The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-05-03 00:00:00

IMPROVEMENT IN AMERICAN BEEF.

"Our Surplus Beef" is the title of a capital article
in the New York Tribune just to hand. The writer
declares that it puzzles the people of this country to
understand how it is that the Americans can in-
crease their meat supply without producing more
cattle in proportion to population, and then sets to
work to explain the matter. As is very truly said,
with an increase of 25 per cent, of people in nine
years, 35,000,000 cattle to-day would be no more
in proportion to the population than 28,000,000
in 1870. Although these figures are taken to be
near the actual fact, it is declared that there can
be no question that more surplus beef is now pro-
duced than has ever been the case before, and this is
explained by the statement that the improvement
now rapid:y going on in the quality of the breeds
alone will likely double the value of the numbers
quoted. This is a very startling statement, and
one that should be received with every attention. A
capital example, as showing the importance of this
improvement, is given of the extremes of breeding and
feeding in the fast that "while half the numbers ex-
ported in 1878 were sent to Cuba, their value was but
683,563 dole, (C 136,712 125.), yet three-tenths sent at
the same time to Great Britain realised ?,408,843
dole, (E 481,768 125.). The Spanish poor stock sent to
Cuba thus realised 17 dole, per head (C 3 Bs.), and the
corn-fed half-bred shorthorns sent to this country
realised 7 dole. each (219 8a.)." Tnese figures are
very interesting, showing, as they do, that the un-
developed resources of the United States. do not of
necessity mean the further increase in the number of
cattle kept, but quite as much the gradual improve-
ment of the herds already in existence. This should
be comforting to the English householder, to whom
the importation of American meat has come like a
godsend.—Globe.

HOW SIGNALS TO EKOWE WERE
ESTABLISHED.
In the course ot & I.;tter from filariteburg, dated April
1, received at Plymouth by the L'oniteirgh Castle, the
correspondent of the Western Morning News, as the result
of a visit to Fort Tenedos, reports the way in which sig-
nalling to Ekowe was established. He writes
• :--
"When Lord Chelmsford visited Tenedoe it became
evident that Colonel earson was so thoroughly sur-
rounded that the chance of his runnere getting through
was hopeless. Thereupon it occurred to Lieutenant
Charles Haynes, of the Royal Engineers, that
by means of the heliograph the rays of the sun
might he made to do duty. On suggesting this to
Lord Chelmsford the general was far from sanguine,
while his staff was more than incredulous. Neverthe-
less permission to try was given. The difficulties were
formidable. In the first place no mirrors were obtain-
able, and a small bedroom looking-gla:s had to do
duty. There was no mechanical workers at hand, and
all the appayatue was ef the roughest. Than there
was the decondaYy difficulty qf atte4ct4n the atten-
tion of the Ekowe garrison thirty miles away and
making them realise what was being attempted. The
chance of success rested on the fact that the naval
brigade, to which, of course, flashing signals
were familiar, was with Colonel Pearson. One morn-
ing Lieutenant Haynes, accompanied by a party of
niggers carrying his material, sallied forth to a hill
four miles distant, whence the tower of Ekowe Church
was visible, When all was adjusted signalling began,
and Wa!ri Fritipued with patience day by day whenever
a 'gleam Of supligbt was obtainable, but a whole
week elapsed 'before any indication was obtained
from the beleaguered men that his flashes were
observed, but by burning occasional whiffs of
gunpowder attention was at length attracted,
and long slier a inn persPVering man would have
given no the trial an answering gleam was seen
from Ekowe church tower. Yet another week
elapsed before an intelligible answer was flashed from
garrison, and it then appeared that they had read
Lieutenant flayne's signals almost troll the first day.
It was unpleasl.nt and aui us work watching between
the showers o n eillposed bill top for chances to
signal, but the reward of success was great; and the
gallant officer has had the honour of receiving Lord
Chelmsford's personal thanks for his ingenuity and
patience."

The London Fever Hosytal, whose funds have for
some time past been so much in need of assistance that the
coinmittee has had constantly to encroach upon its small in-
vested capital, has lately received the handsome anonymous
actuation of ;1.000 to enable the committee to carry on its
li.seful work. Futther aid is much required.
" It has been interesting to see and converse with
Wall Alabomed, half brother of Shere AU, and not Impossible
successor to the Cabal throne. I should judge him to be a
man of about fit ty-flve His features are of the Jewish type,
his nose el a coarse, aquiline cast, and his expression of
very genial and pleasant. rfle is chatty, almost
garrulous,
ducourg s freely about-Stfilre- It
matters generally."—
lifivAighan
countenance
ena
Correspondent of The Times.
coun
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