Evening Star Newspaper, December 10, 1892, Page 8

8 _ THE EVENING STAR: WwW ASHI NGTON, D. C. SATURDAY, Decenper | 10, 1892—SIXTEEN PAGES. CLUBS AND CLUB MEN. What a Few "a Has Developed in Washington. PROSPEROUS INSTITUTION - Fine Mouses and Hundreds of Members—_ ng the Cosmos and Uni- | be The Metropolitan and the T 18 ONLY WITHIN the Inst few years that club life has taken any- thing like ite present bold on popularity | among the men in this | A decade ago or | more and there were| bat one oF two clubs here that could have really been called sac- 1. Ne city. there a1 number of such organi- zations that are all ina Prosperous condition. Washington has always been called the city of mag distances, Lately people in New York, that place of barry } and bustle and rise, have taken to the city of magnificent lew well Certainly it would bea digicult matter to pick @ city im the United States where the con- ditions are mo: the enjoy- | ment of eiub life alargs that are known ae have certain ant of leis ghtfal residence esa steadily » have made the clase le to mem- hat the in- this, if not a question » have very home is ere the avatem here. at all ing to re tion there are f mention. These are, tan, the Coumos, the Up ty. Tn wed aud as every on: zation that bas ite + clad house ts one elaborate in the « of mowbers wh certain the imposing and | and it has a la » would bardiv be octal clubs Colambia Hu | the eity yarters on gion Loan ai the ea ed in ‘tutions of the sort in other large »pen in the evenings, however, | ers ite members no inducements to late at night it is also excluded from | written some time ago on this Matter has the following: “Are the clubs of > famous instigitions of all Becatxe Wash- the great ling peo- At least of history. Itis singu than the nation whose « ereatu: i « pounger and whose bliged, therefore, to ad it was many years ither commerce to at- life of the country nor ho bad mor hanged, to be Bs a Washington is now charming and beasts: It & the center of tue kin: Fecently become an important feature of our life. ft is the most popular of the winter re- | sorts of the a and omen who in summer toil and dig for pleasure on the rocks of New- | port and the uills of Par Harbor. So its great lub, the one clab that ie founded on the social phiaeiple, bs one of tbe most dustingsisbed and teresting organizations of the country,” the country. y which has Thie, of course, refers to Politan Club. This may be the oe the result of a number! organizations that lived for| longer of shorter time during the earlier bistory of the city. There bad been a Bamber of small social gatherings. come with and some without permanent residences, though some of these it would be bard to dig: the name of clubs. During the war there was founded ethe Metropolitan Clab, on whose fonndation the present structure was built. When one sees the maguiticent building that is | Bow its home at the corner of 17th and H streets it is bard to realize that it has grown @ wach maall beginnings. During the troub- lone times im this city = quarter of century the Metropolitan Club was some jwanees. The book of visitors that the club powesses dates back to 1863 and contains the Kamer of many men who are intimately con- nected with the history of the country. Mr. Charles Sumner was introduced to the club by @men.cer of the diplomatic corps and be it entertained many « foreign minister. There are also the names of famous soldiors Gen. W. I. Sherman was introduced ab by Mr. John Sherman and there other men who have since After living tte | came an assured success, | the pride and cor It has been said of Washington that there is no commerce bere and hardly auy trade; that society and politics coustitnte the #ole iuterests of the city. It is from these two elements of Me that ‘the Metropolitan Club mainly draw its membership. As Washington bas grown sohas this club, and along pretty mach the same lines. Within ite handsome building foreign minister. diplomats, statesmen and other prominent men from all quarters of the world are entertained and made to feel at home. Within its walle have been held many conversations that would be interesting to read, and many a dinner has been exten that would please the most fastidious from any city. Ite cuisine and its chef are! almost a& famous as its hospitelity and its repu- | tation for conservatism. The building itself is | PRESIDENT DAVIS. ne of the most beautiful club houses im the ntry and is admirably adapted to comfort in tor as well ax in #ummer, with its winter den, which in hot weather can be mae into pacious and cool loggia. ‘The entrance to ¢ building is on H street and leads directly to.» bandsoruely furnished hallway, with large and comfortable sitting rooms to the left, front- ing on H and on 17th street. On the right are ous other reading and conversation rooma, all furnished in the same rich and harmonious ste. In the basement below ts a large billiard room, « barber shop, toilet rooms and the cel- lars and store rooms that are needed in a club house of this size. The diving rooms of the ciub, for there are several on the second floor, and the kitchen ia above at the top of the building. Above the loggia ix a room of the same size which is used for « library, and a more attract- ive room for the purpose it would be difficult to find. The club already haa a large and valuabie collection of books aud pictures, which iw being increas steadily. The room above | the library is used as a card room, and having, like the two rooms immediately below it, bask north and south expo-ures is cool and pleasant in the summer and attractive a! all times. The clab in its present form was incorporated March 15, 1882, and the firet paragraph of the constitution gives the following as the object membership of the corporation: “This 6o- ciety. incorporated for literary, mutnal im- provetmen: social purposes, shall be called | etropolitan Club of the city of Washing- sball consist of permanent and tempo- 1 life members. All the affaire of the corporation are managed by a committee of fifteen governors, who are per- manent members of the club, and who sball hold their office