an increase in deposits over 1901 of $2,157,764.27, giving Wyoming a per capita deposit of approximately $88. Valuation and Taxation.-The Treasurer's report shows the total valuation of property within the State in 1902 to be $43,348,356; number of cattle 487,489, valuation $8,175,072; number of sheep 3,296,318, valuation $6,777,606.05. The taxes levied in 1902 were as follow: State, $243,901.03; county, $350,327.50; general school, $61,049.33; interest on county bonds, $64,292.79; library tax, $3.742,29; judgment and State deficiency, $8,763.23; special school, $178,787.69; payment of schoolbond interest, $17,434.12; payment of county bonds, $51,278.72. Total, $974,576.70. State Lands.-The rentals for State lands increased from $86,618 in 1901 to $92,337.09 in 1902. The receipts from sale of State lands given by Congress decreased from $22,095 in 1901 to $5,549 in 1902. The State owns 3,001,905.48 acres of school sections. Of this amount 1,297,001.36 acres have been leased. Irrigation and Agriculture. In 1902 3,415 miles of new ditches were constructed in the State, at a cost of $1,873,284, and nearly 1,000,000 acres of arid land were reclaimed. The State's agricultural products were valued at $4,275,000. Fruit orchards yielded handsome profits for the first time, and fruit-growing is now well established. There was produced in the State 33,000,000 pounds of wool, valued at $3,960,000. Mining. The year was a banner year in copper-mining, although the output did not exceed that of 1901. Many new mines were opened up, however, and these properties are now ready to produce the red metal. Probably the most important event in the State's mining history was the completion of the Southern Wyoming Aerial Tramway, from the Ferris-Haggarty copper-mine at Battle Lake to Grand Encampment, 16 miles, it being the longest aerial tramway in the world; and the completion of a 500-ton concentrating and smelting plant at Grand Encampment. These improvements cost approximately $1,000,000. The Standard Oil interests purchased heavily in the Wyoming copper-fields this year, and now own many of the copper-producers. The output of copper was valued at $1,700,000; iron, $413,000; silver, $50,000; gold, $783,000; platinum, $3,100; soda, $25,000; oil, $212,000; coal, $6,369,176.25. The total value of the mineral output was $9,555,276.25. Much progress was made in the development of the State's oil-fields. In the Uinta fields about 15 drilling-rigs were in operation, and 4 flowingwells were established; in the Popo-Agie fields 2 producing-wells were added to the number, making 8 all told; in the Salt Creek fields 3 more producing-wells were secured, making 12 there; in the Bonanza fields a lubricating oil even richer than that found in the Uinta fields the previous year, which was pronounced the richest oil ever found in the world, was discovered. One well was drilled and a strong flow of oil encountered at a depth of less than 1,000 feet. English and other foreign syndicates are securing large tracts of oilland in the State and have already begun operations. URUGUAY, a republic in South America. The legislative power is vested in the Congress, consisting of a Senate of 19 members, elected for six years in the departments which they represent by electoral colleges, and a House of Representatives containing 69 members, elected for three years by the votes of all adult male citizens who can read and write. The President of the republic is elected for four years. Juan Lindolfo Cues tas was elected President for the term beginning March 1, 1899. The Vice-President is Juan Carlos Blanco. The Cabinet at the beginning of 1902 was composed as follows: Minister of War and Marine, Gen. Pedro Callorda; Minister of the Interior and Justice, Eduardo McEachen; Minister of Agriculture, Industry, Public Instruction, and Public Works, Gregorio L. Rodriguez; Minister of Finance, Diego Pons; Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship, Dr. German Roosen. Area and Population.-The area of Uruguay is 72,110 square miles. The population was esti mated on Dec. 31, 1900, at 930,680. Of 90,199 foreigners enumerated in the imperfect census of March 1, 1900, 24,720 were Brazilians, 24,349 Italians, 23,352 Spaniards, 9,140 Argentinians, 4,186 French, 994 Swiss, 708 Germans, and 675 French. Finances.