Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-11-20
WASHINGTON LETTER
SD cerresr.sns,ensrl


ldiscussicn was sIlar ef the irrigation
Iof the great arid lands of The west
Mr. Mead has several plans for irriSya-
Ition and Will submit some OF these 10
1.-THE president. II is understood that the
president, who lived many years in the
west and is well acquainted with the
arid condition of that section. viii say
q good deal in his message on the Sub
ject of irrigation.
/ Western members of congress are ex-
| tremely hopeful that congress at the
coming session will extend national aid
| TO some rational plan for irrigation.
President Mckinley's visit TO the west
| last May had done much TO Increase
the friendly feeling he had for the
west and in a number of his speeches
be referred TO the need of irrigation in
the west. 1t was generally thought by
western congressman that President
Mckinley would have given considera-
bic space In his next message to con-
gress to discussion of the need of
federal aid in the reclamation of the
millions OF acres of land that cannot
be cultivated because water cannot be
obtained.
Afflicted POstO6lce Employees.
A peculiar skin disease has made its
appearance among the clerks and EN-
ployees of the postoffice department.
and there are quite number who are
afflicted with the very disagreeable
eczcmalike Disagreement which. since
the last few weeks. has given them
considerable annoyance and physical
pain.
The disease was first observed on the
hands of a messenger whose duty ii is
to carry letters, dispatches and books
from Office to office. He paid little at
tention to it. thinking it would dlsap-
pear in due time. Instead the disease
spread and now there are quite num-
Der of employees and clerks who are
doctoring their hands and faces to rid
themselves of the strange ailment The
matter has attracted considerable at
tention and an investigation was made
to explain the disease and to trace 1t
to its source, with a view to stop its
further progress.
To Replace Long Bridge.
Correspondence is in progress be-
tween the secretary Of war and the
president Of the Pennsylvania Railroad
company with view to securing a
modification Of the plans for the rail-
road bridge across the Potomac to re-
place the Long bridge. so as to guaran-
tee a structure that will be an orna-
ment to the city and in entire harmony
with the pending scheme for the devel-
opment of the park system of the dis
trict The members of the park COM
mission have been consulted in regard
to the proposed railroad bridge. and it
is said that the representatives or the
railroad company have indicated TO
them as we'll as to the secretary of war
their desire to act in harmony with the
commission with respect to Potomac
park and to cooperate with them in
the Improvement of the approaches to
the national capital.
Value of Public Buildings.
Assistant Secretary Taylor has had
a statement prepared showing the val
ne of public buildings in the United
States These show that the disburse-
ments from the treasury on account OF
buildings within the District of Co
lumbia have been S6I .S40.102. On ac-
count of the buildings and grounds the
disbursements for the capitol have
been Sl1.O11.S49. The central building.
when erected. from 1918 to 1929. cost
81. los. 9O4 In the extension. from 1850
to 1879. the expenditures were 5000
299. The new dome cost $1.041.291.
and repairs since 1929 have amounted
to So.3SO.21O. The White House and
grounds have cost the government ST.
752. 1S9.
Hospitality at the White House.
That all social roads lead to the
White House. now that the period OF
official mourning is over, is fixed fact
Hospitality. while the reverse OF spec
tacular is dispensed easily and grace
fully at luncheon and dinner. while the
afternoon of Friday is set aside by the
first lady in the land to receive her
personal friends and make or renew ac-
quaintance with the members of OH
cfal society Now that November has
brought the season the attendance
at Mrs. Roosevelt's informal lat
homes is naturally increasing. and at
least half a hundred guests gather at
the sacred hour of afternoon tea. Ev-
ery circle of official society is repre-
sented
Rural Free Delivery.
The rural free delivery service Will
be placed under the classified service
as soon as practicable, probably some
time during the winter. This was de-
termined upon by the president soon
after he succeeded to the presidency
and after be had talked with Postmas
ter General Smith and others. He has
since talked with members of the civil
service commission as 10 his inten-
tons The rural free delivery is one
of the few branches of the government
service remaining unclassified and is
destined TO be an important depart
ment of the government
New Emba dor to Italy.
Colonel Myron L. Herrick Of Cleve-
land will succeed George Won L. Meyer
as ambassador to Italy within year or