The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-09-29
FACTS AND COMMENTS.

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Nevada's finances are in bad cond
tion. Her taxes are said to be increas-
ing, while the assigned value of prop
erty diminishes. She finds it hard to
pay current expenses, and has funded
debt Of 1867, OF, on which she must
pay nine and ehalf per cent. interest.
1t Is affirmed by the collectors of
statistics in regard to intemperance that
in the year 1879 there was paid out for
Intoxicating drinks by the people of
Germany the sum of $3.50, 100000 and
by those of France $5S0,000, 900, of
Great Britain, $500 600 ; and of the
United States, $720,000,000 making
S2, 700 100000.
The arrival in England Of steamer
from Australia with 120 tons of meat in
good condition, indicates that American
cattle raisers must henceforth expect
competition from that quarter. The
distance traversed is, however, so great
as to give American producers important
advantages in the matter of less freight,
greater security and quicker returns.
Few sights at the great industrial fair
in Boston attract more attention than
the appearance and work Of two pupils
from the Hampton institute. One Of
these is an Apache Indian, who sur
prises all spectators by his skill in max
ing shoes. Beside the bench at which
he sits are two pair of laced shoes, neat
and substantial, one made after only
six weeks instruction at the institute,
and the other produced within two or
three days at the fan.
BY law marriage in England, except
by special license, is not legal if the
ceremony does not take place in the
morning is before noon. A special
license, obtaiDable on payment OF a cer-
tain fee to the Archbishop Of Canterbury
THAT is to one OF his clerks), legalizes a
marriage at any hour Of the day or
night. OF late it has become rather
fashionable TO purchase these special
licenses, and TO have the ceremony per-
formed in the afternoon or evening.
Three years ago the total number Of
steamships in the United States was
4,7I7-2,221 belonging to the Atlantic
coast, 80 to the Pacific coast, 9l3 to the
lakes and 1925 to the Western rivers.
The number of these engaged in ocean
commerce with foreign ports, other than
| these of the West Indies, Mexico, etc,
was insignificant and surpassed by the
smallest maritime States. Great Brit
ain has 3, 000 steamers, mainly engaged
| in ocean commerce, with total tonnage
Of 2 100000 tons. During the yeal
1880 347 steamers we're built in the
United States. One hundred ant
eighty-two of these were for the lake!
and Western rivers, and 141 for Allan
tic and gulf ports. The Boston Glo6,
points ont a singular feature of The
business of building and controlling
steamships which is, that Scotchmen il
this respect are in an overwhelming
majority.
Lieutenant D. A. Lyle has eater
grasshoppers out West, and he latel.
read paper before Spring science
association praising them as food. AL
though they naturally have disagree
able smell, he says that when cooked
they become pleasant to both smell anC
taste, 10 disguise being required. The.
can be eaten after boiling two hours
with pepper and salt. and thus prepared
ore not easily distinguished from bee
broth. Fried in their own oil the,
have nutty favor. One drawback t
their use as food is the bones i'll tn
small locusts, though in the larger one
these can be easily removed. Som
residents Of st. Louis have tried
dinner of these skillfully prepared
and liked it very we'll, and after becom
ing accustomed to the flavor they wer
considered q desirable addition to tn
bill of fare by some. These locust
feed on vegetable matter, and so ma
properly be clas sed rs clean food.
The Southern States are awaking to
realization of the riches which exist
their vast forests. The New Orlear
Democrat estimates that Louisiana COZ
tains more than 100000 acres {
wooded land. The sawmills have mad
little impression upon this vast suppl
of timber, which comprises a large VI
riety of valuable woods. Most of j
too, can be easily marketed, thanks
the bay GUS and water courses with whiC
the State is literally provided. Sine
the increasing scarcity of Western tin
Der became apparent large purchases
timbered lands have been made in AL
bama, Tennessee, Georgia and Mort
Carolina. 1t is to be hoped that tn
splendid possession, the importance
, , which the South is just beginning
comprehend, will be managed with mo
care than has been bestowed upon Il
forests of the North and West. Th
country must learn the science of fo
. estry sooner or later, and now is goo
: time to begin.
S A table of statistics prepared by Il
: census bureau shows that the judges
t the supreme court and court of apes
!, are elected in twenty eight States of {
| IInion THAR tap1l,,a of office is aS N