, 1891-11-07

pensioners must die some day, but the tena-
city of life exhibited by State annuitants is
always something astonishing.
Ihe Berlin correspondent of the Times gives
in tuesdays issue some interesting figures as
to the increase of German trade and prosper
lty since the war,-6gures drawn from the
annual reports of the Chambers of Commerce.
In 1871, the number of post-offces in Ger
many did not exceed z, 1875, while in 1889 it
reached 235, 900. The telegraph-of6ces also,
which in 1871 numbered but 1901, had in
creased to 5000 by the end of the following
decade. In the railroads, the advance made
is fully as noteworthy, the length of the lines
open for traffic increasing from q All kilome-
tres in 1871, to $4,000 kilometres in 1889. In
shipping, the progress made has been even
more astonishing. The number of voyages
made by German vessels in 1873 was 1896,
carrying cargo amounting in the aggregate to
6,95l 900 registered tons, while in 1889 there
were 5 1894 voyages. and a total of 81, 1898, 522.
tons of cargo. Germany now stands next to
England in the matter of mercantile marine.
We nave some $4,000 sea-going vessels.
against her 3,811. The figures given as to
the increased produce of raw material in Ger
many are equally striking, but Germany can
not grow rich and prosperous without benefit
ing countries which, like us, are willing to
trade with her without impeachment.
Some day or other, ommerce will acknow-
ledge fully the truth preached by the Ameri-
can economist, Mr.. Wells, that the cost and
the facility of transport have become even
more important than the extent of production.
We shall have all Governments insisting on
immense reductions, especially for heavy
goods, and on better goods trains for the whole
Continent, and probably Offering even in Eng
land heavy bonuses for widening the railways,
so as to admit of lines solely intended for
goods traffic. The French Government has
this week taken an immense step forward in
this direction. The Budget Committee.
which on fnan ce almost governs the Chamber,
has agreed to the sacrifice of a railway-tax
Yielding annually Ell $40, 900, on condition
that the Companies shall make an equivalent
reduction in their charges for carrying goods
by the fast trains. This is in all but form
precisely the end to which railway reformers
in America are trying to force the through
Companies, and We see even in England the
same spirit in the recent conflict upon railway
rates.
The Times of Thursday gives a detailed &C.
count of the rain-making experiments lately
tried in Texas, near the town of Midland.
The experiments, which were conducted by a
Commissioner appointed by the United States
Government-General Dryenforth-were car
ried out in an exceptionally dry district.
A number of balloons were filled with a
mixture of hydrogen and oxygen, and were
exploded, "some by time-fuses at a height of
one and a half to five miles, the rest by wire
when l,OO0ft. above the earth" In addition
there were explosions of " rackarock', powder
and dynamite on the ground. Explosives
were also set off in the tails of kites. The
effect of these explosions in every case, accord
ing to the present account, "was highly salts
factory I'm every instance a series of
explosions was followed within ten hours
by rain. This was conclusive evidence that
the explosives certainly produced rain" Fur
Their experiments on a larger scale are, it is
said, to be carried out. We doubt, however,
if any very great practical results will ensue.
If there is rain about, the explosions will no
doubt precipitate it, but we expect they will
prove useless when most wanted,-that is, in
times Of determined drought.