The Miller Press from Miller, South Dakota • 1

Twenty Eighth Year. RELIEF WORK FOR STRICKEN ITALY U. S. Sends Money and Battleship Fleet To Aid Earthquake Sufferers Romo. Jan.

1. plans at Messina and other points are being conducted more systematically. Different regions on the coast have been allotted to various warships and other ships as centers from which torpedo boats and launches convey and distribute rations and water to different villages. The minister of justice has wired from Messina to Premier Giolitta that large bodies of troops have arrived and are now occupying all parts of the town. Persons are being dragged from the ruins all day long and quickly transported to the relief ships as soon as their wounds have received attention.

There were slight shocks felt in the earthquake zone today, completing the ruin of crumbling buildings. latest investigations on both sides of the straights make it certain that many more than half the population of coast towns are dead. 200,000 DEAD Prof. Ricco, director of the observatory at Mount Aetna, estimates that the victims of the earthquake will exceed 200.0u0. Great relief was felt here when the announcement was made that the Lipari islands, which were reported to have disappeared with their population of 28,000, suffered little or no damage from the earthquake.

Public opinion is seriously concerned with regard to the safety of the king and queen and the possible danger from tottering walls. The king frequently tried to persuade the queen to rest or return to Rome, but she always refused, declaring it would break her heart to abandon her husband in his labors for the country in its anguish. Washington. Jan. 2.

Roosevelt, late this afternoon, sent the following message to Patrick F. McGowan, American Italian general relief committee. New York. earnestly wish success to the Americrn Italian general relief committee in its great mass meeting at Madison Square Garden. It is, of course, not possible for me to attend in person.

lam doing everything that can be done to get aid to the suffering, and on account of the extreme urgency of the case, have sent two supply ships with three hundred thousand dollars worth of food and provisions without waiting for authority of congress, being confident that congress will approve of my action. I shall ask congress for additional aid, and throughout the coming wees will keep in the closest touch with congress, and through the state department with Italy, so that everything possible to be done by the United States may be done. I have cabled the Italian government proffering the services of any or all of the battleship fleet, if such can be of use in this crisis. Theodore BRIGHT OUTLOOK FOR COMING YEAR New York, Jan. financial and commercial conditions for the year 1909 are glowingly predicted in R.

G. Dun annual review of trade conditions. The review asserts that the recuperative powers shown by Wall street interests during the year just ended beyond the hopes of the most Dun places the amount involved in banking failures during the vear at $110,000,000 less than that involved in 1907, although more banks failed than in the preceeding year. The takes up in detail the fortunes and misfortunes of various industries during the old year and their chances for betterment during the new. The summary is very favorable.

Farmers, says Dun received more money for their produce than ever before. The total value from farm produce was $7,770,000,000. The money market was very light, says Dun, during tne latter part of 1907 and the early part of 1908, but has since eased up to a gratifying extent. The Miller Press LAW MAKERS BEGIN GRIND Eleventh Session of Legislature of South Dakota Convenes at Pierre Pierre, Jan. The eleventh biennial session of legislature of the state of South Dadota convened at noon today.

The house was organized by the sleet ion of M. J. Chaney of Waconda as speaker and J. W. Cone of Minnehaha county chief clerk; E.

Moscript sargent. The senate was organized by the election of L. M. Simmons secretary. Governor Vessey took the oath of office in the presence of the house and senate and the retiring governor delivered his message and the new governor the inaugural address.

At the conclusion of the inaugural exercises both houses adjourned. There are an endless number of office seekers on the ground and those familiar with the meeting of the state legislature agree in saying that never before were such a numerous and hungry horde of office seekers on the ground. The members of the new political organization are all present and the absence of many familiar faces is noticed. There will be no opposition to the election of Gov. Crawford to the United States senate.

