Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-30
CURIOUS CONVERSATIONS.


During 1890 there were built in the
United States $500 churches.
The value of the Argentine wheat crop
this season has been estimated at $50, 900 600
"A Young lady in GAINESVILLE, Tex, has
the longest hair in the world. 1t trails on
the ground over four feet, and is of a beauti-
full red-gold color.
"A well-known mineral water Is to be
brought from the springs to Chicago by
glass pipes. The pipes will be surrounded
with an outer case OF iron.
On the summit of Ben Lomond may be
seen the smallest tree that grows in Great
Britain. 1t is known as the dwarf willow.
and is, when mature, only about two inches
in height.
Sixty years ago only one public bank
ing company existed in London, and at the
that time opened rarely, and with the great
est difficulty.
Two accomplished Sau1t Ste. Marie
cows walk up stairs in the houses and mani
fest evidences of great enjoyment as they
view the surrounding landscape from the
second story windows.
The railroads Of the country employ
100000 men. Each year they lose 1000 Of
their number in killed, ana 20, 900 of them are
injured annually: 1t is estimated that 5000
900 people depend on these employees for a
living.
I'm Southern hotel, it is stated, instead
of an electric button. every room will have a
telephone connected with the office. Guests
will be able to communicate not only with
the Office, but with their friends in other
rooms at Will
DIR. Clement, who was treating horse
at Better, Hinsdale county, supposed to be
H.
out OF the antmals ear. The strange ivory
was jerked out and the suffering animal
promptly recovered.
The great $500" Canal accumulates q
trade far in excess of that which passes
through the SueZ Canal. Some idea of its
immensity can be gathered from the fact
that closing lock for three DAYS caused to
shippers loss of more than 81, 100000.
-Lepers in India were treated with shock,
ing inhumanity before Christianity entered
that country. Many of them were buried
alive. The English rulers have put a stop
to this CUSTOM and for fourteen years there
has been II special Christian mission to the
5,OCO lepers in India
"A handful of raw pig iron, weighing
about five pounds, is worth cents; it would
make about sixty table knife blades, worth
$l5; converted into steel watch springs,
there would be about 1l0,2 of these little
coils, which, at the rate OF sl.75 a dozen,
would be valued at s16, ,070.S3.
The lobster is greatly in dread Of
thunder. and when the peals are very loud
numbers of them drop their claws and swim
away for deeper water. Any great fright
may also induce them to drop their claws.
But new claws begin at once to grow, and in
a short time are as large as the old ones, and
covered with hard shells. The lobster often
drops its shell, when it hides until the new
shell is hard enough to protect it.
The Census Bureau has issued a bulletin
giving the assessed value of real and per-
sonal property in the United States. This
shows the total assessed value in 1890 was
s24 249 $50, sOi an increase since 1880 of s7,346
596,26l, an amount equivalent to the true
value OF all the property as returned by the
census of 1850. The absolute wealth of the
Nation is estimated at s62, $40 0.0OO or $1,000
per capita, as against $50 per capita in 1880
"A collection of Eskimo works of art,
made by Assistant Superintendent Edward
of the cryolite mines at Arsuk Fiord, Green
land, is described by John R. Spears in
Nature. 1t includes candiesticks, cigar
holders, ash receivers, anchors, paper
weights, ETC., made of green stone. The
articles were all made to sell to the Danish
rulers. for the Eskimo themselves have no
use for ornamental art; but they show con-
skill in sculpture.
The rate of travel of thunder-storms
has been studied by Herr Schronrock from
the record of 1877 such storms in Russia in
lSsS The velocity is found to have varied
from IL to 80 miles an hour, " fth a mean of
Is 6 miles an hour in the hot season and in
creasing to 80 miles an hour in the cold sea-
son. 1t was least in the early morning, in
creasing to a maximum between and lOP.
u. The storms Travelled most quickly from
west and northwest.
I'm the general report of the commission
In Prussia in charge of mining matters,
which has recently been published, the COM
nissioners state that in their opinion cleo
tricity is perfectly safe for mine use, pro-
yided care is taken to see that conductors
are properly insulated, lamps well protected
and the current not too intense. a moro
extensive use of electricity in mines would
be possible were portable electric lamp
devised combining simplicity, duration OF
power and cheapness.
Valley City, N. D., has, it is said, one
Of the most extraordinary specimens of
horse flesh in existence. He is a sorrel,
stands fully 10 hands, or feet 4 inches from
ioor to withers; his legs are feet inches
before touching the body, and a small
1roncho can easily walk under him. A man
feet in height can't see over his back, even
when standing on tiptoe. In length he is
ully l3 feet, or II feet from tip Of nose to tip
If tail. When standing with his head as or
linarily checked up six-foot man, by stand
ng on tiptoe, can just touch the base of his
The Lake of Gennesareth, called also
he Sea of Galilee, etc., situated in Palestine,
5 miles north of the Dead Sea, is pear
haped. The greatest width is so miles; its
xtreme length is Is miles. The Jordan en-
ers it muddy at the north, and passes out
lear at the south. The natural features of
he lake are neither various nor especially
ttractive. The chief interest connected
With it is that Christ passed much Of His
ime on its shores. 1t abounds in the best
.inds of fish, which made the southern part
f it particularly noted as a fishing ground.
he towns around it in former times are
ow mostly in ruins.
The magnitude of the figures concern
ng the operations of the railways of the
United States in 1890, presented in Poor's
fanual is indeed wonderful. When it is re-
rendered that the total revenue of the
Tnited States for the year ending June 30
39I, was 1892 100000 the vastness of the
arnings of the railroads, 81, ,056 0O0, ,000 may
erhaps be better appreciated. The net
arnings of the roads, s34l, 100000 almost
quail the gross receipts of the United States.
nd then as to traffic, it is hard for the mind
} grasp the figures. About ], 500, 900 passen-
ers day, and every day in the year almost
900, 900 tons of freight per day and an aver
ge of revenue train mileage of over 100000
er day.