Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-08
SOIL SURVEYS START SOON
Nebraska, Dakotas aud Iowa Included in
Work so Far Planned.
lowAN RETURNS FROM LONDON ON LEAVE
Prof. Geddes Arrives i'm washington
and VIII Return TO Western
Home shortly to spend
Vacation.
From a Staff Correspondent

NfTOm a StaH correspondent
WASHINGTON. May 7.-(special Tele-
g~ram.)-During the coming summer Secre-
tary Wilson will place in various parts of
the United States twenty soil survey par
ties and has just assigned the territory
each will cover.
These soil surveys have proved OF inesti-
mAble value to agriculture in the past ana
this summer will be pushed with Increased
vigor. Between the present time and July
/ one party will survey as much as possible
of Bookings county, South Dakota. A
party under Mr.. Marean, with Mr.. Jones,
will survey the whole OF Story and Cerro
Gordo counties, Iowa, spending six months
on the work. A party under Mr.. Mesmer
Is to proceed to Laramie, Wyo., to survey
the i~rrigable lands of the Laramie area.
Mr.. Hearn and Mr.. Burgess on July 1 will
go to Grand Island, Neb.. to survey the
Grand Island and Wood river sheets, and
later as large an area as possible around
Norfolk, Neb., being Influenced in the de-
termination of boundaries by the sugar beet
interests at that place.
Iowa Man on Vacation.
T. H. Geddes, son Of the late General
Geddes Of Ames. Ia, now London represen-
tative OF the Agricultural department, is In
| Washington on leave of absence. MT.
Geddes represents in the British isles the
bureau Of animal industry OF the Depart
ment Of Agriculture and will leave shortly
for his former home in Iowa to spend the
remainder Of his leave.
Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Gardener,
Twenty-hrst infantry, is by recent orders
Of the Department Of the Dakota, directed
to proceed to and inspect the organized
National Guard company stationed at Cant
stota, S. D.
New Army Rifle "A wonder.
The army board, which has been for
months past considering the merits of the
new service rifle, has finally declared in
favor Of a weapon with a barrel only
twenty-four inches in length, using a 0.SO
ball.
The new gun is a remarkable weapon,
according to the ordnance officers, for while
1t is four inches shorter than the Krag
and only two inches longer than the car
bine, 1t Is more powerful than either, with
a higher initial velocity and fatter ira
j%ectory. It can easily penetrate twenty
four one-inch pine planks. 1t is a pound
lighter than the service rife, which is a
consideration in the tropics.
A new feature is a complete encasement
Of the barrel in wood to prevent burning
the hands when the gun is rapidly dis
charged. The weapon was evolved by
United States army officers and is not pat
ented. 1t is asserted to be the most power
full musket in the world.
Idaho lawyer for Porto Rico.
Willis Sweet of Occur d'Alene, Idaho, has
been appointed attorney general of Porto
Rico, to succeed James s. Harlan, who re-
Gently resigned.
Mr.. Sweet was at one time associate JUS
tice of the territory OF Idaho and later rep
resented his state in congress. He is con-
sidered a lawyer of note.
Sign Venezuelan toe
The Venezuela protocols submitting the
question of preferential treatment TO The
Hague and also protocols for the mixed
commission at Caracas we're signed at the
British embassy shortly before Z tonight
by Mr.. Bowen, Sir Michael Herbert, Baron
Won Sternburg and signor Mayor des
Planches.
Routine of Departments.
These rural carriers were ap-
pointed today: Glenwood, regular, William
H. Byers; substitute, o. V. Byers. Maple
ton, regular, Caleb Kenyon; substitute,
Frank Kenyon. PauliDa, regular. Alva ].
Halles; substitute. Mrs. E. A. Halles. Shell
don, regular, Earl d., Hollenbeck; substi-
tute, Lon G. Hollenbeck.
lue pOsComCe at NeBunda, webster
county, Neb., has been ordered discon-
tinued.
The application Of Herman Rietveld, W.
Rietveld, Robert G. Emmett. J.. r. Wise, J.
B. Roovaart and others to organize the
First National bank Of Harvey, Ia, with a
capital Of 5 5000, was today approved by
the comptroller of the currency.
Charles Carothers of Galloway, Neb., was
today awarded the contract for carrying the
mails from Galloway to Over. Neb.
Postmasters appointed: Nebraska-stock.
! Vile, Frontier county, Don C. Dye, vice ]
L. Sanders, resigned. Iowa-Liberty. Clarke
> county, John Williamson.
5 Two rural free delivery routes will b,
established July 1 at Spirit Lake. Dickin.