VOL- 14, NO. 34
PRINGE   GEORGE   CITIZEN,    THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1931
Start on Relief Work is Held Up at Last Moment
Delay  of Hon.   H.   H.  Stevens in Reaching Victoria Forced the Postponement
ASSENT IS SOUGHT
Camps   Have Been   Established
and iiv Readiness When the
Policy is Settled
The long expected start on the relief work, which" was scheduled to get un-acr way on Monday,, was again deferred as the provincial government has yet to receive the sanction of the federal- authorities to their arrangements in connection with the several undertakings. Failure on the part of the provincial government to receive federal approval came as a great disappointment to a large number of men who had moved out on the highway location, east of Aleza Lake, in anticipation of being able to get to work on Monday, and it looks as if they will have to content themselves as best they can for the next few days. The first intimation that anything was jmiss in the provincial government's plan came on Sunday when word was irceived to make no start on any of the relief undertakings until specific authority was received from Victoria.
It was intimated some days ago that Premier Tolmie was awaiting the arrival in Victoria of Hon. H. H. Stevens from Ottawa, when he expected to receive advice as to the policy of the federal government not only in the matter of the contemplated highway construction, but .also with res|>ect to Premier Tolmie'S proposal for the completion of the P. G. E. to Prince George by the provincial government, provided the federal government would undertake to see that the extension :nto the Peace River was started at this point. Hon. H. H. Stevens made a leisurely trip across the continent, with a stop-over.at Banff, so that he vas several days late in arriving on the roast. This forced Premier Tolmie to call a halt in the arrangements he had made to commence work on the highway on Monday, and it may be several days before the work will] be able to -.pioceedv.   � -�� �                     , ]~
In thl preliminary arrangements for the carrying on of tlie highway work a number of changes have been decided upon. The idea of two large camps on the Job has been discarded as impracticable, and instead of two camps there will � be a number of smaller camps. L. C. Gunn has fixed the location of three camps. Between Aleza Lake and Hansard there are to be two camps, capable of accommodating from 50 to 60 men each. A third camp has been located at Lindup, which will accommodate. 100 men, and Mr. Gunn started out on Monday to establish a fourth camp in the vicinity of Tumble Dick creek, some, eight or ten miles from McBride. The idea of the big camp was discarded for the reason that the relief work, consisting of clearing and grubbing of the right-of-way, will advance rapidly, and fixed camps would necessitate travelling considerable distances from the camp to the work within a few days. As it is the intention to commence the highway work in the vicinity of Aleza Lake, the four camps fixed upon will be sufficient until the work is well under way.
BIG BRITISH THREAD
COMPANY CUTTING ITS
DIVIDEND .50 PER CENT
London." Aug. 18^-The* big cotton .spinning firm of J. & P. Coates gives notice of the reduction of its quarterly dividend of nine pence to 4Vid.
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PERSIA  TAKES MEASURES
TO FIGHT THE PLAGUE
Five Cents
Teheran. Aug. 18�The Persian government has dispatched an airplane to ihe southern ports with 50,000 vials of vaccine, in the hope of being able to stamp out the cholera plague which nas made its appearance.
MUSSOLINI WILL REACH COMPROMISE     � WITH THE VATICAN
Rome, Aug. 18.�In government circles it is said conditions are gradually shaping for a satisfactory settlement of the. differences wh'ch have developed between the state as represented by the-Fascist party and the Vatican over the education of the youth' of the country.
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INTERNATIONAL BANKERS
SUGGEST REVISION OF THE
DEBTS  AND REPARATIONS
Basle, Aug. 20�The special committee of the International Bank to which much of the European financing has has been delegated has sent out notes to all of ,the powers seeking their v'.ews as to the necessity for a revision of war debt and reparations payments in the restoration of'European, "ed'ts. The response to thes� notes have an important bearing on the world's present financial structure.
Michael Sowry Hanged for the Babchuk Murder
Sensation of His Trial Was The
Testimony of Dr.  Derome
Ballistic Expert
NO TWO RIFLES ALIKE
Microscope Fasteneed Charge of
the  Double  Murder Upon
Acused Sowry
New Westminster, Aug. 14�Michael Sowry paid the supreme penalty  orirre was committed, but no person co/iid be produced who was positive trn-.t Sowry was carrying a rifle. V. was aoub;less in the pack which he carried, but wh'ch he never opened when anyone wa* present. v
The police took the Wind'eder and Marlin rifles to Dr. Deromi\ as well as the exploded shell, for examination. The result of his examination was given with dramatic effect when Dr. Derome was called as a witness at the trial, and the crime was fastened upon Sov.ry. Dr. Derome told the court there are no two rifles in the world which are alike. Rifles of the same pattern are fashioned for the most part by machinery, but the finishing touches are given by hand with a file. It is in this process that the differences occur. They escape the naked eye, but under the mcroscope are readily apparent. Dr. Derome in his tests f'red one of the 30-30 shells out of the Marlin rifle. The result he secured, in the way of markings on th^ exploded- shell, were so convincing that he did not consider it necessary to discharge a shell through the Winchester which had been submitted to him.
