Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1907-09-09
WASHINGTON LETTER
(Special Correspondence. ]

fborizctI at the last session of congress
st cost not exceeding S1.21O0OO. at
the Puget Sound navy yard. The low
esI hid was that of Il Seattle company,
the figures being 81, 102.2S4.
This will he the largest dry dock In
tjse country belonging to the United
States navy. lis length will be GOD
q.., width at high water line 10 feet
and depth SO feet, and the specihca'
lions call for its completion within
three years and six months There
ure now three other naval dry docks
IN the Pacific coast Two are located
NJ the Mare Island navy yard and the
third at Puget Sound. The latter and
one of those at Mare island are in COM
mission. while the other one at the
latter place is being constructed.
Pacific Coast Dry Docks.
These docks are greatly needed on
ahe coast, and in the event of trouble
ON tie Pacific they will be extremely
essential. In connection with the pro-
posed visit of the Atlantic fleet to the
Pacific coast 1t Is admitted that that
trip will demonstrate the necessity OK
-lhaying more docking facilities there.
Tie docking facilities OH the Atlantic
coast are In pretty good shape, al.
though naval officers declare that the
navy would be much better Off II other
docks were authorized. While the pro-
posed Puget Sound dock will be the
largest one owned by the navy, 1t will
still be smaller than the great docks
ut the yards Of the Newport News
shipbuilding plant.
Quality Of Postal Cards.
As result OF an investigation under
Postmaster General Meyers direction
of complaints from all parts Of the
country regarding the quality Of paper
used for postal cards, a change has
been made in the business managers
of the postal card factory at Rumford
Falls. Me-, and in the government
agent at that place.
Experiments are In progress with q
view to improving greatly the postal
card paper stock. The postmaster gen.
eraI has announced his determination
10 remove all just cause for complaint,
Qte tIot ~ MAJ k*NS SV4AS A%A@t ~ wv
present stock Of postal cards In post
Offices must be worked off before the
new supplies can be furnished.
The quality OF paper for stamped en-
.velopes, it Is also promised, will be
bettered
Women Private Secretaries.
Hereafter women clerks of the de-
.goartment of agriculture will not be
permitted 10 act as private secretaries
or confidential clerks Of male chiefs
Of divisions or bureaus.
Secretary Wilson has no prejudice
agaiusf them, but he deems it due to
'Them that not one of them be required
70 perform services that will bring
her into such relations with her chief
as TO enable evil minded persons to do
any Gossjplnc. lie considers it better
for The good name of the women en-
ployces IN the departmental service to
make T. ru'a ,hat men chiefs of divi-
sion sAa.l A3Ye men as private secre-
taries or confidential clerks.
Park on AnaIostan.
According 10 present plans this city
will have by next spring the finest
amusement paIk south of New York,
comprising all of the eighty acres of
Analostau island in the Potomac
river west of Georgetown. -Four hun
0red thousand dollars is to lie OK
pended in improving the island and
putting up the amusemcnts. and work
Is to be begun soon.
. Elan Ideal Resort.
The plans for the transformation Of
Analostan stand contemplate making
II an ideal summer amusement resort
gerry lluch on the order of the best
section of Couey Island. If carried
out In their entirety Analostan island
will IL the finest resort of its kind
south OF -.eW York, and, indeed, one
Of the hest N tie country, bar none
There will be wide board walk
around the entire upper end Of the
island with decorative pier and boat
. lnnding. The attractions will be Of
( GOe better class.
Analostan ISLAND was originally the
9 estate OF the Marshall family Of Vir-
gtnia, and the ruins of the old manor
house and outbuildings are still a
picturesque feature of the landscape.
The promoters Of island park intend.
1t is stated, to leave these ruins largely
as they are and utilize them in the
@chem" Of Improvement
Harlan Home Unique.
James Harlan, member of the inter-
state commerce commission and son
OF Justice Harlan of the United
states supreme court, has completed
Nlans for a house at the corner of
Rhode Island avenue and NJ street
northwest which is to be unique in
lie annals Ql building in Washington
: Instead Of constructing an entirely
new residence, which it was thought
he would do when he moved here
from Illinois to become a member of
fhe commission, Judge Harlan de-
clded to reconstruct into a beautiful
yoodern house an old fashioned dwell
ing which has been landmark on
i.ho'e Island avenue for several dec
"a les.
Old House Modernzed.
The old house was three story
brick structure, such as was quite
fashionable in the earlier half of the