j • -- 1 • , TEUTON PUN IS REJECTED Conference Adjourns Pending Arrival of Minister of Defence Geeeler and Airman Chief of Staff-- Dleeus- K P'on of Indemnity Delayed.* Spa, Belgium, July 7.--A hitch developed Immediately after the opening of the conference of allied and German representatives. It occurred wjien the allies began explaining the disarmament clause of the peace treaty, which, they insist shall be carried Into effect by the Germans at once. After discussing the subject briefly the conference was adjourned until Tuesday afternoon pending arrival of Minister of Defense Gessler and the German chief of staff. Premier Delacroix of Belgium began the disarmament discussion by citing the fact that Germany had Ignored the allied notes calling for such disarmament. Herr Fehrenbach, German chancellor and head of the German delegation, suggested that Dr. Von Simons of the German delegation make a preliminary statement pending arrival of the German minister of defense.^ Premier Lloyd George, Premier Milterand and Premier Delacroix withdrew for a few minutes' consultation, and when they returned stated they did not desire to hear Doctor Von Simone, because he was not in a position to make a responsible statement Adjournment was then taken. Herr Fehrenbach then stated Jiat he was satisfied with the program by which disarmament was taken up first Indemnity will follow and the third subject will be the punishment of war criminals. After the morning session Herr Fehrenbach Issued a brief statement: "We are very glad of this opportunity to meet the allies. We meet on the basis of absolute loyal acceptance of the peace treaty. It is on that basis we will discuss all questions here." The conference opened at eleven o'clock at the Villa Traneuse, with Premier Delacroix presiding. The German delegation, headed by Chancellor Fehrenbach, was formally presented by M. Delacroix. The allies decided to postpone the question of indemnity and took up the matter of German disarmament first Doctor Simons announced that all reparations proposals discussed at Spa must be submitted to the German national assembly before the German government can be committed to a definite decision. These are the first direct negotiations between the allied and German statesmen since the armistice In November, 1918. Even here the Germans will not be allowed to discuss clauses of the peace treaty, but only the execution of the clauses. SMOKE IN WOMEN'S CLUBS Special Sanctum for Lady Nicotine Is Very Latest at Washington's UpHo-Dates. Washington, July 7.--A special sanctum for Lady Nicotine is the very latest In women's clubs here. A real and up-to-date smoking room Is the feature of the Women's City dub of Washington, affording a new thrill to the Puritanical atmosphere pervading the capital. The club has 3,300 women members, many of whom are prominent in national affairs. With an Initiation fee of $10 and the membership fee of like amount, the club raised $70,000 and purchased as Its home the historic old Mary Scott Townsend house, which for a brief time during the Roosevelt administration was the executive mansion, where the Roosevelt family lived while, toft White^ House was repaired.' :v? QUELL MEXICAN OUTBREAK Revolt In the State of Chiapas Is Crushed and the Laadera Are Shot. Mexico City, Mex., July 7.--Government forces have crushed the revolt in the state of Chiapas led by Colonel Samado and Malvador G. Sotomayor, both of whom have been executed. The Insurrection lasted but one day. Plague Death In Vera Crua. Vera Cruz, July 7.--One death from bubonic plague and one new case were (•ported during the last 24 hours. Oust Police and Firemen. Wabash, Ind., July 5.--This city Is hunting a new police and fire department They struck, the policemen to support a grievance of the firemen against their chief. The council met and discharged them. Bandit and 8leuth Killed. Waterloo, la., July 5.--Detective William Gordenbour was Instantly killed In a pistol battle with a bandit In the H. Marx clothing store here, and the bandit was killed by Policeman William Wilson. Problem Grave to Japan. Honolulu, July 3.--The Anglo-Japanese treaty will not be altered until the <?ourse of the United States lr. regard to the League of Nations has been determined. It has been reported In Tokyo. Bandits Get $3,000 Roll. Chicago, July 3.--Two bandits held up and Tobbed John F. Walsh, an employee of the Stresau-Becker Leather company, as he was entering the premises of the concern with $3,- SISTERS UVE IN DUGOUT 30 YEARS Vfore Rags, Never Bathed and * Made Two Trips a Year for Provisions. Dickinson, N. D.