The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-08-08
FACTS IN FEW LINES


lands for labor settlements.
Western Australia has never at
tempted to number It's aboriglnes.
Twenty five per cent of the shares in
American railways are said to be own
ed In Great Britain.
The Bible Is to be translated into ten
languages Of the Philippine Islands
during the next ten years.
British Columbia grew the worlds
record apple last year. II was ~ inches
I'm circumference and weighed pound
3 Otsnces.
A big oyster bed near Mobile has
been sold for 100000. 1t is estimated
that there are 100000 worth of oysters
In the bed at this time.
Iron production in Germany in the
first quarter Of 1901 Is reported as
1873 500 tons, an Increase Of 1875
tons. n little over per cent.
An Italian named Lamaclthla has in
vented n repeating gun which fires 10
shots without reloadlng and has all
the advantages Of other weapons.
The Kansas farmers will save $780,
600 this year on binder twlne by
patronlzlng the penltentiary factory.
which sells It for Sla cents a pound,
while the trust asks Il cents.
Charles TIFF Of North Barre, Vt, has
a fish pond In his own house. He has
about two feet Of water In his cellar,
80 It Is reported. and has placed some
fish In 1t that he caught In the river.
10 that he does not have 10 20 out or
his house for fishing.
It Is calculated that about 5000
yards Of ribbon will be issued with the
African war medals. This estimate Is
made on the assumption that about
100000 men will secure the medal,
there being nine inches OF ribbon sery-
ed out with each medal.
Lord Abebury. speaking at a recent
meeting OF the Selborne society. ex-
pressed the fear that the wholesale de-
structiOn OF primrOses and cowslips II
not checked would lead to their disap-
pearance from the list Of wild flower
ing plants In Great Britain.
The Locomotive, published by the
Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and
Insurance company. gives the total
number OF boiler explosions In 1900 as
373, 10 less than recorded In 1899.
There were 3S3 In 1898 as well as in
1899. 800 In 1897 and 346 In 1896.
Western Australia has In York n
we'll known pastoral district which
bears a peculiarly appropriate name In
association with the visit to Australasia
Of the Duke and Duchess Of Cornwall
and York. 1t was first peOpled by i'm
migrants mainly from Yorkshire.
A camera flend in British Columbia
while endeavoring to take photograph
at the extreme edge Of cllff made
misstep and fell 100 feet into the wa
ter below. On his way down he press
ed the button. The resultant picture,
he declares. is the best In his collection.
The influx OF settlers to the Kansas
wheat belt In the last three years has
caused land to raise 20 per cent In
price. and land which In 1892 sold for
$500 n quarter section cannot now be
had for $1,000. In and around Wichi-
Ia wheat belt farms sell for $4,000 each
and even higher.
Pope Leo XIII has reorganized his
historic bodyguard. These gentlemen
always accompany the pope In his
walks and attend him at all public
functions. Leo XIII has increased the
CORPS from so to $40 In number and
has placed them at the head OF the
Vatican troops.
Since the Louisiana and Texas farm
ers learned to raise rice by irrigation
they have invested $5,0O00G0 In 1900
miles Of canals. capable OF flooding
100000 acres, and spent S1,1OO,OOO In
building 30 modern rice mills. Under
the new system rice lands pay a net
profit Of SIS an acre.
According to Arnold White, an Eng
lish critic, the inhabitants of the Brit
ish isles are degenerating physically.
He bases his conclusions on the results
OF recruiting for the Boer war. In the
Manchester district alone 5000 out Of
IL 600 men who offered themselves for
military service were certified unfit to
endure n soldiers life.
Sponge fishing is a Cuban industry
which has developed very rapidly on
the southern coast of Havana province
About 10 years ago a Greek sailor who
was the first to see the advantages
which could be reaped from sponge
fishing began the del elOpment OF this
industry. Today the exports Of spOnges
from BatabanO amount to $l,000,000
year.
A new whisky bottle contains a float
which sinks as the spirit Is extracted,
always remaining on the surface, but
Il any other liquid Is added the posi-
ton of the float is altered. 1t will sink
below the surface II any other fiUid
is added to the whisky. This is In
tended to prevent dishonest persons
from taking some Of the contents and
replacing with water.
Steps are being taken for the erection
In Dundee, Scotland. of granite mon
ument over the grave Of James Bow
man Lindsay, who died there 40 years
ago. Mr.. Lindsay was student Of
electricity, having reached such stage
In his investigation as warranted him
in writing a pamphlet on the subject
of telegraphlng without wires. In 1854
he transmitted telegraphlc signals
through water, sending them across
the harbor of Dundee.
Very remarkable enterprise Is being
shown at the Bristol channel ports In