Congress providing for the Federal inspection of woollen goods and shoddy, and for the proper stamping of the same. All hair, wool waste, rag fibres, etc., used with wool should be classed as shoddy, and all clothing or other material made from goods of which it is a part must be so labeled, under penalty of a heavy fine. This bill, however, was regarded as an extreme measure put forward by certain narrow-minded woolgrowers, and not likely to pass. With the diminution of sheep in the eastern States, there has been an increase in western flocks, and with this increase there has been a marked improvement in the western wools, certain of which are beginning to approach the Australian wool. It is noted by buyers, however, a fault which is common in many American industries, that the wool is often not well put up for market. The woollen mills during 1901 were running at full capacity, and in many instances were working both night and day. The most profitable business was done in plain fabrics, for which there was an active demand throughout the year. The business was steady and said to be profitable, especially for those mills with improved and modern equipment. There were 81 new woollen milis constructed during the year, as compared with 43 in 1900. Of these new mills, 10 were erected in Rhode Island in the last six months of 1901. Others were constructed in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, California, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. In the following table are shown the imports and exports of wool in the United States for the past 11 fiscal years: The decrease in the imports in 1901 from those in 1900, which were the greatest since the passage of the Dingley bill, was caused by a decline in the importation of third-class or carpet wools. WOOL PRODUCTION OF UNITED STATES 1901 AND 1900. WRESTLING. The only recognized and regular wrestling contests in the United States are those conducted by the Amateur Athletic Union. In 1901 the winners at the various weights were: At 105 pounds, William Karl, Metropolitan Athletic Club; 115 pounds, George Owens, Verner Athletic Club; 125 pounds, C. Nillot, Pastime Athletic Club; 135, 145, and 158 pounds, Max Wiley, Rochester Athletic Club. WYOMING, a northwestern State of the United States, has an area of 97,890 square miles. The capital is Cheyenne. Wyoming was admitted to the Union on July 10, 1890. The population in 1900 was 92,531, while in June, 1901, as estimated by the government actuary, it was 96,000. The two largest cities and their populations in 1900 were: Cheyenne, 14,087, and Laramie, 8,207. Finance. The receipts of the treasury department for the year ending September 30, 1901, were $413,863.68, and the expenditures $386,876.83. At the end of the year the net balance in the general fund was $31,570.71. As returned for taxation, the total valuation of property in the State in 1901 was $39,581,216.55. The total amount of taxes raised in the year amounted to $947,556. Industries. The census reports of 1900 show an increase in the manufacturing interests of Wyoming since 1870. In that time the population advanced from 9,118 to 92,531 and the average number of industrial wage-earners from 502 to 2,241, embracing in 1900 2.5 per cent. of the total population. In 1900 the amount of actual capital invested in 334 establishments reporting, exclusive of capital stock, was $2,411,435; the gross value of the output, inclusive of products re-used in the process of manufacture, was $4,301,240. Wyoming is primarily a stock-raising and mining State, its manufactures being largely limited to products for local consumption; hence the increase shown by the returns is chiefly in “neighborhood industries," carried on in small shops. The following are the important industries, with the value of the 1900 output: Car construction and repair-shop work, $1,109,813; lumber and timber products, $831,558; carpentering, $445,001; flouring and grist mill products, $215,447Iron ore and petroleum are abundant, but the lack of transportation facilities has handicapped the development of the deposits, and consequently the development of industries dependent upon their presence. Legislation.-An important act passed by the legislature in 1901 for the purpose of allowing municipalities to gain control of public utilities within their boundaries directed that any city or town in Wyoming, incorporated or thereafter incorporated, should have power to construct or purchase plants of any nature for the furnishing of light, heat, or power. And to this end, such city or town was authorized to issue special bonds, to be paid for in not more than 20 years, to be sold at not less than par, and to aggregate in amount not more than 2 per cent. of the assessed valuation of property within the municipality. To pay the interest and to create a sinking fund for the payment of the bonds, special taxes were to be levied, and both the taxes and the bonds were to be in addition to any and all other taxes and bonds authorized by law; but the bonds were not to be issued except upon an affirmative vote of the electors of the municipalities. An example of the principle of democracy carried to its ultimate conclusion was shown in a law providing that at the general election of 1904 the permanent locations of the seat of State government, the State university, the insane asylum, and the State penitentiary shall all be determined upon by popular vote. Any city, town, or village was to be allowed to be a candidate for one or more or all of these honors, and the candidates receiving the greatest number of votes were to be declared winners. The present capital of the State is Cheyenne. A law to enhance the comfort of women employees directed that any person or corporation employing women in any manufacturing, mercantile, or mechanical establishment should provide suitable seats for their employees and should allow the women to use them when not necessarily engaged in their active duties. Foreign insurance companies were required to file with the State auditor an affidavit making him and his successors in office their lawful attorney, upon whom service might be taken and against whom legal proceedings might be instituted. The office of State geologist was created, and the governor was directed to appoint for a term of six years a State geologist who, as one of the qualifications for his office, should have no pecuniary interest in any mining property of the State. The State geologist was directed to examine mining specimens, prospectuses, and mines, charging proper fees therefor, and to collect and disseminate such information as to the mines and mineral wealth of the State as might advertise the same and develop the mining resources of the State. The governor was directed also to appoint a commission of five members to constitute a commission to investigate the subject of arbitration and the desirability of creating a permanent State board of arbitration. A law to check facilities for divorce, so far as non-residents of the State were concerned, provided that no divorce should be granted to non-resident persons until they had resided in Wyoming at least one year, instead of, as under existing law, six months. An educational law directed that there should be taught in public schools, "in addition to the other branches of study now prescribed, a system of humane treatment of animals, such instruction to consist of not less than two lessons of ten minutes per week." State Officers.-Governor, holding office from January, 1899, to January, 1903, De Forest Richards, Republican; secretary of state, F. Chatterton; treasurer, George E. Abbott; auditor, Leroy Grant; attorney-general, J. A. Van Orsdel; superintendent of education, T. T. Tynan; chief justice, term eight years, ending January, 1903, Charles N. Potter. Congressional Representatives (57th Congress).-In the House: Frank W. Mondell, Republican, from Newcastle. In the Senate: Clarence D. Clark (until 1905), from Evanston, and Francis E. Warren (until 1907), from Cheyenne-both Republicans. X RAYS. See RÖNTGEN RAYS IN MEDICINE. |