The record-union., 1898-03-14
Russian Bankers at Seoul Will
Have Ii.
First Glass Japanese Cruiser TO be Built
at YOkoSuka.
Highly Satisfactory Maneuvers OF
the Japanese Standing Squad
ron Of Shimidxu-No Trouble
Anticipated Through China.s
Failure to Pay the Indemnity
InstallInent-Rise in Japanese
Coal.

Coal.
SAN FRANCISCO. March l3.-Ths
steamer China. which sailed from
HongKcnG on February 10Th and from
Yokohama on February 24th. arrived
here to-day, bringing the following
Oriental advices:
The COrean finances will hereafter hs
managed by Russian bankers residing
at the Capital. Seoul. III the monetary
transactions of the kingdom will hence
forth be conducted by the Russo-Co-
rean Bank which opened at Seoul on
February 18th with capital of $780,
600 On the first day that the bank
was opened for business, the Corean
treasury deposited 100000 with the
Russian financiers.
The building of a frst-class Japanese
cruiser is about to begin at Yokosuka.
for the Mikado Government.
The Japanese standing squadron held
naval maneuvers off the port of 'Shi-
midzu for a fortnight, from February
10TH to February 10Th. The results
were highly satisfactory to the Japan
csc Government
Japan deprecates the idea of any dis
turbance of Oriental peace relations
through the possible failure of China
to pay the installment of the indemnity
due in May. and amounting to Il 800
003 taels. No difficulty is anticipated
III raising this amount by means of the
Chinese sincerity bonds. which are
virtually compulsory to the nobility and
TO civil and military officials. all being
expected to subscribe for these bonds
in proportion TO their rank and income.
These bonds are to be guaranteed by
the land taxes and salt duties.
Confirmation has been received of the
great fire at Manila. from which the
losses are estimated at $3.000000, with
100000 insurance
In spite of continued complaints of
tightness of money and high rates OF
interest. the import market shows Il
healthier tone than for many months.
so far as cottons are concerned. The
movement in gray shirtings and yarns
has been active. Prices both for Amer
lean and Russian kerosene have
dropped to the lowest summer quota
tons, and there is little business even
at these low quotations Sales of brown
sugar have been large. In exports.
silk is the only staple in which large
business has been done. The export of
raw silk from Yokohama. from July
1st to January 31st, amounted to A. 113
bales, of which two-thirds went to
Europe and one-third to America.
The city tax in Toxic has been in
creased to provide funds for the repair
of the roads, which are generally in a
wretched condition.
70 nd
tinuous demands from Hongkong and
Shanghai for coal for naval require
ments, the price of Japanese coal has
risen enormously in price.
Since the adoption of gold monomet-
allism in Japan on October /. 1891, up
to and including February Il. 1898, the
amount of silver and notes exchanged
for gold has aggregated 22.0O0,000 yen.
on which one-seventh was silver. In
order to facilitate the adjustment of
coinage the Government has resolved
to shorten the period for exchanging
the yen piece which will be limited to
June 30th next.
owing to a rupture of the combina-
ton between the united steamship
companies running from Japan to Eu-
ropeau ports. i rate war has been start
ed. and freiShts aave already been re-
Guced from 81 shillings to - shillings.
The British battieship Victorious.
which recently left England for the
China station. ran aground at Suez on
February 18th. and to get off had to
discharge her coal and guns.
A dastardly attempt at train-wreck-
ing between Asahi and Yokkachi sta
tons resulted III the dcrailneEt OF
train and the injury OF five passengers.
1t was found that the rails had been
tempered with and the entire train
was wrecked. None of the injured were
fatally hurt.
BY fire in kakodota on February
18th 800 houses were destroyed.
Over LOO deaths from plague &C.
CURED in Bombay during the week end
ing February 10th.
1t is reported that China has granted
Great Britain the right to carry the
Burmah railway into Yunna2.
China has agreed to pay an indemnity
for the kidnapping of a Frenchman in
Tonking by Chinese brigand.
The Niigata Prefectural Assembly de-
sires to undertake harbor improve
ments at a cost of 14,000. 600 yen, to
procure which a foreign loan is pro-
posed.
y glass manufacturing company has
begun operations in Yokohama.
The steamer Sydney carried from
Kobe for London 100000 yen in gold,
leaving on February 4th.
Snow fell in Nagasaki en- February
10th, intensely cold weather prevail
ing.
Owing TO a change in their pay day.
contrary to their wishes, 900 Japan
csc female operatives are on strike in
Tomioka.
The Japanese Railway Company. is
preparing to run sleepers on it's lines.
Not Yet Settled.
WASHINGTON, March 13.-Secre-