The Florida star. (Titusville, Fla.) 1880-1917, 1909-01-29

IaUo IN IT'S OOuNTONOFotcS WIN WI
aress-Now Revived on Secret serv-
ice ouestion-Panama Problems.
BY CHARLES w. ARTHUR.
Washington, Jan. %. - [Special.l -
Five million or more barrels Of cement
will be required in the construction Of
the dams in connection with the Pana-
ma canal. Most Of this supply has
been contracted for, and. shipments in
very large quantities are being made
TO the isthmus. The worrying part Of
the enterprise is in the character Of the
soil along the route of the canal. Con-
trary to the general belief, there are
comparatively few quicksands encoun-
tered. Experts who return from Pana-
ma and tell Of their investigations aft
er reaching Washington say that the
soil Is what is called muck. 1t swags
and changes so that party of govern
ment officials down there may start out
in the morning over the Panama rail-
road, and on the return trip the same
day it has often happened that $50
yards of the road-rails, ties and every
thing-have positively disappeared in
spite OF the fact that the line has been
in operation for years. But the infOr-
nation is that eventually the difficult
ties will be overcome, though it is ad-
mitted that the cost will be frightful.
Thirty thousand labOrers are now en-
plOyed in the work OF excavation, or
about 5000 more than were utilized by
the French company when operations
were commenced years ago under the
famous De Lesseps. The invention Of
the steam shovel, the use Of steel dump
cars and the powerful spreaders used
when the dumping grounds are reached
enable the Americans to do four times
as much work in a month as the
French accomplished.
UnskiIlfuI Riders In Inaugural Parade.
Just now there Is much scurrying
around to engage horses for officials
from many states to ride in the inau-
guration parade on March 4. Quite a
number Of the finest horses which are
ridden are brought here by their own
ers from their respective homes. These,
as rule, are we'll trained animals and
are also snowy beasts. But more than
half Of the nags that will be seen on
Pennsylvania avenue at Judge Taft's
Inauguration will be secured in this
city and in the neighboring counties
of Maryland and Virginia. Some of
the country animals are not used to
city sights, and they cut up all sorts
of capers OH account of the noisy
bands, gay decorations and the shouts
Of the multitude as the pageant wends
its way along. And any number OF
colonies on the STATS Of governors are
poor riders, having difficulty i'm stick
Ing to the saddles. General Harries,
head OF the District Of Columbia ma
tlonal guard, was young man out in
the far west when the Grand Duke
Alexis visited this country. He says
that one of the native guides out there
had an idea that all the foreigners
were Of royal blood. and, n European
having been endorsed. the fellow shout
ed loudly. Come back here, every
body; one Of them kings has fell OFF,
Chinese Minister VS.. American Custom.
On account OF the recent death OF
the emperor Of his country DR.. WI
| Ting Fang. the Chinese minister. Is
compelled to observe a three months
period Of mourning. He has declined
this season all social invitations. Dr.
WI uses in the stationery line our
style Of mourning paper. He adopts
more Of our customs than any Chinese
who ever belonged to the diplomatic
circle here. Former Chinese ministers
used mourning paper and cards that
had unusually heavy borders. But
| for the taking off Of the Chinese en-
perOr DR.. WI would have had a gay
time in Washington this year.
Called White House Cuckoos.
The thirty-five members Of the house
all Republicans-who voted To suS-
tain President Roosevelt in his posi-
ton with regard to the secret service
question are being referred To as "cuck-
oos." The late Senator Morgan Of Ala
bama originally applied that word TO
congressman who stood by President
Cleveland through thick and thin and
regardless of his whacks at the legis-
lative bodies. Nick LOngwOrth. the
presidents sOn-in-law. was paired with
a Democrat and did not vote.
Will Be a Notable Affair.
On the last Saturday in this month
President Roosevelt is to be the star
guest of the Gridiron club at the annu-
MI dinner Of this lannon's organization.