Government disclaimed any such connection, and after a few half-hearted attempts at chastisement of the lawless Bulgarians, finally dropped the matter upon Miss Stone's liberation. The kidnapping of Miss Stone created even more widespread indignation in view of the fact that there have been a large number of similar abductions in the Turkish provinces during the past few years. Although the following list is not complete, it gives some idea of the boldness with which the provincial bandits have been plying their trade since 1880: 1880. Colonel Singe ransomed for $50,000. 1881. Henry Suter ransomed for $60,000. 1884. Richard Dussi, $6,000 paid. 1885 Mrs. Giovenov, $35,000 demanded, $2,000 paid. 1885. Fritz Charmand, $8,000 demanded, $1,500 paid. 1887. R. C. H. Wilkins, $30,000 demanded, $8,000 paid. 1890. Gray Hill, $100,000 demanded, amount paid ununknown. 1891. M. Rayneud, $5,000 paid. 1891. M. Michele, $2.000 paid. 1894. M. Provost, $3,000 paid. 1896. Capt. Marriott, $15,000 demanded, $120 paid. 1896. Mme. Branzian, $50,000 demanded, $10,000 paid. 1901. M. Alphonse, $5,000 demanded, $1.000 paid. Of European importance was the Sultan's irades issued in May, granting to Germany and Italy, in contravention of existing treaties, the right to protect missionaries of their nationalities, a privilege until that time enjoyed solely by France. TURKISH TRIBUTARY STATES. The condition of the tributary states in 1901 were as follows: Bulgaria.. Crete... Totals.. Tributary States. Area. Popula- Imports. Exports. $13,518,506 $15,974,563 2,200,000 1,150,000 1,065,000 1,055,000 75,355,729 77,753,825 453,419 13,825,965| $74,434,883 $72,318,620| $92,139,235 $95,933,388 In Turkey all Mussulmans over twenty years are subject to military duty, and this liability continues for twenty years. Non-Mohametans are not liable, but must pay an exemption tax, levied on males of all ages. Nomad Arabs, though liable, furnish no recruits, and many nomad Kurds evade service. The whole empire is divided into seven army districts, with as many army corps. The infantry is generally armed with Mauser rifles. The field artillery has been recently reorganized on a plan sanctioned in 1891. There has lately been a rumor that Turkey was about to rebuild her fleet and that propositions has been made to shipbuilding firms in Germany and Great Britain. There is no evidence of real progress, however, and the fleet as it is at present is not worth considering. The crews for the navy are raised partly by conscription and partly by volunteer enlistment. The Turkish provinces, especially those in Asia, are rich in minerals, which are but little worked. Chrome is found in Kutaia; silver and lead ore in the Cilician Taurus and in Sivas; manganese ore at Saloniki; zinc at Karasu, on the Black Sea. Among other ores and minerals found in abundance are antimony, copper, borax, meerschaum, argentiferous pyrites, emery, asphalt, coal and lignite. The fisheries are important. The coast of the Mediterranean produces excellent sponges, the Red Sea mother-of-pearl and the Persian Gulf pearls. The fisheries of the Bosphorus alone represent a value of more than $1,250,000. The whole of the Turkish Empire is divided into thirty vilayets, or governments, and sub-divided into sanjaks or provinces, districts, sub-districts and communities. A Governor-General, who is held to represent the Sultan, is placed at the head of each vilayet, and the provinces, districts, etc., are under inferior authorities. All subjects may fill the highest offices in the State, no matter what their birth may be. Foreigners residing in Turkey are under the laws of their own country and are amenable for trial, in cases in which Turkish subjects are not concerned, to a tribunal presided over by their own consul. Foreigners who own real property are amenable to the Ottoman civil courts in questions relative to their landed property. Cases between foreign and Turkish subjects are tried in Turkish courts, a dragoman of the foreign consulate being present to see that the trial is carried on according to law. The carrying out of sentence, if it be against the foreigner, is done through his consulate. Cases between two foreign subjects of different nationalities is done through the courts of the defendant. Since the Summer of 1888 Turkey has been in direct railway communication with the rest of Europe, the main lines starting from Constantinople and Salonica. German railways are building from Konai to Mosul, Bagdad and Basrah. There are about 24,000 miles of telegraph in Turkey and about 750 telegraph offices. HALL Uruguay. Uruguay is the smallest of the independent States of South America, but is one of the most favored in climate, soil and geographical situation. The Atlantic Ocean bounds it on the Southeast and south, the Rio de la Plata on the south and southwest, and the River Uruguay, separating it from the Argentine Republic, forms its western boundary. It has an area of 72,210 square