Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1905-1906, 1906-03-22
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence

taken up target practice on the new
range established ut tie armory of the
Minutemen through the courtesy of
Colonel n. A. Winter of that organiza-
ton.
The initial practice was had by the
captains and lieutenants. and this will
be followed by the sergeants' and pri-
Yates practice. The major and super
intendent of police properly maintains
that an officer of the law who carries
a weapon should know how to use it
The police revolver team enjoys
splendid reputation for accuracy in
volver association in several matches.
The major and superintendent is con-
sidered q good shot with rife and re-
volver and fully appreciates the value
attaching to members being good
marksmen. No doubt some interesting
competitions will follow when the pO-
lice practice is again fully under way.
White House Wedding Floral Map.
A map of the floral arrangements at
the Longworth- Roosevelt wedding, ac
counting for the disposition of the dec
orations and the kind Of flowers used,
has been made by the superintendent
of public buildings and grounds. 1t
has long been q custom to keep an Of
fetal record of functions at the White
House, and in every instance back to
the Van Buren, administration a map
has been made.
Uncle Sans Gun Factory.
af Y1v1Na ant
made ordnance Is universally conced-
ed to be without peer. The man be-
hind the gum In the American navy
has been heralded abroad as the great
est gunner Of the world, but little Is
heard of the skill of the humble me-
chanics in the gun factory who have
brought to this high degree Of efficien-
cy not only the gun, but the manner OF
directing it upon foe.
While it is true that the government
has entered into contracts with various
steel works for the manufacture OF
ordnance, yet in every case the me-
chanics of these steel companies are
compelled to visit the Washington gun
factory and there learn under the tu-
telage of the skilled mechanics the in
tricacies of ordnance construction.
Expert Mechanics.
Many of the improvements in the
sighting device and the machinery by
which guns weighing many tons are
easily manipulated by one hand were
made by the mechanics in the gun fac
tory. In fact, SO perfect is the sighting
mechanism that it is only necessary for
the gunner to put the cross wire in line
with the object to be hit and pull the
trigger. With known distance and a
given windage, the regulating devices
will provide for accuracy. Here again
mechanics drawing $3.42 a day are re-
quired to instruct naval gunners, Of
higher salary. in the mysteries Of the
sights and mechanism Of the guns
With a long line of achievements
behind them, the skilled mechanics Of
the navy yard have asked congress for
an increase in pay that will place them
on a par. with the mechanics of other
navy yards and private establishments.
President to Give a Lecturn.
When ex-Representative Tucker Of
Virginia, now president of the James
town Exposition company, was abroad
few months ago in the interest Of
the exposition King Edward of Eng
land gave him a fine Bible fer pres
entation to old Bruton parish church at
Williamsburg. Va, the successor to the
old original church at Jamestown.
When Mr.. Tucker was at the White
House the other day talking with the
president about the jamestown exposi-
ton and mentioned this gift of King
Edward the president said he would
be pleased to give the Church lecturn
upon which the Bible shall rest, and
Mr.. Tucker told the president nothing
would please the congregation Of the
church more than this.
The Milan Exposition.
Peter de B. Rossi Of San Francisco.
who is in charge Of the California ex-
hibit which will be sent to the Milan
exposition, was recent visitor at the
White House. Mr.. Rossi is in Wash
ington trying to get congress to make
an appropriation of $4,000 for a ma
tional exhibition at the exposition.
which is commemoration Of the open
ing of the great Simplon tunnel which
bores through the Alps, connecting
Italy and Switzerland. 1t will be open
ed for traffic June /.
Beginning April Is the people of
Milan will celebrate this great achieve
ment. All the nations of Europe will
be represented. The promoters of the
exposition are going to reproduce
Mount Vernon, the home of George
Washington. Inasmuch as many of
the western states will be represented
Mr.. Rossi thinks the national govern
ment should also have an exhibit.
Haven For Wild Fowl.
Wild fowl will find the District of Co
lumbia safe place to make their per-
manent home when the movement to
stop hunting has been accomplished.
1t has been ascertained that wild
geese and ducks wifi multiply and ap-