of the bureau are delegates from the principal countries whose language is used in the publications.

VIII. INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION.

On October 14, 1890, an international convention upon the transportation of merchandise by railroad was concluded at Bern, between Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxemburg, Holland, Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Switzerland. Denmark and Roumania came in later.

The object of this convention was to regulate the law governing international transportation between the directorates of the railways and the shippers. To facilitate the execution of this convention an international railway transportation bureau was instituted at Bern.

IX. CENTRAL BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL GEODESY ESTABLISHED UPON THE TELEGRAPHBERG, NEAR POTSDAM. This central bureau has existed since 1866. After the creation of the Prussian Geodetic Institute it was united with the latter in 1869. The object of the Geodetic Institute is to cultivate geodesy by scientific researches, to execute the astronomical and physical determinations which, joined with the geodetic determinations, may serve in the exploration of the surface of

the earth, more particularly within Prussian territory.

The labors of the institute for the present bear more particularly upon the astronomical determinations of the vertical in longitude and latitude, as well as upon astronomical data upon as many points of the geodetic system as possible; moreover, upon the determination of zenithal distances for convenient points, also upon the determination of the density and force of gravitation; it devotes its attention, furthermore, to researches upon the mean level and variations in the sealevel; to the examining into the refraction of luminous rays by the atmosphere; finally, it is occupied with all theoretical and experimental researches which contribute to the examination of the surface and the geodesy of the country.

The Geodetic Institute is placed under the immediate supervision of the Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs, Public Instruction, and Medical Affairs of Prussia.

The Academy of Sciences is the consulting organ of the Minister in all the important affairs of the Institute. Conformably to the conventions agreed upon between the contracting parties, the Institute performs the functions of a Central Bureau for international geodesy. The director of the bureau is at the same time director of the Institute.-Almanach de Gotha.

COMMISSION.

The fund became operative April 15, 1904, and no applications on account of heroic acts performed prior to that date will be considered. The headquarters of the fund are in Pittsburg.

By his will, Mr. Cecil Rhodes, in his desire to encourage and foster an appreciation of the advantages which will result from the union of the English-speaking people throughout the world, and to encourage in students from the United States of America an attachment to the country from which they have sprung, without withdrawing their sympathies from the land of their adoption or birth, directs his trustees to establish sixty colonial scholarships for male students of $1.500 each a year for three years at the University of Oxford, these colonial scholarships being spread over most of

the colonies, twenty-four being allotted to South Africa.

Two Oxford scholarships are to be allotted to each of the existing States and Territories of the United States of America-104 in all. By a codicil executed in South Africa, Mr. Rhodes, after stating that the German Emperor had made instruction in English compulsory in German schools, establishes fifteen scholarships for students of German birth (five in each of the first three years after his death), of $1,250 each, tenable for three vears, to be nominated by the German Emperor, for "a good understanding between

England, Germany, and the United States of America will secure the peace of the world, and educational relationships form the strongest tie."

So that the students who shall be elected to the scholarships shall not be merely bookworms, regard is to be had, not only to their "literary and scholastic attainments," but also to their "fondness of and success in manly outdoor sports, qualities of manhood, truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness, and

THE CARNEGIE

This institution was founded by Mr. Andrew Carnegie for the promotion of original research in science, literature and art. He set aside $10,100,000 for the purpose. The interest is used to conduct, endow and assist investigation in any department of science, literature, or art, and to this end co-operate with governments, uni

fellowship," moral force of character and instincts of leadership. "No student shall be qualified or disqualified for election to a scholarship on account of his race or religious opinions." The scholars are to be distributed among all the colleges of the University of Oxford, and there is to be an annual dinner of past and present scholars and trustees.

Dr. G. R. Parkin, Principal of the Upper Canada School, Toronto, was appointed organizing agent for the trustees.-"Daily Mail" Year Book.

INSTITUTION.

versities, colleges, technical schools, learned societies, and individuals. The headquarters of the institution are in Washington. Prof. D. C. Gilman is the President, and Mr. Charles D. Walcott is the Secretary. Many grants have already been made, and the investigations have been important.

GENERAL REMARKS.

In 1902, for the third time, the total value of the commercial mineral production of the United States exceeded the enormous sum of $1,000,000,000. The exact figures for 1902 were $1,260,639,415 as compared with $1,086,584,851 in 1901, with $1,063,678,053 in 1900, and with $972,208,008 in 1899, a gain of 1902 over 1901 of $174,064,414, or 16.02 per cent; a gain of 1902 over 1900 of $196,961,362, or 18.52 per cent; and a gain of 1902 over 1899 of $288,431,407, or 29.67 per cent. Although this gain is not so great either actually or proportionally as was the gain in 1899, when the gain over 1898 was $273,601,810, or 39.17 per cent, it is sufficient to be worthy of note.

