The trade between Japan and For
mosa hat more thij quintupled since
1895.
The suggestion is made that cattle
tnen should cense the use of the
branding-iron to distinguish their
rattle, as such cruelty to animal re
duce the value of hides for leather,
the annual loss being estimated as
high as $.1,000,000 a year.
A scientific, farmer fed his herd of
cows one winter on a scientific) ration
with satisfactory results. To give his
unscientific, neighbors an object
lesson, relates the Home and Farm,
he fed them the next winter on an un
scientific ration. The cows, possibly
to spite him, produced just as much
butter as they had given in the year
before. The scientific farmer was
mad about it, but he isn't discour
iiged. A press dispatch says that an ex
tensive economical revolution is in
sight, if the claims of Dr. Prinzen
Oeerlings turn out to be what the
doctor asserts they are. Dr. (leer
liugs, a government official of Java
and formerly professor of chemistry
at the University of Amsterdam, an
nounces the discovery of a simple
method of converting potato starch
into sugar. He has lodged his de
scription of the method with the
French academy of sciences, so as to
secure priority for his invention, al
though he is not quite ready to make
the details public. '
Another of the F.nropean nations ia
taking the next great step in social
ism, that of the purchase of its rail
roads. By a vote of more than three
tione the Hwiss national council has
voted to pnrchnse the principal rail
roads of Switzerland at a cost of about
&00,O0O,O00. The United Htates now
lags behind the civilized nations of
the earth in the national or municipal
control of monopolies, for the govern
ment does not even have postal sav
ings banks or run the telegraphs; and
the reason given for our backward
ness is, that in this country the cor
ruption of the public service makes it
unsafe. We believe it is a slander
tipon the morality of the people.
The Dominion of Canada is evi
dently determined that the Yukon
gold fields shall yield up to it all the
revenue which can possibly be
gathered from them, and is now lay
ing a royalty of twenty-five cents a
cord on the cordwood with which the
miners thaw out the gold from its icy
matrix and cook their rations of side
pork and coffee. The logs for their
cabins are similarly taxed, and a sub
stantial fraction of the gold they dig
is also levied upon by minions of her
revenue stationed there. These or
dinances look rather mean, but we
are not complaining of them, and are
not likely to institute any of the same
ort in reprisal when the gold digging
comes around within our own lines.
Beet-sugar making in New York
state promises well at the start. There
is a plentiful supply of beets for the
first factory in Koine, forty-seven car
loads and several boatloads being al
the factory on a recent day. The
beets show a profitable percentage of
sugar, some of the red ones running
s high as 15.4 and the white ones
16.6 per cent. This season's supply
comes from abont 1000 acres, and con
tracts are being made for three times
that area next year. Spurred by the
success of the factory in Borne, capi
talists are prospecting at Batavia with
s view of erecting a half-million dol
lar plant there, if five-year contracts
for 3000 acres of beets can be made
with the farmers in the vicinity. The
land abont Batavia, like that about
Borne, is well adapted to beet culture.
The effectiveness of moral suasion
as a preventive of crime was never
better illustrated than in the experi
ence of Mrs. Pardon Hezeltine of Mt.
Vernon, N. Y. She awoke one night
and heard a burglar operating in her
room. Lighting a lamp she boidly
confronted him with the exclama
tion, "My God,haven't you s mother?
Has she gray hairs, as I have? What
would yon say if my n should entet
your mother's room as you have
done?" Throwing the light full in
burglar's face, he retreated to the
parlor. "Have you a mother?" wan
then repeated. "Yes, but she is dead,"
was the burglar's reply, with a sob,
which showed 'the apjieal had cou-
quered. . . "Then go out as you en
tered," was the widowed woman's
reply. "Your gray hairs have saved
you," was the burglar's response, as
he made his exit through the window.
Undoubtedly this appeal to Lis better
nature was more hopeful for that
burglar's reformation than a long term
In prison would be. ,
THE FLICHT OF THE YEAN3.
-
When one fy one the silent stately years
?lkle like pule ghosts beyond our yearning
nlHht,
Vainly we stretch our arms to stay their
fllirht,
Bo soon, so swift, they pass to endless night!
