smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

l

 s. P. R. R., has presented to the l California Acadamy of Sciences

 some specimens of marine shells

 and fossils. In presenting them

 he made a few remarks in which

 he is reported to have stated that

 they were found at a point 250 feet

 below the level of the sea. This

 point was probably somewhere

 between Yuma or Ehrenberg and

 the San Gorgonio Pass and on some of the routes surveyed by

 the R. R. engineers. If the fig

 ures attributed to Col. Gray are correct, and we assume they are, that point, so far below the sea

 level, is about 370 feet below the Colorado River here. If Dr.

 Wozencraft's project should be

 realized, of turning our river into the Desert, it wonld take all the

 snow that falls on the Colorado watershed to fill this deep basin up. Instead of trying to convert it into a fresh.Water lake, we should suggest rivalling the pro- ject of letting the Mediterranean Sea on to the Sahara Desert of Africa, by turning in here the waters of the Gulf of California. It is true this would upset all the irrigation schemes and give us a great body of salt water, instead of fertile meadows; but that water would be to some extent naviga-

 ble, its constant evaporation would promote rainfall and consequent vegetation; instead of fertile fields being formed at the bottom of the depression by irrigation, they would soon be found all around

 the slopes leading to it, and be supplied with moisture from nat.

 ural sources. The general impress sion is that the desert is barren and deficient in all the elements of fertility. This is wrong, as we expect to show in our next num- Der on "Desert Growths," land Col. Gray's desert shells will be referred to, to prove our theories. A most surprising feature in the occurrence of shells on the desert is, that mingled with great quan- titles of true marine shells, are found immense numbers of those easily recognized as belonging only to fresh water; these latter,

 though more fragile, are generally in better state of preservation, and apparently of much more re- cent date. It would have been of much interest to have had an explanation of this peculiarity

 worked out by scientific mind, like that of Col. Gray. Failing that, the SENTINEL suggests that

 by sOrne upheaval near the coast,

 or by the deposit of mud and

 silt from the Colorado River, large bodies of salt water covering what is now the desert part of San

 Diego County, were cut off from

 the Gulf of California, forming inland lakes inhabited by marine animals and shell-fish. In course of time the soda and potash Of the

 salt water night have combined with the sands of it's bottom, form. ing silicates and setting the ga- seous acids free; the water thus gradually becoming fresh enough to sustain freSh-Water animals, and too much so to longer maln-

 tain its original inhabitants. The bottom of these lakes being so much lower than the Colorado, any overflow of the River would have supplied them with fresh

 water animals and with the float
Year: 1877

HEAVY ASSESSMENTS FOR UPTOWN IMPROVE


MENTs--A DELEGATION BEFORE MAYOR ELY


AND COMPTROLLER KELLY-THE CITY ASKED


TO PAY HALF THE EXPENSE.


A number OF gentlemen who own property along the
line OF the three bouevards the northern part
city called upon Mayor Ely and Comptroller Kelly
yesterday afternoon for the purpose Of protesting
against the heavy assessments levied upon them In
connection with those Improvements. Among those
who accompanied the delegation were Messrs John B.
Year: 1877

learning OF the author in all matters of phology the work
accordingly may be taken n standard reference,
although he dscaims that intention Its practical Vnue
In the routine of instruction must Of course be tested by
the experience of the teacher. but every amateur OF
English will find full OF suggestion and interest
Year: 1877

Ii we have to eat artificial butter it
is gratifying to know that it can now
be made equal in flavor, texture and
odor to the best butter made from cream.
There are several manufactures in
this city and Brooklyn which turn out
many tons OF this product weekly, and
a well-known chemist in this city re-
Gently declared that, while he had no
doubt that more than half the butter
consumed in New York was artificial
ly made, he conscienciously believed
that it was quite as good as butter
made in the dairy, and often much
better. The imitation is made of suet,
which, after being thoroughly washed,
is reduced to Oil at q low temperature /;
to each one hundred pounds of oil
some twenty pounds of sour milk are
added and the two substances are
churned, half an ounce of bicarbonate
of soda and two or three tablespoon
fuls of soiution of annattO being
thrown into the mixture. The pro-





