The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1909-08-06
FACTS IN TABLOID FORM.
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~S~~.eso~.~~~~.~~S
The coal fields of England cover 49,
600 square miles.
A telephone line is being constructed
in the Alps which will hold the record
for height
The latest Japanese bank notes are
printed in English as we'll as Japanese
characters.
There is not a port in Europe, and
few, If any, in the world, where the
matter of tides is of no consequence.
About 5000 trespassers are killed
every year on the railroads, and 5000
more are, seriously injured, many of
them becoming public charges. 1t Is
calculated that from one-half to three
fourths of these trespassers are tramps.
Boston, where the idea of an annual
work horse parade originated, does not
see INTO have much trouble in getting
the money necessary for prizes and
other expenses of the procession on
| Memorial day. A recent report shows
about $2,500 available for this year.
Among the innovations proposed is a
class for champion old horses open to
animals that have taken the gold
medal in years past.
Today the collection In the National
Library comprises nearly 2,50O,OOO
items-1,5 100000 printed books and
pamphlets, and nearly 100000 other
articles manuscripts, maps, prints
and music)-by all means the largest
collection of the western hemisphere
and perhaps the third largest in the
world. They are increasing at the rate
of about 10000 books and pamphlets
and $4,000 other articles yearly.
Tradition is but a meteor, which, If
1t once falls, cannot be rekindled. Mem
ory, once interrupted, is not to be re-
called. But written learning is fixed
luminary, which, after the cloud that
had hidden 1t has passed away, is
again bright in its proper station. So
the books are faithful repositories,
which may be awhile neglected or for
gotten, but when opened again, will
again impart Instruction. John.
son.
An old inmate of an almshouse in
New York, age S6, who had never in
the course of her life seen an automo.
bile before, fell in a dead faint in the
street when one whizzed by her, with
the horn footing. When she recovered
she told the doctor who had attended
her that she had been In hell and had
seen satan. Some of the victims OF
the speed maniacs would not quarrel
with her diagnosis of the situation.
In connection with his new system
of wireless telephony Prof. @. Majo-
rama used liquid microphone. This
consists of small tube which is at.
tached to the diaphragm Of the micro
phone and through which a stream OF
water flows between pair of platinum
electrodes. When the microphone Is
vibrated by the voice the stream Of
liquid fluctuates, varying the electrical
resistance in accordance with the
sound of the voice.
There are several old bells in Scot
land, Ireland and Wales; the oldest are
often quadrangular, being made of thin
iron plates which have been hammered
and riveted together. At the monas.
terry of st. Gall In Switzerland the
four-sided bell of the Irish missionary
ST. Gall, who lived In the seventh cen,
tury, Is still preserved; but more
ancient still Is the bell of st. Patrick
in Belfast which Is ornamented with
gold and gems and silver filigree.
The number of button factories In
the United States in 1905 was 275
These represented capital of $7,783,
900, and gave employment to 1885
persons, to whom was paid in salaries
and wages $4,691 ,669. The aggregate
value of buttons and by-products from
these factories during 1905 was $11,
| 133,769 Over half of the 275 button
factories In the United States engaged
to greater or less extent in the man
ufacture of pearl buttons, an increase
Of over 20 per cent since 1900 in the
number SO engaged.
In the year 1907, 56,133 pounds Of
human hair was invoiced at this con
sulate-general for shipment to the
United States, while In 1908, 207,414
pounds were declared for shipment
This hair is brought to Hong Kons
from the interior and here cleaned ant
sorted, according to length and quality
1t Is then packed and either stored OF
disinfected, in accordance with quar-
antine regulations, and shipped to New
York. 1t Is said here that the hail
can be so treated In New York as t.
alter its color and texture, and that i
Is used in making the switches, curl
and bands, which are so fashionabl,
in the United States. Consular Re
ports.
| Uncle Sans postage stamps art
manufactured by the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing at Washington
the stamped envelopes and newspape
wrappers are made under departmental
supervision, under contract. by q pri