Devils Lake inter-ocean and Devils Lake free press. (Devils Lake, Ramsey County, N.D.) 1905-1909, 1908-04-17
w. WASHING T On &c I HslRg
ESnec1ai GOVERNMENTAL


Colonel @. 8. Bromwell, United States
engineer corps, superintendent OF pub
lie buildings and grounds. speaking Of
the stained appearance OF most of the
bronze statues in the public parks, said:
"The green deposit which you see
upon nearly all Of the statues In Wash
ington is a verdigris that comes from,
the bronze itself. Many artists and
sculptors consider 1t a. beautifier Of
their work, In that It gives the figure
more antique appearance. suppose
the foundation Of their opinion is quite
similar to the idea nowadays that an
tique furniture is more desira BILE and
more valuable than the modern. When
q statue is completely covered by the
verdigrts it is, 1 believe, considered at
its best. This takes long time.
About Bronze Statues.
ION the other hand, we wash the
statues occasionally. Some may have
been given bath few months ago.
and others, I dare say. have not been
washed for several years. In washing
the bronzes we use acetic acid or or
binary table vinegar. Either one Of
! these cleansers will remove a greater
part Of the green verdigris. but it is an
| almost hopeless task to remove it from
the pedestal Of the statue for the
stone is porous. and the verdigris.
which is washed down by the rain,
soaks into the stone and Is absorbed
by it. 1t certainly disfgures the base
Of statue. The deposit of verdlgris
is not injurious to the bronze. l under
stand. Bronzes In certain climates
other than Washington are very quick
ly covered with it." "@*
The Grizzly at the Zoo.
There are many interesting facts
about number of animals here" said
W. H. Blackburn. the head keeper at
the Rock Creek park zoo, the other
day.
"Take old Lucifer. the big grizzly
bear, for example. Watch him as he
rolls about in his bath or shifts quietly
around his cage Huge as mountain
though he is. he appears quite peace
able to the average visitor. Not SO
very long ago Lucifer was the cause
Of grave concern in the Yellowstone
park. At least once a week old Luci-
fer used to break into thescorral and
steal a choice pig. He would kill the
juicy porker carry it of. devour what
he wanted Of the carcass and bury the
rest Then after day or SO be would
come back and unearth his provender
that he had placed in cold storage, so
to speak. In the ground. i, It got so that
Lucifer's weekly raids on the corral
became a sure thing. or course, as
you probably know. no one can shoot
an animal In the Yellowstone. Finally
the authorities became tired of Luci-
fers free lunch habits and decided to
trap him. t%s% 80:
How Lucifer Was Gagged.
"A large steel box trap. open at one
end. was placed at the spot where
Lucffer had buried the remains of a
stolen pig Brush and green's and 9th
er devices to conceal the work and
smell Of mans hands were used to de-
ceive the willy old brr1in. Then the
! bait was fixed on the spring within
the trap. Old Luciferz came, smeIled
around bit and entered. One pull at
the bait and the trap fell. Lucifer
was inclosed tn four steel walls that,
as far as future pig stealing was con,
cerned, rendered him as harmless ais q
Teddy bear. Then he was shipped to
the zoo here" ~ TAIL
An Old War Claim. -. '-.
The sum of $215, s20.89 has been in
the United States treasury for forty
six years, which did not belong to the
government, and yet the claimants of
that good sum could not recover it
Recently the senate passed bill favor
ing the payment Of the amount to the
Citizens bank of New Orleans, after
the senate committee on claims had
recommended payment. This old war
claim seems to have taken some Of Rip
Van Wrinkles sleep medicine for 1T
was long ago shown that Major. Gen
eral Ben Butler had no right to take
the money as major general, after &C.
cupying New Orleans In 1852. But
how was it to be got cut of the United
States treasury, after being mixed and
confused with all the other coin7 Pres
fdent Roosevelt wanted the claim paid,
and said so. Attorney General Moody
admitted its business, but finally de-
ctded that congress alone had the right
to pass upon Its repayment TO the law.
full owner. B.
|. ~ No Interest Demanded.
Colonel Phil Thompson, who came
to congress from Kentucky some fif-
teen years ago, has had charge OF the
claim as attorney for the New Orleans
bank since he retired from office. 1t is
interesting to state that If the govern
ment had; been asked for interest the
total debt would have amounted to
near a million, and, strange tosay, the
owners from whom the money was il
legally taken under martial law have
been content to get the principal. fi! Fa-
I. vorable action has already been taken
by the house :$& = Wet sS}@:Sz2 q. sga sSs h
.- ~ Red Men &at luncheon. g:
s Senator Warren Of Wyoming excited
!; the wonde rmentso of his colleagues the
other day by taking with him to lunch