miles, and the population in 1900 was estimated at 930,680. The Atlantic coast is low and sandy, and possesses very few bays or natural harbors. The country in the south and southeast is diversified and picturesque. The land in the southwest is of exceeding fertility. The territory is watered by sixteen rivers, the chief of which are the Rio de la Plata and the Uruguay, which partly bound the country, and the Rio Negro, which flows through its centre. The last named is the only important river in the interior which is practically navigable for any distance, it being accessible for ressels of light draught for about fifty-five miles. The largest lakes are the Castillo Granda, with an area of 162 square miles, and the Rocha, covering twenty-seven square miles. Capital: The first European to land on the shores of Uruguay was Don Diaz de Salis, a Spaniard, who made his first visit in 1508. On his second, in 1516, he was murdered by the natives. Two or three other attempts at exploration were made, but met with fierce and determined resistance from the savages, who resisted desperately every advance of the strangers. In 1522 Sebastian Cabot caused a fort to be constructed in the country east of the River Uruguay, which was held until 1580, when it was abandoned by its garrison. The Spanish conquerors renewed from time to time their efforts to gain a foothold in the rich regions east of the Uruguay, but the opposition of the natives was so fierce and so successful that little or no progress was made for a long time. It was not until 1624 that the first of the present centres of population was founded. This settlement was made about two leagues from the mouth of the Rio Negro, and was called Santo Domingo de Sariano. The country remained in the hands of Spain until 1810, when the people, encouraged by a successful resistance of attacks by the British in the preceding four or five years, repudiated the authority of the Spanish Viceroy, and chose a council to which they intrusted the conduct of public affairs, and this step was the beginning of the struggle which ended with the extinction of Spanish dominion in South America. A revolutionary party was formed under the lead of Jose C. Artigas, which finally succeeded in expelling the Spaniards from the country, and a confederation of the provinces of Uruguay was formed. Attacked by Portugal and Brazil, however, the political situation was for a number of years in an unsettled condition. A long period of intestine strife followed, and there was a continued succession of revolutions, dictatorships, assassinations and insurrections until 1876, since when the country Las enjoyed comparative quiet. The Presidents of later years have exhibited wisdom in government under difficult circumstances and a patriotic ambition to advance their country's welfare rather than their personal interests, and as the nation emerges from the cloud, which a great financial storm had gathered over it, it can look to a future bright with prosperity, and find in its promise the courage that is equal to the demands of modern civilization, and the energy that shall not falter in the work of building up a great republic on the banks of the Uruguay. The form of government is republican, and the power of the nation is vested in three branches-the legislative, judicial and executive. The Cabinet is composed of Pedro Callardro, Minister of War and Marine; Ed. McEachan, Interior and Justice; Gregolo L. Rodriguez, Agriculture, Industry, Public Instruction and Public Travel; Diego Pons, Finance; Dr. German Roden, Foreign Affairs. The religion established by the Constitution is the Apostolic Roman Catbolic, but all other forms of worship are tolerated. The army of the Republic, on a peace footing, consists of 3,200 private soldiers, with 21 superior and 211 inferior officers, but the Government could probably put a force of 35,000 men in the field in case of emergency. The navy consists of three gunboats and five small steamers, manned by 227 seamen, under fifteen officers, the entire navy being commanded by eleven superior officers. Nature has been lavish of her favors to the Republic of Uruguay. On her fertile plains is the pasture for the vast herds which now constitute the chief national wealth; in her valleys and on her hills are mingled the vegetation of the tropics and the temperate zones, while in the mountains are great stores of mineral wealth. The total value of her flocks and herds is estimated at $73,038.000. The agricultural products are chiefly Wheat, wine, tobacco and olives. In the northern department several gold mines are worked, and deposits of silver, copper, lead, magnesium and lignites coal are also found. The imports for 1901 were valued at $24,497,458, and the exports at $28,673,984. Primary education is obligatory. By the last figures obtainable, those of 1900, there were 543 public elementary schools, with 1,069 teachers, of whom 831 were female, and 49,733 pupils. There