-The revenue in the year ending June 30, 1900, was $15,209,024 in silver. The revenue for the financial year 1902 is estimated at $16,160,000, of which $10,000,000 came from customs, $1,829,000 from a property tax, $934,000 from trade licenses, $786,000 from factory taxes, $431,000 from internal revenue, $615,000 from stamps, $200,000 from bank profits, $324,000 from posts and telegraphs, and $1,041,000 from other sources. The expenditure was estimated at $16,160,996, of which $371,893 were for Congress, $65,976 for the Presidency, $144,450 for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, $2,301,978 for the Ministry of the Interior, $986,292 for the Ministry of Finance, $1,139,336 for the Ministry of Public Works, $1,750,522 for the Ministry of War and Marine, $364,130 for judicial expenses, and $9,036,419 for national obligations. Extra 24-per-cent. import and export duties have been imposed to raise means for improving the port of Montevideo, but they do not figure in the budget, nor does the revenue and expenditure of the municipality of Montevideo. The amount of the national debt on Jan. 1, 1901, was stated to be $125,506,953, made up of $99,660,680 of external, $3,656,775 of international, and $22,189,498 of internal obligations. The Council of Foreign Bondholders in London calculated the amount of the foreign debt on June 30, 1901, at £21,126,100. The total public debt in 1897 was $121,427,447, and on June 30, 1902, it had grown to $123,843,694. A permanent army of 231 officers and 3,273 men is kept up, and an armed police force of 3,200 men. Commerce and Production.-The raising of cattle and sheep is the main industry, but ag riculture is advancing. The exports of wool in 1900 were 39,872 metric tons; of wheat, 39.872 tons; of corn, 486 tons; of wheat flour, 18,129 tons. The production of wine was 23,541 hectoliters. The yield of gold in 1899 was 66 kilograms The total value of merchandise imports in 1900 was $23,978,203 in gold, and of exports $29,388,187. The dutiable imports were $22,678.054 in value out of a total importation of $25,652,788 in 1899, and $33,956,940 out of a total exportation of $36.574,164 paid duties. The duties collected in 1900 amounted to $9.433,269. The imports of articles of food and drink in 1900 were $7,321,318; of tobaeco, $210,421; of textile goods, $4,106,063; of clothing, $1,302,443; of raw materials and machinery, $7.253.877; of miscellaneous merchandise, $3.284. 081. The exports of live animals were valued at $534,216; animal products, $26,606,528; agricul tural products, $1,669,617. The exports of jerked beef was $6,042,345 in value; of extract of beef, $1,319,157; of hides and skins, $8,183,052; of tallow, $1,661,799; of wool, $8,024,959. The imports of coin in 1900 were $1,833,388 and the exports were $3,054.652. Of the total imports in 1899 $21.876,987, and of the exports $23,340,239, passed VENEZUELA. through the port of Montevideo. In 1901 there was a small decrease in imports, the total value being $23,691,932, compared with an average of $24,850,000 for the preceding six years. Exports declined to $27,731,126 owing to a failure in the wheat-crop and a fall in the price of jerked beef in Brazil. Navigation. The number of vessels engaged in foreign trade entered at Montevideo during 1900 was 1,206, of 2,318,954 tons; cleared, 1,033, of 2,052,723 tons. In the coasting and river trade the number entered was 2,020, of 507,110 tons; cleared, 2,063, of 508,986 tons. Work on the improvement of Montevideo harbor began in July, 1901. Railroads, Posts, and Telegraphs.-The railroads have a total length of 1,080 miles. The cost of construction was £11,150,857, of which £5,750,418 has a guarantee of 31-per-cent. interest from the Government, covering 882 miles. The telegraph-lines in 1899 had a length of 4,525 miles, including 1,030 miles of railroad telegraphs. The post-office forwarded 10,814,176 letters, 310,324 postal cards, 32,190,525 printed enclosures, and 1,436,889 parcels in 1900. Political Affairs.