Willamette farmer., October 08, 1875, Page 3, Image 3

WILLAMKTTE FARMER.
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Qood HAlTH
Seasonable Food.
The wholesomeness of food depends nealy
as much on the time it is taken as on the qnan
tity. We have grown so luxurious in onr phys
ical as well as mental tastes, that we are con
stantly tempted to eat things out of season.
Yielding to the temptation, as we often do.we
pay the penalty, eoou or late, in temporary or
chronic derangement of our health. Meat' which
is excellent in cold, may not be desirable in
warm weather; fish is best during spring and
early summer; vegetables and fruit are nutri
tious when they are fully ripened by sun and
season, and not artificially stimulated. Nature
known what she is doing; she furnishes fur
eveiy latitude. We need variety, not so much
atone time, as from time to time. The delicacies
of the season will not hurt us; but the delicacies
out of season certainly will, if long continued.
The appetite sojided as to crave oy sttra in July,
or strawberries in December, needs careful cor
rection by the adot tion of the slm lest habits.
The palate naturally relishes what nature has
near at hand. As' a rule, not only ia the sim
plest food the besttood, but the most seasonable
is in the long run, the most appetizing. There
is no d fflculty in determining wbat we should
eat, since the products of our climate show ns
plainly mouth by month. Fish, flesh, and iruit,
by their plumpness, tenderness and ripeness,
themselves denote when they are ready to be
eaten. A sound stomach will profit by what
ever an unspoiled palate enjoys; Scribner's
Monthly.
The Philosophy cp Death by Sunstboke.
Coup de soleil or sunstroke is thus mentioned by
Tanuer: "Causes: In its perfect form, it is
met with only in the tropics. It has been
noticed that those attacked have often been
affected for a few days previously with suppres
sion of perspiration. The nights have been
sleepless, while attacks of vertigo and a sense
of weariness bave been complained of. Such
men, too, may have been irregular in their
habits; while perhaps they have also been in
dulging freely in alcoholic drinks, and prowling
about nnder exposure to an almost vertical sun
for two or three days previous to the seizure.
Symptoms: These are generally faintness,
thirst, great heat, and dryness of the skin, with
Erostration. As the disease advance, the
eart's action becomes violent, the man can
scarcely be roused, the face gets pallid and per
haps an attack of vomiting ushers in the stage
of coma. The affection sometimes comes on
very insidiously. A man will be seen to be list
less and stupid; but he makes no complaint be
yond saying that his head feels a. little queer.
Vet in twelve hours he may be dead. Dr.
Morehead agrees with those observers who refer
the phenomena of sunstroke to depressed func
tion uf the cerebro-spinal and sympathetic
nervous systems. The three most urgent things
to be performed in treatment are: Cooling the
body, removing listlessness and oppression,
increasing the respiratory action.
Asfabaoub and Celeby.-A medical correspon
dent of an English journal saysthat the advan
tages of asparagus are not properly appreciated.
Those who suffer with rheumatism are cured
by feeding a few days on this delicious esculent;
and more chronio cases are much relieved, es
pecially if the patient avoids all acids, whether
in food or beverage. The Jerusalem artichoke
has a similar effect in relieving rheumatism.
It may be well to remark that most plants
which grow naturally near the seacoast
contain more or less iodine, and in all
rheumatic oomplaints, iodine has long been a
favorite remedy. One who has been in the
drug business, told the writer, some years-ago,
that many of the patent nostrums which dis
interested people " for the good of their fellow
creatures" sold at two dollars a bottle, con
sisted of a few cents worth of iodine in solu
tion. Iodine is dangerous, however in over
doses, effecting especially the eye. Scientific
American.
The Sea Bath. The invigorating and reme
dial effects of sea bathing, when not indulged
into excess, are everywhere recognized. But it
is frequently the case that those who are in
most need of, and most likely to be benefited
by the salt bath, are too feeble to take it in the
sea, and millions there are who cannot afford
the neoessary travel to obtain it. Many so
situated sometimes have recourse to a salt water
bath, thinking to derive similar benefits. But
as sea water contains several other chemi
cal salts in addition to chloride of sodium
the desired benefits from au ooean bath are not
realized. To meet this want, however, a pure
sea salt is now prepared by the evaporation
of sea water, containing all the saline matters
of the ocean, from a solution of which some
thing very near akin to an ocean bath may be
obtained in one's own bath room, wherever
located.