EMBRYO BILLS FOR LAW MAKERS Will Be Asked To Increase Supreme Judges and Create New Circuits Pierre, Jan. coming session of the legislature will not only have the question of increasing the number of supreme court judges to five, but will be asked to create several new judicial circuits. One of which will be asked for is to include the counties of Stanley, Lyman, Gregory, and Tripp, west of the Missouri river. The claim fcr this circuit is that so long as these counties are attached to counties east of the river, the judges in the circuit have more work than they can attend to and the counties west of the river should have better judical service than they can possibly receive under present conditions. Another which will be asked for will be the division of the sixth circuit, which is now the largest in the state including the counties of Campbell, McPherson, Walwroth, Edmonds, Hand, Hvde, Sully and Stanley, asking that a circuit be made of the six northern counties and the southern portion of the circuit be set off in a new circuit.

D. H. Smith Retires Sioux halls Argus. state board of railroad commissioners has just completed the work of holding its regular monthly meeting at the headquarters of the commission in this citv. D.

H. Smith, of Miller, for the past six years has been a member of the board, retired from the board with the meeting just heid, having been succeeded by F. C. Robinson, of Groton, will assume his duties at the next monthly meeting. Mr.

Smith during his entire term of six years has missed only one meeting ot the board, and his absenoe at that time was due to the serious illness of his wife, who was expected to die. It was with great regret that the other members of the board and the headquarters staff severed their connections with the retiring member of the D. H. Smith went to Pierre Monday to attend the inaugural ceremonies Mr Smith retires from the office of State Railroad Commissioner with a very able record of six years service to his credit. During his official life he has also rendered many individual favors of one kind or another to Hand county people.

He 11 now devote his time to the real estate business of Ghrist Smith. This morning Mr Smith received a letter from his colleagues and the office force containing very complimentary resolutions from them to him. As a token of their regard they also sent him a handsome goldheaded umbrella. to: vjj MILLER, SOUTH DAKOTA. THURSDAY.

JANUARY 7, 1909. ONE NEW OFFICER AT CO. INAUGURAL Bi-Ennial Shift at Court House Brings Slight Change J. T. Bailey, Chairman Board The county inaugural was a quiet one this year, due to the very slight change in official circles atjthe court house.

The board of county commissioners held over, except one member in the first district, where Captain J. T. Hailey was re-elected for a 4th term. The board reorganized by re-electing the Captain as chairman. The other members are Hon.

C. E. Eriohsen, 2nd district, Hon. Henry Scott, 3rd dist; Captain John McMurtry, 4th Hon. Edward Andrews sth district The only new men in the court house are Auditor Odle and his deputy, J.

M. Williams. The term expires March Ist, but as the present incumbent, W. Morrow, was elected clerk of courts, it was necessary for him to resign as auditor to qualify as clerk, He succeeds Colonel John Costigan, who ably filled the office for two terms All other officers were re-elected, and qualified for the new term as follows; W. S.

Thomas, treasurer, with R. S. Mead deputy. E. H.

Schmieter, register of deeds with Miss Grace Butler, deputy. Henry Erb, sheriff, with Charles Weiblen, deputy. Charles Carroll, County Judge. Harlan J. Bushfield, States Atcircuit torney.

Miss Margaret Duthie, Supt. of Schools. The board of commissioners is nowin session, checking up and swearing in the officers. STANDARD OIL WINS LAST ROUND Supreme Court Denies Petition For Review of Suit Washington, Jan. 4.

Thesupreme court of the United States today denied the petition of the United States government for a review of the case against the Standard Oil company, in which the company was fined $29,000,000 by udge Kenesaw M. Landis of the federal district court of Chicago, for rebating. The Standard Oil company carried the case up to the circuit court of appeals, which reversed the judgment of Landis, and the government then took the case to the supreme court. A Good One Coming The management of the Miller Opera House takes pleasure in announcing the engagement of the ever popular and successful company of players, The Chase-Lister Theatre Company. This is not only one of the attractions that is always popular with us, but is also one that has for its clientele the best of theatre patrons, those who are critics of the drama and can appreciate all that is perfect in the way of a complete stuge production.

Clint and Bessie Robbins and the celebrated Chase-Lister Ladies Orchestra are still leading features and will appear at each performance. The company will be with us one night only Saturday Jan. 9th, presenting Girl From 101 Prices 25 and 50 cents. .4 INSTITUTE AT MILLER Hand County Farmers Asked To Convene January, 12-13 Superintendent A. E.