--A story of manity's reverting to the barbarous stage was revealed here a few days ago when two aged sisters were taken from their loathsome dugout to the State Hospital for the Insane at Jamestown. The conduct of Katherine and Rebecca McCullom, homesteaders 35 years ago, long ago convinced neighbors they were mentally deranged. Their "peculiarity" dates back to about thirty years ago, when the sisters returned from their former home at Pomeroy, la., to close up a real es- They Wore Men's Ragged Clothing. tate deal. They told of being presented with, and eating "queer tasting apples" which made them very sick. It is believed some .shark took this method of defrauding them In the transaction. The McCullom sisters were born in Scotland and went to North Dakota from Iowa to file on claims. They now own 320 acres, a herd of cattle, and carried with them In an old can $850 in currency and $100 in gold. Their dugout contained a pile of rags on which they slept a kitchen stove, few cooking utensils, kerosene lantern, and Bible. They wore men's ragged clothing and never bathed. One sister made a semiannual trip to Dickinson for provisions; the other had not left the farm for 20 yeafa. WEDS LIFE-TERM PRISONER Childhood 8weetheart Became Hla Bride Just Before He Left to Begin His Sentence. New York.--When Jacob Miller, a former salesman, recently began serving a life sentence In Sing Sing prison following his conviction In New York city for burglary as a fifth offender, It was as the husband of a few hours of Hannah Rosenbaum. Sweethearts In childhood, a sentence of life imprisonment did not deter them, and they were married Immediately after sentence on the future groom had been pronounced. This is the first time on record, according to officials, that a man sentenced to life imprisonment has been married before beginqing his term. Both bride and groom feel confident that "something will happen" so that they may live together "happily ever after." Dont Try to Shoot at Ground When Angry Chicago. -- Police, responding to an alarm that a man had been shot at 2340 West Adams street, found Edward Sykes, thlrty-slx years old, with a hand clasped tightly to his right leg. A revolver lay at his feet "What's the matter?" ha waa asked. "I shot myself," he said. "What for?" \, "I aimed at the ground and missed." . < "But why shoot at the ground?" "I quarreled with my wife and went out and shot at the ground to make her think I had shot myself. I missed the ground and hit my leg." Sykes was taken to the county hospital. No Reducing for This Bird. Lexington, Ky.--John Dailey, Lexington engineer, weighing 250 pounds. Is glad he is a fat man, as he believes that fact has saved his life. While en route here on a Louisville & Nashville train he was thrown out of a baggage car door as the car rounded a curve. He was knocked unconscious, but bounded away like a rubber ball from death under the wheels. Airplane Won Race With Death. Knoxvllle, Tenn.--A race against death was won recently by L. P. Mo- Auliffe, who received word that his mother was dying at Augusta, Ga. Mr. McAuliffe could not proceed because of a washout on the railroad. Pilot "Billy" Brock carried him the 300 miles to Augusta in an airplaae. His mother was still alive. INCOME TAX rim STATE GETS 0. K. Committee on Revenue of Basio Law-Making Body Submits Final Report GIVES POWER TO ASSEMBLY Another Awful Massacre. Bluefleld, W. Va.--When a steam valve in the Norfolk and Western pumping station broke loose, sending to the roof a great steam pressure, more than 500 English sparrows met death. . Carries Bullet in Brain. Chester, Pa.--Mrs. Lvdla Jacobs Is walking about the city with a .28-callber bullet in her brain. Efforts ol surgeons to remove the bullet proved futile because of Its dangerous poeitiea » • Right to Levy Put Up to State Legislature-- Proposal Which Bars Color or Raoe Li|ii la Adopted. Springfield.--One of the vchlef features of the final report of the revenue committee of the Illinois constitutional convention provides for the right to classify Intangible property for taxation, together with Income tax. One of the important changes gives the legislature the right to levy Income Instead of personal taxes. The report presented by Chairman George Gale of Galesburg was followed by an announcement that a minority report will be offered by Delegate Thomas Kerrick of Bloomington. The majority report favors the classification of taxation, while the minority report will oppose such classification. "The general assembly," says the report, "shall provide for the levy of taxes upon property by valuation, so that every person and corporation shall pay a tax In proportion to the value of his, her, or its property; such value to be ascertained in a manner the general assembly shall direct, and not otherwise. "The general assembly shall have power to tax