vestige of authority and excommunicated from the Church. During his presidency, 5,193,824 tracts, and 184,085 books were distributed, and there were 4,018 baptisms in the European mission. He estimates that the cost of the mission-counting a monthly expense of $17.00 for each missionary, and his production at home at $300 per annum-is annually $350,000; and as that mission represents only a little over one-third of what is being done in the world, the total drain for missionary work on the Latter-day Saints is probably one million dollars per annum. He personally visited Africa, Palestine, Greece, Italy, France, Finland, Russia and Poland, and dedicated these lands to the preaching of the gospel; and since then, a mission is established in Africa, and Elder Mischa Markow has gone into Russia to declare the message. President Lyman is looking and feeling well, and is already in the harness doing work for the Church and Mutual Improvement Associations at home. Every reader of the ERA will join us in extending a hearty welcome to the active and energetic president of the Twelve.

SMITH FAMILY REUNION.-On the 9th a reunion of the Smith Family Association was held at the Bee Hive house, in honor of Patriarch Hyrum Smith, the day being the 104th anniversary of his birth. Between two and three hundred members of the family assembled on the occasion, spending a very enjoyable afternoon and evening. A splended program was rendered, including remarks by President Joseph F. Smith, Elder John Henry Smith, and Frederick M. Smith who is a grandson of the Prophet Joseph, and who represented the Iowa branch of the family. Sentiments in relation to the Patriarch Hyrum Smith and his wives, Jerusha Barden and Mary Fielding Smith, were also given by Hyrum M. Smith, George A. Smith-in behalf of Patriarch John Smith-and by Miss Sarah Harris.

The family is descended from Robert Smith, who emigrated to America from England, in 1638, and shortly afterwards bought a large tract of farming land in Ipswich, now Boxford township, Essex county, Massachusetts. He was the father of ten children, whose descendants are now scattered over the United States, many of them holding prominent positions of various kinds throughout the nation. The Prophet Joseph and Patriarch Hyrum are of the sixth generation, their fathers being Joseph, Asael, Samuel, Samuel and Robert.

In Utah there are four numerous branches of the family, descendants of four of the sons of Asael-Joseph, Asael, Silas and John being their names, the first and oldest branch of the family in Utah being represented by President Joseph F. Smith, Patriarch John Smith and Samuel H. B. Smith. The second branch is represented by Elias A., and Jesse

M. Smith; the third by Silas S., and Jesse N. Smith, and the fourth by John Henry and his son George A. Smith.

These four branches, which are now scattered over the states of Utah, Idaho, Colorado and the territory of Arizona, number many hundreds, and are very closely bound together in their feelings and sympathies. A few years ago a family organization was effected, with President Joseph F. Smith, president, and Patriarch John Smith, Elders John Henry, Silas S., and Elias A. Smith, a board of directors, and Edith A. Smith, secretary. Since that time several family gatherings and "Temple days" have been held. The great desire of the family is to gather as many of the names of their dead as possible, and to do the work for them in the Temple. On the 10th, the day following the reunion, members of the family assembled at the Salt Lake Temple and performed the necessary ordinances for a large number of their dead.

GRAND IRRIGATION SCHEME.-A. F. Doremus, state engineer of Utah, has prepared a plan showing the proposed enlargement and utilization of the water supply for Cache, Utah, and Salt Lake valleys. The plan is prepared under direction and authority of the Arid Land Reclamation Fund Commission of which Engineer Doremus is chairman. It contemplates an interception channel across the headwaters of Strawberry, Currant and other smaller creeks in the Uintah Reservation, to divert them into a reservoir in Strawberry Valley, thence by a three mile tunnel through the mountains west into a branch of Diamond Creek, which empties into the Spanish Fork river, from whence it is taken by canal from near Castilla: first by a branch to a district overlooking the southern end of Utah county; second, the main distributing channel, along the base of the Wasatch mountains, on an average of about three hundred feet above the settlements on the east side of Utah county, to the Jordan Narrows. At the latter place the main channel continues along the base of the Wasatch mountains, about three hundred feet above the valley, past Salt Lake City to Ogden and Brigham, and thence to where it empties into the Bear river, above Collinston: a branch extends across the Narrows, along the east side of the Oquirrh range, past Garfield beach, into Tooele county.

The scheme also contemplates a thirty mile High Line canal from near Gentile Valley, taking waters of the Bear on the west side of Cache over the country to cover the lower part of Malad Valley, as well as the western portion of Cache, as far south as the river. This includes the tapping of the head waters of the Blackfoot, with a reservoir in the Blackfoot Basin, to empty by short canal and natural branch into the Bear where it curves south on its way to the Lake. The map shows also

intercepting canals for the making of a reservoir of Bear Lake. In addition, the scheme is to restrict the Salt Lake to a district south of the Lucin Cut-off to avoid the great evaporation going on in the northern arm of the Lake; also to confine the Utah Lake to a smaller area to avoid waste by evaporation. Hon. F. S. Richards and Engineer Doremus visited Washington, returning in the middle part of February, to present the subject before the Government Engineers who, it is stated, approve the scheme which will cost many millions and open to cultivation vast areas of arid land.

Domestic.-January, 1904.

EMIGRANTS TO AMERICA.-During the year 1903, there were 619,980 immigrants, steerage passengers, arrived in New York, as against 547,197 in 1902. The year of 1902 was a record-breaking year, the increase over 1901 having been about 139,000. As was the case last year, the heaviest immigration was during May, 92,861 steerage passengers being admitted at New York. Almost as many came in April.