The notable gains and losses of the last two decades are as follows:

The largest actual gain was that of 1899 over 1898, $273,601,810, or 39.17 per cent; next, that of 1902 over 1901, $174,053,760, or 16.02 per cent; then the gain of 1895 over 1894, which was $94,215,822, or 17.88 per cent; then that of 1900 over 1899, $91,468,340, or 9.41 per cent; and the gain of 1887 over 1886, $74,927,880, or 16.81 per cent. In other years than those mentioned between 1880 and 1898 the gains were not noteworthy, and in some of the years, notably in 1884, the production decreased $40,451,968, or nearly 9 per cent. During the industrial depression of 1892-1895 the production would have been expected to decline, as it did, going from $648,895,031 in 1892 to $574,464,724 in 1893, and to $527,079,225 in 1894, and then rising to $621,295,047 in 1895, and not reaching the output of 1892 until 1898.

As heretofore, iron and coal are the most important of our mineral products. The value of the iron in 1902 was $372,775,000; the value of coal

$367,032,069. Nearly all the important metals increased in both output and value; and among the less important metals, platinum, as compared with 1901, lost in both quantity and value even more than it gained in 1901 as compared with 1900, the production in 1902 being 94 ounces, valued at $1,014, as compared with 1,408 ounces, valued at $27,526, in 1901, with 400 ounces in 1900, and with 300 ounces in 1899. The fuels increased from $442,410,904 in 1901 to $469,078.647 in 1902, a gain of $26,667,743, or 6 per cent. Every variety of fuel increased in value except anthracite coal, which showed a decrease in quantity of 23,301,850 long tons and in value of $36,330,434. The average price of anthracite coal per long ton at the mine was $2.35, as against $2.05 in 1901-the highest figure then obtained since 1888- -as compared with $1.85 in 1900, and with $1.80 in 1899; and the average price per ton for bituminous coal at the mine was $1.125, as compared with $1.047 in 1901. The increase in value of the bituminous coal output over 1901 was $54,436,434.

The gain of $174,064,414 in the total value of our mineral production is due to the increase in both metallic and nonmetallic products, the metallic products showing an increase from $518,266,259 in 1901 to $642,258,584 in 1902, a gain of $123,992,325, and the nonmetallic products showing an increase from $567,318,592 in 1901 to $617,380,831 in 1902, a gain of $50,072,089. To these products should be added estimated unspecified products, including building, molding and other sands reported to this office, the rare mineral molybdenum, and other mineral products, valued at $1,000,000, making the total mineral production for 1902 $1,260,639,415.

The manufacture of arsenious oxide, noted for the first time in the United

States in the report for 1901, was continued in increased proportions in 1902.

METALS.

Iron and Steel. Twenty-two States made pig-iron in 1902, as against 21 in 1899 and 1900, and 20 in 1901. The total production of pig-iron in 1902 was 17,821,307 long tons, against 15,878,354 tons in 1901, 13,789,242 tons in 1900, 13,620,703 tons in 1899, 11,773,934 tons in 1898, and 9,652,680 tons in 1897. The production of 1902 shows an increase of 1,942,953 long tons, or 12.2 per cent, in quantity over the production of 1901, and in increase in value from $242,174,000 to $372,775,000, amounting to $130,601,000, or about 54 per cent. The average price per long ton of pig-iron increased from $15.25 in 1901 to $20.90 in 1902. The average prices per long ton in recent years have been as follows: 1900, $18.85; 1899, $18: 1897, $9.85; 1896, $10.47; 1895, $11.14; 1894, $9.76.

Iron Ores.-The production of iron ores in 1902 amounted to 35,554,135 long tons, as compared with 28,887,479 long tons, in 1901, a gain of 6,666,656 long tons, or 23 per cent.

The

value at the mines of the ore mined in 1902 was $65,412,950. As in the four previous years, the production of iron ores in 1902 in the United States has never been equaled by any other country. There were mined also in 1902, 13,275 long tons of manganiferous iron ore, valued at $52,371, which were used in the production of spiegeleisen.

Gold. The production of gold in 1902, as reported by the Bureau of the Mint, was 3,870,000 fine ounces, valued at $80,000,000.

Silver. The production of silver in 1902, as reported by the Bureau of the Mint, was 55,500,000 fine ounces; coining value, $71,757,575; commercial value, $29,415,000.

Manganese Ores. The production of manganese ores increased from 11,995 long tons, valued at $116,722, in 1901, to 16,477 long tons, valued at $177,911, in 1902, an increase in quantity of 4,472 tons and in value of $61,189. The average price per ton was $10.74 in 1902, as compared with $9.73 in 1901 and with $8.52 in 1900.

Copper. The copper mining industry suffered during 1902 from the reaction which followed the unsuccessful attempt in 1901 to maintain the metal at an artificial level. The production,

however, increased from 602,072,519 pounds in 1901 to 659,508,614 pounds in 1902, an increase of 57,436,125 pounds, or about 9 per cent, in quantity, but decreased in value from $87,300,575 in 1901 to $76,568,954 in 1902, a decrease of $10,731,561, or about 12 per cent. Unless unforeseen events cause widespread or long stoppage at the mines, the production of copper in the United States will be considerably larger in 1903 than it has ever been.