-President Cuestas, who, unlike his predecessors, has not added to the public debt, began in 1901 to curb the ambition of mili VENEZUELA, a republic in South America. The legislative power is vested in the Congress, consisting of a Senate of 40 members, 2 from each state, elected for four years by the state Legislatures, and a House of Representatives of 52 members, elected for four years by the popular vote, 1 Representative to 35,000 of population. The President is elected for two years by the Federal Council of 19 members, who are elected for the presidential term by the Congress. Gen. Cipriano Castro, appointed provisional President in October, 1899, was in due form elected President of the Republic in October, 1901. The Cabinet appointed on April 10, 1901, was composed as follows: Minister of the Interior, Gen. J. A. Velutini; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Eduardo Blanco; Minister of War and Marine, Gen. Ramon Guerra; Minister of the Treasury, Ramon Tello Mendoza; Minister of Public Instruction, Dr. Felix Quintero; Minister of Public Works, Juan Otañez; Minister of Fomento, Gen. F. Arocha Gallegos. An act for the reestablishment of the 20 states, which were reduced to 8 in 1864, was passed in 1899, and provision was made for their autonomous administration until the new federal Constitution is completed. merce. tary politicians aspiring to play a part in the next V Area and Population.-The award of the Court of Arbitration given on Oct. 3, 1899, reduces the area claimed for Venezuela by about 60.000 square miles, which are now included in British Guiana. The Schomburgk line was adopted as the boundary except at coast, where the line starts from Punta Playa, instead of at the mouth of the Amakuru, thus giving to Venezuela the lower Barima river; and at the Cuyuni river, where the boundary ascends the Wenamu, instead of following the Cuyuni up to its source, thus giving to Venezuela the Cuyuni gold-fields. The total area of the republic is estimated at 593,943 square miles. The population at 2,444,816. Finances.-The revenue is collected and disbursed, under a contract made in April, 1897, for five years, by the Bank of Venezuela, which receives a commission of 2 per cent. on money col lected and on disbursements and makes advances to the Government up to 6,000,000 bolivars at 8 per cent. interest. The consolidated external debt on July 31, 1901, amounted to £2,638,200, besides £257,224 of unpaid interest. It consists of Venezuela's share in the old debt of Colombia, the share amounting originally to £2,794,796, converted in 1881 to £2,750,000 of new consolidated bonds. Besides this debt 48,962,000 bolivars of bonds for the settlement of arrears of railroad guarantees were issued at 5 per cent. in 1896, equivalent to £1,939,090, on which £336,634 of interest were due, making the total foreign debt £5,171,148. The internal debt amounted to 110,000,000 bolivars, besides The Army and Navy.-The permanent army 10,175,000 bolivars for water-works at Caracas. was reorganized in 1900 in 30 battalions of about 300 men, which were stationed in 20 towns and Venezuelan between the ages of eighteen and in other federal posts and on the ships. Every forty-five years is enrolled in the militia, and in been called into the field. The naval force contimes of civil war as many as 60,000 men have sists of 3 steamers and several small gunboats. Commerce and Production.-Sugar, coffee, cacao, and grain are cultivated in the coast regions, live stock grazes on the rich pastures farther inland, and from the forests of the remote interior are brought down rubber, copaiba, vanilla, tonga beans, and other tropical products. The live stock is estimated at 191,079 horses, 89,186 mules, 312,810 asses, 2,004,257 cattle, 176,668 sheep, 1,667,272 goats, and 1,618,214 hogs. The exports of coffee in 1900 were 10,300,565 kilograms from La Guayra, 14,995,724 kilograms from Puerto Cabello, 13,107 kilograms from Ciudad Bolivar, and 20,829,464 kilograms from Maracaibo; of cacao, 5,766,160 kilograms from La 38,481 kilograms from Ciudad Bolivar, and 184,Guayra, 525,187 kilograms from Puerto Cabello, 456 kilograms from Maracaibo; of hides. 