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of 1,500 to 3,000 people, are as follows: increase in number of establishments, from 3,233 to 4,513; increase in capital, from $10,078,965 to $25,840,563; increase in number of employees, from 17,044 to 24,583; and increase in aggregate yearly wages, from $4,377,676 to $6,928,668.

The town of Petrolea, Ont., is the greatest manufacturing center in Canada so far as the proportion of output to each inhabitant is concerned. It has $455 of output for each. Montreal exceeds all other cities of Canada in the value of its industrial output, having about fifteen per cent of the total output of the industrial establishments of the Dominion. Toronto now does 9.4 per cent of the manufacturing of Canada, against 6.3 per cent in 1881. The city of Quebec has also made important advances in manufactures, in spite of the fact that its population has been almost stationary. In 1881, thirty-three cities and towns had an annual output of over $1,000,000. In 1891, the number had increased to forty-seven. In 1881, seven cities reported an output of over $5,000,000. In 1891, the number was nine. And there are now four cities which annually manufacture over $10,000,000 worth of products, against two in 1881. Montreal still leads, but has not advanced its distance.

The Canadian Government has recently been approached in order that the colonists may secure a removal of the customs duties and other restrictions which render unprofitable the business of ranching, in which they desire to engage more extensively. The Government has also been requested to establish a system of irrigation, so as to reclaim large tracts of arid land in the present neighborhood of the colony. If these requests be granted, it is thought that large accessions to the Mormon colony at Lee's Lake will soon come from Utah.

Some interesting facts are given concerning the elements of population in the Dominion. According to the census of 1881, there were 3,685,545 native-born, not including the estimated population in the unorganized territories. This number had grown to 4,155,014 in 1891, an increase of 469,469. Subtracting this from the total increase, in the same time, in the same parts of the Dominion, we find the increase of foreign-born during the decade to have been 37,163.

In every 10,000 inhabitants in Canada, the proportion of the different nationalities is shown as follows for both 1891 and 1881:

Native-born in every 10,000..
Born in England...
Born in Scotland.
Born in Ireland..
Born in Newfoundland..
Born in other British possessions..

Born in United States..
Born in other countries.

The revenue of the Dominion for the fiscal year which ended on June 30 last, was $36,903,262. Expendi- Born in European countries tures amounted to $36,629,803; thus leaving a surplus of $273,459. Owing to the important tariff changes introduced last year, particularly the removal of duties on raw sugar, the revenue has been much less than for the last three or four years; and a similar reduction is, of course, noticeable in the surplus.

An important colony of Mormons has been located at Lee's Lake in the Northwest for several years; and has prospered. The objections at first raised against their being allowed to settle in Canada were allayed when the colonists gave assurances that they would forsake the practice of polygamy, and conform to the strict ideas of the marriage relation which notably prevail throughout the Dominion.

Census
of 1891.

Census of 1881.

.8,650

8,580

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On July 18, Montreal was visited by two serious fires, one of which destroyed about $500,000, and the other $30,000, worth of property. The first and larger fire started in the shops of the Canadian Pipe works, and did much damage to Clendenning's foundry and Ramsay's paint works. The second destroyed the warehouse of H. & A. Allan. Twelve firemen were buried under a falling wall at the scene of the second fire, several of whom were killed.

NEWFOUNDLAND.

The sentiment in favor of a union with the Dominion of Canada has made considerable progress. It is not only strongly supported by public

opinion, but it is reported that the Government of Sir William Whiteway now favors the union scheme. The liberal manner in which Canada came forward with help after the disastrous fire of July 8 in St. John's, has undoubtedly done much to remove old misunderstandings and jealousies.

Few would now maintain that the island has benefited by keeping aloof. The mineral and agricultural resources of the interior, which are said to be very great, have remained undeveloped; and the troubles arising out of French treaty rights on the west shore would probably have been satisfactorily settled long ago, had France to deal with the Dominion. And the serious questions of financial and commercial policy that would require settlement, are not more formidable than those which have already been successfully solved by the other colonies who have entered into the Confederation.

The St. John's Fire.

