80 



CHIPS. 



[Nov. 



Ghips. 



While tlie countries of Europe, many 

 of them not equal in area to one of the 

 States of the American Union, spend 

 millions annually in the care and 

 management of their forests, only ten 

 thousand dollars are annually apjjropri- 

 ated for this purpose to the Forest 

 Division of the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. It has neverthe- 

 less done good work. But it is a matter 

 of regret that the funds at the disposal 

 of the department compelled so small a 

 • representation by it, at the Edinburgh 

 International Forestry Exhibition. 



The World's Exposition at New 

 Orleans, designated by the Forcstri/ 

 Bulletin the beginning of a Forestry 

 Exhibition, begins in December, and is 

 to continue open till April next. It 

 offers premiums for the best exhibits of 

 plants, trees, and flowers, especially of 

 conifers and broad-leaved evergreens. 



The Government of the United 

 States cannot give accurate statistics of 

 its forest wealth. In a volume issued 

 officially in 1880, it was estimated that 

 the Government then still retained 

 85,000,000 acres of timber, valued at 

 $2.50 an acre, which would amount to 

 ,§212,500,000. This is an area half as 

 large as the State of Texas, and more 

 than three times as large as the State 

 of Virginia. Mr. Baker says: "We 

 are so accustomed to speaking of im- 

 mense areas in connection with the 

 public lands, that a hundred thousand 

 or a million or so acres of land is crm- 

 sidered a trifle, and in fact 85,000,000 

 acres is a small fraction of what was 

 once the public domain, estimated at 

 one hiUioii ciglit hundred and fifty-two 

 million three himdred and ten thousand 

 nine hundred and eight-seven acres." 



Greenock — Important Railway 

 Compensation Case. — A compensation 

 case of some importance, and involving 

 a very large sum of monej', was opened 

 in Greenock Sheriff Court a few weeks 

 ago before the Hon. H. J. Moncreifl" 

 and a special jury. The jiursuers are 

 Messrs. John FuUerton & Co., of Bog- 

 ston Sawmills, Port-Glasgow, and they 

 sue the Glasgow and South- Western 

 Eailway Companj^ for £'37,634, 15s. 9d., 

 as compensation for damage done to their 

 works and business by the construction 

 of the Eailway Comjiany's new branch 

 line to the James Watt Dock. The 

 claim is made up as follows : — Total for 

 value of land, £21,352, 19s. 5d. ; build- 

 ings and machinery, £9606, 16s. 4d. ; 

 loss of business profits — five years at 

 i/1330 per annum — £0650; and ex- 

 penses of removing and storing cus- 

 tomers' timber, £25 — grand total, 

 £37,634, 15s. 9d. The counsel for the 

 pursuers are Mr. Trayner and Mr. 

 Dickson, advocates ; and for the de- 

 fenders, the Lord Advocate and Mr. 

 Mackintosh, advocate. Mr. William 

 Watson, of the Ladyburn Boiler Works, 

 it may be rememljered, obtained seve- 

 ral months ago the sum of £22,937 

 from the Glasgow and South-Western 

 Company, as compensation for damage 

 bone to his works and prejudice to his 

 dusiness. The case occupied four days, 

 during which thirty witnesses were 

 examined. After an absence of nearly 

 three hours, the jury brought in a 

 verdict for the claimants as follows : — 

 On land at 23s. 6d., after deducting 

 feu-duty and duplicand, and adding 10 

 per cent, for compulsory allowance, 

 £17,613, 4s. 8d. ; on buildings and 

 machinery, £7134 ; on trade losses, 

 £3127 ; for removal of customers' tim- 

 ber, £25— total award, £27,899, 4s. 8d. 

 The sum asked by Messrs. Fullerton 

 & Company was £37,634, 15s. 9d. 



Notice to Contributors and Correspondents. 



It is absolutely essential that all MSS. for insertion should roach the Editor net 

 later than the ISth ok each month, and at an earlier period of lite vmiitli whenever 

 possible. Books for review must also be sent before the middle of the month. 

 Communications for tlie Editor's Box should be as short as possible. The place for 

 long contributions is in tlie body of the magazine. It is a great assistance, both to 

 editor and printers, for MSS. to be well and legibly written, and on one side only 

 of the paper. 



