The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-09-30
wAsHBURN PRINTING CO., Publishers


If the bedbug ever had any apoiogists,
they must desert him now when DR.. Ar
mauer Hansen of Norway holds that
disreputable insect responsible for the
spread of leprosy.
The killing of a balloon trapeze per-
former, at Coffeyville, Kansas, by the
dropping of bag of sand from his own
airship, as he was hanging below it on
a rope, illustrates what is liable to
occur when dirigibles and aeroplanes are
fying about overhead. Then there
viii be laws prohibiting air travellers
from throwing things overheard, and
compelling them to see that everything
is fast and in no danger of dropping dur
ing sudden lurches.
The robbery of the Pennsylvania pas
senger train by lone bandit, at point
fifty-two miles west of Harrisburg, sug-
gests that there are lonely spots on all
railroad lines in which highwaymen with
nerve can ply their trade. But after the
deed is done, the problem is to get away.
The chances are more heavily against the
Pennsylvania robber than they would be
against Montana or Idaho highway
man with vast stretches of unoccupleC
country within easy reach.
The capture Of four-pound salmon by
fishermen near Sheboygan has conjured
hope that the salmon fry planted in
Lake Michigan twelve years ago will
give the much-prized fish start in these
waters. 1t would be highly beneficial
to fish consumers along the lakes if the
salmon should get a start, but the fact
that only few of the fish have been
caught since the fry were planted has
almost convinced the fishermen that the
experiment will be without result.
That Panama earthquake was only
little one. 1t caused some apprehension,
but apparently did no damage. The ca
nal at Panama was undertaken IN the
full knowledge that the region is ID the
earthquake belt, but also with the con-
viction that less danger is to be appre-
hended there than would have threat
ened had the United States adhered to
the Nicaragua route, for the Nicaragua
route is much longer, and the longer the
route the greater the liability to injury
of the canal by earthquakes.
Surface conditions are unstable IN MIN
ing centers like Scranton, PENNSYLVANIA,
where the dropping of the roof OF an
abandoned mine carried an area equal to
two city squares down from six to eight
feet below its previous level, wrecklng
buildings and causing uncertainty that
will prove disastrous to real estate val
mes. This is not the first occurrence of
the kind in Pennsylvania, but 1t Will re-
new speculation as to how far mineral
deposit can be worked out with safety TO
unsuspecting residents on the surface.
1t is to be hoped that the soldiers who
are fighting the fierce forest ire In the
Yosemite valley will be able to save the
big trees of the MariDosa, SeQuoia and
Mercedes groves. These trees are the
Oldest on the continent. and their preser-
walton should be insured by every pos
sible safeguard against fire. However,
it is evident from the scars on the big
trees at Santa Cruz and other points
that they have survived fires in times
past; and even if the blaze in the Yosem-
lite valley should 'sget away from the
troopers and sweep through the trees
they might not be destroyed.
Rabbi Hirsch of Chicago has come
back from Europe apparently convinced
- hot ho
of the Zionists to found new nation
in Palestine will fail, and the other that
the Jews now coming to this country
from Poland and Russia should not linger
in the great cities, but scatter themselves
over the land He heartily approves the
policy of the Hebrew Agricultural Aid
Society of Chicago, which helps poor
Jews to buy farms in the west, giving
them time to earn the cost of the prop
erty before they are obliged to repay
the society. No doubt great deal of
misery is averted by this means, and a
great many families that would be self
supporting in any case are enabled to
join the ranks of the prosperous.
The report of archaeological discoy-
cries in Alaska which prove the early
existence in that country of people of a
high type of civilization is in harmony
with theories which have been long ia
mlliar to students. Often it has been
argued that the races which Cortez and
Pizarro found in Mexico and Peru had
made their way from Asia by the route
leading through the Aleutian islands and
Alaska. 1t is not impossible that former
~ this route was all dry land, as the
islands of the Aleutiar chain are in a
region frequently changed by earth
quakes and volcanoes. Ten years ago
number of leading European scientists
seemed to arrived at agreement on the
proposition that the cradle of prehistoric
CIVILIZATION was the far north