Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-01
WASHINGTON ITEMS.
MUCH ALARM ON ACCOUNT OF HAM,
TON YELLOW-FEvER.
THE STATUS OF GENERAL NILES.
Some Doubt ms to Whether IL VIII
he Altered Under Secretary Root
Corbin to lie Reckoned With-fer-
sonnl Notes.

WASHINGTON, d. c.. July a.-(Spe-
ciaI.)-Oficial advices received at the Ma
rine Hospital service headquarters con-
firm the news of the outbreak of yellow
fever at the Soldiers Home at Hampton.
The announcement caused much alarm
In this city. owing 20 the numerous eX-
cursions which have been made TO Old
Point In the past few weeks. 1t is feared
that persons who have recently visited
the home may have carried the disease TO
various parts of the country. The alarm
caused a conference Of the Secretary of
War, Assistant Secretary Of War, Sur
geon-GeneraI WyInan, of the Marine Hos
pital service, and surgeon-General Stern
berg, OF the army. orders were sent In
all directions requiring precautions to be
taken 10 prevent q spread Of the disease.
Fears are entertained that the malady
may have effected a Judgement in this
city, whose regular line of Norfolk and
Washington steamers have conveyed
many visitors to and from the home re-
Gently. The authorities here. however,
are preparing to adopt the most stringent
rules against the spread Of the disease,
should it make its appearance here.
Officials here are at a loss TO account
for the Roadway which the fever had
gained before a report was made. The
first intelligence of it was received here
at the Marine Hospital office at o'clock
last night. 1t is supposed to have been
brought there by an inmate of the home
who returned recently from Santiago with
what was supposed 10 be dengue-fever
This is said to be seldom fatal, and is not
considered infectious. The additional
cases were supposed to be malarial. but
when four deaths occurred an autopsy
was held and the physicians decided that
it was yellow-fever.
MILESS STATUS.
At the War Department. and in official
circles generally, the position Of Major
General Niles when the new Secretary Of
war takes charge is the general topic
or discussion. According TO some authOri-
ties. ms status will not be materially
changed, and II some close friends OF
the administration are to be believed
the outlook for the commanding general
is not so rosy as It appeared a few days
ago. There may be, IL is cOntended and
there doubtless is, every disposition on
the part Of Mr.. Elihu Root to allow Cen
eral Miles a fair chance 10 be heard i'm
the administration Of purely military
matters. but they row say IL will take
congressional action and a general up
heaval among the officials of the depart
ment. before the general commanding is
permitted 10 exercise the proper func-
tons of his position. 1t is said that Ager
was not the only enemy Miles had in the
War Department, nor was he the most
powerful. As is well known, after the
rumpus during the war with Spain. Miles
and army headquarters were ignored, and
Miles was made a mere fgurehead Cor
bin. the Adjutant-Gencral became the
power. and army affairs were conlIcted
by him without regard to Allies. II has
now transpired that Corbin antagonized
Niles more vindictively than even Alger
did. and that he lost no opportunity to
make himself useful 10 and an adviser Of
the Presidents. He took long walks and
had long talks with Mr.. Mckinley. His
ambition was to be the handspring of all
military affairs and this even led TO some
feeling between himself and Alger. AS
the story now goes, IL is limited that Cor
bin secretly encouraged the agitation
which eliminated in the resignation of
Alger.
CORBIN THE HIGH MUCK-A-MUCK.
1t is certain. beyond any doubt, that
Corbin exercises more power than any
previous Adjutant-General ever possess
ed. Both the war in Cuba, and that in the
Philippines, have been practically con-
Quoted by him. He has been military adj
wiser 10 both the Secretary Of War and
the President; and. as officers of high
rank admit, has usurpcd the functions Of
the general commanding the army, who
is supposed 10 be the Presidents chief
of-staff.
Corbin cordially hates Miles, and Off
GERS question whether or not the new
War Secretary will be able TO harmonic
the conflicting elements in his depart
ment 1t is said that should Miles demand
of the new Secretary a clear and unmis-
taxable statement Of his position, it re
mains to be seen whether Mr.. Roots
sense Of justice will be able to cope with
the Corbin influence with the President.
Whatever rights Miles has are ignored,
and the question among officials is, Will
they be restored?
EXPLOITATION OF FLOUR.
The miners of the United States, like
its manufacturers generally, have made
their banner record in the fiscal year 1889.
While wheat, corn, oats, cornmeal, oat-
meal, rye, and, in fact, all lines OF bread
stufls, show a reduction in expectation,
by reason Of the decreased demand
abroad, flour alone shows an increase.
and not only does ii show an increase,
but this increase reaches the highest
point in the history of flour expectation.
For the fiscal year the total expectation
of flour is over 100000 barrels, repre-
senting over 100000 bushels OF wheat,
while no preceding year in the history OF
our expectations shows as great an OK
portation Of -four.
IRON-ORE PRODUCTION.
The report Of the Geological Survey on
the production of irOn-ore for the year
1898 has been completed by Speclal-Agent
John Birkinbine. The year recorded the
maximum irOn-ore production for the
United States. a total Of 17,Z7S,369 long
tons. This was 1,76O.S23 long tons, or ~
per cent. in excess OF the previous maxi
mum OF 11,5lS0l6 long tons, produced III
1897.
This is also a greater amount than has
been mined by any other country in one
year, being over one and a quarter mil
lions tons above the total recorded Tor
Great Britain in 1880 when lS,O26,O49 long
tons were mined. The ores OF the British
Isles also average lower percentages of