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Spring Place Jimplecute
CARTER ft HEABTSELL. PTOPRirroRS.
VOLUME XI.
PHOSPHITE KINGS DEB4TE
AN EXPtRT TO INVESTIGATE THE
INDUSTRY AND REPORT.
Practical Talk* by Leading Miner* in This
State—Too Many Brokers and Too Many
L»nd Promoter* are Among tbe Inju¬
rious li llience* at Work.
Ocala, Fla., October 10. —The meet-
ng called for to-day of t hose interested
in phosphate mining was well attended,
fully a hundred persons representing the
phosphate companies aud those engaged
in mining as individuals being present.
Dr. Butts, of Orlando, called the meet¬
ing to order. George W. Wilson, of
Marion 'county, was made chairman,
and John P, Frazier, of Ocala, secretary,
with Editor F. E. Harris, of the Banner,
assist ant secretary.
Dr. V. M. Metcalfe, of tho Globe Phos¬
phate company of Citrus county, who
first suggested the meeting, was called
upon to state the object of the meeting,
which he stated were for mutual protec¬
tion against outside combinations un¬
necessarily and arbitrarily depressing
the (trices of phosphate.
Dr. T, W. Moore, of Leesburg, was
requested to give his ideas oil the ques¬
tion in hand, whieh he did to the great
interest and pleasure of all present.
Dr. Metealfe then moved that all oom-
l anies or interested individuals lie en¬
rolled, which was done. Following is
the list :
AN EMINENT GATHERING.
J. I. Munoz, Jacksonville, Santa Fe
Hard li'iek company; J. O. Reardon,
Ocala and Biue R-ver Phosphate com¬
pany; E. 8. Gauiden, Ocala and Blue
River Phosphate company; A. M. Wil¬
liamson. editor of the Phosphate Field,
Inverness; P. J. Poacher, Ocala and
Bhu River Phorphato c imp any; P. 11.
Walter, Bellevue Phosphate company;
M. F. Simmons, Iriaehalta Phosphate
company; 11. B. Walker, Florida Dis¬
patch; A. B. Weighs, istuchatta Phos¬
phate company; B. Arontz, phosphate
broker; A, B. Russ, Standard Phosphate
company; C. L, Livers & Go., Branford;
C. E. Merrill, Jacksonville Standard: W.
R. King, manager of the Empire State
Phosphate company; W. N Camp, Al¬
bion Mining aud Manufacturing com¬
pany; J. F. White, J. E. Young, Lake
City Land and Timber company; Ed¬
ward Slatterly, Boulder Phosphate com¬
pany; Serge Malvvan, chemist; M. C.
R'Ci, Itchetucknee Phosphate com¬
pany; W. M. Dolive, Citrus Queen and
North and South Alalia R ver Phos¬
phate company; B. H. I. Guard, Land
Pebble Pnosphate company; R. L. Mar¬
tin, A, O. MacDanell, Seminole Hard
Rock and Land company; W. D. Hen¬
nessey, Globe Phosphate company; J, C.
A. Suotor, Hamburg Phosphate com¬
pany; A. 8. Harden, Climax Phosphate
company; A. T. Williams, of Williams,
Swan & o ; J. 0. Limb, Piedmont(W.
Va) Coal and Phosphate company; J.
M. Gratton, ditto; Edward Hilier, ditto;
T. E. Cuiverhouse, ditto; S. Savage, W.
M, Etheridge, Citrus Queen Phosphate
company: S. W. Teague, Dunnellon
Phosphate company; Wm R-wp, W. S.
Tompkins, International Phosphate
company, J. H. Dehviter, ditto; R. H.
Adams, Plate Rock Phosphate company;
V. M, Metcalfe, YollowBtotie company:
Ira Bond, vice president of the Ohio
phosphate company; J. H. Livingston,
Bou'der Phosphate company; J. W.
