News from Around the World
A VEIN of that rare mineral cadmium is reported to have been struck at Aspen, Colorado. The world's total production of this mineral amounts to only about two tons a year. The value of the discovery lies in the fact that cadmium has been found to be the best element for the storage of electricity; and if a sufficient quantity could be procured, the problem of the storage battery would be practically solved. A DETACHMENT of native British West African troops have completed a successful campaign against the powerful slave-raiding emirs of Bida and Kontagora, in Northern Nigeria. The British defeated the emir of Kontagora after heavy fighting, and also captured the capitals of both Bida and Kontagora, where they released thousands of slaves. This campaign is thought to render powerless these emirs who have been a terror in that part of Africa for years. PRESIDENT McKINLEY and party left Washington on the morning of April 29 for a trip thru the Southern and Western States. Enthusiastic demonstrations are reported along the route of the special train, and great preparations have been made for his reception and entertainment in the Western States. In Californian cities the striking feature of the display will be rose carnivals and floral decorations. GENERAL ALEJANDRINO, who was looked upon by the Filipinos as the successor of Aguinaldo, surrendered unconditionally at Ararat, Pampanga, in the island of Luzon, on April 29. The Taft Commission is visiting different islands of the Philippine group, establishing local governments under American direction. In many places they have been met with considerable enthusiasm on the part of the natives. THE House of Commons has agreed to all the budget resolutions except the export tax on coal. Opposition to the tax continues to be vehement. There is said to be a widespread disposition among coal operators to combat it with a strike. It was stated in the House of Commons that two days after Parliament sanctions the tax, there would not be a coal mine open in all Wales. LOGGING contractors who have permission to take “dead and down” timber from the Chippewa Indian Reservation have been found guilty of illegal cutting of timber on the Indian land to the amount of 9,000,000 feet. Government inspectors have closed some of the logging camps, and according to reports the contractors have been compelled to pay $100,000 for the depredations. THE Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo opens May 1, with nearly all its attractions complete. It is reported that a compromise has been effected in the matter of Sunday closing; that the exposition grounds will be open from 1 P.M. until 11 P.M. on Sunday, but that the Midway and all the amusement features will be closed from Saturday night until Monday morning. THE Cuban delegation completed its labors in Washington on April 27, had final interviews with the President and Secretary of War, and left New York for Cuba on May 1. The delegation, before leaving Washington, made a special plea for trade concessions which would enable Cubans to dispose of their growing crops without loss for the present year. IN accordance with an order from the Mayor of Omaha, Nebraska, all saloons are tightly closed from Saturday night till Monday morning. The Mayor is determined also to close all barber shops, ball games, and theaters, and even to stop the sale of newspapers on the street on Sunday. This stringent action is said to result from an agitation by the press. ON the partly disabled steamer “New York,” which arrived at New York on April 29, was Count Colacichi, who is bringing from the Vatican the red hat to the new American Cardinal Martinelli. This member of the Noble Guard was met at the dock by the “Secretary of the Apostolic Delegation,” who escorted him and the red hat to Washington. A MOVEMENT is on foot in Spain to put an end to bullfights. Those behind the movement are of the better class of the population; but the mass of the people are not ready for the change, and an attempt was made to mob a committee which had been appointed to the task of laying the proposition before the government. A NEW central labor association was organized in Chicago on April 28, the principles of which are opposition to sympathetic strikes, and arbitration of disputes. The new organization is backed by fifteen of the eighteen strong trades in the building industry, representing about 15,000 workmen. IT is reported that Chile has opened a pass into Argentina at every strategical point in the Andes. Argentina is much worried over this apparent hostile move on the part of Chile, and her minister has been instructed to question the Chilean Government in regard to the matter. A NEW comet was discovered by astronomical observers at Queenstown on April 23. It is said to be the brightest that has appeared in 19 years. The comet has moved past the sun from southwest to northeast, and continues to move rapidly in that direction. MANY lives are reported lost during a hurricane which recently visited the Fijian Islands. Ten coasting vessels were blown ashore by the gale, and the amount of the property loss is placed at $1,000,000. A COURIER from Sunrise