pur

sixteenth and thirty-sixth sections of every township, the proceeds of all escheats and forfeitures to the State, all moneys paid as exemptions from military duty, all gifts to the State for common-school poses, and all gifts the purpose of which is not stated, and the proceeds of the 500,000-acre grant of 1841. Providing a new law relative to escheats and forfeitures to the State.

To provide for the maintenance of kindergarten

schools as a part of the public-school system. Fixing the price and the method of sale of school, university, Capitol building, internal improvement, and Agricultural College lands.

Enacting a new bounty law for killing wild aniinals. Revising the powers and duties of county superin

tendents of schools.

Declaring the first Saturday in June of each year a public holiday, to be known as "Labor Day."

Prohibiting the sale or gift of opium, morphine, eng-she or cooked opium, and hydrate of chloral or cocaine, by any but regularly qualified and licensed physicians and druggists, and only for the cure of disease.

Regulating the practice of dentistry by creating a State board of examiners and requiring all practitioners hereafter beginning business to obtain a certificate from such beard.

Providing for the appointment of an inspector of stock in each county and giving him power to suppress infectious diseases among domestic animals and to exercise supervision over stock in the county. Providing a new law for the organization and discipline of the State militia.

To license and regulate the insurance business in the State and making the Secretary of State ex-officio Insurance Commissioner.

Creating the county of Malheur.
Creating the county of Wallowa.

Finances. The balance in the State treasury at the close of the fiscal year 1887 was $71,755.33. The estimates for 1888 anticipate an expenditure of $482.709.37 for general purposes, which, after deducting the sum now in the treasury, will require a tax levy of four and nine tenth mills. An additional tax of two tenths of a mill for the State militia and one tenth of a mill for the university will increase the rate to five and two tenths mills. The total assessed value of property in the State for 1887 was over $84,000,000; in 1885 it was $78,776,011.

Education. The following is an abstract of school statistics for the school year ending March 7, 1887:

Persons over four and under twenty years of agemales, 44,691; females, 42,526; total, 87,217.

Number enrolled during the year in the public schools-males, 27,183; females, 25,842; total, 53,025. Average daily attendance-males, 18,973; females, 18,433; total, 37,406.

Number of teachers employed during the year males, 919; females, 1,170; total, 2,089. Number of pupils enrolled in private schoolsmales, 2,505; females, 2.429; total, 4,934.

Number of school-houses built during the year, 88; previously erected, 1,236; total, 1,324.

Average salaries paid teachers per month-males, $45.78; females, $34.79. Number of colleges, 8; teachers employed, 44; pupils attending, 803.

Receipts: In school-clerks' hands at beginning of the year, $100,223.26; received during the year from district tax, $165,446.65; four-mill county tax, $286,877.33; State fund, $85,625.20; rate bills, $213,075.79; other sources, $19,187.31; total receipts, $669,935.54.

At the State University 184 pupils were enrolled in all departments during the year ending June 30, the average enrollment being 110, of which 68 were males and 42 females. A law-school and a school of music are connected with the university. The total expenses for the year were $18,285.87, and the income $21,511.50. The latter sum is derived from lands given by the Federal Government, private donations, and the State tax of one tenth of a mill for university purposes.

ing for the State Agricultural College was laid In August the corner-stone of a new buildat Corvallis. This building is erected by the citizens of Benton County upon State land and given to the State. The Agricultural College has been in existence since 1870, when by an act of the Legislature it was located at and made a part of Corvallis College. Since that time the State has appropriated biennially a fixed amount which has been expended by the trustees of Corvallis College, under the direction of a State board, in giving instruction in agricultural subjects at that institution. But in 1885 the Methodist Conference, which founded and maintained Corvallis College, finding itself unable to raise money for new buildings, offered to transfer the whole institution to the State for the uses of the State Agricultural College free from all sectarian control. Legislature of that year accepted the offer on condition that the friends of the State institution should construct the building which is now being erected. During the present year, however, the Methodists have preferred a claim that the offer to the State was not made by their duly authorized agents or with their consent, and that they still own the Corvallis property with the new building included. The question is not yet decided. The number of students at the State institution in 1885-'86 was 52, and the expenses $8,470.37.

The

Penitentiary.—At the close of September there were 267 prisoners confined in the State Penitentiary. Of these, 165 were engaged under contract in foundry work, 30 in the manufacture of bricks, and the remainder in various useful employments. Their labor repays about half the cost of maintenance.

