The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-06-06
WASHINGTON
From our REGULAR Correspondent.

FROM pul iNSEu'"' correspondent
Washington, d. c. May 81, 1907.
All reports from the Jamestown
Exposition indicate that the show
is being completed as rapidly as
any of the great eXpositions ever
have been after their opening, and
the verdict of such good judge as
w. I. Buchanan, formerly Presi.
dent of the Buffalo Exposition, is
that it is the greatest show since
the Worlds Fair in Chicago. But
the southern exposition has had to
fight against many obstacles and
there have been many covert at
tempts by high officials who should
have more generosity TO spoil the
show simply because it was south
ern enterprise. The Army and
Navy have arrogated to themselves
the bulk of the credit for making
the show a success, and now the
navy is threatening to withdraw
OH the ground that some of the
concessionaires of the exposition
hav. not treated the uniform of the
enlisted men with respect. Some
of the sailors have been excluded
from the dancing pavillions outside
the exposition grounds. The sol
diers have been allowed there free
" and there is a good deal of leal
ousy and i'll feeling over the matter.
1t is likely that the Navy Depart
ment will try to make an example
of the amusement proprietors who
sighted the sailors and Admiral
Evans threatened to take the mat
ter into his own hands, as he has a
habit of doing with many matters,
and Withdrawing his sqadron from
Jamestown waters. A good many
of the officers would like this eX
cuse for leaving, but it is not be-
iieved that it will come to this pass.
Xxx
Speaking of naval matters, there
is a movement on foot and gaining
strength in naval circles that may
result in putting some of the naval
modern vessels Of the navy at the
disposition of the naval militia. 1t
is known among the coast states
where there is a naval militia that
the old monitor of the Puritan and
the Miantonomah classes are put
at the disposal of the naval reserves
each year for short training cruises.
1t is excellent practice work for
the amateur sailors and especially
as a modern warship is more of
machine than a sailing craft these
days, it gives the reserves a chance
to get acquainted with the guns
and machinery. There are many
engineers, mechanics and machi-
nists among the naval militia, and
these are the men who with proper
training would make just as good
crews for a modern warship as
could be desired, provided, of
course, they had the proper officers,
over them. The training OH the
monitors is good, but the scheme
now is to put vessels of the Denver
class which are really modern moni-
tors and intended for coast and
harbor defense, at the disposal of
the militia for their practice cruises
and give them a chance to get ac
quainted with absolutely modern
machinery and guns. This the
naval officers say, would enhance
the value of their training at least
100 per cent, and would give the
government good crews for the
river and harbor vessels that they
could fall back on in time of war,
leaving a much larger proportion
of the regular sailors free for deep
water duty.
Xxx
There is serious talk of govern
mental proceedings against the
Union Pacific railroad to make it
release over 3, 200, 900 acres of valu
able land that might well be used
for farming, but that it is claimed
the road has held up for specula-
tive purposes. The road was
land grant road like the other great
transcontinental lines, and the inn
menSe section of valuable land was
freely given it by the government
when land was much less eXpen-
sive than it is now. The under