How to Remove Wabts. Warts are not only
very troublesome, but disfigure the hands. Our
readers will thank ns for calling their attention
to the following perfect cure, even of the
largest, without leaving a scar: "Take a small
pieoe of raw beef, steep il all night in vinegar,
cut as much from it as will cover the wart, and
tie it on, or, if the excrescence is on the fore
head, fasten it on with strips of plaster. It
may be removed during the day and put on
every night. In one fortnight the wart will die
and peel off." The same prescription will cure
corns.
Domestic Ecoftopy-
How to Eat a Mcskmelon. An exchange
has this, which comes in play at the present
time in onr locality: Our readers will probably
exclaim, "only give us the melon, and you need
not instruct ns how to eat it.". Yes, but there is
a "good, better, best" way of doing things,
and we propose to tell you the best way of
doing it; As Mrs. Glass says in her cookery
book, first catch your hare; so the day before
eating your melon, select one, the stem of
which is cracking away from the fruit, and
which is also giving out that delicious aroma
peculiar to it. Put it in the refrigerator nntil
the next day at breakfast or dinner; cut it in two,
.lengthwise, take out all the seeds, into each
half put a tablespoonful of strained honey, and
scoop it out with a spoon, dipping each spoon
ful into the honey, and eat. If, after eating
quantum svfficit, you do not wish your throat
was a mile iong, and every inch of it a palate,
then we can only say that yon are wanting in
gustatory taste and our advice is wasted.
While we are giving advice, let us add that all
fruit ia the better of being very cold when
eaten, as it brings out the delicate flavor and
aroma, and makes it much more refreshing.
We do not know of any fruit which is an ex
ception to the rule.
Obtcxin Cheese. This is so nice that every
one who eats it once, likes it again. Botl
two chickens till leader; take out all the bones
and chop the meat fine; season to taste with
alt, pepper and batter; poor in enough liquor
they are boiled in to make moist. Mould it in
aay shape yon choose, and, when cold, torn
oat and eat into slice. It is an excellent
tmvetog or picnic laneb.
Ham and Eoas. There is a great difference
in the manner of cooking this popular dish.
To get it as nice as possible requires time and
care. The following is suggested as something
extta nice: Cut the ham quite thick say one
tnird of an inch at least Boil it in plenty ot
water till barely cooked through, pour off the
water, and put the pan in u place just hot
enough to Drown the fat part of tbo ham
slightly, but not hot enough to make a smoke,
or to brown the lean meat much. When this
is finished remove the frying pan from the fire,
take off the ham, pour off the fat into a cup,
and wipe the pan till it shines like a mirror,
without a single speck to mar the polish. Then
put in a spoonful of the clear part of the fat,
break in tbe eggs, and set the pan in a place
scarcely hotter than boiling water, cover i. aird
let the eggB cook as slowly as possible for four
or five minutes, taking them up as soon as
they can oo lifted out. Place them around the
the ham, and do not pour anyot the fat on the
dish. Eat with mashed potatoes.
Baked Peaches Somethino Nice. Cut the
Benches in two. remove tbe stones, bavinc first
wiped the fruit well. Wiih a paste cutter (if
you want someioing iancuui; omerwise simple
squares will do) cut some slices of bread. On
each piece place half a peach, skin down; dust
well with sugar; put a tiny piece of butter on
each, and bake slowly. When done, dish them
and turn the juice over, if any; otherwise add
syrup of pears and serve warm. Apricots and
prunes may be served likewise. The American
Rural Home gives a method of preparing
peaches which will be well to try: Take good
i zed freestone peaches, wipe them with a towel,
halve them and place tbem fl t side down in
hot butter or laid. Let them fry to a nice
brown, then turn and fill the seed cup with
sugar, which, by the time tbe fruit is properly
cooked, will be melted and form with the juice
of the peach a rich syrup. Serve up hot, and
if you don't like tbem you need not repeat the
experiment. Most persons think the dish a
superb one.
