The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-08-30 00:00:00

TWO HUNDRED MILLION ACRES OF
CORN GROWING LAND!

Public attention in the United States has lately
been awakened to the rich harvests to be derived from
the British possessions in North-West America. It is
probable, one of the New York papers points out, that
no alluvial soil on the American continent is better
suited to the growth of wheat than the meadow lands
adjoining the Red River of the north, four-fifths of
whose tortuous course lies within the borders of the
United States. It was not generally understood,
however, until the fact was proved by recent surveys,
that the valley constitutes only the insignificant
southern extremity of a vast fertile belt. This arable
zone, adapted by its conditions of soil and climate to a
luxuriant production of the more hardy cereals,
sweeps in a north-western direction, and with a
breadth of three hundred miles, along the course of
the two Saskatchewan rivers, and thence to the Rocky
Mountains, embracing an area of at least 200,000,000
acres, nearly the whole of which is virgin prairie.
The large promise of this region has only recently
attracted notice; but the published statistics of its
wheat crops have already induced a strong inflow of
immigration; moreover competent engineers affirm
that the difficulties of access and transport can
easily be remedied, and that by the construction of a
canal, not more than sixty-three miles in length, the
entire tract might be brought within the river systems
of the St. Lawrence and Mississippi.—Pall Mall
Gazette,

"KFATING'S POWDER" destroys BUGS, FLEAS
morns, BEETLES, and all other insects. whilst quite
harmless to .toinsetic animals. In exterminating Beetles
the sncess of. tnis powder is extraordivary. It is perfectly
clean in appJeatiou. See the article you purchase in
"KNATING%-i"ze imitntions are noxious and int-Mau:A
S.-A in Tins, Is and 2s Gd each, by all Cheinists. Ad

alteration made by the railway company, they have
destroyed the carriage drive.
In reply to Mr Kelley, Mr. Wi!hams said the road
which was destroyed was the one leadins from
Vauxhall.
Mr. Billingham said he understood Mr. Williams
wanted a continuation of the road leading out of
Fester street towards his church to the old road
leading by the side of the cattle saleyard into
Church 'Street.

Mr Williams : Which, it appears to me, would be
a great public convenience. He believed the Rail-
way company were bound to find another carriage
way to the church, in the place of the one they had
destroyed.
The Chairman said he did not think so, without
they obtained Parliamentary powers to do so. The
company, he considered, had done wonders in the
way of meeting the views of the Commissioners, and
he should not like to make a further request to them.
Mr. Williams said the company had done a serious
injury to the church, and he thought they ought to
do all they could to help them.
Mr. Kelley : I heard when you had a carriage
drive to your church you were ou trespass.
Mr. Williams said that was not so. They bought
the land, and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and
their solicitor had the matter before them.

The Clerk said the railway company considered
they had already provided a road to the church
down the turning near the vicarage.
Mr. Williams said they were on trespass if they
took vehicles down there. The railway company
did at one time agree to do what was wanted, but
afterwards drew back.

The Clerk: Why? Mr. Williams: Because they
did not want to give Mr. Akroyd's trusees a way
through the station yard. The memorial was referred
to the Improvement Committee.—A general district
rate of 3d. in the pound was laid before the Board,_
and signed.
REPORT OF THE GENERLL PURPOSES COMMITTEE.

MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH'S REPORT.-1S um-
ber of deaths registered in the township for the
month ending August 18th, 1879, 4 males and 4
females. Death-rate 10.2. The death-rate during
the past month is very low. There has been no
death from diarrhma or any other disease. Number
of births registered in the same period 20, viz :-
12 males and 8 females. The Officer reported that
some American ham was brought to him for inspec-
tion, some part was bruised which he ordered to be
cut off and destroyed. The instructions were
carried out. A complaint was made that Mr.
Orford's pigs were a nui: ance from the stench they
caused. He has visited the premises on different
occasions but failed to discover a nuisance, but at
the same time requested that the pigs be kept as
clean as possible.
TOWN OFFICER'S REPORT. - Nuisances brought
forward, 12; reported during the month, 40 ; tot 4
52. Removed, old, 40 ; new, 30 ; remaining, 12
Night soil removed, 79 privies, 78 ash pits, belong-
to 169 hous?s, have been emptied and cleansed of
their contents. Number of loads 151. The slaughter-
houses, (with two exceptions), also the lodgiri,9:
houses and bakehouses are reported to be in good
sanitary condition.