The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-12-01
LETTER
Especial Correspondence

space was made by Commissioner Al
len Of the patent office in his annual re-
port to the secretary Of the interior,
which has just been made public. He
states that the net surplus Of receipts
over expenditures in the amount turn
ed into the treasury was $273. 1884
and that he believes that this sum
might be wisely expended for the spe-
cial purposes of the office.
The total expenditures during the
year were $1,511,355, of which 1886, los
was for salaries.
New Trademark Law.
The first year of work under the new
trademark law of Feb. 20, 1905, is COM
prised in this report. The law went in
to effect April 1, 1905, and during the
last three months of that fiscal year,
although 9,71O applications for regis
tratiOn of trademarks were made un-
der the law, the delays necessarily
caused by the requirement of publica-
ton Of trademarks prior to their regis
tratiOn prevented the registration Of
any Of these applications under the
new law until the beginning Of the
present fiscal year.
To the applications first mentioned
there were added 1O,SSS applications
during the fiscal year under considera-
ton, making a total of 2O,59S applica-
tons for registration of trademarks for
consideration and registration during
the current year.
No Smoking In Theaters.
To secure better fire protection for
Washington theaters and other places
Of public assembly and amusement
Fire Chief Belt has recommended the
adoption of an amendment to the po-
lice regulations prohibiting smoking in
these buildings.
Chief Belt desires that it be made
unlawful for any one to smoke on the
stage, in the stage galleries, the dress
ing rooms or the property rooms of
any public amusement building in the
District, provided that it is not a fea-
ture Of a performance.
Largest American Flag.
The largest American flag in the
world will be hung in the court of the
pOstoffice department as soon as the
huge piece of bunting can be com
pleted. 1t will be sixty feet long and
! will have a proportionate width. The
material used will be American wool
bunting, and the cost will be about
$500. According to the measurements
prescribed for the whole flag, each of
the thirteen stripes will be almost
three feet wide. The flag will exceed
in size the banner which hangs in the
court Of the pension Office and is said
to be the largest flag in existence.
Street Paving.
Failure to receive proposals to lay
sheet asphalt pavements in the Dis
trict within the limit fixed by congress
has determined the commissioners to
pave streets with asphalt block. The
commissioners because of this cOndi-
ton will make an effort to obtain from
congress authority to establish a Dis
trict asphalt plant to supply all the
paving material of this character need
ed in the future.
Chinese Legation In Mourning.
The Chinese legation will be in
mourning for 100 days because of the
death in China of Mrs. LANG, the
mother of Sir Chentung LANG Cheng,
the minister to the United States.
Chinese customs require that the Pc
Rod during which a sol shall mourn
his mother is three years. Under or
binary circumstances Chinese in the
diplomatic service are compelled to
give up their posts when a parent dies
and 60 into mourning for the prescrib-
ed time, but in this case an imperial
decree was issued waving the full pc
Rod Of mourning and authorizing Sir
Chentung LANG Cheng to continue In
his post and resume his duties after
100 days.
Capitol ROtunda Restored.
In improvements upon the capitol
and to other buildings and grounds
under the supervision of Elliott Woods,
superintendent of the capitol building
and grounds, $114,399 was expended
during the last fiscal year.
VI Ills dIuOuut SoU,OOO WAS spent Ou
repairs to the capitol, $4,000 in light
ing and heating and $26,SOO in i'm
proving the grounds. The balance was
used in making other repairs.
The capitol rotunda has been thor
oughly overhauled and is now restored
to the same appearance 1t had when
new. The upper ironwork of the dome,
extending from the main cornice of the
rotunda upward. has been painted. and
1900 incandescent concealed lamps for
lighting have been installed.
New ONCE Buildings.
Considerable progress has been made
in the construction Of the senate and
house office buildings. Work on the
house structure has advanced well
above the principal floor, leaving about
one story and a half to be completed,
while on the senate building much OF
the granite work has been set in the
subbasement and a large amount Of
heavy brickwork completed. Approx
mately 1880 cubic yards Of brick
work have been installed in the house