The Meeker herald., 1899-06-10

National Museum at Washington-
perhaps the finest Mexican sombrero
! that was ever made.
The United States embassy at Brus-
sells has reported to the State Depart
ment that the government has, by de
cree issued on the 2Sth instant, rescind-
ed the Introduction upon the importa-
ton of American cattle. The decree
took effect May 31st. The State De-
partment is very proud of its achieve
ment in securing the reopening Of the
Belgian markets to American cattle.
An adjustment was reached Tuesday
OF the grievances presented by the
machinists employed at the govern
ment arsenal ut Rock Island, Illinois,
the department holding that petitions
may be presented by the men to their
commandant individually or by some
| one or more of such employees who
may be selected TO represent them, but
not by representations other than from
the men themselves. This decision. is
| in line with the rules and regulations
of the War Department and appears
| to ignore unionism.
The President has not decided where
| he Will spend his vacation, but he
wants TO 20 up into the northwest and
is making preparations to do so. He
| has been to Colorado and Kansas and
us far us Minneapolis, where he at
tended the Republican convention In
1892, and, like Caesar. thrice refused Z
crown. But he is anxious to see the
| wheat farms of the Dakotas and wit
ness for himself the progress that has
been made in Montana, Washington
and Oregon and visit the Yellowstone
park.
The six protected cruisers author
lied for the new American navy, of
which the Denver is one, will have no
superior as lighting machines. The de-
tails of the construction Of these
swift. capacious, tire-proof fighting
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
sheathng of the hull. The steel plates
of the hull will be covered with thin
plankinc. which will be sheathed with
copper. This will prevent the fOuling
| VI Tue bbttDilis. anu VIII pItSeINc tuS
speed of vessels. Each ship will have
n bunker capacity of 700 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 II the ships are
in shallow waters, as on the Asiatic
| station.
The State Department has made pub
lie an official abstract of the report Of
the Nicaraguan canal commission as
presented by Admiral Walker, the
head of the commission. The report
says that the surveys have in general
revealed better physical conditions
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 We're 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 at Sault Ste.
Marie were taken and 33 per cent. was
added for the difference of location
After giving due weight to all the ele-
mcnts of this important question, and
with an earnest desire to reach logical
conclusions based upon substantial
Il n..lt
canal can be built across the isthmus
| on this route for not exceeding S11S,-
1890.
1t is very gratifying to the friends of
| Sir Julian Paunccfote 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 an honor has
been conferred upon Sir Julian. The
regulations of the British diplomatic
service require the retirement of min
lister or ambassador M the age of 40
years, and orders We're issued for the
appointment of Sir Edward Sanderson
! as successor to Sir Julian when he |
reached his 10th birthday, a year ago
last spring. But, owing 10 the COM
plicatcd questions in controversy be-
tween the United States and Canada |
and the impending war between this |
government and Spain. it was decided
to waive the regulations and allow Sir |
Julian to remain in Washington anoth- |
er year. That order has been repeated |
and his term of service has been again |
extended twelve months to enable him |
to represent her majesty's government |
at the peace conference at The Hague.
Sir Julian is now more than II years |
old He expects to return to Washing
ton next fall and remain there during |
the winter. but next spring. when he |
passes the age of 70. he cannot expect
any further consideration from his
government. 1t Is said that there is
only one precedent in diplomatic his