His evidence to the court was that the 30-30 shell found in the Babchuk cabin had not been fired from the Winchester rifle, but from a Marlin rifle, and further that it had been fired from but one Marlin rifle, and that the one found in the possession of Sowry. Dr. Derome told the court it was impossible for any workman even using the same file, to turn out two nfies identically the same. He explained that the rifling of the barrel would be indicated on the copper jacket of the bullet fired through it. but the mai kings caused by the firepin and the l-.reach-lock were to be found on the shell of the cartridge, and the mark-'ngs of each rifle differed from' the markings of all others. When the exploded shells were submitted to the microscope there could be no mistaking this conclusion. In explanation of lvs contention Dr. Derome produced for the information of the court "microscopic photographs of the exploded *hell found in the Babchuk cabin, and one which had been fired by him through the Marlin rifle, and they bore out his testimony in a most sur-prsing manner.
The police might have secured the conviction.of Sowry on other circumstantial evidence submitted by the t'h'rty" odd witnesses which were brought to Prince Georse for the trial. bu< the testimony of. Dr. Derome was <=o conclusive that there was no escape from it. and a verdict of guilty was returned by the Jury. Sowry was an Austrian and robbery appeared to be the motive of the crime.
VETERAN JOURNALIST
CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY
Montreal, Aug. lS^fohn Redpath Dougall celebrated the 90th anniversary Of Ws birth today. For the past sfxty-one .years he ha. held an editorial past on the staff of the_ Montreal Witness.
LINDBERGHS  DELAYED
IN KAMCHATKA BY MORE UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
Tokio. Au�. 18-Raido advices from the Lindberghs state they are be-ng hold on Kamchatka p?nmsuta.by unfavorable weather ^diUons.^Th^colj rrel and his wife have no though.* of mSne fbwn'rd -this city, until flying cendit ons improve:
CHOLERA AND TYPHOID ADD TO THE HORRORS OF CHINESE FLOOD
Most Dreaded 'Disease  Adding
to Frigthful Loss of Life
Among the Victims
Hangkow, Aug. 18.�The greatest disaster which has been feared in connection with the flood has reared its head with the spread of cholera ana typhoid among the sufferers, and the death .list is mounting steadily. Inability of the Chinese authorities to cope vith the flood conditions is chiefly l esponsible for the present situation. The plight of the sufferers is almost without hope, and when the final toll of drownings. famine and p-lague have been taken Ch'na will have suffered from one of the worst visitations of many years.
The more recent estimates place the number of persons who have been rendered homeless by the great flood and the attending disasters at 13.000,-00U. J. L. Baker, technical adviser to the United States . minister, in expressing an opinion upon the existing situation thi-oughoiu the flooded districts descried it as the greatest calamity which has befallen to the Chinese people during the present century, and the end is not ye.t in sight.
Williams Lake Police Puzzled Over Shooting
Mrs. Edna Leeson Dies in Local
Hospital   From   Effect   of
Wound Near Heart
COMPANION IS HELD
Roy Caverley Says Woman Shot
Herself During" His Brief
Absence  From   Car
Williams Lake. Aug. 19�Assisted by the police of Vancouver and of North Vancouver, provincial officers are endeavoring to clear up the mystery surrounding the death of Mrs. Edna Leeson, a former resident of Vancouver and. Calgary, who died ki the local hospital on Saturday night, from the eflects of a bullet wound near the heart.
Roy E. Caverley. a North Vancouver man, � who accompanied Mrs. Leeson here, is being held by the police^ To pclice officers he stated he had been keeping company with the woman for upwards of three~year.s. and that Mrs. Leeson left Vancouver with him on August 12th in an automobile, bound for the Cariboo.
The woman was found on the roadside on Saturday with a bullet wound in the region of the heart. She was taken to the hospital and died the sp.me evening. In an ante-mortem statement the woman is said to have charged Caverley with exerting an undue influence over her..
