Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-09-08
WASHINGTON LETTER


A. r.. encampment in Philadelphia.
More than the usual interest is felt
in Washington in this encampment,
because it is known that the report OF
the G. A. r. Committee which inves-
tigated the Pension Office, sometime
AGO. will be submitted. 1t is not abso-
lutely known whether that report will
favor the methods of Pension Com
missioner Evans or censure them, AL
though it is believed that it will be
favorable. But whatever the nature OF
the report may be, there are good
reasons for the belief that the Presl-
dent stands behind Commissioner
Evans, and that if there is any dlSpo'
sition shown at the encampment to
make fight upon him, that the Pres
dents influence will be used to pre-
vent il. or to defeat it if it is made.
1t is well-known in Washington that
Commissioner Evans has carriedout
the Presidents wishes i'll his admin
istration of the Pension Office.
There is a marked difference i'll the
tone of reports, now in the war De-
partment, made by Gems. Fitzhugh
Lee and Leonard Wool. Gen. Lee
appears to think that it il plain sailing
too right ahead with elections, not
only for municipal officials but for the
establishment Of Cuba republic, just
as soon as the Cuban Census is finish
cd. while Gen. Wood expresses the
opinion that it will be necessary &c
keep up our military government OF
Cuba for long time to come, and
intmalcs rather strongly that the
Cubans are incapable of self govern
ment. IT two such intelligent mer
who are on the ground and who have
exceptional opportunities to gain in
formation, take such widely differen'
views of the situation, it is not sur
prlsing that there should be differ
ences of opinion among our own PEG
pie ut home. Gen. Wood thinks thu
province of Santiago, which he com
mands. offers unusual inducement
tor settlers. He says large portion
of the Province consists cf publ
lands, most Of which has never eyel
been surveyed, the Spaniards having
bad no general system Of selling pub
lie NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and permits t.
cut timber have from time to tim
been issued, both by the >panis
authorities and by the municipal an
thoritics. lie thinks one of the in
mediate necessities is complete SUI
vey, and system ofdisposing OF pull
Inc land 10 actual settlers. In add
ton, his report says: "Taken as
whole, the Province of Santiago pre-
scnts wonderful opportunities Tor ii
dustrious Americans. know of NJ
portion of our own country from
which such great returns can he ex-
pected in 50 short a time, provided
stable government exists. ASIDE
from the seaport towns, many o
which have been infected with yellow
fever, the coantry is healthy, sun
stroke is unknown; heat prostratloI
is rare
The annual report of the Commits
sioner of Pensions, just submitted
predicts an increase in the pensiCt
rolls for the current fiscal year, on nc
count of the war with Spain; recon-
mends the repeal of the law granting
arrears ofpersions to'sOldiers' widows
expresses satisfaction with the worl
done during the year, and hits tn
schemes for bleeding the colored PEG
pie, under the pretense OF securing
legislation to pension ex-slaYes blow
from the shoulder.
The L. 5. Consul at Dawson Cit,
continues his warning to poor men t
stly away from the Klondike region
In his last report to the Department
of State, just received, he said; 81
has been proven this winter that only
very rich mines can be worked at ;
profit, without machinery, on account
of the high price of labor and victuals
Hydraulic mining will soon have to
be adopted in this country. The op
portunity is now open for capitalist
to buy claims to operate with mach
inery, which will yield rich returns
for the money invested. The poo
mans chances, so far as this country
is concerned, are gone. In Alask;
many opportunities are still open t'
man of grit and perseverance,
According to a statement just is
sued by the Bureau Of Statistics, We
are making greater trade progress IN
the Orient, than we are making in
markets much nearer home, and
which should naturally belong to us
During last year, we furnished ~
per cent of the imports into Canada,
40 per cent ofthose in Mexico,37 per
cent of Central American imports,