Btiahnell ditto; R, J. Buck, Carney
Phoiphate company; J. M. Maya, Gulf
stream Phosphate company; R. P. Bur-
oi,'Gem Phoiphate company; Thomas
W. Spicer, Diamond Ph «?phate com¬
pany; A. J. Piiares, Lacooohee Phos¬
phate company; Louis McLeans & Co.,
Royal Mining company; J. R. Biggs,
Globe company; J .F. Harris, Colum¬
bus, O.; Edward Holder, Hartshorn
company: C« Y. Butts, Crown and Ores
cent; W. T. Adams, Ground Hog Phos
phate company; M. C. Besdeli, Sterling
company; T. B. Stephens, ditto; G. C.
Stevens, O B. R, A P. company; C. E.
St>encer, Passadena; E, B. Bailey, Fort
While; A. L. Eieheibergerr With-aooo-
ebee company; Dr, R. R Snowden, New
York company; B. C. Coe, Tampa com¬
pany; J. T. McLendon, Hernando coun¬
ty, and C. M. Wead, Pasco county.
A COMMITTEE APPOINT! D.
Col. Badger, of Ocala, by request,
gave his views of the situation.
The following committee was then ap¬
pointed to formula: e a plan of organ¬
ization, consisting of the following com¬
panies and persons: Hon. John F.
Dunn, of the Dunnel on; E. W. Agnew,
of the Marion; R. G. Wright, of the
O 'ala and Blue River; Dr. V. M. Met¬
calfe, of ibiGlo‘«e; T. B Stevens, of the
Sti rling; Dr. Bull, of the International;
and W. Ii. King, of the Empire.
This committee was to report at the
8:30 o'clock evening session.
TOO MANY BROKERS.
Dr. Sater, manager of the Hamburg
company, a noted chemist, then spoke
w ith great clearness and acceptability,
and told his hearers how the Belgian
phosphate miners protfc’ed themselves
by organization, not letting a hundred
interested parties offer their product
SPRING- PLACE, GA., THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1891.
through almost as many brokers, as was
the case with the Florida miners, and
thus creating an impression on the for¬
eign market that “the woods are full”
of rock, and the product crying to be
taken out of the wilderness. Dr. Sater
has made a study of this question, and
the pointed way in which he put the
situation made many open their eyes.
He was heartily applauded.
BAILEY ABBOAD.
E. B. Bailey, of Monticello, was then
called to the fore and gave his Ijondon
experience in dealing with brokers on
the other side of the big pond. He
started out by saying that reports have
been spread all over Florida to the effect
that the cargo sent from his mine was
refused and dumped into the Thames.
This was a gem of fiction. On the con¬
trary, it had been sold for 11 pence per
unit, and netted him $12 per ton, less
the freights from the mines to Savan¬
nah and $2 a ton royalty for a loan of
$10,000. He also detailed some rich ex¬
periences with George P. Baldwin, pres¬
ident of the Marion phosphate company,
who proposed to work the legislatures
of Georgia and South Carolina so as to
control the convict labor and make mil¬
lions in phosphate mining—all of which
Mr. Bailey will shortly give to tlio press
of the country. ’
Hon. John G. Reardon made a perti¬
nent talk on the facts as stated by
Messrs. Hater and Bailey, saying that
every interest outside of mining was
combined against them to Iowor the
purchasing price of Florida phosphate.
He said that the owners and operators
of the mines, largely aided by the own¬
ers of phosphate lands and the brokers,
had more to do with the low price of the
product than any other cause. He
cited the caw of responsible foreign par
ties offering a big phosphate company
correspondent—Ocala and Blue—within
one dollar a ton of the prevailing prices
during the spring and summer for 20
000 tons. O.ving to the abnormal ad¬
vance in ocean freight rates, precip¬
itated by (he demand for grain vessels,
the company could not accept this of¬
fer. This did not show that the bottom
had dropped out of phosphate.
The Ocala and Blue R ver company’s
office was entirely inadequate t > hold
the crowd, and the Rifles’ armory was
tendered and accept d to hold the
meeting.
A BIG SCHEME.
