The National tribune., 1892-09-15

United States Senator in 1875, and served {
March 4, 1881.

United States Senator in 1875, and served to
March 4. 1881.
| -
Postmaster General Wanamaker issued on
Friday. Sept. 8, the long ex pected order au-
tborizing the Postmasters of free delivery
cities. towns. and rural communities to put up
letter boxes on the request of citizens for the
collection and delivery of mail matter at the
house doors. This order, it is said, affects
nearly 100000 residences throughout the
country, to which free-delivery service is
already extended, and it is regarded by postal
experts as the most important innovation to
TIE free delivery system since its establishment
Various boxes have been subjected to trial for the
past two years, and the boxes recommended have
stood the test of actual experience. In the
| tests on Washington routes, where most of tho
| boxes were placed On houses built on the build
| ing line an actual saving Of half an hour was
made on the trips Of the carriers, and in St.
| Louis, Mo-. where the boxes were placed on
| houses IS feet and more from the building line,
| there WAS a gain of several minutes on each
| trip. This time is gained from the fact that
the carrier does not have to wait for people to
| come to doors to receive their mail, and but
little time is taken up collecting the mail the
| automatic signal notifying persons in the house
that the carrier is coming, and they can have
the mail ready for delivery as soon as he ar
| rives. Over ], 200 models, designs, and specif-
| cations have been received at the Postoffics
Department for these boxes, all of which were
referred to commission of postal experts, Of
which Postmaster Van Colt, OF New York, was
Chairman. They have recommended six Of
the devices which in the opinion Of the Com.
mission best met the requirements Of the case.
These boxes will be placed on exhibition in the
postoffees of the country, and housel;eepers
| desiring to use them must purchase them and
have them placed in position. The Government
is at no expense in the matter whatever.
-.
The monopoly which has been enjoyed by
| the Barber Asphalt Paving Company for all
| the years that the present smooth paving has
been used IN Washington, was broken last week
! by the District Commissioners permitting the
| Schillinger Asphalt Company to show what
kind of work they can do on our streets. The
| Schillinger Company agreed to waive all rights
| on other streets to which they had submitted
| the lowest bids provided they would be per-
mitted to pave Eighteenth street from 8 street
| to Florida avenue. Besides this they agree to
keep the street in good repair, and at the end
repave it If necessary. Tho Schillinger Com
papy simply want to have chance to compete
| for the city paving, and it is . good thing to
end the monopoly.
50
Gen. Edward W. Whitaker, Lieutenant Col
| onel, LIST Conn. Cav, now a resident of Wash
| ington, has most interesting relic of the late
war in piece of white toweing which was
used as flag Of truce when the rebel army
under Gen. Lee surrendered to Grants army
at Appomattox April O. 1865. Gen. Whitaker
was member of Gen. Clusters staff, and re-
ceived this flag of truce from Capt. Sims, of
Gen. Longstreets staff. on the morning of April
9. The General has treasured it all these years,
and he will exhibit it at the coming National
Encampment. Gen. Whitaker is Chairman Of
the Cavalry Reunion Committee. He was
induced to part with portion Of this flag Of
truce several years ago, giving part Of 1t to
Gen. Custer, his old commander, before the
lattcr's death On Little Big Horn, and this
piece was deposited by Mrs. Custer few years
ago in the West Point Military Academy
Museum. Gen. Whitaker has made affidavit
before Notary Public as to the genuineness Of
the flag. the following statement appearing upon
it: This is piece Of the cloth cut from the
Identical flag of truce which was used under
orders of Gen. r. E. Lee TO ask cessation Of
hostillties of the Federal army at 9 O'Clock 3.
m, April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Courthouse,
Va This flag of truce, large, white towel,
was in the hands of Capt. Sims, of Longstreet's
staff, when he met Clusters cavalry charge. 1t
was used by me in the rebel lines at the request
Of Gems. Longstreet and Gordon to announce
the surrender of Lee to tho infantry line of
battle and also the cavalry"
.ss
Another one of those serious and utterly unne-
cessary accidents happened on Thursday even
ing, Sept. 8, st River View, one of the Summer
resorts few miles below Washington On the
Potomac, which is likely to result in the death
of Mrs. Odel, the wife of the Professor Of that
name, who, with her husband, was about to
make balloon ascension and parachute leap.
The parachute became detached from the
balloon at distance Of % feet from the ground,
dashing them both to the ground. The knife
which is operated by means of q cord and
worked by tho aeronaut. cut the rope, which.
it is supposed, had become taut. Mrs. Odell,
it is thought, suffered conclusion of the spine.
The Professor was badly shaken up, but escaped
serious injury.