Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1891-08-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.

" tiio itepuuiic lOr lo5~, anu
the vast conclave will be held at the
National Capital. 1t is very graft
flying OH every account It.ssis
gratifying to the Grand Army and
the families and friends of its mem
bers, who will have here something
worthy their coming to see. 1t is
gratifying to the general public for
the same reasons. The National
Capital is always prepared to enter
tain national bodies associated with
the history of the country and the
aspirations Of the people. 1t is
justly proud of its patriotic pre-
eminence, of its grand public build
ings, its unrivalled situation, its
nearness to the great battle fields
of three wars, its associations with
stirring events of civil and military
history and the illustrious men of
the nation. 1t is not likely that
ever again will any encampment in
numbers, enthusiasm, personnel and
local advantages be equal to that Of
1892. For time passes, and the
veterans are passing into the eternal
silence. 5
Some experiments made by the
United States Government at An
napolis last September to test the
relative strength of the various
kinds Of steel plate for armored
men of war interested the whole
civilized world, and every detail OF
the important tests was eagerly dis
cussed in military and naval cir
cles. Another great series of ex-
periments was conducted near the
Maryland capital on Saturday last.
On that occasion the interest lay in
ascertaining the efficiency of pro-
jectiles in demolishing armor. 1t
is of interest to know that the pro-
jectiles were of chrome steel devel-
oped under treatment of heating
and temporing, the process Of
which is kept secret by the manu-
facturers. The trials were emf
nently satisfactory, since they
clearly established the fact that, for
the first time in the history of this
country, the Government is inde-
pendent of all foreign nations for
the materialneeded in the construc-
tion ofits,guns and shells. ssWhy,"
said a gentleman who is thoroughly
conversant with the Annapolis ex-
pertinent, sit shows that we are a
match for any power on sea or land.
With these projectiles we can
knock the biggest battle-ships into
smithereens. II Italy had sent out
one of her big ones against us, q
projectile Of the type used last Sat
urday wonld have sent it to the bot
tom of the ocean.
The discovery of a scheme to de-
feat Mr.. Crisp's Speakership aspir-
ations has just been announced in
political circles. 1t is proposed
that the five members Of the Geor-
gia delegation who owe their cleo
ton to the farmers movement
demand that Mr.. Crisp indorse the
Z Ocala platform, and in the event
that he refuses to do so they will cast
their votes for another candidate.
1t is well understood that Mr.. Crisp
is not in sympathy with the Ocala
platform, and that he would cer-
tainly refuse to give it his endorse
ment. But the spectacle Of Crisp
being punished because of his re-
fusal to indorse the Ocala platform
will probably tend to make him
much stronger in the Democratic
caucus and attract to his banner
the votes Of many members who
would reason that Mr.. Crisp was
being prosecuted on account of his
unwavering Democracy. If the
Democratic opponents of CrispIs
speakership aspirations are determ-
ined to defeat him they should at
once try new plan. They are
now toying with boomerang; M n
Perhaps among the publications
Of the Government there is not one
which has greater directutility, and
attracts less general attention, than
the monthly map OF the N ,rth At
lantic. Ocean, prepared and issued
by the photographic Office, Yet,
when examined, it is found to be a
work OF surprising interest, on ac-
count Of the varied and suggestive
information it conveys. On it are
shown the movements of the ocean
winds and data in, regard to ice
bergs, fogs, storms, derelicts, and
other like phenomena. Another
valuable feature is plan Of storms
likely to happen at certain points.
The generalizations made from the
facts successfully reported, record
ed, and then published in this form,
constitute guiding principles which
tend to'make navigation safe, and,
in effecting that result, to make
commerce prosperous.
Reports have been received at the