The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1902-05-08
Our Washington Letter.
X. F. ID. Route at Harmony. Little Fishes.
White House Guests Maine People in
Washington. Appropriations for Pub
lie Buildings.

Washington, d. c May 7.
Residents of Harmony, Me have been
inquirng recently of Representative
Burleigh about the method of proceed |
ing to secure rural free delivery route |
out of that town. In letter of recent
date Mr.. Burleigh informai Mr.. illiam
G. Bailey of that TOW n, that a rural free
delivery route should not be more than
% nor less than 20 miles in length and
should accommodate 100 families. A
copy of a blank petition was also for
warded for the convenience of these
Somerset residents who want better mail
facilities.
The Fish Commissioner at Augusta
will have big lot of trout up in his
vicinity before many weeks an item that
will be of interest to the fishermen up
Somerset way. Gov. Burleigh requested
that $4,000 brook trout fry be delivered
to Hon. l.. L. Carleton ard United States
Fish Commissioner Bowers has COM
piled with this request. Every year Gov.
Burlegh secures the consignment of
large numbers of trout in the lakes and
ponds of Somerset and in fact all over
the third Congressional district. This
year the Fish Commission expects to
plant about two billion little fishes and a
great many of them will go up into
Maine. Thousands of trout and salmon
and bass have already been planted in
the waters of Somerset by Mr. Burleigh.
He keeps in close touch here with the
doings of the Fish Commission and the
Commissioner honors as far as possible
his requests for distribution of little
fishes. The governor has regular blank
forms, on which he places the requests
of residents of the district for fishes and
the commission grants these requests
when bearing the governors endorse
ment. Probably no State in the Union
has been benefited more from the United
States Fish Commissions work than has
the State of Maine.
The members of the Maine delegation
were invited, a few days ago, to be guests
at the White House during the first lawn
party that has been given there for
years. There has been much social gay
ETY. in the old-fashioned eighteenth CEN
fury structure, standing back few rods
from Pennsylvania Avenue, since Presi-
abode within. The Maine people were
given very glad welcome, although it
was too wet for the enjoyment of the ex.
tensive green lawns in the rear of the
mansion, where it had been the inten-
ton to have gala scene.
From the White House down to the
Potomac River there is a great unoecu-
pied stretch of land, much of which is
laid out with driveways and avenues of
trees. The White House lot is only
small portion of this, inclosed with a
tall iron fence. The gates are open to
the public much of the time, but during
the lawn party they were closed. There
are always many curious people here, a
large part of them negroes, who crowd
public places and overwhelm every pub
lie affair where there is any attraction.
The President shows that he is kindly
disposed to Maine people in many ways
Mrs. Burleigh has been invited to the
hite House functions on many ocea.
sions, as Mrs. Roosevelt seems TO share
the appreciation for Maine people which
her distinguished husband eyinces. The
round OF social events at the White
House has given sojourners here in Off
eial life opportunity to see much of the
hlte House and its occupants, outside
the strictly formal events. Next winter
the social season there will be even more
brilliant than this winter, by which time
1t is expected the White House will be
extensively remodelled in the interior
This is the time of year in Washing
ton when scores of men are on the anx-
ions seat as to their denominations
Names competent delegation has none
of those troubles but large portion of
the House has and those members are
constantly straining for some theat-
rlcal effect upon their constituents
which will entrench the member for an
other term The Maine men, however,
are abe to stick strictly to the legitimate
business OF their representing constitu-
ents. states are more and more coming
to the wisdom of the idea followed in
Maine for years that it is better to have
a competent, experienced man in { on.
gress tn An it is to send several green
men there, The number of changes in
the next Congress will be large good
many of the older members have already
fallen by the wayside.
There has been quite a representation
OF Maine people in town the last six or
seven days, many of them excursonists
and some attending the national con.
gress of the sons of the American Revo-
luton. That and kindred patriotic soci
cites have several Somerset people
among their memberships The visitors
all took the trip down to Mount Vernon,
where Washington lived and died. 1t is
a very picturesque trip from here down
at this time of year, with the trees in
full foliage and the spring flowers in
bloom The hills of Maryland and Viz
ginla, that stretch away as far as the eye
can reach, follow the broad Potomac on
either side as that historic waterway
wIdens to the sea. The George Wash
ington mansion at Mount Vernon is 10
Gated on an eminenee overlooking the
Potomac. The estate is undoubtedly
the mecca of more Americans every wear
than any other spot on this continent
Trainloads of people 20 out from here
daily by the electric line, which runs
through the ancient town of Alexandria,
Va and many more go by boat daily.
One of the visitors here, this we k, is
of Somerset interest-Mr. William NJ.
Bunker of California, ex president of
the talifornia society of the sons of the
American Revolution. He is close kin
u the Bunkers of North Arson, especi
ally to Mr.. and Mrs samuel Bunker Of