How to Detect Poisonous Mushrooms.
There are several ways of distinguishing mush
rooms from poisonous fungi: 1. Sprinkle a
little salt on the spongy part, or gills, of the
sample to be tried. If they turn yellow they are
poiBonoui;,if black, they are wholesome. Al
low the salt to act before you decide the ques
tion. 2. Fulse mushrooms bave a warty cap,
or else fragments of membrane, adhering to
the upper surface, are heavy, and emerge from
o vulva or bag; tbey grow in tufts or clusters
in woods, on tbe stumps of trees, eta, whereas
the true mushrooms grow in pastures. 3.
False mushrooms have in astringent, styptio
and disagreeable taste. 4. When cut tbey
turn blue. 5. Tbey are moist on the surface,
and generally of a rose or orange color.
6. Tbe gills of a true mushroom are of a
pinky red, obanging to a liver color. 7. The
flesh is white. 8. The stem is white, solid
and cylindrical.
Fowl Stewed with Oystebs A Nice Dish.
Fill the inside of a young fowl with oysters;
put it into a jar or tin pail, tightly closed, and
put it in a kettle of water. Boil an hour and
a half ; there will be a quantity of gravy from
tbe fowl and oysters; ad.i to it a little, flour
made smooth in a small quantity ot water,
some butter, seasoning to taste, and more oys
ters with their liquor. Serve this with the
fowl, which will be very white and tender. All
the fine flavor lost in ordinary boiling will be
preserved. ,
StyEEf9 lo Wool.
Selection of Breeds of Sheep.
Those who think that one breed of sheep
should be adopted as the only profitable breed
to be kept over our widely diversified climate,
are greatly at fault. The market for wool de
mands a variety of staples; and in one region
the demand for mutton calls for a breed of mut
ton sheep that are prolifio breeders, mature
eaily, and also give a paying fleece. These
mutton sheep are not found to stand herding
in large flocks, and are best adapted to small
farms with diversified husbandry. They are
excellently adapted to keep up the fertility of
grain farms throughout the Eastern and Middle
States. They will consume ell the coarse fod
der and coarse grains raised, and give a good
return, both in mutton and wool, besides fur
nishing the choicest manure to keep up the
heart of the grain fields. Thee sheep lay on
flesh so rapidly, and always biing the best
prices in market, that tbe farmer can well afford
to purchase a small amount of grain to feed,
as the expenditure will be at once returned to
him in value of mutton and wool, and the extra
manure will be obtained gratuitously. The
demand for goe'd mntton is constantly increas
ing, and we think the mutton breeds will pay
the best when they are kept in small flocks and
given that special attention required to produce
the best animals. But if the farmer expects to
put a few Cotswold, Lincoln, Leicester or
South-Down sheep upon bis farm and Itt tbem
shift for themselves, as some do their voune
cattle, he will be sadly disappointed in the I
proms. Tuese sneep, use tne snort-norns,
are perfected by long breeding and judicious
feeding, and they cannot make mutton or wool
without abundance of good food and cire,
"Blood will tell," but it must have something
to support it, or it will tell on the wtong side
of the ledger.
Pure-Bred, or Cross.
