AMERICAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11535, 21 November 1900, Page 6

AMERICAN NEWS.

San Fbancisco, October 31. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. The coming election is the burning question of the hour, though the result will be known in New Zealand long before this letter appears. It has been but a short. campaign, and never in the history of the nation was so little interest shown in the outcome. One of the reasons for this is the assumption that the election of McKinloy and Roosevelt is a foregone conclusion; another is that large numbers of voters are dissatisfied with both candidates, and can best satisfy their consciences by taking no part in the election of either. Despite this general coolness, the Republicans managed to arrange a parade in Chicago so splendid that it will be historical. The uniformed paraders, carrying Republican emblems, were six hours in passing a given point, and musicians, red fire, elephants, monkeys, flowers, and blazing forges, representing the prosperity of the country, were all largely in- evidence. The day was practically a holiday in Chicago, and thousands of visitors were present, some delegations coming in from long distances. END OF THE COAL STRIKE. The striking miners of the great anthracite coal regions pf Pennsylvania resumed work on October 29. The coal companies posted notices granting a 10 per cent, increase in wages and other concessions, and the president of the Miners' Union advised the men to go to work. The strikers were addressed by their leaders on Sunday, and congratulated on their moderation and good behaviour during the strike. The settlement was not effected before the situation became grave. Congressmen from Pennsylvania were in conference with President McKinley regarding the matter, and it is stated on good authority that the President urged the mineowners to do all in their power to end the strike, not for political reasons, but because of dread of the results. He said if he could have done so with propriety, he would at first have urged arbitration, which he has consistently advocated for the settlement of domestic and international difficulties. A MONSTER NUGGET. The largest nugget ever received at the New York Assay Office was sent recently by a mining company of British Columbia. It was consigned to the New York agents of the Bank of Montreal. The nugget contained a fraction over 753 pounds of gold, and is valued at 154,000 dollars. It came in a solid cone of yellow metal about 2ft high. It required four men to move a box containing the gold from a truck. AMERICAN ENTERPRISE. Even on tho eve of the election business confidence in the United States remains firm. Conditions in the iron and steel markets continue to improve. Makers of rails have been accused of quoting better terms to 'foreign than to domestic buyers. American steel rails are being offered in London at one dollar a ton below English market price, while Harland and Wolff, at Belfast, are building their mammoth steamships with American steel plates. Charles T. Yerkee has shocked Englishmen' by declining English capital for the construction of a now electric underground railway from Hampstead to Charing Cross, and Andrew Carnegie's company has just effected their first 4000-ton shipment of steel billets and slabs to Midland manufacturing centres at 3i dollars a ton less than tho same material from Wales costs. It is said, also, that the hotelkeepers in London are excited over the announcement that an American hotel, constructed, and to be conducted altogether on American lines, and with American money, is to be built in the centre of the West End. Seybold and Diokstod, of Sheffield, the largest manufacturers of crucible steel in Groat Britain, contemplate moving their plant to the United States. A site has been optioned near Wheeling, Wast Virgina, and it is proposod to erect thereon modern plant costing upward of 3,000,000 dollars, which from the first will employ 3500 men. The object of the move is to get into the American market. The constantly-increasing cost of coal in England is a factor in the move. Sales of wool during tho past week have been enormous, and prices are strictly maintained. Wheat is unsteady, owing to uncertain conditions abroad with regard to war prospects. Oscar Hammerstein is to build a theatre in New York which will be tho largest in the world. It will be patterned after Drury Lane, but will be much larger, and will have seating capacity for 4000 people, without a single supporting column in the interior. The Union Iron Works, of San Francisco, has covered itself with glory in the construction of a ship which lias proved herself the queen of the American navy. The battleship Wisconsin made her trial trip in Santa Barbara Channel on October 11, making a record of 17.25 knots. She made a superb exhibition of speed, and is magnificent in every detail. CENSUS STATISTICS. The work of the United States Census Bureau is nearly completed, so far as compiling statistics goes. # It is shown exclusive of recently-acquired possessions that the United States contains 19 cities with more than 200,000 inhabitants, and just twice that number with more than 100,000. Tho State of Massachusetts leads as to the growth of cities during the last decade. ,There are 78 American cities having more than 50,000 people. Greater San Francisco has about 500.000 people, and Greater New York nearly 3,500,000. Chicago comes next to New York in population, Philadelphia following. The growth of the cities at the cost of the country districts is a striking, and perhaps alarming, feature of recent developments. A number of the great cities have annexed their suburbs, thus adding to the returns. The official announcement of tho total population of the United States for 1900 is 76,295,220, of which 74,627,907 are contained in the 45 States representing approximately the population to be used for apportionment purposes. There is a total of 134,158 Indians not taxed. The total population in 1890, with which the aggregate population of the present census should be compared, was 63,069,756. Taking the 1890 population as a basis, there has been a gain in population of 13,225,464 during the last 10 years, representing an increase of nearly 21 per cent.