The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-04-16
FACTS IN FEW LINES

The illlterate nations are chiefly
Russia, Spain, Turkey and the I'M
progressive nations Of the orient and
Of South America.
CANADA will have a building at the
Pan-Amerlcan exposition and make n
comprehensive display Of the cOuntry's
great resources and industries.
Foreign exports at New Orleans last
year reached total Of $40, 100000, the
largest on record and an Increase over
the previous year Of $45.0OO.0O0.
1t is predicted that the trIumphaI
bridge at the Pan-American exposition
will surpass In beauty the great Alex
ander bridge at the Paris exposition.
The total yield Of the catch OF fish
in Canada last year was 81, S91, 70G
being an increase OF about $2,200OO0
over the catch Of the preceding year.
The city Of Bombay. India, has a
Sorosls club, composed of Hlndoo.
Parsee and Mohammedan women. The
club motto is. ",rhe World Was Made
For Women Also"
An automobile and an express train
I'm Italy had race OF A miles going
out from Rome. The automobile was
the winner, though II was considerably
lmpeded by traffic.
The deaths are announced OF two
Irish centenarlans. one, man named
Alex Gordon, at COokstown, County
Tyrone, aged l0l years, and the other,
n woman named O'Doherty, at ORA
perstown, County Derry. aged l07.
The most vicious looking weapon on
record has been unearthed In New Or
leans II is a combination OF n re-
volver, row Of ugly brass knuckles
and a dirk knife all In one and each
built for the transaction Of business.
A fiber company OF Lockport, n. Y,
Is preparing to manufacture gun stocks
OF fiber with n view to tightening the
weight OF the present rifle. The ord
nance officers on duty at Springfield,
Mass. Will supervise the manufacture.
Cattlemen are considering the adj
visibility Of reseedIng the Black Hills
and eastern Wyoming ranges, where
native grass has been nearly killed by
overcrowding Of cattle. II has been
found that five grasses and two alfal-
fas will grow In that section without
irrigation.
According to statistics just published.
the population OF Greenland at the end
Of 1890 numbered 5.l74 males and $500
females. together 1904 souls. Since
1898 the population has increased by
0S. The number OF births was 46J and
of deaths 1868. OF 81 fatal accidents q
were caused by drowning.
Professor Robert Gersung, an emf
nent surgeon OF Austria, is credited
with an important discovery In the
scientific world. II consists Of the
use OF a mixture OF parafiin and vase
line In curing physical deformities and
filling In cavities caused by the re-
moyal Of portions Of bones.
Berrien county, Mich. on the rec
ord OF 1900. claims TO be the greatest
peach growing section In the world.
The number OF acres cultivated last
year was Abb, and the total yield OF
peaches was 1892 bushels, being
more than half the entire Michigan
crop. Van Buren, county came next
with 5S,SS7 bushels.
The schools OF Vienna are 10 have
medical attention. There the board OF
education is considering the appoint
ment OF a STAFF Of medical school In
spectors. II is proposed that the du-
ties Of these officials shall include
periodical inspections OF the schools,
which shall be more frequent during
contagious epidemics.
Colored people are still willing to
brave the disadvantage OF emigration
to Monrovla. In West Africa. Only re-
Gently 1G adventurous members Of the
race sailed from New York for that
country, where land viii be given them
by the Liberian Colonial society Of
Birmingham, Ala. More Of them con-
template going to Liberia within few
weeks.
Large deposits of magnesic have
been found In southern India, and the
officers Of a Portland cement works
ut Madras have succeeded In producing
a white cement plaster which has mag
nesIum for a basis. This cement can
be used for pIasterlng walls and dries
so speedily that rooms are ready for
occupancy within 4S hours. 1t can be
painted or else colored by mixing col
oring matter.
The Germans are claiming that, In
spite Of all our Boosting. they are In
creasing their production Of pig iron
faster than the United States. This
seems to be the fact The German
output of pig iron the past year was
1851, 742 tons, representing an increase
Of IS per cent since 1890. The United
States output last year was 13,7S9,242
tons, representing an increase Of 90
per cent since 1890.
Near Rio Grande City, Tex, an i'm
mense deposit Of an unknown gaseous
substance has been discovered. Pieces
Of 1t ignite quickly and give out
strong flame which lasts for re-
markably long period. II Is said By
scientists that the substance is either
an unknown mineral or ordinary clay
highly charged with natural gas. In
either case the value Of the deposit as
fuel Is immense. as II covers many
thousands OF acres and is Of immense
depth.