The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-31
IncidentaIs.

ness of the ascent has prevented many fam-
mes from building on the summit COM
pany has been formed however, for the pur-
pose of constructing railroad to the top of
tne mountain. The vertical height of the
hill is $50 feet giving the plane a length of
90 feet, and an inclination of thirty-hve
degrees. The roadway consists of two tracks,
nve feet gauge, with two cars, one ascending
while the other descends. These cars are
fifteen feet long, and are built at an angle of
thlrty-five degrees, with each end describing
vertical line. horizontal line cutting off
the lower corner of the lower half of the
car forms the floor of the first compartment.
The floor of the second compartment reaches
midway into the upper side of the first com
partment. When the car stands at
the lower waiting-room, the pas
senger steps upon the floor of the
first compartment, entering at the side Of the
car TO enter the second compartment it is
necessary to mount two steps. The passen-
gers will be seated on seats running across
the car, and facing each other. Each com
partment will accommodate eight passengers.
The front platform will be constructed in such
manner as to accommodate four passengers,
or to carry large packages, such as barrel OF
flour, etc The cars will be raised with
strong rope made of steel or wire. This rope
will be passed over a large drum, which will
be operated by two powerful engines. The
safety arrangement is simply second rope
attached to each car, and which, passing
around q horizontal sheave, follows idly all
movements of the cars In case the hosting
rope should part the safety rope will act i'll
such manner as to hold the car. The com
pany propose to have the road in running
order in ninety days.
The San Francisco newspapers describe
some wonderful phenomena observed in that
city on the 18th of August. At about
o'clock a heavy fog drifted from the ocean
over the peninsula, enveloping the city, and
rendering it impossible to see objects at more
than two blocks distant. A short time after,
the western horizon was illuminated, and in
the course Of ten minutes the whole western
portion of the heavens, extending to the
zenith, was lit up magniticently. The heavy
clouds of vapor were made to look like inn
mense banks Of snow slightly tinged with
crimson This peculiar appearance lasted
about half an hour, and passed away
as it commenced. On the next even
ing the display was decidedly
of another character. The western portion
of the sky was gorgeously Illuminated with
brilliant red glare that can only be compared
to an extensive confagraton on very dark
night. Several times during the display large
dark clouds arose as from out of the ocean,
and passing up through the illumination dis
appeared through the darkness above. The
wonderful phenomenon lasted about half an
thronged the streets. 1t is accounted for as
being a reflection of the suns rays in the first
instance, and a peculiar electrical condition
of the atmosphere in the second.
The Chinese laborers in San Francisco
are quick to learn the ways of their neigh
bors, and about sixty of them employed on
the San Rafael Railroad struck last week for
a ten-hours day, they having heretofore
labored eleven hours. One of the local jour
nails says:-''They went in true barbarian
systematically, angrily, and nosily.
They all sabeed too muchee tightee tween
capital and labor, and were bound to take
part in it. They had no 'dudeens, so they
laid off under the trees and smoked opium;
no whisky, so they drank tea The overseers
urged them to go to work, and they laughed
at them; they scolded, and the Cinnamon
scowled. At last a herald was despatched to
this city, and Chinaman who works in Wells,
Fargo u Co. S Office went up. After consul
tation, the men agreed to work eleven hours
per day for one month longer, and after that
the days will be reduced one hour.
Extraordinary scenes in a graveyard are
reported from Belfast, Ireland. The Pryy
Council had ordered the closing of the Shank
hill burying- ground, except where there could
be seven feet of earth left above each coffin
For two days, until a late hour at night a
number of persons to evade this order, tool
possession of the graveyard, and disinterred
the remains from the OVercrOWued graves
Their object was to sink the graves so deeI
as to enable them to RENTER the collins, anC
still retain the right of sepulture in the par
tlcular spot. The scene was of the mos
dreadful character; coffins in all stages of de
composition were lying about, and even un
decayed shrouds The Mayor ultimately
with police force, appeared, and having con
vinced the people that they were acting lille
gally, the graves were covered up again.
"A writer in the Re0ue des DeUG Monde
tells the following anecdote:-'FOur year
ago tanner of Dion, who had affirmed tina
the French budget represented in bank note
the height of the steeple of st. Benigne, wa
cited before the Correctional Police on
charge of seditious language. In court, how
ever he maintained his assertion with vigol
and was acquitted The judges, in fact
evinced some shrewdness on the occasion, an
admitted impliedly that the accused was No
in error thousand notes of 1000 franc
piled up have exactly 10 centimetres Cfou
inches) in height. Taking the budget !
round numbers at 1000, 100000, the notes !
question superposed would attain height {
200 metres. But, according to the Ahh~0tl
dU Bureau des LOng5tudes, the spire OF 5
Benigne is only 925 metres high,
q An American steamboat has been put upO
the Rhine, and astonishes the natives FC
years the only steamers on that much-travele
river have been the little, narrow, slow boat
with sub-aquean cabins, which disgrace all {
the German rivers.
Foreign Literary, Art, and Scientific Items
4 The AttenGl2D says:-Mr. Woolnel
statue of Lord Palmerston has been suite
with a better place than originally Offere