come in contact with ice, and is again
churned with more sour milk. Alter
fifteen minutes agitation the solidified
oil takes up a certain percentage OF the
milk, as well as its flavor and odor,a
Lhe butter is ready for market. An
analytic chemist OF this city, who has
prepared and published a pamphlet on
the manufacture OF artificial butter,
furnishes = number of anal yses, includ-
ing those of artificial aud genuine but
ter. Or the fats, including olein, palm
itine, stcrine, butyrine, &c., artificial
butter contains 81 per cent, cream
butter Sc per cent. The most pcrcept.
ible difference in the constituents OF
the tive products, is in the matter OF
salt, Of which artificial butter contains
225 per cent. OF coloring matter
there is a trace in the artiticially pre-
pared compound. The percentage OF
salt, it ls said, may he augmented or
reduced to suit the taste aud require
ments of the public, 1t is claimed for
the counterfeit butter that 1t does not
become raucid SO quickly as dairy but
ter, and that it can be made much
more cheaply. 1t is fact that more
than nine tenths of the liquors seld
here are artificially made, thanks to
chemistry, which is now able to re-
produce the exact constituents of the
various kinds of ardent spirits. Let
us hope that before long chemists will
amounts of carbon, hydrogen, nitro
gen and oxygen as to give us artificial
quinine and the other alkaloids at
prices considerably less than they sell
at present. New York World.
Year: 1877

HENRY "A. WISE as he was dying,
said to his SON: "Take hold John, OF
the biggest knots in life, and try TO
unite them: try TO be worthy of mans
highest estate have high, noble and
manly honor. There is but one test
for anything, aud it is. is it right? If
it is not, turn away from it, That is
the test We want in a good many
quarters: 'lf it is not right, turn
away from it,"
Year: 1877

1t is a wondrous advantage to man,
in every pursuit or vocation, to secure
an adviser in 4 sensible woman. In
women there is at once a subtle deli
cacy of tact and a plain soundness Of
judgment which are rarely combined
to an equal degree in man. A woman,
if she be really your friend, will have
a sensible :egard for your character,
honor and repute. She will seldom
counsel you to Go shabby thing, for
a woman friend always desires to be
proud ofyou, at the same time, her
constitutional timidty makes her more
cautious than your male friend. She.
therefore, seldom counsels you to do
an imprudent thing. A mans best
female friend is a wife of good sense
and heart, whom he loves, and who
loves him. Bat, supposing the man
to be without such Il he]pmate, female
friendship he must have, or his intel
lect will be without a garden, and
there will be an unbeeded gap even in
the strongest fence. Better and safer,
Of course, are such friendships where
disparity of years Or circumstancesput
the idea oflove out of the question.
Middle age has rarely this advantage !;
youth and old age have. We may
have female friendship with those
much older and those much younger
than ourselves. Female friendship is
to man the bulwark, sweetness, orna-
ment of his existence.
Year: 1877

An exchange says that Mr.. Neal
Dow, the father OF prohibition, is re-
ported to have told Maine audience
some nights ago that if he could have
his way he would make the selling a
glass of cider punishable with hang
ing, on the first offence The Maine
Legislature is not yet ready to go quite
as far as that, but the extreme and
frantic demands of Mr.. Dow end 9th
er heated apostles of prohibition have
not been wholly unheeded at the State
capital.
Year: 1877

THE NOSE MACHINE. APPLIED TO THE NOsK
for hour daily. directs the soft cartilage Of which
the member consists that Informed nose quickly
shaped 70 psrsctioa To- ~ sent ree by pattern post
Land
Year: 1877

A lady correspondent says that girls
should cease to Be kissed by their gentle
men friends when they put on long
dresses. We never kissed anybody in
our life, but we'd just like to know
what difference the length of the dress
makes.-Burlington Hankeye.
Year: 1877

WITH our exports so largely in excess Of
our imports the flow of gold has been from
England to this country. Although the i'm
ports are now gaining on the exports, this
movement is not likely to be changed. The
Bank of England has advanced its rate Of
discount to three per cent. in order to check
the drain. But even that will not immedi-
ately stop it.
Year: 1877