If all farmers were to commence flocks of
Cotswolds, or other mutton breeds, tbe supply
would be at once exhausted and prices would
go beyond reach, so there is no other way but
to breed the cross. As tbe Cotswold and Lin
coln are much larger tba'n the fine-wools, or
our common breeds, theory has pointed out tbe
impropriety of using a large mule to cross on a
small ewe; and the cross of the fine-wool buck
upon the Cotswold ewe is impracticable, be
cause of their scarcity and high price. But, as
often happens, practice proves theory incorrect,
as it has done in this case. Mr. Joseph Harris
has made this violent cross of Cotswold buck
uoon Merino ewes for some years without any
ill effects. From seventy-four lambs dropped
he raised seventy-three, and both ewes and
lambs remained in fine health. Some other
breeders bave been equally successful, and we
may therefore conclude that this is a safe and
profitable cross. The result of this cross is
fifty per cent, more weight of carcass, of a
quality satisfactory to the butchers, and the
wool is also increased in weight and is highly
satisfactory to the manufacturers. This cross
can be cheaply mads by any farmer, as Cots
wold or Lincoln bucks are obtained for a small
sum, and he may soon bave a flock three
fourths or more mutton blood.
We believe such sheep, bred and fed as they
should be, will pay on all farms where mntton
is in demand. This is an excellent system to
be followed on fruit and market-garden farms,
where manure is a prime object and a supply
cannot be had except at great expense. But on
the great plains oi the West, where grain ia
scarce and the market to? mntton too .distant,
fine-wool sheep are nndonbtedly more proAU-
ble. Tbe Merinos may be kept in almost un
limited flocks, are hardy and require much less
attention of the flock-master. This fine staple
is also required in our market, and the gieat
West can lurnish it to any extent desired. This
country should produce its own wool of every
rade without help from foreign shores. Xiif
Stock Jour.
Eastern Wool Markets.
New Yobk, September 4th. The wool mar
ket still presents an appoarance of dullness,
although about the usual amount of business
has been transacted. Prices in are steady,
though occasional concessions are made to i fleet
sales for low grades. Both sprint; and fall
California have sold quite freely, and tbe sup
ply is considerably reduced. The sales of the
week are 5,000 pounds choice Port Phillip at
48c; 60 bales Cane, part at 3347c; 40 units
spring (Jalltomia at 18(2."0 lor Durry, ana
2(530o for free; 430 do fall do, at 1G10;
16,000 pounds scoured- at 53J456e; 21.000
pounds medium Eastern Texas, at 3233o;
S.UUO bags Western do, at z(oZ9c; is.uuu
nounds Georcia. nrivute: 70 bales Nevada,
private; 20,000 pounds Mexican, at 2223o;
oO.OOO pounds Indiana combing fleece, at 45.i;
ai.uuu pounds west Virginia ao, 40c; au uuu
XXX OLio. at 51c: 25.000 pounds XX and above
do, at 4C48o; 50,000 pounds X, at 4344i-:
UU.OOU pounds X Micblnan, at nc; an. uuu
pounds dtlaine, at 45c; 50 0n0 pounds unn ashed
Western, at 44c; and 17,000 pounds unnier
chantable Ohio, 9.000 pounds No. 1 pulled, 7
bags super do, and 203 do lambs' do, on private
terms.
Boston, September 4th. During the past
week tbe wool market has been dull, and fine
wools, notwithstanding the low prices, have
been neglected, there being scarcely any inquiry
for fine fleeces from manufacturers, and offers
for round lots on speculation were made at
prices l2o under the views of holders. Comb
ing and delaine selections continue in steady
demand, and all lots offering have been taken at
previous current rates. There has not been a
good demand for combing wool for some months
past, no advance has been established, and
there is no prospect of improvement even in
this description. 150,000 pounds have been
purchased during the week, principally at 55
60u for combing, 48 50 for fine delaine, and
4045o for unwashed. Very choice selections
would bring an advance on these figures, but
tbe quotations above represent the matket for
average lots. Transactions in California wool
comprise nearly 500,000 pounds, and the busi
ness of the week hai been principally in this
description. Sales of spring have ranged from
21 to 35c per pound, and the latter figure is an
outside price for the best lots now in tbe market.
Pulled wools have been dull, tbe sales of the
week comprising only 54 000 pounds, and 50o
has been tbe outside price for choice Eastern
super. Call.
TffE SwitE YW1
Bacon for the London Market.
