Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-08-12
ARCTIC FARMING.
An Expedition for Establishing Agricul-
tural Experiment Stations in Alaska.
UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD.
The Yanderbilta Said to BE After 1t for an
Outlet to the Paclfle--Letter Boxes
on street -ObtrusIVe
Partisan Removed.


WASHINGTON, Aug. 11.-Much inter
est attaches to the newest exploring
expedition sent out by Uncle Sam. 1t
is to start in few days, and its object
will be to visit Alaska and gather pre-
liminary data with reference to the
contemplated establishment Of one or
more agricultural experiment stations
in that arctic province. Congress has
appropriated $1,000 to pay for the in
vestigation, and under existing law an
institution of this sort would be en-
titled to a subsidy of S15, 900 per annum
from the government. OF late the pop
ulation Of the territory has increased
enormously, upward of $4,000 persons
entering 1t last year, most of them in
pursuit Of gold. Here is country,
then, which does not offer support to
an increasing population, Yet it is ex-
ceedingly rich and in parts very fertile,
so that there is no reason why 1t should
not sustain millions of people. In
fact, most of the important food plants
of the temperate zone grow there very
we'll, and the enterprising farmer
may choose whether he will pro-
duce vegetables or SOW grain. Thanks
to the great warm current that flows
along the shores of southern Alaska,
corresponding to the gulf stream OF
the Atlantic ocean, the climate of the
coast belt and outlying islands is very
mild, the temperature in winter rarely
dropping more than 10 degrees below
the freezing point Unfortunately,
knowledge respecting the agricultural
possibilities of the territory is slight,
and it is just this deficiency of infor-
nation that is to be supplied by the
contemplated expedition.
The Union Pacific Railroad.
WASHINGTON, Aug. II. According to
statement made by Boston gentle
man who is in position to know what
is going on, the plan for control of the
Union Pacific railroad has been com
pleted here and in New York. This
plan eontemplates the purchase of the
Union Pacific at the sale which is to be
held FrobablF about the LIST of October,
the consolidation of II with the Orion
Short Line and the control Of the en-
tire consolidated system by the Van
derbilt railroads, thus giving the New
York Central through line from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, beginning at
New York and ending at San Fran
cisco The Union Pacific already con-
trolls IS, OOO, 900 of the s24, OOO 900 of the
stock of the Oregon Short Line. Mr.
Carr of Boston, who is trustee of the
Ames estate, controls another block of
SO, 900, 900 OF this stock 1t Is the pres
emit intention of the parties interested
in the reorganization to pool these two
interests, thus giving to the Union
Pacific s14, 100000 of the stock of the
Oregon Short Line, or enough for the
control of the road.
Letter Boxes on street Cars
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-The post of
flee department has received a report
from Des Moines, Ia, where an expert
ment is being tried of having street
letter boxes attached to all the street
cars of the city and large share of
mail collection taken up by them. The
cars in Des Moines all run past the
post office. They stop at all places 10
receive letter or other mail matter
and as they come by the post Office
carrier takes the mail from
the boxes. During the month
of July there were collected
by this means in Des Moines 80, 937 let
ters, 6,059 cards ard AL pieces of sec
ond, third and fourth-clasS mail mat
ter. 1t shows an increase of 300 pieces
over June, and the postmaster is of the
opinion that owing 20 many cars run
being open and no boxes attached
there was not so much collected by
this means as if all the cars were closed.
If the experiment is successful it will
be tried in other cities where similar
conditions prevail.
Obtrusive Partisan Removed,
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-THE first re-
moval of an employe of the postal
service for what the post Office depart
ment terms "obtrusive craftsmanship
was made yesterday. The case was
that of letter carrier in an Iowa
town, but the department officials de-
clined to give for publication either
the name of the town or that of the
carrier. The postmaster recommended
the dismissal of the carrier several
weeks ago. An inspector was sent to
the town to investigate the case, and,
upon his recommendation, the removal
was made. The inspectors report
shows that the carrier was an active
partisan, that he served as a ward
committeeman for his party and that
he took an active part in the conduct
of the campaign this spring as we'll as
last fall.
city wIli own Its watsrworks.
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