Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-05-06
GLEANINGS AND GOSSIP.

GLEANINGS AND GOSStF'
Baron Goto. minister OF communlca-
tions, is investigating the adVlsablhty
of transporting mail by automobiles IN
the principal cities of Japan. and ALSO
possibly to distant points where rain
way traffic is not vet opened.
The Chinese company which owns
the Hanyang steel plant. Tab Ieh iron
mines and the Ping Slang coal mines is
opening large coal station IN Han
kew to supply the many vessels plying
the YangtSe river. The coal is salts
factory.
The rich stratum of oil recently
struck at the Yenangyuang (Burma)
oil fields has now greater flow than
at first obtained. The Oil was tapped
at a depth of 1850 feet, being the great
est depth vet reached in the Burma Oil
fields.
On January 81, 1909. Japan's indeb-
tedness for national loans was 2,2l4.-
DOO, 900 yen (s1.1O7. O0O00O). The foreign
portion was 1,165 100000 yen (S5s2,50O,-
0OO). Thus Japan is herself carrying
s524. 5o0, 600 of ner public Indebtedness.
Cantor merchants at home and
sociation with 100000 capital to run
steamers, open 3 bank and an lnsur-
arce company. Officers in European
style are being opened in canton on
property already purchased.
Australia's rabbit pest has become
commercial industry in the state OF
Victoria During the past five years
Al. A23.0OO frozen rabbits were exported
from Victoria. principally to England;
also 9S,242OU0 rabbit skins. Rabbit
skin exports to the United States rose
from a value of S2754 in 1854 in 1904 to
s243,3S2 IN 1908.
A F'renchman. Leon Case, has gain
ed the sobriquet Fere la Vipere for his
prowess in killing vipers in the forest
of Fontainebleau. Ordinarily he kills
800 in a year. He has a mattress COW
cred with the skins of vipers he has
killed. and he is reported to have been
bitten SO many times that the poison OF
the vipers no longer affects him.
Shipping tonnage entering and clear
ing from Formosan ports was 2sG.491
in 1905, 374,S9o in 1907 and 442,67o in 1905
American ships figure for per cent
The large vessels of the transpacific
pruvements made by the Japanese. able
to call at Keeling for tea destined for
tho United States by way of the Paci-
tic or by way of SueZ and the Atlantic
ocean.
Zlrici. Swift, has an astronomical
observatory which is not only open to
the public but is intended in part for
the Instruction Of the public. The tow
err in which the telescope is operated IS
accessible by electric elevators ami the
telescope itself is available for visitors
both by night and by day when 1t is
fitted for solar observations. This OBJ
servatory has the fttingly astronomi-
cal anG equally euphonious title Of
"Eur&nio.''
G. NJ. Jurgenson, paper-box manu-
facturer. lad a dispute with police
man On the street near his home in
South Brooklyn. The dispute is said
to have led t. Mr.. Jurgensons arrest,
on some slight charge. At all events,
Mr. Jurgerson is very bitter against
:he police. and to discharge his wrath
has brought out small publication,
the Social Mirror by name, in which
:he police force is treated with cruel
satire in a short story which the au-
thor and editor acknowledges to be
fictitious 1T is not often that Il tiff
with a policeman results in an addition
to the publications CT the country.
The Santa Anita canyon district Of
California Las it's own kind of Mara
thon race 1t is known as tie ut. Will
sor. race, and is run over trail to the
top o: mountain once year. When
the contestants We're starting over tic
trail on the occasion of the last race a
rniddle-aged woman in tights and Il
crimson blouse and wearing head2ear
10 which long steamers were attached.
appeared before the officials and Insist
ed on taking part in he race. she
stopped 10 DC photographed. aid then
ran over the trail in quick time, finish
ire In good condition and beating a
n. ale runner of considerable heal ce-
letlity. The woman athlete is a her
nit and a vegetarian.
Nearly half the inclosed area of Eng
Ianl end Wales is the property o. 225O
individuals, and it is estimated that
one-fourth CT Scotland is owned by IL
persons, one-half by 70 and Clio by
100. Arthur Arnc1d's study of the sit
nation leads lin to believe tina: %
dukes own 1853 separate estates within
the United Kingdom. of S,991,s! acres;
that So ,narqnises own 121 separate es-
tates, of 1851, 1927 acres; that 1874 .earls