for life or until they shall re- sign or be removed. This board is authorized to admit by invitation a4 honorary mem- bere of the club the President and ce President of the United States, the persons who have held those offices’ and such distinguished visitors as the board may deem proper. ‘The lust published book of the club gate the total membership as 753, but it is probabiy rather iarger now. The oficers of the ciub ure as follows: President, ohn Davis; vice presidents, Gen. Scho- and Surgeon General J. Mills Browne; treasurer, John C. Poor; secretary, Maj. J. H. Sanger; board of governors, John A. Bakor, Edward McCauley, John’ A. Kasson, 1 Worden, J. H 2 Carlisle, E. ‘Francis and Kobt. Hinckle | i | THE ARMY AND NAVY. The Army and Navy Club, whose big build- ing on Farragut square is now one of the fer- res of the city, was incorporated December 28, 1885, under the name of the United Service Club. For a considerable time it occupied a handsome building on G street just east of the | Columbis Athletic Club, but a_year ago it took possession of its new home on I street. The original membership was confined to members of the military order of the Loyal Legion, an order composed of officers that had | served the government during the war of the | rebellion. In accordance with the plan of the | founders of the club, eligibi . both reg- , to members of the Society i and to graduates of the United States Military Academy and of the United States Naval Academy honorably discharged from servic . « modest beginning the club soon be- nd_ today, under the rame of the Army and Navy Club and with « membership of nearly a thousand, it is at once Tt of the two’ branches of the service. It isin this club house that old oticers and young meet onan equal footing, and it has been said that there the junior ectu- dares to differ in opinion occasionally from the senior. Here it is that the officers of the yand navy are able to return some of the bospitalities that are extended to them in fur- eign cities. The club building is of brick, with stone trimmings, and is five stories in height. The treatment of the two facades is simple, but ‘The corner is ornamented with a tower rising to the full height of the building, and above the roof line i« finished with rounded tile roof surmounted by a gracefully designed lantern. The entrance is on f street. It is marked by a handsome square porte cochere finished with an open porch. The club house is situated on Farragut square at the in- | tereection of Connecticut avenge and I street, The officers of the club are: President, Maj. | Gen. Jobn M. Schofield; vice president, C | A. A. Hosmer; treasurer, E. B. Rogers, assist- paymaster; secretary, Lieut. A. E. Culver, N.; directors, Lieut. T. H. Bliss, U. 8. A. | Mr. ©. C. Green, Order of Cincinnati; Brevet | Maj. Gea. J. M. Hawley, U.S. volunteers, and beard of governors, T: M. Bennett, assistant eugineer, U.S. N.; Col. Com. Chas. Heywood, | Cos. M.C.; Brevet Maj. W. C. Huxford, U. 3. | A.; First Lieut. T. C. Prince, U. 8. M. C.; Com- modore F. M. Ramsay, U. 8. N.,and Maj. W. J. | Volkmar, U.8. A. The Cosmos Club, one of the older organiza- tions in the city, is composed largely of ecientific, literary and artietic men. Its articles of incor- poration, which were taken outon the 13th of De- comber, 1878, give as the F objects and business of the association the advancement of its members in science, Kterature und art, their mutual improvemeut by social inter course, the acquisition aud maintenance of a library and the collection of materials and | most if not all of the members of the former lw large assembly room on the ground floor frequently used for lectures on acientific +ub- jee:s, for exhibitions of paintings and other . THE cosmos. works of art,and in brief in every way that might go to promote scientific interest. Here many of the scientific organizations of the city bold their meetings and listen to addreeses by prominent men, which are also of the great- est interest to the public generslly, as is shown, by the large attendance which the announce- ments of such meetings usually call forth. The officers of the Cosmos Club are as fol- lows: President, J. R. Eastman; vice president, G. Brown Goode; secretary, Wm. C. Winlock; treasurer, Wm. A. DeCaindry; mpnagers, 6 K . Mendenbail and J. Rush Mare The Cosmos Cub and the University Club, to a certain extent, cover the sume ground, fc r are cligible to the latter, and for a time past it has been feit that the two organizations were | trenching so much upon the same ground that they rather burt each other. Asa result of PRESIDENT EASTMAN. this feoling ther has been a movement on foot ately to amalgamate the two clubs. Whether this will really be done remains to be seen, ‘Yhere ix no doubt that many members of the two clubs are in favor of the move and x combi- nation of the older and more sedate Cosmos, the younger and possibly more enthusiastic University, would probably make a club that would be in every way a wuccess. It would be | larger, better fixed financially, and thus able to erect on the present site of oue or the other of the bonses a club house that would be a decided credit to the city. THE UNIVERSITY CLUB. The University Club hasbeen inagrowingand Prosperous institution ever since it moved into | its handsome home at the northwess corner of 17th and I streets about ayear ago. Like the Metropolitan Club, the University has grown from avery small beginning, for it may be said to date its origin from the fall of 1883, wher @ Young man presented the idea of form ing a small club, the membership of which waa to be limited to fifteen, It started out, how- ever, with only six members, but this afterward gave place toa desire for increased member- ship and fuller club incilities, and it was not Jong before the Meridian Club came into actual being. Later tais club settled in a house on 17th street near Pennsylvania avenue, At the expiration of its year's lease the club moved into the handsome old Hunter mansion, on the south side of I street between 17th and 18th. ‘oon after this the talk arose of forming a university club, but it was some time before anything was actually done in the matter. plan contemplated an institution on the lines of university clubs in other cities. The ques tion arose as to whether there was room for another new club and theroster of the Meridian Cinb showed that its members were, with few exceptions, eligible under University Club re- strictions.’ On January 10, 1891, by virtue of & resolution constituting the’ board of gov- rnors a committee with fall power to take ail action which they deemed necessary to change the Meridian into a university club the Uni- versity Club sprang into life and being, and it is today looked up to asa potent factor in the club life of Washington. Candidates for membership in the club must beat least twenty-three years of age. They must have pursued a course of study for at least three years at a recognized college or university nited States Military or Naval Academy, or have received a degree, either in courge oF honorary, from such college or university. Candidates for membership who have been stu- dents at professional schools or universities only shall not be held eligible for membership unless practicing their respective professions at the date of application or unless they shall have formerly engaged in the practice thereof for ai least three consecutive years. So successful has been the University. Club | since its beginning and so encouraging is the | outlook for the future that last January tl club took possession of the property situated at THE PARIS TRIBUNAL. PRESIDENT BROWN. the northwest corner of 17th and I streets, This corner with ite area of 10,000 square feet of ground, its old-fashioned house and ite beauti- ful surroundings, bas long been considered one of the most valuable pieces of real estate in the District. It is known to all old residents of The Court That Will Settle the Bering Sea Dispute. THE SEA ANDTHE SEALS. The Arbitrators to Meet Soon in Paris—The Case to Be Presented by the United States—Questions to Be Decided Without Appeal. OT SINCE THE ALA- of the arbitrators and to the ageut of the other side by each party, with additional documents, correspondence and evidence in reply to. the case proper, but unexpected delay was met with in its preparation. Tne counter case of ench party, however, is now well advanced, and, it isexpected by the State Department, wili be completed and de- livered before the end of this month, although by a special provision of the treaty eixty days’ extra time beyond December 7 is allowed if found to be absolutely necessary for the pro- curement of new evidence in rebuttal. The alleged perversion of facts furnished to the State Department by Ivan Potroff, the Alaskan Sensus expert, caused,quite a flurry in official circles here last month, but it has not affected this government's case apd counter case in the Jeast, so far as arguments and data are con- cerned. Petroff was not employed to furnish facts, but merely to translate certain Russian documents, and his errore of translation were quickly rectified when discovered. bama commission at Geneva adjusted the rights of the United Statesand Great Britain in 1870, and the Berlin conference in 1878 as- sured the peace of Europe, bas any inter- national tribunal ex- cited the universal in- terest that is sure to nt- tend the deliberations of the approaching Bering soa arbitration in Paris. Upon that tribunal will be centered, for months to come, the close attention of all Europe and America, 4nd, indeed, of the whole world. The stakes are well worth the game. Not alone is the control of the ering sea involved — sea larger than the Mediterrancan—with its precious fur seal fisheries, the most valuable in existence, but above all the incalculable | Prestige which success will secure for the | diplomacy of the party that wins. The contest | for this stake will be o battle of the giants. Profound jurists, among the foremost in this country and in England, will be pitted against each other before the august tribunal, which will itself be composed of wome of the’ ablqxt publicists livin, ‘The tribunal’ will assemble February 23. The most elaborate. preparations have been mado for the event, und in anticipation of it the acivity at the State Department here and at the British foreign office in London for months back has been unprecedented. The archives and records of two continents have been ransacked for data, oficial couriers have piled unremittingly between Washington and Alaska and between Ottawa and London, and very obtainable fact and argument bearing on either side of the great dispute bas been care- fully collected and availed of. The joint labors of the legal counsel, special treasury agents, seal experts and advisory diplomats have been incessant and tireless, and the preliminary work of the arbitration on'both sides is now rapidly nearing completion. THE PARIS TRIBUNAL. The Paris tribunal will consist of seven arbi- trators, all selected by maritime powers. Two, appointed by President Harrison, will repre- sent the United States; two, appointed by her Britannic majesty, Queen Victoria, will repre- ‘ont Great Britain; one, chosen by President Carnot, at the mutual request of the Umted States and Great Britain, will represent the re- ublic of France; one, chosen likewise by King Humbert, will represent the kingdom of Italy, and one, choven by King Oscar II, will repre- sent the combined realms of Sweden and Nor- way. The arbitrators for the United States are Senator John T, Morgan of Alabama, the lead- ing democrat on the Senate committee on foreign relations, and Justice John M. Harlan of Kentucky, @ republican and fourth ranking member of the United States Supreme Court. The latter's position in the tribunal corre- with that of Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench Cockburn in the Alabama commission at Geneva. The British arbitrators are the Right Hon. Lord Hannen of England and Sir Johu 8. D. Thompson, K. C. M, G., the new premier of the Canadian dominion. The French arbitrator is Baron de Courcel; the Italian, Marquis Emi- lio Visconti-Venesta, and the Swede-Norwegian, Gregers W. W. Gram. The United States will also have an official agent there in the person of John W.