Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-10-13
WASHINGTON Letter
From our Regular Correspondent.

From our Regular Correspondents
WASHINGTON, October 8, 1897
There were an unusual number Of
Republican senator's and representa-
tives in Washington this week, and
as there were also an unusual number
of appointments made by President
Mckinley the reason for their presence
was not difficult to guess. The ap-
pointments made covered about all
branches of the government service
from foreign ministers to the lowest
grade employees in the congressional
library. All of the latter have now
been appointed.
There is such general misunder-
standing as to the rela tions of this
administration with the coming sale,
under forecl csure, of the Union Pacific
railroad, that Attorney General Nc
Kenna this week gave out a state
ment on the subject. He said in sub
stance that the government had not
entered into any agreement or under
standing with the reorganization
committee, or anyone else, by which
they are to have the road for S45,-
100000, or any other sum; that the
property would be sold under fore
closure proceedings to the highest
bidder, and that the only connection
the government has or has had with
the reorganization committee was
that the latter guaranteed that, if
10 -.
foreclosure proceedings, the commit
tee would see that bid of not less
than S45, 100000 would be made for
the governments equities. Under
that pledge, the good faith of which
was secured by deposit of $1,000
600, the government under the Cleve-
land administration Joined in the
suit which resulted in an order by
the court for the public sale of the
property on November l. ATTORNEY
General McKenna hopes to see some
competition in the bidding for the
U. F., a. there have been numerous
enquiries from capitalists, some from
Europe.
Secretary Long thinks the United
States government should be entirely
independent of the gunpowder trust,
and as first step towards that OBJ
Ject will recommend in his annual re-
port that congress authorize the pur-
chase of machinery and the erection
of buildings for the manufacture Of
gunpowder by the Navy department.
SIxty-tive thousand dollars Is esti-
mated as sufficient for that purpose.
l,of
that the board of naval officers who
are investigating as to the best loca-
ton for government armor making
plant will recommend that the plant
be located in the South, probably
either in Tennessee or in Alabama. Of
course, nobody knows what congress
will do with the recommendation.
Comptroller Eckels, who has Just
returned from an extended tour of
the West, said of his trip: 81 visited
Montana, Colorado, Utah and Ne
braska, and there is no doubt that
the condition of all classes of people
in those states has materially i'm
proved. The Improvement hascome
rapidly, and permeates all lines OF
industry. 1t began with the agricul-
tural class. The farmers have large
crops ana are getting good prices for
them. The cattle raisers are bene-
fitted by 81 substantial increase in the
price Of cattle, and the same is true
with the sheep raisers. The improve
ment IN agricultural interests has
had its effect upon the railroads by
increasing their earnings. 1t has put
money in circulation, and has enabled
people TO discharge their debts, and
thereby benefits the merchants. In
Colorado there are actually more
men at work in the mines than ever
before in the history of the state, not
withstanding the enforced closing of
many silver mines. The gold mining
region of Cripple Creek l believe to be
the richest section upon the globe"