We hardly learn to nnme them,
To prnlsn them or to name them,
To know their shadowy faces,
Km we see their empty planes!
Only once the Kind spring grei'ts them,
Only once fnlr summer meets thorn,
Onlv onee the nuttimn glory
Tells for them Its mystln story.
Only once the winter hoary
Weiirs for them Its rohen of light!
Years lente their work hulf donei Ilka men,
alas!
With sheaves tingalhereil to their graves they
pass
And are forgotten. What they strive to do
I.lves for a while In mpmorv of a few.
Then over nil Oblivion's waters How
The years are burled lu the lung ago!
Julia U. It. Dorr.
!
JERRY'S CHOICE.
!
m wiu. s. oRim.r.T.
"Now, see here, Jerry," explained
Farmer Johnson .to his man of nil
work, "ye needn't git oueasy jest be
cause old Podgers liez offered ye a
dollar a mouth more'n I'm payin' ye.
I reckon I've got about ez much
money an' kin afford to pay yo about
ez much ez Podgers kin or mcbbe a
little more.
"YaV a fust-class worker, Jerry,
I'll admit that, nn' I don't wnnt ye to
be pet tin' dissatisfied or thinkiu' of
diggiu' out, so I'll make a bargain with
ye right now before we go any fur
ther. If ye stick to me an' work eas
well ez ye've bin work in' right nlong
fer the next two yenrs, I'll pay ye the
samo as Podgers offered ye, an' at the
end of the two years I'll give ye the
best critter on the place. Yes, siree,
Jerry, ye kin take yer pick of nry
critter on the hull plnce, from a sheep
up to a horse, or even a gi-ratl'e or ele
phant, if I happen to have one of 'em
on hand wheu it comes time to take
yer choice.
"What d'ye sny to that, Jerry? Is
it a bargain?"
"I'll do it." answered Jerry Brant,
quietly, "and there's my hand to bind
the bargain."
"That's the way to talk; that's jest
what I wanted to hear." exclaimed
Farmer Johnson, grasping Jerry's ex
tended palm and giving it a hearty
shake. "Now that biz'ness is settled
satisfactory to all hnnds an' we kin
pitch into the work with clear con
sciences." No further mention was made of the
bargain between Jerry and his em-
plyer until they were seated at the
diuner table, Inter in the day, and
then Mr. Johnson, with a merry
twiuklo in his eyes, glanced across the
table at his better fraction and said:
"Well, mother, I had to dischagn
Jerry an' hire him over agin today."
"Ion seem to be in very good
humor about it, so I judge the differ
ence could u t have boen very seri
ous," commented Mrs. Johnson, who
used to be a schoolma'am before she
married, and therefore did not handle
the United Htates dialect with the off
hand familiarity of her husband.
"Serious? Ye kin bet it is!" emeu-
lated Mr. Johnson. "Why, I've got
to pay him $1 a month more'n I did
before, an at the end of two yean, if
he stays right along, he's to have his
pick out of the critters on the place
to take along with him and keep fer
his own. I expect he'll tnke a horse,
but I can't help it. I wasn't goin'ter
let old Podgers hire him away from
me, an' then go around chucklin' over
it behind my back for the next six
months."
"Mr. Podgers made an attempt to
hire him, did he?"
"Yes, an a purty nervy attempt at
that. Uttered bun 81 more a month.
but I settled the matter in a hurry by
pilin the best critter on the place on
top of that. But ' if he stays the
hull two years I reckon he 11 earn it
eh, Jerry?"
Jerry blushed, and answered that
he would do his best.
"Didn't yon exempt my pony.papa?
I really can t think of allowing Mr.
Brant to run off with that, eveu if he
does earn it!"exclaimed Farmer John
son's pretty 18-ye ir-old daughter, May,
with a sidelong glance of admiration
at Jerry's broad shoulders and uiauly
features.
"Oh, Jerry wouldn't be mean
enough to take the pony, I guess,"
interposed her father.
"No," said Jerry, "I don't want
the pony unless the rider goes with
it," he added, sotto voce,
"Eh, what's that?" demanded Mr.
Johnson. "Unless what? I didu't
ketch the tail end of that remark, ex
actly.
Jerry's face turned crimson, and he
was about to repeat his remark, wheu
the quick-witted young lady came to
me rescue.
