E. J. Bristo.—The whites of Virginia number 880,858; the colored population is 631,616. That State has one of the most healthful climates in the world. The water is excellent except in the swamp regions in the eastern part, and the soil of about two-thirds of the State is fertile except where worn out by long tobacco culture without proper use of fertilizers and alternation of crops. Virginia can produce anything that grows in the temperate zone.
Wm. G. Miller, Arkansas City, Kan.; No method of manufacturing merchantable diamonds has ever been discovered. A French chemist claims to have made very minute crystals of diamond by an extremely expensive process, simply to prove that the thing is possible, but the crystals, whether diamonds or not, were of no value as gems or for any other commercial or mechanical purpose. For anything more on this subject see Our Curiosity Shop for 1882, page 147. Price per mail, 25 cents in paper covers and 50 cents in cloth.
George H. Gifford, West Point. Neb.—1. The total net ordinary expenditures of the United States Government in 1880 amounted to $171,885,382.67. Figure out for yourself “the cost per minute.” It will be a delightful pastime for idle moments; editors have none.
Jacob Vanaernam, Mount Morris, Wis.—In Illinois the State is districted for State representatives, so that three representatives are chosen from one district. Every voter may either give each of the three candidates one vote, or one of them all three of his votes, or he may give one and a half votes to each of two of them. This explains why you saw “half votes” in Illinois election returns. This system of voting is designed to place it in the power of a minority party to secure at least one out of three representatives, where by the old method all three representatives might be elected by the majority party.
A. Tyler, DeWitt, Ill.—The Declaration of Independence was not adopted by Congress until the 4th of July, 1776, about 2 o’clock p. m., as fully explained in Our Curiosity Shop some weeks ago. It was not adopted on July 2. A resolution was adopted on that day asserting that “these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States,” but the Congress sat the rest of that day, all the next, and a part of the Fourth, discussing the Declaration before It was adopted. Some of the delegates to that Congress never signed it; others not until some time after July 4.