The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-12-30
=
+. W. Seward, Acting Secretary of State.

Sibert's steel.-The Lexington Gazette SAYS
eve are glad to learn that experiments, on
| large scale, have demonstrated the success oil
Mr. Si0ert'S invention to be beyond the reach
of question. Its results are incacuabe
Scarcely a household in the lend but will
sooner or later, derive special benefit from the
| production of this new metal, while the for
tunate patentees will reap rich harvest OF
profit. The invention is, indeed, nothing less
then the discovery of a new metallic substance,
combining, in a wonderful manner, the hard
ness aud enduring character of steel with the
tenacity and ducule qualities of iron"
Election of Railroad Superintendent.-Th
Board Of Directors OF the Richmond and Pc
terSburg Railroad Company have unanimously
elected Thomas II. Wynne superintendent Of
that road.
Mr.. Josiah shepperson, an old and much es-
teemed citizen OF Campbell Courthouse, fell
dead at that place about o'clock Thursday
morning. Mr.. ShepperSon was about seventy
years of age, and was native of Prince Ed
ward county, but for nearly fifty years had
been a useful and valuable citizen of Camp
bell county.
The farm Of Ex-Governor Wise, of Virginia, in
Princess Anne Co, so long held by the Gov
eminent, was, December 18th, surrendered to
the owner by order of the United States au
thOrites. The Government also ordered the
payment of the rent TO the owner Of Libby
prison for a years use oft.
A Southern Rival of New York.-The little
town OF Brunswick on the coast of Georgia,
claims to have harbOr equal to that of New
\ Ork, and to enjoy uniformly healthy eli
mate, New York capitalists have credited
these claims sufficiently TO engage in construct
ing a railroad 1877 miles long, from Brunswick
TO Macon, which will connect the place with
the leading southern roads.
Terrible Fire at Lynn, Mass.-Nearly the en-
tire city was destroyed by fire December 10Th.
The loss is many millions. The suffering is
Undesirable. The fire originated in Lyceum
Hall
s. Augustus Mitchell, so widely known in this
and other lands As a geographer, died in Phil
adelphia last Sunday He has resided in that
city for more than half century, and was the
author of the extensive series of geographical
works, with their accurate maps, which have
for so many years borne his name.
The Population of the United States is nearly
SO, 0O0 0OO II it increases in the same ratio
as it has in the preceding periods, it will be
~ 000 900 in 1870, and 10 600, 900 in 1900.
The estimated cost of conveying ton of mer-
chandise a mile on the ocean is from half a
cent to one and half cents on the lakes,
two cents: on the river. two and thrce-fOurth
cents on the canals, two to five cents; aud on
the railroads from three cents to thirteen and
a half cents.
The dense American forests are rapidly diSap
pearing Already lumber is brought to the
Atlantic coast from a distance of nearly two
thousand miles. 1t is estimated that for
wears past there have been cleared for cutiva-
ton ten thousand acres per day; that the
railroads expend for ties alone over $4,000,
900 per annum that the fences of the country
cost about as much as the towns and cities {;
that wood and the work upon it, or rather
that which is made of wood, pays more than
half the internal revenue.
General Harvey says it would be cheaper to
the Government to board the Indians at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York, than to fight
them.
The FarmviIle Journal" was sold on Mon
day last to Col. r. A. Booker, of that place,
for 5000.
George P. ROwell & Co. are publishing at 40
Park Row, New York, an American newspa-
per directory. The price is FIVE dollars. 1t is
to be printed on fine paper, and well bound in
dark cloth, making a volume Of three hundred
or FIVE hundred pages,
Hearth and Home is the name of new
agricultural weekly of sixteen folio pages,
which has just made It's appearance, Pettin-
Gill, Bates 4 Co, publishers, 80 Park Row,
New York. Price. 81 wear.