the road passes through a level country, which, notwithstanding some strips of desert, presented no serious engineering difficulties; but between Merv and Chardjni it had to be laid across a waterless desert, a length of 232 versts. At Dushakh, where the line turns eastward toward the river Tejend, a branch line to Herat, by way of Sarakhs, will be constructed some day. The Oxus at Chardjni is one and a half verst wide, and is crossed by a steam ferry-boat.

Beyond Chardjui a steppe, twenty versts across, required large quantities of water, taken from the Oxus, to fix the deep, shifting sands. Through Bokhara the line is traced along the edge of the cultivated country, so as not to interfere with the irrigation-works. The time required for the journey from Tiflis to Samarcand will be about three days and a quarter. The railroad already constructed enables the Russians to transport troops and war material from Odessa or any other point in Southern Russia to the Tejend in five days, and thus reach Herat sooner than could the English, even after extending the Indus Railroad to Candahar.

The Council of the Empire appropriated the money for the extension of the railroad to Samarcand. Gen. Annenkoff went to Asia in July, 1887, to prepare for the construction of the last part of the line, which could not be begun before autumn, but will be completed before the summer of 1888. The portion of the line running through Bokharan territory is 300 versts; and that in Russian Turkistan beyond, eighty-five versts. Before this last section of the railroad was begun, the military center of Asiatic Russia was transferred from Tashkend to Samarcand.

Russian Occupation of Kerki.-The town of Kerki, situated on the left bank of the Oxus, on the main road between Bokhara and Herat, was occupied by a Russian detachment under Gen. Ozan Tora, commander of the Samarcand army in May, 1887. This fresh advance of the Russians caused much disquiet in England, and increased the difficulties of the Ameer's position in Afghanistan. Yet no question of an encroachment on Afghan territory could be raised, because the Afghans, who succeeded in extending their sway over Maimena and Andkhoi, never held Kerki, nor brought under their rule the Ersari Turkomans inhabiting the district, which formed a part of the outlying dominions of the Emir of Bokhara. The Rus sians did not proceed to occupy the place without the latter's consent. Kerki is an important strategical position, and brings the Russians in contact with the discontented Turkoman and Uzbeck subjects of the Ameer. The British Government was informed of the intended occupation a month before it was carried out, the Russian Foreign Office declaring that it was done in order to protect the flank of the Asiatic Railroad.

Ayub Khan.-When Yakub Khan, the son and

nance.

successor of Shere Ali, abdicated in 1879, after the murder of Sir Louis Cavagnari, his brother Ayub declared himself the enemy of the English and of his cousin Abdurrahman whom they set upon the throne. He led the Afghans, defeated Gen. Burrows on July 27, 1880, and besieged his forces in Candahar until, on Sept. 1, he was in turn defeated by Gen. Roberts. For a year thereafter he kept up a rival government at Herat, but was finally driven out by Abdurrahman, and fled to Persia, where he was arrested at the instance of the English, and kept interned at Teheran, the British Government paying $60,000 a year for his mainteThe surveillance grew less strict, as Russian influence gained the upper hand in Persia. He has kept himself in communication with the exiles from Afghanistan and the discontented sections of Abdurrahman's subjects. In August, 1887, Ayub made his escape from Teheran. The Shah issued orders for his apprehension to the local officials between the capital and Afghanistan, but he fled in another direction, and arrived in safety within Russian dominions. In October he was heard of in the neighborhood of the Russo-Afghan frontier, and was supposed to be engaged in fomenting a revolt against his cousin in the Herat province and Afghan-Turkistan. Another influential agent for stirring up rebellion in Herat is Iskender Khan, who was appointed governor of Penjdeh in the spring of 1887.

Dhuleep Singh. The Russians found a new ally, who may be put forward at a convenient juncture as an Indo-Afghan pretender, in the person of the mediatized hereditary Maharajah of Lahore, whose ancient dominions embraced a large part of Afghanistan as well as the entire Punjaub. When the Punjaub was annexed to British India in 1849, the enormous private treasure of the Maharajah was confiscated. Dhuleep Singh, who was an infant at that time, has several times appealed to the British Government to make restitution of the fortune, but has been told that the allowance of £40,000 a year on which he was induced to live in England was sufficient for the wants of a private individual. He settled on an estate in Norfolk, abandoned the customs and religion of his forefathers, and became thoroughly Anglicized and a popular country squire; but his expenses exceeded his income, and, when he had run deeply in debt, he petitioned to have his allowance increased. The rejection of his suit impelled him to assume a political rôle and become an instrument of Russia in stirring up disaffection among the Sikhs in Northern India. He left England in 1885, for India, but was not permitted to land. Returning to Europe, he was joined in Paris by an Irish revolutionist named Patrick Casey, passed through Berlin under the latter's name, lest English machinations should thwart his purpose, and arrived in June at Moscow, where he took counsel with the editor Katkoff, and was warmly received by the Panslavists.