| Foster, Secretary of State, who has hadpracti- cal experience in diplomacy as minister to Spain and is thoronghly versed in international law, and Great Britain will Lave a similar func- tionary present in the Tee pep of Mr. C. ‘Tupper of Canada, son of Sir Charles ‘Tupper. Besides these, both the United States and Great Britain are formally represented by disti guished legal counsel. Our counsel comprise Judge Henry W. Blodgett of Chicago, Ed. ward J. Phelps of Burlington, Vt., and. James C, Carter, esq. of New York.’ Judge Blodgett enjoys an enviable reputation for erudition and | legal acumen, and previded over the United States N SECRETARY JOHN W. FosTER. district court for the northern district of Illi- nois for many Years until a few weeks ago,when he retired from the bench to serve as govern- ment counsel in the Bering sen case. Mr. ips is deemed to be peculiarly fitted for the not only on account of his ability asa er, but through his intimate acquaintance with the earlier stages of the controversy while American minister at the court of St. James. Mr. Carter is known as one of the most eminent in New York in the higher grade of abstract cases. Great Britain's gounsel will include Sir Charles Tupper of Canad, who was associated with Bering sea diplomacy six years ago, and two or three of the Jeading barristers of Eng- land. In addition the United States and Great Britain have each retained-the services of two special commissioners, the results of whose labors and inquiries into the natural history and habits of the seal will be submitted to the arbitrators in the event a certain contingency arises in the progress of the proceedings. The United States commissioners are Prof. Thomas Corwin Mendenhall, superintendent of the coast and geodetic survey, and Dr. Clinton Hart Merriam of the Smithsonian Institution, while ‘the British commissioners are Sir George Baden-Powell, M. P., and Prof. George Mercer Dawson of Ottawa, director of the Canadian geological bureau. QUESTIONS To BE DzcrDED. ‘The arbitration will be attended with inter- esting ceremonials, and will be conducted under the terms of the treaty concluded at Washington on February 29 last between Secretary Blaine and Sir Julian Pauncefote on bebalf of their respective governments. The questions to be determined are these: 1, What exclusive jurisdiction in the sea kmown as the Bering sea, and what exclusive rights in the seal fisheries therein, did Russia assert and exercise prior and up to the time of the cession of Alaska to the United State 2. How far were these cla!ms of Jurisdiction a to the seal fisheries recognized and conceded by Great Britain? : ‘8. Was the body of water known as the Bering sea included in the “Pacific ocean” as used in the treaty of 1825 between Great Britain and Hussia, and what rights, if JUSTICE HARLAN, Twenty days after the delivery of the coun- ter cases the arbitrators are required to meet in Paris to examine and importinily decide the questions laid before them. Hence in all ikeli- hood the arbitration, if no further obstacles re encountered, will begin some time in Febru- next, Ten days after the arbitrators meet Agents Foster and Tupper will deliver in duplicate to the arbitrators and to each other a printed argument showing the pointa und_referring to the evidence upon which each depends and cach party will then support its respective case by oral argument of counsel. The decision of the tribunal is to be made. it possible, within three months from the ciose of argument on both sides. That would make the decision due bout June 20 next, allowing two weeks for argument and consultation. But the chances are that a final conclusion will not be reached until some weeks after, say in July or August, 1893. Although Secretary Foster's du- ties as head of the State Department will nec- essarily cease with the inauguration of Mr. Cleveland's administration yet he will doubt- Jess continue to act as agent in the Bering «ca case, inasmuch as any change of persons at this stage would imperil this government's success. Tf the determination of the questions at issue to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States over Bering sea shall leave the subject in such position as to Fequire the concurrence of Great Britain in establishing regulations for the preservation of the seals, the arbitrators are in- structed to determine what concurrent regula- tions outside the jurisdictional limits of the re- spective governments are necessary. To aid them in this the reports of the special commis- sioners will be filed, setting forth all the facts relating to seal life in Bering wea and the measures needful for its protection. These re- porte are not to be made public until they are submitted to the arbitrators, or until it #hall appear that the contingency requiring their use by the arbitrators cannot arise. CLAIMS.POR INJURIES. The question of liability for injuries alleged tohave been sustained respectively by the United States and Canada at the bands of each other in connection with the controversy may be referred to the arbitrators and determined by them as to questions of fuct, and the liabil ity upon the facts when found is to be rade the subject of further negotiations out- je the present tribunal. addition and by the terms of the later modus vivendi convention, proclaimed on May | 9 Inst, if the result of the arbitration | shall be to affirm the right of Britieh sealers | tween the | is interesting to note. in almost the identical word for word, were ultimately, in Febraar’ last, | iu the treaty of arbitration as the five points to | be submitted to the Paris tribunal. The United States Supreme Court was careful after the | notable hearing in the Cxnadian appeal from | the decision of the Alaska court in the case of the schooner Sayward, condemned for illegal sealing, not to present the extraordinary spec- tacle of disallowing and annuiling the acts of tte own government in a matter of sta | and political policy by passing upon the | peal. The Supreme Court lert it just where it | started, well knowing that if Great Pritsin had | tailed