Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-09-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Sept. 10,

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Sept. IL, 'S6.
TO THE SoUTn KENTUCKIAN:
Washington continues TO respond
generously to calls for aid for Charles
ton. Thousands of dollars have al
ready been contributed and forward
ed, and more are in prospect. The
Governmentemployees, many Of them
drawing small salaries, nobly step up
and giSe their mite in the good cause.
In ali the Government Departments
there is a standing order that no can
wasting for subscriptions shall be per-
mitted but the order was temporari-
" suspended and in a short time the
contributions of the employees had
run up into the thousands.
The scientific bureaus Of the Gov
ernment have been much exercised
by the suddenly developed earthquake
belt, and the Geological Bureau.
specially charged with the investiga-
ton of the subject, sent its best agents
TO examine into the changes in the
natural formations of the land, and
to institute diligent inquiry into
unusual appearances in nature for
some time before the earthquake
Several of the agents have already
returned with considerable data, and
it is confidently expected by the Off
GERS of the bureau that the subject o.
earthquakes will be much better un
derstood hereafter.
The National Banks have beer
rather independent of late, but the!
will find to their cost that the Nation
al Government will have its law
respected. The law requires III,
banks to submit reports of their fin
ancial condition TO the Treasury De
partment annually, but the failur
for some years past to enforce the Law
has caused banks in different parts o
the county to almost wholly ignore il
This state of affairs has delayed tn
work of the Comptrollers Office an,
caused the Comptroller to make clos
scrutiny of those banks that hay
been most persistent and fragrant j
violating the law. As the result Il
decided to fine such banks at the raj
of 500. as provided for by law, fC
every days delay in making IL
report. The banks will soon fin
themselves in trouble, and mulcte
in heavy fines if they longer delay i
performing their duty.
The Government is fitting up
large space in handsome manner i
the National Museum for the pei
manent exhibition OF the Grant relic
now temporarily provided for in a
obscure corner Of the large building
The exhibit case is being made, an
will consist of heavy French plat
glass handsomely set in walnut all
cherry. The watchmen have bee
instructed TO keep a careful watc
over the relics, to see that visitors {
relic hunters do no damage to the co
lection.
For the first time in many yea
the foliage along the streets of III
city has been almost entirely destroy
ed this summer by the caterpillar
and a peculiar worm which festel
the trees by cart loads. On SON
streets, for many blocks, the trees ha,
had all the leaven eaten off of ther
so that the limbs are perfectly bar
The damage is irreparable, and
money amounts to thousands of do
lars. The city authorities in the pa
ten years have spent fabulous sun
in setting out rare trees, and in the
care, and have had large corps
men constantly employed the yei
round; trimming them in the sprin
watering them in summer in times
drought, repairing the protectiI
boxes the J car round, and bandagil
and wrapping the younger and mo
delicate ones in the winter to prote
them from the severity ofthe weathe
With the view Of checking the a
vance of the worms and insects q
Engineer Commissioner of the Di
trict has ordered that the boxes
removed from the trees and the latt
whitewashed, but 1t is feared
many that the action has been +
long deferred, and it now looks as
Washington would be without h
greatest beauty in the fall-the low
illness of the great variety of hues
the autumnal leaves.
The Railway Postal Clerks Ass
citation met in their annual convent,
in this city the past week. Il
member of this association have
late believed that the officials of t
Post Office Department viewed the
organized with suspicion, and so tn
were completely surprised VIII
Second Assistant Postmaster Steve
son visited the convention and deli
cred spirited address, commendil
the association for its laudatory o
iects, and promising TO extend t
protection of the Government 10 I
association in CAGE it was needle
Other addresses were delivered
prominent men, and the convent,
adjourned Wednesday night t
members departing happy and sat
fed with treatment by the Cover
nnuf II