The Frontier Negotiation. The advance of Russian troops up the Heri Rud to Pul-i-Khatun, and up the Murghab to its junction with the Kushk, defeated the expectation of the English to draw the frontier line of Afghanistan as far north as Sarakhs and Sari Yazi. When, by the battle of Pul-i-Khisti, the possession of Penjdeh passed into the hands of Russia, the contention for an ethnographic frontier was more nearly realized. The interrupted negotiations were resumed after the Ameer had publicly declared that the place was not worth fighting for; and when the Zulfikar difficulty was arranged to the satisfaction of the Russian Cabinet, Sir Peter Lumsden was recalled, and the British boundary commission was divested of its imposing political and military character. Col. Ridgeway and Col. Kuhlberg, the newly-appointed Russian commissioner, proceeded to survey and mark out the frontier on principles that had been settled upon in London. There were differences of opinion regarding the Kaissar pasture-lands in the Maimena district, but no serious disagreement arose until after the commissioners had reached Andkhoi. Between there and the Oxus Col. Kuhlberg contended that the line should be drawn to the mound of the saint called Ziarat Khoja Saleh, whereas Sir West Ridgeway claimed for the Ameer all the country south of Kham-i-Ab. The difficulty was referred, as had been arranged for cases of divergence on questions of principle, to the home governments, and, the surveys having been completed, the commissioners_returned to Europe in the autumn of 1886. The negotiations were continued in St. Petersburg in the spring and summer of 1887. Sir West Ridgeway, after receiving full instructions from his Government, proceeded thither early in April. The principal negotiator on the Russian side was M. Zinovieff, the head of the Asiatic Department in the Russian Bureau of Foreign Affairs. Col. Kuhiberg and M. Lessar also took part in the conferences on behalf of Russia, while Captains Barrow and De Laessoe assisted Col. Ridgeway. The conferences began on April 23. At the earlier meetings both parties adhered firmly to their claims in respect to Kham-i-Ab. The Russians were the less disposed to give way, because the progress of the Ghilzai rebellion raised doubts as to whether Abdurrahman would remain on the throne to receive the benefit of their concessions. The negotiations were interrupted in May, and the English commissioner, after references to the British Foreign Office, and informal discussions with the Russian representatives, returned to London in the beginning of June, to communicate the Russian views and ascertain the maximum concession that his Government was prepared to make. He returned to St. Petersburg with a proposition to compensate Russia for the relinquishment of her claims to Khoja Saleh and the district on the Oxus, which the Ameer, who had it in

actual possession, insisted on retaining, by ceding a tract of pasture-land that was much desired by the Saryk Turkomans of Penjdeh, situated in the Kushk and Kashan valleys. They formerly possessed this district, but were ousted in 1886, notwithstanding the protest of the Russian commissioner, because the London protocol of June 5, 1885, assigned the territory to the Ameer. The St. Petersburg Government accepted the offered arrangement, and conceded to the Ameer the territory around Khojah Saleh, which, by a strict interpretation of the agreement of 1873, would have fallen to Russia, but which was occupied by Afghan Uzbecks, receiving in return the restoration of lands necessary for the sustenance of the Saryks and the development of the town of Penjdeh. The extent of the land restored to the Turkomans is 825 square miles, bringing the Russians 11 miles nearer to Herat. The extent of the disputed Kham-i-Ab district is 770 square miles, but it is at present more productive than the lands between the Kushk and the Murghab conceded to Russia. The final protocol was signed at St. Petersburg on July 22, and ratified on August 2. The southern limit of Russian territory on the Oxus is Bosaga. The frontier delimitation extended over three years. The boundary-line, 355 miles in length, was drawn through a wild and previously unknown region. The first portion running from Zulfikar to Maruchak is 120 miles, and the other, reaching to the Oxus, 235 miles. There are no natural boundaries for any part of the distance, yet both Afghans and Turkomans are said to have respected the pillars erected by the British and Russian officers.

ALABAMA. State Government.-The following were the State officers during the year: Governor, Thomas Seay, Democrat; Secretary of State, C. C. Langdon; Treasurer, Frederick H. Smith; Auditor, Malcolm C. Burke; Attorney-General, Thomas N. McClellan; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Solomon Palmer; Railroad Commissioners, H. C. Shorter, W. C. Tunstall, L. W. Lawler; Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court, George W. Stone; Associates, David Clopton, H. M. Somerville.

