The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1896-07-30
NOTES AND COMMENTS,

6OclaIlOnS III actlNe operation III the
United States. The oldest was organ
lied at Washington, Pa. in 1876, and
the two newest are found in New
Haven, Conn, a1u Elizabeth, n. J.
1S94. The number of incneratiODs re-
ported is 3,67O. The number inciner-
ated in Europe from 1876 to 1898 was
1900 The membership of the Ameri-
can associations is about 5000 and the
adherentS of the method about 100000.
The Railway Age gives the following
as the present mileage of the greatest
railroad systems in America: Pennsyl-
vania, $3.50; Chicago and Northwest
ern, 1881; Santa Fe. 7.:,h5: Chicago.
Burlington and Quincy, 1904; Canadian
Pacific, 7,103.
Statistics show that Pennsylvania
has more citizens whose sight has been
destroyed. or who have had their eyes
rendered useless. than any other state.
The large number of iron and steel
plants. and other manufactures and
mines within it's limits is responsible
for this. The fact that Pittsburgh is
the center of the iron and steel trade,
and in the most important cOal-minins,
district in the country, furnishes the eX-
PLANTATION for the fact, as stated by the
Chronicle of that city. that there are
more people in Pittsburgh wearing
glass eyes than are to be found in any
other city in the country. Those who
are in position to know estimate that
there are about 2,40O such unfortunates
in Allegheny County, or about one to
every $50 persons.
A State organization of the school
Boards or Minnesota has been formed.
There are similar organizations in IL
linois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Texas and
Pennsylvania, and a National COnven-
tion-the tirst-will be held in Buffalo
this year; in connection with the Ma
tiOnal Teachers Association. The pur-
pose in the organization of these State
Associations of School Boards is to
gather and exchange opinions and de-
cisiOnS. Without such organization, it
is argued, School Boards are indepen-
dent bodies, each acting upon its own
best judgment, and knowing little or
nothing of other boards. School teach
ers and SuperintendentS have their own
conventions and exchange Of ideas.
and it is equally desirable that mem
bers of School Boards should have an
opportunity of educating themselves
for their duties.
The figures given by Professor
Niche in the Independent of the size
and cost of the European military es
Establishments are very striking. Russia
leads off with S6S, ,772 men in her army,
while France is second with sos, ,2G',
and Germany a close third, with 5S4,-
1874. Austria follows after a consider
slips in before England with %, ,S29.
But England takes first place in the
navy with S3,400 men, followed by
France. 43,62O, and Italy 35,6O7. In the
percentage of the population for both
services in time of peace France leads
with 1.67, while Greece is second with
1.2S, and Germany third with 1.26. In
the annual cost OF both services Russia
leads off with $252. .176.S7O, followed by
France with $1S1, ,1S0,O02. The total
number of armies and navies in Europe
are 1861 ,406 men, and the cost is $973.-
2G0,215 annually. We might cut a con-
siderable figure in the list by adding
the pensions for our last war to current
army and navy expenses.
The Washington Star announces that
the two species of large water bugs
that have come to be called electric
light bugs have put in an appearance
around the electric arc lights "a most
curious thing about these bugs it
says, 'is that before the Introduction
of electric lights they were considered
to be comparatively rare. They We're
seldom seen, as they were not attracted
by ordinary light. When the arc light
appeared, however, the bugs became
enormously noticeable. Upon their ap-
pearance in such prodigious numbers
entOmologists were of the opinion that
after two or three years both species
would grow scarce, but the numbers
do not seem to be decreasing in the
slightest. While neither the Belostoma
nor the Benacus is distinctly poison
Gus. both have strong beaks, capable
of infiicting severe wounds, and it will
be wise to handle them with great care,
if at all. The very large black water
beetle will also be seen among the
water bugs around electric lamps in
the proportion of about 1 to 1OO''
Some wise French physician has dis
covered a new cure for insomnia night
mare, and all sort of nervous ills which
disturb our rest. 1t seems that the old
idea of sleeping with the head higher
than the feet is all wrong, and we must
reverse the order of things and put our
feet on the pillow, as this position as
sures profound and intellectual sleep"
1t may be new to cyclists, but n
French physician declares that cyclists,
unknown to themselves perhaps, de-
velop a gentle vibratory condition of
the body. In other words they become
human tuning forks. 1t was Dr. Petit
who gave the French Academy of Medi-