Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/185

 1868.] Miscellaneous. 157 Michigan Coal Mines. — There are now in operation several very important coal mines in the State of Michigan. The coal is adapted in its different varie- ties to almost all purposes, whether for use in machine shops, or railways, or steamboats, or for domestic purposes, and at the mine commands from $2 to $5 per ton, according to the quality. Last year 9,000 tons were turned out from one mine, representing an aggre- gate value of about $31,500. The mar- kets are the Michigan Central Railroad, which uses the coal both on those freight and passenger engines which are coal- burners, the cities and towns on the Michigan Central, especially a very large trade in the city of Jackson, as indeed is that over the line, and now a new, and what will eventually prove a large, market has been opened by the construction of the Jackson, Lansing, and Saginaw Railroad. Wood in the city of Jackson ranges from $2 to $6 per cord. It is as yet uncertain whether mining will be recommenced in the spring or not. The aggregate produc- tion of coal in this State, for 1867, was about 25,000 tons, representing a value of $91,000, and as the business is certain in future to rapidly increase, it can justly be regarded as one of the most promis- ing sources of Michigan wealth. Lighthouses in the World. — The following details respecting lighthouses are from a French source : On the 1st of January, 1867, there were in the whole world 2,814 lighthouses, of which 1,785 were on the coasts of Europe, 674 in America, 162 in Asia, 100 in Ocean- ica, 93 in Africa. As regards Europe, the country which possesses the most lights in proportion to its coasts is Bel- gium. She has one lighthouse for every 3 kilometres (rather more than three miles) of coast ; next comes Trance, with one per 13 kilometres ; next Holland, with one per 15 kilometres; then Eng- land, with one per 17; and afterwards Spain, Prussia, Italy, Sweden, and Nor- way, Portugal, Denmark, Austria, Tur- key, Greece, and last of all Russia. The last-named power has one lighthouse for 123 kilometres, while Turkey has one for 102. The United States have one lighthouse for every 32 kilometres, and Brazil one for 140. Of the 2,814 light- houses, as many as 2,300 have been established since 1830, and the greater part of those which then existed have had their lighting power increased. Posterity will say that the present epoch has maintained profound solicitude for saving lives at sea by means of the lighting of coasts ; but much still re- mains to be done. The Union Pacific Railroad. — Six hundred miles of the Union Pacific Rail- road, west from Omaha, have been com- pleted, and are to-day in full working order. With rapidity almost without precedent, and certainty beyond the ex- pectation of the most sanguine, has this road been pushed forward. The man- agement, recognizing the great interests which stand ready to start up the mo- ment the continent is spanned, have pushed the enterprise with an industry meriting the highest commendation. Already can the traveller from Philadel- phia, on an unbroken line of railroad, travel westward for a distance of seven- teen hundred and fifty miles. So quickly is every obstacle being mastered, every impediment of nature overcome, that the Directors are able to predict that in all probability 1869, and not 1870, will see the first train run from ocean to ocean. With the opening of the road will come immediately a rush of traffic. It is as if a deep canal was being dug to connect Ontario and Erie. From both ends flow the waters, and the moment approaches when the last intervening foot of land will be overcome, and the great tides will meet and flow along the new-made channel.