The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-07-05

Dali Las lOuI SlSleIS.
The Ball family through the naval
officer has just presented the National
museum of the capital with many me-
MORALS of the Washington family
some of them having been owned di'
rectly by the Father of His Country.
One of the gifts now in the care Of the
government is a Bible cover of tapes.
try which was used to protect the
family Bible Of Frances Thornton
Washington, a niece Of George Wash
ington, from dust ard 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 oIe Of the me-
MORALS.
| Another cloth memorial Is piece
of crimson material from flag car
ried by the Continental forces who
were under the command Of Col. Bur
CESS Bail during the Revolutionary
war An impression In crimton show
ing the crest of Joseph Bail of Epping
Forest, grandfather Of George Wash
ington, also is among the gifts.
Washington's Gold E2auIets.
Getting doWG to the things which
actually we're used by George Wash
ington, mention should re made Of
pair of gold wire span,ets of ancient
design which were wNrc by him when
he was colonel in the FYeach and In
dian wars. Washington wore these
epaulets also throughout the entire
campaign with SradoNck.
In addition 70 the ssic Of epaulets
there Is single enc which Washing
ton wore at different tiEes during the
Revolution. The wAtceabout Of the
companion .: this epaulet Is not
known. A Masonic apron of the Revo-
lutionary war period With the insignia
in gold and which was the property of
Col. Burgess Bari, Is included in the
collection Of gifts.
When Lafayette was IN this country
in 1924 WIS presented V th hard.
wood snuff box, beautifully polished
and bearing the Freachmans 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 Bail, a relative Of George Wash.
ington.
Ore Of the interesting objects in the
collection Is an antique mourning
brooch Ct gold worn by Mary Ball.
THIS is one of the few authentic relics
Of Washington's 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.
seum's hall of history.
Chance for "Wizard" Burbank.
Scientists Of the agricultural de.
partment are showing great inter.
est In a bill which has been favor.
ably reported from the house com.
mi:tee on public lands to turn over
under certain conditions seml.arid
lands in California, New Mexico, Ar.
iona and Nevada to Luther Burbank
OF Santa Rosa, Cal in order that he
may be given a chance to demonstrate
that spineless cacti, valuable for do
mestic animal food, can be grown
there, and thus desert lands be made
profitable.
Representative Raker Of the com.
mittee on public lands has submitted
a favorable report to the house asking
that the lands be turned over to Mr..
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
II properly introduced may revolu-
tionize the agricultural conditions IN |
many of the semt-arid and arid reg.
lens 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.
perimental purposes. The report says:
I'm order to encourage these expert.
it is proposed to permi.
Mr.. Burbank, after 1t is demonstrated
TO the satisfaction Of the secretary of
the interior that said cacti can be thur
commercially and profltably prepared.
to purchase the amount of land as
stated in the bill at the usual price Of
$1.25 per acre If without the railroad
limits and $3.50 an acre If within the
said limits. At the present time the
lands In question are without any com.
mercial value
Experiments In Deserts Wanted,
1T should also he stated that Mr..
Burbank is now pYopsgating these cac.
Il, and selling the sa1hH TO all corners
at reasonable price, BIZ these plants
are going into sections of California
chiefly where their growth and propa.
cation is not attended with any great
expense or uncertainty. 1t is tho
view of the committee that it Is most
iesirs BILE to encourage these expert.
ment. tons in the parts of the arid
and temi-arid southwest which are at
his time practically deserts and now
await development. II this encour.