The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1884-07-12
HERE AND THERE

Nearly eighteen per cent. OF the
male population of Italy. between the ages
of twenty and twenty-five, can neither read
nor write.
The average income in Kam-
schatka is 81 per year, and when man
loses cent in that country he goes into
bankruptcy:
The assessed valuation of the real
and personal estate in the City of Philadel-
phia. is $5S3,6l2, ,GS3, an increase of S12,-
129, 42s over 1888.
The historic island of St. Helena
is reported to be in very bad way, the
abandonment of the Cape route since the
opening of the Suez Canal having taken
away it trade in refitting and victualins
ships.
Elder Smoat, Mormon mission
ary, has been expelled from Bavaria by
order of the Minister of State. Smoat had
succeeded in making numerous converts
whom he was preparing TO send to Utah,
but his plan has been broken up for the
present.
It is singular fact that the
abest men in either branch of Congress did
not have the advantages of 'coliesiate
education. This applies to Edmunds,
Sherman, Wilson of Iowa, Bayard and
Pendeton in the Senate, and to Randall,
Carlisle, Kelley. Mckinley, Reagan and
Curtin, in the House.
The London Saturday Review
indulges in grave and ponderous article
upon the performances Of an American
ne ,ro minstrel show in the British metro
polls, and remarks that the II ime 1" MastO-
don Minsrels is not i'll chosen, for some
of the iests retaled by the comedians
surely belong to the age of the mastodon
and tie mammoth.
Russian advances in the far East
are again attracting much attention. 1t is
believed in England that Russia. being
emboldened by the success of France in
Tonauin. is deliberately attempting to pick
quarrel with China in the expectation of
adding to Russia territory in Asia. Ere
quent collisions have occurred on the
Russo-Chncse frontier, and there are other
indications of al approach of serious hos
tilities.
It is said that two discoveries of
large bodies of anthracite coal haye been
made in northern Mexico. The accounts
of these coal beds which have reached San
Francisco are extraordinary. and if the ex-
perts who are going to examine them
should find them as stated the results on
| manufacturing in San Francisco and
vicinity will be very important. 1t is said
| that the cost of mining and transporting.
| with fair profit will not exceed Sc per
| ton.
The Government Of India have
received the reports of the preliminary ex-
animation of the oil-bearing strata which
exist in the neighborhood of Sibi. The
professional reports are SO encouraging
that the Government have determined to
procure from England the necessary
machinery for boring operations. These
will begin next winter, and will be con-
Quoted on an extensive scale. If the re-
suits Justify the sanguine hopes enter
tanned, the discovery will be one of impor-
tance in relation to Indian industrial de-
yelopment and the solution of the Centr. l
Asia Qustion.
The Post Office is fairly good
barometer of the commercial prosperity of
a place. In Japan a kind of bankruptcy
prevails, and the people are unable to pay
hostage on their letters hence they have
ceased writing to one another. The Post
Office returns for February show that the
number of letters which passed through
the post dnring that month 2os,s1S less
than the number for January, and the
number of postal cards 800, ISL less. This
is very astounding difference, and Febru'
ary the month for valentines, too. Is
romance dead in that land OF the Rising
Sun?
The manufacture of mineral wool
has been begun at the Isabella blast fur
naces at Sharpesburg, near Pittsburg, Ia :
1t is produced by throwing jet OF steam
against the stream of hot Stag as it flows
from the furnace. The product is similar
in appearance to third grade cotton, but in
weight is about eighty per cent. heavier.
It is incombustible, and when placed in
the fire it remains unaffected. 1t has been
used for packing to deaden sound, for a
protection against fire and for various
other purposes. 1t is an excellent pcllsii-
ing agent. Hundre Is ofpeople are visiting
the furnaces to witness this novel manu.
facture.