Washington sentinel., 1900-03-10

pared in a certain way and that
decayed or oVer-ripe fruit should
not be used. These statements,
Mr.. Gourd says, are in direct con-
tradiction with the official returns
OF the French Government, which
show that since 1888, when the
consumption Of wine was 26,IoS,-
600 hectoliters (689,694o36 gal
Ions It has continually increased
ntilitrsached. in 1898, 34937. 900
hectoliters (9a3,13o,7ao glllons).
TRADE OPENINGS IN SOUTH
AFRIcA.-Consul General Stowe
writes from Cape Town:
While the representatives here
Of export commission houses in
the United States are cabling large
orders tor food stufs, other sup
plies are wanted by the Govern
ment. Contracts for the building
of railroads, tor supplying the
army, jails, prisons, public and
private Institutions, etc, are open
for bids. II our manufacturers,
owing TO the brisk home markets,
do not care to compete at present,
they might be prepared to do so
after the war, when there will be a
boom" The country will then
be short OF supplies, particularly
in the line OF food stuffs, and in
many other directions the demand
will be large. Vehicles, tools,
harness, ETC., will be needed. The
destruction of furniture and house.
hold supplies has already been
large. Telegraphic and railroad
equipment, lumber, clothing, hats
the countless things required by
a country emerging from war
will find a ready market. 1t be-
hooYes our manufacturers and
producers to be prepared to obtain
part OF this trade.
MELONS IN IrALY.-Consul Hay
den, Of Castellamar di Stabia, saws:
In this portion OF Italy, musk.
melons at best are very inferior 70
the American iruit, lacking the
sweet flavor Of our melon. Strange
to say, however, this same melon
when reserved for consumption in
winter is very acceptable. A Gus.
tom exists here Of pulling the
melon from the vine while green,
and hanging it up in the open air
until winter, when it is eaten. The
melon becomes not only far super
ior to the ripe fruit OF summer, but
quite equal to the American pro-
duct. If this system could be
adopted in the United States, il
might prove OF value.
FIRE IN GUAYAQUIL.- Vice Con
sui General Reinberg, OF Guaya-
gull, reports that on November 81
FIRE broke out in the centre OF the
city and within a few hours an en-
tire block, comprising some Of the
most important public buildings,
was destroyed. Mr.. Reinberg
adds:
Nearly all Guayaquil edi6ces are
of pitch pine, and the water supply
is defective. The members of the
municipal fire brigade, aided by
steam FIRE engines (the best oI
which are American), distin-
guished themselves by preventing
a repetition Of the memorable
calamity OF 1896, when in less than
"a hours 80 blocks OF the best part
Of the city were swept away. The
loss OF the statistical information
which was on file in the custom
house land was especially valuable
when this consulate general was
called upon for Information oil a
commercial character) will seri
ouslv affect the completeness oi
future reports. There is some talk
OF replacing the old fashioned hand
machines with steam FIRE engines,
a water tower, etc, and, in view oil
the serious menace to property in
terests, 1t is probable that steps
may be taken. and perhaps the
superior merits OF American ap.
pliances will be borne in mind.
ADVICE TO PROSPECTIVE SET
TIERS IN MEXICO:-Consul Griffith
OF Ma'amoras writes:
The colonization law OF Mexico
allows free entry Of the effects oi
intending settlers only to persons
who have acquired the legal char
acter and status of colonists, and
who come as such to settle in some
colony established by authority ot
a concession granted by the Fed
eral Government. | make this
suggestion, inasmuch as within the
last two years several companies
With all their household effects