Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 December 1896 — RULE OF THE SEA PATHS. [ARTICLE]

RULE OF THE SEA PATHS.

Brazil and Holland illakc Acceptance Nearly Universal. With Brazil and the Netherlands, the latest additions to the list of nations which have accepted the new rules of the road at sea; practically the entire tonnage of the world will obey these rules when they go into effect on July 1, 1897. The State Department is informed of the official acceptance of Brazil and the Netherlands. The latter government, it was thought, might refuse to join in the movement, but the authorities were not greatly concerned about the matter, in view of the fact that her tonnage represented only two per cent, of the total tonnage of the world. There are still a few more governments, such as Siam and China, having practically no shipping, to be heard from regarding their attitude in relation to the new rules. It will make no difference, however, what action they take, as it is

the intention of the President and the heads of all the other governments which have agreed to the proposed changes to issue a proclamation early in the new year setting forth the new rules and directing their observance by the shipping of the several nations interested in the movement.