great centers of the lumber trade. There are the “Albany Inspection,”
governing the lumber product of Northern New York, the “Maine
survey,” the “Boston inspection,” the “Saginaw inspection,” the
“Chicago cargo inspection,” “Chicago yard grading,” “St. Louis
inspection,” “Minneapolis inspection,” and several others. The
differences at the several Western centers do not differ very
greatly. The following grading is according to the rules of Chicago
yard grading:
Flooring—A, or firsts, should have one face nearly clear, with but
one or two small, sound knots; the other side may have more knots or
sap. B, or seconds, may have two to four sound, medium knots, and
bright sap equal to 1 or 1¼ inches width. C, or thirds, will allow of
three to six small, sound knots, or 1½ to 2 inches of bright sap.
Fencing flooring is good common flooring from selected fence boards,
and may have a large number of small, sound knots, but the general
character of the piece must be such as to make a good, tight floor,
practically free from “shake” and loose knots.
Fencing—No. 1, or common, contains sound knots only, not to weaken
the piece, and may have considerable sap, bright, dull, or stained.
No. 2 contains black sap, coarse knots, and boards shaky or otherwise
defective, provided they are not unfit for coarse fencing.
Strips and Siding—First and second clear, No. 1, must be perfect in
thickness, width, and quality, as clear lumber, free from knots and
sap. No. 2 will admit of a narrow, bright sap on one side, or one or
two knots. A, or first common, if free from knots, may have two or
three small sound knots, or bright sap, one-half or three-quarters
of an inch wide. B, or second common, may have three or four
medium-sized sound knots, or bright sap of 1 to 1½ inches wide. C, or
third common, may have two to six medium knots, 2 to 3 inches of sap,
or both sap and knots to equal these. Six-inch half-round live cedar
posts must be of trees alive when felled, free from rot or decay of
any kind, and not less than six inches at small end.
The St. Louis inspection rules for white pine lumber are almost
identical with those of Chicago. Minneapolis rules allow 1 inch sap
and three small knots, but no other imperfections in first flooring;
six small knots and 1½-inch sap in second flooring; 1-inch sap on
thin edge, but no other imperfections in first siding, dressed; three
small knots and 1-inch sap on either side in second siding. Grading
in the Upper Mississippi River towns is influenced strongly by the
Minneapolis rules.
HOMESTEAD RIGHTS OF WOMEN.
FORT COLLINS, Col.
1. Does the homestead law allow single men and women to leave their
claims to earn their living? 2. If a woman holding land under the
homestead and timber-culture laws marries a man holding land in the
same way, does she forfeit her right to either claim?
M. SOPER.
_Answer._—A single woman who makes a homestead or timber-culture
entry, or both, does not forfeit her rights by marriage, provided the
requirements as to residence and cultivation are complied with; but
if a single woman marry after filing her declaratory statement under
the pre-emption laws, she abandons her rights as a pre-emptor. A
party, while having an actual residence on his or her claim, may work
elsewhere for other people a few weeks at a time.
BLACK LETTER BOOKS.
PRECEPT, Neb.
1. I saw an account of a black letter Bible recently and should
like to know the reason for its value. 2. Please explain the
expression “court in banc.”
CONSTANT READER.
_Answer._—The type commonly known in this country as black letter, or
Gothic, was the first used in printing, being a copy of the letters
used in Germany and the Netherlands during the fifteenth century.
In the next century the Gothic style was superseded by the Roman.
Books in black letter are highly prized because of their antiquity
and rarity. 2. The meaning is that all of the judges of the court in
question hear and decide the case: that is, occupy the “banc,” or
bench, together.
BIBLE QUESTIONS.
CHICAGO, Ill.
1. How many days were the Israelites in gathering manna? 2. How many
furlongs is Bethany from Jerusalem?
A. LEWIS.
_Answer._—In Exodus, xvi., we read that for forty years the children
of Israel gathered manna daily, excepting the seventh or Sabbath, a
double allowance being granted on the sixth day. 2. The distance is
three miles or twenty-four furlongs.
MRS. MARY ASHTON LIVERMORE.
