Rocky Ford enterprise., 1900-06-22
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

made the last change In the battlcship
circular which he Will probably Issue
to shipbuildcrs. Five identical ships
will be called for The first three
ships have been named the Pennsyl,
vania. New Jersey and Georgia, and
the names Virginia and Washington
are proposed for the others.
Postmaster General Smith went TO
the White House Saturday for Il con-
sultntion with the President before
leaving for Philadelphia. The draft
OF the platform prepared by him was
submitted TO Mr.. Mckinley. The con.
ference lasted almost thr.c-quarters OF
an hour. Mr.. Smith then left for
Philadelphia.
The Court OF Land Claims has OH.
cinlly decided that Rear Admiral Samp-
son was In command OF the fleet nj
Santiago battle and that Admiral
Schlcy was In command OF division
of the fleet Also the cruiser New
York. the flagship u the squadron, was
In the fight. This Will give Sampson
and the crew Of the New York n share
OF the prize money.
The opening OF the Fort Hall rcscr.
walton In Idaho to settlers Is regard
cd by western business men In Wnsh-
ington ns the beginning Of new era
for western investors II is believed
that the opening OF this reservation
will bc OF incalculabic service to the
states bordering upon Idaho and that
all mining states. ns well as Colorado.
Utah. Wyoming and Montana. must
reap richly from the opening OF this
reservation. which, II Is believed.
marks the beginning Of new legislation
for the arid and scmi.arid states.
The Navy Department will advertise
for proposals FOR supplying fncchnr-
dcncd 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. HnS-
Ing been assured that much better
terms could be extended by the nrinor
companies if the contracts were for
large amounts OF armor. the depart
mcnt 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
10000 tons II will bc for Secretary
Long to determine II the figure In rca-
sonnble. II not. he must build m ar
NOR plant.
In addition to changes already an
nouncetl by the postotiicc department.
II Is said that number OF other i'm
proycmcnts will bc In effect during the
next fiscal year. The Increased nppro-
printion, II is said. will enable many
more clerks TO take the fifteen days
leave of absence contemplated by law
and an emergency fund will bc placed
Mt the disposal OF first-clnss officers
for extra assistance during the holi.
days and other times when there Is a
large increase OF business. The post
office officials have strong hopes that
II conditions continue TO Improve 1t
will be feasible TO limit working hours
throughout the service to eight hours
day, beginning with the fiscal year,
July /, 1902.
The remarkable increase In coal i'm.
portations from the United States,
coupled with the fact that we became
In 1890 the worlds largest producer of
coal, gives special interest TO an elnb-
orate 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.
Exportations of coal from the United
Statcs in the ten months ending with
April were nearly fifty per cent 1nrger
than those of the corresponding
months of 1S9S, while our total produc-
tion 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 J. G. Colwcll
inst relieved ms American naval at
tnche in London, is under investiga-
ton for failure to obey orders OF the
Navy Department. court OF IN
ouiry is sitting for this purpose nt
Washington. Lieutenant Commander
Colwell received orders to report on
certain date in the United States. pre-
Iiminnry 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 1t
was inadvisnblc for him to travel. 1t
10 alleged that he subsequently placed
himself under medical treatment in Or
dor to Justify his explanation. The
department believes Colwcll had tried
to eyade his orders. so ns TO remain
longer in London. The court Is eX-
pcctcd to submit Its findings In rev
days.
The Navy Department has decided to
establish n coaling station OF the sec
ond class at San Diego. CALIFORNIA.
This decision has been reached upon n
report from Captain Field of the Ran
cor, announcing the results of sur
Sev Of the harbor at that place recent
Iv made by him. The report states
Tint the minimum depth of water over
the bar mt low tide is twcnty-one feet
aud tho tidal rise amounts to about five
Taet so there is sufficient water for
naval vessels of the smaller type Fur
ther the report states that 1t is entirely
nossible to coal the larest naval ships
in the bay to the east OF the harbor
nn+rnnce The War Department.,
,,,i,ich owns the large tract of land to