The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-24
ITEMS OF INTEREST.


that the designation Greater New York
has been and is used simply for con-
venience in referring TO the city OF New
York as 1t will be constituted under the
new charter, says the New York Tribune.
Yet numerous out-of-town journals, like
the Chicago Tribune, and the Boston Her
aid seem to think that Greater New York
is the charter name of the consolidated
city The metropolis Will continue to be
known as the city of New York, unless
its charter should be amended, and ii an
other name should be given to it Greater
New York win certainly not be that name
While there is little doubt that with
proper development of its agricultural and
pastoral resources South Africa could be
made practically self-supporting the sue
cessful development of these industries
depends nevertheless upon the creation Of
local markets through the stimulus given
by mining operations, says the North
American Review. With the exception of
mining of gold, diamonds and coal, there
have been no considerable explorations
of its mineral resources. Coal fortunately
exists in many parts of the country and
it has been estimated that the known
coalhelds represent an area of 5000 square
miles, which is equal in extent to the
state of Iowa. There exist in some parts
of the country large deposits of iron con-
tlSuOuS TO the COdluelQS. But as yet the
economic conditions have not favored the
development of that industry. Lead sill
yer, cinnabar, tin and other metals, are
also found in many parts of the country
but have not been remuneratively worked
Among the mining countries of South At
RIGA the Transvaal is facile princeps, and
is in all probabi destined to maintain
its paramount position, though, as is well
known, South Africa is "a country of sur
prises," and it is possible, of course
though not probable, that within its great
extent other equally important districts
may be discovered.
in works of mineralogy it is learned
that there is such product
as natural coke, but so far
as known there has but one de-
post of this commodity been found in the
United States and this was in the vicin-
ity Of Richmand, Va, says the Salt Lake
Herald. Although the deposits of coal in
Utah are immense in their proportions, it
was never dreamed that among it's COM
modities of trade and commerce the state
could boast of beds of this natural coke
but such is the case, however, and the
Herald is informed that a short time ago
a vein of this coke had been discovered in
a section of the country about 40 miles
south of this city within fifteen miles
of railroad. This deposit crops out on
"a
twenty-five to thirty-foot tunnel has dis
closed a body of coke that is all of five feet
in width, and there is every reason to be-
lieve that with depth the size of this de-
post will increase. In quality the coke
is all that could be desired, and at the as
say affices at which it has been tested the
statement is made that it is a pure article
and that it is even superior to the manu-
featured coke, as it is entirely free from
sulphur, bitumen, and that it gives out
no smoke when burned and makes less
ash than the manufactured article. The
new find, which is considered as being
among the most valuable that has been
made in the state, is owned and controlled
by ex-Mayor R. N. Baskin and several
other Salt Lake gentlemen, who have To-
Gated $40 acres in the immediate vicinity of
the discovery.
One of Georgia's interesting figures is
E. c. Machen, who, after promoting the
development of that state in various i'm
portant and usually picturesque ways, is
now proving to its citizens that there are
millions for them-and just incidentally
for HMM a neW-fangled iluminant
which, according to his voluble assur-
ances, will make everybody independent
of such old-fashioned sources of light as
the sun and moon, says the New York
Times. Among Mr. Machen's claims-and
rights-to fame is the fact that he is cred
tied with having built the Macon and
Northern railroad with no other capital
than one side of bacon and note for $50
This, if a Georgia paper is to be trusted,
was proved in New York court during
the course of some proceedings of the sort
which such financiering is apt to bring
about. When Mr.. Machens attention was
called by the prosecuting attorney to the
somewhat scanty original capitalizatio
of hi he :, tod
discontinue, and demanded admiration
for his exploit on the ground that, while
any d-to-future-happiness fool
could build a railroad with money it took
man of parts to make one out of next
ii nothing. If the legend is true the judge
before whom the suit was brought regard
ed this explanation as Objectionable and
fined the explair,~r $1OO for contempt of
court. Mr.. Machen, so the story runs,
suggested that as he had just been con-
victed of pauperism, it would be only fair
to give him forty-eight hours in which to
raise the money. The judge consented,
and before the next noon the Georgian had
received twenty-five or fifty-one number
is as credible as the other-checks for the
amount from wealthy metropolitans who
admired his audacity. Certain Georgia ra-
contours seek to add to Mr.. Machen's
glory by asserting that it was his influence
that gave Hoke Smith a cabinet position
and induced John b. Gordon to ascend
the lecture platform. 1t is hard to be-
lieve. however, that one man has done so
many and so widely diverse things.
While in America the telephone sell
vice is still in the hands of private cor
porations, in foreign countries there is a
growing tendency to place the telephones
under public control, says an exchange.
Where this has been done it has usually
resulted in the lowering of r ates. In
Switzerland. for instance, the charge for
service is s24 for first year, $50 the second,
and SIG thereafter. In New Zealand the
rate is $24 year; In England $3.50, ana
i'm Germany SS6. But in Sweden, above
all countries, the cost of telephoning is
brought down TO point that excites the
wonder and envy of Americans. The pop,
ulation of Stockholm is POS. 900. and every
! In,