"Mr. Brant" she always called him
by that title, because she considered
it more becoming aud dignified than
Jerry "Mr. Brant says be doesn't
want the pony unless the bridle goes
with it, 1 believe, ' she explained in
genuously.
"Huh! I reckon a halter is all he'll
get with her if he takes that pony.
mere wa n t anytbiug in tbe writin i
about throwin' in a bridle," said Far
mer Johnson,
"You needn't worry, father. I think
Mr. Brant will be generous enough to
spare me my pony, said May, reas
suringly.
"Yes, you may 'keep your pony."
agreed Jerry, with an undisguised
glance oi admiration at the pretty
face opDosite him.
May's eyes fell before his, bnt not
until they had flashed back a look that
caused his heart to beat high with
nope.
The fact of the matter was that stal
wart, good-looking Jerry had loner ad
mired his employer's handsome and
accomplished daughter, bnt today was
the first time he had dared to let her
know it, either by look or speech.
Aftor that, however, their acquaint
ance rapidly ripened, and a few weeks
Inter Jerry surprised Mr. Johnson by
asking for the hand of his daughter
in marriage.
Mr, Johnson was engaged in the
pastoral occupation of milking a cow
at the moment this question was
sprung npon him, and he nearly fell
off the stool in astonishment.
"Want to marry my darter, May?"
be gasped. "I guess not, young nianl
Not if the court knows itself. I've
bin edyercatin' her fer suthin' higher
than marryin' her father's hired man."
"Oh, if that is the only objection,
it can easily be removed," interposed
Jerry. "I don't expect to remain any
body s hired man after my two yenrs
are np. I believe I told you when I
came here that I had just gradunted
from college, nud intended to make
the pursuit of agriculture my life
business, instead of going into medi
cine or law, or any other of the
already overcrowded professions. I
believe a man with brums can put
them to as good nseand makeas much
money in farming as in anything else,
and I propose to prove it. I am study
ing the practical side of the business
now, aud at the end of my two yearn
I propose to go west and buy a ranch
and strike out for myself. As far as
education is concerned, I don't think
I shall ever give your daughter oc
casion to be ashamed of me, and as to
supporting her comfortably and in be
coming style, I believe I shall be
abumlnutlv able to do so, and
"C'nn't help that, Jerry!" broke ill
Mr. Johnson. "I haiu't pointer have
ye Inirgin' May oft" jest because ye two
young folks imagine ye r in love. A
woman is n mighty queer on' onsartin
sort of critter, anyhow, as ye'll find
out soon enough when ye git hooked
up in double harness fer lifo with one
of 'em, nn' if I was in yer place I
wouldn't be in any hurry 'bout takin'
a yoke of that kind on my shoulders.
"Anyhow, if ve insist on gittiu
married in spite of my waruin' ye'll
lmfter pick out soma other pnrdner
besides the one ye've got yer eyes sot
on at present. My dartor is goiu' back
to college next week to nntsli np her
edyercntion,au' when she gits through
her achooliu' it will be plenty tune
enough fer her to commence thinkiu'
'bout the men. She'll forgitye by thnt
timo fast enough, so ye might as well
give up nil hope right now of ever git
tin' her. I like ye well enough other
ways, Jerry, but I don't care fer ye in
the rolo of son-in-law. lliere, now,
ye've got yer answer fair nn' spinre,
an el ye want to stny an work out
the balance of yer time, we'll drop the
love bizness right here, an' I'll treat
yo as well as ever; but if ye don't care
to stay under the circumstances it is
nil right, an' I shan't blame ye any
fer going. Now, which is it to be,
Jerry, stay or quit?"
"1 II stay," said Jerry, quietly.
' And stay he did performing his
duties as conscientiously and thor
oughly as ever, although the farm life
suddenly grew sordid and dull when
May went back to her college studies.
The months rolled swiftly around,
however, as months have a habit of
doing, until eighteen of them had
be n crossed off the calendar of time.
Then May, as bright and winsome as
of old, came home with her dimples
and diploma, and, though he did not
even dare to look his admiration,
Jerry was straightway transported to
paradise.
Jerry's term of service finally ex
pired, aud he regretfully announced
that the time had come for him to
strike out for himself.
