The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-09-27
DOMESTIC MISCELLANY.

Taxes-In response to letter of inquiry, State
Treasurer Rye writes that it is probable that the
amount of the public debt funded by the LIST of
January, 1872, viii not exceed $780, 900, 900, and
that upon twe-thirds of this the semi-annual inter
est to be then paid will be 5000 000 and at the St of
July, 1872, 5000, 000 On the lst of January, 1872
eaving out of the account the taxes from railroads
and other corporations, the interest on the public
money in the hands of depositares, &e., it is es-
timated by the Auditor that there will be left on
hand from the taxes of lS70-'7l, after paying cur
rent expenses, the sum of at least 81, 100000. At
the date Of Treasurer Rye reply there was S947,-
40. 40 in the Treasury. He concludes as follows:
Our general conclusion is that the interest on
that portion of the public debt on which interest
will have to be paid under the provisions of the
funding bill, next year, can be provided Tor without
any increase Of the present taxation.
Johnson H Sands again Convicted Richmond,
September 23d.-The trial of johnson Ii. Sands
charged with completely in the Haunstein forgery
with xMayor Chahoon, was concluded this morn
ing, He was found guilty, and sentenced to two
years in the penitentiary. The trial lasted nine
days This is his third trial, he having been twice
convicted, and once hung jury, when there was
eleven for conviction and one for acquittal. An
other attempt will be made by his counsel for a
new trial.
The Cotton CrOp.-The Commercial Chronicle,
which has just made up its annual statement Of
the cotton CROP shows that for the year ending on
the LIST inst, the crop amounted to 1852, BIZ
bales, This is in excess of the most sanguinc es.
Inmates from other sources
Value of Fenoes--It is said that the improved
lands ia South Carolina are worth S2U,0OO,0OO
while the fences that enclose them have actually
cost Sl6,0OO,000. The fences in New York have
cost Sl44 600, 000-those of Ohio Sis, 100000 !;
and according to an estimate made by Nicholas
Bdde thirty years ago, the fences of Pennsylvania
had then cost 800, 100000. The fences of the
whole Union are estimated at 81, SOC, 100000.
Growth of Texas.-N Notwithstanding the war,
Texas has doubled her population within the past
ten years. The census of the crossings show that
over three hundred thousand emigrants crossed the
Mississippi alone, bound for Texas. Large num-
bers entered from Louisiana, Arkansas Missouri
and Kansas. 1t is an empire within itself. Place
upon It's square miles as many inhabitants as New
England now has, aud it can support double as
maryland it would have a larger population than
the present United Statesl
In the days of Abraham the relative value Of gold
and silver was one to eight. In the year 1000
B. G, it was one to twelve. 500 B. g., it was one
to thirteen In the year of the Christian era, it
was one to nine. In 500 A. D., it was one to
eighteen. Iu 1900, one to eight. In 400 one to
eleven To 1900 one to fourteen and halt. This
last proportion, with slight variations, has been
preserved down to the present time.
Early American History is about to receive fresh
and interesting elucidatiOn in the shape of Hak-
hyt's hitherto unpublished manuscript, containing
a summary of all that was known or imagined in
Queen Elizabeth day concerning America
A Failure.-It is stated by southern papers that
the Southwestern Baptist Publication House is an
entire financial failure, having exhausted Its capital
Of 500 900 in about two years, and became other
wise embarrassed.
Trains for the transportation of passengers and
freight began to run through the Mont Gents
tunnel on September 18th, when there was a
formal Inauguration Of the road.
MormOnism Brigham Young is coming East, it
is reported, with large delegation of his Bishops
to reconcile, if possible the difficulties of the two
factions of Mormonism. Council Bluffs is the
place fixed for the National Conference OF these
Latter Day Saints, and the meeting Of Young Joe
Smith and the Salt Lake hierarch.
Capt. Halls Arctic Expedition has arrived safely
in Greenland Everything promised we'll for the
winter; and it is confidently believed by the ex-
pOrers that they will have no serious difficulty In
reaching the Polar Sea.
The Extent to which Labor saving Machines have
been introduced into agriculture was seen illustrated
few days ago in Wisconsin. A farmer wSs seated
on a reaper, with gloves on his hands, and with an
umbrella over him, and, with as much comfort as
if driving buggy, he was cutting oats the reaper
throwing them into regular and convenient sheaves
for binding and stacking.
Improvement.-It has been officially ascertaned
that the number of brick houses in course Of con.
structiOn in Richmond is 81, of wooden houses p,
of brick and wooden houses undergoing repairs 6S
total, l25. As large as these figures seem they
will appear as nothing comparatively speaking,
when lines of horse-raiways are constructed to
those suburban districts where people will be con
tent to dwell. Give them cheap and reliable
means of communication, from an early hour In
the morning until lat east) 10 o'clock at night,
and houses will, in a short time, spring up like
mushrooms" Another thing to be done, however,
before building will become general is to bring into
the market if possible those large tracts OF land
within the corporate limits held by few lnexora-
bic owners. "That's what's the matter" More
over, and thirdly, the Pententiary ought to be re-
moved Wing.
Uniting the Antipodes extension of tele.
graphic communication is so rapid as almost to
cease to attract attention. 1t is, however, none
the less astonishing that by the connection Of
Shanghai and Japan by a submarine cable, mes
sages we're sent from London to Japan August 16,
and answers received the same day. 1t is expected
that the cable between Singapore and Australia
will be laid in November. AT the end Of this year
the Telegraph Construction Company will have
laid down 49, 500 miles of submarine cable involv-
ing a capital of $50, 0OO, DOC"
Baptist.-From an exchange, we learn that Of
POS congregations of Particular Baptists in Eng.
land, founded prior to 1900, l5S originally prac
tised and Y now (lS60) practise strict communion
Originally 81 practised and now l05 practise open
communion. 1t appears that at least so Baptist
churches in England, founded prior to $500 and
some as early as 1888, have practised open com
munion from their beginning,-Nel0 York Chris
/ tan AdpOcQte.