Smyrna times., 1880-12-29

Genersl Grants views OH the subject OF
an interoceanic canal will be given in an
article in the forthcoming number OF the
North Amerlcaa Revie,C. Captain ). l.:
Phelps, one of the incorporators named
in Mr.. Morton's bill creating the Nicara-
qua Interoceanic Canal Company, gives
reasons why Americans should oppose
the Panama Canal project.
JACOB GoGEL and his wife were found
murdered in bed at their home, near
Bethlehem, Pa, on Monday. Joseph
SNYDER. who boarded with them, was
suspected of the crime, and, being caught
by crowd, was hanged to the nearest
tree, This is said to be the first instance
known of the successful execution OF
lynch-law in Pennsylvania.
SCARLET SOURCE Much excitement
prevails at Houtzdale, Clear6eld county, |
Pa, over the ravages of the scarlet fever
among the children. Eighteen children |
died Friday from the disease, and Satur- |
day many new cases were reported. 1t
is but few days since the first case was
made known, and already thirty deaths
have resulted from the fatal fever.
LoTTERY-DEALERs have felt the mild
terrors of the law in the United States
Circuit Court during the past week.
Eleven dealers and clerks were convicted
of sending lottery circulars through the
mails, and in all but two cases, in which
appeals were taken, fines were collected
with costs. This is the severest punish
ment, unfortunately, which the statute
under which these prosecutions were
brought allows.
IRELAND's Christmas was a dull and sad
one. The people are depressed, and the
political agitation has practically destroyed
business. The home-rule members of the
British Parliament had meeting in Dub
lin on Monday, and elected Parnell chair
man of the party. The meeting resolved
that the party should produce no measure
until the government had shown its hand,
also to move an amendment to the Queen
to refrain from employing the navy, police
and military in enforcing ejectments when
rents exceed the poor law valuation.
THE temperance testimonial to Mrs.
Hayes is to take two forms A life-size
portrait is to be panied by Mr.. Hunting
ton for the White House, and this pic
ture will be engraved and copy be sent
to everyone who contributes SIS to the
fund. 1t is expected, moreover, that the
subscriptions will run up so as to leave q
large surplus after the picture is paid for
and this is to remain as permanent fund
to be named in honor of Mrs. Hayes, and
to be used in circulating total abstinence
literature. The ladies in charge of the
testimonial will be disappointed if thii
fund does not reach $4,000.
A WRITER in Ha,per's Monthly develops
some disagreeable data relative to life in
surance. The business, in the main, i
declared to be complicated swindle
Two out of twenty are all that matur
and the average life of policies is onl,
seven years. In one way or another the,
are gotten rid of. and the companies maxi
largely through forfeitures or the pur
chase of policies at small cost. Thes
facts make bad showing and widel
published may lead to reforms in tn
system, which would seem to be mucl
needed, as millions of the peoples none
are involved.
JEWS IN THE UNITED SrATEs.-Unde
the title, &c Statistics of the Jews of tn
United States" the Union of America
Hebrew Congregations has published Nh
William E. Hackenburg's report. H
has been engaged some five years in col
lecting and arranging the Statistics,
from which we obtain the following sum
mary: Jewish population of the Unite,
States about 25O,OUO; number of congre
cations 278, with membership of abou
$4,000; value of real estate and othe
property (synagogues, hospitals, GENE
teries, &C., owned by congregations an
beneficent societies about $7,OOO,0OO.
The Irish situation hourly grows NOR
critical. The impcrium ~ imper1o estat
lished by the Land League is a menace
the integrity of the British Empire in tn
central seat of its power. 1t is evider
that nothing less than the autonomy {
\ Ireland will now content the Irish peopl
1t the dream of independence could |
realized the result would be hailed wit
JOY by the great maiori'y Of American
but the precpitaton O. -,ruggle befo
the popular sentiment of England
thoroughly enlisted in their behalf cou
only add new chapters to the tragic hi
tory Of fearfully oppressed and m:
treated race.
RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION Careful
compiled statistics show that this We
there have been constructed $3.50 mil
OF new railroad in the country, agair
1884 in 1879, 2,243 in 1878, 1914
1877, 1888 in 1876, 1924 in 1878, / 8
IN 1874, 1906 in 1873 and ,O65 in l87
The roads have been built at an estimat
cost of $4,000 per mile, making o,
xl75,00o,000, and most of this mon
has been expended upon lines west of
mississippi river. 1t would not be a
prising If the construction of railro,
next year should be as great "a that
1872, for she capital is ready for the
tension of all the Southwestern lines q
the completion of the Northern Pacific
A HEAVY snow fall prevailed dur
Saturday from Indiana eastward 10
Aleghanies and the southern line
Kentucky northward. In Virginia.
storm continued Sunday, the snow al
mating with hail and rain. After rain
nearly all Of Saturday night, Il begal
snow IN baltimore early Sunday morni
and ceased after foot had fallen