One hundred firms in London, England, have
united in an address to the farmers of Ireland,
in which the requirements of the London baoon
market are stated. The remarks made are of
interest to American as well as Irish farmers,
for the exportation of bacon is becoming in
creasingly important to our agricultural pros
perity. These London dealers state that mild-cured
bacon is now universally substituted forbighly
salted, and that this has made fat less and lean
meat more important. They also state, as we
learn from the Irish Farmers' Gazette, that the
consumption of bacon might be largely sim
ulated, and tbe value enhanced, if they could
give consumers what tbey require namely,
level sides, with thin skin and fine bone, not
exceeding one and one-half to two inches of fat
upon the back, but still well finished,, the great
test of this being hardness of fat. The princi
pal demand in London is for bacon of light
weight, say fifty-six to seventy pounds a side;
but upon this the importers do not lay much
stress, because weight is of secondary import
ance compared with excess of fat; and tbey
Bhow that there are no animals more useless
and unsuited to their trade than small, short,
round pigs, which throw up an undue prepon
derance of fat upon the book and ribs, with
scarcely any admixture of lean meat a form of
pig which cannot, by any change or system of
feeding, be ever fitted for bacon purposes; and
the importers state that "most of the so-called
Berkshire breed in Ireland are of this descrip
tion." They suggest as the remedy the introduction
of a new breed, or crossing so as to produce
level, deep sided, and less thick swine, matur
ing early, yet developing lean meat instead'of
fat. They object to black pigs.
In connection with the address, a letter from
James Howard, ex-member of Parliament, is
published, in which he expresses his opinion as
follows:
" After having tried different kinds, I bave
come to tbe conclusion that none will pay the
tenant farmer as well as the Yorkshire white,
not the mammoth breed, nor the small white,
but the moderately large sort. I prefer them
for the following reasouB: The race is a hardy
one, they grow fast; at nine months old they
will weigh ten scoro two hundred pounds.
I have sold them at tbe Auction Mart
in Bedford, when from six to seven months
old, at seven pounds each. They are long
growing pigs with plenty of lean meat, thick
bellies and well developed hams. As to tbe
relative value of this kind and Berkshire, I may
say that at seven months old tbe farmer will
make as much off his Yorkshire as be could off
Beik. hires at nine months, and tbe flesh is more
streaky and tender, tbe proportion of lean is
considerably greater, and tbe bellies deeper."
Mr. Howard is a breeder of these pigs and
his opinion may be biased by his interest.
Wettern Rural.
Swine Hebd Book, The subject pf establish
ing a Swine Herd Book has been proposed
time and again by parties who desire euoh a
work commenced. The project has about as
often had cold water thrown on it by those who
are opposed to such au enterprise. But as
surely as it is useless to " stem tbe stream with
sand, or fetter flame with flaxen biand," so it
is idle to any longer try to keep down tbe spirit
of progress which movements in this direction
indicate. A number of Berkshire breeders
met in Springfield, Illinois, on tbe 19th day of
December, and determined to organize for es
tablishing a Berkshire Herd Book. The enter
prise will now be commenced and its practica
bility pnt to the test at once. Success to this,
as well as every other progressive movement
whloh so nearly concerns farmers and stock
raisers throughout the country. Western Agri
culturist. Yabnish mb Wpitb Woods. Dissolve
three pounds of bleached shellac in one gallon
of spirit of wine; strain, and add one and one
half more gallons of spirit. If the shellac is
pure and white, this will make a beautifully
clear covering for white wooden articles.
An obdurate screw may sometimes be drawd
by applying a pieoe of red not iron to the bean
for a minute or two, and immediately using the
crew driver.
A New Source of Industry.
The New York Times tells of a discovery
which promises to be of great value to both the
producing and manufacturing interests of this
country, and which is about to be utilized in
India. More than seventy years ago attention
was flrsi directed to the properties of a fiber,
which to many persons has since been made
familiar as the material out of which the fabric
knowu as Chinese or Indian grass cloth is man
ufactured. Experiments were soon after made
under the auspices of the British Admirality to
test tbe strength ot this fiber, tbe result of
which showed that in whatever way the test
was applied, the grass is three times stronger
than the best Russian hemp, while it is also
much lighter. For all the purposes for which
hemp is used, it was admitted to be very much
superior. But in consequence 'of difficulties
that arose in the process of preparaiion, the
matter remained a long time in abeyance. It
was not until the last Russian war that tho sub
ject received fresh notice. International strife
bns often been the stimulus to new discoveries.
