Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-11-11
HANPT0N'S REPORT.
The Commissioner Of Railroads
Notes Improved EarningA
10 LOOK INTO MEAT INSPECTION,
a sDsciai Agent ssnt from WashinStsa -
Ksasas City to IAvestigsts Charges
Government Forestry Werk-Ths
leo hound whaling Fleet.

W hDAANoAoN, ANOvs AVs-0Ou, w 6uS
Hampton, who has just been succeed.
ed BY Gen. Longstreet a. commits.
sioner Of railroads, has submitted to
the interior department his report for
the past fiscal year, He says that the
year marked the low water mark OF
railway construction. During the
year "a companies, with 5,441 miles OF
road, passed into the hands OF the
courts, and IS others previously placed
in receiverships were sold at toreclo-
sure. A steady improvement in rail.
road earnings during the first six
months Of the current year is
noted, an improvement particularly
apparent in the bond-aided Pacific
railroads The outlook in the west
generally for the present year, is re-
ported very encouraging. Gen. Hamp-
ton, though disclaiming any attempt to
criticise the course Of the government
in the Union Pacific matter, says he
has always believed that settlement
more advantageous to the government
could be obtained II all the companies,
particularly the Union and Central
Pacific, could be negotiated with at
the same time through commission
to be appointed by the president, and
possibly all in the same way, than by
settling at different times and on q
different basis. Government owner
ship or operating under government
supervision, he says, would be not only
a doubtful, but q dangerous expert
ment, which probably would result
disastrously to the government
TO LOOK INTO MEAT INSPECTION.
WASHINGTON, Nov. lot was
learned yesterday that the department
Of agriculture will shortly dispatch a
special agent to Kansas City to inves.
tigate charges against the meat in
spection force. Complaints similar to
those issuing from Kansas City have
recently been coming from Buffalo, N.
Y, and DR.. Salmon, chief Of the
bureau Of animal industry, it Is under
stood, is now there making personal
There Is some hesitation
On the part Of the government officials
to give out the nature Of the charges.
They are, however, Of a very grave
character, as evidenced by the fiat.
footed statement that special agent
will be sent to Kansas City to make an
investigation.
GOVERNMENT FORESTRY WORK.
WASHINGTON, Nov. lob. Z. Fer.
now, chief Of division Of forestry OF
the agricultural department, in his an
nual report to Secretary Wilson,, says
the principal experiment made during
the year were in tree planting on the
plains and investigations in timber,
physics and biology. In tree planting,
Ave additional experiments stations
we're authorized-at Caluge Station,
Tex; Saltwater, Ok; Logan, Utah,
Jrookston, Mimi, and Grand Rapids,
Mich. The total area now in perma.
lent plantations at all experimental
stations is over 80 acres. Prof. Fernow
'ays many Of the most important tim
)ers are still unknown as to their
quality, and especially Pacific coast
imbers, which soon will have to be
Used by the eastern wood consumers,
when the home supply begins to wane.
The government, the report says,
hould furnish reliable information to
heck the waste of our timbers, the
'nly hope of frightening our supplies
# homegrown forest materials being
n more conservative and economical
Use. Among the recommendations is
me for $4,000 to defray the expenses
If timber Investigations.
THE IcE-BoUND WHALING FLEET.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10. 1.-The cabinet
rave considerable attention yesterday
o the ice-bound Behring sea whale
leet. Two plans have been decided
lpon, one to send the Bear from Se-
title, which cannot be got ready for
wo weeks, and another to send the
a whaling vessel now in San
Francisco. The Thrasher can be pro-
isioned at once and sent Immediately
N her mission.