Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1910 — THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW. [ARTICLE]

THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW.

Duluth, at the head of Lake Superior, has the greatest mineral tonnage of any port in the world. Arranged in a straight line, the railways of the world would reach to the moon and hack again. New York has followed the example of Philadelphia and established a free permanent exhibition of building materials. Ten years ago the Standard Oil Company refined 90 per cent of the oil produced; now it refines only 80 per cent. Forty thousand yards of bunting were used recently on the Madison Square garden during the annual electrical show. In 1860 we stood at the bottom of the list of the four great manufacturing nations, namely: The United Kingdom, France, Germany and the United Stated. . Forty-nine years later we stand at the head of the list, our manufactured product equaling that of the other great nations combined. —American Industries. Last year’s American cotton crop was valued at $683,000,000, and. If the value of the seed he added, the aggregate revenue from the crop was very close up to $800,000,000. ‘lf the present prices for the staple hold, the value of this year’s cotton crop including the seed will mount up very near to $1,000,000,000, at any rate to more than s9oo,ooo,ooo.—New York Commercial. * Supers are very particular about the distribution of parts. In a fairy piece a set of dominos was represented by men wearing -on their backs boards marked with the different numbers. A discontented super gave in his resignation. “Why, what’s the matter?” asked the astonished director; "don’t you get your 15 sous a night like the others?” “It isn’t about the sous at all. I am one of the oldest artiste belonging to tie theater and they ought to have made me the double six; instead of that I am the lowest number—the double blank.” The hilly territory of Trieste, it is stated in a consular report on that district, is cpvered by pointed stones which prevent any cultivation, and some years ago the Societa Agraria offered prizes for those who would remove them and thus change the waste ground to meadows. The work has now been going on for some years, and every autumn a commission ascertains the area of the proposed redemption and the difficulties to be encountered, and fixes the prize to be given; In spring it again visits the improved grounds and pays the prizes if deserved. This year sixty-six peasants improved forty-four acres, and. received $1,040. Raising Japanese spaniels is ' the way one Connecticut farmer’s daughter has solved the problem of earning money while remaining at home and helping with the housework. She cleared S3OO the first year and almost double that amount the second and she looks forward to doing still better in 1910. She learned that the best way to get the dogs was to buy them from sailors, who picked them up in Japan and brought them to America for the. sake of Shaking money. The highest price she has received so far has been SIOO for pups about as perfect as the most fastidious exhibitor could demand. The lowest price was s2l for a female of no striking excellence, though she was unmistakably pure bred. —Omaha Bee.

During a period of political agitation a stranger arrived In Magdeburg, where, on applying to the authorities, he obtained a permit or ticket of residence. He had not been long in the town before he became aware that his steps were being dogged by a man in blue uniform. He bore it for days, but at last said to the spy: “Why do you pursue me in this way?” “I’m a detective and my instructions are not to lose sight of you," was the quiet answer. “Why, what fault have the police to find wth me?" shouted the stranger. “My passport is In order, here is my ticket of residence; I am a citizen of Berlin; why de you follow me about?” “It states In your passport,” was the reply, “that you werq, going to reside here for pleasure; that looked suspicious, as it was the first time any one came to reside In Magdeburg for pleasure," . It Is not generally known that oil with an asphaltum base (fuel oil) is vastly different from the paraffine product. The former is heavy and solid and contains no explosive gases, while paraffine oils are highly gaseous and explosive. It Is from the latter that the by-products gasoline, naphtha, benzine, etc., are obtained. Fuel oil is also used on roads to a great extent in the West, and mixed wfeh other ingredients makes a good street pavement. In fact, fuel oil has only recently been appreciated. Three bar-, rels of it will supply more heat units than a ton of coal, and can be handled by one-fourth the men and with absolute cleanliness and safety and no waste. We look to see all our public schools and institutions, as well as many private families, using fuel oil in the very near future. Oklahoma is to be congratulated on having such extensive fuel oil fields (those in the .Wheeler district covering several square miles), and we shall not be surprised to see them lead in value all the asests this wonderful state has yet produced for the world’s comfort gad wealth.—Oil World.