The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-03-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.

From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 1, 1884
Business is moving along quietly in
congress, but there are indications that
rapid progress will be made hereafter.
The committees of the house have been
working like beavers piling up and mark
ing out business for consideration on the
floor, and when the reports begin to come
in there will be lively work. President
making is the chief business of interest
outside of congress, and on the republican
side great deal of anxious attention is
being given to the contest now going on
10 the state of New York over the selec-
ton of delegates. The friends of Mr..
Arthur are straining every nerve to capture
majority Of the delegation and hope by
that means to secure the solid vote of the
state for the man who John Sherman,
when secretary Of the treasury, said was
not worthy to be entrusted with the office
of collector of the port of New York
But they have found good deal of strong
opposition which develops more and more
every day The tools and methods relied
upon by Arthur to secure the state for
him are not satisfactory to the better ele-
ments of the party. They belong purely
to the lowest machine workers and tactics.
The strongest point made by lhe presi-
dents friends IN his favor is that he has
done nothing to offend anybody; ami it
is true that large quantity of empty
champagne bottles are the sole monuments
of Mr.. Arlhur's official career. Hs don.
even I'LL vacancies in Office when they
occur, lest the unsuccessful applicants
should be against him, but holds them
open TO promise and trade on for dele
gates. There are many vacancies which
have been accommodating for several months
and Old politicians are beginning to remark
that the president is OVERRIDING the thing
and that it will finally do him more hurt
than good
In this connection may state that Mr.
Springcrs proposition for An amendment
to the constitution, making the presiden-
tial term six years. and rendering the
president Ineligible to reelection for the
next succeeding term, is received with
great favor. 1t provides for direct vote
for president in each state, and abolishes
the electoral college. Each state shall
have number of votes equal to the mum
Der of its representatives and senators in
tn ha CrirT tS =
proportion to the total vote cast for each
The term of representatives in congress is
fixed at three years, and congress shall
meet each year on the first Wednesday in
January, the first session to convene in
the January succeeding the November
election. There are many considerations
to recommend these changes, not the
least of which would be raising the presi-
dental office and administration to some
thing above scheming machine for the
succession.
Some idea of the danger We are approach
ing through the destruction of our for
estS may be gathered from the fact report.
ed by one of the first lumber statisticians
now living, that the entire stock of stand
ing white pine in the United States doe:
not exceed $4,000, 900, 900 feet, which
includes the small and interior trees which
used to be thought not worth cutting, and
10000, 900, 900 feet out of these 60 000,
O0O, 900 are cut every year, with the de-
nand steadily increasing. The annual
value of the product of our mills as it
falls from the saw is $500, 600, 900, of
which white pine is the chief item At
the lumber yard from which it is obtained
by the consumer, the worth of this annual
product is so per cent. more. or $780,
100000. To replace this from other
countries, which, by the way, is an
impossibility, would require more
than all the tonnage Of the world
for its transportation, and 1t
would then cost in the yard more than
twice what it does Low. Here then, We
have an annual deficit of $1,000, 900, 900,
to say nothing of the loss from the Grip
ping Of manufactures depending on work
ing wood, and the arrangement of the
water supply. In Michigan today. good,
standing pine, bought of the United States
government for 81 so per acre, is valued
at $500 per acre, and yet the remorseless
slaughter OF cur remnant of pine timber
goes on at increasing speed; and the Gu
OF last year was the greatest ever known
One out of the eight years supply is thu
entirely taken away, and the end is there
fore close at hand unless we begin t.
economist. These are cold facts to which
congress should promptly apply remedia
legislation.
Hon. John 3. Alley and family, O
Massachusetts, and Col. Bob Ingersol
and family left Washington few. day
since for New Mexico. where they hav,
gone to take POSSESSION of the Bosler in
terest in Dorsey ranch, which is 60 mile
long and "a miles wide, and watered b
the Chico Springs river. There are nov
on it As, 900 head of cattle and 600 horses
divided into small herds, each one o
which has its corral and hcrdsman's house
Dorsey mortgaged one-half interest i
this estate TO The late Mr.. Bosler, TO rails
The ready cash necessary for his defens
when he stood his trial in the S.ar rout
cases, and the death Of Bosler placed hir
in an unpleasant pecuniary position
Col lngcrsoll extricated him by convinC
ing Mr. Alley that it was q good invest
ment, and Mr.. Alley drew his check TO
100000 to clinch his bargain, following
it in few days by $500, 900 more. MI
Alley may, after all, have the seat in tn
United States senate which his friend
have claimed for him, coming from New
Mexico, however, instead of Massachu
sets. PPoSo