The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-11-28
LETTER
Especial Correspondence

1.-The horse Is still doing business at
the same old stand in the fire depart
ment in Washington and Is likely to
continue thus earning his oats for some
years to come despite the competition
Of the auto in other businesses said
Assistant Chief Wagner the other day.
"They are manufacturing auto fire
steamers, aud this class of fire fighting
apparatus may be installed in several
cities permanently, but l do no recall
any at present. The fact that the horse
still obtains in New York, Philadelphia,
Boston, Chicago and other large cities,
where they have unlimited money at
command to make experiments which
we cannot undertake in this city by
reason Of a limited appropriation,
would tend to show that the old fire
horse will remain with us for awhile,
n of the picturesque and most popu-
lar features of city life.
Heavy Horses Required.
"As fire horses respond to alarms on
a hard gallop, the asphalt pavements
are found to be very severe upon their
front feet, and it is here that u horses
first show signs Of giving out for fire
purposes. We have to use very heavy
horses, as II apparatus Is heavy and
| there IRE several steep hills In the city;
! otherwise we would be more than glad
to use lighter teams, as It Is often the
horses W weight which largely con-
| tributes to his ultimate condemnation
| owing to the force with which his fore
legs strike the pavements.
Life Of a Fire Horse.
W. average about 1870 horses the
year around in the department, and the
life of the average fire horse is from
three and a half to four years. Some
horses last only six months, and Others
will do excellent duty for years. AS all
| Of our horses weigh from 1900 to 1900
pounds and are not less than Ave years
! old Mt the time of purchase, it will be
seen that we have a lot Of good, solid
horseflesh in our department. We &C.
! cept any solid color, but prefer the
! gray, barring spotted or circus horses.
As they are picked animals In the
uESl luStuACCD tllCy NuNC AlAuSy ~ ~
preliminary training they receive, as a
rule, and very quickly catch on to
what is demanded Of them, some show
Ing surprising intelligence and aptitude
in learning the duties which they later
perform with such precision and regu-
larity."
Pink Places In Dewey Home.
II ,r,O,,I1 1D a nn11 onh .,rFool3np Uy0
man who could look with composure
untinged by jealousy upon the pink rat
tan furniture that Admiral and Mrs.
Dewey recently received from n of
the former officers on the Olympia, who
has been cruising around the Azores.
This furniture is as delicate in color
as a seashell, and the effect is some
thing unknown among American max
ers of willow ware. The admiral has
fitted up a porch Of his Rhode Island
avenue home In Washington with this
furniture nnd has put some In his
'den." Mrs. Dewey, who Is particu-
larly partial to this shade Of pink, has
added pale pink silk rugs, the gift Of a
former Turkish minister to Washing
ton. A few pink silk cushions and
pink flowers make up the remainder Of
this rosy hued place. Every person
who sees 1t says, ITS the pink Of per
fection." and seems to think the utter
ance Is original.
Success Of Durum Wheat.
Secretary Wilson Of the department
Of agriculture is pleased with the fact
that 5O.OOO,OOO bushels of durum wheat
will be thrashed in this country this
year. The agricultural department in-
troduced durum wheat in the United
States five years ago. This is known
as macaroni wheat, because Of its val
lie in the manufacture Of macaroni. It
is a hard spring wheat and cannot be
raised In the winter. The department
now proposes. the secretary says, to
try hybridizing the wheat with the best
winter wheat Of this country.
According to the department Of agri-
culture. the macaroni business Of the
United States should Increase in i'm
portance from nov on and the impor-
tation Of macaroni from Italy largely
decrease. The durum wheat Is the
class from which the finest Italian
macaroni Is made.
The Minister From Salvador.
Senior Jose Rosa Pacas, the new
minister to the United States from Sal
vador and Honduras, Is we'll known in
| Washington. having lived here for
several months In 1902. when he was
serving as the representative Of Saliva
dor Oh the commission for the arbitra-
ton of tho claim Of the Salvador Com
mercial company, a California corpora
ton, against the Salvadorean govern
ment. He also represented his govern
ment Mt the recent conference on the
United States cruiser Marblehead for
the settlement Of the war In which
Guatemala. Honduras and Salvador
We're involved. Mr.. Pacas vas min
lister Of interior in Salvador before his
appointment to the mission In Wash
ingtOn.