The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-03-08


Cabinet tomorrow.
IRON STEAMERS AND THE COMPAss.-TLe
new steamer, Persia, the largest ocean steam
er now afioat, by her late voyage to this
country has demonstrated one fact of the
profoundest scientific and commercial inter-
est. Our readers are aware that her hull is
built of iron. The great obstacle to the use
of such steamers in ocean navigation has al
ways been to neutralize the influence of such
a mass of iron upon the compass. The New
York Post is inclined to think this difficulty
has been not little exaggerated, though it
has undoubtedly been grave one. The va
ration of the Persa's compasses during the
whole voyage, as ascertained from Captain
Judkins, of the Persia, did not exceed three
degrees, which is at least one degree less
than the average variation in wooden vessels.
The Post says:
The Persia is provided with compass ell
evated some 40 feet from her upper deck, to
be used in regulating the compass below; if
necessary; but the Captain informs us that
it was entirely superfuous, and that when
he returns to Liverpool he shall propose to
have both it and the mizzen-mast which sup
pnrts it, removed. We should state that
the alterations to which the deck comIas ses
are liable are corrected by a combination of
magnets, patented by Mr.. Gray, of Liver
pool, and which the Captain thinks perfectly
reliable and all-sufficient. 1t is not certain
that another steamer, though built by the
same architect, will have so little influence
upon the compass as the Persia, or even that
she will continue to carry hers so nearly in
equilibrium another voyage; but this inven-
ton, with which she is supplied, the Capt
seems to think makes it matter of compar-
alive Indifference to him whether she does or
not.
The experience of the Persia will he like
ly to give a new impulse to the manufacture
of iron vessels in the United States, and Gre
ate a new demand fer iron, scarcely less con-
siderable than that for railways. And the
discovery is most timely. As our forest
timber grows more scarce Oh the seaboard
railways are making iron more abundant;
and it will be a relief to those who have been
worrying themselves, lest our supplies of
ship-timber would give out and leave us moth
ing to replace and add to our ocean bottoms,
to know that we have enough of the best
shir-timber in the world, III more than a
dozen States of the Union, to provide for all
the commerce of the earth for thousand
years.
e Some articlcs of old furniture were
sold at auction in Norfolk few days ago,
for the benefit of two little orphan boys
named Beveridgc, whose parents died of the
yellow fever. They were poor and the fur
niture was valued at a mere trife Before
the sale, some one forced open drawer of
an old bureau, for want ola key, when the
pleasant discovery was made of $3.50 in
gold, neatly tied up in little bag. The
money goes to the orphan children.
EZ During the election at Vincennes
Indiana, on the 18th ult., VIM. Miller, a
candidate for Marshal, killed man whose
name is not given, by plunging knife into
bis groin, severing an artery, and causing
almost instant death.
- Eastern travel from Missouri now
goes via the Terra Haute and Alton Railroad
just completed.
81 The Dubuque Tribune says that
five hundred good mechanics will be wanted
in that city the coming season.
REVIVE TIN old times, says the Ohio
State Journal, unmarried women used to
wear scarlet petticoat during leap year. If
they showed the edge of this garment to any
man he was bound to marry them, but could
buy himself off by presenting the lady with
new gown. Is there no hope Of reyiving
this good old custom?
E& In the New York Assembly, re-
Gently petition was presented from citizens
of Oneida, to make the Lords Prayer the
only legal prayer to be delivered by clergy
men, on account of its brevity.
CoNDYLURA.-A gentleman of our ac-
qualntance showed us.on Saturday small
specimen OF the animal kingdom, totally DIFF
terent from anything we bad ever seen be-
fore. The animal had somewhat the appear
ance of the mole but of lighter color. The
fore feet webb, like those Of the seal, the
hind feet the same as rat; the nose is sur
rounded by number of cartilagenous points
which radiate like stars. On the whole, it
was quite curiosity, the fur being as soft
as velvet. We found, on consulting SHARON
Cuvier's Animal Kingdom" that it's name is
the Condylura, and that it is only found in
the northern parts of North Amcrica-Sup.
Chronicle.
: IL Gen. Harvey, in command of the
United States forces on tie Plains, has ar
rested Col. Howe, who had charge of the
at Running Water, ON charge
OF starving and maltreating the soldiers un-
der his command.
~ Kate Hays, it is said, has realized
q fortune by her singing of 100000. She
has visited California, Australia, China and