Evening star., 1941-11-16
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Fifty years ago the District of Column
bia was in process of acquiring title to
certain parcels of lard for use in eStab-
fishing Rock Greek Park. and there was
an extraordinary amount
Rock Creek of litigation, claims and
Pork complaints from owners
Of the plots in question.
Eventually they were all settled and to-
day the whole park is Federal property
with no outstanding claims against it.
One-a question of possible gold-was
decided on November is. 1891, and re-
ported in The Star of that date: Uncle
Sam now owns all the gold in the lands
of Messrs. Shoemaker and Truesdell
lying within the Rock Creek Park limits,
and is likewise the owner Of all the gold
mines that may exist in the District of
Columbia from lands the title TO which
is derived from the lord proprietary of
Maryland. The court Gin Gen
eral Term) this morning granted the
motion of the Government to strike out
all the testimony taken before the Rock
Creek Park Commission regarding the
value Of gold deposits or prospects
the Government being already the owner
of such mines if any existed
On the same cate The Star speculated
on the identity Of the next Secretary of
War, to replace the retiring Mr.. Proctor:
There are reasons TO believe that the
President may have
New Secretary changed his m n d
of War about postponing the
appointment of a Sec
retsry of War until after Congress meets.
- 1t is expected that when the Pres
ident returns from his duck shooting he
will be ready to announce to the cabinet
at their meeting on Friday the name of
Mr. Proctor's successor. It is still
believed by folks close to the admin
iStration that eX-GoV. Cheney OF New
Hampshire will be selected. though men,
bers of the Republican National Com
mittee are pressing Elkins"
The Republican National Committee-
men prevailed, or at any rate got their
wish. Stephen B. ElkinS of West Vir-
ginia was appointed and confirmed.
Another pressing problem before this
same body, the Republican National
Committee, was to decide where to hold
the nominating convention for next
years cleo
Site Of Republican tion. The
National Convention Star reported
in part:
There Is promise of very active con-
test before the Republican National
Committee, which meets in Washington
on the 23d, between the rival cities seek
ing the honor. A great deal of
work is being done for San Francisco.
Omaha, Minneapolis and Cincinnati, and
1t is expected that New York will come
in with strong bid. Omaha and
Minneapolis will probably make the
greatest effort to secure the convention,
and the friends of both cities are very
hopeful Very little has been heard from
New York but great many outsiders
think that either New York or Mime
apolis will be chosen if Chicago is really
out of the contest"
Minneapolis, as it happened, was
selected.
On November IA, 1891. an important
step was taken to relieve the tension be-
tween Chile and the United States: the
official recognition of Senor Don Pedro
Montt as Minister
Minister From from Chile, carry
Chile RECOGNIZED ing with it ac-
knowledgment OF
the new regime that had overthrown
Balmaceda. The Stars account follows:
AFTER being introduced by Secretary
Blaine, Senor Montt handed his creden-
tials to the President and said: Mr..
President, have the honor to present
the credentials which accredit me in the
capacity of envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary of the Republic
of Chile"
President Harrison received these, ex-
pressed his personal welcome to Senor
Montt, and . hope that cordial relations
would soon b resumed.