The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1886-05-20
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
wAsn1saros. D. q, May II, 1855.

WAsiiISGroS. D. G., May II, 1856.
To the E.fitoy Of TIE Herald:
General Rosecrans Is having hard time
before The Senate Committee on Finance In
the matter of his confirmation. The oppo-
sition TO his confirmation is very strong,
but it Is possible that he may pull through
On Wednesday. Ben butler made an argu-
ment against the co afirmation. This regis
ter, however. has warm friends espousing
his cause. and he has died written state
N ent In which he docs not deny being con-
nected with certain California land transac-
lions, but what he did was under advice
OF his lawyers, and that he has since been
sustained Ivy the courts.
The bill TO restore large amount Of jewell
ry, silverware and other valuabies captured
by the army during tho war, to their right
fuI owners, has passed both houses OF Con-
gress. Most of the valuabies captured by
the army, and not pIundered by The soldiers,
We're sent to Washington by commanding
officers. and have been stored ever since
1865 In the vaults of the Treasury. where they
have remained undsturbed until short
time ago. Treasurer Jordan wishes to DO
relieved OF their responsibility, hence the
action of Congress. 1t is probable that bills
will be gradually introduced looking to the
restoration OF other captured properly.
The talk of the day in Washington is I'll.
marvellous success of the new period: ,al en-
Titled, Public Opinion. II Is y,eekly publ.
cation printed here, and Containing in epit.
omizea forI'., the carrent thought or public
op'hlop Of the week, on all live questions of
TIE day as CLEANED from the leading dailies
and magazines ofthis and foreign countries.
Both sides of every question is impartially
stated as found in papers of oil political
faiths. and due credit is given to the paper
from which the extract is made. Members
Of Congress and all prominent public men
are found eagerly scanning its pages to get
the DRIFT of public opinion on vital national
questions being discusse at the same time
in all parts of our country. The scheme Is
novel one, and all newspaper men here are
wild over 1t. 1t is too good a thing to miss.
and is the only Journal of the kind in this
country. 1t Is noted in this letter to keep
yos readers posted In what is Transporting In
the newspaper fie Id at the Nations Capital.
On many of the streets OF Washington i've
miles on a stretch, the trees form a perfect
canopy over the broad sidewalks, and an I'M
broken avenue Of shade, refreshing TO the
brow of the weary pedestrian en- a heate d
summers day. The total number of parks,
or reservations rs they are called. ia the
District is 1852, aggregating, 1000 acres, ex.
elusive of the Capitol grounds which contain
80 acres. Curing the past year large force
of men have been at work classifying the
immense number of trees and shrubs, Civ
Ing the different varieties when planted,
where obtained, etc In keeping with the
long established custom. Colonel Wilson,
superinte ldent of public buildings and
grounds. Will submit his annual report to
The Secretary of War, about July !. 1t will
treat largely of the many varieties Of trees
ami shrubs of which the Government is
owner. and contain much valuable informa-
i'm to horticulturIsts which has Eever been
in print.
The government Is at a heavy expense,
not only In planting and nurturing these
trees and trimming the grass lawns of the
parks, but also in prever Ting vandalism.
Relic hunters and memento gatherers III e
thick in Washington at all times Of the
year, and the Government is obliged to en-
ploy watchmen in oil the parks to prever
these people from destroying ana carrying
away the plants and flowers, and even strip
ping bark from the trees. Why, the tree
that stands in front of the house which Sew
ard occupied when attacked by the assassin,
and the tree behind which Barton Key took
refuge when Sicklcs shot him, lave been
stripped time and again of their bark, am
have had so many pieces sliced out of them
that today they look as If they had been tern
and shattered by shells and have but little
life left In them. A big item of expense is
setting out the summer blooming plants in
the spring. The work has seen backward
this season owing to unfavorable weather,
but it is now under way ana by the tirst of
June more than 100000 healthy plants will
have been set out in the public reservations.
The rarest and most delicate plans used to
be marked hands off," but superintendent
Smith, OF the Botanical Gardens, in his If
teen years experience has learned that the
iNclinalIon in man and woman to do what
Is forbidden is SO strong that 1t is only nee
essary to direct their attention to what
should not be touched, they are sure to
handle It. Now all these sign boards have
been removed and the rare plants are never
touched. Where ignorance Is protection It's
destruct lon to make wise. H.