Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-18
CAPITAL CHAT.
Washington, Too, Is Having a
Rigorous Winter.
President Anxious to Begin Work on
the Canal.
Various Maine Postal Matters Of Ger
erai Interest.

Washington. Feb. 17.-(SpeciaD.-t
sounds ridiculous to talk about rlgor-
Gus Washington winter but 1t is 4 fact.
What Is more notable Is that il has
proven very severe on the New Eng
landers who are here during the ses-
sion Of Congress. The Maine dele
cation has held out we'll and been able
to attend to legislative duties. but both
th. Vermont members one Of whom Is
a young man and the other q Civil War
veteran, have been under the weather
for weeks. They had grip and then
the sudden changes have frightened
them about getting out Of doors. Not
a few other New Englanders here have
been in a similar plight and would have
stood 1t far better If they could hav"
had the constant and unchanging cold
weather Of their own localities.
There have not been az many snow
storms In Washington any winter for a
dozen years as there have been this
winter. On one side OF these snow
storms there have been rains and
warm spells and on the other side Of
them days Of biting cold. One day the
Thermometer Is climbing high. as
though trying to reach June heat and
another day sinking as though it We're
trying TO dive under the zero point.
1t Is understood that Is is the Prasi-
dents intention to hasten the actual
excavation Of dirt from the big ditch
on the isthmus. now that the ratifica-
ton Of the Canal treaty is assured
within 4 week. The President wants
to assure the American people Of his
intention to do all in his power to max
q canal between the two oceans a
reality. One can not predict just how
long 1t Will take to get to the point of
excavatinR under American auspices
but II will certainly be only n matter
Of few months. The purchase Of the
canal will be consummated at once
with the exchange Of Publications IA
canal commission as authorized by the
Spooner law. will be appointed. The
weeks and months Immediately sue
ceeding will be busily occupied in an
extensive organization to press the
work intelligently and aggressively
Large purchases of excavating ma
chinery Will be made by those. who
have the work in charge. but 1t will be
for the commission to decide whethe~
the work shall be done under contract
or whether IT shall be done by the gov
eminent itself. A great supervisory
force OF engineers and other executives
must be engaged and hundreds Of i'm
portant details arranged. The Presi-
dent intends to have this work done
during the spring and summer months
so that by autumn. at least. an army
Of men. well organized. may be able tn
move on the great ditch and begin to
open 1t between the two oceans.
The four Maine members of the
House have been occupied this week at
the long sessions over the naval APP
ryopriation bill. The earnest discus
sion Of disputed points in that big
measure has made it necessary for all
Republicans to be on hand at all times.
The delegation will stand for the bill
as reported from the Committee. carry
ing appropriations for an enlargement
Of the navy to compare favorably with
the strength Of other navies and also
to n standard commensurate with the
size and dignity Of the nation. While
unwilling to lannch into unnecessary
and unreasonable expense for the con-
struction Of fighting ships. the Maine
delegation hold that all the money that
can be reasonably spent Is wisely spent
for the national defense.
This view Is also shared by Repre-
sentative Roberts, of Massachusetts. a
member of the Naval Committee and n
native Of Madison, Me. He has been
one of the very active workers in the
Committee for n bill that should au-
thorize good expenditure for more
battleships and cruisers
The numerous Lincoln birthday ora
tors. who went out Of Washington last
week to many points Of the compass
arr returned. There was n rcquisition
on most of the available orators in
Congress this year to speak at some
Lincoln banquet. but by no means all
Of those asked responded. Those who
went report good Republican courage
for the campaign. The Lincoln BAN
quets always bring together ASSEMBLE
ages Of Republican politicians and in
variably result in political talk. The
observance of WaShington's birthday,
Feb. %. in many nearby cities will take
number OF Congressional orators,
again out Of the city very soon but the
orations that day are less of n political
nature.
letter from Acting Fourth Assistant Post
master General c. A. Conrad of the
change OF name in the Postoffice at East
Fairfield. Somerset County. to Hinckley
and of the appointment Of Miss Emma j.
Walker as postmaster at Brooksville.
Hancock County. in place of Hon. ]. G..
Walker resigned.
At the request Of Mr.. ]. Z. Witham. of
Oriand. preferred At the Department by
Gov. Burleigh. Second Assistant Pos,mas-
ter General Shallenberger. has directed
that the star route. No. 1897 between
North Orland and Orland. Ne. he not dis
continued, as was originally planned
A letter from Mr.. Charles Bryant. o,
Freedom. Nc. has been placed on file a,
the Postofficc Department requesting the
establishment of proposed rural route No
4. out Of Thorndike. Me-: also lettc,
from s. ]. and L. G. Coffin. of Thorndike
asking for a change of the rural free de-
livery service out of that town Still an.
other letter from MFR. 4. NJ Shibles most.
master at Knox Station. Me- and asking
that the proposed rural route he eStab
lfshed from Knox Station has been p,i,
on lille at the Department. 1t states thai
the proposed route will accommodate,
about seventy-five families who are MOI
Inhabitants. All these letters will h.