were 344 private schools, with 890 teachers, and 22,509 pupils. The cost of primary education defrayed by the State is about $677,000. In 1900 there was one school, public or private, for every 897 inhabitants, one teacher for every 411 inhabitants, and one pupil for every 11 inhabitants. A university and other establishments for secondary and higher education are established at Montevideo. In 1900 the university had 150 professors and 2,665 students. There is a school of arts, supported by the State, and a normal school for males and females. The military college had, in 1900, 40 students, with 8 professors. There are also many religious seminaries throughout the Republic, with a considerable number of students. The national library contains over 105,000 volumes and more than 17,500 maps and manuscripts. There is also a national museum at Montevideo, with more than 33,500 objects. Utah. Capital: SALT LAKE CITY. It The area of Utah was acquired by the U iteu The question of the Mormons' rights to the Territory as their own, and to the moral status of their faith has given rise to countless controversies between State and Federal authorities, and is not yet settled. Utah has an area of 84,970 square miles, and in 1901 the estimated population was 283,000. It was admitted as a State January 4, 1896. Utah is primarily a mining and agricultural State, though manufacturing has now a large share in the wealth of that region. The smelting and refining of lead ore is the most important industry, the lead mined being about 13 per cent of the States. The manufacture of salt Great Salt Lake also ranks high in the product in 1900 being valued at ture and horticulture are flour and and vegetables, the manufacture of butter and cheese. It should be ores, the value of silver obtained The Legislature of 1901 passed Among them was an act to amend person or corporation should be for more than 15 per cent of the amendment prohibited any single bank for more than 15 per cent of bined. An act making compulsory cumstances, was passed and vetoed his veto. em It was made a misdemeanor for on public works to contract with or than eight hours a day, and it was person to coerce, intimidate lar house or trading at a particular of Statistics was created, whose systematize statistical details refacturing and other industries of report thereon. A State Board of was appointed, to consist of three an employe, another an employer employe nor employer. In case of directed to invite both sides to Gov. Heber M. Wells. facts of the dispute in writing, together with an agreement to abide by Board was then directed to arbitrate the difficulty. total production of the United On March 14, 1901, Governor Heber M. Wells vetoed a bill passed by the Legislature regulating prosecutions for polygamy, and placing great obstructions in the way of such prosecutions. In his veto message the Governor said that if he were to approve the bill there would be at once a general demand upon Congress for a Constitutional amendment directed against certain conditions in Utah, and that this demand would most surely be complied with. Bills were passed prohibiting the employment of children under fourteen years of age, or of females at all ages, in the mines or smelters. Proprietors of stores, shops, hotels and restaurants were required to provide seats for their women employes, and to permit them to use these seats when not actively engaged in their duties. Blacklisting was prohibited and made a misdemeanor. At the Democratic State convention, held September 16, 1902, former Congressman William A. King was nominated for Congress and Richard W. Young, formerly of the American Supreme Court, at Manila, for 'the State Supreme Court. HALL Venezuela. Capital: The coast of Venezuela was the first part of the American mainland to be sighted by Columbus, who, during his third voyage in 1498. entered the Gulf of Paria and sailed along the coast of the Delta of the Orinoco. In the following year a much greater extent of the coast was traced by Alonzo de Ojeda, who was accompanied by Amerigo Vespucci. In 1550 the territory was erected into the captain-generalcy of Caracas, and remained under Spanish rule until the early part of the Nineteenth Century. Less attention was given by the Spaniards to this part of South America than to the regions more famous for deposits of gold and precious metals. In 1810 Venezuela rose against Spanish dominion and on the 14th of July of the year following the independence of the territory was proclaimed. A war ensued which lasted for nearly ten years. The leader of the revolt and one of the ablest generals South America has produced was Bolivar, a native of Caracas. It was not until 1845 that the independence of the country was recognized by Spain, in the Treaty of Madrid. In 1821 Venezuela formed part of the Federal State of Colombia, which embraced also the present Colombia and Ecuador. In 1829, however, Venezuela became a separate