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in the neighborhood of said land, and no such right shall permanently attach until all payments there for are made. Moreover, the owners of such lands are to maintain the irrigation works so constructed by the Government at their own expense subject to such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior, while the Government is to retain title to irrigation reservoirs and works until the Congress provides otherwise. At the same time there shall be no interference by the Government with the laws of any State or Territory relating to the control, appropriation, use or distribution of water used in irrigation, or

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Looking Glass Flume, Great Eastern Canal, Nebraska.

It is

any vested right acquired thereunder, and the law expressly stipulates that the Secretary of the Interior, in carrying out the provisions of the act, shall proceed in conformity with such State and Territorial laws. Throughout the West there is a considerable increase in the amount of land irrigated each year. found that nearly all kinds of crops, notably grains, can be grown in land hitherto considered worthless. If the proposed system of national irrigation is ever put into operation it will make valuable many thousands of acres of land which is now useless, and add largely to the material wealth of the people.

The results of irrigation work reported by the United States Census Bureau for 1900 were as follows: IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES. FROM FACTS OBTAINED FROM THE CENSUS BUREAU.

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Ttaly.

Capital:
ROME.

The origin of the present reigning house is
not historically established, but the most relia-
ble genealogists trace it back to the German
Count Berthold, who settled on the western
slope of the Alps in the eleventh century.
the end of the century the family had acquired
By
the counties of Turin and Susa, and when, in
1381, Count Amadeus founded a law of primo-
geniture the family's position was so strong
that it was soon able to secure the territory of
Nice. The title of Duke was adopted by the
Count of Savoy in 1416; in 1713 they obtained
the island of Sicily, with the title of King, and
although they were subsequently compelled to
exchange the island of Sicily for that of Sar-
dinia, they retained the royal dignity and added
considerable territory to the Sardinian crown.

In 1831 the direct male line died out with King Carlo Felice, and the throne therefore reverted to Prince Carlo Alberto of Savoy-Carignano, a branch founded in 1596. favor of his son, Prince Vittorio Emanuele, and at the assembly of the first Italian Parliament, February, 1861, Victor Emmanuel II., was declared King of Italy, and by 1870 his domain included all the former In 1849 King Carlo Alberto abdicated in Italian States.

The present ruler, Victor Eramanuel III. is the son of King Humbert I., who was assassinated July 29, 1900. King Victor Emmanuel was born November 11. 1869, and was married October 24, 1896, to Princess Helena (born January 8, 1873), daughter of Prince Nicholas of Montenegro. daughters, Princess Yolande, born June 1, 1901, and Princess Mafalda, born November 19, 1902. THE HEIR APPARENT.-As the provisions of the Salic law prohibits the accession of females the They have two children, both heir apparent to the throne is Prince Emmanuel, Duke of Aosta. married to Princess Helene of Orleans, daughter of the late Comte de Paris, June 25, 1895. had two children. Priuce Amedeo, born October 21, 1898, and Prince Armone, born March 8, 1900. He was born January 13, 1869, and was THE MINISTRY.-President of the Council, without portfolio, Signor Zanaidelli; Minister of the Interior. Signor Giolitti; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Signor Prinetti; Minister of the Treasury, Signor di They have Broglio; Minister of Finance, Signor and Ecclesiastical Affairs, Signor eral G. Ottolenghi; Minister of Ma rico Morin; Minister of Commerce, Guido Baccelli: Minister of Public of Public Works. Signor Balenzano; Signor Galimberti.

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THE NATION.-Under the char monarchy, with the entire executive legislative power jointly in him and two houses, the Senate consisting limited number of Lower House is composed of one members ap population, the present number be

Officially the Roman Catholic power has been much curtailed, equality practically prevail. But mother church, about 100,000 only Pope, or Roman Pontiff, is

on

The State strictly regulates pub public schools must be under its branches is supposedly compulsory There are twenty-one State and free

Appeal

Courts of first instance in Italy and the Courts of Assize. appeal and the courts of appeal. There is no State provision for

The estimated revenue for 1902

the same period being $358,191,956. $2,583,983,780 in 1901.