in the case she wonld not have been | bound by the decision, since che riclds no jallegianee to the decisions of the American | Judiciary, while if she bad succeeded the would then have held the whip hand over our diplo- macy. That diplomacy was allowed to proceed in its own way. WHAT OUR GOVERNMENT MAINTAINS In ite printed case and counter case our _gor- ernment mantains,asto the first point, by historical records, Russian and otherwise, that tus Bering discovered Bering sea or the Sea of Kamscha:ka in 1725, and from the day Pribylov discovered the fur seal rook- cries on the islands of St. Paul and St. George in 1785, down to the purchase of Alaska by the United States for $7,260,000 in 1867, the czar and his privileged subjects did assert and exer- cise exclusive jurisdiction over that sea and the islands within it and the seals resorting to them with unquestioned and undisputed sov- ereignty; that in 1821, upon complgint of the Russian Fur Company that irresponsible foreign traders were interfering with their mo- nopoly, Czar Alexander issued an imperial Proaching within 100 miles of #hore; that this ordinance was never revoked, as far a1 it relates to Bering rea. und that seal’ life was protected j and fostered by the Russian nary, both on the |islands and in Bering sea itself. | Astothe second point the United States maintain that Great Britain and her subject refrained utterly from sealing in the Bering sea during the Russian proprietorship, and that neither by her treaty with Russia in 1825 nor by its renowals in 1843 and 1859 did she gain any right to take seals in Bering sea. The fur- ther fact that no attempts were made by Brit- ith subjects after the cession of Alaska until 1885 to take seals is urged as proof that in prac- tice the exclusive Jurisdiction insisted on was conceded by Great Britain. | SENATOR MOKGAN. On the third point the United States present extracts from ian authorities illustrating their understanding of the separateness of Per- ing sea, and exhibit a collection of 113 authentic maps representing the aggregate opinion of the Geographers of the civilized world, published between the years 1732 and 1825 in Great Bri- tain, the United States and various continental European countries, on every one of which Bering sea is plainly distinguished by ® name separate and apart from the Pacific ocean. As. tothe two governments. Those issues, it | form of statement framed by Mr. Blaine, nearly | ,accepied by Great Briain and embodied | ukase prohibiting foreign veseels from ap-| eS MR. GROROE FRASER S RESIDENCE. REAL ESTATE GOSSIP. | Phe Suburbs of the ity Rapidly Ae- suming an Urban Appearance. } - < | SOME BIG HOTEL - | } | SCHEMES. The Effect of the Selection of the Site for the New Printing OfMice--Progress in Building the Seventh Strect Koad Electric Rallway— Some Phases of the Suburban Movement— Other Matters. Rs Y TRY sSITr of the proposed new Duilding for the use of the government print- ing fice has been se- lected —at least so far an the action of the Joint committes on Printing is concerned The new location is two squares the to north of the building now occupied by the printing office. In the event selection 1 approved by the this two houses of Congress the change of lo- cation will be made. In real estate cir- cles the action of the comm: has been Awaited witha good deal of interest, not merely because of the sale of a square of ground, which, of course, is important in itself, but from the effect on property which the change in a cen- ter of eo much consequence would have ©n property intereste, There is no doubt that the printing office has largely contributed to the building up of that section of the city. People prefer. as a rule, to live as near as pos- sible to their places of business. It saves car fare for one thing and generally is more con- venient. The proposed location is so near to the prevent that the new building will be as convenient the oid, in rel | of the em: . The new site is the whole of square 713, which is bounded | by K, L, tet strect east and Delaware avenue, and the price proposed to be paid for the 106,220 aquare fect is $1 per foot, that the selection will result in an active build- ling boom in that vicinity. Already the | price of property has advanced and that is Pretty good indication of how the change ‘ded by the property owners at least. It is to devote the old building to storage purposes nm to the homes | t is probable | the intention when the new building is in nee | fourth point, the United States claim that all | the rights, powers, interests, jurisdiction, do- | minion, immunities and privileges possessed by Russia were transferred unimpaired to the | and thus save the government quite a snug sum each year, which is now paid in rentals for the use of several buildings where materiais are stored. ill be talon im been made quite on the weet * botiding of but so far the 1 hes not deem the near fw A i taken in this matter | done before a great while. i ] THE CENTRAL aURRION HOULD Repairs have been begun on the « office bailétn A avenue, now the on Lome: Property of the view Micston charge of the work cone G. Krmball, BL HL. Warm D. eater and T. A. He te made on the mis The One of th 5 boilae omored om for the t more a’ “eat the ned for eo many voat de structures t Land 24 the late When the row ws cupted the corner i Wailach, when he his home there. Fu he late Just been famous tower, which w D atone ame te the beigt sill conree- the balance of trim: ming «tone will be Oj Tee fronts will be similar to 14th { houses in that they will have bay win hit ts the Intention wd be before the be houses. Mr. George & Cooper is the architect THE WEEKS’ EF The mild weather we ha: mn. been having for } the past weck has given a now impetus to bul | ing, and the operations the week «be vast improvement over those of last week the week ending yesterday the imapecto. of buildings iexued permits for the erection of 63 | new dweilingsat an ageregated $5,900. mount: 400 is attributed to the 12 . Dur- permits for the northwest, 260.200 for the 35 in the county, one for the €500 in the south- | west, 8 for the €21.000 in the