Gilpin observer., 1900-12-27
WHAT is BEING DONE AT
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL

newspapers and several London cores
pondents of American newspapers have
published n story about trip around
the world by the duke and duchess, the
chief motive being to establish cordial
relations with their future subjects in
Australia and Canada. No dates are
set and no positive announcement has
been made.
In the White House plans are being
formed for transcontinental trip. The
present intention is to leave Washing
ton in May. The route West will be
the southern. 1t is the expectation to
do California leisurely. Stops of sever
nj days will be made in the vicinity of
Los Angeles. In San Francisco the
President will witness the launching
of the Ohio. After doing California,
the President and party will go to Ore
gon and Washington, returning slowly
by the northern route. The arrival in
Washington will not be until some
time in June.
Representative Shafroth has been
requested by Chairman Mercer, of the
public buildings and ground committee
to furnish information as to the re-
quirements of Leadville for it's pro-
posed public building. Mr.. Mercer
asks If the city will donate site, and
if not, its probable cost; present rent
for postoffice and other government of
fees; amount of postal receipts, popu-
lation of city, etc. Similar questions
have been asked Representative Bell
concerning Trinidad and Colorado
Springs. The information is desired
by the committee to aid in formulating
reports upon bills proposing public
buildings at these places.
The State Department has rendered
an opinion to the effect that the Unit
ed States government cannot intervene
in favor of Porto Rico in the matter of
her calm against Cuba for S2.5OO,OO0.
The Spanish government raised n loan
to this amount from Porto Ricans to
help prosecute military operations in
Cuba, basing the loan upon the reve-
nues of the latter island. In substance
the decision of the United States gov
ernment is to the effect that, leaving
aside the question of equity in this
case, to sanction the collection of this
claim against Cuba now would be to
open the door to numberless other and
larger Gains, which would exhaust the
financial resources of the island.
The House committee on rivers and
harbors will provide 100000 to pay
the expense of a final survey for a
fourteen-foot channel between Lock
port and st. Louis. The portion of the
route between the terminus of the
drainage canal at Lockport and Graf
ton. the mouth of the Illinois river.
will be surveyed under the direction
of the corps of engineers of the army.
and that portion between Grafton and
St Louis by the Mississippi river COM
mission. In the opinion of experts the
essential part of the survey can be
made in n year or so, SO that salts
factory report ought to be made for
the consideration of the LVIIIth Con
greSs.
The Senate foreign relations commit
tee reported favorably a bill intro
duced last session by Senator Culbert-
son of Texas authorizing the secretary
nation of proposed treaty between
the United States and Mexico for con-
struction of an international dam on
the Rio Grande river in New Mexico.
with conditions that water impOunded
by it shall be equally distributed be-
tween the two countries. If the treaty
is accepted by both countries. the sec
retary Of state is further authorized TO
proceed with construction of the dam
and reservoir, and $2,317 900 is appro-
priated for that purpose. The bill also
specifies that persons and corporations
appropriating and storing waters of
the Rio Grande to which others have
right by prior appropriation .-lall be
deemed guilty of misdemeanor and on
conviction punished by fine or impris-
onment under proceedings instituted
under direction of the attorney gen
eral.
Everybody is interested in the i'm.
provcment of Washington. for il is the
source of pride to all patriotic citizens,
Therefore the country may prepare to
rejoice over the immediate prospect of
the erection of new terminals and sta
tions for all the railroads that enter
the capital. This has been agitated
for years, but after being discussed as
long as any one can remember, the
permission of Congress has finally been
obtained. Both houses have passed Il
bill providing for the erection of a 81,
100000 depot by the Baltimore & Ohio
company few blocks northeast of the
present antiqunted and unsightly sta.
tion, and for n S2,OU9.OOO station for the
Pennsylvania company. to accommo.
date also the Southern. the Chesapeake
& Ohio, the Seaboard Air Line and the
Atlantic Coast Line trains. There Is to
be new railway bridge across the Po,
tomac, and all trains will enter the city
upon elevated tracks constructed over
archways which will be an ornament
as well as relief from the present
grade crossings. The entire cost of the
improvements will exceed S11 200, 600
Our Colorado butter makers do not
always pay as much attention as they
should to the quality of the salt which
they use. Much otherwise good butter
Is ruined by the use of inferior salt
Though to many people all salt Is sim
ply salt, It is well known that there
are good and bad qualities of salt just
as there are different qualities OF most