Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-10-13
From Washington.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette
Washington, d. c., Oct. 13.

Correspondence Of the Alexandra Gazette.I
Washington. d. c., Oct. 19.
Government officials are coming to
realize more and more the part which
our imported products, particularly
wheat, play in the worlds politics.
1t creates no surprise that the crop re-
porter of the Department of Agriculture
and the daily consular and trade re-
ports of the Department of Commerce
and Labor issued today should have for
their leading subjects, articles on flour
and political questions arising there
from. Special Agent Burrill sends re-
port from Shanghai, China, dated Sep
TENDER /, stating that Australia, think
ing to take advantage OF the boycott on
American goods, is endeavoring to intro
duce her -four into China. He says
that the outlook for the continued con-
troll by the United States of the flour
market of northern Chinais MOI especi-
ally bright, while the promised ven.
ture of the Australians into this held
of commercial activity seems predestined
to failure. He bases this conclusion on
the presumption that now Manchuria is
to be opened up that the major portion
of the wheat forChinese consumption will
be grown in that country. The letter
printed in the Crop Reporter from Lon
don is not signed, evidently being sent,
however, by government official. The
conclusion Of an investigation in the
British Isles is this, that while in no
sense the exclusive article Of food that
rice is in some oriental countries, yet
wheat is above all other products pre-
eminently the basic item of the Eng
ish food supply. circumstances Pc
culiar to the British Isles, contin-
ues the report" make this a fact
of great political as well as econom-
ic and commercial importance; the
culture of whest in the United Kingdom
has decreased by more than half with in
the past thirty years Consumption,
meanwhile has been steadily inceasing,
and the situation now is that the Eng
lish people, an insular nation, produce
less than one fifth of the grain that con-
stitutes their chief article Of food, and
hence are dependent for over four-hfths OF
their supply upon oversee transporta-
tion." The problem of obtaining this
premier foodstuff without famine prices
has not been attended with difficulties,
it is pointed out, for many years. The
question is asked what the outcome
would be if England would become iu-
volved with a great naval power.
The peace treaty between Russia and
Japan which was concluded at Ports
mouth, N. H., will be formally ratified
tomorrow. This will put an end to the
existing armistice between the two re,
Gently hostile armies in Mancburia and
will definitely establish a lasting peace.
The news that tomorrow had been de-
cided upon as the day upon which the
Gar and the MiksdO will sign and
, the treaty was brought to
artment this morning by
the Russian Ambassador,
.t. one of the Russian peace
-..r. ..f es at Portsmouth. 1t Is
intended to have the notifications take
place in Toxic and St. Petersburg as
nearly simultaneously as possible taking
into consideration the difference in tine
between the two capitals. Later there
will be more formal exchange OF the
written and signed documents in this
city at the White House in the presence
of President Roosevelt.
First Lieutenant Louis McLane Ham
ilton, of the 14th Infantry, has been
condemned to lose thirty files in rank on
the charge of absence without leave, so
much of the sentence passed by the court
martial in his case having been approved
by the President today.
President Roosevelt today reappointed
Henry l.. West commissioner of the District
of Columbia He has served three years.
At the time Of his original appointment Mr..
West was one of the staff Of the Washington
Post
Brig. Gen A /. Mills, Superintendent Of
the u. S. Military Academy at West Point,
has submitted his annual report. The imam
cial condition OF the cadets at the pres mt
time is reported to be the best in the history
of the Academy, only 81 of them being in
debt to an average amount of but Sl3.49.
The Secretary of Agriculture has appointed
F. n. Gray, of Houston Texas special field
agent and member of the crop estimating
board. He is the second member Of the
board to be appointed from the South.
Thirty of the fifty articles in the proposed
convention between the Pan American re-
publics had been adopted by the sanitary
convention when it adjourned for lunch TO-
day. So far, the articles in the main have
been declaration of war on rats, mice and
mosqitoes as agents of spreading plague,
cholera and yellow fever. The convention
will be signed either late this afternoon or to-
morrow.
Husbands Rebel.
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