The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1901-07-25
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
The navy department has purchased
q considerable tract of land surround
Ing the naval observatory In Washing
ton in order to protect from jar the del
icate instruments which record the
time Of the country. 1t was deemed
advisable not to have any highways
within 1000 feet of the clockroom,
where the instruments are stationed.
and circle with radius Of 1000 feet
was therefore drawn entirely around
the observatory. At the last session Of
purchase the inclosed land. and this
amount became available the other day.
The tracts purchased are those owned
by J. w. Thompson. known as Dunn
barton. containing 1895 acres. for
which $4,000 was paid, and Robert
Weaver's tract Of S.645 acres, for which
$4,000 was paid. There are some
smaller tracts still to be purchased.
The line of the Tenallytown electric cars
is just outside Of the 1000 feet circle.
The line Of Massachusetts, avenue ex-
tended will cross the circle, but has
been DETECTED at this point so as to run
around it. Part of the present acqui-
sition is high, wooded ground, and,
with that already owned by the gov
eminent, the naval observatory has
fine sweep of ground. ut is expected
ultimately to run a boulevard around
the circle.
There are about ten acres of land
within the circle yet to be acquired,
including small tracts Of lands owned
respectively by Messrs. Barnes, Flem-
ing. Young and Barber. The grounds
of the Industrial school are also within
the circle. They belong to the District
government and comprise little less
than seven acres. Outside the limits Of
the circle the government owns about
Is acres of land which it is designed to
sell and use the proceeds in the pur-
chase of private property within the
circle.
lPeddlers Who Sell to Federal Clerks.
Each executive Office of the govern
ment has its time honored peddler, who
generally takes a stand at his or her
post before the clerks arrive each
morning and remain with the greatest
tenacity until the last clerk leaves the
department in the evening. One of the
Queerest Of these peddlers is an old
woman known as Mistress Hayes. who
sits in a contorted lump at the north
front of the interior department with
one eye on her Bible and the other on
the lookout for customers.
Her wares are a lot Of shoestrings,
pins, needles, buttons and other small
things such as peddlers generally sell,
making in all quite heavy stock for
vender Of this class. Though dis
lance of many blocks, this old woman,
whose back is as crooked as rainbow,
pulls her small wagon, through good
weather and bad, never failing to take
up her stand as the clerks go in. Once
in awhile some one buys trifle, but
usually little change is dropped into
the cup without purchase.
For a time it was the custom Of the
messenger boys to leave their bicycles
at this end of the steps, while the old
woman occupied a camp stool farther
along in a much exposed position. No
ticing this and that the bicycle corner
was snug one. Secretary Hitchcock
had the boys move their wheels, and
now the old woman occupies the more
comfortable place.
The secretary sometimes drops
coin in her cup. and, though she con-
fides that she hopes some time to save
him through the medium of her quaint
old Bible, she has not yet tried to per-
suade him. She has, however. got
many of the clerks in the straight and
narrow path and announces that her
business is to serve them while they
buy shoestrings from her.
New Idea at Smithsonian Institution.
The Smithsonian institution at Wash
ington is to have special exhibit for
children. 1t is being arranged with
view to it's educational advantage. Pro-
fessor S. P. Langley conceived the idea
of having a children's museum and has
devoted considerable time during the
past few months to its completion.
One large room, Immediately opposite
the main entrance of the Smithsonian
building, has been set aside for this
purpose and has been prepared ready
to receive the exhibits, some of which
have been placed in position.
A special feature of the museum will
be in the manner of labelling the exhib-
its. Common names only will be used,
all scientific designations to be dis
carded. In many instances the labels
will tell some important fact connected
with the life of the bird or animal. A
new feature of this museum for chill
dren Is the presence of live birds in
cages swung among bowers Of branch
es. Birds and insects are shown in
proximity to objects they are common
ly seen near.
The Presidents Vacation.
Unlike many Of his predecessors in
the White House, Mr.. Mckinley is not
a sportsman. He does not care for
hunting and fishing, as both President
Cleveland and President Harrison did.
He is very fond. however. Of horse
flesh and delights in driving about the
country. During his vacation he will
spend considerable time on his farm