The Salmon-Fishery. The fishing - season of 1887 on Columbia river was not a success, and the decreased catch is taken as an indication that the resources of the river are being exhausted. Only 356,000 cases during the season, 92,500 fewer than in 1886. were packed and 197,800 fewer than in 1885. The value of the product is estimated at $2,124,000. There are engaged in this business on the river 40 boats worth $245,000, 1,400 nets worth $440,canneries valued at $800,000, 1,400 fishing000, and other apparatus worth $200,000 more, making the total investment over $1,500,000. In the season 6,000 persons are employed.

Statistics. The following figures show the shipments of grain and other agricultural products from Portland for the year end

151.787 76.814

65,215

The number of sheep in the State at the last assessment was 2,593,029.

Constitutional Amendments.-The amendments to be voted upon in November prohibited the

PAPUA, or NEW GUINEA, a large island in the Pacific Ocean, lying north of Australia. The southern coast is separated from the northernmost point of Queensland by the Torres Strait, about 90 miles wide. The area is estimated at 300,000 square miles. The Netherlands Government claims the western part of the island as far as the 141st meridian east from Greenwich. The area of Dutch New Guinea is 150,755 square miles. The German Government proclaimed a protectorate over the northern coast east of the Dutch line and over New Britain and other islands constituting the Bismarck Archipelago on Dec. 17, 1884. The area of Kaiser Wilhelm's Land in Papua is 70,300 square miles, and that of the islands of the Bismarck Archipelago 18,150 square miles. Both are under the administration of the German New Guinea Company. The population of German New Guinea is 109,000; that of Bismarck Archipelago, which embraces all the islands lying between 141° and 154° east longitude and between 8° south latitude and the equator, is 188,000. By virtue of the Delimitation Convention concluded between England and Germany on April 6, 1886, a part of the Solomon Islands are also included in the German boundaries. The German islands of the group have an area of 8,460 square miles and contain about 80,000 inhabitants. The southern coast of Papua was formerly annexed by Great Britain on Nov. 18, 1884. The eastern extremity of Papua and the Luisiad group and other islands were annexed to the British dominions in January, 1885. The area of the British possessions in Papua and the adjacent islands is 88,460 square miles, and the population 229,100.

British New Guinea.-The British Government, after the protectorate was proclaimed over Southeastern New Guinea, appointed Sir Peter Scratchley High Commissioner. He spent several months in endeavoring to induce the governments of the Australian colonies to contribute to the expenses of the administration. They finally agreed to raise £15,000 per annum for the purpose. As soon as he arrived in Papua the Commissioner was attacked with

coast fever, and died. John Douglas was appointed temporarily to the post of High Commissioner. After the death of Sir Peter Scratchley, the South Australian Government withdrew from the agreement to contribute to the expense of the administration. This was followed by similar action on the part of Tasmania, New Zealand, and Western Australia. The premier of Queensland drew up a plan by which he undertook to organize the administration. The premiers of Victoria and New South Wales met him at Sydney in the beginning of May, 1886, and agreed to his plan. The sum of £15,000 annually is contributed by the three colonies in equal shares, and will be guaranteed by the Government of Queensland, which will direct the administration. legislative and executive powers are to be concentrated in the hands of a crown administrator. No purchase of land is allowed to be made by private persons except from the Government or from persons who have obtained their titles from the Government. Trading with the natives in arms, ammunition, or intoxicating liquors is prohibited. The enlistment of laborers is allowed only under Government supervision. The administrator will act under the instructions of the governor of Queensland. The arrangement whereby Queensland guarantees the expenses is to remain in force five years.

The

German New Guinea.-The New Guinea Company in Berlin fitted out an expedition, which sailed from Hamburg on Feb. 3, 1886, for the thorough exploration of Kaiser Wilhelm's Land and the Bismarck Archipelago, and for the establishment of plantations and factories. The leader of the expedition was Dr. Schrader, of Hamburg. In the German, as well as in the English possessions, the sale of fire-arms, ammunition, and spirituous liquors is forbidden.

The Russian naturalist Nicholas de Miklouho Maclay has resided many years on the shore of Astrolabe Bay, northwest of the district which the Germans intend immediately to colonize, and within the territory conceded to Germany in the arrangement with Great Britain. The natives of the coast between Cape Croisilles

and Cape King William looked upon Maclay as their protector, and obeyed him as a ruler. When he returned to St. Petersburg, in the summer of 1886, he endeavored to induce the Russian Government to assert a claim to this district on the ground of prior possession. It had been visited by Russian men-of-war, which surveyed the two harbors, Port Alexis and Port Constantine, and the islands off the coast in 1871 and 1883. A project for the colonization of this region was discussed in Russia, and many young men were desirous of embarking in the enterprise, but the Russian Government refrained from interference with the rights asserted by Germany.

