Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-09-18
NOTES AND COMMENTS.

LIE recent order Issued apparently by
tne SWISS government to expunge the story
OF William Tell from the school books
was bogus. The myth is to be retained, i,
even although it is only myth. Happen
ing only in some fertile imagination, it
Is an exquisite protest of liberty against
tyranny.
THE rabbit pest in New Zealand is un-
abated. The efforts put forth for the
extinction of the nuisance, which have
cost large sum, have completely failed
and the rabbits are as numerous and de-
structive as ever. 1t is now proposed
that the government shall abolish the
rabbit department and offer o uniform
price for all rabbit skins.
ALTHOUGH the small fruit crop in the
Eastern States was an almost complete fail
ure this year, California is reported to have
done very well with grapes (raisins) and
prunes and to have had generally q re-
markably good year for fruit. The yield
OF prunes is estimated ut 5000, 900
pounds, or more than a pound for each
family in the country.
In his address as President of the Ma
tlonal Electric Light Association, Mars
den j. Perry, of Providence, stated that
the capital invested in electric lighting
plants in the United States has reached
the enormous aggregate of $118, 1853, 500;
that there were at the present time in use
1880, 967 incandescent lights, 1877, AL
arc lights and 1879 stations. These fig
ures tend in measure to show the i'm
portance to which electricity has ad-
vanced within few years. This aggre-
gate does not consider the thousand and
one applications of the element other
than lighting.
RUSSIA is the leading grain exporting
country of the world, the United States,
India and Roumania following in the
order named. Odessa is the leading
grain exporting port of the Russian EN-
pire, and may be considered as the prin-
elpal business city. The export trade
has for many years been almost ex-
clusively in the hands of foreigners, and
Odessa might equally be called a French,
German, Italian or even a Hebrew city,
as far as the languages spoken or the
characteristics of the inhabitants are con-
sidered.
A MAN who has been out there says:
Riverside, the banner orange growing
eo"h III hoOuthClh Is perhaps
the richest town in the country, if the
average wealth be accurately estimated
OF 5000 persons, 2G6 are assessed for
more than $4,000 each, which represents
$12, 900 of value. So one out of every
twenty persons in Riverside has more
than $12, 900 in property. This is due to
the fact that three quarters of the people
In the town own their places; and even
if they have only five acres in oranges,
this small grove will support a family
well, as the average yield will be worth
S40O per acre every year.
Mrs. FENwIoK MILLER, well-known
London journalist and lecturer, was late
ly asked by correspondent whether she
really thought that women could, if they
liked, do all that men can do. She re-
piled as follows: "Speaking for myself,
there is at least one thing that many men
have done and now do which l know
should never have the courage to do. l
have studied medicine, contested cleo
tions, written political leaders-all like
man'-but though have never in my
life worn on my head tress of hair
which had not grown there, l am sure |
never, never should have the courage to
go about with q bald head" 1t would
probably depend, however, on whether
the "bald head" were her own or some
body else's.
THE Southern Lumberman says that
the census returns will show a most en-
couraging growth of Southern cities, and
will be substantially as follows: Louis
vile has grown from 1913, 900 population
in 1880 to 1S0, 900, Memphis from 33, 900
to Ga, 600, Nashville from 43, 900 to To-
600, Atlanta from 81, 900 to $4,000, Sa-
vannah from 10000 to 43, 900, Dallas
from 10000 to 80, 900, Galveston from
$4,000 to $4,000, Chattanooga from 49,
900 to 80, 900, Birmingham from 3, 900 to
$4,000, Fort Worth from 5000 to 81, =
000 and the growth of all other towns
has been equally as great. 1t is safe to
say that the Southern towns, taken on
an average, have almost doubled in pop
ulation within the last ten years and have
increased fourfold in wealth. The
active development of the mineral and
timber interests in the South has been
one of the chief factors in promoting the
growth of the towns, and has added no
small share to the general prosperity.
In estimating the chances of settle
ment of the long-standing troubles of
Ireland, most hopeful sign is that the
employment of light electric railways or
telpherage in that country is now being
seriocsly considered. 1t is shown that
telpherage lines might be used for bring
ing to market from the remoter districts
parcels of farm produce which cannot
now be marketed economically. In such
districts, while the production is not
enough to support even light railway,
there is real need of some ready means
of reaching the market, especially with
perishable goods. The establishment of
such means would to a certainty, declares
the New York Sun, give an enormous
impulse to small farming, dairy farming,
poultry raising and other occupations OF
the peasantry. The carriage of the mails,
too, which is now done by horse cars and
foot messengers, would be enormously
expedited. The force of the greatest
objection to the whole scheme, the pos
sible expense, is very much lessened by
the fact that water power exists in plenty
and its utilization would minimize the
cost of working.
SEVERAL polar expeditions have been
projected since the remains of the ill
fated Greely expedition were brought
home, but none of them have developed
beyond the speculative stage until now.
1t is the Swedish government that takes
the initiative this time. Next spring DR..
Nansen will start upon the quest with an
expedition abundantly equipped. OF