The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1898-01-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Interesting Navy nroaols-The United
States and the Paris Exposition.
The Drydocs Problem.
Especial correspondence


exhibition, and the school children, as
we'll as Others can enjoy them during
their Christmas holiday. The models
are of tho Wilmington, Helena. Milan.
tonomah, Petrol, Texas, Bennington.
NASHVILLE, Concord, Bancroft, York
town, Baltimore, Massachusetts, Kear-
sarge, Katahdin and Vesuvius These
models were the leading attraction at
the Worlds fair at Chicago, tho Allan
tn exposition and at the Nashville expo
sitlon and were enjoyed by hundreds of
thousands OF people, many visiting the
places where they wero on exhibition
for the express purpose Of seeing them.
AS an exhibit they draw more persons
to the navy department. every day than
anything, or, indeed, all things, else in
the building. 1t is moro than likely
they will be sent over to the coming
Paris exposition.
Uncle Sam at the Paris Exposition.
In his report Major M. p. Handy, the
special commissioner appointed to gath
or information for congress regarding
the Paris exposition of 1900, says:
In recommending that 1915, 600 be
appropriated by tho United States for
the expenses Of proper representation
Oh the products of our industry and tho
natural resources of tho country have
been careful not to propose any expendi-
turo not fully justified by knowledge
and experience. In the past the United
States has suffered because of INSULT
Gent appropriations for all internation-
al eXposltions except our own.
Tho experience of those foreign gov
ernments which have been liberal in
provisions for participation i'll interna-
tlonal eXpositions has been so encourag-
ing that almost without exception they
VIII spend largely more for representa-
ton ut Paris in 1900 than ever before.
Importance of the Exposition.
Tho Paris exposition of 1889 more
than any other ever held opened the
eyes Of the world to tho practical value
OF such contests for supremacy in the
arts of peace. That the great govern
ments of the world took the lesson to
heart was shown ut the Worlds Column
ban exposition of 1898, when those Off
clally represented therein expended on
their exhibits from 3 to ii times the
amount reported to have been previously
spent by them respectively i'll 1889.
In 1900 we may expect that not on
~ France but every other country will
meet the United States at Paris with
such demonstration as was never
thought of before. Germany has been
ut work for moro than two years nj
ready.
Russia will make display in which
money will not be considered. Austria
Hungary and Belgium will make every
effort to keep i'll the front rank without
regard to what the cost may be.
" At every international exposition ON
foreign soil tho United States has pre-
sented some things worth seeing and
taken a liberal proportion of recon-
pensc. What then may not be expected
II 1or once we present ourselves at an
international exposition with we'll Sc
lected. thoroughly organized, well adj
mlnistered and truly representative ex-
hibit?'
Commissioner Handy's Estimates.
Commissioner Handy's estimates in
clude tho following chief items:
Commissioner general, three years.
ut $4,000 II year; assistant, So. 600;
three commissioners, 50, 600 each; score
tary, So, 500; discussing officer, 50, 900;
nine scientific experts, $1,000 each;
government exhibits, $40, 600; archi-
tects, decorators, etc, SIS, 500; struc-
tural work, $40, 600; packing and
freight, $50, 600; art exhibit, $40, 900;
woman's work exhibit, $50, 600; jurors,
$50, 600; final report, $40, 600; worlds
congress, $40, 900; exhibit of charities
and social economy, $50, 900, and vari-
IL, ,lo 1
etc.
Uncle Sans original allotment of
space was los, GIG square feet. AS a
result of further negotiations the allot-
ment was Increased III various groups
SO rs to make the total of space absolute
~ allotted 147, 403 square feet.
New Drydocks to Be Opposed.
1t is perhaps too much to expect that
all tho recommendations of the secre-
tary of the navy i'll regard to tho build
ing new drydocks and tho enlarge
ment OF several of tho old ones will DO
adopted by congress at this session, or,
Ill fact, that any Of them will be EN-
bodied i'll legislation without a stiff
fight. The opposition can muster con
siderable strength in the house. There
49, iiiH'' oho htcihpcrS WHO dre opposed
to any increase of the naval establish
ment; second, the members who do not
seem to realize that II sufficient number
OF suitable drydocks is absolutely essen
tial to the efficiency of the navy; third,
members who have become disguised
because large sums of money have been
wasted i'll building drydocks at places
where there is not sufficient depth of
water to float in safety the larger yes