Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-06-22

be nine times that of powder. A quantity
not larger than a poppy seed of the sub
stance which causes this explosion Is sufa'
cient and 1t is inserted into the cartridge
by means of needle.
The Turkish government has discovered
that 1t pays to allow Jews to buy and hold
real estate in Palestine. The American
Israelite reports that Jewish real estate
dealers have been licensed to acquire land
In Palestine, and will have all the protec-
ton that is accorded to natives. This
opens the country to immigration again
and will attract thousands of Jews from
Roumania, Russia and Morocco. Since
Baron Rothschild founded colonies In
Palestine the taxes collected from the lands
in possession of Jews have more than
quadrupled, and Jewish capitalists have
stimulated the new Turkish complaisance
by Offering to advance to the governments
the tithes for certain number of years.
According to the census report of the
mortgage debt of Oregon, which has just
been published, that State occupies very
creditable position when comparisons are
made with other States. For instance, 1t
has per capita mortgage debt of $7s,
whereas that of Kansas is $170, Massa-
chusetss s144, Nebraska $128, Connecticut
$1O7, Rhode leland $106, Iowa $104, nli-
nois 500, etc. Tennessee has the lowest
per capita debt, $23. In the ratio betwesn
the debt and the estimated real value of
all taxed real estate, Oregon is represented
by s.11, Kansas 2s13, Nebraska 24.5s,
Massachusetts, 19.42, etc. Between 1880
and 1889, the mortgage debt of Oregon in
creased from 81, 1913, $50 to 81, ,451 1874, or
173 10 per cent. The increase in popula-
ton was 79.53 per cent. The rate of in
crease of the mortgage debt was much
more largely on lots than acres. The num-
ber of acres encumbered in 1880 was 1885,
S26, and in 1889, 931, ,957; lots, 2,699 and
S,455, which indicates rapid development
of cities.
The Illinois Supreme court has rendered
a decision sustaining the validity of the
last will and testament OF the late John
Crerar. Mr.. Crersr died in 1890, leaving
a large estate. The will bequeathed more
than 81, 800, 900 to his heirs. There were
various small devises to local churches and
societies and the great bulk of the residue,
amounting to about 81, 500, 900, was direct
ed to be employed in founding and endow-
ing the John Crerar public library. The
probate of the will was contested by GER
tain heirs of Mr.. Crersr residing in Canada
and Scotland, of whose existence he had
no knowledge at the time he executed the
instrument. The contest has resulted ad-
versely to these claimants and the bequests
of the testator will now be carried into
effect. AS a result of Mr.. Crerar's bsneH-
oence and the approving decision of the
supreme court, Chicago will secure another
great free public library. The directors
will probably take steps at an early date,
now that the contest over the probate of
the will has been settled in their favor, to
carry out the desires of the testator.
One of the rarest coins of the United
States mintsge was recently sold in Bos-
ton for $1,000. 1t was a silver dollar of
1904. There are many stories about this
issue of United States coin. 1t Is said
that there are not more than eight, at the 4
most, known to be in existence. Accord
ing to the record of the United States
mint 10, $40 silver dollars were coined in
1904. One of the stories about the use of
this mintsge is that they were sent to
Africa to pay off American sailors who
were engaged in a war on the Mediter-
ranean with Tripol at that time. 1t is
ssid that the natives took a very great
fancy to these coins and that the sailors
parted with them for souvenirs. 1t was
stated that later the chiefs of the tribes
valued these dollars SO highly as orna-
ments and tokens that they took great
trouble to get possession of them and
that, partly through robbery or trickery,
they succeeded in getting possession of
ali the dollars issued that year. The dollar
of 1904 has flying eagle with thirteen
stars upon the reverse while the face bears
the date and the head of the goddess of
liberty with floating hair.