Chamberlain has selected next Tuesday and Wednesday, January 12 and 13, as the dates for holding the annual Institute in this city, and all persons interested are invited to be present and participate in the discussions. The rheetings will be held in the McCoy hall in this city, at 1:30 in the afternoon and 7:30 in the evening on Tuesday, and at 10:30 and 1:30 on Wednesdav. The subjects to be discussed are. Live Stock, Hogs. Horses, Beef Production, Dairying, Sheep, Corn, Pure Seed.

Crop Rotation, Alfalfa, Potatoes, Horticulture, and Poultry. For ladies especially, A Handy Kitchen, Work Made Easier, Beautifying the home. Evening subjects, Boys and Girls of American Homes, and other subjects for ladies. Supt. Chamberlain announces that he has a better corps of speakers this year than ever before, and hopes for a big attendance here.

Everything free of charge. EDUCATORS IN ANNUAL SESSION Committee Appointed To Improve Present Course of Study Aberdeen, S. D. Jan. attendance at the convention of the South Dakota Educational association, now being held in this city, exceeds all former records.

A year ago there were 504 delegates. This year the attendance was between 700 and 800 The third session was called to order yesterday afternoon and a short business meeting held. Ten-minute papers were presented on the subject, country schools and they by the following: Myrtle B. Farmer, superintendent at Chamberlain: O. Jorgenson, superintendent at Aberdeen: Estelle McMahon, of Rapid 'A.

Brokow, of Claremont; C. G. Lawrence, of Canton; F. L. Cook, of Spearfish; J.

Fred Olander, of Pierre; and A. H. Seymour, of DeSmet. The afternoon session closed with an interpretative recital by Miss Mel Patten on, Hour and a lecture on Teaching of Last evening session began at 7:30 when the president. Dr.

Thos. Nicholson, delivered an address. Following this there was an illustrated lecture on the Black Hills region by Prof. C. C.

of the school of mines of Rapid City. The reception to the delegates at the Sherman hotel was a great success. This followed a recital at the opera house by Miss Mel Patten. The citizens were out in force and two orchestras furnished music. Meetings were held bv the county superintendents, the high school and college department, the common and graded schools association, the primary, kindergarten and associated school boards.

The county superintendents are agreed that there should be a change in the course of study in the graded and high schools and a committee is at work arranging the new system, which will be offered later for adoption by the convention. New Land District Washington, D. Jan, Gamble today introduced a bill creating a new land district embracing part of the land of the Cheyenne River and Standing Rock reservation and locating the land office at Lebeau. to interests all business men. An illustration of the cheapness of newspaper advertising compared with circular advertising is given on the last page of this paper.

There is no known method of advertising that gets the same results for so little money as newspaper advertising. Why? Because the newspaper is issued regularly anyhow, and passes through the county mails free of cost. SCHOOLS RECEIVE LARGE AMOUNT Money Received For Sale and Lease of State Lands Distributed Pierre, Jan. The state land department has made the December apportionment of the interest and income fund to the public schools of the state, amounting to $105,460.50. This distribution is on a basis of 69 cents for each pupil in the schools of the state.

The total distribution in the June and December distributions for 1908 were $465,175.20 while the total for the previous year was $447,501.50. The December distribution was on a basis of 152,850 pupils, an increase of 6,628 for the year. The apportionment for Hand county amounts to $1,379.30. SCHOOL NEWS OF THE CITY School opened after the holiday vacation with an increased attendance, even though some of the former pupils have not yet returned, because of illness, the cold weather or some other reasons. The attendance in the grade building especially is so large that it is coming to be a problem as to how to provide seating room for all present.

Then there is the other problem of how the one teacher can give adequate attention to the individual needs of each pupil in a room containingjfifty or more pupils in two grades. Among the new pupils are ('ary Berry and Preston Mdler in the Ist grade; Jennie Berry in ihe 4th; Wallace Berry in the sth; Alice Struif and Ona Berry in the 7th; and Virona Struif in the Bth. Lloyd Parks was promoted to the sth grade anc Ivan Parks to the 6th as their work thus far seemed to merit such recognition. Charles RUdd ame to town the first of the week, but was taken sick at once and so is unable to be present. The Grammar Department was dismissed Tuesday forenoon it being an impossibility to warm the room enough for comfort.

