The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1899-09-30


"a, 1897, which prohibits persons from
visiting the fortificatlons OF the United
States, The secretary calls attention
to the fact that the former order has
frequently been disregarded. and
directs q rigid enforcement Of Its pro-
visions hereafter. One instance In
which the old order was not enforced
was In the case Of q military attache
of one Of the foreign governments,
who visited the military posts ut the
mouth Of the Columbia river. It ID I'M
derstoOd that he had letter from Fec
rotary Al9er, but 1t IL said that 1t was
not sufficient to permit him to inspect
the coast defenses. Upon this letter
he was permitted within the military
posts and given privileges which the
War Department does not allow ex-
cept to authorized persons connected
| with the federal or state governments.
Another new order of the War Depart
ment directs that hereafter there will
be no more gratultOus distribution of
subsistence stores to persons In Alas
ka. Officers in some instances have
exceeded the regulations in this mat
ter.
The final meeting of the Dewey Ma
tional Home Fund committee was held
Mt the office of the secretary Of the
treasury Friday. An account of stock
was taken and plans perfected for clos
Ing the subscriptions before the arrival
in New York Of Admiral Dewey. The
committee has received contributions
from about 10000 citizens, represent ng
every state and territory in the Union.
These aggregate 7,OG5. exclusive of
the contributions received the 22d. The
fund should he increased to at least
| f.,o 10
chase n home ut the capitol of the ma
ton, which will be credit to the CIV
ers and pride to the hero Of Manila
bay. Admiral Dewey has indicated
to the committee a desire to make
Washington his permanent home.
Here, as the ranking officer of the Unit
ed States navy. he will spend the re-
mainder of his life. The admiral has
expressed his grateful appreciation of
the intention of the American people
to present him a home. and he will
accept 1t with the spirit In which it
will be given. The committee must
close the subscriptions before the end
OF next week.
The War Department has made public
an abstract of report just received
from Brigadier General James H. VIII
son, commanding the department of
Matanzas and Santa Clara, Cuba. Gen
eral Wilson states that the area of the
miles. Its population In 1897 was 1884,
600; in 1899. from the best obtainable
data on hand, it was $4,000; the num-
her of persons to the square mile thlr-
ty-tive. The births In 1907 and 1893
were B,4OO. This shows decrease of
one-seventh In the population in two
years. The pay Of unskilled labor Ia
40 cents in silver day. Cost of living:
Rice, 9 cents per pound; cornmeal, 4
cents per pound: beans, cents per
pound; dried meat, % cents per pound
General Wilson states that he made a
tour Of inspection Of his province be-
tween, April 18th and May eth, 1880.
He found the towns defH1ded by
trenches, distractions and block
houses, as in the province Of Matan-
xas. The country outside Of the towns
was devastated and not one farmhouse
or hut, SO far as his observation went,
had escaped destruction.
The comptroller Of the currency has
received applications for increase of
circulation from four of New York
banks amounting to about 81 500 900.
This action on the part of the city
banks is not at all unusual at this sea-
son of the year, and SO far as known at
the treasury department there is no
concerted movement on the part of
the banks to increase their circulation
by any very large amount, as has been
rumored. Fractional silver coins are
in almost as great demand at the treas
ury ms are small bills The revival Of
business all over the country has alb
sorbed the supply of dimes. quarters
and half dollars so rapidly that the
treasury Will soon be entirely out of
coins Of these denominations. Secre-
tary Gage last year recommended to
Congress Legislation authorizing the
coinage of additional fractional silver.
but no action was taken Both he and
Mr.. Roberts, the director of the mint,
will make urgent recommendations
this year that authority be given to In
crease the supply. AS there is no lin
itation in law on the amount Of these
coins that can be issued, they are be-
ing supplied. AT the Philadelphia mint
seven coinage presses, one-half Of the
capacity of the mint, are working on
nickels.
The War Department has issued n
general order in regard to the examIna-
ton Of officers of the volunteer army,
an important provision of which is that
vacancies of second lieutenants are to
be filed by promotion from the ranks
of the regiments In which they occur.
The order, which has been communi-
Gated to the commanding officers of all
the volunteer regiments, says: when
ever an officer has been given a fair
trial and fails to demonstrate his fit
ness to perform the duties of his rank
he will be brought before board of
officers to be appointed by the general
commanding separate army or the
military department in which his reRi-
ment mny be serving on the recommen-
dation of the colonel of the regiment.
The board will examine into and re-
port upon the qualifications Of the Of
ficer to discharge the duties of his Of
flee and its report will be forwarded
with the Recommendation of the COM
handing general. for the action Of the