St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-03-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Especial Correspondence

covered while heading westward.
From the trail on the side of the
mountain Mr.. Perkins looked down
anon what seemed to be a sea of
rbfto. He thought it was alum and
hurried on. The place was known as
Dnatb's valley, and as it meant to per-
,sh from thirst if he fingered he got
away as soon as possible.
Six years later the field Of white,
r,istpDing stuff was discovered to be
boraz. and a man named f. NJ Smith,
rbo was then packing mules for a dol
lar day, is now a millionaire and is
tnovn as the boraX king. Mr.. Smith
yos at the capitol the other day, and
Mr. Perkins, who might have been the
horay king, was his escort. But that
WASH the only time l missed for
trne." said Mr.. Perkins. "Once, with
some associates, l owned over 100000
acres of land in Sonora, Mexico. We
bought the land for 40 cents an acre
and sold it for so cents, thinking we
were lucky to get purchaser. Today
fine property is worth between $3O,OO0,-
mo and S4OOO0,000. 1t is the site Of
tbe Greene Consolidated Copper COM
nanv. one of the greatest copper pro-
ducing properties in the world"
The Bill and the Snow.
Early in February Washington had
tbe heaviest snowfall that it has
known for several years. The streets
were piled high with the stuff which
had been swept from the sidewalks
and shoveled from the crossings. Sena-
for Mcmillan introduced a bill appro-
priating $1,000 for the purpose of re-
moving the snow. The bill was refer
red TO the District committee, and that
body gave it careful consideration. 1t
next was sent to the District commits
sioners in order that they might make
suggestions. Then it was printed again.
Four weeks after it had been intro
duced the bill was reported to the SEN
ate by the committee, with the recon-
mendation that it be favorably acted
upon
In the meantime the snow had disap-
peared, the warm sunshine had come,
and the buds appeared on the trees.
Yet the senators are still writing re-
ports on the measure, and there is a
good prospect that the bill will become
a Law about the time congress is driven
from Washington by the heat Of sum-
moT,
Want Foreign Business.
Senator Cullom and Representative
B0utell of Illinois were at the White
House with Mr.. Garden one of the Off
cia.s Of the First National bank Of
Chicago Mr. Garden wanted to lay
before tine president the desire Of his
bank to receive some of the foreign
business of the government. II is rep
resented that foreign firm has acted
as the financial agent Of the govern
ment in Europe for many years, max
Ing a great deal of money out of the
business. 1t is claimed that American
banks and bankers could do the bust
ness just as well. At any rate. the
business could be divided among re-
spouS.blc institutions and not given to
one concern, it is claimed. Senator
CULi0n has contended for a number Of
years that the business should be d.
yided, lie says that American con-
Germs could easily do the business by
dealing with their foreign correspond
euts.
Lntimer After McLaurin's Seat.
Jasper Talbert of South Carolina has
given notice that he does not want to
run for congress again because he is a
candidate for governor of his state,
While Congressman Latimer proposes
to make the race for senator to sue
coed MCLaurin.
Latimer is big, black haired man,
with shoulders as broad as hogs
mead, and If Drawn as well as brains
ran help him he ought to put up a good
hght, Talbert is picturesque speci-
men. He is typical southerner, wear
Ing a black SLOUGH hat, long frock
"oat and a vest that is only buttOned
naIt way and displays his white shirt.
lie also cultiyates the mustache and
eoatee which are characteristic of the
south, His strongest plea for fame is
BASED upon the fact that he is the one
man in the house who questions pen
sion bills very closely. He is going be-
lore his state on his antipension record,
ana upon it he hopes to win.
FultOn's Roller Skate.
1t would not be fair to tell which
one, but one Of the representatives
from New York city was showing
some friends through the capitol the
other afternoon. The strangers exam
med the statues in statuary hall with
great interest. When they came to
robert Fulton, who stands with the
model of his first steamboat in his
nand, one of the ladies said, "And who
is thatw
That" replied the representative,
PeeIIng at the name on the base OF the
statue, lis Fulton. He was the invent
Ut of-the inventor of the roller skate.
ne has the model of one in his hand.
crude affair in those days, as you can
see"
Prefers the Antique.
Inc luxurious mahogany furniture Of
'ne house and of most of it's committee
rooms has no charm for Mr.. Thad