"That's so, Jorry," said Farmer
Johnson. "I bad clean forgot 'bout
yer two years beiu' np today. Waal,
I'll look over acconuts an' settle up
with ye after diuner, an' in the mean
time ye kin be look in' round an' sorter
makin' up yer mind which one of the
critters on the place ye want. I be
lieve ye was to tuke yer choice when
ye quit."
"Well," said Jerry, promptly, "it
won't take me long to make up my
mind."
Here he stepped quickly across the
room to where May was gazing dis
consolately from the window, and
whispere I a question in hor ear. For
an instant her eyes met his; then she
rose, with a smile, placed her baud
confidingly in his, and together they
faced her father.
"This is my first and only choice,"
exclaimed Jerry, with a riug of mingled
pride and triumph in his tones.
- "But ye can't do that 'taint in the
agreement, I said critter, not wim
men folks; an I huin't goiuter allow
no such "
"Just a moment, if you please, Mr.
Johnson," interrupted Jerry Brant,
drawing himself erect, with proudly
flashing eyes, and still regaining May's
hand. "Haven't I hoard you allude
to the women ns queer critters, con
earned critters, plaguey entires aud I
dou't know how many other kinds of
critters, during the past two years and
upward that I have beeu with you?"
"Yes, I a'pose ye have," acknowl
edged' Mr. Johnsou, "but er "
"All right, sir," interposed Jerry,
briskly. "You promised hie the best
'critter' on the place, and this is the
one I want and the only one."
Farmer Johnson gazed at the hand
some aud smiling young couple before
him in a half-iudulgeut sort of way
for a moment; and then the latter
feeling got the better of the struggle
and he quietly remarked:
"Wual, a bargain is a bargain, an'
I s'pose I'll hafter keep my word; but
I say, young man," and Mr. Johnson's
eyes twinkled mischievously, "dou't
ye thiuk ye sorter missed yer
vocation, not beiu' a lawyer iuatead of
a furmer?" Chicago lieoord.
r
'The pecan crop in Texas ia unusual,
lr large.
THEY DRINK CASOLINE.
An tcvll Whtrh Its Become Prevalent
Among Cincinnati llnys.
To that large and influential class
of people thnt find solace in and are
habitual nsors of morphine, roacaine,
opium and other drugs of this nature,
ran now be added what has been
termed gasoline "fiends." The
authorities of Cincinnati have just
made the discovery that gasoline is
being used extensively for soothing
purposes, and that its victims can al
ready be numbered by scores.
The worst feature of the evil is that
the slaves to gasoline are mere youths.
Their mode of using it in to saturate a
mud bnll with the liquid, then holding
it in the palms of their bauds and in
haling the gaseous fumes of the oil.
In each case it produces a stage of
lethargy aud ntter stupidness akin to
intoxication, which lusts as a rule, ac
cording to the physical condition of
the nser, from one to three hours.
A number of youngsters whose ages
average from eight to fourteen have
become so habituated to gasoline in
halation thnt they will resort to the
most desperate measures to secure it.
The boys buy the stuff from the near
est grocery or drug store, and retire
to an alley or some out of the way
place and go off on their little spree.
The parents of some of the boys, who
live in very respectable neighbor
hoods, were terror stricken when
the horrible truth became known to
them, nnd efforts will be made by
them to have the sale of the oil pro
hibited. Indeed tho gasoline evil hns
assumed such a serious phase in the
section of the city across the river
that unless thnt it is soon checked
several of the humane society people
will bring the matter to the attention
of the city council and ask that body
to pass an order restricting its sale to
minors and making it a punishable of
fence to use it in any form as a nar
cotic, says the Chicago Dispntch.
Members of the Women's Christian
Tempernnce union realize that this is
another form of wickedness of the
present generation thnt they will soon
bo called upon to fight. J lie youth
ful gasoline lie. ids have been found
lying in vacant lots, alleys and other
places, wholly unconscious, and in all
of the instances it was impossible to
revive them until the effects of the oil
hail passed away.
There appears to be no record any
where of gasoline being utilized in
such n manner, nud the nuthoHties
are at a loss to know how the boys
learned thnt the oil would produce the
effect described above.