OXFORD, Ind.
Please give a short biography of Mrs. Mary Livermore.
JOHN MORGAN.
_Answer._—Mrs. Mary Ashton Livermore, the popular platform orator
and reformer, is the daughter of Timothy Rice. Esq. She was born
in Boston in 1821, educated in the Baptist Seminary for Girls at
Charlestown, Mass., where she gave brilliant promise of a useful
future. She married the Rev. D. P. Livermore, of the Universalist
Church, and assisted him in editing a paper of this denomination in
Chicago. She was in this city during the late civil war and took a
prominent part in the various movements to ameliorate the sufferings
of soldiers on the field, in hospitals and prisons. She was an ever
active, devoted and most efficient worker in the cause of the U. S.
Sanitary Commission, and was one of the ablest associates of that
eminent philanthropist, Mrs. A. C. Hoge, in the organization and
marvelous success of the Chicago Sanitary Fair near the close of
the war. She is now undoubtedly one of the ablest leaders in the
cause of woman, in the various movements of the times. An eloquent
speaker, a brilliant and powerful writer, a remarkable organizer
and parliamentarian, she never fails to command respect and carry a
strong influence. She is one of the associate editors of the Boston
_Woman’s Journal_, and is recognized as one of the most eloquent
lecturers in the cause of temperance, woman suffrage, and other
social reforms.
POINTS IN THE ROAD LAW.
SOMONAUK, Ill.
1. The law of Illinois says that any one who forbids or hinders a
person while he is working on the public road shall be fined $2. I
quote from memory. Who should make the complaint and before what
court? 2. What rights, exclusively his own, has a man to one-half
of the road adjoining his farm, and what rights have the public?
AMASA C. LORD.
_Answer._—Section 33 of chapter on roads and bridges, Revised
Statutes, says: “If any person, after appearing (to work on the
roads), remain idle, or do not work faithfully, or hinder others from
working, such offender shall, for every offense, forfeit to the town
the sum of $2.” It is the duty of the overseer of highways to make
the complaint, in case of a violation of this law, before a justice
of the peace. 2. In case of the vacation of a road, the title to the
land reverts to the original owner, his heirs, assigns, or grantees.
If the roadway was condemned for highway purposes, and damages for
public appropriation of the same paid to the owner, several nice
legal questions would be likely to arise in case of vacation of the
road. When land has been given or legally taken for a highway, the
abutting owner has the right to insist that it shall be used for no
other purpose. The tree-culture laws of most States give him the
right to plant trees along it, subject, however, to State, county,
and town regulations. These can hardly be called “exclusive rights;”
it can scarcely be said that he has any such, so long as the land is
used as a highway; but the public have no right to use it for any
other purpose, or do anything therewith inconsistent with such use.
FIELD MARSHAL SCHWERIN.
FAIRMONT, Neb.
Who was “Field Marshal Schwerin”?
W. P. JACKS.
_Answer._—He was a distinguished military commander, born in Swedish
Pomerania, in 1684. His full designation is Count Kurt Christian von
Schwerin. He entered the Dutch army as ensign when only 16 years of
age, fought under the famous Prince Eugene and the great Marlborough
against the French in the “War of the Spanish Succession,” and
subsequently entered the service of Frederick the Great of Prussia.
He won the decisive victory over the Austrians at Mollwitz in 1741
which resulted in the cession of Silesia to Prussia; and Frederick
signalized his admiration of the great captain by conferring on him
the title of Count and making him a Field Marshal. He fell in battle
before Prague in 1757, during the Seven Years War, better known to
Americans as the French and Indian war, which was a part of the same
general war.
CANADIAN TARIFF ON BRITISH GOODS.
CHICAGO, Ill.
Does Canada collect import duties on goods that are received from
England?
A CONSTANT READER.
