Morning journal and courier., 1880-02-10
HAVEN. CONN, TUESDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY TO-, 1880

l ington over the threatening aspect of affairs | in Europe. The belief among them is that
 Russia is looking to cordial understanding l with France, and that as to the latter the question of war with Germany Is one now re- ceiving very serious attention ats the hands
 of those directing the affairs of the republic.
 They have completed the Notifications of Paris, and they are regarded as imprsgnable.-
 Their army is ample in numbers, their war
 material abundant, and their finances in ex-i
 cellent condition. As an indicator of the near approach of trouble in Europe, all the 1ega- tions have information of large sums being
 sent here for investment by men of prom
 thence in the affairs of the continent, and by leaders in commercial affairs. Inquiries have also been received as to the probable
 producing capacity of our arms manufacto-
 ries, and as to the surplus of our provisions.
 Some of the newspapers of the Dominion are beginning to see that 8 Canadian Pacific railroad is going to cost altogether too much
 money if built after the present plan. The Quebec Herald figures it up this way Lake Nipissing to Thunder Bay, 630 miles, at $7O,- 900 per mile, $44, 100, 900. Thunder Bay to selkirk, 40 miles; at $5o, ,ooo per mile, $2o,- 500 GOO. Selkirk to Yellow Head Pass, 1,043 miles, at $2O,O00 per mile, $20, S60, 900.
 Yellow Head Pass to Burrard Inlet, 493 miles, at $10O, ,000 per mile, $49, BOG, 900. There is total estimated cost of $134, 76O, ,00O, which will doubtless be swelled to $15O, 1000, 900 when the road is finally completed. When it is considered that the road will run through about two thousand miles of an almost unin- habItable country; that there are not 100, 900 souls living in the whole territory which reaches from Lake Nipissing to fhe Pacific; that this vast country cannot be settled up to any appreciable extent for great many years and that under these oireupnstances the railroad should, of necessity, be construct ed as 8 colonization road, to be improved as it's traffic develops, and not as great trunk line through an old, densely populated and wealthy country, the Herald thinks it must be evident to every impartial mind that capital is being reeklessly and uselessly squandered on it's construction, and that the finances of the country are being imperiled.
 The idea of discarding the drum in the French army is again being seriously dis cussed in France. Those who support the proposal argue that the drummer is useless as a soldier. He cannot defend himself, and he is encountered in his movements by an instru- ment which, when it is wet, will not give forth any sound. Then too, the drum cannot be heard at any great distance, and in any case signals given by 1t are difficult to under stand. Impeded by his drum, the drummer, 1t is further pleaded rarely steps full pace, and consequently the marching of the whole column, at the head of which he moves Is disordered. In the French army there are, it is calculated, nearly 2. .OOO drummers in time of peace, and double that number when the army is on war footing; and it is argued that if these men were given bugles instead of drums, they would be able to take their share in fighting as actual oombatants. On the other hand, those who object to abolition maintain that the drum can be heard more distinctly and at greater distance during the rattle of musketry aud the noise of battle than any bugIe that it's beat will be more inspirit- ing to men charging than would be the dis cordant and feeble notes which, under the same circumstances, would be sounded by the bugle; that if wet and damp affect the drum, cold will affect much more prejudicially the lips of the bugler and that the idea of utiIiz- ing the latter as an actual fighting man is sim plv impracticable