The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-08-03
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence.l

and other undesirables that threaten
the trees of the national capital is
now on in earnest, with fire and water
as the ammunition. The spraying Of
the trees with water 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 effectuaI 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
ed 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
III AOA soVlAiC JCdAo
Washington Barracks Fund.
General Marshall, chief of engineers,
has included in his next annual esti-
mates items aggregating $775,700 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. 1t 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
scape improvement of the reservation.
Public Drinking Fountains.
The District water department is
preparing to 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-
ed 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 6S,000 square
miles and shown where the thirsty
traveller can find drink.
The miners of the Bullfrog and
,Goldfield 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 a run on the geological survey
for copies. The pamphlet almost pre-
tentious enough to be volume, goes
much beyond telling where the
springs, wells, streams and other wa
tering places are 1t describes the
depth of the well. informs the reader
whether he can expect to find a wind
lass and bucket there and whether the
water is good or alkaline.
An Old Timers "reminiscences.
John Lane, born in Richmond in
1924, has lived continuously in Wash
ington since 1881. He is at eighty-fve
an alert, active man of excellent bod
lily vigor and in full possession of all
his faculties. He remembers old
Washington as perhaps no other living
man remembers it. Naturally he is
an entertaining gentleman to spend an
evening with over pipe of tobacco.
Speaking of great personages," Mr..
Lane said, with twinkle in his eye,
"the greatest man / ever saw in Wash
ington was Dixon H. Lewis of Ala
bama."
Mr.. Lanes listener was compelled to
acknowledge that he didn't exactly
recall Dixon H. Lewis of Alabama or
his greatness.
A Great ALBANIAN.
"Well," said Mr. Lane, "he was new
ertheless the greatest man who ever
entered the capitolin girth, that is to
say. Now. if Sir John Falstaff has
been accurately described, he was
slender and graceful individual by
comparison with Dixon H. Lewis of
Alabama
81 am about to tell you something
that may sound entirely out of the
question. but it is exactly true. Dixon
II. Lewis of Alabama weighed more
than 200 pounds at his death. He
weighed more at his death than when
he was very active member on the
floor of the lower house of congress.
But he was at least 600 FOUNDER
from the beginning of his residence
in Washington. Nor was he man Of
any great stature His greatness was
purely circumferential
Remembers Clay and Webster.
''In those days the pavements and
paths of Washington were narrow, so
that Lewis couldn't walk arm In arm
with his friends, as men used to walk
at that time His friends had either
to walk before or trail behind him.
"Once l saw the huge Lewis sand
WICKED between no less pair of men
than Henry Clay and Daniel Web
ster-Clay trudging along In front
half turned around and conversing
earnestly, and Webster bringing up
the rear and frequently bobbing his
head from side to side in order to
catch an occasional view Of Clay in the
-, uNI,n Ah,.er man 1ivod n, tha 90 me-