_Answer._—The Canadians did not wait long after securing their
virtual commercial independence, through the establishment of
the present Dominion Government, before resolving to foster home
manufactures by means of a tariff which should serve the double
purpose of public revenue and protection to home industry. This
tariff by no means exempts goods of British manufacture; indeed, such
goods pay much the larger share of the total duty, as is shown in the
following table, stating the value of goods entered for consumption
in the Dominion of Canada, that paid duty, the countries whence
imported, and the amount of duty collected thereon during the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1882:
————————————————————+—————————————+—————————————+———————————————
| Dutiable | Free | Duty
COUNTRIES. | goods. | goods. | collected.
————————————————————+—————————————+—————————————+———————————————
Great Britain | $41,459,730 | $9,137,611 | $10,011,811.00
Brit. W. Indies | 1,765,024 | 83,700 | 662,514.52
Brit. Guiana | 198,979 | 4,379 | 117,655.12
Brit. E. Indies | 61,403 | 12,279 | 24,774.20
Australia | 1,895 | 262 | 519.36
British Africa | | 204,745 |
+—————————————+—————————————+———————————————
Total British | $43,487,031 | $9,442,916 | $10,817,274.20
United States | 32,941,061 | 15,347,991 | 7,073,912.49
France | 1,988,698 | 108,660 | 742,774.93
Germany | 1,331,271 | 148,733 | 338,691.39
Span. W. Indies | 2,122,373 | 13,795 | 943,791.41
Brazil | 1,068,876 | 259,440 | 491,556.26
All other countries | 2,818,123 | 1,569,959 | 1,292,016.95
+—————————————+—————————————+———————————————
Grand total | $85,757,133 | $26,891,494 | $21,700,027.63
————————————————————+—————————————+—————————————+———————————————
From which it appears that Canada collects over a half more duties
from British goods than she does from American goods, while the total
value of her imports from the United States is over six millions
greater than that of her British imports.
TELEPHONING.
ALEDO, Ill.
How is the telephone operated in the city of Chicago? Give an
illustration of how messages are conveyed by telephone. Is
electricity used on all telephone instruments? Does each person
having an instrument have a separate wire at the central office?
S. GRADY.
_Answer._—In telegraphy the wire between stations is a magnet only so
long as the electrical current is passing over it, which is the case
so long as the wire is connected with the battery. This connection
is made or broken by means of a small lever under the finger of the
operator at the transmitting station, known as the transmitting
key. While the current is on and the wire is a magnet it attracts
to itself a piece of soft iron at the receiving station, known in
the Morse writing telegraph as the recording style. The instant the
connection between the battery and the wire is broken the latter
ceases to be a magnet, and the soft iron at the receiving station
springs back to its old place. By this means every movement of the
transmitting key is instantly repeated at the receiving station. In
the telephone two thin metallic plates or diaphragms are substituted
for the key and the soft iron recording style. The undulations of
the air produced by the voice of the speaker cause the thin plate in
the transmitting instrument to vibrate more or less violently, in
harmony with the voice. This plate is so connected with the wires
running between the battery and the receiving station that the
electrical current over the circuit is entirely closed or broken, or
varied in intensity, according to the degree of vibration, while the
receiving plate, at the other end of the wire, vibrates in unison
with the transmitting plate, reproducing undulations in the air at
that end of the wire directly corresponding with the undulations
made by the voice of the speaker—that is, reproducing the sounds of
his voice. Electricity is used in all telephones of any practical
value. In Chicago the main wires and the branches from the down-town
offices center at a common office, known as the central station,
where, by means of couplings made by the movement of certain keys,
separate wires are instantly joined or disconnected. Any one wishing
to communicate by telephone turns a small crank, which rings a bell
at the central office. The operator at the latter place responds by
signal. The person who wishes to communicate generally inquires,
“Is this the central office?” Having received an affirmative
reply, he requests to be put into communication with the number in
the telephone register corresponding to the office or residence
of the person with whom he wishes to speak. He may now sit down
until signaled that some one at the place called for is ready to
communicate with him, or the operator at the central office notifies
him that he can get no response from the number called for. Besides
the main central office there is a district center in each of the
principal divisions of the city, North, West, and South, all under
the control of the former. It is not necessary for a separate wire
to run from each instrument in the city directly to one of these
centers. Several individual wires may unite with one common wire
before reaching either the central office or a district center.
