Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-03-25

| same track were coupled together, facing
opposite directions, the steam locomotive
was dragged helplesaly along by its rival
in spite of Its throttles being thrown wide
open. The speed of the electric locome-
tive is said to be 100 miles an hour. The
storage locomotive, equal in power and
speed to the trolley engine, has likewise
been perfected, but Its cost is SO much
greater than that of even the trolley loco
motive that Its use at present is not to be
expscted.
An interesting legal fight between the
city of st. Louis and the Western Union
Telegraph company has just been con-
ciuded. The city taxed the company So
apiece for each of its telegraph poles with
ia the city limits which it refused to pay
on the ground that the streets and public
places were post roads under the control
of the United States; and also that the city
was taxing their privilege to carry on bus
mess, and was therefore unconstitutional.
The case was carried to the supreme court
which fails to sustain the company, saying
that municipalities in granting permission
to telegraph or telephone companies to
erect poles in the streets, practically gives
them the exclusive use or lease of SO much
real estate for which the giver has the
right to exact compensation, which is in
the nature of rental This decision will
be of interest to every city in the country.
Trinity church, Omaha, Nebraska, has
adopted the nickle-in-the-slot idea as the
means of liquidating ita church debt. At
the close of each session of the Sunday
school the superintendent brings forth an
artistieally shaped red-lettered box with a
slot in the lid. 1t is called the birthday
box. The man of discretion invites all
who have had birthdays during the pre-
oeding week to come forward and deposit
a nickle for each year of their age. It Is
supposed, of course, that none but the
superintendent and the cheerful giver sees
and counts the nickles as they drop into
the box, which, as precautionary measure,
Is padlocked. The scheme Is reported to
be great success, as from one to three
persons pay tribute and make silent con-
fession each week. The report fails to
state whether the superintendent ever for
gets his discretion or whether the bottom
OF the receptacle is padded to prevent
would-be snoopers from counting the nick.
els as they pink PUNK, pink plunk into
the box.
Chancellor Caprivl does not have much
faith in the efficacy of international agree
ments to protect private property in time
of war. During the debate in the Impe-
rial Diet upon the German naval estimates
he spoke on this subjsot as follows: A
motion has been laid before the house ad-
vocating an international agreement for
the protection of private property at sea
In time of war. My attitude towards this
question has not changed do not for a
moment believe in the feasibility of the
plan, for If any advantage is to be derived
from injury done to private property in
time of war no one will hesitate to seize
the chance. 1t is only by ironolads, cruis.
ers, and torpedo boats that we can defend
our commerce on the high seas. If our
i"PoA' 'hooo "oho cut oA ny Waf, 0sE-
many's existence might hang in the bal
anoe. We must reckon with the chance of
misfortune, though good harvest enables
US, especially in CO operation with Austria,
to satisfy the demand for food. Trade
and commerce would be most seriously
endangered by hostile blockading feet,
and to avoid such a crisis we must have
ironclads, cruisers and torpedo boats.