The morning call., 1894-03-30
AROUND THE CORRIDORS.

AROUND THE CORRIDORS.
John T. Holmes, one OF the gentlemen who
was interested In the scheme for the removal
OF the famous Libby Prison to Chicago, is in
the city. "Our Improbable experiment" said
he yesterday, "is not the only one OF a similar
nature which has met with disaster in the city
mentioned. Nearly two years ago party of
Chicag0ans conceived the idea that Lincoln's
old Iog-cabin home would be a source OF large
Income to them during the Worlds Fair If
brought there aud exhibited, and so the struc-
ture was bought for $4,000, and aD architect
was sent down TO Coles County, Illinois, TO take
the cabin down and ship it 10 Chicago That
gentleman performed his part Of the work
satisfactorily, and the logs were shipped after
having been carefully marked so that there
would be no trouble in again putting them to-
gether In their original positions. 1t has been
TWO years since the logs reached Chicago, and
they are at present stacked In a pile in an alley,
entirely uncared for and with no protection
from the hands OF vandals. The men who
engineered The scheme backed out before site
was secured for the cabins re-erectiOn, and
not dozen people in Chicago know the history
OF this neglected pile OF timber. which was
hewn by an ak In The hands of Abraham Lin
coin. For years this cabin served the Lincoln
family as safe protection from the storms and
early pioneer dangers, but as il stands TO- day
Its tate Is SAD and ignoble one. and IL is TO be
regretted that steps are not taken for the
preservation OF one of the most valuable me-
mentos OF the dead President"
"The prize OF 500, 600 offered by the Metropoll-
tan Traction Company Of New York for some
system OF StreetcaT propulsion as cheap and
convenient as the electric trolley has attracted
wide attention." said s. M. Pratt, Boston
civil engineer, yesterday. "By the provisions
OF the offer the Railroad Commissioners OF
New York State are constituted the judges
OF award, and The Legislature has been request
ed 10 grant them permission TO exercise that
duty. The chief clerk of the Railroad Commits
sion recently stated to me that hundreds OF let
ters have been received from citizens OF the
United States and from electricians and Other
inventors In Berlin, London. Paris and many
other European cities, In which special inquiry
Is made as TO the terms OF the contest. The
traction company which makes the offer has
received thousands OF letters on the same sub
1ect, and IL Is estimated by Hon. William c.
Whitney, who is interested in The company,
that at least 81 000 900 Will be expended by
competitors in their experiments. Several OF
the streetcar lines OF New York and Philadel-
phia have offered inventors the use OF certain
tracks and other facilities for experimental
purposes, and 1t is becoming the general belief
that the proposition will lead 10 a solution of
the problem of cheap urban aud suburban
TRANSFORMATION. AT least three or four inven-
tions are already well under way. which, in
their novelty Of design ana proposed m thods
of motive power, are atIractiDgia great deal OF
attention already"
L. A. Emory, Texas caitlemaD. who was at
the Russ yesterday, says that great Interest is
manifested throughout the Southwest In the
proposed opening OF the kiowa and Comanche
Indian reservations. "It looked for time as
OH ha ADJ nfeFra
favor Of this move" said Mr.. Emory, ''but am
afraid the big cattle owners bav- succeeded in
saving OF the action through the strong eforls
OF lobby which they have been working In
Washington all winter IL the exact situation
was but known TO the officials have no doubt
but that immediate action would be taken.
These ranchers who are opposing so strenu-
Ously the opening OF the lands in question to
settlement have control of thousands of acres
of pasture for which they pay but a few cents
per acre. 1t is quite natural that they desire
10 retain their holdings, and they have made IL
appear that the Indians signed quite aim uu-
der Misrepresentation and Misrepresentation |
The Kiowa lands are the finest In the South
west, and tneIe has been no attempt made 10
cheat the indians. 1t is very easy thing for
people TO talk about driving the Indians out
and all that kind Of nonsense when they don't
know anything about The circumstances. An
Indian OF the present day is not such an ig- |
noramus as he is sometimes painted"
Tho example of George w. Vanderbilt In |
devoting his immense estate in North Carolina |
10 the Illustration OF scientific forestry Is not
the only instance OF the kind in the country"
said II. NJ. Stevenson Of Philadelphia yesler- |
day. "a similar policy has been adopted n |
Pennsylvania by the trustees OF the Girard es. |
tate. who have intelligently replanted many of |
the denuded hillsides on large portion Of the |
property of the trust iD SchuyIkill County. In |
fact the work l speak OF antedates Mr. Van |
derbilPs very commendable action, and is OF |
greater practical value because the North Caro- |
lima demonstration is mainly in the line OF IN. |
creasing the value OF wOrnOut ana neglected |
forests, while in Pennsylvania the work is ap-
piled TO replantng barren territory. This work |
was commenced on the Lost Creek watershed |
about twelve years ago where the land had been |
previously stripped OF trees Tor the use of the !
anthracite Mines The rainfall ran off quickly, |
and the planting Of trees was ordered with |
view of preserving the water supply. Over
10000 trees have thus far been set out, and |
they aIe being planted at the rate OF about 90 /
600 year. The trees have thrived, The water |
supply has shown an improvement. and the |
value Of the land has enhanced by the definite |
promise OF a time when the timber Will Yield |
revenue"
lone great difficulty encountered In bringing |
Spanish American voaIors OF the law TO |
justice in the Southwest Is the ties OF race and |
kinshp" said Attorney w. A. Blair OF FL |
Paso yesterday. IF a criminal be of Mexican |
blood he may for years escape the clutches of /
the law through the interference OF relatives |
and friends, aud at the same time those D ope |
who protect him may be eminently respectable |
and law abiding except when 1t comes 10 |
shielding relative who is a criminal. This |
protection is not confined 10 seeming immunity |
from arrest, but continues after the officers |
have succeeded In landing their man behind |
The bars. Juries are packed or bribed II DOS