NEWS AND NOTES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 15, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 50.

Domestic.—Over 500,000 tons of steel rails have been ordered during the past week by railroad companies centering at Chicago and Pittsburg......The government has sent a large quantity of seeds of various kinds to the Philippine Islands, to test the soil and to produce vegetables for the army of occupation......The government has appropriated $25,000 for the construction of a flying-machine, under the supervision of Professor Langley, of the Smithsonian Institute, who has constructed already a successful working model......The American Linseed Company filed articles of incorporation on December 5, with a capitalization of $33,500,000. It is also reported that all the large packing-houses in the country have entered a combine, merging into one trust their joint capital of about $75,000,000......James Stillman, of New York, has given $350,000 to Harvard College to cover the cost of land and buildings for a projected Harvard infirmary, to bear the name of the donor......On account of the great prevalence of typhoid fever among the New York troops stationed in Honolulu, it has been decided to have the troops sent home......The battle-ships Oregon and Iowa have sailed from Montevideo for Valparaiso, Chile, where further orders will await them One of the most gigantic trusts in the world was recently formed in New York by the consolidation of nearly all the large flour-mills in the United States. The trust expects to control three-fourths of the flour supply of the world. There is about $150,000,000 represented in its capital stock......

There is prospect of another Indian war in Minnesota. The Indians on the White Earth and Leech Lake Reservations are openly violating the game laws and defying the wardens to arrest them. They claim to have won a victory over the soldiers at Leech Lake, and are anxious to win another.

The tobacco-growers of Kentucky have organized a combination for the purpose of opposing the tobacco trusts of the country. They are perfecting plans to fight the trusts in the State and Federal courts......The transport Minnewaska left Savannah, Ga., on December 5, with a regiment of New York troops for the occupation of Pinar del Rio Province, Cuba......The United States gunboat Helena arrived at Gibraltar on December 4, and took on a supply of coal preparatory to the completion of her voyage through the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal, and Indian Ocean, to Manila, where she will join the fleet of Admiral Dewey......Another severe storm swept the New England and central States on December 5, wrecking a considerable amount of shipping, and seriously impeding the railway and telegraph service......The third session of the fifty-fifth Congress was called to order at noon, December 5, when the President's message was read. The message was one of the most lengthy documents ever presented to Congress by a President and deals almost wholly with the war with Spain, the events leading up to hostilities, and the results growing out of them. It also refers to American interests in China, urging the appointment of a commission to study the commercial and industrial conditions of the Chinese Empire. The President maintains the equal rights of Americans in the territories of China which have recently come under the influence of other nations; and expresses the cordial sympathy of this nation for the peace proposals of the czar of Russia. An extensive merchant marine is also favored, and a recommendation made for governmental support for American steamship lines. The President advises that the regular army be increased to 100,000 men, and that the volunteers be retained in service until the army reaches that footing. In respect to the navy the President incorporates the report of the Secretary of the Navy, and endorses his recommendations, which are that the navy be increased by the addition of three powerful battle-ships and twelve cruisers of various tonnage. The construction of the Nicaragua Canal is advised, and Congress urged to institute the necessary legislation.

International.—There was another anti-Dreyfus riot in the streets of Paris on December 5, which was with difficulty quelled by the police......News from Spain is to the effect that that country is seething with sedition born of bankruptcy and ruin. There is a very strict censorship over the press, and the people are not allowed to know the true condition of the country......France is making new and rigorous demands upon China, which are equivalent

to the cession of a valuable portion of the Yang-tse Valley. The viceroy of Nanking stoutly refuses to accede to the demands of France, and for this the French admiral threatens to make his demands still greater and to destroy certain Chinese property in the vicinity of Nanking. British and Japanese vessels have gone to the vicinity to strengthen the viceroy in his refusal to yield to the demands of France......Trouble has arisen in Africa between Germany and the Kongo Free State over the boundary of German territory and Kongo territory north of Lake Tanganyika. A strong force of Germans has been sent to the disputed territory, and the Kongo forces have also been increased......The new German Army Bill just published gives the increase in the German army as 13,487 men. The Radicals term this “Germany’s answer to the czar’s disarmament proposal.”

Serious trouble is threatening in Peru over the policy of the obstructionists; and on November 29 Ecuador was proclaimed in a state of siege......The rebellion in Salvador, in the absence of the president, resulted in the rebel leader Regabido usurping the president’s office. He is said to be so firmly established that President Gutierrez will not attempt to dislodge him......The republic of Central America, which was recently formed, and which consisted of Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, has been again dissolved, and the little States resume their existence as separate republics.

Two British brigades have been ordered to the Swat Valley, India, to put down the uprising of the Mad Mullah, who has been victorious over local tribesmen......A report from Madagascar states that the bubonic plague has broken out in that island......General Kitchener, the conqueror of Omdurman, has appealed to the British public to subscribe £100,000 to found and maintain the Gordon Memorial College at Khartoum, with a view of educating the Soudanese and continuing the work which General Gordon commenced......One of the expeditions sent out in search of Herr Andree has been wrecked at the mouth of the Yenisei River. The members of the expedition succeeded in reaching an uninhabited island, where they were ice-bound for seventeen days before they were finally rescued......A German official is said to confirm the report that the German Government is negotiating with Spain for the purchase of the Caroline Islands. Germany makes her offer contingent upon no international complications arising, especially with the United States......The Reichstag (the German Parliament) convened on December 6, and listened to the address of the emperor......The present indications are that the treaty of peace between Spain and the United States will be signed during the week. The provisions of this treaty have not been officially given out for publication.

Casualties and Calamities.—The French steamer Algerois foundered off the coast of Algeria on December 5, and eleven persons were drowned......Five men were instantly killed by an explosion of gelatine-dynamite at the Judson Powder Works, near Berkeley, Cal., on December 5......Nine men lost their lives by the wrecking of the steamer Ainsworth, on Kootenay Lake, between Nelson, B. C., and Bonner’s Ferry, Washington, on November 29......Two schooners were wrecked off Gay Head life-saving station, Massachusetts, on November 26, and seven members of their crews were drowned. Eight men lost their lives by the wrecking of a schooner off Black Rock, near Cohasset, Mass., on the same date. The loss to the insurance companies during the recent storms is placed at over $1,000,000.

Fires.—Several stories of two of New York’s tallest buildings were destroyed by the fire which consumed the clothing establishment of Rogers, Peat & Co., on the night of December 4. The loss is placed at half a million dollars.

The Philippines.—Advices from the Philippines state that the insurgents have decided not to recognize the cession of the islands to the United States, and that they will resist to the last. They propose to use against the Americans the 10,000 Spanish prisoners whom they hold. The reports from Manila also state that Aguinaldo has renounced the Catholic faith and become a Protestant, after learning that the Episcopal Church was influential in the United States and England......The insurgents have renewed their attacks on Iloilo, and have cannon trained on the city......The insurgent chief is now demanding the sum of $1,500,000 for the release of the Spanish friars whom he holds......By the terms of the peace treaty between Spain and the United States both countries agree to liberate all prisoners of war. This will mean that the Americans must release the Spanish prisoners whom the Filipinos hold. Aguinaldo, as president of the Filipino republic, with an army under his command, is expected to refuse to yield up his prisoners, when compulsion will have to be used by the Americans in the islands. This, it is believed, will bring on war between the insurgents and the United States......The U. S. transport Puebla, with 600 troops on board, reached Manila on December 6, and reports no deaths during the voyage......The Secretary of the Navy has decided to send Lieutenant Hobson to Manila to superintend the reconstruction of the Spanish cruisers which have been raised from the waters of the bay.