PARAGUAY, a republic in South America. According to the census of 1886, the white population was 300,000-170,000 females and 130,000 males. There are besides, 60,000 semi-civilized Indians and 70,000 wild Indians. The number of foreigners permanently settled in the country was shown to be about 9,000, of whom 1,500 were Italians, 5,000 Argentines, 600 Brazilians, 300 French, 550 Germans, and 100 Englishmen. The German population increases rapidly. In 1886 Asuncion, the capital, had 25,000 inhabitants; Villa Rica had 11,000; Caazapa, 9,000; Villa Concepcion, 8,000; Villa San Pedro, 8,000; Luque, 8.000; Carapegua, 8,000; San Estanislas, 7,000; Itaguá, 6,000; Ita, 5,000; Paraguari, 5,000; Villa Humaitá, 4,205; Villa Pilar, 3,621; and Jaguaron, 3,106.

Government.-The President is Gen. P. Escobar, elected Nov. 25, 1886. His Cabinet was composed of the following ministers: Secretary of the Interior, Col. Mesa; Foreign Af fairs, Dr. B. Aceval; Finance, A. Cañete; Justice and Public Worship, M. Maciel; and War, Col. Duarte. The United States Chargé d'Affaires for Paraguay and Uruguay, resident at Montevideo, is John E. Bacon; the American Consul at Asuncion is Frank D. Hill. The Paraguayan Consul General at New York is Rafael R. Barthold; Consul at San Francisco, Petrus J. Van Loben Sels; Consul-General in the United States, John Stewart.

Army and Navy. The effective strength of the permanent army is reduced to 500 men; in an emergency the National Guard is enrolled. The navy consists of three small steamers.

Finances. On Jan. 1, 1887, the home debt had been reduced to $179,435 through the operations of a sinking fund, created by sales of public lands and the levying of 10 per cent. additional customs duties. The converted foreign debt, bearing successively 2, 3, and 4 per cent. interest, amounts to $4,250,000. In exchange for unpaid coupons of the old foreign indebtedness, a 145-acre land-warrant is delivered for every £100 in coupons.

The income of the republic in 1886 was $1,531,802, and the outlay, $1,377,756. The revenue derived from customs was $844,218, as compared with $769,000 in 1885.

During the summer the Government issued

a decree admitting for circulation, on a par with Paraguayan silver dollars, the silver dollars of the Argentine Republic, Chili, Bolivia, Peru, and Mexico, and also the five-franc pieces of France, Belgium, and Italy that weigh 25 grains and are 900 fine.

Postal Service.-The number of items of mailmatter reached 304,617 in 1886, 130,740 being forwarded in the interior, 81,030 having been received from abroad, and 92,847 sent abroad. The receipts were $7,778, and the expenses, $14,521.

Telegraphs. A telegraph-line runs beside the track of the Asuncion-Villa Rica Railroad, a distance of 152 kilometres, and via Paso de la Patria, Paraguay is linked to the world's cable system.

Commerce. The merchandise imported into Paraguay in 1886 was valued at $1,621,000 worth, compared with $1,524,000 the previous year, while the exports were $1,571,000 and $1,493,000 respectively. Chief among the products exported in 1886 were: Tobacco, 5,306,000 kilogrammes; yerba maté, or Paraguay tea, 4,508,000 kilogrammes; hides, 81,000; oranges, 25,000,000; and cabinet-wood, 151, 281 metres.

Railroads. — In November the Paraguayan Legislature passed a bill empowering the Government to sell to William Stewart the Asuncion-Villa Rica Railway for $2,100,000 gold. The purchaser engages to extend the line to Villa Encarnacion, and on the cost of construction of this extension, at the rate of $30,000 per kilometre, the Government is authorized to guarantee 6 per cent. interest for twenty years. When this extension is in running order, the operating expenses are estimated to amount to 55 per cent. of the gross earnings.

The remarkably prosperous condition of the country has encouraged the Legislature to authorize the Government to push railway enterprise, and a bill was passed, on September 23, decreeing that a railroad and telegraph line be constructed, which, starting from the right bank of Paraguay river, are to traverse the Chaco, and have their terminus at a point of junction on the northwestern frontier of Paraguay and Bolivia; plans to be submitted to the Government within two years from the date of passage of the bill. The law establishes the principle of absolute right of expropriation of all the land necessary on the line.