1,075,028 kilograms from La Guayra, 636,363 kilograms from Puerto Cabello, 1,495,937 kilograms from Ciudad Bolivar, and 338,039 kilograms from Maracaibo. There were 1,253,342 kilograms of rubber exported from Ciudad Bolivar, and 43,211 kilograms of tobacco; 18,774 head of cattle from Puerto Cabello and 6,496 from Ciudad Bolivar; 35,169 kilograms of goat- and deer-skins from Ciudad Bolivar, 836,128 kilograms from Puerto Cabello, and 125,866 kilograms from Maracaibo; 53,692 kilograms of copra from Puerto Cabello; 5,421,550 kilograms of fustic, 1,781,612 kilograms of dividivi, 4,099 kilograms of cinchona bark, 36,587 kilograms of copaiba, 42,901 kilograms of fish sounds, and 274,553 kilograms of sugar from Maracaibo; and 1,316 kilograms of gold bullion, valued at $589,000, from Ciudad Bolivar. Feathers for millinery are an important article of export. The principal imports are provisions, textiles, hardware, coal, petroleum, timber, and machinery. Coffee is exported to the United States, France, and Germany; cacao to France, Spain, and Germany; hides to the United States; rubber and feathers to Great Britain. Navigation.-Maracaibo was visited in 1900 by 403 vessels in the foreign trade, Puerto Cabello by 262, La Guayra by 205, Ciudad Bolivar by 73. The merchant marine in 1900 consisted of 18 sailing vessels, of 2,836 tons, and 12 steamers, of 2,567 tons. Railroads and Telegraphs.-There are 529 miles of railroads. A new line to connect Yaritagua with Puerto Cabello was contracted for in 1899. The telegraphs have a length of 3,882 miles. Insurrection.-The revolution that was started in the beginning of 1902 for the overthrow of President Castro was headed by M. Matos, the wealthiest of Venezuelans, who purchased the British steamer Ban Righ, loaded her in Europe with rapid-fire guns for her own armament and field-guns, many thousand rifles, and a vast quantity of ammunition for the army. A large force embarked at Trinidad, the steamer was converted into a warship bristling with guns, her name changed to the Bolivar, and after she had sunk the only serviceable vessel of the Venezuelan navy that Castro sent to capture her, Matos could land his expeditions at any part of the Venezuelan coast that he desired and bring all the supplies he wanted from Trinidad. Castro had enemies in various parts of the country ready to join in the insurrection. The forces of Matos consisted of 15,000 men, divided into 25 sections. They occupied the strategic positions where the Government was weak or unpopular, and threatened to advance on Caracas from the Cumana district and from the Colombian border. Revolutionists rose in bands in many places. When the expedition arrived on Jan. 2 and landed 5,000 Mausers the Government force of 560 men at Coro joined the rebel Generals Urbina, Fernandez, and Garcia. Generals Guzman, Monogros, and Platero, of the revolutionary army, had their way in Carabobo and Guarico. Generals Batalla and Fernandez Cedeno rose against the Government, and the latter twice defeated the Government troops in Carabobo. Gen. Vasquez headed a successful rising at Carupano. The Government troops had difficulty in putting down an insurrection in Maracaibo. The rebels were victorious near Barquisimeto. A severe engagement was fought without result near Uchire. Contributions were levied on foreigners by the authorities in various places. Many prominent men, including ex-ministers Pulido and Urbanejo, were arrested at Caracas. On Feb. 27 the Venezuelan Congress elected Gen. Castro as President for another term of six years to begin on Feb. 20. An invasion from Colombia under Rangel Gardiras was checked near Lafrias. President Castro sent troops to meet the revolutionists who laid siege to Barcelona, Carupano, and Cumana and held the port of Tucacas. The revolutionists, who numbered 3,500 men, defeated Gen. Escalante on April 3 near Carupano, where he lost 350 men. On the following day he was attacked and routed near El Pilar. The rebels took Barquisimeto. Gen. Ramon Castillo with 2.200 men marched out against them. He was attacked on April 22 near San Antonio, and fatally wounded in the beginning of the engagement, upon which the newly levied troops of his force deserted to the enemy and the others retreated. The Government forced every ablebodied man into the army. Gen. Vincente Gomez led a third army against the rebels at Carupano, which was attacked on May 6 by sea and by land. He also was wounded and his troops were routed on May 6, losing 115 dead and 210 wounded. The Government gunboats shelled the town without the usual notice in spite of the protests of the foreign residents. A new invasion was aided by the Colombians, and 4,000 men crossed the border. The revolutionists compelled a Norwegian steamer to carry troops and munitions from Barancas to Bolivar, and afterward