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Ruef, Schmitz, and their confederates not only robbed San Francisco: they debauched it as well, because they made graft, bribery, and vice so common and so familiar that they seemed almost to be normal features of business and social life. In order to support these statements, and to show the influence of graft conditions at their worst, I purpose to consider the municipal dishonesty of San Francisco in its relation, first, to commercial morality; second, to administrative economy and efficiency; and third, to the prevalence of, vice and crime."

We have received a copy of the New London Telegraph of Oct. 21, containing an account of the farewell banquet to Mr. E. D. Nash, retiring superintendent of the Southern division of the Central Vermont railway, and who was formerly a member of Division 24, Order of Railway Conductors. The banquet was a very happy affair, participated in by a host of friends of Mr. Nash, assembled to bid him God speed in his new work as General Manager of a new line of railway in Central America, running from Bocas del Torro, 120 miles into the interior. It would be a pleasure to print all the pleasant and affectionate tributes to Mr. Nash's good management and just dealing with the men who have worked with him to make his administration a success, but space prevents. Brother Spofford, who has been a life long friend of Mr. Nash, made some particularly happy and touching remarks and presented him with a group picture of six of the oldest conductors on the line-Messrs. Wheeler, Spofford, Hayes, Denning, Patch and Geer.

Brother A. F. George of Division 111. writes us as follows:

Brother F. M. Worthington of Division 111, has been promoted from the position of assistant superintendent of Tucson division (S. P. Co.) to division superintendent on San Joaquin division, with headquarters at Bakersfield, Calif.

Brother A. F. Bowles of Division 111, has been promoted from the position of traveling conductor on San Joaquin division, to assistant superintendent Tucson division, with headquarters at Tucson, Arizona.

The members of Division 111 are greatly pleased over the appointment of two of our number to positions requiring thorough railroad men; and an apparent departure from the practice during recent years, of delegating chosen friends, or relations from foreign departments of the property, instead of promoting "seasoned timber," from the ranks of the train service and in the transportation department.

We are pleased to mention that Brother W. H. Worden of Division 313 has returned to work, having been on a vacation for the last sixty days in the mountains of Pival county, Arizona. During this time he looked after some development work on a group of ten copper claims that he and Brother D. L. Meloy of Division 383 own. During this time Brother Worden located seven other claims, making a group of seventeen very promising claims located in the best mineral district of Arizona. Brother Worden also wants to return to the rural life and bought a half interest in a produce ranch in Pinal county and if all the signs are true, is preparing to step down and out for a younger man. Should copper get on a firm basis again in the near future both the Brothers will be on "easy street" for some time

to come.

Both the Brothers are freight conductors on the Gila Valley, Globe & Northern Railway, located at Globe, Arizona, where the latch string hangs on the outside and all are welcome.

The Transformation in Our Lumber
Industry.

A few American citizens are still living who were alive in the days when the Indiana and Ohio pioneers were cutting great, clear-grained black walnut, white oak and hickory logs, piling them and burning them to ashes in order to be rid of them. Farmhouses are still standing in the Ohio valley whose tenoned frames are of black walnut, and whose roof boards are of wide, clear lumber,

such as is now sought for to be made into kings' table tops. Black-walnut lumber in American commerce is today little more than a memory; white oak in the finer finishing grades is worth half the price of mahogany, and the American vehicle industry is in distress for the lack of hickory. Even in sawmill cities of the present day the lath from the walls of wrecked houses is carefully cleaned and bundled for resale, while half-decayed pine logs are sawed into merchantable lumber. Thus in the span of one life the American lumber industry has passed from surfeit to hunger. Such another span promises to carry us from hunger to starvation.-From "The Lumber Industry of America," by Milton O. Nelson, in the American Review of Reviews for November.

The Florida Key Dwellers.

The people living on the Florida keys are known as "Chonchs" and are interesting in their way. They know their own country, but are lost if attempting to act as guides out of it. The clear water about the keys makes the use of the water glass common and they are very expert with it. This water glass is simply a strong bucket, the bottom of which is made of glass. Sinking the bottom of this bucket a few inches under water a Chonch will see fish and "Florida Lobsters," or crayfish, at a considerable depth and spear them with the grains. They also show skill with the casting net and understand diving for turtles. Near some of the keys are good sponge grounds and with these and all kinds of fish, helped out with an occasional job of wrecking when some foolish vessel comes ashore, the Chonch makes an easy living. The Travel Magazine.

Under the authority and supervision of the Isthmian Canal Commission there is issued weekly an eight page, 9x12 paper, giving a full account of work and conditions along the canal. It is very readable and entertaining and shows that the work is going forward in a most satisfactory manner. Note the following:

PHASES OF WORK IN CULEBRA
DIVISION.

The total amount of coal used in the Culebra division during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1907, was 79,500 tons, costing $515,453.82.

On July 1, 1906, there were 65.8 miles of track in operation in the Culebra Division, of which 28.1 miles were laid with old Panama railroad and Belgian rails. On July 1, 1907, there were 106.78 miles of track, practically all of which was laid with 70-ton American steel rails.

The Youth's Companion Calendar for 1908.

The publishers of The Youth's Companion will, as always at this season, present to every subscriber whose subscription ($1.75) is paid for 1908 a beautiful Calendar for the new year. Four paintings by artists of distinction are reproduced in the four panels of the Calendar by a process of color-printing which has been recently brought to remarkable excellence. The first of the panels is an inspiring sea scene, full of the beauty of the wide ocean and sky, and the joyous rush of the homeward-bound ship, The second is a fine cattle piece. The third pictures an old mill at Żaandam-typically Dutch in treatment. The fourth panel depicts a "Girl with Roses" -a charming face, exquisite in color and expression. All the pictures are worthy of preservation long after 1908 has passed into the good old times.

Anyone sending a sketch and description may quickly ascertain our opinion free whether an invention is probably patentable. Communica tions strictly confidential. HANDBOOK on Patents sent free. Oldest agency for securing patents. Patents taken through Munn & Co. receive special notice, without charge, in the

Scientific American.

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