The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-10
Chat Of the Capital.
Washington Gossip. Politlc,l AMI
Otherwise, for the ReaierI
of the Globe.


WASHINGTON, D.s c., Jan 9-(spe-
cial Prank D. Hill, formerly of Mime
sofa, at present United States consul at
Amsterdam, sends the following interest
ing report to the state department re-
garding a grain elevator which has re-
Gently been erected by that city:
There has recently been completed
grain elevator in Amsterdam, the only
timber harbor; its length Is 125 meters (41O
feeD and Its width 80 meters Cos feet.
1t was built by. the city and leased for a
term of fifty-five years at 5000 forms
1900 a year to Messrs Korthal Altes.
For the building itself a space of 1900
meters Q,2lS FEED was reserved. The
capacity is from 5000 to 5000 lasts $4,000
! to $4,000 metric tons); the greater part
VIII be used for the storage Of grain in
silos; the ground floor alone, with a stor-
age capacity of 150O lasts 5000 tons), be-
seeds in bags.
Steam and sailing vessels will be dis /
charged as follows:
The cargo is weighed by hand and put
over the ships side in tipping buckets,
which deposit it on the travelling bands. 4
IT Is then brought to its place by me
port is calculated so as to insure an easy
transfer of all the grain, however fast it
may be discharged. A maximum capacity
or OF 10000 kilograms (44o,92o pounds, per
grain may, II necessary. be- discharged
simultaneously from the same vessel
Inc travelling bands run in q channel in
front Of the building up to its center,
where the grain is deposited trans
verse travellers that take it to the eleva-
tors. These work the grain up to the top
! Veyed to any chosen division by means of
silos.
/ The emptying of the silos, or bins, is
thus conducted: Below the conical bot
tom of the slos are shafts, through,
winch WI. the grain is transmitted to travel
ing bands running on the ground floor; it
| is again raised to the ton by elevators,
and thence may be carried off in any de-
| sired direction
If the object is merely to stir the grain,
II Is taken to one of the top travellers and
{ thrown into another Silo; but it may also
| be sent first through a shaft to the clean
ing or Weighing machine, and then up
again by means of a small elevator to
| ANOTHER siio or through a shaft.
me grain can be discharged at the side
| OF the harbor In wagons or lighters at the
per hour. For damaged grain silos are
! arranged in what are called hospital cells.
/ The state department has received from
Minister Loomis at Caracas a report rel
ative to the recent action of the Vene-
zuelan government in imposing a duty
Of ten bolivars (S1.93) per head on cattle
| exported In transmitting informa ton as
to the decree Minister LOOMS says
AS nearly all the cattle exported from
Venezuela go to Cuba or Puerto Rico the
matter Is OF some Importance to the Unit
ed states. 1t seems to me that steps
might be taken to send American cattle
to these markets; the demand in Cuba is
quite large. The cattle of this country
are of about the same breed as the Texas
longhorn, but not quite. so meaty; it is
any fat. I think that our cattle, If i'm
ported into Cuba for breeding purposes.
would improve the breed there.
Representative j. H. Southland, of the
Toledo district the new chairman of the
] coinage, weights and measures COM
| Eittee, believes that the time is ripe foe
| legislation adopting the metric system
| in the United States. Beginning next
| Thursday, he will hold hearings in his
! committee room before full committee
on this subject. which he considers of
vital Importance.
| i believe that the metric system
! should be adopted now said Mr. South
! ard today. "Other countries have adopt
| ed it without any difficulty incon-
/ venience, and I know of no reason why
we should not do so. 1t will give us a
common standard, which weEnow lack"
Mr.. Southard's committee may also in
sert a provision in the bill for the sale of
I chemicals by one system of weights only.
AT present some chemicals are Sold like
sugar and salt, by avoirdupoiS weight OF
sixteen ounces, or 1000 grains to the
! pound, and the same may be, compound
! ed according to the apothecary's weight
/ Of twelve ounces. or $3.50 grains to the
| pound. Unless the kind of weight used
| is mentioned, and this is not always
| done. there is confusion If not danger.
in handling the chemicals.
| Generally speaking a majority of the
men In public life who assemble in
| Washington are easy of access and once
I in their presence it depends largely upon
the adroitness OF the interviewer wheth
| er he obtains the information he seeks.
| Occa sionally, however, a reporter is put
! to his wits to gain an audience with a
| statesman. This was the experience of
| a reporter a few evenings ago. He Is at
tached to the Washington bureau OF one
| Of the leading New York newspapers
| which Is highly sensational in its hand
! ling of current events. The Geographic
order which came from the home Office
| read: Get signed statement from Quay
| sure" That afternoon the committee ON
| privileges and elections had decided to
present an adverse report on MIR. Quay's
| claim to seat in the senate, by virtue
| of an appointment by the governor.
| Inquiry at Mr.. Quay's residence
| brought forth tine reply from the servant
| at the door: Not in yet. sir" The Wis
| itor was satisfied that the servant was
| prevariea ting knowing that the paper
| with which he was connected had been
| exceedingly active in opposing the seat
| ing of Mr. Quay. 1t later occurred to-
| the caller that Mr.. Quay had a telephone
| in his house, and, calling up the Quay
| residence, he received reply that Mr..
| Quay was at home, but was at dinner
and could not be disturbed.
Suddenly a bright idea occurred to the
I renorter. He recalled that one of ex-
| Senator Quay's warinest supporters IN
| the keystone state is editor and pro-
prietor of q large country weekly. Act
ing upon his inspiration he secured a
blank card and wrote his name and at
| tachea beneath 1t the name of the paper
owned by Mr.. Quay's friend. and to
which. by the way, he had been an &C.
| casional contributor He again present
| ed himself at the Quay house and when
| tine door was opened the visitor haughti!2
and sterny said to the servant: Iake
my card to Senator Quay and please be
quick about it," The effect of this card
was magical and the visitor very soon
was shown into the ex-senator's stuey
and was warmly received and IN the
| course of half an hours pleasant chat
learned pretty concisely the ex-senator's
views of the action Of the senate COM
| mittee in reporting against him.
Henry S. Beutelle, who represents one
| of the Chicago districts, began his rs
cent speech on the currency Dill Ia the
bouse IF representatives by compliment
i,,sr the aleauenee and wisdom of those
who had preceded him and then Defore
launching into his theme seriously got
his auditors in good humof by giving
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