German-Paraguayan Treaty.-A treaty of commerce and navigation was signed between Germany and Paraguay in 1887, containing, similar to the one concluded with Great Britain in 1886 and with Spain and Portugal previously, the "most-favored-nation clause, with this reservation, however, that Germany waives the privileges conceded to the Brazilian province of Matto Grosso by treaty as long as they are not granted to a third nation. Furthermore, Article III of the treaty grants German consuls the right to perform the ceremony of marriage within their district in cases

in which both the applicants are German. The treaty has been made for ten years, and if, upon its termination, neither party should have signified its wish of non-renewal, it is to remain operative for another twelvemonth. Colonization. — Dr. Bernhard Forster, who emigrated to Paraguay some years ago, invites German emigration to a tract of land secured by him, containing about 580 square kilometres. The settlement is named New Germania. Under the title of New Bordeaux, a French colony is about to be founded between the rivers Paraguay and Bermejo, in the region known as the Chaco Alto Peruano. The following is one of the clauses of the contract that has to be signed in France before the emigrant receives his passage: "I bind myself, on arriving at my destination, to labor and cultivate the ground that shall be given to me by deed, although it will not pass definitively into my posession until I shall have returned to the Government of Paraguay, from my crops, the cost of my passage [$56 in silver], and the seeds, instruments, cattle, etc., that may be advanced to me." The Government of Paraguay, at the same time, binds itself to furnish a house, tools, seeds, etc., and provisions for at least eight months. The amount so advanced will bear no interest, and the colonists will pay no taxes. Only in the event of their possessions being menaced will they be called upon to assist in their defense. PATENTS. Statistics.-The following statistics show the extent of the business of the United States Patent-Office for the year 1887:

Amount in treasury to credit of office January 1, 1888.. Expenditures for salaries.

$1,144.509 60 954,472 22 $150,037 88

$3,257.490 91 639,124 85 The following is a summary of the business of the Patent-Office: Number of applications for patents for inventions, 34,420; number of applications for patents for designs, 1,041; number of applications for reissues of patents, 152; total number of applications relating to patents, 35,613. Number of caveats filed, 2,622; number of applications for registration of trade-marks, 1,282; number of applications for registration of labels, 686; number of disclaimers filed, 9; number of appeals on the merits, 941; total, 5,540; total number of applications requiring investigation and action, 41,153. Number of patents issued, including designs, 21,378; number of patents reissued, 99; number of trade-marks registered, 1,133; number of labels registered, 380; total, 22,990. Number of patents expired during the year, 12,157; number of patents withheld for nonpayment of final fee, 3,044; number of patents issued to foreigners, 1,466; number of patents Issued to citizens of the United States, 19,912. Among the States, Connecticut leads the list in inventiveness with one patent to every 790

inhabitants; the District of Columbia comes next with one to 845 inhabitants; Massachusetts is next with one to 950 inhabitants, and Mississippi brings up the rear with one patent to every 25,146 inhabitants. Of foreign countries, England took out 500 patents; Germany, 291; France, 122, while Corea, Finland, Japan, Luxemburg, the Argentine Republic, Newfoundland, Syria, Victoria, and the West Indies are credited with but one apiece.

Annual Report.-The Commissioner of Patents issued his annual report under the date of Jan. 31, 1888; it appears in the "Official Gazette" of Feb. 7. It is of rather greater length than usual, and embodies many suggestions for amendments of the statutes. It is interesting to note that he states that he needs no additional force to do the work; he only appeals for more room and better office facilities.

The International Union for the Protection of Industrial Property.-The Senate of the United States on March 2, 1887, agreed that this country should become a member of the Industrial Union. Later, on June 11, 1887, the convention was proclaimed by the President. The idea of the Union is analogous to that of the Postal Union; to secure a uniformity of patent practice among nations, and to do away with interfering clauses and statutes. It includes nineteen articles, affecting inventions and trademarks. It so happens that the present statutes of the United States are such as to prevent any, except the most trivial effect, from following upon the adoption of the treaty. The subject will be found discussed at length in "History of the International Union for the Protection of Industrial Property," by Patent-Office Examiner F. A. Seeley, published under the direction of the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, Government Printing-Office, 1887. Reference may also be made to the "Official Gazette," xl, 447; xli, 355, which publish the treaty and comments thereon.

The Commissionership.-The office of Patent Commissioner becoming vacant by the resignation of the Hon. Martin V. Montgomery, the President in April, 1887, appointed to the position the Hon. Benton J. Hall, of Iowa. The new incumbent was born at Mount Vernon, Ohio, in 1835, and graduated at Miami University in 1855. He commenced the practice of law in the office of his father, Mr. J. C. Hall, of Burlington, lowa, in his day regarded as one of the best lawyers of the State. Mr. Hall is the second commissioner from that State. Mr. Montgomery, his predecessor in office, was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia to succeed Justice MacArthur, who retired. This court has jurisdiction over patents on appeal from the Commissioner's decisions.

Litigation. Various important decisions have been reached in the Federal courts. The Government has met with two reverses in a suit brought by the Attorney-General of the United States to annul the Bell telephone patent of