To-night W. H. Harrison will ask the
meeting to indorse a request to Con¬
gress tor aid to build a breakwater, as
a railroad will be built from Pember¬
ton Ferry to Gape Canaveral on tbe
Atlantic coast, into which harbor ocean-
carrying vessels can enter and trans
port all tbe phosphates of this section
and of South Florida to Europe at $2
a ton less than by tbe present route.
Although the weather is soaking
wet, the spirits of the pliosphaters are
looming up under tbe inspiration of
personal contact and an exchange of
ideas.
F. W. Marshall, of Feroandina, is
here trying to negotiate phosphate
cargoes at 10 shillings.
A. O. MaeDonnell, of the F. C. and
F., is on hand.
J. H. Humphries, editor of the Tam
pa Tribune and Stale phosphate in¬
spector, was in town to attend the
meeting, but had to return home.
THE COMMITTEE’S REPORT.
At the evening session of tbe conven¬
tion the committee on plan of organ¬
ization, etc , submitted the following
report: Ocala, Fla., 1,1891.
Oct.
To the Chairtn in and Members of the Plies
phate Convention.
Your committee appointed by the
representatives of the various compa¬
nies engaged in mining high-grade
phoaghates in Florida, in niass-ineet-
iue 'assembled, respectfully submits
the following report:
First—In view of the magnitude and
great importance to tbe commercial
and agricultural world of the recently
discovered and rapidly developing de¬
posits of the highest phosphatic mate¬
rial in Florida, and the greatly exag¬
gerated reports that have been scat¬
tered throughout Europe as to its ex¬
tent, character and commercial value
(which have had a tendency to depress
the market for such material and
which can but result in crippling tlie
industry t and injuring alike the pro*
ducer and consumers of this material)
and in order that these evils may be
corrected and the truth made known
that the civilized world may have tbe
benefits of one of the richest of rn-
ture’s resources ami this industry be
made profitable to those who are en¬
gaged in mining, manufacturing and
consuming it—be it;
Resolved, That we eordlally invite
and earnestly request that all organ¬
ized companies and individuals, actu¬
ally and legitimately engaged in min¬
ing and producing for the market
high grade phosphate rock in Florida,
to select at|least one representative of
each of their respective companies, as
“TELL THE TRUTH.”
a delegate, to meet with all other sim¬
ilarly selected delegates in a business
meeting to be held in Ocala, Fla., < n
Thursday, November 19, 1891, at 2
o’clock p. in., at Armory Hall, for the
purpose of consideringtheadvisability
of combining or organizing for such a
course of action as they may deem ex¬
pedient and practicable, with a view
of regulating the output of Florida
high grade phosphate material, aud
such other action as will be most con¬
ducive to their interests. Be it further
Resolved, That a committee of not
less than tbreo experienced business
men be appointed by this meeting,
who shall ascertain by personal inspec¬
tion of a competent and reliable expert
in sueh matters the quantity and qual¬
ity of the ."present available supply of
high-grade phosphate at the ‘several
mines in Florida and the capacity and
facilities for producing future supplies
for the markets, by the different min¬
ing companies and individuals now op¬
erating in this State ; also to ascertain
the present supply and the demand
and the future prospects of the supply
aud demand of sn sh material in the
markets of the world; aud make a
complete report of the same to the del¬
egates at the meeting to be held at
Ocala November 19,1891.
Jon j F. Dunn,
Chairman Committee.
V. M. Mbtcai.be,
William F. King,
Gko. W. Wilson.
SOME DISCUSSION.
On these resolutions as submitted
there was much talking, lasting nearly
three hours, in which Judge White of
Live Oak, Judge Jennings of Brooks-
ville, li. p. Burton of Leesburg, M. F.
Simmons of JUt&chaita, John G. Rear¬
don of Ocala, Colonel Livingston of
Ocala, Dr. Butts of Orlando, Thomas
W. Spicer of Leesburg, Dr. Safer of
Ocala, Capt’iiu “Bill” Kendrick and
Mr. Munoz of Jacksonville participated.
