The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-01-13
CURRENT TOPICS.

: CURRENT TOPICS.
IT is an i'll freshet from which no good
flows. The recent floods in some of the
districts of British India drove the snakes
from their holes in vast numbers. The
reptiles sought refuge on trees, shrubs,
and high pieces of ground, and thus ex-
posed themselves to wholesale slaughter,
the government have offered premium
for the destruction of venomous snakes.
In two districts, Lahore and Sealkote, no
less than twenty-five thousand snakes
were killed.
JOHN j. McKAY was chairman of the
committee of ways and means in the 2Sth
and 29th Congresses, Samuel F.Vinton,
of ohio, in the S0th Congress; Thomas
r. Bayley, of Virginia, in the S1st Con-
gress; George s. Houston, of Alabama,
in the SD and S3d Lewis D. Campbell,
of Ohio, in the 34th; ]. Clancy Jones,
ofPennsylyania, in the S5th; John Sher-
man, of Ohio, in the S6th; Thad Stevens,
of Pennsylvania, in the S7th and SSth
Justin s. Morrill,, of Vermont, in the
seth; Robert @. Schenck, of Ohio, in the
10th and 41st, and Henry L. Dawes, of
Massachusetts,, in the 42d and 43d.
COLONEL TYLER, an employee in Saw
yers cooper shop at Norwich, Chenango
county, New York, had an unpleasant
and exciting experience, which he will
not be likely soon to forget. While in
the act of placing belt upon pulley
on the line shafting overhead, his shirt
sleeves caught upon setscrew which
held the pulley to the shaft, and in an
instant he was raised clear from the floor.
Mr.. Tyler braeed his hand against the
floor above and the stripping from him
of his shirt, undershirt, vest, and suspen-
ders was but the work of aninstant, when
the Colonel dropped to the floor.
apparatus on purely scientific prin-
ciples has been invented by Professor
Zimmerman, which on being attached to
a lamp, renders the latter selflighting
and extinguishing, the apparatus being
simple and not liable to get out of order,
and so inexpensive in regard to the
chemicals employed as not to cost more
than would the matches consumed in the
usual way for that period. A slight
pressure of the finger on key infallibly
lights the lamp without touching. globe
or chimney on the other hand, squeez-
ing gutta percha ball with hose connec-
ton as instantly extinguishes it. Like
the ordinary students lamp, which in
general construction the Zimmerman's
mechanism resembles, itrevolves and can
be elevated at pleasure; any kind of oil
can be employed.
A REPORT has been submitted to the
United States Geological and Geographi-
cal Survey, by the Hon. P. n. Russell,
of Elkton, Kentucky, which contains the
statement that ithographic stone, of
good quality, and in paying quantities,
exists in that county, specimens of
which will soon be submitted to the de-
partment for investigation. Should the
report be favorable, that section will soon
be converted into profitable mining
district. Todd county is the birthplace
of Secretary Bristow, who no doubt will
take great pride in seeing his department
establish the fact that "millions" lay
hidden in the hills near the home of his
childhood. The importance of the dis
coyery will be appreciated when the fact
is fresh in mind that only one quarry of
the stone referred to has been discovered,
and that in Germany
THE Mark Lane Express, in review
of the grain trade, says 1875 has nnfor-
tunately proved a year of general de-
ficiency and inferiority. Barley has
shown the best yield of the season, being
only slightly the average, but its color
has been so generally affected that its
value for mailing purposes is greatly re-
duced, perhaps eight to ten shillings per
quarter. Sales have been unusually dull.
Oats and corn are below average, but
better prices paid for the latter compen-
safe for the defect. Peas are considera-
bly, below the average, having suffered
greatly in size and quality. The wheat
crop has suffered most, only one-eighth
reaching the average, while fve-sixths
sink below it. Whatever dullness now
prevails may for period continue. Our
large deficiency will become more evil
dent as the season advances. Should we
have bad spring an important advance
must ensue.
ACCORDING to the last census Massa
chusetts had, in 1870, forty-nine thou
sand seven hundred and ninety three fe
males more than males. The Boston
Advertiser discards many theories in re.
gard to this excess, such as the migration
of men to Western States, some occult
law governing births, etc., and attributes
its solely to the incoming of women from
other States to work in the factories
particularly from Maine and Vermont
This seems somewhat plausible theory
yet every State in New England, except
ing Vermont, has a large excess of fe
males. Maine has the smallest, viz.
seven hundred; New Hampshire ant
Rhode Island about seven thousand each
and Connecticut six thousand nine hun
dred and fourteen. Vermont in 1S7
had an excess of about one thousan,
males. New York Statehas an excess @
ffty-six thousand three hundred and on
females, and the District of Columbi
seven thousand three hundred and si1
teen more females than males. A prC
portionate excess of females over male
is found in almost every Eastern an
Middle State and yet the census of 1S7
shows an excess of three hundred an