GEORGE FRANCIS TRAIN DEAD.-This noted character died in New York on January 18th. He was buried in Greenwood cemetery on the 21st; he was about 75 years old.

NAVY APPROPRIATIONS.-The House Bill, January 29, for the Navy will carry a large appropriation. Secretary Moody suggests the construction of one battle ship, one armored cruiser, three protected cruisers and four fast scout cruisers. The Department plans to spend ultimately $12,000,000 upon the naval station at Guantanamo Bay, and $9,000,000 for a similar station at Subig Bay, near Manila. It is also proposed that $1,500,000 be spent for a fortified coaling station on Kiska, one of the Aleutian islands. Utah people should remember the promise of Secretary Moody that on certain conditions, he would name one of the navy ships Utah. He appears in a good way to get his money.

February, 1904.

NEW SECRETARY OF WAR.-On the 1st Elihu Root retired from the Cabinet, and W. H. Taft, succeeded him as Secretary of War. On the 3d, Mr. Root was present as a guest of honor at a dinner given in New York by 250 of his fellow members of the Union League Club. In the course of an eloquent speech, he defended Prest. Roosevelt against the criticisms of persons who said he was not "safe," commending him as "the greatest conservative force in Washington for the protection of property and our institutions." He said further:

Men say he is not safe! He is not safe for the men who wish to prosecute selfish schemes for the public's detriment. He is not safe for the men who wish the Government conducted with greater reference to campaign contributions than to the public good. He is not safe for the men who wish to drag the President of the United States into a corner and make whispered arrangements which they dare not have known by their constituents. He is great because he is so just and fair. I would rather have my boys taught to admire as the finest thing in our life the honesty and frankness, the truth and loyalty, the honor and devotion of Theodore Roosevelt, than to have them have all the wealth of this great metropolis.

IN THE PHILIPPINES.-On the 1st, Governor Wright was inaugurated as governor of Manila, and announced that he would follow the principles of Governor Taft, his predecessor. The latter, in his report to the commission says the number of friars in the island on Dec. 1, was two hundred and forty six as against 1,013 in 1898. He says of the Catholic Church:

Whatever may happen during the first few months of the coming of the American Bishops, it is certain that the spirit of the American Catholic church is so different from that of the Spanish church from a political standpoint that the influence of the Spanish friars will gradually wane, and that of the American Bishops become controlling, bringing about that which we so much desire, the Americanizing of the Roman Catholic church in the Philippines.

W. C. WHITNEY DEAD.-On the 2nd William Collins Whitney, secretary of the Navy 1885-9 died, aged 62 years.

THE BALTIMORE FIRE.-On the 7th and 8th one of the most destructive fires in the history of our country raged in Baltimore. The fire destroyed a district three quarters of a mile long and four blocks wide, containing some of the finest structures in the city. Help was called from surrounding cities, and at one time four hundred streams were pouring upon the fire, but with little effect. The loss is conservatively estimated at from $75,000,000 to $125,000,000. Remarkable to say, there was no loss of life.

MARCUS ALONZO HANNA.-The Republican leader, political organizer, statesman, and United States Senator, died in Washington at 6:40 p. m. on the 15th. He was born Sept. 24, 1837, in New Lisbon, Ohio; educated at Western Reserve College; became clerk in his father's grocery in 1861, and later its manager, upon the death of his father. In 1864, he married the daughter of his partner, D. P. Rhodes, and later organized the law firm of M. A. Hanna & Co. He became interested in the iron trade, and soon became the head of the Globe Iron Works Co.,

and a large ship owner on the lakes. In 1896, having become active in politics, he was made chairman of the Republican Nat. Com., and was in March that year appointed to the U. S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Hon. John Sherman. He was elected in 1899 to the succeeding long and short terms, expiring in 1905, and was re-appointed chairman of the Republican National Committee, at the convention of 1900.

Foreign.-January, 1904.

NEW CONCESSIONS FOR ICELAND.-About the middle of January, Denmark made concessions to Iceland which grants privileges that have been in controversy been that country and the mother country for nearly thirty years, beginning in 1874 when the King of Denmark granted Iceland its present constitution. The Icelanders have gained all their points, and may be said to have won a brilliant victory. They will now have their own ministry, an increase in the representatives elected by the people, and an extension in the elective franchise, as well as the "greatest degree of self-government consistent with a recognition of the rights of the mother country." An official state coat-of-arms will be allowed, something desired by Iceland's 80,000 population for many years.

AALESUND DESTROYED.-In two hours the town of Aalesund, Norway, was destroyed by fire on the 24th, and eleven thousand people were made homeless. Twenty fishing smacks and three steamers were sunk in the harbor, and other property to the amount of over $4,000,000 was destroyed.

LORD CURZON IN PERSIA.-With pomp befitting his station, Lord Curzon has lately visited for three weeks along the Persian Gulf impressing upon the local British chiefs the importance of British favor and friendship, lost to some extent by the failure of the English railway from Teheran to the Karun, and through the invasion of northern Persia by the Russians. No Viceroy of India has ever before paid an official visit to the towns on the Persian Gulf.

RELIGION IN PANAMA.-After a heated discussion, the Panama Constitutional Convention, now in session, on January 26, approved the folowing clause relating to religion in the new republic:

The professions of all religions, as also the exercise of all forms of worship shall be free, without other limitations than respect for Christian morality and public order. Nevertheless it is recognized that the Catholic religion is that of a majority of the inhabitants of the Republic and the law will provide assistance toward the founding of a seminary in the capital, and missions for savage tribes.