A number of chemists and scientists
who were interviewed on the subject
admitted thnt while they had known
cases where gasoline iuhnled would
cause unconsciousness, yet they never
heard of similar cases to those that
have been unearthed here.
PROCRESS AMONG THE INDIANS.
Learning tn Fiirm-t'ongreMinall Curtis
linn Indian lllood.
"Remarkable progress has been
mndo among the Indian tribes in the
territory since I visited them sit years
ago," romarked Congressman Charles
Curtis. Mr. Curtis visited the Kan
sas, Osage and Pawnee Indinns for
the purpose of securing information
that will be valuable to his committee
in Congress the House committee on
Indian affairs next winter. Incident
ally, he visited some of his relatives
iu that country.
"The Indians," ho snid, "are learn
ing to farm, though, of course, many
of them rout their farms of white
men. I found corn that will run as
high as sixty-five bushel to the acre
on farms cultivated by Indians or
half breeds.
"Those who rent their farms to
white men make good money. They
get $2 an acre for the laud cultivated,
and usually reserve part of their farms
for their own use.
"In general, I found conditions
among the Indians improving, aud I
am glad of it."
"As is well known in Kansas, Curtis
has Indiau blood in his veins, and
takes a lively interest in improving
the condition of the Indians generally
He has an uncle and second cousin in
the Indian Territory who are half
blood Indians, and are famous ranch
men. They are known as "Big Louis"
and "Little Louis." Both are Papaus,
au old French family, "Big Louis"
is a brother of the congressman's
mother, and a man of wealth and in
fluence among his people. "Little
Louis" is a cousin of "Big Louis."
They are about the same age, and
when they were boys one grew much
faster thau the other; hence their
designation, "big" and "little." Fi
nally "Big Louis" stopped growing,
but "Little Louis kept on, and now
is the larger, aud weighs two hundred
and sixty pounds, while "Big Louis"
needs an overcoat to make lain weigh
a full two hundred. Mr. Curtis
visited both. "Big Louis" has a
dancing pavilion, modelled after one
he saw at an eastern seaside resort.
Every Friday night he gives a dance,
and hundreds of people attend it. He
has a lemonade and cigar stand in
connection with it, and entertains as
well as the best of the experts1 in this
line. Kansas City Btar.
Curs for alerp Walking,
Lady Visitor (at office of eminent
physician) I have called, doctor, to
ask if there is any cure for sleepwalk
ing. I have had the habit for years
aud lately it has become worse.
Dr. Highprice It can be cured,
madam. Take this prescription aud
have it made up at Colde, Steele &
Co.'s.
"Colde.Steolo & Co.'s? Why, that
is not a chemist's, but au iron
monger's." .
"Yes, madam. The prescription
culls for a paper of tacks. Dose two
tahlospoonfuis 3oattered about the
floor before retiring.' Tit-Bits,
GREATER NEW YORK, N. J.
A VAST CITY ALSO ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE HUDSON.
Already a Movement Has Been Wtnrted tn
Cnnsnlldntn iferney City, Newark, I'nt
itrunn and a Hundred Other Cities,
Towns and Villages,
The consummation of tho scheme
for creating the Greater New York has
scarcely become a matter of history
when another plan for adding to the
greatness of the metropolis of the
Western Continent is contemplated.
The new proposition is to unite un
der one municipal head all the cities,
towns and villages adjacent to New
York in thestate of New Jersey.
While the plan would involve no fur
ther aggrandizement on the part of
New York proper, inasmuch as there
would be no amalgamation of the two
cities, it would undoubtedly be of
great advantage to the business inter
ests of the section in question, ns it is
proposed to name the consolidated
territory, New York, N. .1.
It in estimated that if the nnion of
these different cities, towns and vil
lages could be effected, a city which
would rank one-fourth in point of size
in the United Htates wauld be created.
There is no doubt thnt the impetus
which would be given to the trans
Hudson New York would soon add to
its population enormously, because
the name of New York as applied to a
business centre would give it a world
wide prestige.
Already the commercial importance
of Jersey City in most considerable, it
being practically the discharging point
on the Knstern seaboard for all the
railroads from the varions sections of
the country.
