The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1906-08-02
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Secretary Metcalf of the Department
Of Commerce and Labor has ordered
the coast survey to make an investiga-
tion to ascertain whether there has
been any horizontal displacement of the
earth's crust on the Pacific coast as a
result of the earthquake Of April IL
last. This will be necessary in order
to rectify existing charts and maps. In
India, after the earthquake of 1897, re-
vision of the triangulation showed diff
ference in distance of % feet and 13
feet in height. Prof. Omori Of japan,
| who is investigating the effects Of the
earthquake in San Francisco, says
that, If accurate observations had been
taken of the smaller shocks which have
followed the great shock, it would be
easy to predict when the earth would
again tremble. He predicts that small
shocks will continue to occur for two
years or more, but that there will not
be another great shock in that part of
the country for fifty years.
-
Postmaster General Cortelyou has
issued an order resembling the regula-
tion under which patrons of rural mail
routes are compelled to purchase boxes
from one of the two hundred listed
manufacturers who have put on the
market 800 different styles of boxes,
approved by the department, costing
from fifty cents to four dollars each.
Patrons of rural routes will be per-
mitted to construct their own boxes,
/ provided that in doing so they conform
to the requirements Of the department
as to size, durability, safety and pro-
lection from the inclemency of the
weather. In order to maintain the
government protection of the mail
placed in rural boxes the patron must
secure the approval of the postmaster
for the Office which serves the route,
and paint on the box the words zap.
proved by the Postmaster General"
- . ....
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson an
nounces his purpose to enforce thor
oughly the new meat inspection law,
and said he would 90 personally to Chi
cago to organize the inspection force
in that city. He said every packing
house would have TO satisfy him before
he would pass it as sanitary, and that
the civil service commissions already
had number Of inspectors selected.
Supervision and inspection would be
extended "from the pasture to the
package" and the government stamp
upon the can would be guarantee,
not only of the healthfulness of the
animal, but also that the product was
prepared in sanitary surroundings and
with the addition Of no deleterlous
chemical or preservative."
-
BY direction, of President Roosevelt
orders have been issued that violations
Of the eight-hour law by contractors on
public buildings shall be reported by
army and navy officers or other gov
ernment officers detailed to take charge
Of such buildings. These reports will
be turned over to the Department of
Justice, that prosecutions may follow.
Labor organizations have reported
many violations Of the law to the Pres
ideRt, who had Commissioner Of Labor
Neill investigate them. He found the
law being freely violated, and it was
decided to get the cooperation of the
army and navy officers to check the
practice.
A surplus of $26,1S7, $50 Is shown by
the Treasury Departments statement
of the governments financial transac-
tions during the fiscal year ending
June 80. The receipts We're S594.591,-
ia, being $51, ,490S55 more than in the
prior year. The increasd is in customs
ard internal revenues. The expendi-
lures for army, navy, pensions, interest,
civil and miscellaneous We're compara-
lively lower than during 1904-05, but
were more than Offset by the increased
expenditures Of $23,504,1S9 for public
works, including the Panama canal dis
bursement.
-
The big 100000 16-inch gun. with a
range of twenty-one miles, which was
made by this government, has been dis
carded, 1t having been found that, with
the power Of smokeless powder now in
use, 1t would not stand the strain Of
fire and consequently would be more
dangerous to those who fred It than to
the enemy.
-:-:-
In making promotion in the naval
bureau Of supplies and accounts, Secre-
'Ary Bonaparte refused to appoint a
iaan who had been passed over wom-
an. who had higher Official record.
The woman. Miss +. q. Thomas got
the place.