SECULAR NEWS | AdventAI

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jun 6, 1878

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 4, No. 22.

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SECULAR NEWS.

—Holland has ten thousand wind mills.

—There is $1,500,000,000 on deposit in the various banks in London.

—A robbery occurred on the Union Pacific passenger train May 29.

—The New York State tax for this year is 2.6 mills on the dollar, the lowest rate since the war.

—It is estimated that 400,000 acres, of new land in northern Minnesota will be put under cultivation this season.

—The Free Labor Exchange last week found employment for 107 men and 14 women. Of the men, 71 were sent into the country.

—Ninety-nine failures occurred in New York city during May. Liabilities $5,686,306. This is an increase of twenty-two over April, and $2,000,000 more liabilities.

—The Bureau of Engraving and Printing has delivered to the Treasury $19,260,000 of silver certificates, and is engaged in completing the order.

—The police authorities of Brooklyn, N. Y., are placing the armories in telegraphic communication with the station houses, in view of a demonstration by the communists.

—The annual tribute to the National dead, May 30, at Gettysburg, Pa., was paid under circumstances of the greatest interest. Not since President Lincoln dedicated the cemetery has it been graced by so many distinguished citizens.

—A destructive tornado swept through Mineral Point and Madison, Wis., May 23. A large number of houses and barns were blown down, and a great destruction of life and property resulted.

—The number of works deposited in the English libraries entitled to copyrighted issues was, in 1877, 3279 books, in 3874 volumes; 1920 pamphlets; 6877 parts of periodicals, and 1439 pieces of music.

—The greatest excitement prevails in Canada at the news of war between England and Russia being imminent. Canada's first contingent of men will be 10,000, in Montreal, 2,000 have already been enrolled.

—California has 3,800,000 fruit trees and 35,000,000 grape vines, and harvests from 300,000,000 to 500,000,000 pounds of fruit yearly. She produces a large surplus, and foreign trade to follow as a matter of course.

—The machine shops of the Indianapolis, Peru and Chicago Railway at Peru, Indiana, were struck by lightning May 29, and with their contents entirely consumed by fire. There were three locomotives and two stock cars in the shops. Loss estimated at $100,000. No insurance.

—The Silk Association of America, recently in session at New York, gives the public an idea of the extent of the silk interest in this country, by its compilation of articles manufactured during the year past, showing that 1,177,504 pounds of silk was consumed, at a cost of $12,105,095, and goods manufactured to the value of $21,411,536.

—A tremendous wind-storm passed over Gardner, Illinois, May 31, doing a large amount of damage in demolishing dwellings, barns, and out buildings. At St. James considerable damage was also done. An iron bridge crossing a stream near by was struck, and a considerable portion carried away. A number of houses in the course of the storm were badly damaged.

—Twenty-three persons were before the Commissioners of Lunacy last month—15 males and 8 females, whose ages ranged from 18 to 64 years. Natives of the United States, 6; Germany, 6; Ireland, 5; France, 2; Mexico, China, Peru, Denmark, 1 each. Committed to the Napa Asylum, 15; sent to the Home of the Inebriate, 4; discharged, 3, and 1 was returned to the police authorities.

—The employment of women in the telegraph department has been a complete success in England. Over 1,000 are employed in London, and there has been but one dismissal in four years. The pay begins at $2 a week, which is raised to $3 when a girl is competent. Girls may enter from 14 to 18. The average pay received is $4.50 a week, and the highest is $7.50 a week. A clerk who has worked for thirty years at $7.50 a week would have $3.75 a week pension.

—The Treasury Department at Washington furnishes the following statement of the amount of outstanding circulation of legal-tender notes and fractional currency: United States notes, new issue, $19,764,097; United States notes, series 1869, $152,046,382; United States notes, series 1874, $39,515,182; United States notes, series 1875, $134,555,255; United States notes, series 1878, $801,100. Total United States notes, $346,081,016; fractional currency, $16,804,981; grand total, $363,485,997.

—Earl John Russell the great English statesman died May 28, in the eighty-sixth year of his age. A review of his life would be a review of English history for over half a century. Lord John Russell was the third son of the sixth Duke of Bedford. He was born August 19, 1792, and entered public life in 1813. He supported Catholic emancipation, which measure was passed in 1830. He was indentified with the Ministry of Lord Grey, formed in 1830, and more prominently, with the Melborne Ministry, formed in 1834.

—Official returns made to the Bureau of Statistics show that during the month ending April 30, 1878, there arrived at the port of New York 8,529 immigrants, of whom 5,266 were males and 3,263 females. The countries or places from which the immigrants arrived are: England, 1,354; Scotland, 225; Wales, 32; Ireland, 1,883; Germany, 2,737; Austra, 219; Sweden, 422; Norway, 146; Denmark, 311; France, 108; Switzerland, 216; Spain, 56; Italy, 359; Holland, 73; Russia, 180; Poland, 105; Hungary, 30; Cuba, 26; Central America and St. Croix, 6 each; Peru, 7; Belgium, 5; Nova Scotia and Mexico, 4 each; Greece, China, Quebec, India, and born at sea 2 each; Portugal, Newfoundland, Honduras, New Grenada and Syria, 1 each.