northeast and 7 for the $5,500 in the » DENCE. poe of Mr. George Fraser, at the corner of Connecticut avenue, R and 20th | streets, is a notable example of a high-class private residence. It was designed and built by Wasbington architects and workmen and ie not ouly clegent im all the details, but is im- United States by the purchase of 1867, and this oint has been virtually conceded in’ advance y Lord Salisbury ist correspondence. As to the fifth and last point the United | States base their asserted prerogative of pro- tecting the seals of Bering sea on the broad grounds of equity and morality the world over, during the continuance of the modus to take | 0m the ground of the traditional rights of seais in Bering sea within the bounds claimed by the United States under its purchase of | Alaska, then compensation must be the United States to Great Britain for the Int- Russia and the United States, and the ground that Russia, prior to the ce: successfully maintained ita jurisdiction in Bering sen 100 miles from ehore—a jurisdic- lly on (OUSES OF CONCRETE. Houses built of a rather novel material for | this region are being erected in the subdivision of Petworth, on the 7th street road. The material used is concrete. which is composed of Portland cementand sand. The walls of the houres are built in a sort of casing made of Wood, into which the concrete in # semi-liquid state is poured. When the material hardens | the frame casing is removed and the walls of ter's abstinence from the exercise of her right | tion acceded to in practice by Great Britain as | the house, with the proper openings for win pending the arbitration, upon the basis of such | Well as the United States, and claimed by the | dows, as specified in the drawings, are ready 8 limited catch us in the opinion of the arbi- | United States and enforced by executive and | for trators might have been taken without an un- due diminution of the seal herds, If, on the contrary, the result of the arbitration shall be to deny the’ right of the British to have taken seals, then compensation must be made by Great Britain to the United States for loss sus- | tained by the latter and its lessees from the limitation of the catch to 7,500 skins during | the closed season. The governments of the | United States and Great Britain are to bear the expenses of their own agents, arbitrators, com- missioners and counsel, together with all the other expenses of the arbitration in equal} moieties, By these means it is hopéd that the vexatious controversy between the ‘two great Puglish- speaking nations of the world may be amicably adjusted, in harmony with the modern and en- lightened idea of peaceful arbitration, a3 aguinst an appeal to physical force and arms. | ‘The dispute originated only seven years | ago, in 1885, when the seal-poachinig | craze first broke out among the Canadians. | During the long period in which the Pribylo Islands and Bering sea were owned by Russia, and for fourteen vears after they had been pur= chased by the United States, no private indi- viduals seemed to have thouzht of killing the seals, In 1831, however, the President, through | theSecretary of the Treasury, publicly anounced to foreiguersand Americans as well that this go ernment ascerted jurisdiction over Bering sea | and nobody disputed it. But in 1886, the poaching craze growing apace, Secretary Man- ning proclaimed that this government would | maintain the same position it had asserted in 1881, and during that summer, by his orders, one American und three Canadian schooners were seized for poaching. In 1887 a larger number of poachiug vessels were seized by United States cutters. In 1888 the seizures were stopped at the instance of Lord Salisbury pending propositions for arbitration. THE SEAL FISHERIES. While tho United States government did not disclaim the absolute right to assert jurisdic- tion over Bering sea, it was willing to waive that right if, by an international agreement, it could insure the preservation of the seal fish- eries. Great Britain on her own part ha still has a valuable interest in the preservation of seal life, London is the world’s center for furs, and more than 10,000 British subjects are employed im that city alone in the ecnr- ing and preparation of sealskins. To ex- terminate the seals of Bering sea would be to destroy that industry, for London dresses sealskins for the whole world, and there are only two other fur seal rookeries in exist ence, and these are inferior and emall. From 1802'up to 1862, when the seal fisheries were closely guarded, the Russian-American Fur Company in Bering sea reaped as profite tho igantic aggregate of 26,395,000 roubles, or 40 per cent annually for sixty years as interest on their investment. After the seizures were abandoned in 1833 it transpired that the British government, while entirely willing itself to come to a satisfactory agreement, was deterred from so doing by Canada, whose people were ing on the nefarious extermination of the and hay- ing no interest in their preservation beyond tho present, strongly opposed any restrictive meas- ures, Accordingly no arrangement was ef- fected, and in 1889 seizures of poaching vessels Were resumed by United States cutters, After thirty days’ contention with Lord Salisbury by cable, however, the seizures were again dis- continued. any, in the Bering sen were held and exclusively exercised by Russia after said treaty? 