The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-11-29
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON
Especial Correspondence
ut Down Navy Yard Forees-Eight

i
| navy yards. There are at present
approximately 10000 mechanics en-
| ployed in getting the battleships
ready for the long cruise. When the
vessels leave the navy yards, early
| In December, there will be a decided
falling off in the work on which they
! have been employed New York and
| Washington employ about 1000 men
each, Boston and League Island about
2000, Norfolk 1000 and Portsmouth.
| y. H., about 1000. Practically all Of
the discharges will be from the me-
| chanical force.
Uncle Sam Likes Oysters-The oys-
| ter has had to take lot Of abuse of
late. People have declared that it
was unpardonably shy on nutritive
value. that 1t was just as unpardon-
ably long on germs and that when
| greenish in its cast OF countenance
IL had more copper on board than
will ever be dug out of some OF the
mines whose stock has been floated in
| the last few years. Under all this
contumely the oyster has persevered
in it's traditional policy of shutting
up. Consequently those who love 1t
will welcome the news that cham
pion Of the oyster has appeared in no
less a person than Uncle Sam him
self. Through the agricultural de-
| partment the government has gone
! into the oyster question with thor
oughness The result is a rehabilitat-
ed bivalve. A quart Of oysters CON
tans about the same quantity Of nu-
| tritive substance as quart Of milk,
| three-fourths of a pound of beef, two
pounds Of fresh Goldfish or pound OF
bread That puts Mr.. Blue Point,
Miss Cotuit and their relatives into
pretty company. A a time when the
doctors are almost unanimous in
preaching the milk gospel the follow
ing statement is genuine patent OF
nobility: oysters come nearer TO milk
than almost any other common food
| material as regards both the amounts
, and the relative proportions of nutri'
ents"
Plans for War Exercises-The re-
suits of the coast defence exercises
last summer have not yet been as
simulated by the war department. but
already plans are being made for
similar exercises next year. Gen. Muir
ray, chief of artillery, has prepared
and subnhred to Acting Secretary OF
War Oliver an outline of what he
| thinks ought to be done next summer
by the regular coast artillery and the
militia of the seacoast states. These
| suggestions are being considered by
Gen. Oliver and il is believed that
| they will be approved. Gen. Oliver is
also considering the question of army
manoeuvres next summer, similar TO
those held few years ago. For
these manoeuvres and for the purpose
OF repeating the coast defence eXer-
cises the war department Will ask
congress for an appropriation of ST.
0OO,O Of which 100000 will be suf-
fcient to defray the expenses of the
coast defence exercises, while the bal
ance will provide for the army man
oeuvres. These will include the reg
ular infantry. cavalry and field artil-
| lery. and the militia of Vermont and
inland states. In regard to the coast
defence exercises. II is said at the
war department that they will be in
the nature of duplication of the ex-
ercises of last summer. These were
C,,t rtil
plain that their success will be great
err the oftener they are repeated. so
that the militia coast artillery men
and infantry supports will become as
familiar as possible with the duties
they may be called upon to perform in
war time.
Moth Parasites Causing Trouble
The agricultural department is ex.
perimenting considerable difficulty
keeping men at work in its campaign
, against the gypsy and browntail
moths I'm New England. and particu-
larly in its parasite laboratories, ow-
ing TO the so-called browntail rash.
This affection as many residents OF
New England know, is caused by tiny
hairs of the browntail caterpillar en-
terng the skin. eyes. throat ard even
lungs Of persons engaged in the work
| The latest victim OF these troublesome
hairs is Douglas Clemons assistant
to Supt. w. F.. Ffske Of the parasite
laboratory at Melrose Highlands,
Mass. DR.. Howard. the department
entomologist. received word recently
that Mr.. Clemons was seriously af-
| fccted and that his physician strong.
" advises against his continuing the
work. Accordingly. Or. Howard says.
the assistant will be transferred from
| the laboratory. Last summer +. s. j.
Titus was Obliged to resign from the
position OF superintendent Of the
parasite laboratories on account of
caterpillar hairs having affected his
lungs. At last reports he was in
| Utah endeavoring to recuperate his
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