Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-05-24

The biologists Of the Department OF
Agriculture are not yet prepared to say
whether the introduction of Belgian hares
into the United States will be n nuisance
or u blessing. In Australia the introduc-
ton of ordinary rabbits proved SO disas-
trous that the government was compelled
to take the matter in hand and use the
army to exterminate them. The animals
bred so rapidly that they overran the
farms and the pastures and destroyed the
forage and vegetables as etfectunlly as
the locusts of Egypt or the gr~asshoppers
of the West. \ bounty was offered for
rabbit skins, and everybody went to kill
ing on his own HOOK. but they increased
SO much faster that it seemed for II time
the whole continent would have to be
abandoned by it's human Inhabitants.
Then the government ordered ont the mi
litia, and for months thousands OF men
We're engaged in the determination of the
pest. Some fear has been felt lest the
Introduction of the Belgian hare should
result in Il similar danger to this country,
Il the government biologists are NOW
making anxious observations.
-:-:-
A serious condition of affairs is report
ed in Alaska in letters which come from
army officers on duty in that territory.
and especially from those stationed at
Fort Davis. The forage at last accounts
was nearly exhausted, and it was evident
that there would soon be entire Deepen
dence upon the animals of the vicinity.
A correspondent, writing to the War De
partment, says that it is Surprising to
.pf tbn stuff cort In N,l.t Davis
The canned cream supplied by the sub
sistence department was exhausted long
ago. \ great deal of the supplies fur
probably he of no use as army subsist-
encc.' There was sufficient coal at Fort
Davis to last through the winter with
economy, but at st. Michaefs it is report
Ell there was no fuel worth mentioning.
he price of supplies. which must be
>ilared by civilians as well as the army.
has greatly increased. and there was ev-
cry indication that those who had made
money in Alaska would have every oppor-
tunity to spend it for the necessities OF
life. Coal, for instance, brought as
much as $50 Il ton.
The national homes for disabled yolun-
teer soldiers are open to regulars and vol
unteers alike who have served in any
war. the board of management, in the
discretion allowed by law, constituting SER
vice in the Philippines as equivalent to
service in n war. The proposition has
been several times advanced to throw The
volunteer homes open to regulars without
regard to war service, and an amendment
was offered during the last session of
Congress with that object in view. Blu
it was defeated because of strong oppo-
sition to endangering the rights of the
volunteers. and also because the regulars
have a national home at Washington. sur
rounded by beautiful grounds, IN ideal
place, which is in part supported by con
tributions of ID cents deducted from the
monthly pay. There are in addition tc
these thirty State homes where the vol
unteers of the various States may lind
shelter in their old age.
Admiral Dewey favors a neutral 18TH
milan canal. being opposed to its fortifica-
tion. In discussing this subject he said:
More than 81 year ago | said that the
canal should be neutral. am more con-
WINGED to-day OF the necessity of such
action. Erection of Notifications would
make the canal one of the prime objec-
tives of our enemy's operations in time Of
war. Besides, their construction would
entail enormou expense and necessitate
constant expenditure to keep them ma,-
ned and in proper condition. The nen-
trality of the canal can be guaranteed
by our fleet. The canal is to be n com
mercial waterway, and naturalization.
@1,,vofn,o r-.11 ,,nr sf. .nc,rr-ntin :.
Mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont, widow of
the 'Pathfnder," has n claim against the
United States government for lands tax
en- from her in California. These lands
were appropriated as far back as 1868
for military purposes. They had cost her
more than $4,000, to say nothing of the
interest since, and she has never been
paid for them. Gen. Miles made an in
vestigation, and ne pronounces her right
to restitution to be unquestionable.
The trade balances in favor of the
United States in it's foreign m
during the last three years have mount
ed to more than all TIE gold in all the
banks and treasures of Europe. includ-
ing the British Isles. For the three
years ending June 30. 1900, the excess of
our exports over our imports was S1,6S9,-
S49,3S7. The amount of gold coin in Eu-
ropean banks and treasures at the date
OF the last returns was $1,G01, 4OT,3
-
p. G. IN / is the eighth Attorney Gen
sral of the, United States taken from
Pennsylvania, his predecessors being Will
liam Bradford, Richard Rush. H. ID. Gil
pin. Jeremiah s. Black, L. NJ. Stanton,
Wayne McVcagh, Benjamin III. Brew
ster, Justice McIlenna. President Nc.
Kinley's first Attorney General, appoint.
ed from California, was born in Pennsyl-
vania.
Judge George p. Baldwin, United