Legislation.—The Legislature, which met Nov. 9, 1886, concluded its session on the last day of February, 1887, when it expired by limitation. Perhaps its most important act was an amendment to the law regulating the rights and estates of married women, which aims to rescue from almost hopeless entanglement a large part of the property of the State. The old law was characterized by the Governor in his inaugural as "a means of fraud to the wicked and a snare to the unwary. It is the result of the work of different epochs, and is largely patchwork." By the amendment, all property of the wife held by her previous to the marriage, or to which she may become entitled after the marriage, is the separate property of the wife, and is not subject to the liabilities of the husband. The earnings of the wife are her sepa

rate estate; but the written consent of her husband is necessary to allow her to contract in writing, or to alienate her property. Husband and wife may contract with each other, and the wife with the consent of the husband may carry on business as if sole. Further, the husband is not liable for the debts or engagements of the wife, contracted or entered into after marriage, or for her torts, in the commission of which he does not participate; but the wife is liable for such debts or engagements entered into with the consent of the husband in writing, or for her torts, and is suable therefor as if she were sole.

The former Legislature having provided for the appointment of a commission to codify the State laws, the results of its labors were reported at this session and adopted, and provision was made for publication of the new code.

Provision was made also for the establishment and endowment of Alabama University for colored people, and Montgomery was chosen by the trustees as the site of the new institution. The sum of $25,000 was also appropriated for a separate institution for the colored insane. A similar sum was voted for a separate asylum for the blind.

For the relief of maimed and disabled Confederate soldiers, $30,000 was appropriated.

The State was redivided into four chancery divisions (instead of three as before), and the time and place for the sessions of the several chancery courts were fixed.

Another important act was the reduction of the tax-rate from 60 cents on the $100 to 55 cents, to take effect Oct. 1, 1888, and a further reduction to 50 cents for Oct. 1, 1889. It was estimated that the rapid increase in values in the State would offset this reduction, so that the revenue would not be diminished. Other acts were:

To provide for the sale of the swamp and overflowed lands of this State, and for the sale of the indemnity land scrip issued to this State in lieu of such lands disposed of by the United States.

To prosecute and secure to the State the benefits resulting from all claims of the State of Alabama against the United States for or on account of swamp and overflowed lands, other public land in Alabama sold or otherwise disposed of by the Federal Government, and all other claims the State has under existing laws or may have under laws hereafter enacted. To prohibit the employment of minors to sell liquors

in this State.

tered by the State or admitted from other States, to have an actual cash capital fully paid up of not less than $100,000, and to require such companies to make

annual statements to the Auditor.

To require locomotive-engineers to be examined and licensed by a board to be appointed by the Governor.

To prevent the compelling of women and children, or the permitting of children under fourteen years of age, to labor in a mechanical or manufacturing business more than eight hours on any day.

For prevention and suppression of infectious or contagious diseases of horses and other animals. To incorporate the Alabama State Agricultural Society.

The session was noteworthy for the amount tions being passed, or 115 more than at the of work accomplished-563 bills and resolupreceding session. The members were nearly all Democrats.

condition of the State treasury at the beginFinances. The following table shows the Balance in treasury on Oct. 1, 1886. ning of the year:

Receipts from Oct. 1, 1886, to Dec. 81, 1856, in

clusive

Disbursements from Oct. 1, 1886, to Dec. 81, 1856.....

Balance in treasury at close of business on Dec. 81, 1886.....

Amount in treasury on Dec. 31, 1884
Amount in treasury on Dec. 81, 1885

$340,811 88

120,887 97 $161,699 85

818,836 57

$148,863 25

$98,562 65 128,574 90

Of the bonded debt which amounts to $9,193,900, the greater part is already funded at 4 per cent. interest, but $954,000 of bonds bearing 6 per cent. interest still remained at the beginning of the year. The Legislature authorized the funding of these at 3 per cent., a lower rate than the State had before ventured to offer.

Prohibition. The sale of liquor becomes more restricted with every session of the Legislature. Prohibition is granted, and has been obtained, in the greater part of the State, on petition of the inhabitants of each locality. The Legislature this year added in the same way Butler County and Montgomery, outside the police jurisdiction of the city, to the prohibitory column. It adopted also a local-option law applying to a large part of the State, by which "no license" is likely to be still further extended. At the same time, the license-tax is increasing yearly.. In 1884 it was $50 for retail dealers; the Legislature of that year increased it to $100; this year it was fixed at from $125 to $250, according to the population of the locality.

Confederate Monument.-Strong pressure was brought upon the Legislature to aid in the erection of a monument to the Confederate soldiers of the State, which had already been begun at Montgomery. A bill appropriating $5,000 for this purpose passed the lower house, but failed in the Senate on a close vote. Private subscriptions have since forwarded shaft had been carried up to the height of the work. Before the close of the year the eighty feet, and only the figures at the top

and at the base were wanting to render the memorial complete.

