The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-18
Chat Of the Capital.
Washington Gossip, Political and
Otherwise, for the Readers
of the Globe.

of the Globe.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 17-There
is movement under way to establish a
national park in North Carolina. It Is
to include the sQualla Indian reservation
and a. large portion of the Blue Ridge
region. IT the proposed scheme passes
congress, the territory included will EN-.
brace from 10000 to 100000 acres of land.
Enc promoters Of this scheme argue
cnat the south has no parks Of national
Importance They point to the Yellow
stone National Park in Wyoming, and
Mackinaw Island, Michigan, as instances
wnere the North has been especially ia
voreo. 1t may not be generally known
chat Macklnaw island is a national park.
oucn- Is the case, however and 1t is
soverheo Witn-laws similar to those ope>
rattve in the Yellowstone park bounda-
ries. 80
1t is said that the Blue Ridge, or the
great Smoky Mountain territory, is the
nnest In the world for the establishment
OF nat1onaI park. The scenery is I'm.
eXcelied, and the natural advantages can.
not be surpassed, The mountains. the
forests and the rivers ell combine to
make this section Of the South peculiarly
aaapted Tor park purposes. It Is said that
mineral streams are numerous In the
mountain regions, the mountain peaks
tower 70 height Of 5000 feet above sea
level, and the cir is soft, pure, and in
MIGRATING.
Inc proposition will undoubtedly re.
celve favor at the Indian office. The
proposed scheme will embrace the Qualla
Indian reservation, where a band or
cherokee Indians have lived for a great
many years. This also calls to nina
some ancient Indian history. Many years
ago the government purchased all the
land In North Carolina at that time
owned by the Cherokee Indians. The
Indians Were sent North and scattered
IN dl1ferent sections of the Northwest
ern states. There were several hundred
llolans, however, who refused to move.
Inc indian department could not get
their consent. The government owned
the lano, but to remove these Indians
would have caused trouble. They were
allowed to remain
IL IS now proposed, If the park Is es-
taonshed by congress, to use these In
olans as guides. They know every foot
of the land, and will be valuable assist
ants. The Indian department will readI-
ly agree that this be done. The Indians
themselves, 1t Is said, have no objections
to raise against the proposed scheme,
put are ready to assist in any way they
can, providing they will not have to for
sake their old home.
Senator Prichard has charge of the
proposed scheme, and will introduce
Oil IN the senate having for its object
the establishment Of a national park
IN that section Of North Carolina which
includes the Blue Ridge mountains and
the Qualla Indian reservation.
=
Some time ago the citizens of South
west Washington brought an action
against the Standard Oil company for
maintaining nuisance. The company
was ordered to abate the nuisance. Now
the citizens Of that section of the city
are after the company for contempt of
court, and 1t Is not unlikely that they
will be successful. The witnesses for the
company who testified at the first trial
have been transferred from the jurisdic-
ton Of the district courts, and indict-
ments may be found against them, in
which the information will charge per-
jury. E
The Standard OIL company owns a plot
of land in Southwest Washington and re-
Gently erected on 1t large tank, having
a capacity Of several hundred thousand
gallons Of oil, which, it announced, would
be stored in the tank. The residents of
the district became frightened, and ex-
perts who made investigations announc-
ed that If an explosion should take place
all of Southwest Washington would be
destroyed. 1t was then that action was
brought against the company for main
tainfng a dangerous nuisance.
But the prosecution had no direct evil
dence that oil was being stored In the
tank. The managers Of the concern
swore that water was used In making
tests. The prosecuting officers could not
obtain admission to the grounds, so that
they could not offset this testimony. 1t
looked as though the company would
outdone in this manner. The company's
employees were summoned to court, and
some Of them testified that oil had been
used in making the tests. This testimony,
In view of the restraining order that had
been issued by the court, caused the de-
tense to have the cause transferred to
another Judge. In the meantime the
witness for the company was
to Baltimore. The case has
been transferred from one court to an
other until it has now finally reached the
judge who issued the restraining order.
The prosecution is confident that he will
deal severely with the company.
But while all the above relates to the
and its predicament there is
trouble between the lawyers for the COM
pany and the witnesses. The latter say
they testified that the order was dis
regarded by advice of the lawyers. This
put the counsel in the attitude Of defy
ing the court. The lawyers assert that
they gave no such advice, and one, at
least, has withdrawn from the case.
Within the next few days the case will
be decided by the court, and it Is thought
the company will be heavily fined for the
contempt proceedings The citizens of
Southwest Washington say they will not
let the matter drop at this. They want
the witnesses who committed perjury.
They will ask that these witnesses be in
dicted and brought here for trial.
j. 8. Van Antwerp.
WEIGH Is HELPLESS.