The times., 1898-07-30
GOSSIP OF TIE CAPITAL.

Harvey Kelso, returned gold seeker
said to The Times man last night: .'At
present Dawson City has a population
estimated at $1,000. and day after day
steady streams of prospectors from every
nook and corner of the world are pour
ing into the place. Every foot of ground
within seventy miles of Dawson City has
been staked On every hand is seen evil
denee that the stories of the wonder
full riches of the gold, fields are not fables.
Labor there is worth one dollar an hour.
The output of the vicinity in which ]
prospected was o-er three million dollars
during the season. Ii seems that there is
nothing there but gold. 1t is seen in sacks
and jars, in the stores and saloons. In
quantities that areiastounding OF course
many claims prove TO be worthless but
on the other hand there are mines on the
Klondike that have turned out from $25. 600
to S500,000 while the output of few have
reached the million mark. / saw one
man who bought claim last Fall for
$500 and this Spring refused $1,000, 900 for
it. While this is true, 1t must be con-
fessed that scores OF others have invested
their all and have got nothing in return
but experience"
A well-known lawyer said to The Times
man yesterday: THAT there is an element
of insincerty in The Spanish suit for
peace is evinced by the fact that the
Cortes is not in session, and its members
are scattered from one end of the king
dom to the other. IL would take con-
siderable time TO assemble the legisla-
ture, even If that were practicable at this
season of the year. 1t is impossible for
the Queen Regent TO conclude peace with
out the consent OF the Cortes. According
TO article SO of the constitution, it is ex-
pressly decreed that before the crown
enters upon negotiations having in view
the cession or exchange of any portion
OF Spanish territory, IL must obtain au-
thority duly granted in the form of
special law passed by both houses of the
national legislature. That is to say. the
crown cannot conclude peace involving
the alienation of Spanish territory and
then so to the Cortes for a bill of in
demnity and ratification"
A fact not generally known is that
smaller but very productive island viii
come to America along with Porto Rico
yieque is Spanish possession thirteen
miles off the east coast of Porto Rico
1T Is twenty-one miles long and six miles
wide. The land is very fertile and adapt-
ed to the cultivation of almost all the
fruits and vege ab!es that grow in the
West Indies Cattle are raised and sugar
cultivated. 1t has population of about
$500. The towE Isabel IL is on the north
and the port Is unsafe in the time of
nc-thoriy winds, like all the anchora ce
on that side: the few ports on the south
are better, the best being Puma Arenas
Not long ago there were two importing
and exporting houses on i.ie island of
Vieque; but on account Of the long period
OF drought and the high duties on imported
goods, trade has decreased. All supplies
are brought from San Juan. the majority
being OF American origin The climate
Is fine and may be considered healthful
There have never been any contagious
diseases there.
'If Germany should be so foolish as to
| object to our concluding this war in cur
own way. il viii be so much the worse
for Germany, that's all declared Thom-
as l.. Pledger, Of Xenia, O, at the Shore
nam last night
ION paper Germany has a navy infe-
rior TO OURS, ana have not the slightest
doubt that if it came 10 trial OF con-
eiuSions we would be able TO drive her
from the seas. We excel in gunnery ana
there are thousands of sailors In America.
The Germans are neither sailors nor gun
| ners. while Americans have proved them
selves TO be both. We could build ships
| faster and better than Germany. and in
| war we would put forth our best efforts
| We are not generally known as a mari
time power and yet the shipping that
| annually passes through single canal
connecting two of cur great northern
| lakes is considerably in excess OF all the
! shipping that passes through the Suez
| Canal in a year. America has tens OF
| thousands of first-rate seamen. while
| there are hundreds of men serving in the
German navy who one year ago had new
| er seen salt water
THE one hundredth anniversary of the
acquisition by this country of the Louis
lana purchase is to be celebrated in a be-
fitting manner out in the Mississippi
Valley" said John F, WiIboy, of ST.
Louis. last evening 1.-THE whole of the
| region comprised in the original Louisi-
ana province has an interest in the cele-
! bration and that strip of territory is an
empire within itself. The governors of
all the States included in the purchase
are to be placed on the committee of
arrangements. The celebration will be
held at ST. Louis and will be national in
] its scope"
!