The Advocate and news., 1899-03-15

rants and q bill in the Senate provides
for the appointment OF commission Of
three physicians in each county for the
physical and mental examination Of
those who apply for marriage licenses.
A farmer in Maine recently made a
lucky flnd He cut down large hollow
pine tree for fuel and when 1t fell 1t
split open in halves and there he found
eleven alternating cOons which he easily
captured, besides getting two cords Of
good wood from the trunk OF the tree
The management Of the government
railway lines in Sweden are buying
American made engines for use on those
railroads. They are now negotiating for
twenty locomotives in this country, be-
cause the factories In Europe cannot
furnish engines to meet the requirements
Of those roads.
The taxes to be collected for the year
1899 in the State of Iowa for State
county, school and city purposes amount
in round numbers to the enormous sum
of $19 100000. And this does not include
any taxes for public Improvements or
from direct taxation in the form OF licen-
ses or tax on incomes.
Paternalism seems to be making rapid
strides in the old country. In WuTtz-
burg, Bavaria, the city council has de-
cided to have the teeth of the poor pupils
who attend the public schools tested and
cared for free OF cost, and If this proves
successful the eyes, ears and throats of
the scholars will be treated in like man.
ner.
In the Pennsylvania legislature one
hundred and seventeen members voted in
favor Of electing not only United States
Senators but also President and Vice
Presidtnt by direct vote Of the people.
This change will come around in due
time when the people overcome their
prejjudices in favor Of ancient and obso-
lete customs.
The Secretary of the Southern Illinois
horticultural Society reports that the
cold winter has not injured the apple
tree fruit buds, that Keifer pear and
Richmond cherries are in good condi-
tion, that currants, goosberry and straw
berry plants are all right but peaches,
blackberries and raspberries have suf-
fered severely.
The cold weather was so intense in
northern Wisconsin that more than 100,-
900 bushels Of potatoes have been frozen
in the pits in Chipeway County alone.
Our Hawaiian islands seem to be quite
we'll supplied with modern improve
ments. Among other conveniences they
have on an average telephone for every
fifty Of the people.
Colonel Sexton, the commander-in-
chief of the Grand Army of the Republic
died recently, and the judge advocate
general Of that organization has decided
that there can be no promotion because
of the death Of Colonel Sexton but that
his successor must be elected by the eX-
ecutive committee of the national coun-
Gil Of administration.
Farm lands seem to be in demand in
central Kansas. A few days ago J. P.
Fall sold his bottom farm of 300 acres,
eleven miles from Junction City, for
$10,500 cash, and William Becker sold
his farm Of 346 acres eight miles east Of
Chapman for $11, $50 cash. Many other
farms have recently been sold for cash in
that part Of the State.
Colorado has fifty-six counties and
twenty-six of them are gold producing.
Gold was first discovered in that State in
1858, and the State has produced $780,
0OO, 900 in gold and silver. Richer mines
undoubtedly exist than any that have
yet been discovered. The Rocky Noun
tains will soon lead the world in the pro-
duction of precious metals.
The Chicago and Alton Railroad has
been sold for about $4,000, 900.
It runs from Chicago to. st. Louis and
Kansas City. 1t was organized in 1861,
and was the first railroad to use Pullman
sleepers and dining cars It Is now
bought by syndicate Of western rail-
roads that desire to make Chicago, st.
Louis and Kansas City connections.
Prairie dogs have become SO trouble
some on the Texas ranges that several
bills are pending in the legislature OF