State. In 1846 the first of the many civil wars in the independent State of Venezuela took place, and these have continued, with short periods of rest, nearly ever since. The early wars were between the two political parties the country boasted, the Federalists and the Unionists, the former desiring to obtain a large measure of independence for separate States, and the Unionists aiming at securing a strong central government. Within the last two or three years Venezuela has been the arena of revolt, political conspiracy and international embroilment. Early in 1901 several spasmodic revolts occurred against the rule of President Castro. One of these was led by General Porazo, and resulted in the defeat of the rebels, who, with their leader, were driven over the Colombian border. With the renewal of the Liberal revolt in Colombia the disorder in Western Venezuela along the border increased. There was more or less actual fighting between the troops of the two countries, and Castro's Government appeared so threatening as to draw a premonitory note from the State Department of the United States. By the close f 1901 disputes with Germany over unpaid claims, with France over the confiscation of the estates of a French subject, and with the United States over the arrest of Consular-Agent Baiz at Barcelona, remained unsettled, and the new year saw the Republic in a most chaotic condition. The year just passed saw no improvement of affairs. Battle after battle was fought between the rebels and the national troops, the former apparently victorious. Under General Matos but little respect was shown for other nations, nominally neutral, and several attempts to seize foreign merchant vessels for rebel service were reported. The United States Government sent two cruisers, the Topeka and the Cincinnati, to look after American interests at the port of Caracas, and more than once marines were landed to prevent destruction of American owned property. In July and August President Castro's downfall was frequently predicted, but in October, early in the month, Castro made a determined stand against the rebels and succeeded in defeating them after a battle lasting seven days. The rebels, under General Mendoza, retired slowly from their position near Victoria, and were compelled to finally retreat only after they had lost 3,000 killed and wounded. Press dispatches report this battle as being one of the fiercest ever fought on South American soil since the first coming of the Spaniards. General Castro led the Government troops in person and charged with them against the enemy. Vice-President Gomez proved the Blucher for the Venezuelan Waterloo, arriving on the field at the critical moment with 800 men and a supply of ammunition. The final rout of the rebels for this engagement was on October 17. In times of peace the chief executive of Venezuela is a President, who is assisted by a Cabinet and a Federal Council. The legislative power is vested in a Congress consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The President is elected for a term of two years, by vote of the Federal Council, which in turn is chosen by the Congress. The President must be a member of the council. Neither the chief executive nor the members of the Federal Council can be re-elected for the following period. The President has no veto power. The Senate consists of three members from each of the eight States of the Republic, elected for four years by the Legislature of each State. The House of Representatives consists of fifty-two Representatives, chosen by direct vote of the people. The provinces, or States, of the Republic, have each their own legislative and executive, as well as their own budgets and executive officers, and the main purpose of their alliance is that of common defence. The administration of colonies and territories is entrusted to the government of the Federation. In the latter part of October the Castro Government made the amende honorable to France for the illegal arrest of a French consular agent at Caracas, and by this quick action in apologizing the incident was closed without rupture, and Venezuela was placed again on friendly footing with France. In November the blockade of the Orinoco was declared by the Powers to be ineffectual, and foreign vessels were permitted passage. President Castro made a triumphant entry into Caracas November 9, amid the ringing of bells and a display of fireworks. The revolutionary armies were in full flight and the rebellion was declared completely broken. The area of the Republic, together with its territories, is 593.943 square miles, and in 1891, when the last census was taken, the population numbered 2,323,527. In 1894 it was estimated to be 2,444,816, of which the number of foreigners was put at 44,129. These figures include the inhabitants of the territory ceded to the British in 1899. There had been a long standing dispute between Venezuela and Great Britain over the boundary between the