The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1898-03-18
; CURRENT TOPICS.

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The national debt Is now $l3.4l
for each Individual. In 1867 II was
$69.26.
The gum trees OF Victoria are the
tsllest trees In the world. They
average 800 feet high.
1t has been calculated that II a
pound OF thread made from spider
webs were required it would occu-
py nearly 2S,0OO spiders a full year
10 furnls h IL.
IL has recently been claimed that
iron ships fitted with electric plants
suffer rapid deterioration OF their
pipes having direct connection with
the sea, due to electrolytic action.
There are supposed to be nearly
5000 dentists practlcing upon peo-
pies teeth in the world. A case Of
dentists instruments ofthe present
day contains between 800 and 400
pieces.
Berlin pays a salary to a prOfes-
sional bird catcher, who keeps sci
sntific institutions supplied with
birds, nests and eggs. He is the
only man In the empire permitted
TO do so.
Impallng was used ss a punish
ment in Turkey up TO 1870. The
last mon so executed were Arab
sheikhs who had rebelled. They
were impsled at the four coruers OF
the Bagdad bridges. One OF them
lived 9 days.
The largest gasometer in the
world Is at East Greenwich. When
full II contains twelve million Gu
bic feet Of gas. II weighs 1900
tons, Is $50 feet high, 800 feet in di-
ame;er, requires 1900 tons OF coal
to ill 1t with gas and cost nearly
100000.
Recent Investigations by Linden
Kohl have shown that the prinei.
pal source OF the gulf stream IL moi
the Florida channel. but the region
between and beside the islands Of
the West indies. At Binioni tn,
volume of this warm water is sixty
times as great as the combined vol
ume Of all the rivers in the world
AT their mouths.
Ocean waves have on a numbel
OF occasions dashed over the tops o
lighthouses which are l50 fee
high. As a wave in the open Oceaf
il accompanied by depression a
deep as the wave Is high. ship il
the trough OF the sea eneounterinl
such waves would be banked bl
hills Of water, II the term may b.
used, 800 feet high.
The citizens OF Berlin have
summary method Of stopping tn,
dangerous practice OF carrying
sticks and umbrellas horizontally
A. soon as q man tucks his um
brslla under his arm, he viii
promptly feel = quick blow on !
from bshIsd. There Is no use II
getting angry with the person VIII
strikes the blow, because publ
opinion sanctions his conduct.
Prof. AgasIz of Harvard Ia
just arrived ri san Francisco Site
An absence OF some month, on tn
South sea spent In studying tn
formstion Of the coral islands. |
Is said that he Is now prepared {
demonstrate, in oppo'ition TO tn
theories OF Darwin and Dana, tia
the coral islands are not built u
from the bottom, but are fcrme
by a comparatively thin crust q
coral upon tops Of submsrge
mountains At poIn.s where th
ocean is comparatively shallow.
The Japanese Minister has pr'
ssntod to Miss Helen Long, th
sponsor Of the vessel launched il
Philadelphia recently, two super
ClaisOnne vases, as memcntoes Q
this occasion. These vases are q
exquisite design aud workmanship
the dark background bringing ou
in relief the clusters OF pure whit
plum blossoms, as they grow in tn
land otSunshine. There are ale
nightingales On the vases, and ih
proximity OF the songsters 10 the
iavorite flowers is OF beautiful 81,
niflcsnce.