The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-06-06
Being Made in Germany
Out of Fir Wood.
TROOPS FOR GENERAL OTIS
The Cabinet Discusses the Question.
His Reinforeemenss 10 Come From
the Regulars Optimistic Advices
From commissioner Sehurman-ke.
pubiicans Protest Against Having
Any Democratic Census Takers App
pointed for the south.

Washington, June 1.-The cabinet at
its meeting today decided that there
was no present necessity for the en-
Iistment of volunteers. The situation
was gone over at the cabinet meeting
very fully before this conclusion was
reached. The president stands ready
at any time it may appear necessary,
to authorize the enlistment of volun-
teers. should more men be deemed nee
essary, although hoping that such a
contingency may not arise. General
Otis is to be given the 80 900 men for
, whom he has asked. The additional
5000 or 5000 troops to make up the 3d.
900 are to be taken from the regulars
now serving in Porto Rico, Cuba and
this country.
The administrations advices from
Professor Schurman, of the Philippine
commission, have been informally op-
timistic and it is understood that fur
Their adv1ces of the same tenor were
received today. This was also borne
out by the press dispatches which spoke
of social gaieties in Manila for the ben
eft Of the friendly native population.
IL 49, Soio A41oN ~ I'D I'm L
about putting into Manila any mum
Der of troops this government may elect
to send.
Coincident with the withdrawal of
the volunteer troops in the Philippines,
Brigadier Generals Hale, Smith and
Funston will be relieved from further
duty in that country and ordered home
fog muster out, with the organizations
with which they were identified before
their elevation t0 brigade rank
VIGOROUS KICKING BY SOUTH
ERN REPUBLICANS.
1t is stated that southern republicans
are flooding the White house with pro-
tests against dividing the census ap-
pointments with the democrats and
claiming that this means that the CEN
sus will not be fairly or sQuarely taken.
The matter is brought to light by the
speech Of Representative Bailey in
yesterday, criticiSing Director
Merriam because he had placed in the
hands of alto from Texas, the Sc
lection of such appointees as are to be
allowed the democrats. Director Mer-
RAM confers frequently with the pres
ident, and it is supposed hat there is
a complete understanding as to the
distribution of the places among the
parties. Section Is of the act says that
appointments shall be made without
reference to their party affiliations and
solely with reference to the fitness of
the persons.
ARTIFICIAL COTTON.
Consul Mahin, of Rechenberg, Aus
tria, under date of April 21st, quotes
an account found in a local newspaper
of a process for making artificial cotton
from the Woo of the fir tree. 1t appears
that the wood is reduced to hin shaw
ings, which are placed in a washing ap-
paratus, exposed to the influence of
steam for ten hours. They are then
subjected to a strong preparation of
sodium I've and are heated under great
pressure for t~hirty-siX hours. The
wood is now changed to pure cellulose,
and to give this a greater resisting
power, some castor oil, caffeine and
gelatin are added. The substance is
then put into an apparatus and made
into threads, which are reeled.
The article concludes: Artificial cot
ton can be produced so cheaply that
the genuine article can hardly compete
with it and n cannot say that it is a
sham, for it is composed, exactly as the
natural cotton, of ure cellulose."
Mr.. Mahin adds: I'm a country such
as this, where forests of fir trees
abound and are made perennial by
constant ~replanting as the large trees
are cut down, and where all the cotton
used in the numerous factories must be
brought from far India and the United
States, such a device should be prof