4. Did not all the rights of Russia os to juris- diction and as to the seal fisheries in Bering sea ‘cast of the water boundary in the treaty between Washington as the MeComb estate, and its location is perfectly adapted for a clab, being in the heart of the city’s fashion and in baili distance of the Army and Navy and Me tan clubs. sicthGy Oteess af, the club are: President; Jus. enry Billings Brown; presidents, Mr. Henry Wise Garnett and Mr. Frederick Doncan MeKenney; treasurer, Mr. John C: wards; secretary, Mr. Barry Bulkley; board of governors, Barry Bulkley, Pickering Dodge, Tuginald Fendall, 8. Herbert Giesy, Gaillard Hunt, Marshall McDonald, Frederick Kenney, John J. EF to the above objects,under Kemictoas, andl veguatiges eeenteket ta by-laws, The officers of the club area presi- dent,a vice president, a secretary, « treasurer and tures managers, who together constitate m hE radi geen ing | Cosmos Ciub has at vad ISS sires ‘The suited for its purposes ands the United States and Kussia of the 30th of March, 1867, unimpaired to the United States under that treaty? But since then, upon agreements with Great Britain for closed seasons under a modus vit vendi, seizures have been made both by British and American cutters, althoagh more ing ‘that 5. Has the United States any right, and if so | y what of protection of in the fur seals pon the enone ar United States in Bering sea when such seals are found outside of the erdinary three-mile limit? ‘Whatever the decision of these questions may pine a yw ni reat Bellain en's full portort and Sal settiesantot the matters No APPEAL, ‘The treaty or convention submitting the case to arbitration was ratified on April 22 last and the exchange of ratifications was effected on fay AP Pg acca henaghand ‘eech and delivered, to ” and ‘marke ted. thus involvi ton, barbarous aud irrecoverabie congressional action since the cession. In this®connection, as precedents for this latter contention, are set forth instances of the control by Great Britain of 2,700 square miles of the open ocean northeast of Scotland in fhe interest of her trawl fisheries, of 600 square miles in the Indian ocean in tho interest of her Ceylon pearl fisheries and of 2,000 square miles in the South Atlantic surrounding the a of St. Helena during the exile of Napo- leon. It is also made clear in this government’ case that at the present time the Russian gov- ernment reserves and exercises for its subjects absolute control over the seals in the wes half of Bebring sea and in the Sea of Okhotsk within 100 miles from shore. During the past summer at least half a dozen Canadian sealers, ught in the act of poaching on the Russian side of Bering sea, were summarily seized and burned to the water's edge by Russian men-of-war and Great Britain is not insisting on redress, thus tacitly admitting the integrity of the Russian jurisdiction. ‘The reported seizure of the American bark inside the 100-mile limit, is likewise a vindication of the American claim touching the eastern half of Bering sea. Russia does not contend that the Okhotsk is a closed nor does this government claim that Bering isa closed sea. Whaling and legitimate fishin; are permitted to all nations freely in botl waters, but both governments insist upon juris- diction for the protection of seals within the 100-mile limit. ‘THE BRITISH CONTENTION. ‘The British printed case and counter case em- body the recent contention that her majesty government never admitted the exclusive do- minion claimed by Russia and the United States in Bering sea, and thatit regarded the Rus- sian ukase of 1821 a8 a mere usurpation, which could not be converted into valid international right, renounced by Great Britain through sim- ple reticence or omission to protest. As tothe distinctive meaning of the words “Pacific ocean” in the Anglo-Russian treaty of 1825, as against the American exhibit of map the British ense cites thirty odd books of refer- ence of various dates from 1795 downward, and printed in nnmerous languages, which tend to | show that the words “Pacific ocean” do in- clude Bering sea. : It is to be deplored that while there is no lack of harmony and unanimity in the British ress, liberal and tory alike, in «upport of the Qeitith contentions as. to’ Beriae evn, the same cannot be said of the American press. As ex-Minister Phelps recently pointed oat, every unfavorable criticism of the American conten- tions contained in a newspaper printed in the Cape Horn in July Inst by the Russian authori- | | ties in Okhotek sea, i use. The roof hoisted in place, as in the house, the openings are framed | tho sashes and the doors and the house is ready for plastering. It is ciaimed for this material that it has been demonstrated to be | adapted for this use, notably in the case of | the fine hotel building erected a fow years ago in 8t. Augustine, Florida. It 1s said to be mach | cheaper than either wood or brick, and this consideration will have weight with the average house builder. THE 7TH STREET ROAD RAILROAD. Owing to delays in the shipping of the ma- chinery which is to be placed in the power timbers are then | constructed out the 7th street road the new rail- | road will not be ready for use as soon as was | expected. Instead of having the road in oper- | ation by the middle of the present month, as | President Cummins had planned, the running | of the first car will probably not take place un- | til some time in January. ‘There is also some question in regurd toa portion of the right of Way which is to be settled by the courts, he proposed extension of this road to Sandy | Springs and Burnt Mills, which is advocated bya number of the citizens living in those | localities, is creating a good deal of interest. Two companies have been formed, and a large amount of the stock necded bas been sub- scribed. In the meantime those enterprising | individuals who are always on the lookout for a chance to make a good turn in real estate a buying up the farm lands here and there along the route of the proposed railroad. It is sup- posed that the raiiroad will add to the value of the property, and asan enterprise of this ch: acter has seldom, if ever, failed to have that effect, it seems that such an expectation is not an unreasonable one. At any rate property owners in that locality find that just now there is quite a lively demand for land. SOME SUBURBAN CHANoEs, Anryndicate is being formed to purchase the Ruppert property on the 7th street road, o; posite Petworth, and just north of Spring road. This property contaius about sixty-four acres, and as an indication of the value of property in that locality it is stated that the price to the syndicate is about £4,000 per acre, It is the intention to subdivide the tract and plat it into building lots of convenient size. When this purchase is completed and the proposed plans carried out it will be only one of the