Some wanted all individuals owning
mining lands admitted at th i meeting
in November, others only those com¬
panies organized, hut not milling, etc.
At last M. F. Simmons’ amendment
was adopted, which roads as follows;
“Resolved, That all organized com¬
panies or individuals engaged in the
mining of phosphates in the State be
invited to meet in convention in Ocala,
Fla., November 19.”
There was quite a debate as to wheth¬
er it should include only hard-rock
companies, but the di-position was to
inclndo all mining interests aud Jet the
hard-rock and pebble phosphate men
settle their respective arrangements in
the future.
Bartow and Jacksonville were both
named as the place in which to hold
the next meeting, but, Ocala earri d off
the honors.
The armory was crowded to-night,
and the deepest in r erost was taken iu
the proceedings The Times Union
correspondent, has never seen a body
of men iu greater earnest.
TWO MORE COMMITTEES.
At 11:30 p. m. the convention is still
in session talking. The chair was or¬
dered to appoint a committee of three,
who were to name the expert who was
to canvasc the State and report on the
phosphate ; also a committee of five to
suggest plans fdr permanent organiza¬
tion at the meeting on Nov. 19.
A collection of $32 30 was tlieu taken
and the meeting adjourned sine die.
Hfs Foot OrrtHtietfL
Pomona, Fla.. Sept. 30.— Joseph Mc¬
Neill, an employee of the Pomona Lum¬
ber Co., met with what proved to be a
fatal accident late last l 1 inlay evening.
He, with several others, was riding on
the logging engine, and, in moving
aliout around and on it, he was caught
by the right fo't iu the gearing. His
foot was entirely crushed and ground
off. When a sutgeon was secured at a
late hour, amputation above the kn e
was found necessary.
Although he was in splendid health
and well constituted, the shock was bio
great, and lie died at 6:30 o’clock Satur¬
day morning. He had only been one
month from Vermont, and his people
five in Ireland.
The Pomona Lumber Company has
spared no pains to do everything possi¬
ble for his relief, but in vain. The in¬
terment will probal ]y occur at this place,
Railroad Snaps Going.
Mr. Rutheriord, master mechanic of
the J., T. and K. W. system, and Super
2 itendent Denham, of the Florida South-
e - n Railway, were in the city yesterday.
A well-known railroad man says that
their visit here l as some significance. It
seems that tho shops of lliese two roads
at Palatka are worth not less than $12,-
000 to $15,000 per month to ilia., town.
It is just possible that Jacksonville
will lie selected as the site of these shops
At any rate it is worth the while of the
hoard of trade to investigate and see if
Jacksonville cannot secure them in tho
event that a removal is decided upon.—
Timed-Union.
li01JLA.NGF.lt IS SO MORE.
HE DIES BY HIS ONN HAND AT THE
TOMB OF HIS MISTRLS3.
After a Stormy Darcer, an Outcast and the
Broken Idol or the People, He Knox His
Existence by the Quickest Means.
Brussels, Oct. 5.—Gen. Boulanger
committed suieide to day on tho tomb
of Madame De Bornemaiu, who died
recently in this city.
Madame De Bonnemain had been
known as the mistress of the dead gen¬
eral. She accompanied him to Eng¬
land after his flight from Francs, and
early in July 1 ist she was dangerously
ill in Brussels, suffering from consump¬
tion A Paris physician went there
expressly to treat Madame De Bonne
main by a new system ot treatment,
consisting in innoeulatiug the person
affected with tbe germs of phthisis
with gnyacole, which is obtaiued from
creosote. However, in spite of the ef¬
forts made to save her, Madame De
Bonnemain died during the evening of
July 17.
THE DEAD WOMAN.
Madame De Bonnemain, at the
height o£ Gen. Boulanger’s career, two
or three years ago, lived iu Rue de
Berri, Paris, where she was continually
visited by the general. Spies kept
track of their movements, and soon
dii-covered that the persons referred to
were very intimate. Madame Boulang¬
er was informed of these facts, but re¬
fused to apply for divorce.
