News and Miscellany

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 24, 1913

News and Miscellany

Notes and clippings from the daily and weekly press

— For several weeks the Pope has been seriously ill, and his physicians and friends are anxious regarding the outcome.

— The total excavations in the canal cutting up to March 1, 1913, are estimated at 192,996,071 cubic yards, leaving 25,142,272 cubic yards still to be excavated.

— Recent floods along the Mississippi have resulted in serious damage to some of the levees, and at Memphis, Tenn., it is reported that ten thousand persons are in need of food and clothing.

— The American Bible Society tells of a demand for Bibles in China in excess of its ability to supply. The sales of Bibles last year increased 15,000. The interest in the Book as an exponent of the Christian faith has greatly increased since the founding of the republic.

— The Navy Department is perfecting plans to locate by chart, about noon each day, every ship on the Atlantic that carries a wireless outfit for telegraphing. The Arlington station at Washington is powerful enough to receive reports from ships along the farther coast of the ocean.

— It is interesting to learn that Izzet Pasha, the new war minister at Constantinople, was the purchaser of a Bible from a colporteur at Aleppo, who states that the pasha first bought some portions from him, but was not satisfied until he had secured a complete copy of the Scriptures.

— Those women of Massachusetts who do not cover the points of their hat pins with some device that will protect the public from injury will hereafter be liable to a fine of $100. An act to this effect was signed by Governor Foss on March 10. The manner in which the pins are to be rendered harmless is left to the discretion of the wearer.

— The great street railway companies of the big cities of the country are enormous money-making machines. Their employees are paid only ordinary wages, and the profits are immense. The Chicago City Railway Company is in no danger of going into the hands of a receiver. Its big profits from sources other than the fares paid were revealed recently before the arbitration board which is seeking to adjust the differences between the traction companies and their employees. Advertising space on street-cars, according to the testimony of an expert accountant, alone brought an annual profit of $106,276.87. The sale of electric power, the witness said, realized the sum of $188,279.42. Other sources testified to by the witness included: Mail-cars, $25,883; chartered cars, $2,382.41; newspaper cars, $4,920; rent for buildings, $4,900.83; rent of tracks, $15; fares paid for letter-carriers by United States government, $10,000. Interest on the bank deposits for the year amounted to $40,200.12, the witness said. The gross earnings from the passenger-cars amounted to $10,321,769.99.