The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-02
2,

tobacco until 1871, when IL became a state
monopoly. While the monopoly was in
force each family in the tobacco districts
of Luzon was compelled to grow 1900 plants
and deliver the entire crop TO the agents of
the government None of the crop was re-
served for the use of the planter, and a
fine was imposed when the crop was short.
The profits from the monopoly, finally abol-
ished in 1882, annually amounted to several
million pesos. Since that time the cultiva-
ton and manufacture OF the crop has been
in the hands of private individuals and
companies. 1t is believed that the islands
can and should produce cigar filler tobacco
that is fully equal to the finest product of
the Vuelta Abaja district of Cuba and a
cigar wrapper equal to Sumatra tobacco.
With careful attention to soil and climatic
conditions ii is believed districts can be
found that will raise tobacco similar in
flavor and aroma to that grown in the best
districts of Turkey. The market of the
United States offers every inducement for
the Improvement and spread of the Philip
pine tobacco industry. This becomes all the
more evident when we consider the vast
sums of money annually expended by the
United States for foreign tobacco.
The whale to be exhibited at the st. Louis
fair by the National Museum has arrived
in New York. 1t is seventy-eight feet long.
The greatest height of the body is eleven
feet 1t is to be in the United States gov
eminent building at the exposition with
the mastodon. the triceratops and other
large extinct animals
Consul NORMAN, at Munich, reports the
discovery of new illuminating material by
Hermann Blau, a German chemist. His
method is to separate by a process of rec
tification the methane and hydrogen from
the other constituents of oil gas, collecting
the same in steel receivers, subject to a
pressure OF forty atmospheres, whereby
he converts il into liquid form. This new
Illuminating material compares very favor
ably in cost with all others. The ease with
which it can be handled and the beauty
of its light made it desirable substitute
for petroleum, alcohol or acetylene.
The postal officials are active in making
certain needed changes in the rural free de-
livery system. One step now contemplated
relates to the appointment of rural carriers.
something to say concerning the selection
of carriers, and rule to cover this point
is now being drafted by the Civil-service
Commission. 1.-The changes i'm the educa-
tional requirements will probably not be
material" said Civil-service Commissioner
Proctor to-day. One plan under considera-
ton is to have blank filled by every sign
er of petition for the appointment of a
carrier. These blanks would show who the
signer is, his business and the interest he
has in the route which the candidate he ia
vors is to serve. This plan would give more
definite information concerning the routes
than is now had. and would make it possi-
BILE to select carriers who are acceptable to
the persons whose wishes should be respect
ed. The central board of rural free delivery
examiners, of which John ID. King, of Wis
consin. is the chairman. is auxiliary to the
Civil-service Commission, and examines the
carriers. Applicants are examined in read
ing and writing. If found to have the nee
essary education and physical requirements
they are placed the eligible roll. The
present system has given fairly good re-
suits, but it is believed that the commission
should have some means of learning more
of the wishes of the patrons on proposed
routes.
The stegomyia fasciata (fabrious), the
yellow fever-bearing mosquito, can be rec
ognized at a glance If one will bear in
mind the following detailed description, and
try to remember that it is not intended for
a whale or an elephant: Head densely
clothed with broad, fiat scales, black and
gray on each side, white patch int the
middle, in front, extending back to the
neck, a white patch each side. a thin
white border to the eyes; the scales at the
back of the crown with an COURAGEOUS tinge
in some lights long black bristles project
ing forward eyes black, with silvery
patches in some specimens. etc" This is
the female. The male mosquito described
by the scientists is more formidable in ap-
pearance, and the closer the public docu-
ment on the subject is read the more it
becomes apparent that the yellow-fever-
bearing mosquito should be hunted with a
club.
Nearly all the first-class cities in the
United States are competing for the honor of
entertaining the delegates to the two big po-
litical conventions next year. Chicago, st.
Louis, Milwaukee, Louisville, Kansas City
and Indianapolis are among the cities that
are manifesting considerable activity in
this connection. Reports received here are
to the effect that Milwaukee, Chicago and
Louisville want both conventions, while
Kansas City is after the Democratic and
Indianapolis the Republican convention.
The Democratic convention will probably
go to the city that can make the best race.
No less an authority than Henry c. Payne,
the postmaster general. member of the
Republican national committee, says the
convention of his party will go to Chicago
if that city asks for it. j. E. NJ,
KOREA'S CURIOUS CURRENCY.