Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-07-11

IT is TO be hoped that the downfall of
Guzman Blanoo in Venezuela will prove
30 be permanent. For nearly twenty
years he has used his country as if it was
his private estate and treated his country
men as if they were his vassals. When
he was not President of the Republic he
was still its ruler in fact, and his private
will had all the effect of public law. The
revenues of the State he used as his own.
and his tyranny was Only surpassed by his
corruption. Yet against this tyrant no
one dared to rebel. Even in Paris,
where he now is, he continued to de-
cree the policy of Venezuela. The
actual President of the Republic was only
his instrument and Congress implicitly
obeyed his commands. At last, however,
the VenezueIans have rebelled. Pres. Paul
refuses to obey his orders. Congress no
longer fastened to sanction his acts. The
country has thrown off all show or obedi-
ence and everywhere the cry is heard,
''Down with the tyrsnt." But will the
Yenezuelans be as brave in Guzman
Blanco's presence as in his absenceF
This question is one that would not ne ed
TO be asked of all of any other country.
In no other country has self -constitut-
ed tyrant ever been able to maintain his
power for so many years. 1t is to be
feared that people who have endured
this man so long will accept him again.
/ will be interesting, therefore, to watch
the course of the VenezueIans when their
uncrowned Gar again begins to reassert
his power over them.
THOSE who have carefully followed the
development of electric appliances dur
ing the past two or three years are of the
opinion that we are upon the eve of Il
discovery vastly more important than any
which have already been'made. A Baltis
more company has obtained patents up
on multiplicity of appliances perfected
after carefully conducted experiments
extending over long period of time, and
announces that it will soon be ready to
put them into practical operation. By
the new arrangement, as described by the
Baltimore Sun, the morning papers may
be delivered for the breakfast table and
the evening papers before supper time
at distant points. 1t will deliver letters
almost with the promptitude of the tele-
graph sending message. The mails be-
tween New York and Omaha will be car
ried in a night. 1t will handle perish
able light freight from long distances,
will deliver with celebrity the mails and
parcels in cities and suburban towns, and
will multiply many times the business OF
the postoffice and express companies. It's
advantages are not alone in its speed, but
in the economy and frequency with which
trains can be dispatched. The road is to
be built on the surface of the ground
with the rails two feet apart, the motor
Ear eighteen feet long, wedge-shaped in
front, with the wheels let into the body OF
the car, and train of cars may be at
tached to the motor. Stations for gener
sting the electrical current will be placed
one hundred miles apart, and special ap,
pliances will inform the operator of To,
exact location of trains which he MAY
move backward or forward at pleasure
the speed being about three miles min
ute. Patents have been secured for pas
senger system..w applies to the CONVEX
sion of steam railroads into electric raII
roads, which cover the only safe mod
of rapid transit for passengers. Expert,
ments which have been conducted a
Laurel. Nd, are said 10 have been entire
ly satisfactory, and the company sn
nounces that it has already made pre-
iminary arrangements for long line o
road. Careful examination fails to dis
over the name of Jules Verne among tn
tockholders.