Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 30, 1909

— It is now possible to travel practically all the distance from New York to Chicago by interurban trolley lines.

— A report from Batavia, Java, dated August 30, states that in a battle between Dutch soldiers and rebellious natives, the Dutch lost fifteen killed, and the natives 117.

— The National Red Cross Society is asking aid for the flood sufferers in Mexico. The conditions in the flooded regions are still reported as terrible in the extreme.

— A report from Batavia, dated September 2, states that disastrous floods have overwhelmed the town of Besocki, Java, and that about 600 persons have perished.

— Conversation by wireless telephone is said to have been carried on by two lieutenants of the French navy between Toulon and Port Vendres, a distance of 155 miles.

— The Turkish government is seeking to float a loan of $30,800,000 to settle the deposed sultan's debts, meet deficits of the imperial budget and payments to Oriental railways, etc.

— During the year 1908 there were 470 boiler explosions in the United States. In these explosions 281 persons were killed.

— During the last year the population of the United States was increased by immigration to the extent of 573,551 persons. These figures give the net increase after deducting the number who during the same time returned to their home countries.

— In order to enable New York City to expand, it is now proposed to fill up East River, thus joining New York and Brooklyn with solid ground, and run a canal across the western end of Long Island to take the place of the East River approach.

— A German company is now being formed for the purpose of conducting an air navigation business. It is the intention of this concern to carry passengers between Berlin and the principal cities of the empire, and to begin operations in May of next year.

— Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has taken up the task of arousing the conscience of England in regard to the cruelties still practised in the Kongo country. He declares the Belgian administration of affairs in Kongoland "the greatest crime in the history of the world."

— The Post-office Department is soon to increase the charge for registry of letters and packages, from eight cents to ten cents. The department contends that the registry service is the most expensive part of the service, and that it is carried on at an actual loss.

— The submarine is advancing steadily in size and capacity. France has recently launched the "Archimedes," whose displacement of 800 tons constitutes her the largest submarine afloat. She is 229 feet and 8 inches in length, and her steaming radius is 2,500 miles.

— At Tazewell, Va., on September 22 an entire family of six persons was killed by robbers searching for a few hundred dollars known to be concealed about the house. The building was burned to conceal the crime. The murderers have not yet been apprehended.

— A report from El Paso, Tex., states that a bomb has been found in the rear of the custom-house at Juarez, Mexico, a few feet from the platform which has been erected for the meeting between President Taft of the United States and President Diaz of Mexico. The only possible explanation of the presence of the bomb in that place is that those who put it there designed to take the lives of both presidents at the same time.

— On September 19 one of the most destructive hurricanes that has ever visited the Gulf States struck the southern coast of Louisiana and Mississippi, and swept north along the Mississippi Valley. It is known that one hundred persons lost their lives, and it is believed that nearly as many more perished. The property loss will run into the millions. Railroad bridges were torn to pieces by the hurricane, many miles of track were washed out, and railway transportation completely demoralized over a considerable portion of territory. Over a large district crops are reported completely destroyed. Many of those who lost their lives were killed by flying timbers from their wrecked homes or from mills blown to pieces by the terrible wind.