Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-26

U
Secretary Moody had a delicate task Sc
lecting names for the six war ships au-
thorized at the last session of Congress-,
remarked a naval officer to a Star reporter
the other day, principally because there
were many conflicting interests to be
reconcied. But for his promptness in the
matter he would have had much more
trouble than was experienced. II he had
delayed. the numerous contending states
men would have had more time TO gather
their forces, and so increased the difficulties
OF reaching a determination without Sc
rious offeuse. The two new battleships
were named after the states of Connecticut
and Louisiana. the two armored cruisers
after the states of Washington and Tennes-
see. and the two gunboats after the cities
of Paducah, KY, and Dubuque, Iowa The
names selected for the gunboats are en-
tirely new in naval nomenclature but the
other names have been in the naval register
before. There have been already two
Louisianans in the United States navy. The
pioneer was a siXteen-gun vessel of $40
tons, purchased in 1872 for the war with
Great Britain. She was broken up as use
less in 1875. The second Louisiana was a
2bJ-tOn steamer of four guns, purchased at
the outbreak of the war of the rebellion,
and used as a powder boat in the opera
lions against Fort Fisher. This is the
fourth time, however, that Connecticut has
figured in the navy. Two paddiewheel
steamers of 1,SOO tons bearing that name
Were used during the civil war. In the
early eighties the navy contained another
Connecticut 1t was a J00-ton sloop of
war, with battery of twenty -four guns.
The name Washington has twice before
appeared in the navy list. The first of that
illustrious name was sailing vessel carry
ing seyenty-four guns 1t was built in 1916,
and broken up in 1913. The second Wash
fngtOn was built for the navy in 1913 and
five years later was transferred to the reve-
nue. service of the Treasury Department.
Twice before Tennessee also has been rep
resented in the navy The first Tennessee
was a side-wheel steamer of 200 tons and
two guns, which was captured from the
confederate navy in 1851 and sold at auc-
name was built in 1864, but was only kept
in the service three years. She was an
iroH-clad steamer of about 1 300 tons and
carried six guns Her usefulness ended
with the termination of hostiities, and she
was sold to private parties. OF the six new
vessels the most interest naturally attaches
to the Connecticut. for the reason that that
big battleship will be built by the govern
meEt at the New York navy yard in direct
competition with private shipbulders, by
whom Uncle Sans warships have been
heretofore built, with few exceptions"
x X x
Almost every one has a fad of some
kind. and newspaper men are not of the
exception. said one of the profession a
few nights ago.
- Jim Maddy. who was a Washington
correspondent several years ago. later press
agent of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
and now assistant to one OF the vice presi-
dents of that road. had a penchant for
fires and anything pertaining to a fire de-
partment.
Before ne came to Washington he was
managing editor OF an afternoon paper in
Ohio city. Immediately upon his ap-
pointment he had a fire alarm gong placed
in the editorial press rooms and one in his
room at the hotel where he lived.
No matter where the fre-day or night
members of the staff knew they were in for
it 1t was nothing for a reporter to be
called out of his bed at . o'clock In the
morning to investigate a slight blaze IN
some remote part of the city.
Not only that, the first person the re-
porter. usually more than one, sometimes
three or four, saw was the face of Jim
man BY name. They all knew him and
loved him, and it was indeed a hot day
when his paper got left anything per
tanning 10 a fire or the fire department of
that city.
iii wager a perfecto that there hasn't
been fire in the monumental city since
Jim Maddy has been there that he can't
tell you all about I've known him to
leave his desk and go out and assist in
covering fire"
x x
An effort Is being made In Germany to
use electricity in agriculture. In describ-
ing of the experiments in a report to
the State Department, United States Con-
sui Bergh at Gothenburg says a seed field
Is covered by a network of wire and a
strong electric current is turned on during
the nights and chilly days, but cut off dur
Ing the sunny and warm weather. The
system was invented by Professor Lem
strom of Helsingfors. Finland. Nothing
can be said as yet as TO its practicability.
1T may be that the motor machines
mental in helping on the good roads move
ment." observed a man who had just re-
turned from trip, during which he had to
stop several times and buy a supply of
gasoline. He had selected a route through
northern Maryland by the aid of a road
map which deals alike with the good, bad
and indifferent thOroughfares. He gained
considerable Information about the state of
the highways, and II revised edition of
the map of Maryland is gotten out he could
furnish some up-to-date foot notes
Il took the trip for recreat ton" he went
on, but the mOnotony of the bad roads
was such that a large part of the expected
pleasure did not materialize. From the
gimpses l was able to get of the scenery
in the intervals of watching out for bad
places and sympathizing with the machine
over the hard places | should say that
upper Maryland has many attractions for
touring country. Certainly for people
living in this city IL would be a great boon
to be able to arrange brief nearby trips.
The only difficulty in the way, as far as
Hrrry mn