Lead. The production of lead has been almost exactly the same for the last three years, viz., 270,000 short tons in 1902, 270,700 short tons in 1901 and 270,824 short tons in 1900. The value of the production in 1902 was $22,140,000, as compared with $23,280,200 in 1901, and with $23,564,688 in 1900.

Zinc.-The production of zinc in 1902 showed a continued increase in quantity as compared with 1901 and 1900, the production being 156,927 short tons in 1902, as compared with 140,822 short tons in 1901 and with 123,oo short tons in 1900. The value of the zinc production in 1902 was $14,625,596, as compared with $11,265,760 in 1901 and with $10,654,196 in 1900.

Aluminum. The production of aluminum during 1902 was 7,300,000 pounds, valued at $2,284,590, as compared with 7,150,000 pounds, valued at $2,238,000 in 1901, and with 7,150,000 pounds, valued at $1,920,000 in 1900.

Platinum. The production of platinum from domestic ores in the United States during 1902 was 94 ounces, valued at $1,814, as compared with 1,408 ounces, valued at $27,526 in 1901.

The

Quicksilver. The production of quicksilver during 1902 amounted to 34,291 flasks of 761⁄2 pounds net, as compared with 29,727 flasks in 1901 and with 28,317 flasks in 1900. value of the quicksilver produced in 1902 was $1,467,848. as compared with $1,382,365 in 1901 and with $1,302,586 in 1900. California reported 28,972 flasks in 1902, as compared with 26,720 flasks in 1901 and Texas reported 5,319 flasks in 1902, as against 2,932 flasks in 1901. In addition, the census reports 10,427 tons of crude or cinnabar, valued at $67,242, mined in California, and 1,300 tons of cinnabar, valued at $1,500, mined in Texas in 1902, but not roasted or treated, a total of 11,727 short tons of cinnabar, valued at

$82,242. The total production of both quicksilver and cinnabar in 1902 was therefore valued at $1,550,090.

Lithium. The production of lithium minerals in 1902 was 1,245 short tons, valued at $25,750 at the railroad, a decrease of 505 tons in amount and of $17.450 in value as compared with the production of 1901, which was 1,750 tons, valued at $43,200. As far as can be ascertained the greater part of the lithium minerals mined during 1902 was not shipped. Although the price of these minerals was lower in 1902 than in 1901 for the same grade of mineral, there was apparently no increase in the home demand. There is, however, an increase in the demand for these minerals from foreign chemical manufacturers.

Nickel. The production of metallic nickel in 1902 was 5,748 pounds, valued at $2,701, as compared with 6,700 pounds, valued at $3,551 in 1901.

Antimony. No antimony was obtained from domestic ores during 1902. The antimony obtained from the smelting of foreign imported ores amounted to 657 short tons, valued at $129,126, and the antimony obtained from hard lead produced from foreign and domestic lead ores was 2,904 short tons, valued at $505,240, a total production for 1902 of 3,561 short tons, valued at $634,506, as compared with 2,639 short tons, valued at $539,902, in 1901. The estimated total amount of antimony available for consumption in 1902 was 6,255 short tons, including 2,694 short tons of imported antimony regulus, as compared with 4,475 short tons, including 1,837 short tons of imported antimony regulus in 1901, and with 6,053 short tons, including 1,827 short tons of imported antimony regulus in 1900.

Bismuth.-No bismuth ores were produced in the United States during 1902. The marketed output in 1901 was 318.6 short tons. The ore contained gold and silver, for which the producers were paid. As nearly as can be ascertained, the value of the output in 1901 was $80 per ton, not including charges for transportation or treatment.

Molybdenum. The production of molybdenum in 1902 was approximately the same as that of 1901, but none of the product was shipped in 1902. The value of these molybdenum ores is very erratic, the highest price hitherto quoted being $1,500 per ton, and the lowest $100.

Coal. For the first time in the history of the United States the production of coal reached a total of over 300,000,000 short tons, showing an actual output of 301,590,439 tons of 2,000 pounds, valued at $367,032,069. Of this total the output of anthracite coal amounted to 36,940,710 long tons (equivalent to 41,373,595 short tons), which, as compared with the production of 60,242,560 long tons in 1901, was a decrease of 23,301,850 long tons, or about 39 per cent. This decrease, as is well known, was due entirely to the suspension of operations by the strike in the anthracite region from May 10 to October 23, a little over five months. But for the strike the output for the year would probably have been over 65,000,000 long tons. The value at the mines of the anthracite coal in 1902 was $76,173,586, as against $112,504,020 in 1901, a loss of about 32.3 per cent. The average value of the marketed coal sold during the year at the mines was $2.35 per long ton, the value in 1901 having been $2.05.

The output of bituminous coal (which includes semi-anthracite and all semi-bituminous and lignite coals) amounted in 1902 to 260,216,844 short tons. valued at $290,858,483, as against 225,828,149 short tons, valued at $236,422.049 in 1901. The increase in the production of bituminous coal was, therefore, 34,388,695 tons quantity and $54,436,434 in value.

in

Out of 30 States and Territories producing coal in 1902, seven-California, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington-had smaller outputs than in 1901.