The Holly chieftain., 1901-08-23
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

NNHi'"s. uf experiments "tIt orig
inally confined to electrics because of
the belief than their batteries would
make them of crest service in operat-
ing field telegraph and telephone lines.
A census bulletin shows that Alas
ka's total farm wealth June l, 1869
was S15.6SG. of which 81 l!6 was in
vested III livestock. $500 in imple-
ments and machinery and S12.SOO rep
resented the value of buildings and
other improvements. Buildings have
been erected on nine of the twelve
farms in the territory. Preparing the
soil for cultivation has been the chief
item OF expense in opening farms, be-
ing in some Instances Sl2o per acre.
The twelve farms have total acreage
of 119 acres, and vegetables are the
principal product.
Word has been received from Wash
ington that the Department of the In
terror has decided to make no more for
est reserves until Congress meets and
reviSeS the law. A few months ago the
National Live Stock Association called
the attention of the department to the
fact that certain people were taking nd-
vantage Of the ignorance of officials to
have worthless lands set aside as forest
reserves and then reinquiSh them to
the government for lien script. with
which they could take mp valuable ag
ricultural and grazing lands. The gov
ernmeHt, having Investigated. has come
to the conclusion that ii il time to call
halt So fragrant have been the at
temptS to obtain something for nothing
that Secretary Hitchcock has determin-
rd to recommend the establishment of
no more forest reserves until Congress
has had an opportunity to amend the
law in regard to the exchange of lands
Captain Philip II. Cooper OF the bat
tleship Iowa. which as been ordered to
Panama to watch developments in Co
lombla, is one of the ablest officers IN
the service. He graduated from An
napolis in 1863. one year before the ex-
Diration of his term. in order that he
might see some real warfare: and he
served CALAMITY under Admirals Farrl-
gut and Thatcher during the Civil War
lie was one of the heroes of Mobile
bay. and later took Il prominent part
in the defense of the city. At the con-
cluslon of the war lie was assigned to
a number of offices of importance
Among them We're commander
ship on board the Sabine. an in
structor-ship at the academy,
place with surveying expedl-
tlon OF 1871, in charge of a torpedo sta
tlon. coast survey work, command of
the SWatara on the Asiatic station.
charge of various departments at the
navy yards. and, in 1894. the superin-
tendency Of the naval academy. Upon
being promoted to the rank of captain
he was given command of the San
Francisco, and in 1898 he was placed in
command of the newly-constructed
cruiser Chicago.
For some time past the officials of
the Treasury Department have had un-
der serious consideration the problem
of how TO prevent Chinese from cross
ing the Mexican border into the United
States. A conclusion has at last been
reached. which it is believed will 90 a
long ways to the solution OF the mat
ter Under the treaty between the
4 United States and China immigrants
from the latter country are allowed to
pass through the United States to any
other foreign country, provided, how
ever. that the treasury officials are sat
istied their passage through this coun-
try is for the bona fide purpose of TAX
ing up a residence in another and not
for the purpose of ultimately attempt
ing to return to the United States.
During the last few years many thou
sands Of Chinese have been landed at
the port of San Francisco, under al
legged contract to work on plantations
and railroads in southern Mexico IL
the Chinaman is under contract to per-
form labor in Mexico he may present
his contract as evidence Of good faith
but in case of his failure to satisfy the
officials he will not be permitted to
land. 1t is expected this order will
have the desired effect Of keeping out
n large percentage Of Chinese who will
go to Mexico with the real purpose of
ultimately crossing the border iAto the
United States.
The State Department. has n cable
gram from Mr.. Rockhill at Pekin, re-
porting that the draft Of the final pro-
focal has been agreed upon. A tariff of
five per cent ad valorem, effective, will
be put in force two months after the
signing Of the final protocol, excepting
on goods shipped within ten days after
signing. and will continue until the con-
version to specific rates has been effect
ed by the expert commission. The Chi.
uese free list will include rice, foreign
cereals and flour. gold and silver bull
lion and gold. This inclusion of -four
in the free list is Of much Importance
particularly to Pacific coast shippers,
a., ,.,%l -