The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-11-15
WASHINGTON LETTER


Behind the announcement that the
of agriculture has import
ed from Malta IL flock Of sixty-eight
goats for experimental purposes lies
the determination to build up a new
branch Of animal industry in this coun-
try. The Malta goat is II very different
animal from the Angora goat, which
has been raised In Oh parts OF the
United States for its fleece. The new
strain Is remarkable for its milk pro-
ducing qualities as we'll as for Its value
us a meat product. These two reasons
commended the breed to the depart
ment, and Secretary Wilson expects to
develop it as a new farm animal for
the poor, just as in Europe.
Training Firemen.
TO perfect firemen In the art Of saw
ing lives In burning buildings and in
fire fighting and to break in the new
members Of the department the depart
ment has erected a six story training
tower on the lot In the rear Of the No. 8
engine house.
This training tower consists Of a
frame structure six stories high and
about eight feet square. 1t measures
seventy-1ve feet from the roof to the
ground and is constructed on heavy
iron braces. Through the middle Of the
tower Is built a ladder, which will be
used by the men In reaching the vari-
Gus floors during their practice.
Chief Belt has had two dummies
made to aid in the practice work. One
measures Ave feet eight inches in
length and weighs 145 pounds, and the
other will be five feet four inches high
and weighs 40 pounds. They will be
used In training the fire fighters to get
persons from burning buildings quick
ly. These dummies will also be used in
the practice Of catching persons jump
ing from windows into a net.
Free Flowers For All.
There are flowers for nearly all In
Washington If they will only take the
trouble to pick them up. Most people
do not know this, but it is a fact none
the less. This Is the season for strip
ping the beds in the public parks. and
there are cart loads of plants that are
dug up and dumped OH the banks Of
the river below the propagating gar
dens that any one can have for the
taking away. OF course flowers that
are salvaged from the dump heap ut
this season have to be nursed through
the winter before they will bloom
again. But they are said to be worth
the picking up. and more people each
year are getting to watch for the fall
stripping of the beds as a good time to
renew their stock Of plants ut small
expense.
White House Pianos.
The White House Is now equipped
with three pianos, the third instrument
having recently been installed in the
mansion. One Is kept in the east room
and used by Ethel Roosevelt. Another
Is for Miss Alice Roosevelt. The third
Ia a mechanical player.
Up to quite recent years n piano
was all that was necessary Mt the
White House. The three pianos are
the personal property of the residents
Of the executive mansion.
The Artillery Corps.
The artillery corps of the army Is
preparing to ask for $4,000 additional
men, with officers in proportion. This
would mean an Increase Of ,OOO
In the cost Of maintaining the army
Tlnvci111, ,,,C,.n ,sf;11oNvvu,oo, O,sn vn.,xl
ed to take care of the coast defenses
and f~ortitications, but the increase Is
not likely to be made IN the Fifty
ninth congress.
Sending Out Seeds.
For many years the work Of putting
up the seeds in packages for congress.
sional distribution was done entirely
by hand. 1t was the custom of the sen.
ators and representatives to send their
franked and addressed slips to the de.
partment Of agriculture, where the
work Of counting the slips, pasting
them ON the envelopes and filling them
with seed vas done by manual labor.
In the past three years, however. q
remarkable change in the methods OF
preparing the seed for shipment has
been inaugurated. The work Is now
carried on in q large three story build
Ing in the vicinity of the department
where the latest mechanical devices
have been installed. The ANTICIPATED
methods We're left behind when posses
sion of the building was taken three
years ago. The laboriOus hand worl
has been supplanted by machinery sc
human in Its action that one is almost
inclined to believe it thinks.
Wonderful Machines.
From seedmen in various parts OF thu
country the government buys its seed
California being the most favored state
1t is shipped to Washington In bags
containing two bushels each and l:
then put into shape for distribution
throughout the country.
The process through which the seed!
pass from the time Of entering tn,
building until they are e withou