The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-11-08
Passing Events.

A Canadian geologist' who has just re.
turned to Winnipeg from four months
exploring tour in the Valley of the Sas-
katchewan and other parts of the Brit
ish Northwest Territories, claims to have
discovered proofs Of the existance of in
exhaustible coal fields, varying from lig-
mite on the plain to bituminous near
the mountains and anthracite in the
Rockies themselves.
Next to the fur trade, fishing is Alas
ka's most important industry, both in
regard to the amount of capital invested
and the number of persons employed.
At certain seasons Of the year the Alas.
kan waters fairly swarm with fish, and
30 ravenous are these that they will
readily bite naked hook. The supply
is practically inexhaustible, and fine
large fish are bought by the canneries
from the Indians at $3.50 per lGO.
The salmon are not as large as those OF
the Columbia river, but the great diff
ference in price much more than makes
up the difference in size.
A scheme for the establishment of an
observatory on the British coast for the
study of marine animals and plants in
relation to fish and fisheries is proposed
by Sir john Lubbock and other scientists.
It is thought that the profits arising from
;he Fisheries exhibition in London
could furnish the 100000 required for
the enterprise. The utility of such in
,titutions has been recognized by the
Italian, French and Austrian govern
ments, who have established them on
their coasts.
A writer in Lippincott's says, with
emphasis: "The economy of French
cooking is something to open American
eyes. Not q drop of the water in which
vegetables are boiled ever drains away
wasted but with cash of milk and a
little pork fat or butter is made good
soup-vehicle by means Of which to con-
sumo dry bread" When our cooking
schools teach this art ofeconomy in util-
izstion of material, they will even be
even more useful than at present.
A recent wedding in Michigan caused
great excitement. The names Of the
parties were Hantz, end the bridegroom
was nineteen years old and the bride a
widow, fair, fat, and forty" 1t appears
that the young man was keeping COM
pany with his cousin, blooming girl,
and that she was all ready to get mar
ried, when they had flare up" and
for spite the boy caught on to the widow,
who is his aunt by marriage, and we'd
ded her. The parting words OF the mar,
ried bride to the disappointed girl
will have lots of fellows. "A necdotes of
Widows.
The newest story from the mines in
New ss.Mexico is from Socorro, where
they tell of miner whose Bible fell
over precipice while he was doing.
He descended into the canon to recove r
the book, and found it lying open on a
piece of rich quartz that had been dis
lodged by the fall. His eye fell on the
seventh chapter of St. Matthew. Tie
miner read, ASK, and it shall be given
unto you; seek, and you shall find" He
searched and speedily found lodge
over two feet IN width that assays-so
the story goes-S225 ton. The story
has since been overrun by prospectors
with Bibles in their hands.
Last year $4,000 persons were arrest
ed in Paris. and only 5000 women we're
included in this sum total. The list Of
professions and occupations is very mis-
cellaneous. Among the arrested were
5000 .ocksmiths, and the police had to
take charge of G6) cabnaen. The night
men form heavy item in this bill, 1,1C0
of them having been under arrest in
1882. The figure 20 speakes well for
the general good conduct Of the various
officials employed in the postofice. In
the higher walks of life 81 s:ockbro kers
and "a men of letters, (this
term including Journalistic are noted as
having been in trouble. In the total
number of prisoners charged with crime
or misdemeancr there were 1901 for
eigners. To this figure Belgium contrib
uted $50, Italy 759, Germany 379, Swift
erland S75, England l26. The contingent
from the little state of Luxembourg
reached the high figure Of 275.
The bird population Of Wisconsin is
estimated at sixty-six per square mile
or 6, 595 900 for the state. Each bird is
assumed to eat fifty insects day. or G..
900 for the Summer. Hence all the birds
will consume 1854, 100000 insects q
year. Add to this amount the work
which these birds do in their southern
homes and we have low estimate Of
the influence they exert over insect life.
Multiply these figures by forty-elght,
for the states and territories, and we
arrive at the conclusion not only that
our bird population is pretty large, but
also that, without it, our bug popula ton
would soon be 80 large that it would eat