Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-11-16

In the next Congress there will be .
large appropriation for rural free deliv-
cry. The report of Perry Heath shows
that rural free delivery Is a success, al
though the appropriation still limits 1t -
the experimental stage. 1t has been dem
onstrated that the average cost to the
population served in the whole country b
only "a cents per capita annually, where
as In cities Of only 5000 having free de-
livery the cost is at least 81 80 annually
for each inhabitant- 1t has been proved
that where the roads are fairly good, the
houses near together, and the population
reasonably intelligent letters can and
should be delivered and collected at thu
farm cross roads. The reports Of the sue
cess of the system on selected routes are
almost invariably enthusiastic, and 1t IN
believed Congress will appropriate at
least 81, OO0, 900 for the extension Of the
service to the farmers. 1t has resulted In
an increase of the circulation Of both
daily and weekly papers, while there has
been an immediate addition to the general
postal revenues. Farmers receive and
write more letters when they can have
them delivered and collected. As fast
as the money Is provided new routes will
be laid out. On July the routes extend
ed over $3.50 miles, covered an area Of
1867 square miles, served population Of
273,6O4, and had handled 9,212 1927 pieces
Of mail.
President Mckinley will probably out
line his Philippine policy, at least far
enough to ask Congress for a specific dec
laration as to the status of the islands.
The treaty Of peace ceded the Philippines
outright to the United States, but Con-
hoo .At oh to1 hon tnaa
much as the treaty was ratified by the
Senate alone, and the status of the ISL
ands has, therefore, never been fixed by
statute law. The President has assumed
that the United States can keep the ISL
ands, but he will report to Congress that,
while the situation does not justify now
the establishment of civil government,
il is necessary that the islands should be
formally annexed to the United States
by law, in general terms, so that the
President may proceed legally to defend
them.
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The national Government has decided
to go into the menagerie business on a
scale which will make the ordinary col
lection Of animals look lonesome by COM
Larison... The new rienagerie Will occupy
166 acres of land northwest Of Washing
ton. Circulars have been prepared and
sent out to the consular representatives
of the Government all over the world. in
structing them to purchase and forward
to Washington animals Of as many differ
ent species, indigenous to the countries
in which they are located, as possible. 1t
Is expected that Africa will contribute
the most specimens, among them the
gorilla, giraffe and chimpanzee. The ma
| fioual s.1anD will ha mai ufoipod N
nection with the Smithsonian Institution.
-
The Government is not concerned over
the claim made in the Spanish Senate
that two Of the Batanez group and he
island of Calayan were not included in
the transfer of the Philippines from
Spain to the United States through g-
norance on the part of the treaty makers.
The American commissioners gave the
! fullest consideration to the question
whether these islands would not be out
side the boundaries Of the archipelago
prescribed by the treaty, and it was final
" arranged, with the concurrence OF the
Spanish commissioners, that they should
be included within American jurisdiction,
even il the maps followed by the treaty
makers should prove to be defective.
-
Librarian Putnam Is doing work for
the Congressional Library which has long
been needed. or all libraries in the coun-
try that one should be most literally sup
piled with newspapers and periodicals
for use, not only by Congressman, but by
the public in a city where almost more
than any other the people should keep
abreast OF the times. And yet there has
been no place hitherto where the leading
newspapers could be consulted. Mr.. Put
nam is now equipping one Of the largest
halls in the new building as a newspaper
and periodical room, following the line
of the Boston public library, which has a
perfect system Of newspaper and periodi-
cal reference.
Large numbers OF immigrants suffering
with loathsome and dangerous diseases
are daily arriving in this country. Dur
ing the month of September alone fifty
one arrived in New York, forty-nine Of
whom were suffering with contagious and
incurable disease Of the eye. Thirty
Of these unfortunates were deported and
six are confined in a hospital and will he
sent out of the country as soon as able
to travel. Most OF the afflicted are from
the southern part Of Italy and are Rus
sian Jews, Italians and orientals Of va
rious types.
In 1885 the national debt of the United
States was only $37, 733--less than 10
owed by hundreds of men to-day. The
debt reaches its highest point on Aug.
81, 1865, when it was 1854, 049, 500.
The first refunding was that Of the revo-
lutionary debt, at 9 per cent. After the
war of 1912 the war loans were refund
ed at AZ per cent, while the enormous
debt incurred during the civil war has
been refunded several times at various
rates Of interest.
President Mckinley went home to vote.
He left with Mrs. Mckinley on Monday
In a private car over the Pennsylvania
road, going direct to Canton. Assistant
Secretary Corte.you and few others ac-
companied them.
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Checks amounting to 1921 900 were re
ceived by the United States treasurer
Wednesday in further part settlement Of
the Union Pacific railroads indebtedness
to the Government. 1t is expected that
further amount will be received within
short time.
News of Minor Note.