Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-12-06
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 on these in
land seas. General Gillespie, chief of
engineers of the army, and a board of
engineer officers last summer made Il
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. IL valuable strate-
gic position, TO which, however. there
is an easy approach from the Canadian
side. With the strait strongly fortified
it would be difficult matter for a feet
to enter Lake Michigan.
The Welland canal. connecting Lakes
Ontario and Erie. is another noint
which viii be fortified in course of
time, and its defense will be an outer
defense of the cities of Cleveland. Buff
falo, Sandusky and others. with their
great marine resources and their rail
roads running to the interior.
Two Fine Old Trees.
In eXcavating the embankmcnt on
the east side of the White House
grounds for driveway 10 the porte
cochere. through which social visitors
will enter the White House during the
winter entertainments. it has been nee
cSsary to cut down several of the large
shade trees that ornamentcd that side
of the grounds. Some of them were
very large and were cut up into wood
and carried 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 ana trans
plant them near the new entrances on
the same side of the grounds. The
trees are thirty-tive 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 atfiXing 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. ]. 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
the so called 'FatmCuth' Indians be-
come fat and store energy To last them
the remainder of the year. Indians dry
the cactus fruits and use them as their
chief foodstuflS These Cacti are relat-
cd 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
ifornia there are only about 10000 per
sons now, it is said. while years ago.
when it was inhabited only by the III
dams, it supported from 1000 to $780,
600.
why Allen Stayed Away.
From Private" John Allen, one of
the commissioners of the st. Louis eX-
position, comes the best story about
Mississippi. private" Allen. who ac-
qulred his honorable title by reason of
his frequent declaration that he was
proud to have been the only private in
eithe army, was met by Il friend on
Pennsylvania avenue the other day.
Hello, Private" said the friend joe
ularly. How does it happen that when
President Roosevelt is shooting bears
down in your state you are keeping so
far away"
''Sh-h-hp' said Allen mysteriously,
and. taking his interrogation by the la
pei of the coat, he led him into Il door
way. Keep it Quietr' he whispered
darkIy. But the reason is I'm Il bear!'
Since then private" Aliens friends
have been studying the market anX-
iously.
VIII Dine the President.
Secretary of State and Mrs. Hay
have issued invitations for a dinner to
President and Mrs. Roosevelt and mem
bers of the cabinet Jan. ). The date
for this dinner as always looked TO
with much interest, as none of the 9th
er members Of the cabinet can arrange
their dinners in compliment to the
president until the secretary of state
has had his invitation accepted. Sec
RETRY of the Treasury Shaw will give
a u.nner probably in the week follow
ing that of Secretary Hay, though the
president has not as yet accepted the
date. Each cabinet officer submits the
date for his dinner to the president for
and never announces it until
the president accepts.
Damage Caused by Guam Quake.
Commander Seaton Schroeder. naval
governor of Guam, has sent to the
navy department a Detailed report Of
the damage caused in that island by
the earthquake of Sept. ID. One child
was killed and a few of the residents
of Agana were hurt. There was consid-
cradle loss of property, however. and
funds are asked for to make the neces-