GOLD fell the other day to 1O35 and re-
mains at trife over 1O3. At the former
rate the greenback dollar was worth SO cents.
At the same time the silver dollar of the old
standard was worth only 80 cents. But
many people who see and admit the
wrong of making the greenback an unlimited
legal tender, are deluded by the cry of invest.
ing still more deprecated silver with that
quality. Where is the honesty or the polcyP
How is it right to do with silver at 90 cents
what would be wrong with greenbacks at
Q69
Year: 1877

IT Is appalling to think that half million
people have already starved in India, and
that the awful famine is likely to count three
millions and a half more as its victims. The
great Persian famine of 1871, which exceeded
any other Of modern times, swept away two
millions; but the present calamity, according
to all appearances, will carry off double the
number. That will be one-sixth OF the total
population of the region which 1t visits. No
amplifcation can increase the horror of the
simple statement,
Year: 1877

Inc circular of the Chairman OF the DEM
ocratlc State Committee. made public through
lne eareiessness or indiscretion of some of his
henchmen, shows that the Democrats in this
campaign, as in some other more recent CAM
paigns which will be readily recalled, are at
tempting that peculiar system OF tactics to
which the astute Tammany politicians long
ago gave the name "the still hunt" That
is, the Democrats are making few public
demonstrations and are giving out that they
purpose to let the election 90 by default,
While all the time they are thoroughly organ
lzlng IN every town and school district, max
ing preparations to get absent voters home
and to call all their available strength to the
polls. Thus they hope to win victory by
surprise, and to carry the state while their
opponents are reposing carelessly upon their
arms. This plan of campaign has been at
tempted many times before and has only
failed because Republicans have discovered 1t
In season to foil it. 1t may succeed next
Monday unless prompt and vigorous meas
ures are taken to defeat 1t. The Republl-
1cans have it in their power in the next few
days to so thoroughly organize their forces
that no Democratic intrigues. however cum
ming, will avail against them. But they
have no time to lose. Measures must be
taken at once to bring out full vote. Can
yassing committees should visit every school
district in every town and see to it that every
Republican voter is at the post of duty, the
polls, on Monday next.
Year: 1877

THE Democracy of Maine furnish an Illus
tration of the unstableness of that party on
the financial question in the action of two
county conventions. In Somerset county
boiling Democratic convention met and NOM
mated an out-and-out hard money Democrat
ic ticket, because the party managers had
previously adopted the Greenback county
nominee. On the other hand the same par
ty in Hancock county practically repudiated
SO much of the platform of the State Conven-
ton as declared for specie resumption, and
adopted resolutions making gold, silver and
greenbacks equally legal tender against
National banks, in favor of taxing Federal
bonds, and of paying the National debt in
greenbacks-a theory that its author, Mr..
Pendleton, is ashamed of.
Year: 1877

we do not read anonymous etters and communi-
cations The name and address of the writer are in
all cases indispensable, not necessarily for publication
but as guaranty of good faith.


We cannot undertake to return or preserve COM
munications that are not used.


EVERY regular attache of the PRESS is furnished
with Card certificate couDtersigned by Stanley I.
Pullen, Editor. All railway, steamboat and hotel
managers will confer favor upon US by demanding
credentials of every person claiming to our
journal.
Year: 1877

PrrBBURoH, July 2S.-The scene about
the Union depot to-day is not hard Of de.
scription. All was desolation. The
ruins Of the passenger depotan the Pan.
handle buildings were covered with men


and women who we're digging into them
with sticks and hands, in expectation Of
getting something worth keeping. The
chief article was leaf tobacco and
there was not much OF that.
Occasionally man was seen walking of
with an arm full Of this stuff pretty badly
singed. Liberty street at the corner Of


