Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-08-16
Odd Items Of Interest

The absinthe consumption of France
Is increasing.
In Honduras even the meanest houses
are built of mahogany.
Corn is our greatest crop, that of 1908
being valued at $1,616, 100000.
Nine days sickness per annum is the
average for the human being.
The highest track-laying record on
the Western Pacific railway is 1900 feet
a day.
1t has been estimated that rats in
$15,0o0,000 annually.
The figures of the London police
courts show a very decided increase
during recent years in serious crime.
The salmon output of Alaska EQUALS
the combined catch of British Colum-
bla the United States proper and jap
an.
| The greatest cotton crop in the Uni
ted States was that of 1908. which.
on the farm, was valued at 1922. 0OO. 600
| Irvine King, Of Grovetown, Ca, has
a turkey gobbler sitting on about five
dozen eggs, three dozen of which are
| guinea eggs.
Cats are subject to a form of in
| fluenza which is communicable to hu-
man beings and they can catch it from
man just as readily.
| Cigar boxes of glass are coming more
and more into use. They are cheaper
| than the wooden boxes and keep the
| cigars fresh longer time
Of the lightweight millions of popu-
lation of the United States, third,
| speaking in round number are found
| in the thirteen original states.
| Tho amount of blast furnace gas
power lost each year approxmates O.
100000 horse power. although this is
being reduced by the installation of
gas engines to utilize the power.
| During the fall and winter season of
190S-09, which ended March q, 221 per-
| sons persisted by shipwreck and eighty
nine vessels met with disaster off the
New England and British North Ameri-
can coasts.
In 1889 Velpeau, one of the greatest
surgeons of his time, wrote as follows:
THE escape from pain in surgical OPP
erations is a chimera which it is idle
to follow up today. Knife and pain
In surgery are two words which are
always inseparable in the minds of pa
tients, and this necessary association
| must be conceded"
There will shortly be opened in
switzerland the Wieser viaduct, on the
route from Davos to Filisur. 1t is en-
tlrely constructed of stone, at hight
OF 30 meters. or 1921 feet, and has a
central arch of IS meters and six others
each of 20 meters, the entire length of
the bridge being IT'S meters. 1t is, ac-
cording to Paris contemporary, the
| most beautiful bridge in the world
| The extension of prohibition through
out the United States has caused a
| largely increased demand for "soda
pop. as indicated by the great de-
mand for bottles. Two big factories
at the Alton Oll) glass works have
been working since last fall night and
day manufacturing soda pop bottles.
The prohibition wave has also caused
a big increase in orders for all kinds
| of large bottles.
| The Institute of Marine ENGINEERS in
London recently discussed the subject.
and Fl. A. Mavor, of Glasgow, said
that the prospect for electric propulsion
for ships is very hopeful. Leading
ship builders have been considering
it for some time. w. P. Durtnall said
that in the all-electric Paragon method
OF driving vessels, the electric motors
are coupled directly to the propellors,
and run at equally high efficiency in
either direction. Since the steam tur-
bIne can run in only one direction, the
new method saves the expense of a re-
versible turbine.
| A minor drawback connected with the
use of the electric f1atiron has been
found to be in the fact that the tenn
perature varied considerably as it was
passed from piece of work to another
containing more or less moisture. This
mas now been overcome by an auto
matte means of control by which the
Temperature is maintained at one point
within fraction of a degree. When
the fiatiron is in use a large amount
of current is permitted to pass through
the heating coils, but whenever the
heat rises unduly switch automatic
ally introduces the resistance necessary
to cut down the current.
In an article on bees and ants by
Castor Bouwer in the Revue Hebdo-
madaire the writer contends that these
insects carry on conversation among
themselves, and that, while this is
done by means of their feelers, they
are not entirely dependent upon them.
"A whole colony" says Mr.. Bouwer.
lin an anthouse or a beehive often re-.
spends instantaneously to signal
which may have been given without
contact. tits interesting to see an ant
laborer for whom burden is too heavy
/ go to q fellow. make sign or give
a certain touch with his feeler, and
then see the second insect join the first
in lifting or moving the object"