Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-06-18
NOTES AND COMMENTS.

UOciatiOns In active Operatioh IN the
United States. The Oldest was organ
lied at Washington, Pa, In 1876, and
the two newest are found In New
Haven, Conn, and Elizabeth. N. j.
(1S94). The number of incinerations re-
ported is $500. The number inciner-
ated In Europe from 1876 to 1893 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 Fee, 1855; 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 its limits is responsible
for this. The fact that Pittsburgh Is
the center of the iron and steel trade,
and In the most important cOal-mining
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 a position to know estimate that
there are about 2,4OO 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 H.
linois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Texas and
Pennsylvania, and a National COnven-
tion-the first-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, 1t
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 superintendent have their own
conventions and exchange OF ideas,
and 1t is equally desirable that men,
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, 263,
and Germany a close third, with 5S4,
734. Austria follows after a consider
able interval with 354,252, while Italy
slips in before England with 252, 800.
But England takes first place in the
navy with 34O0 men, followed by
France, 1880, and Italy 35,607. In the
percentage of the population for both
services in time of peace France leads
with 1.67, while Greece Is second with
12S, and Germany third with 1.26. In
the annual cost Of both services Russia
leads off with $3.50, 17cS7O, followed by
France with $751; ,1S0,OO2. The total
number Of armies and navies in Europe
are 1851 ,496 men, and the cost Is $973,-
26O,215 annually. We might cut con-
siderable figure in the list by adding
the pensions for our last war to current
army and navy expenses.
rt,o yxv,.l;noton Stor opnnupoac tho 4
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" 1t
says, sis that before the introduction
to be comparatively rare. They were
seldom seen, as they were not attracted
by ordinary light. When the arc light
appeared, however, the bugs became
enormously noticeable. Upon their APP
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 inficting severe wounds, and it will
be wise to handle them with great care,
If Mt ALL The very large black water
beetle will also be seen among the
water bugs around electric lamps in
the proportion of about l to 100"
Some wise French physician has dis
covered 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 a
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-
cine the "tip" on this, and since then
French and English bicyclists have
been surprised, when they have COM
planned to their medical advisers that
they felt unusually restless and could
not account for it, to learn that they
had unconsciously acquired the "vibra-
tory habit" The medical journals are
taking the matter up, and soon Ameri-
can doctors also will doubtless begin
to perscribe for the cure of the new all
ment.
The estimated cost Of the Nicaragua