Evening journal., 1907-02-11
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial correspondenee.1


A bunch Of governors cornered
Speaker Cannon IN his room at the
capitol the other day. Their mission
was to persuade him to help along the
passage o. the Appalachian forest re
serve bill. which passed the senate last
session.
The bill in question contemplates the
purchase by the federal government
for a forest reserve, or park. Of the
White mountains in New Hampshire
and the Appalachian range OF noun
talns extending from Maryland down
to northern Georgia and Alabama II
will cost several millions Of dollars to
acquire the tracts. independent Of the
cost OF maintenance afterward Mr..
Cannon didn't give the visitors much
encouragement
Government Forest Reserves.
'There are serious objections TO the
Appalachian BILL" said a close friend
OF Speaker Cannon. 1.-The advocates
OF the bill point to the government for
est reserves in the far west as prece-
dent for this purchase. In the west.
however. the government has not
bought any land for forest reserve pur-
poses. II has merely set aside land
that 1t owned and which IN most cases
was OF very little value. Now, New
York has a forest reserve Of over 1,000.-
600 acres, Pennsylvania nearly as
much and Michigan and Wisconsin al
most an equal amount Several other
states have some. II congress should
purchase the Appalachian range ali
these states would insist upon the fed
eral government taking over their re-
serve-of course for a consideration.
II we start In on this thing we win
soon have the government saddled with
property TO the value OF S20.0O0.0O0 to
$25000,OOO. with an enormous annual
outlay included for maintenance. etc.
The states interested could afford to
purchase the land and then present It
to Uncle Sam with the understanding
that he would pay FOR its future care
and protection"
To Visit the Orient.
Bishop Cranston Of the Methodist
church is preparing to go to the orient
this month on an important church
work. and he called a few days ago
upon President Roosevelt TO say fare
we'll. Bishop Cranston Will visit Japan,
Korea and China. In Tokyo he viii at
tend the convention that will try to
bring about a union OF the missionary
work OF the Methodist, Southern Meth
odlst and Canadian Methodist church
es. He will 60 to Shanghai In April to
attend the centennial anniversary Of
the establishment OF Protestant mis-
sions in China The celebration will
begin in Shanghai on April %.
Bishop Cranston is a close personal
friend OF the president, and 1t is by no
means uncertain that while he is
abroad he will quietly gather the senti-
ment in the orient as to America. her
people and her methods to report TO
the president on his return.
District Boundary Stones.
II is likely that the commissioners
will make an effort to obtain an ap-
preparation from congress for the pur-
pose OF replacing, repairing and pro
tecting the various old boundary stones
marking the separating line of the Dis
trict OF Columbia from Maryland. Such
legislation has been suggested by a
number OF patriotic citizens and meets
with the hearty approval OF Commis-
sloner Macfarland. The other two com
missloners have the proposition under
consideration. Just what sum win be
required for the purpose has not been
definitely settled. but it is believed
5000 would be sufficient
To Beautify Washington.
The citizens committee on street
decoration and civic Improvement met
TO discuss plans for beautlfying Wash
/ ington.
George H. Brown. landscape garden
er in the ONCE Of public buildings and
grounds. told Of the development of the
parks and public grounds since he be
came identified with this work, which
was the first OF It's kind undertaken iu
the United States However" be
said in conclusion. Washington Is not
In the van IN this work OF improve.
ment- AS matter Of fact. It Is behind
other cities Chicago, FOR instance ap-
propriates annually millions OF dollar,
for this purpose"
The kosciusko Statue.
President Roosevelts selection OF a
design for the statue Of Kosciusko 70
be erected in Lafayette park. opposite
the White House. has been formally
adopted by the statue commission, con.
sisting Of Secretary Taft. Senator Wet.
more and Representative McCleary.
The model is BY Antonio Poplel- the