OUR AMERICAN LETTER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 184, 3 August 1904, Page 9

OUR AMERICAN LETTER.

("Star , ' Special.)

YORK, July 2, 1304. SI MMER HEAT.

The -uinniin- seusou has opened iv this t Hy without liny abnormal beat, atui with but few features «f public intcre.-t. ,ii, has bi-rn noted in this city t-hat since ihc eruption <'t Mont Pelte with the destruction i>t (hi- city of St. Ticrre, JHerHuiqno. thi> summers have not been d= generally oppressive «« formerly, •while thr winter-* luiv»- been more .-r\c\o. yfbether thi* may tend In indicate that the carih i< cioling oil", or whether the burning "in ot the We<t lndi-.i ■\oleano tuid anything to tlo with de.crea,-in«: the. Intensity Hi' i lie heal waves which formerly aicoinpjinip.l our southerly breezes. i- ,\ matter i bill scientist* li:»ve noi yet decided. "l'li«? people »r<» satisfied to gix-upi tin 1 improved coudition, but still fi\i- in dread vi Llic heui thai may ensue jnny time iM'torc tin- middle of SeplemWγ. Iv -cwnil year* 1 ii<• fortdr.'h! ot >e|n.ni!'cv liH-, in the pawt been found iniolerahly warm, but jifter that 4lie I'L'lit- ;u" invariably bearable, altiiiiiigli ilf days may 1»- licit. It i« the t-ity pi'vt'iiipnis, the of nirt a onry, Jin-1 I 'h , steam iMuchiiicvy in Hit , bnildjnjjs whi'-li annual)- the ifnipevatiiro jtml ciiii*c ii in be livo ti) im dcfrrpfs wanner in lowu Hum in l.lv- country; hut even in suburban resorlri the s-inn-iiic!' woalher nf New York and New Jcrory h not pleasant a.s that of the hipli Jjiids in I lie \\>st. Indies or almost, any nihrr par! oi thr tropics outside the jiiri.nlr-. The experience of the writer coit'ciilr-' in i'nr-1 Midi that of others ■fllio liH\f' tropical jilaco?, to the effect thai, fl'crp mc. very few fpots oti ;hr parth lir.-idfji Aden jind Sinpapore ■.vhi'h i<>r rf-iil hpat ran rvfpi'fl New York City during a genuine wjriu Wiivr, A of this disromtor; i> occasioned by. the intrn.-e oumiriity thai so cftrn apeompanit , ? tht iiigli tcmpi-ratuii , , and anything in tiic >'.iiy of starched collar.- vvrv rpcrdily iiH-crvJccablf. C'crtuinlv nonhr.rc on ctirth enn one during a hot warn find ;:-! grpa-t a. crowd a* in New v'ork ft copiously piM-spirinp, sticky. frtlfi'vl humanity. To prrt niixett up in iMih ;i crowd nt some elo~c railway stn-

(km in , ferry v.nif iug-rouni fur p\>n a im- minuip- when t!u» lii'-rt-my is about Ifti.l Fahrenheit in flip shade, i- an experience nul -o'li forgotieu. Of course 11. i\ particularly hard on tin; ajip.l ami *ick. us also upon infant*, antl it ii ho (voniliM - that (\riii>iou sfcjinei- and facilities uf till kind* for out-of-town <">utin,'.'= arp crowded to excess ou holiday-. U i> the liot nights iv the city ivhicb till en one—when lor'a weok or Hen <J:i> s consecutively flu , temperature »>ill r.iri']y full below .So nnd iis'2 to 100 fir 10~> dining the day: when inoii artec. from aloe-pies- iky.c« with lml lu.+le appetite ami -ecl< (heir -weltering ollices niic'l percliiuice by electric fan* to roiu-jir-r Hie licai. n£ Imc electric lights, endea'l'nuriu™ only to pel throiijrli routine busi-rtr.-s perfunctorily until l!u> iiiiluiiin: "\\ 11«■ 11 roofs and lire rsciij)i>.«. ;in 1 c\ 111 1 in , |>;ivt--tiii-iits ill I!k' tpnonmnt tli~i rh-t s. are litP.prt'd willi thr puov; whon jnt'.rhii|H the purk-i iirr thrown npm after ilark for tbf shady turf tf> HtTonl coolor touches for I lie linniltlc. ami the ti>va'irrnt.-. ol iiK)~«|iiil 11-■-! mill Hi-'- nri- t!ie iuppily in thi< IntitinJc xr» t»r' fn-qui'iit .',)prurrpiii-f, In , , ilu tint always bring a jp-pilt- fruiu thr lii'iii. !i i- liolhiug uufommori to hay*< the -ky rapidly over-

