The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-10-15
HOUSTON POST LETTER BOX

main object Is to supply out-cf-thc-way facts
and curious information. Questions OF per
scnai Interest only will not be snswered. Nc
business or personal addresses will be given
All correspondence should be addressed TO The
letter Box, caro- Houston Post. Owing to thu
large number OF questions received. answers
can not always be given promptly
4 VIII you please to say something in your
weekly column on the present political condi-
lions In lrelaLd7 xxx.
Since Mr. Ciadstone's death there has been
little TO say alone this line until recently, but
we would call attention to the organization
OF the United Irish league under the leader
ship OF William o'Brlcn. 1t IL a new associn-
ton which the political supporters Of Mr.
Dillon. NJ. Redmond and Mr.. Heaiy are Join
Ing as n practical instrument for putting an
end to disscnsions and jeslouslcs, and the
league is quietly working to bring unity out
OF discord In Irish politics. There Is a gem
eral enor, Tor better roads, for the improves
ment OF loc-l business. for the benefit OF the
artisans IN thu towns and the laborers aud
small farmers In tho country. The interest
taken in local government since the passage
Of tho Salisbury ministry's reform act ia
noticeable. County government in ireland has
passed out OF the hands Of the large land
owners and l, row controlled by the tenant
farmers. laeorors and artisans, and the ma
honaiists are now responsible for local adj
ininistrnt.cn nrd taxation In all counties ex-
cept those the northern belt
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In connection with tho Interest In the will
| or the late Cornelius Vanderbilt will YOU
please to say what taxes his estate must pay
R.v,o.
utste hahy
tween sS5.oco COO and si5o,eoo 900. Assuming
that II will amount to 800. 900 900, and that It
is devised to the direct heirs. II will pay an
Inheritance tax to New York state OF s., coo-
600, OF when per cent, or 10000. will so to
Controller BId S, coicr to compensate him
for the cost OF collection Another tax upon
The estate viii be collected by tho collector OF
internal revenue as war tax mud viii be paid
into the treasury OF tho United States. The
law provides for United statcs war rovenuc
tax OF 2N per cent on requests OF 81, 900 900 or
more to children OF tho testator, ~ per cent
on leeacies 10 nephows and nieces, aud rs per
cent on requests to other than blood rc,a-
lions. n tho estate IL 800 ooo, oo0 therefore,
the government tax vial hs at least Sc 50o,o
30 that to the State and tho Nation 81. 500, 900
VIII be paid before the property 10 divided
The sum that will actually be paid may reach
Hooo,ooo, as The state collects & psr cent ON
collateral btguesth.
What nation has the largest ana most pow
errui navy! I.L,F.
Great Britain. That country now nos
sesses "a nrst-class battleshps, of which num-
Der no less than % nre larger than anything
the United States now owns or has in pro-
cess OF construction, In addition Great Britain
is now building 10 more warships. four of
which viii have displacement OF 49, 800 tons
and six of 1890 tons. There nre also In
England's navy II second-cass battisships,
10 third-class battaeshps, il armored eruis-
ers ~ protected chuis~rB. 10 arn,ored coast
defenso vessels. 50 socond-olass cruisers 46
third-class cruisers. 10 sloops OF war.
dipatch boat. 81 torpedo gunboats, II hrpt-
class gunboats. 10 second class gupboats.
torpedo ram So third class and river gunboats
and 10 training vessels, storeships etc. Also
295 torpedo boats and IS steamers OF tho
Cunard, White Star. Peninsular and Oriental
companies may be subsidized.
~
what kind OF people arc tho Boers7 A.p.C
Tho Beers are mainly agricultural. and tho
creator part OF them. outside OF the towns.
live very primatiyeiy. The Bushmanland Trek
Doors live In wagons or primitive houses and
possess sheep and cattle until they are
wealthy. Tho system OF farming IS pastoral.
and tho farms arc few and very large. Tho
leaders who conduct the government at Pre-
torla are much moro enlightened than their
rural brethren above mentioned, and the
nearer ono comes to tho cities and tho capo
moro is seen OF the blessings of education aud
refinement
For what especial work was the convention
OF geographors called which was held re-
Gently in Berlin7 DOT.
The revising of geographical knowledge aud
tho adjustment of boundaries. Geographical
interest is keen at present. In addition to the
project OF map OF tho world on n uniform
scale of -mlllionth. proposals were befor.
this congress- to introduce international uni
formity in tho treatment OF a number of other
subjects, such as tho problem Of the tides.
the nomenclature and dclimitatfon OF oceans
and seas and tho collection OF material OF
every kind referring TO floating ice. earth
quakes. the utilization of arid lands the
systematic exploration OF the oceans and
other cognate matters.
~ r.
What proportion of the popuiatien Is de-
nance? C.G,W.
Tho proportion varies. IL 10 smaller In
rural communities and larger In congested
cities. In the entire State OF New York. for
instance. II is about one In e5. and the in
sane alone number over 20. 900; while others
in charitable and other public and semi
public philanthropic and correctional insti-
tutions. the burden Of whose misfortune and
crime Is put upon the self-supportins. would
probably reach $1,000 persons.
~
What effect will the Boer disturbances have.
II any. upon this country? T.v.G
The results can not now be enumerated.
Some OF them would be found In the course
OF gold shipments. others In ths demand for
American cereals and canned productsj others
in call for horses and mules many OF which
have already been bought In this country. IN
the South. II was stated more than week
ago that the British admiralty had closed ar
rangements for vessel. and special com
mission which has been In America for six !
weeks was ordered by cable TO close options
on 1900 mules for transportation from New
Orleans TO Natal t
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