The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-07-29

the case. = Statistics show that on the
Standard gauges moro than four tons Of
ldsaa2t non-paying weight are annually
paying freight. NIE othdE wofas, tue
each cda is but one;fbu ith of it's capacity.
Allowing that this; ;saishrepancy may a1.
tend TO the three-fe9t gnhge also, which,
from the smaller size Of cars, can scarce.
~ be expected, and this is the result:
Oars weigh two tons and have capacity
OF Eve tons; then in load, as above. OF
1882 tone, there will be weight OF oars,
234 tons; leaving weight of paying
freight, 146 Ions. Four eight and n hall
gange-in load, az above, OF $50 tons;
weight of cars, 600 tons; weight OF
freight. 150 tons, or only four tons more
than on the narrow gauge.
This, then, is the practical result OF
the narrow gauge theory, and from this
follow, naturally, eli the principles ol
economy in construction aud operation,
cheap freights, largo dividends, its
adaptability to other than mountainous
countries, the feasibility Of doubling the
miles Of our railway systems Mt no more
than former outlay, the easy develop
ment Of sparsely settled but valuable
districts, Ind all the long train OF advan-
tages which will nccrue to the stock
holders of such paying roads Us we'll rs
to the people along their routes. 8.
A RAIN or FROGS IN ARIZONA-SToRY
OF AN EYE-W WITNESS. The phenomenon,
familiarly known as the ''rain of frogs
has been ridicuIed and contradicted by
certain scientists, nevertheless there is
abundant proof to show TINT it hos oc.
CURED, mud probably will again. In
1864, the writer, iu company with some
fifty other travellers, had personal expe.
rience Of tho fnct. We were in Arizona,
not less than twenty miles from any
stream, pond or water. The dny was cx-
tremely sultry, aud we had halted to loi
the animals Craze and rest for an hour
or two. Not II living thing besides our.
selves aud horses Was in sight, and Ger
tainly no frogs wcro hopping over the
rich, tufted gram ma grass, which oover-
ed tho ground for miles in every direc'
ton. Suddenly denso, black cloud
began to discharge copions rain upon
our unsheltercd heads. The drops were
very large and the water quite warm.
Nearly every person woro broad brim.
med felt hut. which proved great pro
tection against the rain as we'll as against
the sun. Our attention was soon arrest
ed 'by the pelting Of something which
struck our hats like hail, but wii;cl
proved to be frogs, and in loss thon two
minutes the grass was fairly alive with
those creatures. Several OF the party
took some from their hat-rims. Our un.
expected visitors were all of ono size
about quarter of nm inch long from
nofe to rump, very lively. and. appa
rently, in the best condition. Their fal
had been broken by tho springy, resili
ent nat.re of the.grass. It is not proba
BILE that several hundred thousand, per.
haps millions, Of frogs had suddenly
been hatched into life in the ground BY
the rain. or. if they had, that in their in
fantile gleo they jumped five feet elover
Tlncacs, merely to show how the game oi
lepp-frog should bo played. Nor had
they any snch caudel appendages as are
generally. attached to juvenile rana
They came from above, III company with
the rain, and this fact was made clear bj
holding out the hand and seeing them
fall upon it, as we'll as by finding thcm
on our hat rims.
Philadelphia North american.
PAPER Can WHEELS. MIR. Beach. ot
the firm Of D. G.. Wheeler g. Co., straw
paper makers, of .MontcIair, il now in
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