Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1900-11-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Chance For Our Melons and Toma-
toes-Size of New Congress-No
More Models Loaned.
Especial Correspondence

tnefe mas Deen large ana rapidly
growing importation of tomatoes"
writes Consul Hanauer at Frankfort,
Germany, "the Canary islands furnish
ing the supply, which importation
amounted to 16,3S9 tons during the
first half Of this year. The wholesale
price of this quantity was about ST.
655,000.
Tomatoes were but short time ago
an article Of luxury in Great Britain,
only used for the pampered palates OF
the rich, but now they have become
common dish on the table of the work
ing classes.
In Germany fresh tomatoes are sold
at 6 to IA cents a pound, according to
season. They are chiefly used to flavor
meats, not stewed. Only the best hO-
tells and the wealthy buy fresh toma-
toes, which are supplied mainly by
southern France. Canned tomato pulp
is found at the groceries Of large Ger
man cities, offered at a lower price
comparatively than the fresh fruit
"Cantaloupes are a great delicacy-
even more so than the pineapple-in
German cities. They sell at so cents
to $1.50 apiece. Some of these are
| brought from Spain; others are raised
in German hothouses. Considering
! that tomatoes have been sold as low
| as So a ton in Delaware and New Jer-
sey and that fine cantaloupes can be
bought in Philadelphia at l to cents
apiece, the question arises, Why don't
we export fresh vegetables to Europe?
1.-THE growers Of our Atlantic states
should form an export association
which-if it will send out men Of mer-
! camille ability who can speak German
and French-would find the European
! continent as well as England an eX-
cellent market for their produce. No
] country could compete with us in the
export of agricultural and industrial
products We're we to adopt the mer-
camille methods Of European traders"
! Size of New Congress.
! What will be the effect of the new
census upon the size and make up OF
the house of representatives? Now
that the census figures are being round
ed up in way to give some idea of the
increase which may be expected there
is naturally good deal of speculation
In Washington over it's effect upon the
popular branch of congress. 1t is Of
course too early to determine what
states will lose representatives and
what states will gain, for the returns
so far compiled are entirely those Of
cities and give little indication of the
percentage of growth in the different
states. Not until the figures are all in
will it be possible to determine wheth-
er the rural population shows increase
or decrease. In some sections the trend
toward the cities has been so great that
the country population has fallen off,
but in others there has been steady
increase in both directions.
Under the census of 1890 the states
and territories having representation
in congress, which includes all except
Alaska and Indian Territory, had q
population of 62, ,622, ,250. Under the
apportionment based upon these fig
ures made in 1898 and which lasts un-
til 1903 there are 356 members Of the
house. The ratio of apportionment un-
der the eleventh census was 173,901.
No More Models Loaned.
The navy department has adopted a
rule that none of the costly models Of
its ships shall be loaned for public ex-
hibition. 1t is doubtful if the new rule
will be adhered to, although there is a
good deal of reason why the models
should be kept in Washington and not
transported all over the country to
form exhibits at expositions.
Rear Admiral Hichborn says the
models were not built for rough han
ding and that every trip on which they
are sent means the expenditure of con-
siderable money for repairs.
All but one of the models were sent
to Paris, and owing to the careless I'M
loading Of the cases in which they were
packed it was found that great in
jury had been done the miniature
ships. A naval constructor who hap
pened to be ON duty in London was
sent to Paris, and expert workmen
were employed to make good the dam
age.
J 1t cost the government nearly ,OOO
to put the models in good condition.
This incensed the naval officials so
that they decided that hereafter none
of the models should leave the navy
department corridors, where they are
exhibited under glass.
Rlectrfcity For the Monument.
The substitution of electricity for
steam as the motive power of the ele-
yator at the Washington monument,
which change was provided for by