The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-07-30

phments on the appearance of the
grounds Of the Agricultural Department
these days. The beauty of the place
impresscs all. and to those who are IA
niliar with the grounds they are now a
matter of delight. The veteran watch
man, Mr. R. H Cooke, who has been
there nearly forty years, says the
grounds have never at any time been
nearly so beautiful as now. They are
trimmed TO perfection, there are more
flowers. more grasses. larger trees. and
more attra ctious generally than ever be
lore Mr. Cooke IS attached 70 the
place, of course, from long association,
and there are others like him who are
very proud Of the appearance Of things
on the Mall
Mr.. Burns, the head gardener Of the
department. is g veteran IN the business,
though he has Tot been long in his pres
ent place. He was for nearly thirty
years on the White House and Capitol
force, and has done a great deal Of the
work at both places He is an expert
Gnced gardener and good designer, and
is an enthusiast on anything pertaining
TO the subject. His ability at the White
House caused him to be transferred 10
his present responsible position Since
coming to the department ten years ago
he has wrought wonders. and he is am
bilious TO still further advance in the
line Of beauty. The object of the grounds
IS TO make an attractive display and
give al object lesson at the same time.
hIr- Galloway is the official IN charge
and Mr. Burns is the active manager.
Dr.. Whitman Cross. Of the Geological
Survey, has been ordered 10 the sHa-
waiian Islands to make Investigations in
the volcanic districts. The Pelee erup-
ton has put the Survey more energet-
ically 10 work in the way Of looking up
volcanic history and possibilities. and
this scientist, one OF the most enter
prising men N the corps, viii take
tour through the country where there
are symptoms of seismic mischief Dr..
Cross has been making field investiga-
tons in the Colorado district, where he
has spent a great deal OF time irvesti-
eating the geysers, mounds, and other
noted features Of the country
\ Pension Office clerk, who has had
8 varied experience il the service OF
the country. says that the toughest time
be ever had was in the Territory OF
Arizona He WAS acting qCaTUeEmasteT
sergeant and had the trappings. Of a
company TO transport Going out OF San
Carlos, Tex the outfit was propelled bS
four condemned army mules, which last
ed few days. The wagcn was one
which had been condemned and regu-
iarly got broke somewhere every mile.
One wheel went TO pieces, and the men
were under the painful necessity Of
stealing wheel from a mission estab-
IshnlenL
Miss Annie E. Larigey. OF Georgia,
who has for several years been IN the
Interior Department as clerk, has
been transferred to the Treasury De
Partment.
There have been many interesting men
II the Government Printing Office. but
che OF them who VIII not soon be for
gotten, Col. Dick Smith. was a positive
genius. Mr. A T. Bloomer. the histo-
Tian OF the Office, recently published an
article in regard TO Colonel Smith, who
died Q few weeks ago in Virginia.
The colonel was working on a Gin
cinuati paper during the war between
the States, and one night he had row
with q detective in a restaurant. He
smashed the crock6ry over the sleuth's
head and otherwise battered him aPpTe-
ciablv. Tie detective wanted some re
yengA, and got a chance in that line be
fore long. The colonel carried q young
lady TO the theater one night, and about
the middle Of the performance he was
arrested. The scene was more meIodra-
matte than that on the stage. The
charge vas that Smith was a spy, and
II was based on the fact that he was &
native Of the South. The detective was
happy. but Smiths friends were wor-
ried. and they made a big effort 10 get
the thing straight They rushed things
in Washington. and il ten days an order
for release arrived. but Smith was not
there He got tired waiting and dug a
tunnel under the wall. he afteTWaTd
served the Government az the Office here
with the yigor he displayed in getting
away from its ninions.
The Agricultural Department has
uaanv employees who have been working
for the Government for long periods, but
none Of them have put in more time
than Mr. Thomas Ray, q clerk detailed
for duty as mail clerk He Is one Of the
seniors Of the department IN point OF
age. and term of service, and IS yet a
capable and alert man. He is often
spoken OF as one OF the most valued men
OF the grounds, and the one who re-
mains there more Of the time than any
other employe.
Mr. Ray Is a native OF Maryland. but
was q resident OF the District before his
appointment He has been continuous
Iy Il the department for thirty years
For many years past he has been seen
on the wagon which is used to haul the
mail 10 and from the Postofice- He has
handled hundreds Of tons Of mall and is
noted for the scarcity OF errors and COM
plants attending his Ee-vice- The mail
Of the department is very heavy. and
it tikes capable man 70 keep Up with
It.
Mr. Ray has had frw vacations. He
rarely takes any time OF in the summer
or winter, preferrine 10 stick 10 his
wagon. and carry the mail to the people
Ee Is as well-pested on the history OF
the Development of the department as
any man in it. and tells many interesting
"reminiscences Of the thousands who
have come and gone
There is man in the Government
Printing Office who was in the Philip
pines as q soldinr for a year OF so. and
when ne read the other day that Ser
geant Il. D. Williams was one Of The
ffty-three men 20 receive medals Of
honor and certificates ,,f merit, he gave
8 var whoop Of gladness. lie was with
the sergeant at one time, and knows HIN
quite well
Sergeant Williams is q native Of Col