many changes which will transform that section of the suburbs. The new electric railroad is responsible for the present actuvity in thia particular locality, but after all it is only one of the phases of the suburban development which are going on in all directions with marvelous rapidity. An official recognition was given to this condition of affairs only the other day, ordinars | for | house of the new electric road which is being | hen the District Commissioners extended the | ire limits beyond the old bounds of the city, | 8 distance in some localities of a mile and more | from what is known as Florida aveo' among the possibilities that ©: at thie session will pass the street extension bill which at the last session hung fire in the conference committee. This measure, as is well known,simply aims to make the old sub- divisions of land conform to what the law re- quires today, so that the plan of the new cil which is growing up beyond the old muni- limits may as far as practicable bein harmony with that of the city, which is recognized as admirably adapted to conduce to the health and comfort of the citizens and to the beauty of the city. ‘JUST LIKE THE CITY. A recent sale of unimproved property on Co- lumbia Heights is mentioned not only as an il- lustration of the value of property, but as an indication of the cl that is going on in the United States is promptly put on file in the British foreign othco arid ‘bbs ite effect on the other side of the Atlantic. It should be understood by the American people that there has been no change of front whatever in the policy pursued in this con- troversy under President Cleveland and under sydent Harrison. The latter took up the bject just where the former left it, and it is asstimed at the State Department that the former will in turn take it up again just where the latter shall have left it on the 4th of Murch. Our diplomatic experts and agents are ail confident of the success of the American cause should the merits of the controversy be the determining considerations in the decision of the Paris tribunal. ee gee Unexpected Meeting. It i | | From Life, BiG HOTEL SCHEMES. ‘There are several schemes for the erection of ‘the much-talked-of big hotel which are floating | monize with the tinted posing in effect. The material used is brick and stone and the general style is that of the Italian school of architecture. The front steps jare in the inside and lead into a handsome j central hall. The interior is finished in « xtyle of quiet elegance that marks the surroundings of a refined family life. Messra. Hornblower & Marshall are the architects, as «tated in @ description of this house which recently ap- peared in Tux Stan, THE SUPPLY OF OAS. One of the abiding questions of interest with householders in this city isthe supply of gue for lighting purposes at their remdenoea, The ding Register makes the following perti- on this subject ling interests of the city will be greatly benetited by the revision of the plumb: ing regulations. The board having tp | portant work in charge has nearly com; | is labor. ‘Thes propose to extend the scope uf | the regulations to embrace the gasfitting of | buildings. This is made necesary on account of there being no restriction on the sizes of gna pipes used in the houses. Very often great in- convenience and expenseare caused by the pipes getting choked up oF the pressure of gas being insufficient. This trouble, the inspector plumbing states, is on account of the supply pipes being too small. He states that in many fine dwellings the gas pipes are dispropor= | tionately small, and consequently there is © or light. He thinks that the Commissioners to make regulations governi this branch of the business, and the opinion the attorney for the District will be asked on the wubject. If be decides that the Commis- sioner» have not the power to make the desired, regulations, then Congress will ed to com fer the desired authority upon them. MR, TAYLOR'S RESIDENCE, An attractive residence for Mr. Leroy M. Taylor ia to be built at 1830 New Hampshire venue, above Dupont Circle, from plans pre- pared by James G. Hill, architect. It will have a frontage of twenty-five feet on the avenue | and a depth of eighty-two feet, with an eleva- tion of three si front will be Indiaua lime stone. The door and window columns, with circular bay window will be the feature of the front, terminating with a conical roof covered | with Kpanieh tile ‘The interior of the firet and | second stories will be finished in quartered ont and the balance of the house in white pine. The Jumbing is to be made a feature of the house, Phe floors and walls of toilet avd bath rooms will be finished with tiles. Steam heat will be used, A two-story brick stable 25 feet square will be erected at the rear. The contract for action has been awarded to Prauk de AX ENGLISH PASEMENT woUSE. Designs of a dwelling on 16th street nese Hancock Circle have ben completed by Archi tect Glenn Brown for J. HL. Herwig. The house will be a three-story Englieh base t buff brickand Obio sand | } : . ‘The style of arc | A recessed bay extends to the tin | roof. On the first floor is a large hall running | ail the way up; a dining room and a drawing | room. The second floor is occupied by a re~ ception hail and library. The remaining floore are devoted to siceping apartm: 4 bathe, The interior finish is to be designed to bar decorations that willl prevail throughout the house. SOME NEW BUILDINGS A two-story house will be by Jobnson, architect, Pres: brick and Ohio Sandstone will be used on = front, which hes «square 4 tion with round cornices runming to Folv‘oe gente. "A porch of iron adds to the exterior appearance. ‘The iuterior will be fine ished in pine, natural fraish, Lieut, Alfred Reynolds has had plans pree ed by W. L. Clark, arebitect, for a brick an@ e house to be erected in Takoma Park. ‘The style of architecture will be the Wide verandas will extend around three of the house, which has a steep shingle with gables.” The interior coutains rooms aud two baths The first floor will be asoft wood fimsh, the other floor to be ted in white enamel The bath roome iit ij