the vessel was attacked and Capt. Meling killed by Government troops. La Guayra was attacked by a band of revolutionists on June 7, and the Government forces shelled them from the forts and the warship Miranda, compelling them to retire. Gen. Matos had his army in the field by this time, fully organized and equipped, and he began a systematic advance on Caracas. In June he issued a proclamation in which he announced a provisional Government, with himself as President, Pedro Ezequiel Rojas as Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Generals Perez and Pedro Duchaine as commanders of the armies in the field. The 30 per cent. duty was declared abolished with regard to West Indian imports. He moved with 3,000 men to Urica, leaving 3,000 still in the State of Bermudez. Coro was held by VicePresident Ayala with a strong force, but on June 20 he capitulated. Insurgents fought the Government troops in the streets of Barcelona early in August and captured the town, killing Gen. Bravo and 60 men. On both sides 8 generals, 23 colonels, and 167 men were killed and many houses were destroyed. German, Italian, British, and American warships were at La Guayra and Puerto Cabello, where the revolutionists were active. The commanders were ordered to send vessels to Barcelona, where the insurgents were sacking the stores of foreign merchants and did not spare the foreign consulates. Ciudad Bolivar was blockaded by Government vessels. Germany, Great Britain, and France protested against the blockade on the ground that it was ineffective. By the middle of August the revolutionary party obtained possession of Puerto Cabello. The Government forces after a bombardment took Carupano. Ciudad Bolivar was next bombarded. The Restaurador advanced into close range before firing, flying the American flag. For this Minister Bowen demanded and received an apology from the Venezuelan Government. On Aug. 22 about 700 rebels entered Carupano and fought all day with 1,000 Government troops under Gen. Velutini. On Aug. 28 the advance guard of the revolutionary army attempted to take Taguay, but was repelled with a loss of 200 men. The rebellion made progress, however. The German railroad was cut, and 600 VENEZUELA. soldiers who attempted to reestablish traffic were driven away near Los Teques, which the rebels captured. On Aug. 29 they were joined near Ocumare by 550 soldiers, who brought their general as a prisoner. Gen. Matos long made his Insurgents rose in headquarters at Barcelona. the vicinity of Caracas and had a fight on Sept. 5 with the Government troops. The advanced guard of the revolutionary army, consisting of 4,000 men, under Generals Mendoza, Batalla, and Riera, were met Sept. 11 by 4,100 troops under Gen. Garrido, who had succeeded Gen. Guerra as Minister of War. When the insurgents had taken Angostura and other interior towns the Government authorities took forcible possession of two steamboats of the American company to serve as transports. When 1,100 rebels advanced to take The Cumana the garrison of 350 men retired. revolutionists collected the customs at Bolivar, Cumana, Cano, Colorado, Guiria, Coro, and Bara large shipment of celona. They received Mausers and ammunition and some field-guns from Germany. They cut the English railroad near La Guayra. Wherever the revolutionists held a seaport President Castro declared it closed and proclaimed a blockade. His gunboats were useless for maintaining a blockade of even one port, and therefore the British and German governments refused to recognize any blockade, and their cruisers protected vessels trading with the ports and in the Orinoco river. The rebels at Barcelona attempted to force a loan from the American consul, who is a Venezuelan citizen, but desisted when the American naval authorities interfered for his protection. Telegraph communications in the interior were blocked by them since early in the rebellion. The Government arrested the employees of the French Cable Company at Carupano and cut the cable. President Castro issued a proclamation denouncing Gen. Matos as a traitor who offered to hand over the financial administration of the country to foreign capitalists and ordering him to be tried as a private. While Gen. Matos advanced to Camatagua, in the state of Miranda, 50 miles south of Caracas, intending to form a junction