former country and British Guiana, which was finally settled by a Court of Arbitration, which upheld, in main, the claims of the British. The Roman Catholic is the state religion, but there is a toleration of all other forms of faith, though they are not permitted any external manifestations. In 1894 there were 3,575 Protestants, 411 Jews, 5,906 without profession, and the remainder were Catholics. In 1870 education was made free and compulsory. There were in 1901 about 1.450 Federal schools and 150 State schools, 9 barrack schools, 4 normal schools and 1 school of arts and trades. Higher education was given in two universities, 22 Federal colleges, 11 national colleges for girls, 1 school for fine arts, schools for music, 1 polytechnic school, 26 private colleges and 1 nautical school. A national library is maintained at Caracas, with 32,000 volumes, and the National Museum is also located in that city. Justice is administered by the Supreme Federal Court and the Supreme Court of Appeals, by special local courts for civil and criminal cases separately and by district, borough and municipal judges. Venezuela has practically no industries not dependent directly upon agriculture or occupations akin to it. The surface of the country is naturally divided into three distinct zones, the agricultural, the pastoral and the forest zone. In the ârst are grown sugar cane, coffee, cocoa, cereals, etc., while the second affords grazing ground for cattle. The forest zone provides tropical products, such as caoutchouc, tonka beans, copaiba and vanilla, growing wild, and worked by the inhabitants. In 1901 the area under coffee was estimated at from 180,000 to 200.000 acres, and about 52,000 tons were shipped abroad. The coffee estates then numbered about 33,000, while about 5,000 estates were devoted to cocoa. There were about 11.000 sugar estates, which flourished while sugar importation was prohibited, but the prohibition was removed in 1900. Efforts have been made to introduce improved methods and machinery in agriculture. All lands within the borders of the Republic, without a lawful owner, are considered public lands and are managed by the Federal executive, which has power to sell or to make grants for the purpose of agriculture or mining. or to properly certified immigrants in the proportion of two and one-half acres to every member of the family. Venezuela is rich in metals and other minerals, gold, silver, copper and iron being abundant, while sulphur, coal, asphalt, lead, kaolin and tin are also found. Iron mines at Imatica, on the Lower Orinoco. are in the hands of an American company. Salt mines are under Government administration. Round the island of Margarita and neighboring islets off the north coast of Venezuela, pearl fishing is carried on by natives. About 400 boats were engaged in this industry in 1901, and the annual product has been valued at about $100,000. Hardly had the report of the defeat of the rebels been made public when President Castro found himself in a position worse than that he faced before. Germany and Great Britain, and later, Italy made demands for an immediate settlement of certain claims growing out of the revolution. On December 8 the demands of Great Britain and Germany took the form of an ultimatum. The British Minister at Caracas and the German Charge d'Affaires left the city without notice. On the night of December 9, the terms of the ultimatum not having been fulfilled by Venezuela, all the Venezuelan war vessels at La Guira were seized by the allies and sunk. President Castro issued a call to his people and granted amnesty to those imprisoned on the charge of complicity in the revolution. Minister Bowen, of the United States, was invested with full power to act for Venezuela. The force of allies was augmented by the arrival of Italian war vessels, and the ports of the Republic declared in a state of blockade, to take effect December 26. No attempt was made to land marines or soldiers, and at no time, up to January 1, was there evidence of intentions on the part of the allies to seize any territory. President Roosevelt was requested by the allies to act as arbitrator in the affair of the claims against Venezuela, but, after consideration, the request was refused, and The Hague tribunal suggested as the proper court before which the case should be brought. The Hague tribunal was accepted conditionally by the allies, and on December 30 it was announced that President Castro had also agreed to this court. The Ministry, organized in April, 1901, consisted of these: Minister of the Interior, J. A. Velutini; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Eduardo Blanco; Minister of War and Navy, Ramon Guerra; Minister of Public Instruction, Dr. Felix Quintero; Minister of Public Works, Juan Otanez; Minister of Agriculture, F. Arocha Quintero. Vermont. Vermont was first brought to the knowledge of Europeans in 1609, when Champlain explored the lake now known by that