Gilpin observer., 1902-09-04

ment warships recently arriving at La
Guayra report that for two days they
bonn mbarded Ciudad Bolivar, after
which she withdrew, having exhausted
their ammunition.
An imperial order has been issued
from Constantinople commanding that
all the demands made by the United
States upon Turkey be conceded and
the relations between the porte and the
United States legation here have re-
sumed their normal condition. United
States Minister Leishman and Robert
s. Mccormick, United States ambassa-
dor at Vienna, were present at Selam-
lik.
An official report Of the trial, trip of
the first-class battleship Maine over
the Cape Ann course, August 23rd, has
been received at the Navy Department
from Captain Train, president Of the
trial board. It reads as follows: 1.-THE
trial of the battleship Maine success
fully completed. The mean speed, un-
corrected for tidal errors, was 1885
knots" 1t is stated at the Navy De-
partment that the corrected figure for
tidal allowances may make slight
| change, showing greater or less speed.
Admiral Higginson Will soon submit
to the Navy Department an elaborate
report on the results Of the chase of
the white squadron by the North At
lantic squadron, which ended August
oath. For obvious reasons such parts
of this report as treat Of any imperfec-
tions developed probably will be with
held from publication. Meantime the
official report of the affair is confined
to the brief telegram already published
from Commander Pillsbury, announc-
ing his surrender, and dispatch from
Admiral Higginson telling of the dis
position he had made of the vessels en-
gagged in the chase. Naval officers here
say that while the capture of the white
squadron seemed to be a foregone con-
clusion, owing to the discrepancy in
strength between the two squadrons,
yet this chase has had instructive and
important results.
The insular division of the War De-
partment has just published its last
summary of the commerce of the is
land of Cuba. The summary shows
that the total value of imports into
Cuba during the military occupations
was 1925, ,437, ,135, and the exports were
$45, 200, 600 less than the importations.
q fact attributed to the destruction of
property and damage to agriculture
caused by the war. The United States
furnished forty-three per cent. of the
imports and took seyenty-five per cent.
of the exports. Practically all the su-
gar went to the United States. The
| balance Of trade was decidedly in IA
vor of Cuba, though not so great as in
| former years, and 1t is remarked that
| the trade Of the United States bas not
kept pace in any the Latin-American
| countries with it's wonderful strides in
o,Aer parts Of the world.
The War Department has received
cablegram from General Chaffee at
Manila, reporting the occurrence of
series of earthquakes on the island of
Mindanao. Twenty people were killed
| by falling walls, the victims all being
| Moros. The upheavel occurred in the
country adjacent to Lake Lanao, in the
| Moro section of the island, near Camp
| Vickers, which is now the headquar-
| ters Of the American forces stationed
| in Mindanao. General Chaffee's cable
| gram says the mountains and rivers
and other streams were greatly dis
turbed and great damage was done.
| This Is the first serious earthquake re-
ported during the American occupa-
ton of the Philippines. The most i'm
| portant previous seismic disturbances
Ill 0xlnQdndO was luC OhC tAab pa 10y
| destroyed Palak, Cota-Batu and the
village on the banks Of the river Min
| danao in 1872. This phenomenon
closely followed the eruption of the
volcano of Marturkin.
The Interior Department has issued
rules and regulations for the Crater
Lake park, Oregon, which was dedt-
| Gated at the last session of Congress as
a public pleasure ground. The regu-
lations forbid the injury or destruction
| of the natural curiosities or wonders
within the park. Disturbing the min
eral deposits In the reservation is pro-
hibited except under certain conditions.
The act Of Congress providing for the
| park does not extend the mining laws
| to the reservation without limitation,
/ but authorizes the location and work
| ing of mining claims under regulations
prescribed by the secretary of the in
| terror. 1t is forbidden to cut or injure
! any timber grown within the park ex-
| cept for use in the construction of
| places of entertainment and in connec-
| ton with the working of located min
ing claims. Hunting and fishing are
| prohibited. The sale or use Of intox-
icating liquors on the government
| lands in the park Is forbidden.
The Navy Department has made a
| decision which affects the rank of ma
rine officers appointed from civil life
| under the naval personnel act. Under
| that act the President was authorized
| to fill vacancies in the marine corps
from civil life, and several groups of
appointments were made, the largest
being eighteen, on May p, 1900. The
appointees, after passing their exam
nations, were commissioned by num-
bers and took rank according to their
standing at the examinations. In thus
ranking these officers the Navy De-
pnrtinent followed the law and prac-