The Lamar register., 1903-01-07


Estimates of the sugar crop in San
tiago. Cuba transmitted to the State
Department by Consul Holiday at that
city, place the crop for 1903 at 453,-
900 bags. an increase of 72,2l5 bags
over the year now closing.
The quarterly report of the value of
foreign coins issued by the director of
the mint shows that for the three
months ending January l, 1903, there
had been decrease of 0.03l26 in the
value Of silver per fine ounce.
United States Minister Squires at Ha-
vana has formally begun negotiations
in the matter of securing coalins
station on the Isle of Pines. 1t is un-
derstood that the United States asks
for one naval and three coaling sta
tions.
The commissioner of patents has
rendered decision announcing that II
is against public policy for the Office
to lend its sanction to the use OF the
Presidents name by registering any
trade mark therefor without his ex-
press consent.
Rear Admiral Watson, who succeed
cd Dewey at Manila admits that Ger
manys attitude at Manila was plainly
ground for apprehension and believes
our navy should at least keep up with
Germany's program. He thinks Con-
gress should give us six fighting ships
at this session.
'rhe award of a contract for rapid
fire siX-inch type gun was made Decem-
bre 10th to the trustees of the Brown
Segmental Wire Tube Gun by the CHIEF
of ordnance of the army under an al
lotment of SAL 900 provided by the
board of ordnance and fortihcatlon.
Selection of the type of gun above men
toned is intended to determine the eli
gibility of the Brown wire system ol
gun making for use in the coast de-
fenses of the United States.
Justice Shras of the Supreme Court
of the United States will retire some
time during the present winter. The
date has not yet been fixed, and can
not be until certain cases have been
argued and other cases which have
been set for reargument have been
disposed of, Justice Shiras however.
will retire during the present session
of Congress, in order that his sue
cessor may be confirmed before the
adjournment. Among the names pro
posed as his successor is that of VIII
liam II. Taft, civil governor of the
Philippines.
Minister SQuiers has cabled the
State Department that no special ses-
sion of the Cuban Senate Will be called
prior to the reassembling of the is
land Congress after the holidays. The
suggestion has been made that such
session of the Senate might be held
during the holidays for the purpose OF
passing on the reciprocity treaty be-
tween the United States and Cuba, but
according to the information received
from Havana this intention has been
abandoned, and the measure VIII come
before the Cuban Senate in regular
form in January.
Director Merriam of the permanent
census is making arrangements to
have accurate statistics collected dur
ing the coming year and to continue
there after, of the mineral production
of the United States. Heretofore these
statistics have been collected by the
Geological Survey. but at so late date
as to render them of little practical
use The permanent census VIII en-
deavor to have the statistics current
and published promptly after coliec-
ton. Especial care will be taken to
have accurate statistics of the pre-
cious mineral production. Irrigation
statistics are to be collected also by
the permanent census and given early
publicity.
The Navy Department has decided
to divide the Asatic squadron into
three divisions, instead of two, as at
present, and to send out another flag
officer. The heavy battleships will be
under command of Rear Admiral Ev-
ans, who also will be in command
of the entire squadron; the cruisers
under the command of Admiral Coop
er. who is to succeed Admiral Wilde,
and a new division, composing the
light gunboats, will be created under
the command of Rear Admiral Yates
Stirling, now commandant OF the Pu-
get Sound navy yard. The latter Will
raise his flag on the gunboat Rainbow
and will have his general headquarters
at Cavitc.
Hereafter the chemically-fed board
ers on whom DR.. Wiley of the Agricul-
tural Department is trying the boracic
acid tests, will not be allowed to talk
about the progress of the experiments.
Secretary Wilson recently gave orders
to admit no newspaper men to the
place where the men are being fed and
for the boarders to refrain carefully
from giving out any information. The
reason for this is fear that the pub
lie will not take the experiments Sc
riously, owing to the fact that some
writer's are treating them lightly and
in a humorous way. One of the officials
said that If the boarders violate the or
ders they will be dismissed from the
public service.
A valuable collection of relics of the
tour of President and Mrs. Grant
around the world has just been placed
for the first time on public exhibition
in the National museum. Their trans
fer to the government was provided
for in the will of Mrs Grant, to whom
they were originally presented. They
cnnSiSt of an ancient IananeSe cabinet