The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-09-12
DOWN AT WASHINGTON
Interesting Notes from the National
Capital by G. A. Wood, Special
Reporter Correspondent.

Maine chance this week.
The American automobile export
business increased 5000 per cent
during the decade 19O119lO, ac-
cording to a report just issued by
the bureau of foreign and domestic
commerce.
Preparations for the establish
ment OF the newly authorized par
cells post system are under way by
the post office department. Under
the law the new system will go into
effect January LIST.
Under authority conferred by the
postottice appropriation bill the
salaries of about 10000 rural mail
carriers will be increased September
80, 1912, from 1000 to LOO per
annum.
The last big opening of agricul-
tural land by the federal government
will take place next spring when
the Fort Peck Indian Reservation
| in Montana will be throw open to
settlement. Of the total of 2,O6S,-
$50 acres, 763,6O0 are allotted to
the Indians.
The Interstate Commerce Com
mission has suspended an increase
of Is per cent per net ton on btu
! minous coal shipped from southern
Illinois points to Davenport, Iowa,
| which was announced as effective
September by the Wabash
Gossip has it that Miss Glora
Wilson, daughter of the secretary OF
Agriculture, will soon marry Con-
gresham Jefferson NJ. Levy, of New
York and Virginia, who is the own
er of Monticello, Thomas Jener-
sons old home.
The newly created special joint
congressional committee on good
roads is in correspondence with
American diplomatic officers and
state government officials in an en-
deavor to gather data regarding
road problems in their respective
Jurisdictions. This work is prelim-
mary to the organization and ses-
sions of the committee which will
begin in November.
The postmaster general has APP
proved and authorized the free dis
tribution of new edition of the
handbook of postal information,
containing matter of general inter-
est and instructions regarding the
postal system for use by the general
public. Copies are supplied to post
them may be distributed to patrons
masters upon requistion and by
of the office upon request. These
books, which are convenient pocket
size, are said to be valuable for refer
ence by all who use the mails, and
they have also proved of great
assistance to teachers in instructlng
pupils in the working OF the postal
system in all it's details as effecting
the ordinary citizen, such as proper
addressing, rates, registry, and
money orders.
Under the provisions of clause
contained in the new agricultural
appropriation bill, Secretary Wilson
has arranged to hold a number of
hearings on the white pine blister
rust, the Mediterranean fruit fly,
and the potato wart, preliminary to
proposed sweeping quarantine regu-
lations against these agricultural
pests. The department experts be-
lieve that there is imminent danger
of the introduction into this country
of the pine rust, a fungous disease
now Cduolu5 SlOoC ucAhAe@oS w pAAN
trees in all parts of Europe. The
potato wart is now ravaging the
crops of the nearby islands and
Europe, and the Mediterranean fly
menaces the fruit crop OF the Pa
citic coast. The hearings will be
little more than matters OF courtesy
and will be followed by quarantine
proclamations against the countries
now harboring the diseases and
pests.
An ancient cottonwood tree which
has for seventy years cast it's shade
over the White House lawns has
been cut down and removed. Ac-
cording to tradition, the sapling
from which grew this forest giant
was brought to Washington in the
spring of 1882 by Chief Alpataca, a
Creek Chief, who visited the great
| white father just previous to the
signing of the treaty by which the
Creek nation was removed from
Florida. The tree was said to have
been from an Indian council mound.
It was presented to President Jack
son with the prophecy that az long