The silver star., 1899-06-09
WASHINGTON GOSSIP
AND DEPARTMENT NEWS.

The most expensive hat on record
cost $1.Jpo in gold. and was presented
I TO General Grant while in Mexico IN
1852 IL Is now on exhibition in the
National Museum at Washington
perhaps the finest Mexican sombrcro
/ that was ever made.
The United States embassy at Brus-
seis has reported to the State Depart
mcnt that the government has, by de
I cree issued on the 2sth instant. rescind-
cd the inJerdiction upon the importa-
tion OF American cattle. The decree
took effect May 3Ist. The State De
partmenf 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
nent arsenal at Rock Island, Illinois.
the department holding that petitions
may be presented by the men TO their
commnndant individually or by some
one or more of such employees who
may be selected to represent them. bu,
not by representations other than from
I 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 viii spend his vacation. but he
wants TO go up into the northwest ana
is making preparations TO do so. lie
has been to Colorado and Kansas ana
as far as Minneapolis, where lie at
tended the Republican convention IN
1872. and. like Caesar. thrice refused
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. VIII have no
superior as fighting machines. The de-
| tails of the construction of these
swift. capacious. fire-proof fighting
machines have just been decided up
ON by the naval experts. The act of
authorization specifics ships of 200
tons displacement. They will be abso-
lutely fire-proof. an essential in mod
crn warefare. Another feature which
will make the ships unique is the
!
| of the hull will be covered with thin
planking. which will be sheathed with
copper. This will prevent the fouling
of the lotions. and will preserve the
speed of vessels. Each ship will have
a bunker capacity of 100 tons. an item
which means n great deal in time Of
war. The speed of the ships will be
sixteen aud one-half knots. The
draugbt will he eighteen and one-haif
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.
The State Department has made pub
| lie an official abstract of the report Of
| the Nicnraguan 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 We're hitherto supposed to exist.
especially as TO the amount of rock in
the upper river. whereby II 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,
We're taken. TO these prices certain
! percentages We're added for the differ
cncc 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 35 per cent. was
added for the difference of location.
| Il t,slt tn. all sla
ments of this important question. and
with an earnest desire to reach logical
conclusions based upon substantial
facts. the commission believes that a
| canal can he built across the isthmtis
on this route for not exceeding $l1S,-
1890.
II is very gratifying TO tho friends OF
Sir Julian Pauncefoie to learn thnt his
term of service ns ambassador OF her
British majesty nj Washington has
been extended another year. This IL
the second time such an honor has
been conferred upon Sir Julian. The
regulations Of the British diplomatic
service require the retirement of n min
lister or ambassador NJ the age Of 20
years. and orders were Issyicd for the
appointment OF Sir Edward Sandcrson
ms successor to Sir Julian when he
reached his roth birthday. IA year agO
last spring. But. owing ,o the com.
plIcntcd questions In controversy be-
tween the United States and Cnnndn
and the impending war between this
government and Spain. II was decided
TO waive the regulations and all0w Sir
JulInn to remnin In Washington nnOth.
cr ycnr That order ins been repeated
and his term OF service Inns been ngnln
extended twelve months tO enable him
to represent her mnJcsty's government
nj the pence conference nj The Hnguc.
Sir Julinn II now more thnn n years
old. He expects 10 return to Washing.
ton next fnil and remain there during
the winter. hut next spring. when he
pnsscs the ngc ~ ~. he cannot expect
amy further consideration from hIs
government. II In snid TINT there In
only one precedent In diplomatic his.
tory for tho honor tint hns been con.
| forrpt1 tiilnn him.