Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-09-02
WOODBURY. N. j. TUESDAY,, SEPTEMBER 2, 1879
TIMELY TOPICS.

Georgia is about to erect a monument
to Sergeant William Jasper, of South
Carolina, who fell in the assault on
Savannah, October 9, l779. This is the
hero who leaped from the parapet of
Fort Moultrie and regained the flag
which had been shot away by ball
from the British fleet. On another oc-
casion, aided by single companion, be
captured British guard of ten soldiers
and rescEed twelve American captives
Wild Bill,' the frontiersman, W no in
his day was as notorious as Kit Carson,
and who was killed three years ago, has
turned to stone from scalp to toe. His
remains, which were buried at Dead
wood, in the Black Hills. were taKen
from the grave for re-interment at an
other place, when they were found to
nave become petriied.. The features are
as natural as life, save that whiteness
overspreading all gives to the face the
appearance of chiseled marble.
The following statistics will prove in
teresting to those who raise either dogs
or Sheep In 1850 Massachusetts had
600 sheep and ll2, 600 dogs, and it is
believed that the present number of
sheep in that State is actually below
$4,000, while there are good reasons for
believing that it has more than two.
perhaps nearly three dogs to every sheep
kept in the State. During the year 1875,
11.4S9 dogs killed 1873 sheep; and in
1878, there were 10000 dogs taxed, and
sheep killed by them to The value of
0,584. .55.
The1cotton crop in the South this year
will correspond well with the enormous
crops of wheat and corn in the Vest and
Northwest. The report of the executive
committee Of the National Cotton Ex-
change, just received, says that dur
ing the last five years cotton-culture in
the United States has outstripped the
most sanguine expectations; that the
problem Of free labor has been virtually
solved, and that the South must be re-
garded as the future reliance of the cotton
manufacturers of both America and Eu-
rope 4.s ..r-.
The plague of rats in the Decean,
Bombay, for the second season in Sic
cession, is oecasioning serious alarm.
these animals oversprcad the country
like locusts, destroy the crops almost as
thoroughly, and are even more difficult
to keep down. So grave had become the
aspect of affairs that a Rat Committee
Hss appointed to inquire into the best
means Of disposing of these creatures.
They have advised the people to turn
out en- Dlasse and face the enemy. Re
wards are to be offered for dead rats, and.
in fact, the invasion is to be treated rs a
matter to be dealt with vigorously by
the whole community. In the meantime
the question has arisen as TO how the
rats have multiplied. l@ N# #
On the 3lst OF December, 1877, there
were Sc, ,466 postoffices lii Europe, with
223, SIT persons employed, or one postal
establishment for every 6,l34 inhabit-
ants. These postoffices are most tliickly
planted in Switzerland, and after Swift
zerland in Great Britain and Ireland.
A striking contrast to these two coun-
tries-is afforded by Russia and Turkey,
there being in the former only one post
Office to eVervs, 70e, and in the latter one
to every l, los square miles. Altogether,
5.6S2. 100000 letters, papers, etc.. were
sent by post in Europe in 1877, 3,597,-
0G9,o00 being letters or post cards, l,522,-
O00, 600 newspapers. and 563, 000, 600 pat
terms and the like, and the greatest
number of letters, papers. etc., were sent
in Great Britain and Ireland, the total
number dispatched being l,483, ,075, ,0O0,
or at the rate Of 81 7letters and ga news
papers for every if1hl bitant.