Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-04-29
TIMELY TOPICS.

! 1t Is computed that the sum total OF
| the cost of the last war between Ger
many and France was 50, SOC, 600 900. A
French economist does not share the
opinion expressed in some quarters that
Germany did not profit much by the
war. After pointing TO many things
| which the indemnity has enabled Ger
many to accomplish. he says that there
| is fund of $500, 900. 900 unaccounted
| for, which, he presumes has gone into
the famous war reserve fund.
The happiest town in the world is
Haltem, near Munster, Prussia. Owing
to the value acquired by tie town prop
erty, the citizens are not only able to
! defray the whole communal expenditure
out of the annual returns, but are able
to distribute large surplus each year
among the citizens. Recently this year. 8
surplus, amounting to $4,000 marks,
was thus divided among the inhabi-
tants OF this enviable parish. As this
good fortune, however, becomes known,
there must be serious danger of the
happy little town becoming overpopu-
lated.
An item in the statistical returns of
the United States dead letter Office for
the past year affords a singular COM
mentary on the epistolary intelligence
of the country. From the $4,000 post
offices distributed throughout the coun-
try, no less than IL, 900 dead letters were
received at the postofice department
each day. Another singular thing is,
that the largest proportion of these let
ters come from New England, and the
vk "a t.,
letters there were found during the past
year $35.000 in money and 81, 500, 900 in
drafts, and ninety-five per cent. of the
money and ninety-seven per cent. of the
drafts were returned safely to their
owners.
A new invention for telegraphing
from railway trains while in motion to
stations and to other moving traius, is re-
ported from Sweden as working sue
cessfully at a recent trial before invited
guests. While the train containing the
inventor, Egineer Dahlstrem, and his
friends, was running at the highest rate
of speed allowed on narrow-guage
roads a telegram was sent 60 the Vester
Uit Posf, saying: '' We are running at
full speed toward Tuna. Railroad
Tall l6ltgEdu-d NEW VlCtOIy dcul6V0u
by the human mind" Later two trains
started for Bladda, the one which left
first telegraphing the other when to
start, and afterward holding almost
constant communication with it. The
details of the invention are still the in
ventor's secret.
There seems to be but little prospect
of an early termination of the South
American war, if any value is to be
pplaced on oaths. At the beginning OF
the struggle 757 officers Of the Bolivian
army, all above the grade of sub
lieutenant, swore the following fright
full oath. with a request that posterity
would take note of it: We, who carry
sword at our girdle, which our father
land has confided to us to defend it and
preserve intact its honor, swear thou
sand times over not to sheathe that
sword before avenging the outrage
which Chill has committed on Bolivia.
And to fulfill these oaths we are pre-
pared for every sacrifice. beginning by
the announcement of salaries, ard sub
jecting ourselves to camp rations on the
same scale as the soldiers. Thus be it,
and let posterity judge us.