Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-10-01

AN IMPORTANT lIsCovERY.-If Col.
Beaumont has made, as the London
Times says he has, nearly perfect COM
pressed air engine for locomotive pur-
poses, We are on the eve Of another
great change, which, among other
things, will settle certain problems
about elevated railroads. Col. Beau.
mont's engine can haul, it is said, Q
gross load of twenty-five tons for twen-
ty miles. with one change of air. This
promises to dispose of all trouble
about fame, smoke, grease or coal
dropping, foul smells and other nui-
sances which have been complained of,
and to make the elevated railroad OF
the future much more tolerable thing
than the elevated railroad of the past.
It is estimated in London that the new
engine will, for certain functions,
supersede not only steam but horses
that it will be applied. that is to say
to carriages travelling common roads,
which expectation. If realized, may
bring about wonderful revolution in
the methods and economies of our
daily lives.
The growth of railroad enterprise in
this country is very clearly shown by
the statistics embodied in Poor's Man
ual, advance sheets of which have Just
been given to the press. These statis-
tics show that during 1879 the gross
earnings of Sc, 497 miles of railroad
amounted to $529. 0l2, 999, as against
$500. 103, 351 in 1873, and s503, O65, sos
fnr 7S7n Thn .vnp -. I,o~
of miles of road built during the year
was 4.721. As the reports cover the
operations of "a, 1872 miles ont OF the
total of sc ,497, it is probably safe to
conclude that the total railroad earn.
ings for 1879 amounted to nearly, if
not quite, six millions of dollars. The
total tonnage of the year was 81 ,O92,-
$40, as against 1857 ,002 tons of
freight carried in 1873, the year of the
greatest prosperity to railroads prior to
1879.
A DETECTIVE OUTwITTEp.- The fol-
lowing story is almost too good to be
true: A certain railway company sus.
pected that they were being defrauded
by passengers travelling without tickets,
so detective was sent to travel on the
trains. One day he heard q passenger
remark that it was very easy to 60 from
Dayton to Moorfield without ticket.
The detective watched his man closely,
and was surprised to find him hand q
proper ticket to the conductor.
Entering into conversation with the
passenger, the detective said:
~ should like to know your plan
for travelling withouta ticket, as am
frequent traveller. and I don't mind
giving you dollar for the tip"
"Done !" said the man, and after he
pocketed the bill, he remarked quietly,
" When want to travel without q
ticket I walk"
A FRENCH REPORT OF IT.-Incident
in the States U niteds, reported by lie
Figaro:
"Great emotion in Chicago.
Zone hanged has been taken of too
soon. He is recome to life and is en-
flown himself. 1t is frightful scoun-
drel. but we cannot decently rehang
him.
1.-The sheriff makes to come the hang
"' Why did you take of the man SO
soon?'
1.-The hangman-man of aspect &C.
vere-I will make remark to your honor
that the cord appertains to me.
Ell, well-your cord?'
"' He was agitating himself much,
and that was wearing it out"
Many men who have read a good
deal. says one who has read good
deal, are sometimes hoored by chit of
a girl who dabbles little in books, be.
cause she manages to ask them about
works which lie outside their line OF
They have never, perhaps,
heard of books of which she knows lit |
tie but the titles, but, with womanlike
skill, che contrives to wave them like
red flags before their eyes.
The rural population in many couE-
ties in Illinois proves to be stationary,
if not diminishing, the gains in popu-