, 1901-07-25
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

The rural free delivery divisions are
to be considerably increased in nim-
her at an early date. The western dis
trict, which has headquarters at Den
yer, will be diminished by putting
Minnesota. Montana and the Dakotas
in n northwest district, with head
quarters at st. Paul. The superin-
tendent of this division will, however.
not necessarily be from any part of it.
The Postoffice Department has con
tracted for an increase of the postal
service in Alaska that will provide
quicker time between Seattle and Cir
Gle City and intermediate points, n
furnish n direct steamboat service to
Sitka and Valdez, and the all-Ameri-
can overland route. The scheduled
time is shorter than eyer before. The
contract II from October LIST to
June Both.
September LIST there will be a gen
eral shifting about of supervisors in
the Indian school service in the west
ern states. A. o. Wright, now at
tached to the First district, including
Colorado. New Mexico, Utah, Kansas
n Oklahoma, is to be succeeded by
Frank NJ. Conser. MI. Wright goes TO
the Third district. including South Da-
N'Ah NV hSNh ~ 'hR
trict. now under Conser, is to he given
TO Charles II. Dickson. This district
includes Wyoming, Montana. Idaho,
Oregon and Washington. Dickson va
Gates the place 10 be filled by Wright.
Secretary Long has given out the ma
jority report of the Naval Board of
Construction on the design of the sea-
going battleship of which plans are TO
be submitted TO Congress next Deem
Der. The plan of the battleship as
submitted follows: Length. $50 feet:
beam, T6 feet; mean draft, "a feet, q
inches; displacement. 1880 tons. This
displacement will give a ship consider
ably larger than anything in the pres
ent navy. The speed will be nineteen
knots. and an indicated horsepower
of 10000. The battery recommended
by h majority is 10 consist of four
~twelve-inch guns, two ten-inch armor-
ed turrets. twenty seven-inch guns in
easements and twenty three-inch guns.
The machinery is protected by a ten
inch armOr belt.
4 comparison of conditions before
N after the passage of the anti-can-
teen law by Congress will be tabulat-
ed by the United States army statisti-
clans after September LIST. AT the end
of this month General Merriam will,
through Colonel Narnum, adjutant
general of the Department of tile Colo
RADIO, have the commanders at the
army posts in this department report
the number of new saloons and drug
stores established near the posts since
the new law went into effect, the num-
Der of cases of drunkenness, absence
without leave and other Irregularities
which can be directly charged to liq-
our. These will he compared with sta
tictics prepared just previous to the
time the an%ti-canteen law went into eff
feet. Many of the army officers think
that intemperance has increased under
the new system and that the inquiry
will result in the re-establishment of
the canteen.
The Postoffice Department. thinking
that the general public has not becom
thoroughly appraised of the fact that
postage stamps are now being issue
in bound books, has directed all post
masters in the United States to exhibit
at a conspicuous place in their offices
large notices announcing this fact. In
the larger cities these stamp books
have become well known. and are al
ready in great demand, because be-
tween each sheet is an oiled which pre-
IL one stamp sticking to another.
Moreover, the books are of a vest pock-
ct size, and are readily carried about.
But there is Il desire to spread these
books in the country districts. as well
as in cities, and to this end. all rural
free delivery carriers are 10 hereafter
Keep an ample stock of stamp books on
hand, in order TO supply all customers.
In like manner, they have been direct
ed TO fully acquaint the patrons of
their routes with the fact that stamps
are sold in this form. This innovation
is highly meritoriOus, and affords a
great convenience to users of stamps.
hence h extra desire on the part of
the department TO widen the field of
their usefulness.