Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-06-27
oLEAN1NGs FROM EVERYWHERE.

If you can count three slowly-that is,
one count to the second-between the
flash of lightning and the peal of thunder,
you may know that destruction has not
been wrought in your own locality. The
flash and the crash are really slmultane.
Gus, only the light Of the former travels
much more swiftly than the sound of the
latter. If it takes three seconds for the
noise of the thunder to reach you, then
the storm is 3,270 feet-two-third of a
mile-away. But when the flash and the
peal come close together, then shake
yourself to see if you are hit.
Drinking water is carried through all
passenger trains in some of the States at
brief intervals and passengers find it a
convenience. The trip to the water cooler
in a rapidly moving train and the gym
nastic skill required to presevere ones
balance while taking draught in full
view of admiringfellow-p passengers should
be unnecessary. A water boy is an i'm
provement on the candy boy. Small at
tentlons of this sort reduce the discom-
forts of long trips by rail. The custom
began on Connecticut railroad during
the war when water was carried through
the cars to sick and wounded soldiers
returning from the front A law was
passed in 1864 making the service obliga-
tory and extending it to all passengers.
Now is the time to give the victuallers
a needed respite by a general reduction
in the amount ofmeat consumption. Veg
etables are plentiful and cheaper and
more wholesome than meat fruits are
becoming more abundant, and they are
not only healthfuI, but in large degree
nutritious as well. Those who eat least
meat during such Intensely hot weather as
that of the past week are the ones who
sleep best, also those who drink as little
ice water as possible. If you will drink it
take it in moderate draughts. There is a
constant temptation in hot weather to
drink freely of ice water. 1t tastes good,
very good, and it requires a considerable
amount of moral courage to abstain from
gulping down a large gobletful of it at
once, instead of consuming five or ten
minutes in the operation. Water of high
er temperature will much more effectu-
alleg quench thirst, and those who care
to notice the effect of a copious drink of
ice water will find that in minute or two
thereafter the cooling effet is annulled
and an uncomfortable sensation OF warmth
follows.
The assessment returns from the sew
eral counties of Pennsylvania shows
marked increase in the value of real es-
tate compared with the assessment of
1888. There is gain Of 90,571 in the
number of taxable inhabitants, of which
Philadelphia is credited with 70, GAO. The
reports from the counties of Allegheny,
Blair, Centre, Cumberland, Franklin,
Lackawanna, Luzerne, Mifflin, Warren
and Wyoming show slight decrease in
the number of taxahles. The remaining
counties show an increase, although in
some the gain is less than Que hundred.
In the value of all real estate taxable for
county purposes there is an increase of
S162, ,50S,5S7 over the previous year.
There is an increase of 25,404 in the
number of horses returned, and an increase
of 81, ,733, ,496 in their value, and in the
number of cattle the increase is Al 1867,
with an increase of 500, OIL in their value.
All the counties return money at interest,
with the additional amount of 81, ,379, ,2S1
over the previous year In twenty.eight
counties there is an increase in the
amount returned, while IN thirty-nine
there is decrease. In 1888 the aggre-
gate value of all property taxable for State
purposes was returned at $431 III, ,SS1,
while for the present year it is $44S, ,537,-
1870, making an increase of $17, ,425, ,240.
and the increase in the amount of State
tax assessed is $52, ,279.97 over the pre-
vious year. Fifty-one counties of the
State show an aggregate debt of S64 AT.
9S0.63, AS compared with last year there
is a decrease of 81 ,647, ,312.03. IN ten
counties the debt has been Increased,
while in thirty-one it has been decreased.