The Elbert County tribune., 1900-06-21
Tus nATrontL CAPITAL.

Secondary of the Navy Long has
made tbe last change in the battleship
circular which he will probably issue
To sbjpbuIlders. Five identical ships
will b, called for. The first three
ships have been named the Pennsyl,
yania, New Jersey and Georgia. anu
the names Virginia and Washington
are proposed for the others.
Postmaster General Smith went 10
the White House Saturday for con-
suItation with the President before
leaving for Philadelphia. The draft
of the platform prepared by MIN was
submitted to Mr.. Mckinley. The con-
ference lasted almost three-quarters OF
an hour. Mr.. Smith then left for
Philadelphia.
The Court of Land Claims has Off
cially decided that Rear Admiral Samp-
son was in command of the fleet at
Santiago battle and that Admiral
Schley was In command of division
of the fleet Also the cruiser New
York, the flagship of the squadron, was
in the fight. This will give Sampson
and the crew of the New York share
of the prize money.
The following dispatch was received
at the State Department Tuesday:
"Chin Kiang, June 12.-Secretary oi
State: Large numbers natives organ
lied secret society. halted here. People
very apprehensive. No protection.
Want cruiser Martin" Mr.. Martin Is
the consul at Chin Kiang, and his tel
egram is the first news received mere
to indicate the spread of the Boxer ag-
itation in that section of China. Chln
Kiang Is one of the most important
treaty ports in China. 1t is about 10
miles from Shanghai.
The opening of the Fort Hall reser-
walton in Idaho to settlers Is regard
ed by western business men in wash
ington as the beginning of new era
for western investors. 1t is believed
that the opening OF this reservation
will be OF incalculable service to the
states bordering upon idaho and that
all mining states, as well as Colorado
Utah, Wyoming and Montana, must
reap richly from the opening of this
reservation, which, 1t Is believed
marks the beginning of new legislation
for the arid and semi-arid states.
The Navy Department will advertise
for proposals for supplying face-har-
dened armor of the best type for battle
ships now building, for the protected
cruisers already authorized and for
the three battle ships provided for in
the new naval appropriation bill. Hav-
ing been assured that much better
terms could be extended by the armor
companies If the contracts were for
large amounts of armor, the depart
ment will test this by providing In the
advertisements for the submission of
bids of three classes, namely. for sup
plying 10000 tons of armor; then for
10000 tons, and finally for supplying
/ will ~ fnr Snnratu "a .
Long to determine II the figure is rea-
sonable. If not, he must build an ar
NOR plant.
In addition to changes already an
nounced by the postoffice department
1t is said that n number of other i'm
provements will be in effect during the
next fiscal year. The increased appro-
priation. 1t is said, will enable many
more clerks to take the fifteen days
leave of absence contemplated by law
and an emergency fund will be placed
at the disposal of first-class officers
for extra assistance during the holi-
days and other times when there is n
large increase of business. The post
Office officials have strong hopes that
IL conditions continue to improve it
will be feasible to limit working hours
throughout the service to eight hours Il
uay. bttlhhinB WIN Nht year, ,
July /, 1902.
The remarkable increase in coal i'm
| portations from the United States,
coupled with the fact that we became
in 1899 the worlds largest producer of
coal. gives special interest to an elab-
crate discussion of the worlds coal
product, published by the bureau of
statistics of the Treasury Department
in the April number of the Monthly
Summary of Commerce and Finance.
Expectations of coal from the United
States In the ten months ending with
April We're nearly fifty per cent. larger
than those of the corresponding
months of 1898, while our total produc-
ton for 1898 was not only the largest
in our history but larger than that of
any other country in the world. For
the first time the United States figures
show n larger production than the
British figures for the same period.
Lieutenant Commander ]. C. Colwell
just relieved as American naval at
tache in London, is under investlga
ton for failure to obey orders of the
Navy Department. A court of in
quiry is sitting for this purpose Al
Washington. Lieutenant Commander
Colwell received orders to report on d
certain date in the United States pre-
liminary to going to the Philippines
He failed to report. and sent an explain
alton that his condition was such. in
consequence of an operation. that Il
was inadvisable for him to travel Il
Is alleged that he subsequently PLACED
himself under medical treatment in or
der to Justify his explanation. TIL,
department believes Colwell had triet
to evade his orders, so as to remaiI
N mo 10,
pected to submit its findings in few
days.
The Navy Department has decided IL
establish II coaling station of the sec
Ond class Mt San Diego, California
This decision has been reached upou ;
report from Captain Field of the Ran
ger. announcing the results of n sur
vey of the harbor at that place recent
ly made by him. The report state.
that the minimum depth of water owe
the bar at low tide is twenty-one fee
and the tidal rise amounts to about fiv,
feet, SO there Is sufficient water 70
naval vessels of the smaller type. Fur
ther, the report states that 1t is entirel,
possible to coal the larest naval shin
in the bay to the east of the harbo
entrance. The War Department
which owns the large tract of land {.
the westward of the harDor entrance
also has agreed to give the Navy De
partment sufficient ground for the sta
ton just above Ballast Point, and n
soon as Captain Field has definitely 10
Gated the tract desired, the reservntio,
Will be announced.
Baron Hermann, agricultural exper
- Of the German embassy, has studie,
the meat inspection bill recently passe,
by the Reichstag. and says: THE ney
law will require two separate inspec