The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1908-12-23
WASHINGTON LETTER
Ispeclal corresponaence.l

the new District building. They have
wondered what manner of building II
is and for what purpose it was placed
there.
Officially the little cast iron building
is known as meteorological kiosk"
but in palmer English it is down.
town automatic weather station. The
station was erected by Professor
Charles F. Marvin under the direction
of Professor Willis L. Moore, chief of
the United States weather bureau, and
is outfitted with meteorological instru-
ments of UP to date pattern and ready
to convey weather information to the
general public.
A Meteorological Kiosk.
The instruments in the shelter COM
prise Il thermograph to automatically
record the street temperature. ther-
mometers to give the maximum and
minimum temperatures in given pc
riod of time, a hygrometer, which
shows the amount of humidity in the
air: n standard thermometer and an
automatic rain gauge, which registers
on dial the amount of rain that has
fallen in a certain period.
BY means of the outdoor weather
station every man who wishes may be
his own weather observer. The public
is not permitted to enter the kiosk,
but may through the four windows
read the instruments. the weather map
and the forecast cards.
1t Is said similar automatic weather
kiosks will be established in other cit
les should the one here prove to be
successful. as 1t is believed 1t will.
National Art Federation.
Tentative plans are being made to
form in this city national art fed
Grafton to include within its fold about
300 societies composed of painters,
sculptors, architects, artisans and 9th
ers having artistic aims who have
been invited to send delegates to the
proposed convention. The exact date
has not vet been fixed, but it is be-
lieved the convention will be called
some time in January.
During the convention there will be
on exhibition in the Corcoran Gallery
of Art very complete collection of
the works of Augustus ST. Gaudens
and a national exhibition of American
paintings.
For a National University.
That Washington. as the seat of the
federal government, also should be
the seat of a great national university.
at which all the states should be rep
resented ON an advisory council, was
advocated here at the closing session
of the thirteenth annual meeting of
the National Association of State Uni
versities. q.
President Edward J. James of the
University of Illinois, as spokesman
for bill now pending In congress to
provide for such a university, won
over many of his fellow college presl-
dents in support of the movement.
The purpose of the proposed university
is to provide for the higher instruction
and training of men and women for
posts of Importance and responsibility
in the public service of the federal
government or of states and for such
professions as may require higher
training. The bill provides for the ap-
VI sSbuV,tuv Win w W
establish the initial equipment of the
university.
Boxed With the President.
J. J. Parker. an amateur athlete of
st. Paul, vino boxed with Roosevelt
on ranch twenty-seyen years ago
called on the president a few days ago
Mr. Parker brought a letter from
Frank b. Kellogg, the antitrust law
yer, but it was unnecessary, for the
president recognized his caller as soon
as he espied him as the man with
whom he boxed several times on q
western ranch.
Il called merely to pay respects and
was cordially received" said Mr. Par
ker. Il don't want Il thing in tho
world in politics, but the president
gave me picture of each of the three
younger children. and prize then
more than any Office
Dogs Go UnmuzzIed.
On Dec. III next the dog muZZlin'
order of the commissioners will OK
pire, and then the several Thousand
canine pets in this city will have IL
opportunity to run at large withou
any strapping or wiring about thei
jaws and without fear of mOlestatiol
on the part of the dog catchers.
This will not only be Il welcome da!
to the many owners of dogs. but t
the dog catchers as well. During tn
| term of the official edict the latte
have spent busy days and nights cor
, railing dogs without muZZles. Sine
: the order went into effect more thai
: 800 dogs were impounded for not hav
ing muzzles. Many Of these were Ii
censed dogs and wore the official do
; tags about their necks.
> Firecraekers Tabooed.
Regarding the use of fireworks an,
other explosives in celebration of In
dependence day as a "barharic fasl
ION" the commissioners of the Dis
trict have drafted a regulation to pre-
hibit the practice. The commissioner
: think July can be celebrated in
more fitting manner than by the us
of firew works, and the regulation is ii
20, IaI aNW 20 u