THE ALHAMBRA—MUNICH.
MARENGO, Ill.
1. Will you please give me some information respecting the
Alhambra? 2. For what is the city of Munich celebrated?
RAY.
_Answer._—1. The Alhambra is the fortress of Grenada, within which
is the ancient palace of the Moorish kings. The most of it was built
between 1248 and 1354, and though defaced and ruined, the wonderful
beauty and skill of its workmanship is still apparent. It is one of
the finest examples of Moorish architecture, remarkable for peculiar
grace and delicate elaboration. It stands on a terraced hill north
of Grenada and overlooking the city, surrounded by a strong wall,
nearly a mile in circumference, studded with towers. Passing through
the Gate of Pomegranates and the neglected gardens, the visitor
finds himself surrounded by beautiful arches and open courts, all
leading to the chief object of attraction, the Moorish palace. Though
severely plain upon the exterior, within it is exquisitely beautiful,
with floors of the choicest marbles, “fretted ceilings, partitions
colored and gilt, and filigree stuccos of veil-like transparency.”
Slender columns support the galleries, and gracefully bending palm
leaves of marble form the arches, while beautiful fountains are
scattered here and there. Besides the halls, courts, reception rooms,
and sleeping apartments, the building contains a whispering gallery,
a labyrinth, and vaulted sepulchers. After the expulsion of the Moors
from Spain their conquerors took pleasure in defacing and destroying
their works of art, and the Alhambra was remodeled and partly blocked
up. In 1812 the French blew up a portion of it, and in 1821 it was
shaken by an earthquake. Attempts have been made to restore it, but
the sums of money contributed have been too small to accomplish much.
2. Munich is noted for the variety and elegance of its architecture,
for its schools of art and music, and for possessing a larger and
more valuable collection of art treasures than any other city in
Germany. Nearly all its magnificence in architectural splendor and
elegance, sculpture, painting, and music, date from the reign of
Ludwig I., who ascended the throne in 1825 and during his reign spent
nearly 7,000,000 thalers in the embellishment of his capital.
NAVY STATISTICS OF 1865.
WAUKEGAN, Ill.
1. What was the increase of the United States navy during the civil
war? 2. How many naval officers deserted to the Confederate cause?
CONSTANT READER.
_Answer._—1. According to the annual report of the Secretary of
the Navy, for 1865, there were at the outbreak of the war 7,600
men in the United States navy, and at its close there were 51,500.
The force in the navy yards increased from 3,844 to 16,880. This
latter was exclusive of about an equal number employed in private
ship yards under contracts with the government. During the war 208
vessels were commenced for the navy and most of them completed; and
418 vessels were purchased (of which 313 were steamers), at a cost
of $18,366,681.83; and of these 340 vessels were sold during and
immediately subsequent to the war, for $5,621,800.27. 2. There were
322 commissioned officers of the navy who “traitorously abandoned the
service” at the beginning of the conflict.
ARKANSAS.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.
Please give a description of Arkansas and Washington Territory,
climate, price of cattle, horses, sheep, and farm products. 2.
Which is best adapted to Northerners?
A. H. CHASE.
_Answer._—A description of Washington Territory was given in answer
to another subscriber a week ago. In Arkansas the land gradually
rises from the Mississippi westward, reaching its greatest elevation
in the Ozark Mountains. Unlike the Eastern portion of the State,
which is alluvial in character, the country near these mountains is
high and the climate is healthful. Throughout the State the soil
along the river “bottoms” is rich and deep, producing large crops of
corn, wheat, cotton, and tobacco. The river surface is 540 square
miles, and the area covered by lakes and ponds 265 square miles.
