Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-14
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

carp and pike are the longest lived among
| the fish They have been known to be
nearly 200 years old.
Until recently the most convenient way
| OF getting from England to Japan was by
way Of Vancouver. a journey Of twenty four
days. This time has been cut down to
seventeen days by way Of Russia It is ex-
pected to still further cut this time when
| the Russian government lays a double track
across the country.
In forty years the price Of wall paper has
fallen 100 per cent owing to the cheapened
process of manufacture.
There are thousand acres Of submarine
coal mines being worked around Cape
| Breton. The character Of the soil overlay-
ing these diggings enables them to be
| worked without interference from the
water from above.
Great Britain owns more land of North
America than the United States.
Germany needs 1000. 900 horses for her
army on a war basis. This is more than
any other nation OF the world
The French cavalry recruit goes through
considered competent to get on a horse.
Old age insurance is compulsory in Ger
| many. and the cost of carrying the insur-
ance is shared by the government and the
Spanish telephone companies have an
elaborate scale of charges scheduled ac-
cording to the character of the business
Clubs are charged the maximum.
The Spanish government encourages tele-
phones by taxing the companies from 10 to
30 per cent OF tnelr net revenues.
One-seventh of the entire mineral pro-
duction of the United States comes from
the southern states.
Tantalum. the new metal. which is being
extensively made OF at the present
time. was discovered about two years ago
by Swedish chemist. and was so named
because Of the tantalizing difficulties he ex-
perienced in its development.
The total coal resources OF the southern
states are estima ted at 500 600 000. 900 tons,
or more than one fourth the estimated coal
reserve of the entire country.
The average earnings OF an English train
per mile Is about slS5, and the total yearly
receipts per mile are little more tnan
s23 900.
Great Britain is rich in mosses. There
are go varieties found on the British Is
lands.
The japanese have a coin called the
"mousang," which is worth one-two-hun-
dredth part of an English penny.
The condor can fast for forty days and
the eagle twenty eight days.
English sheep are sometimes fattenad on
snaS.
Pens made of reed on the same lines as
the steel pen have been found in the tomhs
OF Egypt dating probably 200 years b. c.
One hundred and fifty firemen are re-
CURED on some OF the Atlantic liners.
Fish live in the ocean at a depth OF
$1,000 feet
The French unit OF horsepower Is one
seventh less than the English.
The length of the foot should be one
sixth the height OF "A well-formed person
The entire white population Of Rhodesla
Is only l2,5 800
The motor licenses issued last year III
England numbered DAB.
The price of whalebone has risen In 100
years from $50 to 81 500 per ton.
The Mohammedans of the world are esti-
mated at 300. 000.OOO
EngIands fishing fleet consists of 2650l
boats and 106 1913 men.
The tide OF emigration in England has
turned from South Africa to Canada.
The London police force guards property
valued al over 500 100000
England's drink bill has been decreasing
steadily for six years.
Seventeen out OF every 100 French families
are childless.