SUSPENSION BRIDGE IN MONTEREY.

There is a project on foot to erect a cable suspension bridge across the Santa Catalina River to connect the suburb of San Luisito with the city of Monterey. It is proposed to build this bridge 600 feet long and 20 feet wide.

NEW BRIDGE IN NUEVO LAREDO OPENED.

The new bridge built by the National Railroads of Mexico, between Nuevo Laredo, State of Tamaulipas, and Laredo, Texas, has been opened to public traffic. It is made of concrete and consists of 6 arches of 175 feet.

RAILROAD CONCESSIONS.

The Mexican Government has entered into a contract with an American company for the construction and operation of a railroad to connect the southern part of the State of Veracruz and of the State of Tabasco, with the central part of the State of Campeche, joining at one end with the Veracruz-Pacific Railway, and at the other with the Yucatan railroads. The new line will be known as the Veracruz, Tabasco and Campeche Railroad.

Authorization has also been granted to build and operate a railroad in the State of Mexico, starting from the city of Toluca, passing near Villa del Valle and terminating at the Caleras ranch.

NICARAGUA

REPEAL OF CONCESSIONS.

The Gaceta Oficial of Nicaragua, in its issue of May 13, publishes the text of a decree by the President of the Republic, whereby a number of concessions are repealed as being, to a greater or less degree, detrimental to the good and welfare of the country. Among the concessions declared null and void are the following:

Concession dated March 29, 1904, for the establishment of a steamship line on the Atlantic coast and for the navigation of the Escondido River, and all additional contracts. Concession of December 6, 1907, granting a lease on abandoned mines in the Department of Bluefields and the Prinzapolka District. Of December 18, 1910, granting a lease on all the mines and mineral deposits in the Departments of Nueva Segovia and Jinotega and a section of the region of Cape Gracias à Dios. Of August 2, 1905, for the exploitation of rubber fields on the Atlantic coast. Of July 24, 1906, for the dredging of Pearl Lagoon.

IMMIGRATION AND COLONIZATION COMMISSIONER ABROAD.

The position of special immigration and colonization commissioner abroad has been created by executive decree of June 8, 1911. The duty of this office will be to carry on an active propaganda in Europe, giving information concerning the Republic of Panama, its physical, political, and social conditions, natural resources, cost and manner of acquiring public lands, cost of living, and other like data as may be desired. The commissioner will also discharge such other duties as may be assigned to him by the department of promotion. His place of residence in Europe shall be fixed later by the President of the Republic. Sr. Gil F. Sánchez has been appointed to the new post.

DEDICATION OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE.

The magnificent and spacious buildings of the National Institute at Panama City were formally dedicated by President Arosemena on June 18, 1911, with imposing ceremonies and in the presence of a distinguished gathering.

The National Institute was created by law of March 8, 1907, and inaugurated on April 25, of the same year. The main purpose of this organization is to unify and improve the system of higher instruction of the Republic by merging into one institution the High School, the College of Commerce and Languages, and the Normal School.

The new buildings are 6 in number and cover a total area of 11,624 square meters. The main or central building faces Ancon Avenue with a frontage of 73 meters.

PANAMA AT THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE OF LIMA.

The Government of Panama, through its foreign office, has accepted an offer from the Peruvian Government of four scholarships in the College of Agriculture of Lima. The school is a high-grade institution, under Peruvian and European professors, and the instruction is thoroughly scientific and adapted to tropical agriculture. The selection of pupils for the scholarships has been made by the department of public instruction of Panama.

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PARAGUAY

THE BUDGET FOR 1911.

The general budget law of the Republic of Paraguay, passed by the National Congress on June 5, 1911, estimates the revenues at a total of 2,738,000 pesos gold, and 9,190,500 pesos paper. The expenditures are fixed at 999,411 pesos gold and 32,687,228.30 pesos paper. The estimate of revenues is as follows:

The expenditures are distributed as follows among the various departments:

The President of Paraguay has authorized the minister plenipotentiary of the Republic to France, Great Britain and Germany to negotiate with European capitalists for raising a loan of 25,000,000 francs.

NEW TAXES.

A decree of the President of the Republic of Paraguay, dated June 1, 1911, establishes the following new taxes:

(a) 5 pesos per head of cattle killed for public consumption.

(b) 1 peso per head of cattle sold or exchanged.

(c) A surtax of 17 per cent on the importation of alcoholic bever

ages.

(d) 50 centavos per liter on sales of alcohol of national production. (e) 3 per cent on all imports, as an additional customs duty. (f) $1.60 gold per ton of quebracho exported.