money, notes, stocks, securities, royalties, bonds, credits, participations In profits on property, and evidences of indebtedness at such rates and in such manner as may be provided by general law. "Taxes levied by valuation upon property and paid shall be deducted from the tax on Incomes derived therefrom for the same year. The general assembly may provide that such Income may be substituted for the tax which otherwise would be levied upon any property by valuation. Taxes also may be levied on privileges, franchises and occupations." The convention adopted Delegate Edward H. Morris' proposal prohibiting the legislature from passing future laws which shall discriminate against any race or color, after a debate which lasted an hour and a half. Mr. Morris, a colored delegate, led the light for the proposal, and accepted amendments which were offered. The section In Its amended form follows: "The laws of this state shall be applicable alike to all citizens without regard to race or color, and no citizen shall „be prohibited from doing anything that any other person may do, because or by reason of such citizen's color or race." Former Gov. Joseph Plfer attacked the report on the waterway proposal on the ground that In his judgment Illinois is not ready to spend the $20,- 000,000 voted for the canal several years ago. Alexander Revell of Chicago delivered an address In favor of the proposition, and the first section validating the $20,000,000 bond Issue was approved. The delegates have fixed July 10 as the date for completion of hearings on all committee reports. Adjournment for the summer months will thai be taken. It has been planned to get down to business In the consideration of reports, and delegates assert that long speeches must be abolished If the work is to be completed In time. Two big reports are yet to be considered, which will stir debate. These are the reports of the revenue and judiciary committee on home rule, utilities and consolidation. Since the convention killed the state home rule proposal, the Cook county delegates have been somewhat at sea as to their course of action. They have spent much time on the statewide home rule proposition, andi now to be faced with the task of thrashing out something for Cook county and Chicago alone, with all of the various viewpoints extant, looms up like a bugabear. The Initiative and referendum report will also have to be considered, but It le generally agreed that this will be quickly handled, as Its defenders only number about twentyfive delegates. In the Judiciary report the fight will be over Increasing th^ supreme court to nine members. At present there are seven members. It Is a downstate and Cook county Issue. Downstate delegates who have been state's attorneys In their time advocated the proposed changes in the jury system, while delegates who have shone as criminal lawyers offer objections and claimed It was a pet measure of the state's attorneys' association to help prosecute and persecute the man who Is unfortunate enough to be Indicted. Hopes to Complete Road Program. Struggling against the adverse effect of an order of the Interstate commerce commission which may put a stop to 25 per cent of the road construction of Illinois, the state division of highways, working to the limit of Its crippled capacity, has announced It still has hope of completing the season's program of 450 miles of federal aid roads. Fifty-seven road-building gangs are completing 15 miles of hard road each week, and there Is prospect of raising this to 25 miles, according to Superintendent S. E. Bradt. Favors State Police Force. By resolution the niinoia State Bankers' association went on record In favor of the establishment if a state police force; for the repeal of the excess profits tax. and the Imposition of such other taxes as would stimulate production in favor of gradual deflation. of liberal financial relief for the railroads, and of thrift and economy In bank management with reference to the business of their customers. The association voted down a recommendation to work for, an Increase In legal rate of Interest to 8 per cent. State News Springfield.--Gov. Frank LowdSB will not be a candidate for renontaation at the September primary election. He announced his retirement from politics, for the present at least In a formal statement. The governor's statement was Issued after a delega-' tion of Republican leaders had called at the executive mansion and urged him to seek a second term. The governor's statement announced that Lieut. Gov. John G. Oglesby will make the race for the Republican nomination for governor In opposition to former State Treasurer Len Small of Kankakee. Other candidates decided upon at the conference are: Lieutenant governor, Fred E. Sterling, Rockford ; secretary of state, Louis L. Emmerson, Mount Vernon; state auditor, Andrew Russel, Jacksonville; attorney general, Edward J. Brundage, Chicago; clerk of the Supreme court, Charles W. Vail, Chicago. Cambridge.