The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-06-20
WASHINGTON LETTER


NOW tnut t1ere seems 10 De II us
position to get rid of the old and un-
slightly structures In this city," remark
ed a gentleman interested In the mat
ter, II will invite attention of owners
who are desirous Of Improvement to
one class of structures and Of the Dis
trict officials who may have this mat
ter In charge, though l do not know
whether there Is law which will gov
ern in this specific instance.
81 refer to the wooden sheds which
are built upon the rear portion of city
lots and which usually abut the alleys.
These sheds and Outhouses, of which
there are thousands in this city, are not
seen, as Il rule, except from our back
windows. In many instances they are
neglected, are dilapidated and sadly
in need Of repair. They are usually
filed with rubbish, ofttimcs the ac-
emulation of years. 1t is unquestion-
able that great many are insanitary
and are menace to the health of the
neighborhoOd."
Relic of Ancient Race.
A big footprint, relic of an ancient
American race, has been received at
the National museum. The specimen
Is a concrete cast of the first footprint
yet encountered of the most highly civ
ilized lost people once living within the
present boundaries of the United
States
The cities Of this people occupied
At.ty n III n
the imprint was apparently bare and
much larger than the feet of any of
the known Indian tribes or races of the
country.
The specimen came from Casa
Grande, on the line of the Southern
Pacific, south Of the Gila river Indian
reservation. At Casa Grande (Blg
House, remain the only well preserved
ruins of this extinct civilization, diff
ferent from anything else in the coun-
try and quite unrelated to the cliff
dwellings and other architectural relics
Of northern Arizona.
Uncle Sans Paper Bill.
One of the largest items of expense
connected with the government print
ing Office Is that for paper, nearly
S1,000,000 being spent for the 10000
tons used annually. 1t requires ap-
proNimately 700 railroad cars to deliver
this material, which is composed of
nearly 100 different kinds of printing
and other papers. Nearly $4,000
year Is realized from the sale of the
waste paper, consisting principally Of
sheets spoiled in the varied processes
of manufacture. The big printery Is
well equipped with mechanical testers,
in addition to the experts employed In
the paper warehouse. The government
purchases printing paper at a very rea-
sonable figure, it Is said, owing to the
large quantities taken from one mill.
Useless Public Documents.
1t is understood that the surplus vol
umes Of government publications stored
at the capitol and in numerous car
barns and other warehouses will be
given an overhauling this summer, and
those Of value distributed through the
superintendent of public documents.
There are 500 carloads of these vol
umes, 1t is said, the majority Of which
are out of date official reports and doc
uments.
President Plays Tennis.
For the last month the president has
played tennis almost daily, usually pre-
ferrlng this form Of exercise In fine
weather to walking or riding In the
country, as he frequently does on rainy
days.
The presidents companions on the
tennis court are usually Clifford Pin
chot the government forester; Law
renee o. Murray, assistant secretary
Of commerce and labor; James r. Gar
field, commissioner Of corporations,
and sometimes the French ambassador
or Herbert Knox Smith, deputy com
missioner of corporations. The presi-
dent always plays doubles at tennis.
Plans For Next Year.
President Roosevelt is adding to the
engagements for his western tour in
June of next year. Some time ago he
accepted invitations to speak at the
commencement exercises Of colleges in
Missouri, Iowa and Michigan. He has
now added the State Normal College
Of Indiana at Terra Haute to his list,
and the chances are strong that his
tour will be a fairly extensive one be-
fore he gets through
There is prospect that the trip may
become one of great significance to
the country. It will fall year before
the presidential election year and be-
fore the nomination by both the great
parties for the head Of the ticket.
There is little doubt that the president
will avail himself Of many opportuni
ties that will be offered to express his
opinions on the principal questions Of
the day and the future.
Old Japanese Armor.
Mr.. Aoki, the new japanese ambas