The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-08-25
TO CLOSE THE POS|NH|CE
Result of White-Cap.
ping at Peck. Fla.
HOW TO PREVENT FROST


tion as to simple Methods for Pro.
tectIng Crops Against Frost The
Porto Rican Battalion "a Part Of
the American Army Declared u Sue.
cess-To Rush all Volunteers To the
Philippines
Washington, August 23.-The as
sault Of the whitecappers at Peck, Fla,
on the postmaster there probably will
result il the discontinuance of the
postoffice. Postmaster W. c. Crum,
and National Committeeman Long,
have both advised it, and Crum, In a let
ter in which he says he accepted the
office because no one else there could
qualify for it and that those making
the trouble rarely use the mails. has
asked to be relieved Immediately. Post
master Crun says the stamp cancella-
tlons on which the salary is based
amounted to $2.77 last month and 20
cents for the first five days this month.
He has never spent one continuous day
at the Office, he says, as he lives at
Tampa, and he employed assistants.
Postmaster General Smith today Or
dered a postofice inspector detailed
from the Chattanooga headquarters to
proceed Immediately to Peck, investi-
gate and report the situation. He said
if the account of the whitecapping as
published is confirmed he will take
prompt and decisive action. This
| means disseminating the postoffice.
| As means of furnishing in popular
form the necessary information in re-
| lation to methods of protecting crops
from frost, the United States depart
ment OF agriculture has had prepared
and will soon issue farmers bulletin
No. 104, entitled Notes on Frost"
| This bulletin was prepared by E. B.
| Garriott, professor of meteorology at
| the weather bureau and defines frost
| and the conditions which favor its for
nation and states the methods of pro-
lection which have been found practi-
cal by actual experiments. The bulle-
| tin says that experiments and 'observa-
| tions seem to establish the following
| facts: The danger Of damage from
! frost can be materially lessened by
| placing early and tender plants on
| high grounds and crests, and harder
: plants in low grounds and hollows.
| When ground can be selected in the
| lee, or to the south and east Of con-
! siderable bodies of water, the danger
! will be further lessened. In the
dry climate of the citrus fru:. re-
/ gion of California and in the promising
!; fruit districts of Arizona, small and
numerous fires, preferably of coal burn
ers in iron baskets, have been found
to be the most effective device used
for protection against frosts; second
/ in point of utility may be placed irri-
! cation; and the practical process which
! affords the least protection in that re-
/ spect appears to be smudge fires. In
| the orange growing districts of the
| south irrigation affords the most effec-
tive protection against frost, while in
sections where this process cannot be
| employed damp smudge fires properly
/, handled are best adapted to general
/ use.
ENLISTING WEST INDIANS IN THE
! ARMY.
According to recent adviceS received
at the war department, the experiment
of enlisting natives of the West Indies
into the American army has proved
quite successful in the case OF the Por-
to Rican battalion of United States
volunteers, which body completed its
organization a few weeks ago. This
battalion is commanded by Major L.
P Davidson, and is the only one OF its
kind in the army.
Lieutenant BRAND, who is the bat
talon adjutant, has written a letter to
Major Johnson, of the adjutant gener-
ais Office, speaking in high praise Oh
the composition Of the battalion. He
says that the Porto Rican soldiers are
fine lot of men, obedient and willing
to learn; they take great pride in beins
soldiers Of the United States army ana
always dress very clean and neat. Hi,
| opinion is that Porto Rican soldiers
oficered by Americans will be sue
cess and a valuable addition TO tn
United States army.
To RUSH THE TROOPS TO MANILA
Secretary of War Roo. today return
ed to the city from his visit to tn
president at Lake Champlain. Durin,
the evening he spent some time wit
General Corbin, and Acting Secretar.
Meiklejohn.
!, ! That the campaign in the Philippine
. is to be pushed vigorously and prompt
ly is evident from a remark the sec
retary made to the reporters. He wa
! determined, he said, that every maj
belonging to the twenty regiments o
=. volunteers now being recruited shal
) eat his Christmas dinner in that coun
: try. This contradicts the published re
port that ten Of these regiments wer
to be held in the United States as a re
serve force.
Regarding the reports ihA, Genera
Wesley Merritt, who has also ceen a
: at Lake Champlain in conference wit
the president and the secretary, Is t
: succeed General Otis in command o
the troops in the Philippines, Secre
tary Root was ncn-committal. He de
cIined to make any positive statemen
N regard to the subject.