Grant was almost completely blockaded


with trucks and wheels OF cars. Only' a
small passage way has been cleared which
allowed the passage Of single vehicle at
atime. There was no debris on Grant
street nor none down Liberty stree, except
along the track in the freight yard, none
OF the streets were blockaded lsewhere.
There were no flames visible at any place,


nor was there great amount OF smoke.
One engine remained through the morn.
ing and continued 10 pour a stream Of
water on the debris Of the grain elevator


and thereabouts. A large number Of
people visited the ruins during the day.
At various places small crowds OF rouVhs
could be seen collected, quietly talk.
ing over matters, There was no bois.
terousness shown, nor any disposition
togather large crowds by bitter denuncia.
tion. In nearly all the little gatherings
the feeling was one Of regret that the
thing had been allowed to proceed as far
as it had. LabOring men in most ca,es
joined in this feeling. ave have enough
taxes to pay without paying for all
this said one man, and the other
working man thought the same. A line
should be drawn between the strike
proper and its terrible consequences
eyineed by the burning and pillagipr of
to-day. The strikers seem universally
disposed to assist the law.abidinE citizens
in saving property from the thieves and
flames. Their better nature shows itseli
on all hands, but the terrible scenes that
have been enacted are traceable to much
lower grade Of men than those
who inaugufated the real strike;
they are those who have neither
Year: 1877

The concert given by the Congrega-
tional Sunday school Thursday night at
the church proved very entertaining af-
fair. The evening itself was delightful,
and the little folks sustained their we'll
acquired, reputation of giving very in
teresting programme. They were all
well up in the parts assigned them, and
everything passed off smoothly and agree
ably to the audience present. Financially
it was not so great success as the for
mer one. the treasury of the school being
increased between five and six dollars.
This is not as well as was anticipated,
nor as the demands of the school require.
The school is very much in need of addi-
tions to the library, and it was hoped
that the ayails of this entertainment
would enable them to make their much
needed addition. The school is i'm very
flourishing condition, and the children
are deserving OF better accommodation
i'm the way of books, the number now in
the library not being sufficient to provide
the whole school with books, as il should.
However, what was received will be OF
great benefit. and doubtless the school
will be grateful to those who contrib
uted.
Year: 1877

The Lansing Republican says in re-
gard to, the decision of the Supreme
Court in regard to-the tax on five-year
lands that the far reaching decision of
the Supreme Court in regard to the tax
OIL tiye-year lands Iamount to this: The
law of 1869, being headed ''tOr the uni
form assessment of property and the
collection and return of taxes thereon
cannot apply to tax levied prior to its
passage; therefore it applies to no
sales of land for taxes unpaid in any
year. previous to 1869. Where the state
has sold such lands for less than the taxes
and charged the deficiency back to the
counties, the claim of the state against
the counties is invalid. As the five-year
law was repealed III 1875, there is no
machinery left for the collection Of those
old taxes. While the state will have 10
pay such counties as are ahead, she can
not recover from such as are behind.
Careful and systematic action must be
taken by the Legislature, or that appall-
ing "balance" in the state treasury will
melt away like glittering icicles IN April
and heavy direct taxes will become
necessary to pay our state bonds and in
tercSt
Year: 1877

We are glad to learn that the range
lights are to be pushed rapidly forward
to completion, and that the prospect is
that they will be in working order by
the lst of July. The lights have been
purchased, and are all ready to be set up
as soon as the towers can be completed,
and it is the intention of the department
to commence work on them as early i'm
the season as practicable. Messrs.
Humphrey and Baker have agreed to
both deed the amount of the dock prop
erty desired by the department for the
lower light, and to divide the purchase
price equally. This secures the site to
the satisfaction of the government, and
insures an early commencement OF the
work. These lights are very much need
ed, and will prove of great advantage in
navigating the channel of our har-
Dor.
Year: 1877

The prospects of early navigation into
Burt lake are far from encouraging. Lo-
cal commissioner Chandler made a
visit to Indian river during the week,
and ascertains that the bar at the mouth
of the Sturgeon is much worse than last
fall, and that only very light draught
boats Will be able TO pass over it, The
work above the Sturgeon done last sea-
son is i'm good condition. The success
OF failure of navigating our inland waters
now seems to hinge on shutting off the
supply of sand from the Sturgeon river.
satisfactory proposals for constructing
dam not having been received, Mr..
Chandler examined. the feasibility OF
turning the course of the river and
emptying it into Burt lake. This would
insure the navigation ofthe river forever
and the cost is not estimated to be much
above that Of dam. Mr.. Chandler will
receive proposals for diverting the stream
according to plans aid specifications in
his Office. If contract could be made
at once for doing this work, Indian river
might be made navigable for the latter
portion of the season.
Year: 1877

