The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-09-21
Domestic.

THE Ocean House at Newport r. l., one
OF the largest and best known houses on the
Atlantic coast, was burned to the ground
last week. No person was injured. Loss
100000; insurance $4,000.
THE contract for supplying the navy de-
partment with smokeless powder has been
awarded to the California Powder Compa-
ny and to the Dupont Powder company,
each to supply half million pounds. The
contract price is eighty cents per pound,
the government to furnish alcohol necessa-
ry for the production Of the powder.
AT the national encampment, Sons of
Veterans, held last week at Omaha, Neb.,
the following officers for the ensuing year
were elected; Commander-in-Chief Col.
Frank l.. Shepard OF Chicago; senior vice
commander, George e. Cox of Connecticut;
junior commander, @. j. Green of South
Dakota; quartermaster general, Fred K.
B0ulton of Massachusetts.
THE steamer "Discovery" that arrived at
Port Townshend, Wash, last week from
Skaguay, Alaska, brings advices from Daw-
sen up to August q. 1t il stated tho Cana
dian police have completed thorough in
vestigation of the food supply for the COM
ing winter. They report that the amount
on hand is more than sufficient to carry the
camp through the winter.
JOSEPH LETTER of Chicago has cleared up
his famous wheat DEAL Every creditor has
been paid, obligations to banks whose as
sistance was enlisted have been Cancelled
and IA, 900 900 bushels of wheat have been
liqudated since the announcement of the
voluntary assignment nearly three months
ago. This has been done only by great sac
rifice, including the giving of mortgages on
property belonging to the Letter estate ag-
gregating nearly 900 in value.
THE steamer Ceptic which arrived at San
Francisco few days ago from the Orient,
brings the news from Hong Kong that the
A American WING Foot Captpip
Sherman. is supposed to have gone down
with all hands. During the war United
States Consul General Wildman chartered
the Wing Foot to carry dispatches to Adj
miral Dewey at Manila. The little vessel
met with several mishaps and was obliged
to return to port. Since her last departure
for Manila she has not been heard from.
A DELEGATION from Ohio who called on
President Mckinley last Wednesday to
urge him to muster out Ohio regiments
were taken back by the Presidents fiat
declaration that he feared there might still
be work for the volunteers to do before
peace was secured. The President said
that he doubted very much whether the
peace commission could succeed in drawing
up treaty unless the Spanish government
were kept fully aware of the existence of an
effective fighting force ready to take the
field at moments notice.
THE president will, in future, be very re-
luctant to accept designations OF volunteer
officers OF regiments which are continued in
service. large number of such resigna-
tions have been sent to the war depart
ment, and in most cases have been accept
ed. The roster OF officers has now become
reduced to a condition which requires that
no further reductions be made, unless for
extraordinary reasons. Leaves Of absence
will be granted with some liberality on GER
tifcates from surgeons and on the presenta-
ton Of exceptional reasons requiring tenn
Qhaanna frnO1 commando
THE navy department has arrived at
what it regards as fair and satisfactory
settlement OF the question OF awarding the
contracts for the construction of the three
battleships. 1t has invited the Newport
News Company and the Union Iron Works
to amend their plans 30 as to make their
ships Identical with that proposed by
Cramp. Mr.. Scott Of the Union Iron Works
has agreed to do this and the representative
Of the Newport News Company has also