The temperature varies in the southern part from 20 degrees to 94
degrees; in the north from 10 degrees to 92 degrees. The rainfall in
the south is 48-56 inches; in the north 42 inches. Below we give the
average prices in Oregon, being unable to obtain them in Washington
Territory. In Oregon the average price per bushel of Indian corn
is 82 cents; of wheat, 78 cents; rye, 82 cents; oats, 40 cents;
potatoes, 59 cents; hay, $12.14; horses, $56.22; milch cows, $21.17;
oxen and other cattle, $13.72; sheep, $1.46. In Arkansas corn is 49
cents; wheat, $1.02; rye, 86 cents; oats, 53 cents; potatoes, 74
cents; hay, $11.50; cotton, 10 cents per pound; horses, $49.36; milch
cows, $14.56; oxen and other cattle, $10.11, and sheep $1.48. 2. The
effects of climate depend largely upon individual peculiarities,
but, generally speaking, the heavy rains of Western Washington and
the malaria of Eastern Arkansas are about equally injurious. Western
Arkansas and the Eastern part of Washington Territory are favorable
to consumptives.
DR. KANE, THE EXPLORER.
NORMAL, Ill.
1. Please give a sketch of the life of Dr. E. K. Kane. 2. Are any
members of his expedition still living?
F. A. WALKER.
_Answer._—1. This celebrated explorer was born in Philadelphia in
1820. When about 25 years of age he visited China, India, and the
East Indies as surgeon in the navy, and later traveled through
Arabia, Egypt, Greece, and Western Europe. He acted as surgeon,
naturalist, and historian to the first Grinnell expedition, in 1850,
which led to the discovery of Grinnell Land, and in 1853 himself
commanded the second expedition in search of Franklin. Returning home
in 1855 he published the account of his travels, and in the following
year went to England for his health. Thence he sailed to Cuba, where
he died, at Havana, Feb. 16, 1857. 2. Dr. Hayes, who subsequently
commanded another American Arctic expedition, died in New York Dec.
17, 1881. Several of the men are still alive.
RESTORING THE FLAG ON FORT SUMTER.
GALVESTON, Texas.
On what occasion was the flag of Fort Sumter restored to its place,
and how?
SUBSCRIBER.
_Answer._—General Sherman, on his march to join General Grant
near Richmond, captured several rebel strongholds, and among them
Charleston, which was evacuated by the rebels on Feb. 17, 1865. On
April 14, 1865, the identical Union flag which had been hauled down
at the time of the surrender, exactly four years before, was formally
restored with befitting ceremonies.
THE OLDEST AMERICAN MINE.
CHICAGO, Ill.
What is the oldest mine of any kind in the United States?
C. D. ADAMS.
_Answer._—It is generally conceded by those who are read up in the
history of mining and metallurgy in this country that the oldest
mining enterprise of the United States, still active, is the Mine La
Motte, in the lead district of Eastern Missouri, opened about 1720
under Renault, of Law’s notorious Mississippi Company. It was named
after La Motte, the mineralogist of the expedition. It has been
worked at intervals ever since it was opened, and is in successful
operation now. There are silver mines in New Mexico and Arizona,
some of which may have been opened by the Spanish adventurers of
the latter part of the sixteenth century and the beginning of the
seventeenth. Some of these ancient mines were operated by the Toltecs
and Aztecs years before the Spanish invasion, but it is not easy to
identify them. So there are copper mines in the Lake Superior region
in which the tools and mining marks of ancient miners of pre-historic
times were found by the pioneers of the present American mining
companies. Where the first colonists of Virginia got the ship-load of
“fool’s gold” which they sent back to England, to the great disgust
of the London company, is not certainly known; but it is known that
at the same time, in 1608, they shipped a quantity of iron from
Jamestown, which yielded seventeen tons of metal, the first pig iron
ever made from American ore. There are diggings in North and South
Carolina and Georgia, now overgrown with forests, which are supposed
to have been excavated by the followers of De Soto and his immediate
successors between 1539 and 1600. The first recorded account of the
discovery of coal in the United States is contained in Hennepin’s
narrative of his explorations in the West, between 1673 and 1680,
when he saw the coal outcrop in the bluffs of the Illinois River, not
far from Ottawa and LaSalle; but coal was first mined in the Eastern
States in the beginning of this century.
LAWYER PRESIDENTS AND CONGRESSMEN.
WILMINGTON, Ill.
What per cent of our Presidents and representatives in Congress
have been professional lawyers? Is it growing more or less common
to elect lawyers to these places?
L. F. HAZELTON.