The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-26

conduct the inquiry. The two scientists
will leave this country the latter part of
this month. During the early part of Sep
TENDER they will travel from st. Petersburg
to Pekin by the Siberian Railroad and as
soon as possible will enter upon geological
field work. China has great food plains,
more extensive than those of the Missis-
sippi. Geologically the rocks Of China COM
prise representatives of every known geo.
logical period, and the record of the earth's
history appears TO be as fully and as In
terestingly exhibited in the middle king
dom as In the United States. The study of
the rate of mountain growth is interna-
tional. II is comprehensive in purpose, in
GLIDING the study of rocks embracing the
problem of structure involved in the noun
tains and the history of mountain growth
as expressed in the existing valleys and
fields. and the paleontology of the various
strata which may be encountered. The plan
upon which the inquiry is now being con-
Quoted is based upon the results of ex-
tensive researches carried on by Baron Won
Richthofen in eastern Asia thirty years ago.
Notwithstanding the prevailing prosperi-
ty. the United States is having no trouble
in getting recruits. In fact, recruits are
more plentiful now than they have been
since the early excitement of the Spanish
war. This state of affairs is explained by an
army officer as follows: Conditions in the
army are now very attractive to young
men who desire to see something of the
world. The rule that regiment shall serve
only two years in the Philippines has made
recruiting easy. Young men are not afraid
n nj a vii In he E,as< hat
army life in the Philippines possesses few
OF the hardships of five years ago. Good,
comfortable barracks have been erected all
over the archipelago, the men know how
TO live to protect their health, and there is
just enough trouble to make things inter-
esting. Men may enlist III the hope of find
ing some business opening in the Philip
pines. So plentiful are candidates that the
standard of fitness has been raised. Only
the finest specimens are now accepted, and
the rejections are higher than they have
been for years. The army is down to the
very lowest limit, there being not more
than $500 men in the army at present"
NIX
The annual report of the superintendent
of the United States Capitol shows that
the big white pile on the hill' is a very
Capitol contains 40 rooms. $40 windows, 300
doorways. 40 fireplaces. ninety toilets, PSI
wash basins. fourteen bathtubs, fifteen
ventilating fans and eighteen motors, 2O4s
horsepower of boilers for heating and
lighting. eight steam pumps for boiler and
fire service. The lighting service is equivaI-
ent to 5000 ineandescent lamps OF sixteen
candle power each. and there are 14,5ls
fee 0f iCh nf
and glass. The statute of freedom on the
dome OF the Capitol has been rejuvenated
during the past year. The report says:
1T is considered desirable that works of
art shall possess that peculiar shade of
green which appears as a result of age and
exposure. 1t seems however. that in the
early treatment of the statue of freedom,
whether 1t was due to the character of the
bronze used or the action of the acid used
In artificial aging. that the resulting tone
was anything but agreeable. 1t has been
found that the surface of the statue. in
stead Of possessing that beauty of color
which 10 found in old bronzes. was covered
with coating almost white. The cleaning
of the statue was carried only so far as TO
remove this white excrescence. One of the
feathers OF the headdress of the statue
of lightning" The repairs TO the Capitol
during the past year cost Sl4s. 49,
The new Venezuelan minister to the
United States is a picturesque character
General Hernandez. the famous ''El
Mocho." Is the hero OF many revolutions
and battles In his native country. Hernandez
Is a patriot well as a revolutionist.
When Venezuelan controversy arose with
the allied powers eel Mocho," who was
then In the field at the head of the insur-
| rection against President Castro, showed
his patriotism by ceasing operations, ex-
planning that he would not fight his coun-
try SO long as il was in peril from foreign
invaders. His selection minister to the
United States Is considered one of Castro's
master strokes in diplomacy. Hernandez is
one Of the few revolutionary leaders in
Venezuela who never sold out In fight.