The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-06-20

One of the gifts now in the care OF tho
government IL . Bible cover OF tapes.
try which was used to protect the
family Bible OF Frances Thornton
Washington. niece Of George Wash
ington, from dust and hard usage. A
piece of the crepe which was hung on
the door knob at Mount Vernon on the
occasion of the funeral of the first
president Is another one Of the me
MORALS.
Another cloth memorial is a piece
of crimson material from flag car.
ried by the Continental forces who
were under the command of Col. Bur
CESS Ball during the Revolutionary
war. An impression in crimson show
ing the crest OF Joseph Ball of Epping
Forest, grandfather of George Wash
ington, also is among the gifts.
Washington's Gold EpauIets.
Getting down to the things which
actually were used by George Wash
ington, mention should be made of
pair of gold wire epaulets of ancient
design which were worn by him when
he was a colonel In the French and In
dian wars. Washington wore these
epaulets also throughout the entire
campaign with Braddock.
In addition to the pair OF epaulets
there is a single one which Washing
ton wore at different times during the
Revolution. The whereabout of the
fhtc srai,iot ic mot
known. A Masonic apron Of the Revo
lutionary war period with the insignia
in gold and which we the property OF
Col Burgess Ball, is included in the
collection of gifts.
When Lafayette was in this country
in 1924 VS. presented h hard'
wood snuff box, beautifully polished
and beari-- the Frenchman's portrait.
1t was the gift Of American admirers
of the foreigner who had come to aid
the colonies. Later Lafayette present.
ed this snuff box to his godson. Fay
cite Ball, a relative OF George Wash.
ington.
One of the interesting objects In the
collection is an antique mourning
brooch Of gold worn by Mary Ball.
This is one of the few authentic relics
of Washington mother which is ex'
tant. 1t must be remembered that
Mary Washington before her marriage
was Mary Ball. The articles have all
been placed in one of the cases OF
Washington relics in the National mu
no of bist0rV
Chance for wizard" Burbank.
Scientists of the agricultural de
partment are showing great inter
est in bill which has been favor
ably reported from the house com
mittee on public lands to turn over
under certain conditions seml-arid
lands in California. New Mexico. Ari
IONA and Nevada to Luther Burbank
of Santa Rosa, CAL in order that he
may be given chance to demonstrate
that spineless cacti. valuable for do
nestle animal food can be grown
there, and thus desert lands be made
profitable.
Representative Raker OF the com
Illlltt OH DuDliC ldllAo las
a favorable report to the house asking
that the lands be turned over to MIR
Burbank for experimental purposes
and in his report he says that there
seems to be no doubt that the Cali
| fornian has propagated a spineless
cactus most valuable for forage which
| If properly introduced may revolu
| tionize the agricultural conditions II
many of the semi-arid and arid reg
| ions Of the southwestern part Of the
United States"
In the favorable report on the bill
an explanation is made OF the terms
under which Mr.. Burbank can take
over these great tracts Of land for ex
detrimental purposes. The report says
"In order to encourage these expert
mentations, 1t is proposed to PERM
Mr.. Burbank. after 1t Is demonstrated
to the satisfaction of the secretary o
the interior that said cacti can be thus
commercially and profitably prepared
to purchase the amount OF land a!
stated in the bill at the usual price o
$125 per acre II without the railroad
limits and $3.50 an acre If within tn,
said limits. At the present time III,
lands in question are without any com
mercial value.
Experiment In Deserts Wanted.
1T should also be stated that Nj
Burbank is now propagating these cac
II. and selling the same to all comer
at a reasonable price. but these plant
are going into sections OF Callforni;
chiefly where their growth and propa
CATION is not attended with any grea
expense or uncertainty. 1t is tn,
view of the committee that 1t is mos
desirable to encourage these expert
mentations In the parts OF the art
and semi.arid southwest which are a
this time practically deserts and nov
await development. II this encour
agement demonstrates that these sec
tons are suitable for the production
Of these cacti, the beneficial results
will be of incalculable value to thu
nation"
/