The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-04-18

amounts TO about $60000,000.
Illlteracy has decreased among south
ern negroes 80 per cent in 20 years.
The output OF coal in Washington
state for 1900 was about 100000 tons.
The number Of deaf mutes In the
United States Is over l11,OOO. The num-
Der Of totally blind is SS,024.
During the last ten years there were
10 924 requests for citizenship In Swift
zeFannd. OF which 1888 were granted.
River transportation is now possible
between Parkersburg. w. Va, and
Chattanooga, Tenn, but 1t Is good,
long way around.
Contract surgeons In the army are
employed to assist the regular sur
ge0ns. They receive a maximum sal
airy Of $50 month.
Among the 1892 Inhabitants Of the
city Of Basel on Dec. 1, 1900, there
were 1879 forelgners-that is, only
GIG were Swiss.
There are AZ corporations, or cities,
as they would be called In the United
States, which form Greater London,
with its 100000 inhabitants.
The colonial revenues Of Great Brit
aln-that Ii. the United Kingdom
have almost quadrupled since 1880,
while the population has only doubled.
Gum drops a few years ago were the
most fashionable variety OF candy, but
dealers spoiled the trade by putting
brandy and other forms Of alcohol In
them.
Sweden possesses an effective navy.
The Swedes are reputed TO be the best
sailors In the world. This gift over the
waters Is a legacy from their fore
fathers.
An Indian skeleton was found In
New York recently by workmen en-
gagged In digging the new subway.
Close beside the skull were found clay
pipes and tomahawk.
An Arkansas bill prohibiting ferries
from being operated within one mile OF
each other was unanimously killed by
the senate on the ground that ut would
legIslate widow out Of business"
The Berlin police are about to be pro-
yided with 20 bloodhounds to be used
in the tracking OF murderers. About
"a murders committed In Berlin during
the last II years are still unexplained.
The town Of Eatonvllle, Fla, has
1000 inhabitants, with not a single
white among them. II has a full quota
OF officials, a bank and other business
establishments requisite In a town OF
It's size.
While the population Of Maine In
creased during the past decade only
from GG1. 0S6 TO G04,466, or but about
8 per cent, the cost Of the state gov
eminent has nearly doubled during the
last eight years
In Sweden they have a land arrange
ment OF this kind: The farmer will give
a tenant so many acres of ground pro-
vided the tenant will give him so many
days labor for so many years, the Ia
Dor to be paid as wanted.
Among its many curious products
South Africa includes the "sneeze
wood" tree, which takes its name from
the fact that one cannot cut II with
saw without sneezlng, as the fine dust
has exactly the effect OF SNUFF.
The empty mail bags not having been
returned from the Kongo for some
time, Il was found on inquiry that the
sacks were regularly being stolen by
the natives for presentation to their
wives, who used them as petticoats.
One OF the men employed at the zoo
logical gardens In New York has
black snake that has the run OF the
house. II has n reputation OF being the
best rat catcher In the entire borough
OF the Bronx. Il Is also family pet
The finest garden hedges in England
are at Hall Barn, In Bucklnghmashire.
They are over 80 feet In height. are Inn
mensely thick and are clipped so as to
present the smooth. yelyety appearance
peculiar TO the finest yew and box
hedges.
During the past year the price or dia-
monds has increased by about 90 per
cent. and emeralds were never 80 cost
" as at present. The war in South Az
RIGA has been partly and the American
diamond syndicate chiefly responsible
for the rise.
According to statement, there were
no less than 800 binders sold last year
In Edmonton and Strathcona, In Brit
lsh Columbia. The record Of imple-
ment sales includes 20 thrashlng ma
chimes. and the districts consumed &c.,
600 pounds Of twine.
Among the many changes necessitat-
ed by the death OF Queen Victoria one
which Is not unImportant Is the print
ing on all legal documents God save
the kIngF for "God save the queen"
This change alone, It Is estimated. will
cost something like 100000
A New York police commissioner de-
clared the other day that II was easier
to hang a man for murder there than
to dismiss q policeman. Last year"
he said. "the board had TO pay out
$4,000 In back salaries TO men who
had been reInstated by the courts"
New York's Ralnes law regulating
saloons. has yielded SCI 100000 to the
state and local treasures since Its pas
sage five years ago. Saloons have de-
creased from $4,000 to $1,000 and ar
rasfs for drunkenness diminished from
10 to o for each 1000 OF population.
Through the lIberalIty Of T. ". Baird,
Jr. OF Victoria. b. c.. tract Of land
on the coast Of Vancouver island. oppo-
site Cape .Flattery. has been presented
for a seaside botanical station Of the