Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-11-10
The CAPITOL FIRE.
The Injury to the Building Not So
Serious as Was Feared.
TO URGE The NICARACUAy CANAL.
Pyssident Mckinley VIII Appeal 20 Con-
gress 70 Take Legislative Action on the
Waterwav-Colon 10 he Abandoned
President Reviews Parade

President Reviews Parade
Washington, Nov ga report was
current yesterday morning that the
west central wall of the capitol was
cracked as a result OF the gas explo-
sion Of Sunday afternoon. Architect
Wood made careful examination and
located the crack which had aroused
suspicious 1t proved however, to be
in the outer, or veneer, wall, and not
in the six.foot foundation wall on the
west side. This main wall has stood
over 100 years and is still In fairly
good condition. When additions
were made veneer wall, about
ten inches thick, was added out.
side. The explosion Sunday night
blew out heavy stone door
frame 10 the outer wall, and this In
turn loosened several stones Of the
veneer wall. Mr.. Wood satisfied him.
self that the main wall had not been
disturbed. His attention was called
to crack In the main wall but this
he recalled as we'll known crack
which had existed for years Mr.
Wood says it Is not surprising that a
wall which has stood century should
have some old cracks which do not,
however, impair Its general security.
He thinks this crack may have come
from the expansion resulting from the
burning OF the capitol by the British
In 1914
Mr.. Wood, at the close Of the day,
expressed the opinion that the damage
TO the capitol building could be re.
paired for SEQ, 900. ut is by no means
60 serious as | first thought it was"
said Mr. Wood. II find that the
foundations Of the building we're not
damaged in the least but that the
only injury done to the structure by
the explosion was done to the arched
floors These were struck from
beneath and, affording the least re-
sistsnce, gave way so readily that the
foundation walls were not injured in
any respect" Mr.. Wood believes the
explosion was caused by gas but says
he has not yet been able on account Of
the debris to make sufficiently crit
ical examination to place the exact
spot at which the ignition occurred.
Other architects who have inspected
the scene OF the catastrophe also at.
tribute IL to an explosion OF gas. Some
express the opinion that broken
main and burning jet are response.
BILE for the occurrence.
TO URGE THE NIcARAaUAN CANAL.
Washington, Nov. Sin President
McKinley's messa..e to congress will
be very strong and urgent appeal for
immediate legislative action for the
construction of the Nicaraguan canal
under government direction The
president will point out that our new
connections In the Pacific and in the
West Indies make 1t imperative Tor the
United States TO build and control the
great international waterway and that
delay beyond the present congress In
authorizing its construction will jeop-
ardize the chances for American con.
troll In the future. The president
fully appreciates the difficulties In the
way Of securing prompt action,
but he and other canal advocates
also appreciate that failure this year
may mean permanent failure Action
Of the Nicaraguan government in
granting a new concession for the
construction of the canal conditional
upon the forfeiture Of the contract
with the Maritime Canal company, in
October next, has added new compli-
cations to the difficulties in the way
Of legislation. The authorities con-
slider that 1t adds another element Of
opposition to prompt action on the
pending Morgan bill, which contem-
plates the construction Of the canal
under government direction on the
basis OF the concession granted to the
Maritime Canal company. The Nor
gan bill, in all Of its essential features,
is understood to have the Endorsement
OF the administration.
THE COLON TO be ABANDONED
Washington, Nov. s-Capt Chester's
decision TO abandon the work of wreck.
ing the Colon marks the end of tina,
undertaking on the part of the govern
ment 1t is said at the navy depart
ment that the captain was directed tt
stop the work when, in his discreet
II was no longer profitable. Because
the contract with the wrecking com
pany has been terminated it does no,
follow thatall idea has been abandoned
Of saving some Of the sunken Spanish
warships. The navy department /,
ready to engage with thoroughly re
sp0nsible wrecking concerns prOvid
ing the latter absolve the government
from payments unless the ships ar,
delivered in United States navy yard
Already one of the greatest wreckinl
concerns in the world Swedish or
ganisation, has opened negotiation
on the subject 1t is willing to under
take at once the raising of The Rein,
Mercedes, which lies in the channel II
Santiago harbor and it has indicate,
disposition to undertake the wreck
ing Of the Colon.
THE PRESIDENT REVIEWS A PARA DE.
Washington, Nov. s. AS has beef
the custom for mSny years, the presi
dent yesterday reviewed the annua
parade Of the police and fire depart