Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1892-09-02
FROM WASHINGTON CITY.
Treasury Officials Generally Observing
Unusual Reticence About Recent
Gold Shipments.

Super yising Architect Edbrooke eays
regarding the new eighthour law that it
| Will increase the cost OF construction IL
per cent. The government spends about
| $25, ,000, 900 annually ON public buildings,
and the additional expenditure under
the new law will be $3,00O,G00. He says
tina law may also make aerious differ
ence in the character OF the public build
ingeto be erected in Washington, Omaha,
81. Paul, Milwaukee and San Francisco.
Treasury officials, while apparently
| unconcerned over the recent gold ship
ments, are generally observing unusual
reticence in the matter. Acting Treas
urer Whelpley takes a very philosophical
view OF the situation, and says he sees no
occasion for any excitement because the
Assistant Treasurer at New York recent
ly paid out 81 ,000,0o in gold for export
in exchange for treasury notes. He SAYS
that there is nothing unusual in the
transaction beyond the fact that gold
shipments seem to have continued a lit
tie later this year than heretofore. 1t
was due, he thought, to very heavy inn
ports of late, payments for which must
be made in gold. Gold exports in his
opinion are practically at an end for this
season, and the usual reaction in favor
OF the United States will soon set in.
Representative Hermann was in con-
sultation with the acting Secretary of
War, General Grant, the other day, seek
ing TO expedite department action as to
the contracting of work at the Cascade
locks and the canal on the Columbia.
General Grant assured Mr.. Hermann
that the department itself is doing all
that is possible and allowing no unnec-
essary time to elapse, and that Major
Handbury, being the officer In charge,
has been directed to submit specifca-
tions upon the contract, which is to be
let. So many advantages are taken by
contractors in every way that the chief
OF engineers is determined that when
the contract is entered into for this great
work, as Congress has directed, it must
be understood that no leniency will be
shown, and that every particle OF work
must be completed in the exact time
and order specified in the contract, and
the contract shall be go carefully pre-
pared that no advantage shall be had by
legal bubbles.
The Potomac river, which is the only
waterway approach to the national capi
tai, after being practically unguarded for
many years is at last TO be supplied with
modern defenses. The project contem
plates empaiements for four twelve-inch
modern guns on lifts, six ten-inch and
three eight-inch guns on disappearing
carriage, eight twelve-inch mortars and
extensive submarine mines operated
from two mining easements. The tor
pedo arrangement will be one of the
most complete and destructive in the
world. Immediately in front of the fort
the Potomac curves gracefully in the
shape of half moon, and the guns
posted in the land batteries can deliver
q hroadside as we'll as "bow-on" fire
upon an advancing boat before the tor
pedo mines are reached. Plans have
also been perfected for effectually OBJ
structing the river at this poipt should
such step be necessary. The sum of
$l17, 100 from the general appropriation
of February q, 1891, is now being ex-
pended on this work, and should that
amount not prove sufficient, an allot-
ment will be made from the appropria-
ton passed at the session recently end
ed. Two hundred additional acres OF
ground at Sheridan's Point on the Poto-
mac, contiguous to Fort Washington,
have also been acquired by the govern
ment so that there may be no lack of
room for the plant.