(g) $1.30 gold per ton of wood, other than quebracho, exported. (h) 15 centavos per 10 kilograms of yerba mate, as an additional duty to the transportation tax.

(i) 1 mil on real estate, as an additional impost to the direct tax. (j) 1 peso per pack of cards, whether of foreign or domestic manufacture.

Packing houses operating under a concession are exempt from the tax provided by paragraph (a). Alcohol for industrial purposes is likewise exempt from taxation.

NEW ISSUES OF BANK NOTES.

The board of directors of the Agricultural Bank of Asuncion, Paraguay, has been authorized to enter into a contract with the American Bank Note Co. for printing a new issue of bank notes to the sum of 15,000,000 pesos national currency. The issue will be of the following denominations: 2,000,000 notes of 50 centavos, 1,000,000 of 1 peso, 500,000 of 2 pesos, 400,000 of 5 pesos, 300,000 of 10 pesos, 150,000 of 20 pesos, 40,000 of 50 pesos, 10,000 of 100 pesos, 2,500 of 200 pesos, and 1,000 of 500 pesos.

RAILROAD CONCESSION ANNULLED.

A Presidential decree of May 26, 1911, declares null and void the concession granted on June 1, 1909, for the construction of a railroad line from Asuncion to the mouth of the Iguazu, and orders the forfeiture of the 10,000 pesos gold deposit. Failure on the part of the concessionaire to fulfill the conditions imposed on him by the contract is given as the reason for the annullment.

PERU

NEW PERUVIAN CABINET.

A newspaper cable dispatch from Lima advises that a new cabinet has been appointed by President Leguia, and that the oath of office was administered to the following members on August 31, 1911. Minister of Government and Police: Juan Salazar Oyarzabal. Minister of Justice and Public Instruction: Augusta Ganoza. Minister of Foreign Affairs: Dr. German Leguia Martinez. Minister of War and Navy: Juan Manuel De la Torre. Minister of the Treasury and Commerce: Augustin De la Torre Gonzalez.

Minister of Public Works and Promotion: Daniel Isaac Castillo.

NEW PROVINCE CREATED.

El Peruano, the official organ of the Peruvian Government, publishes in its issue for June 26, 1911, a law of the National Congress dividing the Province of Cangallo into two sections, each of which shall constitute a separate Province, as follows:

The Province of Cangallo, having for its capital the city of the same name, and comprising the districts of Cangallo, Huambalpa, Vischongo, and Paras; the towns of Quispillacta and Cancha-Cancha, and the hacienda of Chacolla, in the district of Chuschi, and the towns of Toto, Paras, Anos, and Ayuta, in the district of Totos, all with their present boundaries.

The Province of Fajardo, having for its capital the city of Huancapi, and comprising the districts of Canaria, Hualla, Colca, Huancaraylla, Carapo, and Sancos, with their present boundaries. This new Province shall include, besides, two new districts: That of Sarhua, including the towns of Yomangua, Huarcaya, Anquilla, and Sarhua, which latter shall be its capital, and the district of Vilcanchos, comprising the towns of Cocas, Urancancha, Espite, and Vilcanchos as the capital.

SURVEY OF PORT WERTHEMAN RAILROAD.

Since the latter part of June, 1911, a commission of engineers has been actively engaged in the survey of the railroad from Oroya to Port Wertheman, on the Perene River. The survey will be divided into two sections, one from Oroya to Tarma and another from Tarma to Port Wertheman.

THE ZELA CENTENNIAL.

In commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of June 20, 1811, the day on which the Peruvian patriot, Francisco Antonio de Zela, uttered the first cry of independence in the city of Tacna, there were held in the capital of Peru on June 20, 1911, impressive and elaborate events under the auspices of the Historical Institute of Peru. The main feature of the celebration was a splendid civic parade, in which there participated Government and municipal officials, scientific, literary, and educational institutions, charitable and labor organizations, and public and private schools. On the same day and with imposing ceremonies the name of Zela was affixed to the Plaza de la Micheo.

NEW PERUVIAN-PANAMA VESSEL.

Consul General W. Henry Robertson, of Callao, reports the arrival there of the new steel steamship Pachitea of the Compañía Peruana de Vapores y Dique del Callao. This will be added to the company's fleet for fast mail, passenger, and cargo service between Peruvian ports and Panama. The new vessel cost $463,200 and has a gross displacement of 4,681 tons, but registered in French Lloyds at 2,250.