--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - J. M. Tanner collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 5 number: 10 published: 1902-08 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'J. M. Tanner, "Some Leading Events in the Current Story of the World," *Improvement Era* 5, no. 10 (August 1902): 799–802.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0510unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera0510unse start_page: 799 end_page: 802 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1902-08) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0510unse publication_year: 1902 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1902, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Some Leading Events in the Current Story of the World SOME LEADING EVENTS IN THE CURRENT STORY OF THE WORLD. BY DR. J. M. TANNER, SUPERINTENDENT OF CHURCH SCHOOLS. An Important Iff igfation Law. Congress has recently enacted a law on irrigation, which, if its framers are correct in their estimates and claims, will prove to be the most important enactment respecting the west since the passage of the homestead bill. The purpose of this irrigation law is to reclaim some- thing like six million acres of land, in the arid regions of fourteen western states and territories. The law provides that money for the sale of public lands may be used for the construction of reserviors and canals. Out of the sales, five per cent goes to the states, according to the general provisions of the enabling acts, when the states were admitted to the Union. There is at present from the sale of these lands something like six million dollars on hand. The expenditure of these vast sums is to be under the direction of the secretary of the interior. As Utah is one of the most promising fields for reserviors, we may look forward to the expenditure of a large portion of this money in our own state. The law provides that the land shall be sold to the people in quantities not to exceed one hundred and sixty acres, and that it may be paid for in ten equal installments, covering a period of ten years. The money paid for the land reclaimed will be turned back again into the general fund, and thus the work will go on indefinitely, without becoming a burden to the national government. It is believed that if the scheme proves at all successful, it will result in redeeming a very large proportion of the arid waste in the West, and will increase mani- fold the population of the states and territories where the money is expended. Before much work can be done, it will take the engineers some time to determine the most favorable places for reserviors and canals, 800 IMPROVEMENT ERA. although a considerable portion of the work has already been done by the United States in connection with the geological surveys. Exports to the Orient. In order that the reader may comprehend the magnitude of the commerce which has lately been transferred to the Pacific ocean, it is necessary simply to call his attention to some important statistics relating to our trade chiefly with Australasia, China, and Japan. In 1892, we sent to these countries thirty million dollars' worth of goods; the amount for 1902 will reach one hundred and twenty million dollars. This increase has been wonderful. In 1892, we sent to China a little more than five million five hundred thousand dollars' worth, now we send to that country nearly twenty-five million dollars' worth of goods. To Japan, in 1892, we sent three million two hundred and ninety thousand dollars' worth, this year we shall send to that island twenty-three mil- lion dollars' worth. This awakening and phenomenal growth of Ameri- can commerce on the Pacific ocean are matters of far-reaching concern to our country in general, and to the Pacific states in particular. The Panama Canal* It will be remembered that some months ago the House of Repre- sentatives passed a law authorizing the construction of an isthmian canal through Nicaragua. The route by way of Nicaragua was selected at the time because the French company, who had under way the con- struction of a canal across Panama, demanded for its work and franchise more than four times the amount that had been expended. When the French company discovered that the United States was in earnest about constructing a canal across Nicaragua, it offered its canal for forty million dollars. Of course the French realized that two canals could not be supported, and that if one of them was in the hands of the American government, the French company must naturally go bankrupt. The Senate concluded, finally, on the Panama route as more sati ^factory, and the House of Representatives has finally concurred in the action of the Senate. The construction of a canal between the Atlantic and the Pacific is very generally demanded throughout the United States, and the President has been authorized to purchase the Panama route, provided a good title can be obtained, and, in event that such title cannot be had, he has authority to begin the construction of a canal over the Nicara- gua route. There can be no doubt that the construction of this canal will have a wonderful effect upon the commerce of the Pacific, and also upon tha CURRENT STORY OF THE WORLD. 801 western states. Just what that effect will be, it is not easy to predict at this time. It will unquestionably prove an advantage to Utah. The Postponed Coronation of Kingf Edward. On the twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh of June, England was to have witnessed one of the greatest pageantries of modern times, a pageantry that was to represent medieval as well as modern history; it was to have been an historic display of royalty in England for the past ten centuries. On the eve of the King Edward was stricken with a coronation, threatening disease of the bowels, and it was determined that he must undergo an operation in order to save his life. Rumors of his ill health had been in general circulation for upwards of a month. It was not certain, owing to the dangers of the operation, whether the King could survive the surgeon's knife. The disappointment in London, must have been very great, especially to those who had incurred heavy expenses, and to Americans who had gone some three thousand miles to witness what was promised to be the greatest spectacular demonstration of all time. The King evidently realized the disappointment that would be felt, for it is said that one of his first remarks, after it became reason- ably certain that he would recover, was the exclamation, "Will my people ever forgive me?" As soon as assurances of the King's recovery were given out, all England joined in the national exhibition of joy by kindling fires on the hilltops from one end of England to the other. The King's malady was of so dangerous a character, as to awaken everywhere feelings of sympathy for the stricken monarch, and now that he is improving, there is a general disposition to jest in this country at those disappointed Americans who must come home without the opportunity of going into ecstasies over the grandeur and wonders of a monarch's coronation. Since complete recovery is assured, there will, no doubt, be pro- claimed throughout England a national thanksgiving, when London will put on her gala-robes; and the occasion, it is supposed, will nearly equal that of the coronation ceremonies, as far as the street procession in London goes. The Londoners will not be cheated out of their cele- bration and pageantry for which they have been preparing their minds for months past. It is now proposed, in view of Lord Kitchener's return, that he be made the spectacular figure in London's thanksgiving jubilee. It is doubtful, however, if Lord Kitchener, notwithstanding his triumphal entry into London, will readily consent to such an arrange- ment. It is said upon good authority that Kitchener is very much 802 IMPROVEMENT ERA. opposed to parades and public demonstrations. Notwithstanding the King's inability to be present for the coronation, some of the ceremonies which had been prepared went on; in the first place, a banquet was served for the poor of London, where it is said upwards of half a million people were fed through the bounty of the King; then again, the King insisted that those who were named for promotions and special recogni- tion be announced, and for the occasion a new rank was created to be known hereafter as the "order of merit." The new order is to be bestowed, hereafter, upon great national characters who may distinguish them- selves in science, in art, war, or in any of the walks of public life. Those upon whom the high distinction of a place in this rank is to be bestowed are as follows: Roberts, Wolseley, Kitchener, Kelvin, Leister, Keppel, Morley, Leckey, Seymour, Huggins, and Watt. Students of history and science will readily recognize, in these names, England's most distinguished sons in war, science, and letters. At the bedside of the King were two of England's most famous surgeons. It was Lord Leister, who led the way to antiseptic surgery, and Treves is considered today the most famous operating surgeon in Great Britain. While very many, especially in this country, have thought that the coronation ceremonies would be quite overdone, there has been, never- theless, a sympathetic interest among Americans for the King. Over forty years, the King has been the Prince of Wales, and ever since th© death of his father, the Queen has avoided public ceremonies and demonstrations, and confined herself almost exclusively to home life and the duties of a mother. The long experience, therefore, of the King in public ceremonies and demonstrations has made him perhaps a master of pageantry. The King has been so gracious and attentive to the repre- sentatives of this country that there exists throughout the United States the kindliest feeling towards him. The coronation, it is announced will occur August 9. How much the sickness of the King will detract from its grandeur and display is difficult to say. England, after all, is truly loyal to the royalty of the Empire, and the English are entitled to our sympathetic good wishes in the exercise of their preferences; so the Americans will say with fraternal good will to their English friends, "Long live the King."