Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-11-01

The popular idea that all South Africa
is not far removed from savagery is CON
tradicted by the fact that in Cape Colony
alone there are G,609 miles of telegraph
poles. carrying many times that number
of miles of wire.
In one way, and that a financial one.
the Dreyfus trial at Rennes was q direct
benefit to France. A" the telegraph and
telephone lines in the republic belong TO
the Government, and the great demand
for news of the trial increased the re-
ceipts from kilograms $4,000 and from
telephone messages 100000 while the
case was on. -:
Now that the natural gas in Indiana
and Ohio shows signs of giving out they
have discovered a plentiful supply Of il
in England. In 1896 gas was struck near
Heathfield station in East Essex, and
the station and railroad yard are now
lighted with it. 1t is believed to be the
first practical usage of natural gas in
Europe.
If the reports of the criminal courts
of the State of New York may be taken
as an index it is safe to say that crime
is on the decrease in the United States.
In 1897 there were 4,523 convictions, as
against only 1861 in 1898. This shows
a decrease of 500, or nearly 20 per cent.
-
A new problem is pressing for solution
on the Pacific coast. 1t promises 10 be-
come even more serious than the '1Chin-
ese question:" According to the census
of 1890 there were at that time l2,039
Flaps" in the United States. Since then
the immigration has steadily increased
until the total number of Japanese who
came to the United States in the fiscal
year 1899 was 1896. To-day, according
to the estimate Of the japanese consul
at San Francisco, there are no less than
10000 ''Japs' in this country, most of
them on the Pacific coast.
-
The purchase OF a large number of
horses in the United States for the use
Of the English army in South Africa is
made necessary by the fact that even
with the elaborate horse registration sys-
tenn 10 force in Great Britain ii is inn
possible to secure all the animals needed
for immediate service at home. In time
of peace the military establishment of
ISlG at tquAit9 " To y q tx vi
1880 horses. In time Of war this total
jumps at once to %, TAO. Horse buyers
for the army are now at work, not only
in this country but also in Canada, in
Australia and in Austria.
In demanding that each member of his
church pay over one-tenth Of his total in
come, Or" John Dowie Is simply sni-
lowing the example Of the Mormon
Church. As an example of what such
contributions may amount to in the
course of a year, it is stated that last year
the Mormon Church received from titbcs
alone over 100000. This year it il esti-
mated that the income from tithes will
reach $3.50, 900. AS a further Indication
Of the financial prosperity of the Mormon
Church. President Snow states that the
last OF the t~wenty-year bonds, Of which
81. o0O, 600 worth were sold ia 1897, win
be redeemed within the next five years.
-
Gables from South Africa report that a
balloon has been seen high In the air
passing out towards some of the Boer
~strongholds. II the report be true the
balloon is probably one of those sent out
some time ago for use b. the English
forces. These war balloons have each
1000 cubic feet capacity and are filed
fro. steel cylinders containing the neces-
sary Gas under pressure. In addition 70
the balloon corps for observation pur-
poses the English authorities have made
arrangements for the rapid erection Of
high Observation towers, acr the top
of which, il is hoped. the hiding places
of the Beers may be spied out.
Although the apple crop this year is
expected to be the largest that has been
produced. the demand has increased so
greatly duripe recent years that it is not
thought the prices viii fall. The largest
yield of apples in the United States was
21o.ooo.o coo bushels. about three bushels
for every man. woman and child. About
one-third of the product IS made into
cider. The price of apples has been ris-
ing each year. and a demand for them
has arisen in Europe. to which many are
exported. The exports of dried apples
for the last fiscal year were 19,50S. 749
pounds, valued at Sf,245. 1873; while Of
ripe apples there were exported 3S0,222
barrels, valued at S1.21o.459.