This fact does not mean that the governmental authorities believe that
war is sure to break out. It means simply that they are taking
precautions to be prepared for any circumstances which may arise.

The Department of the Navy has been hampered by being obliged to wait
for the approval of Congress before it can carry out certain important
work. It has, however, lately put two more vessels in commission without
the approval of Congress and on its own responsibility. They are the
monitor _Miantonomoh_ and the harbor-defence ram _Katahdin_.

Since the disaster to the _Maine_, the Government has received a great
number of applications for the regular army and for the naval service.

* * * * *

During the past few months some very rich "finds" have been made in the
Klondike, and a great deal of excitement has been created there. The
facilities for carrying on the work are now greater than they have
previously been, and to this fact is attributed the new discoveries.

If the latest reports are to be credited, the gold region is proving to
be as valuable as it was thought to be during the first excitement.
Nevertheless, it is only the few who win great profits, while the
majority suffer.

The Canadian Government is taking an active interest in the Klondike,
and it will probably undertake before long to have surveys made to
discover the best route from the interior of Canada to the Yukon, and
will also have the Mackenzie-River route improved. Sir Wilfrid Laurier
has lately expressed the belief that there are gold regions in the Rocky