Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 June 1896 — NOTES AND COMMENTS. [ARTICLE]

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

There are twenty-six cremation associations in active operation in the United States. The oldest was organized at Washington, Pa., in 1876, and the two newest 1 are found in New Haven, Conn., and Elizabeth, N. J. (1804). The number of incinerations reported is 3.670. The number incinerated in Europe from 1876 to 1893 was 18,700. The membership of the American associations is about 8,000 and the adherents of the method about 100,000. The Railway Age gives the following as the present mileage of the greatest railroad systems in America: Pennsylvania, 8,882; Chicago and Northwestern, 7,931; Santa Fe, 7.555; Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, 7,304; Canadian Pacific, 7,103. Statistics show that Pennsylvania has more citizens whose sight has been destroyed, or who have had their eyes rendered useless, than any other state. The large number of iron and steel plants, and other manufactories and mines within Its limits is responsible for this. The fact that Pittsburgh is the center of the iron and steel trade, and in the most importnat coal-mining district in the country, furnishes the explanation for the fact, as stated by the Chronicle of that city, that there are more people in Pittsburgh wearing glass eyes than are to be found in any other city in the country. Those who are in a position to know estimate that there are about 2,400 such unfortunates in Allegheny County, or about one to every 250 persons. A State organization of the school Boards or Minnesota has been formed. There are similar organizations in Illinois, Wisconsin, lowa, Texas and Pennsylvania, and a National Convention—the first—will be held in Buffalo this year; in connection with the National Teachers’ Association. The purpose in the organization of these State Associations of School Boards is to gather and exchange opinions and decisions. Without such organization, it la argued, School Boards are independent bodies, each acting upon its own best Judgment, and knowing little or nothing of other boards. School teachers and superintendents have their own conventions and exchange of ideas, and it is equally desirable that members of School Boards should have an opportunity of educating themselves for their duties.

The figures given by Professor Michie in the Independent of the size and cost of the European military establishments ore very striking. Russia leads off with 868,772 men in her army, while France is second with 598,263, and Germany a close third, with 584,784. Austria follows after a considerable interval with 354,252, while Italy slips in before England with 252,829. But England takes first place in the navy with 83,400 men, followed by France, 43,620, and Italy 35,607. In the percentage of the population for both services in time of peace France leads with 1.67, while Greece is second with 1.28, and Germany third with 1.26. In the annual cost of both services Russia leads off with $252,170,870, followed by France with $181,180,002. The total number of armies and navies in Europe are 3,681,496 men, and the cost is $973,260,215 annually. We might cut a consideralbe figure in the list by adding the pensions for our last war to current army and navy expenses. The Washington Star announces that the two species of large water bugs that have come to be called electric light bugs have put in an appearance around the electric arc lights. “A most curious thing about these bugs,” it says, “is that before the introduction of electric lights they were considered to be comparatively rare. They were seldom seen, as they were not attracted by ordinary light. When the arc light appeared, however, the bugs became enormously noticeable. Upon their appearance in such prodigious numbers entomologists were of the opinion that after two or three years both species would grow scarce, but the numbers do not seem to be decreasing in the slightest. While neither the Belostoma nor the Benacus is distinctly poisonous, both have strong beaks, capable of inflicting severe wounds, and it will be wise to handle them with great care, if at all. The very large black water beetle will also be seen among the water bugs around electric lamps in the proportion of about 1 to 100.”

Some wise French physician has discovered a new cure for insomnia, nightmare, and all sort of nervous ills which disturb our rest. It seems that the old idea of sleeping with the head higher than the feet is all wrong, and we must reverse the order of things and put our feet on the pillow, as this position assures “profound and intellectual sleep.” It may be new to cyclists, but a French physician declares that cyclists, unknown to themselves perhaps, develop a gentle vibratory condition of the body. In other words they become human tuning forks. It was Dr. Pettit who gave the French Academy of Medicine the “tip” on this, and since then French and English bicyclists have been suprised, when they have complained to their medical advisers that they felt unusually restless and could not account for it, to learn that they had unconsciously acquired the “vibratory habit.” The medical journals are taking the matter up, and soon American doctors also will doubtless begin to perscribe for the cure of the new ailment.

