The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1902-02-13
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
Maine Matters at the National Capital.
Correspondence of The journal.

WASHINGTON. d. c.. Feb. 10, 1902
You were advised last week of the
awarding Of the contract for granite
fol- tie Baltimore customs house to the
Mary and firm; and here are some
further particulars;
Tie architects wrote the Treasury
department that the Mount Waldo
and the Guilford granite are suitable
for tie construction of the custom
house Our specifications. they con-
tinue,, called for alternate bids for
concrete and for terra Gotta floor con-
struction. The terra Gotta construction
seems to US more economical, as it does
not involve additional ceiling conStruc-
ton.
Our specifications requested bidders
to state amount to be added to contract
if divisions between third and fourth
story windows be made of stone. 1t
seems desirable to US to adopt this form
of construction. Adopting these two
items we have the following result:
Bid of John PIERCE, $3.50, 900; add for
terra Gotta floor construction, S1S.4l6;
add for stone divisions between third
and fourth story windows, S26, 300, max
ing the total of the bid. Sso3,9
Bid of Henry smith x Sons, S771.-
~. add for terra Gotta floor construc-
tivn. $1,000. add for stone divisions
herweeu third and fourth story win
doa~. Sl5.8on making the total of the
ND s17-.574'
Under the circumstance the contract
l.I.' 20 to the Maryland company. Tie
Gl1oId Granite Company, mentioned
En- tire letter Of the architects, had a
-,w Lid. nut 1t was for pink granite
Tile competition between the quarries
OF tie Northern States and of the
southern States las grown very keen
lu recent yeaIs. Tie Southern quarry
cullwLies. many of whom have secur-
I'd anacels from Marie. have been
invading the markets in this vicinity,
wi ere they contest the contracts very
ketu.y. 1t is often Yankee against
Yankee because these Maine managers,
trau.p alted to Southern soil. possess
slTe1duess and knowledge Of the bISi-
hess to enable them to bid often sue
ce-stJlly.
Gov. Bur.-jgll lad an important part
il framing a measure for permanent
census bureau. which was subsequently,
ra~sed by the House of Representa-
tiv-s. Tile most eminent statlsticianS
o1 the country for fifty years have been
advocating permanent bureau be-
,duse it would enable the government
ct more reliable census returns, and
r. tpr end to secure its census returns
more cleapy. Gov. BuIleieh. one of
tie best posted men i'll tie census com
nnttee since its establishment over TWO
years ago. was heartily in accord with
such a plan and co-operated with Coy.
Merriam Of Minnesota, director in
framing such bill as the House would
approve. The arguments for the bureau
were ulansWerabIe and it is probable
thai a bill will be passed soon by the
senate senator Hale is a member of
Tie committee which viii have the
measure Ill charge at that end of the
capitol
besides aiding III the formation of
ard there las been much of it, cover
ing tie entire organization of the hu-
rtau. as it now stands, which gave the
country the best census it has ever had
Goy. Burleigh has been able to look out
fol d number OF Maine people i'll the
hUedU. A large portion OF these Will
LOW lie able to get permanent places
under The government, provided tie bill
becomes a Law, as is probable. One Of
the greatest Improvements expected
from The new order of things is more
ruIect statements regarding the agri-
cultural interests OF the country. The
tanners the country over want accurate
and prompt information about agricul-
tural matters, but for the lack of train
tQ men W SttuIt tlllS IllOl1lldllOH IL
was by no means all that could be de-
sired under the last census
Among the prominent Maine people
to arrive in town last week was Hon. !
Byron Boyd Of Augusta, Secretary of
state of Maine. He and Mrs. Boyd
visited her parents, Gov. and Mrs. Bur
leigh, at the Richmond. They have many
friends in Washington, including Maine
people and others, and have been ex-
tensively entertained Senator and Mrs. |
Hale had Mr.. and Mrs. Boyd at their
house for lunch.
The petitions for rural free delivery
routes continue to pour in from the |
third Maine Congressional district. A. |
r. DeverenX, a prominent citizen of |
East Lamoine Me- and numerous other
residents there, have asked that a rural |
free delivery route be established out |
of their town, and the petition has been |
filed with the Postotlice Department by
Gov. BurIeigh, with d request that it be
given attention at the earliest moment |
poSSlDle Special INSPECTOR Ed Rom