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GMT INLAND SINK. FIERCE RAMPAGE OF COLORADO RIVER DESPOILS THOUSANDS r OF FERTILE ACRES. * : Huge Engineering Difficulties Must be Overcome; or Otherwise Eight Thousand Families Will Be Render ed Homeless and Destitute G.J. BLANCHARD at Loa Angeles. The great Colorado rivor.of the southwest the Nile of America, U on 1U bad behavior. Like old trarellcre who forsake the beaten highways, the Colorado, grown tired of Its channel. Is seeking a new route. Its desire for change naturally Is the cause of Quit and created a huge Inland sea which covered all of what la now known as Imperial Valley. The shore line of this great sea can be distinct ly traced by the old beaches .which are found there, - Enormous Salt Beds. Trader an almost tropical snn the sea. evaporated, .uncovering a gnat level plain over Urge portions of which was laid a deep deposit of rich river sediment wanting only lrregation to produce abundant harvests. At the lowest depression In the valley, where evaporation baa not yet carried off aB the water, the salts wen deposited thickly and Urge works have long been established there marketing thousand! of tons of this mineral# For centuries the Colorado has been THE JOT OF AGE. thought and bad a special humorous reference to himself, bnt the miscom prehension and exaggeration of the press baa magnlded bU utterance and given It a sweep be never Intended. Must Seek New Fields. When the acquisition of knowledge Is used merely as a means through which to earn bread, that U the end of a man's career, whether be be thirty or forty or a thousand years old. Men who seek no new Held* of exploration nor carry forward to fulfillment any work they attempt In early days are mere drones In the hives of life. Dr. Osier, who U close to the sixty year line, baa gone to England to take a professorship of medicine In Oxford University, which will without doubt lead to an Increase of bU professional fame, which did not come to him until after he bad passed the half century lost In hU journey of Ufe. BU pari ng Injunction to hla medical asso ciates ur America, at the Washington meeting In May, was to follow the Golden Buie In all their actions, and to cultivate that moderation which la said to be the golden thread running through all the virtues. This advice U not new, bnt It cannot be repeated too often In an age when many men are striving to shove their neighbors to the wall In their desire to occupy the middle of the road themselves. Man U naturally a selfish anlmsl and needs to be often reminded tbst he most do unto other* as be would hare them do unto him, even If he desires to attain more worldly success. The mon who has no consideration for his Uborlng fellows Is likely to find no con sideration extended to him wben the hour of mUfortune cornea much consternation on the part of tho railroad which happens to be located near by, end of some little disquietude several thousand settlers and unless the erratic stream can be induced to return to It* old pathway to the see. A glance et the map will make deer the unusual conditions which at present prevail In the Col* orada Delta. Below the town of Tnma, Arizona, the stream baa cut Its banks at three places end passing through old, dr; channels, la now pouring westwari and northward Into Balton Sink. Aug mented by the volume of this great stream the Sink has already become a vast Inland tea, spreading out for 00 miles In one direction end 90 miles In another, and growing daly. The Giant Force of Nature. Psmangers on the train now ex claim with wonder a* they look out upon the broad see reaching to the western borlxon, where but a short SIXTY FIVE MILES OP LAKE, time ago the deeert reigned supreme In Its awful deeolation. Ounce at the map again and note the faint line near the international boundary, and encircling tbe Urge area marked Imperial Valley. All tbe Und Included wltbln tble line to below aea level, the lowest portion situated In Balton 81nk where It is 287 feet be low. To those who visit this remark able region It Is apparent that In anci ent geological times tbe Qulf of Call-. gfcamtiotff Crew preparing to ~build Sam. Is above tbe valley on either side. Once let It cat Its banks and tbe stream spreads out all over the coun try. About fonr year* ago a toi corportlon. Imbued with tbe lauda purposo of