ijfiVPiiil by ;i blnck cloud scurrying so low and < 1011.-<■ of a suuie-r afternoon that iirliliriiil li;jiil bciionu' , * iipcc 4 -ary, • hili , out of the cloud side ns it ai!----lauc-p? is spilltd n of wind that t\reep< the stre»'l dia-i into whirlpool* K>f hurricane tome. Then follows Hie lliunder willi terrific and lightliins ntost vivid iiud torrents of rain of Iropk-al viiili*nci> ior n few lniiuitcs. Aftrr Iho si|ii;'ll pu->si>s the temperature teijiy dcciease or may become more close ■and niujfjiy. Tl ha? been noted that so iion™ a> iho drift 01 Arctic icebergr* convinues oIT Hip. i-ohm, of .Vewfoundland, Ihe tPmprratui'i- even at >Jii- d»j,lanw i< nppreciably aft'ecii'd. but once the ics di-s----appears look out ior the li^nt. A XOTAUr.IS ANNIVERSARY. Th.! "OOiii Hnniver>:ir,v oi' -the settlement uf Annapolis lloyal. Nova Scoila. «ml tiie di.-wery nf thr- river of St. .'<i!iii, New ]!runsv.i-k. on thr- oppo«ilfi 'hip of tho Hciy uf luiirly from Aunu?wli>, was a nailer whicii e.NL-itcd the al-

• i-niion 1.1-1 wei-k of many vi.-itoi-.-;. S'hiwp place- are but J I lo .10 hours by Mil or at earner from New York, and Kery year Ilie Juiirist (ravel in thai iliff crion is becoming .ureal erlu'caust , I iif warili'iip prnvincrs have no excessive lieal-mid invariably cuol ni-hfs no niat-■U-γ 1-iiw warm the il.iv.". Freiirili, .VmerJ-

ft:n anil Flriiif-li v,arship.- coin-binod to ii-ii Annapolis mid SI. .John, mid ■'in t.iir eplrbration of (.ho Hnnivorsary. It '••i- hv ilio Frrncli th:il the iif>t ><-t!!f--.ih-iil ivjs made in ihn.f spi-i inn of llio •■uuntiy. nnrl it was nn! iinl'l 1740 whmi ihe BriHsh nn<\<'v Lord Onniwalli" found>'i] tin , Cil.r of Hfllifax that Froiu-h pro-''r.iincu.-n bo.-n nc nsMii'ediy :i thin<,' of 41"! pa.-!.. In iliis lonnrctioii iinothor inj- iilways ivlebratJ, <J, bcini: thnt of the fouiidinff of Hall* 'ax on Junr 21. Tl <ct lmpppnod. liflw:,v ''r. Iliat «incp ilir i-onicdeiutioii of the oiiudian provinces July 1 been more Rr less c-tlpnratrd ;i s Diiiiiiiiinu Day. und "mop ihc L'brral party linve hoVn in fiowpr In Cfln«i«'ii (hi- Lihernl prodivitips "f the Nova Smtia people hiivp led them 'n devoto sri-eati-r arti»iit-ion to the 1-t *'Ju!y iiuniviTMiry Mi:in pivviously. \ "•'irimis riiinn\ to i hp to iiavp [Vis hiitri- holidiiv .Ijsplaop tlin 'l\-t of "'ire trtiii-|iii-t'-d j lii = ypjir, u-ht-n the "up«rvi.. f ,r nf .-.-hool- ahcv-f.rl that the "'lue anuivt>r«iir,v -hould nor )><> mado n K,, l!(Kil JioliJny. ( iin-<ifii<i'iib!> ;o his Mir-fn-M 1,,, f,,,,„,! i|,, M |, ( , v ,,, no; . a ]|. I"»«i'rfnl. The MMiiiiiHMii of flip ppopl" *a-t so »iriiiicr lli.il - In- i-jiWrlrpii vvilli