The n. L. propeller Concord succeed
ed in getting through the straits yester-
day and passed down through the north
passage. She tried to make this port,
but either on account of there being no
buoys ye3 in position, the ice not permit
ting them to be placed. to show the
channel, or else she thought the ice was
too heavy for her to make the river, she
turned and put below. much to the dis
appointment-of Of large number of Oul
citizens, who were OH hand to welcome
the first boat.
Year: 1877

G. ID. v. Rollo started for Cincinnati,
his former home, last Monday. He will
return about the first of May. Il gse.


An attempt was made to place the
buoys for marking the entrance to the
channel in position last Thursday, but
the ice would mot allow it. They will be
put out just as soon as the ice will per-
NIT. 1t is expected that some of those
used last season will be recovered. and
if they are they will be used in addition
to those prepared this spring, thus mark
ing the entrance much more distinctly.


A letter received from Rev. r. NJ.
Thompson, pastor of the Congregational
church, announced his Inability to get
back before the last Sunday in April or
the first Sunday i'm May. He will be here
positively by the last named date, and
by the first if possible. His many friends
in town will give him hearty welcome
and regret that unavoidable circumstan-
ces have kept MIN away so long.
Year: 1877

There are immense quantities of hem
lock i'm this section. and already has
something been done in the way of ship
ping the bark tor to be used i'm tanning;
but one great drawback has been the
bulky nature and loss in handling the
bark in its natural state. We see, how
ever, that this trouble can be avoided
by the use of machinery for crushing and
grinding the bark and packing it into
bales. A Chicago company has located
at Grand Haven, and is building works
there for this purpose, The bark adj
heres under pressure of about 800 tons,
and becomes solid mass, easily handled
and ready for use, thus avoiding the
great waste and expense in handling,
transporting and storing bark, together
with the deterioration in. quality. A
single press will use about twenty cords
of bark per day, producing about seven
ty-five bales.


With the immense quantities of hem
lock to be found in this region and the
uneqnaled facilities this point affords for
shipping to both eastern and western
markets, we do not think there is a point
anywhere that would excel this as To-
cation for the establishment of such
works. The great thorOughfare of the
lakes would afford the cheapest trans
portation to market, and the advantages
afforded by our inland lakes and rivers
for procuring an abundant supply of the
bark az reasonable rates, we think would
certainly guarantee paying investment
in the business. We would call atten-
ton TO this matter, and would like to
have the subject fully investigated. feel
ing assured that it would fully confirm
our views of the profit to be derived in
such venture.
Year: 1877

The famous steamer Chicora is to be
taken down from Lake Huron, cut in
two, and passed through the Welland
Canal, then put together again and run
in the passenger business between To-
rOntO and Niagara.
Year: 1877

Mrs. Sweeny's house caught fire from
rubbish which was being burned
in the yard. 1t is presumed that the
wind blew some sparks which lodged
in the siding and started the fire. For
tunately it was discovered in time, and
with the aid Of helpwhich was near at
hand was extinguished before much dam
age was done. 1t will take about l50
feet of siding and few shingles to make
good the damage. Great care should
be used in burning the rubbish in yards.
especially as the long spell of dry wealth.
er has put everything in good condi-
ton for easily catching fire from very
small spark.
Year: 1877

PECK Negotiations have been pen ding for several days, looking to the sale of the incorporated stock of the Peck Mining Company which comprises four-fitths of the mine aud the whole of the Aztlan mill. Rumors were rife last evening that the sale had been cnnsumated, but on inquiry at the office this morning, we were assured by the president of the Company that the matter is still in abeyance. The four share holders

 Peek. Bean Alexander and Jewell have been offered S5)0,0D0 for their interests; this sum they pcremptorily refused. The parties s"rkrng to purchase have increased their offer to $loO.0OO which the owners have agreed to take under certain contingencies

 which may or may not arise between this time anl the first of Arul. In the mean time hc Company will continue work as if no negotiations were being talked of. There + no bonding iu the case, and if the sale is not made. they will go on as if nothing had happened. lf, on the other hand the sale iS made at that time there will only be a transfer of the property and the wOik will siil! still go on as 1T nothing had happened.