The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-01

ing the subject before congressman
and patriotic citizens Of the region be-
yond the Alleghenies. Indeed. Of SO
much Importance is this step believed
10 be that those who were instrumental
III starting the agitation seem confident
tnat the present movement will be
successful. 1t is now thought that
congress will finally make the appro-
priation of $250.000 for repairing the
famous battleship and Transporting 1t
10 washington, where it will be used
as a naval museum.
For many years the Constitution has
been rotting away in the Kittery (Me.)
navy yard This yard is situated just
across the river from Portsmouth NJ
II. While in the war days Of 1912 the
record of this ship made its name ceIe-
DRAFTED over the world. When it last
went out Of commission in the early
4G's 1t was not long until practical Junk
buyers wanted to break up the old
craft. These efforts to gain possession
for this purpose were Of regular occur
renee, and it was one Of them that in
spired Oliver Wendell Holmes poem
OF odd 1ronsides." Since then the
ship has generally been known by that
title. Two months ago determined
attempt was made by a salvage firm
to secure authority from the Kittery
navy yard officials for the destruction
VI TIE COIlSIllullOn. Inc plan came
near going through, but in some way
news Of it became public.
The Boston Historical society took
up the matter of urging the repair and
preservation of the ship by the govern
ment. Congressman Fitzgerald, Of
Boston, who represents the district Of
which is situated the wharf where the
Constitution was built, introduced a
resolution calling for an expenditure
of SoS0 000 ar1 I7ob 70
and removal Of the ship to Washington.
The resolution was passed. The his
tOrical society renewed its labors in the
movement with more yigor than ever
and letters and petitions were -seFt ait
over the East AS has been pointed
out, the Chicago Historical society is
doing the same thing in the West. The
force of the memorials that will. as a
result. be laid before congress, will, it
is claimed, be effective. The present
patriotic spirit prevailing congress as
an outcome of the Cuban excitement
is regarded in this matter as auspi-
ciouS. Secretary Herbert is now making
ing Investigations as to the cost of the
undertaking. The Constitution is a
pretty solid ship still. Her interior and
timbers are reported as sound as ever
and the principal repair work would
have to be done to the outside 1t is
suggested that in case she is taken to
the capital and turned into museum
a considerable yearly revenue would
be realized
Over in Salem, Mass, there is now
living one of the crew that manned
the Constitution in the times she was
respected for her proves. He is
Moses D. Weber, who occupies a little
home on Ralcomb street.
Weber is now II years old and went
aboard the Constitution as seaman In
1885, when the Constitution was being
fitted for her trip to France to enforce
the claim of the United States against
France for damage to our commerce
during the Napoleonic wars Weber
was aboard when the figure of Gen.
Jackson was cut from her prov III
Charleston harbor. He made the trip
to the coast Of France, where the
vessel stayed until the treaty was ac-
cepted.