Connecticut western news., 1879-04-09

nold ln place or Keep back and prevent the irrupt1on of silt, clay or water is expected to overcome the difficulties usually experienced in constructing such works. The air pressure will also carry back to the working shafts all sand, mud or water that may accumulate in the headings while the workmen arc making the excavations. The air pressure is also expected to assist in keeping out water and upholding the roof of earth during the excavation, which is to be made by three sets of workmen on plat forms, ono above the other. The mason- ry will be going on as fast as the exca- vation is made, the brick work being three feet thick and laid with cement. It will be completed in two years.
 ' A table just issued shows the growth of the petroleum interest in this country. The table shows the growth in fifteen years, O growth which, if continued, will cause demand that will lead producers to less careless, waste of the product than now. For the first three years there was au increase in the price of oil. In 1864, 12,0O0,0O0 gallons sold for $6,000,O00. In the following year the same amount, in round numbers, sold for $9,000,0O In 1866 34, 000, 900 gal Ions sold for SIS, ,OOO, 900, still further increase in value. Then productions in- creased, and in 1871 we find that the oil region was selling 132, 100000 gallons for $34, ,000,00 The exports were four times as much as in 1866, while the value had not doubled. Then in 1877 were sold 262, GOO. .0Q0 gallons for $55, ,O00, 900, and last year it was worse yet, by giving the foreign consumers 289,00O,0OO gal Ions for $41, ,OOO, 900. Here the exports were increased 27, ,00O, ,000 gallons with decreased value of $14, 100000.
 A poor washerwoman living near Stamford, N. Y., has boy named Andy Smith, who is about seventeen years of age. He is not very bright, but is harmless, and the village boys have been in the habit of tantalizing him with stories of ghosts and robbers. Saturday evening he was sent on an errand. He stopped at one of the stores in the viii lage to get some one to accompany him, but failing ill this he startt d on alone. After proceeding short distance he met a couple of men who told him @ lot of stories to scare him. John Dignan and Will Stewart went to railroad crossing and hid behind fence. B. l.. Seeley went along with young Smith, and when near the crossing the two conspirators sprang out yelling and throwing snow. Seeley ran back, pretending to be greatly scared. Andy was terribly frightened, and jumped into the creek, hiding under the bridge. The boys then went after him, brought him back and attempted to reassure him, telling him they only did it to play @ joke on him, but he was wild with fear and could not be pacifed. He finally went back with some of the boys where he became so crazy that the neigh bors had to be called to help hold him. Hit whole talk was of robbers and mur- derers, of whom he was in mortal fear. On Sunday Dr. Gallup pronounced him raving maniac. No one could pacify him, and frequently his frenzy was so great that force was necessary to keep him in bounds. Such are the results of practical joking.
 The bill introduced by Senator Grover into the United States Senate in regard to the Northern Pacific Railroad provides that the time for the completion of it's main line shall be extended ten years, if within one year the company shall construct 200 miles of road and 100 miles each year thereafter, including the twenty-five miles per annum ex. pressly designated, and that with the exception of lands heretofore earned by the company, all agricultural lands within it's grant shall be open to pur- chase from the company by actual set tiers in tracts of 160 acres each at the price of g. 50 per acre.