When French pons were blockaded, and
French commerce was destroyed, in the da s
oi tbe nrst .Napoleon, .French physicians found
a good substitute for ipecacuanha, in the root
of tbe violet. Our own civil war stimulated tbe
production of cotton in Egpyt, India and Pa
cifio islands. Tbo Russian war, cutting off the
supply of flax from Western Europe, led to the
increased cultivation of jute in India, aud to
its extended use and application. At tl-e same
time it turned attention anew to the Indian
grass as auother substitute, and although it is
only recently thut any practical results has
seemed likely, it promises now to dtvelop into
an important source of industry.
In addition to the great strength of tbe fiber,
it has a remarkable power of resistance to tbe
influence of moisture. Compared with other
fibers it may almost be said to be indestructi
ble. It is as fine as flu, and presents a glossy
luster more nearly resembling silk. Manufac
tures give it an intermediate position between
animal and vegetable fibers, and those who
have interested themselves about it appear to
consider it as an equal, if not superior, substi
tute for flax, and very much superior in every
respect to hemp. Tbe chief reason why it has
not been sooner brought into use lies in tbe
difficulty that has hitherto been encountered in
the preparation. Six years ago the Indian
government offered a premium equal to $25,
000 for tbe best machine for separating tbe fiber
fruru the stems. This was, however, only par
tially successful. Only one machine was sent
in, and that only partly met tbe requirements.
At that time it was thought that only the green
stems could be operated upon, but it bas since
been shown that this is a mistake. Tbe dried
stems afford a fiber equal in strength and dura
bility, and only infeiior in gloss, and for these
tie existing machinery for flax aud hemp is
fouud to be well adapted. So that while the
best cloth will probably be made in India or
wherever the plant is grown, the manufacture
can be made to succeed wherever the stems aro
imported. It is the knowledge of this fact
that has given a new impulse to the discovery.
The Indian government is encouraging the
cultivation on a large scale. Within the last
few months a great deal of new machinery for
the manufacture has been patented. Practical
men are busily at work, and in a short time
there is little doubt but that manufactured arti
cles from this fiber will bo placed upon the
market. It is looked upon already ns one of
the most useful staples, and as likely to take
the place either as a substitute for, or in com
bination with cotton, flax, hemp, jute, woo or
silk, and to be valuable also in the manufacture
of paper and for other minor uses.
The discovery cannot, however, be regarded
as of much value to our people unless the plant
can be produced here. If this cannot be done,
it will be more likely to benefit the British
manufacturer and Indian grower, at some cost
to our own. This is, therefore, an important
aspect of the question. It is not quito settled
whether tbe Indian and Chinese fibers are pro
duced by exactly the same plants. If they are,
which is most probable, the Chiuese product
has a little the advantage ot the other in the
market. This shows that either climate or
cultivation has even there something to do with
the quality of the fiber. Tbe plant grows very
freely, however, in India, and experiments on
a small so.de indicate that it can bo made
equally successful in Australia. It also flour
ishes wherever it has been tried on the coast of,
tbe Mediterranean, and some very fair samples
of fiber have been grown in the south of Franoi.
With care it has been grown in England, but
it never can be produced there on any scale for
commercial purposes.
It is reasonable from this to conclude that
there are many parts of the United States
where it could be cultivated on a large scale
with advantage. Its production in the South
might become a new source of wealth, second
only, if not superior, to cotton. It would be
necessary in the first instance to start upon
practical information obtained in India in re
gard to the best methods of cultivation. But
about tbis there can be no difficulty, and
wbether or not it be ultimately found that tbo
soil aud climate of this country are suitable, the
subject is one which eminently deserves the
careful consideration of persons who are in
terested in the maintenance of our manufactur
ing interests. .