making homes for aettl _ In tbe Salton Desert, completed a big canal heading In the river below Yu ma and almost on tbe International boundary. The canal waa a large one, 00 feet on the bottom, and carried a great amount of water through Mexico Into California on to the area now called Imperial Valley. The canal heading, owing to tbe character of tbe banks of the stream, was inse cure. It bas always been n source of trouble and annoyance. The river resented It as on obstruction In Its course end deposited great loads of silt la front of It and then proceeded to cut • channel 'around It. Dredges were used constantly to keep the canal beading open. The. last great flood in the stream simply wiped nwqy tbe bead gates and opened a way for n Urge part of tbe stream to flow Into tbe valley. Just below this' point the stream iplUed over tbe bonks again and fol lowing down an old stream channel It finally began to pour lta whole vol ume In to Salton Sink. Only the high honks of the Imperial canal prevented larger areas of Irrigated lands from being Inundated and millions of dol lars In crops from being destroyed. Great difficulties are presented to tbe engineers who ere trying to liduce the etream to go back to It* old chan- neL .'A new beading Is projected. Tbotisands of feet of lumber have been ordered and steamboats are awaiting lta orrlvaL If these mount irove Ineffective there 1* danger that ,000 families now residing In tbo Im perial Valley, may be rendered home less. Competent engineers ore In clined to believe tbat the task Is be yond tbe strength of tbe present com pany to perfom and tbat measures now being undertaken will not prop- fornta extended far northward. The Colorado River, carrying as It doe* n vast load of sBt and detritus from n drainage basin covering ZZiRm tulles, built a bar entirely to settle. Meanwhile, the cltlsens of 'he valley are somewhat philosophi cal and ere continuing to reap, under almost tropical skies, tbe heaviest crops grown In the world » Misinterpretation of Dr. Osier's Statement. Dr. Wmiam Osier, tote professor In John Hopkins University, Baltimore, met with a great deal of undeserved notoriety because be wee misunder stood wben he laid the creative fscul.y disappeared usually at the age of forty year*. He did not mean to convey the impression that man’s usefulness ceased at tbat time, but tbat tbe Imag inative faculty was not es active then a* it was in earlier yean, wben men ore green and raw In Judgment and pat forth many things tbst they wish tu have suppressed later on. Bis little Jest about chloroforming those who “tog superfluous on the stage” was meant to apply only to teachers who falleu to move with tbe advanced TOBACCO FOR THE NAVY. Government Selects Supply for Oilh-ers and Men. The American naval officer and the Jscky smoke and chew. This la a fact of which the Government takes official cognisance and recognises In a way tbat make* such habits Inexpensive Incidents to life on board ship. Re cently the Navy Department bed un der consideration the award of n con tract for ISO,000 pounds *f cat plug tobacco, and In November next bids will be called for another supply of like amount Tbe contract under which the supply Is now being far* nlsbed woe secured on n' basis of a bid of 40 cents a pound. Twenty- nine bids are now under consideration, tbe prices ranging from 30% cents n pound to 48 cents. The contract will not necessarily be let to tbe lowest bidder, but to the one supplying at tbe lowest price the grade best suited for tbe purpose. Practical Chewing Tests. Each bidder is required to submit a sample of tbe tobacco to be fur nished, and these, after tbe factory la bels are removed and secret Identifi cation marks substituted, are divided Into small lots, part being sent to a chemist for analysis, and a goodly supply going to the various navy yards for distribution among officers and men for practical test, the opinion of the officers and “Jackies” being taken before the award Is mads* Flnsl re sults are reached by the process of elimination, natll tbe selection of the cbewers dwindles down to two or three samples whleb ere bound to be favorites. These favorites ere then tahen np with regard to the chemical test, and tbe contract IS awarded, so that perhaps the lowest bidder bas no consideration whatever wben tne final result is obtained. While