Gilpin observer., 1901-05-23
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

The War Department has published
the reorganization order prescribing
the strength of the various branches Of
the military service upon the basis Of
a ,2S7 men and staff of 2,7S3 men,
the enlisted strength being 74,5O4 men.
By the order each cavalry regiment
will consist of twelve cavalry troops of
eighty-five enlisted men each, making
the total strength of the cavalry
branch 15,S4O men. The coast artillery
will consist of 126 companies of 100 en-
listed men each, making 1874, and
the field artillery of thirty batteries of
loo men each, making total artillery
force, field and coast, of 1852 enlist
ed men. The thirty infantry regiments
will consist of twelve companies of 104
enlisted men each, making the infantry
strength $500 enlisted men. The
three engineer battalions will have
four companies of 1O4 enlisted men
each, with n band. and will have
strength of 1,2S2 enlisted men.
About the middle of September the
Postoffice Department will advertise
for proposals for carrying the mails on
all star routes in Colorado, Wyoming
and all other western states, the con-
tracts to cover n period of four years.
In the letting of new contracts, the de-
partment will require that bidders
shall live in the vicinity of their routes,
thus putting an end to the speculative
bidding which has prevailed in the
past whereby eastern contractors
have secured n majority of western
contracts at low figure, and depend
ing upon the local sub-contractors to
perform the work required. This SER
vice has never been satisfactory. Aside
from this innovation, however, all bid
ders will be given to understand that
each contract calls for the new system
of box delivery, whereby carriers will
be required to deposit mail in boxes
Of settlers living along their routes,
where such settlers request such SER
vice and erect boxes along the road
side. 1t is expected that the new con-
tracts will be at slightly advanced
rates. but the fact that local bidders
will be recognized over SPECTATORS,
and because of the extra service re-
quired by the box delivery, the depart
ment thinks the extra expenditure Is
justified.
Some time next fall. says William e.
Curtis in the Chicago Record. when the
new desks which have been ordered
for the House of Representatives have
been delivered by the contractors, the
old desks, which have been in use
since 1872, will be sold at auction, and
there will doubtless he demand by
hero worshipers for those which We're
used by President Mckinley, Colonel
Bryan, Thomas B. Reed. John G. Car
Isle, Mr.. Blaine, General Garfield,
Sunset Cox and other famous men.
Congress provided that members of the
house could have the privilege of buy
ing their own desks at n given price,
and many of them will doubtless
choose to do so. There was n similar
auction sale when the desks We're
changed in 1872. and active bidding for
those which had been used by Henry
Clay and other famous men of the
past generation. You will find now in
the houses OF old residents of Wash
| ington some Of those desks, and they
are highly treasured. 1t should be
said, however, that there are always
| several desks attributed to famous
| men. This is unavoidable because un-
der the rule of the House the desks are
drawn by lot at the beginning Of every
Congress, and the members seldom oc-
cupy the same seat twice in succession.
The desks are numbered and the door
keepers have record of their history.
By looking at the book they can tell
you who has used any one of the desks
you may happen to name. You will
find half dozen with which Mr..
Blaine has been associated, and an
equal number that have been used by
President Mckinley. This detracts
somewhat from their value, but does
not destroy the sentiment.
The United States geological survey
has completed its plan Of operations
for the new fiscal year. 1t includes
some very important work in Colorado
and the neighboring states OF the
Rocky mountain region. The triangu-
lation necessary. for the control of an
area I'm the vicinity of Ouray will be
executed. The survey for the diver
sion of the Gunnison into the Uncom-
pahgre valley will he completed by A.
l.. Fellows. who will prepare n bulletin
on the water sources of the state. As
sistant Geologist George l.. Adams and
II. II. Barton will make study of the
artesian waters in the Greeley quad
rangle in Colorado and the Patrick
and Gold hole quadrangles In Wyo-
ming. @. whitman Cross, Ernest
Howe and ]. Morgan Clemens are as
signed to the continuation Of the sur
vcy of the San Juan district and the
Silvcrton, Engineer mountain and
Needle mountain qundrangles. n. III.
Darton will have charge of n study of
the underground waters in the foothills
and plains adjacent to the Big Horn
mountains. =. Il. Emmons geologist
In charge OF metallic ores. VIII make n
re-study of the Leadvllle district and
also visit various points In Wyoming
and Arizona. In the Leadvillc work
he will he assisted by John u. Irving.
DR.. George II. Glrty will give his Mt
tcntion to study OF the Permlan fos-
sils In southern New Mexico. II. II.
Hill Is to complete the investigation of
the Rio Grande region. Arnold Hague
proceeds with work in the Yellowstone