Morning journal and courier., 1893-12-08


 Nothing slow about Oklahoma. She is already aspiring to statehood. Her people held convention at Kingfsher last week and drew up an appeal to congress to ad- init the territory into the Union as state. Governor Renfrew delivered an address abounding with statistics. He claimed that, including the Cherokee strip, there was now population of 251 900; that the territory was free from debt and had $14,- COG, 900 of taxable property; that 9, 732, 900 acres of farming land had been taken by actual settlers; that there were thirty banks, several hundred churches ard a great number of public schools; in fine, that Oklahoma possesses vast resources, and, with its genuine American inhabit- ants, 1t will make a state equal to any other in the Union.
 An amusing figure in tue next Kentucky assembly will be Jeremiah V. Crenshsw, Republican from Bullitt county. He has been a candidate biennially since time whereof the oldest inhsbitant has no dis tinct recollection, but this Is the first time he has come In 6 winner. He Is a country magistrate. On one occasion, in render ing judgment against defendant, he ordered 8 constable to levy subject to private debt due s'the court" He Is about 70 years old, a farmer, lawyer and poli- ticisn, well-to-do, illiterste and penurious. He Is "sgin' taxes" to any amount and for any purpose, and also against every step forward, such as good roads and other improvements. He made his canvass on mule, and is under promise to ride the animal to Frankfort.
 The people of Arizona are enthusiastic over gigantic irrigation scheme which is to make the territory one of the garden spots of the continent, and they propose to try and imbue congress with some of their enthusiasm this winter, to the end that the national government shall lend substant tial aid to the scheme. The plan Is to build big steel dam In the Grand Canon of the | Colorado river of sufficient strength to re- | sist any pressure of summer floods, part of | the water thus confined to be used to oper- | ate turbine wheels to drive pumping ma chinery for elevating the remainder to the | plain above. The supply of water in the Colorado Is unfailing, and many of the most extensive valleys in the territory | could be irrigated by such system. The scheme Is generally said to bs entirely | feasible and practicable, sure of good re- | suits, but too big for private enterprise. |
 There ia a famous group of ancient and | majestic oaks in the suburb of Wsverly, Massachusetts, and if the plans of the State park board are carried out, these ancient oaks and the land on which they stand will | become part of a spacious public park in that region. The plan of the State board is to purchase this property so that Boston shall pay one-hslf, and the rest shall be divided between the cities and towns of Cambridge, Somerville, Newton, Water town, Belmont, Arlington, Walthsm and several other places. This locality is greatly frequented, partly to see these oaks and partly to examine the land which displays the formation called In geology a terminal moraine. If the plan of the State board Is carried out, and If the offer of Mir. Atkins of Belmont to present eighteen acres of land near the oaks to the board as a part of the park Is accepted, these oaks will continue to be one of the natural sttrAc- tions in the suburbs of Boston.
 The age of miracles is forever here. 4n a dark room with alternating currents of 800, ,000 voltage, Nicola Tesla, by means of atmospheric vibrations, caused a faint glow of light to appear. Explaining the phenomenon, he said: If can increase the atmospheric vibrations, say 1000, 900 sunlight in this room. Of course can increasing the voltage. I can make the voltage g, 5000, ,000 as easily as S00,000, but I am not ready to handle 5000, 900 volts of electricity. Currents of such strength would kill every body in the room. Il ex- pect, however, to learn how to control 8 large voltage. When have increased the atmospheric vibrations perhaps thousand times the phenomenon will be no longer electricity. It will be light. I am sstis- fed that sunlight can be made from cleo tricity without doing harm to anybody, and I expect to discover how 1t Is done. It Is @ grand idea, and whether the voice | through which 1t came be hushed and still, or yet resounds in the proclamation | of new truths the idea itself will be car ried to fruition, and the world will be | wiser, whatever may be the issue.
 
 There will be realistic mining camp of '49 at Midwinter fair in San Francisco. The good and bad features, the fsshy and the picturesque, will be set forth as they | existed in the feverish days of gold seek | ing. The cabins of Macksy, Perkins and Jones (the two last named now senators of
 the United Ststes) will be reproduced to the life. There will be @ shanty saloon, with barkeepers in rough shirts and boots,
 but they will sell temperance drinks only.
 The typical gambling den Is not to be omit
 ted, nor will the old miner fail to ses the
 frontier postoffics, the tent or the frame
 hut in which his newspaper was rolled of hand press, and the rough barber shop
 where he had his hair cut when 1t grew
 dswn into his eyes. At one end of the
 camp will be some Indian tents with real
 Indians, like those who used to buy fire
 water of the miners and often exchange
 shots with them when both were under its influence. At the other end of the camp
 a theater will be shown, with candles for
 footlights and anticipated properties. Here
 the variety performances which used to
 delight the rude gold -diggers will be re-
 peated. And finally there will be the min
 ing camp graveyard with It's scattered head
 stones.
 D.SuroN rnruS