heretofore the navy supplied tbe men with the tobacco (a very In ferior article) free of cost, the Gov ernment now Insists upon the best grade, which It sells to tbe sailor at tbe contract price, plus a very small percentage to cover the cost of hsn dling. Only tnch tobaccos are consid ered which are manufactured from pure leaf tobacco of the growth of the current or preceding year In which the contract Is made, and which shall have undergone a natural sweat How to Tell Counterfeit!. Best Work Late In Life. Dr. Osier never depredated age, knowing that man’s best work Is done after age has mellowed bis under standing and strengthened his judg ment There are numerous examples of what virility In age can do all along tbe track of history. It was seen In Benjamin Franklin. William E. Glad stone, la seen In Edward Everett Hale, Lord Kelvin, Charles It. Iluswell, en gineer and author, still-at the age of 07 at bis dfctk In New York, and other names will occur by scores to general readers. It Is an Inflexible law of nature that the being wbo does not progress must retrograde. There Is no place on this fearful ascent of Ufe where, spiritually and lntelleriually, we are not forced to go forward lest we slip back. But It Is a happy provision In nature that even In tbe longest Ufe there Is no arbitrarily fixed point of time where expansion must cease as If by a fiat, where there are no more heights be fore tbe soul to climb, no more views to bo obtained, no broadening and ex panding of the vision possible. Al ways and forever a new bud may be formed on tbe topmost bough of the old tree, even though the trunk Ije partly hollow, and the nourishing sap mount slowly through tbo bark. CHINESE GRAVEYARD CUSTOMS. Peculiar Custom of- Placing Cooked Food on the Craves of the Departed. Assorted foods, literally by the wagon load, are annually taken out to Cypress Hills Chinese Cemetery by member* of New York's Chinese col ony, says tbe New York Times, and these offerings, which are to us such strange evidences of affection and re membrance, are placed with pic turesque rites, on the graves where tho departed Celestial brothers of tbe colonists ere awaiting tbe convenient— or Is It tbe anaplelousT—season for transshipment to tbe land which these most stolid of sentimentalists Insist on believing to be the only on* where the dead enn rest comfortably. These an nual Illustrations of the fact that the Chinaman has feelings like the rest of us, even If he does choose different ways of ahowlng them, attracts the usual amount of attention, some of It respectfully curious and some opcnlv derisive, but neither variety affects tbe performance of the ceremonies or enables ns to get n bit nearer the mys terious Mongol mind. It Is hard to believe that onr far-traveled Chinese really think tbat anything Is accom plished for the dead by putting roast pig and boiled rice on a grave, and yet they do it year after year. A Bright Retort. Tho ancient story of tho Chinaman who, when asked it what honr the spirits consumed the food thus offered to them, replied tbat It was at the same honr chosen l>y our dead for smelling flowers we similarly place. Is always pertinent to discussion of this mystery, and reflection on the story has the admirable effect of giving a new standpoint from wbleb to study tbe “outlandish” custom of onr useful but unloved guests. In ell these things it Is the thinking so that constitutes right, propriety and oongrulty. The Chinese ceremonies do show affec tionate or plons remembrance, and whether tbe dead are Indifferent or not tbo reflex action on tbe living la effec tively brought to bear. Black Friday. “Now, children,” told the Sunday school teacher, addressing the juvenile dais, “can nay of yen tell me any thing about Good Friday r* “Yes. ma'am, I can,” replied n boy. “He waa tbe colored men whet done tbe housework for Robinson Crusoe." A Good Buggy For Sale. Leoevllle (Mo.) Light: Luke Bel mont’s DOW boggy Is for sain He got married last week, you know. Any visitor to the Bureau of Engrav ing and Printing where Uncle Bam Is printing the much sought-after greea- backa, comes away Impressed wltb the Intricacies of the manufacturing of a paper note. Few, Indeed, understand tbe rule of four adopted br the Govern ment as tn aid In thwarting the plans of counterfeiters. Acqoalntanee with tho rule of fonr. might help