The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-05-31
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NEWS IN BRIEF.
Tie Latest News Cleaned From Asso-
ciated Press kilograms.
Washington Jottings.

The Missouri star route mail contracts
which have been under investigation in the
postofticc department fora week or two, will
be Cancelled for irregularity inlexecution. As
sistnnt Attorney General 1'yner came to
that conclusion after learning NIL the con-
Tractors htid to say in explanation. He will
make hi. report to Assistant Postmaster
Henerai Whitfield and that official will take
nctloh in accordance with his recommended
tions.
Tho ordnance bureau Of tho navy depart
ment has completed two of the ten-inch steel
breecf-loading rifles for the monitor Mian-
tonomai. These are the largest and most
powerful guns yet turned out for the navy.
oie of them is Mt Annapolis awaiting trial.
The other has been fully tested with most
grntnylng results, as it compares fnvOrably
WIN the best productsOfrenowned European
ordnance works. The muz1le velocity ut
tained was 1000 feet per second. The range
could not he determined, owing to the lack
OF sufficiently large proving ground, but it
Is estimated Mt ten miles. Soon after the
contracts arc awarded Tor the construction
oi tl,e new 2,5o0.ton gun boats preparations
will begin nt the Washington ordnance yard
'or the manufacturer of their peculiar ord
nance. which is to be made up entirely of
rapid fire guns of extraordinary cnIihrrs ns
compared with guns of this type now in use
OIL our naval vessels,
Secretary Noble reversed u land decision
made by Commissioner Sparks some time
ago in the ease of Dena Moan Dcna was IL
servant girl. She took n claim about ten
miles from Huron, S. d., and proved up on
IL. Her proof was passed and q patent
issued and the land transferred to the Ten
lral Dakota Mortgage company. Spnrks
found that Miss Moen had worked Mt II
Huron hotel to earn n living AM, consequent
" Cancelled the entity. The present admins
trntion says she complied with the law. A
simnr case is decided by Assistant Secretary
Chandler Leila Flettucr made IL homestead
entry in the Huron district. She lived there
continuously except one winter when she
taught school in Iowa. just before making
final proof she was taken sick and was re-
moved to Il neighbours. Sparks called for
more affidavits after Il certificate had been
issued. aud then held the land for cuncella-
tion. John :. Jones: who held II claim in he
Aberdeen Is. d. district. has his purchase
money restored by Secretary Noble, who
reversed another Sparks decision.
Secretary Noble putsa liberal construction
on he word district in referring to ii for.
mer order of the general land Office allowing
final proof to he made before II clerk of the
district court. John MrCabe had land in
Dickry county, Dakota, and made proof be
fore the clerk in La Mourc county The 10.
cal officers at Fargo refused his proof. The
general land office sustained them, but the
secretary holds that proor made before any
clerk of court in the judicial dist rir in which
the land is situated is what the letter means
Assistant Secretary Chandler asserts that
orders from the general land Office or depart
mcnl of the interior cannot ha n;ule retro
active. The ease is that OF Hugh Gamer OIL
who had desert land entry in the Helena
Mont. land district He made II proof about
the time that II circular was issurd tin, de-
sert land proofs shall he advertised the same
ns homestead and pre.emptinns. 1t is held
that he commenced to make his proof before
the circular arrived, and it is therefore valid