•I.if- an.-.n<l v civ -ivf>ij TUM'mUsion I" it«iniu_ fiv.iii -'::,,r,i „„ ,;„. j|... as tiiry *nj 1,),.;,. (.nr-rit- ii.ul jihv.iy- iifi-n ;»<•.• u-- ''<' PIT- 11) luvo tin. nnni\n>-iry of i!ih »"tiii«|.iiion ..f lhrii'ix iii.j.io :i l)o'«;oin:i nnlidiiy in xi-vr ~f i!,,. f, ; •;. fhat it more "rpiily flmii iiiivtliina i , !."! , rppvpsontH ' lf !"n;ii!ihi u - ~;" liri(i>"n n-< .Tirlaii<-y on "lie \orib Aiiifiii-siii < ■wiinenr. THK SKASOX-S A ITU ACTION Travel in tlin St. Lou!- World's Fair ,s not rrport-ed to be ns heavy as was •nticipatfd. The cbaracter ..t'tlie oxhifroui all aeoonuU l< thai of o.uter-jainn-.oTii nuu ainuseitient rather than o! •nstruetiou, and (be "atuoi-ing of valu- , *ule repri»s«iitative exhibits of a mu-seum *- v ?e. Everytlaiug thai cj.u l>a done for *eeuic effci-r urn! lor i-atchiug thn peitaie* ot tb.=■. jieuplu seckitiy awasemeaf > s saiu lv have been iustalled, uut that *> the ovevshadowing feature of the whole big show. It is believed that more » l value an.l of edututional effeot. us *«H as a hiphci; type of " n ue had in Xcw York with a greater ,e ?i'ce of coxnfurt aud at smaller ex-

prose than in St. Louig. n e big thing m the wy of atiraetien in thh «ty inn Co^V° r T r f b - erat i he 6Ubarl>all °f Coney Uuia, is the amusement attraction entitled 'Dreamland." Thr buiW«ns s cover an area of several acres, and arc most elaborate in their .There are all SO rts of entertainment Jucaitiee, InetadlDg shooting the chutes, i epectacular effect* and scenic raihravs i«« Similar device, a great number ot jMdr stows of every description, men,a«cri«. •eroejUc displays. L i mmens o jEu.l elaborate ballroom, restaurants, eie» ifte. This 'Dreamland" business was dcfwed to compete with the business .jf emnlar elmracter wliich had the rim last year, but which is now second-rate, altnoiigh Btlll largely attracting vlnlfco». It ifl nnthjnff unusual on a warm Sunday i "° ,o^ joHey , li>and vUited V upwards vi I'2.ooft people from the city, who wotto find entertainment and coolinc. diver,s!oi! irnoii* its numerous reports It U -ratifying to tint! that Ih e tendency is toward an improvement in the character of attractions, although many still exist tliat are not altogether above reproach.

THE TITHE OF ,T( LV 4. Some of the newspapers have been calling attention to.the f a ,-t that the an?uial joss of lit* in the United Statetroin 1-ourth of July aficidem** is alwav< eonsideiably in excess of the number Killed by tlte Oewral Slo«.um disaster whilf the total uiiinh<>r of killed . im i injured un rwent anniversaries of this (ivvat American day has bw>n from 3tn)o to ">OOO. In spite of (ho fact that these disasters could be prevented by prohibiting tlio use of pyroter-hnics, «reat and small, there is no popular sentiment apparent in favour of such prohibition. In no other country in the world is there Rurli a. date in the calendar when the people with on«? accord go in so wildly for noise and nuisance. From early dawn until lato at nisrht free license rwigns ev-erywhere, a nd the. independence of the I'nitcd States is eraf>li»sived by the iadepencleacc of each and e.A-ciy citizen, most generally expressed in the noiaiess manner that human ingenuity can do\ise. Thu tons of fire crackers and explosives consumed very often have the effect, of bringing on rain at nipht, which fortunately temia to prevent the spreading of incipient, tires and helps to \va=h the streets.

PRESIDENTIAL ISSUE?. The Republican politicians at ihtir Presidential convention did not nave much difficulty in nominating President Roosevelt and Mr Fairbanks for the two bighfwfc offices in the nation. It will be. remembered tlmt >Ir Koosevelt xva.< not elected to the Presidency, but as Vi.-e-ProsideTit with thp 'ate President MfKinJey, and whether ho can vow carry the i-oiintrj' for hi* i>arry at the liead of ;i tickot is deemed by many to be ujurli mure doubtful than v.heu'bc lir?t aspired for the Vice - Presidency. Had McKinley lived out his term -Mr Hoosevclt would have had* a very much sironjrer chanre of Iveincr ejected Id succeed him, but uvciiv* to his particularly radical record r-inc-c ho stepped iiHit Iho position ot Chief Executive, he has become distrusted by a Ifirgr pleinput even in his own party. It is felt (liat thp hfst interests of the country demand the election of a safer inau.