It was greatly through Madame
De Bonnemain’s favor that Gen. Bou-
mnpor was able to mrry on Ids polit¬
ical intrigues, for the mrulsme had in¬
herited a fortune of $1 500,000, all of
which sum she devoted to the cause of
the then popular leader.
A MAI! ’ FATtlATION.
To such an extent d d Gen. Boulang¬
er carry his Infatuation for Madame de
Bonnemain that when the French
Government determined to arrest him
he could not, be persuaded to pose as a
martyr before the French people by
oing to jail, preferring to fly with liis
mistress from France to England, and
eventually to Brussels, where they
have both met their ilea'll.
lien. Boulanger committed suicide
at. about noon. He stood alone by tbe
grave of his mistress for some time, ap¬
pearing to be deeply affected by sor¬
rowful recollections.
a sharp report heard.
The attendant of the general, who
had rerpect fully remained at some dis¬
tance from Madame de Bonnemain’s
tomb, suddenly heard a sharp report
in that direction. Running to the spot,
the attendant, found Gen. Boulanger
lying dead upon the ground with a re¬
volver clinched in his right hand.
A nasty examination of the body
showed that the dead man placed the
weapon t,o his right ear and fired the
fatal shot.
GREAT EXCITEMENT.
The affair has caused great excite¬
ment in tills city and some commotion
strong the general’s followers in Paris.
The police and the dead general’s
friends here have taken possession of
his lodgings, and they have not yet
announced if he teft any statement.
The general’s position, financial aud
political, has, it is generally admitted,
been getting blacker and blacker dur¬
ing recent, mouths. He had no hope
for the future, and his remaining
friends were few and becoming colder
as the once famous general dropped
more and more out of public notice.
There is no doubt that the g. neral was
conscious of the facts, and that they
preyed upon his mind.
LOVE FOR TnE WOMAN.
Coupled with this was the morbid
love or infatuation which be had for
his dead mistress, to whom he was un¬
doubtedly greatly attached, as evi¬
denced by his renouncing what might
have been an important political ca¬
reer in order to fly with her from
France.
IN REDUCED CIRCUMSTANCES.
Boulanger came to this city from
London a few months ago. Recently
he has not occupied his former gor¬
geous residence on the Avenue Louise,
but owing to reduced means he lias
been compelled to live in a small ho¬
tel. The general’s friends say that he
has been inconsolable since the death
of Mine, de Bonnemain, and that lie
lias aged perceptibly. He was much
thinner than during liis more prosper¬
ous days. As usual, there are conflict¬
ing stories concerning the suicide, but
the general’s friends admit he has for
some time talked of killing himself,
and that he has been the object of
watchful solicitude on the part of a
few of bis adherents wlioliave clung to
him in liis adversity.
A DRIVE IN THU MORNING,
To-day he did not receive any visitors,
end at about 11 o’clock drove, with bi 3
neice and his valet, in an open carriage,
to toe cemetery at Ixelles. On arriving
there, the general entered the cemetery
alone. 11 is companions, accustomed to
his visits to that spot, remained in the
carriage outside the gates. The result
was that they did not hear the shot
which caused Boulaugor’s death.
They were first told of what had oc¬
curred by the cemetery sexton, who
was the first to reach the grave of Mad¬
ame de Bonnemnine, and who turned
over the body lying beside it and inden-
iied it as Boulanger. The latter’s niece
fainted when she heard of his death.
The body was then placed in the car¬
riage which brought the party to the
cemetery, and was from there driven to
police headquarters. There, when the
necessary deposition had been made
the body was taken to the general’s late
residence. Subsequently the French
minister here was informed of the gen¬
eral’s death, and lie promptly telephoned
the news to Paris.
A SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Gen. George Ernest Jean Marie Bou¬
langer was born at Rennes, in France,
in 1737. His mother was a native of
Wales. In 1856 he was appointed sub¬
lieutenant of the Algerian Tradeures,
aud in 1857 he took part in the Kabal
yee expedition. He was wounded at
Tarbigo in 1859 and received the cross
of the Legion of Honor. During the
Franco Prusssian war lie acted as chief
of battalion in the army of Paris, and in
1880 ho was appointed a brigadier. At
the time of the centenary celebration of
the independence of the United States
he was sent on a mission to that coun¬
try, and later on. for a short time, he
was attached to the war olli -e as direct¬
or of infantry.
The General’s next promotion was to
that of general of division of Africa. In
1886 he became minister of war. Bou-
1 mger showed his Republican sympathy
by urging the expulsion of tho princes
from France, though it was afterward
shown that he had written in terms of
warm praise of the Due D’Aumale, his
superior officer, when promoted brig¬
adier general. Gradually he became
the hope of the “revanche” or revenge
party of. France. At the election in
1888 the General was elected a member
of the chamber of deputies for the De¬
partment of the North by 171.528 votes
against 75,901 for his most successful
opponent.
In July, 1888 , Boulanger fought a
duel with Floquet and was severely
wounded iu the threat. It was at this
period of his career that he was the
ideal of certain sections of tho French
people, which popularity was greatly
enhanced by the famous “Boulanger
March,” first given to the public by.Pau-
eus, tho cafe cliantante artist. Then
came a turn of tho tide. The idolized
General was charged with appropriat¬
ing $50,000 of public money for his own
use. and he eventually tied to Brussells,
from there to England, and more re¬
cently returned to Brussells.
Since the General’s flight revelation
on revelation showed him to have been
a schemer for power, ready to use all
sorts of people and ail parties to further
his own ends.
THE NEWS IN PARIS.
Paris, September 30, —Thu suicide of
Boulanger has caused an enormous sen¬
sation in this city, so much so tfiat the
evening newspapers are unable to meet
the demand made on them. All the
evening papers contain boituary arti¬
cles, but none, with the exception of Le
Jour, reflects upon the political aspects
of the General’s life. Le Jour says:
“Boulanger knew the intoxication of
the wildest popularity. It was he who
said to a politician: The weakness of
one t .0 often influenced the decision of
another.’ His own end fully justifies
that dictum. He had not the courage
to survive her who had sacrificed her¬
self for him.”
Le Jour concludes with a scathing
comparison between the manner of his
death and hi3 imperialistic pretenses.
FUNERAL IN FRANCE.
Members of the Patriotic League are
talking of ft public funeral for the Gen¬
eral, and they propose to inter his re¬
mains in France. It is liolieved that
such action on the part of the League
will lead to disturbances.
The romantic manner in which Bou¬
langer died has touched soft spots in
tae hearts of partisans, and many warm
expressions heard of aympaty for the dead
soldier are in many unexpected
places.
Wanted to Borrow Money.
PnlatKii Iloralil.
A man went into the “busted" bank
recently and wanted to borrow money.
Receiver Merrill said :
“We are not lending money to-day.”
Then the fellow got mad and said :
“D-.d if I haven’t been doing busi¬
ness with this bank for several years,
and now I’m refused a loan. Hereafter
I shall do my banking business in Jack¬
sonville.”
Then the fellow left, looking like a
snapping-turtle, not knowing the bank
was in the hands of a receiver.
One Dollab a Ybab.
NO 37.
high te utts nr B*oan painting,
■till twit, but quieter Cel or s Are Re¬
garded With Increasing Favor.
“Every now and then,"says a resident
of a suburban village, “arod wave strikes
us aud half the houses are painted real.
With trimmings of a darker shade of the
same color or of dark green, and with
red or green blinds, a red house t ,looks
well and the color is durable, but sbo nor
or later people tire of it, and then may
come a yellow or a gray wave. A house
painted yellow of the right shade and
with white trimmings presents a pleasing
appearance. Just now there are many
houses so painted. Various shades of
brown are always regarded with favor,
and besides these standard colors others
that are more conspicuous are used. A
modem suburban village may present a
great variety of colors.