It is estimated that since the last
census was taken the population of
Jersey City has incrensed from 185,
(1(10 to close upon a quarter of a mil
lion, and so congested is the traflio
at some of the more central points on
the river front that the erection of
two-story docks is being contemplated.
The freight, as well ns the passenger
railroad business, of Jersey City must
exceed that of any other terminal
point in the world.
One of the proposals advanced is to
include iu the area of the new city all
the territory from a point on the New
Jersey side of the Hudson, opposite
to the north line of OreaterNew York,
to a point north of Pnterson, running
south to I'lninfield nnd enst to the
mouth of the ltnritnn river, including
Perth Amboy. Over one hundred
cities, towns and villnges are now sit
uated in thin section, and they havo a
population of considerably over a mil
lion souls.
In all thnt pertains to make a people
homogenous, the population of this
territory is identical with that of New
York. Had it not been for the vicinity
of the great metropolis, it is doubtful
if there would have beeu one hundred
thousand people living today where
there are now one million. Being
contiguous to New York, the overflow
has naturally gone in that direction,
as it has done on all sides of the city
proper, and were the consolidation of
the whole under one municipal head
possible, the area of New York would
not then be nearly as great as that of
London, although its population
wou'd be about the same. Practically,
today, the city of New York, with its
suburbs, has a population equal to
that of the English metropolis. In
ten years more, at the present rate of
increase, we shall have passed Lon
don, achieving in a little over one cen
tury what it has taken London sixteen
centuries to attain. New York News.
BIC AS A POTATO.
Story of the World' I-nrgett Diamond,
Valued at A.OOO.OOO.
The largest diamond that was ever
found is now offered for sale in Lon
don for 85,(100,000. It is known as
the Jager-Fontein diamond, and is
bigger than the Iiegeut, the Imperial,
the Kohinoor and the Orloff put to
gether, weighing 071 carats, and being
as big as an ordinary potato. It has
a beautiful bluish white color, is
shaped like an icicle, three inches
long, two and one-hnlf inches thick at
the thickest place, and tapers down to
a point. It was found last year at the
mine of Jager-Fontein in the Orange
Free State by a colored truck driver
the morning before the mine was de
livered to a syndicate to which it had
been sold. The truckman noticed it
in the earth while he was waiting for
a load, placed his foot upon it until
he was able to pick it up without ob
servation, aud then, as soon as he
could leave work, carried 'it to the
house of the manager of the mine
and placed it in his hands. The lat
ter at once saw that it wai a stone of
great value, aud cautioned the truck
man to preserve silence, as the mine
had been sold and it might be claimed
by the purchasers, who were not, how
ever, in possession of the property.
As a reward for his honesty and dis
cretion the truckman was presented
with the finest horse and saddle that
could be procured aud $5000 in cash.
But it is said that his good fortune
proved his ruin, as he speut the money
in dissipation and has not done a day's
labor since. The diamond was taken
to London by the manager and de
livered to his principals, by whom he
was suitably rewarded. It is too large
for an ornament aud too valuable for
an ordinary citizen to purchase. It
is held by the syndicate with the ex
pectation that some Indian prince will
buy it for his crown,
Until the Jager-Fontein was found,
the most valuable gem in existence
was the Imperial, which ia known as
the diamond without a history, for it
mysteriously appeared at the French
exposition iu 1881) and none bat its
origiuul owners know where it came
from or where it was found. It ia
supposed to have been smuggled out
of the South African mines and kept
in concenlment for several years.
Throngh Mr. Jacobs, the famous dia
mond broker of Calcutta, who was the
original of Marion Crawford's novel,
"Mr. Isaacs," it wan sold to the nizam
of Hyderabad, the richest prince in
India, for $2,000,000. One half the
sum wan paid in advance in Paris and
the remainder wan to be paid upon its
safe delivery in India. But when the
nizam learned thnt it had been offered
for a much smnller sum, he refused to
carry out the contract and brought a
suit for the recovery of his money.
The British officials also interfered
on the ground that the prince was not
able to indulge in so expensive an or
nament. After long delay the suit
was compromised and the litigants
"split the difference." It was claimed
that Jacobs paid only SI, 000,000 for
the gem and that the other 91,000,000
was to be his commission. The Tif
fnnys offered $750,000 for the diamond
before it wan sold to Jacobs.