name. During the next century the lake and its borders was the thoroughfare for various military expeditions in the Indian and Colonial wars, and several points along the lake were occupied as military posts by both the French and English. The first permanent settlement was made in 1724 at Fort Dummer, within the limits of Brattleboro. Both New York and New Hampshire claimed jurisdiction over this territory, under grants given by the English sovereign. The claims of New York were resisted stoutly by the settlers. In 1776 Vermont sought admission to the Continental Congress, but was opposed by New York. In January, 1777, this territory proclaimed its independence, and in March, 1791, was admitted as the fourteenth State in the Union. Capital: saccess FREEDOM Vermont has an area of 9,565 square miles, and in 1901 its estimated population was 345,000. Compared with the increase in population there has been an astonishing increase in manufacturing in this State during the past decade. The manufacturing industries are dependent largely upon the natural resources, forests, quarries and grazing land. The manufacture of timber and lumber products ranks first in the State, and pine and oak Burlington is the centre of this tions with Canada and Boston easy. Connected with the lumber wood pulp, done chiefly at Bellows nished by the Connecticut River extensive granite, marble and a large number of workmen, and and tombstones Vermont ranks States. Roofing and roofing mate quarries in the southwestern part genuine maple sugar sold in the extensive "sugar orchards." for are the most important woods cut. industry, and the railroad connecmake the shipment of the products trade is the making of paper and Falls, where the water power furmakes manufacturing cheap. The slate quarries give occupation to in the production of monuments among the first in the United rials are furnished by the slate of the State, and most of the United States is obtained from its sensational gubernatorial campaign caucuses held June 14, there were nomination for Governor, fighting neutral platforms. It was claimed money and whiskey freely to ingave the recipe for the whiskey whiskey, raw alcohol, water and in some precincts the voters were supported at the polls before they boxes. The three candidates before son of United States Senator Procplatform: General J. G. McCulplatform, and Percival W. Clement, hibition nor local option, but to dates all received sufficient votes factors in the State convention. eral McCullough was nominated In 1902 Vermont had the most in its history. In the Republican three millionaire candidates on prohibition, local option and that two of the contestants used fluence votes, and one newspaper used. It was made from rye burnt sugar. It was claimed that so intoxicated that they had to be could drop their ballots in the the caucuses were Fletcher Proctor, tor, who ran on the Prohibition lough, who upheld the local option who was committed to neither pro high license. These three candi to make their respective delegates. When the convention met Gen and Mr. Clement thereupon announced his intention of running as an independent candidate. The State election was held September 2, and resulted in no election for Governor or Lieutenant-Governor. The two Republican candidates and the Democratic candidate, F. W. McGettrick, were all popular men, and the vote stood so close that neither had a majority sufficient to elect. This left the matter with the Legislature, which met in the last week in September. A canvas of the vote for State officers had been made under a joint resolution October 1, and in the afternoon it was announced that J. G. McCullough had received 164 votes, F. W. McGettrick had 45 votes and Mr. Clement received 59. General McCullough was inaugurated October 3. The large majority of the Legislators elected were Republicans, and the only thing that prevented the elected Governor from receiving all the votes from his party was the high license principles of the "bolting" candidate. Mr. Clement. Gov. John G. McCullough. The local option high license bill, introduced in the Vermont Legislature late in November, 1902, was favorably reported by the Temperance Committee, the first time in fifty years that a favorable report was given on a bill of this kind. This action on the part of the Legislative Committee was not unexpected. Though Mr. Clement, the high license candidate for Governor, was defeated, it was assured that the majority of the Legislature was in favor of some change in the liquor laws, and, in spite of the meetings held throughout the State by clergymen and others, in opposition to any change from prohibition, the people generally seemed to favor high license as a remedy for evils that were shown to exist under the present law. It was claimed that the campaign in favor of Mr. Clement and his principles was carried through without the slightest scandal being attached to the leader or his lieutenants. |