The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-12

of the peculiar power Of Mast.
NEW and strange uses are being discovered
for material with which we have long been
familiar. We have come to believe that paper
can be used for almost any purpose, since we
have heard of car-wheels and rails being made
from 1t, but now the Heather" guns OF old,
barrels OF leather bound with iron hoops. are to
find an imitation in cannons Of silk and steel.
A German inventor proposes to wrap steel
tube with silk until diameter is attained cor
responding with the ballistic power which is
required for the cannon. For any given di-
ameter silk possesses tenacity as great as
that of the best tempered steel, and has the
advantage of a superior elasticity. After the
tube has been made it is centered upon lathe,
which turns with great angular velocity.
Above and parallel with the tube are arranged
a number of spoos of silk, which cover the
surface in the form of q helix, by means OF
guides, without leaving any space between the
threads. When the desired thickness has been
obtained the silk is coated with gutta-percha
or hardened caoutchouc, in order to preserve it
from air and dampness. The silk being bad
conductor of heat, the gun can be fired very
often without getting hot, and 1t is stated that
it can be more easily managed, since its weight
is only one-third as great as il it were all of
steel.
THE republican state and district committees
met at the Pavilion, last evening, to decide upon
dates and places for holding the several con-
ventions to elect delegates to the republican
national convention. The state committee is
composed of the following-named gentlemen,
one from each county: George Nichols, North
field; c. S. Page, Hyde Park; F. Fairbanks, St.
Johnsbury; E. J. Ormsbee, Brandon; G. E.
Benton Guildhall; julius j. Estey, Brattle-
boro; E. p George. West Fairlee; L. o.
Greene, Woodstock Warren Gibbs, Burling
ton; ]. N. North Shoreham; j. K. Batchelder,
Arlington; Willard harrington, st. Albans
William T. Sowles, Alburgh; Elisha Lane,
Derby. The district committee for the First
congressional district are: Addison, N. F.
Dunshee Bennington, c. E. Houghton; Chit
tenden, c. W. Witters Franklin, W. R. Hutch
inson; Grand Isle, Jed p. Ladd; Lamoille, II.
c. Fisk; Rutland, A. H. Tuttle. For the Sec
ond congressional district Caledonia, H. c
Belden; Essex, C. w. King; Orange, W. II.
Dubois Orleans, O. N. Elkins; Washington,
L. Bart Cross; Windham, K. Haskins; Wind
sor, Nelson Gay The First district committee
met in the afternoon, and fixed upon Rutland
as the place of holding the convention for the
choice of delegates to Chicago, and for the
| nomination of representative in congress, both
nominations to be made by the same conven-
ton. The date was left open, awaiting the
action of the state committee. The latter was
very thinly attended, barely quorum being
present. Wednesday, April 30, at Mont
pelier, are the time and place for holding the
state convention, for the choice of delegates-at-
large. The Second district convention, for the
choice of delegates, is called at Montpelier
| Tuesday, April 80, the day before the state
convention. The state convention, for the
nominate on of state officers, will probably be
called at Burlington, June IS.
| WASHINGTON COUNTY COURT opened Tues
day morning, and prayer was offered by Rev
D. f. Miller. But small number of the Jurors
called were present, owing to the stormy
weather and bad travelling, and they were ex
cused from duty until two o'clock. In thu
meantime the jury calendar was called, disclos
and few cases were for trial. Among the most
important cases continued were The Contra
Vermont Railroad us. Fred Vania, the Town o
Roxbury Us. The Central Vermont Railroad, tn,
two cases of Benjamin Gould and Benjam
Gould and wife us The Town Of Middlesex
and Alice McMurphy Us. J. w. Harvey. o.
the coming in OF the court, in the afternoon, tn
following named jurors were called and sworn
Berlin, John Scott and G. G. Poor; Calais, c.
T. Perry; East Montpelier, Michael Hamme
and Samuel W. Hill; Marshfield, D. NJ. Pike
Middesex, Chester Taylor; Montpelier, S. M
Walton and Denison Dewey; Moretown, +
w. Flanagan and John s. Andrews; North
field, c. c. Davis and Martin Cobleigh Rox
bury, A. E. Richardson; Waitsfisld, F. d
Lamb; Warren, E. Cardel and George Bragg
Waterbury, G. R. Town and W. E. Marshall
Woodbury., w. A. Hill; Worcester, II. S. John
son. Judge Powers then offered some valu
able and instructive suggestions to the jur
} with reference to their duties, speaking of tn
Importance of trying the cases upon the ev
dence given in court instead of what Nigh
come to their knowledge outside. The frs
case for trial was that of George W. McNeish
administrator, appellant u.s. United States Hu
less Oats Company. This case, with others G
like character, has bsen on the docket sine
the March term, 1879. The plaintiff seeks t
recover for oats sold and delivered to the dc
fendant company, which was organized by
I K Sanborn, and included among its member
d. w. Ramsdell, George Smith, Clark, Gillett
I Vincent, Wallace and others, and had for il
a purpose the manufacture of oatmeal froI
: hulless oats. Defence a general denial, an
: that they never took any stock in the associi
s ton, although it seems they took considerab
J, stock in Sanborn when they were induced |
r enter into the speculation. The case is no'
Q on trial. c. W. Porter for plaintiff. w. A.
: o. B. Boyce for Clark, N. L. Boyden for Gi
J., lett and Vincent, w. P. Dillingham; for Wa
v lace The next case Is Harding Brothers q
D the same defendants, involving nearly tt
same questions.
n THE St. Albans Messenger says: "D ]
Royce of Williamstown, VT, is not one of IL
n farmers who think that the West is the on
r place where farmer can live and prospe
# He evidently does not agree with the Montp
+ lier Wdtchman that Vermont farming is goir
J. to the bad, for he writes to an agriculture
o paper: TO the man who has judgment o.
r ergy and muscle to back 1t, New Euglar
| ia, .ka ~