Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1899-04-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Governments Possession Of Arlfngton-
Orange Trees For the North.
Capital Notes.
Especial Correspondence

out any compensation TO the Lee fami-
ly. This is not at all true. In January,
1854, when Arlington was occupied by
Federal troops, the estate was sold 10
the United States for taxes, the bid be-
ing $50, 100. In May following burials
Of Union soldiers began there and a ma
tional cemetery was established
General Robert E. Lee was not the
real owner of the property, but only
the life tenant. In 1888 a decision of
the supreme court was made that the
tax title in the United States was not
valid, and. accordingly. congress appro-
priated $3.50, 900, which was paid to
George Washington Gusts Lee, son of
General Robert K. Lee and grandson of
George Washington Parke GUSTS, the
adopted son of George Washington, who
built Arlington House and established
the estate in which the National ceme-
etery now stands In this way the
United States became possessed of
perfect title, and the Lee family was
paid more than the full value of the es-
tate.
1t was at Arlington that General
Robert e. Lee wrote his letter of resig-
nation from the army, and now the
sons of the men he led In the Confed-
eracy are to be laid at rest within sight
of the old manor house, thus completing
the union of the sections which were
separated when he left Washington for
Richmond.
Orange Trees For the North.
An orange tree that will grow and
bear fruit as far north as st. Louis and
Philadelphia is promised by the officials
of the agricultural department. The
destruction of orange crops and groves
in recent years through frosts in north
ern Florida directed the attention of
Secretary Wilson to a search for some
measure of relief for the owners who
have been suffering financial loss. He
has been experimenting the crossing Of
the Florida orange and the japanese
trifoliata, hardy variety of fruit and
now has several thousand of the by brid
plants, which will be set out during
the present spring. The experts believe
that the new orange will survive frost
and moderate amount of cold and are
confident that the experiment will re-
suit in producing trees in which the ex-
cellence of the Florida orange will be
combined with the hardness of the
japanese plant. If the experiment sue
ceeds, the department will materially as
sist in reviving the orange industry,
not only in Florida, but in other southern
states, and will at the same time assure
the orange eaters of an unfailing supply.
Sites For Pubic Buildings.
Supervising Architect Taylor of the
treasury anticipates lively time when
bids are opened for the sites of the pub
lie buildings which were authorized by
congress. The competition for selling
sites to the government is SO fierce that
it frequently engenders bitter feeling
on the part of those who have ground
for sale. AS soon as the bids are open
delegations from the different towns in
favor of certain sites begin to harass
the supervising architect and show
many reasons why other sites should
not be purchased. Claims Of defective
titles are made. and congressional infiu-
ence is brought to bear to secure the
purchase of certain plats of ground.
The situation usually becomes so mixed
that an inspector from the treasury is
sent out to decide the question, and in
many instances the supervising archi-
tect himself is compelled to go.
Notes From the Capital.
The president has signed an order
transferring to the surgeon general of
the marine hospital service about TO-,
900 acres, with the present buildings,
at the old Fort Stanton military reser-
walton in Lincoln county, N. NJ, so
miles east of Laguna station, on the
Santa Fe railroad, for the establishment
of hospital for consumptives in the
army, navy or marine corps, revenue
marine and other branches of the serv-
| ice. Surgeon General Wyman has been
striving for several years to secure the
use of the reservation and will estab-
| lish a sanitarium, open to all sufferers
from consumption, if possible, as he be-
lieves that disease can be cured in that
climate.
Director of the Mint Roberts said re-
Gently that no decision had been reached
in regard to the design of the Lafayette
coins. The heads Of Lafayette and
Washington are now under considera-
ton, and an engraver at the Philadel-
phia mint is at work on the designs.
When these are completed, probably
one of them will be chosen, but it will
be six months before decision is
reached. Already there is demand for
the souvenir coins, and Director Rob-
erts is in receipt of many letters from
coin collectors, who want to be sure
they will get at least one of them when
the distribution begins.
G.. Trentanove, the sculptor who
came into prominence because of the
fight against placing the statue he made
of Father Marquette in statuary hall
at the capitol, was at the White House
recently. He had conference with the
president in reference to the unwilling
of the statue of Daniel Webster which
he has just finished and which will be
erected in Scott circle. The date of
the exercises will be agreed on in few
days, and it will be in the early part Of
| Nav The president uromised to no