MISCELLANEOUS FACTS AND FIGURES. 



589 



Belgium, it seems, contains the greatest num- 

 ber of beer drinkers, with Great Britain sec- 

 ond in this list, and Germany, contrary to 

 common opinion, only third. France drinks 

 the most wine, and Switzerland comes next, 

 while the amount accredited to the United 

 States, though comparatively small, yet ex- 

 ceeds that of Great Britain. Canada is the 

 most moderate drinker of all. 



Cost of the British Royal Family 

 The annuities paid by the British people to 

 the royal family for its support are as follows : 

 The Queen, $1,925,000; Prince of Wales, 

 $200,000 ; Princess of Wales, $50,000 ; Dowager 

 Empress Frederick of Germany, $40,000 ; Duke 

 of Edinburgh, $50,000 ; Princess Christian, 

 $30,000; Princess Louise, $30,000; Duke of 

 Connaught, $125,000 ; Princess Beatrice, $30,- 

 000 ; Duke of Cambridge (the Queen's cousin), 

 $60,000 ; Duchess of Albany, $30,000 ; Duchess 

 of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (the Queen's cousin), 

 $15,000 ; children of the Prince of Wales, $180,- 

 000. Total, $2,765,000. The Queen also re- 

 ceives the revenues of the Duchy of Lancaster. 

 During recent years these have amounted to 

 about $250,000 per annum. When the royal 

 children marry, dowries are usually provided 

 for them. The last of the Queen's children to 

 marry, Princess Beatrice, received $150,000 as 

 dowry from the British people by Parliamen- 

 tary grant. The Duchess of Teck, the Queen's 

 cousin, who died in 1897, enjoyed an annuity 

 of $25,000. 



Library of Congress. The new build- 

 ing for the Library of Congress was provided 

 for by an act of Congress, approved April 

 15, 1886. The library was opened to the pub- 

 lic in the new building in November, eleven 

 years later. The actual cost of the building 

 was $6,032,124.54, or $213,443.40 less than 

 the limit fixed by law. The book shelving is 

 231,680 running feet, or about 44 miles, which., 

 will accommodate 2,000,000 volumes. When 

 completely filled, the library, without en- 

 croaching on pavilions, reading rooms, or ex- 

 hibition halls, will accommodate 4,500,000 

 volumes, occupying a little less than 100 miles 

 of shelving. The library embraces 800,000 

 printed books, in which is included the law 

 library of 100,000 volumes. There are also 

 240,000 pamphlets, 25,000 original manu- 

 scripts, 60,000 graphic arts, 210,000 pieces of 

 music, 45,000 bound volumes of newspapers 

 and periodicals. There is also a pavilion for 

 the blind, open daily, with a special library of 

 books in raised letters. 



Most Notable Bridges. Brooklyn 

 bridge was commenced, under the direction of 

 W.A. Roebling, in 1870, and completed in about 

 thirteen years. It is 3,475 feet long and 135 



feet high. The cost of building was nearly 

 $15,000,000. 



The cantalever bridge, over the Niagara, is 

 built almost entirely of steel. Its length is 

 910 feet ; the total weight is 3,000 tons, and 

 the cost was $900,000. 



The Niagara suspension bridge was built by 

 Roebling, in 1852-55, at a cost of $400,000. 

 It is 245 feet above water, 821 feet long, and 

 the strength is estimated at 1,200 tons. 



The bridge at Havre de Grace, over the Sus- 

 quehanna, is 3,271 feet long, and is divided 

 into twelve wooden spans, resting on granite 

 piers. 



The Britannia bridge crosses the Menai 

 strait, Wales, at an elevation of 103 feet above 

 high water. It is of wrought iron, 1,511 feet 

 long, and was finished in I860. Cost, 

 $3,008,000. 



The new London bridge is constructed of 

 granite, from the designs of L. Rennier. It 

 was commenced in 1824, and completed in 

 about seven years, at a cost of $7,291,000. 



The old London bridge was the first stone 

 bridge. It was commenced in 1176, and com- 

 pleted in 1209. Its founder, Peter of Cole- 

 church, was buried in the crypt of the chapel 

 erected on the center pier. 



Coalbrookdale bridge, England, is the first 

 cast iron bridge. It was built over the Severn 

 in 1779. 



The bridge at Burton, over the Trent, was 

 formerly the longest bridge in England, being 

 1,545 feet. It is now partly removed. Built 

 in the twelfth century. 



The Rial to, at Venice, is said to have been 

 built from the designs of Michael Angelo. It 

 is a single marble arch, 98 1-2 feet long, and 

 was completed in 1591. 



The Bridge of Sighs, at Venice, over which 

 condemned prisoners were transported from the 

 hall of judgment to the place of execution, was 

 built in 1589. 



The Bridge of the Holy Trinity, at Flor- 

 ence, was built in 1569. It is 322 feet long, 

 constructed of white marble, and stands un- 

 rivaled as a work of art. 



The covered bridge at Pavia, over the Ti- 

 cino, was- built in the fourteenth century. The 

 roof is held by 100 granite columns. 



The St. Louis bridge, over the Mississippi, 

 is 1,524 feet long, exclusive of approaches. 

 There are three arched spans of cast steel, the 

 center arch being 520 feet, with a rise of 47 1-2 

 feet ; and the side spans 502 feet each, with a 

 rise of 46 feet. The width on top, between 

 rails, is 50 feet. The piers rest on the bed- 

 rock of the river, 136 feet below high water 

 mark. Captain James B. Eads was the 

 engineer. 