Seldom does a disaster come more unexpectedly or spread more general ruin, than that which, on the night of July 8, laid two-thirds of the city of St. John's in smoking ruins. The fire eclipsed the great conflagration of 1846. It broke out about five o'clock in the afternoon, in a wooden building on the heights at the western end of the city, it is supposed from the carelessness of a smoker. For weeks no rain had fallen, and the buildings in the vicinity were all of wood. A strong northwest wind was blowing. Though the city was ordinarily supplied with an abundance of water from Lake Windsor, four and a-half miles away, and 400 feet above the sea level, the water supply had been turned off to make some new connection of mains. A large reservoir near by had been emptied the night before by the firemen in practice, and had not been refilled. In fact, everything seemed to conspire against the doomed city, and render it an easy prey. The firemen were utterly powerless, and the flames swept unchecked through the wealthiest and most populous part of the city, right down to the water's edge. Within twelve hours, a district

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a mile in length and a quarter of a mile in breadth was laid low; $20,000,ooo worth of property was destroyed, insured for about $3,000,000; and some 15,000 people were rendered homeless. Seven lives were reported lost. next day the fire broke out afresh, and destroyed the railway station and many other buildings which had previously escaped. The Government House and the Roman Catholic Cathedral, the latter a magnificent building, were uninjured; but the Masonic Temple, the Methodist College, the Christian Brothers' School, the great English Church Cathedral, the Orange Hall, the palace of Bishop Jones, the Supreme Court building, the Government offices, and many other fine buildings fell a prey to the flames.

An appeal for relief was issued by the Mayor. Halifax, N. S., was the first city to respond. The steamer Ulunda was sent with provisions and lumber; and the naval authorities despatched H. M. S. Blake with tents, food, and clothing. The appeal, however, was quickly answered from other quarters also. In Montreal and other Canadian cities, and in New York City, funds were collected; and one was also started by the Lord Mayor of London, England, which soon amounted to $100,000. The steamers Miranda and Portia were sent from New York with cargoes of flour and other necessaries. A special session of the Newfoundland Legislature was summoned, which passed a Rebuilding Act giving authority for laying out and widening the streets.

St. John's has a population of about 28,000, and is the only place of great commercial importance in Newfoundland. It contained extensive biscuit factories and oil refineries, and did a large trade in furnishing shipping and fishing supplies. Most of the citizens. were connected with the fisheries, which extended along 4,000 miles of the island's coast.

MEXICO.

The fears entertained last June (p. 197), that there was danger of a revival of the disorderly raids which have of late given both the Mexican and United States troops on the bor

der considerable trouble, were not unfounded. The Mexican refugees on the Texas side of the Rio Grande endeavored throughout July, to foment a revival of the revolutionary movement against their Government; but the vigilance of General Lorenzo Garcia, in command of the Northern Division of Mexico, and General Wheaton, who commands the Military Department of Texas, has hitherto prevented any serious attempt on the part of the malcontents.

There has recently been a marked increase in the volume of American shipping trade with Mexico. During 1891, the number of American steamers entering Mexican ports was greater than that of vessels of all other nations combined; while United States vessels were second only to those of Mexico herself in carrying Mexican produce abroad.

CENTRAL AMERICA. Revolutions in Central America are almost periodic in their occurrence. Further light has been shed upon the disturbances in Honduras reported in our last number (p. 197). The republic has never been perfectly tranquil since the overthrow, in 1885, of President Soto, who was a statesman of broad and advanced political ideas. Through the influence of General Ruffino Barrios, President of Gautemala, who exercised almost dictatorial power over the five republics of Central America, and who was aiming to form them into a Confederation united under his rule, Soto was replaced by the more subservient President Bogran. The present head of the Government is Señor Leiva, against whom the recent revolution was aimed. The leaders of the movement were Generals Bonilla and Nuilla. A few serious encounters took place, mainly at towns along the Atlantic coast, where a few positions fell into the hands of the revolutionists by surprise. The town of Lopez was bombarded and captured by the government steamer Pizzatti. This vessel was attacked by the Ivonne, but drove the latter off. Three other small towns were shelled, after which the Pizzatti attacked the town of Ceiba. After holding out for a day,

the revolutionists abandoned the place, which was then occupied by the government troops. The rebels were also defeated about August 1, at Danli, leaving 300 dead on the field. These reverses broke the strength of the revolution. General Nuilla was captured August 26; and, being found guilty of treason by court-martial, he was shot at Truxillo September 11. On August 7, the United States ship Kearsarge was ordered to the disturbed region to protect American interests, but was subsequently ordered to Venezuela. Throughout the trouble, the neighboring republics apparently preserved a strict neutrality.

The revolution somewhat seriously affected the export trade of Honduras, for the whole Atlantic coast of the country was closed to foreign commerce. That commerce is the main resource of Honduras. The annual volume of exports is some $3,500,000, of which $2,800,000 goes to the United States, comprising bananas, cocoanuts, indigo, elastic gum, cedar wood, and other agricultural products.

