Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-27
CAPITAL CHAT.
The Unique Christmas CeIebra-
ton in Washington.
Proposed for the Ken
nebec River.
Thc Respportionmcnt BiIIs--A Busy Winter Tor
Mainc's Senators.

cialD-The Capital city has it's own
peculiar ways, more Southern than
Northern, in the celebration of Christ
mas, and this year these characteris-
tics have been strongly emphasized. A
little before the going down of the sun
on Monday, the important thorough
fares of the city-Pennsylvania ave-
nue., f street, and Seventh street, be-
came filled with surging, enthusiastic
crowd that turned the usual peace
and good order into a perfect bedlam.
The array of trumpets, hourished in
the hands of youthful celebrants Of
both sexes, was mcrvelous. One could
not explain their origin till he had
penetrated the throng on the lower
portion of the avenue and on Seventh
street and observed the multitude of
''fakirs' that lined the sidewalk, offer
ing these articles for sale. The ring
ing of cowbells by equally ardent
young people accompanied the flourish
of trumpets and added to the general
din. If thousands of gentle kline had
been run back and forth on the streets
constantly till one o'clock in the morn
ing, the noise of cowbels could not
have been louder.
The weather for the Christmas sea !
son here has been such as would sur
prise the dwellers in Maine. The days
have been more like spring and even
light overcoats have been a discom-
fort. But all the gaicty will be super
seeded in a few days by the return of
senators and members and the serious
work of the short session of Congress
will again be undertaken. Almost the
first thing expected in the House is the
apportionment bill. in which Maine
has such lively interest. In short
order the issue of that earnest fight
will he decided. for it is expected the
Senate will DO little else than formally
confirm the action of the House.
There is al interesting hit of history
liz the change of the Eurleigh bill from
3S7 to ESQ members. This was done
chiefly to avert active opposition from
the Iowa deicSa ton. which includes
Speaker Henderson and three or four
influential chairmen of committees
Iowa does not want an additional
member of the House having eleven
members now. This is chiefly because
the delegation is now solidly Republic
can and the districts are all well or
ganiZed. An increase of one district
might throw some of the present
members together and also make it
entirely probable that one or two
Democrats would break into the
House from that state. Under an ap-
portionment of SS1 members Iowa
would just gain an additional member,
but with 3S6 Iowa would he entitled to
only eleven. as at present and thus
the present delegation would not be
antagoniZed.
Senator Hale. who is staying here
during the holidays, says he is pleas
with the progress made toward carry
ing the Burleigh bill. His chief alarm
is lest a compromise measure be
adopted on the floor of the House, al
lowing 372 members and thus letting
in Indiana and Minnesota and shut
ting out Maine and Kansas
The river and harbor bill. which will
be taken up in the House soon after
the holidays, also has no small inter-
est to Maine, as several items for
Maine projects are carried on it. These
will undoubtedly be all adopted. The
Improvement of the channel between
Augusta and Gardiner at cost of
$50, 900. is already in the bill, as pre-
viously stated. This is towards eX
tcnsve improvements that are csti
mated to cost ISL 900 as reported by
Maj. ROessler last year. The dredged
channel between Gardiner and Au
gusta has been found to fill more or
less rapidly, probably with material
N n "
freshets. Vessels drawing from IA to
IS feet can get up as far as Gardiner
at high tide, but only vessels drawing
between IL or II feet can get up as far
as Augusta.
The first improvements to the Ken
nebec river by the federal government
began - years ago, but the first large
appropriation was in 1866. when Con-
grcss voted $50, 600 for removing rocks
and Strengthening and deepening the
upper part of the river. The esti-
mated cost was increased to $4,000 in
1865, 50 as to afford a wider channel.
the only work on the Improvement of
tie river. during the last fiscal year
has consisted in making an examina-
ton ana survey between Gardiner
instigated by Representative Burleigh
and which is now provided for in the
River and Harbor bill. just reported to
the House. The navigahle condition OF
the river at present is in marked con-
trast with its condition up to 1877.
when the first appropriations We're
made. Then the main channel of the
river between the foot of Swan island
and Gardiner was INSTRUCTED by
shoals near Reef rock. with only ten
feet of water at mean low tide: by
dangerous sunken lodges in Lovejoy's
narrows; by q shoal below South Gar
diner with only eight feet Of water on
it at mean low tide. and by ledge at
Nehumkeag island. The steamboat
channel to the west of Swan island,
at Hatch's rock. was obstructed by
shoaI over which there was only TX
feet OF water, and the channel be
tween Gardiner and Augusta, dis
lance of 61a miles. was INSTRUCTED by
shoals which gave n navigable depth
of only 81 feet OF water in low sum
mer tide. 1t is only necessary TO men
ton these distractions. which have al
Inn ol ar !