The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1906-10-25
WASHINGTON CHAT

in the Navy Department, it would not
have caused more CONSERVATION than
the excitement that prevailed when
the news arrived that England's three
new fighting ships, which were re-
ported to be nothing more than armor-
ed cruisers, were to be frst-class
battleships more powerful even than
the famous Dreadnaught. 1t was this
latter named terror of the sea, that
caused Congress last winter to author
ize the construction of warship as
powerful as that new English fighting
machine and now Secretary Bonaparte
has become so deeply interested in
the reports about the new English
vessels that he has directed the Board
of Construction OF the Navy, composed
of several of the highest ranking naval
officers in Washington to investigate.
The new battleships have less dis
placement than the Dreadnaught, but
according to reports and predictions,
which seem authentic, they will make
greater speed. They will carry eight
twelve-inch guns, having as great a
broadside fire as the Dreadnaught.
Until the Board of Construction
thoroughly considers the new type of
English battleship, gathering what
! information it can about the vessels,
| it cannot be predicted what the Amerl-
can navy will do. The conclusions
of the Board will doubtless be made
the subject of report to the Secretary,
which is likely to figure prominently
in Congress this winter when the
matter of building new ships is taken
up.
the great Congressional Library is
growing at rapid rate, yet it's growth
is not as fast as the government OIL
Gals would like to see. Congress
appropriates only $4,000 year for
the purchase of new and valuable
books, but this sum does not begin to
buy many of the volumes that are
badly needed. The library at the
present time has 100000 volumes,
compared to the 100000 books in
the library of Great Britain and the
3,0OO,0 900 volumes in that of France.
In speaking with your correspondent,
Librarian Putnam said: "Since
printing was invneted there have been
some thirteen millions of books
printed. Hundreds and thousands
of these are not in existence and as
many more are so rare that the gov
eminent library cannot compete for
them with the rich men of the country.
The mlllionaires can afford to pay
more for the books than we can with
our limited appropriations. We dc
not seek the rare ones so much as
those that are useful, and our aim is
to secure collection serviceable to
the people of the United States. We
make speciality of American works
and shall continue to do so.
More trouble is brewing for the
meat packers. Chicago commission
merchants are in Washington to lodge
a protest with President Roosevelt
against the refusal of Western express
companies to carry the carcasses o.
calves killed by farmers. 1t is claimed
that the packers will not tBke the
meat from the express companies be-
cause it does not bear a government
stamp. The individual farmers have
not the facilities for government in
spection as enjoyed by the packers
and the refusal of the express lines tt
handle this home killed product in
wolves the loss of thousands of dollars
to the farmers.
Before calling upon the President
the friends of the farmer visited the
Agricultural Department and saw
Secretary Wilson, who informed
them that there is no ruling in the
meat inspection regulations to warrant
such action on the part of the carry.
ing companies. President Roosevelt
gave them every consideration and
promised to have the matter remedied
at the earliest possible moment. The
packers will probably be called to &C.
count for unjust discrimination.
The teeth of President require the
services of a dentist just the same as
those belonging to other mortals, but
the ordinary citizen rarely, if ever,
has an experience when visiting the
dentist like that in which President
Roosevelt figured this week. 1t was
all due to the fact that the Presidents
carriage is so we'll known and is so
easily recognized by people on the
streets of Washington. Leaving the
| White House about noon, the Presi-
dent drove to the Office of a fashion,
able dentist on K street. Only a few
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