The first race of the American cup series was sailed Monday, October 16. The course was fifteen miles to windward and return. Columbia, the American yacht, won by ten minutes, eight seconds. Time 4h. 53m. 53s. The second race, over a triangular course of thirty miles, was also won by the Columbia. When only three miles from the starting-point the topmast of the Shamrock broke, which so disabled her that she gave up the race and was towed inside Sandy Hook. The Columbia sailed over the full course alone, and was declared the winner. Time 3h. and 37m. The third race was over a windward and leeward course of thirty miles. The Columbia again came off victor by six minutes thirty-four seconds. Time 3h., 38m., 09s. Having defeated the challenger three times, the famous yachting trophy stays in America.

Senator Hanna and others favor creating another cabinet department, to be called the Department of Commerce. It is thought the President will, in his next annual message, recommend such a department. The reason given for creating a new department is that too many great branches of business are grouped under the control of a single cabinet officer. For instance, the Interior Department embraces, the Land Office, Pension Department, Indians, and so on.

General William R. Shafter was sixty-four years old October 16, 1899. For over a year he had held the positions of brigadier-general in the regular army, and major-general of volunteers. On his sixty-fourth birthday he was retired by operation of the law which fixes the age-limit of officers of the regular army. He will remain in the volunteer service in command of the department of the Pacific until relieved by the President.

About one hundred and sixty delegates from different parts of the country assembled in Chicago, October 17, to launch a crusade against the policy of the administration in the Philippines. Among the prominent persons who attended was the Hon. Carl Schurz. He declared he was opposed to making any further war upon the natives, and urged that an armistice should be established at once.

Representative stove men from Maine to Texas will meet at Philadelphia next month to effect a manufacturers' combination. It is estimated that the combination will result in a saving of eight million dollars annually. The aggregate sales have averaged twenty-five million dollars annually for the past three years. There are 218 manufacturers of stoves throughout the country.

The consuls at Manila have received a book containing the correspondence between Aguinaldo and the American commanders and consuls. The book is addressed to the members of the United States Congress, and upon it the Filipinos base the assertion that the American government recognized their sovereignty and promised them independence.

In his address of welcome at the eighteenth National Conference of the Unitarian Church at Washington, D. C., Senator Hoar of Massachusetts said, regarding the Philippine question, that nations as well as individuals may work out their own salvation according to the law of God, without dictation or coercion from any other.

The New York Commercial says that it is proposed to consolidate the National Bank of Commerce and the National Union Bank, both of New York City. These banks are two of the largest and strongest institutions in the United States, and have a combined capital of six million two hundred thousand dollars.

Alfred S. Hartwell, who will represent Hawaii as an unofficial territorial delegate at the coming session of Congress, has for thirty years been a leading member of the bar in Hawaii. He is a graduate of Harvard. In 1868 he was appointed first associate justice of the Supreme Court of Hawaii.

During the past two months two thousand Spaniards have arrived in Havana, who say it is impossible to get work in Spain, and that the government is assisting them to emigrate to Cuba. It is believed that two hundred thousand will reach Cuba within the next few months.

When Admiral Watson receives the reenforcements which have been assigned him he will have no less than fifty ships, large and small, under his command. This will probably be the largest naval force ever maintained in Asiatic waters by any Power.

The Canadian Pacific has placed orders for thirty or forty new locomotives with several of the leading locomotive manufacturers in the United States. This is the first order for locomotives this road has placed outside of Canada for many years.

Several large plants for the manufacture of iron tools are to be erected in Berlin, Germany, by American firms. It is reported that about twelve thousand dollars worth of iron tools are exported weekly from New York to Germany.

The British Parliament opened October 17, in extraordinary session, to consider the South African situation. The Parliament voted to stand by the government. The Liberal leaders criticised the ministry, but pledged the party's support.

A national organization, to be known as the American Anti-Imperialist League, was formed at Chicago October 19. All existing organizations become members at the outset, and new organizations will be formed all over the country.

Andrew Carnegie donated three hundred thousand dollars for the erection of a public library in Washington. He recently informed the commissioners in charge of the work that he would increase the donation fifty thousand dollars.

Secretary Root holds that no franchise can be granted, except by Congress, to any company to land a cable in Cuba. For this reason the American troops will continue to prevent the landing of an American cable in the island.

The fifty-third annual meeting of the American Missionary Association opened at Binghamton, N. Y., October 17. The treasurer's report showed that $296,910 had been expended during the fiscal year.

Arthur Twining Hadley, LL.D., was inaugurated president of Yale University, October 18. He is the thirteenth president of Yale, and the only one who had not previously been ordained a clergyman.

Notwithstanding the recent agreement of Germany, Great Britain, and the United States to abolish the office of king in Samoa, it is reported that the natives have proclaimed Tamasese as king.

The Supreme Court of Michigan has decided that women are ineligible to hold elective office in the state, unless the statutes or constitution expressly stipulate that they may do so.

The Treasury Department will soon put into operation in the mint establishments a new plan for refining, which will save the Government sixty or seventy thousand dollars a year.

A formal petition, signed by several million citizens of the United States, protesting against the seating of Representativeelect Roberts of Utah, is to be presented to Congress.

President Mckinley and party returned to Washington October 19, having covered a distance of five thousand miles. The President made nearly one hundred speeches.

William J. Bryan and party recently made a tour of Kentucky and Ohio. The Colonel made several speeches, and was greeted by large crowds wherever he went.

It is expected that within a month the organization of the Consolidated Cattle Company, with a capital of one hundred million dollars, will be effected.

The number of immigrants who came to this country last year was 311,715, which exceeds the number of the previous year by more than eighty thousand.

A fund of $375,000 has been raised by the lord-mayor of London for the South African refugees. The Queen subscribed twenty-five hundred dollars.

The collections of internal revenue for the three months of the present fiscal year have averaged nearly a million dollars for each business day.

The taking of the census in Cuba began October 16. The enumerators were well received, and all the desired information was readily given.

Miss Susan B. Anthony is about to retire from active service as president of the National Association of the Woman Suffrage Societies.

Ex-Speaker Reed has been admitted to the New York bar, and has declared his intention of residing permanently in the state.

Active preparations for war in the Transvaal continue. Several battles have been fought, with heavy losses on both sides.

John D. Rockefeller outbid Andrew Carnegie for the control of the American Barge Company's fleet of lake steamers.

The gold production of the South African republic in July, 1899. was 409.127 ounces of fine gold, valued at $8,308,757.

United States packers have received contracts for supplying five million pounds of canned beef to the British army.

Dr. W. H. P. Faunce was inaugurated president of Brown University, October 17, 1899.

Missouri's fruit crop this year is estimated to be worth twenty million dollars.