The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-09-24
Washington Letter.
From our regular Correspondent

| WAsHNGT ON, ID. G. Sept, 19 1897
President Mckinley is back in
Washington, but will only stay few
days. There are several more or less
pressing matters which he wished to
be discussed by the Cabinet and dis.
posed of, and he also wished to have q
talk with Consul General Lee, who is
also in Washington, about matters in
Cuba. AS soon as these things are
done, he will go away again for short
time. While it has not been definite
ly settled where he will 60, it is prob
able that he will go to New England
and that he will stay about two weeks.
He is looking very well, but he laugh
ingly remarked that he had not sue
ceeded in getting much rest while
away from Washington. He is too
good natured to refuse to see people
who call on him or to refuse we'll
meant cOurtesies extended to him.
That's why he finds it difficulty to get
rest, either in or out of Washington.
The business of the Post Office De-
partment is an infallible Indicator of
the business of the country. The
business of 80 of the largest post offices
OF the country has been found by long
experiences to fairly represent the
business of the entire department, and
the business of those 80 offices was
eight per cent greater in August of
this year than in August of last year,
and five per cent greater than in July.
The Post Office officials are all ready
to testify that prosperity is right here.
Secretary Wilson having become
satisfied from the success of expert
ments made that the camphor tree
will thrive in Florida, and that we can
grow enough to supply all the camphor
we use, has arranged to have the tree
thoroughly introduced in that state,
through the department of Agricul-
ture. He also intends to specially en-
courage the growth of the English
walnut tree, which he thinks will do
we'll anywhere south of the Potomac
river. There is no longer any doubt
about the success of Secretary Wilson
in making the Department of Agri-
culture practically assist the farmers
OF the country, by pointing out to
them feasible means of increasing
their incomes.
Secretary Gage has gone as far as
he has authority to go in his efforts to
save those who are rashly trying to
push into the gold regions of Alaska
from the starvation he has become sat
isfied, from trustworthy reports sent
him, awaits them when they reach
there. Agents of the Treasury De-
partment have been instructed to
stretch every law and regulation to its
extreme limit to keep men away from
the Klondike until next spring; also
to use their powers of persuasion upon
the gold hunters and to show them Of
fetal communications showing the
utter inadequacy of the supply of food
on hand to feed those who are already
in the Klondike regions during the
coming long and hard winter.
Although this country has no rea-
son to expect trouble with Spain, or
with any other power, it is not unlike
ly that the unsettled condition of as
fairs in Cuba had something to do
with the decision of the Navy Depart
ment to keep the North Atlantic
Squadron, which has recently been
through a very successful season of sea
drill, target practice, etc., together all
the winter and to keep the vessels
composing the squadron in the best
sea-going condition. The squadron
will this week rendesvouz at Fort
Monroe, and will later go to New
York. The fact that this government
has this strong squadron of fighting
ships ready to proceed to sea at days
notice, will, of itself, have good effect
upon our foreign relations with all
countries, and the men and the ships
will get better practice together than
they could get with each ship going it
alone.