Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-08-29
FROM WASHINGTON.
Of Alexandria Gazette

Correspondence Of Alexandria Gazette1
Col. M. M. Patrick, Col. w. NJ.
Black and Capt. II. B. Ferguson, the
engineer officers appointed by Gen.
Bixby to undertake the work of raising
the wreck of the Maine in Havana
harbor met today for the first time to
consider preliminary preparations for
accomplishing the task. They will de-
eide upon methods for inspecting the
wreck, will take steps to set divers to
work to make an examination and will
decide upon the date when they will GO
TO Havana. In the meantime plans
proposed by various individuals and
companies for raising the bulk will be
gone over.
President Taft in q telegram to Maj.
Gen. Wood today approved the atti-
tudc taken by the chief of staff regard
inc rainmaking with the big guns on
the Pacific coast rs a method of check
inc ,he forest fires. Neither President
Taft nor General Wood would 60 SC
fan as TO say that rain could not be
made in this way, but they have found
it ineypcdient to make the experiments
in view OF the great cost. Rainmak-
ing being purely y weather problems
Gen. Wood has turned over all the re-
quests and suggestions received at the
War Department to Willis Moore,
chief or the Weather bureau. The
question. which has been a burning
one during The past week, will prob
able never be answered officially. as
reports from the west indicate that
rain is now falling and the danger is
rapidly becoming less.
A complaint was filed by I. G.
Corby, Of the Corby Company OF Lang,
don, in the District of Columbia against
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to-
dav for having changed the rate on
dried grain from Langdon to Baltimore
to seven cents II hundred pounds. The
rate was ) cents and the commission
is asked to order that it be placed III
effect again,
A statement Of the internal revenue
receipts for July, issued today, shows a
total Of 500. 1880 which is an in,
crease OF $6,719,032 over the receipts
for July 1909. The new corporations
tax yielded IS, 795, GAS in July.
A coffer-dam will be constructed
about the wreck OF the battleship Maine,
in Havana harbor. according to pre-
liminary plans adopted today at the
first meeting Of the board OF engl-
neers. in charge OF raising the vessel.
The engineers decided that it was the
intent OF Congress, in making the ap'
preparation, to regain whatever bodies
may be found and give them a
decent burial. The work will be
undertaken with this in view. The
board also propose to 60 about
the work in such 4 way as to remove
any possible doubt as to the cause o.
the destruction Of the battleship. Il
is expected that by using the Golfer
dam, the wreck may be laid bare
without being greatly disturbed. After
the preliminary inspection is made
any one of several plans may be
adopted for raising the ship. The
board will be in session several days
The members OF the board have
come to The conclusion that it was the
intent Of Congress in making the ap'
preparation for raising the Maine to
secure what bodies may remain in the
wreck and give them 4 decent bur'a
and to ascertain rs far as possible con-
ditions which may probe some light
on the cause of the explosion
The board will act under the idea thai
its purpose is to remove whatever
stigma Of doubt that may exist regard,
ing the cause Of the catastrophe. Tc
this end the wreck will be laid bare, SC
far rs possible, without being disturbed
in order that II thorough examination
may bc Emade. The Golfer dam con
slruction will be made around the
wreck. in accordance with this idea
When this has been done any one OF q
number OF plans now under considera'
ton may be adopted.
More confident than ever, Chairman
flovd. Of the democratic congressional
campaign committee, returned here to-
day after Il trip through the middle
west. There are now three parties IL
the field" said Lloyd. They are tc
dem cratic republican progressives and
Republican Stand-pattcrs. The feeling
between The factions in the republican
party is more intense than ever. The
democratic party is the sole bene'
ficiary. Democratic victory is now
absolutely assured and we will contro
the next House by safe margin