Poalo Carcano; Minister of Justice
Cocco-Ortu; Minister of War, Gen-
rine, Vice-Admiral Constantino En-
Industry and Agriculture, Signor
Instruction, Signor Nasi; Minister
Minister of Posts and Telegraphs,

ter of 1848 Italy is a constitutional
power resting in the King, and the
the Parliament. This latter is of
of princes of the blood and an un-
pointed for life by the King.
Deputy elected for each 64,000 of
The
ing 508.

Church is the State church.

Its

however, and religious freedom and

The

nearly all the population is of the
being Jews and Protestants.
the civil lists of the State.
lic instruction.

authorization. Education in primary
All private and
between the ages of six and nine.
universities.

are the Pretori, the penal tribunals courts are the penal tribunals of Over all is the Court of Cassation. caring for the poor.

is $362,384,902, the expenditure for The national debt amounted to Rome is surrounded by a

Italy's frontier is being protected by a series of fortifications being built.

wall with forts.

Some of Italy's chief products for export are silk cocoons and silk, wines, fruit, olives and olive oils, dates and sardines. In 1901 her imports amounted to about $331,497,902 and her exports to $265,283,305.

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THE ITALIAN DEPENDENCIES.

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88,500 100,000

188,500

450,000 400,000 850,000

Revenues, Expenditures. $443,743 $2,013,086

To this

Italy possesses 670 miles on the coast of the Red Sea, from Cape Dumeirah to Cape Kasar. has been added Hamasen and the district north of it running to the coast and the province of Tigre. She also forms a protectorate over a large part of the Somali coast, inland about 180 miles. nies are all unimportant. Italian rule in them is by a civil Governor, nominated by the King and under the direction of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. These colo

Italy's diplomatic relations were broken with Switzerland for a short time in the Spring of last year over a supposed insult to the memory of the late King. No serious consequences followed. Important,

however, was the maintenance of her standing under the old status of the expired Triple Alliance.

HALL

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Japan.

Capital:
TOKIO.

The Empire of Japan consists of the Archipelago of Niphon, which includes the four large islands of Honshiu, Kiushiu, Shikoku and Hokkaido, or Yezo, together with Formosa and the Pecadores, ceded to China in 1895, and nearly 4,000 smaller islands. The total area of the empire, according to the official estimate, is 161,198 square miles, and the population, January, 1899, was 46,561,133, including Formosa, with 2,798,000 inhabitants, mostly Chinese.

The Japanese claim that their empire was founded by the first Emperor Jimmu, 660 B. C., and that the dynasty then founded still reigns. It was revived in 1868, when the now ruling sovereign, after a short war, overthrew the power of the Shogun, the de facto sovereign, who had held the ruling power in successive

families since the twelfth century. In 1871 the feudal system was entirely suppressed. The sovereign bears the name of Kotel, or Emperor, though he is generally known in foreign countries as the Mikado, or "The Honorable Gate."

The present Mikado is Mutsuhito, born at Kyoto, November 3, 1852. He succeeded his father, Komel Tenno, February 13, 1867; was married February 9, 1869, to Princess Haruko, daughter of Prince Ichijo. The Mikado has five children: Prince Yoshihito, born August 31, 1879, married Way 10, 1900; Princess Masako, born September 30, 1888; Princess Fusako, born January 28, 1890; Princess Nobuko, born August 7, 1891; Princess Toshiko, born May 11, 1896. The Crown Prince has one son, Prince Hirohito, born April 29, 1901. By the Imperial House Law of 1889, the succession to the throne was definitely fixed upon the nearest male descendant.

Though Japan is included among the absolute monarchies of the world, a constitution was adopted February 11, 1889. By this constitution the Emperor is head of the Empire, having all the rights of the sovereign, and exercising full executive power, with the advice and assistance of the Cabinet Ministers, appointed by himself. There is also a Privy Council and House of Diet, consisting of a House of Peers and a House of Representatives, members of the latter being elected by popular ballot. The House of Peers consists of members of the imperial family, twenty-five years old and upward; counts, viscounts and barons of the age of twenty-five and upward who have been elected by their various orders; persons above the age of thirty years who have been nomi meritorious service to the state, or have been elected by each premale inhabitants thereof, above the therein the highest amount of direct and trade, and who have been entire membership of the House of The President and Vice-President nated by the Emperor from among Vice-President of the House of Rep Emperor from among three candi Presidents of both houses receive about $2,500 in gold. The Viceand the elected and nominated House of Representatives, 2,000 yen

penses.

