The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-29
FROM OTHER PENS
AIIsTRIA AND TURKEY.

l
rejection by Turkey of the offer of
| Austria to pay some $10,000,000 in the
| nature of indemnity for Bosnia and
| Herzegovina is not in the rejection,
! but in the fact that the indemnity has
| been officially offered. This is a prac-
teal Acknowledgements of obligation on
| the part of Austria, and the rejection,
| which is based on the inSuff1ciency of
/ the amount, is a recognition by Tur-
key that money can, if there is
enough of 1t, settle pending differ
! ences.
There is reasonable ground for hope
| that a sum will finally be agreed on
between the two governments. The
/ suit in the extension of the boycott of
Austrian products in Turkey would
very soon equal the difference in the
sums proposed by : the two govern
ments. The effect of the boycott is.
moreover, quite serious apart from
| the mere loss of business. 1t is pro-
ducing growing dissatisfaction in the
public opinion Of Austria. and Hun
gary. Added to this is the discomfort
with the expense and hardship of the
heavy military force that Austria has
hurried to the frontiers of Bosnia.
The presence of these troops has
tended to good deal of disorder
along the Servian border, which will
almost surely be aggravated by the
advent of spring and an early and
peaceful settlement of the questions
aroused Dy count AeTenIndlS coup OF
October is urged by many considera-
tions.-New York Times.
THE CANAL.
The members of the house who made
the journey to Panama have returned
with a most favorable impression of
canal conditions. Their time was linn
tied, but they devoted it to an fnspec-
ton of the work in hand under the
guidance of those able to explain 1t.
therefore from
first-hand knowledge, so far as their
ability goes to appraise matters.
The question of total cost is of course
important, but not as much so as the
engineering problem. The country
wants and the worlds interests demand
a canal complete in every particular.
Few, If any, expected the first, figures
presented to be final. A liberal raise
was in the nature Of things. But the
talk of half a billion dollars sounds
steep" to say the least. We may all
be sure that that amount will not be
necessary, no matter what changes
ments.
The canal is. and will remain, our
big thing" AS to the tariff, the rail-
roads, the trusts, and what not, they
are in reach and if not easily handled,
offer no great anxieties. But the canal
is not only big, but new. We are COM
mitted to it. We must surmount all the
difficulties presented. Failure is in no
OOOy , GdAS0ldllOH AL parties dAS Will
ing to vote whatever supplies may be
required to redeem the national prom
tse in a spirit of liberality, though not
of extravaganza. And, when the ships
go through from ocean to ocean all
America will rejoice. - Washington
Star.
CONTROL OF THE AIR.
The first international aero con-
gress, now in session in London, will
discuss the "art, science, law and bust
ness of flying" The three days aIIot-
ted to the congress is probably insult
ficient to discuss these matters ex-
haustfvely, even at the present stage
of the development of aerial traffic.
Fundamentally, there is a legal prob
lem which persons who have no notion
of flying themselves may some time be
compelled to take cognizance of. 1t
relates to the right of the aeronaut to
use the air at all. For the air all the
way to the sky belongs to the owners
of the ground Cujus est Solum, ejus
est usque ad coeIunl, is the maxim of
the law. The ownership of the land
owner includes not only the face of
the earth and everything under it
down to the earth's center, but every
thing above to the zenith, or az far as
he cares to go. The modern sky
scraper threatens to invade the an
c1ent common rights in the elements
of the light and air which man may
occupy; the development of aero
nautics of individual property rights
or novel provisions for allotting rights
nent domain. Perhaps it is not too
early for an international aero con-
gress to consider the probIem.-Prov-
idence Journal.