Arizona silver belt., 1899-11-02
GENERAL NEWS ITEMS.
Brief Mention of Interesting Facts
 and Happenings.


 est producerof wool in the world, with Russia second, the Argentine Republic third and the United States fourth.
 A temporary order has been issued om the interior department suspend ing from entry lands in Lincoln county, N. M., proposed to be set aside as a forest reserve.
 Mrs. Mary Ruby, sister of Kit Carson, the famous scout, died at WarrenSburg, Mo-, on the 25th ult., of .apoplexy. She was born in an Indian fort near Booneboro, and during the 87 years of her life was never out of the State of Missouri. Mrs. Ruby was family.
 Three powerful syndicates in the City of Mexico are engaged in merry war over street transportation. One of them is an American, another an English and the third South Afri- can syndicate. When such fight comes to pass, average people are like crowd at dog tight--reluctant to spoil the sport.
 SoundingS and divings are taking place near tho island of rerschelling, in the north of Holland, at the spot where a French warship sa ank just 100 years ago. She was loaded with silver and gold to the amount of f40, ,000, ,000, or sS, ,000,000 The captains log mem tions the amount, and as early as 1900 French sailors succeeded in bringing to the surface a box containing fl,- 5s0,00 worth of gold and silver ingotS. In 1856 and 1860 private undertaking succeeded is raising another fl, ,250,0 value. The warship sunk in 230 feet Of water.
 In his annual report, made public last Thursday, the commissioner of the general land office urges protec- tion against fires on the public do- main, estimating the average yearly loss from this source at not less than S20,OO0, ,OO0. The proper utilization of the grazing lands on the public doman is also urged, and it is pointed out that so long as the land laws require mill men and other lumber men to pay fair price to the government for timber supplies drawn from public land, there should be an equal charge levied on the grazing products of pub lie lands. The government, it is urged, should derive revenue from leasing such lands.
 The Albuquerque IN. M.) Citizen says that a party of engineers and sur veyOrs have been in Albuquerque for q day or two as advance guard of the Chocktaw and Memphis Railroad com pany. This road represents consol- iddtlon of the Chocktaw Coal X Rail- way company. the Little Rock X Mem phis. and several short lines, and is reaching out through tine west They own the Poleen river mines and coke ovens, and are seeking an outlet for the products of their property. This party of engineers. under the direc- ton of A. Nj. Nelson, travelled by wagon over 300 mics, locating the best line to Albuquerque. They expect to have 2CO miles of road built by spring as far as Amarillo.
 A correspondent of the London Standard who was captured by the BOers and released at the battle of Elands Laagte. in describing his eX- ueriences says: "UnsOldierly as the Boers might seem. there was TO miS- taking their physical fitness. Nearly all of them are strong, powerfully built men, while a few are yertable giants. They were all in highest spir- its. For instance, on the night of our capture, our field cornet was induced to preside over an impromptu smok- ing concert. It was amusing to see a Johannesburger playing the piano with hisgun still slung over bis shoul- der, while his more rustic comrandes stood around spellbound. They sang 'Transvaal Yolkslied' with immense ferver. The one subject of their talk was their resOlute determination to fight to the last for the independence of their country.
 The annual report of Auditor II. A. Castle of the poSt0ilice department for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1899, has been transmitted to the Secre etary of the treasury and the postmaster general. This bureau has the largest accounting office in the government, or, perhaps, in the world. since it is the clearinghouse of inc entire postal service. The report shows a volume of transactions aggregating about S6iO. .00O 600 for the fiscal year. The revenues of the postal service were S95, ,O2l 1881; expenditures of the postal service, S10l ,632, l6l: volume of money order transactions, SIP, ,4s3,3 There has been an increase in each of these items, and in each one of the various subdivisions thereof, showing. the auditor says, that the postal service is