How to PnKPAne Unfebmented Wine. The
Boston Journal of Applied Chemistry suggests
the following: " In order to propure it tbo
grapes should be allowed to thoroughly ripen.
They are then picked and tho sterns and all
green and rotten grapes removed. Tbe grapes
are then crushed and pressed in the usual man
ner. The juice may be fint concentrated some
what by boiling, and then bottled; in either
case, bottles'are put in hot water and brought to
the boiling point, where they are maintained
for half an hour. At the end of this timo re
move them from tbe fire and cork lightly, while
still hot, wiring in the corks. Then replace
them and continue the boiling another hour.
Glass bottles are better for tbis purpose than
tin cans, though the latter may be used. An
analysis of a specimen prepared in New Jersey
gave tbe following result: Alcohol, none; sugar
and extract, 23.00; ash, 40; water, 70.00 total.
100. This had probably been concentrated
somewhat before bottling. The flavor was
fine. Some acid tartrate of potassium had
crystallized out. Many of tbe churches through
out the country aro introducing unfermented
wine to take tbe place of fermented, commonly
in use for church purposes.
A Cubious Cask, There is a man under sen
tence of death in Paris, France, who cannot be
exeouted, because there is a technicality of
French law which forbids tbe carrying out of an
execution until the real name of the culprit is
known, and this man's name is a secret whloh
tbe authorities bare thus far been unable to
find out.
Capital punishment is not "played out" in
Arkansas. Six men were hanged at Fort
Bmltn yesterday.
"And tbe rock poured me oat rivtrs of olL"
Job. Was it petroleum? I
Railways at the Centennial.
The managers of the Centennial Exhibition
to be held next year at Philadelphia, have
closed a contraot with a passenger railway
company, by which the latter is to oonstruct
within tho exhibition grounds a double track,
narrow gauge road, which will traverse tho en
tire circle between tbe various buildings, some
3y, miles. The road will bo equipped with
five locomotives and forty palace cars, tender
ed the company free of cost by different loco
motive and car builders. While tbis will be a
great accommodation in affording means of
transit to visitors, it will also be an advertise
ment to the shops furnishing the cars and en
gines, and a test experiment of narrow gauge
operations. In reference to arrangements of
tbe Pennsylvania railway compiny with re
spect to travel to the Centennial, the Chicago
Hallway Review gives the following summary:
Elm avenue is the southern boundary of the
Park and Centennial grounds. Belmont ave
nue intersects it and passes between the main
exhibition building and machinery hall. Par
allel to machinery ball, on tbe opposite side of
Elm avenue, tbe company will erect a depot 650
feet lone bv 100 feet deep, containing no tracks.
but simply for tho accommodation of passen
gers. The eastern end if this depot will not
extend to tue corner oi r.im and ifeltnont ave
enues, but will be about 200 feet west of it. On
Belmont avenue, south of Elm, a large tem
porary hotel will be erected by private parties,
tbe grounds for which are 900 feet front by 240
feet deep, and do not reach the intersection of
the two avenues by about 200 feet. The main
tracks of the road oross Belmont avenue at its
intersection with Olrard avenue, and are below
tbe grades of those streets. A short distance
above their intersection they will branch off
into the new yard to be constructed. They
will be laid out in tbe form of a circle, about
one thousand feet in diameter, flattened on the
Belmont avenue side. Three tracks will be
laid around this circle, and will be used re
spectively for arriving and departing trains
from New York, Baltimore and Washington..
The trains from Jersey Citv will run directly to
the Centennial grounds. They will reach them
on the north track, and then switch into the
yard. In case of the three trains arriving at
once, tbey will run from the main track and bo
switched one upon each of three tracks com
posing one cfrcle, the trains stopping on the
Belmont avenue Bide in such a way as not to
overlap each other.