with the army of Gen. Luciano Mendoza, who had till now avoided a pitched battle and succeeded in harassing and wearing out Castro's troops, Gen. Mendoza had arrived at Tocuyito with the main body of his troops. Gen. Castro, who was at Ocumare, concentrated his troops, withdrawing those that were posted to stop Matos, and with a force of 3,600 men he marched with astonishing celerity to Valencia. Gen. Mendoza thereupon retreated toward Villa de Cura. Valencia was saved from falling into the hands of the insurgents, but the stratagem only delayed Gen. Matos, finding the way clear, matters. marched through Ocumare and San Sebastian, hoping to effect a junction with Mendoza near Villa de Cura. Gen. Castro earlier succeeded in joining forces with Gen. Garrido and had an army as strong as that of the veteran Gen. Luciano more than Gen. Mendoza, whom he feared Matos. Gen. Mendoza attacked Castro at La Victoria, and there was savage fighting that lasted a week. Gen. Gomez arrived with reenforcements for Castro on the second day. The wounded perished without care under the tropical The revolutionary army numbered about After many 8.000, Castro's not quite so many. hundreds had been killed on both sides Gen. Mendoza on Oct. 17 abandoned his positions and retreated. Gen. Castro himself, with a rifle in his hands, repeatedly led the assault, to inspire his with his own courage and energy. sun. men The rebels received reenforcement on the fourth day When clared after Barcelona had been recaptured. German Claims.-When the Venezuelan Government showed a willingness to settle the French claims, Germany, at the time when the revolutionary preparations were in progress, became claims of German citizens. There were claims for urgent in demanding the satisfaction of the total of $689,333.31, being $483,084.71 more than in the preceding biennium. This excess is shown by an increase of $48,579.02 in the item of buildings, and an increase of $20,535.19 is also shown in salaries. The report shows a slight decrease in attendance during the past two years. The annual report of the State Superintendent, Dec. 4, showed that there was $1,681,636.10 to be distributed to the various schools and colleges. The rate per capita for each person of school age residing in the State, June 30, was $2.236. Of the 169,795 farms in Wisconsin, 146,799, or 86.5 per cent., are operated by their owners; 10, 249, or 6 per cent., by tenants who pay rent in cash; and 12,747, or 7.5 per cent., by tenants who work on shares. Charities and Corrections.-The State Board of Control gives a statement of the average popu lation and the per capita cost per week in each of the several charitable, penal, and reformatory institutions under the supervision of the board, from Oct. 1, 1901, to June 30, 1902. The inmates in the State Hospital for the Insane numbered The entering class at the State University in 413; the per capita cost per week was $5.40; in September was the largest in its history. The the Northern Hospital for the Insane 599, the per total registration, Sept. 25, was 1,711, compared capita cost was $4.51; in the School for Deaf with 1,657 for the corresponding time last year; 202, the per capita cost was $4.69; in the School number of new students was 704, against 653 for Blind 111, the per capita cost was $6.03; in last year. The completion of Agricultural Hall the Industrial School for Boys, 399, the per capita gives the university an exceptionally fine equip cost was $4.39; in the State Prison 562, the per ment. It cost $150,000, and is believed to be the capita cost was $3.28; in the State School 147, finest structure of the kind in the United States. the per capita cost was $5.78; in the Home for It can easily accommodate 750 students. The Feeble-Minded 484, the per capita cost was $3.59; largest increase for the year was in the college in the State Reformatory 149, the per capita cost of engineering, for which more than 600 entered. was $5.16. The increase in the number of insane One of the new features in the engineerng college in the State is not accurately shown here because this year was the introduction of a five-year of the system of transferring the care of this class course, the aim of which is to add a general edu- to county asylums. The number of patients in cation in art and literature to a thorough