The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-13


has increased in an extraordinary de-
gree during the greater part of the
past century and during the present
one. In 1922 she had only 14OO0,OO0,
while at present she has in round num-
bers 125,0OO,OO0 inhabitants. The in
crease of her population during various
intervals of the period stated was as fol-
lows: In 1922 she had 100000;
in 1862. $4,000 600; in 1896, 10000. 900; in
1915. $1,000. 900; in 1854. 6S.000.00O; in 1872
S60000O0; in 1856. 11S,0O0,OOO and now. in
1898, she has 125, 900 inhabitants. As
to the last named number. Russia in
Europe, Poland and Finland included,
has 9S.O0O.OOO of them.
The increase referred to of the popula-
ton OF Russia is caused by high birth
rate existing there, in consequence of
early marriages among the peasants
although the death rate is also high in
that country. particularly in some parts
of it. Yet the number of the births
there is now annually 100000 larger
than that of the deaths The abolition of
serfdom in Russia was favorable to the
increase OF the birth rate there. Serf-
dom was abolished in Russia in 1861,
after it had existed for 27O years in that
country. 1t may be added yet that also
emigration from and immigration into
Russia takes place. Yet the numbers of
the emigrants and immigrants are COM
paratively small The latter chiefly come
from Germany and Austria.
Coal in Europe.
The aggregate production of coal in
Great Britain, Germany, France and
Belgium increased in the following
manner from 1865 to 1891: Production in
1865, 5O.OOO. 900; in 1875, 212.0O0.0OO; in
1885, 27O, 1000, and in 1891, 1925. 100000
tons. Thus the production of coal in
the four countries named increased
more than 116 per cent. during the pc
riod stated Of twenty-five years. In
Germany the increase was largest.
From $4,000. 900 in 1865 her production
rose to 94,00O,000 tons in 1891. France
produced $4,000 0C0 tons in 1891 or 11,500,-
600 more than in 1865. Annually con-
Stunning 36000,000 tons she does not pro-
duce all the coal she needs. The pro
duction of Belgium, that was 12,00O, 900
tons in 1865, rose TO 20,000,O00 in 1881.
Belgium is by far the smallest of the
four countries named. Great Britain
has always been the chief coal prOduc-
ing country of Europe She produced
9S. 600 tons i'm 1865 and $4,000, 600 in
1891 which numbers were larger than
Germany, France and Belgium in the
same years. Austria-Hungary has also
made great progress in the production
Of coal. her present production being
about 26,OOO,O0O tons annually. Russia,
too, comprising fully one-half of Europe,
produces a considerable amount of
coal. Coal for heating and lighting
purposes, is an inestimable boon of ma
ture to man.
RniIrOnd Bridges in Europe.
An iron railroad bridge across the
Vistula river at FordOn, a. town of Prus-
STA, Germany that is the longest rail-
road bridge of that country, has just
been finished 1t is one OF the longest
railroad bridges of Europc It's con-
struction has lasted two years and
half and it costs 100000 marks (S2.
600. OOO. The bridge has eighteen spans,
five above the water and the rest above
the level banks. The former are 100
meters 1928 feeO and the latter 81
meters (203 feeD wide. measured from
the middle of one pier to that of the
next. The most improved kind of iron
! for building purposes, to the weight OF
| II, 0OO. 900 kiIogrammes C24,250,S20 pounds
has been used for the construction of
| the bridge 1t is an interesting fact
| that the latter has exactly the same
| length as the most fashionable street, I'm
| ter den Linden, of Berlin, the German
| capital, namely 1,225 meters 4,S47 feet.
The following railroad bridges of
| Europe have the greatest length: The
bridge across the Danube river at
| Tchernavoda, Roumania, $3.50 meters d.,
| 631 feeO; lit has not been quite finished
| vet but is still building;-the bridge
| across the Tay river at Dundee, Scot
| land, 5000 meters Q0,499 feeD: the bridge
across the Firth of Forth at Queens
| ferry, Scotland, 1884 meters 0S54 feet;
| the bridge across the WAL river at
| Moerdyk, Holland, 147U meters (4.S23
| feeO; the bridge across the Volga
river at Sysran, Russia, 1,4SS meters
| (4,71S feet; the bridge across the Wis
cribed above, 1925 meters (4347 feet;
| the bridge across. the Vistula river at
Graudenz. Germany, 1892 meters C3.5S3
feeO: the bridge across the Nistula riv
er at Thorn. Germany, gl1 meters SlS6
| feeO, and the bridge across the Vistula
river at Dirschau, Germany, 7S5 meters
| (2,576 feet.
The Vintage of France.
The time of gathering grapes in
France commenced this year in the
| vicinity of Bordeaux the oath of
| August. Dry weather, moderated by
sufficiently strong night dews, during
the months of July and August, thus
| by more than one month accelerated
! this year the vintage Of the district
referred to. In the neighborhood of
Vendome, Department of Loire-et-Cher,
the vintage commenced still earlier.
Some of the wine-growers there from
| early bearing vines, grated upon
| American plants, adopted there on
account of the damage done by the