The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-23
THE OLD SHERMAN
PROPERTY SOLD.
VIII Be Divided Up Into Lots for
Building Purposes.
THE STATESMAN VERY FEEBLE.
New Device for Protcctin. the Whit,
House from Fire - Government
Has Hard Time Getting prac-
tical Men to Fill Jobs.
Especial Dispatch to Tho Times,

Especial Dispatch TO Tho Tmes.)
WASHINGTON. D. c.. Sept. 22-News
from Mansfield Ohio. IS to the effect thai
chat city can no longer claim the Hon.
John Sherman as citizen. Mr.. Sherman,
accompanied by his daughter. Mrs. j. l..
NcCala,ln. her two children, and DR.
Loughridge, have left Mansfield for this
city, not 10 return. Mr.. Sherman IS in
feeble health. The splendid Sherman pro-
perry In Park Avenue wsst as to be
divided into lots and sold The old Sher-
man home Will also pass into the hands of
strangers.
Mansfield was long the home OF the
venerable statesman, VINO as an humble
law student entered on his political career
an that city. When Mansfield was yet
village Ar. Sherman purchased eighty
acres OF land on its outskirts for 500 an
GcFe. Eighteen or twenty years ago he
gave q number Of acres for park purposes.
The balance Of the land, which Is not in
the best residence part of Mansfield, is
occupied by the Sherman home
Life long friends and near relatives who
called at the Sherman residence after
Mrs. Sherman died were not recognized
by the former Senator. He was so feeble
that It was not deemed advisable 20 inform
1sIu u GEddi Oh HIS SiS.tt5 WIZ
occurred recently at Lancaster. Ohio.
Nr. Sherman a farewell reception. but
st was abandoned On account of his feeble
condition
PROTECTING THE WHITE HOUSE.
Colonel Bingham. the engineer officer in
charge Of public buildings and grounds in
Ibis city. as matter of extreme precau-
ton has placed an automatic fire alarm
system in the attic of the White House.
with connections Ito the street fire alarm
box and warning signals to the front door.
The system consists OF three standard
thermometers with electrical contracts
one at the east and one al the west end
and one under the floor n the center
of the room. The connections are SO
arranged that notice Will be given when
the temperature has Reached 125 degrees
Fahrenhe.f. ana il it continues to rise
Will. when reaching i95 degrees, auto
unatically spring the street box and bring
the fire department ait once ITO the scene.
One of the many provisions made by
Congress last session was for the sub
stitutton of electricity for steam as the
motive power of the elevator at the
Washington rnnnument- For this purpose
an appropriation of S26.5eo was made,
OF which 100000 was for a dynamo and
an addition 10 the boiler house at the
monument. The change, however, is
being attended with some delay. Bids
were invited and opened for the dynamo
and connections by Col. Bingham. the
engineer officer in charge of public build
ings and grounds. AS they were all in
excess Of The appropriation, they were
rejected. New bids will be invited and II
is h0psd they VIII be OF a figure to permit
4,
as tie approved project contemplates the
erection of the proposed addition to the
bo!ler-aeuse by hired labor there will be
no delay in that work. The material for
ihat bulicius will be purchased by cons
tract Work has already begun on the
proposed addition and it will be pushed to
completion.
PLENTY OF JOBS.
The general prosperity of the country is
undoubtedly shown by the difficulty which
lie United States Civil Service Commits
sion is having in obtaining eligibles I'd fill
places in the public service requiring tech
nical knowledge and practical exp rience.
Never before in the history OF the Commits
sion has Sd muei effort been made to
advertise the need of the Government for
people 10 lake examinations to qualify
them 10 be eligible for appointment This
advertising has been resorted to for the
reason thai there has been a lack of appli-
oants for many Government places which
the Commission is called upon To fill.
During the last year ships craftsmen,
electrical engineers and mechanical drafts
men among Others, have been difficult to
get and when they are obtained. in many
Instances, has been more difficult to re-
tain taem. because of the o.fer of better
salaries they have had from outside the
Government service. Never before the last
tNnE.
examinations to fill this class of vacancies
in the service. which is another evidence
OF the difficulty experienced in keeping tae
service properly supplied with men hay
ing those needed qualifications
Within q few months a ships craftsman
has BEEN taken from the Government
service and given salary double that he
was receiving Others have been taken from
tf,az Government at increased pay
Assistant examiners in the Patent Of
fee have hardly been supplied during the
last year on the requisitian of the Commits
siener OF fatcnts. There are many places
In all the departments that have been kept
barely filled during the last couple of
years.
The Commission now requires not only
technical knowledge, but practical expari-
ersce, the latter usually of FIVE years. This
last requirement, while 1t has raised The
grace OF efnaleSes winch the Government
gets, has undoubtedly been an element in
increasing the difficulty the Commission
has experienced in getting eligibles. as it
has eliminated that large class of Young
mcn who. fresh from a technical schoo2. for
merly entered the examinations and fire.
qcentiy carried off the prizes. when prac-
teal men failed to get appointments. The
Importance of practical experience mas
been male prominent in the examinations
during the last four years. and ii has been
Very generally commended throughout the
service.