nated members by the Emperor for for erudition; persons who shall fecture from among and by fifteen age of thirty years and paying national taxes on property, industry nominated by the Emperor. The Peers must be about three hundred. of the House of Peers are nomithe members, and the President and resentatives are nominated by the dates elected by the House. The an annual salary of 5,000 yen, or Presidents receive 3,000 yen each, members of the House of Peers and each, together with travelling exfreedom of religious belief and pracprejudicial to peace and order. The toism, with 11 sects: Buddhism is no state religion and no state Catholics, of the Greek branch, and Icated to the eminent ancestors of torious subjects. These are indesome of them are supported by state education is compulsory. In 1900 schools, 193 middle schools, 7 high 49 normal schools, 2 higher normal, 1,152 un-named, 230 kindergartens versities are at Tokio and Kyoto, ernment. Formosa has a special

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By the constitution, absolute tice is secured, so long as it is not chief forms of religion are Shin with 16 sects and 25 creeds. There support. There are also numerous Protestants. There are shrines dedi the Imperial House, and to meri pendent of any religious sect, and or local authorities. Elementary there were 26,997 elementary schools, 37 high schools for girls, 303 special and technical schools, and 2 universities. The two uni and both are supported by the gov educational system. There are about forty libraries. A system of justice, founded on modern jurisprudence. has been recently established. There are four classes of courts, sub-district courts, district courts, courts of appeal and courts of cassation. For the trial of cases connected with the military and naval services there are courts-martial. Formosa has a special system of justice.

The supreme command of the army and navy is vested in the Emperor. The Imperial army has been organized on a uniform system based on conscription. All male subjects of the age of seventeen to forty are liable to military service. The active army is levied from males of the age of twenty, and the term of service consists of three years in the army and four in the navy. The reserve is composed of those who have quitted the active army, and the term of service is four years and four months in the army and three years in the navy. The total active army consists of 167,929 officers and men, and the grand total is 632,007. The Japanese Navy has its Ministry and the Department of Naval Command in Tokio. The navy has undergone remarkable development within the last few years, and during the war with China the squadron was handled with considerable skill and with very decisive effect. An extensive shipbuilding programme has been laid down which provides for the building of many battleships and cruisers and about 100 torpedo craft. According to the last official report (1898) taxed land owned by private persons and local corporations amounted to about 33,545,710 acres, of which 12,680,907 were under cultivation. The principal agricultural products are rice, wheat, barley, rye, tea, sugar, and silk. Silk, cotton, and other textiles are manufactured extensively, though trade conditions have not been of the best during the last two or three years. The camphor industry of Formosa is now a Government monopoly, and is being carried on by a British corporation under contract with the Government. The foreign commerce is carried on through the open ports of Yokohoma, Kobe, Osaka, Nagasaki, Hakodate, Niigata, and twenty special export ports. In 1901 the imports amounted to $127,396,689, and the exports were $124,208,923.

In 1900 the Ministry of Marquis Yamagata was succeeded by that of Marquis Ito. One of the first acts of this Ministry was to propose a financial scheme which aroused much opposition in the House of Peers. The proposition was for an increase of taxes on sugar, spirits, beer, tobacco, etc., to meet the expenditures caused by the Chinese troubles. The entire Ito Ministry resigned on May 2, 1901, and a new Ministry was set up by Viscount Katsura, made up almost entirely of Peers who belonged to neither of the political parties. but included two of the Ito Ministry. This Ministry was constituted as follows: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jutaro Komura; Minister of War, General Kodama; Minister of the Navy, Admiral Yamamoto; Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, Tosuke Hirata; Minister of Interior, Tadakatsu Utsumi; Minister of Finance, Arasuke Sone; Minister of Education, Daikoru Kikuchi; Minister of Justice, Keigo Kiyoura; Minister of Communications, Akimasa Yoshikawa.

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