Miscellaneous.—An improvement in the treatment of the State convicts was made this year by the passage of an act establishing a reformatory system for them, but the practice of hiring them out still leaves much room for improvement, especially in the case of county convicts. Of these the State Inspector says: They are scattered over the State in such a way as to make it almost impossible to properly inspect them and ascertain their real condition. It seems probable that this state of affairs is going to become worse, as new contracts are being made by many of the counties, and some of these are in exceedingly inaccessible localities."

Early in the year ex-State Treasurer Vincent, who, in 1883, embezzled $225,000 of the State funds, was brought back, tried, convicted, and sentenced.

The burning of the building occupied by the State Agricultural and Mechanical College, on June 24, caused a loss of $100,000 to the State, and the destruction of valuable cabinets and apparatus.

Development. The following statement shows the increase of assessments and taxes on railroads in the State for this year, as compared with last, also the increase of mileage:

Total value for 1887.. Total value for 1886.

Increased assessment...

Tax on $27,939,771.26 at 55 cents on $100.... Tax on $23,658,431.01 at 60 cents on the $100.

Increase of taxes.. Miles reported in 1886.. Miles reported in 1857..

$27,939,771 26 23,688,431 01

$1,251,340 25

$153,668 74 142,180 58

$11.588 16

2,068 94

2,185 82 The towns and cities of the mineral belt have advanced rapidly, while the agricultural districts remain stationary. In Jefferson County, which contains the city of Birmingham, the valuations were fixed by the assessors for this year at $30,000,000, an increase of $17,500,000, or more than 100 per cent. over 1886. The iron industry has grown so rapidly that the pig-iron production of the State has increased from 130,000 tons in 1880 to nearly 400,000 tons in 1887. The production of cotton during this time shows comparatively little change. The movements of the population, and the change at work upon them, are noteworthy. "Already many of the planters of the Black Belt have taken all the money they have heretotore invested in cotton-raising and have in vested it in real estate and industries in Birmingham. The chief danger in the impending change is in the fact that the lands are falling into the hands of men who will be inclined to consolidate it in large holdings, and that the poor man will not get a chance for a small farm. All the mineral lands are now owned by corporations, and wherever there is a sign of speculative value land companies have been formed."

ANGLICAN CHURCHES. The "Year-Book" of the Church of England for 1887, being the fifth number of that publication, embodies information furnished by 11.500 of the nearly 14,000 clergymen of the Church. In 80 per cent. of the parishes, 1,182,000 communicants were returned on Easter of 1885. The churches provided 3,000,665 free and 1,000,497 paid sittings. The amount of voluntary offerings during the year was given as £5,000,000: in addition to which, £1,000,000 were raised in the educational department, £16,000 for theological schools, and £10,000 for public schools.

The

Report of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.-The report of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners gives the following summary of the work accomplished by the commissioners in the augmentation and endowment of benefices during a period of forty-six years, from 1840 (when the common fund was first created), to the 31st of October, 1886: number of benefices endowed, 5,400; amount of grants made in the augmentation and endowment of these benefices, about £754,000 per annum in perpetuity, or in capital value about £22,624,000. benefactions by private donors, consisting of stock, cash, land, tithes, and other property, received by or conveyed to the commissioners or to the incumbents of benefices, amount to about £4,620,000, and are equivalent to a permanent increase of the endowments of benefices of about £154,000 per annum. There is, moreover, a sum of about £26,000 per annum contributed by benefactors to meet the commissioners' grants for curates in mining districts. The total increase in the incomes of benefices from the augmentation and endowments made by the commissioners, or through their instrumentality, amounted, therefore, up to the 31st of October, 1886, to about £934,000 per annum, and may be taken to represent the income which would be derived from a capital sum of about £28,024,000.

Convocation of Canterbury.-The Convocation of Canterbury met on Feb. 8. The subject of a union of the two convocations was considered in both houses. The lower house having requested the president (archbishop) "to direct the appointment of a committee to consider and report on the relations subsisting between the convocations of Canterbury and York, with a view to their common action," the archbishop said that it was not desirable that there should be a mere fusion or union of the two convocations. Each should preserve its integrity. A conference of the two bodies would be very serviceable; and in such a case nothing would be gained by the separation of the bishops into one and the presbyters into another conference, but the conference ought to be held in one combined house. A committee was appointed to consider the subject. In response to a request that an effort be made to secure a reduction of the rate of interest on loans by the Queen Anne's Bounty Office, the committee reported its opinion to be that the