The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1911-02-04
NEWS NOTES OF
NATIONS CAPITAL
(From f. J. DYER.)
Especial to Silver State.,) }

! WASHINGTON, Feb Att is the
damages to private property due to
heavy gun fire, target practice, maneu-
vers and SO forth, amounted last year
to $22 ,S02.40. The secretary of war has
asked that this sum be appropriated
to settle 1S3 claims for damages of
that character. People who live in the
vicinity of the coast where heavy gun
| fire occurs have often suffered damage
on account of it, but many of them
have not been aware that claims for
such damage would be considered valid.
| The secretary reports that every year
when target practice takes place in
some locality it is unavoidable that
window glass will be shattered and
plaster knocked down. Sometimes
window and door frames and doors are
thrown out of plumb by the concussion.
1t has been the custom to have claims
for such damage Immediately investi-
gated, and the actual amount of dam
age determined and reported upon by
board of competent officers, and the
conclusions of the department based
upon those reports are submitted to
congress with recommendations for set
tlement of the claims. 1t generally
happens, however, that several years
elapse before an appropriation is made.
Every effort is made by the depart
ment to reduce to the minimum the dis
comfort caused to citizens by the
heavy firing. In line with this effort
/ it is desirable that at least in those
cases where it is known that damage
will be inflicted annually, provision
should be made by congress for the
prompt reimbursing for damages to
private property as ascertained by the
board of army officers appointed for
4 the purpose At the present time
there are $50 cases, amounting to $751;
55S14, which have been investigated
by the department and recommended to
congress for settlement.
Booming the South.
/ What promises to be one of the
most important events in the indus
| trial history of the south will take
place at Atlanta on March 8, and 10.
On that oecacion, which will be the
third annual meeting of the Southern
Commercial congress, some of the most
famous men of this country will tell
about the south's physical recovery
The meeting, in the words of G. Grosve-
nor Dave, who is the dynamic force
/ behind this new movement in the
south, "will be historic in its setting
/ and historic in its effect. 1t comes
( here Just so years after the states OF
the south were united in q struggle of
arms. 1t typifes new union of the
south along the constructive lines of
commerce and business endeavor, the
several states vying with each other in
( the wise use of their great natural re-
sources, that they may, through their
prosperity and development, use their
enormous resources for the strengthen
/ ing and enrichment of the nation of
which they are an integral part.
/ Sugar Consumption.
Statisticians have figured that the
American public consumes 69.l2
pounds of sugar per capita annually
\ This has been the average since 1891.
/ The consumption before the trust was
i formed. or perhaps to be accurate one
should say the American Sugar Rein
l. ing company, was 1853 pounds per
capita yearly The increase is rather
remarkable. In 1870, the consumption
Of sugar per capita was 35.3 pounds.
The cost may have had something to
do with it for the average price of
sugar from 1870 to 1890, inclusive, was
Q cents per pound, and in 1870 it was
1851 cents per pound. The price has
decreased and during the period from
-S9l to 1909, inclusive, it averaged
1866 cents per pound, the highest year
ly New York wholesale market price
during that period being 5.22 cents per
pound, and the lowest 4.l2 cents.
Potash Mines Wanted.
IF any person knows where there is
"a potash mine in this country he can
probably dispose of his knowledge and
the mine as well at figure which Will
make him comfortable, if not affiuent.
The department of agriculture is anx-
ious to discover potash deposits. The
geological survey would like to hear
of some. The state department and
even the president would be much in
terested in the subject. And, of course,
the fertilizer manufacturers would
give real money for almost any kind
of potash mines.
The fact is, that while there are
known to be potash deposits in TINS
country, or at least very promising IN
dications of them, there are no devel-
oped mines, and Germany has mo-
nopolv on this very important and, In
fact. necessary fertilizer. Germany
having the monopoly, is showing dis
position to put on the screws and dc.
mand not merely all the traffic will
bear, but what some persons think is
great deal more than it ought to bear.
Certain Americans hold advantageous
contracts with the independent German
mines, but the government OF Germany
has demanded that these contracts be
surrendered and that new ones be mace
, with the "trust' at a much higher
, rate, and as compelling argument it
has levied an export tax on potash
which applies only to potash bought
from the independents and shipped to
, the United States. Our state depart
ment is trying to change Germany s
, attitude on this question, but it has not
yet done so. The department of agri-
culture, in the meantime, is seeking
, native deposits which will make this
4 4 +l.. f,rt. ~