It is with the greatest satisfaction that we can record the very pronounced views of Mr. Cleveland concerning the enormous abuses which have crept into the pension system. Even this great and prosperous vation rebels at a pension roll which promises ¢o mount up to an annual sum of $20,000,000. It is a scandal and a dis. grace. A critical examination of the claimants will greatly reduce the list, by throwing out thousands of pensioners who never faced an enemy in the field.
'THE CHINESE, I understand that five Chinese have registered in the country and these were in Oregon, It is claimed that the census of Chinese is very incotnplete and that there are fully 260,000 in the country—more than twice the number recorded in the last census reports. The basis of this estimate is unknown, A costLy pisrure.
The results of the great labour strike at Homestead ure most instructive, and has been a severe lesson to the labouring men of all classes, he strike began on the 25th of June and was formally declared off by the Amalgamated Association on the 20th of November, after a most signal defeat. 'I'he long continuance of the battle was due to the fact that the principles of the Association were at stake. To maintain these principles the leaders soci ficed the welfare of thousands of workmen. At the beginning the Carnegie Company had 4,000 workmen wt Homestead, and under the proposed wage-scale only 180 of these were adversely affected. The entire State Guard of 8,000 men were called out on 10th July 10th, and they continued on duty until the middle of October. Meanwhile the works were supplied with nonunion men, and of the 4,000 striker only about 350 were taken buck, and 180 have been indicted for treason, Phe loss in wages to the strikers amounted to $125,000 a month, or a total of $625,000 at Homestead alone, and moreover the men not taken back were no longer entitled to relief funds. The cost to the State was doubtless over $600,000, and to the county $200,000. The Carnegie losses are estimated at $2,500,000 or $3,000,000. The effect upon the hitherto prosperous town, where the workmen lived in comfort, was disastrous, Business was interrupted, and amny of the houses of merchants both at Homestend sud at Beaver Falls passed into the sheriff's hands.
BXTRAORDINARY TRAVELLING, The world may shortly be astonished at the advances to be made in railroading, for it is confidently believed that a speed of 100 miles an hour will soon be attained by passenger trains On the Bound Brook division of the P. & R. with a compound locomotive engine with 78-inch drivers, a mile was run in 37 seconds, against a strong head wind, which is equal to 97 miles an hour. This would enable us to travel frow Washington-to New York in three hours, including stoppages. But this is only introductory to a far greater speed. Only a few days since I was in conversation with-a man who has given much thought ts the subject of rapid transportation, and he expressed the belief that by a system known to himself, light: passenger trains on specially constructed roads, can be run with entire safety three hundred miles an hour! His speculations. as to the result of such a system are interesting. He thinks the people now congregated in cities would spread into the country and build comfortable homes, with pure air and woods and open landscapes around, for they could travel a hundred miles from business in less time than they now require to, reach their homes in the city.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.