The estimated cost of the Nicaragua canal has been increased by the government commission, whose report has just appeared. "In spite of this increase, however,” says The Manufacturer, “the cost remains within the bounds of the capital and the aid which can be legitimately extended by the United States.” The original estimate of the Nicaragua Canal Company ten years ago was $00,4(56,880. The present estimate by the government commission is $133,472,893. This is just double. In the interval, however the estimates made by the company have been increasing as the difficulties were better known. Of late the estimates usually made have placed the' cost at from $100,000,000 to sllO,000,000. The report of the government commission, instead of doubling this latter estimate, as was freely predicted, advances it only to a rouHd $133,500,000. As this commission was selected in no friendly spirit and its instructions were evidently intended to render it certain that its estimates in-

eluded every possible item of cost, tbs figures which it has now published may be accepted as fln*i In a work cm the road and pavements of France, Professor A. P. Rockwell, formerly of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, deduces from the reports of the Minister of the Interior, for 1881-1886, that the average cost of nearly 26,000 miles of macadamized road in France, of which over 17,000 miles were ordinary local roads, were as follows: Main highways, $2,309 per mile; secondary highways, $2,309 per mile, and ordinary local roads, $2,036 per mile. These figures include the cost of the road proper and the grading and right of way; but do not include the cost of bridges, culverts and other structures. The range in price is not very great, being only SBOO per mile in some departments and as much as $5,600 and $7,200 per mile in others. All of the Paris pavements, except a portion of the block-stone paving, are laid ©n concrete foundations. The total area of Paris street pavements on January 1, 1894, was 10,554,520 square yards, and the percentages of kinds of pavement were as follows: Blockstone, 71.5 per cent; macadam 16.3 per cent; asphalt, 3.8 per cent, and wood, 8.4 per cent. Asphalt pavements date from 1855 and the first wood pavements were laid in 1881; but the tendency of to-day is to substitute wood or asphalt for stone and macadam, with wood as the present favorite.

In an interesting decision the Massachusetts Supreme Court decides that damages by smoke from a fire which was confined exclusively in a chimneyplace come within the risks insured against by a policy of the standard form in Massachusetts. The defendant contended that the policy was not intended to apply to a fire which is lighted and maintained for the ordinary purposes for which fires are used In buildings, and which is confined within the place that is fitted for such. Judge Knowlton for the court says, “We are inclined to the opinion that a distinction should be made between a fire intentionally lighted and maintained for a useful purpose in connection with the occupation of a building, and a fire which starts from such a fire without human agency in a place where fires are never lighted nor maintained, although such ignition may naturally be expected to. occur occasionally as an incident to the maintenance of necessary fires, and although the place where it occurs is constructed with a view to prevent damage from such ignition. A fire in a chimney should be considered rather a hostile fire than a friendly fire, and as such, if it causes damage, it is within the provisions of ordinary contracts of fire insurance.”

The State Department officers feel that the Consular reports which are prepared at infinite pains, and in some cases by much labor and research, by our consuls in all parts of the world are not fully appreciated at home. These reports aim, under the present system, to point out to American merchants and manufacturers the best markets for their products. Complete data are furnished by the Consuls, and it is made available at once for the newspapers. It has been found that American newspapers care very little for such news, and even the trade papers use the material sparingly. The reports are published periodically in volumes which are distributed generally to business men whose addresses are on the State Department list. By the time this publication reaches them, however, the information is old and in some cases its value is lessened. The department officers think that greater consideration should be paid the reports of our Consuls, especially as they mean dollars and cents to many business houses in all parts of the country. The subjects treated of are as varied as the lines of commerce, and both exportation and importation are dealt with. It was remarked recently In the State Department that the London Times awaited with apparent interest the publication of the Consular reports, and made regularly an abstract of the information. It is the only paper in the world, so far as the department officials know, which makes this use of the commercial reports of American Consuls.