The Kohinoor, which belongs to the
British crown and is worn in a brooch
by Queen Victoria, weighs only 122
carats; the Begent, which belongs to
the government of France, aud is on
exhibition in the Lonvre, weighs 137
carats, and the Orloff, which was pre
sented to Catherine the Great by
Count Orloff, hor lover, weighs 193
carats, and is in the crown of the Bns
sian czar. The Imperial weighs 280
carats. Chicago Becord.
COOD ROADS ACAIN.
A Computation Thnt Presents the Kcon
omlrnl aide of the Question.
There are, it is estimnted, 800,000
miles of highway roads in the United
Htates, about 20 per cent, of the roadn
of all the world. Great Britain has
120,000 miles of roadways, and these
are some of the best in the world.
Germany has 275,000 miles of roadn,
and some of them are as poor as the
roadways of a great country can be.
France, which has taken an enlight
ened view of the good roads question
for mnuy years, and has spent more
than $1,1100,000,000 on highways, ban
a mileage of 830,000, more than any
other country, ltnssin, with an enor
mous area, has only 70,000 miles of
roadways, while Italy, a smaller coun
try, has 55,000.
For a considerable time the agita
tion in the United Htates for good
roads languished for the reason, per
haps, that by the American system of
subdivided local authority "what's
everybody's business is nobody'a
business," aud controversies being
frequent as to the liability of national,
state or municipal authority for need
ful expenditures, very little was done.
The National Leagne for Good Roads
was organized in 1892 "to awaken
general interest in the improvement
of public roads, to determine the best
methods of building and maintaining:
them and conduct and foster such
publications as may serve these pnr
poses." At the beginning of the
agitation the good roads question did
not make mnch headway, and it was
not nntil the popularity of bicycling
grew that the demand for improved
roads became organized, and since
then considerable headway has been
made. A computation which finds
much favor among the advocates of
good roads is this: There are approxi
mately, though the number ia steadily
on the decline, 14,000,000 horses in
the United Htates there were 15,000,
000 in the census of 18!10 and there
are about 2,000,000 mules, principally
in the Houth, the annual cost of fod
der for these animals being $1,500, 00),
000. On fine stone roadn one horse
can haul as mnch as three horses can
haul over the average dirt road of this
country. It is estimnted thnt it would
be necessary to build about 1,000,000
miles of macadamized roads iu the
United States in order to have as good
a system of public highways as ia
found in several European states. At
$1000 a mile this would in
volve an outlay of $4,000,000,000, a
pretty large sum. But if one half of
the draught animals could be dis
pensed with by the building of such
roads, there would be an annual Hav
ing of $700,000,000 in the food bill.
Consequently, if road bonds were is
sued bearing 3 per cent, interest,
0,000,000 miles of macadamized road
could be built without increasing the
annual expenses one dollar. New
York Hun.
Immense Tree in Maine.
Jay, Me., claims one of the biggest
trees in Maine. It stands on the
banks of the Androscoggiu, on the
lawn of the late Dudley Bean. The
circumference fonr feet from the
ground is 23 feet, diameter seven
feet. About six feet from the ground
there are seven branches radiating
from its trunk which are from 18
inches to 24 inches in diameter. The
branches spread over a space of ground
270 feet in circumference or 90 feet in
diameter. Where the branches leave
the trunk of the tree, about seven feet
from the ground, there has been
erected a band stand, which seats 25
persons. A cooler place ou hot days
cannot be found. A Boston gentle
man was riding by recently, aud the
tree attracted his attentiou. He ex
amined aud measured it and was as
tonished at its dimensions. He went
away with the remark that if the tree
was on his lawn $10,000 wouldn't buy
it. It was set out 42 years ago by
Lafayette Beau ou the day of his de
parture forCalifornia,wheuce he nevei
returned. Boston Becord.
A Children's Theatre.
There is a children's theatre ia
Pittsburg. It is diminutive, but per
fect in all its appointments, the stage,
orchestra, auditorium, chairs, lights,
scenery and policemen all being in
proportion to the relative size of the
uieiuume ut iu ruuwuuv iu uq enter
tained. There is also a nursery with
cosey and neat atteudauta, -