Gilpin observer., 1902-07-17
LATE WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS


army, recommended by the uniform
submitted to the President before final
action is taken.
The contract made by the Louisiana
Purchase exposition committee to keep
the fair closed on Sunday in compli-
mission has been received at the
Treasury Department. 1t was signed
by fifty-four commissioners.
The controller of the treasury has
decided that the salaries and expenses
of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Commission can not be paid until the
provision of the act appropriating $5,-
100000 for the exposition which re-
quires "as condition precedent that
the directors shall contract to close
the gates to visitors on Sunday during
the whole duration Of the fair is exc
cuted.
Indications are that by next spring
the secretary of the interior will,
through the geological survey, begin
work on the first irrigation system to
be built under the recently enacted
law. Where this project will be To-
Gated has not been determined, but in
modest proportions, costing from $780,
600 to $1,OOO,OOO, and one whose sue
cess is reasonably certain.
Charles ]. Jones, popularity known as
Buffalo" Jones, has been appointed
buffalo warden for Yellowstone Park.
Mr.. Jones has devoted much attention
to the preservation of the American
bison and was largely instrumental in
OH oir,i .iot 6r1r hn
last session of Congress for the estaO-
lishment of government buffalo
ranch in the Yellowstone Park. This
establishment will be in Mr.. Jones'
charge.
The navy department contemplates
making a material reduction of the
naval forces on the Asiatic station
soon. While our interests in the East
are most important, it is thought here
that the large number of American
warships gathered in Chinese and Phil
ippine waters is much above the pro-
per ratio. The plans, it is said, con-
template ordering at least one of the
flag commanders on the Asiatic sta
ton to other duty.
Assistant Attorney General Charles
w. Russell is completing his prepara-
IL
for Paris to investigate the ability of
the new Panama Canal Company to
give the United States satisfactory
the isthmus. When this preliminary
work shall have proceeded to a GER
tain point the attorney general, ac-
cording to the presidents expressed
wish, will probably go over and look
into the matter. He has invited Sen
ator Spooner to go along and assist
him, in view of the senator's we'll
known familiarity with the matter
and the attorney generals opinion OF
his ability, and hopes that he will go.
Secretary Moody, after consultation
with his bureau chiefs, has given or
ders that one of the battleships au-
thorized at the last session of Con-
gress be constructed at the New York
navy yard. The secretary was under
strong pressure in this matter. Be
sides New York, Norfolk and Boston
were competitors for the work. The
secretary was finally Influenced in his
decision by these facts: That no less
than two years time would be re-
quired to bring the plant at Boston
up to point where it could undertake
the work of building a battleship; also
that the $175,OOO authorized by Con-
gress to be expended in making ready
for the construction of the ship would
be insufficient at Boston.
Senator Warren of Wyoming called
upon the President a few days ago and
suggested that he take trip this sum-
mer through the northern tier of west
ern states adjoining the Canadian bor-
der. President Roosevelt had some
time since suggested a horseback ride
across Wyoming, and Mr.. Warren told
the president he would arrange relays
of horses for such a trip II the Presi-
dent would take it. The plan would be
to give the President jaunt Of several
hundred miles through Wyoming and
Montana from the line of the Union
Pacific to some point on the Northern
Pacific. 1t would take the President
through part of the country where
he rode the range when In the cattle
business along the Little Missouri In
the early eighties.
The navy department has Its plans
practically complete for the four big
warships just authorized by the new
naval law, and to bear the names Of
Louisiana, Connecticut, Tennessee and
Washington. The distinctive features
Oh tue IcW bHlpo tuC StIenSth anu
arrangement of their batteries, and n
greater thickness in armor. The bat
tleships are to have displacement of
10000 tons, and will be built for a
speed of eighteen knots. Their batter
les will consist Of four twelve-inch
guns, eight eight-inch guns, twelve
seven-inch and twenty three-inch guns,
and large number of smaller weap-
ons, scattered over the ship. The ar
mored cruisers are to have n dlsplace-
ment Of 14,50O tons, and a speed OF
twenty-five krnts. Their batteries will
consist Of four ten-inch guns, sixteen
six-inch and twenty-five three-inch
guns, and large number Of smaller
ones.
After the din OF military and naval
Ian. L I..la as,d