Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-09-10
From Washington.

Washington, d. c., Sept. 10.
About 80, this morning, policemen
stationed at the White House discovered
\ fire under the north porticO in the
waste paper basket. The fire was 80
small that it was Immediately put out
and caused no damage other than the
burning of the basket. No cause could
be assigned for the fire.
In accordance with the engineering
plans of Corthell, Bond q Davis, the
limited States Battleship Maine Salvage
Company have filed articles of incorpora-
ton under the District code, the capital
stock of which is to be 5000, 900, for the
purpose of raising the battlesbip Maine
which was wrecked in Havana harbor
Sufficient material from the wreck will
be brought to the United States to erect
a suitable memorial which will either be
donated to the United States government
or some organization for this purpose.
Although vacation time for the ordi-
nary citizen is over the list OF prominent
Government officials who are absent
from their desks in Washington seems
10 grow longer instead ofshorter. Most
of the Cabinet officers are absent on
canvassing trips for the President and,
in addition, it is worthy of note that
many of the diplomatic representatives
of the United States abroad are now in
this country, no doubt doing little mis-
sionary work for the republican party in
quiet way.
According to the report of postoffice
inspector, the rural free delivery service
enabled Leander f. Pierce, of Cambridge,
Massachusetts, to defraud the farmers OF
New Hampshire and Vermont, under
the name of Frank Wilson, of Cam
bridgeport, Massachusetts,. 1t is charged
Pierce sent out alluring circulars recon-
mending the farmers of those States to
send him their maple sugar. lie claim
ed to have such fashionable clientele
that he was able to dispose of the maple
and rock candy and sugar from his FAC
tory at greatly advanced price. Com
nlaints from defrauded farmers finally
came to the notice of The Postofice De-
partment, for it was discovered that the
fellow had no factory, and that the mail
for him was dropped in a box by the
rural carrier and that he was not known
to have paid for any of the goods he re-
ceived.
The delegates to the eight Interna-
tional Geographical Congress were hard
at work this morning. Fifteen different
meetings were held in the George Wash
ineton University at which various del
egates talked upon subjects that ranged
from the formation of n cks to the rea-
sons why Mount Pelee erupted. AT
noon the delegates were photographed in
the shadow of the Treasury Building.
In the afternoon they continued their
discussions and ended the day by touring
the city in automobiles. Tonight they
will be the guests Of Commander Peary,
the President of the Congress, at the
New Willard. Tomorrow the delegates
will go to Mount Vernon and in the
evening will leave tor Philadelphia,
where Monday will be spent before 60
ing to New York City.
The public health and marine hospi-
tai service makes public a report from
acting Assistant Sergeon Gustetter, who
was sent to investigate reported plague
cases at Bisbee, Arizona. He denies
that bubonic plague has made it appear
ance there. The cases treated at the
hospitals were pneumonia and enteric
fever. From a sanitary standpoint,
Bisbee is in very bad condition, he says.
The health officer is endeayOring to
clean up the city.
The militia at Manassas were paid this even
ing after the review, which was held at Wei
lington at o'clock. After the review SUI
Of the eastern militia were entertained ana
started for home. The Southern Railway ran
as MANY special trains as necessary from
Washington TO Wellington, and large crowds
witnessed the review of both the Blue and
Brown forces.
Charles w. Nell, of Garlan, Pa, was ar
rested in Chief Wilkes Office this morn
ing, where he came from Harrisburg, Pa, to
collect twenty-five years back pay for SER
vices rendered the secret service branch OF
the government. Nell, for the past rs years,
hes been terror" to evil doors in the State
of Pennsylvania, when not engaged in his
regular pursuit of house painting. He IS
laboring under the apprehension that all
persons doing % years of service for the gov
eminent would receive all back pay at the
expiration of that time. He was sent to po-
lice headquarters by Assistant Chief Moran,
where he will be held to await a hearing rs
to his sanity.