“Some houses that are shingled all over
are left in the natural color of the wood
to acquire only from that shade of gra/^ which
comes age and exposure; there
are a few houses which are finished out¬
side with tongued and grooved Georgia
pine put on horizontally; the smooth, flat
surface is left of the natural color. A
few men have lately painted their houses
white with green blinds. At the presonfc
moment the rising wave is gray. It aj*-
pears in various shades, and with a
variety of trimmings. The lighter shades
of gray, with white trimmings and gwri,
blinds not too dark, produoe very agreo.
able effects.
“Houses which at a distance look- like
sections of rainbows may still be seen,
but these riotous exhibitions of color are
decreasing in number, and the general
tendency is toward greater simplicity.
Some men when they paint a house know
what they want; some experiment with
two or three colors or shades on one en A
of the house, and select the one that has*
pleases them; some drive about in their
own and in neighboring villages until
they discover a house that suits them,
and then call in the painter and say they
want their house to be like that.
“Possibly you think that some of your
neighbors have made rather queer selec¬
tions of colors, and it may be that they
regard your own choice as odd; but
there is no doubt that every man thinks
his own colors are the best. ”
To the North Pol* by Balloon.
The solution of that fascinating prob-
lem, whether there is water, laud, of
ice at the North Pole, is again about to
be attempted, and in a very novel way.
An aerial expedition is now being organ¬
ized by two young Frenchmen, by name
M. Besoncon and M. Gustave Hermite,
toe latter a nephew of M. Charles Her-
mite of the Institute, and these daring
explorers are having an ' laborate airship
or balloon built, in which they hope to
make ah ascension which will carry them
across the territory where that tantaliz-
ingly remote and inaccessible bourne, the
North Pole, is located. The balloon is to
to be called the “Sivel,” and will.be in¬
flated with pure hydrogen, and will be
connected with four ballons pilots, or
pilot balloons, and 16 small balloons, for
storage of gas, to make up any loss from
the great balloon. The envelope of tho
latter will consist of China silk in 48
pieces or gores, in form a perfect sphere,
and is to be provided with a small in¬
terior balloon, or air pocket, the object
of which is to keep the exterior balloon
always completely inflated and under an
equal pressure.
The basket of the balloon, made of
wicker with a steel framework, insuring
absolute rigidity, will be cloud over and
made impermeable to watesr, like a boat.
Its interior wifi be padded, so as to keep
up a comfortable temperature in a cham¬
ber occupied by the aeronauts. The bas¬
ket will be made unsinkable, and will
be about four yards wide and five
and a half long. It will cany, besides
the two explorers and their three assist¬
ants, eight dogs, a sledge, a small canoe,
and provisions for dogs and men for 80
days. The explorers will leave some port
in France, accompanied by two steam
vessels carrying the apparatus for the
production of the hydrogen necessary to
inflate the balloon. They will leave in
May to arrive in Spitsbergen in July,
where they will maka the ascension
as soon as the winds are favorable,
hoping to land again, in from four to ten
days, in North America or northern
Asia, passing the North Pole en route.
It will not be until May, 1892, that the
preparations will be all completed; but it
does not seem at all likely that the bold
French explorers will be forestalled by
any one in arriving at the frozen uu*
known land they hope to reach.
”* A MU-speiii
A New York woman has gone into the
business of selling second hand trous-
»eaus. She was horrified the other day
by receiving this epistle, written in a
masculine hand.
Madame—Please send me one pair
second hand trowsers to my address. See
that they do not bag at the knee. "—De¬
troit Free Press,
Had to Be There.
Tourist (in Oklahoma)— Why, Mr,
Harps, I am surprised to see you here at
tho race track, three miles away from
your church, on the Sabbath I
The Rev. Mr. Harps (with dignity)—
You didn't suppose my voice was strong
enough to reach my congregation at a
distance of three miles, did you ?—Puck.
Reason Enough.
Mr. Hardup—Why didn’t y<m send
that tea and sugar and things I ordered
yesterday ?
Polite Tradesman—Well, sir, I find
there is a slight honorarium dne ttv
Vie last three consignments.