The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-02-15

WN0@)YI
>~~~9~~~.~~
The Signal Corps Of the War Depart
nent has made public specifications for
the construction Of dirigible balloon
to be used in series of tests at Fort
Myer next spring. Proposals for fur
nishing the balloon will be opened at
The department on Jan. Is next. The
balloon is to consist of gas bag OF
silk, to be covered with an aluminium
preparation. The material for the bag
ard the hydrogen with which it will be
inflated will be furnished by the gov
eminent. The dimensions and shape OF
the bag will be left to the bidders, ex-
cept that the length must not exceed
100 feet. 1t must be designed to carry
two persons having a combined weight
Of $50 pounds; also at least 100 pounds
OF ballast. A speed of twenty miles an
hour in still air is desired, and the
scheme of ascending, descending and
maintaining equilibrium must be base1
on shifting weights. movable planes or
some method which will not necessi-
tate balancing or changing Of position
by the aeronaut The balloon must
have all the fittings necessary for sue
cessful and continuous flights. 1t will
be accepted only after trial flight to
be held at Fort Myer next spring.
80
In a recent address at New York
City Francis e. Leupp, commissioners OF
Indian affairs, took occasion to reply to
some of the criticisms that have been
made regarding the treatment of the
Indians by his bureau. He outlined
the present policy of the government as
that of absorbing the Indian into the
white mans civilization, thus reversing
the old policy of assisting him in his
ardent desire of keeping as separate
from the white man as he possibly
could. He expressed the opinion that
the final solution of the problem would
be reached by intermarriage. He de-
scribed the success Of the government
in making the Indian work; even the
Utes, he said, were now working on the
railroads and helping to build up the
country Of which they were part. The
commissioner said it was true that
about So per cent of the Indians that
went to Indian schools, such as Car
Isle and others, and went back to the
reservations sooner or later reverted to
the blanket. But their children started
away ahead of where their parents did
so that the schooling was by no means
wasted.
An unusual view of the army has
lately been presented in complaint
over the decrease in strength of the
coast artillery regiments. The Tenth
Company, for instance, which mustered
hundred and one men In 1900, war
able to get out only fourteen in the
ranks in October. The explanation Of
fered is that the men in the coast artil-
lery receive training in some branch OF
mechanics, and can get employment
outside at good wages. One officer in
structed his company in the art of tel
ephone repairing, and made the men
SO efficient that the telephone company
in the neighboring city offered them
sixty and seventy dollars month, and
in some cases bought the discharge Of
the men, 80 that they might begin work
before their enlistment expired. If the
army can train it's men as effectively
as this, 1t ought to be pretty good
<choOl.
If there are not forty-eight stars
on the flag within year or two it
will not be for lack of effort on the
part Of Arizona and New Mexico. A
convention Of delegates from every
part Of New Mexico adopted resolu-
lions the other day demanding the adj
mission Of the territory as State.
The governor Of Arizona has reported
that the statehood sentiment in that
territory Is stronger than ever before.
Bills were introduced in the Senate on
the first working-day of the session q
Congress, providing for the creation
of two new States out Of the terrific
ries. AS the effort to pass joint
statehood bill has been abandoned, it
is now necessary for the two aerrito-
ries to convince Congress that ti,..y are
worthy to be admitted to the family Of
States.
According to Terence V. Powde-ly.
formerly grand master Of the Knights
Of Labor and now connected with the
government Bureau of immigration, ex-
tensive railroad building In Italy. tho
approach Of the presidential election
and scare headlines in the newspapers,
aside from the financial furry, are the
causes for the present exodus OF aliens
ffrom the United States. mo alarm
need be felt because OF the ebb in the
tide" he Gays There Is more work
| to do in this country than there ever
was before; there il q necessity for
men and women to do 1t, and the first
months Of the next year will see a re-
turn OF aliens, who will be able to find