Cayrley in one statement made to the police asserts he left the woman in the automobile while he went away with the object of having some repairs made, and that while he was absent the woman had evidently shot herself \v:th a 22-rifle which vas included in their luggage in the car.
Medical opinion on this suicide sug-gtstion is that it would have been possible for the woman to have shot herself with- the rifle in the manner stated, but in such an event it is regarded as significant there were no powder burns on Mrs. Leeson"s body.
Mrs. Leeson was reported to the North Vancouver police as having disappeared from her home on August 9th. She was not seen again until August 12th_ when she departed with Caverley in his automobile. From a search of the Caverley cottage in North Vancouver the police have reason to believe Mrs. Leeson and Caverley had been living in it during the period of her disappearance.
Roy E. Caverley served with the real air force during: the war, and in recent years has been in the employ of a radio service organization. His narcnts are said to reside in Cariboo in the v!cinity of Las la Hache.
SCHNEIDER CUP
PILOT LOST IN SEA
OFF CALSHOT
London. Aug. 18�Prepartaions for the Schneider cup race took another airman's life today when Lieut, Brin-ton, .who was training for tlv i.�is race, fell into the sea off Calshot and vas drowned.
DESTRUCTION OF TRANSMISSION LINE TIES UP MONTREAL
Local Creamery Becomes Subject of Investigation
W. J. and H. J. Scott Submit a
Proposal to Mayor Patterson
for Consideration
MILK   CONTROL  DESIRED
Assured of this Vancouver Men
With   Extensive   Creamery
Experience Are Ready
W. J. Scott and H. W. Scott, of Vancouver, arrived in the city over the week-end to look into the possibilities attending the establishment of a district creamery in Prnce George. They were interested in the matter as the result of the activities of the members of the industrial committee of the board of trade, of which C. -A. Pyne is chairman. The. Scotts have had an intimate acquaintance with the creamery business in Saskatchewan. W. J. Scott, the elder, has twenty years creamery experience to his credit, which he gained in the prairie province. He retired from the business some years ago, but his son H. W. Scott was actively associated with the business on the coast, having charge of the Spencer dairy until quite recently.
The two Scotts express themselves as favorably impressed with the creamery outlook here, but there are certain safeguards which they hold to be essential, if they are to engage in the business. To begin with they are of the opinion a local creamery must start virtually as a consolidated milk delivery, and from this work into the creamery business. This involves control of the present milk supply of the city. A number of the milk producers have been interviewed on this point and profess a willingness jto turn over their milk to a consolidated delivery, but all'have not been brought into line. If this plan could be worked out the entire milk supply would be mixed together and pasteurized and supplied to the consumers throughout the city as a one-standard milk. With the consolidated delivery all of the existing duplication would be eliminted and a considerable saving effected.
While control of the available milk supply is considered essential at the present time, in view of the limited number of cows in the district, this necessity would be lessened once the creamery got under way and encour-acement was given the farmers*" to secure  additional  cows.
The Messrs. Scott had a number of interviews with Mayor Patterson on Tuesday and Wednesday, but in the absence of P. E. Wilson, K. C. city solicitor, the mayor was not prepared to say how far the city could go in assisting the creamery project by giving its promoters control of the milk finding its way into the city. Given the assurance they desire on this point the- Scotts express their readiness to launch the creamery1 enterprise, for which they say the outlook is encouraging, but failing to secure some such assurance they will not proceed further. They are prepared to find the major part of the capital required, but desire to have some local money invested to secure the interest of the city in the venture.
Just what the outcome of the matter will be will not be known until the city solicitor returns and advises the mayor how far the municipality can so under the Municipal Act in mect-inc the wishes of the creamery promoters.
No Release From Hard Water for Prince George
Water Is Uniformly Hard at the Depth Required For Municipal Service
SURFACE WATER IS SOFT
Analysis   Holds  No   Hope   For Improvement Unless City Will Process         ^
GRANDSON OF BLUCHER
TIES   IN   HIS   ENGLISH
HOME IN 65th YEAR
Boscombe. Aug. 20�Prince Blucher. grandson of the famous Prussian general who co-operated with the Duke of Wellington in the over'.hrow of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo died in his home here yesterday at tho age of 65 years.
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MEN WHO REFUSE WORK
WILL BE DENIED  HELP
FROM   GOVERNMENTS
Ottawa. Aug. 19.�Hon. Gideon Robertson; minister of labor, made the announcement here/today that an understanding had been arrived at with the federal ad .provinc'al governments by which any man rejecting opportunities for employment on relief works wii: be denied any further assistance by the governments concerned.
