Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-07-07
STATE HOUSE.
Commissioner Carr Says Maine 1
Having Many Fires.
New Books Tor Library Other News Gathered
at the Capitol.

al the Capitol.
Secretary McKeen, OF the State
board Of agriculture has returned
from a trip of farmers Institutes held
in Washington, Hancock and Penob-
scot counties. There, were seven held
in ALL
At each there was an attendance of
100. and at all but two there were over
200
Mr.. McKeen is very gratiRed, and
feels that the outlook Of the seasons
meetings are growing better as the
time advances. He is at present very
busy making preparations for the
meetings of the coming State fairs at
Lewiston and Bangor. and the August
meeting at Old Orchard
The board of health department is
continually receiving samples of water
much all quantities for examination.
They require two quarts for a test, and
on application, as they state, they will
send bottles in which the water to be
tested is to be put.
The trouble seems to lie in the fact
that they can't tell much about water
that has been in a bottle, because there
in no knowing what has been there
before it. Some very queer looking
jugs come in occasionally, which GER
tainly have the appearance of having
at some time or other contained other
liquids than water
ceived a fine lot of books on the line of
scientific study. There are complete
sets of several of the worlds great
thinkers and men of research, and If
one could only find time to settle right
down to them, and read and ponder.
he would come out of it a new man.
There are six volumes by Tyndall.
Is by Darwin, nine by Huxley, Is by
Spencer. and Is by miscellaneous
writer's.
There is material enough in them to
give one something to chew on for his
entire life.
The volumes contain many illustra
tions. The works on the microscope
are especially entertaining. There are
cuts showing the scales of a diamond
beetle about as large as platters, and
the pores of sea-urchin. beneath it's
glass, look like the craters on the
moon. Hairs look as large as n cedar
tree with its branches cut off. leaving
stumps of the former limbs.
The books are very attractive in
many ways, and one longs to linger
as he sees the wealth there contained,
beneath the handsome bindings.
w. w. Stetson. State superintendent
of schools, is in Buffalo, this week, at
tending the meeting of the National
Education association. He will speak
on the rural school question, which is
certainly one of the burning questions
of the day in educational circles, and
one that is receiving careful attention
through the length and breadth of this
country. The superintendent will adj
dress the American Institute of In
struction, on this same question at
Bethlehem, N. H., next Saturday.
Major C. ]. House, the clerk of L abor
Commissioner Matthews, has just re-
turned from a trip through Aroostook
Penobscot, Washington and Hancock
counties, looking up matter on the
tannery industry. He is full of facts
and figures. which will come out to the
hungry public in the annual report of
the commissioner.
He will make another trip, next
week, on the hunt after information on
some other industry. There are plenty
of them, all told, and will give the de-
partment plenty of work getting them
all together.
Hon. S. w. Carr. insurance COM
missioner, says that Maine is getting
lot of bad fires, and there is no ac-
counting for it. 1.., new England is,
for that matter, he says.
The fire in the Opera House block, on
the eve of the Fourth was one more
big drop in bucket of losses already