--Threshermen of central Illinois met at Cambridge and decided to charge four cents a bushel for oats, five cents a bushel for barley, nine cents a bushel for wheat, ten cents a bushel for rye, 75 cents a bushel for timothy, and other grains In proportion, all fuel to be furnished by the farmer. Where the threshermen furnish the fuel the scale will be as follofcs: Oats, five cents; barley, six cents; wheat ten cents; ryev 11 cents; timothy, $1; other grains in proportion. Rockford.--There Is no shortage of registered pharmacists In Illinois despite reports. This was brought out at a recent convention of the Illinois Pharmaceutical Travelers' association here. Reports showed there are 3,000 drug stores In the state. These officers were elected: President--William J. Clancy, La Salle; vice-presidents-- Fred W. Rauth, Springfield; Samuel Antonow, Chicago; Ad Unenhofer, Chicago; secretary--W. B. Day, Chicago; treasurer--George M. Bennett Urbana. Springfield. -- Dissolution notices have been filed with the state public utilities commission by the six public utility companies In Illinois: Danville Street Railway company; City Electric Railway company of Ottawa ; Springfield aad Northeastern Railroad company of Champaign; Peoria, Streator and Ottawa Railway company of Champaign; and the Springfield Belt Railway company of Champaign. A number of others decreased their capital stock. Springfield.--The largest Insurance loss In the history ef the statistical department of the Illinois Firemen's association, with the exception of the year 1914, Is the record for the year 1919. For the year 1919 total Insurance loss In Illinois as reported to the statistician of the Illinois Firemen's association was $7,489,268.81. During the year 1914, the insurance loss was reported as $7,865,908.72. while 1913 was credited with a loss of $7,380,880.15. Springfield.--Another month of public school has beten insugurated at Springfield for pupils of the grade schools wishing to make up lost time In education. A tuition of five dollars, however, Is charged. The school was opened when the board of education found Itself deluged with requests from pupils for a month's longer In* structlon. Rock Island.--September 1 and S are dates set for the annual meeting of the grand commandery. Knights Templar of Illinois in Rock Island. The convention program Is to Include a regimental drill on the second day of the convention, in which the conma nderles of many Illinois cities will take part. Chicago.--The plan to let the voter say whether municipal daylight saving Is a success got a boost when the Chicago council judiciary committee approved a resolution to put the daylight saving question on the ballot at the September primaries. Springfield.--There are fifty-five hundred dealers In narcotics In the eighth federal district of Ililnoia. A new law provides that all must register if they propose continuing handling the drugs. Registration day closed June 30. Springfield.--The Socialist party will have a place on the ballot Nov. 2. This decision by Attorney General Brundage was announced In response to a query from the secretary of the party, Oliver C. Wilson of Chicago. Joliet.--Hazel Burmelster, Natalie Herman and Wanda Swesher, inmates of the state penitentiary at Joliet escaped from the institution through m. gate left open by workmen. Springfield.--The squirrel huntingseason opened In Illinois July L Reports say the woods are full of the animals. Chicago.--Thousands of pounds ef flour, vegetables, and other foodstuffs consigned to Chicago dealers were destroyed when a $1,000,000 fire swept the freight transfer yards of the «"hicago. Burlington and Qulncy railroad at Twenty-sixth street and Central avenue, Cicero, out of existence. The huge Burlington freight transfer house, one of the largest in the middle West, and heavily stocked with freight. 137 box and gondola cars loaded with merchandise, and an undetermined number of empty can were • total loss. Rock Island.--William Pratt of Rock Island has Just completed forty years as official caretaker of the great clock In the tow*r of the government arsenal here. The clock was installed In 1867, and Pratt has wound it regularly once each week fur the past forty years. Chicago.--Fifty per the coal mines In Illinois are idle because ef the car shortage. William Hall of Springfield told a recent session of the Illinois Mining Institute here. Ha said there is enough coal beneath 1 !'<*• ground to last tsr TjOW Tean. ^