The Montana post., 1866-09-22
ED1roR1AL RREvlTnEs.


scribes the fossil remains which have
been found at the Portland stone quar-
ries,. on the Connecticut river. One
thousand men are employed, and they
have reached depth of one hundred
and five feet. The great Book of Nature
has been opened, and the remains OF
men and women have been exhumed.
There appears to have been race of
giants, who were twelve feet in hight,
and had a foot twenty-five inches in
length. They possessed saws and knives
made of slate, which was probably
brought from Vermont. This sandstone
basin, in which they were discovered,
resembles that Of Paris, in France; but
the fossils are more numerous and better
preserved. Scientific men regard these
discoveries as evidence of the existence
of pre-Adamitic race, and Agassiz be-
lieves that man has existed on the earth
seventy thousand years. ia.g',r a. -.
A new instrument, called sphygmo-
graph has been constructed for the pur-
pose of measuring and recording on pa
per the beating of the pulse. The short
arm of light lever is applied to the
pulse, and at the end of the long arm is
very delicate pencil, which passes over
q roll of paper, that moves by clock
work. The expansions and contractions
produce waving line, that varies accor-
ding to the age and health of the patient.
Some valuable discoveries have already
been made by the use Of this invention.
While Europe is agitated by diplo-
matte questions relating to Italian or
German unity, the British Government
is preparing measure which will make
one confederation of all the settlements
in British North America. The inhabi-
tants are strongly opposed to the project,
but as they have no vote in the matter,
the wishes of the English Parliament as
expressed in the statutes, will decide it.
| The Ministers entertain the idea that
they can thus establish an empire upon
the northern boundaries, which will be
stumbling block in the way of the
| United States. No American citizen has
any interest in the question, because, as
General Sherman remarked, "We can
take the Canadas and the Provinces in
FIVE days, whenever we want them"
The probability of men flying like birds
is discussed by @ronauts, and singular
| theories are advanced. The Duke o.
Argyle thinks that machines may be
made by which number of persons car
move through the air, but doubts if one
alone could perform it. M. Nadar, the
Frenchman, contends that weight is M
obstacle to the invention, because the
more powerful it is, the lighter relatively
will it become. The bold eagle anC
timid sparrow are compared, and it il
found that the flyers, properly so-called
are the heaviest birds. Mr. Wenham
the English eronaut, says that gas viii
not be the motive power of "the balloon
of the future" 1t is wrong for any part.
to sneer at these vagaries, for they al
ways precede the grand works that at
i. certain to benefit the human race.
Victoria, styled by some :" the qhee
bee of Great Britain" is now one Of tn
most unpopular sovereigns of Europ
and many Englishmen are willing in
spirit of charity to concede that she is
insane as some of her ancestors, tn
+. Georges. 1t is thought that she is
spiritualist, and some say that she col
suits the shade of Prince Albert on in
: portant subjects. When her Ministe,
, stated that her presence was required
!, London during the recent session OF Pa
! lament, she showed her contempt ft
J, their suggestion by travelling to the di
t tant hills Of Scotland. Her conservati,
= position upon the great question OF
form has most justly injured her in ii
eyes of all, whose sympathies are vii
\ the poor and oppressed classes. .,
+ Professor J. l.. Newberry states tn
;, every variety of soil west of the Miss
:, sippi has failed to sustain forest
= trees, which he ascribes to the absen
t. of certain amount of "precipitate
e moisture" The mountain belts, whic
: act as condensers and produce rain. s.
q port a limited growth. Timber is fou
d in small quantities upon the banks
IS rivers and the borders OF lakes. b
- level surfaces, which are composed OF
= fine impervious soil, that is sometim
10 wet and sometimes dry, are adapted
y grass, but fatal to trees. The fires up
- the plains have a bad effect in this
te spect. Unless there is q change in t
~, nj oc will of hoar f0raa