The National tribune., 1909-10-21

day in dry food-that is minus the wa.
ter--and to get that amount means tha,
he must take about four and one-halt
pounds, which includes coffee, milk
beer and other of his usual drinks. Dr.
Wiley says that the example of dry food
is pemmican. Pemmican is made up OF
dried meats, raisinS and sugar, which
when thoroly dried is placed in boiling
tallow. which permeates to every part
This, he says, Is practically all dry food
He says that it is also very nourishing
DR.. Wiley states that about one-quarter
of a pound each of this dry pemmican
would suffice for man and dog. DR.
Wiley says:
81 understand that Commander Peary
in his dash for the pole at one stage
gave each of his dogs four pounds. For
a human being that would have amount
ed to about Is pounds of dry food, or 60
of the wet. which would aSsuredly have
disagreed with him. With the dogs
however, it is different. Those animals
are accustomed to eating q large quan-
tity at one time, and then not taking
any more for two or three days. But
about a quarter of pound of pemmi-
can day would be sufficient food to
enable them to pull sledges, and such a
large quantity as that given by Com
mander Peary might have caused trou-
ble"
The Supreme Court of the United
States began its Autumn session last
Monday with a docket which contained
$50 cases, 5S in excess of the number
filed at the same date last year. An
unusually large number of important
cases have been assigned for argument
"a M
Der %. Owing to the absence of Presi-
dent Taft the court was unable to make
its customary call upon the Chief Exec
utiye on the opening day, as has been
its custom since the establishment of
the court.
The War Department finds. much to
its dismay. that it will cost 100000
more to feed the enlisted men in the
Army next year than it did last. In the
fiscal year beginning Jan. 80, 1908, the
Army rations cost the Government
1855 cents a man per day. The esti-
mate for the coming fiscal year Is based
OF that figure. 1t has been discovered
that owing to the increased cost of liv-
ing the rations now cost 21-25 a man
per day.
The Light House Service in Washing
ton has just received notice of a very
pathetic incident which occurred in
Seattle at the Light House on St. Mary's
Island in the Southeastern Peninsula of
Alaska. The complaint had been made
to the Light House Inspector that Light
House Keeper j. Reagan had left his
post without relief a month ago, and
that the beacon was not lighted for two
nights. OF course. this was very seri-
Gus offense, as it is thot that all the
little rocks and islands around St
Mary's Point are not charted, and it
is a dangerous post for ships unac-
quainted with it to coast around it.
The absence of a light made it even
more difficult. 1t is now explained that
Reagan and his wife are both young,
and have only been married few years.
They were the only people on this tiny
barren island where not a tree grows
and where is only sand. Mrs. Reagan
was taken i'll and finally died, her only
nurse being her husband. There was
no way of communicating with the
mainland, except Reagan went by boat,
and he could not endure the idea of
burying the body of his wife in that
wind-swept sand; SO he took the body
in his little dingy and rowed 22 miles to
Ketchican, and there buried his wife.
1t was two days before he could get
back to the island. and in the meantime
a passing ship had found the light not
burning, and had made the report.
Reagan has been entirely absolved.
Brig.-Gen. S. Kimball, formerly Quar-
termaster General of the Army died at
his residence in this city very suddenly
last week. The interment was with full
military honors in Arlington. Gen.
Kimball was appointed First Lieuten-
ant, 98th n. y, Nov. 27, 1861; honor
ably mustered out May /, 1864; appoint
ed Captain and Assistant Quartermaster
of Volunteers April z, 1864; accepted
May 1, 1864; vacated Dec. z, 1866; as
signed to duty as Colonel and Quarter
master of Volunteers from July IL to
Nov. %, 1898. He entered the REGULAR
Army as Captain and Assistant Quarter
master Nov. 19, 1866, and served thru
the various grades in the Quartermas-
ter's Department, reaching the rank of
Colonel Nov. IS, 1898. He was appoint
ed Quartermaster-G General, United
States Army, Oct. 1, 1902, and was re-
tired from active service at his own
request the next day, having served
more than 40 years. He was brevetted
Major Feb. /, 1866, for faithful and
efficient services in the Quartermaster's
Department.
Former Senator Joseph c. s. Black
burn has not formally rendered his res
ignation as Panama Canal Commits
sioner. but officials here acquainted with
his intentions say that his resignation
will be handed in very soon. Gen.
Blackburn belongs to Kentucky, body
and soul, and he never has ! ked his
enforced absence in Panama. The posi-
ton pays mighty well-a heap better
than being United States Senator-for
Blackburn receives $4,000 a year. and
that does not pay for staying away from
Kentucky. or rather, expatriating him.
self. His resignation will give President
Taft high-salaried appointment, and
quite q number of men are reaching
out for this.