The Placer herald., 1865-12-02
The Weight and Length of the National
Debt

Mr.. James Fair, the calculating prodigy
has made the following calculation Of the
weight and measure of the national debt, ta-
king as premise that its amount is, in round
numbers four thousand million dollars.
A silver dollar measures II inches in di-
ameter. Hence dollars laid side by side,
make one foot, "a one yard, and 24,24O an
English mile. The circumference OF the
g lobe is 1000 miles, and therefore 9l2,
384, 900 laid in one line would girde it,
But even this enormous sum, being less than
4 part of our debt. the whole amount of the
latter would encircle it four times and over.
lap by S,640 miles.
Now estimating the weigt of silver dol
lar at one ounce, sixteen Of them would make
a pound, and reckoning 1000 pounds to the
ton, the entire debt would weigh $4,000
tons, and therefore 125 ships of 1000 tons
each would be required to forward it by wal
ter.
Again, allowing 2 tons for the burden of
heavy baggage wagon, 62,5o0 wagons
would be needed to convey this monstrous
mass of Indebtedness in silver. Now an ell
liptical circle formed of these wagons, alone
|
enclose the three cities of New York, Alba
ny and Troy
Still another interesting guage of this
huge amount Were it possible for man
to count &c dollars per minute, and con,
tinue to work steadily without intermssion
for ten hours of each day for days in the
week, it would cost him 365 years and 40
days to complete the computation by single
silver dollars. Thus, it would employ 365
month, ll3,800 men one day Of ten hours,
and l,l38300 one of those hours to finish
the job.-Penn. Je6ersonian.
TO SyoP CoUGHING.-Slight irritation of
the throat may be relieved by slipping little
thick slippery elm tea, or by sucking piece
of gum arabic. These articles coat over the
mucous membrane, and prevent the irritation
of the air. A very few drops of paregorc
held in the mouth, and allowed to trckle
down the throat, will allay coughing. The
best cough medicine for children, one which
we have used for several years with entire
satisfaction is the following: Mix in via
equal parts Of paregoric, castor oil, and syrup
Of ipecac. Always shake we'll just before
using. A few drops of this swallowed, bu,
not washed down by water or other fluid
will almost always soothe cough. Repeat
the dose as often as the coughing returns
From one.fourth to one.haIf teaspoonful
or even a whole teaspoonfu may be given
when lesser quantity does not suffice. A
large dose after a full meal may produce a
little nausea. Children subject to coughs
should eat very light suppers, and indeed all
children should eat much less, and simpler
food, at night than at morning or noon. The
above mixture may be kept on hand prepar-
ed as it does not deterorate if kept corked.
1t may interest those afraid of mineral med
icines) though they partake freely of CONT
mon salt which is minera) to know that
the ingredients are all vegetable"
AGAINST THE CURRENr-A waggish chap
whose vixen wife by drowning lost her pre-
cious life, called out his neighbors all around
and told 'em that his spouse was drowned
and in spite ofsearch could not be found
He knew, he said, the very nook where she
had tumbed in the brook, and be had drag
ged along shore, above the place a mile or
more.
"Above the placed" the people cried; "why
what dye mean!"
The man replied
OF course you don't suppose I'd 60 and
and waste the time to look below9 I've
known the woman quite spell, and learnt
her fashions tol'bla we'll. alive or dead she'd