The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-03-13
--sprz- - ~ --'--- s.ss--~-s
FACTS IN A FEW LINES.

| The present crop OF peanuts, while
| not Of excellent quality. is abnormally
large.
The leasing of water flowed lands
for oyster beds In Rhode Island yields
$4,000 annually.
Engineers estimate that 10000 horse
power can be developed along the Chi
cago sanitary channel.
The colony Of New South Wales.
Australia, expects to have 10000 tons
Of wheat for export this season.
An important element of the voting
population Of the cosmopolitan city Of
| Buffalo is composed of the Polish vot-
| ers.
| Switzerland has three institutions
for the cure Of drunkards which record
permanent cures in one-half the cases
treated.
The North Carolina penitentiary was
self supporting last year and returned
to the state $4,000 borrowed during
the year.
Exclusive of private charities, Eng
land spends something like $4,000 900
a year in providing for the necessities
| Of the poor.
In the number Of locomotives the
United States comes first with total
Of 96,748. Great Britain comes next
with 1902.
| In the last II years the number Of
physicians in Germany increased SO
per cent, while the population increas-
ed only II per cent.
The new twin screw steamer Rhine
Of the Bremen-New York line has room
for 40 first class, 100 second class and
1900 Storage passengers.
The army death rate is lower in
Great Britain than in any other coun-
try. In France 1t is nearly six times
as high as In this country.
Americans prefer electricity for run
ming automobiles, the French petro-
leum and the Russians wood alcohol,
costing in that country cents q gal
Ion.
Greece has followed Italy's example
| In forbidding the expectation Of an
| tiQuities. Notice has been served on
foreign governments and learned So
cieties.
The total number Of paid employees
Of the New York state government is
1921. Of whom fully 5000 are direct
ly connected with Albany departments,
and a majority Of these reside IN Al
bany.
Indiana has 90 counties. In these
are 1,0l6 townships. OF this number
40 were named after Jackson, 40 after
Washington and 20 after Harrison and
Jefferson. Wayne and Clay each were
honored u times.
The American Political league a new
organization, is to have national con-
vention IN Boston on July 4. II will be
the only convention Boston will have
and the only one that the American Pc
litical league will hold.
In 1898 the venerable Massachusetts
town of Salem voted against the grant
ing Of liquor licenses within its bound
aries. In the election Of December,
1890, It voted the other way-2,957 for
license and 2,S20 against.
A great decrease In the use OF the
horse may be expected IN the near fu-
ture. Experiments in England have
proved that heavy freight wagon traffic
can be handled by motor power at one
seventh the cost Of horsepower.
The total number Of paid employees
Of the municipal departments in New
York city Is $4,000, and the department
Of street cleaning, which has $500,
employs twice as many as the depart
ment Of public charities, which has
1000.
Asbestus six feet In length has been
found on the Orange river banks. 1t
is coarser than the Canadian product,
but is more valuable on account Of It's
length. The GriQualand West Copper
company and the Cape Asbestos COM
pany are mining the fiber at 4 profit.
Highland" seems TO be a popular
name for q railway station among the
mountains Of Africa. There is a High
land station In Natal There Is anoth-
er one Of the same name in Kafflrland,
on the line between Port Elizabeth and
Grahamstown, beyond Alicedale Juno
ton.
The Indians Of South America use a
curious poison which Is called ezcal
A grain of 1t has the effect Of starting
an irresistible desire for exertion. The
victim begins walking briskly round
and round in small circles till he drops
dead IN his tracks. There is no pain,
but much excitement.
Foreign residents in China are accus-
toned to seeing their half dozen coolies
taking a meal together, sitting around
a bucket Of rice and from four to six
small savory dishes of fish, pork, cab
bage or onions. They ell their bowls
from the bucket and help themselves
to the various relishes with their chop
sticks.
The stand Of colors won by Colonel
Ephraim E. Ellsworth's United States
Zouave cadets In competition in Chi
CdSO III lou anu Tue ucAI y cur Ou tA
extensive tour in the United States
and Canada has been intrusted by the
surviving members of the company to
the Chicago Historical society for per-
petual keeping
India has electric tramways In but
one city, Madras. Consul Fee Of Bonn
bay reports that permission has been
asked TO introduce electric traction In
that city. Horses are used at present,
but the consul remarks that they are
we'll cared for and never abused and
that all animals receive humane treat
ment in India.
Fifty years ago there were few per-
sons employed or gaining a livelihood
by the utilization Of electric energy.
Now In England and America there
are over 1,000,OO0-very likely 2,000,-