There is serious tension between the Legislature and the Executive in Costa Rica, over the public school question. President Rodriguez favored religious instruction in the schools, and was supported by the Bishops, the clergy, and the lower classes. The majority of Congress, on the other hand, opposed the system. The President thereupon dissolved Congress, and ordered a new election. He temporarily settled the matter September 13, by proclaiming himself Dictator, and suspending all constitutional guarantees.

THE PANAMA CANAL.

Experience has heretofore shown that ship canals are very doubtful enterprises. The Honduras Ship Canal project proved an utter failure. The Manchester and Chignecto Ship Canals are still struggling with monetary difficulties. The same may be said of the Nicaragua Canal, though the prospects of the last named are very bright. The only grand commercial success hitherto achieved in this line, has been the cutting through the Isthmus of Suez.

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Our readers have already had outlined to them the material facts bearing upon the failure of the famous De Lesseps scheme at Panama. Under the original contract of 1880, the canal was to be finished by March, 1892. Failure overtook the enterprise in 1888, by which time $280,000,000 had been sunk (see Vol. I., p. 57). The Colombian Government, however, was persuaded to grant an extension of time. One of its conditions was, that work should be resumed by February, 1893, or else the completed fraction of the canal, with all the permanent plant of the company, should revert to the Colombian Government.

Numerous efforts have been made to rehabilitate the scheme; and it was announced toward the end of August last, that M. Hielard, Vice-President of the Paris Chamber of Commerce, had concluded an agreement with the liquidator of the Canal Company, providing for a new company with a capital of $30,000,000, the object being, of course, to resume work immediately, and thus prevent the lapsing of the concession granted by the Colombian

Government. The recouping of the investors is again, as at all previous stages of the enterprise, made absolutely contingent on further outlay; and it yet remains to be seen to what extent they will be willing to take the risk.

VENEZUELA.

The war in Venezuela, it was considered certain at the end of the quarter,would end in the complete triumph of the Legalistas, or revolutionists, and the installation in power of their victorious leader, General Crespo. Reliable details of the campaign are not yet available; but it seems to have comprised a series of struggles on the part of the Legalistas, against successive Dictators who called themselves leaders of the Government, but really fought more for spoils than for glory or for constitutional rights. As was noted in the last number of Current History, when Palacio, the late President, whose ambitious schemes were the cause of the trouble, was compelled to flee, he left the Administration in the hands of Vice-President

Villegas. Villegas, too, after gathering enormous sums by enforced loans, fled from the country, being succeeded by Mendoza. He also, in turn, after a brief career of plunder, relinquished the Dictatorship to General Pulido; and it is over the forces of the last that General Crespo has proved victorious.

Crespo's policy seems to have been to wait until the divided forces of his enemies became so weakened by dissensions that surrender was imperative. Several bloody engagements have been fought. About August 1, the government generals were led into a trap. The Legalistas attacked them in their intrenchments at Ciudad Bolivar, but were driven back in apparent disorder. The government forces pursued, and, when on the plains outside the city, were attacked and defeated by the Legalist reserves, losing 500 men, including three generals. The forces of General Pulido still (September 30) hold out feebly at Caracas and a few other points; but General Crespo has formed a conjunction with Generals Colina, Vegos, and Guintano, and is practically master of the situation.

It has been considered necessary to dispatch three American men-of-war, under Rear-Admiral Walker, to La Guayra, to protect American interests. The Kearsarge, which had sailed for Navassa Island and Honduras on August 7, was ordered to La Guayra instead, the troubles in Honduras having quieted down. About September 1, the Concord was also sent; and she was followed on September 11, by the Chicago, with Rear-Admiral Walker on board.

With the practically assured triumph of the Legalistas, it is not probable that serious trouble with the United States will arise out of the forcible capture of six Legalist political refugees who had taken passage on the American steamer Caracas. While the vessel lay at Puerto Cabello, General Urdaneta boarded her, and, against the protests of her captain and the American Consul, took off the refugees, who were thrown into prison.

Nor does it seem that great importance is to be placed upon the South

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averted the troubles incident upon the talked-of new Presidential election, by deciding that General Peixotto was constitutionally entitled to hold the office of President until the end of 1894. Baron Ladario, late Imperial Minister of Marine, who was wounded in trying to suppress the revolution which overthrew Dom Pedro in 1889 (see Vol. I., p. 60), has. openly declared his allegiance to the Republic, and his example will have great weight. A bill granting amnesty to all political exiles, was passed July 23-a sign of confidence in the stability of the present régime.

Revenue for the current fiscal year is estimated at 207,992 contos; expenses, 205,948 contos.

Diplomatic relations with Italy, whose subjects in the Provinces of Rio Grande do Sul and San Paulo.

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