RAINFALL OF BREAKS RECORDS Moisture of Past Year Heaviest Mitchell, S. Jan. the year 1908 the moisture that fell in this city as measured by the government rain gauge amounted to 35.19 inches, and all previous records paled into insignificance in comparison with the possible exception of 1900, when the precipitation amounted to 30.58 inches. For a matter of record we give the rainfall for the past twelve years, beginning with 1896, which is as follows: 1896,22.11 inches; 1897, 1898, 18.05 inches; 1899, 19.87 inches; 1900, 23.31 inches; 1901, 25.55 inches; 1902, 15.64 inches; 1903, 23.95 inches; 1904, 20.60 inches, 1905, 27.77 inches; 1906, 30.58 inches; 1907, 18.85 inches; 1908, 35.19 inches. A word of explanation is probably due concerning the rainfall of 1902 3907, for it appears to be small, and eastern people will not understand and will wonder how a.

country can raise crops on such a small rainfall. In both of these years we will state that seven-eights of the rainfall of the entire year came during the growing season, beginning from early in April to the closing of July although some moisture fell before and after the mentioned months. For ten years South Dakota has had sufficient moisture to produce crops that have made the state famous in the agricultural line, and with that record of moisture behind it there is no reason to ever question the fact but what the state has sufficient moisture to produce abundant crops. In History of State FLYER COAST TO COAST Milwaukee Fast Train Between New York and Seattle, Via Aberdeen Aberdeen American At the present time all building: operations on the coast extension of the Milwaukee have ceased and durinj? the cold weather there will be no work done. However, in the early spring as soon as the weather will permit the construction of the road will be rushed to completion.

The Milwaukee will soon lie in a position to announce their intentions as to the train service which will be inaugurated on their coast line. It is understood that the Milwaukee people are arranging with the Pennsylvania road to make direct connections with them for traffic from New York to the Pacific coast. This will be in fact the only transcontinental train and special equipment will be provided for it. The coaches are to be the most perfectly constructed that it is possible at present to make them and will be fitted with all the modern conveniences. The cars are to be painted white and the train will be known as White No schedule has yet been prepared but it is the intention of the company to provide the most rapid transit from coast to coast that steam and rail will allow.

CHURCH WORKERS TRY NOVEL PLAN Young People Meet in Cleveland To Live Perfect For Two Weeks Cleveland, Jan. as Jesus Tomorrow afternoon, representatives of more than 11,000 Christian young people will meet in the Epworth Memorial church and for two weeks live as they believe the Savior would. The Christian Endeavor society, the Epworth Le and the Baptist Young union, comprising 172 societies, have sent representatives to this meeting. For the purpose of making their pledge permanent, a gigantic meeting will be held at the end of two weeks, at which each member will be asked to make a pledge to govern his every action, ward and movement by the question wou'd Jesus The workers in the movement hope to get every member of the three associations represented, as well as members from other church societies, to join in making the experiment. Spink Co- First Settler Dead Pierre, Jan.

i. S. W. Bowman died at his home at Ashton this morning from gastritis, which began only three days ago. Sam Bowman was the first white settler in Spink county and was a notable figure among the pioneers who labored for the upbuilding of the territory and state.

He was active in organizing Spink countv, was one of the early assessors and afterwards a county commissioner. It wat due mainly to his firm and diplomatic attitude that bloodshed was averted between the armed factions from Ashton and Redfield in the famous county seat war in Spink county. He was representative from Spink county in the state legislature, 1889-90 and later was deputy commissioner of school and public lands. He was an expert judge of real estate and in his position as deputy commissioner he did much field work, spending many months in inspecting lands in the Missouri valley and western part of the state. Many thousand of acres of the best school and capital lands now held by the state were secured by Mr wise selection.

Hear! Hear! Over at Britton a gentleman and a scholar won fame and a nice rocking chair by keeping his sidewalk clear of snow. He was so prompt and good about it that his neighbors made him the present. Any other gentleman who would like a rocker? No. 5 ihk I I i i I.