SECULAR NEWS | AdventAI

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jan 18, 1877

SECULAR NEWS.

—The Grand Duke Alexis, of Russia, is accompanying a Russian fleet to this country.

—A change in the occupancy of every other European throne has been made since Queen Victoria became a sovereign.

—“It now seems beyond doubt” says the London Examiner, “that the area of the present famine in India will greatly exceed that of three years ago.”

—London hospitals contained 859 small-pox patients on Saturday last. About 200 cases were refused admission during the week, all available beds being occupied.

—During the last year there was a net increase of population by immigration to this State of 30,000. Nearly one-half less than in 1875.

—The Chinese in San Francisco have petitioned for the privilege of celebrating their New Year, Feb. 12 to 17, in accordance with their time-honored custom of using firecrackers and Chinese bombs.

—The Suez Canal has wrought a wonderful change in the meteorological conditions of the country through which it passes. Previous to 1870, rain fell in that region only once in a year. Now it falls at least twice a month.

—During the past year 551 prisoners were received at the State Prison in San Quentin, and 308 were discharged; 21 were pardoned by the governor and one by the president. On Dec. 31st there were 1196 convicts in the prison.

—Three tons of clothing have thus far been sent to the field by the London Servian Relief Committee. There are said to be more than 250,000 refugees in a state of nearly complete destitution—the result of the brief war between Turkey and Servia.

—The Viceroy of Egypt is going to discard his American officers. Presumably this is due to English influence. Rather a roundabout way, one might think, of defeating American soldiers. So soon after the Lexington and Bunker Hill anniversaries, too!—Christian Union.

—It is said that over $50,000 have been contributed in aid of the Brooklyn sufferers, or more than $700 for each man, woman and child that has asked aid. They are not all likely to get that sum, however, for already there is talk of devoting a portion of the fund to a useless monument.

—The physicians and hygienists of St. Petersburg, Russia, propose to form a hygienic society. It is stated that the subject of hygiene is receiving considerable attention among Russian physicians. A fortnightly periodical, Zdorovie (The Health), receives a liberal support.—Health Reformer.

—“A new Territory by the name of Huron,” says an Exchange, “is soon to be added to the Union.” This will be taken from the northern portion of the Territory of Dakota, and contains about 70,000 square miles, and about 10,000 inhabitants. It includes the country along the Red River of the North, which is said to be one of the best farming regions in the United States. The young, but rapidly growing city of Bismarck is to be its capital.

—The Christian Union, speaking of the case of Daniel Schrumpf who was recently tried for selling adulterated milk, says:

“The cars bring every day 400,000 gallons of milk into New York City, which sells at retail for ten cents a quart. Mr. Schrumpf had added one-quarter water. If the trade generally followed his example there would be a daily sale of 100,000 gallons of water at ten cents a quart, $40,000 a day, a snug little sum for profit in the course of the year.”

Mr. S. was sentenced to a fine of $250 and ten days’ imprisonment. His friends paid the fine, but, fortunately, were unable to go to prison for him.

—The Commission appointed by President Grant to examine the three proposed routes for connecting the Atlantic and Pacific by means of a canal, have reported in favor of the Nicaragua route. The work is one of gigantic proportions, and will rank, with the construction of the Suez canal and the building of the Pacific railroad, among the great engineering triumphs of the age. The State of Nicaragua does not offer so narrow an obstacle between the two oceans as other points on the southern coast. The width of the State varies between 120 and 240 miles. Lying in the interior of the State, a few miles from the Pacific Ocean, is the Lake of Nicaragua, a sheet of water from 30 to 40 miles broad, and only 128 feet above the waters of the Pacific. This lake will be utilized in the construction of a canal. Its depth varies from 30 to 90 feet. The great obstacle to be overcome in constructing the canal is a volcanic range running near the western coast, and rising between the Pacific and the inland lake to a hight of 10,000 feet. This State is supposed to show a separation of the great chain of the Cordilleras into two divergent ranges, having a less average hight than the main ridge, and being subject to partial interruption. The commission doubtless find favorable passes in these broken ranges which render feasible the project they have in view. The report estimates the cost of the work at $100,000,000.—Call.