The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-07-11
FACTS IN FEW LINES

cubic feet
Including the Oceanic. there are now
ben steamers In the British merchant
fleet of over 1900 tons.
Maitland, Nova Scotia. was e wooden
shipbuldlng center many years ago,
and II is said that the Industry is-to DO
revived again.
1t is believed that the figures Of the
recent English census will prove more
reliable than any similar returns pre-
vlously made.
The Sl20,0O0,OO0 of iron and steel
products exported last year exceeds the
total OF American manufacture export
ed 90 yeas ago.
A memorial brass has been placed in
St Patrick's cathedral. Dublin. in men,
DRY of Or. Charles Inglis, bishop Of
Nova Scotia I'm 1897.
School children are to be carried TO
school at public expense by the Dor
chester Nld) county school board In
sparsely settled districts.
Italy and Spain have fewer houses
In proportion to their population than
any other country In the world. The
Argentine Republic and Uruguay have
most.
London as seaport compares so
badly with Antwerp. Hamburg and
Rotterdam that proposals are made for
deepening the river to 80 feet at n cost
OF El,dA9,S3
The Imperial government of Austria
has lately placed women on exactly
the same footing as men In regard 20
the practice OF medicine and the con-
Quoting Of chemists shops.
The coke oven industry. unknown In
1860, turned out product In the Unit
ed States last year valued at $3i,633,-
AS. an Increase since 1889 OF 10 per
cent. The byproducts added nearly
100000 more.
The four great Scottish universities
are in n very Tad way financially. All
OF them are appealing FOR funds. and II
Is said that n sum OF at least $4,000,
600 is needed 10 bring them up 10 the
level Of modern requirements.
An immense region In northern Onta-
rio. covering l5.GS0,OOO acres and
stretching from Quebec westward Ia
Thunder bay. on the north shore Of
Lake Superior. Is now recognized rs
being well adapted for farming.
A great falling of Is noted In the
British tin plate eraGe. At the end of
March DOB mills were running ms
against AS mills a year ago, ana the
number OF workmen was 1900 In
stead Of the II 1000 in March. 1900.
Mantua after nearly 20 centuries has
remembered that II is the birthplace OF
Virgil and set TO work to erect n monu.
ment to its great poet The sum of
$4,000 has been raised, and artists are
called on 10 send in plans in compcti
ton.
Experiments made at KaSan, in Rus
STA. OF the petroleum found in Siberia
prove that II Is almost identical with
Pennsylvania naphtha The wells on
the lake Of Balkal are said TO be rich
and reliable so far as the borlngs 90
down.
Owing to the process Of manufacture
Canadian maple sugar Is harder and OF
a stronger flavor than that made in the
United States. The Canadian output IS
largely shipped TO this country and
commands higher price because Of a
duty OF cents pound.
A number of young hlbert trees have
been sent TO the agricultural depart
ment from Greece The nuts from
these trees are the largest and have the
finest favor OF any filberts the depart
ment has yet discovered. and every ef
fort Is to be made to encourage their
growing.
Schools for the study OF textiles arc
common in Germany. especially I'm Sax
ony, but not 80 common in Great Brit
ain MS to escape remark At Aberyst
Myth college, in Wales, the local au-
thoritles are about TO aid in founding q
school In which textile design. weaving
and dyeing will be taught.
Africa has an area Of practically H..
100000 square miles. something more
than thrice that of the United States
and its possessions. Twenty years ago
save for strips Of territory along the
coasts. with occasional shallow linden
tations into the interior, 1t was In fact
as well as in name the dark CONT
nent."
The government Of Prussia Is In IA
vor Of establishing public libraries
For cities permanent libraries and pub
lie reading rooms will be maintained
while for the rural districts movable
libraries are recommended. Many dis
tricts have already voted adequate ap
preparations. The government will also
give financial aid.
An immense region in northern On
tarlo. covering 15,GS0000 acres and
stretching from Quebec westward &c
Thunder bay. on the north shore OF
Lake Superior. Is now for the first time
recognized as being excellently adapted
for farming. The district also contains
n great pulp wood forest. besides 5000
100000 feet OF pine wood.
Twenty years ago. by the census ID
1880, there were $50 small cotton milk
south OF the Potomac and Ohio rivers
with a total Of $50 spindles. The cen
sus Of 1900 will show nearly 800 mills
with more than 100000 splndles. and
at least 100000 spindles more TO be-
added within the next few months In
mills now under construction.
The Swiss government has determin
ed to accept as legal tender the new
gold 10 and 20 franc pieces Of the ltal
ian coinage. The pieces bear the in
scription, "Vlttorlo Emmanuel ILL.,"
and on the reverse the arms Of Savoy
are displayed, with the motto, "Regno
d'Italia.". 1t would be wise for tourists
TO regard the new italian coinage with
care. as already there are many false