PREFACE. 



THE most important event of 1898, not to our country alone, but to all mankind, 

 was the short but decisive contest that destroyed the naval power of an ancient and 

 famous kingdom, banished the last vestige of Spanish rule from the western hemi- 

 sphere, thus closing the four-century drama that began with Cortez and ends with 

 Cervera, added to the American Union territory equal to several large States, and 

 opened the eyes of Europe to the fact that the western republic might at any time 

 successfully assert itself as a world power of the first rank. A succinct account of 

 this remarkable war, with illustrations, will be found in the article " United States." 

 It is to be expected that, as in the case of all wars, some points will be hotly disputed, 

 and, perhaps, never settled ; but we believe that ours will be found to be as accurate and 

 impartial an account as can be written while the occurrences are so new. To it we 

 have added a statement, compiled with considerable labor and expense, showing the 

 progress and participation of every regiment, battery, and vessel, all being arranged 

 for ready reference in alphabetical and numerical order. In connection with this 

 subject the reader will be interested also in the articles on "The Philippines," 

 " The Ladrones," and " Puerto Rico." And he will also find biographical sketches, 

 with portraits, of the more prominent military and naval commanders. 



Next in importance comes the peaceful acquisition by the United States of the 

 Hawaiian Islands, which are not only " the paradise of the Pacific," but the great 

 strategic point in that mighty ocean w^hich is rapidly becoming a mercantile rival of 

 the Atlantic. Our colored map of this group is given in the volume for 1892, and 

 that of Cuba in 1896, while colored maps of Puerto Rico and the Philippines appear 

 in this volume. 



World's fairs now called "expositions" which were hailed as a remarkable 

 invention less than half a century ago, are becoming, if not every-day, almost every - 

 year occurrences. This year we record, with illustrations, that which was held in 

 Omaha, Neb. 



Our regular articles on "Astronomy," "Chemistry," "Metallurgy," "Mineralogy," 

 " Physics," and " Physiology " show what was done in the progressive sciences. But 

 there were two scientific triumphs in 1898 of so great importance as to demand sepa- 

 rate and illustrated articles ; these are " Liquefied Air " and " Wireless Telegraphy." 

 There is also an article on " Motor Carriages," which are believed to be the next 

 thing we are to have for ordinary travel. Other advances in material improvement 

 less noticeable, but perhaps hardly less important are set forth in the articles on 

 " Lighthouses," " Refrigerating and Ice-Making," and " Steel Buildings." 



In the moral and social world there is progress also. One remarkable phase of 

 this is set forth in our article on " Social Settlements " ; while the showing that we 

 make every year under the title of " Gifts and Bequests " proves the existence of a 

 wonderful spirit of munificence toward education and charity. In 1893 the aggregate 

 of these gifts was $29,000,000 ; in 1894 it was $32,000,000 ; in 1895 it was almost 

 $33,000,000 ; in 1896 it was $27,000,000 ; in 1897 it was $45,000,000 ; and in 1898 