Two passages through the hotel, 50 feet wide
each, located about 200 feet from either end of
the building, will allow the passengers to reach
Belmont avenue; and the corner of tbe two av
enues, wnich will have no buildings upon it,
will be floored over, making a wide passage to
tbe intersection, where there will be a large
concourse for the street cars. Tho trains dur
ing the day will) run on such time that arriving
trains can be immediately reloaded, and for
this purpose they will proceed around the cir
cle until they are in the rear of the depot build"
ing, on Elm street. To prevent confusion and
mistakes occuring inregaidto the destination
of trains, passage ways will be built from the
depot to each of the three tracks, and passen
gers will thus be assorted before they reach the
cars. Three sheds will be built at tho sides of
tbe thrte tracks, but not covering them, to
shelter the arriving and departing multitude
from tho weather. These will be each 1,650
feet long. Trains from Lancaster, Harrisburg
and the West will strike" the circle at nearly tbe
sarao point as trains comiug from the Mantua
side, and will go in upon the New York traok,
running around in the same direction. Trains
which do not depart immediately after their ar
rival will go around the circlo and bo baoked
upon some of tho fourteen sidings which will
be built just north of the main tracks. The en
gine will head east and will not leave its train,
but at the proper time for departure will be
again put upon the circle. Departing trains
will always reach tbe main track from the oircle
headed in the direction they are to proceed, so
there will be no danger for backing trains.
West of Fiftieth street, several sidings will be
built to carry out empty boxes trom tne exhi
bition buildings, and the Commissioners will
erect structures at that point for storing them.
Thore will be over seven miles of traok in this
yard.
Regarding the number of passengers for
whose transportation provision must be made,
there can only be conjecture. Tbe Centennial
Commissioners buve named 5,000 daily from
the New York division of the road. It is cal
culated that a train can be unloaded every
three minutes. Trains of 15 to 20 cars can be
run with one engine on the New York division,
of about 12 cars on the Western division, and
probably from 15 to 23 cars from the South.
Tin in Australia.
Australia bids fair to become an important
tin producing region. Tho product of that
region in 1871, was 11,331 tons of stream tin,
which yielded 7,012 tons ot commercial tin,
the ore having averaged sixty-live per cent.
This amount was an incrctse of seventy-one
per cent, over the yield of J1873, which was
4,100 tons. The bulk of this oro was shipped ,
to London for smelting. It was derived from
several localities in Now South Wales, Tasmania
and Qtieenstown. The latest tin discoveries have
been made on tbo island of Tasmania or Van
Diemeu's Land, located about 100 miles south
of Australia, and directly .over against Mel
bourne. Tbis discovery was niadoin tbe alluvial
washings from Mount Biscboff, tbo tin being
derived from tho disintegration of the granitic
deposits of that mountain. Similiar discov
eries have also been made in other parts of this
island. Up to a late date about 500 tons of
ore bad been dressed at Mount Biscboff.
Quite recently smelting f urnaoes have been
put up at Launoeston, a port near by. the Bis
choff workings, at which about twenty tons of
a very superior quality of tin are turned out
every week. Tbe discoveries at Tasmania bid
fair to add materially to the yield of tin in
Australia. Some of tbo tin smelted at Launoes
ton bas been received in London, and tbe
quality turns out exceptionally rich. The color
is described as bright and pure, and proves by
assay to be as high as 99,90 per cont. of fine
ness. Tbe shipments are expected to be
regular, and it is thought that its superior
quality will attract the attention of buyers.
Tho sales, so far, aro reported at about the
price of Strait's tin.
There has been a large increase in tbe tin
product of tbe world during tbo five years last
past, and a consequent diminution in prioe,
say, in the New York market, thirty-two cents
per pound in 1671, to eighteen cents in July
last. D tiring the past year, however, there bas
been an increased demand for tbis metal, both
in Europe and America, and an early advance
in prices is confidently predicted.
The consumption of tin in Europe in 1872,
was 27.000 tons; in 1873 it was 26,000 tons, and
in 1874. 28.500. The consumption in the United
States in 1874, 4,629 tons, against 4,313, 5,044,
5,076, 4,118, 3,610 and 3,037, during the preced
ing six years; making a general average of 4,368
tons per annum for the last seven year.
k Constitutional Convention it being held
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