Secular News by Editor

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Sep 4, 1879

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 5, No. 34.

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Secular News.

By Editor

—Persia is threatened with a disastrous famine.

—Starvation and misery still prevail in Cashmere.

—Affairs in Eastern Bengal are causing great anxiety.

—The revolution in Hayti has been brought to a close.

—General Hood died of yellow fever at New Orleans, Aug. 30.

—Six hundred farms in California are for sale by one real estate agent.

—A terrific hail storm passed over the vicinity of Fort Keogh, D. T., Aug. 28.

—Quite a heavy shock of earthquake was felt at Benicia the night of Aug. 22.

—Sir Rowland Hill, the well-known advocate of postal reduction, died in London, Eng., August 27, aged 84 years.

—It is stated that Dr. Kalloch's physicians report his condition improved, that in all probability he will recover.

—The continued rains in England have caused a renewal of the overflow of rivers in Somersetshire, Derbyshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, and Staffordshire.

—Col Ingersoll is said to be very angry because President Hayes will not pardon Bennett, the man convicted of circulating obscene documents through the mails.

—It is stated that Russia is furnishing Bulgaria with 4,700,000 ball cartridges for the rifles with which the militia are armed. Thus that power stands armed to the teeth.

—Serious apprehensions are entertained in regard to the attitude that Germany, Austria, and Russia are assuming toward each other. Each power is actively engaged in strengthening their border fortifications.

—The Turkish Minister of Finance has informed the Porte that 500,000 Mussulman refugees are being maintained, in addition to the Turkish army, and that he declines all responsibility for financial catastrophe.

—The Manchester Guardian says: The executive committee of the North and Northeast Lancashire Master's Association will meet on Sept. 2, to take steps for a further reduction of wages. It is claimed that in the present temper of the operatives the most extreme measures may be adopted.

—A Victoria Regia, queen of aquatics, is now in full bloom at the Golden Gate Park Conservatory, San Francisco. The flower is the third since the plant began to bear. It is a giant blossom on a great water-lily. Its crown of pistils imparts a regal appearance, and the first perceptible perfume that of pine-apple.

—G. J. Morrison, an English engineer, publishes a long and careful estimate for the railway system needed by China, and an account of the difficulties in the way. He cites the history of the Woo Sing Railway, which has been finally sold to the Chinese Government, and is to be removed. Morrison says the business which would soon grow up for railways through China would be enormous if superstitious objections could be overcome. The entering wedge has not yet been driven, and Morrison is forced to confess that he has no hope of Government concessions for building a railway. Even when at length they are led up to accepting the idea of so benefiting China, the authorities will do the work themselves.

—The following estimate of the deficiency in the crops abroad has been made by an eminent French authority: France, 14,000,000 bushels; England, 120,000,000 bushels; Italy, 18,000,000 bushels; Spain, 24,000,000 bushels; Holland and Belgium, 12,000,000 bushels; Switzerland, 6,000,000 bushels. Total, 294,000,000 bushels. The surplus of the exporting countries is estimated as follows: United States, 157,000,000 bushels; Hungary, 7,500,000 bushels; India, 12,000,000 bushels; Australia, 21,000,000 bushels; Southern Russia, 30,000,000 bushels; Danubian countries, 6,000,000 bushels; Egypt, 3,000,000 bushels. Total, 236,500,000 bushels. The estimate for the United States is by far the largest of any year in our history.