City, Alaska, reports that a snowslide has destroyed a portion of that town, and caused the death of 20 persons. SOME of the street cars of Oakland, Cal., are now operated by electric power generated on the north fork of the Yuba River, 140 miles away. JAPAN is now credited with having blocked the scheme of Russia to secure control of Manchuria. Notwithstanding Japan's diplomatic victory, however, Russia still remains in Manchuria. China has not signed the convention allowing Russia to do so; but this does not seem to have been necessary. The Boxers, robbers, and many of the disbanded soldiers of China are planning for another outbreak against foreigners and native Christians. Marauding bands are said to be even now ravaging the country in the vicinity of Pao-ting-Fu, and at Hoswu and Matu. A detachment of German troops have engaged the Chinese near the great wall, and report having defeated them with considerable loss. In the matter of the indemnity demands of the powers, there seems to be a settled determination not to reduce them to the figures suggested by the acting American minister. One thing seems to have been settled by the ministers, and that is that the troops will not be withdrawn until the matter of the indemnity is determined, and when this will be none can tell. There are renewed complaints of the cruelties of the German troops, especially when sent on punitive expeditions. THE publication of English census returns shows a continual decrease in the population of agricultural towns, and a corresponding increase in the population of the larger cities and the manufacturing centers. This is in harmony with the general spirit of the times, which is a spirit of concentration in every line. The crowding of the cities adds to the poverty of the masses, increases the number of the people who are living off the productions of others, makes the struggle for existence harder, and the temptation to crime greater. THE American Smelting and Refining Company, which is a trust, is seeking to gain control of all the silver-lead producing mines in the country. The course of procedure by which the trust intends to gain its ends is to charge such exorbitant rates for smelting and refining the ores that the small mine owners will have to sell out or go out of the business. There will not be enough left after the smelting and refining charges are paid to enable the miner to operate his mines. EDWIN H. CONGER, United States minister to China, arrived in San Francisco from the Orient on April 25, accompanied by the members of his household. Mr. Conger, who was in Peking during the siege, takes a hopeful view of the settlement of the Chinese imbroglio, and exonerates the missionaries from the charge of looting. In spite of the minister's hopeful views, however, the settlement of the difficulty is not in sight. THE Christian Herald, of New York City, has received the following telegram from Peking, China, signed by Li Hung Chang: “Very serious famine spreading over the whole province of Shansi. Over 11,000,000 population affected. Urgent relief necessary. Conditions warrant immediate appeal.” The Christian Herald has announced its intention of raising a fund to relieve the sufferers in this famine-stricken district. THE physicians of Argentine are said to be testing a new serum for the cure of tuberculosis. An Argentine army surgeon who produced the serum has made a report on fifty cases of tuberculosis treated with it, and claims remarkable results, the serum effecting a cure in all cases except those so far advanced that the system was unable to rally from the effects of the disease. A FINANCIAL panic prevails in portions of Japan. Over twenty banks have suspended payments at Osaka and in the southern and central provinces. The national bank of Japan has assisted them, but further trouble is apprehended. REPORTS from Servia state that the Albanians are engaging in wholesale atrocities in Old Servia. In a recent encounter between Servians and Albanians, 17 persons were killed and many wounded. THE President and Secretary of War have definitely determined the size of the regular army, which is to be increased to approximately 76,000 men, including the artillery corps of 18,000. GOVERNOR ODELL, of New York, has signed the bill authorizing women taxpayers in villages and towns to vote on propositions to expend money for public purposes. SEVENTEEN persons were killed and forty injured by a terrible explosion at Greisheim, Germany, on April 25, in a smokeless-powder factory. MEXICO and Austria are arranging to resume diplomatic relations, which were broken off in 1867 over the shooting of Maximilian. SINCE the opening of the great Beaumont oil well in Texas, January 10, 96 oil companies have been chartered in that State. THE Canary Islands have been swept by a cyclone which killed 12 persons and did a great amount of damage to property. THERE has been some skirmishing in South Africa during the week, but no engagements of consequence have been reported. COMMON-LAW marriages in New York will not be recognized as legal after the beginning of the new year. TURKISH troops are reported to have suffered defeat at the hands of Arab rebels in Yemen, Arabia.