msny peo ple of tho outside world in detecting counterfeit money. Every note printed by tbe Government—national currency and not bank notea—contains a number and n letter, no two bills baring tbe same number. These are printed, as the visitor can see, In the blocks of four as they leave tho piste printer's table. For Instance, a number will be found on a note, SS.M3 with the letter C In the upper left hand and lower right hand corners; another bill bear; the number 70,088 D; another 42.S86 B. These numbers and letter* have n re lation for tach other and are easily de termined. The last two numbers on the note determine, when divided by four, tho letter to be found In the two corners. Should tbo last two numbers be divisible by four, with a remainder of one. tbe letter appearing should b* A j If two remain, B; If three remain. C; and If the last “two number* are exactly divisible by four, with no re- malnder, the letter appearing should be D. Rest the Bonca of Pocahontas. Tbe proposition to bring bach to the ancient city of Jamestown tbe body of Pocahontas, In connection with tbe ex position at-that place, baa aroused con siderable Indignation, both In England and In America, by people wbo believe tbat such a step Is nothing more than a move Intended as a aide-show feature >f the exposition. While It la true there have been Instances of a disturb ance of a grave made hundreds of years before, as In tbe recent case of Ad miral John Paul Jones, still the cases cannot bo compared. One Is a man wbo had much to do with the preservation of the American nation and navy; the other was the central figure In a bit of fiction surrounding the settlement of this country by English settlers. Po cahontas, It Is true, was a native Amer ican, which John Paul Jones was not, but Pocahontas married ao English man, lived and died In England, and tbe traditions of her later Ufe were sur rounded by all that 1* English. The London Standard, tn comment ing on tbo movement to bring her body to America, cites pages from a book by an American writer tending to «bow tbat tbe life of Pocahontas was a tra dition and poetical version and add ing: “If tbe original myth la really believed by tbe people of Jamestown, we only hope they will do something to urn* er the audacious skeptic that baa impugned It” STOP LAND-GRABBING. THE DUTY OF CONGRESS IS TO AMEND FAULTY AND ANTI* QVATED LAND LAWS. President HUI,of the Great Northern Railroad, tall* Attention to Enor mous Disposals of Government Land Without Settlement Into Homes. From tbe Philadelphia Bulletin. There will be peopje M-netmed enough to charge that President HJI1, of the Great Northern Ballway, did not come Into court with entirely dean ef.n/1. in the vigorous denunciation of the land-grabbers contained In his re cent speech before the National Irriga tion Congress at Portland. This, how ever, does not necessarily detract from the truth of Ida charges. Perhaps few men In the country are better qualified ts speak upon the blighting effects of tbe dishonest policy which has appro priated mllUons of acres of valuable lands, only to exclude from them the actual settlers who would have (level- oped them. President Hill Is a railroad manager, and railroads depend for profit upon a traffic afforded by a populous and well- cultivated country. A railroad (-tend ing through territory without farms or farmers, towns or Industrial communi ties must suffer serious disadvantages. Where great tracts of Und are owned and controlled by mere speculators, de velopment Is Impossible. It is very likely that President Hill spoke by the card when he charged that those who go upon Government Und at this time for the purpose of making homes are only a handful. Rapid Disposals of Public Lands. HU figure* showing the rapid In- crease In area of public lands which bare passed Into private ownership since 1898, possess a significance that U startling. Nearly 90,000,000 acres, a toUl area equal to three times that of the State of Pennsylvania, have been awarded to private owners In the six yean from 1898 to 1903, Inclusive, very little of which—according to President Hill—has become the property of home stead seekers. The bulk of it bas be come the holdings of the lumber kings, cattle barons, and speculators pure and simple. It Is evident that there are more men who deserve the penalties of the law which