The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-07-31

The annual warfare on caterpilinrs
and other undesirabies that threaten
the trees or the national capital Is
now on In earnest. with fire and water
as the ammunition. The spraying OF
the trees with wnter was begun some
time ago, and later force got busy
with torches TO burn the bugs and
their eggs.
Spraying Of. Trees
Superintendent Lanham believes
that the spraying OF the trees Is the
most effectual and beneficial method
OF saving the trees from damage by
bugs Not only does the water wash
the eggs out OF the. bark and the
worms from the bark and leaves, he
declares. but the water drops around
the roots OF the trees and In that way
Is beneficial. Last year. he pointed
out the other day, the trees along
Thirteenth street above Pennsylvania
avenue Were found to be badly affect
cd by the worms. and the work of
spraying the trees was begun prompt
ly. Today, he declares, the trees are
In the best condition they have been
In for some years.
Washington Barracks Fund.
General Marshall chief OF engineers.
has included In his next annual esti-
mates items aggregating $7T5.70O for
the completion OF the establishment
OF the engineer school and post at
Washington barracks.
The principal item, amounting TO
$4,000 is for buildings for post
headquarters, engineer school, library
and museum. II is desired to complete
the demolition OF the few old build
ings remaining on the site as soon as
possible In order TO carry out the land
Public Drinking Fountains.
The District water department is
preparing 10 establish six drinking
fountains in various sections OF the
city, each TO be supplied with filtered
Potomac water These fountains Will
be installed for experimental purposes
and with a view OF ascertaining
whether their general use will repay
the department for the money requir-
cd TO purchase the fountains and keep
them supplied with running water.
Water In the Desert.
Something new In a paternalistic
government at Washington is crop
ping out every little while. One OF
the latest novelties is the mapping OF
wells and water holes In the Colorado
desert. An expert OF the geological
survey has been traversing the trails
that wander over that mighty waste.
has mapped its area OF 6S000 square
miles and shown where the thirsty
traveller can find drink.
The miners OF the Bullfrog and
Goldheld region OF Nevada, IN fact,
the prospectors over all that mining
region OF Nevada and southern Cali
fornia, have heard about this new
government enterprise, and they have
started n run on the geological survey
for copies The pamphlet. almost pre-
tentious enough 20 be volume. goes
much beyond telling where the
springs, wells. streams and other wa
tering places are. IL describes the
depth OF the well. informs the reader
whether he can expect TO find n wind
lass and bucket there and whether the
water is good or alkaline.
An Old Timers "reminiscences.
John Lane, born I'm Richmond In
1924, has lived continuously in Wash
ington since 1881. He IS at eighty-hve
an alert. active man OF excellent bod
lily yigor and In full possession OF all
his faculties He remembers old
Washington as perhaps no other living
man remembers e. Naturally he Is
an entertaining gentleman 10 spend an
evening with over pipe OF tobacco.
speaking OF great personages," Mr.
Lane said, with a twinkle I'm his eye
'the greatest man ever saw In Wash
ington was Dixon ii. Lewis OF Ala
bama."
Mr. Lanes listener was compelled &
acknowledge that he didn't exactly
recall Dixon III. Lewis OF Alabama oi
his greatness.
A Great Alabaman.
well" said Mr.. Lane, che was nev
ertheless the greatest man who eve
entered the capitol-in girth, that Is Z
say. Now. II Sir John Falstaff ha
been accurately described, he was
slender and graceful individual b.
comparison with Dixon II. Lewis o
Alabama.
81 am about TO tell you somethinI
that may sound entirely out OF tn
question. but il is exactly true. Dlxol
II. Lewis OF Alabama weighed NOR
than 700 pounds at his death. IL
weighed more at his death than whel
he was a very active member on TN
floor OF the lower house OF congress
! But he was at least COO pounde
! from the beginning OF his residenc
: In Washington. Nor was he man
any great stature. His greatness wa
] purely clrcumferential.
Remembers Clay and Webster
'Tn those days the pavements an
! paths OF Washington were narrow,