The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-12-19
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence

under the consideration OF the war de-
partment. 1t is planned that eventual
ly strong Notifications shall guard the
numerous important cities Oh these in
land seas. General Gillespie, chief of
engineers OF tie army. and u board of
engineer officers last summer made a
tour of the great lakes and carefully
considered their defense. They went
from the strait of Mackinac down
Lake Michigan to Chica. The strait
connects Lakes Huron and Michigan
and is wholly within the jurisdiction
of the United States. a valuable strate-
gic position. to which. however. there
is al easy approach from the Canadian
side. With the strait strongly fortified
it would be a difficult matter for a feet
to enter Lake Michigan.
The Welland canal. connective Lakes
Ontario and Erie. is "4.,..i point
which will be fortified in course of
time, and it's defense will be an outer
defense of the cities of Cleveland, Buff
falo, Sandusky and others, with their
great marine u and their rail
roads running to the interior.
Two Fine Old Trees.
In e%Xcavating the embankment on
the east side of the White House
grounds for a driveway to b porte
cochere, through which social visitors
will enter the White House during the
winter entertainments, it has been nee
essary to cut down several of the large
shade trees that ornamented that side
of the grounds. Some Of them were
very large and were cut up into wood
and carted away. Two handsome mag
nolia trees that have stood on opposite
sides Of the east entrance, just above
the fish pool and fountain, were too
valuable to destroy, and an effort is
being made to save them and trans
plant them near the new entrances on
the same side Of the grounds. The
trees are thirty-ive or forty feet high
and are probably fifty years old each.
AS much earth as possible is being left
around the main body of the trees,
while underneath is being undermined
for the purpose of affixing planks for
rollers. The trees will be rolled to the
new spots and planted. 1t is hoped to
save them. and much care is being
taken.
Edible Cacti.
According to Professor w. j. MCGEE,
the chief entomologist of the govern
ment, the white man can learn much
from the red man about food products.
/, particularly of the cactus fruits found
in the southwestern part of the United
States and northern Mexico. These
fruits, which are neglected entirely by
the white man. the Indians live on for
two months Of each year. In this time
5 the so called "Fatmoutb" Indians be-
come fat and store energy to last them
the remainder of the year. Indians dry
2 the cactus fruits and use them as their
!, chief fo%odstuffs. These cacti are relat-
= ed to the fig family and contain pulp
filled with small seeds. The outer skin
is usually rough and thorny. In the
arid region from eastern Mexico to Cal
e ifornia there are only about 10000 per-
sons now. it is said. while years ago,
when it was inhabited only by the In
dams. it supported from 100000 to 3OO,-
, 600.
Why Allen Stayed Away.
From private John Allen, one of
the commissioners of the st. Louis ex-
position. comes the best story about
the presidents hunting excursion in
Mississippi. Private Allen. who &C,
quired his honorable title by reason OF
his frequent declaration that he was
proud to have been the only private in
u either army. was met by a friend on
Pennsylvania avenue the other day.
"Hello. Private!" said the friend joe
ularly. "How does it happen that wheI
# President Roosevelt is shooting bears
down in your state you are keeping sc
far away"
and, taking his interrogation by the Ia
y pei of the coat. he led him into a door
c way. keep it quiet" he whispered
IS darkly. "But the reason is I'm a bear!
Since then Private" Aliens friend:
have been studying the market anx
iously.
Will Dine the President.
Secretary of State and Mrs. Ha.
n have issued invitations for a dinner tt
j. President and Mrs. Roosevelt and mem
bers of the cabinet Jan. 3. The dat
n for this dinner is always looked u
, with much interest. as zone of the 9th
er members of the cabinet can arrang
their dinners in compliment to tn
d president until the secretary of stat
IS has had his invitation accepted. Sec
e rotary of the Treasury Shaw will Civ
,r a dinner probably in the week follow
ing that of Secretary Hay. though tn
npoci1anf hos nor q Vpt accented I'm
: date. Each cabinet officer submits tn
date for his dinner to the president TO
approval and never it unit
81 the president accepts.
Damage Caused by Guam Quake.
Commander Seaton Schroeder, nava
- governor of Guam, has sent to tn
IL navy department a detailed report Q