have lately been Inflicted upon Senator Mltcbell, of Oregon. Tbe duty of Congress In this connec tion la unmistakable. Tbe laws under which this vast domain has been se cured by private Interest# with no In tention of opening it to development should be repealed or amended to pre vent any further looting of the public Tbe Modern Rush. , From the Chicago Tlmes-Herald. He didn't have time to chew The food that be had to eat; But be washed It Into his throat As If time was a thing to beat. At breakfast and lunch and dinner Twas a bite and a gulp and co- Oh. the crowd la so terribly eager, And a man has to hurry sot A bite and a gulp and away To the books and the ticker! A bite And n drink and a smoke and a seat At a card table bait of tb* nlgbt; A pressure, n click aod a pallor, A cloth-covered box and a long; A weary old fellow at forty, .Who U deaf to tbe noise of tbe throng. Toothache or Appendicitis? A movement looking to tbe better care of children Is spreading. It I. proposed now that the tooth brush drill be n part ef tbe curriculum of our schools, and that dentists spOuld visit reguUrly tbe children attending them. Doctors have spoken very strongly on tbe usefulness of taking tonics and similar medicines In order to promote better digestion, or to parity the blood, when n constant system of poisoning Is going on la the month. It la claimed that much poor blood and weakness In children comes from denial decay. A noted physician declares that appendicitis la caused by bad taafh. Taka your choice—either have your teeth extracted or your ap pendix cut out The doctors get you either way, going or coming. To Be Reunited. "Have you seen my pvor. dear little duckling?" asked tbe distressed but be witching young mother duck. “Ah 1 medame,” repiled tbe polite but still hungry fax, ”1 have Inride Infor mation on that point; yon will soon meet your UtUe one." Agents Wanted ^To Canvass for thi^ United States) Senator Number 'NOW PUBLISHED. Tbs (me contains portraits of the NINETY MEMBERS two from each State In th. Union. This collection vu made from recent exclusive sitting, for tho BOSTON BUDGET The Pictures’ 12 x 8 Inches! n size an protected by copyright and cut not bo reproduced legally ei**wbere. Tho croup forms tbo non valua&Tt collection of state* nn nrer offered to tho American people. Price CO Cents Deliiered For tarma aad other partlealara addraas The Budget Company, SZO Wmahlniton Street, Boston, Mass. PENSIONS. Over one Million Dollar* allowed onr clients during the last six years. Over one Thousand claims allowed through ns dur ing the last six month*. Dis ability. Ago and In- •ease pensions obtained in the shortest possible time. Widows* claims a specialty# Usually granted within 90 days if placed with us immedi ately on soldier’3 death. Fees fixed by law and payable out of allowed pension. A successful experience of 25 years and benefit of daily calls at Pension Bureau are at your service. Highest ref erences furnished. Local Magis- trates pecuniarily benefited by sending us claims. , TABER & WHITMAN CO., Warder Bld’g, Washington, D. C. ’Gleanings in Bee Culture teach** yo« about boM. bow to handle them far honey and profit. Bond for free oopy. Read It. Then you ’ll wont to subscribe. 6 month's rial He. Don’t delay bijt do it to-d*y. A. I. Root Go., Medina, Ohio. PIANOS AND ORGANS STANDARD OF THE WORLD Foster’s Ideal / Cribs * .Accident Pr6of: EXCAVATION WORK. With Greatest Economy use the Western Elevating Grader and Ditcher. ROAD CONSTRUCTION. Western Wheeled Scraper Ca AURORA* ILL* IforOaUlof. PHOTOGRAPHERS Throw Your Bottles and Scales Away D O YOU KNOW that dirty bottles and scales cause yau trouble P Obviate thi* by using our Developer*, put up READY TO USE. Simply empty our tube* into the developing tray and add the water— wa don’t charge yon for th# latter. Large quantities of developer made up at one time oxydlze sad spolL With our developers yau only mike up enough tar Immediate use. * __*£!** H £ a * int * tnke * sclent for 24 ounces ef davel- aper tor Velox, Azo, Cyka, Rotox, or other papers, or SO ounces of Plata and Hhi Developer-* Developer vhleh will not stain the fingers or naili. aad is non-poltonous. We have a Sepia Toser for gaslight pspera, 6 tubes, 25c. NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC CHEMICAL COMPANY 11Q>9t - “* Ptnn ATt ” Washington. D. C.