Gilpin observer., 1899-06-08
WASHINGTON GOSSIP
AND DEPARTMENT NEWS.

for q year or more between Bishop
John r. Hurst Of the Methodist Epis-
copal church and his wife has cul-
minated, 1t is understood among their
friends here, In permanent separation.
Mr.. Root of Buffalo, New York, Mrs.
Hurst's brother, was In Washington
yesterday closing up financial matters
for his sister, who is wealthy. He ad-
mitted that his sister intended to sepa-
rnte permanently from her husband.
1t is reported that he engaged local at
torneys to institute proceedings for
legal separation, but no papers, 1t is
claimed, have vet been filed. Mrs
Hurst is the bishops second wife, ami
is forty years his junior
The Duke of Arcos, the new Spanish
minister, and his American wife are
passengers on the steamer Kaiser VIII
helm, and are expected to come to
Washington Immediately after their ar
rival. They will have a hearty well
come. The Duke of ARGOS was n very
popular member of society here when
he was known as Jack Brunetti and
was an attache of the Spanish legation.
As Virginia LOwery the duchess was
recognized belle, and her friends say
she once Tilted Admiral Dewey. IL
was n happy idea of the Spanish gov
ernment to select the Duke of ARGOS to
reopen diplomatic relations between
the two countries, and he and the duch-
ess will be conspicuous figures in
Washington society next winter.
The six protected cruisers author
lied for the new American navy, of
which the Denver is one, will have no
superior as fighting machines. The de,
tails of the construction of these
swift. capacious, fire-proof 'sfghting
machines have just been decided up
on by the naval experts. The act of
authorization specifies ships of $500
tons displacement. They will be abso-
lutely fire-prOof, an essential in mod
ern warefare. Another feature. which.
will make the ships unique, is the
sheathing of the hull The steel plates
of the hull will be covered with thin
planking which will be sheathed with
copper. This will prevent the fouling
of the bottoms, and will preserve the
speed of vessels. Each ship will have
n bunker capacity of 100 tons, an item
which means a great deal in time of
war. The speed of the ships will be
sixteen and one-half knots THE
draught will be eighteen and one-half
feet, which is somewhat less than
ships of corresponding type, and fea-
ture of great moment If the ships are
in shallow waters, as on the Asiatic
station.
All of the British colonies in Ameri
ca are about to send agents to the
United States to negotiate reciprocity
treaties. and the first delegation is ex-
pected this week. The industrial and
commercial condition of the British
colonies is deplorable, particularly
those where sugar is grown, and that
is the staple of most of them. The
price paid by the sugar trust for raw
sugar after the tariff duty is deducted
is so low that the planters cannot make
profit, but If they did not have to- pay
the duty sugar planting would pay.
They ship all their sugar to the United
States in the raw state. and the trust
Is their only customer, therefore 1t can
regulate prices I'M most arbitrary
manner. They cannot ship their prod
uct to England or other parts Of Eu-
rope, because it is impossible to COM
pete with the bounty-paid beet sugar.
Therefore they must sell in the United
States, and the only way they can
make money is to induce the sugar
trust to increase the price or Uncle
Sam to lower the duty. They natur-
ally consider the latter alternative the
pared to offer concessions in the way of
reduced duties on the goods they i'm
port from us as an ipducement.
The State Department has made pub
lie an official abstract of the report of
the Nicayaguan canal commission as
presented by Admiral Walker, the
head of the commission. The report
says that the surveys have in general
laI ,,t
than were hitherto supposed to exist,
especially as to the amount of rock in
the upper river, whereby it is possible
to greatly reduce the estimated cost of
construction. To determine the proper
unit prices for excavation, the average
of prices actually paid to contractors
on the Chicago drainage canal, which
represent cost of plant. prices paid for
work done and contractors profits,
were taken. To these prices certain
percentages were added for the differ.
ence in location. climate, etc. In OBJ
tanning the estimates for the cost of
locks the prices actually paid for build
ing the government locks mt Sault Ste.
Marie were taken and 33 per cent. was
added for the difference of location.
After giving due weight to all the ele-
ments of this important question, and
| with an earnest desire to reach logical
conclusions based upon substantial
facts. the commission believes that II
canal can be built across the isthmus
on this route for not exceeding $11S,-
| 113,10O.
1t is very gratifying to the friends Of
Sir Julian Pauncefote to learn that his
| term of service as ambassador OF her
British majesty at Washington has
been extended another year. This Is
the second time such nm honor has
been conferred upon Sir Julian. The
| regulations of the British diplomatic
service require the retirement OF II min
| lister or ambassador mt the age of 10
| yenrs. and orders were issued for the