scien- county asylums is 3,684 and the number cared tific education. for in the Milwaukee Hospital for Insane is 527. Industries. From statistics collected in December it was shown that the manufacture of cheese increased largely in 1902. There were 1,600 cheese factories in the State, which manufactured more than 70,000,000 pounds of cheese that year, valued at $7,000,000. Wisconsin manufactured one-fourth of the cheese produced in the United States. The growth of the industry was especially shown in the northern part of Wisconsin. In wood-pulp, Wisconsin is fifth in outputnearly $11,000,000 worth. The tobacco-crop was reported, Dec. 6, to be the largest ever grown in the State, both as to acreage and the number of cases. The acreage approximated 35,000. The damage from worms and grasshoppers was very slight. Conservative buyers estimated the yield at 4 cases, or 1,350 pounds, per acre. In carriage and wagon making Wisconsin, with its 436 establishments, is surpassed only by Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio. The notable thing is the increase since 1890-from 158 establishments. The capital engaged in this industry is $6,200,000. The State ranks fourth in leather, the value of the product being $20,000,000, nearly twice what it was ten years ago. Half of the product comes from Milwaukee. In agricultural implements Wisconsin stands fourth, the value of the product being nearly $8,000,000. Racine is exceeded in the country by only Chicago and Springfield. Railroads. The average net earnings of the railroads for Wisconsin in 1900, 1901, and 1902 were $15,483,762 each year; the net earnings of the Northwestern and St. Paul systems for 1902 amounted to $11,331,368.44 for the road in Wisconsin. Agriculture. The secretary of the State Board of Agriculture in his annual crop report, compiled in December, showed that less than one-third of the corn-crop of Wisconsin for the past season was marketable. The acreage and yield were about the same as in the previous year, but the quality was inferior. Only 30 per cent. of the corn reported could be classed as "merchantable." Fish and Game.-The report of the State Fish and Game Warden shows the operations of that department from May 22, 1901, to Dec. 31, 1902. Instead of being a tax upon the treasury, this department has become a source of revenue to the school funds of the State, approximating $5,000 a year. At the same time the department has furnished a more adequate protection to fish and game than has been heretofore known. This protection has been afforded solely through collection of license fees from those who are benefited by the service. In the last two years the State Warden has bettered the protection to fish and game by increasing his force during those seasons when the laws are most subject to violation and by reducing the number of deputies after the close of the deer-hunting season and while inland lakes are not available to net fishermen. One result of the more strict enforcement of the law is a material increase in license fees. In the past year there were 270 arrests for violation of the fish and game laws; and near ly $5,000 was collected through fines and by sale of confiscated fish and game. Legal Decisions.-On Jan. 31 the Supreme Court of the State entered an order permitting the Attorney-General to file an information and begin an action to restrain the receiver of the Bayfield and Iron River Railway from tearing up the track and dismantling the road. This is one of the most important decisions rendered by the court in recent years. An action was begun by the federal court to foreclose the mortgage upon said road. The usual judgment of foreclosure and sale was entered. The special master appointed to make the sale was not able to sell the road for the price designated by the court. The judg ment apparently threatened a conflict between the Wisconsin courts and federal authority. But a decision was handed down, April 4, by the United States Supreme Court, at Madison, asserting that jurisdiction in the matter rested with the federal court alone, and an order was made directing him to take up the track and sell the rails, ties, etc., thus destroying a public highway. The citizens of Bayfield County, claiming that such order to destroy the road was void, then made application to the Circuit Court of |