Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-27

GREAT BRITAIN Thomson,
the British air minister, declared the
other day that the new British dirigible
R-100 would be starting for Montreal
late this month. The British have
peen exceedingly cautious and pains
taking in their tests of the R-l00 and
R-101. Lord Thomson asserts that
these ships are superior to the Graf
Zeppelin in structural strength and
quotes one of DR.. Eckeners principal
experts" to that effect. In a test flight
in May the R-100, with a good deal in
reserve, made Bis miles an hour. 1t
is estimated that for successful COM
mercial operation the dirigible should
make an average Of 80 miles over the
Atlantic and back; the westward trip
In about go hours, the eastward in
about 48. The R-100 and R-101 have
each a gas capacity Of 100000 cubic
feet. A bigger ship with maximum
speed of 100 miles an hour in normal
weather is being planned.
On July % the so-long-debated and
so-much-amended coal mines bill at
last passed both houses, Premier Mac
Donald having arranged a compromise
with the Lords respecting working
hours. The die-hard section of the
Lords were against compromising, but,
no doubt most fortunately for the
Upper House and the Conservative
party. were voted down.
Yielding TO fierce protest from Con-
servatives and Liberals, Premier Mac
Donald has announced that all three
parties unstead of only the Laborites,
as he had proposed) will be represented
in the British delegation to the round
table conference on India.
On July "a the House Of Commons
| ratified the London naval treaty.
The area Of Iceland is about 40, 400
square miles New York State, $4,000.
For the most part 1t is table land, built
up of volcanic rocks and pierced by
| fjords and valleys. The lowlands con-
stitute only one-fourteenth of the en-
| tire area and outside the lowlands
| there are few inhabitants. At the most,
| not one-fourth of the island can be
said to be inhabited. the rest being
| elevated deserts, lava streams and
| glaciers
Iceland boasts a large number of
lakes, of which Myvatn, in the north,
| has the most beautiful setting. 1t is
| one of the most volcanic regions of the
earth, LOT volcanoes being known, with,
Of course, thousands of craters of va
rious sizes The lava streams which
have flowed thence cover 1850 square
| miles. The best known volcano is
Hecla (5,l00 feet); the loftiest peak of
the island (6,400 feet) is also a volcano
There are numerous hot springs (in-
GLIDING the famous geyser in the south
vest, carbonic acid springs, sulphur
| springs and boiling mud lakes. The
| people Of Iceland have suffered terribly
! from volcanic devastations.
The flora of Iceland is meager, the
grasses being the most important as
furnishing subsistence for the live
stock, so outstanding a feature OF the
economy. Large tracts are covered WIFI
heather, which afford pasture for sheep
Trees are rare and none of them TAI
Birch and willows are the most numer-
GUS, seldom, however, exceeding 10 feet
| in height. But the heaths in Their
glory are very lovely, with their small
delicate bright blooms Wild crowber-
ries and bilberries are the only in
digenous fruits, but currants and rhu-
barb have been domesticated. Fruit
trees do not thrive
OF birds there are over hundred
species, more than half aquatic, in
GLIDING, in chief, the whistling swan
and the elder duck. There are no rep.
tiles. The streams and the surround.
ing seas are rich in fauna: salmon al1e
trout, herring, plaice and haiibut. COO