Connecticut western news., 1879-01-08
NOTES AND COMMENTS,

AofA 1S 1uIuouSo' 4ue EocolpGS lOI CAo year 1878 were 544,371 beeves, 4,113 milch COWS, 133, ,573 calves, 1,341, ,502 sheep and lambs. and 1, ,797, 161 hogs, an increase over the totals for the year 1877 of 39, 154 beeves, milch COWS, 3,412 calves, Al, ,635 sheep and lambs, and 511, ,157 hogs. The export trade to foreign ports took from New York market during the year 3O,925 live cattle, 19, 724 live sheep, 1862 live hogs, 72, ,4O9 carcasses of beef, 56,O34 car casses of mutton and 9, ,9o8 dressed pigs. The bulk of the heavy sheep as we'll as the live cattle went to Great Britain, about one-third alive and two-thirds in refrigerator boxes, dressed.
 A writer who has been making study of forest trees, their rapid de- struction in this country, and their effect on climate and health, says that since 1885 the forest area of the Western Hemisphere has decreased at the yearly average rate of E7,6O0.O0O acres, or about II ,000 square miles, and that this rate in the United States alone has ad- vanced from 1: :600 square miles in 1885 to 1000 in 1855, and 8, 400 in 1876, while the last two years has scarcely been less exhaustive. Statistics for 30 years previous to 1885 show that we have been wasting the supply of moisture to American soil at the average rate of per cent. each quarter of 8 century during the last 125 years, and that we are now approaching limit beyond which any further decrease will mate rially influence the climate of the entire continent. Many Eastern regions, such as Afghanistan, Persia, India, ..and Asia Minor, once possessed of fine climate and abundant harvests, are now often scourged by pestilence and famine, and it is altogether probable that their mis- fortunes began with the disappearance ot their native forests. It is quite likely that we shall suffer in, climate, fertility, and health before a great while if we continue to destroy our trees as reck- lessly as we have done, and it behooves us to be warned in time.
 According to the Springfield Repu6- Iics1a there are in the State of Massa- chusetts over 5000 insane people. The cost of maintaining all these insane per sons is very great. At Northampton it is about $75,O00 for 442 patients, (the average number), at Taunton, $100, 900 for 613; at Worcester, $15O, GOO for 879; at Danvers, about $25, ,000 for 114; at Tewksbury, about $4O,o0O for 272; in all, $3SO,O0O for 2,32O persons. The other 1000 insane persons in county houses, private asylums, etc. probably cost $150,000 and perhaps $2O0, ,000- making perhaps $55O, 1000 in all for the insane kept at public expense in Massa- chusetts. The cost of support is greatest in the Mclean Asylum, the Boston City Hospital, and the Danvers State Hospital; it is least in some of the town almshouses. The cost at Danvers will be less per patient, when the hos pital is full, but thus far, during the seven months since it was opened, it has been more than $6 week for an aver ago of about 200 patients. It now con- tains some 300 patients, and the num- Der of insane, at all the places named above, was, on the 1st of January, more than 3, 400.
 Mrs. A. T. Stewart has removed from her marble palace at the corner of Fifth avenue and 34th street, New York, to her niece's house, on the opposite side of the avenue. It is said that she no longer dare remain in her own home, fearing that she may be kidnapped for the sake of obtaining @ heavy ran som. What commentary this is on city life Stewart built this great, grand, glaring looking castle, died just as it was ready to be occupied. Then his body was stolen from the grave and his poor wife in her loneliness dare not live in the grand house, even with an army of servants about her. The boldness of the thieves who stole her husbands E body, and the fact the smartest police in the world have been unable to de- tect them would frighten bravel woman than Mrs. Stewart.
 I George Balcom, of Milwaukee, who was arrested for deserting his wife IS described by the local papers as whole souled fellow, respected by alIwho know him, and much sympathy is expressed for George because he is in trouble. Is there single community where George or men of his iIk are not to be found We think not. Whole-souled, generous hearted fellows, ready to stand up to 6 bar and spend the last cent in theil pockets in treating boon companions for the sake of being called good fel low, and then going home to scold and make everything as unpleasant that is possible. A tithe of the money squan dered at the bar would make home happy instead of the dismal, lonesome place il
 is. The poor wife must suffer in silence as any complaint on her part would be held as scolding and the neighbors would ; take delight in gossiping. "Georgt was such whole-souled, generous fel , low, you know, it's a pity he has scold
 ing wife," Out upon your whole-soulei Georges. The world would be better without them, and in their absence ther. would be fewer broken-hearted wives ' dismal homes and suffering children
 and. fewer Bacchanalian scenes, all O which are the fruits of the work of whole
 sou1ed Georges.
 Ike bill before Congress releasing
 ship owners from fines incurred for hay
 ing alien officers on the ship revives thu olden time in sailor life. By 8 statute oo el,;,, oou1d bavo vooro 41,o,, o,,a +1,;,.