CaXADIAX PREPEREXTIAL TARIFf

-\n interrsfing <l«>vclr.pijiont of t'nr Canadian piefcreniial turilV has been innrto in the adoption by the Canadian Parliament of a resolution to (he eft'ect 1 liar British imp«rt*ci should, in order to nhlum tin*, prpfernnre of the tariff, .be lamiod. dirp<(-. at. Canadian port*, instead of' transhipment through fch« United St.Ttes. If tliis resolution, wliifli if favouTcd I>y thp put into p.ftcf-t. at tilt next revision of the tariff, it will hit materially at tho I ran<-Atlantic tra<l« to the United especially in winter, tho LawreiiPi , is closed to navigation and there, an , only two or three Canadian ports on tlio Atlantic coast remaining oppii. .>N* OFKICIOi:? C OXSfL AND THK CAXADIAX ENSIGN. An interest ing incident in rrgai'l to (he Canadian Haj* occurred iTeen+ly at Rio Grande Do Sul, ArcMitina, wli«>n « ( anftcliau iu-booncr arrixpd flyir» tlie Cunadun flag. This Hag i« tbp red ensign of the British merchant service, with t'.ip Canadian i*oat of .arm? in the lower right-hand rorner. Strange as it may tiip British Cons-Til at tin , port ordered him to haul it. doivu, and run up tlie regular c-risi»ii. or otherwise pay a Jitic oi' one hundred pounds. The Consul l'urihrr ordered the captain to nil out ihr Canadian <oat of arms and till the space witli rod liunt.injr. nnd upon thr captain" l ' lpfusa , to do so tbp. Conn it I had ii done himself. Itj vii»w of i.ho adoption by olhrr Uritish of ensign*, with more or less similar variations, ihr ar-tion of the Consul in lliis rpsp«>rt- may bo of interest abroad. It is understood that the Canadian Government ha* made represpiitaiioiis to thp lrnppri;il auihoritk , .- in rpgard to Iho matter.

JOTnxoj*. Oiip uf ilif Oattircs nf ihci World's Fair n\ Sγ. Louis has boon thft prpntion of the building for the Philippine pxhibit. covpijng sonw forty acres, all of which have lwn erected without the use tif any nails and under rhe dirwfcron of y\v .Arthur K. Andersou, a Canadian, of St. .Tolin. >*.U.. who won in a competition ot 1300 api>Hcants for the position. The buildings are constructed of baaiiboo, and liolietl" or fassteoed with wooden spike.'. Mr Anderson has been highly complitnearcd upon the ffticiency and rapidity with which be accomplished the work. The Canadian Department of Trade and Commerce has recently added to its civil serrice the appointment of coinluprr.in! for Australia. New Zealand. South Africa and other places abroad. The Department pays these agents for their services high as :fk><!o a year, with aJlov.-ancJ-s for hol[>. -tatiouery and inckleutak, and utilises their reports in the interest of pncouragiiijr r-oinmeri-e. The principal event in the shipping line just now is The expected advent here n.'Xt. week of the great White SUr steamship KaUi>\ thi« largest s>hip ever built. She i.- 72H fept lon;.', and r»f ahoiit tons itvon, but she wi\\ in si/.r by the n«<w turbine Cniiard stenmrr-. which will be 78<1 foet louj,' nnd of 32.000 tons f?ros« each. The ipngtJi oi the Great Eaptern was only 09.") lent, and bfr horse-power was only :sooi> whereas the new shin.- have incomparably greater borw-power.

Tlie Secrefary (o the British Admiral- j ty. CaptHln Pretyinau, in reply to a j question ill Parliament as to the aiinual cost of maintaining a battleship of, say, I 13.000 tons, gave the following figures: . Full pay, wages', etc., of officers j alid"crew° £^V Victualling »-gJj Coal ■ -^SJ! Stores and repairs c*?nn Naval ordnance stores \ Or. in rouvd figures, a total cost • 9t J^-^-<.^.».*^ £9i > W H