CONDITION OF MAYOR
TAYLOR IS  IMPROVING
The solution of the city's domestic water problem is not going to. be so> : simple as most persons imagined, and the prospect is the "citizens will have to put up with hard water for some time. This will be disappointing to the housewives who have been expecting an early release from tfie extra work attending the use of the present water. It was more or less an issue in the last municipal election. Mayor Patterson, from the hustings, promised he would make the necessary investiga-I tions to secure softer water. It was known the water taken from the Ne-chako at Central Fort George is much softer than that secured from the city well at the power house, and the general impression was that the water had become hardened in its passage through limerock between the well and the river.
This theory is not borne out by the investigation which has been made by I the city, and the explanation now ap-j pears to be that the water taken from. I the river at Central is softer than that ! ta!:en  from  the  city well chiefly be-{cause  it  is surface  water,  and  bein? surface water it is bound to contain a lo'. of vegetable matter which at certain seasons in the year might make it rather undesirable for human consumption, and at times dangerous.
Two possible locations 'for a municipal well were made some weeks ago. i One of  these  was  : at  a point much. ! nearer  the  river  than  the  city   well, and the other was in the bottom of one I the caissons of the bridge being built across the river.' To be of value to the city the well must have a depth of approximately 20 feet, so that water will always be available for pumping at the lowest stage in the river level.    This depth was secured by the use of sand i points,  and  samples of the water in I the present well, as well as samples I taken  at the  two    prospective  wells, � were  sent  to  Vancouver  for analysis. I The result was surprising in that the i analysis disclosed the city well water : is very much softer than that taken I from the two other points, although it would be possible to soften the water I from the two other points below that ' to which the water from the city well could be softened, but the treating of the water "would be rather expensive. The analysis of the three water samples is interesting. That taken from the point midway between the present well and .the river had an indicated hardness  of  267.4.  of    which   196.0  pointis might be removed, leaving 71.4 as-representing the permanent hardness of the  water.    The sample taken   from below the bottom of the caisson  had an indicated hardness of 266.0, of which 191.7 points could be removed, leaving a permanent hardness of 74.3 points. The water taken from the existing well was the more soft of the three, being represented  at 223.0 points,  of  which only 147.3 points could be removed, or a net hardness of 75.7 points.
The analys's upsets the theory of the hardening of the? present water supply by iUs passage through limerock, and makes its reasonably clear that at a depth of twenty feet the Nechako water is uniformily hard. Softer water appears to be available nearer the surface of the river, but this could not be j utilized as a municipal supply, as it would not be available at the low-level stage of the river, and even if it were available the water nearer the surface vould not be so desirable for human consumption as the present water supply due to the excess of vegetable matter at certain seasons of the year. For the present the prospect portends j the more liberal use of soap, and i grilling and bearing the hard water until a practical solution can be found for  the problem.
Montreal. Aug. 19.�Two power towers carrying the lines of the Shawini-ean Water and Power Company were j dynamited last night, with the result [ ttiat the industries of the �� city suffered a paralysis today.
Vancouver. Aug. 18�The condition of Mayor L. D. Taylor, who has been a patient in .the Vancouver general hospital for the past few days is- showine Improvement, The mayor was reiwrted today as resting well.
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TOWN OF ELKO SUFFERS
HEAVY  PROPERTY LOSS
THROUGH FOREST  FIRE
Lethbridge. Aug. 18�The town of Elko. in British Columbia, has suffered heavy property damage from fores* fires. In all fifteen re*=Wenr=s anc. two churches have been destroyed.
CANADIAN TEACHERS
VISIT THE HUGE  COLONIAL
EXHIBITION  IN  PARIS
Paris, Aug. 18.�Hon. P. Roy. Canadian minister to France, today escorted 170 Canadian teachers and students on a visit to the French colonial exhibition. The exhibition is the greatest-show attempted by the French government .and is meeting with a very gratifying patronage.
KAYE DON' ARRIVES IN
NEW YORK WITH HIS
SPEEDY  MISS  ENGLAND
N'ew York. Aug. 18.�Kaye Don. the British holder of the world's speedoat record, arrived here today with his MiM= England- IL H-j will meet Gar Wood, from whom he lifted the title, in ? race which- will bo staged at Detroit. He savs the maximum speed of Mis?, England IT is 112 miles p<*r hour, ��ut if Gar Wo>d � possesses anything faster he *"?? �* ^-m^ chance of rejain-r..T   he world record.