The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-04-24
THE WESTERN MAIL.

SENATOR FEssENDEN'S HEALTH-A dis
patch to the Boston Advertiser, dated Sunday
says, "Senator Fessenden had SO far recovered
from his recent sickness as to be able to ride
out an hour or SO yesterday. He will posi-
bly, be in his seat in the Senate Tomorrow
WHAT IS NITRO GLYcERINE ?-This COM
pound, more commonly known as blasting oil,
is pale yellow oily liquid OF lie specific gravi-
ty, insOuble in water. 1t does not explode by
direct flame, and when exploded by fuse or
conclusion leaves no residue. 1t expodes
with great rapidity and force, and the dscov-
er claims that it can be kept an indefinite time
without decomposition. few drops on an
anvil detonates under the blow of hammer,
but the explosion is not communicated beyond
the drop which receives the blow, and repeat
ed blows are required to detonate the whole
quantity. 1t can be heated to 212 deg. Fab
renheit without igniting, but explodes at about
$50 Fahrenheit. 1t is poisonous, producing
violent but usually only temporary headaches.
.Glycerine is the sweet principle of oil, and is
extensively used for purposes of the toll
ct. In 1S47 pupil of M. Pelouze's, M. So
brero, discovered that glycerine, when treated
with nitric acid, was converted into highly
explosive substance, which he called nitro
glycerine. 1t is oily, heavier than water, sol
uble in alcohol and ether and acts SO power
fully on the nervous system that a single drop
placed on the tip of the tongue will cause
violent headache, which will last for several
hours.-[N. Y, Post. taifa aiaI7f
+ 7i45f lf1 i4Gtsd -- u.aIfI1.. Di iI-
THE TEST OATH.-7A special dispatch to the
Boston Advertiser says: slHl u. ..a
The Judiciary committee OF the House have
prepared their report against modification of
the test oath, and will submit it to the House at
the earliest opportunity. They have gone into
the report is one of the most thorough docu-
mentS of the present session of Congress- They
reclte the circumstances under which t ne act
imposing the oath was passed, and accepting
the doctrine of the President, that treason is O
| great crime and must be made Od;ous, they
cannot lind any reason for putting Congress in
an attitude of opposition thereto. They do not
hnd on investigation that men who can take
the oath as 1t is are so scarce in the late rebel
| States as the Secretary of the Treasury assumes
| and they embody in he'report table showing
the number of white troops furnished to the
Union army by each of these States. llh
NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILRoAD.-Quarter
master General Meigs has written letter urg-
ing the immediate construction Of the North
ern Pacific Railroad, and showing that the
| se''" Se''hi5 IL CApCuocS W Iilc SOVciuHOho II
the transportation of supplies will amply com.
4 pensate The government for the aid asked fol
by the company. -1IA---
General Grant has placed the following in
dorsement upon it:-7t sza4
/ o-.sfr,9 HEADQUARTERS EOPIrJl D.
ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,
| WASHINGTON, April 20, 1866. }
The constructibnof railroad by the pro
posed route would be Of very great advantage
to the government, principally by saving il
the cost of transportation to supply troop
whose presence in the country through whicl
it is proposed to pass is made necessary b.
the great amount of emigration to the gol
bearing regions of the Rocky Mountains. 81 Il
my opinion, too, the United States would re
ceive an additional benefit by the construt
ton of this road by the settlement it woul
induce along the line of the road, and conse
quently the less number of troops necessary
secure order and safety.
How far these benefits should be compenss
c ted by the general government beyond til
grant of land already awarded by Congress,
would not pretend to say. L would merel
: give 1t as my opinion that the enterprise
s constl ucting the Northern Pacific Railroad
4 one well worth fostering by the general go
S ernment, and that such aid could well be a
!. forded as would insure the early prosecutio
of the work. si.5i5 : u. S. GRANT,
i .tHTlEg4I5 4d Lieutenant-G General,