Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-10-24

After visiting the isthmus, examining
the geology Of the narrow strip, study
ing the obstacles Of nature to be over
come, and reading all the data avail
able a majority of the consulting en-
Rineers have concluded that the only
practicable canal is a lock canal 1t
is stated by one Of the engineers that
while no vote has been taken, enough
has developed during conversations
with his colleagues to convince him
that a lock canal will receive the ap-
proval Of the board. 1t develops that
the consulting engineers, like all others
who have visited the isthmus, realized
that there is something radically
wrong In the present arrangement OF
administrative affairs In the canal
zone. A reorganization is certain, and
Secretary Taft, after he visits the
isthmus, will undertake 1t.
The final transaction for the trans
fer to the United States government
OF the dominican friar lands in the
Philippines which have been under
dispute so long was made last Friday
when the government paid through the
International Banking Corporation Of
New York the sum of $3,521,657 to the
Philippines Sugar Estates Development
company I'm final settlement Of the
lands. The price is $3.50, 900 less than
was asked before Secretary Taft made
att 70 hn. Qnn
the payment concludes the friar lands
purchase which involved total Of
10000 acres and an outlay OF $685.
600. Over the dominican lands which
include about 100000 acres, a dispute
arose as to the title to part of the
tract, and the government served no.
tice on the development company,
which claimed ownership, that no
money would be paid over until an
absolutely clear title was furnished.
The money was raised by the sale Of
the Philippine bonds, and has been on
deposit with the International Banking
Corporation and the Guarantee Trust
Company In New York city for about
TWO uTdWlAS LltSEcSl
A writer in Golfers Weekly has
compiled some interesting figures
showing the salaries paid the officials
of the big insurance companies, to-
gether with the salaries paid the
leading government officials. Some
startling comparisons are shown. For
instance, Richard A. McCurdy, presi-
dent of the Mutual Life, gets salary
OF $l50.000 a year. His son, r. H.
McCurdy, the general manager of
the company. drew last year in salary
and commissions $121.S00. The two
McCurdys together got $271,S0O. The
governors Of the fifty-one states and
territories draw salaries amounting
In the aggregate to only $2S4,OOO.
John A. Mccall, president Of the
New York Life, gets salary Of $780,
900 a year. Paul Morton, the new
president Of the Equitable, gets $780,
900 q year. His predecessor. Alexan-
der got 100000. The president of
the United States, the vice president,
and the chief justice. all combined,
draw in salaries the sum Of $143,OO0
a year. The president Of the United
States gets $4,000 a year; the chief
justice Of the supreme court $4,000;
the vice president $4,000; the MEM
bers OF the cabinet $4,000; the sena-
tors and congressman $1,000 each.
Golfers Weekly sarcastically OBJ
serves that this shows "how much
greater men 1t must take to run an
insurance company than to run the
United States"
Owing to liberal appropriations
which congress has made for the pur-
pose the navy Of the United States
will, during the coming twelve months,
have added to its force in thorough or
der and ready for duty. seven big bat
tleships. the Connecticut. Louisiana,
Nebraska, Virginia. Georgia, New Jer-
sey and Rhode Island. All Of these are
heavily armored and none Is Of less
than $4,000 tons displacement. This
will give to the United States a fight
ing force of 19 first-class battleships.
warfare, six new armored cruisers of
high speed, and three new cruisers
which are partially armored with a
belt of temporized steel will be COM
pleted. These ships are perhaps the
most useful yet designated. They rep
resent the finest perfection of ship
construction and in every way they
are modern and thoroughly up to date.
These cruisers are faster than the big
battleships. carry enough coal in their
compare favorably with those of the
navy Of any other nation in the world.
They are useful either in case Of actu-
al hostilities. as scouts or as commerce
should the necessity arise. While ap-
propriations generally have their fight
In congress for one reason or another.
there are few men In either the house
or senate of the United States today
who are not lending their aid in giving
tne UnlteQ states navy III keeping
with her important place as a world
power.
At Atlanta last Friday the presi-
dent had the following to say of cot
ton productions: Now. just a word in
reference to one Of the great staples
Of this country, which Is peculiarly a
staple of the southern states. OF
course, mean cotton. am glad to
see diversifications of industry In the
south. the growth of manufactures as
we'll as the growth of agriculture, and
the growing growth of diversification
Of crops IN agriculture. Nevertheless
1t will always be true that in certain
Of the southern states cotton will be
the basis of the wealth, the mainstay
Of prosperity in the future as in the
past. The cotton crop is of enormous
consequence to the entire country. 1t
was the cotton crop of the south that
brought four hundred million dollars
of foreign gold into the United States
10 OF vaar turning the balance Of trade