The state herald., 1901-10-18
WASHINGTON GOSSIP

l
the protected cruiser Denver during
the past month. The former vessel was
advanced from five to seven per cent
toward completion and the latter from
fifty-iive to fifty-seven per cent. The
monitor Wyoming still remains seven
ty-tive per cent.
1t is recommended by Rear Admiral
Crowninshleld, chief of the navlga-
tion bureau, that four vice admirals be
created, reducing the number of rear
admirals to fourteen, If necessary. 1t
is said that the United States often
has been In n humiliating position on
important occasions abroad by reason
of the low rank Of its naval represent
atives. The report closes with an
earnest recommendation for the crel-
tion of national naval reserve.
1t has been determined Mt the War
| Department to send troops to the Phil
| ippines to take the places of those
whose term of enlistment expires.
Where the re-enlistments are not large
| in any one regiment, their places will
be filed by separate detachments of
recruits. II any considerable number
of enlistments expire in a single or
ganlZation, 1t is probable trat the or
ganization MS whole will be returned
from the Philippines and another rcgi-
ment sent to take its place.
Postofiice Inspector John p. Clum has
returned 70 Washington from trip Of
inspection through Alaska. He has re
ported to the department that the SER
vice generally Is in excellent condition,
more particularly in the Yukon valley,
where the various towns have mail
service once week In each direction.
He established the northernmost post
office in the world. This is ut Point
Barrow, where Rev. DIR. III. Richmond
Marsh, the missionary at the
little settlement, was appointed
postmaster. This place, where the
northernmost newspaper in the world
Is published once n year, will receive
the mails once n year by n United
States revenue cutter. Heretofore the
few natives in the vicinity have had to
send for their mail 700 miles and often
much further
The annual report of Thomas Fitch,
commissioner Of immigration at New
York. has been received at the Treas
ury Department. The report shows
that the number of aliens who arrived
during the fiscal year ended June 30,
1901, was i53,496. There ware also
1906 citizens of the United States
who arrived fmm abroad. From
comparison OF the steerage immigra-
ton for the last two years II is shown
that nearly 100000 of the increase of
last year over the year before was in
the immigration from Southern Italy
alone. he number OF returning alien
residents stands at 1916 per cent. Of the
total immigration. OF the amount
brought per capita there appears to be
an appreclable Increase over last year,
but the report says: THE conclusion
is unavoidable that out immigration is
constantly increasing In illiteracy. Not
only are We drawing more and more
from the countries where illlteracy Is
high, but also the immigrants them
selves are showing higher percentages
OF illiteracy."
Sumner T.athrop. wealthy New
Yorker, who travels extensively
throughout the world and sends
tne Agricultural Department many
rare plants and other foreign
products. and David Fairchild,
a. Hl'''Nt w lHt
ment OF Agriculture. both OF whom
have only Just returned from trips
abroad. will leave Washington shortly
ON another trip to the Orient and other
parts OF the world in search of rare for
eign grains, lcgumes. grasses and 9TH
cr plants for Use In this country, par
tlcularly those adaptable for growing
In the arid regions. In whose develop
ment Secretary Wilson is especially In.
terested. They have been In confer
ence with SECRETARY Wilson and he out
lined his Ideas for assisting the new in
sular possessions In growing as far as
possible coffee. spices. rubber fiber and
other products not adaptable for cAtl.
walton here. They viii send everything
they discover along these lines TO the
experiment stations In Porto Rico and
Hawaii and alsn to the Philippines.
meantime keeping the department In
Washington advised OF the results OF
their Investigations.
In the annual report to the secretary
OF the navy OF Rear Admiral Crownly.
shield, chief OF the navigation bureau,
X is said that the operations on the
Asiatlc squadron were marked by uni
form success mud that the conduct OF
our sailors AMI marines In China In
the main was nll that could he asked
for. The American fleet. In conjunc.
tlon with the army In the Philippines,
II is stated. has hnmpered materially
the inflow OF arms and munitions 90
the islands. The report recommends
barracks for recruits In the place OF
receiving ships. The most important
feature Of the report. that OF person.
mel. Is reserved for the last. Admiral
Crowninshieii already has given
warning TO Congress- OF the absolutely
imperative need of the navy for more
officers and men. Now he adds some
startling figures TO support his renew.
ed recommendations. lie snys II the
department Were called upon 10 man
the ships for war service. II could not
meet the demand. There are not
enough line officers to man the ships
already constructed. when In three
years the vessels now under consiruc-
'ion shall hnv- ircn completed, the
number Of officers necessary 10 man
inem and few auxiliary vessels
would bc no less than thousand.
and the problem presented IL how
ihcS" officers can bc secured In the
short time remaining. At present she
line Of the navy under the personnel
net and ns fed from Annapolis IL IN.
crcnslng only nt the rate of ten per
yrpr IN number forty officers being re-.
tired arbitrarily each year, which
would max" thirty for three years.
According 10 Admiral Crownlnshlcid.
the only remedy " 50 increase the
number of tificis NJ the naval ncnj-
envy 10 not lcss ihnn ;lo. II !. recon.