, 1854-02-04

THE GREAT CINCINNATI TUNNEL,-Mans-
fields Rail Road Record publishes some
interesting particulars of the great tunnel
at Cincinnati. The work is now in rapid
progress, and will be finished early in 1855.
The total length of the tunnel is I0,0ll
feet, Of which 965 have been completed.
The next largest tunnel in tine United
States, which is on the Baltimore and Ohio
rail road, is 4,1S0 feet long The width of
the Cincinnati tunnel, walled, is 25 feet,
and height 10 feet,
"A new petroleum, or oil spring, it is said
has been discovered in Western Virginia.
near the forks of the Hughes river. 1t
was found in sinking well for salt. In
stead of salt, however, the spring COM
menced blowing out mineral oil, and has so
continued to furnish it at intervals, up to
the present date. about fourteen gallons of
oil being produced every fifth day.
e REPUBLICS FAVORABLE TO AGR1cuLrURE.-
Greece was republican in its government,
and divided into equal States Palmyra
was republic, and there the Roman style
is found in its greatest perfection. Flor
ence was a Republic when she became dis
tinguished in architecture. Genoa built
her marble palaces while republic; and
Venice was republic while her fairest edif-
ces arose.
+ PRoPoshs FOR AN INLAND SEA.-The
interior of Australia, barren, sandy des-
ert, has beeu found to be considerably be-
low the level Of the sea. 1t is now propo-
sed to employ British convicts in cutting
narrow canal from the ocean to the desert,
distance Of about $50 miles, when it is
expected that the rush of water would be
so great as to widen the canal and cause
the formation of an inland sea almost as
large as the Mediterranean, to the incalcu-
liable benefit of vast extent of territory
atpresent wholly useless.
THE WEsrAThat tendency towards the
lands of the setting sun, which drove the
patriarch to the shores of the Mediterra-
mean, has never lost its power; it survived
in Paul when he sought Rome, and in Au-
gustme when he faced towards Britain; it
was not lost when Columbus planted the
cross on the soil of new world, or when
the MaEf0lcer dropped anchor in the har-
Dor of Plymouth. 1t is moving still the
earnest hearts Of the world to look west
ward with hope; and calling myriads to
build homes and 'altars upon the far Pa
cifc shores. .-ReU. s. Osgood,
ABSTINENCE FROM FooD AND DRIYK.-
II. Doesburg, ESQ.,, editor Of the Loilaa-
der, paper published in the Dutch Ian
guage, in the Holland colony, in Western
Michigan, communicates to the Tribune an
Interesting item, which he culled from one
Of bis NetherlaRdish exchanges, of one En-
geltje Van Der Vlies, female at Pijnach-
eE'near Rotterdam, aged &C years, who
has not eaten in 35 nor drank in 81 years.
She is. now in her last decline. Professors
and doctors and numerous scientific men
from all parts Of the world, go to see her.
The Board Of Health Of the Hague, insti-
tuted inquiries into the matter as far back
as 1926. No medical man has yet ascer-
tanned the true condition of this wonder
~ lady. She lives in good hunor, and sul-
l,Fs with christian love and faith her lot
and condition. This is certainly remark
able phenomena in the history of humanity,
and is an important news item for the
whole world, as there is no instance of such
long abstinence among mankind.
BD~ The British steamer, 'Bcavcr" left
the port Of Olympia, for Vancolyer's 81
nv