THE DEMANDS OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 517 



The benediction was then pronounced by Rev. R. D. Parker, and the au- 

 dience dispersed, all feeling that it had been good for them to be there. 



Rest, then, thou precious dust of him we so dearly loved, and sweetly sleep 

 beneath this grass-covered mound, these fresh cut flowers, while at thy side this 

 monument shall ever stand, pointing, with unerring fingers, to that " land that is 

 fairer than day," where no light is, but where God is thy light. 



THE DEMANDS OF_THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 



The River Convention which met at St. Louis, last month, passed resolutions 

 urging Congress to make a liberal appropriation for the improvement of the Mis- 

 sissippi. Since compliance with this request will benefit directly half of the 

 States and more than half of the territory of the Union, it is but reasonable to 

 suppose that it will be granted. The main argument in favor of it is concisely 

 stated by the Globe- Democrat as follows : 



The rivers of the Mississippi system pass through or border nineteen of the 

 thirty-eight States, or just one-half of all, to say nothing of three great Territories, 

 the Indian, Dakota and Montana. 



Nor are these waters, even in the most remote communities, mere trout 

 brooks, but navigable and actually navigated streams. Of the nineteen States 

 ■tributary to the Father of Waters, fourteen are practically Valley States, having 

 interests which are to a great extent under the River's influence. The others, 

 as New York, Pennsylvania and Alabama, though sending important currents 

 into the great central artery, are less affected by it. Among the Valley common- 

 wealths proper are the great, central and rapidly growing communities of Ohio, 

 Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas 

 — States of more material value to the Union than any other nine that can be 

 picked out. 



The area of the nineteen river States is 1,208,977 square miles, while the 

 nineteen non-river States count up only 855,752 square miles. Over 350,000 

 more miles of country contribute to the grand aqueduct than are comprised in all 

 the rest of the United States. This surplus is enough to allow New York, Penn- 

 sylvania, West Virginia and Alabama to be thrown out of the list of river States 

 altogether, with a good slice of Texas besides. The Mississippi basin, all told, 

 including its headwaters in all the States and Territories, comprises a drainage 

 area of nearly 1,260,000 square miles. 



THE SONG OF THE CARBONS. 



[The universal physical law of molecular vibration is finely illustrated in the 

 carbon pencils of the electric arc light used in some of the largest lighthouses. 

 The molecular stir set up in the armatures of the dynamo machines by rapid 



