Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-02-06
CAPITAL CHAT.
Social and Political Life
in Washington.
Rural Free Delivery Changes
in Third Maine District.
Many Attentions and Honors for an Augusta
Girl in Washington.

w lOlI, b -, req. J.-tSDtclil). J.
Maine men who have come down to
Washington take pretty high rank as
rule in scientific work There are
hundreds of these scientists who are
investigating in all sorts of fields and
digging out secrets that prove of prac-
ticai value to people the country over
They write hundreds of volumes every
year that are filed away for consulta-
tion. These do not attract wide atten-
ton with the public at large but fur
nish a great fund of literature from
which students can draw from year to
year. Many of their discoveries are
also put to immediate practical use.
This is the case with DR.. c. Hart
Merriam, who comes from New York.
hut is sprung from 4 prominent Maine
family He is chief Of the biological
survey in the Agricultural Department
and has done much valuable work for
the Forest service. During the pres
ent winter the damage caused by rab-
bits to trees set out by the forest serv-
ice on watersheds in the reserves of
southern California has caused great
loss. DR.. Merriam has been studying
up ways to eradicate this pest and
made recommendations to the forest
service which will be put into execu-
ton
The trees that form such an impor-
tant feature of our industrial life often
have many hard conditions to contend
with. The thin soil and extreme
arldity are trying enough, and of late
| rabbits have been eating off the young
trees of certain species. Knobcone
and Coulter pines are favorites with
the rabbits. while incense cedar is not
touched. By using large seedlings
and making proper choice of species
the injury done by the rabbits is to
some extent obviated. But stronger
measures are needed. Those to he
tried will include steel traps set in the
regular run-Ways that the rabbits fire.
Quent. poisoned grain. and the wetting
with strychnine syrup of the branches
OF those seedlings which the rabbits
injure.
The advent of colonies of wealthy
people from distant cities has been one
of the notable developments here in
Washington this winter. Heretofore
there have been many rich people COM
ing here TO make Washington their
winter residence. Many have come
from New York and also many from
other cities. But within the last wear
or TWO there has been a distinct New
York colony. made up of wealthy peo-
pie, who figure in the social events of
that city. At about a given date they
gather up their goods and chattels and
move on to Washington for two or
mnnthC La,
Harbor or some other fashionable re-
sort in the summer.
When here they keep up their social
relations with each other. almost as
though they We're still in New York.
More recently Chicago people of
wealth and fashion have been doing
the same thing and other cities to q
less degree. OF course the colonies
mingle with each other. for they are
composed of people of leisure who love
society. 1t all goes to show how
rapidly Washington is becoming the
fashionable as We'll as the legislative
capital of the United States. Since il
mas become the mecca of the wealth.
therc mas been transformation Of the
CITY, almost as marked as the trans
formation of Bar Harbor. The new
coners form distinct set by them
selves, having little to do with tn.
ordinary official set. They have their
own society. their own amusements
and their own friends. They nav we'll
lor everything they want. to the joy of
tradesmen and others who have sought
to furnish them.
Senator. Hale is still suffering from
an attack Of the grip, which clings to
him tenaciously. He is battling
against it and refuses to give m. al
though he has had to postpone some
of his committee work. Almost every
day last week he has had some impor
tant committee meeting, which he felt
ne ought not to miss. He held meet
ing or his committee on Naval affairs
Monday morning and attended n
meeting of the Philippine Committee.
Where hearings are being held on the
Phillppine Tariff bill. on Tuesday.
Wednesday he expected to take m the
urgent deficiency bill. which he has
charge of. and give the CUSTOMARY
hearings in the appropriations com
mlttee. But that morning the Senator
lclt SO poorly that he had to postpone
1ne meeting and the preparation of the
bill will not begin till this week
Although the weather has been mild
mere this winter it has been very
changeable and many have suffered
severely from the grip which seems to
take on a virulent form in this Ia titude
Senator Frye is following very close
| ly the consideration of the Merchant
Marine Subsidy bill and is tok;ro az,
active part in the amending of that
measure prior to it's passage at that
end of the Capitol.
With the operation Of numerous rural
free delivery routes in the Third Con-
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